Wow! I've been natural for 2/3 of a year! That like 67% (I like to round up) of the year! I've made a lot of progress since February. I'm still learning but I think I can do this. I absolutely hate wash days (it takes too longg) but I'm still just as much in love, if not more, as I was when I BC'd. I feel like it's been longer than 8 months though. Here are a few shots of me...on my 21st Birthday on Sunday! I didn't have anywhere to go but I was feeling myself so I took a few pics. Take note of the one below- kinda artsy huh?






This week I'm trying something diffeent. I still want to protective style but I didn't feel like doing the twists. I pre-pooed with EVOO over night (baggy on head) and most of the day. Then I sectioned and detangled. Then I was going to shampoo and condition in sections...But that failed. I couldn't shampoo in sections. I realized that the shampoo would end up not getting rinsed out in certain areas. So I undid the sections and shampooed. Then I did an ACV rinse. Bad decision. Shampoo+ACV=too clean and clarified. So then I used the Yes to Tomatoes to detangle. It was as easy to detangle as before because of the above "cleansing" combo. My scalp is clean, but detangling was a hassle.

Right now I have bantu knots in. I know I didn't like it last time but I have a little more length and I'm hoping it'll work this time. If not, I'll just wash it out and be free. Pictures are forthcoming.

Also: I was walking down the street with my other friend, who happens to be natural as well, and I saw a store that looked natural. In passing, I could see bottles and green so we slowed to look and low and behold it was a natural store. Not like natural hair, but natural remedies and products. First we saw honey, olive oil, and ACV. Then my friend asked if they had almond oil. Not only did they have that and coconut oil, but they were only S./3 (that's like a dollar!). The bottles are only 30 ml (1 oz.). I think they're more essential oils so we'll see...

So I'm still doing the whole twists thing. And as much as I hate to say..Genevive is simply blossoming! Last weeken I went on a trip with some friends to a lagoon called Huacachina. I did the normal endo of the week twist out and then on Sunday did a good old deep conditioner. Nothing out of the normal. I shampooed first just to get it wet. The conditioner this week was mayonnaise, 1/2 avocado, and about 3 table spoons of olive oil. So I did that and left it on for like 3 hours then just rinsed it.

So Genevive is growing! I know this isn't  really news but I just had what we'll call an epiphany. Yesterday I was doing my little routine: shampoo, co-wash, deep condition, ACV rinse, and I felt like it took so long. Genevive is genuinely THICK. Like I rinsed with the detachable shower head and still had beaucoup conditioner just sitting there. I tried to retwist and do you know it took me 3 hours yesterday and 2 today?!



I keep thinking that I'm not going to know what to do in another inch-probably by December. It's been 7 months and I think it's finally time to develop some sort of system for detangling and separating my hair. I'm thinking of going in search of a wide toothed comb...



*Pics coming soon!*


*EDIT: My hair is a little longer than my middle finger in most places. And this is the length of the twists. I really try not to do official length tests but I bumped into a ruler with inches today so...my finger is almost 4 inches meaning my hair is a little over that. Meaning my hair is growing at a normal rate! I was really nervous for a while there that maybe my hair wasn't really growing. This means that 1/2" per month is about accurate. Yay Genevive! I'm going to try to avoid rulers again until my one year mark in February. I hope I can make it!

Please excuse the terrible quality, etc. but I just don't have the time or energy to upload pics from my camera.

This is a picture of me from today. I've now been natural for 11 weeks!

My hair is definitely growing and I think I'm finally getting the hang of this! I got discouraged for a little minute because I felt like my hair wasn't growing that fast...and then I picked it out and I have quite the TWA!

Recent purchases (from Wholefoods) :

• avacado oil- promotes softness and shine
• peppermint essential oil- adds a little tingle for deep conditioners
• vegetable glycerine- natural "humectant" (helps draw moisture from the air)

As far as my routine: I'm trying not to wash everyday. Right now I'm focused on retaining moisture. When I co-wash I try to leave a little conditioner in and then put avacado oil in. (Avacado oil is my new fave. It's lighter than EVOO and makes my hair really soft.) Still not really using gel or anything extra. When I don't wake and wash I just use a spritz I made. The spritz has glycerin (the jury is still out, give me another week), avacado and olive oils, conditioner, and of course water. I spritz a few times a day just because I can. :)

I need a new deep conditioner. The cholesterol I was using just doesn't give me what I need. Even after mixing it with oil. It makes my hair feel coated and dry. I had a tragic incident with a hot oil treatment so I won't be trying that again for a while. In case you're wondering, let's just say I used to much oil and it was still dripping even after I washed it out. Was my hair shiny and soft afterwards? Yes. Was it embarrassing to sit at work with oil runnning down my face? YES!

On my Wholefoods wish list:

• honey
• shea butter
• essential oil for scent (lavendar or grapefruit)

Nappy trails...