Genevive is a year old today!!!
 This year has gone by soooo fast. I really can't believe that a year ago, at almost this time, I was sitting in my dorm room with a pair of raggedy scissors chopping my hair off.

I've come so far. We've come so far. I've learned so much and I have so much more to learn.

This is me in February 2010, shortly after my big chop

What I've learned in the last year is:

• My hair can be really soft. At first it wasn't but I've learned that it really likes a little oil.
• A little goes a long way. At first I was really heavy handed with everything but now I realize that a nickel sized drop of oil is really all I need.
• Protective styles. My hair grows best when I just leave her alone for days at a time. Not neglect or  ignorance but just giving her space.
• What works for everyone does NOT work for me. I've been resisting the band wagon and product junkyism and only occasionally giving in after much research.
• A little goes a long way...Product wise I don't have a lot of products and those that I do have I use. I don't have the money for a lot of experimenting so I try to work with what I have.

I CAN DO MY OWN HAIR! I was most nervous about the growth and how I would handle it. Prior to going natural I had never really done my own hair. I didn't learn how to wrap it until I was in college. Little by little I've learned to stlye and love my hair. I have so much more practicing and learning to do but flat twists and two strand twists are my holy grail.

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've made a slight mistake. I've been waiting all week to upload some pictures from my camera of my hair in various states...but I forgot and deleted all the pics off of my camera today. Boo on that. :/

The pictures were just of my twists but there were also a few of my wet hair. I've mainly been wearing the twists so I haven't taken pictures of my hair just out. And those are the pics I deleted. And I'm stretching the twists for 2 weeks so I won't be taking more until next week sometime.

I still don't really like the twists. They're oh so convenient though. I add oil to the ends about once a week and try to oil my scalp. I'm really bad about not oiling my scalp. I'm going to try to get some jojoba oil on after this...At night I tie it down with a  scarf and redo the front flat twists every few days. And that's it. Even though they're so easy, I'm getting bored. I'm really determined to master flat twists so that I can do awesome twist outs. But I'm trying to wear the twists until when did I say? I think October. So I still have a few weeks.

*throws confetti and blows into one of those annoying noise makers* Happy Nappiversary!!!

My nappiversary was actually this weekend but I was out celebrating. Wow. Six months. What can I say?

• My self esteem has never been this high for this long. And it's directly correlated to my hair. Accepting my hair as is has allowed me to accept my body and my flaws. It sounds corny and contrived but it's so true. Maybe not for everyone but it's definitely the case here. 
• My hair is finally growing! I didn't realize how short my hair was 6 months ago. Shrinkage is horrible! I think I can actually feel it growing. lol!

OMG! I've been so busy with school and everything that I completely let my nappiversary pass me by. It has officially been 4 wonderful months since me and my natural texture have been reunited. I started writing this 2 weeks ago so technically it's been almost 5 months of natural bliss.

Here are a few pics from the last few weeks. The first is just the most recent pic of my hair, thought I'd bring the location out of my room for a change.
These lower 3 pics are of the impromptu twist out I did weeks ago. I thought it actually turned out ok. Nay, better than ok. I'm planning on doing it again soon on clean/wet hair with something other than a but load of jell.

I'll try to write more now that school's out for the summer but I'm in Argentina right now so don't hate me for not posting frequently.

Also, I got new products that I can't wait to review/ incorporate into my routine!

• Carol's Daughter products including a cream (gifts)
• cocoa butter
• jojoba oil

Nappy Trails to you!