Hello Blog, I've Missed You!

I would be remiss if I didn't start off with an apology. So I guess I am just remiss:)

Hello world! It's me again. Back. Lots to tell, and many lessons learned.

I haven't written a word since April, so here's the quick rundown of the hair happenings:

1) My hair has grown steadily at approx. .75 - 1 inch per month. As this is the end of July. I would hazard a guess that my hair is b/t 6-7 inches long. It's a guess because I slacked off on measuring and got a trim (HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE, more on that later)! The growth challenge continues.

2) Did I mention I got a trim? And that I left the place with soul glo hair and a wallet lighter by the weight of 100$? Well, consider it mentioned... in fact, that anecdote deserves it's own post.

3) I've settled into a 7 day co-wash and coil-out routine with Kinky-curly with henna every 2-3 weeks. I've really become a pro at it, and I've begun tampering with twists and twist outs.

My current dilemma: what to do with my hair during my 3 month sailing voyage around the world. I am considering a protective style, but too afraid of unintentionally neglecting my hair or going coo-coo missing my coils and henna. Choices, choices!

Be back real soon with product reviews, updates, and stories. Feels good to be back.

Natural Nana does it again! Enjoy...

New NaturalNaNa Video on Youtube -- Enjoy!

My Hair is Already Growing...

I can't escape the suspicion that my hair is already growing, that I will not only meet but exceed the TWA growth challenge this year, and that even though I was natural all those years before, this time my hair is doing a new thing. I tried finger coils today with kccc, and it worked beautifully. I was impressed and pleased with the way just a squirt of knot today leave-in defined my curl pattern. I barely had to twist to get 'em looking picture perfect. I'm going to wear them tomorrow maybe, and then pull apart and get a few more days out of 'em -- I'm anxious not to over manipulate my hair and ruin the healthy treatment I've been giving it.

The reason I think my hair is already growing is because a friend already told me so. I was talking with this friend yesterday -- she is a new convert to the kinky curly way as well -- and when I said that I was practicing a whole new way of caring for my hair to promote growth, she surprised me by saying " Well, it's working. Your hair already looks a lot longer than when you cut it." I was so shocked! Upon reflection today, however, I've decided that she's right. Without even finding my HG (Holy Grail) hair and nail supplement (still searching), my HG deep treatment, or trying henna, I am already seeing improvement! I can't wait to see where I am next summer, or even next year this time!

Naptural Evangelism

It's come to my attention that converting to napturality is just like getting saved. I'm lit up with an inner glow, on fire for my new style of living, and spreading the gospel of natural hair to as many people as will listen. There are other women out there, not all of them, but many, feeling oppressed and frustrated with their hair, confused about how to properly take care of it, and (maybe even unconsciously) looking and hoping for guidance, for a revelation. It comes out in the form of product junky-ism and hairstyle changes, but since my BC I have talked 2 people into taking the journey with me. I'm excited about that. One of them is my lovely sister, the other a cousin. Now I have someone to gush hair talk to, but more importantly, these are heads of beautiful, in transition hair for me to experiment on!

Information Overload!

Something's happened to me.

I've become obsessed with hair. There are so many sites, videos, tutorials, product reviews. I've been absorbing non-stop for the past three days, and I can't take any more. I have a product wish list a mile long, and for every positive review there's a negative one. It seems like so many things work! I have no idea what to do, where to start. Every time I get excited about a style/product/recipe, I have to run to the mirror to remind myself that my hair is 4 inches long, and the shrinkage has me to about 2 inches of hair. It's too short to do anything but dream and wish at this point!

I'm fighting recriminations for letting myself get to this point, for taking so long to stop and ask the fundamental questions that I should be asking myself, for taking so long to start paying attention to something so important and fundamental as hair. Even as I tell myself what's past is past, that hair grows and grows even past death, etc. I keep looking back like Lot's wife.

This obsession has to end. It's stolen the last 3 days from me, time that I should have been working on my novel, blogging, working on my brother's wedding website, job searching, hell... anything! My resolution: to take my hands out of my hair, my mind of my hair, and stop cruising the web lusting after other people's styles.

Enough is enough!

Right after I stalk my new friends' fotkis....

Reunited, and it feels so good...

I want to speak a little more on what all the recent hair events mean.

I've decided that I am not going to cry over the spilled milk that is my chopped hair, and not going to eulogize my relaxed locks. I am reunited with a more fundamental me, a stronger, older, wiser, me, and for that I will be grateful. As far as I'm concerned, thank you Jesus and I couldn't have planned it better myself!

For 8 long years I blithely and with a great deal of ignorance grew out my natural hair. I was so concerned with college, then grad school, that I wasn't as aware as I should have been, didn't know as much as I should have known, but things have really changed for me. I've relaxed my hair for the very very last time. No more fire creme! If I'm dying for the straight look again, I will bust out the press or get a sew-in, full stop. No more frying and dying my hair. How could I have ignored the very simple ironclad fact that my hair has fallen out in less than a year every time I tried one (with the notable exception of the phytospecific relaxer)?? I'm awake now, however, and paying very careful attention.

So this is my new fotki, my effort to pay attention, learn, ask questions... I'm so excited to meet myself again. Hello, beautiful.