Crochet Braids : Mini Twists Extensions.

After several hours of youtube watching, I finally decided to give Crochet braids a chance. The problem was that there were so many options that I wasn't sure what style I wanted to do. I've never done crochet braids before and I was a bit anxious about the whole darn thing. So I went hair shopping and came across these :

They are called Africa Sleek Designs. Super light, NO TANGLES! And Easy to Crochet.

Of course the first step in crochet is braiding cornrows. I honestly could not remember the last time I braided cornrows on my hair, and like riding a bike, I though cornrows was one of those things once you learn how to braid you always know how to braid it...well, I was wrong! I could not remember how to braid cornrows, my hand coordination just wasn't working out. At first I thought i was braiding cornrows but I was actually braiding flat twists! Undo, try again!

After three tries I finally said fxck it!! but since I'm such a sore loser, I decided to give it ONE LAST try!. Although not perfect, this is what I came up with...

And here's the result of my crochet!

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I'll probably take them out in 4 weeks! Crochet is super easy and great as a protective style.

Later,

Roots4Lia.

Style post: Roll and Tuck

One of my favorite protective hair style is Roll and Tuck or more like flat twist and tuck?! Usually it can last me two weeks before I change it up.

These are some of my to go styles! They are so easy to do and look great. And being a mom of a10th month old, this style is an added bonus because I can just wake up and go about my day, no hair hustles!

Later,

Roots4LiA.

Protective Style

These past three months I've been manipulating my hair way toooo much and I've finally decided to braid it up for the next 8 weeks! Postpartum hormones has turned my hair into a dry, breaking madness!  Anyways I finally waited till my bubba was asleep at night and decided to get on with the braiding, it took me literally two night to finish, but I DID finish! Peep the pics below, I was actually really impressed with the results.

See you in the next 2 months when i take them out!

Later,

Roots4LiA.

Style Card Wednesday!

MINI TWSTS, NEVER AGAIN!

Having a newborn and no time to do my hair, I'm always on the hunt for a good protective style that can last me two to three weeks or even four weeks! Of course I jumped straight to youtube to see what styles I could find.  I have always liked mini twist since going natural and I guess when my hair was still a TWA, mini twists were my to go to style. So of course I decided to instal mini-twists, and regretted the decision two hours later because it was already past midnight, and I was functioning on no sleep for almost a week! But still, I was determined to finish! I finally did finish, but my hands and shoulders suffered a great deal! It took me a total of four hours because I had to stop in between to breastfeed my baby otherwise it would've taken less time, but I will not be doing mini twists again for a very long time. I had them in for three weeks, but it was the takedown that literally did it for me. It came to a point where frustration met exhaustion and all i could think of was getting the darn things out of my head. The mini-twists left my hair in knots and the sheer thought of detangling the mess literally gave me hair anxiety.

Shrinkage is a beast! On the other note, my hair has really grown, Past my collar bone! 

For styling, I just gathered them in the middle and added a faux bun! simply and easy. 

After taking them down, my hair was this knotted MESS! I almost wanted to cry detangling this mane, but luckily I have found a new detangling method that has really REALLY saved my sanity! and time!

Later,

Roots4LiA.

Protective Designs: BANTU KNOTS.

I've been experimenting a lot lately with different protective styles that I can actually do myself. When I was pregnant and couldn't do my own hair, I spent too much ca$h getting my hair braided at the salon, and the thought of spending more than $150 was so painful that I swore to do my own hair once I was done with the pregnancy business. Although I barely get the time to do my hair now that am a mommy, I try my best to find time, sometimes its impossible, but I make sure it's darn possible! For example, the other day I woke up at 4 in the AM to wash my hair, cause this was the time my baby was sound asleep and i knew once he woke up, I could kiss free hot shower and hair washing time goodbye. So you know, I don't mind a little sleep sacrifice for a clean hair! Anyways, I digress. Bantu knots, oh i love em'! They are so simple to do and take me less than half an hour! And the added bonus is: they make my hair look so fly when I take them out! Take a look:

I'm never keen on parting my hair because it stresses me out and I can never get the lines straight. #partitionanxiety
Sometime when I'm just in the house I throw on a scarf and call it a day, but when I have some errands to run, of course the knots come apart! 

I see length! This was after cutting a good inch off because my hair was a split ends circus.   

Later,

Roots4LiA.

Protective Designs: The HALF MOHAWK.

As you know by now, I'm always trying to come up with some protective style that can push me a week or two! The other day I went on youtube and tried my best to recreate a style one naturalista was rocking. I think my style can come out OK if i didn't have partition anxiety! I can't part my hair for the life of me! Anyways, here it is:

I ended up two strand twisting the back and gathering everything in the middle! It lasted a week before I was bored and had to change it up for my Birthday! 

Later,

Roots4LiA.

Natural Hair Traveling Essentials + Travel Pics

Hello Beautifuls!

I'm excited for my one year anniversary which is coming soon!- in February. I know I haven't been updating my blog frequently but that's because I've been traveling and haven't really had much time to update. On Dec 14th, I did my hair in a protective style-Janet Kinky braids, one of my most favorites styles. I like to keep my hair in protective style especially when I'm traveling because it makes my traveling much easier. But there are some things that I always travel with, some hair essentials that I can't do without. Even when my hair is in a protective style, I make sure that I deep condition at least once a week-this is mandatory for me. I love LOVE Olive Oil deep conditioner, I don't travel without it and I always have to make sure I stock up on it before traveling.

Another hair essential I carry with me is my vatika coconut oil, this stuff is amazing. My hair /scalp gets dry really quick, so I always have to make sure that I keep it moisturized and vatika-coconut oil works wonders for me.

Last but not least, I can't go anywhere without my spritz bottle. It is a must have to for me. I usually spritz my hair twice a day, when I wake up before I get out of the house and at night before I sleep. My spritz bottle has only water in it, I usually add a little coconut oil but water by itself also has its own magic. I always ALWAYS have to spritz my hair twice a day to keep it moisturized, because on the days that I forget to give it some water, it gets really DRY and I hate dry hair.

Of course at night when I go to sleep I always have to make sure that my edges are protected so my hair is not rubbing against the pillow. I also take some vatika oil and rub it on my edges, this is something i do on a daily basis before sleep.  To protect my edges, I take a scarf and tie it around my hair, something like this... (and when I'm feeling lazy to style my hair, I sometimes leave the scarf on my head and go on my daily business).

So at the moment I'm still in Spain, I'm leaving Spain in three days and flying to Denmark, then back to Germany and finally back to New York in Three weeks. My Europe vacation has been awesome! I saw the most amazing building in Valencia, and fell in love with Barcelona.

Here are some travel pics...

 Valencia- The City of Arts and Sciences Building, Amazing Architecture!

 Barcelona- Love this place

Sugarrush

I love Barcelonaaa!

I'm Addicted to Tea!

Park Gaudi

La Sagrada Familia---One of the most amazing churches I've ever seen!

Spain has definitely been awesome. I love this place!

Next hair post will be MY ONE YEAR NATURAL! Can't wait.

Later--

LiA.