Leisurely Composure

Between work and everything else that is Life, I haven't had much time to journal my natural hair progress. It's 3 in the AM and don't know why am still awake but I just am, so I thought why not post something since sleep doesn't seem to want me. After doing my big chop, I decided that the easiest way for me to work with my natural hair as it grows is to braid it. I also decided that I'm NEVER putting a weave on my hair again, I've developed a habit where I constantly want to touch my hair and rub my scalp; and putting a weave on my head would be like death sentence to my hair! Anyways, Wigs and Braids, are my best hair's best friend at the moment.

On February 11th, My wonderful mommy braided my hair. I was going for an "afro look". I bought the Janet collection and really really was going for something like this:

When I saw this pic I fell in love with her hair! I'm a fun of BIG HAIR! I'm used to wearing full head weaves and even wigs! There's something about the "Voluminousity" that really speaks to me. Anyways, my hair came out something similar to hers, and I loved it! :

The first few days; I loved it...After one week, I didn't.

The volume was too much! too much! It became difficult to manage and I could barely fit my satin sleeping cap on. I couldn't do any styles really because well, the hair was just too much. I had to tame it somehow and that's when I decided to twist the ends! The idea was brilliant! I twisted the ends but let the front, which gave me the option to do different styles for a bang. I've been getting so much good compliments!

So... even with braids on, I still wash my hair and condition it every week! I do hot oil treatment with Mustard oil. I love it. It gives a tingling sensation every time I apply it before my co-wash. I usually heat it up on the microwave for about 30 seconds before applying. I leave it on for  the whole night and the next day before washing it off, I skip ahead and just apply deep conditioner to my hair. I wet my hair a bit with water using my spritz bottle. I used eggs once but I didn't like it because even after thoroughly spending an hour in the bathroom rinsing off my hair, the egg kinda of got stuck inside the braid and didn't want to wash off. So no eggs on my hair when it's braided. After deep conditioning, I co wash with my aloe vera conditioner and clarify with some apple cider vinegar. My hair feels amazing afterwards! So soft!

My plan is to have the braids in for a month, then take them out and let my hair breathe for two weeks then put new braids again...so far, so good!


I came across Flax seeds, and to make long story short, I've been incorporating ground flax seed every day to my diet. The benefits of Flax seed is Colossal. It's like killing a thousand birds with one stone...you get the idea.  As for the exercise, I'll keep you updated when I finally join the gym.

In other news again: I've decided to give the Six week lent a try. I've never done it before, so I wanted to try it this time around.

Since you're suppose to give up some things you love for lent, I've decided that for six weeks, am not going to eat chicken or any fast food! It's been week one, and I stumbled and almost fell completely. My brother came home with Mcdonalds and handed me the chicken nuggets, I fought so hard not to even look at it, but my appetite finally caved in and I took a small bite. There are still 5 weeks remaining...I shall not let temptations overcome me!.

Update: The lent was an Epic Fail. Couldn't make it past the first week.

The Beginning: THE BIG CHOP!

I woke up today and truthfully, I had enough dealing with the two textures of my head. I thought about waiting for my mom to come back from work so we could do this together, but I couldn't wait any longer, the damage had to be cut. So I grabbed my Sony nex camera, put on the recording, grabbed my scissors and began to cut my hair! As the first batch feel off, my heart sank but there was no turning back now, I had to let go of the bad, to build the good ahead of me! So today I did something i never thought I would have the courage to do, I Big Chopped my own hair!


Some pics of my hair-before and after.

May 2011. Relaxed Days.

Last Perm in August. Transitioning...You can see the damage that's taking place on my head!

My teddy bear was so proud of me! She had to give me a hug, and we snapped some pics together!

The Natural Me. I've never felt so liberated! While I had good days with my relaxed hair, it's about time I went back to my roots. I'm done with the 'creamy crack'. Never again will I relax my hair. So let the Journey Begin...2.4.2012

And Finally, a shout out to my baby Nex, all my my pictures are courtesy of her and she's been more than Amazing. So, here's to my baby, Sony Nex. 

Let the Journey Begin...:)

Back to My Roots.

I've created this blog to help me document my journey of going back to my natural roots. I've always been one of those people who know absolutely nothing about hair, I can't braid, I can't do a twist, I can't do anything with my hair except weave it and wig it. DAY AND NIGTH. I've had relaxed hair since I can remember, the mere thought of growing my hair natural has never crossed my mind, simply because I've always thought it impossible not to mention tedious. The best word to describe me when it comes to hair is LAZY. I'm the laziest person and this is partly because I've always had people who braid my hair and therefore never thought that i needed to learn. My mom has always been my hair dresser, whenever I have a hair emergency, my mom is my number one speed dial.

In the summer of 2011, in September to specific, I decided to color my hair. At first I liked it but as time went by I realized that am stuck with a permanent color on my head and although its close to my natural hair color, i got bored with it quickly. The color is between deep orange,caramel and honey. Then again, my natural hair color is quite indescribable.

My boyfriend has been a positive inspiration for me to go natural.  I changed hairstyle frequently and he began to wonder why i felt the need change so frequently. "You don't understand, I'm black and it's impossible to take care of my natural hair this is why many black girls wear weave"- this was my answer every time he asked me why i put weave on my hair. There are times he asked to see my natural hair and I would say NO without hesitation. He told me he would love to see me with my natural hair and quite frankly, i never even thought twice before saying no. He noticed how my self esteem would go down every time I talked about my hair or every time i was having a bad weave day. "I would love to see your natural hair in an afro just once" he told me one evening. I looked at him like what he was asking was not only impossible to achieve, but also insane. Needless to say, curiosity got the best of me and I started wondering how i would look with my natural hair. I weighed the pros and the cons of natural hair and came to a conclusion based on all the pros!

So one main reason why I've decided to go natural is this: Water.

Let me explain. My relaxed hair hates water, and most of the time I can't do all the fun spontaneous stuff I want to do because of my hair. When it rains, I can't go outside and experience the wonder of natural showers dropping on my bare skin because of my hair, and this really annoys me. When I shower, I can't wash my relaxed hair everyday or every other day like I would love to, and this also annoys me.

Another reason I've decided to go natural is this: Freedom. Plus Less $$$$.

My boyfriend often jokes that all the money I spend on my hair could be enough to feed an entire village of starving children in Kenya. Then the guilt settles in, and I think to myself, "do I really need to spend $200 on hair?" "Is it worth it?" "Is beauty this overrated?" .  No, I could use this money for a better cause, putting fake hair on my head is not what beauty should be about. Beauty is about pride, and am proud to finally find my way back to my roots. I've had all kind of hair styles, braids, weaves, wigs, pixie cuts, you name it, I've had it.  I've decided that I'm no longer going to become a slave to my hair, am going to own it, and the best way to own my hair is to take it back to its natural roots.

But nothing comes easy, to get exactly what I want and how I want it, I know I have to do much research about taking care of natural hair. I must admit that before I started reading all stuff natural hair related, I was absolutely lacking in knowledge of how to take care of natural air. It's like I've ventured into a new world where everything I knew about hair is nothing at all. I've been reading blogs after blogs about natural hair care and all these new knowledge is addicting! The more I read the more I want to learn and the more I want to try it!

My last perm was in July or August of 2011. I can't remember exactly. It's been Six months or so since I started this natural hair journey. I've been debating whether to do the big chop or not, I still haven't mastered enough courage yet so for the time being, I'm just transitioning, doing protective hairstyle and learning as I go along.

So Welcome to The Roots of Curly Lilly blog, I hope I can be of an inspiration to another person. No matter how hard it seems, it you want it bad enough, you will endure the hardship and make it through. If you want it bad enough, you will receive. And no matter what anybody tells you, YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL. Embrace your roots, and lets dance in the RAIN!.