I Took My Braids Out

You like?! The title of this blog post is pretty misleading. Don't be fooled. The photo I posted was taken a day or so after I took my braids out -- about two and a half weeks ago. I know. I should be ashamed of myself.

I had all these plans to take out my diva braids and install some new, shorter braids to start my semester with. That was an admirable plan! I even bought the new hair (which I love, by the way) and started putting the new braids in! Somewhere along the line, though, I missed my kinky curls, and here we are today.

That photo isn't from today. Actually, it's from a day that will be discussed in further detail in my very next blog post: the day I went thrifting with my boyfriend! Hooray! That's his oversized "I go to the gym all the time, bro" tank top I'm wearing in the picture. Anyway, this photo is featured here to illustrate the fact that it was a good great idea for me to take my braids out and set my hair FREE! I retained a crazy amount of length thanks to those braids, but this photo also bears the evidence of a cautionary tale.

In another post I talked about how I had been using products containing mineral oil and my hair was happy and had no problems. Well, I wouldn't say I spoke too soon. Let's just say everything in life is wonderful in moderation. In the photo above, I used a Softee hair grease to set the twists for my twist out. Not a totally disappointing look. As a matter of fact, I rocked that 'fro all in and through countless thrift shops that day. Couldn't tell me nothin'.

This is another twist out. Bigger. Slightly more vibrant. I didn't use the Softee grease on this one.

After noticing a dull heaviness to my hair, I started to consider maybe I'd overdone it. We all know I can be a little heavy-handed when applying my products, and I think the mineral oil in my deep conditioner (which I love and will have to do an entirely separate post about because I keep finding new and exciting things to try at the Dollar Tree) plus that in my hair grease and in a couple of my other products have become too much for my strands. Sidenote: I've recently learned my hair is actually quite fine. There just happens to be LOTS of strands on my head. Go figure! And all this time I thought my hair was thick (but couldn't figure out why my two strand twists always seemed small and thin no matter how big I made my sections). The more ya know!

I went to Target and got some of this and used it along with my Shea Moisture style milk to make a twist out.  Went to school looking like a superstar that day!

The verdict: I am not giving up on my mineral oil or Dollar Tree products, but I am starting to explore different natural products I didn't give a shot before. I  know now to use my mineral oil products in moderation. I will continue to use (with reckless abandon) the Lusti Organics Hair Sheen (awesome as a spritz) and their detangler. I'm also still committed to the numerous Lusti Organics deep conditioners I've stockpiled. I've added a little something(s) to the war chest, though.

On a recent trip to Dollar Tree (I think I was there looking for little rewards for my son), I found that little gem. It is spectaculariffic! I got the softest, most deliciously plush locs after I deep conditioned with that! I used this stuff before I embarked on my protective style of last week.

Yes. My hair has been out of braids long enough for me to go one week with it out, a week with it protected, and another week with it out. I'm not ashamed!

Next up: My new favorite style, an experiment in the making, and some changes to the regimen