What did you say?

If you have been following my blog you know that my husband has supported my decision to go natural since the beginning.  Well just recently my family went to visit my parents to help my dad put in a new door.  My husband is very handy and well my dad isn't.

Anyway, my older brother lives just a few miles from my parents so he spends a lot of time at my parents house.  Basically, he never misses a free meal and he likes to watch sports with my dad.  So, when I arrive at my parents house I hug and kiss my folks and pass the baby over because I know that's who my parents really want to see. 

My older brother comes out, gives me a hug and stares at me funny.  I fluff my hair and say "I cut it all off do you like it?" and he says one devastating word "no".  Now, I wasn't expecting a reply like "you look great and I love that your embracing this new challenge in your life".  But, I was not expecting a flat "no" response.  I thought he would give me the answer most people have been giving me like "oh it's different" or "I have to get use to this look on you".  But a simple shocking "no" broke my heart coming from the person I spent my childhood looking up to.

This is where my husband came to my rescue and became my absolute hero yet again!  He said "I love it and I think she looks beautiful".  I can't express with words how much I love my husband and at this moment he is perfect and wonderful and my knight in shiny armor! 

Later on that evening when we were in my parents spare bedroom I told him how much my older brother hurt me.  My husband simply said "who cares, you don't live with him you live with me and I love your hair".  So now when he leaves the cabinet doors open or forgets to comb our son's hair, I will remind myself how that doesn't matter.  I won't focus on the petty annoying things, but I will focus on the qualities that I fell in love with and cherish the fact that he loves me for who I am.

Blessings!

Oh No A Gray Hair!

If you have read my profile you will already know that I am a high school teacher and that I work with children with autism.  That said, I had an interesting encounter today with one of my students.  I was helping one of my students write a paper for English class.  We had both our heads together in front of the computer and he looked over at me while I was reading the screen.  Suddenly, and very loudly so that everyone in the room could hear he said "You have a gray hair sticking out!". 

Let's just say that loud, inappropriate comments like this one are not new to me.  This exact same student had no clue that I was pregnant two years ago.  When I announced to my students that I was pregnant I was over 7 months pregnant at the time of the announcement, his response to me was "I just thought you were letting yourself go".  So, I shouldn't be shocked that he would announce to the entire class that I have gray hair.

Well ladies, I'm here to tell you that I'm proud of my gray hairs.  My mother first started going gray when she was 26 years old.  I started going gray when I was 33.  So, I beat my mom by 7 years.  I also work in a profession that experience is rewarded with respect and gray hair implies experience.  What I do like about going natural is that my gray hairs aren't as easily noticed as when I had relaxed hair.  My curls seem to either hide the grays or make them stick out, but either way I have no plans to color or pull them.  I earned them and I'm keeping them!

Blessings!

Reward through hair accessories!

Well I've lost ten pounds in 5 weeks and decided to reward myself with some new hair bands.  I teach at a high school and the school colors are purple and white.  So, I tend to buy and wear purple and white clothing a lot to school.  Anyway, I had this cute sweater and went looking for some hair accessories to compliment it.  The hair band was regular price, but it was so cute I couldn't help myself and since I am looking for non-food related rewards it was perfect.  I took this picture this morning with wet hair in the bathroom mirror.  Not bad for 6:45am with water dripping down my back and a crying baby in the background.
Blessings!

It's Cold Outside!

So, today was the first frost of the season.  Fall hasn't officially began and here in Minnesota we had record lows last night across the state.  I covered my plants last night and helped my day care lady pick some cucumbers.  With these cold temps setting in it has me thinking about my hair route.  Since I am doing wash-n-go's now, I don't think I will be able to do wash-n-go's once it is seriously cold.  So, what will I do with my TWA?  I'm going to have to do some research about styling options for the winter months.  Here in Minnesota we can have cold temps from late October until early April.  I had to turn on the heat in the house tonight because I couldn't get my son to wear his slippers and the floor was cold.  I like my cute fro, but I may have to consider cornrows, or flat twists until I get more length and can do two strand twists.  Any way, if you are natural and live in a climate that has cold winters comment on how you took care of your TWA in the cold weather. 

Blessings!

Length Check Mistake

Well, I remeasured my hair today and with help from my husband I found out that I don't have 2 3/4 inches but actually it is a little over 3 inches long!  Wow, over one inch of growth in a month!  I use to believe that my hair didn't grow.  Now I know that it did grow, but broke off because of the relaxer that was making my hair weak and brittle.  I am 35 years old and had relaxed hair for 32 of those years.  Every time I tried to grow my hair past my shoulders I suffered from severe breakage especially in the back of my head.  Now that I am natural, I believe that with proper care I will be able to grow it past my shoulders.  Wish me luck and lots of healthy growth this next month.

Blessings!

One Month Anniversary of Big Chop!

Big Chop Day August 8, 2011

August 8, 2011 hair is just shy of 2 inches.

Hair 1 month after big chop September 7, 2011.  About 2 3/4 inches long.

Tomorrow will be one month since my BIG CHOP!  I had been transitioning my hair since March 2011 (last relaxer), but decided to go natural in May.  My husband has been a big supporter to me and he wanted to video record the whole process at the salon.  I on the other hand just wanted pictures. 

This past month has been very eye opening!  My routine is very simple.  I basically wash and go.  With my hair so short I don't have the styling options that I will have once I get some length.  I measured my hair the day after the BC and it was just under 2 inches.  I measured today and I have about 2 3/4 inches.  So, almost an inch in one month.

I read Teri LaFlesh's book "Curly Like Me" and have been following her method.  So, far I love the simplicity of this routine.  Basically just conditioner and a Denman brush, but since my hair is so short I have been using a wide tooth comb.  I co-wash instead of using a shampoo, but I do shampoo my hair once a week.  What I have really noticed is that my hair is NOT breaking off!  The relaxer was really harsh on my hair and when my hair was relaxed I had broken hairs in the sink all the time.  Teri LaFlesh - Curly Like Me

Well, I am thinking about playing with my hair in the next couple of weeks and trying some flat twists and or coils.  Wish me luck on my new hair adventure!

BTW I am not wearing any makeup in these pictures, so be kind if you make any comments. 

Blessings!