Twist Outs and School Update

Hello everyone!  I want to give you all an update about my presentation for my master's degree.  July 19, I presented to my committee and besides some technical problems that I solved by being prepared everything went beautifully.  My committee gave me the highest score you can earn for your degree.  They were excited and very pleased with my work.  At the end of my presentation I was asked to leave so that the committee could discuss how to score me.  I had just sat down when I was asked to come back in and told that I had impressed the committee and they loved my work!  So, now I have earned my master's and all I need to do is finish up two classes and complete a practicum this fall.  I will be completely done with everything this December.  I will be the first person in my family (dad's side) to have earned my undergrad and graduate degrees.

On a completely different note I promised to update everyone about my hair.  Since my hair is getting much longer I have been stretching my hair through twists and then twist outs to prevent fairy knots.  I remember last year I would have hits and misses with twist outs, but this year I have been loving my twist outs.

Above is a collage of the various twist outs I have worn over the past several months.  This collage are first day twist outs so you can see how my twist outs vary.  They are all two strand twist outs.  Some were done with just conditioner on wet hair and some I did on dry hair.  I need to experiment with adding a gel to my hair because the humidity is a killer on my hair.  I have been using a curling pudding to better define my twist outs, but I find that it doesn't hold the curl definition like gel does.

Of course I get more definition when I do more two strand twists, but that takes more time and with my hair getting longer I have been exploring how my hair looks if I do about eight twists.  I have found the I get more stretch with less twists, but less definition with more fluffy hair.  My two year anniversary is August 9 and I plan to update everything then with a length check and maybe a short video.  Until next time....
 Blessings!

I'm back and I'm Bra Strap Length!

BSL June 23, 2013

Hello everyone!  Yes, I'm alive.  I'm sorry that I haven't been around to connect and blog with all of you.  I have completed my literature review and my action research project.  My adviser was so impressed with my action research project that she wants me to publish my results.  Needless to say that this has made me even more busy.  I'm also taking 9 credits this summer, working summer school and presenting for my Masters' July 19.  I decided to have a really busy summer to have everything done this December since my grant money runs out this fall. 

Anyway, since my first class starts tomorrow I wanted to post a quick post about my hair.  My two year anniversary of my big chop is this August, but I have met my goal I set for this year.  I wanted to have bra strap length by my anniversary and I have achieved it almost two months early.  I'm very pleased with my growth and retention.

For the past couple of months I have drifted away from my usual WNG's and moved to twist outs because I'm liking my results better now that my hair is longer.  I have been using It's Perfectly Natural product to twist up my hair and now I'm loving my twist outs!

Today's twist out that I wore to church.  The interesting thing is that two ladies at church today who hated my TWA told me how much they loved my twist out today.  One of them said that my hair was beautiful and asked to touch my curls.  Of course I remember that this same lady gave me the stink eye when I stopped relaxing my hair and her look said "that girl is crazy to cut off all her hair" and "natural my foot that girl is nappy!".  Now she thinks that my hair is beautiful.  Amazing how you get some length and now they have vision and love my curls.  Whatever!

To be honest I have been noticing that I have been getting Fairy Knots (single strand knots), so I had to do something different with my styling and I have found that I can co-wash my hair, then wear it in a bun (while wet) then that same night I will twist it up.  Sometimes I will wear my two strand twists for a day or two then as a twist out for about two days, then I will pull my hair up in a twist out puff for a day or two.  This has allowed me to go all week with only co-washing my hair once.  Now, the humidity is making my my hair huge!  I mean big fluffy, afro twist out huge!  This is fine for around the house, but at school I have to represent and I may have to flat twist the the front and then pin it back to control my rising of my hair.

I want to thank everyone who has newly joined my blog!  I promise that I will try to get more posts in this summer, but I will be in class, teaching and getting my presentation ready.  I do intend to make a post of some of the twist outs I have worn over the past couple of months.  Until next time...
Blessings!

Two Strand Twist Out for Hubby's Birthday!

Hello everyone!  I'm feeling very blessed to have some time to blog!  Last week I finished up my first semester of Grad classes and earned straight A's.  I did so well that my adviser is recommending me to do another independent study with a very well known gifted and talented author and teacher next semester.  She is currently writing four books and teaching!  Wow!

Christmas was a blast here in cold MN and even colder in ND.  Christmas day was -7 in ND and I was missing warm and balmy MN that was 9 degrees.  I feel very blessed to have wonderful friends and healthy family, but I need a vacation from my vacation.  Anyway, I haven't posted anything about hair in a while so here is my two strand twist out I did today for my hubby's birthday. 

Dec.29, 2012 two strand twist out.

My hair is getting longer and I'm noticing that my hair grows faster in the summer and slower in the winter.  No complaints from me.  I'm just happy that my hair is healthy.  I could live without the fairy knots (single strand knots).  I looked back at my blog and saw that I haven't done a two strand twist out on my entire head since this past summer.  Below is a picture of the last two strand twist out.

June 12, 2012 two strand twist out.

As you can see my hair has grown a lot since June 2012.  When I pull the curls down in the front, my hair is now curling around my chin.  Almost ten inches now and I'm thrilled!

My birthday is in a couple of weeks and the hubby out did himself this time.  I'm huge on quality time with the ones I love and since I don't need or want for any material things the hubby arranged for me and 25 of our friends and family to volunteer at Feed My Starving Children on the Saturday before my birthday.  What better way than to pack food for hungry children all over the world for your birthday party!

On a different note, I'm considering flat ironing my hair for my birthday.  Of course my mother wants me to relax it again (NEVER happening again mom), but maybe a once a year thing during my birthday month .  I'm not sure yet.  Kinda scary to go this long with curls and then risk the possible damaging effects of flat ironing.  Pipe in and let me know what you think.  I respect my natural hair readers, just be nice.  Until next time...

Blessings!

I think I'm in love...well at least a style I really like!

Hello everyone!  I'm totally loving my hair in flat twist outs!  I find that I can control the direction of how my curls will lay better with a flat twist out then a two strand twist out.  I have also learned to cheat a little by just re-twisting just the front.  The results are that my hair gets fuller and fuller as the days go by.  In the last two weeks I think I have worn my hair in a flat twist out on about 10 of those days.

I took these pictures last Thursday and my son demanded to be in a picture.  So, I swooped him out of the tub, tossed a towel on him and snapped a quick picture.  Of course he is chewing on his new car from grandma.  My son loves it when I take a picture of him with my digital camera and then show him the picture.  Until next time...
Blessings!

Flat twist out and loving it!

Ignore my wierd face, I'm just trying to get a good picture of my hair.

 Hello everyone!  The hubby and I both had teacher convention today so we got to spend the day together and actually have lunch alone without our toddler!  Last night I was debating what to do with my hair because I usually co-wash on Wednesdays, but didn't because I was loving my two strand twist out.  So, since my two strand twist out was getting fuzzy I decided to try some flat twists. 

Last night I put nine flat twists in my hair, sprayed a little water (focus on little) on the twists and went to bed on my satin pillow.  This morning I decided to take the flat twists out before I got in the shower to see how they looked and I was in love!!  I still thinking this is the bomb!

 As you can see from the collage, I'm loving this style!  It was wet and drizzly so my hair is even bigger than it was this morning when I left for the convention.  I think plump is a good word to describe how my hair felt after being outside.

Flat twist out before misty weather made it fuller.

I liked the (wet) two strand twist out, but this flat twist out is awesome.  My hair is stretched a little, the curl pattern is lovely and my hair is soft and bouncy.  It only took me about 20 minutes to install the flat twists and that was because I was trying to make the front parts consistent and even.  The back was just part and twist.

This look will easily start coming into the rotation of styles, I just need to figure out how to maintain it for a couple of days.  Until next time...
Blessings!

Church hair - twist out

Hello everyone!  It's been awhile since I've posted anything about my hair.  Well, yesterday I decided to two strand twist my whole head and today I wore a twist out.  At first, I looked at my results and didn't know what I was going to do with my hair.  So, I separated my hair and fluffed out the roots and added my signature flower.

The hubby liked the look.  I think partly because he didn't want to be late for church this morning and because he liked the different style on me.  He actually asked we what this style was called!  The man amazes me sometimes.  He has been listening to me ramble about my hair and the different styles I have been doing.  I heard him on the phone to his mother explaining that I was wearing my hair in a "twist out" today and it looked good.

It only took me about 30 minutes to make about 25 twists in my hair.   All I used was my Aussie Moist conditioner as my leave in and then I started to twist my hair.  I think that tomorrow I will like it even more the bigger it gets.  I took a picture of the back of my head and as clear as day my grays are sticking out and waving at me.

The ends of my hair have a nice coil and then I notice those grays.

Until, next time...
Blessings!

How I've been wearing my hair lately

Hello everyone!  First of all I want to thank everyone for the prayers for Keith and his family.  I plan to do a post about him sometime this week.

It has been a long time since I posted anything about my hair.  About three weeks.  So, I went through my camera and noticed that I had three different pictures on the exact same style that I wore on three different days.  It's basically a wash n go (about 2-3 days old) style with the bangs in a flat twist and of course a flower.

I'm amazed that I basically tip my head the same way and that this style basically comes out the same way every time.

Next, is a flat twist out from the picture on the right.  I liked the way my hair was stretched and the overall look was big hair.  

Today I wore a wash n go.  Simple and the curls are very nice.  The weather is gorgeous and I decided to take a walk along the creek by my house.  The trees are changing and the leaves are worth maybe a drive to check out.

Thank you for following me even though I haven't posted a lot lately.  Until next time...
Blessings!

One wash n go ... three great looks

Hello everyone!  I started my grad classes this week and I'm blown away with all the reading I need to do.  My independent study will be more work than taking a class, but I didn't want another evening class.  Seeing my hubby and spending time with my boy is too important.  I woke up at six this morning and realized that this was the end of my third week of being back to work.  I observed that it was dark outside and that three weeks ago the sun was up.  I went snow boot shopping with my son today and the high temp today was only 68 degrees.  So, for me summer is officially over and winter will be here sooner than I want and fall (even though it's beautiful) is just a reminder that winter is almost upon us.

Anyway, I did my usual wash n go this week and I got three great looks out of it.  The first two photos are my wash n go from my nephew's birthday party on Saturday that I posted this past Monday.  I simply pinned the sides with a barrette on top of my head, made a pompadour with my bangs, and added a flower (of course).  Besides a low grade headache four hours later, this was an easy quick style and I will do it again.  Next time, I will figure out how to do this without the headache.

This next group of pictures is day two and day three hair.  The top row is day two.  I decided to twist my bangs that were in the pompadour into about nine small twists before I went to bed.  I sprayed a little water and slept in my silk scarf.  In the morning I took my twists out, pulled my hair into a puff, and add my new purple flower.  Cute style and I got a lot of compliments on my new flower and earrings.

For day three hair.  I didn't do much.  I didn't re-twist, I just went to bed with my silk scarf, pulled my new headband on and fluffed my hair.  I also got some compliments on this look.  I love how my hair is bigger, but the curls are still popping!  If you look closely in the back my grays are sticking out.  I don't care.  I even have a few in the front.  So.  I love this new headband.  It's just tight enough to hold my hair back, without slipping or causing a headache.  I love the fact that my hair is long enough to have bangs!  The extremes in MN tempatures this week had me in shorts and then wool socks today.  I'm loving the fact that I can wear my hair up or down so I can be warm or cool.

My son and his zucchini.  I love this picture.

On a totally different topic.  A neighbor of mine shared some zucchini with us and my son wanted to be a big boy and carry it home.  This large zucchini was too heavy for him, so I had to help him out.  I had to get a picture of him with this zucchini.  I plan to make zucchini bread this weekend, but first I got homework and reading.  Until next time...
Blessings!

Pony puff with twist out bangs

Hello everyone!  So the playing with my hair continues.  I decided to twist my bangs last night and then this morning I decided to wear my hair up in a pony puff because it has been so hot.  I took my twists out and really liked the look.  The frizz in the front didn't bother me, in fact I like it a lot! I then pinned back part of my bangs and added a flower for my finished look.  I like this look and it kept my hair off my neck on this hot day.  Until next time...
Blessings!

Dry Twist Out

My funky dry twists.

Hello everyone!  I said that I would update you all about my twists I installed Tuesday night.  I didn't wear the twists today because they were fuzzy and even though it's summer I still need to look presentable for work.  So, I decided to wear a twist out.  I had some serious big hair going on this morning.  I mean big fro!  I loved it, but knowing it was going to be hot and humid I decided to pin the sides back and wear a flower.  I know all of you are super surprised that I wore a flower!

Anyway, I learned something through this experience.  When I twist my hair wet and then do a twist out I get some serious definition.  When I twist my hair dry and do a twist out I get little to no definition and big hair.  My hair was stretched a little, but big.  So, in the future now I know what kind of look to expect depending on if I twist my hair wet or dry.  I'm actually thinking about trying a Bantu Knot out on dry hair because I love how big my hair got with the two strand twist out.  I think that would be a great look to wear with a headband.  Until next time...
Blessings!

Left side, wet twist out from June 2012.  Right side, dry twist out from July 2012.

Pinned Up Sides

Hello everyone!  I can finally say that my hair is getting long enough that I can pin back the sides to get a different look.  I tucked rolled the sides and pinned them down.  Of course I added a flower!  I wouldn't be me if I didn't wear a flower.  This look was inspired by Naturally Curious Midsummer Romance look.  Now I don't have the length she has to loosely twist the front or to do the pinned curls in the back, but I did my version on the length I have.  It came out nice on me and I do want to give her credit for inspiring me to do something different with my hair.








Below is the same look, but with my quick finger coils.  I used my Denman brush to help me get these curls.

I did get a picture of my niece wearing a twist out.  You may say "how come she couldn't get a better picture?".  Well this darling six year old decided that she didn't want to pose of any more pictures so, I had to sneak pictures of her when she wasn't paying attention.  I liked her twist out, but she wouldn't let me play with her hair any more.  Eating ice cream and playing were at the top of her to do list, so I relented with just a quick shot of her.

Twist out on my niece.

I spent about 40 minutes twisting my hair and I will decide before I go to work if I will wear my twists, do a twist out, or start over and do a wash n go.  Before I go to bed Monday I will try to take some pictures of my twists and if I wear a twist out I will take pictures.  Until next time...
Blessings!

Twist Out Revisit

Hello everyone!  Last night I co-washed my hair because I wanted to do another twist out.  I co-washed with Hello Hydration, my leave in was my Mop Top daily conditioner, I then added some jojoba oil and for hold I used a little Eco Styler Olive Oil on each twist.  I twisted my hair into 17 twists.  I did a side part this time instead of a center part.  I think the side part covers my thinned out spot better then a center part.  After twisting my hair I went to bed with my silk scarf and in the morning I was very disappointed that my hair wasn't dry.  So, here I was at 7am using my hair drier on cool, with a diffuser sitting on my son's bathroom stool thinking "I would rather still be in bed".  After 20 minutes of trying to dry my twists,  I decided that I was done and that if I didn't like the twist out I would simple wash it out and do a wash n go this morning.   I took my twists out and some of them were still damp, oh well.  I let them flop around while I got my son up and breakfast ready.  I didn't start pulling the twists apart until after I dropped my son off at daycare and came home to monitor the workmen in the yard (I'm getting a new patio).

 I'm really surprised at how much I like this twist out!  I really like the curls in the front and had to stop myself from separating my twists more.  I used my hand to fluff the roots to give me more volume without separating my curls more.  The next time I do this (and I will for sure) I think I will have more/smaller twists in the front.  I'm just hoping that the rain, humidity and sleeping will allow me to wear this until wash day.  Until next time...
Blessings!

First two strand twist out

This Saturday it rained most of the day and I couldn't go out and work in my gardens so I decided to wash and two strand twist my hair.  I decided that I wouldn't wear my twists and go for a twist out for Sunday, Church hair.

Just completed two strand twists.

 Saturday is wash day and I used my Mop Top Products, so I shampooed and then deep conditioned.  After detangling my hair I rinsed most of the deep conditioner out then I smoothed a nickle sized amount of the daily conditioner throughout my hair.  I then sectioned my hair into four sections and applied the leave it in conditioner to each section.  Each section then got about 5 twists in which I used my It's Perfectly Natural root food to seal my hair.  To be honest it only took me about 30 minutes to twist my whole head.  I would of gotten in done faster if my son hadn't of had a crisis with finding his monster trucks.

My older brother was driving into town and he and my hubby planned to work on his car.  So, I had no plans to go out with these twists.  Well, my brother was late so we all ended up going out to eat at the 50's Grill.  This must be a sign that I'm more secure with myself now then I was when I was younger.  I looked at my hubby and said "let me put on some earrings and some lipstick and I'll be ready to go".  I went out to eat wearing my twists and got no strange looks or comments.  Basically, no one cares and it gave me an opportunity to get over myself.

 

I left the twists in my hair all day long and slept in them over night.  When I got up in the morning I used some of my jojoba rosemary oil on my finger tips to unravel the twists.  I looked in the mirror and hated the results.  I thought "this looks so much better on other people".  I was up early with my son and my thought was that I could always wash it out and do a wash n go to church or I could pick it out and wear a head band and a fro. As I went throughout my morning of cooking breakfast and getting my son ready of church I would look in the mirror and play with my hair.  While I was helping my son brush his teeth I started to rake my fingers through my hair and I started to like how it was beginning to look.  Well, basically I played with my hair until I liked it.  Yes, I know that it is a little frizzy, but you can still see the definition. I got dressed for church and wore my twist out.  I didn't get any compliments, but my usually lady friends were not in church today.                                                

I found it to be really difficult to take a picture of the back of my head.  The hubby had greasy hands from working on my brother's car, so I had to figure it out.  I finally got a decent shot that shows the texture of my hair and I really like how my hair turned out.  I think that I need to do this again and play with different sized twists.  Until next time... Blessings!

Chunky Twist Out

Okay, the Bantu Knots didn't survive the night.  I decided to just do a wash and go on Wednesday.  Wednesday night I decided to twist up my hair into about 25 chunky twists.  My son was crawling all over my lap asking me over and over again "momma I want to help" and "momma your hair looks funny".  It took me about 30 minutes to twist up my entire head and I think I could of gotten it done in 15 minutes if "the boy" wasn't distracting me so much.

Chunky twists I just finished putting in.

Twist out and fluffed.

Texture

Needless to say I love this look!  I didn't have to prompt my husband to notice and compliment.  My day care lady said that my hair looks so much longer.  Music to my ears!  I plan to wear the chunky twist out until wash day Saturday.  Tomorrow I might do a fro hawk.  Until next time...
Blessings!

Flat Twist Out and Two Strand Twist Out

On New Year's Eve I started to two strand twist my hair, but after 10 minutes and a crying toddler I decided to also flat twist my hair.  So, I did about 10 two strand twists and 5 fat flat twists to create this look.

No make up and looking tired.

You may of noticed a lack of pictures.  That's because this is the only picture I liked.  The other pictures were either fuzzy or just plain old U.G.L.Y.!  

This is what I've learned from this experience.  Flat twists allow me to determine what direction I want my hair to lay when I take the twist out.  Two strand twists on my short hair, especially on the top makes my hair stick straight out.  On a positive note, I liked the wavy pattern the twist out gave my hair, but I felt like I had to play with it a lot to give my hair some shape instead of randomness.  I'm not going out into public with this look and I plan to only wear it for New Year's Day.  I don't consider this style a failed attempt, considering I learned something about my hair, but I will hold off on the two strand twist outs until I have more length.  Until next time...

Blessings!

Church Hair

Last night I decided to flat twist my entire head of hair for a twist out today.  I washed my hair yesterday and used my Aussie Moist as my leave in.  I then applied my It's Perfectly Natural Root Food to my problem spot and started twisting.  In the front I made more precise parts and in the back it's basically willy nilly.

I love that one curl that escaped the flat twist.

So, I would of worn this look to church today if I could of spent more than a minute without breaking into uncontrollable coughing.  The hubby went to church without me and he took the baby to Sunday school with him.  I'm home sick blogging and napping and thinking I would of rocked this look at church today if I had gone.  I like how this twist out makes my hair big!  I like having some bangs and I really like the wildness of my hair.  Until next time...

Blessings!

Flat Twist Out to Work

Well I finally did my flat twists out and went to work wearing them.  I got a mix reception at work.  From "wow check out your fro" to "what happened to your hair?".  I loved it!  I thought it gave me some length and some bangs.

Can you tell I'm really tired.  My son is finally starting to feel better and now I have what he had.  I can't take sick time because I have to save it for when my son is sick.  My hubby works with medically fragile students, so he stays at home when he's sick to not infect his students.  So, that leaves me with staying with the baby.  Anyway, I liked this look.  It was easy and after seeing Krys look I wanted to see if I could do a variation of her style.  I liked the twist out look on her and next time I will see if I can do some flat twists with a twist out look sometime next week.  Until next time...
Blessings!