Exercise Naturally

In my opinion, if you're going thru this process, wear contacts!!! The one thing I hate more than anything is smudged glasses! So annoying! With all the products you may end up using/spraying on your hair, it's going to end up on your glasses. So, do yourself a favor, get contacts.

That was my mini vent for the evening.

But, to the subject. How often do you wash your hair if you work out? whether you co-wash or shampoo?

I was my hair twice a week. I workout 3-4 days out of the week...now. When I would get relaxers, it ran my life. You know, don't want to sweat your perm out! That's the main reason why I didn't exercise that often while relaxed (i know, excuses, excues..). The maintenance after a workout. Washing, conditioning, styling, etc. It just took too much time to get it back straight. It was so easy to damage my hair with blow drying it to get the quick results.

Now, slow and steady wins this race. I came home from my workout and co-washed my hair. Added my products (Shea butter, Design Essential Leavin-In Conditioner, Tui Oil) and rolled it. As I type this, I'm seated in my bed sitting under the dryer. I don't know why I couldn't take this time out when I had a relaxer, it just seemed like too much work to get it back straight. Now, if my hair is puffy...good. That's how it's supposed to be!

Favorite Hair Style

This is my favorite transitioning hair style but it just takes the longest time to acheive. That's why I tried Bantu Knots. I saw it on this youtube video.

This picture was taken the first time I did this style on 04/01/09. I have to say..not to bad for my first time.

Now I didn't use everything in the video and I did this after washing my hair. But I think the main point was moisture since you will have to sit under the dryer.

This is what I did:

• Co-Washed my hair with what I had at home. Nothing spectacI can't remember now b/c I've changed conditioners a few times.
  

Hair should be damp but not dripping wet.

Next I did:

• Tui Hair Oil - Carol's Daughter. I used about a quarter size. Rubbed it thru my hair concentrating on the crown (my driest part).
• Therapeutics Rx Leave-In-Design Essentials. I used a little more than a quarter size and rubbed it thru my hair. Again concentrating on the crown.
  
• 15-20 Medium size perm rods. You can use whatever size you want here. I just haphazardly picked up 2 bags when I was at the beauty supply store. The bigger the perm rods the less you'll need. But it doesn't hurt to pick up a few bags. I find that the plastic piece on the end tends to break off. So, you may need extra.
• Detangle hair!!! I haven't invested in a detangler product but the ones I listed above seem to work fine for me.
  

When I first started doing this, I used a comb to section my hair and section the pieces. However, this is NOT necessary. Use your natural combs (your fingers) to get the hair you need.

Do a two strand twist and wrap around the rods. Once you have all the hair rolled, it will look similar to this.

You'll have to sit under the dryer for a while or do this early enough in the day you're off work and let it air dry. Once dry....


Now, all you need to do is open your curls to get the full curly fro affect. I take Tui Hair Oil again and rub it thru my hair when it's like this and start opening the curls. No comb needed!

I still hadn't found an easy way to sleep with this style, besides going thru the process again. However, instead of co-washing, I use a spray bottle filled with Distilled water, Rosemary EO, Spearmint EO & Tea Tree EO. Rosemary is supposed to aid in hair growth so that's why I use that. The Spearmint masks the Rosemary smell (really don't want to smell like Italian food!) and Tea Tree is an antifungal (no moldy water!).

My hair comes out soft and silky. I love the curls.