Kids, Don't Try This At Home!

Before the textlax:



First go-round (still too tight):



And after much contemplation, trepidation, the desire to feel my scalp, and risking fully relaxed hair for the perfect curl, I did it again, about 4 hours later (combed the condish through):


Hang time:


I'm actually very happy I did this. I know I can't do it again until January, and I'm fine with that. This fix will last me until then. I may even stretch longer than January. Some of my fellow BHMers suggested that I not even follow the schedule I made up. That I should just go on at least an inch of new growth, so as to not overprocess. I know I'm getting more than 1/2" of new growth a month, thanks to the Mega-Tek. I'm a fast grower. I'm not worried about that. I'm just impatient. I have hang time now. When I swing my head, my hair moves. Shrinkage is a bitch, the devil incarnate. I don't want straight hair, I want less shrinkage. That's why I textlax. If I can hold on, and not succumb to the creamy crack again, I will have shoulder length hair by December 2010. I ran out of Mega-Tek, so a BHM hair friend is sending me her extra bottle. I have to get more GNC NoursishHair vitamins. The new thing is henna, and that's going to take a lot of research before I take the leap. I love my BHM hair friends.

For the corrective session, I did the back first. I sat on the sink, in the bathroom, close to the mirror, and parted my hair ear to ear. I put EVOO on the front part to keep it from over processing. I made vertical parts in the back section. I combed the hair to either side of each part and sort of combed the cream about a half inch in. After all the vertical parts were done, then I made horizontal parts just to make sure I got everything. It seemed like when I did it earlier today, and it dried, the back middle was still puffy, and the roots didn't take. I didn't leave it on the back long enough. After all the back was done, I went over the front, making vertical parts from the sides up to the top of my head. My sides were puffy also. It all seems more uniform now. It was a huge risk to textlax twice in one session, but sometimes, no risk, no glory. I followed up with the Nexxus Humectress and a little Mane N Tail. No length pictures until next week.

The Creamy Crack Is Calling Me!

"My hands are over my ears! I'm not listening! Stop calling me... stop it!"
That's the internal dialogue that's going on with me and the creamy crack (aka Silk Elements MegaSilk Relaxer with Shea Butter). I transferred the creamy crack/olive oil mixture into a clean haircolor applicator (with the spout).
It's calling me...
I really want to stretch until December. It's just 34 days away. I don't have the shakes yet. This is funny, but sad, because I don't have an unruly grade of hair. I love my coils and curls (except for the straight ends on the sides of my head). I'm also now rationalizing the reason for stretching until December. Is it to keep it on a calendar type schedule? January, April, July, October? If I did that, then I should textlax tonight (lol), and I'll be ready again in January. Whoever is reading this, is witnessing my crazy, the fact that I can justify textlaxing. I should be shame, that I can't even stick to my word, but I can't even feel my scalp through my NG (new growth). Let me crawl back into my corner, and continue reading the Hair Growth, Texturizing, and Relaxing threads on the BHM. If I textlax between tonight and Length Check Day (November 1st), it will show up in the pictures!

Wednesday - Removed App, Washed Hair

Check out these custom barbies by doll-maker Loanne Hizo Ostlie. They are fabulous. I wish they were around way back when I was playing with them (a million years ago). My playtime scenarios would have been a whole lot different. Loanne's website is Tabloach Productions.

I couldn't hold out until next week. I removed the unit. My head feels so much better. I'm going to try wear it out as long as I can. I'm also going to try to resist the creamy crack. It's calling me. I'm going to get a mild for the next text. I don't think I have enough in the jar for my whole head. I'm going with the same brand, Silk Elements. I did my usual clarifying wash with the Suave Clarifying shampoo, followed by the Creme of Nature Ultra Moisturizing shampoo, followed by a co-wash with the VO5 Tea Therapy conditioner, all in the shower. I rinsed well, then slathered my hair with Mega-Tek and followed that with the Nexxus Humectress. I put Dr. Miracles Intense Spot Serum all around my hairline. My back hairline is a bit discolored, probably from the Walker No Shine Tape. I'm trying to nurse it back to health:

My nape looks like somebody's rusty, ashy ass knees! Nobody knows me here, so I'm going to rock my natural curlies for the whole month of November... yeah, right! I know I'm going to break down. I'm in a kind of pissy mood, and my short curly hair reflects that "don't mess with me" attitude. We'll see.
The straight ends are driving me crazy. I'm not cutting them until my hair is grazing my jaw! I may start bobby pinning the napes on, instead of the glue/tape sandwich.

My New Internet Finds

Back to the routine, the grind, the hustle. Researching stuff and thinking about my book. I was really on a writing streak last week. Then the making of the socks got in the way. Now it's back to the grind.

This is Marsha Hunt. I knew of her as Mick Jagger's first baby momma (Karis Jagger), but she is SOOOO much more. She is an actress, singer, WRITER, and all around fabulous black woman. Please peep her website. A friend of mine sent me her iconic picture a couple of years ago because we started a joke on MySpace that I was a band, and the name of the band was Bunchie Dithers and The Carpet Munchers. I didn't know that was her. Wow. I found her today on LeobodyC5's Youtube page. Who is LeobodyC5, you ask?

My new hair hero on Youtube is LeobodyC5. She's beautiful. I'm still watching her vids. I don't wish for my hair to be that long, but I want it to be as healthy as it can be. She's an inspiration to me. I definitely subscribed to her channel. I'd like to know if she's ever cut her hair. I wonder if it's always been that long.

My head is itchy. I think it's because it's a bad app. My worst. I took pictures and they don't look so bad, but it doesn't feel good. I had my first hair encounter last night. Me and the love of my life went to the mall (I had to get a new bra for my enormous ta-tas - I hate my ta-tas but he loves them, so there it is). As we're walking around looking for Fredrick's (these ta-tas would love to fit into Victoria's Secret, but Fredrick's tells me the truth!), this girl comes up to me and asks if I'd be interested in extensions. WTF????? I think she was trying to find out if I had on a lace wig. My app is bad, but Amgib says it wasn't as bad as I thought. You know I got a little paranoid. Anyway, we start talking and she reveals that she was wearing a lace wig. I was telling her how happy I was to meet another black woman that lived in San Jose, that was into lace wigs. She said she didn't attach it with adhesive and hers is attached with bobby pins. Interesting. I gave her my number. It would be cool if she calls.

Has anyone seen the Baskin Robbins "Ice Cream and Cake and Cake" commercials? I LOVE that song!!! Now they have the Halloween remix on! Love it!

In 36 more days, I'm textlaxing. I need to get more creamy crack. I'm wondering if I should get the same brand (Silk Elements), and if should I get a mild. I probably need to consult the growth section on the BHM forum. 36 days! Stretching is nerve wrecking. Why am I stretching (I ask myself)? So as to not overprocess the processed parts.

A Great Relaxing Weekend

They say a picture's worth a thousand words? Well, here goes!


I took too many beautiful pictures and I know I can't load them all up. We had a great time up at the cabin. It's so beatiful there. I told Amgib that I think the natural beauty of northern California is so much more rewarding than the plasticity of southern California. We saw a old train pass by and 10 minutes later, we were on that same train:
Very spontaneous and a lot of fun. I don't want to even talk about my horrible application. I don't know what happened, but it was clowning the day after I put it on. It's cutting on the top of my right ear, and the nape is out of control. I'm thinking I may redo it, but I've only got 5 days before it's length check picture day, so I'll hold out. I ain't going nowhere.

My friend Demetria has a blog. I'm definitely promoting it because she is SO funny. She was a poster on my old blog, and all everyone talked about was her blogs. I'm glad she started her own. Definitely check her out (she's listed in my blog list to the right).

App removed, hair fascinating!

I just removed my app. I can feel the tingle of the Dr. Miracle's Intense Spot Serum as I type this. Of course, I took lots of pictures. The Walker No Shine Tape is the DEVIL to remove. Still only using oil sheen, 91% alcohol, and Goo Gone Gel, I sprayed my hairline, and waited for it to work. Whew lawd! After all the adhesive residue came up, I washed my hair with the Suave Daily Clarifying Shampoo and the Cream of Nature Ultra Moisturizing Shampoo. Clearly, I don't know what I'm doing. There's no rhyme or reason to my hair madness. After I washed it, this is what it looked like:
I think it's neat. It kind of looks like sheep wool. Then I put Mane N Tail and the Nexxus Humectress on it, and it looked like this:
peep the Michael Jackson curl that fell (I swear I didn't pull it down!). I don't know what's going on with the straight ends: I haven't put any creamy crack on the ends, just the roots (the 3 times I've done it). I think the weight of the hair or maybe when I cornrow it, is straightening the hair, I think the hair on my sides is just a different type, maybe a 3a and my other areas are 3c. The shrinkage is disheartening. I'm praying that I can stretch (not textlax) until December, maybe do it in the middle of the month. I need some more MegaTek in my life. I'm putting on the Rex Virgin Malaysian Natural Straight probably on Friday morning, before we go to the cabin. I'll wear a cute scarf in the car... I may be daring and not even wear a wig on this trip!

Me natural in 2000

I found this picture while I was cleaning today. This is me natural in 2000. Check the length! I was with my friend Lauren and we were at some poetry function. I used to spit spoken word... word.

We're going to the cabin this weekend (Friday), so I'm going to do a new app on Wednesday. I don't want to be worried about my hair up there. I'll take pictures. That area is really beautiful. It's near Yosemite. I'll take my laptop because the writing faucet is ON... eventhough I'm still distracted with everything else. There is no internet access up there, oh well.

My Other Hobby - Knitting

I do other things besides obsess about hair. I like to play guitar. I used to write songs as I thought I would be a famous singer/songwriter. I still intend on putting some performance vids up on YouTube. Right now, because the weather has turned a bit cooler (for California standards), I've picked up my kntting needles. I've made sweaters, and a blanket (that's still in process, after 6 years), tons of scarves, mittens, stuffed animals, baby clothes, and my current favorite, socks. I love making socks. It takes me about 6 days to make a pair. I can practically make them without a pattern. These are my 'sliding around the house' socks.
I'm almost done with this pair: (excuse my foot)
I hope I'm not doing all of this stuff to avoid doing what I claim to want to do, which is write. I came up with a great, crucial line to one of my embryonic ideas. I wish I could show up at the page everyday, but it's like I have ADD or something. Anyway, enjoy the knitting wares!

Happy Day... more like It's A Sunshine Day!

Just some pics of my current app (Frankenlace). I'm really jonesin for a 14" Rex IR Loose Curly. Maybe if I keep putting it into the universe, it will manifest.

My Brady Bunch dvds arrived today. I thought they would come in one box, like my Thunderbirds set. No booklet or anything. I'm happy either way. I have my Brady Bunch books (Growing Up Brady and Bradymania). It's a sunshine day!!!

New App Today

Nothing special, just a new app. I have to look at my blog to see when it's time to take off my units. Next year, I'll use a planner to mark app/removal days. I took my hair down yesterday and washed it with the Suave Clarifying shampoo. Then I put some MegaTek on it, then some Mane N Tail, then oiled my scalp with the Doo Grow Stimulating Growth Oil. I put Dr. Miracle's Spot Serum on my nape because it is a bit tore up. Today, I didn't wash out my mix from yesterday, and braided it up. I can't post length check pictures, so the pictures above are to show my natural color coming in. That's a neat effect, for the color to be in the braid. I've rotated to Frankenlace, who's still shedding, but I'm not caring so much. I'm kinda jonesin' for a 14" Indian Remy Loose Curly from Rex. I don't normally do IRs or units that short, but it's something different. I don't see me getting it anytime soon. The LF Gods have been too good to me in the past, and I'm so very thankful.

Everyone's up in arms over the hair debate still. I joined Tyra's "Rockin' My Real Hair" group on the Tyra Show forum and I have a page there. I also joined the NaturallyCurly.com site and I have a page there. Miss Jessie's is having a Grow Out Challenge, so I joined that. I would love some Curly Pudding, Curly Meringue, or Baby Buttercream, but their ish is sooooo expensive. Really, I don't believe the hype. I know I kinda jumped on their bandwagon just when I discovered them, but the .79 conditioners (Suave/VO5) does the trick equally well, being the recessionista that I am. I love my hair. I know what it can and what it can't withstand. I'm going to continue to textlax every 3-4 months, just for manageability. Eventually, hair will be an after though to me. Just pull it up into a messy, curly ponytail and go to the beach. Slick it back with some conditioner/gel, into a low pony, and go to the movies. Maybe get caught in the rain on the way to the car. Go swimming and not worry about poof and reversion. Hair freedom! Now that's what I'm talking about.

I do believe it's time to get the knitting needles out! I've got the K2P2 urge... I need to record to video at least 1 song, and write another chapter in my book before I pick up my knitting needles, even though my knitting bag is sitting right on the sofa right beside me... that ish is calling me! I want to make that sweater that Carrie had on when Aleksandr was playing the piano for her. Episode #88 The Ick Factor.

My "Brady Bunch: The Complete Set" was supposed to be delivered today. I don't understand why they took so long to ship. Must have been the free shipping option. Next up: Lost In Space Seasons 1-3.

Okay, I'm sick of the hair debate... Chris Rock's "Good Hair" documentary.

My ranting thread on BHM today:
"I'm venting. I'm watching Chris Rock on Tyra. Okay, I'm getting sick of this "hair" debate (good/bad, long/short, kinky/straight). Chris Rock has gone on ALL the shows to promote his movie (I've seen him on Oprah (twice!), The View, The Monique Show, and The Tyra Show). I can't knock his grind/hustle, and maybe this subject needed to be brought to light...
*BUT*
I can't understand the power that people have given hair.
I can't understand how people who wear extensions say they feel ugly without them.
I can't understand how some people say they can't let their significant other see their "real" hair.
I can't understand the male mentality that values a woman's hair (length/texture) over her personality/heart. That seems pretty shallow to me.

There was a lady on Tyra that was scared to reveal her real hair to her husband. Tyra just said she didn't want one of her boyfriends to see her getting her weave done. Why not?

I'm standing by everything I'm saying here. I wear LFs to grow my hair out, but I wear my hair out too. My hair is short and curly (in my avi) right now. My man sees me with short hair, and with my LFs. He sees me putting my LF on and taking it off. He loves me with my hair anyway he sees it."

I'm sick of it! I know this is so ironic, since I have a blog titled "Magic Hair". The thing is, I'm not a slave to my hair. My hair doesn't dictate my life. I will swim, shower, workout, and whatever else I want to. Especially since I'm no longer using heat on my head, I feel free. So what if it rains? My hair loves water. My hair loves being short, and my hair is having fun growing longer everyday. I love that I comb my hair even less now, since it's curly. It's like the less I do to it, the better it performs. I was talking with my daughter (a hair professional), and I asked her if it's possible for black women to stop straightening their hair. Why have we come to associate nappy hair as bad hair? Even though I textlax my hair every 3-4 months, if not combed, it's as nappy as sheep wool. And during the time my LF is off, I don't comb my hair. I let it stay coily and springy and I love it. Lacefronts have strictly become a protective style for me. I don't pretend the hair is mine (that's grown out of my head), and if anyone asks me if it's a wig, I say that it is. Ain't no shame in my game. I'm just up in arms now that society has deemed nappy hair "bad hair". This ain't over... :-(

I do plan on going to see the movie though.

I'm just obsessed with my new growth!

Today was app day, and I just wanted to post pics of my new growth. I'm loving my roots!




I can't wait until December. That's when I'm going to textlax again, if I can hold out that long. Uncombed, I can't even drive a comb through my hair. I only comb my hair twice - when I take my braids down, and right before I braid my hair back up. I have to use Mane N Tail to soften it, then I comb it. I put the MegaTek in my parts after I braided my hair. I can't say whether or not it's different from the MegaTek. The next time I textlax, I'm going to leave it on a little longer than 5-7 minutes. I'm going for hangtime now, and less texture. I want straighter roots with curly ends. As long as my ends are curly, I'm good. I don't want the bushy look. Thank God I can braid it up. If I couldn't, I'd have jacked my hair up by now.

Happy October!

I can't believe the year is flying by so fast. I've been in California for 10 months now, still jobless (dang, why won't Target or Walgreen's call?!). I'm trying to make the most of it. I have a loving boyfriend, beautiful surroundings, and time to create, be it music or my writing. I am a little sad that we have to find Dagny a new home, because we can't have pets where we live. My heart is broken over that. I've really been working on getting my guitar playing up to speed, so I can join the fray and start recording performance videos - me sitting in front of the camcorder, playing and singing my favorite songs, and maybe some originals. I've been playing everyday, and my fingers hurt like hell. I'm very encouraged about doing this though, since I've been dabbling in songwriting most of my life.
Today is "remove the current unit" day. It's also hair picture day too. I really don't feel like removing this unit, but it's been on since 9/22 (the last post). I'm a little itchy. I'm glad I pinpointed that my nape doesn't like the WNST. The itchies weren't bad at all this time, since I used Super Tape on my nape. The Frankenlace really held up this app. It looked good (to me, at least) everyday. She's still shedding like a beast, but I think that may be from where the seam is joined. A lot of hair got trapped in there, then I cut it from the inside. It's like the worse I treat the wig, the better it handles. The only thing is that I forgot to dip the cap into the cocoa brown rit dye. The lace is yellowish/orange (yesterday in the car):

I can't believe I forgot to dye the lace back down. You can still see the blondish roots on this pic:
Other than that, no lifting on this app, except for a small area on the nape, and that was after I washed the hair in the shower yesterday. The seam was much more comfortable this app too. I'm only removing the unit because this is the 10th day. It's almost like I'm using my head as a calendar.
In closing, I will devote a seperate YouTube player just for my music clips on this page.