International Natural Hair Meetup Day Colorado Re-Cap

The Denver metro area looked more like Seattle during the month of May.  However, the sun finally   decided to make an appearance this weekend.  This made for great weather and a big turnout for the International Hair Meetup Day Colorado (INHMD) on Saturday.

Fashion Show Segment

 The event was an annual celebration of natural hair and this year Colorado was included as one of the participating locations.  The meetup was presented by Design Essentials and coordinated with the help of local group, Colorado Urban Naturals, which is led by Phaedra High.  It was apparent that a lot of hard work and care went into bringing this event together so kudos to all who helped out.

Andrea Grady of Colorado Urban Naturals

There were people of all ages present and lots of natural hair styles to admire.  I was there to participate in the Bloggers and Stylists panel discussion.  I enjoyed sharing information with the audience but also learned some things that may help me on my own hair journey.

Upper left; My Mom and I having fun at the event. Upper Right; Me speaking on the panel
Bottom; Rhonda Lee and fellow Bloggers on the panel
(upper right Photo Credit @NaturalCharisma on IG)

Lovely Naturalistas Asia and Kenya
with their gorgeous locks

It was also nice to speak with other naturals whether they were vendors or attendees. There were so many business owners there who really knew their craft and I loved hearing more about their products.  There was jewelry, bath and body, wellness products and more.  

Tanya with Ajaya Body Inc.
who makes bath and body products
Thanks for the Shea Butter!

FOLLOW CURLY IN COLORADO ON FACEBOOK FOR EVENT UPDATES

Having a little hair talk with Marilyn after the panel discussion

Tiara Beasley (CEO) and Micah Curtis (Co-Counder) of Chic Love Naturals
It was lovely speaking with these two about hair products

The event schedule moved along smoothly with the help of emcee, Carolyn King.  On the Blogger & Stylists panel we briefly discussed our natural hair journeys then covered a few topics.  Rhonda Lee, the meteorologist who joined the panel was delightful.  She reminded us of the importance of giving encouragement to those who are starting their hair journey.  I enjoyed meeting Naomi of @CoilyCulture, Abena of @NaturalCharisma and @TuffCurlz.  I also had a chance to chat with Sabrina Perkins from the blog,  Seriously Natural, whom I worked with before on another natural hair event.   

Carol Richardson and Dana Simmons of
Succulent Sensations
who were food vendors for the event

The discussion was followed by a live performance by Ebony Lion and then a fashion show.
There was even a live demo of a crochet braids install at the Glam Bar.  

I was so happy to speak with Micah Sims who is a
Hair Stylist who specializes in Natural Hair
She does braids and starts locs too
email mrsMicahSims@gmail.com

Overall the event proved to be a very positive one for local naturalistas and for the black community as a whole.  If you missed it be sure to follow Colorado Urban Naturals on Facebook for upcoming events.  It looks like they are currently working to bring us another Denver Natural Hair Expo in September.  Be sure to watch this space for more on natural hair tips and event updates!

Protective Style Challenge and Youtube Channel Updates

Here's my latest Youtube Video where I go over a few updates for my channel and natural hair

journey.  I even speak a little bit about what I'm doing with my hair now for moisture during the colder weather.

WATCH MY LATEST HAIR UPDATE ON YOUTUBE

My Protective Style Challenge 

This weekend I posted a video to help keep all of my viewers up to date on my protective style challenge.  I started wearing my natural hair in protective hair styles in hopes to retain more length this year.  I would like to see my hair at least a few inches longer so I thought putting it away would help speed things up.

One Name to Rule Them All

Last month I took the plunge and renamed my Youtube Channel.  It was something that I was contemplating for some time now.  It feels good to have one name across all of my social media platforms as well.  Just makes things so much easier for me.

Winter Hair Routine and New Products

Lately I have been playing around with a couple of moisturizers to help boost my curly styles.  I'm having great success and mention both in my new video.


Be sure to stop by my Youtube Channel for more hair tutorials and curly hair updates!

Natural Hair: Growing it Out In Your Own Time

This last couple of weeks I've been kicking myself for the frequent trimming that has kept my hair journey stuck in neutral.  Right now my hair sits just below APL (arm pit length) in back and layered in front with bangs (when straight).  My main motivation for going natural was to grow my hair longer.  I figured I was on a five year plan but saw how much faster my hair grew (or broke less) during the first year natural.  I was so excited and figured I would see Bra Strap Length hair (BSL) some time around the halfway mark.  When that didn't happen, I started to get down on myself and wonder what I was doing wrong.  It also didn't help that I kept seeing progress pics and videos from others who gained length and thickness in what seemed to be much less time.

HAIR GROWTH TALK AND TIPS

INSPIRATION VIDEO BY "MYNATURALSISTAS"

This week though, I watched a very helpful video that reminded me that everyone's natural hair journey is different.  It's okay to look to others' experiences for inspiration.  However, it is unrealistic to compare my hair to someone else's even though we may have the same hair texture and starting point.  Each hair journey is a very individual experience and there are so many different variables that decide the outcome.  There's also a lot to learn along the way and we all do this in our own time. 

For now, I'm going to try to not focus so much on what I DON'T have and get back to appreciating what I DO have.  The longer length will come in time so I'm just going to have some fun with my hair as it is right NOW.

What Has My Hair Been Up To?

Whoa!  Blogging for the first time in a loooong time.  I also took a break from my Youtube channel for a little while but I'm feeling motivated so here I am.  This first post back I thought that maybe I would share pictures of some of the styles I've been rockin' while away from the blog.  I pretty much have been going back and forth between curly and straight.  It has really been a learning experience because I have been forced to really pay attention to my hair and watch for damage.  Yes, the dreaded heat damage that I swore I would do my best to avoid!  Oh well, when it comes down to it I just really enjoy variety and my hair is no exception.

CHECK OUT MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL

During this time I have rediscovered the Aphogee product line that I used in my Transitioning days.  I've been experimenting with the Leave-in (a spray) and the 2 Minute Reconstructor.  I credit both for helping me to retain my curly texture after each heat use.  Now normally you wouldn't think it necessary to use protein based products on natural hair but in my case, it's essential.  I've seen first hand how heat can do major damage to my curls so the protein just helps to strengthen my hair where it needs it.

I haven't forgotten about my henna though.  I still like to use it for covering my greys but may get back to using it in the form of henna glosses for conditioning.  Overall, I'm pretty happy with where my hair is right now.  I would like to see a little bit more length though so we'll see where it ends up; no hurry.

By the way, I'm posting videos more often on my channel on Youtube called, Mitchellzee so check that out for updates on my hair journey, tips and reviews.  Ciao!

1/2 WIGGIN' IT

WASH N' GO WITH A HUMP

1/2 UP 1/2 DOWN

WASH N' GO WITH BANGS PINNED BACK

STRAIGHT

STRAIGHTENED AGAIN

WASH N' GO (WET HAIR)

SLICKED BACK/ BANDED PONYTAIL

DONUT BUN

CURLY BRAID OUT

Protecting Your Hair at Night

Satin Bonnet
for when I'm wearing rollers and
curly braid outs

I've been writing lately about Protective Hairstyles which can help with length retention.  Yet another way to protect the hair is by wrapping it up at night.  This may sound like a no brainer to some but there is a lot of benefit for the hair by doing this one thing.   This practice can be a huge help when trying to reach your hair length goals.

I  recently re-read a bit of Wanakee Pugh's "Practical Guide to Haircare" and something stood out to me.  She stated that even if your hair is too short to be pulled back into a protective style, you can still benefit from wrapping your hair at night.  This reminded me of the beginning of my Natural Hair journey because I did this faithfully every night.  My hair was maybe only 1 1/2 inches long at the time but I kept it wrapped up in my satin scarves when I went to sleep.  Now that my hair is longer I can tell a huge difference in my hair when I go to bed without covering it up.  I wake up to tangles and sometimes dryness.  I agree that it is not the cutest look going but it works.

I mentioned my satin scarves (I have a nice little collection) but you can also use a satin bonnet.  Satin is a man made material that is easy to wash and can be long lasting.  This is highly recommended as far as material choice because it does not draw moisture away from the hair and is smooth so it won't disturb it very much while you sleep.  When I wear rollers to bed I usually reach for my satin bonnet.  Otherwise, I have scarves in a variety of sizes for when I wear braids, twists and protective styles to bed.  Here's a few pics of how I wrap my hair.

Pineapple for the Corkscrew Braid Out
with my edges protected

Air drying while smoothing my edges 

Large Satin Scarf to protect my
 Roller Set from the rain

Satin Bonnets and Scarves from
the local BSS

Protective Style: Flat Twist UpDo

I'm finally embracing the idea of protective styling to help me retain more length.  This concept has been so hard for me to grasp because I absolutely love wearing my hair out.  The more time I spend over at K.I.S.S. hair forum the more I see that during the week (Monday thru Friday) there really isn't any need to wear my hair down.  I'm usually shuttling the kids to school, exercising and running errands which does not require a glam look.  Still, when I want to look somewhat put together I just throw my hair up into two large flat twists and I'm good.

Before, I discovered this look I was always wearing two french braids (under hand braiding) or two cornrows (over hand braiding).  Sometimes though I think the braids made me look a little juvenile so for this reason I started wearing the twists
more often.

Flat Twists secured
with a Barret

My process is pretty simple.  I discovered that the flat twists have lots more volume when I allow my hair to air dry first.  Usually after my wash day routine, I apply my leave-ins and just pull my hair back into a braided bun for a whole day until it is mostly dry.  Then I take the hair down so I can apply my moisturizer and seal with grapeseed or olive oil.  After this step, I separate my hair into two large sections, parting down the middle and pin one side up with a clip to keep it out of the way.  I lightly comb out the other side with a wide tooth comb and begin flat twisting from the front of my head all they way to the nape.  I found that the twist looks best when I grab smaller sections for each turn.  After twisting all the way down I let the twist sit for a few minutes because it will gradually loosen a bit and look fuller.  I repeat on the other section.  Once both flat twists have "grown," I take the tail ends and twist them around each other.  I then tuck them at the base of the twists with a bobby pin or barrette.  If I want bangs I just take a small section at the front and do three small two-strand twists.  Then I swoop them and secure the bangs into one of the twists.  If I see any loose points along either twist I just use bobby pins to tighten things up.

I used three small two-strand twists
for a side swooped bang

I enjoy wearing this style because it has the potential to look really glam with a little makeup and some earrings.  This is also an easy style to take down so that I can moisturize and seal my hair whenever it is starting to feel dry.  The best thing is knowing that I'm taking care of my hair by simply keeping it tucked away.

Knitting Season

Almost finished knitting up my scarf

During the warmer months I don't tend to think very much about knitting.  For me, I always reach for my yarn when the first sign of fall hits.  As always, I have a long list of projects on my brain especially this close to Christmas.  Let's face it though, my dream of knitting everyone in the family a hat and scarf set is probably not gonna happen at this point.

My Crocheted Beret
Completed last year

For right now, I'm finishing up a replacement scarf for myself with a neat little yarn I picked up at an estate sale a couple of years ago.  Once that's done, I'm moving onto knitting Harry Potter themed scarves* for my kids.  The twins are in first grade so I can get away with knitting something a little shorter in length but I'm sure my oldest would like his full scale.  His will be in the colors of Slytherin house.  I guess my Griffindor scarf will have to wait until after the holidays because I'll be really busy until then.

This leaves me with very little time to knit or crochet up a nice beanie for when my hair is still in braids on cold mornings.  Whenever I do a braid out my hair is sometimes not completely dry until the afternoon.  For this reason I just keep it braided up while I take the kids to school.  For now, I'm using the beret I crocheted last year but I want to change it up a bit.  Also, it would be nice if I could just wear french braids as a protective style under a cute beanie a few days each week until I reach my goal length.  I'm really pushing for APL (still!) by New Year's but I've got to start wearing my hair up more.

Up Close

Luckily, I just found out about a good deal on crocheted beanies at Forever21.com from NaturallyObsessed.net (natural hair blog by Kinky Curly Queen of YouTube fame).  She mentioned that some hats on the site were priced as low as $5.50 so I'm gonna jump on it before they're gone.  As far as crafting goes, it looks like it'll be a cup of tea, a movie and some knitting needles every night until the holidays if I want to get those scarves in.  Happy Crafting!


* CLICK HERE If you want to find out more on How to Knit a Harry Potter Scarf

Henna and Indigo Results

I finally got around to ordering my indigo so that I could cover my burgundy hair color with something a little more modest.  I'm sure the bright red henna'd hair I had before is appealing to some but it was not my cup of tea.  I wasn't quite ready for the lengthy two step process where you henna first, rinse out and then apply indigo for a jet black result.  Instead, I mixed one package of Godrej Nupur Henna (50g) with 100 grams indigo.  I ordered the indigo powder from Butters-n-Bars.com which is the same online store where I get my raw unrefined shea butter.

I kept the henna mix pretty simple as always and just mixed it with a mug of strong green tea to help the dye release.  I added enough water to give the mixture a smooth, almost pancake batter consistency and let it sit overnight.  The next day, when I was ready to apply it, I mixed the indigo into a paste with just plain water and added it to the henna.  I don't add oils anymore because I read that it can slow the dyeing process.  I applied the "Hendigo" to my hair like a clay mask and covered with plastic wrap.  Then I waited for four hours before rinsing and then co-washing several times to get it all out of my hair.

The application took very well to the majority of my hair but left my grey strands with just a tinge of color.  I'm planning on doing another application to the roots and grey hairs sometime this week 'cause I don't need everybody knowin' how old I'm getting.  If my greys are still too obvious afterward I may reconsider dyeing my hair all black with the two step process.

My stubborn grey strands are still noticeable 

I like the reddish brown tone in the sun

Biking with Natural Hair

My Bike Helmet
with Flat Twists Underneath

My family and I love going on outdoor adventures.  This summer we have been doing a lot more bike riding together.  I always make sure that the kids wear their helmets but I haven't really been into wearing mine. 

That was until I noticed nearly every other adult on the bike path wearing theirs.  At the very least they had on a cap for sun protection.  So I decided it was time to get out the old bike helmet.  Never mind the fact that it makes me look like Kazoo from the Flintstones.  Safety first, right?  The only thing I had to figure out though was what to do with my thick, curly hair underneath. 

When I go for a bike ride in the morning, the solution is pretty simple.  My hair is usually in twists or braids from the night before so I just wait until after the bike ride to take my hair down.  This means shuttling the kids to school while wearing a satin scarf on my head but hey, I know I'll be cute later on in the day, so that's alright.  I don't even bother removing the scarf because it protects my hair while under the helmet.  Another option is after a braid out when my hair is more flexible, I can get my hair to "lay down" under the helmet without too much of a fight using bobby pins. 



Flat Twists under Helmet
Back View

 Other times though when my hair is up in a bun or puff, the helmet doesn't really work.  Still, in Colorado you really can't get away without some type of sun protection.  The high elevation here can make for some serious sun exposure so I still like to wear a visor and leave my hair up on top of my head like in the pic below. 

So there you go Natural Hair Queens and Curly Goddesses...now there is no reason not to rock your head gear while on your bike ride.  Be safe and happy riding.

Rockin' the Bun with
My Visor

Semi Permanent Color Over Henna



My Henna'd Hair in the Sun



As you can see from the title, I have finally decided that I'm going to attempt to cover my currently burgundy hair with a Semi-Permanent rinse.  When I started using henna I mixed it with Indigo in order to get a brunette effect.  I was never really successful but continued to use henna each month for the past year or so.  Although, I love the benefits from using henna, I never really intended for my hair to end up so red.  We're talkin' Rhianna type red in the sunlight at this point. 

I've been debating this for a few months now.  Originally I decided that I would just order more indigo and do a two step henna/indigo process.  This is where you apply the henna like normal and after rinsing it completely, apply the indigo for another 30 minutes to an hour and rinse.  The result is Jet black hair and it is permanent.  I know from past efforts that black hair does not look so hot against my skin tone.  Somehow it makes my face look really red and I always have trouble adjusting my makeup palette to suit the black hair color.  Because of this, the darkest I can go is a dark brown. 

For this reason, I decided to go with Clairol's Beautiful Collection in the color Darkest Brown which has a neutral base.  It is a formula that does not contain ammonia or peroxide.  I've read over on NaturalSunshine.ning.com that the Clairol line is pretty much the only one considered gentle enough for Natural hair.  I'm going this route because I figure the color result will be more predictable than trying to mix henna and indigo for the color I want.  The only thing I'm concerned about at this point is the Isopropyl Alcohol which can be drying.  I'm going to make sure and do a moisturizing deep conditioning treatment after rinsing the product and then do an ACV rinse to close down the hair cuticles.  I'll post pictures after the application and do a review.

The Cherry Creek Arts Festival 2011

I remember attending the very first Cherry Creek Arts Festival when I was in High School.  I was a budding artist and the concept was so cool to me.  Basically, it's a large scale art event situated right in the middle of the Cherry Creek North shopping district.  There is usually a lot of live music, wine & beer gardens, food and even craft stations for the little ones.  Not only is there lots of cool activities, music and artist booths, but visiting the surrounding shops can be fun too.  Now that I'm older, I enjoy heading to the festival but with the family in tow.  My kids all love to draw so I like to think that maybe the art and artists are an inspiration for them now like the festival was for me when I was younger.  It sounded like a great way to spend my birthday this week which is only 3 days after the 4th of July. 

 Here are a few pictures I took at this years' event.

My Curly Braid out

Lots of good food

Just couldn't resist the Smoked Turky Leg

Festive 4th of July bikes

My Protective Hair Styles for Summer

Side Bun

I'm really trying to be patient for APL which has been my hair length goal for a while now.  I'm still an inch away from it which is really frustrating.  I'm guessing it will take another two months before I reach it.  I've decided that in order get to where I want to be, I need to really baby my hair and keep it protected. 

It actually feels good to keep my hair off of my neck on hot days.  I try to wear my hair up in a bun or french braids whenever I can.  Sometimes I also like to throw it up into the occasional puff.  I've even been thinking about wearing some type of half wig or lace front to keep my hair completely under wraps.  That's a new concept for me though so it may be a minute before I jump on that bandwagon.  I wore it down for the 4th of July weekend but now it's back up again.

Side Bun Back view

French Braids

Our Herb Garden

Lavender Flowers in our herb garden

This morning the hubby and I got up to harvest a few herbs from our garden.  Almost everything in it is edible except for a few flower bushes and ground covers.  The soil is dark and rich and most of the plants come back each year which gives us lots of herbs all summer long.  Herbs can really take off once in the ground but we also have some planted in containers.  



Fresh cut lavender ready for drying

Our lavender bushes were the main concern today because the flowers can lose essential oils as the heat sets in later in the afternoon.  We have to cut them in the morning so that they'll be at their best for later use.  Afterwards, we hang them to dry in a cool, dark place and then use the flowers and buds in crafts like lavender sachets or Lavender Vanilla Sugar. 









Potted rosemary

I try to use most of the herbs fresh when I cook during the summer and whatever is left in the fall, we cut and dry for the winter months.  My husband also uses some of the herbs to make his own fruit & herb flavored vinegars which we currently sell in our Etsy store.





 

 

 

 

 

Fresh cut chives

This week we're planning on cooking steaks for the first time on our new grill so the chives we cut today will go great with baked potatoes.  I'm also looking forward to using the mint in drinks this weekend or to top a creamy dessert.



CHECK OUT our Etsy store, MimisCraftPantry for Dave's Herb Flavored Vinegars.



Sage

I use this in chicken dishes
and my homemade cornbread dressing



Peppermint
I love that it grows continuously
throughout the summer

Potted thyme
Adds flavor to soups and sauces