Kinky Growth

According to my research, hair grows at an average of 6 inches a year or 1/2 inch each month but is it possible to increase that growth? Some say Yes and some shout NO!  I say yes.

Various healing properties can be derived from nature to cure many ailments of the body, so why not hair growth?  If you aint up on the Essential Oil game, I suggest you visit the Essential/Carrier Oil page to discover what Mother Earth has for you.

Before opting for growth aids I suggest you build a “hair care regimen” that your hair responds positively too and test it for approx 2 months.  Measure your growth at the start of each month with a tape measure and at the end of the 2 months you should have a pretty good idea of your growth rate.  From there you can start to give an honest test of the ‘wonder tonic growth aids’ you’ve been itching to try.  If your hair averages the same rate as the control growth rate, then you can be sure that growth aid didn’t work and you should move on. 

Various things from Rosemary Oils to Sulfur are said to promote hair growth but hair care is no one-size-fits-all area.  It’s all about trial and error. 

I’ll add more to this after my 2 month “control period” to illustrate what worked/ didn’t work for me. 

A Transitioning Experience

Deciding to go ” Au Natural” was an easy decision for me to do.  I woke up and decided that this was it, I was done getting relaxers only to cover it with weave.  So here I am.  My last relaxer was in September (I think) and I’ve decided on “transitioning” with braids.  I don’t think I am strong enough to handle doing a “big chop” especially since I’ve ALWAYS had long extensions. 

I am 6 months down the road and I am timidly excited about what the future holds for my hair.  My new growth is banging and I am ready to lose these thin ugly relaxed ends.  6 months to go until I wear my hair out.  Until then off into braids you go.

Low Manipulation Style of Choice: Braids 2 1/2 months out for 1 week; Repeat

Current Regimen: Co-wash 1x a Week / Shampoo & DC 1x a Week (while in braids)

Current Staple Products: Beauty4Ashes “GodHead” Shampoo and Conditioner / B4A SuperGro Hair Lotion / B4A Hair Thickener Fertilizer Oil

PHOTO: 1 week old, after first wash and DC.

Big Chop Under the Big Top

Friday night 7 Mar 08, I was chill-laxin’ at home surfing the net as usual and I can across a link to a YouTube instructional video.  Since I’m so very easily distracted I ended up watching a woman’s journey to natural video and it put me in tears.  Something inside me clicked and I broke down.  Her video made me acknowledge that I’d been running from myself for YEARS…I didn’t look right if I didn’t have 18inch micros or tracks.  It was like living up to a standard I felt like I would never achieve. I was using “transitioning” as a scapegoat not wanting to face the reality that I cared about what people thought about me.  I liked blending in because that meant the attention would be away from me.

Click Here if you want to see the video!

 So I took out my braids and picked up the scissors…I emerged hours later like this:

I’m free y’all!  {Black is Beautiful} just like all the other colors of the rainbow…

Beauty 4 Ashes 100% Real

 

When I told my Mom I was going natural she sent me a link to a Christian based company that specialized in 100% All Natural hair products called Beauty 4 Ashes.  Now I’m not gon’ lie, the prices are high but so is the product quality.  I’m used to spending a couple of dollars here and there for hair stuff…but I paid $149.00 for these four bottles pictured.  Just as a taste of the botanical goodness packed by this company, I’ve given the ingredients of the shampoo below. 

       GodHead Max Moisture& Gro Shampoo - Distilled Water, Castile Soap, Castor Seed Oil, Coconut Oil, Alma Oil, Emu Oil, Grape-seed Oil, Burdock Root, Jojoba Oil, Shea Oil, Olive Oil, Sunflower Oil, Avocado Oil, Wheat Germ Oil, Carmelina Oil, Nettle Oil, Ylang Ylang Essential Oil, Vitamin E, Silk Amino Acids, Pathenol, Wheat Protein, Organic Aloe Juice, Lemon Juice, Apple Cider Vinegar, Organic Lavender Distillate, Organic Roman Chamomile Distillate, Vegetable Emulsifying Compound, Organic Green Tea Extract, Blue Green Algae, Kosher Vegetable Glycerin, Lanolin Oil, Wheat Protein, Milk Protein, Honey, Rose-hip Seed Oil, Organic Black Willow Bark Extract, B4A Proprietary Hair Growth Complex, B4A Preservative Complex (Neem Seed Oil, Grapefruit Seed Oil, Citrus Fruit Acids, Vitamin E, Wheat Germ Oil, Honey, Tea Tree Essential Oil)

The last thing I wanna do is be a hype man for these products, but this shampoo left my hair feeling great.  From this point forward, start to finish, using the B4A Max Moisture & Gro Shampoo and Conditioner changed my life! My hair has never felt so soft after a wash…it normally feels brittle and dries to an ashy dull haze.  After using this shampoo, my hair dried soft and fluffy and had a natural shine and sheen.  The company also sends out a scripture card with each Purchase;  how cool is that??   I give this product 2 big thumbs up.  www.discoverb4a.com

Lady Euphoria, The Open Book

I am Lady Euphoria and this is my journey.  A journey to what or where is still unknown but this is bound to be one hell of a ride.  I’m interested in tons of shit and I’m into too many things.  My husband says I talk too much so I’ve decided to write it.  I’m 24 and just like most Americans…I have a “gov’ment” job.  I’m a Mother, a Wife, a Friend and a Business Woman.  I’m about that paper, cash money, green backs, the almighty dolla dolla bill yall; whatever the hell you calling it…I’m about making and spending it.  Okay so what the fuck am I doing here? Probably wasting time.  Who gives a fuck what I have to say right? Wrong…I give a fuck so that’s why I’m here.  I’ve been called “crazy” one too many times and I’m determined to find out why.  I’m sure the intentions were good but now I’m scratching my head thinking “damn, maybe I am crazy.”

Obviously I love to talk (especially about me) but I’ll try to keep this shit aimed towards a goal.  There is nothing worse than wasting time reading a bullshit ass blog with some bitch whining about herself the whole time.  Instead, “Uma do me” and say whatever the fuck I feel, when I have the time to feel it.  On the real though, you can bet on this shit to be about Hair, Politics, Cooking, Belly Dancing, College, Marriage, Parenting, Music, Sewing and Paper Chasing…that’s what I’m into.  If you can’t tell by now…I got a serious potty mouth that seems to spill out onto my keyboard.  

In a nutshell that’s Lady Euphoria…that shit sounds like a good name for a female rapper…Ooh off to the studio.

 (Check out the artwork above…this chic has some talent!  You should see her other work. )

Quest for Breathtakingly Bold

So I up and decided about 2 weeks ago that I wanted to “actively” go from relaxed to natural and actively grow my hair a few inches below “bra strap length.”  This is the start of my journey and I am overjoyed beyond belief.  I’ve been “passively” going natural since September 2007 and on the real…natural hair can be a pain in the ass.  The two textures are making me plum crazy (oh…there’s that word again) but I am welcoming the change with a mildly open mind. 

My reason for making the transition was that simple.  I want to be proud of my heritage, and have my husband enjoy my natural beauty.  With my job and all the moving, who the hell has time to keep up with a relaxer anyway? I’m tired of running from myself, hiding who I am to please some dude that probably can only see the fine image of my tits and ass anyway…Or the other fellow that’s so damn ignorant, he can’t see past the divinity of my chocolate complexion.  Man these fools just don’t know…It’s about to be a dawn of a new era up in here.   

Current length: Neck length (Almost SL)      2009 Goal: Armpit Length

Ultimate goal: Mid Back   Hair Type: 4ab                

My current regimine: Wed: Water Rinse Fri: Co-Cash    Sun: Shampoo & DC 30 min hooded dryer