Four months progress on my edges.

I had wanted to do this when I am fully natural. But since I’ve noticed some “significant changes”, I decided to share it with you guys. The reason I had bad edges was not really as a result of genes or anything like that. It is the result of a very bad habit I developed in my early teens, I PICK MY FRONT HAIR!! Lol. During my form six in secondary school, I just started picking my hair anytime I was reading. We all know how much reading you had to do just to pass all the exams you needed to pass to get into the university. So I developed this habit that was almost impossible to break.

Four months ago I decided to go natural and start taking better care of my hair and realised I had to stop this bad habit. I made up my mind to just stop picking it. I also prayed and asked God for help, as you would with any other bad habit. I also researched on the kinds of oils or products I could use to stimulate growth in that area. So to protect my edges at night this is what I do:

1. I massage my edges with a mixture of oils. Initially I was using jojoba oil and some drops of peppermint oil. Right now I use only the regular Castor oil to do the massage. I also tried the mix of peppermint oil with the Castor oil but I felt the essential oil (peppermint) was not needed so I just do it with plain Castor oil.

2. After the massage, I use a tooth brush to brush it through and then tie the edges with a silk band before I put on my silk bonnet. That way, the elastic band on the edge of the bonnet will not rub against my edges while I sleep.

So here are some before and after photos of my edges. Do you think there’s a difference at least for a four month period? I think there’s a difference but I would like to have a second opinion.

Just before I started taking care of my edges. Both right side

About four weeks later. Right above, left below

Four months later. Right above, left below

Some transitioning styles I've tried....

“…..My hair is my play ground” lol!!  That was what I told a friend of mine recently (who by the way is natural). I said this because I was showing her pictures of styles I’ve tried and she was like “You’re really into this”. Well yeah I am really into the whole natural hair, healthy hair and nappy hair thing. So I think this write up will be more on pictures of some of the styles I have done in the recent past, what I think of them, products I used and whether or not I will be trying them again. So let’s go!!

The first transitioning style I tried was the bantu nut out. I tried this style immediately I learnt how to twist my hair in the right direction. The products I used for this were…..oops!! I can’t remember correctly but I’m sure about these ones though:

                                        Pink Eco Styler Gel (Level 8)

Raw shea butter

Shea Radiance Maximum curl defining cream

                                                               

Well I think it was okay. I think the problem I had with it was that the curls looked a little unkempt, do you think so? I liked it but not that much. I will try this again to see if I’ll do something different to make it look better. I pinned it up in an updo. 

The second style I tried was Senegalese twists. I DID IT MYSELF!!! I just came back from church, fixed lunch for my husband and had this gut feeling that I should try doing my twists myself, and I did, lol!! So I dashed to the beauty shop around my house bought my expression attachment (hair extensions) and got the party started!! So before trying this, I had watched a ton of videos on how to do the twists by myself, so I would say I had prepared ahead of time. These were the results.. 

It took me about 4 hours. I started at the back and then worked my way through to the front. I think next time I would do it the other way round; because I got tired by the time I got to the front so it didn’t turn out nice enough. The products I used for this style were:

Carol’s daughter mimosa hair honey

Shea radiance whipped shea butter

I was really proud of myself for doing this, but I thought the front part was a little unkempt. On the other hand I think we've been spoilt in Naija (Nigeria) by the kind of hair we get at the saloons at the price we do get them for. However I think that as a natural, I am the only one who can handle my hair with the TLC it deserves lol!! Just saying.

 Well it would surprise you to know that I wore this style for just THREE DAYS!! Yes!! But I had a reason for it. I was going to the Enugu for my brother’s traditional marriage, I felt the hair was not good enough for the special occasion. When I took the twists down, I co washed my hair and tried another style.

The third style I tried was curl formers, and I must say that this was by far my most favourite style so far. In my opinion, it turned out really nice. Do you think so?  I think the reason it turned out “great” is because I had learnt a little about my hair, having tried a couple of other styles in the recent past. For this style I used

The curl formers (got 2 packs of 18 each at N3, 500 from Balogun market)

Pink Eco styler gel level 8

Raw shea butter

 So these were the results. I pinned it up into an updo and I absolutely loved it!!! The curls lasted for 4 days, I actually let them loose myself, so they could have lasted longer. I pin curled every night and wrapped my hair with a silk scarf to preserve the coils/curls (still don’t know the difference, lol). I think this is going to be my go to style anytime I let my hair out during this transitioning period.

Currently I am wearing Ghana Weaving corn rows, I really love them. If you look closely you'll see that I have rough edges, yeah that's one of the things I'm battling with right now. In my previous article, I listed a couple of things I am doing to grow them back to a healthy state. Please feel free to drop tips on how to take better care of them in the comment box below. What’s funny is that the day I went to get my Ghana Braids done at the salon, the lady said “Hmmm this your hair is so due for relaxer, you should retouch it (i.e. get a relaxer)” I was like, NOOOOO WAAAAYYYY!!!! Lol!!

So what do you think about these styles? Are you also transitioning to natural hair? Do you have any other tips you can give me on styles to try out while transitioning? Please feel free to put them down in the comment box below. Stay blessed!!!

Hugs of love

Acharacha

Be free, be happy and live in the moment…

......and yes that's me, beeing free and living in the moment,lol

If you were to do a list of some of the things you need today, I’m sure this list will have at least up to five big things. Yes that’s because we always need something we don’t already have. To be honest, I’m guilty as charged on this case. I am currently in a position where I truly truly desire something of God but it seems that all the faith principles I have been taught aren’t working. Have you been there before?

There is a reason why the Bible has so many scriptures that deal with holding on, being patient and able to endure hard times. There are also other scriptures that talk about being thankful for what you have today as you wait for the things you do not have. For me, it is a very very difficult task not to worry about things that are not working the way they should (Matt. 6:25). Have you ever felt that if you are not worried about something, then you are not serious? I feel this way most of the time. However here is our Lord Jesus, telling us “NOT TO WORRY ABOUT ANYTHING!!!”

When I need something from God and it is not coming as fast as I needed it, I get tempted to ask God questions. Believe me I fall into those temptations and even back them up with scriptures!!!! Some of the questions I ask are:

1.       God but I have been a good girl all my life.

2.       God I have faithfully served you in my local church, I even take time out to encourage others.

3.       Jesus have I not preached about your kingdom everywhere?

4.       Don’t I pray and fast enough, Lord?

5.       Why is this happening to me?

6.       Why me, why not people who have been sinning all their life. I mean it seems as if they are even better off than me?

7.       God how can you put shame on me in this way?

8.       God have I not been through enough?

9.       God are you trying to teach me something?

10.   Is God trying to punish me for something I did in my past?

The list of questions that we ask God is endless. I have been through tough times, I mean who hasn't, right? So what I eventually told myself and what I would like to tell you is, we are never never alone when we are going through those times. Jesus said in His Word, that He would never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).  We have established that everyone goes through trying times at some point in their lives. So this is what I would encourage us, to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus (Hebrews 12:2) and not on your problems, not on your past mistakes or present need. Look to Him every day for strength, courage and grace. I know you’ll ask, How do I do that? By looking into God’s Word constantly feeding and meditating on them. To be honest this works and it illuminates your insides and brings you pure joy and happiness that enables you to BE FREE, BE HAPPY AND LIVE IN THE MOMENT.

Here are some Bible verses that I have found encouraging. I would love to share them with you:

Isaiah 26:3 “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose minds are stayed on You, because he trusts in Thee”

Romans 8:28 “For we know that all things work together for good to them that love God and are called according to His purpose”.

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the thoughts that I have for you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Deuteronomy 7:9 “Know therefore that he Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love Him and keep His commandments, to a thousand generations”

1 Peter 5:7 “Casting all your care upon him; for he cares for you”

Philippians 4: 19 “But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus”

Romans 8:31 “For if God be for us who can be against us”

Isaiah 49:13 “Sing for joy, Oh heavens! Rejoice, O earth! Burst into song, O mountains! For the Lord has comforted His people and will have compassion on them in their suffering”

Joshua 1:9 “Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go”

Romans 8:37 “ Yet in all things, we are more than conquerors through Him who loves us”

I do not have all the answers for you, but I do love to encourage and inspire you!!

Hugs of love!!

Acharacha