So, what's up doc?

Wow...life really has happened over the years and time and time again I've thought of closing this blog, but after reading through some of my old posts and having my heart smile so hard till it hurt and as well as bringing back some emotions I felt some 3-4 years ago, I realised that this really is something special. I can go on and rant about whats been happening since 2013, which I'm sure some would love to hear, but I will be modest, mysterious and lady-like and keep things quiet.

SO NATURAL HAIR, ay? I am still natural, but have not been enjoying the journey of late. I recently took out my braids of 2 months and even prior to taking it out, noticed that I have been suffering from traction alopecia, which seems to be getting worse. In fairness I hadn't really ever used anything for my hairline since going natural and as I started to rummage through dermatology articles, websites and past experiences, I thought I'd go back to my roots and start with 'virgin hair fertilizer'. My sister is a living testimony to the wonders of this herbal hair cream and so based on that and other positive reviews, I have chosen to make this my first port of call. I never have just a plan A and so if that doesn't work I may scale up to a steroid cream. If that doesn't work, there is minocycline, a cream typically used in male pattern baldness, however, I am very weary of it. Although it has been shown to work, the effect is short lived and the hairs start to fall off when you stop using it, so yeah; I'm a bit too scared to try that.

The good ol' hair fertilizer

On the bright side though, Boots recently re-introduced the 'Yes to' range back into their shampoo and conditioner lines. Memories of old came rushing back as I purchased bottles of the cucumber equivalent. I used it for the first time yesterday and my goodness, what a change. I have not compared the ingredient list but it is very very different from the range of 2-3 years ago. First of all the smell...this new range is simply bleh. The old yes to cucumbers formulation used to smell so amazing, so good that I sometimes chose to omit wearing perfume post co-washing....it was that good. In addition to the smell is the consistency. The conditioner is a lot less thick than it used to be and so you can imagine you don't get the same coating effect you used to have.

What the new bottle looks like

I have also started re-taking biotin tablets religiously, my bottle of which is kept beside my vitamin D tablets which I am forced to take daily, and acts as a grumpy impetus. For my fellow citizens of tropical countries, living in these temperate zones, I'd implore you to get your vitamin D levels checked if you've been abroad for a significant amount of time. Without turning this into a health ed lesson, vit D deficiency can cause bone pain and fatigue, secondary parathyroidism and osteomalacia- go figure, amongst other things. It has also been shown to increase death from cardiovascular disease, memory impairment in adults and can affect the immune system. Interestingly enough, people with dark skin are less able to make vitamin D from the sunlight exposure; so it might be that those pictures of babies with rickets may not always be poorly fed by their not so caring parents. Hmm I just thought of a brilliant idea (*adds to book of great ideas*).

Anyways, I just thought I'd check in and say hi. Oh and if anyone knows a reasonably priced natural hair stylist in the london area, pls drop a message. Take care and all the best.

Tah,

M.Jay

Style Series 14 - Straight hair don't curr

When it comes to styling my hair I've been pretty low maintenance going with the bun and changing the partings for a varied look (yes, it has reached that point). The only other thing I do is to straighten it, and that's usually when I am travelling or have an event coming up. As I don't have the time for all them intricate natural hairstyles, straightening has become my go to option thus far. I try not to do it too frequently and in the last year straightened it 4 times - Sept 2014 (x2), Dec 2014 and Mar 2015. I also had to find a new hairdresser after receiving very rude over the phone service from Charlotte Mensah's hair salon in London (yes, I'ma call you out). Shicco's hair salon on Kilburn high road, became my shoulder to cry on, and Alan, the Jamaican hairstylist has been my styling buddy since then. His style of straightening is different to the Brazilian blow dry method I'm used to but it works as my hair gets straight with half the heat. Oh and did I mention, it costs half the price…so YES!!!

Now I must recount this story to y'all. The 2nd time in Sept I straightened my hair was all the way in the Middle East :O….I know, crazy right. Hmmm…it wasn't even funny. So, being someone that likes to plan ahead, I knew I was going to a land of no return and as such knew it was critical that a good straightening job was done before I left. After many complaints here and there at C.M, I was satisfied somewhat and went on my way. Now I had travelled for my friends wedding which was like 10 days after the day we arrived and so by that time, having walked through all sorts of humid, windy, deserty landscapes, my hair was getting a bit desperate.

My friends were getting their hair re-done and so I decided to accompany them to the salon to keep them company when the hair stylist challenged me saying they could do my hair. I was like (ghetto laugh with the fist) 'do you know what you're getting yourself into'? I explained to him that although my hair looked straight, it became an afro once wet. The guy was like eh no problem, they can do it. So I took the plunge.

The first guy that washed my hair was filipino (don't ask), and I'm sure he must have been like -_- when he saw the texture change. He also committed the greatest hair sin of not detangling when wet + conditioner in situ, and so I prompted him to do so after which he attempted to and ended up running away with his hands in the air (ok, I exaggerate). Anyways, he did not know what to do any longer and called another stylist who attempted for a bit but also got intimidated. (By this stage I was sitting out on a chair, and so it was a bit bemusing watching their facial expressions through the mirror). Anyways, finally they called one of the lead stylists who like a boss, took my hair in his palms and started to detangle root to tip before blow drying it. Now for some reason, they used the ceramic hair straightener to curl it instead of the normal curlers, I'm guessing cos they were scared. What was also really funny was my friends reaction to my shrinkage. We had chosen hair styles prior to getting our hair done; once my hair was washed and shrunk 50% however, she looked at my hair and said, 'I think you may need to pick a different style, as I don't think your hair is long enough for the first style'. I was just like watch….lol. And so she was shocked after it was straightened saying 'how, what, when, where???' I was like 'black hair magic…..shhhhh'...lol.

Anyways, here are some pics from that fateful day. The outcome was satisfactory, the only issue being the holding spray, which made my hair start to revert in some parts (esp the front) but halted the process midway with the stiffening/holding properties. Ok enough of the talking... enjoy!!!!

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This was what the back looked like finally. Only my friends hair to the left was able to hold the curls

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These pics were from the first time I straightened them in September  2014, before going on holiday.

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And here is the finished job by Alan, my new styling buddy; This was in December 2014. I had quite a lot of split ends and so I gave him permission to be scissor happy as he cut inches off.

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It's pretty much hovered around the APL mark and beyond, but not quite BSL just yet. I also haven't worn any protective styles- braids, weaves et al since May last year, so I think it's about time I braid it up. Nwys, that's all for now folks.

Keep smiling and keep shining.

xoxo

Miss Jay