Hair Length OBSESSION??

Today while on naturallycurly.com I came across an article that ponders if we as naturals have an obsession with hair length. I had to stop for a second and think about just how much attaining my goal length means to me.....turns out it means a lot! I have just as many gadgets to protect my hair, or somehow length related as I do stylers.


Satin pillowcase- check
Satin bonnet - check
Silk scarfs - check
Length check shirt (2) - check

I also spoil my hair with natural/nearly all natural products because I want it to be healthy. Healthy hair to me is evident when I can see my process in terms of growth. It only makes sense that if my ends are being preserved and my hair is growing (as hair always is) that I'll see the evidence in greater lengths. Now, I'm not talking hair that is down to my waist with ridiculously thin and chewed up ends from APL down (side-eye to that shit). No, I mean nice looking healthy ends on a healthy head of hair. Of course there are other means of identifying healthy hair, i.e. shine/sheen, moisture, elasticity, strength, and on and on. Those are all things I aspire to for my mane. Don't begrudge me because I want the length too.

Alright, so maybe I am a little obsessed. Sue me.

*ETA- it's also interesting that the article states that type 4 naturals seem to be more obsessed. For me personally growing my hair to long lengths is sort of a screw you to all the people that said/thought that it isn't possible for a person with dark skin to do so. Also, I want to be able to cover my boobies in a nakie pic, and possibly use my ponytail as a weapon if need be. Eh.

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The Worst Day of My "Natural" Life!!

Yes, the absolute worst day.

First, let me say that I am (of course) referring to my natural hair and not my entire life...on to the story............

I was minding my own business at work one day (back in September), and started talking to one of my coworkers about my recent visit to the doctor. I had gone to see my nurse practitioner because I'd come down with a really nasty virus, and during that time she ran a battery of tests on me. Once I got better she gave me a call and told me that she wanted me to start taking a prescription vitamin with extra iron because I was apparently anemic. While talking I realized that I hadn't taken my vitamin that day so I decided to go do it right then. I went to the break room with the pill (coworker following behind), got some water and proceeded to take it. About three gulps in I felt it, but It was too late! I had started drinking the water without looking in the cup. If I had looked I would have no doubt seen the shed hair that had fallen in. I looked down and could see the tail end of the hair bobbing in the cup. It was from the front, so it had to be at least 7 inches long. OMG, I started to gag and convulse. My coworker pat me on the back trying to help....I swallowed. OH NO! The shed hair was now caught on the left side of my throat somewhere between my tonsil and esophagus. Let me tell you over the next few weeks I tried bread, water, food, milk, and yes I stuck my finger back there more than a few times. The thing would not budge! Every time I swallowed I felt it. Truly it didn't help that my hair is not fine. My husband threatened to take me to the ENT a few times but I resisted. I can make light of the situation now 4 months down the road because I finally stopped feeling the thing about a month ago so I think its (FINALLY) gone.

Moral of the story:

Be careful, your hair just may be trying to kill you.

Oh, and take your vitamins :)

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Totally Twisted

I confess, I have been hair lazy!

These past two weeks I have been in twists which I've clipped up into some kind of up-dooey-thing-a-magigy. I was FULLY planing on rocking it again this week (freshly done of course) but my boo gave my hair the side-eye, stating "It looks fuzzy, did you forget your head thing last night". Serious fricking(Trinidadian moment) steups!! Twist out tomorrow, promise.

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Down girl..

Sometimes I have to remind myself that it's alright not to have everything right this minute. You see, I get all hot an bothered everytime there is a new natural hair product rave....and it's come back to bite me in the @ss a few times. Some lessons learned:

1. The Tangle Teazer was all over the net as the natural hair detangling magic device, so you know I HAD to have it. And, when I want something I want it right then. So, I let my fingers do the walking right on over to amazon and ordered one (I love getting packages, but hate waiting).

*Side note* Those of you who can run out to your local beauty supply/walmart etc. to pick up products are so lucky.

Anyway, after about a month of using the darn thing I realized that I was experiencing a large amount of breakage. Then I started hearing a lot of other naturals complaining of the same thing. I now use the TT to brush my yorkie's hair :/

2. There is a new hair product company *cough* naturalista cosmetics *cough* that had a new "humidity fighting" leavin that was "the bomb". Again my fingers went walking, this time to etsy and I orderen not 1, but 2 jars (I mean go big, right?). Long story short, my hair hated it, the cs sucked major nads, the jar looked half used, I only got 1 jar, and I ended up getting a refund. *Sigh*

All that to say sometimes I've got to remember to pace myself. I'm never going to stop trying/buying stuff (I am a product junkie after all), but sometimes I think I'm looking forward to the "high" of getting a package more than the actual product. So, I RE-E-EE-EEE-EAL-Y want to buy some Wen ginger pumkin and 613 cleansing condition from QVC, but I will abstain.......for now anyway :)

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