Twisted Updo and Curlformers Attempt (CAUTION: PICTURE HEAVY)

Hey guys... so this is long overdue, but let us play catch up.

In the past month I successfully attempted a twist updo.

 

I finally got around to trying curlformers. But I made the sections too small and ran out of  them by the time I got to the top part of my head. So I proceeded to improvise with perm rods *smh*

Lets just say that it didn't quite work out as I planned it ( please excuse the weary look on my face LOL) . So I spent about an hour and a half trying to style the crazy mop of curls on my head and came up with THIS:

Unfortunately, this style only lasted a day, which doesn't surprise me. I turned it into a braid-out and went on with my life. I did try curlformers again for graduation, this time with bigger sections, and as you can see from my graduation post, it was a success!!

 

GRADUATION!!

Hey guys, I have been MIA because I was preparing to GRADUATE FROM HOWARD UNIVERSITY!!!!

Yes, I graduated from Howard University College of Arts and Sciences on May 11th, 2013, with a B.S. in Biology. My cumulative GPA was 3.93. I graduated from the Honors Program, and I also was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa honor society that week.

I am extremely proud of myself. I worked hard. Sacrificed a lot of 'social time'. But it paid off because now I have a degree to show for it. No I didn't cry, but I did feel sad at times because I was going to miss college. But every phase of life has a duration, and now I am moving on to my next phase. Im moving back home with my parents, finding a job ( hopefully in my field), taking two classes during the fall and spring semester, and applying to nursing school. My goal is to get accepted into University of Pennsylvania's Accelerated BSN/MSN program so I can become a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner. But I do have some back up schools I will apply to in the event that I don't get accepted into that program.

 I dearly value my education, and all the things I have learned. Why? Because I love to learn =). Congrats to everyone who is graduating in this season! We made it!! <3 Toodles!

Twist and Curl: REMIX!

Hey guys, so I'm back with last week's hair do. I was feeling a little ambitious with all this success with my wash and go, so I decided to try a twist-n-curl. Technically, I would call it a two strand flat twist and curl, but that's way too long... so lets just call it a twist-n-curl *wink*.

What I did:
I detangled and conditioned with Tresseme Naturals Conditioner
Deep conditioned with Shea Moisture's Deep Treatment Mask
Used Kinky Curly Knot Today Conditioner as a leave-in
Almond Oil
EcoStyler Gel (Clear)

Then I proceeded to flat twist (guys, last time I did a flat twist out was 2010!) I twisted my hair all the way down to the ends and rolled them up on medium size perm rods. Then I proceeded to air dry overnight. Here are my results!

It came out cute.. but I had to fluff it a little bit to get some volume.

And those are my results! I think this is a win! I received a TON of compliments, which I was well pleased with. Only downfall is that it was in the eighty's that day, and the humidity ruined it by the end of the day. Oh well =) Next time I'll pick a cooler, less humid day.  And I think I will part my hair differently too... The side part was a little much in my face *smh* Toodles!

Maintaining My Wash and Go - My Modified Pineapple

As promised, I am back with how I maintained my wash and go overnight. But first off, I want to mention how happy I was with my wash and go, and how many compliments I received. It was very low maintenance ( which is a plus for me) and it decreases the styling time after I wash my hair. I was able to wear it for about four or five days, even though my hair got bigger with each day and turned into a curly afro by day 5 lol. Ok.. enough rambling.

What I used:
Bobby Pins (Big and Small)
Satin Pillowcase
Olive Oil
Spray Bottle with water (if needed)

At night, I sectioned my hair and flat twisted it into a pineapple, rather then pull my hair into a ponytail on the top of my head (which many naturals do). My curls can't handle such intense stretching, I would end up with straight hair around the perimeter of my head lol.

After  sleeping peacefully on my satin pillowcase, I take the pins out and take the flat twists down. Then I proceed to shaking and teasing my curls back into place. If my hair seems to stretched, I spray water on it to reactivate the stretched out roots. I add olive oil to keep it moisturized and shiny. Then I go on with my day! It's as simple as that =). Till next time... Toodles

I have returned... with a HAIR UPDATE!!

Hey guys, long time no see (way too long). I'm graduating this semester and it's been a very hectic senior year. But anyway, lets get straight into business. My hair has grown significantly since the last time I posted a hair update. I finally cut off all of my highlights. Yesterday I did a protein treatment with Aubrey Organics GPB conditioner. My hair has been suffering from a lot of split ends, so I'm in dire need of a trim within the next few weeks. I've been protective styling most of the time. But most importantly, I think I have finally mastered my wash and go!!! *applause* This is a big milestone for me because out of all the almost 5 years I have been natural, I have never seemed to master the art of wash and going. At first I was so obsessed with getting my hair to look like everyone else's wash and go, but I finally decided to stop putting unrealistic expectations on my hair and just let it do what it do =). Not to mention I decided to by Ecostyler gel and diffuser attachment (my saving grace). Here is what I would normally do:

1. Detangle with Tresseme Naturals conditioner
2. Co-wash with Aubrey Organics Honeysuckle Rose
3. Deep condition with Shea Moisture Deep Treatment Mask
4. Apply Kinky Curly Knot Today as a leave in
5. Add oil (extra virgin olive oil)
6. Add Ecostyler Gel ( the clear one, maximum hold)
7. Diffuse and go!!
 (I never realized how many different brands I use!)
I'll do a post soon on how I maintain my wash and go. I'm still learning guys, but so far it has been a success, I am very pleased. Feel free to comment and ask questions!! Toodles!


Shortly after diffusing

Shortly after diffusing

Shortly after diffusing ( as you can see, my texture goes from tight at the top to loose at the bottom. CRAZY!! )

The next day

The next day: This is the best I have EVER seen my hair

The next day

Does anyone even care?

I love reading blogs. I check my favorite natural hair, beauty, and fashion blogs everyday. I also like tuning into my favorite YouTube channels too. I look at these women, and I'm like, wow, they are so beautiful, so cool, so confident, so inspirational. Then I think to myself, I want to be an inspiration too! I want to share a bit of my life too. But not so people can think of me as cool or to gain popularity. I want to offer healing to a broken heart. I want to love on people. I want to empower somebody.

But then those thoughts start pouring in... like there are so many blogs out there... what makes you think anyone would want to hear what you have to say?

Well, I'm not sure.... but I can at least try. And maybe, just maybe, for once.. I will be able to see the brilliance that everyone else sees.

Long awaited Update

I know I haven't been around for a while, lets just say I lost my feel for blogging. But I am back! By the way, I've changed my URL from trulovegangsta to bubblibianca, so if your looking for me, thats my URL.

It's almost a month into my senior year in college, and no... unlike many of my fellow seniors, I do NOT have a case of senioritis. But what I can say is that I am very blessed to have everything that I need, such as a new laptop. =)

My hair was in box braids that I did myself (for the very first time!!) and they came out looking great! I kept them in for almost five weeks. Actually, tonight is wash night. I did see a lot of growth, but unfortunately much of the growth will be getting trimmed off. Remember, taking care of your ends early in the game is better than waiting. This can lead to the split traveling up your hair shaft, breakage, and tangles. Take care of it as often as it needs to be taken care of.

That is all so far, I will take a few pictures of my hair when I am washing it so I can share my progress!!

Toodles

Summer so far

So... The semester is over, and I'm getting ready to start summer classes. I decided to go to nursing school after my NICU shadowing experience. So now I have to take some prerequisites in order to apply. I'm back home, and I need a car and a job. So far I have been turned down by a few places. It's a little discouraging but something has to happen. In other news, my hair has been growing, and it seems like its getting thicker since I've started finger detangling. Im about to start protective styling again because it's too much to wear it out. So for now I want to see if I can experiment with some bunning styles with my twists and see how that goes. I am continuing with my co-washing once a week, with a weekly deep conditioning. I'm trying to finish up this Organic Root Stimulator Hair Mayonaisse before I buy a new deep conditioner that is all natural. The ingredients in the Hair Mayo sucks, it make me cringe every time I use it. I'm thinking about Shea Moisture's Deep Treatment Mask. I should be taking some pictures soon.

Food for the Soul

Finals Week

Ugggh... so it's finally here. The end of my junior year. The late night escapades with caffeine and five hour energy drinks... the pressure of finishing all of your assignments before the deadlines (all who take classes know how it is). But in the midst of all the drama associated with the last days of school,  I can't help but to stop and appreciate the fact that I have successfully reached this point. All my hard work has paid off. =)

And who do I owe it to? None else but my Lord and savior Jesus Christ... who has been there every step of the way. Every exam, every quiz, every time I felt unprepared, every time I felt like I couldn't do it, and even when I mismanaged my time.

And of course, all my family and friends who supported me along the way <3

So... to all those who are going through finals now or sometime in the near future, you aren't alone. Finish strong!!

Wash and Go

Hey guys, today I decided to give my wash and go a try. I couldn't wash my hair in the morning, so I washed it last night, and apllied some Kinky Curly Knot Today and Kinky Curly Curling Custard. I tried Naptural85's method of maintaining her wash and go.

Lets just say it certainly didn't come out like her's LOL. My shrinkage was crazy and my hair was still pretty damp. So I took my blowdrier and started stretching out my curls. This is the result.

Verdict: Hmmm I don't know yet... Perhaps I can find a way to avoid such shrinkage. Now I have to figure out how I'm going to maintain this bad boy until next Thursday!! 

Springtime!!

I'm so happy that it's springtime now! =) It's my favorite season ( probably because I was born in the spring..but never mind that). What is there not to like about spring ( besides allergies)?

The warmer weather allows us to wear our hair in more out-styles, such as wash and goes, without having to worry about catching a head cold because you walked out the house with wet hair. Also, it's not as humid as the summer, so your hair is less likely to turn into a frizz ball.

I've been trying to tweak my regimen bit by bit so I can achieve the best results with my hair.

Here are some new things I'm trying this spring.

1. Finger detangling - Though every natural doesn't do this, I've heard a lot about the benefits of it, such as more defined curls, more length retention, increase in the thickness of hair...

2. Drying my hair with a T-shirt- I hear that t- shirts cause less frizz

3. Trimming my ends more frequently ( like every six weeks)- If my ends aren't too bad, then I'll just dust.

And I'm going out on a limb and trying to wear more wash and goes... ( Scared look). The reason I don't wear wash and goes like that is because I didn't know how to maintain them. Now that I have done some research, it doesn't hurt to try again. If another girl can do it, I can too!

Here are some pics of my natural texture with conditioner in it.

 I can't wait to cut that color off!!!

My braidout before and after 80 degree weather hits it. ( I'm not complaining)

What changes are you making this spring?

3 Tips for Being Successful in College

Being in college for three years has taught me a lot about being successful in school. I feel that sharing some of the things I learned would be helpful to someone who will be going to college in the future.

1. Take your butt to class!!

In college you are on your own and you are in charge of yourself. This means that mommy/daddy/auntie/grandmammie etc... will not be there to wake you up, drag you out of bed and make you go to class. If you decide to stay in bed because you socialized all night long and your tired, that is on you. Though being in class is only part of the equation, most of the time attendance is a part of your grade and you miss out on information that you will be lectured and quizzed on. Another thing is...if you are going to be in class, PAY ATTENTION. If you plan on sitting in the back to sleep or talk you might as well stayed home.

2. Do your homework/reading assignments

Keep in mind that on the first day of class the professor is going to give you a syllabus that includes everything that will happen during the course of the semester. Take a look at it so there won't be any surprises. A lot of the learning you do in college is self-instructed. This will include a lot of reading. Doing your homework/reading assignments aid in helping you remember the material. Also it helps to read BEFORE class so you will have an idea of what the professor is talking about and what sections you need to pay close attention to during the lecture. Afterwards, see your professor about things you didn't quite understand.

3. Plan out and divide your work load accordingly ( DON'T PROCRASTINATE and CRAM)

Example : If you have an exam in 2 weeks, plan to study a little everyday instead of doing an 'all nighter' the night before. Avoid 'all nighters' if possible. Sleep is crucial to your health. Procrastination will definitely cause you to suffer more than you actually need to.

Although I have TONS more advice on this subject, these are just a few tips that will help you be successful in school. My best advice is, learn how to do these things BEFORE you get to college so that you will have a head start in developing good habits.
 

Thought of the Day

How much time do you spend admiring someone else's hair? Do you constantly stalk their blogs/vlogs/tumblrs and photo albums to see what they are doing next with their hair? Do you find yourself wishing you had their hair texture, or their length?


After being natural for almost 4 years, I noticed a few things about myself and other women. We are ALWAYS wishing we had someone else's hair. It's always "I wish I had her texture" or " I wish my hair did that"

There isn't anything wrong with admiring someone else's hair, but sometimes we are so busy looking at other people's manes that we forget about whats growing out of our own head. Today I challenge you to take the time out to admire your own hair texture and your own length as much as you do others. After all, someone is out there admiring and wishing that they had your hair.

I'm Back

Hey guys! So I have returned from my brief hiatus and I can't wait to start sharing with you guys again. So, what has been going on while I was away? I twisted my hair into my beloved mini twists, which are holding up pretty well. These mini twists have been inspired by KinkyCurlyQueen of naturallyobsessed.net ( her twists are gorgeous!!). I usually follow the "tension method" of blow drying my hair, and then take my sweet old time and twist with olive oil and my Shea butter mix I purchased years ago at a flea market. If I have a whole day to myself, I can complete the style within one day, but it took me a while this time since I have been busy with school and what not. Nevertheless, it gives me 3-4 weeks of not having to worry about my hair. I honestly plan to wear these a lot, especially while I am in school and getting ready to start studying for the MCAT. I hope to retain maximum growth in this style since it isn't being manipulated everyday. I plan to get a trim this month of Febuary, probably after I do my length check. Be back soon.

- Toodles



Short Hiatus

Hey guys, I will be taking a break from the internet for my 21 day fast with my church. Don't worry yourselves though, I will be back with fresh new ideas and posts for you guys on Jan 30th. Toodles till then. * wink*

Length Check

So... While I was riding back to school I decided to measure how long my hair was ( since there was a random tape measure laying in the car ). Here they are!!

Right Side - 8.5 inches

Left Side - 9 inches

Behind ears - 8.5 inches

Front- 9.5 inches

Top- 10 inches

Middle Back - 9.5 inches

Very Back- 6 inches

Average Length - approx. 9 inches

My hair is layered and in a " bobish" cut, thats why the very back is 6 in. Lets see how much growth I can retain in a month. This month I will focus on staying hydrated. I can't wait to see the results.

- Toodles

Food for the Soul

This video is lengthy but worth watching =)

My Regimen

Someone asked me what my hair regimen was, so I decided to do a post on it.

My current regimen :

1. Shampoo scalp and hair with Aubrey Organics Honeysuckle Rose Shampoo ( once a week)
2. Condition with Aubrey Organics Honeysuckle Rose Conditioner
3. Detangle
4. Deep condition with Organic Root Stimulator Hair Mayonaisse ( Every other week)
5. Add olive oil to wet hair
6. Blow dry using the " Tension Method"
7. Twist

This is just what I have been doing for the past few months. In the past, I would air dry in medium or small size plaits and wear a braidout. When my hair was long enough, I would bun it often. I have also tried almond oil instead of olive oil, and that works great too.

Styles I have worn in the past:

Braid outs

Twistouts
2 Strand                                             3 Strand

                                      

Twists                                                  

 Buns

Over the course of 3 and a half years, I have tried a lot of styles, more than I can post here. For now, I just lean on the simplicity of twists and go about my business. If there are any questions please feel free to ask!!

- Toodles