Dear Hair Ends....

Dear Hair Ends,

It's over. You have got to go.

Love,
~Sammy


I've noticed for some time now that my ends look snaggly and downright nasty (to me, no one's commented on the, so I don't know if they see it (they're just like, "I love you hair!")). My ends are a mess and I've been like, I'll start trying a twist 'n' curl or something to make them look a bit better, but nuh-uh, THEY.HAVE.GOT.TO.GO!

I style my hair sometimes and I am irritated by them. I guess it's from all the braiding and stuff that I used to do all the way down to my ends. Since I started African Threading my hair from the point where it lifts of the scalp when doing cornrows, it has looked a bit better and hasn't been getting as damaged as it used to seem. My ends are also sorta thinning out-ish (I don't know if I'm the only one that sees this). The braids down to the ends, whenever I took out my hair, I always lost a little at the ends no matter how gentle I was in taking down the braids. Also, combing to detangle caused a bit of this ends issue. Last week, I finger detangled and my hair looked and felt better. I did the detangling in sections. Actually, I took down the African threading and finger detangled that area then took down the cornrow and finger detangled one cornrow at a time. My hair looked and felt better and it was like she was literally thanking me. The weather too.... somedays it was hot and dry and...gaah! Nowadays, it's raining or drizzling everyday (moisture weather :) ) My hair seems to be doing better now that it's getting some daily moisturising.

I know I played a part in my ends ending up like this and dear ends, I am sorry for the part I played.

So, here's what I going to do.
Get some hair shears and snip off a bit of my ends now and before I get my crotchet braids done (after grad, most likely), I'll snip off some more. I'll continue finger detangling and African threading my hair from the point where it lifts of the scalp when I braid my hair in cornrows. Anything to have healthy and beautiful looking ends.

I'm sorry ends, but our time together is over.


~SammyWithTheBigHair

Road to Graduation Hair (and little (make that a huge) digression)

 

Hey,

So, I'm still not sure what exactly I'm going to do with my hair for my graduation (first week in July). One thing for sure is that I'm stretching out my hair by African threading it for over a week before my graduation. After that, what's next? Dunno.

I'm considering getting pencil curls done (without heat of course) or a satin scarf braid-out or maybe a twist/braid and curl or a twist and bantu-knot out or a regular bantu knot out. Dunno.

I'm going to try them out.

I'll be through with my IGCSEs (exams) on the 12 of June. After that day, my protective styles will become african threading all over my head of hair. When I take them down (might be on a weekly basis, or every other week), I'll try out a style till I find one I think I'll like for grad.

Actually, two. I need one for prom too! I can't decide if I want some elegant or wild-ish for that, though. There's going to be a lot of dancing and that's like exercise, right? So, what do you think I should do? An updo? I think I have an idea for the prom hair, but I'll need to draw it out 'cause I can't really explain it right now and drawing it out is going to be so....gaaah....my art exam has put me off drawing.

I'm moving out this August, don't know if I told you guys that. I'm going to order products and stuff (running out), but styling is my issue. I don't want to manipulate my hair on a daily basis (that includes retwisting or pineappling) and I don't want to have my hair braided or twisted for 5 days of the week. I'm considering getting crotchet braids done during the fall then get a Heat-Free Hair Movement weave for the winter till sometime during spring (if I don't miss my hair too much, that is).

My aunt's going to have to be my stylist because I don't really trust stylists at the moment especially in certain parts of England. I might go to Matthew James sometime, not this year, or next, but someday, but that's a different thing entirely. My aunt, the problem is.....she pulls and yanks and makes people cry (including my almost 80 years old nana). My nana always has a weave on. She gets the weave redone every nine months (like she keeps it in for nine months, takes it down, washes and puts another in). She had about knee length hair that my nana cut to a bob, but has grown out to bra-strap length if not longer due to her absurd protective styling technique. I was over on the day she took her hair down last (in November) and I helped her take it down and detangle and she was so happy because for the first time in forever, she didn't end up crying because her hair was being detangled. I even styled her hair in a cute half bun :) Her lovely, luscious, white-ish silver hair. Anyways, you can see that an energetic almost 80yr old lady is scared of my aunt (my mum's bro's wife). Her own kids are scared of her and when our Polish friend wanted to get her hair styled like one of my cousins', my mum told her that she could ask my aunt to do it for her. To cut a long story short, I don't think she ever mentioned it to my aunt.

Major cringe, right? My aunt's gon' be styling my hair for me.

My mum has a sis with lovely curly hair (my mum's a curly, her sis is a curly, but with bigger curls and her brother's sort of a wavy-curly (and I don't think he owns a comb because his hair just seems to lie in place, neatly without anything being done to it). My aunt's 52 and a really busy (and very energetic lady). She's done her daughter's hair before (she's a curly too, but with tighter curls than her mum because, well....to cut another long story short, my mum and her siblings all married blacks (don't ask)). I could see if on a day my aunt's free and I can get to her house, she can get my hair done for me, but I don't think she does weaves. Solution? Maybe. Possibility.

You know one person I want to touch my hair (even if not style it, just touch it)? She's in England too. Not sure what county or city, though. Can you guess who? I'll say it! NADINE! Nadine of GirlsLoveYourCurls (on YouTube). I would be so happy if she ever gets to simply just touch my hair!

Oh my, I digressed a whole lot here!

Anyways, I'll tell you what I decide on with my hair for my grad and prom.

~Sammy

p.s I have totally got to start making vids for when I start putting up pics of myself and I need to create another YouTube channel (well, I'll wait with that one till I do start uploading stuff).

p.s.s/p.p.s (whichever it is) I have a niece! She was born on the 19th of Feb and I'm like planning so much for her hair. My sis lives really far away, but I'll visit her sometime soon and we can talk and decide what we're going to do with Fay's (my niece's) hair. My sis has always had the longest hair in the family (well, since my dad forced her to end her clipper and scissors addiction). I'm sure Fay's going to have really long hair. Able (my nephew), had a lot of  lovely curly hair when he was just 4 months then he grew it out into like an afro before my sis cut most of it off (she said it looked bushy (to her, not to me or Able's nana (aka, my mum)). Anyways, my sis has relaxed her (but she ain't gon' put a relaxer on my niece's hair for as long as I'm natural (which is going to be for forever)). I'm going to let my sis know how to care for Fay's hair and she just might become my lil SammyWithTheBigHair model :) (that reminds me, her name is Fay Samantha (named after her lovely aunt....me! :) ).

This is the longer p.s.s/p.p.s (whatever it is), right? I mean, I should get a Guinness World Record or some sort of award for this, right?

Sammy Certified Products #1

 

Hey everyone!

So, here are a list of products that I think are really good. I'm going to put them under the headings, "Shampoo," "Rinsing Conditioner," "Combing/Leave-in Conditioner," "Moisturiser," "Oils and Sealants," and "Styler"

So....y'all know that I haven't tried that many products and that I basically use all-natural products, but there are some products I tried that weren't all-natural that I liked, like and might revisit, but anyways, here are the products!

Yaaaaay...........!

Shampoo

BeeMine Botanical Shampoo (sulfate-free)

Rinsing Conditioner

BeeMine BeeLovely Daily Conditioner
John Frieda Frizz-Ease Curl Around Conditioner (not all-natural, but it smells nice and made my hair feel amazing back when I used it)

Combing/Leave-in Conditioner

BeeMine BeeLovely Daily Conditioner
John Frieda Frizz-Ease Curl Around Conditioner (not all-natural, but it smells nice and made my hair feel amazing back when I used it)


Moisturiser
BeeMine BeeLoved Hair&Scalp Moisturiser
Water (tap water, bottled water, rain water....)

Oils and Sealants
Coconut Oil
Shea Butter

Styler
BeeMine BeeHold Curly Butter
WonderCurl Butter Than Love Pudding (not all natural, but I love the way it defines and makes my hair feel, but I'm not really fund of its smell. It makes me think of scented relaxers....but don't worry, the product's okay)

Awanda Perez is Naturally Glamorous

Awanda Perez of GoNaturalSpain

Ohmigosh! Ohmigosh! I got to interview Awanda! When I got a reply from her about the interview, I was so happy. *happy dance.*
Here's the interview!

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Tell us a little bit about yourself.
Hi ... Well, let's see what I can tell.
My sentence: "I'm a free spirit '
My best weapon: "Great Smile"
For many years I worked at Model. I'm from Madrid, but I was born in Santo
Domingo,  Dominican Republic. ( Central Caribbean)
I currently live in the north of Spain, in the city of A Coruña. Together
with my Love and project partner, Alvaro Lago. He is everything to me and
without him, none of this would be possible.
Before now, I had lived in London, NYC, Italy and France. And travelled through a
lot of cities in Europe for his job. I love traveling, dancing, reading. Spending time with my People!
And I've always been very restless!

Have you been natural all your life? If not, how long have you been natural and what made you decide to go natural?
No. My first smoothing treatment was put on me at the age of 14 years. Then for years I knew nothing of my natural hair. But when I lived in London, I grew out my natural hair, until I returned to Madrid and then went back to straightening.  For less than a year now, I have been natural and this time I'm staying natural forever. I love my curls!


What are your go-to products and hairstyles?
For my day to day use: Sulfate-Free Shampoo, moisturizing mask, olive
oil spray and to further define my curls, a curl cream.

What's your regimen like?
Very simple. Hydrate every three days, then wash & Go. This moistens my hair. I then put a cream and then a little oil. But my hair is free like me (ahhahaha) and changes depending on the day. So usually Just let it be free. For my hair colour, I use a natural colour in shampoo with mask mode to have that tone that I always carry.

How do people react when they see your hair? (including family)
It depends. In general joy, wonder and surprise. My family at first did not quite understand what I was doing. But little by little and now, it looks better. Overall, it looks great to everyone. I work in the finance department of a very important investment company and my hair is accepted with no problems there. So all is good!

Why did you decided to promote the natural hair movement in Spain?
We decided (Varu and I) to use GoNaturalSpain to promote the natural hair movement, because we
believe that many girls here in Spain do not step out with their natural hair out of fear and especially due to the lack of information. Many have not even thought about it. Before, we only had information on the issue nationally. All were English speaking pages UK or USA. So we thought if we offered that
information and help, the girls will decide to take the plunge. And so it was!
In addition, to me, I would have liked to have one page where there is support for NGs!

Tell us a bit about Go Natural Spain.
GNS is our way of seeing the world. We believe in freedom of expression, in love, and in the natural joy and that the troubles of every day melt away. We say, regain your spark! Live! And what better way than saying BE FREE! Free your soul. Let her fly and be YOUR real self. We know there is much to do, and not always everyone will understand our work. But every time we see more girls smile when they find our website, call us, write and congratulate our work in this area, this fills us with joy and satisfaction to keep going!
Before, they were alone, now if they want  have a family! A FamilyGO! In addition we are very fortunate to have the support of great people like Katiia Tejeda (Staff) Alberto Rodriguez (Our Photographer) among many others.

What can some of us naturals in other countries do to help Go Natural Spain (especially if we're visiting Spain)?
Mmm... I like that question. (Hahahaha) So easy. GNS can be promoted, with interviews like this. Help us get products for Afro hair care. Currently there are very few specific brands for the care of our hair, here in Spain. And we need products  and to let the media know we are here, we exist! We need sponsors, any brand of products that can open a market in Spain, will be welcome. We pay for everything out of pockets, but we know it will not be possible to continue this and still be working without  any financial help.
Samantha, so thank you very much for giving me the opportunity to express my ideas on your blog. I'm very flattered and I hope to meet you in person very soon!

Anything you'll like to tell the naturally curly people out there or those considering to go natural?
I will SAY: Go Natural Girl! Because Love is in the Hair! GO FREE! The real bellaza is taken inside and if you are free to be you, that is reflected on the outside! GO!!

:)

You can find out more about Go Natural Spain and Awanda using the following links:
www.facebook.com/gonaturalspain
 www.gonaturalspain.com

Natural Hair and Deficiencies (Health 'n' Hair)

Hey Curlies,

You might be able to tell from the title and the picture above that I have some sort of a deficiency.

Sometime ago, last year or the year before that, I read something about how deficiencies could affect hair growth and thickness and I just shrugged it off. I was like, "I'm going to take care of my hair and my hair's going to grow!" I did take care of my hair and my hair did grow, I should say, but the thing that really bothered my happened about a week ago. I was looking at videos and picks of people who are at their 2nd year of being natural (I'm at that) and I was like, "what? You just started your second year and you're at BSL?" or "We've been natural for the same period of time, my hair's just nearing halfway to BSL and yours is like just a tad bit above BSL?" I had like an almost major hair envy.

So, some of you might be wondering, some of you might have already figured out what deficiency I have. It's iron-deficiency/anaemia. I've had it for some years now. People blame it on my diet (vegetarian) and sort of eating disorder (SED - which I've had since I was a new born (according to my mother)).

I was on iron pills for a couple of months then my dad asked me to stop taking them. He put it this way, "your life can't depend on a pill." Some time later, the dizziness, tiredness and exhaustion that comes with anaemia returned. I tried to take as much of green-leafy vegetables as I could, but sometimes, the whole anaemia thing still got to me.

I was away for a couple of weeks in the middle of nowhere and on one particular day (the day before I headed back home), I stopped breathing for a while. I told the (I'll call her) house parent that was there when I headed back to my room (after I started breathing again) and I told her what happened because I knew she was a nurse. When my mum came to get me the next day, she insisted that I head over to a hospital as soon as possible because I had exams coming up soon (those exams have started). I didn't go to the hospital for the first week or so, but i kept complaining of headaches and tiredness and dizziness (and someone saw me at school and told the nurse that I had suddenly gone very pale). My mum called my aunt, who's a doctor and told her what was going on and she insisted that I should be placed back on the iron pills. We went to the pharmacy and couldn't find the pills i had been given before so, we went to a hospital where my blood count was checked and the doctor prescribed iron pills for me.

(I feel a bit better now, just so you know)

Anyways, I've come to learn that the iron deficiency played a part in how fast my hair grew. My hair seems to be growing faster now. Like back when I first started taking iron pills. Sometimes, I'll feel like these tiny bumps like goosebumps all over my scalp and as they go, I got a lot of new growth. I have those goosebump-like things right now. At some point, if you've been following my blog for about a year, you will know that the hair on the sides of my head where below collarbone length. Right now, they are just touching my collarbone (and yes, I remember the bad extensions and stuff that made me lose a lot of hair, but that are should have grown past collarbone by now if not for the slower growth).

I am proud of myself for being able to grow my hair out this much even with my growth being slowed down. I feel like i have achieved something great.

The point of this post is to let you all know that if you have any deficiencies, you should see your doctor and get your meds or whatever you need if your goal is quick growth, length retention and healthy hair. If you're not on meds, take proper care of your hair. Treat your hair like a person. Don't torture your hair in any way.

Deficiencies of vitamins and minerals can affect your hair growth so don't be as ignorant as I was.

Thanks for reading! :)

~SammyWithTheBigHair