curly girl wonder diaries - winter edition

I have been slacking on my hair updates. Sometime last week I hit the 7 month mark, but I was too cold to celebrate. With that said, I have spent most of this month in protective styles, namely twists. It's a shame when the weather warms up to the 40s and you almost feel as if it's spring. The arctic blast terrorizing the east coast (heck, everywhere) is no joke...and none too kind on the hair and skin. I pray that we remain in these warmer temps for the long haul. Anyway...

My only hair resolution for 2010 was to keep it healthy. I took a picture of my hair on January 1st (ignore the hair clips and pre-poppage of my robe collar). This was 8-day hair! I kept my hair in twists for a week and then unleashed the curls on Christmas day. I was determined to make them stretch until New Year's. Success! It is my goal is to keep my hands out of my hair for as long as I can stand it....especially since I have been running through my coconut oil while trying to combat the cold air.

Twists and twist-outs have become my staple style.

And when all else fails...

Le puff!

I prefer to wear the "Dr. Spock" ones (above). Those twists were done on (dripping) wet hair. They take a lot longer to do, but I prefer to wear those in public over the ones done on dry hair (below). I think that the dry ones make me look like a little girl, but it is obvious just how real shrinkage is. I plan to make some hair jewels to jazz it up a bit. But for right now, I will sport some cute hats with a twist or 2 exposed to the world. Pics to come.

The dry twists DO yield a bigger look.

I will be doing coils once again soon to protect my hair during these harsh winter months.

I use the same products: Giovanni 50/50 shampoo, Herbal Essence Hello Hydration, Vatika Oil, Coconut Oil, etc. However, I am in need of a good deep conditioner. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

This Month's Mythbuster

I had a conversaton with a coworker (caucasian), who has curly hair. I noticed that she recently started straightening it almost every other day. She said that she thought that straight hair was more professional. This was interesting considering how she's the only associate in our department...a position that she secured while curly. Natural hair is professional hair...but much like any other texture, it is all in the way that it is groomed.

Comment of the Month

While having dinner with my VA mom on Christmas day, I kept getting compliments on my curls. My dad shouts out (as if he has turrets), "I don't like short hair"...as he continues to stuff some greens in his mouth. Although his wife is natural and maintains a fade, he continuously slings these little snide remarks my way...including an insinuation that I would be a search target boarding a plane simply b/c I wear my hair in twists. This time, my response: "Well I, for one, think that's just great." Had there not been other people at the table, my response WOULD'VE been: "Nobody asked you for your raggedy-ass opinion. Thanks." Give me 10 points (at least) for keeping my cool and acting like I had home-training.

Still growing (in more ways than one),

Curly Girl Wonder aka LB