JBCO Challenge Day 9 Into Day 10, and Day 11

That's right. Challenge day 9 rolled into Challenge day 10! The day was a wonderful long day with Sunday school, church service and kids play day. I don't know what got into me. I just decided I was going to put my hair up into small twists and see how it looked. Little did I know that, doing them by myself, was going to take all night, all the next day, and leave me with a very, very, VERY sore neck and back on day 11.

Im not going to say it was a mistake, but i'm sure you are thinking 'why didn't she get some help?' or 'she should have known better'. After a point, I was thinking these same things and then some. But I take it all as a learning curve. In my youth, I never needed anything to motivate me to stay up all night, so never really bothered me that sleep was absolutely necessary. 

Well, in my 'old age', sleep is very much necessary! I wanted twists. I didn't want the project to take me many days to do because I knew, eventually (and lazy enough or too many distractions), I would take it all down because what I had started and slept on would get all fuzzy and dull looking before I began on the next section. And it would probably be days or even weeks before I took to task again. Besides, I can do my daughter's and my mom's hair quickly and in just a couple/few hours. How hard can it be?

HARD!!!

When I do do my mom and daughter's hair its usually twists with some sort of thickness to them so I can be done quickly and not fuss with a squirmy worm or fussy bitty. And their hair is pretty much even length all around. Another reason I felt curious I could do small twists all across my head.

Well, with enough thinking about it, taking kids home, put to bed, and all chores pretty much done, I just got started. I grabbed my little dish of JBCO, grab my brush-like comb (has 3 rows, hard teeth), several hair clips, my laptop and set up at my dining room table, and got to work. To keep me entertained, I streamed a series of SyFy 'Eureka' episodes, figuring I would be done by the time the last episode ran. Whole hearted NOT!

But, I digress. I sectioned my hair into four sections: back, front, and ears. The cross-point I placed high up, almost right on top of, my head. I started twisting with the back, getting the hardest part out of the way, debated which ear was the next hardest, and finished with the front. With each section I divided into rows, oiled and massaged the row with JBCO, then split that row into smaller sections, one at a time. I used my fingers and nails to stretch and smooth out hair, working tangles and knots out to the end. Sometimes I would get a small dip of JBCO to help in the process if I felt there wasn't enough residual already. After working knots to ends, I would use my special comb to work the knots out, then began the twisting. I applied some more JBCO on the twist ends and just twirled and twirled. I guess this is sealing the ends? I did this for my entire head! 

I didn't lose a lot of hair. Which was kinda interesting. The back of my hair seemed to experience just breakage while the ears and top experienced whole strands. All together the ends of my twists are just a little fuzzy and the hair loss came to the size of a small bouncy ball or soda bottle cap.  

I would assume this kind of twisting is considered a dry-twist, because I did not wet my hair in anyway. I'm not used to doing my hair in such an intense fashion. Yes, I have done twists to my own hair before and those turned out bulky, disproportionate, dry, and fuzzy looking when done. Its kinda difficult to sport that with some confidence :\ Especially if the entire back of your hair is short and the sides and top of your head have various lengths of long hair. Just let me have the basic wet, comb, headband process any day and I would be fine. 

Although the motivation to finish and get my hair done took many, many, many long hours (36 hrs, to be exact) and technique perhaps contributed, my hair is done. The payoff results are GREAT! 

Day 11~ Guess what? I slept all day! But woke with pain all through my neck, shoulders and back. Surprised my tush is alright. My head, of course, is a little itchy. We finally got a cold front that sticks, so massaging a small spot with a cold finger does the trick, lol. 

I want to try and trim the ends of my twists and reseal with JBCO. It will be a 'feel as you go' for the back and some of sides and top, the rest I will get to see the results. I hope it goes well!

JBCO Challenge Day 7 & Day 8

Day 7~ I was feeling good and cute today :-} Now, i'm in Texas and the Summer dresses are still out, so I put one of my new ones on. Diva! LOC'd it up, hair clipped two flat pony tails to the top of my head and handled business for my day! Boo Yaaah! Still sick, but i'm makin' it! For bed, I took my clips out and put on my bonnet. Day over.

Day 8, Week 2 KCCM Check In!~ 

I had just barely woken up and got moving when my neighbor's daughter came over extending an invitation for a shopping day,,, "leave in 20 minutes." Somehow the word "shopping" works better than a cup of coffee, because we 'moved'!

Washed, dressed, spritzed my hair and clipped in my pigtails. I don't think I remembered to do my castor oil application, but with what little I do feel in my hair and all the moisture retained, I didn't find it a problem. 

I want to avoid an every other day topical application and get back to the scalp and roots, just to get the cleansing process out of the way and done with.

Now for the Week 2 Check-In, here's how I answered:

1. Where do you live?

Manor, TEXAS!

2. Are other members of your family naturals too? Who? Were they natural before you or vice versa? Do you all support each other?

Yes, my mother. She went natural after I did only because I had gone from relaxing to hotcombing my hair and she had like the results of my hair. I dont know about supporting each other, but do know that we just do what we can for the times.

3. How did you use Castor Oil in your hair last week (week 1)

day 1~ I applied straight to my scalp and twisted hair. 

day2~ I applied to sectioned parts (scalp), edges and eyebrows

day3~ no castor oil application, massaged itchy spots *wish i got warning about cleansing 1st*

day4~ pre-poo w/ my oil mix (itch relief!), ACV rinse & DC/Protein treatment; LOC method with castor oil for my oil

day 5~ no application, but surprised of hair moisture

day 6/7~ repeat of LOC method

4. (optional) Share a pic of the bottle of castor oil you are using. *I did supply my pic*

I am still excited and enjoying this challenge. The first week was hard as far as a regimen and maintenance. But as I mentioned, the education I have learned recently and understanding how I have already been partial in the LOC method practice, has made implementing the challenge a little bit easier. This coming week I hope to focus more on my scalp, getting this castor oil cleansing in progress and on track.

Tonight, i'm just going to put my bonnet on and call it a night. Ponder whether to twist my hair up sometime tomorrow while deciding where to put my Christmas tree.

~~~~~~~  ~~~~~~~

These little thoughts of mine help to understand why I have to do things the way I do them. It may be a bit OCD, but educating, teaching, and learning the how to the why of it makes easier to implement.. Since we gals like to 'share', I like to know what i'm talking about and not steer wrong. ;-p

Thank you for viewing and Take Back Your Mane Control! ~ 

Miss EM

I'm Ready for a Challenge!!!!

Hey!! Im Back!! Ive been a bit discouraged since my last post. I know. I had fallen back into that "its too much work" mode. And a lot has to do with my personal life recently being an emotional roller coaster as of late. 
It always seems that nothing is going right or you are always in the wrong, making it very difficult to divulge your focus elsewhere, where it is truly needed. At my last Ladies Bible Study, we kinda touched on this subject in our discussion. As women, we naturally are brought up to multitask, assist, advise and make amends in almost everything we do in work, family, and home. Naturally, we have a tendency to focus or pinpoint what is not quite right until we figure out what is odd about it in the first place. Men, sometimes I wish I had their focus, naturally see the problem and immediately tend to fixing it, asking questions later, lol! 
Well, that's life! And just about anything and sometimes everything else takes a back simmer. In my case, its beauty and regime. Many friends tell me I got it or its potential "if you do this...". I never had the need to see it in myself, but always noticed when someone would point out my hair and either like or scrutinize it. 
Over 30 and a single mom, I still have my crush moments and want to be recognized and all ideas end at the pinnacle of my head. But I learned a long time ago outward appearance does not count for much if your inward appearance (and intellect) is not sought after, too. Therefore, the love I put into my head is for me and myself first and only. Its my pride and joy. I also find that my love for my hair reflects how I see respect for myself, hold the last vestige of innocence, and value what makes me me.

So, On With IT!! I've registered for KinkyCurlyCoilyMe (KCCM) Castor Oil Winter Hair Challenge!!!

Im so excited and today is the first check-in day of the challenge! I just wanted to share with you the questions and my answers to this check-in:

1. How long have you been natural? Did you Big Chop or Transition? Why did you choose this method? If you are not natural, do you think it is something you would consider in your future, why/why not?

2. Is this your first time participating in the Castor Oil Challenge?

3. What is motivating you to participate in this challenge?

1. I have been natural, ive calculated, a little over 13yrs. My hair had been relaxed since i was a child, so i think when i finally BC, i was tired of all the breakage and maintenance and bleached and dyed the ends of my TWA a bright electric blue. :-D it wasnt really a choice, i just did it. Wasnt really into fashion or styles, so it didnt matter to me cuz i wasnt all routine with taking care of my hair.

2. Yes, this will be my first time participating in the and any hair challenge. ive tried on my own and knew only to oil my head. didnt work cuz i thought it too much work.

3. i like this challenge cuz i will be held accountable by others. plus, my hair has been short all my life, even with relaxer. I've only experienced it long, to my shoulders, once in my life. I would like that experience again and then some. I want to know that i can achieve diversity with my hair beyond what i currently can.

Today is the first day i am applying the castor oil to my hair and scalp! Yay! So excited!! I started my own blog when i decided to start caring for my natural hair. Its "Mane Control" at:http://exewoods.blogspot.com/
Ive been discouraged, so i hope i can document my check-ins and routine there as well. Id appreciate the help in accountability, ladies!!

Here is an updated pic, before I start applying the Jamaican Black Castor Oil~

Beginning/Before/Start

Anyone who has been keeping up with my posts or checking in or wanting some help in some way, this is a great way to start at the basics of scalp and hair health and maintenance. Come, try it along with me, start where ever you can and work your way out.

Thank you for viewing and Take Back Your Mane Control!