My Hair Story

An Evening With Curly Nikki

April 8, 2013 by Whitney 12 Comments

Nikki Walton aka Curly Nikki was a pleasure to meet on Saturday. The place was packed with natrualistas, relaxed and weaved hair sistas and everything in between. It was fun looking at the beautiful women, the complete look from head to toe. I took plenty of pictures, but because it was in a club like setting, the lighting was dim and I didn’t get the best, but I’m sharing what I have.

The event was presented by Shea Moisture with special guest Q-Redew, and sponsored by Jack Daniels Tennessee Honey and Chambord Flavored Vodka. They had alcoholic drinks to honor Nikki, Curly Nikki Cosmo, Curlfriend, Kinky Bee and Shea Moisture Honey Bee. We were given a complimentary drink ticket and I had the Curlfriend and it was quite tasty. I must admit it was delicious. They had young women walking around offering finger food and samples of the Curly Nikki signature drinks. They were beautiful, gracious and kind servers. The hostesses with the Shea Moisture t-shirts on were helpful, full of product information and extremely friendly. I truly appreciate great customer service, something that is hard to come by these days.

Nikki got up and said a few words of gratitude and expressed how it felt to be back in her hometown celebrating the success of her new book, “Better Than Good Hair”.

I participated in videotaping my hair story, being interviewed and sharing my experience was fun and I wasn’t nervous at all. Do I have a new career in the making? Who knows. They had consultations for anyone that wanted to participate, we even did the Wooble! That was a lot of fun and yep I participated. I had to show those young women I could Wobble, I was tired when we finished though!

Nikki worked the room, very gracious with her fans and followers, taking pictures and signing her book. There wasn’t a bad attitude in the room and I made a friend that evening. She came to the event alone like I did, we stood in line together. Once we got in we went our separate ways but saw each other and hung out for the rest of the evening. I love real time networking, it was fun and we all need it from time to time.

I was so glad I attended the book signing event, I almost didn’t go. I was running late, didn’t take my twists out and when I stepped out the house to tripped over my own feet and fell flat on the concrete! My daughter had just closed the door and I called her like the old people do in the commercial when they’ve fallen and can’t get up. I was so disgusted with my clumsiness, but I got up, dusted myself off and got in the truck and kept going. My daughter tried to help me, she weighs 100 pounds and she was there more for moral support while I struggled to get up, poor thing.

The book signing event was a very professional, organized and just simply enjoyable. Curly Nikki was gracious and I had a wonderful time. Congratulations again to Nikki Walton and your continued success.

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Filed Under: Entrepreneur, Fashion and Style, Lifestyle, My Hair Story Tagged With: book tour, curlynikki, meetup, natural hair, networking

Naturalista’s Big Chop Anniversary

March 14, 2013 by Whitney 10 Comments

One year ago yesterday on March 13, 2012 I cut off all hair out of frustration when I took my braids down. I was trying to transition my hair, grow out the relaxer while having both textures. It was matted, dry and breaking off every time I touched it. I cut it off, took the scissors like Angela Bassett did in “Waiting To Exhale” and cut my hair off.

One year later, my hair has grown quite a bit and I love what I have discovered about my hair. I have three different textures, loose curls on sides and back, thick at the top with curls, and the middle is one big sponge, with not as much curl definition. I’ve learned to embrace it, take care of it and not stress about it growing. One thing that I’ve noticed about women who decide to wear their hair without chemicals. They are very impatient, they want their hair to be long as some of the videos on YouTube or different natural hair blogs that are out there. It takes patience and you have to be willing to put in the work, maintenance is the key. It will not grow all the way down your back in six months like the girl in this or that picture. We are all different, and you have to approach your hair that way.

When it comes to what products I use, it’s based on what look I want to achieve. If I just want a wash n go, I use Kinky Curly, love that stuff. I co-wash using As I Am Coconut CoWash Conditioner, an oil product and two strand twist with their Twist Defining Cream. I also use Shea Moisture products, that’s my all time favorite staple product. This can be expensive because there are so many companies and different hair products available to naturalistas.

The one thing that really bothers me when I read the different forums and blogs for naturalistas, they forget that wearing our hair natural is a choice and it’s not for everyone. Just like a woman may color her hair, it’s not for everyone. I have chosen to not use any chemicals, including color. I would color my hair every six to eight weeks, faithfully using semi color of course. I didn’t want to see any gray hair, at all. For me, this transition has been about acceptance for who I am, my emotional, physical and spiritual well being. I’ve discovered a lot this year, not all of it I like, but I accept until I make the necessary changes.

I’ve cut my hair off so many times I can’t count. I’ve never been one attached to it because my hair grows very fast. What’s next, henna coloring, new styles and of course probably new products. Who knows, but I’m glad I made this change and stuck with it this time.

Wow, what a transformation! The first picture is when I was trying to transition, doing flexirod sets, then I tried the french braids that were too tight and drove me crazy. The third picture is right after my big chop at the barber shop, the next was showing my different textures. The fifth is my 50th birthday, the last two show afro love. The last picture I took last month. Let’s see what the next year has for my hair. Embrace whatever you do with and have fun with it, I am.

I was not paid for the product endorsement, they were purchased with my own money. One day hopefully, I’ll be able to represent a brand or product!

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Filed Under: Currently, Inspirational, My Hair Story Tagged With: big chop anniversary, braids, natural hair, products, transition

Natural Hair Update

December 13, 2012 by Whitney 4 Comments

One year ago I decided that I no longer wanted to put chemicals on my hair, or go natural the term that is used. I’ve done this in the last 20 years about 5 or 6 times, each time growing my hair back after pressure that my short look wasn’t appealing, or not sophisticated enough. Wow, the pressures that we allow others to impose on our choices in life. This has been one of the best decisions made for me. I honestly didn’t realize or know the true texture of my hair. I simply love it, discovering different styles to wear, seeing the growth and the gray hair come in.

I have been one year chemical free, no relaxer or hair color, both of which I got on a regular basis. My relaxer and semi-permanent color was every 6-8 weeks, depending on growth. I took very good care of my hair when I wore chemicals, no heat as in flat or curling irons. I would get roller sets to my hair, and that’s how I was able to have shoulder length hair. I didn’t put weaves or extensions on my hair, trust me I tried it once in the 80′s, but it wasn’t for me. I didn’t like the texture of the hair and my stylist at the time glued it in, and I hated that. I wish I had pictures of that, I need to find them.

I used to get compliments about my hair all the time, some people even asked if I was wearing a wig. That was a compliment to me. I remember one time after church, we were in the choir room putting up our robes and getting ready to leave, one of the choir members came to hug me (you know Christians hug all the time), and actually ran her hands through my hair, looking for tracks! My mouth dropped, she smiled and I’m glad her curiosity was satisfied. I admit, I miss this look at times, but I truly love wearing my hair natural.

I’m not a big YouTube person, I’ll go when I’m trying to do a new style, but I do follow Curly Nikki, Hairscapades, and Afrobella as well as Rene Syler of Good Enough Mother. There are sooo many to follow, but those are the main ones I like. I also like the natural hair section of Essence Magazine online, check out their gift guide by some of the most popular natural hair bloggers, it was very good and listed some products I would like to try. I’m also gonna subscribe to CurlBox, a monthly subscription of hair products for natural hair enthusiast, you get samples of different hair products every month for $20. One of the things about this natural hair journey, you become a product junkie, I have a small collection, but since my girls are also natural we use them, especially my oldest. Here’s my latest pictures of my hair…

Here’s a side note….I’m not one of those that will harass you about your hair, I believe to each his own. What works for me doesn’t have to be what you want, need or desire. That is the one thing that I don’t like about the discussions and natural hair communities, they can be pretty negative, so I read and get what I need out of them and keep it moving. That drives me crazy about social media in general…another post, another day. Have a good one!

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Filed Under: Currently, My Hair Story Tagged With: chemicals, natural hair, update

Hair Mayhem

March 14, 2012 by Whitney 2 Comments

I took my braids down the other day, it was time. I got my last relaxer on October 20, 2011. I’ve been going strong, being patient and allowing my relaxer to grow out. Transitioning is a long process and some women give in and others stick to it. Well, back to the story….after taking down the braids, I shampoo, condition and started to comb out my hair. It was very tangled and I knew I would lose some hair during the comb out process, it had been braided for a month. Here’s where it gets “hairy”, sorry couldn’t help it. While combing, I pulled out 95% of the middle section! I panicked and out of frustration cut it all off, I’m talking went Angela Bassett from “Waiting to Exhale” where she grabbed the scissors and started cutting, until all the relaxed hair was gone.

When the fog cleared and my panic attack was over, I had cut all my hair off. I gotta tell ya, I didn’t like what I was looking at. I was an emotional, exhausted mess. I tried to tell the Mr. and trust me he wasn’t supportive. That’s ok. I picked up my pride and went to my room and put a scarf on it to keep the funny looks and disappointing comments from my family. I had to wait until Tuesday to go see the barber who was very supportive and hooked me up with a nice style to fit my face and shape of my head. Thank you Jeff, of Mister Jeff’s in University City (St Louis) for taking care of me! Love the way it looks and when I add the moisturizer and oils, my little coils pop right up! It’s amazing!

I got through this knee jerk reaction, but gotta be careful about that because it can cost me. Could be emotional, financial or physical…who knows. Whew, gotta hold on, that was a menopause moment! Keep ya head up ladies!

Whitney

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Filed Under: Fashion and Style, Lifestyle, My Hair Story Tagged With: hair, menopause, mental, natural hair, transition

Change

February 6, 2012 by Whitney Leave a Comment

People normally don’t like change. I know I don’t. It can stop you dead in your tracks. After you ask who, when, what and why, you start adapting (most of the time). It seems like the older we get, the harder it is to accept change. Why can’t things just remain the same?

To be honest, we need change, without it we are in one big rut all the time. It can be as small as going a different way to the grocery store, parting your hair on the left side instead of the right side. Drinking tea instead of coffee….um, no scratch that one, I love my coffee! Change could also be changing careers, or retiring.

I did something last week that I haven’t done in a long time, got my hair braided. It’s really a change and it is taking more time to get used to it than I thought. I did it as a protective style while I grow out my relaxed tresses. I’m still trying to adjust, so used to getting up, getting ready and doing my hair. My kids love it, and my man even likes it.

Sometimes change is a big deal, like moving from one city to another. Now let me tell ya, that one takes some time to get used to. I’ve moved several times, and I think I’ve adjusted each time I moved, although it was tough at times. I’m from Kansas City, but I live in St. Louis now. I miss my home town, but I really like St. Louis. I like the area where we live, and I love my church. I haven’t made many friends, but that’s because I’m a busy mom that works from home. I get around very well, and can tell you where all the TJ Maxx, Marshalls, Nordstrom Rack and DSW’s are!

Change can also mean what most of us are going through now. That’s what my momma used to call it, “going through the change”. We all know what that change does to us physically and emotionally. We just pray that we can get through it without losing our minds.

Change is a part of our lives, we can embrace it or stress out. I don’t recommend the stress part, life is too short for that. Keep your head up, stay prayed up and be encouraged! Check out my girl Ledisi….

Whitney

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Filed Under: Lifestyle, Menopause Mania, My Hair Story Tagged With: menopause, mental health, my hair

January 19, 2012 by Whitney Leave a Comment

I decided a few months ago that I wanted to grow out my chemically relaxed tresses. I didn’t want to do the “big chop”, I’m trying to wait on that, at least until my birthday in July. I’ve worn my hair natural several times before and loved it, but gave into the pressure of people and their opinions of my hair. When I think about it, how sad to give into the pressures of what someone else thinks of you and what you are about. So not me anymore.

It’s a long process, but I am so excited about the outcome of my natural hair. I have to admit, I’ve been on the internet fiercely researching natural hair, how to take care of it. I have joined a few social networks that are supportive of natural hair. It’s so much out there, not like it was the last time I wore my hair natural over 10 years ago. The last time I wore my hair natural was 2002, the year I turned 40. Well, I will be entering a new decade in July and this time when my hair grows out and I do the “big chop”, I plan to keep it that way.

Things are a lot different now, I’m going through menopause and it has affected everything physically including my hair. My hair has started to shed, the relaxer is just too strong. My hair is super thin. I am considering using protective styles but not sure where to start with that. I’m not really a braid person and I don’t really do wigs, so I’m not sure what to do. I need something because I’m getting ready to start Zumba and Electric Slide classes again and you know what exercising does to our hair. The pictures below are examples of what I’m considering as my protective styles. I’m considering the shape of my face and age. I try to stay age appropriate with my style. I’m excited about this transition, let me know if any of you are going natural or considering the transition. I’ll post a picture after I get my protective style done. Be encouraged…

Whitney