ALL ABOUT MY Hair... I know, sounds so conceited, right?

As a college freshman, I don't meet a lot of African American girls who understand me during my whole "natural" hair journey. My hair, bra strap length (and has been since the beginning of the school year), to them is just fine in its flattened state. So when I try "daring" styles such as natural curls, curly mohawks, bantu knot outs, and twists... I get one million questions such as why I've decided to go natural, why do I now wash my hair so much, why don't I use shampoo all the time when I wash, why do I hesitate to flat iron my hair and now only choose to do so once every 4 weeks (if that... I'm currently trying to stretch to once every 8 weeks). However, online.... I see lots of other natural curly girls who have wonderful discussions about their hair and products they use. I just want to be apart of that!

I've been following blogs such as CurlyNikki, HoneyBrownSugar, ManeandChic, etc., starting in January. February of 2009 marked my 2 year post relaxer marked! I celebrated by having my layers cut, and therefore the last few relaxed ends were snipped. This was a very liberating experience and I am now proud to show off my "nappy/curly" locks!!! Since, I've only flat ironed my hair once (March 17th) and don't plan on flat ironing again until a special occasion.

I've experienced MANY trial and error hairstyles such as wash and gos, bantu-knot outs, and twist outs.... each time it seems like I get a different result. I rarely ever remember my regime, so now I am determined to log all of my experiences in this very blog. Who knows how big it'll get and how many other natural curly girls I can help along the way.

SO, I guess I'll start with a bio about my hair....

I think I am considrered 3C, 4A... During wash and go's in early February, I experienced a lot of dryness and became very frustrated. I've seemed to remedy this just a bit by using products recommended and used by lots of other girls.

So thus far, my list of products consists of:

Herbal Hessences Hello Hydration Conditioner

Aussie Moist Conditoner

Aussie Leave

VO5 Hair Milks Conditioner

ORGANIC, Root Stimulation - Olive Oil, Oil Moisterizing Hair Lotion

Palmer's Olive Oil Gro Therapy

Lets Jam (barely ever)

Pantene Pro-V R&N Shampoo (and conditioner, but haven't used the conditioner since Jan)

I'll start a product wish list soon as well as update the one above... but right now, gotta go! I'll leave you with pics of my hair

1st and 2nd picture : February 2009, last few inches of relaxed hair finally cut

3rd picture (me on left): Curly fro-hawk created w/ a banana clip

4th Picture: December 2008, sister blow dried, curled hair w/ flat iron (still has relaxed ends)

5th Picture: December 2008, the next day after my sister did hair (daughter Aniyah on my lap :))

Bantu Knot Out: (from last weekend 4/11/09)





sorry about the sideways pics, I should have rotated!

So much to write about!

College has finally started, I've been truly MIA but hopefully I can be more active on this blog.

Lately I've been visiting a lot of sites/blogs for girls/women with natural hair or transitioning to that point.  I have been growing mine out since February of '07, too chicken to cut it all off (since i have a large head, lol).  Luckily, I've found that I haven't really experienced THAT much breakage at all... but there has been some.  I'm guessing that I still have 4-5 inches left of relaxed hair left before I can deem myself completely natural, but i'll get there soon!

I'll post pictures and explain my hair type/texture later on.  Be back soon!

Never forgotten...

Remembering those who lost their lives on September 11th, 2001.

The thought of what happened to those people is chilling.  I'm sure, even after 7 years have passed, it feels like just yesterday to those who were effected.  R.I.P to the victims and the heros who risked their lives to save them.  May God give their families peace.

what our parents tried to say

its so true when they say you learn by experience...

i can think of a million and one things my mother warned me about when it came to relationships.  the joy, the excitement, the heartache, the headache, and most definitely the pain... but what young girl really listens?  we heard their words and thought nothing of them, you kno... like Will said, "parents just don't understand".  but what they meant to say was just be careful, they lived it all before... but us teens think we know it all.

times are definitely hard right now, but i can see the future... and i have to admit, is a beautiful one

there's so much I'd like to tell my daughter, i better start writing it down now

I think its gonna storm...

What's a girl to do on a Sunday evening?

Today was just like every other day that I spent in the pst week... Except no Jawan. I did, however go and buy some gym shoes... instead of the usual sandals/flip flops thing. 

Summer's end can now be seen in the distance, mostly everyone has already started school again... I won't start until an exact month from now.  Excited?  Very.

Dorm move in day, Sept 19th!

So what do I do until then? Twirl my thumbs of course...

I can hear the thunder outside my window. It's been so stinkin hot lately, I don't even mind a little rain, or a storm even. It calms my nerves?

while I contemplate how I'm gonna spend this next week of my life, I'll kick back and listen to the rain... hopefully it'll put me to sleep

nappy hair don't care

I feel the need to document important times in my world and 2008 has already proven to be one of the most important times, if ever. This year has put a lot of things into perspective for me, these eyes of mine see things a lot differently.

First and foremost, I'm loving life, and even more, I'm loving me.

Who ever said loving yourself was a bad thing? It doesn't have to be taken to the extent of self idolizing, or even conceit. But before you can truly love another, or anything for that matter, you have to love yourself.

So, as I sit here with my hair in it's completely natural state, no perm/relaxers, not even oil... It's a huge ball of curls and I love it. Haha, it's funny how eager I was to spend top dollar to get my hair as straight as it can be, while others strived to add more texture/depth/body and even get that CURL that I was born with. Gotta flaunt what you got. BY NO MEANS am I trying to sound like some afro-centric, all-natural, yoga-doin hippie. I'm just loving me right now, and that means me in all of my natural nappy-headedness, haha.

Who am I?

My name's Allison, everyone calls me Allie, and this is the love of my life:

Aniyah Marie, born May 4th 2008 : ] she rocks my socks, haha. Yes, that's my daughter... I'm an 18 year old mother, sue me! J/k... but I do realize young mothers catch a lot of flack, not to mention I realize that I'm also a statistic; black, un-wed female, who gave birth to a baby while a senior in high school. Yet there's a lot more to me. I GRADUATED high school, with honors, earned a Cincinnatus Scholarship at the University of Cincinnati where I will be attending FULL TIME taking Pre-Pharmacy courses... and as for the father, we're still together!!!

This is just a small introduction into my world, I still have yet to formally introduce myself. I plan to use this as a form of relief when I'm feeling stressed, as well as a place to document meaningful times, as well as post quotes/mantras, and other inspirational things... hey, I may even make some friends along the way!