Updates!

Ok, ok...I know it has been a while. With everything that has been going on (Mom's surgery, closing up shop at my previous job, getting ready to move and anniversary trip) I haven't been able to record as much as I would like to. Nevertheless, Alwaysthemore, I just have a few pix to bring this Natural Journey blog up to date. I can say I have been embracing a bit more...probably because I have given myself time to get used to my texture. (Usually I will wear it overnight and throw some kinky twists in the next day) #SHAME.  I have been rocking the au natural for about a month now, and although the length is not where I want it to be...I am getting a bit used to it. Now, I would be lying if I didn't say it was hard...I mean, I look at other naturalistas hair who BC'd around the same time as me and their hair is longer, or their curl pattern is not quite as tight as mine and I'm like..."what's wrong with my hair?" I know that's not the right mentality to have though...but hey, it does cross my mind.
I have received a lot of positive feedback about my hair...and yeah, I've had some negative ones as well. Why I took to heart the negative feedback and not the positive? Idk...just me I guess.
You know what bothers me though?
Why is it that "other" people can give compliments GALORE and MY OWN PEOPLE have to be the ones to be so doggone critical? For instance, I was out with Dre last weekend, and this "other" lady went on and on about how pretty I was, and how my hair was so pretty, and a "sista" came in, stared, and turned away....its like, we just can't uplift each other? What the cuss is up with that? Or like I mentioned in a previous blog about how everybody is so quick to say the "Natural Movement" is a trend and not everyone should be following it....I do agree, it IS a trend, yet a POSITIVE one that more women are embracing themselves and not following the masses in "fixing what isn't broken"! I can't stand when ppl say to me, "Natural compliments you, but not everyone can do it"...yes they can! If not, you are saying one natural texture is "better than" the other, and to my recollection, God made them all....so, in short, you are not only slighting the created...you're slighting THE CREATOR...just something to think about...
It's even bad when you have natural sistas talking about "who is more natural than the other...the one who BC'D, or the one who transitioned..." ARE YOU SERIOUS? As if the "light-skin vs. dark-skin" issue wasn't already plaguing us, now we have division in who is more natural than the other? My goodness...In the words of Janelle Monae, "I was made to believe there's something wrong with me.."-Cold War.
We have to wake up people...so sorry my update turned into a "vent session", but so much has been bottled up over the past few months...anyhow, good reading and good day beautiful people. ;-)

Tiara Andréan

                                                              5.28.11 1st day after 4 months of twists....

                                                         4 months after BC

                                                           1st twist out...really wasn't comfortable, but hey, sometimes you just have to step out in it! If this wasn't a step into gaining confidence, I don't know what is!

                                                          Baby bro and I at cousin's graduation 6/5/11

                                                        Very 1st time attempting a flat twist, or whatever it is called...I wasn't trying to style. Just wanted to see how to do it.

                                                                6/4/11

                                                           5 months after BC

Funky...NOT!

So here we are, at 3 months since my BC, and I am beginning to see the beauty that hid behind the weave...;-) (I say this as I'm rockin' a fresh batch of kinky twists...lol. Last time I promise!)  It is quite frustrating. As I took out my kinky twist, I couldn't notice the growth at first. Even after I got them all out, I wasn't too satisfied with the way it looked...but after playing with it, I began to see the many different benefits of having natural hair...or did I? I was confused! My hair was coming out with each pull from the comb! And the pain was excruciating! I was told this is normal...I mean, it wasn't like big clumps, but it was enough for me! And my coils were so tightly packed...to me it was a MESS! The next morning, I woke up with a matted down mini fro. NOT COOL! I pulled and applied some makeup to feel halfway cute. Lol. To make a long story short, I ended up going to Uncle Funky's Daughter to get an analysis of my hair.
 Let me tell you break it down...After all the hype, I expected the service to be superb, to find out exactly what my hair type was (4b 4c, etc...) and develop a regiment for my hair. Well, I suppose you can say I was a given a regime, but that's pretty much it. When I walked in, there was absolutely no direction. (They definitely need to hire!) I was there for a good 15 minutes before I was asked if I needed any help. Everyone was pretty much occupied. Well, my consultation was with a particular stylist who was already working in someone else's head. I was introduced to her and instructed to fill out an info. card. She then proceeded to ask me what I was looking for, and I told her I was new to the "natural experience" and I wanted guidance in how to take care of my hair. I also mentioned that I was interested in color and finding out what hair styles would work well with my specific hair type. (These are questions you ask a stylist right???) Well, the only thing she half-way answered was about the color. She just gave me a color chart and asked me which one I wanted. No pricing. She even had the nerve to ask me what my hair type was....I started to say, "If I knew I wouldn't be here for no doggone consultation! Lol...Well they had me go look at a chart to see what my hair was close to, and then that was pretty much it. So I could've just stayed home to look at different hair types...sad I tell you. Well the co-owner came to do his part of the job (sell products) and at least he did try a moisturizer on my hair which I must say, did help...he ended up telling me that my hair isn't as tight as I thought it was. It's between a tight curl and loose wave...(whatever that is. ) I tried "Curly Magic" which he told me wasn't going to work, (and it did..shows how much he knew. lol) but I purchased it anyway. My grand total came up to about $73....crazy huh? And this was supposed to be the least expensive route...raspberries. Well...until next time, check out the pictures from this leg of the journey.

 This photo is on my way to Uncle Funky's...trying to fake the funk that I am not feelin' it! lol

                                                       a little wave action...;-) This is with "Curly Magic" and their moisturizer.

                                                       Look at it flex! I was amazed at the length when manipulated!

This is with the moisturizer...all on dry hair!

~Tiara Andréan

Growth?

Okay, so I look a hot mess...but hopefully the long-awaited "embrace moment" will come soon enough. I don't know why, but maybe I don't have the face for it...but still appreciative of the hair God blessed me with. Don't laugh...it's something else I tell ya.

While I wait...

So...you may be wondering why I have twists in my head already...well, actually I had an appointment before I decided to go ahead and cut off my relaxed ends...So of course I kept my appointment! It's only been a little over two weeks, and I already see the difference in how my hair is growing...but anyhoo, this post is short and sweet bc I have to get back to nursing my baby to health (he has the flu... :-( )


Tiara Andrean

                                                           Kinky Twists (01/26/2011)

The Beginning

June 23, 2010. The decision that led me to be more in love with me....how could I say "I DO" to the man of my dreams without first, whole-heartedly loving me? Doesn't make sense to you huh? Well, me neither. For years I had dreamt of escaping from the constraints of society's shackles...yet my fear confined me. Sadly, I am on who put more emphasis on what others thought of me instead of seeing my own inner beauty. How can someone else validate what they didn't create? CRAZY right? Well, I know I am late, but I finally came to my senses...It's funny how people say, "It's just a trend", or "why are girls doing this?" or, " Everybody doesn't have pretty natural hair..." Ridiculous. Who are you to tell me what is "pretty". To me,it was quite refreshing to see a trend effecting society in a positive way...so many women embracing their natural beauty... why is that a bad thing? When really the first trend was to relax our hair so that we can fit European standards...and who is following a trend again? Funny...people are seriously brainwashed.
So I thought, what better time to start? I have support, and I am not alone...exactly what I needed. Well, my mother and I had a plan to BIG CHOP when my father got home...but I know me. If I set a date, I will find some excuse to postpone, and eventually will never get done. I knew if I was going to do it, I couldn't plan it it just had to be done.
Well January 21st 2011...almost hitting 7months, it was done. Definitely not a part of the plan, but in actuality, my plan was to not plan...so it worked out. I had an appointment set up the next day for another transition style (kinky twists) and my sister had agreed to take my weave extensions out. Ha! She sure did get me. :-) (Love you Stace!) She got to telling me, "Girl, you might as well cut this off" and before I knew it, I said, "ok, let's go!" I ran to look at the mirror, and at first I screamed. I could not believe that I built up the courage to go ahead and do it, but boy, was it a shocker! I felt like a boy! I didn't know what to expect, but I know it's going to take some getting used to...The best thing was, #1,  I felt SOOOOO free! Washing my hair was a breeze! And my husband absolutely LOVES it! Needless to say, I still got the kinky twists, (I had to keep my appointment :-) But I am looking forward to the days to come...


Free to be ME! ;-)

                                            still in the getting used to stage...but I will conquer this insecurity!

                                          right after BC! No product...