Natural Hair Update

Prior to cut: front

Side view before cut

 Natural Hair Update 

 

 

 

1 week after cut

I CUT MY HAIR!!! On April 3rd I came home from a very long weekend at Children's Hospital and chopped off my hair. I put it in 6 tightly braided and detangled plaits and cut off all of the colored ends. My hair was in bad shape from general neglect, damage from the color, and super split ends. It was even breaking off where the color met the uncolored hair!!! I was trying to hold on to the length until I could get my hands on a Talavera Split Ender; however, the damage was constant, so I had to make a decision!

After cutting my hair, it felt AMAZING!!!! The strands are thicker/stronger, and it feels exceptionally soft and moisturized. I am pleased to report that my hair is thriving, and the virgin hair has been thriving with gusto!! I only use my products on my hair unless my mom brings some Shea Moisture home LOL I wash once with Castile soap or the Lush Bar followed by one wash with the Peppermint Mud Bar.

After the wash, I rinse thoroughly and moisturize my scalp with my Herbal Hair Oil and moisturize my strand with my Butter Creme Body Frosting. My hair loves this regimen!! I stopped using a comb in October of 2014, and it has given me a much more intimate understanding of my hair. I also deep condition and keep my hair in two strand twists (picture before the cut) throughout the week. I spray with water, detangle, and moisturize my twists once a week and wash on Fridays. This is what work FOR ME! If you are new to natural hair, you may need to try many different processes before you find the routine that works best for you. Remember, it's not just about how long your hair is. GOOD HAIR IS HEALTHY HAIR!!

To stay up-to-date with all things Blessed Body Brand and my natural hair journey, follow me on Facebook (Blessed Body Brand: All-natural Soaps and More, Twitter & Instagram (blessed_shanta), and on Pinterest ( Blessed Body Brand)!

~Shanta

Family is all that we've got!

Titus with his Mother

 

FAMILY IS ALL THAT WE'VE GOT

Last week I turned 25, and a few days later my movie came out (Furious 7)!!! I was so excited that I bought my tickets a month in advance!!!!! I was set to go to a midnight showing Thursday April 2nd 2015, but before any of that happened, I got the word that my cousin was mauled by a pit bull, April 1st. There is nothing in my life that has been more terrifying than getting that phone call.

As terrified as I was in that moment, all I could think about was whether or not he would be ok and how his parents and his brothers were feeling. He was airlifted from Tuscaloosa, AL to Birmingham, AL. It's a 45 minute drive, but it was severe enough for them to airlift him! We burned rubber getting up to the hospital, and when we got there all anyone could feel was gratitude. He is still alive.

This past Monday April 6th, we celebrated his 10th year of life in gratitude. The damage that dog did to his face is severe and will cause him to be hospitalized for a long time. He'll undergo multiple surgeries to repair the damage, but we are grateful that he had no broken bones from the neck down and that he is such a strong and resilient child!!

When you nearly lose someone that you love, it makes you appreciate them and your life that much more! In the words of Wiz Khalifa, "How can we not talk about family when family's all that we got?" Never forget to call and visit those that you love. You never know when it could change forever. If you would like to send a donation to support his parents so that they can be in the hospital with him and not be worried about bills, please donate to TEAM TITUS.

~Shanta

Natural Hair!!!!!!!! (Marquia Harmon)

2014 before Cut/Color

2013 1 1/2 years natural

2014 Cut/Color

Transitioning

2010 6 Months Natural

2012

2010 Transitioning

   

 In 2010 I decided to start my transition to go natural. My mom started relaxing my hair at the age of 4 so I was very excited to see my hair in it's natural state. I began watching a lot of YouTube video's and began making my own hair and skin products. Not only was this a change for my hair but also for my health.

  After much research I was ready to do my big chop I felt so free and beautiful!!!!!!!! My hair was a mini afro so it was easy to manage but as it got longer it became more difficult to deal with. I was natural for a year before I decided to go back to the relaxer. I was so unhappy with my relaxed hair. I was literally relaxed for one day and I had my husband shave my head bald.

  My husband was not to happy about that, but he got over it. My hair began to grow in so nicely and I was very pleased at how nice it looked. This journey has been both enjoyable and annoying at the same time LOL I have learned so much about my hair, and I'm so happy I made this decision.

~Marquia Harmon