Ladies Choice: The Afro Puff

I've been coming back to the lovely afro puff and all of its variations lately. It's great for those slightly frizzy days!

I usually use Ashley Lauren leave-in conditioner or Blended Beauty to smooth my edges.

Here are a few of my recent puff styles:

Puff with twist-out bangs




Big Puff



Lush

Natural LADY of the Week: Stephelise

This week, I'd like to introduce you to the beautiful Stephelise-- we did our BC just weeks apart. Thanks for being a fotki companion on this journey!



When and why did you go natural?


I transitioned from relaxed to natural for 13 mths and I did my Big Chop on April 22, 2010. I decided to go natural because I was tired of getting relaxers. I was increasingly becoming bored with the same look all the time and I hated that my hair looked so thin after a fresh relaxer. By going natural I was able to take control of my hair health and be free from being dependent on a chemical to make my hair look a certain way.



What is your current regimen?

I normally wash/cowash my hair at least once a week sometimes 2x depending on buildup. I make sure I DC (deep condition) at least once a week. I also try to keep some type of protein in my regimen because my fine strands require it. I apply my leave in either a creamy or liquid form, moisturize with curl activator lotion such as Carefree Curl Gold, use a shea butter mixture and then seal with an oil like castor oil.



What are the 3 products you can't do without?

Well certainly water for starters. I also need my castor oil if I had to choose one and then some gel. I think I could make it if I had to with just these items.

What is your natural hair goal?

I have a bunch of short term goals or milestones as I call it. One is for me to be able to pull all my hair into a ponytail. I then want to be able to have a huge curly puff. Next, I want to be able to put it in a decent sized bun. And lastly, I want my hair to be bsb (below shoulder blade) length unstretched.



Anything you'd like to add? Inspiration for transitioners or those considering going natural?


I would say that if you are not interested in doing a BC, then transitioning is definitely the way to go. For me this was crucial in helping me to get used to manipulating and styling my own hair.




It also helps you to find out what your hair likes and dislikes as far as products. As with anything, make sure you do your research by way of hair boards, YouTube, fotki and/or Facebook. There is a wealth of knowledge out there to help you along your journey. Importantly, use your transition time to have fun by experimenting with different styles. It comes in handy when you finally do BC.

Would you like to be featured? E-mail us at ladiesofreggae@hotmail.com!

Featured Lady: Dawn Okoro

Today's featured Lady is beautiful artist Dawn Okoro-- she creates striking images on canvas, particularly of natural black women.





Her website describes Dawn's work as

"informed by the composition techniques used in fashion photography. Using oil, acrylic and pencil, she incorporates photography, collage, and ideas from popular culture. Her artwork embodies space, movement, pattern, design, texture, and color; as well as lived experiences and self-reflexivity. Self-reflexivity is a process by which she critically examines the experiences (exterior and interior) that shape her everyday life and those that surround her."

Dawn, wearing a t-shirt of her own design


Check her out at dawnokoro.com!

Ladies Choice: Raw Shea Butter

Can I tell you how much I love shea butter? So much that we STOCKED UP this summer at the festivals.



This is by far my favorite product for keeping my hair and skin soft moisturized. I use it to twist my hair at night, and it does the trick every time.

You can find it at African/Caribbean festivals in Chicago, various stores, and of course online, at stores including Butters N Bars.

Curlformers: Take II

Okay, so we gave Culrformers another try...

We set the curls using Elasta QP design foam, in big sections. And left them in all afternoon and overnight.

Ready.... Set



Go...



It looked like a new version of my mom's 1980's hairstyle. We think the sections might have been too large and didn't dry completely, and frizzed out once I hit the air.

And P gave it a different twist.







And it all turned to frizz...



We still want to give it another try, and next time we'll use smaller sections, but what about the humidity??

The beginning....

Our natural journey began in 2009, when we had our last relaxers.

My (P's) decision was made when I got my hair relaxed at a local beauty school in May, just before my wedding at the end of that month. It burned my scalp badly. I had about a 2.5 inch weeping scabby burn on my head, and all I could think about was how grossed out the hairstylist was going to be when she styled my hair for my wedding.



But somehow, that wasn't enough to stop me. My last relaxer was at the end of July 2009, right before we left for Reggae Sumfest 2009. My hair was long, straight, and color-treated. My sister's was short, straight and cute. We avoided the water until the end of the trip (you know, the usual) and had a great trip anyway.



When we got back, I steeled my resolve and decided to go for it once and for all. No more anticipating cold "perm" on my scalp, building to an itchy burn. No more dry scalp. No more damage.

My sister was ready too. She'd gone natural once before... in 2006
(throwback!)



And she eagerly took the plunge again, shaving off her relaxed hair in October 2009.



Patiently, I transitioned for 8 months, and on April 2, 2010, I went to a local salon, and had Jerome at Yehia's wield the scissors to do the honors... my big chop!



And that is where the story begins.....

The Ladies of Reggae: Natural Hair

We've decided to post all of our natural hair information, favorite products, favorite blogs, techniques and accessories in one place-- this blog! Please sit back, relax, and enjoy!

♥
The Ladies of Reggae