Friday

It's My 1st Natural Hair Anniversary + Natural Hair Care Products I'm Trying

At the end of May, I reached a huge milestone. I just celebrated my one-year natural anniversary and I couldn't be more proud of myself!


a woman touching her natural hair






Now, I know some of you might be thinking good for you but everyone is natural nowadays.
But this was no easy feat for me. Sit down and let me tell you all about it.


I was in the 5th grade and I came home from a long, hot, week of summer camp with matted, tangled, hair. I ended up having to get it cut. Short.


Being 11, I really couldn't understand why my shoulder length ponytails were being cut off and I hated my new look. I felt like a boy. Neighborhood kids even teased me. I remember once visiting an elderly friend of the family and she told my mom she had a handsome son. She was talking about me!

Back then, they didn't have products like they do today. You did your hair with grease and water.

After that, I knew I would have to relax my hair and set it in rollers to give it some sort of girly look. We added bows, barrettes, lace, anything to give my curly short hair a feminine touch. After a few years, it began to grow and I never looked back.






As an adult my signature look was a relaxed Bob.






My first attempt to go natural was in June of 2013 when I stretched my hair 5 months and did a Bantu knot out style. A blogger left a comment that my bee-bees were showing (I'm sure she was just kidding around). I felt bad as if my natural hair wasn't good enough so I just ended up relaxing it again. It honestly wasn't her fault, just my own insecurities.







Fast forward three years and I tried to go natural again but ended up relaxing my pixie cut instead.





Finally, in 2017 I made the transition and I still had a few relaxed ends to trim off and I gradually cut them as my hair grew. My hair was technically somewhere between 3 - 5 months post relaxer.


I honestly didn't care what anyone thought not even my husband. I was ready to do this. For me.





I decided to announce my big chop on Instagram and had an idea for a picture. My daughter took it and I couldn't believe how my curls looked. They weren't bad after all!


See, I had associated short, natural hair - on me - with looking nappy and like a boy and I didn't want to go through that embarrassment again.



A post shared by Stacie - #Minneapolisblogger (@stacierayeblog) on


My daughter suggested I dye my new short natural hair to make the curls pop so I chose a honey blonde-ish color.




First goal reached. Ponytail status! And I didn't care how small it was!







My first flat iron on my natural hair.





Happiness is high puff status!



Today!


Now I rock my curls whether I get a compliment or not. It's about how good I feel and baby, that's all that matters!


Now, on to the products that I've been trying lately. If you follow me on facebook, you know I've been going ham looking for Eco Styler Gel alternatives since the Eco drama hit the fan a few weeks ago. I've purchased and returned so many beauty products in the past two weeks, I hope I don't get banned from Sally's.


I've also received a few questions about the natural hair care products I use so I thought I'd share a few of them with you.



Natural Hair Care Products I'm Currently Trying 


1. Mielle Organics Styling Gel Honey & Ginger - I just recently bought this and after trying dozens of other natural hair gels, I like this one the best. It defines my curls well and makes decent waves. The lemon scent is pretty strong though.



2. Mielle Organics Deep Conditioner Babassu & Mint - It conditions well and the scent stays with you all day.

3. tgin Honey Miracle Hair Mask Deep Conditioner - Has a mild honey scent. This one was just okay to me, but since I got it free in my Target Beauty Box I didn't mind.




4. Jane Carter Curls to Go Un-Tangle Me - Love this leave in conditioner! It has great slip.





5. Camille Rose Almond Jai Twisting Butter - My daughter has been using this on the girl's hair and says it's great but a bit pricey.



6. Camille Rose Naturals Aloe Whipped Butter Gel - I really like this natural hair moisturizer. It smells delicious like a vanilla cupcake but not too overpowering.




Are you natural? How long have you been? If not, what keeps you from going natural?

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