From My Brown Eyes

This belongs to a writer, an editor, a journalist, a Columbia Graduate School of journalism student, and a natural hair woman named Shonitria.
Ok guys, so here’s a hair update. It’s grown!!!! I am 2 yrs. 4 mths., natural. I am sticking to the blonde hair color which can be very drying so upkeep isn’t easy. I have been using Carol’s Daughter products on my hair for over a year now and I can’t say enough good things about how well those products have treated my hair. The Healthy Hair Butter is a staple and due to recommendations to friends and family members they are addicted to it too. I know part of my hair growth can be attributed to that product. So ladies my advice: find the products that work for you and stick to it. You’ll love the results! -Live with your eyes open, S.

Ok guys, so here’s a hair update. It’s grown!!!! I am 2 yrs. 4 mths., natural. I am sticking to the blonde hair color which can be very drying so upkeep isn’t easy. I have been using Carol’s Daughter products on my hair for over a year now and I can’t say enough good things about how well those products have treated my hair. The Healthy Hair Butter is a staple and due to recommendations to friends and family members they are addicted to it too. I know part of my hair growth can be attributed to that product. So ladies my advice: find the products that work for you and stick to it. You’ll love the results!

-Live with your eyes open, S.

So I recently dyed my hair. It’s a semi-permanent by Clairol. The color is called Black Cherry. I really wanted to mix it up so I straighter my hair too. I used the thermoceramic brush by Denman when blowing it out. The flat iron I used (that I absolutely ADORE) is called H2Pro Allegro 1 inch. -live with your eyes open, S.

So I recently dyed my hair. It’s a semi-permanent by Clairol. The color is called Black Cherry. I really wanted to mix it up so I straighter my hair too. I used the thermoceramic brush by Denman when blowing it out. The flat iron I used (that I absolutely ADORE) is called H2Pro Allegro 1 inch.

-live with your eyes open, S.

Bantu Knot-Out. This was my first time trying them and they turned out quite well. I am very pleased!  Products Used: Carol’s Daughter Macadamia Heat-Setting Foam (can also use any other type of mousse or foam) and Carol’s Daughter Healthy Hair Butter.  -live with your eyes open, S. 

Bantu Knot-Out. This was my first time trying them and they turned out quite well. I am very pleased! 

Products Used: Carol’s Daughter Macadamia Heat-Setting Foam (can also use any other type of mousse or foam) and Carol’s Daughter Healthy Hair Butter. 

-live with your eyes open, S. 

drippingswaguusince1994: This is a really good product. Even added bonus, it smells yummy! I like it because it helps to define my curls and adds moisture which is rare for a single product to do. It is a bit pricey but well worth it plus it smells like a sweet delectable treat. A must try :). -Live with your eyes open, S. 

drippingswaguusince1994:

This is a really good product. Even added bonus, it smells yummy! I like it because it helps to define my curls and adds moisture which is rare for a single product to do. It is a bit pricey but well worth it plus it smells like a sweet delectable treat. A must try :).

-Live with your eyes open, S. 

(Source: tah-lee-shah, via kayneverstops)

So now I have gotten technologically savvy…..here’s a better look. The picture on the left is my hair as a result of twist outs so my hair is stretched. The photo on the right is my hair straightened. This is why I love being natural - the flexibility!  -Live with your eyes open, S. 

So now I have gotten technologically savvy…..here’s a better look. The picture on the left is my hair as a result of twist outs so my hair is stretched. The photo on the right is my hair straightened. This is why I love being natural - the flexibility! 

-Live with your eyes open, S. 

Two-Strand Twist Out. Pardon the people in the background, I was out with a friend at a concert. I was told by a friend of another product I can use for Twist-Strand Twists and I tried them. I really liked the results!  Here’s what I used: Carol’s Daughter Macadamia Heat Setting Foam and Carol’s Daughter Healthy Hair Butter.  The healthy hair butter was for moisture and to keep my hair soft. The heat setting foam is actually more like a mousse. It holds hair in place minus the crunch. I prefer these two products instead of my previous combination of the Loc Butter and Healthy Hair Butter. The combination left my hair greasy and heavy. The two products are very heavily concentrated with essential oils. Therefore used together they are just too much, even for my thick hair.  -Live with your eyes open, S. 

Two-Strand Twist Out. Pardon the people in the background, I was out with a friend at a concert. I was told by a friend of another product I can use for Twist-Strand Twists and I tried them. I really liked the results! 

Here’s what I used: Carol’s Daughter Macadamia Heat Setting Foam and Carol’s Daughter Healthy Hair Butter. 

The healthy hair butter was for moisture and to keep my hair soft. The heat setting foam is actually more like a mousse. It holds hair in place minus the crunch. I prefer these two products instead of my previous combination of the Loc Butter and Healthy Hair Butter. The combination left my hair greasy and heavy. The two products are very heavily concentrated with essential oils. Therefore used together they are just too much, even for my thick hair. 

-Live with your eyes open, S. 

This is my hair in its shrunken state. It is trimmed. The color is touched up. Oh and I am trying a new product, Hair Rules Curly Whip. It truly allows me to wash and go! I can see this product will be a staple product for me when summer comes. Right now, it’s cold here in New York so wet hair outside isn’t exactly ideal. In this photo the only products I have in my hair are Hair Rules Curly Whip and Carol’s Daughter Healthy Hair Butter. The curly whip defines my curls and freezes them in place. The Healthy Hair Butter softens up my hair, gives it moisture, promotes growth and keeps it healthy!  -Live with your eyes open, S. 

This is my hair in its shrunken state. It is trimmed. The color is touched up.

Oh and I am trying a new product, Hair Rules Curly Whip. It truly allows me to wash and go! I can see this product will be a staple product for me when summer comes. Right now, it’s cold here in New York so wet hair outside isn’t exactly ideal.

In this photo the only products I have in my hair are Hair Rules Curly Whip and Carol’s Daughter Healthy Hair Butter. The curly whip defines my curls and freezes them in place. The Healthy Hair Butter softens up my hair, gives it moisture, promotes growth and keeps it healthy! 

-Live with your eyes open, S. 

I have been AWOL - sorry guys! Forgive me :(. Grad school has been nothing less than demanding. Graduation in May cannot come soon enough! Update: over my winter break I had my hair straightened and got a trim. I was shocked at how long and beautiful my hair was. Plus it was my first time having straight blonde hair. I must say, I missed straight hair! It is a lot easier. I would wrap it at night, unwrap it in the morning and then I was good to go. EASY. Although after about 3 weeks I missed my kinky curly fro and washed my hair….a pic of what my hair looks like now coming next :). -Live with you eyes open, S. 

I have been AWOL - sorry guys! Forgive me :(. Grad school has been nothing less than demanding. Graduation in May cannot come soon enough! Update: over my winter break I had my hair straightened and got a trim. I was shocked at how long and beautiful my hair was. Plus it was my first time having straight blonde hair.

I must say, I missed straight hair! It is a lot easier. I would wrap it at night, unwrap it in the morning and then I was good to go. EASY. Although after about 3 weeks I missed my kinky curly fro and washed my hair….a pic of what my hair looks like now coming next :).

-Live with you eyes open, S. 

Anonymous asked: Did you go to a salon to dye your hair or was it a box dye? Which is better for natural hair?

My apologies for my delayed response. It was a box dye. I have never had my hair professionally colored actually. I would recommend, if you can, to get it done professionally. I personally just can’t justify paying a large amount of money to a salon to just change my hair color on a grad student’s budget. So I opt to do it myself. I use Clairol Textures and Tones. The color of my hair presently is Honey Blonde. It is best to get it done professionally, especially if you are going several shades lighter. Because color is very drying- so doing it properly is a must. I hope this helped :).

Day Four Two-Strand Twist Out hair. Last night I twisted my dry hair. Although this morning when I took the twists out my hair was a frizzy mess. So I pulled all my hair back into a bun and re-twisted the front. After a couple of hours I took the twists out. I decided to go for a side-swept kind of look so I pushed the hair over to the side. It worked out pretty well. One of my challenges is finding creative hairstyles for natural hair. Doing different styles can be time consuming but in the end they are so worth it.   I hope you guys like!   Products used: Tui Leave-In Conditioner, Loc Butter, Healthy Hair Butter, Macadamia Hold and Control Smoother -Live with your eyes open, S. 

Day Four Two-Strand Twist Out hair. Last night I twisted my dry hair. Although this morning when I took the twists out my hair was a frizzy mess.

So I pulled all my hair back into a bun and re-twisted the front. After a couple of hours I took the twists out. I decided to go for a side-swept kind of look so I pushed the hair over to the side. It worked out pretty well.

One of my challenges is finding creative hairstyles for natural hair. Doing different styles can be time consuming but in the end they are so worth it.  

I hope you guys like!  

Products used: Tui Leave-In Conditioner, Loc Butter, Healthy Hair Butter, Macadamia Hold and Control Smoother

-Live with your eyes open, S.