How has Kendra been wearing her hair??

I can just hear all my followers saying,

"This is a HAIR BLOG, Kendra!!. We don't just want random articles, we want to see pictures, otherwise we think you don't know what you're talking about."

Okay, okay! lol.

Well here is the thing ladies. My camera chord was lost for almost 2 weeks! But what was lost has been found (smile) so I am going to be posting lots of pics now!! Here are a few styles that I took pictures of within that 2 week period of time.

A Curly Madness Do

Pulled into a side messy bun with a few curlies dangling all over the place

Pulled back on the other side:

I don't smooth down my ends when I pull it back, it has a bit of frizz to it, but that doesn't bother me because I have

FRIZZY HAIR! Its all part of embracing what you have!

Close up of my bun. I just pinned the curls randomly. No method to my madness, I just play in it until I'm happy with how it looks lol

I like a BIG and kind of messy look thats still classy. I didn't separate the curls that much because I liked how they looked big :) It reminded me of this cool bantu knot out I saw once.

I'm a Pentecostal Yes I Am

Don't ask me how I did that because I don't know. I just started rolling and pinning and WALAH!

I was on my way to school. I did this style on the curls from the day before. I didn't have time to re-roll my hair so the curls were a bit flat. So I did an up-do instead :)

I LOVED how the front turned out!! And for the back, I did a twisted side bun. I guess I like side buns a lot huh? Haha. Its becoming quite the signature style for me.

My Make-Shift Do

There is a very funny story behind this one that I MUST tell. So my husband is the coach for our senior bible quiz team and I am his assistant. At the end of January we had our first tournament. Well I packed all my stuff and sent Brendan with my bags because I was going to drive up with some church family after work. To my dismay, when I arrived, I found out that by mistake, our bags got left. So all I had was my outfit for the next day in the garment bag and all the complimentary toiletries that the hotel had to offer. So I styled my hair with conditioner, yes with conditioner. lol No it wasn't organic but it made a cute do for the day! haha :) Kendra is learning how to make it work!!

I did a few rolls in the front and made my own headband with a twist :)

My signature curlies on the side and another signature, my high bun!

I did another twist going back to add some texture :)

Here is the other side. It was pretty cool looking in my opinion. Styled with my fingers and conditioner haha

Close up :)

 I will be taking a pic everyday this week and on Saturday I will post all of them so you can see how I wear my hair day to day. Bad hair days, good hair days- all of them. (uh-oh) haha. I am proud of my work!! I hope you enjoyed my styles and are inspired to try them. I would do tutorials but seriously I cannot re-create so many of the styles I do :(

I literally get in the mirror and play with it until it looks how I want it. Try it and see what you come up with! The sky is the limit!!

If you see a style you like but your hair isn't as long as the person wearing it, then modify it and make it fit your hair. That's what I do!

Celebrating happy, healthy and FUN hair <3

Reader Response: How Chelsyea Uses Her Flexi-Rods

 Chelsyea wanted to share with you all how she uses her flexi-rods. They are a base of just about every style for her! Chelsyea is a newbie natural several months ago. She is still in the transition process! She has taken the time to research, experiment and LEARN what works for her hair. Not only is it growing but it is beautiful and stylish!

Here is her flexi-rod regimen:

Before I put the flexi rods in my hair, I moisturize my hair with extra virgin, cold compressed coconut oil from the root to end of hair strand in small sections of my hair. Then I place the flexi rods in by placing each of the sectioned hair in the middle of the flexi rod. Following this, I roll the hair up on flexi-rod and then fold over both ends of the flexi rod. Sometimes, I just fold over one of the sides of the flexi rod.

Here are some pictures of styles she has done:

Mini twists with curlies!!! :)









Yay for Chels! She has developed her own style and way of doing her natural hair. The best part is that her styles are adorable  and protective! Plus, don't you just love her modest additions?? Her flowers and all of the color just makes me smile! I hope this inspires you to find your style and embrace it :) Whatever it may be!!

Celebrating happy, healthy and long hair <3

Flexi-Rod Styles with a Short How To

Hello there ladies!! I want to show you a few styles I have worn with my flexi rods. I am LOVING my curls! I could say that over and over again. What a great way to style your hair!! Its a base and the style possibilities are endless. Woo!

Low Bun with Curls .

I pulled my hair into a low side bun and left out some hair on the top...

I then loosely pinned up the curls all over with bobby pins 

I also pinned the curls in the bun with bobby pins

I let the curls in the front hang :)

High Curly Pony.

(recycled curls because I was too tired

after church Wed nite to re-roll my hair)

I pulled hair up into a high pony tail with a hair tie

I separated more off the curls to make a fuller pony tail

Yay I made this hair accessory from some fabric, tulle and buttons!

Here is the other side!

I left some curls down in the front again

I am SO tired in these pics!!! LOL

Jen had asked a question as to HOW I keep the flexi rods in my head. So I just recorded a 15 second video showing her how I do it. Now I used a very small piece of hair because my curls are separated and I didn't want to mess up the front of my hair! lol. BUT the curls I have in my hair in the vid are from my hair being in medium-large twists and then flexi rodded. So they look more spiral like then the pics I posted in the last post. SO here is the vid!!

If you have anymore questions, please ask!!

<3 Celebrating awesome curls with my new flexi-rod friends

Say Hello to Flexi-Rods Part 2

Can I just say that I LOVE flexi-rods!! I totally agree with Chelsea. This is going to be a HUGE part of my styling from here on out. I get a classy look, with a low hassle, no heat, protective, no combing, low manipulation. OH YES. I am FOR this :)

The reason why it took me so long to post these pics is due to trial and error. Saturday night, I washed my hair, conditioned and detangled. Then I put in the flexi rods. Well, Sunday morning my hair didn't dry. So I had to do an up-do for church both services. So I went at it again on Sunday night for Monday morning. I rolled it dry with oil and it turned out frizzy. No bueno. So again I rocked another up do. FINALLY on Monday night, I spritzed it with my leave in conditioner spray (purified water, aloe vera juice, and oil mix), I sealed my ends with my Grow mask and rolled again. It turned out so good! I am so pleased with the results!!

So here are some pics:
(I apologize for the quality, my camera died so I had to use my phone!)

Can you see the difference in the curl definition from the back versus the front? I twisted the front and then rolled it in the flexi rods. The results were more of a bantu knot out type of curl rather than a Shirley temple curl. I liked it a lot!

Bouncy.

Soft.

TONS of body.

&& Super Duper Girly.

Flexi-Rod Rolling Ideas:

• Put your hair in two strand twists and then roll the twists. In the morning, take out the flexi rods and carefully separate the twists. OR leave the twists and wear them curly! Its a great way to refresh your twists
• Add 3-5 cornrows on the side of your hair and flexi rod the rest of your hair
• Put your hair in small-medium box braids and then rolls the braids! Wear them curly!
• Flexi rod your entire head and then pull your hair into a puff for a cute curly pony
• Flexi rod your entire head and then pin up the sides to create a curly fo-hawk
• Pull your curls into a side low pony tail and pin up the curls for an elegant look for church. Add some pin curls to the top

Celebrating new style options <3

Buns & Rolls Plus Kudos from Mamaw

This week my hubby and I took our Christmas pics (I promise I will post them when I get them lol) I didn't have much time to do my hair so I pulled off this super easy updo. I affectionately call it buns and rolls!

I basically did a mohawk of buns, but I put them on the side of my head

 rather than straight down the middle of my head. The top are my rolls.

I don't know how to verbally explain how I do them so I will have to do

a tutorial so I can show all of you how quick and easy that is!

This style was done on freshly washed hair!!

I used gel to slick down the edges a bit. Its usually not that important

to me but for the pics I didn't want the little curlies taking over!

Of course I have my usual side curls going on the side

Oh and the beautiful headband was handmade by Jasmin

I received a really sweet comment from Mamaw :) She is a grandmother in our church and we all love her like our own! She is always complementing my natural hair. She LOVES black girls with natural hair! No one can say it like her...

Kendra,



You are a doll! Were I black I would proudly wear my hair as long and as big as the Good Lord allowed it to grow! I LOVE black hair! I have never understood why black women change something God given... ALL YOU NEED IS A BOW OR A FLOWER! The rest of us need bobby pins, a gallon of hair spray, hair dryers, curlers...the list goes on and on. You are the blessed ones! You are beautiful just as you are! I love your blog... and I love you! Mamaw

So in the abridged words of Mamaw, no complaining about your natural hair! Its beautiful and unique!! :)

Be blessed!!!

Celebrating happy, healthy and long hair <3

A Week of Protective Styling: Day 5 Double Bun

Hello there ladies. This is the FINAL day of my Week of Protective Styling Series :)

I hope that this has been helpful and enjoyable for you! If you have an questions feel free to ask. As always I LOVE your comments and feedback!

If you notice in the vid, I took the time to moisturize my hair with some water and oils in a spray bottle. Be SURE to moisturize your hair when you are wearing protective styles!




Celebrating happy, healthy and long hair :)

A Week of Protective Styling: Day 3 Style Modifications

The vid speaks for itself :)



Celebrating happy, healthy and long hair!

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

A Week of Protective Styling: Day 2 Style

You get me bright and early every morning for 7 day. I look super tired in this one lol

! But once again I'm giving you a 5 minute style!

 

Today I just braided 3 sections of twists. I pulled the two side sections back and the section in the middle went into a pin curl. The using a hair tie, I pulled the rest into a ponytail. I used bobby pins to tuck my ends under into a bun. I find this is less stressful on my ends! I added a small hair assessory that I made and called it a day!

 

So enjoy! This one is super easy :)

Ways to modify this style:

• If your hair will not go into a bun yet, just pin it up in the back
• If you hair is very short, you can just pin back a few pieces on the sides and leave the rest down

A Week of Protective Styling: Updated Twist Tutorial & Day 1 Style

As promised, I am taking this week to show you all how to do twists as well as 6 days of styles!

Each morning I will do a video showing you how I did my style. (Notice me yawning in the footage from this morning lol. I was tired ya'll) Kendra unedited! Rambling and all!!

Protective styling is a must as we are heading into the colder months! So ENJOY ... This week is twists and the next week might be braids!! Who knows?! :)

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

To be continued ....

 

Celebrating happy, healthy and long hair :)

WHY is protetive styling so important?

*Picture of damaged hair follicle.

 It may not look like much when you see your hair in the mirror,

 but under the microscope its much worse then you may have imagined!

Many women in the natural community have reported hair breakage, dry hair, uncontrollable split ends, and the list goes on! Could there possibly be a connection between a failure to practice protective styling and damaged hair? I am going to conclude that there is a distinct positive correlationg between the two.

While wearing your hair out and curly is very fun and cute when you first go natural, there are all types of damage your hair will endure. Therefore we must know how to avoid these types of damage the best we can.

Sun and Wind Damage: 

If you know you will be in the sun for a long period of time, plan ahead.

Bring a colorful scarf, or a floppy hat. In addition, be sure to moisturize your

hair and tuck all of your ends under. If I know I'm going to the beach, I generally

 braid my hair and load it up with moisturization (if that is a word! lol)

Heat Damage:

No need to overload your hair with heat! Take the time to braid, air dry

 and undo your hair instead of blow drying. Flat iron very seldom

 (1-2 time a year max for me). Avoid hot curlers, hot sticks and curling irons.

Instead opt for roller sets, foam rollers, bantu knot outs, pin curls and twist outs.

Excess Manipulation Damage:

 You have to be very careful how often you are combing, brushing and

styling your hair. If you have twists one day, twist out the next, puff the next,

blowed out fro the next and high bun the next, there is a big problem. All of the

 combing, tugging, pressure on the hair, brushing, etc, leads to breakage. Pick a

 style and keep it for 5-7 days. If your hair must be out, limit it to twice a week!

Lack of Hair Moisture = Damage

If you are not moisturizing your hair daily or every other day at least,

you are damaging your hair. Our hair is very thirsty and we have to make sure

we are giving our hair the adequate amount of moisture. WATER is the best way

to moisturize your hair. I use a spray bottle of: purified water, aloe vera juice, tea tree

oil and carrot oil. I spray it on my hair every night before I tie it up. It makes my hair

verymoisturized and quenches its thirst! Moisture is a MUST! A MUST!!!

 So WHAT do you do to overcome all of these damages and still have beautiful hair? No one wants boring hair and no one wants to wear the same styles!! Well.....

Welcome to the Wonderful World of Protective Styling!
It isn't boring!!! Here is a list of MANY different protective styles you can try along with 2 featured protective styles. I have included 6 style ideas to keep you stylish for the rest of the week. No one will ever know you are "protecting" your hair :)

• Twists on dry or wet hair: from large to small
• Monday: Wear your twists in a pin up style

• Tuesday: Pull your twists into a low bun. Tuck the ends under.
• Wednesday: Put your twists into bantu knots overnight, wear curly and down
• Thursday: Pin up your twists in curly pin curls all over your head. Play with the texture
• Friday: Wet twists completely in the shower and allow the ends to curl, wear down and pinned back
• Saturday: Rock a twist out!
• Braids: from medium to small
• Monday: braid the braids into two french braids or french twists
• Tuesday: undo the french braid or french twist after being in overnight. Wear hair out to show off crimpy/wavy texture
• Wednesday: dampen hair, put foam rollers on the ends and leave over night. Wear in a low pony tail to show off curly ends
• Thursday: Pin up in a french braid with curly ends out at the top. Take out a small amount on the top and put into a pin curl
• Friday: Wet hair in the shower and wear down and pinned back

  

• Saturday: Rock a braid out!!

Many other styles (all featured  on my blog):

• Cornrows
• Flat twists
• High bun
• Bantu knots
• Pompa-Poof
• Pixie Twists
• Halo-Inspired

 

In the words of a little boy from my church,

"Kendra wears her hair A LOT of ways!!"

Do YOU have any style ideas or pictures??

Please share!!!!

Saving one nappy head a day

I am going to propose that there is definitely a positive correlation and a distint link between the two.