NaTuRaL DiVaS: Trena

Name: Trena Smith
Where are you located (City, State) Grand Prairie, TX

How long have you been natural? 5 years

How long did you transition before big chopping? 4 months

Why did you decide to go natural? I got tired of sitting in the beauty shop for 4-5 hours (with a hair appointment) and I wanted fuller, longer, healthier hair.

How did friends and family react to your decision?
I did not have much support when I decided to loc. A lot of people asked why I was locing because I had such “good hair”.

What is your regimen right now?
I go to a loctician once a month for all maintenance for my hair. I sleep with a satin bonnet cap on every night. I found with my hair that less is more when you are doing all the right things your hair needs. I was once a product junkie but quickly came to the realization that once you find something that works well for your hair there is really no need to keep trying other things.

What would you say to the girl/woman who may be thinking of going natural?
Do it!! NOW!! It is such a liberating experience. I encourage all to discover their natural you! You will be surprised just what your hair is really capable of.

Last style before transition:

Straightened natural hair before locs:

Flexirod set

So, for Easter I decided to do something different! I went and bought some flexirods; washed, dc'd, and detangled my hair and rolled it like so:

I sat under the dryer on medium heat for about an hour and left them in overnight. In the morning I took them out for church and got this:

Now a couple days later I separated the curls for a super curly fro

MAN!!!! I love my hair's versatility! This will be washed out tomorrow when I get highlights!

Also stay tuned next week for the recap of my adventures at The World Natural Hair Show!!

-Smooches

Stylish Blogger Award

Though I don't post much and I try to find time in my busy schedule to add quality posts... fail, NaturalBlackOne awarded me the Stylish Blogger Award and I was truly elated. So, thank you girl!!! She always posts great info and product reviews you can use!!

So these are the rules:

To accept the award, you must follow these rules:
1. Thank and link back to the person that awarded you this award
2. Share 7 things about yourself
3. Award 15 recently discovered great bloggers
4. Contact these bloggers and tell them about the award


7 things:

1. I will be 30 in 3 weeks
2. I have 2 sons ages 8 and almost 2
3. I will be one year fully natural at the end of this month. Whoop!!
4. I was born and raised in the great state of TEXAS
5. I love music, art, and reading
6. I am a middle school teacher, so my days are NEVER boring
7. I never really have time to work on my blog, but I will get better

The blogs that I want to pass this award on to are:
AfroElle

All Naptural

Ambrosia M. Blog

Black Girl Long Hair

Coily World

Miss Moon's Musings

AKA Kristen

Nappy Hair University

The Golden Sparkle

Sofull Sista

Watch Me Dress

All of these are definitely quality blogs...check them out!

Smooches

NaTuRaL DIVAS: Bratania

Name: Bratania Morris (YouTube Name- NaturalModelB)
Where are you located? I am in Fort Worth Texas, about 30 minutes from Dallas.
How long have you been natural? I have been natural for 10.5 months.
How long did you transition before big chopping? I transitioned for 1 year before I BC’d. The last time that I had a relaxer was April 09.

Why did you decide to go natural? There were a few reasons. Number 1 after I had my son he came out with this head full of beautiful curly hair that I am absolutely in love with! I said to myself, if his hair is like this maybe mine is to. Number 2, my mom had beautiful water wavy hair, and once again I said to myself, maybe my hair is like this to. Number 3, my hair would always grow long, and break off. And number 4, after my mom passed away, I decided that I wanted a fresh start, so I chopped it all off.

How did friends and family react to your decision?
Well I sent out this pic [of all the permed hair in the sink] when I BC’d at like 2am. LOL! So all my friends were thinking I was crazy! One even showed up to my house thinking that I was going to commit suicide, lol! I think a lot of people reacted that way because they didn’t know that I was going natural. People hadn’t seen my hair much, because during my transition I rocked a lot of wigs, or I just bunned my hair.

What is your regimen right now? 1st of all I listen to my hair, and I try to give it what it needs. But on average this is usually my routine, which has changed drastically since my hair has grown out. On Friday or Saturday:
If I feel buildup on my scalp, I use Organix Coconut Milk Shampoo. If I don’t feel buildup, but just want to wash my hair, I co-wash with Herbal Essences Totally Twisted or Suaves Coconut Conditioner. Then I apply more of the same conditioner and let it sit in my head for 5 minutes or so. I detangle, using my Tangle Teezer, with the same conditioner that I co-wash with. Then I Deep Condition my hair with Miss Jessie’s rapid Recovery Treatment or Miss Jessies Super Sweetback Treatment for 30 minutes, with a plastic cap. I alternate between these 2 Deep Conditioners. Sometimes I will melt a teaspoon of Coconut Oil and add it to my DC as well. Then I rinse the DC from my hair and style my hair. I rock 2 styles, either a twistout or a wash and go. Before I do either style, I apply my leave in, I’ve used Kinky curly Knot Today since I’ve been natural, but I started using Mixed Chicks leave in a week ago. Then I apply Curls Milkshake then either EVOO or Coconut Oil. When I do a wash and go, I apply castor oil and Ecostyler gel to each shingled section, and it lasts me all week. When I do a twistout, I use Olive Oil’s Smooth and Hold pudding, Miss Jessies Quick Curls, or Jane Carters Curl Crème.

What would you say to the girl/woman who may be thinking of going natural? DOOOOO IIITTTTT! It will be the best decision that you ever made! It may be tough at 1st, after you BC, if you were use to a head full of hair, but when it grows back, it will be the thickest, prettiest, healthiest, fullest, most diverse hair that you’ve ever had!

Relaxed hair

Straightened natural hair

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Ok, so I am getting some awesome thigns done to my blog and also incorporating some new features, so look out for what's to come. My ultimate goal is to help someone who wants to go natural get the help that they need!

Smooches

New hair

My first braidout!! I think I'm in love!!!!

Even the puff I threw together this morning was great! Big and fluffy!!!

Don't get stuck in a hair rut!!!

Having been natural only 9 months and starting from close to a bald head, I know how frustrating your hair can become and how some days it doesn't even seem worth it, but HOLD ON sista!! I have tried to come up with some solutions to help you out of your HAIR RUT!

1. TRACK YOUR PROGRESS
Any time that you feel that this journey is in vain, look back at where you started and this should give you an ego boost.

2. SEARCH FOR STYLE IDEAS
When I get bored with what I can come up with myself, I always turn to my laptop or phone for inspiration. My fave is youtube. Search natural hair or TWA (teeny weeny afro) and there are millions of videos. You can even be specific and search "styling your TWA" or "twistout on short hair" and get great results. Also, set up a youtube login and subscribe to different vloggers channels. When you do this, you will get updates when they add new videos and that is always a highlight of my day.
Other places you can turn to are FOTKI, Facebook, tumblr and other natural hair communities that require you to register and become a member. My favorites are naturalsunshine.com and nappturality.com

3. MODIFY YOUR REGIMEN
If you feel that your hair is becoming dry,brittle or lackluster then it is definitely time to revamp your regimen. Try new products or try switching some out. I have so many products in my closet, that I can always use something new! Or use a product that you have been wanting to try and maybe this could be the product you were looking for!

I know sometimes it gets hard on this natural journey, but surround yourself with people who support your decision and those who have been where you are in your journey....a little encouragement never hurt anybody!!

Smooches