I wanted to try something new for the New Year. So, I two-strand flat twisted one side of my hair and did single two strand twists on the other side. Here are the results.

I washed and conditioned my hair with Suave Naturals Tropical Coconut Shampoo & Conditioner. Then, I pat dry and add Bronner Bros Moisturizing Growth Lotion Hair Strengthener. Finally, I detangle and style my hair. I applied Softee Indian Hemp to my scalp and ORS Smooth-n-Hold Pudding on my ends.

See video below for step-by-step instructions on how I created this style:

I’ll always be a Cali girl in my heart, so I’m pleased to present a  former classmate and friend of mine that I’ve known since I was a tiny 3rd grader.  I am so pleased to present Myesha, representing the Golden State. By the way, she’s also the first of hopefully many to be featured, showing off a set of gorgeous locks (or insta-dreads, as she calls them). Please give her a warm welcome:

This video shows my technique for a braid-out mid-wear re-braid. I sometimes wear my braid-outs for up to four weeks. However, there are times when I want to give my braid-outs a “fresh” look. That is when I do a re-braid.

Also, I have a big surprise at the end of the video…our new Natural-ness Knit Satin lined hats.

I wanted to post an update of the braid-out that I posted a few days ago (seen here).  Here are pictures of the same braid-out, a week later.  To maintain the style, I just spritzed my hair with a water and leave-in conditioner mist (when needed) and put on my satin cap.  In the morning I re-fluffed and went about my business.

I don’t have much to say about the style.  I do get asked how I manage to keep my braid-outs for so long.  In my case, I often keep my hair braided up for a few days in order to get the most definition.

I have also noticed that my braid-outs look better when done on hair that has not been freshly shampooed.  If I want a “banging” braid-out…I wear my hair in a braid-out for a few weeks, then I rebraid it without re-washing it (video on my Mid-Wear rebraid technique coming in my next post).

“Oh…but isn’t your hair…*gasp* dirty when you do that?”  My answer…not really.  I do not use a whole lot of product in my hair, so there’s no build-up on my hair or scalp.  “Does your scalp itch after a few weeks?”  My answer…not really.  Not any more than it did when I was shampooing my hair every day or every week.

I have to say that I love the fullness that a braid-out takes on after being worn for a while.  I get the most compliments on my two week braid-outs.

Last view of my cornrow braid-out.  I ended up wearing this braid-out for at least another week before shampooing my hair and restyling.

Below are pictures and an older video that I’m just now getting around to posting (forgive me ).  It’s a simple braid-out created using cornrows, which gives the hair a nice texture all the way to the roots (scroll down for video).

Before removing my braids for a braid-out, I also make sure to rub coconut oil on my braids.  This gives my braid-outs a nice shine.

I usually just do a regular braid when styling my hair for a braid-out.  In this case, I decided to try cornrows instead.

Using cornrows for a braid-out, creates texture all the way to the roots.  When I use regular braids, I notice that the roots of my hair is usually not textured.

In addition to the coconut oil, I also used products from Kinky Pride for this braid-out.

Below is a video of me removing the cornrows and styling my hair into this braid-out:

I’ve fallen behind on posting pics, so please bear with me while I attempt to play catch-up today. First off, here are pictures taken back in October and early November of my daughter’s last set of box braids and the resulting braid-outs.

This is my daughter’s box braids that she wore on Halloween.  She has on a princess Tiana tiara.

This is how I created the crinkled look.  At night, I braided the small box braids together after spritzing them with Cara B Naturally mist.

One last look at the crinkled box braids.  I’ve discovered that the crinkled box braid look makes the braids look better for a little while longer.  My daughter was able to wear these box braids for about four weeks.

I started taking the braids down, but we needed to leave the house, so I decided to cover the remaining braids with a hat. I liked the way it looked so I snapped a few pics.

Here’s the back of her “half” braid-out.

Finally I finished removing the braids.  Here’s the final look.

The only product used here was coconut oil.

I was recently contacted by Heather Von St James, guest blogger for the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance Blog.  Heather wanted to share her story of survival as a new mom diagnosed with cancer.  I am thrilled to feature her as a guest blogger. It’s been six years and Heather is now cancer free! Check out her amazing courageous story below.  Thank you so much Heather for sharing your story and being such an inspiration! ~ LV

When my husband and I decided to become parents and I was able to become pregnant, I wanted to prepare myself to be the best mother I could be. I gathered all the information I could find on motherhood and good parenting. I read books I could find on related topics so that I could be ready for what life would bring with children in the home. I went for all my prenatal doctor appointments, ate the recommended diet and carried on my role as mother after our daughter was born. Still, I was not ready for the shock of what happened in our lives when she was only three months.

I received a diagnosis for cancer. Here I had a three-month-old baby and I had pleural mesothelioma, a cancer caused by asbestos exposure affecting the lung’s inner lining. The next thing I knew, I had to travel to a city well over 1,000 miles from home for specialized surgery and radiation and the chemotherapy treatments followed.

No prior information or education from books can get someone ready for such an experience ahead of time. I had to rely on my inner intuitions and common sense to do the best possible for my baby girl, Lily. I asked my parents to keep her while I had surgery so that her life could remain as stable as possible. Then as I recovered after my surgery, I asked people to come into the home and help me with Lily and assist me with things I could not do for her myself.

The first full year of Lily’s life passed while I continued cancer therapy. Since I wanted to keep life on a positive routine for Lily, I spent much time doing things with her as I had the energy. I wanted her to know that she inspired me to live, to keep going. I wanted her to know how much she meant to me, how precious she was. While we did go for walks at the local mall and have play time with other mothers and babies, often we were keeping each other company at home. No matter what I was experiencing I tried to help her feel wanted and keep her life secure and consistent.

Mothers make their children their priority, but cancer patients must put their own health first and get well. I found balancing motherhood and taking care of my cancer was challenging. I am grateful to God for my loving husband who was there for me and Lily when I wasn’t my best. He was beside me and took care of Lily when I could not. Lily did not suffer in the least because, when she couldn’t have me, she had her daddy.

Currently, six years have passed since that first year with Lily. We continue the tradition we started with our daughter when I was ill with cancer; when one of us cannot take care of her, the other one is there for her. We have not hidden my cancer from her because she lived that year with us while I was fighting the disease. Now she is in first grade, a normal and happy little girl. That first year had a lot of stress and she went through the cancer crisis with us. Even though she was an infant, that first year is a part of her and who she has become. Would I live that year differently if I could? I’m not sure that I would. Cancer seems to carry this absurdity. I am convinced that out of the bad of the illness much good has come.

Sometimes the key to maintaining natural hair is to just keep it simple.  I styled my daughter’s hair into three ponytails using products by Kinky Pride.  I then braided the pony tails and used barrettes to clip them down to her head.  After a few days of her wearing her hair like that. I decided to un-braid the ponytails and here are the results…simple, yet cute:

I used a diagonal part in the front.

The Kinky Pride really added a lot of shine to her hair.  I’m still a big fan.

The barrettes added were clipped above each pony tail and added just the right amount of color.

Here’s a better view of the diagonal part.

Sometimes you just can’t beat cute and simple styles, but now it’s time for another protective style…(coming next)

Our second Global Natural-ness feature for the month!  Please meet Shaz with a set of lovely two-strand twists:

Name:
Shaz

What country do you live in?
Namibia

How long have you been natural?
5 months

In America, being natural is seen by mainstream culture as rebellious
or unaccepted. Is it the same in your country, or are people more
accepting of natural hair/beauty?
People tend to follow the Western ideal of beauty more religiously
here,but more people are changing their minds about natural hair.

Additional comments regarding your natural hair:
I never thought I would be able to rock my hair natural,and this is
despite having had natural hair during my late teens.I find my natural
hair to have awakened my creativity towards my hair styling and I
love it!

Want to be featured on the site?

I am still looking for submissions to Rep Your State  (for those living in the United States) , Global Naturals (for those living outside of the United States), New Naturals (natural for one year or less)  as well as Natural-ness: Style Share.  Click here to submit your info for one or more of these features: Be a part of Natural-ness

Don’t have a lot of time?  Just want to submit one picture?  Feel free to submit to our Quick Pic feature.  Don’t forget to leave a caption for your picture!  If you would rather not use the form, please email your responses directly to diego2memphis@cbpublish.com