I'm back!

Hello, hello!  It's good to be back.  I was definitely starting my PhD program and unfortunately, I hadn't gotten a real hold on my schedule.  But that is (hopefully) a thing of the past.

Hair update: DOING GREAT!  My SL consultant told me that my hair has "settled" and I don't have to braid and band any longer.  YAY!  So now, I use the Squeaky Clean bar from Lush and the Grand Poo Bar from Oyin Handmade.  The latter leaves my hair feeling the best out of the two.  I have also been using Greg Juice and Juices and Berries from Oyin Handmade.  SHOUT OUT TO OYIN! http://www.oyinhandmade.com/

Skin Update: Look at the picture at my White Coat Ceremony!  My skin is doing wonderfully.  Between the ProActiv and the baking soda, the acne doesn't stand a chance.  Yes, I still have a few pimples here and there - but NOTHING last this time last year.  My ex (yes, we parted ways) saw me recently and commented on how nice it looks.  One guy I went out with actually called me skin beautiful.  Didn't think I'd ever hear THAT again!!

Okay, so here are some pictures.  I really need to try more styles and do more with my hair but I've been scared to do much.  It's not long enough to be put up and the freestyle look is kinda getting old with me.  I'm going to be YouTube-ing for new styles.  Any suggestions???

May you each be blessed and wonderfully empowered.  Remember that God lives in each of you and He has deemed you a ruler over your entire life.  Be well! Very well!

First day of school (yes, I have a backpack!)

White Coat Ceremony ~ Skin looks magical!

Sisterlocks in the Mud  with my bestie Weaze

- YMSCA Mud Run in Norfolk, VA

Skydiving - the sisterlocks were flying!

The Super Post in Month Three

Happy Easter/Resurrection Sunday! It's my third month of having my SLs and I love them still! They still are racking up compliments and encouragement from women who are natural and relaxed.  April 15 (tax day and my parents anniversary) will be my official month 3.


But I have learned some lessons:

• FOLLOW DIRECTIONS: I have had major slippage at my retightenings and I think it's karma from month one when I was braiding and banding like I was supposed to be doing.  Braid and band - don't play the SL gods.

• WASH CAREFULLY: My athletic lifestyle has caused me to feel like my hair is icky.  So when I do that weekly wash, I can be a little bit overzealous. That's particularly the wrong answer! My consultant, Danielle, has asked me to be gentle and spread out my washes by  a couple more days.  Currently, I do every 7 days but I'm going to start pushing it to 10 days.

• AIR IS NECESSARY: Since my hair sweats while I workout like Luther Vandross on stage (sorry, Luther - you did sweat a lot) so I need not pull out all of my fashionable racing hats this summer.  And buddy, do I have PLENTY of wonderful hats.  I just got another one at the Shamrock Half Marathon in VA Beach (see pic below - btw I had the greatest time - shout out to LJ and Louise - the incantation!). The other picture is of me and my fantastic family!  Even though I grabbed this hat and shoved it on 10 seconds prior to the picture being snapped, the hat's addition is welcome.  But instead of hats, I think I'll be venturing into more visors.

I just had my last retightening on March 30, 2010.  Unfortunately, because of our schedules, my consultant and I let my hair go 6 weeks instead of our agreed upon 4 weeks.  NOT A GOOD IDEA.  My hair was desperate. That may have something to do with the incredible amount of slippage.  It took around 5 hours to retighten my head - we were in there til midnight.  Does any other SLer feel bad when they have massive slippage or some other hair issue which causes their diligent SL consultant to have to labor tirelessly over their head?  Well, we solidified a date for our next appointment so that it won't go that long again. Hopefully the tip I left made it a little better.


Speaking of my consultant, shout out to her! She's awesome and you can tell that God has worked in and on her life.  Even when I catch her on a difficult day, she's still hardworking and very flexible.  I try to put people on to her services because she's such an awesome individual and consultant.




HAIR UPDATE:
Here are some pictures.  These were prior to the retightening.

SKIN UPDATE
As far as my skin goes, it's doing better.  I'm still rolling with the clarisonic and the baking soda regimen.  Since there are not any major breakouts happening, it's not at the forefront of my mind right now.  Still looking for other options in reducing the dark marks on my cheeks.




FOLLOWERS!!
THANK YOU!  I want you to know how happy I am to have you as followers.  Your support is amazing and I appreciate you.  If there are any questions you have for me, you can always feel free to just ask or comment or whatever!  MUAH to each of you!




Goodnight, sweethearts in hair land!
The Lioness

Skin Update!

Over the past year, I think I may have spent close to $500 on trying to clean up and clear up my skin.  Who would have thought that less than $1 would actually do the trick? What's the secret? BAKING SODA!

For the past two weeks, every other day, I've been applying a baking soda paste to my face for 10 minutes.  And it's worked like a charm! Along with my regular daily regimen of using my Clarisonic (which is still AMAZING), the baking soda has dried up the acne and smoothed it out in the process.  It has been important to tone and moisturize after the application but that's nothing that I've not been doing already.  I will be putting up some pictures next week.

Speaking of next week, I am running in the Shamrock Half Marathon next Sunday with my friends Louise and LJ.  They are some of the greatest women I know - real hardcore, public health loving ladies! The pic below is of us when we ran the VA Beach Rock N Roll Half Marathon back in September 2009. 

 LJ, Louise, and me!

My running lifestyle is one of the biggest reasons I got sisterlocks.  I tried to workout regularly with the coils (when I was in the process of making traditional locks) but they would become undone with the sweat and they became a pain to maintain.  Sisterlocks allow me to be active and to wash my hair enough to not feel like I'm walking around with "sweat head". 

If you have any questions about the baking soda regimen, the Clarisonic, working out, or running, let me know! 

Clarisonic Mia and my Adult Acne

Okay, I'm confessing it officially (even though it's obvious).  I have adult acne...and it's killing me.  It is killing my self-confidence and even making me stay inside when I want to go out. So I have been doing some research lately.  And I finally went to one of my favorite bloggers, Clumps of Mascara, and discovered something wonderful.  The Clarisonic Mia!  Now, I may be giving them free publicity but they deserve it!  I started using this little miracle not even a week ago and I'm already seeing results!  My skin is way smoother and my pores are so small.  And no new breakouts!  As the manufacturer promises, it cleans deeper than manual cleaning alone and will diminish the appearance of fine lines and shrink pores. Only the good Lord knows how long this will last but right now, I'm pleased.  

 

This is the picture of my new little piece of wonderful (BF calls it a laser gun, lol!).  They sell it in pink and white - with the pink being for breast cancer awareness.  Here's how you use it:

1) Apply my facial cleanser (ProActiv) and water with my hands to my face

2) Turn on the Mia with a simply press of the "on/off" button.

3) Gently circle the Mia on your face (the Mia comes with suggestions for times of application for your forehead, cheeks, and chin).

4) Mia will turn off after minute intervals (I usually need like 3 minutes)

I will provide an update on how it's really working and if my skin is still seeing leaps and bounds of progress.  You can buy your own Clarisonic from Sephora or Clarisonic.  Both sites will give you free shipping because this baby is pricey.  It retails for $149. 

If you are looking for a great skin cleaning tool, this is it!

More pictures! Time for a RETIGHTENING!

 

I don't like the picture (I look horrible and my skin is acting a donkey!) but my hair is still up there and doing ok.   This week I've been sticking with the water spritzing and trying to give up some of my bad hair habits.  

Here's the back of my head.  I think it looks pretty great! 

I'm going to Atlanta this weekend to visit a friend so hopefully, I'll come back with plenty of delightful pictures to share with you all when I'm not looking busted at 11pm, *smh* lol

As for the retightening, my first one is coming up but I have a schedule conflict and currently, I'm in heavy prayer that she'll be able to reschedule.  When I email her tomorrow, I'll see what she says!  Next Friday, I have an interview for a doctoral epidemiology program - and I'm SUPER HYPED!  I want my hair to look appropriate and professional but I'm scared that I won't know what to do with my hair.  The institution is  lily white majority White American and I am nervous that there will be a negative reception to my hair.  But I am heartened by my confidence in my research and my personality.  And anyway, my hair is GORGEOUS! It's so alive with flavor and taste.  And I wear it like a beauty queen :-) ...SHOUT OUT TO THE NEW MISS AMERICA from the one and only VIRGINIA!

Until next time...<3