Big Chop #2

If you’re like me there will come a point in your natural hair journey where you get the itch to BIG CHOP…AGAIN! That’s right I decided to cut it all off and I am loving it!  I work out about 3-4 days out the week, I have 3 small children, AND I run an online fitness biz so I needed something more convenient. My edges aren’t as thick as I’d like so I’m back to applying my oils and massaging my scalp nightly and as you can see the top pics and the bottom pics are about 1 month apart and already I can tell a big difference with my edges. Hope you ladies like it!  You can find me on instagram “artinamariee”

 

Havana Marley Twist Using Crochet Method

I  love Havana Twist so I’ve been experimenting with different styles and methods. I’ve recently fallen in love with the Crochet Method, instead of applying the hair individually using the invisble method I braid my hair in corn rows then apply the crochet the hair in.

Time: After washing and braiding my hair total install 4-5hrs

Amount of Hair: Short Style: ( 4 packs cut in half) Longer Style (6 packs of hair)

YouTube Tutorial: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jWGjoR73VQ

Instagram: ArtinaMarie

 

My Natural Hair Regimen…Part 1

Hi Naturalistas!!! Please check out my new video on how( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppPOW284xMc ) I prepare my hair to be washed, deep conditioned, and my twist out method! Enjoy Ladies!

 

Busy, Busy, Busy!!!

Hi to all my fellow natural listas!!! Hope all is well with you ladies. I do apologize for not updating my site as regulary as I would like to. As of now I am in Law Enforcement Academy. I have been here for almost 6 weeks now and I have 6 more weeks to go!! I graduate on June 22, 2012. If you have any questions please feel free to message me or check out my youtube page and comment there!! I really miss you ladies hope all of you are enjoying this weather!!

 

How To Create A Quick, Easy PUFF!

Hi ladies! I know I’ve been MIA lately, but let me tell you, between my new business, my 9-5, and motherhood by the end of the day I am exhausted! So, what have I been doing with my hair you may ask? Can you say “PUFF” That’s right I have been wearing out “THE PUFF” I have no time to twist my hair much less maintain it to wear a nice twist out. Check out my video by clicking on How to Create a Quick, Easy Puff. Hope you ladies enjoy!!!

 

God, I Think You Made A Mistake!

So, I was at work the other day and this random lady walks up to me and says “if you don’t mind me asking but why would you want to wear your hair like that when you can straighten it, I mean it looks good on you but don’t you ever want to just wear it real nice and straight?” Now yall know, my first thought was “What, in thee hell are you talking about and how do I know you?” Being that it was my first week at work I nicely replied “No, I like it better this way; it fits me” then she says “well if I were you I’d at least wear it straight for the holidays.” Ladies, I promise you, until that day I had never met this lady before in all of my life and already I was ready to school her on natural hair and beauty in the black community but I didn’t want to waste my precious time on this chick so I smiled and walked away.

That moment brought me to this question… “Why is natural hair in the black community still looked down upon?” Some women, AND MEN are so caught up in the European Standards of beauty, it disgust me! It saddens me that the hair our creator blessed us with is looked down upon and by our own people! It’s like saying “God, you made a mistake, but it’s ok, I have something to fix it with” silly right? Why is the ideal of beauty still characterized by European culture? Why are we our own worst enemy? While there are many answers to these questions the debate still exists.

Ladies, Black, of all shades, is beautiful & so is your curly, kinky, coily hair. We have an entire race of little girls that depend upon us to educate them about beauty, being a black woman, and loving themselves. Please, take time out to educate yourself so you can learn to love yourself and those around you…that is all.

 

So What’s My Story?

We all have a story right? Well most of us, on how we decided to what some may seem as joining the “natural hair band wagon” Let me tell you, I am so very thankful for the so-called “natural hair band wagon” because of this “trend” I have discovered something sooooo beautiful, so pure, so devine, ok, well maybe not that deep but I can truly say going natural has been one of the best decisions of my life. I have always wanted healthy hair. I can remember as a young girl being upset that I didn’t have “good hair” like my mother, crazy right?? All I wanted was long, sleek, shiny, hair. Well that was not the case, my hair was kinky and coily & b/c my mom only knew about the hot comb and relaxers to make it straight she opt for the good ole “Creamy Crack” hahahaha who came up with that name, “Creamy Crack” lol. Anyway, I don’t know at what age I received my first relaxer but it must have been very early in childhood because I can’t even think back to a time that I didn’t have a relaxer in my hair.

So fast forward, one day I’m looking at youtube videos and I come across a lady who shared her hair regimen and I thought WOW, I can do that but again she had a relaxer, so I began taking better care of my hair, sites like hairlista.com and youtube sensation Ateeya became my new best friends. So after about 2yrs of growing my hair from ear length to almost collar bone I thought how can I get it even healthier? After seeing a few pics of girls with natural hair on facebook the thought began to cross my mind of what would I look like if I were to go without the “creamy crack.” Well, first let me tell you I have never ever in my life, until that point, imagined EVER going without my 6-8wk relaxer; I was a faithful relaxer. But their hair looked healthy and that’s what I was aiming for. So, after consulting with my husband, my stylist at the time, my dad, my mom, my sister, my bestfriend, and whoever else that would listen I decided I wanted to go NATURAL.The journey had begun! THANK GOD FOR YOUTUBE!!! I swear I youtube all day and all night. I spent hrs upon hrs looking videos and I thought OMG this is so serious! I was also a bit relieved because at that moment I felt like I had all the support I needed. All the free advice, tutorials, everything!!

So, on October 1^st, 2010 I did the unimaginable, without transitioning, without hesitation, I cut it all off.  One word….LIBERATED. So here I am wanting to give back by inspiring those who have yet to be inspired, those who are considering going natural, and those who have already took the plunge of this new exciting life of being….NATURAL!!!