My Hair Story-The Rise and Fall of my Hair Esteem

Like so many other little girls, my earliest hair memories are of me sitting between my mom's legs while she separated, combed, greased and braided. I am thankful that as my mother spent hours forming and sculpting my hair she never made it seem like a burden or struggle. As a matter of fact, she made a point to tell me how strong my hair is, that it was a testament of the strength of our people. To her, and then to me, our hair came to be more than something to style and primp. Our hair was a gift, an heirloom, passed down from one generation to the next. It held innumerable stories of joy and pain, it was something that was undeniably ours that wouldn't be tamed or hidden. I was secure with myself and my hair. It wasn't until middle school when my hair esteem began to sink.

I now understand why they call relaxers "Creamy Crack". When I think about how I got "hooked" it eerily mirrors true addiction-peer pressure. I was soon the target of a group of kids I'll call "the set"; the one's that are so concerned with letting you know what is wrong who you are before ever taking a look at themselves. "The set" wanted to know why I was so different. They wanted to know why I didn't perm my hair like them, why didn't I like the same type of music they did, why didn't I dress like them. As a result I was called names and accused of not being or wanting to be black. Oh really? Since I wouldn't give up my clothes, my music or my friends I gave up my hair. I took the "it's only hair" line of thinking and from that first relaxer, my hair esteem plummeted.

Confession of a Product Junkie

As I type this, there are 2.5 million half used product bottles under my vanity. That is a clear indication I am a product junkie. As I was gathering links for a recent post, I was filling up my virtual shopping cart. While most of this can be blamed on my impulse control issues (I have the same problem with make-up even though I rarely wear it), some my neverending quest for the perfect product was rooted in not knowing what my natural hair needs. In this post, I will try to identify the types of product junkies there are and share tips that have helped me (somewhat) reduce my impulse buying.

The Trial and Error Junkie: You are going from relaxed to natural and have little to no clue what to use on your natural hair. Anything highly recommended by anyone has found its way into your routine.
Recovery: Usually, once this type of product junkie has found a product and/or line that suits them, they rarely feel 'the itch' to buy any and every product.

The Ooh-Shiny Junkie: "It's new AND improved?! Why it's GOT to work." I sometimes fall into this category of junkie. This junkie is easily sucked in by any new, buzzworthy, or as-seen-in product. Nevermind that some companies hire PR firms and marketing consultants to have their brands pushed (Hello..I watch Kell on Earth. I am hip to you). This junkie is also vulnerable to infomercials and QVC/HSN.

The Micro-Manager Junkie: This product junkie has at least one product for EVERYTHING. This person tends to suffer from product overkill, which can leave hair heavy, lifeless and just gross. Or crazy because you just don't know what combination of products your hair needs today and you've gone into sensory overload. I too have been this junkie.

The Impatient Junkie: If you've found yourself saying, "Why isn't this working?!" after a week of use or if your hair doesn't look like ______ from ______ on the first use and you are in the car off to pick up something else, then you are the Impatient Junkie.  (This junkie is also looking for the perfect purse, shoes and man*).

I am not here to judge, I fall into every one of these categories.

When it comes to product purchasing I try to keep to these rules:

• Buy in smaller sizes until you know you want to add the particular product to your routine.
• Finish what you start, unless the product is truly awful for your hair (i.e. leaves flakes, dries your hair out, sticky, etc.). It is the best way to see if the product really helps since it usually takes weeks to get through a product and see results if any.
• Scrutinize reviews when buying online. A lot of curlies are excellent at explaining what hair type they have when leaving product reviews.
• To get rid of extra product, find some other product junkies and have an exchange party. What doesn't work for one curly may work for another.

My name is Jasmine, and I am a Product Junkie.

*I know that was terribly sexist.

Wash Day-Jasmine's Routine

Hi Everybody! It's Sunday which means it is time to wash the mop and I wanted to share my current routine with you.

Disclaimer: My mother and her associates at Keepers of the Krown made their own line of haircare and body products. I have added them to my routine and soon these products will be available online. That being said, I will offer similar products I have used and still use alongside any Keepers of the Krown products.

What I use

• 12 0z. Spray bottle of filtered water and 1 teaspoon of Castor oil*.
• Wide toothed comb
• Oyin Handmade's Honey Hemp Conditioner
• Oyin Handmade's Grand Poo Bar detergent free shampoo
• Keepers of the Krown 'Mae Butter' Shea mixture ( I have also used Afrikan Republic's Shea Butter in place of the KotK Mae Butter)
• Aloe Vera Gel

What I Do

1. I section my hair into three sections (back, left side and right side) and start to spray my hair with the water and castor oil mixture until damp but not soaking wet. I then work in sub-sections untangling my hair with my fingers first and use the comb on any stubborn spots re-wetting as needed. Once the sub-section is untangled, I spread the Oyin Handmade's Honey Hemp Conditioner on that section and proceed to the next area, using a hair clip the keep the conditioned sections out of the way. I leave it on for about an hour.
2. Shower time! I start in the back and begin to rinse out the conditioner while using my wide toothed comb to do any left over detangling. After the conditioner is mostly out, I use Oyin Handmade's Grand Poo Bar to get the rest out without stripping away all the good stuff.
3. After my shower, I wrap my hair in a T-shirt and let it dry for about 15 minutes. Armed with my spray bottle, shea butter and Aloe Vera Gel, I again start in the back. Usually, the back is still pretty wet, so all I have to do is use a little bit of shea butter from root to end. Lately, I have been rocking twists/twist and curl and twist-outs so this will be the example I use. Once I've used the shea butter, I coat the section in a thin layer of Aloe Vera gel, divide the section and twist away. I found that the Aloe Vera gel help smooth my hair, keeps the twist together without feeling gross ad gives it a little shine. I keep going with this pattern spraying my hair as it dries to keep it damp.
4. Once all my twists are in (about 15-20) I use the smaller perm rods to roll up my twist overnight. Yes, these can be a pain to sleep in; but I've found a perm rod pattern that fits my sleep-style and I have used one of those neck pillows you find at the airport. Now I think my head is used to it.
5. If I am going to undo my twists, I just put a little shea butter on my finger tips as I undo them. Depending on how big you want your hair, you can separate to the twists more for bigger hair (although you may get more frizz).

Hair Typing...I just don't get it.

The most difficult part of my transition has been trying to figure out what my hair type is. I've lurked* around many blogs, forums and website trying to learn my hair type and I just get confused and it doesn't help that it appears there are different situations going on up there. The alpha-numeric (or Walker) system seems to be just based on curl/wave pattern; but this LOIS systems has my brain in knots. It also takes sheen, shine (I thought those two things were the same), frizz and the moisture absorption. 
So, since I have yet to figure out what my hair is like with a cute little code, you'll be getting the long, wordy, drawn out version. Yay you.

Hello and please forgive us...

Hi Everybody. This is our first venture into the blogosphere, so please bear with us. I have NO clue what I am doing (yes, I am currently waiting for my copy of Blogging for Dummies), so for the time being we will not be a fancy-dancy blog.

Let me introduce myself. I am Katherine's daughter, Jasmine, and will be sharing my transition story and thoughts on my hair in the past. As I've been going along my journey, I've realized how much stress and even pain my hair (or rather the state of it) has caused.

So, we hope you stick around and follow our journey. If you live (or will be) in the Los Angeles area, we will have updates on products and what is going on at Keepers of the Krown.