Nappy Kitchen

Puff the Magic Nappy

Haven't done one of these in a while; mainly because after all while the darn headband gives me a headache. Plus I don't want to eff my edges. But they do come in handy when I'm in a rush. I just dampen a typically shrunken fro, brush the front down, pull on a PHHB, fluff and go.

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Back of a pulled apart twistout:

I'm all hyped cause I FINALLY learned how to get a sharper closeup pic of the naps. So here's a pic of my very shrunken fro.

This is basically what it does when left to it's own devices and water from the shower. Shriiiiink! I can't really wear it like this, because the multiple textures make it look helmetty and uneven as hell. That's where the puff comes in. :)

It's been more than a week since I washed my hair and it was beginning to show, so today I gave it a good conditioner wash, a deep condition, and an apple cider vinegar rinse. Those rinses are sooo good for keeping the itchies away. Here's my hair...it's about 80% dry here.

Note the major shrinkage and varying textures. That should you give you a bit of insight into my reliance on twistouts to "blend" everything.

At this point I consider my hair to be at another in between stage. Long enough to do things like nice twistouts (flat and two-strand) and one or two afro puffs. But not quite long enough to pull back into a pony or or do new and interesting things with my twists. I really want some hang time on those, so I can put em up and lil updos and all that goot stuff.

But I'm patient and certainly enjoying my naps at every stage. :)

Newly Nappy Routine

To Jamie:

My routine when I first chopped was pretty simple in terms of maintenance. I conditioner washed almost daily and my hair LOVED this. I think it needed it, being in complete shock from the big chop. :) I used a lot of headbands to spruce up my twa and once I got some length, I began to perfect the art of two-strand twisting. I was a huge product junkie, but once I discovered shea butter, the gels, and misc. hair products became a thing of the past. I think my hair responded extremely well to the lack of commercial products.

It's natural to be in your hair a lot when you first chop. Experimentation is necessary to find the routine that works best for you. Once you find what works for you, you can settle into a nice low-maintenance groove like I have. Good luck with the big chop! :D

Variety Schmariety

As you can tell by my reaction to a comment on the previous entry, I'm real cool on people telling me what I should do with my naps. Length don't mean shit to me...just more hair for me to deal with it. Damn some variety. My main intent with this journal is to visually/verbally track the health and condition of my hair, not to show the gen. pop. how much I can do to it. That's a conclusion you can draw on your own time.

Funny that noone had any opinion concerning my hair when it was in the same boring ass permed out style. Or weaved out in some socially acceptable manner. Me no like dem double standards, non.

Even if it was merely a friendly suggestion, I stand strongly by my belief that my naps do not have to be adorned by anything but my own self-acceptance and love. And best believe they look damn goot.

Piccy poos:

Yet another chunky fro. ;)

Yet another twistout.

Some lil mini afro puffs. Y'all ain't gone be able to tell me chit when these get bigger! :D

Same routine going. Although I did reacquaint myself with Daily Defense Tender Apple conditioner. Wooweee that stuff has some good slip to be a dollar a bottle (yay Dollar Tree!). And it makes my hair sooooft. What in the world? Ah well, I won't question it.

Oh I almost forgot to tell y'all. I've been talking to this dude on the phone and stuff. Now when he first met me, my hair was pretty short; I think it was about 5 months after the big chop. Anyway, he hadn't seen me in a year, and I supposed he assumed I was merely growing it out to perm again. Um, nope. (What I look like?) He seemed a skiddly bit disappointed when I informed him that yes indeed I was still rocking the naps. "A fro?" he inquired. "Yup," I replied. Knowing damn well I do a bit more than that from time to time. But I needed to guage his nappy meter.

The other day he brought up the issue once again, asking me to explain my decision to release myself from relaxer prison. Once again, I answered. But I flipped the script and dead on confronted him. Asked him if he had a problem with naps and if so he needed to let me know so I could flee the scene. He's all flummoxed and quickly explains that he has a bit of a short-term memory. Ok that's fine (me too). I let it slide, mainly because he's a nice dude and I overstand that not all black folks come out the box completely accepting of natural hair.

So we go on a date the other night. As I slide into the passenger side of the truck (rocking a mighty fierce chunky fro) he says, "Oh! I like that!" Talking bout my hair.

I burst out laughing. "What'd you think I meant by a fro? Some perfectly round dude shit?"

And dontcha know that's exactly what he thought. I was more than happy to disabuse him of that notion.

I love my black men, but they have really got to get better acquainted with this natural hair thang!