My LAST day of college!!!

This is my last day of classes!!! 5 finals and I am done!!! DONE!!!

Pray for me that I perform well on my finals! Here are a few study pics from this morning that my sis in law snapped. This is a typical morning for me. Coffee, notes, calculator, books, and pandora radio. Most of the semester this started at 4:30am. So with the pictures you will see some of the thoughts going through my head as I studied this morning..

Below is the song that I listened to every time I was ready to quit this semester. It became my school "anthem".

Hold Me Still

Forever Jones 

VOTE on my graduation hairstyle!!

As you all know I will be graduating college on May 25!! That is only 11 days away. Of course, after the logistics (grad tickets, parking passes, party planning, etc) the next order of business is HOW WILL I DO MY HAIR??!!

So I want everyone to vote and give me their opinions!!

STYLE 1: Big, fluffy bantu knot out

STYLE 2: Flexi rod curls on straight hair

STYLE 3: Vintage side swept style

Leave a comment below with which style you like best for me. Style 1, 2 or 3!

**keep in mind that I will have on the infamous, hideous, black graduation cap!! So try to picture the style with that :)

Hair Tip # 56: Homemade Avocado and Greek Yogurt Deep Conditioner

This is a great, inexpensive and easy deep conditioner to make. It worked so well that when I got done, I was trying to think about when I could do it again because I loved it!

Ingredients
1 very ripe avocado [the riper the avocado, the easier it will be to blend]
1 cup of honey Greek yogurt

This is the brand and amount Greek Yogurt
that I used for my entire head of hair!

Directions

• Slice the avocado in half (like pictured below) and remove the seed

• Use a spoon to scoop out the avocado into a bowl
• Pour the Greek yogurt into the bowl with the avocado
• Use a mixer to blend the ingredients together until smooth. Be sure to thoroughly blend the avocado to where there are no chunks. You don't want them to get stuck in your hair!

How to Apply to Hair

Once hair is washed and conditioned, apply in four sections to wet hair. Pay specific attention to the ends! Apply a generous amount to all of your hair. Put on a shower cap and allow to sit for 30-60 minutes. 

• Ways to allow the deep conditioner to absorb in your hair:
• Deep conditioning without applied heat
• Sit under the dryer

Rinse thoroughly and proceed to detangle and moisturize hair. I finger detangled with a blend of raw shea butter and grapeseed oil. 

My Thoughts

You have got to try this!! This is an excellent conditioner for moisture and strength. You get the intense moisture from the avocado. My hair felt like I did an oil rinse and there is no oil in this conditioner. It was so moisturized and soft! And of course, the Greek Yogurt is great for strength because of the protein. I plan to use this deep conditioner pretty often. I still like my other homemade Greek Yogurt Deep Conditioner. They are just different. If you want a thick deep conditioner for moisture and a protein boost, use this one. If you want a lighter, refreshing deep conditioner for shine and protein, use the other one.

The weirdest part about this deep conditioner having such amazing results is ... I am allergic to avocado! Yet somehow it worked wonders on my hair without any burning, itching, etc. Interesting!

My Hair After
I didn't snap pictures right out the shower because I was way to tired. But here are some pictures 4 days later. My hair is still moisturized, happy and twisted up. I've only had to moisturize once since this treatment!

Yay for healthy hair!!

Hair Update: Jody Jackson

Hello all, remember Jody? She is back to tell us how her hair journey is progressing. If you go back to that post, you can definitely see a difference in her hair! Hope this post is helpful.  

♥Kendra 

Your current regimen  

• Shea moisture: curl enhancing smoothie; 2-6 times per week 
• TRESemme naturals conditioner OR Sauve: coconut and shea conditioner (this is a last resort; when I run out of the other one and cant get the other one) 1 time for pre-poo and wash out conditioner (I will sometimes use these as my leave-in by not completely washing the conditioner out) 
• Kinky Curly: Knot Today leave-in conditioner; 1-2 times per week 
• Shea Moisture: shampoo (pink one); 1 time per week or every other week 
• Shea butter mix (shea butter mixed with all my favorite carrier and essential oils); EVERYDAY 
• Water; Almost everyday or as needed 
• Palmers deep conditioning protein pack; 1 time per week or every other week 
• Eco styler OR IC Fantasia gel ( Starting to prefer the IC Fantasia gel over the Eco styler); Everyday  

Your hair goals 

• Current goals: 
• Learn to retain moisture better 
• Do more protective 
• Obtain a better nightly routine 
• Long term goals:
•  Reach bra-strap length by the end of this year  

Your thoughts about being natural in Pentecost. Do you see more naturals now? Have you been an influence? Do you wear your natural hair proudly? 

The feedback that I was very interesting, especially from those in the church! Some said I was just following the new fashion trend, others thought I was crazy to put my self through that "headache" of natural hair, and very few gave me positive feedback and support. But in spite of all the odds, I pushed past the obvious obstacles and kept on the journey. Today I definitely rock my natural hair with pride! Interestingly the same people who questioned and criticized me are the same ones who are asking questions, not only about better hair care, but how to begin their own natural hair journey.  

Words of encouragement for ladies who are going natural, in the process or have been natural for a long time 

•  For those who are going natural and for those in the process I can say that I have no regrets about my decision to do the long-term transition. I truly believe that the long-term transition helped me, and will help you to appreciate your hair even more when it is fully natural. 
•  For those who've been natural for a long time and those who may already be experts when it comes to your natural hair I do have a bit of advice for you. I would like to encourage you to continue or try setting new goals every couple of months/years to help keep the journey interesting. For example, if you have weak edges, or you want to reach new length with your hair, set a goal date and try to achieve so me progress by that date.

Hair Tip # 55: Blow Drying Stretched Hair

I decided to blow dry my hair to stretch it out a little more. Beginning this process my hair was already stretched with a twist out. However I wanted more of a fluffy look with lots of volume.

1. Section your hair into 10 sections. (5 on each side)
2. Spritz each section with a little water and add oil for moisture
3. Hold your hair at the ends, and blow dry using the tension method. (The tension method means that you hold your ends secure, and move the blow dryer along the rest of your hair). It should only take about 1 1/2 min per section.
4. Twist and move to the next section

This process took me 30 minutes total! These pictures are the next day after wearing a bun all day.

Up close you can see that it's not bone straight! It's just stretched out a little more than usual. It still has a slightly kinky, wave to it. I love this for up dos and big curled sets! You get so much volume!

I have a slight wave because overnight I twisted and bantu knotted my hair to keep the texture. But I love the body. And its so light and fluffy that I just want to shake my head all day lol

Notice that my ends aren't straight. Trust me it isn't because of damage :) This is because with the tension method I never apply heat to my ends. My hand covers them. I don't want to damage the oldest part of my hair. So if you want a bone straight look all around, you will have to use a different method. 

Can't wait to show you some fun styles you can do with your hair stretched this way!! Below is a youtube video by Alicia James showing how she uses the tension method. I did not apply as much heat as she does, nor did I do sections as small. Also, she starts with hair that is much curlier than mine was when I started so the timing is different. But the method is the same! Hope this helps!

Healthy Hair, Healthy Lifestyle: Delicious Greek Yogurt Parfait Breakfast

Lately I have been putting granola on top of my Greek yogurt for added protein, omega-3's, etc. This morning I noticed that my banana's were starting to brown a bit, so I decided to add it into the mix. Seriously, I cannot tell you how delicious this is!!

What is great about it, is that its loaded with protein, gives you a full serving of fruit, and relatively low on carbs. Excellent breakfast for weight loss! And DELICIOUS! 

NUTRITION INFORMATION:

Voskos Greek Yogurt - Honey

GOLEAN® cereal crisp toasted berry crumble nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size  3/4 cup (53.1 g)

Amount Per Serving

Calories  187 Calories from Fat  33

% Daily Value*

Total Fat  3.6g 6%

Saturated Fat  0.0g 0%

Trans Fat  0.0g

Polyunsaturated Fat  1.0g

Monounsaturated Fat  2.1g

Cholesterol  0mg 0%

Sodium  130mg 5%

Total Carbohydrates  36.4g 12%

Dietary Fiber  8.3g 33%

Sugars  10.4g

Protein  9.4g

Vitamin A 0% • Vitamin C 0% Calcium 4% • Iron 8%

Video Tutorial: Braided and Curled Mini Twists

I am still on a semi blogging break :) but really I'm dying over here! Not a day goes by that I don't think of a blog post. Lol. I came across a tutorial I did recently but never posted. Check it out!

Thank you for your prayers, and support as I finish school!