Cultured in Media

With prior success with the no heat challenge, ( see this post ), I decided to start a "No Heat Challenge" for 30 days. The last time that I used heat on my hair was February 14 for Valentine's day. But for the sake of my followers, I wanted to motivate those on a healthy hair journey to challenge yourself to give up all direct heat for 30 days.   After the first 30 days, feel free to continue on with the second part with is the 60 day challenge (just another 30 days at the conclusion of the first challenge). Let's start this challenge on 5/12/19.  Take starting pictures of your current length. No measuring allowed during the challenge. Again, no direct heat (flat irons, curling irons, straightening combs, blow dryers, etc...) are not allowed during this challenge. However, hooded dryers can be used to dry hair with roller-sets, or wraps.  Who's ready? I will post a picture of my current length in the following post. If you would like to follow...

Yes, again the infamous "NO HEAT CHALLENGE."  I am determined to stick this one out for the ENTIRE summer. I have many ideas that I want to do with my hair but yet, scared of the no heat. I love looking at the length of my hair when it is flat ironed, but I know for health (of my hair) reasons, I must stay away. I swear when my hair is in its straightened state and it is just flowing in the wind, I feel every bit like this gif. Yesss hunni. Well this challenge will focus on being creative with my hair, finding ways to manage it without the flat iron, and getting my curls back. To begin with, my hair is not that curly, it is wavy. My natural hair never curled into those beautiful ringlets but more like waves. I know I will gain thickness and length, but how long will I last with no heat? Stay tuned every week for my hairstyle of the week. Tomorrow is the day that I premier my first of the challenge. Wait for the style that I have for you to see. Hint: I got it fro...

I love taking pictures of different hairstyles I do. And just like last time with this challenge, I will document many different styles I create. So far for days one through five, I washed my hair, deep conditioned it, and wore a bun for the first three days. For the last two days, I wore a braid out. Nothing spectacular but a lot of my patients loved the big hair. This is my hair with no product after a fresh wash: This is a reverse bun that I did. I loved how big and full it was. I received many compliments on it. And the braid out I have wore yesterday.  Tonight, I may cowash, and wear a big bun or wear a nice wash and go to one side, or I may try to find someway to preserve this braidout. Either way, I will snap a few pictures. I fought so hard not to use the flat iron on Monday. Lol

If you read the previous post then you know I am doing a " NO HEAT IN THE SUMMER CHALLENGE ." What better way to start this challenge but with a length check. I am not sure what length I am but if you have been following my blog, you know that I trim my hair every time I get to bra-strap length. It seems that is where the most breakage happens for some reason. I mention this because it seems I am at BSL again, but fortunately, there is no damage. Start of Summer No Heat Challenge:

WHO IS WITH ME? YAAAY TO NO HEAT FOR THE SUMMER. IT IS HOT ENOUGH ALREADY, SO WHY ADD HEAT TO YOUR BEAUTIFUL TRESSES? OFFICIAL START DATE FOR THIS CHALLENGE IS JUNE 21, 2014 UNTIL SEPTEMBER 21, 2014. I AM SO EXCITED FOR THIS CHALLENGE. THREE MONTHS WORTH OF HAIR GROWTH THAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY KEEP WITHOUT DAMAGE IS A WONDERFUL THOUGHT.  THIS TIME AROUND, THERE IS NO HEAT PASS AT ALL. THAT RULE RIGHT THERE WILL BE A CHALLENGE FOR ME. OH MY. I JUST HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND THAT IT WILL BENEFIT MY HAIR. GOOD LUCK TO THOSE WHO ARE JOINING ME.

I was going to flat iron my hair for Easter Sunday, but then I thought about how successful I was during the last 30 days of no heat. (Okay, I lied, I didn't flat iron because I did not have any wrapping/setting lotion shhh!!)  So instead I opted for the best thing I have been doing to my hair for the past 45 days, a braid out. I loved the way it came out on this image Okay, well that is not the exact image after the last attempt but it was similar to that. I promise to take pictures tomorrow so you can see the results. I did not wash my hair, although I did cowash 2 days ago. I oiled my scalp with a special mix. Then I used hair lotion and Dr. Miracles strengthening creme on my scalp and ends. I did not use any gel, or spray while braiding. I know some people prefer to use some sort of holding gel, but that just does not work out too well with my hair.  I parted my hair into five straight back sections evenly. One braid being in the middle, and two on each side ...

Well, in all, it was a pretty good month. March madness for me was not that bad. I found all kind of styles to do to my thick mane. I loved almost every moment of it. Would I do it again? I think I may. This time I will go for 60 days and see how far my hair comes. As you recall, the last time I straightened my hair was Feb 23, 2014. I finally straightened my hair on 03-30-14. ( See this post for length check from the start of this challenge .) Feb 23, 2014 March 30, 2014 I don't know about  YOU, but I see a difference in thickness and a little in length. I also felt it. So overall this challenge did nothing but great things for the health of my hair, which is why I'm going to try for 60 days this time. Wish me luck! 

Wore two braids for the day, then I took them out to go to the market. I didn't do much but fluff them out a little bit. After an hour and a half trip to the market, I came back home and put the two braids back in my hair. To answer your question, NO I COULD NOT GO OUT OF THE HOUSE looking like that. lol

Celebrating my friend's 25th birthday tonight so I wore flat twists over night. I oiled my scalp, applied Olive Oil lotion, and Curls unleashed to my hair, then twisted.  Unraveling however, I always have an issue with. I don't know what I am doing incorrectly but it did not work out for me. Everyone at work loved it. (See picture below) Since I did not agree with the way it was, I decided to pin it up for the night to go out. It came out sort of like the pictures below.  For the weekend, I plan on deep conditoning and trying a roller-set. I hope it turns out nice and bouncy like the others on youtube

Today I was busy. I drove from NY to Pa, then back to NY all withing 12 hours. Busy life. When I got back to Brooklyn, I had to rush right in to work at 5pm. Hectic day. Therefore, I didn't do much to my hair. I told my coworker I was not going to straighten my hair for the whole month of March. Which is why I am naming this month "March Madness." The last time that I used the flat iron was February 23, 2014.   So my hairstyle for today straight still. Nothing in it at all. I haven't oiled my scalp or anything all week. Follow my picture journey as I blog EVERY DAY this month. Let's see how much success I have with no heat, tender care, and protective styling.

Currently I am in Bantu Knots, air-drying them overnight. This is done on a day-old wash n go. I did not re-wet the hair at all. I followed the same pattern as the video below. Products I used were Motions wrapping lotion, hair gel, and a detangler.  I will be sure to take pics upon take-down tomorrow.

You saw the previous post, so you know I can not use heat until the fall season is over. This week, my starting hairstyle of choice will be a braid out. I did not wash my hair, I am doing my braids on old flat ironed hair from last week. To prepare my hair for the braids, I first combed through my hair. I sectioned it off into two sections - top half and bottom half. I start gathering my materials that I will use. Detangling brush Profectiv Growth Lotion Avocado Oil Oil for the scalp (Optional, I use my homemade growth mixture so that my scalp will not be dry during the night) A few scrunchies to tie the loose ends at the bottom if they do not stay braided, or you can use rollers Starting with the bottom half, I oiled my scalp and massaged it in for a few minutes. I took a good amount of PGL and ran it from the follicles to the ends of my strands. I then took the detangling brush through it to make sure no knot would be present when I take down. I then took a dime sized a...

As I'm prepping my hair for a protective style for this week, I decided to do a quick length check without heat (meaning the basic "pull-down - stretch" method). Even after a trip back in May, my hair is back to the same length. I am still aiming for WL by the end of this year. Wish me luck/blessings =) I will do a REAL length check at the end of summer. Most likely around Labor Day. Today's length check on stretch (no heat) hair.

I FAILED. I must take these box braids down tonight. As in RIGHT NOW. I miss my hair. I'm tired of looking ragged. And generally, I am bored. On top of everything else, we are in the middle of a freakin' heat wave. Come on! After I take down, I plan on Deep Conditioning and either wearing a wash-n-go or a bun. Either way, I will feel much better. So much for lasting a month right? At least I am continuing the "No Heat" challenge. So don't shake your head too much at me. ETA: I finally took down these braids after 6hrs of labor. Wow. You do not know how relieved I am. This 100+ weather in Brooklyn is too much. That + no AC is  a no-go. I am about to DC overnight, then wear a wash-n-go for work tomorrow. I will gladly take pics. Ciao

Was back in May. I also trimmed in June do to too many splits from much manipulation. I am so excited to see how much healthier and growth maintained since this no heat/protective style summer challenge started. Next length check will be at the end of this month after I take the box braids down and before the weave install. This is after a trim. May 03, 2013

I honestly do not recall telling you all that I will not be using heat this summer. The last time that I used heat was June 3rd for my beautiful cousins graduation ceremony. For the past month of June, I basically did wash and gos, braidouts, or a twist and bun. I got so tired of this head full of hair at one point, I decided to cut it all off. Luckily I didn't. So July 1st, I put box braids in for this month. Now you know how I get impatient, and bored with my hair easily, so my goal is to keep these in for the ENTIRE month. GASP! I hope I last that long, because honestly, as I am typing this, I feel like I had enough and want to do a wash-n-go. Now I have vacation coming up the first weekend of August. Going to the beach baby. Aaah. Fresh air, fresh hair, and fresh weave is what I will be wearing. I plan on getting a sew-in done. self-install to be exact. Now with the install, I plan on keeping it in until the first week of September. I am just in a hurry to see how much my o...

Okay still on a no heat regi, I wet wrapped my hair and combed it down. It has a bunch of waves in it but came out straight enough to wear down. Waist length seems as if it may happen this year. Yaaay me

Everything came out better than I expected. I looooove these braids. Had them in for a week now. Just posting to show you the finished result. It took me a total of 12 hours to complete considering I had to take care of a baby plus my grandfather just had triple bypass surgery. Now everybody is asking me to do theirs. Lol

I decided the best option for my hair was box braids. So far I have most of the hair done, just a little bit more to go. I will show off the finishing look after it is completed but for now, enjoy the pictures of my progress