Happy Friday Queens! I can’t believe next month…well tomorrow (how is it already March?!) is the one year anniversary of my returning to natural journey. I remember last year being in such an unsure place with all the products and regimens and everything else that comes along with being a natural girl. My my how things have changed ;). Now, here I am one year in and 3 months post big chop! I’m finally in a place where I’m still learning every day but am now able to share some of my knowledge that I’ve gained along the way. It’s been an incredible journey to say the least and I can’t wait to share my reflection post with you guys next month! But today, we’re reviewing a product that has become a STAPLE in my routine. This right here is my crowns bff for real! The As I Am Coconut CoWash Cleansing Conditioner is is simply amazing!
Tag Archives: natural girls
Beauty Byte | 3 Must Have Oils
Hello loves! As I’m getting better acquainted with my natural hair, I find myself falling in love with an ever growing list of favorite products. It’s a tough life being addicted to products. It is. Although I can indulge deeper than the best of them when it comes to new products, nothing tops finding an au naturale alternative that works just as good (if not better) than the most expensive beauty items. What am I speaking of? Essential oils! And there are 3 that you NEED in your life. Yes NEED. So let’s get familiar with them :).
1. Olive Oil ~ I have been a fan of olive oil since the beginning of my life. Lol okay that was extreme but I’m for real. Before this natural thing was cool I promise you I was using olive oil faithfully in my life. It is the perfect natural oil that you can use for everything. I’m talking sealant for you hair, moisturizing your cuticles, removing your makeup, creating lip scrubs and skin creams, and the list goes on. AND it’s full of Vitamin A & E sooo I’d say that’s a win 🙂
2. Coconut Oil ~ Another oil that I’m very familiar with is coconut oil. Â There’s literally like a hundred ways to use this oil for hair, skin, and beyond. You’ll most likely find it in many natural beauty products because…well…I mean it smells amazing but it’s also a great moisturizer and can penetrate hair better than other common oils. You can use coconut oil as a deep conditioner, makeup remover, prepoo, or skin moisturizer. And did I mention it smells good??
3. Argan Oil ~ My most recent discovery! I first heard the buzz surrounding argan oil back when I was in my curious phase on my hair journey. I was gathering as much info as I could and this particular oil kept coming up so I did my research on it. Argan oil is full of vitamins and antioxidants and you’re most likely to see it in hair products like serums. It helps with shine and to reduce frizz. You can also add argan oil to your skin care regimen for a boost of hydration.
These are just a few of my favorites but there are tons of essential oils and natural products that us beauties can benefit from! Sometimes the best in beauty isn’t found in your favorite department store ;).
Peace, Love, & Blessings
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Hair Diaries | Embracing Natural
Hello my lovely queens. So I’m about two weeks post big chop and the feelings of “what in the world did I just do” are finally subsiding. At the end of the day loves…it’s just hair. Or is it?
Chopping all your damn hair off is a pretty monumental moment. I mean, hair, as I referred to it in my last post, is your crown and glory. And people regard it as such. Not just for us naturals but for everyone. We spend millions on hair products whether it’s shea butter, relaxer, or brazilian remi, we take great pride in our hair. So to cut it…all…it’s a bold move. I had a come to Jesus moment staring at my reflection and kinky hair. There is no hiding at that moment queens. This is you.
What were my thoughts? Oh I touched on everything from what hashtag I can use on my instagram pics to dreaming of going to Africa. I’m weird like that though…my mind tends to wander. But in all honesty it got deep. Somewhere between what would people say, and I how I could explain my decision…I got to thinking. What am I defending? The natural hair that grows out of my head? My thinking that kinky hair is MY beautiful? I didn’t have to put chemicals in my hair, or iron it bone straight to fit a standard of beauty that was not me.
It got deeper though. I started to realize how crazy this whole thing really was. When I really started to think about it, it was upsetting. Why did brown women chemically relax and straighten our hair? Why was straight hair something to be admired and kinky hair frowned upon? Why are we changing who we are in order to feel beautiful? I thought about so many phrases and things people have said over my life in regards to hair. What’s “good” hair, and how to make your hair “look nice”. According to what standard though was the question. I concluded that it honestly didn’t matter. The hair that I was given WAS good. The way my hair grew from its roots LOOKED NICE. Period.
This is a journey, as you’ve probably heard many of us making the return to natural say. It’s a process that doesn’t end after you cut those last relaxed ends off. Honestly for me…it was actually just the beginning. Embracing my natural hair.
Peace, Love, & Blessings
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Hair Files | As I Am Leave In Conditioner
My loves! I hope you are all gearing up for Thanksgiving tomorrow! I’m so excited! I’m a sucker for all things related to Thanksgiving & Christmas. I mean there’s family and gifts and food and love and gahh!! So very much to be thankful for this and every day :D! Today I have a review for you and it isn’t a typical one for me. Ya’ll know I usually do makeup reviews but this natural crown of mines has me expanding my horizons so that meanssss more products to review for my queens! My product obsession is for ya’ll. For you <3. See what I did there? 😉
To start my new journey, of course I had to do some shopping. It’s only right. This IS a celebration after all. So I went on a mini haul to develop my new natural hair arsenal. While I’m still trying and testing new products, there was one that stood out to me. So much so that I’ve been using nearly every day. And when something is that good…ya’ll need to know about it! Cue As I Am Leave In Conditioner.
Here’s what the lovely people at As I Am say:
This natural wonder keeps tangles away and provides a great foundation for natural styling. It contains an organic strengthening agent, plus natural ingredients that promote hair growth.Here’s what This Brown Queen says:Man listen. It’s not everyday that I’m this excited over a hair product. This crown is picky. She don’t like anybody or anything. I’ve only found like one or two other products that I actually say my hair LOVES and this is one of them! It is absolutely divine. It provides great slip for detangling. Is the perfect leave in after cleansing your hair. And works wonders as daily moisturizer. Triple threat for real!
My crown is love, love, loving this leave in and that makes THIS brown queen a very happy natural! If you haven’t tried it, I suggest you go do that! Get yours at most stores like Target, Rite Aid, or online.Try it and let me know how it works! HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!Peace, Love, & Blessings~My Curly Transition: 3 Months In!
As promised here is my complete update on my transition. I gave you guys my  quick 10 random things about my journey so far. If you haven’t read it make sure you check it out here. So now let’s get down to the nitty gritty. What’s life been like for THIS brown queen now that I’m transitioning. Let’s sum it in one word and say: Tough. Because Queens…it ain’t easy. But I’m getting there. With the summer upon us and the first heat wave in full effect here I’ve been keeping it simple, straight forward, and to the point.
What I’m Doing: I co wash weekly. That’s a given. Every other week I use shampoo. I needs shampoo. My hair just doesn’t act right without a cleanse. When I shampoo I make certain to prepoo for an hour and deep condition for at least an hour. Once a month or as needed I do a protein treatment. I don’t use ANY heat. At all. I stretch using my bun method and allow my hair a full 24 hours to dry. I’ve been rocking twist outs daily. Because I’m a rookie, I retwist every night. My hair just does not cooperate if it’s not retwisted each night. It’s fine though. I’ve gotten really quick with it. I moisturize EVERY DAY. This is a requirement. I’ve also been doing a personal castor oil challenge where I seal and apply castor oil to my edges every other day.
What I’m Using: If it weren’t for the fact that I’m on a strict budget I’d be a product junkie. And it would be bad. But I am, so I’m not. Thank God. So I’m pretty much using the same products I started off with. I use Tresemme Naturals Vibrantly Smooth Conditioner for co-washes and to detangle. For my deep condition I use Pantene Truly Natural Deep Conditioner. When I wash I use Tresemme Naturals Vibrantly Smooth (low sulfate) Shampoo, or depending on the state of my hair Pantene Truly Natural Clarifying Shampoo. I use ORS replenishing pack for my protein treatment. As for stylers…eh I could use some help. They just don’t seem to do it for me. So I don’t really use anything except the Motions Define My Curl Creme. It does the job and helps my edges smooth down. Win win. Prepoos are a simple honey and coconut oil mixture. My moisturizer is WATER. I seal with JBCO or EVOO. Dassit!
My Thoughts: JBCO works. I’m serious. If you haven’t tried it you should. My edges fell out something serious after I gave birth to my prince and the JBCO brought them back to life! I love it.
For ME, less is more. I can’t tell you how many YouTube videos I’ve watched with like a hundred million steps and their hair comes out looking flawless and then I try it and my hair comes out looking…messed up. Less steps, less products, less doing equals better results for me.
I’m having an increasingly difficult time dealing with my new, new, and more new growth and the difference it is between my relaxed ends. I’m determined to go at least a year transitioning but it is NO. JOKE.
So that’s where I’m at now. I’m about to get my Poetic Justice on and get box braids for a few weeks to give me and her a much needed break. I’ll post pics when they’re done (yes I’m doing them myself duh…you can everything with YouTube 😉 )
So that’s 3 down, 9 to go! I hope ya’ll enjoying my journey so. As always PLEASE don’t be anti social and let me know if you have any tips, tricks, or advice! It’s much appreciated!
Peace, Love, & Blessings
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Tyshia Shante
Founder & Editor of This Brown Queen**Stay Connected! Follow me on Twitter @thisbrownqueen & Instagram @tyshia_shante**
Curly Transition: 10 Things!
So I’m into my 3rd month on my transition to natural hair. It’s probably one of the hardest, liberating, refreshing, dramatic, and frustrating things I have ever attempted. I’m learning. I’m failing. I’m learning some more. I’m failing again. Repeat. I’m going to post my official regimen and current products soon but since it’s been a minute since I’ve updated you guys on my crown I decided to give you guys this quick update on THIS curly queens transition. Ready, set, GO.
1. My edges stand alone. They are independent. They don’t care what the rest of the team is doing. They gonna do them.
2. She likes water for moisture. Dassit. Mixing with anything else serves no purpose. Don’t add any oil. Leave the conditioner out. Plain old water is what she likes.
3. I don’t have a hair type. I have hair TYPES. The middle is reckless. I’d say 4B. The sides and front on some days can legit qualify as 3C. The rest 4A. So yea. That’s at least 3. And I’m sure there are some more I didn’t come across yet.
4. I have YET to find THE ONE. You know the product I can’t live without, swear by, staple, whatever you wanna call it. I have not found it.
5. My ends will be the END of me.
6. I’m literally going on at least 10 weeks heat free! If nothing else this is a HUGE accomplishment for me.
7. I think other people like my hair more than I do some days. Don’t get me wrong I LOVE my hair but I get those awkward moments where I’m just like…O_O but then someone is like GURRRLLL your hair and then I’m like 😀
8. If I don’t prep my hair at night, there is NO hope, absolutely NO HOPE for the next day. Don’t even try. Wear a hat, turban, or just stay in the house. Don’t do it.
9. I must not be detangling right. It doesn’t take me long at all. So I must be missing something…right?
10. I don’t know how to “save” my twistouts. Yup I retwist every night. Bad news: I retwist every night. We covered that. Good news: I can do it fast now. Like REAL fast.
That’s all I got for now. Regimen, products, and more coming soon.
Peace, Love, & Blessings,
~
This Brown Queen
What Are We Teaching Our Sons?
As most of you know, I’m about 2 months into my journey of transitioning to natural hair and I have my good days and bad. I think it’s safe to assume that, anyone who has been on this journey experiences moments in the beginning where you’re just not sure. Not sure about a lot things. If you’re me, your unsureness would go something like: Am I using the right products? Will this leave in work? Did I do those twists right? Does this bantu knot look nice? Do I look crazy? Why am I doing this? Whatever the case may be, you go through it. This past weekend, I was having a particularly rough time with my twist out. I’m somewhere between the point where, I “like” my natural texture, but I still don’t really know how to handle it. I’m wishing that I could just NOT have the relaxed ends anymore because they make me frustrated. I find myself trying out styles and loving the natural curl pattern at the root and just being utterly disappointed at how my relaxed ends just don’t hold up. BUT I still can’t really grasp the idea of cutting it all off. It’s a catch 22 I tell ya.
So, I did a twist out using my method that I talked about here. It was a success! I was feeling pretty confident and loving my big hair, don’t care. The Mr. was loving it. I was feeling myself…And then I had an interesting moment with my 4 year old prince. Now in case you’re new around here, I used to be relaxed, super relaxed, like every 4 – 6 weeks touch up relaxed. Thought I was gone with the wind fabulous *insert Kenya twirl*. This is the mother my son always saw. So now 2 months in to my natural journey…my prince spoke up. We’re in the car and he says “Mommy? Are you going to get you’re hot bun back?” (that’s what he calls a bun). I say “Why? You don’t like my hair?” Prince Shawn replies in a ever so sweet way “Well…I do…but…your hair just looks a little crazy.”
Now. HOW would my son know what crazy looks like? I feel it’s safe to assume that his idea of “crazy” had to come, at least in part, from me. I felt disappointed. I had inadvertly taught my son the very thing that I was now trying to go against. Why must my natural hair look crazy? I thought I was WERKING it. And I WAS.
That brief, and probably super insignificant to him, conversation got me thinking. What am I teaching my sons about natural hair. I’m the first woman they encounter in life. What do I want them to learn? To remember? It’s definitely not that natural hair looks crazy. So while I’m still unsure on many things, what I am sure of is I’m on the right journey!
Peace, Love, & Blessings,
~
This Brown Queen
Curly Queen Transition: 1 Month Recap
I’m officially into my second month on my natural hair journey and I am in L.O.V.E. Not only or exactly with my hair but with my decision to go natural. Or, should I say as I have seen, to RETURN to natural. This journey isn’t just about your hairstyle. It’s about so so so much more. I feel like the movement resonates so wonderfully with what This Brown Queen stands for. I’m only a month in and although I am still learning and growing tremendously I am in awe of all the knowledge I’ve gained thus far. AND I’ve discovered so many beautiful natural bloggers and vloggers along the way. All so truly inspiring and beautiful in their own ways and I can only hope to meet some of these Queens one day or connect across this blogosphere :). Ok so before I get any more emotional than I already did, let’s move along to the recap!
What I’m Doing:
My Regimen is simple. I’ve learned years ago that with my hair, low manipulation is key. It doesn’t really like too much going on all day everyday so I don’t do too much. I wash with a low sulfate shampoo once a week. I also condition, detangle, and deep condition once a week as well. Once a month I do a protein treatment. I don’t use any heat. At all at all. To dry my hair I generally use the bun method and allow a full 24 hours to completely dry before styling. To maintain moisture during the week, I simply use water and an oil. Sometimes I’ll use a leave in depending upon the style and state.
What I’m Using:
Tresemme Naturals Vibrantly Smooth with Coconut Oil and Jojoba Extracts Shampoo and Conditioner. Use theses once a week as my low sulfate shampoo and regular conditioner. Also if I need to do a mid week cowash I use this conditioner as well. Pantene Truly Natural Deep Conditioner as my weekly deep conditioner mixed with EVOO. Cantu Shea Butter Leave In Repairing Conditioner as my leave in. African Royale Hot Six Oil as my sealant. Cantu Shea Butter Coconut Curling Cream and Eco Styler gel as my stylers. Cantu Shea Butter Daily Oil Moisturizer as a moisturizer if/when needed. EVOO & Honey as a prepoo.
My Styles:
Two strand twist is still my go to. I just love the way these look. A very pretty natural style that I feel works very well for transitioning hair. I do have a love/hate relationship with them lately as all this good hair business has my edges (that haul azzed outta here after I had King Jr) growing back and sometimes they can get out of of control. I LOVE twist outs, but I don’t always get them perfect. When they’re right, they’re right. And when they’re wrong -_-…….I would love to start experimenting more with styles but until I get these ends under control, I’m limited :(. And of course there is always my signature bun. Which is looking much fuller and healthier. Go me!
My husband has finally seen it in person. Still in love with it! However, explaining to him the upkeep has been…difficult. He doesn’t get it!
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This Brown Queen
Twist Out Success!
Finally Queens! I did it! I am too hype. It’s crazy. I have done twist out after twist out. Flat twist, two strand twist, chunky twist ALL to no avail! I was getting frustrated. Like for real. Wth was I doing wrong?!? Then I figured it out. If it is one thing I am learning on this natural hair journey is: what works for her…might not work for you. You can watch one hundred thousand billion Youtube videos, but that doesn’t mean what they are doing will work for you. They are a guide. Not a must do manual. I get that now.
Ok so let me explain natural queens what was happening to my twist outs… They just weren’t. I know. That sentence don’t make any type of sense but I’m for real. They just weren’t twist outs. I mean, yea, my hair was in some type of twist…overnight…then the next morning taken out. But it wasn’t no twist out. I think a combination of things were occurring.
One, my ends were HORRIFIC. I mean like for real. They were all over the place. I browsed tons of blogs…and videos…and google images (have you ever google imaged a split end? Creepy pictures…I don’t like them) on how to spot split ends. And even still, I don’t really know how to spot them, I don’t know if I have them, but I will tell you this…my ends just weren’t right. They ain’t look right, feel right, and they damn sure ain’t act right! Two, my hair is thin, straight, and super relaxed. So…if you combine these things you have incredibly resistant hair trying to hold a curl. It just was NOT happening. My fake twist outs were coming out like some half hearted excuse of a loose wave. There was just no curl. To make matters worse my hair was so thin and ends so raggedy you could just “see through” the fake curls. A Mess.
I don’t know what made me do it but while attempting my thousandth (okay not literally but that’s how I feel) twist out, I decided to trim my ends. And not those little baby trims I’ve been doing. I mean really trim them. Each section that I twisted, I cut them. Where the hair got raggedy, I cut it off! I could have done even more than I did but baby steps queens. Baby steps. I also decided that the two curl creams I had tried just weren’t it. I love the way my Cantu Coconut Curling Cream smells and feels. I mean its heavenly, but it just is not working for me yet…I say yet because I have hope that it will. I needed something more. I decided to use my eco styler gel in addition to the cream. Lastly, I used those pink perm/wave rods on the ends of each twist.
I DID IT. #Boom I love mahhhh twist outttt :-*
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This Brown QueenHow My Husband Feels…
…about my natural hair! Me and a natural friend of mine were lounging around talking about all things Natural Hair. We were comparing types, products, going through our journey, our feelings, thoughts. It’s really great to have friends that are going through the same journey as you! We’re both at different stages in our journey and our lives so it was interesting to have this Natural discussion :). I’ve known this girl going on a decade and her going natural was a complete surprise to me. She is the one who taught me how do my own weaves in college! She has always told me how much she loves her weave…And now she’s natural!?! I am so amazed and proud of her. She’s a bit farther in her journey than I and she’s a single independent Queen! One of the things that came up of course was learning how to embrace our hair in its natural state. She made a comment when I said her fro was cute that went something like, her biggest obstacle was learning that her hair WAS cute. Getting out of the mindset that long and straight is not the end all be all to be beautiful is tough when you’ve been accustomed to this way of thinking for so long. I understood where she was coming from as I’m sure many of us that decide to go natural experience this in the beginning. She then continued to say that for me, it was different, I didn’t have to worry about being cute because I was married, she had to find someone who would embrace her natural hair in a society where the majority of us brown queens have weaves down our backs. I kindly told my sister that NOOOO it was harder for me because my husband met the relaxed Queen. The one who paid hundreds tor “Remi”, and hundreds to get that remi sew-in. The one who had hair down past my bra strap. That’s the Queen he married! So for me to go natural was scary because…what if my husband DIDN’T like it. What then? Do I stop? Do I tell him get over it?
Thankfully that is NOT how my husband feels 🙂 🙂 :). He’s yet to see it in person but we skype everyday and of course there’s Instagram ;). To put it simply he LOVESSS it. Yesterday during our daily skype session we were chatting about the kids and his tour coming to an end when he interrupted me midsentence to tell me how much he is loving my natural hair. He said it’s gorgeous and he only wishes I would have had the confidence to do it while he was home. He then did a little dance singing about how much he loves his natural queen. Then did a victory dance about never having to spend money on weave again and proclaimed that he never ever wanted to see me in a weave or relaxer again. Gggoosshhh do I love that man <3! He is so supportive. And honestly I think he’d support whatever decision I made with that same level of enthusiasm because that’s just the kind of guy he is :)….nevertheless I can still be elated that he is supporting this journey of mine!
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This Brown Queen
This Brown Queen 