Summer, Braids, and My Plan To Get Past That 8th Month Hump....

Happy Sunday Lovelies!


Temperatures in Eastern NC have soared well into the 90s and you know what that means: summer is officially here!! If you've followed this blog for a certain amount of time, you know that the summer months for me generally mean braids, braids, and more braids. This summer is no different. With the temperatures being set on Hell's Furnace, I just didn't feel like being bothered with my hair on a daily basis. So, I began my search for a hair braider here in Greenville.

A random side note here: one of the sucky things about moving (I moved to NC about 10 months ago) is finding stylists that you can depend on. Back in Birmingham, I knew exactly were to go for any of my hair needs. Being in Greenville, reset the stylist clock so to speak. After a (not so) exhaustive search, I found a braider who I will probably go to fairly frequently for my braiding needs (check out her page here).



Anyway, on Thursday, I washed my hair, followed up with a protein treatment and DC, and blow dried my hair on low heat. Then for the next 10 (yes, 10!) hours, I proceeded to get my box braids installed using Xpressions hair. Check 'em out!

Daily upkeep will be fairly simple. I will be using Oyin Juices N Berries as my braid spray to moisturize my braids and (if necessary) will be using Curls Control Paste to slick down my edges (my baby hair NEVER gets braided up. I value my edges thank you very much). For cleansing, I will use ORS Herbal Cleanse for my scalp and a quick cleanse of my braids weekly. I plan on washing my braids using the methods described in this post but I'm still trying to figure out the frequency since I don't want my braids to frizz. I plan on putting my braids in a bun and other cute styles but I am currently wearing them down because I don't want to put too much tension on my edges right now (side note: I know a lot of women like to immediately put their braids into a bun. Please don't do this. It causes a great amount of tension on your hair. Give it a few days. *PSA over*)

The plan is to keep these in for about 2 months (which should take me through most of August). Around that time, I should be at or close to 8 months post--the month when I said 'eff it' to transitioning before. Following braid take out, I'll do twist outs for 2 weeks, then get my hair cornrowed so that I can wear my Tammy half wig for a while. If I can make it past month 8 still feeling 'whatever' about relaxing, I will schedule my first transitioning chop. This plan should take me to the end of 2015 and to 1 year post-relaxer. As you can see, I'm feeling pretty excited about this part of my hair journey. I am so anxious to see my hair's natural texture and to see how my hair will thrive without the presence of a relaxer (especially my crown!). I am already seeing what my natural hair responds to compared to my relaxed hair (lots of moisture vs. lots of protein) and I am so excited about sharing all of this with you!

Anyway, what are your summer hair plans? Let me know in the comments below!!

February 23-27, 2015 LOTW: Dutch Braids w/ Gibson Tuck

Happy Wednesday lovelies!

Another week and I am housebound thanks to the snow here in NC. Even though I'm not going anywhere or doing much of anything, my hair is actually in a style! I figured I should go ahead and share it with you guys anyway.

If you've been following the blog for awhile, you've probably figured out that I don't really like wearing my hair slicked back. I mean, I've done it but typically, any bun, tuck, or ponytail generally has a flat twist or braid to go with it. This style is no different. I absolutely love the Gibson tuck as a protective style.It is great at protecting your ends. However, the majority of tutorials that I see for it just have your hair slicked back. I HATE THAT!!! For that reason, I don't wear it too often. However, the other day I was on Google and decided to search for variations on this hairstyle. Lo and behold, I found this tutorial by BobbyGlam. While the dutch braid is a glorified cornrow braid to me, I think this style offers the variation that I was looking for. While this go round, I wanted something I little bit more....sleek, I like that I can adjust the braids if need be.

Anyway, just wanted to stop by with a little bit of sunshine. Is this style something that you would try? Let me know in the comments below!

2/11/15 LOTD: Infinity Bun

Happy Hump Day lovelies! I'm just here with a quick post about my hair for today. After wearing my hair out for a grand total of 2 days, I was more than ready to protective style again. I wanted to wear a bun but I wanted a different option than a top knot or high bun (my hair isn't as full as I would like to be. I like those styles when I am deeper in my stretch).

Enter the Infinity bun. I had seen this bun before but I didn't know how to do it. A simple google search for 'infinity bun' brought me lots of pages that had tutorials on how to achieve the style

It was super simple and didn't take long to do at all! What do you think?

February 2-6, 2015 Look of the Week (LOTW?): Halo Braid

This past week, I did not feel like doing too much to my hair. I just wanted a simple style where I could remove my scarf in the morning and go! Enter the halo braid. It was pretty easy to do. Following my wash session last Sunday, I blow dried my hair and got to braiding! Braiding tends to take a while for me because I braid so hard and my hands tend to get tired mid-way so I took more than one break! However, once the braid was set and pinned, I was good to go! In the mornings, I would put a little Hicks Transformation Edges down and would be done with my hair for the day.

Take a look!

LOTD 3/17/2014: Super Relaxed Messy Bun

Welp. We have another snow day here in the DMV and I'm chilling at the house. Let me just say that I am sick of old man winter. He can go on somewhere with all this daggone snow. I'm really starting to miss those Alabama winters.

Anyway, as I'm sitting around the house, I threw my hair into a messy bun. Although I am loving my freshly relaxed hair, I find the it sucks for bunning. It just lacks the oomph and texture that my hair has when I'm deep in a stretch. Thankfully, one of the ladies on LHCF suggested that I braid my hair overnight so that when I go and bun my hair, I have little texture going. Well...it worked! I think it made my bun look sufficiently messy.

Anyway, check out my chilling around the house messy bun! Also, if you're house bound because of the snow, what are you doing today?

What Have I done To My Hair Now...

Happy Tuesday lovelies!

Last week I was sitting. Sitting and thinking. Sitting and thinking that I still didn't want to manipulate my hair on a daily basis. When I finally took my box braids out last month, I decided that I would just rock a half wig, leaving my own hair braided, until I got another relaxer. Turns out, I didn't even feel like doing that. I have serious lazy hair spells every now and again.

So, I decided that I would braid my hair up again. However, this time I wanted to try Havana twists. What's more, I decided to put them in myself. You guys have to understand, this is a big step for me. I have never done my own installation of any type of braid. After making sure that my hair was clean and conditioned, I spent about a half day or so looking at Youtube tutorials on how to install Havana twists and got to work. Two days and six packs of Marley hair later, I had my style. I am hoping that I can get a month of wear out of these twists, then go on to relax my hair in October (which will be my third and last relaxer for 2013). Anyway, enough of my ramblings, check out my style!

My Box Braids: One Month Later.....

Happy Sunday lovelies!


So, it recently dawned on me that I have had my box braids for about a month now! Time sure flies when you're having fun, I guess. Anyway, I just wanted to update what my hair looks like one month into the washing every week (with a stocking cap, of course) and the somewhat daily styling thing. As you can see, my braids themselves still look good....but I have an explosion of new growth going on! I can definitely tell that these braids are going to be ready for the heave-ho by month 2. I hope that my retention is only matching my new growth so that I can reach MBL by the end of the year.

Check it out!

Look of the Day (7/23/13): Box Braid Up-do

Happy Tuesday lovelies!

Well it's another rainy and stormy day here in B'ham and I am back with yet another look for the day. I'm finding that box braids are more versatile than I initially thought them to be. In the past, I would either wear my braids down or in a ponytail....not too much variability at all. This go 'round, however, I am having more fun with braids and styling them in the most random of ways. Although I tend to change up styles frequently (I get bored easily), I hope that it can help some of you guys who have or plan on getting box braids in terms of styling. I also hope you guys see that you don't have to have the extra long braids in order to have a cute style.

Yesterday, as I was perusing Youtube, I came across this video for a box braid updo posted by The Kris Bliss. I figured that my hair was long enough to replicate the style...so I did. I'm liking this style so far...it's edgy and CUTE!! I just may keep this style in for a few days.

Check it out!

Look of the Day (July 22, 2013): Gibson Tuck w/ Braids

Happy Monday lovelies!

I'm back with my look for the day for, well, today. Let me just say, I had a very long day. I participated in an education outreach activity in Atlanta (2 hours away from me), so I had to wake up at 4 this morning so that we could get to Atlanta at a decent hour. Since I was halfway sleep and knew that I would be dealing with children all day, I wanted a style that kept my braids out of my face and was not necessarily a bun. Enter the Gibson tuck. I have done this style a few times on my own hair but never with braids. Thankfully, the style worked and I had a cute style in 3 minutes!

Check it out!

Look of the Day (July 19, 2013): Braided Crown

Happy Friday lovelies!

I have to admit...I get bored with my hair very easily and right now it's taking everything in my to keep these braids in my hair. So every now and again, I have to jazz my hair up a bit. Today is no different. I got tired of wearing my hair in a high bun every day and I just so happened to catch a glimpse of one of the articles in the magazine Glamour where they were talking about this braided crown hairstyle. I took one look at the hairstyle and figured that I could do that with my braids so I did. I like it so far (especially since it still keeps the braids out of my face and off of my neck). I also like the look of it...it just has more oomph to it than it does with my regular hair. Anyway, I'm rambling....check out my style for the day!

Look of the Day 7/12/13: Side Bun...with Braids

Happy Friday lovelies!

I'm here with a quick hit (and I do mean quick) since I am preparing for a committee meeting this afternoon. Since I am making a presentation today, that high bun I have been rocking is a tad bit informal. So, I decided to bring the braids down and rock them as a side bun. I love that this style still keeps the braids out of my face yet looks professional enough that it isn't distracting.

Anyway, check it out!

Wash Day: June 28, 2013

Or 'The Wash Day Where I Prepped My Hair For Braids'

Happy Monday lovelies!

Last week, I was informed that between now and September, I have a TON of things to do to get ready for my dissertation defense. So I had to make the executive decision to put my hair away in the meantime. I know that I will not be too focused on the day to day styling of my hair during this time so I figured that box braids would be the way to go (same thing happened when I was taking Medical Neuroscience during my second year. I was constantly in class or studying and my hair became the least of my worries. I sure did put my hair in kinky twists. Yep.). Since I plan on keeping them in until September, the braids will give me one less thing to worry about and keep my hair nice and protected.

Every time I get braids, I follow a routine to prep my hair for braids, which is outlined in The Awkward Stage's Guide to Prepping Your Hair For Braids. This wash day, I just basically took care to clarify my hair with KeraCare Sulfate Free 1st Lather Shampoo, did a second lather with Shea Moisture Moisture Retention Shampoo, did a protein treatment with GVP Hair Reconstructor, DCed with Aubrey Organics Honeysuckle Rose, sprayed in some Jane Carter Solution Revitalizing Leave In, and blow dried my hair to stretch it. On Saturday, my braids were installed. Three and a half hours later, I had my new low maintenance protective style:

Currently, I am keeping my hair/braids moisturized with Bee Mine Juicy Moisturizing Spritz (which I actually like as a braid spray. Maybe they should market that spritz as a braid spray and not a general moisturizer.). I oil my scalp with coconut oil when the mood strikes me and I will detail how I wash my hair while braided in a future post.

So, tell me what you think! Are the box braids a yay or a nay?

The Awkward Stage's Braiding Primer

Since I have written about braids at one point or another, I wanted to make a comprehensive post that links all of my tips about getting and maintaining braids. This primer will cover everything from braid preparation to choosing a style that works for your hair to washing them. Hopefully, by having all of these posts in one place, it will keep you from having to hunt down the posts on the blog!!

Happy reading!!

Braid Prep
The Awkward Stage's Guide To Prepping Your Hair for Braids


Style Selection
Selecting the Right Braid Style for You


Washing Braids/Twists/Etc.

Because Low Maintenance Doesn't Mean No Maintenance (Washing With A Scalp Cleanser)

Washing Braids/Twists/Whatever, pt.2

General Braid Maintenance Tips

My Braid (Extension...Whatever) Rules...
Caring for Cornrows
Tree Braids and Other Random Things

My Kinky Twists!

The Awkward Stage's Guide To Prepping Your Hair For Braids

Happy Sunday lovelies!!


With summer now making its mark and the mercury (significantly) rising, many of you have probably said 'Man, bump this hair thing' and have ran out to get your hair braided. While braids are a perfect low manipulation style, if you are using braids as a protective style, there are certain things you have to do to prep your hair for the braiding process. Since your hair is going to be put away for weeks/months at a time and braids can stress your hair, you want to make sure that your hair is in the best possible condition. Here is what I do when I am preparing my hair for braids:

1) Shampoo. This seems like a no brainer but you would be surprised at how many people don't do this step and roll up to get their dirty hair braided. The key thing that I aim to do during my shampoo step is to clarify my hair. That is, I want to remove everything that is on my hair: dirt, oil, -cones...everything!! With braiding, you want to remember that whatever is on your hair when you put the braids in, will be on your hair when you take your hair out. So if you have a nice coating of silicones on your hair prior to braiding, they will be on your hair when you remove them...and you will have dry hair to boot. So, one lather with a clarifying shampoo (ORS Creamy Aloe and KeraCare Sulfate Free 1st Lather shampoos are good for this) should be sufficient. Follow up with a moisturizing shampoo. Don't rely on your braider to do this step. Please don't.

2) Do a protein treatment. Braids are stressful on the hair. Seriously, they are. You're putting these extensions on your hair which puts extra weight on them and the whole braiding process is a lot of tugging, pulling, combing, etc. For those reasons alone, you want to make sure that your hair is strong enough to withstand all of those stressors. If your hair is in fairly good health, using Joico K-Pak Reconstuctor (or the Sally's version) or Aphogee 2 Minute Reconstructor is sufficient for a treatment. However, if your hair is on the more damaged side (and you don't want to/can't wait for your hair to get a little stronger), use Aphogee 2 Step Treatment.

3) Deep Condition w/ a Moisturizing Deep Conditioner. Definitely take this time to infuse the strands with the moisture that they need. Although you should be moisturizing your hair while your hair is in braids (with a nice braid spray or leave in), you want to make sure that you start out you braids with moisturized hair. It just seems like the right thing to do. Don't forget to put a nice moisturizing leave in on your hair when you finish!

4) Stretch Your Hair. You know what I can't stand? Folks ripping through my hair. Since I typically get braids when I am around 8 weeks post relaxer, I have a bit of new growth. And I don't want people ripping through it. So to prevent this, I will blow dry my hair straight. I will air dry for about an hour (to cut down on blow drying time) and then blow dry my hair. It takes about 30 minutes and it leaves my hair straight enough to braid without incident. I'm sure that there are other ways to stretch your hair, but blow drying is the most efficient way for me to straighten my hair.

5) Trim Those Ends! You want to make sure that you retain all that growth that you will get while your hair is braided up and you can't do that if you start with raggedy, split ends. You can actually get trimmed or do a 'search and destroy' (with hair shears!) to make sure your ends are split free.


That's it! These are the things I do to ensure that my hair is in the best possible condition for braids. I think these tips will also work well for those who are prepping to get a sew-in weave. The key thing to remember that with braids (and any other protective style where your hair is hidden away for extended periods of time) is that they aren't as 'no-maintenance' as people like to think that they are. While the day to day component of styling your hair is removed, you still have to ensure that your hair is getting what it needs...and this care starts from the moment you prep your hair for braids.

Wash Day: April 15, 2013

Or the "How I Wash at 13 weeks post and beyond"

I know this wash day post is a little late this week...I simply wasn't in a posting mood at the beginning of this week. But now, I finally got myself together and am back to posting.

I've recently realized that it has been 13 weeks (well 14 weeks come Friday), since my last relaxer! I really hadn't paid attention to my last relaxer date but when I realized that my new growth had become more prominent, I had to figure out how many weeks post I was and when to schedule my next relaxer day. Since I am so far gone into this stretching thing, I realized that now is the time to cut down on the manipulation to my hair until my next relaxer day. In my own hair care journey, I have seen that decreasing the amount of manipulation to your hair during a stretch helps soooooo much in decreasing any breakage. Notice I said I decrease the manipulation, I don't eliminate it completely. Nowadays, all the manipulation to my hair occurs only on wash day. The rest of the week, I put my hair in Celie plaits, pin them down, and wig it up. I will continue to do this until the first week in May-when I will get my next relaxer.

This wash day, I washed my hair with Shea Moisture Moisture Retention shampoo. I then DCed with Aubrey Organics GPB since I had used a moisturizing DC on my last wash day. Re-incoporating a protein DC into my reggie has been the best thing I could have done for my hair. Seriously. My hair has a certain strength to it that has been missing for awhile. Anyway, following the DC, I detangled my hair with my bone comb and moisturized my hair with Hairveda Whipped Ends. My hair absolutely LOVES this stuff (and you should see a review here soon)! I finished up by making six plaits, leaving out a small section to blend with my half wig, and pinning them down as flat as I can. I tied my hair up and was done with it.

How I keep my hair under a wig cap. No cornrowing..I'm not very good at it and I'm lazy. I also leave out a small braided section to blend into my half wig

My detangling bone comb. I love being able to comb my hair without my ends popping off.
In the morning, I woke up and put on my Outre Tammy half wig (I ordered a new one since that I had was about 2 yrs old....yeah). I absolutely love it. The week before, I wore Model Model Super Mingo- which is another great wig (check it out below!). I will be continuing this wig thing until my next relaxer.

Wash Day: March 30, 2013

...Or "The Wash Day Where My Hair Had a Much Needed Date With a Protein DC"

Happy Monday lovelies!

I hope you all had a wonderful Easter. I know I did..even though I had to go into lab. Anyway,I was really looking forward to this past week's wash day. As I began to ponder all the things I haven't done since I became really really lax with my regimen, I realized that I have not DCed with a protein DC in AGES!! Seriously, I could tell you the last time I did a protein DC. I figured that a good protein DC would not only strengthen my hair but also help it hold onto moisture better. So, this past Saturday I trekked over to Whole Paycheck (Whole Foods) and got myself a bottle of Aubrey Organics GBP (my hair loves this stuff!). Later that evening, I washed my hair with Shea Moisture Moisture Retention shampoo and DCed with Aubrey Organics GBP for about an hour or so (I had got caught up watching The Ten Commandments lol). I tell you, when I rinsed that condish out my hair felt so soft and strong. My hair really needed that protein deep conditioner. I'm going to have to go back to alternating my moisture and protein deep conditioners every week like I used to do.

The stars of this wash day
After I rinsed the DC out, I detangled my hair using Taliah Waajid The Great Detangler and a bone comb. Let me tell you guys, if you haven't gotten a bone comb, you should get one! With that comb, the only hair that appeared my comb was shed hair. Not a broken hair in sight! I love that comb so much!!! Once I was finished, my put my hair in a high bun since I deemed that a high bun would look fantastic with my Easter dress.

My Easter hair (and outfit!)

At this point, I may stick with bunning my hair for a while and focus on keeping my ends moisturized and protected.I'm also thinking about going back to DCing 2x a week instead of 1. It just seems like so much work though. Either way, I hopethis will lead to some retention. I'm on track to relax in May so when I do my first length check for the year, we will all be able to see where I stand!

How was your wash day?