Beauty and the Kinks: Michelle

Our first Beauty Michelle aka NowIamNappy comes to us from the Bronx to share her affair with her lovely Kinks

Where are you from and and is the natural scene prominent?

I live in da Bronx!! I'm actually originally from Texas but moved to the Bronx about 5 years ago. Since there are a lot of Hispanics the natural scene is very limited, even though some of the black women I have seen are rocking twas or locks.

What inspired you to become natural? Did you transition, long term or short term?

It was actually my sister who initially inspired me to go natural. She has been natural for over 7 years and after seeing her waist length hair I knew I was ready to make the transition. Also I was having scalp issues from the relaxer from the extreme chemical burns I would receive because of the eczema on my scalp. I knew I was ready after my last relaxer left me with Seborrhea Dermatitis. I was a mid term transitioner I lasted about 8.5 months. What kind of reactions have you had since becoming natural?For the most part its been positive. Everyone was use to me changing my hair ever so often and most people thought it was just another phase I was going through. Also a lot of my friends went natural after they saw how fast it grew and how healthy my hair was.

Whats your regimen?

My current regimen as it cools down is to cowash twice a week and shampoo my hair once a month. I use my Vo5 conditioners to cowash and my Chagrin Valley shampoo bar to wash my hair followed by an ACV rinse. I always wash my hair in sections and plait my hair to dry. The next day I will rock a braidout and then by that evening I will have either put in twists or and updo of some sort. My current leave in is my conditioner, castor oil, and water mix followed by whipped shea butter and aloe vera gel.

What advice would you give to those thinking of becoming natural?

I would say to definitely go natural. Its a very serious decision but I feel that there is so much information out there right now and so many websites that will help you along with the transition process. There was nothing greater then the feeling of cutting the perm out of my hair and I have not regretted that decision at all. I have never felt happier and more real than I do now.What has been the best thing about your hair journey thus far?The best thing is the different styles I have been able to accomplish and my hair has never felt healthier. Oh, and proving to everyone out there that African American hair can grow!

first picture is back in the creamy crack days

2nd picture my going to a formal.... whoever says natural hair cant be formal is a liar!!!

3rd picture me last week at an assembly

Yarn Twist Updo

Halloween '09 Egyptian Goddess

These pics were my inspiration for my Halloween costume this year. I plan on creating either the second or third look from the left except I'm using a saturated blue color, Its really pretty. I originally planned on going as Foxy Brown (Pam Grier) but since I put my hair in twists I had to cancel that out. This is the makeup look I chose since Egyptians were all about the eyes and I love drawing attention to mine ;). I cant wait Its going to be sooooo HoTT!!!! I will definitely have to post pics of this one

I still have to pick up a few things so that will be my mission for this week.

Happy Halloween!!!!!

My Shaving Solution

Ok I dont know about yall but I really don't like shaving, so I use Nair instead and have been using it since high school. However I've been noticing that it gives me ingrown hairs on my legs because I have to use it about once a week (my hair grows back fast). N E who... those little ingrown hairs can turn into blackheads and I really dont appreciate that. So about a month ago I started looking at other alternatives for hair removal. Eventually I came to the conclusion that waxing is the best one for me. But where to start I never waxed anything besides my eyebrows and the thought of doing that to my bikini line and legs kindof made me flinch at first. So I did some more research and learned when and how to apply the wax correctly. Last night while I was at Walmart I made the decision to either purchase some Nair or try out my new alternative. As luck would have it I got to the wax and I wasnt sure which one to pick (they all sound so darn amazing...dang those advertisers). So I did what any good naturalista would do... READ THE INGREDIENTS. Did that and I decided on this one Sally Hansen's Naturally Bare Honey WaIngredients:Wax ingredients Zea Mays (Corn) Syrup, Fructose, Glucose, Saccharide Hydrolysate, Sucrose, Glycerin, Water, Glycerin, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Carica Papaya (Papaya) Fruit Extract, Honey, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Juice, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Peel Oil, Acetic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Diazolidinyl Urea, Methylparaben, Propylparaben. Aftercare ingredients: Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Rosa Centifolia Flower Water, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Carbomer, Propylene Glycol, Triethanolamine, Sodium Methylparaben, Sodium Ethylparaben, Sodium Propylparaben.

I just did a skin test and so far so good so around next week I will attempt to wax my legs and bikini line (gotta be hairless for Halloween :)

I'll post my results then

My 1st Hair Journey Video (just pics and Wayne Wonder)

Hey Naturalsistas!

Hope you enjoy this trip down memory lane

I'm Buying my First Wig!

Ok I went to the beauty supply aka my playground a few weeks ago and decided that I would try on some wigs. I have to say it was an interesting experience, but I settled on two choices. One was an asymmetrical short cut that was sooo fly, I barely have to cut the style at all. The second was a full cap wig by Freetress which is pictured below

I can't wait to rock these two when I take my twists down. I'll be posting pics of those soon as well (my yarn twists). I want to keep them until the new year and do some thing else but we'll see how that goes. May a sew-in or micros in the front and back with a sew-in.

Been a Long Time Comin ;)

Whats up my lovely bloggers!!
I have been away for a minute and I am sorry if I left you hangin in any way, shape, or form. I have been really busy with school and work, but I wanted to take time to tell you guys about the new things happening with me and the blog. I put in some yarn twists (I know yall lookin like finally lol) this was the only weekend that I had to do them. I kindof didnt want to because my nappiversary is next month, but I'll just post a length check pic to show yall the progress I've made this year. My hair is collar bone length as of now I think thats awesome concidering that ie was a lil bit below my eyebrows when I first bc'd.

Hmm what else is there...
I wanted to start a weekly profile of naturals around my school and in the world in general I will post the questions later and I want you guys to email me three photos with your answers to the profile questions at cmm0016@auburn.edu. Please put Beauty in the Streets in the subject line :)

Also Im going to start doing a weekly product spotlight/ review. This is also to help with my slight pjism

If you notice any other changes to the profile dont fret Im a Pisces so I am all for reinventing things. I also get bored easily.... Ok now Im just dragging on. My main point look for changes to naturally me in the future and email me your thoughts and comments on how I can make my blog more informative

Happy Growing :)