The beginning of the end

I work at a dance studio as an Office Manager. I have been there since September 2008 and I have loved my job! I started dancing at 2 and 9 months and still take classes. I do wish I did more towards my dancing, but I also wouldn't trade my alma mater, La Salle University, and I do enjoy the business world. So getting this position was the best of both worlds. When hired the schedule was/is evenings and Saturdays. 5 years of working Saturdays!! And today was my last Saturday! YAY! I am down to a 4 day work week. The decision to do that is a post in itself {transitioning to wifey and learning to trust your future hubby}. Why is this the beginning of the end? Well this is going to be my last season at my job. My fiancé and I are moving back to the northeast *insert happy dance* come July 2014. It's crazy because this is like the first step towards finishing this chapter in my life. It wasn't sad and since I spent the day training honestly I don't think it has hit me yet, but one thing that did make it sort of real was one student who asked me, "Are you going to visit us sometimes?" The reason I have stuck around is the kids, they tug at my heart.

My fabulous fiancé did stop by and gave me flowers {even after 8 years he still brings me flower for any occasion} for my last Saturday!

Last Saturday! 

Hair Talk: Background & Black Tea Rinse

I have technically been on a hair journey since January 2012. I actually created my first blog in attempt to journal my hair journey. It was a relaxed hair journey. I had been experiencing a lot of breakage and I just wasn't happy with my hair. I was stuck at the shoulder length, but I knew I didn't want to go natural. My mom had gone natural, my cousin and godsister, my bestie Leesh (nickname), but I have THICK, THICK hair. I still recall my childhood years with dry and thick hair, so going natural wasn't an option!

The first step, was to trim my hair! Then I started searching different hair blogs and forums and eventually found my way to YouTube (YT). I came across www.blackhairinformation.com, which I still check in to from time to time, that has a wealth of knowledge for both natural and relaxed hair. This site lead me to start following Ebony on Longing 4 Length, who I now follow mainly on Instagram, but will check out her YT videos from time to time. So I was really inspired and excited to begin this journey.

January 16, 2012 - one side didn't stay curled smh

January 27, 2012 - Trim/CUT!

I was excited, but overwhelmed because there was so much information. I decided to start stretching my relaxers first it was 8 weeks, than 9 and eventually got to 12 weeks, but that was by mistake. I even switched hair salons and I was trying products left and right. Although, I was learning to retain length I did notice the shedding. At first I thought it was a mind thing as I was reading the blogs about shedding and breakage, but then it increased. It was so bad I sat in my bathroom and cried after a wash once. I talked to my stylist and she encouraged me to drink more water, which I wasn't doing well on and take vitamins. It seem like nothing was working and I felt like my hair was thinning, which really it was that I didn't feel like I had enough strands on my head! So after some conversations with family members I decided to transition natural : O (I know I'm still shocked). I was already 13 weeks post from my last touch up (Feb 22, 2013), so why not. Well now it's damn near October and I haven't given up yet! *insert happy dance*

BUT the shedding is still there. It is not as bad and unfortunately/fortunately is now expected with the transition. I started taking my vitamins, added Biotin (another post for another day) and drinking more water. I had started working out and taking dance classes, so I did loss a little weight too. I think that all attributed to the reduced shedding, but it is still more than I would like. All that to bring me to the black tea rinse! (The whole purpose of this post). 

Sooooo I came across black tea rinses a little bit ago on YT when I was looking for ways to reduce shedding. I came across Tracyee's video. So I said for months I would do it and even bought the tea. Made the tea and the first attempt was a FAIL as I accidentally spilled most of it, completely missing my hair. SMH! Anyways, today I decided to give this rinse a try. The tea that I used was Stash' English Breakfast Black Tea that I got from Publix. 

So after I shampoo'd my hair I sprayed the black tea to my hair, which was already parted in 4 sections plus my bangs. I focused on my roots and massaged it in. I then poured the excess tea on all of my hair, which was now in 3 bun sections. I put a clear shower cap on and let that sit for about 30 minutes. Then I put Motions CPR Protein Reconstructor on each section then let that sit for about 10 - 15 minutes. I rinse it out and applied my Deep Conditioner, which is now in my head as I type. I want to use it consistently with each wash, which right now is every 2 weeks (too much work to wash every week with this transition), so I can see if it really works. I know it won't be a miraculous fix the first attempt, but I look forward to seeing the results. 

I will do better!

That weekend came and went and so did several weeks! I am still excited about the blog. I mean it took weeks to come up with a name and I have several topics, posts and events I want to share and discuss. I am still trying to figure out the best layout, but for the most part I was ready to go at the end of August. Then I got sick and it was all down here from there. I am doing much better now, but school and work have been killer. I am taking two classes one being my capstone class and well my advice to anyone especially in graduate school is never take a second class during your capstone! I repeat NEVER TAKE A SECOND CLASS DURING YOUR CAPSTONE! No matter how bad a$$ you think you are (and I think I'm pretty bad) it's not worth the added stress, pressure.(Too blessed to be stressed!) But I am so excited to be in the home stretch! I think once my schedule lightens up I will be so much better at this blogging! I will do better NOW!