A New Journey?

Hello Beautifuls!

How is the going going?

We are okay. MeeMee just moved into the apartment of her dreams, and I’m the new girl again, at a new (and better) job! Happy times over here. 🙂 We hope you’re doing great!

Yung Rapunzel

I’ve been in box braids for two weeks, I think I’ll carry them for one or two more.

I’ll be the third natural at work (whoop whoop) so I’m not worried at all about how my hair will be received.

I think my natural hair journey, or my idea of it, is taking on a different form- adding more layers. I did not think I’d get here when I started, but I’m changing. I remember seeing a tweet a few months ago, about how in the year 2035, every woman will be a beauty blogger, lol. It was funny, it threw shade on the surface- but there’s more under that. Maybe this is for a different day’s discussion, but one angle today. Beauty blogging in every form may seem superficial, but it’s definitely more than teaching or learning how to be pretty and ‘on fleek’, at least to me. I think it’s about self-care. And that at some point, it encourages you to look within. You start to ask yourself- does it really make sense to care so much about what you expose your hair to, and at the same time ignore what you do with your body? How sway?

I’ve been breaking out a lot in the last one year, and it’s getting to me, if I’m being honest. I’ve tried a few things, I’ve had people suggest SO much- and no, I will not be trying all the cures they propose. One lesson from all the advice I’ve been getting is this- skin care is really a very specific thing. If you expect something that works for others to work for you, you’re just going to be very sad. I’m drinking a lot of water (always have), I haven’t used a towel on my face in ages, I take off my makeup, I do not let my hair products get on my skin (I’ve always hated that), I change my pillowcase every week- and more. Trust me, I have used a few of the products suggested to me (before and after suggestions) and my skin is just not impressed. So. To paraphrase Ms Hill, how can you win when you aren’t right within? Instead, I’m going to do my best to focus more on nourishing the self- I think that’s a better plan than trying everybody’s solution.

I still don’t like to exercise. It’s harder now because I can only do it on weekends, and weekends I want to sleep in. And though I know it does make me feel better later later, I really don’t see me cherishing workout time, ever. LOL. But, I’m getting there. Hopefully, I get to a point where I make it a habit, whether I like it or not. I’ll let you know when I take the first step, haha.

I tried a DIY facial last weekend, and recently it occurred to me that since I ran out of lotion weeks ago, I have been using coconut oil. For months now, I’ve been using Hempseed oil on my face (2 drops), morning and night. Am I not a sheabutter carefree black girl already? JK JK. But really though. Whether they’re capable of being absorbed into my bloodstream or not, I’m just at a place where I’m trying to simplify things. Why use a lotion with a long list of ingredients that I don’t understand at first glance, when I could just use coconut oil?

I’ve flirted with the idea of going vegan or vegetarian once or twice but nope, not as a lifestyle. I love meat and you can’t really convince me that some animals do not exist to be eaten. (Hey, no offence meant to our vegan/vegetarian followers!) I’m trying to change my food habits though, it’s less about a diet, and more about changing my lifestyle- eat more fruit and veg, eat less processed food and sugar- the aim is to be as critical of everything as I am of hair products and practices. This part is not easy because I LOVE my sweets and my dairy. 😦

Altogether, eating clean can look like such a pain, but I’m beginning to see that it doesn’t have to be. I will be blogging more about food in the days to come. Sharing the ways I make this journey easier for myself. Raise your hands if you were already kickin’ it with The Kink and I in the beginning, when I did food posts? You were? And you’re still here, I appreciate you. We appreciate you all, new and old. 🙂

The lovely Kesia of Island Kynks featured me on her blog, please go see it and check her blog out here. Don’t forget that till October 12, you can get 10% off your Nazuri Curls purchases when you use our discount code: KINKANDI. MeeMee ordered a wig from them by the way, I can’t wait till she blogs about it!

Love,

AB,

xx