Saturday 31 December 2016

We Made it!

 I just had to rush in here to wish you a happy and prosperous new year. I don't know how your 2016 was but I declare that your 2017 shall be great. It shall be our best year yet. At the end of this year you'll look back and smile in Jesus' name.


Personally, I was happy to see 2016 end. I cannot in all honesty say it was a good year for me. I am just grateful I made it out. In fact, it might have been my worst year ever. But I pray and believe 2017 will be nothing like 2016.


Thank God for another year! I thank God because He still proved himself faithful. He came through for us. He fought all our battles. When the enemy attacked He raised a standard against him. Boy, did the devil try!  From my health to my baby's, to my husband's, to my dad's. Ha! But he failed woefully.



God, in his mercies kept us. Lord, you are great. You are awesome. There is none like you. My King of Glory. The One who was there for me when no one else was. The One who is always there for me. Words cannot express my gratitude but I say, thank you Lord. 

Tuesday 18 October 2016

The Pressure Never Ends

Source


In Economics we were taught that human wants are insatiable. Well, I say human beings are insatiable, period. I say this because with every stage of your life they seem to expect more from you. When you graduate from Secondary school you'd have people asking if you've gained admission yet. Then you're in the University and they're like, "Scarlet you've not graduated?". Do you even know when I got in school? I want to ask. When you do graduate they go "You've not still gone for NYSC?"

Why so curious ehn? Why do we feel the need to know? Why can't you wait till the person volunteers the information? Or wait till you stumble on it? It doesn't end with NYSC o. That's even when it really starts. You'll hear, "Na husband remain o", "na to start work now o". As though they kept a job for you somewhere. Almost everyone starts asking when you're getting married, who's the lucky guy, bla bla bla. Someone even asked me "when is the wedding?", like she knew about an engagement I was not aware of. God help you if you're in your mid to late twenties or even older. You might just have to get ear plugs.

When God does it for you and you get married, you'd think they'd just let you enjoy your marriage and relax. Mba o. That's when you'll hear, "the thing don enter?", "any bun in the oven"? To be honest, I've been guilty of this. But I've learnt to keep my curiosity to myself, especially in matters like this. You just never know how the person would take it. People are different and some more sensitive than others. While I do not have any problems with a CLOSE friend asking if I'm pregnant yet, depending on how long I've been married and maybe trying to get pregnant, I may not want to hear it. I remember having a neighbor say to me after I got married, "Iyawo give us baby o". Like seriously, give us baby? Us who? Did they want my baby for than I did?

Then you get pregnant and are barely showing before you start hearing, "you never born?" Hian! You have your baby. Praise God. World people still won't let you rest. You just got back from the hospital and someone is asking. "Hope it was not CS o?" "Hope no tear?" "Did they cut you?". Is it your business? Does it matter? Like, why so curious? As your baby gets older you'd still hear things like, "is she sitting yet?" "Has she started walking?". Of course she has.  Since the average child starts walking at 8 months!


While you're still trying to juggle motherhood with being a wife and a career person. And still dealing with the midnight nursing, diaper changes and forever changed body, someone thinks it's okay to ask why you're not yet pregnant for the second baby.  If they knew what I went through during and after pregnancy,  they'd ask me to take a 5-year break.

You see, human beings are insatiable. You can't live your life taking what people say seriously. Try not to take things to heart. Be sensitive to the feelings of others. Do not be overly curious. They did say "curiosity killed the cat that got the canary". Hehehe, I couldn't resist.

Till next time guys. 

Friday 14 October 2016

My Very First Perm Rods Set

Hey guys, how you doing? I finally got round to doing my first perm rods set. I stumbled on some cold wave rods sometime ago. Finally! After months, abi years of searching for them here in Akure. I got a pack of twelve for 150 naira. I know right! I was not expecting it to be so cheap.




I unravelled the rods the next day and got this.



 I got a bit of tangling though while trying to unravel. Some strands of hair got ripped off and remained on the rods. That's when I noticed the rods have some raised points on them. They dont have a smooth surface. I'd have to be more careful the next time I use them, so I don't lose hair.



                                           By the next day, see what was left of the curls.


I decided to put my hair in a quick protective style after the hair started to shrink and poof.


That's it guys. Till next time.

Monday 3 October 2016

DIY - Crochet Bob Braids

Hey guys, if you read my Naomi boom post you'd remember I said this post was coming. So I pre-twisted some hair using Brazilian wool earlier and I've been keeping it for when I'd need it. Well, the need arose when I took out the Naomi boom because it was too bulky for me.

I used 3 packs of the wool and I got about 80 braids in all. My corn rows were 10 or 9 and a half, because I joined two to form my part on the side. After attaching all 80 braids, I realised it was not enough. What I did was to use my leftover expression hair to make about 8 more braids. I was now able to cover up places I thought needed covering. The next time I'm doing medium sized, I'll make the corn rows smaller.

I crocheted the braids using a Bobby pin. It took me a while to figure out how to face the braids to make it bob in the way that I wanted. Note that to achieve the bob look, you have to braid tight.

I rocked the style for about three weeks and it still looked good when i took it out


. So, that's it guys. Will you be trying out this DIY? I'd also like to know what you think of the style. Let me know in the comment box :-).

Tuesday 20 September 2016

When You're in Rome

I currently live in the west after having lived in the South for most of my life. The cultures and traditions of both areas are almost as different as night and day. Even though as a child I lived in Lagos for about 5 years, it did not prepare me for life in Akure. And y'all know Lagos is everybody's land.

Throw back pic to when my service year(2012). My first time in Akure. 

All my life before coming here, I did not have to kneel or genuflect to greet anybody. Here however,  it's a different thing. Every time I do it I feel awkward and ask myself if it is really necessary. I'm sure I look awkward too. Will they really think I do not respect them if I do not do it? Sometimes I'd only remember to genuflect after greeting. When this happens I pray I'm the only person who noticed. I wonder how awkward they must find me.


Then you have people who are your in your Aunt's age range adding "ma" to every sentence they say to you. I'm like, for real!? Because of these ones you too now want to add "ma" to everything you say. So they won't go and say this Omo Ibo is rude o. Really though, is it necessary? Whatever happened to just greeting "good morning"? Or simply answering "yes or no"?
Then the Aunty calling. It does not matter if your the person is younger than you. You call them Aunty. And if the person is your in-law....ha, you better call that Aunty with respect. Even if they're your baby sister's age.




Also, did you know that it's expected  of you to speak for your baby who can't speak yet? For example, if someone sees you with your baby and decides to have a conversation with her,  you have answer for the baby. And I'm thinking, why talk to a baby who you know cannot speak yet and expect their mom to answer? Even on the phone? How about you just say whatever you want to say to me? It really took me while to understand that they actually expect me to reply when they tell my baby good morning. That's after we've exchanged our own good mornings o. Haha! One person was even offended and told me when they greet my baby I'm supposed to answer. Hian! How am I supposed to know? We don't do that where I come from na.



Let me end my rant with this story. Someone told me how she went to the market and stopped at a stall. When she asked how much the goods cost, the seller told her she would not sell to her. Why? She did not greet her. Really? Are you not in the market to sell? Which is more important? Selling your goods or receiving greeting?


They say when you're in Rome you should act like a Roman abi? I will...but I'm a bad actor so no one should expect perfect delivery.

Wednesday 14 September 2016

Relaxer Update

So, in my last post I told you guys about my hair challenges and the temptation to relax my hair. Well, I went relaxer shopping and I relaxed my hair... NOT.

Haha, I really did go relaxer shopping but right there in the midst of it, I changed my mind. I couldn't bring myself to buy it. Nope. This was after doing some serious research on texlaxing. My mind was pretty much made up. I was going to texlax my hair. I was really excited about the coming change. Went to the market and I just couldn't bring myself to go through with it. Guess I wasn't ready for the change after all.

I then decided to do what I should have done in the first place ; put my hair away. I got two packs of Naomi boom, amongst other things from the market with which I made crochet braids.

I did about ten corn rows to the back. I joined two in front to make a side part. Sorry, I couldn't take a clear picture of the corn rows. I crocheted the twists using a big bobby pin. It wasn't so easy to pull the twisted hair through the corn rows. They were really big. Or maybe it was because I used a bobby pin. For the life of me I can't figure out how to use a crochet pin. I did get one but had to return it for something else when I couldn't use it. I'll have to give it another try.

Anyways,  when the hair was finished, I did not like it :-(. It was too bulky for my liking. I couldn't sleep comfortably with it. Plus my cornrows were too tight. I only had the hair for a couple of days and I took it out, made the cornrows less tight and crocheted on my pre-braided  hair (details in another post).

That's it for now guys. See you some other time. Enjoy the pictures. Hopefully network or whatever will let me post them :-).


PS : Network only let me post that one picture :-(.


Monday 5 September 2016

Blow Drying and Straightening Attempt

For the first time since I've been natural I attempted to straighten my hair. I washed and deep conditioned and then got to the task. I blow dried first using a blow dryer with comb attachment. I did this in sections and made a loose twist of each section as I went. Then I straightened each of those sections when I was done with the blow drying. It took quite sometime. Especially as the power holders took and brought back power in between:-) .

I almost gave up but I trudged on. I Bantu knotted each section after straightening. Only for me to finish and my hair was already reverting. All my labour.... Just poof! My hair merely looked blow dried, not straightened. Sigh. I had to bun it when what I really wanted was to flaunt it and show off my length. The struggle!

Guys, it's getting more difficult to take care of my hair. I don't know how much of this I can take before I backslide o. Right now, it's really tempting to get a tub of relaxer. I'm just tired. I'm not feeling my hair. It's not doing so well. Still shedding. My ends look terrible. Edges scanty. Overall appearance to me is unhealthy. And I don't have time. Did I mention how many breaks I had to take to attend to a fussy baby? I'm seriously losing it with this hair. Oh well, enough of my ranting. Just don't be surprised if in the next post I tell you I've relaxed my hair. This may very well be the last picture of my natural hair you'll be seeing.

Alright. See you all later :-).





Saturday 27 August 2016

Age is Really a Number


The other day,  in the process of filling a form in a public office I was asked my age. I was like "errrm... I was clearly wracking my brain, trying to remember my age. One of the officials said, "you don't know your age?",staring at me in surprise. I quickly gave what I thought was my age which she promptly wrote down but on a second and deeper thought I realised it was the wrong age! I remembered my birth year, I had just lost count of the past few years. I had to do quick maths. 2016-(the year I was born)=my current age. Aha! Finally got it. Told the lady and she cancelled the previous one and wrote the right one :-). I promise I'm not making this up. I can't believe it myself. I forgot my age. 

So, here's why I think it happened. One, I just lost track of the years. Yeah, that can happen. Two, I've got a lot on my mind (don't ask me what). Three,....... 

I stopped counting! Which would not have happened if I was still single. Being a single lady in Nigeria is not easy. You are constantly reminded of your age. An Uncle comes visiting and thinks it's okay to just ask out of the blues, " Scarlet, how old are you again?". Really?! Mother's friend nko? The constant "who's the lucky guy" questions. The incredulous look when you tell them you're not even in a relationship 😂 :-D. Even your friends remind you of your age when they call to wish you happy birthday. So you now understand when I say it couldn't have happened if I was still single. 

On another note, that's not the way to go about life. I can't be losing track of things like that. I've got goals, vision, dreams that have to be met, fulfilled. Time waits for no man. I've got to be time-conscious. I'm not getting any younger and there's just so much to be done. 

I may be married but that's no reason to sit on my butt. Like I always say, getting married is not an achievement. So, here's saying to yours truly - get off your butt girl and get werrking!

PS ; Being married? Caring for a baby? Now that's work, on a whole 'nother level!
:-)

Wednesday 24 August 2016

DIY - Crochet Wig Using Expression Multi

I used Expression crochet braids for a client recently and thought I'd try it out as a crochet wig. I had damaged my Afro/curly wig when I decided to give it a haircut and so needed another one.  Expression Multi seemed like a good extension to use.

I got a pack of the extension(blame my alaroroism :-)), plus I really thought it would do. I also got a mesh cap. Then work started in earnest.


It turned out one was not enough and it was late Saturday evening. The store where they sold weaves close to my house would have been closed already. So, I decided to curl the straight extension I had left from making my braid wig. I do not have perm rods. How was I going to do this? Whatever method I was going to use had to give me curls consistent with the ones in the extension. Well, I curled the extension  by wrapping it round my used kinky extensions like I was doing faux locs.

My first attempts gave my tighter curls than I wanted so I spaced my wrapping and this gave me almost an exact replica of the curls of Expression multi. I still used the tighter curls though and as you would see, the difference was not so obvious.


When I was done with it, I did cornrows along my hairline (back and front) and twisted the rest. Then I wore the wig and tacked  the band to the cornrows and viola! My hair was done. I've been rocking the wig since.


You have it guys :-). Until next time.

PS : I am having some challenges uploading pictures. Don't know why. Please bear with me. I will update posts to include the necessary pictures as soon as I can.
Also, please follow me on all my social media accounts. @scarletxianne for both twitter and instagram(which I recently joined). 😀I know I'm late to the party. 

DIY - Crochet Twist Wig

I've wanted to have a braids wig for some time now and making my own seemed like the best option. Then came the wahala of getting a good wig cap. Y'all know the normal wig cap is too light/weak/soft and can't take the weight of braids or twists. Another cap known as dome cap is usually used. It comes in a pack that says Dome cap. I went searching for this cap in the market here in Akure and couldn't find it.


I was now left with option B. Option B was using that net cap we used back in the day and still use (satin cap or scarf is better for your hair though). Using this cap meant I would first crochet the extension to the cap before braiding or twisting. I went with twisting.

I used two packs of Expression Rich Braids (the big pack). I had a little left though. Guys, I have to tell you it's a lot of work. The cap has a lot of holes and I tried to make sure no hole was visible. I think I succeeded. The thread used in knitting the cap however, was another thing. A few couldn't help peeking through the twists. But it's okay because it's the same colour as my hair underneath and the extension on top it's barely noticeable. The wig is really full too.


I made it fuller in front so I  could part it without holes. To know where to part I tacked a little white thread to the band at the point I wanted the part.


Even though I've been enjoying my wig so far, you'd get better results if you used a dome cap. I hope to get my hands on some of these soon.


There, you have it. Are you going to be trying out this DIY? What do you think about the wig?  Let me know in the comment box :-). See you soon.



Friday 29 July 2016

Hair, There, Everywhere!

Have you guys seen the movie, War Room? Well, I've seen it and it's an amazing movie. In case y'all don't know, it's a faith-based movie, produced by Kendrick Brothers of the Fireproof fame. I totally recommend it to every Christian.


However, today I'm not talking about the movie. Well, except to say ; can people stop recommending the movie to everyone who complains about a cheating husband? They are totally missing the point of the movie. That movie is about the power of prayer. Think James 5:16b - ".....the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much". So, it irks me when I read about someone complaining that her lover is cheating and another person says "go and watch war room". Seriously? I am really happy about the publicity this movie is getting but I don't know how someone can watch that movie and only thing they'd get from it is that if your significant other is cheating,, prayer will put them in check. I'm not saying prayer won't or can't do that. I'm saying, how about all the other important issues addressed in the movie? Why narrow the movie down to "cheating husband or boyfriend"? Boyfriend! If your boyfriend is cheating, you better take a walk. Yeah, I said it. Instead of watching War room over him, girl you better walk. If you stay you'd just be setting yourself up for heartaches. Plus, how do even have sex with a guy you are not married to and then pray to GOD to stop him from cheating? Really hilarious something. Girl, don't kid yaself.



See how all those people made me derail this post now :-). Anyway, now that I got that outta the way, let me go where I was going. For those whose have seen the movie, did you see Elizabeth's( Priscilla Shirer's character) hair?! Okay, so after seeing the movie(which I need to do again), I could not stop wondering what she had done to get the hair like that. I thought that can't be her hair. How can one person's hair be so full.  It had to be crochet twist outs. Mind you, whatever it was, I loved it already. So, off to google I went searching for any possible way to achieve Priscilla Shirer's hair in War room. Guys, imagine my shock when I find out it not crochet anything but all her hair in twist outs! She is officially my very first hair crush!



Twist outs are her go-to style. She twists her hair with leave-in conditioner and gel to achieve the hairstyle she had in War room. So, in addition to spiritual inspiration, I got some beauty/hair inspiration. Judge me if you want guys, I just love hair laidat! 😛


Source All that hair! 
Source
Until next time, enjoy some pictures of Priscilla Shirer. And check her out on her website- goingbeyond.com and YouTube. She awesome and her messages will change your life.
Source

Thursday 14 July 2016

Hair files - I'm hair again

I'm back again.  Today I'll  be talking hair. Again. I know I've been talking a lot about hair lately.  Make una no vex. Better hair than nothing,  abi? Plus,  I really love hair, and talking about hair.
So I want to confess. A few months ago I grew really tired of my hair. It has not been easy. From suffering setbacks to postpartum shedding to a lack of good stylists and hair products, to not having enough time.... I almost threw my hands up.
I even considered relaxing. Then I remembered the reason i went natural. Straight hair no longer appealed to me. I considered texlaxing. At least I'd have some texture. Then i saw what freshly washed texlaxed hair looked like. Nah ah. Plus,  I'd still do almost everything I do as a Natural? Finger-detangling too? Just add a texlax that I'd have to do myself(cos i can't trust anyone here to do it), every few months. Mbanu.
I contemplated getting a hair cut. I went to google and really liked what saw. Then I visited Ifycynthetic and saw that she just got a haircut. I was so sure it was a sign. Went to Hubby for encouragement and moral support and got the opposite. Showed him pictures of really cool shaved sides cut on natural hair but dude was not having it. He called it "Onome Aganga hairstyle". I wonder who Onome Aganga is. By the way, fast-forward a few weeks, my sister-in-law was rocking Onome Aganga as I  saw from her facebook profile pic. I laughed so hard at Hubby. I love my SIL, she's  so cool.
Anyways,  I've  put any permanent or semi-permanent alterations to my hair on the shelf. I've  decided to go with little or no manipulation. Found me a go to style.
Jumbo twists.  Why isn't there a enough rave about those things? They're a life saver. So picture this,  I put my hair in jumbo twists,  rock them for a few days. Unravel to reveal bomb twist outs. Rock for a few days. Throw 'em in a bun or two for as long as I want. Guys, I think I found me a keeper.
No more worrying my head over long-term protective styles. They've been doing more harm than good,  anyway.
Source

My twist outs,  before and after humidity



Till I  come again, stay safe. Loads of 

Tuesday 5 July 2016

Hair Files - How to Make Your Own Length-check T-shirt

For the longest time i wanted to have a length-check t-shirt. I hadn't gotten round to getting one when Dabs of Naija Hair Can Grow started taking entries for her 'six inches in one year challenge', which I wanted to be a part of. One of her criteria was that you had to send a 'before' picture with a length-check T-shirt. Deadline for submission was close, did not know how I was going to get one where I live. So I decided to improvise. You know how they say necessity is the mother of invention....

I dug out one white T-shirt I had used during NYSC. I know, I really need to dispose of some cluster, sigh. Anyways, I got a marker, ruler and a measuring tape and got to work. I first marked the inches as dots at the back of the T-shirt. One dot on the left, another on the right, then I joined them using a ruler(makeshift). Then I numbered it. I continued till I got to the hem of the T-shirt.

I wish I had pictures to show every step but lost the ones I took. Below are pictures of me using the T-shirt in my last length-check.



This is actually the second length check T-shirt I made. First one didn't quite work out. It hugged my body, so I couldn't see the numbers at my lower back. I had to use a bigger one. After all the trouble sef I couldn't gather liver to send my entry :-). At least, I have a length-check T-shirt.

Alright guys, that's it. See you soon.



Monday 4 July 2016

Hair Files- Flat Twist Outs

Heys guys, how you been? So a few weeks ago, I decided to try out a flat twist out. I'd washed my hair and put it in flexi-rods and a few plastic rollers, which I let stay on overnight.

By the time I took out the rods and rollers the next afternoon, the parts of my hair where I used flexi-rods were still not dry and had no curls :(. I got opposite results where I used rollers though.

Anyways, after plenty brainstorming, I decided to do a flat twists in front and jumbo normal twists behind. I wore my hair like this for a few days before unraveling to give me a half twist-outs/flat twist-out style.




What do ya think? Was it a hit or a miss?
Please let me know in the comment box :-).

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