braid and curl-cornrows and rods edition

i did the braid and curl a slightly different way that usual.
i did cornrows instead of single braids on slightly damp hair.
the only product i used was Garnier curl cream, which is a gawdawful product, review coming soon.
it looked great, but felt like hay.

i took a bunch of pics because it was awesome to me how big it was! i really didn't realize i could get 1st day hair that big, or perhaps it was the humidity outside.

My Apologies....

I'm sorry for my lack of posts lately.
I just started a summer program in which i get experience and professional development workshops in my field, and I seem to have no time on my hands.
I will resume regular posting ASAP, i just uploaded a bunch of pictures to my desktop. :)
Stay tuned.
Love,
Rocky

sleek bun

buns are great for a quick and super chic style.
i used ORS Edge Control for this style. it works really well at keeping the frizz down all day.
i used a donut shaper to make my bun larger and more structured.
it's just a more formal look, i think, than my own smaller bun.

Amateur Photog: Baha'i Temple visit

i live pretty near to a Baha'i Temple.

that isn't my faith, but it is open to anyone to appreciate the beauty. 

ootd: casual summer neutrals

top: forever 21 tunic
shorts: can't remember
wedges: old navy
bag: my mommy got it for me in mexico :)

twist and curl on small rollers

this is another cute style i like to do sometimes.

i did this on damp, nearly dry hair
products: giovanni leave in, elasta qp mango butter moisturizer, and elasta qp foam wrap.
i love styles that dry quickly, as in overnight, without the use of a hooded dryer.

summer hair: the wet bun

i like finding super easy, quick styles for the summer that don't require heat.

i sometimes cowash (rinse with conditioner) daily in the summer because i get really sweaty during my workouts and just being outside. so i stay looking for styles that i can do on my freshly cowashed hair.

one of my faves is the wet bun. pretty simple and always chic.

this bun is basically just a large twist pinned up.

products: V05 to cowash and leave in, coconut oil, and ecostyler gel for the edges.

Yarn Twists

I do these periodically when I want to give my hair a break.


You can find a multitude of Youtube tutorials on them, so I won't bore you with all that.
Basically, you just use yarn as you would any other extension hair, and make twists. Lots of people make braids with the yarn to get a sort of faux dreadlock look, but I prefer twisting because it's much faster to both put in and take out. 
I don't get all that creative with styling them, but here are a few pics anyways.


I do mine down to my waist, usually. They just are cuter to me that way.

I tried out a "ninja bun" on them. Still can't decide if this is cute or just looks stupid. I wore it anyways, lol. 

OOTD: a pop of red

this is something i threw together at the last minute for church that worked surprisingly well.

blazer: forever 21

tank: forever 21

skirt: express

shoes: Unisa (sp?), from DSW i think

twist and curl

I like this style a lot because it dries quickly and is cute.
Start on damp/wet hair, apply your products. 
I usually use a moisturizer and a holding product.
For this, I think (sorry, it was a while ago)I used Elasta QP Mango Butter Moisturizer and the Elasta Foam Wrap.

I always do my hair in four sections. I did about maybe 4-5 twists per section, leaving the ends untwisted and placed them on flexirods. I also add end papers because it makes the ends smoother.

 Make sure it is completely dry before taking them out. I usually sit underneath my hooded dryer for at least half an hour before going to bed. in the morning, unravel and fluff.

Very Old OOTD: Reggae Party

*in my Bey voice*
We like to par-tay.
At a reggae party like 2 years ago.
I thought i was kinda fly.

Top: someone bought it for my mom in Africa (idk which country). then I stole it from her.
Shorts: Abercrombie, maybe
Bag: That bag don't even match, lmao what was I thinking? but it's ann taylor.
Boots: Charlotte Russe
Jewelry: forever 21
hair: the best weave i've ever had. 
Fruit: My mandatory party plum. I like to keep at least 2 on hand when I party. I get hungry after all the dancing, and it's handy.

OOTD: Floral Print

All photos were taken by my cousin, a fantastic aspiring photographer.
You can see more of his work here on his Facebook page: Hayden's Digital Art

i have an unhealthy obsession with neutrals, so this summer i'm attempting to actually wear brighter colors.

top: hollister
pants: old navy
shades: forever 21
earrings: some beauty supply store, lol

Throwback Hair

Yep, I followed that trend.
Like errybody else and they mama.
This was around January 2011, I think.
It was fun while it lasted, and so small it didn't really bother me when I wanted to cover it.

OOTD: Graduation Outfit #100000

I have seriously attended soooo many graduations this season it's ridiculous.
I'm so proud of all of them, congrats class of 2012! *I can't wait to graduate next year, man.*
Here's what I wore to my little sister's high school graduation.


Sidenote: I felt mad awkward taking these pics, but I'll get over it soon. hopefully. Also, I'm not the biggest fashionista. My style is pretty simple. So I'm probably not going to knock your socks off, but whatever. I'll share anyways, lol.

top: Old Navy clearance
slacks (that could use an iron): Old Navy clearance
earrings: forever 21
shoes: i think DSW, the brand is Bucco (sp?)
hair: braid and curl, braidout with flexi rods on the ends. my go-to style

Afternoon Bike Ride

My cousin and I went on an afternoon bike ride around our neighborhood about...maybe a week ago.

I need a new helmet. It looks extra dorky because it's far too small.
We biked to this stretch of forest preserve that had some pretty flowers. I took a few shots, having brought my camera along for the ride.

Spinach, Avocado, Blueberry, Radish, Cucumber Salad

A salad I recently made.
Fresh spinach
Radishes
Blueberries
Cucumbers
Avocado
The dressing is homemade as well. I made it in my Magic Bullet. Yes, the one from the infomercial lol. I love it.
I put 2 garlic cloves, a tbsp of lemon juice, tbsp of olive oil, and a small bit of cilantro in the Bullet and blended it up. Easy, quick, vegan, and delicious.
*note: I'm not actually a vegan. yet. cheese and I have a thang. lawd help me*

Current Fitness Goals

• Running the Chicago Marathon in 2013
• Making my midsection/waist smaller
• Being consistent with eating well and drinking plenty of water.

I will be sure to update you periodically on my progress for all three goals.

Bear with me....

.....while i get this layout, particularly the darn header, under control. 

Workout Hair

Let's get the "fitness" part of this blog going.

I refuse to believe all the hype media stories that black women don't work out solely because of their hair trials and tribulations.

Certainly, that may be one factor for some individuals, but most of the black women I know don't work out for reasons that are common to all women: lack of time, don't know where to start, thinking that it has to be this expensive, complicated process, being intimidated by the whole idea of fitness.

All that being said, I know that for me, my kinky hair does require a bit more thought than the lady next to me in the gym locker room who simply blow dries her hair straight after every workout.

I'd be bald.

I mostly wash my hair once a week.

If my "out" style (braidout, twisotut, etc.) does not last through my workout, I do a bun, updo, wet bun (cowash and bun), and keep it moving.

The above is how I wear my hair during workouts, fuzzy edges and all.

If my "out" style lasted, I take it down from the puff and go on my merry way.

I'd love to keep perfect, frizz-free styles...but it ain't gonna happen and I sure as hell ain't gonna stop working out. So I make it do what it do.

What are some of your tried and true workout hair tips? 

NY Skyline Snap

NY Skyline
Snapped on my spring break trip there.
I heart the Picasa "cross-process" feature. 
Makes my otherwise weak photos look swaggy. lol.

Jamaica, Jamaica

I figure now is as good a time as any to let you know my heritage.
My parents are both Jamaican, they were born in Jamaica.
I was born here.
So I'm Jamaican-American, or just American with Jamaican heritage or whatever the heck you want to call it. 


Photo: sugarcane in a relative's yard, Florida.