A Happy YOU= Happy Hair

I remember when I first started to do research on the world of locs. Most of what you are about to read may seem abstract. Reading my blogs, consistently, will show you how the whimsy, weird but funny moments make up my entire being and life😇. I love the life I have been gifted. If you're a hair stylist or work in that arena, I'm not here to fib about hair or add to the ridiculous myths out there. Im sharing MY own personal experience as a human, daughter, sister, mother, RH Witch( if you are scared of this word...grow up) and soul mate.

My first time seeing locs were on the head of a light skinned black man. He was on the cover of one my. Father's favorite vinyl records. As my Dad took in his herbal meditation, I remember crawling over to this huge square envelope. My eyes getting bigger as I realize this is a black man, who looks very similar to my Father, with long ropes of hair. Something about this hair was magnetic to me, even as a youth.

A few years went by and I saw Maxi Priest's video "Close to you". I began to gather that this hair and music were related to each other somehow. My mother and father have a fascination with music. My mother loves gospel and R&B. My dad Love's Roots Music a variety of jazz music, rock music, meditation vibrations, Blues, and the sounds of nature. As time went on I started seeing more and more music artists with Locs who seem to be in an obscure category here in America. I am a lover of the obscure. I was just drawn to locs even more so. By the time I was in high school I had experienced the pressing comb, the perm, straw curls, tracks, cornrows, extension braids, microwave ponytails, drawstring ponytails,  and lightening my hair with peroxide. So as you can see I went through a lot of different phases like most black women do.

Although I learned different things out of each phase the last and final phase that I experienced has been my choice for the rest of my life...Locs.

I began to talk to people on the street who had locks and ask them about their own experiences. Mind you I cut my hair at least seven times all the way down to the scalp. I was young it was just hair and at that stage in my life already news it's going to grow back. Half the people I spoke with particularly females, we're acting secretive about how to start Locs how to maintain them and what got them started. It just made me want them more because women in my neighborhood were acting as if it's some big secret or some evil act. Why women would want to keep healthy hair advice to themselves and not share it with young women in their Community I don't know and I don't care because I still got my answers. Some down to earth Sistas shared with me that 1) its not hard to maintain your own hair 2) its best to start them in the Fall and 3) Don't take everyone's advice on locs.
I began going to a young lady around 2008 to get my hair locked. At the time she was doing Palm roll locs which is the method where a little, if any, product is put on the root of the hair and then twisted between the two palms of ones hand then clipped in place and set in place via hairdryer. This was cool. My hair began to adjust and she was a very sweet person. However I could not afford to keep paying $50 and then $60 and up for her to maintain my hair. I admit I got frustrated I cut my locs, permed my hair and just started over again. Then I met my soulmate let's call him C-lo. He said to me that he would loc his hair with me if I wanted to do it. So we started locking together. I purchased the book "Dreads". It's a photography book and it has some very inspirational stories in it regarding the ancient wearing of locks in one's hair. From beautiful African Tribes to Hindu Priests and strong Maori warriors, this book covers the diversity behind locs.

It was 9 years ago that we started locking. Since then he has cut his hair. It was going down his back when he cut it LOL. My Locs are still intact there healthy there are about 24 in Long or a little longer. The only reason why they are healthy and they are long is because I remain happy. It doesn't matter if you're homeless, jobless, filthy rich, living on water or living on land, if you are a miserable negative mean person then your locks are going to thin, they're going to fall out they're going to reflect that which is going on inside of you. By my own race I have been shamed, I have been called out, I have been ostracized I have been ignored, I have been called weirdo I have been told that I must worship the devil and today I still get ugly looks from women of all ages because I decided to wear my natural crown. It makes me laugh because usually there is a child around who can't help but Snicker and look at my hair with big eyes out of curiosity ,  the same way that I looked at Bob Marley's hair on that vinyl record all those years ago . My Crown is growing it's not going away and I'm not ever cutting it.

So I wrote this little entry to remind the one who is deciding to lock their hair that you can do it. Don't listen to people's negative attitudes don't listen to myths about your hair. DON'T listen to naysayers. You CAN find shea butter, aloe vera, olive oil, argan oil and anything else that you need to maintain your own hair. It's easy to find someone to pay to lock your hair but you'll get more out of it if you do it yourself. Everyone has different methods. No one method is greater than the other. If someone tells you that their method is the only one that works, you need to run! Lol. There are multiple ways to loc hair: Palm rolling, interlocking, sponging, yarn, and braiding so that it grows into locks are just a few I know off the top of my head. Find the right method for YOU and YOUR HAIR. Also, please accept right now that locs do shed just like your hair used to shed before you decided to lock your hair. Skin sheds every day and hair sheds every day. I'm not saying that clumps of hair should come out every day. What I am saying to you is don't get scared if you see one hair on your sink. If you do get a little worried then incorporate some olive oil or coconut oil in your shampoo and conditioning routine. You'll be happy that you did.

Playing with colors in the locs is a choice that is entertained by some of us right? Well, I was warned about playing with blond in my locs. I played with it anyway and I did not enjoy my locks feeling dried out and flat and just all-around unhealthy. Once I decided decided to go back to my natural color my locs started feeling better and staying healthy. It's fun to play with colors in locs. However, be mindful that you're putting chemicals on your natural hair. It will have an effect so be careful and respect your hair.

Sorry this was such a long post but I was inspired this morning to go ahead and put this out there. I appreciate your time. Enjoy your locs enjoy your lives and enjoy each other🙏 there is not enough love in this world. So when real love does come your way, relish in it my friend. Ase' ( This word means...and so it is)

ACV-Apple Cider Vinegar

" Eeeew that stinks!", is usually a phrase that is used when a wise person is utilizing this nectar of the gods around someone who isn't  aware of it's lovely blessings it gives the body. Elders please forgive us, because some like myself didn't quite gather the fullness of what vinegar does for our bodies and even our homes. It's okay because, let me tell you that I had no idea the multitude of benefits you get from using apple cider vinegar in your daily routine. 

As a little girl, my Mother would give me and my sister a tablespoon of this with just a dab of honey mixed in it. I used to wonder, "How do they make this stuff?". It was always when the winter was around and there were colds running rampant at school. Here we are now, 20 years later and I am giving my children the same treatment to prevent colds from coming around. However, it wasn't until about 3 years ago, while searching for natural rinses for your hair, I came across the good things that come from using vinegar  on a regular basis. As you read the list the benefits that I have personally tried and verified, allow me to share some questions that I used to have and the answers that I have found. Some are just as easily found on your own spare type, with some due diligence and yep, you guessed it, enough free time. 

How is Apple Cider Vinegar Made?

Truth is, there are a few different ways out there. This one, I came across yesterday while looking up how to make some st home. So, I hope to do this an will post my results with pics. However,the one that I am going to mention on that a lovely woman on a you tube channel called: Set Apart Living

She has a simple recipe that anyone can make. Allow me to say as she had even stated, a lot of people buy Bragg's vinegar and I am one f those people. Until I successfully make a batch using this wise womb-carriers recipe.

Homemade Apple Cider Vinegar

What You'll Need:

Enough apples to fill a mason jar (whatever size jar you desire, as long as it can filled at least an inch away from the top of the jar)

Apple Cider Vinegar

Pure filtered water

A Secret of hers you will have to find out by watching her video on ACV (Gotta spread the love)

Papertowel, wax paper or covering for  jar

Dark place for ACV to ferment

Directions:

1. Gather all materials

2. Cut the apples

3.Add them to the mason jar, pressing down as you add more, stop about 1/2-1 inch from the top

4.Add a little ACV (homemade or store bought)

5. Add filtered water to rim

6.Add the secret ingredient (Again you will have to watch her video to find out)

7. Allow to ferment 

So, now you know how easy it is to make apple cider vinegar right at home. Keep reading to find out what amazing benefits apple cider vinegar has in store for you.

What are the different ways to use ACV in your daily routine?

1.You can use ACV as a mouthwash after brushing your teeth in the morning. Yes, it cleans the mouth. You can try it by either mixing 1TBS with a splash of water in a morning rinse cup and give your mouth a real good swish, repeat once and  feel how clean your mouth is.

*Adams Family Toothpaste Recipe Courtesy of my Father
What you will need:
Baking Soda (Either pour some in an air tight container or if you don't have one, open the box enough to be able dip the toothbrush inside
and pull it out)
Hydrogen Peroxide or water if you do not have any HP on hand
A Toothbrush

Why this natural at home recipe works: The baking soda is polishing while the peroxide cleans and destroys germs

How to use:
1. Wet your toothbrush with the peroxide or water
2. Dip your toothbrush into the baking soda
3. Brush those teeth for at least 3 minutes
4. Rinse mouth well (Use the ACV mix)
5. Pat yourself on the back because you just took 3 minutes out of your day to give your smile a natural, cleansing boost
6. Encourage others to go with more of a natural approach when taking care of their bodies


2. ACV Hair Rinse

The main thing I like abp The results have been very pleasing. You really can see the gunk that you thought was gone already. We ACV rinse our hair twice a month to keep the Locs happy. Natural hair, Locs, etc, if you have hair on our head and want it legitimately cleaned, give it a try.

What you'll need:

The P Word

(Disclaimer)
You re about to read words from a woman regarding the menstruation cycle. Everything you read will be shared from EXPERIENCE. I am not a certified anything or anyone. I am a woman, simply. So, if I say something familiar, feel free to share that pleasure with everyone in the comments section. If it's too deep, then maybe get in tune with your divine feminine energy.  I encourage you to seek out more info about YOU, so that your true purpose of being a woman becomes more clear ( human born with the equipment to carry a child). Now, if you are having menstrual ups and downs, please go to your gynecologist and get checked out, don't waste time. If you are uninsured, make sure you are in tune with your home girl down there. Keep her happy, clean and entertained. Ladies, you know what I'm talking about. (Hint: You have Kegels for a reason)


This topic lest alone an in depth look scientifically has frightened many over the years and blurred some real facts versus some religious bizarro nonsense. Before we get into that, allow me to share a few do's and dont's that I wish all men could truly appreciate.
1. DO know, it's not that I'm mad, it's just that I am experiencing contractions and not having a baby, but replacing my vaginal wall and then some. This is out of my control and yes, I sure will get short and reply impatiently, but i still love you Honey (smirking girlishly).

2. DO know that, yes, I do gain strength around this time. No I don't need your help re-arranging the furniture, gardening, doing, laundry, cleaning the kitchen and all other related duties. Of course afterwards I will be whining like a baby on my husbands chest or moaning from a well deserved massage from his strong, firm hands. Did you all know that during menstruation, certain massages shouldn't be done? It's true. Make sure your man knows the right spots and times to massage you ladies. Yoga for menstruation is awesome too! Just a few short poses works wonders for that special time.

3. DON'T push it, my love, if I want to eat some cucumber salad or some trail mix and that's it, leave me alone with it. Sometimes the appetite changes around this time, not for all, but for me it definitely changes.

I know you all could add so much more to this list. Feel free to put your dream lists in the comment section.

Sick Weather

So, we're headed out of the door for school and my oldest daughter appears before me in shorts. Um, it was like 43 outside this morning. I say to her, 'Don't you think you need to put on some pants?". Her response, to me, ' See, what happened was, I was looking for the pants and then my friends pulled up and sad they were outside to pick me up. So, I didn't get a chance to put them on. Bye Mom." I'm sure my response faded in her ears as she ran to her buddies car this morning. Luckily,

Isn't it funny how our teenagers have a nice paragraph length excuse to not take care of the little things regarding their health and wellness? She eventually changed, but she reminded me of how  used to try real hard to convince my Mother that I was above the weather outside. My own mind flashed back to my " I can conquer the weather days. Positive thinking will keep me from being sick.", or so I thought. There is a such this as too optimistic folks. Back then I thought I knew what I was doing at 15 and reality beat me into submission to its might. I ended up sick as I dunno what. Lol. It was a hard lesson learned. Something I did repeat later on one more time in my life, thanks to me wanting to be extra cute on a nice grown up date. Ha! I was cute for 10 hours and within the next 48, I was being admitted to the emergency room and checked into the hospital. In an effort not to re-visit this, I've been actively completing self-studies regarding healthier habits that can prevent moments like that from happening. With that being said, allow me to say thank you to all of the talented Doctors, Nurses, and /hospital volunteers who display a great strength especially this time of year.

It's just a few days away from  the Winter Solstice and all over this country, people are already clamoring to have comfort food in stock at home, extra blankets, etc for family and even the homeless here in my town. On the news this morning, they had a segment that answered the question can the kind of weather we are currently having, cause us to get sick. As I sipped my coffee, of course, I said, 'Of course it does.", reading the ticker on the bottom of  the television. Although, our teens and tweens may feel they know better, don't punk out and let them just get themselves sick. Keep yourself and your children properly prepared regarding this weather. If you don't, then that's going to be $$ out of pocket for Dr's Appointments, missed days at work, extra money for gas to take the trip, etc. I do my best to minimize trips to the Doctors office by taking prevention steps at home. below are a few suggestions to help ease you into this sick weather season we are about to have. Stay warm out there!

TIPS FOR A FLU-LESS SEASON
1. Vitamin C
There are some folks out there who seem to think that this is a myth. It works for me and my kids, I will continue to promote Vitamin C to boost the immune system. Take a sip of orange juice in the morning. It can save you 6 weeks of cold/flu/sickness hell. If you don't have oranges, try lemons. Fresh lemon juice squeezed into water or tea can boost your immune system as well. Mangoes are full of vitamin c as well so, grab one and treat yourself, doesn't your immune system deserve some extra TLC before its impacted by a rhinovirus or worse? Those of you with allergies to citrus, you can eat nuts and other fruits and still get immunity boosting benefits. If you are allergic to nuts then, stick to your squashes, cabbages, broths, etc. There are a a lot of resources on the internet that could inspire your own immune system booster.

2. Excercise
Are you yawning already? Lol, sure, what grown up who barely has time for themselves wants to incorporate this into an already busy routine? Well, any adult that's looking forward to positive long term healthy experience in life. See, without using too any scientific terms, you will be heating your body up. When yo feel this heat, rising in the body, your blood is flowing to areas of need, your oxygen levels rise and your entire body, including your immune system, thanks you for it. Now, I'm just talking about maybe 30 minutes or so on the treadmill. If you don't have one, then do some jumping jacks or just any activity that is both legal and can get your heart rate up safely. Just remember to ease back into your resting heart rate.

3. ACV
I used to wonder as a little girl how apple cider vinegar was made. Thank goodness for this special drink here. It's not hard and I encourage you all to look it up as well. Look, my husband just stares blankly when I offer him a tablespoon of AVC. My daughters and son do the same thing. Sometimes, I offer it, even though they make a face. However, my Mother and I drink a little everyday to keep our insides happy. Now, I don't know all of the fancy words that can explain to you what benefits come from sipping on ACV daily. However, I can tell you that when I have had any inkling of a sore throat, I take a tablespoon of ACV, mix it into a 8-16 oz container with water. Within a an hour or two, my throat feels normal. Again, this is my experience with AV. I hope yours is a great one too. If AVC is just too acidic for you, then try some all natural herbal bitters. Do your research though because although a label may say "All Natural" or "Organic" that doesn't mean it is authentic. The herbal bitters that I recommend using are called, Herb organic Black Seed Bitters sold by Gye Nyame Holistics, check out their website to sip your way to healing: www.gyenyameholistics.com

4. Brief Soaks
There are 4 types of people in the world, 1)Folks who enjoy soaking in the tub 2)Folks who enjoy shower time 3)Folks who are bi-polar with bathing routines and enjoy both the shower and the bath (THAT'S ME) and 4) Folks who bathe or shower rarely

A good long Epsom salt soak can do wonders for the body. Bringing the toxins out the pores and releasing them down  the drain. Maybe soaking for about 5-10, maybe 20 minutes could work wonders for you. Oowee, don't add a cold/flu soak bath bomb because you will thoroughly enjoy a spa-like, experience right at home. At the same time, you are easing aches, pains, relieving pressure, detoxifying and keeping your body happy no matter the weather. If you are soaking any longer than that, I wouldn't recommend going back out into the cold air. Before anyone mentions it, yes, I too, have heard that cold air is good for some athletic reasons. More power to you, if you can enjoy a long soak and then head right back out into the cold without getting sick. For those of us who dream of an immune system like that, take care after you soak. Shower lovers, too, have so many more options now as far as adding aroma therapeutic scents to enhance their shower experience. From homemade shower bombs to those lovely lush bombs, you can customize a recipe for your family. One that will particularly help you throughout the season. Just go to Pintrest or Google and checkout all of the lovely people who shared their delightful recipes and ideas. Be creative and healthy at the same time.

Soaking your feet before going to bed, in a tub of Epsom salt, can be very relaxing, therapeutic and a great healthy habit. I Just think about it, your feet, carry YOU all day and/or night. Shouldn't you do something nice for them?Add a little scented oil or foot soak for an extra treat. Those who can't soak their feet for medical reasons, you should ask your Doctor, for recommendations on keeping your feet happy and healthy.

5. Massage
Speaking of Acupressure massage, these and even regular a basic massage is so important for overall health. Massages relax us because the toxins that are tensing up in our muscles, are released by the pressure that has been used during the massage. I can't wait til my next massage appointment.
Try to go to a place that specializes in massage. Avoid those pop up massage parlors that focus more on products they sell rather than promoting overall health and wellness according to your particular state of health.

Stay Warm


        

Careful Whispers

Greetings to All from Planet Soul!

If you're bored with everything else going on in your life, you're a woman who's a mother and just wants to read about funny moments in another Mom's world, if you're a man who is a single Dad and wants to laugh at my funny moments with my son and daughters, if you're bored and have nothing else to read, feel free to read about the consistent digression of my hopes and dreams as a woman living here in America. No negatives here, by the way, just lovely dry humor about my own life. 

A Little About Me

Mother of three, endless creative ideas and lots of talking to myself. Yep, that about sums me up. Feel free to follow me at: www.pintrest.com/iriegyrl83 to see what else inspires me.

Why is this post called Careful Whispers?

For the time, I have been living in this realm, one consistent thing I have learned is that all women offer these careful little whispers that can carry us through  even the toughest times. I remember one whisper my Grandmother used to tell me, which was "Waste makes want.". A very tried and true statement might I add. Something I heard as a little girl, that has stuck with me all these years. Can you remember any of the careful whispers that the women in your life shared with you? If so, feel free to post it in the comments below. Let's not post anything that will cause disharmony to anyone visiting this blog. It's all about fun and if anything else, it's about making fun of ones self, here at the Womanly Whispers blog.

What can you look forward to @ WW?

Posts about life, spiritual health, gardening, book reviews, physical health, mommy life, food family and fun, oh and did I mention, I encourage people to make fun of themselves? Laughing at oneself can relieve all kinds of stress on the mind and in the body. I'll go into more detail about that in another post. 

Happy Holidays from the chicks at the WW Blog!