*Porosity!*

My CARDS are playing in the back so this post won't be long. (Go Cards)

The last week (school and none school related combined) has been insane! I have to keep reminding my self not to complain, I asked for this.  All of it! My class has moved onto HAIR COLOR!! I'm enjoying myself more than I thought I would in this area.  Not that I'm bad at it or intimidated by it but keep in mind, I started for nails and I'm finding myself gravitating toward other skills I didn't know I had.  Still very cautious, I don't want to turn anyone's hair green (unless that's how they want it).  

We've also been discussing the over all hair health before any salon service.  Depending on the health of the hair some services are recommended while others are restricted.  I know you may already know these things because I do but bare with me, there's a bigger point.  All hair types are not the same and based on what they've been through (heating, coloring, relaxing, perming, natural, damaged, weather change, etc) treatment and care varies.  How well the hair will hold a treatment, a chemical or even just water is based on that health check history and journey.  Today we did a team building session of sorts that was meant to get us to discover many things about ourselves and each other.  I took a collective group of "aa-ha" moments from the activities but one thing I realized that was unexpected is how much the journey of our hair and our life is the same in sorts.  We grow based on situations that occur.  Seek treatments and solutions to different obstacles.  Cut things that can cause or have caused damage out.  We even change some things to give us a new look, better feel and allow us to truly be who we are meant to be. 

The same happens with our hair.  It grows, gets treatments, cuts, colors, breaks and gets damaged by things we may do to it combined with lack of care.  Having a healthy life goes hand in hand with having healthy hair. Taking care of yourself daily by tending to those weak spots with prayer, support and extra TLC and keeping negativity away can cause a chain reaction from wherever you think you may need to start to places you would never think need to be tweaked in your life! Start with your wardrobe, hair or nails! Take that one extra step to deep condition, try a new color or cut it all off and start over! Just make sure when you look in the mirror you feel good about who you see, inside and out.  If all your tweaks are internal then do some soul searching and find what it is that you've been through or that you're seeking that will make you happy and whole.

Do not do further damage to yourself trying to cover up what needs to be removed!

Remember that how you feel is how you look.  If you look good you feel good. 

"The me I see is the me I'll be" <~ Think about who you were, who you are and who you want to be.  

This means more to me than just hair.  Making hair and nails look good is great but I did nothing if I don't help the person sitting in my chair realize I'm just adding an accessory to their already strong and healthy life, not helping cover up damage that has been done and needs to be hid. 

<3lways

COMING UP: Texture Week!

*GOODIES!!!!*

My kit full of goodies came today!!!! Today was dedicated to hair structure, roller placement and relaxers. I was bored out of my mind for the 90% of the day. My last hour was AMAZING!!! Boxes, paper & plastic were flying everywhere! I've never been so ecstatic to do inventory in my life!! I do have to go home and write my name on every single item but hey. OK, time for that pedi story I promised!!!

 Story Time: Foot Patrol
 While discussing ways to get the softest skin on the feet during class the Ped Egg (hand held device used to remove dead skin off of though and stubborn parts of the feet) was mentioned. A classmate then began telling myself and one other this event from the past. While pulled over one night a police officer noticed her Ped Egg in the passenger sit and after opening the item he claimed the white, dry & flake like substance inside wasn't dead skin cells but instead drugs! After she told him it wasn't he proceeded to stand by his initial accusation and began to investigate further. This man took his finger and twirled it around in her foot skin residue!!! Like sir??!!! For 6 months after that... awkward night, she had court dates & chemical testing done to prove that this cop didn't run his fingers through a nice amount of drugs but a laughable collection of dead skin. Now "uugh...eewww...oh my dayum... & are you serious" were the only words I could say while she told us the story. After taking it in a little I have to ask, did the officer ever find out he was wrong & if so did someone catch his reaction on tape?! I was floored!!! He probably thought he was the man that night too. I wouldn't be surprised if he had just left a class on new hiding places for drugs & Ped Eggs were on the list. He couldn't pass up the chance to have his name on that paperwork. There was so much wrong in that story but my mind just kept going back to the cops finger in dead foot skin. I don't want to touch my own dead skin let alone someone else's!! I still laugh thinking about it. If you have to take something "serious" away from the story, please don't leave dead skin inside of your Ped Eggs... If you do, a top flight officer of the law might mistake it for crushed up pills & cause you 6 months of court dates, chemistry, pain & laughter every time you think of his finger in your dead skin debris LMBO. HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!

<3lways

 COMING UP: Hair Health Check!!

*1st Friday!!*

I decided to take a break from practicing fishtail and french braids on my doll head, studying the skeletal system and trying to remember the steps of a manicure/pedicure for State Board (SB) purposes versus my own magical mani/pedi techniques *huge side eye*, to make updates to my process! Plus, "We Will Always Love You"- A Grammy Tribute to Whitney Houston is on... I can study when it goes off and I've watched it again on my DVR ;o) 

My class has been jumping around subject wise trying to make due while we wait on our kits full of goodies to get arrive.  This week alone we've discussed braiding, thermal pressing (hot comb), color,  cuts, manicures, pedicures, bone structure, hair texture, endless product information and standard guideline blah blah blah.  Tomorrow we will do facials, waxing, proper massage technique, more procedure information, skin knowledge and...something else. BASIC MANICURE was the highlight for me yesterday.  I couldn't wait to start! The personal way I choose to do my manicure is not SB approved, so for the propose of being correct I will only share the book steps:

Manicure
-Sanitize the hands.  Remove the polish.
-File the nails from the corner to the center on both hands (soak).
-Apply the cuticle softener and remover to both hands.
-Push back cuticles.
-Buff the nails w/a block buffer.
-Nip the cuticles and massage in the cuticle oil.
-Clean under the free edge and the nail surfaces.
-Apply a base coat (follow with 2 coats color and 1 top coat).
-Remove polish from the cuticles.

Here are some of my own helpful techniques that I've learned help make a smooth manicure procedure or simple polish change.

*Clean nails w/ soapy water or alcohol saturated cotton to get rid of lotion, dirt and debris on nail bed before applying polish.   
*Use makeup cotton rounds to remove polish instead of cotton balls (do so in straight down motion starting from cuticle. Slight twist side to side can be done for stubborn polish. NEVER go back and forth when removing polish)
*THIN COATS!
*When applying polish place brush in the middle of the nail away from the cuticle, slightly push back toward the cuticle then complete strokes down the nail bed.  This makes even strokes AND prevents cleaning polish off of fingers.
*Keep a wooden cuticle stick (flat end) near by to clean as you go if needed. 
*Roll polish bottle in hands to mix DO NOT SHAKE.
*Nail enamel spray is your friend!!

We didn't go over nail enhancements, minx, shellac, or gel nails.  That doesn't mean we won't later but I would have liked to know now if I've been doing it correctly. My nails always (for the most part) look pretty so... I think I am! 

Let me know what questions you all have, if any, as I go along. What I don't know I will find out and get back to you!!  I'm still on my "1st day of School" high and I'm loving every second of it!! :oD Back to work I go.

<3lways*

*COMING UP: Facials! & a Pedi Story [its jaw dropping, funny and gross AT THE SAME TIME]

*1st Days :) *

I'll start by saying this, I never thought I would actually be where I am with the peace I have.  I have been trying to get in, go to and complete cosmetology courses for two years.  Life, self doubt and internal thoughts of "is this the right thing to do" held me back.  I do at times wonder where I would be if I had went into the hair and nails field before college.  Those "what if" thoughts and waiting on God is what brought me to finally come to a place in my life where its not easy to follow my dreams but now I KNOW this is where I want to be.  In no way do I regret any past decision I made or my years at UofL (GO CARDS!).  Without my time there I would not be able to appreciate the feeling and ability to step foot in hair school everyday!

 

Although sitting and taking notes was the basis of my first two days in school IT WAS AWESOME! Today was my 3rd day with my class but 2nd official day of classes.  There are an unlimited amount of great things I could say about my experience in just two days of being there.  The atmosphere is fantastic, the learning leaders are amazing and my group of fresh faces has got to the best and most eclectic character and personality wise.  

I'm full of optimistic thoughts right now and I pray I stay that way! Everyone that has came to talk to our class so far has left with the same helpful tips:

        1)  Always be there

        2)  Work hard

        3)  Be an opportunist

        4)  Always come prepared

Those helpful tips are the basics to life so with God I GOT THIS! I'm more than excited about this journey and so happy I have family, friends, sorors, strangers and God behind me in this endeavor.  I'm even more excited to share my journey with you and pray something can be taken out of every post to uplift your spirit, bring you closer to God, make you smile and just give you peace. SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO EXCITED!!!! :)

Coming Up: Manicures!!!!!! ;o)