Plant Based Black Girl: How I lost 50 Pounds Fast and Easy (Video Inside)

I can't believe I didn't post my weight loss journey over here. So girl anyway back in November 2018 I decided to go cold turkey after watching the movie called "What the Health." To be honest at first it wasn't about the animals it was about my health. I had just went to get a physical for a job overseas and they told me I was pre-diabetic. Pre- wheeett? Girl yesss!  Just about everyone in my family was a diabetic and that wasn't about to be me. Having a self inflicted illness.... nope nope not on my dime. So that was all the motivation I needed. Them lil Debbie treats had finally caught up to my ass. So at 211.5 pounds I started my journey. My last meat meal was some dry ass chicken breast, carrots and broccoli. 

By this time I was contracting in Poland so crossing over wasn't all that hard because I just wasn't feeling the Polish dishes. Anyway I remember going to the grocery store and buying all of my favorite "sides." I got fresh corn on the cob, potatoes, beans, fruits, etc and that was the start of the best decision I ever made in my life. 

The weight began to literally melt off. Each day I was down like 1 pound  and I was wasn't even exercising. It was later on that I started exercising. I think what also helped is I started fasting and completely cut out sodas. Soda has so much sugar in it that it's ridiculous. For my sweet tooth I started freezing fruit. Frozen grapes is amazing! Don't knock it until you try it. 

Once I started "seeing" my progress it was OVEERRRR do you hear me girl? Over... you. couldn't get me to go back to eating meat. Before you know it I was able to fit in a size small. I went crazy shopping. So I kept it up and the next thing you know I was down 50 pounds! So if you are thinking about it, girl just do it! Don't wait to Monday to start, lol. 

Check out my video below. It has plenty of additional details in it. If you have adopted to the plant based life style pleassseee drop me a comment below and tell me your story. :) 

Grow, Baby Grow (Money and Lifestyle)

Girl so when I started this blog many many years ago it was called Grow Baby Grow. Then I changed it to Braids 4 Gro. I wished I would have kept it as Grow Baby Grow because that would have  allowed me to discuss so much more. Anyway to make this short and sweet, I will continue to post hair related stuff BUT every now and then talk about money and my plant based lifestyle. Yeahhhh girl I aint messing with that meat no more. So we will be talking about how to gain some side money, eating plant based food and loosing weight... all of that. Anyway... So stay tuned. I missed it over here. 

Its Been A Long Time!

It's been so long since I have updated. Let me tell you my hair is a mess. I have to wear lace wigs faithfully now :( Well at least that's the way I feel. I will have to update ya girl so stay tuned...

My 4c Natural Hair Growth Update!

Fast Growth for 4c Natural Hair!

So since I started not combing my hair and only finger detangling my hair has TOOK off in a short period of time with me only using Water, Quidad Moisture Lock and Emu Oil! Keeping it simple does work!

I was afraid that my hair would tangle so bad if I stopped combing it. LIESSSS! Nope not my hair. All I have to do is let the steam from the shower penetrate it or spray a little water and its makes finger detangling a breeze. And yes my hair is 4c.

So using all those growth products and stuff  works BUT I have found that MY hair doesn't need that and my pockets are thanking me. I am about to go home in Dec and do a cleanse of products underneath the sink.  I swear its crazy how we are easily sucked into the hype about a new product. I am done chile!

So if you all follow my blog you remember back in March timeframe I think... I said I was going to keep it simple and stop combing my hair. Well below are the results!

My Natural Hair Growth Update - 31 July 2016

So sometime back in March 2016 I posted that for 105 days or more I would be doing the minimal to my hair. I was extra lazy. I said I was going to take biotin but I failed. I don't even think I took them for more than 1 week. But what I can definitely say is I did the very minimal to my hair. I deployed to work 19 March 2016 and returned home 02 July 2016. Here is what I did to my hair.

1. Washed my hair only 2 or 3 times. Yuck I know right.
2. Keep my hair in small twists. About 8-10
3. I untwisted my hair when I washed it and washed it in sections
4. After washing I immediately applied the Quidad Leave In, applied my emu oil, then applied both or one of the Qhemet Biologics products. (Alma or Burdock Cream) and that was it!
5. Stopped using a comb! Now for the 1st month I was detangling my hair with a comb. So when I stopped using a COMB I fell in love with just finger detangling....especially after my hair started thickening and I noticed less knots at the ends.
6. Didn't play in my hair as much
7. And of course I did protective styles with lace wigs

How has my hair benefited from this?
Gurllllllll my hair has been so happy lol. It stays moisturized, no single strand knots, LESS Shedding and more curl definition. The comb will never touch my hair like before. I can't wait to see how my hair does for the next 105 days.

Here is a pic:

Removing Dark Spots from Face Using Kojie San (Kojic Acid)

Hmmm, I was so sick of these dark spots on the sides my face! I wear my hair covering the side of my 99% of the time. Its getting hot now so I need air chile! This hair will make you pass the hell out. So I took to using an old soap that I had used back in the day by Kojie San. Its a lightening soap. No NO NO I am not trying to lighten my face like Lil Kim or any of them. Just wanted to clear that up. :) I just wanted to remove these dark spots and see if I can even out my complexion. So fast forward... once I got the soap I decided to try the cream. Hell the cream seem like it sped up my results. I was already seeing a difference with using the soap in ONE WEEK but once I started with the cream things took off from there. So next update this side of my face will be pure white... LMAO... Ok let me stop joking. 

What is Kojic Acid?

Obtained from mushrooms that are native to Japan, kojic acid is a fine, white powdery substancecomposed of tiny crystals — the by-product of the fermentation process for sake.

Benefits

Kojic acid is a natural acid that is primarily used for lightening skin pigmentation. It is an effective, safer alternative to hydroquinone.

In skin care products, kojic acid functions primarily as a skin-lightening agent. To understand kojic acid's effects, it is necessary to understand how the skin gets it color. The body naturally produces a pigment known as melanin through specialized cells known as melanocytes. A person's genes determine how much melanin the body naturally produces. In people with fair skin, only small amounts of melanin are manufactured by the melanocytes, while copious amounts of the pigment are made by the cells of those with dark complexions.

My Hair Regimen for the Next 120 + Days (March 2016)

Confessions of a product junkie!

Lord help me...PLEASE .... I have been buying all these products and I always go back to my staples.  The new products only work for a short period of time and my hair goes to shit. After looking at some of my long relaxed hair days before the thinning I vowed I am going to get my natural hair to grow long and reclaim a healthy scalp.

Soo as of 03 March 2016 I am STRICTLY using the following products and in this order. Together they give me soft moisturized hair and ends that STAY moisturized beyond the first freaking day!


1. 10000 mcg Biotin (preferably Natures Bounty) I couldn't find it so I am using the Walmart "Spring Valley" brand.

2. Spray scalp and hair with water

LOC Method

3. Section hair, Apply Quidad Moisture Lock Leave in

4.  Apply JBCO to strand and ends

5. Apply Qhemet Burdock Cream to strand and ends

6. Apply Qhemet Amla & Olive Oil Cream  to strand and ends

7. Apply Emu Oil to Scalp (Every now and then I will alternate with JBCO on my scalp)

8. THATS ALL!

Yes that is all that I will be doing to my hair for the next freaking 130 days while I am deployed. Where I am going I will not be able to order any products and I am limited on what I can take SO I am keeping it simple.

The LOC Method for 4c Natural Hair Using the JBCO Shea Moisture products

SOOOOOO for 2016 I said I was going to be more open with trying new techniques for my hair. Last night I decide to try the LOC method for the 1st time. I was very successful! I think its because of the combo of products I used.

What is the LOC method? The L.O.C Method has been praised in the natural hair community for some time now. Known for it's amazing ability to moisturize natural hair while maintaining defined curls, the L.O.C method is a MUST for any curly with dry thirsty curls. 

L.O.C represents a combination of hair products to achieve the ultimate moisture. 

• "L" stands for Leave-In 
• "O" for Oil
• "C" for Cream 

The order of the method is very important as well, and is what makes the method so effective! The key to doing the method correctly is in how you layer the products. 
The order is 1.) Leave-In 2.) Oil 3.) Cream. (Ref: curl mart)



For some reason after using the JBCO products I can't explain the feeling but its a feeling of finally accomplishing the right feeling for your hair..... Especially if you are 4c hair type and your ends feel dry. 

One thing I can explain is that when applying the products using the LOC method I noticed that my strands felt thicker and moisturized and it  and clumped easier. Before I was layering products like QHMET(still my fav) and Camille Rose products to just get to that level. But this LOC Method does it all for me. And my hair doesn't feel like its coated with too many products. Its crazy that the technique you do counts so much as well as the products you use. I know it may be common sense but it just takes trail and error to learn. Thank God I didn't completely destroy my hair before learning this. :) 


Below is my freshly washed hair (using the JBCO line) and after applying the LOC products listed below. The hair is about 85% dry here.

Also, I used the Shea Moisture JBCO oil  entire product line as mentioned above for the first time. I was able to get all of their products when they had the buy one, get one free promo at Walgreens. I am so glad I decided to try the products again. Back in the day I tried the coconut and hiscubus line (orange label) and it was a FAIL! I absolutely hated it and I dislike every YouTuber who I saw promoting it. You can never trust them reviews. I swear lol.  But at that time I was newly natural and still figuring out what worked for my hair. And I wanted my hair to feel like it felt when I was relaxed. But as I see now the technique or method I was doing was all wrong. I was still trying to use the same method I did as when I was relaxed. The method of simply 1. Using a liquid moisturizer, 2. Applying a Growth Aid and 3. Applying an oil was not going to work anymore.  4c hair tends to be more on the dry side because of the texture. Its no longer able to absorb products faster as my straight relaxed hair did.


My FAVORITE product from this entire line is the Leave in. OMG it gives sooooo much slip! I don't even have to comb thru my hair. Even if I do decide to comb it will help the comb slip right thru any tangles. If you have a tender headed little girl I highly recommend this. I can seriously guarantee it will work. This will forever be a staple!

Protein Free Moisturizer / My Combo Mix for 100% Moisturized 4c Hair

 I strayed away from liquid moisturizers. Why didn't y'all tell me? LOL I had to read it. Ain't nobody got time to be doing all that reading. :)  After being natural for 2 years I am JUST now realizing this. Damn shame. Yup its a damn shame how we hold on to practices that we used when we were relaxed. 

While I was relaxed, Scurl and Coconut oil were my babies. Now that I am natural those products are at the bottom of my list. :( Liquid Moisturizers don't seem to do the job on my #4chair. It quickly evaporates.  So I went on a product haul to find a good moisturizer. I came across this article (pic below) over on bglh.com and decided to try the Camille Rose Naturals Aloe Whipped Butter Gel. It has noooo protein at all in it. I think thats rare, dont you? Back in the day I would research every product but I rarely do it now. I just look for the absolutely bad stuff. But its true, this product is protein free! This product smells sooo good and it melts into my hair like butter and moisturizes really good. Its not greasy and does not dry hard. It's actually like a thick creamy whipped butter. I am glad I didnt let the word gel fool me. This stuff is like the water you crave on a hot azz day. :) 

My Combo Mix for 100% Moisture for 4c Hair - Guaranteed Girl! 

You can use this product by itself but I like to pair it with my Qhemet Biologics Products. First I apply the Burdock Root Butter Cream and next the Amla & Olive Oil Heavy Cream and THEN I apply the Camille Rose Naturals Aloe Whipped Butter Gel and lastly I seal with an Oil. Right now I am using the December 2015 Oil Mix from the Curl Mix box. 

Yeah I know that sounds like ALOT of products but I have also learned that my hair loves "layering" of products. I am not sure if its just because its winter but it is whats working for me now. I feel like I have been doing things the SAME for so long and its time for a change. 

Why? That damn almost bald spot on the side of my head that I have been struggling with. I think I have finally found my cure but I am still testing it out. I want to test it out before I post it. But I will give a clue. It involves oils! So that will be in a later post. 

Anyway I am SO off topic so back to this moisturizer and my combo. Here is a picture I posted on Instagram. What 100% moisture products are you using?

The III Sisters of Nature listed below is good but the hair is kind of crunchy after it dries. But I do love it. I will only use this when I trying to do a Wash n Go and want to shingle my hair for curls. Now the Tahlia Wahjid Curl Cream works wayyyy better but its not as moisturizing as the III Sisters product listed below. But hands down Tahlia Wahjid Curl Cream is the BEST defining product for us 4C Naturals. 

Health over Length - Dusting My Ends - Jan 2016

So to top off the new year...well actually a couple of days later 12 January 2016. I was tired of my ends being difficult to comb thru and I wanted the ends of my curls to pop like they were doing a couple of months ago. So I got the scissors and snipped VERY little off each end of my twists. Results...MUCH better curls and less tangles. I almost have it in my head that it needs to be health over length. With health will come length. So I just need to be still until it happens.

Hair Treatments That WORK on My 4c Natural Hair

Since I have started doing regular "treatments" on my 4c natural strands my hair has taken a completely different turn for THE BEST! My hair has never been this thick and healthy feeling. It stays moisturized. I also owe this to my change in regimen. Instead of using liquid moisturizers, I now use butter cream moisturizers. But I will talk about that in a future post.

Some of the treatments I have done are listed below with pictures. So keep scrolling. Also for weekly updates on my hair check out my Instagram here: 4cCurlPop

• Avocado Deep Treatment (Mixed with Olive Oil in blender)
• Bentonite Clay Mix (Mixed with 100% Clay from Alikay Naturals, ACV and Honey)
• Shikakai Indian Powder Mix (Water Only)
• Egg yolk & Olive Oil Deep Condition (1 egg yolk, EVOO, ORS Replenishing Con & Anita Grant Peppermint Oil
• Mayonnaise Deep Condition (Use Mayo Only and Heat)
• DIY Deep Conditioner Mix (White Rain Moisturizing Conditioner Lavender Escape, Africa's Best Herbal Oil, 100% Pure Castor Oil) Left on Overnight
• Hot Oil Treatments before shampooing (This will make your hair feel SOO much better)
• Cassia Obovata Deep Condition treatment (Mixed with Lemon Juice, Bottled Water) I let this sit for 12 hours and left on my hair for 3 hours with shower cap

Avocado Deep Treatment (Mixed with Olive Oil in blender)

Bentonite Clay Mix (Mixed with 100% Clay from Alikay Naturals, ACV and Honey)

Shikakai Indian Powder Mix (Water Only)

Egg yolk & Olive Oil Deep Condition (1 egg yolk, EVOO, ORS Replenishing Con & Anita Grant Peppermint Oil

Mayonnaise Deep Condition (Use Mayo Only and Heat)

DIY Deep Conditioner Mix (White Rain Moisturizing Conditioner Lavender Escape, Africa's Best Herbal Oil, 100% Pure Castor Oil) Left on Overnight

Hot Oil Treatments before shampooing (This will make your hair feel SOO much better) I used the oils from the December 2015 CurlMix Box

Cassia Obovata Deep Condition treatment (Mixed with Lemon Juice, Bottled Water) I let this sit for 12 hours and left on my hair for 3 hours with shower cap.

Natural Hair Detangler using Marshmallow Root and Slippery Elm

Trying out this natural hair detangler mix for the 1st time. I used: 3 cups water (boiled for 15 mins), 3 tbsp marshmallow root, 3 tbsp slippery elm, 1 tsb glycerin, 20 drops, argan oil
Marshmallow root - Is rich in mucilage, a natural hair detangler.
Slippery elm bark - Is an emollient and nutritive herb as well as containing extreme amounts of mucilage. It is extremely soothing for dry hair and scalp and gives any product that much needed slip for detangling hair. #4chaircare #4c #4chairgrowth #hairgrowth #kinkyhair #4ccurlpop #coils #teamnatural #4chairchicks #4chair #naturalhair #marshmallowroot #slipperyelm #detangler #naturaldetangler


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Dab! Coils on Fleek!

Today I decided to play around with my hair. So I applied some Talid Wajhid Curl Cream to my hair ends and took some pictures. After taking the pictures I sat around for 3 hours with two shower caps on my head. Then I took the shower cap off and hit the dab! My coils were POPPING! Aww man they were clumped and juicy AF! Of course the pictures are doing it NO JUSTICE! U know what I'm talking about.

I never thought to apply a shower cap to my head after using a curl cream to get that extra boost! Gurl the more I play in my hair the better I learn! It's almost been two years of being a natural and I am still learning... Anyway here are some pictures...

After applying shower cap for three hours...these picture do it NO Justice!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Moisturized 4c Natural Hair

I am finally satisfied that I finally know what moisturized 4c hair feels like! Yassssssssss.... lol. This was achieved using my moisture mix I listed below this post.

My Daily Hair Spritz

In efforts to use all natural products on my hair, I tried to make my own daily hair mix that has a consistency similar to the Wave Nouveau Moisturizing Lotion. I searched the internet and didnt find any duplicate of the product. I did look up the ingredients and realized that the only beneficial ingredient in it for my hair was the glycerin! The other products are compounds used to create a slippery film on my hair!

Don't get me wrong, I love this stuff but what is the point of me using it if its not nourishing to my hair and encouraging growth. It's more of a temporary feeling. So that is why I set out to make my own darn mix that caters to my 4c hair.

So I made the mix sprayed it on my scalp and length of hair. My hair loveeeees it! Omg.. Instant moisture, instant curl definition. Now its not alot of curl definition but its enough that I can appreciate. I think my hair overall just loves glycerin.

So now the final test is how my hair feels after I sleep and take it down. Updates to follow. Here is a picture of what I mixed:




- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Glazed Oak Dr,Easley,United States

Natural Hair Deep Condition Mix for my 4C Natural Hair

On 02 Dec I decided to deep condition my hair with all natural products. This is what I posted over on my natural hair IG account.

After reading this post over on Nature Haven's blog I decided to try to venture back over to the good ole natural products (minus the ORS, b/c I don't have any mayo around). http://www.thenaturalhavenbloom.com/2014/07/bad-ingredients-label-kinky-curly-knot.html?m=1 

After straightening my hair the other day, I know I have to do a couple of protein deep conditions. For this mix I did the following: 2 egg yolks, 15 drops of Peppermint oil, some olive oil and ORS Replenishing Conditioner. I plan to leave it on for 1hr/45 mins, wash it out and do the #greenhousemethod with olive oil. Watch I use hot water to wash the conditioner out and end up with scrambled eggs in my hair #kinkyhair #4c #4chair #coils #deepcondition #4ccurlpop #eggtreatment #naturalhair #4chairchicks #teamnatural  

My Natural Hair Moisture Mix for my 4c Natural Hair

I am so tired of being a product junkie! Products work for some time and I get all excited thinking I have found the perfect product THEN all hell breaks loose. I was feeling the Design Essentials Daily Moisturizing lotion! I am not ready to end the relationship with it yet ....BUT after using it daily  and applying castor oil on top of it...it starts to act like a glue! This starts to happen after about 1 week of applying it without washing my hair. It helps my hair clump very nicely but its not worth it because it becomes so sticky where its hard for me to finger detangle. I know its the combo mix. The DE is sticky and the castor oil being thick doesn't make it any better. So for right now its on ice.

Soooooo on a mission to find a less expensive sorta natural combo I mixed the products below and SO far so good! 1. I applied the Oyin to my scalp and massaged it thru the length of my hair. 2. Next I apply the Wave Nouveau to the length of hair. 3. I used my blender to mix Glycerin, castor oil and coconut oil. I applied that to my scalp and the length of my hair.  It seemed to stretch my hair.  I twisted my hair and did the "drop bantu" knots on the ends and applied my head thingy. My hair is soft and stays VERY moisturized overnight.

Now I feel like at least now I am starting to gain some control of knowing WHAT product/ingredient I am using in my hair. I need to find a replacement for the Wave Nouveau tho.

These pictures were taken at 3am so excuse the mug face lol.

Finally Straightened My 4c Natural Hair

I can't remember the last time I did a little clipping on my ends. I have a lot of those little fairly knots on the ends of my hair in some sections. They just seem impossible to avoid. So since being natural (almost 2 full years) I have never really straightened my hair. So what better time to straighten my hair and clip my ends. I made sure to apply a protectant but I can tell I may have done a lil damage :( BUT its not that bad to the point where I have to cut my hair. I have to say I do not like my straight hair anymore lol. My hair looks SO much thicker when its in its natural coils state. Here are some pictures of my hair before I straightened it and after I straightened it.

My Pre-Owned and New Lace Wigs for Sale!

So back to topic with these lace wigs..... Since being home from overseas I have had SOOO much time to really get into my lace wigs. I have been learning how to color them and give them LIFE with curls. Those barrel curling irons are the business! They will spice up a wig in second!

 I have also been selling some of my oldies (new and pre-owned) lace wigs on eBay and been turning a nice lil profit. If you are interested check out my eBay at store. The pre-owned ones are priced cheap and they are of good quality. The new ones are excellent quality.

Realistic Lace Wigs eBay Store

Or my Website:

Realistic Lace Wigs

Below are some random pictures of what I have sold.