#teamDRAPE Updates + Local DMV Event

I cannot wait to tell you about all the lovely items I've been whipping up over these past few months!

I have welcomed several women (AND MEN!!) to #teamDRAPE by way of my SoSheeba Sprout Serum. But my #drapegame wasn't made strong until I began wearing protective styles seen here, here, and here. Sheeba grew like wildfire when I incorporated low manipulation styles into my hair care routine.

I'm hoping to have a few units available for women who are natural (or interested) and would like to grow their hair to healthy lengths with protective styles (they work!). I will also be providing wig and clip-in construction services for those of you with bundles of hair and no time to create a unit.

Hop on over to sosheeba.bigcartel.com to join #teamDRAPE.

Also if you're in the DMV area and free on February 7th, my bestie Mr. BelNouvo is hosting his first ever pop-up shop!! Yours truly will be there in support, so come make an appearance!

Christmas has come early

I hate that I have been on hiatus for so long.

Life has kept me busy with work and being an "adult." I continue to search for a way to eat cereal in my PJ's on the couch for a living, but since I haven't won the lottery yet.... I'll continue to work for the man and blog when I can.

As many of you know, I created So Sheeba to share my natural hair journey to waist-length coils. Although I have been natural for 5 years now, I did not make a concerted effort to grow my hair to waist-length until she was three years old.

Well folks...

I made it!

This impromptu length check came by way of a unfortunate event actually. I injured my right hand a month ago, and was unable to actually wash and twist my hair as I do every week.

With an upcoming work conference, I decided to get my hair pressed as a stop gap measure.

This milestone has been bittersweet. My entire natural  hair journey has centered on growing my hair to this length. My point has been proven, my mission has been completed...so what now?



I thought about cutting a few inches off to make it more manageable when washing, then I considered cutting it all and starting all over again.

None of the above pique my interest. What I have focused on doing is producing more of my Sprout Serum and sharing it with the masses. I've used it religiously for the past two years, but didn't begin producing it for the public until last year (Get Excited November 2013). I know that my hair wouldn't be where it is today without my serum and increasing my daily water intake.

I'm so excited to have you all grow with me. Hop on over to www.sosheeba.bigcartel.com  for more information and to experience firsthand why my friends and family affectionately call my serum 'drape juice.'

Happy growing loves,
Sheeba

Summertime Fly

Summer is in full swing in the DMV, and this weekend I rotated my products.

If you haven't done the same, and think that the products you've used all winter are okay to use this summer...think again.

Each season brings new weather and new challenges. When I lived in Miami - where the weather changes from hot to hotter - there was no need to swamp out my conditioner and moisturizer, but now that I live in a city with all four seasons, I make it a habit to keep Sheeba happy regardless of the temp outside.

If you live in an area with a variety of seasons I recommend rotating your products as you would your wardrobe. You wouldn't be caught dead in a NorthFace jacket in June, so why slather your hair with the same conditioner and leave-in? rotate, Rotate, ROTATE!! The only practice I keep constant regardless of the season is deep conditioning.

Now that it's warmer I like to focus on sealing my hair properly. Nothing upsets me more than leaving the house with a bomb twist-out and arriving to the office looking like a fuzzy peach.  Using a gel with great hold like Eco Styler (the green top) or Aloe Vera when twisting your hair keeps frizz at bay.

I have never mastered the wash and go, but if you have - now is the time to wear you hair in such a style. Warmer climates are great for wash and go's, so fight the urge to hide your hair in a protective style and unleash your tendrils. You don't have to worry about catching pneumonia, and (as you work out more) it's an easy style to recreate during the week.

Because I finger detangle my hair, I am a fan of V05 Moisture Milks Conditioners, I use about half a bottle every week when I wash Sheeba. I recommend switching to a low price conditioner during the summer since you may wash your hair more, and 2 bottles a month of pricey conditioner can eat up your budget.

Also, if you haven't discovered the gloriousness of rose water and glycerin, what are you waiting for?? I add this mixture to my hair after washing, and before sealing with a light oil (like Sweet Almond). If you like BIG hair, glycerin will be your best friend. As a humectant, it works to draw moisture from the atmosphere into your strands. Use when rocking a puff or wash and go, but never a twist out... I learned the hard way. It works to keep your hair moisturized, and a moisturized Sheeba is a happy Sheeba.

So in rotating your products for the summer you should:
- Opt for wearing your hair out over protective styles;
- Exchange butters and oils for rose water, glycerin, and gel, and ;
- Choose less expensive conditioners


 Happy growing friends.

DIY closure

I found a tutorial on ventilating the other day, and like the true DIY-er that I am, I decided to make my own small closure. 

After a few practice strands, I'm looking forward to creating a few closures for my 'Illusion' collection. 

I haven't forgotten about the wig tutorial. Still working on that. Pictures and details are in the pipe. 

Looking forward to taking you guys along  behind the scenes of this project. 

-Sheeba

Say hello to my new friend...

My last post was on my recent purchase of kinky curly hair.

Meet my newest item to the 'Illusions Collection,' Mademoiselle Erica.

iLOVE when my hair turns out just how I wanted it to. I'm working on the pictorial of how I constructed this unit, but wanted to post a picture of the final product. 

Happy growing loves, and stay tuned. 

Afro X

I've been on the hunt for a new addition to my alter-ego collection. The other day while trolling Instagram, I saw a style created by weave that I've longed to rock. 

So I pulled the trigger and purchased a few bundles. 

After telling a close friend about my purchase and showing her the look I was aiming to achieve, she recommended that I split my wefts in order to minimize bulkiness. 

Christmas came early last night. 

And before I got the have to snap pictures for my upcoming pictorial, I was slicing away.

I used my handy dandy Xacto knife to complete the task. 

Sorry. I promise to document more as I create my unit next week. 

Here's what 2 bundles now looks like:

More pics and a step by step coming soon. 

Happy growing friends. 

Confession

I love to write (obviously). So I have half-filled journals scattered throughout my house on bookshelves, coffee tables, and nightstands.

Anywhoo.

The other day I found my journal from when I was in grad school.

As I began reading, and reminiscing on my decision to go natural, I was disturbed by a handful of entries where I discussed being ‘disappointed’ with my curl pattern.

Like many, being newly natural can be a scary experience. The unknown is daunting, especially when you’re not sure how your hair will look after it’s been cut. Because I had basically shaved all my hair off, I was in the dark on my curl pattern. For the first few months, I had waves and tiny tendrils, which I loved.

But there was a point in Sheeba's infancy (months 3-6) where I was disappointed.

The first time I went natural, my hair had a very loose Quisqueyan curl pattern (3a/3b), so I was expecting the same ‘suave’ hair. I’m not sure what happened this time around, but for the first few months of her life, Sheeba had various curl patterns. The front would wave (with gel), but there was very little going on in the back.

I hated it, so much, that I began comparing myself to …myself.

My Pecola Breedlove phase lasted for a few weeks, in part because I had no idea what to do with my hair. I couldn't wear it down, didn't have the patience to rod set it, and had no clue how to maintain moisture.

I would literally wake up and tie a stocking around her as a headband, and keep it moving. I hated the way she looked, and she hated the way I treated her. It was a vicious cycle, but then I began educating myself on different products and maintenance techniques, and my inner Pecola disappeared.

I meet natrualista’s daily who wish they had my hair. I recently posted a picture in response to the frequent comments I received  from a colleague on how she 'wanted my hair'. I've been there, and know how frustrating it can be to see a style, try to mimic it, only to end up in the same puff you had before.

Over time I learned what worked for my hair, and realized that at the end of the day this head of Haitian coily with a dash of Marabou is growing as The Almighty designed her to; I  can’t be mad at that.

So whether you have 3a or 4z hair, learn to love your locks.

And if the love just isn’t there….you can always turn to weave (but that’s another post).