The semester so far is not as bad as I thought it would be. I'm actually doing pretty well in school, I'm excelling in all my assignments and tests considering that I am a pretty lazy procastinator. I think if I want to continue to do well in school I will have to start bring my meals so I can stay on campus all day. I will have to incorporate more into my diet than what I have been doing, even if it means buying more expensive foods. I didn't know that I love food and I love to eat until I became vegan five yrs ago. The way I've been going about this could be better. Instead of cutting out gluten and soy completely, it would be better idea to cut back to once a week.
I am not going to eat out anymore. Why eat out when I can learn how to make the food I want? The internet is right in front of me. If I wanted to have vietnamese, I can have vietnamese by going online and finding recipes. The same can be said for Indian, Thai, Mexican and other foods. If I'm not going to eat bread everyday, I'm going to have to eat beans, rice and salad during the weekdays and other foods on the weekends. Or I can bake a gluten-free, soy free bread to eat on the weekdays. It's not going to be easy cutting back on soy and wheat. I want to try to see if it would work for me.
I love wheat foods and I also love soy. It's hard to believe what is good for you if there is contracting information about soy and gluten. Not to mention that people in Asian countries have been eating these foods for centuries, even as condiments. Cutting back is going to be so hard, it feels like the day I decided to not eat anymore, except this time I'm giving up even more foods. It can't any worse than eating meats filled with hormones and antibiotics and other chemicals.
In my honest opinion, Americans do not really know what is good for them, because major corporations and a dogma called tradition dictate our morals. Industries buy information or bribe researchers to keep people in the dark about everything. It's hard to even find a dietician that understands why people are vegan. The last dietician I went to used a three hundred pound vegan as an excuse for why a vegan lifestyle is bad. She did not consider that the woman could have lied about being vegan, or that she could have started a vegan diet. I can honestly say that I never met a fat vegan before unless they were just starting off as vegan. I don't know what to believe anymore.
The best I can do is homemade from scratch. Since I am getting a blender and a slow cooker, I can say that I will not need to buy canned beans anymore. The only thing I'll buy that is canned now would be pineapples, coconut milk/creme, and occassionally pumpkin and sweet potatoes. Since I have a juicer at home, I can buy fresh pineapples and put them through a juicer and food processor. When I make cakes I can use fresh ingredients. I think making everything from scratch seems like a better idea than giving up gluten and soy products. Everytime I read the ingredients on packages, it seems as though everything has a chemical that I reminds me of highschool chem class in it.
Ideal Weekday Menu For School And/Or Work:
Breakfast:
-Oatmeal with fresh or dried fruit, flaxseed and nuts
Soy or Nutmilk
-Toasted Pita filled with peanut, almond or cashew butter
Fresh juice or Fresh brewed tea and Fresh Fruit
-Vegan protein smoothie made with frozen fruit and agave nectar,
and for extra needed calories some toast or a vegan cheese
sandwich can eaten with it.
-Bean patty (made to taste like a breakfast sausage, recipe coming soon)
in a vegan english muffin or toasted in a wheat bun (like a panini or cubano),
Fruit and some tea
-Vegan scone, vegan yogurt topped with fruit
and nuts, tea or water
Lunch
-Pita sandwich filled with hummus and/or felafels and salad,
mash potatoes (in moderation), or baked sweet potatoes and
a fresh fruit and green tea or black tea for drink
-Veggie burger on whole wheat vegan bun, baked french fries,
salad, with some fruit and tea or water for drink
-Vegetarian soup with a small tofu sandwich, fruit or juice/tea
-"Meatball" chef salad, toasted pita or whole wheat bun toasted,
fruit, and tea or water
-Vegan Sloppy Joe's w/ salad and alfafa stuffed in a fresh pita bread,
baked potato or baked fries with fruit and tea (my favorite)
-Tofu sandwich (baked or fried, I like tempura tofu), mash potatoes
salad, fruit and tea, juice or water
-Spring rolls, tea
Dinner
-Vegan spaghetti either with whole-wheat, egg free pasta or spaghetti squash,
made with marinara sauce vegetables and tofu, tempeh or seital for protein,
chef salad, toasted pita with olive oil and garlic, fruit and tea
-Whole wheat burritos filled with spanish rice, any kind of beans or seitan,
lettuce, tomato, spinach, avocado and salsa; tea or healthy drink
-Thai styled curried stir-fry rice with tofu and Asian vegetables, peas and broccoli;
two spring rolls or a salad; dessert and tea or healthy drink or water
-Kale, Rice and Lentil Soup (posted), toasted pita bread or pita sandwich,
healthy drink or tea
-Potato and Spinach Dish, salad, dessert and tea or healthy drink
This should be a pretty easy menu to follow, especially for those starting off with a vegetarian diet. I try to incorporate as many food groups as possible. It's really difficult to when dairy has its own food group and dairy products come from animals. The best I can do is replace the dairy products with nutmilks and vegan yogurts.
This a bit off base, but one of the reasons why I do not want children is because I'm a vegan. Americans eat the SAD or the standard American diet. It consists of heavy meats, sugars, starches and fats. I would not want to feed my possible child that diet. If I had a choice between him or her eating a bad vegan diet and the standard American diet, I'd choose the former. However, if the day comes that I would have a little one and a social worker knocks on the door wanting to know what I feed him or her, I'd give them the food menu above. If there are vegans out there that plan on having children, you should not be discourage from having kids, but if anyone asks about what your children eat, just tell them they eat a balanced diet like any non-vegan child.
Thanksgiving
If I stayed here for the holidays and lived in a house, or a more forgiving apartment, I'd have a cosmopolitan-styled potluck or dinner party with veganized foods from all over the world for Thanksgiving and Christmas. For Thanksgiving, I'm going home to visit my family and fortunately my grandmother will be out of town. She does not celebrate the holidays due to her religion, but she always finds a way to scrutinize my food choices. I don't know what will happen when I visit for Thanksgiving. I just hope to see my friend and have a good time with my mom, because the next visit with them will probably be Spring Break, because I'm going to school during winter break. If I end up cooking, it's going to be a vegan Thanksgiving. I'm not cooking meat for anyone. Or I'll just contribute a few dishes. My family is very American. We are very black, so we are going to have a very black American thanksgiving consist of meats. A vegetarian, let alone vegan thanksgiving will everyone. I think most traditional dishes can be pulled off except for the turkey. Meat is not the easiest to veganize if one cannot master the seitan. For most dishes that call for chicken I want to use my own variation of this recipe , except it will go in different recipes. I also want to incorporate more raw vegan food recipes. The holidays are that time of the year when people complain about their waistlines after over indulgence. In another post I'll post a similar menu as the one above except it will be for parties, holidays and other festivities.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Recipes for Fall And Other News
I came across this article for vegetarian soups for the fall. They are mostly vegan and some of them look really good. I want to master making seitan. Hopefully I can by the time winter comes. I've been making the same kale soup recipe since last month. I love the variations of my soup from scratch, but I made it too many times and I'm bored of the soup already.
I found a decent pita bread recipe. Pita bread is an interesting foreign bread because it is vegan, unlike naan bread. I like the density of Indian roti bread, but the way it can be used does not come close to the pita bread. While I do not have a cookie sheet to make baking recipes yet, I plan on getting some more kitchen items. I never made bread before this, so hopefully when I do it does not turn out like my seitan atrocity. Cooking, like art, allows room for mistake unless the kitchen is burned down or $500 worth of food is wasted.
Other than bread, I have some good news and some bad news. The bad news is that I did not get to bake a birthday cake last weekend for my birthday. I did not have the most essential items. I can always go to the grocery store and get them. It's not too late. The good news is that I found a vegan smoothie mix that is worth trying. I've been looking forever for a smoothie mix since August. I find smoothies to be easier to make every morning than say vegan pancakes or even oatmeal. I want to be a healthier vegan, but I have so many bad food habits. I'm not the most "put-together" woman that anyone has ever met. With research papers, art projects and the second half of the semester being here, I have to find ways to be organized. That includes finding recipes that are fast, cheap and easy to make.
I am thinking about going on a soy-free and gluten free diet for a few months just to how my body reacts to it. It is slightly more difficult to do this, but there are so many recipes out there that do not call for soy or wheat. I love potatoes (despite their bad reputation), rice, oats and I'm willing to try other flours such as spelt and besan. I think meanwhile it's best to try the whole "beans, rice and salad" diet. I might be eating more Mexican food, because it does not require wheat or soy. I like to try out different diets just to see what works and what does not.
I've been craving sweets like cakes, pancakes, pies, cookies, vegan ice creams, etc. lately. I don't know what my obsession with sweets is. I love the items I just named and I probably do not need to make a birthday cake for my belated birthday. Instead I can make scones, which are healthier and guilt free. I found a recipe here . According to the responses, this recipe seems very versatile. I was thinking of making these with dried pineapples and coconut. I like to experiment with different recipes and since I bought a bakeware set, I can pretty much bake any dessert except pies, because I need a pie pan to hold the crust. So, I'm debating between a cake and some scones. I find scones to be healthier than cake. They do not require much sugar, but they require baking powder. I usually like scones with the glaze over it. I hope to replicate the glaze with a decent recipe. I love making cake, because there are so many recipes that are vegan and I can use baking soda and vinegar instead of baking powder. For frosting I can just use silken tofu, powder sugar, vanilla and coconut. It will be like the last cake I made instead it will be modelled similar to the hummingbird cake without the cream cheese and pastachios(sp?). I will make an oat flour for both the scones and the cake by processing instant oatmeal. Since winter is around the corner and I don't have a job yet, I might as well add an extra hobbie to the list of things I like to do. It won't hurt. I miss dating because I don't have anyone to cook for and critque my food. Maybe my friends might be willing to try my recipes.
Thanksgiving and Veganism
Summer is clearly over. There is no use wearing micro shorts, tank tops or taking a dip in the neighborhood outdoor swimming pool. Instead, it's that time of the year again when kids are knocking door-to-door for candy during Holloween, sweaters are in style for the season and college students go home to eat their family's cooking for Thanksgiving. Eversince being vegan five years ago, I had a love-hate relationship with holidays dealing with food. It's pretty much one of the reasons why I do not celebrate Thanksgiving, Easter or Christmas. There is something about food that brings two or more people who hate eachother closer together. Maybe it's been that way since the beginning of mankind. In every culture, food is the other religion. It can bring people together or tear them apart. It's one of the things that I missed about being a meat eater. When I began to give up certain foods, it put a few family members on edge such as my grandmother. When I was a vegetarian that ate mostly fish, it made everyone in my family angry. I personally to this day believe that there are more things to worry about than what someone eats. There are many people in this world who cannot eat. As Americans, we do not think about them much, because we are a consumer-based society, where other people's troubles are hidden or ignored. I will admit that I did not choose a vegan lifestyle based on how many people in this world did n't have a meal with all the food groups. If that were the case, I'd also live an ascetic lifestyle that gives up all material goods. I became vegan, because I know that the human race is not the only species on this planet and that I choose not to support an industry or an ideology that believes in such. Those choices that I made pretty much bother everyone I know and meet to this day.
I know one person when I told him that I do not eat, or wear animal products, he had the nerve to tell me "well most people don't wear animal products". I don't speak to him anymore, not because he's not a vegan and he made such an ignorant statement, but because he does not take what I say seriously. I'll save this for another post, but he's like most other men who come from the Baby Boomer/Gen X generations. Men from those generations were raised to believe that a woman's opinion is not to be taken seriously. It's hard to be friends with someone who dismisses your opinion by using strawmen arguments or ad hominems. I know for a fact that most people use products that contain something that comes from an animal. I am guilty of this sometimes. I almost bought honey yesterday, because I wanted pancakes. I will also admit that I did consume honey. I stopped when I decided to be a real vegan.
Thanksgiving won't be as difficult as the last time when everyone ate something eachother made, and I cooked something that had beans in it for myself and my sister made a comment about it. She also made a comment about me baking a coconut cake and that I "chose a flavor that not everyone likes". Just because the meat-eating world does not accomodate vegans it does not mean that I have to accomodate everyone. People wonder why vegans are angry. It's because the meat eaters in this country have "mob-rule" mentality, so it gives them a right to be condenscending toward those who are different. They also have the childish mentality that "Oh, if he doesn't eat meat then I'm doing something wrong". Whatever happend to adults making choices they feel is right for themselves? If my pool of friends were perfect, they would all be vegan out of convenience. I have e neighbor who is from another country(Russia) and he's always puzzled about my food choices. I made a vegan "chicken" patty and he wondered why when I lost my taste for meat. First of all, it tastes different, but it still has somewhat a meat quality that I miss. Second, like Russia, America is a meat eating society. We are like Japan that eats everything but starches and vegetables as condiments. Our meat dishes are main meals. The only way to be vegan and still eat the homemade regional dishes is to use a meat substitute such as soy, tempeh or seitan. Eating these cannot be any worse than eating dishes made with poultry, meat or fish. I just know that I have to be more creative when I cook, sometimes taking longer than usual. I'm thinking about going home for Thanksgiving break, just to see my mom and my close friend. I also want to stay here for Thanksgiving with friends who stay here also. I don't know, there is not a day that I do not think about moving to another apartment. I just hope that I can find something cheaper than here. When I get a job, I am definately moving.
Pumpkin vs Sweet Potato
I love sweet potatoes, especially during the holidays. I also like pumpkin. During the holidays, most people eat pumpkin, while my family eats sweet potato, either in a pie or cut into pieces and candied with its own starches. I think it's cultural, but I could be wrong. I want to try something different and eat candied pumpkin instead of candied yams. Maybe I'll try a combination of both in a pie.
I found a decent pita bread recipe. Pita bread is an interesting foreign bread because it is vegan, unlike naan bread. I like the density of Indian roti bread, but the way it can be used does not come close to the pita bread. While I do not have a cookie sheet to make baking recipes yet, I plan on getting some more kitchen items. I never made bread before this, so hopefully when I do it does not turn out like my seitan atrocity. Cooking, like art, allows room for mistake unless the kitchen is burned down or $500 worth of food is wasted.
Other than bread, I have some good news and some bad news. The bad news is that I did not get to bake a birthday cake last weekend for my birthday. I did not have the most essential items. I can always go to the grocery store and get them. It's not too late. The good news is that I found a vegan smoothie mix that is worth trying. I've been looking forever for a smoothie mix since August. I find smoothies to be easier to make every morning than say vegan pancakes or even oatmeal. I want to be a healthier vegan, but I have so many bad food habits. I'm not the most "put-together" woman that anyone has ever met. With research papers, art projects and the second half of the semester being here, I have to find ways to be organized. That includes finding recipes that are fast, cheap and easy to make.
I am thinking about going on a soy-free and gluten free diet for a few months just to how my body reacts to it. It is slightly more difficult to do this, but there are so many recipes out there that do not call for soy or wheat. I love potatoes (despite their bad reputation), rice, oats and I'm willing to try other flours such as spelt and besan. I think meanwhile it's best to try the whole "beans, rice and salad" diet. I might be eating more Mexican food, because it does not require wheat or soy. I like to try out different diets just to see what works and what does not.
I've been craving sweets like cakes, pancakes, pies, cookies, vegan ice creams, etc. lately. I don't know what my obsession with sweets is. I love the items I just named and I probably do not need to make a birthday cake for my belated birthday. Instead I can make scones, which are healthier and guilt free. I found a recipe here . According to the responses, this recipe seems very versatile. I was thinking of making these with dried pineapples and coconut. I like to experiment with different recipes and since I bought a bakeware set, I can pretty much bake any dessert except pies, because I need a pie pan to hold the crust. So, I'm debating between a cake and some scones. I find scones to be healthier than cake. They do not require much sugar, but they require baking powder. I usually like scones with the glaze over it. I hope to replicate the glaze with a decent recipe. I love making cake, because there are so many recipes that are vegan and I can use baking soda and vinegar instead of baking powder. For frosting I can just use silken tofu, powder sugar, vanilla and coconut. It will be like the last cake I made instead it will be modelled similar to the hummingbird cake without the cream cheese and pastachios(sp?). I will make an oat flour for both the scones and the cake by processing instant oatmeal. Since winter is around the corner and I don't have a job yet, I might as well add an extra hobbie to the list of things I like to do. It won't hurt. I miss dating because I don't have anyone to cook for and critque my food. Maybe my friends might be willing to try my recipes.
Thanksgiving and Veganism
Summer is clearly over. There is no use wearing micro shorts, tank tops or taking a dip in the neighborhood outdoor swimming pool. Instead, it's that time of the year again when kids are knocking door-to-door for candy during Holloween, sweaters are in style for the season and college students go home to eat their family's cooking for Thanksgiving. Eversince being vegan five years ago, I had a love-hate relationship with holidays dealing with food. It's pretty much one of the reasons why I do not celebrate Thanksgiving, Easter or Christmas. There is something about food that brings two or more people who hate eachother closer together. Maybe it's been that way since the beginning of mankind. In every culture, food is the other religion. It can bring people together or tear them apart. It's one of the things that I missed about being a meat eater. When I began to give up certain foods, it put a few family members on edge such as my grandmother. When I was a vegetarian that ate mostly fish, it made everyone in my family angry. I personally to this day believe that there are more things to worry about than what someone eats. There are many people in this world who cannot eat. As Americans, we do not think about them much, because we are a consumer-based society, where other people's troubles are hidden or ignored. I will admit that I did not choose a vegan lifestyle based on how many people in this world did n't have a meal with all the food groups. If that were the case, I'd also live an ascetic lifestyle that gives up all material goods. I became vegan, because I know that the human race is not the only species on this planet and that I choose not to support an industry or an ideology that believes in such. Those choices that I made pretty much bother everyone I know and meet to this day.
I know one person when I told him that I do not eat, or wear animal products, he had the nerve to tell me "well most people don't wear animal products". I don't speak to him anymore, not because he's not a vegan and he made such an ignorant statement, but because he does not take what I say seriously. I'll save this for another post, but he's like most other men who come from the Baby Boomer/Gen X generations. Men from those generations were raised to believe that a woman's opinion is not to be taken seriously. It's hard to be friends with someone who dismisses your opinion by using strawmen arguments or ad hominems. I know for a fact that most people use products that contain something that comes from an animal. I am guilty of this sometimes. I almost bought honey yesterday, because I wanted pancakes. I will also admit that I did consume honey. I stopped when I decided to be a real vegan.
Thanksgiving won't be as difficult as the last time when everyone ate something eachother made, and I cooked something that had beans in it for myself and my sister made a comment about it. She also made a comment about me baking a coconut cake and that I "chose a flavor that not everyone likes". Just because the meat-eating world does not accomodate vegans it does not mean that I have to accomodate everyone. People wonder why vegans are angry. It's because the meat eaters in this country have "mob-rule" mentality, so it gives them a right to be condenscending toward those who are different. They also have the childish mentality that "Oh, if he doesn't eat meat then I'm doing something wrong". Whatever happend to adults making choices they feel is right for themselves? If my pool of friends were perfect, they would all be vegan out of convenience. I have e neighbor who is from another country(Russia) and he's always puzzled about my food choices. I made a vegan "chicken" patty and he wondered why when I lost my taste for meat. First of all, it tastes different, but it still has somewhat a meat quality that I miss. Second, like Russia, America is a meat eating society. We are like Japan that eats everything but starches and vegetables as condiments. Our meat dishes are main meals. The only way to be vegan and still eat the homemade regional dishes is to use a meat substitute such as soy, tempeh or seitan. Eating these cannot be any worse than eating dishes made with poultry, meat or fish. I just know that I have to be more creative when I cook, sometimes taking longer than usual. I'm thinking about going home for Thanksgiving break, just to see my mom and my close friend. I also want to stay here for Thanksgiving with friends who stay here also. I don't know, there is not a day that I do not think about moving to another apartment. I just hope that I can find something cheaper than here. When I get a job, I am definately moving.
Pumpkin vs Sweet Potato
I love sweet potatoes, especially during the holidays. I also like pumpkin. During the holidays, most people eat pumpkin, while my family eats sweet potato, either in a pie or cut into pieces and candied with its own starches. I think it's cultural, but I could be wrong. I want to try something different and eat candied pumpkin instead of candied yams. Maybe I'll try a combination of both in a pie.
Friday, October 22, 2010
Essential Food Links and Recipes From Scratch
Today, I was thinking about making some scones, but I do not have any baking powder. It is pretty easy to buy baking powder at any grocery store. However, most baking powders contain sodium aluminum sulfate, which is pretty much a metal. As a vegan, I recommend staying away from consuming metals and other chemicals that can do harm. In my search for an aluminum free baking powder I came across this recipe . I consider myself good cook, not so much the best baker, although most of my recipes do turn out well. So, when I go to the grocerystore, I hope to get my hands on some cream of tartar and some measuring spoons.
(This post will be updated with links, recipes and commentary.)
(This post will be updated with links, recipes and commentary.)
Monday, October 18, 2010
Commentary: "Do You Eat Baby Animals?"
I thought that since this a vegan blog, that I would incorporate more commentary on pages I read online dealing with animal rights, veganism/vegetarianism and environmentalism. To be honest, I do not have a problem with those who choose not to become vegan or vegetarian. However, I do have a problem with the condescending tone that most non-vegans have against veganism. The comments in this article to be asinine and hypocritical. The writer states that she does eat baby animals and she enjoys their flesh. I do not see how this is any different than supporting the factory farming practices adult animals suffer from.
I found the comments in the article to be unnecessary, especially the argument about whether or not humans were naturally meant to eat meat. The argument is more over semantics than anything. I personally believe that modern man is not meant to eat meat. Most cultures in the past at very little of it, even going so far as to being vegetarian. Even the cultures that are omnivorous do not have factory farms that become mass slaughter houses for animals. They also did not have children in their cultures entering puberty at nine and ten years old. I think the whole argument that "humans are meant to eat meat" can be said of the sense of entitlement that humanity has over this planet. It is also an excuse to not better one's own health, let alone the environment for human beings and other species on this planet.
My argument is that it does not matter if the animal is a baby or an adult, the whole idea of supporting the multibillion dollar meat industry at the expense of animal suffering should at least cross somebody's mind when they pick up a steak with their fork or cut through a slab of veal with their knife.
I found the comments in the article to be unnecessary, especially the argument about whether or not humans were naturally meant to eat meat. The argument is more over semantics than anything. I personally believe that modern man is not meant to eat meat. Most cultures in the past at very little of it, even going so far as to being vegetarian. Even the cultures that are omnivorous do not have factory farms that become mass slaughter houses for animals. They also did not have children in their cultures entering puberty at nine and ten years old. I think the whole argument that "humans are meant to eat meat" can be said of the sense of entitlement that humanity has over this planet. It is also an excuse to not better one's own health, let alone the environment for human beings and other species on this planet.
My argument is that it does not matter if the animal is a baby or an adult, the whole idea of supporting the multibillion dollar meat industry at the expense of animal suffering should at least cross somebody's mind when they pick up a steak with their fork or cut through a slab of veal with their knife.
Monday, October 4, 2010
Hairstyles For Natural Hair
I haven't been doing much to my hair, because I want to focus mainly on school and other things, so I've been putting my hair in twists and covering it when I go out. I want to do more with my hair when it gets longer, because I want to have a healthier scalp that is free of dandruff and my hair is so thick that it can break easily with too much manipulation. Still, it does not hurt to have a hair reference for really cool hairstyles.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vmerz-iG8OE&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olaZ29pOBDs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-J2WdSeq4os&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGkVnFFm7CY&feature=channel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vmerz-iG8OE&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olaZ29pOBDs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-J2WdSeq4os&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGkVnFFm7CY&feature=channel
Sunday, October 3, 2010
My Hair Story
It's pretty much required to have a natural hair story. For those who want to know why I stopped straightening my hair, this will be my short hair story:
I had a perm since I was six years old. Before I was six, I had really long kinky hair. I believe that it was the same texture that it is now. I know that I was one of those hyperactive kids and it was hard to get me to sit down for anything. My mom used to put my hair in those black girl ponytails. One day, my mom's friend suggested that I get a perm because my hair was so thick. My mom's friend put the perm on my hair. She did not use any gloves at all, so I'm guessing the skin on her hands practically melted off. I hated getting a perm when I was a kid, but I loved the results. I remember even when I was a little kid my hair was waist length. As I got older, and when I entered middle school I wanted to do my own hair. That didn't work well. My hair went from being really long, to should length. In high school, I had long hair, but it was uneven, so my aunt thought that it would be nice to cut my hair when she did it without asking, saying that "I don't deserve to have long hair". Eversince then, I did not let her touch my hair. What I should have done was grow out of a perm then, at 15. When I was 16, I kept my hair in braids for a while. I had nice hair when I went to my prom and my mom's hairstylist did it for me.
Even when I was 18, I wanted to grow out of a perm, but I wasn't sure about it. Then, I was under the impression that society, especially the black culture wanted me to have straight hair, but they did not want me to have long healthy hair (in high school I was bullied alot by the black girls, which is one of the reason why most of my friends are of other races). I was talked many times out of growing my hair out. I was told that I didn't have "the kind of hair that I can go natural". Like anyother woman/girl in my situation, I was told that my hair was too nappy, it was too thick and my hair was not the texture it was when I was five years old.
Becoming vegan played a major role in why I want to go natural. It really does not make sense that I go vegan, and still wear a perm. Chemical relaxers contain so many kinds of chemicals and so many animal biproducts. I would not be surprised if the companies tested on animals. Thinking that society's definition of beauty is more important than what I thought was best for my health, I kept perming my hair. I also love the look of long hair. I find the look of long straight, hair to be more versatile in appearance than an afro. It can be elegant, sexy, classy, powerful, futuristic, ethereal, earthy or etc. I did not feel that way about afro textured hair. I thought the fluffed Afro is dated. I thought that I would have to keep finding a way to straighten my hair.
One day, I wanted to go to the hair salon just to have my hair styled in ways that I couldn't do myself. A long story short, to this day, I do not go to beauty salons anymore. The woman who did my hair was so unprofessional. If a customer does not want her hair cut or trimmed, then don't do it. If you're so professional, you should know how to do hair without having to cut it.
When I went off to school, I wore braids until it was time to take them out. Then, I had four inches of natural hair that I did not know how to do. I told my mom that I want to go to the hair salon, but I'm scared that the same experience would happen. She kept telling me to make it clear that I don't want to have any hair cut. I stick by the fact that my own bad experiences with hairstylist trumps all. She injects being older into the coversation. I don't believe that being older makes you a better person. If that was the case, men wouldn't be flocking to younger women once they turn 40. I'll save that for another post.
I think what broke the straw on the camel's back was a comment about natural black hair made by one of my hallmates. I asked my other hallmate about a hairstyle. He said I would look better with loosely curled shoulder length hair and I was going to make the hair appointment after he said that. Then my other hallmate said I should wear my natural hair texture. She brought it up before in fall last year. It was nice that she encouraged me to grow my hair out to its natural state, but I did not like that she said "black women do not look right with straight hair and that it looks fake and unnatural". At the time I dismissed it because the people in this city does not like ambiguity. Since then, I took my braids out, worked with my hair the best way I could and I kept wearing a hairscarf. I would say I was partially ashamed of my hair that semester. I flatironed my hair and bunned it until it got so long I couldn't handle it. I have the kind of hair that holds heat very well. It's pretty durable for it to be type four hair texture. I think what also broke the straw on the camel's back was when my ex and I went to a really nice event and we didn't look as presentable. That night, I decided to cut all my permed hair off.
I thought at first no one would like my hair, now I realized that people would like to see women more natural instead of the narrow mainstream definition of beauty.
If I could do anything different I'd do the following:
1. Grow out of my perm when I was 18 despite objections from everyone I knew. It was easier to do this when I officially moved out. I more choices, because it's my hair. I don't see myself allowing anyone to do my hair anymore. I rather learn to do my own.
2. Wear wigs while my hair is still growing and continuously wear braids. It's not too late to do these things. I love the versatility of wigs and I can have any kind of hair I want. If I want straight, ice blonde hair I can with a wig. If I want jet black wavy curly hair, I can have that too. With Youtube, I can even learn how to braid my own hair. It took five hours to do my twists, partly because I want to put the product on every strand of hair. It's going to take longer to put braids in my hair.
3. Take care of my scalp while it was in braids. I could have washed my hair with shampoo made specifically for dandruff and problematic scalp and used hair oil to moisturize it. I could have even cowashed my hair every day and wash and deep condition on the weekends. Now I know better if I want to have longer hair the natural way.
4. Wait another year to do the big chop. Long transition would have made it easier to accept that I have this type of hair. It's difficult going from having straight long hair most of my life to having kinky short hair.I think another year, or when I graduate from college would have worked. I think if I continue to take care of my hair I would have armpit length hair by the time I graduate from college.
I had a perm since I was six years old. Before I was six, I had really long kinky hair. I believe that it was the same texture that it is now. I know that I was one of those hyperactive kids and it was hard to get me to sit down for anything. My mom used to put my hair in those black girl ponytails. One day, my mom's friend suggested that I get a perm because my hair was so thick. My mom's friend put the perm on my hair. She did not use any gloves at all, so I'm guessing the skin on her hands practically melted off. I hated getting a perm when I was a kid, but I loved the results. I remember even when I was a little kid my hair was waist length. As I got older, and when I entered middle school I wanted to do my own hair. That didn't work well. My hair went from being really long, to should length. In high school, I had long hair, but it was uneven, so my aunt thought that it would be nice to cut my hair when she did it without asking, saying that "I don't deserve to have long hair". Eversince then, I did not let her touch my hair. What I should have done was grow out of a perm then, at 15. When I was 16, I kept my hair in braids for a while. I had nice hair when I went to my prom and my mom's hairstylist did it for me.
Even when I was 18, I wanted to grow out of a perm, but I wasn't sure about it. Then, I was under the impression that society, especially the black culture wanted me to have straight hair, but they did not want me to have long healthy hair (in high school I was bullied alot by the black girls, which is one of the reason why most of my friends are of other races). I was talked many times out of growing my hair out. I was told that I didn't have "the kind of hair that I can go natural". Like anyother woman/girl in my situation, I was told that my hair was too nappy, it was too thick and my hair was not the texture it was when I was five years old.
Becoming vegan played a major role in why I want to go natural. It really does not make sense that I go vegan, and still wear a perm. Chemical relaxers contain so many kinds of chemicals and so many animal biproducts. I would not be surprised if the companies tested on animals. Thinking that society's definition of beauty is more important than what I thought was best for my health, I kept perming my hair. I also love the look of long hair. I find the look of long straight, hair to be more versatile in appearance than an afro. It can be elegant, sexy, classy, powerful, futuristic, ethereal, earthy or etc. I did not feel that way about afro textured hair. I thought the fluffed Afro is dated. I thought that I would have to keep finding a way to straighten my hair.
One day, I wanted to go to the hair salon just to have my hair styled in ways that I couldn't do myself. A long story short, to this day, I do not go to beauty salons anymore. The woman who did my hair was so unprofessional. If a customer does not want her hair cut or trimmed, then don't do it. If you're so professional, you should know how to do hair without having to cut it.
When I went off to school, I wore braids until it was time to take them out. Then, I had four inches of natural hair that I did not know how to do. I told my mom that I want to go to the hair salon, but I'm scared that the same experience would happen. She kept telling me to make it clear that I don't want to have any hair cut. I stick by the fact that my own bad experiences with hairstylist trumps all. She injects being older into the coversation. I don't believe that being older makes you a better person. If that was the case, men wouldn't be flocking to younger women once they turn 40. I'll save that for another post.
I think what broke the straw on the camel's back was a comment about natural black hair made by one of my hallmates. I asked my other hallmate about a hairstyle. He said I would look better with loosely curled shoulder length hair and I was going to make the hair appointment after he said that. Then my other hallmate said I should wear my natural hair texture. She brought it up before in fall last year. It was nice that she encouraged me to grow my hair out to its natural state, but I did not like that she said "black women do not look right with straight hair and that it looks fake and unnatural". At the time I dismissed it because the people in this city does not like ambiguity. Since then, I took my braids out, worked with my hair the best way I could and I kept wearing a hairscarf. I would say I was partially ashamed of my hair that semester. I flatironed my hair and bunned it until it got so long I couldn't handle it. I have the kind of hair that holds heat very well. It's pretty durable for it to be type four hair texture. I think what also broke the straw on the camel's back was when my ex and I went to a really nice event and we didn't look as presentable. That night, I decided to cut all my permed hair off.
I thought at first no one would like my hair, now I realized that people would like to see women more natural instead of the narrow mainstream definition of beauty.
If I could do anything different I'd do the following:
1. Grow out of my perm when I was 18 despite objections from everyone I knew. It was easier to do this when I officially moved out. I more choices, because it's my hair. I don't see myself allowing anyone to do my hair anymore. I rather learn to do my own.
2. Wear wigs while my hair is still growing and continuously wear braids. It's not too late to do these things. I love the versatility of wigs and I can have any kind of hair I want. If I want straight, ice blonde hair I can with a wig. If I want jet black wavy curly hair, I can have that too. With Youtube, I can even learn how to braid my own hair. It took five hours to do my twists, partly because I want to put the product on every strand of hair. It's going to take longer to put braids in my hair.
3. Take care of my scalp while it was in braids. I could have washed my hair with shampoo made specifically for dandruff and problematic scalp and used hair oil to moisturize it. I could have even cowashed my hair every day and wash and deep condition on the weekends. Now I know better if I want to have longer hair the natural way.
4. Wait another year to do the big chop. Long transition would have made it easier to accept that I have this type of hair. It's difficult going from having straight long hair most of my life to having kinky short hair.I think another year, or when I graduate from college would have worked. I think if I continue to take care of my hair I would have armpit length hair by the time I graduate from college.
Haircare Skincare and Overall Goals
As everyone knows, I'm known for usually having long tresses. That is, before I cut the chemically damaged portions of my hair and decided to completely go natural. The last perm I had was in August of 2009. I did the big chop in July 2010. So it's been 11 months from the time I last straightened my hair until the night I did the Big Chop. It's now October 2010 and it's been about a year and one month since I had a perm.
The average amount of hair growth per year is six inches. That goes for all races. I'm not one of those who believe that certain races naturally grow more hair than other races. People who have a loose or no curl or wave pattern can more easily retain length. I believe that my hair grows faster for some reason, which I do not know of. It's much longer than it was when I cut it. I find that my hair retains length when it is in braids (the ones with fake extensions).
I saw a woman on Youtube who has really long, afro-textured hair. When it's not flat ironed it's bra strap length and when it is flat iron it's almost at hip length (her video here). To be honest, it takes a really long time for anyone's hair to get that long. I'd say about 5 years, but meanwhile, it's really important to take care of your hair while you are trying to achieve your hair goal. I love long hair so much. However, I'm not sure if over thirty inches of thick hair will look right on me. Even when turn 30, I'll most likely try to achieve a look and now I know i like the futuristic look. That type of fashion pretty much requires long hair. It's usually Kool-Aid color, but it's long.
My hair and skincare goals did not tie together until last week when my left eye started itching. Objects, especially skin and hair usually fall into my eyes. I think this time it's skin. I have eczema and it's been a problem for me for pretty much all my life. The skin from my eyebrows would peel and flake. I tried pretty much every thing at my disposal. Petroleum jelly, of all oils worked the best to keep the peeling skin from falling in my eyes. However, I don't really use petroleum anymore because it just sits on the skin. My eyebrows, I love how thick they are, but they can be a problem when hair starts to fall into my eyes. Same can be said about my eyelashes. My eyebrows are the type that have to be carefore like long hair. They need to be washed with real, natural shampoo, not face soap. They need to be combed and waxed in areas that have stray hairs and they need to be moisturized. I'd go so far as to say that they need to be trimmed. Someone reading this maybe laughing at me. I think thin eyebrows are unattractive on me.
Hair Goals
1. A flakeless scalp: I had this for so long that I'm not sure if there is a cure for it. Consistency works best.
2. Keep my hair in twists and wash and condition my hair once a week followed by cowashing twice a week. I will keep my hair in twists, even when washing and conditioning my hair.
3. When I have the chance, keep my hair braided or covered in wigs. The winters here are harsh and the only way I can maintain my hair is if I leave it alone except for washing it.
4. Moisturize my scalp and my hair. I noticed that since doing this, I have less shedding and breaking.
5. Apply no heat to my hair: As long as if I'm trying to get longer and healthier hair for myself, I will not apply any kind of heat to my hair anymore.
6. Clarify my hair when possible: Whenever I have buildup from my hair serum and it's been a while since I washed my hair, I use a clarifying shampoo.
7. Cowashing: Currently I use Suave, but I won't be using that brand anymore, because it seems that my hair and scalp do not respond to it well. It doesn't respond to the two types of shampoo I bought, neither does it respond well to the conditioner I bought for cowashing. I'm going to buy Yes to Carrots. I heard it works wells for natural hair.
8. I will NOT be a product junkie: I see this all the time. People having so many hair products that they don't have room to put their basic toiletries in their bathroom cabinets. When you're newly natural, it is so easy to fall victim of this. I almost did until I did better research about natural hair. Before considering Youtube, I used to ask people who did not perm their hair about different products. That would work if everyone had the same hair texture. So, I have a small but slightly growing product grave yard. I know that the shampoos I bought for my straightened hair did not work for the natural hair. I stopped using everything but the leave-in cond., the deep cond. and the hair serum.These will be mailed to my family this semester. I'll be phasing these products out, because the SheaMoisture products really work. I'm still going to try out different products that I think will work for my hair.
9. I will use a silk bonnet everynight and moisturize my hair before going to bed: this is essential for long hair.
Skin Care Goals
1. I will wash my face twice a day and moisturize and use sunscreen.
2. I will look for a more natural brand of skincare.
3. I will make some terry cloth pillowcases and wash them when needed: Terry cloth does wonders for the skin. Because my skin is both oily and it peels, it's solving two problems with one.
4. When my skin is finally manageble, I am going to find a makeup brand that works best and looks the most natural: I found some brands of makeup. Leremin is the best brand I found so far and I'm going to try it in samples. I have a hard time with makeup, because it's impossible to find a shade that comes close to my skintone.
5. I will give up unnatural (simple) sugars found in sweets and I will stop drinking sweet drinks. If I want something sweet I will drink 100% juice. I will also incorporate water, vitamins and tea into my diet. This will be a little difficult as I stated in the "Foods I Like" post. I will have to find a creative way to get around this.
6. I will groom my eyebrows and use a heavy natural oil to keep them from flaking. I found a brand that has shea butter in it, but it also has honey.
7. Three times a week I will use a clay mask on my face and neck.
8. I will look for a body scrub that really works for getting rid of the extra dead skin and use it everyday if possible..
Other Goals: I've been adapting to some self-distructive habits that I need to break before they affect the rest of my life (at least my college career).
1. I will have a weekday and weekend schedule that will allow me to get up way before 11pm. On the weekdays I think the ideal time to wake up is around 7:30 am, so by 8 I can go to the library and study.
2. I will study on the weekdays and study two hrs a day on the weekends.
3. I will not procastinate: this is one of those habits I said I won't do, but end up doing it anyway. Procastination wasn't much of a problem until Sprin 2009.
4. On my spare time I will work on perfecting my techniques in art and I will dedicate more time to writing my science fiction stories.
5. I will adapt a style and dress better. There was a video done by a Youtuber about Eight Ways to be Beautiful. I didn't believe that dressing well was one of them, until I realized that I feel better about myself when I actually look better.
6. I will be more organized: This includes EVERY aspect of my life. I'll be 25 years old. I know that's still young. If I'm going to get anywhere in life I need to know what I want and do what it takes to obtain it. That starts with cleaning my apartment twice a week.
7. I will be a "better" vegan: I know that sounds weird, but it's possible to be a bad vegan. One of the most common misconceptions about veganism is that there is no unhealthy vegan. This is untrue, because the very definition of veganism allows there to be room for an unhealhty diet. Chips, sodas, frenchfries and overprocessed foods that do not contain animal products are unhealthy. Over the summer, I lived on a diet of mostly rice and beans. That can be unhealthy. For the times that I have little in the fridge, I'll be taking supplements.
The average amount of hair growth per year is six inches. That goes for all races. I'm not one of those who believe that certain races naturally grow more hair than other races. People who have a loose or no curl or wave pattern can more easily retain length. I believe that my hair grows faster for some reason, which I do not know of. It's much longer than it was when I cut it. I find that my hair retains length when it is in braids (the ones with fake extensions).
I saw a woman on Youtube who has really long, afro-textured hair. When it's not flat ironed it's bra strap length and when it is flat iron it's almost at hip length (her video here). To be honest, it takes a really long time for anyone's hair to get that long. I'd say about 5 years, but meanwhile, it's really important to take care of your hair while you are trying to achieve your hair goal. I love long hair so much. However, I'm not sure if over thirty inches of thick hair will look right on me. Even when turn 30, I'll most likely try to achieve a look and now I know i like the futuristic look. That type of fashion pretty much requires long hair. It's usually Kool-Aid color, but it's long.
My hair and skincare goals did not tie together until last week when my left eye started itching. Objects, especially skin and hair usually fall into my eyes. I think this time it's skin. I have eczema and it's been a problem for me for pretty much all my life. The skin from my eyebrows would peel and flake. I tried pretty much every thing at my disposal. Petroleum jelly, of all oils worked the best to keep the peeling skin from falling in my eyes. However, I don't really use petroleum anymore because it just sits on the skin. My eyebrows, I love how thick they are, but they can be a problem when hair starts to fall into my eyes. Same can be said about my eyelashes. My eyebrows are the type that have to be carefore like long hair. They need to be washed with real, natural shampoo, not face soap. They need to be combed and waxed in areas that have stray hairs and they need to be moisturized. I'd go so far as to say that they need to be trimmed. Someone reading this maybe laughing at me. I think thin eyebrows are unattractive on me.
Hair Goals
1. A flakeless scalp: I had this for so long that I'm not sure if there is a cure for it. Consistency works best.
2. Keep my hair in twists and wash and condition my hair once a week followed by cowashing twice a week. I will keep my hair in twists, even when washing and conditioning my hair.
3. When I have the chance, keep my hair braided or covered in wigs. The winters here are harsh and the only way I can maintain my hair is if I leave it alone except for washing it.
4. Moisturize my scalp and my hair. I noticed that since doing this, I have less shedding and breaking.
5. Apply no heat to my hair: As long as if I'm trying to get longer and healthier hair for myself, I will not apply any kind of heat to my hair anymore.
6. Clarify my hair when possible: Whenever I have buildup from my hair serum and it's been a while since I washed my hair, I use a clarifying shampoo.
7. Cowashing: Currently I use Suave, but I won't be using that brand anymore, because it seems that my hair and scalp do not respond to it well. It doesn't respond to the two types of shampoo I bought, neither does it respond well to the conditioner I bought for cowashing. I'm going to buy Yes to Carrots. I heard it works wells for natural hair.
8. I will NOT be a product junkie: I see this all the time. People having so many hair products that they don't have room to put their basic toiletries in their bathroom cabinets. When you're newly natural, it is so easy to fall victim of this. I almost did until I did better research about natural hair. Before considering Youtube, I used to ask people who did not perm their hair about different products. That would work if everyone had the same hair texture. So, I have a small but slightly growing product grave yard. I know that the shampoos I bought for my straightened hair did not work for the natural hair. I stopped using everything but the leave-in cond., the deep cond. and the hair serum.These will be mailed to my family this semester. I'll be phasing these products out, because the SheaMoisture products really work. I'm still going to try out different products that I think will work for my hair.
9. I will use a silk bonnet everynight and moisturize my hair before going to bed: this is essential for long hair.
Skin Care Goals
1. I will wash my face twice a day and moisturize and use sunscreen.
2. I will look for a more natural brand of skincare.
3. I will make some terry cloth pillowcases and wash them when needed: Terry cloth does wonders for the skin. Because my skin is both oily and it peels, it's solving two problems with one.
4. When my skin is finally manageble, I am going to find a makeup brand that works best and looks the most natural: I found some brands of makeup. Leremin is the best brand I found so far and I'm going to try it in samples. I have a hard time with makeup, because it's impossible to find a shade that comes close to my skintone.
5. I will give up unnatural (simple) sugars found in sweets and I will stop drinking sweet drinks. If I want something sweet I will drink 100% juice. I will also incorporate water, vitamins and tea into my diet. This will be a little difficult as I stated in the "Foods I Like" post. I will have to find a creative way to get around this.
6. I will groom my eyebrows and use a heavy natural oil to keep them from flaking. I found a brand that has shea butter in it, but it also has honey.
7. Three times a week I will use a clay mask on my face and neck.
8. I will look for a body scrub that really works for getting rid of the extra dead skin and use it everyday if possible..
Other Goals: I've been adapting to some self-distructive habits that I need to break before they affect the rest of my life (at least my college career).
1. I will have a weekday and weekend schedule that will allow me to get up way before 11pm. On the weekdays I think the ideal time to wake up is around 7:30 am, so by 8 I can go to the library and study.
2. I will study on the weekdays and study two hrs a day on the weekends.
3. I will not procastinate: this is one of those habits I said I won't do, but end up doing it anyway. Procastination wasn't much of a problem until Sprin 2009.
4. On my spare time I will work on perfecting my techniques in art and I will dedicate more time to writing my science fiction stories.
5. I will adapt a style and dress better. There was a video done by a Youtuber about Eight Ways to be Beautiful. I didn't believe that dressing well was one of them, until I realized that I feel better about myself when I actually look better.
6. I will be more organized: This includes EVERY aspect of my life. I'll be 25 years old. I know that's still young. If I'm going to get anywhere in life I need to know what I want and do what it takes to obtain it. That starts with cleaning my apartment twice a week.
7. I will be a "better" vegan: I know that sounds weird, but it's possible to be a bad vegan. One of the most common misconceptions about veganism is that there is no unhealthy vegan. This is untrue, because the very definition of veganism allows there to be room for an unhealhty diet. Chips, sodas, frenchfries and overprocessed foods that do not contain animal products are unhealthy. Over the summer, I lived on a diet of mostly rice and beans. That can be unhealthy. For the times that I have little in the fridge, I'll be taking supplements.
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