Graduation Advice for a DIY-er Please & Thank You

[B3e]

Simple really. I'm in a rut. I'd LOVE some commentary. You all are so good at energizing wayward souls!! Many thanks in advance!

So...
—DIY or Braid Shop/Salon?
—Forever 21 or Rent-The-Runway?

Stats:

Hair
—Natural
—SL > APL
Cap & Gown Friendly Styles:
—Micros
—Senegalese Twists
—Weave
—Wig
Body:
—Short/Petite
—Preferably slightly above or below knee
​

I do my own braids so the thought of having to cough up $160+ in a city with no real braiding places is a little frustrating. Recommended braiders in Chi?...I can drive out if need be.

❤

​

 

[afiyabirdie]

i guess it depends on how you feel about graduation... do you see it as "a time to go all out" or do you feel like i did today, "it's only for a couple of hours so I will keep it simple" ???

...if I hadnt just had a baby 4 months ago (weight, exhaustion, expenses), I would have gone with

....Rent The Runway, and Braid Shop/Salon

 

[B3e]

afiyabirdie Congrats on your baby!!! So cute.

Well, I really don't think I feel much in the way of excitement about it...more exhausted and ready to move forward. But I worked my butt off to get this far so it is definitely important to me.

My mum would probably be the one to agree with the "go all out" mentality, but I'm pretty chill about it. I just want to look nice and leave a sleek last memory here before entering the new world.

 

[LaFemmeNaturelle]

I voted diy and forever 21. The dresses there are really cute and if you buy it, you can wear it again someday. I'm not sure if I see a point in renting a dress and the dresses on the website look to dressy for graduation IMO. I can't see the ones you attached. I wore a wig to my graduation and everything is all good. If you are too tired to braid your hair, you should go with a cute wig. Much cheaper than braids.

 

[B3e]

LaFemmeNaturelle
Thank you for the feedback. You're right.
To be honest. I'm quite fine with a wig and an F21 dress. My gut tells me to braid if I am so inclined as well. I suppose because I am not yet wise, I cannot tell if it will be of much consequence to my parents. I'm graduating from a top 20 so dressy isn't really a concern. I just feel so apathetic, I thought maybe I was wrong for it. I'm so much on the fence that really I may not know what to do until days before.

 

[Carmelella]

rent the runway 3, 5, and 6. The forever 21 dresses dont look like graduation dresses at all. Plus I dont like the quality of them in the pic so I can only imagine how they'll look for real. Hair.... DIY. Just plan ahead with the hair and any straightening or curling try and do the day before so that you're not rushed.

congrats!

 

[CheLala13]

Rent the Runway. For my graduation, I straightened my natural hair for the first time because there was no way my cap was going to fit on my head, haha. So if you don't want to go that route, at least get braids, where you could leave them in for at least half of the summer. I wouldn't recommend a weave unless you've had one before and it was successful and not stressful for you.

 

[tiffal1922]

I actually graduated yesterday from college and i decided to wear my natural curls instead of pressing it. And it came out super cute and i got sooo many complements so of course i vote for diy. (See pic attached) and i vote for f21 cause its cute and affordable


Good Luck!!!

Sent from my MB525 using MB525

 

[BeautifulFlower]

From Rent...2,3, or 6 I love....

And you can definitely do it yourself so it can come out the way you want but since its your special day...go get pampered

 

[B3e]

Congrats to all the graduates btw!!

Thanks ladies for your advice and congrats. I'm definitely more and more inclined to DIY and spend my savings on either renting a pretty dress or buying an equally pretty but affordable dress from either F21 or TJMaxx/Marshall's/Macy's or something. I know what feels right will hit me like a brick wall, but until then, I'm really appreciating your assistance in this thinking process.

tiffal1922 CUTE! Wish my curls behaved around here. My WnG in the South are BOMB on a warm day. Here....smh...hard water is not my friend. And the chance that it may rain just isn't helping me. Love your curls.

If any other graduates wanna flaunt their styles, I welcome the inspirations!! recent or otherwise.

prettyfaceANB 6 is my fave

 

[BeautifulRoots]

I think you should DIY and forever 21/department store dress. No need to overstress yourself, graduation days are stressful as it is.

I graduated last weekend and I opted to do a braidout because of the heat and humidity where I live. I also got my dress from a department store for a pretty good price and I will be wearing it again.

 

[shunemite]

OP I think you deserve a treat for your graduation so I say you go to the salon, and get a mani pedi while you're at it As far as dresses I would go with renting number 5 or 7 because these days with Facebook you wear a dress once and boom it's all over Facebook so you can't wear it again. TRUST me, I bought a $300 dress for a wedding from Cache about 3 years ago; it's all over Facebook and there are so many comments on the dress I can never wear it again! I'm so upset- it's like $300 for ONE DAY, huh-uh. Another problem with Forever 21 is you run the danger of someone else showing up wearing your dress since the dresses are so affordable. Just my 2 cents

On another note, sorry for the tangent, but thanks for mentioning Rent The Runway, I've been all over their website!!!

 

[B3e]

Thanks for the feedback ladies!

HISdaughter, the stress of graduation hasn't quite hit me yet, but you're right. Simplicity is definitely key and it's my special day. Because I'm on a student budget, and based on the feedback so far, DIY will probably be my hair choice.

Now as for dress...ugh, still spinning...risk having the same dress as someone else in order to save a few bucks...or rent and feel unique in my outfit, but know that I can literally only wear that dress once (sounds so scary when it's no longer a choice lol). Decisions decisions. You all are fabulous!

shunemite I am definitely getting mani/pedi/brows. I want to feel renewed during the ceremonies. and you're welcome. A friend of mine uses them religiously and I just caught on to her bottomless closet secret hehe. Best idea ever! I believe Ediese has used them before, or at least inquired about them some time earlier this year and last. I'd love to hear your experience with RTR Ediese!