Update: Wash Day, Castor Oil Challenge, Stretching

Hey Ladies!

I washed my hair and deep conditioned my hair today. I sat under my steamer for 25 minutes and my hair felt luxurious!!

I air dried using the scarf method which helped keep my edges flat.

My hair is very thick during this stretch so finding ways to keep my hair in line is crucial.

I am going to continue with the castor oil challenge seeing that the past couple of weeks have been going ok. I think it has aided in the thickness as well.

I have decided to go on my second 6-month stretch! :)

I will be relaxing on DECEMBER 28th, 2013 at the conclusion of the castor oil challenge.

Stay tuned for updates on my stretch and I will check in periodically as the weeks go on as I did on my last 6-month stretch.

Any additional tips would be great for this stretch!
Thanks for your support!

Week 1: Castor Oil Challenge

My first week with Jamaican Black Castor Oil Challenge has been a great one. Showing some pros and cons but nothing that I cannot change while I am aware of it.

Pros:
- My hair has an increase in the amount of moisture it is retaining. Thus leaving my hair extremely soft.
- So far I have not seen any excess shedding which is amazing considering some of the horror stories I've read about castor oil users.

Cons:
- ITCHY SCALP! OMG! My scalp felt like it was on fire last week! So I caved and did a wash today. (What a relief!)

I can easily combat the itchiness by increasing my wash days during the week.

I did like the way my hair felt when I washed it. Almost as if though I had been deep conditioning my hair all week and it felt great.

I have not diluted the oil so I am using it straight from the bottle with nothing added.

Feeling very excited for December!

*Check out the other ladies reviews over the past week as well*

Hairlista Week 1 Check-Ins

Happy Hair Growing!

Heat Pass, Trim, & Castor Oil Challenge!

Hello Ladies,

I recently used a heat pass on my 13 weeks post hair and during that pass I also did a very light dust/trim. My ends look a lot better and feel healthier as well.

I am planning to participate in the Hairlista Castor Oil Challenge Part 8 that begins September 28th!  The challenge runs until December 28th so this is a great time to go on a stretch or to take time and really be strict with yourself in terms of your regimen.

Few details can be found here: Castor Oil Challenge Part 8, Sunshyne plans to post more details later so  be on the lookout for those as well.

Feel free to join the group here for support, questions, and inspiration: JOIN IN

I am looking forward to the results and may even be tempted to embark on another 6-month stretch *wink wink* :)

So stay tuned ladies and I hope to see you all in the group!

Happy Hair Growing!

Update: 8-31-13

Hey Guys!

I am officially back and I am able to write again!

Over the past month I have been in the processing of moving and starting a new job so making the transition took up a lot of my time.

Now to the goodies...MY HAIR!

I have noticed two major changes with my hair since my move.

1. Rapid build up on my scalp

I understand that naturally our hair and scalps will get dirty. However, I was noticing a seemingly rapid increase in the amount of buildup I was recieving. I would wash/cowash my hair and within 48 hours it would appear that my hair was never even washed! I wasn't applying anything directly to my scalp so there no extra oils being added.

I have been monitoring the buildup and find that doing a cleansing wash weekly has helped decrease the amount of buildup. Cowashing twice weekly also helps me keep my scalp clean as well. I have also started using a tea tree oil, lavender oil, and Vitamin E oil mixture to help keep my scalp clean and ease with any itchiness that I may experience.

2. Increased shedding

I am sure that the increase in shedding has to do with the amount of braidouts I do. While they are a great go-to hair style having to detangle a 2 or 3 day old braidout can shows signs of increased shedding compared to when I do a bun. But I going through a stressful move and change in environment could have also been a reason why my hair started to shed more than usual.

Again this is something that I am monitoring and if things don't slow down I will do a garlic and onion rinse or a black tea rinse.




Thanks for reading!

Be on the lookout for more updates!

Aneesah where have you been?!

Hello All!!

I have been M.I.A!

I am in the processing of moving so time has not been on my side. However, I am still keeping up with my hair.

This move has allowed me to really use low manipulation styling(mainly bunning) and keeping my hands out of my hair.

I am still washing and deep conditioning my hair and with the summer heat I use it to my advantage.

I've been doing the Inversion Method this past week so I am looking forward to a really good wash because I treat this week as an extended "prepoo" session being that the EVOO is very nourishing and moisturizing for my hair. So on my wash day it feels VERY soft and manageable.

I have been toying with the idea of having Senegalese Twist installed but I have been loving the quality time I've been having with my hair and I may hold off until the winter for them.

My products have not changed however, I am looking for a cheaper cowashing conditioner because the amount of conditioner I go through with Organix's bottle size makes it a little expensive. In the past I have tried V05 conditioners and Suave and while they were cheap I didn't like the way my hair felt. I tried Herbal Essence as well and don't recall the exact effect it had on my hair so I may try that again. I also considered trying a Creme of Nature conditioner. If anyone has any other suggestions on a good cowashing conditioner please leave a comment so I can check them out!

Thanks for following my journey!! More to come!

Change in Plans

Hey Ladies

I originally planned to stretch my relaxer until September 21st. However, I was asked to be a bridesmaid in a wedding that is taking place on November 2nd.

With that I am going on a 4 month stretch and relaxing on October 31st.

Same regimen. Same products. Different relaxer date.

I will keep you guys posted on any other changes or things that I come across in the next few months :)

What's Next...Journey to MBL

Hello All!

Since I have reached my goal of BSL I am now on a journey to MBL.

I am going to be following my regimen to attain my goal and continuing with consistency.

For those that aren't familiar with my regimen, I really allow flexibility. 

I don't have a set wash or cowash day but I do cowash atleast once a week and do an actual wash depending on what my hair needs and this can be once a week or once every two weeks.

I moisturize and seal as needed which could be daily to once every 2-3 days.

Listening to my hair really helped during this last stretch and I was able to retain a lot of my length. I don't think I could have done that following a very strict regimen. 

Once I reach MBL I don't plan to go any longer. I will just maintain that length. I know how my hair is and anything past MBL is going to be torturous lol. 

Continue to follow my on my journey to MBL :)

RELAXER DAY!!: Picture Heavy

Today I reached the 6-month mark of my stretch!

I followed the same route outlined in my previous post for relaxer preparation and my relaxer process. I ended up only needing 14 minutes instead of 16 and my results are lovely!

For a detailed update check out my latest video on my YouTube channel.

Texlax Update

I loved the experience with this stretch and really learned a lot about my hair. I was able to narrow down my staple hair products and learn to care for hair. I got length, thickness, and an added boost of confidence in knowing my regimen is working!

Will I do another 6-month stretch? Yes, but no time soon. I will relax every 3-4 months for now. My next relaxer will be September 21st, 2013.

ORS No Lye Relaxer Normal + EVOO

Africa's Best Super Gro Hair & Scalp Conditioner 

*main ingredient is petroleum so it makes for a good scalp base*

100% Natural Coconut Oil for previously relaxed ends

Relaxer Kit Contents

COUPONS! :)

Before

Total application and smoothing time

Texlaxed hair washed

After: BSL

Front view

Ponytail length

I am considering going for MBL because I had not anticipated reaching my goal length so soon. I believe it is attainable at this point. If I reach MBL I am going to maintain that length with no plans of going past that.

I am LOVING my results and am excited for what this next 3 month stretch has for my hair :)

Thanks for the support!

Week 25 of 26 Week Stretch

That's right ladies!! I have just one week remaining in this stretch and I am so excited.

What is the week ahead looking like in terms of preparation for my relaxer?

Very simple.

Wednesday I will be doing my final wash. This will include a heavy protein treatment using the Vitale Hair Mayo, a moisturizing deep conditioning treatment, and pre-basing my scalp.

I do base my scalp again on my relaxer day but I found during my last relaxer in December that pre-basing kept my hair moist leading up to the relaxer.

I will be sure to moisturize and seal my hair generously as I will not be redoing my hair from the time I wash it until its time to relax.

On my relaxer day I am still going to use the ORS Relaxer in normal strength. The mix will be the same (1/2 activator + 1/2 EVOO + relaxer cream)

I will be applying the relaxer in 6 sections instead of 4 because my new growth is out of this world!! And because of the extra thickness I will be adding on an additional 2 minutes to my application and smoothing process which will be 16 minutes.

I'm going to blow dry and straighten my hair. And finish with a trim using the Split Ender.

I'll be sure to post pictures of the results.

Staple Products

After being on my hair journey for a little over a year, I've had the pleasure of trying out several products. With that I have also been able to weed out the products that didn't work and actually found my staple products. This list includes products and vitamins that will be around for quite some time!

Shampoos

• Organix Luxurious Moroccan Argan Creme Shampoo
• ORS Creamy Aloe Shampoo 
• Relaxer day ONLY

Conditioner

• Organix Luxurious Moroccan Argan Creme Conditioner
• Used in deep conditioning treatments
• Cowashes

Protein Treatments

• Caramel Treatment
• Every 4 weeks
• ORS Replenishing Conditioner
• light protein
• Vitale Olive Oil Hair Mayo
• heavy protein before relaxer

Moisturizers

• Elasta QP Olive Oil & Mango Butter Moisturizer
• Hawaiian Silky 14 in 1 Miracle Worker

Oils

• EVOO
• Grapeseed Oil
• Castor Oil
• Lavender & Eucalyptus Oil for EVOO mix

Miscellaneous

• Aloe Vera Gel

Vitamins

• 5000 mcg Biotin
• 1000 mg MSM
• Garlic Supplements
• Mineral Rich

*Not pictured Aloe Vera Gel & Mineral Rich

Random Length Check

A few days ago after a cowash I stretched my hair to see where it was. Keep in mind I am 22 weeks post relaxer and I still have 4 weeks left to go.

I am about 1-2 inches from Grazing BSL!! I will consider myself full BSL once my hair hits the bottom of my bra. This is a very exciting realization because I know that everything that I have done up until this point has been working. I have been retaining my length!

I then snapped a picture from last year fairly close to the start of my hair journey and was even more elated at the results that I am receiving...

So basically in a year I went from SL to BSL which is remarkable for me considering this is probably the longest my hair has ever been in my adult life :)

This just motivates me to keep pushing myself because even through all of the doubts about the whole point in washing, cowashing, deep conditioning, moisturizing and sealing my hair I know something is working and I am going to stick to it!

Most people blog and post videos when their hair is already long. I started from the bottom and I'm coming up so I appreciate everyone who is watching and reading along my journey :)

Elasta QP Olive Oil & Mango Butter Moisturizer: Review

I have been sleeping on this product!!!

By far the BEST moisturizer to hit my hair since I started my hair journey.

It makes my braidouts feel fluffy and soft and my new growth is beyond manageable using this.

I've used it every other day. It smells great. Feels great. And is now a staple moisturizer for me! I've already gotten rid of my other moisturizers because Elasta QP is in the building to stay :)

I paid $5.99 for a jar although I think they may be cheaper at other stores. 

Rating: 5+ stars

Uses: Daily moisturizer

Final thoughts: GO GET YOU A JAR!!!

Caramel Treatment: Tutorial

Click below for the video of how I mixed my caramel treatment.

I still had great results and will continue to incorporate this in my hair journey!

Hope you enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azCNhkuY7D4&feature=youtu.be

Subscribe!

Two Strand Twist

I recently put my hair in two strands as a protective style. Check out my video to see how they turned out and other updates!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JsYsqE8Ljg

Protective styles are really good on a stretch and I've been trying to experiment with new ways to keep my ends protected. Two strands twists are possible on relaxed/texlaxed hair and I'm happy I took the time to do them.

It took me 3 hours to do them. I used Grapeseed oil and Olive Oil Ecostyler Gel to twist the hair. For my ends I used grey perm rods and that really helped to close the ends for a more finished look.

I am able to do multiple styles with my twists and love the versatility.

Week 20 of 26 Week Stretch

I reached the 20 week mark!!

I am really learning to work with my hair and wash days aren't as horrific.

I deep condition for 2-4 hours instead of 30 minutes with heat. I find my results to be much smoother and more long term moisturizing. I still use the steamer for my hot oil treatments.

I also detangle under running water and either put my hair plats while in the shower or bun.

This makes my styling process a lot easier. Once my hair is somewhat dry I apply my oils and leave ins and bun for a few days. My new growth isn't as dry this way.

I really want to trim my ends because I noticed some dry areas so I plan to take off an inch on my relaxer day.

Overall, I'm happy with my progress thus far and praying that the next 6 weeks will be a breeze!

20 weeks down...6 more to go!!!

Caramel Treatment Recipe and Review

As many of you know I have been having the time of my life dealing with my new growth.

Knots...tangles...dryness...the list could go on.

No matter how much I deep conditioned and moisturized and sealed my hair it didn't seem to help.

So I went online and researched different tips, recipes, or ideas to soften my hair.

I came across a recipe called the Caramel Treatment that helps to soften and stretch "kinky" hair. My assumption is that is a treatment that is famous amongst women with African American hair textures.

The ingredients are fairly inexpensive and was easy to prep.

The directions can be found at this link.

I followed the recipe and directions from start to finish.

I let it sit on my hair for  1 hour and 20 minutes exactly without added heat. The only thing I hated was the smell. It was not a pleasant smell but something that I could get over.

I washed my hair using the Organix Moroccan Argan Creme Shampoo and followed with their conditioner. I let that sit on my hair for 10 minutes and rinsed with cool water.

I applied my leave-in and grapeseed oil.

To my surprise I had great slip and my hair was actually manageable to the point that I could put it in a bun!!! I seriously have not been able to bun my hair since the beginning of my stretch because I hate fighting with my hair trying to fully detangle it. I found that though my hair is still very thick it is much softer and the curl pattern is slightly looser but the texture is very noticeable.

The website says that this treatment should only be done once a month and from these results it will be in my regimen for good!

If anyone has issues with the manageability of their hair or new growth this is definite must! You have nothing to lose and they don't call it a hair "journey" for no reason :)

Week 17 of 26 Week Stretch

I hit my 17 week mark on Sunday and I must say this experience is hair changing lol.

My hair is SO thick and it has become more and more of a challenge to wash my hair. No matter how many sections I wash in I find that my new growth is extremely challenging to work with.

I know this is a trial and error situation but it is very scary at the same time because when you're on a stretch you want to reap the benefits not the setbacks.

I noticed an increased amount of shedding but that could due to the fact that I wear a braid out for 2-3 days without any manipulation aside from fluffing. So I haven't completely freaked out yet. I don't wear buns because of the thickness of my hair and they start to look crazy. So I am still playing around with other protective styles until I can find something that really works. I am considering rocking my wigs for the remainder of the stretch but that is still sketchy.

I am tempted to straighten my hair and trim my ends now but I want to do that once I have finished my stretch but I know my ends are hollering and it is imperative that I keep them protected.

Breakage hasn't been terrible but it's certainly more than I am used to and I want to fix it now rather than later.

I have updated my regimen which will be in detail in a different post. Products are pretty much the same but I have fallen in love with grapeseed oil!

Stay tuned for more updates on my blog and on my YouTube channel.

17 weeks down...9 more to go!!!

1 Year Hair Anniversary!

Today is marks one year that I have been on my hair journey!

Looking back over the year I have made such great progress and can't believe how far I've come.

I started my hair journey at neck length. After having my hair basically chopped off at the salon I knew it was time to take my hair into my own hands literally.

I found Hairlista, KISS, and YouTube! I spent countless hours researching ways to grow my hair on my own and learned so much from great women on the same journey to healthy hair growth.

I found a regimen that worked for me and what I found to work best for me overall from ALL the products, theories, and growth aides was CONSISTENCY! Being consistent with my regimen provided with me with the greatest results.

Since I am on a no heat challenge I didn't straighten my hair to see the actual results. This picture was taken February 2013. I have gained another inch since this picture. And I am about 2-3 inches away from BSL.

What I found to work:

• consistency
• protective styling
• low manipulation
• moisture

As I move forward into my hair journey I plan to keep my regimen very simple and continue to listen to my hair.

Pro-150 Hair Steamer: Initial Review

HEY GUYS!!

I am SO very excited about my most recent purchase.

I ordered a hair steamer from eBay and am very pleased thus far with what I have received.

I ordered the steamer on March 31st and I received it April 5th. (Roughly a week to arrive to my location.)

I ordered from divinepro who is a seller with a 99.8% customer satisfaction review.

When I purchased the steamer it was $84.99 with free shipping. Now the price has increased to $94.99 with free shipping. I'm guessing that the popularity has caused a rise in the price. However, in my opinion the price is still good compared to other hair steamers.

The assembly was very easy. You will need a pliers but other that it is basic snap-snap assembly. It took about 5 minutes to warm up and start producing steam. Another plus is that I can use tap water so I don't have to find distilled water for it.

Overall I am very happy and will do a more detailed review once I actually use it.

The link is above if you want to check out the steamer and other products this seller sells.

I will also being doing a video for the steamer on my YouTube channel. If you haven't already taken a peak over there this is the link. SUBSCRIBE!!  My YouTube Channel

Product Haul and Reviews

I went on a product haul as a little treat for myself last week :) It didn't help that I had a 15% off coupon for Sally's which gets me every time.

Since I have fallen madly in love with Silk Elements Silken Child I went ahead and purchased their entire line. This included shampoo, conditioner, deep conditioner, leave-in conditioner, and moisturizer. So far I have used all of them and my hair loves it!

I also picked up a product that I had been eyeing for a very long time and have heard rave reviews about. The As I Am Coconut Cowash Cleansing Conditioner. It smells really good and the consistency is great. It was great when I used it and I will definitely repurchase in the future.

I also picked up a new detangling comb that I wanted to try out as well and hope it helps when I start to get a lot of new growth combing in.

Wash Day 3-27-13 + Castor Oil Challenge

Today I did a cowash using my ORS Replenishing Conditioner. I felt that my hair needed some protein in it and surely enough my hair feels LOVELY! I didn't follow up with a moisturizing conditioner like I usually do because I wanted my hair to take the protein in.

I detangled my hair in 4 sections and applied my castor oil mix to my scalp. Which brings me to my next personal challenge for the remaining 3 months of my stretch.

I am doing a personal Castor Oil Challenge from March 27-June 19th.

My mix is similar to my EVOO Mix

Castor Oil Mix

4oz Castor Oil

25 drops Lavender Oil (for scent)

25 drops Eucalyptus

I was unable to take starting photos but the closest length I had was from a photo I took the day before my box braids got installed and the day I last flat ironed my hair in December.

My regimen will only change slightly.

• Wash 1x/week (Deep Condition)
• Cowash 1x/week
• Air Dry
• Apply castor mix only on wash/cowash days.
• The only exception is during the week that I am doing the EVOO inversion method.

I am going to protective style 100% of the time now until my relaxer!

So excited for this challenge and if anyone wants to join me feel free to comment below so I can check in with you :)

Halfway Mark of My Stretch!

Hello All!!!

Today I am 13 weeks post! That's right I have officially made it halfway through my 6-Month stretch.

I still have not used heat on my hair and with that I can feel the thickness and fullness of my hair.

The two things that are key that I mention ALL the time is moisture and low manipulation. I really try to keep my regimen simple.

For the past 13 weeks I've followed this regimen.

• Wash 1x/week
• Cowash 1x/week
• Deep Condition after each wash
• Air dry
• Oil scalp with EVOO mix (Inversion method 1week/month)
• Protective style 90% 
• Low manipulation style 10% 
• Moisturize and seal every other day

It has been working. I plan to only change a few things. I plan to adjust the number of washes I do per week and minimize it to once a week alternating between washes and cowashes each week. I also plan to increase the days I moisturize and seal to almost daily. I plan to protective style 100% of the time to really protect my ends. These changes will ensure that my remaining 13 weeks will be the best!

Hooray!

13 weeks down...13 weeks to go!!!

           

Cheating on My Hair: Long-Term Protective Styles

So I have been in these box braids for almost 4 weeks (Tuesday).

And what I have come to learn about long-term protective styles is the fact that I miss MY hair.

I miss the washing, deep conditioning, and all around TLC that I give my hair. With that I have decided to take the braids out and get back to the basics of MY hair.

I think wigs are the all around best option for me so I will do some research and get wig closet stocked so that I can add some versatility to my hair without any full time commitment.

I feel like I'm cheating on my hair with these braids lol.

If any of you are on a healthy hair journey you can relate to this love-hate relationship with long-term protective styles! :)

And with that I am....

12 weeks down...14 weeks to go!!! 

Wash Day in Box Braids

Hello all!

I did my first wash in my braids on Saturday. Very successful might I add and I wanted to share my experience and hopefully be a help to someone reading this post about caring for the braids.

Once in the shower, I spent about 10 minutes just massaging my scalp with warm water to help remove some of the dirt before applying my conditioner. 

Then I applied a small amount of conditioner only to my fingertips and massaged it in small sections until my entire scalp was covered. I then took the length of the braids and coated them with conditioner and left it on for about 20 minutes. 

I rinsed it all out and towel dried as much of the water as I could.

Then I immediately coated the length of my braids with EVOO and oiled my scalp with my EVOO mix. This was to make sure my hair was moisturized and prevent any unnecessary dryness.

Once my hair was about 95% dry I spritzed my Silk Elements Silken Child Leave-In Conditioner over my entire head.

My braids feel moisturized and I count that as a plus considering how drying they can be without proper care.

Thanks for reading!

ASR

Week 9 of 26 week Stretch

Yes! I am a third of the way into my stretch and I'm actually doing really well.

Of course last week I got my box braids installed so I am in this protective style for a few weeks.

There really isn't much of an update aside from the fact that I oiled my scalp last night with the EVOO mix and used my moisturizing spritzed. With these braids I will be able to knock out 10-14 weeks of my stretch without worrying about my hair too much.

Of course I will still be washing, conditioning, moisturizing, and sealing these braids but my ends being exposed won't be an issue.

So here's to week 9!


                                   

9 weeks down...17 weeks to go!

                                      

Box Braids/ Sew-In: Hair Care

These are a few tips that I found very useful for me in terms of prepping for a braid or sew-in installation as well as care for the duration of having a long term protective style.

1. Wait 2 weeks after you have received a chemical treatment before you install any braids or a sew-in. When you apply a chemical treatment you are weakening your hair strands and immediately doing an install will cause extreme breakage or hair loss.

2. Do a good protein treatment and moisturizing deep conditioning treatment 1-2 days before your install. This will put that protein and moisture balance into your hair strands prior to the installation.

3. NEVER BRAID BREAKING OR DAMAGED HAIR! Too many times people think the solution to damaged hair is hiding it under braids or a sew-in. This is a recipe for disaster when you take down your install. Correct any damage before putting braids or sew-ins into your hair by conditioning and trimming any dead ends.

4. Don't braid your hair too tightly. Braiding hair too tightly will cause hair loss along your edges and nape. Ensure that the braids are secure without excess pull.

5. Alternate between a protein and moisture spray. Again, keeping the protein and moisture balance is imperative even though your hair is hidden. Spritz your hair 4 days with a moisturizing spray and 1 day with a protein spray.

6. Lightly seal hair with an oil. This is the same as moisturizing and sealing your hair. Find an oil that will light enough not to create build up.

7. Oil scalp as needed...not daily. You don't want to create build up on your scalp because you won't be washing your hair as often since it is under braids.

8. Shampoo and condition every 7-10 days. Once a week is enough to shampoo/condition your hair. Any more than that will of course create frizz. If you choose to still deep condition it is recommended that you dilute the products with water to help with the process of rinsing all of the product out.

9. Cover hair with a satin bonnet. Treat your installs like you would treat your real hair. You wouldn't go to bed with a scarf so why would you go to bed without one since you have an install?

Hopefully these tips will help you to retain as much length as possible with your installs!

Length Check: 2-18-13

I did my last wash before my box braids on Sunday. Today I was chatting with a hair buddy and she wanted to see my growth from doing the EVOO inversion method. So I surprised myself as well when I got this...

My hair grew! Although this isn't the most accurate length check due to shrinkage I am still very proud of the length that I've retained thus far on my stretch!

It makes me even more excited to get to finish line and do my texlax and straighten it.

So this is the length before I put in the box braids and I will post another picture after I take them down in a few months.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil: GROWTH!!

Hey Guys!!

So I found yet another hair growth technique that I believe really worked!

It requires very little effort and the results are apparent in 7 days!

I watched a video with a girl who used Extra Virgin Olive Oil and the inversion method to grow her hair in a week.

I did this for 5 days using my mix (EVOO, Lavender Oil, and Eucalyptus Oil). I laid upside down over the edge of my bed for 4 minutes (2 minutes on my stomach + 2 minutes on my back)

I did see growth! Of course I couldn't get an actual length check because I am on a no heat challenge for the next six months but I could feel the difference in wear my hair rested on my back!

The thing I love most is that I was basically prepooing my hair and it was really moisturized. However, I have to wash 2-3 times a week to avoid build-up and I also have to start incorporating a light protein treatment weekly to keep my hair in balance.

Overall it makes a great growth technique.

You only have to do it 1 week per month and then start again the next month. So I will start this again March 1st!

Give it a go! You have nothing to lose but LOTS of hair growth to gain :) 

Wash Day 2/6/13 + Week 6 of 26 Stretch

Hello All!

Today I did my wash.

I washed with my ORS Creamy Aloe Shampoo and did a light protein treatment using the ORS Replenishing Conditioner. I deep conditioned for 1 hour without heat.

I rinsed and detangled.

I applied a new Extra Virgin Olive Oil mix that I just came up with out of no where. I have found that EVOO is really moisturizing for my new growth so I wanted to try an oil mix with EVOO as my base.

EVOO MIX:

4oz EVOO

25 drops of Lavender Oil

25 drops of Eucalyptus Oil

I mixed it together and applied it my scalp and massaged it in. 

I sprayed my hair with my oh so lovely Silk Elements Silken Child Leave-In Conditioner and put my hair in 6 french braids to prep for a braidout this Saturday for my birthday.

Of course my hair feels really soft and I can't wait to see the results of the braidout.

In other news, I am a little over 6 weeks into my stretch! My regimen has not changed. I only wash on Saturday and moisturize and seal on Sunday and Wednesday.

I realized my hair is APL without heat so I can only imagine what my length will be in June :)

I am really focusing on my ends and making sure they are properly tucked away so I am considering box braids again now that I am able to keep up with maintenance.

I am still going strong on my NO-Heat and Water challenges! I feel a difference in my hair and my overall energy.

More updates to come!

6 weeks down...20 more to go!

Week 4 of 26 Week Stretch

Hello All!

I am officially 1 month into my 6-Month Stretch!

I'm seeing some growth so far and I've been doing great.

I have been following a low manipulation routine to help keep my hands out of my hair. Washing once a week and moisturizing and sealing twice a week has been doing great things.

I have been wearing protective styles 99.9% of the time (braidouts as a bun, bun, granny plats, french braids)

I only comb my hair once a week on wash days and I'm deep conditioning with every wash.

I noticed less breakage and shedding with this regimen and I'm sure as the months go on I will change it to fit what my hair needs.

I am considering a long term protective style but that won't happen until I am 3 or 4 months post.

Basically I am keeping it simple for this stretch but I am keeping track of changes along the way.

4 weeks down...22 more to go!

Hair Care & College: A Healthy Balance

Hello Everyone!

I am currently inbetween classes and I just realized something about my hair.

I have not washed, cowashed, moisturized, sealed, applied a growth aid, or combed my hair in almost ONE week...sounds crazy right?

Well in all actuality for me it's not.

Last Saturday I washed my hair and on that Sunday I moisturized and sealed with extra virgin olive oil. I had my hair braided up in my usual granny plats and on Tuesday I wore a braidout.

During the week my schedule got rather hectic between work and class so somehow I managed to miss out on my usual hair routine but to my surprise I've been doing just fine.

I do wear a silk bonnet at night so I monitored my hair for any dryness or breakage. (NONE) and just bunned my braidout as protective style.

I've noticed that I have not been manipulating my hair as much which to me will serve as a wonderful thing at the end of this stretch.

I have found that maybe a once a week TLC session may be just what my hair needs and I pray that it continues to work out. So I will continue to rock this braidout/bun and do another wash on this coming Saturday and start the process all over again.

And a side note: EVOO is AMAZING! My hair still feels great after not applying any other oils or products to my hair.

I guess going back to the basics of my regimen are really turning out to be great.

Simply put...don't feel like you have to choose between your hair and school (or anything else for that matter). KEEP YOUR PRIORITIES IN LINE!

Make changes...try new things...and it will all come together in the end.

WHAT THE HECK!

Hey Guys,                 

Ok so if you all read my previous post I did a wash last night and a moisturizing deep condition.

I originally planned to wear my granny plats for the week but I took down the front half and wore a beanie over the back half.

I noticed my ends were SO dry! Like jeez I just gave my hair the ultimate TLC session last night so it should feel like butter today and it doesn't.  -_-


To get my ends back together I used my moisturizing spritz and sealed with EVOO and threw 10 bantu knots in it for the night. I'll reassess in the morning. I may have to start using my whipped shea butter instead of the spritz because it's thicker and will better keep my ends together but I will see.

I can't have issues like this so early into such a long stretch but I plan to use these 6 months as a true learning process for my hair. But I don't want more harm than good done so I will take it day-by day :)

Week 2 of 26 Week Stretch

Today was such a great wash day!

Detangled on damp hair using my spritz that I mixed up. 

Placed my hair in 4 sections for easier detangling later during the process.

Washed using my Roux Porosity Control Shampoo.

Deep conditioned with a plastic cap and sat under the dryer for 45 minutes
          --I don't know why I stopped deep conditioning with heat but my hair LOVES it!

Rinsed with cool/cold water (SO HARD TO DO IN THE SHOWER! FREEZING! lol)

Kept my hair in 4 sections and detangled again.

Applied my Beautiful Textures Tangle Taming Leave-In Conditioner and Coconut Oil.

Now my hair is braid in 10 plats to air dry and probably leave in for my protective style for the week (with a beanie)

My hair feels really good and my scalp feels clean.

2 weeks down...24 more to go!