1-Month Castor Oil Check-In

Hey All!

Yesterday marked one month of the Hairlista Castor Oil Challenge Part 10.

Sunshyne posted a discussion for participants to upload their results for the first month so I am doing the same here on my blog :)

I missed out on one week of application so this is actually more of a 3 week update. Nonetheless I have received noticeable growth.

At the beginning of this challenge I had a major issue with itchiness on my scalp but from further applications the itchiness has subsided dramatically. I have incorporated more cowashes as needed to combat buildup and prevent irritation.
My hair of course is also softer and much more manageable. When I wash my hair I pre-poo with the castor oil mix and do a hot oil treatment.

For this upcoming month I am going to do the inversion method and Greenhouse Effect to help stimulate growth as well.

Curly Girl Method

I have unintentionally been following the Curly Girl Method to some degree.

This link will provide details about the method and the benefits for all of my fellow naturalistas. I do believe some of the method can be applied to relaxed and texlaxed listas as well.

Essentially the method is simply removing shampoo from your regimen and you only cleanse your hair with conditioner. The conditioner of course has to be sulfate free and silicone free. Products containing these ingredients typically only gives hair a fake sheen but the products aren't actually cleansing the hair or penetrating the hair shaft. This leads to buildup which can lead to breakage.

The only conditioner I have been using on my hair is the Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Conditioner. While the styling products from this line are a complete tragedy on my hair, this conditioner does the trick for cleansing and moisturizing my hair.
For my cheapie cowashing conditioner I use Tresseme Naturals Nourishing Moisture Conditioner Aloe Vera and Avocado. This is sulfate free and much cheaper than the Shea Moisture conditioner. It offers great slip on my hair and the price you pay for the size of the bottle is great as well.

The method also encourages everyone to follow the L-O-C method (Liquid, Oil, Cream). This is the general order of how to moisturize your hair in order to achieve long-lasting moisture on your hair. It doesn't have to be done in this order but it is ideal. I use the L-O-C method when I moisturize my hair and it is WONDERFUL! Typically when my hair is dripping wet out of the shower I apply my oil so I've already knocked out the L-O. Then I section and detangle my hair and apply my whipped shea butter mix as my C. Some people use a store product for their cream and that is fine as well.

Following the Curly Girl Method has helped me lock moisture in my hair for longer periods of time and I don't have to re-moisturize as frequently.

What's Next... 
I was approached by an It Works distributor about trying out their Hair, Skin, and Nail vitamins. I am always apprehensive about changing things in my regimen when my current vitamins and products are working. We talked back and forth for about a month and this gave me time to do my own research of the company and the product as well. I watched countless YouTube videos to see what others had to say about the vitamins and decided to take the plunge. 
DISCLOSURE: I AM PURCHASING THIS PRODUCT WITH MY OWN MONEY! 
I will be testing the product for 3 consecutive months because usually that's about the time it takes to see if a product in fact makes a difference on my hair, skin, and nails. Once I receive the vitamins I will be doing an initial review on my YouTube channel as well as write an blog post covering essential details. 


Thank you for reading and catch you guys next time!
AR 

Length Check with Pictures

Hey guys!

I am SO excited for this post because I shocked myself during my last length check.

I am a little over 4 months natural as of September 3rd. In this short amount of time I have seen my hair do some rather extraordinary things in terms of growth. When I first big chopped I could barely do two-strand twists without them unraveling and now I am knocking out twist-outs left and right.

I can style my hair much better now because it's getting long enough to the point that it doesn't look crazy :)

Pics...

       

So as you can see from previous posts my hair is doing great. But if you still don't see it how about side-by-side comparisons? :) This growth spurt spans from the beginning of August until a few days ago.

Everyone has been asking me "What are you doing!?" And honestly I haven't done much of anything. I currently wash my hair about once a week and just have it in twist and then wear a twist out. Then it's back to wash day, twist, twist out.

What's Next...
For the next 3 months I am going to participate in the Hairlista Castor Oil Challenge Part 10. I will be in the Extreme Group where I will be applying my castor oil mix every other day with a scalp massage. I am using the Home Health 100% Castor Oil mixed with Vitamin E oil. I purchased a 32oz bottle because it was cheaper than purchasing an 8oz bottle.

The Challenge is run from September 19th- December 19th.

I hope you all will join in! The link is above for more information.

Thanks for reading!
AR

Protective Style: Phase 2

Hello All!

I am now in Phase 2 of this Totally Tucked Challenge!

I'm back to the braids....or Kinky Twist. :)

I had my hair out for about 2 weeks which gave me time to wash and condition my hair and prep for it to be re-braided.

This issue that most people run into when doing braids as a protective style is that they don't give their hair time to breathe in-between their installs. Which ultimately leads to hair loss along your edges and nape. I have an example that literally made my stomach drop:

     I walked into the African braiding shop and was asked to sit until someone could start my hair. I surveyed the other chairs just to see about how long my wait would be.
     There was a lady that was getting micro braids removed from her head. The stylist AND the client were both using a rat-tail comb snatching the braids out in what seemed to be the most unpleasant experience. Once the hair was undone they took her in the back to "wash" her hair. (No detangling, deep conditioning, no TLC.) They brought her back to the chair in less than 5 minutes and began to blow dry her hair...again no detangling, no heat protector, no TLC.
     After they blow dried it they immediately put cornrows in her hair to prep for a crochet braid style. I couldn't watch anymore because I was sure at that point my mouth was wide open.

Long story short....your hair needs time! No one knows your hair like you do. I took the last two weeks to give my hair a break before being handled again. My hair is very strong so a little TLC goes a long way.

I got kinky twist this time around. Something different that I haven't had in a while. They are shorter in length which I like a lot because the long hair was annoying especially after having it in for 3 months.

If all goes as planned I won't being seeing my hair until August! I won't be doing many updates being that my hair will be braided up but I will definitely keep you guys informed of anything interesting.

Thanks for reading!

AR

Updates!

Hey All!

Sorry for the delay in posts! I just got back from my cruise so before that time was very limited.

Updates on my hair:

I did my final mini chop on January 26th. I only did a mini chop because I knew I wanted to have senegalese twists installed and didn't want to risk my braids falling out from being too short as mentioned in previous posts. So I don't have very much relaxed hair remaining at all.

After I remove these braids I am going to a natural hair stylist to completely chop my hair off and then have another set of braids installed for another 3 months.

My focus for this year is to simply grow my hair back out. And in order for me to do that in a way that is healthy I am planning to leave my hair in braids for the entire 2015 year. That's right! The "Totally Tucked Challenge" is under way. I am going to experiment with crochet braids, nubian twists, kinky twists, box braids, and twists in order to have my hair protected. I am seeing growth already in the 3 weeks that I have had these twists installed so I am looking forward to seeing the growth in May when I take them down.

I have struggled this past week with oiling my scalp due to a severe sinus infection but I am back up and running and will be dedicating these next few months to Operation TLC!

I have joined challenges on Hairlista to keep me encouraged as well as to get insight from other ladies dealing with similar issues. If you haven't visited the website head over now and create a free profile and dive into the wonderful world of hair care!

www.hairlista.com

Thanks for reading!
AR

Week 15 of 26 Week Stretch

Hello All!

I am coming up on the 15th week of my 6-month stretch!

It has only been a little over a week since I had my box braids installed and the braids are doing great. I am reaching that point where my scalp is extremely itchy. During this time I get antsy and get the urge to take down my braids. However, I have been researching different home methods to ease the itching.

I tried a spritz last night on my scalp that I found to be relieving but I think I will only spritz my hair with the mixture one or two times per week.

My Scalp Relief Recipe



 2 parts water

1 part witch hazel

A few drops of peppermint oil

I sprayed this mixture directly to my scalp only and almost instantly it was soothing and the itching ceased.

So far I have no complaints just making sure my hair remains moisturized in these braids...

Here's to another great week!!

 

 

15 weeks down...11 weeks to go!

 

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!

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!!!

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!!! 

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!

                                      

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!

2013 Personal Challenges!

As the new year slowly approaches so are the many ideas I have for my hair to help make 2013 the most successful year for my hair.

Since I started my hair journey in April I have wanted to do a few challenges for myself.

January 1st will mark the start of a few personal challenges

1. 6 Month Stretch

• I want to do a 6-Month Stretch starting on January 1st ending July 2nd. 
• During this stretch I want to focus on my ends and length retention.

2. 6 Month No Heat Challenge 

• Along with my 6 month stretch I want to take out all forms of direct heat for 6 months as well. This may be hard considering that as the weeks go by my new growth will be a lot harder to manage but I know that the thickness will be rewarding in the end.
• If anyone has any suggestions on how to manage new growth so far into a stretch let me know.
• No blowouts, flat ironing, etc.

3. 12 Month Water Challenge

• Last year I did a 6 month water challenge with great results
• For the year of 2013 I will ONLY be drinking water 6 days a week. 
• My free day will be Saturdays where I will only be able to drink 100% fruit juices or teas.
• Finish 2 liters of water per day

With these challenges I will continue to use my regular products and regimen which include protective styling, deep conditioning, cowashing, etc.

My overall goal of these challenges are to make them an everyday part of my hair care regimen so that ultimately they won't be such a "challenge" but just the norm. And hopefully by 2014 I will have incorporated them fully into my regimen.

If anyone wants to join me on any or all of these challenges feel free to comment below or shoot me a message on any of the contacts below so we can stay in touch!!

Contact info:

Hairlista: http://www.hairlista.com/profile/AneesahRichardson

Email: aneerich@gmail.com

Twitter: NeesyPoo_13

Instagram: aneerich

I'm Wiggin' It!

That's right! I am going to rock my wigs and half wigs as a protective style for the entire month of July. I find that sew-ins are cute but I am the type that likes to feel my hair and wash it and do all of my regular maintenance without having to go between braids and wefts lol

So I think this will be the plan:

At the beginning of each week I will wash my hair and deep condition. I will braid up my hair in plats that are just small enough that my growth aids can properly reach my scalp.

I will leave them in my hair and use a moisturizing spritz to moisturize and seal my hair  without taking down the plats. If I find that my hair is holding up ok I will try to hold out on the wash and just wash every two weeks. (Scary lol)

Most importantly I will be listening to my hair and I will hopefully retain my length!

JULY IS MY WIG OUT MONTH!!

Texlax #2 & Other Updates

Hello All!!

I did my second texlax yesterday night and it was another huge success!!! I used ORS Relaxer in the Normal formula and mixed in Avocado Oil which replaced the 1/2 of the activator that I didn't use.
I have found that with me texlaxing my hair is growing in a lot faster so I may have to tweak the number of weeks I stretch from 13 to maybe 9 or 10 weeks.

I did see some growth! (Excited) So today is the only day I am wearing my hair down then it's back to buns, braid outs, and half wigs until my next relaxer. I am hoping by the end of the summer to be Full SL :)

PICS...

 Looks like maybe 1" of growth

The Summer Hair Challenge is going well and thanks in large part to that challenge and my daily updates in my log, I am able to actually track my progress.

Also, I have incorporated exercising daily into my regimen. 15-30 minutes and on my "down days" I usually just go for a walk. If you have an iPhone or iPad download the "Nike Training Club" app. It's great and easy to use!

I still eat a fruit and one salad a day so I'm getting tons of good nutrition that will help my hair.

I am only using Hair Trigger Growth Elixir and Gro Aut Oil on my scalp and love how BOTH of them make my hair feel and have seen great results from consistent usage!

NOTE: I did not trim my ends this relaxer but plan to trim them during my next relaxer or in December.

Long-Term Protective Style: BOX BRAIDS

Yesterday I got some box braids put in and LOVE the results! Protective styles protect your ends and allow you to give your hair a rest. My braids are about medium sized which is perfect for me because I hate taking braids down. I can also apply my growth aides with ease.

I plan to leave them in for the duration of the Hairlista Summer challenge which is about 2 1/2 months. I may take my edges down and redo them so that the braids can last longer.

My regimen for the braids are in the previous post :)

Co-wash Day

Did an unexpected co-wash today.


This summer heat has my hair feeling dry and my scalp was itchy so a quick relief was a co-wash.


I deep conditioned on dry hair and then rinsed and applied my Eden's Body Works Jojoba Monoi Conditioner.


I have my hair in 6 bantu knots that I plan to just wear in a bun tomorrow and Tuesday.


I plan to do a heavy protein treatment on Tuesday evening with a moisturizing wash to prep my hair for box braids that I plan to get installed on Thursday.


I also have been exercising and drinking tons of water! :)


There is a challenge on Hairlista that begins June 1st so that's perfect timing for everything.


The only change I will be making is my growth aide. I will use Gro Aut Oil and Hair Trigger Growth Elixir. (HTGE)


The only vitamins I'm taking now are Biotin, MSM, GNS Hair Skin and Nails, and Garlic Supplements.


I am still using the summer heat to my advantage and praying for some great results over the next few months!!


UPDATES coming soon!