Happy November!

Hello Lovelies!

Happy November!

While I am excited to be getting through the months I really wish time would slow down! Yikes!

Winter 2015 is quickly approaching and I am in no way prepared. I am simply not a winter chick neither is my hair -_-

I will be protective styling as usual. Not many puffs will be worn because I don't want breakage. But while the weather is still holding up I will flood this post with pics from an epic twist-out style that I nailed! This puff with bangs combo was a hit and will be a go-to style later in my journey.

 

Prep: Two-Strand Twist with Bangs 

 

Initial Take Down

 

Caption says it all...

 

Shrinkage

 Moving on...

Yesterday marked the start of the ItWorks Hair, Skin, and Nail Vitamins 90 Day Challenge.

 I didn't have any problems taking the vitamins. I decided to only document the front of my hair for this challenge because it's easier to take an accurate picture for posting purposes without a lot of clutter doing multiple angles.

 

Be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel for updates! YouTube Channel and follow me on my hair journey Instagram page @aneerich_hj

Thanks for reading!

AR

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 

Inversion Method Results..

Hello All!

So I did the inversion method this past week and I was able to see 1/2"- 3/4" of an inch of growth in some areas. I am pleased with these results and can't wait to do it again in July.

The only downside to doing the Inversion Method in box braids was the itchy scalp.

I used my Scalp Relief Recipe to help with the itchiness but I noticed when I left my hair pinned up in a bun it didn't itch as bad. (Strange…)

Overall I think I got good growth!

Now I need to increase the amount of moisture because my roots feel dry. I will probably deep condition my hair my hair this weekend. If I figure out a good way to accomplish this I will write a post about it.

Thanks for reading.

Inversion Method

I started doing the Inversion Method this week.

The dates that I plan to do this method will fall from 6/17/2014 through 6/23/2014. 

It is easy to do the Inversion Method with my box braids because it helps to moisturize my new growth as well as increase growth without worrying about tangles.

I will do a cleansing wash and deep conditioning treatment on Monday. 

I have about 1/4 inch of new growth currently so after this week is up I will give you guys the results!

Stay tuned.

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 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!!!

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 :)

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!

Mineral Rich Liquid Vitamin!

Hello All!!

I got my hands on a bottle of Mineral Rich with Aloe. It is a liquid vitamin that has women raving about the hair growth they gained from using it.

I picked it up from my local health food store for $33.18 but it can be purchased online for $21.99-$23.29 plus shipping and handling.

I started using it today since I went ahead and relaxed and I will talk about that later.

It doesn't taste terrible but it does take some getting used to. The 32oz bottle will last me about a month so in a month I will come back with an update.

After doing some research I did find that liquid vitamins are better absorbed into the blood stream and absorb faster than capsule/pill vitamins because they don't have to pass through the digestive tract. I don't know why I didn't think about that sooner.

So I am happy that I finished my last bottle of Country Life Maxi Grow because that was the multivitamin I was using.

As of now these are the current vitamins that I will be using:

2 tablespoons of Mineral Rich

1- 5000 mcg Biotin capsule

2- Garlic supplements

1- 500 mg Horsetail Vitamin

I will keep you all updated on my results from the Mineral Rich!



Here are the links for the Mineral Rich:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00068OTBW/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&smid=A3OLYSHHQKD02C

http://www.christianstuff.biz/mm5/merchant.mvc?

These are the YouTube links for a couple of ladies that I researched that use the product:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRKH_IrAED8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4Ql48rcY2g

PLEASE CHECK OUT MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL AND SUBSCRIBE!!

My YouTube Channel

Green Magic vs. Liquid Gold Growth Oil

Both of these products are by the Liquid Gold product line. I have tried both equally for a consecutive month so I thought I would do a compare and contrast on the two products and share any pros and cons that I found using them.

First up: Liquid Gold Growth Oil

This oil grew my hair in about 3 1/2 weeks! I got about an inch from using it consistently every other day.

PROS: It works! You will definitely get growth. It's fairly inexpensive compared to other growth aids online. Shipping is quick. The smell is pretty good.

CONS: Since it is an oil it does run down the side of my face and get my scarves really oily and so do my pillows. The bottle is 4oz but you can order an 8oz bottle for a little more.

Second up: Green Magic Hair Growth Cream

I have been using this cream for about 3 weeks and have gained about 3/4" from consistent use of the product.

PROS: Again it works! I have gained growth from using it. Being that it is a cream it is easier to apply and does a good job of keeping my new growth moisturized as well. No funny smell (Smells limey lol)\

CONS: A little more expensive. It's $13.95 before shipping for the 4oz container. There are no larger sizes available for this product either so you have to be mindful of how much you're using.



I am really tracking my growth from November through the end of the year to see how much growth I get from the Green Magic total. Along with being consistent with the products I've been consistent with my regimen. Washing, deep conditioning, moisturizing, sealing, and protective styling. I don't think products grow your hair but they do help aid in growth along with proper hair maintenance that you set in place. This means you can't simply slap something on your scalp and not wash your hair or protect your ends and expect to have hair flowing like Rapunzel. It just doesn't work that way.

So I've set up goals for myself and plan to reach them each month along with my long-term hair goals.

I'm ready to GROW!!

Liquid Gold Sulfur Based Growth Oil: Review

I started using this product on September 9 after I used a heat pass. I did my relaxer October 5 and to my surprise I had gained 1-1 1/2" of growth from using this product! It is nothing short of a miracle in a bottle and is most definitely a staple. I have tried just about every growth aid known to man and NONE of them gave me results like Liquid Gold. This is a staple growth aid with guaranteed results.

Here is a link to their website which has more products at a great price!

http://www.liquidgoldhairproducts.com

Rating: 5 stars

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!!

Random Hair Update

My box braids are going well. Almost a week with them in and I'm not tempted to take them out lol

I have been oiling my scalp with Hair Trigger Growth Elixir and Gro Aut Oil once a day. I also spritz my hair twice a day with my mix which has water, a moisturizer, and oil (MAJOR PLUS!)

I need to figure out how to deal with itching though  -_- I have tried my Lavender & Tea Tree Oil and I may need to just apply it twice a day instead of once but I'll see.

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!

Gro-Aut Oil Challenge

I stopped my JBCO challenge because I was experiencing more shedding than I could tolerate and I will just use it in my deep conditioner instead.

With that being said I am going to start a Gro-Aut Oil Challenge starting May 12th, 2012-July 12th, 2012. I will be applying it to my scalp 5 days a week. I am having a sew-in installed next week as a long-term low manipulation style and I will adjust my normal regimen accordingly to avoid any disruption with hair underneath. I will only be using GAO as my growth aid and nothing else just to determine if that is the reason for increased growth in my hair.

Saturday is my last wash day before the sew-in gets installed and I will do a protein treatment and apply my Gro-Aut Oil.

This is the site where Gro-Aut Oil can be purchased:

http://www.myfasthairgrowth.com/pages.php/page/affiliate/?ref=3

*Updated Regimen*

Monday

• Apply growth aid
• Moisturize and Seal

Tuesday

• Co-wash
• Tresemme Split Remedy 
• VO5 or Eden Body Works Peppermint and Tea Tree Conditioner
• Air Dry 85-90% 
• Tresemme Split Remedy Leave-In Treatment
• Apply Coconut oil to ends and hair shaft (*castor oil may be used on ends if needed)

Wednesday

• Apply growth aid

Thursday

• Apply growth aid
• Moisturize and seal

Friday

• Prepoo overnight with EVOO, PPO, CO

Saturday

• Wash with Eden Body Works Jojoba Monoi Shampoo
• Deep Condition for 30minutes-1hour
• Air dry 85-90%
• Tresemme Split Remedy Leave-In Treatment
• Apply growth aid
• Apply coconut oil to ends  (*castor oil may be used on ends as needed)

Sunday

• Apply growth aid

Daily

• Take vitamins
• Drink 1 liter of water
• Scalp massage

 

*Saturday will also be a protein treatment day. I will use the Organic Roots Stimulator Replenishing Conditioner or Roux Porosity Control 3 weeks out of the month as a light protein treatment and use Africa's Best Hair Mayonnaise, Aphogee 2 Minute Reconstructor, or MegaTek Conditioner as a hard protein treatment. 

Protective Style Challenge

I am putting myself on a protective style challenge for the remainder of this month and see how much length I can retain. I will only be washing on Tuesdays and Saturdays from now on and applying my JBCO every other day. I will moisturize and seal as needed. There will be no manipulation during the week aside from making sure my hair looks presentable.

I will use plats, half wigs, and buns (minimal). I want to stay away from braided weaves as much as possible but a sew-in may be a possibility later in the summer.

I did a much needed cleansing wash, protein treatment, and moisturizing deep condition tonight to get my hair ready for the week. 

Below are pictures of the protective style I will be using. It has braids all over and the ends are bobby pinned. It looks crazy but with a hat its not half bad lol.

I am under a few challenges but they have actually become my normal routine so it just works!

Final Product