6-Months Down!

Woot Woot!

Yesterday marked 6-months since I big chopped!

Time flies when you're having fun! I am writing this quick post to capture what has occured over the last 6 months in terms of growth! Previous posts go into detail about products, regimen, etc.

 

The picture on the left was my big chop twists and now I've almost doubled my length! (Turn up lol)

Excited to see what the next 6-months will hold.

Thanks for reading!

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

Crochet Braid Install

Hello All,

I got crochet braids installed yesterday and I am SO excited about having this style done on my hair because I have seen others do it and it comes out beautiful.

In addition I was a little burned out on taking care of my TWA. Due to the fact that it is at a really awkward length I haven't worn my two-strand twists out by themselves. So I have run out of beanie options because I don't like wearing beanies often in the office because it's not as professional as I would like it to be.

In preparation for this installation I did a deep conditioning treatment using the Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Deep Treatment Masque w/ Sea Kelp & Argan Oil and Olive Oil. I let it sit on my hair for 30 minutes and did a cowash with Giovanni's Tea Tree Conditioner. The tea tree is cleansing and soothing but the conditioner leaves moisture in my hair.

I did a few granny plats to allow my hair to dry before braiding. This will let my hair stretch some more.

I decided to use the the Freetress GoGo Curl hair as my hair for this install.  I chose to do black and brown mix on my hair to add a little flair. The stylist did a GREAT job taking care of my hair and the results were amazing.

She added braiding hair into my hair which will allow for this install to last a little longer than I anticipated. With proper care I imagine I can keep this in for 6-8 weeks depending on frizz and tangling.

Here are the results:

 I am getting used to the look because it is a very bold look for me. Otherwise I am happy with the outcome and can't wait for more crochet braid installs.

Thanks for reading!
AR

2-Month Update & Length Check

Hello All!

Coming with another update.

I officially hit 2 months on July 3rd.

As many of you know I had my hair in kinky twists as a protective style. Originally I had planned to keep my hair braided until about August 3rd. Well coming back from vacation I was getting restless with the twists and were ready to take to them down....so I did!

I am so geeked! I have gained more length in the last 2 months and that is such a great feeling.

 Freshly washed hair; no products added

 Left Side 3"

 Front 3.25"

 Right Side 3.25"

 Nape 3.5"

Wash Day

I took my hair down late Monday night. Tuesday I used for a wash and deep conditioning day. I washed with Carol's Daughters Black Vanilla Sulfate-Free Shampoo and deep conditioned with ORS Replenishing Conditioner. I did a oil rinse using extra virgin olive oil. (LOVED THIS).

Once out of the shower I lightly oiled my hair with grapeseed oil because it isn't as heavy as the olive oil. For my twistout I used the Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie and Eco Styler Gel. I haven't seen the results yet but my twists are holding much better this time around.

What's next?? I am going to have my hair crochet braided as a protective style. I have seen so many people achieve this look and it looks really great. I want all of my hair braided and I want it just about APL in length. So my hair will be taking a breather until August 6th. This gives me plenty of time to prep my hair and play in my curls! :)

Stay tuned for more updates and thanks for reading!

ASR

1-Month Natural Update

Hey all!

Yesterday marked my 1-month BC-versary. :)

The month flew by and because my hair is in a protective style I cannot see what growth I have gained in the month.

I'm honestly not one of those people who check week-to-week or month-to-month for growth because I don't think you can see much change in such a short time unless you are tracking the use of a growth aide.

I don't plan to take my hair down until August so by then I will have a great update!

Just keep watch for random info to be posted through this phase of my protective style challenge!

Happy Hair Growing!

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

My Hair Post-Braids

Hey All!
I finally took my box braids out after having them in for what felt like the longest 5 weeks ever!

I removed the braids and began to detangle my hair in 4 sections.

I was able to do this successfully with no problems because during the entire five weeks I made sure to keep my new growth and braids properly moisturized. This made my hair very soft and I had about 2-quarter sized amounts of shedding altogether.

I did a cleansing wash twice using the Shea Moisture Deep Cleansing African Black Soap. I had no tangling at all!

I followed with a moisturizing deep conditioner which was the Aussie Moist Conditioner mixed with the Shea Moisture Moisture Retention Conditioner.

I let it sit on my hair for 30 minutes and rinsed with cool water.

I air dried by hair for 30 minutes and then applied an EVOO mixture directly to my scalp. I then applied the Elasta QP Olive Oil & Mango Butter Moisturizer to the length of my hair and did a crown braid style.

It has been braided for going on 3 days so I will take it down and moisturize and seal my hair again tomorrow.

I am coming up on 19 weeks on Friday so I am doing ok.

I think I am going to do my Caramel Treatment this weekend as well to help with manageability.

Read my old posts for recipe and tutorial:

Caramel Treatment Recipe

Caramel Treatment Tutorial 

Thanks for reading!

Week 17 of 26 Week Stretch...

I just finished week 17 of my 6-month stretch!


Lots of new growth! I took a few snapshots to show the growth…

About 1" of new growth in a month!

17 weeks post relaxer!

The regimen that I have been using with these braids has been very minimal. 

I cowash the braids every 7-10 days. I use a spray bottle to moisturize my new growth. It contains an oil, water, and conditioner. I still use castor oil along my edges.

I typically wear the braids in ponytail but the style offers little to no manipulation within itself.

The only con that I have run into with these braids is the nape of hair has grown so much that I have had to take down an entire row so the fake hair doesn't cause damage to my real hair.

Overall I am pleased with the growth and the upkeep.

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.

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!

 

6-month Stretch is a GO!!

That's right!

I am going on my second 6-month stretch of my hair journey. With me already being 13 weeks post I am at the halfway mark and I have the experience to successfully stretch for another 13 weeks.

My current protective style is box braids! Love, love, LOVE them! They are medium in size which will allow for easy take down with little to no damage and I will be able to oil my scalp and hair generously.

I started the JBCO method on my edges which I found to be great during my last braid installation. It's just a personal idea that I came up with which I'm sure other women have done as well. I simply applied JBCO from day one of the install as a preventative measure to reduce any hair loss that may come with the braids along my edges and it worked great. When I took my last install down my hair was moisturized and my edges were still there.


I love the idea of a long-term protective style at this point of my stretch and I can't wait to see my growth at the end of the 26 weeks!

13 weeks down…13 weeks to go!

Happy New Year!

Hello All!

It has been a while since my last post  and with that there have been several changes.

Since my last post I have come across what appears to be my first "major" setback.

I was going through some personal issues that I believe caused my hair to start shedding excessively and breaking in certain areas. I did 2 trims to get my hair even but it continued to break and shed. I am currently at grazing BSL.

So once I got my hair back to a stronger state I decided to have Senegalese twist installed to give my hair a rest.

Once I take these braids out (2-3 months) I plan to go to the salon and have my hair cut to APL or SL and restart my hair growing process.

While seeing my progress is important the overall health of my hair is more important than the length.

So as the new year begins I have a goal for the year and I am making every effort to reach it.

My goal for 2014 is to reach Grazing MBL by December 31st!

Here's to 2014!

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!

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!

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 :)

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!!!

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.