I'm Bringing Sexy Back (Literally)

As we all know, I like to show up and show out.  This past Friday was no exception.  Given the fact that I had been awakened to a whole new world of makeup that I didn't know that I didn't know about, I just knew that this past Friday was going to be extra special.

Last weekend I did a flexi-rod set mainly because I couldn't really comb through it the week before (it was thick and dry) and therefore wanted to do a minimum amount that week.  Plus, I went to a holiday party that Saturday and I wanted it to be fresh and super cute. Overall, it turned out well and lasted until I was ready to relax my hair that Thursday.

Casual Party Attire w/Fresh Curls

Spoiler Alert: It Ends Well

Well after a several month hiatus I am finally back in my hair care stride and things are going better than ever.  A few months ago I declared:  Arm Pit Length!!!  When I first made it there it was really just in a few sections and it looked good, but I was just barely there.  Today I'm at a full Arm Pit and it's looking better than ever!

Hair after a wash and blow dry a few weeks ago

What have I been up to lately?  Nothing much.  The end of the summer, early fall was filled with personal projects so hair has been a last priority.  I've continued relaxing ever 8-10 weeks with protein treatments in between, washing/co-washing every week (1 or the other), and no deep conditioning.  I think it was all the bunning and a lack of heat that really got me to where I am today.  My bangs have grown back out and all of my strands are longer.

I don't Whip my Hair Back and Forth...

You heard me!  I don't whip my hair back and forth because I don't wear my hair down anymore.  Unless it's a special occasion.  Mon-Fri you will catch my hair pulled back in a bun varying in different styles.  One of my new up and coming favorites is having the sides twisted up and pulling it back in a bun.

Please excuse the acne...

I Can't Believe it's Not Foam!

It's official.  Previously, I subscribed to the train of thought that the only way to keep and maintain curly hair via rods/rollers was by using wrap lotion.  The foam type was my lotion of choice.  But little did I know, that great curls were achievable through the use of my little concoction.

GNC or HSN?

Oh wow, please excuse my one month hiatus.   I started working on this post about a month ago, however, during that period I found a new home and have since moved in!  It's gorgeous and I'm settled in and very happy right now. 

Earlier this year I gave hair pills a try and since I received a coupon in the mail for GNC, I figured it was time to give them a try again, LOL. Since it had been recommended before I went with the GNC brand, Ultra Nourish-Hair. 

Arm Pit Length!!!!

Ok, I'm saying it loud and proud, I am ARM PIT LENGTH!  I relaxed my hair again about 2 Saturdays ago my hair was soooooo long!   I curled it that night and my hair was so full, long, and sexy!  I put my feather in my hair and said "how ya like me now?"

Going Natural?!

First things first, let's go Mavs!!!  Game 6 is on right now and it's about to go DOWN!

Secondly, throughout the past several month I've seriously been contemplating whether or not to go natural.  I have a lot of support on both sides and ultimately I know the decision is up to me.  So after playing around with it and getting use to the idea, I've finally made a decision...

Switch Up

Before you say anything... I know I've been MIA for a while, but it's been for good reason.  I have had a lot of personal changes recently, one being I finally got a new laptop today, so I'm ready and prepared to get back to regular updates.  This one is a few weeks old, but hey, it's new to you : )

I've taken my hair into my own hands again.  I was bored with the regular and not ready to go for layers again so I decided to give myself side swept bangs.

Before

Corrective Relaxer

Hello!  I'm back from vacation, bronzed and all, and I'm so ready to go back to the islands!  I did spend a lot of time in the sun and sea, so each day I had to was my hair thoroughly and still look nice for dinner each night. Believe it or not, I kept the styles very simple. No braid outs, no hair down, nothing but buns and ponytails every day and night. Overall. It was a great and much needed break from the norm.

Just Some Fun I had with my Hair

When I returned from the trip, my hair and skin were extremely dry. Even though I tried to stay moisturized on the trip, it didn't do much when I returned home. Also I had my issues with the two textures in my hair, so I began to research a corrective relaxer. It looked pretty simple. Most forums just said to wait a few weeks and to ensure that you don't keep it in longer than needed. I followed all the rules this time and only relaxed the krinkly parts of my hair. Its crazy how much of my hair wasn't relaxed. I had relaxed the roots pretty well, but had quite a few inches of unprocessed hair. I totally underestimated the growth of my last stretch! I did make sure to keep the roots untouched. I must say that I like that - not processing the roots. I might continue with that process. I did complete the remainder of the hair growth pills. Not sure if I will immediately purchase more. Since I'm going to be home more often, due to a career change, I'm going to try to get back on regimen. I must keep the growth coming!!!

Rules Smules...

Hair Updates!  I'm going to make this post quick -- I cut the remainder of my sister's relaxer out, I relaxed my hair (my hair is super long now), I bought Aloe Vera Juice (AVJ) and Veggie Glycerin, and I made KimmayTube's Leave In Condish.  Whew!  Ok, now to the details. Up first, JoJo.

She is now natural and loving it!  I cut the remainder of her relaxer up, gave her a good shampoo and condish, and did my first twist out!  It took me at least 2.5 hours to twist up her entire head, but it was worth it to get the results.  Next up, I relaxed my hair!

Horrible pic, but it's all I took.

No Relaxing @ the Pool

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This past Wednesday, I had my box next to me, set up in the room, timer on the clock, and ready to relax my hair.  I then realized that I had a ton of oils in my hair and decided to just shampoo and pull it into a ponytail with headbands.  I was out of town in a professional environment that Thursday and Friday, and I didn't feel too confident with that style.  When I returned home Friday, I was tired, busy Saturday, and swimming on Sunday.

I did research about relaxing and chlorine, and I didn't like what I read.  I'm not used to being in the water regularly, so I didn't know what the rules are, but supposedly the chlorine is chemical enough, so I shouldn't add a relaxer to the mix until I have at least a few weeks out of the water.  We are only on lesson 3 out of 10.  I will have a bit of a break due to my upcoming cruise during the first week of May.  That means, I'll have to spend the entire month in curls!  I'm at the client site Mon-Thurs now, so I don't have the luxury of looking any kind of way during the week anymore.  I will say that maintenance this week has been superb. I did not touch one curl until Friday - which has never happened to me before.  And to add to that, I liked the style more as the week progressed. 

I'm working in the office this week and I'm not sure how I'll maintain.  I need sleep at night, so I can't keep the curls up too much longer.  I'm not sure how much longer I can go without relaxing, but I'll go as long as I can!  The plan is to make it until next week.  Let's see what happens!

Master of Many Trades

I've gone from mastering curls to mastering the braid out.  Yes, I did say the braid out and no, I didn't look like Sho Nuff this time around.  I've saw this video quite a while ago on youtube, but I finally decided to give it a try since I have flexi-rods now. 

I went swimming on Thursday and afterward I did a quick co-wash with Long Term Relationship.  My hair has been freakishly soft and moisturized lately and I'm loving it!  I'll also comment that I have not missed one day of taking the Ultra Hair Plus supplements.  I can't say that I've noticed any significant growth yet, but with the less shedding and breakage, maybe I'll have thicker hair?  So after my co-wash I braided up my hair and used the flexi-rods to curl it up.  I let it air dry for a few hours and the results were fantastic!

Ultra Hair Plus... Dreams?

It's that time of the month again -- my beauty budget is replenished and new products are begging to be purchased.  This past weekend, I made a quick stop at Sally's to purchase some more flexirods (same size and smaller) plus a Denman brush - $9.99 - for detangling.  In my last post, I included a video on detangling and knew it was the right direction to go.  A regular wide tooth comb is great for separating and making it manageable, however, it is far from a detangler (at least in my hair).

Not only did I stop at Sally's but I also stopped at Vitamin Shoppe to pick up hair vitamins...  but LT, weren't you supposed to go to GNC?  Yes, let me explain.  The hubby and I had an event last Friday and afterward went out to dinner.  Me, thinking that there was a GNC nearby, wanted to go to this particular place.  Turns out, my memory served me wrong and it's a Vitamin Shoppe.  I figure, close enough and so I go in and browse.  As I'm reading the ingredients of the products, I come across one made by Nature's Plus called Ultra Hair Plus.  It appeared to have the same ingredients as all the others (give or take a few vitamins - they're all the same) except a TON more.



 It cost just a few dollars more (around $18), so I figured why not?  I'm currently 8 weeks post relaxer (going on 9 woooohoooo) and I have a solid 1'' or more of new growth already.  I'm wondering how much more the pills will add?  I kind of want to wait until I complete the pills (30 days) before I relax.  Currently, I don't feel the need or urge to relax.  My scalp is not sore.  It's detangled now, which is amazing.  Plus, I've been wearing my hair curly so it's been super easy maintenance.  Speaking of which, last week I kept my curls pinned up for 2 days until I got ready to go out on Friday.   

Tangled!

No, not the movie, but my hair, LOL.  So I think I've just learned the reason why my hair gets so rough and tough as I air dry with a lot of new growth.  I'm not de-tangling properly!  Therefore, when it dries it just bunches together and forms these big patches of fuzz.  I'm going to invest more time into properly de-tangling my hair and not doing my usual 2-5 minute comb through.  I really want to stretch and I'm hoping this will help. 

Not only am I going to start de-tangling, but I'm also going to start taking a supplement!!!  One of my gorgeous and lovely girlfriends recommended GNC Ultra NourisHair.  It cost $11.99 so I figure why not?  I'm going to go pick up a bottle today.  I can't wait to get started!

To Health: Making Smoothies with Veggies

My Blender, sweet Blender.  Oh, how I love thee!  How did I come to have a love affair with my Blender you ask?  Well, being the smoothie enthusiast that I am, it is only natural that I also make them at home.  I bought my first blender about a year ago.  It was a Black & Decker Cyclone that I bought at Wal-Mart for around $30-$40.  It did alright.  It made smoothies and I was satisfied.  That was until it started acting up and smoking... and it finally broke last week.

So I began my search.  Site after site, reading reviews, watching videos... until I came across my love.  It has over 400 5 star reviews on Amazon.com.  It cost $99 in stores (but I was able to snag a 20% off coupon from Bed Bath and Beyond).  What is it's name?  It is a Kitchen Aid KSB560OB 5 Speed Blender.  I didn't realize how crappy my previous blender was until I learned about this one.


Some of the pros:

• Durable Steel-Reinforced Coupler
• Jar coupler is coated for quiet operation
• Built for continual blending
• Powerful motor (.9 horsepower)
• Intelli-Speed control
• The pitcher is ONE piece
• Easy to clean
• Sturdy metal base
• Soft, Non-Slip Grip Pitcher Handle

Hair 101: Benefits of Olive Oil

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Olive oil is truly a powerhouse when it comes to hair, skin and beauty applications. Its rich, moisturizing properties make it ideal for use on your hair. While you may immediately think of olive oil for cooking, keeping a bottle of olive oil handy in your bathroom can help your hair look healthier, stronger and shinier. Whether you use it as your regular conditioner, a hot oil treatment or as a hair finishing product, you'll see the great benefits of olive oil on hair.

 

 

Change of Condition

As my hair transformed from curly to matted, I decided to do a late night co-wash last night.  I had already started with the loving by giving myself an EVOO massage earlier in the day.  I did have a quick errand to run, picking up a few items at Target, so I threw on a headband, pulled the remainder into a ponytail, and headed out of the door.  Wearing headbands has become a lot more enjoyable lately.  I think I needed to stretch them out more.  At first, I could only wear them for a certain amount of hours before I had a killer headache -- Now I can go all day long.

Doing what I always do in Target, I started browsing.  I tried on swimsuits (the Hubbs and I are starting swim lessons!  we'll see how the hair holds up), I tried on dresses, and then I went to the hair care aisle.  I found they have added Kinky Curly to their product line.  I still didn't really find a great conditioner that I wanted to try (for under $8), so I went to the cheapie section.  I've heard a ton of buzz about it so I finally decided to pick up Herbal Essences Long Term Relationship.  I've used up what I previously had in the shower - Dove - so it was time to try something new.  Plus it was only 2 bucks and some change.

I didn't get around to co-washing until 11:30 PM, at which point, you know I'm not doing anything afterward.  The conditioner smelled great, and it was thick.  I did feel that I had to use quite a bit of it for my hair, but that's nothing unusual. 

High Maintenance

I am loving my curly hair, however, I feel that it's a bit high maintenance.  Or maybe it's just the right amount of maintenance?  I should be DCing more frequently... Especially with me stretching longer than 8 weeks...  But back to my point.  Over the weekend, I had to re-do many of my curls - which wasn't that bad.  I just took a dab of foam, let it sit for about 10-15 mins, and tada, I was finish with my hair.  But to keep it at that level where all I have to do is fix a couple of curls is the problem.

Sunday Afternoon

Case and point - I can't sleep.  I probably didn't get any sleep the first 2 nights.  My arms would go numb throughout the night and I was practically uncomfortable the entire time.  Yes, I pinned up my hair and wore a satin bonnet, but I still cannot SLEEP on my hair.  I have slept on it the past couple of nights and I now have the flat curls.  It's semi-cute, but overall looks a mess.  But it has been about 4-5 days.  It's time for a co-wash.  I just keep wondering if I should re-do my hair and be sleepless again.  Especially if I'm not going anywhere in particular...

Another issue is the tangles. For some reason, I've gotten a lot of knots in my hair.  I need to work on that.

For today, I'm doing an EVOO treatment and I'll probably DC with heat for an hour.  However, I just finished my last meeting for the day and I'm feeling extra tired... We'll see how much longer I last.

Getting Excited....

10 AM
Yay! I've done a little better this week.  I was able to get in a 24 hour deep condition and today I am ready to deep condition again, along with.... wait for it...

Attempting a Flexi Rod Set!!!

First, I'm going to shampoo and condition with Roux porosity control.  Even though my hair is fairly soft and not brittle, it still doesn't feel all that great for some reason.  My new growth is giving me a run for my money!  I did notice improvement after my 24 hour deep condition because my hair was really in a FUNK.  I thought I had completely shook my dry spell, but maybe I haven't? Also, despite my lack of conditioning with heat, I have been pretty consistent with moisturizing and sealing at night. 

Earlier in the week, I was able to make a quick run to Sally's and I bought a couple packs of Flexi Rods.  I've been studying on YouTube and I think I'm ready!  I have a few work related tasks to get done, but then it's on to a shampoo, quick condition, maybe a deep condition, and then experimentation with the flexi rods.

 
The purple pack is 7/8'' thick and the orange pack is 5/8'' thick and they are both 10'' long with 10 rods in each pack.  I figured since my hair is thinner around the outside I'd use the smaller ones there and the bigger ones up top.   Since I only have 20 rods, I'm not exactly sure how big or small mine will turn out, but I have my fingers crossed that it will be cute!

WFH

Work From Home - That's my excuse and I'm sticking with it!  I've had a very busy past week or two, coupled with the fact that I've been working from home and being able to enjoy it, I have just not wanted to talk hair because outside of last weekend, hair has not been on my mind.  I have gone days without touching my hair.  I did a full head baggie for a few days, I've co-washed a few days, but nothing major.

I am slightly disappointed by the fact that I thought through regular maintenance my new growth would be more manageable when it grew this time.  With all the scalp massaging and oil treatments, I thought I'd be able to comb it this time.  Nope.  I'm about 7 weeks post and I can barely detangle.  I can say that my scalp isn't sore.  Yay for small victories.

A few pictures from this past weekend:

Going Out Friday Night

Going Out Saturday Night

The Full Ensemble

Relaxed Look for Sunday

Making the Most Out of the Day

With my stomach still upset, but less fragile than the previous days, I'm attempting to get work done along with taking care of my hair.  This will be another ALL day update. 

Friday, 1:30 PM:
Per last night's update, I was contemplating doing an overnight treatment.  I sat on the couch one minute too many and became too tired to implement that idea.  So I woke up this morning and applied EVOO, did a brief massage, and baggied.  As I wore the cap, in between looking at PowerPoint files, I also looked at a few youtube vidoes and some threads on Long Hair Care Forums.  As I watched/read a few ideas ran through my mind - I wanted to deep condition, but I didn't feel like washing my hair first.  So I started planning out a dry hair deep condition.  That eventually lead me to thinking about a protein treatment.  I only used an egg about 4 weeks ago and that wasn't the best experience.  I decided to do the later.

On another note, looking through the forum of relaxed ladies with super long hair, confirmed that I am taking the right approach in my hair journey, if not doing too much.  It appears that DCing once a week, not using a lot of heat, and using protein at least once a month are the commonalities for hair retention and growth.  Yay!

I just washed with ApHogee Shampoo for Damaged Hair.  My hair felt SOOO nourished and moisturized while wetting and shampooing.  I absolutely love wetting my hair now.  I then applied ApHogee Protein Treatment very generously all over my hair.  I paid a lot of attention to my ends and edges. I prefer to let it air dry versus using a dryer.  The only thing I don't care for with a protein treatment is how sticky it can be.  I prefer to pour it directly out of the bottle into my hand, so it could be my own fault.  Either way, in about an hour or so, I'll rinse, use ApHogee Balancing Moisturizer and then apply my Silky Smooth DC mix.

Stay Tuned!

Sick - On Multiple Levels

This week did NOT go as expected for me.  I had planned to fully take advantage of working from home and really treat myself and my hair to some TLC after a week of neglect, only to have my body come under attack and suffer from a few illnesses all week long... Nevertheless, I am doing alright at the moment and contemplating doing a late night co-wash.  Hmmm, maybe I should do an all night oil treatment instead?

I did spend a little time on facebook during the week, reminiscing over the 500 plus tagged photos of myself.  As I went through, I saw picture after picture of beautiful layered hair.  It made me sick!  Oh, how I wish to CUT MY HAIR!  I'm at a crossroad right now.  Do I try to find new ways to style my hair or do I go back to what I know and love?  Cutting my sister's hair has really given me the confidence I need to put layers in my own hair.  Maybe I'll just chop a little around the frame of my face? I probably won't do anything but continue to talk about it, but you already know - I'll keep you posted.

Setback or Set Up for Success?

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This past week was tough.  I didn't workout and I didn't take care of my hair.  I can't say that I noticed a difference with my body, but my hair has certainly lost a bit of momentum. 

The week started out normally.  I had a great flight Monday morning, got some coffee, had a great day at work, checked into the hotel, then I felt really tired.  I laid down, but I couldn't fall asleep.  I was too tired to get up, so I didn't feel like working out.  So I just stayed there.  And stayed up.  I was up until about 3 AM.  That was the first night I wasted.

Tuesday, same typical work day, however, after work, I went to visit family.  I came back to the hotel at a reasonable hour, however, I didn't feel encourage enough to make up for yesterday.  So I went to bed.  Albeit, I was extremely tired from 2 days of little sleep.  Nevertheless, that was the second night I wasted.

Wednesday, same typical day at work, however, after work I went to this huge mall to go dress shopping for an event I have coming up in a couple of weeks.  After wards, I went to a restaurant for dinner.  Needless to say, after having steak, I did not feel like working out or co-washing my hair.  That was the third night I wasted.

By Thursday, my head was BEYOND itchy and I was shedding hair everywhere.  Not to mention, it looked and felt an absolute mess!  I had been moisturizing and sealing, somewhat, but the condition of my hair definitely changed over the course of the week.  On Friday, I had a ton of meetings - in and outside of the home - so I could not co-wash that day.  I got up a little early Saturday morning because I had a dentist appointment and I couldn't take it any longer, so I co-washed my hair with the remainder of the cheapie Suave Humectant conditioner that I had remaining in the shower.  I followed up with my Roux Leave-In conditioner and then just used a head band and allowed my hair to really "air dry" as I ran a few errands around town and had my appointment.  By the time I made it back home, I had a mouth full of clean teeth and a head full of dry hair - physically and literally.  It's like the outside air sucked all the moisture out of my hair.  Because I had quite a bit more to do that day, I left my hair down and the head band on and went about my business.  At times I liked the style, but many times I didn't.  It just looked unfinished and did not work well with dresses... (Yes, I did more dress shopping).  That night I moisturized and sealed and my hair really appreciated it.

That brings me to today, I'm sitting under the blow dryer with my Silky Smooth DC mix in my hair.  I plan on DCing quite a few times this week because I'm working from home.  My curls are coming in quite nicely and I"m excited about all of the growth.  I have noticed that my scalp gets extremely dry when my hair starts to grow so I'm going to pay closer attention this week and make sure it receives the nourishment that it needs.

This past week posed a few challenges, but I'm hoping to come back strong -- Let's see if it works. : D

Hair 101: Hair Porosity

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Porosity is the measure of the hair's ability to absorb moisture. This is determined by the condition of the hair's cuticle layer (the overlapping scales of the hair shaft), and is rated as low, normal, and high. In normal, healthy hair, the cuticle is compact and inhibits the penetration of the hair shaft by moisture - both moisture going in, and moisture coming out. When the cuticle is overly compact and prevents the penetration of the hair by moisture it has low porosity. Hair with low porosity is harder to process, and is resistant to hair color and perms. Low porosity hair must usually be softened prior to other chemical services. Hair with high porosity is hair whose cuticle layer is open and the hair too-readily absorbs moisture. Overly-porous hair also releases moisture easily and becomes dry and is easily damaged. Acid-balanced conditioning treatments are used to contract the cuticle layer and lock-in moisture on overly-porous hair.

Extreme caution must be used when performing chemical services on overly porous hair to prevent damage. Hair color will take much more quickly and strongly in overly porous hair (and semi-permanent and demi-permanent hair colors will fade much more quickly). Perms and straighteners will process much faster in high-porosity hair as well.

To determine the porosity of your hair, simply feel it - both when wet and when dry. If the hair feels straw-like and rough when dry, or if it feels gummy or slightly rubbery when wet, then you probably have a problem with overly porous hair.

My Two Cents: 

I struggled with overly porous for a number of months before I realized the true issue.  Moisturizers didn't work, conditioning didn't work, I had to lather several times before my hair actually got wet, etc.  

I finally found relief after 2 weeks of almost continuous use of Roux Porosity Control Shampoo and Conditioner.  I now use it 1-2 times a month as needed, along with adding a bit to my deep conditions. 

Also, a natural alternative is to this hair problem is to use an Apple Cider rinse. 

Drab --> Glam

Talk about the ULTIMATE hook up!  My younger sis received a great treat this weekend, a beauty consultation and treatment by yours truly.  Jovann aka Jo-Jo aka J Breezy, came to me in a funk.  She's about 6-7 months post relaxer and in the middle of a transition.  She's having a tough time keeping it together and hasn't been reading my blog!  Needless to say, she was in need of a lot of help.  She texted me on Thursday asking for a relaxer... Knowing she had come so far, I didn't want her to just jump to back to relaxers. 

We started out with a chat about hair.  Unfortunately, she's had a lot of bad experiences with relaxers - keep in mind she's only had them for the past 4-5 years.  Her hair has fallen out several times and she just wants to start over.  I made sure that she understood that no matter what decision she made with her hair, it was going to require work.  I shared that she's going to have to learn her hair, her curls, and determine what it needs and when.  As with all things worth having, great hair is work!  Next we followed with a hot oil treatment with EVOO.  She has a serious dandruff problem and I knew she needed extra care on her scalp.  We warmed it for about 15 seconds and I applied it generously to her scalp.  She then massaged her head off and on for about an hour.  I went ahead with my weekly coconut oil 30 min massage.

EVOO Hot Oil Scalp Massage

We then played Dance Central for a few hours and I cooked a little dinner.  Then it was time for the shampoos.  I gave her a quick lather with ORS Clarifying Shampoo and then followed with the Roux Porosity Control Shampoo and Conditioner (she's been complaining of dry hair).  I then created my Silky Smooth DC Mix for 2 and shampooed my hair with Roux Moisturizing Shampoo and used the Moisturizing Conditioner.  I went a little heavy on the coconut oil and honey this time around, no particular reason.  I also was a little light on the ORS Hair Mayo because I wasn't aware of how little I had left, so I supplemented with a little extra Roux (both conditioners).  I applied generously and let put her under the bonnet for about what had to be around an hour.  We were watching TV, talking, playing games, so we lost track of time, so I'll say 1-2 hours... I rinsed her and let her air dry for a while and put the bonnet on my head.

I finished with Roux Leave-In conditioner and proceed to blow dry and flat iron her hair.  Talk about soft, shiny, gorgeous hair!  I saddened me to kill her curls, but I was able to successfully get her hair SUPER manageable and beautiful.  It was super late that night, so I had to wait a day to give her a quick trim - yes she did trust me to cut her hair - but it turned out amazing!  I had never really cut a full head of hair before, so that was a great experience.  I trimmed about an inch of relaxer off her ends and it was much needed because it is falling off like crazy.  We even tricked our mom into thinking we had given her a relaxer!  It was that dramatic of a change.  She's loving it and I'm happy and proud of her.  I can't wait until the relaxer is gone and I see her in her curls!  We're hoping in another few months she'll be ready.

Dress shopping... but the hair looked Fab (The pic is pre-cut)

I finished with the usual, air dry and Roux Leave-In.  I applied JBCO to my scalp and tied it all up.  I planned on doing a quick trim of my ends, but haven't gotten around to it yet.  A quick update on myself - I've experience quite a bit of new growth in my 2 weeks post relaxer.  I thought maybe I just hadn't relaxed evenly all over at first, but now I really think I've just gotten a significant amount of growth!  I'm excited!  I can't wait to see how much length I get in the next few weeks.  I was finally able to keep my commitment and workout on a Wednesday last week (woooohoooo!), so I got in 2 co-washes.

I'm excited for this week coming up and keeping my goals.  I'm watching the Grammy's right now, but I plan on getting in a workout as soon as it's over - or when all the performances I see are over.

Stick with your regimen if you want to see results!

Working on Myself

Another week on the road and another week of being burnt out by Wednesday.  I haven't quite gotten my sleeping habits back on track yet, but I'm working on it.  Let me explain...

I had a typical day at work on Monday, so I planned to keep my promise to workout Mondays and Wednesdays.  I hit the gym hard: ran about 30 mins on the treadmill and spent another few miles on the elliptical machine.  After, I didn't have a baggy, so I rinsed and conditioned my hair in the shower.  Last week I bought a sample package of the Silk Elements conditioner and decided to use it that day.  I can't say that I really liked it.  My hair sucked it up, so it wasn't thick or nourishing enough.  It didn't add anything to my hair.  I then proceeded to towel dry for 10-15 mins and then used the scarf method while I chatted on skype.  When I was dry enough, I used the liquid leave-in conditioner that I decided to try out: Aveeno Nourish and Condition leave-in treatment.  It was a decent price and the bottle had the two things I'm looking for - nourishment and conditioning.  So far, it's been a pretty good experience.  It feels good in my hair and I haven't had much dryness.  I must admit, I think the restoration of my hair to a proper pH balance with the Roux products has enabled me to see better results with all of the products that I use.  My hair is much more hydrated and refreshed.  The ends aren't crispy and dull looking.  I'm very proud of the progress my hair has made. 

Tuesday, I was convinced to workout again and so I did cardio via Just Dance 2 videos on YouTube.  I have some of the dances memorized already, but I did learn a new one which was super fun (see below).

You try that video just one time and see the amount of sweat you accumulate!  Just Dance 2 has been great for me in terms of finding a fun cardio workout.

I didn't co-wash that night, but I did shower without covering my head.  I wanted to let my hair get wet without soaking my head.  I've been pretty consistent in sleeping with my rollers and that's been great for protecting my ends.

2 rollers is all it takes.

Wednesday, I felt exhausted after work and proceeded to sleep immediately after.  I didn't even have the energy to tie up my hair. Thankfully, my ends managed and I just moisturized and sealed in the morning.  Also, let me mention that because I didn't have a small empty jar to put JBCO in to travel with, I've been applying MegaTek to my scalp instead (it came in a 2 oz jar).  When the MegaTek is gone, I'll put JBCO in it and use that as my daily scalp treatment.  But I do love my MegaTek - it smells great, it's easy to apply, and hopefully I'll have a ton of hair growth.

I had to go into the office this Friday and so I pushed my shampoo and DC to Saturday.  I started with a 30 min scalp massage with coconut oil.  The oil smells great and leaves my hair shiny.  I then shampooed with ApHogee Shampoo for Damaged Hair (I wanted a little protein) and Roux Porosity Control Shampoo.  I wanted to make sure that the chemical treatment from last week didn't reverse any of my progress.  I then applied Roux Porosity Control Conditioner for a few mins and made my Silky Smooth DC Mix.  I went a little heavy on the honey this time by accident, but I'm sure I'll have great results.  I'm under the dryer attachment now and I'll DC for about an hour or so.  Next I plan on dancing a bit via Dance Central on Kinect (shot out to the Hubby for the early V-Day gift) and rinsing later. 

After rinsing, I'll air dry, apply JBCO to my scalp, moisturize and seal my hair, and get ready for bed by pulling my hair up and protecting the ends with rollers.  If you saw the last posting, I achieved a TON of growth for my Dec-Jan stretch.  I noticed that I had regular shedding (which is good) and little to no breakage (which is amazing).  I'm going to keep the healthy habits up, continue to eat better, drink more water, and achieve my goals before the deadline!

Stay motivated : )

January Comparison

I hate to speak too soon, but I saw a ton of growth in January. Below are wet hair pictures from the beginning of the month and the end of the month.

Whooooooooo!

I think the restoration of balance to my hair allowed it to thrive.  It's not dry and shriveled like it used to be.  It's back to being in a healthy state.  

Lesson Learned: Fix the root cause of your hair problems and you'll go far!

Hair 101: Protective Styles

My Braid Out Twin [source]

I was asked why I only wear ponytails and buns as my protective styles... Is there really anything else left to say?

If you're unfamiliar, protective styling is wearing your hair up in a style that doesn't put strain on your edges/nape and keeps your ends off of your back & protected from outside elements - i.e Buns, Clips, Pony Tails etc.

I've never been a weave person.  I absolutely love wearing my hair and I prefer to be the ONLY person to do my hair.  I've had plenty of great experiences, but I never forget the bad ones.  I've been self sufficient for several years now and I don't plan on changing. 

While I do wear my hair up 95% of the time, there are those special "Show Up and Show Out" scenarios where I'll throw protection out the window.  What's the fun in having healthy, beautiful hair if you can't wear it out?

I'd also like to add that the changing from regular styles to protective style has cut my morning prep time in half!  I'd usually spend 20-30 mins each morning doing my hair, styling it to my liking.  However, you can't really go wrong with a bun or ponytail.  You pull it back, maybe do a part, secure it and you're ready to go.  I'm all for simplicity.

Real Life Scenarios: Personal Beauty

[source]

I've been meaning to write this for a while, however, this past weekend I received a comment that prompted me to action.  A person commented that they almost didn't recognize me because I typically look like a super model, however, that day I looked "normal".  Not to say it was meant in a negative way, but it made me pause to think. 

Stylistically, I've always been one to do my own thing.  From rockin Tims with mini skirts in college, to the Tims and little boy shirt (it was cuter than what was available in the women's section) I had on that day.  I've always been comfortable with my look, my style, and my choices.  I've gone through many phases and trends though out the years and I'm happy with the decisions I've made.  I don't try to fit anyone's image of who they think I should be.  I'm not afraid to get glamorous and I enjoy dressing up, however, I don't feel the need to make an "appearance" each time I step out.  I give myself approval and that's all the affirmation I need - ask my husband. : )

In recent years, many women near and dear to me have made the decision to go natural.  I've always been open to the idea and still am, however, if and when I make that decision it will be because I want to and because I'm ready.  I believe I can have healthy happy hair, no matter what process I choose and right now I am more than happy with my relaxer.  I absolutely love natural hair, however, it isn't the decision I want to make at this moment. 

I am not addicted to the "creamy crack" and I am not afraid of my new growth.  I love when I can feel my curls and I'm happy when they're there (it means my hair has grown a lot).  I say all this to say, make the decision that's best for you.  Looks change all the time.  Some times I have acne, some times I don't.  Some days are great hair days, some days not so much.  On occasion I'm bloated, others my belly is super flat.  The one thing that remains constant is who I am on the inside and the person I share with world.  As long as that stays beautiful, I'll always remain beautiful.

Regimen and the Road

 After being at home the past two weeks (one due to the snow storm and one due to training), my motivation and hair plans were put to the test last week.  I began with a workout Sunday night.  I worked out at home (aka played with my Wii), so it wasn't too intense and I didn't feel the need to co-wash.  Being 9 weeks post relaxer, my hair was super thick, but I was able to manage with a bun on Monday.  The Roux products have left my hair very soft and shiny, I am a happy customer. 

After work on Monday I began my search for a adequate leave-in liquid moisturizer.  I use the Shea Moisture cream at home, but I prefer a liquid moisturizer so I wanted to have one for my road regimen.  I went to Sally's and I couldn't find anything worth purchasing.  This one has significantly less products than my local store, however I did buy ORS Olive Oil Replenishing Conditioner.  It was the ONLY "deep" conditioner in the store, so I didn't have much of a choice.  One positive outcome of that scenario is that the lack of products have inspired me to create my own leave-in moisturizer.  The actual execution date is TBD, but TRUST, it's going to happen. 

Monday night I worked out for about an hour.  If you know me, you know I sweat (a lot) and therefore feel the need to co-wash after every workout (hence the reason for Mon and Wed co-washes).  The workout was great and I felt amazing.  After, I co-washed with the ORS Conditioner and sat under my hood dryer attachment for about 15 mins.  I can't say that I noticed a significant difference using the heat - maybe it gets better over time?  I then used the scarf method to air dry, as I chatted on skype with my sister.  The next step, I did a little different.  Instead of pulling my hair into a ponytail to sleep, I used 2 big rollers and rolled my hair at the top.  I figured I'd keep my ends protected some more and get a nice curl.  It turned out to be a success!  In the morning my hair was super soft and shiny, plus my ends didn't frizz up as usual. 

Tuesday morning I tried something else new - head bands.  I've never been a head person.  My head is large enough on it's own.  I feel like extra items enhance the size... However, I decided to give it a try.  I used a black and brown band and pulled my hair back in a ponytail.  I was concerned about looking "professional" and not like a teenager, however, with my suit on I didn't look child-like at all. 

Tuesday night I hung out with family after work which lead to me being exhausted Wednesday night.  Therefore, no workout or co-wash.  On Friday night I did my relaxer.  My product of choice - Motions.  They claimed 85% less breakage and I've tried it before and liked it.  It turned out very well and I'm more than happy that I did it.  I had experienced more shedding than I cared to during the past week and this remedied the problem. 

After relaxing and neutralizing, I used 3 conditioners:  ApHogee 2 Min Reconsructor, what came in the box, and Roux Moisturizing Conditioner.  I had fantastic results.  

The success of the regimen on the road will be dependent on my energy levels.  It takes a considerable amount of time and dedication each day to have healthy hair.  I'll can only do my best each day.

My First Hairacle of the Year

Hairacle:  A term used to describe when you have a miracle breakthrough with your hair (Hair + Miracle = Hairacle).

Yes, I'm claiming it!  I had a hairacle Saturday morning.  In my last update, I was under the blow dryer and letting the conditioner marinate into my hair.  After another 30 minute heat session, I followed with a through rinse.  My hair didn't feel spectacular under the water, but it didn't feel the same as when I started. Next, I added a bit of leave-in conditioner and proceeded to roller set my hair.  I figured since air drying straight leave my ends dry and my hair frizzy, attempting a roller set would provide better results.  As I've only done it once, roller setting my hair was a bit of a challenge.  My hair was super easy to comb and detangle, but getting it to stay on the roller without wrap lotion was a new factor for me.  In order to supplement, I used Shea Moisture to moisturize while wrapping and to seal afterward.

When I finished it was about 2 AM and I was beyond tired, therefore I attempted to sleep in the super hard, huge rollers...  Aside from waking up with a head ache in the morning, the roller set proved to be a success!  I had relatively smooth hair that felt silky to the touch and believe it or not, my hair was HYDRATED!  It didn't have a hint of dryness and that's from root to tip.  I then wrapped my hair and proceeded to get ready for the day.  Since I was going to my sister's b-day party (shot out to Jo Jo, happy 15th!), I wanted to wear my hair down.  I flat ironed, only to realize that down did not look at all like I thought it would.  My hair was super fluffy and stiff.  So I went with option 2 and attempted a bun.  I think it turned out cute : ) but then again, my opinion is biased, LOL. 

Side Note:  I didn't apply any oil to my scalp because I plan on relaxing my hair at the end of this week.  Since this is my first week back on the road after 2 weeks at home, I wasn't sure how much I'd stick to the regimen. 

I gifted my thirsty hair Sis with the Roux Moisturizing Shampoo, Conditioner, and Treatment & Shine.  I also picked up a bottle of the Treatment & Shine for myself, in hopes of reaching the 103% increase in moisture retention as claimed on the bottle.  When I took my hair down on Saturday night, it still felt as hydrated and healthy as when I took out the rollers.  To sleep, I wrapped my hair - and in wrapping, I did notice a bit of dryness - and applied the Treatment & Shine as my moisturizer (which can be used on wet and dry hair, but it claims to only add shine to dry hair) and sealed with Shea Moisture Oil. 

This morning when I awoke, my hair was still very soft, healthy and hydrated.  I'm going to do a quick ends check and see if I notice any improvement.  I may way until my next relaxer before giving my ends a trim again.  I just want to get rid of the damage asap so that I can have healthy growth. 

I also have to do a quick assessment of my products and determine if I want to travel with any or buy new... If I buy new, I will most definitely hit up a Sally's and probably try the Silk Elements products that were DEEPLY discounted.  I currently only have 1 moisturizing conditioner and 1 deep conditioner, so I may leave those at home and buy new.  I just hate to check luggage! LOL, I think I just answered my question. And I've already decided that my bonnet attachment is a must have on the road.  Now if I can just find a better baggy solution... 

Ok, so I have packing to do - if you have any moisturizing product recommends for the cheap, please send me a comment!

If you Can't Stand the Heat

After my horrendous results this morning, I had to give my hair another try.  I will not accept defeat easily!  So I got online and read about Moptop Maven.com's Healthy Hair Challenge 2011.  It started Jan 1 and is supposed to last for 6 months, so I'm already late and I don't think I want to officially participate, but she did offer a lot of great tips.  One being a reinforcement that heat works wonders for deep conditioning.  With that being said, I began my search for an inexpensive fix.  What did I find?  A blow dryer soft bonnet attachment from Conair for $9.99 at Sally's Beauty Supply.  Can you say, bought it?!  I went to my local Sally's and not only found the attachment, but I also stumbled upon a S-A-L-E!  They had Roux products buy one get one free and a lot of other products deeply discounted.  I wanted to buy a TON of products, but I kept with the attachment, Roux Moisturizing Shampoo and Moisturizing Conditioner, and a box of Motions for my next relaxer. 

 

Roux Moisturizing Shampoo and Conditioner - hopefully magic in a bottle!

After I took down my buns, my hair was very dry, stiff, and looked horrible.  Considering the fact that I'm going to a party tomorrow, this hair style was not going to be acceptable for the weekend.  Since I feel like my hair is still in dire need of moisture, I went with the Moisturizing products and stuck with Roux: 1 - because the porosity control has worked wonders 2 - it was on sale.  When I started my wash, I wet my hair for about 1 min and was easily able to lather and shampoo with my ORS Clarifying Shampoo!  That's a major improvement.  I wanted to wash with that shampoo first because as I mentioned before, my hair felt like it had a coating on it.  The shampoo didn't really change that.  When I washed with the Moisturizing Shampoo, I can't say that it felt much different.  It lathered well, my hair felt squeaky clean, however, it still felt thick and coated.   Next I applied the Moisturizing Conditioner, generously, to my hair and let it remain 3-4 mins while I created my "Silky Smooth" DC Mix.  After I rinsed, I still didn't really feel a difference...

My Silky Smooth Deep Conditioner Mix

Next, I applied my SSDC Mix to my hair in sections and covered my hair with a baggy.  I'm now using my blow dryer and I must say, it's getting hot in here.  It was super easy to attach and it works really well.  The only gripe would be that it does blow off my head from time to time.  I either have to hold it or tie it to my head.  It does provide an even heat, it heats very well, and it's doing the trick.  I've sat under the dryer for about 30 mins and I think I'm going to do about 30 more. 

I found it easier to sit on the floor and to hold the cap.
(SN: I just realize how tired I look...)

Back to the heat!

Update and Miscalculation

Ignore the tired look... That's just me : )

Recap of last night:

• Pre-poo with Coconut Oil and EVOO (2-3 hours)
• Scalp massage (30 mins)
• Roux Shampoo (2 washes)
• Roux Conditioner (2 mins)
• Special Conditioner Mix with 1 egg for protein
• Rinse and detangled in the shower
• Air dry with scarf method

When I rinsed in the shower, my hair didn't feel super soft as I anticipated.  It felt and feels thicker, like my hair is coated or protected.  I'm not sure if I really like that or not.  Maybe that's what strong hair feels like?  Or maybe I just have to clarify again... I fell asleep last night mid-air dry.   I woke up this morning to a mess on my head.  My hair was dry, tangled, and tough.  Maybe it is time that I invest in a hooded blow dryer.  I need some penetration in my hair.  And no, the heat cap thingy that I bought does NOT do the trick.  Oh, I've also been looking into steam dryers... not sure what would be the best solution yet.

I spent my morning, oiling with JBCO and then moisturizing and sealing my hair.  I now have 2 buns in my head and my hair is a LOT softer and moisturized.  I do need to provide a correction to last night's analysis.  I said that my hair hadn't grown as much as it should have these past 8 weeks - huge miscalculation.  I have some seriously defined curls near the front of my head and around the sides - totally not normal!  I was geeked to see all the growth in my hair.  And after doing a quick ruler check - yes, my hair did hit the 1 inch of new growth target.  And almost ALL over my head.  I'm still not ready to relax... I'm wondering if that has something to do with my shedding lately, but I'm not that concerned about it yet.  Depending on how my hair feels for the remainder of the day, I might do another Roux wash and just let it air dry.  We shall see...

The Road Less Traveled

Will I ever have this look?  Love you Jada! [source]

To say that I'm jealous... not quite right.  Am I envious... absolutely!  Proper hair care is a life long commitment, however, getting to your desired hair length, thickness, and style - that's a short journey that feels a lifetime away.  I spent some time on youtube today watching video after video of ladies who have changed their hair destiny for the better.  So many women saw noticeable results in 6 months, drastic results in 1 year.

I look back through my blog and I can't believe that I started Oct 2009.  It's now 2011 and I'm starting all the way over!  It's hard to believe!  But that's what life is all about.  You live and you learn.  This is take two and I'm going to get it right.  I've learned a lot and I can only keep getting better from this point.

Speaking of which, I am on deep condition number 2 for this week!  First, I started with a pre-poo treatment using Coconut Oil.  I applied it to my scalp and let it marinate for a few hours.  I later applied EVOO and began to massage my scalp for about 30 mins.  It felt awesome!  I am still using my Roux products and that is going well.  I'm not sure how much longer I need to keep going with the moisture before I start the protein balance, so I decided there's no time like the present.  After Roux, I made another deep condition recipe.  I used the same ingredients as before, however, I added an egg this time for my protein fix.  Hopefully I won't have the flaky issue that I had the last time I tried using an egg.  I'm baggied up and I tied my towel around my head.  I have yet to invest in a hooded blow dryer.  Maybe next month... I plan on staying like this for the next few hours.  Next, I will rinse, apply JBCO to my scalp and air dry.  I was thinking about doing a roller set, however, it is late and I didn't get much sleep last night.

I do plan on doing a bit more trimming. My ends could still use some help.  Plus, I just did a lot of cutting and might not have done my ends right.  I like how I did my hair, just not how I did the ends.  I didn't really have a plan for the ends.  Or maybe I shouldn't... it does need to grow.  Decisions, decisions.

Oh and on another note, I must mention that I am about 8 weeks post relaxer right now.  I'm not sure how much longer I'm going to go, but my hair is doing well.  I don't think it's grown much during these weeks though.  I'm at about 4-5 inches in the middle which is very unusual.  Maybe I should try vitamins?  I'll see how weeks of deep conditioning help my hair... My new growth is much softer and more manageable now.  My head is not sore at all.  I am losing more hair now than I did when I started using Roux.  I had declared my hair shedding days behind me, but it's just decreased.  I'm still trying to find the perfect solution.  But I am anxious to see how much thickness I have retained with my next relaxer.

I need a snack and some rest.  Good night!

When is a Good Time to Say Goodbye?

Ok, so I believe I have an obsession with cutting my hair.  Every so often, I just feel the burning desire to take scissors to my hair, LOL.  Nothing drastic, just some trim-age. : )

With that in mind, I started doing some investigating last night on proper techniques for cutting hair.  I bought proper hair cutting scissors a few months ago, but I actually only cut my hair once.  So I hit up google and found a Lady that I like.  She talked about the search and destroy method, along with a few other tips:

I'm going to give it a try as soon as I finish cooking dinner!

Oh and to provide an update to last night, when rinsing the concoction out of my hair, it felt wonderful!  So soft and silky.  My hair was very easy to detangle and air dried rather quickly. After rinsing, I applied my Neutrogena Leave-In Conditioner and sealed with my Shea Moisture Oil. 

In the morning, I flat ironed my hair and I wore it semi-down.  It looked okay.  I applied Chi Hair Serum before flat ironing to get it shiny - and it looked shiny and felt silky from about the base of my head to about 12 inches out... then my hair just looks raggedy... I'm hoping a little trim-age goes a LONGGGGGGGG way!

 My hair is a very comfortable shoulder length.  Lots of lonely stragglers of hair sticking out around my head...

This is a close up of the ends... Yes, I think today is a good day to say goodbye.

 My shears and some of the hair lost.

 Oh the damage... It can only get better.