Happy New Year

It's that time again... time to pretend I'm going to do something different, LOL.  I think it is time for me to get back on the regimen and stop playing games with my hair.  I haven't noticed any significant difference in my hair or length or quality.  It is longer than last year, but hair grows.

I think I'm about 4 weeks post relaxer today.  My hair has been growing fairly evenly recently.  I'm proud of that fact.  If nothing else has been consistent, my growth has been.  More than likely, I will stick with a ponytail throughout the remainder of the winter.  The cold air and hats and big winter coats are just too much for my hair.  My ends feel so dry.  On the dry note, I finally bought the hair porosity shampoo today.  It's supposed to help my hair stay moisturized.  I shampooed today and my hair barely got wet.  And barely is not an understatement.  It's never been this bad before.  Additionally, I've started using natural products.  I still haven't changed shampoo and conditioner yet (waiting to use them up first), but I did get natural shea moisturizer and oils.  The products have been okay thus far.  I bought each bottle at Target for $9.99.  The name of the brand is Shea Moisture.  They have a full line of products, but I purchased the Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Strengthening Elixer and the Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl & Hold Smoothie.  According to the directions on the website, I've been using both products improperly, LOL.  The products come highly reviewed, so I hope with continued proper use, I'll be singing praises as well. : )

I'm once again seriously considering the natural route... In getting myself together spiritually, mentally, physically, going natural just seems like the right thing to do.  We shall see.  Maybe the products will help my hair become more manageable and I'll just go for it?

 Holiday Hair - Loved it!

Hair Cut!

After many months of "letting it grow out" and not really seeing the results I wanted, I finally got my hair trimmed and layered.  I'm happy to have the flow back again, but for some reason, my hair still doesn't feel as thick as it should be.  It's very relaxed and tame.  I'm not sure if I'm losing a lot of hair or what...

I have not followed any type of hair regimen at all.  Shame on me!  This summer and fall I have been crazy busy with work and I allowed it to have huge impacts on my everyday life.  Speaking of which, I need to go eat some breakfast.  I'm going to get back on track, put some plans in place for my life, and keep this party moving.

On to the Next One!

You heard me correctly, I am on to my next relaxer!  And it feels so good!  My hair is so thick and healthy looking.  Can you say - silky smooth my friend?!  I did the relaxer on Friday, April 2nd.  I made sure that I put oil on my already relaxed hair and I did not exceed the 25 minute mark.  It's so weird how my hair cannot take a 40 minute relaxer like I used to do.  I actually BURN now.  Like around the 23 minute mark, my hair is going - ok, it's time to start moving a little bit faster...

I didn't do a deep condition or anything special, just relaxer, rinse well, shampoo 3 times, Aphogee 2 minute constructor, condition in the shower, leave in conditioners, blow dry, flat iron, and out the door in about 2 hours total. 

I have noticed that I CANNOT go more than 3 or 4 days without washing my hair now.  If I don't wash, my hair gets beyond itchy.  Co-washing has trained my scalp to loath build up and dirt.  I like keeping my hair light and fluffy, but I can't stand the itch.

Goals for this week include working out, co-washing, and keeping it down and swinging.  But my ponytails are growing on me again.  As my hair gets longer and thicker and the ponytail hangs and sways, it looks really great.

Listen Up!

Hello, my name is Lauren and I need a relaxer. Yes I said it. Its been 11 weeks and now my head is starting to get sore and itchy, so I figured its best to end the experiment now. Plus, I continue to only want to wear my hair straight. Over the weeks as I've looked at all the curly heads around me, I've still only wanted to wear my hair straight. Give me some layers and I'm good to go.

I'm still doing okay today. I'm rockin a pony tail with a full bang. I don't think anyone can tell one way or another how bad it really looks. I had a huge amount of difficulty combing my hair this weekend. I was thinking of doing some kind of protein treatment this week, but I would have to go buy it.

Additionally, this is my last week in Houston, so its my last week being comfy in the apartment. I'm not sure if I'm going to want to travel with my blow dryer for the next few weeks. We'll see what the weeks bring.

Another One Bites the Dust

Yes I can! Yes I can! Yes I can!

I have made it week by week by week by week without even thinking about relaxing my hair.  I have NO idea why the importance of it has become almost non-existent in my life.  I know there are a number of factors that have driven me to push myself to wait longer before relaxing, but this new notion of - maybe I don't need it anymore - is really blowing my mind!

As I look at the world around me, filled with short hair cuts, weaves, wigs, and what not, I imagine what direction my hair journey will take me.  In some areas of my head, I have around 2 inches of new growth, while in some it's just one.  As it grows more and more, I'm not sure where my expertise will end and something else will need to take over.

I have still kept the routine for the most part.  Co-wash on Monday nights, some Wednesdays (depending on whether or not I workout), Shampoo on Friday/Saturday.  I'm still moisturizing and sealing.  My hair is super oily right now because of it, which makes me feel like maybe I'm doing something wrong, but I still get very dry so I think I need to use a lot... so that technique is still being perfected.

I know it's been a while, but below is a picture from this weekend:

Remember - you can do what you want to do.  Question the norm and make sure you're comfortable with the answer.

Eight Weeks!!!

Let me say it for all to hear - I have survived 8 weeks since my last relaxer and I'm not ready to stop!   I am currently finishing up my protein treatment and looking forward to the next week of doing my hair.

I've recently seen the documentary - Food Inc, which has caused me to re-examine what I think is the norm.  Maybe some things aren't meant to be. Maybe I shouldn't put chemicals in my hair... Maybe the chemicals hidden in the foods that we eat every day is enough?  I'm still thinking this through and seeking guidance on this issue, but I may be persuaded...

I do feel as though I have a new found freedom with being 8 weeks post and not dying for a relaxer.  I'm been able to manage by my new haircut.  I can wear my hair in ways that are relaxer-proof.  I can wear it down and it's light and fluffy.  I can wear a pony tail and it's still super cute.  I can't even say I've been deep conditioning or even shampooing for the past few weeks.  On the weekends I've been busy, so I usually just wait until after my workout on Monday to co-wash.  And when blow drying, I haven't even attempted to get my roots as straight as I used to do.  I've deemed that it requires WAY too much work, so I just get it dry and flat iron. 

I'm hoping that this upcoming week is as manageable as my last several weeks have been. :-)

Stay tuned.

Good Morning

Hello, Hello!

I got up early this morning because I didn't get a chance to work out last night.  I was super tired and ended up sleeping for the past 11 hours...

I got up this morning, did my workout and then co-washed my hair.  For the past several weeks, I've realized that I don't wash my hair unless I'm going out somewhere, so I end up only co-washing.  I did not wash my hair this past weekend and I last co-washed last Wed.  I did have some great hair this weekend.  I am really loving my bangs.  I can do so many different styles.  Up, down, curly, straight, everything.  I'm not sure what I'm going with today.

So since I've been in Houston, I've been using Suave for my co-washes.  I'm using Humantects and the Volumnizing conditioners.  I've always loved the Humantects, but I'm not too fond of the Volumnizing conditioner yet. 

Another update, I've been blow drying and flat ironing with each wash now.  My reason being is that I've never had issues with it in the past, so why stop now?  I grew tired of the protective styles and I needed some pizazz in my day to day life.  I'm about to blow dry and style. And by the way - I haven't relaxed my hair since Sunday, Jan 10th!  So I'm 7 weeks out.  I feel like I can make it now since I can style as I like, but it just bothers me a bit that I cannot comb my hair... It's just to thick, even with the wide tooth comb.  We'll see if I can blow dry it a bit straighter this week. 

I'll keep you posted!

Has it Been a Month Already?

Yes.  I have been MIA for about a month and a half now.  Any particular reason? Nope.  So hopefully all is forgiven and I can give a brief run down of the past few weeks.

So about a week after my last post I did a relaxer.  I made it about 7-8 weeks.  I had a terrible experience with my relaxer though... I don't burn easily or normally at all, but that time was ridiculous.  I'm not sure what was going on, but prior to the relaxer, I had soreness out of this world and I'm assuming the tenderness also meant some types of sores/bumps on my scalp that lead to the easy burn.  I had been giving myself extra head massages because of the tenderness of the new growth...

I had some very successful going out hair styles after the relaxer.  I was very pleased.  I kept the regimen for the weeks after that.  Continued with the pony/bun.  But I got bored.  I was tired of not knowing what to do with my hair.  The limpness.  The same old/same old.  So last weekend, I decided to switch things up.  I got a hair cut.  Not really a "hair" cut hair cut, but I got my ends trimmed, a few layers put in around the face and in the top, and I topped it all off with a bang!  I haven't had a bang since middle school.  So far, I'm loving the variety in styles - I can wear it up, down, bang, no bang, curly and fluffy, or straight.

I'm about 6 weeks post relaxer again and I'm hanging in there.  My head is tender, but it's manageable.  I have lots of different styles - some protective, some not - so I don't feel like a fluffy head all the time.

Until next time ; )