Hair Goals for 2011 and what I learned

Well as this year comes to an end. I want to reflect on what worked and what didn't for my hair, and what I learned.

I didn't think I would get to know my hair like the hair blogs suggested but I really did.

1. I learned my hair cannot go more then 10 weeks without a relaxer. It gets too tangled and I am too tender headed so this combo equals a disaster waiting, because I won't comb it out making it worse.

2. I need moisture. Good moisturizing conditioners make my hair silky and easy to detangle! Silk Elements is the bomb.com

3. Aphogee 2 Step Protein treatment stopped my shedding immediately! Shut it down! LOL! This is something I will use every six weeks in my hair for strength. That's the protein process that works for me. Basically protein treatments coat the hair. That's why it feels bigger and heavier and it stops shedding.

4.The protective styles are working. The less manipulation the better for my hair.

5. I can relax my own hair now and Botanicals is my go to no lye relaxer.

6. Castor oil is too thick and I need another oil to thin it out. Still looking. UPDATE: olive is my carrier oil.

7. My new goal is waist length hair. I think I can achieve it! When my hair reaches BSL bra strap. I plan to do a good cut and continue to trim until my sides catch up to the back. Then I will continue on with the growth. UPDATE: When my  hair reaches Mid back length (MBL) I will do the cut etc.

8. Hair vitamins work wonders for my hair! Maxi hair is a great vitamin. It contains all the great B's and Biotin etc.
I will add more as they come to me...

Relaxer Update

Well I relaxed. At 10 1/2 weeks post, and colored jet black with clariol Beautiful Browns

My hair grew but I did not do a length check. Oopsie.

I will do the check at first wash!

Looks longer though.

I finally bought the full size Silk Elements Mega Moisturizer on sale at Sa.llys. Loves!

After my color I used a leave in condtioner and air dryed. It made these beautiful waves. I wore my hair like that today. It was pretty.

Well that's all for now.

Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!

For Adei

Question: 8-10 weeks for a relaxer?! Go head girl! I need to find a way to stretch out my 5-6 weeks! Do you flat iron your roots? What products do you use? Wait, what texture is your hair considered?

Answers:

I'm still learning my texture. Its between 4A and 4B which I'm learning is very fragile! lacks moisture and breaks so easy if dry.

No I don't flat iron my roots. But I do use a blow dryer if I need to flatten out my roots after week 5 and I'm not wearing a protective style. I use a heat protectant.

Weeks 1 - 4 I old school wrap.

Lately I've been using Silk Elements MegaSilks Moisturizing Conditioner or Herbal Essence Hello Hydration Moisturizing Conditioner. I cowash weekly with VO5 Moisture milks weeks 1-5  and regular wash with Creme of Nature detangling shampoo usually as my relaxer gets older weeks 6 - 8 or10. 

After week 5 I only wear protective styles like ponytails and buns to not manipulate my hair too much. During those weeks I moisturize with Castor oil or olive oil on my new growth and scalp to keep it moisturized and soft. I also use a tiny bit of Scurl No Drip Moisturizer on the length during weeks 1-4(it's not greasy or heavy) and much more during weeks 5- 8 or 10

For me it's all about moisture. Once I realized my hair is really fragile and breaks easy when dry. I'm all about the moisture! This is just what i'm doing right now. I keep trying different things until I get the length, thickness and hair health

I'm trying to get back to mid-back length. I use to relax every 4 weeks but I learned this was too often and too soon.  So that's when I started stretching.

I've learned a lot from the hair blogs that I have linked to my hair blog.

Those women have beautiful  long hair. Check out  Keep it Simple Sister and Hairlicious Inc. those are my go to blogs if I'm trying a new product. But all the blogs I have linked have something to offer.

Then it's just a series of trial and error to see what products your hair responds too. If you have any more questions feel free to ask!  Good luck!

Product Review No.2 Hair One

I tried the Hair One Olive oil cleanser. It was just okay. It left my scalp really tingly and clean. I liked that. But I think this is best used in the earlier weeks of relaxed hair. It did not give me enough slip, nor did it detangle.Itwas supposed to be for dry hair, but I did not feel that moisturized. I will try it again after a new relaxer which is coming up.

My first Product review

I recently went to S.ally's Beauty Supply and bought some samples of hair products that I've read on hair blogs that are good. I bought Hair One hair cleanser, Silk Elements Megasilk Moisturizing Conditioner, Silk Elements Megasilk Moisturizer Reconstructer. I also bought a full size bottle of ElastaQP Intense Conditioner.

I tried the Silk Elements MMC and it was amazing!!! My hair was super moisturized and I will be purchasing the full size bottle and addding this to my regime.

MMR was a little drying but I will  use it when I need a quick protein boost and then add a moisturizer after. which is what I'm supposed to do anyway.

I plan to wash with Hair One this week to see how it cleanses my scalp.

I used the EQP as a dry conditioner before my cowash this week. It had a strong smell and I wasn't sure if I should keep it on my hair but I did.  SMH.

It wasn't very moisturizing and I won't be using it again. It had a lot of alcohol I could smell it and was VERY drying! My hair was not moist the next day and did not feel good when I rinsed. It did feel strong but I was worried about the chemical smell.

So that's my review! I'm in my 7 week stretch for this relaxer. I learned that I can't stretch long like women with thicker hair. My hair is very fine and "should be treated like delicate silk". LOL! per Haute girl!

Geez!!

Oh neglected hair blog so sorry.

I stretched to 17 weeks NEVER again too tangled. I got a relaxer I had a major hair set back because it was to tangled. I should have relaxed at 15 weeks because my hair was not as tangled and I had washed and combed it out.

I will stretch 10-12 weeks here on out I will need to relax on Dec 23. Since it's Fall I'm protective styling until Dec.

I will do protein treatments by Aphogee. I will continue to co wash and I'm re upping on my hair vitamins.
I was full (arm pit length) APL but I trimmed off about 1-2 inches because of the breakage. See a major set back. So my hair is an in between length of  SL and APL

I will be (bra strap length) BSL in 4.5 inches. I'm trying to grow that this stretch. I'm babying my hair and keeping it moisturized.

I measured. It will take about 10 inches to get to waist length. Only 6 inches once I reach BSL.

Update week 10

 I'm currently in my 10th week. I 'm still wearing my protective style. I've kept my hair moisturized with S curl No Drip Moisturizer! I read about this on a few hair blogs and Wow! It really is a good product. Normally my scalp gets really dry but it's been really moist. I love this product and it will be added as a regular to my product list.

8 wEEKS

So I'm at 8 weeks post today. I'm trying to stretch to 12 weeks. I've been getting a relaxer at 9 weeks with a goal each time of 10 weeks. I've never made it.

I just want my hair back already!

I won't be cutting it again EVER!.

The shorter cut was cute  for about a month. Then it wore off. I was known as the pretty girl with the long hair. Who knew that my hair had become some kind of identity to me. I feel a little shallow. I saw a girl in the grocery store with my hair goal. Her hair was about 4 inches longer then my previous bra strap length. I could not stop looking at her hair. LOL!

I'm wearing a protective style ponytail for the 12 week stretch. Wish me luck!

UPDATE 7 WEEKS

So I've kept up with my co washes and black tea rinses. My protective hair style is a curly ponytail. I been moisturizing nightly with 6 oil mixed with the last of my castor oil.

It's time to re-stock products.  I was recommended to get Aphogee 2 min reconstructor for my shedding so I will try this. I'm getting coconut oil, argan?? oil and jamaica black castor oil this go round. I will still use Chi protein spray.

I need a new good detangler.  My hair tangles so much  at 4 weeks. Any recomendations??????????

Update 4 WEEKS post

Last wash I had a LOT of shedding. More than normal. I didn't like it at all.  I tried the black tea rinse.
I'm currently pre pooing with oil and I'm about to wash so I'll see how much the tea helped today. I will be using the tea again and DC while I go workout.


UPDATE: It looks like the black tea slowed down the shedding some. I rinsed with black tea again and DC with the Loreal and I love how my hair feels after rinsing. I applied my CHI and a leave in 911 and air dryed. I'm currently wearing a protective ponytail. I will wash this Friday. I took my vitamins and my iron. Hope that helps too! All this week I am moisturizing with a castor oil mix.

New goals

I don't think my hair likes the Mane and Tail. I need my Loreal it made my hair so silky. I'm shedding so much. I have to figure out a good remedy. I am going to do a lot of protective styles for a few weeks. I'm upping the castor oiling to twice a week. I will be moisturizing and sealing every night. I did not do the black tea rinse but I will next wash for sure! I have to get my shedding under control. Who wants long thin hair? Nobody!

1 week post wash

I'm currently dry conditioning with Mane and Tail. I will be cowashing today with V05 con. I'm deep conditioning with Loreal's. I slacked off on my hair vitamins but I'm back on that as of two days ago. I want to take advantage of the hair growth the summer brings. I hope to reach BSL by my August relaxer. I will be using a black tea rinse to combat shedding per Tracee at K.I.S.S. My hair usually doesn't shed at all after my relaxer. I am going to wash with a neutralizing shampoo before I deep condition. Just in case my hairdresser did something funny.

RelaXER UPDATE

Hey chicas!

I went to the salon and got a relaxer and jet black color on Thursday 6/10.
My scalp was really hurting. I think I didn't wait enough days between my wash. Anywhoo I was in pain. When it was over my stylist sea breezed my scalp that HURT! but it keeps scabs from forming if you burn during a relaxer. My hair must be doing well because she started questioning what I was doing to it. Yeah me!

I'm currently full armpit APL length my hair grew 2 1/2 to 3 inches this go round. I'm happy with that. I have four inches to go to get to BSL which is brastrap length. Once my hair reaches that length I will reevaluate my goals.

It's time to relax

I washed on Sunday. My hair has about a 2 - 3 inches of new growth. It tangles and is hard to manage I have to get a relaxer this week. I'm 9 weeks post. I thought I could stretch like the other bloggers but my hair texture won't allow it. I tangle as soon as my new growth is kinky.

PrePOO

Today I pre poo'd with castor oil and the Loreal Everstrong. My scalp gets itchy exactly 7 days.  So far I've pre poo and co-wash every seven days.

Next because of the itchy scalp I'm going to start adding different oils to my castor oil to thin it out and help my scalp. I read on K.I.S.S. to add peppermint oil, eucalyptus oil and rosemary oil.

I'm also going to try black tea rinses to stop my shedding. My shedding has slowed down. However Thursday night I was not nice to my hair I SLEPT on it no scarf on a cotton pillow case BOOOOOO.

I have to stop that!

Bantu knots

This week I tried Bantu knots overnite to produce soft waves. This was my first time trying this style. I'm 4 weeks post and my hair has some new growth. I'm bored so I decided to try somthing new. I went to K.I.S.S  and Tracee had just did a tutorial so I was siked! I twisted  4 knots basically parted hair into four sections.  I used my diluted wrap setting lotion on each section twisted and held with a hair pin. Followed by a misting of CHI and I wrapped with a silk scarf and went to bed.

In the morning I untwisted each knot and separated the knots. I sort of liked it was really wavy. Since my hair  is SL it was a little bushy.  I think it will look much better at APL or BSL. When I do this again I will only do two knots until my hair reaches the above mentioned lengths. Maybe the waves will be looser.

Update

Prepoo and co-wash
on April 21 and 22 for an event Friday April 23. I blow dryed I put in a leave in for protection.
I prepoo'd with the castor oil. I tied my hair with a scarf and cap and plastic bag.

I used VO5 extra body conditioner for my co-wash and I used Loreal's new EverStrong sulfate free conditioner to deep condition.

Pre poo'd and Co washed again April 30. My hair is itchy and in need of a wash every 5 days.

there was minimal shed this time. i think the castor oil, vitamins an Everstrong conditioner is strengthing my hair.

I bought a CHI leave in spray that i have used most nights when i wrap my hair up for the night.

Update: Prepoo and co-wash

I prepoo'd with the castor oil. I braided and tied my hair with a scarf and cap and plastic bag.
I will co-wash tomorrow. I'm not sure what conditioner I will use.


Update: I used VO5 extra body conditioner for my co-wash and I used Loreal's new EverStrong sulfate free conditioner to deep condition. It left my hair feeling very strong and I loved the scent it smells minty fresh.

PERM 4-7-10 plus update

After a nine week stretch I got a perm this week. I was really bad. After my hair started to get thicker I stopped co washing and only oiled my ends. I then stopped that and just pulled my hair into a high ponyail and wore hats. I know bad. I combed out one day before my perm A LOT of shedding. The shedding caused my hair to be thin this time around. It grew about 2- 3 inches. My ends still look healthy according to my bestie.  I am Full shoulder length. I have a bone straight relaxer this time. My last perm was not good. I don't like it this straight.

I measured my length and after my big chop I needed 7 inches to get back the length I lost, 7 INCHES!!

I believe I only need 5 to 41/2 inches to GO Yea!

Plan this round:

I want to stretch to 10 weeks which will put the next perm around June.

I am purchasing my castor oil  this weekend. check
I'm going to try the garlic pill mixed with the oil to stop the shedding. I did not get the garlic pills

I will start the hair vitamin orally. I got the vitamins

I will co wash. Not sure how after many days yet. 5 days

I will prepoo with oil before each wash and co wash

I plan to roller set instead of wrapping and sit under the dryer. I bought 1 3/4 rollers

Wish me luck!

Update 3

 On 3/7/10 I Co washed and deep conditioned with hair mayo and real egg for extra protein. I have been shedding a lot! I am still trying to wrapp my hair it work a little better. I want to master wrapping so when my hair gets longer I will be a pro. I had a lazy week. I guess I have been protective styling. I wrapped and mostly kept it wrapped all week. I wore hats.

I am contemplating buying a wig. Yes me a wig!!!!!! that is big for me I NEVER have before and I don't know....

 I need more products. I plan to get the coconut oil and cator oils for sealing my ends, and I need new conditioners.

Update 2

Dry conditioned over night with olive oil conditioner and oil. I co-washed with same conditioner. I attempted to wrap my hair again. It shedded a lot while trying to wrap. I will give it one more try. I still can't get the top smooth, used a roller. I sat under the dryer for 45 min. I'll update with results tomorrow.

*Update: I combed out the wrap. It was a little flaky an really dry. I moisturized with a natural oil sheen. My hair was a little puffy.*

I diluted the wrap lotion a bit more for next time

I think its time to real wash. I'll be using CON which is creme of nature detangling shampoo.

Update:

I c o-washed on Wednesday with the olive oil conditioner. I deep conditioned with hair mayo. I am still experiencing shedding. I was diagnosed anemic but I am having a hard time taking the iron pills. I'm about to start taking hair pills and doing some protein treatments. I have to read a few blogs to get the best suggestions on protein treatments.

This was my first time attempting to wet wrap my hair. My hairdresser is seriously old school and she can wet wrap like nobody's business. Since I am starting this hair journey I want to be able to maintain my hair without direct heat. I will be co washing every three days so have to figure out something.

The wrap was whack lol. I used Pantene Relaxed and Natural wrap and setting lotion. This stuff needs to be diluted a lot. It made my hair very hard and it flaked white at comb out. I was only able to get one side smooth but the top OMG I could not do it.

I'll keep trying. I was able to master attaching lashes and doing my eyebrows so I'm sure I'll be able to get this.

Healthy Relaxed Hair Care Regimen

Hair Type: Relaxed (or tex-laxed not bone straight hair) Date: 2/2/10
Hair Color: Clairol Beautiful Collection Black B20D
Hair Condition: Slightly Damaged recently cut. A little shedding
Starting Length: In-between Neck Length and Shoulder Length NL and SL due to cut
Goal Length: Current goal is Shoulder Length( full shoulder length)
Problem Area: Front hairline damage from braids a little thinness


Current regime:
So far I have co washed twice. The first time I co washed  it was with Organic Root Stimulator Olive Oil Replenishing Conditioner. This left my hair not as shiny as I would like but I missed a vital step. I read you are suppose to put a plastic bag on your head while you shower to let the product soak in. I did not do this. But I remembered the next time!

2nd co wash: I waited 5 days washed with Organic Root Stimulator Olive Oil Replenishing Conditioner again. I used a plastic bag this time! I washed my scalp really well with finger tips(no nails). This time I decided to deep condition with Organice Root Stimulator Hair Mayonaise overnight. My hair was clean and conditioned still not shiny. I will be adding an oil pre-poo. A pre-poo is an oil treatment added to hair prior to washing. It can be left in overnight

Observation: I noticed my hair felt dirty after 3 days but I decided to wait for 5 to cowash the first time. I waited 4 days to co wash the 2nd time.

I think my regime will be to co wash every 3 days. I plan to real wash soon. I'm playing it by ear. I use Creme of Nature shampoo to real wash.

I have to figure out something better because I have used heat via a blow dryer on my hair. I did use the low setting but since I am wearing it out and down. I needed heat to straighten. I am putting it away in a ponytail soon.

I hope this was enough information for my first post on my journey.

Update: *No more overnight conditioning with wet hair BAD* I learned I can overnight prepoo with oil and conditioner on DRY hair Deep conditioning is for under the hooded dryer for 45 min to 1 hour or walking around during the day. No More sleeping on wet hair.

Any questions or suggestions fill free. Thanks