Recent Comments
I just watned to say that I have been religiously co-washing daily only and deep conditioning every couple of days. i realized as my friend briefly mentioned it that every once in a while clairifying is actually good for you. I decided to clairify because my hairs natural sebum was starting to get greasy feeling and I was breaking out, I don't know if this had any correlation with my hair but I decided it wouldn't hurt.
I washed my hair with my organic castile tea tree oil liquid soap thingy....
I am unsure if it's a general cleanser or for body or hair???
It mentions only skin so I'm guessing it's for any part of the skin including the scalp. Also now that I think about it I have a sore spot that seems like a cyst at the back of my head. Hopefully this will help if this is a sebum issue. I am still going strong with the whole transitioning thing, I have only been having thoughts about cutting my hair, not re-relaxing it.
I left off trying to explain what I have done these past 3 months to achieve such growth. When I co-wash I make sure that I comb through my hair in a downwards fashion using a regular comb or my denman brush otherwise I will have matted hair, only my relaxed ends get separated with a wide tooth comb. After I do that I spritz my hair with conditioner that is diluted with a light adding of oils. Then I allow my hair to air dry and I am good to go. I do not do protective style to much any more unless I want my hair out of my face and put it in a ponytail. Also I think I wrote this before about the baking soda, I put it into my wash water to soften my hard water. I also do a lemon rinse as the last thing I do, this helps my hair I guess. Hair is naturally acidic so this helps tighten the cuticles and make them shiny.
Deep treatments, I do a couple. Actually for me that most fruitful part of the deep treatment is when I sit under my heating cap for 30-60 minutes. I think this is what helps me most, because this is what I wasn't doing too often previously. I put my deep treatment pre-wash, on slightly damp hair for better application. Another thing that is essential is the separating of the hair. I separate my hair into four sections and then section them more as I am apply my treatment. I am currently in love with DPR-11 from elasta qp, I add oils and honey to the mix for extra effects. Also about every month or so I will do a henna treatment I guess for protein. I don't think my hair is damaged and I dont think it really needs protein.
This is pretty much what I do for my hair in a nut shell. I used to message and oil my scalp every night but I got lazy. I recently bought some peppermint oil so I shall start using peppermint, rosemary, tea tree(very little) and olive oil to message my scalp every night ; it's alright because I wash my hair just about every morning. I read on someone's fotki, about the great benefits of rosehip seed oil and I want to try it along with jamaican black castor oil. I love the consistancy of castor oil and will also add that to my nightly scalp oil message.
That's pretty much it in a nutshell, I shall post alittle more later or in another journal.
It is now the 10th of May, I would say about early to mid may. I have currently 1- 15/16 inch of growth. I think the crown of my head already has 2 inches of growth in the process of 3 months and 10 days or 15 weeks. Before these three months, I did not get 1/2 an inch of new growth let alone a little over 1/2 an inch. My growth would not be consistant and it was partly due to the products I was or was not using and also my poor eating habits. I am not a big vitamin taker or any of that jazz, but I do practice frequent deep treatments and co-washes. For me I think the combination of co-washing and deep treatment has really helped my hair come along so far. My hair doesn't mind being washed everyday and in fact if I neglect to wash my hair, it feels quite horrible.
Well, I will get into things that I have done for my hair that could be a direct effect on how it is currently growing. I mostly wash my hair everyday with the exceptions of me getting sick or going to work early which then I will usually wash every other day. I deep condition my hair just about every other day and sometimes every 3 days, it really depends on how lazy I am. Back to the co-washes, currently I am using a pantene knock off brand. I am not to fond of the pantene scent in fack I abhor ( I think that's how you spell that word) the scent, it makes me want to see previously digested food.
Anyways, it's not an instant feeling but after some time the constant whif of the scent get's to me. So I about bought Aussie Moist conditioner and have found that if I use a little of the Aussie after the knock off pantene, it neutralizes the scent considerably.
I shall end my rant here and start where I left off on another journal.
Ok, so this would be marking my 3 month into my transition. Actually, I am not even going to cut my hair or should I say that I will not be doing a big chop? The point is I feel like hair is hair and regardless of the fact that I am trailing around processed ends, doesn't make it any less my hair.
So, keeping that in mind, I will have to do daily co-washes. I have learned these past months that if I go without co-washing, just a day, my hair will undoubtedly look and feel like crap. Also I deep condition about 3 to 4 times a week. I really dont mind because I have plenty of time on my hands. It's more like I find the time to deep condition (wee hours in the morning) and make the best of it!
I dont know what types of deep conditioners I am using, but they seem to be more on the moisturizing side. My hair loves moisture and I am glad I have never experienced mushy hair? I also do a henna treatment usually anywhere from every two weeks to a month. So for the most part that is my protein treatment and I dont know the science of henna, all I know is it surely makes my hair stronger.
Problems I have been running into:
A while ago, I was using castor oil. It was alright when I had the walgreens version, then I switched to the whole foods version and got pimples on my face and body. I stopped the use of the castor oil so now I am just putting small amounts of my camellia oil into my spritz.
Also I stopped using baking soda in my water believing it was drying my hair out. My hair got even dryer and I decided to go back to baking soda. I also added a final rinse of lemon instead of ACV. Why? Because that 'ish stanks!
Minor problems or possible problems I have been having, are these small outbreaks on my scalp. The thing is they are hidden well underneath my fro that is a live creature, j/k... So, it's just hard to find these sores on my scalp and periodically I will comb or scratch it and it hurts like ugh.....
No more problems other then what I stated above. Like I said somewhere on this site before, three months is normal but beyond that I dont know what I'll do. Most likely I will start to wear my hair in a ponytail and just keep it like that.
This is getting quite long, not that I care but I'll write again about my hair and it's happenings next month maybe?
Yesterday I took pictures of my NG and as expected they are much more prominant this month. When I get a relaxer that first month of NG is usually stunted until month two. The second month is usually hectic and month three down right impossible.
Well since I am transitioning I will make it my life to forego it atleast a year. That means it must be a year ~_~ !!!
My hair got really clumpy today after I put a my Giovanni Direct deep conditioner on (used to much). I use it as a leave in and deep treatment. I also did a henna treatment with lemon, honey, cayenne, and molasses. I will miss this henna because it has brahmi, amla and something else...
Today I will rinse my hair because it smells heavily of henna. Which isn't a bad thing, but I'm feeling a bit sensitive to the scent.
I have been taking my supplements for the past three days now and I think they should work...
I hope they work! I do notice that I feel a lot more sensitive to things almost emotional, which is not like me. That may be the evening primrose taking effect.
Anyways, I will keep posted in all my changes throughout my transition.
Reasons for why I am growing out my relaxer. The versatility is one thing. Two I am obsessed with my hair and can't find anymore to do with relaxed hair ; ).
Also another reason is I just don't like the way my head feels after a relaxer. There was this one time I used Dark and Lovely, my head literally ached for a whole month or two. Call it what you want it's just not healthy.
Another thing, I've been trying to lose weight, eat healthy and natural things. That soon spilled over to my hair routine and most of the hard core ingredients I avoid happen to in the relaxers(proplene glycol, sulfates, parabens, etc..).
I cut special sections of my hair so I can track my hair texture and growth. I can vaguely remember my hair when I went natural in high school. But the thing about that is I was not using the same products as I am now. I shampooed my hair, used grease, moose and I even cornrowed with heavy arse Dax.
So if I do to my hair what I've learned in these few months then I am sure my texture would be more true.
Thing I've picked up again:
* Green Tea
* Vitamin
* Fish Oil
* MSM
* ACV and Cayenne Peppers
For now that will be all, hopefully I see some improvements in growth.
Two more days will make it 1month since my last relaxer.
I am so tempted to do a big chop and it's rediculous because I usually wait 3 months for my relaxers.
I shall not be tempted. I am going to go to the beauty store and buy alot of weave so I can do cornrows after 3 months into my transition. I told myself that I have to wait a year before a big chop but I really dont know what I will do.
I am going to take care of my body and drink plenty of water, take vitamins, message my scalp with oils and the whole nine yards. Everything and anything I can do for my hair, direct or indirectly, will be done.
I am almost a month into my transition/stretch which is nothing. I will not be serious about until the third month May 01, 2008, that's when I usually relax.
I am having no trials so far I am in learning phase and trying to get all the information I can to make this an easy transition/stretch.
One thing about me is I dont set any real rules or I should say I dont stick to any set rules...
Anyways, I shall take pictures that will document all my trials and tribulations.
I have some changes that I have made. Now I dont use castile soap any longer. I am using conditioners exclusively. I do put baking soda into the bucket I was my hair with, because Florida water is very harsh on my hair, baking soda really softens my hair.
I hate the new formula for Soft and Beautiful but it still is better than most other relaxers I have used. I am going to try to relax my hair January 16, 2008 if I experience 1 inch of new growth or more. If not I will continue to wait until March 2008.
Next time I get a relaxer I will do it myself. My last relaxer my mother put it onto my whole length after I told her not to. I need the practice anyways, I might as well get used to doing my own hair.
Lastly, I will try to take my vitamins for optimal hair growth. I am currently on a diet and exercising atleast 3 times out of the week. I make sure that I have my whey protein shake with veggies mixed insdide, this is also good for the body. Now, all I have to work on is drinking water!
* To cleanse I usually co-wash (only). Usually anywhere from every day to every 3-4 days.
* Put baking soda in every gallon of water I use for my hair. Why? Because hard water is not my hair's friend.
* Deep condition with Elasta QP Intense Foritfying Hair Conditioner, which is a protein treatment for me ( twice a month)
* Use a moisturizing deep conditioning from Sally's every wk.
* Comb my hair mostly in the shower under running water.
*Relax hair every 2-3 months (use Soft and Beautiful)
* Message scalp every night.
* Moisturize/spritz ends daily with conditioner mixed with water.
* Almost forgot , I henna my hair every week sometimes every two weeks. I love henna so whenever I get the chance I do it.
That's the bulk of my regimen.I will see how much new growth I get this relaxer and if I can get 1 inch in a month I will relax, if not I will do my 3 month stretch. My daily style is just clipping my hair in a clip, usually I condition my hair really good so I don't have to take it down during the day. My goal is to gain 3 inches by March 2008, if I can do that I will be for sure at APL ^_^
REGIMEN:
I just stick to what gets me through relaxers. The good stuff!
I dont use shampoo anymore, I use conditioners to wash my hair . Well, my hair is clean and never dried out thanks to conditioners it's actually quite a life saver. I condition wash every day and deep condition every Thursday and Sunday. On Sunday's I also wash my hair with Castile soap and that's the only thing I'll use. Sometimes I'll only use honey and oils for my deep conditioning, and it's messy and fun. I stick to natural products and stay away from bad ingredients like (this is long take notes):
proplene gylcol, petroleum, petrolatum, paraffin, ammonium lauryl sulfate, ammonium laureth sulfate, sodium lauryl sulfate or any of the lauryl laureth sulfates for that matter and also wax and mineral oil.
I notice that after 1 month and a half of waiting for my relaxers, my hair get's really hard to comb so I have to do two things. One, I have to add oils to my regimen because without them my hair will never truly get moisturized. Two, I need to comb my hair under running water usually with a regular size comb. Why, because if I dont I will never be able to undue the nest and tangles my hair would have made.
PRODUCTS:
* Pure Essentials conditioner
*Alba Botanica leave in conditioner(too expensive I dont buy anymore)
*Extra virgin olive oil
* Fish oil supplement
*Flinestones chewable vitamins
*Organic Coconut oil - intake 2 tbsp a day
*Aloe vera gel (dont use too often)
*Camellia oil (good for hair and skin, I love this stuff)
*Kombu, Nori or Hijiki (seaweed I eat that aids in healthy hair)
*MSM (when I get the money to buy it again)
*Soft and Beautiful Relaxer
Hair Books I've Read:
*Ultra black hair growth 2
by: cathy howse
*Healthy black hair: step by step instruction for growing longer stronger hair
by: nicole elizabeth smith
*Curly girl the handbook
by: lorraine massey with deborah chiel
These books have helped me alot and through trial and error I believe I've come a long way.
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