Relaxer Update

This is just an update on what's been going on recently. I relaxed on Thursday at 10 weeks post. This was kind of an accident because I wanted to relax a little earlier, but times were conflicting and it just happened that way. Now with this relaxer I really wasn't looking forward to it. I knew I was due for a GOOD trim. And a good trim I got. While my aunt was putting in the relaxer she noticed the lower middle section of my hair thinning more than usual. Now in the past I've noticed this section before, just never really paid attention to it. So I took all of this in and will be starting the Castor Oil challenge at the end of the month. I don't know why it's taken me this long to realize it but I haven't been paying enough attention to what my hair actually needs and what I want to do to it. So I'll be posting a few reviews of some products I recently purchased and summer goals to get my hair back to where it needs to be.

Hair DRAMA!!!

SSOOOOOO.... Like the title says I've been having a bit of hair drama lately. I recently washed pretty much with the same process. I used the V05 Moisture Milk to shampoo and hated how dry it made my hair feel. So a lightbulb went off in my head *DING* Since my conditioner already had olive oil in it and I didn't pre-poo this was a great opportunity for add my oils. So I rinsed out the shampoo and coated my hair from root to tip with the oil, then rinsed, then added my conditioners and leave-ins and all that jazz.

Now on to my drama, right now I'm about 7 weeks post and didn't really feel like styling my hair in any way. So I decided to flat iron my hair, since I've never done it after a wash during my journey. After I finished I felt kind of defeated. :( You know I always talk about how uneven my hair is and by me trying out this new kinda stylish middle part, it was SO apparent. And my hairline looks so jacked to me UGH my hair is already thin so with that, the uneveness, my new growth. Im just frustrated. I think I'm having a setback. (That sounded way over-dramatic) But I seriously am considering a nice chop

Wash Day 5/12/12

This blog post will be really kind of blah. Wash day came and went. I pre-pooed with coconut oil, olive oil, and castor oil for 45 min. I then shampooed with CON Moisturizing & Conditioning Shampoo (2 lathers). Deep Conditioned with CON Moisture-Active Deep Conditioning Shampoo for an 1hr and a half with shower cap on. Let air dry for about 30 min then apply leave ins.

After I did all of the boring stuff, I started to feel my hair while it was air drying and I had half a mind to just flat iron and go. (I was going to a friend's graduation the next day) But normally I don't like flat ironing my own hair, but the condition of it felt so good that I felt kind of compelled to do it. Then something in the back of my head was like no, Keita, don't do it. So listening, I went ahead with my rollerset that I knew was going to be a beast. FAIL!! Woke up the next morning and my hair wasn't dry. I'm in the mirror like WTH??!?!!? It was pretty much dry last night. So in a rush, I just pinned it up to hide my droopy, soggy curls. :(

I WON MY FIRST AWARD!!!! :)

I WAS AWARDED THE ONE LOVELY BLOG AWARD BY KENDRA @ healthyhairbyspecialk.blogspot.com!!! When I tell you I was excited as hell, I was excited as hell!!! I didn't think my blogs really were noticed but obviously someone is looking!! So I'll just get to my 7 random facts:

1. I have lived in 3 different states since 6th grade (I'm now a senior in college)
2. I want to be a marriage and family counselor
3. I had a pet turtle
4. I have a cancer tattoo in honor of a few family members
5. I'm just now learning how to cook at 20 years old
6. This year I went to my first Mardi Gras ever
7. I own an iPhone 4s

Since I don't have many followers of follow many people, awarding 15 other bloggers might be hard lol:

Ally: http://myhealthyhairjourney.blogspot.com/
Shika: hairiamworld.com
fromwacktomidback.blogspot.com

10 Weeks Post!!

SOOOOO I lasted my goal length of 10 weeks with this stretch this time around. Now before I get to the pictures I want to express some concerns I had after my relaxer. Before getting it done I was so excited about how much length I retained judging by my new growth. Let me tell ya *sigh* My aunt started to flat-iron my hair and goes "The left side of yo head ain't never been this thin and chewed up!" I'm sitting in the chair like seriously, what the hell!!! I thought I was doing good. Now my left side has always been shorter and I just came to the conclusion that the right side just grows faster because I've changed the side my part is on and everything.

Enough about that, I did see growth and I should definitely be more focused on health than length. And with that being said, I must get a length check shirt. I get super tired of trying to find the same shirt to take my length check pics.... SOOOO here they are....


Apr. '12

Jan '12

Feb. '12



Janelle Monae Inspired (Pics Galore)

I think this is the most excited I have been about a post in a while. I'm currently 9 weeks post. AAHHH I'm so excited. My goal for this stretch was 10 weeks and I'm almost there. I can't express how excited I am about this length check. But on to other news. With this stretch I really wanted to try more hairstyles so I did my first revamped two strand twist/bantu knot combo. I was kind of apprehensive about how it was going to come out but I was in love with the results. In this picture------> lol I thought I was ON!!! YOu could not tell me anything, my hair was popping, my outfit was cute, too geeked. With this style all I did was do two big twists in the back and two on the sides with a big pompadour in the front. LOVE THIS STYLE!!!

This is just my twist out with a little hump in the front.

This pic is kind of unrelated but I just liked this style as well. Its a revamped hump with a bun in the back.

Update!! Update!!

Soo this post will just be updating you on what's been going on in this head of mine. Tomorrow will make me 8 weeks post. On my last stretch I would have been relaxing tomorrow, BUT I'm giving it 2 more weeks. With this stretch, I haven't really run into many problems. I've been finding different ways to style my hair. (Not really, I'll just snazz up a regular bun) This brings me into my next topic. MY EASTER HAIR!! Recently I uploaded a post about my flexi-rods after a wash day. My curls came out really nice and I thought I'd do that again for Easter. FAIL!! I first had to move my whole wash day process to my boyfriend's house. FAIL #2!! The wash went fine considering the big move, my hair was feeling good, the rods went in smoothly, the whole nine yards. UNTIL THE END!!! My failure is partly from starting my wash at like 12 that night and only sitting under the dryer for 20 minutes. I woke up the next morning having to be at church super early with WET hair. I tried my best to blow dry the wet spots, but this only made my hair a frizzy mess. So I just slapped on a headband and went about my business.

That's me and my lil sis. My hair wasn't a hot mess but it was pretty close.

FLEXI-ROD DELIGHT

So flexi-rods weren't a new thing to me before my HHJ, but I've just found the reason why I love them so much. I can definitely say flexi-rods will hide whatever mess of new growth I have. I bought 3 different sizes and the curls come out as loose or as tight as I want. I loved the rods so much I decided to venture into my friends' hair. (I'm shocked she let me) Before I roll my hair each time I'll put a small amount of oil on my ends and a pump of the ORS Hair Mouse. Below are some pictures of how they turned out.

From the neck up she may look like she was going to prom, but we were going to my school's probate and out to the club afterward. The hair added to the edgy/girly look of her outfit. She was happy with the results :)

This style was kind of a fail for me because I was trying to recreate a look but it just took on its own identity. But I guess I liked it enough to wear it to class. It was supposed to be a really curly side-swept bun.

Wish everybody the best of luck on their journey. *I almost forgot* Right now I am 5 weeks post and going to the salon tomorrow for a wash so I think I'm finally going to do a full review on my salon experience. STAY TUNED :)

*Wash Day and March Goals*

3/8/12

 I finally washed my hair. I am the biggest procrastinator so I'm real sluggish when it comes to my hair. My wash day was really easy and quick considering the fact that I am only 3 weeks post. Here's a recap:

1. Pre-pooed with a mix of coconut oil, jojoba oil, and olive oil. I let that stay in while I cleaned my dorm room, so I'd say for about 20 minutes.
2. Used Argan Oil Intensive Conditioning Treatment. When I tell you my hair felt like swan feathers attached to my head... UMPH!! I fell in love instantly.
3. Rinsed and conditioned with CON Moisture-Active Deep Conditioning Treatment.
4. I rinsed again and used CON Leave-In Creme Conditioner.
5. Lastly I applied the ORS Wrap/Set Mousse and Flexi-rodded my whole head. I didn't sit under the hair dryer but I wish I would have, even if it was for 15 minutes, just to make sure they would be dry the next morning.

Now on to my March goals. One of my friends saw the list that I had written down and she laughed because my goals sucked. BOO!! I thought my goals were pretty good goals. With that comment being made, I stepped back to look at and re-evaluate my goals. Here they are:

• M&S EVERY night- I slacked tremendously with this in Feb.
• Find more products that work for my hair while trying to avoid the product junkie syndrome.
• Do more "no-heat" hairstyles.
• Perfect my roller set.
• Stay on track to my 10-week stretch.

Just an Update

I recently relaxed my hair after 8 weeks post. I know my stretch wasnt that long but it was the first of many to come. I just wanted to update everyone on what I've been doing recently. After I came back from Mardi Gras (had an amazing time) I've really just been bunning it up. One day I may wear a headband or do a low bun, styles in that area. Every since I relaxed I've just been doing a lot of protective style. I plan on washing my hair sometime next week and Ill be posting my regimen very soon. Talk to you later!!!

8 Weeks Post Relaxer!! Boooo!!

The results of my bantu knots

So today marked 8 weeks post relaxer. I know that sounds WWAAYY early to the vets but for my first stretch I think I did an okay job. Next time I will definitely meet my 10 week stretch goal. I also relaxed early because of the upcoming Mardi Gras weekend and my mini-vaca with a really close friend and her family. I don't want everyone waiting on me to do my daily hair routine so I went ahead and relaxed. I'll post another bantu knot out that I wore today and my first LENGTH CHECK pics. AAAHHH super excited!!!!

Bantu Knots

Relaxer!!!

                                                2/16/12                                        1/26/12

I will definitely do better with my comparison pics next time.

First Hair Update

This post is just to update everyone on my start. I've only been on this journey for about a month and a half now so bare with me :) I'll include a few pictures of the few things I've tried recently. I'll give a detailed regimen and product list in a later post. On to the MANY pictures ------>

 

                                                Beginning SL (Jan. 26, 2012)



                                         First Deep Condition

                         Day 2 Roller Set Style                Day 1 Roller Set Style                               

                                                       (I know they're backwards forgive me)

                                                           Bantu Knots

My First Blog Post!!!

So..... I'm super excited to start this blog. I was kinda apprehensive about starting it at first, but I finally mustered up the courage to do it. I have scoured numerous blogs daily to figure out what to do with my hair and how to build my own regimen. So many women have helped me, that there are too many to name.

I've always had a perm since my younger years (can't remember what age), and my hair has always been around shoulder length. I have a few friends that are natural beauties, but that's not the path I want to take. I normally go to my stylist every two weeks and for the most part my hair is fairly healthy. My problem comes in with my OWN maintenance of my hair. If I wasn't at the beauty shop nothing would normally get done to my head. I'd occasionally flat iron and NEVER wrap my hair at night. My left side is also my weaker side. I'll include some pictures to show my previous state of hair.



You can see the major uneven-ness but I recently had this problem fixed
1-12-12



Barely shoulder length
1-15-12