Updated Hair Regime (November 2011)!

It has been so long!  It got super hard once school started!  I have been looking for a job, interning 20 hours a week, going to school full time and working on a thesis.  Plus I joined a school association which means I hardly have time to breath!  However, I am back!

Things have definitely changed since I started this blog.  First, I read the book "Science of Black Hair" by Audrey Sivasothy.  It really changed how I handle my hair, and I have seen positive results! I have learned I have fine hair that really needs a lot of care. Also, I have normal porosity hair which takes a little to soak in moisture but likes oils but not really heavy products like unrefined shea butter. The book is amazing because it makes you understand why shampoo lathers and what 'cones really do to your hair.

But with out further ado, here's my regime:

Saturdays/Sundays - Wash Day!

Pre-poo - I usually use my Shea Moisture African Black Soap Purification Masque mixed with Coconut Oil/Vatika Oil and Aloe Vera Juice. And some other oil (Avocado/Jojoba).

I pre-poo for about an hour with a bag over my head.  Then I wash my hair out in the shower.

• If its loose, I keep it in clips or in twists.
• If its in cornrows, I make sure to rinse out the pre-poo before proceeding with a stocking cap over my braids to keep the style.

Shampoo - I usually use SM Raw Shea Butter Moisture Retention Shampoo. I love it so much, and it never strips my hair.  However, I can now and do use harsher shampoos since I have incorporated pre-pooing into my regime.  I really love shampooing my hair because when I 'poo works for me my coils just spring up!

• I clarify my hair at least once a month. I don't use products that give me build-up anymore, but I love the way my hair reacts after its clarified. My coils are more defined!

Deep Conditioner - I am still loving my Aubrey Organics Honey Suckle Rose and GPB conditioners as DCs. I leave that it for about 30 minutes to an hour with my heat cap on.  My hair just soaks it up!

Leave-in - I am still faithfully using my Kimmaytube leave-in, but I do love how Oyin handmade's hair dew feels on my naked hair!

Sealant - I use shea butter (which is a mix of coconut oil, aloe vera juice, etc) or my Shea Moisture Leave-in (not from the same line).  However, I will be incorporating Oyin's Burnt Sugar Pomade into my regime as a sealant because its amazing.

Henna

I try to faithfully henna about once a month, but I have been so busy. What has saved me is I made a bunch of henna 2 months ago and just froze the remainder. I used that batch. I love the way henna makes my hair feel and will continue to swear by it.

Styling

Because I'm usually in protective styles, I usually don't style much.  However, I have had some luck with Kinky Curly Curling Custard and EcoStyler.  I will keep searching for the perfect styler and update my regime!

Detangling Tools

I have been faithfully using my Jilbere shower comb to detangle.  However, I do finger detangle first to remove all shed hair first.

Winter Regime

I am staying away from glycerin this winter.  Well....not completely. I will be spritzing my hair with Oyin's Juices and Berries before I jump in the shower to get the benefits.  However, I will do my best to avoid glycerin now that its getting colder because it kills my hair.

I hope I didn't forget anything! If so, I will add to the list!

Product Reviews!!



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I haven't forgotten about given Product Reviews!  I have so many products that I want to review, but I will ease into.  I did mention that I wanted to review the Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Moisture Retention Shampoo { Here is a great article about Shea Moisture from NaturallyCurly.com here}, but because I want to give a fair and honest review, I am waiting until I use it at least 3 times.  So far so good. Also, I just purchased a sample size of HE Hello Hydration to try out, and I hope to review that also.  I also want to review Aubrey Organics GPB and Honeysuckle Rose Conditioners that I use as my protein and moisturizing DCs, respectively. 

Please stay tuned!!!!

Hair Trim!!

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So I finally trimmed my hair!  Well let me restate, I finally did an actual trim.  The trims I have done in the past were doing nothing to eliminate my breakage or eliminate my damaged ends.  But because of my fear and desire to be shoulder length by August, I held off. 

Well, I'm back to full neck length after this latest trim.  I used MsVCharles' trimming method, and carefully detangled my hair.  I went through it a few times with my Denman D3 (with 3 rows removed so it has 4 rows now), and then carefully felt down the shaft of my hair.  I could feel the damage because my hair all felt the same until I got close to the ends and it felt rough. 

I went to Target and bought some hair trimming scissors, and clipped of between 1 and 2 inches of damaged ends of my hair.  I am a bit sad because I really want long hair, but I realize that I am doing more harm by ignoring the breakage I am having. 

Do you ever feel lik you are doing everything right but you still have breakage?  Well, that was my dilemma.  I was DC'ing once a week.  I co-washing, moisturizing and making sure to alternate my protein and moisture.  So why was my hair breaking?  It is still early to tell but I think the trim may have reduced the breakage I was experiencing!

I will update you all soon! 

Low Manipulation Styling vs Protective Styles

Which do you choose?

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I was browsing my favorite YT vloggers and hair blogs, and I came across a video about Low Manipulation styling.  Since I henna'd on Friday and saw all the broken ends, I decided that I would do less manipulation.  Having 4b/c hair, I know that my texture is fragile so all the daily moisturizing and sealing may have been more damaging that helpful.  I also practice protective styling by wearing my lacefronts.  However, I have seen less breakage with the low manipulation than with the wigs! So where do you all stand on protective versus low manipulation?  Which do you think is best to maximize hair growth?  Is it better to protect your hair from the elements or from yourself? Or both?

My low-manipulation style:

After I DC on Saturday, I put my moisturized hair into about 12-16 two-strand twist.  Because I do them in four sections, I have an even amount on both sides.  After the twist are done, I do french braids/loose cornrows on each side.  I just grab a loose twist as I braid.  I then twist up the ends and bobby pin them in.  I make sure to tuck any loose ends in during the week.  I don't take them down again until Wednesday when I co-wash.  However, I do spritz them daily and lightly pat oil on them to keep in moisture.

I will post pics next time I do it after my next wash day.

Henna!

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Sorry I fell off for a couple of days.  I was trying to enjoy the good weather and visit friends!

But I did use the henna that I bought on Friday. First, I applied my Herbal Essences (HE) Break's Over condition to help with finger detangling.  Then I shampooed with the Shea Moisture (SM) Moisture Retention Shampoo.  I will use it a few more times so I can give an honest review.

That day I applied a henna mixture I found from Curly Nikki.  I added a couple drops of concentrated lemon and some organic honey and regular honey.  I let it sit until the next morning at 5:30am and used up 1/2 of conditioner washing it all out. I had some henna I had gotten from a store in College Park (Smile Herb).  The henna I got from Smile Herb is not pure henna and really gritty!  The Reshma was much easier to wash out.  I did dunk my head a few times in a bucket to get out as much henna as possible first though!

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Ingredients: Coconut oil (Cocos nucifere oil), Neem (Azadirachta indica Leaf extract)

Brahmi (Centella asiatica Plant extract), Fruit extracts of Amla Bahera and Harar (extracts of emblica officinalis Terminalia belirica and Terminalia chebula), Kapur kachri (Hedychium spicatum rhizome extract), Henna (Lawsonia inermis leaf extrac), Milk (lac), Rosemary oil (Rosmarinus officinalis oil), Lemon oil (Citrus limonum oil)TBHQ (t-butyl hydroquinone) , Fragrance

I then DC'ed with my Aubrey Organics (AO) Honeysuckle Rose shampoo and mixed it with the Vatika Oil I had gotten.  I then used my new detangling comb but found it ripped out a lot of hair!!!! So I used my trusty wide toothed comb.  I may continue to use the comb but not as my primary detangling tool.  

My hair feels good, and I believe I will continue to henna.  I also really love the Vatika oil!!  It is a coconut oil mix with henna, lemon and other essential herbs and oils mixed in.  My hair loves Ayruvedic products.  I am hoping to see some changes soon because I saw breakage :(  I will most likely be doing a trim at the end of the month to cut off some of these damaged ends.  

Healthy hair first and length will follow.

Have a great week ladies!

Indian Store and Sally's Beauty Supply Haul!!!

So excited!  I finally made it out to Langley Park to hit up the Indian Supermarket.  At work, I was about to order Henna and Vatika Oil for an exorbitant price when I discovered this gem close to where I live.  I dragged my boyfriend along and took two buses to get to the store.  I picked up three boxes of Reshma henna which I here is really good, Vatika Oil, and Rose Water.  It all cost about $14!

I also stopped by Sally's Beauty Supply and picked up this detangling comb.  I am excited to use it this weekend when I apply my Henna treatment.  Last time I did Henna I did Curly Nikki's henna gloss and didn't get very much color, but my hair felt amazing!  This time I plan to do the full treatment and DC afterward with my Aubrey Organics Honeysuckle Rose Conditioner (I won't be using any conditioner with protein since henna acts like a protein).   Anyone know any good henna recipes?

I've also heard good things about Vatika oil and Rose water.  I can't wait to try both.  I will be updating everyone! Off topic, I ordered Kinky Curly Curling Custard from Amazon and have been waiting for it to be delivered. Unfortunately there was a delay and now I have to wait until Monday :(

Product Junkie Alert!!! Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Moisture Retention Shampoo



Source: Target.com



So my PJism got the best of me today at Walgreens, and I picked up the Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Moisture Retention Shampoo.  I have been on the lookout for a moisturizing 'poo so I hoping this will be it. It has wonderful ingredients:

Contains de-ionized water, Decyl Glucoside (sugar beets), African Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea butter) (denotes certified organic ingredients), aloe vera leaf juice, Argan Oil, Panthenol (pro-vitamin B-5, rosemary extract, sea kelp extract, vitamin E, Lonicera Caprifolium (honeysuckle) flower and Lonicera Japonica (Japanese honeysuckle) flower extract. (Target.com)


I can't wait to try it on Saturday my wash day!!!  I will update you all with a succinct review of the product.  So excited, I am crossing my fingers it doesn't mat up my hair!