Progress Pics

So my sister is on a hair journey, just like me. No goal for now, just healthy hair! See, she used to have long hair but because of a hair dye experience and several moves from one region to another, her hair took a turn for the worse. It's hard finding a good stylist and she typically goes to the salon for all services.
She went from about APL
to Shoulder Length
then Shoulder Length to Neck Length
Then to a little above Neck Length.

Her healthy hair journey began on August 2010 with a fresh cut.

This is her hair now June 2011

She feels like she isn't making much progress because her hair is not where it used to be...but I see progress especially with trimming each touch-up.  

Routine is as follows:

Wash, DC & Roller Set at Salon weekly or Biweekly
Relax Every 8 weeks
Trim each relaxer- She loves blunt ends
Moisturize and Seal nightly

8 Weeks

            It's been almost 8 weeks since my last relaxer

And since then I.....

 used Caruso Rollers for a slight wave

Bunned like Crazy

                                       
                                     Did occasional "different" protective styles

                                                            Put in some Cornrows

Put a Black Rinse in My Hair

                                          Did my typical braid-outs(pre-rinse)

                                  AND  lightly trimmed my Hair(this is only a little of the hair)

One thing I have not done, is use Heat!

I am stretching for another 6-8-10 weeks, not exactly sure how long...

But I am hoping for much more  thickness!!!

Braid-Out on Un-Washed Hair

Yeah...the title makes me cringe too. When I took my braids out, I just didn't feel like doing my whole wash routine..so I opted for a braid out on un-washed hair.

I just  sprayed my hair with my aloe vera mix, detangled, braided about 8 braids and sealed with oil


                                                             
                                                                          Before

Then when I was ready to go out, I just took the braids out. I wish I would have put some rollers on the ends...but I knew not to expect great results.

                                                                          After

On My Radar

I have used a few different spray leave-ins in the past 2 years, but one I haven't tried and read so many great reviews on, is Chi Keratin Mist. I hear it's comparable to Aphogee Keratin and Grean Tea Restructurizer, which I have been using for a while. The only difference is that the Aphogee is activated by heat and should be used at most twice a week, while the Chi can be used Daily(if you are a daily co-washer) and doesn't require heat to work (although it is great to use before flat-ironing).

My other spray leave-in's are almost gone, so once I remove my next set of braids, this is the first product I will go out and buy. I will check out the T.J Maxx or Marshalls to see if they have this first(because it's usually half the price).

*P.S- The great thing about Braids is that I don't buy any hair products unless absolutely necessary.

Ingredients:
Rosewater, Dicetyldimonium Chloride, Cocodimonium Hydroxypropyl Silk Amino Acids, Acetamide MEA and Lactamide MEA, Lauryl Pyrrolidone, Panthenol, Propylene Glycol, Diazolidinyl Urea, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Methylchloroisothiazoline and Methylisothiazolinone, Nettle, Chamomile Extract, Algae, Aloe Vera, Lavender Extract, Rosemary Extract, Parfum, FD&C Yellow 5, D&C Red 33, Zinc Oxide, Titanium Dioxide, Mica, Boron Nitride Powder.


If you use this and have something to say about it...let me know..in the comment section :-)

Organix - Acai Berry Avocado Shampoo

I purchased this towards the end of May because I was out of shampoo and Walgreens was having a BOGO sale for all Organix products.

I loved their Cherry Blossom Ginseng Shampoo, so I purchased that again and picked up the Berry Avocado for free.

They Say: An exotic nutrient luxurious blend of antioxidant rich acai berry extract and guava to instantly nourish, re-energize and enrich your hair. Avocado proteins add nutrition and balance along with Moroccan argan oil to moisturize your tresses and create a shiny, smooth, frizz-free finish.

Alluring and totally intoxicating combination
Blends natural vitamins, proteins and minerals
Safe for color treated hair
Sulfate and paraben free
Not tested on animals

Ingredients: Aqua (Water) , Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate , Cocamidopropyl Betaine , Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine , Glycol Distearate , Dimethicone Copolyol , Cetyl Alcohol , Cocamide DEA , Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride , Polyquaternium-11 , DMDM Hydantoin , Panthenol , Silk Amino Acids , Acai Berry Extract , Avocado Extract , Albumen , Argan Extract , Hydrolyzed Milk Protein , Guava Extract , Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E) , Coumarin , Parfum


How I used it: After Pre-pooing (or conditioning overnight) I rinsed the pre-poo out and placed the shampoo diluted with a little water in my applicator bottle and dispursed all throughout my scalp/roots and let the rest seep into my hair. Massaged the shampoo in my scalp under running water and repeated one more time.
Edited to Add: I did not completely rinse of the prepoo, I wet my hair because I do not shampoo dry hair
 
Total Uses: 3
 
What I have to say: The shampoo smells soo good..of course because of the berry. It also lathers really well for being sulfate free. Unfortunately, it was very drying to my hair. My hair felt so hard after rinsing it out and I had to immediately follow up with a moisturizing conditioner. The shampoo felt as if it were a clarifying shampoo and stripped my hair of all the moisture placed from the pre-poo. Luckily, after conditioning, my hair felt back to normal.  If you look towards the end of the ingredient list, it contains protein, so this could be the reason for the dryness.
 
Will I re-purchase- NO, but I will use this once month as a clarifying shampoo and stick to the Cherry Blossom Ginseng
 
Cost: $6.99 for 13 oz. @ Walgreens

* I dilute my shampoo so it can come out of the applicator bottle easier, but I was happy I did so with this shampoo to avoid extremely negative results.

Solange Back in Braids

Solange decided to celebrate her 25th birthday with some braids! She stated, braids helped her natural hair grow out healthier and stronger.

I agree that braids do help because there is less manipulation of the hair and you are able to moisturize your hair so much easier. I'll be putting single braids back in my hair soon, but I doubt they will be thaaaat thick.

Source is on pic

No More Braids

....for a week!

I took my braids out today to give my hair a break before braiding my hair next week.
Before removing each cornrow, I sprayed the braids with water/rosewater to give them some moisture.

Here's how my hair looked when removing all of the braids.

I gently finger-combed my hair once removing each braid.

Then I separated my hair in sections and thoroughly detangled to remove all shed hair. Before doing so, I sprayed each section with Aloe Vera Juice mixed with Aloe Vera Gel, Glycerin, Castor Oil and Eucalyptus Oil...then put each section in a single braid. I then applied coconut oil to each braid.

I now have a plastic cap over my head.

Not sure what I'm going to do with my hair next..

But what I do know is that I have plans for tomorrow/tomorrow night..so I need to think quick.

Are You A Blogger?

I try to follow all who follow my blog..not just because they follow my blog, but because I'm interested in a variety of things...whether it's HAIR, fashion, food, books, beauty and so-forth.

So, for all you bloggers out there...feel free to leave your blog URL in the Comment section... I'll be sure to check it out(I may already be subscribed though)  and hopefully others will too :-)

Jada Pinkett Smith

Who Said braids can't look elegant?

Now these pics aren't recent, but I just love how Jada looks in braids.

* I do not clain ownership of any of these photos

Still Going Strong

Usually around this time while in cornrows, I am itching to take them out. This time around, it's the complete opposite. I re-did the front yesterday, so they can last another week. Surprisingly, I received so many compliments on them.
I was being lazy..so I just un-braided each cornrow, moisturized my hair then rebraided with the same hair.
When I took the cornrows out, I had such a nice curl.(will add a pic from my digital camera later) I'm taking these all out next Friday or Saturday..will rock a braid-out then wash Sunday night.

I did notice my hair wasn't that moisturized when re-doing the braids. So, I will now spray braids with Rosewater/Distilled Water..THEN spray with the Braid-Spray.

50 Cent

I haven't seen guys do this to their hair in a while. I see some curly hair...and I see some straight hair on 50. ..BUT it looks extra moisturized to me ;-)

I prefer a low cut fade on men though!

Source

Essential Oils that COULD Aid in Hair Growth

Just thought I would pass this on. The Source is at the bottom of the post.

List of Essential Oils for Hair Growth


Here is a list of different oils that contribute towards hair growth.

Rosemary: Rosemary oil is not only good for hair growth, but also for soothing itchy skin. It increases the blood circulation to the scalp which encourages hair growth and at the same time, helps in fighting dandruff. However, rosemary oil is usually not recommended for pregnant women as well as for people who are suffering from hypertension.

Lavender: Apart from being an anti-bacterial agent, Lavender oil happens to possess several regenerative properties which make it ideal for treating skin and scalp problems such as dandruff, itchiness and hair loss. When used in combination with other essential oils, it is said to produce remarkable results with respect to hair growth. 

Basil: This is another essential oil for hair treatment and hair growth. It is especially useful for people having oily hair and when used in conjunction with fenugreek, it improves the blood circulation to the hair tissue, which promotes hair growth.

Tea Tree Oil: Thanks to its antiseptic and anti-viral properties, tea tree oil is widely used for treating a number of problems such as flu, warts, cuts and bruises, as well as for treating skin and scalp problems. It is very effective in treating dandruff and when used in conjunction with jojoba oil or any other carrier oil, it makes for an effective hair loss solution.

In addition to the above-mentioned oils, there are a number of other essential and herbal oils which are beneficial for hair growth.

cedarwood
peppermint
chamomile
clary sage
lemon
thyme
burdock
grapefruit
bay
carrot root
olive
arnica

These were some essential oils for hair growth and hair loss prevention. Most of them need to be mixed with a carrier oil (such as almond, sesame, jojoba and MANY others) before they can be used. Though all of these essential oils have numerous medicinal benefits, some of them can at times, have certain side-effects. Therefore, it is always advisable that you consult an experienced trichologist before you begin using them.

Source

I Used To....

Hate My Height- But now I embrace it,  walk with my head high every day, and can't wait to wear a dress to show off the long legs God Blessed me with.

Hate the Size of My Nose- But now I love it. It's not who I am, but it is a part of me that I will never change. It's how you know my brother is my brother and my sister is my sister. It runs in the (immediate) family and I wouldn't trade it in for any other shape or size nose!

Hate Being Skinny- But now I love the fact that I can eat anything I want and not gain much weight...and if I do and don't like it...I can lose it in a matter of days/weeks.

Hate that People Said I sounded like a "white girl"- Now I realize that those same people who said that were just IGNORANT and I could care less about their opinions. To this day I still cant figure out what a "white girl" sounds like

Hate my real hair- But now I love it. I prefer to wear my hair out more then to conceal it in braids in weave, now that I have the proper knowledge to get it to wear I want it to be..I love it more now then I ever did. (whether I'm relaxed or natural).

Loving yourself doesn't mean you are conceited or self-centered...it just means that YOU LOVE YOURSELF! I love everything about myself and I am grateful to have the confidence that I have today. There is still room for improvements which I strive to make everyday...but what some would call "flaws" are what I call my "gifts".

This post isn't to boast about myself, but to show that anyone can overcome their insecurities.

Cornrows Regimen

Spray African Pride Braid Spray- Twice Daily

Oil Scalp Nightly or every other night with Castor oil mixed with Eucalyptus Oil and Sublimed Sulfur

Rinse with Water after Work outs (will place wig cap over my braids to minimize frizz)

Gel down edges with Aloe Vera Gel every AM

Wrap with Satin Scarf Nightly

That's all folks :-) gotta love the simplicity of cornrows.

Comparison Pic

I think Comparison Pics are a great way to motivate yourself to keep going with your hair journey.
When you feel like your hair isn't growing, take a look back at where you started or where you were this time last year and you will see progress is being made.

I chose pics that looked similar and where my hair was parted the same exact way.
                 
                                            July 22, 2010                          May 28, 2011

As you can see, my hair was barely touching my shoulder in the first pic, now it is well beyond my shoulder.

* Sorry you can't see the left side of my hair in the pics...but the right side is doing great! haha..no but the left side is doing just fine, I just always pin some hair back or ALLLL of the hair back.

*I am not naked in either of these pics...I just like strapless dresses

I Hate "Flying"!

Did I ever tell any of you how much I hate flying?Yes, I love to travel, but the whole "flying" thing is something else.

Now, I have grown very thick skin when it comes to Airline woes. From delays..to cancellations..unexpected re-routing...and airplane "maintenance" issues....BUT last night was something else.

I was on the road since Sunday and my flight back home , leaving from Baltimore, was at 3:44pm.
Because of a LATE lunch, I got to the airport at 2:40 pm...just enough time to check-in my bag!
Rushed through security...and made it just in time for Boarding. Yaaay..right?..NO?!!
It was 98 degrees and the plane had NO AC! So, I was stuck in a HOT plane for an hour...feeling like I was going to pass out or Die...yeah I know..overdramatical(I know that's not a word)

So..I make it to the connecting airline at Laguardia..but the flight doesn't leave until 8pm. That was fine by me because it gave me some time to catch up on work and eat.
As, I was going to pull out my wallet to grab a bite..I realize I LOST MY ID!!!
The only place it could be was at the Security clearance in Baltimore!

Okay..since I was already inside the Airport at my airline, I should be okay...so no need to freak out...right?
NO! My flight stated it was cancelled due to the storms. Now every flight except 1 was cancelled...so I wasn't thaaat surprised.

How am I going to get back through security with NO I.D!?!?!

Okay..I'm freaking out now and call my sister. Luckily she lives in NY..so I would have been able to take a train to her place..crash there then take a bus back home..then have someone drive me to the airport to pick up my car.so I have a plan.

BUT by the GRACE of GOD....my flight just got delayed and it ended up leaving at 10pm...just enough time for me to get home by 12AM and make it to work this AM at 8 :-)

Now, back to hair.

While waiting to see if my flight would really leave..I started finger detangling my hair. haha.
I had a braid-out in and my new-growth/underprocessed areas were slightly matted and knotted. I was able to get the knots out..but decided to corn-row my hair up tomorrow to avoid any for-seen "set-backs"
I will try to keep those in for 2 weeks..rest for a week then proceed with my single braids plan

I also wrote a list of up-coming posts..so stay tuned :-)

Benefits of Rose Water

When I spritz my hair to add a little moisture to it, I use a mixture of Rose Water and Distilled Water,
I mainly use Rose Water because of the scent, but there are also some benefits to it.


Hair
Rose water improves the blood circulation in the scalp. Regular use of rose water can also promote hair growth. Rose water is also a very good hair conditioner and revitalizes the hair. It can also help in reducing inflammations. It has also been found to be very effective in countering the dandruff caused due to fungal infections. It boosts the health of the hair and so reduces the hair fall and dryness of the scalp and the hair. It also makes the hair strong and flexible and so there is minimal broken hair or split ends
source


Facts about Rose Water:

• Rose water is used as an important ingredient in many body creams due to its pleasant fragrance. Rose water is also a very useful toner. This is probably why Romans in the ancient days preferred to bathe in rose water. It is known that rose water helps to stimulate the nervous system.

• Rose water also has certain antiseptic and anti bacterial properties. This is why is it useful to cure certain skin problems as well.

• Rose water is also popular due to its distinct flavor. This is the reason why rose water is used in West Asian, South Asian and cuisines of the Middle Eastern areas. Recipes from the 8th century have also included the rose water as an important ingredient. Many sweets are often flavored with rose water. In India, this is used as an ingredient in Gulab Jamun, which is a very popular sweet. Areas of Malaysia and Singapore use rose water as an ingredient in a sweet drink, which is known as Bandung.

Rose water is made from distilled water of the roses. The process involves the use of steam distillation. There are many ways to make rose water at home. This is most preferred by many as sometimes, the ones available in the market have chemical ingredients. Rose water made at home is in its purest form and proves to be more beneficial for the skin.

Source



Make Your Own Rose Water- http://www.rose-works.com/Rose-Water.html
Rose Water for Hair Loss: http://all-hair-loss-treatments.com/rose-water-hair-loss/

Nails and a little Hair

On a business trip, so I won't have time to post about "hair things" but decided to show some pics of my nail colors.

They usually last a full week of no chipping, then I move on to the next color. My arsenal is getting bigger and I'm exploring more colors..and soon designs.

And if you're wondering how I'm wearing my hair...it's very very simple...

rolled up and the only thing holding it together is a simple hair pin.

Trimmed/ Dusting and Trimming Schedule

I trimmed my hair today. I still want to do a larger trim, but I just wanted to get rid of any split ends and even up the tips.
Because my hair wasn't completely straight, I decided not to use my split-ender. I just twisted(not 2 strand twists) small sections of my hair and went down the twists cutting off any splits then I evened up the ends.

This is what I was able to scrounge of what I actually cut off. I did cut a lot more hair though.

This Years Trim and Dustings so far(for my own records):

January 21st- Trimmed .5-1nch
February 15th- Dusted with Split Ender (1/4th of an inch)
April 15th- Dusted with Split Ender (1/4th of an inch)
May 7th- Lightly dusted After relaxer ( 1/4th of an inch)
June 5th- Trimmed Ends (.5 inches or more)
Sept. 10th- Dusted with Split-Ender
Sept 21st- Dust with Shears- Only lightly on ends (__)
Next Trim(may be a big one depending on my ends) will be April 2012

Keep in Mind...my new Goal is to have THICK healthy APL-BSB length hair by December. No longer BSL.
If I reach BSL by my 3year healthy hair journey...June 2012, I'll be happy. If not, then I'm perfectly content with the length I am at.

Too Lazy for Hot Oil Treatments? Try Oil Rinsing!

Oil rinsing has somewhat the same concept as Hot Oil Treatments, but saves a little more time. It could be done in numerous different way's, but I find the most effective is the below.

Shampoo or Co-wash
Apply Oil of your choice (can be warmed up) all throughout your hair- Leave in for like 3-5 minutes
Rinse with WARM water
Condition Hair
(if needed.. de-tangle, watch how the comb just glides through your hair)
Rinse Conditioner with COOL water
Proceed as normal(towel dry, apply leave-ins, so forth)

This is a great way to use up any oils you don't use and it really really really conditions your hair.

Afraid of Oily hair?- Ease up on the amount of oil you use!

Summer Hair Plans

Summer is fastly approaching and it's time to tweak my regimen a teeny bit to accommodate for this hot weather.

The one minor change is that I will be co-washing at least 3 times a week opposed to 2.
I tend to work out more in the hotter months so to keep my scalp clean, I will incorporate more co-washes.

I also plan on doing the Crown and Glory Method Starting July 1st- September 23rd
What that means is, I will:

Braid my Hair for 5-6 weeks at a time
Still Moisturize, wash, cowash as needed (of course with diluted shampoo and conditioner)
then I will let my hair breath for 2 weeks
Then go back in braids

When my hair is out for the two weeks I will:

do no-heat hair styles or bun(if it's really hot out).
Do my bi-monthly henna treatments (add an egg for a little protein)
Deep Condition
Basically get my strength back for the next installation of braids

So, it looks like I will be keeping things simple for the summer, just the way I like it.
That way I can focus on other things besides my hair.


What are your hair plans for the summer? Does anyone else think as far in advance as I do? hahaha

4 Ways to Make Your Color Rinse Last Longer

In continuation from my last post, there are a few ways to make your color rinses last longer. Some have no issue with rinses, but for those that do..here you go.

1.) If you are relaxed, get a rinse during/after the relaxer process

2.) Process Rinse with heat- Sit under a dryer after applying a rinse

3.) Use Shampoos or Conditioners geared towards preserving color- If you can find a sulfate free one, that's even better

4.) Wash or Rinse hair with Cool Water only- Hot water tends to strip the hair color



Embarassing Story: I was going out to lunch with a friend and it was like almost 90 degrees. I was lost, so I pulled over and parked my car. Big Mistake. Should have kept it on for the AC. It was hot, I was sweating and my hair started to leak. I had the purplish/black rinse running down the back of my shirt and forehead. I was mortified!