It's that time again... Monthly Goals

So I haven't been that great at sticking to my goals but I am determined to get my act together and stick to them, So here are goals for the month of September.

1. Deep condition twice a week
2. Use my steamer once a week
3. Limit my heat usage - don't use it at all if I can.
4. Try braid outs and twist outs at least once this month
5. One No new product buy ONLY
6. Workout 3-4 days a week
7. Eat more fruits and veggies

Do you have goals for the month?

3 Years Later

Three years ago this month I unofficially started my hair journey. At that time I had no idea what a hair journey was. I just knew that I was tired of NL length hair. I decided to wear sew-ins for a year not realizing that what I was doing was considered protective styling. In 3 years time, after much trial and error with products and techniques, I have made my initial long term goal of BSB.

Here are a few of the things I have tried over the last 3 years on this hair journey that didn't stick around:
1. Pre-pooing - After awhile I just didn't feel like it was doing anything for me.
2. Deep conditioning overnight - I would do this once a week but I got scared that I would cause unwanted moisture overload. So I stopped. Also, it was just uncomfortable to sleep like that.
3. Tea Rinses - I wasn't even shedding that much but once I watched Traycee's video on tea rinses I went to Walmart and bought the same tea she used. I did it a couple of times it was cool but it wasn't something I felt I needed to continue to do.
4. Oil Rinses/hot oil treatments - Just too damn messy
5. Caruso Rollers - I suck at using rollers any type of rollers for that matter
6. Oils - I bought Avocado, Almond, Jojoba, Grapeseed, Apricot, Jamaican Black, Coconut, Peppermint, Tea Tree, and Lavendar Oils. I used them to seal and for hot oil treatments. Just didn't care for them after awhile. The only one that stuck around is coconut oil.
7. So many different products. One N Only Argan Oil line, Garnier Fructis moisturizer, Herbal Essences Long Term Relationship, Aphogee 2 Minute Reconstructor, Aubrey Organics Honeysuckle Rose Conditioner, and many many more. All though I am still a bit of a product junkie, I have found my staple products in Shi-Naturals and Silk Dreams.
8. Coconut Oil pills
9. Honey- Messy and unnecessary
10. Baggy Method
11. Growth Oils

Trial and error is a big part of hair journeys and it can get a bit pricey. Through all of that and a whole lot of patience, hopefully you'll find what your hair likes. Like I said I was able to make it to BSB and working on BSL then eventually MBL.

I know a few of you have seen these pics throughout my blog before but to someone who hasn't looked at my older posts, here are my before and after shots.

july 2010

Aug 2013

                                     

60 Day Hair Steaming Challenge

So I was checking my YouTube subscriptions and saw this challenge posted from Traycee from KISS. I will definitely be participating. I already steam once a week and I think that it would be fun to be apart of. I will be using my Secura Hair and Facial Steamer. I know that I haven't done a review on it but just know that I am loving this steamer. My only complaint is a common one, you can't really get the nape of your hair. I have to constantly change positions to make sure that section gets some TLC. I will try to post weekly after I have steamed showing what conditioners I used and how my hair feels after each session. The challenge officially starts September 3. I will be starting a day early since that will be my first time washing and deep conditioning my hair after texlaxing. Check out the video and let me know if you are going to join the challenge as well. Operation Full BSL is underway.

Texlaxed @ 30 weeks post

As I stated in my last post. I went ahead texlaxed my hair. I went to shop and got it done. I must say that I am very pleased with the progress that my hair has made since starting my hair journey in 2010. Going from shoulder length to where I am now is a wonderful thing. I still have some things that I need to work on with my hair but I'm not stressing over it. I also had a little trim. Which is okay seeing that I am tired of my bone straight ends. I can't until I wash my hair next week to see how the relaxer took. I hope it's not too straight.

So I think I made my decision

I am sticking to texlaxing. I was going to wait until January to make a decision but I changed my mind. I'll go natural somewhere down the line but I'm tired of the extra puffiness and shrinkage. Most importantly, I am tired of dealing with my new growth. lol I want to have easier wash days for a little a bit. This stretch has been rather smooth. Much better than I could ever imagine actually. But I'm over it. So come August 22, I will be starting another stretch. For how long? Who knows. I am going to continue with my original goal of having healthy relaxed hair. I want to be among the many ladies who have achieved what many outside of the hair journey world deem impossible. I was contemplating going natural because I love how full and thick natural hair is when straighten. I wanted that mainly because my bone straight ends were haunting me. lol Anyway, nothing about my regimen is changing and I'm still well on my way to making it to full BSL.  

Can relaxed and color treated hair coexist?

Yes it can but it all depends on how you maintain it. Is it recommended? No. Having double processed hair takes a lot of work to maintain. Work that very few know about or want to put in. If you have damaged hair don't go near the color, permanent ones at least. Rinses might be better for ladies who are nursing their hair back to health. Working on getting your hair healthy is top priority. I tried to have color treated and relaxed hair once before and it wasn't successful. My hair was constantly dry despite going to the shop every two weeks. She was telling me that my hair needed to be kept moisturized but wasn't telling me what to do about it. After that stint with highlights, I decided to leave it alone. Fast forward to 2013 and here I sit with relaxed and color treated hair. Some stylist will tell you to pick a chemical. If you want relaxed hair then don't get color and vice versa. Here a just a few tips to help you if you decide you want both. 

1. Make sure to keep protein in your hair. You can do hard protein treatments once a month or every other month. Or you can do like I do and use protein based products weekly to help keep some strength into your hair.
2. Moisture. Color dries the hair out and can cause unwanted breakage. Deep condition your hair often. When you do deep condition do it with heat i.e steam or a dryer to make sure the conditioner penetrates the hair shaft. Make sure that you are keeping up with moisturizing and sealing your hair. Do hot oil treatments. Anything that aides in keeping moisture in the hair is very beneficial.
3. Lay off the heat. Constant heat usage will do nothing to help the health of your hair. I'm not saying don't use it just use it very seldom.
4. When getting your hair colored don't go more than 2 shades lighter than your natural hair color. Doing so makes the hair more weaker. (From LaToyaJonesblog.com) 

Making sure you stick to these tips will help you to successfully have double processed hair. I am not a licensed stylist. I am just sharing the tips that have helped me to keep my relaxed and colored hair on my head and not on the floor. Thus not loosing any of the progress I have made on my hair journey.

Wash Day Chronicles: Sunday, August 4

On this wash day I decided to try out two new products. Something that isn't really recommended in the healthy hair care world. This was my first day since I straightened my hair a week and half ago. My first step was washing my hair with the Cleansing Pudding. I parted my hair into 4 sections then proceeded to apply the cleanser to each section. In the instructions they suggests that you leave it on for 3-5 minutes so it can really clean the scalp. I didn't do that in fear that it might leave my hair feeling a bit dry. After rinsing that out I toweled dried my hair for a bit then applied the Shi-Naturals Peppermint Stimulating Deep Conditioner. I sat under the steamer until it cut off. Rinsed and proceeded to detangle and air dry. Overall it was a good wash day.

On to the introduction of the new products. lol

As I Am Cleansing Pudding

We all know just how popular the Coconut Cowash is from this line. I decided to go ahead try out the Cleansing Pudding. When I went looking for reviews on this product I saw very few. I gave it a shot anyway. This is their clarifying conditioner and it does just that. My hair felt really squeaky clean but also with a slight dry feeling. This product smells exactly like the Coconut Cowash but has a slightly thicker consistency. I don't think that I will be repurchasing this product. It does what it's suppose to do but I'll stick with the Bobeam Cocoa and Rhassoul Clay bar. The clay bar clarifies my hair but leaves it feeling soft. I prefer clarified/soft hair over clarified/slightly dry hair. Coconut Cowash will be the sole As I Am product in my regimen.

Price:
$17.99, If you have a Sally Card it's $16.19 (16 oz)

Product Info:

• Promotes healthy environment for hair growth
• Cleanses hair of residue and product build-up
• Moisturizes as it cleanses
• Soothing scalp treatment

As I Am Cleansing Pudding is a rich sulfate-free creamy moisturizing beauty bath for your hair! Contains a special blend of natural ingredients, including saw palmetto and phytosterols, that helps to eliminate DHT build-up from the scalp.

Rids scalp of excess sebum, environmental impurities and shedding scalp debris. Promotes healthy hair growth from the follicular level.

Directions:
Wet hair thoroughly. Rub a liberal amount of As I Am Cleansing Pudding within palms and distribute throughout hair. Lather product through hair and massage into scalp. Carefully detangle hair with a wide-tooth comb.

Leave on 3-5 minutes in order to eliminate shedding scalp debris. Rinse well. Repeat only if necessary to remove excessive product build up.

Ingredients:
Key Ingredients: Tangerine, Aloe Vera, Castor Oil, Vegetable Glycerin, Saw Palmetto and Phytosterols

Aqueous (Water, Aqua Purificada, Purified) Extracts: Citrus Reticulata (Tangerine)¹, Cetrimonium Chloride, Cetyl Alcohol², C12-15 Alkyl Lactate, Cetearyl Alcohol², Polyquaternium-37, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, PPG-1 Trideceth-6, Glycerin¹, Phytosterols¹, Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract¹, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice ¹, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil¹, Poyquaternium-10, Piroctone Olamine, Potassium Sorbate, Methylisothiazolinone, Fragrance/Parfum, Limonene.

Shi-Naturals Peppermint Stimulating Deep Conditioner
Price: 18.00

This peppermint stimulating conditioner is a combination balancing conditioner. It adds moisture and protein, plus the powerful peppermint for hair growth. Together with the Peppermint Stimulating Shampoo. Packs a powerful combo for growth and healthy hair.

How to use: Apply generously from root to end. Apply plastic cap. Wrap towel around head or sit under a hood dryer or steamer. Process 30-60 minutes without heat, 15-30 with heat.

Ingredients: Distilled water, btms, natural peppermint oil, almond oil, castor oil, hydrolyzed protein, silk protein

*This is a moisture/protein balanced conditioner*

ph balanced - 16 oz

I am loving this conditioner just like love all the other Shi-Naturals conditioners. I touched on how my hair felt a bit dry after using the Cleansing Pudding. As soon as this conditioner touched my hair I felt instant softness. This conditioner is thick and creamy. It soaks right in my hair. It does have a strong minty scent but it doesn't linger for long. If you are sensitive to smells you can always ask the owner to tone down the peppermint scent. Your scalp will have the cool/tingly feeling from the peppermint oil. I know that this conditioner is a bit on the pricey side but it is definitely worth it. After steaming my hair and rinsing, my hair was left soft, moisturized, and minty fresh. lol Overall, this product is a keeper.

How I Keep Protein In My Hair

My protein products

Protein is a very important in the health of our hair. Our hair is made up of keratin. Any chemical, such as relaxing and coloring, break down those protein bonds and makes the hair a bit weaker. So we need to add that protein back. Making sure that our hair is as balanced as possible is one of the keys to healthy hair. Protein products range from light to hard protein treatments. I am not one to use a hard protein treatment. Reason being I am a little scared to. As we all know, Aphogee 2 Step is very popular. I just feel like my hair won't survive that much protein. It all depends on the person. Some people's hair are very protein sensitive. A product with any amount of protein in it can throw off the balance in their hair and some other's can tolerate protein. My hair can take a bit of protein so I use light to medium protein products. I deep condition with either my Shi-Naturals Protein Balance conditioner or Silk Dreams Mocha Silk Infusion conditioner. These conditioners strengthen my hair but does not leave my hair hard and stiff. Next, is the Shi-Naturals Protein Balance Leave-In. I spray this on my hair after I have rinsed out deep conditioner and let it air dry a bit. I alternate between this and the Moisture Balance Leave-In. Now the Organix Coconut Milk Anti-Breakage Serum contains egg whites (protein). I use this to seal after applying my moisturizer. Not pictured, are products that are already have the moisture/protein in them. Moral of the story is that I make sure to alternate between my moisturizing products and my protein products to keep my hair as balanced as possible.

End of the Year Hair Plans: Full BSL Bound

This is the most recent pic of my hair.  

I can't believe that we are now 8 months into the year. Before you know it we'll be celebrating the holidays again. lol With that being said it is time for me to get back into my serious mode with my hair journey. I have a goal that I want to hit by the end of the year and it's time to set some goals to try and make it there. Besides wanting to continue my quest for healthier hair, I want to be full BSL by the end of the year. They are very simple and to the point.

1. Continue to deep condition my hair twice a week alternating between a protein dc and moisture based dc. Using my steamer for at least one of those dc sessions.

2. No heat. I am in no way anti-heat, as you all know, but I have retained a good amount of length when I limit my heat usage. I have used heat at least 3 times this summer but I'm ready to give it a rest especially since these bone straight ends irks me to my core. lol

3. Protective style 7 days a week. I will still be bunning my hair. I am toying with the idea of getting some type of braided up-do but I don't what I want to get just yet. So until then buns/ponytails are my go to styles.

4. Moisturize and seal every other day. I pretty much been half-assing with this one. I will be taking my time and doing this in sections. 

This is pretty much my game plan starting August 5 through December 28 . I am keeping it simple. Full BSL here I come. On December 28th I am planning to get my hair straightened so that I can see if I reached my goal. I am a firm believer of health over length but I would love to be full bsl. It has always been one my ultimate goals. I have been so skeptical of me making it to MBL but there are so many MBL and beyond ladies (Age in ATL, Jeni, Prettywitty77, Traycee just to name a few), that I am motivated to try to make it there. I'm not rushing it. I'll make it there eventually. 

What has been some of the techniques you have used to reach you length goals?