L4L Protective styling challenge Final Update

The rules were not hard for me to follow at all. I didn't wear my hair out even though we had down days. I used heat I believe before the challenge officially started, the wash day before my final relaxer (mostly on cool), and after the relaxer in order to get a good idea of where my hair is. However, I did have a set back. During one of my wash days I had a nasty tangle and I ended up losing some hair. It wasn't until I washed my hair and got it straightened to take pictures for this post that I realized the extent of the damage. During my salon visit I had asked for a trim, but was told that my ends were good. I was disappointed when I got home and realized that the left side is now longer than my right. :(


To be honest, I haven't been able to do anything to my hair for a week and have been neglecting it. I hope the retention  I had is not lost, because I have some evening out to do.

This is my starting pic. Not quite APL

Final pic appears to be at APL. What say you guys?


Belle Moi!

My Random Thoughts

After repeating the same process pretty much every wash day, I think I have pretty much established a regimen and as such, I have made a tab for it.

I pretty much ran out of all three of my deep conditioners, one of which I am absolutely positive I will be repurchasing. I am also going to be on the look out for a reliable protein based deep condish. 
I need to repurchase my Cantu Shea butter shampoo and conditioner because my hair loves them at this point in time.

Even though I love my Cantu shea butter leave in, I was searching for a water based moisturizer. last week a bought a Kera Care Conditioning Creme Hairdress at the recommendation of a stylist. I don't know anything about this product, but the ingredients that I could recognize sold me. I may be at fault with how much I apply, but it has made my hair feel oily.  Last time I buy anything without reading up on it first. I won't toss it aside yet though. My hair is excessively thick right now and is literally gulping down all moisture placed on it, so I'll wait before I decide what to with it.

Relaxer day is quickly approaching, and I have already decided that I will be blowing my roots on my next wash day to ensure that my root isn't too compact for the hair dresser to handle.

Even though it may be hard to fathom, after I'm done with this protective styling challenge I will be going on a personal hide your hair challenge for the rest of the year. I need to regrow my nape desperately, and the reduced manipulation will help to both regrow and strengthen this section.  The length retention that I will undoubtedly get from this if done correctly is also an enticing factor. I will be working out exactly how I want it to go and post about it soon.


Belle Moi

Enough already.

Yesterday, I just sat down and began to take down my braids. After waking up that morning to hair that felt like I hadn't moisturized in days despite the fact that I did the night before, I think I reached my breaking point. In all honesty I haven't been feeling my braids for awhile, but was unsure if I should take them out even though I hated the way my scalp felt in some places. I made it to a month this past Sunday which is good I suppose. After washing my hair which I should be washing it within the next couple of days (should be fun lol) I'm going to do it into two braids. 
For now I'm wearing my hair in two curly bun type things.

Amazed at how clean my roots are after a month of being in those braids. My little experiment worked well yay! Really loving this challenge and can't wait to see my results.



Belle Moi.

MIA

So...I've been MIA for awhile, because I needed to keep of the computer except for when I was doing home work. I am here trying to teach my left hand to be more dominant in order to rest my right hand. Anyway, after wearing my hair in two cornrows for a while and getting lots of compliments, I decided to get braids installed just because.

Due to the fact that my nape is still damaged, and this new growth is kickin, I experience excess shrinkage there and it looks awful when I try to do any updo. Who knew the nape was so hard to regrow? So for the remainder of this protective styling challenge I will be sporting my braids. I plan on moisturizing and sealing like I've been doing, and washing my hair every 1-2 weeks.



Belle Moi

Digging my Hair!

All week long I have had to force myself not to play with my hair, but it's just sooo hard when it feels so GOOD! I don't know what it is, but it's just soft. Apart from trimming, the only thing I did differently this past wash day was an hot-oil treatment, which I haven't done in awhile. I guess my hair is just responding to all the moisturizing products I use. I also can't deny that moisturizing and sealing more consistently has been beneficial.

However, I noticed that I couldn't feel just how soft my hair was until after I had trimmed. I therefore cannot deny how beneficial it is to know and understand what your hair is saying to you, and to also follow through.
 I am usually on my game when it came to my ends, each relaxer I would either ask for a trim or asked my hairdresser how my ends looked to determine whether I needed a light dusting. For some reason I fought tooth and nail with myself during my last relaxer, and I ended up having to re-visit the salon anyway; wasting unnecessary money.

On a different note...

January flew by so quickly, I lost track of how long I had my hair in the plaits that I had put in. I had to reassure myself that I only had them in for two weeks. smh. Anyway, the protective styling challenge I am participating in is going well. Although I haven't been creative in styling my hair, I'm not beating myself up, after all, the less I manipulate my hair the better.




Belle Moi

Protective Styling: Love It!

 


Living in an area where it snows, I am very conscious of the effects that the cold has on my hair. As a result, I bun whenever I feel it getting cold. I love buns, LOVE EM! In fact, any up-do that slenderizes my face is okay by me. If I have to hide my hair in a bun for a few months I have no problem with it because I know that it will be worth it in the end.

It was therefore no surprise that when I saw that Ebony C. Princess over on http://longing4length.com/ will be hosting a protective styling challenge that will run from January 7-April 15, that I would be joining! I can't wait to be inspired and for my hair to reap all the benefits!

Here is my starting point

You can't really tell, but I'm arm pit length; won't claim it just yet though.

Protect dem ends!

Just Some of the ways I wore my hair during my first challenge.

 The two previous were simple to achieve, I just plaited my hair, then gathered them into a bun.

  This look and the one immediately after it was actually inspired by an amazing natural youtuber Laila-Jean. Mine is a bit different, first time trying it and all. Plus my relaxed tresses didn't lend it self to having as much body. What the hey, I rocked it beautifully all the same.

 A simple bun I wore to work. Tres chic, No?

Those Pesky Strands!

    Not long after I got my braids installed, I realized that in a few places there were single strands that were only attached to the braids by the ends. I knew that it was impossible for me to manipulate my hair a certain way without causing breakage, so I tried my best to avoid doing just that. Then today, I got the bright idea to try and remove the strand from the braid. I am saddened, by the fact that I am experiencing breakage, and will most continue to do so once I take down my braids.
 
     I want to see results when I take this down. I would hate for this to have been in vain.


P.S. I think I have single strand knots on the areas of my nape hair that have escaped the braid. Is this possible?!










Belle Moi

Confessions

I must come clean, apart from the few times I oiled my scalp after installing my braids, I have not been doing ANYTHING to my hair!

Ugh, 'tis bad, I know, but I have been super busy and outright exhausted at the end of the night. I must learn to do better!









Belle Moi

Wash Day

On Tuesday I washed my hair and it was thankfully better than the last. Here's what I did:

• Pre-pooed with EVOO for 30 minutes (15 under my cap alone and 15 under my dryer).

• Lathered twice with Lathered twice with Cantu Shea butter moisturizing cream shampoo.
• Deep conditioned with hydrating macadamia oil intensive moisture mask (first time use) for 2 and a half hours.

I am happy to say that my hair felt soft!
I air dried for a part of the time then sat under the dryer for the remainder. I have no time frame for this, but I do know that it was mostly dry.

I finally decided and got my hair braided! Will be keeping this in for the remainder of the challenge that I am participating in.


Belle Moi