Wash Day

On Wednesday I got up and began working in four sections, detangled my hair and applied Kanechom conditioner to the length of my hair paying close attention to my roots and ends. It took me forever to this(at least it felt that way). I then put a plastic bag on, tied my scarf on top of that and got lost in my home work/ studying/wasting time; it was night before I realized, and I have no recollection of what time I grabbed my cantu shea butter moisturizing shampoo diluted with water in a spray bottle to make application to my scalp and root easier, and hydrating macadamia oil conditioner.

When I got out the shower I covered my hair with a shirt and went back to work. When my hair was probably about 80% dry I took the t-shirt off and fell in love with my hair! It was super soft, but my new growth still gave me some issues when I tried getting through it. I moisturized and put it into four braids so I could get curls to work with the next day...

...Next day hair was a big flop! hahahaha my new growth is trynna kick my butt at 19 weeks post; fighting hard not to let it. Game plan moving forward (as I have no plans to relax until December) is to try and get a cowash or some sort of faux steaming method into play to help make my new growth play nicer!

Wash Day

It's been a while since I've done a wash day post, any post for that matter, but here I am putting the proverbial pen to paper to share my last wash day experience post Havanna Twists.

Last Wednesday I just felt like I had enough of the braids and decided to take them out that night. The plan was to wash on Friday because my hair felt ridiculously dry, but it took me forever to get my hair separated with all the build up I had from the moisturizer I've been using. I eventually just sprayed my hair with a mix of condition, EVOO and water then tied it up for an overnight pre-poo (despite the fact that I swore up and down that I would never do this again). Saturday morning I got up and hopped into the shower with my clarifying shampoo, as soon as I began to unravel my first plait I realized that I hadn't done a good job removing the build up from my hair so it was starting to cause some tangles, and if I wasn't careful, matting. I took my time shampooing and detangling, fighting hard not to lose patience. I then had to sit down with a comb and detangle after I let most of the water dry out. I then asked my cousin to lather it another time, after this I had one big mess on top of my head Lol. It was all I could do not to freak out.


I then put Roux Repairing Conditioner in and layered that with Redken extreme strength builder plus, tied my hair in a plastic bag, put my head tie on then went running. After I cooled down, I hopped backed into the shower and rinsed the condish from my hair and put my hydrating macadamia oil conditioner in and combed through my hair the best I could, then rinsed. After I let it dry about 60% I continued my detangling, and got my hair in one of the neatest ponytails I've ever achieved, especially this many weeks post (wish I had taken pics). My hair feels, soft, but not as smooth as I would like and it is still tangling, methinks it's about time I introduced a cuticle smoothing product into my regimen.

Above is the amount of hair, I lost. Though by no way comfortable with said loss, I am aware that it's been a while since I detangled so it's not out of the ordinary.

Belle Moi!

Relaxer touch-up

For the first time in the almost two years since I've been relaxing my hair I decided to end my 14 week stretch with an in home touch-up. It was indeed a learning experience. I parted my hair in four, based my scalp with Vaseline, and ensured that I coated my hat hair with it as well. I decided to start at the front because my nape is in a compromised state, and I really didn't trust myself to do it in any case.

It didn't take too long for the area where I first put the relaxer in to start burning, because I decided that I would try and do my entire head all at once instead of doing the whole process for each  section individually. I also decided that I wouldn't spend the time to smooth, although I kinda smoothed the first  area that I applied the relaxer to while my cousin was applying it to the back.The result?

My nape and most of the right side of my edges took the relaxer well, while portions of my head still has puffy roots. I have different levels of relaxed state throughout my head. I'm writing this post while sitting under the dryer as a welcome distraction from the twelve page paper I have to do. I have no idea, how my hair is going to look or if I will suffer any setbacks from this novel attempt on my part. I am unbelievable calm and not at all worried, I hope I can remain this way and that my hair does not suffer.



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

Stretching woes...Kinda

It's only been a month, and my new growth is KICKIN! After this last wash and my attempt to roller-set, my roots have been in a terrible mood. It is sooo compact! My mom even had to ask if I didn't just get my hair done.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining about the growth I'm obviously having, but this is murder for someone like me who already has a hard time styling their hair. It is now at the point where I can't get my hair into a proper bun. I don't know what to do because I don't want to use any heat. Should I throw it in braids and call it a day, or should I keep trying to figure this thing out?  Decisions, decisions.



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

Wash Day

 Let me start by saying I did everything in sections. I parted my hair and applied my pree-poo and ended up with six plaits. From washing out the oils to applying each product and washing it out, I undid each section one at a time and held the ends in my hand in order to reduce tangles and re-plait each after I was done. I picked up this trick awhile back from a naturalista on YouTube, and I must say I am glad I used it today. Though it was tedious, it saved me some troubles.

• I pre-pooed overnight with a mix of EVOO and eucalyptus oils on my scalp and the length of my hair and conditioner on my ends.

• Shampooed with Cantu Shea butter moisturizing cream shampoo.
• Did a heavy protein treatment with aphogee two-step protein treatment.
• Deep Conditioned with Every Strand Aloe Vera Treatment: Deep Conditioning Hair Cream for a little more than an hour (fell asleep during this session).
• Finished up with an ACV rinse.

My hair felt soft throughout, and fortified after the protein treatment. However, it continues to feel rough, and my ends seem to be in love with each other. When all was said and done, I tied my scalp around my hairline and left it to air-dry. When it was 80% dry, I detangled with my wide-toothed comb then moisturized with my trusted Cantu Shea Butter leave in conditioning repair cream and sealed with coconut oil.

Once completely dry, I got my cousin to plait it for me; this is how I will be wearing it for the next two weeks. Gotta keep protecting them ends babeee! lol.




Texture shot at almost two weeks post.


Belle Moi.

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

Today's Wash

 On the eve (well almost eve) of my eighth week post relaxer, I decided to do another wash before re-plaiting my hair and placing my ends in the witness protection program this is what ensued:
I took hours trying comb out my hair, trying to get as much of the curls, and tangles as I could without causing any damage. I was getting annoyed, but kept a level head. I then:

1.Pre-pooed with a mix of conditioners and liquid vitamin for well over two hours. (My mind is on a million different things). I didn't really like the way my hair felt this session. I might have to change up what I use to do this step next wash.

2. Lathered twice with Cantu Shea butter moisturizing cream shampoo.

3. Did my first ever black tea rinse. Wasn't in the shower so this was a bit tricky (messy).

4. Deep conditioned with Soft Sheen Carson's Roots of Nature Shea Butter Green Tea Reconstructing Deep Treatment for an hour or so. 

Overall: My hair felt soft, but my edges are no joke! They simply Refuse to be moisturized. It seems to laugh at my attempts. I lost too much hair to breakage when I detangled prior to pre-pooing.

I need to find a way to wash my hair that prevents the excessive tangling/matting or whatever it is  that occurs because it is a pain to comb through even with the right product.
Moisturizing and sealing nightly has been good to me, but I need to find a superb moisturizer to stick with.
The areas of my nape that are now extremely short are growing, but combing it seems to make the relaxed sections break. This section obviously needs different attention; I need to figure out just what that is.

Belle Moi

Finally Decided!

Today marks the beginning of my seventh week post relaxer and I am just now deciding how long I want this stretch to last. I am aiming for four months. So six weeks are behind me and I have ten more to go...YIKES!! It will definitely be interesting to see how I am progressing weekly. I am already feeling overwhelmed, but I think I can get a handle on it.


I WILL NOT BE DETERRED!
I AM DETERMINED!!!




Belle Moi

Hair Struggles :(

Tuesday marked the beginning of the sixth week of my relaxer and my hair is already becoming unmanageable! I am tired of wearing it down and it looks a hot mess when I attempt to put into a ponytail or a bun!

I think I might have found the point during my stretch where my hair becomes a pain in the neck and will therefore need much more attention. Making a note of this to see if this is in fact the case during my next stretch. I for one can't wait for tomorrow so I can wash my hair already!









Belle Moi