Update Time

Hey Everyone! Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and enjoyed the time spent with family!! J

So, I wanted to give you all a brief update on me and my hair!

• First off, I am 60 weeks post relaxer!! J

 I have been getting the urge to BC on New Year’s day, but I am hoping that will pass! Just in case, I’m going to hide my shears lol.

• I’m still in Twists!

13 Months Post Relaxer- Minor Breakage

Hey Everyone!! Hope you had a great weekend!

I just wanted to give you a brief update on my transition. Do you see those thin relaxed ends? Well that's where the breakage lies. About five of my twists look like that in the front/center of my hair. It's not too much to worry me, but enough for me to start monitoring my hair more. I did a henna treatment this weekend which immediately strengthened my hair, so now I'll just focus on keeping it moisturized. My hair will be in twists for the next 2-3 weeks, so I won't be manipulating it too much. For the most part, my hair is doing really well.. So that little section of breakage isn't discouraging me at all!

Let the transition continue!

The Do's and Don'ts of Relaxing Your Hair

I was on a relaxed hair journey for about 2.5 years before I decided to transition back to natural. 

Throughout those years, I made some mistakes, but was also able to grow my hair from neck length to below my shoulder blades. 

I have learned so much in those 2.5 year and I would like to share that with you. 

Keep reading if you would like to know MY do's and don'ts of relaxing hair. 

DO make sure your hair is thoroughly detangled before relaxing your hair- If not you will end up with knots and a lot of hair loss on relaxer day

DO base your scalp

DO protect your ends with an oil or conditioner

DON'T self- relax if you have not fully educated yourself or feel uncomfortable doing so. Go to a trusted stylist

DON'T relax your hair if it is breaking, shedding excessively or if you have scalp issues

DO make sure your hair is properly neutralized after rinsing off the relaxer

DO a mild-hard protein treatment at least two weeks before relaxer day

DON'T apply the relaxer to previously relaxed hair 

My Long Term Transition Inspirations

I frequently watch former long term transitioners videos for inspiration. 

All of these ladies had different methods while transitioning, but the end result was beautiful natural hair. 
Hope these videos inspire some of my fellow transitioners out there! 

FusionofCultures- She is my ultimate favorite Youtuber! I believe I posted this video before,

but she transitioned for 24 months and did a great job doing so. 

xmaneeventx- She transitioned for 22 months and was left with SO much hair when she BCed. 

Transitioning to Natural: Hair Plans

As most of you know, I am 1 Year post relaxer, well 54 weeks post to be exact. 

I'm still in the Preservation stage of my transition where my hair will remain in protective and low maintenance styles. 

This will go on for the next 6 months then in the last 6 months of my transition, I will wear my hair out to just enjoy it and experiment with more "natural" hair-styles. 

As I have said before, I plan my hair styles about 4-6 months in advance. It sometimes changes here and there, but for the most part I stick to the schedule(I'm a huge "list" person)

In case anyone is interested, here are my plans:

2 weeks 11.26-12.7- Chunky Twists

2 weeks 12.9-12.22- Flat twists and two strand twist style  This never happened!

1 week 12.22.12-31- Braid n curl (or twist n curl)- It's the Holiday week, so my hair is going to be out. 

3 weeks 1.1-1.18- medium sized twists

1 week 1.18-1.25- chunky twists or wear my hair out

2 weeks 1.25-2.8- Trying a flat twists up-do

1 week 2.8-2.16- I plan to wear my hair out since its my Birthday week 

6 weeks 2.16-3.29- Single braids with extensions 

I of course will blog each style I do. 

As for my hair now: 

I had my hair in a set of chunky twists last week, but they looked a hot mess and lowered my self-esteem by the second. So you know I had to take them bad boys out. 

Because I didn't want to spend too much time on my hair, I did another set of chunky twists. 

This time, I brushed my hair back and up as if I were doing a "puff", tied a scarf to hold that down, then twisted the center. 

I have about 15 twists in my hair right now. During the week, I will just switch up the hair scarf and pin the twists back. 

excuse the crappy photo quality. 

My Hair Journey Truths

• The only hair biotin made grow faster was my facial hair

• Growth aides did JACK for me! They never gave me any accelerated hair growth, but for the most part..the ones I have tried kept my new-growth soft. 

• I've hopped on just about every band wagon at the start of my journey except for applying vaginal cream to my scalp and the "greenhouse" effect(well I have placed a shower cap on my head, but never used that term).

• I've realized that truly keeping it simple is the way to go, but trial and error helped me get to that point

• I think I'm going to BC soon!

• Sike!

• I'm very heavy handed with oils and moisturizers.....my pillows are NOT thanking me for that, but Tide is! 

• I have always loved curly/textured hair styles, so I guess wearing my natural hair works in my favor. 

• Although I don't do official length checks anymore, I do pull down pieces of my hair sometimes to see how long they are, but I mainly focus on my natural hair now. 

• I can't WAIT until I'm fully natural!!!!!!!!!! But y'all already know that. 

What are yours?

Nape Breakage

I recently had a question regarding nape breakage and referred to this post. I decided to reblog this in hopes of helping others as well.

I experienced nape breakage in one section of my nape, due to underprocessed relaxers. So to help stop the breakage, I kept my nape braided while the rest of my hair was loose. That way, my nape was protected and stayed moisturized at all times.

How I protect my nape 

Nape breakage is an issue that plagues many people.

I can really only offer one tip on preventing and/or fixing nape breakage or breakage in general.

Find the root (no pun intended) of your problem!

Taking all Questions or Suggestions

Hey Lovely Ladies(and gents!). Hope everyone is doing well!!!
Okay, so as some have noticed, I have been slacking majorly on my posting.
Not only have I been uber busy, but I need some inspiration, so that's where you come in!
Please feel free to email(or comment) me any questions on just about anything hair related! I will either do a post based on my own experience or do some research then do a post. Remember, I have been fully relaxed, braided up, natural and am now transitioning. So all questions whether it be product, technique, regimen or etc related, are welcome!

Email: msd@6footlonghair.com


I promise to get back to regular posting as soon as I can!
Once again, thank you all for the continued support!
I smell a giveaway coming soon!!!

Transition Update: 1 YEAR POST RELAXER

52 weeks post relaxer

It has been exactly 1 year since I relaxed my hair!!! Can you believe it? It feels like yesterday...YEAH RIGHT! I have been waiting for this day since I announced I was transitioning, but I guess it did go by kind of fast. 

On to my update:

• I honestly feel like this transition has been fairly easy and plan on transitioning for at LEAST one more year. 
• My natural hair is VERY tightly coiled, thick and dense..so keeping it stretched and moisturized has been the key to my success..with the addition of finger detangling, low manipulation and protective styling. 
• My hair is still past Arm Pit Length and I plan to maintain this length until I big-chop. I am actually hoping for APL natural hair by the time I BC as well. Yes,I am long hair obsessed and proud of it! 
• Shrinkage is CRAZY, but I accept it in all it's glory. 

46 weeks post relaxer - The nape is the shortest part of my relaxed hair due to weird underprocessing  in the past, but it's pretty healthy now. 

• I haven't had ONE thought about relaxing my hair. Those days are long gone. 
• I am really enjoying this transitioning process. My new favorite hair style is the high bun 

• Glycerin mixed with water and some oils is my naturals hair best friend! Although my relaxed hair hates glycerin so I make sure not to spray the mix on it. 
• I haven't used heat AT ALL this year. I don't plan on straightening my hair during this transition. 
• I plan my hair styles and hair treatments 4 months out which helps me resist the urge to BC
• I haven't worn any extensions since my last relaxer. I plan on doing single braids sometime in February, but I want to get to know my natural hair before doing so.

That's it for now. I may do a length check at the end of the year, but I need to figure out how to do so without heat. 

Thanks for all the support!! Here's to one more year! 

Today's Mini Haul

I rarely purchase hair products nowadays because I have staples that generally last a long time. 

This is probably my first time buying things for my hair in a couple months. 

Today's purchases consisted of:

1 oz Peppermint Essential Oil- $6.99 GNC 

1 oz Rosemary Essential Oil-  $3.50 GNC (was Buy 1 Get 1 50% off) 

I use the essential oils for my oil blends, shea-butter mix, aloe-vera mix and sometimes a few drops in my water spritz

Two 2 oz Fruit of the Earth Aloe Vera Gel- $.94 each at Target

2 Spray Bottles- $.94-$1.40 at Target 

I use the large spray bottle for my water or Aloe Vera Mix. The small bottle is for oil. 

Draw String Satin Bonnet- $1.49 at local Dollar Store

Brush - $1.00 at local Dollar Store

I already have a satin bonnet, but I thought the draw string bonnet was cool. lol. 

I use the brush to smooth my hair when doing buns. I don't brush throughout my hair just around the perimeter. 

That's all folks. Nothing exciting...but I'm proud to say I have kicked my habit! I am no longer a "Product Junkie" !!!

Air-drying and Styling my Transitioning Hair

Happy Sunday!!! Hope you all are enjoying your weekend :-) 

This is a continuation of my last post. 

Now, if  I plan to wear my hair loose(i.e not in twists), I air-dry in braids or twists to stretch out the natural portion of my hair. 

Braids usually can get the job done, but I feel like braiding can be too much manipulation so I opt for twists. 

Because twists don't stretch the hair out completely, I band the top port of the twists(where my natural hair is) using glue-less and metal-less scrunchies. 

Before banding, I lightly misted my hair then added my Shea-Butter mix to each section. 

I have approx. 12 twists in my hair and I let it air-dry for about 2 hours. 

Don't worry, I did not leave the house like this. I could just imagine getting this look all day long if I did. 

Anyway...

My hair didn't dry with-in those 2 hours, so I grabbed my blow-dryer(which I haven't used in SO long) to finish the job.

I just pulled each twist taut and proceeded to blow-dry on high heat for about 30 seconds. Then on cool air for about 10 seconds. 

My hair looked like this after taking out the twists and bands. 

51 Weeks Post Relaxer- Wash Day

After having these twists in my hair for 3 weeks, I decided to take them out. 

I honestly didn't feel like it and wanted to keep them in for another week, but they were starting to look a hot mess and I kind of missed my hair. 

It took me 3 hours to remove the twists, finger detangle, then detangle with a comb afterwards. 

This was my first time using a comb in almost 3 months..so I lost a massive amount of hair. 

Now I have some big ole hands so you can just imagine how much hair that is. 

But I wasn't too worried. I still have A LOT of  hair on my head. 

I was seriously considering putting off wash day for next week..but I haven't Deep Conditioned my hair in over a month, so I figured it was time to do so. 

So I: 

Sectioned my hair into 8 parts

Detangled each section with a comb again

Spritzed each section with my Aloe Vera Mix

Then applied the Deep Conditioner- I used Wen Sweet Almond Mint- Re Moist Intensive Hair Treatment

Put that section into a ponytail and twisted the remainder of my hair

Then I oiled my scalp with EVOO

My hair looked like this after 

I let the DC sit all night and washed in the morning. 

I used my WEN Sweet Almond Mint as a shampoo. 

After Washing, my hair looked like this. 

This is WET hair

I then spritzed my hair with the Aloe Mix while still in the ponytails and applied Argon Oil to my hair.
My hair is now air-drying and I'm trying to figure out if I want to twist my hair next...

Ummmmm

I doubt it!
But we'll see. 

Castor Oil Experiment: Update

I know, I know..I have been gone for almost 2 weeks. I've just been so busy!! I still am, but because I promised an update on this castor oil experiment, I decided to  give one today. 

Okay..so do you remember this post I did about applying castor oil to my lashes for strength and length? 

I am proud to say that I have been consistent with applying it daily, usually in the morning. 

I have noticed that my lashes are so much stronger than the past. I haven't seen a stray lash in months. 

I have also noticed they are a LITTLE longer than before, but it's not an extreme difference. 

But because they are stronger, I will continue to use the castor oil. 

On to the comparison shot. 

July 23, 2012 

November 3, 2012

* If anyone is thinking about applying castor oil to your lashes, be sure to rub the CO in very well to avoid blurry vision.

Trimming Twists on Relaxed or Transitioning Hair

I put my hair in some twists today and after doing my second twist, I  noticed my ends looked thin. 

So, I decided to cut about .5- 1 inch off each twist.

This is some of the hair I trimmed off

The trim made my ends look much better. The last time I dusted/trimmed my ends was on September 1st and although that wasn't too long ago, this was needed.

I plan on keeping these in for about 3 weeks since it took me almost 4 hours to install. 

11 Months Post Relaxer!

My hair last night at 11 months post

Earlier this week I made 11 months post relaxer! 

I still have more relaxed ends than natural hair. 

I have been dusting my ends, but haven't done any big trims. So in February I will cut off about 2-3 inches.

One thing I must say is that transitioning get's easier the further along you get. 

Oh and I LOVE my hair!! 

I will give a more detailed update once I hit one year post. 

New Job HAIR Jitters

Throughout college(Undergrad), my hair was natural and I wore it in braids or curly sew-in weaves, but mainly braids. My senior year, I decided to ditch the braids and relax my hair to prepare for interviews in Corporate America. I felt as if braids were not "professional" and my hair needed to be straightened in order to get a job. 

Well a month after I relaxed my hair and went on my first interview, I landed a job with a pretty large company. I have now been with that company for 5.5 years and that journey is now coming to an end. Within those 5.5 years, I wore my hair straight, curly, in braids, twists, cornrows, just about anything and received tons of compliments from men and women. 

So why is it now that I'm about to start a new job, I am constantly thinking about how co-workers will perceive my  hair?

Let's face it, I am basically 40% natural and wear my hair primarily in twists. Although my twists are always neat and presentable I was starting to feel like they weren't "acceptable" to wear at this new company.

I had sudden bouts of insecurity. My plan was to wear my hair in a bun, like I did for my interviews, for the first couple of weeks to gauge the work environment then wear my twists. 

But you know what? I threw those plans out the window. I am going to wear my hair just how I want  and not how I think THEY want me to. Why not just be myself from day one? 

My styles of choice should not be an issue. They hired me based on my credentials and personality.  I stand by my previous thoughts in my,"Black Hair in Corporate America", post. As long as my hair is neat, presentable and smells good, it's professional. That means I'm going to wear my twists, braid-outs, twist/braid-n-curls, single braids, whatever it may be. And I'm going to wear it proud! 

Honestly, hair should be the last thing I think about when starting a new job!! 

#Random Hair Update & More

Happy Friday!!!

I just want to thank each and every one of you for reading my blog and sticking with me through-out my dry spells! 

This post is going to be full of randomness. So because I  haven't been posting as often as I would like..I'm going to fill you in on what I can remember! 

• My hair is in twists and will remain in them for the next 5 weeks(will re-do every 2 weeks).  I assume you all have seen enough pics of those..so let me not bore you with more
• I tried to do a puff last week when my twist-n-curl was on it's last leg and it resulted in this:

#Fail..lol

• I got a new job!!! I have accepted a position with a different company a few weeks ago, so I am extremely busy training and transferring my current duties. This new position is exactly what I wanted and prayed for. It feels great to advance in my career despite the current state of our economy. So for everyone out there...if you want something: pray on it, work smart/hard and you will get it. 
• I have lost 5 pounds since I started working out more aggressively. So now it's all about maintaining my weight and toning up EVERYWHERE. Below is my starting size and I will update you all in December with my final weigh in for the year. Sorry I'm not showing the legs..they are not a concern of mine, but I will show them in another pic. I need my waist to be smaller though!! 

Taken on August 18 and 19th 2012 

Mustard Oil for Hair Growth

Whenever I go back home to visit my Parents/family,  I always stop by some near-by Moroccan and Indian stores to purchase my hair oils, ayurvedic powders or shea-butter. I didn't really need to re-stock on anything this time around, but felt like trying something new.

The first thing that stood out to me was Mustard Oil. I vaguely recalled reading about how it can stimulate hair growth, so I checked out a few articles online while at the store then decided to give it a try.

Before I get into the benefits of Mustard Oil..let me tell y'all something. This oil STINKS to high heavens! As soon as I opened the bottle, I almost gagged. I had my Mother smell it and she told me to only use it before I wash my hair so I don't walk around smelling all funky, yet she asked for some to add to her oil mix..lol. But when she added it to her oil mix, the essential oils in it cancelled out the Mustard Oil smell, so I knew I would be okay.

Anyway..here are the benefits of Mustard Oil

46 Weeks Post Relaxer: Twist Out

I have done exactly ONE twist-out since the start of my HHJ. I always liked braid-outs better, but I decided to try a twist out last night. Well..it's more of a twist-n-curl. This was one of the styles on my list :-)

So..last night I:

• washed the twists I installed 2 weeks ago with WEN
• Airdried the twists for about 30 minutes so my hair was still very damp
• Took the twists out in sections
• Once each section was taken out, I finger combed it
• Then applied a mix of Aloe Vera Gel and EVOO/Coconut Oil
• Twisted the section
• Bobby Pinned the roots down 
• Then curled with small flexi-rods
• Let the set sit overnight and removed in the morning

****I did a total of 11 twists. Now, if I planned on keeping my hair out longer, I may have done more..but my hair is going back in twists on Monday.

I ran out of small flexi-rods, so I used a larger one to secure two twists. 

Because of that larger flexi-rod..that side came out JANKY!

5 Things I MUST Do While Transitioning

I sometimes wonder if I am qualified to give transitioning tips since I haven't completed my transition yet. So, I will list things that I (emphasis on I) MUST do while transitioning in hopes to help at least one person reading my blog!


1.) Wash My Hair in Sections- I have learned the hard way, that washing my hair loose causes massive tangles. I also need my hair firmly sectioned. So washing my hair in multiple ponytails, helps my wash day go much smoother. 

42 weeks post relaxer

2.) Deep Condition Before Shampooing- I'll be honest with y'all. I can't take those extra long wash day sessions anymore. I have been able to eliminate many steps and prefer not to go in and out of the shower. So, I deep condition before shampooing and my hair feels great! I am also cutting down on the water bill! 

3.) Detangle on Damp Hair- I am one of those people that can't comb soaking wet hair without getting breakage. Because I mainly detangle before washing, it makes sense to do so on dry hair. I just lightly mist it with my AVJ mix (add glycerin for slip), finger detangle first, then comb with my wide tooth comb. 

I believe this is one of the main reasons why I have retained ALL of my relaxed ends. 

4.) Keep My Hair Stretched- You all know that I live in twists. Twists are the only way I can keep my hair stretched without using heat and not manipulating my hair during the week. 

I must keep my hair stretched to avoid matting, tangling and knots. If I don't plan on wearing twists during the week, then I MUST braid, twist or bantu-knot my hair at night in order to keep it stretched. 

5.) I MUST practice Patience-  Transitioning can be difficult at times for various reasons. My main reason is the anticipation to have natural hair. But I know I want LONG natural hair. Sorry, I guess I am "long hair obsessed". But I know if I were to BC now, I would be obsessing about length. So why not wait until I am completely comfortable with the length of my natural hair? 

I also have to be very patient when detangling and styling my hair so I don't experience any breakage.

Twists Regimen and How I Style Them

I received a few emails regarding my twists regimen, more specifically asking how I keep them neat. 

I'm going to tell y'all one thing...my twists DO NOT stay neat throughout the two weeks I keep them in, but I am able to fake the funk. 

Anyway..if you are interested in learning more about my regimen and how I style the twists...keep on reading. 

4 Dry Hair Remedies

Fall is here and Winter will be here before you know it(well in my part of the Country). This is the time of year when my hair starts to get a little drier than I would like and I was thinking others may have the same issue.
I decided to share a throw-back post(well I posted this back in May) that I believe may be helpful to some.
I'm sure a lot of you are familiar with these tips, but it doesn't hurt to repeat!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


1.) Clarifying

One cause of dry hair is product build-up. When hair has product build-up, it is impossible for it to retain or receive any moisture. The only way to remove product build-up is by clarifying your hair.Clarifying basically strips the hair of all products, minerals, sebum and so forth. After clarifying, your hair has a fresh start to replenish any moisture lost.You must follow-up with some sort of conditioner or deep conditioner to avoid brittle hair. 

If I find a need to clarify, I may use a shampoo containing sulfates. But many store bought shampoos stating "Clarifying" on the label suffice as a clarifying shampoo. There are natural ways to clarify as well such as using baking soda and vinegar. 

Would I Ever Get Locs?

I have been questioned by a few people(in real life) if my twists were Locs or if I would get them. Now, I don't think my twists look anything like Locs, but when they ask if I would get them... I never really know how to quickly answer that question. 

I think Locs are beautiful! I love them!!! I love the various types of Locs and the versatility of them, but this isn't something I have considered doing..as of now.  My main reason is because they are permanent. Once I cut off this relaxer, I don't want anything else permanent in my hair.  I know you can comb Locs out and still retain a reasonable amount of length, but for me, that's another process I would not want to endure. Plus, once I make the decision to get them, I would hope to have them for the rest of my life.  

I also like the feeling of my loose hair. 

My mind may change in the future when I have to go through long detangling and styling sessions, but in the mean time I will twist my hair or put in some yarn braids to supplement real live Locs(even though it won't be the same!) 

Do any of my readers have Locs or are considering getting them? If so, share your thoughts! 

When Will I Big Chop?

Image Source 

When I first decided to go back natural, my goal was to transition for 2 years and 3 months then big chop on my birthday in February 2014. 

That is still my main goal, but if a few things happen before that date, I will go ahead and cut off the relaxed ends. 

So..what are those "things"?

1. My Natural Hair Reaches 10 inches
2. My relaxed ends start looking ridiculously thin compared to my new-growth due to breakage
3. My hair starts breaking excessively at the demarcation point
4. I can fit my natural hair into a ponytail
5. I complete the list of 15+ styles I want to do with my hair during this transition (if the above happens before then I will chop) 

So, there you go. That's when I will B.C and as you can see..it's not happening anytime soon! 

For all of my fellow transitioners..do you have a BC date or know when you will BC?

My Henna and Indigo Experience in Pictures

Hey Hey Hey. Happy Sunday!!!!

If you're interested in my Henna and Indigo experience

Keep Reading 

Recent Purchase: Bentonite Clay

So, my beloved facial cleanser/mask seems to have been discontinued.  :-(

The only facial cleansers that work well for me are those that contain Benzoyl Peroxide and Neutrogena's Clear Pore Cleanser/Mask contained that along with Bentonite. 

I now switched to PanOxyl 8 which is a Benzoyl Peroxide face wash, but it doesn't work as well as the Neutrogena did.  

I noticed that one of the main ingredients PanOxyl was missing, that the Neutrogena contained, was Bentonite.  So, I went out and purchased some Bentonite Clay from Whole Foods for about $8.00 I believe. 

To use it, you just mix equal parts of  Raw ACV with the powder, apply to skin, leave on for 20 minutes then rinse with warm water.  I read some very positive reviews on this product and tried it out on Saturday. My skin felt great afterwards and so far I have not experienced any negative side effects. 

I plan on using it weekly. 

The great part about this purchase is that I can use the Bentonite Clay for my hair to clarify  and the ACV to do my rinses after work-outs. 

Some tidbits about Aztec Secret Bentonite Clay: 

When a facial or clay poultice is applied to the skin it forms a negative charge. Poisons and toxins stored in the epidermis have a positive charge - Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay lifts the pimple and blackheads into the clay bed to cause accelerated healing and nourishment to the skin with over 50 minerals.100% NATURAL.
Read more here 

Does anyone else use Bentonite Clay for their skin?

Exercise and Hair Growth

I found this great article about exercising and hair growth on: http://www.howtomakeyourhairgrowfast.net/how-does-exercise-help-hair-growth.html

Here are a FEW excerpts that may encourage you to get out there and work out! 

If not for your health..do it for your hair! I'm so j.k

Exercise Reduces Stress:

One common reason behind hair loss is too much stress in life. When you are in stress the blood vessels, which supply blood to the scalp, does not function properly. When blood flow in the scalp area is less than the normal, it will not receive the essential nutrients required for healthy hair growth. This will ultimately result in various hair related problems. But when you exercise your stress level decreases, which stimulates hair growth. Additionally, exercise helps in having control over your body and life.

Exercise Reduces Cortisone and Increases Serotonin:

When your body produces more cortisone it causes hair fall. Cortisone, a kind of stress hormone is secreted by the adrenal gland. This hormone stops hair follicles from growing leading to thinning of the hair. Regular cardiovascular and aerobic exercises can help in controlling the cortisone level present in the body. Also exercises help in producing serotonin and endorphins hormones that help the body in dealing with stress.  

Exercise Reduces DHT:

DHT which means dihydrotestosterone is passed down genetically in body. When the DHT level is on rise it can cause hair fall. DHT stops the growth of new hair cells, causing less hair growth.  Slow steady exercises like jogging or yoga can help in reducing the formation of DHT. Even recreational sports like soccer, football or baseball can help a lot in this regard. Here it is essential to note that over exercising once in a while can produce more DHT. So, always opt for moderate and regular exercises.

Exercise Improves Blood Circulation:

Regular exercise improves blood circulation which means better nourishment of the hair follicles. With improved blood circulation to the scalp hair follicles will get a good supply of oxygen and nutrients from our diet.  Good blood circulation also helps in distributing natural sebum evenly across the scalp, leading to good hair growth. This will result in healthier hair with more volume.

Exercise Releases Toxins:

While doing exercise, body releases sweat through which toxins are released from the body. Thus, exercise works as a cleansing regimen for the skin and scalp, which in turn creates a healthy environment for hair to grow.

Hairstyle Fails - Transition from Relaxed to Natural

I talk about the good and bad in my transition, but rarely do I show the ugly. What I'm talking about are my failed hairstyles. I have tried many styles while transitioning, but I typically post the ones that actually come out nice and not the ones that are busts. 

I decided to share a few of my #fails! 

Some of these actually made it out the house and to work(oh the horror!)..I'm sure you will be able to tell which ones by the background. 

I was trying to do a high puff, but it turned  into a ponytail and  because my new-growth shrinks up so much..it turned into a teeny-weeny ponytail. I was 41 weeks post relaxer hair 

So You Want to Color Your Hair?

Color treated hair, whether you are natural or relaxed, requires extra care.

I always suggest to use semi-permanent hair dye/rinses, henna, indigo, honey, coffee...you see where I am going...Go the Natural route!

BUT some can't find one that works for them and would like a more specific or dramatic color so they opt for Commercial/Chemical Hair Dyes.

IF you dye or would like to dye your hair, keep reading for some tips

• If you are Relaxed, NEVER Color and Relax the same day!!

• Always Relax Before Coloring- You should wait at least 3 weeks after Relaxing your hair to apply color. I suggest waiting 4 weeks

• Start Stretching Your Relaxers- Now that you have TWO chemicals in your hair, it is important to reduce the amount of 1 chemical treatment. You have to pick between the color or the relaxer and I vote for the relaxer
• If you want the color to last, do a Clear RINSE (Semi-permanent Hair Color which has NO peroxide) to seal in the color- This will help reduce the amount of touch-ups you will have to do. 
• If you have no experience coloring hair, please go to a trusted Professional-  A lot of women use the box dyes at home, but some aren't that successful. I suggest professional dyes because they tend to have a more vibrant color when applied correctly. I've heard great things about Aveda. 
• MOISTURE, MOISTURE, MOISTURE and PROTEIN!- You need to keep your hair moisturized at all times. This means more Deep Conditioning Treatments, maybe incorporate Co-Washing and Moisturizing hair day and night. Also, don't forget about Protein treatments. A Hard Core Protein Treatment, such as Aphogee may be needed every 6 weeks if you start to notice damage. If not, a Mild Protein DC should be used at least bi-weekly. ALWAYS follow up a Protein treatment with a Moisturizing DC!

• Use Sulfate Free Shampoos- Shampoos with Sulfate will strip the hair color and may potentially dry out your hair. Opt for Sulfate free Shampoos

• LAY OFF THE DIRECT HEAT!!!!-  Blow-drying and Flat-Ironing your hair should be done at the absolute Minimum.
  
  *My bonus tip is to stay away from bleach-  I just think this is way too damaging!
  
  

Too Scared to Dye?

If you are too scared to dye your hair, like myself, but would like to experiment with colors...try out a different color wigs, half wigs, sew-ins, clip in extensions or some braids.
There is also an option to use colored  "spray paint". It washes out and is not damaging like regular dyes.  

Photo Source


*This was posted before, but I added a few more tips that I found helpful. 

Versatile Blogger Award

I was nominated for The Versatile Blogger award by Discovering Natural  and Beautinwisdom. 

Thank you ladies! I really appreciate it. For those who haven't checked out their blog, please feel free to do so! :-D

So, the rules of the of this award nomination are: 

In a post on your blog, nominate 15 fellow bloggers for the Versatile Blogger Award.

In the same post, add the Versatile Blogger Award.

In the same post, thank the blogger who nominated you in a post with a link back to their blog.

In the same post, share 7 completely random pieces of information about yourself.

In the same post, include this set of rules.

Inform each nominated blogger of their nomination by posting a comment on each of their blogs.

It's always so hard for me to nominate fellow bloggers/blogs because I don't want to leave anyone out. 

But..here I go. This list does not consist of only hair or beauty blogs, just those I enjoy reading on my blogger feed.  

1. Hair I am World
2. My Long Hair Journey
3. Geraldine the Great
4. Just Another Hair Blog
5. My Little Obsessions 246
6. The Jen Chronicles
7. The Musings of a Design Student
8. Gabe Flowers
9. What's Up With My Hair
10. Dat Funky Fro
11. Khadarlis for Sierra Leone
12. Nica Oasis
13. Relaxed Long Way to Grow
14. Guyanese Sista
15. For the Fabulous and Frugal

Now it's time for the fun part..not that listing my fav blogs wasn't fun..hehe. 

7 Random Facts about Me

1. I'm addicted to jewelry, especially earrings. 
2. I have a friend that I have known since I was born. My father is really good friends with her parents so we've been friends since day 1. 
3. I started doing hair when I was 12 and made quite a good living off it. 
4. I'm really shy and it's hard for me to welcome new people into my life.
5. I like to cook and try out new recipes 
6. I do not plan on working in Corporate America forever.
7. I grew up in the Suburbs and went to primarily Christian or Private schools.