5 Styles I Can't Wait to Do......

.....when I'm fully natural!

Twists

I have done these with my relaxed hair, but my hair looked so thin!  I know once I'm natural, my twists will look thick and juicy like I want!

source

Twisted up-do's

I just think these look elegant and are great protective stlyes!

source

Fluffed out braid-outs

I used to be scared of big hair because being 6 ft tall, I thought I stood out enough! But I am prepared and excited to rock some big a** hair!

I doubt I will do many wash-n-go's because of the horror stories I hear about ssk's. There's a 99% chance I will keep my hair stretched at all times.

Source

Twist-Outs

This is something I never tried with my relaxed hair. Well actually I have, but it was an oily failed mess.

I will try it again with my relaxed/transitioning hair, but I can't wait to do them as a natural. I can already picture some of the styles in my head.

source

Slicked back buns

You're probably saying, "You do those all the time, Ms. D". And it's true, I do! lol. But I LOVE the waves my new-growth is currently giving. I CAN NOT WAIT until my new-growth gets longer and longer until I only see waves when I look at the top of my head(in the mirror.)  I presume this will happen by the time I'm 9 months post. But I'll be even more excited when I'm fully natural

source

* I am not expecting my hair to look exactly like the above photos. My hair will look like MY hair and I'm excited to work with what I have to achieve the styles I desire.

Detangling

Properly detangling is the most detrimental part of my hair care routine. It can make or break my progress and I finally found a system that works.

• I only comb/detangle my hair on wash day.  During the week, I would lightly finger comb if my hair is out.
• I detangle before shampooing
• I separate my dry hair in about 10 small-medium sized sections and work with 1 section at a time
• Spritz hair with detangling spray- I make sure my hair gets fairly damp
• Start combing from the ends to my roots with seamless wide tooth comb
• I go over that same section with a medium sized seamless comb
• Then I add the DC, ponytail that section off then twist my hair
• I wash hair in those little ponytails and do not remove them until I am about to roller-set.
• * It takes me about 20-25 minutes to fully detangle my hair.

My "Detangling Spray"

I usually use a bottle this size, 4-5 oz and if I have any left over, I refrigerate.

10 Weeks Down...

.....105 to Go! :-)

This is my new-growth at 10 weeks post. I don't have much in the front because that part grows the slowest.

I say 105 weeks to go because I plan to chop off my relaxed ends on my 28th Birthday. However,  if I have a significant amount of growth, I may BC on my 27th birthday (Next February at 14 months post.).. We'll see.

Most of you know, I typically stretched my relaxer to 16 weeks. So, 10 weeks is nothing to me.

I'm still following the same regimen and using the same products & techniques.

The only difference is that I deep condition on dry hair, I will save my Ayurvedic Treatments to once a month(or less) and I no longer air-dry.  I will only Roller-Set for a while, even after this challenge ends(Thank you EbonyCPrincess for starting it!). I can bang out a roller-set in a half-hour and it takes about 45 minutes for my hair to dry. My wash days start Friday night (because I DC overnight) and end by 10AM on Saturdays. #Winning

I also only spend about 10 minutes on my hair daily!

I have had VERY minimal breakage and detangling is a BREEZE for me!

So far...so good! :-D

Next check in will be at 20 weeks. At that point I will document this transition more frequently.

Safflower Oil for Hair

I purchased Safflower Oil back in December to replace my Hemp Seed Oil. Hemp Seed Oil was a staple in my regimen, ( I mixed it in my DC) but I didn't like the fact that it wasn't easy for me to find and I had to keep it refrigerated. I remembered that Safflower Oil is very rich in ceramides (78%), so I figured it wouldn't hurt...and it didn't. Safflower Oil makes my hair soo soft and it's definitely a keeper! I now use this oil to seal(about 1-2 times a week because I no longer need to seal daily) and I use it when I D.C.  

This 32 oz bottle only cost me about $5.00. :-D

Here are some of the benefits:

Safflower oil is highly rich in polyunsaturated fats, containing 77% linoleic acid (omega-6 Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs)), 10% saturated fats, and 13% oleic acid (omega-9s - monosaturates). It also comprises high levels of vitamin E, alpha-tocopherol and phytosterols, and so helps in preventing and treating EFA deficiencies in the body. Safflower oil for hair growth contains high amounts of oleic acid, which is light in texture and penetrates the skin easily. This protects, nourishes, hydrates and firms the hair. Being extremely rich in essential polyunsaturated fatty acids, it is highly beneficial for dry, color treated or perm hair. When applied to the scalp, it acts as a vasodilator which can dilate the blood vessels, resulting in more nutrients supply to the hair follicles through blood circulation, and a healthy environment for hair regrowth.

Source




Do Braids Make Your Hair Grow Faster?

" I noticed that my hair grows faster in braids. Have you noticed the same thing? If so, do you know why?"

I received this question a while back and addressed it via email. But thought about it the other night and decided to do a post about it.

Now, I could have simply answered this question by saying:

NO, my hair grows the same rate it normally does, it's just protected for a long period of time so when I see my "new growth" it seems like it grew out of no-where and very fast.

I could say no, to not give false hope...but in all honesty, I do believe when I have braids my hair does grow faster!

Here's my theory on why:

1.) More Scalp Stimulation-  The added weight from the braiding hair gives my scalp some stimulation, which results in a VERY slight increase in growth.

Now, we all know how scalp massages can benefit us. For me, having braids is like giving myself a scalp massage daily because of the gentle tugging caused by the braids.

Please note: I NEVER do them too tight, so I don't have irritation.

2.) My Braid Spray- I have always used African Pride Braid Spray while in braids. This particular spray contains many ingredients (herbs and essential oils) which are GREAT for the scalp and are said to stimulate hair growth.

Ingredients:Water (Aqua), Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, PEG 8, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Leaf Extract, Urtica Dioica (Nettle) Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Articum Lappa Root Extract, Betula Alba Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Chondrus Crispus (Carrageenan) Extract, Tussilago Farfara (Coltsfoot) Flower Extract, Prunus Serotina (Wild Cherry) Bark Extract, Taraxacum Officinale (Dandelion) Extract, Sambucus Nigra, Equisetum Hiemale Extract, Echinacea Purpurea Extract, Rumex Crispus Root Extract, Brewers Yeast, Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Juice, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Oleth 20, PEG 75 Lanolin, Silk Amino Acids, Acetamidopropyl Trimonium Chloride, PEG 12 Dimethicone, Panthenol, Diazolidinyl Urea, Methylparaben, Propylparaben Polysorbate 20

3.) Summer Growth Spurt- I typically wear braids in the Summer. My hair tends to grow a little faster in the summer. Don't ask me why, but it does and many others say the same(about themselves).

Now, don't run to the nearest braider to get some braids expecting a solid 2 inches of growth a month because I sure don't get that! I get a SLIGHT increase of growth, nothing to write home about, but it's better than nothing!

Have you noticed faster growth in braids?

1st Wash Day of the Year- Roller-Setting It

Last night/this AM was wash day. I am working on slightly tweaking my regimen to fit my current life-style and I am also in EbonycPrincess' roller-setting challenge. So, I will display both changes in this post.
I basically need to finish my hair on Saturday's no later than 10:30AM, so time is of the essence.

Step 1.)

Detangling and Deep Conditioning

Sectioned my DRY hair

Spritzed with Aloe Vera Juice

Added Oil to each section

Detangled

Added ORS Replenishing Deep Conditioner to Each Section

Placed small pony-tail holder on the section (big thanks to http://guyanesesista.blogspot.com/ for this tip!!!)

Twisted the section

Placed Plastic Cap over my head, then bonnet

Deep Condition overnight

Step 2.)

The next morning at or around 8AM

Keep hair in the same sections not removing any ponytail holders

Rinse out Conditioner

Apply diluted shampoo in applicator bottle to my scalp

Rinse thoroughly and remove the twists to make sure all product is out of hair

I STILL do not remove the ponytail holders

Place Turban over hair to absorb excess water

Step 3.)

Time to Roller Set

Take out ponytail holder (I do this one section at a time)- I actually cut them out

Spritz each section with Aloe-vera juice

then Chi Keratin Mist

then apply Chi-Silk Infusion

Detangle with Wide-Tooth Comb

Then again with smaller comb

Split Section in Half

Then Roller set

It took me 30 minutes to Roller set my entire head and detangling was a BREEZE!!!

2012 Vitamin Regimen

2,000 mcg- MSM

1 mL drop of B-Complex with B-12 

1 Gummy Multi Vitamin

I place the MSM and B-Complex in my Orange Juice every morning.

You know how supplements don't affect the hair already on your head? Well, I'm curious to see how healthy my "new-growth" is through-out the year.

I believe I posted the benefits of all these vitamins...check out the "Supplement" label for more details.

Step 1: The Mental Transition

As said in my 2012 Goals post, I will not be relaxing my hair anymore.

Reasons being:

1.) I barely wear my hair straight

2.) For the last 1.5 years, my hair has been underprocessed (whether touch-ups were done by me or stylists)

3.) I grew my Relaxed hair to the longest it has been my adult life

4.)Now I want to grow my Natural hair to the longest it's been in my entire life (as a child I had long hair)

5.)I would like to have long natural hair by the time I'm 30 (I'm about to be 26)
6.) I am absolutely...positively..in LOVE with Natural Hair..I just haven't had the guts to transition until now

With that being said, I am simply doing the same thing I have been doing for the past 2.5 years(that's how long I have been on my hair journey), just not relaxing.

*I typically stretch my relaxers 4 months at a time...so instead of getting a relaxer every 4 months, I will straighten my hair. This will help with any temptations I have to relax again.

I plan to transition for a little over 2 years, but mainly until I can fit my natural hair in a decent size ponytail. 

My first cut will be in April which will be 2 inches.Then I may or may not keep cutting to remain at the same length.
My goal is to fully transition while still maintaining healthy relaxed ends. I don't want thin, stringy, broken ends. NO..No No!

I already have my plan in tact for Year 1....which involves

• Months 1-6 My hair will be out. Bi-weekly roller sets or Blow-drying on cool air to stretch my hair (Buy a hair steamer as a gift for making it to 6 months) 
• Months 6-8  Braid my hair up for the summer
• Months 8-9 Hair will be out
• Months 9-12- Variations of Twists, cornrows and buns (buy a new cell phone for making it to a year. I bought one before then,because I simply wanted to :-)) 

I'm secretly hoping to grow 1 inch a month so I can cut off my relaxed hair by next year, but if that doesn't happen....then plans for Year 2 will happen in December!

Wish me luck!!!

Disclaimer: This blog is simply a HAIR blog! I will still post relaxed hair tips!! Hey...99% of my hair is RELAXED! So for my relaxed ladies, don't worry...I still have your back!