I am finally happy with my hair. I washed my hair on Thursday and had the same amazing results as on the last day I washed. This tells me that my new regimen is not a fluke. I love how my hair feels. It has body, my texlaxed hair comes out bone straight with just a roller set. I just love it. So everything is great. All I have to do now and stick to this regimen and wait for my hair to start gaining length.
That being said, I think I will be taking a break from the hair blogging world for a bit. There are some other things I would like to focus on. I have been committed to my hair since January 2009, so basically about 3 1/2 years. The past year and a half was tough and saw me lose my length but I struggled through it and I am sure my hair will be better than before. I will be back in the new few weeks with a texlaxer update/length check.
Until then ladies :)
Friday, July 20, 2012
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
4 weeks post
Quick post to show my new growth at 4 weeks post. I think it is quite a lot of growth for 4 weeks. I was planning on texlaxing at 6 weeks post but I will try and hold out until I am 8 or 9 weeks. The new regimen I am testing out is really working both my texlaxed ends and my new growth so I might be able to stretch for another 5 weeks. Once I reach 6 weeks I will see how my hair feels and if I can handle the amount of growth and then decide.
Monday, July 16, 2012
Most amazing wash day ever
My hair has been frustrating me for the past couple of weeks. I was dealing with breakage and hair that was not looking at its best. That all changed today as I decided to try a new combination of products and now I am so happy. I just finished my happy dance and woke my mom up to swing my hair from side to side for her to show her just how pretty it looked.
This is what I did.
I shampooed with my Optimum Oil Therapy Shampoo
Deep conditioned with Nexxus Humectress Ultimate Moisture Conditioner
After I applied Organics Olive Oil Leave In Conditioner, Neutrogena Silk Touch Leave-In and used my Motions Nourish Leave-In as my setting lotion.
I then roller set my hair and after removing the rollers added a dab of the Neutrogena Leave-In and a bit of coconut oil.
I found the Nexxus to be a bit on the pricey side but it is so worth it. I parted my hair in small sections and applied just a dab to each section and smoothed it in from root to tip. I used the conditioner like a moisturiser, as if I was moisturising my hair. This prevented me from being too heavy handed. I felt like it was absorbed into my hair. My hair had bounce to it even before I deep conditioned with it. I applied a shower cap and sat under the dryer for 20 minutes. What I noticed when I went to rinse out the conditioner was that I felt as if the conditioner had been absorbed into my hair. There was very little conditioner that actually washed out. Now this Nexxus is not an actual deep conditioner, but I loved the way it worked as one.
I will be testing out this regimen for a bit. If I am able to recreate the look and feel of my hair each time I use it, then I will make this my permanent regimen. I am even thinking of testing out the Nexxus Shampoo as I do think the Optimum one is a bit drying. A lot of these products are silicone heavy and after my silicone-provoked setback I was concerned about using them, however, the difference is that this time I am sticking with sulphate shampoos. This is what works best for my hair.
This is what I did.
I shampooed with my Optimum Oil Therapy Shampoo
Deep conditioned with Nexxus Humectress Ultimate Moisture Conditioner
After I applied Organics Olive Oil Leave In Conditioner, Neutrogena Silk Touch Leave-In and used my Motions Nourish Leave-In as my setting lotion.
I then roller set my hair and after removing the rollers added a dab of the Neutrogena Leave-In and a bit of coconut oil.
I found the Nexxus to be a bit on the pricey side but it is so worth it. I parted my hair in small sections and applied just a dab to each section and smoothed it in from root to tip. I used the conditioner like a moisturiser, as if I was moisturising my hair. This prevented me from being too heavy handed. I felt like it was absorbed into my hair. My hair had bounce to it even before I deep conditioned with it. I applied a shower cap and sat under the dryer for 20 minutes. What I noticed when I went to rinse out the conditioner was that I felt as if the conditioner had been absorbed into my hair. There was very little conditioner that actually washed out. Now this Nexxus is not an actual deep conditioner, but I loved the way it worked as one.
I will be testing out this regimen for a bit. If I am able to recreate the look and feel of my hair each time I use it, then I will make this my permanent regimen. I am even thinking of testing out the Nexxus Shampoo as I do think the Optimum one is a bit drying. A lot of these products are silicone heavy and after my silicone-provoked setback I was concerned about using them, however, the difference is that this time I am sticking with sulphate shampoos. This is what works best for my hair.
Thursday, July 12, 2012
3 weeks post update and the direction of my journey
Last time I blogged I was dealing with breakage caused by too frequent use of protein deep conditioners. That one is my own fault as I know too much of a good thing can be a bad thing. I have since rectified the problem. I cut out the protein and upped the moisture and I am no longer seeing the short strands breaking off when I manipulate my hair.
I am currently 3 weeks post and my hair is still growing faster than ever. It is becoming increasingly difficult to style my hair and I will probably have had enough within the next month or so. My edges are fuzzy and I don't really care about that any more. My edges no longer lay flat after Week 3 and I have no intention of fighting with nature and the climate. I allow them to do whatever it is they like and I am unapologetic about them. They probably won't start balling up until I am 6-7 weeks post, so for now, I just let them be.
My hair journey is going to be slightly modified until the end of 2012. When I part my hair horizontally from temple to temple about 4 inches back, the part on the top is my problem area. This section experiences a lot of breakage. I cut side bangs earlier this year and I noticed I didn't even need to cut off more than 1-2 inches because that area was already short. This is my perma-bang area and I have to focus on growing it out.
The game plan is simple. I will not be wearing any ponytail hairstyles. This also includes buns. If I were to do a medium or low bun, the ponytail holder would be resting exactly where the ends of my hair to the front reaches when I brush it back. That is a lot of friction on my ends and could be one of the reasons why this section of my hair just can't seem to retain its length. I will therefore be protective styling using only updos and no buns. Luckily I have Youtube to turn to for inspiration.
Another thing I have noticed since I stopped doing long stretches is that I seem to be retaining my length in my temple area. Usually after completing a 12-16 week stretch I would notice that my temple area was completely natural. Since my stretches have gradually been reduced to 9 weeks (and probably will be reduced to 6-8 weeks) I have noticed that by the time I am ready to relax, my temple area has new growth and relaxed ends. That was the only area that fell victim to stretching and breakage along the demarcation line.
My focus for the rest of the year will be to baby this section and try to grow the hair in this area to my neck, for the shortest, or my shoulders for the longest. I know I would be happier with my hair's appearance if that area would grow out. I think my hair would look a lot better when I leave it out.
I am currently 3 weeks post and my hair is still growing faster than ever. It is becoming increasingly difficult to style my hair and I will probably have had enough within the next month or so. My edges are fuzzy and I don't really care about that any more. My edges no longer lay flat after Week 3 and I have no intention of fighting with nature and the climate. I allow them to do whatever it is they like and I am unapologetic about them. They probably won't start balling up until I am 6-7 weeks post, so for now, I just let them be.
My hair journey is going to be slightly modified until the end of 2012. When I part my hair horizontally from temple to temple about 4 inches back, the part on the top is my problem area. This section experiences a lot of breakage. I cut side bangs earlier this year and I noticed I didn't even need to cut off more than 1-2 inches because that area was already short. This is my perma-bang area and I have to focus on growing it out.
The game plan is simple. I will not be wearing any ponytail hairstyles. This also includes buns. If I were to do a medium or low bun, the ponytail holder would be resting exactly where the ends of my hair to the front reaches when I brush it back. That is a lot of friction on my ends and could be one of the reasons why this section of my hair just can't seem to retain its length. I will therefore be protective styling using only updos and no buns. Luckily I have Youtube to turn to for inspiration.
Another thing I have noticed since I stopped doing long stretches is that I seem to be retaining my length in my temple area. Usually after completing a 12-16 week stretch I would notice that my temple area was completely natural. Since my stretches have gradually been reduced to 9 weeks (and probably will be reduced to 6-8 weeks) I have noticed that by the time I am ready to relax, my temple area has new growth and relaxed ends. That was the only area that fell victim to stretching and breakage along the demarcation line.
My focus for the rest of the year will be to baby this section and try to grow the hair in this area to my neck, for the shortest, or my shoulders for the longest. I know I would be happier with my hair's appearance if that area would grow out. I think my hair would look a lot better when I leave it out.
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Experiencing breakage! Quick update
Last week I noticed a few broken strands after moisturising and sealing my hair. This is something I haven't experienced in a very long time so I am definitely concerned about it. I have been monitoring it and every day I seem to be getting a few broken strands of anywhere from 1/2 inch to 3 inches! I am completely freaked out. I instantly sat down to figure out why this is happening.
I remember that a month ago I could not find my Elasta QP moisturising deep conditioner and so I started using another one in its place but unfortunately this one had some protein in it. I think the combination of this conditioner and the ORS Replenishing Conditioner is not good for my hair. I believe I am in the early stages of protein overload which could explain the breakage of my ends. I definitely will be cutting this product out of my hair in the hopes that I will stop the breakage from continuing.
I will now have to focus on finding a moisturising deep conditioner without protein. My hair seems to like this best. The combination products just do not work for me.
I remember that a month ago I could not find my Elasta QP moisturising deep conditioner and so I started using another one in its place but unfortunately this one had some protein in it. I think the combination of this conditioner and the ORS Replenishing Conditioner is not good for my hair. I believe I am in the early stages of protein overload which could explain the breakage of my ends. I definitely will be cutting this product out of my hair in the hopes that I will stop the breakage from continuing.
I will now have to focus on finding a moisturising deep conditioner without protein. My hair seems to like this best. The combination products just do not work for me.
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