Hair and Grad School: Regimen and product update

Hello my loves! If you have been following me, you know that I am in my last year of graduate school and life has been hectic. I have been behind on blogging and well....a lot of things, but I am here and I am coming at cha' with some updates! I missed you guys, so I'm back to let you know I still love ya!

So yeah, this semester has been one of the hardest I have ever endured. The stress was high, my personal life is a mess (all a result of being in school), I'm interning 3 days a week, my conceptual paper needed to be approved and printed, and I have a 1 year old at home. You can call me crazy, cause that's exactly how I feel! Despite it all, ya girl earned that 4.0! Paper was approved and printed, and I can breeze through this last semester of school!! And my hair.......

Let's just say, this do has been on the back burner. I have kept up with my regimen and protective styling, but all that trying to be cute and flat twisting and being more creative stuff flew right out the window when things got real this semester!!! My hair stays pretty much in either twists that are tucked and pinned away, or in a bun. Period.  Ain't nothing fancy bout' that! But I have been deep conditioning and moisturizing, and all that good stuff, but I changed some things. Here are the updates:


I'm still shampooing and deep conditioning with these:

 

But the shampoo is definitely a staple. I found that Sally's Beauty Supply sells a salon size bottle of it and I will be adding it to the product shelf once my 12 oz bottle is gone.  I have also found that I like the conditioner and will keep it in the regimen, but it works so much better when I add olive oil and honey, heat it up, and apply it. My hair soaks this up! I am still on the hunt for a staple deep conditioning and once this is gone, I will try:

 

 

I got this on sale at CVS for like less than $3, so I grabbed it. I will replace the Cream of Nature conditioner with this once that bottle is gone to see how I like it. I will use it till it's gone and decide from there if I will keep it, or go back to the Cream of Nature as a staple. If I don't like it, I will keep looking and continue to rotate the Cream of Nature conditioner.

 

I have also fell in love with this!:

 



Holy Grail For Sure!! This stuff is the bomb in my hair. At least this winter it is and it will stay part of the regimen. My hair is super moisturized and looks healthy. The down fall of this product and please pay attention: DO NOT USE GEL WITH THIS PRODUCT! It will leave residue and clumps of white stuff in your hair. It's good for keeping and maintaining twists and twists outs.

My other Holy Grail is this:

 

 

 

This is the BEST conditioner for detangling And YES, I do own this big, dumb, pump bottle of this conditioner. I bought this in the spring and it is just now getting down to the bottom. This bottle was around $7, you can't beat that. The amount of product you get for the price is also a huge reason why I love this so much.  I do cheat on it sometimes with Tresseme and I am going to have an affair with Aussie Moist because I have heard good things about it. I like cheap conditioners I can buy in large quantities that work great because I go through a lot of it. From detangling to co-washing. I use a ton more conditioner than shampoo, so price, size, and quality is important!

 

 

Consider yourselves updated. I will be back before winter break

How I am facing my hair challenges! (breakage, pjism, protective styles, length retention, etc)

Hello Loves! So my protective styling is going well and I hope that my hair responds. But WAIT......
I must confess that last week, I wore a twist out for like 2 days....but I washed it yesterday and flat twisted it up!

I digress! I am twisted up again and looking to be more creative with my hair. So I challenged myself to this protective challenge and it is definitely a challenge! But my hope is to:
1. Improve my edges and grow out the short sections of hair in the middle. I know I complain about my thick hair, but I'd rather it be thick and healty, than thing and breaking and falling out!
2. Retain some length. So I have never been into long hair, but I am challenging myself to deal with my hair instead of cutting it. Cutting has always been my answer, but I am going to grow my hair and deal with the length!
3. Improve the health of my hair. Constant mainipulation kills my hair and my ends always end up a crunchy  mess as a result. I want to protect my ends and allow my hair to heal.
4. Improve my parting and flat twists skills! Enough said. I suck at this and it needs help. I don't want to pay to get my hair done, so it is best I perfect the craft myself!!!!
5. Use up my products and develop a better regimen. I don't like my hair do's to get old or too frizzy, so I will try to do my hair weekly. I am thinking I will shampoo every other week and co-wash in between. The co-wash in between is only if my hair needs it to create a new style. I will clarify whenever I decide to switch up products and will protein treat every six weeks.

Plus, as you know, grad school has become quite demanding and I really only have time to devote to my hair once a week. I don't want to neglect it terribly and end up with hair in bad shape, so protective styling is my key. I will post pics of what I have come up with later, but right now I am at the library, supposed to be working on my theoretical framework, but instead I am updating my blog!!!!

So for the month of october, this is what I am using and doing to my hair! My regimen is as follows:
1. DC on dry hair using Creme of Nature Argan Oil Intensive Conditioning Treatment and Africa's Best Ultimate Herbal Oil.
2. Shampoo with Creme of Nature Argan Oil Moisture and Shine Shampoo.
3. Condition and detangle with Herbal Essence Hello Hydration Conditioner. Rinse.
4. LOC: L-Cantu Shea Butter Leave-in Conditioning Repair Cream, O-my own blend of grapeseed, coconut, olive, and flaxseed oil, C: African Prides Olive Miracle Maximum Strenghting Moisurizer Lotion.
5. Syle with African Pride's Shea Butter Miracle Bouncy Curls Pudding.

So far this has been okay for my hair, but I am trying to get rid of the African Pride products. They work okayfor me, but I am still on the hunt for a good line of leave-in, moisturizer, and styling products. These products do moisturize, but I feel a dryness after a few days and I don't think they will stand up for the entire fall and winter.This is not my fave, but it will work in a pinch. I would repurchase again if need be, but not at this time! I think they are better suited for spring and summer when there is more moisture in the air!

Pics to come soon, until then......Peace!

My Second Henna! I know, I'm Late!!!! Protective Style Challenge for me!

Forgive me for my tardiness all! My last year of grad school has begun and I have been crazy busy! I did Henna my hair again sometime last month and my hair is doing really well. I like the effects of he henna and all, but honestly yall, I just don't have time for it right now! Straight up! But here is what I will say about my henna experience:

1. My hair is overall healthier
2. There is a nice reddish brown tint to my hair
3. I think I get the same results as everyone else by just mixing my henna with brewed green tea
4. Henna is a PAIN to rinse out! Very long process and requires  A LOT of clean up!
5. It reduces the shedding of my hair and make my hair a bit shinier and healthier
6. I will definitely re-visit my henna journey....maybe next semester when the hard stuff is over and it's time to graduate!


PROTECTIVE STYLE CHALLENGE!!!!!!!!!!!

Okay, so as I expressed above, I just don't have time for my hair. I still want to keep it healthy and moisturized though. I am really trying to grow my hair out and regain some of it's thickness. So until December, I am in protective style mode. Today is the beginning of this challenge. Here are the dynamics of this challenge:

• The idea is to retain length and keep hair moisturized and protected.
• Wash/co-wash and condition/deep condition as often as you normally do. For me, this is about every 2 weeks. I am considering for the next few months only shampooing once every six week and co-washing in between. Just to keep my hair from possibly drying.
• Find a good moisturizing routine that will fit YOUR hair. For me, I will be  doing the following: Leave-in (Cantu), oil (personal oil blend I am using consisting of coconut oil, olive oil, grapeseed oil, and flax oil), moisturizer (whatever I choose at the time but for now I will be using up my African Pride Olive Miracle Strengthening Moisturizer), and a styler (African Pride Shea Miracle Bouncy Curls Pudding...it's almost all gone and want to use it up). When I check back in, I will let you know how these products work and if I am sticking with them or using something different.
• Keep hair in a protected style a minimum of  3 out of 4 weeks in the month. Styles can include twists, braids, weaves, buns, etc.
• We will stay in protective mode until March....that's 6 months! Then by the spring we can see how much progress we have made with length retention and hair health!

Please bare with me through graduation. I will still be checking in. I will post about my oil blend and how it has been working and progress with my protective styles. If I come up with something super creative, I will be sure to post! Until next time friends!


Peace

Absent....But I'm here!

Hey loves! I know I have been missing for a while, but I wanted to let you know that I am here!!!! So let me tell you....

I moved from Indiana to Georgia last month. I am working on my master's and have one more year of school to complete. I am studying at Clark Atlanta University, but took last year off when I had my daughter. Well, I am back to finish! Sorry it has been a while since I posted, but I am now all moved in and settled and ready to continue to blog! So what has happened in my absence you say, well, let's see!


1. I have not henna'd again, but I plan to this weekend!

2.  I have discovered that Bantu Knot outs are not for me! I don't know if I just don't have a good technique, if I need to do them on blown out hair instead, or if my hair just doesn't like them! But I will tell you, it will be a while before I try those again!

3. Havana Twists!!!! My new loves! Had a set...can't find the pic, but they were dope! If I find it later, I will definitely post it!!!!

4. Products I have feel in love with are: Cantu leave-in repair cream (no pic), African Pride Bouncy Curls Pudding (love for twist outs!), and Hemp Seed butter!!!!!!!!! And I revisited a holy grail and am glad I have it in stock...Qhemet Biologics Aethiopika Hydrate and twist butter!

4. I like braid and curls along with my twist outs! Twist outs are my holy grails, but I finally did a good braid out/curl, and I am in love!!!

 

 

 

 



5. Umm, I think that's it! It has been a journey over the last month, but I am back! I will be doing another Henna this weekend, and will definitely post about that! This will be my second one! The first one didn't give noticeable results, but I noticed! My hair is the color it was when I was a kid playing in the sun.....a dark reddish brown and I can't wait to see the results of the second henna!

Sorry I have been away for so long, but I am back! Just wanted to update you and say hey! I am still alive and still blogging!!!


Peace!

HENNA!!! How do you Henna? (A henna challenge....Join me?)

I have been interested in henna...probably for the past 2-3 years. But if you don't know, now you know.....I'm a chicken! But I finally built up the nerve to try this.

I've been researching this for quite some time and there is so much information and misinformation on the web. The one true sight I have found is Mehandi . There is a ton of great information here and links to other sights that are helpful. Another great resource is Henna for Hair. Anything you need to know is right here.

So what hyped me up you say to try this...get this: I'm a case manager for a community mental health center and I went to go and visit a family of mine where the children are bi-racial Arabic and Caucasian. So I couldn't help but notice how shiny and pretty the young girls hair were and it had the most beautiful red tint! So I asked the mother if their hair was naturally reddish like that (mom is Caucasian and a red head) and she laughed and said "no, I henna their hair". Of course this turned into a 20 minute conversation! The mother then proceeds to pull out a carry-on bag filled with henna! She told me she got it from Iraq the last time they went. She then informed me that her mother-in-law told her to brew some tea and mix the henna with that. The mom said that's all she does and she does this to their hair once a month. So now.....I'm convinced and I had to try it!

Today, I exchanged the henna I had when I noticed it expired last year and bought Nehal Herbal Mehandi henna. It is henna with harad, bahera, amla, shikakai, coffee, kattha, brahmi, and Bhringraj in it. I also ordered some Rajisthani henna from Mehandi.  I'm using the Nehal Herbal because I could get it locally and it should be okay until I get the henna I ordered. I'm going to mix it with the tea and see what happens. But I want to find a mix that gives me exactly what I think I'm looking for (since I've never henna'd).

 

 

 

Now I'm up for a challenge! I want to once a month for the next 6 months and see what comes of it! I am looking to see if the health of my hair improves, if there is shine, less shed, and more strength. The color is neither here nor there with me, but a red tint would be nice, so I'm all for it! I'm going to do this tonight, so sometime in the next week, I will post how it all went down! Until then......



Peace

How do you Pre-poo??

Do you pre-poo your hair? What's the purpose?

Yes! I do pre-poo and i do so to add moisture to my hair before i wash. I also do it to aid in detangling.

So what is this pre-poo you ask? In my opinion, it is a moisturization treatment to add moisture to your hair before you shampoo. It also provides an awesome detangling session that makes washing the hair so much easier.

What's my pre-poo routine, well its fairly simple. Here is what I use:


-Africas Best Ultimate Herbal Oil or EVCO
-Herbal Essence Hello Hydration conditioner (at least that is what I am using now. I also like V05 conditioners as well as Tresseme Naturals conditioner)
-a water spray bottle, afro comb, wide tooth comb, and Denman brush

And the process begins. First i divide the hair in 4 sections and clip out of the way. I start in the back on one side and add a generous amount from ends to root. Then I spritz that section eith water to get it  damp. Next I add a generouse amount of conditioner and begin detanling. The slip of the oil and conditioner make detangling a breeze. Last, I twist the detangled section into about 4 twists and move on to the next section. I repeat this process until all sections are detangled and twisted.

After that whole process os complete, I cover my hair with a plastic cap and keep it moving. I usually keep this in for a couple of hours while I'm cooking, cleaning, doing laundry, or whatever.

When I'm ready, the cap comes off, the hair is rinsed, and  begin the wash routine. Easy peasy. My hair is always super soft and remains that way after i shampoo.

Thats it yall. No magic, tricks, or special products. Just simple, cheap products you can pick up anywhere that will give your hair what it needs!

Questions?? Hit me in the comments......

Peace

Post Partum Shedding! AAARGH!!

I know you guys don't know me that well and I don't know you, so I am going to share something with you......

Almost 10 months ago, I had a baby girl! She makes baby number 2 for me, but my kids are 9 years apart. Don't judge me!! Anyway, having this child has wreaked havoc on my hair!!! I didn't expect it to because when I had my son, the effects were so different.

So here is the bundle of joy that has cause so much change in my hair. When I had my son, I was relaxed, and my hair went through something different. With him, my hair completely changed textures. I didn't get a perm for the last 6 months of my pregnancy and after I had him, I got a perm about 4 weeks later. My hair shed with him, but nothing like with this little girl!! I had more growth than anything with my son and the shedding did not affect my hair one way or another.

Fast forward to 2012 when my daughter was born and man oh man! What a difference! My hair shed like crazy! I lost so much hair that my edges are much thinner than they used to be as is my crown. I mean overall, my hair doesn't have the fullness it used to. My twists don't look the same and styles just look sub-par at best. It's so frustrating.

At first, I couldn't figure out for the life of me what was going on with my hair. And then......DING, DING, DING, DING!!!! It dawned on me that duh......you just had a baby! So now it all makes sense! Now I have to work hard to get my hair back in shape.

I'm thinking a trim is in order and I have found a product that I think will be key to helping me get my hair back:

I found this at Sally's. It 's ion Repair Solutions: Effective Care Treatment. They had these on sale last months for like $1.99 so I bought 4. I have used 2 of them thus far and I love them! Using this has reduced my shedding significantly, added moisture to my hair, and definitely made it stronger! I'm thinking I may keep this in rotation for a treatment after I clarify every 6 weeks or so. With that said, I am going to Sally's to buy the bottle when my other two packs are gone.

Now I'm intrigued by ion. I've seen it in the beauty supply for years and never gave it a second look...until now. It's 100% vegan as you can see and they have a line of products for repairing your hair. I think that at some point I will check out their shampoo and conditioners because the treatment has been working well for me.


Have used this product? If so, hit me up in the comments and let me know your experience! Well, that's it for now.


Peace