Keep It Straight

Happy New Year!! In keeping with the most popular theme on the interwebs....this is going to be a post reflecting on the past year. I'm 9 months into my hair journey.

I took my weave out!! *dancing in joy* It actually wasn't that bad. I was diligent in getting my scalp and braids moisturised. I tried at least once a week to put in some hair trigger on the scalp and in the braids using my handy root's only bottle. I love love love roots only and will be buying a whole bunch as stocking stuffers for the women in my family. I think I neglected my leave out a little bit. I wasn't as consistent with the moisturise and seal routine as I could have been. And I think the ends broke off a little. (and I got a little dandruff along the part between braided hair and left out hair *pout*). Plus it was WINTER!! My hair does not appreciate the dry or the wind but I found a solution!!! Satin lined hats. I jerry-rigged that cap I have now but I've managed to convince a friend (who knits. Yeah!) to make me a nice new one so I'll be rocking that soon.  Like this. Click on picture to go to her Etsy website. The satin lining...

For some wierd reason, my edges decided to act up this year. Maybe it was because of the weave I did over the christmas holidays *shrug* maybe it was due to stress or me pulling my hair back too tight. Who knows. But the edges, they were damaged. I only took of my right side before I started but quickly realised the left side need some love too.   June 23. Right Side I decided to try the castor oil challenge  to see if that would help fix this problem. I'd been trying to do that with champion 2000 but it doesn't work as fast as I was looking for and I was a little worried that it was contributing to my breakouts. I started in the last week of June and except for Fourth of July weekend have tried to do it every day when I moisturise.  Left Side. July 17  Right Side. July 17 This is what it's looking like about 4 weeks in. Not much of an effect but it does look like something is happening. Definately on the right side you can...

I'm in my 12th week post relaxer!! Yup. That means there's 3 months worth of new growth on my head. This is the first time I've paid a lot of attention to it. So I'm quite proud of myself. Usually at this time, my new growth is dry and hard to comb; I'm starting to thinking longingly of relaxer and the amount of hair on my bathroom floor is approaching the size of a small dog. This time around, my new growth is (relatively) moist, pretty easy to comb and even though I am thinking longingly of relaxer it's because I'm anxious to see if my hair has grown or not!!! I read a review of this Komaza Care moisturizer spray for new growth on the JustGrowAlready and it sounded really promising. So I bought the 2oz bottle and have been using it for a week now. It's really helped! It's a little weird because it's white and comes doesn't come out as a "spray" it's more as a "stream". Since growth is showing signs...

This topic has been covered and covered and covered but I'm going to do it anyways because well you can never hear too much good information. The Breakdown (like my little pun there?): Hair Porosity is your hair's ability to absorb water and product and retain what is absorbed. There's three kinds (much like goldilocks and the three bears). 1. Normal Porosity - not too high and not too low...just right. This is what you aspire to if you're on the other side of the spectrum. 2. Low Porosity - Your hair has difficulty absorbing moisture. It is also difficult for moisture (once it gets in) to leave your hair. 3. High Porosity - Your hair absorbs water ; a lot of it and very fast. It's however difficult for it to maintain that level of moisture and it very quickly feels dry and rough to touch. There are several things that can affect your hairs porosity. Some are natural causes (i.e. it's not your fault) others are human applied (i.e. it's you...

I've been using Shea Moisture Shampoo with Yucca and Baobab for three washes now. Here are my impressions so far The Good 1. Volume. My once thin hair is thick and luscious. I'm getting volume that I usually get from 3 weeks of undergrowth but all along the length so whoo whoo! And it seems to last for a long time.   Look So Pretty! 2. The texture. I'm getting used to the not obviously clean feeling ( which is actually caused by all the moisture being stripped from my hair...so that's a good thing) because it feels so soft!! The Bad 1. Shampoo seems to have ALOT of protein which is good coz I need to bulk up my strands  but my moisturising conditioner isn't strong enough to balance it out.  I might need a new conditioner. 2. Damn thing won't lather! I've read reviews about a nice soft lather but I'm just not seeing it. :( Its probably because the water here is so hard but still!! The Verdict I wanted to give this a month of was...

aka why doesn’t my sulphate-free shampoo lather ? I started using my new Shea Moisture shampoo (with Yucca and Biotin *natch*) this weekend….and quickly realized I’m going to change my entire hair washing technique. Why? No Suds! No Bubbles! No Sodium Lauryl Sulfate!?! Yup, one of the major ingredients that creates those awesome bubbles and lather is also the number one culprit for dry, rough hair. I’ve been trained to equate lather with cleaning. The convention goes "The more a shampoo lathers the cleaner my hair is going to feel" but going on this HHJ means giving up the bubbles for the sake of the length. That clean feeling = drying and dangerous for your hair. I know that. I just wish somebody had warned me that sulphate free shampoo = no bubbles.  :( :( So this new wash requires a new method. Here’s what I’ve concluded from my experience. 1. Don’t desperately keep adding more to your hair in the hopes that bubbles will show up. They won’t. You’ll ...

  JBCO = Jamaica Black Castor Oil             I’ve been fighting the good fight against split ends and breakage. They seem to be winning but I will prevail! One of the things my hairdresser suggested is a deep oil conditioning and treatment. So I went over to get my hair did. She used JBCO and this awesomely named oil mixture called Complex 5 (you can check it out HERE on Amazon). My hair feels stronger and there’s lots less shedding buuuuut I had an unfortunate reaction to one of these two oils. I suspect the JBCO because I’ve read about other people having the same reaction. My scalp began to itch! I didn’t notice at first. I just thought it was a few random itches.  But when I started scratching at work!! I wouldn’t realize it but two hours into my work day I’d go to the bathroom (drinking lots of water makes you pee lots and lots and lots) and notice that my hair wasn’t as together as it shou...