Wash Day

So Saturday I decided to wash my hair.  I'll also mention that I tried out a cowash on Thursday with my ORS Hair Mayonaise.  I applied it and sat under my heating cap for about 30 minutes.  I'm not sure if this technically counts as cowashing since it was a DC, but isn't cowashing just washing with conditioner only? So thats why I call it that.  I rinsed and did not shampoo, applied my leave-ins and air dried overnight.  It looked a poofy mess! lol! Threw it up in a clip for work (after taming it of course).  I just thought I might need a little moisturizng and protein.

Anyway, back to my wash day.  I pre-pooed with grapeseed oil and platted my hair into 14 braids (thought I'd give the braids another try, but don't think I'll be doing it again; to tedious for me and hard to get all the conditioner out while my hair is braided).  I shampooed with Clean Slate shampoo diluted with water in an applicator bottle applying to my scalp.

Next I applied a green tea rinse (first time with this).  I finally ran out of my black tea stash and decided to try out the green tea.  I let it steep and cool off that morning for a few hours (I usually don't do this because I'm always getting it ready at the last minute).  I was hoping it'd be more effective this way.  It was REALLY cold by the time I applied it to my hair.  Other than that my hair felt amazing no hardness or dryness.  I actually let it sit longer on my hair and scalp than I usually do.  I had been only leaving the black tea on for maybe 2 or 3 minutes while in the shower.  This time I got out and let it sit while I attended to other things.  I ended up DC'ing on top of the tea rinse with Redken Heavy Cream Super Treatment under my steamer for 20 minutes.  After my hair cooled off, back into the shower I went.  I rinsed out the conditioner and tea and then applied Roux Porosity Control for 30 seconds to close up my cuticles.  By this time I had abandoned the braids.  My hair was very easy to detangle with my seamless comb as I rinsed. 

Next I towel dried my hair lightly and allowed my hair to air dry until it was about 90% dry.  I then applied my leaveins (Darcy's Daily Leave-In and PM Super Skinny Serum).  Tied my new 100% silk scarf around my edges to make them lie flat.  My scarf had arrived just in time for my wash (right in the middle of it actually). LOL! Love it by the way. Got it on amazon.




30" x 30" | was supposed to be fuschia but looks more pink
still love it! :)

Once my hair was mostly dry, I decided to try out a twist on the rollerset. I've seen it done on other blogs but don't know the name for it.  I basically put my hair into several little ponies (hoping it would help to stretch my ng).  Then I moisturized the loose hair with DB's Coconut Lemongrass Transition Creme, wet my hair, and set with my magnetic rollers.  Let them air dry overnight (not fun to sleep in); however the results were smooth manageable hair. Yay! This may be my new routine.  With a regular rollerset I was worried about having to flat iron my roots and I do not want to do that.  This was a good alternative.  I don't plan on wearing it down I just like for my hair and ends especially to feel smoother after my washes and the last couple I haven't achieved this.  Very happy about it.  Now I'm throwing my hair up in my clip. LOL!


Sorry if this post is a bit disorganized. Thought I throw it up right quick, because I started to feel a little lazy I almost didnt post at all.  Shame on me.  I was much much happier with this wash so I had to post. :)   I am about 4 1/2 weeks post right now.  Still having the texlaxed hair issues going on so this new rollerset method helped.  On my next relaxer I plan to use ORS Olive Oil Lye Relaxer in Regular Strength instead of the Mild Relaxer I have been using.  I still want to try to stay texlaxed but just not with so much texture.  Hoping this will work out better for me.  I will probably stretch around 8 weeks this time (not quite a long term stretcher yet).  Plus I am going to visit family around that time so I want my hair to look decent.

Another side note, I've been all over the Long Hare Care Forum for new hair tips and have so many things I want to try.  Several ladies expressed that they use S-Curl to help with stretching.  I also got a good tip on Aloe Vera Juice rinses from Lydz at Crowning Glory and I've heard tell of it on the LHCF as well.  Another one I read about on a LHCF thread was the french perm stabilizer.  I'd like to do some research on this. There are so many things I want to try and I'm learning so much from the ladies on the LHCF and my fellow hair obsessed bloggers.  I am still on that search for my perfect regimen, that's what a journey is all about, right?

Well, thanks for reading and Happy Hair Growing!!! :)

Andrea

Wash Day - 2/7/2013

So I did a wash on Thursday.  I was not very happy at the end of this wash I must say.  Still can't figure out what to do with my hair since I have about 2 inches of texlaxed hair.  I suck at protective styling and roller setting, plus I've been trying to avoid doing anything that will put any stress on my nape, because I'm still trying to nurse it back to health.  Still leaning toward purchasing a wig.  I need to do a lil research before I do this.  It may be my number one option for protective styling and relaxer stretching at the moment.  So on to my wash details.  I kind of switched up my routine this time.

1. Started off prepooing with oils:  Argan Oil (contents:  argan oil and sweet almond oil) on my roots and Matrix Biolage Delicate Care Organic Certified Oil (contents: olea europaea oil/olive fruit oil, isopropyl palmitate, argania spionosa oil/argania spinosa kernel oil, lavandula angustifolia oil/lavender oil, linaldol). The Matrix Biolage oil is part of their color care line; the instructions say to apply from mid lenghth to ends, so I used the argan oil closer to my roots.  I sat under my heat cap for about 20 minutes.

2. After prepooing I detangled my hair with my seamless comb, parting my hair into 6 sections and braiding each section.  I secured the ends with ouchless ponytail holders.  I decided to try this out after reading about the  technique on Miss Kibibi's blog (author of the Five Hair Archetypes).  It's a great way to keep your hair from tangling while shampooing  Next time I will use more braids.

3.  I hopped in the shower and shampooed using Organix Repairing Awapuhi Ginger shampoo.  Another trick I got from Miss Kibibi's blog was to dilute the shampoo with water in an applicator bottle so you can apply the shampoo directly to the scalp.  I'm trying to put more focus on cleansing the scalp since this is the purpose of shampoo.  Shampoo is harsh on your hair strands.  Doing my shampoo this way I can focus more on cleansing my scalp and of course some of the shampoo will run down my hair gently cleansing my tresses in the process.  I think it would have been easier to cleanse my scalp if I had done more braids.

4.  Next I did my black tea rinse and let it sit on my hair for a few minutes.

5. I then rinsed out the black tea and applied PM Super Skinny Treatment to my hair.  Man let me tell ya....this stuff is the truth! lol! My hair feels oh so soft afterwards.  Love it!!!

6.  Finally I DC'd with my Kera Pro Restorative Treatment.  Another fave of mine!  I sat under my steamer for about 20 minutes.



7. After DC-ing I applied Roux Porosity control for about 30 seconds and rinsed.

I tried squeezing my hair dry with a t-shirt.  Next I applied my leave-ins:  Darcy's Daily Leave In and PMSS Serum.  My hair was about 75% dry at that point.  I could figure out what I was going to do to my hair.  It was getting  late and I had to be at work the next morning.  I always worry about my hair looking decent for work.  I thought I could get away with doing a wrap, so I tried wrapping my hair and spraying a little water to get it back wet again.  This was sooo difficult and remember I have thick texlaxed roots.  I definitely experienced some breakage. :(  When I took down my hair in the morning after letting it air dry overnight, it was not what I had hoped.  Puffy roots galore!  I ended up clipping back as usual.

I'd wanted to try out a roller set, but didn't have time for that.  I wasn't sure how plain air drying would turn out.  I just didn't know what to do.  Sigh.... A wig or sew-in is sounding better and better by the second.  Ah well, maybe the next wash will be better.

How was your most recent wash day?  Is anyone else having texlaxing issues?  What are you doing to combat this problem?

Thanks for reading,
Andrea

Checking In - Random

Where have I been?  I haven't done a post in a few weeks it seems.  Just been a little busy and stressed, but back to it I go.  I have to update everything I've doing since, if I can even remember. 

Relaxer Touch Up
Well, I ended up doing a relaxer at a little past 6 weeks post (Jan 16, 2013). I know its soon but since my previously relaxed hair is not completely processed I shouldnt need to worry about any damage.  I used the half and half method as in my previous posts.  I just couldnt hold on any longer.  I have not got this relaxer stretching thing down and especially since I'm using a mild relaxer it seems like my hair does not stay straight for very long.  I want the benefits of texlaxing (thicker, stronger hair) but at the same time I want straight, smooth hair without having to use direct heat.  I usually like to just wash, wrap, and go.  But with my roots still having some texture to it, my wraps are not working out too well.  I guess what I want is juuuust barely texlaxed.  I may not be getting that down yet.  Since I'm using a mild lye relaxer I think I may switch to a regular strenght lye relaxer to see how that works for me.  I am eyeing the Organic Root Stimulator Lye Relaxer in regular strenght, but i think I will finish off my Elasta QP first.  Also, I'm going to try to make more time to start practing my rollersets.  No length check.  Think I'm going to wait until March for that. Oh I also wanted to mention an article I read  about switching between mild and stronger relaxers,  I need to try finding it again,  It might be a good option for someone like me who can't handle the long stretch between relaxers.  The longest I've done is 8 wks.  I may have more to come on this.

Wash/Co-Wash
I have also had a couple wash days and a cowash day in between.  Actually, I cowashed a couple days after my relaxer, wrapped my hair, and flat ironed my roots the next morning because I had planned to get a trim at Super Cuts.  My friend told me she didn't think I needed it.  My hair and ends did feel really smooth so I ended up not getting the trim.

Moisture/Protein
I don't know if I'm just crazy, but I think I'm starting to notice less breakage. Most of the hairs from my head have been shed.  I have been checking for bulbs like crazy, trust me!  I truly am hair obsessed. LOL! I must be getting my moisture/protein balance down.  I try to incorporate light protein treatments and ceramides into my regimen and occassionally I'll do a medium protein treatment using ORS Hair Moyannaise.  Been sealing a lot with grapeseed oil (which contains ceramides) and a new oil I got from a friend called It's A 10 Miracle Oil plus Keratin.  He works in the warehouse where they manufacture hair products and he sometimes gets freebees! I've gotten a few goodies from him! :)  Will have to start doing some reviews.  I'm hoping having completely texlaxed hair will add to this reduction in breakage.  My nape seems to be getting in better shape as well.  I want to wait a while before posting pics of my nape.  It is growing I can say that much.

Currently Reading
Jeni at justgrowalready.com did a give away of the The Five Hair Archetypes by Sharifa Barnett (aka Ms. Kibibi).  I had entered, but could even wait and went ahead and purchased the eReader copy on my Nook. Can't wait to finish.

Wish List
Been doing some research with the hopes of purchasing a hirer end ceramic flat iron.  I've also been thinking about investing in a wig or getting a weave.  Ever since I was little, silly me, I always thought people wore wigs and weaves to hide their short hair.  I didnt want to be a "perpetrator" I wanted my real hair to be long so I could show it off.  Now I realize that a big benefit of wigs/weaves is to protect your hair (depending on the type of weave you get).  This is an excellent option for the cold winter months.  I also want a really good quality hair dryer for when I start doing my rollersetes.

Other Things
I have recently become a member of the Long Hair Care Forum.  I am new at it and still trying to figure out my way around.  My username is Andrea2012 if anyone's a member and might want to add me.

More Randomness
We got snow this morning!  I live in Tennessee and this is the first snow I've seen all winter here! :)
It has atopped now and is already starting to melt a little. Ah well....

Does anyone have any new and exciting revelations about their HHJ? Please share! :)

Thanks for reading,
Andrea