Inspired

I saw Tracyee's video on how her hair has improved over such a short space of time and I am inspired. She went from APL to WL in just over a year and thats great. I know that everyones hair is different but dang!

Ladies with fine to medium hair (like me) have quite a prob retaining length and keeping it thick. But I am sticking to my regimen and hopefully it will pay off. I wonder if BSL for me will come at my one year mark. That would be great, in the mean time health over length anyday. Hair looks healthy when it has shine, movement and body. If you notice that your hair is moving when you do you are on the right track.

Update pics and Relaxer results 2

The following pics are my update pics from my 7 month hair journey. This was taken with my phone so the quality is poor. The first pic was my starting pic (Oct 08) the others were taken today. I wrote a blog yesterday on what made the difference to my hair. I would also like to mention LHCF, Traycee, Sunshyne, Lavender, KISS, Macherieamour and Hairlista who have all been instrumental (though they may not know it) in my progress. Also to all my blog followers those who commented or just visited thanks. This is just the beginning, how we treat our hair is a lifestyle change. My first goal was BSL by Feb 09 ( made in March 09) and BSL (Dec 09) ultimately I would love thick healthy hair.

Garlic and hair loss

This is the new rave on the boards, I just use the Alter Ego Garlic Conditioner every 2 weeks or so, but they have many recipes out there with garlic, I have not tried this one myself but it looks good.

What I did once was crush some garlic and soak it overnight in olive oil. I then applied this mixture as a pre poo it did reduce the shedding and breaking. I stopped because of the work involved but try it if you are having probs with shedding and breaking. I have not seen one bad review so far. Here is another recipe that you can try.

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon of aloe gel1 tablespoon of honey1 tablespoon of garlic juice 3 tablespoons of chamomile (tea bag content is fine to use)24 fluid oz of water
Instructions:
1) Peel garlic and use a garlic press to squeeze the juice out
2) Mix it with honey and place the bowl in the fridge (can replace the honey with olive oil)
3) Boil water with chamomile tea for about 30 minutes
4) Stir occasionally
5) Take the bowl with honey and garlic juice out of the fridge
6) Add aloe gel.
8) Use the mix and gently rub it in your scalp. Wrap a warm towel around your head.
9) Keep on your head for 20 minutes and wash once with a neutral shampoo (I used Johnson's Baby shampoo).
10) To finish off, wash your hair off with the previously prepared chamomile tea.

I have not tried this recipe myself, see what I did above, but they look pretty similar.

What is making the difference to my hair.

I have noticed that on my hair journey I have had many set backs, hair breaking, seen with occasional patches of short hair especially in the center/ middle of my hair. Extremely hard hair which happened after a protein treatment (it took 7 hours for me to detangle) etc. I guess like everything in life you will have setbacks but it is what you do to remedy that which makes the difference. These changes have made the most difference to my hair

1- Stretching (I know can be hard but just add one week at a time to your normal regime, keep the new growth moist and with any sign of breaking or damage run to the hills and relax it.

2-DC not necessarily every other day but at least once a week til the hair improves.

3-Get the good Stuff (read the reviews, it just may work for you especially if the person has a similar hair texture to yours)

4- Take advice from someone who's hair actually looks good, makes no sense you follow the youtuber who's hair looks to put it frankly "jacked up".

5-Balance, protein is important, moisture is important know what your hair wants.

6- Leave it be, forget the blowdryer, flat iron, and all that gel and let your hair grow.

7- Change your relaxer (I did and I feel much happier)

Pics will come soon I promise.

Stress and hair loss

Stress and hair loss can be related.
The most common type of stress-induced hair loss is telogen effluvium. In this condition, emotional or physical stress — related to a death in the family, pregnancy, severe weight loss or surgery, for example — pushes large numbers of growing hairs into a resting phase. Within a few months, the affected hairs may fall out suddenly when simply combing or washing your hair. The hair typically grows back when the emotional or physical stress is resolved, although this can take months.
For some people, intense stress may trigger a type of hair loss called alopecia areata. In this condition, white blood cells attack the hair follicle — which stops hair growth. Within weeks, the affected hair falls out. The hair loss usually starts as a small round patch but may eventually spread to the whole scalp, and sometimes to body hair as well. The hair generally grows back, but the cycle may repeat itself.
Talk to your doctor if you notice sudden or patchy hair loss or more than usual hair loss when combing or washing your hair. Sudden hair loss can signal an underlying medical condition that requires treatment. If needed, your doctor may suggest treatment options for the hair loss as well.

Mayo clinic

My Relaxer (part 1)

I am sitting at the computer now 1 am with conditioner in my hair. Today I decided to relax my hair and I went to this new hairdresser that I found, she was not bad with the application but put on the conditioner literally for 1 min. I was a bit worried but she continued. She roller set and wrapped my hair and yes we did get in that dreaded argument about the trimming. I allowed her to cut off 1 cm she was unhappy but I was elated.

I smelt something like relaxer in my hair still but I thought it was the other ladies hair I was smelling so I did not worry about it. I went home changed and went out and came home and wrapped my hair. This time the scent was overwhelming it smelt like relaxer, I am lying in bed wondering if that was my hair. It had to be, this was a first for me, I know the hair has a processed smell about it when it has just been relaxed but this was ridiculous.

I got out of bed determined not to let my hard work go to waste. I shampooed my hair three times and am now I am typing this with affirm sustenance in my hair. Yes I am tired, I have to get up early for work but hell no will I let this lady ruin my hair after such a long hair journey. I will say this again, by far my sister is the best person who has ever relaxed my hair.

About to throw in the towel

Yess I enjoy stretching (sometimes), I love the feel of my natural hair but I am loosing too much hair. Last night after removing the plaits I washed and DC with aphogee and Humectress. On detangling I was shocked at the amount of hair I lost. They look like long stands but you can never tell. I have never lost this much hair and well I am done with the worrying and will relax my hair next week, at 11 weeks plus. I will post pics and though I dont want to do it my hair is saying enough is enough.

Stretching Woes

Week after week I have been battling with my new growth. I was Ok whilst it was in braids but dealing with it now about 2 inches growth and week 10 I am having a really hard time. This has to be the hardest stretch ever and I really respect those ladies who go for 16 weeks and over.

I have been thinking about professional looking styles that would help me with my stretch. I mean I like to brush my hair back in one and smooth down the edges, but I get so nervous thinking about my new growth, it does not get touched and its sheer drama to detangle it come wash day.

I am still yet to come up with some styles to help me. Today I thought I would attempt one of the styles I used to rock all the time when I was natural. I just plaited the roots (the natural part) and twisted the relaxed part. My greatest challenge is trying to prevent the relax portions from unravelling. Well whatever the outcome I know I wont have this hair drama to face until my next wash day.

So here's what I did, I pre pooed with a hot oil mixture of almond oil and profective growth oil then washed with Giovanni invigorating shampoo. DC with my alter Ego condish and later my Aussie 3 min moisturizing con. I used the giovanni leave in and HE LTR and airdried. Today I parted my hair in small sections, saturated the roots with profective mega growth strengthener and finished with some more HE LTR.

Its a Jungle in here

I am nine weeks post and its a jungle in here. I decided to do low manipulation styles like braid outs, wash and goes and no combing and it feels good. The hair appears softer until you attempt to detangle.

Today I chose to let down my bun, detangle and moisturize and it took me an hour and a half. I had a bit of hair loss and I was so tempted to relax but didnt. I used olive oil moisturizing hair lotion and HE long term relationship leave in. And sealed with almond oil.

I hope and pray I am not over doing it. Its too late to relax anyway as I have been irritating my scalp. I will put back in the cornrows until about 5-6 days before relaxing my hair. The new growth is really too much and I fear I may tear my hair out. Wish me luck guys.

I will have a reveal after I relax to show my progress after 7 months of my HHJ. Oh my first goal was full APL. I think I may have missed the full part but I may be APL in some parts. I am also trying to accomplish thicker hair I hope to see that in my reveal in 2 weeks time.