Wash Day Horror: Lost All My Relaxed Hair!

It's happened again! I've lost my hair due to my own carelessness...lots and lot of my hair and I'm wondering whether to cut it all off and start over, go natural (yes, I'm highly considering it under these circumstances) or just cut off the thinnest parts and continue. Want to know the details? Here goes......

I was just silly. I've always had issues with wash day in a salon or with other people's hands and for years now, I do my own hair. Even with doing my own hair, the right way,  I still have tangles to deal with. So a friend seeing my hair after so long a while went the usual " wow, it's so thick" , "eiiiiiiii, it's grown papa" (it's grown so much), and all that and offered to wash and style it for me. Not a hairdresser, but loves to do people's hair including my daughter, and does it very well; and had been offering to do mine for ages. Well, I explained as usual how I don't wash my hair anyhow and how it must be in sections and all the hair care mantra, but she insisted to do it carefully and my hair will be fine. So I finally agreed.

We detangled thoroughly and combed through to ensure there were no tangles. Then we went to wash, without me braiding in sections as she insisted my hair was too smelly for sections to be clean while in braids. Well it was really smelly so I accepted. It didn't take 5 minutes in the shower to realise that was a BIG, BIG, BIG MISTAKE. My hair matted and tangled so bad in many places especially the crown, like nothing I have ever experienced yet right after shampooing and we both tried everything to remove the clamps. Detangler, oil, double deep conditioning, picking at the tangles with a needle....my oh my nothing worked and we were at it for hours. Myself, my friend and my nanny. Oh, we did everything to no avail. Finally, my friend left promising to come help next day, offering apologies but I knew nothing will work anyways and didn't want to make her feel any worse than she felt so just told her it was nothing and I'll just work on it. Later with the help of my nanny,  we had to cut through some of the knots with a razor to save some strands and had to cut off a big chunk in my crown down to about 4 inches because nothing we tried worked at the knots. 

As you can see from my face, I had little sleep that night as I stayed up till almost midnight trying to work the tangles out as doing so the next day would only make it worse. The line of demarcation now shows so clearly cos my ends are really see-through now. Time to chop chop chop ......and go fully texlaxed or natural (still thinking). As I wrote this post, my memory card corrupted and all I have are these pixs I sent to one of my hair buddies earlier. My hair is in plaits now and at the weekend, will take time to do a better photo story. 

Oh, how I wish that day hadn't come, how did this happen, had I known, ......*quickly removes that thought* especially the first one!! That day not coming, no no no....each day is wonderful and no matter how bad it turns out, we need to appreciate once we wake up from bed, we live to fight another and victory will surely be ours one day! Looking back at the last time my hair was free, it was really, really thick with struggling ends and just a huge trim would have been all I needed. Now , I don't know what to expect after the cut. I am only looking forward to some vitamins and biotin I ordered from the US arriving soon after my cut so I can grow this hair right back. But, we focus not on the past, but we look forward to embrace new beginnings. That's just how I feel right now. I've lost nothing at all.

So, I'm moving forward and thankful I'm not totally bald. I need a huge cut. All the way close to the new growth I have because I lost a lot of texlaxed hair as well...My hair now is the thinnest in years but thank God I have about 2-3 inches of new growth. Well, I had already planned going fully texlaxed after my next texlax and have brand new scissors just for the job. So I'm sad, but not to tears...*I'm surprised I didn't even shed a single tear*  but I'm just going to seize the opportunity to just do the big chop once and for all. I'm going to follow the Lunar hair cutting days to lengthen which are 28th and 29th February. Can't wait and hopefully, I'll film it for my Youtube channel. 

Which way should I go? Natural or Texlaxed?


Cheers,
Star. 

Hair Update: Almost 6 weeks post

It's been a real struggle for me lately with so much texture in my hair to the point where I just feel it is best to leave my hair alone. 

Unfortunately, there is only one hairdresser I can trust to braid my hair without half falling off my head due to pulling and tugging; and she's on maternity leave. Looks like I have to wait a few more weeks before I can get a long term protective style.

In the meantime, I've adopted a no-comb lifestyle. I just moisturise and seal, and put my hair right back into a style without combing. I finger detangle to remove as much tangles as I can, but I am so used to my hair no being so smooth and sleek anymore.

If I don't get it done this weekend, will probably grab one of my old wigs and try wigging till I make it at least past 8 weeks before I relax. I'm loving all the stuff I'm using in my hair at the moment...groganics products, afroriri products, hawaiian silky 14 in 1 and a couple of others....and biotin. For now, I see no real need to change products. 

Check out my review of NOW Biotin 5000mcg....

I want to retouch my new growth honestly..it's enough to do so but I just want to go past the general rule of 8 weeks . 

Cheers,

Star. 

Details of Last Relaxer Day!

Hi lovelies,

Just as promised, here goes my relaxer day in as much detail as I can give. Having to deal with 3 textures at 18 weeks post was not feeling funny anymore. Wash days began to feel like horror days and I just didn't look forward to it. Not, not, not that kind of feeling I want to have as far as my hair is concerned. So as much as I really wanted to get to 20 weeks, I just woke up that night and at 10 pm , I had absolutely no desire to wake up with hair not retouched. It was late, I was tired but Lord knows where I found my way to my relaxer. 

Threading for wash days were not working anymore and I had to try braids. It was far better than threading and it definitely is the way to go for my texture and length of hair now. I had been keeping my own hair in these large braids under my wig after I took my braid extensions out. 

I parted my hair into 4 large sections, detangled and coated the already processed parts with castor and coconut oil mix. I used a lot of oil as I bought the Motions Relaxer in super strength and didn't want to risk processing the already texlaxed parts.

I do not use a comb on relaxer days as I find that it delays the process for me. I make the parts with my hands and apply the relaxer with my hands. I always wear gloves. 

I scooped out enough relaxer and stirred it to get it into a smooth paste. This relaxer was so soft already that was a step I could have skipped . 

I made parts quickly and applied the relaxer starting in the back as always; cos my hair grows thicker in there. It was my first time of using this relaxer and so I worked very fast as I wasn't sure how it would process. This relaxer surprised me honestly. It was so gentle and smooth to apply, didn't have that huge awful relaxer scent. I actually had to put my nose close to it to smell it to be sure it was a relaxer. I was amazed at how it felt on my hair...like a deep conditioner. Hair felt soft within minutes of application.  I had no sensation at all after 15 minutes....that was a nice surprise considering it was super strength and I thought I won't make it through 10 minutes. Boy, I was so wrong!

I worked the relaxer with my fingers, stretching the new growth for the last 5 minutes of the time and then I rinsed it out. It rinsed out so easily. Meeeeehn, I had such an awe with this relaxer. How do I describe the feeling.....

I applied ES Keratin Hair Treatment right after and then followed with ORS aloe shampoo twice after rinsing out. I then apllied ORS replenishing conditioner and waited for 15 minutes before I rinsed out. 

I then used my fan to airdry, applied Hawaiian Silky 14-in-1 as a leave in, Afroriri butter to moisturise and Afroriri Hair and scalp conditioner to seal. I used a little pure castor oil for a final step.

My hair felt .....hairmazing!! I was in real love! Need I say more?! 

I was so confident I would have no issues for a long while and I put on my satin cap and went right to bed. I have been enjoying my hair for the past week. No issues with reversion. My texture is just the way I love it and my hair is in it's glory days once again. 

Styling has been easy and believe me, I still comb my hair no more than twice a week. Most of the braids and updo styles do no need to be very sleek so I just style and use a comb to smooth it afterwards. 

I'm considering a long term protective style soon but I'm mighty bored with braids or twists now...been my go-to option for the past months.... and would love to try a weave this time.

What product surprised you pleasantly recently? 

Cheers,

Star.  

What's In My Stash (Part 1)

Hey everyone,

So over the past months I have tried to keep my hands away from more products. I was successful to some extent but couldn't help buying these products I'm yet to use. I was particularly excited about getting  free T444Z Hair Products Shampoo and conditioner and can't wait to try it out. 

Check them out in my new video. 

Thanks for watching and don't forget to subscribe.

Cheers,

Star. 

Relaxer Update: Motions Relaxer At It's Best!

Hey everyone,

I've been so busy lately I have not updated y'all on my hair and what's going on with it. I relaxed my hair almost 2 weeks ago at home. I loved how the Motions relaxer I used felt on my hair and how the results I got were.

               

After : August 2015 

Before: October 2014 

My ends are much, much thicker and better now. And having trimmed twice between these 10 past months, I am mighty happy with my hair. All the vitamins and the growth products I'm using have definitely been worth it. 

I will do a post later on the relaxer day and the process. 

Cheers,

Star.

Tutorial: 10 Cute Hairstyles for Box Braids/Twists! (Video)

Hey hairdies,

So this was a highly requested tutorial of how I styled my twists while wearing them and I thought it best to do a video. 

Don't forget to subscribe and leave your favourite styles in the comments section!!


Thanks for stopping by and hair update coming up soon!!


Cheers,
Star.

Pamper Your Hair Challenge Edition 1: We Have A Winner!!

And the winner is.........

Maame Akosua!! Congratulations!! You have won a 5 product set of Afroriri Products. Kindly get in touch with me as soon as possible to collect your prize!


Thanks to all those who voted and Edition 2 contestants will be introduced soon.


Cheers,

Star!

New Protective Style: Twists

Howdy everyone,

Last weekend was a busy one. I had to go away from home for a couple of days and I was not too worried about what to do with my hair as I could wear a scarf for the funeral service I had to attend. On the first night, I moisturised my hair as usual and was detangling in sections when my comb broke! Like that was my favourite comb y'all. I didn't find it funny at all and realised I just couldn't deal with the thickness much more. 

My hair has gotten so thick over the past 6 months....I am just in a happy place right now..though I admit I'm still learning to embrace the challenges thicker hair comes with. 

So I just asked a friend the next day if there was a really good braider around and I was happy he did get me a good one. I got my hair braided up within 2 hours with 2 packs of extensions. It was totally painless. I asked her not to attempt to comb too much as I had done so already. She just made the parts and braided them up. Usually, I do not allow braiders to comb my hair especially when they section into the little parts to be braided up when I am more than 4 weeks post. Once they comb through initially with the big combs and tie it up, it's just sectioning and braiding time. I always insist on this when I meet new hairdressers; though some find it weird, they still comply. 

My braids are waist length.  I hadn't done twists in like forever and just wanted to see if it would "suit me". This was smaller than the last box braids I had, but I wanted it this size because I do want to keep them in for at least 6 weeks. I want to beat my itch to relax and really hope this helps. I will care for my hair though it is in braids as always. I will have a video up on my Youtube Channel on my braid care regimen soon.

And you know when you are feeling good about your braids, you just can't help taking a zillion photos! That's my favourite among the whole lot and hope I win your smile with mine!

Which do you prefer? Box braids or twists? 

Cheers,

Star. 

Hair Update at 4 Week Post

Thank you all for your patience and concern while I was away for God knows how long! All the while, I thought it was just a few weeks. My goodness, I'm ashamed it's been so long since I posted anything. Glad to be back and I'll not vanish like this again. 

I've been quite well and my hair is doing fine. Only issue is the reversion is getting worse ; or I'm just over-reacting? I really haven't gotten used to the texlaxed parts that much or rather the shrinkage that comes with it. I have found great products that make it easy for me to manage, but the shrinkage when I do not use heat is a little less welcome now but only because my roots look way thicker when that happens and my ends look miserable and far thinner. 

I relaxed 4 weeks ago at my regular salon and she did a great job. However, just a few minutes before washing it out, I let her smooth with a comb and told her to let it go over the texlaxed parts to loosen them a bit. My ends were thin and the left side had outgrown the right by far and she asked to trim it out a bit. I agreed and decided not to even look in order not to stop the trim as it's something I'd been considering for a long while. At first I thought it was a successful "corrective". But after 4 weeks now, doesn't look like it loosened one bit. Below is my hair after relaxing. I just took it out of a bun and took the photo without combing.  The ends are still way thinner than the middle. 

I try my best to prevent breakage by deep conditioning often, moisturising often (not daily anymore though this would be the best situation), and washing at least once in 2 weeks, if not weekly. I got that lazy and I think my hair doesn't like the "once in a while" wash. I noticed this week that it gets dried out quicker than it used to so I've had to moisturise at least every 2 days. 

My ends were not looking that healthy anymore after some lazy weeks and I snipped some off last weekend. I am yet to do a length check again.

Manetabolism update: I was on antibiotics and anti-malarial drugs for a long while due to an ear infection and my battles with malaria and mosquitoes ..... and I didn't take my pills that often. After 2 months, I still have some pills in my bottle. I've decided to wait till I'm totally fine before I start with the hair vitamins again. 

But 2 weeks ago, before my hair began to look horrible to me recently,....... well my sisters say I'm being complacent and getting scissor-happy again.....everything was fine. 

I got Diva by Cindy hair products from Cindy Tawiah a month ago and I've been trying them out for the past 3 weeks. I love how soft and manageable they make my hair feel, and I love the tingle the shampoo gives. Very soothing on the scalp. They give that silky feel after wash day. They don't weigh the air down at all which is fabulous. I use the leave in detangler every few days and the hair gro on my edges 3 times a week. I had an occasion at the end of March and I used the products for my wash. I used the detangler right in my hair before I applied a little grapeseed oil and blow dried it. My hair just felt so right afterwards!! I got that " Is that your hair?" question all weekend. 

Right now, my ends are better after the trim on Saturday but when I comb it all back and I see the thicker middle, I just feel like doing away with the bone straight ends. For now, I just bun it or tuck it away all week because I really want to continue growing it and cutting the straighter ends bit by bit though the desire to chop is overwhelming. 

I don't wish to come up with any surprise chop, but ........hmmmmmmmmmmmm....looks like I just want 3 or 4 inches off. 

How do you feel about your hair today? 

Cheers,

Star.

Hair Musings: Braids Out; What Next?

I took my braids out over the weekend and I was a minute away from relaxing but not having a relaxer creme at home, I put my hair in twists .....and have decided to keep them in till I go back to work. 

I don't really have anywhere special to go to and I might even go to work in these twists on Monday......hahahhahhhahaha......talk about putting my hair first! 

Because the braids were large, most of the knots came off easily without even needing a detangler. Some however were so tight, I had to use a detangler. I run out of VO5 conditioner too so I started detangling with Mane n Tail Detangler I won a few months ago...but I realised though it had a lot of slip, it was not meant for hard core detangling sessions needed after braid removal. I grabbed my old bottle of Hawaiian silky 14-in-1 and poured in a little water. I shook the bottle so hard and long and soon enough, I had some product in my bottle lid. I got almost 30ml of the product and used it to detangle the very tight knots in the back and the front around the edges. It just kind of melts the knots away. This product still awes me pleasantly. 

I had thick growth underneath and detangling was no joke. I lost a lot more hair this time around because I lost patience along the way and was so tired I just put on my sleep cap and slept.....without detangling after washing my hair. Next morning, my roots had clamped together tightly and I had to detangle again all over. 

I had to detangle small sections at a time, and I was thinking to make them small so the hairdressser won't need to section again if I went to the salon to get a retouch. But I put the sections in twists and by the time I was done, it looked OK so I've decided to keep the twists in. 

  

So I just pulled on my ends to see how much length I have retained and I am just so happy. Thanks to Groganics Vitamins! I've got my proof that 2 pills a day will give up to 1 inch of growth within a month. Thick, thick growth!

Looks like I am past BSL already! I just can't wait to see what my length will be at the middle of the year. I don't look so far from waist length right now and if I do things right, I should be waist length within a year. That will be OMG!!

What's your current length now? 

Cheers,

Star.

New Protective Style: Jumbo Box Braids

It's been ages!! 

Hi lovelies,

My hair has been in big box braids for the past 5 weeks. I have kept my haircare regimen very simple. I simply massage with T444Z food twice a week, spray roots with Groganics braid spray every few days and the braid length with Dark&Lovely braids and weaves braid spray. I massage once in a while with my jbco and oil mix.

New growth after 2 weeks

I had so much new growth after just 2 weeks as pictured above and so much now. You should see my new growth now. Posted to @ghlonghair Instagram page. I am done with my 4th bottle of Groganics vitamins; two months and just started with manetabolism vitamins 2 days ago.I have so much growth , it's unbelievable. I am looking forward to a great detangling session when I take my braids out next week. 

I've washed my hair twice in braids and looks really good still. 

Forgive me for the late post. I'm on holidays from work and getting on my pc sometimes sends me back working ..that's why you haven't heard from me in a long while. I will be back in full force after the Easter Holidays.

Happy EASTER everyone....

What was your latest protective style?

Cheers,

Star.

Relaxer Day: At 9 Weeks Post

Hello hairdies,

9 weeks post relaxer

Once again, I gave up on stretching after 9 weeks. Do I consider it a fail? Not at all, because I always tell myself to do what makes me happy. And if at any point in time, even when it comes to my hair, anything about it makes me unhappy, I change it immediately. No second guessing. 

I just couldn't handle all the new growth....or just simply wasn't prepared to. And my hair was breaking much more than I wanted while detangling. Know how I go gaga over just 1 strand breaking off. I was just not prepared to feel bad about my hair. The new growth I had was over 2 inches anyway which is more like results from  a 16-20 week stretch without growth aids so I just grabbed the last bit of relaxer that was left and just slapped it on the sections I had detangled for my weekend wash. I was all smiley after that. Believe me, like I had won a lottery. 

Texlaxed roots

I used the same process I used here.  Only thing I did differently was to smoothe a little with a wide tooth comb. My new growth is denser nowadays and so coily...I figured I would still have texture even if I smoothed, and I was right. I used the same products but the relaxer I used was S&S relaxer made by Ghandour Cosmetices.

The thickness I have is amazing and I just love the look of the strands. I'm just at a point in my hairy life where everything I am using is just awesome! 

I wrapped my hair up for the night and had very smooth results the next day. I used AfroRiri hair butter and scalp&hair conditioner to moisturise and seal my hair......and once again, I felt like a million dollars. Look at the shine and how well moisturised my ends are. By the end of the day, my hair still looks "brand new". The ends don't give me that "I'm mighty thirsty'' look. 

Relaxer Results

That trim I wanted to get when I relax, I didn't think I needed it just yet so I skipped the trim. My right nape broke really badly last August and I see that it is filling in nicely. Will just have to wait till next relaxer day...and trim if I need it. 

This is just a great way for me to start my year in 2015. I am filled with so much optimism that not even a setback will dull my shine....I am discovering more about myself on this journey, loving my hair more, loving myself more, loving my life more. Every bit of it. 

Do you have any challenges with your hair that bother you? 

Cheers,

Star.

Wash Day: Weave out and Massive Growth!

Hello hairdies, 

No words can explain my joy when I finally took my weave out over the weekend. I had kept the weave in for 7 weeks.....a week longer than the last weave which was good. Means now I am pretty sure I can keep protective styles in longer. This time, the fear of the hot, dry harmattan weather wrecking havoc on my hair made it all the more easier to keep it in. My sister helped to take the tracks out and together, we undid the cornrows. The amount of shedding and breakage was not massive. Just normal for a 7 week period.

 I had to do a protein treatment immediately because my hair was just too soft and limp. Moisture overload! So I prepooed with ORS Mayonnaise mixed with jbco, coconut oil, honey and eggs. I left it on my hair for about an hour and washed with ORS aloe shampoo, and followed with Groganics shampoo and conditioner. My hair felt soft yet strong after that. I decided to use Kuza cholesterol which I hadn't touched in a long while to DC just to use up what is left as it is not a product I will buy again.

After airdrying, I used Creme of Nature argan oil leave in, I moisturised with AfroRiri hair butter and used the Afroriri hair and scalp conditioner, before sealing in with black castor oil. My hair felt and looked really really good. 

I then decided to check my length after I realised I had between 1.5 and 2 inches of new growth in the past 8 weeks which is AM-AAAAAAA-ZING!! Wooooooooooow! (I keep forgetting to use the length check Tee's I have ). I am officially Bra Strap Length. No doubt in my mind. 

I can give the credit to Manetabolism Healthy Vitamins because I wasn't really using any topical aids except my moisturising mix to oil my scalp. I also did inversion a few days to removing the weave...and knowing I don't get an inch from inversion, and the growth doesn't show till after a week of inverting, I am very convinced the hair vitamins really worked well for me. Besides, the first 2 months I used the pill, I didn't invert but still had awesome new growth. I'm out of bottles and currently using Groganics vitamins which worked amazingly well too though I took 1 a day. I am taking 2 a day as recommended this time. 

Next day, my kinks had shrunk so much and I knew I would give in and relax if I had to deal with styling daily. I just threaded my hair up and I've been wearing wigs since Sunday. Right now, I might just leave my hair alone for a week or 2 and then relax. I did say I wanted to stretch no less than 12 weeks this year, but I do have the growth I would have had in 16 weeks so I think anyday is a good day to relax and the chances of overlapping would be slim.

I got invited to speak on "Hair and Health" at an event on the 14th of February in Accra and I want to wear my hair out that day so I won't install any long term protective style till then. My monthly goal is to reduce manipulation , minimise breakage and retain any growth I get. Every strand counts, always.

Did you reach your hair length goal for 2014? 

Cheers,

Star. 

Hair Musings!

I'm just at a point in my hair journey where I just don't know what next my hair wants me to do. It is growing, YES!, thicker and faster too. But is it me or it's just my regimen that I have to tweak to stop it from breaking, breaking, breaking , breaking anywhere beyond 8 weeks when it is free?

I beat myself a bit when I can't stretch beyond 8 weeks but I have come to the point where I think I should just listen to my hair, and my hair only. Having to tell others to relax no less than 8 weeks post and go only 6 weeks and relax has been hard for me. But my hair hates long stretches. I have had many setbacks in the past because I tried to stretch beyond 8 weeks. And having the texlaxed middle doesn't make matters easier.

I am 12 weeks post now and I had braids the whole while so it was easy. But my hair is free now and fighting with me. I can't wear a weave or braid because of an upcoming hair event next week, so I simply have to cave in and relax. 

My roots only comb (that post is coming soon, I promise) makes it so easy to apply my oils and moisturiser, but my issue is my hair tangles more by the passing hour. I apply my favourite detangler and moisturiser Hawaiian silky 14 in 1, and my hair feels so soft and detangled. I style and go to work. By evening, I have to detangle all over again. Like from scratch.........like what is this? It's taking so much of my time and I really want the easiest way out. And, my hands are always in my hair too...feeling my new growth ....which ain't too good either. 

And the puff too....need bobby pins and a "hold me down" song to keep my hair in place even after scarfing overnight.....like what is this.....hahahahhahhahahhahahahha.......but this time I'm not laughing! 

So my mind is made up once again. I will self-texlax (is that a hair word ?) on Saturday morning and give you an update as soon as I can. Wish me luck.

Does your hair like or hate relaxer stretches? 

Cheers,

Star. 

After Braid Removal: Always Detangle First

I have had a lot of "911"calls concerning extreme hair loss after braid removal. It turns out that a lot of young ladies still forget to detangle after removing their braids, weaves and cornrows. Please, please, please.....always detangle and remove all knots from your hair before you touch it with water or a comb. I try to explain this process in text but I think a video will do better at explaining the steps. No more tears on braid removal days!!

Enjoy!  Subscribe and post your comments as well. I am working on a few videos with better lighting and will upload them soon. 

Are there any questions you will like answered with a video?

Cheers,
Star.

My War Against Tangles Begins

The smiles from texlaxing on my last relaxer day and looking forward to more volume on my face is fading as I found that I won't have it all rosy especially on wash days now. Now I have 3 textures to deal with....my new growth, my texlaxed bit and my relaxed ends. I found that my puff got bigger with this wash and my hair  simply refused to lay down. Not just puff from my new growth but from my texlaxed roots as well. I had to keep it in my scarf to get it to lay a bit while it was 50% dry.

Unfortunately, my hair is getting all tangled up somehow even after I detangled twice. It all clamps together into knots and as I detangle, my hair breaks a little. I prepooed with hemp oil for almost a day before I washed so I was a little surprised at the way my hair was acting all naughty. I hadn't done a tea rinse in a whole month so I guess it could be one of the reasons. I did a tea rinse with this wash and will continue to do weekly tea rinses. We'll see.

I used ORS Incredibly Rich Moisturizing Lotion but it did little for me. It didn't give my hair enough slip. I found that the price of Hawaiian Silky had been increased in the shop I usually stocked from so I couldn't buy the last time I went to town...I was on a really tight budget that day and thought I could use ORS moisturiser in the meantime because I had no intention to take down my braids until mid-January...bad decision I see now. I also find that Kuza cholesterol is more protein than moisturising though the ingredients list has more moisturising ingredients.  I will use it for protein treatments henceforth to finish the jar which is half gone. I will still use it because it does give enough slip when used during my wash. 

(My review of ORS Moisturiser and Kuza Cholesterol coming soon).

Shrinkage...I've learnt to embrace it.

Even a relaxed head like mine does experience shrinkage when I aridry but considering that I will not wear my hair down at all this year; so help me God, I really don't mind. 

Airdrying is becoming my favourite thing in the world.

My main task is to find quick and easy updos for my busy lifestyle because I am clueless at the moment. I always held my hair in a comb-like hair band and let my ends hang, except for the few days I did a sock bun...a total NO-NO for me this year. I will do my best to hide my ends for the most part of the year (Yaaaaaaaaaay, finally bought me some bobby pins) and I have no intention of getting braids, weaves or cornrows for now. For days on which I am unable to think up a good style or complete my wash routine, I will wear my wig. I need to buy more wigs and hair accessories if I really want to achieve these goals.

What is your favourite protective hairstyle with your own hair?

Cheers,

Star.

Braids Out: Ready to Detangle!!

I took out my box braids yesterday after 4 weeks instead of the intended 6 weeks I had wanted to keep it in. The knots between the new growth and the relaxed ends were getting pretty tight so I got scared. I have too much new growth underneath and I don't want to lose too much hair this time. Time flies...I am *6 weeks 4 days post already............*wide grin*

Though I washed my braids twice a week, sprayed it with my moisturising mix everyday and did the green house effect overnight at least 2 times a week to keep my new growth happy, I just felt that it was time to take my braids out. 

Secondly, I decided to do the Inversion Method again this month considering that it really worked last month. I have decided to do it every month for the next 12 months. I pray and imagine if it worked all year through, I could grow between 8-12 inches of hair depending on how much really grows each month. That won't be bad considering that my battle against breakage and shedding rages on.

It's been 6 months since I had my son and I'm still experiencing shedding, at least the last time I checked...lol. The Black Tea rinses were definitely helping and I will continue now that my hair is free. I don't do tea rinses when I have braids because I won't be able to feel my hair's reaction correctly. My hair tends to stiffen with the tea rinse and I deep condition with a moisturising deep conditioner afterwards but I like to feel my hair to be sure it is okay. Fingers crossed, post-partum hair loss does stop after some time so I just hope this phase goes away real fast. I am still taking my prenatals religiously...almost. I sometimes forget...aaaaaaaaarrrrrrrgh!! 

I am still on holiday till Tuesday and not really in a rush to finish up. I have sectioned my hair into 3 parts and will detangle 1 section a day....more if I don't get tired. I had a updated detangling video on my Youtube channel that I can't find in my uploads...but this video below was the first one I uploaded. I will use the same method to detangle. Please subscribe as I have more videos with better lighting coming up this year!! 

Honestly, though I don't loose to much hair when detangling, I loose a lot of hair when I don't get my braids done by my usual haidresser. So after getting braids and weaves with 3 different hairdressers other than her and loosing so much hair, I believe it must be the way the others handled my hair during the braiding process. I do tell them to make partings, comb and braid gently but I think my hair just doesn't want to get braided by anyone else. My hair doesn't get too choosy with products but it definitely doesn't like too many people working it. I have decided firmly this time; to get braids or weaves only if my braider is available to do them. This time, my mind is really made up.

Do you get braids or weaves with different hairdressers and experience less breakage?

Cheers,

Star.