Daily Braid Care

That's a lot of growth in almost 3 weeks!! Hope I can manage to keep this in a little more!

Co-wash: I haven’t shampooed my hair in 3 weeks because I decided to shampoo only once a month until I get a sulphate free shampoo. I co-wash 2-3 times a week with my Silkience Silky Smooth Conditioner. I have my VO5 Moisture Milks Conditioner now so I will alternate between the two conditioners weekly for the next week left to keep my braids in (though I’ve been itching to take it out for a week!!). I deep condition with ORS Mayonnaise mixed with coconut oil once a week. I GHE (Green House Effect) on days I do not co-wash. I just hope my hair likes this new “arrangement” and doesn’t get a moisture overload! I love; love, looooooooove co-washing and hope my hair doesn’t hate it!!

Daily Spritz:  I spray my braids every morning with a generous amount of my water, ORS moisturiser, glycerine and castor oil mixture contained in my spray bottle. I make just enough to last 2-3 days at a time. I usually add Aloe Vera Juice when I have some at hand and keep this mix in my fridge to prevent it from going bad. I spray enough to dampen my braids a little.

Moisturise and Seal: I then spray a generous amount of Hawaiian Silky 14-in-1 Miracle worker in my palms and rub it all over my braids. I can’t seem to get it to spray from the bottle!!  I rub this on my roots and all over my braids. I then massage my scalp for at least 5 minutes. It keeps my new growth very soft!

Growth Aid: I massage my whole scalp once a week with T444Z Hair Food, and whenever I moisturise and seal. I apply it to my edges everyday because I need my edges to catch up with the rest of my hair. It broke off pretty bad after a bad braid take-out at a salon.....NEVER AGAIN! I also rub my nails together whenever I remember as I read this aids in hair growth.......!! My Biotin expires in December so though I have 2 full cans, I tossed them out (sob sob sob!). Thanks to my friend, Atsufui who bought me 5 cans of 100 capsules when she came for holidays from the UK in April cos I wanted at least a year's supply!! Unfortunately it was ordered online so we couldn't get to check the expiry date!! I got to use it for only 6 months so I guess the time was too short to say anything bad about it. I intend to buy Jamaican Black Castor Oil this weekend since it is now available in Ghana until I can get Biotin again.

I plan to take out my braids on the 8th of December. My birthday and wedding anniversary is a few days later and I wish I didn’t have to do anything to my hair....but I sure can’t go without doing something to make it real nice for the occasion!! I thought of straightening my new growth instead of installing a weave or getting braids but I can’t bear to use heat on my hair since I’m on a No Heat challenge!! DILEMMA...........but this is a special occasion so one heat pass in a whole year shouldn’t hurt!!

Cheers,

Star,

Braids Wash Day!

How I wash my hair in braids: 

Step 1: Section hair into 4 parts – This helps with getting products I will use afterwards into my hair easily and helps to prevent tangles and knots from forming. I still do this even with braids for consistency in my regimen.

I section hair into four parts that I will work on, one at a time. I have a lot of new growth there!! It has to be T444Z hair food since that is the only growth aid I have been using for the past week!

 

 

 

 

This was how much growth I had the week earlier!! Dramatic!! Unbelievable!!

Step 2: Apply deep conditioner - I apply my deep conditioner section by section and carefully from root to tips of my hair strands. I mix it with coconut oil. I use my protein deep conditioner bi-weekly but use my moisture conditioner every week. I also use my homemade masks instead of store bought ones sometimes. 

I apply my ORS Hair Mayonnaise mixed with coconut oil from root to tips and massage my scalp for 5 mins.

Step 3: Leave deep conditioner on for about 15-20 minutes or more - I always leave it in no less than 1 hour. You need to cover your head with a shower cap to trap in heat and use a hooded dryer if you have one available.

Good old shower cap does the trick! I left it in overnight.

Step 4: Rinse out deep conditioner. Rinse out in sections. Do not gather hair on top of head, or ruffle it anyhow as this can cause knots, tangles, tears and breakage. Handle hair carefully and gently.

Step 5: Shampoo hair - I lather only once when I use a shampoo that has sulphates, but twice when I use a sulphate free shampoo. This is to prevent the chemicals from stripping my hair of its natural oils.

            Step 6: Rinse shampoo out carefully - Do this in sections gently.

Step 7: Add conditioner to hair – Leave on for a few minutes and detangle while rinsing it out. I rinse clean hair with cool water to close the hairs cuticles if I was using warm water earlier. I do an Apple Cider Vinegar rinse every 6 weeks.

  Step 8: Finishing - Dry hair. I use an old T-shirt to dry my hair. I wrap the t-shirt on hair for about 30 minutes to absorb excess water. I section hair into 4, apply leave-ins, moisturiser and seal with coconut or castor oil (coconut oil this time) and leave to air dry. Use a heat protectant if using heat (I do not use heat) and style as desired.

There are more steps when I wash my hair without braids. This is under the Regimen page! Check it out, try it out and see how it works for you!

Before the journey...and setback!!

2010 No idea about hair care but wasn't bad...lol!

2010....Edges full and thick.

My hair in February 2012..when I decided to take care of it. Was supposed to be my starting pixs.

April 2012...after 8 weeks of "hair care".....lol!! Those edges were baaaaaaaaaaaaaaad!!

April 2012...looks better in a ponytail though.

April 2012....still looked better but I needed a trim!!

Didn't relax from May 2012 to August 2012....had lots of new growth since I was about 12 weeks post. That's 3 months of serious growth. I went to get a relaxer and the stylist asked to "trim"my ends. I ended up getting a Neck Length cut!! So the first 6 months went down the drain!! I was sooooo sad but hey, our hair grows!! Can't wait to see my results after my intended 16 week stretch..I should have about 2 inches of hair growth then!! I am currently 10 weeks post!!

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW!!

Being on a hair journey may not be easy in the beginning as it requires a lot of research, product trials, change in certain habits and practices, getting your stylist or hairdresser on board (which can be challenging) if you don’t want to take care of your hair yourself, and lots of time, consistency and patience.

Everyone’s hair grows!! However, hair growth differs from one person to the other but on average; hair grows at ½ inch per month. That’s 6 inches a year! Damage and breakage may give the perception that your hair isn’t growing when it is actually growing at the roots but is breaking off at the ends.

There are so many things we do to our hair that may cause it to become weak, unhealthy, damaged and eventually break off. Below are some of the most common improper hair care practices that when stopped can lead one to grow out their hair healthy and long.

       

  -   Frequent and incorrect application of chemical relaxers:  It is important to stretch relaxers beyond 8 weeks and to apply the relaxer to the new growth only.

·         Lack of moisture: Keep your scalp and hair clean by washing hair at least once a week, for normal hair and twice a week for dry hair with a gentle shampoo and conditioner. It is best to use a sulphate-free shampoo or one that lathers less. You can wash with a conditioner in-between weekly washes as it is less stripping on your hair. Be sure to moisturise and seal your hair at least twice a day!! Protein and moisture treatments are also needed to strengthen and restore the hair. This is popularly referred to as steaming or deep conditioning. Protein treatments help to strengthen the hair and must be done on relaxed hair at least twice a month to put back protein lost during the relaxing process. 

·         Rough handling: Frequent manipulation; excessive combing and brushing without care. It is best to comb your hair less during the week and detangle hair gently with your hands. Always use a wide tooth comb if you must comb your hair and handle your hair gently. One way to prevent excessive manipulation of hair is to wear protective styles.

·         Excessive use of heat: We use heat to straighten our curly or coily hair with flatirons, curlers and blow dryers. If you must use heat for a straighter style, use a heat protectant on your hair to avoid overheating or even burning your hair. Otherwise opt for a hooded dryer with low or cool setting after roller setting.

·         Reluctance to trim damaged and split ends:  Both natural and relaxed hair may develop split ends when handled badly, combed or brushed excessively or when too much heat is used on it. Split ends if not trimmed quickly move up your hair strands and cause more damage. To prevent these split ends from moving up your strands, trim your ends regularly to keep them clean and free from knots and tangles. How often you trim and how you cut would totally be based on the condition of your hair.

·         Poor health and nutrition: Taking care of our hair may be important but our top priority should be to take care of our body. Health in our body will definitely result in health in our hair!! Eat well-balanced diets which should include high quality protein foods and vegetables, and drink a lot of water. A lot of water!! Exercising at least twice a week is also very beneficial.