Product Review: Hawaiian Silky 14-in-1 Miracle Worker

Price: Ghc11.00

Promises: Moisturizes hair, strengthens, defines curls, softens hair, adds shine, soothes dry scalp, reduces breakage for healthy braids, repairs chemical damage, non-greasy, no drip, detangles, increases body, thermal protection". 

Description on Label: "Hawaiian Silky Miracle Worker 14-in-1 is the very best product for protecting and maintaining your hairstyle. This versatile product can be used as a curl activator and moisturizer on natural curls and perm waved hair and a leave-in conditioner for relaxed, natural and braided hair. This non-greasy, non-staining formula helps to soften and detangle hair while soothing the scalp and healing abrasions leaving a vibrant sheen".

Usage Instructions: "Hold bottle about 12 inches away from hair and spray evenly. Massage into hair and scalp and style. For curly hair and braids use daily. On relaxed or straight hair use prior to drying".

I got quite convinced by a youtuber's detangling video to try this product but didn't buy it for a long while because I had bought and was trying 2 other moisturisers already...and then on one of my go-see's to Melcom, I found the bottles staring at me invitingly. That's the last push I needed and I must say I haven't regretted buying this product one bit!! I have used it sparingly....yes, because I have other moisturisers over 6 months now and each time the others failed, it always came to the rescue!!

After using this product, on my relaxed and my daughter's natural hair, i say a BIG "say no more" to the description and promises written on the product. It totally lives up to it's promise of being a great and versatile multi-purpose hair product, and is a must-have for me when I'm doing long relaxer stretches.

Will I buy this again? YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!! Most definitely, YES!!

What is your favourite multi-purpose hair product?

Cheers,
Star.

Relaxer Stretch Reactivated

After using Hawaiian Silky 14-in-1 Miracle Worker on my hair and new growth this morning, combing through was much, much, much easier even without adding any oils!! Guess my homemade moisturizing spritz isn't moisturizing enough now!!

So...instead of that new bottle of relaxer, I'm gonna get a new bottle of this moisturizer instead.

STRETCH RELOADED !! Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!

Any comments? 

Cheers,
Star. 

14 Weeks Post: Wash Day

After rollersetting. See the new growth?

My oh my...I think one of my goals for the year is not going to be met. My relaxer stretch has to come to an end. Though I am not pleased; for I really wanted to stretch till the end of the year; I have to listen to my hair. I say it again, my hair talks; and I listen. 

Wrapped hair.

I need a trim badly.

Relaxer stretching is waiting longer than the usual 6-8 weeks between relaxer touch-ups. This helps to thicken hair as there is a reduced risk of overlapping the relaxer onto the previously relaxed hair. You can start by waiting a week longer than you used to and then gradually increase the number of weeks. 

Not everyone's hair copes well with relaxer stretches and if the new growth refuses to be tamed or severe breakage is experienced, it is best to end the stretch. After 1 successful long term stretch, 24 weeks, my hair has definitely bounced back longer, thicker and stronger. My intention was to do a long stretch where I was sure to get at least 4 inches new growth, and then cut off some 2 inches of my 4 inches ends that are pretty weak and over processed. 

My new growth this time refuses to cooperate with me and getting a comb through it is very difficult. It takes me a lot more time to detangle. It is so dense that I may need to co-wash some more but that will be quite difficult for me now as I am pressed for time and always tired. I currently do not apply my growth aid as consistently as I intended to. Imagine!!

So sorry to disappoint my hair buddies who were stretching with me. I can take no more. Besides I really want to trim and I guess it is best to relax all the new growth so I can get this trim over and done with.

Have you had to end a relaxer stretch earlier than you intended?

Cheers,

Star.

Money Matters.....Say it Aloud

Embarking on a hair journey is not common in Ghana where the income levels are still low and the last thing really on the mind of an average Ghanaian woman is how her real hair looks. Most women visit salons that charge fees of less than GHC 10 ($5) for a shampoo wash, flatiron, blow dry or relaxer service. Deep conditioning, protein and hot oil treatment services are not offered by most of these salons probably because the hairdressers don't have a clue as to what the benefits are for hair.

Recently however, with the income levels of lots of women increasing, more and more women and young ladies can afford expensive salon visits and hair products. But most of us are always investing in weaves and braids and not in our real hair or good hair products. With the new craze in human hair weaves and wigs, we lavish our money on hair that is cut from someone else's head. These human hair weaves and wigs cost averagely between GHC 200 ($100) and GHC 1500 ($750) depending on the origin, brand, length and style. And the market is really fast for these.Using braids, weaves and wigs for protective styling gets a thumbs up from me if you are caring for your hair underneath using the right products and hiring the right services. 

For me, the issue back then when I started this hair journey was getting value for my money from the salons I visited ..... seeing that my hair got healthier at least if not longer. It got to a time when I believed the hairdressers were trained to look for broken hairs in the comb each time she combed; and combed it over and over again till she caught enough hairs to throw away......seriously! The biggest causes when it comes to breakage is overlapping relaxers and improper combing and detangling.

When I noticed that I wasn't making progress, I invested in my own products...and it was quite an investment; and carried them with me to the salon. Things got better but still there was room for improvement and taking my hair into my own hands was the real deal. I started doing my hair myself.

Now I get asked by a few people when they see my hair in big braids or under the shower cap at home if I do my hair because I can't afford to go to the salon..... hhhahahahhahahahha!! You're kidding right? (I always ask with my eyes). We're in Ghana where it is cheaper to do your hair at a salon than to do it at home yourself with good products and tools. 

But don't be scared to take the huge step because when I calculated how much I spent on average on my hair in the past year, it came to just about GHC 40 ($20) a month......including the few salon visits I made. Note that in some other countries, just a shampoo wash can cost as high as $25 - $50.

How much are you willing to spend on your hair per month?

Cheers,

Star.

Wash Day: Bucket Wash

I started my hair journey months ago and always washed my hair in the shower. I had always thought it was easier though it practically meant hopping in and out of the bathroom to wait out an applied product or rinse it out to apply another one. I washed once in the kitchen sink after reading about it and watching videos of others doing it. It wasn't bad but I wasn't too keen on washing in the kitchen sink too, maybe because it is a kitchen sink or because I had to use a bucket of water and pail because the tap is not detachable.... I just wasn't sure it was a good idea.

Now at my parent's place, with the taps almost never running, I had to use the bucket and pail but seriously forgot I didn't have to incorporate my wash into my bath...lol!! I always climbed into the bathtub and washed my hair and had my bath as well.

Photo credit: www.blingcheese.com

Thanks to Lydz of Crowning Glory for writing a great post, reminding me I can just tip my head over the bathtub and wash my hair without getting wet; just the way it is done in the kitchen sink....(silly me!!) and Abena Nyarkoah of Ghanaianemprezz for sharing it. She shares other ways of washing as well.

READ MORE HERE....... 

Where in your home do you wash your hair?

Cheers,

Star.

Hair Goals for June

Hhahahhhahaha….. I just loved a message from a lady who mentioned how pleased she was to find me “trying so hard” to get healthy relaxed hair!!   Indeed, I have to try so hard now to get through my regimen each week (more failure than success these past 2 weeks) so I am going to make it a little easier on myself by setting monthly goals and based on my self assessment at the end of the month, I will tweak my practices to suit my hair needs only. 

             Hair Product Needs:

     1. Shampoo: I should finish my “onion” shampoo in my next wash or two so I need to buy one soon. I have plans of buying ORS Aloe Shampoo since it is clarifying.  I may purchase my favourite Crème of Nature Conditioning and Detangling shampoo as well if I find the small size.

     
     2.   Conditioner: I have V05 Herbal Escapes but my hair doesn’t like it. I will purchase ORS Replenishing Conditioner this time and see how my hair likes it.

          Hair Care Needs:

       1.       I will shampoo twice a month. Once with a clarifying shampoo and once with a moisturizing shampoo.

       2.       I will alternate between a protein treatment and a moisture treatment each week.

       3.       I will cowash at least twice a week and only airdry after my washes.

       4.       I will prepoo before every wash…be it a shampoo wash or a conditioner wash.

       5.       I will alternate between tea rinses and ACV rinses once every week.

       6.       I will green house effect every night using regular castor oil.

       7.       I will continue to drink at least 3 litres or more of water everyday. I simply fill a 1.5 litre bottle every morning and make sure it is used up by the middle of the day and then I refill it for the rest of the evening and night. I usually drink 250ml of water 30mins before and after meals.

       8.       My intake of fruits and vegetables may not be as high as before due to lack of easy access to a market. I don’t really like refrigerated fruits and vegetables but I will do my best to eat as much as I can these next few months. I drink fruit juice at least once a day.

        9.       I take prenatal vitamins once a day but mainly because of my baby, not really as a growth aid.

Caring for my hair under my wig.

I forgot to mention in the earlier post that the “onion shampoo” after use didn’t leave a horrifying stench on my hair. I also didn’t experience much breakage during detangling before and after my wash. My hair felt very dry though after I removed my braids probably because I didn’t wash or ghe for a whole week so I prepooed overnight. The new growth still feels dry and brittle so I have to get back into my cowash and ghe routine real fast before the worst happens.

New wig. Can you believe i'm deep conditioning underneath?

I want to minimize breakage as much as possible this year because I strongly believe that is the only way I can add any length to my SL hair. I just bought a wig, not really the style I had in mind but since it was bought on my behalf, I'll just have to manage with it till I get another. I keep my hair in 4 or 5 big braids after wash day and just slap on the wig when I need to go out which isn't much anyway. I intend to stretch 9 months but if at any point I can’t handle my new growth or experience serious breakage, I won’t hesitate to relax pronto.