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. 

2 Years and Cheers On....

Praise God my blog is 2 years old.......I cannot express how grateful I am for all the support I have enjoyed on this hair journey. You reading this right now are my total motivation and I really, really thank you for spending time to read my blog.

Once again, thank you all for your support!!

Cheers,
Star.

How I'll Retain My Length

Our biggest issue especially for those of us with relaxed hair is how to minimise breakage and prevent split ends. Now, if there is one lesson I have learnt the hard way, it is to keep my hair, especially the ends well hidden after moisturising and sealing.

Once we get past shoulder length, we desire to show off a little. Just a little. And when the "is that your hair?" question keeps coming, we keep showing off and showing off. Maybe you don't do that, but I am so guilty of that......geeeeeez! I'm better now though...healing.

I am currently 9 weeks post and struggling with breakage. I had a weave in for 6 weeks, and now have cornrows. My hair needs more loving especially with protein. I need to retain length and these are some things I need to work on:

1. Protein-Moisture Balance: I need to get my hair balanced right away! Too much moisture leaves the hair limp and mushy, and in effect weak and prone to breakage. Too much protein also leaves the hair hard and brittle, and also prone to breakage. Until there is a fine balance between the two, hair is in trouble. Protein strengthens the hair and moisture retains elasticity of the hair. Too much of either is bad. I have to remember to do my hard protein treatments every month and do mild protein treatments weekly.

Test: Stretch freshly washed hair gently. If it snaps too quickly, your hair needs moisture. If it stretches for too long before snapping, your hair needs protein. If it is balanced, it will snap but not too quickly or stretch but not too long before it snaps. 

2. Low Manipulation and Protective Styling : This one, I have to work real good on. I have to comb my hair less within the week and keep my ends tucked away when my hair is free. For now, I'm gonna just stay away from combing. I have a roots only applicator bottle and my gosh! I've used it for some weeks now and I am so pleased with myself for buying it! I just poured in my oils and just got to work with it. No need to part hair into sections and all that. 

3. Stretch Stretch Stretch my Relaxer!! Since the beginning of the year, I have failed terribly at stretching. Terribly! I haven't gone up to 8 weeks this whole year which is a big shame. Though I ensure I do not overlap my already relaxed hair or over process the relaxer, it may still have affected my strands and they may be weaker than before. Surely, I will go beyond 12 weeks this time for sure. That's my new resolve. I have to work it out somehow. 

4.  Trim my Ends: This may sound counter productive but I just realised my split ends may have travelled up my hair shaft over the past months I didn't trim. So moving forward, I will snip off a little bit on my ends after every relaxer. That should keep the thin looking ends at bay. My texlaxed middle makes my ends look so miserable. If only I had the courage to just cut them all off. 

This is my "big"plan for the rest of the year. I'll take my Manetabolism Pills religiously; and these pills are really amazing. My hair is growing like weeds.......super satisfied! I will also henceforth do scalp massages at least 3 times a week with my new D.I.Y oil growth potion (every growth aid I have is in there! Will tell you about that soon) and draw up a hair regimen which I would share in another post once I'm done. My edges are also growing back nicely. I don't want a huge setback to mark the celebration on my 2 year anniversary. 

How do you prevent hair breakage?

Cheers,
Star.

Product Review: Cantu Sheabutter Leave-In Conditioning Repair Cream

Hello Hairmily,

Hope everyone is doing as well as I am. I promised I would review all the products I have ever used...yes, all of them in the next weeks so here's the next product up for review.

Image Source

Here's my video review of the Cantu Sheabutter Leave-in Repair Cream.

Don't forget to leave your comments and questions below. 

Have you tried the Cantu Sheabutter Leave in? 

Cheers, 

Star.