Wash Day: Curls Alive

 Hi lovelies,

After several months in hibernation, aka leaving my hair alone, I have decided to give my much more attention than I do after I big-chopped. I now plan to wash weekly, moisturise and seal daily or use my homemade moisturising spritz whenever I don't feel like letting my hair out of the style in which it is. It's much easier for me that way as I manipulate my hair much less too. 

So wash day was exciting for me last weekend. I hadn't felt that excited about my hair in a long, long time. It was probably also because I got new products from Butterfly Gh, a new natural hair product range in Ghana. Remember, I am on a no-buy policy till I use up everything I have so it was just exciting to have something completely new in my stash. 

I detangled my hair but I didn't section it for the wash. I applied the Butterfly shampoo to it in sections to enable it get in well. The shampoo is watery and not creamy. It has a nice mint smell and feels slightly, very slightly minty on the scalp. I love tingling products so I was actually expecting it to tingle more...lol. Generally, I prefer it to any other locally produced shampoo I have tried so far. My hair felt really clean and soft after two washes. 

I then applied mane and tail conditioner and waited for about 10 minutes and rinsed it out. I then t-shirt dried and applied Hawaiian Silky 14 in 1 miracle worker. I had completely forgotten I had a bottle of that in my stash. And oh Lord, my natural hair simply loved it. It just softened it and the denman brush (dupe) just glided through my hair like never before. 

I then applied Afroriri hair butter, another of my favourite products and then sealed with coconut oil. I wanted to put all my hair in a bun but it was too short so i made 3 parts and put the bun in the middle, rolled the front backwards and pinned it and let the back hang. Honestly, I felt cute...hahahhahahahhaha. 

The week before, I tried Ecostyler gel in my hair to see if it will curl but I think I didn't do the technique well (I used only my fingers) so it didn't get curly like I expected. 

Ecostyler wash and go trial

It is after I got to work and decided to take pictures that I realised really how beautiful my hair came out, and my curls kind of popped. Yes, I actually had lil curls in my hair. And I only used Hawaiian silky 14 in 1 which is also a curl enhancer. So, I'll try to combine it with ecostyler next time and see how it goes.

Altogether, it has been a happy hair week. 

Have you had a successful wash and go?

Cheers,
Star

I Chopped Again!

I chopped again!! Last week, after wash day I just said to myself, "No more" ! I had left my faux locs in for almost 6 weeks but had washed only once. My hair was very dirty when I undid it and I dreaded the wash all through. Took a while to detangle and then had to section and braid and do all the wash day usual stuff. Ha! I just felt really tired even thinking about it alone.

 

 

 

I just didn't feel like having to continue detangling for close to an hour each wash day (which has basically been non-existent in the past months) and I really wanted to go back to washing my hair at least twice a week. Having both textures was just not making me have that and I no more have the liberty of time. I'm on such a tight schedule.

So snip, snip, snip felt like heaven! I feel so free. And so far, I have no regrets. I didn't even shed a tear which I thought I would do after watching so many big chop videos...lmao. This week, I washed my hair twice as planned. No stress. For now, it's short enough to have a comb through easily. What the future holds, I have no idea. Do I still have waist length goals? For now, no. I'm looking forward more to thickness than length. 'Fro life!! 

 

 

 As I begin my natural hair journey, I could use some advice from you naturals already. You know, the heart to heart ones. 

Yay or Nay?

Cheers,

Star.

Hair Styling Woes

I've just been so low key with my hair routine that it is basically as boring as this blog right now! I confess I'm "just there" hair-wise. I still do not comb my hair all week after I style. After wash day, once I succeed at getting it detangled and into a hairstyle, that's it till the next wash day....and takes sometimes 2 weeks to actually wash and change the hairstyle. 

Hmmmmmmmm....I think I suffer from the fear of loss of length and not being able to style my hair in anything besides an afro... which seems to me like the real reason why I haven't chopped everything all off. I have silently been hoping that I'll somehow develop the urge to relax again but so far, no itch to relax at all. 

Another reason is I'm usually so exhausted by the weekend and always have one or more social events to attend that it's just so difficult to keep up with any real regimen. And my kids are such a handful plus I have to do my daughters hair as well which takes a lot of real effort because she doesn't cooperate. Lately, she doesn't want extensions and wants a different hairstyle every few days.... literally she takes up all the hair time..lmao!

Here are some styles I wear often ..

Which of these do you like more?

Cheers,

Star.

Hairlovers....Star is Back!

Oh My gooooooosh!! I can't believe I've been this lazy!! 

Or was I de-motivated or busy or basically lost for hair words and updates? I'm happy to be back in the space and I absolutely apologise for keeping ya'll waiting. I really missed blogging..was always on my mind but my schedule and life got so fast paced I barely had the energy to write. Been updating on my Youtube Channel though as often as I can though. 

So what's been going on with my hair? Well, after the chop, I am not sure what I want with it now honestly. I'm really yearning to get a low cut at the end of the year, but I don't want it to be short as I don't know what styles I'll be able to wear till it grows long enough to style. But I do love my natural hair and having loads of natural hair products and Cantu sheabutter products, almost the whole range is surely a factor. My natural hair feels happier than my texlaxed hair when I use most of the products I have. I'm being biased smh now opting more for products made for natural hair. 

Do I really want to go natural? Off the top of my head, my answer is no. But I do feel like growing it natural to see if I like it as much as I love all the natural hair ladies I follow. The thick updos always keep me going like wow! Maybe I am just afraid my hair won't be as thick as those I see online eventually. Oh it's a mix of everything between sure and confused...lmao. 

I can't keep my hands out of my natural hair and though it is mostly coily, it is not as coarse as it used to be. I figure it gets better as it grows longer or something like that. 

                                                         

 

I usually do flat twists and this here is my first attempt at large braids. Not bad huh? And I got a new camera as a gift from Nelspruit Communications UK ,and I was so so happy. Yaaaaaaaaaay yaaaay yaaaaaaaa!! Time to get better pictures up in this space! 

I will write more often...and thanks to you all for your support over the years. 

STAR IS BACK!! 

Cheers....muaaaaaaah!! 

Big Chopped!! Relaxed to Texlaxed!

And............ I'm just so excited I can't believe myself. I just lost a lot of length but I mostly feel so liberated and so back to the "feel good" factor that came with this hair journey in the beginning...No more do I feel like hair days are going to be work days. Honestly, that's just how this whole neglecting my hair started. It was real work with handling the 3 textures and I realised that now after my wash day after cutting my hair off. 

And surprisingly, that huge chunk in the crown that is almost completely natural, I seem to be giving much more tender loving care. Is it because it is short and I want it to grow out faster or because it is natural and I'm loving it? Hmmmmmmm, confused myself. 

Maybe I'm jumping too fast now...let's see how the next wash days will leave me feeling. Want to see how I cut it all off? Check my video below.

Let's grow it all back ...will we?!! 

Cheers,

Star.

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. 

My Hair Goals for 2016

It's been a minute and all too soon, we are already in the 2nd month of the year. That really tells that time flies and what one has got to do, one has got to do now!!

So I decided to put down my hair goals for the year. It's the first time I'm actually writing them down and I feel like I can really be serious with accomplishing them. I definitely want to get a step further than getting 6 inches in a year because this is my Year of Trimming and I'm going to lose a lot of length. 

Check out what my hair goals are in my youtube video here: 

Consistency is Key and Patience is Golden. I pray for both this year.

Have you got any hair goals for 2016?...I'll love to read them.

Cheers,
Star.

Hair Update: Wigging all December

It's been a minute and I know y'all wondering if I went into hairding (hiding) again...

It's so tough at work at the end of the year I hardly have time for my hair. So I've chosen to keep my hair in wigs till we break for Christmas. And I'm totally loving the easy care routine. No worry over styling. This is getting nicer each time I try it and I'm looking at wigging more next year...#new year  hair resolutions being made already.

And, I'm no fan of human hair as I feel it is expensive but bought for the first time and we'll see how it goes. Video update on my wig , hair extensions purchased and how I keep my hair underneath here: 

 I just need a mannequin head to start wig making! Don't forget to like and leave comments below. 

Cheers,

Star.

3 Year Hairniversary!!

Yaaaaay.....and I'm glad I started! After 3 years, I'm all smiley cos the whole journey has been worth it. I've not only grown longer and thicker hair, but I've made some awesome friends and started a business alongside. I dream of bigger and better things, all because of my hair journey. 

I texlaxed a few days ago and as usual had a lot of texture left in ...a little more than I wanted but there will be another relaxer day in the future and hopefully, I can stretch it out more. My focus has changed and I am more keen on thickness than growth; though having both will be awesome. Hheheehehhehe....makes me smile too wide each time I dream of thick, long, fabulous texlaxed tresses. 

It has been such an awesome hair journey. I've had my share of setbacks and challenges...I still have a lot of relaxed hair to get rid of as I began texlaxing last year and absolutely intend to be fully texlaxed by the end of my 4th year on my HHJ. 

I've learnt more each day as my hair gets longer to keep it in low to no manipulation styles to reduce breakage. I've discovered amazing products such as T444Z Hair Food, Manetabolism Vitamins, Groganics range of products and Vitamins, Afroriri range of products, Vitale and ORS range of products that I love and still use whenever I have the opportunity, just to mention a few; that grow, strengthen and maintain my strands and keep them healthy looking. 

To all ladies growing their hair along with me, Never Give Up!! And to you my awesome readers, each time I look at my pages views, I am so encouraged to keep going despite the frustrations because I have your support. Thanks you so much for your support and prayers, and well wishes......and let's keep growing together. Everything I do, I do for you!! 

THANK YOU!

MERCI BEAUCOUP!!

GRACIAS!!!

When did you start your hair journey? 

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 2 Begins!!

It's amazing how many ladies in Ghana and Nigeria, and everywhere else are catching the "Pamper Your Hair" fever!! We really want thick, long and healthy hair by the end of December......who doesn't want that?

Thank all the ladies who joined in Edition 1 and I'm so happy many of them are joining in Edition 2 again, as well as a couple of new ladies. Who wins the prize in Edition 2? 

Let's meet our wonderful ladies who have decided to care for their hair consistently for the next 6 months! 

Ama

Genie 

Emprezz Abena 

Irene 

Mimi

Naa Adjeley 

Aba 

Emefa

Ruby 

Pat 

Rosemary

Adoma

Maame Akosua 

Ayeyi 

Maamle 

Nana Yaa 

Rashida 

Maame Akua

Augustina

Adoma

JUDITH 

SOPHIA 

ANITA

24 Amaaaaaazing ladies are in the competition!! 

And by popular request, I'm updating 1 rule. All ladies who do regular check ins , at least monthly throughout the challenge stand to compete in the Final Voting Contest!! Just remember to care for your hair, and hashtag #ghpamperyourhair2015 with an update photo at least once a month on Instagrama and Facebook. Everyone else can join in the competition, however only the ladies above stand the chance to win 3 Groganics Products and a Length Check shirt at the end of the competition in December. Once again, photos with hair combed back or pulled back are preferrable and can be sent asap if you were unable to do so. It helps to easily judge your progress!! 

All the best ladies.....and on, on we journey to waist length! 

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!

VOTE NOW: Who Wins Pamper Your Hair Challenge Edition 1?

Finally! Finally! Finally!!

We are all so excited that the challenge has ended and now it's time for one lucky lady to win the Afroriri Starter Pack which contains 5 amazing product from Afroriri Haircare!! Whoever wins, your hair is going to be so glorious after using the Afroriri products for a few weeks!! Trust me!

All the contestants did very well. Most of those who submitted ending photos had made progress with their hair; either in length, thickness or health. The contestants who did not check in at least once a month by posting progress pictures with hashtag #ghpamperyourhair2015 were not considered in the final selection process.  

Please find below the final 3 contestants who were chosen based on their overall progress.

Whose hair has improved the most in the last 6 months?

Is it.............

MAAME AKOSUA

Is it.........

MERCY

Is it.........

MAYBEL

The TRIPLE M......their names all start with M....amazing! The time has come for us all to decide. Please look closely at each lady's before and after photo in the grids; and vote by typing out the NAME of the lady you think made the most progress in the COMMENT SECTION.

Voting ends at midnight on 20th July....means there are only 4 days of voting. Woooohooooooooo!! I can't help but feel excited for these ladies! There's no time to waste.

Every vote counts!! Let's vote wisely!


LET THE VOTING BEGIN AND MAY THE BEST HAIRSISTA WIN!! 



Cheers,
Star.