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.

Wash Day: ORS Mayonnaise Egg Recipe Mix

I had been whining over the past week after I took my weave out and washed; about how my hair didn't feel and look right. It would break at the least touch...like "don't touch my hair" kind of attitude to me too? Hey hair, I own you ooooooooo. My shedding had gone a notch up again and it was like I was pulling strands out of my scalp just by touching the hair. I used Groganics shampoo and conditioner my last wash day and so I was surprised, but then again, I had not been using it for the past 4 weeks so I couldn't blame it on those. 

Then I thought it was heat damage, from the last flatiron in August. But a heat protectant was used and though the hairdresser wasn't so gentle; yeah I saw a gazillion hairs (my hairy-greedy eye) on the floor when she was done blowdrying and flatironing, but it wasn't a head full of hair on that floor. Hmmmmmmmmmmm.....think some more.

Then it hit me. "It is moisture overload"!! I hadn't done a hard protein treatment in 6 weeks. Mercy me!! I literally run out of my room screaming at my sister to get  me some eggs NOW NOW NOW! The drama that goes on around my hair at home....hilarious!! I rushed into the shower and washed my hair with ORS Aloe Shampoo. Yes, it was best to clarify. Once I was done washing, I wrapped my hair in my old T-shirt. 

I then poured some ORS mayonnaise, edible mayonnaise, honey, castor oil, olive oil and coconut oil into the egg my sister had beaten up for me. I was so in a hurry to repair my hair that I just mixed it all up fast fast fast with the tail of my hair brush. I couldn't find the plastic spoon I usually use and I was in no mood to hunt it down. I oiled my scalp with my roots only applicator bottle....that's priceless....and massaged for a few minutes. I then parted my hair into sections and applied my mixture to the roots and then to the ends. I made sure I made enough and applied thickly all over. Every strand was covered for sure. I then covered with 2 plastic bags and wrapped my hair with my towel turban style. 

Detangling in sections.

I left it in for 30 minutes and rinsed it all off. As expected, my hair was hard. VO5 Moisture milks and Roux Porosity control conditioner to the rescue. I used the Roux first, followed by VO5. Super!! My hair felt soft but not limp. I wrapped my hair up till the water was all soaked up and then I sprayed in my CON Argan oil leave-in. I then applied Aphogee Pro-Vitamin leave-in and then turned on my standing fan to hasten the drying process as it was late.

Once my hair was almost dry, I finger detangled as the air blew my hair. When I was comfortable enough, I applied Hawaiian Silky 14-in-1 Moisturiser to my hair concentrating it on the texlaxed parts which tangle most. I then detangled with my wide tooth comb from ends to roots in small sections....stopping and using my fingers whenever the comb got stuck. I lost so little hair during the detangling process I had to find some hairs on the floor to pick up. My comb didn't contain any hairs at all with some sections. Completely amazing!

I then moisturised again and sealed with coconut oil, wrapped my hair up and tied down with my scarf...my good old scarf.


I styled it loosely this morning but then again, hair-sense knocked and I grabbed some bobby pins to tuck it all away.

I was so pleased I'm sure I smiled all through my sleep and I'm beaming this morning so much you could fry eggs on my face ....hahaahaha. Thank God my hair is OK. 

Pheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeew!! 

Have you suffered moisture-overload? What corrects it for you? 

Cheers,

Star. 

Product Review: Dark & Lovely Scalp Soother and Anti Itch

Hello lovelies,

I just did a video review of the Dark and Lovely Braids and Weaves Scalp Soother and Anti Itch serum which I used for 6 weeks while wearing my weave. My weave is out now but just want to share my experience with this product.

Don't forget to leave your questions and comments.


When was the last time you wore a weave?


Cheers,
Star.

My Lime and Honey Facial Regimen

When it comes to acne and pimples, I've always been prone. I honestly didn't really mind until when I started looking at my pictures from my November 2012 when I started blogging. Then I realised it was getting worse as I had the dark acne spots increasing over time and getting more pronounced.

In April, I started trying to fade the spots. I read several blogs and checked with cosmetics shops. Black soap seemed popular in the blogging world. And honey and lime too. But I only tried black soap, and some other soaps and treatments (facial peels, lotions, scrubs) I got from shops. It started before I started taking women's and hair vitamins so I wouldn't blame it on those.

Before lime and honey regimen.

Then I decided to try the honey and lime facial scrub finally when I met a cousin who had always had bad, bad, acne issues and her face was almost clear. I asked the secret and she said, "Honey and Lime". That was the last push I needed and I jumped right on board.

2 months after using regimen daily.

I bought pure honey from Honey Lane Limited, because I wanted 100% pure honey and got some lime from the market.

My Regimen: I use a small bowl into which I squeeze the juice and mix with honey. I usually make just enough for 2 applications, morning and evening as I prefer it fresh. If there is any leftover, I keep it in the fridge. I wash my face and blot it dry with a face towel. I then apply my lime and honey mixture and leave it on my face till it's time to shower. I wash it off with facial soap. I do the same in the evening. Once in a while, when my face feels dry, I add castor oil and grapeseed oil to the mix.

I must say I am so delighted I finally tried it and after just 2 months, my spots have faded considerably. I still have a few tough ones and the occassional breakouts, but I'm sticking to this simple facial regimen for a long, long while.


What's your facial regimen?


Cheers,
Star.