I Relaxed at 6 Weeks Post

Oh my bad.....I didn't update you on that but I was just shuffling to and fro between states in 9ja so I had little time to write. I got back to Ghana yesterday. I got really frustrated with my new growth, and especially my texlaxed middle...I simply had to relax. So, I woke up on Saturday and decided I had had enough. I was just 6 weeks post but my hair was breaking seriously. It was really heart-breaking. No more!

I asked a few friends in Akure to recommend a good hairdresser and I was really glad about the lady I was referred to. I decided to chit-chat a bit first to see if she would do as I pleased with my hair, and she passed! She was totally supportive and understood how important it was to handle the hair with care. 

So, she convinced me enough and I sat in the chair. She was awesome!! The way she parted and combed my hair, from tips to roots, ever carefully. She recommended a relaxer called "Relax" when I showed her the parts I had relaxed previously. She assured me it was gentle but good for coarse hair. I was really impressed when she even showed me how little the hair in the comb was. I got totally comfortable and just relaxed as she applied the relaxer, to new growth only after applying conditioner to the relaxed parts. She used little relaxer per section and didn't smooth with a comb. Only with her fingers. Even after 15 mins, I wasn't sure the relaxer will take so I asked her to smooth with a comb but she refused politely because she said it was one cause of breakage. You should have seen my broad smile!! "I'm taking you to Ghana"!! Finally, I got one good hair day which compensated for all the bad hair days I had during my stay in 9ja. 

After 20 minutes, she washed out and neutralised, shampooed and then conditioned the hair. I had deep conditioned my hair the night before so I didn't feel too bad about missing the mid step protein treatment as she didn't have a protein treatment in her shop. 

Overall, I was very happy with my results. I still have a lil texture but it is very little for now so I will wait a week to see if my hair will revert again or not. I am on a braid out styling regimen since I relaxed on Saturday so I haven't combed my hair since then but I don't see hair all over the floor when I m&s like before. I will wash and deep condition tomorrow as I have the rest of the week as holidays. I will do a henna treatment at the weekend and hope to just enjoy my hair a little while for now. I have lost my edges a bit so I will probably just do braidouts and wear wigs for the next few weeks and see how it goes. I will massage my edges with T444Z everyday from today because I need to regrow them very fast.

Being back home is really great...there really is no place like home. I just can't wait to start using all the hair goodies I couldn't carry along with me. My hair is gonna be sooooooooooooooooo happy again!!

Do you get so frustrated during your relaxer stretches and just give up sometimes? 

Cheers,

Star.

This Joyful Easter-tide!!

Christ in you, your hope of Glory!!

I believe in the Ressurrection and the Life. There is nothing too difficult for our Mighty God! Why worry and carry heavy burdens, my friend? Life is tough, indeed...but Christ gives us the opportunity each day to cast our burdens onto Him. That is the Reason for this Season. Lay all your crosses before the Cross because Christ could not have died in vain. He died that you and I may have life and live it to the full!!

Oh, arise my soul and praise the Lord. Choose to live in love, faith and hope, for that will give you great joy and happiness beyond human understanding. This world is but a journey! May every dead situation in our lives rise again to the glory of God and may our souls strive for the Kingdom of Heaven where there is Eternal Love, Joy and Happiness!! That is where our lives will really begin. Let us keep our eyes fixed on the Cross that we might in the end receive our Crowns of Glory!!

I believe in the Risen Lord Jesus and claim all His promises!! Type AMEN if you believe, and don't forget to spread the Good News by sharing this post with all your friends and family.

Happy Easter!!

Cheers,

Star.

I Just Had Another Major Setback!

Bought new products!

I'm glad for all your support with the cornrows but I got a little frustrated with having to redo the individual braids because they kept falling out in twos. I just decided I had enough this morning and I took them out. I then marched to find a salon to get my hair washed. I am now asking myself, "Why the hell didn't you wash yourself"? Beats me , really. I have no clue why I went to the salon. I just remember picking my products, walking out of the gate and sitting in the chair of the nearest salon I could find. Maybe I was just got tired of bed resting and wanted an excuse to go out. I had a flu recently and had to bed rest.

Now the salon:

From the outside, it looked cool. I met the hairdresser braiding outside and told her I wanted to wash. She then asked me to go in. Well, I wasn't too pleased with how it looked inside but I had walked quite a distance and just collapsed into the chair. I began applying Emily Millionaire coconut oil to my hair when she came in. I asked her for a shower cap to cover it. She told me I would need a shower cap to steam only after washing but I told her I preferred to do it before as I had to wait anyway . She didn't look too pleased as she handed me the shower cap and went out to continue the braids.

Poor dolls!

When she was done, she invited me to the wash area and I handed her my products. I honestly don't know why she rolled her eyes at me again this time but I said nothing. Then once done, she wanted to ruffle it dry but I told her to wrap my hair in the towel instead. Now she was pretty mad. I ignored her and went to sit in the styling chair. I took the towel off and then she started combing my damp hair. I kept moving my head and told her to be very gentle else my hair would break off as I never comb my damp hair. She said sorry and continued. When she picked the tail comb to set, I wasn't too sure I wanted her using that comb for me, considering she wasn't gentle with the big one so I opted for blowdrying. Big mistake.

Lost too much hair.

She picked the dryer and turned the heat on without applying anything. I asked if she doesn't have any product for blowdrying, she said she had shea butter but uses it afterwards. I told her I'd apply some of the Emily Millionaire as it wasn't cool to blowdry without any barrier to the hair. Now, she was clearly mad and I should have left. Too bad I didn't because when I got home and let my hair down, I was totally shocked at how much hair I had lost, but just angry with myself for sitting through it when I could have left. Especially after noticing how bald her dolls were (to the point of even taking pixs as though I was gonna compare with my hair afterwards); and seeing all the hair in the big comb she used, what else could I expect?!!

When she was done, she charged 1000 Naira, clearly outrageous. I asked her to reduce her price but she just kept saying that was the charge. I guess she noticed my accent and wanted to have a field day. I was so down and not in the mood for her games. I just told her I'd pay 700 Naira.....she talked a whole lot more, took the money, gave me change and I left. This does it for me. I should have known better really but I just thought it would be rude to leave considering she was fuming already. Thanks to my whatsapp "hairmily" for cheering me up......It will all grow back, I believe. Could have been worse!! Just look at those poor dolls!

DIY till I get back home.

Anyone had a worse experience than this? What would you have done differently?

Cheers,

Star.

Cornrows Out...and In Again!

Been so busy lately I haven't had time to pop in here! Hope everyone is doing great and I really miss y'all. Thanks for your patience and your continuous visit to my blog. Just a quick picture story of how my hair is doing. I carried some hair products in small syrup bottles along with me to Nigeria where I have been for the past 2 weeks; not knowing when I go back home yet...thanks to the job. I feel a little homesick, miss my family especially my kids. This place is like a second home courtesy of my job and several visits here.....yep, but there is no place like home.

I still washed my last cornrows 2 times a week and after more than 2 weeks, I just had to undo it. I was far East in Onitsha and I went to this hairdresser I got box braids for once in the past with a pix of the cornrow updo above and wanted the same thing done. 

From the word "Go", I knew I was in for a surprising end I won't be pleased about. Hhahhahahhaahaha......I tried helping out as many times with directions but my lady just wasn't getting it. I decided at a point to just let her use her creativity as she said the style was "Galaxy" and she had done it before. It is so easy to spot the differences, right? Just a complete case of North and South with me endig up looking like Mr T!! (Remember that TV series......*my sides hurt from mad laughter each time I see these pixs!)

Oya, let's try another "packing" style jare. She agreed and together we did the one above. I was more comfy with leaving the salon and went straight to the office where I was working for the day. She didn't have a mirror for me to look at my back and from the pixs I took at the salon, I had no clue that the hair was sewn together with BLUE thread...........*wide-eyed*! I can't believe I had walked about with that for close to 4 hours!

That was it. I unpacked my thing, decided not to be peeved about it anymore and I have since been enjoying my "cool" style. I still moisturise with water and oil. I forgot my braid spray and moisturiser. I wash it every 3 days as well. A few of the individual braids removed and I had to redo them. I just don't know. I'm back in Lagos where I'm sure it can be done right but I will just keep these in somehow till I get back home and go and get my "Ghana weaving" done at my hairdressers'.

Oh, she charged 1800 naira when she was done. I just bargained and paid 1000 naira which included the cost of the extension she used which was 400 naira. That's about 6 dollars.  According to my friend's it was way too much....lol. I remember paying 1200 for the braids she did for me over a year and half ago because I liked them. I was just too disappointed to tip her for this one.

Have you had an experience like this before?

Cheers,

Star.

New Protective Style: Cornrows!

I know, I know ....I said no more braids but this time, I really had to get braids. I will be away from home for a month and do not want to carry my hair troubles along so I decided to install cornrows so my wash days will be easier. Will be more like wash-and-gos...I'll just wash, put in my products and then go.

I was so glad I decided to trust this hairdresser. I went to her shop last Saturday to get cornrows. Initially we had discussed using my hair only but I decided at the last minute to add extensions as per reasons given above. We used half pack of extensions. I am just too pleased with my cornrows. Very simple, pretty and neat. Totally painless; no headaches and sleepless nights. There was no need for neatening with scissors, fire or hot water as is usually done here in the salons. Within 2 hours she was done. And believe me, we had a lot of breaks as her salon was quite busy that day. The cost of the installation was only 10ghs. That's less than 5 dollars. The extension was 5ghs a pack. 

Braids after 2 washes.

As usual, I washed my hair just as always. I have done 2 washes already. I prepooed with Coconut oil and Wonder 8 oil. I used my onion-infused Creme of Nature conditioning shampoo first and then followed with Aphogee Shampoo and Aphogee 2 min reconstructor. I then let it dry 80%, applied T444Z Hair food to my scalp and then Creme of Nature Argan oil leave in. I then moisturised with ORS Moisturiser and then sealed with a mix of Wonder 8 oil, coconut oil and gbco. I did this on both wash days.

On the other days I didn't wash, I applied a mix I made of t444z, gbco, chapter 2000, virgin hair fertilizer, coconut and peppermint oil. I've had the chapter 2000 and virgin fertilizer for a long while now and decided to just mix it up and use instead of throwing it away as I initially intended. I was expecting the "concoction"to be super hot and tingly, but to my surprise I only felt a mild tingling the first day and nothing at all consequently. I will continue using it till it's used up. I also have African Pride braid spray and I spray this on my hair in the evenings, wear my shower cap and go to bed. I have been doing the green house effect each night since Saturday. 

My braids are just 6 days old but I do feel new growth already. I will continue to use the above regimen for a month and see how it goes. I may however cut ghe down....will do it 2 days in a row and skip the 3rd day in that order. My new growth feels super soft!! 

I hope to keep writing while away ..........and I am thinking of embarking on a weight loss and skin care journey too. 

How often do you wash your hair in braids? 

Cheers,

Star.

Hairstyles of the Week

I have simply been enjoying my hair and had such a huge rush of creativity the whole week. I must say though some of the styles look a bit difficult to achieve, they were easy once I got to doing them. I used between 5 - 10 minutes to achieve these styles. I also used only wide tooth combs to comb. 

Sectioned into 3. Braided the front down, put the middle in a ponytail and sectioned into 3 and pinned then into bows.
Combed the back down, braided the very end and tied with a small ribbon to keep it from being loose.

Braided up the ponytail into a twist and just pinned it up.

Braided rope twist to keep the ends tucked in. 

Braided the hair into rope twists all round. 

Parted hair into 2 and plaited small twists in the front and held it up. 

Twisted the front by itself and pinned them up. 

Big rope twist at the side and back. 

I just love how moisturised and much healthier my ends look. What I have been doing apart from washing 2 times is to ghe with cantu sheabutter. I did this all week and my hair simply loves it!! I will continue to apply  cantu sheabutter to my ends overnight at least 3 times a week.

Updates of my hairstyles each day are given daily on my facebook page. 

Which is your favourite hairstyle?

Cheers,

Star. 

I Just Had To Texlax Again

Yes, you read right and oh my goodness!! She just broke a rule...............*wide-eyed*. Yes I did. My bad.

I was very happy on texlax day last week and a few days after...but later, I realised my hair had reverted. It just reverted more each day and by the end of the week, I was back to square one. I could hardly get a comb through and I had to spend loads of time moisturising in tiny sections to get my moisturiser and oils on my hair. No no no....I was no more going to endure the struggle for another week. My mind was made up so on Saturday evening, off I went to the hairdresser's...where I got my braids done last year exactly how I wanted it. I just remembered how she relaxed another client's hair. She applied to new growth only so I decided to trust her with my hair.

I explained before we begun that she had only 15-18 minutes from start to finish and by 18 minutes, she was done with application and smoothing. At first, I didn't want to smooth but after 12 minutes, upon inspecting the back, it seemed not to have straightened one bit so I allowed her to smooth though twice with the rat tail comb. As soon as 18 minutes were up, she washed it out and continued with the mid step protein treatment and neutralising. Leave ins were applied, rollerset and dryer and so on till I was done. I spent some time afterwards to chit chat about hair care.....you know....lol!

Simple shop, simple tools, but totally willing to learn all she could. She did my hair just the way I wanted and actually asked her apprentice to write the relaxer steps down and promised to treat her other clients the same way provided they were prepared to pay for the mid step protein product. Her relaxer service was so cheap too......5ghs.......that's just 2 dollars. I was 500% satisfied. She is a keeper. I was honestly so happy and will get my braids done at the weekend by this same hairdresser. I hope it goes well again. 

Lots of Texture. 

Results? My roots texlaxed! I still have a lot of texture. Meeeeeeeeeeeeeehn, this new growth really came in fierce and strong. That's a total plus.

Hair not bone straight. No heat regimen. 

Airdried and bunned ...2 days post relaxer. 

Next day, yesterday, I washed my hair again. I just felt like washing it again. I prepooed with coconut oil overnight. I used my neautralising shampoo, lathered twice and then deep conditioned with Vitale Mayonnaise. I followed with VO5 Moisture Milks.

I didn't do a proper length check before I relaxed but the left was a pix I took the morning of relaxer day and the right was immediately I got back from the salon. For me, the length is not of primary importance but the health of my hair ends. My ends are filling in nicely and thickly too. And I dunno where bra strap length should be but if it should be at the bottom of the bra, I still have a chance to make it to that length by December if I don't get any setbacks. 3-4 inches are all I need Lord. I intend to continue protective styling...with or without braids for as long as I can. I'm babying those ends till July when I will trim for beauty and evenness. 3-4 inches are all I need Lord.

How many inches more to reach your next goal length? 

Cheers,
Star.