What happened to all my hair??

*Taken April 2009*

I was looking back at old pictures that were taken within the last 6 years and was stunned with my discovery. My hair was much longer and thicker. It really shocked me how I had not noticed the difference. I knew my hair was a little shorter than what it u
se to be, but I was not aware how big of a difference it was. It's not a huge difference like From BSL to SL. However, it is a difference I shuld have noticed.

I had my son almost a year ago and ever since then I have been battling with excessive shedding. It is so bad that of you stood too close I would get hair all over you! I shed a lot between seasons, but this is like 10 times worse.

I recently started trying to get this shedding undr control. I tried the black tea rinse and I didn't notice a big difference. I will try two more before I give up on that. I also plan on getting garlic shampoo (no scent) and add this in my regimen about twice a month. I really want to avoid garlic supplements if possible. Those will be my absolute last resort! I really do hope something works and soon! What has helped you battle shedding?

Blog Facelift

Please bare with me as I update my blog. I hope to have it up and running by the end of the week. Thanks!

Merry Christmas!

Hope you all get what you need and some of what I want!

Cowash with Black Tea Rinse

My hair has been doing some excessive shedding ever since I had my son 11 months ago. My beautician said it was normal after birth and blah blah blah. Well after reviewing several YouTube videos, reading blogs, and reading hair care websites I decided to do a black tea rinse.

Before we get to that lets talk about my cowash. I use EVOO as a pre-poo for about 3 hours. I rinsed with warm water and applied my conditioner. I used Pantene Pro V for relaxed and natural hair. I need to get rid of it b4 I buy some V05 or Herbal Essence LTR conditioner. I let the conditioner sit in for about 10 mins then I rinsed with warm water. Next I added the black tea rinse.

For the black tea rinse I used some publix brand tea that had ginger in it. I boiled 8 bags in about 12 oz of water. I let it sit for about 30 mins. I did this all before I co-washed. My Love asked me what I was doing with the black tea. I told him and he told me now I'm taking my hair journey overboard. He'll realize the difference when there is no longer shed hair everywhere! When adding it toy hair I saturated my scalp using a homemade applicator bottle. My son has some brand new bottles laying around that he will NEVER use so I cut a hole in the top of the nipple and used it. I rinsed my hair with it 3 times and applied a plastic cap. I then rinsed one final time then added my deep conditioner (Queen Helen's Cholesterol). I remember reading a lot of reviews that said it made their hair dry and brittle. The conditioner is suppose to counteract this effect. We'll see though. Note: I'm typing this post as I'm going along.

I deep conditioned under the dryer for 30 mins. I then used LTR as my leave-in and detangled with the tangle tamer (LOVE this thing!!). I put on a little Argon oil and blow dried. Next I flat ironed my roots and curled my hair with my new Babyliss Curling Irons. Absolutely love these things. These are my 1st ceramic irons and I couldn't have asked for a better one. This is the finished product! Mind u I'm 13 weeks post relaxer!

My Love helped curl my hair. He thoroughly enjoyed it. He actually did a pretty good job for it being the first and probably only time using curling irons.

Product Junky?

Who knew starting a HHJ could cost a pretty penny. This is especially true if u don't have a lot of hair products. I'm so use to going to the shop for just about everything. I noticed that I might be turning into a product junky. Well I wouldn't go that far. But now I notice I can not go in a store that sell hair products without going for a browse. I pay extra attention to the products on my wish list or those that I've seen a ton of reviews on. I almost always pick something up. I have this bad habit f trying a product in the store b4 I buy it. Well not really trying it but I do put a little on my finger (mainly conditioners and shampoos). I did that with Herbal Essence's LTR and I had to buy it. It had my hair sooo moisturized! I may be Speaking too soon but I wouldn't be surprised if this becomes a staple.

Well today I plan to co-wash, deep condition, and straighten or curl my hair with heat. This is my first time using heat on my HHJ. I will use Argon oil as a heat protectant. I want to try out the new curlers my Love got me for Christmas. Well I'm gearing up for Longing4Length's roller wrap challenge. It is my first challenge and I'm looking forward to winning some cool prizes! Yeah I'm claiming it. But I'll post very soon about the challenge and my goals for the challenge.

Early Christmas Gift

Well it wasn't suppose to be early, but it was accidentally sent in my name and I opened it. My Love bought me a Babyliss Pro Ceramic Curling Iron. While I never use a curling iron I'm debating on keeping it or replacing it with a flat iron. I kinda said I would keep it and use it to straighten my hair. My beautician uses a curling iron to straighten my hair b/c I don't really like wearing it straight. I have to have my ends bumped. It makes my hair look like it has more volume. Keeping the curling iron will also help me reduce the amount of heat I use on my head. What are your thoughts?

Wash Day!

So I finally for around to washing my hair. Let me just start by saying I will definitely keep my wash day on the weekend. I went to the gym first (great workout by the way) and I was very tempted to use the sauna. What stopped me was the 40 degree weather outside and going home with a wet head would have definitely lead to a cold.

I pre-pooed for about 40 mins with honey. Can you say amazing!!!! It made my new growth super soft and my hair was easy to detangle. I washed with Elasta QP Soy OYL Neutralizing shampoo because I grabbed the wrong shampoo. I WILL be returning this. shhhhhhh don't tell anyone. I was not impressed with this shampoo at all. I'm not even sure if I want to use their products anymore. I just want to find a great moisturizing sulfate-free shampoo. I don't understand why I'm having such a difficult time. But anyway after I washed my hair I conditioned for only about 10 mins in the shower. It was late and my baby was having a fit about being put to bed without mommy. Next I added my leave in conditioner and started my detangling process. I finally got to use my tangle tamer and again I say WOW!!! I don't know if the honey pre-poo helped, but I was able to successfully attack my new growth! Detangling only took about 15 mins and that's great considering I'm going into my 13th weeks post relaxer. Stretching is not going to be that challenging for me. Honey pre-poo and the Tangle Tamer will be my secret weapons!!

Well I plan to co-wash on Thursday since I plan on hitting the gym hard this week. I'm trying to loose 5 pounds by the end of the month. I will be able to fit my pre-pregnancy skinny jeans by Jan. I'm already back down to my pre-pregnancy weight and I'm so happy! I finally feel thin again!!

Lastly, I'm considering joining my first challenge.

The not so Wash Day

So today was suppose to be a wash day, but things didn't go as planned. I did not The opportunity to wash my hair and I doubt I will get through it tonight. I still have to go home and cook dinner. I will wash tomorrow after u get home from the gym. I'm thinking about doing a braidout til I think if another style.

Yesterday I tried EVOO "pre-poo" yesterday. Well it was more like Real Queen's Greenhouse Effect. I put EVOO on my scalp and hair, put on a plastic cap, and a scarf. I went to bed and let it sit in. My hair was so soft in the morning. Too oily, but soft. It worked wonders on my new growth.

I think I have the potential to become a product junkie. I can't go in a store without stopping through the beauty supply aisle. I went to Sallly's and bought the tangle tamer. I'm really excited to be trying it out. I even got a $5 off any order $5 or more. So I plan on going back sometime next month when the new sales kick in. I have a few things on my "wish list" that I am dying to get. I will share my list in a later post.

Something like a Length Check (12 wks post relaxer)

I say something like b/c it my hair is not straightened and my new growth is at least an inch long. I will be my official 1st length check after I get my relaxer in a few weeks. Well here it goes.

Changing my regime?

So I have been on my HHJ for almost a week now (Sunday marks a week). I can already see a difference in my hair. I'm pleased for the most part, but my hair is still missing the shine. I noticed the Cantu Shea Butter leave my hair flaky if not rubbed in properly. While I absolutely love the smell I'm not sure it is moisturizing my hair the way it should. I think this is preventing my hair from shining. I'm thinking of changing my moisturizer to Herbal Essence Long Term Relationship leave-in conditioner. I may give it a few more weeks to make my final decision.

I've been M&S everyday in the morning and night with the exception of yesterday. Yesterday I did it one time. I left my scarf on my head most of the day. I was thinking about getting a relaxer today, but after a week of daily manageable new growth I decided to wait til around Christmas or right before the start of my last semester of school.

Here is a copy of my hair yesterday. This is my braid out from Sunday I blowed dried a few strands of my hair yesterday. I said I wouldn't use heat but that may be impossible. I may have to blow dry occasionally.

Braidout No More

So my braid out ok for it being my first time. My new growth is so thick! But it's manageable. I was thinking about getting a relaxer on Saturday so I can do my first length check but decided against it since I can still manage my new growth. I couldn't quite remember my last relaxer so I may be off by a week. I'm estimating to be 12 weeks post relaxer as of Saturday 12/10. My new growth is thick but I can still manage it.

I detangled my hair today after having my braidout in from Sunday. Monday night I M&S with Cantu Shea Butter Leave In and Argon Oil both morning and night. I oiled my scalp a little. That night I but on my satin scarf and went to bed. Tuesday I M&S both morning and night. This time I put my hair in a pony tail tucking my ends. I wrapped in my satin scarf and went to bed. Today I M&S with the same things as before. Let me just saw my products will remain the same for about a month unless I determine they are not working before hand. Anyway this evening oiled my scalp with Argon oil and massaged it in. I think I was a little too heavy. I need to get another application bottle with a smaller nozzle. I then moisturized, detangled, and sealed my hair. My hair didn't shed as much as it usually does. This proves I'm on the right track with my regimen. I then put my hair in a pony tail with my ends tucked, wrapped my hair with my scarf, and went to bed.

I'm very pleased with my hair journey and results. My hair is softer and easy to managed with it being 12 weeks post in all. I plan to pre-poo my hair with EVOO on Friday night and wash on Saturday. I'll keep u all posted. In the mean time I'm going to try to find more protective styles, do more research, and enjoy my HHJ.

Hair Regime

So I finally have a little time to share my experience from the first day of my healthy hair journey.

I used Pantene Pro V For Relaxed and Natural Hair. I sectioned my hair and added conditioner starting from the ends making my way up the shaft of my hair to the roots. My hair was very dry and sucked up the conditioner. My hair was also shedding pretty bad. I made sure my entire head was saturated with conditioner. I put a plastic cap over it and commenced to let it sit in.

The pre-pooing felt great. I could yfeel tingling in my scalp. I love that feeling b/c it usually lets me know this is a good product for my hair. I let the pre-poo sit in for 1 hour 30 mins. I got in the shower and rinsed my hair.

First I rinsed the pre-poo out in warm water. My hair was soft and felt moisturized. Then I took a quarter size amount of Ion Clarifying Shampoo and applied to my hair. B/c I'm about 9 wks post relaxer I added a dime size more. I first noticed the citrus smell. I enjoyed it. It didn't foam like I expected or I'm use to. I massaged my scalp for about 3 or 4 mins and rinsed in warm water. My hair felt very soft and clean.

I deep conditioned my hair with Helen Queen's Cholesterol. I would have preferred to use Mizani Moisturefuse but I was running low. Anyway I sectioned my hair starting from the back and saturated my hair starting from the ends working my way to the roots. I noticed my hair was pretty tangled but not as tangled as it usually is after a wash. After deep conditioning my entire head I applied a plastic cap. I don't have a hooded dryer yet so I opted to try the heated towel. I wet a face towel in hot water, put it on a plate, and popped it in the microwave for 1 min. I then took it out put it over my cap and applied another plastic cap over that. It seems to have gotten the job done. I was starting to perspire as if I was under a dryer. I let it sit for about 45 mins then I rinsed it out in cold water.

After rinsing the deep conditioner I noticed my hair was shiny and moist. It still had a few brittle points mainly being my edges b/c of my new growth. I detangled my hair and experienced a good amount of shedding. It wasn't difficult to detangler either. I sectioned and moisturized with Cantu Shea Butter Leave-in Repair Conditioning Cream. I then sealed with One 'n Only Argon Oil Treatment. I then braided my hair for my braid out.

Overall I had a good first day of my HHJ. It took a long time to complete but I know it will be well worth it in the end. I know I have to dedicate the entire morning to doing my hair. I'll probably pre-poo Friday night.

*will add pictures when I get to a computer*

Blutiful Beginnings

I was browsing the web one day when I came across a healthy hair blog. After reading a few entries I became almost obsessed with finding out more info. Who would have thought so many black women are on a hair journey to long, healthy hair! I think I spent about a week of intense research before I decided this is something I wanted to do. I've had shoulder length or a little past my shoulder since I was in middle school. After I had my son in Jan 2011 my hair began to shed excessively. And now my hair is a little above my shoulders and it is not retaining its length. Well today I officially started my HHJ. I'll share my hair regimen, first experience, and results in the next post. I'm very excited and ready to dedicate myself to obtaining bra strap length hair!