Goodbye 2013 & Hello 2014!

It seems that 2013 has flown by! I still can't believe that in a few hours 2014 will be here. This year in my hair journey. I neglected my hair a lot this year and because of that I suffered my first set back. Instead of letting this set back have a negative affect on me I used it as a set up. After all, this set back was totally preventable. Below here is a little spill on the good and ugly of my 2013 hair journey.

The Good

• Got a much needed trim!
• Tea rinses- I don't know how I didn't realize how wonderful they are! This stopped my postpartum shedding and saved what was left of my edges.
• Discovered some great protective styles!
• Successfully stretching my relaxer. Currently 7 months post relaxer and still going strong!

The Ugly

• Postpartum shedding- It caused my hair to edges to disappear which I am currently working to grow back.
• Shea Moisture Deep Treatment Masque- It left my hair dry and tangled.
• Queen Helene Garlic Shampoo- I never did an official review on my blog but this product left my hair completely stripped and dry! It was a waste of $4.00.

I'm looking forward to what 2014 will bring for my hair. I plan to continue to my stretch and focus more on health than length this year. Thank you all for sticking by me even when my blog post became non existent. I plan to continue to use this as a platform to share my journey as well as introduce my daughter's natural hair journey! Happy New Years to you all. Be safe and I will chat with you all soon!

Hair of the Day

I wanted to write a quick blogpost showcasing a new protective style recreated. I saw this on MsVaughnTV's YouTube a while ago and I decided today was the perfect day to give it a try. This style can be worn as a casual/everyday look of as a formal style. Check out the video for more information. I basically followed what she did except the products I used were Elasta QP Olive Oil and Mango Butter Moisturizer, Ecostyler Olive Oil Gel, and Ampro Silk Edges. Enjoy!

Quick Hair update and Wash Day!

I can not believe I let an entire month go by with out updating my blog! Work and taking care of a busy toddler and feisty infant has left with little to no energy. I'm making a change in my career soon and hoping that with it brings more time and energy to spend with my family as well as blogging. I'm coming up on my 2 year hair journey and blog anniversary in December. I will be hosting a giveaway so please be on the look out.

Just a quick update with my hair:

Shedding has decreased tremendously. I think I may even be back to my normal shedding rate. I contribute this to tea rinses, hair trim/cut I got in September, and ORS Hair Mayo!


I went to the salon and got a flexi-rod set for a wedding two weeks ago. Although the hairstyle was totally different than what I was use to I liked it. Only thing I didn't like about it was the fact that she spritzed my hair! I didn't even know salons still used this stuff. She did it before I realized it and oh my goodness was my hair dry and crunchy! This prevented my curls from falling the way I wanted and thus the style didn't last but a couple days.


I'm currently 5 months post relaxer and it has not been so bad. I think washing biweekly is much better for my hair! I discovered that less is better for me.


I have been seriously considering a sew-in. I have done a ton of research and the amount of information out there is overwhelming. I consulted with a stylist who specializes in sew-ins two weeks ago. She seems pretty knowledgeable and I’m impressed with her work. I will be considering her. She also provides hair, but not sure if I want to go with her since I’m not sure about the quality (not that I’d really know if I saw it). I think I’d much rather purchase from a reputable vendor whose reviews I can find online.

Now on to my wash day.

Step 1:

I decided to try this new detangling method that I saw YouTube. I followed her method almost exactly except I used a different conditioner. For those who can’t pull up the video or wish not to here is what I did. I sectioned my hair into for big sections. Each section was then subdivided into two sections, making a total of 8 sections total at the end of my detangling section. I sprayed each section, massaged the water in, added EVOO, and then twisted my hair. After doing this to my entire head I added a plastic shower cap and a hat to add heat. I left this on for 30 minutes and then came back and added Tresseme Moisture Conditioner to each section and retwisted in preparation for washing.

　

Step 2:

Washed with Crème of Nature Argon Oil Moisture and Shine Shampoo for one lather.

　

Step 3:

Tea Rinse with Black Tea

　

Step 4:

Deep Conditioned with L’Oreal Total Repair 5 Damage Erasing Balm. This was my first time using this conditioner and so far I love the way it smells and they way it melts in my hair! I left the conditioner on with a plastic cap and winter hat for about 4 hours before rinsing.

　

Step 5:

Added Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Daily Treatment for 5 minutes.

　

Step 6:

T-shirt dried then added GVPs Paul Mitchell The Detangler

　

Step 7:

Added Tresseme Thermal Creations Heat Tamer Spray and blow dried my hair or medium warm heat.

　

Step 8:

Used One N Only Argon Oil as a finisher to smooth my hair and add shine. My hair was feeling pretty dry after the blow dry. Not sure if it was the heat protectant or the heat. I then placed my hair in a loose ponytail.

First Major Set Back: Salon Visit/Trim (Pic Heavy)

As you all know I recently started battling postpartum shedding. Due to this shedding and improperly handling of my hair during stretching I suspected that I had a set back. This was confirmed when I went to the salon on September 26th. I couldn't get in contact with the stylist I usually go to so I decided to finally use one my co-worker suggested. When I entered the salon this stylist was the only one working. She was washing someones' hair at the time. After that she roller-set the other client's hair. When I looked at my watch I realized I had waited 18 minutes without being serviced. Waiting after my appointment time is one sure way to annoy me and loose me as a customer. By this time 2 other women had entered the salon. I think I may have waited 25 minutes total. It wasn't too terrible and luckily I wasn't that pressed for time.

I hold my head in shame as I admit that I don't know what products she used in my hair. I was sort of preoccupied with my daughter. I do know she shampooed, conditioned, and then detangled my hair. She used a spray heat protectant before blow drying and then a cream based one before curling. Somewhere in between these steps she informed me that I had major breakage in my crown and my ends were in pretty bad shape. She asked if I wanted her to trim to which I obliged. She then told me because of the shedding my hair was uneven in some parts and it would be better to cut my hair in layers. I'm assuming she meant I would loose less hair with the layers. I had been thinking about layers anyway so I said go for it!

Directly after leaving salon

My hair turned out fabulous! When I say my hair was laid, hunty!!! My hair looks and feels healthy! I did notice a decrease in shedding during the first week. I think it was due to manipulating my hair less. Also I didn't have to worry about those infamous fairy/single stran knots! I was starting to have single strand knots galore! I will definitely be going back to this salon. She did an amazing job and was reasonably priced.

Birthday dinner for my Fiance. Good friend of mine did the make up! 

Surprise birthday party for my fiance. Day 2 hair!

**Update: After my curls fell and I was able to see the length I became a little sad. I miss my length already! I will be on a plan to get my length back and fast! Check out The Beauty Biologist Blog for all things beauty! She did my make up in the above and below pic! My face was beat!!

Side bar: My hairline is really suffering from this shedding. My edges are becoming non existent and wearing a pony is probably not going to happen anytime soon! A lot of women experience the postpartum shedding in the hairline. Hopefully with Castor Oil and being consistent with my haircare I can repair this damage. 

It now appears that I am full shoulder length again. Le'Sigh! I was really hoping to make BSL by December but that goal will have to be put on hold. Right now I just want to focus on slowing down this shedding and regrowing my edges hence why I have not had a monthly goal post. I plan to keep my hair straight for a while with roller-sets to see if the shedding decreases. I will also be incorporating tea rinses in my hair regimen. As always I will keep you updated with my progress. Until next time happy hair growing!

Official length check! T-Shirt from JustGrowAlready. 

Operation Terminate Postpartum Shedding

Dirty hair before washing. I'm in need of a trim!

Unfortunately the monster known as postpartum shedding has arrived with a vengeance. During my last wash day I noticed an increase in shedding. My hair was shedding double what it normally does. I won't go as far as to say it was coming out in clumps, but it was above my comfort level. For those of you know don't know what postpartum shedding is, let me explain.

During pregnancy you have an increase in hormone levels. One of those hormones is called estrogen. The increase in estrogen causes your hair to shed less. On average we normally shed about 100 hairs a day. During pregnancy many will see a significant decline in this number, hence fuller hair during this time. After you give birth your hormones start to balance out and your hair enters a resting phase. You then notice an increase in shedding. Not all women experience this. I am a part of the "lucky" few who is/has.

After having my son I shed significantly for over a year. At that time I was going to a salon on a biweekly-monthly basis. My then stylist recommended protein treatments monthly. I'm not sure what products she used, but it did not decrease my shedding. After a while the shedding became "normal" to me and I stopped trying to fix it. This lead to thinner edges and uneven broken hair. Now that I know better I plan to do better. I immediately ran to my local BSS and picked up a few supplies. I purchased Queen Helene's Garlic Shampoo and ORS Hair Mayonnaise. While there I also discovered they sold Alter Ego Shampoo, Conditioner, and Hair Mask. These items ranged from $21.99-$29.99. I was tempted to purchase the hair mask, but decided to give the Queen Helene a try first. After all I only paid $3.99 for the Queen Helene.

Last Saturday (8/30/13) I decided to try out my new products. My first impression of the shampoo is that is is extremely drying to the hair. I had to follow up with a lather of my EverStrong Hydrating Sulfate-free Shampoo to add moisture back to my hair. This dryness almost made me not want to follow up with the ORS Hair Mayonnaise because I figured it would make my hair even more dry. After all it is said to be a medium protein treatment. Well I'm glad I decided to use the ORS Hair Mayonnaise because it left my hair super soft and moisturized. So far I am impressed with this product. I will be giving a full review of both products after a month or so of using them. I will say that the shedding has slowed down a little. I also noticed a decrease in breakage! Now that it is the end of the week I'm noticing the shedding has picked back up, but I will be using the Queen Helene shampoo on my next wash day. I will be keeping you posted on my quest to slow down this shedding.

Have you or anyone you know experienced shedding? What action did you or they take? Suggestions are greatly appreciated. Until next time happy hair growing!

Hair Blab!

• I relaxed my hair on July 21st after stretching for seven months. I'm in the process of finishing the blog post. I just have to edit my pictures.
• Jen from JustGrowAlready inspired me to organize my hair products. Well that and seeing how messy my cabinets in my bathroom are. I will definitely share pictures once everything is complete. 
• I think I may be suffering from my 1st set back. I experienced some breakage from stretching my hair so long and not properly caring for it. I'm sure no matter how I moisturized and sealed I would still have some breakage, but not to this magnitude. I will be sharing more about this in my relaxer update
• I used Aussie Moist 3 Minute Miracle as a co-wash and I'm in LOVE!!!!!! I will be sharing a more detailed review of this product next week!
• I contemplated transitioning to natural hair during my 7th month stretch. I decided against it for a few reasons. One, I'm still learning about my relaxed hair and don't want to start a new journey until I fill like I've been successful at this one. Secondly, I'm not ready to have short hair and I would definitely have to BC to minimize damage to my hair (breakage). 
• I'm really hoping and praying that I don't have postpartum shedding as I did with my son. I shed terribly for a year. This is what led me to information on starting my healthy hair journey.
• I really need a good trim. I think I will wait until my next relaxer which I plan to do in 16 weeks. 
• I'm really happy that I have the energy to do my own hair again. I missed giving my hair the proper TLC it deserves
• I miss the smooth sleek look of my bone straight relaxed hair. I do love that my hair is much thicker and healthier now.
• I want to try Hairfinity Vitamins, but I need to check with my doctor and pharmacist first. Yes, I check with my pharmacist before taking medications. They know the medications better than physicians IMO. I actually read every paper given to me by the pharmacy before consuming and medications or giving my children any medication. Maybe it's the nurse in me. 
• I will be trying more styles soon! 
• I look forward to growing my daughter's hair. I think by me being relaxed and her being natural I will have the best of both worlds.
• I need to start babying my hair again. When I first started my HHJ I was faithful with mixing my d/c, oiling my scalp, and pre-pooing. My hair thrived from this. I'm going bk to weekly washes and deep conditioning. 

New Products

Over the course of my pregnancy I have purchased several new items. Some I have used and some I have not. I will be doing product reviews in the future. I use products for at least one month before I feel I'm able to give an accurate review. Below is a list of the products I have purchased.

1. GVP Conditioner Compare to Paul Mitchell's The Conditioner

2. Aussie  Moist 3 Minute Miracle Deeep Conditioner

3. Aussie Moist Split-End Protector

4. African Shea Butter

Have you used any of these product? Share your thoughts on them below!

July Goals Recap/ August Goals

July Goals

• No direct heat (with exception of the time I used it 7/2/13) Success!
• Steam hair for at least 30 minutes using homemade steam method. Fail
• Do set of medium two strand twists Fail. I relaxed my hair so this is why I didn't complete this goal. 
• Do braidout. Success!
• Make homemade shea butter. Fail
• M&S every other day and as needed Fail! I'm terrible at this. 
• Use castor oil on scalp and edges every other day and as needed. Fail. Again something I'm terrible at.
• Return to weekly or biweekly wash days. Success!
• Start back working out at least 3 times a week. Fail! I have an accountability partner who will be helping me keep this goal starting this week 8/4/13.

I'm getting terrible at keeping my goals. I realized that this is largely due to the fact that I forget the goals I've made until I'm recapping at the end of the month. I plan to keep a copy of my goals on my bathroom mirror and cross them off as I complete them. To reach my goal of M&Sing and Oiling my scalp, I plan to keep a calendar on my mirror. I sure hope this helps.

Here are my goals for August

• No Direct Heat
• M&S every day
• Oil Scalp 3 times per week
• Workout 3x per week
• Saran roller wrap

What do you do to make sure you meet your monthly goals? Comments and suggestions are appreciated!

Birth Story

During my pregnancy I had no fear about the birth of my baby girl until then night before she was born. I had spent the day with friends and family celebrating Father’s Day at my place. It was about 11pm when I finally took my shower and went to lay down to go to sleep. Only my mind would not allow me to sleep. I was scheduled to have a C-section the next day and I was becoming nervous about the health of my baby. I wondered if she would come out with all her fingers and toes, if she would have a birth defect, or some other type of health issue. Of course I would still love her the same, but this would definitely complicate life. That night I may have gotten four hours of sleep.

I had to be at the hospital at 5:30am to be prepped for surgery. After going through the registration process I was escorted to the surgery prep/recovery area. The night nurses were finishing up their shifts and the day nurses were starting. I was escorted to the bathroom and told to change into the hospital gown. I was then taken to a room and an IV was placed and fluids started.  Shortly after the anesthesiologist came and explained his part in my surgery. I think this caused my anxiety to peak and I couldn't sit still. I then begin to cry. My fiancé tried to comfort me and suggested I try to close my eyes and take a nap. A few minutes later the nurse came in and told me they were ready for me.

Initially I had to go to the Operating Room by myself to get a spinal block and my fiancé would later join me. I must say the nurse anesthetist and anesthesiologist were phenomenal. The spinal block was relatively painless and the nurse anesthetist made sure to explain any symptoms I may have during surgery and assured me that he had medications to take care of them. After the spinal block everything seemed to happen so fast. My doctor came in did his prepping before the nurse went to get my fiancé. I made sure to let them know that he was not to see a thing or he’d be lying on the floor! My fiancé is extremely sensitive to seeing blood! My fiancé was amazing throughout the entire surgery. He held my hand and took my mind off the surgery by talking to me. Minutes later I heard the doctor say it was almost time to meet our baby girl. Suddenly I heard her cry and I burst into tears. It was love at first cry AND before I even laid eyes on her.  Nyla Lacole was born on June 17, 2013 at 7:48am EST. The nurse brought her around the barrier that blocked us from seeing the actual surgery and I could have sworn my fiancé turned green. I couldn’t see her that well, but I could tell she was beautiful. The doctor quickly reminded the nurse to wipe the baby off before showing her to dad. My baby had some lungs on her! She was screaming the entire time until she was placed into my fiancé’s arms. I remember looking at her and thinking my goodness she is tiny! It was then that we noticed she looked almost identical to my son when he was a newborn. She even had mannerisms like my son. She weighed in at 5lbs 13 oz and 18 ¼ inches long. We are overwhelmed with love for her and look forward to watching her grow. I will be posting everything I'm doing with her hair. I already have a post or two in mind.

I hope you enjoyed reading about the birth of my princess. I know this post is long, but I wanted to capture as many details as possible. I plan to show this post to Nyla when she is old enough to read. Don't forget to like my Facebook Fan Page by clicking here! Until later, happy hair growing!

The many faces and outfits of Nyla. 

My son's first time meeting his sister

Product Review: TRESemme Moisture Rich Luxurious Moisture Conditioner

Ingredients: Wateraqua, Quaternium 18 , Cetearyl Alcohol , Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine , Cocodimonium Hydroloxypropyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein , Panthenol , Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E) , Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Fruit Extract (Sweet Almond) , Corylus Avellana Leaf Extract (Hazel) , Helianthus Annuus ExtractSunflower , Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract , Epilobium Angustifolium (Canadian Willowherb) Extract , Fennel (Foeniculum Vulgare) Fruit ExtractFennel , Hydroxyethylcellulose , Stearyl Alcohol , Glyceryl Stearate , Quaternium 80 , Steareth 21 , Dimethicone , Disodium PEG 12 Dimethicone Sulfosuccinate , Oleamine Oxide , Glycerin , Citric Acid , PVP , DMDM Hydantoin , Disodium EDTA , Propylene Glycol , Butylene Glycol , Fragrance (Parfum)parfum

Promises:  The TRESemmé Moisture Rich Shampoo & Conditioner system delivers optimized hydration that targets dryness and locks in moisture where your hair needs it most. Created for daily use, this advanced moisturizing system with vitamin E helps restore vibrancy and makes dry, damaged hair soft without weighing it down. This moisturizing conditioner delivers a salon-healthy look and enviable shine.

How to Use: First apply an adequate amount from mid-shaft to ends. Work anything that's left through roots. Run a wide-tooth comb or your fingers from roots to ends to detangle and fully coat hair. Leave in 2-3 minutes, rinse thoroughly. 

My thoughts: I have used this products in several different ways to find out how this product would work best for my hair. Before getting into how I used this product I want to talk about the product in general. This product came in a bottle with a pump which I absolutely love. It's very convenient when using in the shower and the pump also allowed me to transfer to other storage containers with ease. The product smells good and I the fragrance is not overbearing. The product is very thin and thus can be used in many different ways with ease. I have used it as a pre-poo, co-wash, and as a moisturizer. When using this as a pre-poo this product was ok. I felt other cheap conditioners worked better and left my hair more moisturized. For my hair this product is a little too thin to use as a pre-poo.  As a co-wash I felt that this product worked pretty well. The product is thin so it allowed to apply it to my scalp without me feeling like my scalp was being coated. The pump allowed for this product to be used in the shower with ease. I was also able to control the amount that was dispensed with ease. By far I like this product the most as a moisturizer. It leaves my hair very moisturized and not coated. It also leaves my hair soft. With this product I don't need to reapply everyday. Because this product is water based I would not apply to straight hair. However this product works great when bunning or protective styling. I will probably not repurchase after it is done because I already have a great moisturizer. If you are looking for a cheap versatile product I suggest you give this product a try. Overall I rate this product a 3.5/5. 

June Goals Recap/July Goals

June Goals

• Wash and deep condition my hair at least 1x Success! I actually deep conditioned 3 times
• Steam hair for at least 30 minutes using homemade steam method. (Will share in a later post). Failed
• Clarify hair! Success! 
• Do a set of two strand twists. Failed! I was a little discouraged when I found out it would take hours to complete.
• Make homemade shea butter. Failed
• Use castor oil on my scalp and edges at least 4x per week for at 2 weeks. Failed

As you can see I didn't do to well at obtaining my June goals. I plan to do much better with my July goals now that I am no longer pregnant and have more energy. Speaking of no longer being pregnant, my birth story post will be up within the next two weeks. I'm playing catch up with blog post. I also have to find the time to post with having a two year old and a newborn to tend to. Patience is much appreciated!

July Goals

• No direct heat (with exception of the time I used it 7/2/13)
• Steam hair for at least 30 minutes using homemade steam method.
• Do set of medium two strand twists
• Do braidout
• Make homemade shea butter
• M&S every other day and as needed
• Use castor oil on scalp and edges every other day and as needed
• Return to weekly or biweekly wash days
• Start back working out at least 3 times a week

How did you do with your June goals? What are your July goals? Share the links below!

Swim Hair Regimen

Source

Now that summer is here many people enjoy the weather by swimming. This summer I plan to spend a lot of time in the pool cooling off. I want to become a better swimmer as well as start swim lessons for my son. Because I will be using the community pool and my gym's pool I will be exposing my hair to chlorine. If not properly cared for, chlorine can be very damaging to the hair. It can cause dryness and lead to breakage. Before my hair journey I never thought to prep my hair before going swimming. I would only take care of my hair after getting out of the pool. Sometimes it would be 2-3 days before I would wash my hair after swimming. Now that I know better I do better. I'm going to share what I do to my hair before and after swimming. Hopefully you can build your own regimen to protect your hair from chlorine and even salt water.

Before swimming
Supplies needed

• Spray bottle with water
• Cheap conditioner of your choice
• Oil of your choice. I prefer a thick oil such as EVOO or Castor Oil
• Hair ties
• Swim Cap (optional)

I start off by sectioning my hair into four sections and secure them with clips. Depending on how thick your hair is you may want to use more sections. Working with one section at a time I saturate the section with water. I use my hands to massage in the water so that every strand is wet. I next take my conditioner of choice and coat the section thoroughly. I use lots of conditioner for this. After applying a generous amount of conditioner I use a generous amount of oil to seal in the moisture. The purpose of the conditioner and oil is to keep as little chlorine and water from penetrating the hair shaft as possible. Next I braid or twist each the sections and secure it out the way as I work with the remaining sections. Lastly I secure two sections together towards the back of my head and apply my swim cap. The swim cap creates another barrier against the chlorine or salt water. 

After swimming

Supplies needed

• Shampoo (preferably a swimmers shampoo, clarifying shampoo, or sulfate shampoo)
• Moisturizing Deep Conditioner
• Plastic Cap

Immediately after swimming I thoroughly rinse my hair out with warm water. Even if you are not able to wash and deep conditioner your hair it is very important to rinse your hair as soon as possible. I try to remove as much chlorine or salt as possible. I do this without removing the twist or braids. I work with the sections that I previously created. I remove the twist or braid and rinse the hair one more time before applying my shampoo of choice. I make sure to thoroughly clean my scalp and hair. This is one of the only times I will apply a little shampoo to the length of my hair. I don't worry about the shampoo drying my hair out because my main concern is removing all the chlorine or salt from my hair. I put the moisture back in when I deep condition. After lathering 2x I apply my deep conditioner and retwist/rebraid my hair. I apply a plastic cap and sit under my hooded dryer for 15-30 minutes. I will then rinse the deep conditioner out and style my hair or place a winter hat on my hair and leave it for as long as overnight. 

**Side Note: I have never used a swimmers shampoo, but I plan on purchasing the Ion Swimmers shampoo this month from Sally Beauty Supply because it is on sale. If you have used this brand or a different brand please share your experience in the comments below.

These are the steps I take to protect my hair when swimming. What do you do to protect your hair? If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions please leave them in the comments below. 

10 Random Facts About Me! Blog Edition

I see these videos going around on YouTube and I love to watch them and find out non-hair related things about the people I follow. I decided to do a blog edition so that you may all get

to know me on a more personal level. So here it goes.

1. I'm a Band Geek. I love marching bands. I mean who goes to a football game to watch the game? I go for the halftime show. This is particularly true fpr HBCU games. I played in Tuskegee University's Marching Crimson Piper Band for 3 years. 

2. I'm very affectionate. I love to cuddle and kiss all over my baby and fiancée. I don't know where it comes from because my parents are the complete opposite. 

3. I'm in love with all things related to Ancient Egypt. I think it's so fascinating and can watch documentaries on it all day! I even thought about getting a second degree in Egyptology even though I wouldn't consider it as a career choice. 

4. I'm a picker eater. There are probably more things on my list of foods that I don't eat than the foods that I do eat. I also have to have a "taste" for something in order for me to eat it. I have been known to go without eating because there was nothing in the kitchen I wanted. Don't worry I have not been doing that since I have been pregnant. 

5. I'm easily irritable when I'm sleepy. I will even go as far as to say I'm mean and grouchy. Grrrrrr

6. I'm getting married next June to my first love. I'm so excited to start the next chapter in my life! 

7. I love chick flicks! I usually end up watching them by myself but I absolutely love them. 

8. I love movies popcorn. I can not go to a theater without getting some. I've even gone to a theater just to pick up some popcorn and leave! 

9. I have zero atlethic skills. I tried playing basketball, volleyball, and tennis before. I'm horrible. I just hope my kids don't take after me. 

10. I'm very family oriented. Spending time with my family is my absoutle favorite past time. Even if we're just sitting in the same room doing different things I am content. 98% of the time I make sure that we eat dinner together. This is my favorite part of the day. 

Well I hope this gives you more insight of me! I tag all of you who read this. Post your link in the comment section! 

Wash Day Post! Monday June 3, 2013

Source: Google Images

I finally washed my hair on my own! I'm shocked myself. I took my son to a pool party that Saturday and even though I didn't dip my head in the pool I'm sure my edges got wet. I'm currently working on a post about my swim hair regimen. It should be posted sometime this weekend so be on the lookout.

Here are the steps to my wash day which actually started Sunday night.

• Pre-pooed with Tresemme Moisture Rich Conditioner overnight. I sectioned my hair in two sections. I covered my hair with two plastic caps and a satin hair bonnet.
• The next morning I clarified my hair with my Ion Clarifying Shampoo. I kept my hair in the two separate sections while shampooing, conditioning, and detangling. I don't like how dry my hair is after clarifying so I usually try to follow up with a moisturizing shampoo. 
• I next washed my hair with L'oreal EverStrong Hydrating Shampoo. I have not used this shampoo in a long time and I almost forgot how much I love it! I think I will be repurchasing this one and swapping it out with the Creme of Nature Moisture Shine Shampoo. 
• I rinsed out very well and decided to do a protein treatment with Aphogee's 2 Minute Resconstructor. I left this on my hair for about 5 minutes. I was going to follow up with a deep conditioner, but I didn't for two reasons. One I was starting to feel a little sick and two my hair was already super soft.
• I broke my two sections into four total sections to add my leave-in conditioner and  detangle. My new-growth was definitely prevalent, but surprisingly not unmanageable. I'm currently 6 months post relaxer. 
• I used a new leave in conditioner I purchased a few weeks prior, GVP's Conditioner which is suppose to be comparable to Paul Mitchell's The Conditioner. I will have a review on this product once I use it more. I sealed with EVOO.
• I detangled my hair with a wide tooth comb and twisted my hair in a bunch of semi-large twists to air dry. After my hair air-dried I put my hair into a bun. I really should have blow-dried my hair on cool to stretch out my new-growth. 

My wash day was very simple and I plan to wash again today Wednesday June, 12, 2013 if I can build up the energy. I plan to do some small two-strand twist. This will be my delivery protective style. I will have a post up after wash day! How was your last wash day? 

June Goals

Source: Google Images

It seems like forever since I have done a monthly goal post. I am due to have my baby girl in a couple of weeks so I should be able to do something to my hair soon. I really miss doing my own hair! Well below are my june goals.

• Wash and deep condition my hair at least 1x 
• Steam hair for at least 30 mins using homemade steam method. (Will share in a later post).
• Clarify hair! 
• Do a set of two strand twists
• Make homemade shea butter
• Use castor oil on my scalp and edges at least 4x per week for at 2 weeks.

I think my goals are simple and obtainable. What are your montly hair goals?

I Did It: Salon Visit

Lately I have been very lazy with my hair and for that very reason it was starting to suffer. I was experiencing breakage. It wasn't a massive amount of breakage, but enough for me to take notice and take action. I'm finally into my third trimester of pregnancy and it's very similar to the first trimester; I'm always tired and sick.Add work and family to the list and I'm just worn out. I stopped doing my weekly washes. I didn't even co-wash because I just didn't want to deal with the dentangling session. I would moisturize and seal before I styled my hair for the day, but I wasn't thorough the way I should have been. I also have not been sleeping with anything on my head. That was due to plain laziness.

I decided it was time for me to take action. My doing something to my hair was a very low option on my list. Washing my hair would have surely made me nauseous!! I also would be super tired before I finished my wash day and some step in my regimen would have been omitted. Lately deep conditioning was the step that went on the back burner. I normally d/c on dry hair so I can eliminate jumping in and out of the shower, but wash days have been so spur of the moment. After some contemplating and researching I decided to visit a stylist. My Fiancee was elated because even he grew tired of my frequent bunning.

I just moved to this area in October so I was not familiar with any salons or stylist. I have a co-worker who visits a salon frequently so I took down the information. Normally I would have gone to her stylist without asking anymore questions because her hair is always sleek and well kept. What stopped me is that we have different textures and with me being 5 months post relaxer I wanted to make sure the stylist I chose would be able to deal with my hair without causing a disaster. I googled "natural hair stylist in" my area and a few shops popped up. I chose to go to a salon that specialized in natural and relaxed hair because I figured they would probably be able to properly deal with my many textures (natural, texlaxed, and bone straight).  I called the one with the most reviews and scheduled an appointment before I changed my mind.

Friday evening I went to the salon and immediately noticed the decor. It was a very nice, clean, and spacious salon. The stylist Kesha greeted me and informed me she would be with me in a few moments. I was in her chair within 10 mins of walking through the door. She asked me questions about my hair and what I was trying to get done. I informed her that I had not had a relaxer since Nov and wanted a roller wrap. She suggested trying a blow out and curl since I had so much new growth and my roots could come out puffy. I decided to go for it even though that is a ton of heat. It felt AMAZING to have someone else wash my hair. She gave me a nice scalp massage. I got a deep condition and she sectioned my hair off and began detangling. She wasn't rough on my hair, but I think I would have been more gentle if I were the one doing the detangling. She applied a creamy heat protectant (I forgot to ask the name) and began blow drying section by section. After that she curled my hair using a flat iron. She did an amazing job and I will definitely be going back to her when I don't feel like doing my hair. It took her about 1.5 hours to have my hair completely layed! Normally I'm in the salon 4+ hours even when I'm not getting a relaxer. I'm planning to go back in a few wks to get the same style for a wedding I will be attending.

I will say I was skeptical at first, but I'm glad that I decided to bite the bullet and go to the salon. I'm even more pleased that I have found a stylist who is gentle on the hair and does a great job. I'm currently going in to day 4 and I'm loving my hair. I posted a pic on IG of my day hair. It has never looked so healthy, full, and bouncy!! It feels great to see all my hard work paying off! Excuse the photos in this post. I did not have my camera with me to take pics and I've worked every day since my hair has been done and have not had the time to find my camera. There will be better photos in the future. If you're not already, follow me on IG @blu2kizmet



Day 1



Day 4

Product Review: Shea Moisture Deep Treatment Masque

Ingredients: Deionized Water , Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) , Argan Oil , Vegetable Glycerin , Emulsifying Wax , Sea Kelp Extract , Panthenol (Vitamin B-5) , Essential Oil Blend , Avocado Oil , Tocopherol (Vitamin E) , Hyssopus Officinalis Extract , Salvia Officinalis Leaf and Equisetum Arvense Extract (Sage) , Soybean Oil , Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil (Carrot)

**From walgreens.com** 

Promises:  Our all-natural intense treatment masque deeply penetrates to moisturize and repair over-processed, dry, brittle or damaged hair. Sea kelp trace minerals detoxify hair follicles of impurities and residue. Argan oil restores shine and rebuilds hair elasticity. Shea butter deeply moisturizes and repairs damage to hair and scalp.

How to Use: After shampooing, massage into wet hair and leave on for 5-45 minutes. Add plastic cap and moderate heat for deep penetration.

My thoughts: The only things I like about this product is that is smells good and it has a semi-thick consistency that melts into my hair. This product did not condition my hair at all. It left my hair super dry and it felt like I had not deep conditioned at all! I tried this on dry hair as well as wet hair after shampooing and got similar results. I dislike this product so much that after two uses I REFUSE to put this back in my hair. It made my detangling sessions painful! I used this product last week and if I had time to rewash and recondition my hair I would have in a heart beat. I would not be repurchasing nor using this product any longer. I rate this product as a 1/5. 

Product Review: Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie

Ingredients: Deionized Water , Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) , Cocos Nucifera Oil (Coconut) , Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil , Persea Gratissima Oil (Avocado) , Vegetable Glycerin , Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract , Silk Protein , Ammonium Salt , Melia Azadirachta Seed Oil (Neem) , Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil (Carrot) , Sorbitol Esters , Panthenol (Pro-Vitamin B-5) , Caprylyl Glycol , Essential Oil Blend , Tocopherol (Vitamin E) 

**From walgreens.com** 

Promises:  Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie moisturizes and adds body and style. Shea Moisture's Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie for thick, curly hair hydrates, defines curls and protects. Enriched with Silk Protein and Neem Oil, this all-natural styling aid helps strengthen hair, reduce breakage and imparts amazing shine. Provides a smooth, soft hold without the crunch that can occur with gels for bouncy, healthy-looking curls.

How to Use: Section hair and apply product sparingly to damp or dry hair from root to tip to enhance curls. Massage completely into hair. Do not rinse out. Style hair as desired. For best results use as a styling cream for twists, braids and wash-and-go styles. 

My thoughts: I really like the smell of this product. I also like the consistency of this products. I have used this product when doing a braid-out as well as a moisturizer. At times my hair remained moisturized for an entire day and other times it felt like my hair was not very moisturized after applying. I think this product worked best when my hair was already moisturized from another product. I didn't notice any more definition with this product when doing my braid-out. I was afraid that this product would leave residue on my hair because of it's thick consistency, but I honestly didn't have that problem. Overall this product was ok. It's not close to being as moisturizing as my Elasta QP Olive Oil and Mango Butter Moisturizer. I will not be repurchasing this product again. The rating I would give this product is a 3/5. 

Hair Update with Great News

This post is long over due! I know I have been MIA for a while, but I've had good reason. One main is reason is that I'm pregnant with a little girl and I just didn't feel well enough to do much with my hair. Here is what I'm doing/have done to my hair since my absence.

• Washed and deep conditioned every 1-2 weeks
• Flat ironed my hair 2x since November
• Did a clear rinse
• Tried Shea Moisture Deep Conditioner 
• Did a flexi-rod set on wet hair (It was an epic fail because I didn't let them dry long enough).
• Flexi-rod set on dry hair.
• Restocked on my staples (Will share in a future post)
• Purchased a few new products (Again will share in a future post. If you follow me on instagram you already know.)
• Made my 1 year relaxed healthy hairversary on December 4, 2012!
• Reached my goal of full APL!

That's pretty much what has been going on to my hair. I'm in my second trimester so I feel much better now. I plan to do much more with my hair. I can say that since being pregnant my new growth seems to be much more manageable. I'm wondering if I'm retaining any length at all because my new growth has not been out of control. I'm currently 14 weeks and 2 days post relaxer. I plan on stretching my relaxer until after I have the baby if my stretch continues to be this smooth. I've relaxed my hair while pregnant with my son so I'm not afraid that it will harm him. I'm really prolonging my stretch because I don't feel up to self-relaxing and I don't trust anyone else to relax my hair. 

My goals for the next 4 months will go as follow. 

• Wash hair every 2 weeks. Washing weekly will just be too much for me as my pregnancy progresses. 
• Use the steam room in the gym. I can not wait to see the results of steam on my hair. I may be able to justify purchasing a steamer in the future. 
• Try roller-setting with magnetic rollers.This will help with my stretch
• Wear a satin scarf to be everyday.
• M&S as needed! 
• Blog more frequently
• Soak up as much information as possible on natural hair so I can successfully take care of my daughter's hair.

Thank you all for sticking by me during my absence. Your continued support is much appreciated! I have been keeping up with all the blogs I follow. I just have not been posting comments due to time and pure laziness. I promise to do better. I hope you all reaching your hair goals. Until next time keep growing!

Blutiful Blaq

Organic Root Stimulator Olive Hair Masque

Ingredients: Aqua (Water) , Polysorbate 60 , PEG-150 Stearate , Cetyl Alcohol , Ceteareth 20 , PEG-20 Hydrogenated Lanolin , PEG 40 Stearate , Cocos Nucifera Oil (Coconut) , Polyquaternium-7 , Cetrimonium Chloride , Behentrimonium Methosulfate , Cetearyl Alcohol , Polyquaternium 37 , Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate , Dicaprate , PPG 1 Trideceth 6 , Glycerin , Dimethicone , PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate , Hydrolyzed Keratin , Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil (Sweet Almond) , Olea Europaea Fruit Oil (Olive) , Panthenol , Hydrogenated Olive Oil , Amodimethicone , Trideceth 12 , Hydroxyethylcellulose , DMDM Hydantoin , Disodium EDTA , Citric Acid , Methylchloroisothiazolinone , Methylisothiazolinone , Caramel , Parfum (Fragrance) , Benzyl Benzoate , d-Limonene , Hexyl Cinnamal , Lilial , Linalool (From Walgreens.com)

Promises: An intense treatment conditioner that helps restore heat and color damaged hair. Infused with natural and other ingredients, this product will revitalize and detangle the hair, leaving it soft, shiny and smooth.

How to use: Remove excess water from hair after shampooing. Place hair masque in palm of hand, apply liberally to hair. Comb hair to ensure coverage from root to end. Let sit for five minutes without heat. For severely damaged hair, place a plastic cap over the hair and sit under a warm dryer for 10 minutes. Rinse hair thoroughly with warm water and proceed with styling. Not recommended for daily use.

My Review: One of the first things I noticed about this conditioner was how thick it was. It's thick, but it melts in your hair and doesn't seem to just coat your hair. I have tried this conditioned on dry hair and well as freshly washed hair and felt the conditioned melted into my hair. It smells really good to me. It has a sort of minty smell to it. It's not very strong unless you use too much and don't rinse it out well. This happened to me once. It makes my hair extremely soft! It seems to condition and detangle my hair all in one which is a plus. I do notice this this works better on my hair when it is freshly was opposed to dry hair. This may pose as a problem for me because I like to d/c on dry hair. It eliminates me having to jump back in the shower which can save me a lot of time. Another thing I didn't like about this conditioner is that if you use too much you have to rinse your hair thoroughly or your hair will flake. This happened to me when I was in a bit of a rush. I didn't notice the conditioner was in parts of my hair until I blow dried. Being that this conditioner melts into your hair you have to be very mindful in not applying too much. Overall I give this product a 8/10. I'm not sure if I will be repurchasing only because I prefer a conditioner that is not this thick.

Have your tried this product? What were your thoughts?