Relaxer Update

I relaxed my hair last weekend with ORS Professional Line. I used the half and half method and basically did everything I did in my last relaxer update. Just a quick run through of the steps.

1. Parted my hair straight down the middle into two halves. Added clips on one half to keep hair separated.
2. Sectioned my hair in 1 inch horizontal parts and based my scalp with Vaseline. 
3. Covered on half with 2 plastic caps.
4. Applied relaxer to each section of new growth only
5. Applied/smoothed for 15 mins.
6. Rinsed with warm water and did a mid-step protein treatment with Aphoghee 2 Minute Reconstructor.
7. Rinsed out protein treatment and neutralized 3x.
8. Repeated steps 4-7 on the second half.
9. Deep conditioned with Optimum Care's Repair Masque with heat for 30 mins with my hooded dryer. I ended up falling asleep with this on for about another 2 hours.
10. Rinsed with warm water and t-shirt dried for about 15 mins.
11. Added Aphoghee Keratin and Green Tea Reconstructor as a leave in.

I had every intention of roller-setting my hair, but I was too lazy tired so I just bunned. Truthfully I was feeling sick so I didn't want to even take on that challenge. All week I have been bunning. Boring!!! I wanted to roller-set today, but I just have not been up to doing my hair! I really do plan on getting out of this lazy spell soon. Work is just kicking my butt!!! I love my job, but being a bedside nurse in a hospital setting is hard work. I will probably wash my hair in the morning so be on the lookout for a wash day post. Sorry I have no pics. I really have been too lazy busy to take any. I will try to make up for it in my next post. Also review on the Optimum Care Hair Masque will be posted soon. I want to use it a few more times so I can give a through review. I will say that so far I really like it. I love the way it makes my scalp tingle and I also love the smell. 

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Wash Day (My dryer is here!!!)

I ordered my LCL Beauty Salon Hooded dryer on wheels last week Friday and it was delivered yesterday Friday 11/3/12. The shipping was right on time and I could not have been more happy! It took me probably an hour to put together only because I'm not very handy and I was waiting to for my Honey to assist me. So for an average person it would probably take 20 mins or less. So far it's durable and heats great. It's way too soon to do a review, but I will make sure that I will post a review a month from now.

Source: lclbeauty.com

This week I decided to do a hard protein treatment because I plan to relax next week. I'm 11 weeks post and I'm not about that life!!! My new growth is so thick and my hair is having a hard time holding moisture. I think this is due to the change in weather (it's getting cold here) and my lack of energy time to moisturize my hair. I just started my new job a few weeks ago and it's kicking my butt! I love it, but my body has yet to adjust. This is how this weeks wash day went.

1. Pre-Poo with EVOO and EVCO for 30 mins under my hooded dryers

2. Clarified with Ion Clarifying Shampoo

3. Shampoo washed with CON Argon Oil sulfate free 

4. Hard Protein treatment with Aphogee 2 Step Protein + the Balancing conditioner w/ hooded dryer until hair was hard

5. Conditioner Rinse with CON Argon Oil deep conditioner (I probably should have DCed with heat, but I was feeling lazy.

6. Leave in conditioner CON Argon Oil leave in spray + GVP's PM Super Skinny Serum

7. Air-dried overnight in a bun

I tried to detangle my hair in the shower, as usual, but my hair was not cooperating! I know it's because of the hard protein treatment. I ended up detangling as best I could in the shower and finishing up once I got out. I had to add the leave in and serum to make detangling easier. I also noticed my hair has been shedding a lot lately. I will be incorporating garlic pre-poos in my regimen in the near future. I also noticed my edges have been thinning  This could be due to tension caused by bunning. I plan to do less buns after my relaxer. when I do decide to bun I will make sure they are not too tight. Maybe I'll try the Southern Tease bun. I also plan to purchase some Castor oil soon. 

What has been going on with your hair? What are your hair plans?

Wash Day/Last Length Check of the Year

Disclaimer: This was on last Sunday's Wash day (10/14/12). I was so busy that I didn't have time to finish the post and publish it.

Sunday night/Monday morning were my wash days. I spent all day Thursday through Sunday moving in to/setting up my new home and the time blew past before I knew it. It was about 10pm (if not later) Sunday night when I applied my deep conditioner. Here are the steps to my wash day.

• Deep Conditioned on dry hair with ORS Replenishing Conditioner mixed with 1 tsp of EVCO, EVOO, and Hemp Seed Oil each. I also added about 4 drops of Peppermint oil. I applied the conditioner as if I were applying a relaxer. I know my hair needed the TLC.
• Shampooed 1x with L'Oreal EverStrong Sulfate Free Shampoo.
• Conditioner Rinse with NTM Daily Deep Conditioner.
• I added GVP's Paul Mitchell's Super Skinny Serum and blow-dried on medium high heat.
• I put my hair in a loose bun, wrapped it up and went to bed.

I got up early Sunday morning to flat iron my hair. Here are the steps.

• Added IC Fantasia's Heat Protector 
• Flat ironed in small sections with my Babyliss Pro Nano Titanium Flat Iron on a setting of 25 out of 40? 

I wore my hair out the first day. The next day I wanted curls so I added a little foam wrapping lotion and set my hair on about 6 flexi rods. That was my simple yet late wash day! This week I plan to purchase my hooded dryer from LCL Beauty. I'm soooooo excited that I can finally get my dryer for better DC sessions and to perfect rollersets. 

I almost for got to announce that I am grazing APL! If you follow me on twitter on IG this is old news to you. I'm almost certain I will be APL by Dec. My goal is to be full APL by Feb and I'm well on my way!

10/15/2012

Emergency Co-wash

Source: Google

This blog post was written 9/27/12. I just didn't have the time to post it. I've been busy setting things up to relocate so this has been a super busy time. I probably will not be posting much until I get settled in. If you follow me on Instagram or Twitter you may see some updates. I appreciate all of your support and patience as I make this transition in my life.

My hair has been feeling extremely dry these past two days. I tried moisturizing my hair with Hawaiian Silky 14-n-1 and Elasta QP Olive Oil and Mango Butter moisturizer to no avail. Yesterday I went to a farewell dinner for my Hunny's co-work as well as being my my Hunny's birthday. My hair needed some serious TLC so I decided to co-wash my hair. Before I co-washed,  I pre-pooed with EVCO and Hemp Seed Oil as "suggested" by ECP's latest post. I will say that this combination was amazing. It left my hair feeling very soft and moisturized! I miss pre-pooing with oil. I now DC on dry hair to prevent having to jump in the shower twice. It just seems to cut out a lot of time on my wash day. I co-washed with HH Hello Hydration Conditioner. I love the smell of this. It doesn't give me as much slip as the V05 did so I will not be purchasing the regular size.

 I applied CON's Moisture and Shine Leave in and GVP's Paul Mitchell's Super Skinny Serum before blow drying on cool. This takes sooooo much time! I just didn't have the time to air dry. After blow drying I added Fantasia IC heat protector to my roots only and flat ironed ONLY my roots on low heat. This made my new growth much more manageable. I styled my hair with an EZ Comb pic (due to lack of time I didn't take a picture).

After blow drying my hair yesterday I realized how thick it has become due to stretching my relaxers and texlaxing. I'm loving it! The only thing I have to get use to is trying to get my hair into a ponytail after air drying or blow drying. I will try to remember to take a picture of my hair after I blow dry next time. In the mean time enjoy the picture of my hair taken a month ago.

Check out the thickness of my hair. I should have texlaxed long ago!

                              

Wash Day

I gave my hair some much needed TLC on Saturday. I bunned all last week and my new growth was extra dry despite trying to tame it with moisturizer. I wanted to co-wash, but it was Thursday when I finally had the time to do it. I decided to just wait to and shampoo wash it. My wash day was pretty quick and simple. Here are the steps.

1. Sprayed my hair with water and applied the ORS Olive Oil Hair Masque. I love the smell of this stuff? I applied my plastic cap and winter hat and let it sit in about 2 hours.
2. I shampooed in the shower one time L'oreal EverStrong Hydrating Shampoo and one time with CON Argon Oil Moisture and Shine Shampoo. I'm very excited that the CON shampoo left my hair a moisturized. The L'oreal EverStrong dried it out a bit which I have never noticed before. I also discovered how to make the CON shampoo sud! 
3. I applied NTM Daily Deep Conditioner for about 5 minutes and rinsed with cool water.
4. I detangled under running water and I'm very pleased with the small amount of hair I have been loosing lately. 
5. I t-shirt dried for about 10 minutes. I parted my hair into 6 sections and added Cantu Shea Butter leave in and EVCO individually. I then plaited each section for a braid out. The only part made with a comb was my off center part. The rest was done with my fingers. 
6. I applied foam rollers at the end of each braid, tied my hair down with a satin scarf, and put of my bonnet. I let it air dry overnight.

I have yet to take my braids down. I don't plan on leaving the house today so I probably won't take them out until tomorrow. I'm going to try to make this braidout last until Wednesday. I plan to rebraid each section every night. To see the results follow me on twitter @blutifullyblaq or Instagram @2kizmet. Hope your wash days was as simple as mine. HHG!

My Current Products: Moisturizers and Oils Edition

In my previous post I discussed the shampoos and conditioners that I am currently using. In this post I will be discussing the different moisturizers, oils, and serums I am currently using.

Moisturizers

1. Organic Root Stimulator Olive Oil Moisturizing Hair Lotion: This moisturizer is kind of thick. It works best on freshly relaxed hair until about 5 weeks post relaxer.
2. Elasta QP Olive Oil and Mango Butter: This is the newest addition to my moisturizers. I'm still trying to figure out how it works on my hair. I have used it on straightened and air-dried hair and it works well on both. I love how it leave my hair super soft and smelling lovely!!
3. Hawaiian Silky 14-N-1(Green & White Bottle): This is a thinner moisturizer and works best on my new growth. I notice it weighs my hair down a bit so I don't use it when wearing straight styles. I use this moisturizer only when I'm further post relaxer (about 6+ weeks).
4. Pure Honey: I mix this in my deep conditioners (mainly the CON argon Oil deep conditioner) and as a pre-poo. It leave my hair very moisturized. I like to use it as a pre-poo when I'm further post because this is when my hair is the driest and it leaves my hair more manageable. Staple!

As you can tell I don't have a staple moisturizer that I use before I seal. I'm not necessarily looking for new ones, but I'm open to try others. I know I would like to try NTM Silk Touch leave in one day. In the mean time these will have to do. 

Oils

1. Peppermint Oil: I recently purchased this oil and so far I have used it in my deep conditioners as well as mixed with Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) to use on my scalp. I love this stuff. If smells wonderful and I love the tingling sensation it has on my scalp.
2. EVOO: I use this oil on my scalp, in my deep conditioners, to shave, as hot oil treatment and to seal when I am further post. It's a thick oil and will weigh my hair down if I use to much. This is why I use this to seal only when I am bunning.
3. Extra Virgin Coconut Oil (EVCO): I use this oil the most so it is probably my favorite oil. I use it to deep condition, on my entire body including face, on my son's and SO's head, as a hot oil treatment, and to seal. I use everyday! I love the shine it gives my hair! Staple!
4. One and Only Argon Oil: This is a light oil and I loved this oil when I first started my hair journey. A little goes a long way and it has a very light scent. I use this oil to seal and on my face. I don't use it in my pre-poo or deep conditioner because it's a bit pricey for the amount you get. I also use it as a heat protector before blow drying. I like to use this oil during the beginning of my relaxer stretch. It gives the hair an amazing shine! Staple!
5. Hemp Oil: I use this oil in my deep conditioners as well as to pre-poo. I don't really like the smell so I only use it in ways in which I wash/rinse it out.

Serums

1. GVP's Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Serum: This is the generic brand from Sally's BSS. I love this serum. Love, love, love, love, LOVE!! It leaves my hair super smooth after air-drying. I use it throughout my stretch and I always get great results. Staple, of course.
2. Fantasia IC Hair Polisher Heat Protector Straightening Serum: This stuff is amazing. It leaves my hair super smooth and shinny. I use this before flat ironing. Staple!
3. Proclaim Glossing Polish with Aloe and Natural Oil Heat Protector: Hate it! I used it one time and I vowed to never use it again. It does not leave my hair smooth. I will be giving this away.
4. Proclaim Glossing Polish and Frizz Eliminating Shiner: This serum is ok. It give great shine, but weighs my hair down if I use too much. I don't use it often, but I plan on using it to roller-set to see how it will work for my hair.

This list is not nearly as substantial as list of conditioners. If you have any questions about the products I use please leave me a message. Stay tuned for the last edition to this series: Styling tools. As always HHG!