My latest obsession

For nearly two (2) weeks I have been trying to understand the craft of wig making. My birthday is coming up and I want a new look. Also I want to give my hair a break for a month from chemicals and everyday manipulation. Currently I am leaning towards a quick weave wig because it is simpler than sewing. I am not sure I have the details down pack for sewing as yet. Quick weave wigs are the ultimate protective style. I am totally in love at the moment. Stay tuned to see what I come up with.

Wash day (almost 3 weeks post)

Yesterday I used all the products I used on my previous wash day. I decided to do another wet wrap but this time I placed 6 medium sized rollers in the middle of my head. This time I air dried my wrap which took 3-4 hour to dry completely. I can definitely say that the 6 rollers gave added bounce or volume to my hair. Secondly, the middle for my hair dried smoother.I think I would keep on adding rollers to the middle of my hair. Wet wraps are quick,easy,simple and silky. They are a great substitute for flat ironing and blow drying the hair. Remember less heat and manipulation equals healthier hair.

Relaxer Myth

Often times we hear people say "relaxers grow your hair". Sadly, that is a myth. Relaxers function just like a flat iron but relaxer results are permanent. It is so because relaxers break down the protein bonds of our hair which makes it straight. Natural hair on the other hand shrinks a lot. Therefore, you cannot see the true length of your hair. 

The picture on the left shows how natural hair shrinks. When the hair is stretched the true length is revealed. If  her hair is relaxed it would be where it is when stretched.

Walk a way remembering that relaxers are not growth aids, they only elongate the hair.

Protective styling

What is a protective style?

• In my own words, I would say a protective style is any style that requires little manipulation.

What are some examples of protective styles?

• Buns
• Wigs
• Braids
• Weaves
• Updos 
• Pony tail

Is it essential?

I do believe it is essential because less manipulation equals less breakage. No breakage means you get to retain length. We often say that our hair is not growing. All hair grow it is just a matter of caring for your ends. If your ends snaps off continuously you would not retain any length and it might seem like your hair is not growing. Your ends are the oldest part of your hair which means they are susceptible to breakage if not cared for. Protective styles can be your friend if done properly. Any form of extensions,wigs,pony tails,bun and updos done too tight can cause harm to your tresses. Lastly, protective styles does not mean ignore my natural (hair growing out of your scalp). You must keep your scalp and the length of your hair clean,oiled and moisturized. Yes, it is that simple.

Organics Root Stimulator (ORS) Replenishing Conditioner Review (Take 2)

An idiom I am starting to believe is true is "second chances are best". The first time I used this conditioner it was extremely hard to rinse our and left my hair very gummy. It was a frustrating experience because there are so many rave reviews about this product. After carefully considering some factors that may have caused such a reaction. I decided to repurchase it. Did it work?Yes, it actually did. It made my hair feel strong and slightly moisturized. There and then I knew that the product was more of a protein conditioner for me.Did it rinse clear? Yes,it did. I actually rinsed it out using cold water and there was no build it up. I conclude that this conditioner works best on freshly relaxed hair. I hope to use this product 1-3 weeks post relaxer as mild re-constructor . Stay tuned for more details :)

Tuesday update

I must admit that I am a restless soul. I am some what of a beauty seeker and never stop at one. With that being said, I have been contemplating how can I take 'better" care of my hair.Instantly I had a light bulb moment. Protective styling came to mind. I hate braids and weaves because of the process but mostly because I am a simple gal. I am more for braiding my own hair or wearing wigs. Those are very low key. I am no stranger to protective styles. I have resorted many times to the well known "Bun".  Secondly, I was thinking if I incorporated protective

styles "Stretching" would be easier because my hair would be tucked away and I would probably wash bi-weekly. Yes!I can recall saying that I deem stretching unnecessary to an extent it is. When I consider stretching my relaxer I am not considering going 6 months and so forth. I am thinking about pushing the envelope to an extra 2 or 3 weeks.Those are my thoughts...Stay tuned:)

Wash day (1week & 1 day post)

As you may have calculated my last relaxer was on July 3rd. This wash day I tried a total of 3 new products. Here's the run of the mill;

1.To kick things off I pre-pooed for 1 hour using coconut oil.

2.Shampooed using my Hawaiian Silky Herbal Shampoo twice.

3.Deep Conditioned using ORS Replenishing Condition for 30 minutes.

4.Deep Conditioned using Organics Olive oil Deep Conditioner.

5.Applied Vitale Olive Oil Foam Wrap and Organics Smoother and Polish to wet hair.

6.I de-tangled and wrapped my hair in a circular motion.

The products listed in step 3-5 are all new products implemented into my regimen. I must say I am pleased with each product thus far and would write an in dept review after a few more uses.

Organics by Africa's Best Smoother & Polish Smoothing Serum

For awhile now I was considering buying a serum. Yesterday I decided to buy Organics by Africa's Best Smoother & Polish Smoothing Serum which was a reasonable price ($14.65). When I am more than four  (4) weeks post my hair normally feels dry and a bit rough hence my newest buy. Secondly, I noticed bloggers and vloggers are doing wet wraps and roller set using serums of all sorts. As a result of that I noticed that their hair look shiner and silkier so I decided to try it for myself. The sealant that I currently use does not seem to be very potent which means I would try this product as a sealant.

According to Curlynikki.com

"Silicones are synthetic oils. They make good sealants but they don’t do a perfect job. If they did, you wouldn’t have to re-moisturize at all because moisture would stay locked into your hair. But, that’s not what happens at all. If you seal with a silicone serum your hair will still get dry within a few days because moisture (water) can escape past the silicone. Hair sealed with coconut oil might need to be re-moisturized within a day; hair sealed with a silicone serum might stay moisturized for 2 days before it needs to be replenished. If moisture can get out, it can definitely be put back in. When you re-moisturize your hair after applying a serum, the moisture may take a few extra minutes to absorb, but it will absorb. Think of a silicone serum like a fence, not a brick wall. Silicone makes a stronger fence than any natural oil, but it’s still just a fence. Kinky hair is extremely porous compared to other hair types and it needs all the help with sealing it can get. Many face and body lotions contain silicone and you never have trouble re-moisturizing your skin. Your hair is no different."

I have very high expectation of this serum because the ingredients seems good.

Organics by Africa's Best Smoother & Polish Smoothing Serum ingredients: Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Fragrance, Hydrolyzed Soybean protein, Silk amino acid, Phenyl Trimethicone, Hydrolyzed Oat Protein

Dimethicone:

1. It adsorbs (sticks on) on to the outer cuticle of hair.2. It forms a film on the hair which smoothes down the cuticle.3. It lubricates the hair and is thought to contribute to easier wet combing (i.e less friction).4.In hair serum, for thermal processing, dimethicone is a heat protectant.

Cyclopentasiloxane

CPS is a water-thin so it’s very good at dispersing thicker, greasier silicones. For this reason it’s often used in combination with dimethicone. It is also volatile, which means it will evaporate. So, not only does it help spread heavier silicones but it doesn’t leave your hair feeling weighed down after it’s done.

 Phenyl Trimethicone

 It is a silicone that increases hair’s body, suppleness, and sheen, by improving the texture of hair that has been damaged by chemical treatment, according to CosmeticsInfo.org.

Silk Amino Acid

They help to seal the hair cuticle, increase detangling & shine, and acts as a moisturizer by preventing dryness. Used to penetrate the hair to add body and strength.

Hydrolyzed Oat Protein

Derived from oats; adds texture and thickens hair, Soothes, softens, and nourishes it.Restores strength and elasticity. Easily diffuses into the hair shaft to give a fuller, healthier look.

Hydrolyzed Soybean Protein

Known to add strength and manageability to hair. It is able to keep the cuticle smooth, repair and strengthen hair. This vegetable protein helps hair retain moisture. Hydrolyzed soy protein also adds shine, provides ease of combing, and reinforces the hair preventing breakage