Wash Day + Bantu Knot Out!

So today I am 10 weeks post, but my hair has been sooo manageable this past week. I must admit that I did cheat and removed (snatched) my u-part wig from my head earlier this week on Monday. It is so difficult for me to protective style for a full 3 weeks, but I missed my scalp/hair.

(here is my hair after finger detangling and removing the u-part on monday/ excuse the face lol)

For the next few days I bunned and enjoyed not having to straighten my leave out.
On Wednesday, my regular wash day, I did not feel like having a long drawn out wash day. So I began by deep conditioning on dry hair using KeraKare Intensive Restorative Masque, while I completed day 4 of Insanity!! It was Cardio Recovery day so it was not so bad.

Followed that with my new shampoo, that I bought after seeing Jen from justgrowalready.com, Organix Awapuhi Ginger Shampoo which I really enjoyed. It is creamy, but still creates a nice lather that makes you feel like you are really cleaning your scalp. It did not leave my hair sqeaky clean, and my hair felt extremely moist after usage. I could definitely see myself using this as my weekly staple!
Anyways I followed with Neutrogena Triple Moisture Daily Deep Conditioning Treatment while I finished the rest of my shower.

I airdried with a scarf as usual, but decided I wanted to actually do something with my hair today. So once my hair was about 85% dry I began to install bantu knots in my hair. I used Cantu Shea Butter Leave In Repairing cream and coconut oil to seal in each knot. (16 knots)

After going to sleep and lounging around the house (15 hours later), I decided it was time to take them out. Initially they were too tight to wear down, so I decided to pin them up.

 

Ending results:

Insanity!

Today I started Insanity again!!!

        I tried to do the program about 2 months ago and I was doing well, but then I took a few days off for my birthday, christmas, New Years... etc. So now I am here with all my progress down the drain because day 1 was ridiculous. I am so out of shape, (Shaun T was killing me!) the last time I worked out was December 14th, which doesn't seem that long ago. Anyways the reason I am telling you guys about my exercise regimen is because of the effect exercise has on hair.

     
They talk about the many correlations between hair and exercise. I am hoping to gain and retain an impressive amount of hair this year so I am attacking this issue at all angles!! Plus, I would love to have a nice fit body for Spring Break this year. Once I complete the program I will post before and after pictures just for kicks!

In other news, I am looking forward to wash day this week so I can take down this protective style! It is such a struggle to go 3 weeks of protective styling, I have no idea how I ever wore braids and sew-in for months at a time. Also, I picked up a new shampoo that I am super excited to try!!! Until wash day...

Wash Day

             Today (Wednesday) I am 9 weeks post! Once I hit 9 weeks post my new growth is nice and coily to the point where I cannot keep my fingers out of it. Anyway, when I removed my u-part wig and took down my hair I had a really nice curl pattern and my hair was still very moist. It was an super long wash day with a lot of steps but now that I am in my last month before the relaxer, I need to baby this new growth. Today was all about moisture moisture moisture!! So this is how my wash day went:

top right: half detangled hair, bottom right: snap of super curly leave out this morning, bottom left: crown area of freshly washed hair, check out that new growth!, top left freshly washed hair

1. Take down u-part wig, washed with a VO5 Clarifying Conditioner and set aside to dry

2. Separate hair in 4 parts and detangled with Mane and Tail Detangler. I forgot how much I loved this stuff, I did not bring it home over break so this is the first time using it in over a month. Since my scalp was still a bit itchy this week I applied EVOO and JBCO to my scalp, and Neutrogena Triple Moisture Daily Deep Conditioner. I left it on my head with a plastic cap for 40 minutes and spend the last 10 minutes under the dryer.
        This was my first time using my new Hard Bonnet Dryer from Ion that I received on Christmas. It seemed to get extremely hot, and I cannot wait to try a roller/wrap set with it.

3. Wash with Kera Kare Hydrating Detangling Shampoo Sulfate free in 2 sections. Then I followed with the KeraKare Hydrating Detangling Conditioner and left that on my head while I finished showering.

4. Right away I was loving the way my hair felt just after shampooing. Since I had not done a Black tea rinse in about 3-4 weeks I decided to do one. I sectioned my hair in 4 parts, then sprayed my roots with the tea, and lastly sprayed the length of my hair and covered it with a plastic cap for 30 mins.

5. After the 30 mins were up I applied my DC mix to the length of my hair. This week's DC consisted of the VO5's Moisture Milk Strawberries and Cream, Coconut Oil, and Aussie 3 minute miracle. I put this on top of the BTR and sat under the dryer for 10 minutes

6. Once I did the final rinse of my hair, I T-shirt dried for a few hours while I watched American Idol and ate dinner.

7. When my hair was about 80 percent dry I detangled with Kinky Curly Knot Today Leave-In Detangler. Then I section off my leave out, so I could M&S the rest of my hair. This week I used Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl & Style Milk as my moisturizer, sealed with Olive Oil, followed by Elasta QP Olive Oil & Mango Butter, and finally ended with Organix Morrocan Penetrating Oil.  I put two braids in my hair to dry and put my scarf on to deal with the next step in the morning, because I was extremely tired LOL.

This morning I woke up to nice soft moisturized hair, I rebraided it and sewed on my u-part.

Supplements!

 I am really trying to reach BSL this year and I know the best way to reach my goals will require maintenance of both the outside and INSIDE of my body. That being said I have been very mindful of what I am putting into my body. For the past week I have been on top of taking my multivitamins and various supplements.

1. Super Supplemental by Nature Sunshine
They have a nice vanilla tasting chlorophyll coating and contains vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients, and herbs. Which can be purchased here. http://www.amazon.com/Super-Supplemental-Without-Vitamins-Minerals/dp/B000PJE2P0

2. Biotin by Spring Valley 1000 mcg
I purchased these vitamins at Walmart and decided to start with a lower dose of biotin. I am very acne prone and started off with 2 a day, but after the third day and third breakout I dropped down to 1 pill a day. Since then the breakouts have subsided and I have also increased my water intake. During my next relaxer length check I will check my progress.

3. Vitafusion Prenatal Gummy Vitamins
These are sold at Walmart as well and work both a multivitamin and some say they improve hair/skin/nails. They contain folic acid which has been proven to work well with biotin and I absolutely love the way these taste so no complaints here.

The combination of these vitamins keep me energized throughout the entire day and I am feeling great. I take all three of these after my breakfast to combat any nausea. Will be doing a review of the Biotin and Vitafusion after checking my progress in february.

Wash Day Jan 16

First off... Happy 33rd Birthday AALIYAH Rest in peace beautiful!
I spent my washday jamming to Aaliyah's hits <3

1. Okay so wash day began last night with an overnight pre-poo. My scalp was extremely itchy a dry so I made my own concoction with grape seed oil, olive oil, castor oil , almond oil, and peppermint (for the itching). I rubbed the oil mix into my scalp and down to my ends, then saran wrapped my head and tied my scarf over that to go to bed.

2. When it was time to wash my hair I used Carol's Daughter Rosemary Mint Clarifying Sulfate Free Shampoo. This was my first time using this product and I thought it was okay. I was a little curious how a sulfate free shampoo could also be a clarifying shampoo. In the end it felt stripped, didn't lather well, and isn't something I would use again.

3. I followed with the corresponding conditioner which I loved! ( Carol's Daughter Rosemary Mint Clarifying Conditioner. ) I gave my scalp a tingling sensation which was relieving after my scalp issues this week.

4. For my deep conditioner I got really creative with the things around my house. I will be returning back to school this weekend where all of my hair supplies are but until then most of my pre-poos and dc's will be DIY's. Anyways, I used a mix of Hello Hydration, Vanilla yogurt (don't judge lol), olive oil, and honey. I saturated my whole head with my mix and walked around with a plastic cap for about an hour and a half.

5. I used Neutrogena's Triple Moisture leave in and Kinky Curly's Knot Today's leave in, then sealed with olive oil. Next I allowed my hair to air dry before braiding back up and sewing my U-part wig back on.

Here's a pic of my hair about 80% dry- 8 weeks post, 8 months into my hair journey

 Also take a peak at my new length shirt I made the other night. I want to be grazing APL by my next relaxer, the first bold black line!!!

New Year & Goals!

So this is my first blog!!! I have been putting off starting a blog for a few months now because I did not feel I was very far along on my hair journey but I decided to start one anyway. I have now been on my hair journey for about 8 months. My one year healthy hair anniversary is May 15, 2013 and I still have a few goals I would like to meet.

My next relaxer is scheduled for February 16 and I am 8 weeks post tomorrow. I typically do a 12 week stretch and I would like to be full APL by my next relaxer. By the end of the year I would like to be full BSL with full blunts ends.

To reach my goals I will:
1. Trim only 2xs a year (May/Nov)
2. Deep Condition weekly on wash day
3. Only Flatiron on Relaxer day
4. Stretch Relaxers for 12-13 weeks
5. Protective style (wigs or buns) 90% of the time
6. Taking biotin, a multivitamin, and drinking 60oz of water a day (half of body weight)

I will also be working on my roller sets this year, and working on perfecting my u-part wigs. Over the next few months I will be working on this blog to make it more personable and update my pictures. I am looking forward to reaching my goals