What I did...

Spent hours reading. The most important reads?

Beginners Guide to Texlaxing - Assoc Content

How to Texlax - Assoc Content

Happy Hair Journey

Detangled the braided hair with mix of V05 silky moisture conditioner, water, JBCO and based with honey shield.

Then instead of 1/8 cup oil for one kit/tup relaxer I did 1 cup relaxer (I have a huge tub of Motions lye) and 1 cup conditioner. Yup! Equal parts. I want to be as natural as possible because I haven't given up yet. Matter of fact, now it's all rinsed out, it doesn't look much different from my natural hair. It WAS easier to comb though.

This is when I took those blasted braids out

After my texlax

Failure #1

This transition is not as easy as I thought. I skipped my birthday relaxer which was a shocker in itself. But then I needed a plan. I felt like I have read everything on the internet but nothing's helping. Why? I don't think any of those successful naturalistas have my hair and I have read months worth of information. Where is my hair type? Even I'm not sure what that is :-( Anyhow, eventually I decide to get braids with human hair (wet n wavy was suggested to me by braider). So this past Friday (Dec 24th) I got them in and I thought they were tight but she insisted she wasn't doing them tight. Hmm, ok.

So Sat goes by and they're uncomfortable but my friend was nice enough to keep massaging my scalp. Then comes Sunday. I bear them well enough. Then the itching started. I mean it wouldn't stop. So after good ole fashion itching for hours, I decide to use warm water. Didn't work. Then the sprays - oil sheen and oils. Didn't work. Then a hot rag. Nope. So first thing I do in my frustration is remove the four tightest at the front - there is like NO hair there - what the hell did she even braid??! Then I remove the five at the back. Then I say flip this! I don't care how much I spent, me and my hair will not suffer for it.I took em all out 3 days after I had em put in. The end. Braids are not for me. So I am about to spend some hours on the internet now reading about texlaxing/texturizing, and other ideas because braiding is OUT and so is a full on relaxer.

Sorry my blogs are few and far between. I guess as more starts happening it'll pick up. Also, work and sch have been quite the chore. Hope all the hair journeys are going well :-)

No relaxer next week

That is something I know for sure. I will see how the rest of the year and 2011 progresses.

I am nervous to even say it because I know I may not stick with it - I have hair frustration when the strands are cooperating. So I may give up. I won't lie. But it is time to make an attempt at no relaxing.

Right now my plan is ponytails and curls until the roots become unmanageable then braids. Same regimen of weekly DCs and mild protein. Strong protein every 2-3 months. I'll update the side bar. I need to find a sulphate-free poo or just stick with ACV rinses for now.

One interesting reaction from a friend of mine: "I can see why so&so (a friend of mine with a looser hair type) would go natural but not you (yours truly). Your hair is real black hair."

My reaction: well I'm glad it is since I am black after all *internally flipping her the bird*

I didn't disappear

It's a combination of 2 things:

1. I am trying to make a big hair decision and I don't wanna say unless I know I'm at least 75% sure but I can't seem to make up my mind :( cowardice.

2. Work. I have some new job responsibilities and they're clashing with my old work and school and my temporary 2nd job. Luckily no more 2nd job after Dec 16th.

Here are some pics from my trip to the salon:

Oh! I forgot to tell you how someone complimented my friends locs - they really do look good - but then asked how she got it to grow. She said because it's natural. Ahmm no, both natural and relaxed hair grows. Locs grow faster (with care) because there is less manipulation and stress on the hair, her hair isn't growing so quickly just because it's natural. Come on now.

Off to the salon tomorrow...

I saw split ends this weekend...like multiple. Put me in a small frenzy. So I'm off for a trim, a bang (was growing it out but I don't wanna anymore), and color (semi permanent). Will share results :)

Where is my hair? Product reviews and updates

This is gonna be looooong.

So first of all:

My relaxer. I am 4 weeks and a couple days post relaxer and my roots feel like 6 weeks or more. I will admit I rushed my hairdresser last relaxer so I'll be relaxer early this time, maybe 8 or 9 weeks to compensate and I won't be rushing anyone lol.

New products...Organics shea butter and tea tree oil moisturizer. When I first used it I thought it felt like water. Not very greasy or oily like I probably think Wave Nouv finishing lotion feels. It was strange but I thought why not? It's supposed to be moisture and then I seal so it should be ok. Two weeks later my hair was breaking and no matter how much product I used to moisturize my hair, my hair just felt wetter and not more moisturized. Then I panicked. Yesterday morning I washed my hair after an overnight DC with all my old favorite products and it felt strange and I saw some breakage and said heck no! Hauled ass to Sally's bought my Wave Nouv last night, moisturized and seal and I won't lie, my hair feels better.

My hair this morning:

Then I showered and I have no clue how the hair escaped the shower cap. Ruined! I was so annoyed! So it ended up in a roll.

Nexxus Emegencee. This heavy protein tx is so much easier than the 2 step by Aphogee! It feels like a gel, very slick on the hair, not hard. I don't know if I feel like it did anything cause I'm so used to the hardness and the long process and I only used it once and won't be using it for a long time so we'll see...I'll keep you updated.

My hair currently: Yesterday I got the shock of my life. I took my orange curlers out and went about doing my usual curly style then went to the bathroom to apply make up. My husband noticed something on me and said what is that...I looked down...it was like snow. I have no clue if I have dandruff or dry scalp. My scalp is itchy. I have never had to deal with it before but it was like whoa! So now something has to be done to keep up my scalp health. I'm not sure if JBCO can help but my first thought was to get an applicator so I could apply it to my scalp, or do ACV rinses every other week...I'm gonna make up my mind this week after some research. Otherwise, I think I've been experiencing some breakage and shedding. I hope going back to my moisturizer will fix the breakage and the shedding may just be seasonal - we will see.

Oh! My hair has been to Denver. Oh my goodness! Being so high up, the air is just dry dry dry and using that organics moisturizer was no good lol My skin is still recovering. Here's my Denver hair:

Product haul! Been awhile

I don't have the dough to really do any damage when I'm buying prods but every now and again I treat myself or running out of stuff gives me a lovely opportunity to try something different. Well, last night I spent some quality time in the BSS and here's the result:

Something old: My BSS now sells JBCO! I have wanted to join my Listas on their JBCO Challenge but have been lazy to take the train to Harlem to get some but lo and behold I saw they have it in my BSS now :-D for like $3 more but I won't complain! Welcome back to my regimen old pal.

Something new: A new moisturizer! I went in thinking I'd just get my wave nouveau but I started reading the backs of the different ones they offer looking if maybe something new may be good for me and ended up with this. I think the ingredients looked okay and mineral oil wasn't the 2nd or 3rd ingredients like so many of the other moisturizers. This is a little thicker than my WN but I'm thinking since it's winter, it may be better.

Something borrowed: Soooo, I've been on the hunt for a replacement heavy protein. Since I didn't do much research, I just borrowed from my knowledgeable lady Sunshyne's list of heavy protein prods (which includes: aphogee 2 step, nexxus emergencee and keraphix, and mizani kerafuse for all interested). I have Mizani kerafuse and I'm just not in love. It is SOOOO thick (think mud) that it is a trial to apply and I just don't feel confident it's getting anywhere.

Something blue: Nothing blue hahaha except me maybe when I went to the register and found out my Mane n Tail condish (for my cowashes) was over $6.49. I kindly put it back. He's nuts....I can get 2 of that for $7. Crazy man.

Been awhile...1 week post pics

So one week and one day after my relaxer, this is what I did:

-hot oil treatment with carrot oil

-shampoo with neut & chelating poo

-Sedal ceramides

-rollerset, dry, and wrap

So, yes, my hair still needs some protein. Gonna find some this weekend...I really don't wanna do aphogee 2 step (too much!) so PLEASE LEAVE ME SUGGESTIONS. I won't get it till Friday. Emergencee keeps coming to my mind, anyone recommend? Last resort, I'll be heading to the hair tips/product reviews on Hairlista & KISS for my suggestion.

Relaxer update!

Yes, I made you all wait 3 days but I didn't take pics till last night because it was my friend's birthday weekend. It was fun! You will notice my hair has no bump to it and that is because I was in such a rush on Friday to get my relaxer done Yerena had to roller set on the HUGE black rollers = straight hair. But I'll be hooking myself up this weekend. Oh and yes, I am claiming BSB which is supposedly between shoulder blade? I'm not even sure. I just want to claim something since it's been so long lol...how about half way between APL and BSL??? Hahaha

I pin curled last night (too small so my ends were super curly this morning) - pony tail. Wish I had something to pin it up and protect the ends.

Roots galore

I promised pics from my final wash. My hair finally got some shampoo (clarified) - details of my wash are in the post below.

Bigger so you can see roots...

Just check the roots out. I air dried for a few hours then went under dryer for about 25 mins. Cross wrapped and ended up with dead ends, no bounce but my hair honestly couldn't be wrapped. I wrap maybe 4 times in each stretch. Total. I don't love wrapping.

Lesson learnt lol

Bantu knot outs aren't as easy as they look. So I tried my first bantu knot out on 9 weeks post hair Fri night because I wasn't up to washing (gym Sunday and needed to do protein for my relaxer this week). OMG my roots! So first, I couldn't even part the sections, then I guess I didn't secure it properly because none of the ends were curled. So I had to abandon the whole plan for another time. Any tips? Feel free to let me know.

Disclaimer: excuse the mess! It was laundry day and we were sorting, etc but I wanted to grab some shots for you all. Oh, and these are iPhone photos so details may be sketchy.

I do have other pics from this weekend but I'll post when I have time. I'll tell you what I did though. I didn't have any 2 step left and didn't realize so I had to use my Mizani kerafuse instead for my protein. So here's what I did: clarified with CON, porosity for 1 min, DC for a couple hours with Mizani kerafuse, conditioned with my sedal ceramides then rollerset. It took me forever to detangle and rollerset. But I did it. Couldn't wrap the rollerset (roots lol) so I did a cross wrap instead. Rocking the banana clip today.

My 9 week ponytail

1 week to relaxer...yay!

Spreading sunshine...

First of thanks thanks thanks to Lady Vogue over at Diary of a Hair Obsession for the nomination! I am honored! Plus, as a Jamaican, you know we love sunshine :-D

Here goes...

“The Sunshine Award is awarded to bloggers whose positivity & creativity inspires others in the blogosphere”

The rules for accepting this award are:-

• Put the logo on your blog or within your post.
• Pass the award onto 10 bloggers (some places say 12).
• Link the nominees within your post.
• Let the nominees know they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
• Share the love and link to the person from whom you received this award.

Ok, here are my nominees:

Blogs that introduced me to my hair journey (before I was brave enough to write a blog):

Hairlicious Inc

KISS

Then those ladies that have really helped me along the way with inspiration, style ideas, hair care information, & lots of support:

Hair Gurl

Happy Hair Journey

Maven Madonya

My Healthy Hair and Beyond

Relaxed Long Way 2 Grow

Relaxed Hair Health

The Royal Transformation

Then last but my no means least, some new followers whose blogs I'm becoming acquainted with...welcome!

AmberPaige

My Long Hair Journal

Shoulder Length and Beyond

I did it again...lost track of my stretch lol

I thought I was 5 weeks but I wasn't. So glad I have this blog because my memory is toast!

I relaxed August 5th so I am 7 weeks going on 8 lol

8 week curls for you viewing pleasure :)

What I did: dry DC with Lustrasilk organic mix overnight then cowashed with my lovely Mane n' Tail, did a 2 minute reconstructor, rollerset with all orange curlers.

Before I separated and ran my big comb through the roots (not the entire length)

I can't wait to see the color after henna...I guess this is a good before shot.

Really anxious for some growth & a couple new prods

So, here's a quick update.

First, I apologize for the lack of a photo. I absolutely love to take and post pics of my hair but unfortunately, I don't have my camera and I have to post when I have the time (not often). The second job is going well. It's only a 3 month stint so I'll be back in Dec. Well, I'll have work and school but at least it'll only be one job and school.

I have been itching to see if I have any major growth. I usually am not this impatient during my stretch. I am only 5 weeks. I have 5-7 weeks left. I guess BSL is just so elusive I am becoming overly anxious.

Anyhoo, with the change in season is coming some small changes in my regimen:

1. I co-washed last week & it made for easy detangling on the weekend so I think a midweek cowash is a useful addition to my regimen. I don't do it cause I'm lazy but I really need to start making the time.

2. I am going out to get the new Elasta QP mango butter moisturizer (they've added olive oil so now it's olive oil and mango butter - thanks Traycee). I'll let you know how I like it.

3. I read on Course Hair, Long Hair about how she incorporates coconut oil into her regimen to make detangling easier. I'm very curious and will be giving it a try.

4. Finally, I have gotten some great advice from Lavendar and I have done some research and thought about it for over a month and I have decided henna is ON. I will post the details.

That's all folks! Thanks for reading :)

Weekend curls

DC'd on dry hair with Lustrasilk, did 2 minute reconstructor, then Cowashed with Mane n Tail.

I have up and gone stereotypical Jamaican (well, according to Americans) and gotten a 2nd job. Yay money! Boo time :( so I am going to apologize in advance if during the next 3 months this place seems deserted and the blog starts looking like a pictorial. I won't have time with school, and 2 jobs. One good thing is I'll be doing henna again sometime this semester so that's something to look fwd to...as well as my relaxer update in Oct/Nov.

One thing for sure, I am going to start making greater effort with my hair during the week. In order to do that I have to plan my time efficiently. I'm gonna try to do a midweek curly, or extra cute (non-bun) style. As usual, this will probably be Tues night for Wed. Let's see how that goes.

So, basically I'll be here posting but it'll probably be pics and barest details to help me keep track of whats happening and let you ladies know what's going on with me (& that I'm still here). I'll still be reading blogs tho...if I don't follow yours or comment then please leave me a link to it and I'll keep in touch that way.

I'm being kind and so I won't pick another winner till Monday...come on Tia :)

Winner!

Congrats!!!

Please contact me via hairs2me-at-gmail-dot-com by Friday, Sept 3rd.

I think the next time, I'll announce a winner within a week or two...this was a long wait although it's good I waited since there were only 10 entrants.

I was vacating but I'm back :)

FIRST THING: My followers, don't forget to comment on the giveaway post. I'll be choosing a winner in about a week. Good thing I gave you ladies so much time. Giveaways are fun.

This is an old pic from last week.

Wasn't really a vacation, more like a staycation but I still enjoyed myself. Lots of rest, spending time with friends, it was good. Now I'm back on the daily grind. Nothing new on the hair front...been m&s every day. I am very glad I got a trim because my hair is feeling much better. I do need to amp up the TLC as I've only been doing routine things. What I really want to try is henna so we'll see when the time is right.

A week post relaxer I shampooed with the neutralizing and chelating poo (I am neurotic and have to make sure my hair gets a second chance to rid itself of relaxer residue), did an ACV rinse...then I deep conditioned w/heat with my sedal ceramides. My curls were gorgeous! Then it rained! Ruined them. Luckily I grabbed a before pic.

Then this past weekend I cowashed with my fav cowash, Mane n' Tail, did my 2 minute reconstructor, and DC'd w no heat for the day with cheapie Lustrasilk organics. I sealed in the DC with coconut oil. Rinsed, set, & wrap.

Relaxer update

So I got my trim and I think my hairdresser gets me. I'm back to APL but thank goodness that's all. I was starting to imagine the worst. Here are days 1, 2 & 3 of my relaxer. I put stamps on these pics. I really don't care too much if anyone steals them (I've never had stamps but maybe I should....). Day 1 I had no time to length check so you'll see from day 2 I'm APL (a tiny bit past). Hopefully next time I'll have a thicker BSB (if I ever really was there).

The Keratina Fix seemed to work good. I'll be doing a protein conditioner following my relaxers from now on. This stretch I will be very good to my hair. DC once a week. I skipped 2 or 3 last time. ::sigh:: No excuse for that.

Next relaxer? Approx Oct 14th @ 10 weeks.

*********Join the giveaway!!!!!!***********

I need confirmation this is okay...

I'm relaxing at 10 weeks on Thurs. My hairdresser wants to use keratina fix and I think it's ok. I think. It's a Dominican product and I can't find much info. Anyone ever heard of it?

****

Don't forget to join the giveaway!

Catching up...

I haven't done a hair update in a minute. Not because nothing has happened but because I have no photos (& you all should know how I am about photos). Anyway, I had about 1 - 1.5 inches cut off last Friday at 8 weeks. My hairdresser thought it was necessary and I honestly felt it was about time. It had been Dec since she last gave me a trim (when I got my bang). I trim and dust in between but I guess that doesn't count lol.

I haven't been able to tell how much is gone because the rain fell and my style got killed that very weekend. Then week 9. I co-washed, did a 2 min reconstructor, roller set and air dried overnight. I'm going to relax on Thursday at 10 weeks. It looks shorter in this pic for sure. I have a funny feeling I'm back to APL or worse...

LOC UPDATE

Here is my husbands locs (to-be). Some of them feel like they're locking. Patience is key...it's only been a month (yet I still managed to give him a style). He's had them tightened/palm rolled/twisted once a week (by moi) and he's washed them once with shampoo (Aussie Moist), then an ACV rinse. No conditioner. That isn't recommended wherever I read but since I want him to have one, I'll be looking up some products/recipes.

Don't forget to join the giveaway!