May 2010 relaxer update

It's the holidays and I have been SO busy and I am SO tired. I have been into 4 different states and have driven over 13 hours so far BUT, I remembered y'all. Here's a pic of my relaxer results from Thursday after a 12 weeker. I think that is the max I'll ever stretch.

Anyhoo, I'm past APL *big grin* ...does anyone know where/what BSB is? I'll post better length check pics in the coming weeks. My hair looks best 2-5 weeks after a relaxer. Week 1 is always so flat.

I dusted after this pic was taken

Last Lap

Praise God! I cannot wait for Thurs morning.

Friday I pre-poo'd with NTM conditioner I had left over (done now) and some proclaim 7 oil. Then I clarified with CON Clarifying poo with Aloe, then did my 2-step protein and sat under dryer with that for about 30 mins, then DC with my Sedal SOS ceramides for about 40 mins (20 with heat). Not too much of my hair came out...regular amount. Roller setting was a trial...detangling after my protein is always hard.

Important notice: I'm looking for a heavy protein replacement. I'm just about tired of using this messy, complicated 2 step protein. I love the 2 minute reconstructor they make but the 2 step, I can't bother with. I'd appreciate suggestions.

Anyhoo, I wasn't the very best at protecting my ends this weekend. Sat night they escaped my bonnet so they looked awful Sunday - I had to give em some HE LTR leave in and sealant. Then this morning they seemed to escape again, so I sprayed with my Jane Carters (instead of aloe mix), HE LTR again, then sealed w grape seed oil.

I bought my relaxer for the year (huge container). I didn't get Mizani this time around - I bought the Motions...the professional one for regular hair. Click here to see it (oh, Ateeyah's video is on the site...big things for her: Congrats!)

11 weeks post relaxer pics...

Beginning of week: Quick wash on Sat morning...no DC. Had no time. Haven't washed since so no DC this week...what a thing. Good thing tomorrow my hair gets the full pre-relaxer treatment.

Tuesday. Bun. I bunned all week.

Thursday. Bun.

Friday (tomorrow) I'll be officially 11 weeks. Pre-poo all day, followed by clarifying poo (does it make sense to clarify after pre-pooing? click here to learn what other ladies think), then my 2-step protein, then DC - garlic cond mixed with honey I think. Roller set. Wait out the week. Thursday morning I relax. I have somewhere to be Fri so I hope I can steal some time to take my update pics before my hair gets brutalized by the great outdoors.

Healthy hair reminder

Let me start by saying I don't really discuss my hair journey with my friends because I told 2 about my changes at the beginning and 1 was supportive and the other was amused. So I basically have 1 friend who knows about my healthy hair journey. So when I mentioned I was 10 weeks post to some girlfriends this weekend (one was admiring the length of my hair), & one said I need to relax because my hair will break if stretched, I only said, I don't really experience too much breaking from stretching because I try to keep my hair moist. Nothing more. I really wanted to say more but didn't want to sound like a mad hair scientist.

Anyhoo, I'll share the rest with y'all...

There can be more breakage as we stretch the relaxer more and more. As we stretch, there is more new growth and that demarcation line between the two textures is very delicate. We have to be extra gentle and keep up the hair care - deep conditioning, regular protein, low manipulation, protective styling - as the stretch gets longer and longer to prevent breakage.

Remember though that if the protein/moisture balance is off, hair is going to break regardless of the length of the stretch.

One other thing. Can I tell you how much pain I was in as one of my friends put the Mizani conditioning moisturizer then Design Essentials herbal complex then proceeded to flat iron her hair? I offered her some of my heat protectant, trying to explain that the oily hairdress (design essentials) probably wasn't the best when she flat ironed. Didn't work. She absolutely loves the product so...I let it be. You can only help those who really are interested and I'm tired of ppl saying I'm weird or giving me the side eye when I'm trying to help. How you gonna see a difference in your hair if you don't do something different to your hair?

Pic time. You know I like to post random pics. This is very random. I woke up late this morning. When that happens, boring hair styles are the choice...this is from the BB since no camera today.

Stretch update: your girl's a JOKER

Now why on earth did I think I was 8 weeks yesterday when I'm in fact 10 weeks???! lol I swear I can be a blonde at times. I looked over at my ticker and realized I relaxed March 5th and not the 20th (then I checked my relaxer updates to be sure). Well that makes this stretch waaay easier for me. Woooooot!!! I only have 2 more weeks and I'll be done my first 12 week stretch. Last time I did 11 weeks and 5 days...almost there but not quite. The weirdest thing is my hair's been behaving so I didn't even notice. Even last weeks curly look, I thought was being done on 7 week hair but it was 9 week hair lol. I don't think I'll be pushing it past 12 weeks...4 relaxers a year is a great idea.

Pics are from Wed (2 on left) &Fri (bun)

Oooo let's chat!

A friend of mine shared this article from Bossip! with me. It is about Dominican stylists and the fact that they are encroaching on African-American stylists area of expertise (black hair) by offering cheaper, timely service, and the ever popular blow out (which may not be any better for our hair...).

Please read & share with me (& the readers your take).

Mine:

I have only been to one African American stylist and I'll tell you right now she fried my hair. The same friend who shared this with me bore witness. She relaxed my whole head and put me under the dryer with no rollers (hair out) to dry, then flat ironed and I left there with a helmet.

I've been to 2 Jamaican stylists. Both were waaaaaay too expensive, the wait times were ridiculous, and though my hair looked great after, I can tell you the first was cooking my hair to within an inch of its life. The 2nd is a great stylist but I can't afford her and I do not have 8 hours to spare to get my hair washed.

I have been to maybe 4 different Dominican salons. They are cheaper, yes. Faster, yes. But the hair care has varied. For the most part, they use less heat, but they can make a mockery of hair care too. I've had one relax my entire head of hair, and I've had them detangle my hair so badly I had more hair in the comb than on my head.

I stuck with my Yerena (love her!) not because she took better care of my hair but for 3 main reasons: 1. she doesn't get an attitude when I tell her what I want done to my hair 2. she actually takes note of what works on my hair and makes an effort to help me with my healthy hair journey (I can hear her right now "Oooooo mami, your hair is soooo beautiful...it's good to wait longer before you perm!"), and 3. she is affordable (& I am broke).

It is sad though that I don't know any black owned beauty supply stores - do you know how much money I spend on hair products??? And I know I don't buy the really expensive stuff like hair. But to stay in business you have to have a good business mind and offer services that consumers will demand.

I'd love to hear from you lovely readers on your take.

Midweek cowash

I had jury duty today so I decided to spruce things up midweek. Instead of bunning, I cowashed when I got home from the gym with Mane n' Tail and then did my 2 minute reconstructor, roller set (orange curlers), and went to bed. This morning I spent ten minutes under the dryer. That's all. I have some product reviews below.

I am 6 weeks and 6 days post relaxer

This morning

End of day

Mane n Tail Moisturizer Texturizer Conditioner - it is a new fav for cowashing! I cannot believe I'm writing that. I mean, I absolutely hated it as a DC. It made my hair feel like a mess but the last few times I've just used it as a cowash and my hair has felt great plus little to no shedding (& that's a huge shocker for me) which is amazing *big grin*

Jane Carters Solution - this is a great leave in for roller sets. It doesn't get hard (which is all I ever really need). Ever. It smells great, has fantastic ingredients, and leaves my hair lovely and shiny. Here is the list of ingredients:

Purified Water, Extracts of Aloe Vera, Comfrey, Watercress, Myrrh, Panthenol, Essential Oils, Anthemis Noblis Flower, Symphytum OfficinalLeaf, Equisetum Arvense, Urtica Dioica (Nettle), Rosemarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf, Humulus Lupulus (Hops) Lawsonia Inermis (Henna), Butoxyethenol, Polyquarternium11, Soyamid DEA, PPG30, Cetyl Ether, Oleth-3 Phosphate, Hydantoin,

Curly style #2

This is the smaller curls. Curly #1 is my favorite. I love the small curls too but it takes longer to roll and dry.

After more than an hour under the dryer...ugh

Separated a bit and pinned back