Week 15 Update

First my wig...Oakland Girl by FreeTresses.

I got the wig. Tried it on and was super super impressed. I could hardly believe how natural it looked. But alas, I think I'll save it for special occasions because I haven't mastered the whole scarf then wig cap thing - it kept sliding off. Plus I messed with it all day the 2 days I wore it. Distracting. Always checking if it was on correctly and running to the bathroom.

Yes ppl, it's my face again. It pops up every now and again.

Then my hair....holy roots!

Last night during my detangle, I was just super overwhelmed by my hair. I know it has some texlax to it but it is very very slight. Actually it just prolly makes my hair another natural texture. It is nowhere near a normal texlax. I like it that way but I think calling it texlaxed is super misleading. I will be taking pics of my texture as soon as I have a working camera. These pics have all been taken with my iPhone...

Anyhoo, I bought a couple new prods in the last month. So here are the reviews:

1. Nature's Gate Jojoba Revitalizing Conditioner for damaged hair

I always buy prods for damaged hair so my hair can get mucho nutrients. I've been using this for the last 3 weekends. I don't DC with it, I condish with it after my DC. It really softens my hair and makes detanging a breeze. One weekend I ran the comb through my hair in the shower it was so soft. I almost never do that - I have been detangling in 6 or so sections recently. I think I'm gonna start washing in plaits pretty soon. Anyhoo, all I can say is I double triple recommend this conditioner (even tho it has cetyl alcohol...).

2. John Frieda Frizz Ease Hair Serum Extra Strength formula

Yea, like I said, I always get the strongest protection or whatever for my hair. I got this because I decided to be bold and flat iron my hair last weekend. I airdried with only it in my hair and then used my IC fantasia heat protectant and flat ironed in tiny pieces with one pass on the second to highest setting. It took forever. I did okay for my first time - The roots weren't as flat as I'd like. Also, my flat iron is a cheapo (Bed Head Tigi) so I may hold off flat ironing till I can get something better. I do think it was too small...I couldn't bump my hair. Maybe I need a bigger one to do bumps??? Next time I want straight hair, I'll go to the salon. I have no complaints about this product but I am no pro so what can I say...

Because my hair was still thick at the roots, I had to put it up. This bun made me proud all day!!! Used those 2 small combs at the side and pins :)

3. Nature's Gate Organics Herbal Blend Moisturizing Conditioner - Chamomile and Lemon Verbena

I am using this as a leave-in. Used it last night to detangle...worked fine. It is def not as thick as my HE LTR leave-in so I felt shafted for some reason but it worked well I think to detangle my hair. Won't say anything yet re: recommendations since I only used it once.

Soooo, in other news, the back of my hair felt like a dry matted mess last night before my wash. This week, I will be trying to do my spray at least every other day to lock in moisture.

My braid

Remember when I said I couldn't braid? Well I have been trying to learn. I don't think anyone would pay me to braid their hair but I did a pretty decent job of it this morning. It is secured at the end with 2 tiny elastic bands.

I am 6 weeks tomorrow (& I am still amazed that normally (that is, before Hairlista, Sunshyne, & Traycee), I'd be relaxing tomorrow...thank goodness for this healthy hair journey)

Diva Smooth Update & random pics

So I wrote to the folks at Diva Smooth (Janelle Beauty) for an exact listing of the ingredients versus the page of ingredients in the line...I wanted to know what was in the DIVA SMOOTH itself. Here's the response:

You can check out the ingredient page to ensure there is nothing in any of our hair care products that you might be allergic to. There are no chemicals in any of our products, therefore, there is nothing to change your virgin hair into chemically processed hair. Your hair will remain virgin hair, but you will now have the flexibility to wear straight styles whenever you desire.

So Idk what exactly is in the smooth product. The end until someone (outside of the vendor) reviews this for me.

Here's my attempt at claw clipping versus bunning. I am attempting to minimize the stress on my hair. This should be possible at least 5 weeks out of my 12 weeks stretch and on the days after wash day or even wash day itself.

Prods for last wash: lustrasilk, honey, proclaim 7 oil mix for dry DC, mane n tail for cowash, HE LTR and JC solutions for leave in

3 days late but here's the weekend in review

So, did my weekly wash with HE LTR condish, 2 minute keratin reconstructor, and a garlic cond, honey, JBCO deep conditioner with heat for about 20 mins. This was week 4.

pre wash after gym

wash day & night

I think my hair is getting dry during the week with just the one wash so I also tried a ponytail baggy. I tied a shower cap around my pony. I dunno if that did a thing lol. I'm gonna try to baggy, 1-3 times per week. I don't want my hair to get dry. I am also reconsidering my aloe juice, drop of oil, and water mix.

baggy results

New purchase! I replaced my carrot oil with proclaim oil from Sally's. Already I can say I enjoy the scent and it's light (runny) but I don't mind because that mixes well with my very thick JBCO.

Plan to pre-poo Thurs night and wash w poo Fri night...

Weekend hair

So this was week 3 of my regimen so did a HE LTR co wash then DC with Lustrasilk, JBCO, and honey with no heat then headed to my aerobics class. I love to DC while at the gym. Generates a lot of heat :) then washed out and roller set and dried under dryer. Forgot my 2 minute protein. Won't forget this weekend.

Took lots of pics :)

much better thickness when wet but Idk how good a comparison this is because I think how wet the hair is affects it

dunno why but I decided to pin the curls up before heading out

by the time I got back home, it had rearranged itself
yesterdays bun

It is 2010!!!!

I feel like I haven't blogged much recently. It's the holidays. I get lazy :)

Here's an update 2 weeks post last relaxer.

My hair has been getting a break generally. I had it out on my birthday, then on both Saturdays (for Christmas and NYs weekend) but generally, it's been up in a bun like this one. The lazy kind.
As usual, it gets covered when I'm outside for any prolonged period with my scarf and cap. This is usually when I head out in the morning and when I head home at night. Sometimes, the scarf and cap don't come off all day lol.

I've also been sticking with my refined regimen. It is n't finalized yet but it has been working for me.

Christmas weekend I washed with my neutralizing and chelating poo (for good measure) and used my Mizani Kerafuse for DC without heat for maybe 2 hours. Then roller set and dried under dryer. No pics but the mess I put up in my last post.

This weekend, I co-washed with HE LTR then DC without heat for maybe 1.5 hours with alter ego garlic cond and a little bit of castor oil. Then roller set and let air dry over night. Left it curly during the day on Sat but it was sooooo cold I pinned it up.

That's basically it. I've been washing once a week. Deep conditioning with each wash. Will do a 2 minute protein for good measure with the next wash. Also, still low manipulation. Oh! I've also been applying JBCO to my edges 3-5 times weekly. Just a tad.

No crazy shedding so far and hope it stays this way because NO MORE TRIMMING for a looong while. I overdid it last stretch.

Pin curls have made me proud

So last night I did about 6 pin curls and my hair was cute again but I had to pin it up - I am determined to stick with my protective styling. I just say they've made me proud because they lasted this long. If I ever have a weekend trip or something, getting pin curls would def work. I wouldn't have to pin them up as much, and I definitely would have pin curled it every night (and not skip the first night like I did this time).

Gonna DC on dry today while at the gym.

My First Dominican Pin Curls

So I got my first Dominican pin curls this weekend...they very cute and bouncy. She also blew out my roots.

I had to put the JBCO on the roots myself aaand like a good hairlista, brought my garlic cond/JBCO mix for my D.C. I also brought the poo - Roux porosity. I'm not sure what she used as leave in.
I didn't get home Sat night until 1:30 am - well, that's Sunday morning. I was way too exhausted to pin them back up so I covered it and went straight to bed. Killed the curls in typical Shar fashion. I still made do with them Sunday on my errands.

Sunday night...

Then Sunday night I did about 6 or 7 big pin curls. When I took it out this morning, it had potential but I resisted the temptation to let it down (PROTECTIVE STYLING ladies!) and pinned it up. I am almost certain the gym will kill the curls tonight. I sweat in my hair.

Wash n' stuff

So I bought a bunch of orange rollers (1.5 inch) so I could get more curls out of my roller set since I am liking wrapping less and less these days. Tried them out...not bad. Practice makes perfect and the longer my hair, the nicer I'm thinking my curls will be.

Did my castor oil DC on dry hair then co-washed with V05. Also put the JBCO on my scalp. Idk what happened on vacation but my roots are a mess!

Detangle

See more detangle hair on my back? So gross!

Results for churchAfter sleeping on them and messing them up in the afternoon...need to revive them for a birthday dinner. That isn't my Carefree Gold lol
Heading home at abt 1am Sunday

Vacation hair

Now I had some cute dos during my vacay but I think they came at a price to my precious hair hehe.

First, at the wedding I attended, the resort spa staff did my hair...curls = curling iron, and lasting style = holding spray with alcohol among other evils I'm sure.
Second, got a braid out from a friend and went to a salon in Kingston to get it washed out. He did NOT know how to be gentle. A lot came out. The pluses of his place? He used only Redken products and a really nice leave in.

Third, my last wash and set I made sure to do a pre-poo with my hot 6, carrot oil, and castor oil mix since I know these people love shampooing and this lady's products seemed cheap. She shampooed only once BUT her hand was strong. The wash hurt, the detangle hurt, the roller set hurt, & the wrap hurt.

Didn't take any hair pics after this trip to the salon I was so annoyed at the treatment my hair got but here's the best I could do...

Last time I was on vacay, I just blowdried and did no salons. I think that works best. I'll stick with that or airdrying and flat ironing next time. At least I can compensate with products and special care.

Now, off to HAIRLISTA...I'm gonna check in on the castor oil challenge part 3! I finally have castor oil =)

Been snapping pics and not posting

Was in Chicago this past weekend...did a few cute-ish up-dos and a kind of length check.

Had it done at the hairdresser before leaving. Unfortunately I was in a rush and had to have it blown after rollersetting instead of wrapped (had work then class then airport) so it was flat and straight hence all the up-dos.

Another style

Did some pin curls overnight then wrapped it for abt 15 mins...gave it more life. This is the end of the day (around 10pm)...it had more body earlier. I see good progress.

Hair is such a breeze

with newly relaxed hair...
I'm wondering since it's wash day, should I???? Starting co-washes and DCs is the right thing to do but since my hair just got relaxed, it feels wrong lol.

7 week post wash (prep for relaxer?)

So I pre-pooed last night with hot6oil and NTM cond, put on a plastic cap and went to bed.

Got up this morning, clarified, then applied the 2 step protein (in prep for relaxer Friday coming), went under dryer for about 15 mins, then took a break then 10 more mins. Rinsed out the hard protein, did a few seconds of porosity, then DC w garlic cond, honey mix with heat for about 20 mins and without for maybe 15 mins...why did my hair feel interesting? kinda rough. But thing is it felt ok in the shower but then...I don't know.

Been awhile since I took a wet pic...a little thin on the ends

Tried to set in a different direction....right across the front from ear to ear

This is just what came out when I roller set...more came out in the shower. More than I care to acknowledge

Love my roller sets

Trying take a pic of my new growth. I honestly don't think anyone has new growth as thick and coarse as mine...I look at people with inches and I can just imagine my hair breaking like crazy.

Finger combed
Pinned up. Nothing else to do with roots like mine.Ignore this mess