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.