Hair Babble: Postpartum Hair Loss

 Sometime in July I noticed an increase in the amount of my hair falling out , after checking a few strands and determined that it was shedding and not breakage.

Quick Tip: Shed hair has a white bulb at one of the ends.

My plan of action was protective styling in the form of twists. The purpose was to reduce daily manipulation. Note that the protective style does not eliminate the shedding, it only reduces manipulation.

My weekly regimen was:

Weekly:

1. Cleanse (shampoo or co-wash)

2. Deep condition (protein treatment every 2 weeks, a protein treatment must always be followed with a moisturizing deep conditioner)

3. Apply leave-in conditioner and air dry

4. Twist hair: using Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie and Curling Souffle Gel

Every 2 or 3 days: Moisturize by misting hair with either water and oil mix or Curls Hair Moisturizer.

When I took down my mini twists even though I was gentle on my edges I realised that the edges are thinning :( For the edges I will be applying Jamaican Black Castor Oil.

What's going on with your hair care journey, do share your challenges and victories too.

You can send me an email: bibakehinde {at}  gmail.com

Update: The Curly Belle Interview

Hi,

Just a quick one to share the link for my interview featured on The Curly Belle.


Please read, comment & share!

The last few months have been pretty busy for me; post partum hair loss has kicked in and I have had to adjust my regimen once more. I am currently in protective styling mode, to reduce manipulation of my hair.

I will be posting more in the coming weeks.

Happy hair growing!

Product Review: Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie

Ingredients:

The first five ingredients are:

• Deionized water
• Butyrospremum Parkii (Shea Butter)
• Coco Nucidera (Coconut) Oil
• Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
• Mangifera Indica (Mango) Seed Butter

The product is all natural and does not contain any bad ingredients, it has;

• No Parabens
• No Phthalates
• No Paraffin
• No Gluten
• No Propylene Glycol
• No Mineral Oil
• No Synthetic Fragrance
• No Animal Testing
• No PABA
• No Synthetic Color
• No DEA
• No Animal Ingredients
• No Sulfates

Watch out for the glycerin content depending on your weather conditions (winter or high humidity).

Consistency: Thick, Creamy 

Review/Verdict
Some reviewers complain about it not defining twist outs and braid outs, while for some others it works for the same purpose often in conjunction with a hair butter. I did not try it as a stand alone product for a twist out or braid out because I purchased it for use as a moisturizer.

With this product I moisturize once a day as it does a good job of keeping the hair moisturized without being greasy. For use on relaxed hair, I would advise not be heavy handed as it can weigh the hair down. While transitioning, I found it useful for buns and slicked down styles/updos. Currently I use it for my wash and go styling in conjunction with the Curling Gel Souffle, it however does not produce amazing curl definition for my Type 4 hair.

It works great on wet or damp hair. While I was transitioning I ised it on dry hair and it does a great job that way. 

Where to purchase:

I bought this for N2,900 at Olori (the price has increased due to the exchange rate)

The Kinky Apothecary 

Sizzelle

A Little Update

Hi there!

Where have I been you may be wondering?

Well, 2 weeks ago on the 24th of April we welcomed our little Princess to the world.

We feel incredibly blessed to have her, and finally I have a little naturalista! Yaaay! Someone to try out cute hairstyles on :)

I'm adjusting to having a newborn and 2 active boys but hope to be back blogging regularly soon.

I have my hair in kinky twists which I had installed a week or two before my due date. I'm missing my hair now but I need my family settled into a regular schedule so I can carve out some hair care sessions. How's your hair journey going? 

Happy Hair Growing!

Love,

Beeba x

My Thoughts on the Max Hydratiion Method

In my first post on the Maximum Hydration Method, I shared details of the regimen and my results from the 7 day jumpstart challenge recommended by Pinkecube. As promised I will be sharing my thoughts on this method. Kindly note that these are my views and I am still researching the method and love to read and hear thoughts on the method from other ladies.

The approved products dilemma

I am currently in a phase in my natural hair journey where I want to explore products in the bid to find what works perfectly for me hair.  The recommended products are however quality products that contain all natural ingredients avoiding sulfates, silicones, parabens, drying alcohols etc and I guess these are worth trying anyway.

There is a list of ingredients to be avoided however I am wondering if I should avoid them just because they did not work on someone else’s hair. I do not believe my hair is protein sensitive, for example, and also I live in a humid (very humid) city and glycerin pulls moisture into my hair and not out of it. The use of styling products that are glycerin free is useful for defined twist-outs and braid-outs in humid conditions.

Where is the place of protein in all this?

As the regimen is focused mainly on moisture infusion and most of the products do not contain moisture, I have been wondering about protein treatments which I feel are vital for healthy hair. The Cherry Lola treatment acts as a moisturizing & protein treatment and it is recommended to be done every 2 weeks. I wonder if this will be enough to maintain the balance? I am still inclined towards using protein reconstructing conditioners as I believe they are vital for healthy hair. As usual for this I will focus on how my hair feels and needs; if I need to use of reconstructing conditioner I will choose one with natural ingredients.

The Baking Soda debate

Okay, so the use of baking soda for hair is quite controversial due to the pH of baking soda and there is a post on the MHM website addressing baking soda concerns. While the method states to dilute the baking soda with water and/or conditioner, I wonder if anyone has tested the pH of the resulting mix to determine the safety for hair use. My main concern is the long term effect on hair and due to this I will no longer be using baking soda on my hair (I used this for the clarifying step during the 7 day challenge). 

Issues with itchy scalp
I experienced itchy scalp some days into the regimen and I am unsure if the culprit was the baking soda or bentonite clay. I was able to remedy this by applying jojoba oil to my scalp.

The Time Factor
Initially when researching the method, I thought phew! how time consuming!!! However, there are several time cutting methods that can be utliized and this involves basically doing each step for the minimum amount of time, for example
Step 1: Clarify -15mins
Step 2: Cowash/Deep Condition/Detangle 30-45mins (incorporating heat) The length of time for detangling depends on hair length and technique
Step 3:  Clay Rinse 15mins (mix clay enough for 2-3 applications ahead to save time)
Step 4 & 5: Leave In & Gel application (I think this depends on individual technique although if you are shingling section by section for optimal definition it can take 20-30 mins)

It is recommended to repeat the regimen every 3-5 days not every single day as is the misconception by some. 

Curl Altering Claims
Some opinions have been expressed that the method alters curl patterns, however this is not true. I always noticed how my curl pattern would be expressed when conditioner was applied but after rinsing out the conditioner the pattern was no where to be found except I re-wet my hair by misting with water.  

The use of conditioner and for this method,clay enhance the existing curls and the styling method captures the curls to retain this. The claim of this method however is that once the hair is fully hydrated and retaining moisture there will be curl definition from root to tip.

Could this be my new regimen?

I am currently exploring whether or not to continue MHM because I know in a few months I will not have the time to jump into the shower several times to rinse my hair and reapply products. The options I am considering are;

- Continue MHM until I reach what is termed Maximum Hydration then switch to a modified curly girl method.

- Adopt a regular curly girl method with curly girl approved products but incorporate clay rinsing /mask once a week.

- Have one wash-day and do the MHM on that day; other days will be a simple cowash.

-Adopt a regular regimen but periodically do a 7 day moisture infusion challenge which will basically follow all MHM steps and use approved products (I think this can be adopted after protective styles or when one's hair is feeling dry).

Finally; Is it worth it???
Yes, I believe the method is worth trying but I advise that you research all aspects, especially ingredients that are controversial. It is important to know why you are using a particular ingredient and it's effects on your hair.  I would recommend this method for ladies who just big chopped as the hair is particularly dry at this point.

I am pretty happy to have stumbled on this method and glad I had the time to actually try it out. I will continue to follow the MHM regimen for the rest of this month and reassess my schedule and regimen. (I will be having baby number 3 next month y'all; a girl!!!) 

I would love to hear your thoughts on the method; do you think it's a bandwagon worth jumping on, is it worth the effort and time? Do share!

Hair DIY: Avocado, Olive Oil and Honey Mask

Hi everyone!

Today I will be sharing information on a DIY hair mask I tried last week using avocado. This is a simple mask with few but highly nourishing ingredients.

This article from Livestrong highlights the benefits of avocados for hair growth when eaten or used as a hair conditioner; it is beneficial for hair growth by protecting and strengthening the hair. Avocados are high in vitamins B and E, which work at the cellular level to protect and strengthen hair. As a conditioner/hair treatment avocados makes hair less dry and prone to breakage, due to the high fat-content.

The recipe I used was from Back to her roots and is shown below; 

INGREDIENTS

1 ripe avocado

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 tablespoons honey

2-3 drops essential oil (optional)

DIRECTIONS

• Cut avocado into 2 halves and scoop out the flesh
• Blend avocado, honey and olive oil until all avocado bits are gone ( I did not blend but mashed the avocado and I found that I had very few bits of avocado particles left in my hair after rinsing).
• Apply the mask to the hair in sections, ensuring that all strands are well coated.
• Cover hair with shower cap for 30-45 minutes.
• Rinse out avocado mask and proceed with styling.

MY RESULTS

Unfortunately I did not take any pictures throughout the whole process :( . While applying the mask to my hair I immediately noticed the slip of the mask which is great for detangling hair. After rinsing my hair felt soft and well moisturized.

Notes

• The mask can be used on relaxed, transitioning or natural hair
• If you have longer hair you can double the ingredients
• You can buy avocadoes in Nigeria at your local fruit seller, they call it 'Pear'
• The avocado to be used should be ripe or even slightly over ripe (should be soft to touch)

Will you be trying this mask or any other? Do share!

Happy Hair Growing!!!

Max Hydration Method: My Experience

I came across the Max(imum) hydration method (MHM) through a post on one of the hair care forums and I was immediately curious upon seeing the results some ladies were reporting. Details on the method can be found on the official website or on the blog of Ms DeeKay who is quite passionate about the method and provides information on the method regularly.

What exactly is the Max Hydration Method!?

The way I understand it, the Max Hydration Method is a hair care regimen that aims to infuse moisture and hydrate the hair until it reaches the point of optimal hydration. It was originally designed for low-porosity, type 4C hair, but can be tweaked for high porosity hair as well.

Basically, low porosity hair does not absorb moisture easily so the regimen uses methods that open the hair cuticles to let in the moisture and help it stay in. 

Source: www.maxhydrationmethod.com

MHM is a five-step regimen and the steps are;

Pre-Step: CHERRY LOLA CARAMEL TREATMENT

 It is recommended that this is done on the first day and every 2 weeks thereafter. It is a modification of the original Cherry Lola Treatment and the Caramel Hair Treatment. On the days it is done, it replaces Step 1 of the regimen.

Step 1: CLARIFY

This step involves the use of baking soda or Apple Cider Vinegar on the hair to clarify.

Step 2: Condition/Co-wash/Detangle

This step involves the use of conditioner on the hair; heat can be applied through the use of a steamer or warming up the conditioner. The conditioner may also be left in overnight. 

Step 3: Clay Rinse

The clay rinse step involves the application of a clay like bentonite or rhassoul clay mixed with other items like honey and olive oil.

Step 4: Botanical Leave in conditioner

Leave-in conditioner is applied in this step

Step 5: Botanical Gel

A botanical gel is applied and this serves as a seal for the moisture and is the final step of the regimen.

**Note that there is a list of approved products for this regimen as it involves avoiding certain ingredients**

My experience

I started the 7 day challenge completed it over 10 days as I had to skip a number of days because other things came up and I could not make the time for the regimen. I did not do the Cherry Lola Caramel treatment as I did not have all the ingredients ready and was eager to jump in to start the regimen. I am quite pleased to have been able to complete the challenge and sticking to it, I sincerely thought I would be able to do only 2 or 3 days!

My routine was to Clarify in the evening using baking soda and conditioner, leave that in for 15-30 minutes, rinse and then apply the conditioner. I would then leave the conditioner in overnight. The next morning I would rinse out the conditioner, apply the clay mix (bentonite clay, honey, olive oil and ACV) leave that in for 15- 30 minutes before rinsing. My styling was a wash and go for the entire period, so I applied the leave in conditioner, sealed with olive or coconut oil and that was it.

I used only the approved products excluding the gel which I did not purchase (Kinky Curly Curling Custard is the approved gel that is readily available in Lagos, although it is expensive). The products I used are;

• Baking soda (purchased from Yem-Yem Supermarket, Unilag)
• Apple Cider Vinegar (purchased from De-Prince Supermarket, Gbagada)
• Trader Joe’s Tea Tree Tingle Conditioner (online purchase from Olori)
• Bentonite Clay (Natural Nigerian brand, online from Olori)
• Kinky Curly Knot Today (online purchase from Sizzelle)

My Results

I usually have my hand in my hair a lot, but even more so while I was on the challenge, I kept checking for the coils and to see how my hair was feeling.By day 3 my hair was feeling more moisturised, although the real test for me will be how long between washes this feeling lasts. I hope the pictures below can give an idea of the changes in my hair as I progressed with MHM.

Dry hair before MHM

MHM Day 1 (after Clay rinse)

MHM: Seeing a difference

Dry hair after 7 day MHM chalenge

From the pictures you can see that while some curls/coils are starting to form it is not uniform across all my hair strands. It is explained that not all hair strands will reach Maximum Hydration at the same time and you can say you have achieved maximum hydration when all hair strands clump together from the root to tip.

The journey to maximum hydration is not a fast one and the 7 day challenge is just a jumpstart. Following the 7 day challenge, it is recommended to redo the steps every 3 days and not to go beyond 5 days before going through all the steps.

RESOURCES

MHMFull Regimen

CherryLola Caramel Treatment

Ms Deekay: MHMApproved Products List

Dubaidee4c

  Next up: My thoughts on the method

February Recap:Hits and Misses

Hits

1. Big Chopping: Yes, I cut the transition short and big chopped in February. I loved having the length but I was tired of hanging on to the relaxed ends and wanted to fully explore my natural texture. I also started having a lot of the relaxed ends breaking off and this just strengthened my resolve to go for it!

Oh! I also dyed my hair using Creme of Nature Exotic Shine in Bronze Copper :)

2. Co-washing: I fell absolutely in love with co-washing and only shampooed twice throughout the month; once to clarify (using ORS creamy aloe shampoo) and the second time with a sulfate-free shampoo (Cream of Nature Argan Oil Sulfate Free Shampoo).

Misses

1. Shea Moisture Curling Gel Souffle: I purchased this in January and tried it several times (on transitioning hair and natural hair), several ways but it just did not define my braid out or twist out.

Hair Care/ Regimen Update:

I am exploring my natural texture and learning what works; one of my goals was to review my regimen and I was more inclined towards either the Curly Girl Method, Tightly Curled Method or the Maximum Hydration Method; after much research I have decided to try the Maximum Hydration Method and started the regimen on the 25th of February. I am currently on the 7 day challenge, I however did not start with the Cherry Lola treatment as I could not get all the ingredients at the time.

The Products I am using are:

• Baking Soda
• Heinz Apple Cider Vinegar
• Trader Joe's Tea Tree Tingle Conditioner
• Bentonite Clay 
• Kinky Curly Knot Today

I am yet to purchase a gel but it would either be Kinky Curly Curling Custard or DIY Flaxseed Gel.

March Plans

- Continue with the Max Hydration Method
- Attend a hair meet up (Naturals in the City)
- Do the original Cherry Lola Treatment
- Have my TWA out 90% of the time

*All products mentioned for the Max Hydration Method were sourced within Lagos, Nigeria; either online or in stores.

Hair Style Inspiration: Faux Locs

Source: funmiodegbami.com

Source: Pinterest

Source: MommyNoire

Hair Care Basics: Moisturizing and Sealing

What is moisturizing

Moisturizing is the process of introducing water to the hair; note that the emphasis is on water. No matter what cream, lotion or spritz used on the hair, water is essential. Our hair thrives when it is well moisturized and it craves moisture to stay hydrated at all times.

Keeping hair well moisturized is important for length retention as it  prevents hair from getting brittle and breaking.

How to moisturize

The path to well moisturized hair starts on your wash day sessions when you drench the hair in water before, during and after cleansing and also deep condition the hair to introduce moisture. While deep conditioning is done at least once a week, in between these sessions the hair will still require hydration. This can be done through the use of moisturizers which may be referred to as;

• Milks
• Spritz
• Creams
• Lotions
• Smoothies

 When in a protective style such as braids, weaves etc a liquid spritz (either bought or DIY) is more suitable for moisturizing.

To qualify as a moisturizer the first ingredient of a product should be WATER, sometimes it may be in the form of some herb-infused solution, but the presence of water is paramount. Plain water is the ultimate moisturizer and this can be used on its own or in a Do-it-yourself mix.

At the start of your hair journey it is advisable to moisturize twice a day to build up moisture levels however as your hair gets healthier once a day should be sufficient. You may however find that your hair may stay hydrated and allow you to go more than a day between moisturizing sessions. Again, this depends on your own hair; another reason why it is important to understand your hair.

Seal in the Moisture

After the application of the hair moisturizer or water, it is important that the moisture is sealed in to prevent the hair from drying out in the shortest period of time. Look at it this way; the hair has been moisturized but as you know the atmosphere and weather conditions can draw out the moisture just like it would from any other material that was drenched in water. To keep the moisture in it is recommended to SEAL after moisturizing, kind of placing a lid on a bowl of water to prevent evaporation.

Sealing involves the application of an oil or mix of oils over the hair strands after moisturizing. Butters such as shea butter, mango butter etc can also be used as sealant for hair. The oil or butter serves as an occlusive agent preventing the loss of moisture to the environment. Natural oils are preferred as sealants because of the unique properties which they pose that serve to promote healthy hair.

Moisturizing methods

In hair forums and blogs you will come across several methods of moisturizing hair including;

1. Moisturize and Seal (M&S): The is involves the application of moisturizer and then sealing with an oil or butter.
2. LOC Method: L.O.C stands for Liquid, Oil, Cream; in this method the products are applied in this order, a liquid product, followed by an oil based product before the application of a cream based product. For example L: Water O: an Oil and C: a styling cream or butter.
3. LCO Method: This is a modification of the LOC method as it was argued that oils should be the final step as they serve to prevent anything from entering the hair cuticle. For the method the liquid based product will be applied first, followed by a cream based product and then finally it is all sealed with oil.

It is advisable to experiment with all methods and find what works for you considering your own hair and the products you are using.

Points to note

1. Water is the number one moisturizer; it must be present as the first ingredient in any moisturizers.
2. Moisturizing is incomplete without sealing in the moisture with an oil or butter.
3. Oils are NOT moisturizers.
4. Water moisturizing method being used; the process of keeping hair hydrated is incomplete without the sealing in the moisture.

Hair Care Basics: Conditioning

Soure: Google

An important part of any healthy hair regimen is conditioning; conditioners restore moisture lost to the shampooing process and improve the hair’s manageability (Audrey Davis-Sivasothy, The Science of Black Hair). There are several different types of conditioners including instant/rinse out conditioners, deep conditioners and leave-in conditioners which can be either moisture replenishing or protein reconstructing.

Based on their ingredients conditioners may serve to replenish moisture or strengthen the hair, it is important to determine the needs of your hair in choosing your deep conditioners. A moisture replenishing and protein reconstructing or strengthening treatment is necessary for all hair types because it is important to maintain the hair’s moisture-protein balance.

Conditioners typically contain several ingredients such as water, plant extracts, oils (natural or synthetic), butters, emollients, conditioning agents such as panthenol, proteins (hydrolyzed silk proteins, aminos, egg proteins etc), humectants, silicones and many others.

Instant/Rinse out conditioners are useful for co-washing or detangling, silicone-free rinse-out conditioners may also be used (mixed with water) as a leave-in conditioner or moisturiser. This is incorporated in several regimens like the Curly Girl Method, Tightly Curled Method and Maximum Hydration method. They are also useful for DIY conditioning mixes and can be tweaked for the purpose of deep conditioning (through addition of oils, herbs or humectants such as glycerin or honey).

Deep Conditioning should be a part of a healthy hair regimen and is recommended to be done weekly. Commercial deep conditioners are often described as deep conditioners, masques, deep treatment, etc.

How to deep condition

• Slather conditioner on the hair strands, it is advisable to do this in small sections to ensure that (as much as possible) all strands are coated. 
• Cover hair with a processing or shower cap 
• Leave on for the recommended time or longer (as you desire). For effectiveness, heat can be incorporated through the use of steamers or heating caps. 
• Rinse with warm water
• Do a final rinse cold water to close the hair cuticles.

It is very important to balance the use of moisturising and protein conditioners; too much moisture or too much protein will lead to setbacks on your journey. A strengthening protein conditioning treatment should always be followed with a moisturising conditioning treatment to avoid the hair being brittle.

Tuesday Tips: How to flat twist

Hello Ladies,

Today I am sharing a video by Sumetra Reed (who rocks the most beautiful twist outs) on how to flat twist. Hope this helps someone!

Happy Hair Growing!

Hair Care Basics: Cleansing (Part II)

Here's the second part of the series on hair and scalp cleansing

How to shampoo

Shampoo should be applied to the scalp and not hair! There is always the general misconception that it needs to be applied to the hair strands in order to cleanse but this not the case.

The actual cleansing action is initiated by the massaging movement of the pads of the fingers. After much trial the method I have found to work for me is to rinse first with water while gently massage my scalp with the pads of my fingers before proceeding to apply shampoo to the scalp and repeating the massaging action.

Shampoo does not have to be applied to hair strands; the run off of the shampoo is enough to cleanse the hair strands. 

No Shampoo Cleansing Methods

There are several other cleansing methods that do not involve the use of shampoo and we look at a few below;

Water-Only Method: this involves the use of only water to cleanse; basically the movement of the pads of the fingers agitates and dislodges the dirt which is then rinsed off. This method would only work with a regimen that does not involve the use of non-water soluble silicones, heavy creams and oils.

Baking Soda Cleansing: there are several available recipes for the use of baking soda as a cleansing again. Typically a few tablespoons of baking soda are diluted with water and applied to the hair and used in the same way conventional shampoo would be used.

Conditioner Washing: this is commonly referred to as co-washing; it involves the use of conditioner (most often a light runny rinse-out conditioner) to cleanse the hair. The idea behind this is that conditioners contain cleansing agents and this in addition to the action of using the fingers to dislodge the dirt would serve to effectively cleanse the hair. With the growing prevalence of co-washing, there are now conditioners available that are labelled as cleansing conditioners.

Mud Washing: There are several formulations that involve the use of clays, most common is Bentonite Clay to detoxify and cleanse the hair.

Points to remember

• Which ever cleansing methods being used, ensure to use the pads of the fingers in a massaging action on the scalp.
•  Longer hair is best washed in sections to prevent tangling.
•  It is important to examine the ingredients of your shampoo to check for the presence of sulfates (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, Ammonium Lauthreth Sulfate)
• Sulfate shampoos are drying to the hair and it is not advised to use these weekly.

Book Club: The Science of Transitioning

Currently reading The Science of Transitioning By Audrey Davis-Sivasothy.

You can buy this from Amazon UK for £1.99 (Kindle format) or $2.99 from Amazon US. This offer lasts until January 31st. 

Hair Care Basics: Cleansing

You have decided to take better care of your hair and commence a healthy hair journey but do not know where to start; this series is designed to breakdown the components of a healthy hair care regimen. First we will look into hair and scalp cleansing.

Cleansing in hair terms is the process of removing product build up and cleaning the scalp to create a healthy growth environment for hair. It is recommended to do this once every 7-10 days, cleansing can be done more often but you have to take care not use shampoo if washing for example every 3 days. Frequent washes are common when sporting shorter hair lengths like the low fade or Teeny Weeny Afro (TWA), while ladies with longer hair may choose to stretch/space out wash days. The right routine or frequency however is a personal preference and you have to find what works for you.

Types of Shampoo

Generally when researching for your healthy hair care you will find that sulfate and non-sulfate shampoos being discussed. Basically for curly/coily/kinky hair which is dry naturally; a sulfate shampoo can be very drying if used regularly. It is preferable to use a sulfate-free shampoo which is gentler and does not strip the hair and scalp of all natural oils.

Based on the function of shampoos they can be classified into; clarifying, chelating and neutralizing.

Clarifying shampoos: as the name implies they clarify the hair and strip the strands of all build up from the use of creams, moisturizers, gels, oils etc. It can be said that all sulfate shampoos are clarifiers, as they strip the hair and scalp of build up and oils.

Chelating Shampoos: these are shampoos that in addition to the clarifying action remove mineral deposits. According to Audrey Davis-Sivasothy in her book The Science of Black Hair, The bonds that minerals make with the hair, however, are stronger than those made by products, dirt and oils, Mineral bonds with the hair fiber are chemical bonds that cannot be removed with the simple surfactants found in moisturizing and clarifying shampoos. A specially formulated chelating shampoo is required to remove mineral deposits from the hair. The ingredients in chelating shampoos chemically bind to hard-water minerals and help lift them away.

Neutralizing shampoos: these are shampoos that are used at the end of a chemical relaxer process to wash out the relaxer from the hair and effectively stop the chemical action. 

Next we will examine How to Shampoo/Cleanse hair and No-Shampoo hair cleansing methods.

Your feedback is much appreciated, please leave a comments and questions below.

Happy Hair Growing!

2015 Hair Goals

My hair goals for 2015 are;

GOAL 1: Maintain healthy transitioning hair

My last relaxer was in July 2014, I intend to transition for at least a year before I review and decide whether or not to big chop. I want to maintain my transitioning hair and incorporate hair practices that keep m hair healthy.

GOAL 2: Hair Regimen Review

My regimen has pretty much been a weekly wash and deep condition for the last few months. I have made no major changes to my hair products and feel it is time to review them and determine what actually still works for my hair and what needs to go.

GOAL 3: Pamper my edges

The biggest hair mistake I made last year has to be getting Ghana Weaving done, I lost my edges in the two weeks I had that hair style. This year I want to pamper and be gentle with my edges.

GOAL 4: Try more natural products

This ties in with my hair regimen review goal, I will try products with more natural ingredients and also try DIY mixes (conditioning and cleansing)

GOAL 5: Keep Blogging

The blog serves as a way to chronicle my journey and  I want to commit myself to continuing the blogging habit.

What are your hair goals for 2015? Do share!

Wash Day Diaries: First wash of 2015

Happy New Year!

I wish everyone the very best this year, may it be a fulfilling year in every aspect of all our lives. 

My year started on a low note as I had an accident at home on the 31st of December; I slipped and fell in the bathroom...ouch! I was in hospital most of the day as I had some pains around my left ribs. I am much better now and was finally able to wash my hair today.

I had intended to do a length check on the 31st but obviously could not. I will do so at a later time.

Back to my wash day;

Detangling
I am still working on my detangling routine, experimenting to see what works best for my transitioning hair. I finger detangled, however there were very few knots in my hair as I had detangled with a brush as few days earlier. I detangle my relaxed ends with oil and spritz a mixture of water and conditioner to detangle my natural hair.



Prepoo
The thing about this wash day was that it was very impromptu, I didn't like the condition my hair was in so I suddenly decided to wash. I proceeded to prepoo with coconut oil on my strands and scalp and covered with a shower cap. I did this on Thursday morning and kept it on all day and overnight.

When I checked my hair in the middle of the day, it felt well moisturized which was what I was aiming for with this wash day due to the current dry weather.

Cleansing

I shampooed using my Creme of nature argan oil sulfate free shampoo. My normal process is a through rinse my scalp and hair with just water before applying shampoo to my scalp.

Conditioning
Instant Conditioning
I intended to do a moisturizing deep condition but I realised I have run out of conditioner! (poor planning) and I didn't want to use Aphogee 2 min reconstructor. I wanted to mix up something using what I had at home, but ruled out using honey and a conditioner with some oils as I am not using honey due to the current dry weather. (Reason: honey is a humecant that draws moisture from the atmposphere, however in dry conditions such as we are having at the moment it is apparently not advisable to use honey. I guess as there is no moisture in the atmposphere, it kind of defeats the purpose)
I did a quick instant condition with Tresemme Naturals Conditioner, as my hair felt quite moisturized as  result of the extra long prepoo with Coconut Oil.

Leave in conditioning
After rinsing out the Tresemme conditioner, I wrapped in a cotton shirt and left it to air-dry for a few minutes before applying Cantu Shea Butter Argan Oil leave in conditioner and sealing with Coconut Oil.

Styling
Nothing fancy; I planned to flat twist but after the routine I had no time for that and my kids needed my attention so I gathered my hair in a high 'bun' and proceeded with my day.

Upcoming Posts

• 2015 Hair Plans & Goals
• My hair products selection
• Hair Regimen Review