Re-visiting the Wrap

It's no secret that I have a love/hate relationship with wrapping my hair. I always complain that wrapping doesn't work for me because the side I end the wrap (the crazy side) is always jacked up. The ends are frizzy and it sticks out on that side. But I do love how the other side comes out- my ends are smooth and my hair is bouncy and has great movement. Well, since I got my last relaxer almost 5 weeks ago, all I've been doing is wrapping my hair- all the way around- and it's been coming out great! I've been getting tons of compliments and people keep asking me where I get my hair done. I think the biggest factor my success is the fact that my hair is so much healthier than it has been in years, so my ends aren't frizzy at all. Also, my hair is longer, so it's heavier. I'm not quite at shoulder length yet (hopefully within the next month or 2!), but having some length does help it fall better. Some other things that have helped are:

changing the direction of my wrap after each wash every week. It's winter, so it's cold and dry and I'm not as motivated to wash my hair as often, so I've been washing it once a week. One week I wrap to the left every day, the next week I wrap to the right. I think it's also helping to prevent breakage and weak edges. After about 5 days, I'm not feeling the wrap as much, but if I put some rollers in it for an hour or so, I get the body back.

moisturizing and brushing the crazy side. My linesister always yells at me to "just put some oil on it and brush it." It definitely works! I just brush the crazy side 3-4 times to

using light products. All I have been using is KeraCare Creme Hairdress every day and applying grapeseed oil on the ends- both moisturize my hair well without weighing it down. Having body and bounce is important to me.

wrapping tightly after rollersetting. This was my "ah ha" moment. My stylist wraps my hair wonderfully and doesn't understand why I keep telling her that I can't wrap my hair or the wrap doesn't work for me. About a month ago after I took the rollers out, my boyfriend helped me with the saran wrap and he did it extra tight. When I combed my hair out after sitting under the dryer for 15 minutes, my hair looked amazing, and I was 7 weeks post relaxer! I don't wrap my hair that tight every night, but I do wrap it as tight as I can after rollersetting. My hair falls a lot better and my roots are so much less puffy.

I'm not sure I'll be able to wrap much after 5-6 weeks post relaxer because my roots will be puffy, but I'm going to try!

My Top Hair Product Discoveries

Here are my 5 top hair product discoveries within the past year. They have really helped turn my hair around:

5. V05 Moisture Milks/Giovanni Direct Leave-in Conditioner (tie)
I discovered conditioner washing in '08 and my favorite product to co-wash with is V05, especially the Strawberries and Cream. This has given me more moisture, slip and overall strength. Givoanni Direct Leave-in is the best leave-in conditioner I have ever used. My comb just slides through my hair after applying it, and it really moisturizes my hair.

4. Grapeseed Oil
I don't know what it is about this oil, but it turns my frizzy ends into smooth and sleek ends while not weighing my hair down at all!

3. KeraCare Creme Hairdress
At the start of my hair journey last January, I knew that my main problem was lack of moisture. It took a little while for me to fall it love with it, but I think that's because my hair was so damaged that it wasn't absorbing products as well. I only need a little of this moisturizer to quench my hair's thirst, and the shine it gives is amazing.

2. Organic Root Stimulator Olive Oil Replenishing Pak
I can't rave enough about this conditioner I use weekly. I've tried others, but nothing compares to how moisturized and sleek my hair feels from this. In general, my hair hates olive oil, but this must have just enough, or is mixed with some other great products to work on my hair fabulously. Don't ask me why I haven't bought the bottle yet!

and my #1 product discovery was.....

COCONUT OIL!
I use coconut oil as a sealant, moisturizer, conditioner and leave-in conditioner. I love the fact that it's light, smells yummy, gives amazing shine, adds a little protein, and cost me less than $5. I have to remind myself that a little goes a long way. During my last wash, I mistakenly sprayed more coconut oil+water mix than I usually do before I roller set. My hair came out heavier, but not weighed down at all...it's like my hair just drank it up. I am actually liking my hair a little heavier this week. It looks so much thicker and healthier. It feels like I have my old (when it was healthy) hair back!

So of course I will continue to use these products this year. I want to try a couple of new conditioners and oils, but overall I'm happy with my regimen and staple products. I don't consider myself a hair product junkie anymore, because I have found things that my hair loves. I am not a happy camper when I try a product that doesn't work for me. I will try to only buy new products when I have run out of something I already have.

I am extremely grateful to all of the members on the hair boards I am a member of, and all of the women who read my blog and give me great advice. Without them, I would probably still flatiron my dry, damaged hair every other day!