I'm hoping to be arm-pit length by my next relaxer in October.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
July 2010 Relaxer
I got a relaxer this week. I had only gone 10 weeks instead of my usual 12 because my roots and edges were really hard to manage. My stylist was really pleased with my hair. I told her to just dust it, but I think she actually trimmed it. I was hoping to see more length, but my hair's health is more important, so I'd rather see my ends look healthy. She used Mizani to relax and deep conditioned with Joico. She roller set my hair with ORS moisturizer and KeraCare setting foam, then she wrapped it.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
An Apology to My Hair
Dear Hair,
I sincerely apologize for letting you down these past couple of months. I know you were dry, hard, tangly and really struggling. It took me some time to figure out what was wrong, but I finally did. I realized that only thing you wanted (and needed) was a chelating and neutralizing shampoo. I went as fast as I could to the store and bought some ORS Olive Oil Creamy Aloe Shampoo, and I can see you are so much happier because of it. Just applying it twice allowed you to get rid of all of the build-up you have held onto all of these months. After the shampoo, I fed you ORS Replenishing Conditioner, and immediately you were your moist, soft, de-tangled, shiny and healthy head of hair again. You hold onto moisture so much better. Your body is thick and shiny and you maintain curls like you did 6 months ago. You even let go some of that black rinse that we are trying so hard to wash out. I thought I had lost the happy, healthy you forever, but all I needed to do was listen to your cries and research your symptoms.
Thank you for being patient with me and not breaking before I could find the remedy to your pain. I wish I could use this shampoo on you weekly, but you know what they say about too much of a good thing. I don't want to cause you any more harm, so I will only use it once or twice a month.
Again, I apologize profusely, and I promise to not let you go this long in pain ever again.
Truly,
Tiffanita
Ingredients:
Water Aqua , Cocamidopropyldimethylamine Propionate , Trideceth-7 Carboxylic Acid , PPG-5-Ceteth-10 Phosphate , Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate , Ammonium Laureth Sulfate , Lauramide Glucoside , Lauryl Glucoside , Polyquaternium-10 , Cocoglucoside , Glyceryl Oleate , Disodiium EDTA , Olive Oil Olea Europaea , Cetrimonium Carboxydecyl , PEG-8 Dimethicone , Cetrimonium Chloride , Sulfated Castor Oil , Lecithin , Propylene Glycol , PEG-12 Oleate , Silicone Quaternium-2 , Panthenol Succinate , Fragrance Parfum , Aloe Barbadensis Gel , Glyceryl Polymethacrylate , Propylene Glycol , Polyquaternium-7 , Cocamide MEA , Glycol Distearate , Sodium Laureth Sulfate , Triethanolamine , DMDM Hydantoin , Methylparaben , Propylene Glycol , Propyl Paraben , Methylchloroisothiazolinone , Methylisothiazolinone , Green No. 3 Cl 42053 , Yellow No. 5 Cl 19140
I sincerely apologize for letting you down these past couple of months. I know you were dry, hard, tangly and really struggling. It took me some time to figure out what was wrong, but I finally did. I realized that only thing you wanted (and needed) was a chelating and neutralizing shampoo. I went as fast as I could to the store and bought some ORS Olive Oil Creamy Aloe Shampoo, and I can see you are so much happier because of it. Just applying it twice allowed you to get rid of all of the build-up you have held onto all of these months. After the shampoo, I fed you ORS Replenishing Conditioner, and immediately you were your moist, soft, de-tangled, shiny and healthy head of hair again. You hold onto moisture so much better. Your body is thick and shiny and you maintain curls like you did 6 months ago. You even let go some of that black rinse that we are trying so hard to wash out. I thought I had lost the happy, healthy you forever, but all I needed to do was listen to your cries and research your symptoms.
Thank you for being patient with me and not breaking before I could find the remedy to your pain. I wish I could use this shampoo on you weekly, but you know what they say about too much of a good thing. I don't want to cause you any more harm, so I will only use it once or twice a month.
Again, I apologize profusely, and I promise to not let you go this long in pain ever again.
Truly,
Tiffanita
Ingredients:
Water Aqua , Cocamidopropyldimethylamine Propionate , Trideceth-7 Carboxylic Acid , PPG-5-Ceteth-10 Phosphate , Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate , Ammonium Laureth Sulfate , Lauramide Glucoside , Lauryl Glucoside , Polyquaternium-10 , Cocoglucoside , Glyceryl Oleate , Disodiium EDTA , Olive Oil Olea Europaea , Cetrimonium Carboxydecyl , PEG-8 Dimethicone , Cetrimonium Chloride , Sulfated Castor Oil , Lecithin , Propylene Glycol , PEG-12 Oleate , Silicone Quaternium-2 , Panthenol Succinate , Fragrance Parfum , Aloe Barbadensis Gel , Glyceryl Polymethacrylate , Propylene Glycol , Polyquaternium-7 , Cocamide MEA , Glycol Distearate , Sodium Laureth Sulfate , Triethanolamine , DMDM Hydantoin , Methylparaben , Propylene Glycol , Propyl Paraben , Methylchloroisothiazolinone , Methylisothiazolinone , Green No. 3 Cl 42053 , Yellow No. 5 Cl 19140
Monday, July 12, 2010
Aloe Vera Juice Mix
I am really enjoying my aloe vera juice mix, which I adapted from Traycee. I spray it on my hair while it's wet and it air dries really moist:
I also use it on my baby's hair. His hair is curly (not kinky like mine at all!), but gets dry fast. I spray it on after his bath. Before I started using this, parts of his hair would be curly, while other parts stayed straight. Now his whole head stays curly, and the curls are a lot more defined. His hair has really benefited from it in the past couple of weeks.
I keep my spray bottle of this mix in the refrigerator. I bought a big bottle of the aloe vera juice (from Walmart), so I don't know what I'm going to do with all that juice I have. I tried to drink it, but didn't like the taste. Yesterday, I gave my friend, who is also on a healthy hair journey, a liter of it, but I still have a lot left!
1 cup aloe vera juice
2 teaspoons glycerin
1/4 cup distilled water
I also use it on my baby's hair. His hair is curly (not kinky like mine at all!), but gets dry fast. I spray it on after his bath. Before I started using this, parts of his hair would be curly, while other parts stayed straight. Now his whole head stays curly, and the curls are a lot more defined. His hair has really benefited from it in the past couple of weeks.
I keep my spray bottle of this mix in the refrigerator. I bought a big bottle of the aloe vera juice (from Walmart), so I don't know what I'm going to do with all that juice I have. I tried to drink it, but didn't like the taste. Yesterday, I gave my friend, who is also on a healthy hair journey, a liter of it, but I still have a lot left!
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Bantu Knot Success!
Finally! Last night I co-washed, air dried and set my hair with bantu knots. This morning, my hair looked pretty good! I have received a lot of compliments from my co-workers, and my man, which is rare.
Again, I co-washed with V05, applied Salerm 21 leave-in, my aloe vera juice mix and some Hawaiian Silky 14-in-1. After my hair dried, I applied more Hawaiian Silky, some Silk Elements Mousse, and sealed my ends with KeraCare Essential Oils. I did 3 bantu knots- one on each side and one in the back. I usually do 6 or 7, but I've realized that doing fewer knots makes my hair look so much thicker. I was worried when I went to bed about the one knot in the back, but when I woke up, it looked great. I just put a little oil on my ends and some serum on my hair for shine. I still need to work on getting the top of my hair smooth, but I'm happy with the results overall.
My edges look a little better today than yesterday too. I did the scarf method on my edges while it dried. I didn't use the aloe vera gel; instead I used Paul Mitchell Foaming Pomade. My hair stylist used to use it to slick my hair down when it was short. It worked okay, but I'm still looking for something better. The good thing is that my hair covers most of my edges today. I still have some Elasta QP Glaze at home, so I'll try that tonight. If that doesn't work, I'll have to go shopping for something. I forgot to take a picture, but I'll try to take one later tonight.
I also need to do something about thesegray platinum hairs sprouting up around my edges. I had been using the Adore black rinse, but it has started to dry my hair out. Plus, after a while black rinses become permanent in my hair, so I don't want to do them as often. I've been seriously considering henna, but I'm going to wait until after my next relaxer. 
Again, I co-washed with V05, applied Salerm 21 leave-in, my aloe vera juice mix and some Hawaiian Silky 14-in-1. After my hair dried, I applied more Hawaiian Silky, some Silk Elements Mousse, and sealed my ends with KeraCare Essential Oils. I did 3 bantu knots- one on each side and one in the back. I usually do 6 or 7, but I've realized that doing fewer knots makes my hair look so much thicker. I was worried when I went to bed about the one knot in the back, but when I woke up, it looked great. I just put a little oil on my ends and some serum on my hair for shine. I still need to work on getting the top of my hair smooth, but I'm happy with the results overall.
My edges look a little better today than yesterday too. I did the scarf method on my edges while it dried. I didn't use the aloe vera gel; instead I used Paul Mitchell Foaming Pomade. My hair stylist used to use it to slick my hair down when it was short. It worked okay, but I'm still looking for something better. The good thing is that my hair covers most of my edges today. I still have some Elasta QP Glaze at home, so I'll try that tonight. If that doesn't work, I'll have to go shopping for something. I forgot to take a picture, but I'll try to take one later tonight.
I also need to do something about these
Update: I took a picture when I got home from work:
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Air Drying
It's has been hot as hades lately. I washed and rollerset my hair on Saturday, but by Tuesday, it was so nasty from all the sweating I did over the weekend, I had to wash it. I used to be very cold-natured, but ever since I got pregnant last year, my body temperature is about 10 degrees higher. I thought I would balance back out after having the baby, but nope. Anyway, I had to wash my hair last night. I co-washed with V05. When I got out of the shower, I applied a little Salerm 21 leave-in, and sprayed my new aloe vera juice-glycerin-water mix (thanks Traycee). I put a little Hawaiian Silky 14-in-1 on my ends. I then put some aloe vera gel to my edges, put a scarf just around my edges, and let my hair airdry.
Because it was 200 degrees outside, my hair didn't take long to dry at all. I couldn't believe how soft and moist my hair was! I didn't want to do a braidout or bantu knot out because I'm still new to these styles, and I never know what I'm going to get. I wasn't trying to go to work looking crazy. So I put a little moisturizer in my hair, sealed my ends with oil, put my hair in a bun and went to bed. This morning, my hair was rough! My ends were good though- probably from the oil and from tucking them in. I just put some more moisturizer on my hair and put it in a side bun. I would have liked my hair and my edges to be smoother. The aloe vera gel isn't cutting it on my edges, so I'll have to try a better gel. Also, for my hair, I probably should have kept smoothing my hair down like Sunshyne does. But at least I know I can airdry! I may co-wash again and try the bantu knots. Worst thing that can happen is that I have to put my hair up in a bun, right?
Because it was 200 degrees outside, my hair didn't take long to dry at all. I couldn't believe how soft and moist my hair was! I didn't want to do a braidout or bantu knot out because I'm still new to these styles, and I never know what I'm going to get. I wasn't trying to go to work looking crazy. So I put a little moisturizer in my hair, sealed my ends with oil, put my hair in a bun and went to bed. This morning, my hair was rough! My ends were good though- probably from the oil and from tucking them in. I just put some more moisturizer on my hair and put it in a side bun. I would have liked my hair and my edges to be smoother. The aloe vera gel isn't cutting it on my edges, so I'll have to try a better gel. Also, for my hair, I probably should have kept smoothing my hair down like Sunshyne does. But at least I know I can airdry! I may co-wash again and try the bantu knots. Worst thing that can happen is that I have to put my hair up in a bun, right?
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Mega Care Grape Seed Oil
I have written about how much I love grape seed oil a few times on here. I have to admit though, that the oil I use is not 100% grape seed oil. I use the Mega Care brand, which has other oils in it. I love this stuff! It keeps my hair really smooth- even if my hair gets frizzy from the weather or something, I apply a little of this to my hair and it's smooth again! The best part is that it only cost me 99 cents at my local beauty supply store. AND, I've been on this same bottle for almost 2 years. A little goes a long way. I seal with it almost every day, and for my last wash, I added a few drops to my conditioner. I may buy 100% grape seed oil one day, but for now, I'm sticking with this. Here's what it looks like. Sorry for the bad picture- I took it with my phone, and the bottle is a little grimy. I did say that I've had it for 2 years!
Ingredients: Grape seed oil, sweet almond oil, olive oil, sunflower oil, castor oil, wheat germ oil, tocopherol (vitamin e), fragrance
All of these oils are really good. My hair usually loves anything with sunflower oil. I've also seen Mega Care shea butter oil, carrot oil, olive oil and tea tree oil. I tried the shea butter oil and wasn't that impressed with it on my hair, but it's pretty good for my skin.
Ingredients: Grape seed oil, sweet almond oil, olive oil, sunflower oil, castor oil, wheat germ oil, tocopherol (vitamin e), fragrance
All of these oils are really good. My hair usually loves anything with sunflower oil. I've also seen Mega Care shea butter oil, carrot oil, olive oil and tea tree oil. I tried the shea butter oil and wasn't that impressed with it on my hair, but it's pretty good for my skin.
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