Relaxer Time

I'm getting a relaxer this weekend- I'll be at 8 weeks. Since I started my healthy hair journey a little over a year ago, I have been getting relaxers every 8 weeks. This is huge, considering since I got my first perm at age 14, I have never gone past 6. There were even times when I would get a relaxer every 4 weeks. My hair has thanked me for waiting longer by growing thick and healthy. I never want to stretch too long because I don't like all the shedding, but after this time, I'm going to try to go 9 weeks for the next year.

If I didn't have a formal event to go to this weekend, I would wait another week to get a relaxer. I'm really loving my thick hair right now. Surprisingly, my roots aren't too bad. I can see new growth, but the natural curl pattern is looser than usual, so it's very manageable. I like big hair anyway. Even my edges aren't as "nappy" like they usually are this long after a relaxer. I think the co-washes have a lot to do with it- I'm only using shampoo every other week now. I'm getting better at rollersetting, which is helping too.

A year ago, my hair was a little longer than it is now, but it was in the worse condition it had ever been in. My strands were thin and weak, my ends were over processed, and my hair wasn't really absorbing any products. I had just about made shoulder length last March, but what good was it if my hair didn't look good and couldn't hold a style? I am so glad that I got a lot of my hair cut off and turned it into a healthy head of hair. Even my bad hair days aren't so bad now. I actually get more compliments when I put my hair up in a clip!

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!

Parched Hair

My hair feels dry today! Not super dry, and it's really just the ends that feel dry. I know one reason is because I didn't moisturize it this morning (*slapping my hand*). I was running late being lazy and kept my hair wrapped in my silk scarf and just put a hat on when I left for work without taking it down to moisturize it like I usually do. The other reason I think is the conditioner I used the other day. The Pantene Breakage Defense Mask was great the first few times I used it, but now my hair doesn't feel as moisturized from it anymore. I even added a few drops of jojoba and sweet almond oils to it this time. Maybe it's good for the summer months when the humidity is high, but not good during the winter when the air is this dry. I guess I'll stick to my ORS Replenishing.

I also need to keep some moisturizer/oil at work!

2009 Hair Goals

Since 2008 is wrapping up, I decided to list my hair goals for the new year. I am very pleased with my hair progress this year. Even though I had to cut it in the spring, I feel that it was the best thing I ever did- my over processed ends would never have recovered. I also learned a lot about my hair (it's fine, not thin) and discovered a lot of products that my hair does and does not like. In 2009, I'm looking forward to longer, thicker and healthier tresses!

My goals this past year were to:
1. Achieve more thickness - I don't want to see through my hair! Done! After getting my hair cut in June, I have been able to keep my hair looking thick with the proper moisturizers, conditioners and almost NO heat
2. Wait at least 7-8 weeks between relaxers (I usually go 6, but I've realized it's too short) Done! I haven't gone less than 8 weeks since 2007
3. Be able to rollerset my hair and have it look like I got it done almost done!
4. Find a healthy platinum coverage Done! Adore semi-permanent is my staple now
5. Take hair/nails/skin vitamins Done! I've been taking pre-natal vitamins for about 3 months now
6. Stop scratching my scalp & playing in my hair during the day Done! I hardly ever scratch my scalp now- I haven't had any flakes in months and I almost never burn when getting a relaxer...unfortunately, I still play in my hair too much, but not nearly as much as I used to


Tiffanita's 2009 Hair Goals:

• Achieve even more thickness and strength
• Reach arm-pit length by December '09 (I think I can make shoulder length by March)
• Stick to my regimen and staple products
• Keep my regimen and maintenance as simple as possible
• Achieve less breakage
• Try new styles (rod sets, braidouts, updo's, etc.)

Tiffanita's 2009 Plan to Reach Hair Goals:

• Incorporate more protein in my regimen (i.e. adding an egg to conditioner, using protein conditioners more often)
• Seal ends with castor oil at least 3x a week for thickness
• Only try new products when I run out of something I'm not crazy about...and only buy products for my hair type
• Start wearing hair up in a clip or bun now that it's long enough, and continue to keep my hair in a silk scarf and hat when I'm out in the winter weather
• Read more magazines and blogs to find new styles and techniques, and not be afraid to try them- the worst that can happen is I'll have to re-wash my hair, right?!

Good @ 6 Weeks

I'm usually borderline disgusted with my hair at 6 weeks post relaxer. This time, it is so manageable and I am actually okay with how it looks. I was thinking of going another 3 weeks instead of 2, but then again, I want a fresh relaxer for Christmas! I am experiencing a little shedding and breakage, but not too much. The key for me is moisture and low maintenance.

I have been moisturizing my hair with Keracare Hairdressing Crème twice a day. I was using the B&B oil moisturizer after 5 weeks, but I’ve realized that it makes my hair too wet, which causes frizz. After moisturizing, I seal with coconut or grape seed oil. Last week I bought some jojoba oil and sweet almond oil from GNC. I haven’t used the sweet almond oil yet on my hair (it’s great on my skin), but I used the jojoba oil on my new growth and my ends twice and I like it. Grape seed oil is still my favorite oil to keep my strands silky.

At night after I moisturize and seal with oil, I brush my sides to the back, like I’m doing a cross-wrap and then I put 2 rollers in the back. I was pincurling, but pincurling is always a risk for me- sometimes my hair looks great, other times it’s frizzy and crazy-looking. Using the 2 rollers has kept my hair somewhat straight, but with a little wave and body. When I wake up, I comb out my hair, moisturize and seal, then do it again, but with pincurls instead of rollers. I put my silk scarf back on, put a hat over it, and comb my hair out when I get to work.

Product Review: Hask Pure Shine Polishing Serum

I’ve been wanting to try this serum for a while. Lately I’ve been using Paul Mitchell’s Super Skinny Serum, which I really like, but it’s expensive and I wanted an alternative. My girl Tamika G. from a couple of the hair boards I’m on has been raving about the Hask serum forever. It was on sale (buy 1 get 1 free) at Walgreens, so I bought 2 bottles.

Product Description
Hask Pure Shine Polishing Serum with special silk proteins is formulated to repair, strengthen and condition dry, damaged and overstressed hair. Delivers shaping power, volume and texture for a smooth frizz free look. This lightweight formula with UV protectors is a must for styling with all thermal tools. Use daily on either wet or dry hair for the smooth shiny styles you've always wanted. Can be used daily & is ideal for use on chemically treated hair.

DIRECTIONS:

Damp Hair:
- Apply a few drops in palm of hand and rub hands together.
- Distribute evenly through hair.
- Style as usual.

Dry Hair:
- After styling hair apply a few drops in palm of hand and rub hands together.
- Smooth on hair for a polished fresh look and feel.

Ingredients
Cyclomethicone , Dimethiconol , Silk Amino Acid , Aloe Barbadensis Extract , Grape Seed Oil , Macadamia Nut Oil , Octyl Methoxycinnamate , Phenyl Trimethicone , Fragrance Parfum , Dioctyl Sebacate

My Experience
I co-washed and deep conditioned my hair. I applied a dime-sized amount of Giovanni leave-in and sprayed my hair with my water/coconut oil mix. My roots are thick and I was worried about my rollerset coming out puffy, so I decided to spray just a little of my usual Skinny Serum/water mix. I then rubbed a dime-sized amount of the Hask Serum in my hair and rollerset as usual.

My hair came out silky, shiny and moist. Even my new growth is softer than usual, but I’m not sure if that’s from the serum or one of the conditioners. I probably didn’t need to use the other serum with it, so I will try it by itself next time. It’s been 5 days since I washed and my hair is still looking just as shiny and silky. I’ve found a new staple product! I’m a little past 6 weeks post relaxer, and with results this good, I can only imagine how my set will come out after a fresh relaxer! I noticed that it contains grape seed oil, which my hair loves.