CARMEL PROCESS UPDATED

So, I did it. I took the plunge into carmel processing and can honestly say that I am glad I did it because I have achieved the exact level of hair softness that I have desperately craved! At this moment I have unwrapped and combed my hair. It is now clipped up on my head, with my ends off my back and my hair feels like silk! Never in my life have I experienced this hair texture. The hair shaft is soft and shiny. My hair looks full and in my opinion, stunning. I have not even added heat, yet!

I mixed the ingredients (see last post) together without adding any water and the result was a dark brown paste that smelt like @$$!!! Each time I inhaled the mixture, I gagged! For that reason, I added several drops of Lavender oil. That definitely made the mixture much more manageable.I applied the carmel like I would a relaxer. I kept it off my scalp. However, the mixture I made was insufficient because i did not have enough carmel to coat on my hair strands. So, I made an additional mix with just half the amount I used for the original mix and this time, I added some water so as to make coating the hair shaft easier. I then put on my shower cap and somehow managed to fall asleep for 3 hours or so.

When I woke up, I rinsed out the carmel. I noticed that my hair felt strong, but not 'bullet proof' strong like it usually does after a Protein deep condition. Anyway, I did a quick condition with SH and then washed with DE Anti-Itch shampoo twice, focusing on my scalp. Then I conditioned with SH again and then put ORS RP and left that in my hair while I showered. When i washed the ORS out, my hair felt incredibly silky and my roots were lying flat on my head.Here is what my hair looked like after washing -
Here is what my hair looked like after it was dry -

Basically, this process was easy to do and the results were incredible and, in fact, I will be doing the carmel process to my daughter's hair on Saturday morning. I will also do it to anyone who asks.


UPDATE: I reluctantly put heat n my hair because I had to attend a function. My hair was most definitely swanging! My roots were okay but not bone straight. In fact, I felt that I needed more heat for some reason. Maybe that's because I haven't used the FHI iron in a long time.

CARMEL PROCESS

Since the day I heard about this process, I have wanted to do it. I have seen various variations on how to achieve the mixture and have finally settled on my own ingredients for my own unique concoction.

The following are the ingredients

1. Molasses 2 tablespoons
2. Olive oil 2 tablespoons
3. Grapeseed Oil 2 tablespoons
4. Castor Oil 2 tablespoons
5. Glycerin 2 tablespoons
6. Honey 2 tablespoons
7. Water 1 tablespoon
8. Vinegar (ACV) 1 capfull
9. Cornstarch add for thickness

The original formula I saw, required bananas, wheatgerm oil, carrot oil. Upon looking at other formulas, i see that many others do not include wheatgerm, carrot oil or bananas. If after my first attempt, I do not get the results I am looking for, I will simply buy Vitamin E oil to replace Wheatgerm oil, baby bananas food and Carrot oil.

OBJECTIVE: My goal is to get my hair EXTREMELY soft and shiny. I also need to get my new growth EXTRA soft, so I hope the molasses and glycerin will help.

PROCEDURE: I will divide my hair into 4 sections and apply the mixture with a relaxer brush to my roots. Once roots are done, I will apply to the length of the various sections. I will then pack it on to the ends, and massage. I will then put on a shower cap, apply a blow dryer for 5-10 minutes, then sit and relax for 35-40 minutes for a total waiting time of 45-60 minutes. At the end of the waiting period, I will wash out with DE shampoo, condition with DE Stimulations or SH depending on how my hair feels. I will then put some KeraCare foam lotion, SCurl, Vatika and KeraCare Creme. I will then wrap my hair and tomorrow, I will add heat.

I will take pictures of the entire process!

CO WASHING REPORT

ADVANTAGES
After 6 days of cowashing, I can definitely understand why people love it. Once you figure out what works for your hair, cowashing can be a very rewarding experience. For my hair, it is clear that moisturizing with Suave Humectant and ORS Replenishing Pack, makes sense. I did that on Saturday night and on Sunday afternoon, I oiled my scalp and massaged with my own oil mix. Then I also added a dime size of Vatika and the result was incredible! My hair was soft and shiny without being overly greasy. Though, I think I will experiment with jojoba oil as I hear that it is much lighter than most.

Additionally, I noticed a drastic reduction in hair breakage and for the first time in my life, now understand the difference between breakage and shedding! I now experience hair shedding from the root and not breaking at the ends! I also try to finger comb more often which is much easier now that my new growth (8 weeks post) is so soft! I have never seen my natural hair so flexible and malleable. And, I use no heat! This new regimen is amazing!

DISADVANTAGES
There are however, some negatives to cowashing. It appears that although protein makes my hair practically 'bullet proof', I do not like the lack of softness that results. As a result, I know that I need to be gentle with protein conditioned hair and forgo a comb for Bantu knots which gave me good results for a first timer.

Another detriment is the amount of water used. All that washing can become quite expensive. Furthermore, the time required to prepoo, deep condition, moisturize, massage scalp daily and whatever else, is quite excessive. However, I see the results already in the form of less breakage, more sheen, softer roots and healthy looking ends. Therefore, I am sold!

FUTURE ADDITIONS TO REGIMEN
Looking forward, I want to start the MN/Sulfur Challenge and also do the Carmel procedure. From what I have seen, MN/Sulfur can increase hair growth. I will however, look out for any adverse effects and thus will only use the product for 2-3 weeks and give my scalp a break of 2 weeks before resuming the regimen. As to the Carmel, if I am already achieving the softness I get now, i can only imagine that Carmel will make things better. As such, I will begin to amass the products needed to create the mixture and do it this week on Thursday.

I also want to add molasses to my routine. I am not sure where exactly to slip it in, but I think it will become obvious eventually.

Henceforth, my regimen shall be as follows:
MONDAYS - Ghee+ Olive oil + egg (prepoo)/Shikakai-amla + SH (to soften) + ORS Mayo (protein deep condition).
TUESDAYS - Baggy + Bantu Knots
WEDNESDAYS - Oil mixture + Vatika (prepoo)/SH + ORS RP(moisture deep condition)
THURSDAYS - MOISTURE day
FRIDAYS - Baggy ends
SATURDAYS - MOISTURE day
SUNDAYS - Baggy ends

GOALS
In the short term, the obvious goals are to gain healthy longer hair and a cleaner scalp. However I hope to have APL by June and BSL by December! Aim high!

Co washing week continued

THURSDAY NIGHT
Procedure: I prepood with a mix of honey, camellia, evoo, lavender, vatika, tea tree oil and massaged scalp in the afternoon. At night, I put Dove Advanced Color Conditioning mask in my hair for 30 minutes. Washed with Tresemme Moisture conditioner. I then sprayed leave in conditioner (DE), put some Keracare creme, SCurl, and locked with vatika.
Result: My hair felt same as the day before but even less breakage when I finally combed. The roots were relatively soft and wrapping was a breeze. My scalp still did not feel squeeky clean but I again did not use brush. My hair smells great though.
Follow Up: I will use my hair oil again and heat it up this time. I will also purchase Suave humectant and hope for some more softness. Also, I will begin t find products for my MN/Sulfur regimen which will begin in March. I must also begin to acquire the ingredients for the carmel solution.

FRIDAY NIGHT
Procedure: Applied Dove Mask for about 15 minutes. Washed with Humectant and my hair was super hard, so I washed again with humectant and then put some ORS RP in it which softened the hair. Then I added some detangler which doesn't work. I added KeraCare creme and then SCurl and oil mix. Wrapped my hair.
Result: My hair felt alright. I experienced a lot more breakage than I have all week. I am now convinced that the Dove conditioner is actually Protein (moderate) and that the Tresemme is Protein as well.
Follow Up: Will use Humectant and ORS RP tomorrow.

SATURDAY:
Procedure: Prepood with oil mix and it actually mad emy hair extremely soft. Husband loved the smell and feel. =) I washed with Humectant and left ORS RP in my hair for over 3 hours. Washed out and had very soft hair.
Result: There was very little breakage, in fact mostly shedding as I saw roots come out. I added SCurl, oil mix, Vatika to roots, length and ends. Then I added a little KC creme and pulled my hair into a pony tail.
Follow Up: Will add some oil mix and wrap my hair up because the pony tail left my hair a little frizzy! and the end didn't dry over night.

Co washing week

MONDAY EVENING - SHIKAKAI
Procedure: Mixed Shikakai with water into a paste. Did not measure things precisely. I rubbed into my hair and left it on for an hour. After rinsing it out, I put some ORS replenishing pack in my hair and sat for 30 minutes. I then washed it out and sprayed SCurl in my hair. I then sealed with a lot of Vatika oil.
Result: My hair was hard as hell! Also the Shikakai left flecks in hair. It was hard to comb and I experienced a lot of tangles and breakage when I combed. Also, my scalp was itching.
Follow up: I read up on the Shikakai process and have discovered that I made a few mistakes.
1 - Used too much shikakai
2 - did not pre-poo with Vatika
3 - should not have rubbed the product around like shampoo, only made it harden
4 - should use it with amla powder, an egg and some water and mostly put it on scalp.

I will try this process again and hopefully will make it part of my weekly cowash regimen if it works the next time.

TUESDAY EVENING:
Procedure: Deep conditioned with ORS Mayo and left in my hair for 40 minutes. I washed it out and put SCurl and Vatika.
Result: Hair was better than the day before. Little breakage, but lots of shrinkage. My scalp was itching and did not feel clean. I wrapped my hair and the excess Vatika was thickening on my hair.
Follow Up: I will wash with an actual shampoo tomorrow and hope for the best. Also, I will put a lot less Vatika. Only about a dime's worth is needed.

WEDNESDAY EVENING:
Procedure: I put some ORS mayo. I focused on the scalp and ends, then wore a shower cap and wrapped a towel around head for 20 minutes. I then washed with Design Essentials Anti Itch shampoo. I conditioned with Design Essentials Stimulations. Then I put a little ORS Replenishing Pak along the length and especially on my temples. I then washed it out, squeezed water from hair and after letting it dry a little, I added SCurl and 3 dime worth of Vatika. I then combed gently.
Result: My hair was feeling great after the Stimulations conditioner. Had I stopped there I would have been happy. However, adding the ORS seemed to cause some shrinkage. Nevertheless, I have never had so little breakage. I still had some tangles which probably from the ORS replenishing pack. Because the DE always leaves my hair extremely soft and tangle free. As usual I wrapped my hair.
Follow up: I will use a mixture of warm olive oil, tea tree oil, Vatika oil, lavender and camellia oil to massage my scalp, because it is STILL itching! I will purchase eiter Queen Helene conditioner or Pantene Hair Mask (or both) and use it to co wash. The next time I cowash I will use my trusty scalp scrubber.