1 Year Without Relaxers!

I can't believe it, but it has been 1 year since I last got a relaxer put in.

YEEHAW!

At 4 months post, I put in braids.

I took them out 3 and a half months later, and was left with tangles after I put conditioner in it overnight. Welp!

Anyway, I followed that up with crochet braids and have kept that up over the last 4 and a half months.

I would like to go another year without a relaxer but I'm not going to make any promises.

Instead, I'll take it one day at a time.

Cowash and ACV rinse

So, I washed my hair with conditioner yesterday, about 4 times. Then I did at least 4 full ACV rinses and stayed in the shower to rinse EVERYTHING out of my sad hair.

I let it air dry while watching Olympics and combed though with fingers first and then with my shower comb. I applied moisture mix and Rusk serum. I wrapped it up and went to bed.

Today, I am afraid to look under my scarf. No, I am terrified to see what is going on.

If I am still experiencing shedding, that will be a serious problem.

I pray I am not.

I'm going to go clean bathrooms for now. After that, I will try vacuuming the first floor. I need to go to Target and get a large plastic tote container to store blankets. We have a lot of them and proper storage of them and certain other beddings will make my life easier.

STILL SAD!

My thinning hair continues to shed and break and despite working through the tangles, letting it airdry and then blowdrying (on low) and flat ironing (to make my hair presentable, it looks like a mess!!!!!!

I will therefore do a co-wash in a few days and an apple-vinegar rinse, with hope that my hair will respond positively.

I have begun searching for Vitale relaxer, which was used on my head in DA in January. I can get it from Sally's and will go there soon. I plan to relax the weekend of the 18th, hopefully.

*sigh*

HAIR & PRODUCT REVIEW

I washed my hair for the first time since my touch up on Tuesday afternoon. The process was very typical, except for the fact that I used my Aloe Vera shampoo and then followed up with my new Tea Tree Shampoo from Nature's Gate. I am in LOVE!!! It had bubbles like normal shampoo, but without the phthalate of course! And, once rinsed, my hair had NO TANGLES!!!! I just couldn't believe it. This, despite the serious scritching I did due to having sulfur mix on my scalp.

I followed up with Aphogee Keratin con for about 5 minutes and rinsed. Then I applied the SEO Con (not the DC). The first application was in for approximately 5 minutes but was not enough as my hair didn't feel as moisturized as I like, so, while in the shower, I applied it one last time and my hair felt perfect. After rinsing, I left my hair to airdry 98% of the way with a drive to pick up the kids (windows down).

I later blowdried on low-cool and then applied Rusk thermal serum, then bowdried on low-medium while combing with my shower comb. Then I sprayed my hair with moisture mix and blowdried on low-high, using my paddle brush. I applied a little CO pomade.

My hair felt strong, yet soft and I wrapped it up for the entire rest of the day. On Wednesday, it felt soft and after my work out, i applied some oil to my tips and then to the rest of my hair. It has been wrapped all day today, but I just let it down and it feels great! I did a seek and destroy on Tuesday and plan to do another one soon as I found 2 split ends that have to go. I'm sure there are many more hiding in there.

Alas, I am happy with my hair and will apply my sulfur mix tonight and seal. I like having my hair thicker as is the case when I avoid the direct heat. I believe it is better for my hair overall, to only apply heat when necessary. And with that, I continue my quest for BSL. I hope I get to APL by December, and BSL by June 2013, God willing. *sigh*

HAIR UPDATE: JUNE 2011

It's been almost 3 weeks since my last relaxer and I have only washed my hair twice. Naughty, I know. However, my hair is looking healthier after my last wash and condition. I washed with Castille soap, followed up with Aphogee 2-min reconstructor con and then left my moisturizing con in my hair for about 2 hours. After washing it out, my hair felt a little mushy so I ran Aphogee through my hair and immediately rinsed it out.

It has been a week and two days and my hair is STRONG. Any shedding has been reasonable and i have been using my growth aid. I have NG, but nothing spectacular. I am still worried about my see-through ends, though and the left side of my hair seems to have broken some more. (I was lying on Hubby without a scarf, I might have broken my hair then).

I still believe that my hair looks good. I keep it in a tucked-in ponytail or under a wig when need be. I also make sure to moisturize every other day or every day if necessary and use my growth aid frequently.

I will go to the salon on Sunday for a wash and DC. I will take my KO protein con and ask that they put it in and then use my newly purchased silicon bambu. I will have to buy another Aphogee bottle, but probably not until after my next relaxer which should take place at the end of July.

So far, so good, thanks be to God.

BACK TO A STAPLE &...

LOVING IT!!!!

After three weeks of dirty hair, I finally washed my hair.

I shampooed with suave tropical coconut. Then, I used KO Protein con for about 30 minutes and followed by Silk Elements olive oil con for about 30 minutes. I let my hair airdry for about an hour and a half and then applied moisture mix, chi silk infusion and sealed with castor oil pomade.

When sealing, I was very careful to separate my hair into sections and seal properly. I then wrapped my hair and by the next day, it was straight and healthy looking.

I will definitely have to keep up this regimen and only use the keratin reconstructor before and after relaxers. I'm thinking that I can do a mid week co-wash because of running and exercise. I am going to give my hair a break and just leave it in a bun/pulled back for the next few weeks or until my new wig arrives and is ready to be worn.

Yay!