RELAXER REVIEW - DOMINICA

Another trip to DA and of course, it is time to review my recent trips to Caprice's hair salon.

After arriving on the 5th, I went to caprice;s on the 9th. My hair was done by caprice and that is teh last time I will let that happen! He washed my hair and correctly recommended a protein conditioner which I refused. However, my hair looked a mess. And because he is UBER HEAVY HANDED, I walked out of the shop witha  headache and shitty looking hair.

I returned on the 17th and fortunately had Inez do my hair. Wonderful! Even though I had scratched my scalp repeatedly, I didn't burn as much as expected. She used some Vitale hair relaxer and it straightened the heck out of my hair!

She left it on for a tad too long for my liking however. Nevertheless, we used aphogee and then followed up with silk elements con. I sat under the dryer for about 20 minutes and waited another 5-10 minutes to be washed. Unfortunately, my hair felt mushy. So I had her apply aphogee again and my hair felt great.

We applied Chi silk infusion and blow dried. Then we applied some more chi and flat ironed because I was in a rush to get back to Jimmit. Before flying out the next day, I applied olive oil to my scalp and strands to counter the dryness of the planes and winter weather.

It has been over a week since my touch up and my hair still feels great! I apply moisture mix (very small amount) every day, and seal every two days. Only problem now is that my scalp is beginning to itch and I am beginning to shed. I guess this is typical a full week after a relaxer, especially given the cold, dry weather stateside. I have applied my sulfur mix once and plan to apply it again tonight. I dusted last week and also did a seek and destroy.

My hair looks good, the length is okay. I think I will apply a rinse when next I get a relaxer. I continue to aim for BSL and may get to APL (full) by end of June.

My approximate relaxer schedule for 2012 is as follows:

1. April 3rd (11 weeks post)
2. June 26th (12 weeks post)
3. September 11th (12 weeks post)
4. December 4th (12 weeks post)

I don't think I took any hair pics in 2011 but will take some this year.

PREP FOR DOMINICA

It's time to go to DA!!!!

I am excited, of course, but traveling to DA always requires plenty of preparation in advance. I am 24 hours away from landing in a warm climate and today, I washed my hair. I blow dried and it is thick!!!! I am too happy to have thick hair again. I did a very brief seek and destroy and will flat iron tomorrow. I plan to visit the hair salon next week and then get a relaxer the day before I leave on the 17th.

Accompanying me will be my aphogee reconstructor, CHI silk infusion, some moisture mix, and silk elements con. I am taking full size bottles because both my mother and I will be doing our hair over there.

I must remember my hair mantras, which have gotten me through this hair period and frankly, through the year to the relative progress I now have.

1. don't let anyone cut your hair
2. use your own products
3. you know best
4. keep their products to a minimum!

So, my first trip to the salon will be for my pre-relaxer procedure: moisture con for 20 minutes, sit under the dryer, apply silk infusion and then later apply moisture mix and olive oil.

Pre-relaxer preparation will require combing my hair from root to tip to get rid of tangles, oil on my relaxed hair, a relaxer, aphogee, silk elements con, silk infusion, moisture mix and olive oil.

Cool beans!

PROTEIN IS MY FRIEND!

Ever since my relaxer, each wash has shown that I was losing far more hair than I was comfortable with. Each time I combed, I'd have so much shedding, it was ridiculous. Luckily, I used aphogee after my last wash and since then, I hardly lose any hair when I comb. It's great.

The lesson learned is that if I don't like how much hair comes out after a wash, do an aphogee 20min reconstructor treatment next wash.

As of today, I am 6 weeks post with approximately half an inch at the most in some places.

TOUCH UP REVIEW

I got a touch up on my bday, taking advantage of the $15 off Tuesdays special.

The salon was crowded but I am happy I took advantage of the special. As usual, Gloria was glorious! The touch up ended up great, no burns and much of my hair was relaxed, save for about a tenth of an inch, very miniscule and hard to notice.

Once out of the dryer, I had CHI Silk Infusion applied and had it wrapped. I later combed it out and applied my moisture mix. Then I dusted. My hair looked INCREDIBLE!!!! The density was miraculous and everything just worked!

It has been two weeks since I got my relaxer and my hair still feels great. I washed it on Wednesday and left SEO Con in for about an hour. Unfortunately, that was too long. My hair lost some of the strength it had. As such, after applying moisture mix, I eventually sprayed a very miniscule amount of Keratin Mist. Sadly, I am experiencing some shedding. But, I plan on going to the salon in 2 weeks. Until then, I will use the 2-Min Keratin Reconstructor and follow up with 15 minutes of SEO Con. Hope it works!

I LOVE MY HAIR!

I thought I would get a touch up by now but was sick last week. Instead I struggled with dryish hair and combed through from root to tip once.

On Friday night, I shampoos and conditioned with SE olive oil con. I left that in for about 40 minutes and of course my hair felt like butter. I let my hair airdry and then sprayed moisture mix (which has plenty if black castor oil) and applied some of my oil mix sparingly. In the morning, I combed through and blow-dries. I also applied some silk infusion. My hair was huge and puffy.

Then I flat ironed Very small sections, applied a bit more silk infusion, sprayed more moisture mix sparingly and then sealed with castor oil pomade.

That day my hair was glorious and even though I was rained on and snowed on, it looked great. My hair was wrapped up all day on Sunday and when I combed it out today it was wonderful. I applied some moisture mix and used a little oil in it. I focused moisture on my ends, nape and temples. I wish my hair felt like this all the time. It has density, shine and movement. 

I will get a touh up tomorrow to take advantage of the $15 off on Tuesday promotion. Hope my hair will look and feel as good as it does now, but I doubt it. I will immediately moisturiZe and seal after a touch up and will dust my ends to ensure maximum health. 

ARRRRGHHHH!!!!

I fucked up!!!!!

Yes, I had my first set back in many months and I want to scream!

I shampood as usual and then followed up with a Suave moisturizing conditioner. After rinsing (immediately), I applied Silicon Mix bambu. I immediately started to regret not springing the money to buy a new Silk elements olive oil con.

My hair was full of KNOTS!!!! I can't remember the last time that happened. It was horrible.
I immediately shampooed and then put KO protein conditioner in my hair. I wanted to run to Sally's but chose instead to manage my hair as it was. I applied my moisture mix, and sealed with a little oil.

However, when combing out the knots, I ended up with a HUMONGOUS hair ball. Very next day, I ran to Sally's purchased my conditioner and even paid to join their members club so I can get some savings when I stock up on conditioner later in the year.

Later that evening, I applied con like relaxer, massaging it into my NG and left it on for about 1.5 hours.

My hair felt like BUTTER once I washed out the con. No knots at all. There were a few tangles that easily gave way to my fingers.

That was last night and today, I applied silk infusion (CHI) and blow dried. I then sealed by dividing my hair into several sections. It felt even better afterwards.

I am never buying that suave conditioner again. I should have known better, do not mix silicon products!!!! Also, stick to what works! NEVER ALLOW YOURSELF TO RUN OUT OF SILK ELEMENTS CONDITIONER!!!!!

As for my touch up: I think it should happen after my bday. As such, I will likely go get a deep con sometime next week.

Arrrrgggghhh!!!!

NEW PRODUCTS ON MY LUST LIST

I think its time I become a lot more conscious about not using products that contain parabens, sulphates and other problematic chemicals. It it especially important for my daughter's hair as I need to ensure that I limit her exposure to dangerous chemicals wherever possible.

At Marshalls yesterday, I saw a deep moisturizing shampoo and conditioner. Both are 33.8 ounces and cost $12.99. I didn't purchase because I am broke and there was a silly line. I think I might head over there tomorrow so I can get it though. That combined with my Silk Elements con and Silicon Mix bambu should be alright. I only use silicon mix once in two to three months, and I hardly use it on my daughter's hair, thankfully. Can't wait to add these products to my regimen.

I must mention that it has been hard to get Silk Elements Olive Oil Megasilk con at the price I like. They want me to join their membership program which requires payment. Anyway, will keep my eye open as I know it will go on sale again. When it does, I will purchase at least 4 containers.

I'M LOVING IT!

So, about a month ago, I used my Aphogee 2-min keratin reconstructor and since then, I have loved my hair.

I have also learned a very good lesson. When you use a reconstructor, do not use a protein product for at least a month or until your hair lets you know that it needs strength.

Now I understand why I experienced so much breakage, it was because I would use the reconstructor and then use the KO protein conditioner as well. It makes no sense now that I think about it.

My hair has been perfect and today it is excellent. I washed yesterday with moisturizing shampoo and then followed up with Silicon mix Bambu conditioner, which I left in my hair for about 40 minutes.

I let my hair airdry and then sprayed my moisture mix into it. After about 30-40 minutes, I followed up with too much Chi Silk Infusion and allowed it to dry. By morning, my hair felt soft. I also noticed that I had less shedding than I have had in the past.

I hope I can go to the hair salon this weekend in preparation for my upcoming touch up. I hope to get one once mommy arrives, so I can leave Folabi with her and relax at the salon.

I DID IT!!!

I gave myself a mini-haircut!!!

I was working on an article about hair health and realized the time had come. I promptly walked upstairs to my bathroom, brought out my shears, clips and a fine tooth comb and got to work.

My last hair wash was on Saturday and I let it airdry, using only my moisture mix and CHI silk infusion. My hair felt great on Sunday after I sealed with castor oil pomade. But by the evening, it was dry and my NG felt crunchy.

As such, I added my moisture mix to my roots and worked through my scalp and NG. I then wrapped it up for the night.

Today, I combed out my hair and it looked as if it received some heat.

When cutting, I took off between 1/3 of an inch and 2 inches in certain places. I then went through the entire head and took off about 1/3 inch of ends. I cut to ensure that my hair fell at my collar bone in front.

Once satisfied, I flat ironed my hair and it looked FANTASTIC! It looks thick and healthy.

Even more impressive is that FINALLY since Caprice chopped off my hair last winter, I like my hair length and am confident that I can actually just go out with my hair and not a wig or have it in a bun at all times. =)

I know I was supposed to wait until after my January relaxer to cut my hair but honestly, this was the best thing I could do for myself. I feel a lot more confident. I still have a gentle V shape in the back.

When I get my next touchup, I will again go through and remove approximately 1/3 inch of hair and make sure that this 'clavicle' look remains intact.

I am approximately 8 weeks post and have anywhere from 3/4 of an inch to an inch and a half in certain spots. I will stretch for 5 more weeks and use my growth aid for about 3 more weeks at 2-3 times a week. I applied it today already.