Some Things I've Learned Along The Way

I am eleven months post relaxer.  Wow!  I still haven't figured out this hair thing, but I'm still trying.  Here are some pics of my wash/styling session on April 7th. They include Day 1 & Day 2 hair. The set actually lasted three days. Rain and workout sessions killed it. LOL!

Anyway... on to the point of this post. I have learned some things over the past eleven months.  I walked into this do-it-yourself hair journey knowing absolutely nothing. I was a freelance worker and feared that jobs would dry up soon.  The first things that needed to be cut were my expensive trips to the salon, so I had to do my hair myself.

I had been getting my hair done since I was five. I got my first relaxer at 16. I never had a problem with length. I'd probably washed my own hair five times.  I have a curling iron from the 90s and I rarely used it. I don't believe in using additional heat in between visits to the shop. Simply put, caring for my hair was someone else's job. It's why I went to work... to pay them to do it.

I dove blindly into the online hair community and I wanted to become an instant expert. I've never been patient. It's not my thing.  That mindset cost me and my hair. I have had some just plain awful hair days. I wanted to comb out my hair in ten minutes like the girls on YouTube and that's not possible for me. I ended up ripping out hair and causing major breakage. Plus, I purchased lots of products that I thought worked miracles. 

Look at all the crap under my sink. Not a single one of those products worked a miracle. On top of that, I was putting too much stuff in my hair.

I was unrealistic in my thoughts that I could handle my hair exactly like Nina Pruitt, Kimmaytube or Naptrual85 and get the same results. I mean I KNEW this, but I kept trying to ignore it. Yes... I was ignoring common sense.

So now when I stalk my favorite heads of hair on blogs and YouTubes, I do it with a different understanding and acceptance.  I can appreciate the results CurlyNikki gets and know that I'm not going to get them. We have different hair. I'm actually getting better tips from girls with relaxers, even though the hair gurus say treat your hair like it's "natural," if you're transitioning.

At this point, I am going to focus on keeping it simple and trying to figure out a way to get rid of some of that crap under my sink that I don't use. Don't get me wrong, I'll still be trolling the Internet for new ideas. I'm just over the idea of looking for miracles, although curlformers are a miracle for the styling challenged. I love those things. ha! 

Review: Creme of Nature Extreme Moisture Conditioner

No Bueno! That's all I have to say about this conditioner. I used it for about three months. I couldn't figure out why my hair was so dry and brittle. The conditioner feels good going on and it gives my hair a lot of slip.  It was because of those two things that I blamed my sweaty workouts for my yucky hair.  I was wrong. Hair does not lie. My stuff was trying to dread/lock in the back. My childhood stylist didn't ask what I had been using, but suggested I make a change.

I switched things up and ditched the conditioner all together. I instant conditioned with Paul Mitchell's Detangler and deep Conditioned with Jessicurl Deep Treatment. Uhm... my hair came out super soft. It still felt soft after a sweaty workout. This is not a review of those two products because I have only used them together twice AND they have only been through one week of workouts.  However, I know The Creme of Nature Extreme Moisture Conditioner is moving to the back of the shelf. I really don't know how I will use it up. It's a big bottle.  I wouldn't even want to give it to anybody for fear they would end up with dry, brittle hair as well.

Sorry, Creme of Nature.

It Was Ok: Curlformers Day 2-5

So here's a look at how my hair held up.  I DID NOT exercise at all this week.  Luckily the hubby was feeling drained.  You KNOW I wasn't going to talk him out of this short break.  I'll be washing and setting again on Saturday (at least I hope to).  So next week I'll get a real idea of if I can make things last through an intense work out.  Although I would like to put my hair first, I'm too old not to focus on body maintenance.  No matter what I do, I'll probably lose my hair long before I no longer need my limbs (that's if I'm lucky).

Day 2: side pinned back

                                                          Day 3: ponytail with strange bangs

         

                                                 Day 4: front rolled back, the rest I left down.

                                             Day 5: I changed the part, but still rolled back the front

                                             and left the back down.

I preserved the curls as best I could with the pineapple method that I learned from EbonyCPrincess.  I pulled my hair to the top of my head with a stretchy headband, used a hair net around the curls and then wrapped my scarf around my head. I was not cute, but sweet hubby pretended I was. I secretly think he didn't work out this week because he wanted me to have pretty hair for a week.

I should add that I read about a lot of other ladies pineappling and just sleeping on a pillow. I'm afraid to do that.  My hair has never done well without being held together while I'm sleep. I sweat in my head and I fear leaving it loose would cause me to wake up with hair pasted to my face and who knows where else.

All in all, this was just ok. I wanted five days of day one.  I am still pretty happy with the results.   I've learned not to comment on products until I've used them for at least three months.  With that said, I'll try to follow the same routine a few more times to see if it really works.

Who's Happy? ME!!

OMG!  LOOK AT MY LATEST CURLFORMER SET!!

I don't even know how this happened, but I won't go too crazy with excitement because every time I have a good week, a really bad one follows.  I decided to do this set after seeing a fabulous flexi-rod set on the head of the awesome EbonyCPrincess.   I should add my efforts with the flex-rods didn't work out, which is why I pulled out my trusty curlformers.

Before this set, I was coming out of a Press-n-curl gone wrong.  It went wrong after a sweaty session of P90x.  I didn't care. I hung on to it a week longer than I should have. I hope this curlformer set lasts. I'm too happy.

Here's the rundown

Wash: 2 rounds Quantum shampoo, 1 round Creme of Nature conditioning shampoo

Instant condition: Paul Mitchell the Detangler

Deep Condition: Jessecurl Deep Treatment (I need to use this up)

Curlformer set: One-n-Only Argan Oil, ORS Loc and Twist Gel & Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Serum

I should add that I sat under the dryer about 15/20 minutes before installing the curlformers

Even if this style stays strong all day long, tomorrow I have to return to P90x. I don't know what/how... I don't know how I will attempt to preserve it.  I sweat in my hair more than anything else, so I expect some ridiculously puffy roots really soon.

Detangling and De-fattening

Things got a bit overwhelming for me and I had to take a break.  My hair has reached the transitioning mark of ten months.  Things just weren't working out!  My hot water wasn't lasting long enough to wash my hair in six sections.  The sink proved to be uncomfortable and ineffective. I couldn't rinse my hair well.  Pre-pooing, washing, detangling, deep conditioning and hoping for miracles was taking up too much of my dang on time. 

I didn't wear my hair out like this because the back wasn't defined.

Next thing you know, my husband dropped 20 pounds doing P90X.  I couldn't have him looking sexier than me. No, SirREE!  So I had to jump on the bandwagon.  I've been doing a modified version of P90X with my boo for about two months.  Working out an hour, five days a week and complaining about my soreness, took up my blogging time.

I used my time off to try to work out a hair routine that would take up less time and be more effective for me. I decided to wash my hair in two sections, half on top and half on the bottom.  That worked out well for the bottom part, but I made the top half all tangled up and difficult. That mis-step led to a four hour detangling session. Ugh!

The next time around I decided to wash in three sections. I once again divided my hair in half with a portion on top and another on the bottom, then I split the top portion in half.  This seemed to work out well for me. I also instant conditioned in the shower, then detangled with my deep conditioner. Detangling was only two hours. I am not one of the lucky girls who can grab a big section and rake the comb through. I have to take small sections because the back of my hair dreads.  Since I don't have the luxury of a shampoo bowl and an extra set of hands, I can't work out most of the knots at the bowl, like a stylist would.

So! Since it takes forever and a day just to wash and detangle my hair, I had to drop plans for uniform styles... that includes roller sets.  I couldn't spend all day on that style, only to pop in the p90x tapes and sweat like a demon.  Puffed out natural hair on top and shiny relaxed spirals on the bottom.. is not a good look. Not to mention it caused lots of tangles. OMG!

I've been a bunning queen. Here's a look at some of my styles... or lack thereof. 

The flat twist in the front is my crutch and will remain that way for a while.    I plan to cut like three inches of my hair this month.  That should help with the knots that I encounter during detangling (I fear it will cause issues with the bunning).  I'm still following all of the ladies in the roller setting challenge and drooling with a just a tiny bit of jealousy.

I should add that I haven't lost a single pound doing P90x, but my stomach is flatter and I am so close to having "Angela-Basset-What's Love Got to Do With It" arms that I can taste it.  Well.. my stomach was flatter until I fell off the wagon when I realized I hadn't lost a pound.  I was still exercising, but I was over-indulging. Oh wells.. I'm back on the wagon now.

My dog cracks me up. I just figured I'd share this.

Curlformers Day 2-4

My first curlformer set of the year was a definite success. I got four days of curls!

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

I didn't wash my hair this week. I know that's bad. My hair will spend the week in French twists. 

At the moment my hair is still really soft. I added some Olive oil to my scalp to deal with itchiness and moisturized with Original Moxie Leave-in. It's crazy how much easier it is to style my hair, when it's properly detangled during the wash session. I feel like such an idiot. I have been abusing and ripping my hair for six months. Thank goodness I had a good amount to start off with or I'd be bald now. But on the flip side, I have lots of broken pieces which means I can't wear a slicked back bun.  All of those little pieces stick up. My goal now is to be more careful and continue to detangle gently and thoroughly.

For the first time in months, I don't feel the urge to buy a new product or try something that's working for someone else.  It looks like perfecting my techniques (washing, detangling) may be a little more important than trying tons of products. However, I have plenty under my sink to last a while.

The six month roller setting challenge is barely a month old and it has already helped me so much. I hope this continues.

Side note: I'm slightly concerned that my last press may have caused a bit of heat damage to my new growth. I don't know. I may just be paranoid.

First 2012 Curlformer Set

My hair was beyond dirty for the start of the new year, so I had to get down to business.  I came up with a plan that I intend to stick to during the entire six month roller setting challenge.

My hair was straight for three weeks.

Prepoo:
olive oil on my ridiculously itchy scalp and a little on my hair
water/aloe vera gel mix to dampen hair
ORS Mayo on length of hair
Sat under dryer with medium heat for 30 minutes

Wash: (I wash my hair in six sections. It's just easier because when all of my hair is free and wet, it is intimidating)
One wash with Creme of Nature Professional Scalp Relief Shampoo
One wash with Creme of Nature Professional  Detangling and Conditioning shampoo

Condition:
Creme of Nature Moisture Extreme Conditioner

This is 34 weeks after my last relaxer

My new growth has no curl pattern. It's safe to say I have a z pattern.

I left the conditioner in my hair while I detangled and I sprayed the water/Aloe Vera gel wherever I needed a bit more slip.  THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE EVER THOROUGHLY DETANGLED MY HAIR.  I didn't realize it before and I couldn't figure out why my hair wasn't cooperating with me. It was because I wasn't cooperating with it.  It took me two hours. I ended up with 12 braids. I sat under the dryer another 20 minutes (I really just needed to sit down for a bit).

I rinsed my hair in the braids, used a t-shirt to dry them and added Original Moxie Leave-in and coconut oil.  I sat under the dryer another 15 minutes, ate a great dinner with the hubby (lamb chops and black eyed peas), then took on the two hour process of putting in those curlformers.  It was easier to install them with detangled hair *hanging head in shame.*

There are about 50 curlformers in my head.

I set the curlformers with generic chi serum and Bee Mine curly butter.  I slept in the curlers, which was not comfortable, took them out in the morning and went to work.

Excuse the dirty mirror and plastic caps in this shot

I had to pull those curls out of my face. I knew they would break out my forehead.

I look like the black Shirley Temple from the back.

I'm hoping to get at least three days out of this set, but we'll see.