L'Oreal Hair Fixer on Wash Day

Last night I finally got around to trying out the L'Oreal hair fixer. This is a leave-in protein treatment, and the directions say to not use conditioner. I must say that I was skeptical about that, and I was right about that. After pre-pooing with Aussie Moist and shampooing with Creme of Nature I got out the shower detangled and applied the product. I then let my hair airdry for a while.

After I applied moisturizer and heat protectant and began to blowdrying, then following that up with a flat ironing about an hour later. I wrapped my head up for the night and went to bed.

In the morning after taking my wrap down, my hair had body which was a plus, but it felt pretty dry. Especially my ends. They were very stiff. I'm not to sure if it was the product or not, but so far I don't like it.

But I am going to give it another try since the box comes with five applications. Next application will be in two weeks.

Added: One thing that I did notice about my hair is that its shorter. How sad. I didn't notice until I compared pictures. My sides are longer, but the overall length of my hair is shorter. I'm hoping this is not due to the "trim" that the crappy stylist gave me. But I'm not going to let this get me down.

Hair Tip - 01/26/09

Feeling lazy? Hair needs a quick pick me up? One good way I like to give my hair that is do for a wash a quick pick me up is by spritzing it with moisturizing spray, and then braiding it until I'm ready to go out.

This way it will have some texture and be moisturized. All at the same time!

Simply spray hair with a mixture of distilled water and moisturizing conditioner until moist. Then braid it until its dry or you're ready to leave. Add a bit of coconut oil for added shine. If your hair is still mosit when you're leaving add a bit more coconut oil to protect your hair from the humidity.

Homemade Mondays - Garlic Supplements

Garlic is a great herb wonderful for you body. Last week I started myself on a Garlic supplement regimen. Its only been a week so I can't really say the results, but I have heard good things. Garlic taken internally is supposed to benefit in reversing hair loss and shrinking the number of shed hairs.

Give it a try. While Garlic smells nasty and isn't the best thing to be eating in social situations, odorless Garlic supplements are a great substitute.

Busy Bee

I've been extremely busy all last week. This semester seems to be even more hectic than last. I wanted to wash my hair yesterday, but I had to study for two exams so I didn't have the time. Hopefully I'll be able to tonight. I do believe that I will.

Straightening my hair is on the agenda. So I'll be putting my new regimen in place. Tonight I'm going to try my L'Oreal hair fixer for the first time.

Overhaul Part 2

This is part 2 of my hair overhaul. This will be a more detailed explanation on what I plan on doing to my hair after my wash.

One week before and after I get a relaxer I will use a protein treatment so that I'll be able to strengthen my strands against the abuse.

Straight

• When I wear my hair straight after I wash I will allow my hair to airdry a good portion then I will proceed to blowdry in sections on medium heat.
• Then I will straighten my hair with a flat iron on extremely low heat.
• Before all this I will be sure to use a heat protectant. A light product containing dimethicone.
  
• Wrap my hair nightly.
  

Curly

• When curly when I come out the shower I'll moisturize and detangle. Then apply oil and airdry in the style I want.
• Daily I'll use my moisturizing spray.
  
• Nightly I'll moisturize.
• Every other night I'll spritz with a moisturizing spray and retwist.
  

Overhaul Part 1

Some my hair overhaul is going to consist of a simple regimen, a list of products, and a rotation of hairstyles. For this first part I plan on focusing on my regimen. There are going to be two parts to this. Each part focuses on how I plan on styling my hair.

Straight
During the weeks that I wear my hair straight I'm only going to wash my hair once. And use a light protein treatment in order to strengthen my hair for the heat.

• Pre-poo
  
• Shampoo
  
• Light protein
  
• Mosturizing Deep Condition
  

Curly
Weeks that I wear my hair curly I want to cowash mid-week. And redo the style

• Pre-poo 2x weekly
  
• Shampoo 1x weekly
• Cowash 1x weekly
  
• Light Condish 2x weekly
• Deep Condition 1x weekly

Next part of my over haul will be a more detailed explanation of what I plan on doing.

Mini Sallys Haul

I went to Sallys last weekend. I picked up a few things I've been wanting and I also picked up a couple of things to try out. Heres what I bought.

L'oreal Hair Fixer (protein treatment)
Silk Elements Silken Child (moisturizer)
Sample Pack of Silk Elements MegaSilk Moisturizing Treatment
Sample Pack of Silk Elements Luxury Moisturizing Conditioner
2 Packs of metal duckbill clips

I'm trying the silk elements conditioners because my stylist down in Miami used them on my hair and it detangled like a breeze.

Relaxer Pictures

I finally got around to cropping pictures of my fresh relaxer. I really need to get a camera. This laptop webcam just isn't cutting it.

Hair Overhaul

I think its about time for me to do a major hair overhaul. I have been on my hair care journey for about 3 years now and I haven't even reached APL yet. What is taking my hair so long? I can tell that it is slowly getting there, but this process should've been much quicker.

But I'm not going to let myself get discouraged by this. It is growing. So I AM making progress.

Anyways over the next week. Before my next wash I will be formulating a plan. And since my financial aid came in, I can really put it into action.

Stay tuned for more updates!

Fresh Perm

Warning: This post is going to be quite long. Its mostly my rant about my touch up experience.

So today I finally got my perm! I'm very happy to get it, but the experience wasn't the best. Let me tell you.

So the stylist I went to is in Georgia. I just moved up here from Miami so I had to find someone new. I don't know any good stylist down at my school so I decided to give my cousin's stylist a shot. One thing I did take note of was that my cousin's hair hasn't grown and shes actually been getting more trims since shes been here.

Well anyways I went to the salon at about 9:30. It was pretty empty which was good, since the lady is usually very busy. So I just had to wait less than five minutes before being put into the chair (of doom).

First thing she did was run her hands through my new growth and comment about how much I have. I told her I was 12 weeks and I didn't trust anyone down in Gainesville. She was very shocked that I went so long without a touchup like it was taboo.

She started to comb through my hair with a regular afro comb. My eyes widened so fast. I was wincing at every pass through. Not at the pain, but at the whole idea of what she was putting my hair through. Next thing she did was roughly base my head. Luckily the night before I applied Vaseline to my scalp. Then she began roughly applying the perm. One thing I must admit is that the lady works FAST. She had the perm applied to my whole head and smoothed out in all of 5 minutes. But another thing I didn't like is that she applied perm to my edges first. If that wasn't the stupidest thing (excuse my rudeness).

At the wash been she began rinsing me out. This stage was fine. Then came the terrible shampooing. She applied the shampoo and boy I want to scream so bad. She was so rough. I felt like I was being scalped! She used a fingernails and was just scratching away at my scalp. She wasn't just trying to get the dirt but my hair with it. But thank the Lord that she works fast here also. She then proceeded to apply a quick conditioner. She combed me out and sat me under the dryer.

I was under the dryer for only about 30 to 40 minutes. I'm really not used to this sinced I normally get wet wraps. She sat me in her chair and......brough out a blowdryer. Another hair pulling experience. It burned, she was rough, I was apoligizing to my hair the whole time.

Next, was the worst of all. She proceeded to flat iron my hair. That flat iron was hot! I asked her what type it was turns out its a FHI. She commented, "It doesn't really matter what type of flat iron you get as long as it goes up to 400 degrees." Another wide-eyed moment for me. I couldn't believe she was applying that much heat to my hair.

Lastly was the trim. This wasn't bad since I did need one. But I do think she cut off a more than she needed.

Overall though my hair came out beautiful. It looks very shiny and very bouncy. But this has its consequences. My scalp hurts, my head is throbbing and I just know that my hair took a bigger beating than necessary.

A Fresh Relaxer is Coming

This weekend I'm going home. I plan on getting a relaxer this Saturday. I'm pretty excited to finally get a touch up, but nervous at the same time. Its a different stylist and I'm not to sure about her methods. But I'll pray for my hair and take care of it up until that time. Hopefully it'll be okay.

In order to prepare I'm going to cowash my hair tonight and then oil my scalp tomorrow. Lastly I'm going to grease my scalp with Vaseline Friday.

Detangling Search

I'm still searching for a product that would help me to dentangle my hair. I think that is my biggest problem when it comes to hair care NO SLIP!

So if any of you have any ideas please comment. One product I've heard about is Kids Organics Shea Butter Detangling Moisturizing Hair Lotion. So any ideas?

Mid-Week Spritz 3

This weeks mid-week spritz I won't to do with an issue a lot of women have when telling others about their hair goals.

For black women especially, a lot of times people aren't very understanding when we set our goals at mid-back length hair. A few years ago, even to me this length seemed impossible. But it is very possible and there are numerous people who have made these goes and achieved them. So ladies (even gentlemen), don't feel discouraged.

"Nobody can make you feel inferior without your consent." - Eleanor Roosevelt

Don't allow others to bring you down and make you think that your goals are unreachable. When in reality they are. If they don't want your tips, don't give it to them. Wait and allow them to see that you weren't being foolish, then you'll become their personal hair advisor.

We can all achieve our goals. No matter what others are saying. Remember it is your hair, not anyone elses.

TGIF! Gator BCS Champs!!

It has been a very hectic first week of classes. But it has ended wonderfully. For one my family finally has a place to live! The bid we put in on a house went through and the property is ours! The house is big and sits on a lovely 3 acres and my closest is.....................a WALK IN! Praise God! Georgia homes are ridiculously cheap too.

Next, one of the professors here on campus let me into the Chemistry 1 class even though I don't meet prerequisites, which is great. Because I would've been behind on my tracking.

Last of all, my school, the great University of Florida won the BCS Championship Game!! Go Gators! The final score was a beautiful 24-14. Campus was crazy after the win. Everyone ran to University and screamed their lungs out! So much fun!

Sorry for the exclamation marks its been a pretty good week and I'm excited about it.

One bad thing I can say is that due to all thats been going on I haven't had time to wash my hair at all this week, or even exercise. So its like the first full week of the year and I'm already off on my resolutions. But its all good. I've already made plans to go to the gym tomorrow.

Mid-Week Spritz - 2

Its a new year, new semester, and a new day. Every night we leave what we did that day behind and every morning there is an entire day ahead of us.

This week I have two quotes to inspire you with.

"The chief beauty about time is that you cannot waste it in advance. The next year, the next day, the next hour are lying ready for you, as perfect, as unspoiled, as if you had never wasted or misapplied a single moment in all your life. You can turn over a new leaf every hour if you choose."
- Arnold Bennett

"Finish every day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt have crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be cumbered with your old nonsense. This day is all that is good and fair. It is too dear, with its hopes and invitations, to waste a moment on yesterdays."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Don't forget this. If you weren't to diligent with your hair yesterday learn from that and today do what must be done.

Fresh Start

Spring semester is upon me and I must admit, I am ready to get back to it. My roots are nice and thick so its going to be tough dealing with it until I can get that perm.

New Layout

As you can see a new layout. I hope you like it.

Revised Regimen

I'm revising my regimen for this extreme stretching period I'm going to be doing.

1. Pre-poo 2x weekly
   
2. Wash 1x weekly
3. Cowash 1x weekly
4. Deep Condition 1x weekly
5. Either braid bun it and airdry or Twist out airdry
6. Chelate Bi-weekly

The less manipulation the better for this period, but I do have to be sure that my new growth doesn't tangle, then all of this will be very pointless.

I do feel like I'm getting better at dealing with my new growth because I don't even feel like I'm so many weeks post.

Wish me luck ladies!

Extreme Stretching

I still don't know what I'm going to do about my hair. I still don't have a stylist. And my new growth is steady growing. I might have to do an extreme stretch until I'm able to get a stylist. Right now I'm 9 weeks.

My plan is to bun more for about 2 days in a braided bun and then wear that out for two more days. When I first wet bun I want to do the scarf airdrying method in order to keep my new growth somewhat tamed.

I'll just have to see how this works out for me. If anything I'll just buy some packs of hair and put some braids in it one weekend.

Belated 2009 Resolutions and Goals

Its now three days into the new year and I have yet to post my New Years' Resolutions and Goals. Some of these are hair related and some aren't. I hear that its good to post your goals and resolutions like this. It gives more obligation. So here they are.

Resolutions:

1. Incorporate regular exercise into my life.
   
2. Control my food portion habits.
   

Goals:

1. Be well on my way to Bra Strap Length hair.
2. Braid my hair at least once. (Summer?)
3. Achieve a healthy weight.

One thing about my new years resolutions. They never really change. That weight and exercise thing is always in there. Just like for millions of other Americans.