| | What's new on creole*queen (Au Naturale) - Updated 12/18/2010's "Photo Albums" pages Recently created and updated albums: | No copying! | - All of 2010
- 01/02/2010 - I think I can say that I had great success in 2009, and I am hoping to see even greater progress in 2010. I plan to blowdry and flat iron every two or three weeks through the winter and spring, and will likely go back to braidouts during the summer.
At first I was very skeptical about the issue of trimming by the lunar chart, but after seeing how much hair growth I achieved last year by doing so, I will be trimming according to the lunar schedule again this year! In 2010, I plan to trim ('to lengthen') on or around: February 20, April 28, July 2, September 10 and November 24. Here is the link to the chart:
https://morroccomethod.com/lunar-hair-chart
I will try to henna/color every two or three weeks, deep-conditioning under the steamer every time. When straightened, I plan to wear my hair in one large braid or bun most of the time.
For anyone who cares to know, I have revised my flat-ironing instructions and posted them here:
http://public.fotki.com/creolequeen/progress-photosleng/progress-photosleng/
02/03/2010 - Today I officially jumped on the DE (Diatomaceous Earth) bandwagon! I ordered one pound of food grade Perma-Guard DE (Fossil Shell Flour) on eBay a couple of days ago and received it in only two days. This afternoon, I added a level tablespoon to my strawberry/banana smoothie, and was surprised that there was no aftertaste--in fact, I couldn't even detect that the DE was in there. Within a few hours, I noticed that my breathing and circulation was better already. In anticipation of its drying effects, I have upped the amount of water I am drinking, too. I took pictures of the things I will be looking out for (clearer skin and eyes; changes to hair, nails and weight), and I will document them here. I will also report any sightings of worms ;)
02/07/2010 - After four days of using DE, here is what I have to report:
-improved breathing (no more struggling to catch my breath sometimes)
-improved circulation (my hands and feet 'fall asleep' less)
-more energy (no desire to take a nap in the daytime)
-much more restful sleep at night (for the past five years, I have had terrible insomnia); since taking DE, I am getting 8-9 hours of sleep instead of 3-7 hours
-reduced appetite
-my nails look fantastic, although they looked pretty good before using DE; I do have one nail that keeps splitting, so that is the one I will focus on
-starting to see improvements in skin (blemishes are disappearing)
-very slight changes in bowel movements
-no noticeable changes in varicose vein in leg
-no 'miracle' hair growth--only about 1/8", if that...
02/12/2010 - See my RAVE on Karishma herbal henna:
http://public.fotki.com/creolequeen/2010/all-of-2010/02-12-2010-naked.html
02/19/2010 - I decided to go ahead and trim my hair tonight, in line with the lunar schedule for lengthening. I only took off about 1/3".
I am still adding 1 tbsp. of DE (diatomacious earth) to my daily smoothies, but a few days ago I also started adding a scoop of chocolate protein powder that had been sitting around gathering dust, so to speak. However, I just ordered some unflavored whey protein isolate to replace the commercial protein powder because I really do want to avoid all the unnecessary additives such as sucralose.
I cannot claim that the DE has done anything miraculous for my hair, but I am still enjoying easier breathing, improved circulation, more energy, better sleep at night, and more regular bowel movements.
Today I bought ALA (alpha lipoic acid) and chlorella supplements. I especially hope that the ALA will help make my skin a lot clearer.
02/23/2010 - Today I OD'd after receiving my shipment from Beauty of New York and rummaging through the clearance section at Walgreen's! Here's a picture of the products I purchased:
http://public.fotki.com/creolequeen/hair-products-and-tools/products_and_regimen/todays-pj-haul.html
As if it weren't enough, I will be checking out other Walgreen's stores in town to see if they have any more clearance Yes to Carrots Hair & Scalp Mud Masks for $3.29 each and Organix conditioners for $2 each.
03/20/2010 - I am still adding a tablespoon of DE to my fruit smoothies daily, and the benefits are still the same--easier breathing, great sleep at night, improved circulation, fantastic energy, weight loss, longer and stronger nails, and more bathroom regularity. I have not noticed any improvement in my hair, but my skin is getting clearer--though perhaps that should be attributed to ALA and Chlorella.
The DE is definitely beneficial. Yesterday, I gave blood for the first time in four years. I had been constantly rejected because my iron was too low. However, my iron level is now normal, and my circulation is so improved that blood races through my veins. When I used to give blood the process would take 'forever', but not anymore. I have also been adding a scoop of protein powder to my morning cereal and milk, which I believe also contributed to my improved iron levels. After giving blood, I was usually a bit dizzy, weak or light-headed, but not anymore--I felt great afterwards and I still feel great today.
After waiting for over a month, I finally received my Nupur henna that was shipped from India. To me, it is just as good as Karishma herbal henna--not better and not worse--so I will just stick to ordering Karishma because I can get it a lot faster, and there is more product in the package.
05/14/2010 - I'm officially at FOUR years after my 'big chop'! I'm an inch or two away from waist length, though I really need a good trim (I actually forgot to trim on April 28, as I had planned to do).
05/31/2010 - I finally got around to trimming, taking only 1/4" off the ends of my braids before wearing a braidout.
07/23/2010 - I washed my hair after nearly a month! Yes, I have been extremely LAZY this summer. Contrary to my plans, I did not do many braidouts because it would have required washing more frequently, and I have discovered that low-manipulation is far more valuable (to MY hair) than just about anything else. I also discovered over the past eight months that I can get away with waiting 2-3 weeks to wash my hair if it is straightened, without looking like a savage! The few times that I've washed my hair this summer, I didn't even bother to deep-condition.
I just noticed that I missed the lunar trim date of July 2nd. I could wait until the next trim (for length) day, which is September 10th, but I do have a special occasion before then, so I will likely trim before then. (ETA: I did end up trimming 1/2" on Sept. 4th.)
12/18/2010 - I have not been updating because I really haven't been doing anything special with my hair. I also stopped taking DE a couple of months ago, and I don't miss it.
Since last Thanksgiving, I have been blow drying and flat ironing my hair every two weeks, without deep conditioning and without steaming it. I am waistlength now, and I've been enjoying my hair without fuss. I forgot to trim most of the lunar days I had planned for this year, but my ends look okay anyway. I will try to get back on schedule next year! - Album was created 2 years 5 months ago and modified 1 year 5 months ago
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| No copying! | - Progress photos/Length checks and flat-ironing instructions
- After three years, I have found that the key to successfully flat-ironing natural hair is product, tools and technique.
I shampoo, deep-condition under the steamer, oil-rinse and condition-wash (or skip this part and just apply a dime-size amount of oil after the Aphogee spray), and then spray Aphogee green tea keratin restructurizer on damp hair. I apply a small amount of Fantasia IC heat protect serum to each section of my hair, and then dry with a high-wattage ceramic blow dryer (with comb attachment).
I put a tiny amount more serum on my hair as I flat-iron with the FHI Platform at 370-degrees, using the 'comb chase' method and passing the iron over each section only ONCE, while turning the ends under.
To maintain for two or three weeks until the next washing, I use various oils to 'moisturize' my hair and enhance the shine, without causing reversion. - Album was created 4 years 10 months ago and modified 1 year 11 months ago
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| No copying! | - Hair products and tools
I have finally come to realize that there are two parts to achieving (and maintaining) beautiful and healthy hair:
1. What you put IN your body is more important than the products you put ON your hair. Take multi-vitamins (some people also take biotin and fish or flaxseed oil), eat an adequate amount of protein, eat healthy foods in general, and be sure to drink enough water.
2. Handle hair with care. Don't rush through combing/brushing. If your hair is very thick, it might be easier to comb in sections. When washing/conditioning, it is often best to keep the hair in large braids so that it does not become tangled.
- Album was created 5 years 10 months ago and modified 2 years 3 months ago
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| No copying! | - All of 2009
- Braidouts have been good for my hair, so I plan to continue to do them.
01/03/2009 - Today I purchased a Denman D3 brush. I am not big on brushes, but I've heard lots of good things about it so I'm going to give it a try. I also purchased a couple of tubes of GVP 'Sebastian Potion 9 wearable treatment'.
The Morrocco Lunar Haircutting Chart for 2009 is now available:
https://morroccomethod.com/lunar-hair-chart
Since I just trimmed off 1", I will wait until the next 'most beneficial' time for trimming for length. In 2009, those days are: April 9-11, September 3-5 and December 3-5.
02/14/2009 - Using my new Rusk professional blowdryer and my FHI Platform flat iron, I straightened my hair for an event last weekend, but my ends looked so raggedy that I ended up making 5 big braids (with gel) and rollersetting the ends overnight. Fortunately my hair came out looking good! However, I am disturbed that I cannot seem to straighten AND simply wear my hair out straight (without looking crazy). I am determined to find a way to achieve 'salon results' each and every time I decide to flat iron my hair--surely I must be doing something wrong!
Today I trimmed 1/4" off the ends before washing, and then I used Light Mountain henna in Dark Brown and kept in overnight before rinsing it out. Then I tried LeKair Natural Shea Butter Cholesterol Creme for the first time--hopefully it will help to yield a nice braidout.
Last week, I ordered some Nu-Gro products, as well as three pounds of Light Mountain henna in Black, two EZ-Combs, and eight bottles of Global Goddess Shine Coconut Amla Revitalizing Hair Treatment (yes, EIGHT bottles because Amerimark was selling them for $4.50/ea., 90% off the usual price!), but none of it has arrived yet.
I plan to document my progress using Nu-Gro products, as well as continue doing condition-washes, oil-rinses and braidouts.
04/10/2009 - Trimmed 1/4-1/2" off the ends of my braids after washing. My ends were actually looking pretty good, but I wanted to take advantage of the best time to trim according to the lunar haircutting chart (Thanks for the reminder, gradygirl!).
A couple of weeks ago I ordered the HairTherapyWrap, hoping that it would help me to deep condition more regularly. I hate using my bonnet dryer and I don't care to use an electric heat cap, so I bought the microwaveable one that has gel packs in it. So far, I've used it a couple of times, and I really like the convenience of using it.
05/25/2009 - Sorry to have gone AWOL on you guys, but I've been extremely busy. Since my last update, I've ordered a portable steamer on wheels, and I've stopped using the Nu-gro (wasn't impressed by it). I straightened and trimmed my hair a couple of days ago, and I have posted pictures to show the progress I've achieved since my big chop THREE years ago this month!
07/14/2009 - I have been super-lazy with my hair this summer. I am now condition-washing my hair once or twice per week, and wearing braidout ponytails in public.
After not steaming my hair since May 23rd, I finally got around to trying my steamer again! Thanks 'gradygirl' for the tip about using it on a lower setting--it's much more tolerable now ;)
I ordered a couple of 100% silk cap/scarves on sale for $9.99 each at PrettyWrap.com. I can hardly wait to receive them so I can wear them around the clock (indoors and outdoors) most days!
07/22/2009 - I received the 'prettywrap' scarves last weekend, and I immediately tried one of them out. For the past four days, I have been wearing it to bed and around the house, only taking it off for a few hours while shopping or visiting. My opinion?--WOW!!! This is a MUST-HAVE item! My hair looks like I just washed it, when in actuality I washed it five days ago! My hair is shiny, feels moisturized, and is still totally wavy and curly (like 'first day hair'). I had thought that a satin cap was just as good as a silk cap, but I assure you, they are NOT the same. I will never go back to a satin cap again. Silk really does make a difference!
ETA: I ended up ordering a Charmeuse Silk bonnet from Tenderheaded.com. I think that although the 'prettywrap' scarf is great for going out, I really need a big bonnet for bedtime so that my edges and nape are always covered--especially when I sleep wildly ; ).
09/04/2009 - I trimmed off 1/2" of hair after washing and braiding, adhering to the lunar schedule. I will try to wait until December to trim again.
10/06/2009 - I flat-ironed my hair, but did not trim it. I think I can officially claim BSL now! I bought Curlformers, too, and will post pictures soon (if the set comes out well). I am still wearing my silk bonnet to bed, and I believe it is helping my hair to improve.
10/15/2009 - I brought the Curlformers back to Sally's and exchanged them for ECO Styler Olive Oil styling gel, Aphogee Keratin & Green Tea Restructurizer, and a gallon of Salon Care All Purpose Remoisturizer conditioner.
10/20/2009 - Although I have quite a few hair idols, I came across a website today that really knocked my socks off! There is a 'natural' named 'Longhairdontcare2011' who has some great YouTube videos. She only washes and blowdries her hair ONCE per month, flat-irons her hair only twice per year, and she has gone from ear-length to around waist-length in five years:
http://www.youtube.com/longhairdontcare2011#p/u/17/9m30zJYjas4
Just AWESOME!!!
10/27/2009 - I came across HoneyBrownSugar's blog, and saw her video on wash-n-go's. I immediately thought: "Her 3C hair sure ain't my 3C hair--there's no way that my hair will look that good if I tried her method!" (Actually, it's Teri's method from 'tightlycurly.com'.) However, I was SHOCKED when I washed my hair tonight and tried it on a large section of my hair, using a wide-tooth comb instead of a Denman brush. I kept my hair 'sopping wet' after washing (instead of towel-drying first) and I made sure to 'separate the clumped curls', though I did not 'scrunch' the ends. My results were the same as HoneyBrownSugar's!!! If I ever want to do a wash-n-go, now I know what to do to get great results! (Thanks Teri and HBS!)
Here's the video:
http://www.honeybrownsugar.com/2009/06/world-premiere-exclusive-hbs-wash-go.html
11/22/2009 - My ends looked a bit shoddy, so I trimmed 1/4" off. I was trying to wait until December 4th (recommended by the lunar chart), but I plan to blowdry and flat iron for Thanksgiving this week.
A few weeks ago, I bought a Ceramic Series 1" Total Ceramic flat iron, which has 100% solid ceramic plates, for only $39.99. I will use it the next time I flat iron.
Today I bought the La Vida 2600-watt ceramic ionic blow dryer, which also came with a Bellissima ceramic flat iron--both for only $55.99 (plus only $1 for THREE-DAY shipping) on Overstock.com. I had never seen a 2600-watt blowdryer before (especially ceramic/ionic), but I expect it to dry my hair very quickly and leave it looking and feeling great. I hadn't planned on buying the combo, but there were only three left in stock (so I grabbed one before my fellow product junkies bought them all)!
http://www.overstock.com/Health-Beauty/La-Vida-Blow-Dryer-and-Bellissima-Flat-Iron/3627425/product.html?sec_iid=33017
11/27/2009 - I was very tired on the night before Thanksgiving, so all I did was condition-wash my hair and put in seven braids overnight. On Thanksgiving morning, I used my LaVida blowdryer for the first time. It dried my hair very quickly, and although it did not give me the glossy look I was hoping for, I think it was a great bargain--see my Products section for my review on it. Then, I tried the Ceramic Series 100% ceramic flat iron, but stopped after the first section because the results were very disappointing, so I whipped out my FHI Platform and finished the job with fantastic results!
With such great tools, I think I might start blowdrying and flat ironing my hair bi-weekly through the winter...
12/04/2009 - I trimmed 1/3" off the ends, trying to adhere to the lunar schedule.
I must admit that I am really enjoying my straightened hair. It is now 10 days since I washed my hair, and it is still as straight as when I blowdried and flat ironed it for Thanksgiving. I love that I can throw it into a bun, or fingercomb every few days, with no fuss at all.
12/14/2009 - I have been wearing my hair in a single braid for the past week. I had planned to wash it tonight, but there is rain in the forecast for the next few days, so I will wait even longer. This is the first time since going natural that I've waited this long to wash my hair (20 days)! I must admit I like washing my hair infrequently because it is very low-manipulation and it is super-easy for me to do what I want to with it when it is straightened. I understand the risks associated with heat straightening, so if there is damage, I'm sure I will see it in the next few months. I am being as careful as can be, so I'm not too worried...
12/17/2009 - I finally washed my hair after three weeks. I decided to go ahead and blowdry and flat iron again, hopefully being able to go another two or three weeks without washing my hair. - Album was created 3 years 5 months ago and modified 2 years 5 months ago
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| No copying! | - July - December 2008
- I tried to put all of 2008 in one folder but it was getting too big, so here's the second half of the year:
It is barely 2 years since the 'big chop', and I now better understand the needs of my hair. I am still washing at least twice per week. I had drifted away from doing oil rinses, but I will try to get back in the habit of doing those. I am still primarily doing braidout ponytails and buns. I understand that my hair's health comes first because unhealthy hair just doesn't look good.
07/02/2008 - I thought I would try something a little different, experimenting with regular buns, ponytails and large braids. However, I don't think it's going to work for me right now--I will stick with braidouts because it's the least 'hassle' for me--low manipulation, it's the easiest (and quickest) way to dry my hair without tangling, and my hair is flourishing because of it.
07/10/2008 - Tried a new product called 'Zero Frizz' serum and LOVED it!!! It has ceramides and wheat protein, and makes combing a BREEZE! Like most serums, this one does have 'cones, too, which need to be shampoo'd out.
07/29/2008 - I have not been too pleased with any of the 100% natural options for gray coverage that I've tried so far, including henna/indigo, Surya henna cream, and Hennalucent--those are all way too messy and troublesome for the pitiful results that they yield. The chemical-laden dyes cover gray excellently but leave my hair dry and damaged. I will definitely be looking into other chemical-free options for gray coverage, such as Herbatint or Naturtint.
In the next couple of weeks, I will treat my hair to a desperately-needed trim/cut. In April, I trimmed according to Anthony Morrocco's Lunar Haircutting Chart:
http://morroccomethod.com/lunarprint.pdf
The next dates that the chart shows are beneficial for trimming/cutting hair so that it will grow longer faster (see the 'Lengthen' category) are August 8 & 9, 2008. I will wash, blowdry and *maybe* flatiron before trimming at least 1/2".
A friend recently showed me a product called 'Smooth Edges' that she uses on her edges to keep them looking neat. I found it online here:
http://www.totaltransformations.org/smoothedgesinfo.htm
I tried a little of this on my edges, and I can certainly vouch for the product--it really does work well! It leaves the edges smooth and neat, without any stiffness.
I am LOVING Fermodyl 619 moisturizing leave-in treatment because it makes my hair feel soft and silky, and it allows my hair to completely dry overnight, unlike most other leave-ins and conditioners. I think I have found a new staple!
08/02/2008 - Today I went on a serious 'product junkie' binge! I got:
-Herbatint haircolour gel - Excellent!
-Dr. Bronner's Magic shikakai soap - So-so--would not repurchase.
-Isoplus Upturn Fluff shampoo (It has the consistency of Coolwhip and it looks and smells good enough to eat!) [I like the Fluff shampoo, but I won't put it in my Products section because I think it might have been discontinued.]
-Elasta QP DPR-11 Deep Penetrating Remoisturizer - Excellent!
-ORS Salon Deep Penetrating Replenishing conditioner - Excellent!
-Elasta QP Intense Fortifying Hair conditioner - Excellent!
-IC Hair Polisher Olive Styling gel - Pretty good--seems less drying than the regular one.
-3 vials of Fermodyl 619 treatment - Excellent!
-ApHogee ProVitamin Leave-in conditioner - It made my scalp tingle--not sure if it's supposed to do that...
I will put the 'keepers' in my Products section after testing them.
08/07/2008 - In preparation for my haircut and blowdry/flatiron, I decided to pre-poo with red palm butter. But first, I remembered an old bottle of Megatek that I tried a couple of years ago. Since the ladies on some hair forums are raving about it, I decided to mix my 1/4 bottle of Megatek with 4 ounces of avocado oil. I was very surprised at the consistency--it looked like a very nice and creamy hair milk! I put some on my scalp and then put the red palm butter on the remainder of my hair. Then I covered my hair with a plastic cap and kept it on overnight.
08/08/2008 - I washed my hair and then braided with deep conditioner in it, before sitting under my bonnet dryer for 10 minutes. After that, I trimmed 3/4" off of each braid. Then I rinsed the conditioner out, still in braids. Then as I unbraided each one, I put a dime-size amount of Hask Simply Straight serum and blowdried. Then I applied a few drops of Zero Frizz serum to each piece before flat-ironing.
I took TONS of pictures because I honestly don't know when I'll blowdry and flat-iron again. It's too much work!
Since it was much easier to see the condition of my ends after flat-ironing, I trimmed an additional 1/4" before applying gel and putting my hair into five braids so that I can wear a decent braidout this weekend. My hair is terribly THICK, so it doesn't usually look good enough to wear plainly straightened unless I get it done by a hairdresser/stylist, which I am trying to avoid doing.
08/15/2008 - I experimented with salted conditioner on dry hair, and I liked the results. The only thing I'm having a problem with these days is the fact that my hair is SO thick and bulky, it just doesn't look good in 'out' styles. I think I might pick up a couple packs of large flexirods this weekend so that I can try them out and see if I can achieve more 'presentable' hair.
ETA: I just read a posting about this black lady who will soon turn 50 years old. Her hair is VERY thick, and totally to-die-for:
http://www.more.com/more-women/model-search/2004/the-10-finalists-for-2004/?page=1
I would LOVE to get results like these from flexirods!
08/17/2008 - Tried flexirods, and it came out a DISASTER! My hair didn't dry, even after an hour under the dryer--total waste of time!
On a positive note, I did get some goodies at the beauty supply store:
-loop rods :(
-small bottles of carrot oil, shea oil, aloe vera oil, and cocoa butter oil
-Fantasia IC hair strengthener treatment
-Elasta QP H-Two moisturizing leave-in conditioner
-Long-Glo penetrating protein
-a HUGE spray bottle so that I could mix the products (along with water) and make my own leave-in conditioner
-I also got three 33.8 oz. bottles of DuoTex because they were cheap (under $5 each) and a jar of VIA natural conditioning styling gel with aloe vera and jojoba oil
09/02/2008 - I will be cutting another inch off in a couple of weeks. According to Morrocco's Lunar Haircutting Chart, September 14 and 15 — Fall Equinox — are the best dates to cut for Fall 2008.
I flat-ironed a small section of hair (without blowdrying). I am not happy with the way the ends look. I would like to keep wearing braidouts--especially until I am bra-strap length or midback. I would also like to purchase a really good flat iron--a GHD straightener, if I can swing it! I am very pleased to see that I can airdry in braids and then flatiron without using a blowdryer.
I am trying even harder to stay away from shampoo--especially sulfate ones. For the exception of when I color my hair, I have been condition-washing for the past few weeks, and my hair is thanking me for it.
09/14/2008 - I 'chickened out' and only cut off 1/2" from the ends of my braids. I have been washing my hair with shampoo only twice per month at the most, condition-washing the rest of the time. I plan to wear braidouts exclusively until I buy a really great flat iron.
09/21/2008 - I got a k-cutter comb, and I really love using it to detangle my hair after washing. I gently comb each section and braid it--it's the only time my hair is combed, so I lose very little hair this way.
11/05/2008 - I know I've been absent for a bit.
In the past couple of weeks, I have experimented with Light Mountain henna in Medium Brown, which contains only henna, cassia and indigo. I saw it at a health food store, next to my usual Herbatint, so I decided to give it a try. The first time I used it, I was very surprised because it actually turned my grays a sort of burgundy/cranberry color, which blended in quite well with my black hair--it certainly beat the 'copper-penny' color that I used to get with hendigo! I had mixed it with two cups of water and one tablespoon of red palm butter, and it had the consistency of thick chocolate pudding. It was the least messiest of all the henna jobs I've ever done. It was not 100% twig-free, but it wasn't too difficult to rinse out. Again, I was pleasantly surprised. I really love the results I get from Herbatint, but my hair is growing so fast that I have to touch up the roots too often for me to use anything that is not 100% chemical-free--otherwise I risk dryness and damage. The Light Mountain henna mix actually left my hair feeling strong, silky and moisturized, and looking shiny and beautiful! I am seriously considering using it weekly now.
Today I used epsom salt instead of regular salt in my conditioner, and all I can say is WOW!!! After leaving it on for one hour and rinsing, my hair was very soft and silky, and was a breeze to comb. I plan to do this once a month.
11/07/2008 - I just purchased an FHI Platform Professional flat iron from Amazon.com for only $83.07! With 'Bill Me Later', I got $10 off, plus I got free shipping!!! Woo-hoo!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000JQQHSE/ref=cm_sp_item
It was an absolute STEAL because the regular retail price is $195:
http://www.fhiheat.com/fproduct.aspx?groupname=Flat%20Irons&shortname=platform&sku=p1se
Of course, I had my eye on the FHI Runway, which usually retails for $450, but I refuse to pay that much and I didn't want to worry about dropping the more fragile solid ceramic flat iron.
I had planned to get a GHD straightener (which Amazon was also selling for cheap), but I was put off by its ceramic-coated aluminum plates. I figured the FHI's ceramic and tourmaline plates would be better for my hair. Of course, I will be posting pictures once I get my new flat iron and test it out!
11/08/2008 - Went on a mini binge.
In anticipation of receiving my new FHI Platform, I bought a special set from Biosilk that includes a 12 oz. shampoo, 12 oz. conditioner and 12 oz. bottle of Silk Therapy. I also bought a large bottle of Nexxus Aloe Rid gentle clarifying shampoo, which I tried for the first time tonight--loved it! I got some Organix Vanilla Silk conditioner, Tresemme Curl Moisturizing conditioner, Neutrogena Triple Moisture dry scalp soothing shampoo, and Herbal Essences Color Me Happy shampoo+conditioner. I also picked up a box of Light Mountain henna in medium brown. This was all in addition to my online purchases this morning of two pounds of henna, two pounds of indigo, one pound of black walnut hull powder, marshmallow root powder, and one pound of bentonite clay. This product junkie needs some serious help, right? ;)
On my wish list, I have two (or three) liter bottles of Giovanni Direct leave-in and a gallon of Amla oil. Not sure when I will order those.
11/15/2008 - Today's purchases:
-33.8 oz. bottle of Paul Mitchell Color Protect Daily Shampoo, which I love!
-8.5 oz. bottle of Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Serum
-8.5 oz. bottle of Giovanni Direct leave-in
-4 oz. box of Light Mountain medium brown henna (still waiting for my bulk henna, indigo and walnut hull powder order to arrive).
11/19/2008 - All of my orders are in. Now as much as I am trying to avoid sulfate-based shampoos, I keep stumbling upon different ones I want to try, anyway! Today I picked up bottles of Spanish Garden garlic shampoo and 'shampoo de caballo'.
I turned on my FHI Platform and tested a section of hair, and it seems to straighten quite well. There was no burning smell, and my hair felt nice and smooth. I can hardly wait to do all of my hair.
11/20/08 - I ordered some meadowfoam seed oil, silk amino acids, silicones, aloe vera gel, liquid shea butter, and amla powder. I also bought a 60cc syringe so that I can try putting some of my henna/indigo/amla/walnut powder mixed with filtered water in it so that I can easily touch up my roots every week, hopefully allowing me to get away with having to do only one full henna per month. We'll see...
11/21/2008 - I shampoo'd my hair and then mixed 1/2 cup of henna, 1/2 cup of indigo and one tablespoon of walnut hull powder with hot water and stirred. I applied it to my roots and left it on for 2-1/2 hours before rinsing with water and conditioner. My roots came out a nice, dark brown. I put aside about three tablespoons of the mixture (with three drops of tea tree oil as a preservative) in a small baggie; snipping off a tiny part of the end, I will use this to touch up the roots next weekend.
11/26/2008 - I flat ironed my air-dried hair with the FHI Platform, and got the best results I've ever had as a 'natural'! I am pleased to report that I am now between APL and BSL!!! I trimmed 1/2" off the ends and then set my hair in three bantu knots overnight.
11/28/2008 - My 'Black Friday' purchases:
-Two tubes of ISH Ionic Rescue Pro Treatment, 6 oz.
-FHI Hot Sauce Bottle, 2oz.
-CHI Silk Infusion, 6 oz.
-One gallon of Amla hair oil (I tried to make my own but it was a disaster!)
With today's purchases, I honestly believe that I am set for the next year (or two)! I have all of the hair products that I want, so there is no need for me to buy anything else.
12/08/2008 - I got an email from the company that sells Flexi-8 hair barrettes--free shipping, and I found a 10% off coupon code. I've heard a lot of great things about them on the hair forums, so I had to buy at least one! So much for not buying anything else...
12/25/2008 - My hair is just about at the top of my bra strap (stretched) in the back. I do not plan to straighten my hair again for a LONG time--I hope to avoid heat until at least the end of next summer! I flatironed my hair, but I was not impressed by FHI Hot Sauce or CHI Silk Infusion, though my results might have come out better had I blown my hair dry instead of airdrying. I ended up wearing my hair in a Flexi-8 clip on Christmas day.
12/28/2008 - I trimmed 1" off the bottom of my hair and then put in gel and seven braids, wrapping the ends around satin-covered foam rollers. I will post pictures if my hair looks good tomorrow! - Album was created 4 years ago and modified 3 years 5 months ago
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| No copying! | - January - June 2008
- I'm officially 'coasting' through my hair routine, and it's flourishing like never before! My hair is strong, shiny and healthy-looking. It is growing very well, and I'm finally satisfied with my progress.
After 18 months of experimentation, I no longer feel the need to frequently straighten my hair in order to do length checks! I also don't need to keep my hair in 'braids with extensions' or 'baggies' around the clock, fearing damage and hair loss! I am enjoying my natural hair now more than I ever did since I started my hair journey.
I have no intention of making major changes to my current routine:
1. I wash my hair twice per week. I shampoo once a week with a mild shampoo and then deep-condition under my bonnet dryer for 20 minutes; the other time, I condition-wash, oil-rinse and then instant-condition and rinse clean with cool water. (Note: When I oil-rinse, I always do so in the sink--never in the shower!)
2. Sometimes I use a little leave-in conditioner and/or serum or gel; otherwise, I use nothing at all. I grab a section of hair, then gently detangle/comb and then braid it. I make 10-12 braids total. This is the ONLY time that I comb it--anything else is too much manipulation for me. I wrap a satin scarf around my hair and then airdry overnight. The next day, I undo the braids, spritz on a little oil and then wear a braidout, often in a ponytail, puff or bun. I do not add anything else to my hair, and it stays looking great until the next wash day. At night I only wrap the satin scarf around my hair, and when I take it off in the morning, my hair still looks fresh.
Since I started doing this, I have noticed my hair take off, and I can see it growing with no problem now. If I had known I could get away with this, I never would have done the 'big chop'! I could have just done braidouts until I had trimmed all of the relaxer out of my hair.
Anyway, that's all, folks! I will periodically post new pictures, but this is all I'm doing with my hair for the foreseeable future. Keeping it simple works great for me.
01/08/2008 - The longest section of hair (my crown area) measures 13" in length.
01/30/2008 - Castor oil has turned out to be a real 'keeper'! For the past couple of washes, I have applied castor oil to my ends and it has completely eliminated my need/desire to trim.
Another 'keeper' is Smooth 'N Shine curl activator gel. It defines my curls and makes my hair feel soft, smooth and silky. I'm so glad I found it!
I almost forgot to mention--I haven't used HEAT on my hair in over two months, and I don't miss it at all! :)
02/05/2008 - I've been experimenting with amla powder and irish moss, trying to come up with a 'miracle' leave-in! Both of the mixtures I made came out too grainy--I really needed to make a 'tea' out of them, straining them well before putting them in spray bottles.
02/10/2008 - Had to (GULP!) flat iron my airdried hair because I had a very important appointment in a very conservative place. When I was done, I trimmed 1/2" off the ends. A couple of days later, I could hardly wait to wash my hair and get it back to curly!
02/20/2008 - I finally got around to trying 'deep conditioning on dry hair with heat', and I did like it. After rinsing it out, I also tried using full-fat yogurt as a conditioner (kept it on for two hours under a plastic cap), and it left my hair feeling super soft! I will definitely try it again, perhaps with molasses, honey and oil. After rinsing it out, I braided my hair in only six braids (three on each side of my head) instead of the usual 10-12 and then airdried overnight, and it still resulted in a pretty good braidout.
02/21/2008 - I got a HUGE compliment today! I went to the beauty supply store to see if they carried my 'beloved' Smooth 'N Shine curl activator gel, and the woman at the counter asked me: "Won't that gel make your hair 'revert'?" I told her that my hair was natural--not permed or relaxed (I was wearing it in a braidout bun), and she was very surprised (LOL)!!! I couldn't believe it! I'm so glad that all of my hard work is finally paying off, and that others are beginning to notice. Healthy hair really is 'good' hair, no matter what 'grade' or 'texture' it is!
Later I went to Walmart and couldn't help but to buy a product that I hadn't seen before--Organix Nourishing Coconut Milk Anti-breakage serum. Yes, it does have those 'evil' 'cones (LOL), but I don't care--it has other wonderful ingredients, including silk amino acids and shea butter, and it feels WONDERFUL on my fingertips--I can't wait to try it on my hair!
02/22/2008 - I tried the Organix serum, and I love it! It made detangling a breeze. However, I will only use it again when blowdrying and/or flat ironing my hair, since I really don't want to use 'cones more than necessary. I also tried Aphogee Provitamin leave-in conditioner for the first time, and I think that it is a great product!
03/05/2008 - I have my eyes on a few new 'goodies'! My income tax return check is due soon, and instead of putting it into a Roth IRA (I know--shame on me!), I plan on buying some Amla and Bhringraj oils, Surya henna black powder (hopefully it won't fade quickly like the liquid), and possibly the new Maxiglide MP! I also saw the thread on LHCF about Curlformers, and I'm terribly interested in those too. I looked at the YouTube clip with an African-American woman with natural hair demonstrating her success with Curlformers, and I was quite impressed:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Qp9lnwjQKw
I recently tried adding baking soda to VO5 conditioner to condition-wash, and I was very pleased with the results. My hair felt very soft. I will likely wash more with baking soda once the Amla and Bhringraj oils come in because I plan to leave them in overnight before washing. Or, I might try amla and shikakai powder 'teas' for washing--not sure yet.
03/06/2008 - Just before midnight (between March 6 & 7), I trimmed 1/4" off the bottom of my braids after washing. This is my first time testing out the methods on Anthony Morrocco's Lunar Haircutting Chart:
http://morroccomethod.com/lunarprint.pdf
According to the chart, there are two periods of time this year that are beneficial for trimming/cutting hair so that it will grow longer faster (see the 'Lengthen' category): March 6 & 7 and August 8 & 9.
03/08/2008 - Forget the Maxiglide!!! I borrowed my sister's again (after a couple of years), and the results were just as disappointing--even with all the 'hair knowledge' that I've gained--so I will not be purchasing this item. I will still buy the Indian oils for pre-pooing and I will continue to wear braidout ponys and buns indefinitely. I also seriously doubt that I will spend my money on Curlformers, but I might consider buying flexirods at some time in the distant future.
03/27/2008 - My new 'semi-Ayurvedic experiment' begins. I ordered Amla oil and Bhringraj oil last week, but they will not arrive for about another week. I didn't want to wait any longer, so I just started off by doing a heavy oiling on dry hair using coconut oil overnight. In the morning, I will wash out the oil using a natural shampoo bar and then make my first attempt to 'steam' my hair by applying ORS replenishing conditioner and then covering with a hot, wet towel and a plastic cap for 20 minutes. For at least the next month, I will steer clear of commercial shampoos and always pre-poo with oils before washing. If I find that the condition of my hair has greatly improved, this will become a permanent part of my hair regimen.
03/28/2008 - The overnight heavy-oiling turned out to be a greasy MESS! I really want to do this twice a week, but I don't want my skin to break out and I don't want greasy pillowcases and clothing. I will try to hang in there and give this a chance, though. My hair did feel nice and soft after leaving in the coconut oil overnight. The shampoo bar was nice (I concentrated mostly on my scalp). I only 'steamed' in the conditioner for 15 minutes, and did not sit under the dryer this time--but I will next time. I used a little Nexxus humectress as a leave-in, but I think next time I will try leaving in the conditioner instead of rinsing it out.
I finally got around to measuring my hair, and the top/crown area is now nearly 15" long and the bottom/back is 8" long.
03/31/2008 - After doing a 'light' overnight oiling (FAR less greasy this time!), I washed my hair with a shampoo bar. I loved how soft my hair felt afterwards. Then I tried the Surya henna powder in black. My hair felt great, but it did not cover my grays at all. I hate to go back to using their cream formula, but I don't like my other options. I absolutely HATE the two-step henna/indigo process, and I don't want to use dyes with chemicals in them.
After rinsing out the henna, I steamed my hair with ORS replenishing conditioner using a hot, wet towel with a plastic cap over it for 10 minutes under a hood dryer. My hair felt very soft and moisturized. I will definitely try to find time to steam my hair once a week. Then I rinsed out the conditioner with warm and then cool water, then added Suave humectant conditioner to my hair and wrung it out a little. The Suave gave my hair a lot of slip, and it was easier to detangle and braid.
I find that the longer my hair gets, the more important 'combing in sections' gets. My hair is quite thick, and the only way I can handle it is to deal with one section at a time. I can tell that this method is working well because the shortest, most 'difficult' sections (which used to break or show damage easily) are beginning to noticeably retain length.
04/02/2008 - My bottle of Bhringaraj oil arrived today--it's ON!!!!!!!!!!!
04/03/2008 - Poured some of the Bhringaraj oil in a spray bottle and lightly applied to my scalp. I massaged it in for a minute and then covered my hair with a plastic cap overnight. I was especially surprised to discover that this oil smells like WEED!!! (LOL!) I was also surprised that it made my scalp tingle. Hopefully, it will do my hair a lot of good.
04/08/2008 - The Amla oil finally arrived, and I was very pleased upon trying it out. It has the sweetest, sort of 'honeysuckle' fragrance, and feels like silk on my hands. I will likely use it to oil my scalp and seal in the moisture after washing my hair.
04/12/2008 - Bought some 'goodies' at Sally's today: French Perm Stabilizer Plus (it's an after-shampoo rinse that supposedly makes detangling a breeze), Quantum Clarifying/Chelating Shampoo and Quantum Moisturizing Conditioner (the liter sizes were BOGO free, so I got both Quantum products for $8.99+tax), Mebco Volume Detangler comb, and a black Stay On Satin night cap. After trying these, I will post the 'good' ones in my Products section.
ETA: The comb and the satin cap are great, but the rest of the products were nothing to write home about :(
05/04/2008 - I blowdried, flatironed and trimmed my hair for an important event. It came out 'okay', but my hair is so thick, it still looked a bit poofy. A couple of days later, my sample of Sabino Moisture Block arrived in the mail, so I will use it the next time I straighten my hair. I was going to wait until much later this year, but I'm dying to try this new product!
05/06/2008 - I shampoo'd my hair and then deep conditioned, applying a protein conditioner and then a moisturizing conditioner on top of it. I sat with a plastic cap under the soft-bonnet dryer for ten minutes. I think this was the BEST deep-conditioning treatment I've ever done! My hair was extremely easy to comb, and I hardly lost a hair. Then I braided my hair in smaller braids to last for the next twelve days.
05/16/2008 - I was one of the lucky winners of a free bottle of Bee Mine hair growth serum. I've never used this type of product before, but I am curious to see if it really works. I will be sure to take pictures to measure progress.
05/21/2008 - I tested the Sabino Moisture Block serum on a braidout, and it did hold up quite well, even after a very steamy shower (with NO shower cap). I will be happy to test out this product again after the next time I flat iron my hair.
06/10/2008 - Sabino--STEP ASIDE!!!(LOL)
I 'discovered' ProVitamin AntiFrizz hair serum, and it is SO good that I think I will be using it every time I wash/co-wash my hair. It does NOT block out moisture/humidity like Sabino, but it makes combing/detangling a BREEZE, it's much cheaper, and I believe it will help my hair grow to my satisfaction. When I do flatiron and if I'm worried about reversion I will use Sabino, but otherwise, I will be using the ProVitamin product most of the time.
06/16/2008 - Okay, I'm going back on my word already! After pre-pooing overnight with red palm butter, I washed my hair with Paul Mitchell Color Care shampoo (GOOD stuff--it leaves the hair feeling smooth and conditioned), and then I applied White Rain Tropical Coconut conditioner to soaking wet hair and then wrang it out without rinsing with water. I was able to fingercomb my hair very easily, so I did not add serum. I LOVED the way my hair looked with a little of this conditioner left on it--like a perfect braidout (with no ends sticking out), except it was actually a wash 'n go. I ended up braiding it to airdry (got somewhere to go tomorrow), but I plan to experiment with this at a later date to see how my hair looks after airdrying loose.
I really think that my hair is experiencing a growth spurt. I am still trying the Bee Mine serum twice a week, I've used Mane-N-Tail conditioner a few times (I also love VO5, Suave and now, White Rain), and I've been fingercombing instead of using regular combs. I believe these three things are helping my hair to grow and look a lot better lately. I will post pictures in few days.
06-20-2008 - I did not measure my hair when I started testing the Bee Mine serum, but judging from my comparison pictures, I would wager to guess that I got around an inch of growth in just one month! I use the product only twice per week, and I haven't had any problems with it. I think it is worth trying out--especially those who experience slow hair growth.
Oh--I guess I can finally 'officially' claim APL (armpit length)! Yay!
06/26/2008 - After viewing one of MacherieAmour's videos on YouTube, I clicked on a link to a demonstration of a hair conditioner/reconstructor called 'Rezz-a-rect' being used on clients at a salon:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2855zEq1RY
I ordered some of the products in the line (called 'Arouse'), and so far I am very pleased with them and of course will be documenting my progress, as usual.
I measured the top of my hair, and it is now over 15" long; the back is now approximately 10" long. - Album was created 4 years 5 months ago and modified 3 years 11 months ago
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