Hurray!!! It's My Second Hairnniversary!!!

Today two years ago, I officially started my healthy hair journey. It's been a great learning process but also very rewarding. I'm really thankful that all the mistakes and blunders I've made while getting to know my hair better did not lead to any setback. Let's take a little trip down memory lane.

My hair and I have come a very longgggg way and sometimes I can't believe the progress myself. Thank God for pictures. To think there was a time I believed my hair just could not grow beyond shoulder length. Cheers to new year of more thickness, strength and length!!!

A big thank you to all the ladies that have been sharing tips and information that have helped me on my healthy hair journey so far. Keep inspiring ladies!!!

xx,
Bee.

How I Trimmed My Hair

This is a picture post of how I trimmed my hair after my last texlax touch-up

I divided my hair into 6 sections 

Trimmed thin ends of each section  (about 0.5 inches)

Made a low ponytail with 3 more spaced out bands (banding method) 

cut off about 0.8 inches off the ends, removed the bands and....

Voila!!! Result

Ladies, do you self-trim? Yes? How do you trim your hair? 

xx,

Bee.

Texlax/Relaxer Update #2

I did my first texlax touch-up of the year on 20/4/2016 at 20 weeks post touch-up. This was my longest stretch and it wasn't so bad at all. Although, I have not decided if I would stretch for that long again. Read how I prepared my hair HERE.

Pre-application: I parted my hair in 4 quadrants and detangled thoroughly. I then further divided each quadrant into one inch sections and twisted each section. I always do this to make the relaxer application easier and faster. I discovered the night before that I had run out of vaseline, so instead, I used raw shea butter to base scalp, edges and to protect my ears. I also applied a lot of shea butter to the length of my hair not sparing my new growth. I added 2 tablespoons of Extra virgin olive oil to about half jar of ORS lye relaxer in normal strength and mixed thoroughly.

Application: I started the stopwatch onmy phone and simply applied the relaxer to my NEW GROWTH ONLY on both sides of each pre-parted section. I started application at the back and finished in the front. After applying relaxer to all the sections I smoothed each quadrant once with my fingers. Application, smoothing and waiting took 15 minutes.

Rinsing + Neutralising: Just before I started rinsing out the relaxer, I applied Roux Porosity Control Conditioner to my previously relaxed hair to further prevent relaxer run-off. I rinsed with warm water starting from the first quadrant I applied relaxer to, to the last. I rinsed thoroughly then did a mid-step protein treatment with Aphogee Keratin Two Minutes Reconstructor. I then started washing with Vitale Olive Oil Neutralising Shampoo. I left the 4th and 5th later on for about 5 minutes each. Although the shampoo has colour alarm but better safe than sorry. I rinsed out the last lather and wrapped my hair in a cotton tshirt.

Deep Conditioning: I deed conditioned with a mix of ORS Replenishing Conditioner + Roux Porosity Control + 1 tablespoon Grapeseed Oil + 1 tablespoon JBCO ( Rosemary ). I used my Electric heating cap and rinsed with cold water after about 20 minutes.

After - Care: I tshirt-dried for 15 minutes, detangled and then blow-dried on low heat using the comb attachment.
Products used: Aphogee Keratin & Green Tea Restructurizer, African Pride Shea Butter Miracle Moisture Intense Leave-in Conditioner, Fantasia IC Hair Polisher Carrot Growth Serum.
I decided to give my hair a break and not flat iron plus the result I got from blow-drying was satisfactory.

 Results & Length Check: I gained about 2 inches since my last major trim (after my last touch-up). My thickness/volume has also increased.

I trimmed my hair taking off just about an inch. The longest part of my hair (crown) before I trimmed measured 17 inches. I'm also glad that my right side is now catching up with my left side which has a faster growth.

Post-trim hair - BSL!!!

 

I'm loving the increase in thickness 

Overall I'm happy with my progress. 

xx,
Bee 

Texlax/Relaxer Touch-up Preparation WashDay

I took down my Crochet Havana Twists after keeping it in for 3 weeks. I took the twists out in a way that would make them re-usable. I simply did this by "un-looping" each twist. After removing the all the twists, I unravelled the cornrows but I ensured my fingers and palms were well oiled. This made finger - detangling easy and also reduced breakage as the oil would provide some slip.

Before detangling 

Pre-wash detangling: I divided my hair into about 8 sections and sprayed a generous amount of Mane n Tail Detangler on a section. I then detangled with my finger and followed with a wide-toothed comb. I repeated this for all the sections. I tried to be as thorough as possible in removing shed hair strands. They are usually the cause of post-wash knots and tangles. During washing, they curl around the strands that are still intact and form a knot or tangle.

Pre-poo: I mixed some HairvolutionbyBee Whipped Shea Butter with about 2 tablespoons of honey and coated my hair with the mixture. I wrapped my hair in clingfilm and went to bed.

Pre-poo ready

Washing: I washed the following morning with ORS Creamy Aloe Shampoo using warm water. I lathered twice, squeezed out excess water and wrapped my hair in a cotton tshirt.

Protein treatment: As usual, to prepare my hair for the impending chemical  treatment ( relaxer ), I used Aphogee Two Step Protein Treatment. I made sections, sprayed the protein treatment and twisted each section off. To keep the twisted hair off my back and cloth, I pinned all them up with one large bobby pin. I applied heat with my Babyliss hand dryer till my hair felt hard and crunchy to touch. I DID NOT manipulate my hair in this state. I poured warm water on my hair it felt soft and then I removed the bobby pin. I unravelled the twists and rinsed thoroughly with warm water.

Deep conditioning: To restore the needed moisture after the protein treatment, I mixed Aphogee Balancing Conditioner + Aussie 3 Minutes Miracle Deep Conditioner + 2 tablespoons Grapeseed oil + 1 tablespoon Vegetable Glycerin. I wrapped my hair in clingfilm and left it on while I did my daily workout. I rinsed my hair with cool water  and tshirt-dried for 30 minutes.

Post-wash care : Working in sections as usual, I sprayed Aphogee Pro Vitamin leave-in conditioner and sealed with Fantasia IC Hair Polisher Carrot Growth Serum. I detangled with a wide-toothed comb first and then blow-dried with cool air using the comb attachment. I worked through the stubborn knots and tangles with my finger carefully.

Styling: I applied some Cantu Shea Butter Natural Hair Creamy Lotion to my hair focusing on the ends, and put my hair into a low bun. The bun kept my hair safely tucked away till texlax/relaxer day.


How do you prepare your hair for relaxer or  chemical applications?

xx,
Bee 

Crochet Havana Twists Protective Style Update

This post is to bring you up to speed on what I have been doing to my hair so far and how my current protective style is holding up.

I've been trying to moisturise my hair and oil my scalp at least once in three days. "Trying" because sometimes I get busy and totally forget. Still I ensure I moisturise more than once a week. I moisturise by spraying Luster's S.curl curl activator moisturiser and I oil my scalp with my mix which mostly contains castor oil and coconut oil. I also added some drops of tea tree oil to my s.curl to prevent/reduce itching.

I have washed just once since I installed the crochet havana twists.
Wash day recap:

• I poured warm water directly on my scalp to dampen it. Then I applied diluted Creme of Nature Moisture and Shine Sulphate-free Shampoo to my scalp following the partings of the cornrows. I rinsed it out and repeated the process.
• I then applied Motions Protein Reconstructor (this works as a balanced deep conditioner for me, left it in for about 5 to 6 minutes. Then I rinsed out thoroughly with cool water. Note that I also focused on the cornrows when applying the deep conditioner not the extensions.

• I squeezed out excess water from the twists and wrapped up a soft towel. I removed the towel after about 1 hour and applied Megagrowth Profectiv Daily Leave-in Strengthener and HairvolutionbyBee Whipped Shea Butter to the my hair and scalp respectively. I blow-dried on low heat till the cornrows were 80% dry. I sprayed some S.curl and left it to air dry.

I have had the crochet havana twists in for exactly three weeks now. The style is still looking so good as you can see in the photos below. The twists are holding up quite well despite the cheap price (700 naira per pack). People! cheap does not always mean bad or sub-standard.

However, I prefer keeping my protective styles in for just 3 weeks. Any longer, the tangles, knots and especially matting would drive me crazy. Hence! my crochet havana twists will be coming down any moment from now. I plan to re-use the Naomi Boom hair (twists) for an unravelled havana twists style on a later date.

Relaxer/Texlax prep washday coming up next.

How do you maintain your hair while in protective styles?

xx,
Bee.