I was hanging out in Blackfolks earlier and realized I haven't updated here in awhile.

I'm still bunning but I've learned some new stuff.

I learned how to do a super cute faux bob with hair pins and a headband.

I have learned how to do a messy knot thingy with pins that is very cute for days I cowash and go.

Pics and details under the cut. Some of the pics are big for detail.

( Adventures in fluffydom )

I did some research and I tried out a new deep conditioning recipe that has left my hair feeling buttery with lots of slip and easy to detangle.

All you need is your deep conditioner of choice. I used a mix of Queen Helene's cholesterol and the Ors replenishing pack. And a few tablespoons of baking soda.

Mix very well and get the conditioner into your hair. Now it will feel weird. I didn't really like how liquid the conditioners became at first but got it all into my hair, covered with one of my dollar store shower caps and let it sit for about an hour.

I also added a wee bit of olive oil to it.

I rinsed and while I'm not wild about the baking soda smell (I am weird about that kind of thing) my hair feels really moist, my shedding has slowed quite a bit. I am very impressed.

So next weekend I'm going to try using baking soda with a banana/avocado based conditioner and will share.

Since I'm still bunning I'll airdry overnight with my hair wrapped. This seems to work really well for me.

That's it.

So my relaxer stretch was ended over the weekend.

I forgot I'd done a milk protein treatment last week with coconut milk and my hair is pretty protein sensitive.

So after my relaxer I did my usual henna treatment and my hair was kind of crunchy and I thought my relaxer didn't take.

It did.

My hair is fine after some moisturizing.

So I do have some stuff to report on.

I've changed my product line up a wee tiny bit.

I ran out of Profective about a month ago and -thought- I could do without it. Nope. My hair really likes small amounts of gentle protein daily or every other day. I had some breakage. So yeah needless to say I stocked up.

Next. I bought some whipped shea butter on a whim from a seller on Ebay and OH EM GEE.

This stuff smells lovely and my hair loves it. Even more than the shea butter from Treehut I was using. And this stuff is cheaper and homemade. I could do my own whipped shea butter but I don't really wanna right now. This cuts down on my frizz factor, and even better gives my hair some necessary weight. My hair is naturally really fluffy and I like having a leave in that's weighty. Also it's great on my new growth.

I also learned that if I'm going to do long term stretches I need to invest in some good spray conditioner/detangler. I'm looking at Oyin Hand Made juices and berries. My big issue is tangling. My texlaxed hair tangles and then the new growth tangles and it's a hot mess.

So I am hoping to stretch from now until December.

Whoa.

Huge stretch.

I am really thinking if I stay consistent I can make it to APL (armpit length).

I will post some update pics this weekend. I'm going to do a super moisturizing mask, ponytail rollerset and flat iron.

For now under the cut a shot of my henna and a couple of pre relaxer shots. Also note to self make new icon.

( My air is luxurious )

Okay I just spent the whole afternoon trying to give myself yarn braids and failed spectacularly.

I took some photos.

I will be honest, I am so bad at braiding I cried a little bit. But, on the upside my hair looks really lovely.

So under the cut my afternoon in pictures.

Big pics, not dial up friendly.

( Fail...but wait. )

If you wanna skip the pics.

Braids failed but my hair is awesome.

I am going to try and continue my relaxer stretch. It's going pretty well still and it's been a little over four months. I'd like to make it to July. I will probably henna in a couple of weeks and keep doin what I'm doing. Buns, deep conditioning and glee.

Just a quick update.

I had a bit of a setback due to some breakage I was having. I wasn't consistently wearing my scarf at night so I've lost a little length.

But overall my hair is in excellent condition right now.

Good news, I finally got my soft bonnet dryer and last week did my first rollerset. It didn't come out like I wanted, I didn't use enough rollers and small enough sections and I don't think I got the right tension but I kind of got it. Since I as on a roll that day I flat ironed my hair too and almost a week later under the cut see my results.

It wasn't nearly as difficult to keep my hair straighter as I thought it would be. However, I do feel kind of weird with my hair that straight so I will probably not flat iron all the time.

I'll be hennaeing this weekend and probably relaxing my hair mid month or so.

( BLING )

So I'm out of some of my staple products and had to make some quick mixes.

Mix #1 Coconut milk/lime treatment.

I like to use this mix while stretching relaxers because it tends to keep my new growth a bit smoother. I'm not far into my stretch currently but, my hair has been a tad frizzy lately.

This is an excellent recipe for naturally curly hair, or other hair that tends towards frizz.

Most awesome thing is, this recipe costs maybe 3.50$ depending on where you live.
( Recipe #1 )

Last night after I moisturized my hair with breakfree and shea butter I parted it loosely with my fingers, made some medium fat twists. I put these into bantu knots and slept with my satin bonnet on.

This morning I undid them and finger combed my hair into some submission. The bangs were curlier earlier this morning but I still dig it. I got a lot of compliments and maaaan in the sun when it was out for a quick minute my hair was blinging. Random lady on the street stopped to tell me how pretty it is.

Pics under the cut.

Oh and also, check out that face. My milk of magnesia primer is the shit. This is proof. These pics are twelve hours after putting on my make up, I didn't blot not once today and my make up was totally rushed this morning. I'm a little shiny but nowhere near the blinding greasies that I usually get.

( Good experiment )

So happy New Years.

I forgot to take before pics but here is my starting point picture for this year. Hopefully, this day in 2010 my hair will be about APL.



That's my freshly relaxed (yesterday I'll talk more about that in a minute) finally mostly shoulder length hair. Soaking wet and just about ten minutes ago.

OKAY.

So I decided instead of relaxing the coily areas of my hair straightish, I planned to relax my hair in odd sections so I could get the zshaped kinks more of an elongated S shaped kinks. I also wanted to take care with the hair that grows almost straight towards the front of my head.

So I did the odd sections, right in the middle of the back of my head first, then the nape, then up my crown a bit, then around my face. I did this in about 3 minute increments with a total processing time of 12 minutes.

Then I used some extra thin henna. Instead of lots of conditioner I used more water and a crapton of coconut oil in it. Left that in for a few hours, rinsed and put some conditioner in my hair topped with Hot6 oil. I bunned and went to bed. Then I rinsed my hair a bit ago and put some hot6 oil in it and am air drying now.

So my routine is as follows.

I wear buns most days.

Over the weekend I overnight deep condition with cholesterol conditioner and coconut oil with my hair under a satin bonnet. Wash. DC with Replenishing packs. At least twice a month I am making a commitment to try to rollerset my hair. My dryer is on the way and I am determined to learn.

I am also stretching relaxes for about 20 weeks or at least that's my goal. So next relaxer in April/May.

Overall while I don't have as much length as I might have liked, I have retained a lot of what I got which is excellent. Also my hair is thick, healthy and strong which is awesome. So I am going to keep on doing what I'm doing.

And please don't laugh at the upcoming OMG rollersetting entries. There will probably be whining and angry crankiness ahead but I would really like to learn if for no other reason than to have some other options for how I wear my hair.

I'm sitting here and my hair is a hot tangly mess that I will be fixing tonight. I think my hair gremlins have been in there making fools of themselves. I'll be moisturizing and detangling when I get home.

I thought I'd post the links to my products and some new stuff I'm in love with.

First, I am a fool for multi use products. Top of my list for those is:

TreeHut Almond&Honey shea butter. I also have a jar of the coconut lime scent as well. I've had to wear a knit hat a lot this winter and this stuff has been a life saver. It's thick and heavy, moisturizes very well and smells nice. Also I can use it from hair to bum to feet and this is awesome. It can be kind of pricey so if you want a body butter to use look for one without mineral oil filler, a scent you like and for one of the first few ingredients to be whatever the base butter is. Check the sale section of your drugstore. Keep your eye on the fancy bath/body products. I got my Treehut from an outlet store. Keep in mind that when they change their packaging the price drops on the left overs.

You can also try a lotion if you want something lighter. Again check for mineral oil in it, and try it on a small section of your hair to see if you like how it turns out.

Another way I use this is on my ends when I baggy them at night. Works quite well.

(Warning these are my amazon affiliate links)

And I buy these two or three at a time. Profectiv Breakfree. If your hair craves both a light frequent protein and moisture this is an excellent product. It's not super thick, it has a nice scent and I find it works really well for bunning and has kept my hair from breaking. I love this stuff.

Next up coconut oil. Plain unrefined coconut oil. Multi Uses include, as a pre shampoo treatment, hot oil treatments, in your food, on rashes this shit clears up flaky dry skin (also random peeling, sore scalp) like WHOA. It's harder to use daily when it's cold but having it around for an oil treatment is great. For a non heated oil treatment, saturate your strands. Put a plastic cap on, go on about your day for a few hours, wash and deep condition and voila silky silky hotness. Dry hair will suck this stuff up and it is love. LOVE. Plus how can you not love something you can eat too? Spectrum Naturals - Coconut Oil Organic, 14 oz liquid Good stuff.

Uh.

OH I need always need elastics that don't pull or break.

I am still using that giant bottle of tresemme for dry hair shampoo. I probably use three tablespoons or so per wash. Not much at all and it's lasting forever. For ease of use I put some in an empty Hot6 oil bottle I had.

I think that's about all. I'm relaxing my hair this weekend so I will put my length check pics up and announce my plan for the year.

Happy New Years peeps!

I'm in week 16 of my relaxer stretch and I am so excited it's gone so well. I've never stretched so long without breakage or massive shedding.


I am plotting some new oil infusion moisturizing things. I've got a couple of recipes in my head that I need to work out.

Currently I need a few things so I can get to sciencing.

I need:
Candy thermometer
Amla powder
Raw bulk shea butter
Horsetail
Rooiboos tea
Fenugreek

I also need some more larger containers.

And I should set aside an area on my computer for my recipes so I make sure I remember them.

Mainly I want to customize a heavy creamy buttery moisturizer for my hair that will help with my long stretches.

That's about it.