Just recently, I did my first rollerset on my natural hair !!! I was so happy and proud. It requires a different strategy with different results, but IT CAN be done !! I definitely will continue rollersetting my hair up until April so that I can see more of my true length.
I really do love my curls, but shrinkage is so irritating when you don't want to have short hair ! My shrinkage hides about 50%-60% of my total length ! It's quite amusing. Uncombed, the hair reaches the bottom of my earlobes. When my hair is blown out/rollerset/flat ironed, the longest layers are past my shoulders! Here are some pics to help illustrate the frustration:
The first 2 pictures were of a flat iron to my nape only. The top picture was from November 09, the middle pic is from the very end of December 09, and the bottom picture is a wash and go from New Year's day.
As promised, here is my most recent hair routine for the winter 2010. It may seem like I do alot, but in actuality it's very simple and extremely nourishing to my hair !
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MY NEW WINTER ROUTINE :
--> Lightly Oil my scalp at least every other day.
--> Apply Castor Oil to my edges everyday.
--> Massage my scalp daily
When Rollersetting:
-Prepoo w/ MillCreek Botanicals Organic Aloe Vera Conditioner mixed with some EVCO, Castor Oil & honey.
-Cowash at least once a week [Organix Coconut Milk or Tresemme Vitamin E]. Twice a month shampoo, using KeraCare Hydrating Detangling Shampoo, or with Cream of Nature (green label).
-Deep Condition under heat for 30-45 mins, using KeraCare Humecto Creme conditioner mixed with EVCO & AtOne Botanical Reconstructor, or with my Elasta QP DPR-11 mixed with EVCO & AtOne Botanical Reconstructor.
-Apply my leave-ins [NTM Silk Touch Leave-In and ApHOGEE Keratin & Green Tea Restructurizer]
-Apply my KeraCare Foam Wrap Lotion (5 squirts)
-Rollerset my hair all over using turquoise rollers & orange flexirods !!! lol
-If I decide to flat iron, I'll run a small squirt of Fantasia IC Heat Protecting Serum all over my dry hair evenly
-Pull hair into a loose pony at night, or wrap sometimes. Dare I say pincurl if my hair gets long enough? lol
-Moisturize and Seal with Shea Butter or Mango Butter and seal with EVCO
When Doing Wash & Go's, or Cornrows For My Wigs:
-Prepoo with MillCreek Botanicals Aloe Vera conditioner or Silk Elements MegaCholesterol. Mix either of the 2 with EVCO, honey, and Aloe Vera Gel.
-Cowash with Organix Coconut Milk, Tresemme Moisture Rich, Aussie Moist, or Herbal Essences Long Term Relationship .
-Sometimes after cowashes, I'll deep Condition under heat for 30-45 mins, using KeraCare Humecto Creme conditioner mixed with EVCO & AtOne Botanical Reconstructor, or with my Elasta QP DPR-11 mixed with EVCO & AtOne Botanical Reconstructor. Usually I skip this second DC though.
-Apply my leave-ins [Cantu Shea Butter or NTM Silk Touch Leave-In]
-Airdry completely. Then oil my scalp with EVCO and moisturize and seal. After moisturizing, I do about 12-16 twists all over my hair and tie my hair up for bed. I usually pull it into a puff the next morning. If I don't do twists, I cornrow my hair straight back and wear a wig cap and throw on a wig !! lol
I Also :
--> Take 2 multivitamins everyday.
--> Take 2000 mcg of Biotin at least 3xs a week.
--> Drink 8 full glasses of water each day, or more.
--> Detangle in the shower with my denman or shower comb with cheap conditioner on.
--> Do ApHOGEE 2 min. Reconstructor Protein Treatments about twice a month.
--> Clarify once a month w/ suave Clarifying Shampoo, then follow behind that with moisturizing shampoo.
--> Trim as needed !!! I can't stand ugly ends lol
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I love my new routine, it is very simple (although long when you read it!), easy to follow, and still just as great, if not better than the previous one. I wish everyone continued success on the quest for healthy hair !!! Keep shattering the myths ladies !! :-)
great routine!! what oil do you use on your scalp?? I'm going to start using castor oil on my edges as well =)
ReplyDeletei just sat here for like 2 hrs watching your videos and not only were they amazing but i enjoyed watching them because you are such a nice person. I do have a few questions for you.....my hair has been natural since i was about seven, i am now 17 and my hair is about shoulder length, i dont know any other way to style my hair without using my straightener! I wash and straighten my hair every two weeks...is that bad, should i stop? Also, i liked how your hair looked with the honey method, does honey damage hair???
ReplyDeleteHey Nakeisha, I only use EVCO as of lately, and I want to begin with my Wild Growth Oil again, even though the smell isn't the greatest hehehehe !!! Your edges will LOVE you for the castor oil !!
ReplyDeleteand Skeetahlove, thank you for watching my videos, and especially for such a nice compliment =) As far as you straightening, you do have to use caution because I don't want your hair to get any heat damage and start thinning or breaking!! I used to be natural as a teen and I got my hair pressed every 2 weeks as well, and I was fine =) My hair always curled back up after my washes, although I never preferred wearing it curly, EVER! hahaha.. I don't want to say it's a bad thing, because it's your preference, and you have to be comfortable with your style.. I would suggest you try alternative styles like braidouts, updo's, afro puffs, twistouts, flexirods, and rollersets to name a few, just so that your hair gets a small break occasionally. The days you use heat, make sure you do light protein treatments, followed by a moisturizing deep conditioner, and be sure to use a heat protectant !! If you haven't had any problems, then don't worry =) Enjoy your hair !! Just be careful and monitor any changes in your texture and thickness, and make sure it's never dry !! As for the honey, I apply it on damp hair and then rinse it out shortly afterwards. Honey will get hard on your hair as it dries. It can also lighten your hair over time! You can counteract this by adding jojoba oil to the honey. Some women on youtube have shea butter recipes and use honey mixed in them, but you have to mix it with wheatgerm oil in order to preserve it I believe !! I will answer this question in more detail in one of my upcoming youtube videos too =)