Sunday, September 18, 2011

..:: My Regimen ::..


Here is the MOST current version of my regimen as of September 2011. I have copied and pasted it exactly as it appears on my Hair Forum pages. Enjoy !!!! :-)

---------------------------------------------------------------


Quick Update : As of August 3, 2011, my hair is NL/SL when it's unstretched, and it just passes my bra when I do my flat irons. July 29, 2011 marked 2 Years since my Big Chop !


I have Hand-In-Hair Syndrome, so I prefer to do protective styles that don't require me to touch my hair for days and weeks at a time ! Although alot of ppl don't like that I wear wigs and weaves, they were the main reason I was able to retain all of my length each month. I grew my hair from my big chop (which left me with 3-4 inches at EL/NL) to APL in just a year by protective styling. TRUST ME, protective styles work!


Currently I'm enjoying my new length, I've been wearing my hair in stretched hairstyles. I enjoy rollersets/flexirod sets/flat ironing/blowouts, and I love my braidouts when I wear my hair curly. I only wear my hair stretched, I prefer having the length.

0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0


I don't have a regimen, I just wash my hair whenever I feel like it. If I had to guess what I do on average, I would say I try to wash it:

■every 10-14 days in the winter, every 5-7 days in the spring, and I cowash every 2 or 3 days in the summer.


■I always prepoo on dry hair, shampoo or cowash, and then apply my leave-ins and begin styling.
If I'm going to do heat styling with my flat iron or for a blowout, I take a few more steps in my regimen.

For rollersetting & Flat Ironing:

■Prepoo overnight on dry hair, shampoo the next morning, apply my light protein treatment, and follow behind that with another moisturizing deep conditioning treatment. Then I apply my leave-in conditioner, foam wrap, and heat protectant serum. I NEVER use double heat, so I do a rollerset first before flat ironing. I've never had any heat damage using this method. I do not worry about heat damage either. If I get it, I'll cut it off. Plain and simple.

For Blow-outs:

■I follow the same method as I would for rollersetting up to applying my leave-ins and heat protectant but instead of rollersetting my hair, I do cornrows to first stretch my hair, wait for my hair to become about 85% dry, then I do the blowout in small, detangled sections. I get incredible stretch using this method, and it's much more gentle on my hair than doing it on dripping wet hair.


■I try to moisturize daily with a dime size amount that I focus on the ends. I seal with oil.


■I oil my scalp every 2-3 days usually.


That's my total regimen in a nutshell

September Blowout

Yesterday (9/17/2011) I had the joy of going to the salon for another Dominican blowout !!!

I did my prepoo that morning with some Nexxus Humectress and Hot Six Oil on my dry hair, then I headed out to the salon.

Once I got there, I was shampooed, deep conditioned under a Pibbs dryer, and asked if I wanted my hair set on rollers or just blown out. For time's sake, I opted for a blowout [[ I know what you're thinking, but hey, we all take shortcuts at one time or another right?!?]]

My hair was blown out with a roundbush and dryer, and then I was asked if I wanted a trim. I definitely wanted one !!! My stylist (Elita) cut about 1/4 in some areas, 1/2 in others, and possibly even a whole inch in the front where the ends needed some help. I LOVE MY RESULTS!!! My hair is so even and smooth. I love my layers once again. I probably will get one blowout a month, if even that. I currently have my eyes set on 2 lace front wigs that look exactly like my own hair textures [one curly, the other a yaki straight]. I hope to be able to purchase them ASAP so that I can give my hair another much needed break for maximum length retention.

Here is my new length after the trim!! Mid-Back/Waist Length hair, I'm coming for you !!!!




Monday, September 5, 2011

What is YOUR Dream Length Hair?

I think we've all asked ourselves this question at some time or another during this Hair Journey.

I used to want Rapunzel-like hair all the way to my hips when I first started my journey and after my Big Chop, but now I think that's a little TOO extreme for my taste.

Now I want a nice curly SL/APL layered look like Rochelle Aytes (I had to Google her name! I've only known her by her character names of Lisa in "Madea's Family Reunion" and Denise in "White Chicks") I think this goal is very realistic since her texture is not too far from my own. The look in this pic can easily be acheived with a good twistout with perm rods, or flexirods!! Her length is believable, and incredibly full and healthy. This is my goal curly hair!! I think by next year I could possibly reach this look...POSSIBLY. LOL




My straight hair goal is exactly similar to the length and cut hair Beyonce has, and my straight hair styling goal is to get the Gabby's voluminous curls. I CANNOT WAIT to be here !!! I hope I am at this length by the spring/summer of 2012. This is so beautiful and healthy (even if they may be lace fronts or weaves. It's not dramatic or overdone at all to me! I really love B's color as well :)






What is your dream length hair, curly, straight, or both? I would love to see a pic if you can post a link below!!!

Closer To My Dreams :)


Get a playlist! Standalone player Get Ringtones




The other night, I was passing time by looking at different profiles and pictures on the hairboards. I ended up going through some of my saved favorite pictures. Most of these saved favorites are from years ago, and the women all have bra-strap length hair and beyond.

I looked at these pics and for some reason, I just could not become excited or astonished. Don't get me wrong, these women had some G O R G E O U S healthy hair....but when I saw these pics for what felt like the 50th time, I found that I thought less along the lines of "I can't wait for the future when I'm there!!" and felt more like "Wow, I'm not very far behind her" ...


Then I took the time to go through my own picture collection, starting with my older pics and working my way up to my newest. I was just filled with complete and utter shock.

I can't believe it, but I've been on my HHJ almost 3 years now. December 15th will mark my third year on my journey!!! I can't believe I'm just months away from reaching my ULTIMATE hair goal, WL hair. It's surreal to me, I mean I'm in a state of complete disbelief.

Here is a pic of my hair dated September 9, 2009



Here is a pic of my hair almost 2 years later, dated August 2, 2011.


Don't get me wrong, I know that I'm only going to graze it in my longest layers. Nonetheless, I've met a MAJOR personal feat that I set for myself!! It's still amazing because I realize I started at my shoulders, cut my hair up to my ear, and now it tickles my lower back. All in 2 years time!!! I've never had that much success in any of my endeavors, and so quickly. NEVER...I've been blessed in other endeavors, but it's always taken alot of time. This will be a start to a happy end :)

Honestly, before my HJ I knew that long waist length hair was possible (in a wishful thinking, optimistic, "you-can-do-anything-you-put-your-mind-to" kind of way) but I honestly never pictured myself having it again as I did in my childhood. I had some silly reasons why it wouldn't be, such as, "I'm too old now," "my hair is too coarse," "I'm not a child anymore and my hair doesn't grow that quickly". Thank you LORD that I was wrong about myself!!! hehehehe

I'm so determined to get to WL ASAP!! I am going to reduce the amount of heat I use and bun my hair more frequently. I am also going to rely on flexirod sets, cheat rollersets, braidouts, and any other cute heat-free styles I can find!! I want to play with clip in pieces, and try making my very own homeade half wig. I really can't wait to get this wrap-up started ! I will be making videos again really soon you guys. I've been really blessed and I want to share the information I've learned with you all.


Thank you for reading !!!