Thursday 24 July 2014

Wash Day(s)

I have obviously been washing my hair but I always forget or don't get around to writing them up. I really mean to and even take pics but the posts just don't get there.
I want to have a written log so I can see what actually works and what doesn't. Am I doing something that doesn't agree with my hair or is there something that really makes my hair smile?

I also want to see which products to keep in my staples, which ones to rebuy and which ones need to be thrown off a high cliff never to grace my stash again.

I will try to keep up to date with wash day logs and with that this post will discuss the few recent wash days I've had.

Wash day (a)
Wash
I prepped my hair overnight with EVCO after detangling.
Next day I pre-poo with my mix (honey, coconut milk powder, elastercizer, oil blend)
Wash with my Loreal natural macadamia sulfate free shampoo - only needed one wash, rinsed.
Tea rinse (peppermint, rooibos, thyme, esential oils)
Deep Condish with mix (Silicon mix, Kanechom karite conditioning mask, Aplanadora, oil blend) Rinsed with cool water.
ACV rinse.
Towel blot, Rubbed EVCO through hair and wrapped hair to dry a little.
Used leave ins - can't remember if I used creme of nature recon, elasta qp or pantene spray, kanechon karite leave in, oil blend to seal and on scalp and Paul Mitchell super skinny relax balm and threaded overnight.


Wash Day (b)
I wanted to join in with 30 day with ceramides challenge from one of my fave bloggers so added some in this wash day

Wash 
I prepped my hair overnight with Hairlicious, Avocado oil and EVCO after detangling. Used GHE.
Pre-poo added Kanechom ceremidas conditioning mask to mix
wash with the same Shampoo, rinsed.
Tea rinse (peppermint, rooibos, thyme, added dried lemongrass and lavender buds to tea strainer ball and seeped with tea)
Deep Condish with mix (Alapanadora, Organix macadamia mask, kanechom karite conditioning mask, oil) Rinsed with cool water.
ACV rinse
Towel blot, Rubbed EVCO through hair and wrapped hair to dry a little.
Leave ins - Pantene Instant Damage Defence Conditioning spray, Giovani direct leave in(got a couple of travel sizes to try - review on way), oil blend on scalp and to seal, chi keratin infusion. Banded hair overnight to air dry.

Wash day (c)

My hair has been a little dry and frizzy I think it's the heatwave we've been having. It's also getting thicker, I'm sure it's a result of the bamboo and hairlicious again whooooop.
started using Organic Grapeseed oil to seal and for scalp for the last few days to stay on track with 30 day ceremide.

Prepped hair last night, tried something else to tackle dry frizz I doused my scalp with Organic Grapeseed oil, used Kanechom Argan conditioning mask as I woul a moisturiser and sealed with the Grapeseed oil. Used GHE and wowwwwww it was way too hot, scarf and cap came loose so many times and fell off all together couple of times...... not lovely at all.

When I got to the bathroom I had all intentions of just going straight into washing as I had used condish overnight but the fromt was a little dry and frizzy were the cap and scarf escaped during the night so I wet hairline a little, the rest was damp and ran a little elastisizer through hair, capped and left on for a short while.
My hair looked gorgewah! the curls really jumped about and soooo fluffy and soft. It made me want to try wash and go's - maybe when my hair gets a little longer. or when I decide to chop the ends right off (the urge to big chop is growing)

Washed with same shampoo - needed to wash and repeat this time 'round, rinsed.
Tea and COFFEE rinse!!
 I've noticed those pesky broken hairs and a few more shedded ones too this week, infact for the          last two weeks the number of both have increased - not as much as my dreaded hairfall episode - but enough to make me sit up and take action. soooooo I thought I'd give coffee a try, I had already started seeping the tea mix (peppermint, rooibos, thyme and dried lavender buds) so I added the coffee into it and left it to seep together.
The smell was weird - all the mix up mix up - and it was messy - but I enjoyed the coffee addition , it left my hair sooooo fluffy (I know I use that alot) and not stripped at all. Plus it made my hair darker. like a wash in colour rinse. I loved it. Plus when I went to section my hair to deep condish, the hair separated so easily.
Deep Condish with mix (silicon mix bambu, Kanechom Karite, Aussie 3 minute reconstruter,enriched coconut oil, lavender buds) the lavender had fallen into the sink when I filled the tea strainer ball and it seemed bad to waste it but ugh, when I put condish onto hair the buds were not friendly and theny looked like buggy creatures and felt yuck!!
The condish is still on my hair as I type. I'll rinse it off in a mo and finsish of wash sequence as before.
My leave ins will be Dove intensive repair leave in conditioning spray, Giovanni direct leave in, hairlicious for scalp and hairline/edges, light sealing with Orgainic Grapeseed and paul mitchell super skinny serum and thread up for the night.

I had planned to maybe Blow out my hair as I have a packed weekend with woman's conference and air dry can take looong . The next day the stretch of my newgrowth isn't as nice as the second day but we'll see. If my roots are damp/puffy I may blow dry on cool. we'll see.

Wash day saga over lololol


ps. thought I'd add some texture shots just because ;)
please excuse quality.

















Wednesday 9 July 2014

By Request - How I Moisturise and Seal.

My first requested blog post - whoooooop lololol

Its extremely important to keep your hair moisturised. If you allow your hair to get dry it will become brittle and break off. Your scalp also. If your scalp gets dry it becomes itchy and scratching can cause cuts and flaking.
When your hair gets dry it also gets hard and painful to comb.

Before embarking on my HHJ I used to use differnt kinds of products, whichever ones I felt like. I used to use HARD gel, like stick your hair to your head Hard. Then I tried to grow my hair without any knowledge or information and as a teenager I'd use hot oil treatments and coconut oil from the indian food shop.
I finally found a combo I found made my hair nice - sheen spray, cream moisturiser and a spray oil. I changed my hard gel to a softer gel that still gave good hold.... but the flakes.... ugh my hubby (then my boyfriend) would tease me and say I had CORNFLAKES in my hair... oh the shame. Although my hair did grow it wasn't healthy and every little bit of growth would cut off or break.


Fastfoward to now I use products that work for me... no more sheen spray and no more hard gel.
Funnily enough I have gone back to my teenage love of coconut oil but this time it's Extra Virgin.


Anywhooooo I digress... back to the request.

Moisturise and Seal *Loose Hair*

Products:
Spray Leave in and/or detangler
moisturiser
oil, butter or serum
Tools:
Wide tooth comb
medium tooth comb
denman/paddle brush(optional)
Soft bristle brush(if bunning)

Carefully section the hair into 4.
Work on one section at a time.

Oil scalp in section and massage.
Spray hair, massage through hair from root to tips.
Using wide tooth comb, gently detangle hair from tips to roots.
Use enough moisturiser to smooth into hair - again from root to tips.
Put oil in palm and rub hands together to gently warm and spread oil, smooth onto hair - you guessed it, root to tips ;)
Twist section up and repeat on all sections till all hair is done.
Depending on how you are putting your hair up for the night, prepare/style hair.
Serum can be used to further smooth hair for threading,braid/twist outs. Gel or Styler can be used also.
Take Castor oil or growth oil and massage into edges and nape.
If bunning, a little aloe vera gel (or gel)can be smoothed on edges and soft bristle brush used. Wrap scarf around edges to keep them down.

Moisturise and Seal Plaited/Twisted hair

Oil scalp, if hair is in canerows run fingers with oil on or use applicator bottle. Massage through.
If hair feels dry, spray plaits/twists lightly and then oil lightly.
If hair is extremely dry, use a small amount of after spraying, making sure not to use too much and rub in well or the moisturiser will attract dirt and/or make the plaits get matted. Rub oil in hands and run hands through plaits/twists.
Take castor or growth oil and massage into edges and nape.
If hairline is getting messy you can use a little aloe vera gel (or gel) and wrap scarf over edges to hold down.

Please note, if your plaited/twisted hair is dry night after night, you may need to wash them or take them down and wash your hair.

Never leave your hair in plaits/twists if you see matting, your hair will knot up and if left long enough, loc up and detangling will be extremely difficult. You may end up breaking hair off or even having to cut.

**make sure you go right to the tips when applying products so you can make sure you don't neglect your ends.
**If using a butter, you can use in place of moisturiser or to seal in place of oil
**I love aloe vera gel rather than gel on edges at night as it adds to softness with the hold and soothes. Also it never flakes through the night.
** Use a Satin or Silk scarf or bonnet. Cotton will dry out your hair and undo all your hard work. Even if you use a satin pillowcase, covering your hair may be preferable as the oils etc wont get all over your pillow and all over your face.
**If you can, invest in a satin pillowcase - if your scarf/bonnet comes off you have back up and if you don't like or use scarves/bonnets then it's a must as the cotton or polyester pillowcases will dry your hair out, and the fibres will break your hair off, ever seen those little hairs all over your pillow? that's broken hair!



 In the morning, assess hair, if it needs moisturising then do so, you may find your hair is adequately moisturised. Seal with oil or serum.

Don't be afraid to add a moisture boost during the day if you feel you need it. Hot weather can really dry out the hair as can air conditioned environments.


You can read my Hair Regime for more info


Thanks for request, keep them coming *mwah*

Monday 7 July 2014

Results are in!! - Bamboo tea and mega growth oil

Soooo I finished my 30+ day challenge a few weeks ago and have been so busy I have only go around to posting the results now.

The Bamboo Tea was delicious, I really love the taste and it is deffo joined my list of fave teas.

The Growth oil worked great, loved the feel and the softness it gave my hair.. and the thickness!! Wow!!
After a couple batches, I decided to sieve the oil as I didn't like the bits that were left on my hair when the oil had *soaked in* I found that the sieving worked well and I didnt have the powdery bitty feel anymore.

I tweaked the oil and it's now called Hairlicious Growth oil whoooppp

soooo did the hair growth stimulation work?? here's the pics please excuse quality:


Front Section

 I was happily surprised with the results you can clearly see the length difference by looking where the hair reaches in comparison to my eyes. I tried to add the white lines where the hair ended but I see a few scraggly ends just past the lines in both pics.


 
Side Half Ponytail


The angles are a little different but the length difference is still visible ;)

Side Section
This side comparison was amazing!! not only was the hair longer but softer and shinier.


Horahhhhh My little challenge had great results!! I am soooo happy I decided to try my own oil and The tea is a great addition.

I am actually going to do another 30 day challenge starting this week.... who's gonna join me?