Quick update/post ... 27 Weeks Post

So ... apparenlty my last post was a while back (in fact, nearly four months ago!), but i've been really busy with uni work and my time management skills aren't the best. I should be revising right now but I thought i'd give you all a quick update.

So in June I got my hair relaxed and cut back to CBL because my ends weren't in the best shape. This was pretty heart breaking for me as I was at APL but it was for the best. I completed my 12 week stretch until September and decided to stick a weave in. Since then i've also had braids in twice (and i'm getting my hair braided again on Monday). This means that so far i've stretched for 27 weeks which is pretty insane (for me anyway).

The plan was to get my hair relaxed during the Christmas holidays but i've had so much to do & the days have just  flown past lol. So  i'll probably get my hair relaxed during the Easter holidays or maybe even in JUNE (at 1 year post)!

Here are pics of my hair.  I removed the braids yesterday  after spraying a mix of HH HE and water, detangled and braided my hair into 13 sections (my hair is way too thick).

this second picture show how much new growth i've  gained (yay progress) ... unfortunately i forgot to measure it but i'd say is about 1 1/2 inches worth of new growth (which is not the best for 28 weeks post but I haven't been following my regimen at all so its expected). I reckon if i had followed my braid regimen i would've atleast  gotten 2 1/2 inches worth but oh well 

I then covered my hair in a plastic cap for an overnight GHE session. This morning I woke up and my new growth was baby soft, mainly because of the HH HE.

Initially the plan was to get my hair done today however my hairdresser chicken'd out at the last minute claiming that she had two other clients booked and my hair was "too thick" to fit me in on the day. She then gave me an appointment in two weeks time (how generous of her). I've now found another hairdresser willing to do my hair on Sunday. 

Instead of washing my hair this morning, i've just blow-dried the ends and i'm now getting ready to go shopping (yes I still have HH HE in my hair lol but i really need to get a few things). I'm hoping that having conditioner in my hair for so long won't affect it but i've read that many "relaxed-head" use co-wash conditioners as leave ins all the time but we'll see how it goes.

Here's the quick bun i've put it in:

Apologies  the poor bun i'm in a rush and also my edges but I can't find a gel that holds them down (with that said a review on the Eco Styler Gel is well over-due ... expect that in the new year). 

I'm going to have to wrap it up here because i need to have my lunch quickly and leave.

But its safe to say I'm back! 

QUICK UPDATE - 12 week stretches just aren't for me!

Ok, so one of my goals was to stretch for twelve weeks without the aid of braids/a weave and although I'm doing so (for the first time ... yay me), I'm suffering from so much breakage that I'm am starting to think that it is detrimental to my hair. Having to de-tangle and style my hair daily is leading to a lot of breakage & thus I've decided that 8 - 10 week stretches will be sufficient in the future.

This does not mean that I will relax every 8 - 10 weeks because I am quite happy to do a 6 month long stretch if (& only if) the stretch is aided by the use of braids.


UPDATE [27/08/2012] - ok so this post is a bit OTT and after sleeping on the post i've decided not to give up just yet but to try and master my stretches. I think the main reason i'm finding it hard is because I still haven't managed to get the protein/moisture balance right but this will only come with time and I need to thus be patenient and focus more on the health (& strength) of my hair rather than just the length.

Shrinkage!

Dealing with my hair in its un-blow-dried state is becoming more and more difficult and the main reason is ... the single strand knots that result from SHRINKAGE!

I'm planning on looking at a few natural blogs/YT videos on how to stretch my hair without out  heat so hopefully I can combat shrinkage.

7 Weeks Post Relaxer Update

So I treated myself to a hot oil treatment/steaming at a nearby Salon and got my hair blow dried. Below are my 7 weeks post relaxer comparison pics:

7 weeks post relaxer

(June)

I've had so much re-growth that I'm struggling to cope with it all. I know I promised to go at least 12 weeks without a relaxer but as soon as I hit 6 weeks post it started to get more and more difficult. I'm finding it hard to detangle my hair and i'm starting to see more single strand knots especially when I wash my hair. As a result I've stopped co-washing mid-week as it does more harm that in should. I will continue to stretch (without putting my hair in braids/a weave) as I believe if I can get through it once I'll be able to do it again. I just hope my hair doesn't suffer.