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! 

Relaxer Update #2

On Wednesday 14th, I came back from the student college salon after having my hair washed, conditioned (with ORS Mayo) and blow dried and was in one of the WORST moods ever!

The main reason for bad mood was the fact that the hairdresser stated that my spit ends were extremely bad and that I would need to cut off 3/+ inches of hair next week when I get my relaxer. Normally I would ask them not to trim my hair but I literally cannot remember the last time I got a trim and so I've been planning to cut off some of my thin/split ends however I was not expecting here to say 3 inches.

So I went back to get a corrective relaxer yesterday (Wednesday 20th) and I ended up getting a hair cut. Before my hair was cut, I had just about made it to APL but my hair ends looked and felt damaged (dry, straw like and thin)! I would show pics but I accidentally deleted my blog pics the other day!

So you're probably wondering how much was cut off? Well lets just say I'm back to SL/CBL! I ended having around 2 or 3 inches cut off. Its still taking me a while to get used to the fact that I cut off so much but I'm getting there lol

According to the hairdressing instructor at the college my ends were in a bad state because of dark and lovely hair relaxers (she could tell I used the realxer by just feeling my ends), she also mentioned something about calcium build up to the student doing my hair (I'm guessing she was referring to calcium hydroxide) but in the end she told me to stay away from Dark and Lovely relaxers and any other L'Oreal products aimed at Afro-Caribbean Hair due to the fact that they are not properly tested on "our" hair.

Even though I received a trim, I can still tell that about 1 or 2 inches will need to be trimmed (but this time I'll take it slowly).

In terms of the corrective relaxer, it still didn't take completely and on top of that the new growth on the RHS is apparently slightly under-processed too. TBF (to be fair) I am beyond caring about getting straight results with a relaxer! As long as my hair is manageable and the two textures don't lead to severe breakage like the last time I got a relaxer then I'm fine with it! I'll post an update some time next week when I wash my hair about my not so corrective, corrective relaxer.

Now it time for the 3 month comparison pics:

      

One thing I will mention is that the pics from 3 months ago show my hair after it was wrapped, left under a dryer for 40 mins and straighten whereas yesterday, I only had my hair blow dried so my hair is not completely straight in the pics on the RHS. Also with the pics on the LHS (from 3 months ago) my hair was flicked in due to the state of my ends.

I'm going to end this post now before I continue to ramble on! But looks out for more posts now that my hair is out of braids! 

Looking back at my goals 6 months on!

ITS JUNE! The month summer officially begins (in my eyes) and my birth month! YAY! 

Summer Summer Summer Time! 

So Will Smith isn't the best lyricist in the world but this song will forever remain a summer classic & so it is only right that I add this to my first Summer post.

This blog post is going to look back at the goals I made 6 months ago to see whether or not I have achieved them and to help me focus on the goals that need the most attention.  

Here is a link to my first ever blog post: 

Ok, so my first goal involved

stretching for longer than 6 weeks (yes i know SHOCKING) to every 3 months/holiday season (which means Christmas, Easter & Summer). 

My first relaxer (of my HCJ) was on December 21st 2011, the second 30th March 2012 (3 months later) & my third is due to be done between the 18th and 21st of June (so roughly 11 weeks). So by the looks of it i have been able to meet my first goal. After my relaxer at the end of June, I'm not too sure as to whether I will relax again in September (before uni starts - so 3 months later) or wait until my one year hair anniversary and relax in December.

My second goal was:

Weaving protective styles (either weave or braids) for 8 out of 12 months.

Which I have been doing!

My third goal involves:

Following my regimen to the tee! (this is a big one as until now i have never had a regimen and i'm not a fan of rules/boundaries - i like to go with the flow).

Alright so I guess have not exactly being doing BUT I plan to do during the summer as for the first time I will have my hair out for the whole duration of my three month stretch (more on that to come).

My fourth goal was:

*Perfecting a regimen that I will stick to in the future - this included finding my staple products. 

This has not happened as instead of listening to whether or not my hair likes a product, I have been following what other people say are good products (on YT/K.I.S.S/Hairlista). I feel at though ATM I have a good enough selection of products (only things missing are EVCO and a moisturising DC) and so this summer I plan on listening to my hair and letting it decide my staples. 

& Last my fifth goal added 3 months in was:

Finding a new salon/Hairdressers and not going back to my Aunt. 

My main reasons for this was due to the fact that my Aunt kept overlapping my relaxers and over-processing my hair (check out my Finding a New Hairdresser + Side Note post ). So in March for my first update I found a new hairdresser in my area but now my problem is with under-processed hair  (ironic I know) so now I'm trying to decide whether or not to stay with my new hairdresser or go on a hunt for another one.

So that's the outlook on how things are going 6 months later! Sorry for the lack of posts I've had exams/been ill.

Just a comparison I thought might inspire people!

I just wanted to share with you guys a bit more info - some of which I should have disclosed 3 months ago. Ok, so I'm going to post an embarrassing picture of my hair in December: 

Pay attention to the areas in the red circles, as you can see my hair was beyond damaged at this point. I was so disgusted by my hair in December that I was prepared to cut it to about ear length & start all over again. However I decided to wait until march before I made any drastic decisions. What you see in the red circles is the results of over-manipulation, over-lapping relaxers & heat damage. 

Just looking at this picture makes me want to hurl! This picture was supposed to be my first length check however due to the state of my hair I decided to skip my beginning length check. To tell you the truth after taking this picture I was prepared not to bother with a HCJ, I thought it would take years for my hair to look presentable & that I might as well not bother as I am not a very patient person. I'm not too sure what made soldier on through & start my HCJ but I am ever sooo grateful I did. In just 3 month not only did I repair my hair but I also grew it to grazing APL! My ends are now in a much better position and I have various blogs, YT channels, K.I.S.S sistas & Hairlistas to thank!

This blog post was supposed to talk about breakage (well the lack of in my case) but I went off on a bit of a tangent lol after going through my webcam pictures, I guess I'll talk about breakage on my next post. 

Relaxer Update #1 - long & picture heavy

Ok, I just came back from the new salon that I am trying out (my appointment was at 11am & I finished around 2:30ish). The salon service was GREAT (I guess the saying is true, you get what you pay for) - the hairdressers were friendly, I was offered complementary tea, she gave recommendations, she asked me if i wanted grease or normal cream & the results were okish to great so I would give them a rating of:

The only reason I didn't give them 5 stars is because the corrective relaxer didn't go so well!As she was detangling my hair she mentioned that the middle of my hair was underprocessed and so she stated that she would smooth the relaxer down towards the underprocessed section ... which she did. However either my hair being stubborn didn't like the idea or she didn't leave it on for long enough as the middle of my hair is still a tad underprocessed (but guess its not really their fault). The only solutionis to get another corrective relaxer the next time :(

Note to self: NEVER let my mum relax my hair ever again!!! 

Not only was this my first time a the new salon (called Angels) but it was my first time getting my hair relaxed with affirm and let me tell you I may NEVER EVER go back to dark and lovely. I thought dark & lovely was the ish in the past as it was the only relaxer that worked on my hair however after trying affrim, I have found a NEW LOVE *humming to Rhianna's We Found Love*. 

Below I have added pictures :) as with the other pictures in my blog: The Orange line represents SL, the Green Line CBL & the Blue Line APL 

Here's what it looks like from the back:

In this picture my ends were tucked in a bit so I think I might be able to claim GRAZING APL *happy dance*

The low ponytail is shorter than expected but not so bad. 

& Here's what it like from the front (way shorter):

Big difference - looks like its nowhere near APL. 

& here are my roots:

My ends are a bit straggly/stringy (can't think of a word) & I was advised to pay for a trim (she stated that she only wanted to cut 1/2 inch off) but me being the frugal person I am, put it off until my next relaxer.

I'm going back to university on the 16th so I'll probably get a weave some time before then, but i'll keep you all posted on how I manage my hair when its out between now & then.

Quick note: My wash days are usually: Wednesdays (Co-wash with HE HH) & Sundays (wash with KeraCare Hydrating De-tangling), but because i'm loving my hair the way it is I won't wash until next Friday!

Look out for reviews on the HE HH & Keracare Hydrating De-tangling Shampoo which I've just bought!

My hair yesterday vs my hair today - Oh relaxers how I love thee!

NB: Last Relaxer: 21st December 2011/ January 2012 (horse shoe section)

Update: February 2012 - APL Sooner than I thought?

So I’ve just finished removing my weave and I thought I might blog a bit whilst watching the Whitney Houston funeral.

On this occasion I felt I didn’t need to add conditioner/moisturiser/oils to my hair as it was already quite greasy/oily. After my mum cut the threads off I removed the extensions used to braid my hair and then proceeded to detangle my hair in 12 sections.

Below is a picture of the amount of shedding/breakage I received as a result:

(not to sure is this is too much or just about right for 5/6 weeks worth)

Also below is a picture of my hair detangled! 

Update! Here is a picture of my hair in two two-strand twists taken from my nape (the very bottom) and stretched out. 

The orange line represents SL, the Green Line CBL, the Blue Line APL and I used the purple arrow to show where my hair is now. By the looks of it ( & for once in my life) I am retaining length although I haven't washed my hair yet so we'll see what happens later on. Although I could probably make it to APL by my 20th Birthday (in June), I intend on cutting off quite a bit of my hair (maybe just below the green line) as my hair starts  to get quite thin below that line. 

& the last picture shows my hair not stretched - can you say MAJOR shrinkage :(

Results after washing, doing a protein treatment using Organics Hair Mayo & ORS Replen pak & air drying my hair in 30 Magnetic Snap-on rollers for 6 hours.