Waist length hair was my ultimate goal when I began my healthy hair journey. Looks as though it is finally sight!!!! Beyond excited about my progress and the overall health of my hair.  I am due for a relaxer in October, so with great care I hope to meet my goal by Christmas 2012 ; )

Two-Year Hair Journey Update

June is my 2 YEAR HAIR-VERSARY and I am beyond amazed at how far I have come in such a short period of time.  I started out my hair journey with unhealthy thin bone-straight relaxed hair that was a little shorter than shoulder length. Today I still relax, but NOT bone straight. My hair is hovering right at mid-back length and I am well on my way to hopefully reaching my goal length of waist length hair.  I have learned so much about what it takes to grow and maintain healthy hair from those that have successfully completed their own journeys.  Great reads are Grow It by Chicoro, and The Science of Black hair by Audrey Davis-Sivasothy, both available through amazon.com.  I think it was so beneficial early on to gain knowledge and inspiration from ladies on the long hair care hair boards. One of the best is k-i-s-s-.biz (also know as Keep it Simple Sista).  I always say the best thing you can do for your hair is to educate yourself on healthy hair care! Learn what products you need to avoid, what styles to avoid and mechanical devices cause damage to hair. Learn how CRITICAL the moisture content of your is.  Once you realize the impact this has on the health of your hair, dropping certain practices and adding new ones to your regimen will become a no-brainer. Today I LOVE my hair and I NEVER thought I would be able to utter the words.  If I can grow my hair long and strong ANYBODY can.  I always thought long healthy relaxed hair was unattainable if you have had short damaged hair all your life like I did.  This simply is not true.  If you are displeased with the health and condition of your hair, relaxed or natural, take an active approach in caring for it yourself.  If that means ditching your hair dresser then so be it! Black women's hair was made to grow to great lengths just as women's hair of any other race.  I have posted Pics of my progress over the past two years.  I hope you will find it inspiring and proof that educating yourself will allow you to achieve anything : ) Happy Growing!

Start of my Hair Journey June 2010 - Length Check w/ Wet Hair

1 year into my HJ - June 2011 - Length Check

2 years into my HJ - June 2012 - Length Check

Beginning Length June 2010

Current Length June 2012!!!

Hair Journey Update

I am justa month shy of my 2 year Hairversary and so excited to relax this new growth and snap pics of my next length check. I have made so much progress, experienced no setbacks and am on the path to my goal length of Waist Length hair. My regimen has been simplified a lot because I have been super busy the past few months.  I have keep my Co-Wash mid week, I Deep Condition once week only and moisturize at least once a day. I really need to tighten up and get back to my old regimen that included two DCs a week and moisturizing twice a day religiously. If I am to make WL by June 2013 I have to get back to a basics. Still I am happy with the health and growth of my hair and as you can see by the update pic I am still getting results!

Hair Idol Flo Jo

I don't know about you, but being an 80's baby there was sheer magic associated with our US Olympic teams growing up. Florence Griffith- Joyner or Flo Jo as we called her stood out from everybody! She has impeccable style, speed and beauty that no one could touch in my eyes.  The A-symetric running outfits, the nails, the flawless makeup, and who could forget the HAIR...so beautiful. Though she is now an angel flying high, she will always be a beauty and hair Icon.

The Quidad Double Detangler

Purchasing this comb was best $28.00 I could have ever spent! I know what you are saying..." you paid that much for a comb??" BELIEVE me when I say it was worth every penny.  I originally purchased this comb as a Christmas gift for my lil sis ( she has mounds of natural thick hair).  I decided to test it out on my texlaxed/ relaxed hair at 3 months post and I was amazed at how much faster it was to detangle my mane with less snags, tears and hair in the comb.  My detangling time is cut down in half. I HIGHLY recommend this comb for those with curly hair, natural hair, and those relaxed sistas with new growth that is a struggle to get through. Its going to be invaluable to you when you are stretching in between relaxers... and the comb is so sturdy it should literally last forever.  I have no idea how adding and extra side of wide tooth combs aid so much in the detangling process, but I am so grateful someone came up with the technology to produce this comb. I purchased my Quidad comb at my local Sephora store, but you can also purchase online through their website Sehpora.com or thorough Amazon.com

The Science of Black Hair - Book Wish list

The Science of Black Hair by Audrey Davis-Sivasothy

This Book is on my Christmas wish list. I am a long time reader of Audrey's Yahoo articles on hair health. Needless to say I am so excited her manuscript is finally out.  This book cover everything form exploring our scalp to the challenges we all face as black women in growing our hair, to the hair and total body/ health connection.  I never want to stop soaking up knowledge when it comes to understanding our hair, so this book for me is a must read.  I would also enourage my readers to check out her awesome website at http://blackhairscience.com/index.html  Look for a full review of this book after the holidays and Happy Growing!

Update: Loving My Hair!!!

I am almost a year and a half into my HJ and I officially have my dream hair! Its not at my ultimate goal of Waist length, but a full BSL and I just love the length, texture, and fullness! I NEVER thought this hair would be attainable for me. It crazy that I was able to acquire it in what feels like no time flat.  Knowledge really is the key to anything you want in life.

I did my Phyto Relaxer yesterday...DC and styled with all Phyto products and these are the results : ) I hope to be at MBL by my next birthday of June 2012...so cross your fingers! All my readers and followers send me pics of your progress so that I may share them with the world. You can help to inspire just as I have.

Dry Hair

For the past 2 weeks I have been training hard for my half marathon coming up this weekend, and I feel  like my hair has suffered some neglect. I did not even have time to deep condition this week : ( Which is the first time I have skipped a DC since the start of my journey. The workouts leave my hair riddled with drying salt, and with doing only the quick hair regimen steps, I have hair that is dryer than normal. I also think their may be some porosity issues there too.

Porosity is the term used in the science of hair care to describe how easily water and other matter can diffuse back and forth through the cuticle layer and into or out of the cortex. Hair is much like a sponge, capable of absorbing water and other substances from the environment, and also susceptible to losing precious moisture and lipids to the environment. Maintaining an optimal balance of moisture in your hair preserves its suppleness, strength, and shine. This is especially important for those of us with curly hair, as it greatly influences the health and beauty of our tresses.

The Fix : On my way to the Beauty supply store right now to pick up some Roux Porosity Conditioner
Just a $2.00 sample pack is all I will need. This with some clarifying and much needed deep conditioning should fix the dryness for sure. I will also stick to Co-washing only, no shampoo ( after this 1 clarifying wash) for the next 2 weeks.

Hair Steaming Update

I am sad to say that I actually had to return my Huetiful hair steamer because I could not get it to operate consistently.  I also had major concerns regarding the safety of the design with my 2 year old running around. The water heats in an exposed plastic container and I would hate for her to run by and spill boiling water on herself! I actually opted for a salon quality stand up steamer and I LOVE it! So far I feel like the deep conditioner does penetrate my hair better overall. As far as long term results...we will have to wait and see : ) I purchased my steamer form the Sam Club website and saved a ton. I called around to Sally's and some other salon suppliers and they charge from $400 to $600 for the SAME exact model! I paid $200 for mine and I am pleased with the product so far.  Hairlicious founder Sunshyne actaully has the same steamer and she did a video review which I found to be very helpful in deciding if making such a pricy purchase is even worth it. Check it out here!

HAIR JOURNEY 1 YEAR IN

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES!

MAY 2010 - BEFORE THE JOURNEY

JUNE 2011 - 1 YEAR INTO MY HAIR JOURNEY