HAIR JOURNEY 1 YEAR IN

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES!

MAY 2010 - BEFORE THE JOURNEY

JUNE 2011 - 1 YEAR INTO MY HAIR JOURNEY 

New Carol's Daughter Monoi Challenge!

I don't know about you all, but I am over excited about the new CD line "Monoi", which features three new products that promise longer, stronger hair. Now I don't get to heavy into the promises product make but I do get amped when it comes to a great product ingredient list and the offering of something different. What is Monoi oil you ask? Well it is actually an oil that Tahitian's have used for many centuries to moisturize and maintain the beauty and health of their hair and skin. Monoi oil is a natural beauty product based on two unique ingredients, Tiare Tahiti (Gardenia Tahitensis) and refined Polynesian Coconut oil (Cocos Nucifera). Monoi is stabilized with Vitamin E.

You guys know I LOVE coconut oil and can't live without it. The results and benefits my hair has garnered with its use are pretty evident if you read my blog on a regular basis. I was wondering WHEN Lisa Price would finally include a line that would feature Coconut oil as its main ingredient....and now she goes and gives us something that I think will be GREAT. This line not only includes Monoi oil but also bamboo water which is the strongest plant on our planet. This will help to reinforce the hair's structure and give it longer life. Not to mention it features the use of shea butter, silk protiens and pro vitamin B-5. I love what this line will bring to Carol's daughter brand. I have decided to start my first challenge. So to help get me to BSL by my June 30th B-day, I will use the CD Monoi Repairing mask as my weekly deep treatment, the Monoi shampoo & conditioner as my hair care staples for the next 2 months. Hopefully CD delivers on the promise of stronger longer hair! I will keep you all updated and deliver full reviews once I have finished using a full container of the products.

Ingredients List


Monoi Repairing Shampoo: Water (Aqua), Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, PEG-150 Distearate, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Decyl Glucoside, Sodium Lauroyl Oat Amino Acids, Coconut Oil Glycereth-8 Esters, Shea Butter Glycereth-8 Esters, Polyglyceryl-3 Laurate, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Gardenia Tahitensis Flower Extract, Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil, Phyllostachis Bambusoides Juice, Moringa Pterygosperma Seed Extract, Helianthus Annuus(Sunflower) Seed Extract, Hydrolyzed Hibiscus Esculentus Extract, Cassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide, Hydrolyzed Silk, Panthenol (Pro-vitamin B5), Glycerin, Glycol Distearate, Cinnamidopropyltrimonium Chloride, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Quaternium-91, PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate, Disodium EDTA, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, Methylisothiazolinone, Fragrance (Parfum)

Monoi Repairing Hair Mask: Water (Aqua), Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Glycerin, Cetyl Esters, Dimethicone, Fragrance (Parfum), Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oiol, Gardenia Tahitensis Flower Extract, Cyclopentasiloxane, Isohexadecane, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil, Moringa Pterygosperma Seed Oil, Phyllostachis Bambusoides Juice, Hydrolyzed Hibiscus Esculentus Extract, Cassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccaride, Helianthus Annus (Sunflower) Seed Extrac, Panthenol (Pro-vitamin B5), Cetrimonium Chloride, Cetrimonium Phenyl Trimethicone, Dimethiconol, Octyldodecanol, Ceteareth-20, Quarternium-91, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Methylisothiazolinone

Monoi Repairing Conditioner:Water (Aqua), Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Glycerin, Isododecane, Fragrance (Parfum), Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Isohexadecane, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Gardenia Tahitensis Flower Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil, Moringa Pterygosperma Seed Oil, Phyllostachis Bambusoides Juice, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, Hydrolyzed Silk, Hydrolyzed Hibiscus Esculentus Extract, Cassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Extract, Panthenol (Pro-vitamin B5), Cetrimonium Chloride, Cetrimonium Methosulfate, Cinnamidopropyltrimonium Chloride, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Octyldodecanol, Ceteareth-20, Quaternium-91, Citric Acid, Tetrasodium EDTA, Sorbic Acid, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, Methylisothiazolinone

Top 10 Tips for Growing IT!

Starting your healthy hair journey requires changing those old habits that has caused you to neutralize your hair growth. These are my TOP TEN tips on retaining as much length as possible. We WILL reach our healthy hair and length goals if we are consistant with our regimens and grow our knowledge on hair health.

#1. Keep moisture on your hair. This means co-washing as needed to renew hair's moisture on a regular basis. Apply a leave in conditioner or sprtiz hair with water, then seal with an oil daily to lock in moisture in between washes and co-washes.  Making sure hair has sufficient moisture is the most important step in retaining your length.

#2. Deep Condition often. Once a week is a good starting point. This will keep your hair moisturized and will give it great nourishment.

#3. Keep ends trimmed. Split ends become bigger problems once they travel up the hair shaft; damage will only get worse. When hair breaks it does not break 100% even, so a split is likely to develop on those strands. Doing a light dusting (trimming 1/8 to 1/4 of an inch or trimming visible splits strand by strand) every few weeks on your ends allows YOU to control what you take off the ends.

#4. Make sure your hair has sufficient protein.  Finding the right moisture/protein balance will give you the healthiest hair possible.  Relaxing removes protein from the strands, so it is very important relaxed/ texlaxed heads do a protein treatment periodically to restore the hair's strength.  Missing this step in your hair regimen can be detrimental to your progress. Don't over do it with protein, or you will get stiff, hard hair prone to breaking...always follow up with a deep condition after you finish your protein treatment. Remember balance is key.

#5.  Avoid applying heat to your hair ( especially direct heat i.e., flat iron, curling iron, blow dryers). Heat breaks and then reforms the hydrogen bonds in the inner core of the hair fiber. While the goal of using heat is to alter the inner substance of the hair, the unwanted consequence may be damage to the outer protective cuticle, causing weathering, damage and eventual hair breakage.  If you decide to use heat be sure your hair is clean and conditioned. Always use a heat protectant first! Air dry your hair as much as possible and treat your self to a heated style only on special occasions( at least until you reach your goal length).

#6. Decrease hair manipulation. Excessive combing, brushing and handeling of hair will put more stress on your strands, which can make it more prone to breakage. Style your hair and leave it be for the remainder of the day!

#7.  Get proper nutrition and hydrate for healthier hair.

#8.  Wear a protective style as often as possible. Avoid those that add tension and stress like sew in weaves and very tight pony tails.  You will be so happy you did!

#9.  Educate yourself on what you are putting on your hair. Pull out your trunk of hair products right now. If you see ingredients like sodium laureth sulfate, mineral oils and petroleum, it may be time for you to put more effort info finding products that will foster healthier hair growth.  There are products out there that will cause even further damage to your hair. Take an active approach in avoiding them.

#10. BELIEVE that you will reach your hair goals and everything will fall into place. Put an end to being tired and frustrated with your hair. All hair was made to grow, even black women's hair, contrary to all the ridiculous myths out there.

Apply these tips and you will see a rapid change in hair health...I know I did : )  U grow girl!

Split Ends: What causes them & How to Avoid Them

What are Split Ends and How Do I Get Rid of Them?
Split ends are not completely avoidable, BUT there are ways to prevent them and keep these pesky problems to a minimum. Let me first say, there is NO WAY TO REPAIR split ends. Once the cuticles and cortex are damaged on that strand, there is no lotion, potion, or oil that can repair he split. The only way to rid your hair of split ends is to cut them completely off. If you are trimming or cutting your hair the most important thing you can do to start things off right is to purchase a good pair of hair cutting shears. Please do not use regular household scissors, or the $3.00 pair you purchased form the corner beauty supply. Scissors that are not sufficiently sharp will only cause more split ends! Also remember you can't keep using the same shears for 4 years and expect those to have the same sharpness as the day you purchased them.  Take the time to invest in a good pair and replace them regularly.

Split ends occur when the protective cuticle of the hair is destroyed at the end of the hair. The hair will then split into two or more strands. Keep in mind that splits can occur anywhere along the hair shaft. Once it splits you must cut the damaged part off as the split can continue all the way up the shaft causing further damage. 


What Do Split Ends Look Like?

Preventing Split ends


The ends of your hair are the oldest, and dryer parts of your hair. This is why splits typically occur here. Simply put DRY HAIR BREAKS. This is why moisturizing your hair daily, paying close attention to the ends and sealing the ends with oil is one of most important measures you can take to avoid split ends.  I have minimal splits now because I have removed heat from my hair equation altogether.  Heat drys out your hair.  If you are relaxed and you are using heat on a regular basis you are abusing your hair... your goal of long hair will only be a dream.  I thought because my hair was healthy looking, that is was healthy...but my hair would not grow past shoulder length.  I only used direct heat once a week and of course before my journey adding moisture was a no no because it would make my hair draw up and I would have to re-set it and flat iron again.  So heat plus no moisture, constant manipulation from combing equaled constant split ends for me.  I can remember getting my hair trimmed at the salon and seeing new splits a day later! Below is a list of Do's to preserve those precious ends. The longer you can keep your ends in tact the more length you will retain, and the longer your locks will flow.

To Prevent Split Ends...DO

- Deep Condition (with heat and or a plastic cap) hair often to provide each strand with nourishment and moisture.

- Moisturize your hair daily and lightly seal it with oil to provide a barrier for hair and give it improved elasticity. This will help it to stretch under stress put on hair rather than split and break. Split ends sometimes occur because the protective hair oils do not reach the end of the hair shaft, causing it to split. African American hair is naturally dryer because of the curly nature of our hair. The sebum (oils produced naturally by our bodies) does not easily travel down to the end of the hair shaft which creates much dryer ends for African American hair.

- Trim your hair regularly to prevent splits from traveling up the shaft and stopping future splits before they start.

- Apply a high quality conditioner after shampooing or cleaning scalp to close and seal those raised cuticles and lock moisture into each strand.

- Avoid applying heat to hair at all costs.  I would only apply direct heat for special occasion while on your journey.  You can ease back into heated styles a little more often after you have achieved your goal length. Remember that heat (especially direct heat i.e flat irons, curling irons, blow dryers) will rearrange protein bonds and remove moisture from the hair strands which can cause splitting.

- When using heat on your hair be sure to apply a heat protectant to provide a buffer between your hair and the heat.

- Make sure your moisture protein balance is in check

- Wear protective styles as often as possible. This will help protect those precious ends from exposure to rubbing against cloths, the dry air, and other natural elements which can cause ends to split.

- Minimize combing and manipulating your hair.

Before the Journey

Here are pictures of my hair before the start of my hair journey ( HHJ started May 6, 2010). As you can see my hair is shoulder length, thin ends and severely damaged edges. My new Hair Regimen is listed below. I will follow it faithfully! I will post updated pics every relaxer. I am aiming for a 5 month stretch after my June relaxer.

Hair Regimen as of May 2010

- Shampoo once every 2 weeks with Keracare Hydrating Shampoo

- CoWash 2 x a week with Suave Professionals Almond & Shea Butter Conditioner or Herbal Essences Hello Hydration.

- Clarify with Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) rinse once per month

- Black Tea Rinse 2 x a month


- Prepoo (over night or for 2 hours) before every CoWash and Shampoo with EVCO, EVOO, a touch of HE Hello Hydration and Honey.


- DC at least once a week for 1hr with heat, alternating between a deep moisture mask (Phytojojoba or Bio Infusion Olive Oil DC) or Protein conditioner (Elasta QP Intense, or PhytoKarite). I also add EVCO or EVOO and Wildgrowth Light Moisturizing Oil to my DC.


- Oil Scalp 2 to 3 x week with JBCO or EVCO


- Protein Treatments 2x month Alphogee 2 min Reconstructor and Sprtiz twice a week with Alphogee green tea keratin leave in.


- Moisturize Daily with Jane Cater Solution Revitalizing Leave In Conditioner, Suave Professional Almond & Shea Butter Conditioner. Seal with EVCO or JBCO


- NO HEAT, air dry always ( With the exception of relaxer day, will roller set and flat iron root only). I will Bun hair and wear phony ponies until I reach my short term HHJ goal of BSL. After that point I will wear some other no heat styles occasionally ( Braid Outs, Bantu Knots out). I plan to wear protective styles 98% of the time until my Long term Goal (WSL) is accomplished. 

- Tie hair up in satin scarf every night


- Relax with PhytoRelaxer every 3 to 5 months, Trim every relaxer.