Because It's Ladies Night!

I am finally on the first break from school in a over a year...YES! Now I get to devote time to my family and friends for once.  Also I have time to blog much more often with you all! I know I said I would not flat it again until June but...I could resist this time lol. I am only 3 weeks post and I am going out with my sisters for a night on the town, so I want to show off my new length and look as fly as possible... Above are the pics of the night out and below is tonight's regimen.

Pre Poo was done  overnight with EVOO and Lisa's Hair Elixir by Carol's Daughter  ( CD)

DC on dry hair for 30 minutes (short on time) with Curl Ecstasy Deep Conditioner by Curls

Shampoo once with Tui Shampoo another CD fav.

Final Rinse with Suave's Shea & Almond Conditioner

Leave Ins applied Jane Carter Solution and Nirobi Setting Foam and a light spray of Shea Moisture's Coconut and Hibiscus Moisture Sray

Apply my Paul Mitchell Soft Style Heat protector to damp hair then dry for 40 mins under hooded dryer and flat ironed with my FHI.

** Overall my hair came out a little flat and blah...I think I have forgotten how to style it down lol!  I will for sure switch back to my Mizani setting foam as my hair is much softer and primed for the flat iron when I used this. I was going for strait and sleek but did not build any volume at the root like I normally would, so my hair looks thinner than it usually would. 

Deep Conditioning Series: Part One

Deep conditioning is very important for all hair types...if you are relaxed/texlaxed it is critical! Deep conditioning is the ultimate and needed nutrition for hair health.  Each strand of hair has 3 layers. Deep conditioning affects the outer layer which is called the cuticle. The cuticle resembles shingles on a roof. They overlap each other, and should lay down flat. When your hair becomes dry and damaged, these shingles will stand up away from the hair shaft. This is what gives hair the dull, frizzy look. Deep conditioning the proper way and with the right products will help to smooth the cuticle, making the shingles (hair cuticles) lay down again, giving your hair a smoother, shinier, healthier appearance.


Deep conditioning is different from applying a simple rinse out conditioner with only a couple of ingredients.  It is usually done with a thicker heavier conditioner and left on for a period of time with heat.  This restores oils and moisture deep with in the hair shaft that we loose with exposure to natural elements, washing and styling.  If you are missing this step from your hair care regimen, please add it today!  I cannot stress enough the importance of this to anyone who wishes to maintain longer healthier hair.


I have been deep conditioning every week (sometimes twice a week) without fail for the time I have been on my journey.  It keeps breakage to a minimum, my hair is no longer dry frizzy and porous, it is stronger than ever, and much more manageable.  Split ends are few and far in between and my hair has excellent elasticity.  It is also very important to follow up any protein treatments with deep conditioning to counteract the stiffness or dryness and give the hair its elasticity back. There are tons of options out there for you to choose from.  Just make sure you read the labels before purchasing. Find out what your hair needs and what is best for your hair type.  I prefer deep conditioners with a natural and longer list of ingredients. Others may prefer them with fewer ingredients. Check out my second post to this series for a how to for properly deep condition you hair.

Deep Conditioning Series: Part Two

HOW TO PROPERLY DEEP CONDITION YOUR HAIR

What you will need:

Time — About an hour. I usually deep condition in the late evening or weekends when I don’t have to be anywhere anytime soon. Sometimes I will leave it on my hair for hours after the heating process when I want to give my hair some extra pampering. 

A Deep Conditioner — I really believe that you should invest in a high-quality (not necessarily expensive) deep conditioner. There are so many to choose from. Visit www.curlmart.com for a range of great and hard to find DCs. I personally love, love, love Spiral Solution's Deeply Decadent Conditioner, and Shea Moisture's Deep Treatment Mask , which I also love. Drug Store Brands like Suave’s Professional Shea Butter & Almond Conditioner and Suave Professional's Humectant are absolutely awesome in my opinion if you working on a tight budget.

Plastic Cap 

Heating Unit — Hooded Dryer, Hot towel, Heating Pad, Blow Dryer Cap, or a Micro Heat Wrap

How to Deep Condition your hair:

1. If you wish, you can wash your hair first...or like many you can apply to dry hair. I always detangle then braid my hair in 4 sections, before I wash and DC. This minimizes tangles drastically, reduce combing, and I see much less hair in the comb with this method. Saves my precious hair and time!

2. Generously apply your deep conditioner to the hair, and focus on the ends ( this is the oldest and driest part of the hair. Work through with your fingers, or use a wide toothed comb to work through your hair. I would also encourage you to add additional oils to your DC...Extra virgin Coconut Oil, Extra Virgin Olive oil and Jamaican black Castor oil are among my favs. To simplify I have been using Carol's Daughter's Lisa's Hair Elixir to incorporate several different oils in one go. This really enhances the deep conditioning for me.

3. Place the shower cap over hair, and then put the heating device on your head for at least a full 15 minutes ( I personally never go under  30 mins...that's why setting aside time for a DC is critical for me). You need to at minimum allow 15 minutes so the hair cuticle can open fully, and let the conditioner completely permeate and feed your hair. After 15+ minutes or longer, (you could leave the conditioner on at this point, even all night after heating), take off your cap and let your hair cool for at least 5 minutes. This allows your hair shaft to close again.

4. Rinse hair with warm water until about 80% of the conditioner is rinsed out.

5. Do a final rinse with the coldest water you can stand. This is important to seal your hair shaft and get all the benefits of your deep conditioning treatment.

6. Apply a leave-on conditioner (and oil to seal  if you choose) and allow your hair to air dry.

7. Do not wash your hair the next day. Give your hair a break after a deep conditioning for at least 24 hours. 

I suggest deep conditioning at least once weekly. Sunday evenings are the best for me. By doing this, your hair can become healthier, stronger and shinier. It will regain its softness and elasticity. Moisture-robbed hair is more subject to breakage and unmanageability. Remember, deep conditioning regularly is a key step in retaining your length.

Regimen Updated

Below is my updated Regimen with a list of products I alternate for each step. Really as long as you are putting moisture into the hair daily, sealing with an oil to lock that moisture in, and keeping your scalp clean, you can use what ever products work best for their hair (But please avoid mineral oils,  and petroleum based products as they can suffocate the hair and scalp, lock out moisture and inhibit hair growth). You can use an wide range of products to alternate, or you can choose a minimal amount of products. They key is doing what works best for your hair. If you don't have time to cleanse often, you may not want to apply too many oils and other products as often to avoid build up.  On the other hand if you clean your hair two or three times a weeks because you have a naturally oily scalp, then extra conditioning and keeping oils on those ends is key to avoiding breakage. I have also posted more before and after shots of my 6 month hair journey update. Stay consistant in your regimen and you WILL see results! Happy growing :)

- Wash with a natural Shampoo one a week (Sunday): Bee Mine Ayurvedic Bar or Shea Moisture's Coconut & Hibiscus. 

- Co Wash Once a week (Wed) with a moisturizing conditioner: Suave Professionals Shea & Almond Conditioner, Herbal Essences Hello Hydration, or Bee Mine Bee Lovely Moisturizing Conditioner  

-Deep Condition 2x a week (Wed & Sun after my co wash or shampoo): Spiral Solutions Deeply Decadent Conditioning treatment, Shea Moisture's Deep Conditioning mask, Darcy's Botanicals Deep Conditioning Mask

- Light/ Medium Protein Treatments done as needed, or once a month minimum: Aphogee 2 minute reconstructor ( NOT the 2 step hard protein treatment), Coppola's Keratin Deep Conditioning treatment, or Spiral Solutions Repairing Protein treatment. 

- Leave Ins: Jane Carter Solution Revitalizing Leave In conditioner ( Spritz 2x a day to keep moisture on my strands.

- I use a light protein leave in spray (Spiral Solutions Strength & shine or Aphogee Green Tea & Keratin Leave In...applied after my shampoos once a week

- Seal hair nightly with natural oils to lock in moisture from conditioners: Carol's Daughter Hair Balm (my new Fav), Extra Virgin Coconut oil, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Carol's Daughter's Lisa's Hair Elixer or Jamaician Black Castor Oil.

- Clarify once a month to remove build up: Bee Mine Purity Bar, Giovanni 50:50 Hydrating Clarifying Shampoo.

- I air dry 99% of the time and wear my hair in a bun or a phony pony.  I will be on a no heat diet and wear protective styles until i have reached Bra strap length. 

- Trim/ Dust about 1/4 inch after every relaxer.  I don't require a lot of trimming because I have worn a protective bun or phony pony for everyday of my journey.  I have used heat only once the past 6 months and this has allowed me to retain so much length and have very little breakage.

More Update Pics 6 months of Progress

June 2010

December 2010  (sorry, I did not comb out hair before this shot)

June 2010

December 2010

Baobab Oil for Hair Health

Baobab Oil is derived from the seeds of the Baobab tree ( also know as the upside down tree) native to eastern and southern Africa. It has been part of African skin care for centuries. Baobab oil has a high content of vitamins A, D, E, and F that combine to give impressive moisturizing qualities to the skin and hair. Baobab Oil absorbs quickly, improves elasticity, encourages regeneration of cells and does not clog pours.  It is also said to alleviate pain from burns and regenerates the epithelial tissues in a short time, thereby improving skin tone and elasticity.

Is your hair dry and brittle or have dandruff or itchy scalp? Baobab oil can be a soothing solution to all of these problems. It's inherent moisturizing qualities, plus vitamins A, E and F help to regenerate and heal broken hair, while soothing and healing itchy, irritated scalp.

You can apply it alone after shampooing your hair as a conditioner and then rinse it out after a few minutes. You can also just add a drop or two of baobab oil to your regular hair conditioner. It can also be used as a leave-in conditioner. Just rub a few drops in your palms and then apply throughout your hair for gloss and conditioning.

Discover multitudes of ways to enrich your hair with new, rare baobab oil. This oil comes from Zambia, where it is pressed from the fruit of the baobab tree. The oil is considered so valuable, that people from across the globe will travel to Zambia to get it. Baobab oil is endowed with essential fatty acids and vitamins A, D, E, and F that work to dramatically improve your hair health. 

Shea Moisture's Yucca & Baobab Shampoo

Shea Moisture Organic Yucca & Baobab Thickening Shampoo with Biotin, Bamboo Extracts: For Fine, Thin Hair

This shampoo came into my life at the perfect time. I was on a mad hunt to find a good shampoo with all natural ingredients and sulfate free. It was very hard to find what I had been looking for, but alas! I AM IN LOVE with this shampoo.The ingredients are so rich, rare and nourishing. It is free of all the harmful harsh ingredients that are so damaging to the hair strand structure. Even better than what this product does not contain is what it does contain. My hair was so soft and pliable as I shampooed it, it gives great lather, and hair is super soft even before I conditioned it. I have finally found my staple moisturizing shampoo. I urge you to try it today! Remember the Shea Moisture Hair line is sold exclusively at Target stores and Target.com. The product features the extracts of Baobab. I was not familiar with this tree's oil or use properties, so I did more research and the findings were very informative. Just one more reason why I love this shampoo. Be sure to check out my post on Baobab tree as well. Happy Growing!

Ingredients: Ingredients: deionized water, decyl glucoside (sugar beets), yucca soap, butyrospermum parkii (shea) oil, aloe vera leaf juice, adansonia digitata (baobab) extract, biotin, sodium lauroyl lactylate (coconut oil), vegetable protein, yucca filamentosa extract, rosemary extract, bamboo extract, lonicera caprifolium (honeysuckle) flower (and) lonicera japonica (japenese honeysuckle) flower extract.