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!!!

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.

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 

1 YEAR HAIR-VERSARY !!!!

I reached 1 year on my hair journey in June and I am so excited to see that I have not only met my first long term hair length goal of BSL ( bra strap length ) but I have much healthier hair over all. My hair is longer than it has ever been my entire life and healthier than I could have ever imagined! My hair holds heat well now, does not frizz with humidity or even when I spritz water on my flat ironed hair...it's silky easy to manage and has great movement too.  I took a heat pass for my Bday celebration and to conduct a thorough length check.  I have used heat about 3 times since my journey has stared. I have been diligent with my regimen and bunning. This no heat diet along with daily moisturizing and frequent washing is what I can attribute my success to through out this process.  I have learned so much and hopefully I have helped others learn through sharing my personal experiences.  I am amazed at how much length I was able to  retain over he course of one year. It may be a little hard to see the number lines on my LC shirt, but I started a little above the #1 mark line and I am currently grazing the #8 line!

I guess I should set new goals at this point...so full MBL (mid back length) *which for me is officially dream hair length* is what I hope to reach by May 2012.  I am amazed at how much length I was able to  retain over he course of one year. It may be a little hard to see the number lines on my LC shirt, but I started a little above the #1 mark line and I am currently grazing the #8 line!

June 2010                         December 2011                   June 2011

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. 

Three Months Post Length Check

I am now 3 months post relaxer and I soooo ready to get my PhytoRelaxer next week. Not because my roots are hard to manage but because I am excited to see the new length!

My new growth has been very manageable this go round as I am consistent with my regimen. I CANNOT believe I am close to bra strap length already!!! Did not expect to get close until May/June. So reaching my June 30th 2011 goal of BSL is pretty much in the bag...YES!!! :)  I had no idea I was getting so close and retaining so much length until I did a mini length check last night. Posted are pics of my luscious new growth and latest LC. 

New Growth 3 months Post Relaxer

Nape Damage Update

For may people the nape area ( hair line and area at the neck) is very sensitive and most prone to breakage.  Before the start of my HHJ, I wore three sew-in weaves back to back which not only caused my hair to thin and break off all over, but it completely left my right nape area broken off about 2 inches from the scalp! With proper care and keeping a close eye on this area of damage,  I can finally get this area into a pony tail along with the rest of my hair.  Here are pics of the growth progress.

June 2010

January 2011

Six Month Hair Journey Update

JUNE 2010

DECEMBER 2010

I cannot believe how much time has passed since I started my HHJ.  I started in May/June 2010 and here we are in December. I have crossed the six month marker and now its time to witness the RESULTS!  I am sure many of you will start your journey and doubt that you are really getting the results you need to reach your hair length goals.  This why I encourage you to track your journey with photographs!  You can see and compare your progress, and the effectiveness of your regimen. Use your progress photos as a guide, motivation, and diary for your HHJ. If you dont see the proof in your photos, its possible you need to revisit the components of your regimen, and look at what products you are using.  It is so important to listen to your hair and give it what it needs. For the past month or so, I began to experience some breakage. In my head I was convinced I was using enough moisture, but the winter weather was telling my hair otherwise, so I tweaked a few things, and now the breakage is at bay.  At one point I began to skip my second deep conditioning treatment some weeks, skip sealing and only spritz moisture on to my hair and these small changes, produced negative results (breakage).  So I back tracked figured out what I was doing differently and went back to what worked best for my hair. The diligence of following my regimen is paying off! I am officially Armpit length :) Next stop...Bra strap length by my B-day June 30, 2011

                                              

End of 14 week Stretch

Well I have been on my healthy hair journey for about 4 months now! I did get a need trim after the first month. I am so happy to report that I have not fallen off at all on my hair regimen ( it has been tweaked, fewer products lol) since the start of my May 2010 journey. I have been wearing a protective style every day,cleaning my hair 2x weekly (1 poo and 1 co wash), moisturizing and sealing twice daily, and I have noticed that I don't need a trim after almost 4 months! This is major!! Normally my hair breaks so much that I am in big need of another trim after about a month. My hair is almost as even as they day I had it cut. I am completing my 14 week stretch now, and plan to self relax with my PhytoRelaxer on September 25, 2010. I will do a dusting, not a full trim and pull out my trusty length check shirt to measure growth. I did a check about 2 months ago, and I was right at the #1 line. Hopefully I will be at the #2 once I relax. Will aim for a 16 week stretch next go round. I am soooo happy I embarked on this journey.