Quick Update!!!

Been gone a while, I know...my bad....but I have been bored with my hair and protective styling. SO I decided to color it using cool-aid...and straighten it. I decided to make a YT update video...plz watch, like, and subscribe...

I will do an How To....video and post on the coloring of my hair...here is a better pic for the results:

Self Relaxing- Meh....

Ok...so on 5-3-2012, 20 weeks post relaxer...I was lying in bed, tugging at my new growth, feeling how tightly coiled & hard it felt. I thought of doing an emergency DC....to hold off on relaxing because I really wanted to get it done professionally. The fact that I had a new jar of Motions relaxer in the cabinet did not help one bit...I convinced my self to self relax... KNOWING that I suck at it :-(

Sectioned my hair into 4, started on the back right section. As I was moving from section to section I could feel my hair breaking down. By the time I made it to the top, it had started to burn. My intital thought was "Let it sit just a bit longer", then I remembered "It's not about how straight it is...It is about how healthy it is." So off top I knew my top would be texlaxed....
Here are a few pics, I'm not really happy about the results, but oh well :-(

It is noticeably softer.........but I am just SOOOO over being underprocessed already :-((

GROWTH AID SUMMER CHALLENGE!!!!

Ok so there are a lot of growth aid theories floating about here...do they actually promote or speed up growth? Does MN work faster or better than Castor Oil?? Which is the best and is there a difference?

For the next 3 months, I will be doing a challenge including 3 popular growth aids; Miconazole Nitrate, Castor Oil, and Sulpher.

What is Miconazole Nitrate??
 Miconazole Nitrate, commonly reffered to in the "World of Hair" as MN, is best known by us women as  "Monistat" treatment in yeast infections.
Miconazole Nitrate is an antifungal medication.  is used to treat skin infections such as athlete's foot, jock itch, ringworm, and other fungal skin infections.

What does "MN" do for the hair???
It is rumored that some women found that when using Monistat for yeat infections, they noticed a substantial increase in growth, in thier pubic area. There has been no scientific proof in this finding, however many "hairlistas" swear by it.

What are the side effects??
Severe Migraine-like headaches have been report lasting for up to 3 day on those with sensitive scalps
Red inflamed areas on application site
Tender and sensitive spots on scalp
Increased shedding that sometimes subsides, sometimes not
Ringing in ears
General "not feeling right"
STOP USE AT ONCE if you have any of these symptoms.
Extreme shedding of hair after stopping use of MN
Some first time users have slight tingling/discomfort but later build a 'tolerance' to it. Headaches are the most common complaint the first few days of application.

I personally, mixed my MN with castor oil, and have not yet experienced any symptoms at all.

What is Castor Oil?

Castor oil is extracted from the seeds of the castor bean plant. Due to the ability of this oil to absorb fast and easily into skin and scalp cells, it is one of the popular ingredients in most skin and hair products.  This popular hair oil is a colorless to very pale yellow liquid with mild or no odor or taste. When you touch castor oil, it is thick and sticky in nature.

What does Castor Oil do for the hair?

Stimulates Hair Growth:

When it comes to hair growth castor oil works in two ways. When you massage with castor oil it stimulate the hair follicles and encourage new and faster hair growth. Also as castor oil gets easily soaked in to the root of the hair, it interacts with the hair follicles and encourages them to grow additional hair.

Strengthens Hair:
Each and every hair strand becomes stronger with the regular application of castor oil. When your hair is stronger it stays in the follicle for a longer period of time. Thus, there will be less hair breakage and hair loss. Broken hair strands can make hair appear thinner but with castor oil you will not be facing any such problem.

Solves Dandruff Problem:

When you apply castor oil onto your scalp it cleanses the scalp thoroughly without leaving it dry and flaky. It removes the dirt and bacteria that clogs the scalp, which is the primary cause of dandruff and hair fall. Dandruff is caused by too much sebum production in your scalp and it can be controlled by the anti-bacterial property of castor oil is also vital in curing dandruff, which is caused by too much sebum production in your scalp.

((There are many other benefits that castor oil has for our hair, for the sake of this post, I will stop at these 3))

Depending on the brand of Castor Oil, it may cause your scalp to itch. The Walgreens brand made my scalp itch, However "Home Health", that I purchased from Whole Foods, did not make my scalp itch.

What is Sulphur??

Sulphur is a mineral that accounts for 10% of the body's mineral content. Sulphur is found in every cell, especially in the tissues of hair, nails, muscle and skin.
Sulphur is an important element in the activation on Vitamin B1 and Biotin.

What does Sulphur do for the hair?
 Benefits for scalp and hair, Improves nail growth, Improves hair growth, Benefits cuticles and nails
Sulphur is EXTREMELY important in the production of Keratin, a protein that is responsible for healthy hair and skin.


THE CHALLENGE!!!

May 6th-June 6th
Oil scalp 2x/week with MN & Castor Oil mix
Massage scalp 2x/week
Protective Style 100%
(Before and After pics will be taken)

June 7th-July 7th
Oil Scalp 2x/week with Sulphur Mix
Massage scalp 2x/week
Protective Style 100%

July 8th- August 8th
Oil scalp 2x/week with pure Castor Oil
Massage Scalp 2x/week
Protective Style 100%

Hopefully within one month there will be there enough growth to see if the different aids yield different results.

The Do's and Don'ts when Relaxing your hair

Do's
 Prep your hair before & after relaxing.
    1. Up your protein 1 week prior to relaxing
        - protein treatment helps fortify the previously relaxed hair
    2. Avoid washing (wetting) your scalp withing 3 days prior to relaxing
        -This allows your scalp to produce enough sebum, or natural lubricant, to protect it during the relaxer
          treatment.
    3. Base scalp and previously relaxed ends day of relaxing.
        -This adds to the sebum, in protecting your scalp from the relaxer.
    4. Avoid scratching or combing scalp before relaxing.
        - scratching & combing can irritate the scalp and cause lacerations. You do not want such a chemical
           applied to this; it increases the chances of "chemical burns".

DON'Ts
1. Apply relaxer to previously relaxed hair!!!!!!!!
   - Relaxers (Perms) are PERManent, there is not need to add relaxer to your previously relaxed hair;
     doing this, will further weaken the follicle, resulting in breakage!!!

2. Do not relax you hair no sooner than 10-12 weeks post previous relaxer.
    I personally would recommend 12, but there are successful Hairlistas who only stretch 10 weeks at a time
    Longer stretches does not make hair grow faster, but it does decrease the chances of overlapping relaxer
    on the previously relaxed hair.

3. Do NOT leave the relaxer on to long!!!!!!
    I too used to have the attitude that beauty is pain...sadly growth is not.
    If you are aiming for long healthy hair; remember that hair grows from the scalp...you can not produce
    healthy hair if your scalp is not healthy.
    Also the scabs from chemical burns, if severe enough, can cause breakage as well.

4. Do not apply relaxer to the same section first each time.
    Because the section that is applied first, sits the longest this could lead to thinning or breakage in this area.

So I have a chemical burn now what!?!?!?!
Let it be!! Leave it alone. Do not pick at it, avoid combing in that area.
You may add a bit of Tea Tree Oil, but it will heal on it's on.

My Own Personal "Rule to Relaxing"

I try not to flat iron my hair immediately after relaxing. If I can I will opt for a flat wrap or body wrap.
It is my own personal rule to not flat iron within 2 weeks of getting a relaxer, simply because direct heat damages hair. I do not want to add damage to recently relaxed hair, as relaxers weaken the hair.