oops!

Ok, so after telling you guys that I had tried black tea rinses to assist in these shedding issues that Ive been having for the past 2 months or so. i knew about the successful benefits that had been reported by many ladies of these rinses, but my total understanding of reaping the maximum benefits was a tad bit off. The term is "Black Tea RINSE", with the key word here being rinse. A final rinse of black tea should be applied to the hair (for me) to reap the most benefits. Meaning I was basically rinsing away the tea before giving it time to do its job. This is also the case for ACV rinses. My final rinse has always been water! So after twisting my hair 2 days ago and sighing everytime I saw more hair come out, I decided to get back on the hair board and THOROUGHLY read the thread. After reading for a while there it was... this is to be done as a FINAL rinse. Needless to say after doing this I FINALLY saw the results I have been after, well sorta, my hair is still in twists that I've been co-washing everyday after working out, followed by (you guessed it), a black tea rinse! So I'll really get to see if it worked this weekend when i take my twists down. YAY!!!

Steps:
boil 2 cups of water
remove from heat
steep 2 bags of tea for 20 mins (1 green for conditioning & 1 black for shedding)
remove bags and let tea cool (warm tea feels good on the scalp NOT hot)
co-wash (while I shower)
rinse with water
rinse with tea
moisturise & seal

Tis all!

**side note
I've read many different ways of doing the BTRs. Some ladies let their tea steep longer, some ladies do it as a conditioning treatment with a plastic bag and then rinse it out. some ladies use alot more tea bags than I do. I cant handle caffeine in high doses so this is the simplest most effective way for me and my lifestyle.

Making it Work

Ive been expereincing a bit more breakage than I'm comfortable with and Im without my beloved Nexxus Emergencee Treatment, so I just whipped up 2 eggs and a little bit of olive oil. For me hard-core treatments such as this are done every 4-5 weeks, and using regular protein conditioners and leave-ins in between. I parted my hair into 4 sections and applied the mixture all throughout my hair. Im letting it stay on until it dries, and then I will rinse (making sure not to move my hair around too much which could cause breakage), apply some conditioner (which will be left on overnight), do an avc rinse, and twist my hair for a twistout later in the week.

I've found that I'm in a minority of ladies whose hair loves protien, so if you are sensitive to protien please use your own hair judgement, and as always use a moisturizing deep conditioner afterwards.

WHAT I'VE BEEN DOING WITH MY HAIR:

When I'm working out I have to co-wash everyday (I'm a heavy sweater). I co-wash with LA Bella: Conditioner w/Olive Coconut & Castor Oil Los Caballos, Skala Avocado or Skala G3 conditioner. After that I use some Garnier Fructis Leave In Conditioning Cream and Carol's Daughter Some of Maugarites Magic, to do a braid and curl creating at least 15. I let it air dry and when I took it down, it looked really defined and shiny. No pictures because my charger is nowhere to be found. At night I re-braid about 8 sections using a little Garnier and SOMM, sealed with grape seed oil. I braid a little past half way down, smooth the ends with more Garnier and finally put a flexi-rod on the end. The next morning I fluff my hair out go. For me the braid and curl stretches my hair out and allows it to hang better. 3-4 times a week I do a scalp message with a mixture of oils. The braid and curl usually lasts a week to a week and a half.

I cant wait for the weather to cool so I can go back to flatironing my hair.

Updates!

I know I took ANOTHER hiatus from blogging but there were/still are some personal issues I am dealing with... Anyhoos I have many ideas swirling in this little head of mine... First being a question answer session...

And... I've passed my brastrap in the back. WHOO-HOO! That only took... like... 2.8 years.. HA!

                                    

I also rinsed my hair with THIS product its supposed to last 6 weeks, it seemed to oxidize (get darker) the more it dried amd I just love it! . It took me a good long while to figure out what was "off" about me. After looking at pics from last summer when I was trying to cover up my relaxed red ends, I realized that darker hair for me looks GREAT! (that and my eyebrows needed to be groomed terribly)

Some celebs I thought of in the process were...
Cassie
Jada Pinkett-Smith
Ciara
Aaliyah

Im in the same realm of skintone as these ladies and I think they look stunning with darker tresses.

Summer Growth Spurt

So I've been asked the question of whether or not products can speed the growth process. I've used sulpher based products that did actually seem to thicken my hair, but I had just started my journey and I began transitioning after that and really didnt know about keeping measured amounts of growth. Actually I have never been able to say whether or not I get the standard amount of growth per month (1/2 an inch). Ive never been intrigued enough to find out. I pay the most attention to the ends of my hair, beacause it is older and more fragile than the fresh new hair thats coming from my scalp.

Speaking of my scalp Ive been using an oil mix (castor, tea tree, grapeseed oils) to scalp massage with 2-3 times a week for a month now and after lightly flatironing my hair the other day I noticed that the longest layer of my hair is below my brastrap instead of barely touching the top. I also read that Castor oil promotes growth as well as assist in thickening the strands. So Im not sure if I can attribute my growth to the oil mix as Ive changed other things that I did to my hair that may have caused my stagnant period just above BSL.
I manipulate my hair much less than I ever have. I only detangle every 7-10 days, and in between that time I finger comb, or keep it stretched out. Less manipulation for me means more retention.

On my last wash day...

washed with redken real control
deep conditioned and steamed for 30 minutes with real control masque
applied gvp conditioning balm as my leave in
rollerset (grey rollers)
Rewet each section (water, silk amino acids, grapeseed oil, gylcerin)
lightly flatironed (I didnt use a boar bristle brush to smooth and silken)
massaged scalp with oil mix

So right now my hair is straight and I will have in either a french braid in or a bun unitl I decide to wash it again. I notice that my ends get REALLY dry after I flatiron, so I make sure to baggy at night for the first 3-4 days after flatironing. When my hair is stretched out I use heavier oiler moisturizer rather than water based ones to prevent reversion. I love Carols Daughter Some of Maugarites Magic for this purpose I also like to use a shea butter, honey and olive oil hair butter that I made, I liken it to Carols Daughter Mimosa Hair Honey.

SOMETHING NEW

I am getting a little bored with the shape of my hair! I need to find a great stylist in Houston, who can cut some long layers into my hair. Problem is, I dont trust ANYONE! I dont have any friends who wear thier real hair out to even ask for a referral. SUX! I wish this were easier...

MY BUN

Never mind my edges, they arent sick they just havent been layed down. They are indeed thin from years of constanly trying to lay that fine hair down with hard brushes. This was after a humid night in Austin, TX last weekend. I love the size of it!

THE HAIR LOVES BANANA CLIPS!

I BEEN WEARING MY HAIR STRAIGHT SINCE I DID IT LAST THURSDAY. BETWEEN BRAIDOUTS AND BANTU KNOTS IVE BEEN ABLE TO MAINTAIN THE STRAIGHT-NESS... ITS NOT SLEEK BY ANY MEANS, AND I ACTUALLY PREFER IT THAT WAY. I LIKE FOR MY HAIR TO BE STRAIGHT BUT NOT SLEEK OR PIN STAIGHT. SO PIN STRAIGHT IS A GREAT WAY TO START IF YOUR TRYING TO GET THE STYLE TO LAST FOR MORE THAN A FEW DAYS. EVENTUALLY IT WILL BEGAN TO GETS BIGGER AND BIGGER...

THE REASON FOR NOT WASHING MY HAIR OUT WAS BECAUSE I HAD 2 FAMILY FUNCTIONS AND DIDNT WANT TO HAVE TO APPLY HEAT AGAIN, SO IT WAS EITHER MOISTURIZE LIKE A MAD WOMAN OR STRAIGHTEN TWICE IN THE COURSE OF A WEEK.. HAHAHAHA!

SO IN PREPARATION FOR MY FIANCES FAMILY REUNION, I DID 4 CORNROWS ON MY HAIR THAT WILL NOT COME OUT UNTIL SATURDAY... AND I WILL PUT IT IN A BANANA CLIP.

IVE BEEN USING PROTIEN ON THE LAST 2 INCHES, JUST BECAUSE I KNOW IVE BEEN WEARING MY HAIR OUT ALOT. SO I APPLY SOME RMHRT (ROUX MENDEX HAIR REPAIR TREATMENT) AND THEN OPL (OCEAN POTION LOTION) AND SEAL WITH COCONUT OIL, AND BAGGY....

MY HAIR

IVE COME TO THE REALIZATION THAT I CANT LET MY HAIR JUST... GO AND BE FREE.. IT HAS TO BE STRETCHED OUT IN SOME WAY IN ORDER FOR US TO CO-EXIST PEACEFULLY. CO-WASHING IS COO (WHICH iVE STARTED BACK DOING TWICE A DAY ON MOST DAYS), BUT I REALLY DONT CARE FOR FORCING MY HAIR INTO A A BUN... MAYBE NEXT SUMMER I WONT HAVE THESE PROBLEMS... NOT REALLY PROBLEMS BUT IM USED TO SIMPLE-NESS AND EASE WHEN IT COMES TO HAIR CARE. NO FUSS AT ALL... WELL IM ABOUT TO GO CO-WASH NOW AND I NEED AN ACV RINSE PRONTO... IN PREPARATION FOR THE WEEKEND CELEBRATIONS, I WILL ROLLERSET MY HAIR ON THURSDAY AS WELL AS FLATIRON . MY PRIMARY STYLE WILL BE BANTU KNOT-OUTS AND BANANA CLIPS AS MY HAIR GETS BIGGER ( I KNOW IT WILL)... HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY LADIES!

UPDATES:

OK IM BACK AND HERE ARE SOME MUCH NEEDED HAIR AND NAIL UPDATES!!!!

PURE ICE TAUPE DRAWER
PETITES CHERRY SLUSH

PETITES BLACKBERRY

PETITES PINK VELVET

NYC BRYANT PARK

PURE ICE ENVY

THIS IS MY NEW HAIR MOISTURIZER!!!!

Water, Brassica Napus Oil (Canola), Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Glycerin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Retinyl Palmitate (Vitamin A), Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Cholecalciferol (Vitamin D), Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil, Arctium Majus (Burdock) Root Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Honey Extract, Seaweed Extract, Symphytum Officinale (Comfrey) Leaf Extract, Hydrastis Canadensis (Goldenseal) Root Extract, Tilia Cordata (Linden) Flower Extract, Zea Mays (Corn) Oil, PEG 16 Macadamia Glycerides, Sorbitan Monooleate, Octyldodecanol, Silica, Acrylates/C10 30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Disodium EDTA, Carbomer, Sodium Propoxyhydroxypropyl Thiosulfate Silica, Phenoxyethanol, Butylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Propylparaben, Ethylparaben, Methylparaben, Triethanolamine, Fragrance

I DID A ROLLERSET AND DECIDED TO IRON JUST THIS ONE PIECE... (MID MAY)

NEWEST PROGRESSION! IM ALMOST BSB!!! NO BC! TTYL!!! MWAHS!!!

HAIR UPDATE, AUSSIE 3 MINUTE MIRICLE RECONSTRUCTOR, NEW NAIL POLISH

I TRIED A NEW NAIL COLOR (OF COURSE)... HERES SOME PICS....

NYC::: TIMES SQUARE TANGERINE (NO FLASH)

NYC::: TIMES SQUARE TANGERINE (SUNLIGHT)

NYC::: TIMES SQUARE TANGERINE (WITH FLASH)

I FINALLY TRIED THE AUSSIE MOIST 3 MINUTE MIRACLE RECONSTRUCTOR AND I LIKE IT... I'LL USE A FEW MORE TIMES BUT THIS MAY BE MY PROTIEN MAINSTAY SINCE THE ROUX HAIR REPAIR TREATMENT IS SO HARD TO FIND ON THE GROUND.... WE SHALL SEE...

TOWEL DRIED HAIR NO PRODUCT

TOWEL DRIED HAIR NO PRODUCT

SO I'VE BEEN DOING TWISTS AND TWIST OUTS AS MY MAIN HAIRSTYLE. THE MOVERS STILL HAVENT DELIVERED MY THINGS WHICH MEANS NO DRYER FOR ROLLERSETS, MY HAIR PROBABLY NEEDED THE BREAK ANYWAY SO NO BIG DEAL THERE... MY TWIST ROUTINE CONSISTS OF...

CO-WASH

WRAP HAIR IN A TOWEL (LOOKING FOR A GOOD MICRO-FIBER ONE)

SECTION HAIR IN HALF (AT THE EAR)

STARTING WITH THE BACK::: SPRAY WATER, APPLY VO5 TEA THERAPY BLACKBERRY & SAGE, DETANGLE IF NEEDED, APPLY COCONUT OIL, TWIST, USE PERM RODS AS NEEDED

IT TAKES A FULL 24 HOURS FOR THEM TO DRY SO I TRY (EMPHASIS ON TRY) TO LEAVE THEM TWISTED FOR AT LEAST 2 DAYS, THEN AFTER THEY ARE UN TWISTED I JUST LET IT GET BIGGER AND BIGGER UNTIL IT DOESNT LOOK GOOD ANYMORE (ABOUT 4 DAYS), THEN I PUT IT IN A PUFF PONYTAIL...

THATS BEEN MY ROUTINE FOR ABOUT A MONTH NOW...

UPDATES

HEY PEEPS!
I'VE BEEN GONE FOR A LONG TIME! I KNOW YOU'VE MISSED ME! BETWEEN A LAST MINUTE RELOCATION AND FINALS I'VE BEEN SWAMPED! SO ANYHOOS ON TO THE BUSINESS...

THE HAIR: IT'S FINE, I'VE MOVED BACK DOWN SOUTH AND IM STILL NOT SURE IF THE EXTRA HUMIDITY WILL HELP OR HINDER ME... I'VE BEEN DOING TWIST AND TWISTOUTS... NO NEW PRODUCTS...

MY NEW OBSESSION!!! NAILS!!!! HERES SOME PICS

NYC::: EAST VILLAGE

SALLY HANSEN::: REAL ROYAL

PURE ICE::: KISS ME HERE

MILANI::: PINK LADY

WET AND WILD::: BLAZE

START OF COWASH CHALLENGE

THE COWASH CHALLENGE LASTS UNTIL THE END OF SUMMER IN SEPTEMBER. MY BC (OR LACK THEREOF) IS SCHEDULED FOR JUNE, SO I'LL PROBABLY DO MY NEXT LENGTH UPDATE AT THE END OF THIS CHALLENGE WHICH WILL BE 6 MONTHS FROM NOW. DURING THAT TIME I'LL TRY MY BEST TO STAY AWAY FROM HEAT AND JUST ENJOY MY NATURAL HAIR (PICS INCLUDED). I THINK PROTIEN IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE RETENTION SUCCESS...

I PLAN TO USE ROUX MENDEX HAIR REPAIR TREATMENT WHICH I THINK IS A MODERATE PROTIEN AND MANE n TAIL ORIGINAL CONDITIONER FOR CO-WASHES WHICH IS LIGHT/MILD

SPRING & SUMMER CO-WASHING STYLES

I PLAN TO ALTERNATE THIS STYLE ALONG WITH MY BUN. I ALSO PLAN TO ALTERNATE AUSSIE MOIST (MOISTURE) WITH ORIGINAL MANE N TAIL CONDITIONER (PROTIEN) FOR DAILY COWASHES. MY HAIR DOESNT CARE FOR V05 ANYMORE JUST THE NEW BLACKBERRY AND SAGE.. IT AAIGHT! TIS ALL FOR NOW BABES!

THE WETTER THE BETTER

MY HAIR HAD GREAT PROGRESS WHEN I CO-WASHED EVERYDAY FOR 3-4 MONTHS, SO I WILL BE DOING THE SAME THING AGAIN THIS SUMMER.

I BOUGHT A NEW VO5 CONDITIONER YESTERDAY AND I REALLY REALLY LIKE IT! ITS TEA THERAPY BLACKBERRY AND SAGE REVITALIZING CONDITIONER.

THE INGREDIENTS ARE THE SAME AS MOISTURE MILKS STRAWBERRY EXCEPT THE EXTRACTS (BLACKBERRY & SAGE)...

I USED THE STRAWBERRY YESTERDAY AND IT OVER-MOISTURIZED ME FOR SOME STRANGE REASON AND MY HAIR FELT RIDICULOUS! TODAY I USE THE BLACKBERRY AND SAGE, SEALED WITH EVOO & SHEA BUTTER, AND THINGS ARE BACK TO NORMAL... IDK WHATS UP WITH STAWBERRY ONE... OH WELL.

I PLAN ON GETTING A HEAD START ON CO-WASHING THIS YEAR (LAST YEAR I DIDNT START UNTIL JULY), I WILL CO-WASH DAILY UNTIL THE WEATHER GETS COLD AGAIN.

PRE-POO WITH PROTIEN CONDITIONER IF NEEDED

CO-WASH DAILY

DETANGLE ONCE A WEEK

SPRAY PROTIEN LEAVE IN (ALOE VERA JUICE WITH A FEW DROPS OF SILK AMINO ACIDS)

MOISTURIZE WITH A DAB OF CONDITIONER

SEAL WITH COCONUT OIL OR SHEA BUTTER (MY HAIR LOVES BOTH)

STYLE (BUN, OR 1 FRENCH BRAID, OR ROLLERSET & FLATIRON)

IM NOT SURE IF I'LL EVER BE ABLE TO WASH AND GO, GRANTED IM NOT 100% NATURAL YET BUT I KNOW THAT I HAVE TO KEEP MY HAIR STRETCHED OR IT TURNS INTO A DRY MATTED MESS! I'LL RE- THINK THIS IN A FEW MONTHS WHEN I BIG-CHOP. AND IM TRYING TO NOT USE HEAT UNTIL MY BC, WE'LL SEE HOW THAT GOES.

THATS ALL FOR NOW. SOMETIMES I MAY 2 STRAND TWIST, OR FLATIRON MY HAIR TO GIVE IT A BREAK (CAN LAST 4-5 DAYS)

TWIST N CURL @ 16 MONTHS POST

DAY 4 DAY 3

UNRAVELED TWIST

THIS IS THE WAY I DO MY TWISTOUTS SINCE I STILL HAVE RELAXED ENDS. I DID THIS TODAY AFTER NOT HAVING DONE ONE IN A WHILE, AND MY HAIR IS GETTING LONGER, AND I THINK I CAN ATTRIBUTE THAT TO THE EXTRA PROTIEN!

PS THANKS CURLY NIKKI!

2009 PRODUCT ARESENAL

• GVP CONDITIONING BALM (MATRIX BIOLAGE CONDITIONING BALM) MOISTURE DC
• ROUX MENDEX HAIR REPAIR TREATMENT PROTIEN TREATMENT
• ROSEMARY TEA, ALOE VERA JUICE MOISTURE LEAVE IN
• AUSSIE MOIST CONDITIONER DETANGLER, STYLER, CREAMY LEAVE IN
• GVP SILK REMEDY (CHI SILK INFUSION) HEAT PROTECTANT
• AVC RINSES POROSITY CONTROL
• COCONUT OIL

IM STILL MAKING EVERY EFFORT TO KEEP THINGS SIMPLE AND MY ARSENAL QUANTITY LOW...

HEAT PROTECTANTS

IVE NEVER USED A HEAT PROTECTANT... EVER.. BUT I ALWAYS DC BEFORE FLAT-IRONING AND I NEVER RE-IRON MY HAIR... I LIGHTLY APPLY OILS AFTERWARD.. I BASICALY I NEED ONE... STUCK BETWEEN


CHI 44 IRON GUARD:
i LIKE THAT THIS IS WATER BASED... NOT SURE ABOUT THAT ALCOHOL THOUGH.. SKIN DEEP HAD THIS TO SAY ABOUT IT...

INGREDIENTS:
Water(Aqua), Sodium Polystyrene Sulfonate, SD Alcohol 40-B, Propylene Glycol, Polysorbate 20, PPG-20 Methyl Glucose Ether, Disodium EDTA, Hydrolyzed Silk, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein PG-Propyl Silanetriol, Parfum (Fragrance), Diazolidinyl Urea, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Ceramic

USAGE TIPS: For hair dryers, spray evenly over damp hair, comb through and then dry to desired style. For flat irons or curling irons, lift dry hair in sections, spray on hair, then straighten or curl as desired.
Section hair and spray GVP Thermal Protecting Spray evenly over dry hair. Use your heat styling tool from roots to ends

CHI SILK INFUSION
THIS ONE IS ALCOHOL FREE... I THINK THIS IS THE ONE IM GONNA GO WITH

INGREDIENTS: Cyclomethicone , Dimethiconol , Dimethicone , C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate , Panthenol , Ethyl Ester of Hydrolyzed Silk , Phenoxyethanol , Fragrance , D&C Yellow 11 , D&C Red 17 , Zinc Oxide , Titanium Dioxide , Mica , Boron Nitride Powder

USAGE TIPS: Apply to damp hair before thermal styling to provide heat protection.

SATIN PILLOWCASES

WELL MY SO JUST TOLD ME HE HATES WHEN I COME TO BED WITH MY HAIR TIED IN MY SILK SCARF.. LOL! HE ALWAYS HAS SOMETHNG TO SAY... I ACTUALLY DONT CARE FOR IT EVERYNIGHT AND SOMETIMES WILL SLEEP WITHOUT IT... SEEMS LIKE A WIN-WIN SO I'LL WILL BE GOING TO SALLYS TOMMOROW THEY HAVE SATIN ONE FOR LIKE $9... THIS WILL GIVE ME NO EXCUSE FOR DRY HAIR THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT!

ROUX MENDEX HAIR REPAIR TREATMENT

SO IVE BEEN HAVING SOME PROBLEMS WITH BREAKAGE AND DECIDED I NEEDED A PROTIEN TREATMENT... ON A SCALE OF 1 -10 I GIVE IT A 9 BECAUSE OF THE PARABENS... I USED IT ON DRY HAIR FOR 10 MINUTES WITH A PLASTIC CAP AND HEAT. I RINSED, APPLIED CONDITIONING BALM, DETANGLED, DC'D WITH PLASTIC CAP AND HEAT FOR 20 MINUTES, RINSED, ACV RINSE, ROLLERSET WITH COCONUT OIL & MOISTURE SPRITZ, DRYER... BEAUTIFUL ROLLERSET, STRONGER HAIR... THINKING BACK I REMEMBER READING SISTASLICKS ARTICLES ON POROSITY AND SHE SUGGEST PROTIEN TREATMENTS, CLEAR RINSES, OR ACIDIC RINSES, TO HELP THE CUTICLE LAY FLAT AND BETTER RECEIVE THE MOISTURE GIVEN TO IT...

WANT TO KNOW IF YOUR HAIR IS POROUS? CLICK HERE

BACK OF THE BOTTLE:
Helps mend split ends and signs of damage
Helps prevent hair from breaking
Adds new vibrancy and shine to dry, brittle hair
Rehydrates to give damaged hair new vitality
Self-adjusting formula never over-softens

Mendex is specially formulated to help repair damaged hair. A targeted hair repair treatment that helps mend damage as it adds protective moisture and helps prevent further injury to hair. Mendex gives beautiful shine, adding new vitality to dry, brittle hair.

DIRECTIONS: Shampoo, then towel dry. Work mendex through the hair, leave on for one minute then rinse well. On extremely damaged hair, cover with a plastic cap, place under medium heat for 10 minutes, then rinse well.

PRICE: 1.6 OZ 99 CENTS (THEY HAVE LARGER SIZES)

INGREDIENTS: WATER, GLYCOL STEARATE, PEG-4 DISTEARATE, LANOLIN, PROPYLENE GLYCOL, TEA-COCOYLHYDROLYZED COLLOGEN, STEARAMIDOPINOPYL, DIMETHYL- AMINE, PEG/PPG-18-18 DIMETHICONE, LACTID ACID, FRAGRANCE, BENZYL SALOCYLATE, METHYLPARABEN, PROPYLPARABEN, METHYLCHLORISOTHIAZOLIONE, METHYLSOTHIAZOLIONE