Half Wigs and an update!

Hey ya'll! Just a quick update. I know I've been MIA.

Currently, I'm really just trying to keep it simple. Moisturize daily. Prepoo and co-wash 2x a week. I deep-condition and shampoo on one of those days. Protein as needed. And I've started doing black tea rinses 1x week but that's for a different post.

I'm finding that it's really hard to break past my current length. I'm not sure why. I find that at this length my hair needs more moisture. And I guess with this summer heat, even more moisture. If you're still reaching for or already at APL let me know what you're doing!!

The summer is made for half-wigs!! Half-wigs are versatile, cute and a great protective style. I braid my hair underneath and make sure to moisturize daily. I bought Outre Ashley and also Outre Supernatural First Lady from Clairhair.com If you are not a member of this site, join! Ladies post reviews of most pieces so you know what you're getting. And of course you can always youtube it. Also, I got both orders in 3 business days - FAST! Most importantly, they send out specials when you sign up to your email! I got both of these hair weaves for 30% off!! I love a good deal.

The Outre Ashley is a synthetic half wig. It's a little longer than I'm used to (about APL). But it's good quality hair. It's not overly shiny and I haven't had any problems with shedding so far (about a week).

I've wanted Outre Supernatural first lady for a few months now and I'm so glad I bought it! It's actually a pack of weaving hair but I made a half-wig from it myself. What I used: Weave, scissors, bonding glue, blow dryer, black wig cap, plastic shower cap. I braided my hair in 6 corn rows. Then, I put on the plastic shower cap. The shower cap is to protect your real hair from the glue. Next, I put on the black wig cap (what you want the hair to bond to). And then I went to work! This weave is great because it comes with a starter piece that you can use in the back... you know, to get you started. It's 3-4 rows of track in one so you don't have to spend time making those itty bitty tracks yourself to cover the back. The hair is very natural looking, like a fresh perm. I didn't have to cut the hair or flat iron - it's already pre-styled and gives a really nice layered look once finished! You get a LOT OF hair! I only used about 70% of the pack and my the half-wig is THICK! Thanks to the starter piece, I finished comfortably in one hour (usually takes me longer, with the cutting, flat ironing and styling). I love this hair and can't wait to buy more.

So here's some pics:

Close up in April to show you texture.

My current length - APL I'm coming for you!

Another length shot!

This is the Outre Ashley! No close ups but you can see how cute I am lol

This is a side view of the Supernatural first lady half wig... isn't she lovely?

Front view

Another side-view... see the layers!


MORE TO COME!!
-Pics of me wearing Supernatural First lady!
-Video of me doing a corrective relaxer!!

Update 4/5/10

Today I'm 3 weeks post. My hairdresser and I noticed the length of my hair was underelaxed and we decided that I would get a corrective relaxer the next time I came in. Well, I've decided to save my money and do it myself. And I can't wait another 5 weeks - the length of my hair is a mess! The underprocessed areas get so dry and they started breaking off last week so I'm losing a lot of my length.

So, here's the plan. I'm going to condition/moisturize the life out of my hair, using my updated regimen (scroll below) and baggying overnight as needed. I bought a 4 lb tub of Silk Elements relaxer today at Sally's for $10.99! That's a great deal (enough for at least 4 relaxers). From what I got from the woman at Sally's and online, I can store the tub for months at a time in a cool, dark place or the refrigerator. This should definitely last through the summer.

In a week, after my hair, is moisturized and pretty stable, I'll do the corrective relaxer. I plan to apply the relaxer as normal on my new growth. And then run extra relaxer through the length of underrelaxed hair and let it sit for at least 5 minutes. I've tried corrective relaxers at home but I always get scared and only the extra relaxer sit for a minute or so lol I am prepared for some breakage - it will be so worth it to have ends that are smooth and relaxed instead of frizzy and hard to manage.

I ordered Outre Super Natural First Lady human hair weaving. I've been reading the reviews for this hair for a few days now and finally got it. Total price was $23. According to the reviewers, you only need one pack of hair and it is great quality. I'm going to either sew it in or make a wig like I normally do. I would really like to sew it in so that it's low maintenance but I don't think I could go weeks without washing my hair!! We'll see.

REGIMEN:
Shampoo/Protein Treatment 1x week
Cowash 2x week
Moisturizing Pre-Poo/DC 2x week


+Moisturize and seal daily.
+Leave-in after every wash.
+Baggy with NTM and SulfurMN mix daily for 2 hours.

PRODUCTS:
Shampoo - Paul Mitchell Shampoo
Cowash -Silken Child Conditioner or V05 Moisture Milks
DC - Organic Root Stimulator Olive Oil Replenishing Conditioner
Moisture - Wave Nouveau Finishing Lotion
Leave-In -Motion's Leave-In or Aphogee's
Detangler - Mane and Tail
Seal - Castor Oil, Olive Oil or Coconut Oil

Roux Porosity - Once a week after a DC

Clairfy your hair!!

I've been in a funk as far as my hair goes lately. I got a relaxer 4 weeks ago. The beautician realized afterwards that my ends were underprocessed. I should have told her before but my old beautician always picks up on things like that. (One of the pains of moving to a new city - you have to find a new hairdresser!)

Well, the relaxer came out good. But my ends are severely underprocessed and they get dry really easily. They've been breaking off a little. :( Then my processed hair just wasn't responding well to anything I did. I questioned my products first. I know VO5 Moisture Milks conditioner usually turns my hair into silk but it wasn't doing that lately so I was considering throwing it out.

Then I had the grand idea to clarify my hair. I used to do it monthly until I started to have this deep hate for shampoo's last summer. LOL I just hated stripped hair. Anyway, I left my clarifying shampoo by the wayside but still loaded my hairs with oils and products - see the problem?

Well, last night during my weekly shampoo and DC, I shampooed with Suave Clarifying Shampoo, co-washed with VO5, DC'ed with Organics conditioner, and followed with Roux porosity control.

Detangled, applied my leave-ins, sealed with coconut oil, wrapped and went to bed. This morning my hair was COMPLETELY DRY (thanks to the Roux), and soft. I didn't even feel I needed to moisturize. But I still did moisturize with Wave Nouveau and sealed with castor oil.

Results: My hair has lots of swing, is shiny and looks clean!!

Don't forget to clarify regularly!

Summer!!

I live in Florida and it feels like summer!

The summer gets me really excited about hair care. It's something about the warmer weather that makes my hair respond so much better to moisture and humectants (could be that 90 degree heat... lol) and I see the majority of my growth in the summer.

Braidouts are also super cute during summer picnics, beach trips, etc.

Happy Spring/Summer to ya!

I'm Baaaaack!

*Whew* In the words of Usher, "it feels so good to be back" (Spotlight by Gucci feat. Usher) LOL My apologies to my subscribers (all 12 of ya'll - lol). My three month hiatus from blogging and hair care in general was due to two reasons: time and money, both of which were limited at the time. I have a little more of both at the moment which is why you're hearing from me :P

So, how's my hair doing? I'm definitely at a low right now. I ran out of my daily moisturizer back in November and until recently had been relying on 2-3 times a week co-washes and deep conditioners as moisture. Not to sound drastic, but it was either food or hair care. lol And I don't need to tell you which won.

After my relaxer, I started using heat 1x week because I wanted to show off my thick SL hair. Three months later, my hair is a little longer and A LOT thinner to show for it. Which really upsets me because I love thick hair!

Also, I stopped applying castor oil and miconazole nitrate (MN for growth) and I can definitely see the difference (worse)

What's the plan? I have some funds now (holla!) and made a mini-haul today. My mom relaxed my hair today, I made a mini-haul buy at Sally's and by the start of this week I'll be already to get on the road to Bra strap length hair! Here's the plan:

2010 PLAN:
Tuesday: 2 hour no-heat deep condition (shower cap), Co-wash
Friday: Shampoo, Deep-Condition with heat for 30 min, Light Protein

-Moisturize Daily.
-Apply castor oil to scalp on wash days when moisturizing.
-Apply MN to scalp everyday except wash days.
-Baggy for 1 hour after MN application
-Limit heat to bangs, only on wash days.
-Use half-wigs as protective styles until MAY 1 (at least).
-Braid hair under half-wigs.
-Only comb hair on wash days.
-Relax every 8 weeks.

Any suggestions, comments? How's everyone's hair journey coming along? Let's grow!

I lied...

Nursing school, nursing school, nursing school. If it ain't nursing school, it's sleep.

I'm not sure when I'll be able to post a blog with all the pictures and thoughts I want to share, but keep me in your prayers and HHG everybody :)

SA

An update is coming soon...

It's been a minute since I've updated. I took a lot of pics but then I misplaced my camera which put me behind a little. Updates are coming over the weekend, nothing big, but just to show some new things I'm learning and some new products in the mix!

Be Blessed,

Sunshine.anytime