Slacker

12:54p

I have to admit it. I have been slacking majorly in the hair care realm of my life. I am glad that the manipulation of my hair is down to almost none, but I have been worse than worse. I have been skipping mositurizing and sealing. Well, I almost always moisturize, but I slack on the sealing. I'm not sure why that extra step has been feeling like it's too much for me to handle.

But this weekend, I do plan to make amends with my hair. I'm going to pamper it with an extended deep conditioner and make sure I really wine and dine it. This will be a blow dry {maybe air dry depending on my time} and flat iron week, so I will be sure to protect and really pamper it.

I will do better!

Itching

2:19p

Not literally. My head isn't itching. Much.

I just am itching to wash it and to try my new products that I know will make all the difference in my blow out and flat iron.

Yes, the elusive CHI Silk Infusion and Star Lacio Lacio leave in are still stuck at my post office, held hostage by tyrant postal workers who wouldn't release the package to my husband because it has my name on it. Even though he has proof that he resides at the same address. Ah, what's not to love about great old Philadelphia? United Postal Service. That's what.

But I have convinced myself that not being able to get the packages until Saturday (only time we have time to go to the post office during their hours), isn't really a bad thing. After all, I dont want to put too much heat in my hair. I did just flat iron last week. Plus, wasn't I on this whole thing about low manipulation by going longer in between washes? I sure was.

So, as of now, that's my plan. Wash this weekend. Keep on my schedule of every two weeks. It looks like it's going to be, one week hair out. Second week, hair back in a clip.

Works for me. I hope.

Look No Further

8:19a

I had to look no further than my own medicine cabinet to find a moisturizer that works for what I needed. I had really been sleeping on the Elasta QP H Two leave-in for some reason. I bought it about a month ago, used it once and decided I didn't care for it.

In dry, ashy hair desperation, I decided to try it. It is in a spray bottle, which I knew wouldn't work for my hair, so I sprayed 3 squirts in my hands, rubbed my hands together and distributed the product evenly throughout my hair.

Voila! Perfecto. It worked. I sealed with castor oil and all was right in the world.

I've been moisturizing with the H Two for the past two days and my hair still has movement, but it is visibly moisturized. That was exactly what I needed and I didn't even have to buy anything new...though I did...

UPDATE - 5 Weeks Post

2:13p

As of October 20, I am 5 weeks post. I can't believe that in the past, next week would be when I'd be getting a touch up. Actually, I generally went longer than 6 weeks, but I never kept track of how long I went. Usually two months because my hair is so fine.

5 weeks is great. I'm not struggling to control my new growth. My new growth is extremely managable and I'm noticing that my hair is actually getting some length since my cut. My goal was to stretch to 10 weeks this time and I think I am right on track for that.

This time around, I'm not washing my hair every few days as I am trying to maintain a straight style. This seems to be working very well for me as it is lower manipulation than me washing every 2-3 days and I also think that wearing my hair straight reduces tangling.

Deep conditioning with heat has been crucial for me. Weekly deep conditioning treatments will be crucial in my stretch. I'm also thinking of switching week to week between flat ironing and wearing a roller set. I'm not too concerned about heat damage as I have been using a heat protectant and only flat iron once a week.

I have also been using a mild protein MIXED IN with my moisturizing deep conditioner and that has been positive for my hair. I have realized that heavy proteins don't work for me, but I know that my hair needs some type of protein. This solution is working very well for me.

One thing I am lacking in my regimen is a good moisturizer that's light weight and doesn't weigh my hair down when I'm wearing straight styles. The Dove works great as a light moisturizer, but I have been experiencing reversion when using it on my flat ironed hair. I just purchased CHI Silk Infusion and Star Lacio Lacio High Shine Leave-In, so once they arrive, hopefully one of them will work as my light weight moisturizer.

Alls well with my hair for once. I'm very happy with my cut and the overall condition of my hair.

Flat Iron Results

2:04p

After I deep conditioned my hair, I rinsed and shampooed with a small bit of ORS Creamy Aloe Shampoo then followed up with HE HH. My hair felt great and I proceeded to try to attempt a version of the roller wrap. I grabbed a section from the middle and put them on rollers, then I blow dried the hair left all around the middle section. I realized soon enough that it wasnt going to work so I took out the rollers and blow dried all of my hair. I did use a heat protectant, Elasta QP H Two leave in and LTR leave in, with a bit of castor oil to seal it all in.

I flat ironed using my ceramic flat iron and the results were AMAZING. See for yourself:

Ok maybe you are unable to tell from these pictures, but trust my hair is great. I have never achieved these results at home. A few weeks ago, when my cut was brand new, I was frantic because I didn't know how to style my hair. I think my problem is solved.

Deep Condition Mix

4:24p

On Saturday night I washed my hair {finally} and deep conditioned. I used a mix that will most likely probably be my deep conditioner mix from now on. It worked so wonderfully that I had to make sure to document what I used.

One spoonful of Elasta QP DPR-11
One spoonful of Africa's Best Mayo
Two spoonfuls of Queen Helene Cholestorol
A squeeze of Aussie Moist conditioner
A bit of Extra Virgin Olive Oil

I left the mix on for about 4 hours, using heat for about 15 minutes {that's when I got hot!}. That was one of the best deep conditioning sessions I've had in awhile.

My experience flat ironing after the deep condition was life changing. Seriosuly. I have pictures that I will post tomorrow.

In Desperate Need

2:38p

I hadn't realized how much time had gone by. But since I have, I also realized how much time had gone by since I've washed my hair. It's been a good almost two weeks now and my head is screaming. I am in desperate need of a wash.

There are, in fact, a few reasons that I have been holding off on washing. I wanted to cut down on the heat and manipulation of my hair and the way I accomplished that was by not washing. By not washing, I wouldn't need to dry or blow dry or flat iron. Also, I ordered some CHI silk infusion and it hasn't arrived yet.

My head is not happy with the length of time since my last wash. Especially considering, I colored my hair last time I washed. Oh, did I forget to mention that?

Black. Nothing crazy. But I will talk about that another time.

As soon as my CHI Silk Infusion arrives, which I'm hoping will be tomorrow or Friday, I will deep condition - overnight if it does arrive on Friday, blow dry, and flat iron.

Can't wait. And neither can my head.

Hair Today

4:43p

This is my hair today. This has been my go to hairstyle...which really isn't much of a style. Swooped bangs and hair pulled back with a clip.

Still a tad discouraged about my length, but I keep telling myself that I needed to let that hair go and that it WILL grow back.

REVIEW: Isoplus Natural Remedy Tea Tree Oil and Aloe Conditioning Pac

11:01a

This past week I was at my local Beauty Supply Store and I got to the counter with my Elasta QP H-Two and my pack of barrettes {for the girls} and realized that my purchase was under $10 so I couldn't use my Visa. So I picked up Isoplus Natural Remedy Tea Tree Oil and Aloe Conditioning Pac. It was about $1.25.

That was the only reason I bought this. Not because I had heard anything great about it or not even because it looked like a promising product. I did flip the pac over and scan the ingredients. No mineral oil, no petroleum. Lots of oils. Ok, let's give it a try.

It promises to soften, detangle, nourish and add sheen. I was worried that this product was a protein conditioner because it said that it reconstructs on the package. But I did a search of every ingredient listed and could not find a protein connection. I still could be wrong, though.

So anyway, I washed my hair with Hello Hydration and added the conditioner. I put a plastic cap on and left it in for about an hour and a half with out heat.

After I rinsed, my hair didn't feel silky the way that I like it to be. It softened, but there was still a hardness to it that made me think that there possibly was some protein in it somewhere. So I threw some Hello Hydration conditioner in and my hair felt so much better.

The big thing that I hated about this product was the smell. It smells horrible. It smells really chemically and very black hair productish. Gross. And it lingers. Worse.

I won't be using this again. I did do some research on this "Natural Remedy" line of Isoplus'. It's a new line and seems to be their attempt at taking some of the harsh ingredients out of their products.

It Did Get Better

10:49a

So my hair did get better. I took out my pony tail last night and decided to flat iron. I used Tresseme Heat Protectant and went to town. It took Forever. But it was all done and it looked pretty good. I even wrapped it up and did my own bootleg version of a silk wrap, which came out surprisingly well.

I was even brave enough to wear my hair down today. Well, that is until I looked outside and it was raining. I pulled it back into a clip, but I have to say, I did a pretty good job of flat ironing.

I'm really loving my new ceramic flat iron too. It makes flat ironing a breeze.