Wash day

Happy new year in advance everyone!

It's been so hectic haven't had time to update my blog. But now it's back to business... I'll be putting up a post on my 2015 goals, and revisiting it every quarter...

Had my last wash day of 2014, and it didn't go too well.

I did the usual:

1. Pre-poo overnight with Grapeseed oil 

2. Washed with CON moisturising shampoo

3. Black tea-rinsed (mix of peppermint, rooibos and green tea): this is how my hair became so hard and matted! And silly me I only started looming for solutions after i drenched my hair in the tea 

4. DC with Africa's Best tea tree oil Cholesterol treatment. Used the plastic bag method and kept the DC in for 1 hour. I Didn't really like this DC, but I'll give it another 2 tries before putting up a review on it.

5. Rinsed and ACV rinsed as my scalp was quite itchy

6. T-shirt dried for 30 mins and applied my leave-ins: Cantu Shea butter leave-in, Elasta QP H2 leave-in, and sealed with my oil mix.

I am definitely not drenching my hair with black tea or coffee again. I felt like all the hard work with doing an overnight pre-poo to soften and moisturise my hair went to nothing. Also it caused serious shedding and breakage because my hair matted a lot, which is very ironic, given that it is supposed to reduceshedding! 

I will be putting the tea in a spray bottle and spraying only my roots. I also plan to apply conditioner before rinsing the tea out so that minimal tangles are created. 

Sorry no pics today, will make up for it in the next few posts..

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Wash day

Soo this post should have been up on Saturday, which is when I washed my hair. I used three new products: Creme of Nature Argan Oil Moisture & Shine Shampoo (sulphate free), Creme of Nature Argan Oil intensive conditioning treatment & Elasta QP H2 leave-in conditioner. I was very pleased with the results, although I think because my hair needs more moisture I will be cutting down on the use of shampoos, and using conditioners instead to wash my hair. Here is what I did:

1. Pre-poo'd with my mix of coconut oil, almond oil, EVOO overnight. My hair was soo soft the next day, it was like a GHE and pre-poo put into one, the steam from my head came through during the night.

2. Shampoo'd with Creme of Nature Argan Oil Moisture & Shine Shampoo. This product does what it says, I detangle during the shampooing process, and it was so easy to do so. It also made my hair really soft until I...

4. Black coffee rinsed by pouring it over my head about 4 times, waited until it stopped dripping from my hair and then rinsed it off. However this time my hair was not so hard but still it removed the effect of the moisturizing shampoo

5. Towel dried my hair for about 15 minutes before applying the DC. Deep conditioned with Creme of Nature Argan Oil Intensive Conditioning treatment, and used the plastic bag method. DC'd for total of 2 hours. My hair was soo soft and felt moisturized.

6. Rinsed and t-shirt dried for 45 minutes.

7. Applied my leave-ins: Elasta QP H2 leave-in conditioner from the roots to the ends, some coconut oil to the ends (I forgot how strong the scent is), a little bit of Mizani Thermastrength serum and CON Argan Oil Gloss & Shine Mist, just to give my hair some life. I actually didn't apply the Mizani D'tangle Milk although it was the plan, my new growth was soft enough and didn't need a detangler. However, I did lose more hair than usual during this wash day, most of it was shed hairs, so I am going to try out GroGanics hair vitamins and see if it helps.

8. Blow dried on cool air until hair was 90% dry. Tied it in a bun on the side, after doing a flat braid on the one side of my hair as well.

Pleased with the results of the new products that I used. Although the Elasta QP leave-in is abit oilier than I would have liked, but it worked well, didn't dry my hair out. My ends are still not where I would want them to be, but working on it. soo I may becoming more of a CON girl, than an ORS girl :)))

How my hair looked in the end: 

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Wash day

1. Pre-poo'd with my mix of coconut oil, almond oil, EVOO, 

2. Applied my L'oreal Total Repair (5) conditioner 15 minutes before entering the shower

3. Shampoo'd with Keracare Hydrating Sulphate-free Shampoo, "lathered" twice (note that this shampoo does not produce lather, but my hair felt clean after two applications)

4. Black coffee rinsed by pouring it over my head about 4 times, waited until it stopped dripping from my hair and then rinsed it off

5. Deep conditioned with mix of Dr Miracles Follicle Hair Repair, Olive Oil (1 tbsp), and Elasta QP DPR-11 remoisturizing conditioner. I could definitely feel the "feel-it formula" from the DR Miracles conditioner, but I think it was abit strong for my hair, coz it left it abit hard even when I mixed with some Olive Oil (there is some protein in this DC, which is why I mixed it with the Elasta QP conditioner). Used the plastic bag method (with a warm facecloth on top of a shower cap on my head to generate more heat) and kept the DC in my hair for about 1 hour.

6. Rinsed and t-shirt dried for 45 minutes

7. Applied my leave ins: Dr Miracles Intensive Spot Serum, Creme of Nature Argan Oil Moisture Mist, Mizani D'tangle Milk (to my roots only), Cantu Shea butter leave-in conditioning cream (see my recent review on this).

8. Since it was evening I left my hair to air-dry under my silk scarf. The next day, my hair was really dry, especially my ends so I moisturised with my Elasta QP Mango Butter & Olive Oil moisturizer. It's either the DC or the Cantu Shea butter that made my hair to dry out like this (hence I have to try them again separately to know for sure as to which is the culprit!).

All in all, it was an ok wash day, I already have visible growth, but that is more because my hair was seriously underprocessed, considering using Mizani Butter Blend HG relaxer on my next relaxer day.

Happy HHJ!

P.S Tomorrow is my next wash day, DC'ng with my new Africa's Best Tea Tree Cholesterol Treatment. I will do a review on it probably in a month's time after I have used it at least twice...

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Product review: Cantu Shea Butter Leave-in conditioning cream for NATURAL HAIR

So I have used this product twice already. I heard and read good things about it from fellow hair bloggers, but what I did not realise is that they were basing their reviews on a similar product that is not just for people with natural hair. Even the colours of the package have changed from white to orange. I could only find the new formula product.

Price: 850 KES/ 10 USD at Super Cosmetics 

Purchased at: Nairobi City Centre

Size: 340g

Promises:
"Cantu Shea Butter for Natural Hair Leave In Conditioning Repair Cream is an intensive, deep-penetrating leave-in cream conditioning treatment that is made with 100% pure shea butter and other natural oils. When used daily, it helps promote strong, long, healthy hair. Formulated without chemicals or harsh ingredients. Cantu Shea Butter for Natural Hair restores your real, authentic beauty. Embrace your curly, kinky, or wavy hair with Cantu Shea Butter for Natural Hair.
-> Stops and mends hair breakage
-> Leaves hair soft, shiny and manageable
-> No mineral oil, sulfates, parabens, silicone, phthalates, gluten, paraffin, propylene glycol, PABA or DEA"

Ingredients:
Water , Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) , Glycine Soja Oil (Soybean) , Propylene Glycol , Polyquaternium-37 , Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate , Dicaprate, PPG-1 Trideceth-6 , Cetyl Alcohol , Glycerin , Stearalkonium Chloride , Trimethylsilylamodimethicone , Panthenol , PPG-1-PEG-9 Lauryl Glycol Ether , Lanolin Oil , Cinnamidopropyl Trimonium Chloride , Hydrolyzed Collagen , Acrylamidopropyltrimonium Chloride , Acrylamide Copolymer , Hydrolyzed Soy Protein , Benzophenone-3 , BHA , BHT , Zea Mays Oil (Corn) , Idopropynyl Butylcarbamate , DMDM Hydantoin , Phenoxyethanol , Fragrance

Directions:

Daily styling: Apply to towel dried hair. Work a generous amount of product into hair beginning at the roots to the tips. Comb through for even distribution. Do not rinse. Apply more to longer hair at the ends or problem areas. Leave in treatment: Apply as directed for 'daily styling' just after shampooing. Re-apply and cover with a plastic cap overnight for maximum absorption and intensive conditioning. Frizz free hair: Apply daily to split ends or damaged areas. Comb through and let dry naturally.

My review:

My hair did not like this product. I applied the product to my hair along with my serum and Mizani D'tangle leave-in milk after towel-drying my hair for 30 minutes or so. My hair was still abit damp.

I experienced more breakage than I usually do the day after washing my hair. It may be because I had done a protein treatment, and then used this product which also has some proteins (hence protein overload). So I will have to use it again after doing a heavy moisturising DC to know for sure that it does not do any good to my hair. I thought it would be really good given that it's main product should be is shea butter, and does not have all the baddies i.e. mineral oils, parabens. But I think my hair (knowing how much moisture it longs for) just did not relate well with this product, it is not moisturizing enough and left my ends very dry even after covering my hair for the whole day to dry without exposing it to the harsh sun and heat.

All in all, I would give this product a 3/5. I am going to buy the product (which is a white coloured tub on the outside, and see if that one is any better).

Rating scale:

1/5 - Never again!
2/5 - Below par, not for my hair
3/5 - mehh, might try it again to be sure its really not good
4/5 - like it, good buy
5/5 - when am i going to buy the next one!! need to stock up for dayzzz

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Product Review: Elasta QP Mango and Olive Oil moisturizer

So I have been using this product for about 3 weeks now...

Its promises:

Moisturizing butters of olive oil and mango produce this intensely rich thermal protecting treatment. Use daily for softer fuller looking hair.
-> Vitamin rich
-> Organic infusion

Its ingredients:

Water , Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil , Capric Caprylic Triglycerides , PEG 75 Lanolin , Behentrimonium Methosulfate , Cetearyl Alcohol , Ceteareth 20 , Cetyl Alcohol , Dimethicone , Phenyl Trimethicone , Mangifera Indica (Mango) Seed Butter , Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter , Cocos Nucifera Oil (Coconut) , Retinyl Palmitate , Tocopherol , Ascorbic Acid , Biotin , Linoleic Acid , Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil , Fragrance , Imidazolidinyl Urea , Methylparaben , Propylparaben , Hydrolyzed Silk , FD&C Yellow 5CI 19140

Its directions: 

Apply daily to target dry ends and help prevent breakage.  Use after application of Breakage Control Serum.

My review:

I had been looking for something that could really retain moisture in my hair without weighing it down (problem I had with ORS, although its a good moisturizer).... and this worked like a charm tadaa ok magic! I liked the fact that even though it has protein as an ingredient, it is still very moisturising. The smell is divine, and its consistency is abit thick so a little goes a long way. It's also awesome on my ends, and keeps them straight an moisturized for the whole day - with this product I can moisturize every second day but because I loove it I moisturize daily (unless I am using my H20 intensive treatment).

Also the ingredients have fatty alcohols which are good for moisturizing your hair (cetyl alcohol, cetearyl alcohol, Behentrimonium Methosulfate), and this definitely shows when applying the product to your hair

All in all I give this product a 5/5.

Rating scale:

1/5 - Never again!
2/5 - Below par, not for my hair
3/5 - mehh, might try it again to be sure its really not good
4/5 - like it, good buy
5/5 - when am i going to buy the next one, need to stock up for dayzzz

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Moisturise, Moisturise, Moisturise!

This is the one thing I have learnt to do to my hair, applying moisturiser and sealing on a daily basis, including those ends! I think it's something that us ladies don't make a habit especially because we have not seen our stylists do so.

We also live in relatively warm climates which tend to dry our hair faster than if we lived further north in the hemisphere, so it's v v v important for our hair to have the right amount of hydration all the time.

Of late (because the weather has become warmer and dryer) I've been moisturising and sealing twice a day with my favourite moisturiser: Elasta QP mango and olive oil moisturiser, but every now and then I use my Mizani H20 intensive night treatment (for extra moisture).

I hope it helps you, it's definitely helping my hair by reducing shedding, keeping it well hydrated and not dry and keeping my ends straight!

Happy moisturising!

                  

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Relaxer day 15 weeks post... Never again!

Soo the big day came and I must say I was waiting for it for a while as my new growth was so tough and unmanageable! I don't think I'll stretch my relaxers that long again unless I find a way to tame my mane haha!

Steps that I followed:

1. Detangle using my Mizani D'tangle Milk. This took about an hour. Hair lost

2. Based my scalp with a mix of coconut oil and EVOO. Applied Petroleum jelly around my ears and around my hair edges and nape. I also applied conditioner and some EVOO to the hair which was relaxed, it definitely helped coz the relaxer process can get messy and easily go on to the relaxed hair.

3. Mixed a little bit (1 tbsp) EVOO a with half the jar of ORS Créme relaxer normal strength

4. Used the half and half method. This is a tedious method! I don't think I'll hack it again coz even applying and smoothing for a total of 18 minutes per half, my hair especially at the back was still under processed. In future I think I'll just be applying the whole head, making sure I take a max of 3 minutes per section to apply so that I have 13 minutes to smooth and go back to each section. I'll do a strand test properly but I know I definitely need like 20 minutes + to have my hair texlaxed but appropriately processed.

5. Washed the relaxer off and applied my Aphogee 2 minute reconstructor for 5 minutes. 

6. Rinsed off with ORS Creamy Aloe Shampoo, it's also a neutralising shampoo. Shampood about 6 times, didn't want to take any chances with relaxer remaining in my hair!

7. Used a mix of my conditioners:

Mixed Olive Oil hair cream, Dr Miracles damages hair treatment and a little bit of Parnevu Hair mayonnaise. I didn't want to do a pure protein treatment coz I used Aphogee already.

8. Used the plastic bag method: first covered my hair with plastic wrap, then heated a wet face towel and placed it on top of my head. Then covered it with another plastic bag. This method works well, the facecloth stayed warm on my head for at least 10 minutes so I'm sure my hair was well deep conditioned after an hour. I reheated the face cloth like every 20 minutes.

9. Rinsed the DC off and then did an ACV rinse to restore the pH balance of my hair. My hair was feeling abit rough even after the DC process. I've really learnt the importance of feeling and understanding what your hair needs, as it does not always have the same needs.

10. T-shirt dried for 25 minutes then applied my leave-ins: Parnevu leave-in conditioner, Dr Miracles Intensive spot serum and Revlon Hydra Elixir serum. 

11. Applied Mizani Thermasmooth heat protectant to each quadrant as I flat ironed. I can't say whether it was great as it was the first time I used this product, will need to try it again to know for sure whether it's good.

12. My ends were so frizzy I felt like I didn't relax my hair at all, was abit disappointing but I decided to moisturise the ends and cross wrap overnight. What  a lifesaver! I used Elasta QP Olive Oil and Mango Butter, it's like the moisturiser my hair has been waiting for! So see pics after I flat ironed compared to the next day

All in all I would rate my relaxer day as 7/10 just because there are some parts I seriously underprocessed. I think I'll be doing a corrective relaxer in 6-8 weeks time.

As you can see I'm now on the #3 line and grazing #4. I'm definitely changing my goals. APL by June 2015 and MBL by December 2015. So I need 2-3 inches growth to reach APL, which is doable as hair grows at 1/2 inch per month on average, just need to pace myself and protect those ends!!

Peace ✌️

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Length check new tee

So I accepted that my white tee will only work as a length check t-shirt once I reach APL...and created another DIY length check t-shirt with a higher neckline. My hair line is at #2, hoping for #4 in the next 2 months

Those ends, eish, I really hope that a miracle happens to them, they are not looking good at all.

Anyway tomorrow is relaxer day, pretty amped about it, but still can't decide whether to use Mizani Butter Blends HG or ORS, although I am leaning more towards ORS for now...

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Length check tee DIY

So I finally decided to make my own length check shirt - I think it gives a lot of motivation if you can put a number to your progress.

I think the tee I bought is quite low at the back so I'll probably look for a high neck t-shirt coz I can only use this one once I reach APL, which will be in a year's time lol.

Peace and all things hair :)

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Wash day

1. Prepoo: Grapeseed oil, and kept it overnight. Then applied L'oreal Total 5 repairing conditioner to make my hair softer when washing

2. Co-wash: Nothing but cleansing conditioner

3. ACV rinse: My hair was feeling like straw during the week so I knew there was a protein imbalance… the ACV made my hair so soft, definitely helps if you don’t have Roux porosity conditioner or similars, to restore the pH balance of your hair.

4. Deep condition: Skin doctor Argan oil Hydrating mask for about 3 hours (I don’t have a hair dryer or steamer yet, it’s on my wish list…)

Rinsed the deep conditioner and t-shirt dried my hair for about 30 minutes.

5. Leave-in & Detangling: Applied Mizani d’tangle milk, Revlon Hydra Elixir serum and Parnevu leave-in conditioner to my hair and detangled. Because I detangled after conditioning my hair in the shower, there was very little shedding at this point…

Left my hair to airdry further, and rocked a bun (although my hair is not yet long enough to rock those full buns I see on other healthy hair websites)…

All in all, it was a good wash day, I am happy with the results, although I feel like the co-wash I used made me shed a lot of hairs during the washing process. I'll need to try it again to confirm, but it definitely made my hair soft and my hair felt suitably clean afterwards…

Relaxer day is this week, I am super excited to see how long my hair is... Still debating whether to use ORS or Mizani, will post an update in a week's time :)

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