xu93texas KiWiStyle
Do you examine your shed hair? I'm kind of obsessive about it. I'm always checking for abnormal breakage and testing elasticity. It's been helping though cause I've been learning some things. Like I'm seeing that even mild proteins like silk and hydrolyzed wheat build up on my strands quickly. I'll start out after a wash day with good elasticity and by the 4th day of using leave-ins and gels with mild proteins my strands are stiffer and snap easier. The good thing is I've found an easy way to counteract this - dampening and setting my hair with water after a few days of continual product use. The elasticity and moisture balance is great in the morning.
I've also concluded that nothing detangles my hair as well as a 'cone based leave-in - not a serum but a moisturizing cream. If used right, 'cones are great for smoothing and protecting strands from mechanical damage. My breakage has been reduced greatly after a wash when detangling with silicone products. I haven't seen any bad effects yet and I make sure to wash with a mild sulfate 'poo.
@Raspberry,
No, not anymore. In the beginning (last year, lol) I would examine every piece of hair that fell off my head but then I stopped because I realized it was obsessive. Now I just put the gathered hairs in the light and quickly glance for the little white bulb, I can the determine if I have excessive breakage/shedding or not. I don't have either so no worries there because I have a pretty decent protein/moisture balance regimen. I'm very proactive as oppose to reactive with my strands because these fragile, fine and low density hairs of mine can't take any setbacks.
I have quite a few silicon based products and I'm not afraid to use them at all. I don't really style my hair at this point, I just wear buns and my single inverted braid so I don't have to use a ton of products, plus I clarify at least every 4-6 weeks. Like @xu93texas, i'm learning to simplify my regimen to be more like yours. I just started my hair journey last January so I have lot's of products I don't use but don't want to throw them out either. I joined the use up your stash challenge and just now TODAY got the energy to go list each of them on paper and i'm about to transfer the list to the thread. My list is insane!!
KiWiStyle,
I've been waiting for you to put that list up so I can see what I might like!
So, I'm going back to work in 2 weeks. I bought 4 wigs over the weekend. I purchased a LF rollerset wig (love it), 2 half wigs, and a synthetic wig cut in a very, short bob w/bangs. The half wigs will be worn w/headbands b/c I don't have time to blend in the mornings. I'll be shopping this upcoming weekend for some hair candy.
Last night I braided my hair into 8 plaits, sporting a braid out today.
ETA again: GoddessMaker, my hair isn't straight while wet or dry. I have some wave to both my straight and dry hair. I don't consider myself texlaxed. I consider myself relaxed. I've seen people debate relaxed vs. bonelaxed. It seems that regular relaxed have wave pattern while wet/dry wheres bonelaxed hair is completely straight when wet or dry. I think sunnieb considers herself bonelaxed. Sunnie, is your hair wavy when wet or dry?
@xu93texas,
LOL!! Go take a look, I just added my list...it's massive! #holdsheaddowninshame
I'm glad you're wigging it back up. I took a look at your progress and I think the wigs have been extremely beneficial for you so don't fix what ain't broke. I want to do a braid out so bad but they looked pitiful when I did it before. I think I read somewhere that fine haired ladies shouldn't put much product in the hair prior to braiding. One day i'll try it again.
It most definitely is, but that's a good thing. I think I may be stretching for longer than 12 weeks because I decided to take the plunge and get micros instead of senegalese twists. I just hope I don't get a setback from them, but I have been doing lots of research on how to take care of my hair while I have them. Wish me luck!This must be growing season because I'm only 6 weeks post and I'm getting restless to relax
Supergirl, did you stall at MBL as you were growing your hair to longer lengths? Our recent discussion within this thread is that some of us feel stalled at MBL and some of us have read that stalling happens at this length so I wanted input.
topnotch1010 and charmtreese, from a stylist's perspective, have you experienced, learned about and/or heard of hair stall at MBL?
TIA ladies!
Angelinhell, I'm good now. I found a few things to soften the ng so I'z back in bitness for a minute. I will end around 10 weeks if all goes well.
divachyk may I ask what you use to soften your newgrowth? Mine feels kinda dry. I'm going to be 7 weeks post on Friday, I can handle the inside of my hair, I just have this thing about my edges being fuzzy, always have@Angelinhell, I'm good now. I found a few things to soften the ng so I'z back in bitness for a minute. I will end around 10 weeks if all goes well.
@divachyk may I ask what you use to soften your newgrowth? Mine feels kinda dry. I'm going to be 7 weeks post on Friday, I can handle the inside of my hair, I just have this thing about my edges being fuzzy, always have
Today my bun was so juicy that it was scraping the interior roof as I got in/out the car. I normally don't post randomness like that but today that just made me feel good so thought I'd share.
shortdub78, does glycerin usage not become an issue during the winter? My hair loves glycerin during the summer. Used it yesterday and my hair thanked me. However, it will give me much attitude if I use it during conditions not considered optimal for glycerin usage.
PSA -- plz read....
Ladies, the recent thread of the young lady has me thinking. We should come up with other topics and start new threads to keep our threads well thought out and free from variety clutter. Meaning, we shouldn't embed a variety of topics within one thread. We should break out our threads by subject matter.
I love the buddy thread because it's very similar to a RT but for relaxed hair.
Any suggestions on some good thread ideas? The catch is, we must all participate so that we don't leave a fellow sister out there looking like she's started a thread for no apparent reason. That's a sure way to get bashed by other forum members.
Topics that come to mind are cowashing relaxed hair, finger combing relaxed hair, two strand twisting relaxed hair, flat twisting, etc etc...Do you honestly think this idea is yay or nay? Be honest, my feelings aren't easily hurt. I know there are many other threads that discuss these topics but perhaps we can gear our threads toward relaxed hair to set us apart. What say you?
I'm sorry @GoddessMaker but you're only allowed 1 buddy. j/k The more the merrier. We can all pull from each other's strengths. I have 3 buddies right now - @Nix08, @Angelinhell @Ms. Tiki. There was 4 of us but @sunnieb dumped us.Is it allowed to have 2 buddies? I know @Loving and @shortdub78 have be soo gracious to be my friend. I feel different being relaxed now because I'm knowledable about things or have somewhere to ask questions. I have never been able to get away with not moisturizing my hair daily and have been able to now. Less product used too..this is good bc very soon I won't have extra dough to blow on hair items and will def be shopping the stash.
Thanks shortdub78, we'll get a feel for what everyone else thinks and then whoever feels their have that strength can start that thread and we all chime in. I personally feel my strength is in bunning. I know Nix08 cowashes daily and sunnieb has an air dry pictorial in her fotki. What strength do you feel that you have? I think you roller set often, right?