• ⏰ Welcome, Guest! You are viewing only 2 out of 27 total forums. Register today to view more, then Subscribe to view all forums, submit posts, reply to posts, create new threads, view photos, access private messages, change your avatar, create a photo album, customize your profile, and possibly be selected as our next Feature of the Month.

6 Months New (More Heat) Regimen Progress - Pictures!

⏳ Limited Access:

Register today to view all forum posts.

anon123

Well-Known Member
So around the end of last year, I decided to change my hair's upkeep to include more heat. I really shouldn't use the word "regimen" because the way I maintain my hair isn't on a strict enough schedule / set of rules for that. But I'll just use it loosely.

Anyway, I decided to try blow drying at least every other wash. I wash once a week. For the most part, I have kept that up. I do not use a comb to blow dry. I just pull a piece of hair taut and run the dryer up and down the length. I also decided to flat iron at least once a month. I haven't really done that, though, because I'm a bit too lazy.

My motivation for adding more heat was to decrease knotting. I was losing so much hair and time detangling my knotted up hair. Other suggestions for significantly reducing my time and knotting failed (I appreciated them, but at this point, I don't need any more :) )

So far I think this regimen with more heat is a success. I have reduced the amount of time I spend dealing with my hair 25% some weeks and up to 50% on other weeks, depending on what all I'm doing. Here are some pictures.

Beginning of January. This is about 12-12.5". I had just cut the back layers of my hair so my hair would be less heavily layered, so I was once again just at the top of my bra.

jan2010length.jpg


3 months in, early April. This is about 13.5 - 14" from nape to ends to bottom layer:

aprilearly2010.jpg


Late June. I am now about 15" from nape to ends of lowest layer. This means about 2.5" (6.4 cm) retained in 6 months. This is very good for me:

062710length.jpg


In addition to reducing the amount of time I spend on my hair, it's nice to also be able to see a bit more length because it's blow dried.

There is one bad point about this regimen and that is that I've noticed more split ends. My hair seems very resistant to them compared to many people. Before heat, I saw a split end maybe once every month or two. Now I'll see one every week or two. This is still very few compared to most, though. I have never seen a split on my hair longer than 1/4". My hair still looks good and it's not affecting my length, so right now it doesn't matter to me. I will monitor it, though.

I will put more pictures in the next post.
 
WOW *in my best Flavor Flav voice** Amazing Progress!!!!!
 
Really beautiful! I've seen (IRL) many naturals who retain an amazing amount of length with moderate use of heat. I use heat on my DDs regularly and all but one (she BC'd from relaxed 8 mos. ago) have long hair.
 
Okay, so now for some pictures. First, here is a video of me flat ironing my hair. I don't get my hair straight, and that is okay with me. :) FYI, I blow dried with a Garnier Fructis anti-frizz serum. I got it in the hopes that the cones would protect my hair from heat. Oh, one more good point. Since using heat, my hair responds more positively to products with cones in them. Before, they would just make my hair velcro-y.

Flat ironing video
http://travel.webshots.com/video/3069256090046500029snALbL

Hair that was blow dried and then twisted with oil. After setting overnight, undo the twists and this is the result:
blowdrytwist3.jpg


This is a twist out, not on blow dried hair. This hair was air dried. The stick is from the Etsy seller Timberstone Turnings (his work is beautiful :love:)

ttstickwoodgrain.jpg


Also air dried hair:

IMG_3625_2.jpg


Blow dried hair (I think). This Ficcare is my favorite accessory ever. It is expensive, but it is worth it. Very high quality and very beautiful.

ficcare250.jpg


Beaded ponytail band and ponytail holder with gogo. Here are the YouTube tutorials on how to make them:
How to Make A Hair Tie
Beaded banded ponytail
beadedbandedpony.jpg


Current length from the front:
062010front-1.jpg


Twists done on blow dried hair in a large Flexi8 clip:
largeflexi.jpg


Thanks for looking. :grin:
 
:love::love::love:

Your hair is so amazing. I love that banded ponytail.

I'm glad heat is working out for you! I've always felt my heat usage kept me from getting knots and tangles.:yep:
 
Your hair is insanely beautiful, Mwedzi. You hear me ... INSANELY BEAUTIFUL!!!!
 
Your hair is REDUNKULOUS!!! I'm watching the flat iron video in amazement!

I'm showing my bff your fotki, she has very similar hair.
 
Congrats. When I first went natural and vowed to not use heat but am now incorporating it again. The knots and tangling I was getting before was ridiculous. Hopefully Ill have results like yours.
 
I so love your hair! I started using heat after my washes to get my hair atleast 85% dry. Less knots in my hair.
 
Beautiful hair -- A little heat is a good thing (for me blow drying 1x a month has made a HUGE difference with my ssk)
 
your growth and retention is simply amazing. The heat seems as if it is working for you! Your hair styles are absolutely drool worthy. thanks for posting the tutorials! :)
 
You do what works best for you and your hair, always!!

I'm glad you've found something that works (obviously) well for you!!

BTW, beautiful hair and fabulous progress Mwedzi!
 
Great hair and interesting info. Thanks. I have never had a knot issue. I think it's because I handle my hair every night (at the very least braiding it up.) I do not know if this is more or less damaging than more regular uses of heat.
 
Your hair is beautiful. I glad you found something that works for you. You have inspired me to look into those hair accessories.
 
Love the Hair!! It is simply amazing and inspiring!!

Those hair accessories are beautiful. Thanks for posting the links for everything.
 
Back
Top