So it’s been almost a full week. Mostly just did a bunch of stuff to see what works. I think I have a simple, once again modified, routine:
I managed to jot down everything I’ve done over the past 7 days.
Day 1: shampooed roots only, co-washed finger detangled, no comb. (SM Manuka Honey conditioner), SMMH DC, used as a leave-in, did not rinse. Sealed with a cone serum.
Day 2: kept braids in
Day 3: kept in braids (re-moisturized with SMMH leave-in, LCO method)
Day 4: take down, co-wash (SMMH conditioner), Using fingers only no comb, cone rinse (if you’re wondering what that is, just ask), air dry, put back in braids.
Day 5: kept in braids
Day 6: kept in braids
Day 7: (technically today) No Idea why my wash days are so late at night.
full wash day:
Pre-Poo: Cacao, MuruMuru, and Cupucacu Butter mix that I bought from Etsy. (Which I will do a review on in a later post) Finger detangled. Super. Easy. OMG. Minimal shedding, no breakage whatsoever.
Shampoo: roots only (T-Sal Salicylic Acid shampoo by Neutrogena for dandruff)
Condition: SMMH conditioner. Detangled with Wet Brush for the first time ever, in shower, in four sections.
Deep condition: L’ Oreal Deep Treatment conditioner. Technically it’s only in the box that’s meant for dying your hair. Yes, I bought a box of dye only for the conditioner, I know, I have a problem. Lol. Mixed that, with my Elizavecca Collagen Coating Protein Treatment. Left on for 25 mins. No heat.
Rinse, let dry until halfway, still slightly damp.
LCO:
L-Rose Water Spray
C- SMMH leave in
O- Butter mix that I mentioned earlier to seal.
Parted my hair in two, installed two French braids that I’ve been wearing this entire week, as my protective style, sealed my ends with JBCO. Here’s what they look like: (I’m not the best when it comes to braiding).
via Imgflip Meme Generator
Looking at it written down it’s seems like too much manipulation to my own eyes, which I had been trying to mitigate last year, but comparing just a week’s worth of trying out this regimen, compared to months worth of me being afraid to keep my hair in braids this long, I’m actually surprised my hair didn’t respond negatively. I was expecting to see increased breakage, but I’m also speculating that most of the breakage I experienced last year came from tangling, which was brought on by shedding.
And that Wet Brush. Bruh. I was straight up nervous to use a brush in my hair, let alone wet hair, since I had my first bad run-in with that goshdarn denman brush in highschool. (No shade to the ladies who love their denman brushes). Its technically my husbands brush, but it’s mine now. I see it every time I shower, and my curiosity got the better of me. I must say, that brush does a bang up job of catching all of my shed hair. I love my wide tooth shower comb, but I still have issues with tangles, since the teeth aren’t fine enough to completely separate all my hairs to loosen up the shed ones, but I often find myself at a cross roads because there’s no way I’m using a medium or fine tooth comb, and my fingers only help so much trying to be gentle handling sopping wet hair. So we will see how this Wet Brush detangling in the shower holds up for a few more weeks. So far, so good.
As much as I HATE admitting this, My hair is signaling that it’s comfortable in two braids, versus buns. I really love my buns. Like REAAAALLLYYYYYY, love them. Protective styles and everything, but I guess you go through phases of what your hair likes and what it no longer likes as you grow longer. Buns got me from NL to Hip, for some years, but perhaps braids will now get me from HIP to Classic. Only reason I don’t typically go for braids is due to the fact that, I’m a slow braider, and even slower when it comes to being gentle. Two braids takes me well over 15 mins. All the separating parting, and being gentle. But it’s worth 15 mins. So I’ll stay up late and braid if it means reaping the benefits, because this has been, hands down, the easiest week, and wash day I’ve ever had in quite a while.
). I have been using it by spraying it on my scalp, both as a treatment, and also as a rinse.
who joined this challenge. *raises glass*
(some of y'all look to be HL already.)
