gelati said:I have one question what kind of moisturizers and products should I use while in the plaits?I don't want to take them out until couple of days after Thanksgiving.
, but other than that, I'm good to go! It's been about three weeks since I've used heat and today I finally came to accept that it's okay if my hair isn't straight, and there are no such things as bad hair days when you're trying to improve the health of your hair.
preciousjewel76 said:OK fellow newbies, here's the update on the Newbie Challenge. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, will be to stay on this healthy hair/body challenge until Valentine's Day 2007. I think 4 months is a good jumping off point.
Every month, I will post a new thread for you to share your progress. You can use this thread to post before/after pics and such. And be sure to put this in your signature, to remind yourself of the challenge. We need to represent!!:
***2006-2007 Newbie Challenge***
Our "official" newbie challenge rules will be as follows:
1. No direct heat! Put those flatirons away! Use of a bonnet or hood dryer is allowed.
2. Moisture, moisture, and MORE moisture! Be sure to moisturize your ends and the rest of your hair AT LEAST once a day. Remember, a good moisturizer will list water as the first ingredient (basically, grease is NOT a moisturizer, LOL). And don't forget to seal in your moisturizer with an oil.
3. Protective styling - maintain your ends. If possible, wear protective styles as much as you can. Buns, twists, ponies (real or phony), braids, braidouts, twistouts, etc. are your FRIEND!
4. If you relax your hair, try to stretch for one week past your usual touch up time. Try to stretch even longer if you think you can, but keep in mind that you will have to really take care of your hair once you have a mix of new growth and relaxed ends.
5. Drink AT LEAST six cups (48 ounces) of water each day. If you don't like water, try flavoring it with some Crystal Light drink mix. Hydration is important for your entire body, not just your hair.
6. Step up your physical activity. If you're not already exercising, an easy way to get started is to take a 30 minute walk every day. You can break it up into segments (walk in the AM, walk at lunch, walk after dinner). Just get moving! And find an activity that you like....if you hate running, PLEASE don't go out and try to train for a marathon! Find a "workout buddy" if you think that will help. We need to aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity on 5 or more days of the week. Moderate activity = activity that makes your heart rate go up and causes light-moderate sweating.
7. Most Important: Be positive! We're new to this board, so we're still learning how to take care of our hair. Don't set your goals too high. Give it time. Don't obsess over the length of your hair. Just try to get it HEALTHY!!
I'm really happy that this thread has generated a positive response. Let's keep it going, ladies, and see what a few months of healthy living can do for us...and our hair!
Be Blessed!
preciousjewel76 said:OK fellow newbies, here's the update on the Newbie Challenge. Your mission, should you choose to accept it
Every month, I will post a new thread for you to share your progress. You can use this thread to post before/after pics and such. And be sure to put this in your signature, to remind yourself of the challenge. We need to represent!!:
***2006-2007 Newbie Challenge***
Our "official" newbie challenge rules will be as follows:
1. No direct heat! Put those flatirons away! Use of a bonnet or hood dryer is allowed.
2. Moisture, moisture, and MORE moisture! Be sure to moisturize your ends and the rest of your hair AT LEAST once a day. Remember, a good moisturizer will list water as the first ingredient (basically, grease is NOT a moisturizer, LOL). And don't forget to seal in your moisturizer with an oil.
3. Protective styling - maintain your ends. If possible, wear protective styles as much as you can. Buns, twists, ponies (real or phony), braids, braidouts, twistouts, etc. are your FRIEND!
4. If you relax your hair, try to stretch for one week past your usual touch up time. Try to stretch even longer if you think you can, but keep in mind that you will have to really take care of your hair once you have a mix of new growth and relaxed ends.
5. Drink AT LEAST six cups (48 ounces) of water each day. If you don't like water, try flavoring it with some Crystal Light drink mix. Hydration is important for your entire body, not just your hair.
6. Step up your physical activity. If you're not already exercising, an easy way to get started is to take a 30 minute walk every day. You can break it up into segments (walk in the AM, walk at lunch, walk after dinner). Just get moving! And find an activity that you like....if you hate running, PLEASE don't go out and try to train for a marathon! Find a "workout buddy" if you think that will help. We need to aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity on 5 or more days of the week. Moderate activity = activity that makes your heart rate go up and causes light-moderate sweating.
7. Most Important: Be positive! We're new to this board, so we're still learning how to take care of our hair. Don't set your goals too high. Give it time. Don't obsess over the length of your hair. Just try to get it HEALTHY!!
I'm really happy that this thread has generated a positive response. Let's keep it going, ladies, and see what a few months of healthy living can do for us...and our hair!
Be Blessed!
She did say we could use bonnet dryers. I have an ion, and I swear those things are really better for your hair. I can put it on low heat. I just hate having a wet head...it bugs me to no end. I can't sleep with conditoner on my hair for that reason. I can do oils but on condish over night..vsantina said:
AtlantaJJ said:
This is a great idea!!!!
erplexed Pray for me, and him
vsantina said:
shaydufblu said:
Oh Lordy, you sound like me! I have to have him hide the Pop-Tarts too, then he eats them all! LOL I hope he doesn't get an idea to blow dry the cat!DeDewantslongerhair said:
I will also tell my son to hide the blowdryer AND flatiron, and don't tell me where it is no matter what I say!
rootdeep said:Okay I'm going to have to bow out of this challenge. I'm just going to continue my little daily routine and stay what works for me. Airdrying isnt MY friend. Matter of fact when I tried it this summer I experienced major shedding. I blow dry my hair twice a month when its down and its been working find for me.
I'll be watching you all though. Have fun
Exercise ...working full-time and going to school full-time I am exhausted at the end of the night all I want to do is sleep.
gelati said:Thanks Hareitiz, but which NTM because I just sold a bunch of it.
This will be the perfect kick-off for the 2007 Head-2-Toe Challenge I'm in. I'll post my starting point once I get my "Progress-n-Inches" T-shirt (just to keep me honest ) Let's do it! 
!!! Is that ok?) I usually flat iron my hair about twice a month (at the salon). I dont feel that I am abusing the heat and my (natural) hair is relatively healthy for using heat this much. It also stays straight and looking nice pretty long until whenever I wash it. So what I'm trying to do is just stretch the amount of time in between salon visits. Here's how i'm planning my (modified) regimen:
I have a long ways to go to meet my goal length! 
Ms Kraft said:I'll post my starting point once I get my "Progress-n-Inches" T-shirt (just to keep me honest
pureenergy77 said:Krys, be careful with that heat! My hair was natural for 7 years and I didn't use pressing combs or flat irons up until last November. I pressed my hair one time and my hair was permanently straight on the whole right side of my head. I should not have done it myself because it was too much heat. After that happened, I was kinda forced to keep pressing my hair and I ended up burning off parts of my hair down to the roots. I had to get about 4 inches of my hair cut off last month it was so damaged. I got a relaxer so I would not be tempted to use anymore heat due to the texture difference. My hair just does not like heat. Even when I only blow dried my natural hair on medium maybe once a month, I would end up with permanently straight strands of hair in random places. On the other hand, my sister has natural hair past mid back, and when she presses it reverts back with no damage. Just be careful...
Ok, here's a picture of my hair now.
I am an advocate of many small victories that ultimately win a battle. They say that our hair will grow a minimum of 1/4" a month, so, by February, we should all be a minimum of an inch longer if we nurture our ends properly.
Very doable, I think. Don't you? I think this should be the goal. A minimum of 1 inch growth by Valentine's Day. What do you think?[/
