Nail Your Regimen Challenge 2014

I see something was going on up in here. Don't let mama have to come in here and straighten stuff out :look:
 
naija24 said:
toaster

Personally, I really don't care about being natural or relaxed. I've been both enough times and I know how to deal with both. I guess my problem has always been that in the past, unlike many girls, I NEVER cared about having long hair. So I could rock a fade or CBL length relaxed hair and not care either way because it was just hair and it could grow back. Whatever. Now I have a boyfriend that really likes long hair and hates most natural hair styles and is my first serious relationship, I'm trying to appease him (he didn't force me to grow long hair though).

Hair is not big a deal to me. Making it a big deal and trying to grow my hair out is like shoving a cube into a circle. it's not fitting with me well.

But I'm gonna try to grow my hair out a bit more (CBL or APL) and i'm right now neck length and that's cool. But I think either way, I'd like something that doesn't take up 3 hours of day just to wash it, or stress me out styling it. I like my hair either shaved (not an option), a pixie (too difficult to grow out) or straight bob.
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I agree with the previous posters: don't do this for a guy. Do this for yourself. If you think longer or healthier hair will better yourself in some way and his love for long hair will motivate you to stay the course, then that's one thing. But just doing this because you think it'll make him like you more is so not worth it. Trust.

Anyway, it sounds like you've been able to reach CBL before, without a reggie so maybe stop worrying about one and just do what you normally do.

Sounds more like you're stuck on how to style it. Unfortunately, I'm one to leave straight hair hanging straight or in a pony.

Sorry my post isn't helpful, but I think half the battle is being truthful to yourself about what you want from your hair. I don't think I was "ready" before and would relax my hair when natural wasn't working then bc when relaxed didn't work either. I wanted long hair but without the effort. I know realize that for my hair the the two things wouldn't work (I.e. laziness and long hair )

That being said I felt cute with my twas and Fido Dido/Grace Jones molded hair do's. If the boys didn't like it, it wasn't my problem cause I figured none were going to help me take care of my hair on a daily basis... just saying
 
HanaKuroi said:
It always boils down to your boyfriend. Always. Sent from my iPad using LHCF
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naija24

You have mentioned this before and I think it adds to you not being able to decide whether you want to be relaxed or natural and then jump to long term protective styling with the hopes of retaining a ton of length.

You've got to figure out a goal, make a plan and then stick with it.

Sent from my iPhone using LHCF
 
Just checking in. I was following the advice of the ladies in here for keeping my hair moisturized during this relentless winter and decided to try a glycerin free regi. I ended up using Pbn murumuru leave in and my hair seems to be enjoying it. Looks like I may have to reincorporate baggying, scalp massages, and daily moisturizing like I did when I first started my hair journey.
 
When I big chopped over 10 year I loved my short hair. A male coworker told me I would not find a husband with my hair this short as men like long hair. I told him "black Pocahontas don't live here" and told him he needed to leave. I didn't care. Years later on my second big chop my SO looked at me one day and said I love your hair. Be you and the rest will follow.
 
I have a little case of protein overload, nothing too serious but I decided to stop everything and give myself a break. I will start taking priteva again on Monday, I will only use one of the aphogee leave-ins and will rotate it with the nexxus luxxtress.

Today I went out to hunt down some fenugreek to help me get back the correct moisture balance, I managed to buy the seeds in planet organic but I couldn't pick up the powder or leaves locally so, I ordered them when I got home. I'm planning on mixing the liquid and mucus into my DC with an oil. I boiled the 2 tbs with 1 cup of hot water and then added about another 1/4 cup to it, I'm waiting for the mucus to develop. I'm planning to use the leaves for a spritz and the powder as an alternative to the seeds to work out which I prefer as there are a bag of mixed reviews.

I will be dusting my hair tomorrow, a week behind schedule but that's okay it was only a guideline, other than that all is well, my satin bonnets are helping me to keep my hair neat which means I don't have to comb regularly, last week I went 5 days without having to restyle my hair. It is also helping with retention at the front, there isn't as much friction from tossing and turning in my sleep.

I am looking forward to my next LC just to see if my new practices have made a difference and by how much, I am feeling like I will soon be ready to add the MSM to my regimen, I will be buying this week and plan on starting it by the end of the month.
 
spellinto said:
ETA: ...Now I'm testing the Just for Me leave in to see if it brings moisture as well as slip. I've distributed some all over my new growth (smoothing it in with my palms...I don't spray directly to avoid the "wet" feeling). No residual feeling so far. I'll take my bun down in a few hours and compare how my NG feels.
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Update with how this turned out: Impressive results! I've been using this product to moisturize my new growth (first I apply NTM to an entire section of hair, including the roots, then I go over the roots again more thoroughly with Just for Me). I don't like to spray wet product into my hair, so I spritz 3 or 4 times into the palm of my hand, rub it between my hands and apply. I'm surprised that it's doing a great job of moisturizing. It's not that heavy, saturated type of moisture that I'm used to dousing my NG in...my new growth feels satisfied without my hair being weighed down. I haven't noted any major breakage from dryness so far. Today I took my wrap down from moisturizing and sealing with Just for Me, NTM, and Africa's Best, and my hair felt soft, detangled, and smooth. I'm reluctant to announce this product as a staple, but I am really impressed with its quality, especially since it's so underrated and inexpensive!
 
Yesterday I did a curlformer set with the NO tea spritz. It came out decent. This was just a test run for next weekend. I separated the curls and put on my bonnet and slept on it. I found that my hair turns out better if I separate the curls and sleep on it, vs. just leaving the curls and sleeping on it. They flatten out and don't separate well. This morning I still had my curls but they needed to be fluffed. I need to look through my stash to find a good product to apply to fluff. So I put it in a puff and went out.

This evening I dusted my ends, put marshmallow balm on each section and put in perm rods. I will let it dry for 2 or 3 hours. Not sure if I will pin curl them, separate them or how I will prepare for bed.

I'm just trying some things out right now to see if it is feasible for me to roller set at this length.
 
I lost alot of hair this wash day. I don't know if it's because I haven't been oiling my scalp regularly (2 weeks w/o oiling my scalp) or if it's because I hadn't had a proper detangling session in about 2 weeks, but my word I lost beaucoup hair. Most of it was shed hair, but some of it was breakage. I'll start back oiling my scalp and see if that helps. Thinking about making a fenugreek infused oil.
 
Beany said:
I lost alot of hair this wash day. I don't know if it's because I haven't been oiling my scalp regularly (2 weeks w/o oiling my scalp) or if it's because I hadn't had a proper detangling session in about 2 weeks, but my word I lost beaucoup hair. Most of it was shed hair, but some of it was breakage. I'll start back oiling my scalp and see if that helps. Thinking about making a fenugreek infused oil.
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I'm wondering if this has anything to do with the weather. Last week I had the same thing happen with both my hair and my son's hair. I don't moisturize his hair daily, but I LOC twice daily.

I washed today, but this is the week where I washed in the existing twisted style so I'm not sure how much hair I would have lost this time.
 
Since I've been traveling, I haven't been doing much to my hair. It doesn't matter during the week because I keep my hair in flat twists under a wig, and that is what got my hair to grow in the first place. However, on the weekends, I've been lazy lately. I normally put it in a puff, which just makes it dry and the ends tangle. This leads to breakage. I need to go back to figuring out stretched styles using curlformers, banding or threading.
 
Decided how I feel about the L'oreal Damage Erasing Balm. I wrote a thorough review of it (in comparison with my beloved Silk Elements MegaSilk Treatment) here. Sad to say, but basically I will be returning the L'Oreal balm to Target.
 
I realize now that depending on the style, I can't do a mudwash and will have to co-wash instead. Flat twists (no mud). Two strand twists (mud).

I might try bunning as well, but I keep reading horror stories about people's hair breaking. I need a new protective style and that one would be good for work, but I'm scared...
 
If I wanted to transition to being a straight haired natural, what regimen would yall recommend?

I thought about what yall said about making a decision one way or another. After some time, I came to the following conclusions:

  • I don't like curls
  • I prefer wearing my hair straight
  • I hate relaxers and chemicals. I deal with them because that's what I'm used to, but I never enjoyed the process
  • I have no intention of cutting my hair. Yes, my boyfriend's opinion is a factor, but also because I cut my hair in 2013 and I know how annoying it was waiting for it to grow out. i'm super close to my goal so I rather would reach my goal before considering a chop.
  • It's easier dealing with one texture than two.
  • Saves money!!

I haven't decided on anything, I'm just asking. I have about 1.5 inches of new growth and the struggle is real. I'm trying to protect my ends through the end of Spring, but it's hard. Also my hair looks crazy. I never realized how thin my relaxed hair is and unless my hair is straight, it looks like losing hair.
 
naija24 said:
If I wanted to transition to being a straight haired natural, what regimen would yall recommend?

I thought about what yall said about making a decision one way or another. After some time, I came to the following conclusions:


[*]I don't like curls
[*]I prefer wearing my hair straight
[*]I hate relaxers and chemicals. I deal with them because that's what I'm used to, but I never enjoyed the process
[*]I have no intention of cutting my hair. Yes, my boyfriend's opinion is a factor, but also because I cut my hair in 2013 and I know how annoying it was waiting for it to grow out. i'm super close to my goal so I rather would reach my goal before considering a chop.
[*]It's easier dealing with one texture than two.
[*]Saves money!!


I haven't decided on anything, I'm just asking. I have about 1.5 inches of new growth and the struggle is real. I'm trying to protect my ends through the end of Spring, but it's hard. Also my hair looks crazy. I never realized how thin my relaxed hair is and unless my hair is straight, it looks like losing hair.
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Deep condition every time you wash your hair. Incorporate protein into your regimen. Find a really good heat protectant.

You should check out the straight haired Naturals thread. I'll try to find it, but it's harder to search on my phone.
 
I'm testing out water rinsing 1x to 2x a week to see if it helps improve the moisture levels in my hair. I know ladies have said cowashing has helped. I wonder if it is the actual use of conditioner during the week or if it is just the use of water during the week. For this month and next month I am going to try water rinsing. And if no results will try cowashing mid March or beginning of April

I water rinsed last night and then did LOC with NO oil free balm, hazelnut oil and BASK Tapioca. My hair feels OK. It has some softness and some moisture. It could be better. My hair is in flat twist and I couldn't wear it out without it drying out. I would say it is a 6.5 out of 10.
 
I think I found my go to quick style at least until I get a few more inches. With enough bobby pins I can wear two tuck and roll twists. This now gives me an easy quick option when I want to cowash/water rinse my hair mid-week.
 
Until this weather becomes more reasonable I think I'm gonna have to steam 2x a week.

Eta: I lose less hair when I wash in twists. Noted.
 
Washed my hair this morning without detangling/twisting/braiding first. Still trying to decide what I want to do with my hair. Feeling lazy so maybe ceilie braids until tomorrow morning.

My hair feels relatively soft considering that I let it air dry, but didn't add any product. Still has some oil in it from the previous wash session? I'm going to spritz with apple cider vinegar/water to moisten my hair up a bit. I bought some KKKT and am going to try it in my hair and see how that works out.
 
Wash day today, I co-washed with treseme naturals and then DC'd with treseme naturals mixed with fenugreek and avocado, grapeseed and sunflower oils for 5.5 hrs. I did a final ACV rinse and then dusted my ends in sections, I moisturised in sections and then blow dried. I moisturised again in sections and then sealed with avocado oil. My ends look and feel okay at the moment, I need to keep an eye on it and see how it goes, I'm hoping to retain more moisture.

I'm really liking the fenugreek, it has strengthened my hair and I'm hoping it is also providing moisture too. I'm using it weekly and when these two batches of fenugreek/conditioner/oil mixes are done, I will start using it every 2 weeks or 2 X per month.

I've noticed that most of my conditioners are protein based I need to invest in some moisturising DC. I would appreciate any recommendations for protein free conditioners, so far I have joico moisture recovery and design essentials naturals on my list to try. I've ordered some komaza aloe my hair moisturiser to give that a go.

I have started taking the priteva again, I noticed that when I was taking them my nails were strong and my skin looked good, I stopped taking them for 2 weeks and I've had 3 spots breakout on my face. I'm not sure if I noticed any extra growth but I will soon find out when I do my next LC.
 
Had a pretty regular and unexceptional wash day.

I am trying to go through my products slowly, but they are just finishing left, right and center. When I had a huge stash and wanted to bring it down, nothing ever seemed to finish. Now, I have just my staples and I want them to last, everything seems to run out after a few uses. I am really trying not to be heavy-handed.
 
I really need to clarify either next wash or the one after (depending on how I end up styling it for this week)
 
Natural - Relaxed – Texturized/Texlaxed - Transitioning: I am currently transitioning from an ORS relaxer in December 2013 after almost two years natural
Current Length: I am ear length
Current Products: My current products include:
Aphogee Keratin 2 Minute Reconstructor
Whole Foods Castor Oil
100% natural honey
Apple cider vinegar
ORS Olive Oil replenishing conditioner
Taliah Waajid The "Great Detangler" Leave-in conditioner
Current Techniques: Every Sunday I Pre-poo my hair with the 2 minute reconstructor mixed with castor oil. Next I clarify my hair with 1/3 cup of apple cider vinegar to 32 oz of water (in a spray bottle then rinse). After that I apply my Deep conditioning replenishing pak mixed with castor oil to my hair and sit under the dryer. After about 20 minutes I rinse with cool water and apply my leave in conditioner and seal my ends with the castor oil.
What in your regimen are trying to nail: I have been doing my regimen since September 2013 and I am trying to nail consistency.

I know that my regimen may not be as accurate as it should be but it has been keeping my hair hydrated. Let me know if there is something you would recommend to make my regimen even more beneficial. :yep:
 
Confession time: I henna'd 3 weeks ago. Loved it. Haven't washed since. Typically, I'm an every week wash girl. Maybe it's time to change my approach! When I get off work in the AM, I plan to pre-poo with a mixture of mayonaise, cocoa powder and banana baby food. Rinse, wash, condition, and if I find time, maybe I'll roller set. Haven't dont that in a long time.
 
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