Checking in: I am officially back to the length I was before cutting off my relaxed ends a year ago Saturday - only better.
June 2014 it was a very scraggly MBL/BSB that I cut to APL/SL to get the rest of the relaxer off. I was 18 months post-relaxer.
Fast forward 1 year and in June 2015 it's a much fuller MBL and full BSB in spite of the challenges I had in Q1 with breakage.
My routine...is still being figured out but here's what I've been doing lately that seems to be working well (new elements are in italics) :
- Detangle in sections with QB Cocoa Tree Detangling Ghee on dry hair
- Pre-Poo with EVCO in 5-6 large braids with Trader Joe's Tea Tree Tingle Conditioner layered on top (overnight or with heat). I keep these same 5-6 braids in through steps 6 so that wash day is simple and relatively quick.
- Wash with a CV shampoo bar (Honey Beer Egg, Ayurvedic, or Herb Garden)
- DC with with Jessicurl Deep Treatment with heat or for several hours
- Rinse but leave some of the DC in
- Dry with a pillow case for a few minutes then sit under the dryer on cool/low for 30 min. Half way through I separate the 5-6 braids, dividing each so that I end up with 10-12 twists total.
- Flat twist for a twist out or re-braid in to 5-6 large twists. For each braid or twist:
- Leave-in (either Oyin Hair Dew, Bekura Palm Tapioca, or Trader Joes TTT Conditioner)
- Seal (either QB Aethiopika Butter or NG Pumpkin Butter)
Steps 5 and 6 have greatly reduced breakage on and post wash day. My ends are less tangly and dry. Air drying alone left my ends too fragile and therefore prone to more breakage plus it took FOREVER. Tension blow drying wasn't bad when I was doing it, but it required me to dust regularly and right now I'm trying to avoid heat since I'm in a no cut challenge. And lastly, step 6 stretches my hair a bit so with step 7 my final look is more stretched than it would have been with air drying.
I also want to say that Trader Joes TTT Conditioner has officially made HG status. Love that stuff!! In fact, I will likely use it more often than the Oyin Hair Dew now.
Through the week I keep my hair in a bun (usually in the same braids, it actually looks good) or some type of updo and then wear it down on the weekend in a twist or braid out.
This post has been long (whew!) but hopefully it's helpful for someone.