Wash Day (2): Back to Normal

Hey loves,

So this time around, I went back to my "normal" routine.  And it goes like this (in Adam Levines voice):

[1] Naptural85's 25 mins co wash technic has become my staple pre poo routine. It works wonderfully for me, so for now, "if it isn't broke...'. I divided my hair into four parts as per usual and applied a generous amount of coconut oil to my dry hair. Unlike last week, I used a cheap conditioner instead, that still has lots of slip, my herbal essences "bee strong". Its not a amazing as ORS curls unleashed obviously, but it does well as a pre poo. 

I covered my hair with a plastic bag, a shower cap, a beanie and a scarf! Yep, I wanted all the heat. Didn't work out this time around and its cold around here hence.. In the end, I was left with super soft hair. 

[2] after the one hour long pre poo session, I stepped into the shower and finger detangled under the running water while washing off the conditioner. I then followed up with my creme of nature argan oil moisture & shine shampoo. 

With the shampoo in my hair, I then detangled further using a wide tooth comb under the running water. Once I was done with all four sections, I poured cold water to help close my hair cuticle.

[3] Once I was done, I used my cotton shirt to soak up excess water and let my hair air dry a bit. While it was drying, I decided to set up my hair steamer and get my conditioner mix ready. I decided to add some Jamaican black castor oil to my ORS curls unleashed conditioner and I think I added too much. Anyways, I mixed it all up and once I felt my hair was dry enough, but not too dry, I applied the mix to my hair and sat under the steamer for 20 mins. Once I was done, my hair felt very moisturised and soft so I tried to retain the heat for a little while longer by covering my hair up again with a plastic bag and shower cap for about 10 mins. After that, I went back under the shower and rinsed each section while trying to detangle further.

At this point, my hair felt a bit weird, it wasn't as soft as I expected it to be. It did detangle easily, but I guess thats because it was already mostly detangled? Anyways, overall, my hair still felt moisturised and I think the reason it wasn't very soft was because I put too much oil in the mix?

[4] after the wash, I proceeded to lightly damp each section as per usual with a cotton shirt and apply my leave in conditioner (kinky curly knot today) to my wet hair. I followed that up with my grape seed oil so as to seal in the moisture from both the leave in and water.

[5] Lastly, I decided to flat twist my hair rather than braid because it isn't as gripping as a cornrow and for some reason, the middle of my scalp is a bit sore to the touch. (For the record, I am the worst flat twister. But hey, my hair is some how laying flat on my head in different sections and that works for me.

To complete my LOC method, I applied my jane carter solution all natural nourish and shine product to each section before flat twisting. 

And that was it guys, my wash experience this week. I still want to do a tea/coffee rinse for shedding and its over all benefits, but I cant decide which to do. Tips anyone? Which do you prefer and why? Also, how was your wash day? PS: you can check out more healthy hair wash day posts at Wash Day Experience

I have added a few pictures below again because I love taking pictures. heheh. Please enjoy. 

Freshly washed, no products.

Left - Freshly washed hair, no product. Right - Just steamed hair, with conditioner.

Can I just quickly thank every one that has taken their time to read my blog posts, and those that commented? I truly appreciate it. Hair has always been my 'thing' and I am so happy I can talk about it, and have people read and understand where I am coming from, rather than the blank stare I get from some that think I am obsessed.

I have finally got a handle of this and I am here to stay, so please keep reading, commenting, and sharing. :)

Love,
Dumsy.

Wash Day!!

Hey loves,

So my last wash day was kinda different. 

Here it goes:

[1] taking a page out of Naptural85's book, I divide my hair into four parts, applied a generous amount of coconut oil to my dry hair and followed up with my all time fav deep conditioner, ORS Curls unleashed no restrictions moisturising conditioner. Can I just quickly say that this stuff makes my hair so soft and moisturised, and also defines the little coils I have. 

I left this on my hair for four hours. This is because I decided to go to the gym and clean in between. In order to get the best out of the process, I covered my hair with a plastic bag and topped that with a beanie. This way, I was able to retain heat while I worked out. I also decided to chill in the sauna and steam room for 20 mins, during which, I took off the plastic bag and beanie. This left my hair super moisturised and soft. 

[2] after the four hour long deep condition, I stepped into the shower and finger detangled under the running water while washing off the conditioner. I then followed up with my creme of nature argan oil moisture & shine shampoo. I love this shampoo because it's sulfate free which means it cleanses without striping. 

With the shampoo in my hair, I then detangled further using a wide tooth comb under the running water. Once I was done with all four sections, I poured cold water to help close my hair cuticle.

And yep, that was it. I originally decided to do a quick conditioner rinse after my shampoo session, but since my hair felt so soft after the shampoo, I decided to let it be. 

[3] after the wash, I proceeded to lightly damp each section with a cotton shirt and apply my leave in conditioner (kinky curly knot today) to my wet hair. I followed that up with my grape seed oil so as to seal in the moisture from both the leave in and water. 

[4] lastly, I braided my hair for the week. This is how I wear my hair all week, under my wig. With each braid section, I applied my final product, jane carter solution all natural nourish and shine. 

Can I just say that the LOC method using these products works so well for my low porosity hair. So much so that I can go a whole week without re moisturising and sealing. Loves it!!!

Anyways guys, that was my wash experience this week. This was different cause I normally deep condition after my wash and pre poo using naptural85's trick, but with a cheap conditioner, and for less than an hour. 

The pictures below is my attempt to show you my hair texture with products in. Here, I had a mixture of coconut oil and ORS. 

 Love,
Dumsy.

So, how was your wash day? You can also check out more healthy hair wash day posts at Wash Day Experience

Official Length Check

Hello loves,

So as promised, I put together a video where I show my starting length. As mentioned before, my hair is about 4-5inches all over with a 3inch edge due to cutting way too much. I still have very little relaxed ends as you'll see, but I hope to cut that off in about a month or so. Anyways, please watch, enjoy and comment/share.

PS: Excuse my cracky voice. :(

Love,
Dumsy

Hair Tips: Co Washing

Hello loves,

I thought it would be a great idea to do a series discussing different hair tips that aid the growth of healthy, long hair. Some of these tips I already incorporate and some I would like to start. Today I'd like to talk about co washing. 

Co washing is the act of washing your hair with conditioner. This is done so as to get the hair and scalp clean and moisturised as opposed to shampooing, which cleans but strips the hair of it's nutrients. 

It's important to note that some shampoos; sulfate free, do not necessarily strip the hair strands, but they also do not add any moisture to it. Some people co wash using a cheap conditioner like herbal essences, while some use products made for this purpose (I shall include a list below). 

As for me, I started off using ORS Olive Oil Replenishing Conditioner. I do swear by the usefulness of this conditioner, however when I was relaxed, the constant co washing and deep conditioning left my hair feeling mushy. For this reason, I stopped co washing and stuck to the regular routine of deep conditioning on wash days. 

Now that I am natural and my natural hair is more so low porosity, I think it will be best to give it a try again. This will also be beneficial seeing as I have started working out regularly again. I plan to co wash once between wash days. And since I have noticed that my hair strives more when left alone, I have decided to co wash with my weekly protective style like cornrows, braids and twist still installed.  This way, I get the moisture and cleanse without having to manipulate my hair any further. 

I will incorporate this for the next month and see how my hair reacts to it and in the end, I shall give an update as to wether or not co washing will be a constant in my new natural routine.

Some co wash products: 

PS: For my readers here in the Netherlands, the last four, Shea moisture, Eden, Mizani, and Palmers can be bought here.

That's all for now. Please do not forget to subscribe and share. I am back for good. 😊😳

Love,

Dumsy. 

THE BIG CHOP: 8/11/14

Hello Loves,

I finally did it. I decided yesterday to take off my protective style and do the big chop. My dear friend Tracy decided to help me and she was convinced I would cry, but I didn't. At first, I felt weird, as I couldn't believe I was actually doing it. Then I felt okay. I felt happy that I wasn't sad. I felt happy that I liked what I saw looking back at me in the mirror. I just felt HAPPY.

It was really hard to find the line of demarcation (point where the new growth meets the relaxed ends) due to me texlaxing the last time I got a relaxer.  So it was basically a guessing game. A feel and cut kinda situation. She showed me where she thought was the cut off point and I either agreed or disagreed. Anyways, we got it done in the end and I was left with about 4-5 inches of growth around my head. However, at one edge side and one nape side, I cut way too much and I was left with about 3inches of growth there. So yes, my hair is pretty uneven, but I have decided to leave it as is since I will be wearing a wig as my protective style for the beginning of the winter.

Frist impressions:

• Shrinkage is REAL!! (I am embracing it)
• I was convinced that once I cut off my relaxed ends, I would be able to comb by hair freely without any "stops" at the ends!! (In Tamar's voice, lies they tell)
• I am already scared of SSK (Single Strand knots)

Anyways, thats it for now. I am really excited to begin this new journey. One I am sure will be a roller coster of many ups and downs. I just pray and hope its more ups than down. :)

Some little facts,
Last relaxer: 16/03/14
Big chop: 8/11/14 (a week shy of being 8 months post)
Hair type: 4b/c (low porosity hair)

Look out for a video next week, where I do a little chat about my hair. If there are any questions you would like answered, please feel free to ask in the comment box. For now here are some pictures. Please ignore the bad quality. I am working on how to take better quality pictures. (any tips are welcome). Here, me hair was freshly washed, moisturised and sealed using the LOC method. I cut off 22cm of hair which is about 8.7 inches.

Love,
Dumsy.