Waist Length Challenge August Check In

This is my first official photo documenting my progress back in April (after about 10 months into my hair journey) when I decided to enter A Grl Can Mac’s Waist Length challenge. When I took this picture in April, my hair was very thick and a bit on the dry side. And of course I was ranting about my salon experience.

April 2009

July 30th 2010

This is my hair now, had a nice experience at the salon this time, so no rants. I went to a wedding the weekend of July 30th and since I rarely treat my hair to some heat and needed to check in with the challenge, I decided to hit up the salon and finally take family photos with my new found hair. This time around my hair looked and felt incredibly moisturized, healthy and not many split ends. The last time I cut my ends was in December of 2009 and I’m noticing that it’s growing into a “v”. I’m also surprised that my ends are still looking decent. Before I got to the salon I did a preshampoo treatment (honey and coconut oil) and walked in with it in my hair and brought along my Miss key 10en1 deep conditioner (10 mins w/ heat) and let them do their magic.

Despite my hair turning out really shiny, fabulous (that prepoo teatment never fails), and straight, my hair felt nowhere near as thick as it was back in April. I don’t know if you can notice in the pictures, but I definitely feel the difference.

Since I have had my curly fro out most of this summer I have not been moisturizing and sealing every night as I should and usually do (mostly laziness). My sister noticed my concern and mentioned that the stylist did a good job at keeping my hair straight thus perhaps reducing my thickness significantly. But I still was not convinced and thought many things could have been the cause:

1. wash n go’s/not maintaining adequate moisture throughout the day

2. detangling too often/skipping moisture and sealing sessions

3. too much co washing

4. too much protein by way of BPT

5. it’s just normal, as it grows longer it thins out more?

6. Maybe I need a little trim

I have a feeling that I may be overdoing it with either the co washing or the BPT Wheat germ or it is just NORMAL for my hair to feel this way. I have had about 2-3 shedding/breakage episodes since April but mostly due to moisture so that may be a factor. I don’t know what I may be doing wrong, maybe too much protein? Moisture? My curly fro sucking the life aka moisture out my hair? or maybe it’s just normal for my hair to feel this way? I don’t know.

Maybe it’s not a big deal but to take precaution I will lay off BPT and use it every other week as opposed to weekly and will also limit my cowashes to once a week. I will get back into Protective styles for the next two weeks and take my curly fro out every weekend or so. This is to limit my hair to the sun and just maintain more moisture since I feel I may be over doing it with the protein (BPT).

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Despite my hair not being as thick as I had expected, I’m very thrilled with how healthy my hair looks. Never in a million years did I think I would be able to enjoy my hair frizz free nor see how much progress my hair has been able to make. I will be revamping my regimen, a post on that soon, right now I’m deep conditioning with Miss Key 10 en 1 review coming soon also.

I truly encourage you ladies to pay attention to your hair. It is not an easy task but the results are so worth it.

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Waist Length Challenge

agrlcanmac.com

Can you believe I still have my Sally’s Pony tail for 3.99? Yes, I used to wear fake pony tails all the time. Since I have stopped perming and damaging my hair with neglect and ignorance, I can finally say that I have my own healthy flowing ponytail.

I used to rock this pony tail just to hide all the damage I had done to my hair. I would use it mostly at night to go out. Now this ponytail motivates me to never use it again lol. One of the reasons why I even went to the salon last time was to do an official length check because I have never actually taken a photo and checked how long my hair has gotten since May 2009. I have just been paying attention to the quality of my hair vs quantity. So far my hair is very thick, and healthy now I’m trying to grow it longer to my waist.

Since I had done a length check I wanted to join a waist Length challenge on some of the hair boards I frequent such as Long Hair Care forum and black hair media but did not find one I could actually keep up with and not get lost through the comments. So after searching high and low on the hair boards to no avail , I finally found a waist length challenge I decided to join.

I guess my thoughts helped pull A girl can mac‘s blog because I have been contemplating this for weeks and she incidentally just started a waist length challenge for herself lasting 2 years may I add. This is great because there is a huge myth that black women’s hair can’t or wont grow. This woman surely demystifies that check out Traycee’s blog K.I.S.S just keep it simple sista.

Being of African, caribbean descent, I witnessed first hand, how most of the women in my family and community had horrendous hair while others had beautiful flowing hair. The only difference was that some would maintain a simple regimen while the others always had a hair dye, perm, weave glue, or some damaging method or the other being done. But other than that any kind of hair can grow beautifully it just takes time, dedication and of course research. Hair boards have saved my hair’s quality of life, so look into them and see what catches your interest.

I was hesitant because you have got to be very dedicated to something like this especially when it involves hair. But then again straighting perms, and dyes have to be maintained, so why not maintain a healthy outlook for my hair?
So basically To achieve this challenge I just have to keep doing what I have been doing. Which is Deep condition weekly with heat. Moisturize my hair with a daily moisturizer and then seal the moisture with oil, every other night or so depending on the moisturizer. Of course keeping the hair away from heat and damaging salon visits. I used to think that salon visits every week was a luxury, which it feels like, since the results are great but at the same time it can really set you back since so much heat is applied.

Nothing has changed other than this is my first official challenge I’m committing to and of course the other challengers will be expecting results. That makes it even more fun. I’m going to keep my regimen as simple as possible while also trying out natural cleansing and conditioning methods throughout. These will be the products I will be using for the next 45 days or so.

Current Regimen:

Following 45 day No heat challenge simultaneously with WLC.

Shampoo:
Hair One Sulfate free
Dr bronners Castile soap (hair one can cause build up on me so I alternate with Dr. bronner’s depending on my scalp)
I will also be experimenting with Apple Cider Vinegar/ baking Soda (review soon)

Conditioner:
Mane N tail (protein),
Nacidt Olive Oil Rinse (moisture),
Hello hydration (moisture & until I run out)

Deep conditioners: 1-2x week w/heat
Miss keys 10 en 1,
La bomba w/Castor oil (until I run out)

Protein Conditioner:
Bpt Wheat Germ (bi weekly or when needed)
Silicon Mix

Leave in:
Chi Keratin Mist,
Lacio Lacio (when I roller set)

Clarify: 1x month
Nexxus Aloe rid

Protective styles 5 days a week or more depending ( buns, braids )

Daily Moisturizer:

ORS olive oil (in the jar)

Sealing:

Coconut Oil   *update*
Using castor oil once again instead of coconut oil. cocont oil seems to not agee in terms of sealing.

Treatments: pre-shampoo w/coconut oil 1x month

Coconut oil is great not only great to seal moisture and treat the hair but it’s also a great cooking oil. I like to use it but not too much because this stuff will make you “go” for days if you know what I mean. I keep my coconut oil in a little jar because I don’t want to taint my main jar which I use for cooking as well for skin care.

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I will be roller setting every other week or so followed by Dubbie wraps, ( I want to experiment that Saran wrap method too) to achieve the straight look without the use of direct heat.

My main issue is sleeping with anything satin or silk, whether it be a bonnet or a pillowcase I just can’t seem to have a good night’s sleep when I utilize them. It’s too slippery for me. Even with other hair wraps my head just can not seem to keep anything on overnight. So as a result my edges suffer and is always dried out in the front. So that is going to be a real challenge other than that I’m ready to go.

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