MINOR Regimen Change

Yesterday I said I'll co-wash with Suave and I'll find me a new pre-poo, but actually I found a co-wash (VO5 moisture milks conditioner) and I'll pre-poo with Suave almond and Shea butter conditioner. 

VO5 is a popular co-wash on hair forums so that's why I decided to switch. (it smells great and is only $1.15!)

Hair Resolutions Check Up

A month ago I made some resolutions, and for the first time, I've actually kept up with them. My resolutions were:
learn heat less styles
learn to braid my hair
use less heat
and retain length

So far I can cross three off of my list, I'll see how I'm doing with retaining length later. I guess I'll have to stretch my curls to see how long my hair has gotten.  Or I could start taking length check pictures only when my hair is wet.

Today I bought all the things from my list yesterday. I still need a pre-poo. (I might use the suave almond and Shea butter as a pre-poo though)

new regimen

WEEKLY:
-shampoo wash 1x
-co-wash 1x
-DC 2x


DAILY:
-oil w/ Castor oil
-M&S

PROTECTIVE/LOW MANIPULATION STYLES:
-braid outs
-bantu knot outs
-rollerset saran wrap


Shampoo- HE Hydraliscious Reconditioning Shampoo, Aphogee shampoo for damaged hair (only used when using heat)
Conditioner- HE Hydraliscious Reconditioning Conditioner, Aphogee 2 minute reconstructer (only used with heat or before relaxer), HE long term relationship
Deep Conditioners- Lustrasilk shea butter and mango, silk elements olive oil moisturizing treatment, oils, ORS replenishing pak
Leave ins- Aphogee green tea and keratin (only when using heat), fantasia frizz buster, Garnier Fructis leave i conditioning cream, HE Long Term Relationship, GF anti frizz serum, GF smoothing milk
Moisturizers- Garnier Fructis leave-in conditioning cream, HE long term relationship
Heat Protectant- Tresseme thermal creations
Pre-poo- ? (i'll figure it out)
Oils- Sweet almond oil, castor, olive, one n' only argan oil, eucalyptus, rosemary, Africa's best herbal oil, coconut oil
Co-wash- suave almond and shea butter


AS NEEDED:
Protein Treatment-egg, Aphogee wash (instead of herbal essences)


Relaxer Every 10 weeks (at least)


Misc: apple cider vinegar rinse


Notes:
-no more Pantene products (might have caused dandruff)
-AVOID MINERAL OIL (threw away some products because of mineral oil)


Wish List:
HE reconditioning shampoo
GF anti frizz serum
GF smoothing milk
Suave almond and shea butter

I've made my descision.

Apparently Target doesn't sell GF sleek and shine in travel sizes, they only sell daily care.

Since I've already bought the HE Hydraliscious conditioner, I'll just buy the shampoo and find another pre-poo to use. So I'll use Herbal Essences shampoo and conditioner, but I'll use Garnier styling products and leave-ins. 

Tomorrow's Shopping List:
HE Hydraliscious Reconditioning Shampoo
GF anti-frizz serum
GF anti-humidity smoothing milk

I normally don't have frizzy hair. (when it's straight) But when I wear it curly, its always so frizzy so that's why I need so many anti-frizz products.

I also joined another challenge on KISS, its neck length to shoulder length by April 2011. the rules are:

Must Moisturize and seal every night!-With either Castor oil, almond oil, avocado oil, or any type of oil you have
Deep condition 2x a week

Co-Wash 1x every 2 weeks
-depends on what you like
Oil scalp everyday other day like Monday then Friday.
- a good oil (Castor oil )
Wear protective styles :
-Buns.
-Weave's
-Draw string
-Braid outs

Like I did for the heat challenge, I will alter some of the rules to suit my needs.
-I don't think I'll co-wash once every 2 weeks, more like 1x a week.
-I oil my scalp with Castor oil every day-not a few times a week. (when I get closer to my relax date then I'll stop oiling with Castor oil so often)

Castor Oil!!!

I've been using castor oil on my hair nightly and it has been WORKING! I'm not sure if my NG is thicker, but it's defiantly coming in. The only way I know it's working is because before I was using castor oil nightly, I didn't have any NG, now I do. Before, I was only using it a few times a week and mixing it into my DC's. Now I use it every night (a small amount) and massaging it in. My hair is flourishing due to this miracle oil. I at first was a little scared to use it because I don't want my hair to be too thick to the point that it becomes unmanageable. But thick hair is beautiful. I can't wait to see how long my hair gets because of this oil. LOVE IT!

NO HEAT!

It's no secret that heat is bad for your hair. I learned how to do braid outs just so I won't 'have' to use heat anymore. It's not only that I don't want to use heat on my hair anymore, but I also am tired of wearing my hair straight.  I've been wearing my hair for the same exact way basically since 10th grade. (except those few months I had braids.) Now I'm bored with straight hair and I'm ready to experiment. I learned how to do braid outs better so I'll start wearing my hair like that for a while. Well, actually until April 1st since today I joined a no-heat challenge.
The rules are simple:
No heat. (unless DC).

Well, that sounds simple, but I have to alter the rules slightly for myself. The only time I can use heat is when I'm doing a roller-set saran wrap method. Which is okay because it's still not direct heat and I don't plan on wearing my hair straight that often anyways.

I have done braid outs before in the past, (when my sister braided my hair), so I know that they only last a few days. To keep up with my style I guess I'll have to start co-washing. And since I'm co-washing, I don't think I'll need to DC for as long as I was. Instead of DC for 2 hours once a week, I'll DC for 45 minutes-1 hour twice a week.

By the end of this challenge, I expect my ends to look better, hair to be longer and overall healthier.

Note:
When I get my next relaxer in March, instead of getting my usual wrap, I'll get 3-4 braids to the back so I won't cheat in my challenge.

Wash Day

Yesterday I washed my hair with Silk Elements. (it's almost gone!) I pre-pooed with HE Hydraliscious Reconditioning Conditioner. It did make my hair kind of soft, which surprised me because the first time I try something usually, I really hate it and it later starts to work for me.


What worries me a little bit was I left it in my hair for about 45 minutes and it was only kind of soft. It wasn't great or wonderful, just okay. In my opinion, if you leave something in your hair for that long, it should feel like butter. *SOFT* But I do have to take into consideration that it was my first time using it.


Even though it was okay, I'm kind of leaning towards Garnier. I really love the leave in conditioner as a moisturizer. I didn't go to work on Tuesday like I was scheduled (had to call in because of the snow..did I mention this crazy blizzard?), so I couldn't pick up the travel size shampoo and conditioner I wanted to try. Also, If I do decide to use Herbal Essences, there are certain products from Garnier that I'll use to fight frizz for my braid outs. (anti-humidity smoothing milk, anti-humidity styling cream, anti-frizz serum)


Bottom Line: I'll use the travel size, if I like those, then I'll use Garnier. If I don't like those, I'll use Herbal Essences Reconditioning shampoo and conditioner and find another pre-poo.