100th Post..Vent/Rant

I'm frustrated. It's my sixth month of being on a hair journey and I have seen no real progress. My hair looks the same. Same length. Same health. Yea, it's softer. But my goal isn't to have soft hair. I want long, thick, healthy hair. I've spent so much time researching new products, watching YouTube videos, trying to learn new things to incorporate into my regimen to grow my hair. Nothing has worked. What's the point of spending all this time, effort and MONEY if I'm not getting results?

In the last week, I've watched two people say how easy healthy hair is.
1. Ulovemegz.
Her video was about how it's impossible to fail a hair journey. She pretty much said all you need is knowledge and to be consistent. I HAVE! Don't get me wrong-I love her and her videos, but if that's true, why haven't I reached shoulder length yet? SHOULDER LENGTH!! When most people start their hair journey, the start around shoulder length. I, however, am not even close. I know a lot more about hair now than I did before. I take care of it a lot better. I wash it consistently, don't use heat, use enough moisture, but I am still  and forever will be at neck length. Ugh.

2. Shilinda1.
She said if you're washing it, conditioning it, and moisturizing it, then your taking care of it. I CAN'T TELL! I'm doing all of that twice a week or more, and can't tell the difference between my hair before compared to now. Why should I continue on my hair journey? Why should I spend so much money and waste so much time on something that's not doing anything? Pointless. I could have my hair straight right now but NO! I'm walking around with ugly ponytails for no reason. Heat/No heat. Mineral oil/ no mineral oil. Moisture/no moisture. My hair is going to do the same thing.

...mad.

Black Shatter Nail Polish!

Got my black shatter. :) I love trade secret!

*picture from Trade Secret's Facebook Page*
*Click here to find a Trade Secret near you*

Next Target: Dandruff

Okay, so now I've found a good shampoo and conditioner for me, now I have to tackle another issue: dandruff. I've been dealing with dandruff for a while, since before my hair journey in September 2010. I thought taking care of my hair would also fix my dandruff problem.  Well nope, it didn't. Ever since last salon visit, I've been thinking about dandruff. I co-washed on Thursday and since then my scalp has been soo itchy! I never had a problem with an itchy scalp before, only flakes.

I know the only way to have healthy hair is to start with a healthy scalp, and since my scalp is obviously not healthy, neither is my hair. Which, I think, is one reason why my hair hasn't been growing the way I think it should. (I stopped posting length check pictures, I don't see the point if it's not growing)

In order to make your scalp healthy, it has to be clean. Simply put, my scalp is not clean. I always put oil directly onto my scalp. When I didn't do that on Thursday's co-wash, my scalp has been itching ever since. Also, I've never clarified my hair. Yea, I know. Terrible. Tomorrow's wash I'll clarify my hair with the sample-size 1st lather shampoo that came with the Keracare kit. That'll completely strip my hair of all the oils and build up of products that I've been causing.
Not getting rid of all the oils and products can accumulate on your scalp making it dirty. AKA, in my case, causing dandruff.

so, I guess I'm on the hunt for a dandruff conditioner for co-washes.
(can't use keracare dry and itchy scalp, contains mineral oil)

Couldn't Pass it Up-KeraCare

Yesterday before work I was walking through the mall still clueless of what shampoo and conditioner I would want to try next. To continue my search, I went to the JC Penny Salon just to look around. I looked at a few brands then spotted Keracare. Keracare is a popular brand that I've been wanting to try for a while. Before, I didn't see why I should that much for shampoo and conditioner since Keracare is a more expensive brand. But it only has a few parabens, no silicones (I think), no sulfate, no mineral oil, and no petroleum. Most cheaper brands aren't like that.

Anyways, the keracare bottles were sitting there and I kept moving, I mean, I was only doing a price check. Then I saw a 50-70% off rack and there was a gold box that caught my eye. I picked it up and it had Keracare's sulfate free hydrating shampoo, conditioner and a wrap lotion. On the front it said '24.99' so I wasn't too impressed. I flipped to the back just to see if the ingredients were listed there and I saw a pink sticker saying it was only $9.99. WHATTT?? If you know anything about Keracare then you'll know its not cheap. According to sleekhair.com, all of this would have cost me $39.99 when not on sale!

I set it back on the counter because I wanted to go home and do more research. It took me less than 15 seconds to realize that it was the last one on the shelf and this was such a great deal that I would be absolutely stupid to pass it up. So of course I bought it. I think I'm going to use Herbal essences one more time then keep it in my cabinet for back up. Even if it does go to waste, it was only about six dollars.

So, in the month of March, I got a $30 conditioner (kenra) for $15, and a $40 shampoo/conditioner/wrap lotion set for $10. I'm doin good!

I would upload pics, but the computer is messing up right now! It came in a kit with shampoo, conditioner, wrap lotion and a free sample size of the 1st lather shampoo.

Written 3/13/2011, Uploaded 3/19/2011

Travel Hair Ramble

In about two weeks I'm going to Tennessee to visit my grandma for spring break. I'm so excited! I keep thinking about what I'm going to do to my hair though! I can't bring something big because I'm going to be flying by air and I can't take huge bottles with me. Since there's a Walgreens right up the street (thank GOD!) I'm going to go there for hair supplies. I'll only need to get small things since I'm only going to be there a week. Online, Walgreens carries Nexxus Humectress travel size shampoo and conditioner, and I would like to try that. The ingredients are full of silicones and things I can't pronounce, but I still want to try it. I mean, I'll only use it once or twice while I'm there.

Then again, do I even need to buy the Nexxus shampoo? Can't I just co-wash twice? Something to consider..

As far as moisturizers go I'm so confused! I'm not sure what to do! I can only bring 3 ounce bottles on the plane and everything I own is around 8. I know they sell small containers that you can pour your personal care items into, but what if the person checking my bag doesn't believe me? Okay, that's silly. But I guess I'm going to have to try to take some with me. Just because I'm on vacation doesn't mean I can slack on my hair care.


Oils? My grandma cooks a lot so I'm sure she'll have some extra virgin olive oil laying around. She'll look at me funny for putting it in my hair, but that's okay.


I hope Walgreens has some coconut milk. I was at the grocery store today and noticed coconut juice and milk sitting next to each other on the shelf. I looked up coconut milk and saw some people deep condition with it. I don't know..it just sounds interesting to try.


Tennessee Hair Regimen (may change):
Sunday:
deep condition with Nexxus conditioner for a looong time! (to make up for not pre-pooing)
wash with nexxus shampoo
use what ever moisturizer I take as a leave in.
air dry


Thursday:
deep condition with Nexxus conditioner
rinse
leave in
air dry


every night: moisturize (may not seal)

Best. Wash. Day. Ever.-Keracare

Today I washed my hair. (I normally wash it on Sunday, but I had to work an eight hour shift so I didn't want to)

I used Keracare's Sulfate Free Detangling shampoo and conditioner.(I'll tell you how I got that in a later post, It's not allowing me to upload pictures.) OMG I loved it! My hair is super soft!

Sequence of Events:

I came home and put Suave almond and Shea butter into my hair for a prepoo with out adding any oils. While I was waiting to get into the shower, I read the back of the Keracare bottle. It said to leave it in for 15-20 minutes. For a moment I was confused on what to do since I already DC with Kenra for at least 45. It wouldn't make since to prepoo, wash, put conditioner into my hair, get out the shower, wait 15-20 minutes, rinse that out, then add Kenra. So instead I rinsed the out the suave, then put the keracare conditioner into my hair for about 40 minutes. (LOVED IT!)

Since I just got a relaxer I think it's necessary to add some protein into my hair. I used Aphogee's 2 minute reconstructer. And I DID NOT KNOW that mineral oil is the fifth ingredient on that bottle! I guess at the time I bought it, I figured since everybody else used it, it didn't have mineral oil in it! #WRONG! Trust me, It's in the trash can now. I've learned my lesson.

Anyways, Then I used the Keracare shampoo. It was really good. My hair didn't feel super moisturized like it did with the herbal essences, but it was super soft, detangled, and didn't feel stripped at all. Also, it's really runny. Which can kind of be a good thing because I don't have to use a lot.

Then I deep conditioned with Kenra Moisturizing Conditioner. I only added rosemary and eucalyptus oil to it and it was the best DC I've had since being on my hair journey. Literally.

Do I love my new products? Absolutely.

NOTES:
-I thought I was going to either continue to use Herbal essences until I ran out, but then I thought about it and figured-"why should I continue to torture my hair with silicones and parabens when I have a good quality shampoo and conditioner right there? So I threw out the shampoo and will use the conditioner as a co-wash.

-Can't wait to see what my hair is like when I'm a few weeks post! Will the detangler in the shampoo/conditioner detangle my new growth too?

-I'm going on a trip in two weeks so I can't take my kera care or kenra on the plane. So I'm going to get these small Nexxus Humectress and Therappee for the plane ride. I've wanted to try it since Megan has been raving about it, and it's the perfect excuse to use it!

- I love Keracare. :)

Frustrated Ramble...

Sigh...
I've been having a hard time trying to find a new shampoo/conditioner. I've been feeling super picky lately about what ingredients can be in there. (I don't want parabens or silicone's). The more I educate myself about hair and the ingredients found in hair products, its hard for me to act like I don't know. Like, it's hard for me not to care that Herbal essences is full of parabens and silicone's. It makes since why my hair hasn't been growing at the rate I expected it too.

So far I've looked at KeraCare, but some of their products have mineral oil in them. If they don't have mineral oil in them then it's hard for me to research the products. I don't know, maybe their just not as popular as the products with mineral oil?

I also looked at Paul Mitchell, but their products 'tingle'. I don't like 'tingly' products because they never feel good in my opinion.

I was thinking about using Aphogee's deep moisture shampoo, but it doesn't have a lot of reviews. Also, it has keratin and a few parabens.

I've looked at matrix, elasta qp, organic root stimulator,cream of nature, Burt's bees, nexxus humectress, cat walk, bed head, biolage, kenra, mizani, joico, redken...all of them have something wrong with them. Either it's the reviews, ingredients, price or availability. Ugh, this is so frustrating.

I'm beginning to become a believer of 'you get what you paid for'. The cheaper products seem to have tons of parabens in them, but the more expensive and exclusive ones don't. I have about half a bottle of Herbal essences left, so that's a while to find a new shampoo/conditioner combo. But GOSH!! Why does it have to be soo d i f f i c u l t???????