Auf wiedersehen Pet

Wow so this is my last week in Munich! A year has flown by... i can't retrace my steps! The memories, challenges they're all behind me now and it's time to go home and join another rush hour... 

'It was fun while it lasted'

x edF

Protective style challenge : length check 1

Here's a taster into my current hair length after taking out my first Protective Style Challenge install. As you know from my previous post i"ll be relaxing my hair next week, so will be sure to do another length check so that i can really see how much my hair has grown minus regrowth!


I'll be right back into another protective style in 3 weeks... still trying to figure out what kind of weave i want to try out...hmm...any ideas?!

x edF

relaxer stretch over!!!

12 month relaxer stretch 

That's right guys i'm calling it quits! There is no way in the world i can bare to stretch another month! If you saw what i went through on Saturday you'd have even begged me to relax right then and there!

It was horrendous... in all of my relaxed, stretching days i have never experienced so much hair loss. Now shedding is one thing, but hair loss... that's a completely different ball game. I had to grind my teeth to stop myself from crying  when detangling after my wash... especially because two of my girls were there thinking i was being a diva about nothing.

There is no way you can comfort a hair diva when they are faced with 3 large clumps of hair! 

Anyway point is there is no need to force a stretch? 8 months has been more than enough for me! You have to handle stretched hair like a new born baby...with delicacy and care. I'm not saying you should relax often, i'm just saying if you're stretching and do not plan on transitioning, then you need to know when the stretching has done its time.

I am officially crowning this as my first set back. It isn't a length set back (because i know i grew about an inch), but instead a thickness setback. It has been a while since my hair has felt and looked so thin. I'm definitely going to up my castor oil game and focus on maintaining the thickness that i have left!

So ladies, fellas, folks... the countdown begins... 11 days till i reach for the crack... the creamy crack!

Check out my next post for a length check! I'll be doing a more up to date length check as soon as i've relaxed for a more accurate measurement.

x edF

Henna gloss treatment : In action

So the day finally comes when my weave has reached its 8 week landmark, so of course i take it out!

As usual, after unravelling the weave i'm left with what feels like the lightest airhead ever!

I skip to part 2 and begin to undo each cornrow using some conditioner and detangling after each cornrow has been taken out. Approximately an hour or two later and i'm fully detangled, so of course it's time coat my hair with the fab henna gloss treatment.

Ingredient Re-cap

100g BAQ Henna powder

1 cup of Giovanni smooth as silk conditioner (review to come)

1 cup Queen Helene cholesterol Deep Conditioner

20g Neem powder

2 tbsps Shea butter

1/2 cup Extra Virgin Coconut oil

Method

1. Get a plastic bowl and pour the henna powder into it.
2. Add water to henna (approx 200ml or enough to make the mix a thick but runny consistency)
3. Measure out 20g of Neem powder and add to henna mix
4. Add cup of QH cholesterol DC and cup of Giovanni conditioner
5. Mix all and then add melted Shea butter and melted EVCO
6. Part hair into sections and apply henna using gloves
7. Leave Henna gloss treatment for one hour or longer depending on the outcome you want (longer= deeper conditioning + more visible colour effects)
8. Rinse hair in sections and commence with hair washing 
9. Deep condition with moisturising Deep Conditioner
10. Style as wanted

Tip: Only use a towel you don't mind getting dirty 

x edF

Supplements... Part 2

So following on from Supplements Part 1, i thought i'd share the supplements i take and how and why i use them...

I literally began life in the supplement lane 2 weeks ago! Honestly there's no reason why... I just wanted to try something new and see if this time my skin could handle it! I was raised on Cod Liver oil so i guess you could call it revisiting the past!


I was scared that i would break out just like i did when i used to take Biotin a year back, but i made some amendments this time and they seem to be working!

My supplement list: 

Biotin 1000 mcg

Cod liver oil

 MSM 300 mcg.

If you guys remember the Supplements Part 1 post, you may have caught on to me saying that the more the supplements are that you use, the lower the strength (mcg) they should be...Well the reason why i have such a high strength of Biotin is because i don't use all of my supplements in one day. I use Cod liver oil and MSM together, once a day, and Biotin the next day by itself. So my week looks something like this:

Monday- 1 Cod liver oil , 1 MSM

Tuesday- 1 Biotin

Wednesday- 1 Cod liver oil , 1 MSM

Thursday- Biotin

etc 

----

Biotin: Biotin is a water-soluble B-complex vitamin. It is good for hair as it strengthens both hair follicles and the hair shaft which results in thicker and stronger hair.

Cod liver oil: is derived from the liver of cod fish. It has high levels of the omega-3 fatty acids. Cod liver oil is widely taken and known to have a positive effects on the heart, bones, as well as helping to repair wounded skin, hair, and nails.

MSM (Methylsulphonylmethane):  strengthens joints, helps in increasing blood flow, muscle contraction problem and mobility related problems.

x edF

Hair Tag

Stalking the blogs as i do and I came across this cute 'Hair Tag' posted by EbonyCPrincess from Longing4Length. Here goes my take!


1) Top three things you love about your hair:
-  I've never had problems with growing my hair and retaining length
-  My hair is generally quite healthy
-  The way it looks after a blow out. I love the thick look!


2) Top Three things you have learned since being on your hair journey:
-  It is so important to take care of your ends. Retention lies in the ends of your hair, and a simple yet small trim can make your hair go from thin looking to thick.
-  Everybody's hair reacts differently. Always stick to what works for you and not what works for someone else.
-  Heat is not your friend!

3) Top three things you want to accomplish during your hair journey:
-  My ultimate hair goal is to be mid back length with thick hair
-  To show people that although hair is relaxed, it can still be very healthy
-  To fulfill my 3 inches in 6 months protecttive style challenge


4) Top Three things/Products you love:
-  Extra Virgin Coconut oil.
-  My Castor oil challenege mix
-  High buns ( just like the one in the blog header picture!)

5) Top three Hair inspirations (youtube or otherwise):
-  Tracyee from K.I.S.S Her hair is absolutely amazing. Its thick, healthy and long, and her blog is so informative. She has been my ultimate hair inspiration since beginning my hair journey.
-  Sunshyne from Hairlista. 
-  The mumsy... she started the hair journey, I jut have to finish it!

Tag tag tag tag tag Tag tag tag tag tag Tag tag tag tag tag Tag tag tag tag tag you're it !!!

x fi

Supplements... Part 1

Evening lovelies,

I've decided to finally dare the controversial topic of taking supplements to aid hair growth/health. I was on the edge because the topic is just like Marmite! You're either for it, or totally against it...

Either way i'm real comfortable with taking supplements. Don't be fooled though it took me a while to get to this stage! Lets dive right in...

Supplements are formations in the form of tablets, powders or liquids. They are formed in order to supplment your diet and contain vitamins and vital minerals that may in some cases be missing in your diet or that you do not have a sufficient amount of in your body. With regards to hair supplements, supplements such as Biotin, MSM, Cod Liver oil etc contain many vitamins that enhance hair health and growth.

Personally i believe in dietary enhancement via food. However my first point of call is vitamins and minerals using real food, e.g fruits and veg that are jammed packed with the good stuff!


On the other hand supplements work great during those times when you haven't fulfilled your daily vitamin intake, and you need or want to do so without having to cook up an entire meal.


My take on supplements is, they are fine as long as they do not replace food. For example one of my sisters does not drink milk, therefore her taking calcium supplements would be justified... ya dig! 

...All in all there are several things to consider when taking supplements...

* Vitamins and minerals can help protect your body from disease and are great for those who do not consume enough nutrients on a daily basis. They help to reduce the risk of vitamin deficiency.

*Be aware of the strength of the supplements you are taking. In most cases if you use more than one type of supplement they should all be of a lower strength. This is because many hair supplements contain similar vitamins/nutrients and therefore you do not want to take too much of what your body doesn't need. This because this can lead to many issues, one of which i have experienced... Skin breakouts.

* Never use supplements to replace food.

*Observe your skin, hair and body when taking supplements before engaging in everyday consumption.

x edF

When the going gets tough...

Hey guys,


i just wanted to be soppy and say thank you for not abandoning me despite my lack of posts! I flew home last weekend and the weekend before that and each weekend was so busy! Weddings, birthdays the whole sha bang.  Anyway my time in Munich is drawing to an end... 2 more weeks and i'm home sweet home and back to the London routine.


But yes back to the post... the weather was acting real silly last week and i had just straightened my hair... there was no way the rain was going to ruin my journey to the airport na uh...


I guess the term ride or die would apply here right....


Oh what i do for my hair!

x edF