Castor Oil Challenge- Extended!

Bonjour lovelies,


as you know i talk a LOT about Castor Oil! I loveeee the stuff! I started my castor oil challenge Nov/Dec 2010 and to be honest i was a bit skeptical about its results. I knew i would review my hair growth in March 2011 and was scared that after all of my talk, Castor oil wouldn't  have met up to its standards! Talk about faith right?! 


Anyway despite my hair being in its 4th month without relaxer, i was still able to give it a stretch and see if it had grown.


And...yes it has! I guess i've made BSL (bra strap length- my nov 2011 goal). I won't officially claim it, at least not until all of my hair reaches BSL. The middle of my hair is longer than the sides!


But yes i'm very happy with castor oil and the challenge, so i've decided to extend the challenge up until May when i would have reached 6 months of my stretch and of course the first half of the 2nd year of my hair journey. Until then folks i'll be rocking a weave :)


Check out the castor oil challenge mix, and give it a try :) Don't forget massaging it into your scalp... it encourages scalp stimulation. Anyone can do this, even weave rockers! Just focus intricately on your scalp directly... you don't want to get that good ol' brazilian oily!

http://www.loveyourtresses.com/2010/11/new-goals-castor-oil-challenge.html

x fi

Basic Relaxer Haircare

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Although i've reduced my relaxers to twice a year, those very two two occasions when i do relax are well prepared for. In my case i self relax and really can't remember the last time someone besides myself, relaxed my hair! However self relaxer or hairdresser relaxer there are still ways you can optmise your relaxer results and hair health pre and during relaxer.

For hairdresser visitors, never (especially if making a first time visit to your hairdressers) assume that everyone knows absolutely everything about hair health. Some salons are great at styling/ offering cheap treatments/cutting etc but may give you a bad relaxer experience without you knowing, so here are a few tips pre and during relaxer.


1. Avoid washing your hair for at least a week before your relaxer. This is because if your scalp is too clean, you will not have allowed enough sebum production on your scalp. The sebum on our scalp acts as a natural lubricant and also protective layer which works well in avoiding any hair chemicals from penetrating faster into your scalp.


2. Try not to leave your hair too dirty before a relaxer because by this time your scalp may begin to itch. Itchy your scalp pre relaxer is a major 'dont do', it results in an irritated scalp and can also result in later scalp burning because of all of that scratching.

3. No scratching!


4. Reduce combing/brushing before relaxing, but when necessary use a wide tooth comb. Combing/brushing too much before relaxing may make your scalp more sore.


5. On the day of your relaxer whether self realxing or at the salon, makesure your scalp is based using an oil such as coconut oil or castor oil. Many salons also use vaseline... i used to before my hair jounrey began, but no longer do. Eitherway makesure your scalp is protected as well as your hairline. A protective barrier prevents relaxer from being penetrated into your scalp. 


6. Protect your hair strands! Oil your strands that commence after your re-growth, therefore everything except your new growth. This is because you want the relaxer to straighten your new growth therefore adding oils to it will act as a protective barrier and may mean you need a longer time before the relaxer straightens the new growth. You don't want to leave a relaxer in for more than the recommended time so oil your strands except new growth, in order to protect hair that you will not be adding relaxer too.

Happy relaxing :)

x edF x

How to: Seal Those Ends

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So the week is almost out and its crazy...its March already! There was me thinking i had until Feb 31st to complete all of my upcoming posts, then it clicked! There is no Feb 31st...! But hey on to todays post! Lets talk about sealing :)

For those familiar with the term M 'n' S aka Moisturizing and sealing, you'll know this is a signature procedure in the hair regime world! Moisturizing makes sense of course but as for sealing... some people aren't sure of exactly what is is.
 So....

What is sealing? 
Sealing is the process usually carried out as soon as you have finished moisturizing your hair, whereby you use oils to coat your tresses. 


As with any moisturizing product, after a while it loses its moisture due to environmental factors and therefore needs a moisture boost. This is exactly the same with our hair. A day ( or for some even hours) after moisturizing our hair is dry again.


In order to reduce the rate at which moisture is lost from our hair we can use oils. Oils act as a protective barrier and therefore provide a protective coating to whatever it is they are coating. Therefore after moisturizing, sealing is great because it coats the moisturizing product you have in your hair. This means that your hair stays moisturized for that bit longer!!!  Why? because the moisture won't find it as easy to escape the oil barrier surrounding it.


How exactly do you seal?  
It's quite simple. After moisturizing those lovely strands, you put an ample amount of your selected oil in the palm of your hands and simply rub the oil all over your hair. Remember to pay special attention to the ends of your tresses. This is because they are the oldest part of your hair and therefore more susceptible to damage.

Sealing oils

The oil you use to seal your hair really boils down to preference. 


Coconut oil, olive oil, sweet almond oil, jojoba oil, vatika oil are just a few. Personally i would steer away from heavy oils such as castor oil, which tend to weigh down your hair and sometimes leave it feeling sticky.


so that's that... enjoy sealing lovelies :)

x edF

D.I.Y: Spot the difference

So...as promised here is what i get up to besides hair blogging... can you spot the difference?!

pic 1

Yep...i added a velvet black collar!!!

P.s i was wondering... do you think i should add black velvet wrist bands to it? I pinned some material onto one side so you can see what it would look like! let me know via the poll below :)

Should i sew on some black velvet wrists?

Diary of a Tress Lover: Nicky K

I really enjoy these posts. It's so inspiring to see how far people come on their hair journeys! It definitely can be challenging but it definitely can also be done :)

I've been so fortunate to have some great big sisters in my life and Nicky is definitely one of them. After showing me her hair progress pics i was so excited. I asked Nicky about her regime and here is what she had to say...

August (then)

Feb (now)

Q-When did u start your Healthy Hair Journey?
A- Last year June

Q-What would you say has enhanced your hair growth and thickness the most?
A- Stretching the time between the texturizer and moisturizing my ends a lot as my hair is naturally dry and brittle. Plus i am not afraid to trim it!

Q- Will you ever go natural?
A- Funny you should ask! My hair was relaxed 5 years ago but it kept breaking. I grew it natural and only texturized it 18 months ago. The texturizer comes out like a permanent press. It's straight enough to manage but still has a kink in it :)

Here are some staple products that Nicky uses:

*Aphogee intense treatment
*Castor oil (to seal)
*S-Curl no drip (to moisturize)
*Profective daily anti breakage hair and scalp formula (daily moisturizer)
"Castor oil or Profective on temple and nape"

Be encouraged, you can also achieve better hair :)

x edF
P.s if you've had results during your healthy hair journey and would like to share with the world! Feel free to drop me an e-mail (eaudefiona@loveyourtresses.com)

 I'm sure it will encourage so many people :)

Upcoming posts! Feb 2011

Back again!

Although the month is nearly done as promised there will be a monthly upcoming posts section. So here we go folks...what to expect this February a.k.a the month of lurvvve!!

*How to seal those ends

*Relaxer regime

*Transition tales- intro to transitioning

*Natural lifestyle
*Maintaining a weave (also when stretching relaxer)

x edF

Very Random

Evening evening lovelies,


Hope you have had a fantabulastic day, and if not have faith that another day will bring you joy :)


Just wanted to say a big welcome to new followers :) and of course all followers generally, and also course to the 3 lovely ladies who subscribed to the youtube channel  today, MissTaiMusic (http://www.youtube.com/user/MissTaiMusic) and AdenikeSings (http://www.youtube.com/user/AdenikeSings) and of course princesskaha and everyone else that has subscribed :)


So i'm sure as you've guessed (title giveaway) this is a random post!


Just some music to enhance your evening :)

AdenikeSings

MissTaimusic

x edF

LYT Team

For any new readers welcome welcome :)

If you remember last year my big sis 'Miss Olamide' also joined the LYT team and did a few posts on her hair. Well *big smile*, my girl Tokunbo, who featured in the 'Diary of a Tress Lover' has also joined the band wagon. T will be posting in the near future and i promise you this girl is hilarious!

So just giving her the warmest welcome. We all look forward to supporting you and each other in our Healthy Hair journeys.

                  

x Fi, Lam and Toks