Heat Training...April Hair Routine

When I started heat training was Feb. 17th the day before my birthday....

At that time, I had planned on washing (shampooing) my hair once/twice a month, but co-wash as needed. I started off slow. Since most of my shampoos have sulfates in them & really cleanse the hair, I don't need wash it every week. What I do need is moisture & TLC to my hair.

Currently doing...

So this month (April) & what I've been doing since March is washing my hair once a month, but co-washing it every week. This week I'll be straightening my hair again. Last weekend I straighten my hair twice for Easter Sunday & that was it. I may blog about the process of me heat training. Nothing different than any other time. Just extra steps to make sure I don't cause any breakage.

April Routine...

So this months routine consist of 1 wash (which I did last weekend), co-wash each week, & straighten my hair every other week. & the days I don't wear it straight I'll add moisture, conditioner (mix) & Shea butter mixture I made. OMG I forgot to mention I finally got my hands on some unrefined Shea butter. Yessssssssssssss BABY!

Any who, again...my whole reason for switching off weeks of straightening my hair is to loosen my curls, & allow the detangling process to be much more pleasant. Detangling is a VERY important part in a curly girls life like me. I have coarse hair which means easy breakage & it's harder to retain the length. And it's a headache 99.9% of the time. I've found that I need to start trimming my hair once a month or as needed (More often).

Although I have been slacking on my hair since Nov. when my hair challenge ended & I added some hair color to my hair, I am back to my length I started with before doing the BC in May 2011.

Video...right on time!

Check out the video below of one of my favorite Youtubers AlexandraBond who went to a salon in ATL. This is another salon I'd like to check out when I go there.
I like the stylists "Elecia's" technique/routine with "her hair"...similar to mine. 

You can fast fwd to the part I'm referring--> 6:50 where she explains how hydrating is important for curly/straight hair or watch the whole video

Natural Hair: Heat Training

As some of you may know, I've been on my natural hair journey for a year & two months now. I started out not knowing what to really expect during my transition, and eager to see how my natural texture was. Welp, after transition for a few months, I did a BC (big chop) on my hair in May 2011, and my hair has grown out a lot since then. I didn't think it would happen. Dealing with short hair is NOT my thing. I am a natural chick aiming for LONG healthy hair.

You maybe thinking..."healthy hair & heat training? That doesn't go together" Well it does, just like colored treated hair. I know of quit a few natural hair ladies that have big, beautiful healthy natural COLORED treated hair. I don't see anything different with them & ladies that heat train their hair. Just like ladies who relax their hair. Some of them have LONG healthy hair. Whatever works for you boo!

Won't that mess with your natural curl.kinky pattern? Yes. I have really, CURLY, coarse, & kinky hair (click link for photo). I love the results I am getting from being natural (thickness, growth), plus it allows me to be more hands on with my hair & take care of it how the way that I should have been when I was in school (college), and when I was younger (high school) & didn't know any better. That's beside the point.

The way that I will be heat training my hair is by using a blow dryer & flat iron or blow dryer & pressing comb. How often, new regimen is MUCH needed for this new change. I'll more than likely go into MORE details in another post.

Why are you heat training your hair? Because it's really difficult to detangle my hair now that my curl pattern has made it's way into my life a year & some months now. I don't ever plan on wearing my natural curl pattern & if I do, I rather let them be loose then tight. My hair has really bad skrinkage that I hate. People say embrace every part of being natural but I don't like it & I will NOT embrace that part about it. That's just how I feel. There's no right or wrong way. It's my hair right?

-Next few posts I plan on speaking on the Bigen permanent hair color I applied in my hair Nov 2011 *Once my healthy hair challenge was over*
-Products I've been using lately
-Length check *photos :)

Update [6] 2011 Hair Challenge- Length Check & Time To Get Straight

So, back in June (the 18th to be exact) I did a length check, straightened my hair & trimmed it (Important if you want to retain your length). I don't use heat on my hair on a regular basis (or any at all). I think the last time that I actually did was in Jan/Feb (not sure). I'm trying to keep track/document my journey the best that I can. But sometimes I get lazy. Writing down every little thing is boring.


Anyways, I've decided that I'll do a length check every two months (3-2 times during my 6 month hair challenge). I guess this makes month #2 on this challenge. I was more into the whole process in the beginning, now it just seems like a lot of work. Oh how fast my excitement has died.


Below are the tools/items that I used at the time to prepare this length check:

I Co-washed my hair (Washed my hair with conditioner).
Applied my Proclaim Natural 7

Tools- Wide tooth comb (Very important), Denman Brush (from Sally's Beauty store), & a small tooth comb (I didn't use this much).

Applied the Olive Oil heat protection serum by Organic Root Stimulator.

Blow dried it on Low-Cool. Trying to stay away from as much heat as I can.


Then flat ironed my hair [Picture not shown]


My hair lasted a week. It may have lasted longer if I wasn't so anxious to wash out that HORRIBLE heat protector on myhair. I swear I hate that product. I'm really going to look into purchasing a new one.
Also...I'm still undecided if I'm going to post pictures of this particular hair journey...


Anywho..if you're natural & have kinky, curly, wavy hair how do you do your length checks? How often?


Talk to you all soon...

Product Review: Organic Root Stimulator-Olive Oil (Serum)

I'm going to get straight to the point. I hate it! I thought I liked it the first time I tried it (Months ago). But now that this is my second time using it, there's nothing I like about it. Well maybe that it's protecting my hair from the heat (I don't know how you can tell).


I don't think it's the brand that I don't like but the product. I purchased the serum versus another type (There's different types...wet spray) because I thought it would be best to get a heat protector that wasn't wet. But the serum feels really harsh on my hair. Almost like a bad relaxer that made my hair coarse.

Size: 6FL. OZ. 
Ingredients:
Cyclopentasiloxane , Methyl Soyate , Dimethicone , Cyclomethicone , Dimethiconol , Amodimethicone , Aminopropyl Phenyl Trimethicone , Isopropyl Myristate , Dimethicone Crosspolymer , Methyl Olivate , Cocos Nucifera Oil (Coconut) , Parfum (Fragrance) , Amyl Cinnamal , Benzyl Salicylate , Citronellol , Hexyl Cinnamal , d-Limonene , Linalool
Price: 
$7-$9 
Purchased: Wal Mart
Directions: Apply to damp or dry hair. Use a heat tool to style your hair.


Rating: 1/5


It makes my hair feel hard, brittle, stiff, and dry. Basically the opposite of what I want. I'm use to my hair being soft, bouncy, shiny, and feeling nice after I flat iron my hair (With a relaxer *when I was wearing one* & without).


How did you apply it? I applied the product on my hair while it was wet (After a wash/co-wash) to get the full affect of my hair being straight.


How long have you been using it? This is my second time using it. If I recall correctly, I bought this in Jan. when I first straightened my hair this year.


What's the purpose of a heat protector? To protect your hair from heat damage.


How can heat damage harm your hair? The few ways that I know of are: mess with your curl pattern, burn your hair, mess with your ends. (Research other ways)


How does it feel? It's oily like baby oil. So it helps with shine somewhat. But you have to make sure you don't apply a lot to your hair. It smells so great!!! Like a cherry scent...lol


Long story short, maybe I should start looking at the ingredients in products. But first, I need to know what they ALL mean ::rolls eyes:: lol