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 :)

Product Review: Bigen Hair Color

Product: Bigen Permanent Hair Color

Purchased from: Sally Beauty Supply
Price: $6.49 plus tax
Size: 0.21 Oz.

Color: #59 in Oriental Black

About the  product: It's Ammonia free, no Hydrogen Peroxide required! Awesome right? It's a permanent powder hair color. 

What it comes with: 

This small bottle is what the hair color powder comes in.

I have thick hair, 2 bottles would have worked for my hair.

But since, I don't wear ALL of my hair out (Just the front) it was fine.

I did apply it all over my head as much as I could, but focused on the front part.

The clear plastic container is used as a measuring system

Mixing process: You need to use a non-metallic bowl to mix the Bigen Powder & "room temperature TAP WATER" together in. 1)Pour the powder in bowl first, then the tap water, & mix.

RATING: 5/5

Views/opinions: I don't think I'll use any other brand for awhile when it comes to permanent hair color. When it's time for a touch up, I'll be using a rinse out just because it wont be as harsh & no need to apply permanent hair color to my hair AGAIN (More info & reason why in another post). I did notice Walmart has this hair color as well for $4 something. But they didn't have the popular color "Oriental black" nor a big variety when I saw it. I never knew they carried it.

Overall I love this hair color, it got the job done. My hair was super black (how I wanted it). I would recommend this to anyone looking for a product that's going to do what it's suppose to do!

Sally Beauty Supply: October Mini Haul

So0oo this will be quick & to the point....

As some of you may know, I shop at Sally's Beauty Supply every month

Anywho I got these items for a lower place than the usual...

1 because I have a rewards card, 2 a few of the items that I purchased were on sale (Pink items with the Komen Cure tag).

Bigen Hair Color: $6.48 *Normally 6.99 I believe*

Hawaiian Silky detangler: $4.49 *Normally more than $5*

The hair color (In oriental black) is permanent, & in powder form. All you do is add water & that's it. NO AMMONIA (Which isn't good for us), NO HYDROGEN PEROXIDE required.

I plan on coloring my hair once my 6 months hair challenge is over :)