Product Giveaway - African Pride Leave In Conditioner

Hello --

It has been a year since I started to really get disgusted with the ritual of relaxing my hair. I went for a touch-up last June and not only was I not please with the health of my hair but my stylist wasn't either.

I then started my internet search for healthy black hair and wound up with a ton of information from some very intelligent, courageous, devoted women on youtube, various hair care forums, blogs, etc.

I was motivated. I was afraid. I've had my hair relaxed since I was 19. Could I really give it up? My agonizing went on for some time. Did I really want to go through all of that hair shedding and experimenting with my hair? Even as a kid, I had my mother around to figure out what to do with my hair.

I also had damaged hair and was unsure if I would ever be able to grow healthy hair again.

So fast forward to today... these are my observations - my hair is healthier. Although I don't have much in length, I have a full growing hairline. Not that I really had an obvious problem but I guess I did because I haven't seen my hair grow so thick.

I am moving away from heat styling and salons.

I know that most products are hype.

I also realize that just because I don't relax my hair anymore doesn't mean I will instantly have longer hair. I stumbled across a comment someone had on their blog recently and I really appreciated their honesty. They said that their healthy bsl hair took about 10 years to get it to its peak, current condition.

So here I am a year later, still learning about my hair. I hope that although I don't have the prettiest blog, plenty of pics or have all the latest products that I can at least share some good information with others.

Well -- to celebrate a year of healthy thoughts and welcome the summer - here is my first giveaway.

I cannot keep products that I am not using. So I have a USED bottle of African Pride Herbal Healing Leave-In Conditioner. I've used this product a few times. More than half is left in the bottle. I haven't used it in a few months and hope someone else can use it.

So all I ask is the following - follow my blog, post a comment on how you feel about your own hair journey (happy, unhappy, still experimenting, etc.) and most of all I am paying for the shipping so please only participate if you are in the states!

You have until next Sunday, June 21st. I will select a winner on Monday, June 22nd. Good Luck!!

Hair Update

I had my last relaxer in early October 2008.

Since then I've been on every possible blog regarding transitioning hair and natural hair care.

So how is my hair doing?

Its ok!

My hair isn't excessively shedding like before. Yes, my bathroom floor isn't covered with my hair anymore!

My hair does feel a bit stronger and looks healthy - another yay! Not sure if its the biotin, changing my eating habits, increase in water intake, various hair products or no relaxer.

I go for a wash, deep condition and occasional rinse (brown or black color) at the local Dominican salon every 2-3 weeks (as my time allows). I also don't want to get too addicted to them. So I make sure that these visits aren't a priority. I still need to relearn how to care for my own hair. I also don't want to rely so heavily on the heat.

Hair growth??

There has been some. My last salon trim was in June 2008. I did a light trim of my own hair in December. Just dusted off the ends. My hair is still chin length. So I am getting impatient! But I have to remind myself that when I check out everyone else's blogs and hair journeys - it really averages about 2 years of caring for the hair, laying off the chemicals and experimenting with styles and products.

I can see the growth in my kitchen (hair in the lower part of the head).

Transitioning?

My take is that its a great thing. I'm glad I'm doing it and wish that I had done it years ago. What a waste to be a slave to a chemical that ended up doing damage to my tresses.

I am not a style queen. I could never braid or really style hair. This was ok when I had long hair. The pony tail was my favorite and for special occasions just sleep on rollers. But I really love checking out the natural sisters with their very funky hair styles. If my head wasn't so big I would just chop my hair off and start from scratch.

So while I transition, I still wear a straight bob.

Now the thing I do find a bit disappointing - is that since I found a number of key products that I like and back up products to experiment with -- I can't justify trying anymore hair products.

Yep -- I don't see many new products ending up in my basket. At least not until I get rid these current products -- which isn't anytime soon.

I hope for my next update that I can really say that I've had MAJOR improvement in the hair department -- we'll see.

Check my next posting for my current routine and products that I like!

Ideas and thoughts are always welcome!

Product Review - Carol's Daughter Hair Milk and Healthy Hair Butter - Part II

After first trying out Carol's Daughter hair milk and hair butter I wasn't too happy. I just kept reading all the positive reviews online and thought that - this is a must have product line. So I had to try something.

In my first few tries - I was disappointed. I was really expecting a moisturizing light product. Which these aren't. These products are clearly styling aids. Then I couldn't get over the smell. Also I was stuck on the price. I had never paid $25 for a total of 2 hair care products. So, yes, I was looking for immediate results...

Anyway, I've been looking in my hair product basket and wondering what am I going to do with these products.

So I started working with them again. I mostly use the hair milk as a finishing aid. After styling my hair it seems to keep it in place and I have less flyaway strands.

The hair butter I told my sons to use. And although they like the hair butter - they still prefer to use my other hair/scalp conditioner.

The hair butter does seem to stop my scalp itchies. I dab and rub a bit into certain areas of my scalp and it seems to do the trick.

And I am learning to deal with the smell.

I have even used the hair butter in the evening for a smooth over before putting on my scarf and was very pleased with the results in the morning. My hair stayed flat, styled and needed very little manipulation the next day.

So I guess instead of giving the products a thumbs down - I would give them a -- ok.

I think as more of my natural hair comes in I may find these to be more useful.

growing....

When I was growing up my Mom would just hot comb my hair. She always told me never to be like my Auntie in Brooklyn and put chemicals in my hair. All chemicals pull your hair out, even dyes.

I questioned this because although my mom's hair was a bit longer then bsl and although she could rock her salt and pepper hair... I just couldn't stand the thickness of my hair, hated the hot comb and the thought of not ever coloring my hair.

My friends all got relaxers and could keep their styles all day long. Their hair looked great. They also didn't suffer under the hot comb. Because with thick hair, washing and hot combing was a lengthy process.

I though of my mom as boring. All she did was put her hair up in a bun - day in and day out.

So at 19, I had a friend put in a relaxer. Because like everyone told me... my hair would sit and lay down better. I've been a slave to the relaxer and hair stylists ever since.

Also, I was tired of ponytails. My hair was past my shoulders and I found the ponytail to be a way of keeping my beastly hair tame.

But I listened to everyone that said that i need to wear my hair out, stop being boring, etc.

Well, fast forward to now. I'm 41 and my hair is in bad shape. I have breakage and my hair hasn't grown past my chin since I was about 2002.

As of September, I been on the internet daily and am seeking some serious help for my damaged hair.

And on every message board/blog - everyone is proudly stating how they are lessening the chemicals, going natural, learning to style their own natural hair, how to free theirselves from the salons and how to keep your hair in protective styles, etc.

Mom was right to a certain extent. I should have listened to her more than anyone else because...I was a bald headed baby and by time I was 4 had shoulder length hair because of her.

So now since I've been seriously concentrating on my hair for the past few months - it has been a task. I feel a bit like I am obsessing but then again... it matters to me. I haven't had healthy hair for several years and it shows.

So hopefully, I can check back here frequently to see my growth... hair and otherwise.

Please feel free to share your stories and comments.