i may be relaxing my hair real soon...

I've started to monitor what i was doing to my hair since June 2008.

My last relaxer was October 2008 and now its January 2009 - over 3 months. And guess what?

My hair looks terrible.

I had a lot of hair fall out over the past 2 years. This is the main reason why I decided to lay off the relaxers. But now I am miserable without it.... is this what withdrawals from drugs is like???

I've always had issues with the hair in the back of my head. So I really thought that this time i have to stick with the no relaxer route so i can get some healthy hair.

But I am so tired of looking in the mirror and seeing very little progress.

I was worried about my new job - but its a casual environment so I don't feel any pressure in that sense but I would still like to walk away from the mirror feeling confident.

I started taking biotin a few weeks ago. I will give it until my birthday in March to see if that made a difference. That will be 2.5 months.

I just ran out of deep conditioner so now I will allow myself to purchase another product - I will only buy new stuff when I use up or toss out something else.

I've added EVOO and I like it so far.

Also, I've bought a cheapie flat iron which I am only trying to use once a week.

Maybe since the weather is so cold here (upstate ny) - I will put off the decision until spring. That way it will be 6 months (in April) of transitioning/stretching and I can see if my hair has gotten any healthier and has grown.

if anyone has any ideas on what I should do or add to my routine let me know... I am desperate!

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.

woo-hoo 2009 is almost upon us!!

Wow! 2008 is over!

With such a surprising great ending to the long election, I think that even with the recession (yeah, its a recession - time to face facts) we should all look toward the new year with hope.

This year I was kinda feeling old. I am in my early forties and although I feel good most days - my body seems to be sending me other signals. I get stiff, my skin stays dry, my hair is like straw and I can go on and on.

But instead of continuing to focus on the bad, I did what I usually tell my sons to do when they have questions about things (because my brain isn't what it used to be)- i say check online.

So here I go checking essence mag and somehow I stumbled upon some really great blogs discussing hair, health, dieting and all sorts of topics.

Now, I am informed and motivated.

What I will be continuing to do into the new year:

Continue with my doctor's appointments,
Continue to tackle my hair,
Move my ass off the couch a bit more,
Spend more time with my family,
Go take a few more school courses,
Take it easy on the junk food,
Travel
Get back to saving $$

Also, I'm not going to despair. If I fall off the wagon, I will get back on.

I realize too that we all have crap to go through in life and if all I'm worrying about is being in my forties and dealing with what goes along with it -- then I need to really get over myself.

Anyway, lets all stay healthy, wealthy and wise in the New Year. Also, lets continue to support our new Prez!

Peace and Blessings!!

Product Review - Organics by Africa's Best Olive Oil Deep Conditioner

My product review is on Organics by Africa's Best Olive Oil Deep Conditioner. I purchased this product primarily because of its price which was about $3.99. Also, I was lured by the Olive Oil on the label.

I've been using this deep conditioner for about 6 weeks. I use this weekly and pre-condition my hair before shampooing.

How I used this conditioner was to apply the cream throughout my hair from roots to ends and walk around with a plastic cap for about 30 minutes. I then rinse it out, shampoo, use a rinse out conditioner, then a leave in conditioner and then either air dry or sit under my dryer.

Most deep conditioners that I've used in the past have made some difference. My hair would feel softer or more manageable.

To me, this conditioner didn't do much of anything. As a matter of fact, I've been just using it steady to see if there would be some improvement.

Right now I am 2+ months post relaxer, so I am doing a lot of playing around and experimenting with my hair.

But as with anything in life, you learn to enhance on what you have. So this is the product that I was able to mix my molasses with and apply to my hair.

Since this is a cream, the molasses mixed well and wasn't a mess or sticky.

The molasses definitely made a difference in my hair. As I rinse this mix from my hair, my hair feels smooth and soft.

So I would not recommend this product but if you need an inexpensive deep conditioning creme to mix another product - then this would help.

soft and beautiful's body lotion

i received a sample of soft and beautiful's new product. its a 24 hour body lotion. it contains those key ingredients - cocoa butter, shea butter and almond butter.

this is a great body lotion. i would even have to agree that for my REALLY dry skin it did its job. it also has a light creamy feel with a great light scent to enhance not overload.

usually when i use lotion by time i remove my clothing in the evening - my skin is looking dry.

this time - not so. my skin felt soft and looked moisturized. this lotion isnt thick but does the job without being greasy.

i highly recommend this item and look forward to trying out the rest of this new product line.

my new conditioner

well for the past few months, I've been experimenting with my hair. i have not been relaxing it every 6-8 weeks as recommended. so i just shampoo, deep condition and use a leave in condition. i then sit under the dryer for about 30 minutes and thats it.

my last relaxer was the beginning of October. only problem is my hair is short in the back and even shorter without straightening it. styling options are limited and my styling skills are lacking. but whatever, i'm trying to go the healthy route.

so in my online research, i stumble upon a few sites that are raving about molasses. first i see posts that say you should have some daily in tea or coffee. then i see the ones that say if you put it on topically it decreases breakage and leaves hair soft.

i decided to mix the molasses with my current deep conditioner. i apply all through my hair. to my surprise mixing it with the creme conditioner and applying wasnt messy at all.

also, to my surprise, my hair was softer and more manageable.

this will definitely be my new hair conditioner.

i've decided that instead of becoming a product junkie - i will be using what is in my cabinets. so at least my current some what dull current conditioner will not go to waste.

Peace

my hair, my life...

When I relaxed my hair in June 2008, although my hair looked good - it wasn't. I knew my kitchen (hair at the back of my head) was a mess. my ends were raggedy and i was really ready to just chop my hair off. The stylist even suggested that I lay off the relaxers a bit.

So i started to just let my hair go. Yes, I am a mess like that. I have a job in a casual environment - so I thought - let me just leave my hair alone.

Well, of course as things would have it... I get called for a job interview. Its more $, growth and I do need to get away from the people I work with before.... well, moving on...

So early October, I head into Manhattan to my favorite salon, Rosalina's. Its on Amsterdam Avenue in Harlem.

I got the works - relaxer, deep conditioner, some color and my eyebrows done! Yes, when I am able to get to NYC - I take full advantage!

I looked great and yes the hair was in a bit more better shape.

So I think that I may be onto something.... I neglect my hair but once relaxed I could see it struggling to get healthy.

So I get to work online - researching, checking everyone's website, blogs, pics, hair diaries. This helps in one aspect. I realize that we all want beautiful hair. I realize it can be done. Even relaxed african-american hair. I also realize that I have to work at it.

I have to eat better, exercise, take better care of my hair, relearn how to do my hair and experiment. And this is what i plan to do. I also learned that I do not have to relax my hair as often.

So just as I've decided that I will let my hair be - meaning chemical free and the above regimen.... I may have a job offer.

Now what to do? Just as I've accepted my transitioning hair and am still struggling to style it, I still havent been able to manage my hair. Although I am a huge fan of all hairstyles - particularly natural. I am not a fan of walking around a professional setting with messy hair - no matter what the length, texture, etc.

So until i get final word on this job or unless my kitchen grows in rapidly and stronger, I guess I will be returning to the salons. Which I must add, I hate the salons in my current area (upstate NY).

But I too will continue the active process of growing my hair - healthy!

I will wrap in my silk scarf. I will shampoo, deep condition weekly and use very little heat.

So if you see me in the streets, try no to laugh too hard! I'm just trying to grow out my hair!!

Peace