July 24th, 2004...Simple girl routine!
Well...after months...and months...I have finally narrowed my conditioners down to three staples! Garnier Fructis Fortifying Cream Conditioner....Rysell Tropical Coconut Conditioner....and Aubrey Organics GPB! I will finish using up the others....but after that....no more. :) I really mean it this time. I have been looking for a conditioner that gave me that special something without wearing out my wallet. I'm loving the Garnier Fructis for fine hair (it's the only one without cones)! Very moisturizing...leaves my hair super soft...and it rinses clean. I will use it daily for my co washes. The Rysell Tropical Coconut Conditioner will be used once a week as a deep conditioner...and the GPB will be used whenever I need a good protein treatment (which isn't that often). My oils have always been my staples...but for conditioners....I was always switching from month to month. I was also jumping on whatever bandwagon product that people raved about. Man...it feels so good to FINALLY have staple conditioners!

July 22nd 2004...The Sprite Shower Filter!!!
My Sprite Shower Filter has finally arrived in the mail! I am so pleased with the results of it! It hasn't even been a week yet...and I can already feel the difference in my hair. It's softer...easier to detangle...the conditioner rinses clean from my hair...and my ends aren't drying frizzy! My new Garnier Garnier Fructis Cream Conditioner is working its magic too. I think this Filter is the best investment that I made so far!

July 14th, 2004...trying the no poo method again!
I have been doing a lot of reading and visiting a lot of websites about natural hair care. I'm going to cut out shampooing again and just use my ACV rinse for clarifying. I also read that curly girls should limit the use of cones in conditioners. Suave seems to be pretty safe...but NTM contains a few of them. Perhaps I will look for another moisturizing conditioner as a substitute. I'm also going to start sleeping with a plastic cap on over night under my scarf and bonnet. This method is suppose to help retain moisture, and since I'm transitioning now...I need as much moisture as I can get. :) On a positive note...my breakage is almost non exist ant! It's nothing like it was before...so I'm happy! I am sealing my ends on a monthly basis...so hopefully...this will also help keep my ends moisturized. My Sprite Shower Filter is still MIA...hopefully it will arrive in the mail soon!

July 6th, 2004...breakage slows...humidity strikes!
The breakage has finally slowed! Sigh of relief! I've learned...when you transition...your hair is going to break. How much breakage you get depends on you. I laid off brushing and combing for a while by only brushing my edges...and detangling under the shower head. I also tried a product recommended to me by bettydavis called Profective Healthy Ends. So far...I'm loving it! It's a little thicker and greasier than I usually like my products to be...but it does the job! It is suppose to strengthen the hair...and help keep your ends moist. It looks like I will be able to hold off on that trim until the end of August. Why oh why didn't I just get this stuff when she first recommended it to me instead of buying that over priced Ego Boost? Oh well... I really can't do much with my hair right now because my new growth is coming in super thick. It just won't lay down...no matter what I do. The Summer humidity isn't doing anything to help it either. I can't complain too much...I wanted my thick hair back...and um...well...it's back! I did a twist-out last night...and for the first time ever..it came out pretty! The only problem is when my hair is twisted...major shrinkage occurs. The back reaches a little past base of my neck...while the front is at chin length. I just don't like my hair at that length...so I will wait...and sport twist-outs when it gets a little longer. Right now...when the back is stretched out...it reaches a little past collar bone length! When stretched...the front of my hair touches the base of my neck...and is slowly catching up. My hair has recovered nicely from that last trim. It looks like I am getting the average length per month...and a little more. :-). I refuse to measure...so I go by pictures. I took some in May and June....and they will be up soon.

June 21st, 2004...the B word continues...
Well...you live and you learn! Now that I'm transitioning...I'm going to handle my hair as less as possible. Like a fool...I've been brushing a few times a day since purchasing my Denman (i love it...but I need to lay off of using it). I have also been playing in my hair a lot since I felt the longest part of it touching my back. The breakage has increased because of the frequent manipulation. I will only brush the edges of my hair once a day...and bun it for the rest of the week. I'm laying off of the ACV rinses as well. I will only clarify with them when needed...instead of on a weekly basis. Perhaps once a month. I will only be using the Aubrey Organics GPB once a month too. The reason for my limiting the ACV rinses is because I don't want to dry my hair out. I'm cutting back on the GPB usage because my hair really doesn't need a weekly protein treatment. I gave my hair a little spot check today, and I found a some split ends. I clipped the ones that I saw. This will be my last clipping/trim until August. Until then...I will be babying my ends twice a day with my homemade spritz. All in all my hair is pretty healthy and growing...but this transitional breakage is starting to make me paranoid! I will be treating my hair like it's crystal!

Product raves!
I love Neutrogena and Suave Conditioners! The Neutrogena Triple Moisture product line is so moisturizing for my hair (thanks betty!). I haven't found anything that I love as much as this line since I stopped using the Keracare Humecto & Detangling Shampoo. The Daily conditioner helps keep my new growth detangled...soft...and manageable. It worked winders for stretching out shrinkage! The Leave-in is great for when I want to do different styles in my hair like Bantu Knots and Twist-Outs (keeps the frizzies away). The Cream Lather Shampoo leaves my scalp so clean...and you really don't need to use a lot of it! I will use the Daily Deep Conditioner and the Shampoo once a week. I haven't tried any of Suave's shampoos...but I LOVE their conditioners! I will be using Suave Milk and Honey...and Suave Awapuhi Conditioner on a daily basis all Summer along. These are my staple conditioners! These work just as well...if not better than expensive salon brands. :)

Denman vs a soft boar brush...
I went out and bought a Denman D4 styler brush at Sally's a few days ago. I was using a boar brush...but I noticed that I had an increase in damaged strands in the part that I was brushing most frequently. That is when I knew it was time to invest in a Denman. OMG...I can't say enough good things about this brush. The bristles are soft...and not damaging at all. I am sure that I can use this on my hair every day without causing any damage. The best thing about it is that I can brush my hair while it's wet with ease. This one is a keeper!

Tigi Bed Head Ego Boost....no go!
At first...I raved about this product because I wasn't seeing splits as frequently. I used it for about a month and a half...and I thought that everything was fine. Then one day I decided to give my strands a little spot check for splits. Guess what? I found even more splits than I had before. So basically...this product smoothed the splits...and made them less noticeable. I will no longer be using this in my regimen. I also found out that it contains PVP...which is almost like a plastic substance that coats the hair...and is sort of glues the splits together. Perhaps this ingredient locks out moisture...because it tends to leave your ends feeling hard and dry. I also believe that this product caused me to have breakage. I was having little to no breakage before using this product...and at the time..it was the only new addition to my regimen. Ego Boost contains Keratin...and I think that it is too strong of a protein for me to use in my hair frequently. It seems to work for the other women on LHCF that are using it....but it is most def a no go for my hair!

June 3rd, 2004...in transition!!!
Well, I finally decided to lay off of relaxers! I have been dealing with my natural hair for almost 7 months...and I just can't bring myself to get another relaxer right now. I love how thick and full my hair is. I'm only detangling under the shower head...so I'm losing very little hair during detangling. Hopefully...tansitioning will work out for me. I really think it will. My hair is actually kinda easy to manage. I just need to learn how to be more gentle with it. I am trying my best. :) With everything that I'm learning on the boards...and with the helpful advice of transitioners and naturals...my journey back to natural will be an easy one!

Uh oh....dare I say it? The B word!
For the past week and a half I have been having a little more breakage than usual. I read that breakage is normal when you are stretching out relaxers...so I was expecting it. It's not enough for me to cry over...but I am trying my best to prevent having even more. I hijacked my mom's Dabur Amla Oil to help strengthen my hair. I think that it will remain a staple in my regimen. I'm also laying off using my brush every day. I like my boar brush...but I think that I'm going to invest in a Denman. Even though the bristles on my boar brush are suppose to be soft...they are still kinda hard. I'm moisturizing my hair every day with my own homemade concoction. In my spritz bottle of distilled water I added a few drops of...Tigi Health Goddess...my left over Carols Daughter Hair Milk...a few drops of Amla Oil...and a few drops of Neutrogena Triple Moisture Silk Touch Leave-In Cream. I'm lovin the results! It's super moisturizing! Looks like that Carol's Daughter is finally coming in handy!

May 20th, 2004...changes...shhh...don't tell!
Ok...so temptation got the better of me. I am currently on Lindy's new Product Junkie Challenge...and I tried not to buy anything new...I swear I did! I wasn't going to try the Neutrogena Triple Moisture Line...but after one of my hair buddies got it...and loved it...I had to try it too! I purchased the Daily Deep Conditioner...the Shampoo...and the Silk Touch Leave-In Cream. I am lovin them! The conditioner and Leave-in cream left my hair so soft...silky...and detangled! They kinda smell like melons. I needed a good Moisturizing leave in...and I finally found one! I have to say so long to Kenra and Dove. I don't plan on changing anything else for a while. I want to be good and stay on the PJ Challenge. As of now, my conditioners are Suave Milk And Honey....Suave Tropical Coconut...Neutrogena Triple Moisture Daily Conditioner...and..Aubrey Organics GPB. My shampoos: Neutrogena 3x Moisture Cream Lather...and Aubrey Organics Island Naturals Butter Shampoo. Leave-ins: Neutrogena 3x Moisture Silk Touch Leave-In Cream...and Tigi Bed Head Ego Boost. My oils are going to remain the same. No changes or additions.

May 13, 2004: Thick...thick...hair!
Well...My last relaxer was in December...and I'm dealing with a lot of new growth that is coming in super thick! Bone straight hair is so over-rated. :) I have always had a thick head of hair...but when it's flat ironed...or relaxed...it doesn't look as thick. I'm having a few problems with the thickness though. After scalp massages...I have a lot of detangling to do. I also have to do a lot more detangling in the shower. Thank God that I bought that Creative Pro Wide Tooth Seamless Comb...and the K-Cutter...or else I would be in some trouble. I also have to use a ton of conditioner...and it takes longer to get ALL of my hair wet in the shower now. I actually have to part it in sections for that too. I'm sure that my diet is helping my hair to grow in thicker and longer too. I have been eating baked Cod Fish at least 3 or more times a week...and I have it fried once a week. When I am not eating cod fish...I have Tuna salad. I have been snacking on almonds...brazil nuts...and eating veggies (spinach...cabbage) with every meal. I eat egg whites 5 days a week. I add fresh coconut in my yogurt, and I also drink coconut water every other week. I also started working out twice a day. So, the bonus of healthy eating is not only weight loss...but also a head of healthy hair. I'm learning so much about my natural hair. Now that I'm seeing my real texture...I actually think that I may be a mix of 3C/4A. This whole hair typing business is hard. You really can't tell a person's texture without seeing their hair in person. Anyway, whatever my hair type is...I'm lovin the thickness, and I think that my July relaxer...(if I decide to get it) will be my last!

April Progress 2004...
After reading about all of the benefits that honey has on the hair...I decided to add it into my daily conditioner washes. I've been doing this For the past month and a half. Man does my hair have strong elasticity! Recently, there was a post on LHCF about the benefits of adding cinnamon into conditioner. It is suppose to help with hair loss and scalp circulation. I have been doing this for about 2 weeks now. I haven't heard about it being a detangler, but man does it help with it! I am hardly losing any hair when I detangle under the shower head. :-) It also enhances the smell of the Suave Milk And Honey Conditioner. I have learned to be more gentle with my hair. My total hair gain for this month is just under an inch. After this...I don't plan to measure my hair anymore. I really don't see the point of it. My hair is very healthy...and that's all I care about right now! I'm not going to stress myself out searching for "hair knots and little white balls" on my ends anymore either. You are bound to have a few...and you can't find them all. I have very good control on my ends right now. I believe that Ego Boost, rinsing in cool/cold water for my co washes, and drowning my ends in coconut oil is doing the trick. ;) All in all...I am VERY pleased with my hair progress this month.

Section...section...section!!!
For the life of me I couldn't understand why I had so many split ends in the back of my. For the past few weeks..I have been parting my hair into 4 sections for washing...conditioning...and oiling to make sure that I wasn't neglecting any area. Now...I'm not seeing splits as often. :) I'm sure that the Ego Boost is helping out also. I finally have good control when it comes to my ends! I have all of this new growth...so instead of being lazy...I will keep sectioning my hair from now on.

Indian Style...
Well...thanks to my good friend Sajid...I am officially hooked on Indian hair care products. The Indian oils that I'm using (Anmol...Vatika...and Parachute)...are keeping my hair so moisturized and manageable. I used other oils in the past... but my hair would eventually dry out with them. Nothing beats good old coconut oil...and distilled water! The true test was on my nieces and nephew's hair this weekend. They came over for a visit and their hair was pretty dry. They were using this thick brown gel and Motions Hair Lotion as a moisturizer...but they still needed a little something to get rid of the frizzies. I used Anmol coconut Oil...by Dabur in their hair and OH MAN did it work wonders! They loved it! The coconut oil gave my nephews hair wave definition so...I got him hooked too. I recommend coconut oil to anyone that has a problem with dry hair. It's the best. I've been using it for a good 3 months...and I don't plan to ever use anything else!

Nape area 4/6/04...
I've been paying a lot of attention to my nape area for the past couple of months. I have been doing daily scalp massages...applying coconut oil to my ends back there...and always making sure that area is moisturized. It looks like my work is finally paying off. :-) I gained about an inch of new growth in this area (February-March). This part of my hair reaches just past the base of my neck now. It had broken off before...and was only a few inches long. I'm too happy!

Famous last words 3/31/04...
Ok...so I'm a big hypocrite. I said I wasn't going to try any new products...and since stating that I have purchased Tigi Bed Head Ego Boost...and now...Suave Milk And Honey Conditioner. Both are keepers and will stay in my regimen...but I'm not buying another thing. This time I mean it !!! The Milk And Honey is really working out for my hair. I first tried it out Last Friday...and have used it every day since then. The reviews were right on target for this conditioner. It has a lot of slip...It leaves the hair soft...and you don't have to use a lot of it. I still end up going overboard on it though. The Ego boost is working out for me also. I have been using it for a week now, and I haven't seen any new splits. I will be better able to tell after using it a little longer....but so far so good. I haven't had any drying effects or hardening like some people have experienced with it. Kenra and Dove are in the back seat right now...and Suave Milk and Honey is riding shotgun :-).

Tigi Bed Head Ego Boost...
After fighting a long...tiring...never ending battle with split ends...I decided to give this stuff a try. It is a split ender mender leave-in conditioner that is suppose to seal and protect the ends. Hopefully...It will work for me. It smells really good. I just hope that it works as good as it smells. So far...everything that I tried that was recommended at LHCF has worked out for my hair (with the exception of CD's Hair Milk). I will be adding this on my ends every night after my conditioner washes...and right before I apply my coconut oil. I know I said I wouldn't try anything new...but I really needed something to protect my ends. Here goes nothing... :-)

Back to the drawing board...with Biotin...
I decided to start talking Biotin again. I had really good results with it when I was taking it before. The only problem was that I had breakouts. I haven't decided if it was the soda that I was drinking...or the Biotin that caused the acne. Right now...it's like a trial and error type thing to find the guilty culprit. My length is almost back where I started December 19th. I'm sure that I can still achieve an inch a month as long as I keep up with my regimen. I still have a few months to reach my first goal of 3 or 4 more inches by late Summer. :)

March 17th, 2004...Mini chop...
I finally went to my stylist to get rid of most of the split ends that I was battling with! I am so glad that I did it too! She cut about 1.5" off..but I am happy with the fact that my hair is HEALTHY! This time my stylist went all throughout my layers to clip the splits. She complimented me on my progress by saying that my hair was doing well. She saw so much new growth ...and thought that I was going to get a relaxer :-). I'm still holding off from getting one for a few more months. My stylist started using Deep Brilliance conditioner and shine spray. Of course I have read the raves about it from Super girl and a few others. My hair came out so nice with it. She flat ironed my hair with a ceramic iron...and I sat under the dryer with the conditioner on for about 15-20 minutes. The results were excellent. I won't be going back to her until late May or June though. I'm sure that I can hold out! I'm back on my no heat no trim challenge. The last time I used heat on my hair was back in December when I went to my stylist. I think I did pretty good. I miss my length...but I'm glad that I finally got those ends chopped off. I was seeing way too many of them. Now...I have a fresh start. :-) I know that it's impossible to be 100% split end free...but I have a better handle on my ends. I'm moisturizing them more often...and putting a little extra conditioner on them. I was neglecting the back of my hair a little without even realizing it.

2 inches in 2 months!
It's March 5th 2004. I started my regimen December 19th 2003...and since then...my hair has grown 2 inches! March 19th will be the 3 month mark. I hope that I tag on another inch by then! I will be going for a trim on the 17th of this month (I'm still battling with some split ends). Overall...My hair is very moisturized, soft, shiny, and healthy! I have made a lot of changes since the start of all this. I went from washing twice a week...to doing daily conditioner washes. I am clarifying and shampooing once a week now (after my hot oil treatment). I really think that scalp massages...working out...Vatika...and daily co washes are helping my hair the most. I cut out all of my KeraCare products. My new conditioners are listed below. Eventually I would like to switch over to all natural products by Aubrey! I also started misting my hair with distilled water on a daily basis. Vatika Hair Oil and Parachute Coconut Oil are my staples. I still like Black Seed Pomade...but it has taken a back seat since I started using Vatika. <--It is the only oil/moisturizer that I use on a daily basis. Now that I know what works in my hair...I'm sticking to these products. NO MORE TRYING OUT ANYTHING NEW!