Shedding and hair knots...
About a month ago...I was seeing a lot of shedding. I was brushing and combing my hair a lot...and this was only making the problem worse. I stopped brushing and playing in my hair as frequently as I was. It has cut down my shedding DRAMATICALLY. Now I only use the brush on my edges...and throughout my hair before my daily scalp massage. In February...I started seeing a lot of knots in my hair. I never really had this problem before...so I thought that it was because I wasn't detangling my hair properly. I decided to purchase the Avon Advance Techniques Detangling Comb. I can't say enough about this comb...I love it. :) It has seams....but they are not sharp at all. Since I started detangling under the shower head I am not seeing knots as much as before! (thanks for the suggestion brickhouse!).

New Products!
I decided to add in Aubrey Organics GPB and Island Butter Shampoo to my regimen. I've also added Dove Intense Moisture Conditioner for my daily co washes. Don't get me wrong...I LOVE KENRA...but I had to switch to Dove because it's more economical for me to use on a daily basis. I will use the GPB as a weekly deep conditioner. and the Island Naturals shampoo will be used once a week. I am also going to start clarifying once a week with an ACV (apple cider vinegar) rinse.

Sides grow out challenge...
I decided to join in on Lindy's sides grow out challenge in early January. It's been a little over a month now, and my sides are growing out nicely! When I first started, they were a little below chin length, and now...they touch the base of my neck!!! I have been paying close attention to my problem areas...which would be the nape of my neck, and my sides. I have been massaging those areas of my hair more frequently...spraying them with distilled water, and moisturizing with my Vatika oil. So far...so good! I can't wait until my sides are even with the back of my hair (which is growing like a weed)! :-)

My new experiment...
For the past 7 months My mother has been suffering from major hair loss. After harping on her about following some of the tips that I've learned from LHCF, she finally caved in! Even though she's busy with call most of the time, she decided to stick to a hair regimen. I started a section about her regimen and progress. If you're interested, check out the Hair Loss section. I will post updates on her progress,and her hair flicks <-soon!

My package from India...
My friend Sajid from India sent me 2 packages in the mail that arrived today! :-) One of the packages was full of hair goodies! :-). I was so excited that I ripped the package open, and slapped one of the oils on my hair. I ended up ripping some hair out. I guess I'm just too heavy handed sometimes! Anyway, I love Vatika hair oil, and now I have enough to last me a year or so. Dabur products are among the fastest selling in India. A HUGE thanks to Sajid for sharing Indian women's hair products, and secrets with me.

No heat challenge update!
My hair hasn't seen a curling iron...blow dryer..or hot comb for a little over a month now! I'm going to try and hold off from heat until my next relaxer in May. That's about 4 or 5 months from now. I usually break down in month 3 and straighten my edges, but I will try my best to resist temptation! I really think that I'll succeed as long as I keep doing conditioner washes at least 3 times a week. I love wearing my hair out, but for these next few months, I will wear a bun. :-) I haven't really worn my hair in bun in a looong time. I figure that the less that I do to my hair...the more growth I will get! Wish me luck! the past couple days I have been using Pantene Pro V mixed with my regular conditioner. I felt like trying something a little different. Let me just say that I won't be using it again! I haven't had a problem with a dry scalp since I've been using KeraCare. After using Pantene...I have flaking and an itchy scalp! :-( I decided to look at the ingredients (I know...I should have done this before). Guess what? It contains alcohol (five types of it too)! Alcohol and my scalp just do not mix. I will do a conditioner wash tonight and oil my scalp to try to get it back in good condition. I know that I should just stick to what is working for me...but the product junkie in me keeps getting in the way. I won't be doing anything as stupid as this again!

Split ender paranoia...
Well, It's the beginning of February, and I've been doing conditioner washes for 2 weeks now. My new growth is thriving, but I'm starting to see split ends when I shed. :( I plan to keep up with the conditioner washes to help strengthen my hair. I believe that the problem could be hard water, so I will be getting my shower filter soon! I'm trying my best to retain the length that I gained over the past month! However, I'm not willing to hold on to that length if it means the rest of my hair will suffer. I know that it is impossible to eliminate ALL split ends. I decided that I'm going to get a trim sooner than planned (maybe around the end of February/beginning of March). It will be a good time according to Jessy's Lunar Cycle.

Pantene Pro V Conditioner? No Go!
For the past couple days I have been using Pantene Pro V mixed with my regular conditioner. I felt like trying something a little different. Let me just say that I won't be using it again! I haven't had a problem with a dry scalp since I've been using KeraCare. After using Pantene...I have flaking and an itchy scalp! :-( I decided to look at the ingredients (I know...I should have done this before). Guess what? It contains alcohol (five types of it too)! Alcohol and my scalp just do not mix. I will do a conditioner wash tonight and oil my scalp to try to get it back in good condition. I know that I should just stick to what is working for me...but the product junkie in me keeps getting in the way. I won't be doing anything as stupid as this again!

Ok...I said I wouldn't...but I tried it again!
After seeing how well Carol's Daughter Hair Milk worked for my mothers hair, I decided to give it another try. First, I conditioned with a little Pantene Pro V mixed with KeraCare Humecto. After that, I applied a little of the milk onto my wet hair. It left my hair soft and moisturized. However, I don't think that this is the type of moisturizer that can be used only once a week. It doesn't keep hair moisturized over long periods of time unless it is used on a daily basis. It didn't leave my hair with that greasy weighed down feeling that it did before, so that was a plus. I believe this is because I conditioned first. The hair milk still won't be included in my regimen, but I have to admit that it works best when applied to wet hair.

bye bye wire brush...hello Boar Brush!
I was looking for a brush that reduces shedding and breakage. Everyone always recommends a large tooth comb to cut down on damage, but I had no idea about the best kind of brush to use. A member of LCHF recommended a boar brush to me. I found one at Sally's for $5.95...and guess what? It really does work. :) There was less hair in the brush, and the bristles are much softer than my old one (better for the scalp). This is definitely a keeper, and I would recommended it to the ladies that are looking for a good brush that cuts down on shedding!

Happy happy happy!...Joy joy joy!
It has been one month since I started my new regimen, and my hair has already grown about an inch longer! Now I have 13 inches in the back, and 11 inches on the sides. I didn't expect to see results so quickly! I can only imagine how much growth I will gain by the time I reach my first short term goal target date!

No Poo!
I've been doing the "no poo" method using the KeraCare Humecto Creme Conditioner for about a week now. I have to admit that my hair is a lot softer than before. I am still seeing a good amount of shedding though. Maybe it's the normal amount of shedding a person loses in a day, and I'm just being paranoid?! Who knows! :) I will still continue to do them. Perhaps it is too soon to pass judgement.

I caved...but I'm no product Junkie!
Well, I finally caved in. I ordered the much talked about Carol's Daughter Hair Milk on January 2nd. I was so looking forward to getting it in the mail! After waiting for what seemed to be an eternity, it finally arrived on the 13th. I have to say that I am very disappointed with this product. It's nothing like I thought it was going to be. I put some in my hair, and I immediately washed it out. It gave my hair a greasy...weighed down feeling (and I only used a little of it). It also has a floral scent that isn't very over powering, but after a while it started to bother me. The texture of hair milk reminds me of Lusters Pink Oil Moisturizer (which I don't care for at all). Oh well. Maybe it works better on natural hair textures. I'm going to try the Elasta product line next. I hope i have better luck with it! Hmmm..maybe I should just go ahead and follow the words of Josh Billings..."Be like a postage stamp. Stick to one thing until you get there". Better said than done right? :-) On a more positive note, this hair milk works wonders on my mother's 2A hair.

To be organic, or not to be "organic"?
I've been using an organic hair pomade and shampoo (called Black Seed) along with my regular products for about a month now. Or at least...I thought the shampoo was organic. It turns out that this "organic shampoo" has a few harmful ingredients in it that actually stunt growth, and cause split ends. I guess that since so many people are using organic products now, companies are in a race to compete. They will sell you just about anything hoping that you will buy from them simply because their product says "organic". Lesson learned?! Read the back labels carefully! If purchasing from the web...ask questions! Organic doesn't always mean "organic". The hair pomade is a keeper...but I tossed the shampoo right into the garbage. If it wasn't for a member on the LHCF that pointed out the bad ingredients to me, I would have done a lot of damage to my hair *sigh of relief*! Check out a list of these synthetic "organic" ingredients.

And so her Journey begins...
I Started my new healthy hair regimen on 12/19/03! I got all of my split ends cut off, and I also got a relaxer (my last one was in August). As of now, my hair length in the back is 12 inches, and 10 inches on the sides. I should have gotten my split ends trimmed off earlier, but procrastination got the best of me. It's ok though...maybe this is better. A fresh start in the new year! My short term goal is to add on a few more inches to my shoulder length hair by late summer 2004. My long term goal is to have it past bra strap length. I'm so excited! :-)