Let's Talk about Hair

I've gotten lots and lots of emails about my hair and a few people have asked that I share my hair update/routine with a blog post. I've held off for a while because to be honest, I don't really do anything special but since I've been asked I might as well be kind and do this anyway.

It was on January 1st 2011 that I decided that I was going to transition to my natural hair. I wrote a post about it that you can read here. I was so excited but it came with a lot of trial and error. Working with two different hair textures was rough and my hair looked awkward (read awful) ALL.THE.TIME! But I was determined to trim my relaxed ends until I had only my natural hair left. See this post, this post, and this post for some reference.

January 1st 2012, I got rid of any remaining relaxed hair and shared that in this post. And that's basically where it ends. I did not talk about my hair again. A little strange that I did that now that I think of it.

OK, where to begin. First, the decision to go natural was the best decision I've made for my hair to date. For those of you who do not know a hair relaxer is a chemical used to permanently straighten hair. Granted, relaxing my hair did not result in broken hair for me but I can tell that my hair is so much healthier now. I mean, I'm not placing a chemical on my hair and head every 6 weeks so that really shouldn't be a surprise to me. Yes, it shrinks like nobodies business but it's healthy. I haven't used heat on my hair since I decided to go natural so that's almost 3 years without heat. I would say I'm doing it for the health of my hair but really it's because I'm very lazy low maintenance when it comes to my hair. I hardly style it and often it looks that way. I just let it do whatever it wants for the most part which is why I am surprised regarding the questions and nice comments about my hair.

After a wash (co-wash) I twist my hair and leave it like that for a week or two. The only time I really have my hair out is on the weekends but sometimes I leave my hair in their twists over the weekend as well. It really depends on my mood or if I feel that having my hair out would complete my look or something.

{Here are two pictures of the way you'll see my hair during the week in their twists}

In a protective style that is no hassle at all. The only thing I do is spritz with water and extra virgin olive oil in the morning and at night and I'm set.

On the weekend, I take out my twists (with castor oil on my fingers) and will rock a twist out which you can see in the pictures below.

My hair has grown (and is thicker & fuller) in the last year but one couldn't really tell with my hair's shrinkage abilities. The pictures below are better examples of what my hair looks like now since the pictures above were taken several months ago.

I am not what one would call a product junkie either. If it works for me then I stick to it.

I don't use shampoo at all anymore. I know, I know. But like I said, it is what is working for my hair. Actually I take that back. If I can tell that my hair needs a good wash I'll use shampoo but I haven't used it in over 3 months and I think it is because I don't really use too much product on my hair which helps me avoid the massive product build up. Shampoo was definitely stripping my already dry hair's oil so in order to avoid that I made the decision to not use shampoo often at all. Instead I co-wash (conditioner wash) every week or every other week. I use Clear Total Care for my conditioner and deep conditioner. I love the way this works on my hair. It leaves it very soft, silky, moisturized and manageable. It was actually a fluke that I got this conditioner because it was a deal that I got a bottle free at CVS. I was so hesitant to use it but I ran out of conditioner one day and had no choice. Well, wouldn't you know it? My hair LOVES this stuff.

I use Shea Moisture Deep Treatment Masque for a deep conditioner. I use this about once every four weeks. I don't use it weekly because I don't feel my hair needs it as often when I'm using the Clear Total Care as a deep conditioner as well. But I use it just for something different and because it's a great product for my hair.

I use Cantu Shea Butter for my leave in conditioner and I've tried to use a few things but this one works the best for my hair so I'm sticking to it. Unless I can try a sample of something else and my mind be changed.

I use Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie for my moisturizer. Again, my hair loves this stuff. I've tried others but my hair responds the best with this one. After I co-wash I take out a section to twist, first I put some Cantu Shea Butter on the section and then I put the Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie. I detangle the section (very carefully) if it needs it and then I proceed with twisting.

I use Castor Oil to take out my twists. It helps me take them out easier and ensures that I do not tangle or create knots when I rock a twist out.

I just use what works and refuse to try products after products. I guess it's money that I'll rather see in my closet.

Like I mentioned earlier, I spritz my hair with water and EVOO every morning and night to keep my hair moisturized.

And that's it. Let me know if you have any questions and I'll get back to you. Also know that if you are a no-reply commenter I'll answer your question but you'll never get my response so try to fix that or email me directly at midnyteblue13@hotmail.com. Alright, I hope this has helped those of you who have asked or wondered about my hair.

Peace, hair grease and Afro puffs! xoxo gossip girl ;)