As far as my hair regimen, Mine is pretty much similar to when I was relaxed. Except that I don't use a relaxer anymore. My hair is not long at the moment, but the top is since I have been growing that out more. But many of the techniques still work.
For MadiMel's hair regimen, it is pretty much the same. Some products have been added and some switched to new ones. I will not say the replaced products
didn't work anymore, it was time to try something different and it has
worked just fine, probably a little better for her.
Keep in mind when you do create a hair regimen, use it as a guide. Don't let it guide you. There will be times, you will miss a wash day, deep conditioning and forget to moisturize your hair for a week. It's okay. Just get back right on track when you can. Trust me, I am not perfect with my hair regimen, but I still maintain what needs to be done when I can. In essence, just practice healthy hair techniques and you are good to go. I feel that products enhance the beauty and health of your hair.
It is about that time again for this season and school-end events (recitals, weddings, proms, formals) for many of our children. For me, it is my daughter's dance recital. She has been dancing for 4 years now and absolutely loves it. This year, she will be in four different dance routines during the recital in June. This week, was their professional photo shoot and that meant her hair had to be styled into a mandatory bun.
Each year, the requirement is to have the child's hair in a bun (for girls). For some parents, it may be a challenge to do this depending on the hair the child has. There are many tools that cater to buns. Such as the donut foam, sock bun, and other hair bun making tools. Not everything works for every one and here are some reasons why: short hair, fine hair, thin hair, thick hair, long hair. Depending on the hair, you need to have something to accommodate what needs to be achieved. From talking to several parents of all races that bring their to the same dance schools, many face various challenges: coarse hair, short/thick hair, long/thick hair, layered hair, long/thin hair, short/thin hair, curly hair....so many!
MadiMel has thick, coarse and dense hair. Her hair is mostly coily and a small area where it is a little loose with small waves. Straightening her hair could have been an option, but I choose and chose not to do that. From the years since she has been dancing and received the hair style requirement, I have never used heat but opted for another option. Going heatless.
If she already had a style on her hair such as cornrows and/or twists, I simply take her hair down (after each twist and cornrow), finger detangle and then use a Denman brush to make the hair more manageable. Considering that her hair was previously styled, her hair would be more likely be stretched out. Less work but just detangling that would consume my time.
If I shampooed or cowashed, towel dry as much as I can, put her hair into 4 jumbo twists/plaits or loose french braids to let it airdry after moisturizing it. That also helps to stretch the hair (other ways: conrows, twists, banding, african threading).
Once her hair is dried, I take her hair down. Her hair is a bit more stretched where it becomes manageable and takes so much less time to style. And again, I also make sure her ends are well moisturized since that part of the hair, the ends, are the oldest and vulnerable to dryness.
If heat is a plan for you to straighten the hair:
*Be sure that you use a heat protector
*Do not flat iron the hair while wet
*Using too much product(s) and flat ironing may burn the hair and cause damage
*Use the lowest heat setting possible that will just do the job for your child's hair
*To avoid going over the hair several times with the flat iron, use a comb with it to help keep the hair aligned
*Moisturize the hair well - this will restore the dryness the heat caused
Here is a video on the bun I do on her hair for her recital (and other times).
The video was recorded back in Spring 2012. Since it is the time for various events, several people had asked me for a video like this. I thank you!
We'll chat soon and have a blessed and wonderful weekend!
I was recently sent a package from SoftSheen Carson to try out some items from their new product line: Optimum Salon Haircare's Amla Legend. The package included a relaxer kit (no-lye) and a hair & scalp serum. Of course, I opened everything and smelled them. Immediately after I smelled the products, I was really amazed. Everything including the relaxer had such a pleasant scent. Hair relaxers usually have a "chemical" scent and even after neutralizing, shampooing, deep conditioning etc., sometimes the "chemical" smell still lingers on the hair. But this one certainly did not. Also, the relaxer did not require it to be mixed before application.
Many of you know that I have been using Revlon's Fabulaxer No-Lye Relaxer for years. I will tell you how long....almost 16 years! I only ventured out twice before in the past, trying a different relaxer and did not like them. But do not quote me on this...I also recently heard that it will be discontinued.
I applied the new relaxer and did the whole "ritual" (the term they use). After drying and flat ironing, I was very pleased with the results. My scalp did not burn, my hair felt great and it felt amazingly moisturized. I have been married to Fabulaxer for a long time, but it is time to let it go. So this is my new relaxer, the Optimum Salon Haircare's Amla Legend. I plan on trying their other products such as the shampoo and conditioner, etc. and see if it would affect, change and/or enhance my current hair regimen.
According to the instructions, it is made for all hair types and it also advises on the processing times for each type:
The Hair and scalp serum, "Billion Hair Potion"also smelled wonderful too. This serum was not oily, but more liquid and seemed to dissolve right onto the scalp. It is to be used twice a day. If you put too much, your hair will end up wet. What I also liked about it, is that the bottle comes with a top that is a dropper. It makes it easy to apply the product onto the scalp. This item is to promote thicker, fuller hair and conditions it too. And again, I will add that this also smells wonderful too!
I do not recommend any one switching their relaxer too often because different relaxers will have a variation of different ingredients and it may/will cause damage to the hair. I had a friend that used a different relaxer almost every other relaxer service just because she found it on sale. Was her hair damaged? Yes, her hair had become weak and thin. She also relaxed her hair every six weeks, but did a halo touch up (relaxing just the edges), every two weeks so she can have that sleek look all the time.
Please keep in mind that results will vary and this may work for you or not work for you. For me, it has worked great so far and I am happy with it.
I have not done anything to my hair for almost two weeks. No cowashing, no comb detangling and I kept it in a simple loose bun style during the whole duration. Of course I finger combed, tied my hair up at night, moisturized my hair edges and moisturized the hair ends every other evening.
We do have regimens that we follow, but do we really follow it all the time? I will not say that I am 100% consistent when it comes to my hair. I use my regimen as a guide to reference to and cater to my hairs' needs when needed.
But for the past week, just as few other times...I just did not feel like being bothered with my hair at all! Some of my reasons are because I become overwhelmed, I am tired after the day is over (kids - husband, household things, work, errands, etc.) and/or I am pushing it for the next day almost every day during that time frame.
After I get out of that trance of laziness, I go all out - deep condition and give my hair the TLC it needs. And of course it feels great afterwards...not to mention the relief that it is finally done!
There are "Pros" and a "Cons" to not doing anything with and to the hair...
"Pros":
When you leave your hair alone
It can flourish
Less manipulation means less stress to the hair
Possible length retention
If your hair is relaxed, you may end up stretching your relaxer without realizing this and benefit from such...
"Cons":
Dry hair if you do not keep up with moisturizing
Hair may become badly tangled
Hair may smell depending on how you sweat
Build up on the scalp
Tonight may be the night I finally do something with it *sighs*...LOL.
Does anyone else feel this way sometimes? What do you do with your hair during the periods of "laziness" or "neglect"? How has that affected your hair? What do you do with your hair after that long period you didn't do anything?
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