Washday in Braids /Senegalese twists

Hi everyone 

Hope you all had a great weekend and celebrated fathers day In style. Oh my what a Sunday for me it was with washday on the Agenda and yes I have never anticipated a washday before like I did with this particular one. I just wanted to get my head under that water so much I couldn’t wait any longer. So here goes how my day eventually went.

The plan was:

•   Prepoo with coconut oil overnight then wash out next morning

• Wash braids with cup of diluted sulphate free shampoo  {squeeze to lather}
•  Rinse with cup of clear water {squeeze to rinse}
•  Apply apple cider vinegar rinse 1 part ACV and 3 parts water
•  Apply deep conditioner ORS Replenishing conditioner
•   Add heat under thermal heat cap for 1 hour
•   Rinse out conditioner
•  Apply leave ins Aphogee Keratin and Green tea Restructurizer and scurl no drip, then when dry spray--or sponge saturate--hair with braid spray

Process:

I Poured some shampoo into a large applicator bottle ORS Invigorating Sulphate free shampoo, added lukewarm water and shook to mix thoroughly. I find that warm water encourages suds, so tepid or cold water is better. Rinsed hair with warm water for about two minutes. This is to ensure your hair is thoroughly wet and any dirt or oil that can be rinsed away has done so. Then applied the shampoo onto my scalp made sure especially to apply in between the parts. Then put the remaining shampoo in my spray bottle and sprayed the length of my hair. allow the shampoo to sit on hair for a few minutes then gently squeezed braids. I massaged the hair, but not disturbing it, Rinsed thoroughly and then did another rinse with my Apple Cider Vinegar. Soon after I LIGHTLY added ORS replenishing conditioner to the length of my hair. Used a large conditioning cap to fit the bulk of my braids and sat under a steaming cap.

I find that with braids, I only use shampoo once a month. Every other week, I will just co-wash (with conditioner only). This time though I have been using mydry scalp wash and baby wipes to cleanse in between washes I will definitely use shampoo after every three weeks the first time and on the night before take down.

NB: Dry shampooing with apple cider vinegar or some other mix is cleaning the hair, so even if water is not used, it counts. for hair or skin. Apple Cider Vinegar diluted in water is very good, followed by properly moisturising your hair after it has been stripped of all oil to minimise breakage. 

After my dc process I rinsed out the conditioner and covered my hair with an old t-shirt to try and soak up the excess water so I could air dry. After 2 hour I took down my tee and to my surprise I could still smell the ORS replenishing conditioner on my braids, first instinct was to wash again and I went straight into the shower and stood in there for a whole ten minutes to make sure the dc all came out eventually afterwards I couldn’t smell any conditioner then back to the tshirt process this time I did it for an hour then let my braids dry in a high pony. Sprayed my leave ins but was too tired to spray my braid spray.

This morning I eventually sprayed my braid spray then even had time to oil my scalp with my jbco, coconut oil mix. I will probably take these twists down at 6 weeks and not the initially planned 8 weeks will see how the next few weeks follow am just hoping not to have a set back after this protective style.

How do your washdays in braids go? please share….

Sorry guys no pics i was just too tired. I Will post pics of the products i used in my next post

Laters

Curlyeva…xoxo

EVCO, JBCO, GHE and Inversion method

Hey!

Just over a year into my healthy hair journey and i am loving just taking care of my hair. I have really become very patient with my hair i too am still in shock lol. I guess seeing other women with their beautiful hair natural or relaxed keeps me motivated.

Today is my fourth day of the inversion method week and i just remembered that in my last post i forgot to explain to those who dont know the Inversion method technique. i am going to try and briefly share on what it is. I am adding the GHE (Green House Effect) method as of tonight for the next three days till my prepoo for washday on Sunday.

*{GHE Method}-The process of using a plastic cap to generate heat on the scalp, This Method works off of just your body heat and your natural hair oils. This will promote blood flow to the scalp and can help boost moisture levels. You can put the plastic cap on for hours at a time or go to bed with it. At times i use a spritz of plain tap water instead of for now i am just using my braid spray

when my hair is not in protective styling I use Rosewater instead of Tap water.

 

What i will be using for the GHE 1. Spray bottle with water/braid spray-  the water or braid spray is used to lightly mist the hair until it is damp so as to create the ‘steam’ under the plastic cap.
2. Oil  -my oil mix i am using for the inversion method, Extra virgin coconut oil and Jbco with peppermint and tea tree oil, i am adding a few drops of rosemary a growth stimulating oil these oils will enhance growth and also lessen friction between the strands, as well as to trap moisture in the strands.
3. Shower cap the extra large one to fit my braids –  its use is to trap the heat on the scalp and create the warm environment needed for growth stimulation.
4. Scarf and satin bonnet - i use both to ensure that the plastic is securely in place so that it does not slip off and the heat does not escape under the edge of the plastic cap overnight.

  

Benefits of the GHE Method

•  The GHE stimulates hair growth and has been proven to double and even triple the normal growth rate.
•  It naturally softens hair, making it more manageable and lessens friction between the strands.
•  It is perfect for keeping dryness in check.
•  It aids in curl definition for those with curly hair.
•  It makes it easier to seal moisture into your strands.

*{Inversion Method}- The process of allowing blood flow to increase to the scalp by hanging the head in a low position. 

Defined: this method involves turning your head upside down for 4 minutes a day for 7 consecutive days per month (no more). You should couple this with a scalp massage with an oil of your choice. I prefer to warm my oil for a few seconds.

 How it works: 

 Essentially by massaging your scalp and turning your head upside down, blood chock full of nutrients rushes to your head and scalp thereby providing the ideal environment for hair growth. Essentially you are tricking your body into thinking that there is a huge abundance of nutrients so as a result there is an increase in hair growth.

So i am pretty confident i will be able to reach my goal of BSL at the end of the year and thanks again for the support ladies.

Have a lovely day!

Curlyeva......xoxo

Inversion Method here we go....

Hi all

Hope you all had a great weekend, well I did spent some time with family though i was feeling under the weather. I am really happy i had these Senegalese twists installed my daily routine has become more simpler and i honestly hate any manipulation of my hair during the winter months so wigging and braiding are my go to low manipulation styles. I decided to start my inversion method yesterday though i usually do it every 1st of the month to the 7th.

The reason why i decided to change this time around and do the inversion this week 8th to 14th June, is because i want to wash and deep condition my hair after every three weeks until i remove my braids. I will finish the inversion method on Saturday so that i can do my prepoo and wash my hair/twists on Sunday afternoon. Its winter and its very cold so i am trying to stay away from water and in the thick Senegalese twists that i am in they will take quite a bit of time to dry. Stretching my washdays for the next couple of weeks wont really disturb my regimen i have been surviving on the African Pride Braid spray, coconut oil, castor oil, peppermint oil and tea tree oil.
These have kept the itch under control so i am confident this three week stretch till washday is definately going to work.

I can only post my inversion method' results after the 1st week of August when i remove my braids. I also find it much more easier to oil my hair when its in braids. I hope i would have also retained some length by then. I am just going to try and be committed to oiling my scalp with coconut oil and JBCO through my protective style.

So till washday which i have promised to share with you
LATERS

Curlyeva...xoxo

Senegalese Twists pics

Hoping to share my washday routine in these twists and how i will look after my hair and maintain for the next two months

Senegalese Twists for my Protective Style

Hi all

Senegalese twists are great style to use to give your hair a break from daily styling. I’ve worn Senegalese for a while but last had them in sometime last year and I’ve enjoyed the hairstyle the times I have worn it. Before you take the plunge and get some installed, there are a few things that you need to know about how to prep for and care for Senegalese twists.

How I prepped my Hair for Senegalese Twists

• Conditioned hair

My hair is going to be contained in the twists for several weeks, hoping 6 -8 weeks max so it was important that i conditioned  it well before styling. I like to make sure that my hair has a good balance between protein for strength and moisture. Moisture is especially important because the synthetic hair that is used for the twists can rob your hair of precious moisture.

One week before I got the twists installed, I did a protein treatment. If you are having severe breakage, consider Aphogee’s Two-Step Protein Treatment. I opted for a lighter protein treatment like Aphogee’s Two-Minute Protein Treatment. After the protein treatment, I infused my hair with moisture for the week leading up to the install by co-washing my hair once and moisturizing frequently. For the wash right before I get my twists installed, I use a heavy moisturizing treatment Elasta qp DPR.  Also, after I blowdry my hair (more on that later), I moisturize and seal my hair a few hours to one day before the twists are installed.

• Blowdry or Stretch Out Hair

Senegalese twists take some time to install. (Mine took about 5 hours.) In order to make the process move faster, the braider grabs pieces of hair quickly. If your hair is curly, or if you have curly roots, your hair may break if they have to comb through it or untangle it. You definitely don’t want to wait until you get to the salon to get it blow dried by the braiders. They will not care for your hair as gently as you would care for it yourself. For that reason, I always blowdry my hair straight before an install. To minimize the possibility of damage, I let my hair airdry about 80%, then apply a heat protectant, then I blowdry my hair in sections.

If you are strongly opposed to using heat at all, don’t worry. You can stretch out your natural hair with braiding or banding. You could rollerset it on large rollers and let it airdry, then wrap it. For relaxed hair, you can wet wrap your hair. Just remember to do this well before your braiding appointment! Wet hair can take many, many hours to dry.

• After all of that is done, I make sure to moisturize and seal my hair one day, or even up to a few hours before an install. For a job like this, non-greasy moisturizer is in order. I use Elasta QP Olive Oil and Mango butter Moisturizer. Remember to seal lightly. You don’t want you hair to be slippery or weighed down with grease I used a bit of Jojoba oil. I keep my scalp clean, but if yours feels dry, you can massage it with a small amount of oil. These steps can be tedious, but if the health of your hair is important, then they are necessary. I also added edge control and slickened my edges down before telling my braider to stay away from your edges, so new there was a barrier right there.

Though after the twists were done I massaged a little bit of coconut oil on my scalp to soothe the mild tightness that I was feeling, am also in the Hairlista coconut oil challenge hope I can keep up with it since I am already in 2 other challenges. Better to try for healthy hair results. Two months I hope and this will also help me stretch my relaxer till my next one is due.

I will do a post on how to wash and deep condition with Senegalese twists/box braids

P.S you can see pics in protective style pics : http://curlyeva.blogspot.com/p/blog-page_24.html

laters

Curly Eva...xoxo

Hair Update 6 weeks post Relaxer

Hi all

I need to be consistent in updating this journal  more frequently. What's the point of having a journal if I'm not logging on a consistent basis, right? :) I'm sorry I've been a bit MIA -i have been really busy but I'm happy that I'm sitting down with some tea and cake (wink- wink) and ready to start writing about healthy hair again. I will start writing about how my hair is coming along and how my healthy hair goals are progressing overall.
One of the reasons I haven't been writing (and this really isn't an excuse) is that I haven't had too much to write about. My winter hair regimen is the same and the only major change that has really taken place is i have decided to add African braiding in Zimbabwean lingo mabhanzi between now May to maybe till i find a protective style i can alternate with my wigs and that I've started exercising do my Zumba 3 times a week.  

The main issue with my healthy hair regimen is to get very comfortable with protective styling. Various ponytail styles, buns and wigs are my best friends. These days I wash my hair once a week, and I make sure to shampoo out my edges either three days a week with minimal physical manipulation if I am wearing gel in them to keep them smoothed back (like my ORS Edge Control gel). I try to airdry my edges as much as possible to limit heat use on them, then i rock a ponytail or a bun or mabhanzi under my wig.

I've been keeping up with babying my edges ends and my nape am happy to report that I haven't gone through any unnecessary split end craziness or breakage/shedding issues. I have begun doing my tea rinses religiously and ACV rinses and my go to teas are blak tea and green tea. My hair is pretty much gaining more thickness and i cant really tell how much length i have gained since i am about  weeks post i will only do a length check after my next texlax. at the moment I am totally cool with growing my hair healthier and  longer. My next hair length goal is for it to reach full Arm Pit Length and then hope for BSL by December 2014. 
I am making sure to maintain a balanced diet and drink a lot of water as well. I think my change overall in developing healthy eating and exercising habits is benefiting my hair, so I'm looking forward to seeing the long-term benefits of my healthy lifestyle changes overall.
Alrighty, that's my update for now. Let me know if you have any questions! :)and if you also want to share or update how you and your hair have been fairing

Later
Curlyeva....xoxo

Relaxer update | April

Am 3 weeks post relaxer !

LATE POST

Hello all,

I finally relaxed/texlaxed my new growth *on April the 12^th* YAY!!! Finally, Finally finally!! It was definitely needed.....my new growth was getting unmanageable. And yes I am 3 weeks post relaxer now, delayed post I know sorry getting a bit lazy. I'd say I was way over 6 months post relaxer. I didn't keep count anymore coz my stretch was too long and too many challenges since it was my first time stretching for that long but now I have mastered the stretch technique I will be able to handle my next stretches more diligent. Soo  lets talk about my relaxer day shall we?

TEXLAX DAY no.2

In the build up to my relaxer touch up I deep conditioned my hair a week before and was extra careful not to miss my daily moisturizing and sealing with a lot of attention being paid to both roots and ends. I also gave myself scalp massages with warmed olive oil and sweet almond oil to give my scalp some extra oils in anticipation for the relaxer.
 

 Relaxer Kit used: Organic Root Stimulator - Normal for fine to medium hair textures.
 

I relaxed my hair at home....I'm have decided to do this on my own at any given time my 3 year old daughter will help with handing over the accessories I use etc. She likes to be involved in mummys hair routines.

I took appropriate preventive measures i.e. base added to scalp to protect against chemicals in the relaxer, oiled my ends previously relaxed hair that is and added conditioner to my relaxer to weaken the chemical in it.  i relaxed just my new growth and as close as possible to my scalp to get to the roots but not actually my scalp. I didn’t leave it on for a long time as I did not want to fully process my hair had it on for just under 8 mins - this method seems to be really working for me and I like it. That is texlaxing,  rinsed out relaxer and neutralised....i then deep conditionedusing the Replenishing  conditioner that comes with the kit mixed with a bit of ORS Hair mayonnaise and left to sit for 20 mins then rinsed out I then did a 5 min moisturizing conditioner with steam using the Elasta QP remoisturing conditioner then rinsed . After t shirt drying my hair,...used my favourite leave in at the moment the Aphogee Keratin & Green tea Restructurizer  oil and my ORS heat protection  serum. Air dried till my hair was 80% dry then blow dried on cool with a Paddle brush , flat ironed and I was done.

I have to say my hair has grown...Im well past shoulder length and so so close to arm pit length...and still like 4-6 inches away from bra strap length though. This noticeable growth is great encouragement for my healthy hair journey. Will definitely be keeping up my healthy hair practices -More protective styling, maintaining moisture to protein balance and less daily manipulation.
 

As I finish this post I am setting myself for the tHs winter hair care challenge details for challenge tellinghairstory facebook page, http://tellinghairstory.wordpress.com/2014/04/27/ths-winter-challenge-details/ . I will be continuing with the Jeenz grow your hair long and healthy challenge routine till the end of the year. Will post a pic of starting length and keep you up to date with progress pictures as I go on with the challenge.

For  now am keeping my hair in a bun. Moisturize and seal as needed.
So thats about it for now.....till later

Bye

Curlyeva…..xoxo