Hair Color | Kiss Express Color in Crimson…

I have been contemplating if to dye my hair again or just let the last dye I used, run its course and my hair return to its natural boring color of dark brown. I love trying different things and wanted to have a brighter color in my hair. I stumbled on Kiss Express Color  in Crimson which is a semi permanent hair dye and seemed to be brighter than Truly Red which I had before based on their sample.

I applied the dye with gloves from my scalp to the ends. Covered my hair with a plastic cap and sat under my heat cap for 25mins as stated on the instructions.  Rinsed with warm water and applied Aussie Moist conditioner to add some softness as well as to remove the excess dye in my hair.

Kiss Express Color in Crimson on my hair

I Changed My Hair Color To Truly Red…

If you haven’t seen my relaxer update, go ahead and check it out here. I've reached a new milestone in my life and decided to switch things up abit with my hair. Additionally I was tired of the brown shades of my hair. I thought about red and copper sunset hair colors but ended up choosing red. Also I thought about how wearing different clothing colors with colored hair would look like and figured red would most likely go with most colors. I didn't expect it to be super bright since I had no intentions of bleaching my hair.  I actually don’t like maroon color on me either but it seems to look that way sometimes.

Kiss Express Hair Color in Truly Red

Christmas Day Hair: Flexi-Rods…

At 14weeks post relaxer, the only way to blend both textures is doing some form of curls because flat ironing isn't even a question for me . Since I just had a full wash day I opted for a quick co-wash. Don' forget to check out Miss Dre Liebster Award questions here.

[1]   Deep Conditioned with my Queen Helene Cholesterol mixture on dry hair for 20mins 

       and rinsed.

[2]   Cleansed my scalp with Aussie Moist Conditioner.

[3]   Wrapped my hair in a t-shirt for 45mins to absorb the excess water.

[4]   Before applying my leave in conditioners I sprayed my hair with Mane n Tail detangler 

       on my roots. This detangler is no joke, it literally melts my tangles away. Applied my

       leave in conditioners of Aphogee Keratin & Green Tea Restructurizer , Aussie Moist 

       Conditioner, Herbal Essences Split End Protector(on my ends) and Coconut oil to my

       hair and detangled again carefully. I had no issues detangling at all.

[5]   I sectioned my hair in 4 (2 at the front & at the back) and used my wide width comb first, 

       then a smaller comb to make sure there were no knots or tangles before rolling the hair.

I had my moisturizing spray bottle on hand to keep my hair moist before rolling unto the flexi-rods.  I used end wrap papers to secure the ends as the rolled the hair up in a spiral set.

It took me about 1hr & 15mins to install 25 rods. Before getting under my hooded dryer I used my trusted Tresemme Heat Tamer spray and sat under the hooded dryer for 30mins.  Since I was going to the midnight service I let the rest of my hair air dry.

 

Please click on the image to enlarge

 I only pulled apart the curls at he back and side  to eliminate the spaces but pretty much left the 

NEW VIDEO | Natural Bun & Sock Bun…

I have been getting alot of questions about  how I achieve my buns so I decided visual was better and I did a video to show you guys.  I usually rock a natural bun to work and casual outings.  However, when I want more volume with my buns, I add a sock for more uniformed and large look. 

Take a look of how I do my buns in the video:

From the pictures below the two top pics almost look identical but you can tell that the sock bun is more defined.

Please click on the image to enlarge

Which do you prefer to rock a Natural Bun or Sock Bun?

Be Inspired…

Wash Day Post Relaxer…

After relaxing my hair I like to do a protein treatment one week after but not later than two weeks after to add some strength back into my strands.

[1]   Prepooed with Extra Virgin Coconut Oil on my scalp and on the length of my hair.

[2]   Shampooed with ORS Creamy Aloe Shampoo.

[3]   Applied Aphogee Two Step Protein treatment and sat under my hooded dryer for 15mins 

       till my hair was rock solid. Please Note do not comb or brush your hair after using

       this treatment prior to rinsing it out as your hair will break due to the stiffness.

[4]   Appllied Aphogee Balancing Moisturizer for 2mins and rinsed.

[5]   Followed up with Neutrogena Triple Moisture Hair Mask for 35mins.

[6]   Wrapped my hair in a t-shirt for 30mins to absorb the excess water.

[7]   Applied Aphogee Keratin & Green Tea Restructurizer , Herbal Essences Split-End

       Protector (on my ends), Aussie Moist Conditioner & Hot Six Oil.

Fully wrapped my hair damp and sat under my hooded dryer for 30 mins and allowed the rest of my hair to airdry.

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I was looking forward to wearing my hair straight for another week that’s why I wrapped it but 

Relaxer Day Results & I CUT 3 Inches off…

The night before my relaxer, I parted my hair in 4 sections and sprayed my new growth with the Mane n Tail detangler, then combed with my wide width comb followed by smaller teeth comb to make sure all my coils were combed out properly so it’s easier when the relaxer is applied. Then I applied Vaseline on my scalp.  It took me 1 hour & 30mins to carefully detangle.

The morning of my relaxer I applied Extra Virgin Olive Oil on my ends first followed by Roux Porosity Control Corrector Conditioner on my ends to protect it from relaxer run off.

My relaxer process was exactly the same as the June relaxer day results seen (here) (same process and products used) except the total time of application and smoothing took 12mins. As usual, my hair was fully wrapped and I left the salon with my hair the same way after sitting under the dryer for 1hr & 15mins and my hair was still damp at the top.  The back of my hair came out bone straight but the top has alil texture to it. I got one burn and suffered some breakage during the relaxer process.

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A couple hours later I took down the wrap and I realized that my nape doesn't grow not nearly 

NEW VIDEO: Flexi-Rods on Relaxed Hair (Install & Take Down)

As promised I have uploaded the Flexi-Rods video that I did last week @ 12weeks post relaxer.  Hope this is helpful for those of you who want to try this method of achieving spiral curls.

I hope you enjoyed the video.

Be Inspired…  
 

Flexi-Rods @ 12 Weeks Post

Today’s wash day is filled with loads of moisture and peppermint, such a great wash day with no issues *sigh of relief @ 12 weeks post*

[1]   Prepooed with coconut oil on my scalp and Aussie Moist Conditioner mixed with Extra

       Virgin Olive Oil and Coconut oil with a few drops of peppermint on the length of my hair 

       for 30mins under my heat cap.

[2]   Shampooed with Elasta QP Creme Conditioning Shampoo.

[3]   Poured my black tea rinse mixed with a hint of peppermint oil from my roots to my ends

       for 5 mins, then applied Aussie Moist Conditioner over that for 2 mins and rinsed. My hair

       felt sooooooooooooo good at this point, very soft and moisturized which made me 

       contemplate skipping my DC but I really wanted to try out this new Deep Conditioner and 

       old habits are hard to die.

[4]   Deep Conditioned with Neutrogena Triple Moisture Deep Recovery Hair Mask for 45 mins

       under my heat cap.  This DC lives up to its words, my hair felt like butter and so 

       moisturized, really liking this so far.

[5]   Wrapped my hair in a t-shirt for 1hr to absorb the excess water.

[6]   Applied Aphogee Keratin & Green Tea Restructurizer , Aussie Moist Conditioner,    
       Herbal Essences Split End Protector (on my ends) and Hot Six Oil to my hair and 
       detangled carefully.

I sectioned my hair in 4 (2 at the front & at the back) and used my wide width comb first then a smaller comb to make sure there were no knots or tangles before rolling the hair.

Please click on image to enlarge

I had my moisturizing spray bottle on hand for when my hair starts to get dry before I was ready to roll them.

One Year Hair Anniversary…

Time flies so quickly and I can’t believe I have been on my Healthy Hair Journey for a year now and feeling really blessed to see how well my hair is blossoming. June 2012 was when I started my hair journey, you can check out how and why I started my (Healthy Hair Journey).

My Hair Journey hasn't been a walk in the park but I have thoroughly enjoyed it so far.  I don’t have any regrets but I do wish I started my Hair Journey sooner, better late than never right.

Have a look at how my hair has been over the year so far and looking forward to meeting many more goals in the future. I started off at Full Neck / Shoulder Length and now I’m grazing APL. Over the last year I wore braid-outs (still have to master this), Bantu Knots, Buns, Flexi-Rods, Inside Cornrow/French Braid and Faux Bobs.

First 4 month stretch:

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How I Wore My Hair During My Vacation…

I really wanted to keep my hair styles simple but chic during my vacation.  I was planning to do a braid-out and flexi-Rod set but that didn't happen.  The weather wasn't the best so I did a lot of protective styles to keep my ends well tucked away.  Have a look at how I wore my hair during my vacation.

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My Vacation Hair Needs...

In my last (wash day) post I would have shared with you guys that I was on vacation and not planning to do much to my hair.  Here are some of the Hair Accessories and Hair Products I carried with me below.

Please click image to enlarge

::Hair Accessories::

[A]    Hair Clips - To keep my hair in place when I wrap my hair for bed
[B]    Scrunches - When I’ll threw my hair in a pony tail [Without the metal]
[C]    Flexi-Rods - Was planning to do a curly hair style

I Trimmed My Hair…

I brought out the scissors and got a light trim.  Remember my (last wash day)post when I told you guys that I suffered from a lot of breakage, well the before trim pic below shows you exactly. As you can see 1 inch was trimmed off and I wanted more cut but mom insisted that it was enough. I must admit I'm scared to trim my own hair. 

Please click image to enlarge

My ends looks on the thin side but that's because my hair was product heavy after moisturizing and sealing for 4 days before I decided to trim.  This was probably a bad idea and I should have trimmed right after my relaxer.  

Wash Day Post Relaxer...

I’ll like to say a BIG hello to all my followers especially my newest followers, I really appreciate your support.  I’m going on vacation and really looking forward to some deserved relaxation.  I need to add some strength to my hair after the relaxer process last week, so protein will definitely be incorporated.

[1]     Prepooed with Extra Virgin Olive Oil & Grapeseed Oil mixed all over my hair
         first. Then I applied ORS Hair Mayonnaise mixed with CON Intensive 
         Conditioning Treatment on the length of my hair on top of that. You guys know
         I can’t stand strong smell and the ORS Hair Mayonnaise has a strong perfume 
         scent so I tried to tone it down with CON intensive treatment but that too has a
         sweetish smell.  I added a couple drops of peppermint oil and mixed thoroughly
         before applying to the length of my hair.

[2]     Shampooed with ORS Creamy Aloe Shampoo, followed by CON Argan Oil Moisture
         & Shine Shampoo.

[3]     Deep Conditioned with Queen Helene mixed with my Oils & Roux Correction
         Conditioner   

[4]     Wrapped my hair in a t-shirt for 10 mins to absorb the excess water.

[5]     Applied Aphogee Keratin & Green Tea Restructurizer, HE Split-End Protector 
         and Organix Coconut Milk Anti-Breakage Serum and detangled.

[6]     Full wrapped my hair and sat under my dryer for 45 mins. After being under the 
         dryer for 20 mins I realized, crap I forgot to spray my Tresemme Heat Tamer ah well.

[7]     My hair was 80% dry and threw on my satin bonnet and went to bed.

The following day I applied some Elasta QP Olive Oil & Mango Butter and Hot Six Oil around my wrap and combed it down with my wide with comb. I didn't have much time to take a lot of pics as I was hustling to get to the airport. I don’t want to do too much with my hair while on vacay so washing isn't an option but you never know what will happen. Definitely keeping it simple but going to enjoy the fruits of my labour over the last 16 weeks

Please click image to enlarge

How was your last wash day?

Be inspired…

Relaxer Day Results…

Let me apologize for how late this post is. Last weekend was hectic and just full of excitement. The night before my relaxer I took my time and detangle my hair with my favorite Mane n Tail Detangler. I parted my hair in 4 sections and sprayed the Detangler on my new growth, then combed with my wide width comb, followed by smaller teeth comb to make sure all my coils were combed out properly so it’s easier when the relaxer is applied. Then I applied Vaseline on my scalp.  It took me 2 hours to carefully detangle.  I can’t imagine what you ladies who are transitioning go through on your wash days, takes my hat off to you guys

The morning of my relaxer I applied Extra Virgin Olive Oil on my ends first, followed by Roux Correction Conditioner on my ends to protect it from relaxer run off. I headed down to my favorite hairdresser in Bridgetown for 8:00 am and I was her first client.

[1]      She used the Optimum Multi-Mineral Reduced PH Crème Relaxer in which the 
          total application, smoothing and combing through time took 25 mins

[2]      She washed out the relaxer and Shampooed with Motions Neutralizing Shampoo 
          twice.

[3]      She applied the Elasta QP Soy OYL Ultra Hydration Anti-Breakage Moisture Rich 
          Deep Conditioner, placed a plastic cap on my hair and I headed under the dryer 
          for 45 mins

[4]      I allowed my hair to cool off first before she washed out the deep conditioner

[5]      She applied Blue Magic Tea Tree Oil Leave in conditioner

[6]      My hair was full wrapped and sat under the dryer for 1 hour

I was getting frustrated being under the dryer so I left the salon at 10:30 am that’s record time for me, with my hair still wrapped.  Only the top of my hair was damp but I figured while walking around in town the sun will help dry it, plus I can go under my dryer when I get home.  My hairdresser was not pleased that I didn’t let the hair totally dry but she knows I can take care of my hair.

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To be honest when  got home I was nervous to take down my wrap because I was not sure if I

Did My Vitamins Boost My Hair Growth?

To see the progress I made and my thoughts when I first started taking this vitamin for 7 weeks which includes the suggested use, what they claim and the size of the tablet, please (click here)

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Co-Washing & Steaming Without A Steamer...

I know I must have raised your eyebrows by this blog post title and you must be wondering why am I co-washing, when I tend to get sick after air drying my damp hair with cool breeze. Well, even though my last wash day was smooth with no issues @ 11 weeks post, I found my hair to be dry, days after, even though I moisturized and sealed very well. Now how do I fix this? I’m in need of a moisture boost so since I’m off from work (Thursday) I decided to throw in a quick co-wash session.

I don’t normally do concoctions for conditioning my hair, but for some reason I had a thought to whip up something for my co-washing session, perhaps it was the conversation I had with one of my friends telling me to experiment and who knows what would happen.

I parted my hair into four sections (2 front & 2 back) and detangled carefully.  Here is what my conditioner mixture consisted of which was mainly moisture: [1] HE Long Hair Relationship Conditioner [2] HE Tousle Me Softly Conditioner, couple drops of CON Intensive Conditioning treatment, couple drops of Roux Correction Conditioner, Jamaican Black Castor Oil, Grapeseed Oil and 3 drops of peppermint oil (the fragrances from the conditioners were alil strong so I toned it down with peppermint oil).

Please click image to enlarge

From the title is that even possible, well Age over at (Loving My Hair) talked about steaming

Did You Know I Have A Patch In My Hair…

It saddens me to talk about this and I only have myself to blame.  It all started when I wanted a different look for Christmas in December 2011. So I contacted an old school mate of mine that has her own salon, to get a weave/wig to rock for a couple of weeks.  I ended up getting a wig done on a wig cap but the sides and back were stuck to my skin.  I must say it was fresh and a hair cut I could never imagine myself doing to my own hair and I immediately fell in love.  All my friends commented on how nice it was on me, what do you think?

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10 days later my scalp started itching me like crazy and I wanted to take off the wig cap so I could wash my hair and then just put it back on, but boy was that a big mistake.  I picked up my

NEW VIDEO: How to do a French Braid...

It’s funny how my braid-out looks better here in the video than when I took pics to show you guys on my last (Wash Day Here) ah well...Maame Esi asked me if I had a tutorial on how I did my French braid, so I decided to do one - sorry it’s a week late. I do hope it helps someone to achieve this style.

Was this video helpful to you?

Be Inspired…

Wash Day With Braid-Out...

My wash day was pretty much the usual - to see what my typical wash day routine is (Click Here) or (here).  I did do something alil different this wash day as I ran out of my two favourite oils: EVOO & EVCO My Coconut Oil is wayyyyyyyyyy too expensive here in Barbados and the supermarket  ran out of my Olive Oil brand. I’m hoping to replenish my EVOO by month end and to order my EVCO online soon.

I started to do some research to figure out what could be my temporary oil replacement and based on the benefits and price I decided to try (Grapeseed Oil)  Grapeseed Oil is filled with ceramides - which I’ll discuss in a later post when I have seen the benefits on my hair.

I Pre-pooed with Grapeseed Oil on my scalp and to the length of my hair for 30 mins.

Shampooed with CON Argan Oil Moisture & Shine Shampoo, I skipped my light protein treatment of Aphogee Keratin 2 Minute Reconstructor...Deep Conditioned with my Queen Helene, t-shirt dried, applied my leave-ins of Aphogee Keratin & Green Tea Restructurizer , Herbal Essences Split-End Protector and Organix Coconut Milk Anti-Breakage Serum and left my hair to air dry.

Once my hair was 90% dry, I moisturized with Elasta QP Olive Oil & Mango Butter and sealed with Hot Six Oil.  I decided on a braid-out hairstyle, so I did five cornrow plaits (2 at the front and 3 at the back), tied down my hair and went to bed. The following morning I sprayed the braids with my homemade moisturizing spray and let it dry for a couple of hours with curlers on the ends of the braids.

Here are the results...but the camera does not do much justice to my braid-out, please see the beginning of my video to see what I mean (Click Here)

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Wash Day with Flexi-Rods...

*Have you checked out our latest feature of the mouse over yet? Well just place your mouse over EVOO or any other abbreviations below to get the meaning*

I hope everyone had a wonderful and Blessed Easter (sorry this post is alil bit late).  One of my good friends was hosting a dance show over the weekend and I was planning to go and show some support.  The show was very well attended and the performances were awesome, Barbados has great talent.  For my dress I was thinking of an artistic look (did not happen, just slapped on a jeans and nice top) and for my hair I wanted some form of curls and decided to do a Flexi-Rod set and I’m 8 weeks post relaxer.  To achieve the look I wanted, this is how my wash day went:

1)      Prepoo with EVCO & EVOO on my scalp and Herbal Essence Long Term Relationship 

         Conditioner on the length of my hair for 30 mins under my heat cap 

2)      Shampoo with CON Argan Oil Moisture & Shine Shampoo [two lathers] 

3)      Apply Aphogee Keratin 2 Minute Reconstructor on my hair for 2 mins without heat. 

4)      When I took the mixture of my Queen Helene DC from the fridge I noticed it wasn’t 

         enough for my whole head.  I decided to try (CON Intensive Conditioning Treatment) 

         [first time using this as a Deep Conditioner], with a few drops of peppermint oil for 

         45 mins  under my heat cap. From 8 weeks post I increase the amount of time I DC     

         because my new growth is kicking up and I want to ensure that those coils are 

         properly conditioned. My hair felt silky and moisturized but I think I prefer this as a 

         pre-poo. 

5)      Wrapped my hair in a t-shirt for 10 mins to absorb the excess water 

6)      Applied Aphogee Keratin & Green Tea Restructurizer , Herbal Essences Split-End 

         Protector and Organix Coconut Milk Anti-Breakage Serum  to my hair and detangled 

         carefully. 

7)      I parted my hair in 3 sections (2 at the front &  at the back) and used my wide width 

         comb first, then a smaller comb to make sure there were no knots or tangles before 

         rolling the hair.

Please click image to enlarge

 8)     My hair wasn’t soaking wet but damp and I had my spray bottle filled with water on