Hair Day

Today's process:

1. I applied the Ojon deep conditioning treatment overnight.
2. I washed & deep conditioned with the Ojon moisturizing shampoo ultra moisturizing condition.
3. I couldn't help myself & so I added some Joico to the Ojon Conditioner & put on my heat cap for about 90 minutes.
4. I rinsed, applied OVT to my scalp and used Castor oil to seal in moisture.
5. I did Bantu knots all over, smoothed the edges & tied with a scarf.
6. Then I sat under dryer 30 minutes & let it airdry the rest of the way overnight.

Hair day

Today's regimen:

1. Applied a OVT/MT combo to scalp & massaged it in.
2. Then I applied a mixture of OVT and Joico Moisturizing Balm to my hair and Ojon treatment to just ends.
3. Put on my heat cap for 1 hour.
4. Washed with Ojon Hydrating Shampoo.
5. Deep conditioned Ojon Hydrating Conditioner & some Joico (just love this stuff!).
6. Heat cap 30 minutes.
7. Rinsed, detangled.
8. Applied castor oil to seal.
9. Bantu knots all over.
10. Tied with silk scarf and went to bed.

Today's wash day hair regimen

Applied MT/OVT mixture to my scalp & Ojon deep treatment to hair and put on heat cap for 30 minutes. Then I washed with Ojon Ultra Hydrating shampoo & applied Ojon Hydrating Conditioner & Joico with heat for 1 hour. After rinsing, I applied OVT to scalp with Castor oil to seal and did big box braids with rollers on the end.

Got the Ojon!

OI ordered the Ojon Kit from QVC! The kit included their ultra hydrating shampoo and conditioner, deep conditioner & leave-in conditioning spray. I cannot wait to try it, but it will have to wait for the weekend.

A Setback

After following advice to use a garlic treatment to prevent possible increased shedding due to the MT/OVT use, last week I used a infused garlic oil concoction my dear sister brewed up. I used it as a pre-poo. When I was rinsing it out, my hair was like straw, seemed like it would not absorb any water, was hard & crunchy; my new growth was even more water resistant!!! I never experienced anything like this before!!!
To try to get back to normal, I shampooed with SoSmooth creme shampoo then applied some Joico Moisture Balm, & Castor oil and applied my heat cap. After about 1 hour I rinsed and my hair was much better, but still not the same. I applied OVT to my scalp & sealed with Castor oil. During this comb out, I had a lot of shedding/breakage also....however I persevered on. I put Bantu knots in, smoothed the front, placed a silk scarf & sat under a dryer for 45 minutes. I wore a bun the rest of the week.

20 weeks post!

I was 20 weeks post-relaxer on 11/13. Yea! My new growth is really something....

Last night I pre-pooed with heat with Ovation on my scalp & Giovanni smooth as silk conditioner on my hair. Afterwards I washed with Giovanni 50/50 shampoo. Then I deep conditioned with Joico. To finish up, I applied Ovation to my scalp, sealed my ends with Castor oil and put my hair into 5 Bantu knots. To smooth down edges, I tied them down with a silk scarf and sat under the dryer for 30 minutes and let my hair air dry the rest of way overnight. I am planning to wear a bun until next wash day. The next morning, my hair was still damp, so took down the knots & smushed together wet ends and put into a ponytail with the ends tucked under, put on a wavy phony pony and bunned it up with some little butterflies.

Love Joico Moisture Recovery Treatment Balm!!

The Joico Moisture Recovery Treatment Balm is one the best conditioners I have ever experienced! The hydrating benefits of sea kelp, marine-derived amino acids, Murumuru butter, olive & Shea butter are amazing. I used it for the first time last week. My hair was well conditioned, strong with just the right amount of resiliency & slip. Comb-out was a breeze on my normally easily tangled hair. I applied the Joico after my oil pre-poo & Giovanni shampoo with my heat cap for 30 minutes. This was a heaven of a comb-out!

Mega-tek!

My official hair measurements: 9 1/2",2" from front eddy/ 7" ,2" up from nape. I will be starting the Mega-tek tonight. I will start off using it straight, applied to just my scalp. I also plan to use it to help grow out my nails.
I intend to keep my hair in protective styles for the next few weeks: braided with a silk scarf (30%), keeping it braided and wearing a half cap with a scarf to cover my braided front(50%) or unbraiding just the front and wearing a half cap(20%).

17 weeks post relaxer

Today I deep conditioned with Mizani Kerafuse enhanced with silk amino acids and Castor oil. It seemed my hair was shedding, but I wasn't sure why. Was it due to 2 hair textures, lack of protein, lack of moisture, over manipulation, or change of the seasons?
Anyways, after being counseled by my sister(the hair professional), I was advised to do the Kerafuse and most definitely increase my moisture with water and some type of oil seal on a daily basis also. So I deep conditioned with the Kerafuse, sealed with Castor oil and braided in 9 large plaits with rollers on the ends. I sat under the dryer for about 1 1/2 hours total, but not consecutively. I can let it air dry the rest of the way. I had minimum shedding during the combout.
I continue to be amazed by the texture of my new growth. I simply can hardly wait for more length and to do the big BC.

More than I bargained for

This transitioning is quite a challenge for me, mainly due to that I am not accustomed to doing something time consuming to my hair on a daily basis. I previously was a half-cap, ponytail or bun kind of girl.
At over 16 weeks post relaxer, I need to do something on a daily basis. And when I say something, I mean over 15 minutes of work..at least. I did a roller set last week, which came out horrible. I don't know how to do to stretch out the new growth on the roller. So I reverted back to the curly half-cap with a scarf covering the front.
However, I have done the Moe Grow oil at least every other night. I tried to remeasure to compare lengths , but it is hard to tell if it is the exact same spot. Next time my hair is loose, I plan to measure 2 inches back from my eddy and 2 inches from my nape and use that from now on.
This week, to manage my hair, I have dampened it after applying the Moe Grow and pulled it into a bun. Then I apply some S Curl 360 Style pomade to my edges and tie it down with a silk scarf. In the morning, I have some noticeable waves and it is smooth. After applying some coconut oil, I pop in my ponytail and I am ready for work.

Week 14

Well, I decided I needed some of the relaxed hair off my head!!! My haircare professional blow dried & flat ironed my hair in order to cut it on 9/11. I now have a chin length layered bob, much more manageable. I really cannot wait until I can see my natural texture more and just get rid of the permed ends.

Last week, I did a DC then a roller set. It was cute for 2 days... and required re-rolling at night. I am not accustomed to nightly maintenance with my hair, so this is a big struggle for me. After the second day, I just did half caps with outfit matching scarves tied over the front. Today I managed to pull it all back and wore a matching wavy ponytail pinned up into a bun.

Have you all heard of the MoeGrow oil formula, I got it off nappturality.com and her personal fotki. http://www.nappturality.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=95583http It is supposed to increase your hair growth. It is dried horsetail steeped in oil for 3 days and then aloe vera added. It is also important to massge the oil into the scalp with the fingerpads. My first usage was 9/25, I have oiled my scalp with this three times this past week. I didn't start the actual measuring until 10/2; on 10/2 the front measured at 8.5, the back 6.5.
I am now off to DC with some EVOO, almond oil, & EOs rosemary, clary sage & cedar, then another rollerset...

Hair Growth

In an effort to get maximum hair growth during this transition period, I intend to follow my regimen as close as possible.
My proposed regimen:
1. Direct heat only for blow drying before getting hair cut
2. 2x weekly scalp massage
3. Andrew Lessman's multivitamin, HHS&N & iron daily along w/flax seed & borage oil capsules
4. Rosemary oil massaged into hairline nightly
5. Aerobic exercise 4x weekly minimum
6. Adequate hydration
7. Keeping hair and scalp hydrated with homemade leave in spray moisturizer thru out the day

Week 10

I decided I would try just cowashing my hair and I purchased Vo5 strawberry & cream conditioner. I did not like the way my hair felt at all, so I used my newly purchased Giovanni 50:50 balanced hydrating clarifying shampoo. It contains zero sulfates. My hair felt just right after use. I deep conditioned, spritzed with my all natural leave in daily moisturuzer and then braided my hair with rollers on the end. I allowed to dry overnight.

I also have purchased other highly recommended Giovanni products, the tea tree conditioner and the smooth as silk conditioner as well; I will post reviews after use.

It's official!

I have officially decided to no longer subject my hair to a harsh and damaging chemical relaxer every 7-8 weeks, I am done with chemical relaxers. I will let me hair grow out naturally. A BC is out of the question for me, I will just transition by trimming of my relaxed ends every 3 months.

Some background info

• current hair length is close to back brastrap, no color
• unsure of texture, but I experience some definite wavycurlykinky new growth
• last touchup was 7/3/08
• I have been relaxing my hair for 25 years!

I will be posting pictures of my progress, sharing my hair regimen and product reviews, and providing tips and resources for transitioning out of chemical relaxers.