August goals update!

1. Do not relax hair this month (I relaxed Aug 22nd after experiencing breakage)
2. Use up 2 products (Check, I used up plenty)
3. Do not use heat this month (check)
4. Finish multivitamins and biotin (check for biotin, working on the muiltivits and iron)
5. Do not trim (check)
6. Drink more water (check)
7. Try at least 2 braid outs on my hair (check)
8. Run 10 miles (FAIL!!... ran about 5 miles)
9. Try a tea rinse (CHECK, AND IT DID NOT HELP MY SHEDDING)

I DID GOOD THIS MONTH... CANT WAIT FOR NEXT MONTHS GOALS!

Used up hair produts list for the month of August!

I am making progress people!!!... Going to start this coming school semester with fresh products to last me till December.

Biotin 1000mcg
Ors shampoo
Vo5 shampoo
Mane and Tail conditioner
Mane and Tail detangler
Grape seed oil
Creame of Nature leave in conditioner

My dresser is starting to look a lot neater with all these bottles gone... I will update my school hair care shopping list soon.

I made a U part wig!

Guess who made a new wig! I did it all by myself and it was not that hard surprisingly. So the tools I used was:

• a glue gun
• a spandex cap
• 2 packs of Model Model 100% human hair
• scissors
• needle and thread

that's all folks! it was really simple I glued the hair onto the cap, left a U parting in the front, cut that section of the cap off, and than sewed it on to my anchor braids on the top of my head and this bad boy is secure!!!.. pictures below

Organizing again!

Look at me trying to get my stuff together. I always wanted this it's just so cute. I purchased it from target for $19.99 and I have it set up in my room so nicely... I recommend buying if you don't already have!!!.... keep your jewelry organized.

4th summer read...

I am done for the summer. Reading all these books has lifted my spirits, because I am much more relaxed. This was my last book I had to read for this summer, it took me 1 day to read it, and by far this was the best of the four. The name of the book is "Torn Between Two Lovers" by Carl Weber. The storyline follows the life of 4 people; a married couple, a side piece (who is  male), and a ex-best friend/life ruiner. This book has multiple affairs happening all at the same time, but in the way the book is written you don't find this out until the end. This book has love, stalking, lust, sexual affairs, murder, suicide, police action, evil doings, and pain all wrapped up in the pages. I would recommend reading it you have the time!

3rd summer read...

Okay so this book was good. Its called "The Best Kept Secret" By Kimberla Lawson Roby. It also took me 2 days to read and it was a page turner I couldn't put it down. The storyline follows a pastor and his family through  their struggle to live a new life as of the middle class, a situation they had no choice but to take after the Pastor was corrupt and was exiled from his church, and forced to move to a smaller town, in a smaller house, with a smaller income. His new financial situation placed a lot of strain on his marriage, which caused his wife to act out in trifling ways. This book has vanity, jealousy, sexual affairs, money, abuse, fear, crazy, and sadness all wrapped up in the pages.
I would recommend it.

Relaxer touch up

So, I was experiencing a lot of breakage from my multi textured texlaxed/relaxed hair and decided to relax my hair and air dry it. I like the results of the way my roots came out, but the shaft of my hair still has multiple textures and I have some short pieces next to long pieces from the breakage. I guess the strain of my hair holding on to these bone straight ends are just causing them to snap off.

Well, hopefully I will get my hair together one day. What I did different with this relaxer was mix the ors replenishing conditioner with the ors hair mayonnaise and sat under the hood dryer for 10 minutes. I wanted to make sure my hair got enough protein since I was using such a harsh chemical in my hair. Anyways, it has gotten to hot to keep putting on my wig with the bangs so I guess I will just wear my hair pinned up with a head band until September because I just really don't feel like being bothered with hair now that summer school is finally over and I have 7 days until my last semester actually begins I have sooooo  much to do to prepare.

Itchy scalp came back to haunt me

Yes, I thought I was done with it when I clarified my hair but I was wrong. I washed my hair Monday night but this time I did things very different. The first being purchasing tea tree oil for my scalp. Now I read about tee tree oil healing the scalp and helping with dryness so I went and purchased a bottle before work. When I got home after, I attacked my scalp with the oil and I added coconut oil to the length of my hair pulled out my hood dryer and sat under it with a plastic cap for 10 minutes on high. When time passed I let my hair cool down and than clarified in the shower with the V05 shampoo in 2 section and conditioned with the aussie moist 3 minute miracle for about 3 minutes. I than rinsed and t shirt dried for about 5 minutes, added my Jane Carter spray leave-in, and nourishing cream with a little coconut oil to detangled my hair in 4 sections. ( this time I did not use the aphogee keratin leave in, it could be causing breakage) I than twisted the 4 sections and went to bed while air drying the rest. When I woke my hair felt soft and again I have not had any scalp issues yet it has now been 3 days... lets just hope this tea tree and coconut hot oil treatment really works.

I purchased my Neutrogena leave-in and added some to my hair the Tuesday after my wash, because my hair felt dry and moisturized at the same time.

Cardio Kickboxing

I went to my first kickboxing class on Tuesday since I joined the gym. My membership allows me to take whatever classes they offer and they have a good selection. So, My first day was an eye opener since I realized I had to stop for water numerous time during the workout. It was a cardio kickboxing class so all of the moves was a decent speed which knocked the wind out of me. I liked the class and I will go back but I have to get my stamina up or next time I will faint.

Last week of summer school

This is it. I have to write one last  paper, hand it in and that will put an end on this summer school session. I will than have a full week off just to relax and prepare for my last semester as a nursing student for this school. I am not going to lie I am nervous as hell because I am this close. The semesters only last 4 months so currently I am 4 months away from my career beginning. I been waiting for this moment since 2006 I have so much built up anxiety it's just crazy.

Anyway, lets just all hope my last days of summer school goes well and my last semester as well.

Coupon outing

So, I know I haven't updated on how it is going mastering the art of couponing, but that's because I haven't been doing much shopping. I will say that I did use my first coupon about 3 weeks ago and I saved a dollar on kitty litter at family dollar and it made my heart sore. Well, I am here today to tell you that I went shopping today and did not use coupons but still received some saving for signing up for the balance reward card at Walgreens that I can also use at Duane Read stores. I purchased my beloved Neutrogena triple moisture leave-in and my ors relaxer in normal strength, because my hair is now breaking from the different textures and I need to relax sooner than later.

If you are wondering I saved a whopping $2.50 on the 2 items (something is better than nothing) and I couldn't be any more proud of  myself. I carry all of the coupons in my wallet, well not all of them only the ones that I know I will buy and need in a few days. Today I purged my coupon envelope of the expired ones and added some new ones because while I was in Walgreens I picked up their coupon book and there were great saving in there to add to my collection. Taking this one shopping trip at a time!

1st summer read...

3 weeks ago I finished another good book. It is a newer book and it was a page turner as well named "The Man in 3B" by Carl Weber. The storyline followed an attractive young black male, who just moved into a new apartment complex and has an incredible impact on all the lives of the tenants in the building in  some good and bad ways. There is love, murder, jealousy all wrapped up in this book so if you are a reader like I am pick this one up also.

2nd Summer Read....

I have always enjoyed a good book and for those of you out there who read my blogs I will be sharing what I am currently reading or have read already. This blogger account was intended to focus on one thing mainly, but there are so many things I enjoy equally that I have no choice but to share them. I am not just my hair you know.

So, I just finished reading  " A Taste of Reality" by Kimberla Lawson Roby and I quit enjoyed it. This was my first time reading a novel by her and it was satisfying. The story line follows a young black career women who wants to enhance her career but in doing so was bombarded by discrimination on multiple levels, while also having too deal with all of the nonsense in her useless marriage. I would recommend this book to those interested. I couldn't put it down it took me 2 days to read it. This was the second book read this summer.

Squats...

Already made it to 200 yesterday. The 250 squat ending mark  is so close, but my legs are killing me. I will say that my but has lifted a bit and my muscles show a little in my thighs. I am happy for that they now look a  lot more rounder and firm. This stuff really works.

Itchy scalp update

This is the way I am wearing my hair till the end of the month.

 It has been in this style for the past 3 day now I just wake up and throw on my wig, and my scalp has not given me a problems. Other than the first time I braided my hair I have not added any products to my hair just coconut oil on my scalp yesterday. I am so tying to go back to the low manipulation method that has gotten me this far in my journey. The other day I tried to do a little length check and my hair has not passes the 8 line (I need to relax  soon currently going into 7 weeks) which mean I have experienced some breakage and my hair is stagnant at this point. So, 14 days to go wearing my hair in these 4 braids.

Itchy scalp?

I am having problems with my scalp now. I swear if it isn't one thing its the next. Today was a wash day for me I decided to clarify with the V05 shampoo because my hair was very itch. In doing so I made sure not to prepoo or condition my hair before the shampoo because I really wanted to clean everything off my scalp.

This itchy problem could be from me using the loc method and using water as my liquid. Maybe the water is leaving my scalp a bit moist and in return I may have product or bacteria build up from that, or my hair left to damp after I wash my hair while my hair is air drying to slowly,  or it could be old scabs from my last 2 relaxers coming off and my scalp finally being able to breath. Who knows all I know is that I washed the hell out of my scalp, T-shirt and towel dried, added my leave-ins, grape seed oil to my scalp, My Jane Cater nourishing cream and detangled, then I added grape seed oil to the ends of my hair and twisted it into 2 pigtails to air dry.

As of now my scalp hasn't itch once...

Squat update..

I have completed 160 squats so far, and I feel good about it. It is getting harder but hey what in life isn't hard. I shall not give up on this mission. Once I complete all my squats I shall do 250 daily, that's is my goal..... We shall see if I can make it happen.

Skin Problems

Not using sea breeze any more. I have developed several issues with my skin since I started using and its just not worth it for me. So I will scrap it and just wash my face with my ambi face cleanser in the mornings and at night then see what that will do for me.

Current face status pics are below:

I have been popping pimples, now I have dark spots..... lord save my face!

BLACK TEA RINSE UPDATE

I am desperate to decrease the shedding to keep more hair on my head for a longer time period and decided to do this by adding black tea rinses to my routine. Well about 2 nights ago I did an overnight black tea rinse with aussie moist 3 minute miracle on top with a plastic cap, my statin head scarf, and my bonnet. When I woke up the next morning I hopped in the shower rinsed it out, shampooed, conditioned, rinsed again and towel dried my hair. Next I added my leave-ins and moisturized using the loc method than braided my hair into 2 plats for my wig.... long story short my shedding has not decreased one bit.

This experiment shall continue

1 Year ponytail and back Length

Here is a picture of my hair in a ponytail on August 5th 2012 and August 9th 2013

 

looking at the difference in the length of my hair  from the area of my necklace we can all see that it has grown a good bit I wish more, but that is because I am greedy. I am praying that in another 12 months I will be  a full BSL but a little pass it making me grazing MBL.

 

My hair is air drying and it looks mega uneven, but measuring from the end of my pony to my waist I am about 12 inches from waist length which is 2 years in time.... What a wait, and long journey I have ahead of me.

Took My First Spin Class

Boy, was I worked out my instructor did not care that I was new to the class she wanted me to get the full experience I guess. The only bad thing about the class was that the seat on the bike was uncomfortable if I can find me a seat cushion or something to fix this issue than spinning is something that I don't mind doing weekly.

Look who got a new wig!

Her name is Blu and she is a Bobbi Boss full cap wig about 20 inches or more, with no combs just straps and I love her!

 

This will be the last wig purchased for the year 2013. What a way to go out  with a bang!

One year to the date!

 August 5th 2012 (back and ponytail)

I know I am late but It is officially my one year hair journey anniversary. August 5th 2012 was when I put my foot down and started learning about my hair and taking care of it and now it is past August 5th in the year 2013. I have come so far and I am happy about it. I wanted to straighten my hair for a comparison but because I used heat in July I decided not to. I definitely know I did not make my goal of growing to Bsl and I only hope in the next 3 to 4 months I will be bsl. my plan was to wear my real hair for graduation in December but if I am not BSL or longer I will just weave it up something nice.

 Because I don't really have a picture of my hair out for august here are my June pics...

there is a difference but not bsl yet... I shall continue with what I am currently doing!!!

 

summer school countdown...

Yes I have 3 weeks left. I took my 100 question midterm, don't know what I got on it but at this point I will take whatever I can get. I have 2 more quizzes to go and this session will be gone bye, bye,  and I will have a little break to just relax without thinking about academics.


I smell freedom soon!

First tea rinse

So, I applied the black tea after a prepoo with coconut oil and a shampoo. Then applied conditioner on top of the tea and let sit in my hair for about 10-15 minutes while in the shower. I rinsed it out and t shirt dried, added my leave-ins, and did the loc method to detangle and twisted In four sections.

My hair is air drying rough and I lost a crap load of hair while detangling So, I don't know what to make of this.

Braidout second attempt

So I have done a braid out using the LOC method and the first style I tried was a side afro which was cute but my hair didn't come out the way I wanted it to so, I wasn't completely happy with it.

My second style was a pulled back and pin front with a free flowing fro in the back it was cute but by the end of the day my hair was dry and I had to go home spray water and add coconut oil to my hair to defeat the dryness and soften my hair back up.

I am still feeling like I should really save my braid outs for when my hair gets a little longer

LOC method for relaxed hair?

So, I have been trying the loc method to see if my hair will hold moisture longer and to be honest I don't think it makes a difference to my hair. I used the loc method and attempted a braid out and my hair was dry by the end of the day sooo, what do that tell you?

I shall continue to do it to see if variations of it will make a difference. Currently my L is water, My O is coconut oil, and my C is the Jane Caters nourishing cream.

Black Tea rinse?

I went to the dollar store and stocked up on English breakfast black tea. I what to keep the fullness in my hair and if that means I have to decrease shedding to do it so be it. I have made my first brew and I will let it steep for 24 to 48 hours before I use it in my hair. I plan on applying it with a spray bottle on damp hair and than conditioning over it and applying a plastic cap.

This process will happen once a week for 8 weeks, I only have 40 bags.

 

 

2nd salon visit

Let me confess. I told myself that I was going to the hair salon in august. well, I couldn't help myself and I went in July and got a blow dry and flat iron. I was not happy with the way my hair looked that straight and when I washed it I was so happy it thickened back up. It actually looked longer in its thicker state compared to the straight state which left me feeling bald due to the thinness.

 

These picture was July 17th after coming from the salon

 

This picture was 4 or 5 days after the salon my first wash

August goals!

Well we are in a new month and it is time for my monthly goals.

1. Do not relax hair this month
2. Use up 2 products
3. Do not use heat this month
4. Finish multivitamins and biotin
5. Do not trim
6. Drink more water
7. Try at least 2 braid outs on my hair
8. Run 10 miles
9. Try a tea rinse

My back to school shopping list
(purchase black tea, triple moisture leave in, spray bottle, cholesterol conditioner, ors conditioner, ors shampoo, ambi face wash, aloe vera gel)

July goal update!

My only goal for July was to make it to BSL by august which is my one year. Well, I sure as hell did not make that goal come to pass. I realized that my hair has been thinning in areas and I believe this is due to the several different textures I have in my hair from telexing (My texlax never came out the same every time I did it).

Well I am hoping I can make it to bsl by November.

Oh, another thing I realized is that bsl for me is not  # 11 but it is # 13 on my length check t-shirt. depending on what bra I wear the numbers changes so I have decided to pick the highest number so that I ensure that I clear bsl correctly. So, I am shooting for # 13 on my length check shirt by November which would make it a year and 3 month on my hhj.