Hi All,
I have been lurking all hours of day and night for the couple of weeks. This is an amazing resource! I have already changed my haircare dramatically for the better.
My issue has always been two things: slow growth and poor retention. I almost always have hair that is around shoulder length, sometimes a little shorter, sometimes a little longer. I come from a family with lots of long haired women (not super long but below armpit length) but they have thick coarsehair for the most part, different from my texture.
I was natural for many years, (like 18!) mostly a loose natural but I also had locs for four years (my hair was to the bottom of the shoulder blades with locs. In December of 08 I combed out my locs and had my hair texturized and cut to a chin length bob. Since being lightly texturized I have experienced less breakage than ever before with loose natural or relaxed hair. I attribute this to the fact that my hair is tightly coiled but very soft (feels like the hair of a baby to the touch, people are often surprised when they touch it) and fine. The looser curl with texturizing somehow prevents it from snapping so easily at the ends if that makes sense. What is even more amazing is I still have color on the ends from when I had locs and it still isn't breaking (knock on wood.)
So now, armed with the knowledge I've found here, I'm on a mission to grow my hair to (I can't believe I'm saying this!) mid back length. It is currently shoulder length.
I'm writing my regimen here to have a record of it but also to seek feedback/suggestions:
Using Chicoro's methods, I shampoo once a week with an organic shampoo (pure natural I think is the name) with my hair in plaits.
I deep condition with Miss Jessie's rapid recovery and sit under the steamer or a heat cap for an hour.
I then moisturize with Miss Jessie's baby buttercream and braid set with curly pudding and perm rods on the ends.
I usually keep my braids in all weekend (cornrows going into a pony) and wear protective styles most of the rest of the week.
I always take supplements, some of which are growth aids: a multivitamin, b complex, biotin, stinging nettle, vitamin d, garlic oil, biotin, calcium and magnesium.
I eat lots of fruits and veggies, no red meat or pork or chicken, but lots of fish and some turkey. I drink lots of water.
I'm also using mn on my scalp mixed with emu oil or a jojoba eo (rosemary, sage) mix.
I have seen growth like never before with this regimen. I am 6 weeks past texturizer with 1 inch of growth. Usually my hair grows 1/4-1/3 inch a months. I waited 4 months between my first and 2nd texturizer and plan to wait 4-5 months for the next.
Phew! So I'd love to hear any suggestions you have. Oh, and I'm also going on a very long international flight next week so if anyone has suggestions for keeping the hair moisturized on planes (I find them very drying to my skin and hair) let me know. Thanks!
I have been lurking all hours of day and night for the couple of weeks. This is an amazing resource! I have already changed my haircare dramatically for the better.
My issue has always been two things: slow growth and poor retention. I almost always have hair that is around shoulder length, sometimes a little shorter, sometimes a little longer. I come from a family with lots of long haired women (not super long but below armpit length) but they have thick coarsehair for the most part, different from my texture.
I was natural for many years, (like 18!) mostly a loose natural but I also had locs for four years (my hair was to the bottom of the shoulder blades with locs. In December of 08 I combed out my locs and had my hair texturized and cut to a chin length bob. Since being lightly texturized I have experienced less breakage than ever before with loose natural or relaxed hair. I attribute this to the fact that my hair is tightly coiled but very soft (feels like the hair of a baby to the touch, people are often surprised when they touch it) and fine. The looser curl with texturizing somehow prevents it from snapping so easily at the ends if that makes sense. What is even more amazing is I still have color on the ends from when I had locs and it still isn't breaking (knock on wood.)
So now, armed with the knowledge I've found here, I'm on a mission to grow my hair to (I can't believe I'm saying this!) mid back length. It is currently shoulder length.
I'm writing my regimen here to have a record of it but also to seek feedback/suggestions:
Using Chicoro's methods, I shampoo once a week with an organic shampoo (pure natural I think is the name) with my hair in plaits.
I deep condition with Miss Jessie's rapid recovery and sit under the steamer or a heat cap for an hour.
I then moisturize with Miss Jessie's baby buttercream and braid set with curly pudding and perm rods on the ends.
I usually keep my braids in all weekend (cornrows going into a pony) and wear protective styles most of the rest of the week.
I always take supplements, some of which are growth aids: a multivitamin, b complex, biotin, stinging nettle, vitamin d, garlic oil, biotin, calcium and magnesium.
I eat lots of fruits and veggies, no red meat or pork or chicken, but lots of fish and some turkey. I drink lots of water.
I'm also using mn on my scalp mixed with emu oil or a jojoba eo (rosemary, sage) mix.
I have seen growth like never before with this regimen. I am 6 weeks past texturizer with 1 inch of growth. Usually my hair grows 1/4-1/3 inch a months. I waited 4 months between my first and 2nd texturizer and plan to wait 4-5 months for the next.
Phew! So I'd love to hear any suggestions you have. Oh, and I'm also going on a very long international flight next week so if anyone has suggestions for keeping the hair moisturized on planes (I find them very drying to my skin and hair) let me know. Thanks!
