*The Habits We Will Take Into 2011 AND Those We Won't*

[grow]

Hi Ladies!

As 2010 is beginning to wind down to a close, I'm sure that we have all learned alot, tweaked alot and tried alot of new things!

What are the things that you know must be an important part of your healthy hair journey next year as well?

What about those things that you have tried and know that no matter how much you might like to do them, they simply will not work in the coming year?

Please share your ideas and let us know what will go forth with you into 2011 and what you will leave behind in 2010.


For example:

Going into 2011, I'll take:

- deep conditioning overnight on dry hair is a definite keeper.

- i will surely continue to bag at night and use ceramides regularly.

- wet baggy bunning (all ps'ing) has worked wonders, but might have to turn to damp baggy bunning in the winter.

- cowashing will continue to be a daily thing when it's hot, a 2-4 times a week thing when it's cold.

- i will not leave home without my moisturiing and oils! moisturizing and sealing is as important as being clothed.

- jbco, Mega Tek, sulfur, vitamins, egg shakes, massages, roller setting, no heat and Ayurveda are definitely coming into the New Year with me!

- the gift of patience i'm still learning as i go forth.



Going into 2011, I will leave behind:

- trying to stretch my texlax/perms. i need to listen to my hair more and perm before the breakage starts.

- i will NEVER AGAIN use more than 1 protein in my midestep. it was like asking for protein overlaod.

- the idea that my "Lead Hairs" need to be cut every time i see them.

- silicones and sls poo's.

- excess protein (i discovered i'm protein sensitive).

- thinking i need to brush my hair to distribute natural oils.


Going into 2011, the verdict is still out on:

- which products work well for all seasons and which products only work well in certain temperatures.

- trimming as opposed to dusting or just s&d'ing

- the vaseline method for sealing when ps'ing

- maybe getting a sprush for perms

- M.N.

 

[davisbr88]

Great thread, OP!

I will take into 2011:
Moisturizing and sealing daily
DC'ing overnight
Cold water rinsing after every DC
ACV spray after every wash/co-wash
Try to keep things as simple as possible
Enjoying my hair whenever I want to

What I will leave behind:
Challenge junkie habits
Obsession with hair/LHCF
Lots of manipulation
Belief that my goals are too far away to reach
Impatience! I need to get out of this mindset that I am always waiting to get somewhere and enjoy where I am now

 

[Whimsy]

2011 Will See Me:

- moisturizing often
- DCing weekly at least
- PSing often
- Creating more updos
- Baggying periodically

2011 will not see me

- shampooing much
- getting split ends and HAVING to cut versus wanting to cut
- allowing my hair to get dried out

 

[Bigmommah]

In 2011 I will:
~Stay committed to total body health
~Stretch my relaxers for 12 weeks
~Continue with the products that work for me
~Wear protective/low manipulations styles that can hold up to my work-outs
~Continue to support and be supported by those in my life no matter which journey we are enjoying together

In 2011 I will not:
~Allow others opinions/stances/beliefs upset me
~Be less than I am designed to be. I will have it all because I am capable of doing so
~Be so knowledgeable in my own mind that I forget I don't know everything about anything

 

[Carisa]

Very good thread!

Things I will do in 2011:

Continue to deep condition at least 2x/ month
Start exercising
Start eating healthier
Protective styling (braids)
Stretch relaxers every 3 months
Protein treatments every 3 months
Co-washing 2-4x per month
Bagging at least 1x per week
Silk pillowcase
Detangling when removing braids
Take hsn vitamins
Continue to balance moisture and protein (by using infusium 23 leave in and coconut oil at lease 3-4x/week)
Miconazole maybe (still on the fence about this one!)

Things I wont do in 2011:

Hair trimming
Hair coloring
Use direct heat
Hair brushing
Shampoo more than 2x a month
Being a product junkie (and use up all the products i have before buying others)

 

[bellebebe]

Will take
1) wigging
2) juicing n baggying
3) blow drying w/comb attachment on med heat
4) reg trims
5) jbco, evco, evoo

Will NOT take

1) air drying (unless necessary)
2) not exercizing
3) not taking vitamins.

 

[frizzy]

Another great thread, grow!

2010 leave behind:

- my only bad hair habit is doing a lot of manipulation of wet hair on wash/DC day. I gotta make sure every hair is coated, so I do a lot of combing. *sigh*


2011 will take:

- in a protective style 98% of the time, until Summer.
- continuing 1X a week wash and DC
- going longer between touch ups
- exercising more
- egg shakes, when possible

 

[halee_J]

grow, you always start really great threads

What I'm taking into 2011:

- Ceramides - Best thing for my hair since conditioner
- Henna
- stretching relaxers
- grease on my ends
- Self relaxing with the half and half method
- Hidden ends 98% of the time
- The DC challenge
- Airdrying

What I'm leaving behind:

- Hardcore protein -I think henna has become my intense reconstructor.

- Regular WnGs. I tend to manipulate my hair more than I like with these, so I'm cutting back to once a month, at least till I get past APL.

- Direct heat: This partially led to the damage and porosity issues I had early this year, I learned my hair no likey.


Things I'd like to start doing in 2011:

-Regular steam treatments. Which requires me to buy an actual steamer. I've become too lazy for the hot towels

- Rollersetting. I joined a challenge earlier this year and I failed. Epic fail

 

[Forever in Bloom]

I'm taking it! (I HAVE A LOT but I pretty much do all of these things now)

• Take MSM, Nioxin & Diatomaceous Earth daily
• Exercise 6 days a week
• Drink 64 ounces of water daily
• Apply JBCO 2 times a week
• Start using OCT/MN mix on scalp 3 times a week
• Eat more fruits and veggies (go vegan for 1 month?)
• Protein shake daily
• Clarify hair once a month with Terressentials only!
• Deep condition weekly with steamer
• Baggy 3-4 times a week with S-Curl (glycerin-free product in the Winter)
• Joico K-Pak or Aphogee 2-Minute Reconstructor weekly/bi-weekly for 1-5 minutes
• Search and destroy whenever I see fit (unless in a protective style – once a week)
• Scalp massages twice a week
• Keep hair in twists with ends tucked away (under a wig)
• Protein treat once every 2 months (Komaza Protein Strengthener Treatment/BC Bonacure work best)
• On wash days (1x a week), practice patience – NO RUSHING!
• Monthly length checks with progress t-shirt?(so breakage doesn’t sneak up on me)
• Detangle with VO5 and my Denman before no pooing with a conditioning cleanser
  in sections in the shower
  
  I ain't taking it!
  
• Get a BKT (Brazilian Keratin Treatment)
• Flat iron until 12/6/2011 (4 YEAR NATURAL ANNIVERSARY)
• Jump on any crazy bandwagons – I will stick to the regimen that works for me
• Continue my product junkie ways – stick to the basics!
• Get a weave – it broke my hair off in 3 places
• Get a relaxer! Eeeek!!
• Wear my hair out when it's chilly
• No giving up on my goal of BSL
• No more shampoo (some ‘poo bars are exceptions)– cleansing conditioners only
• Avoid trimming or s & d sessions in order to save hair .
• Stop randomly pulling split ends and knots off; use scissors!

 

[lea86111]

in 2011 i'll continue to:
-moisturize and seal daily
-i'll try to dc once a week on dry hair overnight
-co wash
-aphogee 2 step once every 6 weeks
-relax every 10 weeks

in 2010 i won't:
-talk about hair, what i'm doing/going to do to my hair to people IRL anymore,
-probably no more ceramides (as i'm not sure i see a difference )
-combing my hair when wet/damp (i'll moisturize with a leave in let it dry then comb)
-stretch relaxers (i'm stretching for 7 months now just cause, lol, and for the wow factor no issue SO FAR, 3 months in except for annoying new growth)

 

[darlingdiva]

I'm Taking It:

-Washing my hair in braids
-Using a moisturizing poo before doing a protein treatment (I don't know what in the world I was thinking about before I started doing this)
-Porosity Control
-Detangling with my fingers before using the comb
-Greasing my scalp
-Moisturizing my ends with aloe vera juice & sealing with castor oil
-Using aloe vera juice and castor oil as my new leave-in (I'll miss you, Jane, but we'll reunite for vacations)
-Dropping the ouchless bands in oil before putting them on my hair
-Sticking to what works for my hair

I'm Leaving It:

-Doing a final rinse with cold water (I hate the way it makes my hair feel)
-Popping off knots with my fingers
-Sleeping in ouchless bands
-Using metal hair clips
-Doing trims on unstraightened hair & possibly doing my own trims

 

[grow]

wow, i thought i had my lists complete, but after reading your posts, many of you ladies have reminded me of some "to-do's", so thanks!

 

[Evallusion]

Things I will do in 2011:
Mist, moisturize and seal daily.
Rock out with twist with a wig overtop. (my hair loves twists)
Learn how to do my own coils and box braids.
Take my multi vitamin and iron pills before my anemia kills me and my hair.

Things I won't do in 2011:
Play in my hair all the darn time.
Little to no heat usage.
Buy excessive hair products.

 

[jahzyira]

Please share your ideas and let us know what will go forth with you into 2011 and what you will leave behind in 2010.

Im so excited about my healthy hair journey. Ive finally found the perfect regimen, my staple hair products, and I got my thickness back. 2011 will be the first year I make some real progress so im definitely bringing forth my current military style regimen ... I found out that daily baggying with a combination of protein, ceramides and moisture has made my fine texlaxed strands ALMOST as strong as my natural hair. I plan to leave my neglect behind, incorporate more natural hair products into my stash, and stay consistent with my healthy haircare practices throughout 2011 and beyond.

 

[D.Lisha]

.::IN 2011 I WILL::.
-->Moisturize and Seal twice a day (morning and night)
-->Shampoo once a week
-->Co-wash once a week
-->DC with every wash
-->Bun 99% of the time
-->Speak GOOD THINGS of my hair, no more "downing" it
-->Continue to renovate myself, health wise (more exercise, more water, more fruits && veggies)
-->Continue to take my biotin and garlic supplements
-->Continue to use my mix of megatek and jbco on my scalp every other day
-->Continue to stretch my relaxers for a minimum of 12 weeks

.::IN 2011 I WILL NOT::.
-->fall short of my HHJ
-->Let the negativity of my "onlookers" discourage me from my healthy hair care practices
-->Let my hair "go" as bad as it did with my last sew-in
-->Let my stylist excessively trim my ends
-->Sleep with my head uncovered
-->Be sucked in to every "hair miracle" bandwagon that comes along

mhm, that just about sums it off for me

 

[IDareT'sHair]

Really Nice Thread Grow!

May pop in later to post!

 

[silenttullip]

Taking with me
Moisturizing and sealing
Microfiber cap for drying and dcing
Hair Vitamins
JBCO overnight prepoo
Gio Direct diluted
AOHSR
giovanni tea tree cond
co washing with diluted vo5 once a week
drinking 40oz+ water a day
flat ironing no more than 3x a year (unless something major happens)
jojoba and teatree oil
using my shears instead of ripping out hair


leaving behind
using a lot of protein
silicones
parabens
dcing every week
doing my own mini twists or mini braids
Buying things I don't need or that aren't on sale
eating dairy and gluten when I know it messes with my scalp

btw really great thread I never thought about it as leaving the bad and continuing with the good I'm gonna copy it for myself so I remember

 

[Imani]

Cool! I was actually just thinking about 2011 goals (non hair related).

Anywho, I will continue:
-DCing under a steamer
-Half wigs as a protective style
-Multivitamin and biotin
-Drinking lots of water
-Exercising
-Using a ruler for measuring hair so I can see when Im getting off track

NOT coming with me in 2011:
-MAJOR change for me: Excessive heat styling and salon blow outs
-Cone filled conditioners that just sit on my hair and don't moisturize
-Weekly use of sulfate shampoos

 

[IDareT'sHair]

2011:

Will continue PS (Wigs)
Will DC under Steamer Weekly
Will continue to use Natural/Handmade Products
Will Continue to Keep Protein & Moisture in Balance
Will Contine to Keep Porosity Levels in Check
Will Continue to use a Weekly Reconstructor OR Light Protein Treatment
Will Continue to Stretch Relaxers and Relax no more than 3-4 times per year
Will Continue to Hendigo for strength & Color

Will Leave Behind in 2010:

Maddening Miscellaneous Product Buying

 

[esi.adokowa]

grow, i love this thread.

Going into 2011, I'll take:

• stretching my relaxers
• relaxing my pre-sectioned hair in quarters
• the mid-relaxer protein step
• trimming with each relaxer
• crochet/extension braids
• keeping it simple, the most important thing i learned all year

Going into 2011, I will leave behind:

• my flat iron; i'm going to use very minimal heat next year
• giving up on my goals

Going into 2011, I will start:

• taking my vitamins
• learning how to rollerset

 

[divachyk]

@grow, great thread!

I will take into 2011:
Moisturize/seal daily
JBCO and Ceramides
Simplicity
Protective Style 98.9% of the time
Low manipulation

What I will leave behind:
PJ habits
LHCF obsession
Stress
Impatience

 

[afrochique]

Coming with me into 2011

Moisturizing and Sealing
Co-Washing and Deep Conditioning
Stretching relaxers
Protective Styling and Baggying
*consistency*

Burying in 2010:
Product bandwagons and Product Junkie-ism
Frequent Trimming
Impatience and watching a boiling pot

Overrall, I am enjoying my hair journey and loving my hair in the process!!

 

[Mrs. Verde]

Taking into 2011:
My healthy hair
Steam, steam, and more steam
The Juice
Using more natural products
PJism
Sealing my ends
Cowashing
DCing
Reading product ingredients

Leaving behind in 2010
PJism (who am I kidding)

 

[gadgetdiva]

Taking into 2011:
ceramides
leaving my lead hairs alone
co-washing
buying and using natural products
using a protein condish in my relaxer mid-step
castor oil
WGO
having a healthy relationship with my hair
SLS free shampoos
continue to use as less heat as possible
Deep conditioning
MegaTek
Protective styling

Leaving in 2010:
most unnatural products
trimming lead hairs unnecessarily
SLS containing shampoos


I may have to update as I remember more bad habits because I'm sure there are some I missed.

 

[grow]

there are many things i see i'm going to have to add to my lists, but one thing i'm going to add that i haven't yet read here and that just occured to me is:

i must start babying my crown.

i thought it was just my edges and nape that needed extra help, but all this time, i've neglected my crown and am just now realizing it's super prone to breakage.

so, in 2011, i will pay alot more attention to my crown, for sure!

 

[alive]

i'll take:
-leaving my hair alone
-experimenting with heat (counterintuitive right?)
-not becoming a PJ

i'll leave
-not moisturizing enough

 

[NikkiQ]

Things I Will Take
Cowashing 3x week
PSing 99% of the time
DCing 2x month
Moisturizing daily
Low manipulation

Things I Will Leave Behind
Excessive measuring of NG
Impatience
My need to jump on different bandwagons
Hair envy of those WAY ahead of me in their transition

 

[LaFemmeNaturelle]

In 2011, I will continue co-washing 2-3 times a week, baggy in between washes....KEEPING IT SIMPLE!

In 2011, I won't be leaving anything behind because my reggie is the ish lol

 

[Nasdaq_Diva]

@grow, super great topic!

2011 Will See Me:

- Ayurveda of course!
- Wiggin' it up, weaving, buns, my hair will be covered up in some way.
- All Natural Products
- Moisturizing often
- DCing weekly at least
- Learning more creative styles ie. learning how to braid, comb coil, etc.
- Steaming
- Making WL

2011 will not see me

- Using commercial products (once these last bits are gone - I'm over it)
- getting split ends and HAVING to cut versus wanting to cut
- With any significant hair breakage

 

[StarFish106]

Taking/Keeping in 2011

Henna (Godrej Nupur 9 Herbs)
Organix shampoo/conditioners
Coconut/Jojoba oil
Softliss Treatment (love it)
Learning to appreciate my hair out (been in braidouts mainly)
Braids (will stay as long as I have hair)
Continue to Deep Condition under the Pibbster weekly
Water Water Water
Porosity Control & cold rinses
Chi Serum
Taking my vitamins again


Leaving in 2010

Relaxers (actually left in 08)
Buying 50-11 conditioners (trying to find the right slip)
Jonesing for MBL (getting there)
SLS formulas



Things I want to do

Keep growing my hair to cut off my relaxed ends. Yes I am vain and want to keep them
Keep using sulfate free products where I can

I can't think of much I don't do much to my hair