November's Results

Photos to follow (next post)

...or perhaps I'll just amend this one.


Soooo... I couldn't wait until the end of the month.

This is the first month that I've managed to keep up my regimen (less 2-3 days thus far).

Last night I detangled, DC'd, and spent the entire night flat ironing.  I like what I am seeing! :)

My hair is definitely stronger, longer, softer and GROWING.

My intention is waist length hair and I am determined to monitor my growth without constantly measuring (if I do, I'll drive myself bonkers!).

Sure, I'll continue to take photos but I'm really going to try to stop flat ironing my entire head.  Instead, I'll do what I did last month -- just the back area.

I'm also not going to do what I did this month, which was to fold 21 days in just to see how well I've been doing.  I'll wait the full month from this point forward.

Other observations:

• I have to get back on my protein kick.  I've noticed that I've stopped doing my monthly (or was it weekly?) light protein reconstructor.  This is an important step for me that I have to put back into rotation.

• I need to get rid of my excess products (I'm not using them but just having them around seems like an absolute waste being that I've already identified my holy grail products).  I've finally figured out what my staples are and will stick to them.  Though I've got to tell you, Black Friday is calling me.  It be callin'!  I have not been on the natural hair products bandwagon and I'm itching to find out about what everyone has been talking about.  I know I shouldn't because I honestly don't need anything else.  On the other hand, we all really should support independent black businesses.   I'm really proud of the ladies that have used the excellent platforms that exist  to launch independent (successful!) ventures.

• As it stands, something that has really been working for me is saturating my hair with deep conditioner and coconut oil, then baggying.  That way, I seal in the moisture and I do not need to moisturize and seal daily.    Thus, less manipulation.

• I still need to apply my sulfur daily which I have been absolute horrible at executing.  The problem is that when my hair is super moisturized by implementing the method above, once I apply my sulfur, I am not inclined to reapply for the week due to the baggying.  Needless to say, this is a big no-no.  I need to start applying it, if not daily, then every other day.

• I need to start deep conditioning WITH HEAT every single week, not just every now and then.  It really does make a big difference.  I've fooled myself into thinking that because I baggy almost all the time, it's "like deep conditioning" so I don't need to sit under the dryer every weekend.  *cue Charlie Murphy* WRONG!  WRONG! I really need to put DCing into my Friday or my Saturday rotation every single week.  No excuses.

My hair regimen is really low maintenance, so the things I really do need to put time towards shouldn't be seen as burdensome.  I need to stop being lazy.  Period.

Here are the things that I need to do with my hair ROUTINELY:

• Continue using deep condition to moisturize once a week (lasts the entire week)
• Seal with coconut oil and baggy
• Apply castor oil on edges DAILY
• Apply sulfur on scalp DAILY
• Wash and DC weekly WITH HEAT
• Apply protein reconstructor monthly
• Keep my nape (i.e. the kitchen) cornrowed for the month (undo and redo as necessary, be it every month or every 2 months)
• NEW:  Go back to keeping my edges cornrowed.  It is naturally thin (hereditary) and I am hoping that it will catch up to the rest.  I will try this again for the month of December.  If I notice that I lose hair doing this (I believe I noticed this in the past), then I will discontinue.

That's it really.  I am going to keep my hands out of my hair and stop doing whole head checks.  No more flat ironing (except the very back for length check) until next year.  I have some big plans for next year (non-hair related) so I don't want to put a time frame on it.  I suppose I should though...

Ok, I won't do a full flat iron until next next March 2014.

I'm still hoping for as much growth as possible.  I'll return with photos, I'll be sure to take some today.  I just wanted to log on since I had a few free moments.

HHG!