2014 Hair Resolution

2014 is almost here! 

Are you thinking of changing your hair regimen? Or products? 

Was your hair "happy" in 2013?

What are some methods you could've been committed to?

What would be your hair length if you hadn't had that one trim due to heat damage or breakage from too much manipulation?

A hair journey is all about growing and learning from mistakes. Don't give up!

There are definitely some products that I'd like to try in 2014. I made a list! It includes more natural products for my hair. Earlier in 2013, I noticed my hair grows better with constant use of natural oils, etc. Now that I have a pretty good idea about what my hair likes and doesn't like, I can focus on just making my hair thrive! By 2015, I hope to be bra strap length at a minimum. I'm feeling if I keep it up, I'll be at mid-back length by the end of the year! We'll see! **I might do a trim for my over processed ends so I can get a fuller look. I'd like to be fully texlaxed before I graduate May 2015, but I know that will take a while!

Castor Oil Spritz

Hey hair beauties!

How is your hair growth journey going? Mine is going pretty well! Okay so if you didn't know, I am currently in a long term protective style (twists) for the rest of the winter. Really I'm going to fake it until spring break!! I have prom in April, so I'm really focusing on growing my hair out because I'd really want to go with my natural hair. Anyways!! I wanted to take part in the castor oil winter challenge. Problem is, castor oil makes my hair itchy. But when I use it, my hair thrives!! So I didn't want to abandon the idea of castor oil. So I incorporated it another way: into a water spritz. I halfway filled an old spray bottle with water and then added castor oil to it. (I don't do measurements, I follow my guts lol) Then I added a literally a few drops of EVOO and some of my African Pride Growth Oil. Then I shook it up and voila!! 

I started using it religiously like a week ago..maybe two weeks. But my hair has responded well. Their is that slight itchiness but its not major (it doesn't make me want to scratch my head constantly) So I believe you guys should give it a try and see how your hair responds. Or put in your favorite oil. Because I didn't think it would work, I don't know when I started using it. But I'm keeping track of growth. I'm going to hit my 1-month-in-a-protective-style in like two weeks so we'll see!

Insta: @teenhhj

WinterCraze

It was the first time going for a longer stretch. My hair was doing great and then the cold weather came in. My hair was going bezerk!! Suddenly, the breakage started and I about lost it. Since it was already 4 months in, I was like okay I should just go ahead and relax it. Problem is I had made it a goal to not self-relax my hair for a while. And since I was still deciding on it I should go to a texlaxed or texturized hair texture, I did not want to put it upon myself but a professional. Being a teen on a buget, I didn't have the money so the only other option was to stretch further. I decided to get twists for the first time. They look great and I love them: 

Okay okay okay. Here is when the hair gurus are all like "Don't put in a protective style if you're hair is not in tip top shape" I strongly agree. As I got closer to putting in my hairstyle, I moisturized more and deep conditioned often. It reduced the breakage and I am back on track.

But just so we all have documentation of where I was before this protective style, here ya go:

Excuse me ends!!

Follow me on insta:  @teenhhj 

Instagram & Hair Update

Hey hairbeauties!

Sorry I have been away from this blog, but I've recently made an Instagram page! I will be updating more and more. I will be taking advice, suggestions, concerns, etc.! And please feel free to share your hair story with me! I always love it when I have someone to grow with. Instagram: @teenhhj 

Currently: I just got twists! It's going to be my last protective style before ending this stretch and I am happy with the growth I am seeing. I've been regularly using my CON Strength and Shine Leave In, shampooing with my CON argan oil shampoo, and conditioning with my Suave Almond & Shea Butter. 

Here is a look:

Protective style #1

Box Braids.

Simple, effective, and the big ones are not only safer for your hair but take less time! #impatientteenrighthere! 

I decided not to do the 3 week time limit on this and try a 6 week limit. I'm at my 5th week currently writing this post and I couldn't be anymore excited to get them off. 

They probably look medium size to you but they're kinda medium-big.(not huge or jumbo obviously) That picture was taken 5 weeks ago and this one is now. 

My new growth ends where I put my finger. You probably can't tell but I gained about 1/2 inch. My goal was 1 inch a month, but I'll take whatever I can get! If I used the castor oil everyday, I think I could've come closer to my goal. I only used it before wash days because it would make my scalp itch. Now that my scalp has apparently gotten used to it, I'm more free to use it every other day, but I still have to wash my braids once a week because it starts to itch. I don't really mind washing my braids like I wash my hair (once a week).

I like braids because it allows me to focus on my new growth and get it strong and growing. When I'm wearing my natural hair, I feel like I neglect my new growth and care more for my ends. 

While in box braids, I moisturize( with water and mix of castor oil in the spray bottle) then I seal (Proclaim Natural 7 Oils or something like that) It's the yellow bottle not green. It has Castor Oil as its second ingredient. But any oil especially coconut, olive, or castor can be great sealants. I apply oil to my scalp(castor on days before wash days and KeraCare Dry Itchy Scalp on other days. And castor oil is the third ingredient in that) I shampoo with my cheapy Vo5 Moisture Milks Shampoo and deep condition with Aussie 3 Minute.

*None of these products are my staples. When I'm in braids, I take advantage of finishing up products that I don't use during my natural days. It's not that they have never worked, but its probably that some other product worked better. Plus, all these products are cheap because I don't like to waste money when I'm on braids(what for?) If it gets the job done, it gets it done! 

Essie

Protective Style/Low Manipulation Challenge

If you're familiar with blackhairinformation.com (one of my favorite hair websites), you would know that they're currently doing a protective styling challenge. Inspired by many hairlistas on YouTube who've done similar challenges, I decided to join. It's all about length retention and right now being between shoulder and arm pit length, I need all the retention I can get! Growing hair isn't hard if you know what your hair likes and protective styling is something my hair loves! (if I moisturize right) 

Anyways I blab too much. Here's the point: I'll have a protective or low manipulation style for minimum 3 weeks and let the 4th week be freestyle. (But no heat!!) I'll use my staple products: 

Shampoo- Cream Of Nature Argan Oil Sulfate-Free Moisture and Shine Shampoo

Conditioner- Cream of Nature Argan Oil Intensifying Conditioner ; Cream Of Nature Moisture Extreme Conditioner; Suave Professionals Shea Butter and Almond Conditioner

Leave-ins- Cream Of Nature Argan Oil Moisture and Shine Leave-In ; Cream of Nature Perfect 7 (for those curls!)

Oils- Castor Oil(sealing, scalp for growth) ; Peppermint Oil (scalp messages) ; Coconut  oil (pre-poo, shine during weekdays)

Other- Honey (pre-poo mask)

Just trying to keep it simple. I didn't take a picture of my length before I started but I can tell you that my new growth is coming in pretty well with that castor oil!! (I've only been using it for a month and already see results!) So I'm expecting big or should I say long things with this challenge. If you haven't tried CON products, then you need to!! I also tried their sulfate shampoos and they work exceptionally well! That hair line does not disappoint. Try to find a shampoo and conditioner that not only add moisture but eventually overtime reduce breakage. If you can get your hair not to break in the shower, you are one step closer to length retention!

Essie

Intro

Welcome, to all my readers!

To start off, I'm currently 16 years old and on a hair journey. I've been on a hair journey since the 7th grade, but took a break in the middle and stuck to my good ole' protective box braids. In the long run, they only helped me gain a few inches. It's not until I learned to moisturize my hair under my braids that I started seeing growth. And the importance of taking care of your new growth peeping out of the braids! It makes the difference. (trust me!) I have 4-something hair. Probably towards the 4b/c. And I'm relaxed, haha:)

So over the years I've realized what works and what doesn't work for my hair. And I do have a bunch of staple products(which is important because you don't want to be always trying to find products, you need to know what works) I also have a cheap regimen for teens on a budget. Some months my monthly pocket money isn't sufficient and if you have some good cheap products, they'll be life savers!

I realize there are so much African-American hair blogs out there and there's advice coming from every direction! So just take a deep breath and find out what works for you!

Essie