Wash Day | Pre Relaxer

I am planning to relax my hair next week, and I wanted to get it prepared for this process.  Yesterday was wash-day. I approached it reluctantly as I was dreading the detangling that loomed once the water had penetrated all of my hair strands.  But to combat that, I thought I would wash my hair in braids.  I usually wash my hair in one direction, all going back, but the thought of the knots and tangles that would result put me off entirely.  The braids worked a treat, although it was not a bump free road, there were a lot less bumps!  I'll share the pictures with you below.

I started off with hair that looked a bit like this, as this is how I had been wearing my hair all week.

Then I put my hair into plaits.  I think I ended up with 7-8 in total. I secured the ends with mini black elastic bands.  I only wrapped it around 3 times to minimise damage when I removed it at the end of the wash.

  

I washed with diluted ORS Clarifying shampoo and used the ApHogee Keratin 2 min reconstructuriszer.  The final rinse was a cold one to close up my cuticles and promote the look of healthy (non frizzy) hair.  Post wash, my hair looked a little worse for wear!

  

I then threw on a micro-fiber turban to dry off excess water, and left that on for about 30 minutes before I began to blow dry.

I detangled section,by section, added my leave in conditioner and heat protectant and blow dried.  In the picture on the left, you can see my hair half blow dried and half still awaiting it's destiny!  In the picture on the right, you can get a better idea of the amount of new-growth that I have going on in my head.  When I see this, I wish I had the guts and the confidence to shave it all off and go natural, but not for now.  I've got to reach my goal.

  

I wouldn't normally blow dry, but I did for two reasons.  I was going out and didn't have enough time to let my hair air dry, secondly, as I am going to relax this week, I will need to be able to comb through my roots so that the application process is as quick and smooth running as possible.  So this is how it looked once it was all done.  Sorry for the poor lighting, but it was dusk and the natural light was fading.

I am going to keep my hair in a bun for the rest of the week and get my dearest mother to relax my hair at the weekend.  She used to relax my hair when I first got a relaxer at age 14, I hope she remembers what to do?!?  She did say she would research LOL.

Till next time

Blessings

Naddy x

Braids, Braids, Long Braids

So, you will probably know that I am bored of my hair now, I have been saying so for quite some time, and I just spontaneously decided to put my hair in extensions.  I had a packet of Khanekelon (not too sure how to spell it) hair left over from some braids that I did some time ago.  On Bank Holiday Monday (09/04/2012), two days after my wash day, I decided to put in braids, waist length braids.  This took quite some time, I started at about 10.30am and was not finished at 7pm, but I had run out of hair.  I knew this would happen so I only left a section in the middle and put my hair into a bun so that I could go to work on Tuesday.  Below you can see a few pics whilst i was installing the braids

Right side braided in progress

Close up of left side braids

Better capture of back braids

So here are a few pics of my hair now that it is done and some styles I have worn too!

One large fat canerow

High Bun braids

High bun - parting pattern visible

To look after my hair, I spray it with a mixture of water, HE conditioner and olive oil - daily, sometimes twice a day, depending on how dry it is.  I also oil the scalp every few days or as needed.  I cover it every night with a scarf, and that's about it.  I'll probably do my first wash after 2-3 weeks.

I am planning on keeping my hair in for about 5-6 weeks, so that should take me to the middle of may.  I'll then do a protein treatment then relax at the end of May, followed by a well needed trim.  I'll be sure to update you.

Till next time
Blessings
Naddy x

Hair for the week

Well my last post was about how bored I was with my hair.  Yesterday was wash day and today was Church, so I had my hair in a side swept twist out that I turned into a textured side bun with rolled fringe - forgot to take a pic sorry!  But then I thought to myself, what can I do with my hair today so that it will last the week?  and then the answer came - The same hairstyle only in canerows.  Now I am not the greatest at canerowing and I know that I need practice, but after spending the best part of an hour on my hair, it better last me.  See below for some pics that I took close ups and the finished product.

Another view of unfinished style from back

Unfinished style - subject to change

Side with head band

Finished from back with head band

 Below are just a few closeups of the finished style.

And that's it!

Blessings
Naddy x