Length Check Time! 6 Month Update - PICS :)

SmileyNY

Well-Known Member
Yesterday I flat ironed my hair for the 1st time in 6 months.

I used a 1.5 inch Maxiglide flat iron. I'm not sure what temperature I used, but the setting goes up to 10, and I flat ironed my entire head on #4. I only did one pass & I didnt get my hair, especially my new growth, as straight as I could have (As a result it looks like I have a huge head :lol: ), however, I'm happy with the results :)

I'm texlaxed & a stretcher. My last relaxer was in June.

Here's what my hair looked like the last time I flat ironed in February...




Here's how my hair looked yesterday after a blow dry & light pass with the flat iron...




I slept in a few soft rollers & here's how my hair looked when I took them out this morning...




Thanks for letting me share :)

ETA:

MY REGGIE
:grin:


WASH/CONDITION
- I co-wash & DC my hair once a week. I cowash using good ol' Suave Naturals Conditioner. I DC using either Aussie 3 Minute Miracle or Pearl Collection Avocado Conditioning Cream. I use the heat from the shower when I DC. I put a plastic cap on, increase the hot water & let the steam work.

-When the weather is hot (85+), I cowash daily to avoid sweat buildup on my scalp.

-I clarify my hair once a month using
VO5 Herbal Escapes Clarifying Conditioner (I love the way the Kiwi Lime smells :) )

- I rarely use sulfate shampoo. I'll only use it to rinse out a bad product that I may have tried (for example a gel w/mineral oil). Of course, I also use sulfate shampoos to neutralize & wash out a relaxer.
Since I don't like to use it, I don't have a favorite sulfate shampoo. Right now I have a huge bottle of Mane & Tail shampoo and it will take me a very long time to use all of it lol.

-I usually air dry my hair... however I do occasionally use the blow dryer after my hair is 80% air dried (with the diffuser attachment) to give my wash & gos extra volume. I also use the blow dryer to pre-straighten before I flat iron.



MOISTURE & SEAL

- I use the following leave-in conditioners:

--
Shea Moisture - Organic Raw Shea Butter Restorative Conditioner
--Shea Moisture - Organic Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie
--Giovanni - Direct Leave-In Weightless Moisture Conditioner

-I moisturize & seal my hair every night before bed. I moisturize using 1 of the leave-ins above. I lightly seal the length of my hair with
100% pure jojobaoil & I heavily seal my ends with organic castor oil.


PROTEIN
-I use 2 raw eggs once a month. I leave the egg on my hair with a plastic cap for 30 min before rinsing out. I don't use any heat.

-I use
Aphogee 2-Step protein treatment a week before I relax


STYLE

-I don't do much styling. During the week I either wear a wash & go, bun, or I just pin my hair up with a claw clip. For special occasions I may do a roller set.

-I only use a flat iron 2-3 times a year (for Christmas & length checks)


- Sometimes I use
Aveeno Active Naturals Nourish & Style Spray Gel to smooth my edges.


MAINTENANCE
-I detangle once a week on wash days. I detangle lightly under running water with a wide-tooth comb while rinsing out my DC & then again once my hair is 80% dry with the Tangle Tamer. (Tamer, not teaser. I LOVE this thing!! It's a lot bigger than it looks)

-I don't believe in constantly trimming ends. I get my ends trimmed once a year. My last hair trim was in December 2010. However, I do S&D every few months, usually after a relaxer.


-I almost never use ponytail holders. Even when I bun, I either use bobby pins or a banana clip.



BEDTIME
-I moisturize & seal my hair every night before bed

-I usually sleep with my hair in two braids to avoid excessive tangles

-I sleep with a silk bonnet



TEXLAX
-I texlax every 14-18 weeks

-My first & 2nd Texlax (Oops, I mean "Silkeners" :lol:) were done by Miss Jessie's Salon in Soho NYC (before that I was natural). The first time they did a great job. The second time, I was severely under processed in some areas, so I was a little disappointed. However, I'll take under processed over the opposite any day :up:

-Last time, I did the Texlax myself. I used
Mizani Lye Relaxer. I mixed it with 2 teaspoons of castor oil & 2 tablespoons of conditioner. I left it on for 15 min. I only smoothed it on my edges. Turned out great & I won't be returning to Miss Jessie's :grin:


MISC.
-For the 1st half of the year, I was using natural henna on my hair once a month. I fell off for the last few months, but I'm definitely going to start up again b/c I loved how my hair responded to it.

- I used to take
MSM, Silica, & a multi vitamin every day. Again, I fell off, but I will start taking them again.

-I just want to note that I shed A LOT. I remember seeing a thread a while back about shedding & a lot of ppl said they shed about quarter-size worth of hair. Here I was shedding a anywhere from a golf ball to a tennis ball worth of hair. I felt discouraged & I was sure that I'd be bald soon
:lol: I only detangle once a week, so that contributes, but still... I shed a whole lot. My hair is a testament that shedding a lot is not necessarily the end of the world. I shed like a dog & my hair has not gotten thinner... In fact, my thickness has improved :yep: I just want to throw that out there so heavy shedders won't get discouraged.




Whew! Geesh. That's a lot of writing :lol: My regimen is actually very simple, it just looks like a lot written out... Also I may have gone into too much detail lol. This reggie is not set in stone. I'm always trying new products here & there.

Anyway, I hope this helps someone :)




Sent from my iPhone. It does EVERYTHING :grin: ...except make calls :ohwell:
 
Last edited:

SmileyNY

Well-Known Member
Thank you so much everyone!! :heart: Your compliments really do mean a lot :)


Sent from my iPhone. It does EVERYTHING :grin: ...except make calls :ohwell:
 

SmileyNY

Well-Known Member
Very good progress!
SmileyNY What is your goal length?

I keep changing my goal length lol. Right now, I think waist length is a good length. Once my lead hairs finally make it to WL, I'll just keep trimming until the rest of my hair catches up.


Sent from my iPhone. It does EVERYTHING :grin: ...except make calls :ohwell:
 

fivetimestwo

New Member
Wow looks like you retained every inch of growth over the past 6 months! Very impressive! And you hair is gorg by the way :yep:
 
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