Inspiration

I found this video on YouTube and had to share! She is still on a hair journey to get rid of the V. Enjoy!

1st and 2nd Rollerset Ever

First Rollerset: JAN 4TH

STEPS
1) Pre-pooed with extra virgin olive oil with a plastic cap for 30 mins under the dryer
2) Washed with Dove Damage Therapy Intensive Repair shampoo and conditioned with the matching conditioner
3) Leave-in: I intended to apply my leave-in (Aphogee green tea keratin recon) to each section but I only applied it to the top and forgot to apply it anywhere else. SMH note to self don't do hair late at night. So this rollerset is basically on naked hair. While placing the rollers in my hair with a fine tooth comb, it wasn't as much manipulation as I thought it would be. There was barely had any shedding/breakage in the comb.

4) Sat under the dryer. After an hour my hair was almost dry! I did four ponytails (2 rollers on each) because I didn't have enough rollers. It was a bit damp in the sections where I did the ponytails. One thing I will say about this dryer is that it has 2 heat settings -- one setting is a bit too hot and the other is warm almost cool. I found myself switching between the two settings.

FAIL -- My hair was damp after removing the rollers...I should have waited some more

 

5) Results -- overall I am pleased with the softness from my very first rollerset but I know I can only get better with practice.

Second Rollerset: TODAY

STEPS

1) Lightly detangle hair
2) Wash with Dove Damage Therapy Intensive Repair shampoo 2x
3) Aphogee 2 Minute Protein Treatment (for 5 mins in the shower) then Porosity Control for 1 min. Towel dry.

Naked hair after washing and conditioning. You can see my hair is relaxed bone straight

4) Apply leave-in (Aphogee Green Tea Keratin), and set hair on purple and yellow rollers. I should note that at this point my hair has very little slip. My last rollerset I had a lot more slip so I will go back to using the Dove shampoo and conditioner combo (thus making it way easier to detangle and rollerset). Note to self I also need to purchase another couple packs of yellow rollers.

EbonyCPrincess reccommends to keep your hair wet while rollersetting so I sprayed diluted Lottabody as I went along. I literally only put a capful of lottabody and filled the rest of the spray bottle with water (in hopes of avoiding crunchy curls due to the setting lotion).

I did the mohawk method of putting the rollers in (one strip the width of a roller down the center of the head). I put in the rollers on the sides in a kind of hap-hazard fashion.
5) Sat under dryer for 1 hour 30 mins

I peeked

6) Combed out curls. At this point my hair was very soft, flowy and bouncy. Not crunchy at all
7) I was planning to do the saran wrap method tomorrow but I figured since I'm blogging about it, might as well show it now :)

I wrapped my hair very tightly in saran wrap, and sat under the dryer for an additional 20 minutes.
8) Here are the final results. Not only is my hair bouncier and fuller, I used NO direct heat. Win win situation!

9) To maintain the look over the next week or two I plan to wrap my hair nightly and use a serum or moisturizer every couple of days (not every day). I may also experiment with flexi-rods and updo's closer to wash day. Even though I've only done a couple sets I can tell rollersetting is definitely for me!

Next set: I will definitely try using smaller rollers for the back and sides of my hair for some more curl definition. I really like the curl the yellow rollers gave, where as the purple gave more of just a "bump" at the ends.

I officially hit 200 followers on my blog! YAY!!! Thank you!

2012 Hair Regimen: Operation Waist Length

Here is the regimen I plan to follow in order to reach my ultimate goal of waist length this year. My hair loves protein and natural oils. It thrives with low heat and low manipulation. This year I plan to be consistent with this regimen because results won't happen with random and haphazard methods. Products will vary as I'm trying to use up my stash but I've mentioned some staples. Here's the plan:

My 2012 Hair Regimen

1) Detangle and pre-poo with oil (optional) 

2) Use a moisturizing or clarifying shampoo

3) Deep condition with heat or a protein treatment with every shampoo

4) Apply leave-ins and proceed to rollerset or airdry

5) Moisturize and/or oil hair daily

6) Stretch relaxers for 3+ months

 

Other info

- Protective style most of the time

- Limited heat: flat iron entire length of hair for length checks only

- Satin scarf used for air drying and protecting hair overnight

- Co-wash, trim and baggy/greenhouse effect as needed

Tried & True Staples

Clarifying Shampoo: Quantum Clarifying/Chelating Shampoo
Deep Conditioners: Keracare Humecto (tub), QH Cholesterol, One n Only Restorative Mask
Treatments: Aphogee 2 Minute Reconstructor, Roux Porosity Control
Leave-in: Aphogee Green Tea and Keratin Restructurizer
Oils: EVCO, JBCO, EVOO, One n Only Argan Oil
Styling: CHI Silk Infusion, Fantasia IC Styling Gel

~*2012 Challenges*~
- Rollerset, Keeping it Cool (no direct heat), Low Manipulation , Waist Length, Protective Styling

A Simple Keracare Wash Day in January

Yesterday I washed my hair, and today it's still feeling great. Here's how it went in detail...

1) Clarified with Quantum Clarifying Shampoo (lathered twice).

2) Deep conditioned for 20 mins with heat. This time I used two sample packs of KeraCare Intensive Restorative Masque that I got from my local BSS. First impression: it has pretty great slip for a strengthening treatment. I would purchase the full size if the price is right. Nice scent too. It is very thin but still creamy if that makes sense -- like cake batter. It very quickly absorbed into my hair, and even after rinsing my hair was very shiny. Little to no hair in the comb after detangling.

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3) Moisturized wet hair with Keracare Conditioning Creme Hairdress and went under the dryer (First impression: great shine. It doesn't smell good but doesn't smell bad either. Not very moisturizing but it left my hair pretty soft when used after the Masque. It does leave hair light and not weighed down at all. Did I mention the shine? I think this product would be used best on flat ironed or rollerset hair as a moisturizer because a little goes a long way and it doesn't weigh down the hair or drench it in moisture. I don't know yet if I would purchase the full size). 

If you know how to make a bun that doesn't give this crazy ponytail line...please let me know :)

* This wash I decided to skip my usual leave-in (Aphogee Green Tea Restructurizer)


4) This morning I applied more Keracare Creme Conditioning Hairdress. This stuff works better on dry hair. Today just wearing my hair in a bun

Messy Bun

New Year, Same me

I haven't made any new year's resolutions. I've tweaked my hair regimen and vowed to be healthier, but nothing set in stone. And I feel like I'm making better progress than when I used to set resolutions.

Hair:
I tried a rollerset for the first time ever on Wednesday and I must say I can see myself doing this every week or two. the process was smoother than I thought it would be. The results were a fail though because of several factors (me forgetting to apply a leave-in, taking out the rollers before hair was completely dry, not enough rollers for my whole head). I ended up salvaging my failed rollerset with a saran wrap and touching up with a flat iron. But overall I was pleased and I see potential once I get my technique down pat. I really liked the volume and body my hair had as opposed to the sleek, pin straight results from flat ironing.

Today I did my first co-wash of the year. First I deep conditioned with Keracare Humecto in the tub -- side note this conditioner reminds me an awful lot of Motions Moisture Plus conditioner (which I also love). I added JBCO and EVOO to the dc and left it on for a few hours. Rinsed it and co-washed with Herbal Essences Hello Hydration conditioner - my hair does NOT like this stuff! It never has in the past so I don't even know why I thought this time would be different. Anyway, I applied my leave-in (aphogee green tea & keratin) and moisturized with Elasta QP Mango Butter (the new formula with olive oil...I like this formula better than the original version plus it does not contain glycerin which is apparently good for combating dry winter air).

I need to purchase another halfwig or find time to wash one that I already have...I run through these things like mad! My mom, and everyone else really, always asks why I wear those things if I have a decent length of real hair. They will never understand!

Body:
I've been making an effort to be healthier. No particular reason. I've started drinking water and green tea daily. I purchased some multivitamins. Also did some work outs here and there. Nothing major but hey it's better than the absolutely nothing I've been doing. I'm sure this will also help my hair grow faster, healthier and thicker as well. Only thing left is to get this terrible sleep schedule of mine back on track...

School:
I'm starting my very last undergraduate semester on Monday. I have mixed emotions. Anyway this weekend will be devoted to preparing for the start of classes...my professors have already posted reading material and things to do before the first class. I'm so not ready to start classes on Monday but at the same time I'm glad to be busy again.

Love life:
Or lack there of one? It seems like everyone around me is hooking up, in a relationship or going through a break up. Then there's me -- a 21-year old just doing me. I met this guy on new year's and I'm attracted to him. We've been messaging eachother on BBM but he doesn't really make an effort to hold a convo. It drives me nuts -- I wonder what he's thinking. Then again, I can't really expect to have a real convo over texting right. Anyway, what does this have to do with hair? Absolutely nothing so I'll stop talking about it. But for 2012 I will continue to stick to the philosophy of not searching for the right one...he will come (and he can even take his sweet time because honestly I have other priorities lol)

Back to hair...I'm looking forward to where my hair will be at the end of the year. I'm still going for waist length this year. And getting close! As for my stash...I've finally invested in a storage thing for all my hair crap:

Storage thing for all my hair crap...and I still couldn't fit everything lol smh

Hope you all have a fabulous weekend!