First Wash n Go on my Type 4 Hair

I’ve been wanting to try a wash n go for ages, although I was hesitant due to the thought of the tangle nightmare I could end up having to go through. I finally did it, and I actually didn’t have as many issues I thought I would. I did after my recent hair chop, and I like the way my hair layered when it had shrunk and dried.

After washing and using a leave in conditioner

 

About 90 percent dry

 

Products I used:

Coconut oil mixed with neem and amla oil bought at an indian shop (don’t remember the name)

Organics Leave in Conditioner

ORS Hair Mayonnaise

Nature’s Gate shampoo

ORS Replenishing Conditioner

Tressemme Naturals Conditioner

Organics Olive Oil Leave in Conditioner

Castor Oil (normal not Jamaican Black)

ORS Carrot Oil Cream

Natures Gate Shampoo

                  

 

Steps I took:

1. I did my usual pre-wash routine of detangling my hair the day before using oil. I usually use olive or castor oil before I wash my hair, but this time I used an oil that was coconut oil, mixed with some neem and amla oils that I got at an Indian shop in Belvedere (Harare). I detangle on damp hair usually from a water spritz with a little glycerine and conditioner.

2. I then did my usual wash routine on hair that was braided into 8 sections. I shampooed my hair using my Natures Gate Shampoo. I then used a protein conditioner, the ORS Hair Mayonnaise, leaving it in for about 30 minutes under a plastic cap. Rinsed that out, then added a mixture of ORS Replenishing Conditioner with the Tressemme Conditioner and left that for about 45 minutes. I then rinsed that out.

3. Still under running water, I undid the braids, then used my conditioner to do a final detangle on loose hair with my fingers. After rinsing it out, I used a t’shirt to blot out most of the water. I then used the leave in conditioner, combing it through my hair with my fingers.

4. I then added the castor oil, not much since it weighs my fine strands down. Then finally added the carrot oil cream.

WIth leave in conditioner

With castor oil and carrot oil cream

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5. I then waited hours for my hair to dry, didn’t have to go anywhere until later that day, so I had the time.

about 60 percent dry at this stage, there was still a bit of white residue left

About 90 percent done

Done!

 

My self installed yarn twists

 

So I plaited my own yarn twists, for the third time and if I do say so myself, they came out even better than last time.

My yarn twists in 2013, were a thinner and shorter and took me about three days to put in.

I really wanted to do thicker and longer twists than the last time, but the thought of sitting for three days put me off. However, this time it took me less time, and I was pleased with the result.

My process

1. I bought a lot of wool, in the end I used about 8 rolls. I bought black and a bit of brown, so I could mix the two (looks more natural with my hair). Wool is easy to find and quite cheap, the wool sold in supermarkets is ideal for yarn braids. Other tools needed are a pair of scissors, lighter (and candle, I just find that easier) and a lot of patience.

I washed my hair, conditioned it, made sure to use protein as I always do before I put in a protective style. I then separated my hair into smaller sections of front sides, back sides, back centre, middle and fringe front.

Sectioning

Started from the back

When tired…

    2. Had to section the wool too, into the length I wanted, which is another tedious      process. To plait one braid, I had 20 length pieces of wool, which I would then        bend in half to plait. With installing on to the hair, I started off with a three strand  braid ( I haven’t mastered doing the twist right from the scalp yet, although this  looks more natural).

 I twisted starting from the back, then sides, front and finished off with the middle.  When I got tired or needed to go out during this two day process, I used a scarf to cover the front.

 

 

 

Still left with the middle at this stage

 

3. For the ends, I’d burn them using a candle.

Done!

This is after about 3 weeks

I kept them in for about 4 weeks, although I would have kept them for 6 if my strands would just stay put.
I washed them twice, although I was worried about my hair locing when it shrunk in the twists, thankfully it wasn’t a hassle at all to undo.

 

 

New Year, New Goals

Hi lovely people… 🙂

It’s a new year, time for a new set of goals. First goal, is to blog more frequently throughout the year, giving a more accurate chronicle of my hair journey.

Last year, my main goals were length and health. At the time (beginning of 2014), I had set up a simple regimen I could manage; my hair was stronger and I was retaining most of my length. Unfortunately, soon after, the year spiraled into a roller coaster year for me and my health was compromised. This seemed to affect my hair, a lot. My hair strands shed excessively, which frustrated me. I in turn became  more lax with my hair care, and my hair which is so prone to split ends since it is so fine, was splitting a whole lot. I chopped off about four inches in November, which I’ll blog about later.

For 2015, my main goal is health and everything it encompasses. This year is a year of new beginnings, resurrection with divine grace. So I’m looking forward to being a better, healthier version of myself. Of course I still want thicker, denser hair that does not shed and retains length. So that is where my focus on my health will lead me.

Product Review: Nature’s Gate Lemongrass & Clary Sage Shampoo

This is my first product review.

I’ve searched all over for a sulphate free shampoo and the closest I got was Tressemme Naturals Lower Sulphates Shampoo. I have been using this shampoo diluted for the past two years. So when I came across a completely sulphate free shampoo, I grabbed it and ran. Well, after paying for it.

Nature’s Gate Herbal Blend Volumizing Shampoo Lemongrass & Clary Sage

 

After using it, I just had to do a review on it.

Price: $10

More about the shampoo

It was specifically made for fine hair as it is a volume enhancing shampoo.

From the website, certified organic extracts are fresh from the field, locally grown in California on land dedicated to growing Nature’s Gate botanical essences are used.  At the family owned Organic farm, each plant receives individual care, ensuring the highest purity and quality.  The farm’s water source is derived from the winter rains and snow pack of the Sierra Nevadas. It’s a cruelty free and vegan product.

Most of all it contains:

• No Phthalates or Parabens
• No Sodium Lauryl/Laureth/Coco Sulfates (which I was most excited about)
• No Animal Testing
• No Animal Derived Ingredients.

My view

The pros

• I love the smell, which lingers long after washing
• It lathers well and was easy to apply
• Really soothes itchy scalp, without my hair feeling stripped
• It’s gentle, but cleanses effectively.

The cons

• The only con is it is so hard to find in Harare. For the actual shampoo, my hair loves it.

My Rating

I actually feel like I would even shampoo my hair more often with this shampoo. My hair was fluffy and soft after my complete wash routine.

4.5/5 points

 

 

 

My hair without henna

I’m an advocate for the use of henna (Body Art Quality Pure henna, that is) for my hair health. There are so many benefits that I have gotten from using it. The main reason I used henna was because I have very fine delicate strands and low to medium density hair. I needed something that will help my strands be stronger and I wanted that thickness that henna can help with. I like the colour and shine too.

My henna mix

I haven’t used henna in almost a year after previously using henna for approximately a year. I have noticed quite a few things about my hair without the use of henna and I wanted to highlight them:

• My hair is shedding so much. It started after a few months of not using henna and used to shed a lot before I started using henna. Before my hair would break and shed a lot before using henna. Then reduced greatly when I started using it. My hair in the past few months is shedding excessively.
• My hair tangles a lot at the roots. Actually it tangles all over probably because of the excessive shedding. It hardly tangled at the roots when I used henna though.
• One reason I reduced then stopped using henna (besides the fact I can’t find pure henna in Harare anymore), is that my curl pattern was getting looser. I didn’t want my coils and curls to become straight, and that’s what seemed to be happening.
• My hair is back to looking fine and thin, which I do not like at all.
• My hair is back to being fragile, and I’m experience split ends more often now.
• I miss the red shimmer my hair has in the sun.

This is just what I’ve noticed especially in the last few months.

I plan on starting to use henna again starting next month. I’ll probably use it every 3 months, then decrease to once in 6 months, since I don’t want to lose my coil pattern.

Hair updo week

I thought I would post pics of what I did with my hair the past week for work.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the week I alternated between a bun and different updos. I only took pictures of the updos though.

 

Hair Update: Pony!

On my hair update, I didn’t mention that my hair grew a lot over 5 weeks. I can now tie a proper ponytail! I couldn’t before, it was seriously a shungu pony. I’m still working on my edges and still pray for thickness and density, but it’s healthy and growing, so I’m happy.