First : I have changed products once again!!!
For the most part I have been sticking to the organic products as well as eating organic fruits and veggies whenever I can, moisturizing my hair daily , and keeping my scalp oiled. BUT, I have also been experimenting with various products and have come up with some new discoveries.
- Kinky Curly- Has a fantastic line of organic styling and detangling products that I tend to use after co-washing my hair with whichever conditioner I decide to use. (I tend to use conditioners that are cost effective for the time being that do not have parabens and other ingredients that are not healthy. I use Aubrey Organics when I have the money to splurge. Which I have not had lately because of the new products that I am trying and shall mention in just a little while.) From the Kinky Curly line, I use the knot today detangling leave in conditioner and I tend to add my mix of oils and water to it because this is a great leave in, but a leave in can only moisturize your hair if it has water and other ingredients that hold water in them. So, I add water and other essentials to make this product work for me. For my style product, I combine Kinky curly curling custard with SheaMoisture's Coconut and hibiscus curling soufflé (another organic and cost efficient line that I will talk about next). At first, I did not like the curling custard because it did not seem to do anything to my hair in terms of defining the curl pattern. After my 3rd use, I discovered that I had been using it incorrectly. In order to see a distinct difference in your curl definition, you MUST have close to soaking wet hair, and THEN add the product.
- SheaMoisture - Is another organic natural hair care and body line that I really love. As I mentioned earlier, I like to combine my styling products together. After discovering the curling soufflé, I also found that this company makes the most delicious smelling deep treatment masque naturally with shea butter, argan oil and sea kelp extract. Most of the bloggers and vloggers that I have watches and read tend to lean towards disliking the fragrance, but I cannot get enough of it! But I have always been partial to earthier richer fragrances anyway. So that was to be expected. I plan on purchasing the lighter weight leave in conditioner that has the same ingredients as the deep treatment masque. What is he difference ... I have no idea, but I am going to buy it and combine it with my knot today detangling leave-in. LOL
- Homemade Hair Oil Mixture - When I first started my journey, I tried to keep my scalp well moisturized and oiled. BUT, I did not have the proper understanding that my hair could still become dry , my scalp could become itchy and flaky and the growth that I am trying to achieve could come to a screeching halt if I do not use he right ingredients. I tend to add water to my hair oil mixtures because to me that is the best way to insure that my hair has the moisture it needs and the nutrients at the same time. Specifically, I mix organic coconut oil, jojoba oil, tea tree oil, lemon oil, sweet almond oil, wheat germ oil, vitamin e, rosemary leaf extract and soybean oil in my container. Basically I purchased these oils, and then poured them all into a large 32oz hermetic glass bottle to house all of the goods. Soon to be added to the mix is going to be Brahmi oil ( taking a page from the Ayurvedic hair care system that Indians used for centuries. This system uses oils and powders made from various herbs and spices for medicinal purposes and to cure various ailments and conditions. Within this system people have discovered ways to grow thicker, fuller, healthier hair. It is also a system that helps in rejuvenating hair growth in people that had suffered from alopecia which is the term for losing hair, eliminating dandruff, flaky scalp and even spit ends.
- Jamaican Black Extra Dark Castor Oil - I have just recently purchased this 4 oz bottle of the ash smelling oil because of it's growth and healing properties and it's ability to regrow natural hair that my have been thinning or has fallen out for whatever reason. In particular, I plan on using this specifically for my scalp and to seal the ends of my hair after styling.
- Kalpi Tone - This is another Ayurvedic powder that I mix with oils and water to create a paste. I then apply the paste to my scalp and hair and let it set for an hour. I then wash it out thoroughly. The reason being, this is a super combination powder pack that has natural ingredients that have natural cleaning abilities. So in other words it is a healthier and more effective shampoo substitute, that get's the scalp and hair clean.
- Goody TangleFix - I have ditched the combs and regular brushes permanently. When I need to part my hair I use a rat tooth comb, just to make sure the part is straight. But I only use the goody tanglefix brush to detangle my hair. I also ONLY detangle my hair when it is wet or saturated in oils so that my strands do not break off. I have noticed that I do not have as much shedding when I use this particular brush. ( The original idea came from the tangle teezer, but I was not interested in spending over $25.00 for an item to detangle my hair when goody made a perfectly good carbon copy that was more affordable for $8.00 @ target )
Second : I have been doing a great deal of research to see what is a realistic hair goal.
Well, I discovered that the original goal that I set for myself was not realistic from the standpoint that you have to allow at least 12-18 months for the hair to began to grow at the roots before you can actually see an increase lengthwise. Currently, some 15 months after the original goal began, I have indeed seen at least 6 inches of new growth at the roots. The new growth is very thick and super curly and requires special attention when detangling and styling. But it is healthy. Naturally since I decided against doing the big chop, it is a bit more difficult to determine whether my hair would have grown faster if I had just chopped off all of the damaged hair at once. But, Since I have long hair currently with a distinct difference in texture... I can clearly see where the newer healthier hair ends and the remainder of the previously heat damaged hair still lays. I have been trimming my hair every few months or so. I have also noticed that the right side f my hair ( which is straighter from heat damage ) is starting to curl at the ends when it originally did not. The left side of my hair remains curly , and I am able to define the curl best on the left side of my head in comparison.
Third : The state of my hair after 15 months of consciously being natural!!!
As I mentioned earlier, I have noticed some serious hair growth. Approximately 6 inches or so of really thick and healthy hair. I am certain that if I had not needed to cut off some of the split ends and fried hair from previous damage I would have possibly retained more length. But I have shifted some of my priorities towards having not only longer hair, but healthier and fuller hair as well. Currently, my hair reaches just below BSL (Bra Strap Length ). Unfortunately I am not able to post images for you all because I have lost my phone, and all of the pictures that I take are from my phone. I think either I managed to throw it away when I was eating dinner at Whole Foods or my father did it. LOL Either way... that sucker has been missing in action for at least 3 weeks. Get a replacement already??? Yeah, I will... I have secretly been enjoying the effects of people not having the ability to get in contact with me though. LOL. But, don't worry. I will get a replacement soon, and post lots of pics.!!! (^_^)
Well, thank you for checking out my super after the fact 15 month update !!! I will try to post again soon after I have started using the Extra Dark Castor Oil!!! Until next time...
- Hindi Importanteng Bagay (^_^)
