The Healthy Hair Diary: healthy ends

Hair Update / Set Back... 31.12.13

Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Hey, I hope you all had a lovely Christmas...

I have been away for ages and again it's due to work, the jewellery business and family life but the main big reason is because on October 25th 2013 I faced a major setback that reduced me to tears...

After dusting my hair for the first time I still thought I had a centimeter of ends left to be trimmed and instead of trying to do it myself I called my mobile hairdresser to come round and give the ends a little snip.

What a huge mistake!!!!

Mistake no. 1: I didn't bring the long-length mirror downstairs so was sat blind.

Mistake no.2: Due to it being a trim, I didn't even check in the mirror before she left.

Mistake of the year: She somehow managed to chop into my hair rather than trimming the ends. I finally went upstairs to assess my healthy ends after a trim to find my hair was different lengths and I mean drastically like someone had just hacked chunks of length from my hair. I almost started hyperventilating but I was so shocked at what I was seeing that I has to keep calm just to look in the mirror and assess the situation.

I went downstairs to check the floor and there were random lengths of hair on the floor, why didn't I notice this before? I asked my partner to check my hair and he confirmed my hair was a hot mess. I was so angry at myself for letting this happen, I'm still upset now when I see others with longer lengths, lengths I'd have now if this hair massacre hadn't happened.

I went to my trusty hair dressers the very next morning and had enough time to come to terms with the fact that I'd be losing even more hair in order to make my hair look decent again. My hairdresser was dismayed at the sight of my hair and gave me a hug as she knows how I am when it comes to my hair. She got to work and although she tried to take off as little as possible, with the massacre the night before and then her having to correct it, I ended up with neck length hair, I would say at least 2 inches shorter than what I had to begin with.

However its a lesson learnt and I've been on my hair journey long enough to know that as well as success you will also face set backs and I've seen the rewards in my hair since starting my had journey so I have not been discouraged but more determined to take even better care of my hair and to only trust one person to trim my hair if at all. I actually intend on having a school up day on YouTube and learning to self trim which admittedly is a daunting experience but something that has to be done.

It's 9 weeks on and I finally have length that I can actually work with to which I am so grateful for as I've had a busy December with a lots of parties to attend.

One thing I can say is this setback has made me faithful to my castor oil challenge which I started literally the day after the whole disaster. I'm not sure if it has helped my hair grow any faster but usually at 9 weeks post I am counting down the days until I get to 12 weeks so I can get my new growth touched up but this time round my new growth is lovely and soft and I think it is down the fact that I have been trying to but not always oiling my scalp every night when I moisturise and seal my hair rather than every other night like I used to. I have been using my oil mix of Jamaican Black Castor Oil (JBCO), Avocado Oil, Pure Castor Oil and Extra Virgin Olive Oil.

air-drying

Healthy Hair Essentials in Autumn / Winter

Sunday, October 27, 2013

Autumn is here and before we know it,

Winter will be upon us..

During the autumn and winter, the cold and wet weather can be the enemy when it comes to our hair; making it necessary to adapt your hair regime according to the weather.

Five or six years ago as soon as summer was over, I would be booked in at the salon for yakki twists or another long term protective style which could last 4-6 weeks. My hair was shorter then so my logic for protective styling was that I wouldn't have to deal with my hair in the harsh weather, I would use braid sprays to keep it moisturized and wash it every two weeks and that was it. As I got older, I found it pointless spending money to have these styles as I would start to miss my own hair after 2 weeks and take it out again.

Starting my hair journey and learning how to care for my hair through online research and talking to hair bloggers and enthusiasts, I have learnt how important it is to tweak my hair regime during the colder months.

Below are some essentials for keeping your hair healthy and retaining your length during the next 6 months:

Pre-poo

Pre-pooing your hair with conditioner or oil or both before you shampoo your hair, helps to prevent the shampoo from stripping your hair, leaving it feeling like straw. You can also pre-poo before a co-wash. I either use my own oil mix to pre-poo my hair or African Royale Hot Six Oil.

Co-Wash / Shampoo

In the cold weather, your hair needs all the moisture it can get. Use a sulfate-free shampoo. When shampooing it is important to follow this up with a deep conditioner.You could also try to limit the amount of shampoo you use and instead wash your hair with conditioner. Your hair will be left moisturised and have great slip. I use Herbal Essence Hello Hydration conditoner to co-wash and Creme of Nature Argan Oil Moisture & Shine Shampoo.

Deep Conditioning

With the harsh weather conditions and also the artificial heat from central heating at home, school and work; the hair can get very dry which is why it is essential to deep condition your hair with heat (e.g.hood dryer; hair therapy wrap) with each shampoo. I tend to deep condition my hair even if I'm just co-washing just for that extra piece of mind. I add oils to my deep conditioners religiously, it can vary from olive oil, castor oil, coconut oil etc or a mixture of all of them.

Protein Treatment

As well as ensuring to deep condition your hair with a moisturising conditioner, it is also important to do a protein treatment to strengthen the hair. You can use an egg as a protein treatment, I use ORS Hair Mayonnaise on damp hair as a pre-poo with heat and then after a shampoo I will then follow up with a moisturising conditioner using heat. I do this once or twice a month depending on how my hair feels.

Heavier Hair Products

During the colder months bring out the heavier products that you may not necessarily use during the warmer months i.e. butters, cremes, leave in conditioners and oils. During the summer I was using lighter moisturisers for my hair. Now the weather is getting colder, I am back to using my staple Olive Oil & Mango Butter to ensure my hair keeps soft and moisturised. Instead of just sealing my hair with Avocado oil, I will mix it with Jamaican Black Castor Oil or Olive Oil for extra thickness.

Moisturise Your Hair More Often

Ensuring your hair is kept moisturised in the cold weather will prevent it from breakage due to dryness. Moisturising your hair/ends morning and night during these seasons will help prevent dryness.

Oils

After moisturising your hair, seal it on with a thicker oil than what you would use in the summer; Extra Virgin Olive oil, Jamaican black castor oil, Avocado Oil, this will leave your hair protected from the harsh elements outdoors. Mixing oils in your deep conditioners is a must try and also doing a 15-20 hot oil treatment after your deep conditioner and then rinsing will leave your hair feeling amazing. My favourite oils are; castor oil, jbco, extra olive oil and avocado oil.

Baggy Your Hair

As previously mentioned, the cold weather can dry your hair out. You can leave home with your hair feeling like silk and then catch a glimpse of your hair throughout the day to wonder where your moisture has gone. The baggying method is a great way to re-hydrate your hair and to keep your hair moist. I moisturise my hair with olive oil and mango butter and then apply a shower cap for anything from 1 hour to 3 hours maybe 2- 3 times a week if my hair needs it. If my whole head feels dry then I will moisturise my hair and new growth, clip my hair into one loose pin curl and cover with the shower cap. If it is just my ends which are dry then I will moisturise my ends, out my hair in a loose ponytail and then cover the ponytail with a shower cap and secure with a loose hair band.

No Direct Heat

Using direct heat on your hair such as hair dryers and straighteners; when its cold and windy outside will dry out your hair which can leave your hair prone to breakage. If you want to use heat; doing a roller set or wet wrap set is better for your hair as you will be using indirect heat which is healthier for your hair and you will still get the straight results you crave. I prefer to use no heat at all where possible and instead I air dry my hair using a satin scarf to straighten my edges.

Protective Styling
With the change in temperature outside we are already digging out our woolly jumpers, cardigans, hats and scarfs. Wearing a protective style with your hair up off your shoulders can help to protect your hair from slow breakage which happens your ends are constantly snagging on the jumpers and cardigan and creating brittleness dryness. Try bunning, a french braid, twists, braids, up dos etc.

Prevent Hair Breakage

If you are a lover of hats to keep your hair covered and protected from the harsh elements of the outdoors then a tip would be to add some satin fabric to the inside of your hats to add a protective lining for your hair. We all love to wear our scarfs for additional central heating but what many people don't realise is the damage woolen scarves can have to the nape of the hair as well as our coat collars etc, another tip is to purchase or make some cheap satin scarves in neutral colours to match your outfits. Use the scarf to protect your nape from rubbing on your collars, jumpers or scarfs by wrapping the satin scarf around your collar or neck before then adding your woolen fabrics as your hair will be protected by the satin.

These are my hair essentials for Autumn / Winter but do what is right your hair, the main aim is Moisture.

How will you be caring for your hair this winter?