My Coily Fro...Updated Regi

My hair is doing what it do! Growing nicely, getting that health up and turned up off my regimen. I have been super consistent with my regimen and my hair is saying THANK YOU (finally) and I'm basking with unlimited selfies. I never loved my tresses, even when it was relaxed. I feel like we always just put up with each other but neither one of us put our best foot forward to make each other shine. Now, we're besties, I understand my tresses and my tresses understand me and with that I found a regimen that is giving both of us LIFE. 

My regimen right now is
1. First week: deep condition with coconut oil with heat for 45 mins then co-wash
2. Second week: Shampoo, ACV, Deep condition anywhere from 30mins - 2 hours with heat.
3. Third week repeat First week
4. Fourth week repeat Second week.

So in a nut shell I alternate weeks between a co-wash and shampoo.

I'll have more deets on products that I use, but in the mean time I just wanted to breeze through and show yall what I'm working with.

Pic on the left is my hair Nov 2012 pic on the right is my current hair Sept 2013

Thought I capture a few selfies cuz I need yall to believe me when I say me and my tresses are besties. My first twist out that I actually was digging. It was juicy and coily!

Do you have a regimen? Please share.

Follow me on instagram for pics before they hit the blog @trackingmytresses

Kicking Off the Summer With a New Do & A Review!

Side ponytail, swoop bang w/glue-in tracks .

It's officially summer, well in my book at least. Once Memorial Weekend comes around that's certified summer to me--BBQ's, cute dresses, cool shades, stylish sandals and up-do hairstyles. I'm in that annoying mid-stage, with no perm so I decided to get a ponytail to stick out the awkward stage. My sis-in-law recently graduated from beauty school and she got a chair at a hair salon, I wanted to support her new journey as a hairstylist and put her newly learned skills to the test.

I never get super long hair when I had pieces, but I was feeling the extra long pony, 16 inches boo! I love it, but my husband, umm not so much. What I love about it is, it's super simple, chic and fun. You can't go wrong with a pony. I figured this will get me through the mid-stage and those scorcher summer days. I'm having fun with it too. I swing to the back or have it draped on my shoulder for a chic-er look.

To maintain it, I take 3 flex rods, section off the pony and add them in to get that sexy loose curl. I add some Organic Root Stimulator Edge Control and dap that on my sides and nape for a refresher. I also take a dap of coconut oil and glide it across the sides and nape as well. The longest, I will wear this still is for two weeks tops.

I'm loving ORS Edge Control, it's clear so no residue or flakes, super thick, gives amazing hold and control and adds some good shine too. It's very sticky almost like a super glue texture. I have a piece of hair that is a little shorter so every now and then the hair sticks out, so all I do is put some Edge Control over it and BAM that hair is back in place, I don't even need a pin either. I haven't used gel in my hair in forever, like since high school days when all I wore were ponytails, so I was quite impressed that it didn't give that flaky residue, made my hair brittle like I remember. This will def be my staple for future up-do's.

It receives 4 out of 5 stars on most reviews. My girl, Sunshyne, gave it 5 stars on her Harlicious blog.

ORS Edge Control Details:

• Holds down edges
• Adds shine and moisture
• Ideal for relaxed and natural hair

Organic Root Stimulator Olive Oil Edge Control™ is a unique alcohol free formula that gives the hair superior hold without flaking. It slicks and holds down the edges while adding shine and moisture.
Organic Root Stimulator Olive Oil Edge Control contains natural ingredients and vital nutrients that work together to keep hair looking its best. It is great for relaxed and natural hair. Key Ingredients include Olive Oil which is rich in essential fatty acids and infuses moisture directly into the cuticle. Aloe Vera that provides moisture and conditioning properties and Wheat Protein which strengthens the hair and reduces breakage.

If you live in the Brooklyn area, check out my sis-in-law Felicia. She's at Hair Palace on Utica & Church Ave. 

What's your summer do?

It's All About the Pre-Poo..Boo!

My pre-poo products

I think my hair and pre-poo are boo's! They love each other and it shows. The pre-pooing makes my hair say Oh Baby! How do I know this? Cuz my hair told me. My hair is super soft, manageable and strong with the pre-poo and it cooperates perfectly through the entire wash experience.

If you don't know what a pre-poo is. It's the pre-treatment you give your hair before you wash it. You can either use a conditioner or oils or both. You apply to dry hair, sit under some heat for 30mins - 1 hour.

I do a pre-poo mix with an inexpensive conditioner, right now, I'm using Tresemme Naturals. I mix that with honey, coconut oil, olive oil and garlic water. I don't do exact measurements I just eyeball everything. It smells a bit weird but my hair loves it. I realized after reading the ingredients that the Tresemme Natural Conditioner has protein in it, which is why my hair seems so strong lately.

Here's the breakdown of each product of my pre-poo to give you an idea of where the love is:

Tresemme Vitamin A& C Natural Conditioner -- Patented formula enriched with Vitamins C & E along with a fortifying blend of plant derived extracts.

Honey -  Honey contains both fructose and glucose, natural sweeteners that nourish the hair. Honey also retains water and moisture, allowing it to hydrate hair while providing vitamins and minerals such as copper, iron, manganese, calcium, sodium, potassium, phosphorous and Vitamin B

Coconut Oil -  Using coconut oil as pre-shampoo treatment is better than using it post-wash. This is partly owing to the fact that coconut oil only seems to penetrate wet hair fibers.

Olive Oil -  olive oil can nourish, condition, and improve the strength and elasticity

Garlic Water - I buy minced garlic in a jar and take a tsp of the water and add to my pre-poo mix. Garlic is known to fight against shedding.

I've also pre-poo'd with just coconut oil and my hair also had great results--soft and well-moisturized.

I'm still learning this whole Hair Journey thang, but I will say that pre-pooing will ALWAYS be part of my regimen because of the benefits and results of how well my hair is doing. As I go further along in my HJ, I'm sure my ingredients will change but pre-pooing and my hair will never part.

This blog was one of  my go-to resources on learning about healthy hair practices. http://relaxedhairhealth.blogspot.com/2010/12/pre-poo-101-why-you-must-do-this-every.html. Check it out! She does a great break down of pre-pooing.

What's in your pre-poo?