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

5 Facts I Learned About My Hair During my 8 Month Hair Journey!

I'm 8 months in my hair journey and although I haven't achieved astonishing growth like I've seen some length check pics on www.hairlista.com and on the web. I will say, that since being on this journey, I now understand what is most important for my hair and understands what my hair needs and wants. If I had known what I know now pre-HJ. My hair would be hitting my ankles right about now. But hey, when you know better you do better.

Current state of my hair: Protective style, custom wig. I wanted to give my hair a bit of a rest. My last texturizer was June 16th so that makes me about 12 weeks post. I'm going to see how long I can go with doing protective styles and see what kind of progress my hair makes. I'm also gearing up to buy Carol's Daughter Transiting Kit to keep me going during my stretch with the hopes this can be the solution to taking me all the way to being completely natural.

5 facts I've learned about my hair:

1. My hair loves protein. What I mean when I say that is, my hair just shows-off when DC with protein. It looks healthy, feels healthy and it luxuriates. I have way less shedding, it looks fuller, every single one of my tresses shines. Anytime, I shop around for conditioners, I make sure that somewhere in the ingredients there's some protein in it.
My current conditioner I DC weekly with is Organic Root Stimulator Replenishing Conditioner. I looooooove this conditioner. My hair and this conditioner are married! It's a light protein so I get the strength and rebuilding my hair loves and I get the moisture that my hair needs. Double bonus!

2. I have bratty hair. My hair wants what it wants and if it doesn't it turns into a brat and sheds/breaks. What I mean when I say this is, my hair will shed or break, almost immediately with a product that does it no justice. It's a plus for me because I get to know what my hair hates asap, but the downside of that is it can put my hair into a bit of setback from trying to recover.

3. My hair grows slowly. When I log into hairlista and see length check pics, I'm like "hol' up her hair is down her damn back in 6 months???- What am I doing wrong?" Turns out, I'm not doing anything wrong, my hair moves at its own pace and I've already came to grips with it. So, I don't have the length that I want in my 8 months HJ but I do have the health. I'll take health over length anyday. I do give my hair a bit of assistance with growing and staying on track. I take Hairfinity vitamins twice a day and a B-complex vitamin. I still don't see fast growth but I do see less breakage and shedding than ever.

4. Pre-poo's and my hair shall never part. I wrote a post awhile back about pre-pooing and how much my hair loves it. I think this has been the secret to getting my hair in a healthy state. I will never, ever-ever skip a wash day without pre-pooing. For me, the pre-pooing process is where I focus on meeting the needs of my hair. For instance, my hair can be quite drying so I include honey, which helps attract moisture to my tresses. My hair can shed more than normal for no reason, so add garlic water, this minimizes shedding. I recently started adding Jamaican Black Castor Oil to help my thin tresses to thicken up. And of course, I also add my beloved coconut oil to the mix because it helps restore the health of the hair. Some wash days, I may add a cheap conditioner to the mix like Tresemme or Herbal Essence for an extra conditioning boost.

5. Natural ingredients are wassup. I'm not fully into using all natural products for shampooing and conditioning just yet, but I have learned that the natural ingredients I have incorporated into my hair regimen gives me better and faster results on my tresses. For my protein treatments, I started using a raw egg, olive oil, honey and a cheapie conditioner. My hair stopped all shedding and breakage asap and it snaps back to a healthy start--winning! I started using Rosewater & Glycerin to moisturize my new growth my hair seems to stay moist. Aloe vera juice (AVJ) I've added as a leave-in/detangler. Oh baby! My hair butter soft and super manageable. Just what I like!

What have you learned most about your hair on your HJ?

Hair Journey CONFESSION #1

The bad news is the summer is whisking away rather rapidly.

The good news is I'm alive and in good health.

The hair news is I'm in a protective style. I am wearing wig cap. It's my go-to when I don't want to be bothered with my hair. The difference with wearing them now is I take much better care of my hair, than when I wore them before my hair journey (HJ).

Confession #1 - I started this blog with the idea to grow out my short cut and my relaxer at the same damn time (shout to 2Chainz!). Well, yeah um, what had happened wuz.....I got frustrated with the two textures and did not know how to control it, so I texturized my hair. I experienced some breakage during the process and that's when I said something has got to give. My stylist suggested a texturizer. At first I was like, "wait does that mean I'm going to have a like a jheri curl type look?" Hey I'm an 80's baby so that's my definition of a texturizer, but she broke it down for me and said a relaxer straightens the curl pattern and a texturizer softens the curl pattern. She was the one to convince me to give up perming but she also convinced me that texlaxing will be helpful with transitioning out, since I was struggling with the growing out phase a lot. So, the ultimate goal of going natural is still very much there, BUT I'm going to wean my way out of the transitioning phase by texlaxing.

Although, a texturizer can make your hair bone straight like a relaxer if you let it sit long enough, however, the applying time is way shorter than a relaxer so the results will not be bone straight. In the hair world, its called texlaxing. You can achieve a texlax by using a no-lye or lye regular relaxer by cutting your applying time in half OR you can achieve a texlax by using a texturizer.

The actual definition of texlaxing is the process of purposefully under processing one’s hair in order to loosen the texture of the hair without completely straightening it. This method is less damaging and leaves the hair thicker than a relaxer.

Texturizing is still a chemical process, but I must admit I like it waaaaaay better than relaxing, for my hair at least. The texturizer my stylist used is Linange Shea Butter Texturizer. She mixed it with a little conditioner and an oil.

Here's why I love my texlaxed hair:
1. The chemical does not stay in my hair that long literally under 5 mins. How my stylist applies it is she parts in four sections BUT she is working on each section separately. For instance, you know when you are relaxing and your hair is parted in four sections and you work on section by section but you rinse out the relaxer when all four sections are completed. Well, my stylist applies to one section and then rinses out that section and on to the next one. I love how she does it. Less prone to overprocessing, it's easier on my tresses and my hair is not bone straight. Luvs it!

2. I love having a bit of a texture. My hair looks fuller because it is not bone straight the texture adds some fullness and body to my hair.

3. Healthier tresses. yes yes texlaxing is a chemical process but a less-stressing applying process. When I would get relaxers I would do this over dramatic fake my-scalp-is-burning act with fanning my hands and tapping my feet and all, in order for the stylist not to relax to bone straight. Ask me why I went through all that trouble to put that act on because it was the only way the stylist would get it out of my head. Now, I have a totally new stylist who understands my tresses and the importance of the chemical process so that act I have retired.

Are you texlaxed?

Organic Root Stimulator Uplifting Shampoo. A Review!

My hair was thriving, then it was like the life got sucked of it. I was hating my hair for a few weeks almost at the verge of chopping it all off (again). Straight up hair frustration because my hair would not shine at all no matter how much moisturizing & sealing or co-washing I did. My rollerset would not last long and it started to look weighed down and I was experiencing some excessive shedding. I couldn't figure out if it was the products I was using or was I doing to much or what? Then a light bulb hit. WELP, I DO NOT CLARIFY MY HAIR.

The point of clarifying  is stuff builds up on your hair, all kinds of stuff. Hairsprays, mousses, and gels; hard water and mineral deposits; chlorine and chemicals from swimming pools; even the waxes and moisturizers in some shampoos and conditioners can leave build up on your hair over time. This build up can cause hair to appear dull, heavy, greasy, and limp. A clarifying shampoo can help remove those deposits, give your hair a fresh start, and restore shine.

I pre-poo (a pre-treatment with oils/conditioner before shampooing your hair) weekly and recently started incorporating co-washing (washing hair with a moisturizing conditioner) into my regimen, although they are great techniques for the hair, you eventually have to clarify at some point due to product build-up. So, off to the beauty supply store (BSS) I went to pick up a clarifying shampoo.

Anyhoo, I wanted to make it easy for myself with the decision making so I purchased Organic Root Stimulator Uplifting Shampoo. Anytime I buy a product from this line, I am always pleased and impressed so I figured I couldn't go wrong. And I didn't.

First of all, what a big difference clarifying makes, I never knew! Honestly, this was my first time ever using a clarifying shampoo, since starting my HJ back in January, and I must say my hair does feel lighter, cleaner, silky AND no itchy scalp. I plan on adding clarifying to my regimen by the fifth wash.

The Facts: 
This shampoo exfoliates the scalp helping to relieve the itchy feeling associated with dry scalp. It's ideal for all hair textures, and adds moisture while helping to condition and detangle.

• Enriched with menthol, nettle and horsetail
• Gently lifts flakes and excess oils
• Stimulates and irrigates scalp

The Instructions:

• Conduct a patch test for allergic reaction before use. Apply as directed to the nape of the neck; wait 24 hours. If itching, bumps or redness develop, do not use
• Apply a generous amount of shampoo to damp hair and work into a lather. Rinse thoroughly
• Repeat shampoo, leaving on for 2 minutes to maximize treatment
• Rinse thoroughly with warm water and condition with Organic Root Stimulator hair mayonnaise

The Truth:

• First off, no allergy reaction for me, thank God. I'm never allergic to anything so I was pretty optimistic about not having some sort of reaction.

• Loved the tingling sensation it gave while washing, made me feel like it was really doing something

• Clarifying shampoo's are known to strip the hair to release the build up, but for this to be a clarifying shampoo my hair did not feel stripped it actually felt moisturized and stronger.

•  I will say that my hair also behaved with holding rollerset curls. By day 2 of a rollerset my curls are lifeless.

• It definitely did the trick to my tresses they were lighter and shinier and my scalper is definitely cleaner. I usually have itching scalp and I haven't scratched my scalp going on 2 days. Impressive!  

Bottom line, hands down, Organic Root Stimulator is winning as far as product lines for me. I always get great results from their products. I'm a trusted fan! The ORS Uplifting Shampoo is surely a staple for me as my clarifying shampoo. If you don't believe check out one of my fav youtubers MrGORGEOUSisMYname who also reviewed this product. He had me LOL'n!!!

What do you clarify with?

Edges Growth Check!

 Six months into my hair journey and I am still diligent with getting my balding edges to thrive. Patience and consistence is key to making this happen. I was once told "once your edges are gone, that's it, they'll never grow back" but I beg to differ. After sticking to my regimen married to the right products I'm making progress. Bump that! My sides are wassup! I'm a proud mama, after babying these sides.

Here is a pic from my last edges update from my April 17th post. Top left was the beginning of my journey in January.  Bottom Left was in April.

Six months into my hair journey, obvious signs of progress. don't cha think?

The only thing that has changed is I switched moisturizers. I still love Neutrogena Triple Moisture, but I wanted to try something different and I started using Elasta QP Olive Oil & Mango Butter Moisturizer. However, I still moisture & seal twice a day using Jamaican Black Castor Oil as my sealant. I will say that I don't really care for QP on my actual tresses, because it weighs down my hair, but I do love it on my edges & nape. It does a better job with keeping it nice and moisturized. So, I mainly use QP just for moisturizing my edges and nape area.

What has been your problem area? What was your technique for progress?

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?

You Better Be-Weave-It--The Do's & Don't's.

I've worn weaves, braids and wigs, plenty of times. I've worn short hair for many years that weaving was always a great option for me to play with longer or curly styles. A new look and new do always kicks up the inner diva a few notches. Aside from that, my hair would rest from the daily and weekly maintenance wear and tear, which gave it time to grow in a more peaceful state. I will admit though taking care of my tresses while wearing a weave was not a focus. I never washed it (i know, gross), all I did would apply oils to my scalp, now that I'm healthy hair savvy all that build up on my scalp, no bueno. I just appreciated wearing weaves as saving me money and time, but now that I think about it, whenever I took the weave out I would have to get a massive trim and all the growth it did while resting was shot to hell.

So, my hair now is at the awkward ear length without a relaxer, so I've been thinking about weaving it for a few months for rest of course, but to see if I can get some maximum growth going too.

Ironically, ESSENCE online posted an article up on Ten Things You Need to Know Before You Add Extensions. I took notes on how I will treat my hair under a weave this time around. Honestly, I have never considered any of these tips when I wore my weaves in the past, no wonder I never got that length that I always expected.

1. DO Care For Your Own Hair First
Before you commit to adding in extensions, make sure that your own hair is in the best shape possible. “When your hair is under a weave, you think that you’re protecting it. However, if you’re not taking care of the hair underneath, you could be doing more damage than good,” says celebrity hairstylist Cynthia Alvarez. “My philosophy is that you have to deep condition, moisturize and give your own hair the best treatment that you can before you sew it up under the weave. If you start out with clean and conditioned hair, it will stay healthy and continue to grow.”

2. DON'T Skimp on Quality Hair 
Yes, hair extensions can be pricey, but always remember that you get what you pay for. “Cheap hair will be stiff and dry with no movement and what’s the point of wasting your money on that?” asks Alvarez. “Think about how long you would want to reuse the hair. If you buy really great quality hair, you don’t have to keep buying hair every other month. You end up saving more money and it will look more natural.”

3. DO Consider the Amount of Styling Time You'll Need
If you’re tight on time in the mornings, avoid hair that will need to be styled daily. “If you can spend a lot of time in the mirror everyday, then you can go with the hair that needs constant styling,” says Alvarez. “I recommend wavy textures for those with busy schedules because it is a wash-and-go texture but it also straightens really beautifully.”

4. DON'T Opt for a Glue-in Weave
“The glue has got to go!” exclaims Alvarez. “To glue in a weave is cheaper and faster, but you sacrifice your hair and health in the long run. Hair glue is made of latex and some people have really bad allergic reactions to it. Also, when you glue in a weave, you can’t reuse the hair. A sew-in weave would be a much smarter option.”

5. DO Consider a Wig 
Wigs are quickly becoming the popular alternative to extensions because of their versatility and ease. “A lot of women will get a lace-front wig sewn in because it lasts as long as a weave but it takes less time to install,” says Alvarez. “Wigs are also good because they come off and on everyday and allow your own hair to breathe at night.”

6. DON'T Overload Your Extensions
Adding serums and sheens can actually have the opposite effect on the hair over time. Instead of making the hair shine, it will weigh it down, make it stringy, or damage the hair. “If you have high quality hair, you don’t need a lot of products,” says Alvarez. “The hair will already have luster and shine.”

7. DO Take Into Consideration the Weight of Your Extensions
The longer and fuller your extensions are, the heavier the hair will be. This could cause added tension on your natural hair and make it prone to breakage. “When your hair starts growing under the weave, the weight of the weft can start to pull and break hair, especially around the edges,” says Alvarez. It’s also important to note that if you have a relaxer, the area where your new growth and relaxed hair meets is very delicate and more prone to breakage.

8. DON'T Be Afraid to Mix Textures
When deciding on the hair that best matches your own texture, feel free to mix-and-match hair types to create the perfect fit. “Contrary to popular belief, higher quality hair will not tangle when you mix the textures because the cuticles are smoother,” says Alvarez. “I would not advise mixing packaged hair. You will definitely have matting in that case.”

9. DO Customize Your Cut and Color
After you’ve worn your weave straight and long for a while, experiment by having the same hair dyed and cut into a fresh new ’do. “Customizing your hair can make all the difference,” says Alvarez. “Talk to your stylist and bring in pictures to see what style and cut would work best for you.”

10. DON'T Use Too Much Heat on the Hair
Human hair extensions can develop split ends and heat damage just like your natural hair. “This is human hair and if you use too much heat, it’s going to break,” says Alvarez. Avoid daily heat styling by opting for pin curls, roller sets or naturally wavy hair types.

Credit it essence online magazine. Click on the link to view the complete article http://photos.essence.com/galleries/ask_the_experts__the_do_s_and_don_ts_of_wearing_extensions#1265803

Here are a few snapshots of me rocking some weaved/wig styles:

 

Short Custom wig

 

 
Bob Weave

Curly Weave



The Reverse DC

I love me some deep conditioning! When I do my hair at home, the Deep Conditioner (DC) will sit in my hair for hours and my hair behaves so well afterwards, no breaking and barely any shedding. Yesterday, I did my hair at home, and I did not feel like getting in the shower to wash my hair then add a DC to get back in the shower to rinse. So, I tried a DC in reverse, meaning I applied my DC on my dry hair first then I hopped in the shower, rinsed the conditioner and washed with shampoo. It certainly killed some time but the results of my hair were the same as a regular wash first, DC second. I normally pre-poo during wash days, but I cut pre-pooing out since I was DC'ng first.

Here's my step by step wash day:

My DC mix was Creme of Nature Intensive Conditioning, Honey and Jamaican Black Castor Oil. I sat under the heating cap for an hour, but the DC actually stayed in my hair for 4 hours while I did things around the house i.e watched some shows on my DVR, cooked Sunday dinner and cleaned the bathroom. Just in case, you wanted to know lol.

I washed with Aphogee Balancing Moisturizing Shampoo, Apply Roux Porosity Conditioner for 30 seconds and rinsed. Applied Aphogee Green Tea Leave-In, Air dried overnight. Flat ironed in the morning, and of course, I used a heat protectant IC Heat Protectant Straightening Serum.


I've seen a few girls on youtube do the DC on dry hair. Here's one of my favorite youtubers shorty2sweet59 do the reverse DC. BTW, homegirl's hair is waist length!! Shout out to the Caribbean massive! She got that soca music playing in the background so you can buss-a whine while you watch. ;-)

To Co-Wash or Not to Co-Wash?

What is co-washing? You Ask.. Co-washing is when you wash your hair with a moisturizing conditioner instead of shampoo. It's a technique to restore the moisture in your hair. I know it sounds crazy right? When I started my hair journey I was like "straight up conditioner'"? but the more I researched the more I started to understand the benefits of it. Of course, this technique may not work for everyone, so if you try and your hair feels coated, itchy scalp increases or your hair doesn't feel manageable then this technique is not for you.

The benefits of co-washing:

•  Co-Washing helps to reduces knots and tangles

•  Co-washing will help to keep your hair soft and moisturized, which is especially important if  you’re transitioning

•  Co-washing is great for hydrating the scalp

When I saw all the benefits of co-washing I went for it. I tried it with VO5 moisturizing conditioners, my hair said "NO BUENO" it was dry and stiff.  I've tried it with Herbal Essence Hello Hydration my hair did say "HELLO." My hair was so moisturized that I didn't have to add any moisturizing products in my hair like I usually do, so I was good until my wash day without adding any products. I've also tried Cream of Nature Nourishing Conditioner and my hair said "Keep Nourishing Me Baby." My new growth was crazy manageable with this one, almost like my hair was a completely different texture.

I will admit that since I'm giving up the creamy crack my hair seems drier than ever, so co-washing does give my hair that restored moisture it needs and my new growth is way more softer and manageable.

A cheapie conditioner is what you use to co-wash. You can usually find these type of conditioners on sale at drugstores like Rite Aid, CVS, Walgreens or Target for less than $5.

Hair Lover Ravs & Favs Co-Wash Conditioners
VO5 moisture milks conditioners
Suave Almond & Shea Butter
Herbal Essence Hello Hydration
Suave Tropical Coconut Conditioner
Dove Damage Intensive Repair Conditioner
Tresemme Moisture
Aussie Moist
Pantene Relaxed & Natural Conditioner

How often to co-wash? That's all up to you. I try to do it once a week in between my wash days, but I've read some hair regimens and some girls do it more than that. I think my hair is just fine with just once a week or as needed basis. If you try it and see great improvements and results  from co-washing then add to your regimen. But if you see no difference, your hair doesn't quite respond right then give it the boot. Not every technique will work for everyone. Finding the right moisturizing conditioner, is part of a successful co-wash.

Have you tried co-washing? Love it or Hate It?

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?

Tracking My Tresses -- Growth Check

I've only started my hair journey in December and since then I've stuck to my regimen like glue and my hair has been thriving and thriving baby. I've never seen it this healthy--never, ever. I'm a proud hairlista right now. (if you're on hairlista profile is Mrs. B). I just hope I can remain consistent with my tresses so they can continue to flourish.

What I've learned so far through my journey, is that at this point, I know my hair. It took a lot of researching, patience and being super involved, trial and error but I've gained the patience and confidence to continue on. I will admit I did have a set back early on and because I researched I knew exactly how to repair the problem asap. I know exactly what my hair loves and hates. I understand how it reacts to certain products and can determine if should continue with the use.

Top Box: August 2011

Bottom left Box: Jan 12

Bottom Middle Box: Feb 12

Bottom Right Box: Mar 12

To recap, my hair goal is to gain knowledge about my hair and nurture it back to health without relaxing for one year.  You can review regimen in my hair regimen tabs. It's a very simple regimen, but I believe the products I am using is key to this thriving stage.