Many Blessings!

God bless you all!

~Blessed Tresses~

30 Day Water Challenge

Hello ladies~I hope that all is well with each and every one of you. The semester has finally ended and I have a few weeks to catch up on reading blogs and possibly updating my own. 

In my last post I mentioned that I had signed up to take part in Jeni's 30 day Water Challenge.  I have been doing so much better drinking water, but needed a little boost to continue doing so. Water provides so many great benefits to the body, as well as skin and hair.  The rules of the challenge were to drink a minimum of 32 ounces of water a day for 30 days to hydrate your body and hair from the inside out.  I can say that I successfully completed the challenge and actually managed to drink between 40-60 ounces of water each day.  Honestly, it wasn't as hard as I've made it be in times past.  I found myself reaching for water instead of anything else, and I felt so much better physically from doing so.

As far as results go: I noticed that my skin is feeling better and clearing up. The usual breakouts did not happen.  My hair feels so much more moisturized.  I also feel that drinking more water helped me to maintain my weight during Thanksgiving dinner.  I ate less food and did not gain a pound during the entire holiday break. I was 100% happy with that lol!!! So, my goal is to continue to drink plenty of water and to ensure that I maintain the results from this 30 day challenge.  Overall, I feel great and I can see a big difference in my skin, hair, and body. If you're not an avid water drinker, give it a try and see if your body/hair/skin thanks you for it!!!

Until next time....have a blessed evening and holiday season!!!

Blessed Tresses
 

Wash Day-13 weeks post

After being sick for a few weeks, my hair was in desperate need of some tender loving care.  I prepooed with my oil mix (castor, coconut, amla, wild growth oil) for about 1 hour under a conditioning cap. Next, I washed with Silk Elements moisturizing shampoo, then applied my Aphogee 2 minute reconstructurizer for about 20 minutes.  My hair was super soft and silky and detangled with no problems at all.  I applied my leave-in, Hawaiian Silky 14 n 1 and let my hair air dry for approximately 2 hours.  Once completely dry, I sealed with grapeseed and sunflower oil, added a little bit of Optimum Care heat protection and flat ironed.

I'm very happy with my hair-it was soft and silky smooth. My goal is to keep babying my ends, keep applying a mix of oils that promote growth, taking my vitamins and drinking plenty of water.  To ensure that I get my water in I joined Jeni's 30 day water challenge. There's nothing like a great challenge to keep you motivated and accountable.  After reading about micro-trimming here: http://relaxedhairhealth.blogspot.com (Part 1 and 2) I became quite interested. So, I decided to give it a try.  I trimmed 1/4 an inch about 2 weeks ago to see how it works out for me and to thicken my ends.  I will keep you all updated on how micro trimming is working or not.  Here are a few pics from my wash day....

After wash-no product on hair

                                                   

Fresh wash and flat iron

 Until next time.....have a blessed evening :-)

Deep Conditioning...

from BlackHairInformation.com

Say Yes to Hot Oil Treatments!

Courtesy Of BlackHairInformation.com

30 Days with Ceramides

This is my wrap up post for the 30 Days with Ceramides Challenge hosted by Just Grow Already and Relaxed Hair Therapy.

I used ceramides with wash days (weekly), deep conditions, and daily with moisturizing and sealing.

On wash days I prepooed with Grapeseed oil, Sunflower oil or Coconut oil and placed Tresemme' Naturals conditioner or another conditioner of choice over the oil for at least 30 minutes. I covered my head with a heat cap.

I usually rotate leave ins, so it's a toss up between Hawaiian Silky 14 n 1 or Aussie Hair Insurance. After applying my leave in of choice, I seal with an oil mix of Grapeseed oil, Sunflower oil, and Macadamia oil to seal my hair.  I also used Coconut oil during my washes when I used the L'Oreal Total Repair 5 Erasing Balm. Adding oil with this product just made my hair even softer while detangling and after for styling. 

How does my hair feel:

My hair feels so soft and silky. I originally started using Grapeseed oil because of the ceramides and how they are good for sealing the cuticle. So, it was no problem to incorporate some of the other oils that contain ceramides as well because I loved the results I was already receiving. 

Overall thoughts about ceramides:

The biggest difference I have noticed after incorporating ceramides into my regimen weekly is that my hair is much softer and feels light and fluffy to the touch.  It has great body and movement, if I air dry or flat iron. I love how soft and smooth my hair feels. The shine is amazing when used to seal the hair or just add some extra shine. Sorry, no pics this time, but I will be adding some soon after I texlax in a few days. Ceramides are definitely a keeper!!! Give them a try...until next time.

Blessed Tresses

What To Do???

Hi everyone!!! I know it's been a few months, but I've had so much going on. I'm just so thankful to actually have a few free minutes to share.

Well, it's been 31 weeks since my last relaxer (texlax) and my hair has actually grown quite a bit.  Last time I did a length check, my hair had successfully survived my set back where I had to cut about 4 inches (back to BSL).  I'm trying not to torture myself with length checks right now, so I've just been air drying mostly and bunning.

I'm merely stretching and trying to decide how long I want to go. So, here's what I'm dealing with...(moisturizer and grapeseed oil)

I will keep you all posted if and when I decide to relax/texlax.  Happy 4th of July!!!

Til next time,

Blessed Tresses

Tribute to Dr. Maya Angelou

Today we lost a great woman, prolific author and poet. RIP Dr. Maya Angelou`great lady of wisdom and grace.

Here is one of my favorite poems of the many beautiful words she wrote and spoke.

Still I Rise-by Maya Angelou

You may write me down in history  
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt  
But still, like dust, I'll rise.
Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?  
’Cause I walk like I've got oil wells  
Pumping in my living room.
Just like moons and like suns,  
With the certainty of tides,  
Just like hopes springing high,  
Still I'll rise.
Did you want to see me broken?  
Bowed head and lowered eyes?  
Shoulders falling down like teardrops,  
Weakened by my soulful cries?
Does my haughtiness offend you?  
Don't you take it awful hard
’Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines  
Diggin’ in my own backyard.
You may shoot me with your words,  
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I’ll rise.
Does my sexiness upset you?
Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I've got diamonds  
At the meeting of my thighs?
Out of the huts of history’s shame
I rise
Up from a past that’s rooted in pain
I rise
I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,  
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.
Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,  
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.  
I rise
I rise  
I rise.

Be blessed my friends...live each day as if it's your last with joy!!!

Blessed Tresses

Wash Day

Hello everyone! A few months ago I won a giveaway sponsored by Saving Our Strands, Finally Growing, and Relaxed Thairapy (check these ladies out). The items I won were the Macadamia Natural Oil healing oil treatment, rejuvenating shampoo, and deep repair masque. I won't do a review on these products because each of the ladies above have done wonderful reviews, as well as other bloggers. Just let me say, "I am in love with these products and my hair loves them as well!!!!"

I washed my hair with the shampoo and my hair was so soft. The deep repair masque made my hair feel very strong and there was hardly no shedding. This oil is EVERYTHING-my hair was so smooth as I let it air dry and then flat ironed. My hair is growing back from where I got it cut due to breakage and extreme shedding about 4 months ago. I am actually 15 weeks post relaxer. These products are definitely a keeper!!!

Thank you ladies for the opportunity to try these products. I am very pleased with my hair!!! Thanks for stopping by and I hope you all are having a wonderful weekend.

Until next time, be blessed!

*Blessed Tresses*   

Liebster Award

 

Hello everyone! I would like to thank Uzo O for nominating me for the Liebster award. Please take the time to check out her blog: http://productsthatactuallydowork.blogspot.com/. She has wonderful blog that showcases fashion, hair, makeup, etc.

Uzo's Questions:

1.  What do you enjoy most about Blogging? Meeting new people and finding great hair information.

2.  What fashion or beauty product would you spend your last dime on? A good makeup

3.  How do you relax? Reading

4.  What do you consider as your best Body part? My butt-it’s nice and firm

5.  Which fashion icon would you like to raid their closet? Kerry Washington

6.  What's your most embarrassing moment? In class, I told the teacher the wrong time because I read my watch wrong.  

7.  Do you travel Light? No, I always have to take a bunch of hair and makeup stuff

9.  Describe your style of fashion? Simple, but classy

10. What is your daily make-up routine? Wash face, moisturize, eyebrows, concealor, foundation or bronzer, blush, setting spray

11. If you were a man/guy, who would you like to be? The Rock because he has a nice body and is sexy lol

My Questions:

1. What do you enjoy about blogging?

2. What is your favorite hairstyle?

3. If you could meet one famous person, who would it be and why?

4. If you were stranded on an island what hair/body products could you not live without?

5. What is your favorite food?

6. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be?

7. Describe your fashion style?

8. If you could spend the entire day doing one thing, what would it be?

9. What’s your favorite color?

10. What’s your favorite television show or movie?

11. Where do you live?

RULES:

• You must link back to the person who nominated you.

• You must answer the questions given to you.

• You must pick 11 nominees to answer 11 questions you choose for them.

• You cannot nominate the person who nominated you.

• You must tell the nominees that they have been nominated by you.

If you wish to participate, I tag the following blogs and anyone who reads this and wants to participate. Sorry Uzo, I had a hard time finding people I follow who haven't been tagged.

http://www.6footlonghair.com/

http://courtnea2001.blogspot.com/ 

http://simpleandchiic.blogspot.com/

Product Review-Loreal Total Repair 5 Damage-Erasing Balm

Price: $6.99

Purchased At: Walmart

Product Description/Claim: Specially formulated for damaged, over processed and chemically treated hair. This intense luxurious reconstructing balm helps fight the 5 signs of damage: Split ends, weak, rough, dull, and dehydrated.

Instructions on use:  After using Total Repair 5 Shampoo, apply to wet hair and massage through to ends. Leave in for 3-5 minutes. Rinse. To view the ingredients check out the website. (All product information retrieved from the jar and http://www.lorealparisusa.com)

My thoughts:  As I told you in my last wash, I noticed that my hair had been shedding and that I had some breakage. I tried a few other deep conditioners to combat the issues, but nothing seemed to be helping. I sent away for a sample of the the Loreal Total Repair 5 shampoo, conditioner, and damage erasing balm. I really liked all three products, but felt that the damage erasing balm was more beneficial to me than the conditioner. I'm not really one to purchase products without checking out reviews on the product website, blogs, and YouTube.

The product claims to fight the signs of damage: split ends, weak, rough, dull and dehydration in the hair, as well as, repair up to one year of damage in one use. I don't know if the claim about one year of damage is totally true, but it does help. I personally know that my hair was looking and feeling very dull on the ends and they were rough. There was a noticeable difference in my hair after the first use.

Honestly: I must say after the first use my ends felt so much better and I had about 4 strands of shed hair. I've used the product twice and when I combed it through my hair there was so much slip and no tangles. My hair actually feels so much stronger, healthier, and full of body. I don't notice or feel rough, dull, and dry ends. It left my hair with a nice smell, not overpowering. I'm going to continue to use this product as I grow my hair back out from BSL to MBL. So, if you are suffering from the 5 signs of damage I would say the Loreal Total Repair 5 Damage Erasing Balm is definitely worth a shot. If you're not sure you want to purchase it without trying first, check out the website to see if you can receive a sample first. My hair is silky smooth after each use and it's a keeper!!!!

Until next time, much love!!!

~Blessed Tresses~

Disclaimer: This item was purchased with my own money. I was not paid or compensated in any way by the company or anyone to use or review. All opinions of this product reflect my honest thoughts and views.