2016 Hair Update #3

Hello everyone! On August 9, 2016, I hit the two years natural mark. I'm really surprised at how fast I reached my goal of going completely natural. I spent the entire two years cutting (trimming) my relaxed ends off. I'm very happy and pleased with my hair and how healthy it looks and feels.

Did I really think I would make it? I wasn't 100% sure simply because I was so used to having my hair relaxed and wasn't sure I would be able to handle it being au naturel. There were many days that I considered relaxing, but then I thought about how much time I would've wasted.  So, I continued on and actually reached my goal. I've learned so many things about my hair and myself.....I can do anything I set my mind to!!! I absolutely love my hair in it's natural state and can't wait to see how it continues to thrive.

The shrinkage is real, but my curls are poppin!

Til next time....

Blessed Tresses

Announcement!!!

It's my Two Year Natural Hair Anniversary!!!! Updates coming soon!!!!

             

2016 Hair Update #2

Hello everyone! I just wanted to update on the progress of my hair. At this time, I am 21 months post and my hair is the healthiest it has been in years. I only have about a 1/2 inch of relaxed ends left, and will trim them off in a few days. I can't believe I have made it this far and how healthy my hair looks and feels. I'm about 2 inches from MBL and can't wait to reach my targeted goal.

left-hair removed from bun; top right-thick ponytail; bottom right-bumped on the ends

My hair has definitely thickened up and I'm enjoying this journey. There are no plans to return to relaxers anytime soon. Sometimes it's hard for me to believe it's been almost 2 years since I had a relaxer, but I made it!!!!

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you all are doing well. Until next time.....

*Blessed Tresses*

2016 Hair Update #1

Happy New Year everyone!!!! I pray that you all have a blessed and prosperous new year, whether it be spiritually, financially, physically, etc.  Whatever it is...go for it!!!

Just to recap...if you remember last year I decided to stretch my relaxer for longer than my usual 6 months. Well, my stretch just kept going and going, until I found myself at.......DRUM ROLL please.....17 months post relaxer. I never really thought about going back to my natural hair, but it just happened and my hair is thriving so much.  I will not lie and say I have not been tempted so many times to relax instead of deal with my hair.  The crazy part is my hair is not that difficult to deal with in its natural state, but being a creature of habit made me want to cave in to temptation.

Now, I am in no way against relaxers, but I am all for doing what makes "you" happy with "your" hair.  So, for me right now I am very happy with my hair!!! I made this decision based on the state of my hair and issues that I was dealing with such as breakage, shedding, and overall health of my hair. I think this is the best decision I could've made for myself at this time. I continued my mini-trims and have basically cut off all relaxed ends.  I will keep you all updated from time to time during this year.

Here is my last update:  July 20, 2015

Here is my hair now (excuse my falling curls)

See you in the next update! Be blessed my friends :-)

Blessed Tresses

Hair Update #2

This is part two of my previous hair update.....just to recap, I am 50 weeks post relaxer/texlaxer.  I have not decided what my plans are.

Here are some additional pics:

New growth

Blow dried hair

Flat ironed and curled

Have a blessed night....

~Blessed Tresses~

Hair Update #1

Hello everyone!!!! I know it's been a while, but I finally completed graduate school and now have my MS in Social Gerontology.  I thank the good Lord for leading me the entire time during this journey.

Now to my hair.....well believe it or not, I am actually 50 weeks post relaxer/texlax.  When I first started stretching, it was going to be my usual 6 months stretch and then texlax my hair.  However, this time I decided to see how long I could actually go without wanting to pull my hair out.  So, 9 months looked real good and I was having no issues.  Then I thought, can I do this for an entire year?  So, I decided to test myself, and I must say it was not as hard as I thought it would be.  My new growth has kicked in something fierce, especially when I was taking hair vitamins.  Now that I'm at this 50 week mark, I am loving my natural texture and how healthy my hair feels to me.  The only issue that I'm dealing with is keeping these edges under subjection lol.  I'm good for a few days, but when the humidity kicks in, it's all over.

Here are some pics of my texture with no product:

So, what's next for me.....I'm not sure if I'm going to hit that one year mark and keep it moving or texlax my hair.  I definitely won't do anything immediately because I want to see how my hair works out after I've hit my goal.  I'll definitely keep you all posted.

Until next time,

~Blessed Tresses~

2015 Hair Goals

Hello everyone! I've decided that the best way to keep myself accountable through my hair journey is to create some goals. At this time, I've been texlaxing every 6 months or so, however, I'm currently at 30 weeks now and as long as my stretch is causing no harm to my hair it will continue. Here's a picture of my current texture and what I'm dealing with:

Here are my goals:

• Prepoo 30 minutes or overnight with oil mix (castor, coconut, sunflower, grapeseed oil).
• Wash hair weekly.
• Deep condition 30-60 minutes each wash with hear or a heat conditioning cap.
• Air dry when possible and flat iron with heat protectant (not often-maybe once a month).
• Focus on healthy ends over length by making sure I am moisturizing and sealing my ends as needed.  At this point my ends have definitely recovered from a set back and I want them to stay in good shape.
• Continue with mini-trims every 3-6 months and length checks will be on the same type of schedule. I've discovered that the more I pay attention to my length by measuring perhaps too often, I start feeling as if I'm making no progress. 
• I'm going to try my best to continue wearing protective styles such as updos (french rolls, braided buns, and pin curled updos). It's very rare that I wear my hair down, but when I do it's either bumped on the ends or a pin curled style.
• Last but not least, listen to what my hair needs. I refuse to jump on any new bandwagons. I'm sticking to what works for me. So, I'll continue with simple wash days, taking my multi-vitamins, eating healthy, and exercising. 

I hope that you all are reaching your hair goals and making progress.  Sometimes our hair journeys seem in vain, but if we stick with what works we will definitely see progress!

Until next time,

~Blessed Tresses~

Devotional Moments

 ^"And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." Gal. 6:9
 
Hello everyone! I know it''s been a while, but I've been thinking about some things I would like to do different with this blog. I'm sure some of you are aware that this originally started as a way to document my hair journey, but I feel that there is another purpose for this blog too. I've decided to share weekly if time permits a devotional/thoughts to ponder sort of post as well. In these posts I hope to share something that may encourage you and give you hope for whatever situations you may be going through. So, on that note I hope that you will take this new journey with me, as well as, stick around for my hair journey posts too. Have a "HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY" and a blessed weekend!!!!

Always,
Blessed Tresses

Health: Questions To Ask Your Doctor and Pharmacist

 

Hello everyone! Going to the doctor can definitely be a scary event all in itself, however, there are many times it is necessary.  Many people are very afraid to ask the important questions of their doctor or pharmacists. 

There are many drugs on the market for various illnesses that are used to treat them, but they have side effects that could cause other issues.  Let’s take Xarelto, also known as rivaroxaban.  It is an anticoagulant used to keep blood from clotting.  Some of the side effects of Xarelto include uncontrollable bleeding that may become apparent due to symptoms such as coughing up or vomiting blood, headaches, red or black stool, and spinal and epidural blood clots after a spinal tap or epidural.  I am sure that most people are unaware of these side effects due the lack of information provided by companies and physicians. 

While it is important to visit the doctor and take care of yourself, it is just as important to know how a medication can affect you immediately or later in life.  Here are some questions that you should ask your doctor and pharmacist when given a medication:

·        What are the generic and brand names for the prescribed medication? This information is important so that you can do further research on the medication.

·        What are the possible side effects of the medication? This is important to know so that you are aware of what types of problems to look for, as well as, consider if you should stop taking the medication.  You should be aware of what to do if you notice any side effects.

·        Does the prescribed medication mix well with other medications you may be taking? Not all medications play well together. It is very important to be aware of this before you start taking a new medication so that you do not risk preventable side effects and problems.  It is always a good idea to have a list of all medications you take, so that you can ask the doctor or pharmacist if they will work well with other medications.

·        When is the best time to take the medication? In the morning, afternoon, or at night? Should it be taken with food or without? You definitely want to take it at the appointed time and make sure that you are following all of the instructions given for a specific medication to prevent any issues.

·        How long will I take the medication? It is important to know if the medication is to be taken daily, for two weeks, or indefinitely.  You should always take medication according to the instructions given by the doctor.

The pharmacist should be asked the same questions and be able to inform you of when the medication expires.  Taking medication that has expired can have some serious effects as well.  The pharmacist can also explain to you how to properly store the medication and dispose of any that is left after the allotted time to take it.  When you fill a prescription your pharmacist should always provide a Consumer Medical Information Sheet to answer any questions you may have once you have left the pharmacy. 

Remember the importance of being aware of side effects when taking medications. Do not be afraid to ask your doctor and pharmacist questions. It is their responsibility to answer any questions you have and to provide information about any medications you are prescribed.  It is also a good idea to research your medication too.   This is one time when asking questions about your medication can prevent side effects and possibly save your life.

Until next time,

Blessed Tresses

Disclaimer: All information about Xarelto was retrieved from http://www.recallcenter.com

Just a thought...

                                                        blkwomenart.com

"If you live long enough, you'll make mistakes. But if you learn from them, you'll be a better person. It's how you handle adversity, not how it affects you. The main thing is never quit, never quit, never quit."-- William J. Clinton

Have a blessed day!

~Blessed Tresses~

Happy New Year

                                                happynewyears2015i.com

Happy New Year everyone! I pray that you all are having a blessed and joyous first day of the new year.  2014 had many changes and blessings for me personally, spiritually, and physically.  My goals for 2015 are to continue moving forward and to walk into the destiny that God has for my life.  I want to succeed in all areas of my life and to reap the harvest of staying focused in this new year.  So, with that being said, my plan is to stay on track with whatever goals I have set for myself. This is a "NO QUIT" zone.  Even if I stumble, like we sometimes do, I'm going to pick myself up, brush off, and keep it moving!!!

God bless you and have a wonderful day!!!

With love,

~Blessed Tresses~

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*