"MMO" Journey Series- My Hair Journey

In February of 2008 I cut my hair completely off due to boredom and breakage...I always liked short cuts but it was too expensive to keep up with and I didn't want it short any more. So through 2008-2009 I wore braids and ponytails (thanks to my sister in law Tamika) or I just brushed down lol I know right not so good....so in 2009 I did managed to get my my hair to about neck lenght. I was always able to get my hair to at least shoulder length but then it would break off and then I would have to cut it again. Since 2004 that was sort of like a cycle. By the end of 2009 early 2010 I was looking on Youtube lol trying to learn how to wrap my hair. That was when I came across Sunshyne's channel from Hairlista and I was amazed at how long her hair was and also the fact that she was a sistah. She wasn't mixed ...I used to think in order for black girls to have long hair they had to either have two things: either you had to have some other ethnic background or money to have a real good hairstylist that knew how to take care of your hair. Ms. Sunshyne has 4B hair I believe and her hair is past her bra strap when I saw that I was hooked and was determined that if she could do then so could I.

I know this picture was already posted but this was the last pic I really had before I started my hair journey. As you can see my hair is different lengths..short in the front and long in the back. I don't know why but it always grew like that. My hair was dry and very hard to managed at the time and always breaking off..well that was before I knew better. I didn't know half of what I know now about Healthy Hair Care lol or at least of what I think I know. Well after watching Hairliscous(lol i know i spelled that wrong) I joined Hairlista.com which is her social website. I joined in December of 2009 but I really didn't get serious about it yet because I guess wasn't shopping for any good products and I really didn't know my hair at all. All I knew was that it was thick and it was breaking lol. Like I said youtube became my inspiration and I found other people as well like UloveMegz and Tracyee from K-I-S-S(Keep It Simple Sistah) I saw so many progressions and success from these ladies. Before Youtube and Hairlista I didn't know anything about my hair and the fact that all these years my hair was travailing lol for help and I didn't even know. So after all of the info I read I finally made up my mind that I wanted to take better care if my hair. So in October of 2010 which was my last relaxer at the time, I officially started my hair journey and became obscessed with anything hair care related.

My goal is to reach APL which is Arm Pit Length I haven't reached it yet but I'm not giving up I know it's possible. I believe the last 9 months was a time of trial and error, a moment for me to learn what products work and what didn't work....the few setbacks that I have to overcome. I had my last relaxer May 7th 2011, I remember because I had to take pictures that day I blow dried it and bump the ends and didn't use a flat iron...here's a pic on the left. As you can tell from the last pic the front has grown a lot longer and thicker. I thank God for the sources that I found and I have stuck with since October of last year. I now know how to balance my moisture and protien and how to keep my hair moisuturized and sealed. Staying away from constant heat and trying to limit how much I manipulate my hair. Since then I have stretched my relaxer since this picture and here's a picture of that.

Front (i just washed my hair and airdried)

Back (lol I'm horrible at taking pictures with this phone)

I know it doesn't look like I have lenght but boy is it thick OMG. Since May was my last relaxer I am about 11 weeks post as of now. These pictures were taken Wednesday. I have so much new grow and I have to keep it moisturized on a daily basis or else I will have a problem. I planned to relax my hair in September but my new growth is too coarse and is sucking up all the moisture I put on it so I will be relaxing in August I think maybe either this week or next week when I'm 13 weeks. This saturday I'll 12 weeks, afterwards I will bw getting a trim. But I am jumping off on my journey in September with everything and keeping up with my regimen.

My Hair Health/Length Goals

• Short Term - To reach APL by April 2012
• To stop Breakage and Shedding
• To learn how to airdry my hair the right way
• Eliminate how much I'm using heat and how much I manipulate my hair
• to grow my nape and my edges ( i have thick edges they're just shorter than the rest of my hair)
• Reduce my relaxers to 3-2x a year (after I reach APL)
• My Long term Length is BSL by October 2012

Hair Styling Goals:

• Learn how to cornroll and twist (Still practing but I need a baby doll or something to pratice on I'm manipulating my hair too much)
• Learn how to do a prefect braid out, and twist out
• Learn how to style with weave
• Learn how to do a good rollerset and flexi rod set

My wishlist

A hooded dryer/ and rollers for my hair length

A better blow dryer with a comb attachment

A new flat iron

The Split Ender/ sheer scissors for my dustings

As far a my regimen and what I plan to revise well here it is.....

Shampoo 1x a week

Deep Condition 2x a week

Cowash 1x a week (after I'm 6 weeks post...and I need a conditioner for this I think it will be either VO5 or Elasta QP)

Use a Leave-In/ Airdry (After I get a new blow dryer I'll blow dry on cool)

Moisturize and Seal Daily

Hard Protien Treatment ( It was a week before relaxer which is every 3-4 months so I may just still do that but also add every 7 weeks to it)

I need a trim after my relaxers

And I do protective styles ( as of now buns and pony tails but there will be more)

My Products:

M- moisture  P- protien

Shampoos

Elasta QP Creme Conditioning Shampoo(M)

Cream of Nature Detangling Shampoo (M)

Aphogee Shampoo for Damaged Hair (P)

Conditioners

Queen Helene Cream Cholesterol (M)

Elasta QP Conditioner(M)

Aphogee Keratin 2 min reconstructor(P)

Leave- Ins

Elasta QP H-2

Aphogee Keratin Green Tea Reconstructorizer

Aphogee Pro Vitamin Leave In

Garnier Frutis

(I do Plan on Using Kimmaytube's Leave-In I have heard great reviews and also wanna try Giovanni Leave in)

Moisturizers

Herbal Essences LTR

S-Curl (going back to my first love)

Oils

Castor Oil

Olive Oil

Jojoba Oil(plan to buy)

It's Pretty Detailed but I am on my way to APL and I'm determined to get there. My next Hair post will be on my relaxer update. Until then Be Blessed....