The Wash and Go on type 4 hair

This Wednesday I did my wash day a little differently..

...I tried the Wash n Go.

There are sooo many videos and blog posts devoted solely to this hairstyle.
It's been called the "white girl" hairstyle since its modeled after the technique of Caucasian women simply washing their hair and letting it dry with minimal styling and manipulation.

While some women with type 4c hair gush about their successful wash and gos, other women with similar hair type declare the impossibility of achieving it!

Given the split in opinion that, in my opinion, nears controversy over the wash n go on afro hair, I was skeptical about achieving the style myself. However, on a whim I decided to try it.

It might be hard to tell in the photo, but my crown has quite a few coils and curls!

This was actually the second time trying this hairstyle. Here's what I did:

• I shampooed and deep conditioned my hair in twisted sections, then I released all my twists while my hair was still soaking wet in the shower. 
• Then I gently blotted my hair with a towel and gave my hair a shake a couple times.
• After, I applied some olive oil to my palms then gently passed my hands over the ends of my hair, and rubbed the oil into my edges. I did this about three times, then did the same process with some shea butter.

Wet hair fresh from the shower.

• Lastly, I used a blow-dryer with a diffuser attachment for about 15 minutes. My hair was about 70% dry in the picture below.

Styled, semi-dry wash n go. 

After blow-drying I love how my hair looked, even though I lost some definition in the crown (where I have the waviest pattern) as my hair became more puffy as it dried.

At the end of the day, however, my hair had dried out quite a bit and felt stiff coarse. It was tedious to go back in section by section to thoroughly moisturize it before I cornrowned my hair.

The verdict?

This is the second time trying the wash and go, and both times I realized I achieved the style with minimal tangles because my ends had been freshly trimmed or I didn't have many split ends that usually cause major tangles. (If you read my blog regularly, you know I battle with tangles and single strand knots!)

My first wash and go was done a few weeks ago, but I had later re-styled my hair much sooner, and my hair didn't feel as dry. So, I know need to re-adjust how I moisturize and seal my wet hair to prevent it from drying out so much at the end of the day.

Technique, plus the state of my ends, seem to be very important in achieving this hairstyle, and I will definitely continue to experiment with the wash n go.


What do you think about the wash n' go?

Love
~Hatter

Wash day @ 7 weeks post relaxer

On Monday I washed my hair at 7 weeks, 3 days post relaxer.

What I did:

1. Sectioned my hair into 8-9 parts, spraying diluted moisturizer on my roots to soften them and help with the parting. Finger de-tangled, applied ORS Vital Oils and braided each section. 
2. Pre-pooed for about an hour under my heating cap. 
3. Shampooed with ORS Neutralizing Shampoo.
4. T-shirt dried my hair for about 2 minutes, then applied ORS HAIRepair Nourishing Conditioner, using 1 & 1/3 packs. Sat with heating cap for about 1 & 1/2 hours.
5. Rinsed my hair and T-shirt dried for about 5 minutes.
6. While hair was still damp, I sprayed diluted moisturizer on my hair, focusing on the roots. Applied Herbal Essences Split-End Protector and de-tangled. 
7. Blow-dried lightly, using tension by pulling down on my hair while blow-drying to stretch my roots.
8. Sealed with ORS Vital Oils.
9. Cross-wrapped my hair for bed and done!

~~~

source

~~~

The next morning I bunned for the first time in a looong time. After doing my hair it felt very soft and manageable. I definitely attribute it to the ORS HAIRepair Nourishing Conditioner. It always make my new growth a breeze to de-tangle!

Unfortunately, the breakage is still occurring but I've almost accepted that as normal (sad isn't it??) so I ignored it and styled. I'll be dealing with this issue in a later post.

I planned to wear the bun for the whole day but...5 minutes after going outside it collapsed!
I didn't secure the ends well so when I charged into the wind...let's just say it was hair blowing left, right and centre =P After that I took out the bobby pins and just wore a simple ponytail.

Hair fails... they're inevitable!


Have a great weekend =)
~Hatter

Wash Day and Mini Relaxer Update

Goodnight everyone!

I have been neglecting my little blog and now this post is one week overdue *shameface*.

On Saturday 23rd February I had my hair relaxed by my aunt, since I really did not want to go back to the hairdresser.

In retrospect, I probably should have gone to the salon because my roots did not get straight! I practically remained with a head-full of fuzzy, texlaxed roots.

I think the issue was that my aunt should have smoothed my roots a second time after letting the relaxer "sit" on my hair for some minutes. 

I was pretty surprised (and amused) to run my fingers through my hair and feel the kinks! Admittedly, my hair is more manageable than before it was relaxed, but I'm just not used to the texlaxed feel lol. 

Since my roots are so textured, I haven't done an official length check as yet.

Last week I washed my hair and got some bouncy, healthy-looking results. However, I'm still battling with breakage that I can't seem to determine the source of. I've tried clarifying my hair and strand testing, but still I have noticeable short and long-strand breakage...even while using my new seamless combs...heck, even while finger-combing! 

While I am grateful for the hair I still have, I'm honestly a bit tired of my hair and discouraged...

I've been trying to reduce my manipulation as much as possible and infusing it with moisture.

So now I need to work on staying positive while I battle out this breakage. There's no way I'm going to let it make me have a failed hair journey!

Have you ever dealt with unexplained breakage?

Avec amour,
~Hatter

Wash day @ 7 weeks post + ORS Nourishing Conditioner

Today's wash and deep condition was relatively easy for 7 weeks worth of new growth.

First, I deep conditioned on dry hair using Organic Root Stimulator Nourishing Conditioner.

After leaving it on for an hour with my heat cap, I rinsed it out and shampooed.

Then I air-dried my hair with a t-shirt for about 15 minutes, and applied some Herbal Essences Touchably Smooth Split End Protector. Even before applying the moisturizer, my hair felt very soft and smooth.

Today my comb was able to glide easily through my hair, and at seven weeks post that is something to rejoice about!

Usually at this time I would already be experiencing major tangles and friction when de-tangling after deep conditioning. Today I experienced none of those problems.

Firstly, I attribute my results to the ORS Nourishing Conditioner. This is the second time I've used it, and both times it left my hair very soft and smooth...even my thick 4c new growth! It did a marvellous job in increasing slip and leaving my hair well conditioned.

For my hair, it seems to be a light/medium protein. I actually like it better than the ORS Replenishing Conditioner, which was my main staple. The Nourishing Conditioner is less sticky, absorbs into my hair easier and makes my hair a bit smoother.

*Beware! Some may find that the ORS Nourishing Conditioner has a peculiar smell...the first time I used it I hated it! In my opinion it smells like play dough and faintly of bananas...today however, it wasn't that bad since I am a little used to it. My results outweigh the odour so I'll continue to buy this conditioner.

Secondly, I think deep conditioning on dry hair has also helped to reduce tangles and friction between my strands. Like a pre-poo, DCing on dry hair added strength and slip even before shampooing, allowing my hair strands to glide past each other with relative ease.


However, even after using the conditioner I still experienced noticeable, short strand breakage when de-tangling. It was no where along the lines of my previous stretches, but still unusual! My ends are thinning too. Before DCing, I dusted my ends in the hope that it would reduce breakage but it looks like I need a proper trim...and I thought I was protecting my ends well! I guess not...

Guuuurl look at those ends.

Honestly, I'm a bit discouraged because when I did my self-trim 7 weeks ago I thought it was thorough...and now it seems that my hair has gotten damaged since then. So I'm really not sure why I'm experiencing breakage. Is it moisture/protein levels, manipulation or something else?? My ends aren't horrible, but if I don't take care of them as soon as possible I might have to trim more than I'm comfortable with when I relax my hair.


But in all things, I give thanks. I'm trying to stay optimistic and I'm determined to regain thick, healthy ends as one of my 2013 hair goals.


How have you been caring for your hair recently? If you're busy busy like me you know its not always easy!

Love,
~Hatter

Wash Day @ 1 week post relaxer

Last night I washed my hair at one week post relaxer. It was an extremely easy, enjoyable wash since I had smooth, straight roots. I was also surprised that my hair felt extra silky. It might have been due to my coconut oil pre-poo.

This brand is made in Barbados (yay regional products!) but it doesn't indicate whether the coconut oil is 100% raw/organic. Judging from the lack of smell I suspect that it's refined oil. I'll be using this as a pre-poo a few more times to see if it really gave my hair the silky slip I experienced when washing it out of my hair.

After washing and deep conditioning I did a rollerset and I lost very little hair =) That is always something to smile about!

I then sat under the hooded dryer for about 1 hour & 10 minutes, combed out my light, bouncy curls, wrapped my hair and went to bed. This morning I unwrapped my hair, and voila! Soft, swingy hair!

Wash day success!

*Note- In this rollerset I didn't use any moisturizer or leave-in conditioner. To make up for this, I kept my hair verry wet while rollersetting and used some African Pride Olive Oil Miracle Braid Sheen Spray! lol yes I used a braid spray. I have the moisturizing lotion in this brand and I love to dilute it with water as a leave-in while I rollerset. I should definitely review this brand soon.

I also used some Organic Root Stimulator Olive Oil Wrap/Set Mousse and Organix Coconut Milk Anti-Breakage to help me get soft, full hair.

Products I used when rollersetting my relaxed hair.

Cheers for an easy, enjoyable wash day!

P.S.
What do you think of the new blog design?

~Hatter

My Stretching issues 8-9 weeks post relaxer

*disclaimer: this is a lengthy Hatter post!*

Okay, now that you're prepared, read on valiant reader!

On my last relaxer stretch I successfully made it to 9 weeks post. *woop woop!*

Ironically, the only other time I successfully stretched that long was earlier this year on my very first relaxer stretch of my hair journey. Since then I've only been able to manage my new growth for about 7-8 weeks before getting fed up and going to the hairdresser.

As I've mentioned before, by the 7-8 week post relaxer mark I usually encounter these issues:

1. by eight weeks post my hair does not feel "slippery" or smooth and lubricated after deep conditioning. 
2. detangling after washing and deep conditioning becomes almost a nightmare as breakage, tangling, matting (and tears) increase and rollersets become increasingly difficult.

Although I adapted my regimen slightly during my last stretch to try to deal with these issues, I still encountered similar problems. =(

Some things I thought would have helped:

•  using diluted moisturizer to hydrate and soften my new growth. (This actually did work! My new growth was as tame as a lamb lol.)

• more low manipulation and protective styles during the week such as buns and braidouts.

• I also stopped using combs everyday and decided to finger comb more often. I do think that this contributed to less breakage than I usually experience around 8 weeks post relaxer.

• I focused on keeping my ends moisturized by generously apply deep conditioner from tip to root, as well as coating my ends with oil at night.

• I used a heavier protein treatment to deep condition with. 

On my last wash before my relaxer I used the Organic Root Stimulator Hair Mayonnaise after pre-pooing with the Optimum Care Fortifying Conditioner. I realized that I gave my hair a double shot of protein! That might explain why I still experienced significant breakage on my last wash day. My hair might have gotten too much protein, causing it to snap and break off. 

This is actually ironic as my hair usually loves protein. I guess I messed up my moisture/protein balance that time.

It also didn't help that at 7 weeks post, I failed to detangle properly and as my hair air-dried I got some wicked dreadlocks forming at my roots. (For realz)

I can't understand why my hair gets so tangly and rough after 7 weeks post. Is it that my cuticles remain raised? If so a product like Roux Porosity Control or even an apple cidar vinegar rinse may help to close my cuticles and make my hair smoother and easier to manage.

Or maybe 8-9 weeks post just isn't a viable option for me. I know that the longer I stretch, the healthier my scalp becomes between relaxers, but I really don't want to sacrifice the health of my hair. My hairdresser claimed that the texture of my hair makes it difficult to stretch longer than 8 weeks. Honestly, I think I agree with her. I have a tight curl pattern...picture the thickest,  most dense afro you can imagine...

...yup! That resembles my 4c hair texture.

Can that texture and relaxed hair realistically coexist for an extended period of time? My experiences seem to be telling me no =(

I hate the relaxer process and I really want as few trips to the salon as possible in a year, but the cons have been outweighing the pros of stretching 8 weeks and beyond. The breakage (and tangling in particular!) I experience at 8 weeks post have to stop as I really can't bear to continue dealing with them in the near future.

I'm honestly not looking forward to stretching beyond 8 weeks again, so I think that on my current stretch, my last wash day will be at seven weeks post, then a couple days after that its relaxer time.


Any advice?

~Hatter

Playing Hairdresser

University girls are on a budget, and that budget doesn't always include the weekly or bi-monthly trip to the hairdresser for a wash and set.

My sister has been learning to deal with this fact by washing and conditioning her hair herself, and then having me rollerset her hair.

That means this Hatter has been the default hairdresser for both me and my sister! lol

Here are some pictures of the rollerset that, yes, I did on my sister's hair!

Front view of the rollerset

Side view of the rollerset

It didn't come out too bad, if I may say so myself!

Maybe I can harness my hairdressing skills and start a business on my hall! 

haha a Hatter can dream =) ...but seriously, who knows?

Goodnight folks.

~Hatter

Relaxer Preparations

On Saturday 3rd November I had my hair relaxed at 9 weeks, 3 days post. Did you really read that?! Yesss Hatter finally made it to nine weeks post. *happy dance*

My relaxer update will follow in another post, so for now I'll just recap how I prepared my hair for my relaxer.

This stretch was in many ways better than my previous relaxer stretches. Unfortunately, there were still some annoying issues that really tried my patience! (I'll be examining these later this week).

On my last wash before the relaxer I:

1. prepooed overnight with a mix of Soft Sheen Carson Optimum Care Fortifying Conditioner and Vo5 Moisture Milks Moisturizing Conditioner.

(Ebony C. Princess reviewed the Fortifying Conditioner on her blog, longing4length.com) 

After rinsing out the prepoo my hair felt very soft and silky. After I've used the Optimum Care Conditioner for a couple of weeks I'll also post my thoughts on it.

2. shampooed, then deep conditioned for about an hour with ORS Replenishing Condidtioner.

3. rollerset my hair. (this was not an easy set! My hair was still clumpy and sticky from the results of my previous wash day)

4. During the week I moisturized and sealed.

5. On relaxer day I applied some of the Optimum Care Fortifying Conditioner to my previously relaxed hair. As this conditioner is protein-based (claiming "instant breakage reduction"!!) I thought it was a good idea to use it to help prevent the damaging effects of relaxer overlapping.
I was also supposed to coat my hair with oil after applying the conditioner, but I just didn't feel like bothering my hair too much.

As I mentioned earlier, this last stretch was quite an experience for me...although I've been trying to reduce my stretching issues such as tangling, matting and breakage, I haven't seem to have targeted the root of my problems. Besides changing my products and perhaps my weekly wash day routine, I've even been thinking of reducing the length of my stretches so that I can manage my hair more easily in the weeks leading up to relaxer day.

Anywhoos, what is your experience like deep into your relaxer stretches?

Stay tuned for my relaxer update! :)

Peace & lurrvvv y'all

~Hatter

Back to shedding

Above is the amount of shed hair I lost on two wash days in the past few weeks.

My shedding has definitely increased and although I'm trying not to worry about it, I still don't like seeing so much hair come out of my head!

Ugg, trying to wait out this shedding period patiently.

Do you do anything to reduce shedding, or do you just wait until your shedding season passes?


Have a hairry day

~Hatter

Softest, bouncy-est rollerset ever!

Last Sunday I washed my hair, and let me tell you, I had a blast!

On Wednesday 29th August I had my hair relaxed at a salon (stay tuned for my relaxer update!) at 8 weeks, 5 days post.
The major thing that struck me about my experience at the salon is that the lady didn't deep condition my hair after relaxing it. (Say WHAT?!)

It was only when she was rollersetting my hair that I realized this and asked her about it. She replied that I had to request a deep condition or she wouldn't do one. -.-
This explains why I was forced to make last Sunday a wash day, only four days after my relaxer.

I started by pre-pooing with the Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Deep Treatment Masque, which I reviewed here as a deep conditioner. Although I didn't like it for deep conditioning because it gives no slip, in my opinion it's good as a pre shampoo treatment.

Anyway! On to the good stuff.

This week my rollerset was the best I've ever done! In the past I've hardly ever gotten the soft, bouncy, moisturized and shiny results as I did on Sunday, so I'm recording what I did for future reference:

  

• After pre-pooing, shampooing and deep conditioning I applied a generous dollop (about quarter sized or a bit larger) of my Neutrogena Silk Touch Leave-In Cream to each of the four sections that I washed and conditioned my hair in.
• I then applied about half a pump of my Organix Coconut Milk Anti-Breakage Serum to each section of my hair. 
• I proceeded to detangle my hair and finally-
• Rollerset, using a small spray bottle filled with water to moisten my hair as I rollerset each section.
• After setting I used a blow-dryer on my hair for about an hour (taking a break in between! lol) to speed up my drying time

Et voila!

My hair was the bombbbbbb. Oh! Such soft and bouncy haaaaiiiirrrrr *swishes hair dramatically*
Plus!! Can you see from the picture above of how little hair I lost after detangling?! Ermergerddddd that's incredible! (I have a sneaking suspicion its only because I lost quite a bit of hair during my relaxer process with a new hair dresser...but maybe I'm just paranoid! =P)

I will definitely repeat the steps above on my next wash day! :) My results almost compensated for my nightmarish wash day experience the week before at 8 weeks post.

'Tis all for now!

(Forever)
~Hatter

Unfortunate wash day @ 8 weeks post: learning from my mistakes

 

On this last stretch I encountered increased breakage that I've never experienced past 6 weeks post since on my hair journey. During my last wash on Saturday at 8 weeks post, my hair emerged from the shower extremely tangled and matted! :( Unfortunately I didn't have my detangler on hand and so it took the better part of an hour to detangle. Even with my patience I ended up with a large ball of broken and shed hair! If that wasn't enough, I think my hair was starting to break at the demarcation line, something I've almost never experienced before. Grrrr

Looking back I can try to evaluate some possible causes of my unusual wash day experience:

• My regimen, even at 8 weeks post was exactly the same as at my first weeks post relaxer

I think this point may be the root of my problems. I've often read many relaxed ladies describe the changes they make to their regimen as they go deeper into a relaxer stretch. I know I should have adapted my regimen too, but honestly, ain't nobody got time for that! LOL 

Ok back to being serious....

I think that as my hair gets deeper into a stretch:

1. I may experience issues with porosity as my cuticles remained raised (from repeated airdrying) This increases the chance of my hair losing moisture faster, remaining in a weak state and thus snapping and breaking off. 
2. I need to condition more often. Co-washing mid-week may help restore precious moisture to the line of demarcation between my natural and relaxed hair, helping to restore elasticity and prevent breakage. 
3. My hair needs. more. protein. Now its a proven fact that my hair loves protein! I definitely think that from 7 weeks post and onwards I should use the Organic Root Stimulator Hair Mayonnaise to deep condition weekly. This conditioner has more protein than my weekly staple conditioner (ORS Replenishing Conditioner) 
4. From 6 weeks post I repeatedly had my hair braided, (cornrowed) several times a weeks. Although the manipulation done to create this style might have increased my breakage slightly, I'm inclined to think that the first three points made my issues worse. 

I'm going to try to make a conscience effort to adapt my regimen as I go deeper into my relaxer stretches. Using the points above, I'll draft a new regimen, post it and evaluate its effectiveness at preventing (and stopping!) any potential breakage, tangles and knots at 8 weeks post relaxer. 

How do you adapt your regimen during your relaxer stretches?

'Tis all for now!

Hatter

Hair journey progress! : The Evolution of my Wash Day

The purpose of a hair journey is to make significant progress towards one's hair goals: whether health, length or both. I can happily say that I have experienced noticeable, positive changes in my hair since the beginning of my hair journey. One of these areas is how I wash and condition my hair and my subsequent results.

At the start of my journey in December 2011 I could not successfully wash, condition and dry my hair. (Sounds incredible, I know!) Wash days were literally an experiment- I tried various methods and tweaked my variables in the hope that I would find what worked for my hair!

Some characteristics of my previous wash process:

1. I washed all of my hair at once (i.e. I had never heard of washing in sections)
2. Following from number 1, my scalp was never properly cleansed in my crown area (eww)
3. Washing all my hair at once led to tangles, tangles and more tangles! (Much more than now!)
4. Airdrying was not good for my hair back then. When I say "not good" I mean that my hair wasn't healthy enough to withstand airdrying in a loose state. Looking back, I think I had issues with porosity and raised cuticles as my hair would dry like a lion's mane, and twice it took over 12 hours for my hair to fully dry.
5. My rollersets were fit to be laughed at...Seriously. In the beginning I would fumble and place two or three rollers before giving up, exasperated. 

Some characteristics of my present wash process:

1. I now wash my hair in four sections, focusing on shampooing each one seperately before moving on to the next section.
2. Washing in sections ensures that my entire scalp is cleansed.
3. Using sections also leads to less tangles as the hair is parted, allowing my fingers to access my scalp easier and disturb my hair less.
4. I can now airdry without my hair crying and begging for mercy (yay!). Now my cuticles lay smooth and my hair dries flatter in about 2-3 hours. I definitely attribute this to the general improvement in my hair's health, the new techniques I've adopted and using products more suited to my hair.
5. I can rollerset! (woop woop!) It took three or four desperate efforts before I could rollerset my entire head. For the past five or so weeks I've been consistently airdrying because I'm lazy it's easier and quicker. However, today is wash day and I'm eager to set my hair.

I feel encouraged when I can look back and notice improvements in my hair's health. "Health before length" is what many black ladies prophesy and I'm definitely eager to see my growth and length retention increase as my hair's health also increases.

What progress have you made in your hair journey? Write it down and track how it further improves in the near future as you continue to take stellar care of your hair. =)

Ta ta!

~Hatter

Wash day & air-dried hair

Yesterday I did a pre-shampoo treatment, (pre-poo), shampooed and deep conditioned my hair.

The products I used include:

Pre-poo

ORS HAIRepair Vital Oils, Herbal Essences Hello Hydration Moisturising Conditioner, Applicator bottle with the ORS, olive oil and eucalyptus oil.

Pre-pooing with the Herbal Essences was definitely a good idea. When I rinsed it out my hair already felt soft, smooth and conditioned. =)

Shampoo and Deep Conditioner

Motions Professional Lavish Conditioning Shampoo,  ORS Hair Mayonnaise

Today I tried (read: tried) to strand test my hair to see if it needed more moisture or protein. My hair did feel a bit stretchy, and since I relaxed my hair five days ago, I went with protein. (ORS Hair Mayonnaise)

After lightly towel-drying my hair, I applied some Neutragena Triple Moisture Silk Touch Leave in Cream and sealed with ORS HAIRepair Vital Oils (I will never get enough of this product!) Then I air-dried my hair in the four sections I washed it in. When it was about 40% dry I detangled. Detangling was muchhh easier than the last time when I air-dried my hair. I think its because I let my hair dry a bit before using a comb. When I detangle on soaking wet hair, it just clumps together again and causes more tangles loool. 


I was thinking of doing a flexirod set, but my hair was so soft and straight that I'll wait until the weekend when I have an event to go to. =)




Happy huurrrday!
~Hatter

Wash Day @ 7 weeks post

Last Tuesday marked exactly seven weeks since my last relaxer. So far so good! =)

Honestly, on this stretch I don't think I have as much new growth as the last time when I was seven weeks post. However, new growth seems to just "hit me" all of a sudden. lool. It's almost as if I go to bed with perfectly manageable growth and the next morning I can't comb through it! As of this week I haven't had that problem so I'm definitely aiming to make at least eight weeks before I relax.

On Thursday I did a rollerset. My second attempt all by myself! =) This is actually my third attempt, but the second time my mother helped me to set the back of my hair.

This is the texture of my new growth at 7 weeks post. My fingers mark the demarcation line.

Full rollerset!

In all honesty, I surprised myself with my results! I set my whole head in about 55 minutes. (Record!)

As can be seen in the pictures, in the front I put the rollers in vertically. I found this easier than putting rollers in horizontally or using the Mohawk method. 

Unfortunately, I used too many rollers in the front, leaving me with only five to set the back sections! LOL

The amount of new growth is uneven across my head because I had patches of telaxed roots from my last relaxer. =( That means this time I relax I have to make sure I don't under-process the areas with the most thickness and texture. 

I'm excited to master rollersetting! =D

How's your hair doing this summer?

Happy hair day!

~Hatter