My comb-free journey

So, I decided to go comb-free some time ago. Well, I actually decided to use combs less and well, not really use combs, I don't know how to explain it right now.

Anyways, for the past.....umm......2-3 weeks, I think, I haven't put a comb to my hair (I did today, though). I've had my hair in all sorts of things, messy bantu knots (messy 'cause I didn't part my hair, but rather just grabbed random pieces of hair and knotted them), flat twists and....yeah, that's it. I kept those in my hair on days I stayed at home and I actually did go out with the bantu knots a couple of times, but with them under a scarf. I've worn my hair out in flat twist-outs and I did the bantu knot out only once.

Today, I went to church with a flat twist out that I finger combed out and held in a low ponytail that I later on braided to keep stretched 'cause it was raining. I was one of the main performers (there were two of us that were the main performers) at a fundraising concert this evening and, well, I went for rehearsals with my slightly messy twist-out. When I was told to go up and change into my dress for the concert, someone made a comment about someone fixing up her hair and I just knew they were talking about me. Later on, the person whose house the concert held said something about getting someone to get my hair done up for the concert then another person said, "she doesn't need anyone, her hair's natural." I heard all this from a little room where I stood infront of a mirror taking down my bobby pins with my faithful knee high round my neck. I took down the pins and in random sections, I finally combed out my hair then held it up in a not-tight, and not made to be slick, puff and, oh. my. days! biggest puff I've ever seen! My puff was massive and beautiful! I was so impressed! And my hair felt so good. I did up my bangs to the side and everything then I stepped out and those ladies who made those comments about my hair earlier said, "I love your hair!" *smiley face!*

Going comb-free for a couple of weeks, my hair had time to grow and recover from manipulation and I lost way less hair to breakage.

My parents (finally) do not have an issue with my leaving the house in a twist-out anymore so, I can do whatever with my hair and not have to get a comb into it.

I am planning on going comb-free again for a couple of weeks, maybe till I'm in the plane heading back to the U of K. I'm considering getting mini twists done at a hair salon (I don't fancy going to salons much) next weekend and keeping it in for about 2 weeks (I think I leave in 2 weeks, not sure, I don't know the day, haven't started packing.....but anyways! :) ). After that comb, I'll wear my hair in flat twist outs again till the 1st of September then I might wear out styles again for a while then get mini twists done and in Jan, I'll switch over to my 1st weave in the past 5 years (my 2nd weave ever!) and have that in till whenever. I'm getting the Heat Free Hair (Movement) 'cause that looks more like my hair than any other weave and I want to embrace curls so I don't want a straight weave and I don't want something that looks so different from my hair.

Who's willing on going on this comb-free-ish journey with me?

I guess it's like a hair growth journey too, but anyways.

(Planning on BSL by the end of December or by early March).

My Protective Styling Challenge - Week 2

Hey everyone,

So, I guess this just lasted for 2 weeks for me. I'm going to try keeping my braids in that long from now on (or longer if possible). Truth is, midweek of my second week, I just didn't really care anymore so I let my hair frizz and do whatever it wanted to. Anyways, here's my week:

• I co-washed on Wednesday and Friday using the BeeMine BeeLovely Conditioner and Tresemme Naturals (silicone-free) Conditoner.
• After co-washing, I tied a scarf down on my hair till I need to head out for school.
• On Friday, I took down the braids and twists (entirely) and deep conditioned with Tresemme Naturals conditioner, BeeMine conditioner and Moisturiser. I kinda wish I had DCed with palm oil instead, but this was a last minute thing and I was tired so I just grabbed a handful of the Tresemme, worked it into my hair, donned on a shower cap (because I couldn't be bothered to tie a plastic bag on). Tied a couple of scarves of that to secure it in place and lock in heat and I slept.
• On Saturday, I washed out my hair with the Tresemme Naturals Silicone-Free Conditioner then some BeeMine Botanicals Shampoo (sulfate free) then condition with the BeeMine BeeLovely Conditioner.
• After washing, I got a tiny but of WonderCurl 'Butter than love pudding' onto my hair. Mum was calling me. I totally forgot to moisturise and do all the other stuff I do after a wash and my hair was mad at me for that.
• I braided my hair in two to stretch it.
• Unfortunately, I had to head out of the house before my hair was dry and OH. MY. DAYS. THE. SHRINKAGE. AND. TANGLES! My hair did look good, though. :) And I think I've figured out a wash and go hairstyle.
• Sunday night, I braided my hair in 8 cornrows and I'm keeping them in till Thursday 'cause I have to take my hair down for some event.

Next week, Sunday, I'll make more braids, smaller ones and try keeping them in for 2 weeks or more.
I believe this will help me retain more length and grow my hair out.

~Sam

p.s I'm considering doing crotchet braids sometime later this year. Maybe during the winter or fall (most probably winter). I'll just get my aunt to flat braid my hair for me then I'll try to do the rest or I'll get some friends together and we'll do it together. I just need to get crotchet needles (for the braids) for them.

My Protective Styling Challenge - Week 1

Hey,

So, I've decided that I'm going on a protective styling challenge to grow and retain as much hair as possible till the end of June.

I normally keep my hair in flat braids for 5 days a week, deep condition every Friday night till Saturday morning, wash on Saturday, rock a beautiful puff on Sunday and head back to flat braids by Sunday night. With this challenge, I am still deep conditioning on Fridays and washing on Saturdays however, my hair's staying in the flat braids (with the hair twisted from the point at which it lifts off my scalp. I haven't kept braids in my hair since my first few months going natural (transitioning) so this is new for me. However, I guess I'm doing a pretty good job with it. Here are some of the things I've done so far that are working pretty well (by the way, I started this challenge last Sunday):

• When the flyaways get a little too much, I get some BeeMine curly butter onto my hair and tie a scarf down onto it. That does the trick and lays all the flyaways down making my hair look as good as new. (This is what I do on week days).
• I co-wash between the week using the BeeMine BeeLovely Conditioner. (This means that I wash twice a week now, but the second wash is strictly a co-wash while the Saturday wash alternates between a sulfate-free shampoo wash and a co-wash).
• After co-washing, I tie a scarf over my hair till I need to leave the house (school).
• On Friday, I take down only the twisted bits of my hair then I deep condition with coconut oil, olive oil and honey. This is because they're easier to wash out that things like avocado (plus, I did an avocado deep conditioning treatment last weekend).
• On Saturday, I wash out my hair with the Tresemme Naturals Silicone-Free Conditioner then I search for build up. If I find any, I wash with my BeeMine Botanicals Shampoo (sulfate free) then condition with the BeeMine BeeLovely Conditioner.
• After washing, I get some WonderCurl 'Butter than love pudding' onto my hair (good stuff!) then a tad (teeny-weeny) bit of shea butter onto my hair especially the ends.
• I hold up the ends with an ouchless band then I tie a scarf bun-style on my hair and leave it on till my hair is fully dry.
• When my hair is fully dry (and I'm ready to take down the scarf), I redo the twists, but instead of each braid being twisted at the ends, I twist the ends of two braids together then hold them together and hide my ends using an ouchless band. 

My results: My hair looking as good as new with zero flyaways.


I just might be able to keep these braids in for 3 weeks :)

~Samantha :)
(haha! I used my full name for the first time on here)

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Do any of you want to join me in this challenge?

It like a growth challenge.

So, if you're interested, comment below and say something like, "I'm in" :)

Considerations....

 

I'm considering a couple of things....

1. Changing my regimen (tweaking it a bit)
2. African Threading (ghana plaiting) for at least two weeks (I would've flat braided part of my hair, though)
3. Keeping in styles longer and learning to wash better with braids or twists in.
4. Flat braiding only up to the middle of my head ('cause the back feels a bit thinner than everywhere else so, I want to give it some rest and let it thicken up and grow out)
5. Going back to being a mixtress - partially
6. Creating a new signature style
7. Getting some 'certain' hair things
8. Creating a hair shopping list for myself so I have everything set for Sept. when I won't be living with my fam anymore.

Keeping styles longer and the African threading are at the top of my last. I guess they'll help me with my growth challenge.

SammyWithTheBigHairChallenge!

Hey!

So, I've decided to challenge myself. And you can do it to! :)
Till the end of this month, hopefully, I am going to try not using any detangling tools. No wide toothed combs. No Denman Brushes. Just Fingers! :)
Fingers!
Fingers!
FiNgErS!! :)


Some time ago, months ago, I decided to use only natural products (no commercial products) on my hair. I didn't really succeed with that at first because I was using the John Frieda Conditioner, Shampoo (only once a month) and Heat Protectant, Vitals Leave-in Conditioner, Organics Tea Tree Gro Conditioner (and I believe those were all the products I used). I also used things like Extra Virgin Olive Oil, homemade rosemary oil, shea butter , avocados etc on my hair. As a matter of fact, I only DCed with natural things then (and I still do). Okay! so, I stopped using the Vitals Leave-In Conditioner shortly after I started using it because it made my hair feel bad, like BAD. Totally didn't work for me. I added things to it, but still couldn't get it to do something good for my hair. Also, I noticed it had ingredients I didn't like getting on my hair in it (didn't notice that the first time I checked). So I was like, "mum, if you want a leave-in, I have one I can give you," and stopped using it. The Organics Tea Tree Gro, I added shea butter to it, canola oil, rosemary oil, but it just wasn't doing anything for me. It just sat on my hair and made it feel hard, and really dry, so, I stopped using it too. Shampoo, I quit using that...wait!...how many months ago? I'm totally CG right now. I used to use shampoo once a month, but now, not anymore. It always left my hair dry and stripped. Heat Protectant, just once in a long while because some natural things natural have heat protection in them. So, I was using only the John Frieda conditioner (and homemade things), but my bottle was like __ this close to finishing. I like the John Frieda conditioner I have, but I can't find it anywhere now. So, I kept it for an emergency and I started making all my hair products. Right now, the only hair product I use is my Organics Lock&Twist Gel and that's because I'm letting my aloe vera plant be for a while so it grows some more. I haven't used my OLTG in a while now (ever since I took down my twists (or shortly after that)).
My hair does feel and look a whole lot better since I cut down on all those products. So, try it sometime! NO COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS! Homemade is the way to go for me now (or well, after graduation and I'm away at an IB College, I'll order the Bee Mine Botanical line and keep it just incase I can't get something done).

Why do I make such long posts?
Anyways, CHALLENGE: No combs! Fingers only! :)
See you later, okay?
Bye