Amika Digital Titanium Glide Styler 1" Review

This is my video review of the Amika Digital 1" Titanium Glide Styler.

I won this styler in a giveaway earlier this year…hosted by Monae Everett.

I love this flat iron. The mirror finish titanium plates means no snagging. The iron literally glides down my hair.

The plates generate ionic, far-infrared heat. I flat iron my hair no more than once a month, but still I have not experienced any damage or setbacks!

Watch my short video below for more details!


Blessings and Happy Hair Journey!!

~Candra






Amika Digital Titanium Glide Styler - Obliphica 1" inch

Starting a Healthy Hair Journey. Seven Tips To Get You Started.

Starting a healthy hair journey? Here are seven tips to get you started!

1. Assess your current hair health.

This will help you know where to begin. Not everyone begins their hair journey from the same starting point.

Is your hair brittle, different lengths, thinning, do you have severe split ends, struggling with itchy scalp and dandruff? Day one of your hair journey may need to begin with a protein treatment, scalp treatment, or a good hair cut.

On your hair journey keep the focus on “your” hair and not someone you’re watching on YouTube. Look to YouTube and hair forums for support, direction and even inspiration, but at the end of the day you have to do what is best for “your” hair.

2. Read “The Science of Black Hair” or equivalent.

There are many books and online articles that will help you understand the science behind black hair and black hair care. Knowing the basics of hair porosity, hair structure, hair growth phases, and the importance of moisture and protein will help you start your journey off right.

(See helpful links to The Science of Black Hair blog below)

Keep in mind that as you do your research you may find conflicting views when it comes to products and techniques, but understanding the science behind our hair will help you make informed decisions when shopping for products and putting your hair regimen together.

3. Identity your goals (Keep a hair journal).

This will help you to be consistent with your hair journey and better track your progress. Before you start any journey you want to identity what the end will be. Otherwise you’ll be wandering aimlessly buying a ton of products you may not need and never reaching any mile stones, because… well... you didn’t set any.

Keep a hair journal so you can track what products and techniques work for you and what doesn’t. After a wash day it helps me to write down what products I used and how my hair felt afterwards. I had to tweak my hair care routine a lot in the beginning so my journal helped me to remember what I tried weeks or months earlier.

4. Start with staple products (Keep it simple).

Depending on your starting point or personal preference, your product staples may differ. It is good to start simple and purchase one brand of each product.

Disclaimer: Product Junkyism is a real thing. Ask anyone who has ten different brands of conditioners that basically does the same thing. Oh wait, that would be me. Lol

Here are my hair care must haves.

• Sulfate shampoo for clarifying (removing heavy build up)
• Sulfate-free shampoo for cleansing without stripping moisture
• Rinse out conditioner for short time conditioning and co-washing (cleansing hair with a conditioner)
• Moisturizing Deep Conditioner to prevent dry brittle hair
• Protein Deep Conditioner to strengthen hair
• Leave in Conditioner
• Moisturizer
• A carrier oil for sealing, pre-shampoo treatments, and/or hot oil treatments
• Styling products (setting lotion, gel, oil sheen, etc.)

5. Put a regimen together that will realistically fit in with your schedule and life in general.

If you set a routine to wash your hair twice a week and you’re a student, have a family and two jobs; this may not be the best regimen for you. Many get discouraged when unable to follow through with their regimen and they give it up altogether.

A hair journey can be a long journey.  You don’t want to burn out early in the game. Set realistic routines and reachable goals.

6. Adjust your regimen as necessary and then be consistent with it.

Once you’ve purchased your staple products and established a weekly schedule of washing, deep conditioning, etc., give your regimen time. Some products and techniques take time to work.

However, if after awhile you are not seeing results, don’t be afraid to make some adjustments. For example, some ladies moisturize their hair every day, but if your hair is thin or less dense, it may leave your hair heavy. You may need to adjust it to every other day.

Have patience as you structure your routine. It will come together in time.

7. Join Hairlista. Network with Others.

Okay, so you don’t “have to” join Hairlista to have a successful hair journey (Hairlista just happens to be my favorite.) J, but find a place where you can network and ask questions.

Trust me, you will have a lot of questions when you’re just starting out and it’s best to ask someone who’s been there and done that versus trying to go about it on your own.

I could go on and on with tips but hopefully these seven will get you off to a good start! I pray you have or are having a successful hair journey and reaching your healthy hair goals! Got questions? Leave them down below I will be sure to answer.

Was this post helpful? If so please subscribe to Relaxed Hair and Skin Care and share with your friends!

Blessings and Happy Hair Journey

~Candra

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The Science of Black Hair Links

Understanding Hair Porosity

Regimen Building Basics

Scalp Care

Relaxed Hair

Moisturize & Seal Hair with Rosewater & Coconut Oil. Misto Olive Oil Sprayer.

This moisture and seal technique features the Misto Olive Oil Sprayer, rosewater and coconut oil. Moisturizing and sealing my relaxed hair often is a must. It shields my hair from dryness and breakage. Sealing with a natural carrier oil locks in the moisture.

This technique may not work for everyone depending on your hair and how you plan to style it. It works great for me when I am wearing my up in protective styles and not concerned about my hair being weighed down. Although, just a little bit of rosewater and coconut oil go a long way.

In the morning my hair is soft and ready for an up-do!

You can find the Misto Olive Oil Sprayer on Amazon or Bed Bath and Beyond. I found it a bit cheaper at my local Marshalls' for $7.99. The Misto Olive Oil Sprayer is perfect for applying a light application of oil to your hair and it is less messy than applying oil with your hands.

This is a very quick process and my "go to" when I need to moisturize and seal my hair quickly. Most days I still moisturize my hair with the Elasta QP Olive Oil Mango Butter Moisturizer and alternate between almond oil, sunflower oil and hemp seed oil for sealing.

The Misto Olive Oil Sprayer is also great for applying coconut oil to your skin. Coconut oil softens the skin and has anti-aging properties! And keep in mind that coconut oil turns to a solid state when temperatures reach below 76 degrees farenheight. If storing coconut oil in your Misto Sprayer, keep in a warm place.

Watch this short video to see this technique and view the benefits of using rosewater and coconut oil! Thank you for watching!






Blessings and Happy Hair Journey!

~Candra

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Relaxer Update 3. Hair Growth. Hair Health Challenges.

Relaxer Update

August 29th, 2014 I relaxed my hair at 15 weeks post. Overall I had a successful stretch and my visit to the salon was wonderful. Primarily because I got to rest and let someone else tackle this hair. (Smile)

My stylist uses the Design Essentials relaxer. She moves quickly with the application leaving my scalp in good shape and my hair with some texture (texlaxed).

Hair Growth Goals

View my video below to review my current hair length (starting at 5:04). I retained more length on the sides than in the back, but this is no surprise. I wore my hair out a lot this stretch and my ends were well exposed to the sun, wind, and my clothing.

My new hair growth goal is to retain two inches of growth between now and the Christmas holiday. This means more hair challenges and more protective styling (wearing my hair in styles that does not expose my ends).

Gaining two inches also means that the back of my hair will be BSL (Bra strap length)! I can't even believe I just typed those words! Haha!

Upcoming Hair Health Challenges

There is a "Thickness" challenge coming up on Hairlista and a "30 Days of Moisture" challenge with Relaxed Thairapy and Just Grow Already. You ladies know that I am all in!

There are more challenges out there but I will focus on these two to start.

Join, subscribe, and stay tuned to my blog for updates!





Blessings and Happy Hair Journey!


Love,

~Candra

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13 Weeks Post Relaxer Mid Week Wash Day

I honestly have to say that as much as I love wash days, there are some days when it is simply a chore. On these days it's tempting to take short cuts, but I try to overcome the urge as much as possible. :D

Pre-Poo - Coconut Oil

When I got home from work I took my hair down (was wearing a halo flat twist protective style), and applied coconut oil to my hair with my new Misto Oil Sprayer. (The jury is still out on how I like using the sprayer.) I then twisted my hair back up and went for a run.


Shampoo - Nutress Hair Stop Break Sulfate Free Shampoo

This is my all time favorite sulfate free shampoo. It contains protein and aloe. It has an incredible amount of slip and leaves my hair soft. I'll do a more detailed review in a later post.


Deep Condition - Giovanni 2Chic Ultra-Moist Deep Deep Moisture Hair Mask and Coconut Oil

The Giovanni moisture mask contains avocado and olive oil. I blended the mask with 1 1/2 tablespoons of coconut oil and wore a heat cap for about 45 minutes.

Leave-Ins - Rosewater, Aphogee Keratin and Green Tea Restructurizer, and Elasta QP Olive Oil and Mango Leave in Conditioner

I applied my leave-ins in the above order. I targeted the rosewater to my scalp and did a mini massage in an effort to stimulate hair growth.

After this I knew I wanted to air dry but was at a loss on how I wanted to proceed with styling. Don't you hate those days?


Style

I air dried and after my hair was about 80% dry I applied some Organic Moroccan Argan Oil Serum made by Spring Valley. I did four Bantu knots (1 on each side and 2 in the back) and went to bed.

The next morning I took my Bantu knots out and the results were so-so.

However, my curls were more defined than I thought considering I didn't use a styling custard or pudding of any kind. I did have a bit of frizz.

Overall this wash day was fairly successful. My new growth at 13 weeks post relaxer is definitely something to contend with, but the continued use of coconut oil and product favorites makes it bearable.

Thanks so much for reading and if you believe this article may help someone, please share! If you any questions please leave them below.

Blessings and Happy Hair Journey!

~Candra

Rosewater Benefits on Relaxed Hair - Conditioning and Setting Lotion

Hello Ladies! It's Monday, but I pray your week is already starting off blessed and beautiful!

Just wanted to introduce you to my new love for my hair and skin...."rosewater". Rosewater is a natural product simply made with water and rose petals.

You can make rosewater yourself, purchase it online or find it in your local health food store. The rosewater I purchased online contains purified water and natural rose oil. Here is a quick rundown of some of the benefits of rosewater.

Hair

1. Conditions and Moisturizes Hair

2. Setting Lotion

3. Healing Properties for the Scalp

4. Sparks Hair Growth

Skin

1. Reduces Pore Size

2. Fights Acne

3. Skin Toner

4. Sets Makeup

5. Soothes Sunburn

Rosewater is beneficial for most hair and skin types. I say "most" because, for a variety of reasons, not every product works for everyone. I was very happy to see fast and beneficial results on my skin and relaxed hair!

Stay tuned for DIY beauty tips featuring rosewater!

Thank you as always for visiting and watching! If you have any comments or questions please leave them down below!

Blessings!

~Candra

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Wash Day With Oils and Conditioners Only

Tomorrow is my scheduled "full" wash day but yesterday I went running and had a pretty sweaty workout. My hair hates perspiration and since I perspired so excessively, I decided to throw in an extra wash day.

My initial plan was to do a quick cleanse with a conditioner (co-wash), but since my hair has been loving oils, I thought I'd try something new!

So last night I cleansed by my hair using a combination of oils and conditioners only. It made for a quick and easy wash day and the results really surprised me.

I started by pre-treating my hair with coconut oil for about an hour while cooking dinner.

I then hopped in the shower, rinsed the coconut oil out completely with very warm water and co-washed my hair using the Herbal Essences The Sleeker The Butter conditioner.

It smells nice, it's thick and creamy, but it lacks the slip I love in a conditioner. I've been reaching for it lately just to finish it up. 

After rinsing the Herbal Essences conditioner thoroughly from my hair, I applied organic hemp oil to my hair for an oil rinse.

I put my hemp oil in a separate applicator bottle and keep the rest in the kitchen. My hubby has been taking it internally for its nutritional and Omega benefits. I'm the shallow one who uses it on her hair. Lol...

After a few minutes I applied Tresemme' Naturals conditioner on top of the hemp oil and proceeded to rinse.

When I rinse my hair I like to make sure that the product is completely rinsed out before proceeding to the next step. My hair was soft like butter!

For a deep condition I used the Neutrogena Triple Moisture Pure Strength Conditioning Treatment. I left it in for the duration of my shower and then rinsed with cool water. 

The NTM Pure Strength Conditioning Treatment is a great product that leaves my strong. I wish I could repurchase it locally, but since my passing in the night with it at Big Lots, I haven't seen it anywhere. :(

My leave in conditioner is the Elasta QP Olive Oil and Mango Butter Leave in Conditioner. I applied this after letting my hair air dry just a bit.

And for my last oil of the night, I bring to you my Key West Jamaican black castor oil.

Since I planned to air dry and wear my hair in a bun, I sealed with JBCO which is a heavier oil. I love this oil for sealing my ends and edges especially.

Once my hair was about 70% dry, I combed my hair back and installed two small flexi rods for some curl and went to bed. In the morning my hair was completely dry and super soft.

12 Weeks Post Relaxer

I removed the flexi rods and decided to throw on a head band and just let my curls hang loose instead!


Wash Day Recap...My OCOCCCO method...Haha...

1. Oil (PrePoo)
2. Conditioner (CoWash)
3. Oil and Conditioner (Rinse)
5. Conditioner (Deep)
6. Conditioner (Leave In)
7. Oil (Seal)

Over all I was very pleased with my hair's response to an oil and conditioner only wash day... especially at 12 weeks post relaxer!
Detangling was easy and my hair is soft and moisturized.

If you would like a full review on any product mentioned just leave me a comment below!

Blessings and Happy Hair Journey!

~Candra

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Stretching My Relaxers Comes With Its Struggles

As of July 31^st I am eleven weeks post relaxer. My goal is to reach a relaxer stretch mile stone and stretch for sixteen weeks. 

Before my hair journey I went to the salon to get my hair relaxed every six weeks. Now that I am relaxing my hair every three months or beyond, my hair has thickened up beautifully. No more over processing!

While relaxer stretching has been great for my hair, it comes with its struggles.

1. Detangling two different textures

2. The delicacy of the line of demarcation

3. Creating desired hairstyles

Extending my stretch from three months to four months may not seem like a big deal, but I know I need to be proactive and have a plan. After all, I have found that not every relaxer stretch is the same.

For example, I am currently eleven weeks post relaxer, but because of a change in my regimen my hair is a lot thicker and therefore more difficult to manage than during my previous stretches. 

My Plan For... Detangling Two Textures

• Deep condition twice a week. – This strategy is actually a part of my ongoing coconut oil challenge, but keeping my hair moisturized and soft helps with detangling. I plan to use my conditioners with the most slip.

• Finger detangle often. – The last few weeks of this stretch, I’m going to reach for my comb less and finger detangle more. I'm less likely to cause breakage. This includes finger detangling after each step of my wash day to prevent knots. I have experienced a few knots this stretch already! 

• Work with my hair in sections. – I’m going to take my time and prepoo, wash, deep condition, rinse, and style my hair section by section. 

My Plan For... Line of Demarcation (Where my relaxed hair and natural hair meet.)

• Protein treatments – Every other week I deep condition with a light protein treatment. My go to product is the ORS Replenishing Conditioner. The week before my relaxer I will apply a medium to hard protein treatment, most likely, the Aphogee Two Step treatment.

• Finger detangling – I can be more gentle using my fingers, preventing breakage at the line of demarcation. 

• Minimal heat usage – I do have plans to flat iron my hair this weekend but will use a heat protectant and the lowest setting possible on my flat iron. The line of demarcation is the weakest point of a two textured hair shaft and too much heat can cause breakage…which defeats the whole purpose of relaxer stretching.

My Plan For... Desired Hairstyling

To be honest the jury is still out on this one. “Doing” hair, as far as styling is concerned is a struggle for me on any day. So, I’ll stick with what I can do best. These styles are not always what I feel like wearing, but at least my hair looks presentable and there’s little manipulation.

• Buns

• Medium to Large Bantu Knot Outs

• Roller Sets
  

My ultimate goal is to get to the point where I only relax my hair three times per year. If I have issues or get too frustrated I will relax earlier than planned... But never again will I do the 6 to 8 week thing. It works for some, but it wasn't the healthiest time frame for my hair.

Thank you for reading and HHJ! Blessings! 

~Candra