DIY Scalp and Hair Growth Oil Week 3 Update

DIY Scalp and Hair Growth Oil Week 3 Update

Recap:

I created a blend of 4 carrier oils and 4 essential oils that will promote a healthy scalp and stimulate hair growth. 

Daily, I apply the oil lightly to my fingertips and massage it into my scalp in sections.

{DIY Scalp and Hair Growth Oil Week 1}

In a nutshell, I am loving this oil! I initially made 2 ounces of my oil mix but it was good and gone by the end of week two. This time I made about 4 ounces and added a bit more of each of the essential oils.

My scalp is moisturized perfectly and I have no more dry scalp itching. My hair growth is definitely more than normal. Within two weeks I've measured almost 1 inch of hair growth. My normal growth rate is 1/4 to 1/2 of an inch for an entire month.

With that being said I am extremely tempted to end my relaxer stretch at 12 weeks post. I am currently 11 weeks post and detangling my 4C new growth is getting time consuming. I'm not home long enough these days to go through the process and I want to avoid breakage and matting.

I will be trying a new moisture shared by Buttrpecan9 on YouTube this weekend. If it works for me then I'll try to keep pressing on. My last relaxer stretch was 15 weeks.

And although hair tangles are occurring, my new growth is much softer than normal. I attribute that to the scalp and hair growth oil as well.

November 20th will be the last day of this oil challenge. I will do a full review and length check on my YouTube channel.

Thank you for stopping by and if you have a favorite oil mixture please share in the comments below!

God bless and Happy Hair Journey!
~Candra

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Candra.L.Evans@gmail.com
P.O. Box 128787
Cincinnati, Ohio 45212

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A Journey For More Than Long Hair

May 19, 2014

After thirteen weeks of stretching, I went to my stylist to get a much needed trim and to have my new growth texlaxed.

Overall, I was only able to retain about an inch of growth in three months. My normal hair growth rate is between 1/4 to 1/2 of an inch per month.

While I am always searching for effective ways to increase my growth rate, I remember that this journey is more than long hair and length checks.

If you are on a journey for long hair, retaining an inch in three months could be a bad thing. I admit that I had hoped to retain more, but I can't help but look at the big picture.

This journey is so much more than long hair...

My hair is not full arm pit length yet, but it looks so much better. It is not dry, breaking, or shedding like a German Shepherd in June. It is much healthier than it was even six months ago.

My stylist says that it feels different now. She has been my stylist for four years, and her hands know my hair very well. It was happiness to my heart for her, who knows the trials my hair has been through, to be so pleased.

She was amazed at how well my scalp is thriving. I have had severe issues with flakes and dryness all of my life. So much to the point that it was recommended over and over again that I see a dermatologist. The health of my scalp today is amazing in comparison.

I have seriously been through the storm with my hair, so hallelujah for the sunshine!

This hair journey is about giving myself the best care inside and out. It is about loving myself and feeling good about who I am.

The video below reveals my length before and after my hair trim. Yes, I had hoped to retain more length, but you will still see me smiling because there has been so much progress on this hair journey. I am very please and I feel so blessed to have come this far.

Love and Blessings!
~Candra

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13 Weeks Post Relaxer and Hair Bun

I will be wearing protective styles until the weekend (relaxer day). Since I am a bit style challenged, I decided to go with the easy high bun.

At 13 weeks post relaxer, my new growth is still fairly manageable and I can hardly believe it! Hahaha...

It was not so long ago that my hair would misbehave at 5 weeks post. However, looking back, I can't get mad. I mistreated my tresses something awful!

Since I will be relaxing my hair with a chemical, I have been babying my hair for the last two weeks.

•  More combing and detangling with my fingers...
•  Did an extra moisturizing deep conditioning treatment...
•  Medium protein treatment...
•  No direct heat...
•  Air dry only...
•  Protective styles and low manipulation styles...
•  Applied LOC method...

For my bun I am using a smooth, soft foam bun shaper that I purchased at a local beauty supply store while on a ministry trip in Chicago.

On my hair channel I will post (in one video) a length check right before and right after my relaxer. I am doing the before because I know when I get to the salon, a trim will be in order. 

Stay tuned for the results!

Happy Hair Growing!

~Candra

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The Benefits of Stretching My Relaxers...Both Physical and Emotional

“Stretching a relaxer” means getting your hair relaxed less frequently.  For example, if you wait beyond the common 6 to 8 week time frame between relaxers, it is considered stretching.

For twenty years I went to the salon to get my hair chemically relaxed every 6 weeks.  As a matter of fact, I thought it was the law if you had relaxed hair.

This averages to about 8 to 9 times a year.  I did not know then that 9 relaxers in a 12 month period was not the healthiest option for my hair. I was told that my hair was genetically thin and would only grow so long without becoming unhealthy...hence the frequent hair cuts.

Because my hair and my brain were both “trained” to adhere to this six week schedule, I would have a difficult time with tangled hair and breakage at only 5 weeks post my last relaxer. So at 6 weeks on the nose, I was in that salon chair on time… if not an hour early.

At the start of my hair journey, in 2012, I started stretching to 9 or 10 weeks. There were a few times when I surrendered at 8 weeks.

At the end of 2013 I was in a position where I could not get to my stylist for 3 months... yes, 12 whole weeks! Now 12 weeks is nothing to the advanced relaxer stretchers out there. Many ladies only get a relaxer once or twice a year without any major hair setbacks.

I am not at that advance level yet, but my first 12 week stretch was a huge success. First, it shows that you would be surprised at what you can do if you have to. Second, stretching for those 3 months gave my hair and how I “feel” about my hair a tremendous uplift.

Physical Benefits of Relaxer Stretching

It allows for recovery. The relaxer is literally changing the structure of the hair shaft. I look at it as major reconstruction because once curly hair is straightened by a relaxer, it cannot return back to its curly state. Therefore, undergoing a chemical treatment is stress to our strands. Stretching from 6 week touch ups to 12 week touch ups, doubles the time I can baby my hair and let it rest.

My ultimate relaxer stretch goal is 6 months!

Emotional Benefits of Relaxer Stretching

Are there emotional benefits? Well if your hair has ever been over processed, thin, and breaking, you know the answer is, yes.

I had a color service done in a salon (also a chemical service) and a few weeks later my hair was breaking like crazy and shedding with every stroke of the comb. Emotionally I was broken inside. I felt insecure and cried every morning when I had to comb my hair into some kind of style for the day.

Going for months without any type of chemical service, gives my heart relief… especially now that I see my hair getting thicker and longer. I cannot recall ever being happy about the health of my hair before.

If I can do it, you can too!

After about 6 weeks, my new hair growth makes its glorious appearance. This leaves me with two different hair textures. I have a straight hair texture that is easy to detangle and moisturize, and I have my naturally curly (4C) hair texture that is dry as a bone and has major shrinkage.

So, it has taken some time to learn how to manage my hair and keep it moisturized and strong between relaxers so I don’t have breakage at the line of demarcation (where the two textures meet).

Still, the time you invest in finding the right products and the right regimen that will allow you to have successful relaxer stretches will be worth it all!

I am shouting and giving God the praise because my hair has not been this thick since I was a little girl and has not been this long….EVER.

Subscribe to the bog today and stay tuned to learn exactly how I take care of my hair beyond the notorious 6 week mark.

Blessings!

~Candra

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