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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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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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

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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