My Hair Goals For 2011

Happy New Year Everyone!!! Last year has been a year of ups and downs as far as my hair goals were concerned. Now i'm back with a renewed focus. I am determined to make it to waistlength this year!!

Here's the new simplified regimen:

Co-wash 2x week
shampoo 1x month (i will start using shampoo again to clarify) new
always air-dry (even when rollersetting)
leave-in after wash (sometimes in between wash when hair needs strength)
moisturize & seal 2x day (i was very lax at moisturizing & sealing)


Extras:
castor oil on wash days
MN with grapseed oil 3x week
Shi-Naturals Edge Grow Formula (2x every day on edges)

Daily:
no combing (use fingers)
Protective styles (ponytail, wig, braid or weave)

Goal #1 - MBL by June 3rd 2011
Goal #2 - Waistlength by December 3rd 2011(crossing fingers & eyes, lol)

Hair photo@ 6 weeks post, stretching for 6 months :o)

Be very careful !!!

I managed to stretch for 6 months. I feel great about making it 24.5 weeks. The only thing is, i got some really bad chemical scalp burns!!! I had been complaining about an itchy scalp through the last 2 months of the stretch. I had no idea why my scalp had been constantly itching. I tried to put off relaxing until my scalp calmed down. The week before i relaxed the itching had gotten a little less, but i still had some tingling. I did my usual co-wash, deep condition and moisturize & seal, and i thought enough time had passed. I was so anxious to my touch up, the day i relaxed my new growth that i just ignored the slight tingling. Ladies, make sure you have absolutely no irritation on the scalp whatsoever!!! My burns are pretty bad :o(  I have 2 really big nasty burns and some not so bad burns, lol

Here's what to do if this should ever happen to you (Let's hope it doesn't) :

The first thing you need to do in order to aid in the healing process of chemical relaxer burns is to ignore the compulsion to scratch and/or pick at your scab. This will usually be your first reaction due to the constant itching or odd "presence" on your scalp.

If you have undergone a chemical relaxer burn, you will feel a patchy, scaly, gritty or bumpy substance on your scalp. This is actually a scab from the chemical burn your scalp has suffered. Your scalp is just like any other piece of skin on your body. It will scab

Next, you will need to somewhat detangle the hair that is surrounding and within the scalp burn.

Take a wide-tooth comb and start combing from the ends of the hair, and get as close as you can to your scalp without aggravating the scalp burn. In all honesty, the scalp burn will heal regardless, but your hair strands will break off rather than give way to the pull and tug between the comb and the scab from the scalp burn.

Apply an antibacterial ointment to a clean cotton swab, and gently apply it directly to the chemical scalp burns.

Any kind of disinfecting, skin healing ointment will do the trick (Neosporin, Burt's Bees Res-Q Ointment, etc.). But, nothing trumps natural and free, so your best bet would be to opt for a broken leaf from an aloe vera plant.

Continue with your regular hair care regimen, but use caution.

Be gentle when combing and brushing your hair for the next week or so. Also, make sure to shampoo your hair as you normally would, but be careful not to disturb the area with scalp burns. Do not use hair care products containing alcohol as they may burn and cause further irritation to the scalp burns.

After a few shampoos you will notice that the scab from chemical relaxer burn has fallen off, and your scalp can return to its healthy status.

Source

6 months Stretch Touch up results!!

Well ladies, i finally relaxed. After 6 months of stretching. I just could not take it any longer. This morning my hair was so dry and tangled, no matter what i did the comb just would not budge. I reached my goal of stretching 6 months. I wasn't trying to go longer. I'm very happy with the results. Yaaaa, i can feel my scalp again, lol. Looks like i'm back at BSL, but this time i feel encouraged. This time i'm gonna make waistlength. The 6 months of stretching helped me gain 3 inches. Which means i'm an average grower (1/2 inch per month) The difference is this time my hair is thicker and stronger. I will try for 6 month stretches for as long as i relax (maybe,lol) Although the relaxer touch up was not without some drama (as soon as i applied the relaxer my scalp began to burn) so, i'm texlaxed in some areas, but that's okay. I lost no hair, but i have a bad burn at my hairline (the worse place, i already have issues with my hairline!!) I will revamp my regimen and today starts my new 6 month stretch!!!

Thanks everyone for the encouragement. The 6 month stretch is a Muther :o)