I've come a long way

Sometimes, it helps to get a single view of my progress, especially when I'm feeling like I'm not getting anywhere

Elasta QP DPR-11 Deep Penetrating Remoisturizer

I decided to switch up my deep conditioning and purchased Elasta QP DPR-11 Deep Penetrating Remoisturizer . I'd tried it before and liked it a lot, but I loved it even more this time round. I deep conditioned for about 4 hours just using a plastic cap. I rinsed it out, moisturised with a small amount of JBCO and Curl Free instant moisturiser. The next day, I applied a small amount of conditioner mixed with olive oil and my hair has felt so moisturised ever since.

I experienced little to no breakage for the first time in a very long time.

I think I'll keep this up and see how well it works out.

Length check

I bought an FHI flat iron. I didn't really need it, but since I saw some reviews on it. I tried to flat iron my hair at 200 degrees and it came out rubbish. I was surprised because I thought with texlaxed hair i'd have better results. Anyway, flat ironed again at 230 degrees and it still was a little frizzy. I also experienced a lot of breakage. Lots of broken hairs all over my shoulders.

Almost collar bone

One thing that did please me is - my hair had grown and strangely looked thicker.

Managing my hair

There are benefits to having my real hair out, but from what I feel right now, there seem to be a lot of downsides.

I'm cornrowing my hair every night in order to have a braid out or do an up do. It means I'm manipulating my hair a lot and loosing a lot of hair. I feel my hair is breaking also.

I'm not doing anything different, I just think the manipulation is too much for my hair. I'm considering just wearing afro puffs until my hair settles down.

I found some long strands which have splits midway down the hair shaft. If I have a lot of strands like this, no wonder my hair is breaking.

I also feel as though my hair isn't growing. I'm at 8 inches in some places, but considering I'm nearing 2 years of my hair journey in December, it seems not a very good level of growth.

I've gone back to making a growth mix with main n tail, mn and jbco. I'll try this for a month and see where I get to.

The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl

The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl

I absolutely love this series. If you haven't seen it, check it out

Sealing

For the longest time, I've been reading about sealing in moisture. I never really understood what this meant until I read about it on this thread. It's basically using oil or pomade to seal in the water moisture from washing your hair. I'm sooo sloooowwww. I do this with my skin, put oil on immediately after washing whilst my skin is damp. Why my brain didn't compute that this same logic could apply to my hair I don't know.

Anyway, after co-washing with Porosity control and the last of my mekatek which I have ceased to use as a growth aid (only because I forgot I had it) I sealed in the water moisture with my mango butter. I also tried the Wave Nouveau moisturizer mist only because the shop I went into didn't carry the curl free curl instant moituriser. I'm making a point of purchasing my hair products from black businesses. The cost is often a little higher, usually 10-50p more but I feel it's worth it if it helps one of my sisters out.

Anyway, I digress. My hair did feel more moiturised but felt hard at the same time. I'll try a different combination over the week to see which works better. Sealing without the Wave nouveau or just sealing with mango butter.

Cycling to work

I've put on weight to the point that I have back fat. I realised then that something had to change. On a Saturday, I got my bike from the balcony where it had been exposed to the elements and was rusty and unused. I changed the tyers and the inner tube, spent ages scrubbing the rust off the chain oiled it and took it for a spin. I nearly died. I only rode for 15 or so minutes and was ready to pass out.

On Monday I was determined that I would cycle to work. It was nothing but long windey roads which were up hill most of the way. I had to get off the bike 3 times, it was like I was doing the tour de France! At one point, I felt like throwing the bike under a truck and letting it get mangled and destroyed! Anyway, I made it after an hour and half of hard slogging.

I didn't wear a helmet the first time as I wasn't sure what I was going to do with helmet head once I got to work.

Today I rode in again and wore my helmet. My hair was soaked with sweat when I arrived. I wore my hair like this as it was the only thing I could do with it once it was wet.

It means I'll be forced to wear up dos. I never worn a braid out to work, but judging from the experience with the helmet, it looks like I'll have to wear up dos