Combating Postpartum Shedding

Pregnancy for some women can be difficult. Some have to deal with nausea/vomiting, fatigue, mood swings, etc. I dealt with extremely swollen ankles as I approached full term. However, if anyone had told me about the benefit of hair growth and fullness, I probably would have taken more pictures! I can't tell if the hair growth came from the pregnancy itself or the fantastic prenatal vitamins. I am leaning towards the vitamins, but time will tell. They say all good things come to an end. So, I am doing my best to address the postpartum shedding that I have been warned about. After reading and taking advice online, I've come up with a regimen that I believe has minimized excessive shedding.  In the meantime, I am continuing my prenatal vitamin intake, as I am nursing (and possibly still benefitting the bi-product of decreased shedding/hair growth). It also goes without saying to eat foods that are nutrient-rich.

Regimen
Pre-Wash & Detangle
Shea Moisture Conditioner (any favorite variety)

Wash
Jason's Pure Natural Restorative Biotin Shampoo

Condition

Jason’s Natural Biotin Conditioner

Rinse

Spray black tea onto my scalp

Apply Shea Moisture conditioner to leave in (black tea can be drying to the hair)

You may have noticed that conditioner is the regimen's star here. Afro-textured natural hair thrives when moisturized!

I Can Wash and Go TOO!!

I never knew I could do it. I never knew I could achieve any type of curl pattern for an extended period of time, but I can. My previous post featured a video of Anthony Dickie's wash and go method. Well, I tried it for an entire week (and took a few photos). I am now going on my third week of washing and going, and I LOVE IT; so much so, that I purchased and read his book Hair Rules! I also purchased and now use the Hair Rules Daily Cleansing Cream which I love!! Stay tuned for product and book reviews soon. I have been reading a few books about hair for some time, and have not provided any reviews...my bad.

Day 1

Day 3

Day 9 (Rear View)

Now back to the matter at hand: the wash and go's will likely be my natural-hairstyle-staple for the summer. I am noticing less fall-out and shedding. The cleansing cream is such a good detangling product, that I don't need to use a comb. My fingers do the job just fine. I have also incorporated some awesome conditioners (which aid in further detangling) and the perfect styling product to capture the curl without a lot of build-up and flaking. I used the method as described by the guru himself. However, I found a few products that work best for me - of which I've highlighted in my wash n go regimen below.

Hair Rules Daily Cleansing Cream Moisture-Rich No-Suds Shampoo

Famous Last Words...

"...If it needs to be, go ahead and cut it." Famous last words of one woman's effort to grow out her hair. After a solid year and a half; with a few intermittent hair trimmings and long-term maintenance styles, it was time. It was time to let go of the quest to prove to myself that my hair can grow. That has been proven. I was able to achieve shoulder-length hair. My hair growth quest cannot forfeit the need to maintain a healthy head of hair, however. I have not been as diligent about seeing my professional hair-care provider. Frankly, it showed. I could also feel the damage of neglect. My new mission is getting rid of dead weight: physical, emotional and personal. I am recommitting myself to letting go of all things and people that no longer want me to hold on. Release. My hair included. Those ends were dead -- very dead. Denial had set in, and this was yet another area that I've had to come to terms with an ugly and inconvenient reality. The truth is, holding on to what isn't healthy only reaps perpetual damage; eventually extending to the root. It's best to just face the facts, accept the consequential, and cut unneeded ties. Remember to cut at the healthiest point, and even better if you get an edgy/cute outcome/desired finish. You've likely guessed, this entry is more than just about hair. And since I aspire to become the premier go-to for all things image, I have to start with me. I.MUST.BE the brand. I will continue praying, evaluating (and reevaluating) until I am where I believe I should be. So, here we go...

Let the Makeovers BEGIN!!

It's time. Time for us to take a long, hard look at ourselves. Evaluate. Decide now what it is you will change about you. Then, tell me. And I will do whatever I can to help you achieve your goals. NVidel's last post featured a photo shoot with 6RobinsPhotography. I had the pleasure of helping to makeover a group of exciting teens.

Take a look at what the team pulled together!

Cheers to Hair Growth!

May 19th made my journey one year long!! I'm mostly proud that I was able to stick with something for so long! Take a look at the video...it's not perfect, but it is my first YouTube and it shows my growth after one year and after finding the ideal regimen for me.

To all my fellow journey-ers: RAISE YOUR SERUMS...Here's to you, your journey and your growth progress...

Cheers to hair growth!

n.videl

Protective Maintenance

It's a tough job, but someone has got to do it...my previous blog (entered nearly a month ago) declared the stance I was taking against what I had been advised by some - NOT to braid my hair. Though all the reasons varied, they were thoroughly considered. As some of you may have guessed, I went ahead and braided my hair. With temperature indexes reaching +120 degrees here in DC, I was especially thankful for my braided hair. The DC humidity would have shrunken the "S-T-R-E-T-C-H" I touted earlier (that would not have been pretty). I've also been very busy (on the makeup front) working weddings and other special events, so it's been a help not to have to worry too much about my hair. I have been worrying about the hair of my clients --I have been spreading the protective love. Yep! Weaves and braids. When styling hair, I like to share some of my regimen (for protective maintenance) with clients. So, it's only fair that I share the same information with my readers...

I'll Do It...Don't Come Any Closer!

After conditioning my hair, it appears that some protective styling may be best for me now. I can tell my hair is growing, but I've been doing a lot with it and it's in need of a break. I've been polling my friends and associates to see what their thoughts on braiding my hair were. Some encouraged the idea, supporting it with the season, my increased level of activity and practicality. Others shrieked at the notion. "It's not very professional!" Huh? Did they forget that I had locs and held down a thriving professional career for over seven years? There are ways to style the hair so that it is still clean and presentable...duh. Another mentioned that braids were out of style...So you mean to tell me that one of the oldest styles in our civilization is now outdated?

Get outta here...

S-T-R-E-T-C-H...The Plot Thickens!!

OohWee! I don't know how much longer I can stretch my next relaxer. My last texlax application was June 1st, and I think my hair is starting to get used to my most recent regimen - a good problem, I guess. It's really starting to grow in thicker than usual. I'm trying to push my next texlax application to August 30th (which would be 90 days)...but I don't know. I am scheduled for a deep conditioning tonight. I'll be using Shu Uemura's Muroto Volume, which works to add volume to the hair.

UPDATE: Black Castor Oil

One of my earlier entries highlighted a product that promotes healthy hair growth. Days after my post, my sisters of blogdom from the UK (Long Hair Journal) gave the product a review and offered some alternate ingredients that are effective and not expensive. So, for those of you, who are starting on your own hair growth journeys, may find this helpful - I did. I'm still working on my own version. We'll see how things go in a month or so.

Until then...

"Tex"laxing Hair?

I am getting such an education about haircare techniques women are using to protect their hair from long-term damage. If you're familiar with hair relaxers, then you've probably already guessed what texlaxing is. Relaxing your hair, but not long enough for it to "take" or be bone straight. I was leery about the concept, initially, but I've been trying it and I think I prefer it. My hair doesn't look as thin as it used to and it still has the flow and bounce that I like after washing and conditioning it. The only draw-back is
what the "tex" of my texlaxed hair does in the hot humid weather...

Black Castor Oil...

This is in response to the requests for additional information about the hair oil referenced. I got the ingredients and instructions from YouTube videos. The instructions come in a Part 1 and Part 2 (watch your speaker volume). However, I should mention that I added my own twist to what is directed, and I am still waiting to see how my version works.

Basic Ingredients:

My Personal Hair Growth Challenge...

For most of my life, I have had the hardest time growing my hair out. I would try protective hairstyles (e.g., braids, weaves, etc.), but [maybe] weeks after I removed the style and paid for my hair to get some TLC (i.e., deep conditioned, trimmed), it would either stop growing or start breaking. My stylist (at the time) would wonder with me as to what the issue could be. We both resolved that that's just how my hair was. But, not so...

Hair-ducation: a Recent Science?

Not really, and the holistic education of hair is still evolving beyond the basics. Let me first recognize the knowledge of our professional cosmetologists - they bring a much needed degree of attention to our hair. However, when it comes to knowing and being educated about one's own hair, there's a significant gap.

For example...

I was recently on the phone with a friend and we began discussing hair. She started telling me that her hair was 4c and she was looking for 3c (clearly, I've been under some rock)...