Daily Archives: December 6, 2011

Dec6

November GOC Update: CJ

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by CJ (Seventh Wave)

*Hangs head in shame*
“My name is CJ and I am a product junky.”

So after what will forever be referred to as, “The Keracare Natural Textures Fiasco,” I’m working on reviving whatever life might be left in my ends. I don’t know exactly what it was about the KNT line (my hair LOVES “regular” Keracare). On day one, with the KNT Leave-In and Defining Custard, everything was great! My hair was soft and had movement. I even got second day hair! Something that NEVER EVER EVER happens. But then, when I co-washed and tried the combination again, it was a no go. My hair was hard and my ends! *weeps softly* My ends felt like I’d run them through a paper shredder. I was too afraid to try the Twist and Define Cream.

This meant that I was back to Giovanni Leave-In and Olive Oil until my black Friday haul from Darcy’s Botanicals arrived. Before that could happen, I discovered a Beauty Supply store that I didn’t know existed in a nearby shopping center. I walked in the Sunday after Thanksgiving and I swear it was like walking through the gates of Natural Hair Beauty Supply Store Heaven. The angels sang and wept. I know I had tears of joy in my eyes. This one store (Freestyle Beauty Supply, 6198F Little River Turnpike, Alexandria, VA 22312) had natural hair care products for days! Curl Junkie, Hair Rules, Uncle Funky’s Daughter, Miss Jessie’s, Keracare (“regular” and Natural Textures), Curlz, Qhemet Biologics, Kinky Curly and other lines I’d never heard of. I stopped myself at 3 purchases: Jamaican Black Castor Oil (I wasn’t sure if there’s a difference between this and regular castor oil, but luckily there are differences), Qhemet Biologics Moringa Tree Conditioning Ghee and Qhemet Biologics Burdock Root Butter Cream.

Qhemet Biologics are amazing! After washing, I “grease” my scalp with the JBCO, detangle with the Ghee, then twist with the BRBC. The twists stay under a scarf and hat, unless I have to look presentable. Then, I put the hair into two French braids. My hair is so happy, my scalp non-itchy and I believe that my ends have recovered. And I think that my hair’s actually grown some (Of course this could all be another false start like with the Keracare). But this time, I’m OFFICIALLY not buying any new products until after I run out of the Qhemet Biologics. Should, God forbid, Qhemet fail, I have my Darcy’s Botanicals products to turn to.

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LOL! You had me laughing throughout this update CJ!! Thank goodness you’re on the path to recovery! Now, dang it all to heck that I don’t live anywhere near Alexandria, VA!! That BSS sounds like Natural Hair Nirvana! Well, I guess it’s a good thing I’m 6 or so hours away in NJ, because I might go into debt living anywhere in the vicinity of that place!

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Dec6

Help Wanted: Apply Within

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Hi all! So, I’m desperately in need of some content for the site :)! I’ve got two HairStories in reserve, and that’s about it! That means, I need your help! Have you always wanted to be on Hairscapades (*lol*)?!? Then, why not submit any of the following … or all of them for that matter?

  • TUTORIALS – Love ‘em, want ‘em, need ‘em. If you are an aspiring, amateur hair stylist with great hair and greater styles, please share!! I’d especially love some tutorials for short and medium length hair as I often get those requests, but cannot accommodate them myself. Or, maybe you have a great DIY item or homemade recipe or remedy! Send me a bulleted picture or your YouTube video tutorial of your fabulous style, project or recipe for inclusion in the “Library!” Please use the subject, “Tutorial.”
  • REVIEWS – Did you try an amazing, lackluster or absolutely horrendous product, tool or accessory recently? Do you have a holy grail product that just doesn’t get enough shine? Then send your in your Rant or Rave (include the ingredients list for product reviews, please!)! Video reviews are very welcome as well! Please use the subject, “Review.”
  • HAIRSTORIES – Again, I still have two of these to post, but the coffers are starting to get low! So, if you haven’t sent in your story yet, now is the time! Please use the subject, “Hairstory.”
  • NATURALS AROUND THE WORLD (NEW FEATURE!) – After the thoughtful and thought-provoking post from Chy’s Curlz, I’d love to start a new feature, which profiles the stories of naturals or those transitioning to natural in the international community. I think that it would be very interesting to learn about the different experiences and various perspectives across the diaspora and in the homeland. How are our stories the same and what are the commonalities? How are they different and distinct? A HairStory can be used as the platform, but I wanted to break-out this topic to bring more attention to it and solicit these stories specifically. My goal is to present a more diverse perspective on Hairscapades. So, if you have one, please send your story, thoughts and insights with the subject, “Around the World.”
  • GUEST BLOGGERS – If you maintain your own blog and would like to share a post on Hairscapades, send the article, a link to your blog and a pic of yourself. If you don’t maintain a blog, but would like to submit an idea, send me a proposal. Please use the subject, “Guest Blog.”
  • GOT SKILLS? QUESTIONS – This is a category under our Grow Out Challenge (GOC) that was created to answer pressing questions from you guys! I will try to answer as best as I can. However, this question is really for all of the readers. So, send me your most burning question! Please use the subject, “Got Skills?” (Are you sensing a pattern yet? ;).

So that’s it ladies!! E-mail your Style Tutorials, Reviews, HairStories, Around the World, Guest Blogs and/or Got Skills? submissions to hairscapades@gmail.com (don’t forget to include pictures for non-video posts!!).

Dec6

November GOC Update: Adrienne

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by Adrienne (Second Wave)

Hair:

It was another month of hiding the hair. Only this time, I hid my hair with a wig. The last two weeks of November, I kept my hair in cornrows going straight back and under a wig. I like not having to do my hair, especially with my busier schedule. I do need to make sure I unbraid my hair every weekend to wash and deep condition. My hair is feeling a little dry, so I know I need to moisturize more. I’ve tried deep conditioning with the braids in, but felt like some parts of my hair were missing out. Also I’ve come to accept that I’m just a slow grower. I’m serious, my hair doesn’t even grow ¼ inch a month … I probably get that every three months. It’s snail’s pace slow and I’m at a loss as to why. I’m taking vitamins, I drink water, I’m gentle with my hair, I moisturize and seal … what am I doing wrong? I’ve tried every hair vitamin (biotin, Nioxin, and I’m currently on TreasureLocks Growth Vitamins plus Garlic to lessen shedding). Why does it seem that I’m not seeing any results like everyone else? Maybe my regimen needs to be tweaked with. Maybe I need to DC twice a week instead of once … I don’t know. I’ll take any advice right now.

My plan for December is:

  • Wear two strand flat twists six days a week
  • Spritz and seal hair every night
  • During the day, either wear my wig (with a satin cap underneath) or sometimes I’ll skip the wig and just wrap my hair in a cute scarf.
  • On the seventh day, I’ll take down the twists, mud wash and deep condition, moisturize, seal and twist back up.

Hopefully this will mean I see some length retention.

Exercise:

Yeah … not so much. November wasn’t a very productive month in the working out department and I’m afraid December won’t be any better. My schedule just doesn’t permit lengthy workouts. The most I’ve been doing is taking the dog on a quick twenty-minute run in between jobs. I don’t really have time to get to the gym to lift weights. But I’m vowing to make it to this Body Works class on Saturday mornings, which involves weights, lunges, and well … the whole body, hopefully that’ll do!

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Let’s make this a “Got Skills?” segment too!

Adrienne, it sounds like your regimen is pretty solid to me! I think that you just have to give it time. Remain consistent and keep protecting your hair and ends to promote length retention. Even if your rate of growth is slower, your hair IS growing. If I remember correctly, you have a medical condition that might be impacting your rate of growth too, right? So, you have to consider that in the equation.

I would suggest a few things though. Perhaps try scalp massages (daily or as frequently as you can), with or without oil, to stimulate your follicles. If you can/want to use oil, you could try my essential oil mix or maybe check out the suggestions in BGLH recent article, 8 Herbs and Oils that Promote Hair Growth. Also, take a look at your diet. There was another really good article on BGLH entitled, 13 Nutrients that Promote Hair Growth and is about getting these vitamins and minerals via whole food sources, rather than supplements. Look at your diet and see if you are getting these via your food, rather then relying wholly on supplementation.

Also, try to get your few minutes of exercise in a day. You don’t need a lengthy work-out your 20 minutes sounds fine. You just need something that gets the blood pumping. I definitely think that my growth rate is increased and the health of my hair is improved when I’m exercising regularly. That’s all I got (and I’m sure that it’s more than enough ;))!

What do you think ladies? Any suggestions for promoting hair growth? Have you found something that really works for you?