How To Use Nexxus Emergencee on Relaxed Hair

It's no secret that I'm a fan of protein. I believe that using strengthening products that your hair loves helps minimize breakage, refortifies your tresses and maximizes length retention. Its been over 8 months since my last relaxer and I'm trying to defend my ends from breakage at all costs. Most hair obsessed chicas rave about Aphogee 2-Step---it wasn't my cup of tea. If you love the strengthening properties of Aphogee 2-Step, but like me, loathe the smell and consistency, then you'll love Nexxus Emergencee. The scent is mild and the formula is thick. Absolutely, no dripping! It dries quickly and makes my strands felt more swollen---almost thicker to touch. I use it whenever I notice that my ends feel a little ratty or when I see bits of breaking strands on my bathroom floor. Here how I use Nexxus Emergencee on my hair:

1. Cleanse: Although my hair hates shampoo, I always apply Emergencee to freshly shampooed hair. Why? Because you want the protein to bond and be absorbed into your hair and it can't if your strands are covered in junk. My favorite shampoo is Matrix Biolage Hydrating Shampoo.
2. Apply: Add an ample amount of Emergencee to completely cover the hair. If you're grossed out by the gel like consistency or trying to savor your manicure pick up a Sprush to make the process easier. Work through.
3. Let Dry: Air dry or pop under your hooded dryer for 10-15 minutes just until the treatment hardens. Whatever you do, do not manipulate your hair for any reason once it starts to harden. It's tragic. I've been using my trusty Gold N Hot Hard Bonnet since 2009 to get the job done.
4. Rinse- Thoroughly with warm water. Simply stand under the stray of your shower for 3-5 minutes while the water loosens and rinses the treatment. Again---do not manipulate your hair in any way until the treatment is rinsed.
5. Deep Condition- Emergencee is a major protein treatment. Always follow up with a heated deep condition. A little Matrix Biolage Hydratherapie Conditioning Balm does the trick for my hair.

Have you used Nexxus Emergencee before? How do you use it?

Besitos!
KLP

6 Tips to Stretching Your Relaxer 6 Months

I get asked almost daily how I stretch my relaxers for so long. Honestly, I've never thought about it. I've always been a serial relaxer stretcher. As a kid, I'd go months and months without relaxing. My mom is a total tom-boy, so she would only "do" our hair (meaning relax it) on special occasions. (Think: Mother's Day, Christmas, and birthdays) In 2013, my goal was to stop stretching past 4 months because of the breakage and general havoc that I think it caused on my ends. But here I am excited to be over 6 months post and loving (almost) every minute of it. Here are 6 ways that I've been able to stretch my relaxer 6 months:



Detangle Pre-Wash: Never, ever, never will you catch me jumping right in the shower without prepping my hair. I firmly believe in pre-wash detangling and a good oily pre-poo. The pre-poo is the place in your regimen to prevent tangles, manage breakage, and keep your hair on your head. I start by detangling using extra virgin coconut oil then when I'm feeling fancy, I'll add conditioner and little indirect heat.

Related: Why I Love Coconut Oil

Ditch the Shampoo: I try to like shampoo. I really do. But my hair hates it. The only shampoo that my hair digs is Matrix Biolage Hydratherapie Hydrating Shampoo so in the last few weeks I've been experimenting with creamy co-cleansers. You can DIY (here's a great recipe) or you can pick up a bottle of Curlicious Curls Cleansing Cream, this cute little co-cleanser that claims to hydrate whilst still cleaning your tresses.

Extreme Deep Condition: I first picked up on this brilliant deep conditioning technique via Carol's Daughter's Olive Oil Infusion. My Extreme Deep Condition layers an oil over your conditioner sealing in all that moisturizing goodness. To help the conditioner penetrate, I add heat via a heat cap for at least an hour. This stretch, I've taken things a step further by deep conditioning overnight. My hair usually feels like silk afterwards. Moisture overload is real so keep your hair balanced by...

Related: Why I Deep Condition Overnight



Use Protein to Maximize Retention: There's no secret that I use protein to maximize my length retention. Protein is a finicky topic for some, so here's my spill: I think that all types of curly hair can and benefit from protein. Yet with all things in life, how you put it together and what you use matters. Take some time and date a couple protein laced products. I'd start with a conditioner with protein closer to the bottom of the ingredient list then work your way up. One protein product that has benefited me from the very beginning of my journey is Chi Silk Infusion. Its silky, smoothing, and strengthening. Win, win, win!

Stop shedding: Its not uncommon to notice a bit more shedding (not to be confused with breakage) as you get deeper into your stretch. Nip it in the bud with green or black tea rinses and follow your favorite smoothing treatment (mine is Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Conditioner) or detangler (I can't get enough of Matrix Biolage Detangling Solution.)

Protective Style: I live in protective styles. Not braids or weaves but buns and updos. Its hard not to want to flaunt your ridiculously long hair, but trust me keeping your ends protected will slow breakage---a long term stretchers worse enemy.

Last but not least, its okay if you love your hair but don't have the patience to fiddle with months of detangling multiple textures. It's important to crawl before your walk. If you usually relax after 6 weeks. Then for your next stretch add one more week. Keep adding a week to each stretch until you've figured out your patience sweet spot then run with that.

What are your todo's for successful stretching?

Besitos!
KLP

Healthy Hair Insight: The Rhyme Behind the Reason

Self-relaxing isn't for the faint at heart. One wrong move can take years to recoup from. I've self-relaxed for a few years now and my relaxer days are long and tedious but there is a definitely a method to the madness.

To me, tex-laxing isn't a product; It's a technique. Some ladies cover their hair in oils, others use milder strength relaxers, while a few, mix conditioners to intentionally under-process their relaxers. I simply don't smooth the relaxing cream with a comb to achieve my tex-laxed results.

I relax in two halves at 12-16 weeks, which usually requires two relaxer kits and double jumping in and out of the shower. I first discovered this process from fellow blogger Ms. Kibbi of www.kibibihair.com. Here's how I tex-lax:

Prep- To strengthen my strands, I like to reinforce my strands with a protein treatment the wash before my relaxer day. My favorite protein treatment is Nexxus Emergencee. 

Protect Products

Protect- I first section my hair into four quads. Then I take each quad and split into 1" sections, detangling as I work. Next, I base my scalp with JBCO (and after my recent experience Vaseline) then lightly cover my previously relaxed ends with Roux Porosity Control Conditioner, Chi Silk Infusion, and Joico Moisture Recovery to protect from relaxer runoff. Lastly, I double strand twist each section, starting the twist at the line of demarcation, so that I know where to apply the relaxer. The only part of my hair that's "naked" are my roots. I cover the front two quads with a shower cap for each side then 2 more covering both sides to keep it from getting relaxer or water on it while I work on my front half. 

Apply Products/Tools

Apply- I started my application process on the front quads using a (green) Sprush. Because I know exactly where to apply the relaxer and I only apply the relaxer to my unprocessed roots, the fear of overlapping the relaxer is minimal. Once I apply the relaxer, I smooth with my fingers. Application and smoothing takes about 6 minutes for the front and 9 for the back.

Fortify Products

Fortify- Next, I thoroughly rinse removing the top plastic cap because it usually has relaxer on it. Then I massage a mid-relaxer strengthening treatment into my strands. My favorite is Nexxus Keraphix. I let it sit for 1-2 minutes then rinse again.

Neutralize Products

Neutralize- After rinsing the protein conditioner, I neutralize 3 lathers with a neutralizing shampoo plus a 5 minute ACV rinse just to be ensure that the relaxer has been rinsed away and the chemical process has been stopped. My ACV to water ratio is 1:3.








Remove- Until my most recent relaxer touch-up, I've used a no-lye box kit. Commonly after the relaxer service, you can loose a little shine and luster. This might be because of the dulling mineral deposits in most no-lye relaxer kits. To prevent this, I shampoo with a chelating poo. such as Kenra Chelating. For my lye touch-up, I followed with Roux PC Shampoo to balance my hair because I didn't know how my hair would react to the ORS. Then I did my usual green tea rinse and smoothing treatment. 

Restore- Every relaxer touch up ends with an extreme deep condition. I apply vitamin e oil to my scalp, to soothe possible irritation, KeraCare Humecto on the length of my hair and massaged argan oil throughout. I covered with a plastic cap then condition with my heat cap for at least an hour.  








After relaxing the front half, I cover with conditioner and plastic caps then relax the back. The process from beginning to end takes about 4 hours. 


Whew. That's a lot right? 

What's your secret to self-relaxing?

Besitos!

KLP 

[Review] Tropic Isle Jamaican Black Castor Oil

Price: 15.09 for 8oz

Purchased at: Amazon

Promises: Topic Isle Jamaican Black Castor oil is made the traditional hand processed way. Use in hair, skin moisturizer, and massage oil for aces and pains.

Ingredients: 100% Natural Jamaican Black Castor Oil

Directions: Apply to hair like hair grease for moisturizing purposes Massage into scalp for healthy hair growth and scalp problems. If you have dry, perm and colored hair, add 3 tablespoon black castor oil to your favorite conditioner. It adds extra moisture to your hair and seals it in. Use for hot oil treatments: warm three tablespoon castor oil and massage into hair then put on heating cap for half hour. Or massage 3 table spoons of black castor oil into hair, put on heating cap then go under dryer for 10 minutes. 

My Thoughts: In 2010, after struggling with scalp irritation after my relaxers, I started using regular castor oil to base my scalp. The results were great; the itchy, tight, and flaky scalp that I has come to associate with the days following a relaxer was gone. I researched other ways to use it in my hair regimen, but I found it too greasy to use daily with my sleek, straighten hair. Most hair boards and blogs are run a muck with Castor Oil challenges and have advertised its benefits for years. I just couldn't convince myself to buy into the hype. That is until last September. Whilst chatting with my good friend (a natural diva who runs I DO Wedding Connection in Maryland), she mentioned the growth that her sister-in-law saw with she committed to daily JBCO scalp massages. That's when I said, "Self: YOU need to get on this." That night I ordered my first bottle. 
After almost 7 months of using JBCO weekly, I'm just running out of my 8oz bottle. This product is very very thick and a little goes a long way. Once I realized how little I needed to use, I was able to avoid that greasy feeling that had turned me off in the past. My nose is easily offended by smells; I actually don't care for the scent at all. It's that same earthy/burnt scent that accompanies a lot natural products. When I first started to use it, I swear that it felt like my scalp couldn't breathe. I guess that I just needed some time to adjust to the tingly feeling on my scalp and the scent. Now, I don't notice either.

How I've used it:
(1) Pre-poo: I'll massage in my essential oil blend then top it with a little JBCO and conditioner. 
(2) Mid Week Scalp Massage: Once a week I'd use a tiny amount to massage into my scalp whilst moisturizing and sealing. I just couldn't convince myself to do it and more than that. 
(3) Sealer: When I went on my heat detox, I didn't have to fret over weighing down my straight hair with oil. I would moisturize, seal with JBCO, then pin my hair into whatever style I fancied. 

Will I replace my bottle? Yep. Here's why:
- I can't say that my hair is thicker, because it is naturally very thick.
- I can't say that my hair grew any faster, I experienced the same 2 1/2 - 3" of new growth that I see every 12-16 week stretch. 
- My ends fared much better this stretch than ever before during my HHJ. This just be because they were more moisturized and I was participated in the L4LPSC for the last 3 months. 
- My roots well much more manageable during my most recent stretch. They felt more moisturized and seemed to retain moisture better throughout the week.

So, If I can protect and nourish my roots plus maintain my ends with JBCO--then it is definitely a winner in my book!

How do you use JBCO in your regimen?

Un mil besitos!
KLP 

Reflections on 15 weeks of stretching

Oh, relaxer day has come and gone. Overall, I'm very excited that this stretch was ridiculously uneventful! I handled my tangles with grace, deep conditioned and protective styled with poise, and even went heat free for weeks! Especially, considering that I used to live and die by my flat iron, I'm very proud of myself. Here's what I've learned along the way: 

1. Tangles and Knots Beware: The massive tangles and knots from yester-year's stretching were virtually eliminated this stretch by: detangling thoroughly daily, and also before/after washing, extreme deep conditioning, and only tackling tangles when I have the time and patience. Seems simple? It is. The hard part was actually doing it!
2. Trimming: I trimmed after my December relaxer and then again in early January. Even though my ends weren't terrible, I still felt the need to say buh-bye to about an inch. I think that my ends are loving daily moisturizing and sealing plus all of this protective styling!
3. Layers: My front layers are thriving! I want to keep growing them out until they are the same length as the rest of my hair....I think. Ha-ha!

December 2012

March 2013

I'm definitely very happy about the retention. My goals for this next stretch is to go the entire way heat free. (With the exception of my birthday in a few days!) I want to continue "attempting" to prevent shedding and to find cute protective styles so that I'm not stuck in a bun-rut for weeks. However, there is no way that I'll be able to do this alone. Please share your shedding prevention treatments and uber chic updos with me! 

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Un mil besitos
KLP