HOTD (Hair of The Day)

I went for drinks yesterday and as rain is forecast everyday this week in London I thought a roller set was not a good idea. Instead I did a braidout on freshly shampooed hair by airdrying in braids overnight in my satin bonnet. I wore a headscarf (from New Look) and used 4 kirby grips to pin my braidout in an updo:

I got back a bit late and couldn't be bothered to rebraid I just pinned up my hair in on kirby grip, kind of made a cute up-do:

But I thought I shouldn't be lazy and just ended up with a a banana clip braidout style:

I had to repurchase Castor Oil, unfortunately I couldn't find any JBCO so I just purchased the cold pressed castor oil. I felt slightly awkward entering the BSS as it is also a hair salon and I was the only woman with my own hair, I got some stares- in fact as I'm nearing APL the stares are increasing and it makes me uncomfortable. I'm dreading being asked by a stranger if it is my real hair, my friends have asked me before but at least I know them lol. Anyway pic:

Hopefully it does the same job, I plan to apply 1x week on a clean scalp after washing my hair and 2x week to my nape area which has suffered my breakage. I love that my nails are in the picture above- I really like them they're so eye-catching and I did them myself of course (I've never had my nails done by anyone else- ever):

Hairorerxia?

Hmmm.
I'm not sure- some strands of my hair are reaching APL- but I'm not "claiming" it as yet.
I've seen some pictures of some ladies on a hair journey who have claimed it but it is just literally a 3-inch section of their hair touching their armpits. I'm not being mean but I'd rather claim full APL then "semi-halfway-there APL" lol. Hopefully that can happen by the end of this year. That is my aim for my hair journey, thereafter I am going to grow my hair but I have no specific aim, I am just going to see what lengths I can reach- no pressure. I need to do a trim in August and I may go somewhere cheap to get it done like supercuts or something or do it myself (eek!).

Also, I am considering a weave - yes I said I wouldn't do it again- because I want a protective style for the Winter. I am thinking maybe of using weaves and/or braids to protect my hair throughout the Autumn/Winter months from September-February maybe...hmm not sure. If I do I want to use Remy weave- I've heard of Peruvian, Chinese and even Mongolian- I didn't even know that existed LOL.

Current Hair Picture:

Review: Herbal Essences Beautiful Ends Conditioner (aka Long-Term Relationship)

As stated in my previous blog post, I posted a 75ml travel size version of this conditioner. But the full size is pictured below it is £3.25 ($4.80) atm from Superdrug for a 400ml bottle, although they always seem to have 2 for 1 on the Herbal Essences range. Apparently the US equivalent to this bottle is called Long-Term Relationship I'm not sure if the ingredients are the same.

This was my first time trying it and I wanted to try it for a while. I used it to co-wash after using a moisturising DC. I also used it as a leave-in conditioner, I basically rubbed a dime-sized piece of this conditioner throughout my hair.

Ingredients:
Aqua, Stearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Cetyl Alcohol, Bis-Aminopropyl Dimethicone, Isopropyl Alcohol, Parfum, Benzyl Alcohol, Disodium EDTA, Linalool, Propylene Glycol, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, Hexyl Cinnamal, Sodium Hydroxide, Limonene, Magnesium Nitrate, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, Hydrolyzed Silk, CI 17200, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Magnesium Chloride, Methylisothiazolinone, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate.


What I Thought:
I liked this product- the smell is sooo nice! Also it made my hair feel silky and the front of the bottle stated "red raspberry & silk extracts" and I really could smell the raspberry on my hair afterwards :). I also felt that it could be used as a leave-in conditioner by diluting with water in a spray bottle rather than purchasing the Beautiful Ends Leave-In Conditioner seperately. I love that it is sulfate-free it was very moisturising.

I would definitely buy this again. I didn't use all of the bottle on holiday so I will use it for my next co-wash. Once my current conditioner (Tresemme Naturals) is finished, I will purchasing this. And maybe the Beautiful Ends Shampoo as my clarifying shampoo because it contains sulfates.

I've considered buying the Herbal Essence's Hello Hydration shampoo and conditioner because reviews (especially by naturals) suggest it provides lots of slip and moisture. But I just love the smell of Beautiful Ends.

I would reccommend this product to relaxed heads and naturals too. On the front of the bottle it says 'for mid to long hair' but I am currently nearing APL and it worked well for me, I think it is pretty versatile for all hair types, my hair is quite coarse (4a).

Hmm out of 5, I would give it 4 :) (mainly because I can't pronounce most of the ingredients :/)

Hairstyles How-To- The High Bun

I did this for a Saturday night hairstyle:

I followed meek-n-mild's tutorial:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5-ZHYYbKd0

Products Used:

• Elasta QP design silk spray
• 2 Kirby Grips
• 1 hairband
• Elasta QP mango butter/olive oil moisturiser

How I Dealt With My Hair On Holiday/My Swim Routine

Cyprus was 90 F everyday, blue skies and sunshine :). Therefore I decided to wear my hair in a braidout every day- there was no point me wearing my hair straight and fighting against the humidity/heat. All I did was to plait my hair every night the same way I've shown in my previous braidout post with perm rods at the end. I really had to step my moisturising up, I moisturised and sealed 2x week. The advantage of the heat means it took no longer than 2 hours for the whole of my hair to air dry. I air dried after co-washing by either plaiting my hair and putting my scarf on on just letting my hair hang and then braid.

My Swim Routine:

1. Soak my hair with oil and conditioner about 30 minutes prior to swimming and tie up in a bun
2. Put my swimming cap on
3. Swim lol
4. Rinse my hair out with water then co-wash
5. Apply leave-in conditioner then air-dry as normal

When I returned from holiday I did a hot oil treatment with vatika oil, coconut oil and olive oil and then I did a protein treatment (all my hair received on holiday was moisture) and then I shampooed and applied my leave-in conditioner. I did a braidout overnight- my hair was gorgeous the next morning- I could still smell the oils :)

Cyprus

A few pictures from my holiday...love pics like this:

(I'm loving my new Blog Layout too :) )

Hair Tag/I'm Back!

I returned from Paphos on Monday and I went straight back to work, I am soo tired guys it's unreal. Today is the first day I have gone on the Internet since I flew home- been a manic few days. Anyway hopefully pictures (if Blogger co-operates) from Paphos will be up soon as well as some hair advice for dealing with a hot climate.
Here is a Tag posted on Longing 4 Length's blog:

 1) Top three things you love about your hair

• It's thick (I've learnt to love it- I have no choice)
• It's the healthiest it's ever been
• It's the longest it's ever been

2) Top Three things you have learned since being on your hair journey

• Oils are essential
• What works well for you may not work well for others
• Stay away from direct heat as much as you can

3) Top three things you want to accomplish during your hair journey

• Reach APL
• Only use 1-3 product lines or a maximum of 6 products
• Improve my hair blog

4) Top Three things/Products you love:

• Castor Oil
• Elasta QP mango butter/olive oil moisturiser
• Satin bonnet

5) Top three Hair inspirations (youtube or otherwise)

• Everyone I follow on this blog- check them out

I tag everyone to do this lol !