L4L Protective Styling Challenge Final Check In!

I really enjoyed this challenge even though at first I struggled with finding a variety of protect styles for my hair length, but as time went on and my hair gained a bit of length I eventually found my niche. Overall I'm quite pleased with my hair and all that I accomplished in this challenge. Most of the requirements were not difficult for me to follow because they are already apart of my regimen! Here are some of the protective styles that I rocked during the challenge

And lastly, here's a picture of my hair before and after the protective challenge. Honestly I'm really not sure how much length I've gained seeing as though I'm 4 going into 5 weeks post in the after picture (shrinkage city!), but I'm proud of the health of my hair and as long as I'm maintaining that I'm happy!

                         BEFORE                                                                                      AFTER

I've learned so much about my hair during this protective styling challenge, but the biggest thing I've learned was to adapt and adjust to whatever my hair is telling me that it needs. I'm so grateful to EbonyCPrincess and Longing4Length for providing all of the hair lovers out there with a fun challenge that promotes growth!

Wash Day = Pamper Day!

As most of you know I wash my hair twice a week normally on Tuesday/Wednesday and Friday/Saturday. Because I believe in being efficient with my time as of lately I've also started making my wash day all about pampering myself too! Here's what I do in no particular order.

• I gently exfoliate my body using the Bodycology Exfoliating Sugar Scrub in the Exotic Cherry Blossom scent. This stuff smells amazing and leaves my skin feeling so so soft, however please be warned if you are sensitive to strong scents this is NOT the scrub for you! Although the scent is very perfumey it only leaves a suddle scent on the skin. The best part about this product is that it's only about $7.00 for a huge jar and since a little bit of this product goes a long way it will last a while! Also I love that this sugar scrub is infused with avocado oil and shea butter (who said those ingredients were only great for your hair!).

• I also exfoliate my lips to keep them nice and soft. I'd been looking for a good lip exfoliator and finally found one at Sephora that I absolutely LOVE! It is the Fresh Sugar Lip Polish. This item is on the pricier side and retails at $22.50, but is worth every penny to me. I actually ended up trying this product after receiving the lip balm as a birthday gift. I was so impressed with the product that I decided to give the lip polish a try. After using it several times I always get the same results. soft and smooth lips. This will be a great product for Winter time!

• In addition to using my exfoliating products I also use a facial mask. Currently I'm alternating between the Proactive Refining Mask and the Pores Be Pure. These masks are great for acne prone skin as well as those with larger pores that tend to 'clog' easily. No matter which mask I use I leave it on for 7-10 minutes and then rinse with warm water and follow up with my normal facial wash routine.  Both masks leave my skin feeling squeaky clean.

These are the simple things that I enjoy doing during my wash/pamper day!


Wednesday's Wash Day!

Another Wednesday another washday! As most of you know my wash day routine has not changed much recently well because it works! My wash days on Wednesday are all about moisture.

1. I parted my hair into 4 sections. I find this is the best way to deal with my hair on wash days.
2. After sectioning my hair I applied a mixture of random oils to each section. The mixture is random because I am working on using up some of my products.
3. I sat under my Gold N Hot conditioning cap for 10 minutes and the gently detangled each section with my shower comb.
4. I spritzed my CC's Marshmallow and Burdock root tea to each section (review coming soon).

5. I applied a mixture of my Silk Dreams Vanilla silk DC, silk elements kera minerals DC, and a squirt of roux porosity control to each section of hair and then sat back under my heating cap for another 15 minutes.

6. After thoroughly rinsing the conditioner out I applied hair one to my scalp as well as the length of my hair and allowed it to sit for about 5 minutes while I showered.
7. After a final rinse I squeezed out any excess water and then wrapped my hair in my turbie twist (that thing is a God send!). I usually leave my hair in the turbie twist for 30-45 minutes while I do random chores around the house. I find that by allowing my hair to dry until its just damp my leave ins can penetrate my hair better which gives me more soft and moisturized hair as a result!
8. After removing my turbie twist I applied about a quarter sized amount of my kimmaytube leave in with a twist and about a dime sized amount of my Paul Mitchell skinny serum (Sally's generic version)
9. Usually I'll sit under the dryer on cool setting for about 40 minutes but I really didn't feel like being bothered with it so I just tied a satin strip around my edges and let my hair air dry. I was left with soft supple moisturized hair!

KeraPRO Restorative Treatment for Dry to Very Dry Hair Review

Price: $10.99 although you can catch it on sale for $5.99.

Place of Purchase: Sally Beauty Supply

Ingredients: WATER/AQUA/EAU, CETEARYL ALCOHOL, STEARYL ALCOHOL, ISOPROPYL PALMITATE, DIMETHICONE, BEHENTRIMONIUM CHLORIDE, HYDROLYZED KERATIN, HYDROLYZED RICE PROTEIN, GLUCOSE, COCOS NUCIFERA (COCONUT) OIL, CARTHAMUS TINCTORIUS (SAFFLOWER) SEED OIL, HYDROXYETHYLCELLULOSE, CETYL ESTERS, SILICONE QUATERNIUM- 16, GUAR HYDROXYPROPYLTRIMONIUM CHLORIDE, PROPOXYTETRAMETHYL PIPERIDINYL DIMETHICONE,OLYQUATERNIUM-37, PROPYLENE GLYCOL DICAPRYLATE/DICAPRATE, CETRIMONIUM CHLORIDE, DISODIUM EDTA, PHENOXYETHANOL, C11-15 PARETH-7, UNDECETH-11, TRIDECETH-6, BENZOPHENONE-4, PPG-1 TRIDECETH-6, UNDECETH-5, BUTYLOCTANOL, ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL, CITRIC ACID, SODIUM HYDROXIDE, METHYLPARABEN, BUTYLPARABEN, ETHYLPARABEN, ISOBUTYLPARABEN, PROPYLPARABEN, LIMONENE, FRAGRANCE/PARFUM

Directions: Use with KeraPRO Shampoo. Apply to clean hair and massage through the lengths and ends. Leave for 5 minutes. Rinse well.

Promises: KeraPRO Restorative Treatment is an intense nourishing treatment saturates hair from roots to ends for the ultimate restorative therapy for extra dry or stressed hair. Contains scientifically-advanced glucose, lipid and keratin protein actives. Locks nutrients deep inside the hair fiber leaving hair soft, shiny and healthy.

My Thoughts: The one thing I love about Sally's is that they always find a way to make a ridiculously priced product more affordable, which is exactly what they've done with the KeraPRO product line. This line is a cheaper alternative (or replica) of the L'oreal Keratase products, which can range anywhere from $20-$60 per product. I've used this product for the past 3 months as a light protein treatment for my hair. I love the consistency of this product because it's not too thick, but it's also not runny. I also love that it comes in a jar because it makes the application process so much easier...not to mention I'm one of those people who will save jars and reuse them (I'm not ashamed!).  Although, this product left my hair feeling stronger I did not get the softness and suppleness I was hoping to get from this product, however my hair was not left feeling dry and tangled the way protein conditioners have often left my hair feeling in the past (a MAJOR plus in my book).  Overall I think the KeraPRO restorative treatment is a great product, but I don't see it becoming a staple in my regimen.

April's Health, Hair, & Beauty Goals

So after reading Jeni of JustGrowAlready's blog post about her goals for April I've been inspired to set some goals for myself. The great thing about April is that it's my birthday month! So what better way to celebrate than by reaching a set of mini goals! I can't wait to let you all know how I did!

1. Wash/Cowash hair at least once a week (possibly twice) if my hair needs it.
2. Continue doing tea rinses at least once a week.
3. Maintain my No Buy hair product challenge
4. Continue to nurture my Crown
5. Use up at least 1 hair product
6. Use up at least half of my bottle of random oils
7. Maintain my protein/Moisture balance (Moisture tues/wed & Protein Sat).
8. Exercise atleast 4 days a week
9. Lose 5 lbs

Midweek Wash Day, Waves, and Candles!

So I just finished drying my hair after cowashing (basically followed the same steps in my previous post) and I've got a bath and body works candle burning, while watching the Notre Dame Vs Duke game (I'm a sports junkie!). I was sitting here just running my fingers through my super soft tangle free hair and I felt these soft waves and curls throughout my hair and I just had to take a picture. It doesn't get much better than this! Random post I know, but I just had to share!