Update + Hair Regimen

       I haven't updated in too long, so I promise I had to come for myself and its least report on the journey. I'm about to be 6 weeks post relaxer this sunday, which is no big deal for me so far since I usually go more than this for a relaxer anyways. I think I finally have somewhat of a solid regimen now but I still have some products I wanna to try and buy, but my empty pockets keep me from becoming a product junkie. This week I started summer school and other than having to wake up for the next 3 months at 6:30am everyday -.- I really don't mind being at school. I love the city my school is in and I don't mind commuting either. Plus it gives me a chance to explore all the natural food co-ops that the city a chock full of and do some product hunting. Recently I went to a co-op by my school and saw they sold bulk shea butter, which I have ben looking for locally. I don't know why I didn't notice it before when I went there. Although I didn't wanna buy because the 17.49/lb price tag seemed a little too high right now. I love that the store contains a lot of local products so they sell things like essentials oil very cheap. So today I picked up some Rosemary essential oil and grapeseed oil all at great prices. So now my regimen is finally complete.
Excusing the long winded introduction, here is my regimen.

Cleanse 

shampoo: every other week with Alaffia Coconut and Shea Shampoo and rinse with ACV

Co-wash: weeks I don't shampoo w/ Giovanni Smooth as Silk Conditioner 

Condition 

"Deep" Condition w/ Giovanni 2chic Brazilian Keratin and Argon Oil with Honey and Olive oil

Detangle with Giovanni Smooth as Silk as needed when new growth becomes a problem

Leave-In: Giovanni Direct Leave in

Moisturize

Africa's Best Organic Shea butter lotion

Seal

Grapeseed Oil

The only thing I'm thinking about changing is the leave in ( after using my giovanni I'm still on the fence about it)

Wash Day-Carol's Daughter Manoi Line Review

So I'm 3 weeks post now so no big whooplah still pretty much all relaxed as far as I' concerned. But I had bought The Carol's Daughter Manoi sample kit with the shampoo, conditioner and deep treatment and after using it for 3 washes in three different ways I finally made final review.

Shampoo: regularly ($14)
Well well, the shampoo was like a big meh...It claims to not have any sulfates and in fact doesn't. But It was very drying. The first wash I used it after doing a hot oil treatment pre-poo with Olive oil and it was a disaster. So the 2nd wash I decided to forgo the pre-poo and only wash my scalp on with one lather and only a little shampoo. That went ok my hair felt moisturized but it didn't feel clean because  I scalp was itching that week. So when I used it today with one full lather on my scalp and rinsed out to the hair shaft, my fine hair started matting up with tangles everywhere so that was a MISS. I give it a C

Conditioner: ($14)
I used this conditioner as a rinse out to try and eliminate the matting from the shampoo and to help detangle the hair. Well it also was an epic fail. I felt like I didn't even put anything on my hair every time I used it nothing happened. I was really disappointed especially after all the great reviews. Perhaps it would have worked better as a deep conditioner instead of a rinse out, because in that area it was of no help. I give it a C-

Deep Conditioner ($29)
Ok so heres the silver lining to the dark clouds. This was the best of them all. The first time I used it there it had ok slip ( I added a little bit of Giovanni SAS to aid in slip after the tangled mess) but my hair felt really moisturized. The 2nd time I added honey and olive oil to the whole batch and then I sued it alone and again, the slip was better and still very moisturized. So in the third wash I skipped using the regular conditioner above and used the Giovanni to detangle instead. Then I just used it right now, and let me tell you..WOW my hair was like slip slip city!! I had to keep rinsing it just to make sure it wasn't just left over conditioner but my hair was soft as SILK. I don't know if I'll repurchase especially since its $29 but if I would buy anything in this line it would be this.I don't know how my natural hair/new growth will react to this so I may give it a try later down the road. I give it an A for sure!

Transitional Beginnings

SO, it begins. I made this blog for me and for anyone who wants to read it. I came to the realization to go natural and transition and here I blog my triumphs and pitfalls, my hopes and frustrations.
So everyone usually wants to hear the story of the revelation to go natural. It was nothing like that really. I've always like natural hair. I love big hair and envy all my curlies and kinky ladies with their big fros. But somehow I thought in my silly little brain I could get my big hair and still relax because that would be "easier" I had planned to go natural before and said let me wait after college because right now natural hair is too much for me to handle with college. and then I just stopped and said what am I waiting for.
1. I love big hair
2. I hate relaxers and the money it costs
3. I hated my relaxer hair, it never did what I wanted.
So it was like "hey, why a I still relaxing, and it shocked me that I didn't have an answer. It was one of those things you just did out of habit because you thought well I started might as well continue, and you din't even think about it. So there it was. Well natural ladies on youtube help give me the extra push I needed. But now I'm almost 3 week post and ready to kick it into high gear. I'm excited for my transition (planning to be long-term) I'm not afraid because I've never been afraid of challenges and wholly embrace them. I miss my big hair and I'm ready to get it back.