So I've officially reached my goal of Mid Back Length. Whoohoo!! I feel like I just graduated. LOL

My 3rd year anniversary passed Fall 2010, but I never had the chance to upload a comparison photo from start to finish. Just to re-cap, I've been on my hair journey since Fall 2007 and I reached Mid Back Length Summer 2010. Finally! Though I've experienced it all i.e. porosity issues, dryness, moisture overload, protein overload, chopped off 4'inches etc. it's been an amazing journey thus far. I've learned A TON of new things about hair, my hair and I'm truly proud of myself for being determined and dedicated. If you are unfamiliar with the drastic cut I got back in Fall 2008, you can read about it here.

Although I've reached my goal in length, that doesn't mean my hair journey is over, oh no no no. At this point in my journey, I will be exploring more products, making new goals and focusing on helping others rather than myself. I'll still be doing updates here and there but not as frequent as before since I'll just be maintaining MBL (cutting it to MBL each relaxer, no waist length for me..lol).

So in a nutshell, 2011 is all about maintaining this length, thickness and experimenting with other products, items and tools. Just keeping it very simple...I guess :)

Have you been experiencing...

• Excessive dryness
• Stiff hair
• Hair that breaks off easily with little to no effort
• No Shine
• Hard Hair
• Rough Hair
  

If so, chances are you have "Protein Overload".

It's no secret that protein overload is commonly feared in the hair care world. One tends to avoid getting diagnosed with this title because it can easily cause a set back and it takes weeks to correct. There's no doubt about it, protein is essential in building healthy, strong, thick hair. Protein is supposed to make the hair hard and stiff to guard against breakage and normal wear and tear.

What is protein Overload?

"Protein Overload" is a term used when there is an abundance of protein vs. moisture in the hair.

Here is an example of how you can rid yourself of "Protein Overload":

First, Clarify the hair to remove all product build up. This is necessary because the products you use after will have a better chance at penetrating.

Do a 30-45min deep condition with a thick moisture rich conditioner under heat. Rinse with lukewarm water.

Optional - Follow up with an Apple Cider Vinegar rinse to help close the hair cuticles and lock in moisture.

Use a moisturizing leave-in conditioner, then style.

It's recommended that you follow this "moisture based routine" for 2-3 weeks since it does take more than 1-2 washes to see an improvement.

Ways to avoid/overcome "Protein Overload":

• After using a protein based conditioner or reconstructor, always follow up with a moisture rich deep conditioner for 20-30mins with heat or 1 hour without heat.
• Stay clear of moisturizers with proteins in them i.e. Collagen, Keratin etc. (unless your hair responds well to them).
  
• Moisturize and seal daily.
• Baggy your ends often.
  
• Use protein treatments maximum once a week, if you're relaxed, or once a month if you're are natural.

♥ Sunshyne