I'm set and ready to go. I have everything!! I have my Multi-Vitamin, B-Complex, Vitamins C and MSM!! (Missing my Omega 3's in the picture, which is located in the fridge for freshness).  My intention is to feed my body with the necessary nutrients for good health, strength and energy. Healthy hair is just the added bonus. In my previous blogs I mentioned that I wanted to get back on track with my vitamins (for overall health and aid in eliminating shedding), well it's about to begin. The Black Tea Rinse really helped to eliminate the excess shedding immediately (noticed a difference in 2 days), however, these vitamins will help restore any areas that are deficient in my body i.e. Calcium, Iron etc., these categories are vital to healthy hair growth and maintenance.

My plan is to take:

1 Multi-vitamin daily
1 Super B Complex daily
1 Vitamin C daily
1 MSM every other day
1 Omega 3 (not in picture) daily

Materna has been my Multi-vitamin of choice since my pregnancy (2010). It's a "one tablet a day" vitamin, which I love so that I never forget to take it, plus it's easy to swallow. The B Complex is loaded with B vitamins along with Iron (prevent shedding) and Biotin (increase thickness). Vitamin C helps to absorb all of the nutrients and enhance the immune system. In addition, the MSM helps to prolong the growth phase during the hair growth cycle, thus shedding is significantly minimized. I definitely have to increase my water intake to ensure that the nutrients circulates properly. Just so I can keep track, I plan on getting a vitamin organizer to monitor my daily dosage :)

I've officially hit 3 months post relaxer! It all goes down tonight. I based my scalp with Hollywood Beauty Castor Oil (new formula) and I applied it to my previously relaxed hair (from the new growth down) to avoid overlap.

I prepare my hair by pre-parting it in thin sections so that the process goes faster and evenly. The twists help to keep the hair in separate sections.The Sprush helps tremendously. I have two so that my sister can use one on the back of my head (I relax the front). I set the timer to 25 minutes but I always finish with 5-10 mins to spare. When I'm done, I unravel all the twists and head to the shower.

I plan on doing a mid-protein step (which I've never done before) with Affirm 5 in 1 Reconstructor for approximately 2-5 mins then neutralize (20 mins) with Motions Neutralizing Shampoo.

Since I`ve mentioned my issues with shedding, I`ve received a couple of questions regarding MSM. Below is some information for those inquiring minds :)

What is MSM? Methylsulfonylmethane also known as MSM contains sulfur.

What does MSM do? MSM is known to repair tissue and build collagen which is a protein that helps promote growth of hair and nails.  In  fact, there is sulfur in keratin, one of the main proteins of hair. At any one time, approximately 85% of the hairs on a human head are in the anagen phase. It is theorized that MSM increases hair growth potential by lengthening the growth phase (anagen phase) of the hair cycle. Therefore, you'll notice less shedding (telogen phase is delayed).

Where to get it? You can find MSM in i.e. onions, green vegetables, whole milk, garlic, eggs etc. MSM disappears during food processing (cooking), so many people decide to supplement their diets with a capsule, tablet, powder etc. You can find MSM at your local pharmacy, grocery store or health food store.

What dosage is best? For increased hair growth it is recommended to take anywhere from 1000 mg - 3000 mg daily. It's best to start with a small dosage and work your way up to see how your body responds. It is also best to pair it with Vitamin C (500mg) for better absorption.

Warnings? If you decide to take MSM high doses of MSM may cause nausea, diarrhea, bloating, fatigue, headache, insomnia, itching, disrupts in menstrual cycle or worsening of allergy symptoms in some individuals. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, please consult your physician before taking this supplement.
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I'm going on 11 weeks post relaxer this week and my new growth is very manageable. I still spray my new growth with Scurl No Drip Activator once every 2-3 days to moisten the demarcation line (where the new growth and relaxed hair meet). It's a life saver and my hair loves me for it :)

Unfortunately, this stretch has probably been the worst for me as shedding is my number #1 enemy. Lately, I've been noticing long strands of hair (with the white bulb at the top) falling out, several at a time,when I manipulate my hair. This is alarming to me as I do not shed often. It's to a point where my hair actually feels a lot thinner!!! Lately I've been under pressure with finals, work, events, Christmas parties, etc. I've also had two colds in the past month! There's been a lot of stress, lack of sleep, lack of a properly balanced diet, vitamins and tons of manipulation to my hair (combing, brushing, styling etc.). Horrible huh?!

Well...my game plan is to re-stock my vitamins ASAP. I plan on getting back my prenatal vitamins along with a B Complex, Vitamin C and possibly MSM to help with the shedding. For those of you who don't know, MSM helps delay the shedding phase so that your hair is in the growing phase for a longer period of time, therefore your hair is continuously growing without going through it's normal shedding cycle. Black Tea Rinse will also be on the list of things to do to stop my shedding. I've never tried it before (never had excessive amount of shedding) but I hear the results are immediate and that's just what I need at this point.

As far as relaxing goes, I won't relax until I notice a significant decrease in shedding.

Wish me luck!

I've always been a fan of Hollywood Beauty Castor oil. I put it in my scalp occasionally on relaxer days to prevent burns and I use to seal my ends with it when I used the old Wave Nouveau Finishing Lotion to moisturize my hair.  It's an amazing sealant as it helps retain and attract moisture. It's perfect for winter months too.

The other day I picked up a new jar of HBCO and to my surprise the ingredients are NOT the same! They've changed for the worse. Why would a company add petrolatum and mineral oil to a product that worked perfectly fine, without those ingredients!! It really makes me upset. Check out the old Hollywood Beauty Castor Oil ingredients to see the comparison.

I'm really hoping that its just the 'old version' of the product and not something they are trying to switch over to. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that its not something permanent.

Hairlista Inc. currently has over 88,000 members ....that means we are approaching 100,000 members!! Words cannot express how shocked and happy I am to reach this milestone and I just want to thank everyone for their continued support and love over the years.

To celebrate, once we reach our goal, a variety of giveaways will be hosted on Hairlista Inc.as a token of our appreciation. Stay tuned and continue to promote and share Hairlista.com with your family and friends :)

Throughout my hair journey, I've discovered a couple techniques and methods, that I swear by, when it comes to retaining length. Retaining length is probably one of the hardest goals to achieve. I've come across many ladies who are convinced that their hair doesn't grow, but the truth is, your hair will forever grow, you're just not retaining length!

Below are 4 key factors that have contributed to my length retention. They are simple tasks that anyone can incorporate into their hair regimen.

1. Moisturize - Extremely essential in any hair care regimen! Hair that is dry and brittle will snap and break off, thus leading to shorter hair. Hydrated moisturized hair has elasticity, so when stretched (due to manipulation i.e. combing, brushing, etc.) it will return to it's original state, without breaking off. Sealing moisturized hair with an oil (applying a dime size amount of oil on the ends) locks in the moisture into the hair. Highly textured hair tends to be very porous (moisture escaping the hair quickly), therefore, sealing helps prevent the moisture from escaping the strands. The natural oil (olive oil, castor oil, coconut oil, jojoba oil etc.) will help improve the shine and pliability of the hair. Moisturizing and sealing should be done daily!

2. Protect - Protect the hair! Reduce hair manipulation/combing, cut back on heat use, or keep the hair up and off of the shoulders. Incorporate buns, braids, clipped up/updo's, weaves, wigs etc. into your regimen. Keeping the ends protected from the elements is essential for hair health and length retention. I suggest protective styling 5-6 days out of the week. In the category of protection, wearing a satin/silk scarf, satin/silk bonnet or sleeping on a satin/silk pillow case prevents dryness in the hair. Cotton tends to suck the moisture out of the hair. Dryness = breakage = shorter hair.

3. Low Manipulation - Leave your hair alone! They say "when you comb your hair often, it's as if you are giving yourself a hair cut, each time". Put down the comb, hot comb, flat iron, blow dryer and just let your hair be. The less you do to it, the better. Try finger combing, that way you don't loose hair unnecessarily. If you need to detangle, use a wide tooth shower comb to do so, but finger detangle first. In a week, you should detangle from root to tip 2-3x max! Finger comb in between.  Also. opt for styles that require no heat  i.e. buns, braid outs, twist outs etc. Give your hair a break and it will thank you for it.

4. Deep condition - At least once a week! Deep conditioning is essential in any hair regimen in order to have healthy hair. It prevents dryness, frizz and breakage.  Deep conditioning restores strength and elasticity making the strands more resilient. Strong hair = less breakage = length retention. Deep conditioning is best done with heat (heating cap, steamer, hooded dryer) for 20-30mins or 1hr without heat. Heat allows the cuticles to swell open, thus allowing the conditioner to penetrate the strands and nourish the hair from the inside out.

Overall...

Be consistent!

Have patience :)

We’ve been sharing tips to help you prep your tresses for the season’s change on our Facebook page, but have you been paying extra attention to your skin as well? It is the largest organ on our bodies after all! Here are some great ways to make sure your skin stays consistently beautiful, the T.I.L. way!
Lois Reid-Hines
Co-owner
Tropic Isle Living

Just got these 2 in the mail. I'm excited to try them out. I'm currently t-shirt drying my hair (did a moisture deep condition on dry hair with Keracare Humecto & 3PO for 30 mins under the steamer then followed up with a Hello Hydration co-wash) so I plan on trying the Curl Assurance Smoothing Lotion tonight as a leave-in. I'm anxious to see how smooth my hair will feel. Based on the ingredients it appears to be pH balanced, so that a plus.

Promises: Keracare Humecto Creme Conditioner helps correct and protect hair from the moisture loss caused by exposure to chemicals and thermal styling. Deep penetrates the hair shaft to hydrate and humectify. Softens and silkens dry, brittle hair. Helps prevent breakage and split ends. Decreases inter fiber friction for tangle-free combing. Adds shine and body, improves the surface porosity of hair, eliminates static charge.

I couldn't stand the feel and texture of my ends since my last relaxer in July 2012... so I decided to get a trim. I still have length, which I'm happy about, and my ends look much healthier. In this photo, my hair was flat ironed with my "1 Hana Flat Iron. My hair feels much better overall.

Health first, always!

My new growth is in full effect and I'm going on 10 weeks post relaxer. I plan on relaxing next week at 11 weeks post.  Above, are my staple products that I always use during my relaxer process. Today, I made a trip to the Beauty Supply store to restocked my stash!

Directions: After hair has been washed and conditioned, pour enough serum into hands and apply lightly over all areas of your wet hair.

So it's been about 1 month since I've joined the Castor Oil Challenge Pt. 7 at the Advance level (applying Castor oil every other day). In the beginning it was a struggle to get used to applying my JBCO (Jamaican Black Castor Oil) frequently.

The "side bun" topped with a single braid in the front, is one of my absolute favourite summer styles. It's heat free, protects your ends, it's fun and classy all in one! I love how it's so versatile, you can wear it anywhere i.e. Beach, Church, Mall, Dinner etc.

Hairlista.com has presented a new segment, with the help of Project Naturalista, encouraging those who have done the big chop, yesterday or in the past 9 months, to come forward and be featured on the site.

Promises: This hair milk has many benefits for the health and condition of your hair.  It's lightweight but very moisturizing.  The oils and butters will nourish and naturally moisturize every strand of your tresses without leaving your hair greasy.

I must admit, I haven't been steaming my hair as much as I use to and this past Thursday (Wash day) I got right back into routine. I went under my steamer (on dry hair) with my Bee Mine Bee-U-Ti-Ful Deep Conditioner mixed with my favourite 3 Penetrating Oils (3PO) i.e. Coconut oil, Avocado oil and Extra Virgin Olive oil. I put Tropic Isle Red Pimento Oil in my scalp before I applied the deep conditioner mix, just so that I can get a scalp treatment at the same time. I was under the steamer for a total of 30mins. Before I co-washed, my hair was extremely moist and buttery soft as if it completely drank up all the conditioner and oils. Best feeling ever!


I proceeded to cowash out my deep conditioner with Aussie Moist, then detangled. My hair felt like a dream!! My hair definitely thanked me. Even 3 days later (as I'm typing this), my hair still feels extremely soft and hydrated. I can't stop touching it. I guess I didn't realize how much my hair missed steaming. It's a "MUST HAVE" product for all hair types (especially dry thirsty hair types) on a hair journey. Just had to share my experience! :)

I'm officially 4 weeks post relaxer today! The last time I relaxed my hair was July 6th, 2012. I used the Sprush to apply and smooth my relaxer and it did an amazing job, again! My new growth was straight and sleek, however, there was a bit of texture (not under-processed hair) left over, which was perfect (I like to leave a bit of texture in my hair for strength).

I got a trim back in April 2012 (about an 1" off). Yet my hectic schedule, school, work etc., my ends took a slight beating. I failed to moisturize and seal nightly, wear my satin scarf to bed, deep condition twice a week etc....it just caught up to me. They are not entirely bad; however, I know my hair well enough to know when something feels "off" and it does :( My ends feel very tangle-y and thin. I'm contemplating whether or not I should trim my ends again. I mean my last trim was approx. 4 months ago, so in reality, I am overdue for one, but I'm not entirely sure if I should go head with it. At the end of the day, I'm all for healthy hair from root to tip, so if it means my "ends" must go, I have no problem letting go!

I'll sleep on it...LOL

Moving forward, the Castor Oil Challenge is LIVE (July 28th - October 28th, 2012) and I'm participating in this challenge. I've decided to join at the Advance level. The Advance level involves me applying Castor oil (I'll be using Jamaican Black Castor  Oil) to my scalp every other day. I know that may seem like a lot of oil, however, I wash my hair quite frequently and I don't wear straight styles often (I flat iron maybe once every 2-3 months). I'm really excited to see what kind of results I achieve with it. Never have I used JBCO that often, I hope everything goes well...and if I decide to trim, by my next relaxer (sometime in October 2012) my hair will be an inch or two longer.

Here's what my Summer/Fall Castor Oil Challenge Regimen will look like:

Monday: Protein treatment, shampoo, deep condition with moisture DC (with 3PO) for 30mins with heat, air dry. Apply JBCO to scalp, massage it in.
Tuesday: Moisturize and seal. Tie with satin scarf
Wednesday: Apply JBCO to scalp, massage it in. Moisturize and seal. Tie with satin scarf
Thursday: Moisture DC (with 3PO) on dry hair for 30mins, co-wash it out. Air dry. Moisturize and seal. Tie with satin scarf.
Friday: Apply JBCO to scalp, massage it in. Moisturize and seal. Tie with satin scarf
Saturday: Co-wash. Air Dry. Moisturize and seal. Tie with satin scarf.

Promises:

July 28th, 2012 is the official date the Castor Oil Challenge will be returning to Hairlista Inc. I'm excited as it is the first Castor oil Challenge for 2012.

Promises: Affirm 5 in 1 Reconstructor, for damaged or fine, limp hair, is a unique blend of micro- and macrofibrous conditioners that normalizes hair as part of Affirm Conditioning Relaxer treatment. As a reconstructive treatment it : - repairs damage, minimizes breakage and shedding, re-aligns, seals and smooths cuticles, minimizes porosity, detangles, volumizes fine limp hair, imparts body and shine.


Directions: As step 3 of Affirm Conditioning Relaxer System: Apply immediately after rinsing creme relaxer from hair and leave on for 5 mins. As a reconstructive treatment: Apply liberally after shampooing. Cover the hair with a plastic cap and leave on for 30 minutes.