It's been 1 month since the Castor Oil Challenge began (January 25th) on Hairlista.com. I entered the challenge at the extreme level which requires you to:

• Apply Castor Oil to your scalp every other day

• Add 1-2 tsps of Castor Oil to your deep conditioners

• Seal with Castor Oil, after moisturizing (optional)

My success: I must say, I'm very proud at how consistent I've been with applying my JBCO to my scalp every other night and adding it to my deep conditioners. I tend to apply my oil in the night so that my hair can absorb it while I sleep. However, at the end of the day, when I'm so exhausted, it's such a fight to pull myself into my bathroom and get it done. It's definitely a challenge. So I'm proud of myself for that.


My struggles: The shedding! Though I'm not too concerned with it, I have noticed that it has increased over the weeks. Since I've been participating in the Castor Oil Challenge (dating back years), shedding has always been a symptom of mine. I never get alarmed. I just monitor it and if it happens to get out of control, 99% of the time it doesn't, I'll do a quick Black Tea Rinse and it will begin to decrease. Since I don't remove shed hairs often, that could also contribute to the increased amount of hair I see. I'll keep an eye on it!

Overall thoughts: I'm very pleased with the amount of new growth I'm seeing thus far. It's so soft and fluffy. I haven't run out of any product - thank God! My stash (2 bottles) is still going strong. I think it should last me until the end of the challenge (April). Also, my hair is retaining much more moisture too!! Based on my new growth, I may have to move up my relaxer date :)

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE? Check out the reasons below...

DIFFERENT BALANCE REQUIREMENTS 
Telaxing the hair preserves the protein within the strand, as it’s not broken down completely by the relaxer. Since there is more protein left over in the strand, texlaxed hair tends to crave more moisture as opposed to protein treatments. Relaxed hair benefits from consistent protein treatments to build the integrity of the strands that were weakened by the relaxer. A balance of both moisture and protein is important to maintain healthy hair.

Relaxed and texlaxed hair differs in texture. Texlaxed hair is filled with volume, thickness and of course texture! Texlaxed hair isn’t completely relaxed in order to achieve a fuller thicker appearance. Relaxed hair is just the opposite! Relaxed hair is straighter with fewer kinks in the strands. Due to the differences in texture, each hair type requires care that is unique to its characteristics.

RELAXER
Although both relaxed and texlaxed hair requires relaxers to achieve their style, the amount of time the relaxer is left on the hair varies. For example, when I relax my new growth, I spend approximately 25 minutes applying and smoothing my relaxer whereas someone with texlaxed hair may finish the entire process in 10-15 minutes. Those who are texlaxed omit the smoothing step for less straightness and more texture. The goal is not to get the hair straight but to just to loosen the natural curl pattern.

MANIPULATION 
Depending on the style you chose to wear, both relaxed and texlaxed hair require a certain level of manipulation. Texlaxed hair is easier to comb, detangle, and overall manipulate in sections - preferably while moisturized. Texlaxed hair tends to be thick and highly textured; therefore, sectioning off the hair in 6-8 sections helps to cut down on matting, tangles and breakage. As relaxed hair can be quite straight, putting the hair in sections is not a necessity due to its ease in manageability, though it’s quite helpful.

DIFFERENT NEEDS 
Ladies with texlaxed hair often voice fears of their hair reverting after it’s been freshly flat ironed! Completely understandable! It’s a fact that flat-ironed texlaxed hair can revert back to a kinkier texture if humidity is present in the air. Texlaxed hair, as opposed to relaxed hair, requires an arsenal of anti-frizz and anti-humidity products to help combat reversion while straight. Relaxed hair, though it’s a possibility, rarely experiences this dilemma.

Be sure to check out the original article over at ESSENCE.com | Straight Talk: Relaxed hair vs. Texlaxed hair

Wash day run-down:

1) Prepoo'd with Coconut oil under the steamer for 20 mins (no plastic cap)
2) Shampoo'd with Creme of Nature Sulfate Free Argan Oil Shampoo (lathered 2x)
3) Deep conditioned with Keracare Humecto mixed with 1tsp of JBCO, 1 tsp of EVOO, 1tsp of Avocado oil, 1tsp of Avocado oil. I went back under the steamer for 30 mins (no plastic cap).
4) T-shirt dried for 15-20mins
5) Applied Scurl No Drip Activator mixed with Kinky Curly Knot Today Leave-in Conditioner.
6) I left my hair to air dry using the scarf method.
7) Moisturized with Scurl No Drip and sealed with Extra virgin olive oil in sections.

I used my trusty staple products this wash day and from start to finish my hair was in heaven! I think the addition of JBCO (Jamaican Black Castor Oil) in my deep conditioner really contributed to the added softness and volume in my hair. Adding JBCO to my DC is part of the extreme levelSince I'm stretching my relaxer, I didn't have to fight with my hair at ALL - my new growth specifically! My comb was free from broken hairs; however, my hair is shedding slightly since I'm in the Castor oil challenge. This is typical hair behaviour when I'm doing the challenge - I'm not concerned.

This top knot is one of my favourite go-to styles. It's so easy to do and takes no time at all to achieve. I love it because it helps to lock in moisture plus the two-strand twist adds a cool visual effect rather than the typical donut bun.

Check out the video below on how I achieved this style: