Happy New Year Hairlistas!

2019 is finally here and I'm super excited for what's to come! As with any new year, I like to set a few hair goals to keep myself on track and focused on becoming better. I keep my hair goals short and straight to the point otherwise it becomes overwhelming and not enjoyable. So let's dive right in...

1. Purging my current hair product stash! I NEED to do this ASAP. You have no idea the amount of old products, empty bottles and products that I do not use yet still have in my possession! Everytime I look at my product stash I get a headache and never attempt to declutter or purge even though I'm consistently adding new products to the shelves. You've probably seen it in my YouTube Wash Day videos, it's FULL. I'm making this a priority this year - no more excuses or delays. This will provide me with clarity on what I truly love and need to restock!

2. Sticking with JBCO! As the #HairliciousCastorOilChallenge almost comes to an end, I hate to see it go! Consistently including JBCO in my regimen over the last 3 months has been amazing - to say the least. Being in the Ultimate Level of the challenge, I applied the oil to my scalp 2x/week and added 1tsp to my deep conditioners. In such a short amount of time, my hair improved in moisture retention, softness, and it just feels fuller!! I'm going to stick with applying it to my scalp 2x/week after wash day for the remaining of the year :)

3. Learn a new skill - Cornrows! Last year I revealed a fun fact about myself that I cannot cornrow. LOL. I did a milkmaid braid protective style on my YouTube Channel (without cornrowing) and a few were #teamdontknowhowtocornrow but many were shocked that didn't know how. As crazy as this may seem, I never felt the need to learn as it wasn't a pressing skill to attain. I guess people think that because you're a 'black woman', you should automatically know. Well, that's just not the case here :) I think it would be fun skill to learn and perhaps incorporate it into my weekly styles..maybe more so in Summer '19. I'm excited to see how this goes!

4. Wearing my hair down more! I protective style a lot, and I love it. I enjoy wearing my hair in buns, whether it be low or high as it preserves the moisture levels in my hair and the quality of my ends. But I also do it out of habit and convenience. I'm at a point in my hair journey where I'm basically in "maintenance mode". I'm not on a hunt for longer hair. Mid back length is perfect for me! Now, more than ever, I have this urge to wear my hair down more often and enjoy it without feeling guilty..so I'm going to do just that :) I'll probably do a 70/30 split.

5. Consistency! - My hair regimen works for me so I have no plans on changing anything! But I'm all about being consistently consistent. In 2018, I was extremely consistent with my regimen and the health of my hair was the best it's been in a while. So that means, no skipping on trims, deep conditioning 2x/week, moisturizing and sealing daily, protecting my hair nightly, protective styling etc. In 2019, I choose to remain consistent with my hair regimen and routine - once again! My hair is predictable and manageable when it gets the attention it requires. Too, I plan on posting consistently on here (the Blog) and posting videos on my Youtube Channel (let me know in the comments what videos you'd like to see from me this year)!

As always, thanks so much for rockin' with me all of 2018. It's all about execution this year!

Stay tuned!!!

What are your Top 3 Hair Goals for 2017?!

Setting a hair goal for the year is extremely important but also incorporating the right steps to take you to the next level is vital! My goal this year is to keep things super simple and focus on regrowing my edges (moreso the right side, its a tad bit weaker)...yup that's right! Just my edges and maintaining the overall health of my hair - of course!

Length is not my main focus because I've learned that while maintaining healthy hair, length will always come. No need to fixate on it. Besides, I have no real desire to go past MBL. I've been MBL for years and it's my sweet spot :)

As for my edges, I plan on relaxing them every other relaxer to ensure they remain strong and full. I relax 4x/year. Relaxing my edges only 2x/year will be a challenge but the health of my hair is more important for obvious reasons. I love me some slick edges.

When I do plan on relaxing, my plan is to only apply the relaxer onto my hairline + edges at the very end - no smoothing! I believe that over the years excessive smoothing during the relaxing process and bunning may have attributed to my edges (the right side) becoming thinner. Once I pair my "relaxing my edges only 2x/year" regimen with loose bunning, I should be on the right track :)

So here are the mini changes I'll be making:

• Massage my edges and hairline 2-3x/week with Jamaican Black Castor Oil
• Wear loose protective styles
• Relax my edges every other relaxer (2x/year) 

I must admit that finding hair styles to help blend my "unrelaxed" edges with my freshly relaxed hair may be a challenge, but I'll just have to experiment and see what works. Once my new growth fills in, it should be a breeze.

Since joining the Castor Oil Challenge part 10 on Hairlista.com,  I've noticed a huge improvement and it seems to be filling in well. I'm going to continue my Castor oil regimen by applying my JBCO 2-3x/week followed by a light massage. I just have to be consistent, put in the work and be patient.

What are your 2016 Hair Plans? Do you have a specific goal in mind? How do you plan on getting there?

As 2014 quickly comes to an end and we reflect on our hair progress throughout the year, it’s important to be realistic when setting new goals for 2015. Setting goals that are congruent with our lifestyle is a key factor for success. Here are a few things to keep in mind when you are creating your goals for 2015.

START SMALL AND BE SPECIFIC
If you want to grow your hair from shoulder length to mid-back length in 6 months, think twice. Remember, our hair does not grow very long overnight! We grow on average ½ an inch per month, which equates to 6 inches a year! Aim to go from shoulder length to armpit length in 6 months to 1 year. Chances are, you’ll reach your goal way before you anticipated!

WRITE IT DOWN
Writing down your hair goals and keeping track of your progress is an excellent way to stay on top of your hair ambitions. Journaling will help you to set your path and you can make adjustments when needed.

EXPECT BUMPS ALONG THE WAY
Expect bumps along the way! You may not achieve your goal on the first try – that’s okay! It will not always be smooth sailing. Trial and error is part of the journey. Without the “hiccups” we experience, we wouldn’t truly understand our hair. Embrace the ups and downs, have patience and most importantly stay consistent!

Be sure to check out the original article over at ESSENCE.com | Straight Talk: Are Your 2015 Hair Resolutions Realistic?