1. Focus on the reason why you choose to remain relaxed. Make an effort to remind yourself of these reasons - often. 
2. Write a “love list” about your hair. Invest energy on what you like/love about your hair while relaxed. Highlight all the things that you are grateful for i.e. hairstyles that you love on your hair, products that agree with your hair, etc. Whatever it is, write it down! Find reasons why you truly love your hair in its relaxed state.
3. Zone in on your goals that you would like to achieve while relaxed. Keep your eye on the prize. 
4. Reward yourself, and your hair, with a product or tool you’ve been eyeing for months.
5. Give your hair the gift of extra time. Pamper your hair will all the things it loves i.e. deep conditioning with your favourite DC, oil treatment, or prepping your hair for your favourite hairstyle. 
6. Put some happy in your hair journey. Find a gorgeous photo of relaxed hair that you love, i.e. hair idol, and make it your wallpaper on your computer, smartphone or stick it on your vision board to remind you of how beautiful relaxed hair is.
7. Photoshoot! Nothing like a hot selfie to get you going. Make it fun, make it you! You”ll be glad you documented the moment.

If you haven't been following the #LovingMyRelaxedHair series, you need to check out this showcase featuring 12 relaxed haired beauties!!  #LovingMyRelaxedHair aims to appreciate and celebrate relaxed hair - its health and beauty. Enjoy!!

It's the end of the month!! Creme of Nature and I are hosting a 5 day giveaway (October 30th - November 3rd @ 11:59PM EST) to celebrate the #LovingMyRelaxedHair Series!

The giveaway prize will include the following: 
♡ Creme of Nature Straight From Eden Relaxer
♡ Four (4) Creme of Nature Hair Care maintenance products
♡ One (1) Creme of Nature T-shirt

 Winners must be 18 and older and in the continental US. No purchase necessary to win. 

Introduce yourself! what's your name? where are you from?
Hello My name is Antoinette. I am a wife, & mother of 2 (boy/girl). I grew up as a ‘military brat’ so I am from ‘Everywhere”(fun fact: I was born in Germany). I moved to Ohio in 2005 after I graduated from Morris College in South Carolina (I have a Bachelors in Business Administration). I currently live in Ohio – so I call this home.

How would you describe your hair? What's your hair type?
Before I started my hair journey (January 2011) my hair was thin, but over the years it has thickened up tremendously (which I love). I’ve never really been interested in hair types, so I’m not sure what my type may be.

When did you start your relaxed hair journey? What is your hair regimen? Share a few of your "go-to" hair products.
I started my Hair Journey January 2011 at neck length. My hair was not damaged when I started my hair journey but I just wanted to grow it longer. I knew that in order to achieve healthier hair, I needed to practice healthier routines (i.e. not relaxing every 4-6 weeks, wearing protective styles etc).

My Regimen 
Wash days are Sundays! I pre-poo with Jamaican black castor oil  mixed with peppermint essential oil. I add this mixture to my scalp only. I then apply a light protein conditioner to the ends of my hair and put on my heating cap for 30min. I shampoo with Keracare hydrating and detangling sulfate-free shampoo.

I then use a t-shirt to squeeze out access water and apply a moisturizing deep conditioner – Kurlee Belle Banana Nut & Avocado Deep Treatment (this helps to balance my protein/moisture) for 30 minutes under my heating cap. I always add an oil to my deep conditioner mixes i.e. EVOO, EVCO, Grapeseed oil (whatever natural oil I grab first).

After rinsing out my deep conditioner, I t-shirt dry for about an hour. I later apply my leave-in conditioner (MuraMura Moisture Milk by: PuraBody Naturals) and lightly detangle with a wide tooth comb.

I air dry 90% of the time. I typically flatiron and/or blow-dry once every 2 months. I wear protective styles (bun w/my own hair) 90% of the time. I relax every 4-5 months. I moisturize and seal (Grapeseed Oil & MuraMura Moisture milk) every 2 days with a bonnet covering my hair at night.

I have never been into sew-ins, wigs, braids. I have nothing against them, I actually think all the different styles are pretty; it’s just not for me. I always joke around by saying, "I stretch cold turkey". I think stretching ‘cold turkey’ helps you to understand what your hair likes/dislikes. It definitely takes extra work and patience.

What #1 hair tip you would pass on to other relaxed haired ladies who are starting their hair journey?
STRETCH your relaxers! It’s soo much healthier for your hair in the long run. I used to relax every 4-6 weeks. After all the knowledge I've learned about my hair - and having a lot of patience - I can now go 5 months in between each relaxer.


Nowadays it's becoming more uncommon to see relaxed hair or products geared towards relaxed hair. Do you feel the pressure to go natural? Why or why not? What are your thoughts on the natural hair movement?
I definitely don’t feel the pressure; as a matter of fact, the MAJORITY of the products I use are geared towards naturals OR have all natural ingredients. My relaxed hair LOVES natural products. My go-to Moisturizer/Leave-In is by PuraBody Naturals – MuraMura Moisture milk. The natural hair movement is really popular in the hair community these days. However, relaxed hair can be just as healthy & versatile. It’s just a personal preference that shouldn’t get knocked down either way ..if you choose to be natural or relaxed. Just embrace your hair & do what works best for you.

Why do you choose to remain relaxed while many are transitioning back to their natural hair?
I choose to remain relaxed because it works best for me and my lifestyle.

What do you absolutely love about your relaxed tresses? And why?
I absolutely love how HEALTHY my relaxed hair is, and the length I’ve achieved over the years. My relaxed hair is very versatile. I can wear buns, braid outs, bantu knots, straight, curly, & ponytails.


Let's Be Friends!
Hairlista Profile: Antoinette Instagram: @aricedotcom

Introduce yourself! what's your name? where are you from?
Hello Lista's! My name is Stephanie. I'm originally from Westchester, New York, and currently reside in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

How would you describe your hair? What's your hair type?
My hair type is 3a/3b. I occasionally suffer from dry scalp and I'm protein sensitive.

When did you start your relaxed hair journey? What is your hair regimen? Share a few of your "go-to" hair products.
I started my hair relaxed hair journey March 30, 2014. My hair regimen consists of:

• Shampoo with a sulfate free shampoo and use a deep conditioner once a week with heat
• Moisture and Seal every other day with Giovanni Weightless Direct Leave In and my oil of choice
• Scalp Massages weekly
• Use Aphogee Green Tea Reconstructor Spray on wash days
• Use a silk bonnet or scarf at night
• Relaxers every 9-10 weeks
  
  
  My"Go-to" Hair Products: 
• Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Moisture Retention Shampoo
• Giovanni Direct Leave In Weightless Conditioner
• ORS Olive Oil Replenishing Conditioner

My oils of course: EVCO, EVOO, almond oil, avocado oil, and JBCO

What #1 hair tip you would pass on to other relaxed haired ladies who are starting their hair journey?
Clip your ends on a regular basis! I think this is one of the biggest reasons why I am able to retain length without any major setbacks. I have a weak area in the back of my hair, so I make sure to pay close attention to that spot.

Nowadays it's becoming more uncommon to see relaxed hair or products geared towards relaxed hair. Do you feel the pressure to go natural? Why or why not? What are your thoughts on the natural hair movement?
I can honestly say, I don't see myself going natural anytime soon. With my busy schedule, I think going natural at this point will require too much maintenance and time that I don't have much of. I love my relaxed hair. At the end of the day, whether its relaxed or natural it doesn't matter, as long as its healthy!

Why do you choose to remain relaxed while many are transitioning back to their natural hair?
This journey for me was my own little personal challenge, something that I wanted to see if I could do. I really want to show my friends and other young girls that relaxed hair can grow with patience and the proper care.

What do you absolutely love about your relaxed tresses? And why?
I love all the different styles I can try out from curly to buns. I think its versatile.

Let's Be Friends!
Hairlista Profile: Stephanie Instagram: sweetestgirl_88

Introduce yourself! what's your name? where are you from?
My name is Erica and I'm from Long Island, NY

How would you describe your hair? What's your hair type?
My hair texture is 4C and I would describe it as low porosity at times and thick

When did you start your relaxed hair journey? What is your hair regimen? Share a few of your "go-to" hair products.
I started my relax hair journey on 8/4/2012 (best decision ever). I learned with my hair less is more so I try and make my hair regimen as simple as possible.

• Wash my hair, do a light protein treatment and deep condition weekly under my steamer
• Alternate between my Crème of Nature Argan Oil Strenth & Shine Leave In and Neutrogena Triple Moisture Silk Infusion leave in
• Moisturize and seal every 1-2 days with Scurl Moisturizer and seal with African Royal Hot Six Oil
• Always tie my hair up at night and finger comb only except wash days
• Oil my scalp a few times a week followed by a 5 minute scalp massage
• Protective style 95% of the time
• Do medium protein treatments every 8 weeks using ORS Hair Mayo
• Clarify and use a porosity control shampoo and conditioner monthly(Roux Porosity Control Shampoo and Conditioner and Suave Daily Clarifying Shampoo)
• Relax my hair once every 16 weeks (looking for a new relaxer)

My go to products are Crème Of Nature Moisture Shine Sulfate Free Shampoo, Aussie Moist Conditioner, Keracare Humecto and Liquid Gold Sulfur Oil ( I couldn't live without these products)


What #1 hair tip you would pass on to other relaxed haired ladies who are starting their hair journey?
Patience, Patience, Patience and Consistency! What may work for one persons hair may not work for yours, do not get discouraged! You have to find what works for you and then once you do stick to it, don't jump on every band wagon. Don't be afraid to trim your hair. When starting off your journey start with a health trim/cut. Always think about health over length. This is a very supportive community of ladies don't be afraid to reach out and ask for advice. Take advantage of all of the information on here.

Nowadays it's becoming more uncommon to see relaxed hair or products geared towards relaxed hair. Do you feel the pressure to go natural? Why or why not? What are your thoughts on the natural hair movement? 
I do see a lot of ladies going natural but I do not feel pressured to go natural. I once tried stretching about 7 months with braids and different protective styles but my hair was extremelyyyy thick so I chose to perm. I love my relaxed hair. I am not opposed to it but I believe healthy hair all hair is important, whether you are relaxed, texlaxed, natural etc. I think the natural hair movement is both empowering and tough at the same time. I find on social media some naturals can be judgmental at times towards relaxed ladies and hard on other naturals as well. I promote healthy hair regardless how you chose to wear it.

Why do you choose to remain relaxed while many are transitioning back to their natural hair? 
I always wanted to see if I had "growing hands". My goal was to always have long relaxed healthy hair and I plan on staying on track with that.

What do you absolutely love about your relaxed tresses? And why? 
What I love most about my hair is that I can wear it in so many different styles. Straight, curly, wavy etc. I love that I can do a number of things to it without having to use direct heat, for example, straight styles.


Let's Be Friends! Hairlista Profile: Erica Renee Instagram: @Beautifultresses_28

The generous folks over at Creme of Nature and I are hosting a giveaway all this week (September 28th - October 2nd @ 11:59PM EST) to celebrate the #LovingMyRelaxedHair Series! Woohoo :)

The giveaway prize will include the following: 
♡ Creme of Nature Straight From Eden Relaxer
♡ Four (4) Creme of Nature Hair Care maintenance products 
♡ One (1) Creme of Nature T-shirt

 Winners must be 18 and older and in the continental US. No purchase necessary to win. 

Introduce yourself! what's your name? where are you from?
My name is Lakevia Rogers. I'm from South Carolina.

How would you describe your hair? What's your hair type?
I've been relaxed pretty much all of my life. My hair is currently a little past mid-back length and my hair type is 4B.

When did you start your relaxed hair journey? What is your hair regimen? Share a few of your "go-to" hair products.
I started my relaxed hair journey in 2012 when I was a little past shoulder length. Throughout the years, I’ve had a few set backs due to prescription medication, pregnancy and just simply trying to find the right products for my hair. My current regimen is pretty simple. Right now I use Mizani Butter Blends relaxer and my hair has loves it. I only trim my ends after I relax, which is about every 12 weeks.

I've been sticking to the whole Pantene for Relaxed and Natural product-line, which I find is good for my textured hair. I'm not one of those ladies who co-wash every other day or twice a week. I do not co-wash at all because I feel like my hair isn’t clean when I do it. I only wash once a week and sometimes every other week. I clarify my hair every single time I wash. I follow up with a moisturizing shampoo by Pantene as my last wash. Secondly, I use my Pantene for Relaxed Hair Moisturizing Conditioner - this portion of my regimen changes according to my hair needs. Sometimes I use my Pantene Moisturizing Conditioner or I'll do a deep condition. I like to mix conditioners together or I use my Shea moisture deep conditioner and let it sit for at least an hour under a hooded dryer for better penetration. Finding that balance between moisture and protein has always been a challenge for me. I do a protein treatment once a month using either the Aphogee 2 min Reconstructor following a moisturizing conditioner or I'll use the Organic Root Stimulator Olive Oil Hair Masque. I typically detangle my hair, with a wide tooth-comb, while rinsing out my conditioner.

Occasionally, if my scalp is very itchy/flaky, I’ll do a hot oil treatment using Grapeseed oil, Coconut oil, Extra virgin olive oil and Peppermint oil before I wash my hair for at least an hour, once a month. After I’ve washed and conditioned my hair, I either towel dry or t-shirt dry for about 10 minutes. Then, I either blow dry on low heat or air dry. I haven't used a flat iron in over a year. Before I apply any heat to my hair I always apply a heat protector along with my leave-in conditioner. For the first month of my relaxer, I like to use a light weight leave-in and as I stretch my relaxer I use a thick leave-in conditioner. I then apply a small amount of my oil mix i.e. grape seed oil and extra virgin olive oil, to my hair. Last but not least, I'll apply a little moisturizer made by Pantene then I begin my protective styling.


My “go-to” protective style consists of a part down the middle of my hair with two (2) braids down the side. It’s very simple. I wear this particular style because it's low maintenance and should I choose to wear it out, it leaves a very pretty wave pattern that only has to be finger combed. I moisturize and seal maybe twice a week but I always mist my hair daily with water and a little bit of glycerin. I apply a little bit of oil to my ends. I tie my hair up at night using my satin bonnet.




What #1 hair tip you would pass on to other relaxed haired ladies who are starting their hair journey?
For ladies who choose to remain relaxed, my number one tip for you is to not get discouraged or impatient. Everyone’s hair grows at a different pace. As long as you're moisturizing and sealing and, most of all, protective styling - you too will retain healthy lengths!


Nowadays it's becoming more uncommon to see relaxed hair or products geared towards relaxed hair. Do you feel the pressure to go natural? Why or why not? What are your thoughts on the natural hair movement?
So as far as feeling the pressure to become natural, I don't think that will be happening any time soon. I love, love, love natural hair and I love my natural coils. I love feeling them when my new growth comes in; however, I just choose to remain relaxed.


Why do you choose to remain relaxed while many are transitioning back to their natural hair?
With my hair being so thick, with very tight coils, it's just easier for me to manage it while it’s relaxed. I believe that if you are relaxed, you should love your relaxed hair! Find some good products that your hair loves and trust me, your hair will let you know whether or not it likes a certain product. Stick to a good regimen and let your hair do its thing!

What do you absolutely love about your relaxed tresses? And why?
Some areas of my relaxed tresses are a little kinkier than others due to some under-processing. I don't mind the areas that are under-processed because it gives the appearance of a natural look with looser coils. The versatility without all the extra maintenance, is what I love about my hair!

Introduce yourself! what's your name? where are you from?
My name is Charmaine Love and I am a 3rd grade teacher in South Dakota, originally from Olathe, KS.


How would you describe your hair? What's your hair type?
My hair is very thick but soft. I have 4a type hair.

When did you start your relaxed hair journey? What is your hair regimen? Share a few of your "go-to" hair products.
I started my relaxed hair journey in December 2010. March of 2013, I decided to go natural after I had a setback. After 18 months, I was fully transitioned to natural. However, December of 2014, I decided to go back to relaxing my hair. Being natural was great but I absolutely loved being relaxed.

My regimen/staple products consist of getting a salon relaxer every 16 weeks with Affirm FiberGuard Sensitive Scalp. I used to self relax but I have found a trustworthy stylist that understands my hair needs. I do a hard protein treatment every 6-8 weeks with the Aphogee Two Step Treatment. My wash routine is done weekly. I always do a hot oil treatment with Jamaican Black Castor oil (JBCO) and Coconut oil mix. I usually let that sit on my hair for about 20 minutes with a plastic cap or overnight depending on how dry my hair is in this South Dakota weather. Next, I wash my hair with a shampoo of my choosing. I do not have a staple shampoo at the moment. I follow up with a deep conditioner such as Affirm 5 in 1 reconstructor or Keracare Humecto Creme Conditioner for at LEAST 30 minutes or longer. I alternate between the two in order to keep my moisture/protein balance in check which is key in my regimen. Next, I apply my leave ins, air dry 70%, moisturize and seal, and then I proceed with a low manipulation style. I apply heat to my hair only if there is a special occasion. Other than that, my hair remains heatless in low manipulation styles. I moisturize with Elasta QP Olive Oil and Mango Butter and seal with JBCO at least 4 times a week. I also wear a satin bonnet at night.

What #1 hair tip you would pass on to other relaxed haired ladies who are starting their hair journey?
Very early in my journey I rarely would get trims. After I transitioned, I would routinely get my hair cut to maintain the health of my hair as well as to help me transition quickly to natural. Now that I am relaxed, I do not need to cut as much because I keep my hair in low manipulation styles and moisturize and seal on a regular basis which is huge in my book. I always trim every three months like clockwork. This too is done by a trusted stylist who trims what needs to be trimmed. A lot of ladies are afraid of losing length but I would rather cut dead split ends to have full healthy hair. My goal is health over length. My goals and focus this time around is different. Health over length! The length will come. Patience and consistency are key!
Nowadays it's becoming more uncommon to see relaxed hair or products geared towards relaxed hair. Do you feel the pressure to go natural? Why or why not? What are your thoughts on the natural hair movement?
I do not feel the pressure to be natural. When I initially decided to transition, it was because of a setback as I had previously mentioned. My setback was due to my own laziness. I was no longer consistent with my regimen and I began to experiment with color. I also applied alot more heat to my hair than my hair was used too. Bad hair practices led me to my decision of transitioning. When I decided to transition, I was open to the idea of either staying natural or possibly relaxing again. In the end, I did what I felt like was best for me and my lifestyle. I do feel that because of my decision to start relaxing again, I often find myself having to justify or defend my reasoning for being relaxed all the time to other naturals. A lot of people are often surprised that my hair is in the health that it is in and I am relaxed at that. I feel like relaxed or natural you can have healthy hair. You have to do what works for you in terms of your lifestyle. It was a matter of preference for me. Overall, I think it is great that African American women are embracing their natural hair more and shying away from the weaves and taking the time to actually grow their own hair. For many years, there has always been a stigma attached to African American women and their inability to grow their own hair. Natural or relaxed, with the proper routine and haircare products, long and healthy hair can be achieved.

Why do you choose to remain relaxed while many are transitioning back to their natural hair?
When I was natural, I always applied heat to my hair in some form. Usually it was the blow dryer and then I would bun my hair at least twice a month. It was so thick and there was so much hair to deal with. Even though my hair was thriving I missed airdrying my straighter hair without having to alway use a blowdryer to do one of my go to buns. I tried the wash and goes, etc. When it came down to it, I missed my straighter texture of hair. It was really a matter of convenience for me. This was something that was routine for me already being previously relaxed.

What do you absolutely love about your relaxed tresses? And why?
The manageability!!! I feel like I have so many options being relaxed from bantu knots, buns, braid outs to the bone straight look. I also miss the roller wraps! I can virtually have a straight or curly hairstyle with minimal to no direct heat applied.