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.
(source1)
(source2)

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.