Review of my Favourite Hair Care Products

Since I started my hair journey, I have dropped some products, picked some up, and continued with others. I felt I should give a review of the products I use now and their uses, and what I've noticed.

Here goes...

Yeah, yeah. I know it says best for cooking. But, I once read that the best hair products can be found in the comfort of your own home: your kitchen. Coconut oil is white, solidifies when cold and melts when warm.

I use it in my hot oil treatment, my deep conditioning weekly and as a sealant daily. As part of my treatment, about a tablespoon or so is enough, and as my sealant only a pea-seize amount is enough for each of the 4 sections of my hair.




Personally, I think shea butter is one hell of a butter.  Even adverts depict butter to be of a smooth nature. It works as a very good moisturiser and a good oil for the scalp, when melted. I use this in my deep conditioner, and boy did it do wonders for my previously dry hair. After styling, my hair literally feels like butter: silky and smooth.

It's not only a good hair product, but a remedy for dry skin.

To be honest, I can't say much about olive oil, except for the fact that it is quite light, so it penetrates the hair shaft fast.

I use this in my hot oil treatment and as part of my deep conditioner as well.

This by far is the best shampoo I have ever used, as it does more than clean my scalp. A pea-sized amount is all I need and its enough to lather.

I love the fact that it is non-sulphate. Rather than strip off the oils needed for my hair (as sulphate shampoos do), it puts back natural oils such as shea butter and olive oil, leaving my hair fully moisturised.

Plus it smells yummy. Sort of a fruity scent.

This is the essence of my deep conditioning treatment. Stated using this in January with my hair journey, and my hair has become softer, more manageable, I comb my hair without any hassle and most of all,  it has helped me stretch my relaxer time frame from the usual 5/6 weeks to about 8 weeks (2 more weeks to go).

It is a moisturising conditioner, so it makes my hair soft and stretchy almost, which is good, and it is best for relaxed, colour-treated and heat-damaged hair (the properties of my hair at the moment).

As another addition to my deep conditioner, it acts as protein to strengthen and vitalise my hair.

Honey acts as a humectant. This means that it helps to retain moisture, and in extension, retain length. So, I add this to my deep conditioning treatment to keep all the moisture in under my conditioning cap.

Plus, it makes my hair smell all yummy and delicious.





This product wow's me! It is by far my favourite product. Does so much for my hair, especially my under-growth. It's a leave-in conditioner and it has 2 important products for the hair: aqua for moisture and keratin which the hair is mostly composed of. So one can imagine how much this does for my hair.

Furthermore, when I apply this to my under-growth every night and massage in, its almost like it stretches out my thick under-growth by conditioning it and makes it easier for me to comb through. In other words, it also acts as a detangler.

As a heat protectant, it can be applied to the ends of the hair, if heat must be used, and it is wonderful for chemically-treated hair. In addition, it contains Argan oil, which is wonderful for the hair because it contains Vitamin E.

In summary, this product is a moisturiser, a heat protectant, a detangler, a conditioner, has a protein complex, contains essential oils and vitamins, and it smells great too.  What more can my hair ask for?

I use this moisturiser for my ends, seeing as the ends too require some moisture, being the oldest part of the hair. I noticed that my hair stays moisturised for the whole day, sometimes even 2 days. It leaves my hair feeling softer, maybe because it has major ingredients, such as aqua, coconut oil and castor oil. Sounds good right?

All I need is a pea-sized amount for each section of my hair and I'm good to go. 

This could ultimately be the best oil and hair product hands down. I use this in my hot oil, my deep conditioning treatment, my scalp oil and to grow my egdes and nape out. Basically, it can be used to grow thick and long hair anywhere. I've seen reviews on it, challenges have been done with it, makeup and fashion blogs have said it is also good for growing the eyebrows and lashes. Not going to lie. I am a believer of the above.

It has a thick consistency, so I do not use it on my ends, to avoid my hair being weighed down. As a scalp oil, I use it to combat dryness and an itchy scalp. I use it every night on my edges and my nape. Wonderful!



It is quite possible to miss out on a number of important vitamins and minerals, especially with a busy schedule. As a result, I have decided to implement this brand of vitamins to supplement what I may be missing. Got this from Holland & Barrett, so you can bet that this is also natural and healthy.

It contains a lot of vitamins that are not just important for hair growth, but for every young lady, such as Iron, Biotin, Vitamin E, Vitamin C and so on.





As moisture is one of the most important elements of my hair journey to prevent breakage, it only seems right that I implement a source of heat to retain moisture when conducting any of my hair treatments, such as the hot oil or the deep conditioning.

Most people use steamers and dryers to conduct heat faster. But I do my treatments at home, where there is obviously no dryer or steamer. To conduct heat, I purchased a conditioning cap which basically uses my body heat to lock in the moisture needed for my treatments.

I find that it works better than a shower cap also. For more effect, I wrap a scarf around my head, to lock the moisture in more, or use a hot towel round the cap for more heat.

The Little Black Scarf

Many blogs have stated that cotton scarves 'suck' out the moisture needed for the hair. Especially if left for long, for example, all through the night. They recommend satin or silk scarves instead.

I can definitely attest to this. Ever since I started usin my black satin scarf, the L.O.C method lasts longer and even until the next day (can be seen here ), my edges, ends and napes are smoother, and it literally glides off my hair when I take it off in the morning. It also works as my 'protective style' at night. 

For less manipulation on my hair, and to avoid my hair from being pulled out, I have resorted to using a wide-toothed comb for detangling. I see less hair on the comb afterwards and it feels less like my hair is being pulled out from the roots.



So those are my essential 14 products. Never guessed I used these many products. Oh well...all for the greater good.  In due time, I would be posting tips needed for hair growth...


W.

Hair Regimen

Basically, a healthy hair regimen should consist of products and hair practices to be used to grow hair and retain length. It should also be a combination of protein for strength, moisture and natural oils to combat dryness. Mine consists mostly of  moisturising products and natural oils.

It could be strict or flexible. However, I feel that a strict regimen would help attain goals faster.

Here goes...

WEEKLY

• Hot oil treatment with a mixture of castor oil, coconut oil and extra virgin olive oil. I apply this to dry hair, that is, hair that hasn't been washed, cover with my conditioning cap and leave for about 2 hours.
• Moisturise and Clean scalp with a sulphate-free shampoo, to remove any build-up that might have accumulated during the week.
• Deep condition with a moisturising and protein conditioner, with a mixture of shea butter, honey, coconut oil and extra virgin olive oil. I apply this to washed hair, making sure hair is not dripping wet, cover with a conditioning cap leave for about 6 hours or keep in overnight. After this, I rinse off with cold water, to seal in all the yummy oils, moisture and protein. 

DAILY

• Use the L.O.C method, at night, before bedtime:

- apply a Liquid moisturiser to my undergrowth, and this works perfectly.

- seal with Oil. I use coconut oil to seal, because its lighter and seals the moisture in well.

- seal the above with a Cream-based moisturiser. 

• Massage Jamaican Black Castor Oil (JBCO) into my edges and my nape, for growth. 
• Drink lots of water, to keep body hydrated. 
• Take my Vitamins
• Use a black satin scarf over my hair, to straighten edges and protect ends at night.

W.

Hair-story...Better Late than Never

Okay! Where do I begin? I felt it would be right to give a background as to the reason why I decided to start this hair journey in the first place.

So...when I was really young. Let's say age 5/6, my mum got my hair relaxed because apparently my hair was too tough to be handled, and I would cry and make a fuss everytime I went to the salon. My hair here was about shoulder-length and thick. *sorry I don't have any pictures*

Fast-forward to the downfall of my hair growth. Back in 2009/2010 when Rihanna became one of the most fashionable celebrities out there, hitting us with different short hairstyles from all angles, I decided to try out what short hair would look like on me. 

Something sorta like this. Notice how unlike my previous picture, my ends here are healthy, my edges are fuller and thicker. I wish I knew all I know now, then. Oh well...c'est la vie.

I noticed my hair shrink and lose ends and break, but I thought the best solution was to keep cutting it and it would grow healthy. As if... When that didn't work, I worked on weaves....weaves on end...no break..my hair grew, but was practically useless, no body, no weight and it constantly BROKE!!! Urgh! The most annoying thing ever...

Oh well...finally late 2012, I remembered how a close friend of mine told me how she wanted to start a healthy hair regimen in May 2011, and I saw the differences it made to her hair. Her hair went from shoulder length almost to mid-back length in about 2 years. And boy did that motivate me...

As the saying goes, better late than never, so I did a big chop finally to about nape length in Nov 2012, and started my healthy hair regimen Jan 5th 2013.

Back to the present....I am currently involved in 2 Challenges to aid in my hair growth: Dabs' 6inches in 12months challenge as can be seen here and a Castor oil challenge too.

Let's see how this goes... *fingers crossed*

W.

Introduction to my Healthy Hair Journey

Wow! Can't believe I am actually starting my own very blog. Guess I never had the inspiration for it anyway. 

But for some reason, of late I have become sort of hair obssessed. I have read so many blogs on retention and hair growth. It seemed right that I start my own healthy and long hair journey and also start my own blog for people like me. By people like me, I mean people starting their hair journey from as low as nape length or ear length basically. 

Funny enough, most HHJ seem to start from shoulder length (SL). I decided to do a big chop and start from about nape lenth.

Excuse the confused look. It was a candid picture taken at my friend's birthday dinner. 

This was the state of my hair as at December 2012. The worst! It has all the qualities of over-processed, bleached, dry, malnourished hair. And I thought I was doing well. *smh*. I would constantly cut my hair thinking it would result in longer hair, but it will continue to get dry and break regardless. 

Anyway, don't want to keep ranting on and on about my hair. I'm sure you all want to see progress.

Stay tuned for more pictures and posts of my hair regimen. 

W.