Grow African Hair Long GAHL: March 2012

What do I mean by the Title? is there a way of `wearing braids` correctly?

Well if one is in a Healthy Hair Journey then any 'protective style has to be worn correctly.Most women use Braids and weaves to escape taking care of there hairs or actually to evade a hair issue that needs to be sorted out. eg Breakage

Prior to this I hadn't braided my hair for almost a year and to be Honest i was scared of the thought of having a set back in my Healthy hair Journey by not being able to take care of my hair as I should.I however went on and had medium/large size braids done.....I knew I had to get into this with a regimen that was really gonna work otherwise I would be risking some good progress..I came up with a regimen and adhered to it religiously until i took off the braids...

So I removed my braids after almost four weeks…3 weeks 4days to be precise..(never keep them in too long)

My Immediate remark was that: ‘This was a great success’.

I went to the Salon to get help removing the braids and the ladies went on and on about how clean ,healthy and moisturised my hair was *Blushes*.After they removed the braids I gently finger combed my hair focusing on separating strands carefully wherever there were build-ups (which were very few) at the bottom of the strands. NB…Build-ups will break off your hair if you do not pay attention separating strands bound together by them.

Anyways, After finger combing, that’s when I combed my hair from ends to roots using my wide-tooth comb and then proceeded to wash…I had decided that’s how much help I needed from the Salon cause I had missed giving my tresses some TLC…so deep Conditioning , both Protein and Moisture were done at home the following morning!

My hair felt amazingly soft yet strong….

Cons???

The amount of hair I ‘seemed’ to have lost was so much…check out pic but then again..if I was to do a little maths and multiply 80-100 strands shed a day by 25 days….that is a lot of hair. So quite a big ball of hair should be expected after all the combing, washing and detangling!

Many Thanks to all the ladies on www.growafricanhairlong.ning.com who offer lots of their routines, failures etc on our special group for ladies wearing extensions for protective styling!

Below is the one thing that made this work!!!- My Self made Braids Spray

You can choose to make your own or buy a 'good' one that will work..

Ingredients + tools:

Pure/99% Aloe vera Juice - 50% (more is water is not used)
Glycerine - 20%( can be very sticky if you use too much)
water (optional) - 20%
Leave in Conditioner( I used Africa's best Tea tree pictured and reviewed somewhere within the blog-its a rinse and leave in too) - 1 -2 Teaspoons
An Oil (in my case Grape seed oil) - 5-10%
Spray Bottle

Please always make sure when using Aloe vera juice it is mixed with an oil as it can be very drying on its own!

So what I would do was to make just a little spray at a time to last me say 3 days and make some more once that was finished.I felt that having the leave-in that doubled as rinse out conditioner eliminated the worry of having to Deep Condition my hair weekly.I do not have like proper measurements of the Quantities I was mixing up.I basically just used my own discretion to make something that worked...the percentages next to the Ingredients above try to estimate the portions used.

I spritzed my braids every two days paying close attention to where my ends were....I washed the braids , towel blotted and air-dried after the first 2 weeks..

Do you have a braids regimen that works?Please share yours in the comment boxes below..

xoxoxo Eva

Starting a healthy hair journey...

1. Start with a Fresh trim

Understand that the lifeless,thin, brittle & split ends have to be cut.There is no whatsoever way to revive these just get rid of them and start taking care of your new healthy ends.You might prefer to get this done by a stylist because someone else can´t easily see the extent of the damage.

2. Document your starting length.

You might find it helpful to take pictures of your starting length or just put it down on a journal with dates indicated.You can also use a tape measure from your hairline down to your ends and just record that.This will be handy when you need to check your progress during your HHJ.(its often best to wear a snug fittin white top to take the picture in)

3. Create a Regimen/routine

This is simply a systematic plan of everything you are going to do to Get to your healthy hair goal.
Keep your regimen very simple and easy to follow.I would advice you to stick to whatever works for you...it doesn't have to be expensive as long as it works for your hair.

Below is a list of things you have to get for your regimen:

Moisturizer
Natural oil
Moisturizing Conditioner
Protein conditioner
Leave-in Conditioner
Moisturizing shampoo
Clarifying shampoo
wide tooth comb
satin or silk scarf/Bonnet

You need only one of each to get started!!!!!
A simple Regimen you can follow:

Wash your hair atleast weekly using a moisturizing shampoo(Preferably sulphates & Alcohol free)
Deep Condition with a moisturizing conditioner weekly after you have shampoo-ed.
Deep condition with a protein conditioner 1x or 2x in two weeks or Whenever the hair feels very limp, mushy, overly soft,too stretchy.
Always follow up every wash with your leave-conditioner.(Some moisturizing conditioners can be applied in smaller quantities as leave-ins..check labels)
Try airdrying your hair as much as you can.You can use a microfibre towel or old t-shirt to just blot the excess then let it dry on its own..If you have to use heat, (blow dry or set), use a heat protectant serum or even blow dry on cool air this works too!!
Moisturize your hair with a water-rich moisturizer/hair lotion 1x/2x everyday and follow up with your natural oil to seal the moisture (this locks the moisture into your hair and prevents evaporation).click here for a video of how to do Moisturize & seal.
Always wear you satin scarf/bonnet to bed as moisture doesn't sip through satin material.
You'll only need to use your clarifying shampoo monthly to get rid of any product build-up.
finger comb most of the time and use your wide tooth comb when you need to comb.
learn to comb your hair from the ends upwards, this decreases tangles, hence minimising breakage.
For those who are relaxed try to get touch ups 8-10 weeks apart and not less!

Other Survival tips:

Limit the use of direct heat.
Wear protective styles more often than not.
Know the difference between breaking and shedding
Keep away stylists who do not value your hair.It might be handy to carry your own products when you do go to the salon!
Don´t be scared to speak up if your stylist does your hair too tight or uses too much heat on your hair. know exactly what they are putting in your hair, your hair will thank you for it.

Healthy hair journey african queens!!cant wait to see your progress..

I met Lyli on a hair Forum in 2010, she had just started her healthy hair journey. The first thing i noticed was how damaged her hair was and i decided to keep track of her hair journey and i thank God i did. This young lady was so loyal to her hair journey and she documented every little progress she made and she did make amazing progress. Her hair story just shows how much patience and diligence is worth when it comes to having a successful hair journey. Lyli who once was ashamed to even show her face on pictures of her hair is now confident and can flaunt the healthy beautiful hair she has been working hard on. Lyli comes from Cameroon and is a student in Germany to view her Gahl profile please click here

Are you relaxed or natural?

I am relaxed, actually accidentally texlaxed.

How would you describe your hair type?

The front of my front of my head has very coarse hair 4C

while the back is 4b which i totally love!

How long was your hair before starting a hair journey?

I began my HJ with barely neck length hair, now i am Full Shoulder length yess!!!

How would you describe your hair before your hair journey?

Before my HJ my hair was breaking, dry,thin, OVERPROCESSED, i literally had NO HAIRLINE, my edges and nape were gone!

my nape and edges were gone!!! after starting my hair journey they started growing back slowly.

What made you start a healthy hair journey? Did anyone inspire you to start one?

A friend of mine noticed that i had almost no hair all arround my head and this is when i decided to do some research about hair care on the internet. I discovered a lot of black hair forums and of course you tube i really learnt a lot. This was in June 2010.

Was it easy finding the right products for your hair?

It was not easy for me to find the right products so i kept trying out lots of products in order to find out what worked for my hair. And i confess that i became a product junkie

. But now after 1 year and 9 months, I can finally say that i got it!!! my perfect products.

How far into your hair journey did you start noticing a difference in the way your hair looked? How did you document your progress?

The results were almost immediate. After two weeks of pre pooing, shampooing and deep conditioning i experienced much less breakage. There wasn´t as much hair on my bathroom floor any more.

How long did it take you to go from a damaged neck length to a healthy shoulder length?

1 year and 9 months.

This is what my hair looks like today it is much much healthier and i have a hairline! the nape has fully grown back!

Do you think your hair would have been different without a healthy hair journey?

Without a Healthy hair journey i probably wouldn´t have any hair on my head right now. Being on a hair journey has certainly made all the difference.

Do you believe that there is such a thing as bad hair that just can´t grow?

No! I think all hair can grow. some hair grows slower, like mine & some hair grows quicker. but all hair grows.

Have you inspired anyone to start a hair journey?

hmmm i don´t know may be....

What advice would you give women out there wanting to start a healthy hair journey?

You have to be passionate about the hair journey and patient with the hair journey because growing healthy hair does take time. Don´t compare yourself with others because everybody is different.

Thanks to Lyli for sharing her hair journey with us and i hope this gives you hope not to give up on your hair. healthy hair looks great no matter what length it is. and healthy hair grows!

I am currently reading the science of black hair and i must say the book is very informative. I´ll be sharing everything i feel important with your ladies and here is the first blog in this series.

Your hair should be in very good shape before putting on braids, weaves or any other kind of extensions, always make sure that your hair does not have any issues such as breakage or thinning e.t.c when you get your hair done.(simply because once it´s done you will not have the opportunity to access your hair and treat it) and these issues left un attended to will still be there when your undo your weave or braids.

What to do before getting your hair braided.

Shampoo and deep condition your hair.
make sure your hair is properly detangled with a wide toothed comb.
Be sure to moisturise and seal your hair with oil.
If you have natural hair or if you have some new growth make sure to blow the roots out with a blow drier on a cool setting. make sure that you have no tangles to avoid breakage since some braiders comb our precious hair roughly with a small toothed comb and to make matters worse they comb from root to tip!( i´ve experienced this first hand :-() this can cause major breakage if your hair is tangled.
while at the braiders always be involved, don´t be afarid to speak up if you feel that the braider is doing something wrong or you don´t like. for example speak up if you feel that the braids are being done too tight.
support the beginning of each braid initially by placing an index finger at the start of the row or braid this will keep your delicate edges from being pulled out.as you anchor your braid with your finger introduce a counterforce towards your forehead(in the braiders opposite direction)This will reduce braiding tension along the hairline.
When getting braids make sure that the hair being portioned is proportional too the size of braid. Never allow the braider to put a large braid on a very small portion of hair, this will be too heavy for your hair and cause breakage.

Now that your braids/ weave have been installed you can know if they have been done too tight if:

small red or white bumps form along partings, hairline & edges.
an extra-shiny look to partings and exposed areas of your scalp.
white-tipped hairs sticking up from your braid where it starts at the hairline.
excessively dry, flaking skin along parts, particularly at the frontal hairline.

light proteins can be used weekly
Medium proteins can be used every two weeks.
heavy proteins once a month.

Protein deep conditioners.

Egg protein (controversial) apparently egg protein is too large to penetrate the hairshaft.
Organic root stimulator (ORS) Mayonnaise (medium-heavy)
Organic root stimulator (ORS) replenishing pak (light)
Motions CPR (medium)
Mane and Tail Original Conditioner
Affirm 5 in 1 Reconstructor (mild protein)
LeKair Cholesterol (mild protein)
Aphogee 2 minute reconstructor
Profectiv Mega Growth Deep Strengthening Conditioner (mild protein)minute reconstructor
Africa's Best Mayonaisse
Palmers Coconut protein conditioner
Giovanni smooth as silk extreme protein treatment(medium)
Motions moisture silk protein conditioner(Light)
Neutrogena triple moisture deep recpvery mask (light).

Note: A protein treatment leaves your hair hard and should always be followed up or mixed together with a moisturising conditioner to attain a balnace between the two.

moisturising conditioners/co-washing conditioners

Herbal Essences Long Term Relationship
Vo5 Moisture Milks
Creme Of Nature Nourishing Conditioners
Aussie Moist Conditioner
Herbal Essences Hello Hydration
Herbal Essences Hydralicious
Suave Humectant
Aussie Moist 3 Minute Moisturizing Treatment
Dove Intense Moisture
Neutrogena Triple Moisture Daily Deep Conditioner
Balea feuchtigkeitsspülung.

Moisturising deep conditioners.

Africa's Best Organics Cholesterol Tea-Tree Oil Conditioner
Lustrasilk mango shea butter cholesterol
Keracare Humecto
Silk Elements Megasilk Moisturizing Treatment
Mizani Moisturefuse
Queen helene cholesterol
Africa's Best Organics Olive Oil Deep Conditioner
Motions Moisture Plus Conditioner
Aubrey organics honeysuckle rose conditioner
Avalon organis lavender nourishing conditioner
Elasta QP DPR 11 deep penetrating remoisturiser.
Giovanni smooth as silk deeper moisture conditioner.
Herbal essences hello hydration conditioner
Joico moisture recovery conditioner
keracare humecto creme conditioner
kinky curly knot today conditioner/ detangler( great for natural hair!)
Neutrogena triple moisture daily conditioner.
redken real control conditioner.
Burt´s & bees super shiny grapefruit & sugar beet conditioner
Bee mine Bee-U-Ti-Ful deep conditioner.
La ‘Fresh Beautisa Hot Oil hair Cream – Amla Available in Kenya too Click Here for product review.

combination of both

Mizani Fulfyl Conditioning Treatment (moisture/protein balance)

This list is by no means exhaustive there are plenty more good deep conditioners out there.

What we do to our hair can really determine what our hair looks like at the end. What are you doing to yours?

Heat

Too much direct heat on your hair causes your hair cuticles to open up too much causing your hair to look rugged and chewed up( healthy undamaged hair has tightly closed cuticles and has sheen). therefore heat should be used with caution. opt for roller sets under a hooded drier, or heatless styles after air drying. sources of direct heat are e.g blow driers, flat irons, curling irons, hot combs, e.tc

Rubber bands

Using rubber bands on your hair can be very damaging. some people who use rubberbands on their ponytails have noticed ceasing growth because the bands pull out hair from their scalp. if you have to use a rubber band for your hair then make sure it is loose. this also applies to pins and clips. also avoid using it on the same part all the time to avoid localised breakage.Furthemore hair bands are really difficult to remove from the hair. they only cause more breakage in the process of removing them.

small toothed comb

These combs are not meant for african hair especially if you have type 4 hair. they will only rip your hair out. wide toothed combs are a must if you want to grow your hair longer.

scrunchies with metal part

hair always get´s caught in the metal part it is better to use those without metal parts.

you should also avoid cotton scrunchies since they only absorb moisture from your hair and cause breakage.opt for satin and silk like scrunchies.

Note: all hair accesories can be damaging if put on the hair too tight so be sure to use them correctly and not too tight.

Bobby pins

it is also very important to get those with rounded ends. if these ends get damaged get rid of the pin.
these pins can be used to achieve and to secure many hair hairstyles such as pin curls, bantu knots, can be used in place of banana clips, mo hawks, buns e.t.c

Towels

Always use a soft towel to blot your hair. if you don´t have one try an old Tshirt. i think i have

mentioned this in many other blogs but since it is very important to achieving healthy hair i will repeat it again. Your hair is very fragile and rubbing it briskly will only lead to breakage. just tie your soft towel or Tshirt arround your head and let it blot you don´t need to RUB! the same applies to washing Never rub and scrub your hair in all directions. wash in one direction.

Lyn´s hair really came a long way. This just proves that with proper care even damaged hair can be transformed into a fabulous head of healthy long hair. to find out more details on Lyn´s regimen please click here!

Are you relaxed or Natural?
In general I would say I am relaxed, but to be specific I am texlaxed. That means my hair is relaxed but not 100% straight it is slightly under processed

What is your hair type? Describe your curl pattern

My hair type is 4C. It is kinky, extremely coarse and generally resistant to relaxers that is why I am always texlaxed!

What was your starting length and what is your current one?

I started at neck length and I am now at Armpit length

Describe the status of your hair before you started your Healthy Hair Journey…

My hair was extremely damaged due to the fact that relaxed and colour treated my hair almost at the same time, and also due to some bad habits. Some bits were longer than others and I had stringy uneven ends.

What inspired you to start a HHJ and when was it?
After colouring my hair straight after a relaxer, I experienced severe and extreme breakage. I really didn’t want to chop off all my hair and start again so in desperation went on to the internet to see if I could find a way to stop the breakage and do some kind of repair work to my hair. Then I came across a hair blog. The lady that wrote that blog had long hair and what inspired me the most was that she had the same type of hair as mine and she was black like me! I saw a video of her hair journey and I was so inspired that I too can do this!

How easy was getting into a regimen, knowing the right products etc?

That was the most difficult thing in my hair journey. All the ladies I saw in the hair forums used products that are not available here in Africa. At the time I thought it was all about the products. I thought it’s the products that grow your hair so I battled quite a bit. At some point I got some friends to get me products from abroad, then I realised that this wasn’t very viable, I have to work with what I have got. So I started experimenting with local products and going by how they made my hair feel. I also read up a lot on which ingredients to look for and which ingredients to stay away from. I also spent hours in shops looking at ingredients on products and trying them out. I kept a diary where I updated myself on which products where working and which ones I wanted to try etc.
I still keep a diary actually it’s a notepad in my Blackberry!

Is this ‘regimen thing’ complicated?

At first it seems very complicated but once you get the hang of it , it makes your life so much easy. It’s really easy to take care of my hair right now because I have developed certain habits that I follow daily and weekly. It doesn’t feel like a chore or a big job to do anymore it comes as naturally as taking a shower! The word regimen makes it sound complicated but all it means is routine, things you do to your hair on a routine, daily or weekly

How soon into your HHJ did you start seeing results?

After three months I saw quite a big change in length but not really thickness.

After 6 months my hair was starting to get visibly thicker after a year I was getting positive compliments from people about how healthy my hair looked.

How long has it taken you to reach your current length?

It has taken me two years

Do you think what you achieved would be possible without learning the Proper techniques necessary to grow African hair long?
Never! To me technique is everything! Obviously there are some products that are better than others but there is no product that will grow your hair. It’s all about proper techniques and good habits.

Do you believe anyone who adapts the correct techniques can grow fabulous hair or is there such a thing as bad hair?

I really believe there is no such thing as bad hair all our hair is different but there is no type that is better than the other! I now believe that anyone can have exactly the hair that they long for

How many people have been inspired by the length you have gained and decided to start a HHJ?

Unfortunately most people think my hair looks good because I was born with good hair no matter what I tell them they believe that there is nothing that they can do to have good hair. The people that are close to me and have grown up with me are the ones most inspired by me and they know that I didn’t always have hair like this. One of the people who have been greatly inspired by me is my sister, here is what she has achieved with her hair.

Unfortunately people also believe that her hair looks good because it ‘runs in the family’. I don’t know how to convince people otherwise.

What is the most heart-felt advice you would give to other African ladies thinking about but not so sure about starting a HHJ?

If you think about it you bath everyday and you moisturise everyday. You cleanse tone and moisturise your face everyday, what stops you from also taking a few minutes to moisturise and seal your hair every day and washing it twice a week? Absolutely nothing. Those little habits are what are going to take you from the good hair that you already have, to great hair! There are no special formulas.

What would you advice a Newbie NOT to do?

If you are a newbie try not to jump onto every bandwagon you hear about if something doesn’t make sense don’t do it just because some people say it’s what works. Do only what makes sense to you.

So are you hoping to grow your hair to ankle length? What are your short term and long term goals?

Ha ha ha! no! Very fortunately my short term is also my long term goal as well. I do not intend to grow extremely long hair. I have a modest goal; I want only to get to a thick healthy Bra Strap Length. I think that length is perfect for me I think it will suit me and my style quite well. At the beginning of my hair journey I went into a wig shop and tried different styles and lengths of wigs and the one that reached bra strap length is the one suited me the most so Bra Strap length it is!
Thanks for sharing lyn!

I came into contact with AJ through a facebook group in which both of us are members. She comes from Kenya but lives in Germany at the moment. I was amazed at how thick and long her hair was and just thought it would be great if she shared her hair journey with us. Thank God she agreed & here is what she had to say. to view her Gahl page Click here

1. Are you relaxed or Natural?

I have been transitioning from relaxed to natural since June 2010

2.What is your hair type? Describe your curl pattern

4 something..., cant really accurately tell as the relaxed ends tend to stretch the natural hair.

Aj´s new growth. no relaxer since june 2010.

3. What was your starting length and what is your current one?

Started at a damaged shoulder length and am now at mid back length (I could be wrong though as I dont really length check).

Aj´s hair in 2011(Above) and in 2006 (below)

5.What inspired you to start a HHJ and when was it?

In 2009 I went for a relaxer touch-up at the only black salon in my town, the relaxer used by the stylist used was too strong for my hair and caused my hair to thin and it damaged my scalp.

I knew I had to start doing my own hair but except for the past 3 years, I had always worn my hair natural and so I knew nothing about relaxed hair. I searched online, found Long Hair Care Forum (LHCF) and decided to try self relaxing. I only ever self - relaxed once (in June 2010), but my hair was so underprocessed it looked like nothing had been done to it. Thats when I decided that relaxed hair wasnt for me as I also didnt like the process of relaxing myself. So I havent relaxed my hair again since June 2010.Aj hasn´t had a relaxer since june 2010 she´s transitioning to natural look at all that new growth!!!

6.How easy was getting into a regimen, knowing the right products etc? what´s your regimen?

I dont really have a regimen as i am hair lazy. I just do as little to my hair as I can get away with lol. I use any and every product as long as the ingredients look good.

I basically wash my hair any time I feel the need to but I never go more than 2 weeks without washing. I may pre poo overnight( depending on how lazy I am) using coconut oil and a conditioner, shampoo the following day using dilluted shampoo. Deep condition under my steamer for like 30-40 minutes, apply my leave - in and seal with my wipped shea butter. I either air dry in the warmer months or I sit under my hair dryer when its cold.

When its warm outside I sometimes spritz my hair every other day if I remember but I just hate having damp hair in the colder months.

7. Is this ‘regimen thing’ complicated?

It doesn`t have to be, I am a firm believer in keeping it simple.

8.How soon into your HHJ did you start seeing results?

I really can`t say as my goal in the beginning was just to get my hair to its previous health and length but its only like in the past few months, when I straightened my hair after quite a while that it hit me for the first time that my hair had gotten long!

9.How long has it taken you to reach your current length?

I will have to guess and say around 2 years plus a few months.

2010 sept 2011

10. Do you think what you achieved would be possible without learning the Proper techniques necessary to grow African hair long?

It depends on the individual's hair. In my case, my hair used to hover just below arm pit length and that was without knowing anything about healthy hair care.

11. Do you believe anyone who adapts the correct techniques can grow fabulous hair or is there such a thing as bad hair?

I truly believe that with proper hair care everyone can grow healthy long hair.

12.How many people have been inspired by the length you have gained and decided to start a HHJ?

Nobody that I know of. The people who know me from childhood just think my family has long hair genes lol and the african ladies over here just dont seem to care about proper hair care but a few do ask if this is my real hair so who knows the few might be inspired. ( AJ lives in Germany)

13.What is the most heart-felt advice you would give to other African ladies thinking about but not so sure about starting their HHJ?

Just take the plunge, start taking of your own hair and you will be guaranteed to see positive results in a few months.

14.What would you advice a Newbie NOT to do?

Keep your regimen simple and stick to what is working for your hair. Dont expect your hair to look the same as someone else's and dont buy every new hair gadget or hair products being raved about on hair forums.

15. So are you hoping to grow your hair to ankle length? what are your short term and long term goals?

Short term goal is for my natural hair to form a nice puff (hopefully by next summer) and my long term goal is for my natural hair to reach waist length stretched.

Thank you so much for sharing your Journey with us AJ. I´m sure many of us will be inspired by your hair story.

Hello Lovely African Queens,

I visited Nairobi Town Central Business District earlier this week and happened to walk into the TUSKYS SUPERMARKET right next to Commercial Matatu stage .I saw this massive sale they have for the above named Relaxers and I just had to share with all you guys that adore your hair...The relaxers are on sale you buy 1 get 1 free...for less than Ksh500!!!The items are already taped together in two's and placed either on your way to the 1st floor or ground floor..I can't remember where exactly lol!

For me this is too good a deal to let go since I am stretching my relaxer and will definitely need two packs when I'll be retouching.

I am not in an way promoting the purchase of this products..i just thought a few of you would jump at the SALE as I did!

What the Box claims to do:

Deep penetrating conditioners nourish hair
African botanical oils and herbal extracts
All natural conditioners

Africa's Best No-Lye Relaxer System is gentle on hair and enriches, caresses and nourishes with an exclusive blend of conditioners, oils and extracts as it straightens. All natural conditioners help you experience a higher level of moisturizing and conditioning. Enriched with ultra conditioning African botanical oils and herbal extracts. Uses organic conditioning to rebuild, repair and restore hair to a healthier state.

I researched a bit about what ladies who have already used the product had to say about it and I found a number of reviews....

Customer Reviews....

	1. Professional system
	Used this for the first time. It works quick on virgin hair. I call it professional, because I had to be fast, it said 10 min. for app, but I say 5 and get it out fast, that's the way pros work. And it doesn't burn, but maybe they should get mild for my type of hair, My hair is very fine and thick. I like it, my hair looks fab, only thing, I will not apply to my baby hair, but it will grow back quick, I hope that they do not take it off of the shelf, I see it is on sale."
	Reviewed by: Jsw1 from Queensland. on 12/29/2011

	2. Best relaxer for colour treated hair
	"I have been using this product for awhile and I found it to be very very good on my Blonde colored hair. Blonde hair is very fragile and dries out really bad in sunny weather,but this conditioning perm really conditioned and help my hair alot. Try it once you will be hooked."
	Reviewed by: Queen T from Perth. on 6/18/2011

	3. Great product for damaged hair
	My hair is very damaged and when i used other products they just wouldn't get my hair completely relaxed and straight. I have this patch in the middle of my head to where no relaxer could straighten it and after using this product it got straight. After using this my hair acquired a shine and was very pleased to have my whole head relaxed and straight. I just love it." Reviewed by: moniferris from Sydney. on 4/11/2011 Please understand that these are individual experiences and that your may be different. It is always advisable to perform a hair strand test before relaxing your entire head to just make sure the relaxer works well with your hair.Please use relaxers with caution preferably let it be down by a professional. I am looking forward to trying it out so I can give a personal review as well! TIP: 1. No-lye relaxers tend to seem very mild (hardly tingles or burns as lye relaxers do) hence you might be tempted to keep it in your hair longer than required.Please make sure you know the instructions on the box and your stylist sticks to them lest you end up with lifeless fried hair! 2. Doing an Acid Cider vinegar rinse soon after the re-touch ()even though not immediately) will get rid of the calcium residue often associated with this kind of relaxer than might cause breakage and dryness. 3. Make sure you pick the correct relaxer strength for you hair type...choices being: mild,normal and super.... 4. Check out 'how to prepare hair for a relaxer ' on www.growafricanhairlong.ning.com or click on relevant label under this post! Till next post HHJ

Kavuli of Goodhairdiaries shared her natural hair journey & hair regimen with us sometime back, but since some people can´t access our website Gahl i decided to share it here so you don´t miss out on this good stuff. You can get more details on Kavuli´s blog or her facebook page.

Are you relaxed or Natural?

I’m all natural.

What is your hair type? Describe your curl pattern

I have tight curly 3c/4a hair that is in love with moisture and coconut oil.

What was your starting length and what is your current one?

My starting length was a tiny bit past SL (Shoulder Length) in the beginning of my healthy hair journey. I managed to grow my hair to BSL (Bra Strap Length) this past May 2011.

Describe the status of your hair before you started your Healthy Hair Journey…

Before my HHJ I suffered from breakage and scalp irritations. My hair never made it too far past SL. I would wear my sew in weaves and forget about what was going on underneath.
18/Jan/2011

What inspired you to start a HHJ and when was it?

I stopped relaxing my hair back in the year 2000 when the music I was listening to began to influence my mind. Music artists like Mos Def, Common, Dead Prez & Pharoah Monch sang about a black woman’s natural hair and it made me want to drop the 'Creamy Crack' (relaxers) and run for the hills. I grew my relaxer out allowing my natural curl pattern to come through. It was beautiful! I haven't looked back since. My actual HHJ started in September of 2009 when I began to focus on length & thickness.

How easy was getting into a regimen, knowing the right products etc?

Getting started with a regimen was pretty easy for me in the beginning. I was an avid reader of some of the classic hair boards in the beginning of my journey. I knew that I needed to start with deep conditioning my hair on a regular basis to combat breakage and heat damage. I didn’t focus too much on having the right products.

Is this ‘regimen thing’ complicated?

This ‘regimen thing’ is only as complicated as you make it. If you’re a PJ (product junkie), everything is complicated! You need one shampoo, two conditioners, a moisturizer and a natural oil. That is it!

How soon into your HHJ did you start seeing results?

I began to see results within 1 month of consistent deep conditioning and minimal manipulation.

How long has it taken you to reach your current length?

It took me a year and half to grow this length
May/2011

Do you think what you achieved would be possible without learning the Proper techniques necessary to grow African hair long?

Knowledge is definitely power when it comes to African hair. There is no way that my hair would be at BSL or this healthy had I not learned a proper way to care for my hair.

Do you believe anyone who adapts the correct techniques can grow fabulous hair or is there such a thing as bad hair?

I believe with all my heart that good hair habits can be adapted. Anyone and everyone can have a healthy head of hair unless they are suffering from a particular illness. Healthy hair is GOOD HAIR.

How many people have been inspired by the length you have gained and decided to start a HHJ?

I can’t honestly say that I know a certain number of women that I inspire. I can say that plenty of women visit my blog, Good Hair Diaries and the Facebook page on a daily basis. My inbox is always filled with questions about products and hair techniques, and I have to assume that these are the people that want healthy beautiful hair.

What is the most heart-felt advice you would give to other African ladies thinking about but not so sure about starting a HHJ?

My sisters, it is time that we focus on the complete and total health of the African woman, and that includes our crown of glory. It doesn’t need to be complicated or cost you a lot of money. You don’t have to grow your hair to your ankles, and you don’t need to listen to the world that tells us that ‘our hair isn’t good enough’. You can have the hair of your dreams without looking like Beyonce. ( I love Beyonce by the way. You know what I’m trying to say J )

What would you advice a Newbie NOT to do?

DON’T follow my regimen in detail. What works for my hair may not be the best for yours. Learn all that you can about your OWN hair.

DON’T lose focus. Keep your eye on your goal and all that it takes to achieve it. You will blow your own mind.

So are you hoping to grow your hair to ankle length? what are your short term and long term goals?

I certainly don’t aspire to grow my hair to my ankles, although it would be interesting to see if I could achieve such length. My short term goal(s) is to get my hair as thick as physically possible and grow it to MBL (Mid Back Length). My long term goal is WL (Waist Length) and as healthy as possible.

Thanks for sharing Kavuli!makes me wanna go Natural!!!

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