Today is Monday, the 28th of Nov 2011.I am currently 4months 1week and  2days post last relaxer.(about 17+ weeks).
I have so much new growth and I am so looking foward to this relaxer.I am taking necessary measures to make sure that the process will be a success and despite using a chemical on my NG, my processed hair must remain strong and healthy!
The count down from today is about 6days to the relaxer.Looking to relax on Saturday.What I have done to my hair is the STEP 1 of preparing for my relaxer!

STEP 1:
CLARIFY HAIR WITH A CLARIFYING SHAMPOO
This is an important step before relaxing so as to strip of the hair of any Products that have built up during the previous week.Hair should be very clean and product free to maximize the relaxing process.I did not have a 'clarifying shampoo' in the house so I just use my Motions Neutralizing shampoo- my hair does feel squeaky clean!You could do it differently and use other shampoos such as ORS Creamy aloe but I would think any sulphate bsaed poo should be able to strip your hair.I will only apply products to the length of my hair and not my NG in the remaining days whilst I wait for my relaxer.If you desire an underprocessed result you could keep up with your normal regimen but I prefer properly processed hair.This step should be done at around 5days before your relaxer.

STEP 2
PROTEIN TREATMENT
Its been years since I used an actual EGG  for a protein treatment and that's what I feel like today.Its after the clarifying wash this morning and the egg treatment, I am gonna do it over night to save on time.I will mix my oils namely; castor oil,teatree oil,sweet almond and any other natural oil I can get my hands on into my 1 or 2 egg mixture(depending on size).The oils will counteract the drying effects of the egg protein to the length of my hair.
The purpose of a protein treatment at this stage (which could be any brand of your choice such as ORS MAYO) is to fortify your strands as you go into the relaxing process because the relaxer manipulates protein bonds in your hair strands.
PS; Depending on the 'protein needs'  of your hair, you would choose amongst, Heavy, medium and light protein treatments to use for this process

After step 1 and 2, I'll try to keep my hands off my scalp, not to scratch an itch etc..this will help minimize chances of relaxer burning!

Recently i have been doing some research on shampoos and this is what i have come up with. There are different types of shampoos out there and i will just mention them briefly.

• Clarifying shampoo.

These shampoos mainly contain acetic acid which literaly strips all build up from hair products and also the hair´s natural oil(sebum) leaving it squeaky clean. these shampoos should never be used too often especially if you have naturaly dry hair i would say if you have hair type 3c & all type 4´s.(to find out what your hair type is please view this blog http://growafricanhairlong.ning.com/profiles/blogs/hair-type-chart ) Using them too often only dries out your hair even more.
Apple cider vinegar ( very diluted) can also be used to clarify the hair since it does contain acetic acid. in conclusion shampoos with a low pH clarify the hair. (acetic acid has a pH of 2.4)

•      Daily shampoos

Daily shampoos are usualy moisturising shampoos and often contain moisturising agents. these can be used more often especially if they do not contain sulfates. However you should also go for those with a neutral pH these have the same pH 5.5 as your skin and hair and will clean your hair but will not strip it of it´s oils. These shampoos cannot remove all product build up and therefore it is advisable to cleanse your hair every 4 to 6 weeks.These shampoos are suitable for dry hair. I have realised that there are some baby shampoos with a pH of between 5 and 7 and these are great and tear free. water has a pH of  7 too. the closer you are to your skins natural pH the better.


how do you know what pH your shampoo contains?

invest in litmus paper( pH paper) this changes colour when dipped in a solution. if it´s acidic it turns red and if it´s alkaline it turns blue. it also comes with a chart where you can check the different pH levels. if your shampoo is acidic and you would like to neutralise it. it sometimes helps to add water to it( Note: not to the whole bottle just the bit you want to use).

what to avoid in shampoos.
avoid shampoos containing sulfates e.g sodium laureth/lauryl sulphates these just dry out your hair. some baby shampoos do not contain sulfates. next time you go looking for a good shampoo just check the ingredients list.

Had anyone asked me about being able to find good products for a healthy hair journey in Nairobi just a few weeks ago I would have argued against the possibility of  doing so...I was more than amazed just a few days ago when I walked into Nakumatt Mega (Msa road) and of course went down the hair and beauty Isle...We've got it all Ladies..from Elasta QP butters,relaxer & shampoos to Wave Noveou  mists and lotions to IC Fantasia heat protectors and even hesh,Amla and Brahmi Indian Powders!!!I was honestly dumb founded or should I say over excited???Nakumatt also stocks some kenyan made essentials such as Glycerine and Castor oil.There is no excuse whatsoever for any African lady in this country to have a failed hair journey or should I say not to be in a healthy hair Journey at all!

Please Understand that Products do not Grow your hair and GAHL does not make nay products of its own claiming they will grow your hair!!Everyone's hair grows its only that we do not know how to take care present length therefore hair breaks and we appear to stay at the same length!!!
I have had lots of questions about hair products there you have it..Please visit www.growafricahairlong.ning.com to find out about how to use the lovely products you can easily find at your nearest Nakumatt supermarkets or Supercosmetics and other beauty supply stores and also to learn about ingredients you should definitely keep at bay!

What  your hair looks like when it comes out of your scalp may either be geneticaly predetermined or just a matter of nutrition. some people geneticaly have fine hair but this does not mean that their hair is not healthy. one way to tell if your hair is healthy is to check what it looks like immediately after it has been washed and dried without the use of any heat appliances e.g blow drier. you will notice some sheen in healthy hair whereas unhealthy hair will just look dull. Adding heat to your hair may be deceiving since it makes the hair look shinier and healtheir than it really is. you can do your hair and your whole body a huge favour by just eating right. Remember that your hair is not a vital organ( vital organs include the heart, liver, kidneys, skin e.t.c) so your body will will first supply nutrients to all other vital organs before it gets to your hair and nails. Your hair and nails literally get only the left overs so you have to eat enough to have some left overs for your hair.
your hair needs the following nutrients in order to flourish.

1. Proteins. your hair is made up a lot of proteins so eating more proteins will help your hair grow stronger and healthier.
2. Water. I know drinking water is a big task for most people i am one of them but i´m trying my best to drink enough water. This does not only keep your hair healthy but it also cuts the risk of getting kidney stones, helps with digestion, blood circulation, moisturises your skin and makes it glow e.t.c the benefits of driniking water are endless. drinking at least 8 glasses of water daily will ensure you get all these benefits.
3. Vitamins A, B; E & biotin. these vitamins are important for healthy hair growth, they can also be supplemented if you don´t get enough of them through the foods you eat. however supplement vitamins shouldn´t replace a healthy diet.

here´s a list of great healthy hair foods.

Beans are rich in iron, proteins, Zinc and biotin.

Fish are rich in fatty acids, proteins vitamin B 12 .

Eggs are rich in protein, vitamin B12 and biotin( great for healthy hair, nails and skin).

Nuts contain fatty acids, zinc and selenium which are very important for a healthy scalp.
Eating foods rich in fatty acids will keep you from getting dry scalp because it locks in moisture in the skin.



Green leafy vegetables such as spinach & sukuma wiki contains lots of iron and vitamins.

Note: When a consistent healthy diet is practised a change in hair condition can be observed after three months.

This week i ran out of my lustra silk mango shea butter cholesterol and i decided to get the tea tree organics cholesterol. i used it to deep condition my hair today and i must say my hair loves this stuff too. i didn´t deep condition with heat but i put on a plastic bag and a winter hat on top of  it. I let it sit like that for about an hour and then i went on to rinse off the conditioner. due to the heat from my head and the hat + plastic bag it became so hot( honestly just like with the drier only takes longer). detangling was so easy!!! i do this under the shower. my hair turned out very soft and i really can´t complain. This is one of my best moisturising deep conditioners.

The product manufacturers also state that this conditioner can be used as a leave in too.

Finding a good moisturiser can be very tricky at times, mainly because everybody´s hair is different and has different needs. I prefer using water based moisturisers, normaly these have water/aqua as the first ingredient. other moisturising agents that i look for in a moisturiser are glycerin & Aloe Vera. i try to avoid moisturisers that contain mineral oil, petroleum or petrolatum.


My favourite moisturisers are  the wave nouveau finishing lotion, scurl no drip & kids organic shea butter conditioning and detangling hair lotion. All three work great on my hair and the keep my hair moisturised and soft.


i alternate buying them so i never have them all at once. i feel that it is good to have an option so that just in case one runs out even in shops there is still a plan B. However i do feel that scurl works better on my new growth so i use it more when i have some new grwoth that needs to be tamed. It really softens the new growth. I think it would be great for someone who has completely natural hair too!


Tip: Try out different products and find out what is best for your hair, you can always check the ingredients list and only take products with ingredients you like andn are good for hair in generaly. with this in mind you can never go wrong in making a product choice.

another great way to moisturise your hair is of course wetting it. you can just use a spray bottle to spray some water on your hair to keep it from drying out. regular washes will help with adding moisture to your hair too.  dry hair breaks much faster than well moisturised hair.

my regimen in winter and in summer is pretty much the same but my hair seems to dry out faster in winter than in the summer months. So what i do is step up my moisturising and i laso try to incorporate as many humectants to my regimen as possible.( A humectant is a substance that draws water from the environment to your hair) these include Honey which i add to my deep conditioners and glycerin which i add to my leave in, deep conditioner and even my shampoo. however i find that using too much glycerin my cause the hair to become mushy or sticky so finding the right amount for one´s hair is also very important.

protective styles in winter.
In winter i prefer only protective styles that really hide my ends e.g buns. apart from that i always wear a cap/ hat when outdoors this protects my hair from the cold.
Other good protective styles for winter include braids, weaves, scarves e.t.c


Tip: if you hair feels extra dry and you don´t feel like washing or it is not your washday you can use the baggy method. just moisturise your hair with a water based moisturiser then cover your hair with a plastic bag. leave this on a for some time until your hair feels moist. then just seal in that moisture with a light oil of choice.

Drink lots of water!!!!!!!!