Four Years Post Shave

It's been four years since I shaved my hair off and this picture was taken today. I've been wearing my hair in Mini Twists with Flat Twists at the front but I recently removed the Flat Twists to wash my hair. Washing Mini Twists has caused them to tangle and unravel in places, so I'm planning to install a different style. 

I Used Henna to Colour My Hair

I used Henna to colour my gray hair yesterday and I'm very happy with the results. I was previously using a semi-permanent jet black hair dye to cover my grays, but it doesn't last very long. I've been thinking about using Henna for a while and I finally bought myself a packet of Henna powder.

The instructions that came with my box of Henna advise users to mix the powder with very hot water and leave to cool before applying. However, a lot of people online advise using warm water and allowing the Henna to sit for about 4 hours before using. After doing a lot of research, I decided to add Amla powder, Apple Cider Vinegar, Lavender Oil and lukewarm Black Tea (made with spring water) to my Henna mixture. The box contained 110 grams of Henna powder and I used 30 grams of Amla, 3 Black  Tea bags, a splash of Apple Cider Vinegar and a small amount of Lavender Oil (approximately 1.5%). I ended up using two thirds of the mixture and I placed the remaining amount in the freezer for future use.

 I let the Henna sit for 4 hours to allow the dye to release. I washed my hair with a clarifying shampoo and used a homemade liquid conditioner containing Black Tea water, Hydrolyzed Keratin and Rosemary oil. I towel dried my hair and applied petroleum jelly to my hairline to prevent staining on my skin. When the Henna mixture was ready, I applied it to my hair section by section. I covered my hair with a shower cap and wrapped my head with cling film, before using a hand held dryer for a few minutes. I left the Henna mixture on my hair for 4 and a half hours before rinsing thoroughly. I conditioned my hair with a homemade rinnse out conditioner, before applying a leave in conditioner and placing my in large twists.

The Henna process is extremely messy and I'm concerned about the amount of powder that went down my drain as I was rinsing out my hair. Next time, I plan to use something to capture the powder as I rinse it from my hair. Also, the henna mixture stained my bath as I was rinsing it from my hair, so I plan to use a bath mat to prevent this from happening again. Despite the mess, I'm very happy with my results and I plan to do another treatment when the colour fades and my roots grow out.

Three Years Post Shave

 

It's been three years since I shaved off my hair and the above picture was taken last night. My hair is now armpit length! Shrinkage is amazing! I've experimented with different styles and I have found that braids with extensions help me to retain the most length. My strands are fine and delicate so other styles make my hair break off. 

This picture was taken last week after I washed my hair. I braided the roots and twisted the ends before washing my hair with a liquid shampoo. Next, I applied a homemade liquid conditioner which contained Hydrolyzed Keratin. I sat in a warm bath so the steam could help the conditioner to penetrate my strands. After about 10 minutes, I untwisted each section and applied my homemade creamy Leave In Conditioner to each section. I kept the braided section intact to minimise tangling and knots. After applying the Leave In Conditioner to each section I detangled my hair and rinsed off the conditioner. I allowed my hair to air dry overnight before moisturising and twisting it up.

Moisturising My Braids

This picture was taken on my birthday back in July. I did my hair in micro braids using Yaki human hair extensions and I moisturised my hair with Parnevu T-Tree Braid Spray. I started using the Braid Spray earlier this year and it did a good job of keeping my hair moisturised while it was in braids. Unfortunately, the braid spray has recently stopped working. Glycerin is the second ingredient after water which means the product works by attracting moisture from the air. I've placed wardrobe de-humidifiers in all of the rooms in my house so there isn't enough moisture in the air. 

I'm currently wearing the front of my braids swooped across my forehead so I need a moisturiser that won't irritate my sensitive skin.  I decided to make myself a moisturiser using Olivem® 1000 because I've used this emulsifier in the past with good results. The INCI for Olivem® 1000 is Cetearyl Olivate and Sorbitan Olivate. According to the Cosmetic Ingredients Database, Cetearyl Olivate is a hair conditioner, slip modifier, an emulsifier and a skin conditioning emollient. Unlike Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Oliviate isn't opacifying so it doesn't make my braids look dull. After using my homemade moisturiser, I follow up with a light oil to seal in the moisture. Sometimes I blend various oils together so I can get a variety of fatty acids. Oils that are high in Oleic Acid tend to break me out so I blend them with oils that are high in Linoleic Acid. Sesame Oil is my favourite because it has a good balance of Linoleic Acid and Oleic Acid but it's slightly higher in Linoleic Acid (so it doesn't break me out). 

Flat Twist Out

I washed my hair with ORS Olive Oil Creamy Aloe Shampoo and conditioned with Childs Farm Conditioner. I applied Adore Extra Conditioning Semi Permanent Color in Jet Black, then I covered my hair with a plastic cap and processed with heat for 15 minutes. I rinsed the dye out and conditioned again. Next, I applied a homemade styling treatment followed by iC Fantasia's Heat Protector Straightening Spray before blow drying my hair using medium heat. I was planning to style my hair in crochet braids so I placed the perimeter of my hair in flat twists using Cantu Shea Butter Grow Strong Strengthening Treatment followed by Sulfur8 Light Formula. I decided to do my hair in a different style so I removed the flat twist the next day and got this cute Flat Twist Out. 

Two Years Post Shave

It's been two years and three days since I shaved off my hair and the above picture was taken today. I did an overnight pre-wash treatment using Cantu Shea Butter Coil Calm detangler followed by Coconut Oil. Once I had applied the treatment to each section I placed my hair in loose twists to prevent knots and tangles. I washed my hair while it was twisted using Better Braids Medicated Shampoo on my scalp and ORS Olive Oil Creamy Aloe Shampoo on the length of my hair. After rinsing out the shampoo I used Childs Farm Conditioner to detangle my hair. After rinsing out the conditioner I applied my homemade detangling strengthening treatment. I placed my hair in two strand twists before rinsing out the excess product. I then placed a microfibre towel over my head to absorb the excess water.

This picture was taken after I washed and conditioned my hair today. My hair is still damp and it feels nice and soft. My homemade detangling strengthening treatment contains Water, Olus Oil, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetrimonium Chloride, Lactic Acid and a Preservative. It's wonderful because it softens and strengthens my hair at the same time.

18 Months and 2 Days post shave

It's been 18 months and two days since I shaved off my hair!  

I braided the back of my hair in individual braids to reduce the amount of time that I spend on my hair. I left the top loose so I can play around with different styles. I'm having sooo much fun with my hair right now!