MsDirection:HHJC Check-in 2!!

Hey lovelies, it is time for another check in. Also I have decided to take some last minute submissions till February 7. However, after February 7 no more submissions will be accepted. Thanks ladies.

Goals!!!!! That is what this check in I going to be centered on.

What are goals?

Aims and objectives. My phone dictionary says: the result or achievement toward which effort is directed. 

Why set goals?

• Goals give you something to look forward to.
• Goals serve as a way to see the future the way you want it.
• Goals make a person more committed to her healthy hair journey.

What to consider when setting goals for your healthy hair journey?

• Know your hair: This means knowing your growth rate, knowing how your hair responds to the different growth aids or what your shedding or breakage rate, by knowing this, you can make your goals more realistic and attainable.

• Know your healthy hair journey flaw/weakness: Your goals do not have to be length centred. It could be your goal to overcome a HHJ weakness like, bad retention, not being able to not manipulate your hair. This way you set goals that are relevant.

How to achieve your goals?

• Set your goal- decide on what you want to achieve in the short run as well as in the long run. Your goal must be relevant, attainable and most of all, realistic
• Create a plan depending on what your goal is.
• Take action- follow your plan as set. No short cuts. No laziness.
• Stay patient!

Check-in Questions

What goals have you set to achieve at the end of the 6 months?

How do you intend on achieving your goals?
Leave your answers in the comments below.

Stay Awesome,

BEENZU DIRECTS!!!!!!!

I got to feature lovely Beenzu of glamlushhair.blogspot.com . I hope you enjoy this feature as much as I did.

1. Your hair is........(relaxed includes texlaxed, natural, loc'd)
(Include how you started your journey)
My hair is natural. It was in 2012 when my friend started talking about how she would read up on healthy hair care that I got interested. At first it was absurd to me to read on getting long hair, I was thinking "You can't read about growing hair. If it grows, it  grows." Lol.  But my curiosity got the better of me, a whole new world opened up and here I am today.

2. What's your current length? 
 I am currently between shoulder and armpit length.

3.How long have you been on a hhj and how long did it take to get to your current length?
 I have been on a hhj for about 2 and a half years now. I hit armpit length around July 2014, so it took me 2 years to get there. However I recently chopped in December to my current length as my ends were bad.

4. What's your daily and weekly regimen like?
Daily:

• Moisturise and seal as needed
• Wear my satin scarf to bed
• Take my multivite

Weekly:

• I wash and deep condition, alternating between protein and moisture
• Massage scalp as needed
• Cowash if necessary
• Apple cider vinegar, rosemary/sage tea rinse, or oil rinse (any one of these depending on how I and my hair are feeling)

5. How do you like to wear your hair? ( i.e your go to protective style)
I am a huge fan of box braids and twists. When my hair is out, I really enjoy textured updos and roll, tuck and pins.

6. Do you use direct heat? If so, how often?
I use direct heat sparingly, usually only when I go to get my hair done at the salon. That is typically once every two months. If im wigging I can go much longer, maybe three months.

7. Are you on any diet or are  taking any vitamins to promote healthy hair growth?
Im not on any diet, I just try to eat healthily, exercise and drink lots of water. As for vitamins, I take garlic capsules for shedding (and health) and my daily multivitamin.

8. If you could have 5 hair related items, what would they be and why? (Briefly)

•  Curlformers, cause I just love the curls they produce.
• The EZ hair dryer bonnet. It's so portable and more convenient than the normal hooded dryer.
• Manetabolism, the reviews are ah-mazing
• Shea moisture products
• Cantu shea butter- another product I'd love to try.

9. What do you wish you knew before your hhj?
I wish I knew about healthy hair care sooner, just think of the inches I would have been rocking by now lol!

10. Encourage someone also on a hhj.
 Be patient with your hair, change will not be immediate but consistency will get you there. And don't start every new technique as it comes, you can easily lose track of your focus which is healthy hair.

Find Beenzu on her blog: glamlushhair.blogspot.com

Hope you enjoyed reading this.

Stay Awesome!!!!!

Ms Direction HHJ Challenge :: Check- in Week 1

Hey lovelies, this is the first challenge check in. In the next 23 weeks, we’ll have weekly check-ins on the blog. If you are participating in the challenge, it will be wonderful to have you take part in the check-ins.

This first check-in is to get us acquainted with each other’s hair journey.

THE HEALTHY HAIR JOURNEY

Long hair has been considered a beauty standard for a really long term. Healthy, long hair enhances the beauty of most females. (I wouldn’t say all because, some ladies really rock the short hair look.) A lot of the time most females go in for the long hair look, by using wigs, weaves, clip-ins and braids expensive or cheap, to meet this idea of beauty. African women spend a good amount of money on hair care, hair extensions and almost all things hair related.

The healthy hair journey is a deliberate attempt at growing and maintaining healthy, long hair. Through good hair practices, products, tools and maintenance routines. I started my hair journey in July 2013.

My reason: I had short hair for the longest time, and was actually called names because my hair “was not growing.” This led me to start researching and watching videos. So far the journey has been smooth sailing but I seem to always have a problem with my nape and edges area.

CHECK IN QUESTIONS:

1.  Why and when did you start your healthy hair journey?

2.  Has the journey been smooth or have you had difficulties?

Leave your answers in the comments below.

**If you haven’t already joined in the challenge, it is unfortunately too late. Hopefully, we’ll have you in the next challenge

Stay Awesome

WASH NIGHT: 6 weeks post

I’m currently 6 weeks and 4vdays post relaxer. This week’s wash day was full of me trying new things. New product, new technique and new hair tool.

I got myself the “Dark and Lovely Amla Legend Rejuvenating Ritual” Hair mask about a week ago. Abena of ghanaianemprezz.com always had good things to say about this mask, so I had to try it. And yesterday, after researching for about a week, I bought myself a “Hair Therapy Wrap.’’ I decided to get this because school starts and this would make this easy to deep treat my hair while on campus. And I used it for this wash day because, once I got something new, I got to play/use it.

Wash Day:

• First, I pre-pooed with coconut oil for almost 2days because, I was feeling quite lazy, and I didn’t really have any place to go.

• I shampooed with ORS Creamy Aloe Shampoo, because, I felt the need to clean my scalp real good.
• Did an oil rinse*new technique* by applying coconut oil on my hair strands.  
• Then I did a medium protein treatment with ORS Mayonnaise, put on my thermal wrap *new tool*(yay) and finished an episode of Orange Is The New Black for about 25 minutes, the rinsed out.

• Rinsed out, and applied the Amla Legend Mask *new product*on my strands and used my thermal wrap again.

• Rinsed it out and then used my wide tooth comb as the water flowed through my hair.
• Wrapped my hair in a t-shirt to soak up the excess water, and then applied my leave in: Cantu Shea Butter Leave-in cream and air dried in twists.
• Moisturised with Elasta QP Mango Butter Moisturizer. It made a section of my hair feel hard, the rest felt fine. (If you have any idea why this happened, please leave a comment)

I didn’t seal last night as I moisturized and sealed this morning before getting back in my cornrows.

Over all, my hair felt great. strengthened but not lacking in moisture.

Stay Awesome!