HAIR UPDATES

Hey lovelies!

This is a short post to keep you up to date with my healthy hair journey.

• I am currently 11 weeks post relaxer. I plan on relaxing my hair on 11th April 2015 at 18 weeks post relaxer. I got braids on Friday to help me stretch that long. I plan on keeping my braids for 6 weeks, and will wash and condition my hair as usual in the braids.

• I started taking Hairfinity again, and I am halfway through with the first bottle. I got a 2 month supply.

• I did an unofficial length check before I got my braids installed and I am hoping I can finally get to APL with my next relaxer.

That is my update! To keep up with day to day updates, be sure to follow me on IG @NISA_HRHJ and like the Ms Direction Gh Facebook page.

Stay Awesome,

RAMA DIRECTS!!

 Hey Lovelies! Today we will be featuring beautiful naturalista Rama! I hope you enjoy her hair story.

1.Your hair is........(relaxed includes texlaxed, natural, loc'd)
Natural

2. What's your current length?  Between neck and shoulder length

3. How long have you been on a hhj and how long did it take to get to your current length?  It has been a year since i big chopped. I transitioned for 5 months

4. What's your daily and weekly regimen like?  Daily : Moisturize and seal with my "hair love" Hawaiian Silky 14- in 1. Then seal with shea butter.
Weekly : Wash my hair which includes prepooing, shampooing and dc. I sometimes do a hot oil treatment, tea rinse or oil rinse.

5. How do you like to wear your hair. ( i.e your go to protective style)  I like to keep my hair in low manipulation styles like twists and braids. My favourite however is the 2 stand twist up-do.

6. Do you use direct heat? If so, how often?   I do not use any direct heat.

7. Are you on any diet or are  taking any vitamins to promote healthy hair growth?  I am not on any vitamins for hair growth. I try to make sure all my meals are balanced and providing me with the vitamins I will need. I also have increased my water intake.

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

• Shea butter mix -can't go without it
• Bobby pins -a must have for all hair styles
• Satin bonnet -to protect my hair at night
• Knee high -to help with puffs if I want to have any
• Vo5 moisture milks conditioner -for co-washing

9. What do you wish you knew before your hhj?  Answer:I wish I knew all I know now about caring for my hair now,but all the same I know now so on I go till I get to waist length.

10. Encourage someone also on a hhj.
Find what works for you. What may work for the next lady many not necessarily work for you. Stay patient on your healthy hair journey. Happy Hair Growing!
 
Stay Awesome,

KIRSTY DIRECTS!!!!!!!

We feature the beautiful Kirsty of blackhairspice.blogspot.com . This girls hair is the BOMB.COM. I love her blog, I love her progress! Feast your eyes on long, healthy, thick, relaxed, Ghanaian hair. I hope you enjoy her feature and learn a little something from her!!

1.Your hair is........(relaxed includes texlaxed, natural, loc'd)
(Include how you started your journey)

My hair is relaxed.My journey started out of curiosity.I was perfectly content with my stunted growth and breaking hair because i never thought black hair could grow long and i didn't know what was making my hair break.Actually, i felt i had GREAT and GORGEOUS hair even though i saw hair all over my floor anytime i combed it. A friend made mention of wanting castor oil for her hair and my curiosity led me into an intensive research about the oil (it was my first time ever hearing about an oil called castor lol-hard to believe now) and one thing led to another.I got introduced to a whole new world of hair through the internet.I couldn't believe it.So i decided to put everything I had read and watched concerning black hair to the test since i had my doubts (major doubts)...and that's how my journey started.

2. What's your current length? 
My current length is bra strap length (BSL).

3. How long have you been on a hhj and how long did it take to get to your current length? 
.I started my HHJ October,2013 so I'm a year and four months into my HHJ. I begun with shoulder length hair and at 1yr i made it to grazing BSL and 1yr 3months full BSL.

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

• Daily-Moisturize and seal with ORS hair moisturizing lotion, seal with a mix of oils. Sleep in satin scarf or cap. Oil scalp lightly and massage as and when i remember.

• Weekly- wash and deep condition hair once a week, comb hair once a week (wash days),finger detangle, be in protective styles all week.

5. How do you like to wear your hair. ( i.e your go to protective style)

My go to protective styles will be buns,duchess braids and twists/roll and tuck/pin.All without extensions.I do these 90-95% of the time.

6.  Have you suffered a setback on your journey? How did you deal with it? If no, what's the one setback you would like to avoid? And how are you avoiding it?
.I haven't suffered any setback yet (thank you baby Jesus!) and i hope i don't suffer one.However, the one setback i really want to avoid is thinning ends.I do not ever want to experience this.I try to keep my ends in shape, by giving it enough moisture and whatever treatment i give to my hair and i constantly keep my ends hidden.i also trim my hair when necessary.

7. Are you on any diet or are  taking any vitamins to promote healthy hair growth?
I am not on any diet neither am i taking any hair supplements.I have tried hair supplements (manetabolism  and biotin to be specific) in the past though but didn't take them religiously (a bottle for a month took me three months lol and I still have a full bottle sitting around now).

8. If you could have 5 hair related items, what would they be and why? (Briefly)
Hmmm, tough question but I'd say (not in order of priority):

• Hooded hair dryer - to serve as dual purpose for deep conditioning with heat as well as roller-set and silk wrap in the comfort of my home.

• ORS Hairepair line -I've heard really great things about the line and ORS has already pleased me with replenishing conditioner and creamy aloe shampoo so I want to try their new line as well.

• A really pretty wig-for protective styling or days my own hair is in terrible shape

• A relaxer highly suitable for my hair- I don't plan on going natural anytime soon. I love the state of my hair being relaxed so I might as well get a really good hair relaxer that will make me smile from ear to ear on relaxer days.[SUGGEST SOME BELOW!]

• Bamboo leaf tea-said to contain high levels of silica and makes hair and nails strong. Count me in!

9. What do you wish you knew before your hhj?
To keep it simple, I wish i knew everything i know now. 

10. Encourage someone also on a hhj.
It's never too late to start caring for your hair. There's no hair that's beyond redemption.there's nothing like terrible,horrible,no good very bad hair.every hair can grow and be healthy. It just needs TLC.
Invest in your hair-time and money. If you are new to it all and the journey is overwhelming,know you will get a hang of it pretty soon and life will be such a breeze on most days. Be consistent with hair care,stay positive and lastly be realistic about your hair goals. It doesn't grow all long and healthy in a month.

I really hope you enjoyed getting to know about Kirsty's journey like I did. Do check out her blog blackhairspice.blogspot.com

Stay Awesome,
 

January in Retrospect & Feb. Plans

I have decided to do posts about the past month. What happened in the past month; purchases if any, new processes and basically a summary of the month.

In January 2015:

• I had my hair in cornrows except on wash days. I used a wig on the days when I had to leave the house.

• I did the inversion method in the beginning of the month with my oil mix (olive oil, castor oil and peppermint oil)

• I bought 2 deep conditioners “Dark and Lovely Rejuvenating Treatment Hair Mask” and “KUZA Cholesterol.” I also ordered for “Aussie Moist 3 minute miracle” but I am yet to receive that.

• I bought a Hair Therapy Heat Cap/Turban with my Christmas money and I absolutely love it.

• I tried a/an oil rinse with coconut oil.

My Plan for February:

• No product purchase
• Continue with wigging it till the month ends
• Start back on Hairfinity once I get settled in school
• Do Inversion [I started toady – 2/2/2015]

Stay Awesome!

YAYRA DIRECTS!!!!!

 Hey! It is time for another feature, and I am really glad that I am featuring this lady because her hair is beyond inspiring. She is a real , "started from the bottom." I hope you learn something from her journey. Remember consistency is key.

1. Your hair is........(relaxed includes texlaxed, natural, loc'd)
(Include how you started your journey)

Am relaxed and started my HHJ in July 2013. I was almost neck length by then. I wanted to get a hair product to make my hair thick since it was very light, then I came accross T444z on the internet and decided to try it. I was loving it so I decided to concentrate more on my hair to achieve my aim.‎

2. What's your current length? 
Am between armpit length and bra strap length now and 23 weeks post relaxer.

3. How long have you been on a hhj and how long did it take to get to your current length? 
Am a year and half on my HHJ. I got to my current length by reading more about how to care for the hair on the internet and help from friends and loved ones.

4. What's your daily and weekly regimen like? 
I moisturize and seal daily, then wash my hair once a week.

5. How do you like to wear your hair? ( i.e your go to protective style)
I really like weaves as my protective style. I havn't braided for like 2yrs now, always in weaves.

Her Ponytail!!!!!

6.  Have you suffered a setback on your journey? How did you deal with it? If no, what's the one setback you would like to avoid? And how are you avoiding it?
Fortunately for me no setback since I started HHJ and I would like to avoid hair breakage, I think deep conditioning, protein treatment and hot oil treatment are are helping me with that.

7. Are you on any diet or are  taking any vitamins to promote healthy hair growth?
I drink a lot of water, eat more fruits and vegetables n exercise(not often).

She's almost BSL!!!!!

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

• Castor oil (it really promotes the thickness of the hair)  
• CON argan oil shampoo and conditioner ( it works magic)  
• Cantu shea butter ( I just love it) 
• Extra virgin olive oil ( I love the shine it brings to the hair.....it also promotes rapid growth)
•  ORS hair repair ( I love the smell and it prevents breakage).

9. What do you wish you knew before your hhj?
I wish I started HHJ from the scratch.

Started from the bottom for real!!!!

10. Encourage someone also on a hhj.
 Your hair needs more concerntration and care in order to attain awesome results. Drink more water and avoid junk foods.

Stay motivated on your healthy hair journey, love your hair and you'll see results too!
Stay Awesome!

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,