MsDirection HHJC: Check In

Hey Lovelies! Happy Saturday! This in the last check in for February and this means we are done with 2 months of the challenge and left with 4 more months. Also I hope we have all adhered to the mini no heat challenge, and have stayed away from heat altogether with the exception of using the heat passes. (We have 3 heat passes till the no heat challenge ends.)

This week's challenge is focused on staying inspired or motivated. In order to make your hair journey successful, it is important that you stay inspired so as to not give up on your hair journey. Many times after a person has been on a hair journey for a while, the kind of zeal that was started with tends to fade as there is no motivation. This causes ''hhj-ers'' to get lazy and non chalant.

How To Stay Motivated

• Set a goal and create a vision board. The vision board can include a picture of a length goal or a hairstyle you cannot achieve due to the state of your hair. The vision board can include encouraging words like "I can have gorgeous hair too", ''My Hair grows too'' and must be strategically placed so that you come into contact with it often. Vision boards are a great way to maintain focus and gain motivation.
• Join hair care forums or groups, or create one. I have been in a Whatsapp group bout hair care for close to 2 years now, and every time, the members come up with links and pictures and stories and the stories and pictures are a great reminder that I'm on a hair journey. The group members also encourage other members and give advice based on their experiences too.
• Join Hair Care Challenges. At the start of the year, and even at the start of each quarter, challenges are being started all over the internet. Some with end prizes and some without. Joining challenges is another good way of motivating yourself to strive forward.
• Read Hair Care Blogs. The successes and setbacks of hair bloggers have been put publicly to inspire readers and educate readers. Take advantage of it. Some hair blogs like this one has hair features which usually include progress/comparison pictures. Reading such blog posts in your spare time is enough to encourage a person.
• Get a hair buddy! Someone with the same goals as you, and with similar lengths. Working with someone is always always better.

Check In Queestions

1. How do you stay inspired/motivated on your HHJ?
2. Do you have a hairspiration, or quote that keeps you going? 

My answers; I use vision boards, hair challenges and the hair buddy system to stay inspired. I am also in awesome groups with lovely ladies that keep me going. My current hairsipirations are Kirsty of blackhairspice.blogspot.com, my hair buddy Shona Lee and group member Fatima. I always say "First they will laugh then they'll copy. There's no room for negatiivity on my journey."

Stay Awesome,

Ms.Direction - HHJC Check in 5!

Hey lovelies!

Hope you are well. Last week due to matters beyond my control, there was no check in. I hope our hair wasn’t neglected though. We are skipping right to week 5.

PROTECTIVE STYLES

Protective styles are a great way of keeping your hair under wraps and away from the usual antagonists of our hair  progress like, wind, our cotton clothes, using the comb daily, and others. Protective styles include weaves, wigs, cornrows, buns, twists, box braids and may be with or without artificial hair extensions, Protective styling done according to hair needs is a good way of retaining length as well as taking care of your hair despite a busy schedule.  

TIPS FOR GETTING THE BEST OUT OF YOUR PROTECTIVE STYLE

• Consider your lifestyle before deciding on a protective style. If you have a bus lifestyle, you might want something that you feel you can care for long enough and is fairly easy to care for.

• Consider your hair needs and problem areas. If your edges are a problem, you might consider wigs over weaves and weaves over braids to avoid the tugging on the edges. And you might have to go for big braids instead of small braids to avoid tiny knots which cannot be undone.

• Regardless of what choice you make, your protective styles should never be too tight.

• Your protective style must give you access to your scalp. This is especially necessary for weaves/sew-ins.

• Before setting out to protective style, set a regimen or plan for the weeks or days you’ll have the style in. Note that, protective styles are not an excuse to neglect your hair. Hair care still goes on. It’s just a means to an end,

• Make sure you always pick a style that works for you. Not one that cause any damage to your hair. If it causes damage it is NOT protecting.

CHECK-IN QUESTIONS

1. What is your favourite/go to protective style?
2. Do you care for your hair in your protective styles? How?

 Stay Awesome,
 

MsDirection: HHJC Check in 3

Check in week 3. 21 weeks to go. I hope we are sticking to the challenge rules and giving our hair the love it needs.

Moisturizing 101

What is a moisturizer? It is a hair product that is applied to the hair strands to return moisture that has been lost. It is a product used to combat dryness of hair stands.

Importance of keeping hair moisturized.

• Well moisturized hair is less prone to breakage
• Well moisturized hair is more manageable
• Well moisturized hair looks good.

Finding a good moisturizer.

• A good moisturizer must be water based. Water is the best thing to return moisture to the hair. Make sure water is a part of the first three ingredients on your moisturizer.
• Avoid products that have mineral oil, parabens or petroleum
• Avoid products which contain drying alcohols like ethanol, porpanol and SD alcohol.
• For hair that feels too mushy or frail, look for products with proteins
• For protein sensitive hair, look for products that contain just one protein, or none at all.

Some easily found moisturizers

• ORS Olive Oil Moisturizer
• Elasta QP Olive oil and Mango Butter
• African Pride Shea Butter Miracle lotion
•  Beautiful Textures Moisture Butter
• CON Argan Oil Moisturizer
• ORS HAIRepair Anti Breakage Crème
• ORS HAIRepair Anti Moisture Crème

Check in Questions

What is your favourite Moisturizer?

How often do you moisturize?

My check in: My favourite moisturizer is the Elasta QP Olive Oil and Mango Butter, and I moisturize my hair daily. Depending on my hair needs, once or twice in a day.

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,