My hair is now 100% relaxer-free

Last Relaxer: September 2006
Hair Type 4a
Current Length: Close to APL (stretched) Neck-length (unstretched)
Current Style: Full Weave done on Oct. 20th 2008
As of Oct 2008, I am 2 years and 1 month relaxer-free

*I didn't start taking pics again until June 2007
*Currently wearing weaves while growing out hair
*I like sleek, polished looks so I will wear my hair straight 99% of the time and I'm not scared of the heat (for my hair)
*Transitioned for about 9 months before cutting most of the relaxed ends

Current Length: Close to APL (stretched) Neck-length (unstretched)
Current Style: Full Weave done on Oct. 20th 2008
As of Oct 2008, I am 2 years and 1 month relaxer-free

*I didn't start taking pics again until June 2007
*Currently wearing weaves while growing out hair
*I like sleek, polished looks so I will wear my hair straight 99% of the time and I'm not scared of the heat (for my hair)
*Transitioned for about 9 months before cutting most of the relaxed ends

I'm currently wearing weaves to grow out my relaxer-free hair.

I wear them for about 2-3 months at a time

My wonderful weave stylist is Breon (www.fotki.com/breon)

It's really nice to not have to do my own weaves now and it's a plus that she treats my hair just like I treat my own (I trained her also). I got tired of doing my own hair all the time.

It's really nice to not have to do my own weaves now and it's a plus that she treats my hair just like I treat my own (I trained her also). I got tired of doing my own hair all the time.

My current regimen:
I have been wearing wigs, full weaves and full-head weaves since my last relaxer in Sept 2006 to help grow my hair out without relaxers.

I wear the weaves 2 to 3 months at a time (my roots do not tangle or get matted)

Spray Nadia Moisture Mist to braids underneath once per week

Spray Hydratherma Naturals Follicle Invigorator to scalp once or twice per week

Shampoo entire weave every 2 weeks, deep conditioner or treatment on braids

Shampoo or conditioner wash leave-out hair once per week, protein treatment or moisturizing treatment

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Products that I use and what I use them for:

Prenatal Vitamins - for my pregnancy - but I believe they're working nicely for my hair as well

Joico Moisture Recovery Shampoo and Conditioner - My staple shampoo and conditioner for all of my shampoo days

Lisa Akbari Cleansing shampoo - Use whenever I need to clarify

Sebastian Penetrait Protein Treatment - Use whenever I need a stronger protein treatment for leave-out hair

Hydratherma Naturals Amino Protein Treatment - Use on leave-out hair or braids underneath weave whenever I need mild protein; AWESOME slip

Hydratherma Naturals Follicle Invigorator - spray on scalp about twice per week to stimulate hair follicles for growth

Joico Kpak Smoothing Balm - use on leave-out hair before blow-drying and pressing-comb; it's a heat-protectant

Nadia (shescentit.com) Moisture Mist spray - to moisturize braids underneath the weave, GREAT deodorizer too - it makes your hair smell nice and fresh for about a week after just one use

Nadia Green Grape Leave-in spray - used as a leave-in for the braids after shampooing my weave

Mizani Hydrafuse Intense Moisturizing Treatment

Castor Oil - use on my edges and I'll use a little to press my hair sometimes

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*My decision to "go natural" was not really intentional at first. During the latter part of 2006 I grew tired of doing my relaxer retouches. I couldn't seem to find a stylist that I could trust to do them for me and I got tired of sitting in stylists' chair just to be disappointed by how they treated me, my time, and my hair. So I kind of let my hair "go" for a few months. My hair was looking pretty rough, although I was wearing wigs (I made the wigs myself). So one day (at about 7 months post-relaxer) I looked at my relaxed hair and thought "Oh my, this is ridiculous".... and at that point I had about 3.5 inches of new growth. That day I decided to just go for it and cut off ALL but 1 inch or so of the relaxed hair. From then on I began to somewhat "build a relationship" with my natural hair. I say "somewhat" because I am going to wear my hair in a straight state 99% of the time. So I only really deal with my kinky hair whenever I shampoo and blowdry.

I don't get wrapped up in the natural vs true-natural debates. I simply consider myself to be a person who has non-chemically relaxed hair that I straighten by other means on a regular basis - simple as that.

*When I press my hair for the first time after a shampoo, I prefer to use a straightening comb and oven. If I need to touch it up during the week, then I use a ceramic flat iron with the temp set at about 250.

*I use warm heat (ceramic flat iron) approximately once or twice per week if needbe. I hadn't experienced any damage(breakage) with the heat UNTIL I colored the top of my hair in May 2008. I kinda went overboard with the lightening process....I lightened it too light (honey blonde), then I had to tone it back down with a chestnut brown demi-permanent color. So now I'm extra careful with the heat since my hair is colored and I've upped the frequency of treatments so that portion of my hair is doing okay now.

*My last relaxer was September 2006. I transitioned for about 7-9 months before I cut off all of the relaxed hair.

I wear the weaves 2 to 3 months at a time (my roots do not tangle or get matted)

Spray Nadia Moisture Mist to braids underneath once per week

Spray Hydratherma Naturals Follicle Invigorator to scalp once or twice per week

Shampoo entire weave every 2 weeks, deep conditioner or treatment on braids

Shampoo or conditioner wash leave-out hair once per week, protein treatment or moisturizing treatment

---------------------------------------------------------------
Products that I use and what I use them for:

Prenatal Vitamins - for my pregnancy - but I believe they're working nicely for my hair as well

Joico Moisture Recovery Shampoo and Conditioner - My staple shampoo and conditioner for all of my shampoo days

Lisa Akbari Cleansing shampoo - Use whenever I need to clarify

Sebastian Penetrait Protein Treatment - Use whenever I need a stronger protein treatment for leave-out hair

Hydratherma Naturals Amino Protein Treatment - Use on leave-out hair or braids underneath weave whenever I need mild protein; AWESOME slip

Hydratherma Naturals Follicle Invigorator - spray on scalp about twice per week to stimulate hair follicles for growth

Joico Kpak Smoothing Balm - use on leave-out hair before blow-drying and pressing-comb; it's a heat-protectant

Nadia (shescentit.com) Moisture Mist spray - to moisturize braids underneath the weave, GREAT deodorizer too - it makes your hair smell nice and fresh for about a week after just one use

Nadia Green Grape Leave-in spray - used as a leave-in for the braids after shampooing my weave

Mizani Hydrafuse Intense Moisturizing Treatment

Castor Oil - use on my edges and I'll use a little to press my hair sometimes

---------------------------------------------------------------
*My decision to "go natural" was not really intentional at first. During the latter part of 2006 I grew tired of doing my relaxer retouches. I couldn't seem to find a stylist that I could trust to do them for me and I got tired of sitting in stylists' chair just to be disappointed by how they treated me, my time, and my hair. So I kind of let my hair "go" for a few months. My hair was looking pretty rough, although I was wearing wigs (I made the wigs myself). So one day (at about 7 months post-relaxer) I looked at my relaxed hair and thought "Oh my, this is ridiculous".... and at that point I had about 3.5 inches of new growth. That day I decided to just go for it and cut off ALL but 1 inch or so of the relaxed hair. From then on I began to somewhat "build a relationship" with my natural hair. I say "somewhat" because I am going to wear my hair in a straight state 99% of the time. So I only really deal with my kinky hair whenever I shampoo and blowdry.

I don't get wrapped up in the natural vs true-natural debates. I simply consider myself to be a person who has non-chemically relaxed hair that I straighten by other means on a regular basis - simple as that.

*When I press my hair for the first time after a shampoo, I prefer to use a straightening comb and oven. If I need to touch it up during the week, then I use a ceramic flat iron with the temp set at about 250.

*I use warm heat (ceramic flat iron) approximately once or twice per week if needbe. I hadn't experienced any damage(breakage) with the heat UNTIL I colored the top of my hair in May 2008. I kinda went overboard with the lightening process....I lightened it too light (honey blonde), then I had to tone it back down with a chestnut brown demi-permanent color. So now I'm extra careful with the heat since my hair is colored and I've upped the frequency of treatments so that portion of my hair is doing okay now.

*My last relaxer was September 2006. I transitioned for about 7-9 months before I cut off all of the relaxed hair.

Pictures of my real hair from 2001 to 2005

These photos are showing how I wrap my hair up at night into a bun underneath my favorite type of satin scarf. (Since some of you have inquired about this)

I use the "Christina Satin Nights" brand. In my opinion, this is the best scarf to use at night because it stays on all night - most of the time. And it protects your hair.

These cost about $2.69 a pack at Sally's or other beauty supply stores. They come in many colors: Black, Brown, Pink, Green, Beige, Burgundy, Purple, and more.

Nights" brand. In my opinion, this is the best scarf to use at night because it stays on all night - most of the time. And it protects your hair.

These cost about $2.69 a pack at Sally's or other beauty supply stores. They come in many colors: Black, Brown, Pink, Green, Beige, Burgundy, Purple, and more.