My Protective Style Update!

Hi Ladies...




a couple of months ago, I posted about the protective style challenge I had set myself, well it lasted about a month in the braids, maybe a bit longer.  I decided to switch up the style and a do a long term weave for a couple pf month instead, WHY?  


I think the main reason was styling choices, I love to wear hats and I have a big head, (as my mother always tells me, when you were a baby you couldn't hold your own head up it was so big lol!)  so I find it easier to wear a hat with a weave.  I did the weave myself and I was quite pleased with the results.

Braids: Note the the big MELON HEAD!

These are my 'Healthy Weaving Rules'


these rules are what I follow  whilst doing  the weave and whilst I am in the weave, and I am a long-period weaver!  


I can wear a weave in my hair for up to 5 1/2 months with no breakage!  just growth.  I love the Growth I get from my weave!

WEAVE GROWTH- No Joke...its crazy thick up there!

My Healthy WEAVE RULES and Process:

Disclaimer:  these tips work on my hair, I am not in any way suggesting the same will work for anyone else, please do only what you feel comfortable with.

• Prepare your hair for the hibernation!  just like a bear who hibernates during the winter months will stock-pile his nuts and berries or is it squirrels?  one of the two anyway lol!  I prepare my hair for the weave hibernation, by doing a protein treatment first.  I want to ensure my hair is strengthened for the weave install.

• My treatment of choice...since I LOVE all things that emanate from the earth, I will use HENNA!  it works  for me so why break the habit!

HENNA head:  Excuse the glum face!

• I will then do a deep conditioner, my internal conditioning treatment.  The henna can be drying,so I will  then DC with my Deep conditioner mix.

• I then let my hair air-dry!  I am not that keen on the blow-dryer.

• I will braid my hair in no less than 10 braids ' Leroy FAME style'  for the younger readers I mean, straight back.  I had a stylist last year braid my hair in a spiral, and I hated it, it was too much manipulation for my poor strands!

• I contribute the health of my hair during the weave, or some of it to this braiding method.  

• As the braids are thick and few, the foundation for my weave is strong.  Breakage occurs when the hair is braided thinly and then its pulled and tugged by an over-zealous stylist who tries to sew the weave hair in for eternity!

My Wonky 'DIY' BRAIDS!

• I will then sew the ends of my hair together at the back and across my head.  I need to access my scalp when in my weave, this is ESSENTIAL!

• The weave is then sewn on in a U-shape, starting at the back of my head.

My hair is thick, so I do not braid too tightly, 

• I do not mind that the braids are not the neatest, the main thing is my scalp is not being tightly pulled and I can access my scalp to oil and massage it nightly!

Thats basically it!

Maintenance:

I oil my scalp nightly using my SCALP Hydration Serum and my ROOT Energizer these oil ensure my hair growth is always THICK!

I will Wash and condition my hair weekly, and also do an oils rinse every other day to maintain the moisture in my braided hair.  I use olive oil and it works for me!

Its essential to keep your scalp clean whilst clean and hydrated whilst in the weave, this will give you the best possible chance of growing healthier hair.

Please check-out my selling scalp oil, www.root2tip.com, If you have ever suffered with the syndrome known to black women as ' Head knocking, where by you proceed to hit yourself in the head to relive an itchy spot you can't get to under the weave or wig!  

You will love the the SCALP Hydration Serum, it relieves all  weave, wig or braid associated itchies and grows your hair too!  

Weave Take-down tips!

1. Take your time and slowly loosen each row of cornrow and apply conditioner to each section and detangle, then twist.
2. Continue this until all the cornrowed braids are loosened.
3. Give your hair a wash and then follow-up with a protein treatment, the hair if it has been weaved up as long up as mine, will need strengthening again.
4. Take your time!
5. Do not be alarmed by the hair that sheds, this is a natural process, you have not combed your hair from weeks/months so this is normal!
6. Give your hair a rest, just leave it alone for a week or two.  

Most Important!

The rule is to really rest your hair for the same amount of time that you were weaved up for.  For some people who usually weave back-to-back, failing to do this rest period, may be the reason behind you not seeing thick healthy hair growth  in a weave!

NEVER, NEVER RELAX HAIR FRESH FROM A WEAVE...this is hair HOMICIDE!  especially if your hair is dehydrated.  If you can't wear your hair out, rest it under a wig, hat or scarf, but please let it be!

Please leave me a comment or question!!

www.root2tip.com

Premium Natural haircare For men, Women and children, 

1

Protective Style your way to LONG hair this YEAR!

Hi Ladies,

I have been very busy over the past 12 months with my fam, business and just life in itself on the hamster wheel, do you ever get the feeling you are just running and running, not even stopping for water!  thats me alot of the time.

Anyhow, I vow that in 2011, I will update my blog alot more regularly, and let you guys know what I am doing with my hair!  and if what I do to my hair, helps you with your hair then I am doing my job!

God is Great so if he is willing, I will do my best!

I want to start with a 2010 round up of what I did to my hair last year.

The hairstory so far!!

I have been transitioning from a tex-lax I did a couple of years back that allowed me to grow my hair down to near enough waist length but , I was not to pleased with the tex-lax texture...it was great at ending the single strand knots, but I just didn't like the texture I had, so I grew it out.

My tex-laxed hair!- I did not like the frizzy texture!

I was not going to big chop, so I just wore protective styles over the next 2 years and chopped the ends each time I had significant growth.  My hair grows quite predictably, so I probably get around 1/2 inch a month of growth, this is maximised by my fantastic hair oils I make and now sell!  www.root2tip.com check them out ladies!

So what is a protective style?

A protective style is a style that allows your hair to grow and rest but at the same time it 'protects your strand' from the daily wear and tear your hair usually goes through.

Protective styles include:

• Braids- with exstensions are best! 

• Weaves, (on braided hair that is not too toghtly cornrowed)

• Wigs ( I tried this for a while but my hair is thick and since I don't have time to cornrow it that often I don't    usually last that long in this form of protective!! 
• Twists- natural hair or with exstensions ( I prefer exstensions my hair is less likely to tangle this way)

Halfway through my braids! My head is big it takes a while!!

How long do you wear the PROTECTIVE STYLE for?

I usually wear my protective style for maybe between 3-5 months at at time!!  Wow - thats long I have heard many a lady say, doesn't your hair mat?  break, get dry? 

The quick answer to such questions is; yes, no and yes.   It will matt to some degree at the root where it's growing out, my last weave gave me 3 inches of hair growth so there was a little matting, but nothing a gentle touch and a ton of olive oil couldn't loosen!

No, I do not get any breakage, I treat my hair the same whether it's in a protective style or out. the same answer in respect of dryness, my hair drinks water, I have to wash my scalp every other day!

(DISCLAIMER!  I would not reccomend anyone else do the same, but it works for me due to the way I mange my hair whilst in the protective!)

Why do you keep it in a protective style for so long??

I am very committed to the kind of hair that I want, and I have always loved having longer hair, (however I now appreciate ' long hair is in the eye of the beholder, what's long hair to you, may not be long hair to me!)

Long hair to me is full waist length hair, is this an impossible dream to attain- No, especially if you are committed to your goals!

I also like the 'Kinder' surprise effect, in relation to the amount of hair growth I can achieve by just leaving my hair to 'GROW OUT' like a weed in the garden that is my scalp.  

I maximise my GROWTH using two oils, I use the SCALP Hydration Serum, 3-4 times a week and I use the ROOT Energizer 1 x a week.  I have been using this combo of oil for nearly 4 years now and my hair has never been healthier! 

My 2010 weave hair growth, 3 inches of hair in 5 months!

Feed your scalp to MAXIMISE hair GROWTH!!

Its so important to Nourish the roots of your scalp to ensure your roots continue to produce healthy hair.  My scalp loves to drink oils, if I don't oil and massage her for a day or so, she starts talking to me...feed me...feed me!!  its no joke!  my scalp loves to be HYDRATED!!  and why shouldn't she, the hair might be dead,  but the roots are most definitely alive!!

A Dry scalp = Slow to no hair growth!

Too many women I meet around the country whilst doing promotional launch days for my products, when I ask them...' what do you nourish your scalp with?  say ' Nothing or a bit of grease', the next question I ask is ' how often do you grease your scalp?  they then say...after a pause or two, 'not very often, so when I link their thinning hair or scalp problem to this very reason, (failure to nourish the hair roots).

I then go through the analogy God has blessed me with...a gardner will always pay attention to the roots of his crops to get them to grow healthy, he will ensure the roots are nourished and hydrated to maintain growth, this is when the penny drops!  So ladies we are all in the same boat.  

Women you do not have to acept a dry, flaky, itchy scalp, thinning hair or breaking hair!

My solution is quite simple!  Oil your scalp, massage it, keep her clean and she will produce the crops of hair you have always wanted!!

My hair after being in a weave for 5 months!  No Breakage! I trimmed a couple of inches.

If you look at any picture of my hair from now till 4 years back, the common thread you will notice since I have been using the SCALP Hydration Serum and the ROOT Energizer, is the THICKNESS of my ROOTS.  I treat my scalp like a field and cultivate my roots, to produce the crops of hair I want and desire!!

Winter Protective style almost completed- damn my Melon sized head!!

Cultivate YOUR own HAIR CROPS this YEAR!!

So ladies, tell me how will you be ensuring your hair is the way in which you desire it to be??  Its no good wanting something without working for it!!  God says 'if you ask it will be done'.  I am in LOVE with GOD!!  he always blesses my heart with its desires and I try to carry out his work! (but I do put the work in trust me!!)

I love helping women to get ' Healthier hair' and I am on a mission to get us all to love OUR real hair again, that is my passion, my product line will give you the hair you desire if you are consistent, show your hair RESPECT! and TLC! 

I will not stop until the ROOT2TiP Hairvolution, is in full swing!!

Healthy hair is there for the taking...how much do you REALLY want it??

My SCALP's Guilty Pleasure...she gets drunk on these two oils lol!!

www.ROOT2TiP.COM


Scalp oils 100% Natural & shipped internationally

The Power of a Deep Conditioner...

Part 1) Deep Conditioning: How to feed your hair?

How often do you deep condition your hair? once every 2 weeks, once a month?

I do it once a week and I attribute this key-step in my regime to keeping my hair healthy.

My motto is: 'conditioner is a curls best friend' make it yours too!

There is no other single process you can do to your hair whether it is relaxed or natural that will:

a) Strengthen it more
b) make it more shiny and
c) make it generally more healthy- than a good old deep condition or DC!

This is one of my favourites!! it strengthens and adds moisture with a great smell too!

How to deep condition your hair?

• If you want to, you can wash your hair first. I simply rinse it out well and gently squeeze out the excess water with a soft towel, I do not always shampoo before hand- its not always necessary!

• Generously apply your deep conditioner to damp hair towel blotted hair, slather it on and focus on the ends. Work through with your fingers, or use a wide toothed comb to work through your hair. This is the only time I ever use a comb or brush on my wet conditioned hair. Otherwise, only use your fingers.

• Place the shower cap over hair, and then put the heating device on your head for a full 30-45 minutes. You need at least 30 minutes to allow the hair cuticle to open fully, and let the conditioner completely penetrate and feed your hair.

• After 30+ minutes or longer, (you could leave the conditioner on at this point, even all night after heating), take off your cap and let your hair cool for at least 5 minutes. This allows your hair shaft to close again.

• Rinse hair with warm water until about 80% of the conditioner is rinsed out.
  
• Do a final rinse with the coldest water you can stand. This is important to seal your hair shaft and get all the benefits of your deep conditioning treatment.

• Apply a leave-on conditioner and allow your hair to air dry.
  
• Do not wash your hair the next day. Give your hair a break after a deep conditioning for at least 24 hours.

• I suggest deep conditioning weekly. The week-ends are best for me.
  
  By doing this, your hair will will become healthier and shinier. It will regain its softness, and retain length. Moisture-robbed hair is more subject to breakage and unmanageability.
  
  

My 5 ***** Dream Conditioner wish-list:

These conditioners are great for relaxed and natural hair- but you need to fly 1000's of miles to get them as they are not sold in the UK! boo hoo ;(

One of my favourite Dominican conditioners...this will give your hair slip like you have never felt before.

Yet another favourite from the Dominicans- a fabulous product...

This one is out of this world! once you have tried it you will wonder where it has been all your life- it delivers unreal moisture to the dryest hair.

Natural Alternatives:

If your at home and do not have a deep conditioner to hand, then have a rummage around your kitchen cupboard and dig up some of these ingredients to condition your hair with:

1. Mayonnaise - this is excellent to use as a protein conditioner, add some honey to it to make it super moisturising
2. Avocado - Mash up one of these with some honey to add some moisture to dry tresses, do not use heat, just cover your head with a plastic cap
3. Eggs - Whisk up a couple of these to strengthen your strands, do not use any heat- unless you want fried egg in your hair!!
4. Honey & Olive oil - warm a mixture of these two together, apply to your head and cover with a cap for a super moisturising treat!

The key to conditioning is to ensure to use products that strengthen and moisturise your strands...so if you have no real DC to hand think out of the box or the kitchen to be precise!

The *DEEP Conditioning Challenge!

Ladies as the summer comes to an end and the humidity lessens, your hair will become dryer as we turn the heating up and start wearing our hats again.
So why not challenge yourself to up the moisture levels and improve the health of your tresses over the next 2 months!

Join us at http://www.grow-it-long.ning.com/ as we take part in our Deep Condition challenge.

It will be fun to see how your hair responds: start date is September 1st ending on November 1st, you can also join by clicking the purple GROW LONG HAIR button at the top of the page on the right hand side.

The health of your hair lays in your hands...take responsibility for it!

Peace & Blessings
xx