**pictures**

Teresa wrote: Hey Carmela, I checked out your pictures, they look great. I was wondering, what are flexi-rods & how do you use them. I have naturally curly hair w/tight ringlets an inch below my chin. I've been trying to think of ways to get my curls a couple of perm-rod sizes larger (like a quarter wide). If you or anyone reading this has a suggestion let me know, thanks. Teresa tresa80@hotmail.com

Yes, I would like to know what flexi rods are too. I looked around at the beauty supply store and only found long perm rods (they are like a hard rubber material long and hollow and one end fastens into the other end forming a circle after you`re done rolling your hair) the attendant never heard of flexirods, are flexirods like perm rods or are they something entirely different? And how many do you use? Please let me know because that hair style is gorgeous, I love the curly look but the only way I can achieve this is to air dry my hair(which gives it a crinkle look and can get poofy sometimes--Yes I do have a perm) or to use a curling iron(which I stopped doing a while ago because it is too much heat). I`d appreciate a response. Thank you for even more inspiration to keep growing and taking good care of my hair!!!

All the vitamins come separately. I buy different brands of vitamins. Not just one. I take 2000 mg of msm and there is another 500mg in my ultranourish. Biotin I take an addtl 1200mcg plus my ultranourish has 1200mcg. I know other people take more, but that`s good enough for me. You body will excrete what you don`t need.

Don`t think that a lye relaxer is any stronger than a no-lye relaxer. It`s not. They both probably have the same strength but both use 2 different straightening chemicals. Lye relaxers sodium hydroxide and no-lye relaxers use a calcium based straightener. The lye relaxer is actually less drying to the hair. My hair isn`t straighter than a no-lye, but it f e e l s different. It has more movement, more bounce, more life. You shouldn`t strive for bone straight hair anyway. But it does straighten hair a little faster than a no-lye. I also had to work less, less combing and smoothing, than with a no-lye. I got no scalp burns, and no more breakage or shedding than what is normal. Relax hair when needed, wether it`s with a lye or no-lye relaxer. And again, lye is no STRONGER than no-lye, they just use different straightening agents.
I love the ultranourishair. I hope you like it. When I first started taking vitamins I took that, msm and evening primrose oil. Those are good starters. Biotin, horsetail and flaxseed oil, and calcium are good too. And don`t forget a multivitamin, you need that for overall health, not just your hair.
Hope this info helps.

Caramela,
Thank you for the info. Do you relax your hair yourself with the lye relaxer, if so what extra precautions should be taken when using such a strong relaxer? Do you feel your hair has been straighter since switching to a lye relaxer? My natural hair is an s-formation and is very course, which causes me to have to relax my hair every 4-to 5 weeks, do you think that is too soon for a lye relaxer. I bought, and have been using the Ultra Nourishair vitamins, that you suggested, what other vitamins are you taking and are you taking them in one vitamin or separately. Thanks for your help. You can also email me at AprilQT18@aol.com

You`re right, about hair being more complex than imagined. B/c before I started learning about hair care on the internet, I had a lot of misconceptions and misinformation. I used a regular relaxer. I worked nicely. I`m glad to hear that you like the vitamins, along with helping your hair grow, they add overall health benefits as well. Happy growing.

Rabia wrote: Carmela, Your hair looks great. I just bought the Ultra Nourishair vitamin, that you talked about. And I am using Wild Growth Hair Oil. I was wondering what relaxer you were using. I am currently using Affirm. My hair looks smooth and straight during the first week of my relaxer, after that the ends tend to get curly looking, even when I go to the hair dresser for a wash and set. My hair is mid-neck length, and I am trying to grow it out. Do you think it is damaging to have the hair dressers set hair in rollers, then blow dry it with a round brush, the curl it with a curling iron? It looks great my edges are starting to have 1 inch long pixie spikes where the hair has broken from the round brush. What should I do, to get my hair healthy and long? Sorry for all the questions, but your hair length and health is my goal.

I am currently using Motions lye relaxer, I just tried it and I really loved it. I took a chance, b/c I was using Gentle Treatment, no-lye and really loved that, but I love this 10x better. Imagine that! That blowdrying with the round brush is murder on your hair, really, and if you can get her to stop, please do! The curling iron? Now, I know you know better than that, stop putting all that heat on your precious hair girl! I`m little miss anti-curling irons and blowdryers! I suggest either asking your current stylist to accomodate you and if she can`t , learn to do your own hair. I do my own, and I save money, headache and hair breakage!

Hey Carmela,
I checked out your pictures, they look great. I was wondering, what are flexi-rods & how do you use them. I have naturally curly hair w/tight ringlets an inch below my chin. I`ve been trying to think of ways to get my curls a couple of perm-rod sizes larger (like a quarter wide). If you or anyone reading this has a suggestion let me know, thanks.
Teresa
tresa80@hotmail.com

Carmela, your hair is beautiful. You are truly an inspiration. Thanks you for sharing the pics!

Shaun
NYC

Have you ever used Shen Min? I have been hearing so many great things about Ultra Nourishair that I am thinking of switching? Also, when did you first see results after starting your vitamin routine? I know that it takes time for good things to happen.

Caramela,
Are you taking all of those vitamins at once? I would like to try a hair vitamin. Previously, I was taking pre-natal vitamins, but the iron level got to the point that it was more than I needed; therefore, my doctor said he could lower the dosage and give me a new prescription. I decided to stop taking them since I was using them primarily to grow my hair. I`ve never tried a hair vitamin before, but I am using wildgrowth hair oil. That product is awesome. However, on top of my oil, I would like to take an all natural hair vitamin.