Hi Ladies - I need some help again.  I've have 3b hair and have been relaxer free since late July/early August, so about 5 months.  I love the new growth (about 3 inches now) and I so want to cut off the relaxed part of my hair.

I started using Nioxin in August or September I think and my hair was breaking less, but then it started to break excessively (could have been from stress and lack of care because my son was very ill for some time).  I went to the salon in November 7 for a hair cut.  My hair was about 3 inches from bra strap length at the time and the guy cut it to above my shoulders.  I was expecting that because of the damage, but then I cut about 2 more inches myself about 2 weeks later.  It has grown back to almost where it was when the guy at the salon cut it, which is good, but the two textures are putting a lot of stress on my hair.

This is what I'm doing right now:
1. Aveda damage shampoo/conditioner, at the request of the salon (twice a week)

2. L'oreal kiwi spray (kinda like a heat protectant) - whenever I flat iron which is like every 2 weeks, at the request of the salon

3.  Cantu Shea Butter Leave-in Conditioning Repair Cream and Sofn'Free n'Pretty Olive Oil Detangler after washing to help detangle and a few times a week (or when I think about it) at night for moisture

4.  Doo Gro Mega Thick after washing and a few times a week or when I think about it

5.  ACV rinse monthly

6.  Nioxin hair vitamins when I think about it

I think that's it.  I'm pretty sure I need to completely change my routine and I need help, but I don't know what to do.  I don't know if I should be buying all these expensive shampoos/conditioners or if I should just go back to using Head and Shoulders and LeKair mayo conditioner like I used to some years ago!  Please help me 'cause if I cut the relaxed part of my hair, I want to be able to keep my natural hair as healthy as possible.  I had thin edges that have even begun to grow back after having no relaxer.  I love the way my hair looks and I don't plan to relax again, but I need to make sure I am ready for this task.  Everyday, I contemplate buying a relaxer, but I don't want to go through that.  I feel I've made progress 'cause this is the first time I've gone longer than 4 weeks without a relaxer.  Also, I never realized how curly my hair was until now - I always called it "nappy" and "bad".

I know you guys are good - I've seen a lot of you ladies progress, so if you can come up with some plan I can follow, I promise I will buy what you suggest and follow it like you're my doctors!  I need suggestions on shampoo, conditioners (everyday & deep), daily moisturizers, oils, homemade recipes, whatever!  If anyone needs to know anything else, please ask.  I will keep checking back for responses!  Oh, by the way, would it be safe to cut the relaxed part & get micro braids?  Thanks

Hello Kbaby.  It sounds like you have a fairly decent regimin.  Personally I don't buy really expensive shampoo's,  I just use something that dosen't have sulfate's in it like Creme of Nature or Elucence.  The sulfate's could possibly dry your hair out.  I also do co wash's using Daily Defense Tender Apple, or any conditioner would work, such as VO5, Suave or White Rain.  I will spend more money on conditioners though cuz I am obsessed with conditioners .  Right now I use Elucence, Dove, Finesse, or Fructis.  And for deep conditioner I use Lekair Cholesterol or hair mayo. 

For moisturizers I'm using olive oil, unrefined shea butter, Oyin's Whipped Pudding or Qhemet's Amla and Olive heavy cream (my fav).  Here are the web sites if interested..... http://www.qhemetbiologics.com/conditioners.php - http://www.qhemetbiologics.com/conditioners.php   http://oyinhandmade.com/oyin/index.php?main_page=index - http://oyinhandmade.com/oyin/index.php?main_page=index

They both offer really generous sample packs and I've really liked everything I've tried from both places.  HTH!

ETA-  Your breakage could be coming from lack or protein.  Maybe you could try a protein treatment.  I use Ion rebuilder and sit under the dryer for 20 minutes then do a deep treatment afterwards.  I do this monthly.  It is really important for anyone who is transitioning. 

i get mine from http://www.thechemistrystore.com - www.thechemistrystore.com - i get palm oil( solid until you melt it (will stay liquid when you use it)then it will turn solid again but great oil), castor oil, sweet almond oil and coconut oil (76 degree fractioned- solid until melted- then will stay liquid for you to use but will turn solid again depending on temp- great oil).

I get apricot kernel oil, wheatgerm oil, evening primrose oil, liquid aloe vera and glycerin from http://www.camdengrey.com - www.camdengrey.com  - hope this helps.

No- 4b  doesn't make a difference- i am 3c/4a- i may be able to answer some of your questions. my hair did not like evoo- i know i'm probably the only one that happened to . but anywho- you can use evoo straight without mixing it. you can also add it to conditiuoner and warm that and use it as a pre-shampoo treatment (although i personally think castor oil is better for pre-poo treatments- yeah i know it is thick and syrupy). You do not have to use the same shampoo and conditioner- i rotate mine- i use something different each time i wash- trying to use up some old things and i think it is good for my hair so it doesn't get used to something and then that product becomes ineffective on my hair.

For shea butter check out http://www.agbangakarite.com - www.agbangakarite.com

Hope this helps somewhat.

KBaby wrote: Thanks Pokahontas/Carameldiva/Princess!  I went to all the websites you laides suggested and I will order both of the oils and moisturizers.  I've seen other ladies on the board talk about Dove and Garnier Fructis products, so I will try those when I run out of Aveda - I don't think I'll use the Nioxin for a minute.  Also, a friend of mine uses Tresseme (sp?) - is that a good product?  Here come a TON of questions!!!!  Sorry if I sound, silly, but what are "cones"?  Is it necessary to use the same shampoo and conditioner (Dove shampoo/conditioner, Garnier Fructis shampoo/conditiner, etc.)  Should I be using EVOO and are you mixing it with anything or just straight?  Should I be using the moisturizers daily?  Any particular combination of them?  Can the prepoo treatment be EVOO in a conditioner warmed in the microwave - I forgot to say I've done this once and if so, how many parts EVOO to conditioner?  I even tried the egg in the conditioner once which turned out horrible - hair was way too dry and tangled. I just came from the hair store and found this stuff by Soft and Beautiful.  It's called Extend a Perm!  It's shampoo, conditioner and straightening lotion.  It's supposed to soften the curl pattern without chemicals and reduce breakage.  I also bought their heat protectant for when I do flat iron.  Found a really nice cherry lip gloss for 99 cents, too What do you think about this?  Oh, can I find unrefined shea butter at one of the websites ya'll listed?  I know I've seen it on here before - someone posted a site, but I don't remember where it was. So, just to make sure, I think I should be: 1.  wash/cond and/or cowash at least 3 times a week, with a prepoo treatment before each wash 2.  using the whipped pudding/heavy cream/oil spritz nightly 3.  deep condition once a month - include protein 4.  clarify once a month with ACV rinse 5.  vitamins when I remember - I will try to think about it more often! Did I miss anything?  Does this sound ok - should I be doing anything more/less?  I think I'll try to hold out on the braids until February when I have more new growth and can cut off the relaxed portion, unless I get really aggravated!  If I cut it at that point, I can still flat iron it and curl it and have a cute short style.  Man I miss my long hair ya'll!!!!  This is a journey, but I'm determined.  Thanks for your help and I'll keep checking back for your wonderful responses!

Sorry I'm all late coming back in here, lol.  Cones are in a lot of serums and conditioners and basically they coat the hair strand and prevent moisture from getting to your hair which may cause it to dry out.  Some people have no problem with them though.  Some of my products have cones in it so I make sure to clarify with acv often.  I switch up shampoo and conditioner all the time because I'm trying to use up some of my many products.  Sometimes I'll use Creme of Nature with Dove conditioner or Dove shampoo with Finesse conditioner, lol.  I don't really think it makes a difference. 

I usually use moisturizers daily, especially on my ends.  Right now I'm mostly using Qhemet's Amla and Olive heavy cream or the hydrating balm.  I hope you like the products you ordered.  They are working great for me.  I try to give my hair plenty of moisture so it won't break. 

I use my EVOO straight and it works good.  When you add it to your conditioner just add as much as you want and it shouldn't hurt.  You can also add honey to it and that works great also.  The honey is a natural humectant and it's very moisturizing.

I get my shea butter from here http://nasabb.com/catalog/shea_butter_products_240179_products.htm - http://nasabb.com/catalog/shea_butter_products_240179_produc ts.htm

Everything that you listed sounds good.  It takes a lot of work to come up with a good hair care regimine.  Be careful with your heat styling.  Try to do it as less as possible and use a good heat protectant.  I heat style only once every two weeks and I use Beyond the Zone heat protectant found at Sally's.  I always notice the most growth when I let my hair rest from the heat.

HTH and Good Luck!

KBaby wrote: Thanks, Pocahontas!  Your advice is always great!  I do have one other question though.  You posted: "I use Ion rebuilder and sit under the dryer for 20 minutes then do a deep treatment afterwards."  Ion rebuilder is a protein treatment, right?  20 minutes under the dryer with that & then deep condition - under the dryer as well or does it matter?  I looked for Ion rebuilder online just to get some info, but found nothing.  Sorry for the million questions, but I am clueless - I thought I had it figured out, but NOT!!!!!!!!!  Thanks again!

Your welcome.  Yes it is a protein treatment called Ion Effective Care Treatment, Intensive Therapy Protein Rebuilder and Moisturizer.  I put it on for 15 to 20 min. under the dryer and sometimes deep condition afterwards but sometimes I don't.  Sometimes I just use some moisturizing conditioner like Dove Intense Moisturizer (or whatever your choice) and leave it on for 5 or ten minutes and rinse out.  It is important to use a moistruizing conditioner everytime you do a protein treatment.  If I feel like my hair needs some extra "TLC"  I will deep condition afterwards with some Lekair Cholesterol Plus and sit back under the dryer with that on for another ten minutes or so.  I hope I'm not confusing you.  I don't mind the questions at all!  HTH!

OK - I know I said I'd be back in about two weeks... my apologies - I've been hella busy!  Here's my update & posted in the "2005 Grow Out Challenge thread as well.

I RELAXED MY HAIR!  I had gotten to the point where I just couldn't stand dealing with flat ironing, hot combing, etc.  Although I wasn't doing it often at all, my hair had begun to break a bit & I didn't want to lose what I've been working so hard for.  I would only flat iron for church if needed, but mostly I was putting it in a bun or something.  I would allow my hair to air dry while tied down, but for some reason, it was still breaking a little, so I dunno.

I used a Sof 'n' Free (kids relaxer that worked really well).  It's going well has gotten longer than it was when I got it cut it in November (it's nearly shoulder lenght now), so I'm happy.  I'm still doing the same things - olive in my pre-poo conditioner (overnight) & in my deep conditioner - I basically use whatever conditioner I have lying around for the pre-poo & deep conditioner.  I rinse with ACV mix monthly, wash & cond weekly or twice a week with the aveda stuff.  If I hot curl or flat iron, which is very rare, I use the Loreal Kiwi stuff.  I spray nightly with Sof 'n' Free Olive Oil spray & use Cantu Shea Butter maybe 3xs a week & when I shampoo.  That's basically it.  I don't plan to relax again until the summer.  Now that I've begun to learn what's working for me & how to take care of my hair, I don't think it will be a problem to wait until then!

That's about it!  I'm happy with the results, although I felt like I destroyed what I had worked for when I relaxed it.  I thought about it & I guess I really didn't.  As long as I take care of my hair with what I'm learning from you guys, I should be ok - ya'll have been a blessing.  I would not have made it 6 mos w/out a relaxer without your help!

Hey Kbaby.  Thanks for doing an update.  We were all wondering how you were coming along.  I'm glad to hear your journey is going well.

Don't feel like you destroyed your hard work because you relaxed.  Relaxed hair can be healthy too, I've seen so heads of relaxed hair that go to waist length!  Just keep up your regimine and be consistant with it.   It's all a learning process.  It's good that you aren't putting much heat on your hair also.  That will benefit your growth greatly.  Make sure you use a good heat protectant whenever you do flat iron.  I recommend Beyond the Zone.  Good luck and happy hair growing.