Lets grow out the nape

I have always had issues with my nape. Before my hair journey, I had accepted that my nape hair will never grow, it was a constantly mini afro, I would relax it with my other hair, but in no time it would break off and just be the new growth.

Since I started my hair journey, I have been moisturising and sealing my new growth and ends with sweet almond oil . And am happy to report that my nape is really progressing. I started my hair journey in January and 3 months later I can see and feel the improvement. Unfortunately I don't have the pictures of my nape hair in January, but here is the progress so far.

Hair stats - 22/03/2013

Hair stats after 3 months.

Last relaxer: 14th March 2013

Next Relaxer: 14th June 2013

Last trim: still can't remember

Current Hair Goal: control my breaking hair

Hair Length Goal: Bra strap length

Current Length: starting arm pit length

Just Purchased: S Curl No drip moisturiser to tackle my new growth!

Needing: some castor oil - want to try the 3 month challenge

Trying out: Will be trying out my new purchase S Curl No drip moisturiser

Disliking: nothing at the moment

My wash day and black tea rinse

Today was my weekly wash day!

1. I started off with a 2 hour prepoo with a mixture of olive oil and sweet almond oil and essential oils of rosemary and lavender.

2. After my prepoo I shampooed my hair with Tresemme vibrantly smooth shampoo, this is a low sulphate shampoo.

3. For my tea rinse I boiled 1 litre of water with 3 tea bags of regular black tea (PG tips), and let it cool down before adding a few drops of rosemary essential oil and applied it all over my hair and scalp

4. I then added replenishing conditioner from ORS and conditioned my hair for 2 hours (I had time today :))

5. I then washed off my hair and after towel drying it. I sprayed my hair with my home made conditioner spritzer (my tresemme conditioner, sweet almond oil and water)

6. I then roller set my hair and will air dry my hair. I haven't used any heat for 3 months now, so might have to blow dry my hair today, hope not!

I will carry out a review of the black tea rinse after a few more tries, initial thoughts still had hair did not shed but is still breaking off, and my hair feels soft and fluffy (thicker).

How was your wash day? Or black tea rinse

Results of my relaxer last week

So I finally broke my 3 month stretch on the 14th of March!! I was suppose to have relaxed my new growth in the final week of February however, I ended up in hospital for a good 2 weeks in February and my hair suffered badly while there, there was no moisturising or shampoos, I just didn't have the strength.

But Thank God am well and out and about now!

My pictures below of my stretch

Post relaxer after 3 months

3 months post relaxer, after spraying a conditioner mix to tame the growth

For my relaxer I used my trusted usual ORS No-Lye normal strength and I had my mum quickly apply the relaxer to my new growth. I left the relaxer on for about 12-15 mins max. This was my first attempt at texlaxing my hair.

See my results below.

For my next relaxer I will put so sweet almond oil to slow down the processing of my relaxer as I will be self relaxing, so I need to buy myself some time!

My texlaxing process:

1. I applied Vaseline on my scalp
2. I applied Tresemme deep conditioner on my already relaxed hair
3. I texlaxed my hair for 12-15mins and rinsed it off with the ORS neutralising shampoo and applied ORS Hair Mayonnaise
4. I air dried my hair in a ponytail and moisturised the scalp with sweet almond oil and sealed my hair with ORS Carrot Oil

After relaxer state

Post relaxer, air drying in a pony tale

After my relaxer

How was your relaxer day?

3 months post relaxer

I haven't been able to write on my blog for a while because I have been in hospital. I had been under the weather for a good month!! Thank goodness they finally found what was wrong with me and now getting treatment.

As I was in hospital my hair really suffered. Mainly because I was too weak to even think of doing anything to it. A free times I was able to sprinkle some water on it just to keep it moisturised.

So now am 3 months post and will be relaxing my hair this Friday, can't wait, this was the first time I was aware if my stretch most times I would have my weave on so I stretch by default. So I will be updating my length progress after 3 months.

I have been in low manipulating and protective styles all month. I also had weekly wash days. I have not been consistent with my usage of almond oil as I was convinced that it was what was making me ill, it has been a rollercoster of a month for me!!

Protective styling

My new growth has been tough but manageable in my styles. I really have learnt the benefit of have a conditioner and water mix spray just to soften the new growth, that is definitely something I will be using more in my next stretch.

Also really found overnight baggy was really great. The oils really did get through each hair strand, will use that technic too!

Happy hair journeys to everyone and thanks for all the advice