My Regimen, Hair products and Tips...

…I know, it’s a lot, I’m a product junkie:-) (Don’t worry these are only suggestions, I’m not telling you to go and buy but if something sounds interesting at least you will have some idea if it’s good or not)


I use short cuts so here,

Acronyms:
EVOO-Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Co-Conditioner
Poo-Shampoo
DC-Deep Conditioner
UBH-Ultra Black Hair

My regimen:
I co-wash every night or every other night if I'm tired. Wash with poo and DC once a week, don’t co-wash on that night. I use my growth aid nightly after the co-wash. I use the Carefree curl stuff daily to moisturize my hair. I use the Profective daily after the Carefree curl stuff (mainly around the perimeter of my head, every inch) I also use the Mango Butter around the edges, I switch up between this and the Profective when I feel like it.

To develop your own Hair Care Regimen, start of slow, steady and simple. If you truly disslike the current state of your hair, you should evaluate what you're doing now and the products you are using. Keep using them for a few weeks, following the directions closely and see exactly what they do for your hair. Check out the label and see what ingredients are listed. If you see no improvement, look at products with different ingredients and try them out for about a month and so forth. Now, in order for this to be effective, you need to listen to your hair. I'm going to post some data on how to do a strand test so you can know which route to go and what ingredients to look for based on what your hair needs. Your hair will occasionally talk to you, I'm going to show you how to listen and respond :-)

Claudie’s Hair Revitalizer- A sulfur growth aid that can get you an inch (or in some cases more) of growth in a month (Hair normally grows .5” per month) I use it every night after my co-washes. I try to stop for a while to give my hair a break every other month for about a month or so.
http://www.claudieshairrevitalizer.com/ (she also has an edge balm…I forget what its called but you should see it)

You can also check her products out here:
http://members.fotki.com/HairRevitalizer/about/ Feel free to look around at her pics, reviews and all that!

Sulu Max Gro- http://www.suluhair.com/
Max Gro is a sulfur growth aid can get you an inch of growth in a month (Hair normally grows .5” per month) It stinks so I mixed it with some peppermint oil. I use after my nightly co-washes. (from the makers of MTG, this has a better carrier oil and doesn't smell as strongly as the MTG, but it still stinks somewhat, peppermint oil helps)

MTG- (Don’t worry, it was originally made for humans with scalp conditions, someone used it on their horse and saw the growth…) http://www.shapelys.com/
MTG is a sulfur growth aid can get you an inch of growth in a month (Hair normally grows .5” per month) Same thing as Sulu Max Gro, made by the same company as well.


Tea Tree oil- Has antibacterial properties and stimulates circulation so I use it in my co-wash mix and sometimes I dilute the poo with water and add a few drops of this for an extra clean feeling (it tingles a little) http://www.herbalremedies.com/

Peppermint Oil- this and Tea Tree oil get added to a lot of thingshttp://www.herbalremedies.com/

Co-wash mix I use a water bottle, these are approximate measurements
4 tablespoons moisturizing conditioner (or any conditioner you like)
About 2 tablespoons EVOO
4-5 drops of tea tree oil (a little goes a LONG way)
1 teaspoon peppermint oil
About 3 tablespoons of water

It should be about the same consistency or a little thinner than yogurt. Use it to wash your hair, focus on the scalp. Massage it with the pads of your fingertips, not the nails. I make sure my hair is laying down flat/flowing down my back like in the pics and don’t manipulate my hair like they do in the commercials b/c that causes tangles. When it gets an inch longer I’m going to put it in 4 braids and wash it that way…http://www.growafrohairlong.com/ (Robin has instructions and a video on how to wash your hair in braids like I described)

Source of Life Liquid vitamin- I love, love, love this! It tastes way better than any liquid vitamin I have tasted. It gives you a lot of energy. I was taking Centrum previously and it helped with my hair but this is more potent and has more stuff in it. http://www.amazon.com/Natures-Plus-Source-Life-Liquid/dp/B00014IHKA/sr=1-1/qid=1172488935/ref=sr_1_1/103-6107823-7211867?ie=UTF8&s=hpc

Porosity control conditioner/corrector- I like this a lot too. It corrects the PH and porosity of your hair. Your hair feels different the instant this touches it. It’s one of my staple products now. http://www.amazon.com/Roux-Porosity-Control-Corrector-Conditoner/dp/B0002030QO/sr=8-1/qid=1172488889/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-6107823-7211867?ie=UTF8&s=hpc

Dove- The moisturizing formula (white bottle) is the line I use for my daily co-washes, I use the shampoo too for my weekly poo washes. My hair feels soft after this.

Herbal Essence- Hello Hydration Poo and Co…I LOVE this stuff!!!

Conditioners for daily Co-wash- I use moisturizing Co only, any cheap kind White Rain, Suave, whatever. Nothing with protein b/c this is a daily thing for me (You can co-wash as often as you like) if it says: amino acid (wheat, silk or other), protein, lysine…don’t get it b/c those are proteins. Yes I do read EVERY label on the hair product before I buy it. (too much protein causes brittle dry hair)

Shampoo for weekly wash- Again, nothing with protein.

Poo mix (I do this when my hair doesn't feel really dirty but my scalp itches and I want to wash it without stripping it. I use a water bottle, these are approximate measurements):
1-2 tablespoons Poo
3-4 tablespoons Baking soda (anti-itch)
6-8 drops of tea tree oil (a little goes a LONG way)
About 1 cup of water

This will be really thin so be careful about your eyes. I just pour the mix on my head, massage my scalp and let it sit for a few. I do this 2-3 times b/c it's so mild.

Care Free Curl Instant Moisturizer- Use this daily right before the carefree curl gold spray (see bellow).

Care Free Curl Gold Scalp and Hair spray- I love this stuff, use it daily.

Care Free Curl Gold Activator- It moisturizes and it gives a little hold, nice! I use it in lieu of gel for my phony ponies and it works out great for me.

EVOO- I use this sometimes after I moisturize to seal in the moisture. Oils do not moisturize! If you put just oil on dry hair, you have just sealed the cuticle with no moisture and no moisture will be able to get in so the hair will dry out and start breaking.

Profective Mega Growth (in the yellow jar)- I like this a lot, it’s a good creamy moisturizer, I use it around the entire perimeter of my head and make sure to saturate the back where my wig rubs...dry hair breaks easily. I sometimes apply to the shaft of my hair and ends when it feels like it needs the extra TLC.

Elasta QP Mango Butter- I like this a lot, it’s a good moisturizer, I mainly use it around the entire perimeter of my head and make sure to saturate the back where my wig rubs...dry hair breaks easily (I alternate with the Profective)

Aphogee Treatment for damaged hair- WOW!! I love this and use it after every relaxer. This is a serious protein treatment (Which is why I’m trying to stay away from everyday use of protein). Follow the instructions to the letter b/c when you blow dry the product; it makes your hair extremely hard and easy to break. (Don’t move it or touch your hair) my hair felt really strong after using it. My mom sent this but you can get it here:

http://www.folica.com/ApHOGEE_Treatme_d115.html (they have the 4oz bottle here) Make sure to use a rich moisturizing conditioner after this. Aphogee, Motions, Silk Elements and Elasta QP all make really good ones.

Ultra Black Hair Deep Conditioner-Amazing!!! I just started using it weekly to DC. It stimulates my scalp like crazy and makes my hair strong. Cathy Howse says that a good Deep conditioner for “us” should Stimulate your scalp, Lubricate the hair shaft and Strengthen/Repair any damage. This conditioner does it all but you MUST use a sit under dryer or heating cap or it won’t work. I got a bonnet attachment for my handheld blow-dryer, just like sitting under a dryer:-)

This is where you can get the Cathy Howse conditioner http://www.ultrablackhair.com/

Ultra Black Hair Moisturizing Crème- I use this after I DC with the conditioner above


Cholesterol-my mom bought me the Lustrasilk cholesterol with aloe and I like it, I usually mix it with stuff. Mainly in my co-wash mix, I just do whatever I feel like with that mix so it varies. When I use it straight it does a great job of detangling, when I have a ton of new growth and use this I can actually run my fingers thru my hair and feel my scalp!! (That is a No-go otherwise, LOL)