Newest Addition To My Regimen

Hello All,
I know it's been a minute since i've posted (shame on me) but i wanted to let you know that i added something new to my regimen. CERAMIDES!

What's Ceramides?
Ceramides are essential to the cohesion of the cuticle and maintenance of its protective effect for the hair shaft. Ceramides are known to protect and/or repair the hair fibers from or after attack by blowdriers, flatirons, and everyday wear and tear. In particular, ceramides limit the loss of protein, which gives the hair more strength and liveliness.

Sistaslick wrote in an article: "Think of ceramides as hair glue. Without them, our cuticle layers would simply fall off and unhinge themselves, rather than gently weather and erode, from the constant damage they endure. Damaged hair has typically exhausted its natural supply of ceramides, and is often brittle, dry, and difficult to manage as a result. Many hair products contain synthetic, lab-created ceramides to help replace the ceramides naturally lost from the hair during regular washing, styling, and chemical treating. Ceramides are needed as a part of any basic moisture and protein conditioning plan to restore the hair's health.

What Do Ceramides Do?

Ceramides perform a "barrier function" and help reduce the hair's overall porosity. Ceramides bind to the hair fiber in damaged, vulnerable areas to help prevent natural moisture and protein loss that occurs when we manipulate our hair. Natural ceramides keep the hair fiber tight, and cuticles flat so that the hair shines and has low porosity.

Do note that ceramides can and often do build up on the hair shaft, so regular clarifying may be needed between conditionings. The build up associated with ceramides may also be linked to other ingredients in the product formula (i.e. oils, silicones). These ingredients tend to work hand in hand with ceramides more often than not, so whether it is actually the silicones, oils or ceramides causing the build up is ultimately of little consequence. The buildup will need to be clarified regardless of the instigating ingredient to prevent moisture problems down the road."


In case you want to add Ceramides to your regimen, Long Hair Care Forum listed the following oils and products contain Ceramides:

OILS CONTAINING CERAMIDES:
Barley Malt Oil
Eucalyptus Extract
Hemp Seed Oil
Hot 6 Oil
Kukui Oil
Sunflower Oil
Walnut Oil
Wheat Germ Oil

PRODUCTS CONTAINING CERAMIDES:
Aubrey Organics Products
BPT Wheat Germ Conditioner
Creme of Nature (Green Bottle/Old Formula)
Garnier Fructis Instant Melting Strength and Repair Masque
Jane Carter's Nutrient Replenishing Conditioner
Joico K-Pak Reconstructor
L'Oreal Elvive Nutri-Ceramide Deep Repair Concentrate
L'Oreal Serle Expert Liss Starter Ionene G + Ceramide Pre-Smoothing Treatment
Lustrasilk Cholesterol
Lustrasilk Shea Butter
Lustrasilk Mango
Matrix Biolage Cera-Repair
Matrix Biolage Fortifying conditioner
Matrix Biolage Cera-Repair Hydratherapie
Miss Key 10 en 1 Conditioner
Mizani Therma Smooth
Nexxus Aloe Rid
Nexxus Botanic Oil Shampoo
Nexxus Headdress
Nexxus Humectress
Nexxus Keraphix
Nexxus Therappe
Optimum Care Anti-Breakage Therapy Stay Strong Shampoo
Optimum Care Anti-Breakage Therapy Stay Strong Conditioner
Optimum Care Anti-Breakage Therapy Leave-in Ultimate Strengthener
Optimum Care Anti-Breakage Therapy Split End Reconstructor
Optimum Care Anti-Breakage Therapy Cream Hairdress
Optimum Care Anti-Breakage Therapy Featherlight Hairdress
ORS Hair Mayonaise (New Formula *WGO*)
Proclaim Aloe Hot Oil
Proclaim Natural 7 Oil
Proclaim Natural Olive Oil
Redken Extreme Conditioner
Redken Extreme Rescue Force
Redken Extreme Anti-Snap
Redken 07
Sedal Products
Silicon Mix Proteina de Perla (Pearl Protein) Leave-In
Silicon Mix Conditioner
Silicon Mix Leave-in
Softsheen Carson Breakthru Anti-Breakage - Protecting Foam
Softsheen Carson Breakthru Anti-Breakage - Fortifying Moisturizing Shampoo


RELAXERS CONTAINING CERAMIDES:
Optimum Care Anti-Breakage Therapy Relaxer System

Wash Day and Relaxer Update

Hey Guys,
Today was my first wash day as a newly and freshly relaxed chica and I must say....I LOVED IT! Aaah it felt soo good to not have to worry about braiding my hair in sections so that my hair would be easier to detangle. Before I get into my wash day regi I would like to give you the recap on how I took care of my hair after being freshly relaxed.

This week started a new regi for me and i'm going to be honest....I missed my first co-wash day out of pure laziness...lol. BUT!!!!! I kept my hair either pined up or in a pony all week and moisturized and sealed EVERY night. I followed the steps that Ms. FGrogan did in her YouTube video and I love it! What I did notice is that my hair didn't really feel as strong as I'd like it to be. I think if I start to co-wash weekly it would strengthen my hair a bit.

Today (wash day) I tried something different. I pre-poo'd with Queen Helene's Cholesterol Cream and my Amla Oil. I then placed a plastic bag over my head and covered it with two wool hats and took 3 hour nap...I dont know why I always get tired as soon as I start my wash day regi...lol.

When I woke up, I washed the Cholesterol and Amla Oil out with cool water and co-washed with my VO5 Clarifying Conditioner. My hair felt GREAT!!!!! After towel drying my hair I then squirted my Aphogee Keratin & Green Tea Restructurizer and then applied my VO5 Moisture Milks Condish. I roller set and now i'm sitting under the hair dryer.

As i'm checking my hair to see if it is dry, I'm loving the way my hair feels! When my hair finally dries, I plan on doing my moisture and seal regi, wrapping it and then tie it down with a silk scarf.

If I'm consistent with this regi I believe that my hair will get stronger and much healthier. I am DETERMINED to make BSB by August!!!!

TTYL Ladies xoxo!

Re-Vamping Regimen

Since I'm not happy with the progress of my hair (as far as the length) I decided to switch my regi up this time around. I'm DETERMINED to make BSB by August or god help me!!! LOL

So this is my new regi:
-Wednesday and Saturday: Co-wash with VO5 Moisture Milks or Clarifying Condish

-Friday nights: pre-poo with Amla Oil and coconut oil overnight
-Saturday: rinse pre-poo and dc with any dc i have...(I'm a proud pj-er ) and then co-wash again
-Shampoo once a month with a Moisturizing poo
-Bun during the week and wear out on Sundays for church.
-Moisturize with S-Curl and seal with Dabur Vatika Olive Enriched Hair Oil, Castor Oil and Peppermint Oil

I LOVE the way fgrogan moisturizes and seals her hair. I've been practicing her method for 2 weeks now and I think this will be my staple method!