Hey Nikki,
It has been 26 months since I Big Chopped (March 2010) and looking back it’s amazing how far I’ve come emotionally, physically and creatively. I decided to look back at my own journey and reflect on how amazing it has been! I love my hair … but even more I love the effect it has had on various aspects of my life – I’m more confident, I have a greater sense of ME, and I am ever branching out into being more creative (as far out as jewelry making now, lol). Wanted to share a few pics, my regimen and my gratitude for the wealth of information you and your readers give me everyday. Without the amazing natural hair community, my mane would not be where it is today!
My current regimen:
I pre-poo with mixed oils then co-wash my hair every 7-10days and always follow through with my homemade deep condition mix (fav conditioner, honey, coconut oil, essential tea tree), and rinse with diluted apple cider vinegar (ACV). Next I twist- rocking the twists a few days before I release it to ‘twist-out’. Somewhere in between days 7-10 I wash and start over again. For hair treats, I henna every other month (If I’m not too lazy, lol), and do a Bentonite clay treatment once a month.
My nightly routine:
If in twists – I prep as seen in this video (http://youtu.be/8TWW8JRgBog ). If I twist-out, I pineapple and twist the top or simply twist without the pineapple depending on the look I’m going for the next day. I’ll mist sparingly with water and a apply moisturizing butter as needed to replenish my strands with moisture.
Current Products:
Cleansing: Bentonite clay w/ ACV and aloe vera juice
Rinse Out Conditioners: Herbal Essence Hello Hydration, VO5 moisture milks
Deep Conditioners: Combination of Aussie Moist 3 minute conditioner, honey, coconut oil, essential tea tree oil
Leave in: Modified Kimmaytube mix
Sealants: Coconut oil, jojoba oil
Stylers: Shea Moisture Curl enhancing smoothie, homemade whipped shea butter mix
A girl on a tight budget, I keep my regimen and products very simple. While every now and then I might try something new I find I always come back to my basics outlined above. For more info on my journey please check out my youtube channel (where I also share quick, easy recipes) or my Facebook Hair Journey Album
Thanks for letting me share!
Thank you again ladies! Your comments are all so uplifting and I am very appreciative! To answer a few questions: I have straightened 3 times: at 12,18and 26months and each time I have gone to the salon (don't trust myself yet with the scissors lol)and each time the stylist has used a different heat protectant and I don't remember them:( I figured if I was straightening at home I'd just use some grapeseed oil which I already have lol
At 12 & 26months I went to the The Green Room Salon (Evolution) in Brookyln and yes they are awesome!!
Thanks again for your kind comments. Feel free to hit me up on my youtube if you have any questions
Tina
Yeah she states on one of her #23 video Hair Update that she went to Evolutions~The Green Room Salon in Brooklyn. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81iOGcs3ROQ&feature=channel&list=UL
Your hair is gorge! By any chance is the salon you got your blowout at Evolution in Brooklyn? If so, that's where I go! The team there is awesome.
What a gorgeous head of hair!
Beautiful girl, beautiful hair! 🙂
*type
Congrats on your growth! Your hair looks beautiful and healthy. I would like to know what typr of heat protectants you use.
That's pretty much my routine too, in August I also will be into it 2 yrs. Friends/family amazed at my length in such a short time because they remember the shocking big chop
Well, if we stop following our favorite blogger's latest "must try raves" then all of us of can become non PJs
Beautiful hair. I also love the simplicity of your regimen and products. You don't have to spend an arm and a leg to get great results.
EXCELLENT progress Tina!!!!!!! Can you share the heat protectants that you use? Also have you used any protein treatments?
I need to make me a regmien that I can follow with the same products because I am a PJ and when I find a new product to use I tend to fall off my regmien because I am so excited about the darn product.
Megan Montgomery
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Love it! You have a gorgeous head of hair.
Lovely! I keep it simple too.
Gorgeous
Tina your hair is absolutely gorgeous & you've had amazing progress, you definitely have been treating your hair well, keep up the good work.
Brooke B.
Thank you ladies. You will probably get a better sense of my hair journey by checking out that album on my facebook page. My going natural didn't start out as an intentional one until i accidentally discovered youtube and blogs like CurlyNikki. But to answer your question my last relaxer was in August 2009 and I chopped in March 2010 (so about 7.5-8months)
Im loving all the new stories, the website is back to the way this website use to be, more about personal naturals stories and experiences.
How long did you transition? Your big chop picture you hair isnt that short to me. Your hair has really grown in 2 yrs!
Beautiful! AMAZING growth!
Gorgeous!
Congradulations! Both you and your hair are beautiful!
~Lexa~