I HAD to do it... don't hate me!

Before:

After:

I know I said I would wait until January 2011, but I couldn't. I had to textlax! There was no way in HELLO that I could stretch that long. The last time I did a full textlax was the disastrous time on July 27th (I did a touchup on my edges on Sept 23, for all of a minute or two). I did it correctly this time - front section, shampoo, back section, shampoo. I did not comb through the roots this time. There were very few strands in the sink (yea!), and I immediately followed up with an Aphoghee 2 Minute Reconstructor. So far, so good. My new growth was off the chain. I was starting to dread up (see second right picture above). I did love my curly new growth nape hairs (from the bad breakage area), and upon closer inspection just now, I didn't straighten them. They're just looser. Hopefully, I won't touch the creamy crack until January. That breakage scared the crap out of me.... but it was my own doing (the color remover experiment gone wrong).

2nd Aphogee Treatment

Before the treatment:

The breakage on the back left side:

The Aphogee 2 Step Treatment:

The last time I did this was six weeks ago, to the day (I put it on a calendar, and I've scheduled them out). I have the bigger bottle, so I was was liberal with the application. It has the weirdest smell. I can't describe it, but I'm so glad that I have to do this only every six weeks. I followed it up with the Balancing Moisturizer and Mega Tek scalp treatment. I can't tell if the Aphogee 2 Step Treatment is working. I'll keep doing it every six weeks though.

Let's talk about the breakage. My hair is still breaking off especially on the left back side (see middle pictures). The top pictures show that the rest of my hair can cover the spots, and they're growing in from me putting Mega Tek directly on those spots. I'm so tempted to cut it all off and start again, but I'm not going to. The new growth is NATURAL. I haven't textlaxed since the disastrous last time, and I'm not due to do it again until November 15. I may not even do it then. I'm so scared. I just want to baby my hair until it stops breaking off, or until it's double the length, and I can cut off all the over processed hair. I have to say that my hair is the longest it's ever been , in my life, curly or straight. Other than sitting under the dryer to dry the Aphogee treatment, I've not put any heat on my hair since April 2009. What a journey. I have pinpointed the breakage to be from when I used the dye remover a couple of months ago. I shouldn't have ever done that. Big Lesson learned. Luckily, with my new growth as curly as it is, I can disguise my bald spots. I haven't worn a LF since August. I'm still working on getting a shorter one.

I received the greenish blue niobium jump rings, so I will start making the new Rearden Metal bracelets, in a chainmaille pattern. They will be a bit more expensive because the niobium is expensive. I love how all of this has led to me learning how to make wire jewelry. I can't wait to set up my Esty shop with all my stuff. I have to break out my knitting needles. That's what fall and winter mean to me. Knitting season.

Bald Spots Are Filling In!

I'm still monitoring my hair breakage. The above pictures are after I washed with the Aphogee Deep Moisture shampoo, then followed it up with the Aphogee 2 Minute Reconstructer (left on for 10 minutes, under a plastic shower cap and my microfiber turban). After rinsing the reconstructer, I slathered on Nexxus Humectress and put the plastic cap/turban on for another 20-30 minutes. I rinsed that out and let it air dry. It's so funny, but I don't comb my hair that much, especially now, that it's coming out so much. I guess there really isn't a need to comb it. The less manipulation, the better.

It seems like the bald spots are filling in. I'm glad I didn't get impulsive and cut off my hair to start over. The MegaTek seems to be working (I'm only putting it on the bald spots, as an experiment, to see how fast those areas will grow back). I figure curly hair can disguise the bald spots easier than straight hair. I'm really debating on if I'm going to keep textlaxing my hair. I should find products that make my new growth soft. I should only textlax if the roots become too hard to comb.

I'm really feening for a 12" wig from Rex, but it's so damn hot out. Too hot for a wig.

I'm going to St. Louis in 2 weeks. I'm so excited to see my family.

That's all I have on it for now.

Still Working On The Elastic Straps

I'm in the lab working on the elastic straps method for my LFs. If this works, it will change the LF industry. I really want to buy a 12 inch virgin malaysian or chinese virgin remy straight from Rex, so I can cut it (or have it cut) into the Stacey Dash cut:

This will be my professional at work look. I'm really feeling the bangs on Cindy Crawford's hair, and Kelly Rowland's hair also:

Maybe I can cut bangs into my virgin malaysian straight I still have.

I can't tell if the Aphogee 2 Step Treatment is working. I did it last Sunday, and my hair is still coming out, but not as much. I'm wondering how long does it take to kick in. The instructions says not to reapply it for another 6 weeks, so I'm going to leave well enough alone. I made a hair calendar that has when I should do the protein treatments, and when I should textlax. I'm determined to stick to it. Maybe I can soften up my new growth in between textlaxing. Speaking of textlaxing, I'm not due until November. I should have enough new growth by then. I may even carry it over into the new year. I've learned my lesson with being hair-bored. If I get bored again, I'll slap on a LF.

I've started my moisture regimen. I've been alternating every day between Mane N Tail Deep Moisture conditioner, Aussie Moist, Nexxus Humectress (the Sally's brand), Aphogee Pro Vitamin leave in conditioner, or Silk Elements Moisturizing Leave In Creme. After I rinse my hair, I put one of the before mentioned conditioners on, then I seal it with my homemade oil/glycerine mixture (glycerine, grapeseed, oil, jojoba oil, and Morrocan Argan oil). My hair has never been this soft! To be honest, I'd forgotten about the moisture/protein balance. I know for a fact that my hair came out because I left the relaxer in the back too long. No use in beating myself up about it. I'm just going to protect what I have left on my head, keep wearing my LFs, and move forward. I also bought the Aphogee Deep Moisture Shampoo, and maybe shampoo once every 2 weeks. I rinse everyday, so I shouldn't have that much build up. I really need to get rid of all the other conditioners I bought. I'm a product junkie, what can I say!

I just found out that this blog is one of the top 50 hair blogs: The Top 50 Hair Blogs. When I was told, I beamed proudly.

Aphogee 2 Step Treatment

I was on BHM (as I always am) in the hair breakage section. The consensus pointed to the Aphogee 2 Step Treatment, so I went to Sally's yesterday and got some (along with their version of Nexxus Humectress, and some Silk Elements Moisturizing Leave In, in a tiny jar - wish it was in the large bottle). I couldn't get to it because I was giving my two LFs the "Tootsie's Mom's No Glue No Tape method":

I still need to work on the temple area and the sideburn area, but with the clips, it seems like it will hold tight. I'm going to braid my hair on Friday night and wear them all weekend, because the concert is Monday night. Stay tuned.

So I got around to doing the Aphogee 2 Step Treatment today. I followed the instructions to the letter (comb the hair to untangle, put the treatment on - wish I would have gotten the large bottle, because I had to use both of the packets I bought; pile the hair on top of the head, sit under a dryer until dry and hard, rinse out completely, put the Balancing Moisturizer on, for 2 minutes, rinse out and proceed with further styling). My hair is still coming out, but I'm being very careful not to comb it or be rough with it. I also rinsed it with the Clairol Beautiful Honey Brown (my go to color). I've slapped a lightweight head band on and I'm letting it dry. Hopefully, I can recover from this. This is totally my fault because I started with the relaxer in the back and did my whole head, instead of doing the back first, rinsing, neutralizing, THEN doing the front. I've made a MS Works calendar and I've set my textlaxing schedule on it. It's going to remind me EVERY THREE MONTHS to textlax. My next textlaxing session should be in November. I'm not even blinking about it. I'm going to keep moisturizing more often than proteining. I'm still going to Mega-Tek when in braids (under my LFs). I've got to recover from this. I'm confused on how the 2 Step Treatment is to work. I'm still researching it.

As for new products, it's all about moisture, so when I get paid again, I'm going to get more of the Aphogee Balancing Moisturizer and the Aphogee Deep Moisture Shampoo. I've got to start "listening" to my hair.

After the 2 Step Protein treatment, the Balancing Moisturizer, and the Honey Brown rinse:

^^ where the end of the headband is and where my fingers are is where most of the breakage occured. That's the area that I textlaxed first.

My new textlaxing oath:

1. I will NEVER textlax my whole head at one time.

2. I will NEVER start in the back.

3. I will ALWAYS part my hair in as many sections as I need (starting in the front and working my way to the back, that way I can rinse a section and move to the next section without getting the subsequent sections wet.

If my hair bounces back from this travesty, this will be a hard lesson learned.