My co-washing method

During the fall/winter season I only shampoo once a month and co-wash during the weeks in between shampoo days. One day I was running short on time so I applied the conditioner (Giovanni SAS) I was planning on using (for the cowash) to my hair while it was dry. The conditioner remained on for about 30 minutes before I was able to finally rinse and detangle in the shower. The results were amazing (to me) and I was convinced it was probably a fluke but I had to test it out a few more times just to make sure.

With the next few weekends that passed I did the following:
-Took down what ever protective style I was wearing that week
-Applied conditioner to my (dry) hair while putting it in four sections
-Let the conditioner sit on my hair until is was dry/stiff and then rinsed in sections
-I detangled each section with my rubber based brush (like a denman) as I rinsed
-Finally, applied a leave-in conditioner and styled as usual

This method was quick and easy. My hair was detangled, extremely manageable, and soft in the end. As a result, I am now doing the steps above with all my winter cowashes.

I love accidentally discovering great ways to revamp my regimen!

Today is the first day of Winter...

This year it seemed like the Fall season forgot to make its appearance in North Carolina and so my hair care regimen has been winterized for some time now. I am shampooing less, conditioning regularly, and keeping my hair in protective styles. Check out my winter hair care regimen here. Also, Google as a great blog search feature that lets you find and read about the winterized hair care regimen of other bloggers.

Have you already put your winter hair care regimen into effect?

(Feel free to share your regimen)

Sharing your regimen may be a way to help someone that is going through their first winter was a natural lady.

From Last Year to This Year

Now that the busy month of October is over I plan to (and will) seriously implement my fall/winter haircare regimen. Some of the things I plan to carry over from last winter include:

• Buns (protective style)
• Deep Conditioning
• Oil Rinses
• Aloe Gro (for moisturizing purposes)
• Henna
• Roller-sets
• Length Retention Tips

Each week I will document every step that I made with my haircare because I am curious to see if I can get a repeat last winter's length retention. This will prove that I have found a method of length retention that works for my hair. My current length has already been documented and I do not intend to do another length check until sometime next spring.

Fall/Winter Regimen Part 1
Fall/Winter Regimen Part 2

Also, since my hair care will be kind of boring this winter I will use the opportunity to deliver some information that I have been compiling for a few months. Simple but effective hair care strategies.

Scalp Experiment: Moisturizing

All winter because of the dry air if I do not moisturize my body properly or if I use a soap that is too strong my skin will start to feel tight, itchy, and a burning sensation all over. So I started to think....what if my scalp goes through the same thing as my skin?

-When my scalp is itchy I barely have flakes if I have any at all. So I assumed I didn't have a dandruff problem.

-I use the same shampoos and conditioners all year long but only itch during the winter season so I assumed it wasn't an allergic reaction to a product I was using.

-I don't do any weird treatments that would send my hair and scalp into a confused frenzy. And I only switch between two products at a time, just like I do in the summer.

So after days of going through process of elimination....my skin and hair started itching at the same time. A went to get the shea better for my skin, I glanced at the spray bottle of aloe vera....EUREKA! My scalp is just dry and when dry, it itches like my skin. Then I scratch like crazy and it gets sore.

To test my theory I have been moisturizing my scalp every other day with aloe vera....it has been working. To see if it was the aloe vera and not just a change in weather, I skipped a moisturizing session and the itching came back. I am convinced my scalp and skin just hate the cold as much as I do. Why oh why couldn't I figure this out about 3 months ago, LOL.

I also assume that the Castor oil wasn't making much of a difference with the itching because I was applying it to dry scalp - there wasn't any moisture to lock in. So now I oil after washing/co-washing and I have also added a midweek co-wash to my winter regimen. Although winter is near the end when as I make my discovery at least I will be ready for the next winter season.

Sources:

Prevent Itchy Scalp in the Winter

Scalp Itching

Soothe a Dry, Itchy Scalp

Curing Dry, Itchy Scalp in Natural Black Hair

Baggy Method Anyone?

With the cooler weather approaching fast I am starting to think about this year's winter regimen. Last year bunning worked GREAT with my length retention but I never really found something to work for my itchy winter scalp. All winter long my scalp itched in one spot - the crown. It drove me crazy. I am thinking that maybe I need more moisture but that would be terrible for my buns (having to redo them often during the week).

Since I seem to experience more growth during the winter I am trying to add elements to my regimen that will retain length but are still somewhat low manipulation, so I am considering the "baggy method." Keyword: considering

I really like Chicoro's Baggy Method.

For those that have tried the baggy method for an extended period of time, what are your thoughts?

Cold Weather Regimen

So I think I learned a lesson.....

This is the first year that I actually made an attempt to change my regimen with the seasons. I now see that I only need two main regimens; one for warm weather and one for cold weather. The regimen that I started the following for the fall was quickly thrown to the wayside and now it's just a cold weather regimen.

The first day of winter is December 21 but I guess it really doesn't matter because it's cold already. I hate cold weather. Hate it! It's like we went from summer straight to winter.

This is the update to my regimen:

Cleansing

Alternate between shampoos and co-washes. The winter hair is already drying to I don’t want to shampoo too often. Every week might be too much for my hair.

Conditioning

Deep condition every week with LeKair Cholesterol/Rosemary Oil/Olive Oil Mix Moisturizing: After rinsing and while hair is still damp, leave a small amount of condition in the hair and apply coconut oil to the entire length with special focus on the ends.

Special Treatments

Oil Rinse - Twice a month (I love these!!!)

Styling

Styles for the cold weather will consist of braids, cornrows, buns, and twists that are pinned up or styled in updos. Now that I can do roller sets, I will incorporate those as well.

Trims

Since I have been more loving towards my ends they have not given me a problem with splits and fairy knots. I am going to trim when needed. S&D!!!