Wash Day: Before & After Taking Out Braids

Hey loves,

Let me first apologize for being absent for the past weeks. I have been really ill, off and on for the past three weeks, and after it all, I went for a little holiday from which I just got back. I planned to post this wash day experience last week but in between being weak and trying to pack for my trip, I couldn’t pull it through. Anyways, although I have washed my hair again since then, I still think this is post could help some people so I am posting it now.

This is a two in one wash day, how to care for your hair before and after taking out braids!

Remember I had kinky twists installed towards the end of last year? And I was a bit lazy with taking care of my hair (I washed, or rather co-washed my hair twice during all of the five weeks I had them)? Remember also when I said you can be a little less strict with your hair in braids, IF and ONLY IF you do a proper care right before and after you take them off? That was exactly what I did.

WASH DAY BEFORE TAKING OUT BRAIDS

1. I cleansed my scalp and the length of my hair (not braids) with a sample shampoo I got, Palmers Coconut Oil Formula Conditioning Shampoo. I figured with was a clarifying shampoo because of the ingredients, which are not the best btw but I figured I could get away with it just this once. I needed to get rid of the buildup, and avoid having those dirt balls at the root of the braids
2. Followed up with a deep conditioner using my Cream of Nature Argan Oil intensive Conditioner Treatment. Sat under my steamer for about 20mins (got a bit antsy towards the end and got out right before it went off).
3. Rinsed my hair with lukewarm water to seal in some of the moisture from the deep condition treatment
4. Moisturized with ORS Shea Butter Softening Hair & Scalp Lotion

Next day, my hair was not fully dry, but I still took out the braids. I was so easy and I had little to no breakage. The picture below is the amount of shed hair I had after five weeks. This is a smallest amount I have had, and I attribute it to the tea rinse, but mainly the Manetabolism pills I took (Check out review and comparison pictures -> http://youtu.be/KNSN5Mb3U30 ).

WASH DAY AFTER TAKING OUT BRAIDS

1. I did an overnight hot oil treatment with my oil mix of almond oil, JBCO and Jojoba oil.
2. Shampooed with my ORS Olive Oil Creamy Aloe shampoo, to make sure that all the buildup was gone.
3. Next up, I did a protein treatment, which is necessary to restore strength to your strands after any long protective style. My treatment consisted of avocado, coconut milk, oil mix and another sample protein conditioner I got, Elasta QP Soy Oyl ULTRA HYDRATION Conditioner, as I was all out of my ORS mayonnaise and I always like adding a conditioner to my protein mix just for the extra oomph. I left this on for about an hour to two hours and rinsed it off.
4. My hair is a bit sensitive to protein, so I always do a moisturising treatment on days I do my protein treatment because of the fear I have that my hair will break due to too much protein (might be in my head). Oh well, I finally made use of the Manechoice Natural Nourishing Growth & Retention Green Tea & Carrot Deep Conditioning Mask for my moisturising treatment. Deviating a bit from my usual treatments, I skipped adding the extra oils and honey, just so I can have a good judgement of this product and I must say, I LOVE it. So much so I went and bought another one on my recent trip. I will post a review on this after I have used it a few more times. So look out for that. I sat under my steamer again for the whole twenty minutes this time and after, covered my hair with a shower cap and beanie for an extra twenty minutes to trap in the heat. At the end, I was left with super soft moisturised hair (I was in love, LOL)
5. Rinsed the conditioner off with lukewarm water and immediately applied my Kinky Coily Knot Today, Jojoba oil and Jane Carter Nourish & Shine (THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH).
6. Banded my hair right after applying my LOC products and left it in all night (didn’t dry all the way but I was okay with that). The next day I pulled it into a puff and did this cute “cinna bun” puff so as to protect my ends.

Guys, I have raved about this LOC combination for day’s un-end now, and I got reminded why. Omgosh, my hair was so soft days after my wash day and although I can’t pin point what caused this, I am 100% sure it’s a mixture of all these treatments and products (duh), the Manechoice green tea and carrot mask as well as the nourish and shine especially. They aint lying when they say your hair will thank you when you treat it right, so check out these other ladies to see what I am taking about -> #WashDayExperience

PS: My lovely 4C-4B in very little areas-hair is coiling up guys. I have started finding little coils here and there. Although I absolutely love my afro, I am really curious to see if my strands really do coil up all the way. I have heard a lot about the Max Hydration Method and I am currently doing research to find out everything about it. I have heard mixed reviews, but seen great results. I am all for anything that adds moisture (low porosity and all) and if they say one can reach 100% moisture level, then sign me up (minus the time duration though side eyeing that part so bad), defined coils are just a side dish.

So guys, let me know, has any one tried it? How did it work for you? I am having major issues with the time duration, 7 days? Every day? Who has that time? Did you do all 7 days? Or do you have a cut down version? What about baking soda? Can’t I just do a protein treatment? HELP!!!!!!

PSS: In case you missed the link, heres my review on the Manetabolism Hair Vitamins! Go check it out -> http://youtu.be/KNSN5Mb3U30 


Love,
Dumsy