Hair Journey Update: I Have to Cut My Hair!!! (It was cut March 1,2019)
It’s been 2.5 years since I have really taken care of my hair.
Currently my hair is waist length, but my ends are damaged and tangled. I cut 4-5 inches off. Starting over at 20 inches in the front and 18 inches in the back. My goal is 28 inches in the back and 28 inches in the back.
I was trying to decide if I was going to go to a professional for a trim and then I decided I will do it. Prior to the hair care hiatus, I was trimming my ends regularly and maintaining my hair at home.
Things I was doing to get to this point: Leaving it in the same bun for days and not taking it down. Not moisturizing my hair. Not washing it for months on end keeping hairstyles in too long. Not trimming my ends regularly. Basically, I did nothing.
The main culprit for this is was traveling. I travel for work which makes things hard. I didn’t want to get weave or braids because of the horror stories I’ve heard when it comes to natural hair.
On contracts I work 6-7 days a week 10-12-hour days. Which doesn’t leave much time for hair care, gym, blogging, editing, and content creation. Something had to fall by the wayside, unfortunately it was my hair.
I knew I would have to cut my har when my ends were dry and broken off and it took forever to detangle only to come back and still have my ends tangled. Also, when I blow dried my hair to straighten and trim my ends last month, you could see right through them, that is always a tall tale sign that you need a trim/cut.
I don’t just want long hair, I want healthy hair as well. It was scary to get rid of them many inches, but I feel relieved, and I cut it before I lost my nerve lol.
Short background story:
I have been natural since December 22, 2010. I was sitting at my desk in my dorm room. I was six hours away from home and did not know anyone who could do my hair. My hair was getting thinner and shorter every year so that’s when I decided to stop getting a relaxer.
I did not big chop, I wet and braided my hair at night and lucky for me my natural hair and relaxed hair matched. One day on summer break for college I was standing in my bathroom and just started snipping, the demarcation point was getting to be too much to handle. My hair reached my shoulders on the sides and in the back a little past my shoulders. Which was the shortest my hair had ever been, so it was new for me. I never looked back and it was the best decision I have ever made.
I want to make sure my hair is healthy there is no point in having length if it is not healthy and you can see through your ends. I am nervous about cutting my hair, but this will be a journey.
I did some research so I will be trying rice water to regain the length of my hair the luster and thickness. There is a tribe of Yoa women who have reportedly the longest hair. Rice contains inositol and may other good things for hair.
My recipe for rice water. I use organic white rice. I cup, I rinse it a couple of time to get rid of any impurities. I put the rinsed rise in a mason jar and then fill it with water. I let sit for 3 days and then was my hair. Fair warning, when the rice sits it ferments, so after 3 days when you open the mason jar it will STINK. To combat that some naturals put a few drops of an essential oil in the mix. After you rinse the rice water make sure to follow up with a conditioner.
I will also be using a DIY aloe shampoo, which will include: 1 tablespoon of honey, 1 cup castile soap, ¼ castor oil, 1 aloe vera leaf, and 1 tablespoon of lavender oil. If you are going to use this recipe make sure you strain the aloe, if not when you rinse your hair there will be aloe particles left. I washed may hair this past Friday and I did not strain the aloe and there are small white particles in my hair.
As far as daily products right now I am using The Mane Choice Tropical Moringa Sealing Cream and Pearly Braid Out Glaze and my tried and true Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie.
Guidelines for the repair process:
1.wash hair with rice water
2.wash hair every 2-3 weeks
3.Seal ends
4.Hair to be worn in a protective style at all times
5. 3-month updates
6.Keep up with ends (trim when needed)
7.Take MSM daily
8.Wear bonnet (I’ve been doing this)
9.No heat (I’ve been doing this)
10. keep hair moisturized
I will be photographing and giving updates every three months. My wedding is May 24, 2020. By that time, I want healthy tail bone length hair.
I have made a promise to myself to regain healthy natural hair.
Every natural hair journey has its struggles and every journey is different. This post is not about discouraging women of color going natural, but to show that even women of color with long hair have struggles and set backs too. If you have a TWA right now or can’t get your hair past your shoulders, be patient and keep taking care of your hair, after all it is your crown of glory!
Side note: I will not be taking hair growth vitamins or biotin. I took them back in 2012 and the experience for me was okay. While my hair grew a little bit, I got very bad headaches. I drank plenty of water and biotin still broke me out. Also please keep in mind biotin will grew the hair on you everywhere else as well, I am hairy enough I cannot walk around looking like a Furbie.
I will see yall June 1st for an update.
TOODLES for now!
Thanks for reading and have a good evening!