New Regimen

After completing a few tests to help determine my hair's porosity I am now armed with the knowledge of how to manage my hair. I have made a lot of changes over the last six weeks or so and have already noticed a change in how my hair feels and responds to products. You'll also notice my products are now 100% natural, which you all know has been a goal of mine for a long time!


Basic regimen (low porosity):

• Scalp/ herbal hot oil treatment overnight 1x/week
• Shampoo w/ moisturizing shampoo (pH 6.0) 1x/week
• Moisturizing Conditioner (pH 5.0) 1x/month
• DC Moisturizing Conditioner (pH 5.0) 2x/month
• Real Protein Treatment (pH 5.0) 1x/month 
• Henna as needed (approx 1x/6 weeks)

Basic regimen (high porosity):

• Scalp/ herbal hot oil treatment overnight 1x/week
• Shampoo w/ moisturizing shampoo (pH 6.0) 1x/week
• DC Moisturizing Conditioner (pH 5.0) 2x/month
• Real Protein Treatment (pH 5.0) 2x/month 
• Henna as needed (approx 1x/6 weeks)

Additional things:

Oil scalp every other day with JBCO/Jojoba Herbal Mix
Massage scalp daily
Moisturizing spritz as needed
Gently warm up conditioner before applying to hair

Multivitamin, Vitamin B Complex, Iron, Vitamin E and Omega 3-6-9 daily (I take these daily because I am a vegetarian and lack some nutrients)

Products:

• Moisturizing Shampoo: SM Moisture Retention Shampoo (modified), SM Coconut and Hibiscus Curl & Shine Shampoo (modified)
• Moisturizing Conditioner: AO Camellia Ultra-Smoothing and Argan oil
• Moisturizing DC: Shea Moisture Organic Raw Shea Butter Restorative Conditioner (modified)  
•  Protein DC: Shea Moisture Organic Raw Shea Butter Restorative Conditioner (modified)  
• Leave ins: Specialized Recipe  
• Moisturizer: Camilla Rose Almond Jai Twisting Butter (modified), Oyim Handmade Honey Dew Lotion (modified), SM Organic Curl & Style Hair Milk and SM Hold & Shine Moisture Mist 
• Colorant: Henna 
• Conditioning Oils: Infused Herbal Oil Treatment 
• Sealants: Jojoba Oil (low porosity) and shea butter mix (high porosity)
• "Growth" Aid: JBCO/Jojoba herbal mix  

Infused Herbal Oil Treatment:

Nettle, Calendula, Chamomile and Horsetail
1/2 C each of EVCO and Avocado Oil
infuse for minimum of 8 weeks
*once infused add various EO with each use

Moisturizing DC (modified):

2 tbsp Shea Moisture Organic Raw Shea Butter Restorative Conditioner
1/4 tsp herbal oil treatment, EVOO and Argan Oil
1 tsp aloe vera juice

Protein DC (modified):

High Porosity
3 tbsp Shea Moisture Organic Raw Shea Butter Restorative Conditioner
1 1/4 tsp hydrolyzed wheat protein
1/4 tsp herbal oil treatment, EVOO and Argan Oil
1 1/2 tsp aloe vera juice

Low Porosity
2 tbsp Shea Moisture Organic Raw Shea Butter Restorative Conditioner
3/8 tsp hydrolyzed wheat protein
1/4 tsp herbal oil treatment, EVOO and Argan Oil
1 tsp aloe vera juice

Leave in:

1 tbsp Knot Today

1/2 tbsp aloe vera juice

1/2 tsp jojoba oil

1/2 tsp castor oil

Moisturizer/Styler (modified):

1 tbsp Camilla Rosa Almond Jai Twisting Butter

1 tsp aloe vera juice

1/8 lemon juice (add to lower to 4.0 for high porosity areas)

Spritz:

high porosity

1/3 cup water

3 tbsp aloe vera juice

2 tbsp veg glycerine

low porosity

1/2 cup + 1 tbsp water

1 tbsp veg glycerine 

Henna Treatment:

• (After prepping scalp with JBCO) apply henna on hair from root to tip on air dried hair, cover w/ saran wrap, plastic bag, old shirt and let sit for 8 hours/overnight (be sure to cover pillow with an old towel as well).
• Rinse out henna thoroughly and lightly shampoo scalp w/ moisturizing shampoo to remove traces of henna.
• Apply moisturizing conditioner mixed with conditioning oils. Cover w/ saran wrap and let sit for 30 minutes under dryer
• Rinse then apply leave in.
• When hair  is dry oil scalp with oil blend, add moisturizer, seal and twist or bun.

Henna recipe: 

4 tbsp art quality henna (lawsonia inermis)

Filtered water

1/2-1 tbsp of JBCO, EVOO and moisturizing conditioner of choice after colour release

Allow to sit overnight

** I apply oil to my scalp before applying any henna because it seems my scalp is VERY sensitive. Lightly shampooing after application seems to help my scalp as well. I continue to use henna because I really like how my hair feels and looks after I use it.

Regimen (old)

Since I have made a few "small" changes to my regimen in February I have noticed a huge difference in the texture and health of my hair. Logging theses changes on a daily basis has also made it easier to adjust my products as needed, which has helped me save my hair from a lot of damage that in the past would have me in tears. Since February I have removed some products and added a few. You'll notice my product list is now 99% natural, which was a long time coming. I also got this protein-moisture balance thing working--FINALLY! So here's where I am so far:


Basic regimen:

• Pre-poo with EVCO overnight 2x/month
• Scalp treatment overnight 1x/week
• Shampoo w/ moisturizing shampoo 1x/week
• Co-wash 1x/week 
•  Apply moisturizing conditioner 2x/week
• Apply mild protein 1x/3 weeks overnight
• ACV/herbal rinse 1x/week
• Apply moisture or protein based leave ins as needed
• Air dry with scarf
• Bun as low manipulation/protective style 
• Moisture and seal ends 1-2x/day
• Clarify as needed
• Henna as needed

Additional things:

Oil scalp 2x/week with JBCO/EVCO/Jojoba mix
Massage scalp daily

Relax every 8-10 weeks; apply EVCO to scalp and ends prior to relaxer
Multivitamin, Vitamin B Complex, Iron, Vitamin E and Omega 3-6-9 daily (I take these because I am a vegetarian and lack some nutrients)

Products:

• Moisturizing Shampoo: SM Moisture Retention Shampoo, Aveda Dry Remedy Shampoo 
• Clarifying Shampoo: Aveda Dry Remedy w/ Baking Soda and Avalon Organics Lemon and Shea Butter
• Moisturizing DC: AO Camellia Ultra-Smoothing mixed with  AO Honeysuckle Rose
•  Protein DC: Homemade Avocado Mask ,  AOGPB and Henna
• Leave ins: Giovanni Leave-in, SM Hold & Shine Moisture Mist and Live Clean Argan Oil Smooth & Shine Cream  
• ACV hair rinse
• Moisturizer: Oyim Lightweight Lotion and SM Organic Curl & Style Hair Milk
• Colorant: Henna 
• Conditioning Oils: EVCO , Avocado Oil, EVOO, Jojoba Oil, JBCO and honey
• Sealants: EVCO/Jojoba Oil mix and Argan Oil (alternatively)

Henna Treatment:

• (After prepping scalp with JBCO) apply henna on hair from root to tip on air dried hair, cover w/ saran wrap, plastic bag, old shirt and let sit for 8 hours/overnight (be sure to cover pillow with an old towel as well).
• Rinse out henna thoroughly and lightly shampoo scalp w/ moisturizing shampoo to remove traces of henna.
• Apply AOHR/AOWCC mixed with conditioning oils. Cover w/ saran wrap for 2-3 hours. 
• Rinse then apply moisture base hair as leave in.
• When hair  is dry oil scalp with oil blend, add moisturizer, seal and twist or bun.

Henna recipe: 

4 tbsp art quality henna (lawsonia inermis)

Filtered water

1/2-1 tbsp of JBCO, EVOO and moisturizing conditioner of choice after colour release

Allow to sit overnight

** I apply oil to my scalp before applying any henna because it seems my scalp is VERY sensitive. Lightly shampooing after application seems to help my scalp as well. I continue to use henna because I really like how my hair feels and looks after I use it.

ACV/Hair Rinse : 
3/4 tsp ACV
2 cups filtered water
mix of herbs of choice (optional)

Boil water and remove from stove, add mixed herbs (1 tbsp) and let sit overnight
In the morning strain herbs and add ACV