Wash Day

 I am feeling a bit better since I decided to cut down the amount of time I am focusing on my hair and hair care. I think truthfully, it was just a lot of other things as well that were contributing to my stress level. The last thing I want is my hair to begin shedding like crazy. Excessive shedding has never been a problem for me and I'd really like to keep it that way. I'm still going to take it easy, but I wanted to at least keep my blog updated with any significant changes going on with my hair.

So it's wash day, and as promised I am going to give BB Avocado Pre-poo Treatment another shot in an effort to be as fair as I can before my final review. This is the third time around, so at this point I have pretty much used it in every way possible. Before I get into my results with my little experiment I will mention that overall my hair feels and looks a bit better. The breakage has minimized and it seems to be holding moisture a lot better. Overall, I think I am pleased with how it is coming along. I've notice a tiny tiny bit of new growth in certain sections, which is great. Not sure, but I think it may be due to my JBCO blend. Traditionally, I don't see anything in terms of growth until about 5 or 6 weeks post. I was itching to do a henna treatment today, but stopped myself. I really want to let my hair tell me when to add protein to prevent another overload. No henna isn't truly a protein, but it acts like a protein in terms of its ability to strengthen and add structure and volume to the hair. It also dries the hell out of my hair like a protein, and given my issue with dry hair right now, I just want to increase my moisture levels first.

Anywhoo, back to my experiment. As you know I really wanted to give BB Avocado Treatment a fair chance, so I played around with some concoctions and applied it to my hair in four sections. Here's what I did:

Section 1. BB Avocado Butter Pre-poo Treatment with 1 each tsp of my special oil mix and JBCO

Section 2. 1 tsp each of BB Avocado Pre-poo Treatment, JBCO, special oil blend mix, honey, AORM and AOHR

Section 3. 2 tsp of Hydrafuse  and 1 tsp each of BB Avocado Pre-poo Treatment, JBCO, special oil blend mix, honey

Section 4. 2 tsp of Hydrafuse  and 1 tsp each of BB Avocado Pre-poo Treatment, JBCO, special oil blend mix, honey and Aveda DR

I placed a plastic cap on and allowed treatment(s) to sit for 1 hour (45 w/ heat; 15 w/ out). My results were as followed:

Section 1: washed out okay, but nothing special in terms of moisture or slip. A tiny bit of tangling.

Section 2: Soft and moist, good slip, which was a pleasant surprise.

Section 3: Okay. Felt dense (if that makes any sense), some slip

Section 4: Really nice, soft, moist and had slip.

So section 2 and 4 were the clear winners. I will have to admit the best one was section 4, but 2 was very close in comparison. What I like the most is the fact that section 2 was an all natural concoction, actually the treatment blend I've been using over the last two weeks with no success. The only change was adding a tsp of JBCO. This mix is definitely a keeper, but I will need to find an alternative to the BB Pre-Poo Treatment because it is just too expensive for what you are getting. Today I got the buttery soft feel I have been longing for over the last two weeks, but I had to add JBCO and various conditioners. Now, as for the BB Avocado Pre-poo Treatment, I have decided to change my rating to a . I really just don't think it's worth the money, esp since I had to add other things to it to get any kind of slip or moisture. Good ingredients, but that is about it. Applying it to the hair was fine, but it honestly felt similar to spreading a tub of Vaseline on my hair, and truthfully conditioned just as well! Not sure what all the hype is all about......

JBCO Challenge: Week Two

So it is week two of the JBCO Challenge. I've noticed that on days I don't oil my scalp I have some itching. So far so good. It concerns me of course because I am looking to stop my itching not do anything to increase it, but it's not horrible. I have noticed a little (and I do mean a little) bit of new growth in certain sections of my hair, which feels soft. Pretty good sign if you ask me, because I never see new growth this early (I am currently 3 weeks post). Can I attribute this to the JBCO, yeah perhaps. I mean I have also used some EOs as well, which are also known for enhancing hair growth and I also have other oils added to my mix (e.g. jojoba and EVCO).  I am also trying (not doing too great) to eat better and I am exercising at least 4-5 times a week. All factors that contribute to achieving maximum hair growth. You notice I didn't say increase hair growth I still believe nothing can help you go beyond your maximum growth rate. Some may disagree, but whenever someone reports they got 1/2-1 of growth from a product, it is more likely that the product help create a situation that allowed them to reach their full potential, whether it was keeping their scalp clean (e.g. JBCO, MN), helping with circulation, adding additional nutrients to the hair follicles (e.g. EO); It was not the product in itself. I mean we all know a clean scalp, circulation, moisture and nutrients are key to hair growth (or any cell for that matter), which can all be achieved by eating a balanced diet high in certain nutrients, regular exercise, scalp massages and regular shampoo (or co-washes).  While JBCO may have something to do with my mini spurt of growth I can't really tell. Unfortunately, past experience has shown me that I can't use JBCO on its own, but I may try to use more of it in my mix to see what happens. We'll see....

Taking a Short Break

As the title says, I am going on a mini break. Ladies, I am absolutely exhausted both mentally and physically. I have been trying to do too much, and putting waaaay too much time and energy on my hair and physical appearance. Now I know that sounds odd, because how can taking care of one's appearance be a bad thing? Well in moderation it isn't a bad thing, but I think I have been going overboard.  Don't get me wrong, I am--and will still be committed to my hair. I will still be diligent with my regimen, I just need a mini break. I have been literally driving myself crazy focusing on my hair: oiling and massaging my scalp, reading blog post, forums, chats, washing, conditioning, buying products to remedy my hair issues, dealing with breakage, protein overload, blogging about my pitfalls, blogging about my successes....it's a little much simply because I am also trying to lose weight, dealing with home renos, managing work, trying to have a social life, maintaining a connection with my family--whew really?! It's a little much.

So while I take my mini stay-cation I will continue to take care of my hair, but my post will be limited to updates on the JBCO Challenge and the odd post on articles I come across, but that's it for now. I am also available to answer any questions you may have, so no worries there. My break won't be too long, just for a few weeks....Can I last that long? I'll keep you posted LOL!

Burt's Bee Avocado Butter Pre-Shampoo Treatment

Burt's Bee Avocado Butter Pre-Shampoo Treatment ($11.69 CDN)
As you know I picked this product up about three weeks ago mainly because I have been experiencing some serious breakage and had a big issue with dry, brittle hair. So I was--well still have been on a mission to up the moisture levels of my hair, really reducing the protein I am currently applying protein once a month (or as needed). Having my hair out of the twist I am coming to really see how moisture deprived my hair. It seems to be drinking up whatever I put on it like water.

Anyway, the first time around I added it to my conditioner mix (AO HR and RM) and left it on my usual time with heat and it was just okay. This time around I decided to do an overnight treatment. My hair was a little dry and I haven't had the opportunity to M & S everyday as planned. There was absolutely no difference in the condition in my hair. Now when I say this, I don't mean my hair was bad at all, but it just felt "okay". There was okay slip, and my hair was a little softer. I am just use to getting "buttery" (oh yeah I said "buttery") soft hair when I rinse out my conditioner, and this is no longer the case. Now either these products have changed in some way, or it is my hair that is changing. Now I believe the latter may be the culprit, because as we all know, that is the nature of hair. Since I first began using all natural products I have changed the relaxer I use (Affirm Fiberguard) and my diet. Age may also play a factor as well. As we age the moisture and protein levels in our hair changes, which affects sheen, texture, feel and moisture/protein retention. With these things considered, my hair appears to no longer responding to some natural products the way that it did before. Does that mean I will stop using natural products--hell no! I just need to figure out what else will work. Anyway, I digress.

The BB Avocado Butter Treatment just doesn't do it for me. I have yet to use it on it's own, so I will do that next, but I figure if I have used it with so called moisturizing conditioners and it hasn't had an impact with those additives, then why would it be more effective on its own? I may be totally wrong, but from my experience most things are only enhanced when you add it to something else. I think to be fair I will complete a final experiment though. I will split my hair into four sections (which I do anyway), but I will apply different concoctions to each section to see what happens. One section will definitely have just the BB Avocado Butter on it's own to give it a fair chance, and I will play around with the other sections (honey, oils, conditioners--don't know yet). As it stands now, I will have to give this product a because it is too expensive for the limited results I've received. Some women have had good results with this product, so you may also want to check out their reviews (use google). I've only had okay results, so I just don't think it's worth it. Maybe I should lower my expectations...

ETA: I completed my final review after experimenting with a few things. Here are my thoughts of this product after it was all said and done

- = not worth the money, don't waste your time.

- = neither hit or miss; just okay

- = good product; really worth trying.

= amazing product!