Week 32 Hair

Nothing much to talk about this week. I've been sticking to the dry twists and I continue to like the results. I was lazy this weekend after running my 20 miles so I didn't deep condition as I usually do. 

I just couldn't bear sitting under the hooded dryer. So I just coated my hair well with the deep conditioner and then put on a plastic cap. I left it on as I did some chores around the house and ate lunch. 

Afterwards, I rinsed it out and prepared my hair for twisting the following day. This weekend I have a protein treatment so I'm not that worried about it.

One thing that is kind of exciting is that some of my products are getting used up. This means that I will soon be open to try other things. What I've been using so far has worked great in my opinion but I do want to try new things. 

I probably won't buy anything else (unless I completely run out) before my length check in February. Just so I can accurately measure my growth with the products I've been using.

I know that I will probably never replace my kimmaytube leave in conditioner. 

It just closes those cuticles so nicely and my hair stays moisturized the entire week. I had severe moisture problems before starting my HHCJ. My hair just never seemed to get moisture. I know it had to do with the dry, brittle climate of Córdoba, but I don't want to go back to that! 

The products I'm thinking of trying would be moisturizers, leave ins, and maybe some oils. I don't care much about my shampoo or detangler. I just pick the cheapest product.

It's amazing that there are only 6 more weeks left of my initial journey. I don't plan on stopping what I'm doing now but I am curious to see if my hair has been growing. Chema says that he's noticed that it's longer, but I haven't. 

Well, the moment of truth is in 6 weeks people!

Week 28 Hair

The deep conditioner is the best! 

I love this stuff! (I use Organic Root Stimulator) I've noticed a serious difference with my hair. Last week I felt the same way but thought that maybe it was a fluke. It wasn't, thankfully. 

My hair is condiserably less frizzy than it usually is. Not only that, but my twists last a lot longer as well. I kept them in until Thursday of last week. Usually by then they really need to come out. However, I could have gone another day. 

For now, this is something that is staying in my routine for the long term. I'll come back with another update on the deep conditioner once I've been using it for a month.

Anyway, since I know I've been lazy about taking hair pics, I have some today! 

This is how I wore my hair on Thursday right before taking out my twists. It's a style you've seen before with a twist. The hair is definitely frizzy but workable. My hair has never done this before on Day 4 hair!

My bang. I tend to either roll it up (like it is now) or wear it out in a bump sort of style.

This is my hair post twist take out.

Here's the side view.

Another successful week with my hair. It was even easier to detangle and style. If you don't deep condition now, then do it! Some only do it a couple of times every month but it works for me every week. My strands are a lot stronger and fuller.

Next week is my 2nd protein treatment. I won't deep condition because the Organice Root Stimulator has protein in it as well. I will just use the ApHogee moisturizer and then style my hair as usual.

Week 29 Hair

• Detangle with conditioner
• Shampoo
• Protein treatment (Step 1 ApHogee)
• Balancing moisturizer (Step 2 ApHogee)
• Kimmaytube leave in
• Twists

Week 27 Hair

A new product has been added to my routine:

My current focus is to make sure that I'm incorporating protein. I feel like my hair is always moisturized and it looks and feels healthy. However, I'm not sure if any of my products have protein.

My next monthly protein treatment is on December 11th. Between those times I will deep condition with a light protein. This means shaking off my laziness and sitting under the hooded dryer for 15-20 minutes.

This past Sunday I endured it for 17 minutes. I probably won't notice any real difference for about 4 weeks but my twists are definitely less frizzy today. I've heard a lot of people talk about the Root Stimulator Deep Conditioner and so I figured I would try it.

One particular youtuber (sunshower143) has used it since her HHCJ and she has beautiful hair. She discussed it when talking about her winter hair regimen for 2011.

Be sure to check her channel!

It's done well for her. Plus, my Bear Fruit Hair product has run out. I love that product. But the Root Stimulator I can get at Sally's for $12 in a big bottle. No shipping or handling required. I can always go back to it if I find I don't get the same results.

That's about all that's changed. I will sit under the hooded dryer each time I wash my hair to help the deep conditioner penetrate. In addition, I will give myself a protein treatment with my Aphogee each month. I think this will just be an added boost for my hair and give it more strength.

I've also started wearing my hair out once a week. I know it's better to do "protective styling" during the winter to protect the ends of my hair. But the weather here hasn't turned cold yet and I'm starting to miss seeing my hair out. Chema is missing my 'fro too! So usually on a Saturday I'll wear it out while I run my errands. 

Stay tuned for a pic next weekend!

Week 28 Hair

• Detangle with conditioner
• Wash hair
• Deep Condition + hooded dryer for 15-20 minutes
• Kimmaytube leave in
• Twists

Week 26 Hair

I have been super lax with my hair these past weeks. I have been following my regimen but I haven't done any styling or anything even remotely interesting to my hair. 

Here's the proof:

This is my Lazy Day Style #1. My hair has been like this, or in a bun, for the past few weeks. For Thanksgiving I might try another hairstyle involving curls. But my lovely sister is going to do it! I don't have the energy to even attempt to try why she wants to do. But if it finally gets done I will surely post pictures.

I haven't even gotten myself together to do my 6 month length check!

In fact, I've decided that I probably won't do another length check until next year. Mainly because I'm really pressed for time on Sundays. Especially now that my mom is on crutches for six weeks. She has a type of tendonitis and has to be in physical therapy for 4-6 weeks. 

So Chema and I have to be her chauffeur so to speak. Sundays are when my mom does her grocery shopping, when I do my long runs, and go through my hair washing process. By the end of that I'm exhausted! 

This weekend, for example, was Thanksgiving day shopping, I also had to run 15 miles and then do my hair...enough said.

However, I wanted to give you all this mini check-in to let you know I am still caring for my hair. I gave myself a protein treatment (Aphogee) on Sunday and the next one is on December 11th. So all is going well.

Things I'm Loving (November Edition)

Once again we come to the monthly odds and ends that I'm digging. So, enough of the writing already and let's get right to the pictures! 


(In no particular order whatsoever)

It's been a month, on Saturday, since we started the vegan challenge. It has flown by! Things like this soy cheese have definitely helped though. It tastes just like cheese. I probably won't use it to make mac&cheese this Thanksgiving (it is too expensive!). But it's a nice change when I'm craving something cheesy.

Why are these tortilla chips so good? Last week Chema and I went on a junk food binge. It's quite hard to find vegan junk food. But this hit the spot. The right combination of salt, sweet, and crunchy.

This is the best invention ever! I am a crockpot-recipe-making-machine! My favorite thing to make in it so far are beans. The options are limitless: pinto, black bean, black-eyed, kidney, lentils... I made some black-eyed peas with carrots and onions for lunch today.

Another edition to our vegan junk food collection. These things are delish!

For anyone who hates the taste of traditional licorice (like me!) and hates candy that is too sticky (like me!) these are perfect. Nice and soft and chewy and mango-goodness! Seriously, they are addictive.

Chema actually prefers this to soy milk. We've also tried almond milk but I don't like the taste of it with cereal. For smoothies or baked goods it's perfect though. Rice milk has a milder flavor than soy milk.

Oh yes, they taste just like real ice-cream. They are small enough where you are satisfied but don't feel guilty.

This is the best meat imitation I've eaten so far. It tastes just like taco meat.

Since dark chocolate is good for you I don't actually group this with "goodies." Although, I don't exactly binge on it either. (Chema is a different story though.)

This may seem random (I told you this list was in NO order!) but these are life-savers. I'd been walking around the house in uncomfortable flip-flops. With the colder weather I needed a substitute. I got these from Walmart. Cute aren't they?

I finally bought the bottle so I don't have to skip protein treatments. My goal is to give myself one every month. I'm also going to start sitting under the hooded dryer for 20 minutes each week when I do my deep conditioning.

These are an old love.

Again, hard to find vegan goodies, especially cookies! I'm picky with my sweets but I LOVE cookies. These are pretty decent.

So that's that. Honestly, I'm having a lot of fun with this vegan challenge. I'm also trying to buy more certified organic things. I think it's important. Maybe I'll dedicate a blog post in the future with my thoughts on that.

Next month I want try some new/weird fruits and vegetables. I'm fascinated with purple carrots!

What have you been loving this month?

Things I'm Loving (October Edition)

Here we are again with odds and ends that I've used over and over again and love in October. I can't believe it's already been a month since my last post. But go check it out if you haven't already! 

OK, let's get started.

Week 21 Hair

I did my protein treatment today! I'm proud of myself! Although the hair process hasn't been completed yet. (I have in the deep conditioner as I write this).

Aphogee STINKS!!! For those that have tried it already, you know. But for me it was an unpleasant surprise. I also hate hooded dryers. It's uncomfortable, hot, and it burns my eyes and my forehead.

I am, however, doing the protein treatment once a month. Right now I don't notice anything special. I probably need to use it a few more times.

Anyway, I'm just happy I got out of my laziness to do it! 

I also tried a different process washing my hair to save water. Instead of detangling in the shower I did it before I washed. I put my hair in sections, about six, then sprayed them with plain water. Once it was saturated with water I added my Suave conditoner and started removing shed hairs. I then twisted each section back up. 

After that I got into the shower and shampooed my hair in sections. It worked out pretty well. The next step was: 

• The protein treatment 
• Sitting under the hooded dryer until it was hard
• Rinsing it out
• Putting in the intense moisture conditioner
• Deep conditioner

Once I wash out my deep conditioner I'll do the rest of my routine. The laziness is setting in so I'll probably do super humongous twists and leave them in until Wednesday. 

My husband and I are going away from Thursday-Friday because our 3-year anniversary is on Sunday! He doesn't know about it yet because it's a surprise. But I will include a post next week with pictures on where we went! But I think I want my hair out for the trip.

Since I didn't wash my hair last Sunday my hair hasn't been in twists this entire week. I alternated between buns and Updo #1 as well as Lazy Day Style #4. It wasn't that bad. Not as much "work" as I expected. Maybe I'll alternate weeks.

Week 22 Hair 

• Detangle out of shower
• Shampoo hair in sections
• Deep conditioner
• Kimmaytube leave in
• Twists