My hair journey.

So i embarked on my hair journey back in February this year. My hair used to be really pretty, full and long until the hair experiments set in. Hair glue was the death of my hair. A friend convinced me to big chop in 2011 but even after that i paid little to no attention to my hair.  I'm currently at mid NL (Neck length) and my hair goal by my next relaxer is SL (Shoulder length). I had my last touch up in January and i intend stretching my relaxer for 6 months so that makes me 15 weeks post relaxer at the moment. So far I've been good with my hair care regimen, religiously shampooing, conditioning, deep conditioning, moisturizing and sealing on a daily/weekly basis. I've seen tremendous improvement in my hair especially in the fullness and thickness. With length, i can't really say how much because when you're stretching your relaxer, you sometimes experience shrinkage. But yea, my new growth is mega thick, so that means it's growing. I probably won't be able to really see how far my hair has grown until my next relaxer. I've been protective styling with weaves and box braids. If it's not weaves or box braids, it's a bun!. My maaaaain hair goal is to have MBL ( mid back length) hair that's thick, full, silky, healthy, glossy and just beautiful in general. Stretching relaxers isn't all fun i gotta say. The only thing i find exciting about stretching my relaxer is the pretty picture at the end of the tunnel and the fact that i'm saving my hair from excessive chemical damage. Aside from that, nothing else. There are loads of setbacks you'd come across whilst stretching. For me, my major setback is my inability to blend in my hair with weaves(straight ones especially). For someone who's stretching and has decided to lay off heat for sometime, that's one hell of a puddle to leap over. Also, the pain you experience when parting your new growth can sometimes lead you to tears. I'm not even kidding. I got box braids about a week ago and the pain i experienced whilst they (i had my hair braided by about 4 people so you can imagine) were parting my hair was out of this world. All in all, i'm happy i made the commitment to get my hair back on the right track and i'd definitely keep you guys updated on my hair journey.

Products i use
*Relaxer - Organic Root Stimulator olive oil relaxer
*Shampoo - Motions lavish conditioning shampoo
                      Maven hydra moist shampoo
*Moisturising conditioner - Elasta QP DPR -11
                                                Maven rebalancing conditioner
*Protein conditioner - Profectiv mega growth deep strengthening growth conditioner
*Daily oil - ORS Carrot oil
*Moisturiser - Cantu shea butter leave-in conditioning repair cream
*Edges - Dr Miracle's temple&nape gro balm
*Growth - Castor oil
                - Chambers chapter 2000 super hair growth&scalp treatment

My Regimen
*I relax my hair every 6 months (just started stretching my relaxer)
*I shampoo my hair 1/2ce a week
*Condition with a moisturizing conditioner after every wash except when i deep condition with a protein conditioner after every 2 weeks.
*I air dry my hair
*I moisturize and seal my hair on a daily basis
*I massage my scalp with castor oil, chapter 2000 and Dr Miracle's temple & nape gro balm.
*I trim my ends by myself when necessary.

***Stretching ~ Extending the time between one hair relaxing session and the next. Instead of relaxing your hair every 4 or 8 weeks, you extend it to say 12, 16, 20 or 24 weeeks, or even more.