Finally got my braids in - Protective Styling Continues!

Finally! After weeks of sticking my fingers in my hair, 2 protective style fails and an intense bout of twice weekly conditioning; my tresses have finally been put away in my favorite protective style of all time - braids!!! Yay!

For about 3 weeks leading up to this time, I switched up my regimen a little - deep conditioning my hair about twice a week and  since I didn't want to shampoo till I was ready to braid; I would pre poo overnight with my oil of choice (Njoy on scalp and coconut/brahmi oil on hair) and  in the morning, I'd slather on deep conditioner to my hair, cover with a plastic cap and then use my heating cap for about 30 mins to an hour. I'd then rinse the deep conditioner out, co wash, apply my oil mix to damp hair ( coconut oil, Olive oil, Avocado oil, Castor oil, Jojoba Oil and Rose hip seed oil) and then follow up with either my Kimmaytube mix or just the Kinky Curly Knot Today leave in conditioner.

I normally use this with my Rhassoul Clay wash mix but it's packed full with so much goodness, I decided to add some to my oil mix for daily use.

I was wearing a wig in this period so my hair was always in about 7  or so plaits and in the evening I'd oil the length of my hair with my oil mix. Using the LOC method (Liquid, Oil, Conditioner layered in the hair in that order) on my wash days actually helped me retain moisture in my hair for longer! So all I had to do in the days following was just oil my hair for added strength without having to remoisturize. It's definitely something I'm going to incorporate again when I take down my braids.

Protective Styling Update plus new products I'm excited about.

I almost can't believe I'm in my 6th week with these twists I installed using Marley hair! Not until recently did I start to miss my hair; I guess my mind has been in the right place with regard to retaining as much length as possible using protective styling.

Anyway I still plan to keep them in for another 2 weeks or so before I take them down, care for my hair for about a week and then it's back to another protective style (probably crochet braids)

So, last week I was trawling through the internet (as usual) and came across a post where a lady used 'Manshanu' (cow butter or cow ghee) to deep condition her hair. I was really intrigued and read up some more on it and found out that in some cultures, it has been used for centuries as a hair conditioning and growing agent. In Ethiopia for instance cow ghee is used as a hair strengthening, curling, styling and conditioning treatment and has been so used for centuries!

Curls popping! Slathered with cow ghee

Essentially fresh cow milk is boiled and then allowed to cool. On cooling, the butter separates from the liquid milk and is gently removed and used for cooking or (in this case) hair treatments!