Back to School Styles

Hello my dears,

I am currently a freshmen in college, meaning I have no time to to spend on "doing" my hair so I figure I'm come to you guys with two epically easy and protective styles that everyone can rock. Each style can last you for up to 5 days (very low maintenance).

 

 

The first style view with me in the blue shirt is just a simple feux bun achieved by using synthetic hair (Kenekalon X-Pression) I simply slicked my hair back in a pony and wrapped the synthetic hair around it. The next bun is the same sythetic hair I simply did a braid of my hair on both sides and then applied the feux bun. Both styles take all of 10 minuets at the most. Hope you guys enjoy!

Until Next Time,
Zayna

Official Routine

Hello Dears,

I know I have promising an update hair routine. However I wanted to wait until had finally perfected it to my liking. I can honestly say that now I have!

Wash Day/ Pre-Wash Day:
Pre-Poo (GHE) with warmed Shea butter and coconut oil overnight
Shampoo hair with Suave Almond+Shea Butter
Shampoo hair with Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Moisture Retention Shampoo (focus on the new growth/ scalp)
Black Tea Rinse
Apply Suave Almond+Shea Butter Condition w/ added Almond and Coconut oil. Deep condition for 30-45 min.
Air Dry
Moisturize with ORS Hair Repair and seal with Castor Oil.

This is my basic hair regimen that I will stick with through out the first 8 weeks after my relaxer. Once my new growth starts to set in My GHE will become a nightly routine using only coconut oil. Also I use two shampoo's for the reason that one cleanses my scalp of any build up while the other sulfate free shampoo replaces any stripped nutrient or moisture caused by the first. Once I pass the 8 week post mark I will most like only use the Shea Moisture as my natural hair is prone to dryness.

As of right now I moisturize and seal my ends daily with the ORS Hair repair and my oil mixture. This is what get's me the best results so far. Let me know if you all have any success.

Until Next Time,
Zayna

Pre-Pooing & Vitamins

Hello My Dears,
Tomorrow is wash day and so I'm prepooing tonight with a hot oil treatment. My mixture includes: tea tree oil, jojoba, coconut oil, Shea butter oil, almond oil, eucalyptus, and castor oil. I know that's alot but I plan on using a sulfate shampoo tomorrow which in itself can be very stripping so I thought I pack on the nutrients in with a nourishing hot oil treatment. I warmed the oil up before I applied it to my scalp and am planning to leave it on there to do the GHE method over night. This is a technique that I want to get into the habit of doing more often as it is proven to increase growth rate.
Also I've changed the amount and brand of biotin that I take. I now take Natural Biotin 10,000 mcg. The 5mg I was previously taking was apparently doing nothing for me (according to the Vitamin Shop guy) . So I have upped the anti so to speak and will now be taking this supplement. I will see how I like it.

I was going through some old pics and I came across some disturbing ones from about February of this year. It's amazing to see how much better I've been doing. To place the two pictures side by side you can really see the difference. It's hard to find a pic of my hair from back then where I wasn't wearing clip ins. Even in this one (to the right) I am, but you can still see how thin and peacey it is. The picture to the left is from this past week. I've grown out all the over processed ends. Hard work is paying off. 

 

What I was Really Dealing With

Hello My Dears,

I think it's important that I address the fact that for a great period of time I had not been doing so well. Stress, depression, and over all anxiety had taken a toll. I had begun wearing clip ins to mimic my natural hair. Many people didn't know and assumed it was mine. So much of my hair had broken off and shedded that if I wore it without the clip ins people would have been concerned. All the awkward uncomfortable questions would have been enough to kill what was left of my self esteem at that point. Not even my closest friends really knew (sorry guys). That's why this blog is such a big deal for me. Going to college and just growing up in general opens a new pathway and chapter for me. Taking proper care of hair is really just a stepping stone into taking proper care of myself inside and out, because now I truly believe that I'm worth it. Many people may think that it's silly or too much investment to think about hair, but it's not just about that. It's about building myself up and making myself feel beautiful as I am. While I love weaves, braids, and extensions of all kinds, I want to know that when I take all that out and I have my own. It may be weird to some people and yes they might not understand, but honestly they don't have to, that's not what Olive&Castor is about. It's just me helping other like me to attain our goals, to reach our ideals of satisfaction and to feel our own sense of beauty and contentment.

This was back in March of 2013 I had split ends like crazy. In this pic I pined them out of the way a little, but this was my true length. My hair was thin, breaking, brittle, and had three textures. 

Now it's full all by itself. Its now comfortably shoulder length. It's all one length, and it's beautiful. I know if I keep up my regimen that it will only get better.  

Relaxed Update #1

Hello my loves!
Today I finally got the relaxer I have been needing in my life. I used the Organic Root Stimulator system which always works well on my hair in extra-strength. I experienced no burning at all (which was due to me applying Tea Tree Oil prior). I was sure to wash the cream out of my hair fully with just cool water before applying the neutralizing shampoo. I then did a black tea rinse using Lipton Chai Tea to prevent any possible shedding. The effects of the Tea where instantaneous, my hair immediately felt stronger. I then applied the Replenishing conditioner that I mixed with a teaspoon of coconut oil, 6 drops of eucalyptus, and a tea spoon of almond oil. The results where the best i had ever had in my life from a relaxer. I forced myself to trim my frayed ends, taking away a bit of length, but it was necessary.

This is a close up look at my trimmed ends. My hair is set at Clavicle length. Check the fullness though. Everything is nice and full and healthy. 

I trimmed my hair mercilessly because I am confident that if I continue to apply what I've been doing to this very healthy, thick environment that I'm now working with my goal of armpit length will be just around the bend.

Until Next Time,

Zayna

Moisturize&Seal

Hello There,
I know it's been a minute since I last posted. I've been a little busy. However I'm back now with positive updates. My hair has stopped it's excessive shedding and breakage. I did and intense protein treatment with two eggs and almond oil. I followed that with a strong cleansing shampoo. I figured that my scalp may have had a lot of build up and bam my hair got it together. I'm coming up on 16 weeks post and I need a serious relaxer. It's been fun but now I need to get silky smooth.
Anywho today's post is about moisturizing and sealing which are an important aspect of retaining length . I finally mastered the concept myself. I use raw Shea butter and almond/ coconut oil. Sometimes I can get away with just Shea butter on damp hair. Shea Butter acts as an emollient which locks in moisture on the hair. Now that I got that down and packed my hair has been singing me praises. Peep my twist out.

Until Next Time,

Zayna