If you have heat/keratin damaged hair...you are not alone!

November 2016

January 2017

June 2017

June 2017

A few weeks ago, I was honest with my self about something: my hair is damaged beyond repair. Like beyond, beyond repair. No turning back, even though hair is already dead, I think mine died again. 



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Here's a quick history of my hair: 

1993-2007 - I had long, thick, curly, healthy, gorgeous hair. Keep in mind that during my early teen years I would have used completely different adjective that would have included something along the lines of: big, poofy, unmanageable, ugly. Curly hair wasn't as cool as it is today. Now, everyone wants texture. But when I was in middle school, straight hair was a big deal. Everyone at school had straight hair and I wanted it too. 
2007-2009 - I had a relaxer put in. It looked nice, but after a couple of years and not knowing how to care for relaxed hair, my hair started breaking off. 
2009-2011 - I stopped using relaxers, however I kept straightening my hair and my hair never grew over an inch past my collarbone. 
2011-2017 - For the past 6 years I've been constantly straightening my hair. I've never gone over two months without straightening my hair and there were even periods, mostly my early college days, when I was "touching up" my hair with a flat iron everyday. No bueno. Then in February of this year I decided to get a Keratin treatment, which was probably my biggest hair mistake. I was under the impression that Keratin treatments will wash out in 3-4 months. My curls were semi healthy but it was short and I just wanted some length without having to use a flat iron so much. I didn't know that my curl pattern would be removed from my hair completely and I didn't know that I wouldn't get it back. 





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Now it's 3 months later (pictures to the left) and my hair is growing, thank God. But I only have about an inch and a half of new growth, then the rest of my hair is wavy and then gets straight at the ends. I also got it dyed blonde in April so that didn't really help. (I just love being blonde!) Currently, my hair is thin, heavily damaged, and a little past collarbone length. I have definitely learned my lesson and am more appreciative than ever that I have curly hair. I'm kind of in this weird spot where I feel like I can't really say I'm a curly girl anymore....because my curls literally do not exist. It's honestly just some sort of a wavy, crinkly, straight thing. Ew. 

So...my hair is damaged. I've accepted it. And the only way to fix it is to stop continuing to damage it and just slowly cut off the damaged ends. Here is a breakdown of the changes I've made to my hair regimen in the last month: 

Last time I used heat - May 19, 2017
Last trim - May 19, 2017
Started Camille Rose Naturals Cocoa Nibs and Honey Ultimate Growth Serum   - June 12, 2017
Started Curls Blissful Lengths Hair Growth Vitamins  - June 14, 2017
I've also started doing weekly deep conditioning treatments. 

If you're like me and want to get your healthy hair back. I want to help. I've started hair journeys enough times to know what to do...the only difference this time is that I'm actually going to do it. 

In order to start a hair journey first you need to do 3 things: 
1. Figure out what you did that got your hair to this point in the first place - be honest with yourself. 
2. Stop doing those things. For me, the most important is to put down the heat tools. 
3. Create a new healthy hair regimen. Stick to a schedule so that you can stay on track with your new healthy hair habits. 


Here's a list of the products I'm using and how often I use them:   
1. Camille Rose Naturals Sweet Ginger Cleansing Rinse - 1-2x per week 
2. Curls Coconut Curlada Conditioner - 1-2x per week 
3. Camille Rose Naturals Algae Renew Deep Conditioner - 1x per week  
4. Curls Creme Brule Whipped Curl Creme - everyday 
5. Curls Lavish Curls Daily Moisturizer - everyday  
6. Curls Passion Fruit Curl Control Paste - everyday 
7. Camille Rose Naturals Cocoa Nibs and Honey Ultimate Growth Serum- every other night 
8. Curls Blissful Lengths Hair Growth Vitamins - everyday 


I will post here monthly to talk about any changes in my hair. I know that in the end, the difficult days will be so worth it. I hope that throughout this journey I not only get my healthy, long hair back, but that my strength, confidence, determination, and self love will continue to grow as well.