Kenra

Yesterday, I have incorporated Kenra hair products as part of my regimen. Since my natural part of my hair needs less protein and more moisture because it has low porosity; particular in the crown and front section ( sides). Kenra Moisturizing Shampoo and Conditioner, and Daily Provision Leave-in are the best hair product for my hair type.

I purchased Kenra products from Ulta located in Rego Park, Queens NY this Saturday, December 29. I must say that Kenra producrs are hard to find; I was unable to find them in local hair salons and beauty supply stores. I had to travel all the way to Queens to purchase these items. I only wish they have an Ulta store within my area that sells Kenra products, I would be so happy.

After using the moisturizing shampoo and conditioner (with heat), I would apply the following leave-ins:

Kinky Curly Knot Today
Kenra Daily Provision
Elucence Silk Hydrating Elixir

Deep Conditioning

After I tested my hair for porosity yesterday, and found that my hair had low porosity; I decided to deep condition my hair following shampoo with a combo of Kenra Mango Butter Moisterizer and Joico's Moisture Recovery Balm. I sat under the hooded dryer on medium settings for a half hour. I later rinsed out the conditioners thoroughly and applied the Kinky Curly Knot Today, followed by Giovanni's Direct Leave-in conditioner. I then sealed it with Elucence Silk Hydrating Elixir, I have incorporated in my regimen.

The end results, once my hair was fully dried, it had a soft feel and not hard and dried like before. I was able to comb through with ease with no tangles and snarls. My hair is still soft after last night's moisture treatment.

Porosity Test

Today, I conducted a porosity test; by taking a strand of hair and placing it in a glass of water. After two minutes, that strand of stayed afloat never sinking to the bottom. That tells me I have low porosity; which is resistant to moisture and chemicals. This case scenario requires me to use heat when I deep condition my hair with a moisturizing conditioner, to open the cuticles to make absorption possible. From there, my hair should be to absorb moisture, keeping it hydrated.

Leave In Recipe

Leave-in I applied to my hair following my shampoo and conditioning, consisted of the following ingredients:

Vegetable Glycerine
Aloe Vera Gel
Avocado Oil
Rose Water
Kinky Curly Knot Today
Rosemary Oil
Ylang Ylang Oil
Spring Water

I then mixed ingredients in a spritz leave in bottle and applied to the natural part of my hair. I combed through gently, and sealed it with the Joico foam Reconstruct Protectant. I am now sitting under the dryer under cool setting for one hour. These are best used in the summer months when the weather is humid.

Scalp Regimen With Peppermint, Rosemary & Avocado Oil

I use these three oils for scalp treatment for the purpose to maintain a healthy scalp. Here in these two photos you can see how my scalp looks after regular use of the peppermint, rosemary and avocado oil. I've been using this regimen quite a bit sometime now, starting back a little of a year ago. Only thing was I was using the jojoba oil and not the avocado oil previously, until I have switched over.

The Science Of Black Hair

 

 

 

 

A book that so inspired me to learn about my hair type and to take better care of it.

Three Months Post

Here's my hair after braids were left in for twelve days and has been taken down. In addition, I am three months post of my relaxer and looking forward for a touch up in February 2013.

Nuts & Berries

Nuts and berries has vitamins and minerals that promotes healthy hair growth and anti-aging.

Wigs & Braids As Protective Styles Between Relaxer Stretches

Today's Regimen

Shampooed my hair with Joico Moisture Recovery Shampoo

Conditioned with Kenra's Platinum Mango butter combined with Aphogee's Keratin 2 Minute Reconstructor

As a leave in, I applied the following mixtures in a spritz bottle:

Vegetable Glycerine
Aloe Vera Gel
Ten drops of Rosemary Oil
Water

I then applied the Kinky Curly Knot Today detangler and combed through by sections only. I then applied the Joico Reconstruct protectant foam onto each sections of my hair. I use a fine-tooth comb to comb the leave in through. I now sitting at the dryer at cool setting for one hour.

My Leave Ins

My Oils

Argan Oil

I purchased a bottle of Argan Oil, the first bottle I ever purchased; it is organic and 100% pure. I bought it at a health food store located in downtown Brooklyn; hopefully, my new Argan Oil will replace the Moroccan Oil. It is said that these such pure oils are hard to find, I don't know about that; but I am definitely going to give this a try.

Today's Regimen

Today, I have applied:

Joico's K-Pak Chelating Shampoo

I then used Joico's Moisture Recovery Shampoo.

I used the customized conditioners for deep conditioning:

Joico's Revitaluxe and Joico's Moisture Recovery Balm

I combined the conditioners and applied it to my hair. I then placed a conditioning cap on and sat under the dryer for 30 minutes under medium setting.

After rinsing, I towel dried my hair and applied the Kinky Curly Knot Today, detangler and the Joico Reconstruct leave-in foam. I then sealed it with the Moroccan Oil and sat back under the dryer on cool setting to dry.

Today's Regimen

This morning, I have:

Done a pre-shampoo hot oil scalp treatment using, peppermint oil with jojoba oil. I placed a conditioning cap on and sat under the dryer for twenty minutes under medium setting.

Second, I used the Joico line first:

I shampooed with the Moisture Recovery; I then customized my conditioners using the Moisture Recovery and the K-Pak Reconstruct conditioner by mixing them together, and applying it to my entire hair. I wait to ten minutes and rinsed.

Third, I applied the following leave-ins to my hair using:

Kinky Curly Not Today for detangling
The Joico Reconstruct Protectant
Dudley's PCA Moisture Retainer (applied to the ends only)
As a sealant, I applied the Moroccan Oil.

I then took a fine tooth comb and gently smooth out the hair starting with the ends; to remove any shedded hair left. So far for the past two weeks, I have been experiencing only a minimal shedding and no breakage. This regimen is really working.

Today's Regimen

Today I used the Joico line; what I used on my hair:

K-Pak Chelating Shampoo
Moisture Recovery Shampoo
Moisture Recovery Conditioner

As a leave-in, I applied the:

Kinky-Curly Knot Today Detangler
Joico K-Pak Reconstruct Protectant
Dudley's PCA Moisture Retainer to my ends only
Moroccan Oil as a sealant

I used a fine-tooth comb to smooth out my hair and to remove any shedded hair which was only a minimal amount found. I used a hooded dryer for an hour under cool setting, and allowed my hair to air dry for the remaining hours.

Between Relaxer Stretches

Between relaxer stretches, I use a customized deep conditioner consisting of protein and moisturizer.  That would be the Joico Moisture Recovery Treatment Balm with the Joico K-Pak Revitaluxe or other protein conditioner for strengthening and hydration, in order to maintain that ratio.  So far, the health of my hair is continuing to improve, now that I am experiencing less and less breakage and minimum amount of shedding largely due to detangling after conditioning and, I am now retaining more length.  The Moisture Recovery Treatment Balm, I find to be perfect for my hair type in addition to Kenra's Mango Butter Moisturizer; these two conditioners has become my holy grail.

Shampoo Day

Today, I shampooed my hair with the Joico's Reconstructor shampoo for damaged and dry hair. Next I applied a mixture of the Joico's Reconstructor conditioner with the Kenra's Mango Butter Moisturizer. After allowing it to sit in my hair for ten minutes, I rinsed out with hair detangled and applied the following leave-ins: joico k-Pak Liquid Reconstruct, Joico's Reconstruct leave-in Protectant, Dudley's PCA Moisture Retainer, and Moroccan Oil as a sealant. On cool setting, I spent an hour under the hair dryer, and now I am air drying the rest of my hair.

Today's regimen

As a pre-shampoo treatment, I gave my scalp a hot oil therapy, of jojoba oil and peppermint oil. I sat under the dryer, after placing a plastic conditioning cap on and waited fifteen minutes.

Next, I shampooed my hair with the Joico's K-Pak Reconstruct Shampoo

Following the Shampoo, I applied a mixture of Joico's K-Pak Deep Penetrating Reconstructor and Joico's K-Pak Moisture Intense Hydrator onto my hair; placing a plastic conditioning cap leaving on for a half hour.

I rinsed out the contents and applied my regular leave ins.

My hair is now air drying.

Two Strand Twists

One of my protective styles, are the two-strand twists; when I am going to work, I would wear a short wig over especially during hot humid days. I always wear a mesh wig cap with a wig because the mesh wig allows the hair to breath, unlike the the nylon stocking wig cap. I would place my hair in twists after my hair has completely dried from shampooing and conditioning. With the right shampoo and conditioner and treatments for my type of hair, the end results can be very good.

Post Relaxer Touchup Treatment

Today, I have rinsed out the Joico's Revitaluxe and Kenra's Mango Butter Moisturizer; following last night's relaxer Touchup. I completed the process with the use of the Joico's K-Pak Reconstruct leave-in, followed by Dudley's PCA Moisture Retainer, and sealant, Morrocan Oil. My hair is now air drying.

Today's Regimen

Today, I have completed my hair regimen which I :

1. Shampooed my hair with the Mizani Puriphying shampoo.

2. Combined a mixture of Joico's Revitaluxe Bio-Advanced Restorative Treatment with Kenra's Platinum Mango Butter Moisturizer for normal to medium hair.
3. Placed a conditioning cap after applying the conditioners to my hair; and let it sit for forty minutes.

4. After rinsing the contents from my hair, I applied the Joico's K-Pak Reconstruct Leave-In Protectant; then applied the Dudley's PCA Moisture Retainer to the ends.

5. I would complete this process by applying the Morrocan Oil as a sealant.

6. I sit under the dryer on cool setting for a full hour, and allow the rest of my hair to air dry.

Changes In My Haircare Regimen

I've recently changed my haircare regimen by switching haircare products that would provide my hair protein and moisture balance. Whether
my hair is relaxed or dual-textured, Kenra's Platinum Mango Butter Moisturizer and Joico's K-Pak Intense Hydrator and Dudley's PCA Moisture Retainer is what I now use to acquire such.

After shampoo, I would apply a combination of the Joico Intense Hydrator and the Kenra Platinum Mango Butter Moisturizer onto my hair and would massage it in and let it sit for five to ten minutes. I would rinse out, blot dry and apply the Dudley's PCA Moisture Retainer as my leave-in. I comb through to ensure full coverage and sit under the dryer for one hour on cool setting and after one hour is up, I allow my hair to air dry for the remaining hours. The Joico K-Pak Intense Hydrator, is a protein based reconstructor and Kenra Platinum Mb moisturizer is strictly moisture based. The combination of these two items provides me with protein and moisture balance.

Kenra Mango Butter Moisturizing Conditioner

A few weeks ago, After going to many hair salons in Manhattan, I was unable to purchase a hair conditioner I wanted, because they did not sell it.

I stopped at the final salon located on the lower east side, and there, they carried the moisturizer conditioner that many other hair salons and many beauty supply stores did not carry, that conditioner, was the Kenra Platinum Mango Butter Moisturizer. Later after applying the conditioner to my hair, it left my hair soft and detangled. It especially did some wonders for my new growth which is two inches long; I was able to comb through with no snags or tears. I paid twenty-one dollars for this conditioner and I say it was worth the money.

I would buy the Kenra Mango Butter Moisturizing Conditioner again. The only problem, is that they are not sold at beauty supply stores or hair salons within my area.

Three Months Post

Three Months Post, hair is unstretched  07-14-2012

Hair shown in this photo as being air-dried after it was moisturized with the Dudley PCA Moisture Retainer Leave-in.  This hair has not been hot-ironed, nor was it blow-dried and it is unstretched.  My next relaxer touch up is due this upcoming August.

May 14, 2012 Hair Care Journey

My hair has been air dried, there was no flat-ironing and no blow drying; my hair was relaxed and trimmed back in April and I am now getting some new growth and length.

Raw Shea Butter

Today, I went to make a few errands and came across a small African store, and saw a display of raw Shea butter of different colors. Out of curiosity, I walked into the shop and was greeted by a short african man wearing a skull cap. I wanted to purchase some Shea butter for my skin and I inquired about the price of the product. The store keeper responded "$5.00" and I decided to make this purchase. I heard it has alot of benefits since it is unrefined or pure. I will began using this product very soon.

Comparison & Contrast

04-08-2012

03-19-2011

Thanks in part to my essential oil regimen and supplements, I was able to see alot of progress in my hair line once thinning, now filling in.

Hair line Update

04-08-2012

04-08-2012  Wrapped

Protein Treatment Following Relaxer Touch & Vitamin Supplements

Yesterday afternoon, two days after my relaxer touch up, my hair underwent a protein treatment for strengthening.  I used the Aphogee regimen including the Two-Step Protein Treatment, Shampoo for Damaged  hair,  Balancing Moisturizer and Two- Minunte Reconstructor.  Later I gave my ends a good trimming  ridding my hair of jagged ends.  Following my protein treatment, I noticed no  strand of hair appears on the comb, since it glides through without the crackling sound of breakage.  My hair needs to be well balanced with moisture and protein because my hair cannot be without  the other. 


If my hair is overly moisturized and protein deficient, my hair will break, if my hair has too much protein lacking in moisture, my hair will become dry, brittle and will break rather easily.  Healthy diet and vitamin supplements together plays a big role in healthy hair growth.  Niacin 500mg and Biotin 6000mcg I find, to be an excellent supplement for my hair, in addition the the multiple vitamins I take on a daily basis including B-Complex and drinking huge  quanity of water everyday.  I also include Iron supplements because I am anemic and is in need of such supplement. 


Well balanced protein and moisturizer and vitamin & mineral supplements as well as a regular trim, equals healthy breakage-free hair.  I would prefer healthy hair over long hair with thin and raggedy ends any day.  That's my take on this.

Post Relaxer Trim

04-07-2012 Post Relaxer Trim

Hair Relaxer I Use

Hair Relaxer I Use

Relaxer Touchup Completed

04-04-2012  Relaxer Touchup

Pre-Relaxer Trim

03-24-2012 Pre-Touch Up Trim

I am Over Three Months Post Of My Relaxer Touch Up

March 18, 2012

A New Addition To My Regimen

I have started a new product for my two-textured hair, it is the new Mizani Butter Rich.  After applying this product to my natural (new growth), it soften my hair, making it easier to comb. I applied only a small amount, massaged it in and combed it through with a wide-tooth comb.  This product is just right for me.

Scalp Oil Treatment I Use And Vitamin Supplements

Scalp treatment I have been using nightly for more than four weeks now has resulted in less shedding and no breakage, I was amazed when one morning I have began to shampoo and condition my hair when a minimum amount of shed hair was on my comb after detangling  and moisturized with a leave-in conditioner.  In addition, I noticed my hair has become stronger from root to end what I have been using may have contribute to this improvement are five essential oils mixed with a carrier oil.

I have added thirty drops of each of Rosemary, Peppermint, Cedarwood, Lavender and Basil Oil and added two ounces of Jojoba Oil and mixed in an applicator bottle.  I would then apply the elixir to my entire scalp and massage very well following that, I would simply just wrap my hair in a silk scarf and go to bed.  As part of my hair journey, I would include vitamin supplements as part of my regimen such as 6000 mcg of Biotin (1 tablet), 500 mg of  Niacin (1 tablet ) and multiple vitamins, super B-Complex as well as iron supplements each morning during meal time.  I drink plenty of water each day not only to provide oxygen for my hair, but also to help flush out any toxins I have in my body. 

During my hair journey, I have noticed alot of improvement in my hair, my hair is no longer breaking, and I have been experiencing less shedding in contrast to what I have experienced in the past.  I have learned to take better care of my hair and learn what products is good  and what products that is not good for my hair.  My relaxer touch up is due in April and I so far have over a half inch of new growth right now, and in April after my touch is complete, I will give my ends a  good trimming because it needs it.  Take care.