Inventory.

The boyfriend has enouraged me to keep the braids in a bit longer. Says they look fine and he likes them. Boo to him!

But fine. I will keep them in at least through November 29th. That would make 6 weeks in total. By making it to six weeks, I wouldn't feel like I have totally wasted my money on these braids. They have made getting ready in the morning and going to sleep at night a uber easy process since doing my hair wasn't in the mix.

In the meantime, I'm inventorying my hair supply.

I have:

Styling/Other
* a full container of Ampro Clear Gel
* Nearly full container of Kids Organics Shea Butter Detangling Moisturizing Lotion

Shampoo
* Jane Carter Moisture Nourishing Shampoo (new!)

Conditioners
* almost empty container of Hollywood Beauty Olive Cholesterol Deep Conditioning Creme (approx. one application left)
* Jane Carter Nutrient Replenishing Conditioner (new!)
* almost empty bottle of Aubrey Organics White Camelia Conditioner
* Half full Motion's Marula Therapy Strengthening Conditioner

Oils
* Half full bottle of Doo Groo Stimulating Growth Oil
* Nearly full bottle of Motion's Marual Oil Spray
* Nearly full bottle of Africa's Best Ultimate Herbal Oil
+ other oils in my kitchen cabinet that I use for both cooking and hair!

Moisturizers
* Nearly empty bottle of S-Curl (I've been using it on my braids)
* Practically full container of Hollywood Beauty Olive Oil Hair Cream
* Nearly empty container of BioInfusion Olive Oil Hydrating Hair Creme
* Jane Carter Nourish Shine (new!)
* Shea Butter
* Glycerin

(Note: Both of the "nearly full" stuff are approx. 3/4 full.)

Wow, I guess I still am quite the product junkie. But I would say that I have used many of the oils consistently but a little goes a long way which explains the nearly full bottles.

Once I run out of the Olive Cholesterol, I hope to mix my other conditioners with natural ingredients to make a deep conditioner concoction.

I won't need to replace any of the moisturizers either. With the braids, I've stuck to using s-curl to moisturizer. As for the cream moisturizers, I'll let them run out as I try them out on my twists, etc.

I don't anticipate needing to buy anything else. And if I do, I'll simply use the store credit I have instead of doling out real cash.

Pushing forward.

Decided: No More Braids.
In anticipation of taking down the braids early, I have been overwhelming myself with reading happy transition stories (thanks to Curly Nikki) and researching transitioning hair styles and products.

Truth be told, I haven't really come across a style I haven't heard of before, but watching youtube videos and reading blogs have given me inspiration to make it through my last month and a half or so before getting locked up.

The following thought also passed my mind... what if I really like and get good at this transitioning phase and enjoy styling my hair?? Won't be a bad thing at all... I would just have to postpone the sisterlocks.

Searching for the Right Products...
When I decided to not relax again, I thought I would save money during this transitioning phase but that so did not happen. The braids costed some odd $150 (especially given that I bought the wrong kind of hair and could only get store credit back), and last night I purchased some Jane Carter Shampoo, Conditioner, and Moisturizer ($40 in total). And of course there were some miscellaneous purchases in between.

But alas, the transition phase will only be successful if I have the right products. And, I think by trying to be cheap and not change up my product mix to accommodate the two different textures, my transitioning look has not been so hot. Wash n' go ponytails are NOT what's happening especially since it's hurting not helping my edge.

... Updated Regimen.
I can't blame it all on the products, my regimen has been whack/not structured. Beginning this weekend (first wash after the braids), I will:

Co-Wash (2x a week): Jane Carter Nutrient Replenishing Conditioner
Deep Condition (1x a week): Hollywood Beauty Olive Oil Cholesterol (+ other natural ingredients I feel like tossing in... such as mayonnaise, honey, baking soda, bananas...)*
Leave -In (after every wash): Shea Butter mixed with Oils of choice*
Seal (after every wash): Little bit of oil of choice*
Set/Styling: still searching for the right product but for now will use just a little bit of this clear, alcohol-free gel to set the twist-outs, I plan to do*; Jane Carter Nourish and Shine Cream (daily moisturizer)
Shampoo (every other week): Jane Carter Moisture Nourishing Shampoo

*No purchase necessary for these products as I have them at home.

The count down to sisterlocks continues...

Sick of these damn braids.

That's it. I'm so sick of them. I think they are making my face breakout. Either these braids or all the junk I am eating. Le sigh. My goal is to make it at least 6 weeks (Nov. 28) before taking them out.

Le sigh.

And no I still haven't started up with the vitamins. I fear they may make my face breakout worst than it is now.

Still in braids... 3 weeks and counting.

So, I've had these braids in for nearly 3 weeks now. I'm not sure how much growth I was expecting but whatever amount that was... I was expecting a whole lot more than what I have.

I haven't used any growth aids and only remembered to take my vitamins once within these past few weeks. Oh le sigh.

I'm mainly concerned with my front edges. I feel like there is NO new growth there. Maybe my temples are so damaged that the hair there won't grow back?? (And by no growth I clearly mean only 2 centimeters of growth... I guess it's something but not nearly "sisterlock" length.)

The center (middle of my head) has more growth but it hasn't reached a half inch yet.

Sigh. I gotta be better about the biotin vitamins. I also need to be better about moisturizing the braids at least every other night.

My goal is to leave the braids in until December 5 or 12th... that would make 7 or 8 weeks. I was planning on getting the front refreshed this weekend (before I left for my business trip) but it'll have to wait until I get back.

Quick Update: Self Trim and Microbraids

Gone for while... gone again soon. Here for a quick update:

I trimmed 3 inches or so of my ends. By myself. Okay. I sort of lied. Not entirely by myself. Phase 1: My sister braided my hair into about 15 or so plaits and I told her how much to trim off the ends. Surprisingly, the home-trim didn't come out too rough. Actually, it wasn't as short as I would've liked. So, phase 2: I combed my hair into a ponytail and trimmed off another inch of the ponytail amount.

The pic below shows some of what I snipped during phase 1. I don't have a pic for the inch I snipped for phase 2.



That following weekend, I got microbraids installed. With synthetic hair. Oh, my scalp itches so... and my face seems to be breaking out a bit. (Due to the hair?) Anyhoo, the braids are super convenient (after I cut them... yep... didn't need all that excess hair just swanging). I'm hoping to keep these braids in for at least 6 weeks. Hopefully, 8.

I'm also praying that I have enough new growth to get the sisterlocks started sooner rather than later. January 2010................