JBCO Challenge Day 40

Happy New Years! Welcome to 2013! Can you believe it?! We survived the Mayan Apocalypse and the End of the World! *lol* Only God is ever knowing of or pending existence. Oh! And I haven't made any real New Years resolutions, either.

Update on JBCO Challenge!

Christmas almost snuck up on me HARD! But, I kept pretty straight with regimen. New Years created a greater muck,on the other hand, took a beastly wipe out of me. The last application of JBCO I applied to my scalp was, sadly, December 31. Since then, I have not applied JBCO, cowashed or protected my hair very well to not at all. :-( I was FLAT on maintenance. The weird side effect, besides hair dry and matted, my scalp is VERY dry, flaky, and ITCHY ITCHY ITCHY!!! Much of it I attribute to not a very healthy diet or intake of water. That's a whole other story, but water intake I can definitely correct. Today I have planned a deep hot oil treatment with JBCO followed by poo/cowash, a protein DC, and ACV rinse. Its gonna be the Works! Not quite sure it will be in that order, but want to make sure i'm not left with egg in my hair.

Ive checked int to all JBCO Check Ins except Week 6 :-) I could probly still do it now, but battling with "whats the point?" nagging at me. I think I have decided that "Ol' Hag" has GOT to GO! Yeah, i'm gonna go ahead and check in for Week 6. Better late than never and can try to stay on the wagon the best I can. I have general copies of my Check In posts and am sharing them with you today, with some progress pics, first. Let me know what you think :-D

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You all remember where I started? Here is a collage of KCCM's JBCO Challenge Week 1 Pics. *ugh, scary, yet so brave* 

With my head, you'd see why I so very camera shy. I mean, I am not my hair. Remember these pics! They are base for Week 5 Length Check pics just below.

Now the back of my head, I was concerned about middle more than nape. Week 5 pics are of both compared to Week 1 middle.

Look at that side stretch! Clean!

My front has got a little cleaner length, but look at my brows > I have brows!

And the big reveal.............

Compared to before pic, I couldn't get pig tails back here!

Everything is pulled up!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Weekly CheckIns Q&A's

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Week 2

1. Where do you live?

Manor, TEXAS!

2. Are other members of your family naturals too? Who? Were they natural before you or vice versa? Do you all support each other?

Yes, my mother. She went natural after I did only because I had gone from relaxing to hotcombing my hair and she had like the results of my hair. I dont know about supporting each other, but do know that we just do what we can for the times.

3. How did you use Castor Oil in your hair last week (week 1)

day 1~ I applied straight to my scalp and twisted hair. 

day2~ I applied to sectioned parts (scalp), edges and eyebrows

day3~ no castor oil application, massaged itchy spots *wish i got warning about cleansing 1st*

day4~ pre-poo w/ my oil mix (itch relief!), ACV rinse & DC/Protein treatment; LOC method with castor oil for my oil

day 5~ no application, but surprised of hair moisture

day 6/7~ repeat of LOC method

4. (optional) Share a pic of the bottle of castor oil you are using. *I did supply my pic*

~~~

Week 3

1. Since going natural have you ever felt really overwhelmed? If so, Why? If not, What have you done to make this journey run smoothly?

Ive been natural for almost 2 decades. I didnt take hair care seriously before going natural, and was somewhat interested after going natural. Overwhelmed was not on the list.

2. Do you see any change in your hair since using the castor oil?

yes, my hair stays moisturized longer and keeps a shine, too. ive also noticed in my twists, the hold for pattern is tighter.

3. How did you use Castor Oil in your hair last week (week 2). Did you use it any different than week 1? 

after i twisted my hair, dry with JBCO, the application stopped their. I massaged my scalp most the week and only applied JBCO once to edges and eybrows.

4. (optional) Share a pic of your hair before you went naturalDo you Tweet? Do you Instagram? If so use hashtag #KCCMcastoroil so we all can follow the condo and check out your pics. Feel free to include me in the convo @BlakIzBeautyful (this is my name on IG too!)

ill be surprised if i find an existing pic of me before i went natural!

~~~

Week 4

1. There are so many products on the market, what are your favorites for washing? 

~ Carol's Daughter Tui Herbal Shampoo, Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Restorative Conditioner, Dove Intense Moisture Shampoo & Conditioner

What are your favorites for moisturizing/styling?

~ Cantu Shea Leave-in Conditioner, pretty much it for product buys; otherwise its AVJ/H2O spritz, H2O spritz, JBCO *really liking how my hair stays moisturized longer with it*

What qualities does a product have to have in order to become one of your favorites?

~Almost all ingredients have to be naturally derived or provide great slip and moisture to my hair during and after shampoo, reduced or no alcohol content, and cannot leave my hair feeling dry and/or stripped.

2. Since using the castor oil, has your hair seen any of the benefits listed in the list above? 

~ OMGosh, YES!!

Which ones?

~ i have noticed increased darkening of my edges cuz my widows peak is growing back very visibily! my hair seems to have an even thickness all around, one side no longer feels thinner than the other when i grab a handful or put in pigtails

3. How did you use Castor Oil in your hair last week (week 3). Did you find yourself losing momentum or are you still going hard?

~ last week i used my JBCO to do small twists on my head, took hrs! I kept the twists up all week,i couldnt figure how i wanted to apply more JBCO to parted sections but managed 1x, otherwise just applied to edges, eyebrows, & lashes. seems like each time i apply to brows and lashes, old hairs wanna fall out/shed.

4. (optional) Share a pic of your natural hair in one of your favorite styles!

~ sorry, I dont have pic of small twists :(

~~~

Week 5

Length Check-In!

Wanna put your pics together in a collage? Go to fotoflexer.com or picmonkey.com (I chose fotoflexer.com)

Check In Questions:

1. What are your favorite natural hair styles? How long does it take you to style your hair this way? Which products do you use to get the best results of this style?y

~ My favorite hairstyle is "let it be". I either like to wear my hair in its natural fro with an elastic headband/bandana or pull it back into a cute flat roll front or ponytails just to feel i can do something with it. Any less than 5 min to do. Once in a while i will try twists but hate that i feel i cant get a handle on my hair. Forget braids of any sort!

~ Products I keep minimal. I have a lot of products but have only been using JBCO, Cantu Shea Leave-in, and CD Mimosa Hair Honey or Loc Butter for twists.

2. How did you do last week (week 4)? Did you follow through with your goals? Any challenges thus far?

~ Last week wasnt that bad! Following another participant, I changed up my application by putting my oil in an applicator bottle. I added Jojoba and Apricot oils and CD Hair Elixir (just to use up whats left) to make consistency a little bit thinner and fluid. During the week, i applied to sectioned hair or random spots. Also applied directly to edges and brows. Made challenge much more manageable.

3. Based on your length check pics, can you see a difference in thickness or length yet? For those of you focusing on  your edges, are they growing in?

~Oh My Yes! Last week, the thickness became very prominent, i thought i was losing my mind! It felt so sudden! Plus, my problem spot for the back of my head was a real shocker! It has grown out more than I expected! I found this out when i parted my hair into four sections and was able to get 4 full, puffy pig tails! Normally i can only get 2 on top of my head, but 2 full ones for the back of my head?! No fuzzy loose uneven edges?! Knock Me OVER!! And my edges? My widows peak is coming back!!

4. Post your length check pics!

5. (Optional) How was your Christmas? What did you get?

My Christmas was great! For the last 10 yrs ive been cooking, this is the first that I prepared ahead, got plenty of sleep, and was not riddled with pain from standing all day. Granted, the sacrifice was minimal food to display, but it was worth it to enjoy family and great conversation. Christmas was for the kids because noone has had much money, but my parents, uncle, brother and his wife, and neighbor(!) still bestowed to me some cute jammies, gloves &hat, designer roller parfumes (allergic reaction to spray parfumes), exercise ball, gift cards and lotto scratch offs :) Definately Fun!!

~~~

Week 6

1. What goals do you have for your hair this new year? What goals do you have for your life this year?

~ My goals for my hair and life in 2013 are better than past years. My goals are intended! I intend for my hair goal to reach my shoulders or longer. I will be grateful if achieved by Summer. My life goals I intend to be much healthier. Healthier in the Lord, in my family, in what we eat. Another goal is that I will be able to find work that I have a willing conviction for!

2. Do you prefer “all natural”/”organic” products or are you open to using anything? Why? 

~ I wish I can say one or the other, but I find that I lean more toward natural. Since paying attention to product labels for my body, I try to stay away from products that have or have too much alcohol or cones in them. My skin gets very dry and I have found that my hair responds better to my direction since cutting those out. I know I cant get away from all of the bad stuff, so for now, got a good thing going

3. How did you do last week (week 5)? Did you follow through with your goals? Any challenges thus far?

~ Week 5 was so rewarding! The length check was awesome to do because I was able to see the changes in my hair! The side effect, after Christmas celebrations, all the excitement left me at the same time. It was a downhill slope. I did nothing to my hair in week 6. Nothing. You name it. Nothing!

4. (optional) Share a picture of your favorite hair moisturizer.

~ I cant say I have a favorite. I just use what is on hand the best I can. No pics.

~~~~~~~  ~~~~~~~

These little thoughts of mine help to understand why I have to do things the way I do them. It may be a bit OCD, but educating, teaching, and learning the how to the why of it makes easier to implement.. Since we gals like to 'share', I like to know what i'm talking about and not steer wrong. ;-p

Thank you for viewing and Take Back Your Mane Control! ~ 

Miss EM

Merry Christmas!!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

I know I have neglected to keep you informed for more than a week on my hair journey and JBCO challenge. I am a single mother and the holiday season moves pretty fast! Those who do visit and view my posts regularly, I thank you for continuing to hold me accountable. 

That said, I have neglected in JBCO applications, but not enough to forfeit challenge. I've only found that my protective style of mini twists posed a little challenge in applying for some part, the other part, motherhood and making baby happy :-) So, being "creative" in maintenance.

All in all, 'Tis the reason for the season that we remember how our Lord, Jesus Christ, was born, so that he would grow to become our savior and salvation, our King. Be merry in the celebration of his birth and worship Him everlasting Joy! Amen!

~ Miss EM

JBCO Challenge Day 9 Into Day 10, and Day 11

That's right. Challenge day 9 rolled into Challenge day 10! The day was a wonderful long day with Sunday school, church service and kids play day. I don't know what got into me. I just decided I was going to put my hair up into small twists and see how it looked. Little did I know that, doing them by myself, was going to take all night, all the next day, and leave me with a very, very, VERY sore neck and back on day 11.

Im not going to say it was a mistake, but i'm sure you are thinking 'why didn't she get some help?' or 'she should have known better'. After a point, I was thinking these same things and then some. But I take it all as a learning curve. In my youth, I never needed anything to motivate me to stay up all night, so never really bothered me that sleep was absolutely necessary. 

Well, in my 'old age', sleep is very much necessary! I wanted twists. I didn't want the project to take me many days to do because I knew, eventually (and lazy enough or too many distractions), I would take it all down because what I had started and slept on would get all fuzzy and dull looking before I began on the next section. And it would probably be days or even weeks before I took to task again. Besides, I can do my daughter's and my mom's hair quickly and in just a couple/few hours. How hard can it be?

HARD!!!

When I do do my mom and daughter's hair its usually twists with some sort of thickness to them so I can be done quickly and not fuss with a squirmy worm or fussy bitty. And their hair is pretty much even length all around. Another reason I felt curious I could do small twists all across my head.

Well, with enough thinking about it, taking kids home, put to bed, and all chores pretty much done, I just got started. I grabbed my little dish of JBCO, grab my brush-like comb (has 3 rows, hard teeth), several hair clips, my laptop and set up at my dining room table, and got to work. To keep me entertained, I streamed a series of SyFy 'Eureka' episodes, figuring I would be done by the time the last episode ran. Whole hearted NOT!

But, I digress. I sectioned my hair into four sections: back, front, and ears. The cross-point I placed high up, almost right on top of, my head. I started twisting with the back, getting the hardest part out of the way, debated which ear was the next hardest, and finished with the front. With each section I divided into rows, oiled and massaged the row with JBCO, then split that row into smaller sections, one at a time. I used my fingers and nails to stretch and smooth out hair, working tangles and knots out to the end. Sometimes I would get a small dip of JBCO to help in the process if I felt there wasn't enough residual already. After working knots to ends, I would use my special comb to work the knots out, then began the twisting. I applied some more JBCO on the twist ends and just twirled and twirled. I guess this is sealing the ends? I did this for my entire head! 

I didn't lose a lot of hair. Which was kinda interesting. The back of my hair seemed to experience just breakage while the ears and top experienced whole strands. All together the ends of my twists are just a little fuzzy and the hair loss came to the size of a small bouncy ball or soda bottle cap.  

I would assume this kind of twisting is considered a dry-twist, because I did not wet my hair in anyway. I'm not used to doing my hair in such an intense fashion. Yes, I have done twists to my own hair before and those turned out bulky, disproportionate, dry, and fuzzy looking when done. Its kinda difficult to sport that with some confidence :\ Especially if the entire back of your hair is short and the sides and top of your head have various lengths of long hair. Just let me have the basic wet, comb, headband process any day and I would be fine. 

Although the motivation to finish and get my hair done took many, many, many long hours (36 hrs, to be exact) and technique perhaps contributed, my hair is done. The payoff results are GREAT! 

Day 11~ Guess what? I slept all day! But woke with pain all through my neck, shoulders and back. Surprised my tush is alright. My head, of course, is a little itchy. We finally got a cold front that sticks, so massaging a small spot with a cold finger does the trick, lol. 

I want to try and trim the ends of my twists and reseal with JBCO. It will be a 'feel as you go' for the back and some of sides and top, the rest I will get to see the results. I hope it goes well!

JBCO Challenge Day 7 & Day 8

Day 7~ I was feeling good and cute today :-} Now, i'm in Texas and the Summer dresses are still out, so I put one of my new ones on. Diva! LOC'd it up, hair clipped two flat pony tails to the top of my head and handled business for my day! Boo Yaaah! Still sick, but i'm makin' it! For bed, I took my clips out and put on my bonnet. Day over.

Day 8, Week 2 KCCM Check In!~ 

I had just barely woken up and got moving when my neighbor's daughter came over extending an invitation for a shopping day,,, "leave in 20 minutes." Somehow the word "shopping" works better than a cup of coffee, because we 'moved'!

Washed, dressed, spritzed my hair and clipped in my pigtails. I don't think I remembered to do my castor oil application, but with what little I do feel in my hair and all the moisture retained, I didn't find it a problem. 

I want to avoid an every other day topical application and get back to the scalp and roots, just to get the cleansing process out of the way and done with.

Now for the Week 2 Check-In, here's how I answered:

1. Where do you live?

Manor, TEXAS!

2. Are other members of your family naturals too? Who? Were they natural before you or vice versa? Do you all support each other?

Yes, my mother. She went natural after I did only because I had gone from relaxing to hotcombing my hair and she had like the results of my hair. I dont know about supporting each other, but do know that we just do what we can for the times.

3. How did you use Castor Oil in your hair last week (week 1)

day 1~ I applied straight to my scalp and twisted hair. 

day2~ I applied to sectioned parts (scalp), edges and eyebrows

day3~ no castor oil application, massaged itchy spots *wish i got warning about cleansing 1st*

day4~ pre-poo w/ my oil mix (itch relief!), ACV rinse & DC/Protein treatment; LOC method with castor oil for my oil

day 5~ no application, but surprised of hair moisture

day 6/7~ repeat of LOC method

4. (optional) Share a pic of the bottle of castor oil you are using. *I did supply my pic*

I am still excited and enjoying this challenge. The first week was hard as far as a regimen and maintenance. But as I mentioned, the education I have learned recently and understanding how I have already been partial in the LOC method practice, has made implementing the challenge a little bit easier. This coming week I hope to focus more on my scalp, getting this castor oil cleansing in progress and on track.

Tonight, i'm just going to put my bonnet on and call it a night. Ponder whether to twist my hair up sometime tomorrow while deciding where to put my Christmas tree.

~~~~~~~  ~~~~~~~

These little thoughts of mine help to understand why I have to do things the way I do them. It may be a bit OCD, but educating, teaching, and learning the how to the why of it makes easier to implement.. Since we gals like to 'share', I like to know what i'm talking about and not steer wrong. ;-p

Thank you for viewing and Take Back Your Mane Control! ~ 

Miss EM

JBCO Challenge Day 5 & Day 6

Day 5~ I didn't do anything for day 5. Home sick all day.

Day 6~ I pretty much did a LOC method before running out to do errands.

I spritzed my hair with Aloe Vera Juice (AVJ) and water, rubbed about nickel size amount of JBCO in my hands and rubbed into my hair in a kind of section/layered process and massaged in. I finished with my Cantu Shea leave-in conditioner, wrapped with a satin scarf then went about my day.

Normally, when getting ready to head out, I just wet or spritz my hair with water; pick, brush, or comb through my hair to style; then slap on a headband and be done. I would end up having major shrinkage or lots of frizz. Not to mention, a great deal of breakage and shedding. 

The past few months that I have been researching how to better care for our (my daughter and mine) natural hair, the more I discovered I was doing so much wrong and harm to my hair and learned many styles I could practice with her hair, keeping our regular routines simple, practical, and practice-able. 

Being introduced to and learning the LOC method, I found my regular get up and go method could still be maintained with only a couple additional steps. Knowing now how important moisture is, I no longer dread starting the comb out of my hair. 
The moisture helps the hair to absorb and utilize the natural oils, in my opinion, helping the hair to better repair itself instead of how other oils that aren't so good, plug holes and cracks in follicles,  adding no real benefit except maybe shininess. Adding a cream/butter (thick) base on top of that helps to prevent moisture from evaporating too quickly allowing your hair to transition accordingly to our daily ever changing environment.

These little thoughts of mine help to understand why I have to do things the way I do them. It may be a bit OCD, but educating, teaching, and learning the how to the why of it makes easier to implement. Since we gals like to 'share', I like to understand what i'm talking about and not steer wrong. ;-p

Thank you for viewing and Take Back Your Mane Control! ~
Miss EM

JBCO Challenge Day 3 & Day 4

Day 3~ No additional application today. Scalp had been itchy, different spots, all day. I tried carefully to be delicate in scratching, then remembered scratching can leave scars on the scalp for germs so resorted to massaging the areas. I can still feel the slickness of the castor oil in my hair, probably on the shafts themselves. I think massaging helps to redistribute the oil to my scalp. Still, I've chosen not to do anything to my head. Twists are holding their own, but feel a bit looser. Roots are showing some definite curl definition. Is my hair growing already?

Day 4~ Woke up to an itchy head! Massaging grants me the most relief. While the house is empty, something has to be done today.

I have some left over oil mix that i will use as a pre-poo. I have CD's Tui Herbal Shampoo, which I find (any shampoo, really) to be a great clarifier to remove any build up gently.

I have my shower spray bottle filled with ACV rinse. I haven't used the ACV rinse for a long while and think i'm quite overdue. My mix is heavily concentrated with ACV, like half H2O and half ACV. Rule of thumb, 2/3 H2O, 1/3 ACV. 

I have a DC/Protein recipe from YouTube Channel Naptural85. It consists of:

2 eggs

6 scoops of mayo

2 T honey

It's pretty basic and I will apply after my ACV rinse. After that, a simple LOC method where my oil will be my castor oil. So, i'm ready to get started!

Results (as I go):

1. Applied my oil mix and instant cool relief of the itching! My applicator bottle with nozzle tip helped to get right under my twists, just massaged the oil in, put on a plastic and foil caps and let sit for 15-20 minutes while making my DC mix. Excellent.

2. ACV rinse was deeply gratifying for my itchy spots. My scalp feels fully clean and I LOVE the fact that the rinse seems to always perk up the coils at my roots :-D

3. This is my first time doing a DC recipe and may have to adjust the recipe for my short hair. Mixing it up was no problem. The problem, I get easily distracted and let it sit too long. Went from a nice thick consistency to very very runny. And, I let my hair air dry too long after towel blotting. So as I was applying the mixture to my hair, it already felt dry and brittle. I kept applying the mixture til I could feel the slip in my hair, then added my caps back. Application may have been too much, very drippy and have a LOT left over.

4. L: fresh rinsed wet hair, pick out some egg

    O: Sunny Isle JBCO, topical applied

    C: Cantu Shea Butter Leave In Conditioner

My hair doesn't feel dry or brittle, but it does feel as if it is taking to the added moisture. Sometime I will get the ends trimmed to remove some of the fuzz and see the difference in the new maintenance plan.

Thank you for viewing and Take Back Your Mane Control! ~ Miss EM

JBCO Challenge Day 1 & Day 2

last nights twist up

JBCO

Day 1~ Began my challenge last night. Yay! Im using Sunny Isle Jamaican Black Castor Oil (JBCO). I poured about and ounce into a container. Its got a pretty rich caramel color. Smell is a nice sweet fruity nut smell. It actually kinda wakens the senses :-) Making me hungry, too, lol!

I parted, combed, and detangled my hair into five sections, misting each section before applying the JBCO. A little goes a LONG way! Now because my hair is uneven and still quite short in the back and sides, I finished off with some semi-thick small twists and covered with a satin bonnet. It feels so weird having somewhat large gaps between twists. And the satin bonnet has been the only wrap/protective style that stays while I sleep! Hurray!

I didn't take my twists down, left them as is and just covered with a knit cap as style for church. Even I have to say I was very pleased with the very clean, toned down, Bohemian look.

twists & scalp still moisturized

Day 2~ Since it is Sunday, I've chosen not to do too much with my hair tonight. My hair is still twisted up. I have chosen to only use the JBCO on the parts of my twisted sections, front, side, and back edges, remembering to massage my scalp as I applied. It kinda feels like it helps to exfoliate as well as encourage blood circulation. I even applied some to my eyebrows  to also gauge the promotion of growth and actually 'have' some eyebrows, lol!

I must admit, I hadn't co-washed or pre-poo'd for a couple of days, and after last nights prep, my twists and hair are holding up and very moisturized. I'm quite curious how long the moisture retains itself? 

Im not gonna push it. For my regimen, I will do a basic ACV rinse & cowash (CW) just to prevent any potential build up, followed by a DC and hot oil treatment (HOT), all this week.

Thank you for viewing and Take Back Your Mane Control! ~ Miss EM