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 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