"BEE MINE" Products....I'm Yours Faithfully!

These products are LOVE in a bottle for me. I have tried many moisturizers, some of which are listed below along with my rating for them:

My Rating Scale from Best to Worst = Can’t Live Without, Loved, Just Okay, Hated

Loved

Neutrogena Triple Moisture Silk Touch Leave-in

Giovanni Smooth as Silk Leave-In

Just Okay
Herbal Essences Long Term Relationship Leave-in 

Elasta QP Mango Butter

Luster’s S-Curl Texturizer Styling Spray

Hated

Soft Sheen Carson Wave Nouveau

ORS Olive Oil Conditioning Cream (in bottle, not jar)
Bronner Brothers Oil Moisturizer Hair Lotion  

Profectiv Mega-Growth Daily Anti-Breakage Hair Moisturizer

 

As you see, some of the products that I rated “just okay” or “hated,” many hair enthusiast rave about and love. I contribute this to the fact that everyone’s hair is different and people’s hair will respond differently to different products. I also noticed that as a daily moisturizer, I prefer not to use products that have protein or that are mainly oil based. The ones that contain protein tend to make my hair feel stiff, the oil based ones make my hair feel coated and not moisturized. So the search continued for the perfect moisturizer and I think I have found it (well several).

These are three moisturizers from the BEE MINE line that I adore, in order from most favorite to least although they all are exceptional products: Deja’s Hair Milk, Daily Conditioner, Luscious Balanced Moisturizer. For all of these items, I bought the sample size first to try them out, and then I went back and repurchased larger sizes. This is going to sound funny but this is the truth: These are the most moisturizing moisturizers I have ever tried. They are a bit pricey compared other products but they are well worth the price. These products would fall under the “can’t live without” category because I have seen the moisture level, suppleness and overall condition of my hair drastically improve since using these products. More detailed information about the products is listed below.

Deja’s Hair Milk

• Bought 16oz bottle for $27 on website, 8oz bottle is $15

• No protein ingredients

• Incredibly moisturizing

• Can be used as a leave-in or daily moisturizer

• Both Coconut Cream and Island Mango scent smell wonderful (although some have stated that the scents are quite strong, I love the smell)

• Does not weigh hair down

• Absorbs into hair very nicely

• Not oily

The website gives this product description: This hair milk has many benefits for the health and condition of your hair. It's lightweight but very moisturizing. The oils and butters will nourish and naturally moisturize every strand of your tresses without leaving your hair greasy.  Grapeseed oil has many benefits and is a natural heat protectant that protects your hair against damages from styling aids with average heat.  The grapefruit essential oil strengthens and keeps your hair healthy while the peppermint essential oil helps to stimulate growth.  Good for all hair types, braids and weaves too.  We aim to help your hair be the healthiest it can be. Use Deja's Hair Milk to: defrizz, moisturize on damp hair, as a second day refresher, detangler or leave in.

Bee Lovely Moisturizing Daily Conditioner

• Bought an 8oz bottle for $12.97 on website)

• All the bullet points for Deja’s hair milk would apply to this product too, except it only comes in Coconut Cream scent

The website gives this product description: Dramatically improve the moisture balance of your hair with the natural and organic nutrients in our new Daily Conditioner "Bee Lovely." With the soft & creamy consistency of Cupuacu Butter, offers exceptional daily moisture for the hair also provides some protection against UV-A and UV-B rays.  Enjoy hair that feels soft and smooth all day after just a single use without weighing it down. With daily use, even dry, brittle and damaged hair can see noticeable improvement in softness, smoothness and manageability.

Luscious Balanced Cream Moisturizer

• Bought 8oz jar for $18.97 on website

• Contains protein

• Incredibly moisturizing

• Same scents as Deja’s Hair Milk listed above

• A little heavier than other two products listed above but still light enough for daily use (I don't use it daily b/c of the protein)
• Not oily

The website gives this product description: Our moisturizer is enriched with pro-vitamins, natural proteins and healing butters that heal seal and nourish your hair and scalp.  Beautiful hair requires a complete balance of moisture and protein to prevent breakage.  This light cream moisturizer helps to prevent split ends and strengthen hair from root to tip.

BEE MINE WEBSITE

Happy Hair Growing! J

My Stretch is Still Going Strong

So the weekend flew by and I did not get a chance to do the postings that I wanted to (sorry) but I am going to update you all on a few things right now. So as I mentioned in my last post, I decided to go back to the phony pony since I am far into my stretch and I wanted to reduce the breakage that may come from daily manipulation and styling. I put the phony pony in Saturday after I washed and conditioned my hair. I moisturized and sealed my hair using a lot more product than I normally do because I wanted to ensure that my hair stayed moisturized while inside the false ponytail.

Since I am going out of town this weekend, I will wash my hair tonight (Thursday), moisturize and seal and put the ponytail back on. I don’t know how long I will be stretching but my goal is to reach 16 weeks. I hope I can make it. That would be my first time ever stretching 16 weeks. If I decide to wear the ponytail again throughout next week, then the following week I will give my hair a break and go back to using the sponge rollers.

Pictures of my New Growth on Last Wash Day

 

Happy Hair Growing!

12 Weeks Post Relaxer

Finally taking the time to update my blog. Today I am 12 weeks post relaxer. My hair routine consists of relaxing every 12 weeks at a minimum but ofcourse I will try to stretch as long as I can as long as it is not causing damage to my hair. My stretch is going extremely well. I have been washing once a week, air drying, moisturizing and sealing, and then putting my hair in 8 sponge rollers.  This is also how I maintain my hair during the week; I moisturize and seal and then put my hair in the 8 sponge rollers. I tie my hair up and then sleep. In the morning I take my rollers out and I have beautiful, highly moisturized, soft curls. I then proceed to smooth my hair back into a ponytail (with my hands only) and kinda comb out the curls with my fingers as I am doing that. Once in the ponytail, I will take some aloe vera gel, and my boar bristle brush and groom my edges. I will either wear the ponytail for the day or I will put my hair in a bun. 

When I moisturize, seal, and roll my hair I only use my hands. When I undo my hair and put it in a ponytail in the morning, I only use my hands. I personally think that this has been very helpful on this stretch at preventing breakage, especially at the line of demarcation where my new growth and relaxed hair meet. In the back of my head, my hair has the tightest curl pattern so if I try to comb this area when I have 12 weeks worth of new growth, it is almost guaranteed I will get some breakage.  Although the using my hand to “comb my hair” technique is working great, I think I will need to go back to the phony pony either next week or the week after to decrease the amount of manipulation my hair is experiencing due to daily styling. All and all though, I am very pleased with the condition of my hair.

I do think that I need a trim though. You are probably thinking, “Ebonee, you have been trimming off all your progress these last few months!” Yes, that is true. Right before my last relaxer I cut off a significant amount of hair due to damage from the haircolor I did a while back. Even though that made my hair look and feel a whole lot better, I think it will take one or two more trims to really get my hair to the point it needs to be to be truly healthy. Once again, no more haircoloring for me, ever!!! This has been a major setback in growing out my hair, but health always comes before length so my priority is getting my hair healthy first.

I may be able to get some pictures up on the old blog here soon….maybe this weekend. Oh, and my current list of products and regimen is coming soon. I’m shooting for this weekend as well for that.

Hope everyone reading this is well!!!

Revamping So Much!

Reading The Science of Black Hair has opened my eyes to alot of things about my hair that I previously had no idea about. This book has caused me to revamp my routine, my products, and my plans of how to acheive my hair goals. I will go into detail later.

 In the meantime, my stretch is going lovely! I believe I am going to be 10 weeks post in a couple of days and I feel as if I can stretch for quite a few more weeks. I am still suffering from the damage I caused when I colored my hair but 2012 will be my year for repairing and getting this head of hair back in tip top condition.


HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!


Talk to you again soon, Ebonee

Quick Update

I relaxed on October 29th and I recorded a video to showcase the results and talk to you all a little bit about my hair. Unfortunately, the video would not upload to my blog. I tried it several times with no luck. Fast foward, I am now 4 weeks post relaxer. My hair is doing well. I will have to wait until next relaxer to update you all with pictures. If I decide to do a video again next relaxer, I will post it on YouTube and just put the link on this blog.

Hope everyone is well! Talk to you again real soon. Sorry for being MIA, I have been very busy. Bye!

Relaxer Day is Approaching

I will be 12 weeks post relaxer tomorrow so I am planning on relaxing my hair this weekend. I have a trip to Michigan scheduled for next week so I would like to wear my hair down in different styles and they would look best with a fresh relaxer. If it weren’t for my trip, I would continue to stretch because stretching has been a breeze this time around.

So last night I had the urge to cut my hair. (I get urges to do different things with my hair quite often, gotta get those under control, lol.) My ends were feeling ratty….really crispy, uneven, damaged looking. I know that those are side effects from the bad dye job I recently had, and my plan was to hold out and spruce up my ends after my relaxer coming up.  Unfortunately, my urge won and I went into the bathroom and snipped, snipped, and snipped some more. My hair feels a lot better! It is more even, though not completely even because I am still suffering from the short area in the nape of my head. Also, because I have a ton of new growth that was not straightened when I trimmed my hair, I am sure my trim will be slightly uneven after I relax my hair and all that new growth is straigtened. I’m okay with that. I will just clean it up ever so slightly with the scissors. Trimming your hair is good, especially if you have not done so in a long time. It gives you hair this “healthy” feeling. I’ll post again after my relaxer. Hope everyone is well.

Phony Pony and Stretching

Hello Everyone,

I know it has been a while. Life has been busy. I have been working extra hours at work, decided to take two master’s degree classes this 8-week term instead of my normal one, and  I have my three little ones (including my now 4-month old) that require a great deal of my love and attention. So my spare time is very limited most days.

Also, my time to do my hair has been very limited as well. So…..I just have not been doing it. That’s right, daily styling is out. What I have been doing is rocking a drawstring phony pony and I love it. I put it in my hair loosely so I actually sleep in it every night and don’t have to worry about it pulling my sides. Although I do not recommend this to anyone else, it works fine for me. When  I wake up in the morning, I take off my scarf, fluff the ponytail a little, smooth my sides and edges and my hairstyle is complete in all of two minutes.

I have been using the Organic Root Stimulator Edge Control to keep my edges smooth and neat and I must say, I now LOVE this product. I had tried it once before and hated it because it reminded me of Let’s Jam Shine and Conditioning Gel in the extra hold formula. It is the same consistency in my opinion. But I have now noticed that ORS edge control is not as greasy as Let’s Jam. It also seems to work multiple days. What I mean by that is that if I put it on my sides and edges on Monday, on Tuesday and maybe Wednesday, all I have to do is put a little water on a boar bristle brush and brush down my sides/edges, and the ORS edge control starts working again to lay everything down smoothly.  I really like this product now and will be using it to keep my hair neat during future stretches.

One of the good things about wearing this phony pony is that it is allowing me to stretch my relaxer without even thinking about it. Because of not having to style my hair every day, I don’t have to battle the two textures and basically my new growth is not even in my thoughts. Normally about this time (I am 11 weeks post tomorrow), I am itching to put a relaxer in. Not this time though. The phony pony has helped me to forget about my new growth. I will say though that when I take the ponytail out, which I do once a week to wash and deep condition my hair, I realize again how much new growth I actually have as I am trying to detangle and air dry.

Because I loved the phony pony and no daily styling so much, I decided to order two half wigs from hairsisters.com and they should be coming in the mail anyday now. I am excited to get them. I have never wore a half wig before but I scoured YouTube to find recommended ones that can look kind of natural and not so much like fake hair. The two I ordered are Celtic Girl (on the left) and Kara Girl (on the right) both by Freetress. I know they look very similar. I will try them out to see how I like it.

Will Be Back Soon

I haven't forgot about my blog. How can I? It's one of my new favorite things to do. The cable company is coming to hook up the internet at my house this weekend so I will be back ready to start posting here again soon. Talk to you all later.

Quick Hair Update

Just wanted to make a quick post about what's going on with my hair. I am happy to say that my shedding is 100 % under control. I am not experiencing any major shedding outside of the norm and I contribute that to my rosemary and coconut oil scalp massages that I previously wrote about.

I have to be extra nice to my hair now because the hair coloring session I did a couple of weeks back really damaged my hair. The whole feel of my hair changed. It feels weak, limp and lifeless. I will be happy to get my hair back to a point where it is as strong as it used to be. I said it once but I will say it again (just so I can read my words later on and remind myself, lol)...I WILL NEVER color my hair again.

I will be 5 weeks post in a few days. My new growth is nothing crazy, it is pretty manageable right now. I plan on stretching my relaxer at least 12 weeks.

Just wanted to check in on the old blog. I will be moving here soon and waiting for the cable company to transfer and hook up my services, including my internet, so not sure if I will be posting again within the next two weeks but I will definitely try.

Hope everyone reading this is well and blessed!

The Science of Black Hair Care

I got my copy of the book in the mail yesterday and I am excited to start reading it to learn more about how to "properly" care for my hair. I am sure there will be things in the book that I never knew about, even things that I am doing wrong to my hair that can be working against healthy hair growth. After I have finished reading it, I will give a complete review. I heard alot of positive things about this book which prompted me to purchase it although a few of the reviews on Amazon.com said that it was too "scientific." I like scientific so I guess I will like this book, lol.

Here is the website as well for the book. It contains alot of great information.

Epic Hair Fail

This has got to be the biggest mistake/set back that I have ever done to my hair. Last month I wrote a post about wanting to dye my hair. Well, I got the urge to do it yesterday, I just decided to go for it. I have dyed my hair many times in the past and never had a problem.

I am four weeks post relaxer so I figured that I am far enough along from my last relaxer to dye my hair without any problems. I followed the directions on box and mixed the dye and let it sit on my hair for 20 minutes. When I rinsed my hair out....I am cringing right now just thinking about it. Anyway, when I rinsed my hair out my hair felt horrible!!! It felt weak, fragile, thin, the cuticle felt rough rather than smooth, and my hair was tangled. I began thinking that this dye just ate through my strands. Looking in the bottom of the bathtub confirmed that because I saw lots and lots of little strands of broken hairs. I began thinking that I really messed up this time with my "do it at home haircare" and that I was going to have to cut all my hair off and start from scratch.

After I washed my hair, I immediately thought to use protein so I saturated my hair in ApHogee 2 min recostructor. My hair immediately felt better as far as strength and texture, but my thickness was gone. Even wet, I am used to my hair having a certain amount of thickness. My hair was feeling half as thick as it normally does when it is wet. I rinsed out the ApHogee after 5 mins and used the moisturizing conditioner that came with the hair color, it was the Patene Pro-V Relaxed and Natural moisturizing deep conditioner. I actually liked the conditioner alot and I'm not sure whether it was because of the state my hair was before the conditioning or if it is actually a good conditioner.

I blow-dried my hair because I wanted it dry and straight so I could see the damage. I definitely noticed that my strands are finer, and my thickness is about half of what it was before I colored. It also seems as if the dye changed the texture of my hair because it is much straighter than it normally is. If there is a texture call extra-bone straight, that is what my hair looks and feels like to me now or at least in my mind it does.

• Am I happy with my results? Absolutely not.
• What do I think I did wrong? I believe the color over-processed. I did not do a strand test because I felt it was unnecessary. I think I should have let the color stay on my hair for 12-15 minutes rather than 20mins even though the directions did say 20.
• Is the color worth it? Absolutely not, looking at my jet black hair, I actually realized that I am fond of my natural color because it looks "natural." I'll get use to this color though because the difference is not that much.
• Will I color again? Never. I really mean this. It is not worth the health of my hair, even if a professional does it, it is still damaging.

Here is a picture I took just now on my cell phone so the quality isn't great but I wanted to have a pciture to go with this post. I tried to smile a little, but it just would not come, lol. I am just glad I still have some hair to work with, now it is time to nurse this head of hair back to health which I am assuming will take one or two years of diligent care and growth to get my back healthy again. Lesson learned :(