Quarterly Natural Hair Advancement | September And December 2015

I couldn't take the heat damage anymore...so I chopped my almost BSL to neck length. I'm loving my hair more and more each day now!!! Onward to my healthy hair journey!

Although I record my triumphs, failures, double failures, and awesome product reviews in my Hair Diary, I also do something called the "Quarterly Natural Hair Advancement (QNHA)." This entry reflects on the last 3 months comparing with the previous QNHA while giving a summary in one whole journal entry. There are a lot of comparisons with lengths, regimens, goals, habits, and hair styles. I do the QNHA at the end of the months: March, June, September, and December. Yes, I am very intricate with my Hair Diary...but this helps me perfect my current regimen, helps me with future styling options, reminds me of my hair goals, and just fun to do!!

TESTS AND GROWTH

Natural Hair Length Check

Hair Type: 4a/Coily

Moisture and Protein: Balanced

Texture: Fine

Porosity: Low

Density: Low

*I cut about 2-5 inches of heat damage from my hair on September 10, 2015. I am now heat/damage free!*

September Front Length: 5in

December Front Length: 6.5in

(+1.5 inch growth)

September Back Length: 8in

December Back Length: 9in
(+1 inch growth)

Natural Hair Length Check

September Sides Length: 7in

December Sides Length: 8 in

(+1 inch growth)

September Middle/Top Length: 7in

December Middle/Top Length: 8in

(+1 inch growth)

Total AVG. Length: 1.1 inch in 3 months

Length AVG Grown/Month: 0.3 inch/month 

Shedding? Normal

Trim? December 20, 2015

QNHAS LENGTH CHECKS

March 2015: 1 inch, .33in/month

June 2015: 1.2 inch, .4in/month

September 2015: 1.2 inch, .4in/month
December 2015: 1.1 inch, .3in/month
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Total Length Retained For The Year: 4.5 inches
Total AVG Length Grown Monthly: .4 inches


*Lengths are based on length retain, even though I trimmed and cut my hair through Year 2015*

SEPTEMBER REGIMEN

Hot oil treatment (weekly) - Coconut oil, JBCO, and peppermint essential oil 

Protein treatment (monthly) - Henna (standard) 

Protein treatment (weekly) - ApHogee Curlific Texture Treatment 

Clarify - (as needed) - Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse 

Co wash (weekly) - Trader Joe's Tea Tree Tingle Conditioner 

DC (weekly) - Shea Moisture Yucca and Plantain Anti-Breakage Masque 

L - Shea Moisture Yucca And Plantain Anti-Breakage Strengthening Styling Milk

Oils - Coffee Infused Oil, JBCO 

C - Shea Moisture Smoothie



Natural Hair Products For 2015
ClassyCurlies: Natural Hair Length Check Shirts 

DECEMBER REGIMEN

Hot oil treatment - (weekly) Coconut oil, 30 minutes with heat
Pre-poo/detangle - Trader Joe's Tea Tree Tingle Conditioner

Clarify - (when needed) Herbal Essences Wild Naturals Rejuvenating Shampoo 

Co wash - (weekly) Trader Joe's Tea Tree Tingle Conditioner 

Protein - (bi-weekly) ApHogee Intensive Two Minute Keratin Reconstructor OR (bi-weekly) Green Tea OR (every 6 months) Henna

Deep conditioning (weekly) - Shea Moisture Organic Yucca and Plantain Anti-Breakage Masque 

Leave In - Giovanni Direct Leave-In Weightless Moisture Conditioner, Cantu Shea Butter Leave In Conditioning Repair Cream 

Oils - Coffee Infused Oil, Olive Oil, JBCO, Coconut Oil

Crème - Shea Butter Crème 

Styler - Alikay Naturals Crème Brulee, Shea Moisture Smoothie

Rarely used products: Flaxseed Gel, Coconut Milk, Green Tea, Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse,  and Henna

*Note - "September" = "July through September"
*Note - "December" = "October through December"

NEW PRODUCTS IM TRYING

Sweet Almond Oil
Lemongrass Essential Oil 
CURLS Blueberry Bliss Curl Control Paste   
ALAFFIA Authentic African Black Soap-Lavender Ylang Ylang
Shea Moisture Manuka Honey and Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Hair Masque
Curls Blueberry Bliss Twist-N-Shout Cream 
ApHogee Pro-Vitamin Leave-In Conditioner 
Aphogee Style and Wrap Mousse 
Herbal Essences Wild Naturals Rejuvenating Shampoo
Curls Blueberry Bliss Control Jelly
Shea Moisture Tahitian Noni and Monoi Smooth And Repair Nourishing Hair Masque
Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Deep Treatment Masque

FEW CHANGES TO REGIMEN

My Mane Speaks | Yasss Girl! Big Chop Number 2

I decided to do the Mini Chop in September 2015 because of heat damage from November 2014...but I always found out that doing too much of the Henna treatment has loosened my curls as well. So I chopped about 2-5 inches to get rid of the loosened curls. I'm going to do henna every 6 months, instead of monthly. 

I am bringing out my Shea Butter Crème and doing more protective styles for the next few months.

STYLES:

I mostly focused on long-term (3-4 weeks) protective styles to maintain my hair health. I also wanted my hair protected from the beginnings of the harsh weather.

FreeTress Bohemian Crochet Braids 

Boss Bang N Twisted Knot

Janet Collection Noir Tantalizing Twist Braid 

The Flat Twist Up Do Using FreeTress Equal Jamaican Twist Braid 

FreeTress Bohemian Crochet Braids With Bang

GOALS MET FROM SEPTEMBER 2015

From Quarterly Natural Hair Advancement | Comparing March And June 2015  my goals were to short/long term protective styles, hot oil treatments, and massage scalp with oil 4x/weekly

My short term goals for next 3 months: short/long term protective styles, hot oil treatments, finger detangle, and massage scalp with oil 4x/weekly
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My mid-term goals for December 2015 are: to maintain healthy hair (check!!), do more roller set styles (check!!), no extensions until Summer 2015 (check!!), and create more hair products (check!!)

GOALS MET FOR THE YEAR

Here are my goals for the year 2015.

Short Natural Hair

I succeeded in finger detangling, learning more styles (Senegalese twists, crochet braids, and natural hair inspirations), doing lots of hair care research, doing the Curly Girl Method (modified), experimenting with DIY products, and absolutely loving my hair! I felt that my hair journey this year was more enjoyable than the years in the past. I believe it helped because my goals I set for myself.

I will say that I slacked in attending natural hair meet ups, massaging my scalp, and using castor oil religiously. However, I will say that when I did massage my scalp, it would happen during my wash day. I would also use castor oil with my deep conditioner, which made my hair soft and moisturized.

This year was a great year for succeeding goals!

WHAT I LEARNED ABOUT MYSELF AND MY HAIR DURING 2015

Here are the past QNHA's of 2015:
Quarterly Natural Hair Advancement | Comparing December 2014 And March 2015
Quarterly Natural Hair Advancement | Comparing March And June 2015
Quarterly Natural Hair Advancement | Comparing June And September 2015

I learned that I have to be very thoughtful about how I care for my hair. My hair is so fine and vulnerable to anything, to where it can break off without the proper care. My hair loves deep conditioning and the Baggy/GHE methods for keeping the moisture in my hair. I also found out that my hair loves protein treatments (henna, green tea, etc). and will continue to strengthen with those healthy hair practices.

I also learned that any long-term styles should be kept up to 4 weeks and not anything over. My scalp would be itchy by that time and my hair would definitely be in need of a wash.

NEW GOALS FOR 2016

Keep specific regimen and products

I'm pretty much set for healthy hair care! Check out Natural Hair Regimen for more information. I will also add scalp massages (just purchased the Scalp Invigorator) and will continue to learn about scalp health.

Have natural hairspirations

Naptural 85, Millicent Swift, YoursNaturally11, Mo Knows Hair, and Chime Edwards are my absolute favorite hairspiration to learn hair tips, practice hair styles, and just to be encouraged about my own hair journey.

Only weekly protective style (no long-term)

I'm definitely going to miss this...but I digress...my hair is too fine in texture to have heavy extensions to continue with the health of my hair. So I have decided to continue protective styling, but only weekly protective style like: buns, halos, milkmaid twists, and other non-stressful styles

Styling Natural Hair With Beanies and Hats

Attend natural hair meet-ups, events, and shows

I definitely want to do this!  If you know of any in Indiana, let me know =D This is just inspirational and very enlightening to me.

Reach BSL

I believe that with all the healthy hair care techniques I have learned last year in 2015 on my damaged hair, I can reach BSL.


My short term goals for next 3 months are: finger detangling, protein treatments bi-weekly, always oil ends, no 'out' styles longer than 2 days,  'search and destroy' dusting, and massage scalp 3 times weekly for 2-5 minutes.
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My mid-term goals for July 2016 are: have a few hair (or whatever) related videos on YouTube (let's do this!!) and 'search and destroy' dusting (will do!!), 

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My yearly goals for December 2016 are: NO BUYING NEW PRODUCTS (no more product junkie!), do 4 'new' styles I have not done before, and reach BSL (with health comes length!).
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My ultimate goal is: to reach waist length and HUGE volume by December 2018!

To start a simple entry in your hair diary, check out It Works - Keeping A Hair Diary. Check out an entry from my Hair Diary to get a few ideas to start your own.

Natural hair says: you may think this is intricate, complex, and just too much...but this keeps me on track for my hair goals and habits. Try it for yourself after your three month mark. You may really love this method!

Always Desire Your Natural,

Christina J