I need to update this journal way more frequently. What's the point of having a journal if I'm not logging on a consistent basis, right? :) I'm sorry I've been a bit MIA - it's been really busy but I'm happy that I'm sitting down with some tea and ready to start writing about healthy hair again. I just got a fresh relaxer (after my usual four month stretch) and I definitely felt an urge to start writing about how my hair is coming along and how my healthy hair goals are progressing…

Hey everyone! I really need to continue posting in this journal more regularly. That was one of my New Years Resolutions for this year so I really need to stay on top of it. I've dedicated so much focus with my spare time to working out/losing weight but I haven't let go of my love…

By request windproof hair video update:

This is the original windproof hair video:…

It's time for a relaxer update! I'm so happy with my stretch and the fact that it went a lot easier than past stretches. We used the Organic Root Stimulator Olive Oil Relaxer (in the kit, regular strength), and it went smoothly. My scalp and my hair both feel great. Here is where my hair is now: …

I've successfully completed another four months of a relaxer stretch without any crazy hair issues, and I'm feeling really proud of myself! I have a lot of new hair growth (if you put your hands in my roots you'll feel a whole bunch of curly strong strands all up in there!). Since I am…

I recently read a few frustrated Facebook status updates by others stretching their relaxers expressing a strong desire to just cut off all of their hair. Everything boiled down to an overall sentiment that the roots have become somewhat unmanageable, styling is feeling increasingly impossible and the relaxer is…

It's that time of year, and my hair is going into hibernation mode, a la protective styles. While wearing protective styles isn't anything new for me, I am particularly cautious these days about making sure my ends are heavily moisturized before putting them up in my silk rollers and then into a bun style (after I…

I got my relaxer touch up last week (after another four-month stretch) and am very happy with the results! Here is my length check pic (after cutting off some split ends this morning): 

My thumb in the picture marks my goal by my next relaxer (scheduled for late January 2013/early…

It's almost relaxer time! My roots are deliciously thick right now, and I'm pretty much at my four-month mark where I am due for a relaxer. I picked up my Olive Oil Relaxer kit today (normal strength), and I am avoiding doing anything to my hair and scalp at this point that could sabotage it and interfere with the…

I can honestly say that I'm a bit bored by my hair regimen but it's working! Why am I getting bored? In the past, I used to enjoy buying new hair products that simply called my name from the shelves, and experimenting with new hair styles. However, I'm on a mission to grow my hair to mid back length by the end of the…

I got my hair relaxed a few days ago after stretching my relaxer for four months. In the past, I used Organic Root Stimulator's Olive Oil Relaxer, but I used Dr. Miracle's No-Lye Regular Relaxer this time (I wanted to change it up, and I am comfortable with Dr. Miracle's relaxer and its strength). My hair came out silky straight, smooth, and smelling great (the peppermint-smelling leave-in in the packet makes your hair smell heavenly, and also nourishes the hair post-relaxer). I gained a…

As part of my personal mandate to co-wash more and wear protective styles, I experimented with a new style and am happy to announce that it is my new staple look for a…

Here are pictures that I took of my hair yesterday and today:

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Off the the stretching finish line! For the last relaxer, I stretched 15 weeks. For this relaxer, I'm pushing it for a week more (16 weeks). It may just be an additional week of stretching, but I believe in taking it week by week when it comes to adding on stretching time. That way, I slowly evolve with learning how to take care of additional new growth over time. 

I have to pat myself on the back with this one: By Valentine's Day week, I will have reached four months of stretching my…

My hair is off to a good start this year. I have been diligent about my deep conditioning treatments, and started using Carol's Daughter's Monoi Repairing Collection to strengthen my hair during my relaxer stretch. 

In terms of length, my hair is getting closer to full bra strap length, but not fully there yet. It is also a bit hard for me to tell anyway,…

One of the best things about keeping up with my online hair journal on Cafe Belle is the ability to look over the posts and the pictures over the year and see how my hair has progressed over a long period of time. In the…

I think it's fair to say that I am on a mission to protect and nourish my new length. Here are some things that I am doing now to protect it:

• Destroying split ends: This past week, I went on a search and destroy mission, looking for any and all split ends that could possibly hurt the overall…

Hair? Meet my bra strap. Bra Strap? Meet my hair. After fifteen weeks of stretching my relaxer, I got my hair relaxed on October 29, 2011(with Organic Root Stimulator's Olive Oil Relaxer, Regular Strength). As usual, the relaxer was only applied to my new growth (which I had a lot of!). So let's do a progress comparison - here is my hair as of last Fall, 2010: …

Just a quick hair update: I am now in my 12th week of stretching my relaxer and am continuing to stretch to the last week of October 2011. I have never stretched my relaxer past 11 weeks (without putting it in braids, etc.), but I have found that it has become easier to stretch my relaxer this year. Why? Well, when I…