How to Texlax!

Hey There Girlies!

I've been asked on numerous occasions:

(1) What is Texlaxing?

(2) Okay so how exactly do you Texlax?

(3) How do YOU Texlax?

So finally I've gotten around to being able to answer the questions! Yay!
So here we go!

18

The Phased Big Chop! Oh, and I Also Texlaxed on Monday! :-)

Hey There Girlies!

I'm sorry I haven't been able to post as often as I would like, but I definitely will not leave you out of the loop that is "Rachie's Hair Journey" for very long.

As you know, I had quite a bit of shedding and breakage in Late November and during December 2014 due to the stress of Wedding preparations, The breakage is especially at the line of demarcation where my Relaxed dyed hair meets my Texlaxed hair.

I had made a plan (Much like Harlem from harlemhhj.blogspot.com)to hold out until my birthday in April to cut off the relaxed ends - woiii! the thought of cutting off 4" at once was scary.

So in the mean time I've been cutting bit by bit: 

about an inch in January, 

and inch and a half in February 

and this month, on Saturday March 21st I cut off 2 inches off of each plait!!!

19

Wash Day - 16 weeks post Relaxer/Texlax

Hey There Guys!

So as you know, I decided to wash my hair on Monday because it was a public holiday, Gosh I dunno, I was NOT feeling it,

I wish someone could do it for me at times, lol!

Anyhow, here it goes..

1. I detangled my hair in 6 sections, then in 4 and then in 2.
   
2. I then plaited it so I could wash my hair in said plaits
   
3. I hopped into the shower and shampooed with Shea Moisture Moisturizing Shampoo. I noticed, however, it had an "off smell", seriously though shampoo goes bad? is that how infrequently I use shampoo? LOL, so I used: Mane 'n Tail Deep Moisturising Shampoo. My hair doesn't seem to like the latter. I really wish I could get my Design Essentials Moisture Retention Shampoo BUT THERE's NONE on ISLAND right now!! Sigh!
4. I then rinsed thoroughly and applied an ample amount of Nexxus Humectress Ultimate Moisture Conditioner.
   
5. I then put on a plasic cap + scarf and let it sit for about 2 hrs - no heat because the apartment was just hot, and I was not feeling the overhead dryer.
6. I then rinsed with warm then cold water, and did not do my ACV Rinse, no bueno *side-eye* I was tired I think.
7. I then wrapped by hair up in a cotton T shirt for 10 mins and then applied my leave-ins: Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl & Style Milk, Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Smoothing Serum & Garnier Fructis Sleek and Shine Blow Dry Perfector (heat protectant)
   
8. I decided to TRY BLOW DRYING the roots on medium heat, so I undid each braid/plait and then blow dried the roots while applying tension.
   

MY HAIR DOES NOT LIKE BLOWDRYING,

I thought maybe the roots-only method may work, but nope, my hair simply isn't a fan, it felt dry and straw-like to me.

So I applied a lil bit of moisture with wet hands and about a tablespoon of: Herbal Essences Hydraliscious & Silky Boost Conditioner... Then put my hair in one and promptly went to do some reading (academic not leisure, alas)

Not the greatest of wash days unfortunately, but it's all part of the HHJ struggle I suppose!

Before I went to bed I mustured up the strength to put my hair in 8 plaits and wore it to work the next day with a scarf,

(forgive me, not the best pic - I had to throw a vintage filter on it! lol)
and just did a braid out for a bridal shower I had to go to later that evening!

*me and my girl Calisa*

Hectic 2 days huh?! LOL, so it go!

How did your wash day go? Are you stretching your relaxer too?

Oh! be sure to check out how wash day went for these lovely ladies:

Have a great Wednesday!

XoXo,
Rachie :-)

10

Relaxer Stretching - 14 Weeks Post & Still Going Strong!

Hey There Guys!

So.... I'm 14 weeks post Relaxer tomorrow! (13weeks and 6 days today), whew!

and...

My hair is trying my patience! Woiiii!

Hands up all those who are transitioning to natural OR are doing a long relaxer stretch (like me) and are LITERALLY AFRAID to unleash the beast that is your New Growth?

Guys, it's no joke, sometimes, mih 'friad! 

I took down my twists for Valentines day, and it took days for me to find a 3 hour time slot to re-twist my hair and not be tired doing it....

Result:

Lots and Lots of Poofiness - which I'm beginning to love,

but tangles at the line of demarcation... le sigh

and boy do the relaxed ends look thinner,

This is always the case when I stretch,

but it's definitely more noticeable this time, Honestly, I think that's because I have different stresses at the moment anyway, and that tends to amplify things that don't seem to be going right,

Knowing this about myself,

I'm not panicking

Not one bit

I Refuse! Lol!

 *smoothed...

 *not smoothed...

That being said, I still haven't set a date for the next Texlax session, I'm gonna keep playing it by ear

:-)

It would be nice to stretch till the last week of April...

Late last night into the early of the hours of this morning, I found the strength to put it in braids/plaits again,
(I snipped a half an inch off of each plait)

and that's how it will STAY! Until April.... I hope... :-D

Plan:

(1) Continue to cut 3/4" -1" of hair every month,

(2) Considering a big cut for my birthday in April - *holds breath, lol!

(3) Twice weekly deep conditioning

(4) Be GENTLER when Manipulating my hair - I get frustrated, I know better, alas I'm only human, but seeing broken strands only adds to my stress.

(5) Revisit a "Check In" post at the end of each week to see how well I've been able to stick to my plan - evaluate whats working and what's not.
(6) Deep condition tonight in braids! :-)

I'm a work in progress, but I still aiming for "Fabbity fab" fully Texlaxed Waist Length hair by December 2015!

Xoxo,

Rachie :-)

9

Rachie's 5 Tips for Stretching Your Relaxer... :-)

Hey There!

Today, Yours truly is 11 weeks and 4 days post Texlax, 
Yayness!

It may not seem like much now, but on reflection, I realize this is almost a MONTH more than how often I used to relax my hair, pre-hhj!

In the spirit of gratefulness, hehehe :-)
I decided to share with you guys 5 of my relaxer-stretch tips that I've gathered along my HHJ:

2

Monday Morning Hair Update! - Ahhh Those Bad Hair Dayz...

Hey There!

Happy Monday and Happy February!

Can you believe its February already?! Amazing...

This last week, Hair-wise hasn't been bad but it wasn't the best either, I was going good with my Regimen, Moisturizing and sealing at nights, satin scarf/pillow case, the works!

I had my hair in plaits, in larger sections this time (approx 8-10, I can't recall exactly) and I went diving on Sunday.

*woot woot! I finally got my card yesterday*

Mind you, once I put on the conditioner before I go diving I'm usually okay, but I know from past experience that the larger the plaits, the more the tangling I get after its been wet, specifically at the line of demarcation....

But I did it anyway,

SMH!

Anyhow, needless to say I had to deal with a real headache this morning trying to detangle my hair with the utmost patience, and still try to be on time for work!

Profectiv Leave-in Conditioner, Castor Oil, my wide tooth comb, my Goody Brush and my Headband SAVED MY LIFE this morning, 

To my hair products and tools: I salute you guys for all you did for me this morning! LOL!

0

Twist Take-down - Big Hair :-)

Heya, Happy Sunday!

I'm working this weekend, but I had to take down the twists to redo them, I try to not go longer than 10 days because:

(1) My hair tangles at the line of demarcation soon after this time period

(2) I need to deep condition AT LEAST once a week to keep my hair happy.... it's still recovering form December 2014, lol.

With LENGTH RETENTION in mind I was -well I tried for the most part - very very GENTLE with my strands on taking down the twists, to keep BREAKAGE at a MINIMUM.

(1) I Finger Detangled first

(2) Then used my wide toothed comb

(3) Then the Denman Brush

6

Happy New Year!...Just Married! :-)

Hey There Guys!!!

 ...

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

I hope you all had a safe and happy holiday and that the new year brings you all the joy, happiness and prosperity you desire

Big Hugz!

Where have I been you ask?

I got married to my best friend in the whole world on December 13th 2014 in my home town Montego Bay Jamaica! Yayness!

It was a lovely very small & intimate gathering of family and dear friends,

But don't let "small and intimate" fool you, it was nuff work and stress to prepare for so yeppers peppers I definitely wasn't able to blog at that time.

I would like to share a few pics though!

Bridal Shower...

*My lovely bridesmaids :-) Who are also on hair journeys, Woot woot!
Wedding Day...

12

Wash Day after SCUBA! :-)

Hey There Guys!

:-)

We are here again for yet another Wash Day Check in! :-)
This weekend, Sunday to be exact, I went Scuba Diving!
Its been too long - almost 2 months!
Work has kept me really busy.

As usual it was great! I do have to prepare my hair Pre-Dive though, because essentially I'm soaking my hair in salt water for just under 2 hours for that day

MY USUAL PRE-DIVE HAIR PREP PLAN:

12

Wash Day? :-)

Hey There Guys!

My mid-week "Wash Day" wasn't a Wash Day really it quickly became a Dry Deep Conditioning Session.
As you know, I Deep Condition twice a week & often times one of these sessions is a "Dry Deep Conditioning Session"

I do these Sessions so that I can give my hair the moisture it needs even when I am uber busy.

I have been very very very busy of late, I feel like a broken record saying this, but its true!

My hair doesn't care about my plight though,
LOL,
Not at all!
She's just like:"Ye, dat nice, where's the moisture though? You Forgot?! Okay, Well allow me to fix your business Rach :-)" #breakage

LOL

So! back to Wash Day/Dry Deep Conditioning Quickie:

After The Last Wash Day I had put my hair in Plaits with a Scarf for work:

I grew tired of it after a single day so I did a Braid-Out which I eventually put into a Bun the Following Day:

 

Tuesday Night I was Not feeling that braid out much at all, and it felt a little on the dry side - AC at work is really drying some days,

So I opted for Dry Deep Conditioning:

• I wet my hands and ran them along my hair in 4 sections to VERY LIGHTLY Moisten the hair but not to the point where it was wet.
• I proceeded to Finger Detangle each section, then Detangled each section with a Denman Brush.
• Profectiv Mega Growth Daily Leave-In Strengthener was applied to each section and plaited
  
• Plastic cap, then under the dryer for 15 mins.
• Sealed with Sweet Almond Oil + Castor Oil, because I'm out of Grapeseed Oil! :-(
• Left cap off and allowed to Air dry
• I then separated each plait and then combed it out with a wide toothed comb:
  Very little hair came out, Yayness! :-)
• I then put on a head band and put my hair in a bun and went to work!
  
  
  
  
  

Yeppers so that's about it! Nothing big and exciting, I'll be doing a regular wash day with a moisturizing shampoo on Saturday or Sunday

I've joined the 30 Days Without Heat Challenge!

I'll let you guys know how that's going and what my plans are in a post coming soon :-)

Feel free to join along, just CLICK HERE

Also:

Check out how these other Ladies' Wash Days Went:

*I didn't put my link up this week because mine wasn't a true "Wash Day" per say, but I encourage you ladies to check out these other ladies Wash Days, because we can all stand to learn a thing or two, or be motivated in some way!

Have a Great week!

Xoxo,

Rachie :-)

2

My Updated Hair Goal!!

Hey There Guys!

While doing my Last post "Birthday Hair Tag" I was going through my Hairstyles & Hair Inspiration Board on Pinterest for pictures that best described the hair I'd love to rock (if I could) on my Birthday...

And I came across one particular picture I had forgotten I pinned a while back, but for some reason it really stood out at me the other day...

Guys is this not Perfection?

Seriously?!

I knew immediately, THIS is my Hair Inspiration for my Next Birthday, April 2015!

I don't expect my hair to be exactly like anyone else's hair,
but rather,
the Thicker Healthier Version of my own hair,

Rachie 2.0!

:-)

*Notice the thinner relaxed ends vs the thicker texlaxed section - breakage at the line of demarcation is a bummer, plus my straighter hair looks thinner that the more textured hair in general*

 So at some point I'll have to cut off these thinner ends - planning to do it very gradually, on a monthly basis.

Time to get some GROWTH and LENGTH RETENTION in High Gear!

Woot woot!

I'm feeling all rejuvenated over here! Lol

Do you guys have any Hair Inspiration/Goal pics that keep you motivated on your HHJ?
Drop me a line or 2 below!

Xoxo,

Rachie :-)

Check out My "Hairstyles & Hair Inspiration Board"

:-)

Get your Motivation on!

Follow Rachel Thwaites's board Hairstyles and Hair Inspiration on Pinterest.

5

Wash Day! :-)

Hey There Guys!

Yup yup its that time again, Wash Day Recap! This past weekend I did not do a Wash Day,
What I did do was a
Dry Deep Conditioning Session with my trusty

Profectiv Daily Strengthening leave-In Conditioner:

I took down my Twists,
Applied Conditioner to hair in 2 sections,
2 large twists made,
Plastic cap placed over hair and heat (overhead dryer) for 15mins
Sealed with a bit of Grapeseed Oil + Castor Oil mix (Focusing on the ends).
The hair felt soft and moisturized so
I just did Buns for the rest of the weekend until Tuesday:

Yesterday I started my (mid-week) Wash Day

12