YAYYYYY!

We are at the road with my Protective Styling Series.

I am so glad that I was able to share some tips and advice on how to care for your hair while rocking your protective style, keep your strands moisturized and hydrated.

I kept my single braids for about 4 weeks. A short amount of time of course, but the castor oil scent was getting overpowering, scalp got itchy and it was just time.

So, THE TAKE DOWN!

First of all, it took me 3 1/2 hours to take ALL of the braids out. EXHAUSTING!

2 Nigerian movies on IrokoTV.com kept me company lol!

As I was taking my braids out, I noticed that my hair seemed weak and extremely dry, despite the fact that I applied my Shea Moisture Hold and Shine Moisture Mist on a daily basis.

Let me tell you, I was W O R R I E D D D D D!

Questions like:

Why did I even braid my hair?

Why did I not just rock my Natural Hair while on vacation?

What if my hair is super damaged?

I was also a bit freaked out at the amount of shed hair during the detangling process and while shampooing as well.

Then, I remembered what Ms. Rhona (my hairstylist) always tells me:

“This is just the amount of hair that would have shed if your hair was not braided while you combed it every day. So it’s normal, NOT excessive. Don’t be worried.”

Reassuring, indeed!

(I can take a deep breath of relief)

Now, this was the 2nd time that I experienced extreme dryness with my hair after taking braids out. The last time it happened, I did a little research and found out that protein-based products help with restoring moisture and hydration.

Based on online research and suggestions, I purchased:

Carol’s Daughter Black Vanilla (MOISTURE & SHINE) Sulfate Free Shampoo

Palmers Coconut Oil Formula Deep Protein Treatment Pack, which is now my holy grail deep conditioning treatment

In addition, while purchasing the products above, I came across Shea Moisture’s Superfruit Complex 10-in-1 Renewal System Hair Masque, which helps to perfect and renew vibrancy to brittle and lackluster hair.

BEFORE SHAMPOOING:

I thoroughly detangled my strands with a wide tooth comb, applied my oil treatment with Tropic Isle Living’s Jamaican Black Castor Oil, put on my plastic cap and kept it in overnight.

SHAMPOO PROCESS:

The next day, I took off to Ms. Rhona’s salon as I wanted a really good deep conditioning treatment and the added steam from the hair dryer so that my treatment would be super dupper effective, especially since my hair dry.

She shampoo’d my hair with the Black Vanilla Sulfate Free Shampoo and set my deep conditioning treatment with a combination of Palmers’ Deep Protein Treatment Pack and Shea Moisture’s Renewal System Hair Masque.

I sat under the dryer for a good 30 minutes and it felt so good!

When rinsing out the deep conditioning treatment, Ms. Rhona noticed that my hair was restored.

Huge relief for the both of us. She was worried as well!

STYLING PROCESS:

I was not ready to style my hair at Ms. Rhona’s so I applied The Mane Choice 3-n-1 Leave In Conditioner, put on my plastic cap and  styled it the next day. Extreme laziness.

I did a live Wash’N’Go / Shingling tutorial on my iziKurls Facebook page.

Below was the day after I set my Wash’N’Go = the final look.

After my shampoo, oil and deep conditioning treatment, I have to say that my hair was restored to its usual feel and look.

It looked shiny, healthy and moreover, I noticed that my roots were strong, thick!

1 week later and my hair was back in Senegalese Twists as I’ll be off to SK Retreat in Salt Lake City, Utah.

At least, this time around, I know what to expect and how to restore my hair after the braids.

I am also trying something different in terms of what to apply to my hair this go around.

I’ll be sure to keep you guys updated.

Hope you find this information helpful.