my hair routine - at bloody last

Here's my attempt at a beauty post. I have received countless emails asking me to post my hair routine so here goes.  NOTE: These routines work on my hair type which is chemically straightened (it's natural state as a child is very curly).

Click below to see rest of the post!

HOW TO GET: Curly hair

1. Wash hair with conditioner only (shampoo can be drying).  My fave is Aubrey GPB conditioner (see list of conditioners below). 

2. Leave in for approx 15 mins. Rinse. Lightly blot dry and comb with wide teeth plastic comb. Add heaped tablespoon size of Suave moisturizing conditioner (cheap and works). 

3. Part hair down center with hands and plait two pig tails. One on each side of face. Hair should be very damp. Not dry. 

4. Tie hair in head scarf and sleep over night or during day air dry all day.

5. Undo pigtails and separate with fingers.  If hair is still damp it will air dry within 1 hour naturally.  

6. Day 2 or 3:  Wet hair with water to re-dampen and repeat from step 3

Click here for more pics of this look

HOW TO GET:  Straight hair

I have layers all over (cut by Vernelle at Salon V mentioned before here).  After lightly brushing out, they use a blow dryer + ceramic iron to finish.  To maintain I have weekly/bi weekly trips to the local cheap Dominican hair salon for a wash and set. They wrap my hair around the head flat and I sleep overnight in a scarf. Next morning I comb it down and it's straight.  Click here for more pics of this look. 

Chemical Relaxer

My natural hair is very curly (this big soft afro). I have it chemically straightened every 3/4 months at La Var Hair Salon. They always deep condition using Aestelance Hair Repair (see list of conditioners below).

HOW TO GET:  Textured hair

See above straight hair routine. Instead of wrapping hair at night, I section it in half and plait two pig tails and sleep overnight. Next morning I un-do the plaits and the kinks from the braids do this to my hair. Sometimes I add a little dry serum before the pig tails that night (see below Dry Hair Serum products). I  can repeat this look for a few days, re-plaiting each night (often one plait is enough).  Note: The cleaner the hair, the harder for the waves to hold.  Click here for more pics of this look. 

My shampoos:  

Left to right:

L'anza Hair Repair  - My #1 shampoo because it's mild/low PH but has the protein I need without drying the hair out (chemically straightened hair needs protein).

L'anza Deep Cleansing -  I use this once every other month. It strips the hair to squeaky clean removing weeks of product build up but is not drying. Makes products used immediately after work twice is well which shows how counter productive product build up is over time.
Keracare Moisturizing Shampoo -  (I also love the Dry/Itchy Scalp one!) PH balanced/gentle. I love these. 

My conditioners: 

Left to Right (1st Row):

Aestelance Repair Cream -  My #1 holy grail product (hence the large size). It's for salon use ONLY but I manage to get it via a hair dresser friend. I leave in with a plastic cap for 20 mins then rinse out. Hair is slippery smooth, mega soft. Tangles fall out. Sick sick sick. Expensive but sooooo worth it. 

Aubrey GPB - like the cheap version to Aestelance. Super good at detangling and moisturizing. Another holy grail. Makes hair look softer when it's worn curly. 

Kenra Moisturizing Conditioner - Good moisturizing conditioner

L'oreal Sulphate Free - Just started using but so far so good and it's inexpensive 

2nd row:

Pantene Breakage Defense - Very hard to find. Great for strengthening hair.

Nature's Therapy Unfrizz Smoothing Treatment - The knock off to Kerastase but works just as well and with a VERY similar ingredient listing.  Your hair smells amazing for days. 

Kerastase Oleo Relax -  Very good detangler/softener. 

My Leave Ins:

Note: I only use these just before a rollar set when wearing my hair straight.  From left to right:

New Image Damage Free - Adds volume (love that) and protects my hair while under the dryer. 

Salerm 21 - Excellent moisturizer and protects against the heat too.  Love this. 

Kiehls  - same as Salerm

Keracare Silken Seal serum - I use approx 1/2 teasp from mid to ends only, smoothing strands between the palm of your hands like a flat iron. I NEVER rub my hair - that just roughens the hair shaft. 

note: I pick two of the above to use at one time and rotate over time. 

Dry Hair Serums  

I use these on dry straight hair only: 

I use a teeeeeny bit of either of these during the day on random ends that look slightly frizzed or when doing the 'wavy textured hair' look (see 3rd pic above).

Tips I have learned:  

1. New York water is very hard and makes my hair (and skin) very dry. When over seas, my hair is 10 x softer.  Therefore at home,  I often pour distilled water over my head as a final rinse to help flush out the hard water from my hair. This makes a big difference.  Most of my hair tangles and coarse hair feel are caused by the hard water.

2. To boost faster hair growth/decrease shedding, I take 5000 mcg of Biotin daily/every other day. I love the Solgar brand.  Also a Pre Natal supplement.  No I'm not preggers but the combinations in it work wonders on women's hair.  Only take capsules, they break up easier in the body than a hard tablet (got that capsule/vs. tablet advice from a pro body builder once!).