Wash Day!

Hi!  So, my hair was really not behaving itself for the past few weeks and what with my end of year stuff all biting at my heels, ...


Hi! 

So, my hair was really not behaving itself for the past few weeks and what with my end of year stuff all biting at my heels, hair took a backseat. But getting my new clip ins has really invigorated me and I'm back on that hair hype. Also, the weather has calmed down somewhat and my hair's feeling normal again.

This week's products
 
[1] I detangled with my oil mix using fingers and two different combs. Getting shed hair out at this stage of my stretch (16 weeks, 1 day) is extremely important for avoiding tangles in my new growth. I then slathered more of the oil mix on then completely covered my hair in Trésemme Keratin Smooth as my hair is crying out for protein. I added some leftover Trevor Sorbie Volume Leave in to create steam. I flipped my hair and braided it over my forehead to reduce tangling, threw on a showercap and left this in for 2.5 hours.

[2] I rinsed out all of the oil and conditioner with warm water (which left my hair feeling quite tough, almost stripped) then shampooed once with Herbal Essences Moisture Balance Shampoo over my whole length in order to clarify for the next step (which definitely left my hair completely slipless).

[3] I squeezed out excess water with a towel, replenished my colour with Colour Restore Deep Red rinse (leaving it in for 30 mins under a showercap) and rinsed with cold water.

[4] I towel dried again then deep conditioned with moisture with Herbal Essences Bee Strong Strengthening Intensive Mask under a showercap and towel turban. I really really love this product. It's the best priced moisturising conditioner I've had so far and I love the consistency. I'll get about six or seven washes out of the tub so it's pretty great. I'm not too keen on the strong smell but I also have the Herbal Essences Hello Hydration, so I will see which one I prefer smellwise. After 1 hour, I rinsed with warm water, then cold.

[5] In accordance with the Wash Day Experience (linked at the bottom) theme for this week, I then tried for the perfect air dry (although I cheated a tad...). I towel dried for 30mins then used the tension blow dry method to stretch out my roots with cool air, using my favoured leave ins of 2chic Avocado & Olive Oil leave-in spray, my oil mix and Darcy's Botanicals Coconut Lemongrass Transitioning Creme (still hasn't run out...) in the L.O.C. method. I left the rest to dry naturally and put a bit of Dove Nourishing Dry Ends Serum on my ends.

16 weeks of new growth, lightly blown out

Tension blowdrying is amazing! Like potentially game changing in terms of stretching. I could feel my scalp properly for the first time in a month. My hair also really benefitted from the different deep conditioners I used today and felt well moisturised. Next time I will make sure to use heat protectant. As I never use heat, I didn't have any to hand.

I then put in my clip ins and did my hair in a quick knotted bun!

This day was a long one because I really wanted to make sure I got all of the benefit out of my conditioners in order to strengthen my hair. When I try and cut down time, they don't sink into my hair the same way and leave my hair feeling like it's got build-up. I've been working hard every day so I thought I deserved the downtime!

'Til next time,
Lam

The Wash Day Experience
How was your wash day?

You Might Also Like

10 comments

  1. I need to work on that tension drying method. I'm ok stretching but I like to feel my scalp from time to time as well.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm fine til I get to around 15 weeks and then I just start ripping through my hair in frustration... Tension blowdrying is helping me so much!

      Delete
  2. Looks like you had a good wash day. I like the tension method too. It really helps with stretching the roots.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I did and it does! Thanks for stopping by :)

      Delete
  3. Tension drying rocks! Even if it does take a little longer to do. How to you like the Herbal Essences Bee Strong conditioner? I've been using it to co-wash...but my hair reacts differently to it every time.

    KLP | SavingOurStrands

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I really like it as a deep conditioner! It's economical and works fairly consistently but I find that the lack of protein in it means I have to add steps to my wash day that I don't usually have to. Also, I cannot use this as a co wash. I have tried a number of times but always have hair that feels coated and dry as a rock the next day.

      Delete
  4. Your knotted bun looks so cute. When I get deeper into my stretch I'll have to try tension drying... I just have to find a blow dryer with the "cool" setting :(

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! And as far as I can tell, my cool setting on the hairdryer is only marginally less warm than the lowest hot setting... It's really annoying but I've got it now so will have to make do.

      Delete
  5. Your hair will tell you what it needs. And if that means you have to use two hours, I guess that's what you have to do. Your new growth looks so soft.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Well done for getting to 16 weeks! I love the tension blow drying as well on cool, it's definitely not cheating hehe!

    ReplyDelete