Not much overall growth, but I did do a big trim last month! I trimmed about half an inch, so I got 0.7" growth total. I was hoping to have progressed more, since I usually get a lot more summer growth... but this could also be because I didn't comb my hair out and there were some herb tangle in the middle. I just don't want to comb it when it's damp! I want to wait till it's dry... but my hair is shorter when it's dry! Ah, well, I'll just go with 39.2" and live with it! Maybe by September I'll be at 40"! Who knows!
Last night, I tried a new herbal washing method. First, I soaked a piece of katha in hot water for 15 minutes. Alas, I put in too much water, and this was my first fatal mistake . From there, all the herbal powders dissolved and I had to sleep with a rinse in my hair. Easy to apply, but not easy to keep on!
First, I added to the katha soup:
- Shikakai
- Amla
- Aritha
- Sandalwood
- Bhringraj
All in powder form. I put in about a tablespoon of each. The water was veeeery soupy, so I dunked my length in, holding my ends out of the way (this was part of the experiment. I'm sure it would have worked better had I used less water and made a paste instead of a rinse. Ah, well - next time!) Once most of the rinse was used up, I added some methi powder to the rinse. This made little soft blobs which I put all over my ends. There was a lot left, so I put it on my scalp hair, thinking it would moisturize my scalp and make it less flaky .
I put two shower caps and a towel over this drippy mess - and I still leaked! - and slept with it on at night. The idea behind all of this was that the first 5 herbs would help cleanse and condition a little bit, like I do every week. Then the methi would be for extra conditioning. Methi added to mixtures makes them weaker cleaning agents, but very good moisturizing agents, so I added the methi last and put it on the ends first, and the remaning bit on my scalp - the two areas that need moisture the most. Then this morning I rinsed (what a great time for my showerhead to break ) and shampooed my scalp with Body Shop Honey Moisturizing shampoo. I let my hair dry a bit, measured, and now I am waiting for it to dry!
Love,
~*Leia*~
*Special thanks to Carlynn for this gorgeous doll!*
2bMiii
Current length: 39"
Goal: classic?
Growing since January 2003; found TLHL at the end of June 2003 and was at 25". I am 5'4.5".
And I meant it! The added methi step was just perfect! My hair is even SHINY without ACV! I am definitely, definitely doing this again. The only bad thing is that my showerhead wasn't working properly and I couldn't wash out the herbs completely. Even then, I did a mostly-thorough job, but today as I was braiding it I found a couple of dried-up herb pieces in an underneath layer. I took a new pic as well. It is MUCH curlier than usual! It is probably because I have been braiding it constantly (and misting before braiding, with shea on the ends) and hardly ever combing it, so the waves are really coming out when it IS down.
I have been feeling crummy the past couple of days, so I haven't been able to enjoy my hair behaving the best it has ever behaved. I have sooo many aches and pains that I apparently inherited from my mother for the special time of the month (ick) and I can hardly move. My neck and shoulders improved with a little Bengay muscle cream, but my lower back is KILLING me. It's not a muscle pain, so Bengay won't help that. It hurts even when I'm not moving! My yoga session this morning relieved the pain for a bit, but not for very long. I even took half a dose of painkillers which made the back pain go away for a little while... but I'm wary of modern medicine usually, and don't want to keep taking it. Not to mention the stomach cramps! But they are less than they usually are (it's just that usually, I don't get muscle and back pain, and stomach cramps are much easier to deal with!)
Plus, I've been alone the past three nights, because my family has been deserting me, LOL! So I've been alllll alone. I think I'm going to do some yoga and then crawl into bed with a nice book. Maybe I'll get some ice cream... or chocolate... or both! That'll probably cheer me up
Feeling awful...
Love,
~*Leia*~
*Special thanks to Carlynn for this gorgeous doll!*
2bMiii
Current length: 39.2"
Goal: classic?
Growing since January 2003; found TLHL at the end of June 2003 and was at 25". I am 5'4.5".
Thank you everyone for the sweet e-mails wondering how I was doing! They were unexpected, but very lovely to read! I am feeling slightly better, though I broke down in the middle of my piano practising today and just had to stop. There's no point in doing it if I'm having to force myself. I also didn't do any of my work today. Hopefully I'll feel more up to it tomorrow.
My hair is still feeling fantastic! I can't believe the amazing results I got with the added methi! I am definitely trying this again next time. But I think I'll try my usual oil method beforehand as well (the Lavender Hair Growth Oil and bhringraj oil) because I hadn't this time, and hopefully I'll still have good results. I also have to make sure that I don't use too much water, and that my showerhead works properly this time!
I took a new pic today - it's in my sig. It looks thick and I didn't even have to flip my head over this time! I think I was set back on a lot of length this month, so I'm going to try and keep the trimming minimal now. My ends feel like they've thickened up a bit since the last trim anyway . And what is that weirdo bit sticking out of the bottom right corner? Maybe I need to try a new trimming method, LOL!
Love,
~*Leia*~
*Special thanks to Carlynn for this gorgeous doll!*
2bMiii
Current length: 39.2"
Goal: classic?
Growing since January 2003; found TLHL at the end of June 2003 and was at 25". I am 5'4.5".
My scalp isn't greasy! I am now on day 6 hair (counting the day I washed it, because I washed in the morning ) and my scalp is actually not greasy. Usually, it is starting to get greasy on day 4, and in need of a scalpwash on day 5. By day 6, it is usually drenched in grease (if I haven't scalpwashed)! But it is pretty clean, and even smells a little of my honey shampoo... that never happens! (And Mum keeps complaining how my hair smells like herbs. Mmm! I love that smell!) I did rub some of the herbal paste, with methi added, onto my scalp before I rinsed. I had some left over and didn't want to waste it! It was shampooed out in the morning, but I suppose it really helped my scalp! Methi is a really good moisturizer. Maybe it moisturized my scalp enough so that it wasn't dry, causing it to not grease up so soon!
For my next wash, I think I will do an Arabian Bright deep conditioning. I haven't used this conditioner for ages! Maybe I will finish up what little I have left, and then I can buy some more in London when I go (ooh I'm going in 12 days!)
I was reading in a magazine that the night is the best time for beauty treatments, because your body is rejuvenating itself anyway. They recommended conditioning the hair (I already do this - all my hair stuff happens at night while I'm asleep, even the leave-in on my ends!), moisturizing the feet (I put shea butter on almost every night), moisturizing the face (shea butter on there too, every night without fail, it has worked miracles on my dry skin!), and moisturizing the hands. This is the only thing I haven't tried, because my hands are usually bandaged up to keep my wrists from getting more damaged before my piano exam. Once they heal (if ever ) I might try putting olive oil on my hands, as recommended, though I think that might smell a bit. Ooh, jasmine flowers are in season, so maybe I can soak some jasmine in the olive oil first! That would be nice!
I am still not feeling 100% better. Today is the last day, though, so maybe tomorrow everything will be better . Off to braid my hair and do a litle relaxing!
Love,
~*Leia*~
*Special thanks to Carlynn for this gorgeous doll!*
2bMiii
Current length: 39.2"
Goal: classic?
Growing since January 2003; found TLHL at the end of June 2003 and was at 25". I am 5'4.5".
Last night, I decided I wanted to finish off whatever was left of my Lush Arabian Bright deep conditioner. I really love it, but hardly use it because it isn't available here and I have to ration what I do have! One tub gives me about 4 uses. I had around 1/4 of a tub left, just the right amount, so I slathered it on my dry length, concentrating on the ends. Then I put on a showercap and a towel, and I was ready for bed! All in less than 10 minutes. I love long hair care!
This morning, I rinsed it all out and shampooed my scalp. My hair is still drying. I hope it's not overconditioned! It didn't feel like it in the shower... in fact, the ends felt like they needed a couple of drops of almond oil, so maybe I'll go put that on. My hair SMELLS fantastic though! I love Lush smells!
Love,
~*Leia*~
*Special thanks to Carlynn for this gorgeous doll!*
2bMiii
Current length: 39.2"
Goal: classic?
Growing since January 2003; found TLHL at the end of June 2003 and was at 25". I am 5'4.5".
It has been in a braid for the past couple of days. I put it in a braid for bed last night, and just took that braid out, combed, and put it in another braid for tonight . It is the slightest bit overconditioned, but my ends actually feel SOFT, rather than rough and dry like usual! They don't even need leave-in tonight! I love Arabian Bright . I love the smell, too!
I am putting this here for safe-keeping. This is how to do different colors and sizes on Network54 (Kim in MI gave me the info )
<*font size=7 color=purple> and then </*font> without the *'s. So let me try it...
I love good hair days!
Love,
~*Leia*~
*Special thanks to Carlynn for this gorgeous doll!*
2bMiii
Current length: 39.2"
Goal: classic?
Growing since January 2003; found TLHL at the end of June 2003 and was at 25". I am 5'4.5".
I added some links at the top, mainly because I keep forgetting to update them, and it also takes me forever to find them when I need them! I updated the progress pictures, and while sorting out some things in the measurement thread, I realized that all of my signatures there also serve as progress pics .
My hair is doing well. The length is slightly greasy, but only ever so slightly , and the scalp is fine. I'm currently wearing it in a french rope braid that has been coiled and bunned, with Goody hair pins securing it. I'm out of my pajama/braid mode, and I actually put on some jeans today, LOL, so I thought a nice 'do would complement my outfit well.
Love,
~*Leia*~
*Special thanks to Carlynn for this gorgeous doll!*
2bMiii
Current length: 39.2"
Goal: classic?
Growing since January 2003; found TLHL at the end of June 2003 and was at 25". I am 5'4.5".
Ooh, this is fantastic, and Mum says she'll take me! It is quite expensive... I mean, 34 pounds for just a trim?! (That's like $68, for those of you Americans reading this.) That's a LOT! But seeing as how I haven't trimmed my hair at a salon for years, I doubt Mum will mind. Plus she is going to get a cut there, too, which is at least 10 pounds more expensive! I have been trimming a little unevenly, and I have been wanting to get a stylist to trim it properly, but I haven't trusted anyone to get near it with scissors yet, so this will be nice. Plus I read someone's comments after visiting the salon, and she said they only cut about 5 mm off! That's great!
I just posted this over at the Loom and wanted to have it in my journal as well. I never actually realized that I treat my body the same way I treat my hair when it comes to putting things in/on it.
The way in which I eat is similar to the way in which I treat my hair. What I mean is that I hardly ever eat foods with preservatives in them, and I try to eat food that is as close as possible to its natural state, rather than cooked till all the goodness is seeped out. It is the same with my hair. If I need protein, instead of reaching for a protein conditioner, I put some henna or egg in my hair. If I need moisture, I get shea butter or oil. And if I need to clarify, I use my Indian herbs. Of course, once in a while I will have a chocolate bar or a packet of chips or some non-healthy food item, and in the same way, I put something with cones in it on my hair. This makes the hair feel good for that week, doesn't ruin the hair in the long-term, and I feel no guilt for doing it because I don't do it too often (the same way I feel when I eat that slice of pizza!)
I lost 10 pounds while starting to eat like that. I never thought I needed to lose; I was 118 lbs at 5'4.5" which I thought was a good weight, but I stopped exercising and started eating like this (also small meals, very often, rather than a few large meals) and within a few weeks I was down to 107. My face started looking rather bony so I put on another pound, and now I'm at 108. I don't look too skinny at all, just healthy, but hardly any extra pudginess sticking out from anywhere. AND my hair looks the best it has ever looked. So I guess there's something to say about the way I eat and the way I take care of my hair! Natural (not STORE-natural, HOME-natural - there is a huge difference for me) is always best, when it comes to my body and my hair!
Love,
~*Leia*~
*Special thanks to Carlynn for this gorgeous doll!*
2bMiii
Current length: 39.2"
Goal: classic?
Growing since January 2003; found TLHL at the end of June 2003 and was at 25". I am 5'4.5".
This is day 5, counting the day I washed, and I need a scalpwash, definitely. But my hair is currently up in a crown braid! I have been e-mailing back and forth with Karen Ribble of Braided Image, and she inspired me to try the crown braid again! I did it yesterday morning; it held all through the day, through an outing I had to make in the evening, and I slept with it in. It still looks as neat now as it did yesterday! Plus the weight is so evenly balanced around my head. I want to take it down so I can scalp wash, but it feels so great in my hair that I think I'll leave it in for a little while longer! It doesn't even look like I need a scalp wash, because my scalp cannot be seen, apart from a little chunk in the back that doesn't look oily at all. I will probably do the scalpwash this evening.
I am doing a water fast today! So far I haven't even had any water. It is lunch time and I am hungry, but I am not going to the lunch table with the family in case I get tempted! I need to get my mind off food... the water fast is hard for a bit in the middle of the day, but by evening I am not hungry at all, and the next day I feel like I could go without eating all of that day, too! But it is not healthy for me, for many reasons, to fast for two days in a row. I have low blood pressure, I lose weight quickly (2 days of fasting = immediate weight loss, in places like my cheeks and wrists!) and my hair starts falling out much more immediately on the second day. So I am sticking to once a week water fasts, which I might be able to increase with time.
BusyHSmom received my herbs! I am so happy. We had a problem here when I tried to DHL it. My Dad came to me and asked me if I was sending someone "some unidentified powder." I told him yes, I was sending a poweder, but it was very clearly identified in fact! Each packet had a label on it! But they refused to DHL it (do they think I'm trying to send drugs... by DHL?) so I had to send it by post, and it took a bit longer to get there. Now, if only Carrawayseed gets my deep conditioner! I have given up all hope on the money I sent to Fox. I don't know where it went. My best guess is that I didn't hide it properly in the envelope and someone could have taken it. Maybe I'll put it in a card or something next time... hmm, something to think about! Anyway, I'll be sending it again from London for sure, where the post is more secure as well.
Well, since I'm not going down to lunch, I have a little extra time, so I may as well check LongLocks, LHC, and The Hair Care Family!
Love,
~*Leia*~
*Special thanks to Carlynn for this gorgeous doll!*
2bMiii
Current length: 39.2"
Goal: classic?
Growing since January 2003; found TLHL at the end of June 2003 and was at 25". I am 5'4.5".
I trimmed yesterday, as it was the MM date for lengthening. I'm so close to my goal of classic! I don't know if I'll trim it back to tailbone and maintain, or maintain it at classic, or keep growing!
I am leaving for London in 2 days. I am so excited! I love being at home in Dhaka, but I love my yearly visits to London as well. I hope I am able to meet Juliet and Siren this year! It will be so much fun. I have a present I am bringing for Juliet, so maybe today I will go out and see if I can buy something that Siren might like .
I did my herbal wash last night. I did it the same as my last herbal wash (herbal paste first, then add methi, and put it on the ends and scalp). I oiled first with Lavender Hair Growth oil on the scalp and bhringraj oil on the length, then added the herbal paste (thicker this time than last time), piled it on, and left it on overnight under 2 shower caps and a towel. Then I rinsed it out this morning, shampooed my scalp, and now it is drying down.
Off to write in my offline non-hair diary! I haven't updated it in a couple of days, and there have been many goings-on this week!
Love,
~*Leia*~
*Special thanks to Carlynn for this gorgeous doll!*
2bMiii
Current length: 39.2"
Goal: classic?
Growing since January 2003; found TLHL at the end of June 2003 and was at 25". I am 5'4.5".
I am so excited! My piano exam is in just a few days, and after that I can actually de-stress and enjoy the rest of my summer! I do hope we get to go to Italy as well. I am so looking forward to it.
I mixed a herb mixture and I am taking that to London as well. I put it in my suitcase in case they open my bag and think I'm carrying drugs, haha. And I put my hairsticks in there as well, in case they think I'm carrying weapons. I just hope I don't lose my suitcase... fingers crossed.
Anyway, I should go finish up packing! :D
Love,
~*Leia*~
*Special thanks to Carlynn for this gorgeous doll!*
2bMiii
Current length: 39.2"
Goal: classic?
Growing since January 2003; found TLHL at the end of June 2003 and was at 25". I am 5'4.5".
*Special thanks to Carlynn for this gorgeous doll!*
. From there, all the herbal powders dissolved and I had to sleep with a rinse in my hair. Easy to apply, but not easy to keep on!
) and shampooed my scalp with Body Shop Honey Moisturizing shampoo. I let my hair dry a bit, measured, and now I am waiting for it to dry! 
