2nd Aphogee Treatment

Before the treatment:

The breakage on the back left side:

The Aphogee 2 Step Treatment:

The last time I did this was six weeks ago, to the day (I put it on a calendar, and I've scheduled them out). I have the bigger bottle, so I was was liberal with the application. It has the weirdest smell. I can't describe it, but I'm so glad that I have to do this only every six weeks. I followed it up with the Balancing Moisturizer and Mega Tek scalp treatment. I can't tell if the Aphogee 2 Step Treatment is working. I'll keep doing it every six weeks though.

Let's talk about the breakage. My hair is still breaking off especially on the left back side (see middle pictures). The top pictures show that the rest of my hair can cover the spots, and they're growing in from me putting Mega Tek directly on those spots. I'm so tempted to cut it all off and start again, but I'm not going to. The new growth is NATURAL. I haven't textlaxed since the disastrous last time, and I'm not due to do it again until November 15. I may not even do it then. I'm so scared. I just want to baby my hair until it stops breaking off, or until it's double the length, and I can cut off all the over processed hair. I have to say that my hair is the longest it's ever been , in my life, curly or straight. Other than sitting under the dryer to dry the Aphogee treatment, I've not put any heat on my hair since April 2009. What a journey. I have pinpointed the breakage to be from when I used the dye remover a couple of months ago. I shouldn't have ever done that. Big Lesson learned. Luckily, with my new growth as curly as it is, I can disguise my bald spots. I haven't worn a LF since August. I'm still working on getting a shorter one.

I received the greenish blue niobium jump rings, so I will start making the new Rearden Metal bracelets, in a chainmaille pattern. They will be a bit more expensive because the niobium is expensive. I love how all of this has led to me learning how to make wire jewelry. I can't wait to set up my Esty shop with all my stuff. I have to break out my knitting needles. That's what fall and winter mean to me. Knitting season.

Bald Spots Are Filling In!

I'm still monitoring my hair breakage. The above pictures are after I washed with the Aphogee Deep Moisture shampoo, then followed it up with the Aphogee 2 Minute Reconstructer (left on for 10 minutes, under a plastic shower cap and my microfiber turban). After rinsing the reconstructer, I slathered on Nexxus Humectress and put the plastic cap/turban on for another 20-30 minutes. I rinsed that out and let it air dry. It's so funny, but I don't comb my hair that much, especially now, that it's coming out so much. I guess there really isn't a need to comb it. The less manipulation, the better.

It seems like the bald spots are filling in. I'm glad I didn't get impulsive and cut off my hair to start over. The MegaTek seems to be working (I'm only putting it on the bald spots, as an experiment, to see how fast those areas will grow back). I figure curly hair can disguise the bald spots easier than straight hair. I'm really debating on if I'm going to keep textlaxing my hair. I should find products that make my new growth soft. I should only textlax if the roots become too hard to comb.

I'm really feening for a 12" wig from Rex, but it's so damn hot out. Too hot for a wig.

I'm going to St. Louis in 2 weeks. I'm so excited to see my family.

That's all I have on it for now.

Hair Growth Update!

I've fallen off with updating the blog with hair growth pictures. I only thought to do it tonight because I was wanting to do something to my hair all weekend, but stopping myself for my own good. I was tossing back and forth if I should textlax, but it's only been a little over a month since the last time.

I wanted to add some blonde to the tips of my hair, but I thought against it. I ended up Mega-Tekking tonight, during the commercials of the season premiere of Mad Men. It took me an hour and a half to do my whole head, parting and putting the Mega-Tek in the parts (see the middle picture). I'll be putting on my IRBW for the Rush concert the weekend before August 9th. It's been awhile since I had on a wig. It's so funny but I never thought I'd say I have more hair than I know what to do with. My hair has never been this long, maybe by choice, but the last two years have been a HUGE experience with learning how to let my hair grow. I don't even Mega-Tek as often as I used to. I'm still taking Biotin (5000 mcg). I was taking 10,000 mcgs, but I was breaking out all over my body, so I scaled back. I can't believe it's been more than a year since I've put heat on my hair. I don't miss it one bit.

Happy 1 Year Anniversary Big Chop!!!

Happy 1 year anniversary of my Big Chop (on April 19, 2009)!


I guess it was easy to grow out, because of the lace wigs. I don't like the itch, I don't like the adhesive, I don't like the hair pulling, but if these are the results of weekly applications, then I'm forging ahead. I think I should be shoulder length by the two year anniversary (4/19/2011). Happy growing!

Today was also MegaTek day (with a little Mane N Tail combed through):




Now, to start packing...

Not Enough Time in the Day/ Mega-Tek application

I don't know why I'm feeling like I don't have enough time during the day... it's not like I have a job or anything. I think it's that December/Xmas time space continuum thingy. I've got the knitting, now the Lace Wig Clearance Sale in progress (2 sold and shipped - I'm very efficient with my bid'ness), I still have to finish Colbi's left glove, Jeri's scarf, the embroidery on Andrew's apron, and the Xmas tree skirt (that I'm going to crochet). I'm so tired...

I posted pictures of how I apply the Mega-Tek Cell Rebuilder, oh miraculous elixir of growing hair! I put the Mega-Tek in a applicator bottle with a spout top (from Sally's). I part my hair down the center, and apply it to the part. Then I part my hair in pie shaped sections, and apply to my scalp. Then I apply it all along my hairline, all the way around. I pull my hair up (not quite long enough for a little itty bitty pigtail) and put a headband on. I leave it on, I do not wash it out. I try to do this at least once a week, but I do put Mega-Tek on my hair every other day. I do not wash it out. You have to be careful for protein overload, as Mega-Tek is protein. If my hair starts to feel dry, I immediately put one of my many moisturizing conditioners on.
Remember this: too much protein = dry hair
too much moisture = mushy hair

Tomorrow, the lace wig clearance sale will have not have been in vain (chasing all over town, trying to find a MoneyGram servicer/the 2nd lady at Lucky's claimed the machine was broken, but I think she didn't know how to work it, I could tell). I will place my order for my new Rex custom lace wig, the one that I will, going forward, SEW on! No more glue starting in January 2010. I will treat the lace wig as a "weave" of sorts. It will be a 14", virgin malaysian curly, colored T1B/4, light density. I hope it looks like what I have imagined. I also hope my own hairline doesn't get jacked up, meaning, I hope I don't get "weave edges". My new baby (courtesy of www.junpengwigs.com):

Rex says she'll take at least 28 days, which will put me at receiving her around the week of January 4-9. I hope it ships before the Chinese New Year. I remember how up in arms folks was when production/shipping stopped this year.

It's 9:44pm, and I haven't even started knitting. I still need to tend to my farm on Farmville... not enough time!

... 12:09am, and I still haven't picked up a needle. Damn! ;-(

Kids, Don't Try This At Home!

Before the textlax:



First go-round (still too tight):



And after much contemplation, trepidation, the desire to feel my scalp, and risking fully relaxed hair for the perfect curl, I did it again, about 4 hours later (combed the condish through):


Hang time:


I'm actually very happy I did this. I know I can't do it again until January, and I'm fine with that. This fix will last me until then. I may even stretch longer than January. Some of my fellow BHMers suggested that I not even follow the schedule I made up. That I should just go on at least an inch of new growth, so as to not overprocess. I know I'm getting more than 1/2" of new growth a month, thanks to the Mega-Tek. I'm a fast grower. I'm not worried about that. I'm just impatient. I have hang time now. When I swing my head, my hair moves. Shrinkage is a bitch, the devil incarnate. I don't want straight hair, I want less shrinkage. That's why I textlax. If I can hold on, and not succumb to the creamy crack again, I will have shoulder length hair by December 2010. I ran out of Mega-Tek, so a BHM hair friend is sending me her extra bottle. I have to get more GNC NoursishHair vitamins. The new thing is henna, and that's going to take a lot of research before I take the leap. I love my BHM hair friends.

For the corrective session, I did the back first. I sat on the sink, in the bathroom, close to the mirror, and parted my hair ear to ear. I put EVOO on the front part to keep it from over processing. I made vertical parts in the back section. I combed the hair to either side of each part and sort of combed the cream about a half inch in. After all the vertical parts were done, then I made horizontal parts just to make sure I got everything. It seemed like when I did it earlier today, and it dried, the back middle was still puffy, and the roots didn't take. I didn't leave it on the back long enough. After all the back was done, I went over the front, making vertical parts from the sides up to the top of my head. My sides were puffy also. It all seems more uniform now. It was a huge risk to textlax twice in one session, but sometimes, no risk, no glory. I followed up with the Nexxus Humectress and a little Mane N Tail. No length pictures until next week.

I'm Obsessed With My Curly Texture!

When I woke up this morning, before I Mega-Tekked, I took more pictures. I'm obsessed with my curly texture. The wet photos are Mega-Tek and Aussie Moist. So far, I can't tell if anything is making a difference in the growing(the vitamins or the Mega-Tek). I can't believe that I'm this obsessed about my own hair. I think I'm just at the stage I was when I was channeling Eva in 2006. I'm not going to dye it until I get some significant length. I'm going to try and cornrow it up for the next application, just for the stretching benefits more than anything else. I haven't officially taken my September picture, eventhough I've been taking pictures all along. Like a week is going to make a difference, but to be fair, I won't take any more "growth" photos until September whenever I put my new app on.

I broke down... the hair crack got me!

I had to textlax today. This was my 2nd time; the first time was 5/6/2009 = 17 weeks ago. I removed my hybrid unit last night and just washed my hair. This morning, I tried to comb my hair, and I could hardly pull a comb through it. I really wanted to stretch until December, but there was no way that could be done. My hair would have matted up something terrible. In between doing laundry, I textlaxed. I had to do it in two sections, the front, then the back. I added EVOO to my Silk Elements relaxer - those in the know say it cuts the strength of the relaxer and helps the cream to not overprocess the new growth. After I rinsed out my front section, I slathered it with Silk Elements Mega Moisturizing Treatment to protect it. Then I did the back. Rinsed in about 5 minutes and did another Mega-Tek Treatment, parting and putting it on my scalp. I combed it through, then slathered my head with more SE Mega Moisturizing Treatment. I'm still sitting here with my shower cap on (about to shower). I'll rinse and put more Mega-Tek on, or maybe some Aussie Moist or Humctress. There are some straight ends, and my left and right sides in front of my ears are very straight. I also cornrowed a section of my hair today, just to see... almost there, but not quite.


I must not textlax again until December!
I must not textlax again until December!
I must not textlax again until December! I must not textlax again... I love this curly texture though. I took a million pictures. The relaxer turned the ends a reddish color.

Clarifying Shampoo Research

Happy Saturday. I got the Mega-Tek yesterday (Thanks Angie!) I have yet to use it. It smells really good too. I've been reading up on moisturizing and proteinating. My hair is pretty normal when it's in it's natural state. Very strong and healthy. I remember when I colored it when it was texturized in 2006 (golden brownish blonde channeling Eva Marcille). I remembered that it was healthy even with the color. I digress. I don't know what my "natural" hair care regimen will be yet since I'm still protecting with lace wigs. My edges are a bit wrecked (I can't get that Wayne Brady image out of my mind), so once my hair grows out past my hairline, then I can start to take care of it.

It seems like Walgreens is the spot to shop in when it comes to buying clarifying shampoos. I'm thinking I need to clarify once a month, co-washing every week, and clarifying on week 4. Most hair care articles say to stay away from shampoos that contain Ammonium Laureth Sulfate/Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate. Creme of Nature shampoo seems to be the general consensus moisturizing shampoo. I'm going to try Clairol Herbal Essences Degunkify Tingling Deep Cleaning Shampoo (keeping in line with my other Herbal Essences products). I just saw that the White Rain Clarifying Water Blossom is only $1! Have to get some of that too. I'm going to go back to the Mane and Tail products also. I'm just a product junkie.

Product Alert: EQYSS Mega-Tek Rebuilder

New bandwagon: EQYSS Mega-Tek Rebuilder... for horses... supposed to rapidly grow hair... we'll see.

(This is a continuation from last night)I put the mongolian on last night. I haven't taken pictures of it yet. I didn't get any sleep last night, so I'm dragging. I put conditioner on my hair, then rubbed brown Ampro Pro Styl Protein Styling Gel and brushed it back and up, then let it dry under a wigcap. My hair waved up so pretty. I can't wait to do the slicked back curly ponytail. That's at least a year away, but it's so cool to see the potential. I think this is a good app, but I wish I hadn't cut the long bang so drastically. I've got to figure out how to blend it in. I used 1 layer of WNST, 1 layer of Vapon, and 2 layers of Ms. Lola's. I've got to invest in a paint brush for thinner layers. This cream is like diamonds, and I've got to make it last. I gotta get in a nap, then I'll upload pics of this new app.