Decided to start a new journal for the new year.  Today I did a CWC with an ACV rinse.  I am currently using Suave Green Apple for the first C, Pantene Classic Clean for the W and Pantene Restoratives Breakage Defense Conditioner for the second C.  As soon as I am out of the Classic Clean I will be switching to Pantene's Beautiful Lengths shampoo.

I am at 23 inches, and I think I will maintain 23 for the next six months in order to grow out some damage.

Ack.  My hair is on fire.

No.  It's not.  My hair is beginning to upset me.  It's sort of...lank and bushy; uncontrolable, and the roots are greasy.  I don't usually say this, but WTF?

That ACV rinse on Sat didn't help; actually, it may have made me even more bushy and gross.  Is this the winter dryness everyone talks about? Is it starting to affect me?  Or is it the new conditioner showing its true colors?  That was only the 2nd time I used it.

I decided to do an oil treatment today, only I only oiled the ends and not my scalp because my roots have been so greasy.  I just finger-combed the oil in and made sure it was saturated, up to the tops of my ears but not on the scalp.  Then I did my usual CWC, and washed my brush, too.

Now that my hair's dry, it's a tiny bit better, but still all over the place.  I took a little break to braid my hair, and it occured to me, maybe my hair is upset because I've been wearing extra clothing, sweatshirts with hoods and my new fleece scarf, and my wool coat.  Plus the weather has been rainy and windy of late, so I've been wearing my hood up more.  I think braids and buns are the way to go, in this case, and perhaps even get a silk scarf, or some satin scraps to wind around my bun or braid.

I am also considering trimming to shoulder length.  Then I could grow back out to 23 inches.  DH noticed something when he was helping me measure, and it's true; the hair on the left side of my head is significantly thicker than that on the right.  It's also a good 1/4 longer over there, something I could probably fix myself, but IDK.  I guess I'm just frustrated with my hair and want to attack it with scissors, so I will hold off.  Perhaps it will improve.

I just made a (sort of) french twist and secured it with clippies.  My wierd ends are hiding!  Hooray!

I am considering trying to find a shampoo without ammonium lauryl sulfate in it.  Just thinking about it.  Is scalp skin really all that different from the skin on the rest of yr body?  Because if it's not, it doesn't make sense to me that my skin can be so dry but my scalp so oily, and maybe harsh cleansers are making my scalp do a wierd thing.

Um...I just realized that I called my 2009 journal skyfire '08.  Doofus!  It'll be March before I start writing '09 on my checks.

Quote:

Um...I just realized that I called my 2009 journal skyfire '08.  Doofus!  It'll be March before I start writing '09 on my checks.

;D ;D

Skin is different all over your body. That's why you use different products for your hair, face and butt, and well you should! ;D
   Ammonium lauryl sulfate is the harshest detergent used in shampoos and is usually reserved for the cheap ones. Anything with lauryl sulfates should be avoided on any part of the skin.
   Sodium laureth sulfate is the most gentle of detergents - this is what you should be looking for. Salon brands also make sulfate-free shampoos if you have an allergy or extreme sensitivity to them, etc.

I hope you're able to resolve you issues quickly, and without too much fuss.  Its all trial and error, Skyfire.

Good Luck!

Thanks, ladies!  Skin is different all over, isn't it; the lotion I use on my knees I wouldn't get anywhere near my face.   :)

I'm going to just try to keep my hair up for a while, and not change my routine too much, except for that shampoo.  Both the classic clean and the beautiful lengths have ammonium lauryl sulfate in them.  I'll be reading some labels, and diluting what I have 'til I find something I want to try.  Perhaps a moisturizing shampoo?  IDK.  Winter dryness making my scalp overadjust, so moisture?  That's what I'm thinking.  Small bottles for trial.

I did a CWC today, no frills.  I used a drop of shampoo and diluted it by mixing it with 3x as much water in my hand before I put it on my hair.  I had already reduced the amount of shampoo I was using; this time I used half as much as that.  It worked fine; diluting it made it spread much easier, and my hair feels clean.

My sister reccomended her hair cutter lady.  She has done all sorts of crazy things with L's hair (at her request, of course), but now that L is trying to grow her hair long again (it's currently chin length, and she has some highlights she needs to grow out) the lady is supportive.  So I've got an appointment today with her.  We'll see how it goes.  (Skyfire shudders in nervousness).

I wish Wes were still alive, or that Lord Broth hadn't closed his practice.  Broth was the best scalp massager ever.  Sigh.

Tho I miss Lord Broth, Lady Wry is pretty darn good!

I didn't get a shampoo or anything.  I have been using my own products for that and it seems to me it would be a sort of a craps shoot to have a shampoo in a salon.  How do you know what they use is going to be good for yr hair?

But she talked to me about my goals, a little about my sister and stuff, and she had a subtle sense of humor that put me at ease.  And she didn't scalp me or my wallet.  I told her to cut off about two inches and then I showed her with my fingers.  "More like an inch and a half," she said.  Uh-huh.  Maybe they do get taught an alternate measuring system!  She took off two inches.  I measured.  So I'm at 21" now, and in much better condition.

*hugs* Yay, Skyfire! You did it, sis! Here's to many more healthy inches. :D

Lord Broth? Lady Wry? Scalp massages? Where on Earth do you get your hair done?! ;D ;)

Lord Broth was just the first thing that popped into my head.  ::) The guys name was actually Steve, but he was into this band...I can't remember the name, but he had posters everywhere, and it was called Lord something.  He would shampoo my hair and give me a scalp massage while he was doing so, but not in a creepy way.  He was a cool cat. 8-)

Wry=Ry, as in Ryanne, and it fits, because that's her sense of humor.  Lady just because I'd said Lord before.

I bought a shampoo at Trader Joe's, no lauryl/laureth sulfates, organic ingredients.  Reletively inexpensive.  I'll test it next time I wash.  Of course, I'll still be using my Suave and Pantene conditioners. ;)

I did a CO yesterday because it wasn't wash day yet and I had to go to work, and my hair was looking dirty.  Today was wash day but I decided to skip it and wash tomorrow because of the CO yesterday.

My hair has been behaving more since the trim, and since I've been putting it up in french twists and buns, whenever I take it down it's all wavy. :)

I took a few pictures after my trim, but because of the wave effect I decided to hold off posting and take some more after my next shampoo, probably tomorrow morning.

At the fabric store today I picked up some purple fleece to make hammocks for my rats, and some green satin to make headscarves. Maybe there's enough to make a pillowcase and a scarf!

BSL for me is 24", and mid-back is 27".  Those are my next goals.  My long term goal is to see how long I can get it, but I don't have any sort of time frame on that.  BSL is my goal for this year, and I ought to be able to make it!  Three inches is conservative, so even if I trim often I may beat my projections.  and next year I'll be aiming for mid back, and after that...the big 30!

It was 82 here yesterday, just two degrees short of a record high.  :o Today is supposed to be cooler, just 71, but it'll be sunny and springlike all week.  I was digging that rain!  What happened?  No wonder my niece, who lives in Washington, says it's always summer here!

CWC today with the new shampoo.  My hair seems to be behaving better, but that might just be the weather.  The ends seem a little dry.  I'll deffinitely be doing a deep condition the next time I wash; I'm not sure with what just yet.  I might put a drop of oil in right now, just to see what happens.  I can always do updos until wash day.

Results on that oil: Meh.  It's hard to distribute it properly.   Deep condition on Friday.