New Mom Regimen

A reader recently asked me what my hair regimen looks like now that I have a little bundle of joy. It has changed slightly in terms of how often I wash it, how I style it and the products that I used. Here’s a quick overview.

I cleanse my hair every 7 – 10 days. I never go longer than 10 days in between washing sessions. I often dampen my hair for added moisture on day 6/7.

Wash

For products , I still use rhassoul, but not for each wash session, but every other wash session. As before, I apply it to damp hair, let it sit 30 minutes (outside the shower, which leaves me free to nurse if needed). After rinsing the rhassoul, I often skip the conditioner, as it’s pretty moisturizing. Additionally, I use diluted Giovanni Tea Tree Triple Shampoo. It makes my scalp feel refreshed and cool. However, since it’s more of a clarifier I use it once per month. Sometimes I just co-wash when I’m strapped for time.

Condition

The same as before, I do my simple reverse oil rinse technique (conditioner, oil, rinse) or simply cowash. However,  I no longer deep condition weekly. I try to deep condition my hair once per month on a Sunday, when there is not a lot to do and I have helping hands at home to sit with the baby, when needed.

Style

I pull back my hair back into a high pony “puff” or I use Curlformers. These styles can carry me through the week. Pulling my hair back is the simplest and easiest style, so I probably do this more often.

Preserve

If my hair is curled using Curlformers, I wrap it around my head and pin it and release it the next day. I typically end up wearing it in an updo as the curls loosen. If I wear it up or do a wash and go, I pineapple my hair at night and go to bed.

That’s all. Nothing fancy, but I still try to maintain my hair’s health and stick to my low porosity regimen. So far, I’ve been lucky and have not experienced postpartum shedding (it’ll probably happen tomorrow now that I’ve mentioned it).

Me and the peanut (in the Moby)

 

What’s your hair regimen? Do you have little one’s? What’s your mommy hair regimen?

 

Follow-up: My Mom’s Porosity

Last week, I interviewed my Mom about her recent big chop. This weekend, I decided to do a porosity test on her hair to help her decide what products work with her hair. She washed her hair and I snipped off a small strand and placed it in a glass of room temperature water. After 30 minutes the hair was still floating on top of the water. From this test, I speculated she likely had low porosity hair (like mother, like daughter). To make a conclusive decision, I applied aloe vera to a small section of her hair and her coils frizzed right up!

With this knowledge, I’ll help her test out some products that have worked for me, including a rhassoul clay wash and KCKT and report back findings. For the meantime, she’s stopped using petroleum-based products— big no-no for low porosity hair. Instead she’s simply using some cream leave-ins as well as Taliah Waajid Kinky, Wavy, Natural Herbal Style and Shine, which actually did a pretty fantastic job of reviving my dry ends half-way through the week.

I look forward to some future posts about her experience using some of my recommended products. This leaves me wondering if low porosity hair is hereditary. Your thoughts?

For more information on low porosity, check out my ealrier post: Low Porosity Introduction

 

My Breasts Are Under Siege

So, the title to this entry has nothing to do with hair and yes it’s a little extreme. However, it’s what I’ve felt lately. Now, don’t get me wrong and don’t take this the wrong way. I LOVE my little squishy peanut to pieces and love being a mommy. I love that I provide nutrients to the little life my husband and I brought into the world. It’s a beautiful and intimate moment that I share with my baby boy and I wouldn’t trade it for the world. Now that I’m done stepping on eggshells, here’s my top 10 dislikes (yep, I said dislike) about breastfeeding. Please note, I will continue breastfeeding my son and am thankful that I’m able to do so, but humor helps us get through life, so here goes:

1. Running errands without ticking  leaking, engorged time bombs.

2. Wearing nursing bras and breast shields.

3. Pumping milk – it makes me feel and look like a cow. Moooo!

4. When my son discovers my boobs with his sharp, dagger-like infant claws, gets a hold and doesn’t let go.

5. People talking about my breasts and my milk, when did this become a dinner conversation topic to be had with my father-in-law?!

6. An improper latch, ouch!

7. Larger breasts, I enjoy the ease of small perky boobs – how do I miss thee.

8. Wardrobe is pretty much dictated by the fact that I breast feed, button down shirts, deep v-necks and tube-tops are my breast friends (get it, hehe).

9. Sore nipples, enough said!

10. Doesn’t happen all the time, but occassionally…lopsided boobs!

If you have children, what would you add to this list? If you don’t have children, I hope I haven’t scared you from the idea!

Hair Interview: My Mom

Today, I had the honor of interviewing my Mom, who big chopped her shoulder-length relaxed hair 2 months ago.

Lovely Before

Lovely After

Why did you decide to go natural?

Three reasons: 1. I decided to get rid of the chemicals and extra expenses that come along with relaxed hair. This is not my first time going natural. The first time I went natural, I felt my hair was unmanageable, because of the length, so I decided to relax it. 2. I can work out without worrying about styling or ruining my hair. 3. These were all things I considered, but what pushed me to just do it was my niece. She has cancer and lost her hair. I cut off all my hair off to support my niece and show my solidarity.

What was your first reaction when you went natural?

I was a little shocked after I cut off all my hair. After the initial shock, I ran my hands over my hair and thought it actually felt good. I’m 57, so I was really self-conscious about my grays showing through. After a few weeks, I tired of the gray hair and colored my hair. This made me feel better about it. Now, I’m loving my hair and I refuse to go back to relaxed hair.

How did your friend’s and family react?

I received mixed reactions. Some were shocked and annoyed, others were really happy for me and loved it. My great-aunt is in her  80’s and told me that at my age, I shouldn’t cut off my hair and that my hair was my crown and glory. She told me I shouldn’t have cut off, what she considered beautiful hair to go back to nappy hair. After seeing my own beautiful daughter and niece go natural, as well as many other natural women, it inspired me to go natural as well.

What would you say to someone considering going natural?

I would encourage them to take the leap. It was the best decision I made. You will be in shock at first, but once you do it, you might ask yourself, like I did, what took me so long.

What do you love about your new hair?

It’s short and manageable. I can wash it and go. My regimen is simple and I can wash my hair when I want. My hair sheds less.

What is your regimen?

I wash my hair once per week. I  work a small amount of Indian Hemp into my wet hair– This has petroleum, so my daughter is working on getting me into some other products. Unfortunately, I have a hard time coming away from hair grease. — Next, I towel-dry my hair for 5 minutes to remove excess water. Finally, I apply a little Taliah Waajid, Kinky, Wavy, Natural Herbal Style and Shine to my damp hair. I comb it my hair out once per week.

What are your hair goals?

To have long, healthy, manageable kinky hair. I want a big Angela Davis afro!

What’s the best thing about your “new” hair?

It doesn’t cost anything to take care of my hair. I don’t have to style it for hours or use heat. I don’t miss burning myself by accident when curling or flat-ironing my hair.

 

Note from editor: I’d still love to have entries from readers. If you’d like to share your hair story, talk about your blog or write a post for the blog, please contact me— whether curly, straight or wavy, if you’d like to contribute, let me know.

NYE: Curlformers + Solo Parents

Happy New Year again!! My Mom arrived 2 days ago, sporting freshly dyed, auburn red cropped hair. I’ll be interviewing her on my blog and also helping her create a new regimen as well as determining her porosity. Stay tuned!

So with grandma in town, my husband and I decided to keep a long standing tradition. Every year we eat at this amazing Japanese restaurant, nestled in the Alps. This year we invited friends (mostly parents) and said it would be a kids-free night. It was my first time being away from the peanut for so long. I called a couple of times to check in. Overall I had such a good time!!! It felt good to just chat amongst friends, uninterrupted.

For NYE, I wanted a special look so I tried Curlformers!! Let me say, I think this will be my to-go to winter style!! It leaves my hair stretched and moisturized! I’m not sure how many days the curls last, but I plan on putting it in a protective style in a couple of days anyway.

I forgot to take the customary Curlformer picture, but I did take an after pic. It took me 2.5 hrs to install them, but I found my rhythm at the end and think it’ll be faster the next time. I used all 40 long and wide Curlformers, 24 in the front and 16 in the back. Before styling I had washed my hair with diluted shampoo and then reverse-oil rinsed. I’m really happy with the results.

How do you preserve your Curlformer style? What did you do for NYE?

2013 Highlights

Happy New Year Readers!! Looking back on 2013, I must say thank you too all for your thoughtful and interesting comments, for your informative input and for being apart of my blogging experience. 2013 was a big year for me with many ups and sometimes downs (but I always try to learn from the downs and focus on the ups). My top 4 highlights (saved the best for last):

CAREER
I had a complete career change. In 2012 I had a job that made me miserable, it promised a big salary, but it was long hours and I saw my husband literally 2 hours a day before going to bed. I dreamed of starting a family and enjoying life a little more, so completely changed my career. I’m now making less as a teacher, but love the excitement and passion I have for what I do.

BLOG/HOBBY
I started this blog out of frustration with my hair and discovering it was low porosity. I wanted to share little tricks and information I learned with others. I was content if my blog helped one person. However, I was overwhelmed when the comments poured in from several other lo-po readers and when over 100 people subscribed to my blog. I’m truly honored by it.

TRAVEL
I had fun travel adventures to France. I’ll continue this with my family, because traveling opens my mind and eyes and makes me more aware of the world and all its beauty.

FAMILY
The biggest highlight of this year was the birth of my baby boy!!! I dreamed about him for those 9 months and now that I have him in my arms its truly a dream come true! Motherhood is very challenging, it’s a new role, with a very high learning curve that changes every day– but I wouldn’t want it any other way. I love this little peanut so much my heart overflows with joy. At times I find myself waking up to watch him sleep and I’m still in disbelief that he’s mine!

What are some of your biggest highlights from 2013?