It's amazing how, if you keep an open mind, you continue to learn and grow through even the toughest of times. Though 2020 was super-challenging, it gave me the space to take inventory of my hair growth journey and to make some tweaks to my regimen. Over the past few months, I've seen amazing progress and I'm excited to share what's working for me!
Discovered my 4 part hair type
In June and July of 2020, I wrote the "What's my Type" blog series. The research that I conducted while writing these posts really helped me gain insight into my own hair type. I learned that my fine curls need much more protein than I was giving it to maintain their strength, for example. Also, I began clarifying my low porosity hair twice a month instead of once. If you haven't checked out the series, I highly recommend giving it a read when you get a chance!
Traded my Heat Cap for a Steamer
Now, don't get me wrong, I love my Hot Head heat caps. They are cute, convenient and get the job done! But in 2020, I upgraded to this steamer and haven't looked back!
Since steaming, I've noticed the following:
1. My hair stays moisturized longer throughout the week
2. My hair is shinier
3. The spa-like experience is just heavenly!
Put the Scissors Down
OK, hear me out. I've always had my tri-monthly trim schedules on my calendar - it worked for me! Well, I changed that in 2020. Because of the protective styling that I was doing (I'll get to that later!), my ends stayed relatively healthy. Because of this, I found that trimming every 3 months just wasn't necessary. Instead, each week before I put my hair back up and away, I feel for any frays, knots or bumps. If I find some, I meticulously cut that strand. This has really allowed me to retain length over the past few months.
Put My Hair Away
Because there just wasn't anywhere to go in 2020 (or now, for that matter), I kept my hair in twists, braids and buns. This really helped to keep my ends protected which reduced breakage and the amount that I needed to trim. I wasn't a huge fan of protective styles at first, but YouTube really became my friend! I'm currently killing the flat twist game and can install Passion Twists in a couple of hours! Plus, not having to do my hair in the morning gives me back those 10-15 minutes which I gladly put toward a second cup of coffee as I get Zoom set up for Alex in the morning!
Upgraded my Scalp Massager
I've been a fan of the Vitagoods Scalp Massager for years. It's cute, cheap and gets the job done! But in 2020, I ran across this bad boy right here. Yes, it's a little pricey, but ladies, it's worth every penny! If you're not familiar with scalp massaging, it's pretty simple! Just apply a few drops of your favorite oil (of course, I recommend my new Cayenne Lemon Squeeze!) to your scalp and massage for 5-10 minutes with your fingers or favorite tool. Scalp massages stimulate blood flow, urging vital nutrients to make their way towards your follicles!
Tracked my growth
I've never been a fan of keeping a record of my hair growth. Now that I think about it, it might've been because my hair was growing a bit slower than I'd like! But now that I'm able to see noticeable progress each couple of weeks, it's exciting to pull out my measuring tape! It keeps me motivated to see how centimetres turn into inches quickly and how my collarbone hair has made its way to arm-pit length!
Saw a dermatologist
About 4 months into homeschooling and my anxiety was off the charts! In addition to sleepless nights, my hair started shedding uncontrollably. I found a fantastic dermatologist in Atlanta that was able to identify the source of the shedding (stress) and take a look at my follicles to ensure that my hair would see its former glory again (it has!) If you've been struggling with hair and scalp issues for some time or if you've noticed a sudden, drastic change, I strongly recommend seeing a professional to put your mind at ease and set you on the right path!
I hope this blog post urges you to take a look at your own hair growth regimen and consider some tweaks! If you do decide to change things up, remember to only try one new thing at a time so that you can easily spot what's working and what's not.
XOXO,
Adria
Very enlightening. I’m interested in purchasing the scalp massager you’re now using. Please email details. My fingers need a rest😃
Keep up the amazing work. You’re the best!