Roller-set Review: Week 2

I am going to be up front and honest - I am cheating on the roller set challenge today (don't stone me!). This weekend is my 10yr high school reunion and I really hate going out with straight hair. I feel prettier with curls - don't we all?

So this afternoon I am going to shampoo, condition, and twist set my hair. Tomorrow (Saturday) I will do my routine deep condition and roller set. So it's not really an entire day - just a night :)

As for week 2 of this challenge, I continued to wear my hair in protective styles and even brought my hats out of their summer hiding place. I also think that I have discovered a new favorite style - two simple cornrows.

Monday →Friday

Each night I oiled my ends, detangled, and slept with a 1-2 braids. Each morning I styled my hair in a bun with the exception of Wednesday. Under the hat my hair is wrapped. Thursday night I slept in the two cornrows that are in the last picture. I am loving my hang time ;)

Next week it is likely that I will oil my ends less frequently and wear the cornrows more often throughout the week. I will continue with my scalp massages because they felt great.

Roller-set Review: Week 2

I am going to be up front and honest - I am cheating on the roller set challenge today (don't stone me!). This weekend is my 10yr high school reunion and I really hate going out with straight hair. I feel prettier with curls - don't we all?

So this afternoon I am going to shampoo, condition, and twist set my hair. Tomorrow (Saturday) I will do my routine deep condition and roller set. So it's not really an entire day - just a night :)

As for week 2 of this challenge, I continued to wear my hair in protective styles and even brought my hats out of their summer hiding place. I also think that I have discovered a new favorite style - two simple cornrows.

Monday →Friday

Each night I oiled my ends, detangled, and slept with a 1-2 braids. Each morning I styled my hair in a bun with the exception of Wednesday. Under the hat my hair is wrapped. Thursday night I slept in the two cornrows that are in the last picture. I am loving my hang time ;)

Next week it is likely that I will oil my ends less frequently and wear the cornrows more often throughout the week. I will continue with my scalp massages because they felt great.

Wash Weekend, YAY!!

I am so very ready to wash my hair! My hair feels kinda slick - like oily slick. Maybe I overdid it with the daily moisturizing? Each night I have been using Vatika oil. I read some of your comments stating that it was drying. I My hair doesn't feel dry - just slick. I don't like this feeling one bit. Maybe using the oil for two weeks without washing was too much.

I did mix in some other oils and butters with the use of the Vatika oil. If I wore a bun for more than a day I would use hair butter. If I planned to wear my hair out I would use the Olive and Clove oil - mainly because of the scent. I need to test out the Vatika oil in a more controlled environment.

The next post will show how I wore my hair each day of the week.

Wash Weekend, YAY!!

I am so very ready to wash my hair! My hair feels kinda slick - like oily slick. Maybe I overdid it with the daily moisturizing? Each night I have been using Vatika oil. I read some of your comments stating that it was drying. I My hair doesn't feel dry - just slick. I don't like this feeling one bit. Maybe using the oil for two weeks without washing was too much.

I did mix in some other oils and butters with the use of the Vatika oil. If I wore a bun for more than a day I would use hair butter. If I planned to wear my hair out I would use the Olive and Clove oil - mainly because of the scent. I need to test out the Vatika oil in a more controlled environment.

The next post will show how I wore my hair each day of the week.

Roller-set Review - Week 1

Braidout

The first week was almost too challenging because of the rain that the east coast experienced throughout the week. I almost forgot that I couldn't just walk causally in the rain without and umbrella.

To make it through the week, my everyday hair style was a bun. Each night I oiled my ends with either Africa's Best Organics Olive and Clove oil or vatika oil. Twice during the week I massaged my scalp with Vatika oil (I will review the Vatika oil at a later date). I have been wanting to incorporate scalp massages into my routine for a while now but they can be hard to when my hair is curly and they tend to result in a lot of tangles for me. The roller-set makes the massages so much easier.

It's kind of strange to end a week and not wash my hair. I was itching a little mainly in the crown area but the itching decreased significantly when I "greased" that area with some hair butter. If you were reading my posts last year around this time you may remember that I experienced itching in the same place this time last year and throughout the entire fall/winter seasons. Maybe this is my growth season (?).

Lessons learned this week:
1. I don't really need to use so much oil if I plan to oil my ends nightly. I had a shiny neck for the first 2-3 days of the week. I am heavy handed with product.

2. A braid-out on straight hair takes needs to set for at least 2 days I want a nice defined braid-out.

3. Straighten hair can get tangled so take time to properly prep at night.

Roller-set Review - Week 1

Braidout

The first week was almost too challenging because of the rain that the east coast experienced throughout the week. I almost forgot that I couldn't just walk causally in the rain without and umbrella.

To make it through the week, my everyday hair style was a bun. Each night I oiled my ends with either Africa's Best Organics Olive and Clove oil or vatika oil. Twice during the week I massaged my scalp with Vatika oil (I will review the Vatika oil at a later date). I have been wanting to incorporate scalp massages into my routine for a while now but they can be hard to when my hair is curly and they tend to result in a lot of tangles for me. The roller-set makes the massages so much easier.

It's kind of strange to end a week and not wash my hair. I was itching a little mainly in the crown area but the itching decreased significantly when I "greased" that area with some hair butter. If you were reading my posts last year around this time you may remember that I experienced itching in the same place this time last year and throughout the entire fall/winter seasons. Maybe this is my growth season (?).

Lessons learned this week:
1. I don't really need to use so much oil if I plan to oil my ends nightly. I had a shiny neck for the first 2-3 days of the week. I am heavy handed with product.

2. A braid-out on straight hair takes needs to set for at least 2 days I want a nice defined braid-out.

3. Straighten hair can get tangled so take time to properly prep at night.

My reason for straightening

The ends of hair are extremely curly and coil around themselves easily. The picture below shows the curls that form from simply wetting my hair.

As a result of all of this "curliness" I experience a lot of SSKs. Sometimes I feel like I get more than the average curly girl. To remedy the problem (temporarily) I figured I would roller-set my hair for awhile because a roller-set stretches out my curls and prevents them from curling up onto each other. 

Also, roller-sets make it easier for me to identifying split ends and SSKs - then I S&D (it sounds so evil, LOL). By destroying those ends I can retain more length and experience less breakage. I have found that healthy ends are a great contributor to my length retention. I believe that my ends are now suffering as a result of a busy life and lack of proper hair care many times over the last two months. Roller-setting will help whip my hair back into shape for my bunning this winter. I can feel myself getting close to a length in which I will just focus on maintaining and not so much retaining more length. 

Un-stretched

Stretched

SSKs = Single Strand Knots
S&D= Search and Destroy

---
Then my hubby got jealous and wanted his own length check, lol (we're racing):

My reason for straightening

The ends of hair are extremely curly and coil around themselves easily. The picture below shows the curls that form from simply wetting my hair.

As a result of all of this "curliness" I experience a lot of SSKs. Sometimes I feel like I get more than the average curly girl. To remedy the problem (temporarily) I figured I would roller-set my hair for awhile because a roller-set stretches out my curls and prevents them from curling up onto each other. 

Also, roller-sets make it easier for me to identifying split ends and SSKs - then I S&D (it sounds so evil, LOL). By destroying those ends I can retain more length and experience less breakage. I have found that healthy ends are a great contributor to my length retention. I believe that my ends are now suffering as a result of a busy life and lack of proper hair care many times over the last two months. Roller-setting will help whip my hair back into shape for my bunning this winter. I can feel myself getting close to a length in which I will just focus on maintaining and not so much retaining more length. 

Un-stretched

Stretched

SSKs = Single Strand Knots
S&D= Search and Destroy

---
Then my hubby got jealous and wanted his own length check, lol (we're racing):

Roller-set complete!

So, I battled the heat and decided to roller-set my hair and attempt to sit under that hot dryer (see why I almost didn't here).

It was hot so I'm going to be honest and say that I did not (could not) sit under that dryer long enough for the set to dry completely. So. I ended up air drying and flat ironing (that will be another post) but not bone straight. I have some body but as soon as my feet hit the street on Saturday I immediately missed my curls- they are an extension of my personality.

Braid-out on Flat Ironed Hair

To roller-set:

1. Hair was shampooed and deep conditioned

2. Leave-in conditioner applied

3. Hair was divided into five sections in preparation for the "cheat roller set"

4. Each ponytail was divided in two and set on magnetic rollers using FOTE aloe vera gel

5. I sat under the dryer for almost an hour and then let the set air dry for an additional hour

6. After removing the rollers, I flat ironed my hair on med heat, one pass, and with IC Fantasia heat protector

7. I am still styling my hair in buns because the point of roller setting was to gauge the shape of my hair and to stretch out my ends for SSK prevention

Let's see if I can do two weeks of this before washing...

Roller-set complete!

So, I battled the heat and decided to roller-set my hair and attempt to sit under that hot dryer (see why I almost didn't here).

It was hot so I'm going to be honest and say that I did not (could not) sit under that dryer long enough for the set to dry completely. So. I ended up air drying and flat ironing (that will be another post) but not bone straight. I have some body but as soon as my feet hit the street on Saturday I immediately missed my curls- they are an extension of my personality.

Braid-out on Flat Ironed Hair

To roller-set:

1. Hair was shampooed and deep conditioned

2. Leave-in conditioner applied

3. Hair was divided into five sections in preparation for the "cheat roller set"

4. Each ponytail was divided in two and set on magnetic rollers using FOTE aloe vera gel

5. I sat under the dryer for almost an hour and then let the set air dry for an additional hour

6. After removing the rollers, I flat ironed my hair on med heat, one pass, and with IC Fantasia heat protector

7. I am still styling my hair in buns because the point of roller setting was to gauge the shape of my hair and to stretch out my ends for SSK prevention

Let's see if I can do two weeks of this before washing...

Protective Styling Challenge: Roller-setting

Since I can't make a decision for this fall/winter season, I am going to try all the protective styles. That should keep me from getting too bored with one look this fall/winter season. Also, this is a way for me to see what works for me and what I have time for. I am not too concerned about retaining additional length. This year I just want to maintain what I have.

First up:

For the first 1 month I am going to attempt to roller-set my hair each week, style in a protective style, and only wear my hair out on weekends.

I will adhere to the guidelines of my Fall/Winter regimen*:

• Pre-poo with Castor and Jasmine Oil (I love this combo)

• Shampoo (product unknown*)

• Deep Condition (product unknown*)

• Roller-set with leave in conditioner and coconut oil

• Sit under the dryer on medium heat or if time allows, air dry.

• Throughout the week (at least 3 times) I will apply more coconut oil to my length, paying special attention to my ends.

*I will do all steps that involve the shampoo process because I will only wash my hair every other week.

The reasoning I have behind roller-setting is to stretch out my length and keep the ends from curling on themselves and forming SSKs. So I am not trying to achieve a super straight look, just a good stretching. (I really just to use those rollers more - no need to waste $$ that has been spent.) I may flat iron my hair once during the month just to see where I am with length.

To determine if this challenge really makes a difference I will do a length check in the beginning and one at the end to see if a retain additional length or just maintain what I have. I will start this on 9/24/2010 and end on 10/24/2010. {First day of fall is 9/23/10}

*The products I plan to use is unknown because I refuse to buy anything new until I use up what I already have. I may end up mixing if I don't have enough of something to make it through the month. I will update as I purchase

Protective Styling Challenge: Roller-setting

Since I can't make a decision for this fall/winter season, I am going to try all the protective styles. That should keep me from getting too bored with one look this fall/winter season. Also, this is a way for me to see what works for me and what I have time for. I am not too concerned about retaining additional length. This year I just want to maintain what I have.

First up:

For the first 1 month I am going to attempt to roller-set my hair each week, style in a protective style, and only wear my hair out on weekends.

I will adhere to the guidelines of my Fall/Winter regimen*:

• Pre-poo with Castor and Jasmine Oil (I love this combo)

• Shampoo (product unknown*)

• Deep Condition (product unknown*)

• Roller-set with leave in conditioner and coconut oil

• Sit under the dryer on medium heat or if time allows, air dry.

• Throughout the week (at least 3 times) I will apply more coconut oil to my length, paying special attention to my ends.

*I will do all steps that involve the shampoo process because I will only wash my hair every other week.

The reasoning I have behind roller-setting is to stretch out my length and keep the ends from curling on themselves and forming SSKs. So I am not trying to achieve a super straight look, just a good stretching. (I really just to use those rollers more - no need to waste $$ that has been spent.) I may flat iron my hair once during the month just to see where I am with length.

To determine if this challenge really makes a difference I will do a length check in the beginning and one at the end to see if a retain additional length or just maintain what I have. I will start this on 9/24/2010 and end on 10/24/2010. {First day of fall is 9/23/10}

*The products I plan to use is unknown because I refuse to buy anything new until I use up what I already have. I may end up mixing if I don't have enough of something to make it through the month. I will update as I purchase

Roller Setting

I decided that since I had a little extra time with the holiday weekend to attempt my first roller set. I read on one of those hair blogs/websites that when roller setting 4abc hair, it was impossible to get smooth curls. That is my problem with the internet..you have people that have never touched your hair telling you what it can and can not do. I have had my hair long enough to know what is possible and what's not. I am here to declare that smoothness can be achieve through roller setting on 4abc hair!

Supplies:

Fruit of the Earth Aloe Vera Gel

Sweet Almond oil

Spray Bottle with water/conditioner mix (for detangling)

Elastic Hair Bands

Annie Magnetic Hair Roller

Duck Bill Clips

Rat Tail Comb

Hair Brush (yep you read right)

Home Clips

Shea Butter/Coconut Oil Mix

Hair Dryer

I did my roller set on clean conditioned hair. First, I separated my hair into three sections with a column going down the middle. The column is where I started rolling. Using my rat tail comb I made smaller sections and used the hair clip to hold the rest of my hair back. For each section I detangled very well, applied Aloe Vera, and then sweet almond oil. (Note: Sweet almond oil was used because I like the shine that it gives my hair).

I used the hair brush to evenly distribute the gel and oil and also to smooth before rolling. If you detangle properly the brush will move through your length easily. I did not roll my hair straight down. I came in at an angle to encourage smoother roots. I used elastic bands for the curls within the interior of my hair but only rollers for the edges. I didn't want a lot of tension on my edges and I didn't want the indention from the band to show.

After I was all rolled up, which took about 45min-1hr(keep in mind this was my first time), I sat under the dryer until dry. If the hair is not completely dry, you will experience some reversion and frizziness, so be sure to do this on a day that you can sit for as long as needed. After removing roller wrap your hair until you are ready to take it down. I used the shea butter/coconut oil mix to apply to my curls prior to wrapping. This was an attempt to decrease frizzes.

I strongly believe that the trick to the roller set is to use a water based product that you know will give your hair some slickness and almost weigh it down. Since it's water based the weigh down will not matter because the product evaporates.