Weekly Shampoo, Condition, & Twist Routine

I thought that I would post a video of my current weekly routine.  Right now, this seems to be working for me, but I will keep everyone updated if I start to do something a bit different.

YouTube Chanel: HappyAndNappyElisa

So I decided to start a YouTube channel.  Sometimes I'm in the mood to chat rather than write an actual post.  As some of you may know, this isn't my first YouTube appearance (google my name and my videos some come up in the search).  Enjoy!

Post Weave Routine

So first off let me say that my hair was sooooo tangled and I don't think that I managed to get all of the tangles out -- such a nightmare.  I think my Alopecia is under control for the most part.  I'm still taking my antibiotics.  As far as I can tell, no hair is growing back.  So below is what I did yesterday after I took my weave out.

1. Washed with Suave Rosemary + Mint shampoo (shout out to my summer employer).
2. Quick conditioned with Suave Rosemary + Mint conditioner and started to detangle.  I tried to divide my hair into sections and comb out all of the dead hair.  It was hard and like I said above, I don't think that I got all of the tangles out.
3. Mixed my favorite deep conditioner, Redken Butter Treat conditioner, with extra-virgin coconut oil.  I let this marinate on my hair for about 5 minutes.  I probably should have sat under the dryer, but I didn't have time.
4. While my hair was still damp, I put a few drops of Moroccan Oil through my hair.  This stuff smells AMAZING.  Moroccan Oil has been on my wish list for a while now, so I purchased the very small bottle at my local beauty supply store for about $12 and I am not disappointed at all!
5. I used what little bit that I had left of the Kinky Curly Knot Today to try to finish detangling my hair.  
6. Using no additional product, I did very big 2-strand twists, sealed the ends with more Moroccan Oil, and let my hair air dry.

I'm just amazed at how long my hair is now.  I'm sure that I need a good trim.  I'm thinking of attempting to do this myself, little by little, as I continue to do my hair each week.  It shouldn't be too hard to clip my ends when my hair is twisted.  More to come!

Oh how I missed my natural hair!

Lovelies, your girl is back!  I just took my weave out and I can not BELIEVE how much my hair has grown.  I still haven't washed my hair (yes -- I know that's funky), but I was pressed to take a picture and post!  I will post my "after weave" regimen and pics of my 'do when I'm done.

I'm Coming Home!

Hi lovelies. I know that I have been MIA for the past month or so, but I am getting back into the swing of things. In the past month, I finished my first year of business school, moved to NYC, and started my internship where I am working on a hair care brand. As you can imagine, I am in heaven.
I'm writing specifically today to share that I am taking the weave out (if I can get it out) this weekend. It's time to unleash the curls and see what I am working with. I'm feeling so anxious, excited, and ready for a change. I've missed my natural hair and have had hair envy walking through the streets of NYC.
Summer in the city calls for rocking my curls. Stay tuned for updates and pictures.

New beginning

As I am sure you can tell, this blog has been stagnant.  But I have so much going on in my life, and no where to write about.  So enter my new blog - The Almost Life of Elisa.  I am no way abandoning this blog; it's my baby. Just creating another outlet for me to talk about everything going on in my life.  So please, follow along and let me know what you think!

Please help us win the Crate & Barrel 2011 Ultimate Wedding Contest!!!

Lovelies!

My fiancé and I are trying to win a $100,000 wedding of a lifetime from Crate & Barrel's 2011 Ultimate Wedding contest!  Please follow this link and help us out by voting!  Thank you!

PS - Spread the love... we need all the help we can get!

I Miss Y'all!

Happy New Year, Lovelies!


So let's see if I can catch y'all up on what's going on in my life; hair and non-hair related.  I'm still rocking the weave and plan to for a while.  My hair seems to be growing well and I rather keep it "safe" rather than neglect it and not care for it properly due to my crazy schedule.  Lord knows I miss my curls, but I just don't have the time that I used to.  My goal is to continue growing my hair in both a natural and healthy way.  The wedding is in 2012 and I would love to wear my natural hair either pressed with tracks (something like a Malaysian weave) or big and curly - who knows.


I started the South Beach diet a little under 2 weeks ago and I am seeing great results.  Phase 1 has been tough, but I have definitely lost inches around my midsection.  I am set to start Phase 2 on Wednesday, but I may do more of a Phase 1/Phase 2 mix to keep losing as much weight as possible.  My doctor actually highly recommended the South Beach diet.  She says that everyone should be eating this way; so give it a try if you are trying to lose weight and adopt a healthy way of eating.  I really like it so far because there is no measuring involved and I am never hungry (3 meals and 2 snacks - you have to eat dessert)!  I will admit, if you are a "carb fiend" like me, the first couple of days will suck... bad.  But you kind of get used to it.


School is going well.  My first semester was hard but taught me a lot about what I am really capable of doing when pushed to the limit.  This semester is going to be just as busy, but I am taking mostly Marketing classes, which have been pretty cool thus far.


So I guess I should get back to work.  Miss you all dearly!

Closure

So I got the results back from my doctor a few weeks ago.  I do in fact have Central Scarring Alopecia.  I am happy to finally have closure on this but now it is definitely real.  


She put me on antibiotics twice a day, which is good.  The downside is that they make me nauseous and I have be very careful about what I eat before and after I take the medicine.  I have been on them for almost a month I wasn't sure if they were "working" or not since I am still wearing a weave.  I just got home for break and it was time to get my weave redone.  I was dreading taking out my braids and combing through my hair.  But to my surprise, I didn't lose that much hair and I really think that the medicine is working. My scalp hasn't been sore or itchy either, so I am feeling good about the prospect of not losing anymore hair.


So my plan is to keep wearing this protective style in hopes of giving my natural hair a rest.  It has grown a lot and I hope to continue keeping it "safe" for a little longer.  I figure the longer my hair is, the easier it will be to hide my bald spots.


Once again, the Marcella Ellis Salon did a fantastic job and I opted for something a little shorter this time.  All in all things are well and I will keep you all updated on my hair health.

The Waiting Game...

So things with me are pretty good.  I go home for Thanksgiving Break next week and I have been doing well with my coursework.  But my hair woes still continue.  Last week I finally got to see the dermatologist.  I had to wait months to get an appointment; literally months - I called to make an appointment when I got to school in August, and they couldn't see me until November.  I'm not sure if it's because I have crappy student health insurance, or if there is just one dermatologist in Ithaca, or a combination of the two.

Well the doctor was definitely worth the wait.  She was fantastic and I immediately felt more comfortable under her care than I have previously with my doctor back in DC.  To my surprise, she wanted to do a scalp biopsy.  Mind you... I just put this weave in and it cost a pretty penny.  To my surprise, she was hip on her weave knowledge and she promised me that she wouldn't completely destroy my masterpiece :).  She cut about a 1/2 inch square of the net, so my scalp was exposed and the rest...I wasn't prepared for.

Next she whips out a needle and then asks me, "Are you good with needles?"  I mean I am but I wasn't prepared for all of this!  I thought she was just going to look at my scalp and go from there.  So she numbs the area of my scalp and literally takes a piece of my scalp and prepares it for the lab.  A hair specialist is as we speak analyzing my scalp and trying to figure out if indeed have Central Scarring Alopecia.  The doctor thinks that I do and she asked me how aggressively I want to try and treat this, if this is in fact the case.  I told her I am willing to try anything within reason.  There are some oral medications that we may be able to try, but I am waiting to hear back from her, before I think about that.

I miss my natural poof.

I'm sorry that I don't have more to say on "natural hair" at the moment, but I hope sharing my story helps others.  More to come soon.