Use Up My Stash Updates!

I am still going strong with not buying hair products. I actually used up the last of my Mane and TAil Friday which only leaves me with 2 products to use. Other than that my products are still exactly the same, although I want to try the Sauve Almond condtioner, instead or re purchasing the hummectant. I might just get a little bottle of each instead of getting the big bottle, that way I can try out the almonds and still have my fave cheapie on hand if i need it. Well off to work.

Peace
So mUch Love
Erika

Another One Bites the Dust...

3 more to go

Updates: Use up my Stash, Summer Hair Plans, DD

What's up Roadies
Just thought I would update you on a few things.




I know I haven't updated my use up my stash in a min, but that's because I am still tugging along doing the same things I been doing. Nothing new to report. I am almost done with the Proclaim Natural 7 oil and the Mane an Tail. The Aphgee and the Bio Silk are a different story. I might have to make some amendments to the challenge because I have a feeling I will be rockin with those too all summer. The new rule is that I will be aloud to replace things that I don't have a back up for in my stash already. Meaning I am almost done with every single moisturizer that I have ever had, and if the Shea Butter doesn't work out I will need to buy a moisturizer. I am not allowed to buy any hair products on a whim, there has to be a need in order for me to purchase.



As far as summer hair plans go, I want to focus on learning how to wear my real hair and still retain the same amount of length I got with my wigs. I plan to do my own little bunning challege and wear a bun, or some sort of protective style 5 days a week, and on my weekends I am going to work on perfecting my braid outs, bandu knots and rollersets. The worry with bunning is that I want to make sure I don't cause breakage with my buns. Its hard for me to change up the location of my bun because I have to wear a hat to work everyday. For now I have just been making sure to take my bun down as soon as I get home and just try to move it as much as possible. I will post pics of different idea's as they come to me.

I am also hoping to reach full SL by mid-July, so I am going to step up my water and vitamin game as well. Other than that my regimen is basically staying the same.



Last but not least in this infinite post, is my new series DD. As you know the theme of my blog is basically about my life as a road trip, but I am trying to make it more cohesive, so the Oil Guide, is kind of like mapping out all the Oil's I've tried, and now DD or Delicious Dupes is going to be bringing high fashion to you with an affordable price tag. I know I have been slacking on the fashion lately, just because I have been so consumed with nail art and natural hair for the last few months fashion has take a back seat(see what I did there lol). Anyway, that's all the updates I have for now

Peace
So Much Love
Erika

Updates: 9 months, 14 weeks Post, and Use Up My Stash

Hey Dolls,
Just wanted to do some quick updates. First here is my 9 month comparasion pic


I know my hair isn't styled exactly the same in these too pics but I think you can see the growth. Anyway this is just showing the last 3 months growth so the change is subtle but I think its noticable. I almost wasn't going to post this because dun dun dun dunnnn. I'm going to relax next week, but i'm not sure if that means i'm cheating at my stash project but I can't wait anymore I gotta see me real length plus I want to practice my low manipulation styles, but streching you're not really supposed to do much manipulation so I am at a stale mate. I plan to realx at about 15 or 16 weeks post still making this my longest stretch yet so I'm still pround of myself.

Now finally the big news. I finished mt ORS Hair Lotion last night so strike one off the list! I think the Natural 7 oil is next, probably followed by the Mane & Tail. The other two might take awhile. Anyway that's all the updates for now.
Peace
So Much Love
Erika

Update: Use Up My Stash!

Hey Dolls,

I realized after I posted my last updates that I forgot to let you know how use up my stash was going. I have used everything atleast once, except for my Biosilk. I plan on roller setting next week becaue my offical length check is in April so I will have a chance to use it then.

I also realized that I really don't like the Proclaim Natural 7 Oil for my hair at all. So I have been using it on my skin. I think its too thick and it leaves my hair feeling greasy.

Hopefully I will have most of this stuff used up by June so I can repurchase some staples and I think I will do a mini summer Use Up My Stash, because I really have wayy too much stuff just collecting dust.

Peace
So Much Love
Erika

Updates: Wash day, Box Braids and going Natural!!!

Hey Dolls!

Wash Day came a littlee early this week mostly due to the fact that we are extremely short staffed at work so this week I am works 6 days instead of and I dont spend 1/2 of my ONLY day off washing my hair. I got off a 5 today and I don't go in unitl 5 tomorrw wich is pleanty of time to DC WASH and RE BRAID.

Anywho. I treid out Kimmaytubes, wash day method and I am not exaggerating when I Say it was the BEST WASH DAY EVER!!! I found Kimmytube when I decided I want to go natural(more on that in a minute) and I just fell in love with her videos. For this wash day I decided to give one of her methods a try. Here's what I did

1. Took my braids out gently finger combing each section as I went.
2. Applied my Deep Condtioner(Sally's GVP conditioning balm) to my dry hair.
3. Put on my plastic cap and Turbie Twist and took a nap for about 1 1/2 hours.
4. Then I got into te shower and applied Mane&Tail conditioner(any cheapie will do) on top of my DC then detangeled under the running water.
5. Then washed with my clarifing shampoo(Sulfur8) BUT before I rinsed I applied some more M&T to help with the stripped feeling. Then rinsed
6. Then I quick Condditioned with my Giavonni DeeEp Moisture while I did my shower biz.
7. LAstly rinsed and detangled under cool running water.
8. Then I applied my leave-ins(HE LTR, Aphogee) and Moisturzed with my Bioinfusion and sealed with Coconut oil.

I don't feel like re braiding tonight so I just put mt hair in to low pony tails and put on my satin scarf. I will re braid tomorrow before work which brings me to my next point..

I love LOve LOVe my box braids! the best low mani style for me. I can still moisturize and oil my scalp while still being able to enjoy the ease of braids.

and Lastly I have decided not to go natural YET!!! I still have every intention of going natural, but I really want to reach my first goal of SL just to have some tanglible evidence of progress. Then once I am there I will make my first attempt at transistioning.

Sorry for the lack of pics.
Peace
So Much Love
Erika

Box Braids!!!

Hey Dolls!
Today is Friday which means WASH DAY!!!! I realized that I don't have an in depth post on my wash day routine so I figured why not add it to this post.

Here's what I used:


This week m Pre-poo was my DC. I know it's confusing, but a pre poo is actually anything you do to prepare your hair for your wash.
- I DC'd with my Sallay's GVP Conditioning Balm overnight
- I washed with my Giavonni Smooth as Silk Shampoo
- Quick Conditioned with the Smooth as Silk Conditioner

After my wash I sperated my hair into 4 sections:


then detangeled with:

(the Spray bottle has my Silken Child Detangler because i hate the pump on the original bottle)You dont have to use what I used. any leave in you have will do as long as it has good slip

For Each Section
- I sprayed the Aphogee(use up my stash)
- applied my LTR
- sprayed the Silken Child
- then used my wide tooth comb to detangle

Then to the ends of my hair I used:

-ors Hair Lotion
- coconut oil

NOW on to the braids.

Here's what you'll need:

- Duck bill Clips
- Rat Tail comb to part sections
- Rollers for the ends of braids

I worked in the same 4 sections from before


half way done:


done!!


the roots!!


I hope I can make these braids last for 2 weeks, but I will be happy with a just one. Oh and I am only gonna leave the rollers in for about an hour so just to keep the braids from unraveling. Then Volia! The perfect under wig style for those who can't cornrow like me!

Peace
And so Much Love
Erika

Braided Up..

I cam home from work today fresh off my natural hair high and I braided my hair into about 20/25 single braids. I have chronic hands in head diease and I figured this would be a great style to help me keep my hands out. I didn't take any pics cuz the braids are VERY crude, but here's what I did.

Frist I took medium to small small sized sections of hair, M&S (I used my ORS hair Lotion and my Proclaim Natural 7 OIl) then braided as far down as I could go.

Then I placed a foam roller on the ends to keep the braids in.

Repeated until my entire head was done.

After about an hour I took the rollers out and put my scarf on.

I hoping they will last until my Friday wash day. As always I wear wigs during the week so i'm not to worried about how they look right now,I just don't know how to cornrow so i figured this would be the next best thing.

To maintain them at night i'm just going to use use aloe vera sprtiz and some coconut oil then tie my scarf on.

I think doing these braids be a big help as I get further along into my stretch/transition because this allows me to moisturize my hair and keep my scalp clean without having to pull at it so much.

I will take pictures friday after I wash and re braid and as always

Peace
So much Love
Erika..

Cleaning Out my Hair Closet.

First let me start this post by saying sorry i've been away for so long. It won't happen again.

Now I have decided to embark on a use up my stash mission. I was doing some spring cleaning and I realized just how much hair stuff I really do have. It's not as big a stash as some but it is starting to overcome my room.

Here's the Fab 5


from left: Biosilk Silk therapy, Aphogee Keratin & Green Tea Restructurizer, Mane and Tail Moistuizer-Texturizer Conditioner, ORS Oil Moisturizing Hair Lotion, and Proclaim Natural 7 Oil.

Now i didn't hate these products but i didn't love them either. Most of them I actually forgot that I even still had. The challenge is that I am not allowed to purchase any hair products until all 5 of these bottles are gone. Most of them are 1/2 or 3/4 of the way done anyway and like I said I never hated these products I just found ones I like better.


I am however allowing myself to make 2 hair purchase during this challenge and they will be 1. to replace my DC when its empty, because I don't have a back up deep condtioner. The one I use every week is the only on in my posession. And 2. Coconut Oil, because although I have a few other oil's in my arsenal, I never want to live in a world that doesn't have Coconut oil in it.

I will keep you posted on my progress. I don't think it will take me long, I am hopinh to be done with everything by June..

Peace
So much Love
Erika