Well today wasn’t the greatest hair day.  I was rushed this am so kind of threw myself together to get out the door.  Once my hair was properly dry it was certainly better.  However I feel it is needing something and I don’t know what.  I did a DT the other night but that didn’t help much.  Maybe will do an ACV rinse over the weekend.  I wish my hair would be firmer but it’s not so I’ve got to try and find a product that will give it some firmness and body.  Will maybe give the KCCC a go over the w/e too as it’s been a while since I used that. 

curl rating today 7
frizz - slight canopy frizz
products used: alba leave in
              DMMC
              FSG

7pm - happened to look at my hair in the mirror and it looked so flat and lifeless - put my head down & gave my scalp a rub and ran my fingers through my hair - when I came back up what a difference! I should have done this at 7am!!

Saturday 19 Sept 2009
Ok today used AOGPB and left in for 15 mins.  Didn’t use the KCCC as I wanted to try a new gel I made last night, so used AG:Recoil instead with gel on top.  Actually not bad hair today.  I plopped for about 20 mins then walked to the papershop, came back and diffused for a little maybe 10 mins.  Just heading out now so going to scrunch out the little crunch there is and do the upside down hair ruffle as I’m calling it to see if it works this am.  Think my hair was needing some protein.

Curl rating 9
frizz - very little
products used: AG:Recoil
              FSG (PG)

Sunday 20th Sept 2009
Ok today didn’t use the AOGPB (yesterday the smell lingered with me all day and I don’t find it that appealing! - however needs must and I will use it) Used a little Suave coconut as a leave in (which my son brought me back from US) as I know this has protein in it.  Used the recoil again as I quite like it yesterday though used a bit less - a pea sized amount.  Then plopped and then walked to the paper shop (hurry back Dad all this getting the papers malarky isn’t my favourite hobby!).  Hair was a bit drier today before I gave it some diffusing.  Have clipped the top in an effort to get some height.  Will update later when hair is 100% dry and also on frizz rating and curl rating.  So far looking ok.

12.13
Ok think I may have let airdry too long before defusing.  hair not so good curl wise today.  Also think didn’t use enough recoil - 2 peas if I use it tomorrow!  (working my way towards a pod!) Ah well we live and learn.

Curl rating 6
Frizz - bearable
products used: AG:Recoil
              FSG (A12)

Mond 21st Sept 2009

Rain on the way! Today used MOP curl defining cream - as this is the first time I’ve used it the jury is still out on results as not sure about quanities etc. but hair looking not too bad.  Used the AOGPB co this am - no co wash just used this as a rinse out.  I can still smell it! As I am sneaking this post at work, will write more later about hair when 100% dry

Cur rating 8
Frizz - bearable (tho may increase due to dampness in air)
products used: MOP cur defining cream
              FSG PG2

Ok 12.08pm - sneaking another post!  Hair is actually ok today.  No increase in frizz and have got some volume instead of the sometimes pancake look.  Didn’t need to do the upside down ruffle today.  Must try and get some pics.

Tues 22 Sept 2009

Hurricane winds here today so unfortunately the bike had to stay at home in case I blew onto the bonnet of some passing car! 

Today used the AOGPB as a rinse out - must be getting used to the smell as I don’t notice it so much today.  Then used my FSG only - no curl cream.  Absolutely delighted with hair - lots of curls & ringlets.  No clumps of any sort but then I’m usually clumpless anyway.

Curl rating 9
Frizz - bearable
product used: FSC PG2

During the course of the day when I have to venture outside will see how it stands up to the wind!  I’m at work now and still have to scrunch out any crunch so will do that now.

Wednesday 23rd Sept 2009

Today usual rinse out with AOGPB - I think tomorrow I’ll use the suave.  Don’t want to overload with protein too much.  Hair is feeling so much better.  Then I used my gel as per norm (no curl cream).  Pleased wtih results.  It has helped that the hurricane winds of yesterday have dropped a bit as when I came back from walking the dogs yesterday could hardly fit my head through the door my hair was so large!

Curl 8
Frizz bearable
Products: AOGPB rinse out
          FSG PG 2

Thursday 24 Sept 2009

Today used the suave coconut as a rinse out -raked on, combed through left while washing then rinsed - then my gel - again raked then combed then scrunched.  Tried a slightly different scrunching technique today whereby I held the scrunch for a few seconds before releasing (not in a mad frantic way like I did once when drying but that’s another story!) So will see if it makes any diff to curls.  Plopping at moment so will continue this when I get to work once hair is dry.

At work now and hair almost dry.  No dramatic increase in curl with the new scrunching - maybe a little more but nothing that makes me think I must do it every day.

Curl rating 8
frizz - bearable
products: suave coconute rinse out
          FSG (PG2)

Tomorrow not at work so will take a pic for diary as I’m neglecting the pics!  The good thing about the diary for me is that you know what you did with your hair that day product wise.  Often before I’d forget what I put on or the amounts so I’m really enjoying keeping this diary!

Friday 25 Sept 2009

Day off work today (yes!) so was able to take my time.  Have just used some AOGPB as a rinse out plus put a pea sized Alba leave-in on before my gel.  Applied slightly different again today - smoothed in the co’s and combed through while upright, also then smoothed on the gel and combed through then put head down and put gel on underneath of hair and then scrunched all hair.  (don’t really expect any difference!) Then scrunched out a little water and used a couple of sheets of kitchen roll to scrunch out a little more before plopping - which is where I am now!  Will report on curl & frizz later.  However I’m just thinking that I should have left all this till later as my plans are to head to the gym now (well once hair is dry)!  So fingers crossed it’s not too bad after that.  I find that my hair doesn’t get too bad after exercise - all that sweating I do must be good for it as it doesn’t seem to get overly frizzy or anything ... of course I am now jinxing myself for today as no doubt when I leave the gym I’ll look like I have a brillo pad on my head!

later ..
Curl rating: 8
Frizz bearable no more than normal, no less
Products: AOGPB rinse out
          Alba pea sized amount leave in
          FSG (PG2)

Ok heading to the gym now (taking gel with me just in case!) Will try and remember to report on gym head later!

Later
Hair was ok after gym however was quite windy here today (when is it never!) so was a bit volumised by the time I got home.  However got head through the patio door ok so it wasn’t that bad!

Saturday 26 Sept 2009

No crack of dawn styling today as its the weekend.  The sun has come out round this neck of the woods just to let us know it’s still there!  Today I used the AOGPB as a rinse out - I hope I’ll know when my hair has enough protein! It still seems to be wanting it - and then for styling I put on a cream that I made last night and my usual gel.  Last night after concocting the cream I wet my hair and used it just before bed time.  I then pineappled (first time) and this morning when I took my hair down I did look a little bit like one of the Three degrees with their 80’s hair!! However although the curls were good, hold was lacking hence the reason for putting the gel on on top of the cream.  I have just finished plopping so will see how things are when my hair is dry.  I did the application of products with my head up in the shower and then leaned forward for scrunching as I noticed yesterday that my hair didn’t stay stuck up at the back after the plop - I should explain this, I had noticed before that after my plopping the hair at the back of my head sometimes took ages to come down and involved a lot of head swinging upside down and shaking from side to side to get down.  However yesterday (and today) my hair was fine after the plop so think I’ll apply my products this way and see if it continues.  Will update curl and frizz rating once hair is dry.

Curl rating:9
Frizz: bearable
Products used: A0GPB
Styling: CL1
        FSG (PG2)

Have added a pic - pleased with my hair today!

Sunday 27 Sept 2009

Today I am not doing anything to my hair till later as I am heading to the gym and then heading out with the dogs and as these are the only 2 outings planned I thought I’d just wait till tomorrow.  I wouldn’t say that I had second day hair because if I was going to work I’d had done it, but it is bearable for my activities today and so I thought I’d give it a rest day today!  I will try and take a pic of my hair for my fotki as sometimes you get a better idea of the actual look rather than just going by the mirror. 

10.30
Have added a pic on my fotki showing todays hair

Love your diary; it made me laugh out loud.  I’m glad I’m not the only person who regularly finds their hair is wider than it is long!

Monday 28 Sept 2009
As a quick follow up to yesterday.  What I did later was to put a little AVG onto my hands, rub them together and gently pull them down the length of my hair - no scrunching just a flat hand - and it really calmed that edging frizz.  I didn’t touch my hair until the gel had dried then very gently scrunched out the cruch that was there. (using thumb and fore finger). Was quite surprised as I had tried AVG once before and thought it made my hair frizzy, however could be that now my hair is in a bit better condition.  So will maybe try this another time.

No rush for doing hair today as yet another day off work - how bad is it going to be tomorrow when I actually have to go back to work!!! 

Update later on hair when it’s done!

11.15am - Update
Last night after the AVG was on before bedtime I pineappled this time leaving the fringe (well shorter side thingy that I call a fringe) out of the pineapple.  Today when I wrote the above I’d taken the pineapple out but hadn’t really looked at my hair - well low and behold! I’m just going to leave it again!!!  I put my head down and did the upside down ruffle to loosen it a bit. I’m only gymming and dog walking today and its bearable again!  (Has someone sewn someone elses hair into my head in the night!)  I can’t believe this - maybe its the CG regime sort of settling now.  I don’t know.  I’m scared to get too excited as the thing about curly hair is its good at lulling you into a false sense of security.  Also I haven’t been going anywhere these last couple of days - it may be a different story tomorrow.  However today it is good.  It is rather windy outside (again) today and there is rain forecast so I’m going to head out with the dogs now as I’d rather battle the wind than both together.

Back to work today so had to wet hair today! Used AOGPB (am actually getting to like the scent now!) and used a new gel I made.  At the moment plopping so will fill in how hair is later.  I have started using 3 pieces of kitchen roll as a final scrunch before I plop.  It does take out some of the water (until I get my curlease towel that is!)  I just bought a pack of the really cheap stuff.  Once I’m finished applying my prods and have scrunched them in I usually scrunch out some water with a teeshirt and then plop but I’ve started using the kitchen roll after the teeshirt just before the plop.  The weather today is drizzle so don’t know how hair will be by the time I get to work but will take some gel with me just in case!  My boss never says anything about my hair which is good (I think!) only one time he commented was when I kept my cycle helmet on (well obviously not all day! but when I walked in I had to do someting right away and I usually like to nip to the ladies to sort my hair upon removal of the helmet, anyway this day I just kept it on till I finished what I was doing and he said ‘you’ve forgotten to take off your helmet!’) More later (will sneak a post at work!)

Still waiting for hair to be 100% dry before scunching out little (too little) crunch.  Not too keen on this gel.  Curls are good but hold is lacking so can rule this one off the list.  (Prob not a good day to try new things what with the damp filled air).

Products
Rinse out - AOGPB
Gel: FSG (CT)

Curl: 8 good curl no hold
Fizz: bearable

I suppose it’s an age thing but I don’t fret so much over my hair.  I remember before when I used to blow dry it every day I’d be in such a panic to get it right, then smother it with hairspray to make sure it didn’t move!  Suppose it was worse when I was at school as I’d sleep (or try to) with huge rollers in my hair to try and straighten it then go through the whole half tin of hairspray for hold.  Now I don’t bother so much.  If it’s a bad hair day it doesn’t get to me to the same extreme.  Must be getting old!

Will update later as sometimes later on the day my hair is good - usually just before bedtime when it doesn’t matter!

Later
Yes my hair is looking better now.  I don’t know why this happens at night. You would think that if I did it at night then it would look good first thing in the morning but unfortunately it doesn’t work like that for me anyway.

Hopefully the rain will pass in the night and it will be a better day for hair tomorrow!

Wednesday 30 Sept 2009

Late with my first report this morning.  Too much faffing around reading books - with the result got too engrossed then running late for everything!  Looked at the clock at it was 6.45 - am usually in the shower at that time.  With the result hair didn’t have quite so much love and attention poured on it!

This morning used OS pear and avacado co as a co wash.  Actually it felt really nice and detangled well for me.  Did the usual application of products with head up only going forward for final combing and scrunching once gel (new one again) was in and again used 3 pieces of kitchen roll for final scrunch before p

Hair still not 100% dry so will report shortly on how it has turned out.  Def feels more crunchier this morning with the new gel (not super crunchy).

Later - 12.12pm
Sneaking this at work - I am so going to get into trouble!  Just as well my boss isn’t here just now!

Anyway, hair has dried and its a bit frizzier than when I use the AOGPB.  Now it could the OS or it could be the gel so tomorrow I’ll use the AOGPB with the gel and see what the result is.  Curls are good - so good that I feel I should be sitting on a bed with a checked smock dress on and some ribbons in my hair (like a raggedy Anne doll!)  One thing I will say for the OS is that I like the light feeling it gives your hair.

curl rating 8.5
frizz - bearable but slightly more than norm
Products: OS co wash
          FSG (MM)

Netball night tonight so no point in giving a later evaluation of hair but no doubt it will settle before bedtime.

Thursday 1 Oct 2009

Back to the AOGPB today.  Applied while head up, combed through then left while washing.  (Funny when I started using this co I didn’t like the smell however now I’m really warming to it!) Next applied gel - around 50p sized blob while still with head up, raked through, then head down and applied another 50p sized blob too underneath of hair - raked through again - then combed through and finally scrunched.  Then the usual and plopped.  No book reading this morning so running to my normal time scale tho am going to work early today so wont have too much time for fiddling around.  Hair is just out of the plop and will diffuse a bit when I finish this.  I’ve noticed that my hair has grown a bit - I notice it more on the sort of fringe bit tho I did see some length in general when I took the sept pictures.  I am prob at an age where I should keep it shortish but this is the longest my hair has been in my whole life! My mum used to keep it short when I was young I suppose for ease of doing and I think I always got fed up trying to grow it when I was at the age when I could look after it myself plus I always wanted some kind of trendy hairstyle that everyone else had.  Not, of course, that this was successful in any way.  So I’m going to leave my hair just now tho will prob get a trim as I’m badly needing it (I did get my daughter to take a tiny bit off a few weeks ago but I don’t know if that counts as a trim!)

Will fill in details of curl and frizz when hair is finally dry.  Need to see if it’s the gel or the OS that gave me the extra frizz yesterday.

Update:

Curl rating: 8 (not as good as yesterday)
Frizz - bearable (better than yesterday)
Products: AOGPB
Gel - FSG (MM)

Am going to try the OS again - will use as a co wash and then use the AOGPB as a rinse out on top see how that works. 

Hair not too bad.  I wish I could build up to air drying.  Maybe try that at the w/e and will clip the top to try and avoid flat top syndrome.  Of course now it is starting to get a bit colder not sure if I’d fancy venturing out in the cold wtih wet hair!  Will try and the w/e and take pics so I can get a look to see if any curl diff from normal drying routine.

Friday (thank goodness) 2 Oct 2009

Well not been the best of starts to the day!  First off daughter is driving me to madness slowly but surely but that’s another story…. am up a bit earlier today and normally after I do my hair and come down stairs the dog (Jess) gets her breakfast.  The other dog is a late sleeper but usually gets up when she hears the food getting poured.  But today as I’m early want to wait just 20mins as she’ll be wanting her dinner early etc and so it will go on.  Well she is now sitting looking at the cupboard where the food is and then looking a me!

Anyway hair, well today I don’t know how things will turn out. Its probably the best idea to change only one thing at a time but today I’ve used a couple of things that I don’t normally.  Used the suave co as a rinse out then used DM Miracurl (DMMC) and then my gel on top.  So it will be interesting to see how my hair turns out.  It is also raining now so that adds more to the mix!  The DMMC smells divine but from what I’ve read it’s one of those products where you have to find the right amount for yourself and as I don’t use it very often (only once before I think) I’m not sure.  Anyway didn’t put too much on.  Will report back later when hair is dry (I’m still plopping at the moment).  Ok off to sneak past the dog food cupboard ...

Products:
Rinse out - Suave
Gel: DMMC
    FSG PG2

12 Noon
Ok sneaking this at work again ..... hair is dry and have scrunched out what little crunch there was. Frizzier than normal tho still bearable but that could be due to rain or diff condish this morning.  Curl formation not as good as usual.  Will have to try the DMMC again tho - probably not the best day for testing.  Got my boss to take a pic of back of my head (he probably thinks I’m a bit mad, but we were talking about curly hair today.  He of course is bald so hair doesn’t affect him the same!)  Will post pic later when I get home as I think I’ll need to try and make it a bit brighter - looks very dark.  Of course he’s not used to photographine hair!

Curl: 6
Frizz: bearable but more than normal

have added a pic on my fotki page (my boss obviously is no David Baillie)

Saturday 3 Oct 2009

Do you ever have a day where everying goes wrong and you just wonder what on earth is to come? Well this morning so far I have dropped, spilled, tripped knocked over and broke various things!  I am plopping at the moment so I’m hoping the next disaster isn’t my hair!

Today used the AOGPB - still looking for another recommendation for protein condish, will have a look in town today - then yet another gel!  Maybe this will be the one!  I will post later when hair is done and dusted.  However and it is a big however, we have a very windy day with rain in the wind so I think it’s going to be a case of no matter how my hair turns out, the minute I step outside the big hair will appear!  Of course it may stop raining which would be a help but I don’t think it will stop being windy.  I don’t think it’s fair why us the north have so much of this wind malarky!  Anway, going to unplop and diffuse.  More later.

Products: AOGPB (rinse out)
Gel: FSG (C1)

Curl: 8
Frizz:bearable

Of course this was prior to goiing out!  I am not joking, the wind would take your head off!  Intermingled with bouts of light rain.  You should see my hair now!  I am just going to head up the park with the dogs so am not going to bother to do anything with it.  Had a look in town for a protein co and got one in the little health shop - then when I got home spotted a b****y cone in it!! Wish they had better lighting in shops and handed out magnifying glasses!  Wish also that good organic brands would stop adding cones.  So will pass it off to my daughter to use up.  I think the best plan is to look on line and check ingredients then buy in town (checking ingredients again in case diff to posted on line!)

Ok heading out now into the hurricane will sort hair when I get back.  One good thing, the dogs don’t mind how I look!