February 15 2014: This was the official start of my hair journey. I had done my research, read the blogs and watched the videos and I decided to start my own journey. I actually took off my weave on february 12

and began moisturising and sealing and bunning (putting my hair up in a bun, lol) but I didnt wash it until a few days later when I started building my regimen. So that's why feb 15 is my official kick of date because that's when I first washed my hair with my new shampoo and conditioner. My regimen at that time was:

- Vo5 protein repair shampoo

-Vo5 herbal escapes strengthening conditioner

-water as my moisturant

- Apple hair foods as my sealant.

Now before i continue i should probably explain what i mean by moisturising and sealing. First, i'll explain what moisturising is. Before i started my hair journey i always thought that moisturising meant adding hair cream or oil to the hair when it's dry and i'm sure a lot of you thought the same thing, but it's not. Moisturizing your hair means to add MOISTURE to your hair, which isn't oil but WATER. And secondly, sealing which i never even heard of before my journey is simply adding oil to your already moisturised hair which locks in the moisture thereby SEALING it.Dry hair snaps and breaks making it impossible to retain length.  So solving the dryness issue will lead to better retention and longer hair. The ultimate moisturizer is water. This is the principle behind moisturizing and sealing, you moisturize to prevent dryness and seal to maintain the moisture you just put in and prevent it from escaping. it makes a HUGE difference in the health and appearance of your hair, and in my opinion is one of the major “secrets” to length retention.

Later on I added some other products to my regimen which included:

-Organics hair mayonnase treatment for damaged hair

-Castor oil

-Extra virgin  olive oil

My routine was as follows:

• Co wash once a week with Vo5

• Seal with olive oil

• Massage castor oil into my hairline and nape to address breakage in those areas

• Wear a protective style (bun, braids or weaves)

• Shampoo was with vo5 shampoo once a month

• Deep condition with organics hair mayonnase once a month

As soon as I embarked on the journey I could see a difference in the health of my hair. It was softer, easier to manage and less shedding and breakage occured. Also, my chronic itching stopped. Now i'm 4 months in and I can really see the progress:

Starting length: Feb 15, 2014

Current Length: APL (armpit length) June 22, 2014.

So there you have it, how I started my healthy hair journey. Join me as I reach waist length! :)