Rebraiding Waist Length Individuals/Box Braids/ Update

Hey All!

I have been missing you guys! I know it has been a minute since I have given you all an update. I still have the braids, in fact I rebraided them.

After about the 3 week mark, my new growth really started to come through. Though new growth is a great thing, I hate seeing it when I have braids. It looks so, unkempt. I knew I wanted to keep them for 2 months so I decided to rebraid so they will look decent for the latter portion of my time with them. I have already made my halfway point with them.

At first I only planned on doing my hairline, and the few braids that are at the middle part. Come to find out, I am super paranoid, and thought that you would be able to tell I have new growth still, so I decided to do my whole head. I did it at my own leisure, probably over the course of a week and a half (lol). It really went quicker this time though, if I did it straight through I am sure it only would have been a matter of a couple of days.

My only complaint, or gripe if you will, is that my braids are much thinner. While rebraiding the hair would form tangles and knots, and it would thin out the hair from the original strand or braid. I am really missing the thickness of my braids. What I am happy about is I somehow learned how to braid tighter, like there was some actual tension after I put a braid in.

It could be that I had acrylic nails on at the time when I put my first set in. Who knows? Either way, I am glad I am finished! I will not be doing it again, if I get more new growth, oh well.

 Here's how my hair came out.

I have yet to wash my hair, I am hoping to get my hands on Organic Root Stimulator (ORS) Herbal Cleanse Dry Shampoo. I hear it works well for those with braids, and I think it will be better than saturating my hair or using actual shampoo, in the past I have experienced a lot of build up trying it that way. Should I use it, I will be doing a review.

I have also heard of people using an applicator bottle, and diluting  a shampoo of their choice, most likely the clarifying kind, with water and applying it directly to the scalp.


As for oiling my scalp, I have rarely done that. I originally brought Ginseng Miracle Wonder 8 Oil, but I have not because for one, I was home (NYC) for 3 weeks, and left it home, and two, I am terrified of build up. I have used it on my skin though, and I love it. Once I get my scalp clean I will get back to using it on my scalp. I will be doing a review on that as well.

I plan on taking my braids out anywhere between the 12th-21st of September. Pretty much on one of those weekends, before my birthday, which is the 27th of September.

I want to straighten my hair then, but I think that would be too much stress for it, so I think I will roller set it, and save flat ironing for my 2 year natural anniversary on the 16th of October.

Just wanted to give you all an update, and let you guys know that y'all were missed! I promise I will be posting a lot more often when these braids are out!

~Naomi

African Royale BRX Braid & Extension Sheen Spray - Review

I use my own concoction to moisturize my braids, but staying with family I came across African Royale BRX Braid Sheen Spray, so I gave it a try.  I have always wanted to use braid spray, but never got around to buying one, I don't wear braids too often, so I suppose that is why.

I sprayed my braids, and made sure to do the full length, and then sprayed my scalp.

It smells nice but literally 5 minutes later, my scalp was itching like crazy! I can't scratch my scalp, so I've been doing the 'Pat My Weave' dance. It does not itch as much since a few hours have passed, but I am quite disappointed. I had high hopes for this braid spray, especially since it was my first time using this product. I must be allergic to one of the ingredients, I am not sure which.


Ingredients:
Deionized Water , Glycerin , Propylene Glycol , PPG-12-PEG-50 Lanolin , Dicetyldimonium Chloride , Polyquaternium 32 & Paraffinum Liquidum , Tea Tree (Melaleuca Alternifolia) Leaf Oil , Polysorbate 80 , Oat (Avena Sativa) Kernel Extract , Allantoin , Silk Amino Acids , Sheep Sorrell , Yarrow , Slippery Elm Bark , Sage , Henna , Comfrey , Burdock Root , Goldenseal , Cherry Bark , Ginseng , Black Walnut , Chamomile , Alfalfa , Hyssop , Wheat Germ , Methyl & Propyl Paraben , Fragrance


The spray smells lovely, but I find that it dries very quickly, so I am not sure how moisturized my braids are. Either way, I cannot use it on my scalp. I am going to try to pay attention to the ingredients in this spray, to see if any other products I have contains any of the ingredients and see how my scalp reacts.

Sadly enough trial and error are the only way to see how well your hair will react to a product, luckily for me, I did not have to purchase this spraIy. So if you can try sample sizes, or travel sizes when trying a new product, I suggest doing so. It can save you some money!
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As far as moisturizing goes, my hair does not feel any better or worse than it did before I sprayed them with this product, I cannot speak for my scalp, since I had an allergic reaction, so even with only one use, this product did not do it for me.

I guess I can give it a 2 out of 5, just because I like the way it smells!