Ooops I Did it Again - Long Term Protective Style {Prep}

Since my last long-term protective style session, I wore my hair loose for 3 weeks and now I'm at it again.

Lightly blown-out hair

A few days ago I prepared for another 6-week run. Here's how:

Pre-pooed - grapeseed and EVOO hot oil treatment (on scalp), Aubrey's Honeysuckle Rose on the length of my hair and sealed that with the aforementioned oil mix and let it sit for about an hour (while I slept lol). I detangled when I was done pre-pooing, before I shampooed.

Shampooed - ORS Creamy Aloe shampoo for a clarifying wash.

Tea rinsed - Orange spice black tea and lemon tea. I did this because I tend to experience lots of shedding deep into a stretch. Without removing the tea from my hair, I proceeded to the next step.

Deep conditioned - DC mixup inclusive of Aubrey's HSR, vegetable glycerin, water, EVOO and grapeseed oil, along with peppermint, tea tree, lavender, and rosemary oils. (for about an hour while I worked out)

Cooled and sealed - Tresseme Moisture Rich conditioner

Lastly, I rinsed and did a final 'comb thru' and used ponytail holders to make taut quadrants in the shower. This helps to stretch my roots. I T-shirt dried for about 1/2 an hour then removed it and applied some Tresseme to each section as my leave-in and then let my hair air-dry in the ponytail holders (looking like a four year old ;-/).

4 sections to stretch new-growth

After my hair was about 80% dry, I used some heat protectant and lightly blew my hair out with moderate heat. I was now ready to braid it up! I used the beehive braiding pattern which I talked about here. I love the method as it is very effective at keeping my hair right for the duration of the protective style. Executing this step took about an hour. Finally I moisturized and sealed my hair and was off to bed.

The next day I was ready to wear my protective style. The one I chose this time around is the Sensationnel Empress Natural Lace Front Wig GISELLE, a synthetic lace wig which looked like this when I bought it...

Official website pic

Wig on me (1 or 2 inches cut shorter)

It was wayy too long and wavy for my taste, so I cut it to my liking. This is how it turned out.

Final cut - bob

My intention is to wear it for 6 weeks. I hope I (and it) can last that long. I want to wear it until about a week before my relaxer. 

Wish me luck.

XOXO,

Abbi