You guys should know by now the main things I do to my hair to retain growth: moisturize, wear low manipulation style and (recently added in June) get trims from a highly skilled professional.

I’m fully aware that trims don’t make your hair grow. However, it could very much hinder your hair growth by splitting up your hair shaft and making detangling a nightmare.

Besides, who wants wispy, see-through hair just to claim a certain hair length? So, that was my hair goal for 2019.

After having a baby in February, I was going to get my life hair back together. My first salon appointment in 10 years happened in June.

Read all about that first experience in detail here. 

When I first posted it, I had people messaging me saying that they could just look at my hair and know that I had undiscovered heat damage. Well, I didn’t. My hair reverted about six weeks after my initial appointment. 

You can even read about my August update here.

Let’s fast forward to December. I went back yet again to Her Growing Hands salon. How could I not, though? The owner and the specialist who does my hair, Whitney Eaddy, treats my wool-like strands like silk!

And now, my silk press: a sequel. 💁🏾‍♀️

 

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11:15 A.M.

I came in with more faith, confidence and all the fruits of the Spirit because I knew that if He did it before, He could do it again (through Whitney…LOL). My hair was still a little tangly, but it was way less tangled than last time.

11:20 A.M.

I was immediately sent to the shampoo bowl to bring life to my scalp and cleanse my hair. 💆🏾‍♀️

11:45 A.M.

Awww snap! It’s already taking less time than before. Some conditioner was put in my hair, and I was moved over to a salon seat to begin the detangling process. My hair was split into four sections, and Porsha (so funny) continued prepping my hair for success.

12:30 P.M.

We were done with the first section. Just one section? Yup! Three more to go. But they don’t rush the detangling process. Instead, they “allow the hair to let them in” and gradually loosen knots from bottom to top. (Yes, I said ‘they’ because at one point, Whitney came over to help. HA!)

1:45 P.M.

All four sections were detangled, and I was put under the steamer.

2:30 P.M.

I was taken back to the shampoo bowl to wash out my conditioner. That cold water will wake you all the way up!

 

2:45 P.M.
So… my hair kind of tangled around itself again. (What can I say? My strands love each other.) Some extra minutes were spent unwinding the unruly few again.

3 P.M.

Let’s just say that shrinkage is very… humbling. Whitney started blowing out my hair section by section. She got her arm and ab workout in for sure. C’mon, swimsuit season!

4 P.M.

Whitney flat ironed my hair in small sections. Right when she thought she was done, five more pieces of hair would pop out saying they needed her love too. LOL! But we got through it.

5:15 P.M.

After a minor trim, my hair was wrapped up and put under the dryer for about five minutes.

5:35 p.m.

Whitney revealed my takedown, a mini photoshoot ensued, and I was out the door as a very satisfied client (again).

Full disclosure: The recommendation is to get a trim every three to four months. I decided to see how every six months would be since I do next to nothing with my hair. I’ll monitor how that goes and let you all know. 

 

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Grow Your Own Bundles

My hair didn’t retain length until I learned that it doesn’t want to be anything but itself. Meaning that my kinky head doesn’t really want to be in a tight bun with baby hair. That would be doing too much. I had to let go of straight styles and embrace the curls because that’s how my hair wanted to be.

Listen to your hair and find out what healthy styles it does and does not like. Then, stick to those styles and stop doing the most. 

One thing I couldn’t do was trim my own hair. That’s why I needed to seek professional help. But as I stated in my first silk press post, I researched for MONTHS before booking online with anyone.

If you’re able to book at Her Growing Hands, I did the research for you. Do it. But, if you’re not able to for whatever reason, here are some starter questions you need to ask a hair specialist before sitting in his or her chair for a trim:

1. What does your portfolio look like?
   It’s 2019. If you aren’t stalking this potential hair specialist’s social media accounts and reviews to see what the real deal is, what are you even doing?
2. How much training and experience do you have with kinky hair patterns?
   And I’m not talking about thick curly hair. Have you had to straighten Celie’s hair before? Has Viola Davis’ throw-off-the-wig scenes given you flashbacks to clients past?
3. How do you deal with or handle natural hair?
   If the answer is anything but “gently,” try again. Trust me. At my first silk press visit, it took nine hours from start to finish. FIVE OF THOSE HOURS WERE JUST FOR DETANGLING! Why? Because I went to someone who believes in showing TLC to even the most difficult of heads. Most salon professionals would be contemplating a cute cut for a person who basically had freeform locs. Don’t go to those ones.
4. Do you trim natural hair curly or when straightened?
   I’ve seen a lot of cute curly cuts, but I wouldn’t be comfortable walking around with my hair uneven (because it sure will be uneven when straightened). Plus, the way my shrinkage is set up, my strand could be a certain length one day and a new length the next. I don’t need a stylist “eyeballing” what length they think it’ll be at the time of the cut.
5. How much hair do you usually trim off?
   We’ve all known a few scissors-happy stylists. They have a rule of cutting off two inches no matter what. Make sure you go to somebody who will only  trim your hair to whatever length will allow you to maintain optimum health. (Verify with the portfolio we discussed.) The amount trimmed off will vary depending on your damage, but the amount to cut off should not be a secret. They should be willing to have an open conversation with you about it.

Unfortunately, my hair goal of having longer hair in its curly state will never be reached because… shrinkage. BUT I’ll be close to waist length in 2020 of the year of our Lord. 💁🏾‍♀️

You’ll get more details about this salon visit in this week’s podcast. (It’ll really just be a hair video.) Let’s hope that I don’t mess up this hair in any way before then. LOL!