I gave in to the combs and the cones :(

Recently I have had enough of my hair so I bought a wig, some rollers, and a diffuser.  Ok, the wig look okish but defo couldn't wear to work.  I  bought paul mitchell conditioner which has cones in it and once I used that it's like I cracked.  On a plus side, I have semi straightened my hair using bantu knots.  I also used a comb and more cones, my hair feels so much softer with the cones!  Do think I may have pulled out quite a lot of hair but on the plus side, I won't be washing my hair for about two weeks because I won't have to keep washing it to revive the curls.  The main thing tho is I haven't used heat or shampoo with alcohol.  I last for over two months so deserve some credit!

The Twist Out

I have been chopping and hacking my hair!  The ends of my hair was so damaged from heat and looked awful!.  I have chopped it to shoulder length own and it looks much better.  I have to keep telling myself that healthy hair is better than length!

Anyways, so I tried a twist out on Friday and it looked very messy but the twists that were done correctly looked loved.  I think it didn't come out right due to too much product, dead ends, not all twists were the same size, not many twists.

Today, I washed my hair again.
I detangled my hair dry with tresemme naturals, co washed and detangled again, rinsed out conditioner, saturated hair with conditioner, towel dried hair until it was damp, added kinky curly knot today, ecostyler( a small amount) and jojoba oil.  I have started to treat the middle of my hair differently as I recognised the curls are tighter and drier so I seperate that section from the rest and put it in a saturated with conditioner bun.  I tend did two strand twists, spritizing water when I needed to and adding coconut oil to really dry parts.  The ends of my hair I used shea butter to hold the ends in place, not sure if it will work but tried. I had about 10 twists on each sided and then placed all my hair in a satin bonnet.  I will await the results.

CG method

Since the last post I have washed my hair three times!  Not because I need to but but because I wanted to try out the curly girl method.  I have been following loads of youtubers but my favourite at the moment is mahogany curls.  I did my own cg method today and did the following:-

Co washed my hair with Tresemme Naturals and jojoba oil, the latter to help with moisturing.  I do not use alot of the oil.  I then washed everything out and put the conditioner and oil on again and detangled my hair.  I saturated my hair in conditioner.  I then did the acordion method all over my hair and then left it, no touching, shaking, actually I did naughtily part my hair with a comb for a middle part.  After an hour I lightly scrunched my hair with kitchen towel where I saw white bits.  I have also decided that my goal is for my hair to look healthy and free, maybe slightly frizzy  like the pics below.

My hair nightmare

Ok, so I have long hair but chose to put a weave in because it will be easier to get up and go, give my hair a break from straightening, easier during bikram ( yes, the bikram I have not returned to).  I kept it in for just over three months and stupidly did not comb my hair through before washing it, yes I know, I am a total idiot.  As a result, my hair matted big time!  I ended up having to rip half my hair out and as a result a waste of giving my hair a break and the growth, well all it all got ripped out. So...my plan is, firstly to stop moping around about it!

Eat healthy and take vitamins - Currently taking biotin, sea kelp, vitamin A and cod liver oil.  Thinking of getting a pre natal, sea kelp, msm and silica gel.  Need to eat more greens, I liquidise fruits each day but need to eat more veg.
Use better hair products - no sulfate, parabens, alcohol or silicones.
Moisturise hair daily
Massage scalp daily
Read curly girl method book and grow it book
Try different hair styles, see below

Not on the bandwagon yet!

Ok, so being teetotal did not last long.  But....I definately drink in moderation as in I may drink alcohol if I am out every two weeks or less.  Even when I do drink I know when to stop.  I also paid £77 and went to Bikram yoga once last month which is an absolute waste of money! There is a deal on at the moment, £150 for 45 days, I am going to sign up to that and if I can't manage to keep it up then maybe I am just to lazy to go. I finally got my smooth maker and food processor so have been making lots of smoothies, I just need to start using the other food processor now.

Also been thinking about my finances, I have 8k saved and want to have saved 13k by 31st May 2013.  I have no idea what I am saving for my the way, it's definately nice to have financial stability though. I have made a savings plan which I think is realistic as it takes into account my bills and holidays.  I also consider that I may be £1000 +/- each way but I will stick to it as much as I can:-

August 31st - pay for flight 500 and  200 to savings
September 30th - 700 to savings
October 31st - 700 to savings
November 30th - Spending money and hotels 1000 and 200 to savings
December 31st - Sales 300 to savings
January 31st - 700 to savings
February 28th - 700 to savings
March 31st - 700 to savings
April 30th - 700 to savings
May 31st  - 700 to savings

Goals -
Continue to work towards chartership- currently not feeling motivated at work and my time management is terrible, I totally procrastinate  all the time.  I will be chartered so I don't have to answer to people or be supervised.  I can be independent, sign up to agencies and be my own BOSS!
Continue to eat healthily- currently I binge eat and this tends to be when I am round others, it may be the social aspect or it may be to show people that I can.  I find it hard to east in moderation but I am working on that.  I have to watch what I am eating to have a healthy heart and live longer. 
Continue to excercise- similar to reasons above, want to be more toned, to help heart and scoliosis.  I just want to relax when I am not a work not go and excercise spending my free time.  I will look at it as using my free time effectively.
Continue to read get rich books- Never believed in self help books but I am 31 now and still renting, I would like to earn more than 27k a year, at least 50k would make me happy.  I will start of with the richest man in babylon.
Continue to save to save 20k by the end of the 2013- Just 12 k to go, I am definately going to reach there.  Would get there quicker if I wasn't so frivilous with my money.

Falling off the wagon :(

I have not been back to Bikram Yoga since the 26th April.  Tut tut!  I was doing really well by going approximately 4 times a week.  Why have I not been back so long you ask?  I have been to Berlin, Paris and Greece since then so there seemed to be no point paying for an £150 monthly pass or £15 for one session. But...I have got my £975 sitting there to pay for a annual membership.  As I have fallen off the wagon slightly with my healthy eating and quiet frankly my body feels awful, lacking energy and feeling generally boated.  I want to get back to my healthy eating for a week and then I will pay for my membership.  In a week or two.

Also, to help me get healthier, on the 22nd June will be two years since I have given up meat and I have decided on this anniversary I am going to go teetotal and give up alcohol.  Lately because my body has been clean when I have consumed large quantities of alcohol I have felt awful.  In addition, I am not very good a drinking only small amounts, lol.  Also, I have a heart condition and I am actually suppose to drink either limited amounts or no alcohol.  So, another reason to give it up and increase my coconut water and smoothie intake.  That reminds me, need to buy food processor.

Have been thinking about tasty healthy snacks but it's diffiicult.  Pretzels, Popcorn, Almonds, Coconut Pieces, Dr Karg's crackers, Nairn's oatcakes, caffe nero dark chocolate covered coffee beans, fruits, sounds a wee bit boring :(

Bikram poses