The Journey

I started my hair journey my senior year of high school. I never considered it as a “hair journey” because I was very inconsistent, all over the place, and I could never seem to get a routine of washing, protein treatments, and all the other things I’ve seen on YouTube.

It wasn’t until my freshmen year of college that I took out a u-part wig I had in all semester (taking it out once to wash and re-install) that I realized my hair really grows when its put away. My u-part wigs and full wig units gave my relaxed hair life and once I seen growth I wanted to keep it that way.

So that’s exactly what I did, I continued to wear units all the time. But I later realized that wasn’t enough. I then started to experiment with different products for protein treatments and I found out that I loved Aphogee two step protein treatment. It always left my strands healthy and strong after a relaxer. I have always used motions relaxer, shampoo, and conditioner. Implementing the protein treatment into my regular routine really put the icing on the cake for me. I began to also trim after every relaxer and wear my hair out more to learn more about its health.

969

Although I am very simple within my hair growth process I’ve tested many things out but what I do now works for me 100%. So my relaxed hair regimen goes as followed:

Relax every two or so months with my motions relaxer
Wash with motions shampoo and conditioner
Trim Every relaxer
Wash with any type of conditioner between relaxers. I don’t shampoo unless my hair is really dirty. I only wash my hair if I feel its necessary or if I want to change my braid pattern.
I only deep condition if my hair seems limp or if its having trouble holding in moisture (which is very seldom)
Do protein treatment a couple of weeks after every other relaxer (4 months) or as needed.
Protective style 99.9% of the time
and Lastly have fun!

Disclaimer: This is what I do for my hair, this may not work for others.

So after four years of learning my hair its growing beautifully. Good luck ladies, and I hope my journey will inspired you.

Do what you love, and love what you do.

–BrianneLive

BLADE |The Hair Flip

@kelbpics on instagram is such a great photographer and he was a big inspiration for this shoot! He captures amazing pictures of women and their natural hair/Locks. His pictures seem to tell a story and the women in the pictures convey (to me) how much confidence they have within themselves. Kel the relaxed ladies can hair flip too lol (Go check him out).

The Story

My great photographer @sheepishnarco captured my story and my confidence as well. When me and him seen this shot we knew this was the one, the BLADE. As a young adult I’ve dealt with heart break, peer pressure, and people telling me my dream were too far fetch. This BLADE represents my strength, my ability to fight back, and the trials and tribulations I go through to try to be pleasing in gods eyes.

To every women around the world your BLADE is being Bold, Loud, Attentive, having
Drive, and giving life your best Effort, to be the best you.

Love what you do, and do what you love.

–Briannelive

Why I Love My Relaxed Hair Tag#

FullSizeRender (1) — Photographer |IG: Sheepishnarco

Starting off the new year with an idea that had been on my mind. When god was ready for it to come to forum he placed it in my mind, my heart, and right in front of my eyes. We all know that as of lately going “Natural” has been “the move”. Don’t get me wrong I am very proud of these changes because it’s very beneficial. But I’ve come across many women that were regretful, confused, and just following the crowd.

I wear many hats and one of those being a hairstylist. I love all my clients they bring me so much joy, new ideas, and great conversation. Which was a great force behind my idea of this hair tag. Many clients and others have asked me “are you relaxed?” and after I would say yes they would immediately respond and ask “Why?”.

So at first, I had to process that being relaxed wasn’t apart of the society norms anymore even though the same women asking me that question were relaxed not too long ago. In my new project (not yet released) I compared natural vs. relaxed to the light skinned vs. dark skinned issue. I noticed that as African American women their is always SOMETHING used to separate and categorize our race as if it isn’t enough of that going on in the world already.

“Growing up it was ‘your pretty for a dark skinned girl’ and now this, i’m just wondering when is it going to stop?”

I had to ask myself why did I really love my relaxed hair because now it was being questioned, challenged, and frowned upon. By the people who say “you really shouldn’t put chemicals in your hair” and “you don’t love the natural tresses that grow from your head”.

For me that was not true at all. Being relaxed is a choice and it isn’t something that I did because everyone else was doing it or that it was acceptable to society. I’ve been relaxed since I was a small child and its always worked for me. I love my hair straight and I can wear my hair in many different styles and it is very flexible and versatile. My hair is very healthy and thick and this is true for many many relaxed women around the world.

“It looks really nice, I enjoy your videos because it’s getting harder to find relaxed ladies to follow. Keep up the great work!! 🙂”

-Kalisha Jones

Being relaxed is a choice, just like being natural is a choice, just like bleaching your hair, what you eat for dinner, and what you chose to learn. Relaxed ladies don’t be discouraged, don’t give up on something just to follow the trend. I know it’s hard to do when all you see is naturalista’s all over, but I am here and hopefully more relaxed ladies will join me in telling you WHY WE LOVE OUR RELAXED HAIR and just maybe it’ll help you love your relaxed hair too.

Do what you love, and love what you do.

–Brianne.Live