Congratulations on starting your hair journal, Elaine84!

Congratulations on your indispensability!

A note on the oil.  I know that hot oil can diminish hair color when applied after a commercial hair color treatment.  I don't know if this is true with henna, but I just wanted to mention it.  I think you'd be OK with room temp oil, but hot you might want to stay away from.

I am a huge fan of apple cider vinegar rinses.  They help my scalp when it gets itchy or too dry.  I especially like to do them before a deep treatment, after shampooing-I think the conditioner penetrates better and my hair is much wavier with it.

I also recommend neem for an itchy scalp.  You can get the oil as well as shampoo/conditioner from the health food store.  I particularly like Max Green Alchemy:

http://www.maxgreenalchemy.com/item--Scalp-Rescue-Shampoo--MGASH.html

http://www.maxgreenalchemy.com/item--Scalp-Rescue-Conditioner--MGACN.html

Good luck!

Sakina:  Thank you for the tip and I will have to try the neem oil!  I'd never heard of it before, it sounds wonderful.  I think I'm gonna have to talk my hubby into letting me get some slightly pricier shampoo and conditioner because the Max Green looks right up my ally!

Curlgirl64:  Eeps!  Glad I didn't try it right away, I think I might even wait an extra week just to be on the safe side.  I'm afraid I'm a little green behind the ears when it comes to henna.  It's such a beautiful and simple, yet complex, process.  Thank you for giving me the heads up!

Hair Stuffs:
        Washed my hair today.  I know it was kind of soon, but when ever I have a cold it just feels so refreshing to have clean, happy smelling hair.  To apologise a bit I gooped on the conditioner and cholestral.  After my shower I let it dry about halfway and then put on Paul Mitchell's Super Skinny Serum and Nioxen's Silk Elixer.  My hair is so soft right now!  I'm probably going to order my first boar bristle brush tonight because I miss brushing my hair.   
        Hubby took pictures of my hair today!  But I was wearing my favorite T-shirt, and apparently my hair blends with it.     So I'll try again tomorrow.  Just as well, I wasn't totally happy with the lighting.   

Life Stuffs:
        I have tried to reply to all the wonderful comments to my introduction, but four times now something has gone wrong and the whole post has been deleted.    My sincere apologies!  I've never been on a forum before and apparently I'm as clutzy in the internet as I am in real life!  Rofl!
        Work went well today.  I got to work with Big John, which is always a treat.  My cough was a little annoying, but it's way better than it was yesterday!
        Some friends of ours came by to visit today which was a total blessing!  We don't get to see them enough.  *hugs friends*

3 Blessings:
1)  DH cleaned the kitchen and living room for me without me even hinting or anything!
2)  Peppermint tea has helped so much today and yesterday.  The yummiest medicine ever!
3)  We got blueberries at Kroger today, it's been ages since I've had fresh blueberries!  Nom nom nom.   

Hair Stuffs:
        Washed hair tonight so I won't have to deal with it over the weekend.  Shampoo and co with TRESsemme Naturals Moisterizing.  Used Nioxin's Silk Elixir and PM's Super Skinny Serum again.  I have to admit, since I've had this cold I haven't wanted to do to much with my hair.  Poor hair. 

        You might notice I wash my hair fairly frequently, on average about three times a week.  A big part of this is do to the fact that my job is fairly arduous and the kitchen can reach temps of over 110 degrees farenheit during the hottest parts of the summer.  Thankfully we just had air conditioning installed!  (First time this restraunt has ever had air in its kitchen, its been around for 20yrs!)  By the time I get out of work all I want to do is wash my hair!    I've been thinking about different things I could do to help my hair and scalp from drying out.  After I finish this entry I'm going to explore around the forum, I bet I find lots of amazing ideals and recipes!  *squee*

        The boar brush has been shipped!  The mebco comb hasn't, but I'm sure it will soon.

Life Stuffs:
        Work was so slow today!  Today my job was definitely not arduous.  I'd rather be busy busy busy.  Ah well, I'm sure we'll be packed Saturday!
      
        I've been contemplative lately about how I portray (not the right word but too tired to think of a better one!) myself to people.  Words, facial expressions, mannerisms, actions, re-actions, clothes; anything and everything!  I hate how I dress.  Absolutely 100% not happy with it.   Not too long ago, about two years, I had to take hormones.  In three to four months I had gained 40lbs.  Safe to say I got off of the meds.  Not only is that not healthy, but I think that could even be dangerous, though I'm no where near an expert!  Anywho, before all that jazz went down I had beautiful floor length skirts I would wear all the time and feminine floaty tops and corsets.  I miss them.  Even typing that I feel ashamed.  I should be happy no matter what size I am.  I am beautiful no matter what size I am or what I wear.  It's a mantra.  But I miss feeling feminine, graceful, the swish of my skirts, the softness, the elegance.  Now all I wear are my hubby's cammo cargo shorts and t-shirts.  Gah!  And then I had all my hair chopped off.  That's why I need my hair.  I need to reclaim that part of me.

        Totally did not mean to get introspective!  I blame it on the late/early hour.  Glad I did though.  It's always a good feeling to know yourself better.     That also makes me even more determined to lose a little of that weight.  Even if it's five or ten pounds.

3 Blessings:
1)  Kellie is coming tomorrow!  Don't tell anyone, but she's my favorite sis-in-law!   
2)  My hubby.  I can't think of any particular reason why.  He's just that awesome.
3)  Chibi running to the door to greet me when he heard me on the other side.  Who says kitties aren't as affectionate as their canine counterparts?   

Love your kitty.  Looks just like my Frisbee, who died 4 yrs. ago.