Hair Love: Moroccanoil Luminous Hairspray

Hey, guys!  I promise you that I was NOT on a hunt for another hair product - because I WASN’T!  Buuuut I got curious.  I had already had a full blown fawning session over their hair serum some moons ago, so I naturally became intrigued by some of the other offerings in the Moroccanoil lineup.  More specifically, their hairspray.  So when I happened upon it while perusing a site online, curiosity grabbed me by the collar, one thing led to another... yadda, yadda, yadda and now here we are.  The travel sized version is what I bought; however, I already know that the full-size can of their Luminous Hairspray is ultimately what I will end up with very soon.

Moroccanoil is well known for their argan oil-infused goods and their Luminous Hairspray is no exception.  Along with boasts of humidity resistance and frizz control, it provides a flexible hold while imparting a mirror-like shine.  It comes in two different holds: Medium and Strong.  I inadvertently bought the latter, but I’m glad for it as I already have a moderate hand when it comes to styling sprays and it ended up serving my recovering strands well. 

At first I thought that the argan oil in the spray would way my hair down and cause a problem, but I must say that I was pleasantly surprised and well rewarded for the gamble with full, bouncy curls that held well after styling as well as throughout the week.  It gave my locks a nice shine, too. 

Now I will say that although I absolutely LOVE the smell of the hair treatment serum, when it came down to the hairspray — not so much.  At least not during the initial application.  When it first comes out the can, it smells a bit off from the signature sweet fragrance that is signature to the brand.  Almost like it has turned or something.  But once it has settled, it’s fine and dissipates after day one or so.  So if you’re sensitive to smells then this (and perhaps the brand) may not be for you as the fragrance is very pervasive.  I, on the other hand, don’t mind it. 

As I mentioned earlier, I have their hair treatment serum, which is great.  But this Luminous Hairspray right here?  It is awesome! A staple in many salons, their Luminous Hairspray  - as well as many of their other products - have garnered quite the following.  And I’m slowly but surely starting to see why. 

Moroccanoil Luminous Hairspray can be found at Sephora(.)com and Amazon(.)com, and retails for $10/2.3 oz. (mini-size) or $24/10 oz. (full-size).  

Rapunzel, Rapunzel...

Well, not quite... But I wanted to give an update on the status of my hair.  And it’s a good one.  My hair is steadily gaining density as well as length and I am pretty keyed up about it.

Per my last post, my hair was inching past shoulder length, struggling a little with the gap I had dead square in the middle.  Even with that, I was progressing.  But I was also getting a little impatient with the process.  Amassing volume was one thing while length was another.  And I was more than a tad frustrated with the lack of the latter.  So I decided to be more mindful of how much I was cutting and, instead, started to focus more on length.

Well, I must say that I have seen improvement, which makes me happy!  Do you see it, too?  My hair is dropping (i.e., my hair’s weight is shifting to the bottom) due to its growth.

(Before)

(Now)

You can see the difference in my curls; they’re now fuller, longer.

(Before)

(Now)

And the patch near my temple is filling in nicely as well...

There’s not too much more I can say that the pictures don’t already convey.  I’ve been sticking to my usual hair care regimen, but I should also tell you that I’ve been pulling (more like tugging) on sections of my hair to help its progress.  I know, I know - it sounds crazy!  It may be a placebo effect, but I’ve been “tugging” for years and I really think it aids in stimulating growth.  *SHRUGS*

Anywho, I like what I’m seeing.

I like how I’m feeling.

I’m starting to feel like my former self.

And that feels good.

good. Well, I must say that I have seen improvement, which makes me happyI’m seeing.  I feel like I’m returning to my former self.  I feel good.    

Operation Restoration: Length

Hey, guys!  My hair is definitely getting thicker and I’m so happy about that.  I really have been taking my time in caring for it and my healthy hair efforts are paying off.  But I gotta tell you that I’m growing a little impatient.  I want more length.  I need it.  Like, NOW!  So let’s get right down to the nitty gritty: I’m officially turning over the hourglass and kicking off the next installment of Operation Restoration - my official hair care routine for growth.  It’s time to grow some hair, y’all.

After washing and blow drying my hair, I was somewhat dismayed by what I saw.  The “hole” in the middle of my hair that I talked about in my last post seemingly got bigger.  I mean, I knew that some evidence of it would be there since I had previously cut just shy of getting rid of it totally.  But the gap should not have grown, at least by my calculations.  I mean, what gives, right?

Well, turns out I did NOT do my due diligence in checking out and caring for the underside hair above the nape of my neck.  These hairs are always prone to breakage since they come most in contact with items such as wool sweaters and neck jewelry that can ensnare strands, thus sabotage growth.  And this is where the gap has found its home on my head.  This is its origin.

I should have just cut it.  I should have at least paid attention to it and at least trimmed that section.  Well, "shoulda", "woulda", "coulda"... but didn't.  But "can" and "will" as of right now...

And so I gave myself a mini-chop, cutting about an inch/inch and a half off, which basically accounts for all the new growth I gained.  Like I said before, I'm trying not to cut too much off because it's hard for me to wrap it at too short a length.  It just won't stay wrapped around my head.  It already takes me close to 15 minutes as it is with this length as I have to finagle it and then hold my head at an awkward angle just to keep it all from cascading right back down again.  But really, it's the number of hairs that I need to gain most.  And as you can see, my hair IS thickening up, so there's that...

And then I curled and styled it.

And now here we are...

You know, watching your hair grow is like... well, watching your hair grow!  It's a frustrating, laborious wait that seems to take FOREVER!  Oh, and one misstep and it's back to the starting blocks.  It's never the length that you want when you want it... but then it shows up.  And that's the part I'm soooo looking forward to.  I want it to show up and show out, you know?  And I know that it will because it has before.  

I am super laser-focused on getting everything I lost back - and then some.  Time to turn the page and start the next chapter of this operation.  Gotta get this length poppin'.  And it's coming, y'all.  I just gotta keep plugging away at it.  It.  Is.  Coming.

Operation Restoration: Volume

Hey, guys!  So I’m not even gonna beat around the bush.  Operation Restoration is still going strong and I gotta quick update for you that I wanna share if you’re ready.  Are you ready?  Well, alrighty then!  Let’s go...

After washing, blow drying and flat ironing my hair the other day, I noticed immediately that the “hole” in the middle of my hair where my hair was missing has gotten smaller - which elicited a huge smile of relief to spread across my face.  I’m not totally there yet, as you can see, but my hair is growing in nicely.

I have noticed over the past few weeks the shedding subsiding and a closer look at my "hair gap" has left me confident that I have successfully staved off the significant breakage that has plagued me since last we spoke.

Using the gap as a guide, I cut my hair as close to its fullest point as possible, cutting just shy of getting rid of the gap completely.  Believe me - there's a method to my madness.  I am trying to keep my hair at this length simply because it's easier for me to handle as far as styling, wrapping it at night, etc., but recognize that there may be one more chop on the horizon needed to completely regain its thickness before setting sail for longer length.

But I must say that I am loving the fullness I currently have right now.  I can feel the weight coming back onto my shoulders.  I can also feel the increased volume of tresses on my head as I bounce and walk and turn.  And guess what?  It feels so good, y'all!

I am feeling more and more like my old self, guys.  Like I said, I'm still in the process, but everyday I feel better and better.  And I can see the fruits of all my laboring.  Besides my skin clearing up (gotta update y'all on that soon), my hair has gained much needed volume.  Been trying new products (a few for my face and one for hair) and, ooh-wee, I am loving them!  Dare I say it, but I'm starting to have a little fun with it all now, just like the old days.

So the final report: no length gained, however, the volume has been turned up, up, UP!  I am totally encouraged and ready to step into the next phase of the operation, which is coming sooner than later.  Gotta be paaaatient... remember?  #WINNING

Operation Restoration - Maintenance

Hey, guys!  So I wanted to give you all a quick update on how my hair has been doing these past few weeks as I become more entrenched in "Operation Restoration" (my all-out/all-in plan to regain the health and length of my hair).  It has been quite the struggle, I must say, but I've been steady in my implementation of said plan - focusing first and foremost on regaining its density via a stringent diet of trims and cutbacks until its thickness has been restored.

I haven't changed too much, including the products I use and the schedule in which I use them.  I still wash my hair once a week and use the same shampoos/conditioners I've always used along with the Olaplex I recently added to my regimen to guard against breakage.

Next, I trim, trim and trim some more.  As you can tell, my hair has a ways to go as far as it getting thicker; you can clearly see the white of my tank through the back of my hair still.  And so I cut it, maintaining the same length every time I snip so that the shorter hairs can eventually catch up to the longer ones, allowing my hair to become more dense.

Consequently, I have no new gains - as far as length - to report.  My hair, in fact, appears to be the same length as when I initially chopped it off.  But it lays pretty nicely after I curl it with my flatiron, keeps a nice sheen and feels good, too...

BUT... I've been having some major breakage recently.  Now, for the record, I did stop using the Olaplex for two washings because I thought it was making my scalp slightly sensitive.  It wasn't burning or anything drastic like that.  I just... hmm... I guess I thought it was feeling a little tender after weekly use and I wanted to be careful.  AND while I did have an occasional smattering of small broken ends here and there while using Olaplex (too modest to even cause concern), it does not even compare to what I had experienced without it.  In fact, during all my adult days of taking care of my hair, I've NEVER had breakage like what you see above.  For me, this is not normal.  Nor acceptable.  And so back to Olaplex I go until my hair gets back to normal.

Welp, that's my update, guys.  Not much gained as far as length, but slow and steady will win this contest.  It's not really a "contest", I know.  But you get my point.  Once I tackle the thickness issue (or lack thereof), then I will address length.  And I feel encouraged.  I know I'll be back to form soon enough.  Just gotta be patient.  Paaaaaaatient....

Operation Restoration moving right along!  

Through Thick and Thin

Hey, guys.  You see this plant?  Do you see how thick it is?  How robust and full the leaves are?  How densely packed and healthy it looks?  Well, that's how my hair USED to be.  Thick, healthy and full... just like this rubber tree plant.

But then things changed.  My health took a slight turn and, despite the continuous care and devoted effort, my hair fell out.  My once thick mane turned into an emaciated mess.  Hard to manage and style resistant, my tresses and all that I worked so hard to gain - the length, shine and overall condition - literally went down the drain.  My full head of hair was no more... just like this rubber tree plant.

It was quite shocking.  It IS quite shocking, I should say.  Patchy.  Uneven.  Incredibly thin.  Totally unrecognizable.  I mean, those who are familiar with my hair story know that I had an incident where a girl burned my hair off with a super hot, unchecked Marcel curling iron before, causing the majority of my hair to go down my shower drain while washing it the week after said incident.  So losing my hair in such a devastating way is not necessarily new to me.  But that was EONS ago.  I've gained so much haircare knowledge since that time that I just knew that I would never, ever go through anything like that again.  And, lo and behold, this happened...

And it's one thing for your hair to be burned off mid-strand - at least it's still tethered to your scalp.  But it's a totally different animal for those strands to FALL OUT.  Bald spots and thin patches usually cannot be remedied simply with a short haircut.  No - more often, one must seek a more creative, concerted solution for hiding a scantily clad scalp.  I have a visibly small patch above my right temple and don't dare wear a part on that side anymore.

And so I've started the process all over again.  I have cut my hair to right below my shoulders and operation "Grow Back" (eh... it's not the official name, but will suffice for now) is in total and full effect.  Objective: to grow my hair longer, stronger and better than it was before... or, at least, than it is now.  Thin sides and bald patches be damned!

When I started my hair journey years ago, its length was just past my shoulders.  I paid close attention to caring for it properly and it flourished.  And now what was once old is now new again.  I am starting from scratch, practically from the same point length-wise, but with an additional hurdle to clear.  And that's OK.  It has to be.  I mean, it is what it is.  And the same dedication I employed all those moons prior, I am pairing it with a pound of patience so that I can return my "crown" to its regal glory.  And I will be chronicling my process of reinstatement right here... every step of the way. #operationgrowback #operationrestoration #herewego #yesIcan