What a great idea. Can obsess to my heart's content without inflicting it on the innocent.

Have a worry that I'm close to terminal length, at 3 inches above waist. Have never been able to get past this without it getting really manky at the ends, having drastic cut, then starting over. But this is longer than I've ever got it before, and with good care, my ends are in good shape, so may be able to get to waist. Fingers crossed. The last six inches have seen some really rough treatment, plastic brushes when wet, chlorine, SLS, and other horrors, so when the last of that is snipped out, it may be the breakthrough.

Other worries: How do other people with really fine wavy hair plait it without all the strands fluffing and clinging together? Is there a secret trick?

On the plus side, have spiral and fig 8 buns down pat.

So, will just track what I'm doing to it, and see what works.

Shampoo: Richmond valley hemp oil
Cond: Same stuff.
Rating - really good and intensive. Not foamy. No dry ends. Smells yummy. Completely useless and impractical packaging.

Leave-in - RTF rosehip/aloe lotion. Stick with this only for a couple of weeks to see if it's enough protection against aircon without extra oil.

This SCL combo working well.

Going to try the Red Zinger tea thing. Wonder how it'll come out on the greys?

It's been a week without oiling, and my hair seems so much better. The frazzled ends have gone, and I haven't been on any split end search and destroy missions. Looks like that's it for oil. Perhaps it's like silicones - good if hair is moist, but forming a barrier to moisture when it's already dry. Mixing a little jojoba with the aloe/rosehip lotion will be the next test.

New hairsticks have finally arrived. All wonderful. Maidens Treasures are beautifully balanced, and the perfect length.

Tried Joico K-Pak conditioner and love it. Was sceptical cos of cones, but it works beautifully. Ends were even standing up to air conditioning. Won't use it every time, though, just in case. It can alternate with the others.

As good a place as any to fess up to the Red Zinger mishap. Made up a big jugful, but left it sitting on the counter for a couple of days, and didn't get around to using it. Then I hid it in a cupboard out of the sight of a visitor, and forgot all about it. Found it last night. Fungus farm! So back to the drawing board there.

Just cracked open a bottle of Natures Gate Lemon and ???? conditioner. The one for dry and damaged, anyway. Very, very good.

I'll never be able to evaluate my routine, because I get bored and try something different every week or so. About 6 shampoos and 5 conditioners on rotation. But whatever it is, it's working. soft ends, and only 2 very minor splits to be found when I S&D'ed this morning.

Have been fooling about with CO washing, but not sure yet what I think of it. Seems to rinse out in the shower - even to the 'squeaky clean' stage, but is weirdly soft and limp when dry. May just be a matter of getting used to it. Not brave enough to do it on a weekday morning in case it goes horrible during the day at work. Only at night, so if it turns out lank and greasy, can fix it in the morning.

Had yet another Red Zinger mishap. Put a few teabags into a jug, and poured the hot water over them. I hear a snap, and a crack runs right around my 50's pressed glass jug. That'll teach me to try these things in winter :(

After all the bad luck with tea, decided to flag it, and instead bought a bottle of rosewater, mixed in a few drops of cardamom-infused apricot kernel oil, and put that into a mister bottle instead. Works wonderfully, and smells divine. Onto a winner with this, so will drink the Red Zinger instead.