Search Results: Nikki Walton
It takes just the right blend of water (for moisture”> and emollients (for smoothing”> to tame coils and curls. The emollients are the tricky part. Too heavy and they’ll weigh your hair down, too light and you’ll end up with frizz.
What you need to know first
To find the right leave-ins for your hair, it’s important that you understand your “strand thickness,” otherwise known as “hair width“, which can be categorized as “fine to medium” or “medium to thick”. When you see those words on a product label, they’re not referring to how much hair you have; they’re describing the thickness of each individual strand on your head.
The words “coarse” and “thick” are used interchangeably, but they both refer to the size of individual strands of hair. Your “strand thickness” isn’t determined by your ethnic background. Two women may have similar looking coils, but one woman’s strands might be twice the size of the others. The only way to know exactly where your hair falls would be to visit a trichologist or dermatologist who has a special microscope that measures strand size.
Fine hairs are around 60 micrometers in diameter; thick hairs are around 100 micrometers. However, you don’t need to be that exact. The tell-tale sign of fine hair is thick-looking roots with a thin-looking ponytail. If you have fine hair, you’re likely to have a lot of strands. Those strands look nice and dense near the roots, but as the hair grows longer, the relative thinness of the strands becomes more noticeable.
The strand thickness slightly varies on different parts of your head, so it can still be difficult to decide how to categorize your hair. Don’t worry about getting too specific, you just need a general idea, so you can find products that make your hair look and feel the way you want. Choose your leave-in conditioners and stylers based on the emollients that you see in the top 5.
Choose your leave-in conditioners and stylers based on the emollients that you see in the top 5.
If you think your strands are fine to medium, choose products that contain lightweight emollients. If you think your strands are on the thicker side, look for products that contain heavier emollients. Whether you’re using a leave-in conditioner or styler, you need to be able to distribute the product evenly, from root to tip, without worrying that it will leave your hair looking greasy.
Lighter emollients for fine to medium thickness
- Argan oil
- C12-15 alkyl bbenzoate
- Dimethicone
- Grapeseed oil
- Mango butter
- Phenyl trimethicone
- Soybean oil
- Sunflower oil
- Sweet almond oil
Heavier emollients for medium to coarse thickness
- Avocado oil
- Castor oil
- Cetyl esters
- Cocoa butter
- Coconut oil
- Jojoba oil
- Olive oil
- Mineral oil
- Shea butter
- Sorbitol esters
This article was written by Nicole Harmon, author of Coils & Curls: The Hair Product Handbook, and published on CurlyNikki.
Have you figured out your strand thickness? What helped you decide?
Keep your hair moisturized
Spritz some water on it before bed to keep it moisturized through the night. Yeah, by now you are tired of hearing this right? Moisture, moisture, moisture (I don’t know why marsha, marsha, marsha just popped in my head from the Brady bunch”> but I kind of like that. Don’t let Marsha get all the attention at the party because you forgot to keep your hair moisturized like Marsha, and her hair is now on FLEEK!
Pineapple your hair
You worked way to hard on that twist out, braid out, or rod set for it to go to waste in one day! Pineapple your hair (under your satin bonnet or with your satin Pillowcase”> so that your curls last more than just one day. I live for 4th and 5th day hair!
Sleep on a satin pillowcase or in a satin bonnet
This is the most important tip right here! Cotton pillowcases will snatch your edges left and right and cause major breakage. I know we all had that one day where we were just too tired to tie our hair up and took one for the team. Well let that be the only time you do that. Cotton pillowcases wick the moisture from your hair which is bound to cause breakage, of which we do not want! So this step is a must it cannot be skipped, you cannot pass go or collect your $200!
You can also apply all of these tips for your child’s hair as well. It’s important to also protect your little ones hair just like yours.
This article was written by Michelle Thames of HappilyEverNatural.com and published on CurlyNikki.
How do you protect your hair at night? What is your routine?
We can apply as many products and concoctions to our hair as we want, but if our bodies aren’t healthy on the inside then we certainly won’t look our best on the outside. It’s important that we all stay physically active to be healthy, but there’s no denying that this can create challenges for our hair routines. Although we no longer have to worry about “sweating out our perm”, us natural ladies have other issues we must address when working out.
Pick a style that works with you (not against you”>
This is a big issue for us as some styles take hours to complete and we don’t want that to be ruined after one trip to the gym. So, my tip is to either wear wash-n-gos that can be easily redone, or protective styles. My hair is not wash-n-go friendly, so I tend to wear lots of individual twists or flat twist/braided updos that will last a few days. This helps to keep my hair moisturized and also saves time so I don’t have to redo my hair every day.
Don’t let sweat dry you out
The first and easiest measure you can take is to wear a sweat band or scarf, however we all know that it’s hard to contain all of that FROtastic hair. And not to meantion, the more you sweat, the BIGGER and more out of control it gets. The two tips I have for you are to A.”> seal in your moisture before your workout and as soon as you can after or B.”> rinse or cowash your hair after your workout to start with fresh, clean hair the next day. As I said above, I wearing mostly protective styles, but I also do a mid week cowash to help cleanse my scalp. Some other naturals also find that just doing a quick rinse with water helps after a workout as well.
Schedule a hair appointment – for yourself
Our lives are busy enough without adding a workout routine into the mix, so making a schedule for our hair is very important. If you know you are going to work out on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, then you can make Sunday and/or Wednesday your hair spa day. When your “hair appointment” is scheduled with yourself you don’t feel rushed and you are able to give your hair the TLC it needs.
Whatever you decide, make a routine and stick to it. Keeping a good routine holds you accountable and makes it easier to juggle every thing going on in your life. We work hard for our healthy hair and our healthy body so take some time to keep it that way.
How do you care for your hair when you work out?
This article was written by Tasha of Just Curlz and published on CurlyNikki.
I have been doing hot oil treatments since I was pretty young. I remember my mother buying these tubes of oil that were to be left in a cup of hot water for a certain amount of time. My mother would pierce the tube and squeeze wonderfully warm oil all over my head and allow it to sit for about 10 minutes before rinsing out. This was always the best part of getting my hair done.
I decided to start making my own hot oil treatments, and it seems as if the gates to some wonderfully happy place just opened up. I started with warming just plain old extra virgin olive oil and applying it to my hair and scalp for about an hour or so. I would then wrap my hair in plastic cling wrap, a shower cap or a plastic bag if that was the only thing available. After rinsing the oil out and shampooing once, my hair was soft like silk and shined so beautifully. I honestly couldn’t believe it. I immediately went to work researching how certain oils benefit the hair and scalp.
Best oils for hot oil treatments
- Coconut oil – It stimulates hair growth, softens the hair and conditions the scalp. It also can also help eliminate dandruff!
- Olive oil – Olive oil is high in the antioxidants Vitamins A and E providing anti-aging properties and it has disinfectant properties, is moisturizing, soothing and healing.
- Castor oil – Adds strength to your hair, so those of you with thin hair that breaks easily, think about using castor oil in your hot oil hair pack.
- Almond oil – It helps condition, nourish, and soften hair while stimulating hair growth!
- Jojoba oil – It leaves your hair soft and light, without weighing it down.
All of these oils should be available at your local health food store, and a few of them are available at your local chemist and supermarkets.
What you will need:
- Oil blend
- Hot water
- Towel
- Plastic shower cap, plastic cling wrap, or plastic bag
How to apply your hot oil treatment
- Put your oil in a heat safe plastic bottle or glass container
- Place the container in a pot of hot water for a minute or two
- Test on wrist and then apply oil to scalp, roots and length of hair
- Massage oil into your scalp for about five minutes
- Cover hair with a plastic cap
- Dip towel in hot water to make it hot. Ring out the excess water and wrap towel around your head.
- Allow the oil to sit on your hair for at least 30 minutes and up to overnight
Warming the oil and towel will allow the hair follicle to open up so that the oils can soak in all the goodness. It’s ok if your towel doesn’t stay warm for very long, the oils will soak in…trust me!
Rinse the oil out of your hair in the shower and follow-up with a shampoo or conditioner. The end result should be soft and shiny hair!
May I mix several oils together?
Absolutely! Mix until you find your perfect oil blend. If you suffer from a dry and flaky scalp, you may want to mix coconut and castor oil together in a jar and put it away for those hectic flaky weeks. Do you want to thicken your hair and possibly boost hair growth? Mix almond and castor oil together and go wild.
Read more: Benefits of Blended Oils for Healthy Hair
Notes
- You hair does not need to be drenched in oil, so don’t worry about going broke behind this.
- You can do these treatments weekly if you want and have time.
- Keep track of how certain oils make your hair look and feel, so that you can find a perfect oil blend.
- The oil mix need not be very hot, warm oils suffice!
This article was written by Kavuli Nyali-Binase via TheGoodHairDiaries and published on CurlyNikki.
Are hot oil treatments helping you to reach your healthy hair goals?
Suffering from way too much shedding?
Many have heard of tea rinsing as a solution for excessive hair shedding, but a less popular and even more effective rinse can be done with coffee.
What is DHT?
Dihydrotestosterone (DHT”> is a naturally occurring metabolite of the testosterone hormone made by the body. Both men and women have testosterone. A man’s body makes much more testosterone than a woman’s body.
How does DHT affect us?
DHT is a key element of male pattern baldness, alopecia and other significant hair loss. It shortens the life cycle of our hair.
The hair has 3 phases in the growth cycle. They are
- anagen (growth phase”>
- catagen (transisiton phase”>
- telogen (resting phase”>
The time the hair spends in each phase varies from person to person. The variation is largely impacted by heredity and illnesses. The normal time span spent in each phase is generally: 2-6 years for anagen, 1-2 weeks for catagen and 5-6 weeks for telogen. It will just repeat from there.
DHT stunts the anagen phase and extends the telogen phase. Over time the follicles become smaller, and the hair grows in shorter with a finer texture. This accelerates your hair loss.
What does this have to do with coffee?
Coffee is wonderful for greatly reducing the effects of DHT. Caffeine aids in blocking DHT. Coffee has a significantly larger amount of caffeine than most teas. This makes it a much more successful rinse for hair loss reduction.
Will it work better if I drink the coffee instead?
No. Drinking coffee and using it externally are totally different. Applying it topically is the best method for optimal results.
Benefits of coffee for shedding
- Provides a nice shine to the hair.
- Stimulates the follicles.
- Blocks DHT.
- Greatly reduces shedding.
- Enriches brown to black colored hair (natural or dyed”>.
*Note: If your hair is light in color do not do this rinse. It can darken your hair.
Conditioning Coffee Rinse
What you’ll need
- 1 large deep plastic bowl
- 1 medium bowl
- 1/4 cup of ground caffeinated coffee (not instant”>
- 3 cups of distilled water
- 2 tablespoons of your favorite herb (optional”>
Directions
- Brew your coffee as normal. Allow it to cool.
- Pre-poo and cleanse your hair.
- Place the large bowl in the sink. I find it easier to do this way. Can be done in the shower as well.
- Pour the cooled coffee over your hair, while leaning over the deum size bowl in the sink. This will catch the run off. Massage your scalp. Repeat this step several times.
- Gently squeeze the hair. Wrap a towel around your hair.
- Allow the coffee to penetrate your hair and scalp for 5-10 mins then rinse.
- Deep condition with your favorite moisturizing conditioner.
This is not something that would need to be a regular part of your regimen. Using it on an as-needed basis has been best for me.
This article was written by Emilia Obiekea of Adore Botanicals, LLC and published on CurlyNikki.
Everyone loves the beauty and the ease of braid extension styles, but what isn’t so cool is the terrible itching! Thankfully there is a solution to prevent this from happening so you can enjoy your braids without having that unpleasant itch.
Well, why is synthetic hair so itchy?
To make the hair heat resistant a coating of Akaline Lye is sprayed on the hair. So when you are burning the ends of the hair or using boiling hot water to curl the Kanekalon hair, you have the Akaline to thank. The Akaline also helps to make the product more sanitary and aids in preventing mold and other growths. Unfortunately many people’s scalps become easily irritated by this coating which is why even on the first day of getting your braids you may find it to be quite itchy.
How to make the hair less itchy
Option 1: Soak your hair in a solution of water and apple cider vinegar
- Fill your sink or a bowl large enough to fit your braiding hair in with warm water.
- Add in a cup of Apple Cider Vinegar
- Let the hair set in the solution until you see a white film appear.
- Take the hair out of the solution and rinse with water.
- Remove the excess water and let the hair air dry until you are ready to use.
Option 2: Wash the hair with regular shampoo
You can just opt to use a shampoo to help remove the Akaline base.
Option 3: Spray your scalp with a mixture of water and apple cider vinegar
Have you already gotten your hair installed? Well you can opt to spray your scalp a spray bottle filled warm water and 1 tbsp of apple cider vinegar.
Breanna Rutter explains more about this in her video below:
This article was written by Ariane of BlackNaps.com and published by CurlyNikki.
Question of the Day
I have really dry curly hair. Will it damage my hair if I condition it every day?
The Right Brain responds
The answer depends on HOW you condition your hair. Rinse out conditioners are the worst – not because the conditioner itself does any damage but because of the processes of washing, rinsing and drying.
Three ways the conditioning process can be bad
- If you used any shampoo prior to conditioning you may be stripping your hair of moisturizing oils.
- Just wetting and drying your hair (even without shampoo”> causes the cuticle to expand and contract which can be weakening because it creates radial cracks in the outer cuticle layers.
- Towel drying your hair always involves some degree of frictional abrasion that can crack and scrape off even more cuticle.
Leave in conditioners can be less damaging
If you’re not washing and wetting your hair, leave in conditioners are just fine. At most they require just a little combing to smooth them through your hair. If you’re washing your hair anyway (or at least getting it wet for some reason”> it’s better to go ahead and condition. But if you can skip a shampoo-wet-dry cycle and use a leave in conditioner instead, you’ll avoid opportunities for damage.
CurlyNikki Approved Leave-ins and Moisturizers
How often do you condition, co-wash, poo, or otherwise wet your hair? What’s your process to minimize wear and tear?
[prodmod]This article was written by The Beauty Brains and published on CurlyNikki.
But if you’re ready to become a hardcore DIYer, then stay tuned, I’ve got pro-tips!
Top 5 Online Places to Shop
Your local grocery stores only have the basic DIY staple items (see below for list”>, for the hard to find items like Slippery Elm, Witch Hazel, and Nettle Oil to name a few, you need to order online. Its very easy and you can also buy in bulk. Here are some of the sites that a lot of natural hair product companies order from. Bulk is great for making enough to share with friends and family for holiday gifts.
Top 5 Local Stores For Shopping
I’m a professional DIYer and these are my top places for shopping. I try to fit these stores into my local grocery runs since they are so far apart from each other.
Trader Joes
Go here for cheaper versions of the DIY staple ingredients like coconut oil, tea tree oil, jojoba oil, apple cider vinegar, aloe vera juice, aloe vera gel, vitamin E oil, bananas, avocados, honey, and olive oil.
Beauty Supply
Go here to find cheaper butters such as unrefined shea butter or cocoa butter. They also have some generic oils as well but I’m usually pretty skeptical of the beauty supply, so I usually only pick up the butters from there.
Whole Foods, GNC, and Vitamin Shoppe
Go to these stores for the hard to find items such as
- Bentonite Clay
- Rhassoul Clay
- Coconut Milk
- Liquefied Coconut Oil
- Essential Oils
- Fragrances
- Ground Flax Seeds
- Cocoa Powder etc.
One thing to take note, is that essential oils can be very pricey, ranging from $10 to $45 for just one ounce. I’ve seen vanilla essential oil go for $28 at the Vitamin Shoppe, which is a bit too pricey for me.
Don’t buy shea butter and solid coconut oil seeing as it will be much more expensive for less product.
Top 25 DIY Ingredient Staples
The items listed below are some of the most common ingredients used in DIY hair recipes. If you go out and spend $100-$150 on these items, you can just about make any DIY hair product on Pinterest.
- Butters: Shea Butter, Cocoa Butter
- Edibles: Avocado, Banana, Coconut Milk, Honey, Yogurt, Eggs,
- Dry: Ground Flax Seeds, Rhassoul Clay or Bentonite Clay
- Liquids: Vegetable Glycerin, Apple Cider Vinegar, Rosewater, Aloe Vera Juice, Aloe Vera Gel
- Essential Oils: Lemon, Lavender, Peppermint
- Carrier Oils: Coconut Oil, Sweet Almond Oil, Avocado Oil, Castor Oil, Olive Oil, Grapeseed Oil
Now that you know the best places to shop locally, online, and what to buy, you can get to mixing. You even have a suggestion for an easier way to DIYing, CurlMix. Let me know your pro-tips for DIYing. I’m always looking for more tips!
This article was written by The NHA and published on CurlyNikki.
Here are 25 things you can do to improve your natural hair and prevent damage. The goal here- to keep your hair on your head! Not including the obvious elimination of chemical treatments, this list contains all you need to maintain a healthy head of hair. They are categorized by care/maintenance and styling.
Cleansing, Conditioning, and Drying
- Nix shampoos with sulfates. Sulfates strip the hair of needed moisture and natural oil, drying it out.
- Pre-poo (pre-shampoo”> your hair with coconut oil or olive oil. Coconut oil helps hair retain its protein levels, thus preventing damage. It also limits the amount of water the strands absorb, preventing wear and tear (from expansion and contraction”> over time. Both natural oils protect the hair from being stripped when you shampoo.
- Deep condition your hair with a moisturizing deep conditioner after every wash. Consider using a gentle heat source like a microwave cap or by wrapping a towel around your head (or rocking a wool cap”> to generate some body heat of your own.
- Use an old t-shirt for drying. No microfiber or towel drying. Contrary to popular belief, microfiber rips the hair out. It acts like velcro to our tresses! Towel drying frizzes the hair. Either air dry or use an old t-shirt.
- Refrigerate your leave in conditioner. A cold leave in will help to seal your hair’s cuticle after washing. This is extremely helpful if you can’t take a cold water rinse. It will also increase the shine in your hair.
- Oil your hair with a light natural oil daily. Jojoba is light and helps keep the hair tangle free.
- Seal your ends with Jamaican Black Castor Oil. I have found this oil to be the best at protecting the ends from splitting. It’s so thick and protective, causing the ends to clump together. Seal after every wash and before styling.
- Moisturize your hair as needed. Use your sense of touch to tell. If it feels dry… moisturize!
- Don’t use too many different brands. When your hair begins responding, you want to know what’s working. In other words, curtail your PJ (product junkie”> ways.
- Do a henna treatment. I’ve been giving my hair henna treatments for about 6 months as of the writing of this post. My hair health is improved along with an amazing strength and shine.
- Clarify monthly. Hair products build up on the hair and every now and then the hair needs to be thoroughly cleansed. Especially, if you only co-wash (condition wash”>. You can either use a clarifying shampoo once a month or add a tablespoon of baking soda to your hair while shampooing. Apple cider vinegar is another option.
Styling
- Stop heat styling completely. Air drying is the best thing you can do to keep your hair on your head. Limit heat styling to rare, special occasions.
- Comb hair from the bottom up. When your hair is soaking wet and coated in conditioner, you can comb it with a large tooth comb or Denman brush to detangle. Do so carefully, working from the bottom up. Of all the detangling gadgets on the market, your 10 fingers remain your best tools.
- Never ever tease your hair. This is a cardinal sin against highly textured hair (well hair in general but some don’t know it”>.
- Don’t pull hair apart like a wishbone. If your hair is tangled, gently pull it up and apart in stead of pulling it apart like would a wishbone.
- Use hair accessories with no hanging parts or exposed metal. Banana clips, Satin Scrunchies, Goodie Flex Barrettes, Ouchless bobby pins & Ouchless elastic bands are the best for styling hair so that it does not get damaged.
- Avoid pulling hair tight at the hairline. Doing so will recede your hairline and damage the follicles permanently. Not a good look.
Extra Care and Maintenance
- Clip your nails before detangling. Hanging nails will damage hair. Always make sure your nails are smooth and even before hair styling.
- Get a protein treatment once a month. For maintenance, you can do this once a month or more if your hair is breaking.
- Trim away split ends as necessary but don’t get a trim for the sake of trimming. If your goal is to retain length, you’ll only be cutting off perfectly good hair. The less you do to damage your hair, the less you’ll need to trim it.
- Massage your scalp to stimulate your hair follicles 2-3 times a week. Some believe this encourages hair growth. I have not found it to be, but it certainly can’t hurt and it does increase the blood flow to your scalp.
- Take a multi-vitamin with Methylosulfonylmethame (MSM”>. MSM is believed to extend the lifespan of your individual hairs while also alleviating dry scalp. Always ask your doctor before taking vitamins to make sure it’s right for you.
- Tie up your hair at night. Never sleep on your hair loose. It’s more prone to tangling and breakage.
- Make satin your hair’s best friend. Sleeping in a satin scarf, bonnet or on a satin pillowcase prevents your hair’s moisture from being robbed. It also prevents unnecessary tangling.
- Eat a diet rich in Omega-3 fatty acids. Good for your hair and skin too. Keeps both pliable.
Got any hair tips you’d like to add to the list? Do share how you take care of and do your hair in the comments below!
This article was written by Michelle of Radiant-Brown-Beauty and published on CurlyNikki.
For me personally, going to the salon got way too expensive– I wanted to learn my own hair, and I absolutely loved the versatility of natural hair. If you make the decision to go natural, make sure that it is your own decision and not anyone pressuring you. Remember that this is your hair and your journey. Here are a few reasons why you would want to go natural:
1. Want a change
This could be from having straight hair all the time to wanting a different look. If you are looking for a change, you will definitely get that with natural hair. If you are tired of the same style over and over, going natural can give you endless options to cater to that change you are looking for.
2. Debunks European and Western standards of beauty
When I was younger, I was taught that straight hair was the standard for beauty and poise. Kinky and coily hair was not accepted as beautiful, lovely, or appropriate. But now… natural hair is everywhere! Companies want to be part of the movement, models and designers are for it, and the standard of “what is beautiful” is changing. Straight hair, what? Straight hair, who?
3. Healthier for you
Nothing against relaxers and other processing methods, but harsh chemicals are just not healthy for you. No matter how the box is sugar-coated with added oils, herbs, and cute pictures, it’s still a harsh chemical that can affect your health in the long run.
4. Embrace new growth
Gone are the days of dreading new growth. If you’re looking to achieve and retain length, you will rejoice when new growth shows up!
5. Hair versatility
You can be 4 different women in one week! Flat Ironed Beauty, Afrostatic Diva, Lioness Blowout and Fierce Female Twistout. With the right care, natural hair can really give you any style you are feeling for any day you want.
6. Flexibility for previous lifestyle conflicts
For all of you swimmers, exercisers, and yoga masters, this would be a great change for you. The one thing that you are going to do is sweat when you exercise. Yes, that’s surely inevitable. Natural hair can definitely give you the versatility to wash daily or style your hair for exercise. Also, if you are on-the-go, going natural has great options for styling: wash n go, afro, bun, etc.
7. You will really learn your hair
When I was relaxed, I never took care of my hair. The reason was not because I did not feel like it or didn’t know how, but because I had someone there who could just do it for me. Once I went natural, there was no salon I went to that knew how to do natural hair (probably have changed now or could have just been my city”>. So I was forced to really learn my hair. When you go natural, you will learn that not everyone can do natural hair. Not everyone will know how to even care for natural hair. So it will be up to you to learn your hair. Who better to do your hair, than you? Be your own hair guru.
8. Time and money saver
Other than saving money on going to the salon weekly, going natural can save you lots of money. Unless you are a product junkie or you literally have a wash day full of oils after herbs after treatments after other treatments, having natural hair is not that costly. All you need is a shampoo and/or co-wash, conditioner, leave-in, styler, and bobby pins (lots and lots of them”>. You may have other products depending on your styling and hair care preference, but that’s basically it.
9. Pride in Afrotastic history
If you are into the history of natural hair, then going natural would definitely be for you. Personally, I love the history and the timeline of Black Hair and how it evolved through history to the present time. Having natural hair makes me feel like I’m part of a great history. My hair has awesome roots (pun intended”> and that makes me so proud to be Afrotastic in my own right and history.
10. Great sense in natural community
When you become natural, you will inherit a bunch of sisters, aunties, mommas, and even brothers. The natural hair community is very welcoming and full of love when it comes to newbie naturals and those who are considering going natural. You can join natural hair groups on Facebook, chat in forums, add your comments and opinions on natural hair online publications, or even check out the family atmosphere of natural hair on other social media sites. Having natural hair comes with family who are willing to aid you in your healthy hair journey.
11. Inspire the next generation
Your little ones already want to be just like mommy! Your daughters, nieces, and grand-babies are definitely looking at you to see what is important to you. When you embrace your natural hair, they will see that natural hair signifies grace and beauty. They will learn to love their own curls, coils, kinks, and naps from the beginning of their lives. Help them take the first step in loving their hair by seeing you love your own natural hair.
12. Control our economics and business
Seriously though! Do you see how many businesses are wanting to take part in the natural hair industry? Most of the companies are brick and mortar ones, but there are rising and emerging companies who are black and natural-hair owned. Isn’t that something to celebrate in its own right?!
13. Feel unique and special
Today, natural hair is seen as something so unique and special from everyone who passes by. Whether your natural hair is flowing and springy or fluffy and bountiful, natural hair is basically beautiful. People want to touch your hair, talk about your hair, ask you questions about your hair, and even smell your hair (seriously, I had that happen before”>. Natural hair is something that is praised about and loved on. It seems so new to other cultures and even some of us. Natural hair is the new girl in town and everyone wants a piece of her.
14. Sense of freedom and acceptance
I’m not saying relaxed hair keeps you bound and chained, but it’s something about going natural that makes you feel liberated. It’s your own hair that grows out of your own head and you accept that! Your hair is on the schedule that you set for her and not on another’s time schedule. You give your hair the freedom to frizz as she pleases, fro as she grows, and spring indefinitely. There are no limits to natural hair! Everything can be achieved as long as you accept her.
If you make the decision to go natural, make sure that it is your own decision and not anyone pressuring you. Remember that this is your hair and your journey. Make the right choice for you alone.
This article was originally written by Christina via GlobalCoutureblog.net and published on CurlyNikki.
- Prepooing
- Detangling
- Hot oil treatments
- Scalp massages/treatments
- Adding to conditioners/deep conditioners
- Adding to your spray bottle mix
- Sealing in moisture
1. Coconut oil (pure & unrefined”>
Properties: You’ve probably heard all the rage about coconut oil by now. Well, it doesn’t disappoint! This oil contains monounsaturated fatty acids and vitamin E, which both help promote hair growth and length retention, decrease breakage, and strengthen the hair. Coconut oil has a low weight (which helps seal the hair”> and consists of hydrophobic properties that allow it to draw moisture from the atmosphere into the hair, which helps the hair retain moisture.
Uses: Coconut oil is definitely one of the best and most versatile oils for natural hair and can be used for all of the purposes we listed at the beginning. It’s great to use as a prepoo or mixed into your favorite conditioner because it will naturally help melt the tangles out of your hair. You can apply coconut oil to your scalp to assist in alleviating dandruff, or simply apply it to your hair to style, add shine, combat frizz, moisturize, and seal.
2. Castor oil (Jamaican black”>
Properties: Castor oil consists of unsaturated fatty acids, vitamin E, protein, and minerals that work together to make it one of the best oils for boosting hair growth. You’ve probably heard of using Jamaican Black Castor Oil to help regrow your edges or simply to kickstart your growth journey. The rumors are true: this unrefined and nutrient-rich oil increases blood flow to the scalp, resulting in thicker, stronger, and longer hair. This is because castor oil has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties that remove dead skin cells from the scalp and stimulate hair follicles for growth.
Uses: Take caution when applying castor oil- especially if you plan on wearing your hair out. This oil is super thick so a little goes a long way. And if you don’t like it at first, don’t give up on it: you may just have been a little too heavy-handed with the product. Apply it to your edges to get them in tiptop shape. If you find that your hair is dry, brittle, prone to breakage, or balding in any areas, Jamaican black castor oil is a great natural way to combat all of these issues.
3. Olive oil (extra virgin”>
Properties: Olive oil is its own natural conditioner: it penetrates the hair shaft better than some other oils and nourishes, softens, and strengthens the hair. Olive oil also has an anti-inflammatory property that helps rid the hair of dandruff and product build-up on the scalp. It also assists in reducing hair loss by fortifying the hair against any kind of wear and tear.
Uses: Make sure you purchase extra virgin olive oil from your local grocery store for best results. Olive oil works very well for scalp massages: it will help you stimulate hair growth and maintain a healthy scalp. Add it to your spray bottle mix to help keep your hair moisturized throughout the week. Since olive oil penetrates the hair shaft, it also works great for hot oil treatments and will result in hair that looks and feels softer and stronger.
4. Avocado oil
Properties: Jam-packed with vitamins A, B, D, and E, protein, amino acids, magnesium, iron, copper, folic acid and fatty acids, avocado oil is superb for protecting and preventing damage to the hair. It also helps the hair lock in moisture and protects your strands against sun damage. Avocado oil has an even higher content (72%”> of monounsaturated fats than coconut oil: these fats provide nourishment and make your hair super shiny.
Uses: Adding avocado oil to your shampoo will treat dry, itchy scalp and adding it to your conditioner will give you excellent slip to make detangling a breeze. It’s not heavy enough to be ideal for being used to seal moisture into the hair, but it does actually help moisturize the hair so always keep it handy to fight dryness.
5. Jojoba oil (pure & unrefined”>
Properties: Jojoba oil doesn’t always get as much “shine” (no pun intended”> as it deserves. Much like avocado oil, it is great for addressing dry scalp but also hair loss, and in preventing split ends. But unlike any other oil, jojoba mimics your hair’s own natural oil (sebum”> which causes your strands to respond quite positively by absorbing it into the hair shaft, which results in more moisturized and shinier hair. It contains vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, and E, which work together to protect against damage. It has an even higher content of monounsaturated fats than avocado oil(98%!”> which of course make it excellent for strengthening the hair against breakage. It adds volume, encourages hair growth, and helps the hair revert from damage.
Uses: Jojoba oil also works great for scalp massages because it gives you great benefits without weighing your hair down. It is excellent when used in deep conditioners because it helps the hair bounce back, especially from heat styling.
The best thing about oil for natural hair is that you don’t need them all at the same time but the more you have, the better! All of them are versatile and beneficial for the hair. Try one, try them all, and watch your hair prosper.
This article was originally written by Kanisha and published on CurlyNikki.
What is shea butter?
Shea butter is a natural conditioner for hair. It is produced from the Shea-Karite tree nut, which is a native tree found in the tropics of East and West Africa. It provides extraordinary moisturizing properties and is therefore known as “mother nature’s conditioner”.
It’s been utilized for decades in areas of Africa not only for the hair but also because of its skincare and therapeutic qualities. Shea butter is also known to heal burns and injuries, and to get rid of surgical marks, dermatitis, and stretch marks. Apart from medicinal uses, some of the most common uses for Shea butter include using as a natural moisturizer for your body and face, and as a conditioner for dry hair.
Here are some uncommon uses for Shea butter that you can start doing now:
1. Sooth irritated scalp
Shea butter has been used for centuries to sooth dry itchy scalp or dandruff on African Hair. It’s also a great source to provide moisture for dry or damaged hair. It is usually utilized like a foundation for health-related creams, and it has been believed to possess anti-inflammatory qualities. It absorbs easily into the scalp and it does not clog the pores. It provides moisture from the roots on down to the ends. It is therefore extremely beneficial to hair that is relaxed, colored, or heat-treated.
How to use it
Melt down Shea butter in a double broiler over boiling water. Once it has cooled to a reasonable temperature, spread onto your fingertips and apply in small amounts directly onto your scalp. Rub in circular motion. You can add drops of tea tree oil for an extra soothing sensation.
2. Sealant for the hair
Black hair has the tendency to be dryer than any type of hair due to the texture. The natural sebum from the scalp has a hard time sliding down the shaft to the ends because of the bends or coils of black hair. Shea butter is frequently found in curly hair treatments because of its emolliating qualities. This makes it excellent for locking in moisture without leaving your hair greasy and heavy. Since it aids in fastening moisture into hair it’s fantastic for keeping your hair protected against the weather.
How to use it
You can use it alone or you can add it to your favorite conditioner to give you extra moisture. It’s also a great additive for shampoos and hair creams.
3. Protection Against Heat
Shea butter does not sit on the hair, instead it absorbs into the hair strand/shaft without leaving a greasy or heavy feel. However it does coat the hair shaft so that it is protected against damage from the heat tool being passed along the hair.
How to use it
You can melt it down and combine it with another natural oil, such as grapeseed oil or avocado oil which have high smoke points. Apply in small amounts before blow drying and straightening natural hair.
4. Shield Against UVS
Shea butter is believed to have a low amount but sufficient SPF to protect your hair against the damage from ultra violet rays of the sun. This is definitely beneficial for processed or color treated hair.
How to use it
Melt it down and apply lightly before going to the beach, lake, or any activity in which your hair is exposed to sunlight. You can even add it to a moisturizer spray to spray it on easily to your hair.
Softener for hair
Shea butter is great for softening hard brittle hair. It’s an excellent moisturizer, and therefore offers that advantage for dried as well as fragile curly hair.
How to use it
Mix with another carrier oil and apply as your “oil step” in the LOC method, or as a moisturizer for 2nd or 3rd day hair.
Refined vs. unrefined shea butter
There are two types of Shea Butter refined and unrefined. Unrefined Shea butter means it has more of its natural goodness. One of the reasons Shea butter is refined is to eliminate it’s natural aroma which may not be liked by some. However the odor does absorb fairly quickly. If you want to use an unrefined Shea butter with less of an aroma, its been recommended to use Shea Butter from Uganda or East Africa. It cost slightly more, but it is also known for being able to make your hair a little softer and it’s slightly better at moisturizing.
Where can you buy shea butter?
Shea Butter is a very popular moisturizing supplement for the hair and therefore most beauty supply stores that cater to black hair should carry refined and unrefined Shea Butter. You can also purchase it from online retailers that are focused onnatural black hair care.
5 quick tips for using shea butter
- Find 100% natural unprocessed Shea butter at your local natural foods store. Processed Shea butters can take on different forms.
- To melt it down, use a double broiler or place in a bowl over hot water. Do not expose it to direct heat on the stove.
- Keep in a cool dry place. Shea butter will melt in warm temperatures, just like coconut oil.
- Try DIY Whipped Shea Butter for easier application.
- Everyone’s skin is different. Do a patch test on your skin before applying all over your scalp. You want to see how your skin and scalp react to Shea butter first.
Are you on the shea butter bandwagon?
This article was written by Veronica Jacobi of NaturalBella and published by CurlyNikki.
One of the best attributes of the natural haircare movement is its diversity of options. You can wear a sleek bun, an unhinged afro, or choose to lock your hair. Furthermore, naturals can experiment with edgy cuts and colors, which highlight their state of mind and/or fashion sense. However, when we think about or refer to naturals, our frame of reference tends to be Solange Knowles or Lupita Nyong’o, but not Nicki Minaj or Beyoncé. Whether we acknowledge it or not, there is a large population of naturals who choose to regularly wear wigs or weaves.
I have family members and friends who wear hair pieces or extensions for a wide variety of reasons, and it doesn’t always mean they don’t like their natural hair. An old co-worker of mine told me that weave “grows your hair.” Other naturals say that wigging or weaving gives them a diversity of options and protects their hair at the same time.
On the other hand, many of us have witnessed the unpleasant effects of improper wigging or weaving, such as the case of Countess Vaughn. For those of you unfamiliar with Countess, she played as one of the leading actresses in “Moesha” and “The Parkers”. Her love for lace-front wigs caused a “severe scalp infection” (Wilson, “Countess Vaughn Reminds Us Of The Dangers Of Wigs And Weaves””>. I don’t want to shame naturals for their personal choices, but I do want them to be informed and proactive rather than reactive. Here are the top five rules for wigging or weaving:
1. WEAR A WIG CAP
Wearing a wig cap will help protect the hair from any unnecessary snagging or pulling. It will also keep all of your natural hair tucked away. An added bonus is that it will keep your wig in place. I made the mistake of wearing a wig without a wig cap and experienced a dreadful case of lopsided wig syndrome. Not cute. Keep it right. Keep it tight.
2. TAKE IT OFF
Take a deep breath and say this phrase with me slowly: “I am not my hair.” Go home and be yourself. Even if you’ve got a Naomi Campbell hairline under your wig or hairpiece, bare it all. Besides, this is a healthy hair practice. I have a hat that I absolutely adore but after one week of wearing it all day, my scalp began to itch terribly. I found refuge in taking it off after a day at work. Your scalp needs circulation for optimal hair growth to occur, so if you’re aiming for length retention, give your scalp some fresh air.
3. DEVELOP A ROUTINE
From what I have observed, a broken routine or complete lack thereof leads to unnecessary hair loss while wigging or weaving. You should take care of your hairpiece and your hair underneath it. This means that you should wash, deep condition, and dry your natural hair at least every two weeks. I would also suggest putting it in a protective style, especially if you’re weaving. Ericka Dotson, co-founder of Indique Hair, suggests using a “blow-dryer with a diffuser attachment” on the roots of your hair to prevent mildew (Essence, “How to Cleanse Your Scalp Under a Weave””>.
4. PROTECT YOUR EDGES
Always be conscientious of hair piece placement, products used on your hairline, and the manner in which you perform these steps. The edges of our hair are very delicate. Make sure that your hairpiece is secure but not too tight. Don’t use a lot of gels or heavy products to lay the hairline, as this can lead to breakage. Belinda Baker, CEO of salon BKB in Atlanta, Georgia, recommends making sure the wig cap covers the hairline to avoid “friction between the natural hair and the wig itself” (EHow beauty, “How to Protect African-American Hair Under a Wig: African-American Hairstyling””>.
5. SET A LIMIT
You should plan how long you intend on keeping your weave in. I would follow the same guidelines as those for braids, which are typically kept in for no more than 12 weeks. Leaving your weave in too long can create breakage and defeat any length retention you may have achieved. Besides, who doesn’t want to have a fresh weave? No one wants to be on the receiving end of immature weave jokes.
A curly fro, sleek bob, and big pin curls are all possibilities with wearing a wig or weave. These are styles that most of us cannot achieve on our own or seldom have the time to attempt. Like other naturals, wig and weave-wearers have just as many styling options, oftentimes even more. For naturals who prefer wearing wigs or weaves, more power to you. Just remember the tips above and you should be well on your way to enjoying both your showcased hair and your natural hair.
This article was written by Keora Bernard for CurlyNikki.
References
Wilson, Julee. “Countess Vaughn Reminds Us Of The Dangers Of Wigs And Weaves.” Huff Post Black Voices. Thehuffingtonpost.com, 17 Mar. 2014. Web. 2 Aug. 2015.
Baker, Belinda. “How to Protect African-American Hair Under a Wig: African-American Hairstyling.” YouTube. YouTube, 19 July 2012. Web. 2 Aug. 2015.
Dotson, Ericka. “How to Cleanse Your Scalp Under a Weave | ESSENCE.” YouTube. YouTube, 29 Nov. 2012. Web. 2 Aug. 2015.
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Tell me a little about yourself and your hair journey.
Hi! My name is Loana Novaes. I am 27 years old. I’m originally from Bahia, but I currently live in São Paulo, Brazil.
How long have you been natural? Have you always embraced your curls?
I’ve been natural for six years. I have always embraced my hair, but for a long time I thought having straight hair would be easier for its daily care.
What motivated you to transition? Were you a transitioner or a big chopper & why?
I was looking for my own identity, so I decided to start with the hair. I dared not make the big chop because I did not see myself with short hair. I transitioned into natural and slowly chopped off my ends to finally be 100% natural.
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How would you describe your hair?
My hair is dry, but I constantly put oil in it. It has so much volume, thank God! Like many girls that are natural, I have different textures: some kinky, wavy and curly.
What do you love most about your hair?
What I love most is the versatility. I have 1001 possibilities in the same hair!
“My hair is the expression of my soul”
What has been the most memorable part of your journey? Has it been easy or difficult or both?!
It was difficult because at the time I was frustrated with the two-textures because it was not looking good. I was ashamed and I could not socialize with other people. After much searching, I found an online community called Meninas Black Power (Black Power Girls”> where many girls had the same hair problems. There I really learned to deal with the transition.
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What are some of your favorite transitioning hairstyles or current dos’?
My favorite hairstyles were buns, braids and high puffs.
What have your experiences been as a ‘natural’? Any memorable reactions from family or others?
Brazil is a country where almost half the population is black, but some people still shocked to see a natural hair free. Some people ask, “Hey, why don’t you straighten your hair?” or insult: “Your hair is ugly, looks like a tree!”, but I don’t care, because I love my hair and no one will take that away from me.
What is your hair regimen?
I only wash my hair twice a week with my fav shampoo and conditioner Seda*. During the co-wash. I use only my fingers to detangle. When I notice that it is very dry, I do a deep hydration with Pantene Flawless Curls Mask. Finally, I use the leave-in Seda* and the Extraordinary Oil, L’Oréal.
What are some of your favorite natural hair websites, YouTuber’s, or blogs?
My inspirations are meninasblackpower.blogspot.com.br, tarenguy.com, and samio.co.uk.
Anything you want the readers to know? Inspirational words?
If you are in transition be patient and do not give up, because the wait will be rewarding. Talk to your hair, say how much you love him and how much it smells good and shines. It seems crazy, but it amazes any bad hair day.
Where can people find you for more information?
On Instagram: @afrog4l
This article was originally written by Global Couture and published on CurlyNikki.
Have you ever experienced a hair growth plateau? It’s when your hair can’t seem to grow past a certain length: be it neck length, arm pit length, bra strap length etc. This is probably due to some practices (or lack thereof”> in your natural hair care regimen. If you are currently at a growth plateau, you’ll probably find that hair growth isn’t the problem: retaining length is (your hair may be breaking off as fast as it’s growing”>. It’s also possible that your hair isn’t growing as full or as rapidly as it could depending on how well you take care of your hair. It’s tough to come to terms with the fact that your hair isn’t prospering, but once you take steps to address the issue(s”>, you’ll be well on your way to longer hair at its healthiest.
Assess the problem
What is causing your hair to stay at one length? There are a number of poor hair habits that could be the culprit; here are a few to start with:
- Over-manipulation can cause dryness, shedding, and breakage
- Rough handling of the hair – combing too hard, detangling improperly etc.
- Moisture overload reduces elasticity and therefore weakens the hair
- Protein overload results in brittle hair that breaks easily
- Defective styling instead of protective styling – not properly maintaining the hair during and after installing a protective style, leaving the protective style in for too long
- Misuse/overuse of hair tools such as combs, brushes, bobby pins, etc.
- Overuse of heat styling
- Using the wrong products for your hair type
- Using harsh chemicals – coloring/dyeing the hair (almost always causes dryness/breakage to Type 4 hair, especially when it isn’t maintained properly with regular conditioning treatments”>
- Not trimming often enough
- Not following healthy hair practices such as deep conditioning, detangling properly, and moisturizing and sealing
The list may not end here, but these are some of the more common ones to give you an idea of where you may be going wrong at. Once you know the problem, you can eliminate it and take steps to get your hair back on track. If the issue is heat or color, don’t be tempted to go back. Do whatever is necessary for the health of your hair, it’ll be worth it in the long run.
Trim it
When you’re at a growth plateau, it’s likely that starting with a fresh trim will benefit your hair tremendously. You don’t want to try nursing damaged hair back to health. (Trust me, I’ve tried it myself”>. If you’re uncomfortable with losing length, you can protective style until your hair grows back or simply trim gradually. Once you have the damaged hair out of the way, you can focus on preserving and growing your healthy hair.
Take pictures
Now that you know the problem and have cut away any damage, you’re ready to start with a clean slate. Take pictures! I cannot stress how important this is. When you don’t have a way to document your hair growth, you will feel like it’s going nowhere. But when you have pictures to look back on every milestone, you can really tell if you’re getting it right. 6 months or a year from now, you’ll be able to see that you are finally on your way to getting past your growth plateau.
Put it away
For Type 4 hair, protective styling is almost always a bulletproof method in regards to retaining length. When long term protective styling, some things to remember are:
- Never leave the style in for longer than 4-6 weeks
- Moisturize and oil your scalp while you have the style installed
- When you take the style out, remove any shed hair before wetting the hair. If you don’t, you’ll have a knotted, tangled mess on your hands and you will lose hair.
- Give your hair a break for at least 1-2 weeks in between styles.
You can also do short term protective styles like buns or goddess braids which give you the freedom to wash your hair when desired. (When bunning, be sure not to bun too tightly and to switch up the placement of your bun every few days to keep the hair from breaking off in that area”>.
Go on a hair challenge
When your hair has you in a funk, one of the best things to do is to go on a hair challenge. It’ll keep you from cutting all of your hair off on a whim because of sheer frustration. And it’ll give you something to look forward to and work towards. Mentally record and/or write down your goals and strive to achieve them. For example, I am currently on a 6-month no heat/protective styling challenge with my hair. For the first month, I’ve been co-washing my hair every three days and keeping it in buns. I flat ironed prior to the challenge and took pictures and I plan on flat ironing at the end of the challenge to see my growth.
Get inspired
Check out other naturals whose length your aspire to have. It’s not to make you feel bad or down about your own hair, but to give you something to look forward to. Some of my personal favorites on Instagram are @hey_curlie, @chronicurls,@chigirlmakeup and @simplybiancaalexa.
Learn your hair
While you’re working on getting past your growth plateau, make sure you utilize this time to learn your hair if you haven’t already. Try new products if you need to and discover whether or not your hair likes them. I used to wear box braids all of the time and having my hair out now while wearing buns has really given me time to learn my hair. I know what areas are drier than others and what areas have tighter curls than others. I’ve found products my hair said “eh” to and products that it absolutely loved. I have a regimen that works for me and my hair and I’m sticking to it because I’ve seen prosperous results.
You can and you will get past this growth plateau. This is not the end for your hair. You may be having some trouble now, but if you follow these steps, you’ll be able to get your hair where you want it to be. Have patience, show your hair love, and watch it grow.
What do you do when you hit a plateau?
This article was written by Kanisha of BlackNaps.org and published on CurlyNikki.
Is your natural hair extremely dry? Hair steaming may be just what the “hair doctor” ordered when it comes to healthy, moisturized coils and curls.
What is hair steaming?
It basically means adding moisture in the form of moist heat (steam”> to the hair strands. This can be done in a number of different ways such as using a handheld hair steamer, a standing steamer or even enjoying the steam after a long warm shower.
Why should you consider steaming?
- Helps reduce breakage: the steam helps to add moisture and thus can make dry, brittle and thirsty hair supple, hydrated and healthy.
- Lifts the cuticle to allow product/ingredient absorption: the warmth from the steam helps to raise the cuticle of our hair, which means that products/ingredients are more easily absorbed into the core. This can be particularly helpful for low porosity naturals that find it hard to get moisture deep into the core of the hair or products to be fully absorbed by the hair.
- Enables hair stretching, less shrinkage and tangles: because the hair is hydrated, it usually means that there is less shrinkage which in turn means less tangles and knots. This makes it easier to detangle and can also lead to less breakage!
- Refreshes curls without having to start over: you get to add moisture without having to soak your hair with water. This can be especially beneficial for those that suffer from dry brittle hair during winter and do not want to add water in the morning/night and perhaps risk getting a cold!
- Helps clean the scalp and promote hair growth: the warmth from the steam can actually help fight through some product build-up/dirt on the scalp, making it easier to keep your scalp clean. A clean scalp is a healthy scalp and a healthy scalp means healthy growth. The warmth also helps stimulate blood flow in the scalp which again helps with hair growth.
When and or how often should you steam?
It really depends on how dry your hair feels, how often you need to wash your hair and how difficult/easy it is for products such as deep conditioners, leave-in conditioners etc. to penetrate your hair strands. In all likelihood, you will not require daily hair steaming however you might feel that 1 – 2 times a week gives you happy, hydrated hair that looks and feels lush, plump and truly hydrated.
Do you steam your hair? How often?
This article was originally written by MaiCurls of GlobalCoutureblog.net for CurlyNikki.
I began my natural hair journey in 2009. I transitioned for 24 months before cutting the reaming perm off of my ends. I will say that I have learned a lot– there have been good days, and not so good days. But all in all, I am happy and I have learned to accept, expect and embrace certain things.
Sometimes your hair refuses to dry
Raise your hand if this is true for you! Have you ever created a bomb twist set and went to sleep knowing that your hair would essentially be on “fleek” tomorrow because you spent all night twisting it and now your fingers hurt? But then you wake up and begin to take your hair down, only to realize that it’s still damp in places! Argh… natural hair problems! I have learned to accept the fact that my hair won’t always dry when I want, and that if I want a particular style I have to spend more time to let it dry before attempting to take it down.
That inspirational style from Instagram didn’t turn out like you expected
Let’s face it, we all are on Instagram getting hair inspiration from so many different naturalistas! You see her hair is on point, so you go and try out the style yourself with hopes of it turning out like hers. You do the exact same steps, follow her exact same routine, use the same products… and then bam she has voluminous curls and you have a fro. Hey there curlfriend, it happens LOL! I have learned to accept that even if I do the style the same way I may have different results and I am okay with that! Which speaks to my next point…
Everyone has different hair
Different textures, porosity, curls, coils, all of that. Yes you heard that right! Everyone has different hair. I know it’s easy to get wrapped up on Instagram, blogs, or YouTube looking at pictures and videos of different naturalistas hair and saying, “I can’t wait until my hair gets that length, or I want HER hair”. We have all been there! The fact is, your hair is your hair, and that naturalistas is hers. It’s okay to get inspiration etc, but I have learned to embrace my own hair. Always remember you and your hair are BEAUTIFUL. Learn to work with what you’ve got and you (and your hair”> will be happier in the long run.
Patience
If you don’t have this in the natural hair world… man oh man! Patience is key when you are natural. On those wash days when I just wanted to give up, I didn’t. You just have to stay patient in every aspect (patience to see growth, patience to detangle, patience to wet set, lol”>. Trust me on this one. You will get to where you want to be, you just have to be patient.
Seek a stylist when needed
I know we get to the point where we feel that we don’t need our stylist anymore, and that we can do it all on our own. Well I still seek a professional stylist when it comes to getting my ends clipped and also straightening my hair. So my advice is to seek a stylist when you feel it is appropriate.
Have fun
Needs no explanation just have fun and remember it’s only hair! Cut it if you want, color it if you want! Hey it’s your hair! Remember that!
What have you learned since going natural?
This article was written by Michelle Thames of HappilyEverNatural.com and published on CurlyNikki.
Cleansing
Styling
So this bobbie pin, a scarf and a gele walked in a bar…Real talk, the transition from a taper to a fuller fro has required some straight up trickery! I keeps an arsenal in my car for any given hair catastrophe. When I was initially growing it out, it was too short on the sides to pull up into a puff so I would use bobby pins to create a faux hawk. Eco Styler Olive Oil Gel saves the day every time. I would also give into days when my hair was clearly in charge and just “wrap it up B.’ African Geles are my safe guard. I wear them for cultural and spiritual reasons and they have so much utility in addition to looking amazing. Now that the the hair is longer, I like to either pull it up into an awesome chunky puff, create a funky up do/protective style with bobbie pins leaving the front out or use my African fabric and pull some hair out in the front for a funky bang. I am looking forward to the top knot which was my go to syle when I had locs.
Sleeping
How do you take care of your gray hair?
[prodmod]This article was written by Omisade for CurlyNikki.
