Search Results: Shannon

By Shannon · Published March 23, 2016

TAKE COOL PICTURES WITH OTHER CURLY GIRLS

Some of the best group pictures are created at hair events, so make sure you jump in every photo opp. Wear something cute and that will stand out from the crowd, and show off your natural curls–I have made the mistake before of trying a new style for an event, and then being the only one in the pictures without my natural curls on show!

FIND YOUR HAIR TWIN

With so many varieties of races, backgrounds, curl patterns and hairstyles, you are bound to spot someone with similar hair to yours. Hound them and find out how they deal with their hair; you may learn about some new products or techniques to try.

SPOT YOURSELF ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Want to grow your following? This is the best way to do so! Posting a selfie with other popular curlies can encourage their audience to learn about you–just make sure you’re tagged in their pic! Most event pics always make it to the big natural hair Instagram pages like @mixxxedchicks @healthy_hair_journey and @berrycurly

GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR NETWORKING

You can ask the bloggers questions in person (we don’t bite, well most don’t! lol”>. They can give you the push in the right direction to start your own blog or YouTube channel. When I went to SunKissAlba’s meet and greet, she gave me some great advice that helped me with my own journey.

DISCOUNT ON PRODUCTS

Most hair events are sponsored by some of your favorite brands! With a bunch of vendors, be sure to do the rounds and look out for any special samples and discounts. (Tip: Bring cash as most do not accept cards”>.

ENJOY THE SUMMER

Here in the UK/London, most natural hair events take place from May-August, which means you can get a great day out of it! Attend a park meetup and enjoy the company, beauty, and weather. Last year I had a great time tanning and posing with fellow curlies.

CREATE A COMMUNITY

It feels great to bond with those who can relate to your unique natural hair journey. Events can bring us all together–so try to keep the community growing by creating more meetups and connections!

OPPORTUNITY TO TRAVEL

Paris, London & New York seem to be the top natural hair cities and all have some great events this year! When I travel, I always give a shoutout on social media that I will be in town to meet up with curlies in the area.

SOME UPCOMING EVENTS

I hope to attend these.

• Curlvolution
• Natural Hair Academy
• Natural Hair Week
• Afropunk Festival
• Afro Hair & Beauty Show

Have you attended a natural hair event or meetup yet?

By Shannon · Published March 18, 2016

If your curls are high porosity, consider swapping your cleansing conditioner out for a conditioning shampoo.

Men’s Hair Blog says when shopping for a conditioning shampoo you want to pay attention to the ingredients label. Look for essential oils, they will help soften and moisturise dry hair. Try one of these popular conditioning shampoos in 2016 and see if you have softer curls by the end.

Elucence Moisture Benefits Shampoo

Key Ingredients: coconut oil (rich in vitamins and fatty acids that strengthen and condition the hair”>, panthenol (a humectant that gives slip for easy detangling”>

Where to buy

Curlmart, Amazon (UK”> 

This product is ideal for 

Those with type 2 curls that are naturally coarse and dry

Karen’s Body Beautiful Ultimate Conditioning Shampoo

Key Ingredients: aloe vera juice (doubles for giving your hair nourishment and balancing out your scalp’s PH balance”>

Where to buy

CurlMart, Beauty By Zara (UK”>

This product is ideal for

Now Foods Citrus Moisture Shampoo

Key Ingredients: aloe vera juice (packed with essential vitamins and minerals that restore hair health”>, coconut oil (a natural moisturiser”>

Where to buy

Amazon (US”>, Amazon (UK”>

This product is ideal for 

Finer hair and curl patterns type 2 and 3

SheaMoisture Tahitian Noni & Monoi Smooth & Repair Conditioning Shampoo

Where to buy 

Curlmart, Beautybyzara (UK”>

This product is ideal for  

Frizzy hair and curl types 3 and 4

Giovanni ‘Smooth As Silk’ Deep Moisture Shampoo

Key Ingredients: aloe vera leaf juice (natural moisturiser that restores and strengthens hair”>, yrus malus (apple”> fruit extract (a natural conditioning agent”>

Where to buy 

Amazon (US”>, Holland & Barrett (UK”> 

This product is ideal for

Kinky Curly Come Clean Moisturising Shampoo

Key Ingredients: organic sea kelp (great for balancing hair’s moisture levels”>

Where to buy  

Curlmart, Beauty By Zara (UK”>

This product is ideal for   

Dry and damaged type 4 curls

Eden BodyWorks JojOba Monoi Moisturizing Shampoo 

Key Ingredients: vitamin e (conditioning oil rich in fatty acids that helps to restore damage from UV rays and heat”>, coconut oil (natural moisturiser”>

Where to buy 

Curlmart, Beauty By Zara (UK”>, Amazon (UK”>

This product is ideal for

OGX Moisture + Vitamin B5 Shampoo

Key Ingredients: vitamin B5 and ProVitamin B  (nourish the inner layer of every strand with moisture, while rebuilding damaged areas to give dull hair a healthy sheen”>

Where to buy

Amazon (US”>, Boots (UK”> 

This product is ideal for

Damaged and finer/wavy curls

Carol’s Daughter Monoi Repairing System Conditioning Dry Shampoo

Key Ingredients: monoi oil (all-natural hair softener”>, aloe vera (provdes better slip for detangling”>

Where to buy

Amazon

This product is ideal for   

Dry, chemically or environmentally damaged hair

Dermorganic Daily Conditioning Shampoo

Where to buy

Ulta (US”>, Amazon (UK”>

This product is ideal for

Type 3 low/normal porosity curls

Do you use a conditioning shampoo instead of a cleansing conditioner?

By Shannon · Published March 16, 2016

Defining my curls is a technique that I am still trying to perfect (but I have some useful tips for you”>. You too can take your curly wash-and-go to the next level if you simply follow these steps. To get definition, make sure your product is reaching every single strand of your hair with moisture, hold, and distribution.

I believe that having a great curly cut and shape will greatly help with maintaining curl definition. It will shape your face and have your curls finished–no straggly ends!

2. If I want great definition, I’ll wash my hair first. The water from the shower pouring down on your hair from root to tip will train your curls to fall in place with less frizz ready for styling. Condition your hair whilst it is soaking wet! This makes it easier for the hair to retain moisture; the soaked hair will already be somewhat defined, your conditioner and styler will then only enhance it.

3. When applying my leave-in conditioner, I do so in smaller sections. This way, I am sure to not miss any strands. Dry and tangled hair equals frizz, which will prevent definition.

4. To set, I use a small amount of curl cream or gel and smooth each section of hair from root to tip one with the praying hands method.

5. Once my whole hair has been styled, I like to finger curl any sections that need extra help for definition. I have very straight hair near my edges so during this time, I give them some extra styling TLC.

6. Finally, I leave the hair completely alone to air dry to prevent any friction or frizz. No touching! (If you’re in a rush, use a diffuser attachment”>.

Watch my wash/cleanse video

Watch my video on how to have defined twists

What defining technique works best for your curls? 

By Shannon · Updated March 11, 2016

Have you ever wondered why your hair seems to have changed in length, condition or texture over the years?

Throughout this thing called life we manage to go through many different hair cycles that depend on age, hormones and external factors. Notice at birth, most are born with very soft, shiny and thin hair–or even none–but this quickly changes as you grow. In fact, many curly girls were born with straight hair! Here is a brief cycle of how your hair changes over the years.

Childhood

A newborn baby usually has very thin and soft hair but this will always change after a few years. Many curlies have been born with straight hair that ‘magically’ became curly years later this happens as throughout childhood the diameter of the hair follicle begins to thicken which causes a change in the hair’s shape and texture.

Adolescence to Early Adulthood

There are muscles at the base of every hair follicle and as we go through different stages of our lives like puberty, hormone changes, and medication usage, they grow and change shape. This directly affects your hair follicles–this is similar to the different changes we have with our skin whilst growing up.

We all have a growth phase of the hair and this can happen for 3-4 years until a new hair forms and begins to grow. The hair that you currently see is actually dead hair! This means that every 3-4 years it could be possible for your hair texture to completely change!

Adulthood

According to healthy aging expert Sharon Basaraba, when we transition into the later stages of life our hair begins to lose colour and turns grey. Hair turns grey when the melanin stops being produced, this typically happens to women past their 30’s but external factors such as stress can affect your aging process meaning earlier hair loss and turning grey. Along with the loss of colour, aging may make your hair become coarser as the keratin in the hair begins to breakdown.

Later Adulthood (Menopause”>

As women, we all naturally go through ‘the change’ as we age. Menopause can have a huge effect on the hair as your oestrogen declines, according to Dr. Nicola Finley, M.D. You may experience hair thinning and hair loss along with a dry scalp due to a lack of moisture. At this stage in life, it is even more important to keep your hair and scalp moisturised.

How has your hair changed throughout your life?

Pictured: Jessica Pettway (@jfashiongirl87“> & daughter, Kai Lee (@kaileecurls“>

By Shannon · Published February 5, 2016

When you think of garlic, you think of that wonderful herb added to many of your favorite meals or the smell you love to hate! Aside from this, did you know that garlic is a great natural ingredient to use for hair and scalp care? If you don’t wash properly and enough, your scalp can suffer by becoming greasy, dry, or flaky scalp with clogged pores.

Many curlies and naturals opt for products and hair care methods that include 100% natural ingredients. Garlic is a great one to introduce to your routine as it contains vitamin C, sulphur, copper and essential minerals that promote hair growth. The garlic stimulates blood flow to the scalp resulting in growth and protects it from any toxins and bacteria.

The smell of garlic may put you off even trying its amazing benefits but there are ways around this! Many of the ready-made garlic hair products are unscented and if you go the DIY route adding some ginger to the mixture can also tame the smell.

Garlic in your products

Some of your favorite shampoos may already have a garlic additive included, like these two great garlic-based shampoos that are curly hair friendly:

• Nunaat Garlic Shampoo
• Vatika Naturals Garlic Shampoo

DIY garlic recipes

Instead of buying a garlic shampoo you can also simply add some garlic juice to your existing products. As frequent use of garlic can dry out the scalp try adding the juice to some honey and use as a scalp treatment for moisture.

If you would prefer to take the DIY route you can use a crushed garlic clove and apply it directly onto the scalp then follow up with massaging in olive oil, leave this on the hair for 30 to 60 minutes or sleep overnight before rinsing out. You can try the DIY garlic hair shedding scalp clarifying recipe below.

If you haven’t found a solution for your scalp problems or are suffering from hair loss give garlic a chance! It may be the magic ingredient you have been missing.

Garlic scalp stimulator

If shedding and clogged pores are a concern for you, this homemade recipe has been proven to work. Warning: Although it is effective, the smell might be off putting!

What you’ll need

• 1 tbsp of aloe gel
• 1 tbsp of honey
• 1 tbsp of garlic juice
• 2 egg yolks
• 3 tbsp of chamomile (tea bag content is fine to use”>
• 24 fluid oz of water

Directions

1. Peel garlic and use a garlic press to squeeze the juice out
2. Mix in honey and place the bowl in the fridge
3. Boil water with chamomile tea for about 30 minutes, stir occasionally
4. When tea is done, take the bowl with honey and garlic juice out of the fridge
5. Stir an egg yolk into the garlic juice and honey mix
6. Add aloe gel to the garlic honey mix

How to use it

1. Gently rub all of the garlic honey mix into your scalp
2. Wrap a towel around your head
3. Keep the towel on for 20 minutes and wash once with a neutral shampoo
4. Rub in the second egg yolk and wash off using only warm water
5. To finish off, wash your hair off with the previously prepared chamomile tea

By Shannon · Published January 26, 2016

You may or may not be too familiar with this all natural oil, but it has some amazing healing benefits for your hair and body. Get to know more about pimento oil, which can be found in your local grocery and natural foods store.

Where it comes from

According to WWW Chem, Pimento oil is extracted from the Pimento tree, a native to the Caribbean and South America. It was first discovered in the 1500s in Jamaica and is also known as allspice in some countries due to its aroma described as a mixture of spices.

How it looks & smells

Pimento oil has a yellow-brown colour with a scent similar to clove oil. Nowadays it is used widely in hair and skin care products due to its medicinal properties. Note: this oil can cause irritation if used in high dosages or concentration, so always mix with a carrier oil when applying topically. Pregnant women should avoid using this oil due to its potency.

The topical benefits

• Hair growth: Pimento extract is an amazing natural oil for hair growth and is included in many scalp oils and products for growth. The oil, when massaged into the scalp stimulates the hair follicles, which then removes the toxins that will stunt hair growth. After using hair products including the oil for about 2 months you should see a difference.
• Alopecia: Many sufferers have turned to using products with pimento oil due to it being a strong antioxidant. Oxidation can lead to tissue damage and pimento oil fights against this and repairs the damage already done so can help to heal alopecia and hair loss.
• Natural pain reliever: If you are a lover of natural medication pimento oil is a great alternative to painkillers. Pimento extract helps to relieve pain externally due to its warming properties, which can help with chest pain, arthritis, bruises, aches and pains.
• Calms the mind and body: When steamed and taken in as a scent like lavender, pimento oil gives of a soothing freshness for the mind and body. It is a tonic for the nervous system and can treat nervousness, depression and fatigue.
• Dry scalp: If you suffer with scalp problems like dandruff, irritation and dry skin pimento oils antiseptic properties help to cleanse the scalp and rid of these problems.

How to use pimento oil

Apply the oil directly to your scalp as a pre-shampoo treatment to loosen up any dirt and product build-up. Gently massage it for a couple of minutes and then rinse and use your shampoo and conditioner as usual.

Try: Sunny Isle Jamaican Strong Roots Organic Pimento Oil with Black Castor Oil, $9.99 (rated 4.5 out of 5 stars on Shop.NaturallyCurly.com“>

Do you use pimento oil?

By Shannon · Published January 17, 2016

How I keep my hair from tangling is really thanks to my night routine. I detangle my hair after washing and then will style and go about my day, when it gets to night-time I must make sure I take the following steps to ensure my hair won’t get tangled or matted throughout the week.

SLEEP STYLING

When I have worn my hair in a wash and go that day, before bed I will put my hair into a pineapple (high loose ponytail”>. This keeps your hair out of the way whilst sleeping and is great for keeping your curls defined as they won’t be squashed whilst you sleep.

SATIN

Sleeping with your hair in a pineapple is pointless if you don’t pair this with either a satin or silk scarf, bonnet, or pillowcase. This has been the best thing I have ever done to my hair. It prevents the dryness and tangles you naturally get whilst sleeping. I use my satin pillowcase and satin scrunchie for my pineapple.

MOISTURE

Another essential tip for preventing tangles is moisture! I make sure my hair stays moisturised at night-time. I add some coconut oil (shea butter in the winter months”> to my ends whilst my hair is in the pineapple. This keeps the hair moisturised and helps to make your curls even fresher in the morning.

PROTECTIVE STYLING

Throughout the week (usually on day 3 hair”> I’ll feel that I can no long wear my wash and go. At night, I braid my hair in 4 plaits (or twists”> then add coconut oil. This is a great way to lightly detangle your hair so that it is manageable for the rest of the week. I then cover the braids in a satin bonnet whilst still sleeping on my satin pillowcase. This is just to protect the braids from frizz and keep the protective style super moisturised and defined.

PRODUCTS

Along with these techniques I also have a few products that help with tangles.

• Satin pillowcase: I love my satin pillowcase as it protects my curls as I move around a lot in my sleep, which means I would usually wake up in horror finding my scarf or bonnet not on my head! With the pillowcase you won’t have this problem.
• Satin bonnet: This a great way to protect your hair even further than the pillowcase. You can purchase these at most beauty and hair supply stores. They are great for holding in moisture throughout the night.
• Coconut oil: I like to make sure I moisturise and detangle my ends with some coconut oil at nights.
• Shea butter: In the really cold months I like to apply this also to my ends at night as it is thicker and works as an intensive moisturiser throughout the night leaving the hair so soft.
• Kinky Curly Knot Today: My favourite detangler due to its amazing slip. If you have a lot of tangles you may want to refresh your hair. This is great to use before doing your braids or twists if you find the coconut oil isn’t helping to tangle just spritz your hair lightly with water and apply some of the detangler to your fingers and finger detangle any knots.

These steps are crucial to keeping my hair under control throughout the night shift! I would recommend satin or silk accessories for everyone, as they will keep your hair from knotting, drying out and frizzing in the night.

What do you do to keep your hair from tangling at night?

By Shannon · Published January 5, 2016

I like to wash my hair every week. By wash, I do not mean co-wash. I use a moisturizing sulfate-free shampoo or natural cleanser once a week to free my hair from product build-up and soothe my scalp. In between washes I may co-wash to refresh my wash and go so it can last longer. The following are my steps (video included”> to my weekly wash routine!

STEP 1 PRE-CLEANSE: Scalp massage

I like to give myself a scalp massage before washing my hair as I have a very sensitive scalp that can get itchy and dry. Massaging my scalp weekly also promotes hair growth especially when done with a hydrating oil.

STEP 2 CLEANSE: Section hair, dampen roots, apply shampoo

I recently have changed my cleansing technique due to dry hair and skin irritation. I now wash my hair before I get into the shower and rinse out. I can see exactly what I’m doing in the mirror instead of relying on just your hands to do the work. Since I have thick roots, looking in the mirror helps me deeply cleanse my scalp and catch any parts I wouldn’t usually get to. I section my hair into 4 twists, dampen the roots and apply shampoo. Then, I massage the shampoo well into my scalp before getting into the shower and rinsing with cool water.

looking in the mirror helps me deeply cleanse my scalp and catch any parts I wouldn’t usually get to

STEP 3 DEEP CONDITION: Detangle, steam treatment

While my hair’s still wet and completely cleansed, I apply a deep conditioner or treatment depending on what I feel my hair needs. I apply this generously in sections whilst finger detangling. I like to detangle while my hair is soaked in product since it’s easier to glide my fingers through the curls and unknot my hair. Once my hair is coated in the treatment, I cover it with two plastic bags to keep in the heat and leave in for around 20-30 minutes before rinsing out.

STEP 4 STYLE: Moisturize, apply styling gel

Time to style! I keep it simple with my wash and go styling, I simply section the hair while it is still wet using a moisturizing leave-in. I saturate my curls, working the leave-in through. I apply a lot of product on my washday since I don’t apply product daily. This usually keeps my hair moisturised for the next 3 days. Next, I add a small amount of styling gel or crème to the sections.

STEP 5 DRYING: Diffuse, define, go!

In the winter I have to use a diffuser especially if I have somewhere to go, the cold weather in the UK and wet hair usually result in a flu! I avoid this by diffusing. I use a cool setting to avoid frizz. This results in a fresh scalp and clean, defined curls. This is my weekly routine. However, I usually switch my cleansing and treatment products monthly.

Watch my video

How does your cleansing routine differ from mine?

Don’t forget to subscribe to my channel, UK Curly Girl.

By Shannon · Published December 16, 2015

The flesh of avocado is often used for deep conditioning treatments particularly effective on dry, thick, and coarse curly to coily hair. If “doing it yourself” isn’t your thing, try one of these store-bought deep conditioners with avocado oil or butter.

PHOTO COURTESY OF BEAUTY HEALTH AND CURLS

Burt’s Bees Avocado Butter Pre-Shampoo Hair Treatment

This is a pre-shampoo treatment made with natural ingredients like Avocado, Olive oil and Almond oil. They penetrate deep into the hair shaft, instead of leaving an oily film on the hair’s surface. You will be left with shiny and healthy-looking hair. This treatment is especially good for those who colour and heat style their hair as it helps to treat the damage.

PHOTO COURTESY OF BACK TO CURLY

Lush R&B Hair Treatment

This natural conditioner is made especially for curly hair; it is infused with organic avocado butter to hydrate the hair and restore health. The mix of butters and oils give it a thick consistency that you can soak your entire hair in. The jojoba and extra virgin coconut oil combination helps to moisturize, calm, and balance the scalp’s natural oil production. The results are in truly healthy hair from the inside out.

Lavera Mango & Avocado Colour & Shine Treatment

The name sounds like something you would enjoy eating. This organic extract treatment is best used on hair that has been color-treated with full or partial highlights. It also is great for those with damage from colour as both the mango and avocado give deep care and shine to your strands.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MAKEUP AND BEAUTY

Kiehl’s Olive Fruit Oil Deeply Repairative Hair Pak

One of the many hair repair masques from the Khiehl’s brand, this one contains avocado oil mixed in with haircare essentials like olive and fruit oils. This mask is perfect for undernourished tresses and heat damage as it strengthens along with moisturises. Using this treatment consistently will improve hair’s appearance as well as protect it from sun exposure and other external abuses.

Toque Magico Emergencia Volume Control And Softening Deep Acting Mask

This Dominican classic is a favourite for some curly hair transitioners and acts as a deep treatment mask for dry hair. The first three ingredients are Water, Avocado Oil and Olive oil, which screams out moisture! It acts as a frizz controller and softens the hair.

Bear Fruit Hair Banana Avocado Conditioner

This all-natural deep conditioners first ingredient is Avocado oil. Followed in the top 5 ingredients by banana, this conditioner serves moisture retention and is nourishing for dry hair. You can soak your curls in this conditioner for hours and let the added coconut oil, palm fruit oil and Shea butter work its magic.

Universal La Bomba Ultra Conditioning Deep Treatment With Avocado Cream

Another Dominican treatment made from special oils, vitamins and proteins to strengthen and nourish the hair. This product is especially useful for curlies with chemical damage and over exposure to the sun. This works best when applied on washed hair and sat under a dryer/heated cap for 10-20 minutes.

Garnier Fructis Fortifying Deep Conditioner – Sleek & Shine 3 Minute Masque

It’s specially created to smooth dry, unmanageable hair and contains an innovative combination of apricot and avocado oils, and vitamins B3 and B6. It is a 3-minute, rinseable masque that helps tame frizz. It intensely moisturizes to smooth even the most unruly hair.

Beauty Formulas Avocado Treatment Wax

This product contains protein so will help to strengthen the hair especially good for those with major damage and weak curls. It contains pure avocado oil to help with the repair and great for giving your hair added shine. It has a thick consistency and can be used on the hair for 10-15 minutes wrapped in a warm towel or shower cap (no dry direct heat”>.

Giovanni 2chic ‘Avocado & Olive Oil Ultra-Moist Deep Moisture Mask

From the natural curly hair popular brand Giovanni, this Avocado-infused moisture mask mixes with olive oil to give ultimate moisturising results! The rich formula with Aloe Vera, Shea Butter and Fruit oil helps to improve the hair’s dry and rough exterior along with repairing extreme damage like breakage and split ends.

PHOTO COURTESY OF WE HEART THIS

Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair Deep Conditioning Mask

This cruelty free and natural-derived brand is a popular in the naturally curly community. The mask is made up of Avocado mixed with keratin protein, rosehip oil, aloe and argan oils. Along with essentials and vitamins that promote health and hair growth. This mask is also great for those with lifeless and dry hair caused by colour, chemicals, heat and climate.

All of the above deep conditioners including avocado butter and oil stress the hydration that they will give to your curls! I personally highly recommend adding Avocado (oil or butter”> to your list of essential ingredients to look out for in products if you suffer from dry, damaged, coarse or color-treated curls. Want a daily conditioner that contains nutritional avocado? Refer to this list for our suggestions.

[prodmod]

By Shannon · Published December 11, 2015

Hair loss is something that we all worry about at some point in our hair journeys, many worry that too much hair is falling out into their combs or brushes when detangling. It is normal to lose 50-100 hairs a day, but if you are dealing with extreme amounts of hair loss then there are a few lifestyle factors that you can examine, and one of those is your diet.

If you are on or are considering a plant-based diet, you will want to consider the nutrients from meats and dairy that you no longer receive and find ways to incorporate them into a plant-based one. Planning your meals around getting all of your necessary nutrients is of course important for your health, but failing to do this can also lead to excessive hair loss. Surely that isn’t part of your healthy hair goals, so make sure you incorporate these things in your diet to avoid a deficiency.

VITAMIN B12

This nutrient is only available in foods that come from animals–meats, fish, and poultry. If you are on a plant-based diet, this can be a problem. You are at risk of a deficiency, which can in turn cause hair loss and a dry, scaly scalp. Include this in your diet through fortified cereals and grains, or by taking a Vitamin B12 shot or supplements regularly.

IRON

Iron in plant-based foods is lower and less available for use by the body than iron that is derived from animal sources. Lack of iron causes fatigue, weakness, and hair loss. You should be consuming 18mg of iron a day. Whilst consuming iron-rich meals you can enhance the absorption by consuming vitamin C also for example eat greens and beans with fruit or fruit juices.

PROTEIN

Most foods included in a vegan diet are filled with protein like grains, beans, nuts and vegetables so you probably won’t have a problem with a deficiency in protein. Remember, it is incredibly important for the growth of hair and the strength. Our hair is made up of over 90 percent of the protein best known as keratin, so you may do a hair protein treatment to replenish its strength in addition to consuming it in foods or supplements.

Vegan? Do this.

If you feel that you have a good diet and are still experiencing hair loss you may want to speak to your Doctor as other life factors like stress or illness could be causing the change in hair loss. Supplements can be recommended if needed.

Next: 4 Essential Vitamins For Healthy Hair  

By Shannon · Published December 3, 2015

PICTURED STYLENOOK USER LITTLELIONEL

Who doesn’t aspire for soft and bouncy curls? However, it can be a problem when you have curly hair, due to it being prone to dryness. Some of our favorite curl defining styling products also makes our curls hard, too. Check out the following 5 methods that can give you the softness you’ve been longing for.

1″> Rake & Shake Method

Keeping everything light, this method was created by a curly hair stylist from Ouidad. It consists of you applying a lightweight styler with a lot of slip like Kinky Curly Knot Today, running it through your fingers through a small section of your hair as if your hand was a rake.

Rake the hair two times but on the second you want to hold onto your ends and shake them back and forth automatically separating and forming your natural curl pattern. The shaking helps to get rid of any crunch leaving you with softer curls.

2″> The LOC/LCO Method

The LOC/LCO methods are a simple 3-step system that will provide your curls with long lasting moisture and definition. This method is used mostly in the winter time.

The L stands for liquid/water, O stands for oil and C for cream/butter. After washing, style with water or a leave-in conditioner (both work, it just depends on your hair’s needs”> add an oil to seal in the moisture and then a curling cream or moisturizing butter. Some curlies prefer to apply the oil after the cream. 

3″> The Praying Hands Method

This is a method you probably have already used during your hair journey. Often, we apply too much product and get crunchy curls, but by styling using praying hands, you can distribute the product from root to tip evenly without over doing any section.

Place your hands over a section of your hair in the prayer position (with your hair in-between both hands”> and simply slide down from the roots to the ends. This also works great whilst your hair is dry, apply a light oil to your palms and do the praying hands method in sections around your hair to add long-lasting smoothness and stretch out the hair.

4″> The No-Poo/Curly Girl Method

The No-Poo method is the famous curly girl method created by Lorraine Massey, which consists of washing your curls without shampoo! In other words co-washing, washing with a conditioner, this can contribute highly to softer curls as you avoid the dryness that shampoo can cause to curly hair.

When choosing a conditioner for the No-Poo method make sure to look out for ingredients like honey, vegetable glycerine, panthenol, aloe vera and nut butters as they will naturally soften and moisturise curly hair. You apply the conditioner from the roots upwards; detangle, massage and rinse to reveal refreshed soft hair.

5″> The Plopping Method

This method was born on NaturallyCurly forums! Using a soft t-shirt or microfiber towel, simply plop your wet and styled hair until it’s almost completely dry. This gets rid of the excess water while avoiding adding tension or frizz to your curls. Standard towels are harsh on the hair shaft and cause curly hair to frizz up so switch to a t-shirt or microfiber towel to soften your curls.

Plopping time usually is 10 minutes and you can then go in with a diffuser or continue to air dry. You can also keep your hair in the t-shirt or microfiber towel for overnight drying allowing the water to soak up and moisture to penetrate your curls.

What method will you be using to get softer curls this winter?

By Shannon · Published November 16, 2015

You may or may not have heard of Bouclème, as it is a fairly new UK brand of curly hair products. Owner Michele is a curly girl herself, and started the company after battling with her own curls. She now has curly kiddies that have inspired her to embark on her own healthy hair journey.

This eco-friendly line of products are based in the UK and contain natural moisturizers like argan oil, coconut oil, honey, and aloe vera.

Bouclème has a simple “cleanse, condition, and define” three-step system.

My results using Bouclème

These eco-friendly products are meant to restore moisture and life into naturally dry, curly hair. The brand uses fair trade ingredients in their products whenever possible, which contain no harsh chemicals and is eco-certified and tested on real hair (not animals”>! The products contain great natural moisturisers like argan oil, coconut oil, honey, and aloe vera.

Curl Cleanser, £15

read more reviews here

Curl Conditioner, £17 

read more reviews here 

This leave-in is amazing. I have used it a lot, applying section by section for immediate definition. It smells amazingly fruity, which may be thanks to the sweet orange and fruit oils. This conditioner is supposed to leave your hair moisturized for two to three days. For that reason, I didn’t have to follow-up with anything else in my regimen. But if you want a great, longer lasting wash & go, I’d recommend using the styling gel.

Curl Defining Gel, £15

read more reviews here

This felt more like oil; its consistency is so light and watery you would never guess that it was a gel! I only needed a small amount to add to my crown. Both the conditioner and gel together left my curls with the greatest definition I’ve ever had. As a result, it did leave me with some flakes the first time. To combat this, I sealed with coconut oil after applying the products and it softened up my curls and prevented any flakes from happening.

More Bouclème products that I haven’t tried yet:

Bouclème has a new product I haven’t tried yet, The Hydrating Hair Cleanser. It has a slight lather for those who want a deeper cleanse. It includes a high sea salt content to nourish curls and promote hair growth by boosting blood circulation.

This line also has an Organic Curl Towel that is curly friendly–it doesn’t disturb your curls or create frizz or dryness, unlike normal terry cloth towels.

More results

Where to buy:

• British Curlies for UK readers
• Bouclème website ships internationally
• Ayla for US readers

Overall, I was really impressed with the Bouclème brand. I love how moisturized my curls have felt and looked even days after my last wash and style. Have you tried Bouclème products?

By Shannon · Published October 7, 2015

In this tutorial I will be showing you how I create finger coils that match a perm rod set by using just my hands. If you’re not for using a lot of hair tools, this is perfect for you.

Styling Time

This will take you 30 to 45 minutes depending on your hair length and how fast you are at coiling.

Products Used

• SheaMoisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil ‘Leave-In’
• Hydratherma Naturals ‘Aloe Curl Enhancing Twisting Cream’
• Coconut Oil

Steps

Begin with freshly washed hair that is still wet (that is the key to this routine”>.

Section your hair into 2 halves and apply your leave-in conditioner generously. I do this whilst finger detangling.

Section your hair in 4 parts–2 up top, 2 on the bottom.

To create a perfect finger coil, apply a palm full of the cream and start on a tiny section of hair from the roots.

Twirl the section around your finger down to the end.

Repeat this step all over.

Leave your coils alone and air dry. You may also diffuse them on a cool heat setting to speed up the process.

Apply coconut oil to your fingertips and begin to carefully separate your coils to add frizz-free volume.

That’s it–cute coils with no heat styling tools and a fuss-free styling routine! This look is versatile for everyday wear and perfect for special occasions. Depending on your preferences and styling maintenance, your finger coils will last for days without needing a touch-up.

Watch my full video tutorial

By Shannon · Published September 15, 2015

STYLENOOK USERS CARA.LANE & SUZLCURLY

We asked 4 curly hair specialists which haircut they’re receiving the most requests for this season, here’s what they said.

Leslie Ellen Abbate Salon, NYC

“What I have been seeing a lot of is a trend of long hair with little to no layering being brought up to about the collarbone length or slightly longer and being layered a lot. A feeling of modified disco hair–if I dare say–big fun, playful hair!”

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A photo posted by RN (@the_dopest_ethiopian”> on Aug 31, 2015 at 12:33pm PDT

Oasis Salon, Rockville, MD

“At this time of year, a lot of curlies are asking for shorter cuts–shoulder length with a higher back and longer or asymmetrical front. Also, for super tight curls, they don’t want to lose much length, but want some kind of shape.

Then of course, another trend is color…for Americans, more daring color is becoming popular. I attribute this to youngsters now being a stronger presence in the workforce; as a result styles that are a bit more edgy are acceptable in the work force.”

NATURALLYCURLY EDITOR DEVRI – BY ROBIN SJOBLOM

Aphrodite’s Sanctuary, Toronto, ON, Canada

“The most popular cut that I do is the DevaCut. It is a dry cut specifically designed to make curls look their best. Who wouldn’t want that? I get my clients to flip forward and back, side to side so I can cut each curl where it will naturally fall so they get the best cut possible.”

STYLENOOK USER FRCLS

Tangles Pasadena Salon, Pasadena, CA

“Soft A-lines and curly pixies. It’s so much fun for us to empower these curly hair women to rock shorter cuts. Us hearing “I need to keep it long to weigh it down” is long gone. With the right products we can not only control frizzy curl but also enhance the wave.”

Trying to figure out which salon in your area specializes in curly hair?

Visit our curly salon database and read thousands of reviews here.

What hair trends are you noticing in your area? What will your next salon request be?

By Shannon · Published September 10, 2015

PHOTO BY KAZOKA30 — GETTY IMAGES

Get yourself familiar with the new beauty trend, sugaring! Unfortunately it doesn’t involve you being able to eat the sugar but it is a great alternative to waxing. This natural hair removing method however isn’t anywhere near new, the technique of sugaring started in Persia back in 1900 BC! It is a well known Middle Eastern natural beauty secret that is affordable and earth friendly.

What is sugaring?

Sugaring involves a mixture that consists of melted sugar and honey as a wax alternative. A common modified recipe uses sugar, lemon and hot water. Apply the mixture to the area of hair and rip off as usual. The greatest thing about the sugar and honey is that they do not stick to the skin like hot wax does, instead it grabs your hair follicles from the roots and pulls them out instead of breaking them halfway, which can causes pain and ingrown hairs.

After a few sugaring sessions, the hair’s follicle will begin to diminish as it can extract the hair in its earliest growth phase. What does this mean for you? That there is a great chance of no more hair in those stubborn areas! This is even something that you can do at home. It is inexpensive and uses only 3 simple ingredients (that you will have already lying around the house”>. Laser hair removal who?

PHOTO COURTESY OF SUGARING-HAIR-REMOVAL.CO.UK

Is it better than usual waxing and laser hair removal?

Sugaring is the better alternative to waxing as the ready-made wax you buy or is used in salons contains strong chemicals, fragrances, dyes and preservatives. The wax is also usually warmed up which causes swelling when applied to the skin and if you have sensitive skin this can cause burning and scarring. Sugaring avoids this as sugar cannot stick onto skin cells as they are wet and sugar paste is water soluble, Perfect!

Waxing is a fear of many due to the possible pain you go through when the it is being ripped off. Sugaring makes the removal of the most painful areas such as bikini line, upper lip and chest much more bearable–this is due to less heat, which reduces the chance of skin irritation.

Do it yourself

Many beauty salons are starting to learn the practice of sugaring and offer this service. It is also something that you can master on your own at home.

• Tip: Make sure that the area you will be removing hair from is well exfoliated and not oily. After removing the hair avoid the Gym, exfoliation, sauna and hot water on the area for at least 48 hours.

Here is a great tutorial on how sugaring is done properly

Would you try the sugaring technique?

By Shannon · Published August 27, 2015

The term ‘multiracial salon’ sounds alien to me.

Coming from South London, I live in a very multicultural city but my part of London, the home of (Brixton, Lewisham, Streatham”> can be deemed as urban and black/Asian. While driving through these areas, you will see rows of markets, black hair salons, black hair product stores, Asian beauty salons, and black barber shops on the high streets. It’s almost like we are forced to be separate from white people when it comes to hair and beauty.

My mother, who is white, would visit any hair salon when I was younger. For a treat, she went to a high-end salon like Toni & Guy or RUSH. When I wanted my hair straightened like hers, she would ask them if they would be able to do mine so that we could have our hair done together–mother and daughter bonding time. However, we were always met with a “hold on let me ask my manager” or “No, we don’t deal with that type of hair”. Sometimes, they would admit, “I wouldn’t even know where to start.”

These responses left me feeling insecure. We then had to find salons that specialized in ‘Black hair’.

As a person of mixed origin, this is something that bothered me. The fact that I found it so hard to find products in mainstream stores and even hair stylists in high street salons–it was always an effort when it came to my hair compared to my mother’s. This is partly the reason why I now blog about my hair type as for years I have struggled with dealing with it.

“But these hairdressers didn’t always provide a full range of services, such as relaxers, to black patrons, so I opted for black salons,” Nadra Nittle states. Let’s be completely honest with ourselves. Most of our experiences growing up visiting black hair salons were interesting to say the least. But we’ve had to learn to accept the way it worked back then.

I’m sure we have all been through the frustration of having a booked time but still having to wait as stylists are in the middle of styling someone else’s hair or being judged and stared at as soon as you walk in–along with secretly not liking your hair when it’s done and not daring to voice it (lol”>. In my opinion, it all comes back to us wishing we could just be catered too in all hair salons so we don’t have to feel marginalised to just one kind.

In my opinion, it all comes back to us wishing we could just be catered to in all hair salons so we don’t have to feel marginalised to just one kind.

Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of things I enjoy about Black salons!

From the music, to the great conversations, to becoming more more educated about my hair, I love it. But it would be great if this were an experience we could enjoy everywhere! The problem lies with the industry standards too, as mentioned in the Racked article. Recently, I spoke to a white curly hair specialist who styled my hair. She shared with me that she was also appalled after working in mainstream salons that they did not know how to deal with curly hair or afro hair and were not required to. This is what fueled her to start her own business that caters specifically to curlies to help get rid of the ‘discrimination’ of different hair types which in this day and age is ridiculous.

A black stylist shouldn’t be the only stylist who can deal with Black hair. A stylist of any background should also be taught the science and versatility of black hair, as it would expand their skillset and clientele!

To sum it up, I would have to agree that multiracial salons should exist–especially with the rise in mixed race couples and families. Call me unrealistic, but it would be nice for us all to be served together and be one big happy hair family. As long as stylists are taught to appreciate every hair type and do not underplay the true roots of black hair then I would see this as a very positive change.

Do you agree that multiracial salons should exist? What does that phrase mean to you?

By Shannon · Published July 29, 2015

PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES

Silicones have created such a huge debate amongst the naturally curly hair community. These ingredients tend to get a bad rap when used in hair and skincare products because some silicones block all moisture out of the hair cuticles, causing dry, brittle or sticky curls. However, there is one silicone in particular that can be beneficial to hair during the summer months. It acts as a heat protectant and works wonders for frizz-prone, textured hair, and you may recognize the name, “dimethicone.”

Dimethicone’s pretty popular, actually

You will find Dimethicone in a large range of beauty and hair products usually within the first five ingredients after water. This is due to its slick lubricating coat that helps with detangling hair and smoothing any imperfections on the skin. Dimethicone is a silicone-based polymer, meaning that it is “a molecule made up of several smaller units bonded together” says Dr. Frank Lipman. It provides curls with sleekness and shine, and is mostly used in conditioners, stylers, and detanglers. 

This ingredient coats the hair strands creating a barrier against the humidity. As we all know, humidity and a high dew point cause curly hair to have more frizz, especially in the summertime. This is due to the larger number of water molecules in the air. These molecules create a bond on the hair causing the hair to fold back on itself at a greater rate, which we experience as frizz.

It blocks humidity and prevents frizz.

Dimethicone coats the hair strands, creating a barrier against the humidity. Humidity affects curly hair in the summer time due to the higher number of water molecules in the air. Its bond on the hair causes the hair to fold back on itself at a greater rate (commonly known as a frizz halo”>.

If your hair frizzes and poofs up quickly outside in the heat, try a hair serum or heat protector that contains Dimethicone to reduce shrinkage and frizz. This works by sealing moisture in and out of the hair shaft, preventing frizzies from sticking out of the hair.

Still, many curlies avoid it

Since Dimethicone is not water soluble, your scalp is prone to more build-up that sometimes cannot be rinsed away easily. Dimethicone sticks to hair strands, and to remove them you have to use a shampoo with sulfates or a cleanser/no-poo with the ingredient ‘Cocamidopropyl betaine’ in it.

Many curlies avoid both silicones and sulfates in their curly hair regimen, but not all silicones across the board are non water soluble. One way to enjoy the benefits of Dimethicone without resorting to the use of sulfates is to use products that contain the ingredient ‘Dimethicone Copolyol’ –this type of silicone is water-soluble and will give you less build-up and can be rinsed out with the water washing method.

Popular curly hair products (with Dimethicone”>

Many of the Holy Grail hair products that are often reviewed and praised in the curly hair community actually contain Dimethicone, you may even find the common ingredient on the labels of your favorite products:

• Macadamia Natural Oil Healing Oil Treatment, $13 at Walgreens
• Ouidad Moisture Lock Leave-In Conditioner, $26 in Curlmart
• Mixed Chicks Leave-In Conditioner, $20 in Curlmart
• Garnier Fructis Wonder Waves Fortifying Cream Conditioner, $3 at Walmart

Here is a list of water soluble and non soluble silicones, so you can decide for yourself if your hair products require the use of a sulfate cleanser or not.

Water Soluble Silicones

• Dimethicone Copolyol
• Lauryl Methicone Copolyol
• Hydrolyzed wheat protein (Hydroxypropyl Polysiloxane”>
• Any silicone with PEG as a prefix

Non Soluble (not water soluble”>

• Trimethylsilyl Amodimethicone
• Dimethicone
• Phenyl Trimethicone
• Cetearyl Methicone
• Dimethiconol
• Amodimethicone
• Stearyl Dimethicone
• Cyclomethicone
• Cetyl Dimethicone
• Cyclopentasiloxane
• Behenoxy Dimethicone
• Stearoxy Dimethicone

Do you avoid products that contain Dimethicone? Or do you find that they help reduce your frizz?

By Shannon · Published July 7, 2015

PICTURED

Hair rinsing is an effective way to maintain your curly hair. But since blonde hair (both natural and color-treated”> tends to react differently to other ingredients, hair rinses are usually avoided. Once going lighter, it is important to take extra steps to really maintain the color and condition of your hair after washes. These hair rinses are blonde-hair friendly, filled with nourishing antioxidants and free from any chemicals or preservatives that might chemically alter the state of your hair color. Use these rinses after cleansing your hair and in place of the usual rinse-out conditioner. You can find these ingredients in the herbs and tea section of your local grocery store.

GETTY IMAGES

Linden-Flower Rinse

Blonde hair can be very prone to dryness and Linden-Flower is perfect for dealing with this. The Linden-Flower rinse will help to promote growth and strengthen the hair.

• Boil 2 tablespoons of linden-flowers and simmer until cool. Strain the mixture and add to a spray bottle. Use the rinse after washing your hair and massage into the scalp.

Chamomile Tea Rinse

Chamomile tea has many hair benefits such as calming down the scalp, softening the hair and giving shine. When it comes to using a Chamomile tea rinse on blonde hair it works as a natural and healthy lightener for colour treated hair. If you want to keep your blonde hair vibrant try the following rinse once a week if your hair colour needs a pick me up! It great for bringing out blonde highlights!

• Once a month, boil 2 cups of water and steep 2 bags of chamomile tea and either spray or pour through your hair. Let it sit in your hair for 5 minutes before rinsing out with cold water.

Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse

• Mix some Apple Cider Vinegar and water together in a spray bottle. After cleansing your hair, spray your hair with the mixture and massage into the scalp and use as a clarifier. Let it sit for 30 minutes, then rinse with cool water. Do this once every month.

Champagne Rinse

It may sound off the wall but a champagne rinse can actually enhance gold/blonde tones in the hair. The antioxidants from the grapes made to use bubbly are great for achieving smooth and shiny has also! Side note: don’t waste the good stuff on your hair! Opting for a cheaper bottle for your hair works just as well.

• Mix one-half hot water and one-half champagne in a spray bottle, distribute the mix all over your hair and then rinse.

Rhubarb Root Rinse

Rhubarb root has a long history of medical use! This plant is full of calcium, fibre and vitamins. You can use this as a rinse to naturally lighten the hair a shade or two! Stay away if your blonde hair is already light–think platinum–as this rinse can darken it!

• Let some rhubarb root boil in a non-metal pot for an hour. Let it cool down and strain through a sieve. With a spray bottle, apply this mixture and rinse after washing your hair. Rinse with this a few times to get the colour and leave your hair to air dry.

Have you tried any of these rinses on your blonde curls? Let us know how they turned out.