Conditioning Basket Giveaway- Just Comment on Articles Across CN.com!

December 9, 2015, 9:00 am

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Hola Chicas,

I'm giving away 6 Conditioning Baskets(worth ~$90 each) this month (December 2015) to question askers and answerers!

If you see a curly-in-need who has asked a question under a post, answer it! If you are a curly who has a question that needs an answer, ask it! Not under this post, on all the posts! 

The first three baskets will go to the three curlies with the highest number of posts this month (12/1-12/31, comments from previous months don't count) and the next three will go to three randomly selected commenters.  Past winners are eligible!

Which posts/articles count for the contest? All of them!  Good luck!

*contest ends December 31st, 2015 at 5pm EST*

*Please only post comments that spark conversation and further discussion. Free products are EVERYTHING but this is really about strengthening our community and helping other naturals!*

*US citizens only
 
Later Gators,
Nik

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Rachel Is Naturally Glam!

December 10, 2015, 6:02 am

≫ Next: Transitioning to Natural Hair with Weaves... The RIGHT Way!

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Were you a transitioner or a Big Chopper? What was your journey like?
I was a big chopper. I actually big chopped twice, and the journey was hard. The first time was in 2012, and it wasn’t because I was down with the natural hair movement or anything like that. I actually had gotten lazy with my hair and stopped relaxing it for a while. During that period I decided to get senegalese twists to try something different. The senegalese twists were large and heavy and caused even more damage to my weak and fragile hair. When I took them out and washed my hair, my hair literally came out in clumps.

READ MORE>>

SO TRAUMATIC. I got it professionally cut to even it out which I liked for a little bit, but then after a while my natural hair mixed with my relaxed ends were becoming too much for me to bare. That’s what led to my first big chop, I wasn’t familiar with all the techniques that were out there for transitioners. One day I had become so frustrated that I chopped off all of my relaxed hair. It was liberating but I was so confused with what to do with my hair. I had been natural since I was 4 years old. Not to mention when my mom had seen all my hair cut off she nearly had a heart attack. At the time my cousin Courtney, you guys may now know her as @CurlsandCouture, had gone natural not too long before and had learned a lot about her natural texture. She was pretty much the reason why I actually tried to embrace my natural hair in the first place, and literally every product she was using I tried using on my hair. We didn’t have the same hair type though and I just automatically assumed that when you had natural hair everyone could use the same products with the same results. Boy was I wrong. Her hair would come out great and mine was super dry and brittle. I had no routine or anything. So after a few months of being natural I put my hair in a protective style, braids. I had those braids in for a couple of months, and when I took them out I could start to see my natural hair. I wore it out for a little bit but then I heard about texturizers. I saw how beautiful and loose the girl on the box’s curls were and wanted mine to be the same, so I decided to get it 5 months after my big chop. Big mistake. My hair just came out looking like one big poof ball. So then I relaxed it. 4 months after getting that relaxer I decided that I wanted to be natural again. I hated the way the relaxer made my hair texture look. It was so thin and flat, when I naturally had really thick hair. I decided that I was going to really embrace my natural hair this time. I was going to learn as much as possible and take care of it as best as I possibly could. I transitioned for about 3 months and then did my second big chop. My second big chop was two years ago now and it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

Had you always embraced your texture?
No, not at all. That’s why I got a texturizer and relaxer after being natural for a few months. I grew up hearing that my thick/ kinky hair was “nappy” and was frowned upon. No one in my family embraced it. My mother and grandmother made sure that I always got my relaxers on schedule because if I didn’t I apparently looked a mess. That’s what they were taught and they were just passing down what they thought was right. This is how many black households were, and it was pretty sad to be honest. I hated my kinky hair, and my short natural hair made me feel extremely insecure. My self esteem actually went down a lot after getting my first big chop because I felt that the girl that I saw in the mirror was exactly what society’s view of ugly was. It was honestly really bad in the beginning, I’m not even going to lie. Now I think back on how I used to feel about my hair and it makes me so sad that I ever felt that way. It makes me sad to know that there are so many other women out there feeling the same way and keeping it inside. I just want to say to them DON’T GIVE UP! Trust me I know it’s so hard in the beginning but try to be patient. Learn about what products work best for your hair, try different protective styles, just don’t give up on the journey and don’t ever think you aren’t beautiful. Use all the other naturalistas on social media as a source of inspiration and encouragement to continue your natural journey, not as a means to compare your hair to theirs. That’s how you become discouraged. I am now in LOVE with my hair texture because it’s an extension of who I am. I think it’s so beautiful, and I am so grateful for what God has given me. Of course I have my days like everyone else when I get really frustrated with my hair, but I wouldn’t ever want to trade my hair with anyone else’s.

How did family and friends react to your decision to go natural? What was your response to them? 
I got a mix of responses when I first went natural. My grandmother hated it and thought I was crazy, point blank. She tried to pretend that she liked it but you could tell that she wasn’t a fan lol. My mother also thought I was crazy but started supporting my decision a few months after I went natural. The rest of my family was pretty mixed about the whole thing. My response to all of them was to just continue with my journey. I didn’t relax my hair after big chopping the first time because of them. It was because of myself. I’m pretty self motivated so it really doesn’t matter how much people tell me they like/don’t like something about me. If I don’t like it myself, that’s when I make a change. My friends were actually really supportive and thought it was cool that I actually had the guts to chop all my hair off.

Describe your hair (fine or coarse, thin or thick, highly porous, low, etc.)
My hair is coarse, I have a few fine strands here and there. Also my hair is EXTREMELY thick. I’m not really a fan of the whole hair typing thing, but if I had to use that to describe my hair I’d say I just have type 4 hair. (A mix of 4a, 4b, and 4c).

What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done to your hair? 
I think I went through a phase where I loved coloring my hair, so I think the craziest thing I’ve done was dying my hair and then dying it again about a month and a half later. So grateful that my hair didn’t fall out.

What’s your biggest hair related regret?
Relaxing my hair 5 months after my first big chop.

What's your current hair routine? How often do you wash, condition, and style? Favorite products! Deets!
I’ve always been a fan of twist-outs. Sometimes I like wash and gos but I get so much shrinkage and I don’t want to put heat to my roots to stretch my hair. So I’ve just been sticking with twist-outs at the moment. Since my hair is short, at night I try to put it in mini pineapples with hair scrunchies to keep it stretched. I know some people can go longer without washing their hair but I wash it about every 3-4 days. Once a week I will clarify and deep condition, but mid week I’ll co wash my hair. I’ll style my hair about every two to three days. When I do refresh a twist-out I’ll spray my hair with a combination of water, leave-in conditioner, and aloe vera. My favorite products are the As I Am Coconut Co-Wash (my staple product!), Shea Moisture Superfruit Complex 10-in-1 Renewal System Hair Masque, Cantu Shea Butter Leave in Conditioning Repair Cream, Dr. Bronner’s Peppermint Pure Castile Liquid Soap, and Trader Joe’s all natural Jojoba Oil.

What’s your favorite hairstyle? Where do you get hairstyle inspiration?
My favorite hairstyle is the puff. I’ll usually do a puff with my bangs out or a puff with my bangs pulled back creating a sort of bump in the front. My inspiration for my current favorite hairstyle is from Journeyto Waistlength.

Who is your curl crush?
I have a few curl crushes. Sunkissalba, Lipstickncurls, OwnbyFemme, NaturalNeiicey, JourneytoWaistlength, and of course my girl CurlsandCouture.

How do you maintain your hair at night?
I just do the mini pineapples and cover it with a satin bonnet.

How do you maintain healthy length?
I take biotin, I try to eat as healthy as possible, I make sure my hair is always being moisturized and I drink A LOT of water.

What's the best thing about being natural?
The journey that comes along with it. Not just learning about my hair, but about myself as well.

Where can folks find you on the web?
You can find me on my Instagram hairpage @naturallyrae_926  ! =)

Transitioning to Natural Hair with Weaves... The RIGHT Way!

December 10, 2015, 6:12 am

≫ Next: Top 10 Edge Tamers for Natural Hair- 'The Slick Back'

≪ Previous: Rachel Is Naturally Glam!

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 By Charlene Walton of TexturedTalk.com

If you are a “new natural” by now I’m pretty sure you’ve figured out the natural hair game is no joke. As I mentioned in a previous post about the top 5 things I wish I knew before going natural, maintaining your hair is a LOT of work. And although twisting, braiding, rolling, and pinning your hair produces amazing styles there is a such thing as over manipulation, which can lead to breakage, thinning and overall damage (I was a victim of this). Transitioning can be an extremely frustrating, so much that several women just throw in the towel and quit. Don’t give up, we’ve all been there! Instead, find a great protective style to help with the process. One of the most popular and successful protective styles: a sew-in weave!

Transitioning with a sew-in weave as a protective style can produce amazing results, however; there’s a wrong way and RIGHT way to transition with a sew-in. Having my experience with transitioning the WRONG way, (I once left a sew in weave in my hair for 3 months…don’t ever do that!), I thought it would be very helpful for you to know the proper way to transition before you jump head first into this process. I’ve partnered with my long time friend and personal stylist Marissa Robinson of Bill Lawrence Salon in Washington, DC to give her professional tips, asking her the top questions I think are imperative to know while maintaining this style. Enjoy!

Read On!>>>

How to Properly Transition with Sew-in weaves

Textured Talk: What’s the maximum amount of time someone should leave a sew-in installation in their hair?

Marissa: Even though your hair extensions might stay intact after 2 months it’s highly recommended that they are removed in 8-10 weeks. Getting accustomed to wearing hair extensions may give false comfort, your hair IS growing underneath and you don’t want the weight of the hair extensions to cause tension, damaging your mane.

TT: How can the hair remain moisturized and healthy while transitioning with a sew-in?

M: The key to keeping your hair healthy while wearing hair extensions is to make sure it’s healthy before your install. Getting regular steam/deep conditioning treatments prior to and during your install accompanied by a trim will preserve your healthy hair and encourage growth. If your hair is weak consult a professional hairstylist about protein treatments prior to installation. Setting a healthy hair foundation maximizes healthy results. Also during installation, braiding the hair with anti-fungal oils such as carrot, coconut or tea tree oil to promote growth is a healthy option.

TT: Speaking of moisture, what is the proper way to wash the hair while maintaining a sew-in style?

M: To properly shampoo your hair, you first want to examine the foundation. Getting familiar with your new hair before it is wet will give you a clear understanding of where to place your hands when shampooing. Once you’ve identified where your scalp is, palm your head with both hands, insert your fingers where you feel your scalp and proceed with a clarifying shampoo massaging thoroughly back in forth. Using clarifying shampoo will cleanse the extensions and your scalp of build up that weighs the hair down and causes scalp odor. You can use also use it on your hair at least one time followed with whatever your hair needs (moisturizing, therapeutic or a normal shampoo). The biggest difference between what you normally do is that you are not moving your hands in a vigorous motion, this will dismantle your installment. Conclude each shampoo with a thorough rinse between each track. Shampoo 3 times and conditioner in extensions is not always necessary (based on texture and desired style) but primarily focus on your hair.

TT: What are some best practices for the hair “breathing” period in between new installs?

M: Once hair extensions are removed, it’s important to let the hair breathe. Following up with a steam/deep conditioning treatment, and a trim, a blow out or any tension-free style is greatly advised. This allows rest from the weight of the hair extensions on your new growth, circulation, and moisture from the steam/deep conditioning treatment, and starting fresh and clean with the shape and texture from the trim. Once hair has remained dormant for 8-10 weeks, it grows out of the last shape and into a new one, creating density due to length and creating more coarse hair because of the braids.

TT: What can women do to blend their “leave-out” without heat damaging the hair?

M: Blending your hair with extensions is easiest when you choose a texture that compliments your own. Have a consultation with your stylist, before your service and request to have the least amount of your hair out. Choose a stylist that is knowledgeable in the service you desire and they will give you options in texture and installation to customize the most natural look for you. When styling your hair at home only use heat on your hair after it’s been freshly shampooed and conditioned. The constant use of heating tools on unclean hair will cause damage. Once your hair reverts and you need some help blending, go to your products and accessories. Use an edge control in either an oil base or matte finish (depending on the desired look), along with a scarf to tame unruly edges. Also, you can use hair accessories such as head bands, scarves, novelty hair pins to add variety to your style. Adding pretty hair pieces can not only hold hair in place (alone or with the help of a small twist or braid stretching the edges without heat) but they add style to your coif redirecting the focus to your overall look.

TT: And finally, what’s the best way to protect your precious edges while wearing a sew in?

M: The best way to protect your edges is to wear a closure. If you are not a fan of the closure make sure you properly communicate your concerns with the stylist to rotate the ways your hair is installed, so you’re not creating tension on the same areas. Use a leave in conditioner as well as deep conditioning while you have extensions to keep the edges moisturized. Practice great healthy hair habits as mentioned above ( no constant reuse of heat). Sometimes give your edges a break and wear a textured style by braiding the weave with your hair to create a desired texture. Last but not least try a bang, a great face framed cut with a bang always serves style and shows no edge in sight, while still giving a natural appearance.

Thanks so much Marissa! You can also find Marissa on Instagram at @dchairlady.

Marissa Robinson is part of the highly skilled and gifted team at the Bill Lawrence Salon in Washington, DC. She has become a trusted authority on beauty, a texture expert and natural hair care specialist, with extensive training in colors, cuts, updos, make-up and hair for television and film, and hair extensions. Marissa pursued her craft under the phenomenal tutelage of the AVEDA Institute, furthering her skills a student in the Vidal Sassoon Academy in London and Advance Haircutting study with Gary Gerard at the International Beauty Show in Las Vegas. Featured in Essence and Ebony magazines for New York Fashion Week, Marissa counts Comedian and Actress Sherri Shepherd among her clients, which include Washington, D.C.’s movers and shakers. Marissa takes great pride in achieving the power of the makeover for her clients. “I love the beauty in a makeover, from cuts to color to texture transitions, the ability to transform a client’s outlook about themselves is nothing short of amazing!”

Top 10 Edge Tamers for Natural Hair- 'The Slick Back'

December 10, 2015, 9:00 am

≫ Next: Cute Scarf Updos for Natural Hair!

≪ Previous: Transitioning to Natural Hair with Weaves... The RIGHT Way!

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by Christina Patrice

From wash and go's to stylish updos while temperatures climb, or for slicked back ponytails for a polished 9 to 5 look, sleek edges are the cornerstone for many of the most chic natural hair styles. Taming curly, kinky, and coily edges can be a daunting task, but luckily these 10 products are up for the job. Decide what level of hold you're looking for and find the one that will work for you!

**Soft Hold Products
If you prefer a softer, more natural looking hold, these products are for you. Get some extra mileage from them by gently spritzing your edges with water first before applying:

1. Qhemet Biologics Aethiopika Hydrate and Twist Butter - $14.00
Based in olive oil, mango butter, and rice bran oil, this omega and ceramide rich blend provides perfectly soft sleekness while nourishing your edges. Especially great for edges prone to thinning or breakage.

Read On!>>>

2. Nubian Heritage Indian Hemp and Tamanu Grow & Strengthen Edge Taming Taffy - $11.99
Full of shea butter, coconut oil, and olive oil, this nourishing taffy provides hold and softness for any style.

**Flexible Hold Products
If you prefer the best of both worlds, these products will work wonders for you. They are versatile enough to slick your hair up for the day, and shake loose for a wild look (with polished edges, of course) at night:

3. Eden Body Works Coconut Shea Edge Control Gel - $8.99
With coconut oil and aloe vera, this edge control gel will provide medium hold and maximum hydration. A must-have for edges sensitive to styling products. Oh, it also won the Best of the Best Awards!

4. Curls Passion Fruit or Blueberry Bliss Curl Control Paste - $12.00
Honestly, you can't go wrong with these two. Both contain yummy extracts great for natural hair, and provide touchable hold free of stickiness. If your edges are in need of moisture and hold, opt for the Passion Fruit variety that contains glycerin, castor oil, mango, jojoba, and more. To strengthen your edges while adding hold, the Blueberry Bliss option adds keratin, quinoa, and silk amino acids to the mix.

5. Mainelement:love Herbal Styling Balm - $5.25

Palm, neem, and vitamin E oils feed the hair while this herbal-based balm provides shine, hold, and sleekness.

6. Creme of Nature with Argan Oil Perfect Edges - $4.99
Blended with glycerin, castor oil sweet almond, and argan oils, this medium hold edge tamer will provide sleekness, shine, and nourishment to your edges. The added bonus of keratin and protein will help strengthen edges to make sure they're here for the long haul!

**Strong Hold Products
Feel like nothing works to hold your edges in place? Give these 4 mega-sleeking options a try:

7. EcoStyler Gel with Argan Oil - $2.75
Good ol' Eco. If you're looking for a budget friendly, alcohol-free gel to slick back edges, this is the one. It can harden and form a gel cast, so mixing it during application with your favorite oil will help hold back the crunchies.

8. Design Essentials Honey and Shea Edge Tamer - $11.99
Packed with glycerin and castor oil, this edge tamer will hydrate, protect, and hold edges in place for the long haul.

9. As I Am Smoothing Gel - $8.00
Versatile enough for edges and styling, this gel will provide super sleek edges and hold without hardening and drying alcohols. For maximum slickness, gently spritz edges with water before applying.

10. Obia Natural Hair Curl Enhancing Custard - $15.00
Another curl defining and edge controlling favorite, this thick custard will give your curls and edges desired hold without making them crunchy. Enriched with grape seed, argan, and olive oils, the custard will provide hold, shine, and hydration.

As always, when it comes to your edges, remember:

• MIND your ingredients. Steer clear of drying alcohols, and products with petroleum and mineral oil that will clog your follicles. 
• LESS is more.If you can, slick your edges back with your hands instead of a brush. To lock them in place, tie a satin scarf over them while you finish getting ready.
• AVOID tight pulling and style repetition. Leave buns, ponytails, and updos a little loose to avoid too much tugging and pulling. If you can, move them around from time to time to avoid repetitive stress to the same area (high bun, low pony, etc.)
• SLEEP on satin.Pillowcases, scarves, and bonnets all reduce friction between your hair and pillows or sheets. Be sure to protect your edges before tying up hair too!

How do you smooth your edges? What's your favorite product and regimen?

This article was originally published on June 2014 and has been updated for grammar and clarity.

Cute Scarf Updos for Natural Hair!

December 11, 2015, 1:00 am

≫ Next: SHOW AND TELL- FIERCE FRIDAY!

≪ Previous: Top 10 Edge Tamers for Natural Hair- 'The Slick Back'

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Iamsonotmyhair writes:
 

I would like to share some cute ways to preserve your winter styles this season with some scarf looks. Hope you enjoy!

Read On!>>>

SHOW AND TELL- FIERCE FRIDAY!

December 11, 2015, 4:04 am

≫ Next: ‘Cause my life is dope and I do dope sh*t’ #LifeHack

≪ Previous: Cute Scarf Updos for Natural Hair!

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Hola Chicas!

Fierce Friday is a way to celebrate our natural hair, displaying our dopest styles and best hair days... for inspiration and motivation. Wanna be featured? All you have to do is upload your favorite pics to Instagram with the tags #FierceFriday and #CurlyNikki. Be sure to share a brief description of the style, where you were headed, why you felt amazing, etc.!


@mrshairtoday2012

2nd day hair. Applied some #mielleorganics #mintalmondoil, fluffed and voila! @posh_syd

 READ MORE>>

braid out @shonaborn

Happy Saturday! Turned my 8th day old wash and go into 2 buns. One in the front (side) and one in the (middle) back. Refreshed my hair with a few spritz of water, @camillerosenaturals coconut water style setter. Edges are laid with blue eco styler gel (my fav) level hold 5 and a little bit of avocado oil. The water setter laid my edges alone but I just wanted to slay those edges a little bit more. LOL...Wash day will be tomorrow. @butter_curls

When your curls are still popping after 8 days! #naturalhair #naturalhairdaily #permrodset #permrods #fiercefriday #curlynikki @niece426

Seriously wishing it was socially acceptable to walk around with half straight and half curly hair . #myarmsaretired Check out the link in my bio to see my video on how I go from Curly to Straight! @shaelisa

#TB #washandgo #naturalhair #style #curlyhair #curlynikki #globalcouture #myhaircrush #blonde #naturalhairdaily @gemtrendsetter

My braid out was ruined by the rain right before this photo shoot, but I don't let my hair rule me. Love yourself and continue to slay! @thektrain_ Visit the TheKTrain Blog for natural hair advice and thrifted style inspiration. 

My messy perm rod set. It looked too perfect, almost wig-like so I had to frizz/pick it out. @coilykaye

‘Cause my life is dope and I do dope sh*t’ #LifeHack

December 11, 2015, 4:04 am

≫ Next: Dry Natural Hair? To Pre-Poo or Deep Treat?

≪ Previous: SHOW AND TELL- FIERCE FRIDAY!

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from the South African files...

...famous Kanye quote (via Dave Chappelle). But seriously. My life is dope. And I get tons of emails asking questions about my philosophy and secrets, so I thought I’d share one of them right here, for #AllaYall.

A CN reader wrote me sharing that she feels stuck and unfulfilled in her current career, despite the 6 years of school she struggled through to land the job.  On top of Sallie Mae hitting her up on the regular, she's tired of corporate America and the politics and the red tape and the racism and wants her freedom.  She wants to follow her passion and create a green beauty business, but has zero capital, zero free time and zero inspired ideas.  She also wants a bae and children... and since she's well into her 30s, feels time is ticking and the clock is getting louder and growing ever more disrespectful by the day.  Every person in her life views her as a great success, but she wants more.  She went on to explain everything else that was wrong about her life, in the greatest of detail, and then kicked it to me.

Read On!>>>
So, before I launch into my quick tip, the one that works for me every single time, without fail, know this--

Be thankful for where you are right now.  

'Bullshit', you say.  You've read the self-help books too, and while an 'attitude of gratitude' is cute, putting it into practice, especially when your 'right now' is so... annoying, can be damn near impossible.  But, what if you looked at it like this:

You are currently living your last dream.  Yep.  Right now, you are in the midst of living out all of the stuff you asked for and dreamed about a year or more ago.  You have the degree, you landed the gig, you got that promotion, you even have a house in your dream neighborhood (much to your neighbors dismay ;)  ).  You wanted this life so bad and now you've got it... you just forgot.  It's a bit easier to feel that gratitude now, huh?

And yet, you are dissatisfied.  Unfulfilled. Of course you are.  One, because happiness is an inside job (and if you're looking to anyone, or any thing or circumstance to make and keep you happy forever and ever, you'll never find it).  But also because you are placing your attention on all the wrong things. 

 So here's what you should do--

Whenever you feel angry about some life circumstance (especially that one where you feel like you’re trapped in a terrible re-run episode) or frustrated with a long-held goal that hasn’t yet come to pass, do this—

Ask yourself, ‘how would I feel right now if situation x was resolved’, or ‘how would I feel right now if I had or was experiencing ________’. Very simple questions. Just ask and get quiet… don’t try to answer it. Get quiet, relax your body and just watch.  Just listen.  The asking of it will produce an automatic, gut level response and associated feeling that will provide much needed relief.

*************************************

Here’s an example—

What you want:
to get a bae… THE bae... and a ring... a big one ;)

How would it feel if you had Bae right here, right now? Like, how would you feel if you knew tonight, when you got off, he’d be at home waiting for you with your favorite Netflix show queued up and a box of Popeye’s chicken… wings only?
I would feel wanted, loved, worthy, excited, blissful, etc etc. It would feel like... heaven.

Tap into that feeling and re-upload it frequently... like moment to moment throughout your day. 

Example 2--

What you want:
to start a successful business but I have no money, no time and no ideas.  I want financial freedom.

How would you feel if you had a successful business right here, right now?
I would feel like a winner, respected, fulfilled, free

Tap into that feeling and re-upload it frequently-- moment to moment throughout your day. 

 *****************************************

So here’s where we get it twisted— we think the situation, person or thing has to show the hell up before we can feel these good feels. You believe that until you can quit your stupid job or have that inspired business idea, that frustration and anger or hopelessness and depression are your only choices. If you choose to believe that and continue to only react (negatively) to your current situation, then Bae (the right one... the ain't shit one will still find you) and your successful business will continue to elude you. 

So, choose those good feels now. You can. Choose to feel loved now! Choose to feel like a success now and then life will serve up people, situations and stuff that will support your new attitude. It's not impossible and it's not magic-- in fact, I know there are times when you know you're in that zone of 'self-love'... like right after a successful presentation, or after your intense workout, or that moment before you and your squad hit the door at that new posh club... that's the feeling.  Keep feeling it.  And then the path will unfold.  I promise. Remember, you can't want something and have it at the same time. KNOW you have it and it (or something better) will find its way to you. 

So tomorrow morning, dear reader (and the rest of y’all), put on your flyest blazer, your dopest heels and that red lip… rock your natural hair in all its glory and strut into your office as the woman you’ve chosen to be-- the one who is loved, confident, respected and free.  Assume that feeling, that role and keep coming back to it.  Respond as her, think like her.  Keep at it and your next level version of you will be here before you know it!  It won’t happen any other way. Waiting on circumstances to change will only bring about more of the same… and then more frustration and more waiting. You have to change first! I’m living proof.  In 2008, I decided my life would be dope and it is.

Later Gators,
Nik

p.s. next time I’ll share my daily routine and how I stay in the zone of who I’ve chosen to be.
p.p.s.  remember also that it's not stuff you want, it's feels :)

Dry Natural Hair? To Pre-Poo or Deep Treat?

December 13, 2015, 11:00 pm

≫ Next: The Reluctant Natural- Jascmeen's Journey to Natural Hair

≪ Previous: ‘Cause my life is dope and I do dope sh*t’ #LifeHack

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 photo via Natasha Leeds

by Sabrina Perkins

From a pre-poo to LOC to WNG, curly girls and their terms often run the gamut with acronyms and hair treatments that will do just about anything and everything to your curls. It can be somewhat difficult to figure it all out. Another issue would be when to use what and can they be in conjunction with others? Just looking at a term may not fully explain what it entails let alone what it will do, so when a confused curly girl comes across the Curly Q&A, it is our pleasure to try and help anyway possible. Curlypunk was interested in knowing the difference between a popular hair technique and an equally popular hair product.

Question
What’s the difference between a mask and a pre-poo? Is it ok to use a mask and a pre-poo in one wash?

Answer

Pre-Poo
A pre-poo, which is short for pre-shampoo treatment, is quite similar to the traditional hot oil treatment many of our mother’s used for deep conditioning treatments that were applied prior to washing the hair. You can also cocktail or substitute the oil for a daily conditioner. They both hydrate the hair while combatting the dryness of the impending shampoo and in detangling prior to shampooing. A pre-poo can be a pure oil, blended oil, a conditioner, or even a conditioner plus oil cocktail.

Read On!>>>

Hair mask
A hair mask or masque is a heavier-duty conditioner that restores moisture to the hair and closes the hair’s cuticle after using shampoo. Based on the manufacture’s directions, it is usually left on for 15-20 min. The ingredients in hair masks tend to be oils, butters, and even silicones that are ultra-conditioning and much thicker than deep conditioners. Because of this, curlies usually incorporate them in their regimen between weekly and monthly. Depending on the treatment, some are formulated with more hydrolyzed protein and ceramides for strengthening properties, while others focus on humectant, emollients, and oils for moisture retention.

Some people apply conditioner before shampoo and this is called the reverse shampoo method. The difference between pre-poo and the reverse shampoo method is intention. Those who pre-poo are trying to either prevent hygral fatigue or lessen the drying effects of shampoo; there is no intent of eliminating the deep conditioning step after cleansing. With the reverse shampoo method, the cleansing is not followed up with a conditioner.

It seems the biggest distinguishing factors between the two are when they are applied to your tresses and what they are used for. As I mentioned before, a pre-poo is for fighting dryness that one may incur from the upcoming shampoo or it can be just an aid on detangling the hair if it is pretty tangled. The hair mask or masque is more so to strengthen the hair and try to correct any imbalances within the hair just like a facial mask. What they have in common is that both can be DIY concoctions and they can be used during the same wash cycle as they do different things especially if using a hair mask that has protein in it. It may seem like extra work to use both but depending on your hair’s wash day needs, it may be necessary from time to time and if using a hair mask that only needs to be rinsed out may also determine if you want to do both.

Here is a simple DIY pre-poo and hair mask that will work wonders on your curls along with some product recommendations.

Super Simple Avocado Pre-Poo
-1 small ripe avocado
-1 Tbsp. your favorite carrier oil
-1 rice strainer

Mash up avocado, add oil, mix well, and sift with a rice strainer to remove the lumps. This pre-poo is even better warmed up. Apply to hair and allow to sit for at least 30 min. before rinsing and washing hair as usual.

Honey + Olive Oil + Yogurt Hair Mask
-1 Tbsp. honey
-1 Tsp. olive oil
-1/4 cup yogurt

Mix ingredients well before applying to damp hair. Let sit for 15 to 20 min. before rinsing, washing, and styling as usual.

Product recommendations
Carol's Daughter Monoi Repairing Hair Mask
Hydrating Argan Oil Hair Mask and Deep Conditioner By Arvazallia for Dry or Damaged Hair 
Burt's Bees Avocado Butter Pre-Shampoo Hair Treatment with Nettles and Rosemary

Follow Natasha (pictured above) here:

Stylish Lee and Instagram

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The Reluctant Natural- Jascmeen's Journey to Natural Hair

December 14, 2015, 12:00 am

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by Jascmeen of Jascmeen.com

I’m what you’d call a “reluctant natural.” After years of relaxers, something just changed and my hair started to behave differently. It was dry, breaking off, and it just wasn’t the hair I was used to. In honor of my 1 year Natural-iversary, here’s a timeline of my journey and a Big Chop video. If you’re just starting out, here are the great and not so great moments you can look forward to. (A lot of these pics aren’t so great, sorry they’re old and some of them were never meant to leave the sanctity of my Camera Roll. Oh well. We’re all friends here.)

Read On!>>>

Phase One: “A full on Monet” Around this time my hair still looked aiight. From far away it was fine but up close it was a big ol’ mess. It was breaking off and over time started to look thin. (Check out that sheer situation at Disneyland. Not cool.) I tried to save it by getting regular trims, using heat protectors, wrapping it, babying it, but I knew it needed to be cut at some point.

Phase 2: Bantu knots In an effort to give my hair a heat break, I started doing about four or five Bantu knots on semi dry hair. I was already getting very gentle relaxers (basically a texlax) but decided to chill on that, too. I was technically transitioning albeit unofficially. In my mind I was just taking a “break.”

 Phase 3: Oh hell no. On this particular night I had just washed my hair and was taking pics to track my acne scars. I caught a glimpse of my wet hair and freaked OUT.  I had no idea the breakage was this severe and decided to cut off my damaged ends. I mean, it had to be done!

 

 Phase 4: THE (sorta) BIG CHOP
After Angelica cut off the damaged ends the rest of my hair was in okay shape. Even though it was presentable, I had this fear that it would grow out and break all over again. I couldn’t take that risk. “Maybe relaxers aren’t for me anymore,” I thought. I did a lot of research and decided to go natural. My last relaxer was around November and we did the first chop in January. The end result was pretty hilarious, I looked like I had gotten electrocuted! No big deal, I made an appointment to get my hair braided in advance so I was covered.

 

Phase 5: Roller Sets I had no curl pattern going on at this time and really didn’t know what to do with my hair. This was the shortest it had ever been and without a go-to ponytail I was lost. During this phase I experimented with every kind of roller and every kind of styling foam. It was a struggle. I just couldn’t get a full week out of rod sets, blending the two textures was problematic, and the foams were really drying. I hadn’t learned the importance of pairing a foam with a deep conditioner so yeah, I was messing up big time.

 

Phase 6: BIG CHOP #2 So let’s review: my last relaxer was somewhere around November 2014, I did the first chop in January 2015, and cut the rest off in September 2015. It’s November so that makes a full year of this entire process! The second big chop was really hard, to be honest. I had finally got my hair to a good place and I really didn’t want to lose it. On the flip side, I was limited when it came to styling. I pretty much had to do roller set after roller set and curl-enhancing products only worked on my new growth. It was a nightmare. After Big Chop #2 my hair was happy, healthy, and growing a lot faster. It’s been hard learning how to deal with my texture but I’m getting the hang of it. It turns out my hair is super thick and doesn’t like to be told what to do. (Much like me!)

It took a LOT of trial and error, YouTube fails, and epic bouts of frustration, but I’ve finally found products and techniques that work for me. If you want some laughs, here’s my Snapchat story from my second chop. I’ve listed all my regimens beneath the video. If anything is unclear, leave a comment or shoot me an email. I warn you, my regimens sound super OCD, but trust me they’re not.

Regular wash and go: Pre-poo with coconut oil, shampoo with Cantu Moisturizing Cream Shampoo, then Herbal Essences Hello Hydration Moisturizing Conditioner, rinse, any of these deep conditioner packets, rinse, more coconut oil, more Hello Hydration as a leave-in
Details: Herbal Essences Hello Hydration works really well as a leave-in but I don’t really feel comfortable using products in a way that they weren’t intended to be used. I’m concerned about long term use of this as a leave-in and am scared to have it sitting on my hair for too long. My wash and go’s usually don’t last very long so I can use it for this situation because I know I’ll probably be washing it out of my hair very soon.

Co-wash with the intent to wash and go: Pre-poo with coconut oil, co-wash with Herbal Essences Hello Hydration, rinse, more coconut oil, more Hello Hydration or Cantu Coconut Curling Cream as a leave-in
Details: Any kind of wash and go for me usually revolves around Hello Hydration. If I know I’ll have time for a full wash day soon, I can use the Hello Hydration as a leave-in. If not then I’ll go for the Cantu. It’s great for activating curls and doesn’t freak me out like the Hello Hydration. (See the description above for deets on the “freak out” factor.)

Wash with the intent to protective style: Pre-poo with coconut oil, clarify with Dr. Bronner’s Peppermint Pure Castile Liquid Soap, Cantu Sulfate-Free Hydrating Cream Conditioner, rinse, deep condition with any of these packets, rinse, more coconut oil, Cantu Leave-in Conditioning Repair Cream
Details: Protective styling for me means I have to start with a super duper clean scalp. I like to oil my scalp throughout the week so it’s crucial that I start with a clean slate. Dr. Bronner’s gets hair SQUEAKY clean, so you absolutely have to pair it with a heavy conditioner like Cantu. I don’t like to use Hello Hydration with the Dr. Bronner’s because although HH it great for bringing out your curl pattern, I’m on the fence about how moisturizing it really is.

Protective styling regimen: Make about 10-13 “Bye Felicia” braids, oil scalp with Jamaican Black Castor Oil every other day or so, apply Cantu Leave-In Cream to ends, sleep in satin bonnet
Details: My go-to’s are wigs and have been wearing the hell out of the Freetress Creta Girl. (I’m wearing it in this style post.) It’s synthetic but don’t be scared, it ages very well and it’s not too shiny. I finger comb it until its super frothy and push it to one side. If I know I’m wearing my wig for the week I leave out the perimeter of my hair from my Bye Felicia braids. At night I flat twist the perimeter with a bit of Cantu to protect my edges. In the morning they have just enough curl to blend with the wig.

Anesia Is Naturally Glam!

December 15, 2015, 5:49 am

≫ Next: 4 Ways to Deal with Super-Dry Natural Hair This Winter

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Were you a transitioner or a Big Chopper? What was your journey like?
I was a transitioner. I started my journey after I met my then boyfriend (now husband) in 2010. I actually didn’t even know I was transitioning until I read about it online a year later. All I knew was that my husband loved my natural hair over my straightened hair. From then on my curls have changed so much from the loose damaged curls I had, to the voluminous curls I have today!

READ MORE >>
Had you always embraced your texture?
No I have not. I did not like my curls as a child. I was taught straight hair was beautiful, and curly/kinky hair was not. It took me a while after I started transitioning to learn how much I loved my hair. It was hard for me to get used to and accept that my curls were beautiful and unique.

How did family and friends react to your decision to go natural? What was your response to them? 
My mom was not as accepting of me doing it. She liked my hair “tamed” which is how I would translate what she liked. My dad was fine with it. My sister loved it and started trying to go natural herself. She is still working at it because she straightens her hair a lot still. My husband is my biggest support in #teamnatural ha-ha. Slowly my mom has come around to natural hair and sometimes sports it herself, and let’s me give her advice about products!

Describe your hair (fine or coarse, thin or thick, highly porous, low, etc.)
Mostly fine, to medium-ish hair. It’s thin, with low to medium porosity.

What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done to your hair? 
The craziest think I’ve ever done to my hair was putting them into Bantu knots. The Bantu knots I just wear at home, but my family said I look like Cynthia, the doll from Rugrats. When I go out with a pineapple I was once told I look like a tree by some jerk, but otherwise I received nice compliments for my crazy hairdo.

What’s your biggest hair related regret?
My biggest hair regret is not going natural sooner! If I knew how much I’d love my hair, and how much confidence it has given me, I would have gone natural a long time ago! I love my hair more than I could ever imagine.

What's your current hair routine? How often do you wash, condition, and style? Favorite products! Deets!
My current hair routine involves Devacurl’s products. I use the Devacurl decadence no-poo and one condition to cleanse and detangle my hair. To style I leave in a little one condition, curl keeper original, Deva Super Cream, & SheaMoisture curl enhancing smoothie to seal. I wash & deep treat about once a week. I don’t have a set day though. I’m trying to start co-washing mid wash week. I just started using light heat to deep treat my hair. My FAVORITE products would have to be my first loves, SheaMoisture curl enhancing smoothie and Curl Keeper original. My curls love these products together!

What’s your favorite hairstyle? Where do you get hairstyle inspiration?
My favorite hairstyle is my wash and go. I get inspiration from YouTube, Instagram, and NaturallyCurly.com

Who is your curl crush?
My current curl crush is curly.edgy and Bwatuwant from Instagram.

How do you maintain your hair at night?
I pineapple it, oil the ends, and stick it in a satin bonnet

How do you maintain healthy length?
No direct heat! I straighten my hair once, maybe twice, a year to get a length check. I don’t even blow dry my hair, if I do its always on a cool setting.

What's the best thing about being natural?
I get my own personality from my hair. It shows my wild side, when I’m not able to. My hair is a character in itself, it can’t be tamed and I love it!

Where can folks find you on the web?
Instagram: curlyhairnesi, Twitter: anachelle, Facebook: Anesia Lima

4 Ways to Deal with Super-Dry Natural Hair This Winter

December 15, 2015, 5:56 am

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by Charlene Walton of TexturedTalk.com

Dry natural hair continues as the top concern for women all through the year but especially during the winter. If you are a resident of Texas like me you know that “winter” is just another word as our weeks can range in temperature from 72 degrees on Monday to 42 degrees on Tuesday. However, if you live in colder climates, as the weather shifts so should your hair care regimen. Many women opt to wear protective styles for this reason including strand twists, wigs and crochet braids, which still require intense moisturizing. But, if you still want to rock your curls all year here are 4 products that can kill your dry hair woes.

Read On!>>>



1. Moisturizing Lotions
Moisturizing lotions are a great daily option to use on just about any hair style – perm rods, twists, blowouts etc. As a blogger I’ve tried tons of products (as you can imagine). I’ve also seen the good, the bad, and the not so pretty but as soon as I used the Hydratherma Naturals Daily Growth Moisturizing Lotion I was hooked. I originally received this product as a sample in a swag bag after attending a natural hair event. Quickly, I found myself trying to squeeze the last drop out of that sample. This also made me realize how much I enjoyed the lotion Since shea butter is the second ingredient of this product, it enables your hair to retain moisture better than most moisturizing lotions I’ve tried. Although shea butter might seem too heavy for a product labeled as a lotion, the daily moisturizing lotion is still very light weight and was able to keep my hair hydrated all day.

Here are the full ingredients:

Water, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) Fruit, Glycerin, Olea Europaea (Olive) Oil, Arachis Hypogaea (Peanut) Oil, Emulsifying Wax NF, Emu Oil, Hydrogenated Almond Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Fragrance, Germall Plus


2. Deep Conditioning Tools With Mild Heat
To combat your dry hair during the winter (or any other time) implementing a deep conditioning regimen every week is a must. To further help your deep conditioner of choice work its magic, opt for a mild heat tool such as a hair steamer or microwaveable deep conditioning cap to help you receive maximum moisture. Here are a few options:

-Heutiful Hooded Hair Steamer
-Q-Redew Handheld Steamer
-Hair Therapy Wrap Deep Conditioning Cap

I’ve talked about steaming a few times here on the blog so if you missed those posts click here to read more about the benefits of steaming. If you don’t have the time or money to invest into a full hooded steamer, a microwaveable deep conditioning cap like the Hair Therapy Wrap will allow you to deep condition without restricting you to sit 30 minutes in once spot.

3. Intensely Moisturizing Deep Conditioners
Continuing the conversation of deep conditioning, if you are battling dry hair opt for an intensely moisturizing deep conditioner without protein to ensure you are maintaining the correct protein-moisture balance. A general rule of thumb I use to keep my balance in line is to rotate between protein and moisturizing deep conditioners every week. Both Koils by Nature Ultra-Moisturizing CocoAloe Deep Conditioner and tgin Honey Miracle Mask Deep Conditioner offer some of the best moisturizing ingredients. Specifically, with tgin the second ingredient on the list is raw honey, which is perfect for dry natural hair since honey works as a humectant to draw moisture to your strands.

4. Refreshing Sprays: Store Bought or DIY
Since naturally curly hair is prone to be drier than other textures, refreshing your hair multiple times a day can actually work in your favor. A simple DIY refresher spray is easy to make on your own. Take a spray bottle and combine water, leave in conditioner (if you want) and a few drops of your favorite oil to do the trick. As a boost, add some aloe vera juice or rosewater for extra hydration. Aloe vera juice will help to maintain softness for a few days. The goal is not to totally saturate your hair every 4-5 hours but instead give your hair a light mist to continue the hydration throughout the day. This option is also great to use at night before bed. If you aren’t a DIY person, products like the Obia Natural Hair Curl Hydration Spray or the Alikay Naturals Lemongrass Leave In Conditioner are two of my favorite options.  

What’s your secret to keeping your dry natural hair moisturized during the winter? Comment and let me know!

How To Steam Natural Hair Without a Steamer

December 15, 2015, 8:30 am

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via Nappy Naturally

By now we've all read about the benefits of using hair steamers for natural hair care. We've seen all the beautiful natural haired divas whose hair has grown down their backs. They rave about their natural hair absorbing all the goodness of whatever deep conditioning treatment was done...and we look in our wallets to decide if we're going to get a steamer or pay our car note.

The truth is that hair steamers offer a great way to open up the hair follicles to receive all the benefits of deep conditioning treatments. The reality is that everybody does not want to fork out the loot to get a steamer. The solution is found right under your nose: work with what you've got for the exact same results.

Read On!>>>

Why Steam? 

We want our natural hair to be healthy. We want to stop split ends. We want to repair damaged hair. Steaming treatments can do that. We need our hair to be moisturized. We need our hair to be strengthened. We need our hair to be soft. Do you have to have a steamer to do achieve these results? Absolutely not!

The reason that steamers have become so popular is that you can fill a machine with water, plug it in and deliver a steady stream of steam with ease. Steamers work to saturate natural hair with moisture by using heat and water. Honestly, this can be accomplished with a few household items. Gather these supplies together...and deliver fabulous results to your hair!

How to Steam Natural Hair

Start with freshly washed hair that has been detangled. Grab your favorite condish. Feel free to add some essential oils - yeah, go all out! Saturate your hair with your conditioning concoction and follow steps below.

1. Don a run of the mill processing cap. 
2. Grab an absorbent towel from the linen closet.  If you're fancy - huh - grab your turban towel.
3.  Soak towel or turban towel in water. 
4. Place towel of choice in microwave for 2 minutes or until very warm. 
5. Wring loosely; wrap towel/turban towel around head. 
6. Cover towel wrapped head with random plastic bag big enough to hold steam. 
7. Sit under hooded or bonnet dryer for 30 minutes to 2 hours. 

Make sure that you rinse hair with the coolest water you can stand. This seals hair cuticles and locks in all the goodness that your steaming treatment has infused into your hair. Like always, I recommend rinsing with diluted ACV - lay those cuticles flat! 

Steam on, steamers!

Have you tried steaming without a steamer? 

This article was originally published in August 2012 and has been updated for grammar and clarity. 

Home.

December 15, 2015, 9:30 am

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Hola Chicas!

Boogie and I touched down in St. Louis at 9:30 am yesterday and we were at the nursing home within the hour.  Words cannot express the joy and gratitude I felt as I power-walked through those doors and saw the look of instant recognition and excitement in her eyes.  #ThisIsHome #CantTellMeNothin

More Pics!>>>

the greeting

the catch-up

the Boogie... #SheJournalsNow

Winterize Yourself Inside and Out

December 15, 2015, 11:00 pm

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by GG of AllTheManyLayers.com

As the temperature drops and the layers of clothing increase, every woman must go through a change in their beauty routine to prepare for the cold months ahead. If you know like I know, a beauty routine is not just about creams, oils and powders. If you don't have a regimen for inner beauty as well, your skin will not glow and your hair will not shine with the true brilliance that comes from a healthy spirit. Periodically, it is essential to connect with your body and soul to seek out your hidden needs and develop a plan to meet those needs. The change in seasons presents an ideal opportunity to do just that. With the many responsibilities and challenges that women face, Lord knows that if we don't slate this time to care for ourselves, our needs will quietly fall by the wayside along with our peace of mind and eventually our feminine allure. Call me greedy, but I need to maintain my peace AND my allure in order to feel like my freshest most super-charged self!

So, how do we maintain a warm and glowing aura through the long, cold winter? Below I have provided some tips to help you prepare the goddess that you are for the upcoming season.

Read On!>>>
SKIN
Winter skin requires more TLC because of dry air and low humidity. Use a moisturizing soap and remember to exfoliate because dead skin cells are even more abundant on dry skin. Using an oil-based moisturizer, lather yourself from head to toe daily when you are still damp from the shower to lock in the moisture. At night, anoint your feet and sleep in a pair of footies to stay soft through the winter. Use a humidifier at night to create a dewy environment for your skin and hair. Your nasal passages will also thank you.

HAIR
Winter brings harsh winds, wool coats, sweaters and hats i.e. torment for your precious locks. It's up to you to be proactive about preventing seasonal damage. Line your wool hats with silk or satin to avoid breakage. When you are wearing a wool sweater, where your hair pinned up or in a bun. Avoid leaving the house with wet hair that could freeze in the low temps and cause serious breakage. Easy on the hots! Heat styling makes the hair more susceptible to damage from the cold and wind. Speaking of wind, protect those tresses. Wear your hair up or under a hat to avoid the tangling that results from the wind going blow for blow with your hair. Condition, moisturize and protect. Opt for the thicker, creamier deep conditioners. Use moisturizers that truly absorb into the hair like coconut and avocado oil. Implement protein and/or henna treatments to strengthen your hair against the elements.

!Biased Plug ~ Winter is a great time to start transitioning! If you've been toying with the idea of growing out your relaxer, go for it. Winter air is dry and the winds are unforgiving, so the weather lends itself well to protective styles like braid-outs, twist-outs and roller sets which are ideal for transitioning to natural ~ End Biased Plug!

BODY
The winter blues are partially caused by the body not producing enough serotonin, the hormone that affects a person's state of mind. When you exercise, your body produces more serotonin and thus improves your mood. If you don't currently have an exercise routine, start off with low impact exercises, such as tai chi, yoga or deep breathing. Yoga, especially, has been shown to be very effective in dealing with depression because the focus and concentration help you reconnect with your mind and spirit in such an enlightening way. Many people think they could never do yoga because they are not flexible. I would argue that the beautiful thing about yoga is that each pose has a variation that is appropriate for your level of flexibility and strength. Find a beginner's class and get your downward facing dog on. One of the disciplines of yoga is no judgment, so don't worry about anyone staring or snickering if you can't hold a pose.

SPIRIT
Winter depression or "Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that tends to occur (and recur) as the days grow shorter in the fall and winter. It is believed that affected persons react adversely to the decreasing amounts of light and the colder temperatures as the fall and winter progress." ~Medicinenet.com.

Light things up! Increase the amount of light in your home and wake up earlier to spend more of your waking hours in the daylight. Like exercise, light also stimulates the level of serotonin in the body. With night falling so early in the winter, it's no wonder that our disposition begins to mirror the darkness. Journal your thoughts and feelings and take action if you notice a trend towards melancholy feelings. Make time for quiet meditation and prayer. Do some soul searching. Reflect on where you are right now and where you want to go. Let go of past mistakes and look forward to new opportunities. Allow the beautiful evolution of the seasons happening around you to inspire a beautiful evolution inside of you.

MIND
Don't let the winter blues sneak up on you! Do something interesting and creative, even if you think it's outside of your character. Keep yourself busy with activities and adventures. Sign up for that cooking or art class that you've been wanting to take. Find a book that challenges your way of thinking. Further your education. Take on a new challenge at work. Make it something that scares you a little bit. Find the personal value in stepping out of your comfort zone and challenging yourself. When your mind is consumed with something new and exciting, you have less time to be preoccupied with sadness and doubt.

When your inner and outer energies radiate in harmony, you are blessed and spiritually magnetic. ~Jasmine Heiler

A Guide to Finding the Right Products For Your Natural Hair

December 15, 2015, 11:30 pm

≫ Next: Winter Hair Care Tips for Moisturized 4B/4C Natural Hair

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by GlobalCoutureblog.net

I think one of the biggest issues we face when going natural is determining the right products for our hair. There are so many choices out there, a ton of reviews and perhaps a wish to achieve the same results as your favorite “hair guru” that it can become a little overwhelming when it boils down to deciding what is right for your own hair. Apart from the three points above, I think that a lot of times the main obstacle is that we do not really understand what our hair needs/likes/dislikes. Below are 7 steps that can help you with your product stash by first understanding your hair characteristics.

Read On!>>>


Porosity: Knowing your hair porosity refers to how well your hair is able to absorb and retain moisture. Porosity boils down to the outer layer of your hair (cuticle) and if your cuticle lays down flat (low), is somewhat raised (medium) or fully raised (high) on a day to day basis. Certain ingredients will seem to work better than others depending on their pH levels and your porosity. Steps like helping to lift your cuticles for better absorption or closing your cuticles in order to retain moisture plays a crucial role, all depending on your porosity.

Width: Hair width is the circumference (thickness) of your individual hair strands, you will either have coarse, medium or fine hair strands. Depending on the width, this is will allow you know whether you will need a light, medium or heavy products. For example those with fine hair will probably end up weighing down their curls if they are constantly slapping on heavy creams, butters and thick leave-in conditioners.

Density: Density refers to how closely packed/how many hair strands your have on your head. It can sometimes be confused with hair texture when in fact it literally relates to how many strands of hair sprouts per square inch on your scalp. Knowing this can help you determine if you need products to help create volume (or for some of you) tone down the volume.

Ingredient List: I always say that the first 5 ingredients are the most important since they are the most prevalent in the product (1 – 3 are key). You want to keep your eye out for ingredients your hair likes/dislikes. E.g. If your hair is not a fan of glycerine and it is listed at the very top, then chances are your hair will probably not respond favorably to it.

Journal keeping: Keep a record and become self absorbed! Jokes aside you want to take note of common ingredients present in products your hair likes/dislikes, any new products you have used, the way in which you styled your hair with the products, concluding thoughts on your results and finally take photos! It can become confusing if you are trying to keep only mental notes of everything, so your hair journal will become your best hair friend.

Time: At some point you might try a new product for the first time and after one trial you think “Yes, I found a holly grail” and go out to buy 10 more bottles (before it runs out) only to find out after 3 – 4 uses your hair actually isn’t quite as excited about the product as you thought. Give your hair time to respond to products by using them several times for at least 1 month before you declare it as a favorite. This way you are certain your hair loves it and you won’t waste money.

Trial & Error: If you are trying something new for the first time, it is probably best to try and get your hands on sample sizes or the smallest bottle first. Some companies will even send out free sample sizes for you to test out. This way you are not totally wasting your money (by buying huge bottles) only to find out that your hair is not a fan of it. And remember to make note of the product in your hair journal!

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Winter Hair Care Tips for Moisturized 4B/4C Natural Hair

December 16, 2015, 6:11 am

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Liv writes:

Winter is here and I wanted to share my Winter Hair Care Tips for my 4C/4B Natural Hair! I found that these simple additions to my regimen help me with moisture retention, length retention and even style retention-- allowing me to defeat dry hair, helping me grow healthy, strong hair this winter!  

Watch Now!>>>

How do you keep your natural hair looking good in the winter months?

Nailed it, tho.

December 16, 2015, 7:17 am

≫ Next: The Myth of Protective Hairstyles for Natural Hair Growth

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Hola Chicas!

Over the next week, I'll be (appropriately) sharing a few of my favorite things. 

Read On!>>>

So let's kick it off with the polish I stay rocking-- OPI's Thanks a Windmillion.  I've been all about this strange green color for like 2 months now, with no signs of stopping :)

What are your favorite OPI gel colors?

The Myth of Protective Hairstyles for Natural Hair Growth

December 17, 2015, 12:00 pm

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my wash and go 2012

by NaturallyChelsea

There has been a long standing myth among the natural hair community that the only way to grow long healthy hair is to use protective hairstyles. For those new to the natural hair community, protective styling involves putting your hair into a style that involves tucking your ends away from the atmosphere to protect them from damage whilst your hair grows. The premise is that if the ends of your hair don’t break and your hair continues to grow, then you will achieve longer hair.

This myth is so deeply entrenched in the natural hair community that women will often do back to back protective style for upwards of a year to reach their hair goals. Now don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of women who have achieved amazing lengths from protective styling, but there are a few women who never yield results from all their efforts.

Problems Caused by Too Much Protective Styling: 

• TANGLING from hair being untouched for long periods of time. This especially occurs in styles that take so long to put in that the mere thought of taking them down after only a few days seems like a waste. Thus, those women decide to leave in those styles for weeks.
• DRYNESS from hair that is left untouched and uncared for for too long
• BREAKAGE from over manipulating the hair to create elaborate hairstyles

Read On!>>>

So How Do I Make My Hair Grow, Then?

Contrary to popular belief, protective styling is not necessary for speedy hair growth. Instead low manipulation styles are key.

Low manipulation styles, unlike protective hairstyles, do not require that your hair and ends be tucked away for protection. Instead it works on the premise that if you do simple styles and manipulate your hair as little as possible, then you will not do unnecessary damage to your hair and will retain length.

Benefits of Low Manipulation Styles

• THEY ARE EASIER TO INSTALL. Styles like wash-and-gos and twist/ braid outs are far less taxing on the hair than installing mini twists, extension braids etc. By manipulating the hair less for styling, you minimize the damage to your hair. Before installing a protective style, think about whether the manipulation to install it will cause more damage to your hair than if you just styled it regularly and if its purpose is defeated.
• IT IS EASIER TO MAINTAIN THE HAIR. The problem with a lot of protective hairstyles is that once installed, women tend to forget that they still have to maintain the hair, especially when it is hidden under wigs or entwined in braids. Also, if the hair is hard to get at, or moisturizing it will ruin the style, many women will opt for style over healthy hair. Low manipulation styles, however, usually do not require that the hair be bound in intricate styles making the hair easier to access.
• THEY ARE MORE FLEXIBLE. The main gripe with protective styles is that the can become boring after a while. Having your hair in a style for weeks at a time can be a major problem for many of us curlies as most of us suffer from serious cases of hand in hair syndrome. Low manipulation styles however, give curlies the opportunity to vary their styles and avoid becoming bored.

Low Manipulation Styles to Try: 

• WASH-AND-GOS: This style can be done several ways, but the most basic way to accomplish this style is to wash and condition your hair and detangle it thoroughly before styling. Once done, a moisturizing conditioner or leave-in or moisturizer can be used depending on your preference. A styler or gel can be layered on top for added hold if necessary. To ensure that you keep your hair healthy while it is styled, make sure you moisturize your hair as much as it needs it.
• TWIST/BRAID OUTS: This style can be done on freshly cleansed hair or dry hair that has been stretched for added length and volume. After moisturizing, apply your styler of choice and separate your hair into sections and twist or braid it. For added interest, you could put the ends of your hair or the entire length itself on rollers. Once your hair is completely dry, or after some time has passed, unravel and separate the twists gently to hide the parts and increase the volume. The best part about these styles is that you do not need to rewet your hair to restyle. To make the hair pliable enough to detangle, you can either spray it with water or add a good detangling product, then add a styler if necessary and restyle. Also, to maintain your hair's health, make sure you moisturize and seal your hair, especially at the ends.

Don't Be Discouraged

I know this information may seem confusing and contradictory, especially since this article seems to suggest that all hairstyles are created equally, but if it’s been said once it’s been said many times: you have to do what's best for your hair.

This article merely covers suggestions for an alternative way to maintain your hair’s health if traditional protective styling does not work. Also, please note that a hairstyle itself will not guarantee your hair's health. It must also be in conjunction with good hair care practices, plenty of moisturizing, a standing appointment for good deep conditioning, reduced usage of combs and brushes and minimizing the number of times you style your hair.

As always, I wish you love, peace and curly haired bliss.

What do you think? Are protective styles overrated?

This article was originally published in May 2014 and has been updated for grammar and clarity.

How I Changed My Morning to Change My Life #LevelUp

December 17, 2015, 3:15 pm

≫ Next: NiAmbi Is Naturally Glam!

≪ Previous: The Myth of Protective Hairstyles for Natural Hair Growth

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from the Jerusalem files

Pop quiz, chicas! Answer the following-- 

When I first woke up this morning, I _____________

a. hit the snooze button (several times) and mentally declared that I 'can't and won't adult today' ... #FirstIDrinkTheCoffee #ThenIDoTheThings

b. immediately resumed worrying about ish I need to do, don't wanna do, or did and now feel bad about doing. 

c. checked IG, Snapchat, Facebook, Twitter, CurlyNikki.com, my 3 email accounts and replied to any and all the I-responded-in-my-head-but-forgot-to-respond-forreal-tho text messages

d. all of the above. I can't do mornings. 

This foolery right here.  It'll keep you right where you're at. 

Read On!>>>

'Cause if your morning routine sets the tone for the rest of your day,  then kicking things off the same way (with negative or low energy), day in and day out, and expecting different outcomes is the definition of insanity.  #EinsteinTho

Every morning you get a do-over.  You get the opportunity to begin again with fresh energy and a new perspective to set you on a path to a happy and productive day... which sets you on the path to a happy and productive life!

Remember, you don't become what you want.  You become who and what you are.  So how does 'You, version 2.0' think? How does she feel? How does she respond to (or not respond to) situations? Or to make it real easy-like, how does 'You, version 2.0' start her day?  She definitely doesn't wake up annoyed, frustrated and uninspired. 

Below, I've included a list of some simple morning rituals you should try in place of the phone checking and #WoeRunning.  Adopting just one can have a huge impact on your life! 

-Wake up 30 minutes earlier- to pray, meditate, say affirmations or use the extra time to do any of the below-- 

-Theme Song- If you must set an alarm to scare you awake, let the 'noise' be great... like 'Lift Off' #WatchTheThrone 

-Give thanks- Instead of allowing your mind to wander to the dark side, focus on gratitude-- give thanks for all that you have (the seen and the unseen).  You are loved and blessed beyond measure, you just forget sometimes. (I do this every night before falling asleep.) 

-Pre-party- I vividly remember the moment I got the call from my publisher that 'Better Than Good Hair'had become a best seller. #Major  There was a surge of energy and the next thing I know I was all--

Try this (you will feel silly)-- set your phone timer for 1 minute, close the bathroom door for privacy, and jump up and down while mentally yelling, 'yes'! It gets your energy up and your heart rate, too!  "Yes!" is something we yell or say under our breath when life is going our way-- so say it now, prematurely, feel that "yes" resonate through your body, feel the energy, and watch those 'yes!' moments come rolling in.   #DontBelieveMe #JustWatch

-Smile- Just like saying, 'yes!', smiling for one minute will shift you into a positive mood and reduce stress.  Every time you remember, crack a smile and pretty soon, life will be serving up more things for you to smile about.  

-Move your body- I do a 4 minute sun salutation routine on my Yoga Studio app as soon as my feet hit the floor.   Gia does it with me.  We have it memorized and now she yells out the poses before we do them! 

-Drink all the water- I try to drink a half a liter of room temperature water as soon as I wake up, before I eat anything.  It flushes your body of toxins, increases metabolism and makes you feel good about yourself ;)  Plus, if I drink the other half liter before 5pm, I can have a glass of Riesling.  

Start the day off right, y'all.  Change your morning to change your life.  Results are immediate. 

Later Gators, 

Nik

What does your morning routine consist of?
  Do you need to make some changes? Can you start tomorrow?

NiAmbi Is Naturally Glam!

December 18, 2015, 1:00 am

≫ Next: I'm So Hood

≪ Previous: How I Changed My Morning to Change My Life #LevelUp

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Tell me about yourself!
My name is NiAmbi` Agent. I’m 22 and a recent graduate of Arizona State University with my degree in Communication, Technology & Society. I’m engaged in my community, from marching for justice to open mics and networking with I Am Root Co. I’m the Media Relations Officer for National Association of Black Journalists on ASU’s campus. My name means “the melody is heard”, so I enjoy singing, songwriting, playing the keys and performing live; there’s much truth in a meaning of a name. Currently, I’m working on branding NiAmbi` Speaks! — a blog that touches on anything and everything to do with society. I’ve interviewed South Carolina hip-hop artist, Jesse Davis; hip-hop activist, Jasiri X; 2007 Super Bowl winning coach, Tony Dungy and singer-songwriter, Ellis Martin - who has written and co-produced Jidenna’s next single, “Some Kind of Way”. I’m brainstorming some other ways to get NiAmbi` Speaks! out there, so I’m excited with what I’ve been able to do so far.

READ MORE>>

Were you a transitioner or a Big Chopper? What was your journey like?
I didn’t transition in the traditional way, nor did I Big Chop. My way of transitioning was to stop pressing and flat ironing my hair. Just like many girls, I straightened my hair because I thought it was easier to maintain and it looked prettier when it was straight. I constantly put heat on my hair for about 5 years, from my early teens until my freshman year in college. My mom was watching hair tutorials on YouTube one day, and from there we started researching more and more. We became educated on the beauty, versatility and healthiness of being naturally curly. I transitioned from not knowing to knowing and loving myself just as I am. I stopped using the flat irons, hot combs, hard-bristled brushes and cutting out sulfate and paraben products. The journey has been easy.

Had you always embraced your texture?
During those 5 years of flat ironing and pressing my hair, I would say that I hadn’t embraced it. Before high school, it was pigtail braids, knockers and barrettes, water and Blue Magic. Going from that to finally learning how to do my own hair, I’d say I embraced a more mature look going into my teens. Even though that was only 2007, kinky and curly wasn’t looked upon as the go-to hairstyle. When you know better, you do better.

How did family and friends react to your decision to go natural? What was your response to them?
I honestly don’t think any of my friends were surprised at all. Even in the midst of me straightening my hair, every once in awhile, I’d go to school with big kinky hair or have curls from the rollers I put in the night before. Me and my mom did it together, so she was all for it. It wasn’t something that I talked about to anyone before acting on it. All in all, I think people loved the new look. I started noticing more compliments from friends and strangers than I did when I was frying my mane.

Describe your hair (fine or coarse, thin or thick, highly porous, low, etc.)
My hair description varies. I have two textures and I maintain my accordingly. My hair is generally fine, but the lower half of my hair is finer. The upper half of my hair is the thickest. I have normal porosity; it retains moisture very well. After a good wash, conditioning, and sealing with oils - my hair will completely dry naturally within 24 hours.

What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done to your hair? 
For my college graduation in December 2014, I decided to get Senegalese Twists. The length of my natural hair was bra strap length, so the twists had to be longer - they were waist length. I was told long I would have to sit, but I thought it was worth it until I had to wrap hair up for bed. It was very painful and I dealt with the pain for 2 days. I had to remove the first row and cut several inches of the front of my hair. My hair was so heavy, painful and oily, it caused a huge zit on my forehead that took two weeks to go away. After all the money and time I spent ($265 and 8 hours in the chair), the twists weren’t freely flowing like I wanted. I had to wear headbands to cover the huge ugly and painful zit. What would’ve been worth it was wearing my own curls.

What’s your biggest hair related regret?
Although, I’ve always been chemical-free, I didn’t realize that being natural also included healthy hair. It wasn’t until four years ago, that I realized the importance of maintaining natural hair through proper care. My biggest regret is that I didn’t realize much sooner.

What's your current hair routine? How often do you wash, condition, and style? Favorite products! Deets!
First thing I’ll mention are the products that bring life to my hair: Infusium 23 leave-in conditioner, extra virgin coconut oil, shea butter, and Lily of the Desert aloe vera gel. I mix these products together and apply to my sectioned hair. I get the best outcome on freshly washed hair and while it’s still damp. Every other week, I wash my hair with Alaffia African Black Soap and deep condition with Hawaiian Silky Dry Hair Conditioner. The weeks in between, I co-wash. My wide tooth comb is my best friend in the shower. I’d like to point out that I braid my hair in 4 or 5 sections before I begin my washing process; it makes things much easier. I style my hair about two times a week; my hairstyles last about 3 days before I have to style again.

What’s your favorite hairstyle? Where do you get hairstyle inspiration?
I love big and curly hair. I’m inspired by the 60s and 70s and my mom who loves everything huge - hair, earrings and sunglasses!

Who is your curl crush?
Whitney a.k.a naptural85
Ambrosia Malbrough a.k.a. xGOLDn
Domineque Banks a.k.a. longhairdontcare2011 (RIP)

How do you maintain your hair at night?
Every night, I make sure that my hair is moisturized, paying special attention to my ends. I twist my hair or pineapple my curls into a silk scarf. I also put on a silk bonnet over my scarf just in case it falls off during the night.

How do you maintain healthy length?
I maintain my healthy length by moisturizing, weekly scalp massage, deep conditioning, co-washing, protective styles, finger combing and trimming my ends when needed.

What's the best thing about being natural?
Freedom, flexibility and feeling fabulous!

Where can folks find you on the web?
I can be found:
facebook.com/niambispeaks2u
Twitter/Instagram: @niambispeaks2u
niambispeaks2u.com