8 Dec 2013

Tempting! colourz

Look at these colours!!!

Lately, I've been feeling very relaxed about my hair because... it's only hair. It will continue to grow, tresses will continue to grow out from your scalp for the rest of your life, no matter what you do. I think it's good not to be too stressed out by your hair - simply protect it and let it be. 

I know that I am one to experiment and I get bored of things very easily - that includes hair styles. Now, I am tempted to colour my hair sometime soon. I tried Lush Henna once but it failed because I didn't keep it in for too long but it gave me a nice redish tint. I may just highlight a few sections around my head.

Buuuut, look at this beauty above though. RED is bomb! This is too much for me. Seriously, healthy coloured hair is a good look. Live life, love your hair, express yourself! Remember the healthy basics.

BACK FROM AMERICA!

I just can't wait to start using these products!

Last week I travelled with my university course group to San Francisco, USA to carry out a research project. I was excited not only because I got to travel to the states, but also because of the shopping that I could do! I have been longing for these products, been biting my nails jealous of the amazing videos and reviews, and couldn't wait to purchase them! They were on average $11 dollars apart from Trader Joe's Tea Tree Tingle which was $4. Naptural85 uses this.

I've heard amazing reviews about Kinky Curly Knot Today's detangling abilities, and if you know about 4C hair, you know that detangling can be a pain sometimes. I hope this does magic. It's so sad that these products are not being sold here in the UK and even if they are, they are super expensive, and when travelled over hundreds of miles, look like expired yoghurt on the shelves. A hair shop near me sells Shea Moisture for £15!! :/ Yeah.. No. So I'm glad to have been able to travel to America and purchase these for myself. Very cheap for me, since I have a higher purchasing power with the pound.

Let's hope my hair loves them! I shall be reviewing them.

Yay! I did my hair by myself! :D

 I just finished...trying not to look drained

Sorry, this is a late post but I've been so busy getting ready for my uni trip. I did this a week before I travelled.

Hair style: Single Twists with Xpressions
Time taken: 6 hours+ (seeing as this was my first time)

Improvement for next time:
- Jeez, I made quite a few mistakes haha but everything has to start somewhere. Practice always makes perfect.
- DO NOT CUT THE ENDS UNTIL YOU'VE DIPPED THEM IN WATER - I think I did this out of frustration and it all loosened :( I spend a couple more hours twisting them back up.
- I need to resort to my aunts to help me perfect my twists so that they can hold. But I think it's because they kept loosening at the ends. I've tried to twist the ends back up several times.
- Tighter!!! It will eventually come.

In general, they came out looking great! I am pleased with the fullness and thickness and with my determination. My mum praised me for my strongwill like, I wouldn't sleep until I got it done. I did half before I went to work, came back from work and continued it. I looked like a mess at work, I won't even lie. I know that with more practice that I can shorten the time it takes and make it look immaculate!

For next time, I want to do twists, but with afro texture. I really want that beautiful dreadlock look! I still tick to doing twists rather than braids (for now) because they are easier and quicker.

27 Oct 2013

Check it out: 4C Shrinkage!


I love her blog! It's great to find someone with the same hair TYPE. You can curiously see what they are up to with their hair. Her full blog post is here.

Edges Care

My edges have been very thin and I think it's time for me to start paying special attention to it. I was initially put off from doing another protective twists/braids again because of the damage they would do to my edges. It would take a month for my edges to renew themselves again and I told myself, I would never do single twists again. My edges!!!

But, I decided to search online for ways to protect the edges, especially when doing protective styles. Your edges are the most vulnerable tresses.

Through the web of information, one routine managed to catch my eye which was: moisturise your edges!

Seriously, do we actually do this? When we read 'moisturise your hair' we forget the most vulnerable and driest tresses which are our edges. So, I've prioritised spraying my edges with water daily and moisturising them. I used to only oil them (castor oil+peppermint oil) but never would I think to moisturise them. Since I've began doing this, I've noticed the growth in my edges, they are actually starting to restore themselves! This will definitely continue because I want my edges to grow full-out.

Anyways here are some tips to keep your edges healthy (for those who don't have full edges like Beyonce, but thinning edges):
  • Spray and moisturise your edges daily! This makes it pliable and less prone to breakage. Remember, your edges are still part of your hair. Use a tiny spray bottle (£.99p) filled with water, leave-in conditioner and an oil.
  • Moisturise with castor oil and peppermint oil. Castor oil helps to thicken the hair and peppermint oil helps to stimulate the blood flow. Perfect combo.
  • In single twists/braids: make sure that the parts are cut a bit bigger at the front (no to tiny twists/braids), braid loosely at the front (not to loose since you want that tight face) to release the tension - this will ensure that the hair can move in all directions, extremely tight braids can damage the follicle and lead to hair loss, also, when packing up your hair loosen up the braids at the front to reduce the pull and avoid the risk of traction alopecia.
  • Some people's scalp line are more sensitive than others. Determine how sensitive yours is.
I've noticed for me, that when I use a satin bonnet with a tight elastic band that my edges tend to thin out (Now I know this is true). Therefore, I only use a satin scarf and make sure that I wrap it lightly around my head. My edges are so fragile that, in my theory, maybe the tightness around the head area slows down the blood flow to your head. Figure how much your edges can take. Even some headbands can be too tight.

24 Oct 2013

More curls...



Curls 1:

Curls 2:

My curls!



23 Oct 2013

Finally??


I am very happy. My aunt taught me how to start properly. Practice makes perfect.
Btw, if you are looking to improve your braiding skills, purchase one of these huge hair dolls on ebay! I got mine for £20 and they are worth it! I've learned how to cornrow with them!

Protective Stylin' for winter


Hey guys!
I went to manchester for the weekend to visit my uncle and his wife. She did my hair for me! I did twists (as usual because they are the least time consuming to do and to take out) with afro kinky textured hair. I heard that the older they get, the better and more natural they look as they start to resemble dreadlocks. Can't wait?! The sections are quite big because I simply wanted a quick style that would allow me to tuck my hair away for the winter and pack it up throughout!

I know I decided not to let anyone do my hair since handling relaxed hair is very different to handling natural hair. I believe that unless the person doing your hair is a natural or knows how to care for that sort of hair in such a patient and caring manner, do not let them handle your hair LOL. Yes, lessons learned! My hair takes patience and cutting sections will need a little movement with the fingers -  It won't open up like a stage curtain. And that's fine - I KNOW my hair and I felt it would be better for me to join the crew of girls who did their own hair (about time!). I asked my aunt to teach me how to start off a single twist/braid. I know how to cornrow and braid already but not how to start it off with an extension. She also thought me how to twist neatly. CHECK OUT THE NEXT POST.

Regimen for this protective style? It's easier for me to do the green house method now! So yeah! Will be doing this every night. Planning to keep it in for a month!

Length Check?


The middle of my head grows the fastest while the front grows the slowest.

Hello Shrinkage

13 Oct 2013

My Green House Method Routine

Here is the basic information on the green house method for hair growth.

This is what I do:
I do this almost every night, especially for winter time and with protective styles!
-> Before I sleep (I am used to this now because it is winter time and the beanie cap and the warmth that you will feel in your hair will make your body feel warmmm ^_^) I pack up my hair in sections, wrap a dark/thick plastic bag around my hair, tie a satin scarf around it and then wear a beanie cap over it. Super warm! Ahhh :)
-> This is optional but to increase the amount of moisture you can spray water in the air above your hair and let it settle on your hair before you put on the cap. I do this.
-> In the morning you will wake up with damp and moisturised hair. You can tell the effectiveness of the heat by the amount of water droplets in your plastic cap or bag.
-> As you sleep, the steam effect will moisturise your hair, stimulate your scalp and increase sebum production which will boost hair growth and moisture!

What I have noticed:
- My hair used to be soooo dry, but since I have been doing this method and waking up with damp hair, my hair moisture levels have improved A LOT!
- My hair thickness has increased
- My hair growth rate is increasing
- My hair is super soft!!

Verdict: The green house method has made my hair super healthy and I absolutely love it! I will continue to do it and see where it takes me!

Hi! Did another trim in September.. (second in the year)




12 Oct 2013

Changes to my regimen...

1) I do not comb my hair anymore - After I watched a youtube video about this girl who does not comb her 4C hair I did not really take much notice to it. However, as I went through my own experiences, noting how super curly my hair was and the difficult journey that a comb (whether wide tooth or not) had to make through my hair, I realised it was time to try something different. I had already been doing a little finger detangling here and there but I decided to completely abolish the use of any combs in my hair and just stick to improving my finger detangling skills. I think it was one of the best journey decisions I had ever made for my hair! I have seen incredible growth retention and I am pleased to say that my hair does not even tangle any more than it would do before. My finger skills are improving and I have come to learn my hair with every finger that flows and feels through the tresses. The more you FD, the quicker and better you become! It's important to be gentle and to make sure that you remove any shed hair. But the skill of being gentle will come naturally. The combs were breaking my hair, it seems.

2) GREEN HOUSE METHOD! - Lisa introduced me to this. Here's a link to how it works. Post coming following this.

2) I leave half of my hair at the back in twists to protect it and only style the front. I have been finding it difficult to maintain the back of my hair as it seemed to tangle the most. So I had this genius idea to just twist the back up in tiny twists and protect them effectively. Every day I spray water and moisturise and I'm done. I shampoo the back while in twists, aswell. This protective style has saved me time and helped me retain thickness! Like typical braids, once a month I will unravel them, quick detangle, and twist them back up. Protective stylin' is key!

3) My typical wash day routine has changed and been made easier. I learned a lot after reading The Science of Black hair. I found that it is best for me to initially detangle before I do anything that follows in my wash day routine. When my hair is super wet or when I detangle while I shampoo or condition, my hair is prone to more breakage, which takes more time. My current routine goes as follows: apply leave-in and detangle. pack up in sections (while the back remains in twists ofcourse). apply hot oil treatment for 1 hour. bend over in bath tub and shampoo the back. since my hair at the front is split in two sections I shampoo one section at a time in a downward motion as the water flows. i use this opportunity to take out any shed hair but i do not need to do any detangling since ive already done so - simply wash and rinse then pack back up with my satin hair tie (DIY video coming). I proceed to condition in sections for 1 hour, warm up 30 mins under heat cap. I then rinse, dry up and then stretch the front. My favourite stretching method is the bantu knot out because its so easy and quick! my wash day typically takes only 3 hours. While I do this, I'll be busy with uni work or reading.
  
Btw, The Science of Black Hair is a must buy. I learned so many new and fascinating things about black hair. It should be your life guide! Informative and easy to read.

11 Sept 2013

My new leave-in!

This leave-in conditioner is amazing! It is SUPER moisturising and has helped my hair to increase in moisture. You know I love my Elasta QP products with their good ingredient lists- this one is a staple. I use it to detangle and I add a peanut size amount into my spray bottle #2 (see routine) for the dry days.

Latest..


20 Aug 2013

Protective stylin' it out...




This is my first time doing twists WITH expressions. Normally I prefer afro textured hair because I much prefer it and it looks more like my hair. But this came out good and it went great with my outfit for my mum's birthday event celebration. My aunt told me there was the fear that it would not last because our textures are very different (my hair vs straight expressions hair) but I love it! Next time I want to try afro textured twists but this time, very long! I've seen it on a few girls and it looks awesome. The older it gets, the better and the more it starts to look like beautiful dreadlocks.

I am considering protective stylin' it out throughout the year...

19 Aug 2013

17 Aug 2013

27 Jul 2013