Coming Soon

Heyo!

So, I'm going back to school on Wednesday and that means that there'll be no new posts on here till a month after then. However, I'm going to let you know what I have planned for you when I get back on here.

Okay! So, I have what can really be defined as 'long hair' right now so I'm going to talk about my journey to this point. APL and almost past it is a good length for someone who's been natural for 3 years especially someone who lost loads of inches of hair during that time.

Other posts would be on my plans for protective styling, but not, protective styling this summer. I feel like telling you my plans now, but I'm going to keep my mouth shut (or just stop my fingers from typing it out). I'll also have a post on how I got my hair to be SO SHINY! And what I did this holiday to retain as much length as possible.

And here's what I'm itching to blog about! Some products from Midas Naturals are being sent to me to try out and review. Midas Naturals is a new natural hair care brand that's made with all-natural ingredients. I have gone through the ingredients lists of some of their products (and researched on some of the ingredients I wasn't familiar with) they seem really good. Unfortunately, because of a little thing called, 'Bank Holiday,' I haven't received the products yet (but they should be here tomorrow) so I haven't tried them out yet, but I can't wait to try them out. I am currently getting my hair back in crochet braids and I'll be taking them down this July. Once they're out, I'll try out the products.

I love my Terressentials, yeah, but I don't always have the patience for it and it costs an arm and a leg to get it down to England. I owe my brother £50 for helping me pay to get it here. Customs and stuff are crazy!  I plan on not using my Terressentials every time I wash my hair to preserve it. It'll be like a treat for my hair. My previous sulfate-free shampoo has been discontinued so I'm looking for a new one and this could be it.

So excited! So, girls and guys, if you see this brand, buy the product, I think it's going to be good!

Can't wait till next month and can't wait till school's out this summer!! :)

DIY Whipped Shea Butter for Natural Hair + Skin

Written by CristinaC

Here's a simple, easy-to-follow DIY whipped shea butter recipe created by NaturallyCurly.com's Social Media and Community Manager, Evelyn, that even the most novice of Curly Mixologists could make at home. With a few drops of your favourite essential oils and a little bit of shea butter you can whip up a super creamy mix that's  great for sealing moisture into your skin or hair! 

WHAT YOU'LL NEED

• 8 oz raw unrefined Shea Butter
• 1 Tbsp Jojoba Oil 
• Spearmint Essential Oil
• Lemongrass Essential Oil 
• Electric Beater 
• Ziploc bag

DIRECTIONS

1. Combine the shea butter and jojoba oil in a bowl
2. Boil a pot of water and place your bowl inside the pot to create a double boiler, stir until soft
3. Add less than 10 drops each of spearmint and lemongrass essential oils
4. Whip the mixture with a handheld mixer 
5. Create a piping bag by placing a ziploc bag inside a large cup
6. Scoop the whipped mixture into a ziploc bag
7. Cut a hole in one of the corners of the ziploc and squeeze the mixture into a container

Watch the Video

Sad News...

It is quite sad to say that on the 9th of April, the natural community has lost our beloved Domineque Banks. Some of you might not remember her by hair actual name, but by her YouTube channel's name which is, "LongHairDon'tCare."

After many years of fighting this, Domineque died from Lupus, which is an autoimmune disease that causes the immune system to fight the body's skin cells and tissues.

I am using this blog post not just to let you all know about the passing of Domineque, but to also create an awareness of lupus. The more we mention it, the more we create awareness of it and this is the key to finding a cure for it. I have an aunt living with lupus. I would love for her and other people living with this disease to have a cure for it.

May Domineque Rest in Paradise.

She helped so many of us and she brought such joy and happiness to people.

My sincere condolences to her family and loved ones.

To help donate to her funeral and cremation please follow this link: https://www.giveforward.com/fundraiser/rmd4/in-memory-of-domineque-banks

Sandeey is Naturally Glamorous

The first prize winner of my giveaway, the beautiful, Sandeey!!

Here's my interview with her.

Enjoy!

And then check her out on her blog!

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Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I’m Sandeey and I am from Nigeria. I currently study in Oxford, United Kingdom.


How, when and why did you decide to start embracing your curls?
I was tired of relaxers and my edges were thinning. So a friend of mine convinced me to grow out my natural hair. I hesitated at first but when I researched and began transitioning, I felt good about my decision.


Did you ever feel insecure about your hair?
At my TWA stage, I was not confident about going out with my hair in public. This was mostly because I had always had long hair and did not know how people would see it. Also, at the time, most people I knew were not even dreaming of having natural hair. It took words of encouragement from my boyfriend at the time (husband now) for me to rock my hair.


What is your daily regimen (including your night-time routine)?
I use African Pride Shea Butter Miracle Leave in conditioner and/or SheaMoisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie, followed by Coconut oil. At night, I apply same but this is only when re-twisting for a twist out the next day.

What are your go-to hairstyles, which is your fav. and how do you achieve it?
I love braid-outs/twist-outs and also, the simple bun. I don’t think this needs much explanation. They’re probably the most basic styles a natural would know.


What are your must-have hair accessories and tools?
I cannot do without my tangle teezer-like brush, bristle brush, hair bands and hair-pins!


How do you deal with hair issues such as: breakage, shrinkage, length
retention and moisture?
I make sure my hair is always moisturized. I must confess that since day one of being natural, my hair breaks when styling. It’s a wonder how I have managed to retain length. Most of what comes out is shed hair but I notice the shorter hair, which I know is broken hair. From time to time, I trim my hair when I feel the ends are split. I also try to ensure my hair is moisturized all the time. This is a task for me because my hair seems to swallow and hide every product I apply. 

What products do you currently use, and how are they working for you?
Coconut Oil, Herbal Essences Hello Hydration Conditioner, Nature’s Gentle Touch Deep Conditioner, Shea Butter, African Pride Shea Butter Miracle Leave in Conditioner, Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie, V05 heat protect styling spray, Herbal Essences Beautiful Ends, Shea Moisture Deep Treatment Masque

These products work for me and I will stick to them…for now. I love trying new products.


Hand-In-Hair syndrome an issue I have now only that....it's not my hand. Do you have this issue? Do people ask before touching your hair
or they just randomly reach out and touch (or grab) it? How does this make you feel? What is your reaction to this?

I no longer have hand-in-hair syndrome. I noticed that I have stopped wanting to play around with my hair at random times. People usually ask before touching my hair and I have no problem with that. I have problems with those who don’t ask and who touch it roughly oblivious to the fact that it took hours to get the style ready!!!! I usually voice out my anger.

What do you love the most about being naturally curly?

I love the fact that I can change my hairstyle daily and also, no need for salons!


Any advice for the natural teens, parents, kids and grandparents?

The best advice I guess is to be confident and treat your hair very gently. Natural hair is beautiful no matter what texture.


Any upcoming projects?

I see a natural hair salon in my future…

Where can we find you online?

You can find me on instagram @hairoflife

My blog address is: Hair of Life 

Also, my email address is hairoflife@gmail.com

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So, people, GO CHECK OUT SANDEEY!!

My Current Hair Routine and My Plans for my Regimen this Summer

Hello there,

So here's a quick overview of my current hair routine:

• I protective style (crochet braids) for about 4 months
• I wash my hair once a week or every other week depending on how much I workout and I workout 7 times a week nowadays so washing depends on how much work I have to do and not just how often I workout so, I wash my hair when I have little to no work to do at night.
• I detangle my crochet braids before washing and put them in twists or cocoon curls.
• On days that my hair looks messy and I can't wash it, but I need it to be presentable,  I run my fingers through it, get sections a bit wet and put it in cocoon curls then hold it up get a sating scarf round it.
• In the morning, if I had cocoon curls in, I take them down, separate and fluff out my hair. If I didn't have cocoon curls in, I would've had my hair in a pineapple so I just take down what's holding it up, if I have time, refresh my hair with damp hand, fluff out and walk out the door.
• Every now and then, when I have a few minutes to myself, I moisturise with water, coconut oil, my shea butter product and Shea Moisture's Restorative Conditioner.

*The above routine is not a routine I'll recommend for anyone. I'm just getting by with it.

• Between protective styles (when I take down my crochet braids), I deep condition with something that has protein and gives moisture, wash with my Terressentials mud wash, condition with Shea Moisture's Restorative Conditioner and seal with coconut oil.
• I style my hair in either a bantu knot out, a fake blow-out/afro, or I wear it in its shrunken state.
• Sometimes, I have to wash or co-wash twice during the week.

MY REGIMEN FOR THIS SUMMER!

• Detangle with tools (max.) once a week
• Deep condition for at least an hour with a deep conditioner that contains protein.
• Wash/Cleanse hair and scalp (with hair in medium sized twists) using Terressentials Mud Wash or BeeMine Botanicals Shampoo (sulfate-free) once a week.
• Co-wash at least twice a week with Shea Moisture's Restorative Conditioner (washing in sections of twists).
• Let the water soak in for a few minutes after washing then seal with coconut oil and a bit of Shea Moisture's Restorative Conditioner (used as a leave-in this time)
• Section hair and work homemade shea butter product into each section (in a downwards motion) to hold hair and encourage clumping spritzing the hair with water prior to applying the product if needed.
• Finger coil to further encourage clumping and let the coils air dry
• Separate coils after they've dried and fluff out with fingers or lift and shake roots with an afro pick.
• If finger coils don't stretch the hair out enough, twist and bantu knot (or simply just bantu know) the hair whilst damp and take down when dry.
• For a super-stetched/almost straight look, bantu knot, take down, separate and bantu knot again then take down and pick from ends to roots with an afro pick or wide toothed comb.
• Protective style = updos, havanna/marley twists (if possible), twists or african threading.