My Hair Role Models 2.0

Some people are still on the list and there are a few new people.

Ever had that feeling when you see someone's hair and you're like, "I want that!" Yup! That's how I feel about the following people's hair:

Caroline

of CarolineJhingory

Dimples :)

of Angels Ringlets

This person

(If you know her name, please tell me)

Tia

of Angels Ringlets

The still beautiful, Miss. A

of Beads, Braids & Beyond

  

Cindy Blackman

Esperanza Spalding

Natural Hair... What Do I Do?

By Natalie Phillip of Three Naturals

I can’t begin to count the amount of times I get stopped at the mall, grocery store, doctor’s office, etc. and asked questions about hair. This is mainly due to the way I style my girls’ hair. Their hairstyles may look complicated at times (not sure) but honestly it’s so simple to attain. I look forward to those conversations because I know what it’s like being on the other end still trying to find what works. It can be frustrating and overwhelming but don’t give up. If you knew my personal hair story, you’d understand that it’s been quite the journey and I’m finally HAPPY with my hair and my girls reap the benefits. Keep in mind I’m still learning and I’m by no means ‘an expert’. I get excited whenever I learn something new and I always have to find someone to share it with. Like many things in life, you can never have enough hair knowledge.

 

Here are a few tips if you’re beginning the natural hair journey or you are struggling with your daughter’s haircare.
1. YOUTUBE has been a tremendous resource for me. There are so many tutorials and informative videos from everyday people who have tried different products, regimens and styles and choose to share their experiences and results. I’ve tried so many different processes from watching YouTube. Some successful, some not so much, but you won’t know what works for you until you try.
2. BLOGS like this one have also been a huge aid on the journey. Read! Read! Read! It only expands your knowledge and will introduce you to topics you’ve never even considered.
3. PRODUCTS can get expensive if you are shopping while overwhelmed, especially if you’re now starting out. Pricey doesn’t always mean better. Read the labels. Get familiar with the ingredients. Do your research before hitting the stores. Instead of buying a huge bottle of something that may not work for you, ask if they have samples you can try first. Contact the manufacturers and let them know you’re interested in their product but would like to try a sample first. You won’t get it until you ask.
4. ASK QUESTIONS!! Don’t be afraid to inquire with someone who demonstrates great results or a look you think you’d be comfortable with. It may not be as difficult as you think. In the same way, share what you learn and help someone else.
5. Create a GALLERY with all your favorite hairstyles that you can always refer to. Play around and try to recreate them. I would not suggest waiting until you’re ready to go out to try something new. Practice first because your hair will not always cooperate when you need it to.

Take a deep breath and embrace the beauty and journey that IS natural hair!!!
What are your tips? This is a GREAT spot to share them!!

My Protective Styling Challenge - Week 2

Hey everyone,

So, I guess this just lasted for 2 weeks for me. I'm going to try keeping my braids in that long from now on (or longer if possible). Truth is, midweek of my second week, I just didn't really care anymore so I let my hair frizz and do whatever it wanted to. Anyways, here's my week:

• I co-washed on Wednesday and Friday using the BeeMine BeeLovely Conditioner and Tresemme Naturals (silicone-free) Conditoner.
• After co-washing, I tied a scarf down on my hair till I need to head out for school.
• On Friday, I took down the braids and twists (entirely) and deep conditioned with Tresemme Naturals conditioner, BeeMine conditioner and Moisturiser. I kinda wish I had DCed with palm oil instead, but this was a last minute thing and I was tired so I just grabbed a handful of the Tresemme, worked it into my hair, donned on a shower cap (because I couldn't be bothered to tie a plastic bag on). Tied a couple of scarves of that to secure it in place and lock in heat and I slept.
• On Saturday, I washed out my hair with the Tresemme Naturals Silicone-Free Conditioner then some BeeMine Botanicals Shampoo (sulfate free) then condition with the BeeMine BeeLovely Conditioner.
• After washing, I got a tiny but of WonderCurl 'Butter than love pudding' onto my hair. Mum was calling me. I totally forgot to moisturise and do all the other stuff I do after a wash and my hair was mad at me for that.
• I braided my hair in two to stretch it.
• Unfortunately, I had to head out of the house before my hair was dry and OH. MY. DAYS. THE. SHRINKAGE. AND. TANGLES! My hair did look good, though. :) And I think I've figured out a wash and go hairstyle.
• Sunday night, I braided my hair in 8 cornrows and I'm keeping them in till Thursday 'cause I have to take my hair down for some event.

Next week, Sunday, I'll make more braids, smaller ones and try keeping them in for 2 weeks or more.
I believe this will help me retain more length and grow my hair out.

~Sam

p.s I'm considering doing crotchet braids sometime later this year. Maybe during the winter or fall (most probably winter). I'll just get my aunt to flat braid my hair for me then I'll try to do the rest or I'll get some friends together and we'll do it together. I just need to get crotchet needles (for the braids) for them.

My Protective Styling Challenge - Week 1

Hey,

So, I've decided that I'm going on a protective styling challenge to grow and retain as much hair as possible till the end of June.

I normally keep my hair in flat braids for 5 days a week, deep condition every Friday night till Saturday morning, wash on Saturday, rock a beautiful puff on Sunday and head back to flat braids by Sunday night. With this challenge, I am still deep conditioning on Fridays and washing on Saturdays however, my hair's staying in the flat braids (with the hair twisted from the point at which it lifts off my scalp. I haven't kept braids in my hair since my first few months going natural (transitioning) so this is new for me. However, I guess I'm doing a pretty good job with it. Here are some of the things I've done so far that are working pretty well (by the way, I started this challenge last Sunday):

• When the flyaways get a little too much, I get some BeeMine curly butter onto my hair and tie a scarf down onto it. That does the trick and lays all the flyaways down making my hair look as good as new. (This is what I do on week days).
• I co-wash between the week using the BeeMine BeeLovely Conditioner. (This means that I wash twice a week now, but the second wash is strictly a co-wash while the Saturday wash alternates between a sulfate-free shampoo wash and a co-wash).
• After co-washing, I tie a scarf over my hair till I need to leave the house (school).
• On Friday, I take down only the twisted bits of my hair then I deep condition with coconut oil, olive oil and honey. This is because they're easier to wash out that things like avocado (plus, I did an avocado deep conditioning treatment last weekend).
• On Saturday, I wash out my hair with the Tresemme Naturals Silicone-Free Conditioner then I search for build up. If I find any, I wash with my BeeMine Botanicals Shampoo (sulfate free) then condition with the BeeMine BeeLovely Conditioner.
• After washing, I get some WonderCurl 'Butter than love pudding' onto my hair (good stuff!) then a tad (teeny-weeny) bit of shea butter onto my hair especially the ends.
• I hold up the ends with an ouchless band then I tie a scarf bun-style on my hair and leave it on till my hair is fully dry.
• When my hair is fully dry (and I'm ready to take down the scarf), I redo the twists, but instead of each braid being twisted at the ends, I twist the ends of two braids together then hold them together and hide my ends using an ouchless band. 

My results: My hair looking as good as new with zero flyaways.


I just might be able to keep these braids in for 3 weeks :)

~Samantha :)
(haha! I used my full name for the first time on here)

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Do any of you want to join me in this challenge?

It like a growth challenge.

So, if you're interested, comment below and say something like, "I'm in" :)

GIVEAWAY!

So.....I just entered CurlyNikki's 28 Days of Giveaways and I thought that you should too. There are awesome prices and stuff to win :)

Here's a link to go to if you're interested: http://www.naturallycurly.com/giveaways/Curly-Nikki-28-Days-of-Giveaways/st/510c146e550d87.27999219

Have a wonderful day!

~Sammy

Curly Baby Hair Care

Hi Everyone,

So, that's my nephew above (isn't he so cute!). He's 1 now. In that pic, he was just about 3 months old. He's got super curly and beautiful hair.
So, I was thinking and I decided to make a post on natural hair care for curly babies.
Okay! So, here it goes:

1. Shampoo is a no-no: Shampoos, especially sulfate containing shampoos are an absolute no for curly babies. These shampoos dry out the hair and scalp and strip them of their nutrients. If you must find a way to clean your baby's hair and scalp, co-wash or use a sulfate-free shampoo. Also, it is best to opt for a shampoo or conditioner that doesn't contain chemicals (or a large amount of chemicals). Recommended sulfate-free shampoos for babies:  BeeMine Botanical Shampoo, Curls: It's a Curl: Peek-A-Boo Tearless Baby Shampoo, BurtBees Baby Bee Shampoo & Wash.
2. Don't be a product junkie with your baby's hair: Putting so many products on your baby's hair might cause an irritation which will make the baby uncomfortable (and the baby will let you know he/she is uncomfortable....). Try out a few products (over a period of months), and it's best to ensure that they are 100% natural or organic.
3. Keep the Vaseline, Pertroleum Jelly and Baby Oil (mineral oil) away: These prevent the scalp from breathing and might lead to a stunted hair growth in the long run. They are had to wash out and might cause some serious build up.
4. Don't scratch at the scalp or pull at the hair while manipulating: This will cause the baby a whole lot of discomfort and most likely will hurt the baby's scalp and do some other things that I'm not sure about (damage the follicles or something like that).
5. Avoid tight hairstyles (this applies to toddlers too (all these apply to toddlers too)): I have had a problem with some Nigerian mums who believe that when their kid's hair's not growing, they should braid or thread the child's hair really tight to pull out the hair "that is staying in the child's head and not coming out." Little do they know that they are causing a whole lot of damage. I have seen little kids with something like traction alopecia. Why?
6. Opt for finger detangling: It is better to finger detangle than detangle with a comb or brush.
7. Moisturise: Make a hair spritz with water and coconut oil (or fav. condish) or anything you want and spritz this lightly on your baby's hair or onto your hands then massage into your baby's hair for moisture and to promote growth.
8. Never show your annoyance no matter what to your child's hair when it seems to not be coorporating with you: If you show your annoyance, you might give the child the wrong impression about his/her hair. Kid's and baby's notice things. They're smarter than we think.
9. DO YOUR RESEARCH!

I hope this can help somebody!
~Sammy


p.s if you have anything to add, please fill free to do so in the comments below and I might add it to this post.. :)

p.p.s if you're a curly mum willing to host a Curly Baby Hair Section on this blog, please write to me at 'SammySingally@gmail.com.' :)

I'm Tired.....

*sigh*

I'm getting bored and tired with my hair. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely still love my hair, but I've been so stressed out and sleep deprived. This last year of HS has been horrid. So much homework, so much studying to do, I'm up till midnight, 1am or 2am doing homework....on Friday night, sometimes, I forget to DC and when I remember, whip up my DC and get it into my hair, it's some odd hour of the morning and I've got to be up to study early the next day. *sigh*
I cut my hair last week. I got fed up with the single-strand knots and few spilts and my stylist....she won't  cut my hair. So, I was like, "I've had enough!" I washed my hair at night on Sat (I usually wash in the morning, but I forgot to DC and I was so busy). After the wash, I was like, "it has got to go!" and cut off a bit of my hair (less than an inch, though). My hair feels much better now.
I'm worried about dry scalp and my hair breaking and stuff and my length not really showing, I'm worried that I won't reach my goal or anything near it by June so, I've started this new thing of wearing in flat braids and twists (flat braids till hair lifts off the scalp then twists to the end) and keeping them in for as long as possible, but I feel like washing my hair! I have done a light co-wash, but still.... By the way, I keep my hair looking neat when there are flyaways by getting some BeeMine BeeHold Curly Butter onto my hair then tying a scarf down on it and sleeping with it. By the next morning, my hair looks as good as new.
I don't have the time to moisturise daily and stuff and I can't seem to find a good spray bottle anywhere so it's not like I can make some moisturising spritz or whatever. I can try finding a spray bottle again no matter how tiny, I don't know, if I have the time, whip up something and put in it and leave in my locker at school and on my table at home.
I just remembered that I made a batch of rosemary extract and oil over a month ago.....x_X (don't worry, it doesn't go bad quickly).

I'm not going to go back to relaxing or texturising my hair, but I'm just tired and stressed out! (*sigh*)
What should I do?