Thursday, January 8, 2015

Quick Hairstyles for Kinky Hair

Curly, kinky hair allows you to experiment with many new and interesting styles, many of which require little to no heat, and little to no time as well. Whether you have long wavy hair or short curls, here are some fun, quick and easy hair styles that you can try while you are on the go!

Side part style

We suggest this one for TWAs (teeny weeny afros) looking to give their hair a touch of sophistication. Untangle your hair and moisturize it, and start styling it while it's damp. Make sure you have styling gel and bobby pins at hand. Take a comb to part your hair to the side with the skinny tip, dividing the hair just under the forehead. Use the styling gel and secure the hair with bobby pins on either sides to lift the hair roots. Then gel the sides and top of your hair to give it a better definition, and gently brush the hair on the sides to smoothen it. Take of the pins and you are good to go!

Curly ponytail

Wear your hair in a messy pony, if you want to sport a cute and laid-back look. Simply gather the hair using your hands into a pony tail at the center of the head with the help of an elastic. If you have a layered haircut and some of the shorter tresses tumble down, do not tie them back, leave them as it is as they can frame your face nicely. If a messy ponytail is not your thing, and you're looking for a more polished look with the ponytail, simply smoothen the sides using pomade. Black hair moisturizing products with jojoba oil work out great when compared to ones that are alcohol-based, as the latter tends to make the hair frizz by causing it to dry out.

Front twist

This front twist helps draw attention to your facial features, while styling the hair away from the face. Separate the hair into two sections. Then twist each of the hair pieces upward in a horizontal manner until its is tightly secured (be careful to not twist the hair strands very tightly or it can damage them). Pin the twist in place. Do the same on the other section as well. Wear your hair half up-half down. To add more definition to your curls, use a good finishing spray!

Monday, January 5, 2015

5 Reasons to Embrace and Love your Curly Hair

If you've been guilty of spending all your monthly resources on purchasing straightening products or Brazilian blowout sessions, here are some reasons why you should be embracing your curls and doing otherwise-

Curls make a unique statement

No two curls are the same! The texture and length of curls are different, which is what makes them unique and gives the wearer a unique look. This certainly helps if you want to stand out or make a unique statement, so people notice you even when in a crowd. Even when you're with other friends who have kinky hair, you'll see that no two textured locks are the same!

Curls = fancy hair

You know when you have your bridesmaid duties lined up that you can actually focus on them, as doing up your hair won't take as long for you as you already have fancy hair! You'll need very little time on the styling chair, so you can spend the remaining time making sure that the flowers and champagne are in place. Same goes with dates, curls have a natural fancy look to them, so it appears like you were at the salon for hours, when it barely took you anytime.

Curly hair as a diversion tactic

The good thing about curly hair is that they make a statement, overpowering any other little flaws that you may have. Think of it, when you see a person with curly hair, one of the first things about them that stands out is their hair. If you have curly hair, you can use it to divert attention from dark circles, zits, or an unflattering dress!

Styling options galore!

If you're one to experiment with new hairstyles every day, having curly hair makes it so much easier. You can wear glamorous waves by softening your curls, wear them as tight curls, or if you do not feel like doing much simply go au naturel. Just switch up the styling products you use to create different looks.

Get dressed in no time!

The great thing about curly hair is that you don't have to spend too long on it. Think of all those long hours some women spend on straightening their hair; you save all that time for your beauty sleep! Even on days that you wake up and have to get going immediately, with barely any time to spare for your hair, know that the disheveled look never runs out of style!

Thursday, December 11, 2014

Styling Your Curly Hair

Let face it ladies, styling curly hair is no easy task. In fact, it can present quite a challenge. A majority of the time, humidity, dryness, and frizz develop into obstacles that test patience and skill of the most experienced curly haired women. Curly hair is full of character and personality that changes often, making it incredibly difficult to style your hair on a daily basis.

If you’re new to the natural hair scene, or veteran curly looking for some inspiration, here are some helpful tips and advice on how to style your curly hair better.

It’s all about moisture

Moisturizer is the key to frizz free hair. Not only does natural moisturizer protect and benefit overall health, but also keeps frizz away. Make sure you wash and condition your hair with natural moisturizers before you begin styling your curly hair. This helps prepare your hair and makes it behave and work well, in addition to treating your hair to a healthy dose of much needed nourishment.

Begin fresh

Before you style your hair it is important to rid your locks of any remains of product or serum. Cleanse and wash your hair thoroughly to ensure you clean out any excess conditioner or leftover product. Be sure to use a gentle and preferably sulfate free natural shampoo or cleanser when rinsing out your locks.
 
Avoid excessive use of product

An overload of product usually leaves hair crunchy and difficult to style. Make sure the product you use does not overwhelm your hair. If the product you prefer is too strong, then it would be good to dilute it with a little water before applying it.

Treat your hair in sections

One of the more pronounced problems when styling curly hair is that some sections turn out better and curlier than others. To obtain an even look, make sure you apply product evenly across your head and locks. You can improve your technique by using clips and section your hair when applying product, to ensure each part receives the same amount of attention.

The wetter the better

A trade secret to achieving great curls is to apply product into your hair when it’s wet. Hair reacts much better to product when wet. This makes for far more defined curls, if you have a long wait time between post shower and styling time, then re-soak your hair before you apply product. 

Monday, December 8, 2014

Get Rid of Limp Hair the Natural Way

More often than not, limp hair is inherited. In addition, several factors like excessive smoking, chemical treatments, and exposure to heat on a regular basis contribute to unhealthy and limp hair.

On the upside however, there are several natural remedies to thicken and introduce bounce and volume to your hair. You don’t have to continue to live with limp and lifeless locks much longer. Here are some easy and simple ways to get a body and morale boosting look you will adore.

Basic maintenance and care

Make sure you get regular hair trims and cuts to maintain a natural, bouncy look. Shampoo and wash your hair with gentle natural products. The fewer chemicals involved the better, for both you and your hair.

Avoid combing your hair too much; limit brush strokes to as many required to detangle your locks. Using a large toothed comb will make a difference and comb the knots out as gently as possible.

Pamper yourself

Frequent oil massages are the best thing you can do to nourish your hair. Quality moisturisers and lost nutrient restorers, natural oils bring new life to hair with added volume and bounce, not to mention the healthy factor involved.

Mix about two tablespoons of castor oil with around one tablespoon of almond or coconut oil. Heat the mixture up a bit to increase nutritive value. Castor oil works brilliantly to bring bounce and volume to limp hair.

Home made hair packs

Try one or all of these hair packs to bring back the snap and bounce in your hair.

  • Avocado – Avocado hair masks deliver instant protein and vital nutrients to lacklustre hair. Blend the pulp of one avocado with a tablespoon full of castor and olive oil. Gently apply the mask starting at the roots, all the way down to the tips of your hair. Leave in for about 30 minutes, cover with a cotton head cloth and rinse well after. 
  • Banana – Banana is a wonderful source of essential minerals and vitamins. Mix an overripe banana with about one tablespoon of honey and apply the mixture onto your scalp and hair. Leave in for about 20-30 minutes and wash it clean with a gentle shampoo. 
  • Egg – Raw eggs are perfect sources of protein and work wonders on dull and lifeless air. Simply beat two eggs in a bowl, apply onto scalp and hair and leave in for about 15 minutes. Wash clean with shampoo for beautiful soft hair. 

Thursday, December 4, 2014

Why you Should Stick to your Naturally Curly Hair

Nothing compares to originality, and going natural is to accept and own your true self. Natural curly hair is amazingly sexy and comes equipped with beautiful texture, body and volume. A feature of rocking naturally curly hair is the personality it brings to your look.

Besides, sticking to your natural hair is healthy and avoids unnecessary use of chemicals and chemical products to maintain your style. Here are some of the top reasons in my book why staying natural is the best thing you could do.

Natural hair is stunning

Natural hair is instant statement style in addition to being totally hip and cool. Unlike relaxed hair that requires heaps of products and methods that can cause near permanent damage, natural hair is absolutely safe.

Women with natural curls love their hair because it’s wonderfully fun and suits face and features best.

Healthy

It’s a known fact that natural hair is healthy and perhaps the best lifestyle choice you can make. Naturally curly hair doesn’t need an overload of hair care products and you’ll come to love and appreciate your locks better. Look and feel great naturally, besides you stand to save heaps on product and upkeep.

Get playful and creative

There isn’t much you can do with straight hair, while naturally curly hair allows for heaps of styles that completely transform you look. Play with texture and get creative with your locks. Something as simple as an updo tied in with some funky and bold accessories introduces a variety of styles and variations to create completely new and different looks every single time.

Natural curls are fun to style and can be worn in so many absolutely chic ways, to suit any kind of event or mood.

Freestyle 

Natural hair is all about you and your personal style, and a great way to let your personality shine. There’s no way you can go wrong with natural afro hair. You can change it whenever you feel like and wear it any which way you like.

Feel free, uninhibited, and truly relaxed. Natural hair doesn’t come with many restrictions and rules you need to stick to unlike chemically relaxed hair. Enjoy a swim or live as active a lifestyle you wish. Quit worrying about how exercise makes you sweat, which might possibly ruin your hairstyle. Live the way you want with natural hair. 

Monday, December 1, 2014

Lengthen and Thicken your Hair with the Help of these Tips

Do you often find yourself wishing your hair would grow faster and thicker? It’s a common fact that state and condition of your hair affects your appearance and can add on the years. Thinning hair is far from appealing and quite a turn off.

Instead of waiting for your hair to grow out, here are some sure methods to speed up the process in addition to improving health and texture quickly and naturally.

Get a trim

While it might seem counter-intuitive to get frequent trims when growing your hair out, it is important to rid of unhealthy and damaged ends. It is true that trimming hair doesn’t make your hair grow any faster, though it does make a difference in overall maintenance.

Taking care of dead and split ends will keep your hair looking great while you grow it out. Trim about a quarter of an inch every two months, to keep your hair healthy and luscious.

Scalp massages

Treat your roots to hot oil massages at least once every week. A superb way to keep your hair moisturized, regular oil massages promote faster growth, stimulate roots and supply important nourishment. Over and above a scalp massage is relaxing, enjoyable process that will keep both you and your hair healthy and happy.

Natural oils like olive, jojoba, coconut, almond, and castor, make hair softer, and thicker.

Eat healthy

A healthy and balanced diet makes a huge difference on the quality and growth rate of your hair. Make sure you add a good portion of fresh vegetables, fruits, fish and egg to your regular diet. Try and avoid junk and fatty foods as far as possible.

Replenish vitamins

Vitamins like A, B, and C are important for optimal thicker hair growth. Potato water is enriched with vitamins and can be used to rinse and wash hair to ensure better and faster growth.

Egg whites

A brilliant source of protein, egg whites are known to replenish lost nutrients and nourish hair from root to tip. Your hair is bound to improve instantly with weekly applications of egg white hair mask. Healthy and strong hair grows faster and thicker for sure.

Avoid too much heat

Healthy natural hair isn’t a big fan of hot irons or blow dryers. Try and keep blow drying your hair to a minimum. This helps keep split ends away, and makes for healthier, gorgeous hair. 

Thursday, November 27, 2014

Winter Hair Care Regime for Curly Hair

Ladies who enjoy natural hair throughout the year should maintain a special treatment regimen to achieve optimal protection and functionality. It is integral you take care and nurture your locks as the temperatures recede. Here is some sage advice to follow to avoid excessive tangles and enjoy healthy, smooth, luxurious hair during winter.

Crash course

A quick rundown of essentials to a winter hair care regimen.

Wash and condition your hair regularly, though remember to do a natural deep condition at least twice a month.
Use flexi rods to stretch out those locks.
Use a thick toothed comb or natural fiber wide tooth brush to detangle your hair.
Make the most of protective functional styling, do your hair up in buns and rock twists, as much as possible.
Treat your hair with henna at least once a month.
Religiously oil your hair ends every single day.
Moisturize your hair every three days, followed by an oil treatment to seal in the moisture.
Tie your hair up in a satin bonnet every night before going to bed.

Complete winter hair care regimen   

Open up your messy bun or hair twists every other week and massage a deep, preferably natural, conditioner, pull on a plastic cap with a microwave heat cap over for about 15-30 minutes.
Rinse your hair out and separate into two sections. Wash thoroughly with shampoo a side at a time, rinse clean.
Then apply a silky conditioner to both sides in a scrunching motion. Quickly pass your head under the shower to spread in the conditioner and add more slip. Leave in for a bit.
Work at detangling hair, one side at a time, with your fingers. If you have persistent tangles that remain as the conditioner washes away, simply apply more conditioner and continue detangling.
Once all the conditioner has been washed out and your hair is tangle free, gently blot-dry your hair and leave to dry for about 15-30 minutes. Apply a leave in conditioner, seal in with oil.
Then stretch your hair out with flexi-rods and leave to set for about 5 hours.
Remove the rollers and comb your curls adding oil to separate and define them further.
Tie your hair up either in flat twists, high bantu knot, chunky twists or a bun. Once your twists are done, finish them up with a spray of hair dew, focus on the ends, to keep them moisturized and help set.
Pull on a satin scarf bonnet over your well treated hair and turn in for the night.