Posts

Showing posts from September, 2015

Do You Have To Protective Style ?

Image
Do You Have To Protective Style? As I continue to make new discoveries about my hair, one of the battles or struggles I've always had is protective styling. The hype about keeping our hair tucked away and protected from the elements is one that everyone on this hair journey is very familiar with. The Eureka Moment Recently, I read about 2 articles about protective styling with both concluding that it's more about less manipulation than keeping the hair hidden. It got me thinking about non blacks. Do they protective style? I don't know - what I know is that they wear extensions for aesthetic purposes. Curly Nikki's article views low manipulation styles as a better option for reasons like being able to care for the hair more than when tucked away. It makes a lot of sense when you look at the fact that the essence of protective styling is actually to reduce manipulation! So, if there are other ways of reducing manipulation, why not do so? The Alternative to protective styl

Does Jamaican Black Castor Oil Grow Hair?

Image
We continue with search terms that pop up and here's another interesting one. Does Jamaican black castor oil grow hair? The answer I'm going to provide to this question is based on my own experience. Jamaican black castor oil aka jbco has been a popular oil within the hair community. I started using the regular castor about 4 years ago. Now, I use the Jamaican black castor oil because there were claims that it was more organic than the regular or pharmacy castor oil. Well, I can definitely say that if you are consistent with jbco, you'll sure experience faster growth. I've used it to regrow my edges and though I haven't been consistent with it on my scalp, I can attest to the regrowth of the edges. I don't like the tingling jbco; what I had tingles so I didn't want it on my scalp. However, the tropical Isle brand doesn't tingle and that is what I used to regrow my edges. I'm on a castor oil challenge but haven't been consistently using it. I have

How To Care For Your Hair During Pregnancy

Image
The excitement about having a new life in the family knows no limit so I'm going to share a few tips on ow tocare for your hair during pregnancy. In as much as you want to enjoy the baby, the journey to having the baby can be a daunting task. You get tired, have sleepless night, feel heavy, and all you want to do is count the days your little one is born. When I was pregnant, these things made it easy to care for my hair. **Rely on a stylist when I felt I couldn't do my own hair. For us in Ghana, our salons are relatively cheap so it won't be a problem using one more often during pregnancy. Be sure you are working with a familiar stylist who understands your journey. **Wash during shower; I used to enjoy having the water run over my body so that was an opportune moment to wash even if it's a co wash. ** Use instant deep conditioners like dark and lovely amla legend masque. These work within 5 minutes so you can take your shower and deep condition at the same time. Even

Jamaican Black Castor Oil in Ghana (Update)

Yes, there is Jamaican black castor oil in Ghana. The last time I spoke about where to get Jamaican black castor oil was when it first became available in Ghana. Back then,  there was only one vendor. Fast forward to Now, you can get Jamaican black castor oil at the following places: 1. African Emprezz Beauty shop on Facebook 2. Urbanmakes.com where my friend Dami sells other hair products too. 3. Avery Naturals on Facebook 4. Mejs Naturals who also stocks the Ecoco brand. These are the ladies I know of for  now who stock up on Jamaican black castor oil.

6 Ways To Overcome Hair Setbacks

Image
As the queen of experiments about 3 years ago, there isn't a setback I haven't experienced and not recovered from and that's why I'm sharing with you 6 ways to overcome hair setbacks. Though I'm not at my goal length, I've had enough setbacks to keep me on track and that has been the case since 2014. I hit full shoulder length in December 2014 after my big chop in January 2014.  after cutting my hair as a result of a henna mishap , colour treatment, protein and others, here are the strategies I employed and still employ when I suffer any setback . 1. Accept that you caused the setback. Whether a stylist trimmed too much hair or gave you a bad braid, you are responsible. Why didn't you complain during the process? Why didn't you get up and leave? If it's your hair breaking, what did you fail to do? 2. Trust that you can and will recover from the setback. No matter how bad the problem, there is always a solution. Believe in your ability to bring your

3 Ways To Use African Black Soap In Your Regimen

Image
Clarify African Black Soap aka alata samina shouldn't be used so often because it acts as a clarifying shampoo. In its undiluted form (no oils added) , it gets rid of product build up. Usually, it's safe to clarify about once a month to remove traces of the silicone build up from conditioners. Even if you use silicone free products, you may have been using butters and creams. However, African black soap can't remove mineral deposit from hard water. Moisturizing shampooAdd some oils to your liquid alata samina. To prepare liquid African Black Soap, mash the alata samina, soak it in water or add warm water and allow it to sit for a while. Add a few drops of natural oils and essential oil to preserve it. Viola! This reduces the drying effect of the alata samina. Sulfate Free shampoo If you want a natural homemade sulfate free shampoo, then, the African black soap is here for you.

3 Hair Styles For Labour And After Delivery

Image
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="396"] My cornrow ponytail[/caption] When the moment of labour arrives, the last thing you want to ti have some hair flowing and shipping your face. All you want to do is get the baby out and be free.  About a month to delivery, you are tired, easily stressed, anxious and sleep is a luxury. To make the process less stressful, here are some hair style tips for you. 1. Cornrow ( with or without extensions; All back style, Ponytail): As my no.1 go to hair style, I'm glad I had this sooner prior to delivery. Having the hair cornrowed into a small Ponytail makes you fly and ready for the marathon Lol. For the whole period of labour, my hair wasn't a concern at all for the 2 weeks after birth too. Short weave on: The goal is to have your hair off your face so installing 8-24 inches weave isn't useful. A cut is better to make your sleep easy. A new born has a sensitive skin and allowing your weave to touch the

Do You Visit Natural Hair Salons?

Yes, in Ghana, we have natural hair salons. If you have two left hands like me ☺☺ when it comes to braids and weaves, then, you probably visit the salon for those services. However, this creates another unpleasant situation for us naturals. Have you ever been charged a higher price because you are natural? I have! For regular salons, I wouldn't expect much from them nor be offended with exorbitant prices. When it comes to natural salons though, it's a different playing ground. One would expect them to handle our hair better and also be cost effective yet reports indicate otherwise. Personally, I haven't done my hair at an all natural salon yet; I plan to do that when the hair is longer. I want some flat twists and these salons offer that. Back to the issue of cost, most naturals I've met complain that aside not getting a stylist who can tend to their hair needs, the natural salons are too expensive for them.  Now, let me clarify that we Ghanaian ladies have our own de

10 Hair Products Worth Buying (2015 edition)

Image
For ladies on a budget like me, spending on a hair product should be an investment worth our money so I've put together 10 hair products worth buying this year. Tresemme conditioners: For their size and price, these are worth it 2. ORS replenishing conditioner  this can last a full year of weekly washing. Hello Hydration   We Naturals hemp Shampoo A little of the Hemp shampoo as I mentioned in the review goes a loooong way. That is my top shampoo now. We Naturals Hot Oil Treatment : I love this product so much and I know it won't disappoint you too. Jamaican black castor oil : This oil is multi purpose and even the 4oz can last you a full year Creme of Nature Detangling Shampoo large bottle. This shampoo is also very moisturizing too. Makola virgin coconut oil: mine lasted almost a year and a half with regular use and that includes daily use for oil pulling. ORS creamy Aloe shampoo is a multipurpose shampoo as I've mentioned in this video . Dark and Lovely Hair refresher

Can You Texturize And Still Be Natural?

Image
Here's another question that comes up in the search terms : Can You Texturize And Still Be Natural? Texturizers are the first thing naturals who want to loosen their curls temporarily reach for. The misconceptions about texturizers make it difficult for some naturals to accept their texture. One Sunday morning, a lady sent me an urgent message asking for which and where to get a texturizer to loosen her natural hair a bit, just a bit. Instead of giving her an outright answer, I referred her to this simple analogy. Consider texturizers as the younger siblings of relaxers . Texturizers, texture softeners all PERMANENTLY ALTER your natural hair. The difference is how long you keep it on to get the texture you want. Sometimes, you may feel that your hair still looks natural but when the new growth comes in, you'll be dealing with two or more textures like a fully texlaxed hair. The end result of texture softners and texturizes therefore means you can't be really natural. She

Tips For Make Up Beginners Edition

Image
I used to struggle with make up and I still do but here are a few tips for make up beginners which I believe will help us all! Here are some things I've learnt in the quest for achieving a presentable face courtesy of make up. Get a brush set even if it's a cheap synthetic one. You may not get the same finished look but that will get the job going. Watch youtube videos: doesn't matter if the make up isn't for beginners. The basics are the same for the individual you are watching. He/She layers her products in a particular way so watching any of her/his videos still gives you the routine. All you need to do is pay attention to ***the pre application stage: what the person uses on the skin eg primer, moisturizer, milk of magnesia. These are crucial in protecting your skin. *** the foundation application process and blending. She might also use a concealer or a base before full application. *** the eye shadow application process. Each person has a unique technique yet you

Does Your Hair Have A Name?

Image
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="640" caption="Hi Prof! "] [/caption] It may seem vain, ludicrous, funny, insane or just ridiculous but ladies do have pet names for their hair. When I was a newbie, I joined the squad and called my mane Emprezz. Ah, well! What other names have you given to your hair or seen others use?

Treat Dandruff With Aspirin

Image
How to treat dandruff with aspirin? The same aspirin you take or use can be extended to your hair too, especially, to treat dandruff. Before you start this treatment, be sure that the flaky scalp is indeed dandruff. Personally, I haven't experienced any dandruff since I properly started caring for my hair.  You could be doing stuff to your hair but that doesn't mean you are doing it well. When I get asked how to treat dandruff, I usually, find out your regimen. If your regimen isn't up to scratch, you can be rest assured that you'll have to sort it out to see if that can clear the dandruff like my regimen did. You see,  washing with shampoo without using a deep conditioner afterwards isn't a great practice. Products work effectively when used accordingly. So, if you've done everything properly and still experience dandruff, here's a remedy you can try. According to dailymail.co.uk, Plenty of shampoos aimed at treating dandruff use salicylic acid to control t

4 Ways To Use Jamaican Black Castor Oil Effectively

Image
The all famous Jamaican black castor oil aka jbco is in my good books for several reasons. I'm not going to reinvent the wheel about its uses; rather how to make sure you are getting all the benefits it offers. I bought an 8oz bottle about 3 years ago and haven't finished it nor bothered to do so until recently. When I tackled my postpartum shedding, I used it haphazardly and so didn't pay attention to what it was doing for me until I tried something else and noticed that it was the Jbco that had helped with my edges. 1] In order to use Jamaican black castor oil effectively, decide on which type you want to use and why. There are several brands so read reviews about them and choose. These Jbco don't work in the same way nor have the same potency. I won't mention names but some have been reported to have high salt content which has had negative effects on especially relaxed hair. 2] Will you use it directly or mix it up with other oils? Since the Jbco is very thick,

3 Ways To Use Henna On Your Hair

Where are my henna fans? In today's post, I'm going to point out 3 ways to use henna on your hair to avoid setbacks. A lot of readers have inundated me with questions regarding where to purchase henna and how to use it. I can say that out of experience, there are several factors to consider before henna application. ***Do you want a dye release such that you end up with some colour like I had? When the dye is released, you get a reddish tint it hue. ***Do you want just a gloss? Then, don't leave it to sit for long. As soon as you mix your henna, apply, leave it on for just some minutes and rinse. ***Do you want black hair? Add indigo( check African Emprezz on Facebook) ***You can mix a bit of henna in your conditioner to strengthen your hair; just don't use too much else you'll get a dye release. **Be sure to deep condition your hair after the treatment IF you were aiming for dye release else be ready for hard, straw like hair. After all is said and done, the choice

3 Tips To Help You Choose Your Henna

Image
After sharing ways to use henna on your hair , here are 3 tips to help you choose your henna. Since you've decided to dabble in henna , why not check which type is most suitable for your hair. I learnt a lot from my henna mishap (see here ) Based on these, I'm offering you 3 tips to help you choose your henna *** Avoid market henna. Let's be honest here. The market henna is obviously cheap so that's the first place you might be tempted to purchase your henna. What you should know is that there are different sources of the henna. Some are grown in the North, some are imported. It's very difficult to determine the source of your henna as you don't have the expert's eyes. In addition to this, market henna is quite grainy and leaves a bunch of left over grains stuck in your strands. It's also difficult to determine if your henna is body art quality. (Sheabutter cottage and urbanmakes.com have awesome henna). *** Be sure you are buying pure henna . Some Henna

5 Cheap and Easy Ways To Document Your Hair Journey

Image
Hi my empresses, hope you are doing well. Today, I'm sharing with you 5 cheap and easy ways to document your hair journey when you are not a blogger. In the era of selfies, why not grab your camera and snap away? This is the most common way to document your journey but there are other ways too. How about someone without imstagram, Facebook or Twitter? Pen and Paper Tracking. Writing down what products you bought, when you bought them, how much, why you bought them, the ingredients will allow you to discontinue or continue using a product even years down the line. I keep my books in a pretty good place and I have some of the entries I made in 2011! Hair Journal apps. There are two apps on apple store I've tried and found to be very helpful. The hair diary and hair journal apps are designed to keep track of your products, styles, length and many more.. Online Planners/Calendars/Diaries. You can make entries in or on your planner or calendar. That is whether on your phone or your

Bucket Wash Method For Natural & Relaxed Hair

Image
The bucket wash method is a term I coined out of using a bucket instead of a shower head to rinse out products. If you've been using henna, dye or clay treatments, then, you know the challenge of keeping your bathroom from getting stained. It's very easy when you use the bucket method wash for relaxed & natural hair. All you need is a bucket like the one pictured above and a source of water. [YouTube=https://youtu.be/76DVWF0A3XQ]

The Coily Queen Regimen

Image
I came across the coily queen regimen when I was surfing for information on how to keep 4c natural hair moisturized for long periods. As part of my non conservative attitude towards my hair, I'm going to do a few hair regimens to help with moisture as I mentioned in my  6 months post big cho p Video. The basic requirements of the coily queen regimen is to shampoo twice a week, deep condition twice a week, apply leave in conditioner daily for 3 weeks, daily scalp oiling and massaging. You can find out more here . This is the regimen for September (we are about 15 people trying it) and at the end, I'll share my verdict. The aim is to increase moisture in the hair, reduce tangles and single strand knots. If you'd like to join this test drive, just follow the instructions or steps as listed by coily queen. The sheamoisture yucca and baobab shampoo will be used, kinky Curly knot leave in, body butter coil crown deep conditioner, grape seed oil, Jane Carter Solution Nourish and S

How To Make Forever Clair Products Work For You

After sharing my own techniques fr using forever Clair Products , I realized I hadn't touched on other reasons why the FC products may not be working for you. 1. Use the whole range. This is the first  lesson I learnt a couple of years ago. When  I bought the entire blemish control line, there were weeks I skipped the face cream and rather used a different cream.  What I noticed immediately was rough skin. Just 7 days were enough to setback from achieving the flawless skin I was working hard at.  By using a different cream,  I'd broken the chain of reaction. This principle also accounts for why your hair  gel might flake when you use it with a product from another line. Specifically, each line would have similar ingredients in order to work thus to change one product or substitute another would render your efforts ineffective. 2.  Use the product as directed.  There's an order of use with every product line which will ensure effectiveness. If you choose to neglect the ins