tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4219880201973685332024-03-13T04:48:12.335-07:00black and kinky - a hair blogblack and kinky - my journey of embracing my natural kinky-curly hair | email me at myersshantel@gmail.com & follow me on Instagram: @blackandkinkyUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-421988020197368533.post-31107738810178719482014-02-07T09:49:00.001-08:002014-02-07T09:50:00.186-08:00It's Been A Long Time; Shouldn't Have Left You - Feb. 7, 2014<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I'm alive!!! I've been MIA for awhile for many reasons but I wanted to check in and let my curly girls know that I'm still here! I have been blessed with other opportunities in the great Canadian North that have been taking up my time but I still love my hair blog with all my heart.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">First off, thank you SO MUCH for reading my blog and supporting me in natural hair! It's a growing community and your support means the world to me! So, let's discuss my hair progress! Well, I still alternate between washing and conditioning my hair so that I don't dry out my hair. I do that about every 2 weeks. Over the Christmas break, I rediscovered twist and braid outs and became so pleased with the results that I've continued to do so. However, though twist and braid outs are meant to enhance curl patterns, I find that they don't do mine justice so I use them merely to stretch out my hair. I always get a nice, stretched out fro. As the week goes on, I apply some hair butter and get nice curl definition and amazing softness. This is my secret to being able to handle my hair at this length while aiding in the protection and growth. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">GROWTH UPDATE: My hair reaches my shoulders when it is sopping wet and I can FINALLY see my beautiful, unique, curltastic curl pattern! I don't know how to describe it in numbers or letters so I won't. My curls are like small, spiral springs and it's awesome! It is not, however, long enough to wear a fabulous wash and go but I predict that by May or June (my college graduation), I will be able to wear a perfectly curly wash and go! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I'm still learning to love the twists and turns of my hair though. I don't really fuss with my hair because I have other things to do! But some of my foolproof hairdos include an afro with a headband or scarf, 2 or 4 puffs or a mega puff. I also like to twist the front of my hair like a crown for a cute Grecian style. </span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My products have stayed the same as they work wonders for me (you can see them in my very first entries). I've started applying oil way more often to add soften and shine every few days. I've also started to DETANGLE my hair every time I wash and condition it. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This had CHANGED my life.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I'm finding that my hair is less tangly and easier to play with. When you have tightly coiled curls like mine, skipping the detangling process is a bg NO-NO! Kinky-Curly not Today Natural Detangler is one of THE BEST on the market for literally melting knots, creating slip and curl definition. The only downfall is that this detangler leaves annoying white residue so I always use it to detangle my hair, then wash it out thoroughly and apply my Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Restorative Conditioner to soften and hydrate. </span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Other than that, life in the Northwest Territories is great! I hope to start posting more often so you can see my hair at its current length. Thanks again for supporting my blog and I send lots of love and blessings your way always!</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-421988020197368533.post-7615686202880360902013-11-01T12:15:00.003-07:002013-11-01T12:15:32.636-07:00Get Height: How to maintain your afro's real length - November 1, 2013<span style="background-color: black; color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">HAPPY NOVEMBER EVERYONE!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I hope the cool air is treating you well and I also hope Halloween was enjoyable. I'm still getting used to the chill winds here in the Northwest Territories but it definitely isn't as bad as I make it seem. My hair is also in great condition, nice and soft. One downfall is that I'm lazy and haven't detangled it since I've been here. How am I maintaining and protecting my hair in this cold weather? I am conditioning more than shampooing which is a must for curly girls! I have conditioned my hair three times since I've been here and have only shampooed my hair once. I make sure to moisturize with my hair butter and/or oil every few days in the morning or at night. I sleep on a silk pillowcase and wear my hat if it's really cold out. I also try VERY hard not to rip out the knots. It's not rocket science at all, just simple hair care!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This entry, however, is about my new discovery! HEIGHT and how to maintain it! We all know how horrid shrinkage is and we all wish we could combat it through the Teeny Weeny Afro and the Awkward Length stages. My hair is about shoulder length when stretched but it shrivels up to an afro once it dries. Here is the routine I created yesterday to get my afro to stay big even after my hair dried. You can do this on wet hair or freshly washed hair.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Wet or shampoo/condition hair.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Apply leave-in conditioner, hair butter or oil all over hair.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Rake product through hair gently to evenly distribute product and stretch curls.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Gently stretch hair and aim the blow dryer at the roots. Do this all over hair to help stretch the hair and keep the height.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This technique works great because by finger combing and stretching the roots, you've also detangled them. The next morning, you will find it easy to finger comb your hair and get a bigger afro as well because your roots are soft and detangled.</span><br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-421988020197368533.post-44393466433091686562013-10-18T12:50:00.001-07:002013-10-18T12:50:02.140-07:00Quick & Easy Curl Definition - Oct. 18, 2013<span style="background-color: black; color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm sure almost every curly girl has heard of Individual Finger Coiling/Twirling/Doodling, but what exactly does that mean? Well, it's a trick that curly girls use; when one (foolishly) takes the time to tirelessly define each and every curl on her head. Now, I say "foolishly" because I think us naturals are way too hung up on definition. The nature of the beast (curly hair) IS imperfection, difference in length, frizz, craziness! We who bear Afros are meant to look like lions! However, that being said, I know what it's like to want a defined look or a beautiful wash and go hairstyle. So, I'll dish out my simple tips for getting QUICK & EASY curl definition on wet or dry hair with limited products and tools.<br /><br />(On wet hair - in the shower or using a spray bottle with water)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />I discovered this easy method one day when I didn't have much time to get ready & do my hair. This is a great way to achieve a wash and go look without spending much time. I can complete this process in about 30 minutes.</span><br />
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<ul>
<li><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Wet your hair thoroughly with water</span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Apply a conditioner all over your hair in medium sized sections</span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Instead of washing the conditioner out completely, wet your hair again & squeeze the excess water & conditioner out in a scrunching motion</span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Use a towel turban or cotton t-shirt to soak up extra water</span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Put on your hair accessories at this point (headbands, bows, bobby pins)</span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Use a blow dryer with or without a diffuser attachment, put it on low cool heat and aim it at your hair for a few minutes to speed up the drying process and enhance the curls</span></span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">(On Dry Hair)</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This method is great when you want to do a faux-hawk or up-do hairstyle and want definition but don't necessarily need definition everywhere. I can complete this process in about 15 minutes.</span><br />
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<ul>
<li><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Mix water and a moisturizing hair butter together and apply all over your hair</span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Define the front, sides and back of your hair by sectioning the hair using the hair butter and coiling strands around your fingers</span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Style hair as necessary</span></span></li>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">These methods are both easy and fast. You too can get beautiful definition without coiling every single strand on your head. To summarize, all you need are:</span><ul>
<li><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A multipurpose leave-in/rinse out conditioner</span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Blow dryer</span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Hair butter</span></span></li>
</ul>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-421988020197368533.post-68782790021636656182013-10-16T17:46:00.003-07:002013-10-16T17:46:31.966-07:00Me, my fro & I: Black and Kinky Speaks - Oct. 15, 2013<span style="background-color: black; color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Hey everyone! I know I've been MIA for awhile but I'm thoroughly enjoying my life with my fiance and am currently in the Northwest Territories, Canada with his family. No, I'm not crazy! As promised, I will be documenting my new experiences of having kinky-curly hair in a cold place, the changes I need to make to my hair routine and the things I will learn adjusting to a new community. In this entry, I dish out tips to help you become or remain a confident curly girl, a frotastic femme, a kinky-curly chica in this cruel, cruel hair world. Warning: I am blunt but not intentionally mean. I've also been away from my blog for a bit too so here goes another one of my signature long rants. Enjoy!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Something I've learned while having natural hair is that how you feel is directly linked to how you act. Confidence seeps through your body & every move is laced with vibrancy & energy. You feel daring & try out many different hairstyles. Sometimes you don't even comb your hair or put product in it. You wear your curls wild & free. You may even colour your hair or get a funky cut. Self-doubt, on the other hand, wraps around you & hinders you from many things like trying on that sexy dress or saying hi to that super cute guy or truly embracing the twists & turns of your curly hair. You may wear headscarves all the time. You may dread wash day. You may resort to wearing protective styles or weaves because you can't accept the nature of the beast. I found that focusing on me & how I want to look really helps me rise above the confusion, negativity & weird stereotypes that still surrounds black hair. Focusing on myself helps me stay content with my Afro, my current hair length & steers me away from lifelessly clicking YouTube channel after YouTube channel, wishing & wanting other people's long, curly hair (no offence to those who do that).</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">CURL CRUSHES: Don't have curl crushes or curl idols if all you're going to do is wish for their hair. Your hair is not like theirs; no two heads of hair are alike! Your hair will never look like their hair. Now that that's said, pick curl crushes with SIMILAR curl patterns & hair lengths so you can actually accurately use them as idols & inspirations. I strongly discourage having a hair idol who has hair that you want. I think it's poison. Find someone who has similar hair & grow with them. For example, I would never use Tracey Ellis Ross as my hair idol. She has 3B curls, I have 4A curls. Her hair is super long, my hair is still in it's awkward Afro stage. I would, however, use @candiishoppe [on Instagram] as my idol because even though her hair is still in the TWA stage, her curl pattern is quite similar to mine & we even use the same gel as our styling product. Makes sense right!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">EVERYTHING ISN'T ALWAYS WHAT IT SEEMS: Don't believe every curly hair blog, YouTube video, interview or spoken word that you see or hear. There is so much information out there, especially on the internet & we really don't know what is true or not. Your best bet is to go to a store or salon that specializes in black hair products for accurate information. Also, try reaching out to bloggers, authors, hair stylists and/or consultants. I'm currently emailing a girl who I'm following on Instagram (shout out to @pina_curlada). We have different curl types, hair textures & lengths but she has helped me understand curly hair in a different way, we recommend products to each other & we share tips & tricks. It's a great & easy way to make a new curlfriend & get valuable information! Hair blog, Black Girls Long Hair is also a great source to get curly girls' twitter, Instagram & website information so that you can contact them directly.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">BE READY: Going natural isn't easy! However, you should do it for the right reasons! Your natural hair journey is or should be, more than about your hair! I've changed my whole lifestyle along with how I wear my hair. I'm working on living a healthier life. I have created such a positive place for myself, mentally & physically. I try to use all natural hair, skin & body products. Your hair journey should be more than just about changing your hair & wearing it natural. It's about embracing ALL of you, they way you were born & how you were meant to look. If you have thin skin, a weak mind or low self-esteem, you should really re-think going natural until you have gained the confidence. Yes, going natural is about personal growth but if you're not ready for the fire before it happens, you may just go back to the creamy crack [relaxer or texturizer]. People are going to stare, people are going to ask ignorant & redundant questions & you will feel like an alien. But, people will also love your courage & natural beauty, people will be inspired, people will respect your choice & people will compliment you. It all depends on how you choose to approach the journey. Will you be ready?</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">LISTEN: Listen to your hair. Yes, your hair talks & tells you things! If your hair is thin & prone to breakage & is showing you this by piling up in clumps on the floor, don't go & straighten or colour it 3 months into your natural hair journey. If your hair doesn't like being washed every week, wash your hair less! If your hair doesn't like certain ingredients, don't torture it! You have to listen to your hair if you want strong, healthy curls!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">YOUR CIRCLE: Surround yourself with positive people who ACCEPT, LOVE & ENCOURAGE your decision to go natural. You'll do yourself a real disservice if you hang around people who don't accept natural hair. Now, I'm not saying you can't be friends with girls with relaxed hair or girls who've worn weave their whole life or guys who only like long, straight hair, but if they're going to try to convince you to revert or if they're going to make fun of you, you need to find yourself some new friends. End of story. The great thing about this natural hair community is that natural hair isn't new. There are tons of naturalistas out there & you're bound to know a few already! There are also tons of undercover naturals too! During my transition period & throughout my journey, I had plenty of friends who wore their hair natural & one girl in particular (shout out to my homegirl @neitaa_) who cut her hair around the exact same time as I did! I had a natural hair buddy & we were going through the journey together. It's great! Also, if you have family who aren't supportive, you need to set them straight (or curly haha) as soon as possible. When I told my mom, who is relaxed, that I was going to cut off my hair, I really felt like she was trying to convince me not to. It's important to make your friends & family understand exactly why you're doing this & make their ears hurt with the words: this is MY decision.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">ALL IN: If you're going to "do this natural thing", do it right! Research about your hair type & texture. Research products. Do YOU & do things for yourself. It helps that I work at a natural hair product store but I spend my spare time reading up on products, familiarizing myself with ingredients, taking samples home & trying stuff out. I rarely purchase products just because someone said it worked for them or even because of what the label says. You have to find stuff out for yourself. I purchase products only after testing them out, comparing them to others & thinking about the price. I'm extremely cautious of spending money on products when I can get the same results from a cheaper version. My conditioner, Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Restorative Conditioner is amazing, lasts for at least 6 months or more & costs $20. The whole package! Also, when I find something that works, I stick with it. I have stocked up on that same conditioner. Yes, I try new things but I don't exclude the products that my hair loves. Be as involved in your hair as you can! Know what works & doesn't work & don't expect to have it all figured out in the first year. I've said it before & I'll say it again, I talk to my hair. Love it as if it's another person. If you love it, it'll love you back by looking fabulous!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">BABY STEPS: Before you go & colour your raven coloured tresses, get a funky asymmetrical cut, straighten your curls or do anything equally dramatic, make sure a) your hair is in good condition, b) you obtain all the information you need to move forward, c) think about it long & hard & don't make an irrational decision. Altering your hair's natural colour or texture will result in dryness no matter the process, chemical or chemical-free. All the above changes will mean your hair needs extra care & attention, especially extra moisture. Be sure you know what you're doing or get a professional to walk you through the process.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Natural hair & going natural may seem like a science but it's just an accumulation of information that you need to remember to be able to grow strong, healthy curls. I've been saying this all along: everyone can grow long, luscious curls! Remember, simplicity is extremely important. Using 3 different gels isn't necessary or even healthy for your hair just as using all these different protein treatments isn't necessary either! Research as much as you can but be aware of the information you're taking in. Use this hair & lifestyle change to really get to know yourself, your hair & who you were meant to be!</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-421988020197368533.post-46127688099084774382013-09-23T07:41:00.003-07:002013-09-23T07:41:58.251-07:00<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Even though my journey has been short compared to some naturalistas, I've learned a lot in 9 months. Many of these lessons came from working at Honey Fig, some came from the natural hair blogs or Instagrammers I've been following but some have also come from my own experimentations & experiences. The following are some tips & tricks that may or may not help you but have helped me. Enjoy!<br /><br style="background-color: white;" />•PREVENT FRIZZ: After washing or conditioning, don't use a towel at all. I find that even a micro fibre towel dries my hair too much & causes frizz. Put one or two shower caps on your head, followed by a towel turban or regular towel. This will stop your hair from dropping everywhere but won't dry it up.<br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" />•TREATMENT: Mixing oils are a great way for maximum pre-poo treatments (I use Jojoba oil & Sweet Almond oil together).<br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" />•DETANGLING: Mixing your detangler (I use Kinky-Curly Knot Today) and rinse out conditioner (I use Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Restorative Conditioner) adds extra slip, softness & makes detangling an absolute breeze.<br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" />•EASY APPLICATION: Put your daily leave-in conditioner into a spray bottle for easier application. This is great especially for curlfriends with thick Afros as the nozzle gets the product all over the hair.<br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" />•PRODUCT APPLICATION: After shampooing or conditioning, apply your hair products to damp NOT soaking wet hair. The product will be absorbed more & you'll be able to smooth it through instead of ending up with sopping wet hands & wasted product.<br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" />•USING OIL: When you apply oil, don't be lazy! Do this before bed to help relax your head. Really massage the oil (gently) into your scalp and spread it root to ends. This will help with hair growth & proper distribution.<br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" />•DON'T BE LAZY: On the days when you're not styling with gel, apply a hair butter to your ends. On wet hair, apply a little extra leave-in conditioner to the ends. On dry hair, apply the butter from root to ends.</span></span></span><br />
<br /><span style="background-color: black; color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I'll be adding more to this list so stay tuned! Happy reading! :)</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-421988020197368533.post-71067589399280970782013-09-22T09:17:00.002-07:002013-09-22T09:17:59.608-07:00The good, the bad, the ugly & the ridiculous questions - August 21, 2013 <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jAeaIcyOOes/Ujtfug5nK4I/AAAAAAAAATk/VvggTn3uSYs/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jAeaIcyOOes/Ujtfug5nK4I/AAAAAAAAATk/VvggTn3uSYs/s1600/photo+2.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;">[ Faux-hawk using leave-in conditioner, light styling gel & bobby pins ]</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">A big part of accepting black hair is letting go of all the stereotypes, assumptions & pure foolishness (my Caribbean readers would like that term haha) that surround Afro-American hair. I'm more than happy with the positive feedback regarding my hair that I've been getting while working at Honey Fig. However, there's always going to be those people who are ignorant or simply don't know how their words affect people. Now, I'm a pretty darn confident person but certain comments still make me wonder & sometimes even cause turmoil inside my mind. For example, whenever I do a wash & go or even on second or third day hair, customers are always asking me, "how do you get your hair so curly"? Huh?! I pray & hope that people know by now that curly hair doesn't "get" or "go" curly; it already IS curly!And I don't have a secret at all! My hair is NATURALLY CURLY. It doesn't "curl", I don't need to "curl" it, it is already curly! I don't have to do anything to my hair other than maintain or enhance the curl pattern that is growing out of my head!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Something that I've been trying to reiterate this whole time is that my hair regime is super simple when you break it down. I shampoo my hair once a week, condition very frequently, apply moisturizing creams every few days, protect at night time & show my fro real love & patience; nothing too different from what you all should be doing! The main difference is that my curl pattern is different. Different curls need different products. Every head of hair is completely unique! I think a lot of people look at other people's hair & think theirs should look the same, which is impossible because no curly head is alike! If you're going to have hair crushes & idols, make sure they at least have a similar hair type & curl pattern to be able to set realistic & healthy hair goals. Back to my hair regime, I simply use a variety of different styling gels and creams to define & hold my curls but my curls are already curly (haha, had to laugh at that). Once again, words, words, words are so important; they've always been! The way we word our questions, the things we say, the way we say them are all so crucial in how we are understood. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Another thing that will ALWAYS irk me the wrong way (and you'll see this in my older blog entry titled "Hair Growth: Not just a mixed girl thing") is people's assumptions that every coloured girl with beautiful, non-nappy, looser, defined curls is "mixed". I want to address again that hair growth is not related to race but neither is curl pattern!!! You can't logically say that Jamaicans have a specific curl pattern or even that Caucasians all have straight, fine hair because everyone is different & stereotypes don't pertain to everyone from that group! Hair growth is based on your inches per month ratio (anywhere from half an inch to an inch and a half per month; mine is 1 inch per month), your diet & how you take care of your hair. Someone's curl pattern is typically based on genetics but even still, plenty of people have curl patterns different from their parents or anyone in their family. Also, sometimes damage can alter a curl pattern & your styling tricks like braid & twist outs can alter the curls too. These assumptions that only "mixed" people have nice hair is ridiculous because if you really look our family trees, you'll see that everyone is mixed with something. That's how history works and that's how multiculturalism was created. My great grandparents were mixed with Portuguese & my parents are even mixed with Indian (on my mom's side). Just recently, a woman was asking about my curl pattern & said "but you're mixed right?" I said no, I'm black. She said, "oh yeah but I mean there's usually some type of Indian or white in Caribbean people". Now, yes I can agree with this statement because studies have shown that blacks have at least 10-20% Native Indian in them & at least 10-50% of European in them. But her first statement, the assumption that me being mixed is the reason for my curl pattern, is what annoys me deep in my soul! Yes, everyone is mixed if you go back far enough, but there's no RELATION to what I am and my CURL PATTERN. It's like saying all Asians have straight, black hair (which isn't true) or that all Jamaicans have kinky-coily hair (which also isn't true). See how silly that sounds?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">In conclusion, as one person, I know I can't change everyone's opinions about natural hair, hair growth, curl patterns and the stereotypes that surround it all. I definitely can't do that in an instant. However, I do believe that as one person, I have the power to be apart of a movement to install a little bit of knowledge and at least enlighten people about natural hair & it's true beauty. Writing out all my feelings really makes me feel better, because this is my form of expression; it always has been. It also means that my thoughts are now concrete and I can easily share them with the world. I mentioned this when I started my blog and I will mention it again. I started this blog to help make MY natural hair journey less lonely & to express what I learned throughout this roller coaster ride. If I influence ONE person & help that one person, I'm happy. I've already helped myself become a more educated naturalist and that means more to me than anything. Thanks again for reading :)</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-421988020197368533.post-49861550941784589852013-08-01T08:07:00.000-07:002013-08-01T08:07:40.257-07:00Black Girl Problems? There's no such thing! - July 30, 2013<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS "BLACK GIRL PROBLEMS"!<br /><br />There is, however, such things like impatience, ignorance & negligence! Let's get some things straight here:<br />•Yes, there are actual curls under all that frizz. There are beautiful curls under every frizzy fro, you just have to take care of them & define them!<br />•Yes, you black girls can grow lots of hair & achieve big, full Afros, spiral curls & long length.<br />•Yes, you actually have to put effort, time & money into your hair if you want it to be healthy & look good.<br /><br />But for healthy hair, long length & amazing curls to happen, you NEED to:<br /><br />•STOP wishing you had other people's hair<br />•STOP using those harmful products that aren't formulated for your hair texture<br />•STOP using harsh chemicals like dyes & relaxers<br />•STOP trying to make your hair do something it wasn't meant to do<br />•STOP being afraid of cutting your hair<br />•STOP being afraid period!<br /><br />Comment below or connect with me through Facebook (Black & Kinky: A Hair Journey or Instagram: @blackandkinky) & ask me all your hair related questions</span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Visit us in-store for your very own, personalized, informative & curl-changing hair consultation! Honey Fig, the natural hair & skin boutique, is located at 4967 Yonge Street, north of Sheppard, at Hollywood Ave.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Let's end off July and begin August with some hair respect and acceptance, and leave all the negativity, assumptions, stereotypes and ignorance behind! Your curls will thank you by looking wonderful! Happy reading y'all!</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-421988020197368533.post-46373712032572581022013-07-31T13:46:00.003-07:002013-07-31T13:46:31.755-07:00Testing the (Hair) Waters: Part 2 - July 12, 2013<div style="font-family: ".Helvetica NeueUI"; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;">
Lately, I've been able to try out many samples of the products we sell here at Honey Fig. Here lies my experiences with various styling products. </div>
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I'm going to admit, my lack of conditioning my hair is terrible! I remember going to Honey Fig earlier this year, asking for a deep conditioner. They suggested one from Morocco Method and Curl Junkie's Deep Fix and gave me samples. I may have tried them each a few times and then I stopped. I don't even remember which one I liked more. Why, I really couldn't tell you. Was it laziness? Most likely. It definitely wasn't because I didn't love my hair. I think I just hadn't realized how important this was for my hair. Now, I realize!!! Though I did just recently pick up a conditioner, I can't say I'm the queen of conditioning...Yet...I have used my Shea Moisture Raw Shea Restorative Conditioner ($22) only once, but I see great things in my future from using it as my conditioner. It can act as a leave-in, rinse out or deep conditioner depending on how long you leave it in your hair. It has the amazing moisturizing properties of raw Shea butter, sea kelp and Argan oil which all help repair and strengthen your hair as well as tame frizz, add shine and smooth strands. After using it just once as a rinse out conditioner during my co-wash, I instantly felt the difference. It instantly made my hair softer and also made applying detangling SO much easier.</div>
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<br />I used the ever popular Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie for the first time as a wash and go curl enhancer. Now, this is literally the first time I actually took the time to section my hair, apply a hair styling cream and then apply a gel. I'm all about easy and literal "wash and go" hair. I spent the time and effort to section my hair, apply the curl enhancing cream, smooth the sections, apply my Kinky-Curly gel and diffuse my hair...yet my hair was still a short afro! Yes, it was super defined & extremely soft but I was really hoping for the cream to elongate my curls and get rid of the crazy shrinkage that I always have. And though it says you can use it on dry hair, I advise you not to do that! It's not water-y enough and doesn't melt into my hair like other creams do.</div>
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Keep reading for more (short and sweet) reviews on various hair products!</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-421988020197368533.post-87686179505299747212013-07-31T13:34:00.002-07:002013-07-31T13:34:14.538-07:00Abracadabra: The magical products your curls need - July 8, 2013<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">After working at Honey Fig for about a month now, I've been able to learn about numerous products, styling tips and hair care routines. I've also been able to test a bunch of products on my hair. About 7 months into my my natural hair journey, I think I can finally say that my hunt may be over! Key words: may be...As a newly educated natural hair enthousiast, I know how hard it can be finding what works for your hair and understanding all those fancy smancy names, ingredients, uses, benefits, downfalls...you get the idea. This entry will clarify and help you simplify your hair care routine; because it doesn't have to be difficult at all! I will outline my main choices for my shampoo, rinse out/deep conditioner, leave-in conditioner, moisturizing cream, styling gels and oils. I will also suggest some others. These are the main products every curly girl should own. Some people have more than one styling cream or gel and some have a collection of oils, but all should have those 6 main products. I will describe the products, explain how to use them and why they're so important. Please note that these specific products are magic for MY curls but may not work for YOUR hair texture, so please don't take this as the bible. All products are available at </span><a href="http://www.honeyfig.com/"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">www.honeyfig.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">.<br /><br /><u>Shampoo:</u></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><em>Why you need it:</em> All hair types need a cleansing/clarifying system to rid your hair and scalp of dirt, excess oils and product build up. You want your shampoo to be sulphate free, moisturizing and with minimal lather. It's a plus if it smells good and helps detangle too!<br /><br /><em>I use:</em> Blended Beauty Conditioning Soy Cream Shampoo. I started using this shampoo when I was transitioning from relaxed hair and continue to use it. This shampoo is great because it is super moisturizing with soy cream, aloe and rosemary, very gentle and lathers nicely. It is also great for detangling and softening your curls.<br /><br /><em>Other suggestions:</em> Deva Curl No Poo (zero lather shampoo), Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Shampoo (moisturizing shampoo for thick, wavy, curly textures), As I Am Coconut Cowash (creamy co-wash that promotes hair health and growth).<br /><br /><u>Conditioner:</u><br />
</span></span><u><br /></u><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><em>Why you need it:</em> While shampoo clarifies, it can also strip the hair of moisture. A cleansing, rinse out conditioner helps moisturize, repair and soften your hair. A deep conditioner helps repair and strengthen dry, damaged hair to reduce frizz, add shine and make detangling and styling easy. Your conditioner can act as a deep conditioner; simply leave it in the hair for 15-30 minutes and do this 1-2 times a month.<br /><br /><em>I use:</em> Shea Moisture Raw Shea Restorative Conditioner. <br /><br /><em>Other suggestions:</em> Deva Curl One Condition (moisturizes and softens hair and can act as a leave-in) , JessiCurl Too Shea Extra Moisturizing Conditioner (extremely moisturizing with Shea Butter as the main ingredient).<br /><br /><u>Leave-in conditioner:</u> <br />
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<em>Why you need it:</em> A leave-in conditioner is supposed to aid in the detangling of your curls before you start applying styling products. You want your leave-in conditioner to have lots of slip so it's easy to apply and work through your curls. You also need to make sure that your gels work well with it so you avoid white residue and product overload.<br /><br /><em>I use:</em> Kinky-Curly Natural Detangling Leave-In Conditioner. This leave-in is absolutely wonderful for detangling curly to super kinky strands. The formula melts tangles and knots, and makes finger combing a breeze. This formula has Marshmellow in it, which helps clump curls for great definition. This conditioner works great as a base for the Kinky-Curly Styling Custard gel. This conditioner doesn't add much moisture to the hair so I suggest applying an oil or moisturizing cream before using any styling gel. Also, be careful not to use too much.<br /><br /><em>Other suggestions:</em> Mixed Chicks Leave-in (non-sticky, non-greasy detangler), Darcy's Botanicals Sweet Cream Daily Leave-in (smoothes, moisturizes and detangles), Curl Junkie Beauticurls Leave-in (water-based leave-in with mango extracts).<br /><br /><u>Moisturizing Cream:</u> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><em>Why you need it:</em> A few days after wash day, your hair may start to feel dry. This is normal but a thick or water-based cream is essential for making sure your hair doesn't stay dry. There are tons of hair butters, hair puddings and rich creams that will add moisture, shine and curl definition to your hair, that you can use on a daily basis. Some creams are great for twist and braid outs and some are great for wash and go's. It all depends on what your hair likes. Look for creams with Shea butter, coconut oil, sweet almond oil, sunflower seed oil, grape seed oil, cocoa and aloe for moisture.<br /><br /><em>I use:</em> Uncle Funky's Daughter Super Curl Miracle Moisture Creme. This cream is extremely moisturizing and light enough for daily use. Made with Shea butter, coconut and sweet almond oils, this cream is great for softening the hair, reducing frizz and adding shine. This cream is also great for achieving wonderful curl definition on wavy, curly & kinky textures and can be used on its own as a styler.<br /><br /><em>Other suggestions:</em> As I Am Doublebutter (thick cream that adds tons of moisture and aids in hair growth), Abi Wonder Afro Puff Cocoa Butter (daily moisturizing cream that defines curls).<br /><br /><u>Styling Cream:</u> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><em>Why you need it:</em> Styling creams are great for achieving an elongated, shiny curl but not all of them provide enough moisture. It is important that you properly condition and moisturize your hair to ensure a healthy base for you to apply products. Styling creams vary in terms of consistency and again, this depends on what your hair likes. People with fine hair typically don't want stylers that are too heavy and people with kinky hair usually like thicker creams.<br /><br /><em>I use: </em>Jane Carter Solutions Curl Defining Cream. This cream has given me the best anti-shrinkage curl definition thus far! It's a non-greasy, creamy formula that goes on smooth, doesn't leave any residue or crunch and doesn't have an overpowering scent. Curls are soft, defined and elongated.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><em>Other suggestions:</em> AfroVeda Totally Twisted Moisture Butter (great moisturizing cream to aid in twist-outs), Komaza Care Califia Styling Pudding (a thick, moisturizing cream that gives the hold of a gel), Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie (great for soft and defined wash and go curls).<br /><br /><u>Light Gel:</u> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><em>Why you need it:</em> Though you may achieve gorgeous curls by using a cream based styler, most curls need that extra hold. You want to make sure your gel is alcohol-free; yes there is such thing! A light gel is great for curl definition and medium hold without the crunch.<br /><br /><em>I use:</em> Curl Junkie Pattern Pusha. I love this gel because it is light that gives my curls great, moisturized, elongated definition. Because it is without alcohol, you don't have to use a moisturizing cream under it. This gel has great hold without the crunch or white residue which is why I continue to use it. Best when used on wet hair.</span></span><br />
<br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><em>Other suggestions:</em> Curl Junkie Curls In A Bottle (light, alcohol-based serum gel that offers great definition and hold), Curly Kinks Coil Jam (moisturizing gel with added essential oils).</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><u>Heavy Gel:</u> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><em>Why you need it:</em> A heavy gel has more hold than a lighter one. It is best to use a heavier gel if your hair is prone to lots of frizz, is super kinky, or you want edge control.</span></span><br />
<br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><em>I use:</em> Kinky-Curly Natural Custard Styling Gel. This gel is best used when layered on top of the Kinky-Curly Knot Today leave-in conditioner and applied to wet hair. This gel gives the best curl definition and hold but can be messy. Be sure not to use too much and dilute with water.<br /><br /><em>Other suggestions:</em> Uncle Funky's Daughter Curly Magic (aloe-based, medium hold gel with amazing definiton and softness), Darcy's Botanicals Curling Jelly (moisturizing gel with no crunch).<br /><br /><u>Oil:</u> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><em>Why you need it:</em> There are tons of oils out there and most curly haired curls use more than one. A light oil is great for everyday use, as a styling base or to add shine. People also use it for deep treatments, hot oil treatments to repair and strengthen the hair. Oils penetrate the scalp and help promote hair growth. Some examples include, but are not limited to, sweet almond oil or jojoba oil.<br /><br /><em>I use:</em> Kinky-Curly Polishing Oil [Argan oil] . I use this oil to coat my hair & seal in moisture before putting styling products on my hair. I find it helps soften my curls & combats the dryness I sometimes feel when I just use gel on its own. I also apply this to my hair every few days and use it as a pre-poo treatment before I wash my hair.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><em>Other Suggestions:</em> Coconut oil, amla oil, Shea nut oil.<br /> <br />I really hope that summary helped you understand the various products that curly girls should own, the benefits of them and how to use them. There are millions of products out there and it can be confusing about which ones are best for your curls, which one works, which ingredients to look for or look out for. Your best bet is to come into Honey Fig and have one of our hair experts conduct a hair consultation and assist you in finding the right products for your specific texture. If you have any questions about a particular product I use, please don't hesitate to post a comment to my blog. As always, I'm honoured to be able to help my fellow naturalistas through their hair journeys. Happy reading!</span></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-421988020197368533.post-53713497452738487112013-07-31T11:28:00.001-07:002013-07-31T11:28:08.375-07:00Twist, Braid & Shout: My very first twist out - June 26, 2013<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--xXwsbLQBWg/UflXGpMPyWI/AAAAAAAAAPw/Isa9bRkhRYw/s1600/twistout.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--xXwsbLQBWg/UflXGpMPyWI/AAAAAAAAAPw/Isa9bRkhRYw/s1600/twistout.jpeg" height="200" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: small;">[ First Twist Out! ]</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I finally kicked my laziness in the butt and tried a twist/braid out! Now, don't go expecting a fabulous hairdo of luscious curls cascading down my back. I took every short cut I could possibly take! I probably did everything opposite of what you're supposed to do to create and maintain a beautiful twist out. First, my hair wasn't wet, it wasn't even partially wet, it was just damp. I wet medium and large sized sections of my hair and added a mixture of my Knot Today leave-in and my Kinky-Curly custard styling gel. I formed about 8 medium and large sized twists and braids with a few smaller twists near the front. Typically though, doing a twist or braid out on wet hair using a moisturizing cream, gel and oil is best for creating a frizz-free style. The next morning, I kind of patted some oil onto my twists and braids and took them apart. I added a bit of moisturizing cream all over. At night, I just threw on my satin cap. The following days, I just added some more cream or oil in the morning and stretched out my Afro with my hands and fingers. To keep a twist out frizz-free, you want to rebraid or twist your hair each night for the best results and to keep your twist out looking fresh longer. Though my hair did get stretched, because of the heat, my hair was more of a frizzy Afro than a neat, defined twist out. You live and you learn! One of these days, I'm going to put in the effort to do a proper twist or braid out.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-421988020197368533.post-42834403123981058682013-06-24T12:01:00.002-07:002013-06-24T12:01:24.176-07:00Kinky-Curly Knot Today leave-in conditioner is MAGICAL: It really works! - June 24, 2013<div style="font-family: ".Helvetica NeueUI"; line-height: 24px;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wi39tf0EuHY/UciXDf-wNcI/AAAAAAAAANA/BPh44aQ0o6s/s1600/kinkycurlyknottoday.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wi39tf0EuHY/UciXDf-wNcI/AAAAAAAAANA/BPh44aQ0o6s/s1600/kinkycurlyknottoday.JPG" height="200" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;">[ Kinky-Curly Knot Today leave-in conditioner, $24 @ </span><a href="http://www.honeyfig.com/"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;">www.honeyfig.com</span></a><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;"> ]</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I recently purchased the famous Kinky-Curly Knot Today leave-in conditioner and was so excited to try it out! I mean, I've used it before, well my hair dresser used it before! The ladies at the Curl Ambassadors salon always use it on my hair in conjunction with the Kinky-Curly custard styling gel. I always leave the salon with extremely defined curls; a little crunchy but they soften as the day goes on. I had to buy the product to recreate the results myself! </span></div>
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<br /><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">The Kinky-Curly line is best known for instantly turning thick, tangled kinks and coils into soft, elongated, defined curls. Trust me, they live up to the standard! Popular products from their line include their leave-in conditioner, custard tyling gel and polishing oil. The Knot Today leave-in conditioner melts away tangles and allows you to effortlessly wide tooth or finger comb through your curls. My fingers literally glided through my curls; it was fascinating!!! I wasn't expecting it to work that fast and so well! I didn't need much product for my curls either. This is the FIRST time in my natural hair history (6 months) that I could actually run my hands through my hair, all the way, repeatedly without knots or tangles forming and getting in the way! I never combed my hair outside of the shower or when dry because I literally COULDN'T! Knot Today really saved my curls. They are super soft, full, defined, moisturized and detangled. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Here's a brief breakdown of what I did to achieve the curls in the above photo:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">•Because I'd washed my hair a few days before, I just rinsed my hair in the shower and applied the leave-in conditioner </span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">•I applied Knot Today to small sections starting in the back, moving to the sides and front and taking time to detangle the middle last</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">•Right after, I applied the custard styling gel in sections, making sure to dilute with water when necessary</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">•I dried my hair with my diffuser (and sat in front of my fan) for about half an hour </span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">•I applied the polishing oil for finish </span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">•I pinned the front with bobby pins on each side </span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">All day, my boyfriend was saying how soft my hair was! And I was still in awe that I could run my hands through my curls. Also, a few days later, my hair was still super soft and untangled. All I have to do to style my hair daily is spray my curls with water and run my hands through my hair or apply some moisturizing cream in sections. My hair remains untangled and easy to comb through. I strongly encourage you to try Knot Today as your leave-in conditioner if you want softness, definition, moisture and an easier styling routine!</span> </div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-421988020197368533.post-46022625057966612352013-06-17T12:41:00.003-07:002013-06-17T12:41:34.376-07:00Testing the (Hair) Waters: Kinky-Curly Hair Polisher Oil & Tasti Kiss Hair Butter - June 16, 2013<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">One of the perks of working at Honey Fig is the access to the 80+ brands and hundreds of products that we carry and sell! Of these products, we occasionally have a select amount of products that either arrived leaking or with missing pieces and can't be sold, so the employees get to pick, choose and take them home! This includes hair products, soaps, lotions and nail polishes. On my first day, I took home Kinky-Curly's Hair Polisher Oil and Tasti Kiss' Hair Butter. Since then, I've used both and can offer my opinion and experience about them. **Please note that this is not a comparison between the two products**<br /><br />Kinky-Curly's Polisher Oil is a combination of Argan oil, seed oil, apricot and more Argan derived ingredients. Some good things about this oil is that it doesn't disappear easily so you can use a small amount to coat your hair. It definitely improved the feel of my hair, softening it more than adding moisture or shine. I actually like that it doesn't add too much shine! I don't need my hair to shine! I like that it gives my hair a moisturized look instead of making my curls sparkle! I would suggest layering the oil over an actual moisturizing cream or butter and using the oil mostly for nightly use and a style finisher. Other than the actual oil, I found the squeeze pump a bit weirdly constructed and would have liked one of those longer nozzle pumps instead! I don't like having to pick up the whole bottle to disperse the product. Call me lazy but it's all about ease with this afrotastic chic!<br /><br />Something that I wasn't expecting is that the oil is pretty thick compared to the other oils I have tried. I'm not sure if I like the consistency because it doesn't melt away as quickly or easily as my sweet almond oil does. The oil was very hard to wash off my hands after applying. Other than that, I like the scent and the results. I will definitely continue to use this oil as a pre-shampoo and night treatment and on a daily basis to finish off my hairstyles.<br /><br />Tasti's Kiss Hair Butter smells divine! I love the bubble gum scent; I could smell it the whole day! This hair butter is pretty thick and stiff but very easy to warm up and melt down. I like how it melts easily onto my hair and how moisturized and soft it makes my hair feel. I would say be careful not to use too much and <em>definitely don't use it on wet hair even though it says you can</em>. I put a bit of the hair butter on my wet hair the other day and my front section turned into a white mess! Maybe I put too much but it did not melt away like I thought it would! However, it is great for a daily moisturizer on dry hair.<br /><br />For daily use, I prefer oils because I can massage them into my hair easily and don't have to worry about residues or white leftovers. I also like working with water-based or liquid products vs cream-based ones because of the kinkiness of my hair texture. Anything water-based helps define my curls.<br /><br />I hope this helped! As a side note, Kinky-Curly products seem to work very well with my hair! I'm currently seeking out a leave-in conditioner and am seriously considering the Knot Today leave-in. I want to give it a try because the salon uses that combined with the custard styling gel to style my hair and it transforms my curls from a kinky-frizzy mess to well-defined spiral curls. I will let you know how the leave-in conditioner hunt goes! Happy reading y'all and hope you're enjoying the bits of sunshine we've been getting!</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-421988020197368533.post-53373645879365349262013-06-17T12:32:00.004-07:002013-06-17T12:32:52.867-07:00Natural & Organic Beauty: My new appreciation for "tree huggers" - June 14, 2013<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: small;">[ Free Flow Fro! ]</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">One of the requirements of my new job as sales associate at Honey Fig is to constantly research natural hair brands, products, blogs and websites. I am also to familiarize myself with new products, trends, terms, techniques, especially the ones sold and used in our store. The other day, I spent 2 hours looking around the World Wide Web, reading up on natural hair products, black hair, hair types, and let me tell you, the web IS definitely worldly and wide! I thought I knew a lot about natural hair and skin care but there's SO MUCH I have yet to learn! It's exciting! I came across lists and lists of "ingredients to avoid", "the best natural shampoos & conditioners", "natural looking mascaras", "foundations for women of colour", "natural smoothie recipes" ... The lists of lists goes on! I also think I found one of my new favourite blogs/websites called Organic Beauty Talk (</span><a href="http://www.organicbeautytalk.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0b5394;">www.organicbeautytalk.com</span></a><span style="color: #0b5394;">). I have always been a "tree hugger" who cares about the environment but this site really educated me that living a "natural, non-toxic life" is more than just respecting the environment with your eco-friendly purchases. Living naturally also involves physically and mentally leading a completely healthy life too! I also learned how to make homemade deodorant! Say what now?!<br /><br />The reason why I'm telling you all this is because I want to share my knowledge with you and encourage you that making the switch to a natural lifestyle doesn't have to be lonely! There is SO much support out there, like I mentioned in my entry entitled "Making (Curl)friends". We have a following, a community, a world of friends who want to travel through these hair journeys together! There are tons of educated, experienced people who will answer all of your questions. All you have to do is know where to look! But trust me, we natural enthusiasts aren't hiding! Some websites to search include but aren't limited to (and don't forget about my blog!):<br /><br />Organic Beauty Talk<br />Organic Spa Magazine<br />Andre Walker Talks<br />Cathy Howes of UBH<br />Natural is Dope<br /><br />Some great people/accounts on Instagram include but aren't limited to:<br /><br />Head of Curls<br />Curly Nikki<br />Greenenigma<br />Mz. Tammy<br />Natural Hair Daily<br />Wonder Curl<br />Cydara<br />Mixed Chicks Hair<br /><br />These naturalists are just like you! They all started off unsure of what to do with their hair and learned how to survive the long journey of embracing their natural hair texture. We are really in this together (I'm cheesy) or at least we should be! Feel free to check them out, follow them on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook and become curlfriends! Connect, share and build up our natural hair community!</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-421988020197368533.post-82816226296175831852013-06-17T12:24:00.005-07:002013-06-17T12:24:54.613-07:00My New Home @ Honey Fig! - June 14, 2013<br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">[ Honey Fig - </span><a href="http://www.honeyfig.com/"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">www.honeyfig.com</span></a><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> ]</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">My (hair) dream has come true!!! I am now a sales associate/hair consultant in training/amateur hair expert, working with the wonderful natural hair and skin experts at HONEY FIG. Yes, the same natural beauty boutique that I have been mentioning throughout my blog! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Here's some basic information about Honey Fig: Honey Fig is located at 4967 Yonge Street (3 blocks north of Sheppard on Yonge), Toronto ON, Canada. We carry over 80 different brands of natural and organic hair, skin and beauty products and also offer various beauty services! Our goal is to provide customers with the best shopping experience by educating them, listening to their needs and wants, suggesting products that will work for them and promoting a healthy, natural, nurturing, beautiful lifestyle. All of our products are made from natural or organic ingredients and are eco-friendly, cruelty-free, vegan or all of those combined! We are strong believers of leading a life where wellness and beauty intersect! Please visit our website </span><a href="http://www.honeyfig.com/"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">www.honeyfig.com</span></a><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> or give us a call at (416) 226-2100! You may also post a question via one of my blog entries to ask me about certain products/services.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Back to my dream job! This is the PERFECT way for me to develop and strengthen my hair skills in terms of hair care, hair consulting, product reviews, beefing up my blog and more! My role at Honey Fig is sales associate but I will do so much more than just sell products! While some customers come into our store knowing exactly what they want and from which brand, most customers come to us based on a referral or recommendation from others. Most people don't have a clue what their hair needs, what they want, what works, what doesn't work. That's where I come in! My job is to guide them in their purchase based on their hair needs and budgets. The best part is making friends and building relationships with people just like me! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I have also taken upon myself to educate my friends and families about hair and the hair products that Honey Fig sells. I am going to live my life as a true Honey Fig ambassador and get as many customers into the store so they can start leading a healthier, more natural life :)</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-421988020197368533.post-37049969833053982752013-06-12T11:42:00.001-07:002013-06-12T11:42:04.571-07:00Experimentation Gone Wrong - June 12, 2013<span style="color: #0b5394;">*Before you read, I want to state that this isn't an entry bashing Pantene products. I know many people use and like the brand and I know they recently introduced a line for naturally curly hair. I even used Pantene products when my hair was relaxed and through my transitioning process. I am simply relaying my experience using one of their products. Please read the whole entry before you accuse me of bad mouthing Pantene. Thanks!*</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">I made the biggest mistake of all time! I used a non-natural hair product, Pantene Shampoo and Conditioner for Curly Hair!!! This may not seem like a tragedy but it is, especially after using natural hair products for about a year now. I may have walked down the wrong path when I decided to use the shampoo and conditioner duo yesterday to condition my hair. I am STILL literally feeling the effects of that decision.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">The reason why us natural girls don't use the traditional, department store products are because they are usually ridden with sulfate. Sulfate is the ingredient that makes shampoos and conditioners super foamy. There's always such a large amount of sulfate in these products that we might as well be washing our hair with foam! What most people don't know is that sulfate is harsh on the hair, has drying effects, causes frizz and damages coloured hair! So why do people use it? It is cheap for one and that foamy avalanche has been associated with washing hair for years! We have been conditioned (no pun intended) that the more foam, the better; the more foam, the more clean our hair will be! Natural girls have been educated on what is healthy for their hair and know to stay away from products with sulfate because all the effects are dangerous for our curls.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">So, why did I use the shampoo and conditioner? I gave into the description on the bottle! True story! I ran out of my leave-in and rinse-out conditioners last weekend and the Pantene shampoo conditioner concoction was sitting under my sink, half full. The bottle said it would turn dry curls into frizz-free, soft, shiny curls and I actually believed it! Let me tell you, I got the exact opposite. Even as I was finger combing my curls in the shower, I could feel the difference. I can't really explain it but the product did not have nearly the same creamy texture as my Aveda conditioner. My hair felt instantly dry and frizzy after. Today, my hair is still dry and frizzy. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">I honestly feel like I went backwards with my hair! Now, I know my hair isn't going to suddenly become unhealthy or stay dry and frizzy forever from this one use but a small part of me is worried. I learned a valuable lesson. <em>If it ain't broke, don't fix it! </em>My routine was working just fine. There was no need to change it and definitely no need to insert an extra step that I kind of knew wasn't going to work! After this experience, I told myself I would a) never use a Pantene product unless it was from the line for naturally curly hair because it doesn't work FOR ME AND MY HAIR, and b) never run out of conditioner so that I never have the excuse to want to be brave and dig around my neglected product collection.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">Again, this entry wasn't in any way shining a negative light on Pantene, but making my readers aware that it is important to use what works for their hair and not revert back to what you used when your hair was relaxed! Happy Wednesday everyone :)</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-421988020197368533.post-79573459471177803042013-06-12T10:30:00.001-07:002013-06-12T10:30:33.243-07:00Bringing The Heat: Protecting your hair from sun damage, discolouration, breakage - June 11, 2013<div style="font-family: ".Helvetica NeueUI"; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;">
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: small;">I love the sun but I'm not crazy! Though I love warm weather, I know how damaging the sun can be to your skin and hair. Unfortunately, protecting my hair from sun damage was probably the one thing I never did, when my hair was relaxed AND since I became natural. It didn't even occur to me to pay attention to that...until I saw an article on the effects of sun damage on hair. It reminded me of my previous sun damaged, relaxed hair. After all those years of relaxing and straightening, my hair had turned into a light, light, light brown which was NOT my natural hair colour (see photo). My natural hair colour is a very dark brown with natural burgundy red tones. I knew the discolouration was from the sun but also from all the chemical and artificial heat damage! So how do you keep your precious curls healthy? This entry outlines the simple things you can do to protect your hair from all types of heat damage, discolouration and breakage.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: small;">The most obvious solution is to wear hats and scarves right? Well, you're not wrong! Hats and scarves are great ways to protect your head and hair from sun damage. I love my black and grey baseball caps! But with most things, you have to start on the inside, in this case you have to protect your actual hair! Plopping a hat on your head is great but your hair is still in the same state as before, dry and unprotected. You haven't done anything to improve the condition or protect the actual strands of hair! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: small;">Some ways to improve the health of your hair so that it can deflect sun damage or withstand heat damage are:</span></div>
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<li><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: small;">Oil: Using various oils on a daily basis is great for giving your hair the nutrients it needs to be strong, healthy, shiny and soft. Hot oil treatments are also great. You can create your own hot oil treatments by placing a capsule or container of oil into hot water. Wait until it heats up and then spread the oil all over your hair. Leave it on for a few minutes and then rinse it out. Heat helps products penetrate the scalp and hair. In this instance, heat is a GOOD thing! ;)</span></li>
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<li><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: small;">Leave-in conditioner: Leave-in conditioner is also a great product to help protect your hair from damage. It adds the necessary moisture that gets stripped from your hair during shampooing, harsh elements and daily styling. It also helps you detangle your curls by softening them. You want your conditioner to be water based, creamy and have slip so it can spread and penetrate your strands easily. </span></li>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">Deep conditioning: Deep conditioning is a wonderful way to repair damaged hair. The difference between leave-in conditioner and a deep conditioner is that a leave-in can be used on a daily basis, even on dry hair. Deep conditioning is usually done once or twice a month and left on the hair for 1-10 minutes. You can follow a deep conditioner with a leave-in conditioner. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"> If you are experiencing discolouration, the best thing to do is visit your hair salon and get a professional hairstylist to access your unique hair situation. Sun damage or heat damage can usually be repaired by following the above mentioned steps and ensuring moisture, conditioning and protecting are apart of your daily hair routine. Breakage is a result from weak or damaged hair caused by excessive sun and heat damage, so if you want to reverse the damage before it gets to the point of no return (I'm so dramatic), refrain from using heat and properly protect your hair if you are going to use hot tools. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">Hair is kind of like your skin. When skin is extremely damaged by heat, it burns but you are also susceptible to skin cancers etc. With hair, your hair may start to break off because it has been weakened by the damage. You don't want a situation where you have to dramatically cut your hair because you didn't take care of it! Read some hair blogs and magazines to find out the best heat protection system for you. Also, of course we encourage you to rock hats! At least it's some sort of sun protection. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">Question of the day: Do you have a special treatment or regime to help repair your hair from heat or sun damage? Is it store bought or homemade?</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-421988020197368533.post-51384522838728296582013-06-10T11:57:00.003-07:002013-06-10T11:57:42.068-07:00Check 1, 2: Why I haven't done a proper "length check" since I cut my hair - June 10, 2013<div style="font-family: ".Helvetica NeueUI"; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">I'm pretty sure everyone who has done a big chop was checking their hair every few minutes to see if it grew. Multiple times a day even though you knew your TWA (teeny weeny afro) wasn't going to become BHA (big huge Afro) anytime soon, let alone in a day. So why do we torture ourselves, wishing, praying, hoping, tugging and pulling, willing our hair to grow faster?? Why do we give in to those phony hair growth formulas and methods just because we can't WAIT to see natural progress??</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">When I cut my hair in January, I told myself I wasn't going be that girl who checked the mirror every second. I wasn't going fret over the length. I WAS going to focus on improving the health of my hair, however long it took. The best part is, I honestly listened to myself!! I'd cut my hair because I'd wanted to finally let my natural curls live but I'd also wanted to start over with short hair! I flipped through countless black hair blogs and magazines for short hairstyles, taking pictures of my favourite ones. I spent the first 3 months rocking my TWA and cheekbone length bangs taking advantage of roller sets, fauxhawks, pompadours, hats, scarves and more! I made the most out of having a super short 1 inch Afro with some length in the front. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">Then came March and suddenly...BAM...my hair was 3 inches long! WAIT WHAT?!? I honestly didn't even notice the growth until my co-worker pointed it out. That night, I decided to get rid of the long length in front and fully embrace my fro. I cut it off with regular scissors and styled it in a fauxhawk. Yea, this was so me!!! (Of course, I went to the salon a few weeks later to get it cut properly). I looked in the mirror a few weeks later and was genuinely surprised that my hair had really grown about 3 inches in 3 months and that patience really is a virtue! I had left my hair alone, treated it right and it did its thing! It's almost like people; if you hover over them </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null"><span style="color: #0b5394;">24/7</span></a><span style="color: #0b5394;">, watching them, poking at them, bothering them, they won't perform to the best of their abilities, they might not do anything at all! The same thing applies to hair; leave it alone and it will grow! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">Now about this length check jazz! I hear that some people conduct monthly length checks. Some do yearly checks. I think a length check typically consists of blowdrying your hair aka stretching it out and measuring the length of it. I haven't done a real length check yet. I have no desire to! I can see that my hair is still an Afro, about 3/4 inches and maybe 5/6 inches when stretched. What does that knowledge do for me? Where did it take me? I don't see the point in constantly checking the length of my hair especially if I'm nowhere near my goal length. Speaking of which, I don't even have a real goal length! I just want my hair to grow healthy! I'm literally just waiting until the end of the year to see how long my hair will be. I don't have the end of the year at the forefront of my mind! I have no worries about my hair growth. The obvious progress has shown me that my hair is growing. Patience really is a trait to have and execute! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">The most important thing that I focus on is the essential steps in maintaining healthy hair and work with the length I DO have, not worry about the length I wish to have. I am having a great time with my hair at its current length. It's long enough to do many styles like the fauxhawk, the faux headband, and I recently purchased some cute hair bows in which I can use to spice up my curls. </span></div>
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<br /><span style="color: #0b5394;">In conclusion, if length checks work for you, that's wonderful! But I find that they wouldn't do anything for me except discourage me and waste my time. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">Question of the day: Why do you think people do length checks? Do you do them? Does it help? If so, how?</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-421988020197368533.post-46141291111660485342013-06-10T11:38:00.005-07:002013-06-10T11:38:48.105-07:00Speedy Styling: Saving time but not scrimping on your hair needs - June 9, 2013<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Qio_EfNdfXM/UbYcDQrPsmI/AAAAAAAAAKc/c12fGEVxgZM/s1600/bluebow.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Qio_EfNdfXM/UbYcDQrPsmI/AAAAAAAAAKc/c12fGEVxgZM/s1600/bluebow.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: small;">[ Picked up some cute hair accessories! ]</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">I like fast, quick, easy hair styling! That's one of the greatest things about my hair texture and current hair length. Though I did vow to take care of my hair properly and to follow the alternating shampoo/co-wash routine process, sometimes I just don't have the time. This is not to say that I neglect this process or don't complete the essential steps in keeping my hair clean and moisturized; I simply found quicker ways to achieve it all. My main concerns are my curls tangling or getting dry. The following step by step process is typically what I do when I have less than an hour to get ready or when I want to quickly condition my curls during the week. This is what I did today:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">*please note that the switches from present & past tense are from my added side notes. I'm an English tutor, I need to cover my bases haha*</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">I thoroughly wet my hair in the shower, squeezed the excess water out and then applied my rinse out conditioner by Aveda, made with natural ingredients like rosemary, mint and plant extracts etc. I could have also used my Curl Junkie Beauticurls leave-in conditioner except I ran out of it the other day! I make sure to apply the conditioner to damp not soaking wet hair so the conditioner actually penetrates my hair and doesnt get super diluted by the water. I always make sure my curls are completely covered and then I begin to detangle with my fingers. I started from the hair by my neck, then moved to the sides and middle and then finished with the top. I usually saturate the middle of my hair with ALOT of conditioner because I find most of my knots and tangles are here. This conditioning/detangling process here takes about 5-10 minutes depending on the amount of tangles! </span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;">After rinsing my hair, I covered my head with my turbo hair towel and went about my face washing routine. After finishing that and getting dressed, I added my Super Curl moisturizing cream to my curls and then topped them off with my light Curls in a bottle styling gel. I alternate between my 2 moisturizing creams and 2 styling gels. One of my creams is water-based; the other is thick. One of my gels is water-based; the other is thick. It all depends on what I feel like using! I then pulled the front and nape area sections back and secured them with duck clips to stretch my curls and heighten my afro! I sat in front of my fan and let my hair lightly dry. During this, I do things like paint my nails, do my makeup (that's a joke for those who know me) and anything else non-hair related. After my hair dried a bit, I added my Shescentit rich cream to add more moisture. I also added a blue hair bow. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">Like I said, this process takes anywhere from 30-45 minutes. During this process, I conditioned, detangled and moisturized my curls. Though my regular process is much longer and usually consisting of multiple washings or co-washings and a deep condition, I am still able to take care of my hair, style my hair and get the results I want! Try my tips the next time you need to get ready in a short amount of time and let me know how it works for you!</span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"></span> </div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">Question of the day: If you had to choose between your hair products, which 3 hair couldn't you live without?? For me, I NEED my Super Curl water-based moisturizing cream, my Kinky-Curly styling gel and Curl Junkie Beauticurls leave-in conditioner. If you have 3 must have products, make sure you never run out like I did :( Happy Sunday everyone!</span> </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-421988020197368533.post-73694691930726043602013-06-10T11:28:00.002-07:002013-06-10T11:28:05.935-07:00What's TWA mean to you? A blog entry on subjectivity - June 9, 2013<div style="font-family: ".Helvetica NeueUI"; line-height: 24px;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">After stalking a few natural hair Instagram pages for the past month, I've come to realize that I'm really confused about the term: TWA. From my understanding, a TWA is a Teeny Weeny Afro. What was your understanding of a TWA?? But then, I saw a picture of a girl whose Afro was defying gravity, in other words MASSIVE, and the caption screamed "TWA". I thought, there's nothing TEENY OR TINY about that Afro! I wouldn't even describe my hair as a TWA and my hair wasn't nearly half of her height. So what's a TWA? I began to ponder why this term could be subjective. Here are my conclusions:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">TWA could be relative to the length someone had before their big chop or their goal length. If someone had hair my length and was aiming for waist-length curls, then yes sure they could consider their hair a TWA. I also thought it could just be the term used when someone got a big chop and the varying length of people's hair when they are finally all natural. Then I stopped pondering this phenomenon and just accepted that I truly do believe that anything relating to curls is subjective! Curl type, curl length, curl colour, hairstyles etc. I describe my curls as a super-tight spiral kinky-curly hair texture but others have argued that my hair is not kinky-curly because my curls are very defined and have a nice spiral shape. Another example is that I still think my hair is pretty short but others think my hair is long compared to when I first started out and compared to some girls with natural hair. All subjective! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">I'd like to pose some questions for you readers! Feel free to add your (positive and appropriate) comment and questions as well.</span></div>
<ol>
<li><div style="font-family: ".Helvetica NeueUI"; line-height: 24px;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">What's your unique description for your hair texture? </span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="font-family: ".Helvetica NeueUI"; line-height: 24px;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">What does the word "Afro" mean to you?</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="font-family: ".Helvetica NeueUI"; line-height: 24px;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">What does the word "kinky" mean to you? </span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="font-family: ".Helvetica NeueUI"; line-height: 24px;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">What's something you dislike about your hair that others like?</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="font-family: ".Helvetica NeueUI"; line-height: 24px;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">What do you love most about your hair? </span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="font-family: ".Helvetica NeueUI"; line-height: 24px;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">What's your process for trying to achieve a certain length?</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="font-family: ".Helvetica NeueUI"; line-height: 24px;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">If you could take a pill that would speed up the process of hair growth, would you do it and why?</span> </span></div>
</li>
</ol>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">My answers to these questions are below:</span></div>
<ol>
<li><div style="font-family: ".Helvetica NeueUI"; line-height: 24px;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">I describe my hair as kinky-curly frizzy tight spiral curls</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="font-family: ".Helvetica NeueUI"; line-height: 24px;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">Afro means alot of things to me but I guess it's just a short form for Afro-Aemerican, African or African/Caribbean descent. Afro = black to me. That may change though, as I become more educated.</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="font-family: ".Helvetica NeueUI"; line-height: 24px;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">Kinky means "really, really tightly bound" curls. Simple.</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="font-family: ".Helvetica NeueUI"; line-height: 24px;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">I can't really say I dislike much about my hair but I dislike the shrinkage factor and how tight my curls are. People seem to think it's cool that my hair is like a spring though. Sigh!</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="font-family: ".Helvetica NeueUI"; line-height: 24px;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">The thing I love most about my hair is its curl pattern and thickness.</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="font-family: ".Helvetica NeueUI"; line-height: 24px;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">My process for achieving a certain length is to simply follow the essential curly hair regime and practice patience.</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="font-family: ".Helvetica NeueUI"; line-height: 24px;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">I would mosr definitely not take a pill to speed up the growth process of my hair. That's cheating!!!</span></div>
</li>
</ol>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-421988020197368533.post-78574303869942952532013-06-10T11:16:00.004-07:002013-06-10T11:16:54.002-07:00Soft As A (Curl) Cloud: How I achieve my healthy, super soft, touchable curls - June 8, 2013<div style="font-family: ".Helvetica NeueUI"; line-height: 24px;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7eJQq4dXDbA/UbYXnW1-cBI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/G2MBxTqTPKw/s1600/softandkinky.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7eJQq4dXDbA/UbYXnW1-cBI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/G2MBxTqTPKw/s1600/softandkinky.JPG" height="200" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: small;">[ Curl Cloud! ]</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">One of the biggest compliments I always get is that my hair is really, really, really (surprisingly) soft. Yes, people actually say, "wow your hair is SURPRISINGLY soft!" Must be those false stereotypes/assumptions that black hair is always course, nappy, tangly, rough etc. Well, I'm glad I can defy those ignorant pre-conceived notions! So, now you're asking how I get my hair so soft? Well, it all goes back to one of my first blog entries "Hair Growth: Not just a 'mixed' girl thing". My argument was and is that hair health and the length of people's hair has nothing to with race but everything to do with how you take care of it. My hair is soft because it is healthy! Moisturized, shiny and SOFT strands are all natural results of healthy hair. So, what products do I use to maintain this softness? Besides washing, co-washing, tying my hair at night, refraining from heat damage and carefully detangling my curls, here are some additional yet very important things I do:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">•Leave-in conditioner: I just recently discovered the importance of using leave-in conditioner on DRY hair and not only in the shower, on damp hair, after a wash or co-wash. The way my leave-in conditioner instantly transformed my hair after one use showed me that I needed to do this on a daily basis. I absolutely LOVE my water-based Beauticurls leave-in conditioner by Curl Junkie. It added moisture to my hair, softened my curls and helped define them. The greatest part about it all was that the next morning, it was like I had a new head of hair! My hair was still soft, something that never happened when I used oil. All I did to style my hair was spray my curls with water to reactivate the conditioner. My curls stayed super soft and defined all day. My suggestion for you is to use leave-in conditioner as a base before you add other styling products (on dry or damp hair) to seal in moisture and protect your hair from the drying elements of most gels. Another note is that your conditioner should have "slip" which means it should be easy to spread over your hair and you should be able to mix it with your gel. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">•Oil: Even though I now know that oil isn't the best daily moisturizer for ME, I still use it to a) prep my hair the night before washing it, b) add shine after I've styled my hair, c) soften the random dry spots of my hair. I'm not at all saying that oil is a terrible moisturizer, I'm simple stating that for me it doesn't compare to the other methods I discovered. Oil should always be apart of a curly girl's life; the amount of use just depends on your specific hair and how it responds to it. The best oils include, but are not limited to, coconut oil, jojoba oil, lavender oil and sweet almond oil. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: ".Helvetica NeueUI"; line-height: 24px;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">•Water: I'm sure you've heard that it's good to spray your hair with water daily, right? I made a comparison awhile ago that hair is basically like a plant or person; it NEEDS water aka moisture. Even if you're just spraying some water on your hair before you style it or even if spraying water is the only thing you do to style your curls, it's needed! I always spray my hair with water every morning or mix water with my gels to get a more watery texture. I find that my gels work better and therefore, my curls respond better. Water is a necessity in all parts of life!</span></div>
<div style="font-family: ".Helvetica NeueUI"; line-height: 24px;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">•Alternate between daily moisturizing creams: Every curly girl should have a few different moisturizing styling creams in her hair product stash! I have about 3 different moisturizing creams but I religiously use two and haven't tried one. I use Uncle Funky's Daughter Super Curl moisturizing cream, which is a water-based Shea & cocoa butter cream, and Shescentit Rich Cream, which is a thicker coconut, avocado & pineapple concoction. Both work beautifully! Why do I use both? Everyone's hair likes different consistencies. Everyone's hair needs different things at different times, depending on the style. My hair happens to like water-based creams AND thick creams. I use each one depending on the state of my curls. I typically use Shescentit's rich cream at night before bed so that all the wonderful ingredients have time to penetrate my curls and work their magic. I'll use Super Curl as a light styling product, topped with my sweet almond oil, on the days when my hair is just slightly damp with water. I also love using these two creams on dry hair because they do a great job at adding the needed moisture and defining my curls. </span></div>
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<div style="font-family: ".Helvetica NeueUI"; line-height: 24px;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">The last cream I have is a sample of Shea Moisture's curl smoothie. I attempted to use it on a braid out one day and was left with a white residue mess! I have not touched it since. Now, I've heard great things about curl smoothie, and have even witnessed many naturalistas on Instagram using it for their twist and braid outs and praising it. Maybe I wasn't using it right?! Maybe I wasn't supposed to use it on wet hair? Maybe I didn't rub it in enough? So many questions!!! Luckily, I'll be visiting my best friend, Honey Fig (the natural hair and skin boutique), very soon and will hit you up with the answers to my questions as soon as I get them! Until then, remember that soft curls are a result of healthy hair! Any curly girl can achieve soft hair! As long as you follow the basic curly hair regime of washing and co-washing, conditioning, detangling, moisturizing, protecting and loving your curls, your hair should reward you by being shiny and soft. True (hair) story! Happy June y'all! :)</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-421988020197368533.post-9982974635917621952013-06-07T11:49:00.003-07:002013-06-07T11:49:14.931-07:00Comments, Suggestions, Questions, Hairstories? I Welcome Them!!! - June 7, 2013I just want to send out a super brief and friendly reminder that I wholeheartedly welcome any comments, suggestions, questions and hairstories you may have for me! I am (obviously) a very open person and value any opinions that come my way! Interested in the products I use? Want to know more about my hair texture? Need a step-by-step process of how I achieved a certain hairstyle? Wondering how I combat frizz? Curious about why I started this blog? Want to meet me? (Totally kidding about that last one). The point is, I want to hear from YOU!!! Hey...this gives me a great idea of either adding a "comments/questions" box to my blog or posting various questions and asking my readers to choose some to ask me! We shall see! In the meantime, enjoy my hairstories and keep smiling! :)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-421988020197368533.post-16525509253834484862013-06-07T08:28:00.004-07:002013-06-07T08:28:47.425-07:00Making Curlfriends: Seeking, joining and supporting natural hair communities - June 7, 2013<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yJHQrH0Jmmg/UbH7_IRVYpI/AAAAAAAAAJg/g1U6kx5fevQ/s1600/twistedcrownhairstyle.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yJHQrH0Jmmg/UbH7_IRVYpI/AAAAAAAAAJg/g1U6kx5fevQ/s1600/twistedcrownhairstyle.PNG" height="200" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: small;">[ Another look at my "crown" hairstyle ]</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;">Natural hair is EVERYWHERE!!! We can't deny it or reverse it! I think it's great! No one can say they don't have the knowledge, inspiration or support to go natural because there are millions of natural hair gurus, hair bloggers and websites dedicated to natural hair! Some great benefits about going natural were saving time, saving money and embracing my true self. One of the best things about going natural was the multiple communities I was able to join, the many friends I made and the support I received. Since I went natural in January, I have made multiple curlfriends, found friends in people I didn't expect to, discovered many curly girls via Facebook and Instagram and have been introduced to a whole, wide world of awesome naturalness. </span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;">I have always had very few friends who were natural. Most of my friends wore weaves or wore their hair relaxed. My decision to go natural was a pretty lonely one because I didn't have support from anyone. However, the few friends that were natural were so kind enough to take me under their wings and offer amazing friendships outside and within the curly world. I want to shout out my dear friend (and AMAZING singer) Vanessa M., who was and is always so positive about my hair through all of its stages and continues to be a great source of information as I travel through my hair journey. When I decided to transition, my friends Nisha and Gaelle, both natural girls, were also very encouraging. They gave me style ideas and even accompanied me to Honey Fig, my lifesaver natural hair and skin care boutique (</span><a href="http://www.honeyfig.com/"><span style="color: #0b5394;">www.honeyfig.com</span></a><span style="color: #0b5394;">). When I big-chopped, one of my close friends and fellow event planner Deneita, had also just cut her hair and was great in helping me get used to my new hair. I have many, many people to thank, like my wonderful parents, my stunning boyfriend and other friends and acquaintances, and no one goes unnoticed or forgotten, but these specific ladies displayed memorable actions. </span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;">Through friends and acquaintances, I was able to meet people who have helped me grow as a natural hair enthusiast. I now purchase some of my hair products from my good friend Shauntee, who makes natural hair and skin products under the name Nu'khara (Facebook: Nu'khara OR Shauntee Sutton). She introduced me to natural oils, offered twist-out advice and she forever supports me in my journey. I was also able to find amazing hair inspiration from various blogs and Instagrammers through Black Girl Long Hair. I now follow a ton of natural ladies and I am never at a shortage of hair advice, hairstyles, tutorials and pictures. Some of these lovely ladies have even followed me back! </span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;">As you can see, going natural opened the doors to a world of curlfriends and curly friendships. I have friends who are great friends but can also help me through my hair journey! I feel very blessed to have been able to benefit physically and mentally from my decision to cut my hair and embrace my curls. I love every moment of being a curly girl and hope I can inspire others to embrace their true selves! If you are unsure of where to go or look for curlfriends, check out Black Girl Long Hair (</span><a href="http://blackgirllonghair.com/"><span style="color: #0b5394;">http://blackgirllonghair.com</span></a><span style="color: #0b5394;">). The website always features diverse natural girls and in their interviews, you can find their Instagram or Facebook contact information. This is a great way to create your own curl community and have unlimited advice and hairstyles at your fingertips! </span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;">Here's how you can stay connected with me:</span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;">FOLLOW me on Instagram: @blackandkinky (I follow back!)</span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;">LIKE me on Facebook: Black and Kinky: a hair journey</span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;">SHARE my hair blog with friends and family: </span><a href="http://www.blackandkinky.blogpsot.com/"><span style="color: #0b5394;">www.blackandkinky.blogpsot.com</span></a><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;">Remember, I write with a purpose; I write with you (my readers) in mind. As always, thanks for reading! HAPPY FRIDAY! :)</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-421988020197368533.post-70889870736077523542013-06-07T07:38:00.002-07:002013-06-07T07:38:38.735-07:00Stop Complaining About Shrinkage! - June 5, 2013<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7Ddlm1L559Q/UbHvVbrL5gI/AAAAAAAAAJU/BlnpUv2PkLc/s1600/twistedcrownhairstyle2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7Ddlm1L559Q/UbHvVbrL5gI/AAAAAAAAAJU/BlnpUv2PkLc/s1600/twistedcrownhairstyle2.JPG" height="200" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: small;">[ The "crown" hairstyle: sides twisted and front section pinned back with bobby pins ]</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">When it comes to my hair, the easier the better! That's why I love the length that its at right now! I can do a simple wash and go and look amazing in about 30 minutes. I am also able to create multiple styles on dry hair, like the faux headband, the fauxhawk and one side pulled back, both sides pulled back, twisted or braided sides in 5 minutes or less. I have a handful of funky hairstyles that I can choose from and I am never bored! The one thing I have not taken the time to do is to attempt to stretch out my hair by doing a twist/braid out, banding my hair or taking advantage of any other stretching methods. "Stretching" your hair literally means to stretch out your curls so they look more loose. You can achieve a stretched or elongated look by twisting or braiding your wet hair and unravelling them once dry. Basically, your hair looks longer than if your hair isn't stretched. </span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;">My hair is currently (naturally) at least 6 inches but looks 3 inches because my curls are SUPER tight. If I were to take the time to do a twist/braid out, my hair would be able to flourish at it's real length. If only I wasn't so lazy!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">By total accident, I discovered a way to stretch my hair without going through the gruelling process of a twist/braid out. Though I LOVE my head of hair to pieces, I just don't have the patience! But just yesterday, I styled my hair to resemble a style I saw on the Black Girls Long Hair blog, nicknamed "the crown" (see above photo). I wet my hair with water, added my Curls in a Bottle styling water-based gel and dried my hair a bit with my fan (yes, my fan). I then parted my hair and completed a French twist on each side. I also pulled the front section of my hair back too. I used my long, black bobby pins to secure the twists and front section. I kept my hair like this all day. When I took out the bobby pins at the end of the night, the sides of my hair were stretched beyond belief! I looked like the female Einstein! I then figured out that I could potentially achieve a stretched look with minimal effort by French twisting my wet hair (imagine cane row braids except with twists). EPIPHANY! Now, the only thing left to do...is to actually do it. I will take the time one of these weekends to give this a try and let you know how it goes!</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-421988020197368533.post-37234200569154814722013-06-05T10:44:00.004-07:002013-06-05T10:44:55.632-07:00Happy Birthday to Me! - June 5, 2013<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HmO7c1zsDco/Ua94EHHelGI/AAAAAAAAAJA/ExQq89ucXDk/s1600/bdaygirl.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HmO7c1zsDco/Ua94EHHelGI/AAAAAAAAAJA/ExQq89ucXDk/s1600/bdaygirl.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: small;">[ Rocking my signiture wash and go style; front is pulled back with floral ribbon (hidden by all those curls! ]</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">Good afternoon everyone!! I am extremely excited that I was able to see another day and birthday! I feel AMAZING! First and foremost, I want to sincerely and warmly thank each and every one of you wonderful readers for taking interest in my thoughts, opinions, words, pictures and hairstory. Thank you so much for following me via the various social networking sites, clicking on my blog entries on google, sharing my blog with your friends and family, and thank you for being YOU! I now have readers all over Canada, the US, Germany and Russia! What a great accomplishment after operating for only a few weeks now! I feel so great to be able to share my journey with such lovely readers. I also want to mention that I've come a LONG way; in life and in my hair journey! I've been many, many years in the making and I'm so glad that I am finally 100% comfortable, accepting, happy, confident...the list goes on...with myself. I've learned so much about myself, life, love and of course, my hair! This day marks more memories of laughter, joy and life changing events. I am proud of all my achievements, creations, failures, lessons and everything that makes me ME. I could go on and on about myself, and seeing as this is MY blog, that seems perfeectly reasonable, but I do have another blog entry waiting for you! Thanks again from the bottom of my heart for reading. I hope you all can take something from my tangles, knots and random curls haha! :)</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-421988020197368533.post-50889434206336892282013-06-03T10:31:00.003-07:002013-06-03T10:31:50.362-07:00Oil vs. Leave-in Conditioner: What works as a daily moisturizer? - June 1, 2013<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1wJB1Jdhb1I/UazRxh5A9zI/AAAAAAAAAIo/YFpPqZ815SI/s1600/pinklips.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1wJB1Jdhb1I/UazRxh5A9zI/AAAAAAAAAIo/YFpPqZ815SI/s1600/pinklips.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: small;">[ Hair after using leave-in conditioner; soft & defined! ]</span></td></tr>
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<br /><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Happy June everyone!!! I hope you all are enjoying the finally warm weather and of course, my blog! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Every head of hair is different; this is what I have been trying to emphasize throughout my natural hair journey and my blog. Curls also change over time, and I've experienced this first hand! After months of trials, tribulations and straight-up frustration and annoyance, I now have a flexible regime going for me, I have a handful of products that I use and I'm able to get the results that I want!<br /><br />One of my most recent blog entries was about moisturizing your curls and how to tell if your hair is properly moisturized. Well, readers, I'm 6 months into my journey and I may have come to a conclusion that maybe oil isn't the right moisturizer for me and my curls! *GASP* I know, 6 months later eh! Since my big chop, I learned that my hair likes water based AND rich cream styling products but I also have always known that oils are essential for healthy, strong, shiny curls.<br /><br />However, just last night, I realized that oil may not be a match for my leave-in conditioner! Instead of putting my sweet almond and jojoba oil in my hair before bed, I used my Curl Junkie Beauticurls leave-in conditioner, made with water, mango and Shea butters. This conditioner has more of a watery consistency with lots of "slip". I smoothed it onto my hair in small sections and immediately saw and felt the difference! Instead of just adding shine to my hair like the oil did, my hair was visibly moisturized as in shiny, my curls were more defined and they were moist, soft and untangled to the touch. After saturating my hair with oil, my hair was still always dry to the touch but I figured, you know it's oil, so it must be doing its thing! This random experiment is proof that you never really know until you try! This goes for anything! As long as the product, tool and/or routine is good (healthy and non damaging) for your hair, you have nothing to lose by trying it out! I would have never guessed that leave-in conditioner on dry hair could be a more effective moisturizing method for me. I'm glad I decided to stray from my regular oil path because I now found a new product that gives my hair what it wants and needs. Hopefully, I will see progress in terms of my hair texture after using this method for a few weeks. I will keep you posted on what happens! As always, thanks for reading! :)</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0