F naturalfinegeh: natural hair
Showing posts with label natural hair. Show all posts
Showing posts with label natural hair. Show all posts

Wednesday, 6 April 2016

03:57:00 0

12 tips on how to transition to natural hair

As we all know , natural hair is the latest trend among women of color all over the world. Yep from the UK to the US and her in mother Africa, bet trust Naija babaes lollll all roads lead to due hair... natural hair tins. Transitioning  from relaxed hair into natural hair is tough - odd curly bits, split ends and endless breakage and maintaining a healthy hair whilst transitioning is another issue entirely. While some people can swear that their hair can break a rake others 
are having a smooth ride through transitioning. There are several tips on how to transition to natural hair with ease. Gosh I wish I knew this four years ago *sad face*.

What do I do during transitioning?


  • Keep your hair hydrated. The biggest struggle with transitioning your hair is preventing breakage due to damage and dryness. Use a water based leave-in conditioner on a daily basis. Every evening before bed, thoroughly incorporate either coconut oil or olive oil into your hair and let is soak for 30 minutes to an hour. This will help replenish your hair with moisture and nutrients that will strengthen the demarcation line (the part of the hair where the transition is occurring).
  • When you wash your hair, add a little conditioner to your strands prior to shampooing. This will help to keep the shampoo from stripping all the moisture. Then, condition as  usual.
  • Consider using a leave-in conditioner for your hair during the day. Apply some to your hair before you style it, paying careful attention to the demarcation line.
  • Use a deep conditioner regularly. Deep conditioning treatments take adding moisture to a new level. Although they are typically only used once a month or so, transitioning hair needs extra conditioning and can handle the treatments more frequently. 
  • Stay away from heat. In general, hot tools should be avoided if you’re trying to protect your hair. Using curling irons, flat irons, and blow driers can stress your hair and cause breakage. While transitioning your hair, do all that you can to allow it to be as natural as possible. 
  • If you absolutely must use hot tools, keep them away from the demarcation line and avoid using them on your roots where your natural grow-out is forming. Remember to use a hear protect-ant.
  • Limit your hair washings. This goes hand in hand with adding moisture to your hair; washing your hair frequently strips your strands of the natural oil that helps to keep it strong. Wash your hair as little as you can, using plenty of conditioner when you do. If you’re able, wash your hair once every 7-8 days so that there is plenty of time for your natural oils to thoroughly coat each strand of hair.[1]
  • Give yourself a hot oil massage. Waiting for your hair to grow out is often the most frustrating part of the growing-process. Rather than waiting idly by, you can promote new hair growth by giving yourself frequent scalp massages. Use a bit of oil (coconut, olive, avocado, etc.) warmed slightly to massage your scalp. This will stimulate the hair follicles and help the strands to grow a bit faster. Hot oil massages can be done as frequently as you would like, but should be done at least once a week for the best results.[2]
  • Avoid adding chemicals to your hair. Although it may seem like a given, you should be avoiding all relaxers and perms when trying to transition your hair. In addition, stay away from hair dyes  as these cause significant damage to your hair, causing it to break and become frizzy. 


 Image Source




Wednesday, 23 March 2016

02:10:00 0

Benefits of steaming your hair


Steaming is a process that every "naturalista" should include in their hair routine. It means adding moisture in the form of moist heat (steam) to the hair strands. This can be done different ways .You can use  a handheld hair steamer or a standing steamer.
Why should i steam?1. Helps reduce breakage: the steam  adds moisture to the hair  and thus can make dry, brittle and thirsty hair supple and hydrated.
2. Lifts the cuticle to allow product/ingredient absorption: the heat from the steam raises the hair cuticles, which makes products absorb easily into the hair. This is particularly helpful for low porosity hair because it raises the cuticles for better absorption of products.
3. Enables hair stretching, less shrinkage and tangles: When the hair is properly hydrated, the level of shrinkage reduced.
4. Helps clean the scalp and promote hair growth: the warmth from the steam fights  through some product build-up/dirt on the scalp, making it easier to keep your scalp clean. A clean scalp is a healthy scalp which means  healthy growth. The warmth also helps stimulate blood flow in the scalp which again helps with hair growth.


 
                                   


How often should you steam?

This depends on how dry your hair feels, how often you need to wash your hair and how difficult/easy it is for products such as deep conditioners, leave-in conditioners etc. to penetrate your hair strands. You can steam 1-2 times weekly, it totally depends on how your hair feels.I steam every weekend and this has made my hair more elastic and hydrated.

Tuesday, 15 March 2016

01:58:00 1

Natural hair must have tools....

 Being natural can be a chore if you do not know the right tools to get. I remember when I had my big chop!I was over the moon , I bought every thing "buyable"for my hair and of course ended up wasting so much money . The most frustrating part was buying several tools that do exactly the same thing.............. .





Here's a list of some essentials 


  •  Iron rat tail comb
Due to the nature and texture of our hair in this (Nigeria) region , it is important to get a very good quality tail comb. The low quality ones loose their form with time and bend over . A metal rat tail comb in my experience works better and is more gentle than a plastic one. This particular comb costs about 1000 naira  which is on the expensive side as far as combs are concerned but it is very well made. I would expect to replace it after about 3-5 years of regular use, it is a good investment. 



  • Hair scissors  and hand held mirror

Natural hair is generally bulky and it is difficult to see the back of your head when styling especially as hair gets longer. A hand held mirror will save you a lot of neck twisting.



  A pair of hair scissors always comes in handy when ever you have weak tips.Ensure to buy hair scissors not tailoring scissors because of the sharp blades.

  •  Spray bottle

This is probably the most important of all as it contains a mixture of your hair mist. Get a handy spray bottle that can fit easily into your hand bags, because of the intensity of the sun. Sometimes I practically hear my hair fry lolllll, I never leave home without my spray bottle ……..



  • Bobby pins –open and closed bobby pins

You need bobby pins for updos and buns. The standard bobby pins that we know are closed pins which you have to then pry open to use. If you have a lot of hair, you may want open pins instead. These do not have as strong a hold but you can cross one over the other for greater hold. Make sure that the ends of your pins are sealed to ensure your hair is not damaged.




  • Hair bands

This is a basic in the arsenal of most naturals. You need more hair bands than you can count.  If you know that you have 10 then you have too few. They  are useful for holding hair in sections, preventing twists/braids from unravelling while washing hair  and can also be used to gently stretch hair via banding. You can never have too much hair bands…



Being natural just got easier...

Your royalnapiness......

Monday, 14 March 2016

05:50:00 2

Natural hair night routine.

How many of you know that there are ways to protect your natural hair before going to bed? Dont be shy I didn't know that until two years ago. I hear a lot of naturalisters complain about frizzy and dry hair , trust me there's  hardly anything I haven't seen, my hair has been through the furnace and back but ALAS! it came out refined whoa! 



Your hair like every other thing dear to you need proper TLC , yep....you just don't sleep any how.
Right before we go to lala land, we should partake in some kind of hair regimen to keep our tresses healthy and luxurious. Either way, you need to have one, especially if you want to maintain your twist out or braid out for a couple of days. Here are five tips that can aid in your night time routine :
Spritz
Estimated Time: 2 minutes
Frequency: Every couple of days
Spritzing your ends and your scalp with water is very important because it helps to hydrate your hair. Keep your floral water in the refrigerator and then add to a spray bottle when you want to use it. I like to add coconut oil to my spray bottle and so far so good it has been very good. 
Twisting
Estimated Time: 10mins
Frequency: Can leave in for up to two or three weeks, and retwist.
This is my go to style. I do this practically every night before I go to bed, oh yes I do ooo the hustle is very real . This has helped me retain my length and made my hair softer. I twist my hair in large chunks.
Bring Out the Satin
Estimated Time: 30 seconds
Frequency: Always!
It should go without saying that your hair should never come in direct contact with a cotton pillowcase at night. Remember, cotton fibers absorb the natural oils found in your hair, which may result in dryness or breakage.  Keep your strands protected by tying your hair up with a satin scarf, covering it with a satin bonnet, or sleeping on a satin pillowcase.  Of all these tips, this one is not optional!
This  might sound like a lot, I don come with my wahala again abi ? Well it worked and still working for me and I promise you that giving your hair a little TLC before you go to lala land.  
Yours royalnappiness. ..

Saturday, 6 February 2016

06:39:00 0

Are you tired of boring up dos......?

So since the upsurge of natural hair in Nigeria,all i see is up dos, more up dos and a lot more updos! Boringggggg seriously i see little or no creativity when it comes to styling natural hair. Nigerian women often encounter many surprises and troubles with their natural hair. It’s either difficult to style or lacks length for versatile impressive hairstyles .The other problem is when your hair is getting too dry and brittle as a result of experiments with styling products.

Meanwhile the other mystery that emerges is how to style your short natural hair so that it looks decent. No worries my friends 😅😉 there are many fantastic stylish hair styles for your short hair, mid length and long hair. Here are some pictures  of some classy ones.

Your Options In Natural Hairstyles

- Protective updos. They protect the delicate structure of your hair from the elements and loss of moisture.
- Twists. Number one hair do for nigerian women lol. I see this hair style in different shapes and forms everywhere I turn. It looks fancy whether you wear them loose or in elegant updos.
Enough talk enjoy😄😄😄
Photo credit:
http://therighthairstyles.com












Sunday, 17 January 2016

12:16:00 5

my hair is way too tough to manage HELP!!!


Is this you? No shame in admitting because this used to be me , yep. I cried for months from combing my hair, combs broke in my hair, I tried everything and almost gave up! One merry day I discovered the secret to softer and more manageable hair! Are you interested? Read on.......

HOW TO MAKE YOUR NATURAL HAIR SOFTER


source The natural haven
  1. Always have your hair in a protective style before going to bed or else your hair will be stiff and shrink beyond recognition in the morning . You can do  two way twist or three way braid(calabar).
  2. Deep condition more often. Constant deep conditioning makes the hair softer and loosens up the coils.
  3. Always apply a leave in conditioner . Leave in conditioners makes your hair soft instantly! Yes it works like magic...so you should invest in a very good leave in conditioner. Ensure to buy water based leave in conditioners, this keeps the hair hydrated.
  4. Apply shea butter, popularly known as "ori"...I use this mostly when I am braiding my hair, my stylist applies it to my hair before cutting it in portions to braid. Combing my hair without shea butter brings me to tears no jokes...
African shea butter


Really being natural is not as difficult as people make it seem. Anything you are ignorant about will always be difficult . Take it one day at a time ...

Your royalnappiness...