Men after my own heart

So, I've posted several blogs all doting on woman and their hair styles, some celebrities and some not. Of course, all remedies apply to all, but my images have been focused on woman. Well, this blog post is strictly paying homage to all the natural men out there....plus a little eye candy for the ladies. ;-)

No more Bad Hair Days...

One joy of natural hair is that it is very unpredictable. You don't know what you'll get from day to day. You can construe this as good or bad...hopefully good. In addition to your regular routine trims, conditioning treatments and other maintenance, here are some day to day tips to help aiding in daily good hair days.

Detangle your hair first
Freshly shampooed and thoroughly detangled hair will always give you the best results. Twisting or braiding hair that is already matted and tangled will only produce more knots and tangles. Make sure to detangle while it's wet, preferably with conditioner in it to give you good slippage.

Calm down on the products
This is one time when less is more. Excessive amounts of product will only lead to weighing down your hair and ultimately product build up. You can always apply additional product if necessary but applying too much initially can only be rectified by re-shampooing.

Have a hair placement plan
I always receive my best results when my twists or braids are calculated. They do not need to be carefully parted or measured as if you were laying tile floor, however, merely throwing them in haphazardly will result in a less polished look. Even when you want a sexy, messy look, placement makes a huge difference.

Seal your ends
Skipping this step will give your ends cause to fray and only make more work for you later. Healthy ends will yield an overall healthy appearance and hair will be more manageable.
*Oils add shine not moisture, however, they do a great job at trapping the existing moisture in. I seal with Shea butter and coconut oil with added essential oils.

Put your hair away at night
Aside from the obvious damage caused by friction between your hair and cotton pillowcases, the satin scarf will keep things in place. It is not just to achieve smooth edges, it also keeps your hair in check. It reduces friction causing dryness and reduces frizz when you release your twists or braids.

Pineapple your hair
If you are unable or unwilling to retwist or rebraid at night, the pineapple will do the trick. By gently placing the hair high on top of the head, you will be able to preserves the curl pattern and maintain your look.
*secure the hair with a satin scrunchie or loose band

Don't over separate your hair
After releasing your twists or braids (with oils on your fingers), unravel the areas that you want more volume the most. Too much separation will lead to excessive frizz.

Retwist or Rebraid
If pineappling is not your thing, retwisting or rebraiding at night is a good way to rejuvenate and restore your look, as well as providing more definition.

Let your twist or braids dry 100%

The worst thing you can do when it comes to styling is to unravel hair prior to it being 95-98% dry. Hair needs time to set and interrupting the process will result in a bad day all day.

Sometimes you feel like a nut! Benefits of coconut oil

I have recently discovered that coconut oil is very useful. I'm talking pure coconut oil, not hair grease. Besides hair care, it's used for skin, beneficial for the heart, reduces weight, improves digestion, good for the immune system, healing and infections (bruises), and many other bodily functions. I won't elaborate on anything but hair, but know that coconut oil has many benefits.

For hair, coconut oil is known to restore natural moisture resulting in a healthy shine. Unlike other oils, coconut has the ability to penetrate the hair shaft and work its way through the layers of the hair strand. It helps reduce the loss of protein and aids in regaining the hair's natural oils. Using coconut oil is not only natural, it's also cost effective and it's always a plus when you can save money.

How to use Coconut oil:
As a conditioner it is best applied directly to the hair. I usually put the oil in a little bowl and sit the bowl in hot water to liquefy it. For added benefits, I add a few drops of rosemary oil and lavender oil, but using it alone is okay too. Run the oil through your hair, concentrating on the tips. Try not to get a lot on the scalp, it can make the hair look greasy. Put a shower cap on your head and either sit under the dryer or wrap a warm towel around your head for about 30 minutes. Afterwards, rinse the hair. If your hair feels too greasy after rinsing, you can do a very light shampoo.

As an anti-dandruff or dryness treatment, coconut oil can help your scalp regain moisture and it also works as an anti-fungal agent. If used regularly, coconut oil can help get rid of dandruff and keep it way. Simply take some oil and work it through your scalp, massaging with you finger tips. Leave the oil on your scalp overnight. The next day, rinse thoroughly. For the best results, try doing this once a week. If you have a lot of flaking and itching, you can try mixing the juice from a fresh squeezed lemon in with the oil. Massage the mixture through your scalp.

To promote hair growth, just do a simple coconut treatment. Just like momma used to oil your scalp back in the day, liberally apply coconut oil to the scalp, daily if possible. It helps in revitalizing and strengthening hair follicles, therefore stimulating growth and preventing it from any further breakage.
So, don't shelf your coconut oil. Get it down and put it to use. It's very beneficial in healthy hair maintenance.

Not everyone can go natural...



      'I wish I could go natural, but it just wouldn't look good on me'.

If I could get paid every time I've heard that statement, I'd be ready to retire very soon. How about this one, 'Natural hair fits you because it goes with your personality, but everyone can't go natural.' I get a little thrown back when I hear women say they can't go natural because their hair is too nappy. Really? It's natural, what else are you expecting here?!

As much as I try to sympathize with everyone when I hear these statements, because I know how spoiled we are with the choice to slap a relaxer on that new growth when it starts to surface, I still don't understand. Yeah yeah, I know people have chosen to not go or stay natural because they feel it just doesn't look good on them or they just can't handle the "naps", but look at it this way, straight hair is NOT growing from your scalp, EVERYONE begins with natural hair and all in all is how you are supposed to look, hypothetically speaking. Don't get me wrong, I give kudos to Madam CJ Walker and her invention of relaxers and the pressing comb, but WHAT IF she hadn't been so. Natural hair would be the norm for the way our hair looks.

This post isn't to bash chemicals and heat styles. By all means, you do what works for you, but I just want to give clarity to women who want to go natural and really feel they can't. YES YOU CAN!! 

I know transitioning from relaxed to natural hair can be nerve racking and some are little anxious as to how their hair will look once completely natural. Will it be kinky, loose curls, or coily? Most women hope for a loose curl or even a coil. I don't mean to rain on your parade, but unless you are biracial, you are more than likely setting yourself up for disappointment. You need to be willing to embrace your hair no matter how kinky it turns out to be. Find pictures for inspiration, but be careful not to "wish" that your hair looks like theirs.

Even Barbie has gone natural



Remember there are so many different styles you can wear. Natural hair, to me, is more versatile than straight hair. African American natural hair textures can come out in so many different ways considering our genetic pool is mixed with a variety of races. I believe all natural hair is beautiful whether it is super fine and silky curls or nappy kinky coils. I encourage all who are going natural to transform your mind as well during the process. Pray that you accept what God has given you naturally. ANYBODY can go natural, with the right mind set. Decide now that you are going to love YOU no matter what!! LOVE YOUR HAIR!!!



Product of the month...December

Since I just did a post on flat ironing the hair, I figured why not do a review on a good serum.
 This will be my last post for the year of 2011. I pray that you all have a very prosperous New Year!!
This month's product is one I haven't tried, but will be purchasing, most likely today.

Urban Therapy Twisted Sista Different Strokes Serum

Urban Therapy Twisted Sista Different Strokes Serum is good anti frizz product to use when you want to flat iron your hair. It's especially good to use in the summertime when there is plenty of moisture in the air. 

Here is what the product advertises:

• Instantly eliminates frizz
• Give dazzling curls
• Smooths and seals and helps repair split ends
• Contains UV filter
• For both curly and straight hair styles
• Tested in London salons

Apply serum into palms of hands and smooth through wet hair to defrizz. Style as usual. For instant shine, smooth a small amount over dry hair.
The price is $4.49 and can be found at Walgreens, Rite-Aid, Target and etc or you can go to twistedsista.com.
Ingredients: Cyclopentasiloxane , Dimethicone , Cyclohexasiloxane , Isopropyl Myristate , Fragrance , Benzophenone-3 , Tocopheryl Acetate , Phenyl Trimethicone , Benzyl Salicylate , Eugenol , Hexyl Cinnamal , Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde , Limonene


Themakeupdivas.com says, "For added anti-frizz protection and styling, try the Different Strokes Serum – like magic, it eliminates frizz and adds shine to define curls and keep straight hair touchable and smooth with a boost of antioxidant support."

juicymagonline.com calls it a "Miracle Worker". They say it's a product that will have your hair able to withstand any and all weather-related issues. This lightweight serum is the perfect consistency for those with fine to medium hair and can be used on wet or dry hair for defined glossy curls, or sleek straight looks. This power-packed serum also includes a UV filter which protects hair from the destructive effects of the sun's rays.
For maximum results use after shampooing and conditioning hair. Pump a dime-size amount of product into the palm and rub between you hands. Trust us, a little bit of product goes a long way. Evenly distribute the serum from root to tip being careful not to slather too much serum on the roots as this will weigh hair down. Let air dry for gorgeous curls and waves or blow-dry for a smooth straight style.

Flat Ironing Tips

Are you flat ironing your hair with sometimey results? Not getting it as "straight" as you would like? Here are some tips that may be just what you need to get what you are looking for.

1. Make sure hair is conditioned well. If your hair isn't conditioned and moisturized well, then don't even think about putting any heat in your hair. Using just a heat protectant on unconditioned hair will not do the trick. Applying heat to dry, brittle hair is just asking for breakage. Only flat iron your hair if you condition it regularly.
2. Never flat iron dirty hair. It's best to flat iron your hair as soon as you finish freshly shampooing and conditioning your hair. If you apply heat to hair that has a bunch of dirt or product in it, then you are just baking that stuff into your hair. If you need a touch up in the middle of the week, use very little heat, once...not every day.
3. Use some sort of smoothing serum. After you have shampooed and conditioned, before blow drying apply a smoothing serum to your hair. This is especially good for straightening natural hair. If there is a lot of moisture in the air, try to find a humidity-resistant formula. Design Essentials Silk Essentials is my favorite.
4. Use a heat protectant. Once your hair is COMPLETELY dry, use a heat protectant on each section of the hair before you flat iron. Although a heat protectant helps, even the best ones out there will not hold up against heat that is too high.
5. Don't use oil before you iron. You may want to put a natural oil on your hair AFTER you flat iron  for a little added weight, if your hair is limp and fine then you won't need it, but using oil before you flat iron will give you too much weight and you won't achieve the bouncy look you are after.
6. Do not put heat on wet hair. For the best results, make sure your hair is totally dry before putting a flat iron to it. Either blow dry your hair in its entirety or if you don't want to put excessive amounts of heat in your hair let your hair air dry until it's about 80% dry then blow dry the rest of the way. If your hair isn't completely dry before flat ironing, it will just frizz up.
7. Take your time. Slow and steady wins the race. Don't flat iron your hair if you are in a hurry. Using slow and controlled movements will give you the best results, but don't linger in one place too long. Get as close to the roots as you can and pull the iron down in one smooth motion. If you  hurry through it, you may have to go over the section again...and again...and again. Don't forget, the less heat the better.
8. Adjust your heat settings as needed. Naturals will be surprised to find that they have two or three different textures in their hair, it's not uncommon. In my case, the crown of my head is a lot curlier and requires higher heat than my nape area, which has a very loose curl. So, just because your flat iron can heat up to 450 degrees doesn't mean you  have to use that much heat on every area of your head. That's a sure fire way of permanently straightening or damaging your natural curls.
9. Don't iron big sections of hair. Big, chunky sections of hair won't straighten to your liking. Try not to press wider or thicker than 1 inch at a time.
10. Wrap your hair at night. Now that you have done all that hard work straightening your hair, why ruin it by no nighttime maintenance!!? If you wrap your hair at night and cover it with a silk or satin scarf, then by morning you won't need to do much of anything besides taking it down and combing through it. You will already have a slight curve and volume...no more heat should be required.

Simple as 1..2..3 or maybe 10!!! LOL!! LOVE YOUR HAIR!!

 

Fix up that Fro!! Accessorizing

Making the decision to go natural gives you a certain  je ne saia quoi, so to speak. One way to keep that certain something popping is to experiment with different accessories for your hair. Accessories can be as simple as you prefer or they can be bold, making a major statement. I, myself, rely on accessorizing when I'm having a "I don't care" hair day. I have gotten the question, "I'm bored with my hair, what can I do with it?" Well, if you're tired of the same old twists, twist outs, braids or frohawks, then rock some stunning accessories.

Scarves: My favorite way of making my "bad" hair look good.  It is very versatile. You can wear it as a head band or cover the entire head. You can tie them any way you like, either with the knot behind your head or in front. Be creative and experiment. You can't go wrong with scarves.

 

Flowers: Another great way to spruce up your style is with flowers. I usually add it over my ear, but the sky is the limit. Put them any where you choose. Have them as big or as small as you want. Heck, put more than one in at a time.

Headbands: For the most part, headbands are usually used to hold the hair away from the face, but why not snazz it up and use it as a focal point of your hairstyle.



Clips, banana clips, barrettes, hair sticks, etc.: Excellent ways to pin your hair up in a stylish way. I have become very fond of using banana clips to pin my hair when they are two strand twisted. It's also a fashionable way of protecting the ends of your hair by tucking them into your style and pinning them up. 

 

Beanies: So, now that it's getting cold outside, you'll want to cover that head with some sort of hat. Beanies are a great way of protecting the hair from the elements and once again hiding "I don't care" hair. I'm quick to toss a beanie on my two week old twists when I don't have time to take them down. 

  

So, have fun fixing your natural hair up with different accessories. You may even do something "dangerous" and step outside your box. Check out some of the pictures for different ideas! LOVE YOUR HAIR!!!!