Afrobella Brunch Event

Afrobella (Patrice) & I

Over the weekend I took the time out to go to the Afrobella event. Overall it was a great atmosphere, not too large of a crowd, and a great opportunity to meet people interested in natural hair. If you don't know who Afrobella is, go peep her blog here. She is blogger from Chicago who blogs about hair, makeup and all the wonderful stuff I enjoy. You make-up junkies may recognize her from the MAC Cosmetics Bloggers Collection that released earlier in the year.

My beautiful friend

Blogger AJCiti & Afrobella

Lucky girl, won a give-away!

I attended the event with 3 friends, one being AJ who is a fellow blogger.  Patrice worked the room and took time to answer questions and speak with everyone on a individual level. It was like sitting with a good friend, we talked work, makeup, hair, and life (basically all the things that are important to my existence).

Overall I left with a full stomach, satisfied with the great conversation, and my friends left with some give-away prizes. I'm excited to see what else is to come from Afrobella!

P.S. Yes I cut my hair.

P.P.S. Yes I have a new camera, you likey?

xo.

Guest Blogging: What Woman Want

Hi Dolls!

I was asked to do a guest blog post about healthy hair care over at the blog What Woman Want. 

Go check it & let me know what you think.

Feel free to leave comments on their blog as well!

Click Here! 

Follow me on Twitter Here!

xo.

Hair Diaries: Heat Free Styling

The Hairy Truth

To keep hair healthy it is best to keep manipulation minimal. This includes excessive heat, from blow drying, flat ironing, curling etc. For me this is the hardest thing to do. The amount of styles you can create with  heat tools are endless. So when it comes to heat-less styling creativity comes in. Heat dries out hair and causes unnecessary breakage and split -ends. I try to only use heat on my hair once a month.

Hair Me Out 

There are many way to add curls and get your hair straight without using heat. The process is longer and it will not be exactly the same as using heat tools, but its pretty darn close.

I LOVE big hair. Big curly hair? Even better. No heat? I'm beyond chuffed! Here is how I achieve it all.

Basics: The initial foundation of all these styles is a Bantu-Knot Out. I part my hair in 4 sections and Bantu-knot each one over night. A bantu knot is formed by twisting the hair and wrapping it around itself as you twist, forming the knot. Secure the loose end with a bobby-pin. I personally do not apply any product to my hair, because I want body and movement.

Zoolander!

The next morning I let them down and switch my part to a side part. After a little whipping my hair back and forth and finger combing I get this look:

TIP: The smaller your bantu-knots the tighter your curls.


STYLEone:

Big Curls. The bigger the better, fluff it up as much as your like! To maintain this specific look, re do your bantu knots each night, so the curls keep their form.

Style Side Note:  

You can create a great messy summer up-do. Which I did but didn't picture. Gather the back of your hair and secure with bobby-pins or spin pins, and leave out your side swept bang. Don't bother being neat when gathering the back, in my opinion it looks best a little messy.

STYLEtwo:

 As the days pass your curls will fall. This style is great for days 2 or 3. Pinning one side of you hair to the side and letting the curls fall is an effortless look.

STYLEthree:

The last style is the fishtail braid that is getting quite popular. Again, I enjoy messy hair, so the braid is not neat and the curls add texture. By this day the curls are not pronounced so it a great time to stretch the hairstyle out for one last day.

What other heat free styles do you guys enjoy?

xo.

Hair Diaries: Protein & Moisture Balance

The Hairy Truth

To keep hair healthy it is essential to maintain a moisture and protein balance. Sounds a bit odd, I know. Each strand of hair is composed of protein bundles which can be broken and manipulated through chemical treatments such as relaxers or simply straightening or curling your hair. Lack of protein creates breakage but so does excessive protein. Hair also needs moisture to stay healthy and just like protein levels, excessive moisture can also cause breakage. Healthy hair has a balance of both moisture and protein.

Without getting scientific read on...

Hair Me Out 

To have healthy hair your strands need to be replenished with protein. To balance out protein your tresses also need moisture to prevent dryness. 

To add protein or moisture back into your hair you can use a protein or moisturizing conditioner, shampoo, moisturizer or spray-leave-in. Some of my favorite products include:

Protein: Motions CPR Treatment Conditioner, Aphogee Keratin 2 Minute Reconstructor Treatment, Aphogee Keratin & Green Tea Reconstructurizer Spray

Moisture: Aussie 3-Minute Miracle Conditioner, Hairtrition Color Protect Leave-In, One 'N Only Argan Oil Restorative Mask, Curl Junkie Beauticurls Leave-in Hair Conditioner

TIP: Hair with proper protein levels maintain moisture levels better, which = BALANCE :)

But you ask, HOW do you know whether you need a protein or moisture treatment. If you are experience breakage majority of the time protein is needed. To be more accurate, conduct a strand test on wet hair. 

When you hair is wet, take a shedded strand from the root and pull on it from both ends. 

1) If the hair breaks immediately and is usually dry and brittle when not wet, you need a moisture treatment.

2) If your hair stretches and breaks, or stretches excessively you need a protein treatment.

note: You hair should have some elasticity, but should not stay stretched out when pulled on, it should revert.

How does you hair feel today, do you need moisture or protein? Leave me any questions below!

xo.

Hair Diaries: Low Manipulation & Protective Styles

Since starting my blog & in my 'real' life, the questions I get asked the most are concerning my hair. I've decided to answer and provide as much information on my hair/hair care & products through a blog series called "Hair Diaries'. The posts will be more text but they'll be as informative as possible.

Questions/request are welcome :)

If you want to know more about my hair/hair routine at the moment check this out.

 The HAIRY Truth:

The trick to longer healthier hair is length retention. Every one's hair grows! I don't care what race you are, if you're breathing your hair is growing. The trick is to maintain as much length as possible. You lose length through breakage, damage, or split ends.

HAIR me out:

Low manipulation and protective hair-styles help maintain length by putting as little stress on the hair strands as possible. These styles are one of the many techniques to maintain hair length.

Low manipulation includes techniques such as finger combing. Instead of opting for a brush to de-tangle your hair, use your fingers. You'll rip out less strands and be able to feel and tackle knots with less stress. If you must use a tool opt for a wide tooth comb instead of a brush, it reduces stress on your strands as well as less damaged ends.

Quick tip: De-tangle from the bottom of your strands working up. You'll cause less damage this way.

The key is to manipulate your hair as LITTLE as possible. So no elaborate styles.

Protective styling is similar to low manipulation. The main goal is still length retention with an emphasis on protecting the ends of your strands. Your ends are the oldest part of your hair, thus the weakest. Simply by putting your hair in a bun you protect your ends from rubbing against your clothes or becoming damaged by the elements (sun and wind, etc.)

Protective styles include, wigs, weaves, braids, buns, and pony tails. Just make sure that if you opt for wigs, weaves, etc. you take care of you hair underneath with regular washing/conditioning. NO body likes STANK hair even if your weave is cute :)

For those opting for pony tails and buns be careful not to make them too tight because you can end up with tension breakage or worse traction alopecia a la Naomi Campbell. This occurs when you hair breaks in certain areas from excessive tension. Switch up the positioning of your bun/pony for variation and less stress on the same follicles.

Using these techniques as well as a proper hair regimen your hair should become thicker and longer.

Hope you enjoyed the read :)

xo.

Hair Care: Relaxed Hair

After debating back and forth if I wanted to write this post, I decided to jump right in. There are many bloggers/vloggers out there who run amazing hair blogs for relaxed and natural hair, here, here, & here so I wasn't sure if I would do the field justice.

Overall my blog is a beauty blog, so it seems fit that I post about haircare as well as hair products. This is more of an intro post, I will post more as time goes by depending on what you guys think.

Jan 2011 - After Haircut

Starting off with my hair...

I have 4b relaxed hair

I've been relaxed for about 9 years.

My hair hit about bra strap length, but I cut a few inches off my last trip to the hair dresser just because my ends were looking a bit harsh.

I have no desire of going natural any time soon, but admire those who rock the look. It is a possibility for the future.

 I'm currently trying to grow out my hair to about mid back length, so forget the rumors you've heard about black girls not being able to have long healthy hair.

Jan 2011

My Regimen

• I relax about every 10 weeks, give or take a week or so.
• I do a hot oil treatment with virgin coconut oil weekly.
• Wash weekly with a moisturizing Shampoo and deep condition under a hooded dryer.
• I moisturize and seal every 2nd day.
• I do not practice protective styling & use direct heat sparingly.
• NOTE: Winter has been pretty harsh to my ends, so I may use protective styling these next few months.

November 2010

Products:
These are products I use now, things change quite often. When I go to the stylist she uses mostly Mizani products/conditioners.

Shampoo:
- Herbel Essence Hydralicious or Seriously Straight Shampoo

-One n Only Moisture Repair Shampoo

Clarifying Shampoo:
- Ion Clarifying Shampoo

Protein Treatment/Conditioner:
- CPR Treatment Conditioner

Moisturizing Conditioners:
- Aussie Moist
- Creme of Nature Nourishing and Strengthening Treatment

Leave-In Conditioner/Moisturizers:
- Kimmaytube Leave In

-Herbal Essence Long term Relationship Leave In

Sealants:
-Virgin Coconut Oil

-EVOO

Pre-Shampoo:

-Virgin Coconut Oil

Scalp Oil:
- Virgin Coconut Oil

Heat Protectant/Serum:
- One n Only Argan oil
-Chi Silk Infusion


Co-wash Moisturizing Conditioner:
- Herbal Essences Long Term Relationship Conditioner

Relaxer Prep:
- Base my scalp with Extra Virgin Coconut Oil or JBCO as well as my hair & ends.

Relaxer:
-Mizani

Mid Dec 2010- Braidout

If you have any questions about why I use certain products, or if you'd like a specific post on something, leave me a comment below. With specific questions, I can answer in detail. Remember this is what works for my hair. No ones hair is the same or reacts the same to products, learning comes with trial and error.

xo.