Wash hair day blues

Wash hair days I admit are not my favourite days of the week, and I’m sure many of you can agree to that, especially if you don’t possess “wash ‘n go” hair. Wash ‘n go was always described to be the type of hair thread that you simply shampoo, rinse, condish, rinse (or leave in) and off you go. Either air drying and your hair turns out to be uber defined curls or you have very straight hair that doesn’t know the meaning of frizz.

So why is it such a schlep to wash hair?

For many of us wash ‘n go hair is a dream, and so we have to put in the extra time to style after the last rinse. Curly hair need lots of tlc and products that will aid in giving it the moist lustre it need to look great and healthy. So what do I do on my hair wash days? Of late I’ve been blow drying then twisting my tresses because at this stage I’m healing some piercings in my ears. I figured with my hair up it doesn’t get in the way which is true. Other than that, my hair wash days are lazy and quick... yes quick! 

My quick-wash hair technique

1.    Rinse and shampoo

2.    Conditioner and detangle (using a good brush as combs have proven to freak my tresses out too much)

3.    Let it set for 5 minutes

4.    Rinse

5.    Apply after care product

6.    Twist

That’s basically my regimen and sometimes I skip steps 3, 4 and 5 and simply twist my hair with same conditioner and let that set then loosen twists after a day or two and let it be till the next hair wash day. J  

Feel free to share how you do you uber quick hair wash routine.

Thanks for reading – until next time & keeping it natural! 

Nicole Ari Parker

4 Reasons to Be a Naturalista

Growing out your natural hair is not only a fabulous way to showcase your true tresses, but also a much healthier way to grow your hair long especially if your hair is prone to perms and harsh chemical damage. If you’re pursuing your journey as a naturalista, then you will see that it can be daunting sometimes as well as very rewarding. Naturalista is a slang word for people who wear their natural hair as it grows out their head and the term is usually associated with “kinky” afro curly hair. 

Solange Knowles

The following are the perks of growing your natural hair:

1. Healthier hair

When growing your natural hair you will need patience and perseverance in order to reach your goals, and in the long run you can enjoy healthier natural hair. Hair is healthier when you avoid harsh chemicals and ingredients as found in relaxers, perms and colour treatments.

2. Easy to style

Whilst you may have waves, ringlets, s-curls or z-patterns, you will find that there are several ways to style your hair naturally. You can enjoy protective and quick protective styles like “two-strand twists”, “braids”, “cornrows” or simply pining it halfway or wearing a cure hair band.

3.Longer hair

Perms and relaxers may seem to make thick curly hair easier to manage, but in the long run it can cause excessive damage which in the end leads to brakeage and hair loss in some cases like bald patches even. Wearing weaves and extensions over a long period of time can also cause a receding hairline and cause breakage as the original hair is tightly braided to accommodate the weave. Without these aspects in play and with patience and care your natural hair can grow out long and healthy.

4.Fashionable

It seems in this age the “big hair” concept is at the top of every season’s fashion list, from runway models to clothing catalogues, big hair on men and women can be seen all over. If you got it why not flaunt it!

So if you’re a naturalista rocking your natural hair why not goes ahead and enjoy because it’s all yours naturally!

4 Reasons to Be a Naturalista

Growing out your natural hair is not only a fabulous way to showcase your true tresses, but also a much healthier way to grow your hair long especially if your hair is prone to perms and harsh chemical damage. If you’re pursuing your journey as a naturalista, then you will see that it can be daunting sometimes as well as very rewarding. Naturalista is a slang word for people who wear their natural hair as it grows out their head and the term is usually associated with “kinky” afro curly hair. 

Solange Knowles

The following are the perks of growing your natural hair:

1. Healthier hair

When growing your natural hair you will need patience and perseverance in order to reach your goals, and in the long run you can enjoy healthier natural hair. Hair is healthier when you avoid harsh chemicals and ingredients as found in relaxers, perms and colour treatments.

2. Easy to style

Whilst you may have waves, ringlets, s-curls or z-patterns, you will find that there are several ways to style your hair naturally. You can enjoy protective and quick protective styles like “two-strand twists”, “braids”, “cornrows” or simply pining it halfway or wearing a cure hair band.

3.Longer hair

Perms and relaxers may seem to make thick curly hair easier to manage, but in the long run it can cause excessive damage which in the end leads to brakeage and hair loss in some cases like bald patches even. Wearing weaves and extensions over a long period of time can also cause a receding hairline and cause breakage as the original hair is tightly braided to accommodate the weave. Without these aspects in play and with patience and care your natural hair can grow out long and healthy.

4.Fashionable

It seems in this age the “big hair” concept is at the top of every season’s fashion list, from runway models to clothing catalogues, big hair on men and women can be seen all over. If you got it why not flaunt it!

So if you’re a naturalista rocking your natural hair why not go ahead and enjoy because it’s all yours naturally! :)

SUMMER TIME HAIR FOR BIG CURLY FROS

Here Are Some Fab Hair Styles For Those Sunny Days In South Africa

Summer is a great season, hot weather, great clothes, and just a time to let go and indulge on those clear, blue-skied days. Now just as protecting your skin against the harsh sun's rays is important, so too is the protection of your Natural Curls. 

A Dip In The Pool

• Due to chlorine in most swimming pools, it is always best to cover up your tresses with a swim cap. 
• As soon as you had your swim, you need to make sure that you rinse your hair properly. Experts say that a beer rinse will work wonders to soften, and clean hair from all the harsh chlorine. 
• Before you swim make sure that you protect your Natural Curls by applying a good amount of conditioner. Conditioner will seal the hair allowing less chlorine to get in. 

What About Hair Styles For Hot Days?

Natural Curls are dry by nature so it is important to avoid any further heat damage. The rays of the sun is harsh enough for your Natural Curls and avoiding heat from a hairdryer, flat iron or curling irons is your best bet for healthier looking hair.

High humidity tends to course shrinkage, but experts say it's wise to let your natural hair be, especially in summer when your hair will shrink due to humidity. Keep it natural as blow-drying will only be harder to maintain during the course of the day. 

Use leave-in conditioners, conditioners, light weight gels and anti-frizzing products to help maintain your Natural Curls this summer. 

Afro Curly Hair

Getting the Hang of things

I am to date becoming more and more better with my Natural Locks, it is becoming easier to style and do quick fixes when necessary. 

I still love Two Strand Twists though as this is a quick and solid way of defining my Natural 3B/4A Mixed Curles. My Natural Locks has been tricky in the past but it is all about trial and error if you ask me. 

Use Protective Styling : Two Strand Twists, Bantu Knots, Braids etc.

Use good hair products:

Good Conditioners

Oils

Setting Lotions 

and a good ol' hair regime and you nearly home free! 

Patience is key! Always work with your Natural Mixed Curls no matter the pattern type, some needs more nurturing than others, but it is all worthwhile!

Naturally Curly

Afro Curls

I got to just love the afro curls, I am an afro curly myself and I must say taking care of my natural hair is sometimes a daunting task to say the least.

Finding the best hair products for curly hair can be quite challenging too. With so many curly hair products on the shelves how does one know what exactly to buy? Well through this time I've come to learn that my afro curls are naturally dry and needs tones of moisture. To solve this I would head out and look for curly hair products that will provide my afro curls with deep conditioning moisture. The following are some tips to moisturize and protect natural curls:

• Deep conditioning regimes
• Oil treatments
• Leave in conditioners
• Protective styles
• Wide tooth combs / Paddle brushes

Once you find what works for your natural curls among the many curly hair products, you will soon be on your way to happy hair days everyday. 

Your Natural Curls

LET'S TALK CURL PATTERNS

If you are a natural curly beauty, then you should embrace Your Natural Curls. Your Natural Curls are very different compared to straight hair and they come in various types. For example: Waves, which are also referred to as an A type are a more straight and lose. “S” patterns which are sometimes called B type, are also easy to style with little effort. Tight coils, ringlets and “Z” patterned curls however, take more effort and product, as well as protective styling methods to enhance the natural curl without causing any damage.  

For “Z” patterns, Your Natural Curls will usually be tight springy coils or 4a-c type curls, one should use lots of conditioner and protective styles. Some protective styles for Your Natural Curls include: Bantu Knots, Twist Outs and Braid Outs, these are some very effective styling methods to help get that curl pattern, without the use of harsh chemicals.

I know that we would all prefer wash n go’s rather than and long routine when washing hair, but believe me, all the time spent on pre-styling Your Natural Curls is worthwhile because it produces amazing results. Products containing glycerine, other than silicone, has proven to work much better on certain curl patterns. Glycerine products are also known for not building up the way silicone products do.

Here is a good example of different products for curls as well as pictures of other curlies.
www.curls.biz

Always remember to use products meant for dry hair, as these will help fight frizz, and at the same time give you the healthy curls you want.

Till Next Time!!

Love your Curls!!!!