Natural Hair | Fav Products

I get this question a lot. What do you use on your hair? Well, let me answer you boo!

Water

Sounds cliche but our hair thrives on water and moisture. Be sure to give your hair plenty of water, washing it at least weekly. To re moisturize during the week I use a spray bottle filled with water focusing on my ends. I don't add anything to the water. It's simple plain ole water.

Coconut Oil
BEST THING EVER. Coconut oil is so good guys. Great for sealing in moisture, moisturizing, adding to deep conditioners, pre-pooing, heat protectant... It's a holy grail product. I may add olive oil to it, but it's definitely my go to oil. I use locally made coconut oil, since it's accessible for me and they work like a charm.

Shea Butter
Thank you to the Ghanian people for producing this wonderful butter. I usually use this for moisturizing and twist outs. I use it with the coconut oil, but try to focus the oil on my ends and the butter on my shaft. This gives incredible shine, keeps the hair soft and manageable. It's just awesome.

ORS Replenshing Conditioner
This right hereeeeeee...sent from heaven. If you're looking for an affordable deep conditioner which gives great moisture, shine and adds all the glamour and sparkle back to your hair, this is it. It is also really good as a base conditioner because you can easily add products to it to give it a boost. I usually add coconut oil to give it that extra pizaz.

Tresemme Conditioner
Famously known as 'the white conditioner'. I absolutely love this because of the size and affordability. The bottle is huge, it smells great and is awesome for cowashing. I absolutely love using this. I sometimes use it as a leave-in conditioner.

Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie
Mine is all out, but! When I want an extra BOMB twist out or bantu knot out, this right here gives GREAT definition and shine. Guys, this is so good, but definitely on the pricey side. But it works like a dream.

Eco-styler Gel
Probably the best styling gel that ever existed in stores. This stuff is amazeballs. I've tried a whole bunch of them, but I gravitate towards the argan oil one because I love the smell. The hold is like...no other and the shine....ON FLEEK. I use this for wash n go's and stretched styles. It does have a slight crunchy feel, but it's easy to remove that feeling with a bit of oil.

Hope this was helpful!

Natural Hair Chit Chat #3

Today's topic is....dum dum dummmmmmm.... TEXTURE ENVY!

Before I begin, let me define what texture envy is. My definition is,

texture envy phrase: a term used in the afro-textured hair community to denote someone who is envious/jealous of the natural texture of someone else. I totally wish my hair looked like hers! The texture envy is real!

Now that the air is clear, let us just look at the issues that revolve around this. Since the natural hair movement swept the world, women all over are embracing their true 'natural' texture. Most people had no idea what their natural hair looked like due to years of chemicals and extensions. Of course they were excited to see the beautiful mass of curls underneath all those straggly relaxed ends. Everyone was accepting their various curl pattern, but early on in the game, there were people who had a preference for a specific type of curl pattern. That is the looser curl patten, where definite curls are visible. Most comments are usually, what do you do to make your hair look like that? OMG! I wish my hair was like that? Now, it is completely fine to admire the curl pattern of another natural. But, the problem therein lies when you aspire to change your natural curl pattern into the one you admire. Some people go as far as altering their natural hair and claiming it is of a different pattern. Another issue is that of acceptance. Naturally tight kinky hair is less accepted and apparently less beautiful than the looser curl. I do not have to tell you that is a lie.

The truth is, the natural hair movement is focused on the acceptance and appreciation of your natural hair texture. All hair is beautiful. It may be difficult to accept and appreciate. But you need not lie or have an overwhelming desire to have another person's texture to the extent where you hate yours. That's where the problem lies. We need to work harder on accepting and loving ourselves and then moving from there.

All hair is beautiful, so love yours.

Natural Hair Update

Natural for...
3 1/2 years

Current Length...
Brastrap/nipple length  inching unto midback length

Regimen...
Kinda sorta non-existent. I just do what I have to. No structure to it.

Who would have thought I would make it through the fire! It's been a long stuggle. One of the main struggles for me is dealing with the constantly changing lengths. I would perfect a style, be it a wash n go or a twist out and 6 months later, my hair is suddenly too long and it looks like a hot mess.  Can you believe this? That's one struggle I definitely did not expect. I had been stuck in the short hair phase for a bit that I did not realize that my hair was getting longer and I could do different things with it. 

Nowadays I mostly wear my hair in chunky twist out styles, buns and mini-twists. It has really been working for me and contributing to growth and health. I do forget to mositurize and deep condition regularly, which is bad, but I do try yo keep on top of it. Honestly this much hair requires crazy maintenence and sometimes my schedule does not allow me. BUT! I'm on a path of taking better care and achieving my hair goals!

Follow Me!

If you're a blog-a-holic like moi, you definitely wanna use Bloglovin' to help organize your favourite blogs and find other amazing blogs. The site is pretty damn awesome!

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Musical Inspiration

If you have not heard about her, I suggest you stop reading this post and look for F-K-A T-W-I-G-S. 

Who is she? Only one of the most amazing artists our pitiful ears could be blessed with. Her work is definitely one of a kind. Hailing for the U.K. Twigs is as absolutely stunning. Her voice will put you in a trance and the melodies are just complicated but satisfying. The videos go above and beyond your expectations, like, who would even think to do this? Why is this sooo deep? What is she even trying to portray? Why can't I stop listening to this??? (The videos may freak you out! Viewer discretion definitely advised)

If you're into the Indie/RnB/music-you-listen-to-when-you're-high, you should definitely check her out!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8yix8PZKlw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yDP9MKVhZc <<<Least likely to freak you out. 

Internet Shyness

I've always been a bit closed off from the world in general. For a part of my life, I was constantly afraid of being judged for my opinions, my writing, my style...pretty much everything that I believed embodied me. This shyness wasn't only one that existed in day to day physical interaction, but also surprisingly on the Internet as well. That may appear to be unusual since people are usually more courageous over the Internet. But interaction with people is the same to me, no matter the medium. 

How did I end up blogging or even being interested in blogging. It was like an online diary. I was aware that people could read it, but it never occurred to me that people could read it. It was just a way for me to record my feelings and develop my writing skills.

Somewhere along the line, the paranoia crept in. Call it the realization that my posts were being read by complete strangers AND my friends. The panic was surreal. I completely stopped blogging. I would visit my old blog and feel like I gave up on something so important to me. Ofcourse there were days I woke up feeling totally stupid for my anxieties, but other times, it was challenging. 

BUT!

I've decided to step out of the realms of my comfort. Push myself to be a little #Shameless like Shameless Maya on YouTube. Fear always tries to confine you to you these walls you have created. But after a while, you realize you're in your own way of success. All you have to do is tell fear step aside. It's always going to be nagging at you, some days it may overwhelm you, but you keep on fighting the good fight!

I mean, once I'm doing something I love, it cannot possibly be that bad.