Category: Hair

Much ado about Nappy

People are constantly asking me how to grow/transition/maintain their natural hair and I find myself giving the same advice over and over again (I sound like I’m complaining but I secretly love it). So recently, Gbonju was wise enough to suggest that I document it in a blog.
This one is for my nappy sisters (and maybe brothers) out there crazy enough to go natural.
Let’s get to business.
Okay, you will need:
1. A spray bottle
2. Coconut Oil/Olive Oil
3. Some Shea Butter
4. Castor Oil (optional, but really useful if you want thick hair… who doesn’t want thick hair?)
Spray Bottle Composition
You should fill your spray bottle with the following:
– Coconut Oil/Olive Oil
– Castor Oil (optional)
– Water (a lot of it)
Olive Oil should generally be double the  equivalent of your Castor Oil. Water should make up the other half of your spray (Moisture! Moisture! Moisture!).
Morning Regimen
Spritz your hair with your mixture every morning when you wake up (preferably before you shower as the shower steam helps your hair absorb the mixture….. and that’s it, you’re good to go (easy peasy right?)
Evening/Night Regimen
Before you go to bed, make sure you use a satin/silk bonnet/scarf (Taiwo… I hope you’re reading this, you seem to think it’s a joke… it’s not! Yes people, Taiwo is natural now. We look like twins again). It reduces breakage because (believe it or not) kinky hair is extremely fragile.
Fortnightly Regimen
DEEP CONDITION!!!! It’s the absolute BEST thing you can do for your hair and it’s so easy.
Step 1: Put all your oils + a lump of Shea Butter in a cup/container (I don’t usually measure here, I just let them all have an organic party)
Step 2: Put in the microwave until the Shea Butter has melted (usually takes c. 10 seconds).
Step 3: Apply generously to your hair from root to tip
Step 4: Put on a shower cap/plastic bag and go about your usual Saturday routine
Step 5: After an hour or 2…. or 3 (however long you want but no less than 30 mins) wash as usual with your shampoo (don’t co wash)
Step 6: Enjoy silky soft hair (silky is an exaggeration, unless you straighten/chemically relax your hair, you will probably never enjoy silky soft hair again)
General Do’s and Don’ts
Don’t:
Don’t (ever) comb/brush your hair without spritzing it with water/your spray bottle composition first. Otherwise your hair WILL break
Try and avoid touching/manipulating your hair too often as that makes it extra frizzy and looks untidy (this one is for me; my hand is constantly in my hair).
Don’t compare your hair to anyone else’s. Your hair is unique to you, love it.
Do:
Let your hair breath once in a while. Constant weaves, braids, etc. will make your hair weak/fragile.
Do experiment a little play with Rhassoul Clay, Benotine Clay, eggs, avocado, etc. Not only is it fun, but you are literally feeding your hair.
Want more info on Natural hair? Feel free to visit my Pinterest. I take it very seriously (probably more seriously than I should LOL).
Sorry for the epistle, I got carried away.
xXx
Ps: I know I know… I took another hiatus. Surely, you’re used to this now so don’t judge
PPs: I recently bought myself a gift. It arrives tonight. I’m SUPER excited about it!
PPs: Tags and pictures will come later… if I remember

ElaBrown’s Coconut Oil

I’m a self-confessed product whore. I will try (almost) every and any product as long as it boasts of being 100% natural. I guess I’m of the school of thought that if my hair is natural, so should everything that goes in it (if only I treated my body the same way). Regardless of my scandalous acts, there are two products which I’ve remained loyal to- Coconut Oil and Castor Oil. While my Castor Oil brand is unchanging (Tropic Isle Living, it’ll be hard to convince me otherwise), I’ve really struggled to find a steady Coconut Oil brand in Lagos.

ElaBrown’s Coconut Oil was introduced to me by a friend and I decided I’d give it a go. I had 4 delivered a couple of days after chatting with her- 2 100ml bottles and 2 50ml bottles of coconut goodness. Let me tell you a bit about my experience with it so far:

Packaging: The screw cap bottle cover is perfect so I can carry it around- no spillage! The plastic bottle ensures it’s light so I don’t feel like I’m carrying unnecessary weight- perfect! But the paper labels soaked up oil from my palms and left the brand colours running through. It’s a relatively new brand so I’d say it’s forgivable.

Information Corner: Considering the size of the bottle I was very impressed with all the info provided without being “in your face” or looking cramped.

Product Quality: (Disclaimer… I’m no expert!!! But that won’t stop me from sharing my thoughts….) The smell is a pure, sweet undoubted fragrance only associated with Coconut oil. The colour is clear and light with an even distribution (no particles settling at the bottom). The weight is light and absorbent as Coconut Oil should be.

Price: A 500ml bottle goes for NGN500 while a 100ml bottle goes for NGN1,000

Below are my pictures…..

 

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Would I use it again, definitely! I just wish she had bigger bottles. Have you tried ElaBrown’s Coconut Oil (or any other brand for that matter)? Any thoughts??

Email: elabrown09@gmail.com

Phone: +2349093923923

xXx

Ps: This is not a sponsored post. Never met the owner. Only ever chatted on whatsapp but she seems super nice.

PPs: Has anyone ever tried the “Oil Cleansing Method”? Curious…..

Sweet Almond

Found this post laying fallow and ralised I never actually published it.

If anyone’s interested, it was drafted on December 2, 2015. Hope you like.

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Everybody knows I’m a huge fan of all things Nigerian so there’s no point re-emphasizing (then again, I just did ). For the past month or so, I’ve put aside my Coconut oil, Castor oil and Olive oil. The focus has been on Natural Nigerian’s Sweet Almond Oil. I’ve used it for pretty much everything- my hair, my body and my face and I’ve totally fallen for it. “Why?” I hear you ask! Quite frankly, because it “does what it says on the tin”:

  1. It’s not greasy (at all)!
  2. It’s light
  3. It’s easily absorbed

A few benefits of Almond Oil include:

  1. It controls hair loss
  2. It is an amazing makeup remover
  3. It is an anti-dandruff oil
  4. It delays ageing

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Is it my new “Holy Grail”? Maybe…. potentially…. clearly, I haven’t decided.

Have you tried Almond Oil? What are your thoughts?

xXx

Ps: OLAITAN IS IN TOWN!!!!!!!!!!!! AND I’m off this week. It’s a blessed week.

Rhassoul Clay

Hello Beautiful People!

Recently, I’ve been experimenting with new hair routines and the first on my endless list is Rhassoul Clay! Let me tell you a bit about it….

Benefits (or so they say) are as follows:

1. Softens;

2. Moisturizes;

3. Reduces dandruff and product build up (I have a LOT of that); and

4. Aids in detangling

My experience:

1. Reduced dandruff and product build up; and

2. Increased curl definition

My recipe included:

1. Rhassoul clay… lots of it! I have a full head of thick, jet black type 4C (Wura thinks I deserve a league of my own- “4D”) hair.

2. Organic Apple Cider Vinegar

3. Virgin Organic Coconut Oil

I purchased Rhassoul clay and Coconut oil from my number 1 Natural Hair Consultant- Beautifully Nappy, you can buy yours HERE.

I can’t even lie, my hair wasn’t any softer, neither was it easier to manage. But I must say, Rhassoul clay did wonders for my dandruff and in general it was a fun experience. Have any of you ever used Rhassoul Clay? Reap any benefits… please share.

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I never realised my hair was layered.

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Look at that shrinkage…. about 75% of my hair length disappeared…. AMAZING! The curl definition is ridiculous!

Would I use it again…? Yes, infact I have! It’s always a fun experience and my Mum’s reaction is the same everytime… “JESU!!!” (Jesus in Yoruba).

xXx

Ps: Beautifully Nappy stocks all kinds of natural goodness, check out the blog!

PPs: I’m learning French on DuoLingo and I’m on a 4 day streak! Longest like… ever!!!! Go me!

 

Shrinkage… the Struggle!

Shrinkage…. I hate shrinkage!

I’m faced with the woes of shrinkage as often as I have a wash day. I find that my hair works like a defense mechanism, as moisture touches the ‘fro, each strand retreats into a tangled mane recoiling back to the roots. I often feel estranged from my hair when this magic happens, I mean compare my shrinkage to the stretch. It’s a battle I face often enough and yet I can’t seem to combat the struggle.

Last week I decided to document the magic that occurs with every wash day. A reminder (if you like) of what I go through as often as I wash my hair….

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Yes, this is my no-make-up selfie 🙂

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Does anyone have any tips on how to overcome the struggle that is Shrinkage? If you do, please share as more often than not, I end up blow drying which leaves my ‘fro stripped and thirsty and so hard/dry!

xXx

Ps: I used Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) to wash my hair for the first time. It was fantastic! I totally recommend it.

PPs: I’m feeling pretty good today, the intern in my office tried to guess my age and her guess was 21, LOL. Love it!!!

Beauty Beats: Kinky Apothecary

There are only about a handful of natural belles at Church and so whenever one walks in the sanctuary, I notice.

Aunty Tosin is one of the naturalistas at Church. She has a healthy looking afro, which is always well maintained and perfectly tamed and it was for this very reason that we got talking in the first place.

I first noticed her gorgeous hair about two years ago and it was then that she introduced me to The Kinky Apothecary. I struggled to remember the name because I’d never heard the word ‘Apothecary’ (I kept calling it ‘Apocathery’ LOL). The blog is pretty much a natural hair convenience store and the founder- Nibi’s thick and long hair has me visiting more often than I admit.

I recently spotted this feature of Nibi’s natural hair on Ndani TV’s Beauty Beats so thought I’d share with you all. I hope you like….

xXx

Ps: I think I’m going to buy some Kinky Apothecary products…. product review I hear you say? Lol