Afro – Bonita Valli

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.

I never realised my hair was layered.

Con you say DEFINITION?

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!

Naturals in the City 9

Lagos Natural Hair Meet Up NITC9

Busy Saturday tomorrow, but I’ll try my best to make this event…

xXx

Ps: Work is KILLING 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….

Yes, this is my no-make-up selfie 🙂

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

The Beat

After about two months of back -to-back twists, I finally unraveled my hair extensions and unveiled my underlying growth. Unlike hair straightening, twists give a heat-free stretch without fully eliminating the kinks, so I much prefer this method of stretching.

I’d decided to take my extensions out last Thursday night because I’d made plans for the weekend and knew it would be virtually impossible to squeeze in anything else. It was about 1:00am when my Mum and I were finally done and I was faced with a full head of thick natural hair. I couldn’t fathom the thought of sectioning my hair into my signature flat twists and so I decided I’d pull it up into a huge bun and pin the tips back into my bun. A little like a donut, just… without the donut.

My colleague, Michael, thinks my hair-do looks a lot like a drum and physically had to restrain himself from tapping a beat on the crown of my head whenever he passed by. Nevertheless, been rocking and loving the style I now call “The Beat” all week.

What do you think?

xXx

Ps: I need to work on my hair line. I think the braids (and twists) might finally be taking their toll on it.

Pps: COME ON NIGERIAAAA!!!! #WorldCup2014 Lol

Twenty Thirteen

It’s New Year’s Eve and so it’s no surprise that I’m reflecting on 2013 and optimistic about 2014 and it’s supposed prospects. This year alone, 2 yes TWO of my 4 sisters got engaged!!! All of a sudden life seems to have dawned on me as the echoes begin bouncing off the walls and the space turns claustrophobic. But I’ve decided to leave this rant for 2014 when the weddings are scheduled to hold sealing the deal on it all.

In the mean time, I will focus on the core of my blog and take you through the style that dominated my 2013 wardrobe. Incontestably, this has got to be the ‘Oleku’. For the none Nigerians out there, the ‘Oleku’ is a revised version of the traditional Yoruba attire the ‘Iro and Buba’. It’s a short sleeved blouse/buba accompanied by a wrapper and with the modernisation of the Oleku, Ejiro Amos Tafiri has launched the twist wrap which I was totally crazy about this year. Below are a few pictures for your viewing pleasure…….

In addition to my Oleku phase, I fell head over heels in love with my afro and had it out for a record 4weeks!!!! Yep, it truly has been an amazing year for me and the ‘fro. Below are some pictures, do indulge…….

Well that’s it for 2013 Bonitas. Happy New Year!

Ps: the last picture in the Oleku isn’t me. Lol, it’s Taiwo. But potato, potatoe right? (She’s going to kill me!)

Kinky Curly Coily?

Hola Bonitas!

It’s the weekend and yet I find that I’m caught in a bit of an awkward stint. The thing is, I haven’t quite latched on to the ‘Friday Feeling’ nevertheless, work mode appears to have evaded me. I’m hanging in limbo…. a transit… some kind of portage perhaps, who knows. In spite of this predicament, I have decided to return to my former love, the art of Blogging. Here we go…..

Recently, I’ve fallen head over heels in love with my natural kinks, curls well… more like coils (call it what you will) and I’ve been taking pictures non-stop in order to document my numerous experimental looks. For a change, I had the ‘fro out for 2 whole weeks (can you believe it?) and I loved every second of it. The sponge like texture is one of those things I’ll never get over and the underlying length restrained in the elasticity is an awe that will always leave me gobsmacked.

The last weekend that I had the ‘fro out, I headed to Gentle Touch for their natural goodness and as usual, I left a happy customer. Below are pictures hope you like…..

xXx

Ps: This post was meant to go up yesterday hence the references to Friday.

Pps: I have a Diesel Launch party to attend today 🙂