Here is how to Transform your Hair Care Game

Hiya! how are you doing? I have really great news for you. Are you one of those people who have not been giving your hair the nourishment it needs? Maybe your hair is long, full and healthy. Maybe you consider yourself a "Lazy Naturalista" or you have just gotten confused about how to care for your hair because of so much conflicting information out there

Are you one of those people who have been battling dry hair for ages? Maybe you have listened to many people talking about how you can daily moisturize and seal your hair, but you have not seen how that works in practical terms.

After a decade of helping women achieving their hair and scalp goals, I’ve created the Ultimate Moisture Challenge that is for you if...

• You are dealing with dry hair and scalp
• Your hair breaks a lot
• You have not been able to properly nail your moisturising and sealing routine
• You moisturise regularly your hair but it dries fast
• You have not been able to retain length
• You want to build a habit of regularly caring for your hair
• You need communal support in hair care
• The Ultimate Moisture Challenge is a FREE 15-Day challenge to help your hair get the maximum hydration it needs.
• 
  

Once you sign up for the challenge, you get

• Daily Task Prompts
• Ultimate Moisture Journal
• Products and Tools checklist
• Live Q and A Sessions with a Certified Trichologist
• Access to an accountability Group

Registration starts  on July 26, 2021, so click here to sign up before the doors close. 

5 STEPS TO FRIZZ-FREE HAIR

We can all agree that having natural hair has so many advantages and no real disadvantage, only challenges. One of those challenges is frizzy hair. Frizzy natural hair is quite unattractive and you may think that it is inevitable due to how often it occurs and how many people have now taken it as the new normal. Frizzy hair can be handled and avoided completely.

What is frizzy hair?

Your natural hair gets frizzy when the cuticle layer of your natural hair is raised. A raised hair cuticle allows more moisture to pass through and swells the hair strands, resulting in dehydrated and dry hair. When your natural hair is dry, it appears frizzy rather than smooth and well-defined. Unfortunately, curly natural hair is more prone to frizzing than straight hair. 

What causes frizzy hair?

Now we know that frizzy hair is a result of dehydration in your natural hair. So, what are the main causes of dehydration in natural hair which result in frizz?

Get Through Your Natural Hair Wash Day Without Pulling Your Hair Out (no pun intended)

Remembering that your wash day is in a few days time is enough to give your “hard girl” persona the boot in the behind. You even begin to have palpitations because of what’s coming. It also doesn’t help that people keep saying wash day is always such a long and unproductive day because you can’t do anything else. You start with deep conditioning overnight, then pre-poo, then shampoo wash, the condition, then deep condition (again!), you even steam, then rinse. Don’t forget detangling which can take hours, before you style in twists or any other style your tired hands will allow you to make. 

The bottom line is: YOU ARE EXHAUSTED! It’s no wonder you feel a slight fever when you think of wash day. You must have wished, a number of times, that you could just snap your fingers and everything, including all unruly strands, will fall into place, leaving you with the perfect naturalista hair. Unfortunately, ko le werk. But we are not bearers of bad news, we are preachers of love and as such, we bring you quick and easy steps to keep you from pulling your natural hair (pun intended here) by ensuring a faster, easier, and smarter natural hair wash day routine.

Keep reading and learn how we make our natural hair wash day, fun day,

Let's Moisturise: Week 4 Update

Hello People,

How have you been? It's been 3 weeks since we started the challenge and I touched base with the people that indicated interest and the questions I asked were;

What are your challenges?
What is working for you?
Do you have any questions?

Here's what they had to say:

Atilola;

"It's been great for me. Not really challenging because I have been moisturising regularly before joining this challenge.

My only challenge is that I have been in a lot of weavings lately (no attachment), and a lot of the moisture goes directly on my scalp while moisturing the hair. Since there are other things in the spritz (it causes faster build up on my scalp). So I need for fins a way to moisturise the hair well without interfering too much with the scalp. This would have been easier with two strand twists"

Titi: 

"Yes, update. Hmmmmmmm... well I just noticed there is less shedding and I noticed my hair is less dry and frizzy unlike before. My challenge is I sometimes forget to moisturise in the night but I have been consistent with my morning routine"

Ashake:

"So far so good my hair has been thriving(even when I forget to moisturize or sleep with a satin scarf). My routine is still the same except that I now deep condition every week. Detangling has been a lot easier. Peep my twist"

How is the harmattan treating your hair? I am sure almost everyone has gone to do a protective style or not. Please let us know, how moisturising has been this season? Any challenges? What is working for you? 

Baby Lotion as moisturiser for your Natural Hair?

Hello Naturalistas?

How are you and how is the weather treating your natural hair? Moisturising my hair has been a challenge as it dries out too QUICKLY!! Sigh!!

I was speaking to someone over the weekend, she has dreadlock, while we were both lamenting on the harshness of the weather on our hair, she mentioned that she bought baby lotion to you.

*rings alarm*

I kept wondering if I heard correctly but I didn't even bother to ask further. I went to Google to try to check what the world is saying about it and from what I found there are a few things about baby lotion that make people use it.

- Baby lotion is water-based and light weight.
- It makes their hair softer.
- Maintains Curls
- Helps control frizzy hair.

I think I will try it if it is safe - I am desperate for some moisture now. I want to know if there are people out there that use baby lotion for their hair! What is your experience? Or is it something you are willing to try if it is safe?

"Moisturise your Natural Hair": What is the fuss?

Hi Naturalistas!

I hope your week has kicked off great and the moisturising? One of the first things we hear as new naturalistas is "You must Moisturise" but really, what is the fuss about it? Why is it so important? I want us to discuss this as we are trying to 'embark' on this challenge so we are armed with not just the 'How' but also the 'Why'

I have spent alot of time doing my mini research on the 'why' for moisturizing. Here are a few thing I came up with.

Moisture refers to the presence of a liquid, especially water, often in trace amounts. [Wikipedia]

Moisture and Hair; 

• The human body is made up of 45 - 70% of water depending on the body size. We need an approximately 8 cups of water each day to avoid dehydration and water makes up 25% of the weight of hair [DurableHealth] so there is need to drink enough water. Water helps internally and externally- which is what we are mostly focused on- but we also need to drink alot of water daily. 

• Hair is essentially 'dead' when it grows out of the skin and it easily drys out which is why we need to have a sealant to lock in the moisture that we have put in there.

• Moisture is temporary which is why we encourage a daily moisturising. 

• The role of moisture is to reduce the damage that is done to hair during manipulation by increasing the elasticity of the hair. 

• I also learnt that there can be something as over moisturizing which we should avoid because your hair is as 'good' as it is when it is dry in that state. 
• A moisturised hair look and feel alot better and hey! Who doesn't want that? 

So, what do you think? What is the fuss about Moisturinsing?

P.S: Bukky! Send us picture of your hair o and errr.... oreoluwa! I am still waiting. All of you sending 'I'm in' my inbox is not buzzing. You can still moisturise with your protective style. Check here for what you need to do again.

AN Challenge: Let's Moisturise

Hello Naturalistas,

I do hope your week is getting off to a good start? Thank you guys for the contributions and based on the challenge with the highest number - Although Jennifer voted twice trying to confuse me *side eyes*, we would be moisturising our hair.

One of the tenets of being a Naturalista is Moisture. It's one of the things your hear too often and for a long time I thought moisture was, you know anything that was moist -_- and I would deceive myself that using Oils or creams was doing the work. I soon realised that I was getting it all wrong.

Like me, Here are some other mistakes we might be making with moisturising;

- You don't seal the moisture in with Oil/ Cream.
- Focusing on the roots as against the edges.
- Using just Oils/creams as mosituriser
- Not realising that it's as simple as water :)

With this in mind and as Harmattan is coming, we are going to start our 'Let's Moisturise' Challenge! Who is with me?

Duration: Forever  2 Months

What you need: 

- A Spray Bottle
- Your Preferred Sealant &
- The Ever not-so faithful Satin Bonnet

What are the Rules this time?

- You have to moisturise at least 5 times in a week.
  Spritz your hair- not dripping wet - moist and seal it with your sealant. In the morning and at night
- You must sleep with your satin bonnet/satin pillowcase to help protect the moisture.
- Focus on your ends rather than the roots.

To be part of the challenge all you have to do is send in your before picture, Let us know the content of your spray bottle and your preferred sealant.

We would give updates every 2 weeks for those that are participating and you have the liberty to switch up your spray bottle content. All that is important is sealing in the moisture.

Email address to send to is tomi.akibo@gmail.com with the subject 'Let's Moisturise' and our deadline for entries is Next week Tuesday!!

Who is with me this time? 

African Naturalistas Hair Challenge: What Next

Hello Naturalistas,

How are you and how's the week coming along?

Thank you for sticking with us for the last 2 months on the AN hairline challenge. We started with 2 people sending in their pictures however just one person sent us a final update picture excluding myself.

Here are our updates;

Week 1

Recently

Week 1

Recently

The idea of the natural hair challenge is to get as many people as possible involved to challenge ourselves, encourage one another to better hair health and growth. It's a new segment which resulted in the low interest the first time so now I want to bring it to YOU to choose which hair challenge you want to participate in and the one with the highest number will be what we will go for.

Here's my list;

• No Heat Challenge
• Protect Your hair challenge
• Grow it challenge
• Stick-to-my-regimen Challenge
• Let's Moisturize Challenge

Which one are most excited about and which one will you love to participate in? I am expecting your answers. 

AN Hairline Challenge: Update

Hi Naturalistas,

How has your week been? Today I am bringing you updates to see how 'our' natural hair line are doing. 

Week 1 

Week 3

It's just been 3 weeks and I can't believe that I am actually following through. I am one to always want a quick fix and until I saw this image I didn't realise how much progress has been made. This challenge is actually teaching me consistency with my hair. I'm loving it. 

See Adaora's update and in here words; "My hairline appears to be making some progress"

Week 1

Week 3

Who else is challenging the challenge? Send us Images let's celebrate your progress and err.... the madame still 'trying' to take picture *side eyes ore*

AN Hairline Challenge: My Natural Hair is not reacting to Castor Oil

Hello Naturalistas, 

I trust your week is off to a great start. Do have a wonderful week ahead. 

How has the challenge been? I have had to start putting my Castor Oil in the morning because of the Oil Patches  on my pillow case (So much a girl can endure) and I notice that the process is becoming easier. My only challenge this week is that I am 'Monitoring' my hair so closely it feels like this Castor Oil 'thing' is not working. Which brings me to what I want to talk about today and also this;

We got this comment on the last post

I decided to give my robust response here *chuckles*.
I researched on castor oil and I saw alot of debate. There are people that are swearing by it and people that also claim it doesn't do it's 'magic' on their hair and here is my conclusion; We are different and so is our hair and we react differently and for Mosunmoluwa, I don't even think that's her issue and here are a few things I would suggest if you are in her shoes:

•  Stop Obsessing and breathe; It's serious but it's not that serious. Biko breathe! 
• Take care of your hair overall; Not just testing out this Oil or that Oil because at this point you need to take proper care of your hair. Shampoo, Deep condition on a regular and Moisturise and I think you will see better reaction on your hair when you are trying out these Oils. 
• Give it time; Your hair is harsh today and it's not just one deep conditioning that will help with that but several over time. It will get better with time as you stick to your regimen. 

And if you are like me on this challenge and are already obsessing and worrying about weekly changes. Breathe and celebrate the small edge that is growing back, keep at it and let the progress however little encourage you.

So, We are celebrating Progress ;

Contestant #2 after 2 weeks

Contestant #2

What will you say to Mosunmoluwa?

P.S: If you are owing me update pictures, I am waiting o *side eye*

AN Hair line Challenge: Why use castor oil for your Natural Hair

Hello Naturalistas, 

I hope you are having a great start to the week? I am excited because I have hairline updates but first, I want to share on why we are choosing to use Castor Oil for our Hair line challenge. 

Castor Oil is a pale yellow Oil obtained from castor beans. It is filled with proteins, minerals and has anti-fungal and antibacterial properties which makes it very useful oil on your Natural hair journey. 

Castor Oil's rejuvenating properties helps the stimulation of blood flow circulation in your scalp which increases the flow of nutrients there by helping your hair grow. For optimal results make sure to massage the scalp at the least 2-4 times weekly. 

Other benefits of castor Oil

• Regrows thinning Edges
• Helps eliminate dry scalps and split ends.
• Softens the Hair 
• Reduces Hair loss
• Minimizes Hair damage
• Treats Dandruff
• Gives your natural hair that shine.
• Overall natural hair care

However; The down side for me is that Castor Oil is too thick and can get gummy. To solve this it is diluted with Coconut Oil or Olive Oil whichever works for you. But seeing the result after one week I can't even complain. 

Where can you get it? We have in the Our Online store or you can get from a pharmacy. 

 2 Weeks Later...

We have just 3 people participating in the hairline challenge officially and I woulda loved to see more people participate but alas. We would be bringing updates as time goes on. In the meantime all the behind-the-scenes contestant what has your observations been?

AN Hair line challenge: Week 1

Hello Naturalistas,

I hope your week has gotten off on a good start? Last week we introduced the #ANchallenge and we kicked off with getting out natural hairlines back. I would be answering questions and giving an update.

First lets deal with the questions:

When does the challenge end? Officially on the blog, 2 months but if your edges are that bad and you are seeing the improvement you will be encouraged to continue but generally I think 2 months is enough to see a significant change.

What if I don't have castor Oil? You can use coconut oil and if you have both, you can mix it together.

When is the deadline for submitting pictures? Today! Okay! Let's leave it at tomorrow 23rd September, 2015.

Challenge Update: 

My Hairline

For the past on week I have been using castor Oil on my edges every night and I have had one major challenge so far ''Oil patches" on my pillow case. A reader commented on Instagram about her own experience and since she uses satin pillowcase it is more disgusting. If this is also one of your challenges here is what I advised;

Change the time; I know I mentioned put in the Oil when you are about to sleep and that is me just assuming it is a convenient time for everyone and ofcourse I am wrong. So, if the oil bothers you so much change your timing. Put yours in the morning as against at night.

Also, you can live with it. I mean you know your goal right? So why let that bother you? If you are like me and you really don't mind changing your pillow case weekly just for this period then by all means just ignore.

Contestant #1

Contenstant #2

All those that indicated their interest in the last post, Please put in your email address in the comment section below so I can harass you myself. ;)

If you are on the challenge, what has your experience been in the last one week?

AN Hairline Challenge: Time to get your Natural Hair line back

Hello Naturalistas, 

Guess who is back? Yay Me! Did you miss me? I am guessing you now know my reason for being away. It feels good to be back and I am bringing you something exciting to help you on your natural hair journey. 

Hair Challenges!!!!!!! We saw Irene's Journey on the Coconut Oil Challenge and decided that it would be a great idea to involve YOU!!!!!

The idea of the challenge is to 'challenge' (Trust me, I tried to find a synonym but it just didn't werk) us to treat our hair better to achieve our hair goals. It's going to be really as simple as it can be. We would have a set of rules to follow for a certain time frame and as many as are interested will indicate  their interest to follow us on this journey and tag African Naturalistas to track your progress weekly on any of our social media platforms and use the #ANChallenge and at the end of the challenge you send an email to us with your before and after pictures and we will do final recap and on to the next one. 

We would be running more challenges as time goes on but first of all, Let's save our hair lines!!! 

I personally think this is a major challenge. A lot of people complain about their edges and on this blog we have dealt severally with tips to help regrow your edges. The tips we have put out overtime will be our guiding rules for this challenge. 

Duration: 2 Months

Products needed: Castor Oil & Coconut Oil

Guiding rules;

• No Extensions - We need to let the hair breathe from all the pulling and tugging.
• No tight satin bonnet or scarfs around the edges - Use either your satin pillow case or wear the bonnet abit lower towards your forehead. 
• Ease on caps, turbans, hats that rub harshly on your edges.
• Very minimal or no manipulation. (I know that's pushing it a bit far) Lol
• Wash up any make-up on your edges. 
• Apply the mixture of Coconut oil & Castor oil or either of them every night. 
• Moisturize Daily.

Reward after the Challenge; African Naturalistas Coconut Oil and Jojoba Oil goes to the winner of the challenge, which will be determined by the AN Team. 

If you are interested just indicate in the comment section, send an email to tomi.akibo@gmail.com with your before picture so we can do a weekly update. You can also drop your images using #ANChallenge on any of our social media platforms so other people in the community can see your progress; On twitter here, On the facebook discussion forum here and finally on Instagram here and at the end we do a final recap for those of us that will get to the end! 

Who else is excited? 

Your challenge starts NOW!!!! Let's get our hairlines back!