How to Use Wig as a Protective Style For Your Natural Hair

We encourage naturalistas to rock their natural hair without the use of extensions, wigs, and other attachments added to the hair. However, we also understand that there are several factors that can determine when naturalistas would use either wigs or extensions. Some of these reasons could include;

• The need to rock a different hairstyle without using heat tools on the natural hair
• The versatility of wig styles
• Having a tight schedule without ample time to tend to one's own (Although you should follow a regular routine for great results) 

What other reasons do you use wigs? let me know in the comments below.

That being said, we would talk about how to use wigs as a protective hairstyle for your natural hair, and in the next blog post, we would address the use of extensions as a protective hairstyle.

How Wigs are Damaging Your Natural Hair!

Wigs can cause immense damage to the in terms of traction alopecia hair when they are;

• Worn/installed the wrong way
• Stay on too long 
• Rest tightly on the head
• Worn without a wig cap

If you have to use wigs, here are a few steps you can take towards using the wig protectively as opposed to in a damaging way. 

• The wig should never be worn directly on your natural hair. Instead, a soft wig cap must be used before all wig installations.
• Ensure the elastic band of the wig cap does not sit on the edge of your hair, else, you risk your edges being eaten up slowly.
• Your wig itself should not have bands that are too tight around the edges as well. This would put tension on the edges causing rapid breakage.

Do's and Don't of Using Wigs

Naturalistas who truly want to do right by their hair can actually adopt the Green House Method even while wearing a wig. Also, don't just use the wig to cover up unkempt hair, your hair should be in a healthy state before a wig installation. 

To save your edges, do not use hair bond or glue directly on the frontal of your hair to obtain that natural look or feel. We advise using a wig that has a pre-installed frontal, which you can simply wear without damaging your edges both during installation and removal. 

How to Restore Your Hair After Wig Damage

If your hair has been damaged by the wrong use of wigs, you can bounce back. With careful routine, patience, and the right products, your hair can gradually regain its volume, curl, and length. 

• Completely halt the use of wigs.
• Follow a routine suitable for your hair
• Visit a trichologist for a thorough examination of your hair 
• Use the right product combination 

To sum it up, using wigs protectively can actually help retain length, and reduce frequent manipulation of the hair. 

Has using wigs benefited you or damaged your hair? Let me know in the comments below.  

Mistakes to Avoid when Doing Crochet Braids on Natural Hair

Knowing the mistakes to avoid when crocheting hair can help reduce breakage and keep your hair in one of the best protective styles for natural hair. In the video below, I share with you 4 tips that can help you avoid breakage and problems with your hair after doing crochet braids.

The hair that was used was Expression Prelooped Crotchet Braids in color 1B. Her hair cared for with a good hair treatment for natural hair prior to blow drying natural hair. Click here to see how

Watch below or click here



If you like this blog post written by Sola of DiscoveringNatural, you can find her on her Youtube channel, DiscoveringNatural,  for more natural hair tips. Click here to visit her channel.

Rubber Band Protective Style Bun

This hairstyle requires no knowledge in braiding, cornrowing or any other intricate styles.All you need are some rubber bands "elastics" .

Watch how to recreate this look by clicking here or watching below:

If you like this blog post written by Sola of DiscoveringNatural, you can find her on her Youtube channel, DiscoveringNatural,  for more natural hair tips. Click here to visit her channel.

Reasons why I went back to Locs

Last week, I started documenting my journey back to dreadlocks on this blog and I mentioned that after over a year of consideration and toying with the idea, I decided to go back to dreadlocks, this time, with my long hair.

My Locs over 7 years ago

My Locs now

Some people might wonder why I am doing this, especially after I have done it in the past, caught of my locs and had almost wait length hair. Why go back?

Well, here are some of my reasons, amongst many others

1. I have very long hair, which to be honest, I am not utilising by showing it off or wearing it out. What is the use of having long hair if you can't flaunt it ot never let it out? Lol

2. Maintaining the hair (which I never wore out), was not becoming a hassle. Last year was the worst of it all, even after I promised myself to do better, and even had an excel sheet for my hair regimen, lol.

3. There are some hairstyles I would like to have on my head a couple of years from now, which would require that I have locks on first.

4. Life is too short. I am not someone who really experiments with hairstyles, but now, I need to do some crazy things on my head before I die, and this long hair fetish is limiting me from getting those things done.

5. My major reason: I now have a son, and I hope that when people see me his mother, they will never question his hair choices because meehhhnnn, I so have plans for that boy's hair such that he doesn't even know what is about to hit him, lol.

I took down this hair style and then started my journey to Dreadlocks.

I hope this is enough. Have you had locs in the past? Do you have locs now or plan to have them in future? What were your reasons for going on locs and/or cutting off your locs? Let us know in the comment section.

Natural Hairstyles for Teen Girls

As a mom of a teenager... ah yes.. she is finally a teenager... I want her to be more adventurous with her hair styles, without damaging her hair. To prep for this hairstyle, she shampooed her hair and deep conditioned it. Then she moisturized her hair and put into about 20 twists overnight.

This hair style can be modified into 5 different styles that your child can do on her own.

This is a great style that works for school and even for any festive occasion now that we are in December and all the holiday festivities are going to start.

To recreate this style, click here or watch below:



If you like this blog post written by Sola of DiscoveringNatural, you can find her on her Youtube channel, DiscoveringNatural,  for more natural hair tips. Click here to visit her channel.

Worst Protective Hairstyle for Natural Hair

Protective styles can help you with retaining hair growth, however, if you are using the wrong protective styles, it can actually affect the health of your hair and also your kids hair. In this video, I talk about the Worst Protective Styles for Natural Hair

Related Videos: http://bit.ly/DN_ProtectiveStyles_PL

Watch or click here

Stay beautiful! 💖 

If you like this blog post written by Sola of DiscoveringNatural, you can find her on her Youtube channel, DiscoveringNatural,  for more natural hair tips. Click here to visit her channel.

Cornrows and Twists | Back To School Hairstyles for Natural Hair

This video shows how we created this cute girls hairstyles with Cornrows Braids and Twists using whipped shea butter.

Watch below or click here

Stay beautiful! 💖 

If you like this blog post written by Sola of DiscoveringNatural, you can find her on her Youtube channel, DiscoveringNatural,  for more natural hair tips. Click here to visit her channel.

5 Ways To Style Protective Styles For Kids

These natural hairstyles are quick hairstyles that you can do in less than 10 seconds.

Watch below or Click Here

Stay beautiful! 💖 

If you like this blog post written by Sola of DiscoveringNatural, you can find her on her Youtube channel, DiscoveringNatural,  for more natural hair tips. Click here to visit her channel.

How to do African Threading Natural Hair with Yarn

By DiscoveringNatural

In this video, I show you how to do african threading with yarn. This is known as Yarn Threading. You can use any type of yarn to recreate this style.

If you want to learn more about African Threading, watch this: http://bit.ly/DN_African_Threading_PL
How to moisturize african threading: http://bit.ly/DN_Moisturize_African_Threading

When you thread hair, it is important not to overlap the threads.

Watch below or click: http://bit.ly/DN_Yarn_Threading



Stay beautiful! 💖 

If you like this blog post written by Sola of DiscoveringNatural, you can find her on her Youtube channel, DiscoveringNatural,  for more natural hair tips. Click here to visit her channel.

Easy Back to School Hairstyle - 3 styles in 1

It's Back to School Hairstyles season. We are starting this with a 3-in-1 hairstyle, twist hairstyles. I love Easy Natural Hairstyles especially Kids Hairstyles.  This works a quick back to school hairstyles for long hair and also a great back to school hairstyles for short hair.

More Back to School Hairstyles for Natural Hair: http://bit.ly/DN_Back_To_School_Hairstyles_PL

Click here to watch or watch below

The Proper Way To Treat Your Natural Hair After A Protective Style

I recently took down my protective style - box braids - which I had on for about five weeks. As usual, it was getting really frizzy and I realized that it was time to take it down. Of course, the heat wasn't helping matters either.

During take down, I made up my mind that I was going to do it properly. Yes, there's a proper way to take down protective styles. In fact, the manner in which you do it determines how much length you would be able to retain. That's why a lot of people complain that their hair isn't growing meanwhile they are not retaining enough length. But that's another discussion for another day.

Say you have a weekly regimen like me that requires you to wash your hair every week. A five - week long protective style means that you haven't washed your hair in FIVE WEEKS!. There's no way you're going to retain length if you don't take your time to patiently take down your protective style and treat your hair afterward. You'll just be experiencing breakage and excessive shedding which you won't be able to control if yu are not careful.

So, how to do treat your natural hair after a protective style such that you reap its full benefits?

• Detangle

Depending on the style you did, you will need to detangle. This can be minimal in the case of crochet braids for instance or extensive, for box braids. Whatever you do, make sure you are detangling along to reduce breakage. Plus, you also saving time.

• Pre-poo/Hot oil treatment

As much as I'm not so much of a fan of pre-poo, it is very necessary to nurse your hair back to health after a protective style. Whatever you use for pre-poo, make sure you leave for an extensive time. Usually, overnight.

• Clarify

After pre-poo, you will need to clarify your hair of the weeks of junk and product buildup that has settled in your scalp.

• Do a protein treatment

I previously used to underrate the importance of protein treatments but recently I've begun to have a change of heart. Protein treatments strengthen your hair and repair any damage the protective style might have done to your hair.

• Finish up with a moisture - intensive deep conditioner with heat.

After a protein treatment, it's only right to finish up with a moisturizing deep conditioning treatment to balance things out. Heat - direct with steaming cap or indirect with shower cap and body heat - is necessary to improve penetration of the deep conditioner into your strands.

• Moisturize, Lock and Seal

Moisturize with your leave-in conditioner, lock in the moisture with your favorite oil and seal with a heavy butter.

With these steps, your natural hair should be back to normal in no time.

Does anyone go through these steps after taking down a protective style?

Big and Small Criss Cross Cornrows For Kids

By DiscoveringNatural

In this video,  I show how to do Big and small cornrows and how to do criss cross cornrows on kids natural hair. Hairstyles for natural hair kids can be easy natural hair styles that can act as protective hairstyles without the need for extension on kids hair.

To do this style, you need to first detangle the natural hair after you have moisturized the hair. Use a rat tail comb to separate the hair into sections.

-First section the hair into three parts going vertically. Ear to Ear
-Next, the front section, divide it into 3 sections. Make sure the middle section is bigger.
-Cornrow the middle section as shown in the video.
For the other two, do a slanted cornrow design on the edges and connect with the remaining of the hair in that section. This will create a big cornrow pattern.

Next, it is time to work on the section of hair along the nape (kitchen) area of the head.
Create a criss cross pattern and connect as shown in the video, that with the middle part. Note: The middle part has been divided into 4 parts.
Repeat till done.
Then create a pony tail or bun by gathering all the hair together.

Related Videos:

How to Cornrow: http://bit.ly/2iVj192

How to do Criss Cross Cornrows: http://bit.ly/2jMIb9M

How to Cornrow Tender Head or Sensitive Scalp: http://bit.ly/2k7Prdo

Natural Hair Styles for Kids: http://bit.ly/2kjv5S7

What is your favorite style to do for your kids?

If you like this blog post written by Sola of DiscoveringNatural, you can find her on her Youtube channel, DiscoveringNatural,  for more natural hair tips. Click here to visit her channel.

How To Stop Extensions From Itching

 

 

People complain a lot about their scalp itching after braids has been installed using extentions. I will show you how to prep your extensions/attachment for protective styles like Senegalese twists, Havana twists, crotchet braids, braids. I will also demonstrate how to install Havana twists without breakage.

 

HOW TO PREP THE EXTENSION HAIR:

In a bucket of warm water, add 1 cup of Braggs Apple Cider Vinegar.
Soak marley hair for an hour
Rinse with water till water runs clear.

HOW TO PREP CHILD's NATURAL HAIR

Section hair in the pattern to be braided or twisted in
Moisturize natural hair using the LCO method, you can also use the LOC method.

3 WAYS HOW TO DO HAVANA TWISTS: http://bit.ly/2dzIcXG

 

How to do Rubber Band Method  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmTnViSWzIU

What to do after protective styling: http://bit.ly/2dtTrRl

 

Products Used:

Bally Marley Twists - Color 1B: 2 and a half packs
Keravada Crème Brule - http://keravada.com
Jamaican Black Castor Oil: - http://amzn.to/2cH0Pfc
Dreadlock Beads for Hair, Braids, and Locs, 50 pieces, by Lock Love in Gold Metal Filigree Cuff for Men or Women (Rainbow) - http://amzn.to/2dkRKsN

Bragg Organic Raw Apple Cider Vinegar, 32 Ounce - 1 Pack - http://amzn.to/2dnJgzo

 

 



Stay beautiful! 💖

If you like this blog post written by Sola of DiscoveringNatural, you can find her on her Youtube channel, DiscoveringNatural,  for more natural hair tips. Click here to visit her channel.

5 Things You Should Never Do After Protective Styling

What you do after protective styling ensures hair retention and shows your natural hair growth. In this video, I share 5 things you shouldn't do after protective styling your natural hair.

Watch below or click here:




Stay beautiful! 💖

If you like this blog post written by Sola of DiscoveringNatural, you can find her on her Youtube channel, DiscoveringNatural,  for more natural hair tips. Click here to visit her channel.

Natural Hair Style - LOOSE TWISTS

About a month or two ago, while perusing Instagram, I came across this hairstyle - Loose Twists and I fell in love!!! I liked that it seemed to be a quicker and easier alternative to regular twists. Additionally whenever I twist my natural hair, I don't typically get a lot of volume, but with loose twists, the style makes my hair look fuller. I watched several tutorials online, which I will post below and I got to twisting! It took a couple of hours, but I've been enjoying the hairstyle.

My only worry is that my hair might get matted up and start to loc - it usually does that when I leave my natural hair in a protective twist style.

For maintenance, I just use my spray bottle or put leave-in conditioner directly on my hair. I also like that it's very easy to oil my scalp when needed. At night, I just put it in a bun or pineapple and tie my hair down with a scarf.

This week I've actually had the hair in a modified version of the style Beenzu posted last week. It definitely has kept my hand-in-hair syndrome away.

Have you ever done loose twists? If not, would you like to try them some day?

Berry Dakara.

Vixen Crochet Braids Hair Styles

I finally took out my Vixen Crochet Braids this week. My scalp and hair needed some attention, and I was almost happy to see the vixen braids go. BUT before I did that, I played around with different styles that could be done and that's what I'm going to show you today!

You can go back to this post to check out a video displaying different ways to style them.

Which look is your favorite?

Berry Dakara.

Protective Styles: Vixen Crochet Braids

Hey ladies!

We all know Crochet Braids are here to stay as protective styles in the natural hair care community (and other types of hair too). I've done them and posted once or twice with photos. But if you pay attention, you know that there are updates to different styles all the time. I came across the Vixen Sew-in weaves some time last year, and early this year, Vixen Crochet Braids.

Akushika GoneNatural Youtube

As a style, I like that they protect your hair, while leaving your edges alone. I plan to get them done within the week and will of course share photos, or maybe even a video.

For now, check out the following videos on how to do them and ways to style as well.

Have you ever gotten them done? Would you ever?

Berry Dakara.

Hairstyle Lounge on African Naturalistas - Style for Stage

Hello ladies, it feels like ages ago since we were here.

All my weeks have been tied up in making my event a reality. Even the hairstyle for this edition was tied to the event.

So I went to the salon to take down the thread in this edition. Gosh, I rocked that hairstyle for 5 whole weeks, and it wasn't even that rough when I took it down. The whole world was screaming for me to remove it because it had stayed long on my head.

I purposely left it that long so I could have a fresh hairstyle for the event.

Off to the salon I went, to take down the style which had been on my hair for ages. Because of how long the hair had stayed, we had to detangle thoroughly with African Naturalistas Moisturising and Detangling conditioner.

We went on to wash with a medicated shampoo, to make sure my scalp was in good condition, and followed it up with a regular shampoo. After this, we proceeded to steam with African Naturalistas Deep Conditioning Mayonnaise.

Omozo came in by this time, and we chose a style. I wanted a frohawk for the stage because I was avoiding any hairstyle that was too dressy, while Omozo wanted Puffy thread, so we agreed to combine the two.

One hour thirty minutes later, this was the result

I didn't want a front view picture because my face was mega oily.

Four days later, I wore the hair to the press conference of my event. I was surprised that it was still that neat, considering its frizzy nature.

And then the next day (five days later), I wore the hair for the purpose it was created.

My hair popping on stage

The next day, we had an after party for my fellow committee members and I rocked the hair again.

Yes, the hair served its purpose. Even though the event is over, and it's almost 2 weeks ago I did the hair, I haven't taken it down yet. See how it currently looks on my head.

I will carry it for one more week before taking it down.

Do you like this style? If yes, what about it do you like? What are your thoughts about frohawk combined with the dressy feel of Puffy Thread? Lemme have your thought in the comment section.

Hairstyle Lounge was brought to you by O'Naturals Salon. No money exchanged hands in making this lounge a reality. To make your hair at O'Naturals, visit the salon at 54 Ogudu road, Ogudu-Ojota Lagos or book an appointment by calling 0818-802-4444 / 0815-802-4444.