Caring for your Natural Hair in Fall/Harmattan

Harmattan is here, the trees are getting bare. The dry and cold season is here again.  Many creatures of the earth will go into hibernation, and amongst those magical creatures will include our beautiful head of coils.

FALL/HARMATTAN HAIR CARE

My routine this season has not changed very much from my last winter season in FEBRUARY SECRETS: How to Care for Natural Hair in Winter/Dry Season

My basics are still the same;

SCALP MASSAGE/PRE-POO/HOT OIL TREATMENT

CO-WASH instead of Shampoo

DEEP CONDITION

SEAL

TRIM

PROTECT

 

Discovering Natural further emphasizes these point in her 5 Fall Natural Hair Care Routine MUST HAVE Video

What's slightly different for me this season is that I am incorporating a lot of protective styling. If you follow my instagram you know. Finally! Mushu and I can get a break from each other (Thank you holidays). It's hardly winter but it's already acting the most. One very important routine step to note is to REMEMBER TO TRIM. 

How to know When to Trim Your Afro

I hadn't trimmed Mushu in a minute. These were the signs it showed and I knew it was finally time to grab the scissors;

1. More Fairy Knots and tangles  than usual: Even though I was moisturizing regularly and doing my low maintenance bantu knot out and braids. I was getting a lot more tangles than per usual. 

2. SCANTY SEE THROUGH ENDS

 

3. DRYING FASTER THAN NORMAL: The more damage at your ends, the lesser the ability of your hair to retain moisture. You'd be pouring water into a basket. LITERALLY!

 

4. FAILED HAIRSTYLES: My simple usual hairstyles i used to get curl definition would bottom line result into knots and tangles with little to no definition. Even though I was following my exact same method of styling. This was a result of the coils refusing to clump together because of my damaged ends. 

 

 

Instagram: @nappyese

                                              

5. MORE BREAKAGE AND HAIR IN THE SINK: If basic mechanical efforts like detangling, styling combing is causing more snaps and breaks than usual. THen you know it is time for a trim

 

So when you notice any of these signs above, treat yourself to a trim. REMEMBER: HEALTH OVER LENGTH. Watch the short video below showing you how I trim my 4c hair, including a few of my protective style ideas for the Dry months ahead.

 

Happy Trimming! What protective style look will you be sporting this fall

 

Love&Nappiness

Nappyese

Why Trimming Is Necessary

Hello everyone!

I've never really been a fan of trimming. Heck, for the first two years of my natural hair journey, I didn't trim my hair. I actually got my first trim this year and I'm already looking forward to the next one.

Why the change of heart, you might be wondering. I think it finally dawned on me that I am doing myself. See, I've always been particular about the length of my hair. Particular and not obsessed. There's a difference. So, I really wanted to see the length my hair could go so I did not trim because I thought it meant that my hair would be shorter. What I should have done was to get mini trim so by the the time I went got to the salon, they gave me a major trim without my consent. I didn't realize this until weeks later when I was doing a length check. My hair was actally shorter. I didn't get over it for months.

Now, that I'm over it, I've come to appreciate it.

So why do you need a trim?

Your ends are the oldest part of your hair. Which means the longer your hair get, the older and weaker your ends become. If you are anything like me, you will know how hellish it is to hold on to your weak ends. Deep conditioning and moisturizing become a nightmare so it's best you let go of them.

Also, it unhealthy. Those ends become more prone to split ends, single strand knots and breakage. If you don't cut it off, it increase and join the rest of your healthy ends. So, the earlier the better. Try not to hold on to your ends because of length.

How do I know it's time to trim?

When your ends become ragged and doesn't take products. As much as you try to moisturize and deep condition, it never seems to bulge. CUT IT OFF!!

Ideally, trimming should be part of our regimen so there's no particular method to it. Find what works for you and stick to it. If it's every three months? Fine. Every six months? No problem. Once a year? whatever works for you.

Who should trim for me?

Asmuch as I advise DIY, I think it's better to get a natural hair stylist to trim for you rather than doing it yourself. If you're not a fan of salons, just make sure you wash your hair from home. That way, they won't charge you an arm and leg for washing and trimming.

So, how often do you trim?
Let's hear it!

Love, curls and coils.

Ebun Oluwole

Ways to prevent breakage while transitioning

Hello Naturalistas, How are you all doing? Kinks and all?

One of the things transitioning naturalistas have to deal with is breakage. Breakage is a concern more for transitioning naturalistas because your hair is strained and stressed to a certain degree at the line of demarcation

(Where previously processed hair meets your new growth) and you can create more stress for your hair if it is not properly taken care of.  Here are a few ways to prevent breakage while transitioning.

Moisturise from roots to ends; It's important to also moisturise the ends of your hair. Avoid using too many products at once as that can cause your hair to dry out easily. Moisturising and sealing your hair generously will keep your hair soft and avoid the breakage that comes with dry hair.

Detangle your wet hair only; You do not want to detangle your hair while it is dry. Detangling is easier on your hair when it is conditioned and wet.

Trim Often

Deep condition weekly; Deep conditioning is the best friend of every transitioner. Deep conditioning helps strengthen the relaxed strands and keeps the natural bit of your hair in top shape! I know deep conditioning every week seems abit too much but your hair will thank you for it.

Cut out heat

Use satin Bonnet or satin pillow; You don't anything harsh rubbing against your hair.

Protective styling; Ensure to do protective styles that requires less manipulation and protective styles that do not cause more harm than good e.g Styles that pull too much at your scalp.

Protein treatment; You can do this once a month. It strengthens the 2 textures you have. A simple protein treatment recipe is;

1 Egg
2-3 tbsp Mayonnaise
2 tsp Honey
1 tsp Olive Oil (or any other oil you have)

Mix it all together then continue like you would a deep conditioning treatment.

What are the other ways you prevent your natural hair from breakage?

Why You Should NOT Trim Your Hair?!

Hey there!

We have all heard advice over the years about how trimming your hair (natural, relaxed, texlaxed, no-laxed, all-laxed) is important in your hair care regimen. The reason why we are told to get our hair trimmed is usually because of split ends. The hair on our ends are the oldest on our head and have been more exposed to the elements - weather, friction from clothes, hand-in-hair syndrome, etc. This also means that our ends are more vulnerable to damage like tangles, knots and split-ends. When your hair splits at the ends, it is very likely for the split to keep growing upwards, towards our roots. This is one of the main reasons why we are advised to get our natural hair trimmed at regular intervals, or when you notice you need a trim.

However, I saw this video last night on Youtube where the vlogger has a new theory about trimming your hair. She advises NOT to trim more than maybe once a year. Her reasoning is this: your ends are the oldest part of your hair and if you cut them off, you expose your healthier hair to friction, tangles, knots, etc. In her opinion, she would rather not have the healthier parts of her hair deal with those elements.


What do you think? Do you agree with her? I think that while everyone's hair is different, there are one or two things that apply to most people's hair. I know I need to trim maybe two or three times a year - maybe even more, if I'm being totally honest. How often do you trim your natural hair?

Berry Dakara.

To read more from me, visit my personal blog here.

Straightening and Trimming my Natural Hair

Last week when I posted about my 2016 Natural Hair goals aka hairsolutions, I mentioned that I was due for a trim and would be going to the salon. I promised to share photos of the process here, so relax and take a look see.

I got to KL's Naturals just in time for my scheduled appointment, and it being a Saturday, the salon was very full. After waiting for a little bit, I got in the chair ready for the process. I told Kemi (remember the post that showed some of the styles she's done at her salon?) that I definitely wanted to trim and have straight hair at the end of the day. She recommended a light protein deep conditioner, then blow-drying, trimming and finally flat-ironing.

I came in my crochet wig (learn how to make one here) - that people still thought was my real hair by the way.

I don't blame them for thinking it was real.

Seriously, look at it!

After I took out the wig, Kemi pre-poo'd my hair with a Spray bottle mix of African Naturalistas Moisturizing and Detangling Conditioner and water.

Then she combed my hair out to detangle it. Afterwards, she washed the hair, before putting the Light Protein and DC mix into it. I was put under a steamer for maybe 15/20 minutes - this lifts the hair cuticles so that the hair absorbs the mix. After steaming, she washed/rinsed my hair again.

Then Kemi blowdried my hair on a cool/lukewarm setting.

Do you see my ends? I had LOTS and LOTS of split ends and tangles. I was definitely in need of a trim. Going forward, I will get my hair trimmed 3 to 4 times a year as need be.

Kemi trimmed off between 2 to 3 or 4 inches - she said it was that bad. But I'm happy because I'd rather have healthier hair than long scraggly hair. The final step was flat-ironing and these are the results.

Look how nice and shiny!!!

All I know is I'm going to maximize having straight hair as long as I can - I've been avoiding water like the plague! Perhaps next week I'll share some styles I've been doing and what I've learned about moisturizing straight/stretched natural hair.

Have a happy weekend!
Berry Dakara.