naturalhairisdope-blog

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HOW TO DEEP CONDITION NATURAL HAIR IN NIGERIA WITH MANSHANU

Hi people, what's been on? So, I finally took down the faux locs last night. It was as easy as sliding it off...thank God! Applying a good dose of NappyGirl before wrapping up turned out to be a good idea. However my hair still got dry. I never moisturised during the one week plus I had the style, so that was expected. For a moment, it seemed like my hair had loc'd for sho!

I had to gently fingerdetangle each section and loosely twist away. Mehn....my ends were as dry as sticks! That is to be expected with any long term protective style were your hair is left completely alone....and the perfect cure is to deep condition immediately! After you take down your weave, braids, twists,fauxlocs......deep condition ASAP! I prefer to do it overnight on a Friday so it doesn't affect my week but since I didn't have an early day the following day, I deep conditioned yesterday. My deep conditioner of choice was manshanu aka cow ghee. It doesn't fail to get my coils popping much like Aussie Moist 3 min deep conditioner but oilier. I finally found a steady supply of fresh manshanu so I'll be using it often...yaayyy!

It's important to know the difference between good manshanu and the bad one! I have complained earlier that the reason I kinda hesitate when using manshanu was because of the sour milk smell. Apparently, I wasn't getting fresh manshanu because the fresh one has a clean 'icecreamy' smell. My friend even had to ask me the following morning if I drank ice cream or yoghurt at night (yes, I'm a midnight snacker) and if there was any left over. It smelt that yummy! The next thing to notice is the color. Fresh manshanu is creamy white in color and not creamy yellow type I usually got. The Fulani woman even went further to suggest that I use it to cook....I did use it to make Indomie and fry an egg and it tasted delicious. I haven't tried it yet with rice. Anyhoo, I used the manshanu for my deepcondition to get the benefits of proteins, natural minerals & vitamins like calcium, vitamins A, D, E and creamy moisturising milk fat. I melted it in my palms then applied straight to my hair in sections like I'd apply my henna or relaxer.

I didn't bother washing my hair since it was wrapped up and so wasn't really dirty. I also massaged it into my roots. Then I covered with a showercap, wrapped it up for like 5 hrs (sometimes I leave on overnight).

After the deep conditioning, I washed it out thoroughly with VO5 Tea therapy conditioner. I don't use a shampoo after I deep condition so I don't wash out all the goodness of deep conditioning. Tip: Make sure to wash off well with conditioner o! The first time I used the manshanu, it smelled so good that I didn't have the heart to wash it out with conditioner. I simply rinsed out the excess with cold water. All was fine that day until a friend of mine pointed out that I was dripping oil. The scorching sun had melted the butter in my hair! I had to keep wiping and wiping it off! Still no one even noticed I used manshanu. I just smelled sweet. However, I didn't fool a colleague of mine who grew up in Northern Nigeria too.....she was like 'manshanu, abi?!' So here's the results of my deep conditioning with manshanu....that ish totally works and it's a good alternative to store bought moisture deep conditioners.

Boing!

Final words, deep conditioning is an important step in natural hair care to keep coils soft, hydrated and full of life. It doesn't have to be anything fancy....you can simply mix your favorite conditioner with your favorite oil and cover up. I've listed good deep conditioners for Nigerian natural hair with vendors if you don't have the time or energy to mix up yours. Most times I prefer the one step approach to caring for my hair. So have you tried deep conditioning? What are your personal faves? Hadassah.

#Natural hair basics #manshanu

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NAPPY QandA : HOW TO MAKE NATURAL HAIR STYLING SESSIONS......PAINLESS!

Hi people, what's been on? Here's a question I got on nairaland and I decided to share it with anyone facing a similar problem..... Q. I used to have natural, unrelaxed tough curly hair (all the way past my spine) when I lived with my dad. When I moved back to Nigeria, due to the secondary school rules, I had to weave my hair every week, the manipulation was painful and unbearable, I lost most of my length so I tried relaxing and that made it even worse. I've tried transitioning during vacation and my hair grows out beautifully but when school starts, I just can't stand the pain. I'll be graduating in about 4 months and want to start transitioing again. Is there any way to minimize the pain? (I already use olive, coconut, castor oil and shea butter) Any other tips? I also have dry flaky hair from all the pressure. Please help!  Thanks L.B. A. Mehn...this takes me back in time to my compulsory braiding years! I'm adverse to pain....I may be able to bear it....but I don't even bother to! Why should I embrace pain??? And because of this aversion to pain, I learnt tips and tricks to avoid being flogged when I misbehaved ( I either ran away, talked my way out or simply behaved). It's one of the reasons I stayed natural (ain't got no time for relaxer burns). It's the reason I don't wear lace (can't bear the itch) and the reason I carry flats in my bag when I'm rocking heels.  So I understand what you mean by the pain especially if the braider's hand is 'too strong'. However, I've been braiding my hair all through my growing years with little or no pain involved. The tips and tricks I learnt are as follows: - Be selective with who braids your hair.  Some braiders are gentler than others. I usually test them out before I trust them to braid me any further. My 'testing hairstyle' is individual braids at the back with the front cornrowed back. Individual braids don't hurt and if the front section that is to be braided hurts, I simply tell the braider to stop and convert the rest to individual braids. If it doesn't hurt, I'll trust her with more cornrows. - Prepare your hair before you go. For example, if I'm braiding 'shuku' aka ponytail or braided bun, I know my hair will be sectioned into four. So I do the same and detangle thoroughly and thread. Then I take down the thread section by section as the braider works. A day or two before your appointment, wash and deepcondition your hair. Then divide your hair into four sections, apply oil to each section and detangle well. Then either braid or thread the already detangled section. This will stretch your hair and keep it from tangling up again. If you have a style in mind, imagine the ways the braider will section your hair to braid, then section off, detangle and thread in that pattern. This is so that you won't have to loosen all your hair for braiding but loosen it up section by section. This will prevent your hair from drying out which causes it to tangle and hurts if your braider isn't patient. - Take a moisturising butter with you. This would be used to remoisturise your hair in case it dries out. A moisturising butter or leave in conditioner with good slip minimises pain when detangling and unnecessary breakage. I prefer a butter because your hair is less likely to revert, it provides better hold ( longer lasting style) and your hair stays moisturised for longer. It will also help with dry scalp issues. An alternative is taking your spray bottle with your detangling mix of water,conditioner and oils. However if your hair shrinks up tightly, I'd advice you to take a moisturising butter instead. It softens your hair and keeps it stretched for longer. You can make your own butter by whipping together castor oil, olive oil and shea butter. - Remoisturise as often as possible and always sleep with a satin scarf or bonnet. This will help preserve your style, prevent breakage and extend the days to your next appointment (and also give you time to hunt for another braider if the one you 'jammed' had dangerous hands. Again, I prefer using a moisturising butter to remoisturise my hair to avoid frizziness. However, use it sparingly as if it is the type that isn't easily absorbed, it can attract dust. Sidenote: There are some undercover dangerous braiders. When they braid your hair, you may even fall asleep.....but when they are done and you are safely home....oh boy!!!! I've met two or three of them in the course of braiding my hair. I've gone as far as dunking my whole head in ice cold water to relieve the pain. If you are unfortunate to 'jam' this type, your real relief is a small tin of Robb...applied to your scalp....at least you'll be able to sleep at night. Hope I've been able to help. Do you have any tips to avoid pain while styling your hair? Hadassah.

#Natural hair basics #NappyQandA

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PRODUCT REVIEW: KERACARE NATURAL TEXTURES CLEANSING CREAM SULFATE FREE MOISTURISING CURL WASH

Hi people, what's been on? Today, I'm going to review a shampoo I've been using with my Indian Oiling method for retaining length in natural hair. It was given to me by TwentySix85.com in September last year and it's been the answer to the problem of locating Ayurvedic herbs such as shikakai, soapnut, neem and amla for cleansing the hair in Nigeria. Here's my take on the product.

PRODUCT PROMISE Gentle hair and scalp cleansing while neem leaf extract helps eliminate scalp bacteria leaving hair healthier. Shikakai proteins naturally moisturise and nourish the hair and scalp. Styling product buildup is eliminated, combing is easier and dry or itchy scalp conditions are soothed and clarified. Amla extract plus Argan and Abyssian oils add natural shine to the hair. PRODUCT PRICE Available in Nigeria for N3100-N3700 depending on location. PRODUCT SIZE 240ml /8oz INGREDIENTS Water, Extracts: Neem, Amla, Shikakai, Centrimonium Chloride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, C12-15 Akyl Lactate, Polyquaternium 37, Propylene Glycol Dicaprate, Glycerin, Argan Kernel Oil, Crambe Abyssinica Seed oil, Castor Seed Oil, Polyquartenium 10, Piroctone Olamine, Potassium Sorbate, Diazolidinyl Urea, Iodopropynul Butylcarbamate, Fragrance, Benzyl Benzoate MANUFACTURER Avlon Industries, Inc. DIRECTIONS Wet hair thoroughly. Rub a generous amount between palms and distribute throughout hair. Lather product throughout hair and massage into scalp.  Gently detangle hair with a wide-tooth comb and leave lather on 3-5 minutes to eliminate shedding scalp debris. Rinse well. Repeat when necessary to remove excessive product build-up. Follow with Natural Textures® Leave-In Conditioner. SCENT Hmm...it's not fruity at all. I'd say it has a 'mature' kinda smell....like a mixture of roses and something 'woody'.......okay I tried! CONSISTENCY Thick...kind of buttery....

MY REVIEW First thing I love about this product is that it is the first hair product I have seen that indicates its pH value which is 5.0. This is useful if you already know the pH ranges of products that bring out the best in your hair. Usually for naturally curly hair, products that are mildly acidic work best in keeping your hair smooth and tangle free and help your hair retain moisture better. It is especially useful if your hair has high to medium porosity. Another thing I noticed was that for such a small tub (8 oz), it lasts really long. I've had it since ending of September last year and I have a little left for one wash. I use it about once or twice a month but shared it with my sister (who has natural medium length hair), my mum (who has natural twa) and my cousin ( who has relaxed bra strap length hair)! So I think I can also extend the review to it's action on different hairtypes. On my very porous, fine stranded natural hair: I used it as per the directions after an overnight prepoo with coconut oil.  The first time I used it, I scooped out a lot of it...enough to fill my palm...and it foamed so much that I had to rinse out my hair more than twice! I was kinda skeptical about the foaming because sulfate free shampoos aren't meant to foam as much as sulfate poos. I thought it would completely dry out my hair for that much foaming and to add to it, I didn't bother to dilute my shampoo since it was sulfate free and full of oils. My hair did feel dry but not stripped...it wasn't squeaky clean but it was clean. Learning from my mistakes, the next time I used about a 'kobo' sized amount of shampoo and I was pleased with the results. It still foamed well and cleaned my hair and scalp. My hair felt clean but not stripped and my coils definition was like I used a conditioner to wash my hair. Unlike a conditioner however, there wasn't any kind of residue on my strands. I didn't really need to use a conditioner ( I did the first time I used it) and I went straight to oiling my hair and scalp with coconut oil. On my mum's grey natural twa :  My mum's hair is full of greys and prone to dryness.  Most times to take the crunch out of her hair, she either cowashes with VO5 or uses Creme of Nature Argan Sulfate free shampoo. Even my beloved Aussie Moist Shampoo is too harsh for her hair. When she used the Keracare cleansing shampoo, she said she preferred it to the CON sulfate free shampoo as it cleansed her hair without the dry feeling afterwards. She loved it so much that she requested I get another before it ran out. Unfortunately, TwentySix85 said they were out of stock and also it seems like the product has been reformulated.

Reformulated version

On my sister's low porosity medium stranded natural hair:

Something I noticed about medium-low porosity hair is that it takes a while before you can tell the effect of a product. My fine porous hair reacts almost immediately to good or bad products because it's highly absorbent but my sister's hair takes a while. Her texture is a good way for me to know the penetrating power of a product. On applying the shampoo, I noticed it washed her hair clean without dryness and her hair had a subtle shine to it but it did not define her coils as well as it did mine....and her coils are much larger than mine!

A week later, I used it to wash her hair and left it in a bit (about 10-15mins) then rinsed off....and yep...her coil clumping/definition improved.

On my cousin's relaxed medium porosity medium stranded hair:

Relaxed hair has the tendency to clump together and tangle up when it's wet which is why unlike natural hair, it's best to detangle when it's dry to avoid breakage. My cousin hadn't detangled her hair in a while nor had she retouched in about 6 months...so you could say she was transitioning. 

It was pleasant to notice that similar to cowashing her hair, the shampoo cleansed her hair and scalp really well and I was able to fingerdetangle her hair without risking my fingers. 

Fingerdetangling with most sulfate shampoos on relaxed hair is 'dangerous' because when the hair is stripped, it can actually cut you!

To avoid that it's best to use either low sulfate or sulfate free shampoos.

VERDICT

Well, I feel that for the price, 8oz is quite small...perhaps 10 or even 12 would have been a better size. However I did notice that a little did go a long way....like from Sept/Oct with three natural heads and a relaxed one, there's still a little left over for one wash......which my mum has dibs on...

The scent isn't my personal favorite cos I'm one of those people that like fruity scents. My cousin absolutely loves it because she hates in her own words 'smelling like food'.

My mum adores it...she says it 'smells mature'.....so I guess I'm outnumbered!

I will definitely repurchase this product especially with this formula. I am about to try out the new formula so let's see if it works as well as this one but if you do see this type anywhere, do not hesitate to buy it!

#product review #keracare

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VALENTINE PROTECTIVE HAIRSTYLE: FAUX LOCS , IT'S A WRAP!

Hi people, what's been on?! So it's love season and life decided to love me back by giving me exams to prepare for!  Well, I decided that one of the loves of my life....my hair....won't suffer. I've fed it well and then now I'll keep it warm and snug while my life moves a bit faster....and of course, I have to look real good for the other love of my life, right?! I was a bit undecided about what to do with my hair so I booked an appointment a week in advance .... na me be this??....with a stylist to do a style that has been bombarding my Instagram page.....faux locs with kinky hair!

I was supposed to do this style with the Marley hair I ordered which hadn't come in. It would have come in before the week I was to do my hair but one day, I ventured into the market to buy my African Black Soap and due to it's unavailability came out clutching a pack of First Lady Kinky Hair....yep, this is me, alright....

Here's the brand of kinky hair I use ....and always use. It's as soft as Marley hair (though not as long) and readily available in the Nigerian market. It's gentle on my fine hair and my fingers. It doesn't get hard after a while and doesn't give me the itchies! The only downside is I haven't seen it in other colours except black and have to resort to Noble kinky for my pop of colour.

Now, I didn't really need to do my hair afterwards but after a bout of reading all night, I came up for air and with sleep still a long way off, I decided to practice how to wrap my hair with the kinky hair.....and before I knew it....I was done with my whole head!!! Here's what it finally looked like......

I didn't bother braiding then wrapping.....I just wrapped up straight. I applied NappyGirl to my hair first before wrapping because I had a feeling it may tangle up with the kinky hair...so this was a way to 'lube' up my hair so that when it's time for take down, it will be a matter of slipping off the wraps......I hope....

Update: I may take it down sooner than I want because I still have my standing appointment and the lady just did this awesome looking weave style that I'd love to try. The Marley braids have come in so I may change my mind and do more professional faux locs....who knows?! So that's it for now.....for instant updates, check me on Instagram @nappilynigeriangirl Till I spill again, Live Beautifully. Naturally. Hadassah. P.S. If you attempted any of the valentine hairstyles in my previous posts or any style you think you gathered hearts with, send them to [email protected] Three winners stand the chance to win N1500, N1000 and N500 airtime to any Nigerian network respectively. Winners will be selected by popular vote. Offer lasts till 28th of February 2014.

#Natural Hair Styles

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VALENTINE HAIRSTYLE INSPIRATION FROM INSTAGRAM

Hi people, what's been on? The town is red again and Cupid is almost running out of arrows! If you're love struck like moi....all the gorgeous natural hairstyles you knew how to do may have flown out with Cupid....never to be seen again! To help a sister out, I've put up a lookbook with beautiful natural hairstyle inspirations I got from instagram....

Oh and did I say keep your pictures if you tried out any of these styles (or invented yours!) cos I have something in store for three lovely Nigerian readers.......my apologies to readers in other countries......na small small o! Have a fun filled romantic weekend ahead! Live Beautifully.Naturally. Hadassah.

#Natural Hair Styles

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PROTEINS, OILS, RINSES.....OH MY !

Hi people, what's been on? It's been a very busy week especially with postgraduate exams around the corner! With that in mind, I've decided to pamper my hair for the weeks of neglect it will soon face. So far I have done a strenghtening treatment, moisturising treatment  and an oil treatment and I think my hair is well fed and ready to be abandoned in buns and twists....my go to protective styles. Sometimes, natural hair treatments might look like a lot and with the thousands of different concontions promising to make your hair long, strong and gorgeous, it's very easy to get confused and give up already! However, there is a method to the madness.  You don't really need to do all the treatments unless your hair needs it....well, that's how  I roll sha....lol! I feed my hair on demand. So here's what natural hair treatments I do and when. -I do a henna treatment when I notice my hair breaks at the slightest touch. I have fine natural  hair so I need all the reinforcement I can get. Henna binds strongly to hair protein thereby strenghtening it from within. I also do a henna treatment to dye my grey hair (inherited) a nice shade of reddish gold. - I do a hot oil treatment and scalp massage whenever I notice my hair is dull, doesn't retain moisture well and tangles easily. Coconut oil, olive oil, palm kernel oil, grapeseed oil, and soya bean oil are amazing. I also do the treatment when my scalp feels really dry/itchy and prior to heat stretching. This includes the Indian oiling method which helps me retain moisture, improve the elasticity of my fine hair and prevent breakage. - I do an ACV (apple cider vinegar) rinse to rid my hair of product buildup, revive my coils and reset my hair to default. It also helps with itchy scalp, tangles and dull sheen. - I do a protein treatment with Aphogee, eggs, milk or gelatin when I know I'll be heat styling or manipulating my hair a lot to reduce breakage. I do these protein treatments in between henna treatments. They are temporary protein treatments but they help my hair. -In any event my hair feels very hard from protein overload, I do an intensive moisture deep conditioning treatment. -To get well defined coils in my wash and gos, twists or twistouts (I love curly ends that go boing!) I alternate between a hibiscus rinse, moisturising deep conditioner and weekly cowash. - For unexplained shedding, I do tea rinses. I prefer the moringa/ginger/black tea mix for my rinse. - Just before I put my hair in a long term protective style such as braid/twist extensions or weaves, I do an overnight moisture deep conditioning treatment followed by a hpt oil treatment to make sure my hair is well hydrated so it doesn't dry out, tangle or break off during take down. - Manshanu (ghee as it's called in Nigeria) deep treatment gives me the softest shiny hair but it's been a bit difficult to find until Providence brought a nice Fulani lady across my way who promised to supply me with the freshest, yummiest butter.....in addition to the creamiest 'fura da nono' ....millet ball in cows milk...it tastes divine served cold! Can you tell I'm delighted?! That's a bit of my secret deep treatments to healthy hair that has worked really well for me. I  love trying out new recipes and would share them once they are tested and true! Do you have any natural hair treatments you tried and loved?

#Natural hair basics

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NAPPILYNIGERIANGIRL: LAURA IZIBOR

Meet Laura Izibor, a 26 year old Irish Nigerian award winning musician, producer, recording artist and actress....a mouthful???!!! Yes it is because she is one accomplished natural haired diva! If you were a fan of One Tree Hill, you'll remember her as Erin Macree . She's one of NNG natural hair inspiration! Here are pictures to show you why!

Source:lauraizibor.com

#NappilyNigerianGirl #laura izibor

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NATURAL HAIR TRANSITIONING STORY

Hi people, what's been on?! Yesterday I was chatting with some friends and of course the topic veered towards hair. Some of them were transitioning and they shared the issues they had with transitioning and how it was difficult maintaining both hair types (straight relaxed and kinky coily undergrowth) and how their hair seemed to break off at the slightest touch! Later that evening, my sis who decided to transition complained about the same thing. I shared tried and true Nigerian hair tested tips but they felt that since I was used to natural hair care, it was easy for me to say.....ermm....okay. I know that sometimes the tips natural hair bloggers share concerning natural hair care seem to come from a place of years of experience and might look easy to practice on paper but not so easy in reality ....so I felt that it will be a good idea to hear from Nigerian naturals currently transitioning. To encourage my sister, friends and anyone currently transitioning, I decided to share this  message written by Marriet Hermosa. "I'm transitioning!  Relaxer had never been and was never my friend.  My hair had never grown past the nape and it was badly damaged, especially the edges. I last relaxed end of February 2013, at first I wanted my hair to grow a while before I texlaxed but now it's been 10 months and counting and I've decided to go back to natural by transitioning.  So every month or at least once every two months I take off as much as 2 inches or 3 or 4 inches depending on how daring I feel that day.  Deep conditioning treatments once a month, LOC (liquid, oiling and cream) method every morning and night, hot oil treatments, tea rinses, ACV treatments and protective styles like box braids, cornrows and my personal favorite.... twists, have helped me during my healthy hair journey. It's still a struggle balancing protein and moisture in my hair, and there are times during wash days when I see lots of hair in the basin and other times when there isn't as much, but all in all I think I'm getting the hang of it. One thing we need to remember is the end goal, long, thick, healthy lustrous hair! So stay motivated, be diligent and always always check out hair blogs and YouTube videos for more techniques and motivation" Do you have a similar transitioning story? Please share with us in the comments section or send to [email protected] You may include pictures if you want or share anonymously if you are shy. P.S. You can read up inspiring transitioning stories by the NappilyNigerianGirls that were featured. Live Beautifully. Naturally. Hadassah A.

#Natural hair basics

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AND THE WINNER IS......

Packed and ready to go!

Hi people, what's been on? As I promised, today I'll announce the lucky winner of the giveaway that starts all giveaways! I want to thank everyone that participated in this giveaway and even if you didn't win this one, just hang on....there'll definitely be more! So all in all, 21 readers took part in the giveaway. However some didn't follow all the rules..... On one hand, some readers followed on twitter and used the tag #NNGiveaway but didn't comment or follow/subscribe on Google+....on the other...some commented but didn't follow on Google+ or subscribe to the blog. This posed a problem because I really wanted to make sure everyone that participated stood a chance to win....but that wouldn't be fair to those who followed the rules! To solve this problem, I called in a council of advisers and they decided that those who followed the rules should stand a chance of winning the grand prize of the giveaway while everyone that participated anyway would stand the chance of winning N1500 airtime to any network of choice........Is that fair enough???? Here's the list of participants and those with a tick by the side filled all the criteria. I used the serial numbers for the first and second draws.

I used the Ticket Raffle App to generate the winning no. The first winner for the Kit is @djenyva a.k.a Ihebunachi Jennifer ,serial no. 2

The second winner for N1500 airtime is @aibeefash a.k.a Ibiyemi Fashina , serial no. 20

Congratulations to the winners! Do send your contact details to [email protected] so I can get your win across to you. Again, I appreciate everyone that participated and I really enjoyed this giveaway so I'm definitely going to do this again.....so watch this space o! Till I spill again, Live Beautifully. Naturally. Hadassah

#Giveaway

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BEAUTY: HOW TO PLAY UP YOUR BEST ASSETS

Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder

In our world of appearances, it's easy to be misled by the word "perfection"! We are constantly exposed to perfect looking people on our T.V. screens, in magazines, on the streets and online. It is only normal to feel so......imperfect! Usual statements or thoughts are "I'm too fat", " I'm too skinny", " I have short legs" " I'm too dark" " My stomach is too big" "I can never wear that" " I can never look like that"....yada yada yada! I am also stared at in the face by my own insecurities but do you know what?! I've finally discovered the secret to being fabulous and perfect! It's called PLAYING UP YOUR ASSETS! Beauty they say lies in the eyes of the beholder and why not give those eyes the perfect bits to behold!  It's not mad science.  It's what perfect looking people do! They draw your eyes and concentration to those perfect bits! They hide their flaws and accentuate their assets! Don't know what your assets are???? QUICKLY!! Go find out then come back and read this!!! Now you know your assets, let me show you how to play them up! ( In a fashionable and not vulgar way!) 1. GREAT HAIR Some people are blessed with long, luscious hair that shines and bounces without much care... Protein treatments, hair serums, deep conditioning, steaming, hair supplements??? What the heck is all that??? Ask those with gorgeous hair about their hair care regimen and they go... " What regimen?"        (and believe them....at least...some of them). If you fall into this category of people, please "whip that hair!!!!" and show the world!  Don't hide it under scarves, caps, extensions, weaves and such! Allow other not so fortunate people admire God's work! Boost the natural beauty of your hair by eating right, avoiding constant heat, moisturising and deep conditioning ( yes, you have to!). Avoid tightly styled hair and harmful chemicals in relaxers and dyes if you can. If you are relaxed, retouch new growth only and use a heat protectant while using heat appliances such as blow dryers, hair dryers, tongs and flatirons.  Do not relax and dye/braid/install weaves the same day. (Note that great hair is healthy hair. It has absolutely nothing to do with hair type.) 2. PERFECT SKIN Oh, how we envy those makeupless, smooth, spotless, glowing skinned sisters! Their beautiful skin is the basis of the multi billion dollar beauty and cosmetic industry! They sell different products under different names with promises of giving us smooth, flawless skin and judging by their profits, we fall for it! If this asset is yours, then you are one lucky chick! Thank the Lord and invest in caring for it by eating right, drinking enough water, sleeping well, using the right makeup and skin care products. TIP: A good foundation and skillfully applied highlighter in the spots where light naturally hits your face such as your forehead, cheek bones, jaw and chin would make you glow ethereally! Who doesn't want to look angelic??? 3. GREAT GNASHERS Do you have beautifully shaped pearly whites? Do you blind people with your smile? Do you know some celebrities like Julia Roberts and America Ferrara insured their smiles for millions of dollars bringing the saying "million dollar smile" to life! No???.....well now you know! If you fall into this category, then you really have something to smile about! Go for glamour with a bold, blue tinted lipstick (blue tint make your whites, whiter and not yellowish)! Slick on that va va voom red lippy and smile, smile, smile away! (Disclaimer: constantly walking around with a smile permanently plastered on your face will put you at risk of the sick house! Show you jewels wisely...not foolishly) 4. BOOTYLICIOUS BUM Have glutes like Beyonce and J'LO? Well, don't hide it! Uhh..... it seems some Nigerian babes have no problem flaunting it........lewdly...butt cracks and all! Please take the class out of the trash by showing it off with style! Don't stick that bum in our faces, tease us with it! You can do this subtly ;) in an ubersexy jumpsuit or maxi gowns that cinch in at the waist and fall softly around the hips and bum. Jersey fabrics look pretty good on people with this asset... as long as they don't have beer belly. Think Kim Kardashian at her classiest (not sluttiest). 5. ENDLESS LEGS Think Bambi??? Nah....think hot Victoria Secret Model! Those shapely pins are something to trip for! If your inner leg measures >40 inches, then baby, you got a winner! Show off those legs in shorts (not bum shorts tho...will look like panties), rompers and minis! Don't be afraid to wear heels even if you are on the really tall side....why the clamour to date models, huh??? Get those pins ready for action by treating yourself to a leg wax ( gorilla legs....hmm....so NOT sexy) and add a bit of shimmer lotion to get them shiny! For those not comfortable enough to wear short stuff but have long legs, skinny jeans, leggings, jeggings and heels will be your buddies. Simply paint your toes nails,add a pair of vertiginous heels and walk (not wobble) tall. 6. SEXY WIDE SHOULDERS With your shoulders, clothes just hang the right way on you like a mannequin! Elegance is good taste plus a dash of daring! Show off those shoulders in tube dresses, mono sleeves and sleeveless tops and dresses...take your pick! But puhleasssseee.....prepare that gift by exfoliating and moisturising and adding a touch of shimmer ( not glitter...sooo art project). 7. BOOBS I don't have much to say about boobs because to me they can be overrated! NO THANKS to skinny women with big implants like I see in some reality shows. I believe in proportions. No point being all "P" shaped. But if like some people, you have nice well shaped boobs that can stand on their own without much needed support from bras and implants, then you sure have a beautiful asset! Nice boobs gives femininity to clothing whether you wear a pillowcase or not!To accentuate your asset fashionably without a hint of sluttiness, avoid really low necklines as you have an asset that is hard to ignore even if it is covered up! Tease us a little bit with class! If your boobies are on the B cup size and fall in the range of 34-36, turtleneck tops look really nice. Bigger than that, please avoid! 8. BEAUTIFUL EYES If you have wide, evenly spaced, almondshaped, clear eyes, then you have a beautiful asset.  Alas, they say "the window to the soul is the eyes". Keep those windows clean and clear (to avoid blurry images of the soul) by sleeping well, eating your veggies and fruits especially those rich in Vitamin A, drinking enough water and shielding those peekers from the sun. Think Rihanna and Katy Perry when it comes to eye makeup.  I really love how their makeup artists accentuate their eyes. Avoid drugs, alcohol and anything or anybody that will make you cry constantly...red eyes anyone? 9. BEAUTIFUL BODY SHAPE All body shapes are beautiful in their own way (and I will talk about how to show them off in another post, so stay tuned). Be that as it may, some body shapes are more coveted than others. One body shape that comes to mind is the "hourglass shape". This is the standard for the female form and other body shapes are dressed to address deviations from this shape type. If you are naturally blessed with the statistics of 36-24-36, then you have an enviable asset...it's no wonder that Mercy Johnson inspite of not being as pretty as other actresses, is one of the top actresses in Nigeria. #justsaying. Play up this asset by dressing with class. Clothing should be fitted and not tight. Walk tall and gracefully! Do not force those hips to roll, mami! They do that on automatic! Most dresses look good on you, so don't be afraid to explore. Go for classy, flowing pieces that drapes not clings to your body shape. A nice best will accentuate your small waist. Try to avoid the dreaded beer belly. If you are not blessed with height, wear heels. If you are blessed with height, wear heels! Learn to dress for your body type! So, the above are some of the "physical" assets that you can play up! These make up only 20% of the journey to perfection. The remaining 80% is your attitude! All these would be nothing if you have bad attitude, low morals and low esteem. I planned to list up to ten major assets and have decided to leave the 10th one to y'all! So share!!!! P.S. The #NNGiveaway closes midnight today! The winner will be announced on 2-2-2014.

#self concept #beauty

[naturalhairisdope-blog]

NATURAL HAIR:THE NEW RULES OF BLACK BEAUTY

Black Barbie

I came across this article by Ben Arogundade, a London-based author and creative director who explored the new rules when it comes to ethnic beauty and I loved it and decided to share word for word! This is an exciting time for black beauty. Black women all over the world are discussing their hair and beauty choices as a result of the so- called natural hair revolution that is sweeping across many parts of America. Over 10 years ago, I wrote a book called Black Beauty, which tried to make sense of the history of different black aesthetic styles and the way they have been received within this culture. With so much exciting debate going on right now, I decided to draft my own personal manifesto for the 10 new rules of black beauty. 1. Action, not hair, is what makes you black. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. remains our best example of this. The ultimate signifier of his blackness was not his hair, features or skin colour, but his words and deeds. 2. All hair and hairstyles are good. Providing you choose them for yourself, rather than through any forms of pressure or coercion, from family, friends, haters or society. 3. Know your black hair history Knowing the cultural history behind the hairstyle you choose empowers your choices. For example, for those who wear wigs or weaves, this type of adornment dates back over 5,000 years to ancient Egypt, where they were worn for ceremonial occasions, and as sun protectors. 4. Know your own hair history For many black women, their preference for straight hair is driven by bad childhood memories of being teased and tormented at school about their natural hair, or being made to feel insecure by parents who insisted on the hot comb or hair relaxer. Understanding your own psychological back-story, and the way it has influenced your choices today, is fundamental, thereby raising one's consciousness from 'choice' to 'informed choice'. 5. Understand who controls black beauty today. They are media owners, magazine and newspaper publishers, advertisers, cosmetics manufacturers, Hollywood producers, directors, casting agents, etc. If you translate this list into people, those in charge consist predominantly of white men. It is they who control what images of blackness are disseminated through the global media. This is not a bad thing in itself, if these men have an expansive view of black aesthetic diversity, but mostly they don't. To a greater or lesser degree, we are all influenced, conditioned, some might say even brainwashed, by their decisions. 6. Black men – be more supportive. The black Nationalists of the civil rights era chastised African American women who didn't give up their processed hair during the aesthetic revisionism of the 1960s. Today's black men should support black women in their aesthetic choices, whatever they may be. They should be more empathetic and less chastising. 7. End black-on-black hair conflict. Black women are under attack again, only this time from each other. Curly against straight, natural against processed. The two styles are billed in opposition to one another – like a face-off between a pair of heavyweight boxers – always with the word 'VERSUS' separating them. In reality there is no reason why these two styles should not co-exist in harmony, with both factions accepting, instead of attacking the other. These feuds are divisive, and distract black women from life's more important battles. 8. All hair has meaning, and yet no meaning. All hair is subject to interpretation, and this will never change. Whatever someone's personal reason for adopting a particular style, others may view that choice differently. Black women get judged over their hair, but then so do blondes, redheads and women with shaved heads. From this perspective, hair will forever be political and apolitical simultaneously. 9. Perceived meanings can't be trusted. Reverting to natural hair is often talked about alongside adjectives such as 'self-acceptance', 'freedom' and 'political awareness'. But these terms could just as easily apply to a black woman with a blonde weave, who chooses her style while being fully 'aware'. All assumptions based on aesthetics alone must be outlawed. 10. Keep salon culture alive. Whether hair is natural or processed, black women enjoy the ritual of getting their hair professionally done in a salon. Not only are they also valued meeting places for chat and gossip, but they also support a large multi-ethnic community of hair care professionals who rely on their patronage. Originally written by Ben Arogundade, this article appeared in Stylelist.com I really really love this piece and to think it was written by a guy! He hit the bulls-eye IMO. What do you think?!

#self concept #natural hair #article

[naturalhairisdope-blog]

MY HAIR DRINKS ZOBO....WHAT DOES YOURS DRINK?

Hi people, what's been on? It's weekend so I cleaned up, sorted out a portion of my life...haha....and decided to go grocery shopping in the market. As I was leaving the busy market, I spotted something.........zobo leaves a.k.a. dried hibiscus flower. So I bought it on a whim and fantasized about a cool delicious rich red drink for.....wait for it.......my hair! *facepalm* .....and no, I am so not obsessed about my hair......well a little.....lol! If you've read this post.....you'll know the benefits of tea rinses. To add to it, zobo infusions not only nourishes the roots of your hair, it's also a good way to revive the red tones in your hair if you had it dyed to that colour with box dyes or with henna. It also great as an ayurvedic hair shampoo and conditioner. Here's a little bit about it.... In the Indian traditional system of medicine, Ayurveda, hibiscus is considered to have medicinal properties. The roots are used to make various concoctions believed to cure ailments such as cough, hair loss or hair greying. As a hair treatment, the flowers are boiled in oil such as amla oil or coconut oil along with other spices to make a medicated hair oil. The leaves and flowers are ground into a fine paste with a little water, and the resulting lathery paste is used as a shampoo plus conditioner. (wikipedia) Here's the recipe for shampoo....it's similar to the recipe for making shikakai shampoo and is a good substitute. - Take a few hibiscus leaves and crush it to make a fine paste using water.Don't worry, the pieces of leaves will come out while washing. - Add a few drops of coconut or olive oil to this paste. - Proceed to wash your hair using this paste. It foams well and cleans your hair making it super soft. The good thing is you can skip prepooing i.e. adding oil to your hair before washing because the paste contains oil. Well, I didn't use it as a shampoo because I had already washed my hair and even had it in mini twists. I used it as a conditioning rinse instead because I wanted to do a twistout and I wanted it soft, moisturised but product free.  Notice how I'm trying to use less product on my hair? I'm trying to slowly reset my hair so I could see if the curl loosening I observed (am I the only one?) will revert and I'm gradually noticing that my coils are getting tighter and tighter. Some people may prefer their coils to get looser and it seems like curl friendly products accomplish that for my hair....but once in a while, I need my coils to be tighter because I'm scared that one day I'll end up with straight hair...*gasp* So back to the rinse.

The rinse is simple. - Take about two standard cups of hibiscus or zobo leaves and pour in two cups of boiling water and allow it to steep for an hour. -Strain the red juice, allow to cool and apply to hair after you shampoo. Some people rinse off after 30mins but I decided to leave it in.I wrung off the excess from my hair and patted dry with an old T then sealed with coconut oil. Remember my hair was in mini twists all the while which made it easier to manipulate my hair. It's really messy so to avoid painting everywhere red, I placed a big empty bowl beneath me and used it to collect the red juice instead of it going down the drain and staining the bathroom. Does it colour hair red? Well unlike henna, it rinses off easily. To have the color, do not rinse off and the more concentrated the juice is, the deeper the red.you have light colored hair, it can temporarily stain it red. If you have darker hair you won't notice it until you step out in the sun. I didn't notice the red but I did notice my ciils felt as springy as when I did a deep conditioning treatment and shinier....though it might just be because my hair is damp....let me wait until it dries to know how conditioning it is especially now the weather is dry..... Here's my twistout after my hair dried.

It does feel softer and not crunchy dry.

I still made cool refreshing ruby red zobo drink.....so I fed two mouths with one cup...lol!

Have you tried using zobo aka hibiscus leaves for your hair? What was it like??? Any special recipes we could try???? 

Share!

#Natural hair basics #beauty

[naturalhairisdope-blog]

NATURAL HAIR BASICS: HOW TO WASH YOUR NATURAL HAIR WITHOUT TANGLES

Hi people, what's been on? As part of my promise to start afresh with natural hair basics, I thought it will be a good idea to start with the bane of a natural girl's life......washday! Wash days are looked upon with dread and if possible, many a natural girl will prefer to go through her natural hair journey without washing...ever!!! For naturals that have mastered washing their mass of coils/curls with little or no incidents, washday is just one of those things you do like cooking, laundry or even watching Kerry Washington on 'Scandal'...which is replacing 'Two Broke Girls' as my favorite series! To make wash-day easier, I have scoured the net for videos that are relevant to Nigerian naturals.... I would have done a video myself but I have not mastered the art of washing my hair in front of a camera o and I wash in the buff! So please manage these videos! Before we start washing, there are things you need to know... - You need a moisturising shampoo with good slip - You need a conditioner with loads of slip to detangle your hair. - You need a bottle of oil - You need a wide tooth comb - Shampoo your hair in the direction of hair growth from the scalp to the ends....concentrating on scalp....no vigorous scrubbing to avoid tangles. - Condition your hair only. - Detangle condition laden hair with a wide tooth comb or fingers from the ends to roots. - Washing your hair in sections makes washing easier and the longer your hair grows, the more useful it is to wash in sections. Okay....now the videos...

THIS is exactly how I wash my hair except that I don't wear 'yellow tops'...lol! So if your hair is midlength to long, this video is for you.

For those with shorter hair, you can use a light conditioner like icyunveme0912 to wash your hair. Please never use your bathing soap! The only thing labelled soap that should go on your hair is black soap or Castille soap. 

Since shorter hair is not long enough to pack or section to style, I decided to include a wash and go video by SimplYounique....

P.S If the videos aren't playing, you may have to view them in web version.

#Natural hair basics #co washing

[naturalhairisdope-blog]

BEAUTY: CURL FRIENDLY LEAVE IN CONDITIONER

Source: here

I know the major problem we face with our Nigerian natural or relaxed hair is dryness! The special problem Nigerian naturals have is the issue of curl/coil definition. We all want our hair to be soft, well moisturised with the coils/curls all going 'boing boing boing' in our ears...so I decided to share an effective DIY recipe (just in case you couldn't BIY) for defining your coils while keeping your hair moisturised. It also useful for detangling dry hair, moisturising edges while hair is in braids, twists or weave extensions. It also makes a light skin conditioner for dry skin especially as the heat creeps in! Try it out and thank me later! ;) Ingredients 1 Cup   (250ml) of distilled water 1/4 Cup (62ml) of aloe vera gel 1 tbs coconut oil 1 tsp honey and/or 1/4 tsp vegetable glycerine Optional 2-3 drops of essential oil of choice. All measurements are done using standard measuring cups and spoons. These can be gotten in market where baking stuff are sold. Method Combine all ingredients in a spray bottle and shake to mix. #shikena !! Preservation Store in a cool dry place preferable refridgerated. This should last you 3-5 days after which you should make a fresh batch o! How to use (can be used on relaxed/texlaxed hair) - Apply to ends daily to prevent breakage then to hair as often as it feels dry. - For children, apply to hair before combing then to ends daily. - On wash day, apply to damp hair before styling. - For braid or twist extensions, apply to exposed hair line to prevent breakage and hairloss. - For coil/curl definition, apply to dry or damp hair starting from the ends and working towards the roots. Style as usual. If you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comments section! If you have any other hair and skin friendly tips, why not share by sending an email to [email protected] with the heading "DIY RECIPES' with your name and/or contact deets and I'll put it up! P.S. Don't forget to participate in the #NNGiveaway to win awesome products. For more details go here Till I spill again, Live Beautifully. Naturally. Hadassah.

#natural hair conditioner #Natural hair basics #NappyRegimen #beauty

[naturalhairisdope-blog]

WHY AN AFRO SHOULDN'T BE THE DEFAULT NATURAL HAIR STYLE

The Afro Source: here

When one thinks of natural hair, the first hairstyle that comes to mind is the afro because this was the way we remember our parents or grandparents carried their hair back in the day. Lord knows how much damage that style caused their hair.

Awww..... Source: here

The reason I think people had an afro then was because they wanted to imitate the free hair styling of their straight haired counterparts. The men had a small to medium sized afro going on with a side or middle split....sorry slit.....no sorry part. Same with the women.

The Jackson 5 Source: here

( Here and here is a little history about the evolution of  natural hair) But history....indigenous history shows that our ancestors rarely styled their hair in an afro. It was either up in elaborate updos, stretched out with threads, braided down in cornrows with beautiful designs or twisted up in micro twists or in dreadlocs.

Natural hair was not left as is without any form of manipulation. In fact, the more intricate the style, the higher one's social status. Perhaps they knew all too well as many of us will rediscover that the afro hairstyle is not really in our natural hair's best interest! In the absence of ancestral pictures, check out African carvings, there really aren't many with an afro! They are usually carvings of intricate designs to depict popular hair styles. If you have any evidence to the contrary, do share with us!

African hairstyles Source: here

African updo back in the days.

Due to the very coily nature of our kinks, it's not easy to rock natural hair - especially for those with kinkier hair - in it's free unstretched state without attendant dryness, tangles, breakage and presence of single stranded knots. A coily/curly hair's motto is 'the more, the merrier'! The more strands clumped together, the less likely your natural hair will dry out quickly, break off or twist itself up into knots. That's why to achieve the maximum length retention, protective styling (which groups hair strands together) is very effective. That's also why naturals with dreadlocs grow their hair to amazing lengths. I'm not saying you should never style your hair in a big fluffy picked out afro, but should do so after you are familiar with maintaining moisture levels in your hair and detangling your hair with minimum breakage and maximum patience. After a certain length, you can't really rock an afro without having at the back of your mind the endless hours that will be spent on detangling while taking down the style. That's why I say 'enjoy your fro while your hair is teeny and at in between length!"

Aevin Dugas Source: here

For those like me who are inspired by Aevin Dugas's massive fierce afro (Read how she cares for her hair here).... you can actually get away with rocking the style on special days by following some tips I've learnt on my journey.  (Disclaimer: I'm no expert oooo....just learnt from experience.) - Make sure your hair is properly detangled and moisturised. I find it useful to apply a little curl activator and some oil to my hair to avoid dryness which causes my hair to tangle up. - The afro obtained from previously stretched hair from a blow out, twistout, bantu knot out or banding is less likely to tangle up unlike the afros gotten from a wash and go. Also on the plus side, stretched afros are usually bigger so you can avoid damage from constant picking with a comb to increase volume. - Please, don't go to bed with an afro on your head because you are tired or drunk. You'll not only have a hangover to deal with in the morning but also a mass of tangled mane! The easiest method I know to detangle your hair is to divide it into roughly four sections, add a glob of detangling conditioner to each section, allow to marinate and using a wide tooth comb gently detangling from ends to the roots. Adding oil such as olive oil to the conditioner also smooths the process of detangling. - Patience is key for solving the aftermath of an afro. If you're not patient, it's not advisable to rock a 'fro because you'll really dislike your hair and be tempted to shave it off!!! I did on so many occasions! - Oh and if you have fine, porous hair like mine...please the afro hairstyle is not in your best interest especially if you are trying to grow it out! Trust me!! Just when you think your hair absorbed all the moisture you fed it, it gets hungry again as you open your door to head out. Then it curls up into little fairy knots and tangles up. Every slight gust of wind that makes your fro sway in the wind lends a hand in creating even more tangles. None of that hair streaming in the wind in a red convertible beside your handsome lover moment! - Oh and before I forget, I only rock my fro during the rainy season because I know there is enough humidity to keep my fro hydrated! So that's it! If you have successfully rocked a fro, please do share your tips and tricks! Also don't forget to take part in the #NNGiveaway to win awesome moisturising products. For more deets, go here Till I spill again, Live Beautifully.Naturally. Hadassah.

#Natural hair basics #nappy regimen #afro

[naturalhairisdope-blog]

FOOD INDULGENCE: HOW TO MAKE EGUSI SOUP

Egusi Soup

Photo: chichiscuisine.blogspot.com

Egusi soup is one of the most popular soups in Nigeria. This was my favorite soup till I discovered afang soup. There are different ways to make this soup and I’ve seen at least 4 different ways from my mom. From frying the egusi first…to boiling it with the meat stock…to rolling into small balls…to soaking the egusi in water first. The soup still turns out really nice regardless of the method used. However, I prefer to soak the egusi in water first so that’s the recipe I’ll use. I’m curious to know what method you usually use to cook your egusi so please comment below and tell me…Thanks!!!

Ingredients:  - 3 cups of Egusi (ask the grinders in the market to grind it for you)

- Meat (I used beef, tripe and cow head but feel free to use whatever kind you like)

-Dry Fish

- Stock Fish

- Pumpkin Leaves (Ugu)

- Crayfish 

- Pepper 

- 2 Medium sized onions 

- Palm Oil 

- Knorr and Salt to taste

Directions: 

Season the meat with knorr, salt and onions. 

Cook till the meat is almost done. 

Strain the meat from the stock and set both aside. 

Add the egusi to a bowl.

Add some water to make a thick paste. Set aside.

Add some palm oil to a big pot, slice half onions and put into the hot oil.

Add the egusi paste to the hot oil and turn well.

You will know the egusi is dry when palm oil starts seeping out from the egusi. Fry some more till it’s VERY dry.

Add the meat stock to the dry egusi. Blend half onions, pepper and crayfish and add to the egusi. Add the meat and allow everything simmer for like 10minutes or till some of the meat stock has dried and the egusi has thickened. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.

Cut up the ugu leaves and add to the pot. Cover the pot again and allow simmer for like 5minutes. Put off the heat and your egusi is ready. (Sorry, I lost the picture while I was editing it).

Serve with garri, semolina, wheat, fufu/loi loi, pounded yam or any other “swallow” of your choice.

For more Nigerian recipes, go to chichiscuisine.blogspot.com

#Food Indulgence

[naturalhairisdope-blog]

NAPPY Q & A : DIY (DO IT YOURSELF) PRODUCTS , BIY (BUY IT YOURSELF)....WHICH IS MORE EFFECTIVE??

Q. Hi NappilyNigerian, I saw your thread on nairaland. You are really doing a good job and giving us hope that we can grow our hair long. I noticed that you listed some products you use some of which are hard to find in the market. You also mentioned that some products can be made at home. My question is which is more effective...the store bought products or the Do It Yourself ones especially when it comes to dry hair? J.O. A. Thank you for your kind words. To answer your question, both the store bought and the D.I.Y. products are effective as long as the ingredients in them are designed to solve the particular problem...in this case dryness. In both cases, you need ingredients that would add and draw moisture towards the hair. Here's where water and known active humecants like glycerine should show up in the ingredient list. Also to make sure that the water provided would not evaporate easily. This is where sealants such as oils and light silicones come in. In order to know whether to go the D.I.Y. route or the B.I.Y. route, you have to consider factors such as time, availability of products, cost and extent of hair issues. To guide you in your decision, I will outline some advantages and disadvantages of the Do It Yourself and Buy It Yourself hair care solutions. DO IT YOURSELF Pros - You'll know exactly what goes into your hair product and how much goes in it! Some haircare companies cut corners by practicing the 'one drop' rule. That bottle advertised as 'all natural olive oil hydrating moisturiser' may contain just 0.01% of olive oil and a big dollop of silicones, waxes and petrochemical by products which you'd prefer to do without! - It's cost effective especially if the ingredients are abundant in your area. For example making a shea butter moisturising butter is cheaper in Nigeria because we produce shea butter locally but making an argan oil moisturiser will be much more expensive since we don't grow it here. - It saves you the hassle of looking for some hair products. A lot of products readily available in the States are not available in Nigeria and if you want to keep hunting them down, you may travel long distances before you locate a store that stocks that product. Why not simply make your own? For example, you may have a hard time finding Ecostyler gel in your area, why not simply make your own gel from flaxseed or use aloe vera gel to tame frizz? - Environmentally friendly. Since your mix contains a lot of natural ingredients, it is much more bio degradable when washed away. Also, it is more likely that you'll recycle an old empty container of a product you've used before than purchase an entirely new one. Less litter. It is also less likely that you'll be using an industrial size CO2 emitting heat source which means less contribution to depletion of our poor ozone layer! So it's a win for you and a win for the environment. Cons -It can be time consuming. The time spent looking for individual ingredients for mixing could be spent just buying one good product. -There's also the issue of hygiene and health. Unless you are knowledgeable in preservation of degradable products to prevent/control microbial growth, you might just be mixing up a health time bomb! There are many ways your mix can be contaminated. Your mixing surfaces, your bowls, mixing tools, your fingers and even the ingredients themselves are potential sources of microbial contamination. -It may not be cost effective in the long run. Sometimes purchasing raw natural ingredients can be more expensive. For example, if you want to make a hair moisturiser containing hair growth stimulating oils, you would spend a lot purchasing each essential oil by the ounce as against simple buying a good product with the very same essential oil. Essential oils tend to be expensive if you want the real thing. Also, to keep the product fresh and germ free, you would have to make smaller batches of product which can run out sooner than you think and you would notice that you spent more while repurchasing your ingredients. -It may not be good for your hair. Without proper understanding of what individual ingredients contribute to the health of your hair, the quantity needed and how each ingredient complement each other in your mix, you may be doing more harm than good to your hair. Most good hair care companies invest a lot of money and time researching the best ingredients to solve that particular hair issue. Why not reap the benefits of that research by simply purchasing a bottle of hydrating hair lotion for example?! BUY IT YOURSELF (ready made products) Pros -It is time saving. You don't have to spend hours mixing up a hair product when you can simply buy one that solves the problem. -Cost effective. You save money buying one product that contains all the ingredients you need than buying individual ingredients in quantities that you may end up wasting! - Great aesthetic appeal. Ready made products come beautifully packaged in attractive colours with awesome scents which let's be honest, you can't really replicate in DIY products without spending extra on packaging and aromatic oils. A lovely addition to your product shelf...why else do we have product junkies?! - Wider range of choices. There are different products tailored to different hair types and different hair issues, all you need to do is pick it up, throw it into your basket and head to the counter. It's a whole shopping experience...you can even try on a new lipstick while you're at it! Cons - Do you really want all the hard to pronounce chemicals in that glossy bottle? Do you really want to wonder if that ingredient is carcinogenic, comedogenic ...in other words....a health disaster in the long run? -Do you really want to wonder if there's enough of that natural ingredient in that bottle? I was looking for a pH balanced body wash one day and I stumbled across Imperial Leather Citrus Burst Body wash with promises of lime and kiwi extract. On perusing the ingredients list, there was absolutely no mention of lime or kiwi extract or their latin moniker.....see what I'm on about? - It can be really costly with no real hair care benefits. You may spend a lot of money on a product that's absolutely rubbish. All you are really paying for is the fancy bottle or tub. Your hard earned money is financing expensive adverts so they'll deceive more gullible consumers with products that are not worth it! So what am I saying? If you are ready to invest the time and money to make your own products, you need to do your research to create effective herbal hair care products that would suit your needs. If you decide to buy them, it's best you purchase products that contain good quality natural ingredients. Whatever you decide, make sure you are only using products that nourish your hair and keep it healthy. To take the guess work out of looking for good products suitable for your hair, you can request for a NappyGirl Hair Kit by sending a mail to [email protected]! While you are on it, you can stand the chance to win fabulous products in the #NNGiveaway! For more information, go here

#NappyQandA #big chop