Vitamins

I've finally got internet access again, so I can write about what I have been up to. I have started taking vitamins. For the past 28 days I have been taking a vitamin for skin, hair and nails, about 10 days after that I started taking biotin. At the moment I'm only taking 300mg of biotin a day as there is already 45mg of biotin in the other vitamin.

From listening to others on You tube, I'm shocked at the number of vitamins that some naturals are taking, especially when you consider that most of them have the same ingredients. They're just loading their bodies with these things unnecessarily. Having these things in excess isn't going to do them any good. I'm just sticking with the two that I'm currently taking, I may up the amount of biotin from one 300mg tablet a day to two. I really want healthy hair but I think popping pills like their mints a a step too far.

Since taking these vitamins I've also been growing my nails, they do look really healthy, especially after being buffed. I bought some nail polish but after applying it to one hand I realised I preferred my nails plain. I may do a french manicure once they're an even length and I have the time to sit and do them properly.

New Style



Lately I've been putting my hair in canerows when going to bed, instead of banding, I do get a bit of a curl when I take them out but after a few minutes due to shrinkage they form into a puff and just look like I haven't combed my hair. I couldn't do the style I wanted which was an Afro puff slightly pulled back, so did this instead. I know the picture isn't great, but I do quite like it, I'll tweak it a little the next time I do it.

I am determined to do some sort of braid/twist out, I have considered doing Bantu knots so that I can get the curly/wave effect. Once I find out the best products to use to achieve this, and get the chance to go to the shop to buy it, I'll let you know the results.

Lately I don't know what my hair is doing or what to do with it. I'm not in my usual routine and sometimes go to bed without banding or wrapping it. Taking care of three babies really tires me out, I wish I had a live in hair care specialist who didn't mind being paid in food and somewhere to sleep.

Purely Natural: Review

On Saturday I went to my appointment at Purely Natural, in Stratford. The salon looked very professional, was clean, light and airy. I'm used to going to salons that look cluttered, dark and dusty. It didn't seem to have that salon smell either and unlike other black hair salons that I've been to (excl Morris Roots), the staff looked like a team and not like individuals who were only renting out a chair and would be working from another salon or from home in a couple of  months time.

My appointment was at 2pm but I arrived at 1:40, and to my surprise was seen straight away. A girl called Danielle washed my hair, and when I say washed, I mean washed. She really got in there, then, after conditioning, checked to make sure that all the product had washed off (something no other hairdresser had done before). Once my hair was washed I went over to a lady called Natalie. She confirmed the style I wanted then asked if it was ok to use shea butter in my hair (as she thought I wanted twist she asked if I wanted them done with gel or grease). When using the hair dryer, she handled my hair with care, starting from the ends and working down to the roots (another thing that no other hairdresser has done). Then she moved on to trimming my hair. I've never had my hair trimmed at a salon before, so I was very nervous because I know how scissor happy some stylist can get. She snipped and then showed me how much she had taken off to see if I was alright with it. My hair looked so much better afterwards, the trim was the main reason why I went to the salon.

Next came the actual styling, I told Natalie that I wanted it cane rowed at the front and the the rest in single plaits. As she parted my hair she told me she was going to do the cane rows going towards the side so that they wouldn't pull on my hairline. She asked me how I usually styled my hair and how long I keep my extensions in. I told her 1-2 months, she was very shocked and said that my hair would be locking up by that point. Natalie also pointed out that the styles I had chosen would lockup a lot sooner than if I had done twist. I was advised to leave them (and extensions) in for 3-4 weeks. This surprised me as I'd always been told that 1-2 months was alright. However,what she said did make sense as the braids around my hairline do tend to lock so I try redo them about one month into the style in order to avoid this.
When my hair was finished she asked if she could use the sheen spray, the fact that she was asking whether or not I wanted to use certain products impressed me. I've never ever ever had a stylist ask me, usually they just use whatever is at their station, like a one size fits all approach to styling.

When my hair was finished, I was very pleased with the results but felt a little bad as I found out that Natalie was supposed to finish at 2pm, and was going to a party (it was now going to 4), and stayed because no one was available to attend to me when I finished having my hair washed. The total cost for everything was £55 (wash, trim and style), just a little more than I'd estimated.

Though they don't use all natural products (neither do I, yet), I would recommend this salon to anyone, I travelled all the way from North London, by bus, to get there and I would definitely do it again.

 

 

Hair Appointment

I have an appointment tomorrow at Purely Natural. I'm having my hair washed, trimmed (it really needs to be trimmed) and then styled. It's located in Stratford and is the first natural hair salon that I will be going to. The actual first natural hair salon turned out not to real be a natural hair salon so it doesn't count. I will be back with pictures (if my email function is working properly (USB connection is not working thanks to my babies)) and a review. I really hope I'm not disappointed.

Loving My Braids

I'm just loving these braids. I will definitely do them again.

It's longer than I originally planned, but looks better



My Braids Are In

I've had these in for over a week, but I've only just been able to take a picture of them. I will try and take clearer ones soon.

The inspiration

    

   

My interpretation, front and back

Box Braids 90's Style

I've decided to braid my hair again and want to do something different. I saw this picture of Solange, with long braids and considered doing them but thought they were a bit long.



However, yesterday, while in Wood Green, I walked passed a woman who a similar style and thought they looked so good. I'm going to do them as soon as I can get someone who is available to do them and someone else to watch the boys so that they don't disturb us. I'll probably do them down to my waist. I know that this will give my boys something to play with.

Week of Updos - Day 4

I bought a bun shaper yesterday and felt inspired.

Next time I'll put the bun a little more to the right

This is the view from the left.

This is the view from the right



The back was done in the same way as Week of Updos - Day 2

Week of Updos - Updos Day 3

Day 3: For this I did a pompadour at the front. I then partd the back, rolled each side into a sort ofbantu know and help in place with a bobby pin. The right side of my hair is a little shorter than the left so wasn't as defined as the left side.



Just water for me thanks...comb free

A couple of weeks ago I drank nothing but water for the whole week, I didn't realise until half way through the week. I've decided to do this again and to possibly extend it to two weeks. I've also decided not to comb or brush my hair until I do a co-wash which will probably be on Saturday. After that I will use a comb for probably the first 2-3 days then go comb free until I shampoo it.

I'm also considering going poo free for a month, but I recently bought some Taliah Waajid products and want to see what they're like first.

Benefits of updos

I have been natural for almost 3 years, in that time I have only done an updo on two occasions. Sunday was the most recent (see updo day two). When it came time for me to band my hair for bed, I noticed that the top of my hair, which was left out, felt a lot drier than the rest of my hair which had been tucked away. If I had known how much softer my hair would feel after an updo compared to when I leave it in an Afro I would have done them a lot sooner. I love Afros but now that I've experienced the benefits of updos I think I'll leave them for when I'm running late.

Back On: Week of Updos - Day Two

I took my canerows out on Friday because my hair HAD to be washed. So the 7 days of updos are back on. I wore this hairstyle to church this morning. The back was put into a beehive, I left the top of the hair out and pulled the side back and tucked them behind the top . Next time I may try doing the top as a twist out.

Updos on hold

I said I was going to do a week of updos, but my sister came over on Tuesday and did my hair. See pictures below. The twists have shrunk more than I wanted so I'm thinking of putting in extensions. If I do I'll put up pictures of the result.



Week of Updos - Updos Day 1

Day 1 of my week of updos. I parted the back and the rolled both sides in. Then I made a quiff at the top. Yeah I know, the parting isn't straight.

Week of Updos

Though I love my fro, I can't continue to sport this looks as it makes my hair more likely to tangle at the ends. I will attempt to do a week (7 days, not necessarily consecutively) of updos. I did my first one yesterday, it was a variation of a style shown by oooop75 (click on the link) on her updo tutorial. It looks a little rough, because this was later in the day and I hadn't put any products in my hair that morning. I realised that I will have to get some gel, but one that wont feel gloopy in my hair or go hard.

Soon to come

I've listed some products that I have recently purchased, all (bar one) of which contain chemicals that most Nappturals don't wish to use in their hair. I will soon post info on other ingredients that can be used in hair on its own or mixed to make your own hair product. I hope to also do future reviews on products that don't contain chemicals.

Hair Product: ApHOGEE Deep Moisture Shampoo

ApHOGEE Deep Moisture Shampoo





Im not going to say too much about this, it's one that I've used before, bought from a hair shop on Seven Sisters Road (can't remember the price). Unfortunately it does contain SLS, so I'll be using it until I can found a good (and reasonable priced) sulfate free shampoo.

Hair Products: Creme of Nature Chamomile and Comfrey Nourishing Conditioner

Creme of Nature Chamomile and Comfrey Nourishing Conditioner

Bought from a hair shop on Seven Sisters Road for £2.49, this conditioner claims to smooth and detangle whilst providing moisture and protection. I've used it before and liked it so I thought I would try it again until I can find a conditioner with all natural products or a convenient recipe so that I can make my own.

Ingredients

Ultra Purified Water, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Dicetyldimonuim Chloride, Lanolin Oil, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Amodimethicone, Phenyl Trimethicone, Peppermint Leaf Extract, Basil Extract, Polygala Senega Root Extract, Watercress Extract, Sage Leaf Extract, Thyme Extract, Rosemary Leaf Extract, Grapefruit Sedd Extract, Chamomila Recutita Extract, Symphtum Officinale Leaf Extract, Orange Oil, Peppermint Oil, Lime Oil, Spearmint Leaf Oil, Coconut Oil, Shea Butter, Cocoa Seed Butter, Jojoba Seed Oil, Soybean Oil, Hydrlized Wheat Protein, Hydrlized Wheat Starch, Panthenol, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Isostearyl Ethylimidazolinium Ethosulfate, Polyquarternium-10, Polyquarternium-32, Paraffinium Liquidum, Fragrance (Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Oil and Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil), Citronellol, Coumarin, Hydroxycitrnellal, Limonene, Linanool, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben, ButylParaben, Isobutylparaben, Phenoxyethanol 

Hair Products: African Pride Herbal Healing Leave-In Conditioner

African Pride Herbal Healing Leave-In Conditioner

I got this from a hair shop on Seven Sisters Road for £2.99, it's from African Pride and claims to reduce breakage, improve management, and heal damaged hair. Its a little thick, smells nice and has small bits of what I think are herbs inside.

Ingredients: (starts well, but goes downhill after the herbs)

Water (Aqua), African Pride herbal complex: nettle extract, rosemary leaf extract, actium lappa root extract, betula alba extract, rosa canina fruit extract, carrageenan extract, dandelion extract, equisetum hiemale leaf/stem extract, wild cherry bark extract, echinacea purpurea extract, sambucus nigra flower extract, coltsfoot flower extract, rumex crispus root extract, brewers yeast, Petrolatum, PEG-4, Glyceryl Stearate, Sorbitol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ceteareth-20, Octyl Palmitate, Isocetyl Stearate, Cyclomethicone, Amodimethicone, Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Extract, Rosemary Leaf Oil, Sweet Almond Oil, Jojoba Seed Oil, Glycerin, Panthenol, Polybutene, PEG-75 Lanolin, Polyquarternium-10, Polysorbate 20, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Cetylpyridinium Chloride, Fragrance, Benzyl Benzoate, Cinnamol, Coumarin, Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben, Butylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Phenoxyethanol, Orange 4 (CI 15510), Ext. Violet 2 (CI 60730)