HOW TO....Blowdry natural hair

WARNING - Excessive use of heat can lead to dry, brittle hair and breakage

DO blow dry hair when wet
DO use pref
Do not

Hmmm What is my hair type?

HOW TO....Straighten Afro hair with a Flat Iron

Afro girls in the limelight @ Hnm

Left to right Keswewa & Adowa,
























































and Liya Kebede (far right)

MISFITS CREW

BLACK HISTORY MONTH UK: The Jackson five

Just because I'm natural doesn't mean...

Just because I'm natural doesn't mean...
...I should always rock my Afro out
According to the natural haven in the past African women managed with the Afro by braiding the hair. You need to find a balance, your hair needs a break from manipulating, combing and heat damage. Especially if your a busy girl you need to Take beautiful Solange Knowles for example, she is natural at the mo however she is rocking a beautiful shoulder length kinky weave/ wig. However remember to keep in weaves or extensions in for no more than a couple of weeks, take breaks in between and use light oils to moisture.

...My hair is healthy and strong
Afro hair especially type 4 which is also known to be the most fragile because it lacks moisture, why? Oil that comes secretes from the scalp cannot roll down type 4 hair ( z pattern) as much as straight hair. So if your natural you still need to keep it strong...

• When combing start from the ends and work your way to the roots to avoid breakage
  
• Avoid using tense, tight hairstyles all the time including Afro puffs, weaves etc
  
• Drink water and have a good balance diet
• Plaits are a great way to lock in moisture, keep hair soft and avoid daily manipulation (My mum always told me that)

...I don't have to maintain and have a regime
You actually need a lot of time and patience, especially when you do your own hair. At least everyday it needs moisturizer like our skin, it needs regular treatments, . Because every inspiring Afro miss puts maintenance and effort into their manes. TBH it may seem like the obvious but it took me a while to learn that about my hair. 

MODEL AFROSPIRATION: Rose Cordero

MODEL AFROSPIRATION: Amber Charles

I'm so fly

Autumn/Winter 2010 BEAUTY TRENDS: No more Fake Lashes/ mascara, get Red Lips, Thick Brows, Eye lined

Ditch the Fake Lashes, Bin the Mascara
From Christopher Kane A/W Fashion Show 2010 Bold Prominent Eye Brows, Red Lippy Lined Eyes, Natural Matte Skin From Gucci A/W Fashion Show 2010 Pale, Oval long nails From Christian Dior A/W Fashion Show 2010

I hope you like my new blog design!

I am making some changes to the blog, small ones...I hope you love it...if not to bad, because it is sticking for a while please follow me if you have not. This will be a lot my bolder, more visual rather than words...its more like let the images and afro styles speak for themselves.

Reason being is that although I also will try giving product ratings/ reviews, advice/ tips... there is a lot of this already out there sooooo I may just post links, and reviews. I just want to be different, and not add to what already is avaliable but add something new especially for the black afro girls there is hardly any natural inspirations out there for us! Anyway hope you visit again!

CELEB NEWS: Shingai Shoniwa - " Don't need straight hair to be sexy!"

Pride magazine identy issue, out now! Shoniwa looking stunning as ever! With hot orange nails and is wearing a deenola dress.

Source: Pride mag + Beauty contest

SPOTTED: Goapele @ Atlanta Music Fest

AFROSPIRATION: Gemma Cairney

Brit girl Gemma Cairney (born 19 March 1985) is a radio presenter and fashion stylist, known for co-hosting on the BBC 1Xtra Breakfast Show with Trevor Nelson.

In autumn 2008 and spring 2010 she was the roving reporter for T4's Frock Me, hosting alongside Alexa Chung and Henry Holland. Watch her here!

LINK LOVIN: Natural Sunshine

If you have not joined this yet, do it now! It is like Facebook but for naturals...


http://naturalsunshine.ning.com/

WE LOVE: Syesha Mercado :)

Hair & Beauty Myths

• 

• Split ends can be repaired.

The only way to rid of split ends is to cut them off and prevent them in the future with good hair care. So no they can not be sealed!

• You need to drink 8 glasses of water a day
  

While drinking water is necessary for our bodies, too much will only result in bloating and too many trips to the bathroom. On average we visit the loo 3 to 4 times a day, pay attention to your urine colour if it is to dark drink an extra glass or two.

8 x 8 rule may a good basis to follow, REMEMBER milk, fruit juice and even tea can be counted as your daily water intake. Fluids that contain mainly water helps flush out toxins and help the body to absorb nutrients. So yes water is good for you but if you feel like its too much, it probably is!

• Natural ingredients are non-allergenic.

Whether it's a natural or chemical ingredient, if your allergic to it, you'll see a reaction.

The more expensive the product the better it is
Good quality ingredients come at a price, but that doesn't mean paying more will deliver better results. Be savvy about what you're buying and always ask for samples. 'Don't take the word of the marketing company as gospel,' says Penford. 'Only you know what works for your skin. Get yourself a cosmetic ingredients book, stay informed about new 'miracle' ingredients and above all be honest with yourself about the results that you're getting.'

Darker skins don't need to use sunscreens
The darker the skin, the more natural protection it will have due to the larger amount of melanin - the pigment that guards against UV rays. Darker skins are less likely to burn, but UV rays can still penetrate the skin. Sunscreen is therefore important to protect the skin from cancers and premature ageing. The International Dermal Institute recommends a minimum of SPF 15 for all skin types. If you're sensitive to the ingredients used in SPF products try using a mineral make-up foundation.

You need eight hours of sleep to look your best
Night is the time when your skin is not being bombarded with too many challenges, so it is able to rest, regenerate and repair. If you're not getting enough sleep your skin is going to suffer, but the amount of sleep you need varies from person to person. The quality of your sleep is also a factor. You might pass out for eight hours after an alcohol-induced binge, but you certainly won't get up looking your best. To help you get a good night's rest, avoid drinking alcohol and eating at least two hours before you go to bed, have a relaxing bath and try to establish a pattern of going to bed before midnight.

Camomile" align="right">Natural products are best
Not necessarily. Just because it is natural doesn't mean it will work better. Many natural ingredients do contain extra vitamins and minerals, but you need to be careful when buying 'natural' or 'organic' products. Only the smallest amount of natural ingredients need to be present in a product for it to be labelled 'natural'. These products can still contain parabens and other best-avoided chemicals. Synthetic alternatives can be just as good or even better, giving you all the benefits of natural ingredients. 'It also often makes more ecological sense to create something synthetically instead of drawing on natural resources,' says Penford.

Read more: Beauty myths de-bunked http://www.ivillage.co.uk/beauty/skincare/facial/articles/0,,547687_712886-2,00.html#ixzz0uQD9RPBV
What they did next: Trinny and Susannah

4. Stick to one product line.
If you believe this, you have probably made more than a few salespeople very happy. You are not bound in any way to use any skin care programs nor should you feel obligated to fall for any such sales pitch. Of course, you may just love how all the products work together, but using products from different lines won’t hurt you either.

Co washing hair is healthy FALSE Hard water....and Afro hair already lacks moisture

Cutting Hair Makes It Grow Faster and/or Thicker

False. Shorter hair often looks and feels thicker but cutting your hair won’t alter its normal biologically determined growth rate or overall texture. Thin, limp or fine hair will not ever grow thicker in response to a haircut. Plump up your hair by using volume enhancing hair care products, experimenting with a hair fattening blunt cut or getting a texturizing perm or color treatment.

Myth No. 19: Hair Should Be Washed Every Day

False. There is no correct schedule for washing hair. Every person should shampoo according to the specific needs of their hair type and texture. While some people do benefit from a daily shampoo, others benefit from a variety of shampooing schedules.

Myth No. 13: Washing Hair Every Day Dries It Out

False. The right shampoo for your hair type and texture will actually add moisture, body and beauty to your hair. The key is to finding the correct shampoo designed for your hair.

Beauty - Tips and Product Reviews - Real Beauty

DIY: Mayonnaise hair treatment

Hmmm mayonnaise? In my hair? really?

WELL it contains egg yolk (packed full of protein), vinegar (restores shine) and lemon (great for cleansing) which are the main ingredients within the mayo which help to nourish the hair. This mixture is great for frizzy, brittle, damaged or dry afro hair.

If you have ran out of conditioner, and need an emergency intensive treatment after shampooing you can make the perfect batch within minutes.

You will need

1 small cup of mayonnaise
1 tbl spoon of olive oil

Shampoo your hair (it needs to be clean!)
Apply a small amount to hair, comb through for even distribution (concentrate on the ends)
Leave on for 15-20 minutes with plastic cap (for even better results go under a dryer or use a pre heated towel)
Rinse throughly with luke warm water (if you need to use shampoo use a tiny amount)
Towel dry

Do this every 2 weeks for extreme damage, or 1 to 2 month for regular treatment

HOT TOPIC: Truth about Afro...real Afro's!

Strictly for type 4 hair, mainly the 4 b's and above

Always moisture

Our hair is meant to stick up not down

Co-washing? er NAH

I have tried co washing, it got to the

Baking soda forget it

AFROSPIRATION of the WEEK: Ajuma

From: Kenya

Random Fact: shoe size 9

Most highest moment: participating in New york fashion week, face of Vivienne Westwood

Hair Type: Type 4....b

Common hairstyle: Full Shaven

Hair colour: Black

HOT TREND: Blooming gorgeous

Accessorize your hair with beautiful big bold flowers, such as these ladies @ South Africa Horse Racing Event

CELEB NEWS: Solange talks about her new do

"When I was recording, I was staying in a house with five guys and two showers. I knew there would be a shower wait everyday and with my natural cropped hair, it's mandatory that I wash it otherwise it gets stuck to my head like glue! I wanted to get something that I could literally roll out of bed without looking nuts. I watched so many Chaka Khan YouTube videos and became sort of obsessed with her during the process. I went to my stylist and said 'Give me the fro.' I walk differently now, sing differently; This hair has spirit and soul." (Refinery 29)

How to care for hair when wearing braids and weaves

Of course there is absolutely nothing wrong with weaves, sometimes you do need a break from your own hair. However used incorrectly or excessively it can cause severe hair loss. Hair loss can be reversed, and grow back healthily if caught in time.

WEAVES AND EXTENSIONS (BRAIDS)

• Avoid tight tension which can lead to inflammation and scarring.
• Never keep a weave or braids in for more than two months
• Have breaks in between - never ever put chemicals straight in after taking out your weave let it breathe and repair for at least a week.
• If your weave is glued in make sure you use bond remover.
• Use light scalp oils instead of petroleum based products to prevent build up

LACE FRONT WIGS

According to essence magazine, they advice women to get it professionally done women such as Beyonce and Tyra Banks have all the money in the world to get their tresses done correctly. "Lace fronts heavy hairpieces glued to the fragile hairline aren't intended to be worn for more than a few hours, much less days and nights on end." Quite disturbing knowing that from research afro kinky hair can be the most fragile of all hair types because of lack of moisture.

LOVE IT: Solange beautiful kinky weave