Conditioning in Braids
Monday, January 31, 2011
Woman of the Week
Friday, January 28, 2011



Thursday Inspiration
Thursday, January 27, 2011
So I am militia!
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Featured Curly
Tuesday, January 25, 2011

1. Why and when did you first relax your hair? What is your hair story BEFORE your BC?
I first relaxed my hair in the year 2001. Before that I was spotting a short texturized do because I thought it suited me and my lifestyle back then since I was in boarding school and it made it more manageable and different (considering everyone was spotting a relaxed do). In 2001 I decided to go for a relaxer because I just loved the straight hair look so I spotted it until 2008 when I decided to chop it all off and go back to my natural roots but two months into it, I texturized it coz I had no idea how to take care of it and wanted something easy and malleable.
2. What made you decide to finally do the Big Chop? What were your feelings and thoughts when you did it?
I finally did the big chop in December 2009 and haven’t looked back since although I do sometimes get the urge to spot a short abstract relaxed cut (I soon get over it when I notice how not me it would be). I finally decided to get the chop because a whole lot was changing in my life. I had finally gotten a solid grasp of who I was and how I wanted to mold my life and so the timing seemed perfect to get a complete lifestyle change…body, mind, and soul so I went natural with my hair, and eating habits (I do sometimes indulge in processed foods of course, they are just so YUMMY). Having you(Nyachomba) as inspiration also helped a ton of course… I knew you’d been natural your entire life I adored the twists you’d make back in school and I adored the dreads phase as well and I admittedly cringed when you chopped them off but you came back strong with your yummy hair so in the spirit of adoration, I had to try it out as well! As far as my feelings toward going natural, well I was okay with it. I was never really attached to hair that much and I had an idea of what I’d look like so I just closed my eyes and took the leap!
3. What reactions have you received since doing the BC from your friends and family?
Well you’re part of my family and we had seen you through your style changes so it wasn’t really a big deal although my dad occasionally throws out the word “shaggy” here and there but since it’s on my head, I pay that no mind. My friends were pretty okay with it too. They were taken a back a little, especially the guys since there’s some sort of misguided notion that long hair makes one more feminine but they soon got over it when they realized how good I looked (lol it’s not vanity, just confidence)! My beau actually adores my natural tresses…he always cringes when I do protective styling like braids etc so as far as opinions go, I’m thinking I hit the jackpot!
4. What are your natural hair goals?
Hmm, this question threw me off the loop! My hair is a little thinner than I like so for now I am working on making it healthier and thicker and of course there is always hope for insane growth! I want it to grow so bad but I’m learning how to be patient with it. So in a nut shell, my goals are keeping my hair moisturized at all times which could be quite a challenge especially in a cold winter like the one we’re facing now, and keeping it as healthy as possible all of which lead up to growth!!
5. How long have you been natural?
It has now been one year one month and loving how fabulous the experience has been!
6. What inspired you to be natural?
The urge for a lifestyle change really. I had gone through a mental and emotional makeover and I wanted my physique to match up to the person I had become so what better way to do it than go natural! Another way to put it is I was grown and I wanted a grown look!
7. What’s your regimen like?
Now that it’s winter, I’m all about moisture although I do slack a little I must admit but I make sure to have a spritz bottle with some water, and condish (Vo5 moisture milks/Herbal Essence’s Hello Hydration) which I use every morning and night (when I’m not too tired) and then I seal it with Vatika Oil or Coconut Oil.I sometimes use Giovanni leave in conditioner but haven’t done so since the summer. I love stretched out hair so I put my hair in about 6-8 braids every night and unravel them in the morning. I try to use shea-butter when I do the braids. I wash my hair with either chamomile soap or aloe-vera soap and I co-wash my hair with the same conditioners mentioned above(Vo5 moisture milks, Herbal Essences Hello Hydration or Suave Coconut) and I am now deep conditioning with Ayurvedic herbs. Plan on trying out henna real soon though. I’m still trying to lock down a regimen with few products but I do suffer from the “let’s try this and that” syndrome.
8. What products are in your arsenal?
Guess I answered this question when talking about my regimen but my absolute love it list consists of Chamomille Soap, Vo5 moisture milks in strawberry…it smells divine! I also love Herbal Essences Hello Hydration for co-washing. For deep conditioning I am enjoying the ayurvedic treatments for now. I love the Giovanni Leave in Condish and I absolutely swear by Vatika Oil, Coconut Oil and Shea- Butter.
What I love most about being natural is that it matches who I am as a person and the lifestyle I have chosen to have.


3 Month Protective Style Challenge
Sunday, January 23, 2011

- Daily Moisturising with glycerin, water and conditioner mix. You can add an essential oil such as tea tree to keep your scalp fresh
- Cleansing with shampoo or chosen cleanser every 2 weeks or more frequent if you work out
- Weekly or Fortnightly deep conditioning. We shall post tutorials on how to deep condition in braids
- Scalp and hairline massages with an oil of your choice, preferably Castor oil every 2 days
- Henna treatments on the week off as well as intensive deep conditioning

Ready for the Challenge Inspiration
Friday, January 21, 2011

Sister Dearest
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Lashes a Go!
Tuesday, January 18, 2011

- Instant volume and fullness
- Smudge- and smear-proof
- Hypoallergenic
- Suitable for contact wearers
1. Why and when did you first relax your hair? What is your hair story BEFORE your BC?
I think my mum said she starting relaxing me and my sisters hair when we were 4.It was simply easier for her to do because she didn’t have a lot of time on her hands to sit through and comb all that 4b/c hair amidst all our oohhs and owws.
So it was relaxed and whatnot and about shoulder length. We used to live in Kyrgyzstan (Central Asia)*hint hint* no Black people to do our hair so our hair evolved around a routine: braid cornrow (all back), undo, wash, relax every 3 months approx. The winter time (-25 C) didn’t do us any good either and there was no much we could do about it.
After so many years of relaxing, I started feeling this sore patch on my scalp that always hurt when I touched it. I think it was broken skin or something but I’ll never know. Since I stop relaxing though, the soreness in that area has magically disappeared!
Told you this girl could be a model (Relaxed Hair 2009)
Relaxed Hair 2008
2. What made you decide to finally do the Big Chop? What were your feelings and thoughts when you did it?
AHHH what made me decide to do the BIG CHOP..hmm..I think the first time I heard about it, some research was saying relaxing hair can cause cancer or something like that so I was kind of curious about that. Then I stumbled across your blog and the plenitude and plethora (new vocabulary words from school) ehem*thank you..thank you..applause later* of natural hair info was simply effusive and I started getting excited, jumpy and jittery(a good thing).
And also, I’m all for the politics around why black people relax their hair and it breaks me when they say ‘’ohh it’s not manageable.., you can’t do anything to it..THATS JUST UGLY S***. blah blah*
People forget to see that it’s our roots that we have forgotten and the fact that we are trying to be people we are not. We willingly discard the beauty that is God’s gift to us and are constantly searching for something else. How else will we be ever satisfied? Africans need to start claiming what’s rightfully theirs. So right now I don’t know if the word is content but I am grateful and content for the hair that I have. People can talk all they want but at least I’ve accepted my identity and I bask in its glory whether you like it or not ;P
So I cut it December 2009...a new look for 2010 I was saying. I was also 14(I’m going be 16 next month just so that y’all mark that on your calendars) and I never felt so free in my whole life. I went to the salon with my mum and sister and aunt and cousin and as the lady was cutting it I was laughing! So much joy! I was just laughing! My aunt and cousin thought I was probably the weirdest relative ever. My aunt was even making a joke about all that money we used to relax my hair all the time and how we could have built that dream house we always wished for with it. I was simply laughing my head off! No regrets.
I look up close in the mirror now and I just adore my curls. They are so pretty oh my gosh! I now have the chance to fall in love with my curls for the first time.
Little Miss K's Curl Pattern
3. What reactions have you received since doing the BC from your friends and family?
UHm the reactions have been mixed to say the least. My first week at school after cutting it(low cut) most of my friends liked it and said I looked like a model..(but of course)*blush*The ‘’senior citizens’’ in my family as my sister likes to call them don’t see the beauty in it I don’t think. It’s either combed all neatly or it’s not presentable at all. They always complain about it when I don’t see anything to complain about. When I go home to Ghana during the summer the friends there are also used to the dress code of their secondary boarding schools that only allow short cropped ‘‘neat’’ hair...whatever that means. Your hair grows more than 2 inches and it’s still not cut? Please just don’t bother coming to school.
So here I am with my more than 2 inches hair and they don’t understand. So I have had a few not so pleasant comments but I’m still growing my ‘fro cuz the sky is the limit :P
Kiki and Her Sister (Yes, she got her sister to also go natural)
I use a bunch of natural oils on my hair to seal in moisture because it’s so dry in Senegal it’s deadly! I also use the Organic root Stimulator Olive Oil Aloe Shampoo until I find a sulphate free shampoo (fingers crossed soon!) Also the Organic Root Stimulator Hair Mayonnaise and lots and lots and lots of Shea Butter.
5. What are your natural hair goals?
I want big ass hair!!!I know there’s nothing special about that ‘cuz most people also want that but yeah..BAA.
And I guess with BAA comes length. I want to be able to straighten it and curl it and do errthangg with it if you know what I mean...yes you do.
I’m also trying to use only natural hair products so that it just feels more authentic? Does that make sense? And finally I want others to see the beauty in natural hair through the way I carry myself with my own hair
6. What is the best thing for you about being natural?
Well for one, I’m different from all the other girls in my school who either have weaves or are relaxed. So I guess I stand out. well..:p .Secondly,I don’t have to be at a salon for more than 3 hours because I’m doing the whole package(washing treating relaxing blow drying..the whole SHABAM.)nah uh not for meh. Lastly I can rock different styles on a daily basis: short hair when I wash it, twist outs, cornrow, just downright big afro hair! Full Stop. Cuz I’m just that fabulous! teehee <3
My hair is about 6 inches long when stretched but because it’s extremely coily it does not look like it. I love my hair!
Kiki on the right rocking a TWA, May 2010
October 2010, (So jealous of you living by the beach)
Big up to you Kiki!
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