Category: Should I go natural?
Jourdan Dunn Slays The Cover of Vogue Brasil
A few years ago it was a rarity to see women of colour gracing the covers of international fashion magazines and when they did, they sported straight hair that ran down their backs.
It’s great to see that things have changed so much and it’s now becoming increasingly common for black actresses, supermodels and musicians to rock their natural kinks, coils and curls on the front pages of acclaimed publications.
Recently, the beautiful Jourdan Dunn graced the February 2016 cover of Vogue Brasil and looked stunning with her short TWA (teeny weeny afro).
Although I love a big ‘fro just as much as the next girl, it’s refreshing to see Jourdan wear a short, soft afro. It suits her well and just goes to show that natural hair is as classy and beautiful as you make it.
I also love the fact that her afro is perfectly shaped which gives her a halo-like appearance.
What do you think of Jourdan’s look? Do you think it’s a good thing that more celebrities are going natural? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.
Victoria xo
How Can I Find Out The Texture Of My Hair?
How do I figure out my hair type?
I have no clue what my hair type or texture is, help!
Is my hair 4b, 4c or 4a? I have no idea!
These are just a few questions that many naturalistas ask when it comes to the whole hair type debacle.
We recently came across a brilliant chart by the folks at BuzzFeed that makes finding out your hair type super quick and easy!
Take a look at it below and in the comments tell us what your hair type is based on the chart!
Hair Type Chart by @BuzzFeed
PS. It’s perfectly normal to have several hair types! Mine varies from 3b to 4b which means I have a lot of textures to deal with, understand and manage. It’s not always easy dealing with multiple hair textures but it is a lot of fun 🙂
Here’s to knowing more about your hair and loving every inch of it!
As always, if you have a burning hair care question tweet it to us @mycurlsuk and we’ll answer it in an upcoming blog post.
Victoria xo
24 Hour Flash Sale With Free Shampoo!
Just a quick note to let you know that it’s SALE time! Buy a Curl Smoothie and get a free Cleansing Cream shampoo!
No code needed. Simply go to MyCurls.co.uk, order a Curl Smoothie and your Cleansing Cream will be posted to you.
Order 2 Curl Smoothie’s and get 2 Cleansing Cream shampoos.
Offer ends tomorrow at 9pm BST. Grab it before it’s gone!
4 Simple Steps To Longer Natural Hair
On top of that, throughout my childhood and early teens I’d constantly been told that “afro hair doesn’t grow,” OR “black girls can’t grow long hair” which led me to believe that growing long hair was simply impossible for a girl like me.
Opt for hair accessories like ribbons, scarves and flowers rather than applying heat to your hair.
5 Gorgeous Valentine’s Day Hairstyles For Natural Hair
With Valentine’s Day being just two days away, you might be wondering what on earth you’re going to do with your hair.
Truth be told, it can be a complete pain to come up with a look that works well on your curled tresses and you might also be wondering whether it’s worth straightening it or rocking the biggest afro ever.
Whether you’re heading out to enjoy a night out with the girls, or off on a romantic date with your other half, these 5 hairstyles are sure to make you look and feel sublime.
Take a look and leave a comment below letting us know which of the hairstyles is your fave.
#1 The FrowHawk
Mohawk + kinky, curly hair = the frowhawk.
#2 The Twistout
It’s a natural girl’s go-to hairstyle for a reason. Twistouts rock because they’re versatile, easy to do and look amazing.
3# Cornrows.
Whilst most of us associate cornrows with having mum plait your hair in Primary School, they can in fact be a great hairstyle for formal and glamorous occasions. Take for instance, Christina Milian who rocked this gorgeous look on the red carpet in November. Just goes to show that they old school hairstyles can be modernised.
Source: Getty Images, November 2014.
#4. The Afro.
This picture says it all. The Afro can be a wonderfully glamorous hairstyle if paired with the right makeup
and a chic outfit.
#5 The High Bun
The high bun was one of the most worn hairstyles in 2014 for a reason. It’s also brilliant for keeping natural hair protected which means that you get the added benefit of healthier hair alongside a glamorous look.
Want free hair tips sent straight to your inbox? Sign up for our free newsletter at www.mycurls.co.uk.
Will dyeing my hair cause it to break?
Sometimes as a naturalista, you might feel as if your hair could do with a bit of a change. For some people change can come in the form of straightening their hair for a few days, adding clip-ins or wearing a weave. However, if you’ve been thinking about dyeing your hair and you’re unsure whether it will cause your hair to break, consider these things.
Hair dye can cause damage to your hair if your hair is already suffering from some form of damage. That includes breakage, excess shedding or scalp dryness.
To reduce the chances of your hair breaking when it has been dyed, it’s best to only dye your hair if it is in optimal condition prior. If you’ve noticed that your hair shows any signs of damage whatsoever, then don’t dye it. Simply wait until it’s in a better condition before going ahead.
Another thing to bear in mind is that semi-permanent dyes (which last for about 5-7 washes) are a better alternative if you’re simply looking to add colour to your hair or you want a quick change of style or a new look. permanent dyes aren’t necessarily damage-free but they are less strenuous on your hair.
Furthermore, if you want to avoid breakage when dyeing your hair, make sure that you keep your hair very well conditioned and moisturised after colouring it. Hair dyes are notorious for causing dryness which in turn leads to thinning and breakage and it’s for this reason that so many women experience signs of damage after dyeing their hair. To keep your newly coloured hair in great condition, deep condition it at least once a month and co-wash (which means washing your hair with conditioner only) on a weekly basis.
Be sure to trim any damaged ends and moisturise your hair like there’s no tomorrow! Seriously, moisturising can literally make or break your hair’s health. I can’t stress the importance of moisturising it.
If you’re unsure about how to moisturise, do the following:
- Co-wash your hair once a week
- Apply a silicone-free, moisturising hair lotion to it twice a day
- Follow with a good, natural oil like jojoba or olive oil
- Repeat steps 2 and 3 twice a day. Try moisturising once in the morning and once at night.
Keeping your hair in good condition after it has been coloured isn’t impossible. You just need to be more mindful of your hair’s health and fragility and moisturise on a regular basis.
Natural Hair Care: How To Get Amazing Curl Definition
How to get great curl definition
How do you get my curls to be really defined?
This is one of the most common questions that I get asked about caring for naturally curly/unrelaxed hair.
Here are 3 ways to get amazing curl definition.
And don’t worry, you won’t need to spend hours on your hair to get really defined curls.
Step 1
Keep your hair clean through conditioning (co-washing) and not through excessive shampooing.
Over shampooing dries out naturally curly hair and therefore it’s best to shampoo your hair approximately once every 2 weeks or once a week at most.
Instead of shampooing all the time, wash your hair with a silicone free conditioner that does not contain parabens or synthetic oils. A great conditioner will transform your hair so it’s therefore best to be selective about which conditioner you use and don’t be afraid to do these two things:
- Read the ingredients on the label of your conditioner
- Invest in a high quality conditioner
Sometimes people think that the cheapest conditioner is the best but that isn’t always the case. It’s therefore wise to spend more money on a conditioner that is filled with high quality ingredients and is therefore slightly higher in price. I always tell customers that an investment in good hair products is an investment in the health of your hair. Think about it, what’s your hair worth?
Step 2
Play around with twist-outs and braid-outs.
These hair styles can give you incredible curl definition and they work on almost any hair texture. One thing I like to do is to braid or twist my hair at night and then unravel in the morning. That way, I end up with gorgeous curls almost every day. Plus, creating twist-outs and braid-outs isn’t time consuming. Try it!
Step 3
Keep your hair super moisturised.
Curly and afro hair are the driest hair types and that means that our hair needs to be moisturised a lot. To get gorgeously soft and well-defined hair, moisturise once in the morning and once at night. If your hair is wavy or only slightly curly then only moisturise once in the day. As a rule of thumb: the curlier your hair, the more moisture it needs.
Follow these three steps and your hair should be more defined, softer and shinier.
PS. For more hair tips sign up to my free newsletter at mycurls.co.uk.
The Top Six Hair Tips And Tricks That Actually Work
The Top Six Hair Tips And Tricks That Actually Work
From family friends to hairstylists, you may have heard some advice about your strands that doesn’t seem quite right. Well, now you can try these seven tips and tricks that actually work.
Don’t Wash Your Hair Every Day
Unless your hair is incredibly oily, you really do not need to wash it every day. In fact, using shampoo on your hair every day can strip it of natural oils. Once you start with this new hair-washing routine, you might start to notice that your hair feels softer. You may wish to consider conditioning your strands each day still. Talk to your stylist about what is best for your locks.
Use Lotion to Tame Frizz
When your strands are filled with frizz, you’ve probably tried numerous ways to bid it adieu. The next time your hair is misbehaving, run some body lotion or hand lotion over your hair. Generally, you want to avoid doing this near your scalp so that your hair doesn’t look greasy, but it can tame frizz elsewhere. Make sure it is already rubbed in your hands so a minimal amount gets on your hair. A little goes a long way with this method.
Low Ponytail to Reduce Frizz
Perhaps you can’t imagine a hairstyle made for sports and quiet nights at home as being one of your biggest styling tools. After you get out of the shower and once your hair is brushed, put it into a low ponytail. This trick can help to get rid of frizz and flyaways so that you have beautiful hair when you take it out.
Don’t Brush Your Hair
As unusual as it sounds, you should try not brushing your hair, particularly if you have curly strands. When you brush curly hair, you are often bringing frizz to the surface and ruining the natural definition of your locks. Use a wide-toothed comb to go through knots and detangle your hair instead.
Go Natural
Wearing your hair as it is might sound like your biggest nightmare, but it can actually turn out to be the best decision that you ever made. There’s nothing wrong with showing off your natural hair color and texture. Throw in a little gel or hair spray if you need to, and you’ll have a sassy style that displays your true personality.
Turn off the Heat
Even if you want to use some products to style your hair and get a certain look, you don’t always need to use heat to do so. Straighteners, curling irons and blowdryers are great for those big nights out, but constantly putting too much heat on your hair can really damage it in the long run.
Don’t be afraid to think outside of the box a little bit and try some ideas that might have previously sounded strange when it comes to your hair.
This is a guest post written by writing expert Anita Ginsburg.Anita is a freelance writer from Denver, CO and often writes about fashion, health, beauty and family. A mother of two, she enjoys traveling with her family when she isn’t writing. When it comes to her hair, she personally recommends remy hair extensions to add length and keep your hair looking healthy.
For hair care tips and the best curly hair products, visit www.mycurls.co.uk.
Hot Hair Fixes: 4 Quick Ways To Cure Damaged Hair
As we nearer further and further into the summer, many of us experience damaged hair. Hair damage can take various forms including split ends, single strand knots, hair thinning, frizz and even traction alopecia.
Hair damage can also be particularly frustrating for those of us with curly, kinky and afro textured hair because our hair is dryer and therefore tends to be more prone to breakage.
However, most types of hair damage can be cured. Here are 4 of the best ways to cure your damaged curls.
Use the best conditioner for your hair type and texture. You know your hair best and you therefore know what products on your hair. In order to find the best conditioner you do have to experiment a little by testing different products on your hair. Once you find a great conditioner that really nourishes your hair, hold onto it and make it your go-to co-washing product.
Focus on protection. If you have split ends, lots of single strand knots or hair breakage then there’s a possibility that you’ve been over-manipulating your hair. To reverse the damage done it’s best to keep your hair protected. That might mean parting with your favourite hairstyles (like braids or weaves) and instead, focus on wearing your hair in simple styles that elevate the hair away from the shoulders. Good options for protective styling are ponytails, high buns and twists. Wear your hair in protective styles until it’s in better condition.
Don’t towel dry your hair. Towels and curly/afro hair don’t mix. If you need to dry your hair use a cotton t-shirt because it’s softer, reduces frizz levels and won’t cause your hair to rip or tear. Put simply, cotton t-shirts are amazing for drying natural hair.
Get your hair back to tip top shape. The best way to do this is to make sure you are deep conditioning your hair at least once every 2 weeks until your hair is restored to good health. Make sure you use a good deep conditioning treatment or hair mask that contains natural ingredients, is silicone free and contains good proteins.
If you’d like more advice on caring for your curls join our VIP newsletter list.
Till next time,
Victoria.
Founder, www.mycurls.co.uk
Natural Hair Role Model: Lupita Nyong’o
Within the space of a few months, Lupita Nyong’o has quickly become one of the most admired actresses in Hollywood.
Why?
Well, she’s undeniably stunning, super smart and exceptionally talented.
However, what I admire most about Lupita is despite living in a world that celebrates a very narrow and one-dimensional perception of beauty, Lupita has managed to effortlessly show that beauty is as diverse and fluid as the earth itself.
Beauty is not one colour, one complexion, one hair type or one skin tone.
Beauty is not one-sized or one dimensional. Beauty is not narrow, fragile or fearful.
Beauty is colourful, florescent, natural and graceful.
Beauty is vibrant, energetic, charming and brave.
These are EXACTLY the qualities that Lupita embodies and I am so glad to see that because of her, Hollywood (and the wider world at large) is starting to recognise the range of beauty that exists in the world.
After seeing Lupita grace the red carpet multiple times earlier this year I was stunned. However, when I heard her give this speech (below) my admiration for her grew ten fold.
Watch the video below and leave a comment that shares one thing you learnt from her speech.
If you liked this post and want more hair care inspiration and hair tips, join our curly community (it’s free!).
My Curls 