Category: stopping relaxers
Music Inspiration For Curly Girls
Do you ever have those days where you’re feeling down about your height, weight, skin or your natural hair?
We all do. Even the most confident of naturalistas has a day or two where they feel a little less confident or a little less pretty.
I’ll admit that the other day, I had one of those days and I felt awful for it.
But then I heard a song that made me feel a little more beautiful and a whole lot more fierce.
That song was All About The Bass by Meghan Trainor. I am in love with this song and I think that the lyrics are fantastic!
If you haven’t heard it yet, have a listen below.
After hearing Meghan’s song, I realised that it would be great to share some of my favourite confidence boosting songs with you.
Listen to them below and don’t forget to leave a comment telling me what you love most about yourself.
TLC’s Unpretty.
Destiny’s Child’s Bootylicious
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
How Do I Get My Curls Back? 3 Steps To Transitioning From Relaxed To Natural
A while ago, I received a message from an aspiring naturalista who was stuck with a problem.
Question: ‘I relaxed my hair five weeks ago but now I miss my curls! Is there a way to get them back?’
For those of us who’ve been natural for a while, it’s easy to forget that going natural is a process. It’s nothing short of a journey that involves learning a lot about black hair and then applying that knowledge into our daily hair regimens. However, for women who have relaxed hair, it can often seem as if it’s easy to go natural and that it can happen over night. That’s not true.
Now to answer this lady’s question. If you relaxed your hair less than two months ago there will be no easy way to go natural. The simplest option is to cut off your relaxed hair and rock a TWA (teeny weeny afro).
However, before doing that, I strongly recommend that you take some time to really figure out if going natural is for you.
Answer these 3 questions:
- Do you know how to maintain natural hair or are you willing to learn about natural hair maintainaence?
- Are you committed to going natural or do you just want a bit of a hairstyle change? If you just want to switch hairstyles up, I recommend trying a natural wig or weave so that you can get the natural look without going natural straight away. Doing so will allow you to figure out whether natural hair is really for you.
- Are you self-conscious about your hair? Natural girls often have to be confident about their hair because natural hair isn’t the norm in most places. Furthermore, no matter how you rock your hair, it’s important to be confident any way.
If after answering these questions you decide that you still want to go natural, go for it!
Start off by doing some research on natural hairstyles, natural hair maintenance and find some natural hair quotes to give you inspiration.
Then consider either cutting off your relaxed ends or growing out your natural hair until you’re ready to cut the ends off at a later date.
Throughout the transitioning journey keep your hair really conditioned and moisturised so that it is in the best possible condition.
Transitioning can be a complex process but if you follow the above advice you should be in good stead to do it with ease.
PS. If you’d like more tips on transitioning don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter where I share advice, tips and hair care treats.
Now, in the comments below tell me how you transitioned to natural. What was it like? Did you enjoy it? What did you learn about yourself while transitioning?
Natural Hair Tips: How To Get Rid of Frizzy Hair
Over the past week or so I’ve been busy in the My Curls kitchen whipping together some sweet-smelling hair recipes. I’ll be sharing a few of the things I’ve come up with in an upcoming newsletter so make sure you’ve signed up so you don’t miss out! Click here to sign up (it’s free!)
Since frizz is one of the hottest topics amongst our Curlettes (that’s the name of our amazing community of curly customers and VIP newsletter subscribers), I thought it would be a great idea to create a cute but highly effective graphic on how to get rid of frizz.
How to get rid of frizzy hair
Take a look at the picture and if you learnt something new from it, leave a comment sharing it below.
Do you know anyone who might benefit from this blog post? Click on the social media icons below to share this with your friends.
PS. Go here to become a Curlette!
Have an amazing week!
Victoria x
How To Care For Thinning Hair
Have you ever felt self-conscious because your hair was thinning?
Have you had to cover it up with scarves and hats to hide thin spots or worried that it was excessively breaking?
Don’t fret because you’re not alone.
Women (and men) of all hair textures and ethnicities experience hair thinning at some point or another.
In fact statistics show that more than 21 million women in the USA alone experience hair thinning at some point.
How can you prevent or reduce thinning hair?
Here are some steps to take:
1. Ditch tight weaves and tight braids. Many women make the mistake of sacrificing their real hair’s health for the fun of wearing a glamorous looking weave or thin braids.
The truth of the matter is that many women fail to keep an eye on how tight their extensions are and as a result they experience traction alopecia (a severe form of hair breakage) because the hair has been pulled too tightly.
If you want a headful of luscious natural hair, avoid getting your hair styled too tightly and tell your hair stylist to be cautious with your hair.
Always remember that your hair is fragile and should be handled with care.
2. Don’t comb excessively. There’s an ancient Greek adage that says ‘nothing in excess.’ That definitely rings true when it comes to your hair.
Combing or brushing your hair excessively or harshly causes it to break, tear and snap. Be careful with how often you comb your hair and try to finger comb instead of always combing it with a brush or comb.
3. Be health conscious. Believe it or not, your diet plays a crucial role in your hair’s condition. If your health isn’t in check, it will often reflect in your hair’s condition.
Firstly, if you experience persistent hair thinning, go to the doctor and get checked out. It could for instance be a sign of an under active thyroid.
If however, you’re experiencing thinning hair despite the fact that you have no medical problems, you might want to pay closer attention to your diet by upping your vegetable, fruit and water intake.
Also, if you haven’t been working out, get moving! Aim to exercise for at least 30 minutes a day and don’t forget that doing things like walking up a flight of stairs, jogging in your living room and dancing all add up.
If you liked this post don’t forget to like it by clicking the LIKE button below and share it with friends and family.
And if you want more hair care tips subscribe to our VIP list. It’s free!
Q&A: How Often Should You Wash Natural Hair?
One of my blog readers, Sandra, emailed me with a question regarding how often should she wash her natural hair.
Firstly, can I just say that this is a brilliant question.
Within the black community it has traditionally been believed that washing black hair can be damaging because over-shampooing strips curly/afro hair of moisture.
As a result, many black and mixed race women have grown up with the belief that it is bad to wash their curls too often.
Whilst, there is a lot of truth to this assertion, it’s important to pay attention to a few things.
#1. We need to clarify what is meant by ‘washing.’
If you plan on shampooing your afro or curly hair every day, you will most likely over-cleanse your hair and that will ultimately result in dryness which in turn leads to breakage.
Curly and afro hair chicks should therefore not shampoo their hair every day.
That leads me to my next point.
#2. Shampooing daily is bad but rinsing your hair daily is good! In fact it’s great! Natural hair loves water and it is therefore a brilliant idea to apply warm water to your hair on a regular basis. Why do you think that almost all hair products contain water as the first or second ingredient? It’s because water is one of the best natural moisturisers for natural hair. If your hair is tightly-coiled, kinky textured or prone to tangles and knots, it’s recommended that you apply water and oil to your hair on a daily (or very frequent) basis.
In other words, replace daily shampooing with daily rinsing and your hair will look amazing!
#3. Co-washing. If you’ve never heard of the term co-washing before it simply refers to washing your hair with conditioner rather than shampoo. It sounds a little strange but millions of naturals swear by it.
Co-washing allows natural girls to cleanse their hair without over-cleaning it. Furthermore, it’s effective because most conditioners will not strip your hair of its natural oils unlike shampoos.
Whilst co-washing sounds like a curly girl’s dream solution to preventing over-shampooing and dryness, it can have it’s downsides.
For one thing, over co-washing or co-washing too often can lead to product build up. Product build up simply refers to when your hair is weighed down by so much product which causes your hair to be sticky, gooey and a dry, crazy mess. Product build up is incredibly common in women who co-wash too often.
So if over co-washing is bad and over-shampooing causes dryness, what can a natural haired girl do instead?
Here are some tips to help you.
#1 Shampoo your hair once a week at most. Ideally, you should shampoo your hair once every 2-3 weeks and use a sulphate free shampoo that contains healthy natural oils. Our Cleansing Cream Shampoo does just that.
#2 Co-wash your natural hair once every 2-3 days at most. Ideally you should co-wash once a week. Like I said above, over co-washing can cause build up so try to do it once a week rather than daily.
#3 Rinse or wet your hair daily. Some naturalistas prefer to rinse their hair in the shower and that’s perfectly fine. However, if that option isn’t for you simply get a spay bottle and fill it with water. Spritz as much as you need onto your hair and you’ll get the benefits of rinsing in a very time efficient way.
Now it’s your turn. In the comments below tell me what was your biggest takeaway from reading this post? Will you co-wash less or more often? Or, are you excited to be rinsing your hair daily? I’d love to hear from you.
PS. If you haven’t already, subscribe to my VIP list and get free hair tips + discounts on natural hair products. Click here to subscribe.
7 Sizzling Christmas Hairstyle Ideas You’ll Love
Can you believe that Christmas is just over a week away?
Neither can I!
This year has just zoomed by.
In the middle of wrapping presents, mixing up products and buying gifts, I realised that I had no idea how I’d wear my hair for Christmas.
Whilst on the hunt for simple but totally gorgeous hairstyle ideas, I found some gems and I wanted to share them with you.
I personally love Thandie Newton’s side-swept fringe and Glee star Amber Riley’s tossled curls.
If you’re not sure how you’ll wear your curls this Christmas, take a peak at the hairstyles and leave a comment letting me know which one you like the most.
Wishing you a fabulous week.
Victoria 🙂
How to look after braids during the winter
During the winter months many curly girls and naturalists chose to wear their hair in braided styles.
Braids are excellent for several reasons. Firstly, they can provide your hair with great protection from the harshness that’s caused by the cold.
Secondly, they provide versatility by allowing you to create multiple hairstyles and looks without having to constantly manipulate your real hair and they also prevent you from putting heat on your natural hair. When used correctly, braids can be amazing!
The problem with braids however is that many women simply don’t know how to look after them and this can cause breakage, damage and even traction alopecia.
So how do you look after your hair when it’s in braids?
Here are some tips to help.
Keep them clean.
Your scalp can get particularly dirty when your hair is in braids and this can clog up your follicles and restrict hair growth.
To keep your scalp clean shampoo your hair every 2 weeks and use a sulphate and silicone free shampoo.
Another way to keep your scalp clean is to use a toothbrush. It sounds crazy but one of the best ways to get a clean scalp while your hair is in braids is to put some of your favourite shampoo on a toothbrush and use the brush to clean your scalp. This little trick does wonders and it really cleans out the parts of your scalp that you might otherwise miss. Of course make sure you rinse out the shampoo after washing your hair.
Keep it moisturised.
Keeping your hair moisturised prevents dryness and breakage and it will massively help to keep your hair in top-notch shape whilst it’s in braids. To keep it moisturised, do two things:
- Firstly, use a hair spray or hair mist that’s enriched with oils like jojoba and olive oil. This will add moisture to your hair and scalp.
- Secondly, apply oil directly to your scalp so that it doesn’t dry out.
Watch those edges.
Finally, make sure that you re-do the edges of your hair every 2 weeks so that you significantly reduce hair breakage whilst also ensuring that your hair looks great whilst it’s in braids. By edges, we mean the parts of your hair that are closest to your face. The edges just so happen to be the most delicate part of your hair and they’re prone to breakage and damage.
Are you rocking braids this winter? Leave a comment below telling us what type of look you’re sporting.
PS. If you’d like to be in with a chance of winning free hair products get on our VIP List where we’re revealing all the details. Click here.
Have a wonderful week!
Victoria x
Six protective summer hairstyles
The summer heat and humidity are in our midst and these two will leave your hair dry and brittle, creating the perfect setting for breakage. However, in order to minimize your hair from some of the exposure, having a protective style is the way to go.
Whether it is that wedding you have to attend or a day at the beach, don’t let the sun and sea air stop you from enjoying summer! These six hairstyles will help you combat split ends and breakage and most certainly enjoy summer even more without having to spend the fall and winter repairing the damage.
Ballerina Bun
Stay on trend with a timeless ballerina bun. It is easy to go with any occasion as you can tightly gather it for an official look or let it a bit loose to add volume and to make it a little more interesting. If you’re feeling creative, leave a section out of the bun, braid it and wrap it around the hair for a cute remix. A braided bun can be easily accessorized with a hairpiece or bobby pins for a more glamorous look.
The Tower Braid
The intertwining of the hair ensures that your hair is in place all day. For a sleek look, the braid should be tight at first, then looser at the center, then tight at the end, if you want a more bohemian effect, gently pull the braid apart with your fingers. It’s easy to give your braids a little extra something with ribbons, flowers, bows, and any other accessories you can think of.
For another easy twist on a simple style, incorporate a tiny plait into a larger side braid, the mini braid adds texture and detail to the look.
Classy Updo
This seemingly carefree hairstyle with a luxurious tinge will help you manage to keep your hair off your neck while also looking effortlessly chic. This easy udpo gives you a feminine and look with a bit of sophistication. The updo leaves your hair perfectly tucked in away from the summer heat and humidity.
Fishtail Braid
The fishtail braid looks complicated and time-consuming but that is far from the truth. It’s surprisingly easy to do as it only involves two strands of hair and can be worn tight or a little undone for a messier look. It is both are fab and functional and this particular braid is perfect for adding edgy asymmetry to your look.
The Pony Tail
A pony tails is worn by celebrities and everyday girls heading to school since it is an easy-to-achieve look that anyone can perfect. For a sleek look that really stays in place secure a ponytail at the nape of your neck. Wrap sections of your hair around a large barrel curling iron for a charming style.
For Kerry Washington’s classy pony tail, tease hair at the crown before pulling it back and wrap a piece of hair around the base to hide the elastic.
The Intricate Braid
This trend is a chic way to keep your hair out of your face on hot summer days. This exotic combination of braided elements brings a lot more edge and style creating this richly textured hairdo. This look offers a great way to control long hair but when outdoors you can let a few ends slip out to prevent it from looking too restricted.
Fussy hair is the last thing you want to deal with this time of the year so go on, give your hair a new touch and enjoy the summer away!
PS. If you’d like more hairstyle ideas and inspiration, subscribe to our VIP List and you’ll receive hair care tips that are so juicy you’ll never have to worry about how to style your hair! Click here to join the list.
Wedding Hairstyle Ideas For Curly Hair
Off to a wedding?
With summer just around the corner, it’s one of the busiest times for weddings, special occasions and formal events.
If you have a major event like a wedding, prom or birthday dinner, you’ll love this post!
And if you’re racking your brain trying to think of the perfect hairstyle sit tight and don’t worry.
We’ve got you sorted.
One easiest ways to come up with a beautiful wedding hairstyle is to accessorise!
Yes, you heard me right.
Hair accessories- I’m talking flowers, clips, headbands are THE most loved piece for all hair textures because they make your hair look amazing.
It takes just a few moments to slick your hair back into a bun and throw a pretty flower clip on it.
Furthermore, if you’re having a bad hair day (or week), there’s nothing better than the relief of knowing that you can pin your hair back and give it a bit of a break.
The styles that you’ll see below are time-efficient, easy to do and work for all types of curly hair textures.
What did you think of these wedding hairstyle ideas?
How are you planning to wear your hair this summer?
Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Victoria xoxo
My Curls 