Tagged: curly hair products

We’re celebrating in the biggest way ever!

This year has been incredibly busy and the fact that it’s drawing to a close has forced me to reflect on some of the things I could have done better.

Clearly, the new year has the ability to give most of us the push that we need to make changes and it’s certainly done that for me.

my curlsOne thing that I was yearning to do, but never found the time, was change the website and make it more up-to-date and pretty (because who doesn’t love pretty things, right?)

So, I finally did it and am pleased to say that My Curls now has a gorgeous, newly developed site that’s far easier to use but still contains all of our signature products.

I’ve now vowed to make a few more changes in 2017. For instance, updating the blog way more often and answering your burning hair questions at least once a month.

I’m also going to be more active on social media. We have well over 40,000 engaged Twitter and Instagram followers and they’re yearning for more hair inspiration so I’m making a commitment to post more frequently and share some of the great things that we’re doing at My Curls.

Finally, to celebrate all of these new goals and achievements, I’m holding our biggest ever sale and it’s open to all customers no matter where in the world you live. Yes, we now ship internationally which means that our American and Canadian sisters can try out our products with ease.

Click here to view our new website and grab the 30% discount (no coupon code needed!).

Now, it’s over to you.

What changes are you making in 2017?

What do you think you could have done better?

What would you like to see change in the year to come?

Share your thoughts and ideas below. I can’t wait to read what you have to say.

With love,

Victoria.

Founder, 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.

afrohair

 

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.

 

 

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

 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

 blake lively braided hair

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

jennifer lopez classic bun hair

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

gabrielle union fishtail braid hairstyle

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

 kerry washington ponytail hair

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

emma watson hair baid 

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.

Best Products For Curly Hair | Curly Hair Products 101

Raise your hand if you have curly hair. Me too!

curly hair products

Whilst we all love our curls, picking products that work for them isn’t always the easiest thing to do.

What a lot of curly girls (also known as naturals) fail to realise is that choosing hair products is a very personal thing.

There are several factors that need to be taken into consideration when picking curly hair products for your hair.

Here’s a breakdown of some of the key factors:

Your hair texture- is the product you’re considering, designed to meet the needs of curls?

Are your textures mixed? What I mean by this is- do you (like most curly girls) have more than one hair texture. I know I have. For instance, the front of my hair is sort of wavy-meets-afro whilst the middle is super afro textured. The back is loosely wavy. My hair has three very different textures and I always take that into consideration when making products for my curly-haired customers.

Another factor to consider is what’s in your hair products. This is a big one. So many products are filled with harsh chemicals that strip curly hair of moisture and make it dry, brittle and prone to split ends. Make sure you do your research and pick products with healthy, natural ingredients.

The final factor to consider is how much time you have. We’re all living increasingly busy lives so finding time to mix up your own concoctions can be really time and energy consuming. Many busy women simply want to use products that are easy to use and can be carried any where. That’s why when creating the My Curls range, I deliberately ensured that the products in the line were easy to use, portable and lifestyle friendly.

As a busy bee, you’re probably wanting to learn more about your hair in short bursts of time. I highly recommend signing up to our curly community which is totally free and takes about 2 minutes to do. We send free educational resources straight to your inbox so you don’t have to read through hundreds of articles. Click here to join the list!

How To Grow Longer Hair: 3 Mindset Changes That Lead To Longer Hair

As I type this I think back to a time when my hair was severely damaged and looked like it had been cut by a lawnmower.

It’s funny because the way I used to handle my hair and the way I handle it now are so, so different! No wonder it’s actually grown!

I know I’m certainly not the only one to have felt frustrated with my hair’s growth. In fact, growing longer hair is one of the most common questions that I receive.

There are so many misconceptions about natural hair care, it’s crazy!

I’m a big believer in the idea that hair care doesn’t need to be complex, confusing or overwhelming. It should be simple and that’s exactly why I’ve outlined a few key  steps that anyone can follow.

The key to success in growing longer hair is to do your homework! Yes, I said homework! That means, changing how you view your hair and following the advice given in this post.

Doing your homework is about putting what you learn into practice and making it a habit to change your current hair care regime.

If you do this, you’ll see a huge difference in your hair’s growth, strength and health.

The first mindset change is to get rid of the belief that black/brown/curly haired girls don’t need to shampoo their hair!

If you’re NOT shampooing your hair and scalp, guess what’s happening? Your scalp is probably full of dirt, grease and other things. How is your hair supposed to grow if your scalp is clogged?

To grow longer hair, your scalp needs to be clean and healthy. That means shampooing your hair and scalp on a regular (but not too frequent) basis.

For instance, once a month would be an ideal number for many women. If your hair is prone to greasiness, you might want to shampoo more frequently.

The second mindset change is the belief that ‘greasing’ your hair is good for it. Yes, your hair and scalp need to be moisturised but knowing what to moisturise them with is essential.

Many hair greases are made with petroleum which is an ingredient that cannot absorb moisture. When you put grease in your hair, it might look shiny but it’s not actually moisturising your hair because

petroleum cannot moisturise. Rather than using hair greases, opt for products with natural and organic ingredients like jojoba oil which is one of the only oils in the world that can penetrate the hair shaft.

The third and final mindset change is the belief that black hair can’t grow long. It absolutely can! A lot of people seem to think that long hair is exclusive to people from certain racial/ethnic backgrounds but that’s not true at all. Your race doesn’t determine your hair length- proper hair care practice does! Growing longer hair is about knowledge, application and patience. Click here to tweet this quote!

If you liked this post, spread the love by sharing this link http://wp.me/p1yGki-2y on Twitter and Facebook.

Have a fabulous day!

Victoria

To Trim Or Not To Trim? That Is The Question!

When it comes to natural hair, many curly girls and guys are often unsure of how to trim natural hair.

The topic of trim is particularly highly debated amongst people with naturally curly & afro textured hair.

 

Do you trim regularly or let your hair just grow and do it’s own thing?

There are several schools of thought on this issue.

Some people argue that trimming is essential. Why?

how to trim your own hair

Trimming natural curly hair

The pros (advantages) of trimming:

  • It gets rid of bad ends and damaged hair
  • Fewer damaged ends mean softer, healthier hair
  • Trimming makes your hair look a lot better!
  • Trimming gets rid of split ends and single strand knots
  • Trimming can also help to reduce breakage in the long term- in other words it can actually help you to grow longer hair (amazing, right!)

However, there are downsides to trimming.

The cons (disadvantages):

Trimming often involves getting rid of good and bad hair because it’s almost impossible to trim without cutting off healthier hair alongside not-so healthy hair

  • It’s time consuming, not everyone has the time to trim regularly.
  • It can be expensive if you’re getting your hair trimmed at the salon or by a hair professional
  • Trimming reduces the length of your hair temporarily which sucks if you’re trying to grow longer hair.

The solution:

Whilst the cons (disadvantages) of trimming might seem off putting, there is a solution!

To get the best results from trimming, focus on trimming just the unhealthy ends. This requires patience and time but pays off in the long run.

In my recent newsletter article, I suggested having a ‘me day.’ To find out what a ‘me day ‘is click here. Use your ‘me day’ as an opportunity to pamper yourself by trimming your hair, conditioning, cleansing and nurturing it.

A ‘me day’ solves several of the problems mentioned above, it saves you time because your hair treatment time is blocked into one day, it saves you money because all you need is a professional hair scissors (costs under $10) and the method

of just trimming the unhealthy ends saves you hair! Ultimately, that means you get longer, healthier hair without spending hours in a salon.

 

*If you enjoyed this article, make sure you sign up to our mailing list for free expert hair advice and exclusive updates.

Wash & Go Hair: How To Wear Your Hair Out Without Ruining It

How to wash and go

Wash & go hairstyles

Isn’t it boiling outside! Whilst many of us love the hot weather, our hair doesn’t!

High levels of heat can cause your hair to dry out and lose moisture.

The funny thing is that even though our hair doesn’t love heat, many of us see the summer time as the perfect period to wear our hair out. The choice to wear your hair out is often called ‘wash n go’ because all you have to do is wash your hair and…go!

So how can you wash n go without damaging your hair? Is it possible to wash n go without damaging your hair?

Absolutely!

Here are some tips and strategies to bear in mind when doing a wash n go.

Condition. Condition. Condition!

Conditioning your hair is vital during the hot summer months. Make sure you condition before wash n going so that your hair is well moisturized and prepped to handle the heat. A super slipper conditioner will help with detangling and will make combing your hair so much easier.

Be Selective.

Whilst wearing your hair out everyday is tempting, it could potentially cause a lot of damage to your hair and might increase the chances of single strand knots, tangles and split ends. Rather than wearing your hair out everyday, be selective and wear it out on alternative days. You could for instance wear it out on a Monday but not Tuesday, Wednesday but not Thursday and so forth.

Protect it at night.

The night time is the perfect period to nourish your hair back to health. Before dozing off and falling asleep, take a few minutes to detangle with a wide toothed comb or high-performing brush, apply oil to your hair and scalp and tie a headscarf. Doing these three things will protect your hair at night and prevent it from damage during the day.

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1 Quick & Easy Protein Treatment for Natural Hair

mayonnaise hair treatment for natural hair

Mayonnaise Hair Treatment

Many of our customers have asked about quick and natural homemade deep conditioning treatments that work well on naturally curly hair.

Here is a treatment that’s easy to do, uses natural ingredients and has a huge impact on your hair’s strength, elasticity and shine!

Filled with protein, it’s easy to use and simple to purchase. Mayonaise works well on all hair types but is particularly amazing for naturally curly, frizzy and afro hair.

Since most of us have mayonnaise sitting in the fridge, it’s not exactly difficult to get hold of either.

       

        So how do you use mayonaise for your hair? 

Step 1. Apply water to your hair ensuring it’s damp or relatively wet.

Step 2. Scoop a dollop of mayonnaise into a bowl. For great conditioning, mix the mayonnaise with olive oil and honey.

Step 3. Apply the mayonnaise thoroughly onto your hair and leave for 10-30 minutes (depending on how deep a treatment you need). It’s a good idea to detangle/ comb your hair whilst the mayonnaise is penetrating.

Step 4. Shampoo your hair using mild/warm water (not hot). Depending on your hair type/texture, you may want to detangle after your hair has been shampooed rather than during the mayonnaise stage.

Avoid using hot water as it could make your hair sticky.

Rinsing with cold/warm water will help you get the best results.

Now it’s your turn! This week, take one day to pamper yourself and your hair starting with a deep mayonnaise hair treatment.

Are there any deep treatments that you’ve tried on your hair?

Which ones did you like or love? Tell us in the comments below.

Porous Hair? What’s That!

 

frizzy-porous-hair.jpg

 Hair porosity

Have you ever felt like no matter how many times you washed,conditioned, shampooed, moisturized, trimmed and oiled deep treated your hair it still remained dry and lifeless?

Then you’ve probably experienced porous hair!

Hair porosity is caused by damage to the hair’s cuticle which causes hair to split and eventually break.

There are several reasons for hair porosity but the 3 most common are:

Excessive amounts of heat.

This is a common culprit. Heat over around 150 degrees Celsius can damage the hair permanently! If you’re going to apply heat do so minimally and keep your hair straightener on a low heat setting.

Bad and/or excessive chemical processing.

Chemical processing can literally ruin your hair so it’s always advisable to be careful.

These days many products claim to straighten your hair ‘naturally’ but in most cases, those products mislead customers.

When using any chemical straightening or coloring product, always be cautious and do your research.

Dryness

Dryness can happen for several reasons including the two points mentioned above.

If you’re ever wondering why your hair is dry, think why does a plant leaf dry out and die? Because it lacks water.

Despite that many of us have been taught by our mothers, aunts, cousins etc to avoid wetting afro or curly hair too often, water actually helps our hair by providing it with moisture.

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Is Your Hair Dry? How To Banish Dry Hair

How to cure dry frizzy hair

Dry, frizzy hair

Have you ever felt as though no matter how many products you’ve tried, your hair constantly feels dry and limp?

Have you ever ran your hands through your hair to find an odd number of hair strands falling out? If so, you’ve probably experienced dry hair.

Dry hair is particularly common amongst women with naturally curly, frizzy or Afro hair.

Why?

Well, scientists note that every twist and bend in one’s hair  creates a place of fragility.

This means that curly girls and guys have hair that is naturally more fragile and delicate than other hair types. As a result, curly hair textures are more prone to breaking than straight hair.

The question that many curly girls and guys ask is:

‘Can I cure dry hair?’ and if so,’how?’

Here are three simple yet effective tips for preventing and reducing dryness.

Avoid heat and excessive chemical processing.

If you’re planning on chemically treating your hair whether by dyeing it, relaxing, perming or any other method then we highly recommend visiting a professional and experienced hair stylist who knows how to care for chemically treated hair.

       Don’t run from water!

Embrace that you need to keep your hair cleansed often (but not too often) and that applying water before applying any product is essential to keep your hair in the best condition.

      Accept that you weren’t born with slick straight hair!

If your hair is naturally curly, coily, frizzy, kinky (or a glorious combination of all of these textures) then accept that your hair wasn’t designed to be super straight!

Adding heaps of heat everyday won’t make it more beautiful, in fact it will probably destroy your hair and leave you feeling miserable.