Natural in the City (Hair Of the Day/Week)

Hiya

I have been trying to keep my hair game up; as well as do some protective styling. As over the past four months I have been neglecting my hair so I want to get back on track with an updated hair care regimen.

I usually wash my hair once a week (African Black Soap is my shampoo of choice) but when I first went natural I just used one from Holland and Barratt that had no sulphates in it. I usually wash in four sections focusing on the scalp.

I follow up with a deep conditioner which I usually mix –up myself if I have time. The concoction varies as I like to do a protein conditioner once a month.(Eggs are a good source of protein) some people are protein sensitive so be careful.

For the other three weeks of the month my goal is to add moisture.(Think honey, avocadoes and oils)If I do a mid week wash or I am short on time I use Giovanni’s (which I usually buy I the US) Aussie Moist Reconstructer and Tresseme Naturals on a regular basis. Please keep in mind that I have very thick hair which is colour treated, therefore I need a whole heap of conditioning. Also not all conditioners are created equal so please be weary of products that contain alchohol,cones or sulphates.

When my hair is still soaking wet I usually put Organic Vegatable Glycerin or Coconut Oil on my hair and wrap turban style with a towel. I do not rub.

Sometimes I use a leave in conditioner, but I am rather inconsistent with these and I tend to only use them if i'm out of my regular products. I have the Carols Daughter Hair Milk (I buy this product in the US) I also sometimes dabble with Cantu leave in. Both are nice on their own but I find they can give hair a dull appearance unless used with oils only.

The next step is my African Shea butter which I buy raw and will usually whip with whatever oil I have in the house. This past Saturday I made a coconut oil mix as my hair really like coconut oil. On rare Occasions I will substitute the Shea butter(if I run out) with Carols Daughter Loc Butter. This product is quite greasy which I do not mind.

I will do 15 or so two strand twists or plaits in my hair while wet with the shea butter and Organic Root Stimulator Twist and Lock Gel for definition. However I have been known to use Eco Styler Gel or setting lotion. I do two strand twists regardless of the hair style I am going to rock as it stretches out my hair so I can manipulate it when its dry without too much drama.

But I do not tend to use combs when my hair is dry, just fingers for styling as my hair don’t like it.

This is me last week. This is a regular ole high pony with a jazzy scarf for a little omph.

This was me at work last week with a low pony tail with flat twist across the front of my head. which is a bit harder to make out in this picture

This is an old twist out that has been pinned up in the back with a shock of crazy curls in the front. which is a variation on my hair of the day last week. The pic was taken at work

This is me yesterday with a Jonelle Monae inspired do, it is flat twisted in the back with a pompodour in the front which you can't see that well, as I was on the train and didn't want to seem like a freak taking picture of myself in public. I will try to take better pics this week folks.