Hairspiration!: Nafisah

Hey beauts! My faves. I hope you are all having a decent week. It’s Friday!!! And it’s time to hair drool. Today, we have Nafisah!

Hey girl! Tell us about you!

Hello! My name is Nafisat. but I like feeling fancy with it by replacing the ‘t’ with ‘h’ sometimes. I’m an architecture student living and studying in Lagos.  I love reading, making new friends, trying out new things and my hair (yes, my hair is my hobby).  I tend to be very lively and cheerful. I smile a lot even when I sometimes feel like it’s unnecessary.

Have you always been natural? If not, when did you go natural? What inspired you to go natural? How did you do it (transition or BC or both)?

No. My short-lived quest for long healthy relaxed hair since September 2012 birthed my decision to go natural sometime in May 2013. It was one of those researches on ‘’how to grow long relaxed hair’’ that led me to a natural hair site in April 2013. I think the first blog I discovered was black girl long hair. I read hair features and fell in love with naturally kinky coily curly hair and from that moment, I knew I wanted to try it! As time went by, I learnt a lot from these blogs and finally did the big chop after 4 months of transitioning. I‘m glad I big chopped because I never really knew what it felt like to have really short hair (no, I wasn’t Rapunzel).

Tell us about your hair! Does she have a name? how does she feel? How would you classify her if you had to? (length, porosity, texture, density, curl pattern, if you’re into any hair science)

My hair! No she doesn’t have a name. I currently have a kinky- coily head of hair with densely and closely packed tight  and fine 4a strands. I generally have normal porosity hair with the nape area suppppper fine, supper coily and super fragile! My hair generally retains moisture well. The mid and nape sections take forever to dry. I just don’t get it. My edges (temple to ear are) retain moisture the least. Its like they just like to do their own thing! Oh well…My hair is so dense and can be challenging to work with in terms of styling and detangling. The nape area tends to be the least dense and easiest to style/manipulate (and break!)

How do you care for your hair? Do you have a regimen? Any staple products?

I like to follow the basics. Cleanse, Condition, Protect and Maintain (and rock! lol) my regimen is really simple (in terms of technique and products)  I just like to use whatever works well for my hair and whatever is available. I shampoo, deep condition and finger detangle bi-weekly with Dudu Osun black soap and Vitale Hair Mayonnaise( plus honey, olive oil and Emily millionaire’s coconut oil and herbs) I moisturize damp hair with any available creamy leave in ( Paul Mitchell/Cantu Repair cream/Shea Moisture Smoothie) and seal with shea butter or castor oil.  Then proceed to put my hair in twists. Shikena. I feel I don’t have personal knowledge of hair products so right now I’m currently experimenting with more products for the sake of ‘experimenting’

What are the things your hair cannot do without?

My hair and SHEA BUTTER are hommies for life! Lol…My hair also loves Paul Mitchell the Conditioner, Castor oil and Vitale Hair Mayonnaise….Just anything creamy and slippery!!

What have you realised your hair doesn’t like at all at all?

Hmmn…I’m not sure but I don’t think my hair likes being sealed with coconut oil (generally light oils). It dries my hair out when used alone but gives it shine. (o_0)  So I only use it to unravel my twists/braids and add shine to my hair.

How do you like to wear your hair? Usual hairstyles? Favourite style? Protective styling?

I like wearing my hair in chunky twist –outs ( well, when my hair was shorter) and puffs. Let’s just say puffs because most of the styles still end up in puffs now that my hair is longer. I’m just too afraid the huge sexy twist out might turn heads and break necks. But when I’m feeling really fancy, I just let that twist out do its thing.
I mainly do low manipulation styles because
1) I’m too in love with my hair to hide it.
2) I haven’t found a good ‘’affordable’’ hair stylist that would handle my hair with care yet.
3) I don’t have the patience to install protecting styles
4) I can’t get protective styles to last long. (That’s the point of protective styles in the first place)
When I’m getting too bored of my hair/ have some free time to spare/exams are approaching, I hide my hair under crochet braids, or box braids or weave. My favourite protective style is box braids!

How do you feel about shrinkage? Do you fight it? Do you embrace it? Either way, tell us how

I don’t really know how I feel about shrinkage, but one thing I know is that I NEVER allow my hair to shrink….lol…no it’s not a fight. It’s just something I had to get used to doing if I want my fine curls to grow and flourish without much knots and tangles. I mostly keep my hair stretched through twists and braids, mini puffs and when I have time African threading a.k.a. Fake blowout!!! Lol

Have you received any negativity from others towards your hair? How did/do you deal?

I hardly get negative comments. But while hair was shorter in a twist out, a few people have criticized it. Now, Everyone I know currently admires it. Sometimes, It is mistaken for a weave or wig.

Are you facing any hair challenges right now or bad habits you’re trying to break? Bad habits? 

A lot. I can deliberately not moisturize my hair for a whole week just for the sake of stretching it . Now I know better..smh. Sometimes I go to bed without protection out of laziness.  Challenges? Yes o! My nape area. The hairs there are fine and fragile. They break easily and don’t retain much length because of their fragile nature. So I’m currently trying to be super gentle with it.

Do you have any hair goals- short or long term?

My long term hair goals: Be a styling guru, and probably healthy waist length natural hair.

Any last words to anyone considering going natural or a new natural?

First, accept your hair, and then love your hair. As it is, like it is.. You can’t achieve healthy long hair if you don’t love your hair. It’s like feeding a pet you don’t even like. Not possible! Secondly, please don’t go natural hoping that it would be a ‘’quick fix’’ to all your hair issues. (dumbest idea) This healthy hair journey is a learning process. If you are planning on going natural and you know that  you are impatient/afraid of making mistakes/don’t like learning new things/shallow –minded, you might end up getting so frustrated so early in your journey and probably hating your hair forever.  So please do your research about black hair first and at least have a mental picture of what you will be dealing with before taking the plunge.

Wise words, Nafisah! I hope you enjoyed reading that as much as I did.

P.S.: If you will be in Enugu TOMORROW June 13th, you should check out the Enugu Naturalistas hair meet up. It promises to be fun and there are prizes to be won! For more details, visit here.

Have a great weekend!

– MeeMee

xx.

Hairspiration!: Bids

Hey beauts! I am always excited for Hairspiration Fridays! I don’t know about you guys but I really enjoy looking a pictures of women with gorgeous hair. Knowing a little bit of their hairstory is of course an added bonus that hairspiration offers. Today, we have Bids, a lawyer-by-day-blogger-by-night Nigerian-born Londoner whose hair is named Grace. Enjoy!

When did you start blogging?

I started my blog (www.bidsingraceland.com) in February 2013 when my family convinced me to stop boring them with hair tales and put them down in a blog. Ha!

How long have you worn your hair natural?

My big chop was in January 2010 so over 5 years now.

Are you a less-is-more girl with your hair or do you go all out?

Ooh that’s hard. When I first went natural, for sure I went all out! Only the best products and all my time for Grace. Now, I still believe in using the best products but rather than using 6 million different components just for a leave in condition, I have tried to streamline my products and regimen to keep it as simple as possible and so far it has worked fine for me.

Shrinkage- do you fight it or embrace it?

Depends on my mood, but I embrace it most of the time.

What’s your regimen like?

On Washday – I start with a pre-poo treatment, some conditioner (using Tresemme Naturals Nourishing Moisture) mixed with some Amla oil and leave that in for about an hour. After that I wash my hair with Body Shop’s Ginger Anti Dandruff shampoo and deep condition afterwards with Shea Moisture’s Tahitian Noni and Monoi Hair Masque. After rinsing my hair thoroughly, I use Giovanni direct leave in and seal with Castor oil. Then I style with Cantu Shea Butter Coconut Curling Cream or Design Essentials Natural Stretching Crème. Morning routine – I spray my hair with a moisture mist from Shea Moisture and then seal with a small amount of argan or coconut oil before styling. Night time routine – Same as my morning routine but after sealing the moisture in with oil, I put on a satin cap and go to bed.

Go-to hair style?

Goddess braid. Literally takes me 5 minutes to do in the morning and it looks so chic.

Could you share some tips for travelling with natural hair?

Try a protective style like braids or mini twists for your trip (especially if there’s going to be activities like swimming involved) and invest in travel sized hair products.

The one thing no woman should ever skip?

Ensure you pre-poo or deep condition your hair regularly. It makes a world of difference to the softness, moisture content and general health of your coils.

2 absolute hair DON’TS?

Do NOT comb your hair when dry and certainly NOT with a rat tail comb. Just no!

If you had one hair regret, it would be…

Not going natural sooner.

2 things your hair cannot do without?

My Body Shop Ginger Anti-Dandruff shampoo (love this cleanser, it’s so gentle but effective!) and my wide tooth comb!

Share your favourite styling secret?

Pinned up twists or a goddess braid give that elegant chic look for the work week. A big voluminous fro does wonders for an outfit/look – you could be wearing a plain white tee and jeans and your fro will elevate that look from basic to fabulous!

Greatest discovery of your hair journey that totally changed your hair game?

Definition is not the end of the world. I realised that when I took down my twists for a twist-out and there was no curl on my head. Just fro, kinky fro. It was big, it was wild and I realised I loved it! And so did everyone else at the party I went to that night.

Any hair challenges or bad habits you’re trying to break?

Getting impatient with my hair and forgetting to moisturise my hair and look after it whilst it’s tucked away in a protective style like braids. I get so lazy with braids!

You have a blog. Where can we find and stalk you on the interwebs?

Blog – www.bidsingraceland.com

Instagram – @BidsinGraceland http://Instagram.com/bidsingraceland

Twitter – @BidsinGraceland http://twitter.com/bidsingraceland

Facebook – Bids in Graceland page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bids-in-Graceland/373616722750666?ref=br_rs

Email – bidsingraceland@gmail.com

Thank you so much, Bids, for sharing Grace with us! It’s summertime! At least I am willing it to be completely summer weatherwise. What plans do you have for your hair this summer? I think I will be installing yarn twists (grey & black). I’ll share with you guys when I eventually get through with that!

Have a brilliant weekend, beauts!

– MeeMee

   xx.

Hairspiration! : Toyin

Hello! My name is Toyin .C. Akinjiola.

I’m 20, a Gemini and I stay in Lagos. I recently finished my Biochemistry undergrad programme at the University of Lagos so I’m eagerly but not so eagerly awaiting NYSC. I currently spend my days blogging, reading and catching up on all the dramas I possibly can.

What inspired you to go natural?

I haven’t always been natural. I became fully natural in 2014, March to be precise. I was bored with my hair to be honest, during my relaxed days I was always wearing weaves. When the weaves came off, I was usually at a loss with what to do with my heat damaged and scanty hair. I felt going natural was a chance to start anew and also experiment with my confidence, I needed some serious balls to go from long weave to team no hair.

How did you do it?

I transitioned from December 2013 to March 2014. During my transition period, I literally stalked your blog and every 4C natural hair blog to gather all the information I could on kinky hair. I initially planned on transitioning for a year, so that by the time I did my semi big chop I could wow my mum and everyone I knew with my Solange like mini fro, this did not happen. A fine day in the month of March, I went to the salon to install box braids. As the stylist combed the life out of my hair, I just told her to cut all the relaxed ends off instead of braiding it. That’s how I became natural.

Tell us about your hair! Does she have a name?

Nope, my hair doesn’t have a Name. I’m a 4C natural I believe, but I truly do not have any idea when it comes to the curl science of my hair.

How do you care for your hair? Do you have a regimen? Any staple products?

I wash my hair approximately every two weeks , I’m currently trying to find a good shampoo so I just sub with Black soap at the moment. I plan to stop using this as soon as I can, because it really dries out my hair. To combat the dryness, I deep condition my hair usually overnight with a mixture of Vo5 conditioner, random conditioners I have, olive oil, coconut oil, castor oil and Shea butter.

I try to keep things as simple as possible with my hair, so it’s basically wash, deep condition, seal and style all the time. This plan is simple and affordable for me at any time. My staple products are my Cantu Shea butter leave-in-conditioner, ORS Olive oil smooth-n-hold pudding, Shea butter, olive, coconut and castor oil. Most importantly Water. My hair is dull-ish brown in colour, so when it’s extremely dry it isn’t a pretty sight.

What are the things your hair cannot do without?

Water , Cantu Shea Butter Leave in conditioner and olive oil.

What have you realised your hair doesn’t like at all at all?

Hairstylists that love to play tug of war and lack of moisture.

How do you like to wear your hair?

I love to wear my hair as high as it can possibly go. My to go style is usually a bantu knot out, although sometimes it comes off as a bantu what-i-don’t-know! I’ve never tried a bun or updo, I don’t think my length is there yet and I’m really not an updo person, never was. My favorite styles obviously are my bantu knots and knot outs because they come out the best or leave me with something I can work with. I’m a box braids girl, when it comes to protective styling. I’ve tried yarn twists and I loved it. For the past year I only fixed my hair twice and I was really uncomfortable. I used to love weaves. Really.

Yarn twists

How do you feel about shrinkage? Do you fight it? Do you embrace it?

When I think about shrinkage , I think versatility. It’s amazing how my hair can look like I just did a big chop one day and the next I have a mini to medium fro. If I ever need length I fluff and finger detangle my hair or stretch with a scarf, then I move on. I absolutely embrace shrinkage, it keeps things interesting.

Have you received any negativity from others towards your hair? How did/do you deal?

I have been asked questions mostly by older females about my reason for going natural , then they proceed to lecture me about how it doesn’t look good , my aunt once told me I looked like a ruffian one time and how guys won’t like it , then most of them offer to pay for my hair . As a student I’m always in the mood for “osho free” so, I always accept. So now when I’m in need of a protective style I just carry my 4c kinky ruffian hair like that and visit them and I listen to them , then they offer to take me to the salon. I’m confident in my 4c hair and the choices have made thus far, so I usually laugh off any negativity directed towards my hair.

Are you facing any hair challenges right now or bad habits you’re trying to break?

I have scanty edges , and this is not due to bad hair care but genetics . Some days I feel no amount of JBCO can help, but to be truthful I never remember to use it.

Do you have any hair goals?

My short term goals would be to straighten my hair and to try more styles, its time I stopped doing the same style over and over . I’m the most boring natural ever. My long term goal is to achieve a fro worthy of the fro wall of fame , also to keep loving my hair and whatever curves it throws.

Any last words to anyone considering to go natural or a new natural?

If you decide to go natural , before you do check out your reasons for doing it , and don’t do it unless all your reasons are pointed towards you . It’s always good to find out as much as you can but no knowledge is like you trying things out first hand, so be calm, don’t overload yourself with information (it is not jamb) and just go with the tide. When Natural, you can learn from others and even make them your point of contact, LOL. What you shouldn’t do is compare your hair in all its glory to theirs and feel inferior. As all fingers aren’t equal, I believe no two fros can be.

More Toyin?

Visit her blog: lifewithcassandra.wordpress.com and follow her on Instagram : toyiin_a

–

Thank you so much Toyin for sharing with us! 🙂

If you’d like to be our Hairspiration sometime, just email hello@thekinkandi.com. Have a great weekend guys!

Love,

AB,

xx

 

Hairspiration!: Sophea

It’s Hairspiration Friday!!! ‘Nuff said…

Hey girlie! Tell us about you!

My name is Sophea… I like to spell my name with an ea…lol… I’m a student of University of Lagos studying Zoology. I hope to become an Environmental consultant. I live in Lagos.

 Have you always been natural? If not, when did you go natural?

I decided to go natural in December 2013. I was making my “Christmas” hair and I saw how limp and lifeless my hair was. I didn’t know what to do, so I started researching on the internet about how to take care of relaxed hair and I saw some articles on natural hair and decide to read them; curlynikki,blackhairinformation, britishcurlies, thekinkandi, to name a few. I saw beautiful pictures of girls who were natural not because it was a religious law but because it was what they wanted to do and in January 2014, I started the journey. I couldn’t big chop so I transitioned for the whole of 2014 and in December 2014, I cut off all my straight ends myself. It felt surreal and liberating but most of all I was happy. So I have been fully natural for 3-4 months now.

Tell us about your hair! Does she have a name? How does she feel? How would you classify her if you had to?

The name of my hair is Vivian and I call her that because Vivian means ‘lively’. My hair is a mix of all the 4 hair types, but I feel I’m a 4c with some 4b and 4a scattered in front and the middle. I don’t know about length because my hair shrinks 100% no chill but when stretched it gets to the nape of my neck. But she’s just 4 months old… No biggie.

How do you care for your hair? Do you have a regimen? Any staple products?

I wash my hair with dudu osun black soap (shampoo is too drying for my hair) and then condition with Palmolive naturals milk and honey conditioner when I’m feeling fancy, but for cowashing I use Vo5 or Gentelle hair fruits conditioner, DC with mayo,egg(if I need an extra boost of protein) olive oil, honey. These are my staple Deep conditioning products but from time to time, I add avocado,banana,yogurt… whatever works. If I don’t have the strength to be a DIY queen, I use ORS hair mayo and some olive oil heated up, then I do a hot oil treatment also. For three weeks, my hair is in a protective style majorly a weave then i take down and wear my hair out for a week treating my hair then covering it up again. My staple hair product is my Africa best kid’s styling gel. Shea butter is another staple.

What are the things your hair cannot do without?

My hair cannot do without water, deep conditioning and a satin scarf.

What have you realised your hair doesn’t like at all at all?

My hair hates gel on it when not wet – I tried it once and Vivian turned to a giant ball of cotton.

How do you like to wear your hair? Usual hairstyles? Favourite style? Protective styling?

I like protective styling – marley twists, weaves and braids –  but when I’m not wearing a protective style my go to style is a bantu knot out on damp hair. Sometimes I do a wash and go or I just wear my fro in all its shrunken glory.

How do you feel about shrinkage? Do you fight it? Do you embrace it?

Shrinkage is a sign of healthy hair so I don’t fight it or hate it, but when I want to do an out style like a twistout or bantu knot out, I stretch my hair by letting it dry in six braids on my head and when loosened it looks stretched. Sometimes I stretch with a blow dryer but that is just sometimes because I hate heat on my head so much.

Have you received any negativity from others towards your hair? How did/do you deal?

Ah yes! When I was doing my internship one woman asked me to go and comb my hair. I was wearing a flat twist out style and I thought I looked nice but she said that she doesn’t like my hair. I told her I’m a natural and this is how my hair is; it can’t be controlled. She gave me this bitchy look. My friends think I’m crazy for not using a relaxer. This reaction was worse when I was transitioning though.

Are you facing any hair challenges right now or bad habits you’re trying to break?

I, like many naturals, have the hand in hair syndrome. Apparently I’m still fascinated by my hair.

If you had one hair regret, it would be…

Not going natural sooner.

Do you have a hair philosophy? What principles are you determined to live by on this hair journey?

If you take care of it, it will grow.

What is hair to you? Has going natural changed anything about you?

My hair is like my baby for now. Yes it has made me a patient person. When I do twistouts, bantu knotouts or a washday, I need all the patience in this world. It has also given me a self esteem boost just when I needed it.

Do you have any hair goals- short or long term?

No hair goals, but I plan to loc my hair when I’m 40 or 50.

Damn! Talk about long term plans. I like! Any last words to anyone considering to go natural or a new natural?

You must have a tough skin. If you don’t have one, grow one. Enjoy the journey because it’s a fun ride. Don’t look for what is wrong with your hair but rather what is beautiful about it.

Preach it Sophea! Where on the internet can you be found?

I have a blog – vogueandkinks.wordpress.com. Such a mouthful. It’s about my hair, definitely, but other fun things about life and love. You can also find me on IG: @sopheaposh Twitter: @_Sopheeyah

Thank you Sophi…Sophea! Thank you for sharing with us today! Have you been hairspired, beauts?

Hairspiration! : Chiamaka

Tell us about you!

I’m Chiamaka Okoro but popularly called “MAKAS” by friends, a law graduate and currently doing a professional post graduate course in Abuja,Nigeria. A lover of everything natural!

Have you always been natural?

I went natural for religious reasons, I decided I wasn’t going to relax my hair again. So before my big chop in June 2012 I had transitioned for some months and after my big chop I rocked my TWA for nine months, this was because I didn’t know what to do with my hair. I was so clueless that natural hair could make any sense, but I cared less of what people thought cause being concerned with their opinion was the exact reason I relaxed my hair sometime in 2008 after which my hair stopped growing and I lost considerable length.