#ThrowBackThursday: Shuku, No Base.

Shuku Ologede

Hi beautifuls!

What’s good?

I just remembered that I did not document my short-lived hair adventure from a few weeks ago.

**Before I proceed, remember that you can still get 10% off your Nazuri Curls when you enter the special discount code: KINKANDI. This discount is valid till October 12.**

For a while, my mother had been suggesting that I did shuku. For our non-Nigerian readers, shuku is the Yoruba name for the braided hairstyle I’m wearing in these photos.

I really wasn’t sure about wearing shuku, but then, I saw E in my office rocking it quite beautifully. I finally decided to give it a try after I took my braids out. It cost me only 500 naira (less than $3) to do.

I did it the day before Naturals in The City 12. And as it always is, when I try something new with my hair, or something I’ve never done with a particular stylist, I’m never comfortable with it in the beginning. It always takes some getting used to. It didn’t help that my mom who instigated this experiment did not like the outcome. She suggested that maybe I should have done it with the inverted braids (didi), and that the top of the shuku should have been placed higher, to be easily visible from the front. Valid points for next time if there’s going to be a next time. She also said she thought the hair was basic (bahahaha) and not funky at all. She really said BASIC, and that I looked like (my name was) Shukurat. Laaaawd. In my mind, I was like wow, thanks mom, thank you so much! As an after-thought she added, “Well, you can wear it to your event”. And I said, “No mom, I am NOT going to look basic at my event.” I wasn’t in a good mood that day, and having basic hair on my head was compounding things. Yes, I can be dramatic.

The plan was to loosen it the next day and wear my hair in a puff. But I got so busy with all the setting up, there was no time for me to start doing that. Plus, Isioma, NN, Nat Mane, Anu and others at the meet-up assured me that it was okay, and not basic. Advantages of going to meet-ups guys, upliftment if you need it, haha. I won’t lie, they encouraged me. ❤

I wore the shuku for 5 days. I had to take it out because, the centre (where all the cornrows met) hurt so bad. It had been picked very tight, and the area felt very sore. Two days after taking out the shuku, it was still sore. I’m convinced that a few strands must have been pulled out at the root. If you’re going to do shuku, be mindful of that middle point!

For the last two days of the shuku week, I wore my hair up, and bunched in two buns.

Now I’m in mini-twists that I love-hate so much. Love the convenience. Hate the look after Day 2.

Can my hair grow already so I don’t have to stretch it first to throw into a bun? So I can do 4 twists at night instead of 12?

Long hair, I’m ready for you! Over-ready sef.

Actually, my dream on Tuesday night was about hair. I needed to blow dry my hair so I went to the salon and they blowdried my fro and it was bra strap length! Gaddem. I was so happy. But then I woke up to shrunken mini-twists. I claim that dream o, I claim it for every single follicle on my head! LOL

Have a beautiful day, you.

Love,

AB,

xx

Meet Wanda, Big Betty’s Cousin

Hey beauts!

Have you ever got a new do that just instantly transforms you into Beyonce’s biggest competition? No? Then you probably probably need a Wanda in your life!

Remember Big Betty? Well Wanda is Big Betty’s cousin from the same mama (doesn’t make sense, just go with it). I finally received my much anticipated custom made wig (aka Wanda) from Nazuri curls, last week and I was so quick to ditch my crochet braids like it was garbage.

Reaching into the yellow purse that held Wanda and feeling the softness, definition, and volume of her curls, I was immediately smitten. Honestly, I have never felt anything like it (I don’t do a lot of touching of other people’s hair, ergo, I have never owned hair that feels like this one). Now, because I have only rocked this hair for all of 5 days, you are free to dismiss my gushing as new love syndrome. But hey! It is real new love and it feels so damn good.

Feeling maself, feeling maself

The volume of this hair is one of the most surprising things to me. I had incorrectly said on instagram that the wig was done with 3 bundles of hair and 1 side part closure. Apparently, Wanda is just 2 bundles of hair (12″ and 14″) and 1 side part lace closure (12″). Fin. As mentioned earlier, providing the wefted hair is not the only service that Nazuri curls blessed me with. You see, I have sworn off weaves. I love the look of a well done weave. Oh I absolutely love it. However, by no fault of mine (my mother will disagree strongly and point fingers at the full jars of hair cream I always brought back home at the end of every term in boarding school) I have dandruff prone scalp. Which means that when my hair is hidden away, if it is not cared for properly, it begins to snow from my scalp. This is such an embarrassing and frustrating battle that I have been fighting for a long time now. And so one of the things that I have had to give up are weaves, for no reason other than they are a nightmare when it comes to caring for the scalp underneath. So how can I get the weave look without ruining all the progress I have made with my scalp health? Wigs! So I sought the service of Nazuri curls and added their custom wig to my order.

I’m feeling mah, feeling mah

I can tell you now that I do not regret shelling out those extra dollars for this wig. After placing my order, I received a form where I could detail how exactly I envision my wig. Nazuri definitely delivered my vision. The wig cap feels sturdy and is breathable. There are combs, there is an elastic band that goes across either side of the head, and there is a clasp. Talk about triple protection! Let me see the force that will throw this wig off my head.

I can gush continuously about my new love, Wanda! If you have been looking for a ride or die wig or even just wefted hair or clip-ins, then I definitely recommend Nazuri curls. It does not hurt that you can also get 10% off your purchase order when you use the code THEKINKANDI. They ship worldwide and having contacted them mid-order period to change the delivery address, I can attest to their customer service being very present and impressive. I am a very happy customer and I shall go on to spread the word about Nazuri. I am looking forward to sharing Wanda with you and to finding new ways to show her off!

Oh Nazuri carries different hair textures as well. In the future, I might be adding their straight wig to my collection. We’ll see.

Until next time, beauts!

– MeeMee (and Wanda)

xx.

The Revolution of the Crochet Braids

Hello beauts!

It’s me again! Yes, the one is that hardly ever here. But you love me all the same… you know you do.

How many of you have tried crochet braids at least once? Now, how many of you have gone back to crochet braids again and again and again? How many of you, like me, are flaunting your crochet braids right now?!

Pretty much everyone, right? I mean, if you did not put your hands up, my question to you this fine morning is: whatchu waiting for?!

The first time I heard or learnt about crochet braids was from my friend, Ify, back when we were in undergrad. As a veteran in the natural hair movement, she was way ahead of me in knowing what innovative protective styles were out there and so she taught me how to hook her up with crochet braids. I remember thinking it was weird but I went with it anyway. Fast forward to summer of 2015. Every client that has booked to have me play with their hair between May and now have all come to get crochet braids done!

I currently have on Senegalese twists which was done with the pre-twisted twists and I fail to see why I should go back to getting my hair braided the traditional way.

Pros

1. Quick install. Seriously, those African women that braid hair in Harlem can have you in and out in an hour! It usually takes me anywhere from 2 – 2hrs 30mins to install crochet braids for a client, including styling time.
2. Edges Friendly. If you are like me and wake every morning wondering who battered your edges and what they could possibly have received in exchange, then crochet braids might just be your hero. With the way my edges are currently set up, I do not have to touch them at all with the crochet braids.
3. Weave Aesthetic. If it looks like a weave and moves like a weave, then it must be a weave. Wrong! Crochet braids, when done right, can be very deceptive. It can even look like your hair!
4. Versatility. Senegalese twists, marley twists, bob braids, short curls, ‘fro, long waves, synthetic, natural curls, straight, you name it. They can all be crocheted!

Cons

1. Price. For some reason, the association of commercial hair braiders met and decided that they would slap a heavy price on crochet braids. I don’t get it. Like this is one of the quickest and least labour intensive hairstyles in the market and somehow, it costs more than or the same as getting braids or twists installed? It really does irk me to hear how much people are charging for crochet braids.
2. It’s addictive. But hey! That doesn’t have to be a bad thing.
3. Compared with braids, it is harder to wash these. Just because you have to wash between cornrows, it might not be as easy as washing hair in regular braids. However, it is definitely doable.

Source: Pinterest

I am definitely a crusader for this uprising. What do you think about crochet braids? Yay or Nay? Here-to-stay or soon-to-be-old-news? Talk to me and let me know!

P.S.: My Nazuri curls wig just arrived!!! I already love her and cannot wait to have so much fun with her. I will definitely be letting you know all about my adventures with this wig.

Remember: Till October 12, you get 10% off your Nazuri Curls when you use our special code- KINKANDI. They ship worldwide!

Stay positive this week!

– MeeMee

xx

 

Hair Lately

I’m at this point where I don’t really know what to do with my hair, but I’ll work it out.

Having long established that I like to deal with my hair dry and stretched, my greatest challenge now is to figure out how to keep it so for like 3 days at least. In other words, I REALLY need to learn how to cornrow and flat twist. Anyhoo… Here’s what I’ve been up to since I took out the Nazuri Curls.

I really can’t remember how I wore my hair on Monday morning lol. Maybe I wore the struggle flat twists I was given over the weekend? Can’t remember.

Tuesday, I tried to convince my hair into some kind of updo lol. Plenty tuck in here, tuck in there action at the back, with twists in front.

On Tuesday night, I braided and twisted my hair with a combo of the Curls Creme Brûlée Lotion and the Curls Blueberry Bliss Curl Control Paste. Fine, my hair was super dry so I applied a bit of product (like 2 oz for the whole head) because I thought my thirsty hair would drink it all in before morning. Nope. I loosened all the senrenren on Wednesday morning to damp hair with zero definition, shrinking right before my eyes. Plan B? A puff.

Thursday? I had a better updo, I think. Similar to Monday’s but it needed less bobby pins. It was more like fold and pin. 

On Friday, I went with le shrunken fro. I was so tired on Thursday that I slept off without twisting my hair at night. I woke up with serious bed head and I didn’t even bother trying to detangle. I spritzed the hair, rubbed a little conditioner, raised it with my Afro pik in many places and patted down for shape. This resulted in a lot of tanglesssss my days.

tears on tears on tears

Still, your girl had no time over the weekend. NO time. It wasn’t being lazy, I just had to make a mental list of all the things demanding my energy and hair had to have a few seats. This is one of the times I say it’s just hair. Sure, I’m going to take time out soon and treat my hair to a nice relaxing spa day, but when you have a lot to do, it’s totally okay to do less. Your hair won’t fall off, lol.

I simply got in the shower and after wetting my hair, I saturated it with Hello Hydration. I detangled with my fingers and a wide tooth comb, chunky twisting each section as I went. Then I rinsed with cold water, but not entirely, leaving some of the conditioner in. Standing in front of the mirror after this co-wash shower, I applied slight dabs of my Carol’s Daughter Mimosa Hair Honey pomade to each section to seal in the moisture. I untwisted the loose twists (loose because of the washing) smoothed the pomade in & loosely twisted back.

About an hour later, my mom helped me thread (I didn’t know she had such skills lol 🙂 ) For the sections that were too wet, I blotted them with paper towels. She’s a busy woman but I hope we can make this a regular thing ( ._.) I wore the thread till Monday morning.

See. The way Lagos traffic is set up, 10 minutes can make all the difference in the world. I wake up at 5am and I’m out the house most days, by 6. I refuse to wake up at 4:30 because of hair. And I can’t afford to stay till 6:30 either. So I do my best to leave the house early, and then I do my hair in the bathroom at work before 8 or before anyone else gets there. So. I’m not ashamed to be out in the morning with rods in my hair or a scarf tied in a funny way. Not sorry at all. No time.

My hair was dry, and super stretched. Loved it, loved it! Threading is nice o, but I don’t know how I feel about wrapping my head every weekend, because I’m rarely home. I don’t have that many scarves, and my head tying game is really not that strong.

You know, the next time I straighten my hair I think I’m just going to thread and give myself time to air dry in advance. I arranged it into my best style yet, and I really liked it.

This work or professional styling thing, I’ll figure it out. Yes I will. 🙂

In other news, my phone fell on Saturday and though there are no signs of breakage, my main camera has stopped working. The front one still works but what’s going on with the main? Where there is life, there is hope, abi? On the bright side of things, I’m getting my blogging mojo back!

I want to know what you’ve been up to lately with your hair, anything in particular you’re dealing with, talk to meeeeee. 

Love,

AB,

xx

Blending, Blended- More About Faking It With Nazuri Curls

Hi guys!

Eku Tuesday!

As you know, I recently took down my sew-in weave with Nazuri Curls extensions. This last time, I didn’t actually wear the weave to “switch up my look”. That’s one of the things I like about extensions, though. Currently eyeing a purple and grey wig on Shop Zlanche, but where will I wear it to? Christmas is coming, maybe I should look foreign for Christmas? JK JK. Seriously though. As soon as I can get my makeup skills to match such exotic hair, I’ll be good to go. Lagos get ready! Def can’t wear it to work, so- weekends. Anyway, back to the post.

I was saying that I didn’t put on my Nazuri Curls to look different this time. I was effectively protective styling, but in a manner pretty close to my own hair- so close that I really didn’t know what to answer when people asked “Is this your hair?” “This really can’t be your natural hair right?” It was like people were convinced it was so natural, but they didn’t want to believe because of how thick or full it looked. I always wanted to add “but my hair is pretty close to this!” after I smiled and said no. Because people gotta know that African hair can flourish and prosper.

With blogger boos Titi & Sandra 🙂

To successfully fake it with extensions, your options are as follows:

Plan A: sacrifice a West African twin chameleon (amongst other things) to TY Bello, the Chief Priestess of the blending gods. If you don’t know where to find a chameleon or TY Bello, then listen to Plan B! 😛