My Hair: Curly Half Wig Protective Style

Sensationnel Half Instant Weave. Style: Helena FM7029

This week and last week has seen me wearing this lovely curly instant weave.  I love the curls so much I've had to wear it for two consecutive weeks.  The compliments have been amazing too :)!

I  love half instant weaves by Sensationnel.  They're so easy and less fiddly to attach - and affordable too.  It comes with a large comb attachment to the front and a slightly smaller one to the back to secure it.  I tend to secure it a bit more with bobby pins.  Wouldn't want it flying off in public now, would we?  I prefer putting my hair in two strand twists and placing a wig cap on before wearing this style.  

Not only does my hair stay protected, but detangling on wash day is a breeze 'cause they were in twists. The cap also obscures the tracks of the wig. To give a fuller curly look, I separated and fluffed up the wig.  I plan to achieve this curly look on my natural coils with flexi rods when the weather improves.

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My Hair: Ponytail Protective Style

We've had a rather mild weather for most part of this Winter in the UK.  This week has seen a harsher cold spell cast on us, brrr!!  If given a choice, I would rather stay home and wrap up my delicate coils in a satin scarf, [Sigh].

To preserve my tresses from the harsh weather, I've decided to protective style for the next couple of months or so.  I had a sew in for a little over six weeks from 9th December, 2011 to 24th January, 2012.  I plan to use instant weaves among others for this challenge.  This way, I can still moisturise and seal my ends every other day.  You'll be updated with the different protective styles I wear on a weekly basis.  Weekly styling is ideal for me due to work...and sheer laziness :).  Besides, I give my hair all the lurving it needs once a week - usually on a weekend.

Protective Style of The Week (PSTW):

Sleeked Ponytail  (bun'ed up)

I prefer instant weaves that closely match my curls.

Ponytail piece by Sensationnel

I used good 'ol Ecostyler Gel for the sleek look on clean and moisturised hair.  Night time routine is to simply mist my hair with water, seal with coconut oil and wrap it up in a satin scarf.  Next day's hair looks fresh and protected from any bitterly cold temperature.

Right, bring on the big freeze(!)  Not.

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Motivation: The Big Deal in Big Chop

The route to naturalhood could be via transitioning for a long period of time or by simply being brave and cutting off all your chemically treated hair.  Now, the latter seem to frighten a lot of ladies looking to go natural.  The journey to healthy hair is one you need to be comfortable and confident to pursue.  How about I do my bit to relax you about your Big Chop scare, eh :)?  Take a look at these ladies in the limelight:

Alek Wek

Solange Knowles

Lauryn Hill

Raven Symone

Chrisette Michele

Won't you agree they look stunning with their cropped natural dos?  See, there's nothing to it.  If you'll still prefer a bit more hair after Big Chopping, wear instant weaves or extensions for length.  Hey, there's absolutely nothing wrong with faking it till you make, alright?  Accessorise, enhance your facial features with make up, put on a smile and work your TWA, girl :)! 

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Hair Care: Healthy Hair Diet

Growing healthy hair is not all about the products that you put on your tresses.  You may be following a strict regimen of pre-shampooing, co-washing, and deep conditioning every week, but still show signs of poor quality hair.  It's about what you put in your body too.  The foundation of healthy hair is the nutrients we eat.  Remember the saying, "you're what you eat"?  In this case, your hair is what you eat.  You may need to step out of the shower and into the kitchen :).

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Instead of buying all the products on the market, practise a well balanced diet that includes plenty of proteins, omega 3 fatty acids, iron and vitamins for healthy hair and growth promotion.


Proteins 
Healthy hair nutrition must include eating enough protein.  Protein is the building block of every part of our body.  Hair is almost entirely protein.  The more protein you eat, the healthier your follicles will be.  There are many low fat foods packed with protein without having to worry about saturated fat.  Foods like chicken, red meat, turkey, fish, and eggs are excellent sources of protein.  However, try to use as little butter or oil in their preparation.  Vegetarian?  Don't despair, get your protein from Tofu, legumes like beans and lentils.


Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Essential Omega-3 fatty acids are vital in supporting scalp health.  Absence of adequate Omega-3 fats can cause hair to feel brittle and dry, and encourage flaky scalp.  Some of the foods rich in Omega-3 Fatty acids are flaxseeds, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, cabbage, broccoli, and cold water fish such as salmon, sardines, mackerel, and herring.


Iron
Iron deficiency can be detrimental to your hair.  Research has shown that lack of iron in the body can cause hair shedding and thinning.  Eating dark green, leafy vegetables like broccoli, spinach, watercress are excellent sources for Iron.  Other foods are whole grain cereals fortified with Iron, dried fruits like raisins, apricots, and dates, beans such as chick peas, butter and kidney beans.  Animal foods rich in Iron are liver, egg yolk, kidney, red meat, and oily fish.


Vitamins
Vitamins help in the production of follicles.  Vitamin C improves the absorption of Iron into the body, while Vitamin A helps in the production of oil (sebum) to lubricate hair and scalp.  Vitamin B5 stimulates cell growth and repair.  Foods such as dark leafy vegetables, carrots, citrus fruits, brussels sprouts, bell peppers, cauliflower, tomatoes, milk, cheese, and meats should be on your grocery list. 

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To add to the above, you must keep your body hydrated.  Drinking eight glasses of water a day is absolutely necessary for healthy hair - I can't stress on it enough.  It flushes out toxins and keeps your hair moisturised.  Certainly, there are other nutrients which may contribute to the health of your hair.  An overall balanced diet should be practised for healthy hair and beauty.  Plus, you'll get all the other nutritional benefits that these foods have to offer for a healthier and stronger cells in your entire body.  

My Hair, My Story - So Far.

Old twist out puff.

My natural hair journey was SO not planned!  Therefore, there are no pictures from when it all began - rather unfortunate.  I mean, I had no idea that's what I had embarked on, anyway.  The decision to let my chemically treated hair (relaxed) grow out was meant to be temporarily.  Until, I had figured out why my hair was speedily deteriorating in length and volume.

After my last relaxer in February 2005, I decided to wear braids and weaves just to let my hair grow.  The plan was to give my hair a break from relaxers for sometime, then apply the treatment again.

6 months post relaxer, I was boasting of about 2-4 inches of new growth.  At this point, it was difficult dealing with the two textures (natural roots, relaxed ends) I had going on.  My hairdresser suggested snipping off the relaxed ends.  The thought of short hair as opposed to my long tresses was not appealing.  In October 2005, I braced myself and Big Chopped , as it later became known to me.  I thought, I'll give my natural hair another six months, then relax it.  All I was interested in at the time was regaining the mid back length of hair I once boasted.  Surprisingly, after rocking my natural texture for a year, coupled with the compliments I received, the thought of relaxing my hair never crossed my mind again [hallelujah].  

A good couple of years into being Natural, I was still struggling with maintaining and caring for my hair.  I'll wash, blowdry and rock my TWA as that.  I put extensions in just to save me from dealing with it altogether.  Late 2008, alas, a saviour!  I found YouTube with all the lovely Naturalistas!  I couldn't be more happier.

March '09.  Early stages of mastering two strand twists.

July '09.  An attempt at Wash & Go.  Rather shrunken, but I LOVED it!

Today, six years and two months after I BC'ed, I stand before you as a full-fledged Natural :).  It's been such a learning curve and I've loved (still love) every bit of it.  What's your story so far?