- Braids
- Twists
- Cornrows
- Weaves
- Wigs
- Any style that will prevent you from styling your own hair for a certain period of time
Caring for Natural hair can be as easy or complicated as you make it however the key is finding the products that work for you and sticking to them.As aformer certified product junkie,I can attest to not needing a ton of products to achieve a desired style.
Bantu knots on dry using ourEssential hair Butter creamand Essential hair oil
With that said, certain hairstyles are achieved accidentally and some are achieved through trail and error. For example; you might find out that a style derived from bantu knots on dry hair is way better than that from damp/wet hair and vice versa.
With tons of products on the market, it can be very challenging to find a single product that is; effective, multipurpose and affordable.All the ingredients that will be listed are; effective, multipurpose and affordable.To top it off, they are already in your kitchen.
For cleansing
Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO)
Sweet Almond Oil
Jojoba Oil
Avocado Oil
Remember to do a patch test
For Toning
1:2 of Apple Cider Vinegar
Rose water
Witch hazel
Remember to do a patch test
For Moisturing
EVOO
Combination of oils is different ratios.
Face Scrub
Ground Oats or “Brown sugar“
EVOO
Honey
Remember to do a patch test
Face Mask
Plain Yogurt
Whole Wheat flour
Turmeric
Lime juice
Aloe Vera Plant
Remember to do a patch test
Turmeric powder
This easy DIY is very effective and you more than likely already have all the ingredients in your Kitchen.
What you will need;
Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO)
Honey
Ground Oats
Mixing bowl
Candle - Optional to set the mood
Instructions
Pour less than a teaspoon of Oatmeal into a mixing bowl
Add EVOO and honey, then mix well to form a paste
Gently to clean face and massage using circular motions
You can wash it off immediately or let it sit for about 5 to 10 minutes I as typically like to o.
Proceed to wash off with hot warm water
Apply toner as needed
Apply favorite moisturizer
Self Care is done with the intent of improving one’s mood and reducing anxiety.It can be achieved by incorporating a few activities into your daily routine.
Here are some ways to get started.
Stay hydrated - You cant pour from an empty glass
Start journaling
Pray for yourself, loved ones and those in need
Skin care - Cleanse + Exfoliate + Tone + Moisturize
Try that DIY mask that you have always wanted to try
Read books or listen to podcasts
Learn a new skill
Reach out to your friends and family
Listen to religious scholars & motivational speakers
Practice forgiveness
Do some yoga or stretching
Watch some comedy
Light up those candles
Revisit your goals
Try a new recipe
Listen to relaxing music
Be kind to yourself
Exercise
Is the product effective, multipurpose and affordable?If the answer is no then perhaps you should reconsider.I'm all for making life easier and using toxic-free natural products that serve several purposes, it’s always a WIN!
The Essential Hair Oil is not only great for the hair and the Scalp but it can also be used for;massaging the body,as a body oil,add to a shampoo and many more.
The Hair Butter cream is also a great moisturizer for the body.
With these 2,I only need one more skin care product which happens to be the Essential Face Serum.
Many of us have heard or been told that we shouldn’t be applying oils on the face.This is because Oils can clog the pores which in turn causes break outs in both teens and adults.As someone that has been using oils for over 3years and in fact nolonger use any soaps or foams on my face,I can say that this is not true.However I can say that there are certain oils to watch out for when you decide to take this path.I learned that while coconut has a ton of amazing benefits, for the skin,It’s a hit or miss when applied to the face.
It’s always a good practice to test on a small section before applying fully on entire face.
There are several ways that I use oils,these include;make-up removal,cleansing the face,moisturizing and many more.
Extra Virgin Olive oil is my favorite oil to use for almost anything skincare related.Yes for my face too!
After cleansing my face with Olive oil,I proceed to use a toner to remove any excess oil if needed then seal in the moisture using the Essential Face serum.
The Serum promotes suppleness without being heavy, living the skin with a smoother appearance.
While it may seem like a challenge when it comes to figuring out what style suits you,it’s not that complicated.After all,you get to style the hair to align with your personal style not the other way around.
As long as you fully embrace your style,the rest shouldn’t matter.
While some may find spending a couple of hours at the spa very relaxing,others may find it dreading and that’s why I always like to incorporate skin care at home a few days a week or at least once a week.The easiest way that I manage to accomplish this is by using ingredients that I already have in my pantry to create a the product that I need.For a face and body scrub, it only requires 5 items that are already in everyone’s kitchen.These are;brown sugar,Olive oil,honey,mixing bowl and a spoon.Yah that’s it!
It’s take less than 5 minutes to make this all natural face and body scrub.This always leaves my skin feeling soft and moisturized .For those with dry skin,this would be a great addition to your skin care routine.
Crazy as it may sound, Extra Virgin Olive oil is not your typical everyday oil that you can only use for cooking because its packed with a ton of benefits for both the hair and body.
Here is how I incorporate Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) into my Skin care routine.
It’s so easy to grab a hair comb and begin to comb out your hair regardless of how twisted and tangled it may be.In fact the breakage that can occur from this is often ignored however this can be minimized by taking a few extra steps.These are;section the hair into equal parts,apply a water based leave in conditioner or plain water,finger comb and follow as with a wide tooth comb if needed.
You don't need to rob the bank to achieve a glowing nourished face.
Here is how to restore moisture back to the face which in turn leaves the skin glowing,supple and moisturized.
What you will need:
A small mixing bowl
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Cinnamon
Honey
Sugar
Aloe vera leaf
Instructions
Pour about a teaspoon on Olive oil into the bowl - Adust accordingly
Pour desired amount into your palms and rub palms together before gently massaging oil into the face using circular motion
Rinse off oil with lukewarm water
Add about 1/2 teaspoon of sugar to oil in the bowl
Add a few dashes of honey to sugar and oil
Add 1/2 teaspoon of honey
Mix well and gently rub into the skin using circular motions
Let sit for about 20minutes or longer
Wash off with luke warm water
Cut a small piece from Aloe leaf and gently rub it onto the face.
Let it sit for 10-15 minutes
Wash off with luke warm water
Pat excess water off
Apply moisturizer as needed
Do I really need to layer products on my hair?If you are satisfied with your current routine then perhaps you don’t need to but otherwise layering products helps to;moisturize,seal,define the hair which in turn makes it easier to style.
Steps to Layering products
- Wash or co-wash and stretch the hair like you do normally
- Moisturize using a water based moisturizer or leave in conditioner.Here’s our DIY moisturizing cocktail
- Seal with any hair Oil such as Olive,Avacado,Almond etc.Here is our favorite Multipurpose hair oil
- Define with a hair butter/cream or styling gel
- Finish off with a touch of shine to give a polished look.
Many of us wonder why our hair doesnt retain the moisture after we have applied the products.Are we missing something?Are we following the;Liquid,Oil and Cream or Liquid,Cream and Oil.If not then its worth a shot.
You don’t need a ton of products to achieve desired style
A few things to consider:
- For how long do you wear the braids/twists
- How long do you wait before rebraiding/retwisting
- Are you doing any hair treatments after taking out the braids/twists
- Are you paying attention to the products that give you results
It is important to maintain a clean Scalp when wearing protective styles.This can be achieved by using various methods such as;dilluting your shampoo with water and making your own hair rinse.You can also try our favorite DIY shampoo.