Nics Nacs & Kinks

Ode to Big Hair

2011-11-01T09:34:00.002-04:00

Lately I haven't done much with my hair...sigh.It has gotten so long that I just chose to wear it in single braids to avoid dealing with the nightmarish tangles. So I gathered all these beautiful big hair natural ladies to drool over.Enjoy!

Corinne Bailey Rae

Essence Magazine


Essence Magazine

Hair Update

2011-06-01T21:15:00.000-04:00

Hey guys,. I know, I know it has been a minute and a day since I have updated. Boo... shame on me. I find it hard to update sometimes because, well honestly, I'm not that obsessed with my hair anymore. I have moved on, found other things to obsess over lately. My new obsession is losing the excess weight I have gained, so far so good.
Anyway I just wanted to share a recent hair update pic taken in May. I was so surprise with the outcome. I guess not obsessing is good after all!

Finally got my hair back to its pre relaxer length

After trimming, flat-ironing and bumping the ends.

Nics, Nacs & Kinks?

2011-04-07T01:00:00.000-04:00

Nics, Nacs & Kinks...

So what is my latest Kink?

Well my "kink" now ( for lack of a better word) is the fact that I am carrying 76 lbs of extra flesh on my frame. I admit I"m am really, really, really,(did I say really?) really, embarrassed that I allowed myself to get this far. What is worst is that allowed this gain to creep up on me in 3 years!!!!

I kid myself in to thinking that with all the stresses from everyday life, I didn't have much time left to pursue my health. I use to love cooking healthy meals and exercising, but somehow I fell off.

I actually started my journey around September or October 2010, by just changing some eating habits. In December I stepped on the scale and was down 18lbs without exercise. Go me! Quite an accomplishment, besides who loses weight around the holidays anyway.(Me!!!).

So stick with me as I detail my struggles, failures and eventual success.

Check out my weight loss blog http://blackgirlonadiet.blogspot.com

Why I think combing hair daily is important

2010-06-20T19:58:00.000-04:00

Ok so hear me out for a second, I too believed that combing hair regularly will lead to a lot of breakage. However, through experience, I also realized that I lost a lot more hair when I don't comb often.

For the past couple months I have really been serious about combing daily. The tangles were border line nightmares so I decided to rework my regimen to accomodate my longer hair.

WoW can you say softer hair?

Not only is it easier for me to deal with my hair but I lose a lot less of it, come wash day. I figured with days of shed hair matted around unshed ones, it created an almost dreaded state for my hair which lead to rips and yanks because I was having a hard time detangling.

Anyway this method may not work for all but it definitely worked for me and I'm sticking to it (for now).

Health and Fitness

2010-06-18T21:10:00.002-04:00

Its official! Im on a track to lose some weight. Over the past couple years the weight has basically crept on me... urgghhhh! I basically can't fit anything in my closet and I refuse to buy a bigger size! So I need to set some goals and keep them. I think I'll blog about me ups and down while I pursue these goal and if you want feel free to join up with me. The more the merrier!

Retro Hair

2010-06-13T18:37:00.000-04:00

FINALLY..well again. I have some hair pics up! I don't really take the time to take pics of my hair ( or in general) but a few of you asked me to..so here they are.

I just put my hair up in a high bun with a retro bang. The high flower was an after thought but it worked out well.

Shingai Shoniwa from the Noisettes. This chick can rock out!!!

2010-06-05T17:52:00.002-04:00

Omg I'm in love with the Noisettes, epecially Shingai Shoniwa. How amazing is she? I love her singing voice, style, her everything!

If I die, maybe..just maybe, I'll be her in the next life. Anyway here are two of my fave songs.

OMG and who doesn't love her style. There is nothing contrived about her.

Love! Love! Love!

S-curl "NO Drip" Moisturizer

2010-06-05T13:17:00.042-04:00

So I've been MIA for so long, just been busy plus not much has been going on with my hair since my last blog entry.

Anyhoo, I've dyed my hair back to black ( from this weird brown color),and trimmed some ends. So here's the new problem I was trying to figure out how to combat dryness. My hair feels like dry boar bristles, urghhh!

Well...dum..dumm. I finally got it. I have been using S-curl! apparently I'm last on this bandwagon (go figure). This has somehow help me to combat some of the dryness with my hair. It gets a bit sticky at times, maybe because I use a lot, but man my hair feels so soft and moisturize.

Plus, it's water based and contains glycerin and vitaminB5. nice!

Nice to be back on board guys!

I'm Back!!!!

2009-12-07T18:21:00.003-05:00

Hey guys. Its been so long and I have been extremely busy. I'm getting back on board again. Thanks for all your emails.

Summer Hair Questions Answered!

2009-06-13T17:14:00.014-04:00

The summer is here and along with it comes some of our most frequent hair woes.
Dry,Frizz,Split Ends, Breakage,Dandruff the list goes on. Here I'll share some of my answers to some FAQs

My hair is constantly dry no matter how much product I use?

I've always discovered that it doesn't matter how much product you use if you are consistently using the wrong one. I've had my trial and errors when it comes to hair products but one thing I have learned is that any product that contains alcohol and mineral oil is a complete no-no for hair.

Start by experimenting with homemade products, castile soap is all natural and can be used as a shampoo base mixed with herbs and oils. Best of all, there is no sulfate which usually exist in commercial shampoos.

If time is an issue when it comes to your hair routine, try to co-wash twice per week and use shampoo only when necessary(which for me is usually once per week).

I wash and condition my hair regularly but lately I have been getting dandruff
what can I do to get rid of that?

The dreaded dandruff is usually caused by lack of moisture on the scalp and/or lack of scalp circulation. However, most likely it is caused by using harsh shampoos and products on hair scalp. Shampoos that have strong cleansing agents can lead to too much moisture removed from the scalp.

If you already have dry scalp, deep conditioners can help hair to retain its moisture.

Also try to use anti-dandruff product to bring moisture back to your scalp.

How do I get rid of split ends and stop breakage?

The only way to get rid of split ends is to cut it off (sorry). Split ends and breakages are caused by lack of moisture. Hair strands become brittle and break off or split up. Hair coloring can also lead to split ends. Remember if you color, you need to take extra steps in order to retain some moisture in your hair.

Hope this advice helps. Thanks for asking questions. If you have any advice or questions email me at naturalnana1@aol.com

Lace Front Wigs revisited

2009-05-04T19:31:00.019-04:00

A few months ago I talked about getting a lace front wig ( which I haven't gotten around to yet). I did my research and got some advice my friend the self proclaimed 'hairologist'.

Anyway I did find out some pretty useful info about lace fronts so I'm gonna share some of what I learned with you.

According to my friend Do not buy lace front wigs online( she told me to put that in bold).

Her Reasons:

They are low grade quality which charges too much money.

Custom wigs are not 'custom' if they are not made on top of your head.

Ready made wigs are not 'one size fits all'. They were made for someones head and are possibly rejects (lol)

If you got to pay on a payment plan for your hair, you can't afford it (who doesn't have a payment plan these days? For bills? yes For hair? NO!)

So on to the positive advice.

Research a style which works for your lifestyle, personality and budget.

Always get your head measured by a professional, preferably the one who will do your hair(especially if you already have your own hair underneath).

Invest in quality hair care products which will maintain your wig (cheap is as cheap does!).

It may be fake but treat it like you would your real hair.

So those were her advice on the wigs. Share with me your experience with wigs.

Hair Prep before Shampooing

2009-03-26T06:54:00.022-04:00

I am a firm believer in moisturizing and with my hair there is really no such thing as too much moisture.
I have two methods of preping my hair for washing that work wonders.

Method 1

You will need:
Olive Oil
Plastic Bag/Shower Cap
Warm Damp towel

I separate my hair into smaller sections apply Olive Oil on my scalp and from the roots to the ends, especially ends.

Place plastic Cap on top of hair. Wrap with a warm damp towel(optional)

Method 2

I dont use this method much now but it did work for my hair

Blend Shea Butter with some tea tree oil.
Apply along scalp and ends.
Put on Plastic Cap and wrap warm towel over hair.

Now what is the reason for this?

Wet/Damp Hair is porous so it is easier for oils to saturate hair shaft. By applying oils and placing the bags over hair it allows the hair to "sweat" and absorb the oils. Its also necessary if you use store bought shampoos to wash your hair as most of them are drying because they contain sulfates which is not great for natural hair.

2009-03-26T06:51:00.017-04:00

Hey guys I'm back. Things have definitely toned down and I'm back on schedule. Thank you for sending me emails with your questions and of course I will be answering and sharing as much as I can in the next few posts.

P.S. I promise to upload some pictures of my hair soon.

2009-02-25T19:25:00.005-05:00

Hey guys I'm still around!I know some of you sent messages and I will respond to them. I have been so busy lately that I cant find time to breathe. I will be back I have so much to talk about. Keep sending me your love.

2009-02-05T18:38:00.005-05:00

I'm extremely excited about my pick for natural beauty of the month, though not a natural in the sense of hair. She is so natural and beautiful in spirit and I consider her 'a friend in my head'.

She has had a successful yet sad year dealing the death of family members. Of course you all know who it is, Ms. Jennifer Hudson.

Side note:"a friend in my head'-( someone you never met but know if you did you would become great friends)

2009-02-01T13:45:00.005-05:00

I've been rocking the twisties lately check them out. Its 3 days old.

So What's Wrong With My Hair?

2009-01-20T06:12:00.006-05:00

So recently I was having a 'hair' discussion with a friend who is also a natural. The topic of natural hair and workplace was on the agenda. What disturbed me about this discussion was the remarks she has to deal with about wearing her natural hair to work, which sadly comes from her own African American co workers.

Why is natural hair considered a no-no in corporate America?

Last summer Glamour Magazine had to deal with an issue pertaining to insensitive racial comments made by a former white staffer who branded black hairstyles as no-nos because they were considered political.Though I'm not surprised by this comment I'm disturbed that the wrong hair could affect your job, in this case Afro hair.

While I don't subscribe to the belief that you should be free to wear your hair however you want in a work setting. I do have a problem with being penalized for the hair that grows naturally from my roots.

Have you had a notable experience with your hair and job?

Feather Hair Clip

2009-01-13T12:41:00.001-05:00

OMG just found this hair clip, aren't they the cutest! You can find them on wetseal.com for $6.00.

Cutie Booties

2009-01-13T03:45:00.005-05:00

I was perusing the Steve Madden website, when I came up on this cute pair of boots. They cost $99.95 but I'm sure I can get this from Baker's for less.

Random Hairness!

2009-01-12T12:06:00.003-05:00

Believe me, there are some days when I have a love-hate relationship with this hair. I am all for healthy hair but the process to get there and maintain is so tiring. My hair is so thick, it makes grooming even more time consuming.

Now don't get me wrong, I adore my hair but sometimes I'm too lazy to spent time on grooming, couple that with the fact that I'm not the most skilled hair stylist. My hair is a endless stream of routine and regimen which gets boring after a while.

Ahh lets not forget the endless hair products available for every hair condition. The list gets daunting. The choices are too many. The benefits are too few. It seems everyone else is pretty chirpy about their hair.

*sigh.. maybe its just me?

Nneka

2009-01-12T11:28:00.001-05:00

Check out Nneka.... love the beat!

Simple Hair Clarifier

2009-01-12T02:33:00.005-05:00

2 cups warm water
1/2 cup lemon

Mix together apply to hair. Great for breaking down product buildup. Use this before shampooing or between shampoo and deep conditions.

Herbal Shampoo

2009-01-12T02:14:00.005-05:00

Do try this at home. Re-work the recipe to compliment your hair.

7 oz distilled water
4 Tbsp liquid castile soap
6 Tbsp Herbs
Glass jar or bowl
Plastic 8oz bottle( you can use a spray bottle)
Pot
Strainer
Spoon

Choose 2 or 3 herbs for your hair(check my herbs list for reference).

Pour distill water in pot and boil.
Place herbs in strainer over glass jar or bowl.
Pour hot water over herbs allow to steep for at least 10 minutes, if you want a stronger mix leave it longer( don't get herbs into the water).

Pour castile soap in the other bottle, then pour herbal water into the bottle.

That's it! Pretty simple. This should take approximately 20 minutes to make, including steeping time.

Beautiful Natural Hair Chicas

2009-01-11T03:53:00.006-05:00

There's nothing I love more than seeing models,actresses,entertainers and regular ole folks wearing their natural roots.

Ayo

Jessi M'bengue

Hayley Marie Norman

Sophie

Wakeema Hollis

Nneka

YaYa

Bre

Alek

Lace Front Wigs

2009-01-10T04:14:00.011-05:00

Lately I have been thinking of wearing more protective styles for my hair. The easy go to for me is a wig. I have only owned one in my lifetime but I absolutely loved it.This is great for when I'm feeling lazy about styling my hair.

My last wig was a straight bob, very flattering for my face type, but I do so love curly hair so I'm thinking of investing in a curly lace front wig.

I've been doing a bit of research since I have absolutely no clue about fake hair, so I'm basically in the dark about hair quality and so forth.

I'm looking for something in this region.

Or Maybe

I've always admired Erykah Badu's array of afro wigs. I've got to hand it to that woman, even her fakes are true to who she is, but I need a bit of something to wear that in public.

Here are a couple of her refine styles that I like.