The Natural Inspector

2013-11-24T11:09:00.001-08:00

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Hairveda Whipped Ends Hydration

2012-09-03T03:34:00.002-07:00

Hello curlies, i've been gone for a while- but I'd like to review a product a ordered from British Curlies Hairveda Whipped Ends Hydration. The product was quite cheap for the size- about £6. So i thought why not. The delivery was quite fast but to be honest I was paying £3 for shipping so.....

Anyways I used a small amount to my clean shampoo and conditioned hair- it says don't use with flat ironing, I was curious to why this was- my hair was pretty soft maybe a little greasy but I am v. heavy handed. The ingredients were brilliant- it was pretty much all natural! Overall this is brilliant value for money

5 Combs

F Is For Frizz....

2012-06-09T03:00:00.000-07:00

FRIZZ....

Frizz can be a result of damaged/dry hair. It can be a real pain but there are steps you can take to alleviate the problem.

Apple Cider Vinegar- I have used it, it's inexpensive and seals the cuticle. The smell is a little strong so be warned open a window. I used half a cup of vinegar to 1.5 cups of water. Experiment.
Bobby Pins/Grips- In my opinion these are a godsend. Never use them when the rubber tip on the end has been broken off as this can be rough on your hair. You should dip them in oil before using so they are a bit more lubricated
Microfiber Towels- I love these, there soooo soft and they prevent frizz because they don't roughen the hair cuticle (this causes frizz)
Moisturize- I always moisturize my hair is humid weather, I think it makes my hair soft and less prone to frizz. Herbal Essences Beautiful Ends/Long Term Relationship.

Have a good summer!

E is for....

2012-06-09T02:57:00.001-07:00

EXTENSIONS!

Yes the dreaded extensions, most people think they're bad for the hair, with good reason to. Extensions are known to cause:

Alopecia
Thinning
Dryness
Breakage

So obviously there doesn't seem to be a lot of point of getting them, but let me tell you I use cornrow extensions to grow my hair. A bit of a contradiction, right? But braid extensions are a protective style!
This is because the ends of your hair is tucked away so it can't be damaged by- wind,sunshine,combing or heat! This means your hair should retain most of it's length. However, it's not that simple there are several steps you need to take to see optimal growth. Here is my braid routine

Saturate top of braids with water,aloe vera gel with a bit of oil
Seal the water with an oil of your choice(this should be done every day)
Wash your hair with shampoo of your choice very week. It is imperative that you don't leave any traces of shampoo this can be insured with an ACV rinse after the shampoo
Wrap your hair with a silk scarf, every night.
If there is dryness on your scalp, lightly exfoliate your scalp with an old toothbrush then put a little oil on the dry patch
Remove braids after a month.

I recommend giving your hair a rest between braiding sessions and before applying braids do a protein treatment so your hair is strong and pliable!

Feel Free to ask any questions!

D is For Dictionary

2012-06-08T07:20:00.001-07:00

Yes the natural hair revolution is big and to help Naturals communicate easier there are abbreviations to describe things such as hair length. Here's the list courtesy of Camille's Corner....

When I was thinking about and researching going back natural, I was seeing abbreviations and had no idea what I was looking at. Better yet what it meant. You should have seen me looking at the blogs and natural pages with this confused look on my face. But I am here to help you like I have found help from others. So here is a list of terms and abbreviations that will help get that same look off your face..

2nd day hair- Hair that looks good (at least decent) when you wake up the next morning... you don't have to do much before walking out of the house. Some are lucky enough to get 3rd and 4th day hair!

3abc/4a/4b/4c- A hair type classification system

ACV- Apple Cider Vinegar (used to seal cuticle...final rinse) A hair type classification system.

APL- Refers to length-- arm pit length.

BAA-Big Ass Afro

Baggy - After you moisturize your hair at night, you put a shopping bag, plastic cap, shower cap on overnight.

BC - Big Chop - cutting off all your chemically treated hair

BNC- Braid-n-Curl, simply plait or braid the hair and roll the ends on rods or flexis.

BSL- Refers to length-- bra strap length.

BSS- Beauty Supply Store

CBL- Refers to length-- collar bone length.

Co-Wash- Using conditioner to wash the hair in place of shampoo

Cones- Are 'silicones', or ingredients found in hair care products that are not water soluble (i.e. you need shampoo to remove).
DC- Is a deep conditioner. A DC is when you leave a moisturizing or protein based, depending on your needs conditioner on your hair for an extended period of time, along with a heat source to aid in penetration. But you don't always have to use heat..

Dusting- Dusting your hair is a trim of 1/4 and inch or less. This method is also referred to as dusting because even though your hair is being trimmed evenly, it is so little hair, that it just looks like dust on the floor.

EO- Essential Oil

EVCO- Extra Virgin Coconut Oil (used in conditioning treatments)

EVOO- Extra Virgin Olive Oil (used in conditioning treatments)

HIH- Hand in Hair. Its a disease that causes you to always be manipulating your tresses.

MBL- Refers to length-- mid back length.

No-poo- It's just that- no shampoo. Ladies who follow this routine are CG'ers and don't use cones or other heavy/oily products that may need shampoo to remove. Instead of pooing, many ladies conditioner wash, or use conditioner in place of shampoo to cleanse the scalp.

Pineappleing- a type of sleeping technique that curlies with long hair use to
preserve/protect curls overnight so that they have great 2nd day hair. You gather all of your hair in a high, but loose pony tail at the top of your head and go to sleep on a satin pillowcase. In the morning you take it down and shake it out gently and all of your curls will have been preserved.

PJ- Product Junky or someone that buys any all hair care products in sight...forever on a mission to find the next best thing.

Plopping- A quick dry method. You use a t-shirt or a curl friendly material (terry cloth towel, paper towel) to dry your hair instead of rubbing a towel on your hair to dry it. It drastically decreases drying times.

Pre-pooing- A treatment applied prior to shampooing. It usually consists of oils and/or conditioners applied the night before the shampoo or immediately prior, with a heat source to help penetrate. This is usually performed to help the hair maintain necessary moisture during the drying shampoo process.

Sealing- Is essentially sealing moisture in the hair, specifically the ends. For sealing to be effective, you must first use a water-based moisturizer (a conditioner or cream that has water as its first ingredient), and then seal with a butter or oil. The molecules in most butters/oils are too large to pass into the hair, so they stick to the outside of the shaft, trapping in the rich goodness of the moisturizer. Reversing those 2 steps will lead to dry hair. Sealing has saved my hair.

Slip- Used to describe how slippery a product is (usually a conditioner or detangler)... the more slip it has, the more effectively it will coat the hair to aid in detangling.

SLS- Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (found in the harsher shampoos).

TNC- Twist-n-Curl. This is my signature style. I twist the hair and roll the ends.

Transitioning - This is the period of time since one's last relaxer.

TWA- Teeny Weeny Afro

Twist Out - Two strand twist the hair, allow to dry either by air drying or sitting under a dryer, take the twists apart, and style.

Wash and Go- Simply co-wash your hair, add a styler (gel, cream) and GO You leave the hair to air dry or dry with a diffuser. Although this style is cute and easy, my ends couldn't handle it. This is also seen as WnG, and W&G.

Hope this was useful(;

C is For Cutting...

2012-06-08T06:54:00.002-07:00

CUTTING....

How many times have you been to a salon and requesting 'a small trim' to come out with 3 inches of growth hacked off? Welcome to the world of scissor happy stylists! I have had a notable experience with one- when he did cut off about 3 inches of my hair. Luckily I'm not 'precious' about my hair so it didn't irk me so much. These hairdressers may be a bit too enthusiastic but that's no excuse for refusing a trim to hold on to a bit of gained length. Here are my tips for cutting and trimming.

You can always ask a hairdresser for a dusting which is when about a quarter of an inch of hair is snipped off. Please note if your hair is damaged you should eventually get a proper trim.
You shouldn't use regular kitchen scissors to cut your hair if you are just snipping individual knots then those scissors are fine, but for a DIY trim use scissors
Detangle your hair before self trims.
You shouldn't always listen to peoples advice on trimming. For example i have been told to trim my hair every two months, but that isn't always necessary if my hair isn't thinning or has a lot of knots. Listen to your hair.

For more help with trims, watch this video from Vlogger Naptural85. She's Awesome

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JAoKRgcvKA

B is For....

2012-06-08T06:06:00.003-07:00

BREAKAGE

Due to the structure of Afro hair- knots,split ends and breakage is pretty much inevitable-this can hinder growth which can leave hair at the nape of the neck stage for years or even shorter.

My story- Every day I would comb my hair with my Den-man and there would be small knots in the sink - I would dread detangling my hair): but one day I was introduced to a wide toothed comb and I never went back! To be fair I had a lil' breakage it wasn't anything like what I had with my Den-Man. I was ecstatic! Here are my tips which helped reduce my breakage significantly

Put down the comb- a lot of people depend on combs for convenience. Picture this, it's a busy day at work, your late- and then you have to finger detangle. UH.NAH......When my hair was stretched I would constantly comb my hair even though it was detangled and soft, sound familar? This created unnecessary breakage. My solution was to style my hair is a Southern tease Bun- which is easy,neat and eliminates breakage(because your hair isn't rubbing against your clothes). Love this Tutorial
Low Manipulation- If your someone like me who doesn't like their ends to be tucked away for too long in twists and braids then this method might be for you. This simply involves not using direct heat for styling the hair and avoiding consistent combing. What I do is- wash and condition my hair, air dry and stretch my hair with simple plaits (though I redo them throughout the day). Then I moisturize and seal after my hair is dry and put my hair into a Southern Tease Bun. ( I moisturize my ends every day and I moisturize&seal once a week)
Heat- You usually hear naturals saying that heat is bad, blah blah. Although it isn't good sometimes you want to change up your style. I used to blow-dry my hair every week but now I use it once a month. I think as long as you use a heat protectant, section your hair and have a good technique-you should be fine. I never blow-dry my hair myself and I swear by a brilliant heat protectant called Andrew Barton Heat protection styling cream and I use Fantasia IC Hair Polisher Heat Protector Straightening Serum for shine

That's all folks- here are some useful sources to help you

http://www.curlynikki.com/2010/04/dr-perry-on-curly-hair-breakage.html

http://www.curlynikki.com/2012/05/b-word.html

A is For....

2012-06-08T05:06:00.005-07:00

I'm starting a natural hair alphabet which includes tips from my own experience with my hair. So I will commence with...

AFRO HAIR

Most of you know, black people have the most diverse curl pattern from loos-ish waves to full-on kinks. There's more to hair than being a 3a,4b or whatever. Porosity,Density,Oiliness and Coarseness also affect the condition of your hair. For example if you have low hair porosity easily absorbs moisture but that also means you will have to use less product as some of it might sit on the hair and vice-versa for high porosity hair. Hair density is simply the thickness of hair. I have thin hair, and Coarseness of the hair is the Thickness of Each Individual hair strand- mine are fine. Oiliness is self explanatory. These four things can be the difference between APL length and SL hair, so take note of these helpful external links.

http://www.naturallycurly.com/curlreading/curly-hair-care-methods/kinky-beginners-guide/hair-porosity-and-density

http://www.hairliberty.org/black-hair-care/articles/hair-education/fine-African-American-hair.html

Afro hair benefits

Because of the distinct curly pattern and tendency to knot you can naturally create unique styles such as twists,cornrows and locs
Afro hair nearly always looks dense and coarse- I was fooled into thinking my hair was thick
It drinks up water like a sponge
Afro hair IS beautiful and diverse

Afro Hair Disadvantages

Also because the tendency to knot afro hair is more susceptible to breakage and splits-hindering growth
Because of the curl pattern oils naturally produced from the scalp don't typically reach the ends of hair making it dry.
Because it is so porous- afro hair loses moisture FAST. counteract that by. Moisturizing and sealing daily and maybe if necessary put a heavy thick cream on top of the sealant. E.g Giovanni Direct Leave In, Grape seed Oil and Shea Butter.

5 Facts you probably didn't know.

Afro hair actually does grow a little less than Caucasoid hair- afro hair grows 140 micrometers less than Caucasoid hair(on average)
Afro hair has more surface area than Caucasoid hair, which means there is more hair to be damaged.
Hair types don't affect hair density, infact hair colour typically does:

* for natural blonde hair - 130,000
* for natural red hair - 80,000
* for natural brown hair - 100,000
* for natural black hair - 100,000 (This is the average density of a whole head of hair)

Asian hair grows faster than white&black hair,it is generally thicker but negatively it does experience thinning more than afro hair

A lot of things you thought were necessary for optimal growth, well, aren't really needed.

Protein Conditoners (If you have enough in your diet and you don't use heat more than once a month it's not necessary)

Natural hair products. Need I any more?

I hope this article helped you! COMMENT. COMMENT.COMMENT. XXXXX

Your african, really?

2012-06-07T08:59:00.002-07:00

My black friend Aisha* and I love to talk about our heritage, my parents are from Jamaica and so are hers. Recently we went on a girly lunch date with her and we got onto the subject of Africa. I was looking forward to a little debate on Female Genital Mutilation, which I am appalled by, she proceeded to tell me that she was proud to be a true West African and she didn't want to speak ill of her homeland, even though she was Caribbean and she had never visited Africa. Yes I know ALL black people are descended from Africa but does that mean you can really call yourself that? I know Africa is a brilliant civilization but I am quite ignorant to their beliefs and customs so I think that black people as a whole should learn more. Here are some traditional interesting practices in West Africa

Storytelling

Griots are male and female storytellers who use musical accompaniment to relay narratives about ancient ancestors, military battles and modern events. Stories usually carry some kind of moral theme or value that is intended to teach the listener, but each griot may add his own perspective as well. Religious duties, marital obligations and theological observances are often embedded in the stories, which can be sung at informal village gatherings or more important events like circumcisions and naming rituals.

Games

Oware is an ancient West African game that is similar to chess but is more of a social event than a match between two people. Witnesses unabashedly bark advice to players and use the game as an opportunity to meet people in their community. Soccer is another activity that is popular in West Africa. Like Oware, the game is used as a way to pass time and as a means to connect with neighbors, families and friends.

Music

Afrobeat is a type of West African music that combines drums, chanted vocals and jazz instruments to create polyrhythmic compositions. Originated by Nigerian musician Fela Kuti, the music is enjoyed at casual gatherings, nightclubs and marriage ceremonies. Mbalax is another style of music that is most popular in the nations of Senegal and Gambia. It uses electric guitars, odd, high-pitched synchronized voices and drum beats to form a rock and pop sound.

Food

A classic West African meal is skimpy on the meat but packs a lot of spiciness, starch and fat. Proteins, such as lamb and goat, are put into a large pot with peppers like the Scotch Bonnet and pilli pilli to make stew. Other ingredients include potatoes, yams, rice and plantains. Peanuts are used in many dishes as a staple or garnish. They are also eaten as snacks and pounded into a paste form to be used as dips.

Family Traditions

According to Emory Law University, most West African countries view girls capable of marriage when they reach puberty. Men are not allowed to marry unless they can provide support for a family. Procreation is seen as more of a societal duty rather than a personal choice. Instead of relying on state governments to interpret divorce or child custody laws, many West Africans turn to their tribal chiefs for guidance.

(Courtesy of USA Today)

Gwyneth Paltrow and Racism in General

2012-06-07T08:50:00.005-07:00

You probably all know about the drama with

Gwyneth Paltrow!

tweeting the 'n' word most celebrities said she did nothing wrong but the rapper 'Q-tip' had a slightly different take:

“listen rush simmons, toure, and all Black folk who are sympathist to this gwen paltrow n*gga thing….she may not have meant harm, sure it was in the heat of the moment but that fact that she showed not 1 IOTA of an apologetic tone….given the historical weight of that word is not responsible of G paltrow’s part…as powerful as hiphop is it DOESNT erase the years of damage that not only that word has done but circumstances that usually surrounded it…sure there is empathy for the black american struggle from all races but the empathy shld be extended to the great pain we as blacks…have experienced for generations. for the pain that we still deal with in our communities daily..was gwen wrong for recognizing unrelated people to the song as “n*ggas in paris for real”? debatable. BUT she SHLD have ….paltrow shld have offered a “if i offended anyone im truly sorry” as a person who loves black people and understands…there’s a scope of black folk that exist beyond the ones that she partied with in paris who are still dealing w the complexities of…their circumstances. black folks that dont know about giving a white person a “pass” … there is a lot to this thing. rush ? toure? its ok its all love brothas but lets build … later! and i got love for yall and im glad we can express our views! peace

Also in Britain there has been another racist rant on a bus, the bystanders really need to start reporting this sort of thing... Maybe there should be a Racist Anonymous hotline? Watch the video below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0irDJ_CXhOU&feature=player_embedded

Elasta Qp Creme Conditioning Shampoo

2012-06-07T08:30:00.003-07:00

Elasta Qp Creme Conditioning Shampoo

3 out of 5 *seamless combs*

I bought this for three pounds, it's quite a big bottle so I know it will last a while. I use this to wash my hair almost every time

Review:

It's quite good, it has a nice scent, my hair doesn't feel stripped and it spreads nicely through my hair.

The product in 6 words

Good Smell

Moisturizing

Value For Money

Giovanni Direct Leave in Conditioner

2012-06-07T08:29:00.005-07:00

Giovanni Direct Leave in Conditioner

3 out of 5 *seamless combs*

I ordered a two pound sample of this, as I am quite a cheap person

and I didn't want to waste money on a crap product. I moisturized with this and sealed with jojoba oil

Review:

My hair was quite soft after putting this on damp hair but there was a slight white greasy residue. I was happy that it was all natural and the smell was inoffensive but the overall product nothing to write home about.

This product in 6 words

Natural

Quite Softening

Not Cheap
Average

Aussie Miracle Moist

2012-06-07T08:29:00.002-07:00

Aussie Miracle Moist

3 out of 5 *seamless* combs

I'm not going to lie, this is a pleasant bargain, I payed about two pounds for mine.

The conditioner smelt divine, sort of like marshmallow scent. I applied this conditioner

and sat under the HD. Then washed it out.

Review: To be fair I had quite a bit of slip and the scent was nice. I thought the moisture was

quite good for such as cheap product. Not to many complaints.

This product in 6 words

Great Scent

Good Slip

Great Price

Desert Essence Organics Hair Care Conditioner

2012-06-07T08:28:00.003-07:00

Desert Essence Organics Hair Care Conditioner

3 out of 5 *seamless* combs

I shampooed my hair with a clarifying shampoo and my hair was like frizzy straw, so I expected this conditioner to give it a *pick me up* so to speak. I applied this conditioner,detangled my hair,put a plastic cap on my head and sat under a hooded dryer for 30 mins

Review

Hmm, I think this conditioner has split personalities. When I detangled with it on I had quite a bit of slip! Yes slip, something I never thought would grace my

4c,fine,thin strands. Then after sitting under the hooded dryer, my hair felt really stiff and gummy.

I proceeded on to styling my hair and air drying. I didn't see any significant difference in my hair.

(Story of my life)

This Product in 6 Words

Not Cheap

Artificial Smell

Joico K-Pak Deep Penetrating Re-constructor

2012-06-07T08:27:00.001-07:00

I must admit I have yet to find a stand out product and until I find something that blows me away I think the three combs rating is accurate

Joico K-Pak Deep Penetrating Re-constructor

3 out of 5 *seamless* combs

I could tell you what Joico's product claimed to do. But I'm going to keep it short and sweet. I shampooed as usual and applied this the recommended time of 5 minutes then rinsed it and blow-dryed my hair.
Review:

All I can say is Meh, I know it's light protein so obviously my hair is hardly going to be soft- but the purpose of protein conditioners are to strengthen the hair, well I didn't see a massive improvement so I can't justify the price but it was okay. In my opinion this product is best for people who don't have overly damaged her and are looking for a little boost.

This Product in 6 words:

Cinnamon-Scent

Smooth

Not Cheap

Average

Three Hypes that I just don't get...

2012-06-07T08:13:00.003-07:00

1. Henna
I've tried it and I din't see any significant difference in the condition of my hair. My hair was completely red in the light but then again my hair has never really been jet,jet black. Naturals swear by this and although the pros outweigh the cons it was a pain to clean up. Make sure you go onto amazon to buy this, when i first discovered this about two years ago for £30. 2 words, shop around

2. Defining Creams

I'm not being funny, but this ish isn't for me. I know naturals love stuff like this, but personally I never really use gels to 'slick down my edges' I just use grips/bobby pins.

3. No silo-cones, no 'poo, natural products etc

To be fair these shampoo can be drying and silo-cones can cause build up but now days there are plenty of methods to counteract that. Sulfate free shampoos are of abundance. There are also a lot of benefits of silo- cones such as sealing in moisture and slowing dehydration. While I think natural products sound good, I have used a couple and i haven't seen any significant difference in the way my hair Plenty of people had waist length hair when they were younger and they use Pink Luster #justsaying

Ewwww....

2012-06-07T07:48:00.003-07:00

I love all black films it's so refreshing. I watched Pariah yesterday which was brilliant and i cam across another film called

There's Something Strange About the Johnsons

The title is intriguing enough but the film is disturbing, disgusting and freaky. But I promise you, you will want to see how the films pans out- just don't eat anything while your watching it (;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=vwGjKX3HToY

My experiment

2012-06-07T07:43:00.002-07:00

It's a fact, that black ladies buy into the hair business like no other race, companies make billions each year from PJ's- like myself. So I thought, well if the companies make so much money out of loyal devoted customers myself, surely they would be willing to give out a few free samples? I have already started to do this with poplar food brands such as Cadbury's (Yes I am a chocolate addict.) But suffice to say they weren't exactly forthcoming and I have not received one sample yet!I have had one company ringing me up rather rudely after I emailed them a complaint, asking to produce said product,and I told them about the empty packets of food I collect¬¬_ .http://www.the39dollarexperiment.com/

COMPANY	PRODUCT	EXPENSIVE/CHEAP	WHAT I SAID
HAIRVEDA	Whipped Ends Hydration.	Reasonable	Dear Hairveda, I would like to start off by saying how wonderful your products are. It's great that it is affordable. Could I possibly sample some of your Whipped ends hydration? Thankyou!
Miss Jessie’s	Random	If you call $50 for conditioner reasonable….	I would like to comment on the quality of your products. Especially the baby buttercream. Could I please sample some of your products? I don't mind which one as I need something to tame my unruly curls and I know you will find something brilliant for me
Curl Junkie	CURLFORMERSSS!	It’s not in my price range that’s for sure	Hello I love the look of curlformers, but unfortunately I haven't sampled them yet. Could you possible send me a free pack of curlformers? I run a blog and I would enjoy doing a review
Qhemet Biologics	Burdock Cream, hunny	Hmm, it’s okay	Hello, I love your products but unfortunately they are not available readily in the UK so I have not had the opportunity to try them. Could I possibly sample some of Burdock Root Butter Cream? Thanks
Oyin	Any, they all look good	Reasonable-ish	Hello, I haven't been able to find and afro hair product that will tame my frizzy hair, do you think you could send me something that will?

Welcome

2012-06-04T02:28:00.000-07:00

Hello and welcome to the Natural Inspector I reside in the UK and I am dedicated to bringing you: Natural Hair Products and Reviews, Interviews,Reader Question and Answers, Recipes and Black Culture. You may think, my blog is the same as a thousand others. Well, I will have no pictures of myself or details of myself, because I feel that if you document your hair journey and the like it encourages people to discuss- your hair textures, what your mixed with etc instead focusing on the actual blog. No disrespect to any other bloggers. Thank-you and god bless.