Flaxseed Gel is an all-natural, all purpose styler that can be used on curly, coily, straight/pressed hair or even locs for re-twisting. It is made by boiling flaxseeds in water. Once the Flaxseeds are boiled a gel is released from the seeds.

Flaxseed Gel contains a host of wonderful nutrients for hair like:

• Protein
• Omega-3
• Vitamin B
• Vitamin E

In addition to it being a great styler, Flaxseed Gel can be used as an aid in your healthy hair growth journey.

Using Flaxseed Gel some of the styles you can create are:

• Wash and go’s
• Twist outs
• Braid outs
• Coil outs
• Finger coils
• Roller Sets
• Bantu knot outs
• Sleek ponytails
• Sleek buns

And yes, all of these can be done on 4C Hair with defined results.

Do this for the best results with Flaxseed Gel

• Use a moisturizing shampoo some examples include: (Alaffia or Shea Moisture Black Castor Oil)
• Apply to freshly washed damp hair
• Work the gel through section by section using your fingers or a comb
• The more gel you apply the firmer the hold will be
• Give your hair time to air dry or blow dry with a diffuser attachment

Be aware of fake Flaxseed Gel

Unfortunately on a wide scale at least, Flaxseed Gel is not available in stores. Look closely at the ingredients list of popular brands. They are usually using a Flaxseed protein powder or a Flaxseed Oil, not real Flaxseed Gel.

This is because making Flaxseed Gel is a very laborious process and major corporations do not want to invest the time in making real Flaxseed Gel if they can just pop an extract, powder or oil in the product.

In order to enjoy the benefits and style Flaxseed Gel offers you have to either make it yourself or purchase flaxseed gel online.

Flaxseed Gel Recipe

Make sure to store your flaxseed gel in your fridge and discard after 1 week. Being that your gel does not have a preservative and is made with water it will grow mold and bacteria if it is not stored in your fridge.

Where You Can Buy Flaxseed Gel (the real stuff)

Reclaim Your Crown

Reclaim Your Crown goes through the process of actually boiling the flaxseeds to release the gel and formulates it into a product that is shelf stable so that you do not have to worry about storing it in a fridge. Enjoy healthier and more defined stylish hair with the Curl Elixir Flaxseed Gel.

The post Define 4C Hair With Flaxseed Gel appeared first on Black Natural and Proud Sistas.

The 3 step method involves using NO butters and NO oils on your natural hair. This method seems to definitely be coming from the new school of thought that you only need shampoo, conditioner and hair gel for your hair.

I understand the sentiment here, there are so many companies coming at you selling you products you may not need and that do not work. But Chile. This 3 step method may work for some but it definitely is not the answer for everyone’s hair.

In the summertime I may be able to get away with this a little being that there is more moisture in the air, but in the winter for sure this would not work as my hair is just naturally more dry. Even my daughters who have a much looser curl pattern need some lubrication with a butter or oil from time to time, I just apply lightly and more sparingly to avoid their hair from becoming weighed down.

I don’t know about this one….what do you think Curlfriend’s would you try?

The post 4C Natural Wishes She Did Not Try the 3 Step Method appeared first on Black Natural and Proud Sistas.

What does “protective approach” mean? You want to be as gentle as possible:

• No roughly combing through your coils. Try opting for using your fingers when possible to comb through your strands and use tools designed for textured hair.
• Try to wear styles that will last you a week or two, so you don’t have to manipulate your hair often.
• Use moisture rich products.
• At night sleep with your hair in large twists or braids and cover with a satin or silk bonnet, this will aid in the prevention of tangles and help you to avoid breakage.

Implementing the above tips will help you to see a big difference in your hair. In most cases, tangles and breakage is why many naturals, especially 4C hair types do not see the growth that they wish to see.

The post Why does 4C hair tangle so easily? appeared first on Black Natural and Proud Sistas.

Are you trying to grow your hair long but aren’t getting much success? Growing long type 4C hair can seem daunting and can feel impossible for some so let me break this growing long 4C hair saga down a little for you. 

When I was about eleven years old, I started caring for my younger sister’s hair. I was also starting to learn how to braid hair and so she was basically my little teacher. Her hair was maybe a little less than an inch long. I had access mainly to bar soaps and foaming shampoos & petroleum-based oils and at the time, coconut oil was very pungent and so I didn’t use it. I also knew nothing about its benefits.

I mainly wanted to learn how to cornrow hair and that’s what I practiced the most on her type 4C hair. My type 4C hair in the meantime was a few inches longer, dry, hardly retained length and somewhat brownish in color. I cared for my sister’s hair for some years and her hair grew out past her shoulders! Jet black and long. Mine in the meantime was at a stand-still and didn’t show any remarkable change over the years. My hair health started changing as I grew older and learned how to take better care of it. I would apply some oils to my scalp, brush both my scalp and hair (gently in small sections) and from time-to-time blow dry it. So, what made my younger sisters 4C hair grow long and what started transforming mine? Below are some ideas gathered from my journey then and now that could change the game for you. 

Understand your hair growth phases

Hair grows from the follicle (root) underneath the skin (scalp).  Blood vessels at the base of the follicle feed and nourish the hair.  You’d think that hair would keep growing until we cut it off but that’s not the case!  Our body has its own regulation mechanisms and cycles and goes through three distinct stages:  

• Anagen – hair growth phase which lasts between 3-5 years approximately.  As new hair grows out, the old hair is shed. This stage determines how long our hair can grow before we shed it.  
• Catagen – transitional stage which lasts for about 2 weeks.  
• Telogen – dormant phase during which hair stays in follicle for 3-4 months prior to growing.   

In a normal hair growth cycle, a larger percentage of hair is in the Anagen phase and every hair is at a different stage of the growth cycle.  We normally lose 50-100 strands of hair per day and when we create conditions that cause hair loss, we cannot replace additional lost hair with new hair quickly enough. We then start noticing thinning and if we continue in this vein and damage our follicles, we start suffering from alopecia.  

My younger sister’s natural hair has a longer growth cycle before it breaks and/or sheds. That was one contributor to the growth she experienced. 

Breakage vs Moisture 

4C hair is particularly prone to breakage because it’s intrinsically dry. The oils produced by the scalp don’t effectively travel far along the hair shaft. If they do, the cuticle layer is likely lifted and absorbs as well as losses these oils quickly thus exacerbating dryness. This was a major issue for my sister and I. I used water to add moisture to my sister’s hair before combing and braiding and sometimes I didn’t. It helped somewhat but wash day was not much fun for either one of us even though we loved the end result. Fast forward to today, a product like the Naturaz Rehydrating Mist & Detangler would have transformed wash day for my sister and I. Note though that you shed up to 100 hair strands a day so you’ll always have some shedding. 

If you want to see steady growth month over month, use products with humectants and moisturizing and nourishing ingredients. Using my background in chemistry and experience in research and development, I formulated the Naturaz Moisture Burst System to infuse and sustain moisture in hair. I always advocate that you stick with one product line for at least three to six months to give it a chance to transform your hair based on your needs and the brand promise. As you can imagine, as we comb, brush, hang out s at the beach, swim, apply chemical treatments etc. our hair experiences wear and tear. Because hair is a keratinous (protein based) substance, I also formulated the Moisture Burst System to deliver proteins needed to repair and strengthen the hair shaft. 

Protective Styling

I had my younger sister’s hair in cornrows all the time. I loved trying out different hairstyles on her head and she loved the experience of checking herself out in the mirror and exclaiming “I look nice!” I always felt so happy hearing her acknowledge the effort even though she didn’t enjoy the process. I think this is one major reason why I was driven to creating a solution so that girls, moms and caregivers don’t struggle like we did. Regardless, the protective styles allowed my sister’s hair to rest and grow without much manipulation. Over time, the results were evident in the length that she enjoyed. 

Here are a few tips to keep in mind when you’re protective styling: 

• Keep your hair moisturized while styled and when taking down the style. The Naturaz Rehydrating Mist & Detangler will hydrate your hair, soothe and feed your scalp and soften your hair so that breakage becomes a thing of the past. 
• Take down your protective style every 4-6 weeks depending on the style. 
• If you have extensions, keep the area around the roots of your hair clean and avoid build up. This buildup can accumulate if you leave extensions in for too long and can cause extensive breakage as you try to ease your hair out of it. 
• Feed and nourish your scalp with a vitamin and protein rich scalp and hair treatment like the Styling Moisturizer. 

When I went to a boarding school to complete high school, my sister ended up cutting her luscious, coily mane because her crazy, hair loving older sister wasn’t consistently around to fuss over her hair! I’m forever grateful for my first teacher, my sister who graciously allowed me to learn about hair by caring for hers. 

So grow your hair longer by: 

• Understanding your hair growth cycle 
• Using highly moisturizing products that help your hair hold moisture for longer whether or not it’s protectively styled 
• Keeping in mind that your hair is made up of keratin and use products that deliver proteins needed to repair and strengthen your hair. 
• Protective styling your hair to avoid manipulating and breaking it.

Feel free to leave a comment below or reach me at customerservice@naturaz.com

About Mumbi

Hi, I’m Mumbi Dunjwa, founder & CEO of Naturaz. I’m the scientist who created deeply moisturizing and repairing Naturaz formulas. I’ve been a lifelong natural and have a passion for educating people on how I’ve been able to stay natural all my life even when “natural hair” was not popular. I have a background in Chemistry, Nuclear Medicine Technology and Information Systems Management and have extensive experience in large health care systems as well as big pharma. Curly, coily hair is fascinating to me and I believe that healthy hair is not only about product. It’s about what we eat, our environment, stress levels and more. Health on every level is critical to growing and keeping a vibrant head of hair. I love science and technology and I believe that there is so much more to be invented that will transform hair care and help folks with curly, coily hair better harness their magnificent crowns. I want continue contributing to this transformation so stay tuned. Learn more at www.naturaz.com and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest & Youtube.

The post 4C Natural with Long Hair Shares How to Grow 4C Hair appeared first on Black Natural and Proud Sistas.

Regardless of hair type, you can grow your hair to long lengths with consistency and the right hair care methods. 4c hair does not necessarily grow slower than other hair types, it is just more fragile. This means you have to implement more measures to prevent breakage in order to see more length retention or hair growth.

Many 4c naturals who have long hair practice protective styling with simple styles like twists or low manipulation styles like a high puff.

The less you have to manipulate, comb or brush your hair the more length you will see. This is because every time you have to touch your hair you are opening up the opportunity for breakage to occur.

To smooth your ponytail fly aways down opt for tying your hair down with a scarf instead of brushing all the time.

Practice this simple formula:

• Protective style for at least a week
• Cleanse and Condition Your Hair
• Rinse and Repeat!

That’s it, the secret recipe Do this with consistency and remember that growth does take time.

Growing 4c hair does take some patience but the recipe to achieving long hair goals is not very complex. 4c naturals if your hair goal is long hair, you can do it! Stick to the formula and you can make it happen.

The post 4c Hair Grows Long Here is Proof and The Secret Recipe Behind It appeared first on Black Natural and Proud Sistas.

Good products are important, but if you are improperly caring for your hair, what use on your hair will not make any difference. In addition to the right products here’s what you need to do to reach your hair goals:

#1 Wear styles that don’t require you to comb, brush or style your hair often

The more you manipulate your hair, the more you are likely to have some breakage. Wear styles that allow you to at least go a week without having to do much to your hair. Simple styles like crown braids, hair buns or two strand twists are great choices. They also protect your hair from getting snagged on your clothes and weather conditions, which is why they are referred to as protective styles.

#2 Carefully detangle your hair, this is where a lot of naturals lose hair

You need to make sure you are properly detangling your hair. This means you are only combing hair that is damp or has product added to it. Comb from the ends of your hair and work your way up to the roots of your hair section by section with a tool designed for textured hair. No small fine tooth combs!

#3 Don’t forget to moisturize if you are wearing a long term style

You still need to moisturize your hair with braid, twist and extension styles. If you forget to keep up with this your hair will dry out and after you remove the style you will not have made much progress. Use water or a water based spray product to moisturize your braid and extensions styles.

#4 When you moisturize and condition give the ends of your hair the most attention

The ends of your hair are the oldest and weakest part of your hair and need the most moisture and conditioning. This also helps to reduce split ends which lead to you having to cut more hair.

#5 Use heat very sparingly if at all

Heat will dry your hair out, plus the strain that blow drying puts on your hair makes it easy for breakage to occur. To give your hair a stretch it is best to use rollers, hair buns, banding or large braids as natural ways to stretch your hair out.

#6 You still need to trim your hair

Not trimming your hair at least every 3 to 4 months leads to you losing more hair in the long run because the split ends do travel up the hair strand.

#7 Protect your hair at night

Put your hair into large braids, twists or a hair bun to prevent matting and tangles. Wear soft materials like satin or a stretchy headwrap to protect your hair from drying out on cotton sheets.

#8 Always condition your hair

Use a good rinse out conditioner to restore your moisture balance after shampooing. Deep condition your hair as often as you can to give your hair a boost. This helps to strengthen your hair and keep it healthy. Make time to do this at least 2x per month.

#9 Nourish your hair from the inside out

Drink lots of water and eat a healthy well balanced diet. Vitamins are a nice addition, but you need to also be doing your part.

#10 Patience and Consistency

Growth takes time. On average our hair grows 1/2 inch per month. Set realistic length goals with that and mind remaining consistent with healthy hair practices.

You can do it, Curlfriend!

The post 10 Things That Grow Black Hair Long and Actually Work appeared first on Black Natural and Proud Sistas.

*Some spoilers about the movie’s plot are in this review

Bad Hair is a Hulu Original cheesy horror film that tackles some of black women’s deepest hair issues. The story is set in the late 80’s and centers in on Anna a young budding professional seeking to elevate her career in television.

When most of us think of black women’s 80’s styles you don’t necessarily think of natural hair. Relaxers, Jheri Curls and weaves have taken the spotlight during this time period. However, Anna has been natural for her entire life after a traumatic attempt to relax her hair.

It’s quite apparent that she is not confident about her textured tresses as she is very mousy, jittery, barely makes eye contact, hunches downward and speaks in whispers. At her place of work she is surrounded by black co-workers that have assimilated to the dominant society’s standard of beauty with the exception of merely one character that is her exact opposite confidently wearing her curls.

After being bashed by her boss for the hair that grows out of her head she is convinced that she needs to spend nearly $500 on the latest style, a sew in weave to get the promotion she is so desperately seeking. She overcomes her fear of a salon visit, risks being evicted (she can’t afford this style) and goes to the top celebrity salon to get her install.

Things start to change for Anna for the better at first: more male attention, more admiration from her co-workers and then the job promotion. However, little by little things take a strange turn and Anna’s hair slips out of her control.

This is the perfect watch for a small adult Halloween movie night gathering or virtual viewing. No worries, if you do not do scary, it is more comical than anything else. It’s a bit gory at times though, especially the scene when she gets the install (I felt her pain), but frightening it is not.

Personally, I love the fictional “moss haired girl” old slave folklore that the creators tied into the film as it sends a very important message. This piece and the real life scrutiny that black women get over their hair is perhaps the only thing mildly scary about this film. It’s an interesting watch none the less, with a unique story line that we rarely see.

Have you seen this film? What are your thoughts? If you haven’t seen it yet will you watch it?

The post Bad Hair 2020 Film Hulu Original Review – Should You Watch It? appeared first on Black Natural and Proud Sistas.

As a hair enthusiast I was super excited to watch Netflix’s original series Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam CJ Walker. While I was entertained by it, I was greatly disappointed by the historical inaccuracy of the film and the pushing of the same old stereotypes.

At the beginning of the series, I quickly caught onto how they were trying to low key use the fictional character Addie Monroe to talk about hair care mogul Annie Malone. Not only was it not cool that they tried to perpetuate the stereotype of we are always working against each other and colorism, it simply was not true.

Annie Malone was Madam CJ Walker’s mentor, which means Annie was the complete opposite of an enemy. In fact, she is truly the first black female US millionaire but often gets overlooked. I know this because I personally did research about this for my Adelphee Black Herstory Series.

My first thought was that the creators of this series wanted to find ways to make the story more sensational and juicy, but come one there could have been other ways. I am sure as one of the first black woman millionaires Madam CJ Walker faced a lot of racial tensions that she had to overcome. While this may have been more dark and saddening, it certainly would have been more truthful and still provided the intrigue that they were looking for.

I am definitely a big fan of Octavia Spencer and while the storyline had a lot of falsehoods I was entertained by it. However, I think it should be known that most of this portrayal is fictional. Younger viewers may not do their research and may take the series as gospel.

Annie Malone was a sister that uplifted Madam CJ Walker not a backstabbing enemy and should be remembered as such. Rest in power to both of these inspirational black queens.

The post Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam CJ Walker is Entertaining but not Historically Accurate appeared first on Black Natural and Proud Sistas.

The best oil for black hair seals in moisture and helps to prevent moisture loss. Here are the top 10 oils to try:

• Jamaican Black Castor Oil (heavy but good!)
• Olive Oil (heavy) *Penetrates the hair strand
• Coconut Oil (lightweight) *Penetrates the hair strand
• Avocado Oil (heavy) *Penetrates the hair strand
• Argan Oil (lightweight)
• Jojoba Oil (lightweight) *Similar composition to sebum our scalps naturally produce
• Grapeseed Oil (lightweight)
• Sunflower Oil (lightweight)
• Safflower Oil (lightweight)
• Almond Oil (lightweight)

Afro-textured hair benefits from the use of oils as it does not naturally produce as much oil as straighter hair types and it is easier for moisture loss to occur.

Here are some benefits you get out of natural oils:

Keeping moisture in your hair

Oil acts as a protective layer when used with moisturizers or water enabling you to retain moisture longer.

Softness

Oils can help keep your hair nice and soft. Here are some oils that are particularly good for this:

Moroccan Argan oil

This oil penetrates the roots of the hair which can improve hair elasticity and reduce breakage. Because it is light, Argan oil does not clog pores.

Jamaican Black Castor Oil

Cold-pressed JBCO is more alkaline, which makes it better at opening cuticles and restoring them to soften hair.

Castor oil from castor beans is one of the best oils for black hair. It has hydroxyl groups that give it unique properties. It has fatty acids, mostly Ricinoleic Acid which when massaged into the scalp, improves circulation and thus helps hair grow stronger and longer.

Length Retention

Natural oils strengthen hair and reduce friction between strands. They also reduce breakage, dryness, and split ends. Your hair will grow longer if it doesn’t break as much. In this way, you can say that natural oils can help you to get longer hair. They don’t make hair grow longer, but they do help with retention making it easier to grow.

Strength

Coconut oil is helpful when your hair lacks protein and prevents hygral fatigue. If your hair is fine to medium, you will also see the most benefit from coconut oil.

Fighting Dandruff

Because Jamaican Black Castor Oil has antimicrobial properties, it is a dandruff remedy. Use JBCO, Coconut Oil, or Almond oil together with something like tea tree oil.

How to Get the Most out of Natural Oils

• Use cold-pressed or virgin oils.

• Don’t use oil when it has gone rancid (pay attention to the shelf life of the product).

• Use natural oils in modest amounts. A tablespoon should be enough to oil all the tips of your hair. Women who have longer hair might use two tablespoons. Too much oil will weigh down your hair.

• To preserve moisture on your hair, apply oil on your hair when it is still wet or damp. Don’t wait for it to dry completely.

• Nut oils like almond oil and coconut oil are not good for people who have nut allergies.

Have fun experimenting with mixing oils or adding them to your hair conditioner. Coconut oil makes an excellent conditioner when you mix it with honey and yogurt.

Experiment with different natural oils until you identify the one that works best for your hair. Your hair has its own unique needs.

The post What Is the Best Oil for Black Hair? Find Out Here! appeared first on Black Natural and Proud Sistas.

When you are looking for hair growth, length, protective styling, or an edgy look, African Threading will do it for you. No other style brings out the gravity-defying power of kinky hair quite the same way.

The origins

African threading is a cherished tradition among women in parts of Nigeria, Ghana, and the entire Sub Saharan Africa.

Generations of black women have used African Threading to style their hair and straighten it naturally. African Threading is as simple as parting hair into sections and using black thread to wrap each section from root to tip. All you need is a head of clean, moisturized hair, some thread, and a pair of scissors to cut the thread.

Benefits & Uses

African threading for hair growth and length retention

Threading is a low manipulation style, which means that it leads to minimum damage.

To protect your hair from any damage while using African Threading as a protective style, don’t wash it while it is threaded, don’t thread it too tight, don’t section your hair into really tiny sections, and don’t keep it on for too long. One or two weeks are enough.

Protective styling makes it easier for kinky hair to retain length as it grows. It keeps your hair well covered and free from anyone messing with it as it grows naturally. Hair is safely covered by the thread wrapped around it.

African threading for Styling

African Threading is best known as a way of stretching your hair. You can also use threading to style your hair. While your hair is threaded, you can style it into a simple up-do, create mini braids, chunky twists, or flat twists around your head.

Stretch your hair without heat

Use this as a safe way to stretch your natural hair after it has shrunk during washing. Threading does not damage hair like the blow dryer which uses heat. Threading may not straighten your hair as thoroughly as a blowout, but it does do a better job than plaits or twists. To stretch hair effectively, wrap each section of hair in thread from root to tip.

Thinner hair will require fewer sections and thicker hair will require more sections.

The longer you leave the thread on the better the results. If you are not able to style with threading you can always wear a headwrap until you are ready to remove the thread.

Don’t take it out until your hair is completely dry.

Some naturals will use a flat iron after taking down the threads just to have a smoother, straighter finish. This is perfect if you are planning to have a pressed look because it minimizes your heat exposure.

The post African Threading for Hair Growth, Benefits and Uses appeared first on Black Natural and Proud Sistas.