Monday 30 December 2013

Hair of the Day: Oversized Bun






Hey Guys, I hope you all had an amazing Christmas, I know I did. At present I'm 20 months post relaxer, whoop whoop. I bun my hair 24/7, normally a low bun. My only difficulty now is that the more my relaxer grows out, the harder it is to catch all my hair in a standard size hairband... especially without it pulling at my edges. I know a lot of naturals use pieces of cut tights/stockings for puffs so I decided to give it a go to create a bun. Much to my surprise it worked out nicely. To create this bun you will need a piece of cut tights, hair pins and eco styler gel... it is that easy. I simply pinned my relaxed ends under the bun so my hair appears to be completely natural. A friend of mine told me that you can create any hairstyle with hairpins, I think she may be right. I really think it is time I started experimenting more... how many times have I said that, aye? This is a great style for all hair, relaxed, transitioning and natural alike. I was extremely chuffed when my friend asked me if it was all my hair, for me it means my hair is growing :).

   What do you think?


Friday 13 December 2013

Product Haul

Hey Guys!!! The most exciting thing about being on a hair journey for me is experimenting with different products. I love trying new products! My mum just got back from the US and was able to bring me back a few; Aubrey Honeysuckle Rose Conditioner and Kinky-Curly Knot Today Natural Leave In/ Detangler. I'm two products closer to becoming a product junkie *embarrassed face*. It's not because I buy an excessive amount but more because my products take forever to finish.

Ps. I know I've been MIA recently, I have deadlines next week :(.




Aubrey Honeysuckle Rose Moisturizing Conditioner 11oz purchased from Whole Foods in New Jersey for $12-$14 (Mum can't remember the exact price). For my English readers, Aubrey can be found at AmazonAubrey UK website, and Curly Emporium to name a few for £10.49-£10.99. I looked for it in Whole Foods in Canterbury but it wasn't there. If possible I always try and get my products from the States because it's a lot cheaper!! Curly Emporium are currently having a Christmas sale with great savings on selected products, don't miss out!


Kinky-Curly Knot Today Natural Leave In/ Detangler 8oz purchased from Target for $11.99. For my English readers, Kinky-Curly can be found at CurlyEmporium for £12.95. Amazon also sell it for £17.99 but that price is extortionate, in my opinion.

Has anyone used the Aubrey or Kinky-Curly brand?

Friday 22 November 2013

D.I.Y: Greek Yogurt Deep Conditioner

I haven't done a protein treatment in a while... 2-3 months maybe. The other day I stumbled across some information that said fine hair needs protein. I have very fine hair in my nape which is susceptible to damage so I thought I'd give it a go. I loved the Hairveda Acai Berry Phyto Conditioner but as I said in a previous post it was out of stock from my regular stockist. A loved one is getting me the Aubrey GPB conditioner from the US (too expensive here) but until then I thought I'd try a D.I.Y protein conditioner. I can't say that I've had the best of luck with putting food in my hair but no harm in trying, right? This was relatively inexpensive and I plan to eat the rest of the greek yogurt with honey *licks lips*. I applied this to freshly washed hair, I'm sure it could also work as a prepoo but my hair was dirty or so I thought.

Ingredients 
Greek Yogurt- 7 tablespoons
Honey- 3 tablespoons
JBCO- 1 tablespoon
Peppermint Oil - 4 drops
Coconut Oil- 1 teaspoon (liquid)
Aloe vera gel - 1 teaspoon

You can play around with the quantities of the ingredients and substitute my oils for your favourites. Depending on your hair you may need more or less. I ran out of my first portion and had to make some more. I guess I have more hair than I thought.


Verdict
I love the fact that unlike the other D.I.Y conditioners I've made, this didn't leave any bits in my hair... definitely a bonus! The preparation time on this D.I.Y conditioner cannot be beaten, it takes minutes to make... providing you're not eating the yogurt in the process *guilty face*. It's easy to apply, great for detangling and smells divine. I left the conditioner in for about 1hr 30, I had french class to go to so I was in a rush, had the conditioner not been so visible I would have went with it on... out of laziness! I rinsed it out with cold water and cold water diluted with acv, I noticed it did take a little extra effort to rinse out. I loved the way my hair felt once I rinsed it out and the natural parts of my hair were so defined. Once it dried however my hair wasn't as soft, this can be down to a few things: a) I left the house with wet hair into the weather only fit for Santa Clause and his reindeers b) I used shampoo because I've been co-washing for the past 6 weeks c) It's a light protein treatment and I probably needed to do a moisture treatment to balance it out. Notice I refuse to blame my conditioner! On a whole my hair is shiny, more defined, stronger and after putting moisture back in my strands it feels great. Will I be using this again? Of course.

Have you used Greek yogurt in your hair before? Do you have a D.I.Y conditioner to recommend?


Tuesday 12 November 2013

Review: Bee Mine Hair Growth Serum (with sulphur)

Promises: Bee Mine do not explicitly specify any promises but as a growth serum we can infer the promise is increased growth.

Directions: Shake Well before each use. Apply a small amount to scalp. Massage thoroughly throughout the entire scalp. Repeat fall or every other day for best results. Apply a moisturiser after each use. With this product please perform a patch test prior to full use. 

Ingredients100% Organic Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Prunus amygdalus dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Vitis Vinifera (Grape Seed) Oil, Select Ayurvedic Herbs, Sulfur Powder, Essential Oils, Fragrance (Phthalates Free) & Vitamin E Tocopherol Oil.

Verdict: This time last year I bought 4 samples of Bee Mine products. This is the only one that I'm yet to review. The reason for this being that it has taken me a long time to make up my mind about this product. I'm certain that I like it but I don't know if I love it. The ingredients are great, the smell is greater! This would be a good time for me to mention that I bought the 'Kiwi and Mango Scent. My mum loves the smell of this, she'll happily apply this to my scalp for me. A little goes a really long way with this, which is great. I tend to use it when my hair is in plaits or twists because it's easier to apply.What I do love about this serum is that even though I only apply it on the scalp my roots end up really soft. I can't say that I've experienced amazing growth with this product but there were times when I noticed increased growth. I can definitely say that I notice increased growth and better hair quality with the use of supplements. I attempted to follow the directions and apply the serum daily or every other day but I found that was too much. The direction that I will emphasise is 'shake well', the sulphur tends to stubbornly sit at the bottom.  The price is fair, a little on the expensive side, I paid £4.50 for 2oz. Would I buy this again? Most probably but not any time soon. I may be more inclined to purchase the serum without sulphur because then I won't be restricted to only apply it to my scalp.

Have you tried any of Bee Mine's Growth Serums?

Thursday 7 November 2013

19 Months Post Relaxer

Today marks 19 months since I got my last relaxer *fist pumps*. My transition to natural will soon be drawing to an end. Where the time has gone? Who knows. I guess it's true what they say, time waits for no (wo)man. I still can't believe I'm 5 months short of 2 yrs post. Roll on the next 5 months... not too quickly though because I have a lot of University deadlines next term *gulps*. I know I change my mind all the time but I'm aiming on ending my transition in the next 5 - 7 months. In the mean time I'll continue to trim 1/2 inch every 8 weeks. My last trim was last week and plan to trim another 1/2 inch off my hair just before the start of the new year.

 I get a few questions on what products I use, these can be found in my regimen. I can only stress that although products are important, how you manage your hair is also important! I think the reason my transition has been so successful is because I keep manipulation to a minimum. I will also tell you that co-washing is your best friend, I wasn't too keen on it at the start of my journey but it has definitely grown on me... my new growth loves it! For ages I have wanted to purchase a silicone free conditioner and have finally got one, Tresemme Naturals..... I've used it once and I love it. A review will be coming soon. I can definitely say there has been a significant improvement since I cut down on my use of shampoo. Currently, I only shampoo once a month maximum, mainly to remove any product buildup. I have also noticed that my growth rate has increased since July. I went from growing on average 1/3 inch a month to more or less 1/2 an inch a month. For those wondering what vitamins I've been taking; I started out with Holland and Barrett's Skin, Hair and Nails, then Tesco's Hair Skin and Nails, and now I'm taking Biotin 1000mcg and a Multi-vitamin a day. I've also been taking the occasional Fish Oil for the Omega 3. As I improve my diet further, I imagine there would be less need for these supplements.

Oh yeah,  my Dad commented on my hair last weekend, he said that it's getting long. This is the same man that I tried to coerce into talking about my transition to natural and had little success. He noticed the difference in my hair, it actually made me smile inside, the little things in life ey?

Here are some picture I took today of my hair. You can definitely see my different textures. The top two are of the front and the bottom are of the back.


Wednesday 6 November 2013

Product Haul: 'The Body Shop'

The Body Shop had a 40% off sale last week and I just couldn't resist. The one thing I love most about The Body Shop is that they don't test on animals... I feel quite strongly about animal testing and other forms of animal cruelty. I guess this is the part where I tell you that despite being against animal cruelty I'm not a vegetarian, although I was for 14/15 yrs, contradiction or what? Don't judge me! So, what did I buy, I hear you ask. I bought a Detangling comb, Tea Tree Skin Clearing Lotion, Brazil Nut Butter and Tea Tree Face Mask. I also received a complimentary sample of their Rainforest Moisture Hair Butter. I've included all the photos underneath with the price I paid and the RRP. Do you have any favourites from The Body Shop?

Sale Price £2.40/ r.r.p £4.00

Sale Price £1.80/ r.r.p £3.00

Sale Price £6.00/ r.r.p £10.00

Friday 1 November 2013

Chunky Twists

Hey Guys, Pinch, Punch, first day of the month... no returns. Happy 1st November, winter is well and truly here. This week my scarf officially came out of hibernation... For all my readers who are not experiencing cold weather, I envy you! In order to protect my hair from the winter wrath, I'll be wearing my hair in twists... my new fav style. I twist my hair with the same products I M&S with, S Curl and Shea Moisture Transitioning Milk. These twists took me about 40mins or so to do. I scruffy parted with my finger to avoid the scalpy look. I plan on keeping these in for just over a week. I love how juicy my twists look and this style will only get better as my natural hair grows out more. I've been asked a few times how I manage to prevent my hair from unravelling, given that my ends are still straight... My answer is twist the hair tightly and use a butter or cream, it holds a lot better that way. I definitely recommend twists as a transitioning style especially for transitioners over a year post. You can change the style with accessories, pin your twists in different ways, whatever you feel like. I'm so happy that I've finally been able to use my flower clip, I never know where to put it.
What do you guys think of this style? How will you be protecting your hair this winter?

P.S. I've finally been reunited with my card reader, so I no longer have to use my phone camera. I have lots of great posts coming so stay posted :).




Saturday 19 October 2013

Reflections of a Long Term Transitioner

Hey Guys, I haven't been posting as much as I would like to, my apologies. I've just started my final year of University and I'm trying to get back into a rhythm. I'm currently a year and half post relaxer, still transitioning to natural. There are some things that I have noticed during 'my' journey, that I thought I'd share with you.

I took this photo on my way to French class. How beautiful
is the world? 
When will you chop off your relaxed ends?... the question that seems to preoccupy others. As much as I'd like to give friends/family/associates a definite answer, the answer is simply; 'when I'm ready'. Yes, I'm aiming for between 22months- 26 months post relaxer but, an aim is all it is. Nothing is written in stone. For anyone who is transitioning or on any other type of hair journey, remember that the journey is yours. The suggestions of other's are always welcomed but the final decision is essentially yours. Do what makes you happy!

Through this transition to natural I've had to work on my confidence levels. Going from hair that is 100% straight to hair that is 50% straight 50% natural creates some bad hair days. For a while I went through the stage of 'it's okay for my hair to look like this, I'm transitioning'. When in actual fact, transitioning is not an excuse to relax your appearance. Don't get me wrong I probably still looked decent to the outsider, but there were times when I left the house with a hairstyle I wasn't internally happy with. I now have a go to style that never fails me when another style does. I attempt to experiment a bit more to find what works for me. Instead of comparing my hybrid hair to straight hair, I accept it as it is. It's not going to lay down flat, it will take longer to moisturise and seal, the natural parts of my hair do need more moisture, and that's okay. It's all about adapting to change. I think this is the perfect time for me to slip in the fact that I can't wait to be completely natural :D.

I never realised as much as I do now that people judge you by your hair. To be honest, I think I'm guilty of this as well. I seem to be picking up a few eccentric men, if you catch my drift. I can only put it down to the fact that my hair appears natural. I am not growing out my hair because I'm part of a revolution, I'm not making a political statement, I just wanted to grow my hair naturally because I was no longer comfortable with and no longer saw the need for the use of chemicals.

Can anyone relate to this?


Friday 11 October 2013

20 Random Facts About Me


Hey Guys, I recently got tagged by Rebecca over at 'A Window of Thoughts' to do a 20 random facts about me tag. This is my first tag on my blog, I never got around to completing a previous one... I know, shame on me! *slaps wrist*. This is a great way for you to find out  more about me. Here goes.

1) I love to write things down. It's a must for me. I love to doodle, keep notes of random thoughts, write diary entries, to do lists, write down my feelings... whatever it may be.
2) I don't like to wear socks, it's just not my thing. I like my toes to be free.
3) I love to travel! I have a infinite list of countries that I wish to go to.
4) I'm flat footed.
5) I dislike being rushed, it's somewhat of a pet peeve.
6) I love good food, which in turn makes me quite the food critic.
7) I love nature... just call me David Attenborough.
8) I'm very observant. Nothing misses my eyes. I'm literally waiting for the day that MI5 beg me to join the team.
9) I find prolonged eye contact rather awkward.
10) I've always wanted to be invisible to see how people act when no one is around.
11) I'm scared of pigeons :(. I got pecked by a pigeon as a child and have never really recovered from the incident.
12) I think I'm hilarious.
13) I write poems. Most of which take me no longer than 5-10 minutes.
14) I'm generally quite a relaxed individual.
15) My favourite animals are elephants but my favourite animal is my cat!
16) When I'm at home I spend the majority of time in/on my bed. I love to be comfortable.
17) I love lipstick. This year, I've added 7 shades to the collection.
18) I appreciate my own company.
19) I'm a very deep thinker which sometimes crosses the line into over thinker.
20) I lived in Amsterdam for a year as part of my law degree.



I hope you enjoyed reading!
I tag:







Friday 4 October 2013

Review: Shea Moisture Extra-Moisture Transitioning Milk

Promises: An extra moisturizing styling cream for dry, damaged hair. Strengthens as it promotes healthy growth while transitioning chemically treated hair to natural. Smoothes and restores brilliant shine.

Directions: Apply as a no-rinse protective styling cream to damp hair. Use as needed

Ingredients: Deionized Water, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter)*, Cocos Nucifera (Cconut) Oil*, sugar Starch, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ Oil, Vegetable Glycerinem Essential Oil Blend, Algae Extract, Panthenol, Hyssopus Officinalis Extract, Salvia Officinalis(Sage) Leaf and Equisetum Arvense Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Seed Oil, Caprylyl glycol, Tocophesrol (Vitamin E)

Verdict: I love this stuff! It is definitely one of my favourite products of all times. This is the first Shea Moisture product that I have tried and I am definitely won over. Truth be told, it wasn't what I was expecting. I was expecting something that resembled more of a 'milk' and less of a 'lotion'. Once I got past the appearance, I quickly fell in love.  I use the transitioning milk to seal and have noticed that my hair has been holding moisture in for longer ever since. When I sealed with various oils I used to have to M&S twice a day now I can get away with sealing every other day. I can't fault the transitioning milk on anything. First off it smells beautiful, reminds me of natural yoghurt and honey. The consistency isn't too runny nor too thick. A little goes a hell of a long way, I reckon this bottle will last me the best part of a year. The ingredients are awesome and the price is affordable. This was purchased for me from Target for $9.99 (it was on offer), rrp $11.99 for 8oz. The price is great and the product is widely available... providing that you live in the US of course .. which I don't *cries*. Hopefully it will be retailing in the U.K soon. I would recommend this to naturals and transitioners. A word of advice for transitioners, focus on the new growth... too much on your relaxed ends will weigh them down. This is better than the Hairveda Whipped Ends Hydration that I loved so much. I guess it comes as no surprise that I will be awarding this a 5/5. 

Have you tried the transitioning milk or any other Shea Moisture product?

Check out my Review on the Shea Moisture Curl & Style Milk 

Saturday 28 September 2013

Two Strand Twists

On the spur of the moment I decided to two strand twist my hair. I had no idea how it would turn out but decided to give it a go anyway. Surprisingly it came out a lot better than I would have ever expected. Given that I'm still transitioning I didn't think that my relaxed ends would blend. My only thought now is why I didn't try it any sooner. In total it took me the best part of 3 hours to complete. I used my usual S Curl and Shea Moisture Transitioning Milk to moisture and seal before twisting and simply parted with my finger. I'm not sure how well they'll hold up but I'll keep them in for at least 1 1/2 weeks. What do you think?


Wednesday 25 September 2013

Unofficial Length Check

Hey Guys *waves*. Let me first apologise for my disappearance from blogging. I have been really busy as of late trying to prepare myself for my final year of university. I'm pretty much settled in now. Sadly, I've left my card reader at home... so that leaves my phone camera :(... bear with me.

I'm currently 17 1/2 months post relaxer. For those of you that read my 17 months post update, you'll know that I was having a transitioning dilemma. Anyone who has/is transitioning will know that dilemmas come with the territory. You just need to have the patience and determination to persevere. Since that little hiccup, I've fallen back in love with my transitioning hair, relaxed ends included. At present, my next goal is 20 months post relaxer... simply because it will be a mile stone. As time passes  by I definitely think I'm beginning to see the benefits of removing relaxers from my life. I've been able to retain a lot more length despite actively snipping off my relaxed ends.

Here are some pictures that I took today to see roughly how much my hair had grown. I guess this is an unofficial length check.



Thursday 12 September 2013

17 months post Relaxer

Hey Guys :D. I normally do my transition updates bi-monthly but decided to make an exception. I'm now just a few days past 17 months post relaxer... Yup, I'm still transitioning. Where did the time go? Well, to be honest, as fast as time appears to be flying by... I feel as if I've been transitioning forever. On the plus side, once you find what works for your hair, the journey gets easier. My two favourite products at present are S Curl and Shea Moisture Transitioning Milk!!! I could rave about these two all day, used together these products make my hair feel the BOMB.com. I will be reviewing the Transitioning Milk later this month, stay tuned! Having the right products made me decide to extend my transition to 24 months from 22 months. It all sounds like a bunch of roses, right? Well, yesterday, I nearly reached breaking point!! My hair just did not want to cooperate with me when it came to styling. I glanced at my hair, then at my scissors and then back at my hair. I didn't want to make any rash decisions so I decided to sleep on it. I woke up today feeling recharged and ready to continue. I think I've reached the stage where my two textures decide they want to fight each other... It's like Jet Li vs Jackie Chan up in there! It's definitely time to give myself a break and flat twist or plait my hair. I've only got 5-7 months left of my transition now so I might as well hang in there.

 I pushed my hair relaxed ends back to get an idea of what I'd look like if I chopped... please excuse my face *cringes*. My finger shows where my natural hair reaches at the front. Not bad for 17 months worth of growth, Eyy? My natural hair is growing in quite thick... Imagine, all this time I thought my hair was thin :S.




Wednesday 11 September 2013

Product Review: Hairveda Acai Berry Phyto Conditioner

Not my photo.. forgot to take one whoops
Promise: Acai Berry is packed with vegetal phyto keratins that help restore the hairs strength and volume. Acai Berry is light with and perfect for your summer tresses. We've added Omega Fatty Acids and Antioxidants for added benefit to your scalp. 
Acai Berry Phyto is made for hair that needs a daily lightweight, glycerin free option. It helps control the frizzies while keeping your hair moist and supple. Acai Berry Phyto can also be used as a leave in conditioner.

Ingredients: Ingredients include: Aqua (water), Glycine Soja Oil, Phyto Keratin (Vegetable) Protein, Acai Berry Extract, Avocado oil, Olive Oil, Cetry Alcohol, Steryl Alcohol, Stearalkonium Chloride, Dimethyl Stearamine, Lactic Acid, Germall, Fragrance (shelf Life 6-9 months)

Verdict: I love this conditioner. I initially was reluctant to purchase a protein conditioner because they haven't worked too well for me in the past. Products containing protein are generally a big no no for my hair. Let me tell you, this conditioner is dope. It didn't leave my hair crispy like most protein conditioners. Surprisingly it left my tresses soft and supple, which is not what you normally expect from a protein conditioner, right? It smells divine, the texture is light and fluffy, and a little goes a long way. I've used this as a deep conditioner, moisturiser and a leave-in. The ingredients are great, what more could you ask for, right? Well, if I'm honest, a longer shelf life would be great. The shelf-life is 6-9 months which is great if my product was coming direct but it's not. I get mine through a british supplier  and I lose time off the already short shelf life. I guess shelf life is a sacrifice which comes with natural products. The price isn't too bad, the sample size is £1.75 and the full size is £9.95 for 16oz on Curly Emporium. I wanted to purchase the full size but it's been out of stock for a while, *fingers crossed* it comes back soon. In the mean time I'll probably have to find an alternative. All and all this is a great light protein and I would recommend it. Will I be purchasing again? Yes! Taking the shelf life and price into consideration, I give this product a 4/5.

Wednesday 4 September 2013

My Henna Experience


A few Benefits of Henna:
Naturally colours the hair without chemicals
Henna deposits pigments on the hair giving the appearance of thicker strands
Shinier/ Glossier Hair
Strengthens the strands as it acts similarly to a protein treatment

Wednesday 28 August 2013

Review: Herbal Essences Totally Twisted

Promises: my curly conditioner will lead you to the definition of lush, shiny curls. Just quench your curls and waves with my curly conditioner with high intensity hydration. My replenishing formula, with a fusion of wild cherry twist and jewel orchid extracts, balances vital moisture, lays frizz down for sleek spirals and keeps them bouncing freely. Now that's a definition of a good curl

Directions: Massage in creamy formula. (if you've noticed Herbal Essences aren't too hot on directions)

Ingredients: Water/EAU, Stearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Zea Mays (Corn) Silk Extract, Prunus Serotina (Wild Cherry) Fruit Extract, Orchid Extract, Cetyl Alcohol, Bis-Aminoprophyl Dimethicone, Fragrance/Parfum, Benzyl Alcohol, Dicetyl Dimonium Chloride, Disodium EDTA, Methylisothazolinone, Red 33, Blue 1.

Verdict: I love this conditioner. I bought this mainly with the intention of it defining my hair after washing, I get a lot of frizz. Has it defined my hair more? If I'm honest, I haven't noticed a significant difference. This could be because I'm still transitioning but who knows. Moisture wise this conditioner is dope! My hair always feels moisturised after using this. This conditioner made me a fan of co-washing. It smells sweet and I love the lilac colour, although my subconscious reminds me that both are artificial. It also works great as a moisturiser mixed with rose water and a drop of peppermint oil. The only downside of this product is the fact that it has cones in it. The presence of cones initially made me reluctant to purchase as a staple... However, upon re-evaluation, I thought to myself; if my hair isn't complaining, then why am I? I'm not actually 100% sure of the price as it was bought for me, I think it was $4.99 from Target for the 700 ml bottle. For my british readers, I'm yet to see this sold in England, if you have let me know. Overall, I give HE Totally Twisted a 4/5.

What are your thoughts on this conditioner?

Friday 23 August 2013

Summer Twists

Hey Guys :). Whilst I was in Jamaica I decided to flat twist the front half of my hair. It initially started as me playing about with my hair but I liked the way it looked. I am definitely starting to prefer twists over plaits. They're quicker to do, easier to moisturise and, I find that they pull at my hairline less. I'm currently considering flat twists as my main style until I chop off my relaxed ends... I always say something along these lines only to revert back to daily bunning loool. Now that I'm finding styling easier, I've been considering putting back the date when I chop my relaxed ends off.... We'll see how it goes.
ps: If you haven't done so already, check out my post on my holiday in Jamaica.

Wednesday 21 August 2013

Jamaica Jamaica


7 Mile Beach in Negril 
I have recently returned from the beautiful island of Jamaica. If you've never been, I recommend you plan a trip. This was definitely one of the best holidays of my life, up there with my holiday to Barbados for Crop Over in 2011. I spent the majority of my holiday in Montego Bay, but also spent a weekend with family in Kingston and a day in Negril. My holiday to Jamaica had me seriously consider relocation. I'm not sure whether it was the fact that I have family and friends there that made it feel like home or my appreciation for nature which made me want to leave the tall buildings that surround me in London behind. I guess the grass is always greener on the other side. Since returning back to London, I've missed Jamaica :(. The fresh food, the beaches, the swimming pool, the relaxed lifestyle, family and friends. Not to worry, I plan to go back next year. At least whilst I'm slaving away in the library when I return to university, I'll have something to look forward to. Whilst I was there, I couldn't resist purchasing some stuff for my hair. I bought hair scissors for less than £1 in downtown Montego Bay, which are better than my previous pair which I paid £8 for. My second purchase was Black Castor Oil. I bought 500 JMD (apprx £3.50) worth which got me around 100ml, from a lovely old lady. Here are pictures of my purchases and some pictures from my trip. I hope you enjoy!!!

Saturday 17 August 2013

16 months post relaxer

Hey Guys, I'm back!! I have a lot to share with you. First let me say that it's been just over 16 months since my last relaxer. My hair is certainly happier than it was previously in my transition. Dry hair is definitely a thing of the past. My new goal is to work on the back of my hair. The hair at the back of my head is fine and therefore prone to splits. I guess I'll have to baby that area. As a whole, I still have no regrets about transitioning and am 'patiently' awaiting the days when I will be fully natural. A lot of people assume I am natural, from looking at the picture on the left, I can see why. Fake it til you make it, right? lol. There are a few things that I've noticed since I've progressed further in my transition.... 1) People think I'm younger!!! In Jamaica, two people thought I was 16 :S... I'm 21!! There's no harm in looking younger but 5 years younger is pushing it... I feel like Benjamin Button.   2) Men pay a lot of attention to women's hair. I never noticed this before. I've received quite a few comments from men in regards to my hair. Any naturals of transitioners experiencing/experienced this?

Friday 2 August 2013

2 Month Comparison Picture

Here's a two month comparison picture of my hair. The left is 13months post and the right is 15months post. I tried to get the pictures around the same size so you could see the difference more clearly. I can see an improvement. What do you guys think? My hair is slowly reaching a length that I will be comfortable with when I cut. Just over 6 months left now :).

ps. I'm going to Jamaica for 2 weeks tomorrow so I'll be posting a little less than usual. 

Friday 26 July 2013

S Curl: New Formula


The new formula of S Curl has officially reached my local hair and beauty store. 


Old Ingredients: 
Water, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Propylene Glycol, Acetamide MEA, Ceteth-20, Olealkonium Chloride, Stearalkonium Chloride, Panthenol (Provitamin B5), Simethicone, Imidazolidinyl Urea, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Fragrance.

New Ingredients:
Deionized Water, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Propylene Glycol, Argan Oil, Olive Oil, Acetamide MEA, Ceteth-20, Oleakonium Chloride, Stearalkonium Chloride, Panthenol, Simethicone, DMDM Hydantoin, Disodium EDTA, Fragrance, Benzyl Benzoate, Linalool, Benzyl Salicylate, Limonene, Coumarin, Alpha-Isomethyl lonone.



In short, they've removed the parabens and added oils and more silicones. S Curl is one of those products that I accept doesn't have the best ingredients, purely because it works so well for my hair. Believe me when I say, S Curl has been my saving grace throughout my transition. Luckily for me, my hair hasn't noticed a significant different .. hurrah hurrah!!! Although, I have noticed that my relaxed ends are weighed down more so than before, I guess I can attribute this to the oils. If there's one thing I don't like, it's the new fragrance!! I just don't appreciate the smell. It smells like cheap perfume and to make it worse, it lingers. When I next go to the store, I'm going to check if they have the old ingredients in the next size up. Fingers crossed. Have you tried the new formula?What are your thoughts on the new fragrance?

Tuesday 23 July 2013

Skin, Hair and Nails Supplement

On Sunday, I purchased the 'Skin Hair Nails' supplement from my local health store, Holland and Barrett. I have looked into them before after a friend recommended them to me but for a whooping £9.99, I was reluctant. Luckily for me they were having a sale and I purchased them for £4.99, half price yo! The directions say to take 3 a day however I'm sticking to 2, one with breakfast and one with dinner. I started taking them yesterday and will consistently take them until they finish... truth be told I'm rubbish with taking stuff but i'll try. As soon as I finish the course, I'll review them. Rumour has it that these vitamins encourage hair growth all over the body :/... let's pray a rumour is all it is!

Thursday 18 July 2013

Slow Hair Growth

Yesterday, I measured for the first time, how much new growth I have. On average I have around 4 1/2 - 5 1/2 inches or thereabouts. Yes, you guessed it, my hair grows fairly slow. The average growth for hair is 1/2 inch a month... I calculated that mine grows approximately 1/3 an inch a month. Am I going to search the internet for a magic growth potion? No, I'm going to set my goals based on my average. In life I've learnt that comparing yourself to others can belittle your own achievements, be proud of what you've achieved! I'm proud to have reached 15 months post relaxer and have another 7 months left of my planned transition. My main goal is to have healthy hair, once I've achieved this, length will follow. Below is a picture of my hair with conditioner in it, I love being able to see my progress :). Do you document your journey with photos?

Monday 15 July 2013

Homemade Avocado Treatment

I'm off from university for a few months so I have a lot of free time to experiment. Today I whipped together a deep conditioner using a ripe avocado from Sunday's dinner and some other household ingredients.

Ingredients
1/2 Ripe Avocado
4 table spoons of Coconut Cream
2 tablespoons EVOO
2 tablespoons of honey
1 drop of Peppermint Oil
1 tablespoon of JCBO
Warm Water

Instructions
Mix the avocado, coconut cream, olive oil and water until you get a paste. Mix with a hand blender until smooth. Add oils, stir and you're good to go.

Verdict: This is the second time that I've made a treatment at home... the first time, I had bits of banana stuck in my hair. This attempt was definitely more successful. I'll definitely be whipping this up again!!!! It gave great slip, good moisture and excellent shine. On the next attempt, I think I may add less oil, my hair was a little oily when it dried.

Do you have any homemade recipes?

Saturday 13 July 2013

The Science of Black Hair

Hey Guys.. I'm so excited!!!! I just ordered myself a copy of 'The Science of Black Hair'... can I get a 'Wit Woooo'. I've been eyeballing this book for a while but the price was just too much for my student budget. Luckily for me, I recieved a £25 book token for my birthday and used it to buy the paperback copy for £15.95. It's going to take about 10-14 days to come so let the countdown begin. I'll review the book once I get a chance to read it!! If you have the book let me know what you think :)

Wednesday 10 July 2013

Silk Scarves


Hey Guys, guess what? I got a bargain!!!!! At Albert Cuypmarkt in Amsterdam I found a man selling 100% silk scarves for €1 each. Is that a deal or is that a deal? I was so overwhelmed by the price that I bought three. This came at such good time because I lost my 'what-I-believed-to-be satin' scarf whilst I was abroad. The guy who sold it to me told me they were imported from Italy... He could have been lying but they were €1, who cares? I guess i'll be wrapping my hair in style tonight... Oh yeah!!! Which pattern is your favourite?


Sunday 7 July 2013

Simple Transitioning Style


Hey Guys, I've now finished my academic year, yippee. I have more time to blog and I no longer have an excuse for not experimenting with my hair. This summer I'm going to attempt to change my hairstyle every few days. The past two days I've opted for two buns. This is an easy style for transitioners with all lengths of hair and an excellent style for those having difficulty putting their hair into one. What do you think? I'm contemplating making this my go to style.

 How will you be wearing your hair this summer?

Thursday 4 July 2013

Review: Hairveda Sitrinillah Deep Conditioner

Promise: SitriNillah is perfect for conditioning and softening your hair after protein treatment. Our ingredients are perfectly infused to bring the life back to your hair. Nourishing Orange oil penetrates deep down to treat lifeless and brittle hair.

Directions: None Provided

Ingredients: Water, Coconut Oil, Castor Oil, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Steryl Alcohol, Stearalkonium Chloride, Dimethyl Steramine, Orange Oil, Orange Extract, Vanilla Extract, Lactic Acid, Phthalate Free Fragrance, Paraben Free Perservative

Verdict: I bought this sample size a few months ago and I have no regrets. I went to Abu Dhabi for the day on the way back from my holiday and the weather had my hair feeling like the desert, seriously. I washed my hair like usual and deep conditioned with this, let me just say WOW!!! Hairveda's SitriNillah Deep Conditioner definitely brought the life back to my hair. This is the best deep conditioner I've used. The ingredients are great, the consistency is creamy and the smell is orangey but not in a overpowering way. The sample size cost me £1.75 for 1oz from curlyemporium.com. The next size up is the 16oz for £14.95 *side eye*. The price is the downside for me, a whole £15 for a product that has a shelf life of 6-9 months, not including the £4.95 I have to pay for P&P. I'm not sure I can get in the habit of buying this as a staple but I will definitely buy this a treat every now and again. I will award this a 4/5 stars.

Saturday 29 June 2013

A Journey to Bangkok

If there's one thing I enjoy, it's travelling. Studying abroad in Amsterdam for a year has given me the opportunity to travel. In this academic year alone, I've been to Belgium, France, Switzerland, Thailand, Malaysia and I'll be going to Abu Dhabi in a few days time for a 21 hour stopover. So if you haven't guessed it already, this post is on my experience in Bangkok! 

On first impression, on my taxi ride to Samsen Road (the road of which we stayed) from the airport, Thailand was not what I expected. From the photos of others, and on the internet, I was expecting something that looked a little less western. A little less western, is exactly what I got, when we arrived at Samsen Road. A bit taken aback by my surroundings, I yearned to see what more Thailand had to offer.

Samsen Road

Transport around the city was amazing, I loved the concept of the 'tuk tuk' (picture below). If you go to Thailand this is definitely something you don't want to miss!!! You have to haggle to get a fair price because they will bump you. The only downside of the 'tuk tuk' was the the drivers constant need to take us 'shopping' as they like to call it, in order for them to get free petrol coupons. The first time it was okay, but walking around expensive jewellery shops and sitting with tailors gets a little tired, especially when you have no intention of buying anything. We had a driver ditch us in the middle of nowhere because we refused to do more shopping, in hindsight we'll look back and laugh but at the time it was far from funny! Another downside of the tuk tuk was the air pollution... I found myself struggling to breathe at times. I guess that was two downsides but hey. We also travelled by regular taxi and by the sky train when we went to Sukhumvit. The sky train was very modern, arguably better than most equivalents in Europe!

tuk tuk

Activity wise, bangkok doesn't have an excessive amount to offer but don't let this hold you back, there are many excursions from the city. Near our hotel we visited the temples, went to the markets, went to a club and so on. Not selling it to you? Sorry, that's how I felt. As interesting as temples are, you can literally see them all in one day. After realising there wasn't much to do we branched out. We spent a day at the floating market, and elephant trekking. Elephant trekking? as great as it sounds, it really opened my eyes to animal abuse.... please when you go to Thailand do not do it. The poor animals are tortured to cooperate, the employees are not discrete about their methods either, each were equipped with a sword or axe to 'control' the elephant if they 'misbehaved' on the trek. Honestly, I felt awful afterwards. *clears throat* On a brighter note, we travelled to Sukhumvit on two nights, definitely a highlight of the trip. It was more built up, the shopping mall and amazing shops where the clothes were handmade. The clubs and bars were awesome! In 'XYZ bar' we got 2 free drink tokens on entrance and a man who I assume to be the manager told me I could have 6 more drinks for my friends and I, if I continue to dance and tell my friends to dance as well. Lets just say by the end of the night we were given 2 free shots, and 5 tokens for cocktails all for free... even without drinking it all I was still busted the next day... drink responsibly guys lol! 'Levels' nightclub in Sukhumvit Soi 11, was also a great night out, Did I mention it was on the rooftop? I wish I had pictures to show you but they wouldn't let me bring my camera in -_______-.

me in Sukhumvit
an outside bar
floating market 
sad baby elephant tied up :(
temple (don't remember the name..oops)
At this point some of you are probably wondering, where the section on food is right? Of course I wasn't going to leave this out. Thailand has a lot of street food, you can get anything from noodles to Scorpions. Personally, I steered away from the streetfood because I have a sensitive stomach and the hygiene just wasn't up to scratch... my friends on the other hand loved what they tried. Thai food in Thailand does not taste like thai food in the U.K, if it wasn't for the food being so cheap and me having the ability to stuff my face, I would have been disappointed. If you're a non-egg-eater like myself, be prepared to ask if the food has egg, they literally put egg in everything! My favourite restaurant that we tried was 'Soul Food Mahanakorn' in Sukhumvit... despite the misleading title it serves mouth watering Thai food... should I add that the restaurant is owned by an American? 

Scorpions
Green Curry in China Town
garlic prawns, noodles and chicken wings from a restaurant on Khaoson road which was just Blah!!!
Rice and Ribs from 'Soul Food' 
'Chicken curry from 'Soul Food' 
chicken wings from 'Soul Food'
All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed my 8/9 days in Thailand. Although, I'm not booking my next visit, I loved the experience. If there's one thing I want add, we attracted A LOT of attention being 3 black females in Thailand... it was a little ridiculous, people were whipping out their cameras to photograph us... Not cool!!! 

ps. Stay tuned for my post on Malaysia ;).






Sunday 23 June 2013

Quick Hairstyle Update

Hey Guys, I'm currently in Malaysia and wanted to update you on how I'm currently wearing my hair. I've seen many wear this style and decided to give it a go. Considering my transitioning hair doesn't willingly cooperate, I think it turned out pretty well.... do you agree? I still need to work on the back but I'm still pleased.




ps. I haven't forgotten my promise to share with you how my holiday is going, this will come shortly. Also Blogger won't allow me to reply to your comments at the moment, as soon as I get that fixed I'll reply to them all!

Tuesday 18 June 2013

Review: Creme of Nature Argan Oil Moisture & Shine Shampoo



Promise: This Sulfate-Free Moisture & Shine Shampoo is a sulphate free formula that hydrates hair and adds exotic shine, while gently cleansing without harsh moisture stripping agents. It strengthens hair while optimizing the moisture balance of the hair and scalp.

DirectionsApply a generous amount to wet hair and massage into lather. Rinse thoroughly and repeat. Follow with Creme of Nature with Argan Oil Intensive Conditioning Treatment.

Ingredients: Aqua, Trideceth-7, Carboxylic Acid, Decyl Glucoside, Glycol Stearate, Polyquarternium-10, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Quaternium-15, Perfum (Fragrance), Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, CI 14700(Red4), CI19140(Yellow 5).


Verdict: This is the best shampoo I've tried to date. It leaves my hair feeling clean without the stripped feeling. I love the way this shampoo detangles my hair, it is amazing... Seriously! The shampoo is yellow/orange in colour with a slight shimmer and somewhat creamy in texture.  All these benefits for £2.99... can you believe it? I would definitely recommend this to others. I was so excited about this when I tried it, that I insisted my friend use it... with one wash she was won over and now owns a bottle. The only bad thing I have to say about this shampoo is that the ingredients could be better. Taking this all into consideration, I award the Creme of Nature Argan Oil Moisture & Shine Shampoo 4/5.

Thursday 13 June 2013

Holiday Hair

Hey Guys, I hope you're all well. Guess what? I'm going on holiday... Yippee. I'll be setting off today to go to Thailand and Malaysia for 18 days... if we're lucky possibly one day in Abu Dhabi also. For a while now I had been contemplating what to do with my hair for my holiday. I didn't want to be confined to one style but at the same time I didn't want to style my hair daily. With one of my friends sporting chunky senegalese twist and the other kinky twists, I had to up my game!
I went for the wild card and done my first ever flat twist style... not bad for a first attempt aye?  It took me just over an hour, on freshly washed hair, and I'm loving it! I'll keep these in for about 5-7 days then switch it up. Do you have any suggestions on what style I could do next?

ps. I promise to keep you updated on my travels :)

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