10 Ways to Use Coconut Oil

Coconut Oil is one of my favourite oils. Not only does it smell heavenly, last forever but it is also multipurpose. Below, I've listed 10 of my favourite uses for coconut oil. 

1. Prepoo 

Applying coconut oil to the hair prior to washing helps protect your strands against hygral fatigue. Hygral fatigue is damage caused to the hair by the frequent swelling and contraction of the strands through the absorption and release of water during washing. 

2. Makeup Remover 

Apply coconut oil to cotton wool and use it to gently remove your makeup, especially stubborn eye makeup.

3. Body Scrub 

 Mix coconut oil and sugar to make your own body scrub.

4. Oil Rinsing

 Check my post here to find out more about oil rinsing.

5. Face Mask

Mix coconut oil with honey to create a moisturising face mask.

6. Facial Moisturiser

 Coconut oil works as a gentle moisturiser for those with sensitive skin.

7. Soften Dry Elbows

 Massage coconut oil into elbows whilst damp.

8. Soothe Burns 

 Coconut oil can be used to soothe sun burn, to burns caused by the iron or even the flat iron.

9. Oil Cleansing Method

 1) Mix Coconut with Olive oil and/or Castor oil, massage into your face. 2) Apply a clean warm towel and allow the steam from the towel to open your pores. 3) Once the towel cools down, remove it without scrubbing. 4) If necessary repeat process. 

10. Bath Oil

Melt coconut oil and apply to bath water for smoother, softer skin. 

5 Reasons You Are NOT Reaping the Benefits of Protective Styling

Hey beautiful people, I hope you're all doing well. It is now now getting colder and many of you, like myself, will be tucking your hair away to protect it from the drying weather. Protective styles include weaves, wigs, extensions, two strand twists, canerows/cornrows, mini braids and the list could go on. Protective styling can be used for length retention, time saving, versatility and personal choice. Below I have put together 5 reasons why you may not be reaping the benefits of protective styling.

Love this picture of Beyonce!!

1) Incorrect Installation

Hair that is too tight can pull the hair straight out the follicle, especially along the hairline. Over a period of time this can lead to traction alopecia. Incorrect installation also includes frying your hair with a blowdryer before styling, I've heard one too many stories of how an impatient stylist ripped through people's hair with a high heat blowdryer and little heat protectant. There is a wealth of information on the YouTube, if you do not want to fall victim to a impatient stylist, learn to do your hair yourself. 

2) Not Taking Care of your Hair 

When protective styling it is very important that your still care for your hair. Moisturising your hair is a must, especially when using synthetic hair as it draws the moisture out of your hair more than human hair. Failing to moisturise your hair will result in dry brittle hair upon take down, dry hair equals breakage and breakage leads to lack of length retention. Cleansing the scalp is also important, a clean scalp creates optimal conditions for hair growth. For those who do not wish to wash their hair whilst sporting a protective style, there is an easier way. By applying witch hazel to a cotton bud you can effectively cleanse your scalp. 

3) Being Over Protective a.k.a Keeping the style in for too long

Hair kept in braids, weaves etc. for too long can cause more harm than good. As your hair grows more, added stress is put on your hair follicles from the added weight. For protective styles done solely with your own hair such as mini twists, keeping the style in for too long can lead to matting. 

4) Incorrect Removal of Style

Patience is key when taking down a protective style especially when using scissors. You do not want to cut your own hair in the process of cutting thread or added hair in a bid to save time. You also need to avoid ripping through your hair when you stumble upon a tangle. Once you have removed your style you need to spend time thoroughly dentangling your hair, you will have an ample amount of shed hair that needs to be removed. 

5) Your Braids/ Twists are Too Small or Too Heavy

 Poor choice of style can be detrimental for the health of your hair. Braids/Twists that are too small can also be detrimental. Attempting to undo these little braids/twists with your not so little hands can cause substantial damage to your ends especially when you start running low on patience. Hair that is too heavy puts added stress on the hair follicle and can potentially rip your hair out. 

What would you add to the list? 

Twist & Curl Frohawk

Products Used

Aphogee Style and Wrap Mousse

Kera Care Natural Textures Butter Cream

Directions 

Step 1 

a) Apply product to freshly washed hair. 

b)Two strand twist hair and wrap around perm rod ensuring the ends are lying flat

c)Leave to dry 

Step 2

Remove rollers 

Step 3

Apply oil to hands and gently unravel twists

Step 4

Pin sides of hair up to create a frohawk

What do you think? Have you tried this style before?

Review: Kera Care Natural Textures Butter Cream

Promises

Everyday Moisturizer. A moisture locking soufflé that not only hydrates curls and coils, but also employs  Lanolin plus Argan, Abyssinian and Castor natural oils to achieve proper natural oil and moisture (lipophilic) balance. Hair becomes amazingly smooth and the Amla & Shikakai Botanicals enhance the shine of the hair. Promotes healthy hair growth.

Directions 
1. Apply sparsely or generously based on the hair’s need for moisture, manageability and vitality.
2. Rub between palms and scrunch onto hair gently so that curls & coils are not disturbed.
3. Also may be used to set soft lustrous twists and twist-outs.
4. May be used daily.


Ingredients
Aqua/Water/EAU, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Theobromo Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Emulsifying Wax NF, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Glycerin, Lanolin, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Cera Alba/Beeswax/Cire D’abeille, Phyllanthus Emblica (Amla) Extract, Acacia Concinna )Shikakai) Fruit Extract, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Hydrolysed Wheat Protein, Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ Oil, Betaine,Carbomer, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Linoleate, Triethanolamine, Potassium Sorbate, Diazolidinyl Urea, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Fragrance/Parfum, Citronellol, Benzyl Benzoate, Limonene, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Linalool, Alpha Isomethyl Ionone.
(silicone free, sulfate free, paraben free)

Curlfriend: Anna

Hey lovely people, allow me to introduce you to my beautiful Curlfriend Anna. 

Have you always been natural?

No, I haven't always been natural. When I was 11 years old I got my first relaxer but it went totally wrong. My aunty at the time who claimed to have done hairdressing before, probably in a previous life, forgot to add the activator the liquid thing and only used the white creamy substance. So that was a fail. So I grew it out and permed it again when I was 16. Then at the age of 21 I decided to transition to natural hair. Then a couple of months ago. I randomly just decided to cut all my permed ends. I didn't even note it down it was that random. I wish I did now.

What were your main reasons for deciding to transition back to natural?

One of the main reason was that it felt as though my hair was no longer reacting well to perm- it was
constantly breaking, some parts of my hair would perm and some wouldn't and I just didn't like the browny colour my hair was becoming, the more I permed my hair. Plus I kept on seeing more and more people going natural and I just loved it so I thought I might as well jump on the bandwagon.

Do you have a regimen?

Erm I'm still learning about what my hair likes but I think recently I'm finding a regimen that's kinda working for me. I prepoo my hair with TRESemmé naturals conditioner. I leave that on for half an hour wash it out. Then shampoo with elasta qps conditioning shampoo and condition with TRESemmé naturals shampoo with avocado oil and elasta qps olive oil and mango butter. Leave it in for 2 hours which I actually think is too long but yeah. Wash it out then use a curling custard and some oils to style.

What are your favourite products?

My fave product has to be TRESemmé natural conditioner. It is the bomb.com. Nuff said lol. Also lavender oil and At One botanical root revitaliser is great from dry scalp and it smells awesome.

What are your hair goals?

My hair goal is to just have healthy hair and hopefully if it's healthy it will grow to a decent length. Don't really have any length goals to be honest. Actually I can't wait for the day I can put my hair in a decent sized bun. That's been my dream since my permed days lol.

What are do's and don't for your hair?

I have to moisturise my hair every night. If I don't the following day I'm screwed.

Don't put too much product as it can leave horrible white residual that look like dandruff.  

3 days after washing my hair I get really lazy with my hair and don't really detangle or brush my hair so just being consistent with my hair is a must.

Have you got any tips for newly naturals?
My tips would be:

1) not to rush out and buy every product you see in the hair shop. Learning what your hair likes may take some time but you will eventually get there.

2) if you have problems with your hair such as dry scalp or breakage in certain areas buy products to sort these out, don't ignore these just because your hair is still growing.

3) for a long time I did protective styles such as braids because I couldn't be bothered to deal with my hair issues such as dry scalp so my hair has grown but it isn't the healthiest so don't use protective styling to shy away from your hair issues.

4) This is a big one- don't protective style without looking after your hair underneath. I'm still working on this

Join me in wishing Anna all the best on her natural hair journey and be sure to visit her blog whatannabought.blogspot.co.uk