We are pleased to share this brilliant discussion we had with Alexandrine and hope you will enjoy it as much as we did. Let's jump right in:
My name is Alexandrine Mugisha. I’m an IT Business Analyst for one of the world’s largest clinical research organizations (CROs). I’m also a former journalist and Public Relations Specialist. I’m a Rwandan mom and wife who lives in the USA. In my free time, I enjoy photography, blogging about Rwandan culture in the diaspora, traveling, hiking with my family, and interior design. I’m also a naturalista and a women’s empowerment advocate.
IC: We love that!
IC:Thanks for the tip!
Gentle shampoo: Only apply it to your scalp, don't scratch your scalp with nails, this will help to clean and refresh your scalp.
Tangle melt conditioner: Use it as a deep conditioning, apply it generously along the length of each strand starting from the root to the tip. Once the conditioner has been applied, let it sit and do its magic for a few minutes
Hair lotion: Apply it from root to tip and as often as needed to keep curls fresh and protected. If the hair is dry, spray a little bit of water then follow with a little bit of lotion for hair that looks and feels fresh
Curl cream: Spray water to each section or work on wet hair, carefully apply a small amount of it to each small section, roller it before applying to your hair. so be sure to apply just enough cream to let it get absorbed by your hair.,
Hair balm: Apply the balm along the length of each strand starting from root to tip and roller it to avoid frizz. This product is great to use both on wash day or any day and does not contain any water
Natural styling Gel: Separate hair into several small sections, carefully apply the gel from root to tip, use your fingers to ensure the strand has been covered from root to tip and let your curls dry. To reduce frizz, avoid manipulating your hair during the drying process. This gel will also help to do the different styles you want.
Have questions? Talk to us on whatsapp: +250791515994 or DM @irabacosmetics, happy to chat anytime!
]]>I am Burundian by nationality, I come from a family of 6, I am the second one, On the career side, I did my secondary studies in management & computer science and I continued my university studies in Software Engineering.
Yes I do of course. I like to write, in the morning I wake up and I say a little prayer for such a good awakening, I perform my daily tasks and then I start writing or I look for new articles for my blog on WordPress and besides you can make a little visit if you find a little time thank you.
In 5 years, I see myself as an independent woman who pursues her career and supports her own needs and those of her family, and who encourages other women to work hard to fulfill their dreams. In the end, if God allows me, I would like to have my own orphanage so that I can welcome all people in need and cover them with love.
I spend my energy on social media, first because I work online, and then I like the news, being aware of everything that is happening around the world.
Thank you for the compliment. Well, I started when I would comb my hair carefully and put oil on and finally I decide which hairstyle I want for the day, I like to take care of my hair; I just love my hair.
They prefer natural hair even if sometimes we don’t find enough ingredients but they prefer it, essential oils, shampoos Cantu, and shea butter are found
Put a smile on the faces of the people around me and share with others everything that inspires me through the scriptures
Thanks so much for sharing a bit about your story with us, besides the blog, where can people find you?
People can find me through social media platforms. My IG Account as @always_infinity44, and my e-mail:larinrena757@gmail.com
Thanks so much for your time!
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Could you tell us more about yourself?
Hi, thank you for having me. I'm Moyinoluwa Oripeloye. I always say I'm essentially a writer because that's the one thing I knew I would do as a child. Telling stories for people who can't and sharing experiences is at the core of my existence. So I fused my passion for storytelling and writing into brand management and creating visual content around natural hair. I also have my hair care line where I oversee the creation of products that restore healthy hair in the simplest ways possible.
How did you decide to start speaking actively about natural hair?
I had relaxed hair all my life till I returned natural. So it was an exciting time of my life when I cut my hair and I wanted to share my process; the wins, losses and everything I had learned. I also have very thick strands so a lot of people thought it would be difficult to maintain my hair natural. When I saw it was not as hard, I wanted to change that narrative and I am proud of how far that has come. All hair is good hair, even the ones that don't obey the laws of edge control like mine.
What are some of your favorite styles or techniques to care for your hair?
My all-time favorite style is twists. They are versatile, maintain my hair's volume and are a great protective style. A low bun is also another favorite but because it is not hairline friendly, I don’t do it as much. For techniques, I would say deep conditioning. It's very relaxing to get done and you can spend time doing other things (like sleeping) while the necessary goodness gets into your hair.
We couldn't agree more!
What would you tell someone who is new to wearing their hair naturally?
To someone who is new to wearing their hair natural, I'd say, "Water is your hair's best friend. Protective styles will help you retain length. Don't try to do everything to your hair at once, filter the information coming at you and do what works for you?"
That's excellent advice!
Why do you think some parents stop their children from growing their natural hair while they are still young? What are your thoughts on this?
I think it's mostly because of the time involved in caring for their hair and not always because of certain biases towards natural hair. I think it's a matter of choice. There's nothing wrong in relaxing your child's hair till they're old enough to handle it natural. For instance, I returned natural when I was ready to, out of curiosity, not because I met my hair that way and because of that, everything I've done with my hair so far comes from a place of genuine interest.
That's a great point!
Hair related or not, what is the best compliment you've ever been given?
Recently, someone told me they were proud of my accomplishments. These were things I belittled and refused to give myself credit for, for the longest time but hearing about me in that person’s words, I unlocked a new level of respect for myself and acknowledged my drive to always do better.
Tell us a bit more about your writing, what inspires it?
Life experiences. I like to write about the things that we tend to speak of in hushed tones. The very things that scare me, the dark sides of reality, that is where I draw inspiration from and hope to write as many truths as I can through that.
What do you wish more people knew about mindfulness?
It's about being in tune with yourself, being more aware of your environment and adopting a mindset that allows you lead a happy life despite any setbacks. It's not pretending to be happy all the time or feeling positive all day, no. It's about realizing you're unhappy, allowing the feeling to be felt and letting go without being consumed by it.
On to a random question😅, what would you rather throw away between money, wellness, fame, and love? Why?
I would throw fame away because despite all that I may give to the world, I would always want certain parts to myself. Fame would not allow that.
Thank you for sharing these great ideas, we just may need to continue this conversation :)
Where could people find you to learn more?
My Instagram @mohh.oye and my blog
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I am Mugisha Phoebe, 26yrs old, a Ugandan, I am a Christian.
I am not yet married and I have no kids. I currently run a fashion business called Phibz Bukori. In my free time I make tik tok videos about natural hair.
I have been a natural hair enthusiast for a long time, my friends and relatives consult me a lot about natural hair and I realized I could share the knowledge I’ve accumulated on natural hair with more people if I make videos and post them on an accessible platform like Tiktok.
Yes I have always been comfortable with my natural hair because growing up my mum had natural hair and every one always admired her for that. However at some point (at university) I was pressured and I relaxed my hair for about a year but I hated it and eventually cut it off and went back to natural hair.
In high school a teacher forced me to cut off my hair, I was so hurt I cried a lot and it’s an experience that I’ve never forgotten. In primary we were not allowed to grow our hair but Indian kids were allowed to, at that point I didn’t really understand what this really meant but I got the perception that their hair was better than ours. And that’s the perception I don’t want little girls to have about their hair.
The biggest mindset shift we need is the “African hair is unprofessional” we don’t have to change our hair to be professional, I wish I could see more TV presenters, more politicians and more influential people wearing their natural hair!
The other mindset that needs to change is the “African hair is difficult to manage” no our hair is not difficult to manage, the cosmetic businesses have made us believe this so that they can make money.
The questions we need to ask our selves are
My favorite hairstyle is the tuck and pin updo and also and the natural hair twists
Our hair is one of our distinctive features, there’s no other race that has such tight curls! Keeping our hair natural shows how much we love who we are and that we don’t need to change ourselves in order to be accepted or to fit in.
Ohh the patience video! I have come to realize that one of the reasons why people complain about their hair is because they have not been patient enough to understand their hair, they are not willing to wait for months to achieve the length they want and they fall for the quick fixes like the relaxers which makes their hair look longer and straight. They also waste money on products that claim to make their hair grow faster and they end up getting frustrated.
Everything God created is perfect and beautiful in its natural state, and beauty comes from within so don’t listen to people that say your hair is not beautiful. If you believe that it is beautiful then every one will see that it’s beautiful .
You can find me on Tiktok @mugishaphoebe0 and on Instagram @afro_ikamba
Thanks so much for your time Phoebe, and for the work you're doing. You are sharing an important message for all of us. Thanks for calling us all out, ever so gently :) We are inspired and know that others will continue to be as well!
]]>The love you have for your hair makes all that simple.
My name is MUKUNDE Nadia, I am a university student pursuing Business management and economics in the Department of Marketing at the University of Kigali.
I have been natural my whole life I would say :)
It all started when I was a little girl. My mother would always take care of my hair with different protective styles, and she made it fun because every week she tried something new.
All this changed when I got into boarding school because I had to cut my hair, an experience that I didn’t like. After three years I got into a private school and I was able to grow my hair again.
I loved the fact that I could grow my hair again but you know going natural isn’t easy because you need to love, take care of your hair in every possible way and unfortunately, I was not ready for that. I treated my hair badly but I didn’t know what I was doing.
Luckily, my hair was thick and long for the first 3 years, but after those years, my hair stopped growing. I was given many ideas of what I should do for my hair to grow again such as trimming, moisturizing, etc.
I decided to trim because people would tell me that it will help, with the help of some protective style and some hair products, my curls were finally defined.
High puff is my forever favorite style.
As I said, natural hair needs attention, patience, and love. When it comes to being natural, there are some things you need to endure.
There are good and bad days, but one thing that could be really frustrating is finding hair products that work with your hair. Finding time and protective styles you have to do every night can also be frustrating.
The good news is that the love you have for your hair makes all that simple.
You can find me on Instagram @mukunde_nadia
When you find one that works for you, stick to it
My name is Patience, I am 23 years old and I live in Kigali-Rwanda. I am a student at Mount Kenya University pursuing a course in Mass media and communication
Share with me the journey of your hair, how did you decide to change relaxed hair to natural hair?
Well, there is not much about my hair journey because I just started recently but all I can tell is I always knew I would go natural.
I never liked relaxed hair not because it is a bad decision to do but I personally loved natural hair.
It is very hard to maintain natural hair, but it is so refreshing to see and so beautiful when done well.
It is important to have a proper routine that will help your hair grow, by using shampoo, a conditioner, and any in-shower products of your choice.
When it comes to recommending products, it is always good for a person to know their hair type, which will help them know the products that will work for them.
There are different hair types;
There is wavy hair where 2A which is thin wavy hair, 2B which is medium wavy hair, 2C which is the hair; curly hair where 3A which has loose curls, 3B has medium curls, 3C has tight curls; kinky hair where 4A is soft, 4B is wiry, 4C is extremely wiry.
So by knowing this, you try different types of products, and then when you find one that works for you, you stick to it.
Thanks for those tips! Where could people find you?
They can find me on Instagram @m__patiencee
Treat your hair as you treat yourself
Could you tell us more about yourself?
I'm Ninia, 20 years old, I live in Kigali-Rwanda. I'm a student and a worker, I love looking good, especially when my hair is gorgeous!
Looking at your natural hair now, what can you say?
I have beautiful natural hair and yes I admire it, as a see it looks healthy and good and that’s because I give it time and care. I can say that the more I invest in it the more I achieve more from it.
What are some challenges you faced?
That’s a great question indeed, there are two challenges I face: One is that natural hair requires much time and care. I could find myself busy and that could disturb me somehow. The other is that Natural hair products are expensive and the salon is also expensive.
Which products did you use?
Well, I don’t have permanent products but for now, I use Cantu products and when am busy I just go to the salon.
Anything else?
Treat your hair as you treat yourself. For us ladies, hair is a big weapon/asset we have.
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We always love to hear different perspectives. These ladies have shared theirs, do you have one? Shoot us an email info@irabacosmetics.com, leave a comment here, or DM us and tell us your story!
Also, be sure to try our approach to natural hair care. We're determined to adding more ease to natural hair care!
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In life, you have to set your own goals no matter what situation you are in. What people say about you is not who you are. I believe if you work hard with ambition, you will accomplish your goals. We all know everyone on this planet has his or her uniqueness, so be who you are, don’t try to be like someone else.
We're excited to introduce Lauraine, one of newest team members and think you will enjoy getting to know her.
This interview was conducted by Fabiola Abayisenga. Let's get to it!
My name is Doreen but everyone calls me Lauraine. I live in Kigali-Rwanda and I recently graduated from the University of Kigali with a B.A. in Marketing.
Meeting new people is one of my favourite things to do.
I am extremely keen to achieve further professional development and very eager to learn new things.
Well, that's a remarkable question, first of all, I would say that you should understand your target audience, treat them well as we know customers are king. Welcome them warmly. This can help you maintain your brand’s image. You can also invest in social media ads, it is one way to communicate and share information related to your industry. This will help to enhance your brand’s image as part of your promotional strategy.
That’s an interesting question. I never had that dream of working in such a company, but in my teenage years, I once had natural hair, and I loved it a lot but I don’t know how it ended :).
Since I’ve had the chance of working with such a company, I have started loving it again. The tips I could give to people who want to start this journey I would say is that they should use the right products. Choosing the best hair product for growth is key.
You could also try to use hair vitamins since it is a great option for growing natural hair, and scalp massages when it's your wash day.
Wow, very interesting question, the title could be what you worked for is what you get.
I would choose this title because my life wasn’t easy when I was young, but I set some goals that I could follow and I worked hard for them. Now I can say I am approaching some of them and I believe I will accomplish them all very soon.
In life, you have to set your own goals no matter what situation you are in. What people say about you is not who you are. I believe if you work hard with ambition, you will accomplish your goals. We all know everyone on this planet has his or her uniqueness, so be who you are, don’t try to be like someone else. Try your best to live the life you have. That’s what I can say made me reach some of my goals.
The most exciting part of my job is about achieving big objectives. I am the type of person who likes to have goals to follow.
They can find me on my Instagram page as @lauraine_is and on Facebook lauraine MK.
Thank you so much for doing this. It’s amazing knowing your life journey lauraine.
I appreciate your time!
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]]>This interview was conducted by Doreen Mukeshimana. Let's get to it!
My name is Fabiola Abayisenga and Fabby is my nickname. I am 22 years old and I live in Kigali-Rwanda. I am highly motivated in business management and am committed to continuing to grow in this career. I’m creative, talented, I have business-critical thinking, and am innovative with consolidated expertise in Business and entrepreneurship.
It’s a great question. I am Abayisenga Fabiola, I work as marketing and operation assistant at Iraba. We make natural hair products which are safe for kids, are made in natural material, and contain no harsh chemicals. My role is to build relationships with customers, employ online marketing, and also work with content for our social media channels.
In 5 years I plan on expanding my knowledge about different marketing channels, social ads, and am committed to continuing growth in this business career. I want to have my own company that cultivates flowers because usually in Rwanda we import them and I want to expertise our flowers and satisfy the Rwandan market.
I would advise them to be patient because natural hair needs time and care. Also, use right product that do not contain harsh chemicals and are not harsh to the skin. Use great tools such as a spray bottle, sleep with a satin scarf and be gentle with a detangling brush.
You will have great looking hair if you invest in it!
First of all, I love working with you because we get along and we work together to achieve the same goals. You’re a hard-working lady with great ideas and creativity. You're always polite and remain calm, even under stressful circumstances. I could say that am lucky to work with you.
Continuous self-improvement: becoming better than you were yesterday and being valuable to the world. It is more about building new positive habits.
Technical skills: They are practical, and often relate to mechanical, information technology, mathematical, or scientific tasks. Today, we use technology more than anything, which means we should have the ability to perform any skills.
Always think of yourself as a unique person with a positive mindset and believe in yourself this will help you move from one level to another.
You can find me on Instagram @bayingana_fabiola
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Once in a while, it's fun to change things up and wear a straight style. Just be careful not to use too much heat! Here are 4 things to keep in mind, if you're thinking about straightening your hair.
If you have curls, your hair will very quickly get bigger again. Wrap it at night or twist it up, then apply the hair balm to the tips of the hair when you take it down. This will let you wear this style longer. Remember that hair is able to absorb an absurd amount of oil. Don't be afraid to apply lots of oil (balm) to your tips.
Curls normally love water, but while you're wearing this style...stay away from water and products that contain water/Aqua - check the ingredient list!
Pro tip: As you blow dry and lightly flat iron to get this style, stay gentle with the curls and avoid heat damage by using a heat protectant before you start the drying process. The Iraba Hair Lotion is one.
Let's tackle something basic today: What's the point of conditioning? As in...what is it for?
We've established that Shampoo cleans your scalp to get rid of any dirt, dust, pollution, sweat, and excess sebum that you've accumulated on your hair (I know this sounds a little nasty, but it is what it is!). The cleansing process is needed but can also leave your curls "naked", and a little fragile. This is why a gentle shampoo is your friend.
Now on to conditioning:
Think of applying conditioner as dressing your curls, coating them so they can be protected, and so that they can move easily without getting scratched up. Makes sense?
So…you've selected a great conditioner…are you using it right? Here are a few tips to consider:
Makes sense? Let me know if you have any questions, and here's a little video for you.
Finally don't forget...you are Incomparable!
]]>Typing hair has become confusing. There are several methods out there, and lots of arguments online about which type people have. We’ll do our best to give you a brief overview of the most popular typing systems, and let you know which one we prefer and why. Here are the ones that have become most well known over the years:
The trouble with typing visually is that it's easy to get it wrong, especially in a picture. Hair can morph into many different forms. That’s the beauty of naturally curly hair. Also, for the life of me, I still can’t tell the difference between a curl and a coil in real life. If you recall, we also recently covered the 5 things that can affect your hair, which included the weather.
For all these reasons, and because products and styling techniques can radically change the way curls look, it’s best to evaluate curl type by looking at a clean piece of hair that has no product on it, not even conditioner. You can also think about your shed hair, you know the ones you clean off the floor in your bathroom? What does that hair look like? You’ve probably seen those consistently enough to be able to recognize your hair over anyone else’s.
As far as proper typing goes, I want to give you 2 ways to type: A “Sciency” way, and a Quick way. Here is your chance to see why your hair might behave differently than another’s!
For purposes of styling, in addition to the curl pattern(or shape), there are 2 other elements that can make a difference in the types of results you get when you style your hair:
If you are looking for style inspiration, try to find someone with a similar hair type and length. This will guarantee that you get better results more consistently.
ok, let’s jump right in!
Here are the ways:
When's the last time you used a ruler? Do you still have one?
If you can find one, take a break from all your serious duties in life and do something you maybe would have happily done in the 3rd grade. We have simplified the best method we have found so far so that anyone can use it.
The method was developed by scientists in a 2007 study published in the journal "human biology" called: "Shape Variability and Classification of Human Hair: A Worldwide Approach" by De la Mettrie et al.
The process is fairly simple. You will need to be patient enough to just take 3 measurements, and you’ll need just a few basic things:
Seeing your curls on a spectrum might surprise you.
When you're done, or if you get stuck. Reach out!
If you want to quickly and visually identify your curls and find tips to style them, head to the Quiz. This method won’t have you measure anything. Just think of your hair in its most natural form, and see if you can recognize it in the pictures. Easy Peasy!
At the end of the day, the most important thing to keep in mind is: The condition of your hair, which includes porosity, will change over time based on your age, hair care practices, the weather, etc. Your hair density could change alongside big life changes like pregnancy and aging, but as far as we know, your curl pattern is less likely to change. Pattern is also one of the biggest contributors to your hair’s ability to hold different styles, so it’s worth getting to know your particular type. Make sure you sign up below to continue to explore these topics with us, and if you really can’t figure out your type, Try our Complete Set. Play with the different products that are included and get to know what works for you!
What did you think? We’d love to hear from you!
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First the good news: This is totally normal, just warm it up and it will return back to being smooth.
The reason this happens is that when the weather is really warm, Shea butter melts. When it gets cold, it'll become solid again (just like any butter).
Here is an analogy: All the ingredients in the hair balm are like kids in a playground. There are Shea butter kids, Argan oil kids, Jojoba oil kids etc. When its cold, all these kids are holding hands. When its warm, one by one the “kids” let go of one another’s hands and start running around the playground.
Have we taken the analogy too far yet? 😊
When it gets cold again, the “kids” run back to each other, hold hands, and the butter mix becomes solid again.
The thing is… some of these “kids” feel cold faster than others. Shea butter kids especially!
For this reason, sometimes, shea butter “kids” want to start holding hands again before the other “kids” are ready…This happens when the temperature goes down very slowly. Being extra sensitive to this change in temperature, Shea butter “kids” end up holding hands with other shea butter kids, while all the others are still fine running around.
When this happens, if you look at your product, you may start seeing little white clumps of Shea butter.
If this has happened, warm up your hair balm in your hands for a few seconds before using it, and the mix will be uniform again. Also try to keep your balm in a cool, dry place to avoid this.
YouTube has interesting time lapses of butters changing state based on temperatures. Have a look at this one:
Have you seen natural butters change with temperature and wondered what was going on? Be sure to enter your email below to sign up for more insights on these and other cool topics!
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We all know that everybody’s hair is different. Chuck it up to genetics. It’s unclear why two sisters can look alike and have radically different hair. Over the years, different groups have created categories to help us navigate how to treat and style different hair types. You are probably familiar with the most common one which ranges from 1a to 4c.
If you read our last article on the different things that can affect your hair, you know that curl type isn’t the only thing that matters, at least when you are trying to decide how to care for your hair. It does play a big part of course, but there are at least 4 other elements to look at, many of them related to the lifestyle you are aiming for. That being said. Let’s focus on hair type for a moment.
Before we get to the hair itself, let’s zoom out a bit and look at how hair strands interact with each other. If you know a little bit about wigs, you know that density is something that is taken into consideration when wigs are sold. Here is an image that shows how wig density can affect your look.
📷: lavivid hair
Side note: wearing a wig with too much density must be the quickest way to have it look like a wig. This is entirely besides the point, but if you are looking to wear a wig and are aiming for a “natural-ish” look, pay attention to density!
Let’s get back to Natural hair: Why does density matter? It matters because it will affect the types of styles you can get away with. Some people just have more hair on their heads….it is what it is. Let’s keep that in mind as we choose styles, and especially as we get inspired by others.
If you happen to have sparse hair, frizz is actually your friend. One of the great properties of especially afro textured hair is that it frizzes up, which can make it look like you have more volume (ie density) than you do.
Fun fact: There is a theory that says that curly hair evolved in this way to shield the scalp from the sun in 2 ways: 1) Curls create space for air to circulate near your scalp, keeping your scalp cool, like a fan, and 2) by growing away from your head, the hair creates a physical barrier, like a “hat” of sorts that can protect your scalp. How cool is that?
Back to hair types. All others things being equal. If you take a piece of hair, wash it clean then let it dry, you will see it adopt a natural shape which should correspond to one of the images below. This image was adapted from a study that was conducted in South Africa by Kwezikazi Mkentane and her team. The study aimed to better understand type differences because hair is used for drug testing, so it’s important to understand how the structure and makeup of someone’s hair might affect the results of a drug test. Fascinating stuff!
Even in the lab, these scientists found it difficult to accurately differentiate the last couple of curl types, so they recommended reducing the number of types from 8 it to 6, which could be more accurately measured. The image below shows some examples of the original 8 types, which were developed by de la Mettrie et. all in 2007. You might remember that our original hair type calculator is based on that study.
The most important takeaway today is that your hair, like many other things in life, evolves over time. If the weather can affect your curls, then we have a couple of choices: Get mad about it, or accept it and work with our curls. If you get smart, you’ll be able to know and adapt as needed.
We put together this short quiz that should help you choose which product to use. Hope it helps, and no matter what, never forget that you are indeed incomparable and so are your curls!
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Here are 5 things you should be considering:
Did you know? Hair is so affected by the weather that it can be used to actually measure humidity in the air. In 1763, an instrument was created that does just that. It’s called a hair hygrometer, and you could even make one yourself – see the video below. So no, you haven’t been imagining things, your hair really does change with the weather, please don’t beat yourself up when that bad hair day shows up.
This one is obvious but easy to miss. Unfortunately, many of us with curly hair (of nearly all types) didn’t learn how to handle our hair until later in life. These are skills that we should have learned when we were younger, but since we didn’t, we’re playing catch up. As a result, it can be a frustrating process. It’s very likely you don’t really know what the right routine is to achieve the result you want, you haven’t had a lot of time to practice, and you have a lot on your plate. So, really, it’s easy to get frustrated when you don’t get the style you really want.
It’s important that we give ourselves some grace. If you’re not in the mood to experiment, or you don’t have it in you to spend a lot of time doing your hair, then by all means, make things easy for yourself today, do a style that’s easy for you, and call it a day. When you feel ready, come back and experiment.
One of the starter styles I always recommend is a twist out. It’s hard to get it wrong, and even if it gets messed up, it elongates your curls so that you could find ways to put your hair up into a workable updo.
Make sure you plan my friend. Here is a very brief guide to start you off. If you are attempting a style for the first time, always be sure to plan for extra time. Also, if a style fails, convert it into a twist out, and call it a day, you can’t really go wrong, can you?
The latest science says that there are at least 8 different types of curls out there. Here are the 8 types laid out next to each other. Can you make out your type just based on looking at this picture? You could be more exact by checking out our hair type calculator. The bottom line is, if you are being inspired by someone else, keep in mind that they could be working with a very different hair type than you.
In addition to the type of curl (as laid out below), there are also other considerations including: How much hair you have on your head, that’s called hair density. Some people’s curls are packed tight, while others seem to have very few strand on their head. Fun fact, if you have low density, Frizz is actually your friend! More on that later, make sure you sign up to get future tips
Finally, and this is probably the biggest thing to consider before trying a new style: what’s the current condition of your hair? Have you been conditioning it well lately or has it been in a neglected “protective style” for weeks? Be realistic, your hair responds to how it’s treated. Keep that in mind as you choose your routine for the day. Is it time for a deep conditioning treatment? Sometimes, that’s the best thing you can do for your hair today. Also, for yourself, take a little time to take care, will you?
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My name is Larissa but everyone calls me Lara, a passionate Wedding Planner, mother of 2 handsome boys and an HR Professional..Ohh and a Natural Hair Advocate.
I would say my kids, I work hard every day to be able to provide for them and being their positive role model.
Well, I can’t quite remember the exact moment but I’ve always loved weddings. I always enjoy planning a wedding. Knowing that I am helping in making someone’s wedding day the happiest of their life gives me great satisfaction. So when I realized that almost all of my close friends and family members are married, I started wondering when I was going to feel that excitement again and came up with the idea, voilà!
Haha, I thank your hubby by the way, he was one of the first people who saw that in me, who believed I could be of help.
To keep track of everything, I always have a checklist with me. As soon as I start planning a wedding, I work on a tasks list and not just big tasks, even the small small tasks and everything has a deadline.
First, I already know that it never goes as planned so I hire the best team (creative and dedicated) that will help me come up with quick alternatives. Making sure that whatever challenges I face on the wedding day don’t get to the couple. They hire me to have a stress-free wedding, I have to deliver.
I am always on Pinterest and follow as many wedding related pages as possible. Every time I get a client, I try my best to understand their taste for me to be able to suggest relevant ideas
Prioritizing!! Knowing when to do what and using my weekends productively. And I have a supportive husband who helps me with the kids when it becomes unmanageable.
Thank you! What I know is that I’ve never been proud of my relaxed hair as I am with my natural hair. It was so thin and honestly, I didn’t know natural hair was an option until my cousin started the journey and I got inspired but back then finding natural hair products was a struggle, we had to wait for people coming from abroad. But now we have products around and even natural hair dedicated salons, AMAZING, right? And I love to see many Rwandan ladies rocking their natural hair.
I only advise and recommend the best hair stylists. Tips? Just know the hairstyle that suits your face shape
LCO
I wish I knew how important it was to keep my hair hydrated
For a business, social media is very helpful. I haven’t yet invested in promoting my business page but still I get clients from Social media. Yes, I have supportive friends and of course they also use social media to support. It has its cons mainly a lot of bullying and lack of privacy (for personal accounts) but business wise, marketing is less expensive now due to social media.
I just hope Covid will end soon and we go back to normal life. I miss weddings and I look forward to serving anyone who’s planning to have a wedding in Rwanda.
And thank you for IRABA, the best products by far. Everyone noticed the difference ever since I started using them.
For now, they can find me on my Instagram page @cheerfulknots or Whatsapp/call +250788418807
Thanks so much for doing this. We like to remind our people how incomparable they are. It’s inspiring to speak to someone who is living their creativity!
]]>My name is Victoria and I’m a black-Canadian in my early-late twenties (haha, if you know, you know) living in Ottawa who loves God and loves people. I’m a public servant by day, a part time master’s student by night and a business entrepreneur managing two businesses: Victorious Caps and Victorious Moments Photography. I’m a creative at heart and have always been ever since I can remember. I’m glad it’s something I was always encouraged for when younger because now I don’t struggle nor am I ashamed to let that flow in everything that I do.
Yes, I certainly do remember that moment. Before Victorious Caps became what it is today, it started with me trying to encourage myself to be strong. I was going through a tough time while studying abroad and I really needed to pick myself up from the floor and believe in myself and in who God made me to be. I was just designing some screen savers at the time with bible scriptures. I remember how encouraged I was doing that, that when I came back home to Ottawa I knew I needed to create something that would encourage others as well. I knew I wasn’t the only one who had struggled with depression and struggled with thoughts of feeling worthless and weak and incapable. That is essentially what drove me to start Victorious Caps.
That’s incredibly inspiring!
The most exciting part of my work today, honestly is seeing my vision come to life. I design everything myself while my supplier will assemble the clothing or hats so when I design something, it’s literally by faith. Although I have a digital idea of what the end product will look like, there is no guarantee it’s going to come out exactly how I would have wanted or envisioned it. I mean it’s happened when stuff have not come out exactly as I have planned, so when things get executed exactly like I have envisioned it, then I legit do a dance party. It’s such an awesome feeling of victory.
Haha! This is such a good question! To be honest it’s hard. I find myself always trying new things. I mean if we factor in this pandemic, it’s been really challenging to remain inspired and get motivated but what works for me is taking a break and a step back. I don’t believe you can pour from an empty cup. I like to promote rest. If nothing seems to work, take a break! For me, as a Christian, whenever I notice that I am getting frustrated with myself for lacking inspiration, I take a break to spend more time reading the bible and praying. It’s a time to reflect on God’s goodness and all that he’s blessed me with. That always refreshes me and allows me to have a grateful heart which then creates motivation. I encourage you to try it, it will bring you such a beautiful amount of peace, I promise.
Beautiful!
Quite a few interesting stories I have in mind, but one that I would like to share is the fact that my mom one summer took two of my new products: a bucket hat and a dad hat to France when visiting her parents and the rest of my family. I thought she only took it for herself, only to find out a few months later that my grandpa had been wearing it every single day ever since she brought it to him. My grandpa is in his late eighties and loves my hats and wears them daily haha! His name is Victor! That’s why this story is interesting to me cause wow, look at a man who I was named after, wearing a product from my brand that I somewhat named after me or rather after the significance of my name! So cool!
I love that!
I do think it has always been the case, it’s of course developed and matured as I’ve grown and learned new things. I was always one to pay attention to detail though. Growing up I loved making PowerPoints just for fun. After finishing a book, I’d create PowerPoint decks for the characters, like I’d have a slide for each character with real actors’ pictures (from google) that I thought fit the characters’ description from the books. Haha, super random, I know but I always loved making things pretty and till this day, if I’m in a group project, I’ll fight someone just so I get to do the PowerPoint deck. Haha!
😊 Super creative!
Satin lined products are the real deal. I hate winter you guys, I really do because everything is dry and bulky and I always feel discouraged to try and look cute because layers ruin everything, including winter hats. I love beanies though, because I don’t play with the cold, but I had to make it work for me somehow and also for all my natural sisters who for years have been telling me they can’t wear my beanies because it sucks moisture from their hair. I listened and came out with this product which I’m glad is being well received by literally everyone, no matter their hair texture.
Word!
Thank you so much! Spring is my favorite! Maybe I’m biased because my birthday is in April, but summer is too hot, and fall although it’s beautiful and makes for stunning photos, it announces that winter is coming and I dislike winter so, Spring it is!
Spring is also a wonderful opportunity to reset and refresh. I have a new spring collection dropping soon and that’s exactly what it’s going to do. The colors are so fresh and vibrant. A great way to announce the end of winter.
Hmm, good question. To answer generally, it’s great. I grew up creating websites on piczo, if you remember piczo, you’re a real one! I was also a huge Tumblr user, the OG’s know this one too. I loved these platforms and if I can say, these were the genesis of social media, at least for millennials. Back then, it was such a great way to display your creativity and your passions and also connect with people who were just like you. Today’s social media landscape still retains the same functions and underlying features such as being able to connect you to people who are just like you and sometimes even helping you develop a talent or a skill you didn’t know you had.
Now there’s obviously a downside to social media as so many people are starting to realize, but I want to talk about the business side/branding side of social media and the dark side of it being comparison. I think this issue is also present with personal pages, but as a business, comparison is possible literally thanks to social media. I struggled with this early on and cared a lot about numbers – number of followers, number of likes. I even had an app that let me know who unfollowed me, and I would get so bitter when I’d see new unfollows especially from people I knew personally. Until one day, I remembered why I’m here. Why my brand is here and what my goal is.
Social media should be used to share what you have inside of you. It should be used to share your light, your gift and your message. It’s hard to do that and not absorb some of the other stuff, but trust me it’s the best way to go about it.
I couldn’t agree more!
Remember that you are unique and that no one is like you. Some people may have the same features, the same name, the same ideas but no one has the same elements that make you, you. Find yourself and learn to love yourself.
Brilliant.
You can find me on Instagram @victorious.caps and on Facebook – Victorious Caps and you can shop online at victoriouscaps.com, I have a brand new Spring collection dropping soon, so please do check it out!
Thanks so much for doing this. We like to remind our people how incomparable they are. It’s inspiring to speak to someone who is living their creativity. Thanks for your time!
]]>My name is Elsa, I was born in Ethiopia and grew up in Ottawa most of my life. I have an Environmental Studies background and have always been passionate about sustainability in general. I am always in search of better and simpler ways for self-care and that includes a sustainable hair care regimen for all naturals out there.
Thank you. I think I have always wanted healthy hair more than length. I happen to have long hair so I never consciously thought about length in general. But that perspective changed when I became a natural and saw the shrinkage. I still consider it long however :)
Not at all. Growing up I always had pinned-straight hair. It was straight out of the shower and to the blow dryer, then to the straightener for me. I never questioned why I did not like my curls, that took a journey in discovering and deconstructing my consciousness to find out why that was. Accepting my curls at the end was the best thing to ever happen to me because I learned a lot about myself throughout the process of transitioning.
I often think about this a lot and two things come to mind:-
I started “Curlsbyelsi” as a guide-page for people who are starting out or are on their journeys. I relied mostly on research and some youtube videos when I was transitioning. That took a long time and I am still actively learning and adapting. It took me 4 years to transition to curly hair and it is still a learning curve. I want to share what I used and continue to use for those that are also in their wonderful transitioning period.
The page is created for those who want to know about hair care tips, recipes, and methods, regardless of their hair types. And I wanted to make sure it is sustainable, meaning that the products, recipes, and tips are easily accessible in creating these concoctions. I believe that simple methods are better. You don’t need 15 types of oils to grow or strengthen your hair. If you do it right with research and learning their benefits, you only need 3 to 4 oils and half of them could already be available in your cupboard.
Most importantly, embracing my curls has allowed me to accept myself for who I am and it is through this journey to which I learned that about myself without even realizing it. I wanted to share that experience through my page in hopes that it can influence others as well.
Love yourself as you are and not as what society expects you to be.
An exciting future would look like an environment in which everyone embraces their curly hair as it is. We are all created different and accepting who we are allows us to garner a positive space for our well-being. Through my page, I want to create a space where people can also share their experiences and how that shaped their perspective about themselves. Going through a hair journey opens up a dialogue for self-learning and introspection. And I want to give people simple tools that can aid their curly hair journey.
I am excited to share more on my page about self-care in general. Hair care is based on both external and internal factors so I am looking forward to providing guides that can definitely be helpful to anyone going through this process.
I can’t keep up with too many social media platforms! I can’t stand Tiktok, there are way too many trends out there and some are not safe from what I see. Instagram is my #1 choice because I can create videos, post pictures, send messages and do everything the rest of the platforms can do but in one application. I’m a minimalist so if I can do all in one platform, Instagram is my choice. I can also see the latest tiktok trends on Instagram so it’s a win-win.
I used to cowash often but now I use a conditioner instead. It saves the same purpose because some conditioners can also act as mild cleansers.
This is the most important step for me. I religiously prepoo every week before washday. It is the most significant regimen of my curly hair routine. My prepooing consists of oil-concoctions, I apply it to my scalp and curls, wrap it with a plastic cap overnight for absorption, and wash the next day with a mild conditioner or shampoo.
That will never work for my hair, I only tried it once and it left my hair going in all directions.
I prefer both, they both cater to my low-medium porosity hair well depending on the season.
In winter months I use LCO because applying the oil as the last step protects my curls from dry weather conditions. The oil locks the moisture and gives my curls shine and causes less frizz.
In summer months I use LOC because my hair dries quickly due to heat. I usually air-dry so locking in the leave-in with oil in the middle step will close out my hair cuticles before I apply my cream.
This is my absolute favorite because I consider self-care as “my day”, a day to nurture myself and be introspective about how I can tend to my well-being. Sundays are usually my self-care days because it is the day I give to myself to relax, do my hair routine, listen to music, chat with friends, and do things that make me happy. I see self-care as my ritual to re-energize my mind and body and I think everyone should have a self-care day.
I wish more people knew about the porosity of their hair. It is often the one that gets missed or is unheard of. I never knew about porosity and different levels until I went natural. Knowing your hair’s ability to absorb and retain moisture is so essential in targeting what type of products and oils work for your hair.
People can find me on my Instagram page @Curlsbyelsi
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Elsa, Thanks so much for sharing all those super useful tips, and for sharing your knowledge with us all, it's empowering indeed!
]]>You’ve probably heard of the LCO/LCO methods by now. In a nutshell, this is a method of applying various styling products to get curls that look and feel great.
The L in LCO stands for “Liquid” or “Leave in”
The C in LCO stands for “Cream”
And the O in LCO stands for “Oil”
I became a fan of this layering method as soon as I started using it because I realized that it offered some pretty cool benefits including:
As far as sequencing goes, my current favorite routine goes like this:
If it’s a twist out I want, I might skip the gel, but I find that with the gel, my hair will look better longer.
That’s it!
Technically, this is a “LCOG method”. In practice, I might apply a little cream, follow with oil, then jump back to leave in. Over time, I have learned to recognize and adapt to the way my hair feels, so it’s the layering that matters. The order matters less.
A quick tip: When we formulated the hair balm, we chose the oils in it because individually, they layered well. To be honest, we wanted a shortcut. So, if like us, you occasionally get lazy, you’re in good company! In a pinch, you could skip the cream and just use the lotion and balm. The balm is a 7in 1 product after all 😊.
One last tip: this layering is our secret weapon to dealing with multiple hair types and hair conditions. As you get used to the products, you might find that the cream and/or oil serve you better as a pre-poo or a hot oil treatment. You might be able to get away with jumping from the lotion to the gel, or going straight to the gel. Try different combinations, and see what you like best, then let us know!! What we know for sure, is that with these tools working together…your curls will ultimately thrive!
Did you know that there are at least 5 elements that affect the condition of your curls? Stay tuned as we go over these in the near future.
We’d love to hear from you, how has your experience been with these? What’s your best tip? Let us know!
]]>I am a Nigerian Canadian Family Physician, trained in the United States, with a passion for cosmetic medicine and a committed interest in all things related to women’s health. The nature of my profession means I am constantly learning new things. In my free time I enjoy physical fitness and discussing current events.
My Family practice is in Limoges (right outside of Ottawa) where I care for a population of 1400 patients from infancy to old age. Which means I care for all age groups. Outside of my regular hours, I offer cosmetic injectable procedures such as botulinum toxin, dermal fillers, platelet rich plasma and microneedling.
Each day I have the opportunity to make a difference in someone’s life. Whether through health education or by making an accurate diagnosis. Also as a Family Doctor, every day brings in a variety cases, so I am always being challenged.
Becoming a doctor was a seed that my father planted in my head as a young child. As I grew older, I developed a genuine interest in Medicine and helping others. However, since childhood, I have also had an appreciation for aesthetics and fashion. So it was a natural transition for me to go from standard medicine to incorporating cosmetic medicine into my practice.
The main one would be that nothing can be done about it. Medical research continues to discover potential treatments. One shouldn’t struggle in silence. A good place to start is to seek out advice from a healthcare professional.
Depending on the type of hair loss, and the extent of that hair loss, topical treatments such Women’s Rogaine can make enough of a difference for some.
The most advanced treatment for hair loss is the transplantation of terminal hairs from unaffected areas. As is the case with any medical procedure, the transplant may fail. Before investing so much time and money, most people first try other therapies.
These Therapies include:
Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) aka red light therapy: Some women with Female Pattern Hair Loss may benefit from (LLLT)
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP): Your own blood is drawn, spun and then the platelet rich plasma is then injected into the areas of concern. Placebo- controlled randomized trials have demonstrated increase in hair density.
There are many reasons why someone may be experiencing hair loss. Generally speaking the image we all have in our mind of male and female hair loss pertains to Androgenetic Alopecia.
Female Pattern Hair loss: presents as hair thinning over the crown. The temples are sometimes involved. Unlike with men, it usually spares the frontal hairline.
Male Pattern Hair Loss: presents as a slow progressive more global pattern. The back of the hairline is usually spared.
The hair type or curl pattern is not of importance. The condition of your scalp is what will vary treatment.
Hair plays a major role in a person’s identity, confidence and impacts other people’s perception of us. It is no wonder that when one suffers from hair loss, it can be a very emotionally disturbing event.
I see it in my own patients. Specifically cancer survivors going through treatment. Their hair loss is a daily reminder of their ailment and adds to an already difficult situation.
In black women, the most common cause of hair loss is Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia (CCCA). This results in scarring and permanent hair loss. We are still not sure why this happens but agree there is an inflammatory process that leads to the destruction of the follicles. Although an association between CCCA and hair care practices have not been proven, expert opinion advises to minimize practices that can be damaging to the hair and scalp. Avoid styles that lead to prolonged traction, pain or pressure (ponytail weaves). Also avoid chemical burning of the scalp that can happen with relaxers.
They have nothing to lose but more hair! If you have already started to see signs of hair loss then consider over the counter Rogaine 5% foam with or without the use of vitamins.
If that fails, then seek medical advice. It helps to find someone who understands your hair care practices so that treatments can be tailored to you. Find someone who is knowledgeable and who is forthright.
They can check out my social media platforms:
Instagram: drlian_beauty
Facebook: Dr. Lian Beauty
Thanks so much for your time! It's great to know that there are in fact solutions to a problems that for a long time we thought could not be solved. I have a feeling we will have more questions on these fascinating topics!
]]>How were your locks started?
How often do you maintain the locks and address new growth?
Brown Girls Who Coach is for aspiring women of color + entrepreneurs who are ready to take their business and sense of empowerment to the next level! We’re a spiritual mother daughter team who want to see more women living life on their terms with freedom, creativity + their natural talents at the forefront.
The most exciting part of my day is engaging with our community while in a class. I love knowing we’re getting together for a common purpose and seeing each other. My mom and I can really get on a roll while live together and it’s so fun + insightful for students!
The second exciting part is when we’re crafting ideas + upcoming programs. We truly have a lot of fun working together because we play to each other’s strengths.
Well 2 reasons, the first is we’ve always wanted to empower other women in cultivating their personal freedom + spiritual wealth. As a mother, daughter team we know the generational power of having your own business and not having to stick with something, i.e. another job or even relationship out of comfortability or convenience.
And the other reason is we had a thriving 72K community on Instagram, Brown Girls Who Bruja that got hacked last year. And we didn’t receive any support or assistance in retrieving it back so we pivoted + saw it as a divine sign to begin anew.
An exciting future would look like a thriving community of women and those who identify who want to turn a small idea into a freedom-creating experience. We want to give them the tools they’ll need to be a spiritual entrepreneur from intuition development to identifying their unique + profitable talents.
Tonya, my mom being a Psychic Medium + Certified Spiritual Counselor gives us a holistic approach to coaching. She’s able to see beyond the surface to what’s really going on. Energy is everything and she can read into that. Our age difference also allows us to reach a wider variety of women.
And being a business owner means you’re bringing more of yourself to the work so we give you a full service perspective from business to emotional + spiritual wellbeing.
Two personal favorites, “energy is everything” and “what you think about you bring out”.
Oh yes! We both have different hair textures. I’m a #3c hair type with tight curls and my mom’s definitely more of a #4b. We wear our hair differently and while we do use a lot of the same products, they don’t react to our hair the same so sometimes we swap products!
Wow, yes our hair continues to play a huge role for black women especially. I’ve always worn my hair naturally curly but in high school and college, I would get it blow dried straight regularly. I loved the 2 weeks it lasted and feeling like I was ‘fitting in better’ with certain groups. But ultimately I always loved going back to my curls. And its truly finding great products like yours, that makes it all the more fun in working with my hair. It continues to be a self love journey.
Tonya, I know has tried different hair lengths but ultimately, she loves and feels her most empowered when rocking her fro. And she looks amazing with those high cheekbones! I tend to pull my curls down and go for lengths whereas she goes for volume!
Living in sunny Mexico, I try to do more heat protecting styles. I also had cut my hair very short and was growing it out so I’ve been doing the LOC method with braids, co-washing just once a week. This allowed me to add more layers of product so when I took out my braids, my hair is really soft and feels well taken care of.
I know my mom too likes to do twists and cover her crown for several days while it dries and then letting those curls pop into a fro!
We both co-wash and always leave our deep conditioners in for 20-30 minutes to really moisturize + soften.
We both love making our own Aloe Vera water, straight from our home garden to use as a natural hair grower, it works!
So cliché but I’d say, you’re beautiful just the way you are and to really go for the dream you’ve always wanted. Not what society or family says you’re good at.
At first it was rough around the edges. She raised me to strong, independent and all about higher education. So when two smart women come together we both think we’re right. But we quickly find our individual strengths and now work to those. We both have things we enjoy doing as well, so that keeps the work fun and exciting. Nothing more motivating than working for yourself! This has also been our shared dream since high school so to live it out everyday makes it feel so special.
We’re ecstatic to try your products and can’t wait to share our thoughts with you, especially because our different textures and hair methods!
Yes, people can find us both on Instagram! @mianamelendez & @tonyargonzalez
We also have a free gift: Our Brand Clarity Checklist: https://www.subscribepage.com/brandingforspiritualentrepreneurs
Finally, Empowered Tarotista is our yearlong program to support women in cultivating their intuition, developing a spiritual practice and really using Tarot as a tool for self empowerment.
The benefits are outstanding from a Birthday Tarot Reading to your very own Tarot Profile. Plus, Monthly Full Moon Gatherings + Masterclasses too!
You should check it out!
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts with us, I have a feeling we'll be speaking again in the near future! :)
]]>If you've ever purchased one of those ramen precooked packs from the grocery store, or cup o’noodles, you know that they come dehydrated and pre cooked. What you have to do is add hot water, stir it all up for a bit and you're good to go. These noodles are cheap and not very healthy, but that’s besides the point.
What I wanted to look at here is the whole process of adding water to the pasta and what happens next. The pasta starts out very stiff and as you add hot water, it becomes flexible and suddenly you can move it around and ultimately eat it. Similarly, hair will soak up water and become “flexible”, so use water!
Pro-tip: Even if you’re just spraying your hair with water (as opposed to getting it soaking wet), try this: Spray your hair, wait 10 seconds before you touch it, and see if it’s more flexible than if you touched it immediately. You'll thank me later :)
Years ago, a good friend gave me a tip. We had made pasta, and the pasta was ready before the sauce, so he suggested adding olive oil to the pot so that the spaghetti wouldn’t stick together.
It’s been a long time, but I still remember that tip to this day. Basically, the oil will stop the pasta from sticking together. If you have natural hair that is curly coily or kinky, you know that your hair strands have a big tendency to stick together, and they’ll stick together as soon as they start drying if you don’t do something to keep them separate.
There is a theory out there that says that your curls are actually meant to protect your scalp from the sun. By sticking together, they’re creating a “hat” of sorts, to protect your scalp.
Back to the curls and pasta analogy. When you apply leaving conditioners, oils, gels, oil etc. to your hair, you're stopping the “sticking together” process, reducing the static between curls, and keeping them separate, which avoids tangles and all the other issues that cause natural hair to be “hard to manage”.
It's nearly winter in Canada where I'm writing this, so it's getting colder. The heat is already on at my place, which dries out the air, no humidity in sight. I neglected my hair for a few days, which made it extremely dry, like ramen-noodle-from-the-store-dry. And, and as I was getting ready to wash my hair, I thought: you know, sometimes we encourage pre-pooing, but if my hair is this dry, I don't think it makes any sense to pre-poo it because what it needs more than anything else is water.
Dry hair is brittle, it breaks easily. Sometimes, the best thing you can do is hop in the shower and let that water soak up your hair until the hair starts to be flexible enough to move. That’s what I did, and within a few minutes, I was able to start sectioning the hair out without having to tug.
To continue the analogy even further, I want to show you this YouTube video by Audrey Davis-Sivasothy author of the Science of black hair book. She did a brilliant job at demonstrating the difference between protein and moisture needs:
Do you have any tips to share? Shoot us an email or post them below, and remember: You’re incomparable.
]]>If you have had a chance to check out our 4 keys to mastering the natural hair journey, you know that the very first one is "Mindset". Were you surprised by this? Mindset is at the core of nearly everything in our lives and it can either be working with you, or against you.
On May 5th, 1962, in a speech in Los Angeles, Malcom X, Yes, THE Malcom X, the activist asked… "Who taught you to hate the texture of your hair"?
Strange huh...that someone who was trying to solve such important human rights problems would choose to include a sentence like that in an important speech. Why is that? Seems a little random… but is it?
Isn’t hair one of the first things someone sees about you? Isn't a bad hair day enough to ruin your morning? Don't you walk a little taller when you know you look amazing? (we're all human, it is what it is :))
What happens then… when you don't love your looks so much, how does that change how you engage with the world?
Back to Malcom's question: "Who taught you to hate the texture of your hair"?
Maybe you don't hate it, maybe you even love it. Maybe you even think you have "good hair". I guess my question to you then is…are we making progress, or are we staying the same? This speech took place 58 years ago, and the question still seems worth asking. That's a little troubling isn't it?
Will you let me give you some homework? Next time you describe your hair, or someone else's hair, ask yourself if there is a hint of negativity in there. Do it for yourself, but also for whomever might be watching. Many of us have a level of influence to others in our lives. Perhaps we should ask ourselves: Are we contributing to perpetuating these negative feelings, or are we improving the situation? And if you think your generation is lost, don't forget…the kids are watching!
Before you hit reply and tell me that all the love is fine, but some hair is harder to deal with than others, and facts are facts…let me ask you this: If we've put humans on the moon….do we really think we can't figure out how to make caring for tiny curls easier without exposing ourselves to harm? Surely there is room to do better?
I would love to hear your thoughts on this, leave a comment, or email me, and let me know, this is a safe space :)
Speak soon! Keep shining, don't forget to tell a friend to sign up below, and remember: You are incomparable.
]]>Here are some of our favorite low manipulation styles:
👉🏾 Buns and other updos
👉🏾 Bantu knots
👉🏾 Twists
👉🏾 Cornrows
👉🏾 Braids
Just make sure you don't put too much tension on your edges, and always add moisture!
What's your favorite style to wear your hair in?
Caring for curls can feel complicated. Your hair will change based on a number of factors including the level of humidity in the air, the quality of your tap water, genetics, and styling habits you've picked up over the years. The good news though is that you are in control. With the right product set, there is nothing you can't adjust to. 0 degree weather? No problem!
One of the reasons we love letting curls be in their natural but fully nourished and protected state(wash&go), is that those curls become very resilient. You could sleep on them, expose them to nearly anything, and they will take the pressure because they are "at ease". They won't go looking for moisture in the environment(frizz), or look dull because they are dehydrated. Let them be in their most natural state and you will be amazed.
Like Mama Beyonce said in Black Parade... " These laid edges... I'ma let it shrivel up (shrivel up)"
Now, let's go over the only handful of styling products you'll ever need to find ease and reduce overwhelm.
With this small selection of styling products, you'll have everything your hair needs from the moment you step out of the shower right up until your next wash day.
What's cool is that you can add or remove a step based on how your hair feels that day, and how much energy you have. Also, if you happen to have different types of curls on your head(like I do), then these steps give you the flexibility to adjust and style accordingly.
Ready? Let's break it down 👇🏾
1️⃣ Start with the Hair Lotion. Run that through your curls and ensure that moisture touches every portion of your hair.
2️⃣ Nourish and start defining those curls by applying the Curl Cream. No need to have a heavy hand, we don't want to weigh down your hair.
3️⃣ Seal that moisture in and add a little shine and softness with the Hair Balm. This product will save your hair in these colder months coming up!
4️⃣ Top it all off with the lightweight Natural Styling gel. Your definition will last days after application.
All done! Go on and enjoy your gorgeous hair days to come! And if you feel at any point that your curls need a little pick me up(especially during the winter). Slightly dampen your curls with a spray bottle and repeat any of the steps above to come back to happy curls.
Feel good, from a performance point of view, means that you can expect to feel great about your hair after a self care session with Iraba. You and your curls should feel refreshed and deeply cared for.
Feel good, from an ingredient point of view means that our ingredients would preferably be derived from nature -- because nature has already solved every problem we could possibly think of. It also means that we exclude harsh chemicals, and anything that could confuse our hormones. Iraba should be safe for kids, and for our precious bodies, always.
Did you catch that? Our secret is to go forage through all the nooks and crannies of nature and ask a simple question: How has nature handled this? We take good notes, and do our best to translate that into a form that fits our modern lives. I believe that this is what allows us not to compromise on performance.
While our products may be a little different from what you're used to, you should still achieve the styles you want. Give them a try and let us know what you loved a lot, and what you loved less...we're always learning, and you make us better.
It doesn't have to be grand, however..."In a gentle way, you can shake the world" Mahatma Ghandi
]]>Here are a few problems you might be facing:
Now...there are a few things that can contribute to a wash and go that's not ideal, so before addressing the specific issues above, let's make sure you are doing the following:
Tangles and Knots | Co-wash again, apply more gel. Consider washing more often and applying enough product to properly coat and protect each curl |
Little definition | Did you stop too soon? Try applying more light gel to cover each curl and give it the freedom to pop into its natural shape without getting stuck to the next curl |
No definition |
If you are using an oil, try skipping it to see if your curls will form. Do you have heat damage? If so, do a series of deep conditioning treatments, if the damage is still there, trim the damaged portions off |
Hair Looks dull | More moisture(water), be sure to seal in the moisture with your favorite oil or cream |
Curls are stuck together | Let your curls dry completely before putting them in a bun. If you'd like to leave your hair out. Use a spray bottle to spritz your hair with a little water and a little balm or lotion. |
What's your favorite trick for a flawless wash&Go? I'd love to hear it!
]]>"I love my hair, but I'm just lazy"
Ease is a big part of what we believe in. It's great for curls to look perfect, but if it's going to take hours and hours to do, is it all worth it? We'd say on most days...probably not! We most definitely fall closer to the lazy natural category than anywhere else 🙈
We want to make taking care of your coils and curls fun, not a draining drag. So here it is, the Iraba lazy wash&go.
The biggest thing to remember is that the more often you wash (or cowash between shampoos), the quicker your wash day will be. Water from the shower is brilliant at keeping curls separated and moisturized.
1️⃣ Start by Co-washing your hair with our Tangle Melt Conditioner, squeeze off the excess water and take this time to detangle.
2️⃣ Apply the Hair Lotion from root to tip, do this quick before tangles have time to form. Your hair will just soak up the product which will act like a primer for the next steps
3️⃣ Apply the Curl Cream. This will help with definition and nourishing the hair with over 12 oils.
4️⃣ Last but not least, apply our Natural Styling Gel. Designed to be lightweight but still holds, defines and leaves an easily breakable cast on the hair.
Even with quick or sloppy application your curls will be juicy, defined and poppin!
The beauty of using these 3 products is that you don't have to be as careful in application as if you were using just the gel. It's a great way to cut corners a bit but still achieve great results!
Ps. If you want to stretch your curls you can do the banded method!
What's your favorite wash&go routine?
Here are just a few of the reasons your wash and go could fail: