Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Want to go natural or transitioning? KB can help.

I'm going natural or at least I want to try...can you help me!? I've been getting this a lot lately. Women are wanting to go natural but are not sure the correct steps to take. Going natural takes time and a lot of patience. Natural hair gives you a different feeling about yourself, you feel free, comfortable with who you are, and don't mind taking risks by adding color or a new style. 

When you are transitioning a lot of women are not sure what style is best or if they should straighten their hair. Before you pick up a flat iron...STOP look the other way. The flat iron is your worst enemy and can seriously damage your hair during your transition. I would suggest you stick with styles that involve little to no heat. During my transition I really fell in LOVE with the twist out. I would wash my hair every week, deep condition it, and twist it. This is something that took time and a lot of effort. I researched a lot, youtubed a lot, and asked advice from friends and stylists. 

While transitioning, find that style that fits you whether it's flexi rods, twist outs, protective styles (sew ins or braids). Remember this is going to be a long road but the end result will be well worth it. You can also find a natural hair salon in your area to help with style ideas and great products. I went for a consultation and appointment at Lockstar Natural Hair Salon (Charlotte, NC) while transitioning and they were a big help. Make sure you keep your hair moisturized and don't let the straight hair know its different from the curly ...by straightening as LEAST as possible. 

Hope this helps you in your natural hair journey.

Another article to add to your KB natural hair diary of trends, tricks, and tips!

~KB

KB's How to: Fro Hawk

Hair styles often get old after a while. You go to the salon or sit in front of a mirror for hours trying to create that perfect style.
Natural hair is a little different when it comes to styling because there are so many different types of hair and sooo much of it!!! Many people have a certain look they are going for or even want it to look presentable for a specific job or function. Some may get discouraged or just tired of trying to think of a cute likable style.

Well I have a easy, funky but cute style that may work for you. The FRO HAWK is a style that can be easily done, very neat for work or even made funky for an after work event. Its nothing a few tuck combs, barber pins, and some product couldn't handle. A few easy steps can have you ready for the workplace or out the door for a friends get together depending on your mood for the day. This is just another style to add to your KB natural hair diary of trends, tricks, and tips!

Mastering the Fro Hawk----

1. wash or spray hair with spray bottle
2. add the product of choice (cantu shea butter leave-in for me) 
3. have a little echo styling gel for the sides to make them smooth
4.brush up sides with a brush and have several tuck combs and barber pins depending on the thickness of your hair
5. You can brush your sides up as high as you want them or as low as you would want them. Depending on the effect you want.


This style was done with just a spray bottle, some cantu shea butter leave in, 4 tuck combs, and some echo styling gel for my sides.

Send us your photos after you try it to: Terrinique@kurleebelle.com

Monday, January 10, 2011

5 tips for maximum length retention

Ever wonder why your hair isn't growing long and strong? Why you have so many split ends? It maybe because your hair isn't getting enough moisture. Dry, brittle hair breaks and splits easier and the lasting result is hair that won't grow. In order to keep those tresses growing long and healthy it is essential to keep them moisturized from root to tip. 

1. Nature's No. 1 moisturizer is water so drink up ladies.
2. Use a cream based shampoo. Shampoos lay the foundation for your hair and if it's dry and brittle you need as much moisture as possible. Cream based shampoos are white, yellow or cream colored. Avoid sulfates in your shampoo because it strips the hair of essential oils~ it is basically like washing your hair with detergent or dishwashing liquid. 
3. Avoid moisturizing products made with petroleum or mineral oil. These ingredients are topical agents which means that they are not absorbed by the hair. 
4. Conditioners and Deep Treatments should be high in humectants. Humectants are substances that promote moisture retention. They are found naturally in honey, vegetable oils, vitamin E and elastin. Rinse with cold water to lock in moisture.
5. Cover your hair at night with a satin or silk scarf/bonnet to prevent damage while sleeping. 

Natural Hair Dictionary

ACV- Apple Cider Vinegar- can be used as cuticle seal 

APL- Arm Pit Length- When your hair grows down or past your arm pits.  

BAA-Big Ass Afro

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

BC - Big Chop- When you've cut off all of your straight or chemically relaxed hair.

BNC- Braid-N-Curl- Braiding your hair and rolling the ends with flexi rods or spiral rods. 

BSL- Bra Strap Length- When your hair reaches your bra strap.  

BSS- Beauty Supply Store

Buds (Budding)= First stage in locking. Small, young sections that will eventually grow out and mature as actual dreadlocks

CBL- Collar Bone Length- When your hair reaches your collar.  

CG- Curly Girl

Co-Wash- Washing your hair with conditioner instead of shampoo. 

Cones- short name for 'silicones', or ingredients found in hair care products that are not water soluble (i.e. you need shampoo to remove). Failure to wash out cones may lead to build-up, which may result in dry hair and breakage (due to suffocation of the strands).

Creamy crack = A not so affectionate term used to refer to permanent hair relaxers; nickname was given by those who found it hard to stop getting relaxers before they transitioned to natural hai

DT or DC- Deep treatment or Deep conditioner. A DT is when you leave a moisturizing (or protein based, depending on your needs) conditioner on your hair for an extended period of time, along with a heat source to aid in penetration.

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

EO- Essential Oil

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

EVOO- Extra Virgin Olive Oil

HG- Holy Grail (Products that are tried and true)

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

MBL- Mid Back Length 

Nappyversary/Nattyversary - The anniversary of the day you became natural

No-poo = Washing method that does not involve the use of shampoo; co-washing is a type of no-poo method

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

PJ- Product Junky- someone that buys any and every product. 

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

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

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

Search and Destroy (S&Ds)- I find good lighting, usually in the bathroom, and examine my ends...whenever I see a split, a crooked end or a single strand knot, I snip it out. I only use hair scissors for this task (purchase from Sally's or Walmart) this is key. Buy a decent pair of hair scissors and ONLY USE THEM FOR HAIR TRIMS. Dull scissors will do more damage. Every now and then (when my hair is excessively tangly), I'll do a Micro Trim, which is snipping off the last 1/4 of an inch of my ends...I do this while my hair is in twists for ease.

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

SLS- Sodium Lauryl Sulfate 

TNC- Twist-n-Curl. Twisting the hair.

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

TWA- Teeny Weeny Afro

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

Wash and Go, WNG & W&G- Simply co-wash your hair, add a styler (gel, cream) and GO. You leave the hair to air dry or dry with a diffuser. 


Courtesy of: www.curlynikki.com

Thursday, January 6, 2011

What can Vitamin E do for you and your hair?

We all know it's important to take our vitamins. Vitamins help you grow big and strong as your mom would say while handing you a Flintstone vitamin (We are Flintstone kids- Ten million strong and growing). 

It turns out that vitamins are good for us and can help grow healthy, strong and shiny hair. With that said, researchers have found that Vitamin E in particular contains antioxidants that increase scalp circulation stimulating growth and preventing hair loss. 

Vitamin E can be applied to the scalp by breaking open vitamin E capsules and gently rubbing the gel onto the hairline. Other great sources can be found in vitamin E serum, dark leafy vegetables, eggs, nuts, and vegetable oil. 

The most important part of growing beautiful hair is to take care of your body. A healthy diet along with a hair regimen = a better you!

KB

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Natural But straight moments? You know the time when part of your hair is natural and the other part straight.

The transitioning period is what I call the "Natural but straight moments"…..its the time when a portion of your hair is chemically relaxed/permanently straighten and a portion is kinky curly. So you wash your hair and you have a spiky looking kinda fro. At this point your frustrated and you feel like slapping a jar of relaxer on that thang or contemplating the big chop. I am here to tell you to "Stop and Step away from the perm". Move closer to the mirror to get a better view of those roots. LOOK how beautiful they are and imagine your hair being completely natural and healthy. One day you'll be able to rock the hottest natural hair styles and your hair will thank you by being strong and shiny. In the meantime to keep your hair looking tight we suggest flexi rodding or two strand twists.

Flexi rodding is an inexpensive way to keep your transitioning hair at it best. This style requires minimal maintenance and it should last at least two weeks. You will need a set of flexi rods (which can be found at Target, Walmart and any hair store), Setting lotion (I prefer Motions foam wrapping lotion) and a hooded dryer. There are tons of you tube video tutorials on Flexi Rodding. 

 Two strand twist is also an inexpensive way to keep your transitioning hair tight. This style requires minimal maintenance and should last at least two weeks. You will need styling gel (I like the Eco styling gel or IC Fantasia (Olive Oil)) and a hooded dryer. To give your strands a curly look after twisting you can add flexi rods to the ends. There are tons of you tube video tutorials on Two strand twists.

During the transition period it is important that you stay away from applying heat to your hair as much as possible .i.e flat ironing. Hair is 91% protein and because of this over processing the hair by using heat changes the structure through a process called denaturation. Denaturation changes the structure of your curls by permanently straightening the hair. Even though your hair may be natural (that is not chemically processed) it is straight due to heat damage. Flat ironing your hair slows down the process of you becoming  the Kurlee Diva that I know is within you.

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Bad Hair Days

Ever had a bad hair day? No matter how good you look from neck down you never feel complete without your hair being tight. A banging 'hair-do' makes you feel confident and sexy and others can sense your energy. As you strut down the street you know you caught their eye because like Keri Hilson you got that  'Pretty girl swag'.  At Kurlee Belle, we know how important it is to look your best with fully moisturized curls, coils and kinks so in the meantime to keep your hair shiny and healthy we suggest Organic coconut oil. #naturalhair

1. Apply a generous amount of organic coconut oil to clean dampened hair. 
2. Massage coconut oil onto scalp and run through hair from root to tip. 
3. Apply a shower cap to seal in moisture. 
4. Let stand for an hour and rinse hair clean. Your hair should feel soft and look shiny. 

Remember you are your hair's best advocate. #kurleekutie
 
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