The Boyfriend vs. The Bonnet: Sh%t Natural Hair Boyfriends say!

Ladies I need you to back me up on this one! Watch the below video and let me know if you have the same problem!

We are thankful for you!

Braided Updo: Protective Style

Today, marks the beginning of The Good Hair Blog Protective Style Challenge. TGHBPSC is all about protecting and growing HEALTHY HAIR. I usually wear my hair in mini twists but because I have fine hair, twists only last a week. I wanted to find a style that was low maintenance, cute and conservative so I opted for a braided updo. The back of my hair is braided in a swoop direction from right to left and the middle are two strand twists that are pinned down. Although this is a protective style, I can loosen the two strand twists for a wilder style as the style gets older. To keep my hair fresh and moisturized, I will spray it lightly with a concoction I made....and I mean spray lightly (one or two pumps and that is it!). My concoction consists of a half cup of conditioner, a tablespoon of olive oil and majority water. At night, I tie a silk scarf around my head to protect the braids in the back (the bow of the scarf is in the front near forehead.) I then place my satin bonnet on to make sure that my entire head is protected. I plan to keep this style in for two to three weeks. 

For more photos follow me on IG: @terrinique 

Do you like my new look? What is your go to protective style and tips?

GIVEAWAY: Love & Support Bracelets By Kurlee Belle

Hello Kurlees! It has been awhile since our last giveaway! This post is two-fold, we are introducing our new line of bracelets and doing a giveaway! 

The Story

Kurlee Belle's colors are Hot Pink and Teal. Initially when the bracelets were designed, our team wanted colors that represented love, hope, peace, joy, kindness, trust and support. Our brand is not  about making money but about helping others. 

We have designed the Love & Support bracelets as a way to give back to our friends all over the world that need our help. When you purchase one of our bracelets, a portion of your purchase will go to charities that supports people in need. 

-Pink is the color of pure love. 

-Turquoise is the color of the ocean and symbolizes peace. 

-Silver is the color of security. 

-Black is the color of our heritage. 

How To Enter the Giveaway:

Three easy rules.

1. Follow KurleeBelle on Instagram @kurleebelle and send us a message with the following hashtag: #Loveandsupportbracelet

2. Join our blog by clicking "Join This Site" on the right hand side of the blog. 

3. Comment below by leaving your email address and twitter name below. 

Giveaway Begins: November 15th, 2012

Giveaway Ends: November 30th, 2012

What's The Problem With My Hair During Cold Months?

Photo Source


My hair just does not look the same, I don't know what is wrong with it. My twist outs, braid outs and wash n go's are not as defined as they used to be. What's the problem? 

As the seasons transition from summer to fall to winter to spring, so do the needs of our hair. If you have been natural for awhile then you may have noticed that your hair care regimen needs to change with the season. For instance, protein heavy products may have been used during the summer months because of the humidity but those same products tend to dry out your hair during the fall or winter months. Here are some helpful tips to help with your hair's transition from warm to cooler temperatures. 

Daily Condition & Moisture

If you live in a cooler climate, the cold months can wreak havoc on your hair. One minute you are in the blazing snow, the next your sitting by the fireplace with the heat on blast. The change in temperature from cold to hot and hot to cold can dry out the hair. To avoid damaging your tresses, frequent conditioning is a must. Curly hair is porous so conditioners fill in the gaps of the cuticle to lock in moisture. A good hair care routine during this time, would be to incorporate daily conditioning or moisturizing. 

In my spray bottle, I mix one half of my favorite conditioner, one half H20 and a couple spoons of olive oil or coconut oil. This mixture gives me the right amount of moisture and conditioning to fight the dry air. I usually style my hair each night by re-twisting it, before I re-twist, I spray about two pumps of my mixture onto my hands and rub in a downward motion through the hair (This step is repeated for each section). 

Deep Treatments

We all know we should do it but avoid this crucial step. I love meeting new naturals. One of the reasons is I get to talk "Hair Care Regimen" and almost always the new natural that I've met says "I know I should do a deep treatment once a week but I don't". Deep Treatments are a crucial step in the hair care process and to grow, long, healthy, shiny hair. This step should be followed no matter what season it is. Depending on the needs of your hair, you may need a protein treatment, oil treatment or cream based treatment. I prefer to alternate between the three during the cool months. To help make your decision easier, check out my post---->Deep Treatments & Oil Treatments

Sealants

You've conditioned your hair with a wash out conditioner then applied a leave in conditioner. It is now time to seal those curls and lock in the moisture. Everyone's hair is different so an oil that works best for me, may not work for you. Some oils that have been proven to work better during the cooler months are jojoba, rosemary and lavender. These oils are easily absorbed and help keep your hair and scalp in good condition. Check out my post on how to make rosemary oil at home---> Rosemary Oil: Hair Growth in a Bottle. 

Stylers

You've searched long and hard all summer for the perfect styling creme. It's fall now and that perfect creme forms less than perfect curls. Although, it may seem very discouraging right now, it is time to bring out your inner product junkie and the good news is most products go on sale during the holidays!!!! If you like using gels to form your curls, opt for a non alcoholic based gel during the chilly season. Avoiding humectants is a good idea too! Humectants draw in moisture from the air and cause your curls to swell and get bent out of shape. Ingredients like honey, glycerin, panthenol, hydrolyzed wheat protein and propylene glycol are common humectants and may be the reason why your summer styling products are not working in the fall/winter. Also, since you are using more product during the winter, it is important that the hair is cleansed properly to avoid build up. I am not a fan of co-washing. If I am going to wash my hair, the product must have a cleanser in it. Properly washing your hair helps the styling gel or creme to work better because the product does not have to fight through a ton of dirt and grime to form beautiful curls. 

Accessorize

Cooler months are a great time to wear woven hats, beanies and fedoras. These options are not only stylish and can add the extra oomph to your outfit but protect your hair from the harsh winds of the cold. Not to mention that it will keep your head a little warm...I don't know about you but I do not like it when my ears are cold :). 

Want to add to the list? Please leave your comment below. 

Fashion & The Work Place

Fashion is a popular trend, prevailing custom or style of dress. Work is defined as employment, as in some form of industry, especially as a means of earning one's livelihood. When the two are merged, it maybe unclear as to what is fashionable for the work place. Therefore, many organizations have produced employee handbooks with a lengthy section dedicated to "The Dress Code". If you work for a corporation, I am sure you have seen, heard or been reprimanded in reference to "The Dress Code".

As of recently with the plethora of blogs and YouTube channels, it seems as though everyone is a fashion expert. Do not get me wrong, I love the arts, self expression and everything pretty but when it comes to fashion I have tunnel vision. My style is classic with solids, prints and leather. Style icons that I look up to are Michelle Obama, Victoria Beckham, Audrey Hepburn and Coco Chanel. Give me a black pencil dress, simple jewellery, killer pumps and a chic clutch and I am ready to take on the world. 

Let me just say, I am not a Fashion expert or guru but here are some guidelines when it comes to the work environment. 

Sequins, Spandex and Transparent Clothing

If it is shiny or glow in the dark then you probably should not wear it to work. Ladies, there is no such thing as a transferable piece when it comes to the club versus the work place. If you can wear it to the club you cannot/should not wear it to work. Tight or ill fitting clothing or any piece of clothing where others can see your stomach or lace bra its a no. 

Clothing that shows your religious or political beliefs

Freedom of speech is a wonderful thing but when someone else is cutting your check you should keep your religious and political beliefs to yourself. I am not against religion or supporting your political party but they have no place in the workplace. These are touchy subjects and can cause you to lose your job. 

Social Media

I know you are thinking social  media...that is not fashion but it is. Social media is a popular trend in which many use to express themselves. Adding coworkers to your social media pages can do more harm than good. In work environment's where team building and "making friends" is encouraged, it may seem normal to add your coworkers on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram but ask anyone who has been fired because of their indiscretion on social media outlets...This is not a good idea. My advice is to block your coworkers from your pages. Not DELETE them because this can work against you too. Either block them or open up another account under an alias and do not add coworkers to your personal social media accounts. 

Designer Shoes, Handbags and Jewellery

Louboutins, Cartier and Gucci are nice to have but anything in excess is trashy. Heard the saying "Less is More", this is the same with designer items. Yes you have a nice bracelet, necklace, earrings, handbags and shoes but you don't have to wear every designer piece you own "AT THE SAME DAMN TIME". :) 

Hair

Work appropriate hair depends on your industry. Once your hair is well kept, I think that is all that matters. Of course, if you work for a conservative company then you should stay away from unnatural bold colours and any hairstyle that would be seen as an attention getter.

What would you add to the list? 

Crazy Black Hair Superstitions

Black hair superstitions from the book "Hair Story, Untangling The Roots of Black Hair In America" by Ayana D. Byrd & Lori L....

1. Always burn the hair in your brush or someone could use it to put a hex on you.

2. Never comb, brush, or cut your hair outside because if a bird comes and collects a stray lock for its nest you will:
 a. Feel it pecking at your head
 b. Get headaches
 c. Lose your mind
 d. Suffer the same fate as the bird's babies

3. Always wear your hair covered when menstruating

4. If you allow more than one person to work on your hair at a time:
 a. Your hair will fall out
 b. The youngest worker/helper will die

5. Don't let a pregnant woman do your hair or you'll become pregnant too

6. After someone finishes working on your hair, it's bad luck to say thank you. Instead say "More hair."

7. Never cut a boy child's hair before age one or:
 a. It won't grow
 b. It will be kinky and nappy
 c. It will make the child weak

8. After you cut your hair, if you place a lock in the Bible it will grow back faster

9. It's bad luck for a woman to cut a man's hair, especially if she's menstruating

10. If you want your hair to grow back, only cut it when there is a full moon

11. If you get gray hair when you're young, it means you were a good baby

12. If you get gray hair when you're young, it means you will have a lot of money when you are old

Any you want to add to the list?