CurlSpotting: Millie

CurlSpotting: Millie

Curlspotting Millie

I spotted this amazing mane from a distance.

It was just another Saturday dedicate to errand running with my significant other (SO), until … we turned a corner while driving in the car, and my eyes caught a bouncing mane. It was spectacular—a pillar of curls proudly resting upon the head of a young woman in a flowy yellow dress. Spotted!

I begged my SO to turn the car around. After a few of his rejections and pleas for me to reflect on my curl addiction, we whipped the car around to track down that curly mane. Was it crazy? Yeah, maybe a little, but I had to find out more about this girl’s hair. I figured I’d ask her, accept her “are you crazy” stares, and keep it moving Susan. The worst she could say was no.

We pulled over. I got out the car and walked over to her, anticipating her side eye. Instead, she turned in my direction and stared at my hair! We smiled at each other, and I went in for the kill.

“Hi, my name is Nay, and I love your curly mane,” I said, making it clear that I was not a psycho stalker.

She introduced herself as Millie, and after complementing each other’s hair, she agreed to share with us her hair story. Our interview went as follows:

 

Nay: Your hair is very pretty. Have you always been al naturale?

Millie: Thank you! No, I permed my hair from when I was 10 up until I was 20 years old.

 

Nay: Why did you decide to go natural?

Millie: A girlfriend decided to do it, so I decided to try it as well. That was in 2010. I realize now that I actually like my curls. Plus, my hair is the longest it’s ever been.

Curlspotting Mille

 

Nay: When you decided to go natural, did you immediately chop it all off, or did you grow out your perm?

Millie: I slowly transitioned for 1 ½ years.

 

Nay: How was that like?

Millie: The in between phase was tough, especially when I had two textures—curly and straight ends—but I wouldn’t relax again. I’ve been fully natural for 3 months now, with no straight ends.

 

Nay (applauding Millie): Do you straighten your hair, or are you a full-on naturalista?

Millie: In the beginning I did straighten my hair, but I rarely do it now.

 

Nay: So aside from genetics, how are you maintaining your mane?

Millie (smiles because I’m probably confirming my madness): I wash my hair every 2-3 days. I shampoo with VO5 and condition with Milk & Silk (never heard of it, but she says she gets it at Sally’s Beauty Supply – Shop SallyBeauty.com for Salon Products). I sometimes leave the conditioner in my hair. I also use Olive oil [the product].

 

Nay: That’s it??

Millie: Yes, and I towel dry. I occasionally diffuse it.

 

Nay (baffled at the simplicity of her routine): Do you have any tips for girls who are newly natural and just learning about their curly manes?

Millie: They should know that it’s [transitioning] a process, and you have to commit to it. Once you’re all natural, just let your hair do its own thing. Also, if you use lot of conditioner in the shower while combing, it’ll help to detangle your hair.

Sometimes less is actually more.

 

Aloe Vera Gel, The Scorching Summer Styler For Natural Hair

Aloe Vera Gel, The Scorching Summer Styler For Natural Hair

Aloe Vera Gel on Natural Hair

My curly mane’s popping curls thanks to aloe vera gel.

With the recent bout of extreme heat and high humidity, I’ve found that my usual go-to products for wash and gos just aren’t able to tame my curly mane. The perfectly styled and defined curls that I leave the house with in the morning have ended up as a frizzed out, shrunken cotton ball in the evening (whomp, whomp). While I am taking fellow curly girls’ suggestion to embrace the frizz, I am also exploring another curlie’s suggestion—seal with oil and use Fruit of the Earth 100% Aloe Vera Gel.

Three years ago, I purchased aloe vera gel (AVG) upon the suggestion of natural hair boards. At that time, it just didn’t seem to work on my hair, leaving it dry and crunchy. In hindsight, there may have been many factors which impacted the results of the gel (see if the following applies to you):

  • My hair wasn’t in its true state, as it was damaged and rehabbing from my straightening addiction.
  • I regularly rotated products in an attempt to find a holy grail, so my hair may not have been clarified enough.
  • I can’t recall, but I might have tried the gel during the winter, when humectants like aloe vera gel tend to dry out hair. Unfamiliar with humidity’s impact on curls? The basic breakdown is that humectants can either draw moisture into or out of the hair, depending on humidity. Yes, it gets a little technical. For a full breakdown, Pittsburgh Curly does a great job of explaining humidity and humectants.

Since a full bottle of aloe vera gel has been patiently waiting under my bathroom sink all these years (pick me, pick me!) and my hair is in a much healthier state, I decided to take up the suggestion and revisit the all-natural gel, particularly since it’s an ingredient in a lot of the stylers that I use.

Benefits

Aloe Vera Gel on Natural Hair

Wet hair styled with aloe vera gel.

1. AVG is typically 100% organic.

2. AVG moisturizes the scalp, treating dandruff problems.

3. AVG treats hair loss and promotes fast hair growth (I’m in!).

4. AVG adds sheen to dull hair.

5. AVG balances hair’s pH level, thereby sealing hair’s cuticle layer. This locks moisture into your strands and minimizes frizz.

6. AVG makes curls pop and gives a light hold.

7. AVG leaves your hair super soft.

8. AVG doesn’t contain mineral oil, so you can conditioner wash your hair, thereby adding more moisture into your strands.

9. You can snag a bottle of AVG at any Target or Walmart for under $5. I prefer to use Fruit of The Earth Aloe Vera Gel.

10. If AVG doesn’t work on your hair for styling, you can add it to your shampoo or conditioner for added moisture. If that doesn’t work, you can save it for when you or the next person you know has sun burn!


Styling Tips

Some curlies are successfully mixing aloe vera gel into their own brews. Since I’m not a mixologist, I’ve been layering the gel as I do with my stylers. Do whatever suits your fancy. Here’s how I apply aloe vera gel.

My curly mane styled with aloe vera gel and blow dried.

1. Work on wet, newly washed/co-washed hair.

2. Smooth a leave in conditioner all over your curly mane. I usually use Silicon Mix, but I recently tried Beautiful Textures’ leave in conditioner. So far, it responds well and easily absorbs into my hair. I’ll elaborate more on this product line soon.

3. Style your hair in sections, beginning in the back and working towards the front.

4. In each section, layer products, beginning with additional leave in conditioner.

5. Seal the conditioner with a layer of oil. I like to use Vatika Oil or my oil mix (Vatika Oil, Jamaican Black Castor Oil, Jojoba Oil, and Avocado Oil).

6. Layer aloe vera gel on top of your oil.

7. Repeat layering your leave in, oil, and gel on all sections.

8. Part your hair how you’d like to style it (in middle, side, etc.).

9. Blow or air dry hair. I blow dried my hair because I like to have predictable results and do additional fluffing when dried.

The final, dry haired results, of using aloe vera gel.


Results

Amazing! When I applied aloe vera gel on my wet hair, I was shocked by how smooth and defined my curls appeared (see photos). There was virtually no frizz. After drying, my curls were still seriously defined and fluffy, with minimal frizz.

I used aloe vera gel during three scorching hot, humid days, and I still had great results. I looove how soft and shiny my hair is. I can even now co-wash, since I don’t have to clarify a product to avoid build up. This has been keeping my hair extremely soft and moisturized thus far, which should aid in hair growth. We shall see!

The only downfall is that the gel doesn’t allow me to stretch my hair as well (for length), since my hair is so curly. However, I am able to still have big, fluffy hair.

I will continue to explore the wonderful world of aloe vera gel, particularly on braid/twist outs, and I’ll report back. In the meanwhile, test it out, and share your pics and tips!

UPDATE: Check out the wicked results of my braid-outs with aloe vera gel.

Thandie Newton Goes Natural

Thandie Newton Goes Natural

Thandie Newton

Thandie Newton and her curly mane, courtesy of Kay Montano

You may have seen her in Mission Impossible 2, Crash, or For Colored Girls, among an impressive list of other films. However, Thandie Newton first made an impression on me in the 1991 film, Flirting. She and Nicole Kidman, who sported her beautiful red hair  (oh, I wish she could reclaim her curly mane), were just budding actresses at the time. Thandie’s career, like Nicole’s, took off. She’s since been herald for her talents as a Bafta award-winning actress as well as for her beauty. Little did we know that throughout it all, Thandie was also struggling with her naturally curly hair.

In an interview with make-up artist Kay Montano of Kaymontano.com, Thandie opens up about her childhood experiences and spending two years growing out her relaxer.

“To be honest I do struggle with hairdressers, even now. The main problem is that hairdressers (and some at the top of their game) don’t understand how my type of hair changes dramatically depending on what climate, substance, effects it. Water in any form is like a cheeky magic wand – even mist! But with the correct tools, my kind of hair can do ANYTHING, which is brilliant!”

Read more at www.kaymontano.com.

Nighttime Routines & Sexy Sleeping for Naturals

Nighttime Routines & Sexy Sleeping for Naturals

For the night shows stars and women in a better light.” ~ Lord Byron, Don Juan

You spent all day proudly sporting your best mane style, but now it’s time for bed. How do you go about preserving the ‘do you worked so diligently on? First things first, remember satin and silk are your best friends.

Satin Pillowcase

Sleep on a satin pillowcase and reap the benefits.

Pros:

  • Satin and silk materials do not absorb the moisture in your hair (unlike cotton), preventing your hair from drying out and breaking.
  • Your hair will effortlessly slip across the fabric. Try it and see!
  • The slipping action is great for your face. Satin/silk pillow cases do not cause creases across your face like cotton pillowcases, thereby reducing wrinkles.
  •  You can prevent having “bed head” and smushed ’fros.

Cons:

  • If you are sans air conditioning, you will sweat a lot!

Long-Haired Curly Gals:

  1. Before bed, pineapple your curly mane at the top of your head. Huh, what? New to school? This means gathering your hair at the very top of your head and tying it with a band, so it literally looks like a pineapple. I like to use a scrunchie since it leaves little-to-no hair dents. I also prefer to gather my curly mane at the very front of my head, close to my forehead. It tends to look more like a unicorn than pineapple, but it works! The unicorn method is especially good for us wild sleepers. It also keeps your ends safe from being rubbed by the fabric of your sheets and pillows (if you skip the satin/silk pillows), preventing splint ends.
  2. Sleep on a satin/silk pillow case, or stuff your hair in a satin/silk cap.

Short-Haired Curly Gals and Teeny Weenie Afros (TWAs):

  1. Wear a satin or silk cap before heading to bed. You can also go the extra mile and wrap your hair with a silk or satin scarf before putting on the cap. If your covering stays on (lucky gentle sleepers), you can sleep on a regular pillow case.
  2. If you’re a wild sleeper (toss and turners, leg kickers, and sleep walkers all apply), sleep on a satin or silk pillow case as a backup method.

Straightened Tresses

  1. If you want to preserve your fresh presses and blow-outs, wrap your hair with a satin or silk scarf. When I first began taking better care of my hair, I found this to be tricky, as it was nonexistent in my routine. I would just sleep on a cotton pillow and proceed to cook my hair with a flat iron in the morning. And I wondered why my hair health suffered!

Bonus Tip: If you smooth Vatika oil on longer straightened hair and place it in a bun before bed, you will wake up with silky waves. This particularly works for me when using my Maxiglide hair straightener.

Sexy Sleepers

Let’s face it, there may be occasions where you are in others’ company and want to “sleep sexy,” even just for your own comfort. Bolder curlies will call a spade a spade and keep on trucking with their routine. “Sexy sleepers” can try the pineapple and satin pillow case method, or at the very least keep a pillowcase handy, particularly if you’re traveling. They may call you a diva, but you’ll be waking up with your style preserved!

And while you’re sexy sleeping, don’t forget your body spray, cute socks, and lip balm/gloss. It may sound a little over the top, but I know ladies who go the extra mile!

Do you have sexy sleeping hair techniques? Pass them along and sound off.

Afro Pik Your Hair For Volume

Afro Pik Your Hair For Volume

Want a little lift? Invest in an afro pik!

I use the afro pik to lift hair at the roots, while using a blow dryer.

Although I have watched many a family members pick out their hair, I have to admit that I am late in discovering the benefits of the tried and true afro pick. Just a few weeks ago, I stumbled upon vlogger and curly hair extraordinaire, taren 916 aka Taren Guy’s video of her wash and go. She finished by using the ever reliable afro pick.

Taren’s hair went from flat curls, which were quite cute, to full on mane. Roar! I was mesmerized. Why hadn’t I thought of that? I guess it’s because when I think of an afro pick, I picture thicker, fully picked out fros. I didn’t realize that I could use it to “pick up/out” my hair from the roots. I tried it, and it works!

For my desired look, I work with hair that has been styled from my wash and go. Once this is finished, I grab a pick and only pick up the first ½ inch to 1 inch of hair (at the roots) and blow dry these areas with a hair dryer on high heat, high speed. It’s typically recommended to use low heat, high speed, but I up the heat due to my old dryer.

If you’re going for full on fro aka Afro Samurai (love that movie!), then motion the pick completely through your hair. You may not need heat to do this. Just make sure that your hair is moisturized. Play around with your picking motion to achieve the look that works for you. Results will vary depending on your hair texture.

If you like the fully froed out look, at under $5, this will do the do.