Author: Keri

Categories
making money

Having a little extra for tomorrow

It’s been a minute since I last wrote here, however, it’s been a time of reflection and focusing on my child as he is growing. It’s been a challenging time as well with the changes and getting myself immersed in the online world. I realized one thing though. All this time that I had been working on a little bit here and there, I had all these resources in my hand and I just didn’t know how to make use of them. Writing for me has been a way to release my thoughts and not think too much about something. This week started quite hopeful and everything seemed to be going well. All of a sudden, everything that I thought was good was not that great. Now when you find that things are getting out of control just a little bit, you can adjust it a little bit. However, when it’s out of your control then there’s not much you can do. I was going through a few things and then I realized I had an account with a company for a very long time, close to 10 years. I felt a little embarrassed that I did not even know how to use it. It’s like having a piece of land and you don’t know how to use it for farming. These things are common and that’s why I started looking through all the things I have spent time doing. Many years back, I decided to use my time wisely and do something that can help me, especially for a time like now when you have children and still need some income coming in. 

Click bank

I have had a Click bank account for over 10 years now. I did not have a clue how to use it.  I sat down and just accounted for the wasted opportunities and time and let me tell you we all have that. It’s always good to set time aside just to assess everything that you are doing. What are you wasting your time with? It could be worrying about finances which is something many people do but what are you going to do about it? Will you get an extra job, perhaps take some time to learn another skill so that you can use it? I decided to look into this account I had set up and I was doing absolutely nothing about it. I think I was so absorbed with different tasks that I put it to the side. I just managed to go through it and realized I was sleeping while saying there are many ways to make money. 

The future

I have seen a little report that mentions that A. I which has started being used quite diligently will be taking over jobs in the next 3 years at least 20 % of jobs will be obsolete. What are you doing now to brush up on your skills? These questions could be thought-provoking to some, but to others, they are probably working on themselves and so this is just something that does not worry them at all. We have seen the work landscape over the last 3 years, and it will continue to rapidly transform. I remember the days when applications would be in person and you had to write a letter and provide physical copies of your resume. Those days are long gone, now things are moving digital and it’s changing at an extremely rapid pace. The children born after 2000 have grown up with technology fully. Not sure how it will be in the future specifically but we can be glad that technology has helped the world become a little smaller than before. This means that people can use technology from any place as long as they use it wisely. We have also seen the negative consequences of it for those who misuse things. 

Having a little

I do not know why I wanted to set myself up for a long time but I remember the various experiences and disappointments that I have had along the way. I think because of that, I decided that I needed to change my thought process and work on things early before it’s too late. For those that just want to start, it’s never too late to begin even if it means setting out an hour daily or even weekly to organize yourself. You can only make time for that goal you want to set. It has not been easy but the little goals that I set make me happy. The little time I have set aside just to do a little here and there shows that there is some progress. It can be as fast or as slow as you want. 

Learning bit by bit

It’s been a long journey but for me this year will be different and I will make sure that the goals that are set are completed. The main goal is not to make an excuse no matter how tough it is. Consistency is the key to achieving anything. As I look back, although there are things that could have been done better, they were done. There is nothing that cannot be done unless you put your mind to it. If you are struggling with anything, don’t give up. If you have a belief system then look to your maker and also get the support you need. You will always find a tribe that will be behind you 100%. This year I was assessing the power of belief, it’s key to belief in yourself. You cannot live without self-belief. It’s more challenging than you think. There is a thin line between self-belief and pride. It’s important to stay humble no matter what as there is always something new you can learn. I have decided that for me even though I know something, I will go through the process if I don’t know something, I will ask or do it again until I feel confident. One thing that I can say for sure about any thing. Never give up. 

Categories
hair products

Where to get products for black hair in Australia

I have lived in Australia for over 18 years now and this question never gets old. I remember when I first came here there were practically no hair salons where I could get a hair dresser. The worst thing was that my aunt was one so almost every weekend, I remember visiting her salon. Coming to Australia and the stress of not having anyone doing my hair, was not too bad as I knew what to do with my hair. However, I underestimated how difficult it was to get products and so that was where the struggle began.

I had relaxed hair when I came here and I tried to maintain it on my own for some time. When I suddenly removed a clump of hair during one of my relaxing periods though, I thought that these chemicals can’t be good for me. I have been natural ever since.

Over the years

Over the years though I think that the hair care industry here in Australia has come a long way. I don’t worry too much about my hair as I always have someone I can speak to get it done. Most times I do it myself because I really don’t want to pay $150 or more just to get a style which may not last for a long time. I had to invest in getting some salon products such as a hair-dryer, straightener, curling iron and who can’t forget the lovely curl rods. I would like to add the steamer on the list because I have low-porosity hair which means that’s one of the best ways to add moisture to my hair.

If you don’t know what low-porosity hair is, you can always go back to my link in the beginning.

Products galore

There are many shops nowadays where you can get products, some I have visited and others I have no idea about but hey I know with any African shop you can always get what you want.

After discovering my hair type and what I need, I decided to target businesses that provide the type of products that are great for natural hair.

If you don’t want to walk into a shop you can always order them online without having a high cost like it used to be back in the day if you had to order internationally.

Sydney

Afro puffs -You can get products from them and even order them online. They stock many products and you don’t have to order international brands as they tend to have them.

Afro goods – You can order any type of hair product you want. You can even get some great deals from their shop.

Saint curl – Another great resource where you can shop for your natural hair products

Nature’s hair and beauty supply – I have actually been to this shop and they stock most things that you need. If you want hair of any type they have it.

The curl store-They have all types of curly hair products and I mean some I haven’t heard about, which means you have options.

4 my curls – This is also a great website to get the products that you want. Not sure where it is based, however I have just included it in the Sydney list.

Melbourne

sm cosmetics – Another great resource where you can get your products from.

Afro trends -You can get your hair and skin products and also get your hair done.

Brisbane

Curly wurly -Another great resource to get products that you require for your hair.

Adelaide

Flora African Shop Australia – They do sell many African products including food. Therefore, if you are based in Adelaide you have somewhere to go.

Perth

Ebony and Ivory – You can get all hair products, weaves, wigs, black opal makeup and many other items that you would like.

If you are based in Canberra or Northern Territory, don’t fear you can get any of these products from any of these places mentioned above and best of all the shipping costs will be a lot lower than usual.

Now just note that many of these places should have items for both men, women and children. In terms of products it will depend on which one you use.

As mentioned earlier though, it’s best to stick to a specific product and use it for a period to see the changes on your hair rather than use too many products. In terms of budget the products range from cheaper to more expensive brands.

Now this list is not exhaustive, the main reason some businesses may not have been listed is that some do not have websites, therefore depending on where you live, you can explore your city and let me know if there are any other shops that you have come across that provide products.

Let me know if you used any of them.

Categories
hair accessories

Caring for hair with accessories

Afro hair must always be detangled with great care. In this article I will be writing about the various accessories used on afro hair and how individuals can use them adequately to minimise any damage that they may cause on their hair.

Using hair clips and clamps

Most hair clips and clamps normally have seamed teeth and edges. In order to minimise damage on your hair being pulled out, it’s advisable to make sure that your clips or clamps are well made. If you want to use any for styling your hair ensure that you clip it gently and avoid placing it too tight that it can rub on your scalp. Make sure that the clip is in good working condition. Learn to let go of those clips that have a chip or tend to snag on your hair. Not only will you end up pulling on your hair and getting damage it can also cause hair loss.

Hairpins

Hairpins make it easier to put your hair in place, however they need to have soft rounded tips that are in good condition. If your bobby pin, does not have a rounded tip, it’s better to throw it away immediately. Try to avoid putting hairpins in the same area as it can cause damage to the hair. Be careful when you take them out as well always hold the tip and pull them back a little so that there is room for your fingers to pull it out.

Hair ties, scrunchies and bands

When you are looking for a hair band or scrunchie if you have afro hair make sure that you are not getting cotton fibre. Cotton will absorb the moisture from your hair causing it to get dry. Make sure that your scrunchie or head band is made out of silk or satin fabric to guard you from moisture loss. When you are tying up your hair, it has to be well moisturised. If the hair tie, scrunchie or band has a metal part or little pieces that can snag the hair, it’s probably wise not to purchase it.

When you are tying up your hair in a ponytail keep it loose if you hair is very wet. Try not to tie it more than twice if you do that will be too tight. If you place too much tension on your hair, the result can be alopecia. If you cannot tie your hair up in a ponytails, it’s ideal to use the bands. A silk band would be ideal.

Hair scarfs and hats

A while ago I was communicating with my friend and she mentioned that her daughers’ hat kept snagging on her hair and it ended up causing her to loose hair in some areas. At that moment I thought I should probably inform her about some products I got from https://www.graceeleyae.com/ . All the products from Grace eleyae incorporate satin into the hats and scarfs which is amazing so your hair will remain moisturised and it great condition. This helps to put an end to hat head, where you put on a hat and it just looks a little funny after you take it off.

If your hair is not in a great condition and you want to keep it covered or you are going to the hairdressers. There are a few styles that have helped in ensuring that you can look stylish and still wear something that looks presentable.

Hair does not have to be limited to specific styles to look good, there are many other ways it can look amazing.

Sleeping caps

With afro hair, sleeping caps are a must have for your hair as they help in keeping braids intact, if you have relaxed or natural hair it’s also perfect as it helps in keeping it in place. If you don’t want to braid your hair before bed but use a sleeping cap, it will help you in ensuring that you keep your hair in great condition. It’s also ideal to keep your hair moisturised for longer.

When you choose a sleeping cap make sure that the band around your head is snag. Sometimes to avoid the line that you would tend to get when you wake up, I put a silk scarf underneath the sleeping cap. When I wake up, I don’t have any lines on my forehead.

All these will help in maintaining your hair and are a great way to style up your hair without spending money on other things.

Which accessories do you use and have you done anything to cause damage to your hair?

 

Categories
hair moisture hair products

How to ensure that your hair has the right amount of protein and moisture

I have maintained natural hair over many years now and I am at that stage where I don’t desire to relax it at all. The best I can do is ensure that it is well maintained all year round and is healthy. There was a time when all I wanted was to have long flowing hair and I know I can, however I realised that healthy hair is more important in order to have long flowing hair. Regardless, if you want to maintain longer or shorter hair, the methods mentioned in this blog should be knowledge for the rest of your life.

Many individuals with textured or curly hair are probably bombared with different products on a daily basis. One thing to remember is that if something is working for you, it’s best not to change it. Now the main reason I decided to write this article is because sometimes I get questions from some individuals that I know in finding out what I do to make sure that my hair is in great condition. One thing we all have to understand is that the best individual to know their hair is you. It’s your responsibility to understand what works well for you and what does not. Coconut oil may work well for my hair and scalp but it may not work for some individuals and that’s actually normal.

One thing though that helps with ensuring that you have the right balance of protein and moisture in your hair is how it feels. Another thing to note that is extremely important is that you need to understand your hair porosity in order to make sure that you are using the right techniques for your hair.

Identifying hair that has too much protein

How do you know if your hair has too much protein? well that’s quite simple, when you wash your hair, make sure you look out for these signs. Is it taking too long to fully get wet? does it feel spongy, hard and stretchy? Are you getting more breakage than usual? When you do the keratin treatment for example, you put alot of protein in your hair, do you know how your hair reacts if you put too much protein on it?

If you find that you answered yes to these questions, the best thing to do is start using products that are more moisture based in order to make sure that your hair is getting adequate moisture and there is some balance. Sometimes, protein will take some time to minimize on your hair strands because once it’s coated on your hair, it’s quite difficult for it to get out.

One way to cleanse your hair so that more protein can get off is using a shampoo that contains a lauryl sulphite because that will get rid of everything that may be coating the strands of your hair, then using a moisturising shampoo.

Note that this takes quite a few weeks to get off your hair so you may not see any difference in your hair for some time, be patient and keep at it.

Identifying hair that has too much moisture

When you wet your hair, how does it feel? Does you hair feel limp and gummy and not very strong, does your hair stretch a lot before breaking? You need to make sure that your hair has a good balance of moisture and you can have too much. This means that you are keeping your hair too wet all the time without allowing it to dry. Also because you have not balanced it with protein, it is not strong.

Therefore in order to make sure that you have enough protein, get protein-based conditioners.

I have braids, how do I know what I need?

If your hair is braided, it’s hard to know what your hair needs, the best thing to do is alternate the products. One week have a moisture based protein and in the next a protein based protein. This way you can consistently maintain your hair in a way that you don’t have to lack once you undo your braids.

However everytime an individual removes their braids, they always have buildup, therefore it’s useful to get a stronger shampoo with a sulfate to make sure that your hair is clean.

Conclusion

It is a lot easier to minimize the damage when you have more moisture than when you have more protein. Sometimes individuals get so much breakage and they are unsure what to do. Sometimes the best thing is to cut your hair and start the process again. Hair sheds for many varied reasons and sometimes it may not be too much protein or too much moisture. Your diet plays a big role in helping your hair to stay healthy. Make sure that you are well hydrated as well and that you are exercising and eating well. If you keep up with this, it can help tremendously in your day to day.

Do you know if you have been moisture or protein deficient?

Categories
afro combs

Combs for Afro and Curly hair

This week, I experienced a tough week with my afro, I actually felt like cutting it off and this has been after a long time. You see, a few weeks back, I had odered some crochet braids to install in my hair as I mentioned earlier, that is one of my go to protective styles. I was eagerly waiting for them and ready to get that hairdo done. I kept checking with the individuals that mentioned that I should have received them and they said that I should wait a little longer. After one month of waiting, I was extremely unhappy with the outcome of the items and just mentioned that I had not received them. I did not ask for a refund but I enquired with them again as I wanted to make sure that I was still to receive them. I was only informed that I would receive a refund. It got me wondering, what happened to the items along the way? did they get lost? Did someone else get them? So many questions and no answers. Back to the topic of the day, combing afro hair.

Combs and Afro hair

When having natural hair became more of a trend, I came across many theories and ideologies regarding looking after afro hair. One of them was that you should not comb afro hair? That did not last long, it’s extremely difficult to deal with afro hair without a comb or even a blowdry, unless you have less tighter coils in your hair. The best methodology I heard was finger combing. Now depending on the type of coils you have. if you have tigher coils, sometimes the finger combing can help but you still need a detangling brush especially for the little tiny knots. Sometimes if I am a little impatient with the process, I will eventually cut the knot off. That’s why it’s important to keep trimming your hair because it minimizes the knots a fair bit.

So because I did not get the crotchet braids, I was at a loss of how to style my hair this week, eventually I used a brush to comb it out and leave it as an afro for a while. 

It’s been a hot week so I prefer not to add anything to my head because I don’t want to get too sweaty.

Wide Toothed Combs

Every time I shower, I always use a wide toothed comb for the tangles in my hair when I am washing it. It makes the task odf detangling so much easier. Infact when I take out my braids, I no longer try and detangle them before I wash my hair, I usually detangle it during the process of washing. The only thing I do when I undo the hair is remove the product build up, which you can actually avoid if you use spirit and cotton to clean up atleast every week. It’s also wise to use a light oil to keep it moisturised during the braid process, however that’s something I will provide information on next time.

Now if you have tight coils, do not use combs that are small and are not wide toothed if your hair is still tangled. You can use it once your hair has been straightened out. I have not straightened my hair in almost one year now and I actually cannot wait to do that soon. I think less heat on the hair is so healthy for you.

Recent trend

Lately, there have been some combs that have been released in the market and I think that they are extremely innovative and interesting Poppupe detangling brush, it’s easy to use, it bends with your hair. It’s good to use in the shower and it minimizes the tangles which means less pain.

It has not been used by many people, because as mentioned, it’s a new look and style and many individuals have not experienced using that design, however check it out.

Wooden Combs

When I was younger, I was used to the wooden comb it’s only when the manufacturing of combs became more common that the plastic combs started being used. The wooden comb was mostly useful for braiding and a little bit of combing, however not so much. There’s not much production of wooden combs nowadays, however I will certainly find out if I can find a similar comb to the one that I used during my childhood.

Comb etiquette

It does not matter if you are the only individual that uses a brush or comb, however it’s extremely important to keep it clean. After every use I always wash it. The main reason for this is that when you reuse the brush again, you want to know the condition of your hair. You want to see are you loosing a lot of hair, is the condition improving. It’s also important to keep it clean to minimize any cross infection. But just like make up brushes, it’s good to disinfect your comb by cleaning it in warm soapy water. You can also just disinfect it depending on what you like.

Anyway combing and brushing your hair is always important. You cannot live without it and it’s the only way to know how your hair is doing.

What was your favourite type of comb growing up?