Afro

Category: hair care

  • 4 ways to recover from a bad haircut – afro

    Sometimes in life, you may want to change a look because you just want to have a different appearance or there is a change in your life. You may decide to go to the hairdressers quickly and maybe the stylist that you normally get is not there. You have no choice you have booked in and you have to follow-through, then an unfortunate event takes place. Bad haircut.

    Bad haircut

    You may have a big date coming up or a looking for a quick fix for an important event. Maybe your usual hairdresser is not around and you are forced to get your hair done by someone that usually does not do your hair. You describe what you want them to do and then you leave it to them assuming that they will do as you say. You may be browsing through your phone or just looking at the magazine, and then they inform you that they are done. As soon as you view it, you really don’t like it and don’t know what to say. What do you do? Well assuming that you have an afro or relaxed hair, here are a few options that could be of use to you.

    1. Afro or relaxed hair

    If you have an afro, then you can pat down your hair to even it all out once you spray it with water. The beauty with afro hair is that you can make it look even although that may not be the case. If your hair is relaxed, you could tie it up and probably use an accessory like a silk band to put around your head to look pretty. Although, you may have wanted to have your hair down.

    2. Shorter style

    If you have some time available, you could potentially get your hair cut shorter in order to make sure that your hair is cut to a good length.

    3. Braids

    If you have some spare time, it would probably be ideal to get your hair braided in order to make sure that it is styled well for the event.

    4. Use a wig

    If time is critical and you have no options left, you can always use a wig. A lace front one would be ideal as you can get some good quality nowadays. Make sure that it’s installed well on your head.

    5. Cancel your date

    You may not want to do this but if you don’t have an option, then maybe you can cancel your date and reshedule it so that you can work on fixing your hair is some way. Sometimes you just have to make use of the situation.

    Have you had a bad haircut experience before? If you have what did you do?

  • 8 great gifts for afro hair this season

    It’s that time of year, not sure how to describe it this year. However just counting my blessings this year. Here is a list of 8 great afro items that you can get family members or friends this season.

    Detangler brush

    If you have been struggling with detangling you hair, or know friends and family that struggle with tangles. If you would like to give a great gift, then look no further. You can find this on a few platforms such as wish, amazon, ebay. It is available in many colours and would be quite suitable for any hair type, especially curly hair. It works so well and assists with the detangling process.

    T-Shirt Towel

    If you have never tried this, it’s the best thing ever because when you use a t-shirt towel your hair tends to be less frizzy and does not get very dry. Preferrably get one that is 100% cotton and not any other type of material as other materials will dry out your hair.  The t-shirt towel can be found on amazon, ebay and iherb as well.

    Scrubber

    If you want a new experience for your scalp and a nice clean feeling after every wash, consider getting a scrubber. If you suffer from an itchy scalp the scrubber is particulary useful after you braid your hair. It will help rejuvenate your scalp and you will have a cleaner scalp.

    Satin Cap

    I will never go back to any other cap. The satin cap is ideal especially for natural hair as it can be used for various activities especially sleeping. Also it minimizes the problem of you having to deal with your scarf which normally moves when you sleep. To this day I always wonder how this happens but glad that those days are long gone.

    Puff holder

    It’s always difficult to put your hair in one bun when you have naturally thick hair, without having to pull it too hard and after sometime taking it down because your head is pounding. You can always use a puff holder to keep your hair looking neat and in good condtion. It is also great to have a puff holder as it is.

    Silk head band

    The silk head band is the best thing ever. It minimizes hair breakage, it helps keep your hair moisturized and it feels good on your hair and skin too. If you want to change up your look, having different color silk head bands make for a variety of looks everyday if you want.

    Steam hair dyer

    If you have to use treatment, a steam hair dryer is a great gift and investment for yourself as well. There are multiple benefits of using a steam hair dryer. I will probably provide more information about this next time as I have been searching for the ideal steamer especially for afro hair. There are quite a few options and it’s up to you to select the type of steam dryer you have. I currently have the portable one. It looks similar to the one below.

    Seperation clips

    If you don’t have seperation clips and you have afro hair, then you will have a lot of tangled hair. It’s also great when you are straightening or blow drying your hair, although I would do this once in a while. If this is something that you like, here is a clip that would work well on your hair.

    As you end this year, it’s important to note that the past few years have come with various lessons. One of the things I have learnt is that it’s good to use what you have. If you are not using it, then it’s time to either give it away if it is in good condition or throw it away if you don’t require it. Is there anything on the list that you don’t have and also is there something that you would add to this list of items?

  • Ways to minimize hair-breakage on afro hair

    The best way to wash your hair especially with curls is to make sure that it’s washed as it should be at the salon. Now as a normal individual washing your hair everytime at a hairdressers may not necessarity be possible. However, there are techniques that you can use to ensure that when you wash your hair you have less tangles.

    Washing with braids

    Most individuals that I have met are always curious how hair with braids can be washed. It’s very simple, however if you have curls in your hair and are doing your own hair, it’s best to section it into four and loosely braid each part. The main reason is that it will help you in keeping your hair together and reducing the friction that you lead to breakage between your hair strands. When you are in the process of washing it, when it’s all braided together, the tangling process is reduced. This is the reason why braided hair can still be washed without any trouble. If you have longer hair, it’s one of the best techniques as you will struggle less with tangles and breakage. Now imagine you utilise the deep conditioning method mentioned earlier with this technique, you will be pleasantly surprised. I challenge anyone with 4c hair type to try this technique and see how much better for your hair it will be.

    Now in order to make sure that you rinse out the shampoo and conditioner, I normally tend to undo one section at a time and just make sure that all the shampoo and conditioner has been removed, then I will braid it up again. You can use a loose twist or a three strand braid method.

    Washing shorter hair

    If you hair is shorter and you still do not want it to get tangled, ensure that you use a hair tie or clips if that is possible. If your hair is too short to put in sections, wash it as it is but use a treatment such as hot oil or even conditioner. When you wash use the pads of your fingers to massage your scalp. When you first apply your shampoo, give it a minute to penetrate into the hair shaft and remove any dirt or debris before your wash it off and rinse it. If you feel that your scalp is not clean enough you can repeat the process until you are done.

    Finally, apply the conditioner. Now sometimes I normally want to make sure that when I apply the conditioner my hair get’s really moisturised, therefore sometimes I leave it on my scalp for about 5-10 minutes.You can also do other chores and then rinse it out if you want. Always rinse your scalp with warm-cool water but not hot water.

    This method is very effective for helping you have less breakage and easier way to detangle your hair.

    Deep conditioning process

    Deep conditioning is a method that you can use to soften your hair depending on the texture. If your hair is a lot tougher, it’s best to leave the deep conditioner a little longer on  your hair so that it can help in the process of softening. A good indicator of times is from 5 – 15 minutes. If you can add heat,  it’s a lot easier if not, then ensure that you put it on your hair for atleast 10 minutes.

    Drying your hair

    The process of drying your hair also plays a part in minimising breakage. Microfiber towels or old cotton t-shirts work best in minimising breakage. Your hair will dry faster, it will also be beneficial to blot the hair instead of scrunching it as that will form tension and tanlges once more. If you have a diffuser, it can be a great way to dry your curls as well without manipulating them. If you don’t have a diffuser, you can use string and wind it down either in the four sections or by dividing into smaller sections.

    Moisturising process

    Before you apply the string, make sure that you moisturise your hair, you can use a water-based cream moisturiser or lighter oil depending on your hair type. always oil the ends of your hair and move towards the root. You don’t have to put too much, just make sure it’s enough to keep the hair in good condition. I always use shea butter or coconut oil on my hair as that works well, however when I have braided hair, I use the ligher oils because I normally use a stray to condition my scalp.

    These are some ways in making sure that the process of washing and moisturising your hair are done in the best way without causing unecessary breakage. Note that if you are in a hurry, it’s advisable not to wash your hair as you will definintely do a poor job. The more you repeat this process, the easier and faster you will get.

    What is your wash routine, and how do you ensure that you minimise breakage?

  • Caring for afro-hair with accessories to look great

    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?

     

  • How to start looking after your hair

    Most people want what they can’t have. If you have straight hair, you want curly hair and if your hair is curly, you want it straight. However, what matters the most is how you look after it. Whatever type of hair you have, if you look after it, everyone will certainly compliment you on it, be it curly or straight. I hope you identified your hair care regimen from my previous post. If you still have not, you can certainly feel free to check it out.

    Like most people with afro hair, It took a long time for me to learn how to look after it just because I always thought that having it straight looked better. Now I know most individuals may disagree with me, but curly hair can actually be washed frequently if you have a wash and go style. That means not putting any heat on it. I remember the first year I decided to go heat free. It was a time of reckoning. You can imagine having this afro that decides on a certain day that it just doesn’t want to be shaped in any way. I had to really work with it all the time and I don’t resort to buns, I always end up braiding it some way either it’s a two strand twist or flat twist. It’s not that I don’t have the courage to have it out. Sometimes, I just didn’t want to keep being self-concious about it and it was easier to have it braided.

    Looking after the afro

    When I first learnt how to look after my hair, I experienced a lot of growth, however that was before I had a child. I used to spend hours on my hair without a tinge of guilt as I had time on my hands. The older I got though, I have become a little more strict with my time as I ask myself if I have had a productive day. Therefore I tend to limit time with my hair to less than 2 hours. That means, I just have to get any style done and the faster it’s done the better. Lately, I decided not to add any type of extension to my hair just to make sure that I am giving it the attention it deserves. I am making sure that it’s moisturised and if that means washing it twice a week, I will do that. If you want to have a better hair regimen, you always have to start with constant hair refreshment, It will make a difference to your hair, probably not immediately but after a period of time.

    If you want more growth, you have to trim your hair and honestly, long hair may be hereditary, but as long as you are looking after your hair well, it makes a massive difference.

    Having balance

    Although it’s important to add moisture to your hair, you must have a good balance of protein and moisture. The good thing is that once you find the right products and the right balance, there is no limit to how long you want to grow your hair and you don’t have to take hair and nail pills, although they can really help.

    So if you want to start a healthy hair care regimen, first make sure you diagnose your hair to see if there is any problem you need to address. If it’s dryness then it’s best to add moisturising shampoos. If it’s brittle and tends to break quite a bit then you will have to add protein shampoo to your regimen. Once you have identified the right regimen, you have to create a schedule that you must stick to. You have to have consistency in your hair regimen to see change, otherwise you will get back to square one.

    ticktock

    Deep-conditioning

    I never thought afro hair really needed deep conditioning, however after doing it a couple of times this year, it has really improved my hair condition. I think that if I do it every month, I will probably be even more pleased with the results, however I like to save my time so I may add that to my regimen.

    Healthy body, healthy hair

    When you are looking after you body and eating the right foods, it will reflect on your body. If you make sure that you are hydrated often and that you have increased your vegetable intake, it will really assist you in seeing a difference in your hair. Additionally, if you work on yourself, it will definitely reflect. Therefore, don’t neglect your body because you are trying to work on your hair only. Everything has to be improved.

    Have you done anything to your hair lately that has assisted you in looking after it?

     

  • Gel free styling on afro hair keeping the natural look

    I love the natural hair movement because it has created opportunities for individuals to start doing various hair styles that are becoming popular and some that are easy to do.

    One style that I love at the moment is the slick back afro with a bun or even with hair out. Now I remember when I first

    went natural and a lot of products that are in the market now were not available at that time. Therefore, you could not even slick back your hair with any ecostyler or anything else. With the new products in the market now, there are so many options.

    Gels

    The first time I was given information about gels when I was younger is that they are not suitable for afro hair and should not be used at all. I think at that time that was true however in this day and age, that is not the case at all. I got my first product about 10 year ago to slick my hair back. I remember how excited I was because my hair was shiny.

    However, the only draw back was that after a few hours the gel made your hair seem like a rock and my hair would get lots of white on it. At that time, I did not understand why my hair would not come out as it did, however I kept using it anyway. It was not often but it was quite frequent.

    Gels now

    Nowadays there are so many types of gels and most of them can be used on afro hair. You can look at Eco styler, Olive oil, Giovanni e.t.c and the list goes on. Now the problem with gels for me is that after a few days, I start developing white flakes on my hair, I am not sure why and that means I have to either use water to help with the flaking or just wash it out of my hair.

    Recently I discovered that you can use a moisturiser on your hair before you place the gel on top and that normally helps in reducing the dryness that gels can cause. However the other problem I get with gels is that my scalp can become really itchy.

    Gel free

    Therefore to develop the same style as I would with a gel but without it, I discovered a technique that works quite easily for me.

    1. Depending on the look you want to achieve, make sure that you put a leave in conditioner on your hair.

    2. Comb through to get the desired look on your head.

    3. Tie up your hair in whichever way you want to have your bun.

    4. Place a head tie on the section for about 5 – 10 minutes.

    5. Once the time is up, you can still get a bun without the gel but your hair still looks great.

    That is the same look without any gel on it and it comes out looking exactly the same. I have the same look with gel and it looks slightly different, however as mentioned before I have to be careful not to let it get itchy on my scalp.

    If you have tried any gels, which ones do you like to use often and which ones work for you?

  • Do you have a hair-care regimen plan?

    I have a few questions that can assist you in knowing how well you are looking after your hair.

    If you want to know how to retain afro hair length. Here are a few questions that will help you evaluate yourself.
    Do you ensure that your hair is moisturized often?
    How often do you colour and manipulate your hair?
    Do you do deep conditioning every month?
    Do you have a hair care plan?
    Are you using the right products?
    How often do you have protective styles?
    How often are you trimming your hair?

    If you don’t have a plan, the terrible news is that you may not see progress on your hair. But the good news is that anyone can start a plan just like if you did not go to the gym and decided to dedicate your time, energy and effort.

    It’s never too late to get yourself started. How do you begin?

    Well the key thing to begin with is making sure that the products you use are the best ones for your hair. How do you know a product is good for you? Nowadays there is a lot of information that can help you in getting the right product. Also it does not hurt to be consistent with a product for a minimum of 3 months as that can help you in identifying what works and what does not. Just like your skin, you need to make sure that your hair gets the same care.

    How do you begin your plan, well that’s not too difficult. You just need to create consistency with what you do. For example, if you decide that you will be washing your hair every week, are you doing that? Are you consistent with your trim every 3 months? Don’t just start the process and stop it, the progress will be a lot slower. Are you keeping your hair moisturized every single week?

    I will let you know that I was quite lazy in the maintenance of my hair, although I am aware that it can grow quite long. I left it to dry not really maintaining moisture and the other thing was that I was not trimming as often as I should.

    When I was young, I had extremely long hair. It was actually the longest in the class. Everyone loved it and nobody wanted me to cut it off. During my final year of primary school, I decided to cut my hair short and let’s just say everyone was really surprised. I don’t remember any photos from that time but I remember my mum asking if I was sure I wanted to cut my hair. I was so sure and I actually don’t think I regretted it at all. Not sure I would cut my hair that short again but that was something I have done before.

    I developed a hair care regimen that has assisted me in looking after my hair and it’s quite simple. Sometimes the simpler the hair care regimen, the easier it is to remain consistent.

    Planning List

    Here is a list of what should be done to ensure maximum maintenance and growth of hair:

    1. Select the right products for your hair and be consistent with it. Do not change your product unnecessarily just because a specific product is working for another individual. Research the product that your friend or family member has suggested first, don’t be running to buy it without research.
    2. Make sure that you are moisturizing your hair and that is well moisturized. A good tip, every 2 or 3 days make sure that you spray some water onto it and use a light oil such as argan, olive or coconut, whichever works for you.
    3. Minimize unnecessary use of heat. Make sure that you are not putting heat on your hair if you don’t need it. If it’s open you can try and get a protective style and make sure you are not using a straightener if you don’t have to.
    4. Trim your hair every 3 months. If you don’t trim your hair, you will find that it will grow but when you go to the hair dresser and it’s damaged you will get a hair cut and not a trim. That would mean that the growth you gained will be in vain.
    5. If you have chemicals on your hair, make sure that you are consistently retouching your hair every 6 to 8 weeks, don’t do it too frequently as that is not good for your scalp.
    6. Balance the protein treatment on your hair. Now some individuals cannot use protein on their hair and that’s something that you will get to understand the more you look after it.
    7. Low manipulation hair-styles are also suitable for afro hair as that means you are not tampering with your hair often.
    8. Lastly, make sure that you have a good diet as that will really help in growth of hair. Especially vegetables. If you must take supplements to make sure that you have everything, there is no problem with that.

    Remember that this takes time and commitment as you cannot just wake up and do this once and all will be well.

    Time will give you a good indication as to how well you are looking after your hair. Additionally, if you find that you hair is growing but it’s difficult to maintain your hair length, make sure that you are not manipulating it too much. The longer your hair get’s the more moisture will be required especially for the ends as the cuticle tends to get a little less stronger.

    Now I will certainly delve into selection of hair products. I live in a country where it’s difficult to source many products, however I will provide information on how I choose suitable products for a reasonable price.

    What other hair care regiment tips do you have if you have grown your hair? Let me know in the comments below.

  • Hair Shrinkage on afro hair and different methods of maintenance

    In this article I will be looking at the shrinkage of afro hair and how the hair technique used for washing it can have an impact on how the hair will look as a result.

    Anyone with hair that is 4a – c which would have the most curly hair type and various curl patterns from spiral to z curl knows this pain too well. When I was a lot younger I used to get my hair blow-dried all the time and braided into the usual school hairstyles as we were not really permitted to have any other types of hair styles in school.

    I remember there was one older girl in the class ahead of me that had beautiful hair as well. One day out of curiosity just wanting to know what she does with her hair as she did not braid much I mentioned that my hair had shrinkage. She did not know what I was talking about. At that time I thought I was the only individual that goes through this. I had assumed that she goes through the same and potentially she may have had a different curl pattern therefore it may not have been an issue for her.

    Shrinkage
    Since as far back as I can remember I always experienced shrinkage, however whenever my hair was braided, I did not seem to have much shrinkage on my hair. Now as many individuals are discovering their natural hair sometimes depending on the occasion you may want to have your hair in a more natural state and at other times you don’t really want your hair in a natural state. I find that when I am washing it. If you want to minimize shrinkage when you are in the process of conditioning, it’s always good to separate your hair into four parts depending on the thickness of your hair and putting in huge twists.

    When I start rinsing my hair in the shower, I normally undo one twist at a time, I will then make sure that all the conditioner is completely removed and put it back in the twist immediately after it has been rinsed out. I would repeat the process on the rest of the sectioned head and once I get out of the shower I moisturize it.
    When the hair is completely dry, I find that it does not shrink as much as if I had just washed my hair in the shower without any sectioning.

    I believe that the technique you use to wash your hair will determine how your hair dries.

    What you need to know about shrinkage

    Shrinkage is nothing to worry about. The main reason why we get hair shrinkage is due to the fact our hair type tends to change it’s structure during the process of washing. The water makes the hair heavier and the added moisture from the water makes it change. However once you straighten curly hair because the moisture content is reduced, you find that it becomes drier, and it can also tend to get frizzy. There is a lot of information out there that when hair is wet it can be easily manipulated and there are various styles that you can be done. Also when afro hair is wet, it’s the best time to blow dry it.

    I have also heard that sometimes it’s better to manipulate dry hair and not wet hair as there tends to be less breakage. Through doing my own hair, I find that it’s easier to remove tangles when my hair is wet than when it dries up and if it dries up, then I will have to use a moisturizer if I am not using water to remove the tangles.

    Therefore it’s best to find out what suits your hair well because if you are better off untangling your wet hair then it’s best to use that technique. Another really good way is to put lots of conditioner on your hair and use  wide toothed comb to take out the tangles. It’s always time consuming, however it will help you if you want to style your hair in a specific way be it blowdrying, braiding or just leaving it as a wash and go.

    I also discovered an amazing club for afro, curly haired individuals, check it out on the website and I hope you enjoy it  as much as I did. Earthtones natural

    Also let me know what hair method works best for your curly hair?

     

  • Wigs as a protective style; Do you like the look?

     Synthetic hair wig

    WIGS

    A wig is a hair unit that has been put together from another individual’s real hair or synthetic fibers to ensure that someone can cover up their own hair if they want to change their look rapidly or if you want to cover your head if suffering from alopecia or a cancer patient.

    WHAT DO I THINK

    Wigs are amazing especially nowadays. I think they have come a long way from the horse hair days and also from the way they used to be difficult to source. When I was a lot younger, I remember not many people used to wear wigs and the ones that did, had a lot of money to have them or were a lot older than I was.

    When I moved to Australia, my hair was relaxed, therefore I still found ways to maintain it, however I would never put a wig on. I really loved having my hair in braids and since I had a few friends that helped me with it at that time, I was never quite stressed about my hair.

    Wearing a wig took a lot of time and I think for me, I actually gained one after I had my son. It was just a convenient way to keep my hair and at that time right after the pregnancy, let’s just say it started getting really dry and brittle and did not look healthy at all. This could have been due to various reasons, such as stress, my diet and many other factors to do with breast feeding, and I just ended up cutting it multiple times. I was also not diligent in making sure that I treat it so that probably explains why it was in such a state.

    The wig itself was synthetic and I loved it because it had a natural part that no-one knew it was fake. It was also short. It’s only a few weeks later after it had been through a lot of combing, it lost it’s lusture. I was still not convinced that I should use it often and started looking after my hair seriously.

    Nowadays with the newer technology, wigs have become so realistic and I think they will only get better from here. I like them and I think everyone has a right to their style.

    DEEPER ISSUES

    The main aim of forming this blog was to help women with afro’s maintain it and I am sure someone would wonder why I am writing about wigs and the connection to afro hair. However it’s not uncommon for many women nowadays to rock a wig once in a while, but let’s take a thought to the way things used to be and potentially are for some individuals as well. Through colonization and the interaction of Europeans with Africans, many things were impacted, language, culture and looks as well. I am sure when they first came in contact, most people on the continent had only seen afro hair and therefore there was knowledge on how to look after it and maintain it.

    After the first encounter though, things happened and since that time Afro hair has never been viewed the same for an extremely long time. It’s just in recent years when people started appreciating and loving themselves for who they are, but it will take a long time and change of mindset for people to appreciate themselves. Additionally with lost knowledge there’s really not much information that can be given to help with the change.

    HUMAN HAIR

    The other issue I have seen come up a few times is the sourcing of human hair. Is it sourced ethically? these are just some things that people think about sometimes. Therefore getting a wig is not as simple as it sounds, there are lots of things to consider. I won’t get into this because I think everyone is impacted in various ways.

    SELF LOVE

    There is an argument as well that individuals that wear wigs, do they really love themselves or their hair as well? I just think this is so personal because before individuals are judged for what they are doing, communicate with them. You never know if someone is unwell and therefore need the wig to help them feel better. There are those that just want one and by all means they have a right to have it. Therefore the wig debate brings up so many emotions and feelings.

    Wigs will always be a part of the 21st century and it has transformed the lives of many people especially those that are going through illness. It has also become a part of entertainment and many people will continue to use it continuously. I really think that if you can manage a wig, make sure if you have your own hair underneath to take care of it as well.

    It can definitely be used as a protective style and it promotes hair growth a lot. The benefit with having a wig is the fact that you can keep your hair moisturized and you don’t have to worry about your hair breathing. It is a great way to change a style without risking hair breakage and I think that the future of hair may be wigs.

    CONCLUSION

    Every individual has a right to the type of styling they like and if someone wants to rock a wig everyday it is their choice.

     

  • About Keri – The story behind the afro hair

    Welcome to Keri’s world where we will talk about all things’ Afro and the maintenance of hair that is curly and frizzy. Before the trend of natural hair, I had been rocking my Afro for well over 2 years. Honestly the struggle was real, preparing for washing, making sure that it is well moisturized and not frizzy. The worst thing was I had moved to a place where there was no-one to help me maintain my hair so I had to figure out things’ on my own.

    At that particular time, there were not so many products for natural hair like there are nowadays and not many people really had Afros’s then.

    YOUR STORY

    Over 10 years ago, I embarked on the natural hair journey which honestly is a struggle for many women of color. Why did I transition to natural when its easy to relax your hair and have it straight? well for me I think it was the fact that I had to look after my hair on my own.

    When I first started my University degree, I used to have relaxed hair. I would get assistance to maintain it from time to time, but when I did not I would do it myself.

    One day during the process of relaxer, I believe I may have put it in my hair for too long and when I was washing off the chemical, I had a clump of hair fall into my hands. From that specific time onward, I have never attempted to relax my hair again and every time I think about it, I just reflect on what I did in the past. I could very well have seemed a professional after that period, however I seriously had to ask myself what I was applying on my body.


    WHY YOU WANT TO HELP PEOPLE

    I really struggled to maintain my hair for a long time and I totally understand individuals that have thicker hair who would not want to have their hair in the natural state. Everyone is entitled to their style and this blog is mainly for individuals looking to have their hair natural and well moisturized. I am not perfect, however everyday I am learning how to keep my hair in tip-top condition especially now that I know how to look after it.

    Another thing that really helps is the fact that there are so many people that have YouTube sites talking about natural hair. However, it has to be stated that not everything works for everyone. You need to understand your own hair and how to maintain it in whatever condition it is. I can attest to growing my Afro quite long, however that is not the point of this blog. The point is ensuring that your hair is well maintained no matter how long or short your hair is.

    This blog is set up to provide tips on how individuals can maintain their hair and ensure that it is at its best condition.

     

    THE GOAL OF YOUR SITE

    The main purpose for this blog was to help people appreciate themselves more and know how to look after themselves. There are many products out there, however you don’t have to use all of them to know what works for you. I know that if you are on a budget, some things’ cannot be done, however if you know what to do, you can save yourself lots of money and still be happy with the results.

    I am more than happy to hear from anyone that finds a specific technique works, however this is for those people that are time poor, however they need to make sure that their hair is looking great for certain occasions.

    If you ever need a hand or have any questions, feel free to leave them below and I will be more than happy to help you out.

    All the best,

    Keri

    afro-queen.com