Check out this fantastic review of our hair show in West Bromwich!!  We had such a fantastic time there and thankfully it came across in our presentation.  Thanks to Crystal Afro for the post xxx

~*~

Despite November being a relatively quiet month I’ve been preparing myself for December to be all go!!
With at least 3 natural hair related events to attend, all based outside of London, I really feel like I’m taking on the title of this blog. So as I travel around the UK attempting to unite the Kinkdom, I’ll be reporting back to you.

 

The 1st event by Nature’s Parlour, took place last weekend in West Bromwich (which if you’re a typical Londoner like me meansBirmingham!)
I’d never been to Birmingham before, so I was very excited to have a little look around and then get to meeting some Midlands-based Naturals.

 

 

Nature’s Parlour was created by Xina Brodrick, and in 2007 launched an online store, selling ‘top quality natural hair and skin products’.
Nature’s Parlour stock various natural products, including brands from the US.
(Click here for Nature’s Parlour)

On the day those who attended were able to test, purchase and discuss the products available with Xina before sitting down to a presentation covering some of the essentials about Black hair care.

 

 

Xina began the talk by introducing herself and giving us a incite into her relationship with her hair to date. As a qualified Loctitian and a “Natural Hair Ambassador” (I love that term – finally something that describes what I wana be when I grow up) Xina has a wealth of experience and knowledge about Afro hair and how best to take care of it.

 

 

The presentation covered various topics, including “Why We Have Kinks & Coils”, good and bad products and tools, as well as routines and even tips on transitioning from chemically altered hair back to natural.

Xina is definitely not a fan of petro-chemicals, such as petroleum or mineral oil, and argues that although they can be fine to use in small amounts, why use them when there are so many natural alternatives. As she explains at the beginning of her talk, keeping our hair moisturised with water is essential to having healthy manageable hair. Because petro-chemicals effectively repel water, thus keeping it out, Xina, similarly to many other naturals, argues that they are not beneficial to our hair.

 

 

 

Instead Xina recommends 3 natural oils that are great for sealing in moisture and also penetrating the hair shaft and tells us a few key point we must look out for:

Xina pointed out that Avocado Oil in particular, is especially good for Black hair and skin in the Winter, due to our Vitamin D requirements and it’s high vitamin D content.

(Find out more about Avocado Oil on the Nature’s Parlour website:Click Here)

This made it extra pleasing to find a bottle of Pure Avocado Oil in my goody bag that I received for buying my ticket online.

In fact when I finally sat down on the train back to London and looked in my goody bag, I was very pleased at what it contained, including 2 full sized bottles of Blended Beauty products,Avocado Oil, and a sample of Hibiscus Rose Leave-In Conditioner by TLC Naturals (a new product line by Paige Ellean of the Care 4 Curls Blog, which I’ve read a lot of good reviews about).

 

 

The great thing about Xina’s presentation is that she clearly recognised the different needs of natural hair in locs vs natural hair worn loose, and shared tips specific to each.

I definitely had a great time in Birmingham and wish I could have stayed a little longer as there were many great topics of conversation being discussed before the presentation that I would have loved to continue afterwards, including “Why the preference amongst young people for extensions & weaves and generally straight hair?” and “What’s been lost between the older generations from the Caribbean and the generations that have grown up here – why haven’t the skills of hair care been passed on?”

It was also lovely to see Brummie-based UK Natural Lorien Haywho organised the Midlands Meet-up earlier this year, and to whom I owe a major thank you for giving me a ride back to the station. Thank You xx

*RDB = Refined, Deodorised and Bleached (i.e striped of all the goodness)

I’m looking forward to seeing the Nature’s Parlour ladies again this weekend (tomorrow in fact) at the Natural Notts event in Nottingham and meeting even more or #Teamnatural Midlanders.

You can read the original post here:  UNITED KinKdom: Natures Parlour Review.

Contrary to the persistent idea that natural hair offers no versatility in styling, this section will show you that natural hairstyling is only limited by your imagination. You’ll see that a skillful stylist can turn coils of any texture, long or short into jaw-dropping coiffed heads.

 

 

We always look for new styles so if you are one of those gifted people who can style their own hair or makes a living as a professional stylist, please send usyour styles.

 

 

 

Original article can be found here:  Natural Hairstyles | Going Natural Articles.

 

 

The Ten Best Oils For Natural Hair « Thank God I’m Natural.

 

How To Keep Your Locs Looking Classy and Not Ashy! « Thank God I’m Natural.

There is nothing sexier than seeing a man or woman with some locs that are just healthy, happy and glistening in the sun.

Locs take work and a lot of maintenance, so when I see someone and their hair looks fresh, I tip my proverbial hat off to them because locs are no walk in the park.

But not everybody’s hair looks fab. Sometimes it looks quite…drab.

 

 

 

No worries folks, I’ve got the answer on how to keep your locs shinning in the sun, and it all comes down to one word: MOISTURIZE

Option #1

Hydrating Spray:

Grab yourself a spray bottle. Fill it about half way with good ‘ol H20 and three table spoons of olive oil. (Yep, that’s all you need) Shake well and spray liberally all over you head. Don’t get worried if you become a bit excited. You have more water and olive oil, so if you find yourself running out, just re-up!

Option #2

Scalp Renewal

Every now and then, fill a dropper with some olive oil and place it directly into your scalp then massage. Once you make this a habit, you should start to notice a difference in your locs, and your hair’s texture overall. The olive oil will also add some well deserved and needed shine to your mane.

Option #3

Deep Conditioning: After you’ve shampood your hair, douse your hair with olive and put a plastic cap (a shower cap should do the trick) over your head for about 30 minutes. When you’re done, rinse and rub your fingers through your locs. It should feel nothing short of soft, smooth and the shine should be off the charts!

So there you have it. These are just three simple  ideas one can use to help make their locks healthier and provide a bit of shine. Don’t say we’ve never done nothing for you. (Wink)

 

For more information about caring for your natural tresses, pick up a copy of Thank God I’m Natural: The Ultimate Guide to Caring for and Maintaining Natural Hair, the book that Essence Magazine calls “Your Natural Hair Bibleâ€.

Have you ever wondered how you can accessorize your hair with a beautiful scarf?

Well here are three simple ways:

[ http://player.vimeo.com/video/23279496?title=0

How To Tie A Turband 3 Ways from LEAFtv on Vimeo.

 

This is a great way to decorate your hair whether you have locs, loose natural hair, transitioning or plaits!

How do you accessorize your hair?

by Terez Howard

If you think that natural hair is naturally dry, you’re wrong.

I didn’t always agree with my above statement.  I once visited a Brooklyn, NY, natural hair care salon, and I lamented over my dry hair.  I asked the stylist what I could do with my dry coils.  After she washed, detangled, trimmed and styled my hair (I tell you this because she got to know my hair personally after those four hours), she told me that my hair was not dry.  She advised I continue my same hair care regimen.

Not dry?!  I did not believe that for a second.

Flash forward four years later.  I read in Mireille Liong-A-Kong’s natural hair care book that our coily texture actually produces three times the amount of sebum than other hair textures.  That sebum is the oil the scalp produces to naturally lubricate hair.  So, why oh why do we feel the need to slather our heads in mineral oil-rich grease?

Because our curls and coils give that sebum a hard road to travel.  One reason that straight European hair shines brilliantly is because that sebum flows from root to tip effortlessly.  Sebum experiences a roller coaster of twists and turns on natural black hair.

Actually, your scalp is overflowing with natural hair oils.  It’s just that your strands, especially your ends, are thirsty.

Quenching the thirst with 3 basic moisturizers

How can you quench your hair’s thirst?

1. Water

You might have heard that too much water in black hair will cause breakage.  Just the opposite is true.  Think about it.  Plants can’t live without water.  Animals can’t live without water.  We cannot live without water, either.  Why would moisturizing our hair with a natural element we need for survival be detrimental?  It just doesn’t make sense.

Fill a spray bottle with purified water and mist your hair as often as needed.  You can add a few drops of essential oil to the bottle for some extra moisturizing power.

2. Base & Essential Oils

Essential oils are distilled liquids from the stems, leaves, bark, roots or flowers of a plant.  Although they are termed “oils,†they do not feel oily.  These highly-concentrated oils instead are easily absorbed in the hair and scalp.

Various essential oils carry different purposes.  For instance, rosemary oil stimulates hair growth.  Sage oil combats dandruff.  Lavender oil treats an itchy scalp and even head lice.

No matter which essential oil you choose, remember to always dilute this powerful substance in a base oil, milk or water.  An overabundance can cause itching and burning in your scalp.

3. Shea butter

Not everyone likes the smell or consistency of this unrefined butter.  But countless naturals don’t mind those unpleasantries when they experience soft, manageable hair.  Wet natural hair quickly absorbs shea butter applied in small amounts.  Keeping the pores open, shea butter not only moisturizes strands, but protects them from pollution and free radicals in the environment.

Its healing properties are five to 17 times higher than other seed oils, and those healing properties restructure dry, damaged hair.

You can melt shea butter and apply the warmed butter directly to damp sections of hair.  Use it sparingly to avoid flaking.

About the author

Terez Howard, who has been researching natural hair for 5 years, endeavors to help ladies learn more about their precious tresses by writing natural hair care articles.

For those looking for the best curly hair products, consider shampoo, conditioners and styling tools designed specifically to maintain bounce without leaving your style drab or brittle. Nature’s Parlour has natural hair products to help maintain your locs.

Use conditioners and shampoos to strengthen and provide soft, but lasting hold to improve appearance, while adding shine and luster to your hair. Use hairsprays, mousse and gels for controlling design, humidity, heat and outdoor factors.

The good thing about natural hair remedies is that you can keep your hair looking gorgeous without spending too much money and sacrificing its health. Moreover, you are also helping the environment by not adding harmful wastes to your surroundings.

With these natural hair care remedies, you are sure to maintain beautiful and healthy locks.

African American hair has descent unique in characteristic. Any woman who wishes their hair to look at its best will admit that they spend endless hours taking care of it. Women with afro hair will always find limited amount of styles that can be carried out with ease. With the help of afro hair products from Nature’s Parlour, they can opt for those styles that were once deemed an impossible.

Natural hair products which compliment afro hair- the most fragile hair type. Nature’s Parlour openly supports natural afro hair. Try using products from New Bein’, Organic Root Stimulator, Isoplus, Nubian Heritage and Shea Moisture.

Nature’s Parlour brings you the best selection of Afro products.

Conditioners are meant to protect hair from drying out and allow for easier combing. Women with coarse, curly hair must condition every time they shampoo as it  adds shine to the hair. But curly hair should not be washed every day because it will dehydrate hair and make it more frizzy and unmanageable.

Curl Quenching Conditioner by Blended Beauty is an intense, luxurious rinse-out hair conditioner is extra moisturizing and full of nutrients to keep hair healthy and growing. It is designed specifically for detangling and combing through unruly curls. Added chamomile and rosemary extract, grapeseed oil, silk proteins, and keratin, improve silkiness, bounce and promote growth.

Conditioner Ingredients: Aqua (enriched with/avec Aloe Barbadensis), Behentrimonium Methosulfate (and) Cetearyl Alcohol, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Distillate, Capryl Isostearate, Glycerin, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Polysorbate 20, Behenoyl PG-Trimonium Chloride, Behentrimonium Methosulfate (and) Cetyl Alcohol (and) Butylene Glycol, Perfume, Preservative [Phenoxyethanol and Caprylyl Glycol and Sorbic Acid], Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary)Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Corn Protein (and) Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein (and) Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Silk Powder.

Directions: Apply to clean wet hair and smooth through completely. Leave on 2-3 minutes for daily use or longer for weekly use. Comb through hair in sections for less breakage, and rinse completely.

If you’re looking for a product to use when beginning and re-twisting locks, or for perfecting those two-strand twists, use Organic Root Stimulator Lock & Twist Gel. It is non-sticky and non-coating, which is important when you apply them to locks.

The Lock & Twist Gel absorbs into the hair and not sit on top of it. This also makes your hair look natural as your twists, locks or coils to move freely.

Applying the gel to freshly shampooed and conditioned hair, and after styling, is a good method for twists, locks and coils. You can also apply it to dry hair without worrying about flaking.

The amount you use depends on the thickness of your hair, but you don’t have to use an excessive amount to get satisfactory hold. If you need to freshen up a style, you can apply more gel, which soaks into your hair much like water. Applying the gel to wet hair and combing through allows the two textures to blend together. The gel works just as well for creating coils on short, natural hair.