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.

What do you do after the big chop? That is the question many ladies find themselves asking after making the decision to become a natural. In this video sheacocoaluv breaks things down for us by encouraging the most important thing – CONFIDENCE! The answer to the question is to believe in yourself and your personal beauty, and love yourself and your evolving hair styles.

 Big Chop Motivation | Natural Hair TV | The Best Natural Hair Videos.

Xina Broderick, Natural Hair Ambassador & Owner of Nature’s Parlour, poses four questions for people with natural hair and would love to receive your video responses.

[ http://www.youtube.com/embed/JnX5vliBPDw ]

The questions are:

What inspired you to wear your hair natural?
What are the benefits of having natural hair?
What has been the major challenge regarding your natural hair? (Please also state the solution if you found one)
What would be your number one natural hair tip/advice for someone thinking about going natural?

Do a video response to this in YouTube, or upload your video to our blog beneath the “Natural Hair Questions Post” or post the link to your video to our Facebook page wall.

Rate and subscribe to our Videos
Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Subscribe to our Blog

Do you have natural afro hair? Are you thinking of having natural afro hair but don’t know how you would look after it? Do you wear a wig or weave over your natural hair and would like to wear it out but need some direction?

 

 

If you answer yes to any of the above questions then this is the event for you.

Come to “Your Natural Hair” to hear Xina Broderick talk about growing, maintaining and styling your natural hair. She will talk about the myths which surround natural hair and will also discuss product ingredients – what to avoid and what to use. There will also be a selection of products available for sale.

Original Facebook Event post is here:  Your Natural Hair.

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.

Back in September a reader sent me a link to an online feature by Elle called ‘The Expert Guide to Afro Hair’ – Have you read it? With the event and everything else I have not had time to read it until today.

 

 

 

Gosh it was annoying. They had apparently spoken to industry experts about how to care for our hair and as I read through it I was shaking my head thinking “is this really the best advice? Are these really the best products? I hope no unsuspecting sista or young girl is reading thisâ€

Anyway then I got to this section where it said “Having your hair professionally relaxed will make it easier to style straight and into neat curls. “Relaxing is great; it creates styling versatility†says Ursula Stephen, Rihanna’s hairstylist.

*Big Sigh* Are we really still getting messages like this. Is this article saying that our curls are a mess and the only way to have curls is if they are all neat and perfectly formed.

My thoughts are, whenever you are reading this or any type of hair advice always think to yourself who is writing this and why? Perhaps they were just writing this to highlight some products and expensive ones that that. What is their opinion of beauty? In magazines such as this its usually quite narrow meaning they usually feature people with a certain dress size and a certain height.  Remember that this is a magazine that the majority of the time doesn’t even feature black women let alone ones without relaxer. So always be careful where you get your information from.

Saying that relaxing your hair makes it easier to style is quite sad and it represents a type of ignorance of the different forms of hair and beauty. Thumbs down to Elle for allowing such a statement.

If you want to read it click this link
THE EXPERT GUIDE TO: AFRO HAIR

 

This post was originally posted here:

The Natural Lounge: The ‘Expert’ Guide to Afro Hair – or not

Every person’s hair is different and as a parent you need to spend some time to work out what is the best way to manage your child’s hair.

For some parents of mixed-race children, doing their child’s hair can be a nightmare for both parent and child. Not all mixed-race children have hair that is difficult for their parents to manage but if you do, then here are some helpful tips to make it easier for you and your child.

Doing somebody else’s hair is not something most of us think about, we spend a great part of our lives getting to know our own hair and no matter how easy it may look to others many people find that it takes them a while to find a style and way of managing their hair that they feel comfortable with. When you have a child you have to go through the whole process again and for most parents their children’s hair will not be like their own.

 

 

It is essential to your children’s sense of identity and self-esteem that they are given the opportunity to look like they are well-cared for and groomed; this is particularly true for mixed-race families, already subjected to unusual social scrutiny by others. How your children look can shape the conclusions outsiders draw. Children notice others’ assessments and often interpret them as evidence of their own inadequacy. Young children are very concrete. They need to feel beautiful and handsome to contribute to a sense of pride in who they are. If their hair is a source of frustration and unhappiness, not just for them but for you, they may begin to develop low self-esteem.

How often should you wash your child’s hair?
Every person’s hair is different and as a parent you need to spend some time to work out what is the best way to manage your child’s hair. If your child’s hair is straight and of European texture then it is a matter of ensuring that the hair is kept regularly washed and conditioned. A regular trim will ensure a good growth rate. If your child’s hair is not of a regular European texture then it will need to be treated differently and you will need to find more specialised hair products.

The first thing to work out is if the hair is naturally dry or greasy, most afro type hair is naturally dry and if this is the case with your child’s hair you have to be very careful about keeping enough moisture and oil in their hair. Water is a drying agent, too frequent washing may dry out the hair, preventing the natural oils to moisturize. Washing once or twice a week should be enough but it is not uncommon to wash it once a fortnight.

How often should you comb or brush and style your child’s hair?
At least daily, unless your child’s hair is kept plaited and then it can be left longer. Children may be tender-headed and may dislike this process, but if you don’t do it consistently, their hair will begin to matt, making combing impossible.

Very often, parents feel bad because their children cry while having their hair combed, but many children cry at first when having their hair done, even when they have same-race parents. Nonetheless, they are still entitled to look and feel good about themselves. And with daily (or more frequent) brushing, the hair will have fewer mats and thus hurt less with time. Natural-bristle brushes are often softer and easier to use than synthetic brushes. If your child’s hair is very dry then you may need to use a moisturiser to make brushing easier. If your child has a lot of hair then try doing small sections at a time, this will make it easier to manage. If your child has the type of hair that gets tangled easily, then putting it in plaits before bed will make it easier to manage in the morning..

Should you use the same products on your child’s hair as your own?
Probably not. There are special products designed specifically for your child’s type of hair. Do not assume that because your child has afro type hair that all black hair products will be good for your child’s hair. Most mixed-race children that have afro texture hair, have hair that is in between European and black hair. Some black hair products will be too heavy or greasy for your child’s hair and some European products will be too drying. You will have to experiment to a certain degree.

There are now some hairdressers that specialise in mixed-race afro hair but these are rare. If you know mixed-race adults ask them how they care for their hair, just like you they would have had to experiment to find what works best for their hair and most would be only to happy to offer advice.

What is a relaxer? Should you press or straighten your child’s hair?
Relaxers are chemicals, which straighten hair. These should not be tried without professional consultation, and they are rarely suggested for children under 6 years old. To press hair means to heat it, making it straighten. Again, very young children do not usually have the patience for this kind of procedure, which should be taught by a professional the first time. Using chemicals is not recommended, it destroys the hair and more importantly it sends a message to your child that their hair is not beautiful as it is. Most individuals relax and straighten their hair because they feel that they cannot manage it as it is. As a parent it is important that you help your child learn to manage their hair without having to resort to the use of chemicals and heat treatments.

Should I take my child to a professional salon or do it at home?
Finding a good hairdresser is hard for anyone and mixed-race individuals with afro type hair find it even more difficult. For boys a visit to a barber shop can be a good experience. If their hair is kept short then most barber shops even the one in the high street will be able to manage it. If their hair is left long however then you will experience problems finding a hairdresser that knows how to manage your child’s hair. If there is a black hairdresser in your area then it is worth a visit to see if they have a stylist who is experienced with mixed-race afro hair. They will certainly have experience of braiding and caring for dreadlocks. The best policy is to learn how to manage your child’s hair yourself, ask other parents and mixed-race individuals for advice. Corn rowing also known as French plaiting is now a popular style for European hair. Most hairdressers know how to do it. Ask if you can watch someone having their hair done and practice on your friends or your own hair until you feel confident doing your child’s hair. Plaiting is a good way to keep your child’s hair neat and easy to manage. If you can’t manage to plait your child’s hair yourself find someone who can and ask them if they would do it for you. You may have to pay them a small fee but it will be worth it for you and your child.

Original post:  Hair Need Not Be A Nightmare:mixed-race parenting:Intermix.org.uk.

 

 

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

 

Nature’s Parlour was in full effect at the family event held by Hotep Leeds at Jamaica House in Chapeltown, Leeds.

Dr Llaila O Afrika and his wife Dr Melanie Stevenson came to give a talk on holistic solutions to cancer, diabetes, arthritis and heart problems.  There was a welcoming atmosphere and a mixture of young and old people with a genuine interest in their health.

Along with the headline speakers, there was a talk from Pauline Tomlin-Touray  about the fantastic benefits of aloe vera.  I also did a talk on natural hair, the ingredients that work for us, the ones that don’t and the low-down on how to grow natural afro hair long.

The talk was very well received and I look forward to talking again in Manchester and Birmingham in the not too distant future.

Mr Nature’s Parlour (Peter) and Master Nature’s Parlour, the Mascot (Elijah) were there in support – giving fab customer service and keeping people smiling.  Nature’s Beauty Essentials oils were flying off the stall, as were the Quench Curls Moisturizers once the benefits of keeping hair moisturised was explained to the audience.

In addition to Nature’s Parlour, Pauline Tomlin-Touray had a stall with Forever Living products, Faroma Oils were there selling the best incense sticks in the land, Candy Scent had their fragrant oils and soaps on offer and CathCraftz were there with their beautiful greeting cards.

A local poet, Sai Murai (Simon Murray) was amongst us and I was lucky enough to get a photo taken with him after he’d bought some oil from us.

It was a fantastic event and we’re looking forward to the next talk we do.

If you’d like us to give a talk in your town, we cover the following topics:

One of the above topics would be covered at each event with the additional option of Peter’s talk on how black men can do the ultimate, bump free shave.

If you have any events which would be complimented by a Nature’s Parlour stall, please contact us at info@naturesparlour.co.uk

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€.