How to use FLEXI RODS

Thanks to a previous reader's request, I am going to show you how to achieve the curly look using Flexi rods in detail!!!!! Yey!

The model below has 3c/4a kinky curly hair. Flexirods work on any hair type. Just make sure you use product on the hair as it helps give the curls shape, shine and hold. You can make small parts or bigger parts in the hair (the smaller the part the more curls you will have).

Okay, so here it goes: After applying setting lotion or Curl Enhancing cream such as CoCo Curly Butter to your soaking wet hair, follow these steps....

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Step 4

FINALE!!

Guide to Optimal Hair Growth: Tip 5

Tip 5: Style your hair with ease.

Use a wide-tooth comb and a boar bristle brush to avoid hair breakage. Boar bristle brushes are great at evenly distributing the natural oils from the scalp to the hair strands and wide-tooth combs removes tangles with ease. Placing less stress on the hair minimizes hair damage and optimizes hair growth. Also, trimming your ends every six to eight weeks minimizes split ends, which helps the hair grow.

ROCK YOUR LOCKS!

I love locs! If I just had a little more patience and less "hair commitment" issues, I would have locs just like these! Maybe one day...but I digress...

Locks are a wonderful way to ROCK the NATURAL because there is so much you can do with your locs. You can CURL THEM, BUN it up, CUT THEM in layers, add some COLOR, and so much more. As a loctician, I am dying to share some great tips as well as the dos and dont's of locs.

Here are my tips on making your locs simply FABULOUS!

1. Start your locs with single strand twists (coils)- Why? Because your natural hair grows in a spiral pattern just like the shape of single strand twists/coils and your locks will take form much faster this way. Yes I know you can start them other ways, but to me this is the fastest!

2. Maintain your locs and get them tightened every 2-3 weeks. Very important part of keeping your locs fresh and well groomed. Make a visit to your local Natural Hair Salon or do them yourself.

3. Use natural products that provide hold and shine without the crunch. Using natural creams and butters as opposed to hard gels maintain the health of your locs and add softness. Try my Lock and Twist Pudding to get butter soft locs with a gentle hold!

4. Trim your ends! Just like unlocked hair, you should get your ends trimmed, though not as often. In this case, trimming loose ends and straggling hair is part of routine maintenance that should be done to keep your locks kempt.

5. Keep your locs moisturized. Use a good moisturizer or use a natural oil. Check out Donna Marie's Goddess Growth Remedy daily oil to keep your locks looking fresh.

6. Love your locs and let them grow! Enough said.

Stay tuned for more locked styling options! Happy Friday!

Rock the Curly Look with a Bantu Knot-out!

Good Morning all! You tube is so resourceful! I found this incredible video of a woman doing a "bantu-knot-out" to achieve a bouncy, curly look. It consists of first doing Bantu Knots and then unraveling them when dry. I'm sure many of you are like "Huh", so without further ado, I present to you (courtesy of Youtube)....the BANTU-KNOT OUT!

Video 1-shows you how to do the Bantu Knots.


Video 2- shows you how to achieve the curly look by removing the bantu knots

Guide to Optimal Hair Growth Tip 4!

Tip 4: Avoid constant heat. Heating tools such as blow dryers and flat irons place major stress on the hair and increase the chance of hair breakage. For naturally curly hair, air drying is always best. However, if you must use a blow dryer, use a diffuser attachment that minimizes heat and maintains curl definition. If you intend to straighten your hair with a flat iron, use a ceramic flat iron that prevents breakage and greatly reduces damage.

How to Transition from Perm to Natural?

Everybody is rocking their natural and its a beautiful thing! However, so many of us are afraid to make the transition because we just don't know how. Here are some tips that helped me make the switch from the "creamy crack" perms to natural headed bliss:

1. NO MORE PERMS! The obvious first step to making the transition is to resist the box. Ya'll know what box I'm talking about (i.e. "Just For Me", "African Pride" and such. Oh and No sista, you cannot put some perm on your edges to make your edges lay down! Relaxers are chemicals that change the natural state of your hair. When your natural hair is altered, there is a StRoNg chance your hair will be damaged at some point. Just say no.

2. Wear styles that allow you to leave your hair alone and let your natural hair simply grow out. For example, when I transitioned from a perm to a relaxer about 3 years ago, I wore weaves. I wore a full head weave or a full partial weave (meaning a small amount of my natural hair was left out to conceal the extension wefts). I would leave the weave in for about 2 months, take it out wash and deep condition my hair (this is essential), trim the ends of my hair (i.e. trim the perm ends off), and reinstall my weave about 2 weeks later. I repeated this cycle until my hair grew down past my shoulders (I'll elaborate on weaves later in another post). I also wore braids and that is another great way to let your hair relax for a while (make sure your stylist braids gently. Very tight braids will pull out you hair and we don't want that.)

3. Research Natural Hair styles. In order to feel confident about rocking your natural, it helps to see others rocking hot natural styles. Check out Essence Magazine's hair gallery or Khamit Kinks salon gallery. There are wonderful, unique images of various natural styles that are glamorous, sexy, high fashion, corporate and fun and these styles will help you figure what looks great on you.

4. Find a Natural Salon in your area. ESSENTIAL!! If you do not know how to do your own hair, its essential to locate a salon in your area that SPECIALIZES IN NATURAL HAIR. If your stylist specializes in perms and color, she may not be as knowledgeable about Natural Hair styling. There are so many great Natural Hair Salons sprouting all over the country and they are wonderful at encouraging you to stay natural throughout your transitioning process and beyond! (For those in the Washington, DC area, message me for private home salon appointments).

5. Find products made specifically for Natural Hair. If you've discovered this blog, chances are you have aready covered this tip! There are so many great product lines for natural hair and the list continues to grow. Products made for natural hair usually focus on accentuating your natural curl pattern, moisturizing your hair using creams or oils and more. Check out my products, Donna Marie Handmade for quality natural products for natural hair!

6. Love your hair! This is also essential. You have to absolutely love your natural hair regardless of the negativity and backlash you may receive from rocking your hair in its natural glory. People are going to say things that will hurt you, for e.g. "When are you gonna do something to your head?" or "Girl, your hair looks a hot a$$ mess!" or "I love your hair when its straight." When you hear the negativity, block it out. Trust me, there were many days when I made guilt trips to the Beauty Supply in an attempt to buy a Mizani relaxer. I had to tell myself "DON'T DO IT GIRL, DON'T DO IT!"

Guide to Optimal Hair Growth- Tip of the Day

Tip 3: Eat right. Our mothers always told us “Eat your vegetables” for a very good reason. Eating more vegetables and fruit, drinking water, increasing protein, taking vitamins, and exercise will improve your health internally and provide nourishment to the hair root, maximizing hair growth. Stay away from foods that are pumped with hormones and synthetic fillers. Stick to organic meats or go vegetarian!

Vitamins that promote hair growth:

B-6-gives hair color (melanin) and helps combat hair loss- found in whole grain cereal and veggies

Biotin-found in eggs, rice and milk

B-3- promotes scap circulation-found in meats, poultry and fish

Vitamin C- fights off free radicals that attack the skin and hair-found in fruits and veggies

Vitamin A-helps produce natural oil found in hair called sebum- found in Fish liver oil, meat, milk, cheese, eggs, spinach, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, apricots and peaches

For more information on Vitamins that prevent hair loss and promote hair growth click here