Tag Archives: Hairstyle

Style tutorial – perm rod set on braids

10 May

Thought I would share pics of my daughter’s braids when they have been set with perm rods.  I do this not only because it looks great, but also to shorten the length of her braids since they are always long because her hair is long.  I just feel braids that are too long do not look appropriate on a young girl.DSC_0101

All you need to do this are some perm rods, a small bucket / container and hot water.  Perm rods come in several sized.  I bought average sized ones for mid-size curls.  You can use any type of roller really, anything round will do.  If you use ordinary rollers you can hold them in place with bobby pins.  You can even use drinking straws to create tiny spirals.  Large rollers will create waves, these look great on thinner braids.

perm rod set

I always begin with clean, freshly washed hair.  I place the perm rods just on the ends of the braids.  The higher you place the perm rods, the more curls you have and the fuller they style.  You can also create a fuller style by using more rollers.  Once I have placed the rollers on all the braids I dip each roller in hot water.  You need to make sure you do not skip any braids.  Let the braids cool before removing the perms rods.

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These curls will last quite a long time.  They become looser with time and with washing.  You can simply renew them again by repeating the process if they are beginning to look ‘tired’.

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Hair update – 24 weeks post relaxer

6 May

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It’s now 24 weeks (6 months) since my last relaxer.  Surprisingly, it’s actually going quite well! I have learnt that the best way to deal with plenty of growth when you are relaxed is to keep it soft and moisturised.  It then becomes easier to manage.  I have been using Revlon Special Feeling Super Soft Activator to achieve this (review coming soon).  Since I took the braids out, I have kept the hair almost exclusively in a bun.

bun

I now have my hair in cornrows (I haven’t had this style in years!).  I had them done 3 days ago.  I went to a salon and had them done there.  The night before I got the cornrows, I did a pre-shampoo treatment with a mix of coconut oil and Jamaican black castor oil (JBCO).  This was then washed out at the salon using my own shampoo (which I took with me).  My hair was blow dried before the cornrows were done.

cornrows

To look after the hair in cornrows I am applying my JBCO / coconut oil mix to the scalp in between the lines.  The reason I mix the two oils is because I find JBCO very thick, coconut oil helps to thin it.  The only downside is that because of the cold, the coconut oil makes the mixture solidify.  I have to heat the bottle in warm water each time before I use it.  I then spray braid spray on the hair, paying special attention to the plaited bit at the back of my head.  I spray the hair until its damp then tie a scarf over my head.  I do this at night just before bedtime.  In the morning I just remove the scarf and carry on as usual.  I’m doing the moisturising at night so that the scarf will make all the frizzy bits of hair lie flat by morning.  I make sure not to touch the hair in the morning so as not to disturb it.  I plan to keep the cornrows for two weeks.

Winter is fast approaching.  It’s already very cold in the mornings and evenings.  I have been wondering when I should get my next relaxer.  I plan to get braids done through winter so I may just forgo the relaxer and just get my hair braided.  I’ll keep you posted!

When was the last time you had cornrows done??

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Thinning hairlines

27 Feb

Naomi Campbell

I have written several posts addressing hair breakage and hair loss but none that specifically addresses the hairline.  I’m not sure why it’s taken me so long given that thinning hairlines is arguably the number one hair complaint among African women.

Hair loss on the hairline can be caused by several factors like hormones (pregnancy, post pregnancy, menopause, presence of ovarian cysts, birth control pills etc.), it can be hereditary or it can be self-inflicted through hairstyles.

In this post I will address thinning hairlines caused by our hairstyles.  This is also called traction alopecia which is hair loss caused by tight hairstyles like braids, weaves, cornrows and ponytails etc.

Here are some tips for thinning hairlines:

  • If you notice your hairstyle is making your hairline thinner, change the hairstyle.  If you have braids or a weaves, remove them at the first signs that it is destroying your hairline.  There is no point in keeping a hairstyle if it is wrecking your hairline.
  • Do not ignore the first signs of thinning hairlines.  We tend to see it happening and just ignore it until the problem is compounded.  We then continue with the destructive hairstyles to hide the problem – simply making things even worse.
  • Do not get weaves or braids back to back without a break in between.  Take a break of two weeks or more and in this time make sure to deep condition the hair as well as moisturise it.
  • Make sure hairstyles are not too tight.  Braids, weaves cornrows etc. when done too tight will ruin your hairline.  Speak up when getting these hairstyles done.  Let your hairstylist know that she (or he!) must be gentle with your hairstyle.  You would rather the style not last long than that it damages your hairline.
  • If you relax your hair, know that you do not have to relax the hairline every time.  You can leave out the fine ‘baby’ hair on the edges.  Don’t worry, your hair will blend in and it won’t show.  I have been doing this with my own hairline – I haven’t relaxed my hairline since February 2012.
  • If your hairline is already damaged, make sure to stop the hairstyles that damaged it in the first place.  If you have to have the hairstyle, make sure to leave the hairline out.  You could do this by adding bangs / a fringe to a weave so as to conceal the hairline.
  • There are many ‘temple and nape’ balms on the market that are marketed for thinning hairlines and napes.  I have seen one from Organic Root Stimulator in Clicks.  I recommend castor oil.  It is natural and many women (including myself) have had great results with it.  Massage castor oil to your hairline at least once a week (you can do this daily if your hairline is extremely damaged).

 Has your hairline recovered from damage?  How did you do it?

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My curlformers debut

10 Jan

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I tried culformers for the first time about a week ago and I must say I was impressed!  The curls came out looking really good – they actually looked like they had been achieved using heat.  It took me 45 minutes (I timed myself) to put the curlformers on my hair.  I washed and deep conditioned as usual and then applied Organic Root Stimulator Moisturising Hair Lotion and a bit of coconut oil.  I then put the hair in curlformers.

The curlformers are actually very easy to use. In my opinion they are easier than traditional rollers which require that the hair be straight and taut on the rollers.  With curlformers you just pull the hair through with the hook and that’s it.  I’m sure with practice I will soon have it down to 30 minutes.  I also had a spray bottle with water at hand to make sure the hair was damp when I put it in the curlformers.

I put the curlformers on my hair in the evening and slept with them overnight, removing them the next morning.  They were not too difficult to sleep in.  I just tied them up using 3 scrunchies, then tied a scarf over them to make it easier to lay my head down.  I saw this tip on a youtube video.  Once removed, I separated the curls and applied a bit of coconut oil.

I really love the curls and this is a style I will do often.  I used a combination of ‘long and wide’ and ‘extra long and wide’.  If I get an opportunity I will buy some ‘extra wide’ ones just for even bigger curls.

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Meet Gail Nkoane

27 Aug

I am so glad Gail agreed to answer questions for the blog.  I have been admiring her hair from afar!  I first knew of her when she made it to the top 10 in season six of South African Idols (2010).  She had her signature short hairstyle even back then.  She currently stars as Lelo Sedibe in the soap opera ‘The Wild’.  It airs on Mnet and on Africa Magic.  She has got to be one of the most beautiful women on South African (and African?) television!  I’m sure you will agree.  I asked her a few questions relating to her hair.  Take a look at her answers:

   1.       Where are you from?
I’m a proud Kimberlite :-)   (Kimberley, South Africa)

 2.       Do you relax your hair?  Which relaxer do you use?
Oh, definitely :-)

 3.       How do you take care of your hair day-to-day?
That’s the fun thing with short hair, it’s the easiest to maintain… so much so that some mornings I literally just wake up!! :-)   I use bees was for daily styling and to help with texture.

 4.       How do you achieve your short crop style?
Hmmm… I have my hair cut in that style.  :-)   I wash and condition my hair, then I wrap it with wrapping lotion and sit under the hair dryer.  Once the hair is dry, I either style it with my fingers or with a straightening iron!

5.       What are your favourite hair products?
None in particular but I use hair silicone and bees-wax regularly.

6.       Do you have a particular hairstylist who does your hair?
Yep, besides myself, I have two :-)

 7.       How do you keep your hair healthy with the daily styling required in your acting career?
As mentioned, because my hair is short, it does not require daily styling, so it is naturally healthy as it’s not exposed to heat on a daily basis.  I also do regular scalp and hair treatments and keep my hair and scalp moisturised daily

 8.       What’s the longest your hair has ever been?
About shoulder length, but I felt and looked much older  :-D

9.       How often do you trim your hair to maintain your cut?
It really depends on how long I want it to grow.  Sometimes I’ll trim it monthly and sometimes I let it grow longer.  It really just depends on how I feel.

 10.   You started off in ‘The Wild’ with long weaves.  What brought about the change to short, cropped hair which your character now wears?
I’ve had my hair short for six years now, so having to wear a weave was a tad uncomfortable.  Then I tried wigs because it allowed me to be myself when I’m not on set.  For me, there is just too much effort in maintaining a weave or wig, so I suggested to our head of hair and make-up to start using my own hair from Lelo’s ‘wedding day’.  They agreed and I never looked back.

Lelo’s ‘wedding day’

 11.   There have been debates about whether you sometimes wear short weaves / wigs that resemble your short crop hairstyle.  One such debate centred around your hair in an interview you did for the current season of Idols.  Do you sometimes wear short cropped weaves?
Nope, whenever you see my hair short, it’s always my own hair :-)   (view the Idols interview here).

 12.   We heard news that ‘The Wild’ is being cancelled – any plans in the pipeline for life after ‘The Wild’.
Oh yeah, I’m always excited about my growth and development both as a performer as well as an individual.  Apart from being offered various roles and exploring business opportunities, I’m excited about going back into studio and working on my music.  I’m working with some of the country’s greatest producers and creative and cannot wait to be on stage again performing my own material.

 13.   Any hair care / style tips for someone wanting to try your short crop style?
The biggest challenge is finding a hair stylist who knows how to cut hair.  Once its cut, you can pretty much go wild.  With short hair, there are no rules!!!  The best thing is to learning how to style your own hair, that way you can play around and explore.  Take care of your hair, it’s just as important as your face.

Read more about Gail in this interview from Women’s Health magazine where she was on the June 2011 cover.  You can also follow Gail on twitter.

Take a look at other interviews with featured guests here.

 

 

 

 

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Weekend roller set

26 Mar

 

I did a roller set on Saturday after months of being too lazy to use rollers to style my hair.  I must say I was pleased with the results.  I used plastic rollers (pictured below).  I thought I would just take the opportunity to share what I do when roller setting.

I have been using plastic rollers to straighten and style my hair for years.  It’s my go to style if I want straight hair without using heat.  I washed and deep conditioned my hair as usual.  After rinsing the deep conditioner off my hair I applied some Organic Root Stimulator Oil Moisturising Hair Lotion.  I then sealed this with a bit of coconut oil.  I then proceeded to set the hair.  When I roller set I start from the front of my head (the hairline) and work towards the nape.  I put the rollers randomly on my head (some women prefer to work in lines).  I find that this is best for me as I do not comb my hair when I have a roller set and the randomness helps me to disguise the lines.

Once all the hair was in rollers I let it air dry.  This is a style I only do when I have time because airdrying hair on rollers can take quite a long time, especially if you have long hair.  I left the rollers on my hair for about 3 hours.

Once I removed the rollers I applied a bit of castor oil on my scalp along the lines formed while I was applying the rollers.  I then massaged my whole head with my fingertips.  While doing this I also erased the lines where I had sectioned the hair to put the rollers.  I then applied a bit of coconut oil to the hair for added shine.

At night I pin my hair up and tie a scarf before going to bed.  The next morning I apply a bit more coconut oils and massage my head to bring the curls back to like.  I usually keep this style for about 3 days.  I make sure to keep away from water based moisturisers (and steam in the shower) as this will destroy the curls.

Some tips for roller sets

  • Use a product that will give your hair some hold.  You do not want to remove the rollers and the curls all flop!
  • Do not be heavy handed with products.  This can also make your curls flop.  The best looking curls are light and not weighed down.
  • Small rollers give tighter curls while large rollers give looser curls.
  • When putting the rollers on your hair, make sure the ends of the hair lie flat on the roller.  If you don’t do this the curls will be frizzy at the ends.
  • Once you have removed the rollers, stay away from water based moisturisers.  These can ruin your curls.  Stick to oil based moisturisers or a natural oil.
  • The thing about roller setting is that you get better with practice.  On your first try you will probably have to tie your hair back in a ponytail because it won’t look too good! I can promise you that it will get better!
  • There are many different types of rollers e.g foam, steam, magnetic and flexi rollers.

 

I use the rollers in the picture above.  I use the orange ones when I am looking to just straighten my hair and not necessarily have a curl.  I use the yellow ones when I am looking for curls.  I sometimes mix both depending on the look I am going for.

 

My hair today

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I now have braids

7 Nov

I’m in braids now.  I decided to have braids done this past Thursday (3 November 2011) to take a bit of a break with my hair.  I will still continue to look after it while it is in braids.  I plan to keep the braids for around 6 weeks.  This will depend largely on how easy I am finding looking after my hair in braids and also on appearance given that I plan to wash my hair every week.  I decided to go with twists done with ‘expression braid’ colour number 4.  The braids were dipped into hot water once done to ‘set’ the ends to prevent unravelling. 

The braiding took nine hours!  We took frequent small breaks and one long one when I had to fetch my kids from school.  I was done at 7pm having started at 10am.

This is how I will be maintaining my hair while it has braid extensions:

  •  I will spray braid spray daily.  I spray the braid spray generously onto the braids up to where my hair ends.  My braids are damp when I am done.  I will be using African Pride Braid Spray.  I like the ingredients on this braid spray as it contains oils (olive fruit oil and tea tree leaf oil) and herbal extracts (peppermint leaf extract, nettle extract, rosemary leaf extract, wild cherry bark extract etc) as well as some protein (silk amino acids).  I also have the African pride Braid Spray marketed for children.  This particular one also contains oils (olive fruit oil, soybean oil, coconut oil, jojoba seed oil, grape seed oil, avocado oil, flaxseed oil, wheat germ oil), protein (hydrolysed vegetable protein, hydrolysed oat protein, hydrolysed soybean protein, hydrolysed wheat protein).  The reason I bought the two is because I find the scent on the adult one a bit overpowering so I plan to use it only about once a week and use the kids one the rest of the time.  The children’s fragrance is milder in my opinion.
  •  Wash braids weekly with shampoo.
  •   Dilute conditioner with water and pour over braids concentrating on the parts with my hair.
  •   Massage castor oil onto a clean scalp once a week.

 

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