naturallycurly Archives

Protection First | Kinky Wednesday | MadameAkay

Hey Gems,

If you are new to my blog, I am doing a series where I share all things related to my 4C kinky hair. Every Wednesday I will drop a new post related to my 4C crown, leave a comment below I want this to be interactive! This is now the fourth post in the series and I hope you all have been enjoying this series so far!

I think it’s important to give your natural hair some rest in between styles as well as from your hands. Protective styles are styles that protect the ends of your hair. This helps its health and from breakage. One of the challenges I face is single strand knots, split ends, and breakage. Including a protective style here and there really helps me to keep my hands out of my head. Ladies, protection first!

Below are a couple protective styles that I have either tried or would like to try.

Box Braids

Crown Braid

Faux Locs

Wigs of Life – My go to Protective style

Faux Bun – I nearly put my natural hair into a bun and using Marley hair I create an even bigger bun

Okay this isn’t really a protective style, but one time for the culture! 🇳🇬

More braids, braids come in varying lengths and sizes.

I really enjoy experimenting with protective styles, one of the latest trends is crochet hair which I haven’t gotten into just yet, but it’s definitely on my radar. Hope you enjoyed this post and it gave you inspiration for your next protective style!

Disclaimer: The hair styles featured in this post is not guaranteed to provide hair length retention, glow, and strength.

On August 23, 2017

Brand Space | Kinky Wednesday | MadameAkay

Hey Gems,

So last week I shared with you all my wash day routine. This week I wanted to focus in on the brands I chose and what my favorite products are.

1. De La Cruz – Sweet Almond Oil
I had no honest reason for choosing this brand other than it was in the herbal section at Kroger and I was on a hunt for almond oil that wasn’t at the beauty supply store. Yes, I know I could have gone to Whole Foods and looked in their natural section but I’m a bit frugal. Plus, if I fell in love with the product I didn’t want to spend over $10 for 2 oz of product. This oil smells soo good yall, must be why it’s labeled sweet! It doesn’t have that bland boring smell like olive oil and its one of the lighter oils I use for my pre-poo step.

Benefits:
– Nourishes and Strengthens Hair
– Keeps hair from splitting
– Promotes hair growth

2. Organix – Renewing Argan Oil & Morocco Extra Penetrating Oil
I discovered this product in college and I haven’t let it go since. This is another oil that is light and has a sweet scent to it. I use this all the time after I wash my weaves too. It helps with all the stubborn flyaways I may have in my wefts. Ladies, oil your hair and scalp but don’t over do it.

Argan Oil Benefits
– Hair growth
– Tame frizz and fly-aways
– Hair Glow: Yes your hair needs to shine bright!

3. Design Essentials Natural – Coconut Milk Leave – In Nourisher
I swear I talk about this brand too much, they should start paying me for my reviews! Hello! I fell in love with this brand when my hair stylist introduced me to it. Hey girl! This particular brands philosophy is “improving the look and feel of your hair by providing healthy hair styling products that address and satisfy your specific hair needs”. There is honestly nothing more I need to say on this because this brand has a vast amount of products that I have and use and more that I want to try out. This particular leave-in product will run you about $12.99 but if it works for your hair why not.

4. Creme of Nature with Argan Oil from Morocco Argan Buttermilk
Do you all notice my overall theme when it comes to products? This is the second product that contains argan oil. I mentioned in my last post this is the cream that I use in my LOC/LCO method. It smells good and this is a staple product in my collection. I have a number of Creme of Nature products in my product cart including their moisturizing milk masque, intensive conditioning treatment, and strength and shine leave in-conditioner.

5. Cantu Shea Butter for Natural Hair – Deep Treatment Masque
I mentioned above I use Creme of Natures intensive conditioning treatment but this product above by Cantu Shea Butter is right there in the running for first place. My hair comes out very soft and smells amazing. I have a thing for smell goods and this includes my hair. The Cantu brand is a very affordable brand that I started out with when I went back to my natural state and I see it staying for while. Other great products from this brand is their conditioning co-wash and shampoo/conditioner duo. I love love love Cantu!

Disclaimer: The products featured in this post is not guaranteed to provide hair length retention, glow, and strength. The products were also all bought with my money and not sponsored.

On August 16, 2017

So Fresh & So Clean Clean | Kinky Wednesday | MadameAkay

Hey Gems,

In my last post, I mentioned how I finally found my hair care regime right? Well, today I’m going to reveal my secrets and what my wash day routine details. Shh, don’t tell anyone instead lure them to this post! Ha!
First off, go ahead and dedicate say…your whole day to washing your hair lady. Okay, I exaggerated a bit but oh you thought you only needed to follow the instructions on the bottle and be done in 45 minutes? That’s totally not true, I mean who really uses a dime sized amount of conditioner? I usually try and dedicate at least 5-8 hours from start to end. There are 5 steps to my madness. Shoutout to NappyFu for helping me figure out what works for me. Thanks girl!

Step One: Pre Poo
This process involves applying an oil of choices such as almond, black castor, olive and coconut oil to your entire hair. You want to start from the roots and work your way to the ends of your hair. This step helps prepare your hair for your wash day, we all know shampoo strips your hair of oils. Think of this as your front line of defense with a touch of moisture.

Step Two: Cleanser (shampoo, mud mask, co-wash)
CLEANSE THAT SCALP BABYYY! You know you did a successful cleansing when you do the scratch test. Scratch N’ Sniff Test: Scratch your scalp after shampooing and if you see some gunk under your nail bed turn back around and keep cleansing. Sniff your nail if you don’t see anything and if you smell something other than your shampoo, baby you need to keep cleansing, your crown isn’t clean yet. I also like the mud mask, oh my gosh ladies and gents this is like my holy grail I wanna be snatched for the gawdsss cleanser.

Mud Mask Recipe
– Bentonite Clay Powder
– Braggs Apple Cider Vinegar with the Mother
– Plastic spoon
– Plastic Bowl

1. Pour a small amount of the clay powder into the bowl.
2. Slowly pour apple cider vinegar.
3. The clay and the vinegar will react and bubble so go slow.
4. Stir the mixture until it becomes a paste.
5. Apply the mixture to your hair from roots to ends.
6. If there is leftover paste it can be applied to your face as a mask.

Step Three: Condition
Now, this is an important step. For me, I have to use a moisturizing conditioner because again I wear wigs so my scalp and hair is as dry as the Sahara desert. There are so many different types of conditioners, so depending on what your hair is serving you will determine what type of conditioner to use. In my June Favorites video, I talked about my favorite shampoo and conditioner.

Step Four: Deep Condition
I usually use the deep treatment masque by Cantu Shea Butter and this product has my hair feeling like butter. My curls are popping and the shine in my curls is amazing. I love this step because I apply my masque then my conditioning cap and carry about my business. The directions say to leave this on for 30 minutes but I typically leave this on for 45min – 1 hour depending on how crunched on time I am. In my opinion, the longer the better but I could be wrong, this is just what works for me.

Step Five: LCO/LOC Method
This step is probably the most debatable subject int he natural hair world. I have seen so many posts and discussion threads on which method is the right way and which way isn’t. Honestly, they both work so lets put the pitch forks down and embrace them both.

L.iquid (water, leave in conditioner)
O.il (almond, castor, olive)
C.ream (hair milk, curl activators)

L.iquid (water, leave in conditioner)
C.ream(hair milk, curl activators)
O.il (almond, castor, olive)

It honestly doesn’t matter which way you put it, yes your hair will look different depending on which method you use but hey, your hair is getting the food that it needs. The two methods work for me, depending on how my hair feels. If my ends are super dry then I use the LCO method.

Step Six: Styling
Since I wear wigs majority of the time I plait roughly 8 braids going straight back to my nape. If my wig is a middle part then I section my hair into half from ear to ear and the top portion I create a middle part and braid my hair from the middle to my ear. I also style my hair into a twist out, flat twist, braid out etc. depending on what look I’m going for that weekend. Since I cherish my sleeping hours and I really don’t want to deal with a twist out not coming out right I usually do those types of styles on the weekend and wear my wigs to work during the week.
Well that’s it! I hope you gems liked my hair regime because I know my crown loves it! You have to find out what products work for you and that helps my wash day to be smoother.

On August 9, 2017