Jurnee Smollett~ Hairspiration!

I loved her when she was in Full House and Hanging with Mr. Cooper

As she's grown older she has turned into a true vixen

and her hair is the *ish straight or curly!!

Fighting Frizz

Frizz...some people like it, others don't. I think it gives a little character to a do :) Plus I'm in the hot humid South and almost have no other choice. If you're one of those people who don't like it then I have a few suggestions that will help combat the frizz as we go into warmer days.

-Reduce shampooing to no more than twice a week. Shampoo can tend to dry hair so opt for co-washes for added moisture. Plus you don't want to strip the hair of natural oils. The BEST oils. 

-Rinse conditioners with cold water. This helps lock down the hair cuticles and lock in moisture

-Opt for a deep conditioner at least one a week. I have tried various

ones but my favorite thus far has been Pantene R&N Deep Conditioning Mask.

Egg, olive oil, coconut milk, and castor oil are a few great inexpensive deep treatments. 

-Sitting under the dryer with a plastic cap helps penetrate the deep conditioner

-Using a leave-in conditioner is also beneficial. Strapped for cash? Mix part rinse-out conditioner with part water in a spray bottle. This will also make a wonderful refresher on hot, dry Summer days. 

*Notice the pattern of conditioning ;)

If all else fails and you're desperate to turn to commercial styling aids. Pomades are 

good for taming fly aways(I personally like shea butter,castor oil, and KCCC). There are a lot

of anti-frizz control cremes and serums but be sure to beware of -cones. Dimethicone is a light silicone oil that won't harm because normally a little goes a long way. Hope this helps all you curlies trying to preserve your sexy during the warmer days!♥

Happy Easter

Happy Easter everyone! I hope you curlies have a wonderful day of family and fun. Share your wonderful holiday hairstyles(happynappe@gmail.com) and remember the reason for the season! ♥

Haute Transition

Curlycurious

~New Jersey~

How long have/did you transition?

I am in my 7^th month of transitioning after having relaxed my hair for about 12 years since I was about 9 years old. My last relaxer was in September 2008.

What is your daily hair regimen?

I just recently changed my regimen from Hello Hydration for co-washes, Lustrasilk Shea as a leave-in, and Africa’s best oil to seal to Aussie Moist and Olive oil. I co-wash my hair usually every other day with Aussie Moist and I use that as a leave-in as well. I seal my hair with olive oil, just a little bit, however, because if I use a lot, it seems to dry out my hair. I also try to take hair vitamins daily. I take MSM (3x a day) Flax Seed Oil (3x a day) and Biotin (2-3x a day). I must admit, though, that I usually fall behind on my vitamins during the weekends because my schedule changes drastically from work and school to more free time, so my vitamin schedule gets thrown off balance.

How do you protect your hair at night?

If I’m trying to do a twist out or a Bantu-knot out (both of which have never turned out right so far) I wear a silk scarf. If it’s just a regular night, I put my hair in a high bun, I guess it’s a bun version of a pineapple— which is, as many of you know, where you pile the hair to the very, very top of you’re head and put it in a loose pony tail.

If you were stranded on a deserted island, what three hair items would you have to have?

I love this question! Well, as a transitioner, I would bring:

1. A brush

2. A hair tie

3. and some kind of conditioner

How do you tackle negative comments about transitioning to Natural?

Well, luckily my mom and my sister are both natural and my boyfriend is supportive because both his mom and sister are natural, though they use heat. And my friends are enthusiastic to see what my real hair looks like—and because most of my friends do not have afro-textured hair, they are kind of jealous that they can’t experience the joy of seeing their natural hair come out in all it’s kinky, curly, coily glory : ).  

What made you decide to become a curly girl?

The about me section in my fotki offers a more detailed story. But long story short, I was in an African American History class this past fall semester and I was doing research after reading two slave narratives and found that black people are some of the most unique mixture of people with ancestry from every corner of the world. From then on, I wanted to embrace my blackness, as funny as that sounds,  and stop being ashamed of my nappy-ness. Plus, I felt as though I would be robbing myself and my future children the pride in possessing these beautiful black features from our hair to our toes.

Do you have a goal length?

Currently, I’m going back and forth from wanting to do a BC to wanting to wait and just let my hair grow. If I do BC, it will be well after a year into my transition (so technically not a Big Chop haha). As for length,  I want my natural hair to be about the same length as my relaxed hair which is a good 12 inches—I haven’t measured so this is just a guess.

Do you have staple treatments (i.e. henna, deep treatment, bentonite)?

I just use Pantene Pro-V relaxed and natural hair mask once and a while in the shower. But as my hair grows I am afraid of breakage so I think I’m going to do longer deep treatments and sit under my hair dryer. 

How have you handled your worse hair days?

Brush, water, gel, hair tie….stat! Actually, my hair tied back in to a bun or pony is my main hairstyle, but when I do venture out and try a twist-out or a Bantu-knot out, I have those things on hand because it never turns out right lol!

How do you retain moisture?

Because my hair is always in a bun or a pony, I usually don’t even give it time to properly dry so my hair stays pretty moisturized for the day in between co-washes.

What would be your advice to someone thinking of transitioning?

Stalk fotkis, natural hair blogs, and hair forums! The lovely ladies that have made fotkis of their natural hair/ natural hair journey have inspired me so much that whenever I get discouraged I look at their beautiful hair and it only makes me more determined. Frequently visit the hair blogs, like this one, and the hair forums like naturallycurly.com because they offer a lot of valuable information on a regular basis which has helped me get this far without chickening out.  I would also advise a person to make a fotki and document their transition to natural by taking pictures. I, too, find that the when I get discouraged I like to look at my pictures to see my own progress and though it is small it is still noticeable and that makes me smile : ).  

 If you make any homemade concoctions would you like to share?

I do use this homemade spritz its chilled brewed green tea mixed with a bit of olive oil. I spritz my hair with that whenever I feel it is getting too dry or when I want to spruce up my bun or pony tail

Attention PJ's!

I'm offering a solution to all the ladies who have been bitten by the product junkie bug! If you have products lying around that just didn't fit your hair regimen or totally didn't work for you, don't just chunk them in file 13...Let Haute & Natural recycle them to a lucky lady via give-a-ways or contest. I will reimburse all standard shipping & handling charges and make some CG out there extra happy :) Contact me at happynappe@gmail.com for details.

Growth Rampage...

That's what I'm on! I have been heat free since January and I've tweaked my routine a couple of times while trying various products. I really want to achieve shoulder length(or longer) by July. 

My current routine

Sun:Poo, rinse-out, ACV clarify, deep treatment

Wed:Co-wash, deep treatment

Fri:Co-Wash, deep treatment

Nightly

Detangle w/ H20 & leave-in, 2 strand twist, sealing ends w/unrefined shea,

message scalp with BB Growth Serum, spray hair w/Juices & Berries

sleep with satin bonnet

Daily

ORS Olive Oil Hair Lotion, honey/AV gel/H20 spritz, BB Growth Serum on scalp

top style off spraying w/ Jucies & Berries

Supplements

GNC Women's Ultra Mega(2X a day)

Nettle 500mg

MSM 1500mg

Fish Oil 300mg

Vitamin E 400IU(2X a day)

Biotin 5000mcg

My shampoo, condish, and deep treatment have varied. I used Dr. Miracle Deep Conditioning Treatment Sunday and I love the way it felt on my scalp. Downfall...mineral oil is high on the list(3rd ingredient) :( I also have AO Honeysuckle Rose, ORS Replenishing Pak, Pantene R&N Mask, and Palmer's Coconut Oil Protein Pack. I was using Cantu Shea Butter Leave-In nightly and I have switched to Creme of Nature Lemongrass & Rosemary Leave-In because I don't want my hair to get use to Cantu and I won't be able to revisit it at a later date. I didn't like how the C of N left my hair feeling so I added jojoba oil and EVOO to it and I'm pleased. I ordered a bottle of Jamacian black castor oil because I've read wonderful things about it being good for growth. Once I receive it I may use it to seal my ends. I also placed an order with my fave company Oyin. Greg Juice and Honey Hemp are on the way! :) I GOTTA kill the PJism so I only plan on visiting my nearby Dollar Tree to purchase my favorite co-wash conditioner, VO5 Clarifying Kiwi & Lime(I was THRILLED to see it there yesterday). I think I have more than enough products to help me on my quest. So ladies, do you think I'm on the right path? Open to any and ALL suggstions!♥

Haute Girl BekkaPoo

BekkaPoo

from Naturallycurly.com

What made you decide to become a curly girl?
B: Hehe.. I love this question because it’s not like I “became” curly. I was born curly and for a few years during the ages of 10-14 I “became” a permie. I have been natural for most of my life and my perm years were a glitch that has now been corrected. I decided to get rid of my perm forever when I noticed that my hair had broken off right down to the scalp. So I cut my hair down to a ¼ in. fade (about three times btwn age 14-21) as I was learning to work with my natural hair for the first time.

What is your daily hair regimen?

B: My daily regimen is pretty simple, but inconsistent.  Something I have always done is using water and a little conditioner to refresh my curls.  I also co-wash as needed using Aussie Moist, and detangle about twice a week.  By “as needed” I mean whenever my hair is feeling dry or dirty, or if a hair experiment went wrong.

 

How do you protect your hair at night?

B: At night I mainly just sleep on a satin pillowcase and I will alternate btwn a loose pineapple, overnight ponytail roller set, or I just leave it out.  Right now it’s too short to be a nuisance on my pillow if I wear it out in my sleep.  I give my hair a basic level of protection at night with the pillowcase and usually that is enough.  I think too much overnight styling and leaving my hair in buns or ponys is causing some of my hair to break off in a halo, so I have to be careful how often and how tightly I pull back my hair at night.

 

If you were stranded on a deserted island, what three hair items would you have to have?

B: Ohh good question..well my hair actually likes salt water so in theory, I might not need much extra on a deserted island.  But most definitely number one on the list would be raw natural organic SHEA BUTTER.  ORS Elasti-ci-tea leave in (my favorite right now), and also some thick conditioner like Aussie Moist.  However if I really really had to cut those products down to just one, I think my hair could survive on salt water and shea butter alone.

 

How do you tackle negative comments about being Natural?

B: I love natural hair on anyone.. for anyone to criticize what is growing out of my (or anyone else’s) scalp, what my ancestors gave me is definitely good enough for me so I don’t hang onto negative outside opinions.  I let it go. But honestly I haven’t gotten too many, and I guess if I did  I have blocked them out.  But I would say to anyone if/when you do get them, just dust off your shoulders and move on.  I have no time for haters so I don’t let them drag me down to their level. 

 

Do you have a goal length?

B: Yes I do.. I’d like to be bra strap length unstretched.  I just recently saw a picture of myself at 6 or 7 years old, and I had a mane of hair that was bra strap length despite not having an ideal hair care regimen (can you say fine toothed comb, Johnson’s baby shampoo, and NO conditioner in sight for yearrrrrrs).  So I’m hoping that I can get back to that length.  Considering how badly my hair was treated early on I’m surprised it was able to grow that long.  I’m hoping that with the care I give my hair now it will get there once again.

 

Do you have staple treatments(ie.henna,deep treatment, bentonite)

B: My treatments right now are just doing deep conditioning, again as needed since I don’t have a regular schedule of treatments.  I use a base conditioner that is cheap like Suave or White Rain.  Then I will add either olive oil or melted shea butter to that base.  I don’t measure so I just make my formulas to the thickness that I like.  Lately I tried a mayonnaise and olive oil deep conditioner so that I could get some protein, and although messy it worked well for me.

 

How have you handled your worse hair days?

B: On the worst hair days a bun will be my best friend.

How do you retain moisture?

B: I try to keep my hair moist by giving it water from the inside (drinking it) and outside (wetting it).  Also applying my conditioner and shea butter to the ends helps.  But honestly, if the moisture level isn’t there I apply water and conditioner until it’s feeling better.  It’s really a day to day process and the more you are in tune with your hair the easier it gets.

 

What would be your advice to someone thinking of transitioning?

B: Go for it!  Don’t be afraid of your hair.

 

What have been your fave styles to acheive healthy hair?

B: I’m not much of a stylist, but I have tried to teach myself a few simple styles that work.  I favor loose buns, the challah updo (see Crownofhisglory on youtube to see styling directions), or just a twisted crown style, all of which are quick five minute styles.  As much as I love twists and braids, they do not look good on me so I’m definitely envious of you thick haired ladies who can do a two week twist set.

 

If you make any homemade concoctions would you like to share?

B: An easy rinse for the hair is to boil rosemary in water, let it cool, and run the cooled tea over your hair after you wash.  It gives a nice tingle to the scalp and rosemary is supposed to aid in hair growth.  I don’t know if rosemary tea rinses have helped my hair grow but I really like that tingly sensation, especially down here in very humid hot South Florida.