Finger Detangling 101

Hi, people. Happy New Week! I'm posting with my fone for now, I hope it works because this is the first time.

Friday was the first day of my "no-comb" hair journey! Yep. I want to try and see if I can do without combing my very fine strands; so "finger-detangling" here I come.
I pre-conditioned overnight with a 50:50 mix of castor and coconut oils. By saturday my hair was super-soft and moisturised. Which is indeed a blessed because I used a protein treatment two weeks ago and my hair was still somewhat hard prior to my pre-poo.
In the morning I did the CLT(Cherry Lola Treatment) on my oily, finger-detangled hair, substituted conditioner for yogurt. The recipe I used was; 1 cup conditioner(Tresemme Naturals Nourishing Moisture), 1/4 cup Baking Soda and 1/4 cup Bragg Liquid Amino Acids). For more about the Cherry Lola Treatment go here;http://www.cherrylola.com/2009/03/magic-frizz-reducer-a-fluke-concoction-called-the-cherry-lola-treatment/

I left it on for an hour and when I washed it out in the shower; my curls were poppin' and dancing! They were really elongated and defined! I almost didn't want to touch them after that. And I forgot to take photos after I rinsed... Ooops! Next time...

I really took my time to rinse it out very well(it leaves behind a bit of residue) because I didn't want to co-wash or deep-condition after. The baking soda is clarifying enough for me, for today. I could co-wash and/or deep-condition after, I've co-washed after it before but not today. I just did an ACV rinse after.

At this time, medarlin' coils were still doing cartwheels! One day I'll try a wash and go after the CLT. Someday... Anyway i smooshed in my leave-in(Shea Moisture Deep Treatment Masque, drops of Jojoba Oil and drops of glycerine), oil and used a little of my Curl Pudding to make chunky twists. I really love the Cherry Lola Treatment, at least my hair seems to be in love with it for now.

From the beginning to the end; I never used my detangling comb and I didn't finger-detangle again after the first time and my hair was still tangle and knot free! Even when I was parting my hair to make the twists. And the shed/broken hair that was left wasn't much at all! Awesome! Anyway, I'll do it for a month and then do a proper "review" on it. We'll see how this works out on the long run.

See you all soon and Keep The Faith!
 xoxo

Emmanuella

Absolutely Fabulous Spotlight- Sophia *UPDATE

Happy New Year, everyone! We are all here; we made it and its awesome!!! Thank you Lord.
Last year we had Sophia from Port-Harcourt(a makeup Artiste and Interior Decorator) our Absolutely Fabulous Spotlight, talk about her locs, regimen and products. She's four years natural and I must admit her locs are even more luscious!
She got married recently and here are a few photos she graciously offered to share!

Did I mention that she's a makeup artiste? Here, she's doing what she knows best!

I must admit when she was getting ready for her wedding, I was a bit curious to see what bridal hair she'd rock! And I was pleasantly surprised. Very creative indeed! You go girl! 

For this absolutely gorgeous hair-do, she retwisted the roots of her locs and put it up, before using EXPRESSION Braid hair to create a faux bun. Awesome! She dared to be different!

Sophia and Victoria, her friend and fellow Loc'star..

Thank you, Sophia! We wish you eternal marital bliss.
Sophia,
DualFaces Makeup,
08098550011.

See you all soon and Keep The Faith!
xoxo

Emmanuella

Jane Carter Nourish And Shine Review by Julia.

HAPPY NEW YEAR, FOLKS!

 We sure are going to be doing a lot of sharing here; I share my experiences with products and you share yours! So if any of you naturalistas want to share or write a review of products you've used; do send me an e-mail or tweet.

Trust me, reviews do help. I know, because they've helped me decide on more than a few occasions to either try a product or give it a miss. Before i buy any product i make sure to read other people's reviews on it, just to have a general idea of how it works.

Today we are starting with my friend Julia, who sent in her review on the Jane Carter's Nourish and Shine. Julia is a sweetheart, naturalista and a ... supposedly reformed "product junkie!" Sorry, Jules!

Jane Carter Nourish and Shine. $22 for a 4oz tub.

Once upon a not-too-distant time, curlmart.com and I were great buddies.  I regularly visited it to check out products. I would scan through reviews just to discover magic products that could get my hair looking nice and manageable.

During one of my numerous "lust & get sessions", I came across Jane
Carter's Nourish and Shine. The reviews and product description, tallied. Tightly coiled, as well as loosely-coiled sistas, raved about how great it was and all that, so I added it to my cart.

I wasn't disappointed one bit! The amazing thing is that it could also be used on the skin, and the ingredients are all natural.

The ingredients are: Shea butter, kokum butter, Illippe butter, Mango
butter, Vitamins A, D,& E, pear and grapefruit essential oils.


After applying my leave-in, I use it to seal in moisture, concentrating on the ends. My ends immediately feel supple. I just need a little, and Bam! my hair is all shiny, and soft.
I sometimes apply it in between washes.
It blesses my hair with a nice fragrance. My palms also love it, because once I'm done with my hair, my palms rejoice in the paradise of "softness".


The only drawback this product has is that it's a tad expensive at $22 for a 4oz tub, but I got it during the "25% off" promo (yay!) I'll like to add this: always remember that a little goes a long way. If you use too much, you run the risk of having greasy hair. I'll definitely be buying again.

P.S
*whispering* shhhhh!!! let me tell you a secret; whenever I'm going out, I stop by our reflecting window, and admire my hair as the sun highlights the shine (sigh of contentment).
Julia.

And that's a wrap! She was kind of waxing poetically there wasn't she? She absolutely loves her products, sorry her hair!
Thanks, Julia. *hugs*
So that's Julia's take on it. Who knows I just might try it soon.

See you all soon and Keep The Faith!
xoxo
Emmanuella

My Palm Kernel Oil(PKO) PrePoo; Epic!!!

Source;

 HAPPY NEW YEAR, FOLKS! And I'm back! I've been away for far too long and so I decided to usher in the new year with my return to Blogsville!
I've missed blogging and hope to do a better job this 2014... From my lips to God's ears!

A couple of months ago I had a pre-shampoo(pre-poo) treatment done on my hair, after the dismal outing of the previous one(with aloe vera gel and Parachute Advanse Hot Oil Treatment) I wasn't really expecting much of anything good this time around. I still hadn't replenished my coconut oil supply and I was really eye-balling THAT Parachute Advansed Oil... Badly! That was a dismal outing, I probably will never use it again.

I realized that I still had Natural Nigerian's Palm Kernel Oil and decided to give it a whirl, since I read somewhere that its properties/composition made it a pretty close alternative for my beloved Coconut Oil.

So without much ado I got it out and applied it to just loosened hair from cornrows, I had my hair in 4 twists. After I smooshed it in, especially on the ends, I wore 2 polythene bags, 2 shower bonnets and then tied a satin scarf on.
In three hours, more out of curiosity than anything else because I usually leave my pre-poo in overnight, I removed all the bags, bonnets and touched my hair... Omigosh! It felt sublime! As smooth as butter and as soft as cream! Only Coconut oil has ever given this kind of result! Olive oil doesn't do anything for me and THAT Parachute Oil was worse.

So! I've found my alternative to Coconut Oil and will definitely stock up on some because... I'm in love! PKO is definitely going to be an addition to my arsenal of products. If you can't make yours(i can't either) and you can't get some of the local kind(just be sure it's the real deal), then be sure to get some from Natural Nigerian. Seriously, you all should try this! I'll definitely keep you all posted on my progress!

See you all soon and Keep The Faith!
 xoxo

Emmanuella

Absolutely Fabulous Spotlight- Sophia

                          

What's your name and where are you from?
My name is Sophia/Brown Sugar. I'm from Delta State but I live in Port-Harcourt.

What do you do?
I'm a Make-up Artist and Interior Decorator. My outfit is called DualFaces.

How long have you been rocking locs?
I've had locs for three years.

What keeps you from the Creamy-Crack?
I stopped relaxing my hair because it wasn't "taking' to relaxers, I don't like rollers in my hair and can't stand hair-driers. I decided to rock locs because it feels more comfortable and natural.

What is the best thing and the challenges about having dreadlocks?
The best thing is that its natural and it saves time. But not everyone appreciates or likes dreadlocks!

What's your hair routine/regimen?
I wash every month, and use special treatment when locking it; Let's Dread Shampoo and Wax, Hair Booster, Organic Root Stimulator Hair Mayonnaise, Organic Root Stimulator Twist and Lock Gel and Organic Root Stimulator Oil Sheen Spray.

What are those products that you absolutely must have?
ORS Twist and Lock Gel.

Where do you get your products from?
I buy from the supermarkets or cosmetic shops.

What's your favorite style to rock?
Side-Fringe.

Where do you currently get hair tips and ideas from?
Google/Internet.

What would you say to someone interested in taking the natural route?
I recommend locs because its natural, saves time and you're good-to-go because it doesn't need so much styling.

What do you think of the dreadlocks scene in Nigeria?
Its not encouraging; its not appreciated at all.

Where can we find you?
 I'm on Facebook and Dualfaces is on Facebook as well.

    

                                                  

 

 

  

                                                        

Happy New Year, Folks!

xoxo

Emmanuella

  .        

                                                           

               

Ibiyemi Ajakaiye

She was born in the 80's in San Francisco, California, to Nigerian-born parents from Kogi State. A singer/song-writer, she's been singing all her life but started professionally in 2003.

Her musical influences include; Mary J. Blige, Lauryn Hill, Tracy Chapman, Marvin Gaye, Sam Cooke and Stevie Wonder.

Her songs include; True Colour Featuring Sound Sultan, Can You Love Me?, Don't Leave Me, It Could Be Featuring Dipo, Ore and Play.

She recently had a baby son on the 23rd of December and the video for Play also made its entrance. Nice going girl! Play is the fourth song from her debut album Love Always Wins. The video was directed by Tosin Igho for IGH Films.

(source;BellaNaija)

Ibiyemi had this to say recently; "I am very excited about the next chapter of my life, both personally and professionally. Thanks to all the devoted fans who kept tweeting and sending messages asking about the video. I appreciate your patience. It's here!" 

Click on the links below to watch my personal favorites; Ore

 Don't Leave Me

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

xoxo

Emmanuella

MY AYURVEDIC PRODUCTS AND REGIMEN

(source;http://hi-imcurrentlyobsessed.tumblr.com)

I am currently on a strict Ayurvedic hair regimen, from now until December. After that I might either streamline my regimen or just continue with it, as is.

I actually mix my products with traditional Conditioners and Deep Conditioners. I prefer the combination of conditioners and powders, versus powders only. I find that it makes it easier to wash out.       

THE USES OF SOME AYURVEDIC HERBS AND INGREDIENTS

Amla- Stimulates hair growth, darkens the hair, conditions and strengthens the hair at the roots.

Henna- is a natural hair dye and it's a great hair strengthener. Some people use it to loosen their curls or coils.

Bhringraj- Treats hair loss, balding, premature greying and acts as a conditioner. It also nourishes the hair and scalp which is necessary for hair growth.

Brahmi- Relieves dandruff, thickens hair and also strengthens hair at the roots.

Neem(Dogonyaro)- Is anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-viral. It promotes healthy hair growth and fights dry scalp. It's used in skincare as well.

Kapur Kachri- It promotes thicker and fragrant hair. It also promotes hair growth by stimulating the scalp and has antiseptic properties.

Shikakai- It is a natural cleanser and mild conditioner. Promotes hair growth and aids detangling.

Aritha(Reetha)- Also known as Soapnuts, is a natural cleanser as well. It has insecticidal properties and can be used to get rid of lice.

Methi(Fenugreek)- It promotes hair growth, prevents hair loss and helps strengthen the hair shaft. Its also a light protein.

Hibiscus(Jaswand)- It conditions the hair, promotes healthy hair growth and prevents hair loss. It also thickens the hair and delays premature greying.

Aloe Vera Gel- It promotes hair growth, balances the PH level and heals the scalp. It also imparts sheen, and nourishes the hair follicles and scalp.

MY PRODUCTS

CONDITIONERS- V05 Moisture Milks Strawberry and Cream Conditioner- For Co-Washing.

Organic Root Stimulator Hair Mayonnaise- For Deep Conditioning.

Giovanni Direct Weightless Leave-In Conditioner.

AYURVEDIC PRODUCTS

Pre-Poo Oils
Dabur Vatika Oil and Parachute Coconut Oil.

Conditioner-Washing
Hibiscus Petal Powder/Neem Powder, Amla Powder, Shikakai Powder and Coconut Oil.

Strengthening
Godrej Nupur Mehendi Henna.

Deep-Conditioning
Hibiscus Petal Powder, Brahmi Powder, Bhringaraj Powder and Coconut Oil.

Hair-Rinsing
Apple-Cider Vinegar.
Herbal Tea Rinse(Hibiscus Powder/Fenugreek Seed Powder)

Conditioning
Giovanni Direct Weightless Leave-In Conditioner.

Moisturising
Dabur Vatika Oil. Parachute Coconut Oil.

Sealing
Kinky Apothecary Whipped Shea Butter and Tropic Isle Lavender Jamaican Black Castor Oil.

These are the products I currently use and I didn't want to make this too long, so i'll post the part two of this, on my regimen next time.

Meanwhile, i'm going to make a separate post on where I get my products from; online and in shops. Now, there are some amazing places where people in Lagos can get some really good hair and body products, all-natural and organic too! Watch this space.

Have an amazing week ahead.

XOXO

Emmanuella

PLUS FABULOUS; KAMARI BROWN

Kamari Brown is a twenty-five year old plus-size model in New York City.She is 1/4 British, 1/4 German and 1/2 African-American. She grew up in Seattle, England and Germany. She started modeling because she                

wanted to express her creativity, and she's done that through acting, dancing and now modeling. And also because she wanted to help other women love their bodies, which is something she had issues with too.

Kamari struggled with low-self esteem issues growing and was uncomfortable in her own skin for many years. She says " ... It wasn't until Destiny's Child came into the scene that my views started to change. For the first time, seeing Beyonce, a woman of my complexion with hips, thick legs/thighs just like mine, being hailed as beautiful by the media and my peers around me, made me start to accept my curves and see how beautiful they were."

                                                           

She has a B.S in Communications, Public Relations and Human Geography from the University of Miami and currently works with MTV, as an Integrated Marketing Manager and is currently signed with agencies in smaller markets and overseas in Europe and South Africa.

Gorgeous, in and out, Kamari's biggest passion is fighting for human and animal rights. She's been active with the U.S. Fund for UNICEF and recently started working with the ASPCA, an animal rights organization.

She's a vegetarian and works out three to four times a week. She also loves protein shakes and Indian cuisine.

                                                                                               

Her favourite shops are; ASOS, Dorothy Perkins, Monsoon, Top Shop and H&M who have just started a plus line.

"My advice to women is instead of letting society and the media define your beauty, let it help you see how beautiful you are, just the way you are, by surrounding yourself with positive role models and people."

Additional information and pictures from plus-sizemodelsunite.com

Have a great Monday!


XOXO

 

Emmanuella

SARKODIE

One of my favourite artistes is under the spotlight today, I have never hidden my fondness for Ghanaian music or artistes, not just because of the Azonto connection, people! Ghanaian music is awesome ... Almost as great Nigerian music!;))  

He is simply known as Sarkodie or Sarkodie Obidi. He was born Michael Owusu, in Tema, Ghana,  and he's a hip-life/hip-hop Ghanaian artiste. Sarkodie is arguable the fastest lyricist the side of the continent. He was crowned the "King of Underground Hip-Life", for five years. 

His debut album, Makye was released in 2009. With great songs like; "Chat With You" featuring JaySo, "Move" featuring Kwaw Kese, "Babe" featuring Mugees, amongst others.

He won the BET's Best African Act for 2012.
He's signed on to Konvict Africa, Akon's record label
And he's billed to perform at the Big Brother Africa StarGame 2012 finale.

Sarkodie's Rapperholic album is simply off the charts! His second album, and Konvict Africa's first 

"offering", it was released in December 2011 with songs like "U Go Kill Me" featuring E.L, which happens to be one of my favourites! "Give It To Me" featuring Mugeez, "Onyame Nhyira No" featuring Castro, "When I      Grow Up" featuring Ikechukwu, "I'm In Love With You" featuring Efya, amongst others.

He's also teamed up with musician/rapper/producer JaySo on a joint collaboration album, "The Mind Game"(TMG). The first single off the album is "Pizza & Burger", with other songs like; "Let Them Know", "Marry You", "Look At My Baby" amongst others.

Sarkodie's Rapperholic album cover. Photo: Ghana Music.com

Here are some of his videos;

Chaleeeeeeeeeeee!
Have a  fabulous week ahead!

XOXO

Emmanuella