Skip to main content

Finding my way back

The past couple years have been such a journey for me. Whoever said that we are supposed to have it all figured out by age 30 lied... yup that was a flat out lie!!  I've always known that I wanted some kind of digital presence, I've always known that I wanted to be an entrepreneur but I've never quite got it to click. Over the past years that I have been absent from this blog I've gone from working a fulltime 8-4, to creating my own hair product line, opening an online retail store, having several part time jobs, whew I am getting tired just writing this lol.  Then came 2020..... the year covid hit. There was a lot of silence, stillness and healing in 2020. I needed a time out. I needed to stop.  If I am being totally honest 2020 rocked me in ways that I still cannot quite put into words. Maybe one day, far far into the future looking back I could explain. At present I sit here in June 2021, still trying to catch my footing, not wanting to go back to the mundane activit

Healthy Hair Styling: Braidouts

Hi Ladies,

Now that we have done some theory, I wanted to share one of my favourite 'go-to' styles : the braidout. This is a very low maintenance, low manipulation style that is easy on your strands yet very stylish. The braidout can be strategically used for the following :

1. To keep the new growth stretched so that you can have a longer time period between chemical services like relaxers, perms, dry curls. This allows you to give your hair a break from the chemicals.. I will do a post on stretching relaxers in the future.

2. For persons who wear their hair curly, this is an alternative to a wash and go. Wash and gos often get matted as the hair curls up. Because a braidout is a stretched style (the hair is in a stretched state as it dries) it does not tangle an mat as easily as a wash an go. Its a great way to wear your hair 'open' with getting a tangled mess.

3. This is a great way of stretching the hair in preparation for flat ironing. The less heat the better... no blow drying required.

4. To reduce the amount of unnecessary combing. Once the style is complete... it requires very little maintenance.  This gives your strands a break of the daily pulling an tugging. At night you just tie your hair into a high ponytail... should look like a pineapple. In the morning you refresh with your fingers sparingly.

So..... how is this magical style achieved? Its so simple you would not believe it.

Firstly you would need some sort of moisturising spritz (preferably containing glycerine and aloe vera juice)... an oil for sealing (any oil/butter.. the coarser the hair the heavier the oil should be) and some sort of setting agent (gel, mousse, setting lotion... the coarse the hair the stronger the setting product should be).

Next your section the hair into two sections. Part it from ear to ear. Put the top half in a pony an work with the bottom first. Spray the entire bottom half with the spritz (I use a homemade concoction with containing aloe vera and glycerine)... then coat it with the oil/butter (I used shea butter mixed with oils). Take a small section of hair, detangle (figure detangle if it was previously detangled) apply some gel or whatever setting product you are using (I use normal styling gel) and braid the hair. Continue these steps for the other sections of the hair. For the braidout in the pics below I did 6 medium braids in the back section of my hair and three in front.



When I am finished with the back I usually tie a scarf around my head and push it back a little beyond my hair line... this is because I do not like my plaits/braids starting on my hair line... (this is optional ofcourse). It is important to pay attention to the direction you would like the hair to fall in when braiding the front... if you want it to fall to the side and braid it to the side.




Please note that when you are braiding, do not 'borrow' hair from the other sections in order to finish the braid. Before you start make sure all three parts are equal. This allows for a more defined braidout.

LEAVE IT ALONE UNTIL IT IS COMPLETELY DRY!! This is to allow the hair to 'set' in the pattern of the braid.


For the take down, put a little oil in your hands and unplait.... Its that simple.










Hope you guys will try this style.... message me with any questions/comments.. Ill be more than happy to assist. 
Until next time... HHJ

Ren

Comments

  1. Saw the pictures on the forum and had to read the blog. Love the turn out.
    ummkhaliyl.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love your braidouts but i'm really scared to try one as i have a round face

    I'll probably give it a go during our summer here in Australia (Dec-Feb) as i want to stretch my relaxer again

    Can you please share your recipe for homemade spritz? Thanks

    xo Stephanie
    adailydoseofcashmere.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thanks ladies...

    @ stephanie... The spritz is about half aloe vera juice, quarter water and quarter glycerine and some vanilla essence for the scent.... you need to store it in the fridge unless you can get your hands on some preservative. Optiphen is a good perservative. Hope this helps!!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Hair Practices:Protecting hair for Texturizing Touch-up

Hey just coming at you with a short post on how I texturize my hair to get minimal breakage and damage. I was asked about my texlaxing process so below is a quick step by step tutorial of my touch up. Step 1: Separate hair in quarters. Take a good look at your new growth and determine where the line of demarcation is (where your relaxed hair meets your natural hair). Coat your already processed hair with vaseline and/or baby oil. Products New growth Separate in quarters Step 2: Add conditioner or oils to the relaxer to dilute the strength. This slows down the processing of the hair and allows you time for application if you move slowly like me lol. About 50/50 regular relaxer and conditioner Step 3: I apply my relaxer with my hands (using gloves ofcourse).. smoothing as I go along. I do not comb through Step 4: I leave the relaxer in for about 10 minutes Dont worry if the relaxer gets on already processed hair as its slathered with vaseline and bab

Healthy Hair Practices: Stretching Relaxers

Hello everyone, Today I want to focus on relaxed hair and shed some light on one of the most important practices that contributes to healthy relaxed (bone straight or texturized) hair. What does it mean to stretch your relaxer? Traditionally hair stylists have encouraged women to relax their hair every 4 to 6 weeks. Stretching your relaxer means lengthening the period between your touch ups, so instead of 4 to 6 weeks, you wait for 8 to 10 weeks or more. Why stretch your relaxer? -To prevent over lapping Hair grows on average  half an inch per month. When touching up a relaxer, chemical is supposed to be applied to the new growth but if there is only half inch of curly new growth it becomes very difficult to prevent relaxer from getting on the already relaxed hair. This results in overlapping the relaxer which causes the hair to become over processed, brittle and prone to breakage. -To give your scalp a break from harsh chemicals -To give you enough time to treat the hair

Healthy Hair Styling: Safe Flat Irioning

Hi Guys, I flat ironed my hair yesterday and I figured that I should do a post on safe flat ironing. It seems that with all the information out there about caring for our hair, heat has become the enemy. I believe that like everything else, heat can be used in moderation without having harmful effects to your hair. Below are some useful tips for flat ironing: 1. Deep Condition for atleast one hour prior to flat ironing. This is important as it infuses moisture and protein into the strands. Curly hair normally reverts when flat ironed because of humidity (moisture in the atmosphere), if your hair is moisturised well, it would not suck moisture from the atmosphere into your hair, thus your press would last longer. 2. Use a liquid leave-in. I have found that cream leave-in conditioners make my hair heavy and limp when I flat iron. 3. Use a heat protectant A good protectant is absolutely necessary when using heat. Fine strand ladies should use a  liquid and for thicker strands a s