Products I love - Jan 2013

I decided to start 2013 sans weave, making this decision at 2pm on New Years Eve wasn't my most sensible idea especially as I had to remove, detangle, wash, treat and then condition my hair before wishing in the New Year. Even though I've had my hair in a weave for 12 weeks it was in good condition and felt moisturised, I still wanted to make sure and decided to try out the Cantu leave in moisturising Shea butter http://www.cantubeauty.com/mobile/ for the first time and boy am I glad I did - I love it!

After a 16 week break from the creamy crack - I have quite a bit of regrowth,  the Cantu butter really helped me to be able to slick my hair into a top knot. My hair feels so lush! I asked a few others (fellow hair groupers) for their thoughts and their response has been really positive, with only one person saying they didn't like it as they felt it coated their hair. I agree it does have that feeling but in my opinion that isn't a bad thing,  it does contain mineral oil but it's quite far down the ingredient list, but the feeling is of moisture rather than an oily residue.  I would definitely recommend this product whole heartedly and at £3.49 it's well worth-it. If you use this product do let me know what you think of it.

My second product that I love is Smashbox's primer. I had previously been using MAC's Prep and Prime or Make Up Forever's HD Primer. Unfortunately I had run out of the HD Primer so was solely using MAC. Now that Smashbox is stocked in (larger) Boots it's so much easier to buy and as a product I've always wanted to try I decided to purchase. Now I've tried it I can honestly say I won't be using anything else. I absolutely adore the finish it gives me; before even putting on my base I already feel that my skin is half way to flawless. My foundation stays on longer, it's easier to apply and has an improved finish. I also feel like I use less and I've started using my Sleek BB creme again - which I fell out with in the autumn.

The biggest wake up call for me on how good the Smashbox primer is, is when I inadvertently misplaced it - I was running late and it wasn't in my make up bag so I used the MAC primer. Lets just say there is no contest - I need to buy another bottle just in case this happens again.

I'm a product junkie so if you have any products that you would like to recommend let me know. If you've used any of the products featured in 'Products I love' then feel free to share your feedback.

Nadie xxx

PS Happy New Year - I hope 2013 is filled with joy, love and laughter in abundance.

Product I love - hair conditioner

So I've decided to rest my hair from the creamy crack for a while; and am currently having a long stretch - aiming for 16 weeks. I've been wearing a weave for 6 weeks but the hair was in a need of a revive.

I'd purchased the Macadamia natural oil deep repair masque for my relaxed hair but had only used it once. With the other products I use I found it slightly over moisturizing which was great but it just meant I had to change the frequency of using oils and other products on my hair - which took a little getting used to.

Last night I used the masque on my hair (weave - I paid for it so it's mine) and my hair has a gloss to it that it didn't have before. Unfortunately I don't have a before photo to share but this has definitely made a difference; I now have really shiny hair that also feels smoother.

Anyway I would definitely recommend this product if you are in need of an intensive deep conditioning treatment. When comparing it to the Moroccan oil deep masque I would also say that this provides better results.

I purchased online for £13 but I think it retails for £24, I just searched for sellers of the product and who was cheapest.

If you do use it let me know what you think.

Growing my hair - update 6 months

In April I told you that I was going to start a healthy hair regime, so I thought it was about time I provided an update. I've been doing the following since April:

Using heat sparingly, I've used my straighteners 5 or 6 times at most, I do blow dry my hair sometimes on the low heat setting but this is also infrequent.

Washing weekly and then if I go to the gym I will rinse out my hair and wash it with conditioner (co-washing). I also deep condition with my hood dryer weekly.

Reduce the amount of protein conditioners I use, I had a love affair with Affirm's 5in1, I only use it the week before I relax my hair to strengthen it, directly after rinsing out my relaxer but before neutralising and the week after I relax. I still think its an amazing product i just don't need to use it every week. Instead I alternate my conditioners weekly using Keracare Humeteco for moisture and Aphogee 2 minute for protein (I'm not sure I like this product so looking for an alternative).

Relax my hair every 8-10 weeks, rather than every 6 weeks. I currently have a weave in so probably won't relax my hair again to February but that depends, although that's the aim.

Stopped using products that contain mineral oil, petrolatum or certain types of alcohol.

Since doing all of the above my hair has grown from just below my ear lobe to chin length at the front and to the end of my neck at the back. Although due to constantly putting my hair in a top knot I have suffered some breakage.

If you're interested in finding out more about the health of your hair I would definitely recommend this book 'The science of black hair' it basically challenges lots of myths about black hair.

Have you seen it have you seen it have you seen it

Sharing is caring, check this out http://www.stylist.co.uk/beauty/hair/the-coiffure-project-by-glenford-nunez-black-women-natural-afro-hair-photo-project#image-rotator-1

Props to Stylist for continuing to represent all types of beauty, hair care on their pages. Nadiesays salutes you!

The politics of black hair - who knew??!!

A few weeks ago I took part in a beauty round table, and during the discussion one of my fellow participants stated that we (black people) needed to think about the way we wear our hair as it is a political statement. Now as anyone who knows me personally will know I am quite an opinionated person and I have quite strong views about everything, but when this comment was aired I chose not to make my thoughts heard. One reason for this is since I've got older I've realised that debating every point is futile, and I knew this was going to be one of those we will agree to disagree conversations and secondly the round table discussion was focused on beauty and not hair and I didn't want to sideline it.

I always find the HAIR issue interesting, my thoughts may be summed up by quite succinctly by India Arie's I am not my hair because quite frankly I honestly believe there is more to life. But even though I say that I am currently following a hair regime as advocated in The Science of Black Hair and by others such as Julie Oli; so my hair and the way it looks is obviously quite important to me. I swear I have bored people to death with talk of sulphate free shampoos, clarifying and protein vs moisturising conditioners. However even though I am becoming a hair care and hair health enthusiast (aka a raving looney) and know that the healthiest state for my hair to be in would be to go natural; I know that I will not be making the transition back to my afro. So after reading a few articles and pondering on the 'political statement' comment I started to really question if there is a deep rooted reason why I prefer to have relaxed hair, or wear a weave rather than rock my natural fro.

I<3 Solange

Said friend getting make up done by me on a shoot.

I want to be clear I think natural, healthy well-cared for afro hair is beautiful, as you are all aware I have a major crush on Solange and her hair is just one reason for this. One of my closest friends is a natural hair devotee and I love the styles she rocks; but I know that my thick hair that has been known to break comb teeth isn't going to be easily manipulated on a day to day basis in to the chic hairdos I see her with. I also know I do not want to be wearing my hair in styles that I was wearing when I was in St Mary's Infants, and due to nearly 20 years (with periods of natural hair that is weaved or in extensions) of being a slave to the creamy crack I'm not sure that I would even know what products or hair care regime would be best for my 4/b hair (shameful I know).

What I do know is that I like the wash and go ability of my relaxed hair, yep sometimes I wash it and leave it to air dry; when I have a short style this is particularly useful. I really don't have to do anything to it at all. I also love the versatility of a weave, I've had a short bob, 14 inch long or longer hair with a fringe, brown hair, curly hair and browny blonde highlights all without damaging my hair (all within 6 months). I've been able to change my hair with my mood, with the season or just because I wanted to look different for a special occasion. I also love the fact that when I have a weave I can do my hair in less than 5 mins, I can get ready in 20 mins or so in the winter months when I'm trying to stay in bed for as long as possible; this is ideal.

Me biting my nails aged 4 - the pineapple was my go to hair style, 

if I didn't have plaits!

For me having relaxed hair or wearing a weave is all about convenience and being used to having my hair in a style that I'm so accustomed to that I don't want to change. In those infrequent times when I have had my fro out its taken me ages to get ready with the amount of tools and products I've used to make sure I look on point. Whether or not my hair is natural or relaxed isn't a political statement for me its more about me being quite lazy and not wanting to get up twenty minutes earlier to do my hair (sorry but its true). So here I will make my own political statement, see image below. Please note I love fros!

Fros are very welcome!!!!!!

Personally I hope that the black hair movement like feminism has reached a point where we are able choose how we wear our hair based on our own personal choice. I'm proud that I can choose to be relaxed,natural or weaved or whatever takes my fancy.

I'm off to start a 'Rock your hair however you want' petition xx

Growing my hair

So I've decided after trimming my hair this weekend that I am going to consciously grow my hair to my shoulders and beyond. Rather than starting the process and then getting dismayed and then ending up with a very short hairstyle, I will actually have an objective and grow my hair back to the length it was last summer.

As part of this mission I have started reading blogs and websites that provide lots of insight on the "regime" required to grow black hair. After reading a number of articles I have now come to a few assumptions:

1. The regimes take a lot of effort, I've actually read blogs where the women say they wash their hair 3 times a week! I had no idea black women did this?! Previously when I've told friends I wash my hair weekly they have given me strange looks, I really don't have the inclination to wash, wrap and set thrice a week but looks like I'm going to have to.

2. The advice states that I should use heat on my hair sparingly i.e. once every 3 months or just on special occasions. Honestly I'm not sure how feasible that is, I tong or use straighteners nearly every day; mainly because head ties aren't sexy lol #psyche. But seriously other than sleeping in curlers I'm wondering how I can ensure my hair looks styled?! If anyone has any advice please let me know.

3. There is a whole new language for black hair growth disciples and gurus, bagging and co-washing are just a few I've had to decipher. I've also checked all of my shampoos to check they are sulphate free. They are; I've also realised I need less protein and more moisture treatments so will be alternating.

This is just a small section of what I've learnt so far and after all this I'm seriously considering getting a weave because life is too short! Although since I have a clear objective I'm going to try this for a minimum of 3 months to see if it works.

Anyway I refuse to make this blog about my hair journey because there are far more important things in life; but if it works I'll let you know and if doesn't then I'll share this with you too.

Signing off
Nadine