Tired of looking for brands that cater to your skin tone?
Rih rih got you.
Fenty Beauty has 40 shades and guess what? Fenty Beauty is available in the UK at Harvey Nichols!
Time to get that #Fentyface on! Share your shade.
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Be The Change You Want To See
Last year and unfortunately this year as well, there were a lot of bans in regards to natural hair. There were also a lot of stories around discrimination around afro hair especially in schools. The good news is that some people stepped up such as Professor Angela Onwuachi-Willig. This courageous woman with other professors (Trina Jones, Kimberley Norwood and Wendy Greene) have requested the termination of school bans in the US. So far, this initiative has generated a good level of response among academics.
It’s so refreshing to see women trying to change things and making moves. Not sure what I’m talking about? Have a read here.
Photo Source: @tellie01
King & Prince
Photo Source: @princejamen
Men…we got you
This one is for our men readers part of the beard gang but also for girlfriends/wives of men with beards.
Always wondered how you/your mister should take care of your/his beard? Stop looking, check Black Men Beard tutorial below.
Swimwear: Our Faves
Now that summer is around the corner (YAY!), slay on the beach with our selection of swimwear.
1,2,3 or 4? Tell us which one is your fave in the comment below.
@bfyneswim
@ashantiswimwear
@andreaiyamahswimwear
@outfitmade
Mr Positive
When you have to take a photo because the hair is so big 🙂
Photos Source: @mrpositivecr
Rocking Finger Coils
Summer Is This You?
Guys, am I the only one excited about the weather?! BBQ season is fast approaching! It’s crazy how my mood switches when the weather gets warmer. All I want to do is listen to Afrobeat and dance, that’s basically it. Even in the streets, it gets so colourful. Everyone steps their fashion and hair game up, I just love it!
Do you know what I am also excited about? The Afro Hair & Beauty LIVE 2017 is just few weeks away! For those who do not know what is it? It’s a 2-day event (28-29 May 2017) dedicated to beauty and fashion, where you can find advice from award winning hairdressers, make-up artists and beauticians. You can also find some of the industry’s favourite brands inspiring women to grow beautiful, natural hair from the inside out, such as Mielle Organics and Camille Rose. Want to treat your man too? Check out the Afro Man Space 😉
But wait there’s more… there are 4 pair of tickets for you guys to enjoy the show!
All you have to do is follow us on the blog and AHBL on @afrohairandbeautylive on Instagram OR follow this link on Twitter Use the hashtags #AHBL2017 and #naturalpride.
Winners will be announced on our social channels on Monday 22nd May, so tell your friends, sisters, aunties…
Good luck 😉
Speak To The King In Him
Photo Source: @tommyleehalman by Angelo Trimons
Spread The Love Babygirl!
Read the full story here: http://cbsloc.al/2oBogun
Natural Hairstyle For Kids
Phenomenal Woman
Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I’m not cute or built to suit a fashion model’s size
But when I start to tell them,
They think I’m telling lies.
I say
It’s in the reach of my arms
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips,
I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.
By Maya Angelou
I’m In Love With The Shape Of You
Photo Source: @iamoutragious__
Do You Cater To Your Hair?
We’ve mentioned porosity earlier and its importance when it comes to finding the right products for your hair type. If you haven’t read the previous post, click here.
Knowing your hair type will affect your hair care regimen.
Whether you have low, normal or high porosity hair, you will need to update your routine and find what your hair responds to.
Low Porosity
With low porosity hair, you tend to have tight cuticles and your hair is resistant to water. It’s harder to get moisture to get into the hair shaft. In order to raise your cuticles, you will need to use heat after you apply your masks/oils/butters/deep conditionner. You can use a hot towel, hooded drier or even a shower cap. Make sure to apply products on damp hair so that any treatment penetrates the hair shaft. Product builds up can happen easily on hair with low porosity since products will just sit on your hair. In order to ensure your tresses are moisturised, use humectants as they will keep your mane hydrated. The most common ones are glycerine, honey and aloe vera gel.
Normal Porosity
Normal porosity hair are quite easy to moisture since products tend to be absorded pretty easily, but…yes there is a but, using too much heat or chemicals can quickly turn, normal porosity hair into high porosity hair.
Normal porosity hair has compact cuticles that easily let moisture enter in.
High Porosity
Unlike the two other types, high porosity hair absorbs moisture pretty easily but loses it quickly. High porosity hair usually lacks shine and tend to be dry. Anti-humectants (shea butter, coconut oil, avocado oil, olive oil) and protein are ideal since they will ensure the hair remains moisturised and healthy.
Photo Source: @msangie426
Happy Women’s Day!
What Is Pretty?
The Porosity Test
Wonder what are the best products for your hair but not sure where to start? Knowing your hair porosity level is key. Don’t just rely on what others are using since these products might not be appropriate for your hair type.
What is porosity? Porosity is your hair ability to absorb and retain moisture. There are several ways to find out but my favourite one is the glass of water test. Fill in a glass of water and put a hair strand into it.
If your hair floats, you have low porosity hair.
If your hair sinks slowly,then it has normal porosity.
If it sinks immediately, you have high porosity hair.
I have done the test and definitively have low porosity hair.
Do the test and share your results below!
How To Trim Natural Hair In Its Curly State
Bae Appreciation Day!
Photo Source: @_shannonnicole
5 Misconceptions About Locs
Locs have been for a long time (and still is for some people) considered to be dirty, smelly, boring. I have to be honest I believed that locs were boring until I met and talked to people with locs.
Let’s go through some of the misconceptions about locs and why these shouldn’t put you off from locking your hair.
- Eww… locs are dirty
As any other natural hairstyles, locs require maintenance to be and remain healthy. Dirty hair never helped growing hair and that includes locs. Washing your hair regularly is a must to grow and maintain healthy hair. Further to this, not conditioning your hair is not recommended as breakage could happen.
- You cannot do anything with locs, they’re boring
This is far from the truth, you can do almost anything you want with them, from curling to colouring.
- Locs are meant for Rastafarians
Another myth is that only certain people can wear locs. No you do not need to be Rastafarian or Jamaican to wear them. You don’t need to smoke either! Locs can be worn by any and everyone who wishes to do so.
- “Shave your head if you get bored”
If for some reason, you decide that you do not wish to wear locs anymore. You do not need to cut them off as these can actually be combed out.
- You can’t have locs if you want a proper job
Hair is not an indication on someone’s professional abilities. I understand that some companies have stricter company policy (i.e. high end stores) but do you really want to work for a company that base their judgment on physical appearance?
Photo Source: @rascamarao
Born To Stand Out!
Photo Source: @humansofcolor
How-To: Natural Whipped Butter
Enjoy making your own products? Check out this great tutorial and start making your own body and hair butters.
Go Girl!
December: It’s Party Time!
December is one of my favourite month, it’s the end of the year so this is an opportunity to look at what you have achieved the whole year, learn from your mistakes and start fresh.
But it’s also the opportunity to spend time with your family, friends, dress up & partayyy! Talking about dressing up, if you are still looking for ideas then you need to scroll down as you will be sure to find the perfect outfit for any event!
Am I Pretty?
Slim waist, big bum, thick tights, big breast… How many times have I heard these words. Do these characteristics define beauty? What happens when you don’t meet these standards of beauty? Surgery? Fake bums and boobs?
Our society (meaning WE) puts too much emphasis on physical appearance. We’re so quick to use easy fixes without taking into account the consequences. We’re so into the “now” rather than the long term. Look at our relationships… this is another subject for another day.
On one hand, you have some thick girls wanting to lose weight by any means necessary; some dark skin girls wanting a lighter skin tone using skin bleaching creams. On the other hand, you have slim girls craving for butt implants.
This is our duty as women to teach our sisters/daughters to learn how to embrace themselves. You don’t have to look like Barbie to be beautiful.
Your thoughts?
Wise Words From A Wise Woman
Say No To Dry Skin
Hi beauties,
For those living in the UK, you already know that the weather can be quite disrespectful. Bare changes! 10am: rain, 10.05am: hail, 11am: 20°C…Ok, I might be exaggerating (a little) but you know what I mean. All these changes can have an impact on your skin making it extremely dry…crocodile skin style :(. Ladies not to worry, if you incorporate these few steps in your daily routine you will be just fine :-).
- Lukewarm showers/bath: as nice as hot showers are, using hot water removes natural oils from your skin. The more oils are removed, the drier your skin becomes.
- Moisture: apply a moisturiser adapted to your skin (i.e. dry skin, oily skin).
- Drink…Water: a lot of it!
- Exfoliate: this will help remove dead skin that can clog pores and prevent your skin to breath.
- Warm clothes: Obviously.
What are your top tips to get a clear and glowing skin during winter?
Photo Source: Pinterest
Essential How-Tos: Homemade Flaxseed Gel
Enjoy creating your own beauty products? Check this flaxseed gel tutorial!
I See You.
Photo Source: @osoalias
Ujima Celebrates Afro Hair!
Want to learn more about afro hair? Head over to the “Hair Stories” event on the 29th of October. For more info, visit www.ujima.co.uk
When They Try To Tell You That You Can’t
Since when cornrows are distracting? Thanks to student’s parents, the school decided to lift the ban.
“When necessary, we will provide guidance to our schools to ensure their policies are not obtrusive, do not conflict with Board policy and most importantly do not infringe on the many cultures embraced across our school district.”
Sweet Man!
Photo Source: @papiialmighty
Heatless Roller Set On Short Hair
Your Hair Is What You Eat
“You are what you eat.” Heard this before? Well I could not agree more with this quote. Paying attention to what you eat is really important and I am not referring to dieting. Not only it affects your hair, skin, nails but it also has an impact on your hormones for instance (hormones imbalance). Have you ever noticed how your skin reacts to certain ingredients/aliments? Well the same thing happens to your hair, even if you cannot spot it as quickly. Luckily, some vitamins can help maintain healthy hair and achieve these hair goals you always wanted.
Ready to take the route to healthy hair? Check out these super vitamins.
B Vitamins: Folic acid (Folate), B6, B12
These vitamins carry oxygen and nutrients to all body cells, including hair. These vitamins help prevent shedding and hair loss. Foods high in folic acid includes: lentils, oats, green peas, okra, parsnips, broccoli, as well as fruits (e.g. oranges, papaya, blackberries, and strawberries).
Other vitamins great for hair health are Vitamin B6 and B12 which you will find in chickpeas, salmon, bananas, pistachio nuts, tomato paste, barley, peppers, peanuts, watermelon, avocadoes and so on.
You will find Vitamin B12 in food such as tuna, lean beef, cottage cheese, yogurt, milk eggs and cheese.
Vitamin C
Vitamin CV is also essential for hair growth, as it carries oxygen to your hair and support the creation of collagen. A lack of Vitamin C can cause hair loss, dryness and breakage.
You can find Vitamin C in many fruits including grapefruit, pineapple, papaya, lemons, kiwi, mangoes, rutabagas, watermelon and lychees.
Vitamin A
Where can you find these super vitamins? In sweet potatoes, carrots, kale, butternut squash, red peppers, apricots, Chinese cabbage, spinach, lettuce, cherries, asparagus, red cabbage…
Zinc
This vitamin helps in the process of hair growth and can be found in oysters, lobster, crab, clams, mussels, pumpkin seeds, pine nuts, cashews, peanuts and peanut butter, sunflower seeds and butter, pecans…
Change your diet and let us know what happens :’)
Photo Source: http://www.girlscosmo.com
Black Lives Matter!
Photo Source: @breannaopheliabryan
To All The Good Fathers
We value you…Happy father’s day!
Photo Source: @bebeautifulla
Can I Touch Your Hair?
Do you let people touch your hair or is it a no-no? Why?
Photo Source: @afroliciouswomen
Our Fave Bare-Faced Beauty: Alicia Keys
“I swear it is the strongest, most empowered, most free, and most honestly beautiful that I have ever felt.” – Alicia Keys
Unapologetically Natural!
Afro Hair & Beauty Live 2016!
“You Got Lemons Then Make Lemonade!” #NaturalHairMovements
Long before Beyonce got behind the old saying ‘when life gives you lemons make lemonade’ Afro Hair & Beauty Live has encouraged black women to take matters into their own hands and get involved in the business of natural hair. We are thrilled to welcome some of the most inspiring and tenacious female entrepreneurs of colour currently in the natural hair industry. Be inspired by the can-do attitude of experts sharing top tips, trade secrets, how-to’s and more at our seminar programme.
Watch & Learn Seminars
*Sunday Only* Join Design Essentials® Natural at the “Curls & Conversations” seminar. Meet the Design Essentials hosts and pick up how to tips, style secrets, have your questions answered and share your personal experiences at the Crowning Glory Q&A session.
*Monday Only* Get in line for Design Essentials® Professional Masterclass and learn about the revolutionary 3-Step STS Express Smoothing System, hair stylists, this is one not to be missed! Are you thinking about transitioning and kick starting your natural hair journey? Don’t miss Cantu Shea Butter Pelumi Rae (Care For Your Hair Blog) Natural Hair Rock The Look seminar. Say NO! To the myth of ‘difficult hair that takes long to do’ join Anastasia and Maria’sRock the Lookin 20 Minutes style challenge, and don’t forget your goody bag!
Premae’s Dr Clare has some good news to share about dealing with skin ailments such as eczema, psoriasis and hyperpigmentation. Join her and learn what you can do to help yourself. Courtney Adeleye, CEO of The Mane Choice will discuss the healthy hair essentials to growing natural hair. Top hair colourist Victoria Akuagw will dispel myths around ‘good hair’ and gets down to the basics of conditioning and temporary colouring techniques like chalking, sprays and mousses.
#NaturalHairMovements
Natural product junkies! Discover new lines and stock up on all of these amazing
products designed with your hair type in mind. Keracare Natural Textures will be on hand with their portfolio of brand new products. You can also take part in their hair scoping scalp analysis and pick up a personalised hair prescription of the perfect products tailored to your hair type. Design Essentials Coconut & Monoi Collection & Quinoa & Bamboo Repair Kit sounds good enough to eat!
From the USA, renowned natural hair specialist Taliah Waajid will be selling her chemical free line Black Earth Natural Products. Visit Senzeni Murau founder of T444Z and pick up the industries best kept secret Hair Food range. Look out for Mixed Roots and Shea Butter Naturals both will be available at the Pak’s Cosmetics super styling bar where will you be able to try before you buy and sample products on your own hair. Curly hair favourite Mixed Chicks will be there celebrating curls in all their natural diversity! And don’t miss industry giants L’Oreal launching Curl Nourishment celebrating the United Colours of Curls.
Ones to Watch: Are you looking for something different for your makeup bag? Invest in these newcomers to the makeup market. Kitoko (defined as beautiful in Lingala) presents a luscious collection of cosmetics inspired by its Congolese/Parisian origins and VitaBlack purveyors of colour rich cosmetics have created a premium quality make up line suitable for all skintones. Don’t miss out on these and much more at Afro Hair & Beauty Live 2016.
Who Else Is Exhibiting?
- AMKA HEALTH & BEAUTY / AVIELA / AYO BEAUTY / CACHE COSMETICS / CANTU / CELEBRITY MAKEUP
- CELEBRITY PREMIUM HAIR / CHRISTAL COSMETICS/ CRÈME OF NATURE /DESIGN ESSENTIAL NATURAL
- DOLL HAIR COLLECTION / FABBABES HAIR / FOUNTAIN PIMENTO OIL / HAIRISSIME / HEADLINES HAIR & BEAUTY SUPPLIES / KISS BY IVY ENTERPRISES / KERACARE AVLON / KITOKO / LUSTER PRODUCTS / MANE CHOICE / ORS EUROPE / M&M COSMETICS / MARY KAY COSMETICS / MAZURI / MIXED CHICKS / MIXED ROOTS / MONSHEA / MY HAIR BAR / NATURALLY MADE FOR YOU / PAK COSMETICS / PALMERS
- PHOENIX BEAUTY / PREMAE SKINCARE / PROSP HAIR / PURE GOODNESS / QAWE ORGANICS / RED CARPET LUXURY HAIR/ SHEA MOISTURE/ SOFN’FREE N PRETTY/ SOULFUL BEAUTY / TALIAH WAAJID’S BLACK EARTH PRODUCTS / TANAKA COSMETICS / TANGLE TEEZER / T444Z / VITABLACK / WAHL and much more.
Keep up to date sign up to Afro Hair & Beauty LIVE on http://www.afrohairshow.com
Follow our hashtags #AHBLive and #OWNIT on Instagram @afrohairandbeautylive Facebook AHBLive Twitter @afrohairshow
TICKET INFORMATION:
Tickets Afro Hair & Beauty LIVE 2016 are on sale for £12.00 via the following outlets: Purchase in advance online for £ 10 SAVE £2.00 via Black Beauty & Hair Magazine at other ticket outlets £12 check website for details Afro Hair & Beauty Live.
What’s A King Without A Queen?
Photo(s) Source(s): @aaronlacy
Tutorial: Faux Tapered Cut Updo
Video(s) Source(s): Naptural85
Showing Love To Men With Locs
Photo(s) Source(s): @ishmilwaterman
How Water Affect Your Hair
Spring is almost here… I don’t know about you but after keeping my hair in protective styles during winter all I want to do when it gets warmer is go into “fro mode”, big hair, no elastic bands, no
nothing. Just how I like it.
However, one thing I have noticed is that my skin and hair can get extremely dry regardless of the product or techniques used. I did some research and find out that this dryness was mostly due to water. When you check your bathroom or kitchen do you see deposit around taps, shower head fixtures and tiles? That’s minerals: lime scale, chlorine… Depending on the level of minerals in the water, it will be classified as hard or soft water. Hard water is very common in the UK and contains a high level of minerals (compared to hard water) which prevents the moisture from penetrating the hair. In turn, this can lead to split ends and breakage.
However don’t let it destroy your precious curls! There are many solutions you can try to get these beautiful curls.
You can treat the problem from the source directly by using a shower filter or water softener. It can significantly reduce minerals, chlorine and other chemicals from the water. These options are quite expensive but very effective.
Apple cidar vinegar (ACV) rinse is also a great option to smooth hair and get rid of build up from your hair. This rinse will help you hair to be shinier and easier to manage. Mix 1/3 of a cup (75 ml) of apple cidar vinegar with a quart (1 liter) of water. You can leave this in a plastic bottle and use whenever you want after shampooing your hair.
Are you suffering from hard water ? We want to hear from you so share your experiences.
Natural Hair Week 2016!
The Natural Hair Week is the leading natural hair event in the UK where naturals like you find tips on health, beauty, nutrition and more. A dedicated event just for natural beauties created to empower, educate and elevate women and girls.
This year Natural Hair Week will take place from the 30th April to the 7th May 2016, in Manchester, Leeds, London and Birmingham.
Highlights include:
- Seminars
- Workshops
- Demonstrations
- Exhibitors…
For more information and tickets, visit Natural Hair Week website.
Beauty In Every Shade
Photo(s) Source(s): @naturalhairloves
Looking Good
Photo(s) Source(s): @mr.moxam
Old Ways Won’t Open New Doors
How-To: Bantu Knots On Short Hair
If you have just big chopped or just like having short hair, check out Liquidgoldeyes’ video. Enjoy!
Yay Or Yay!
Photo(s) source(s): @curlyculture
