Winter Woes

Being a newbie to this illuminating naturalista, transitioning back-to-me crusade, I thought I could continue with the same summer hair regiment right on into winter. This included wash-n-go’s, wetting it often, leaving my fragile ends unprotected, etc. I figured I had gotten my type 4c hair to fabulously lush and invincibly strong with little to no research, so why fix anything that isn't broken? That mindset QUICKLY changed when I woke up one morning and unsuccessfully ran my fingers through my tresses. My once humbly soft hair could now thoroughly clean the dirtiest of stoves. Distraught, I ran to Google and typed in every possible combination of words in attempt to get this crown back on track. For the past couple of weeks, my hair has been a test dummy for a bunch of at-home remedies, as well as an abundance of in-store hair care products. And it's like new life has sprouted from the top of my head! Here are a couple of tips that will keep your hair looking like it needs it's own theme song during these harsh winter months:

 1. MOISTURIZE. Period.
    The winter air takes out a good amount of moister from our curls, but you will need to know your own hair for this one. My hair has the bad habit of drying out very quickly (porosity through the roof), so every afternoon I give it a spritz of water, mixed with a bit of leave in conditioner (more leave in than water), then massage about a dime size of a moisturizing oil into it. My preference right now is olive oil because it's easily accessible, and gives my hair a soft, healthy sheen.   

2. Shampoo Less, Condition & Deep Condition More Often   
    Because shampooing too much can strip your hair of it's natural oils, I would suggest shampooing every other week, using a moisturizing shampoo, but conditioning and deep conditioning at least once a week. PLEASE do not wash your hair, then step outside. Besides making you sick, the cold air can freeze your tresses, and break them off! I'm sure you Queens don't want that.
 
3. Hot Oil Treatments        
    Treat your hair to a nice hot oil massage for 30 - 45 minutes once per week. You can use any carrier oil, such as sweet almond oil, grape seed oil, avocado oil, jojoba oil, just to name a few (I loved the way jojoba oil strengthened my hair and made it incredibly easy to manage). 


4. Use Less Heat 
    Heat = Dryness & Breakage. Besides the winter air, the heat gloriously bursting through the heater is, unfortunately, NOT your hair's best friend. It's also taking away moisture, so there's no real need to add extra stress to your tresses by putting the blow dryer (if you do use one) on full blast. If you happen to like blow dryers, I would suggest putting it on "cool."


5. Protective Styling 
    This just insures that you're hair will be able to stay healthy and retain length for the long run. Just because it's protective, doesn't mean it has to be boring! Get creative while protecting those fragile ends - Braid it, twist it, bantu knot it, rock a shrunken afro, swing it to the left, the right - Do something!  Here are a few of my favorites:

The Bun

 Bantu Knots

 Twisted Side Fro-Hawk

 Updo

Yarn Braids












These tips should be stepping stones to creating your own hair-care regiment for these strenuous weather conditions. The winter is definitely a tough competitor for our manes, but it doesn't have to win. Take some time with your hair. Learn it and get to know what will quench its thirsty roots this season.

                                                        Grae     

Hair Care Terminology

                                                    (I DO NOT OWN THE RIGHTS TO THIS PHOTO)

That awkward moment when you go on a blog or website to try and learn something, and have no clue what the heck they're talking about.. Especially when it comes to trying to take care of your hair. I mean, humectants? Sealants? WHAT?! I don't know about you, but I was completely lost trying to keep up the first time around. Just so you guys won't feel the same when I'm blogging about the magnificent mane we call hair, here are some terms for you to know:

1. Natural - the effortless reflection of one's true self; living
true to what genuinely resonates within

2. Porosity - the hair's ability to absorb and preserve moisture

3. Transitioning - the process of letting chemically altered hair
grow out so the natural hair can grow in

4. The Big Chop - the process of cutting off all of the chemically
altered hair (if you're transitioning and your natural hair is down to your back, when you cut all of the chemically altered hair off of your head, it is still considered The Big Chop)

5. TWA - Teeny Weeny Afro

6. Relaxer - alters the chemical make up of naturally curly hair and makes it straight (commonly known as "a perm")

7. Texturizer - think of it as a mild relaxer: it still changes the chemical make up of the hair, however, it only loosens the tightness of the curls, instead of completely removing them

8. Perm - alters the chemical make up of naturally straight hair, and makes it curly

9. Lye - a very strong and dangerous chemical called Sodium Hydroxide that can be found in some relaxers - you know that burning sensation you feel when the relaxer is left on for too long? Yeah, that's lye

10. Humectants - generally, they're conditioning agents that improve the surface of the hair by attracting and binding water molecules to themselves; the way that they work depend upon the weather conditions

11. Sealant - a product that is applied over a moisturizer to seal and trap the moisture on stands of hair

12. Shampoo - a cleaning agent that breaks up the deposits of oil and dirt in the hair

13. Conditioner - a product applied after shampooing the hair; it conditions it by restoring moisture and detangling it

14. Deep Conditioner - a conditioner left on the hair for an extended period of time; it conditions the hair cuticles by restoring moisture, preventing damage and making them stronger

15. Leave-In - a type of conditioner that is applied onto towel-dried hair, and is left without rinsing

16. Wash-n-Go - The process of washing your hair and rockin' the style that you have when you walk out of the shower

17. Co-Wash - using a conditioner on your hair without applying shampoo prior to it

18. Moisturizer - used to replace the natural oils in hair; they provide a soothing protective layer that maintains hydration, and improves the appearance of dry hair

19. Mineral Oils - a byproduct of petroleum, used as a moisturizer for hair; it can also detangle, and make the hair feel softer

20. Essential Oils - oils that carry a distinct scent, or essence from the plant it was extracted from; they each treat the hair in some way - ig. lavender oil, peppermint oil, tea tree oil, rosemary oil

21. Carrier Oils - these oils carry essential oils into the scalp; they nourish, strengthen, and moisturize the hair - ig. jojoba oil, olive oil, coconut oil, vitamin E oil

22. Protective Styling - styling the hair in a way that protects it(mainly the ends) from everyday elements

23. Cornrows - braided hair that is close to the scalp and parted into rows

24. Two Strand Twist - taking two sections of hair and repeatedly wrapping them around each other until the end of the strand is reached

25. Flat Twists - two strand twisting the hair in such a way that it is close to the scalp and parted into rows

26. Braid Out - taking out the braided hair and leaving it in a crimped, afro style

27. Twist Out - taking out the twisted hair and leaving it in an afro style

28. Bantu Knots (china bumps) - taking two strand twists and wrapping it around itself, until it forms a sort of bump

29. Pineappling - using a scarf or scrunchy to wrap your hair upward, leaving a little of the hair out on top; this method protects curly styles (like a braid out or twist out) for the next day or two

I hope this was helpful to you all. If there's a term that you feel should be added, leave a comment and I'll be sure to get back to you!

                                             Grae & Kim J.     

Grae

Hi guys! I'm Anita, but you can call me Grae. Why? Anita means Grace. Your eyes first impression might limit your perception of what is actually there, so take out what you think you "c," and spend a little time reading to get the bigger picture. I'm a 21 years young full-time student, who loves writing, reading, art, dressing up, and creating things with her hands. I'm also a working mother to a rambunctiously amazing 1 year old. BUSY isn't even the word! But I figured if I can somehow manage the upkeep of myself and my personal life, I can help others do the same by blogging about it. I'm adamant in believing we all can live up to the Queens and Kings we were born to be!

                                                           
                                                                         Grae