Have you been natural all your life? If not why did you choose to return back to your natural tresses?

Yes, I’ve been rocking my natural hair since birth.

 
Do you have a haircare regime, if so what does it consist of?

Unfortunately I don’t have a set regimen as I’m still experimenting with different products and techniques that suit my hair type. At the moment this is a basic overview of what I currently do and will continue to do until I’ve found the best technique:

Wash my hair with the ‘Herbal Essences hello hydration moisturizing shampoo’ when necessary , and then apply the ‘Aphogee balancing moisturizer’. To finish it off I put my hair into twists while it’s still wet. I prefer doing this routine in the evening so that my hair can air dry throughout the night. By the morning I can add Shea butter, take down my twists and rock a defined twist out, which sadly always fails so I just end up rocking one of my go-to styles instead.

3 of your favourite hair products?

Shea Butter
Spray Bottle Mix: I’m not sure if this counts but I find it so useful when handling my hair.
Coconut Oil

Your go-to hairstyle?

I have two go-to styles as a matter of fact! If I’m not wearing one, I’m wearing the other. The first one consists of 2 cornrows and the rest of my hair tied up into a bun either high or low , and my second one is two cornrows around my head and secured into a bun… if that makes sense.

 
Have you made any mistakes/faced any major challenges with your natural hair? If so what? and what advice would you give to other naturals?

Yes , quite a few in fact! Before I started taking care and looking after my hair which was late last year I often went to bed with my hair out and woke up in the morning with a frizzy, untamed and uncontrollable mane. When in a rush I wouldn’t even think of detangling it, I would just pack it up and leave it like that.

Satin scarves were not on my to-do list before I went to sleep which wasn’t good as I lost a lot of moisture through my cotton pillow case.

I also used A LOT of heat , my blow dryer was always on my hair set on the highest setting .I used the blow dryer after I had finished washing my hair, when I took out my braids, after a rainy day out, basically any chance I had. I felt that it made my hair manageable and easy to control but I could gradually feel my hair drying out.

I took no notice which was the worst part and just applied any moisturiser to cover up the dryness, which obviously didn’t and wouldn’t work. The ends felt so horrible and dry, I came across so many split ends and every time I washed my hair there would be some straight strands which was so annoying, as I didn’t know they were heat damage I just thought they were stubborn strands of hair that wanted to do their own thing.

It came to a point where I was so fed up with feeling my dry unkempt hair every day. It wasn’t until early last November that I decided ‘enough was enough’, I had delayed cutting my hair for way to long and so I just went to the bathroom with my scissors and chopped a whole pile of my hair off! I’m just so happy and grateful that I made the choice to cut my hair at the right time and it feels and looks much healthier than before.

Quick word of advice -Try to minimize the amount of heat you use on your hair and sleep with a satin scarf/Satin pillowcase.

 
Any words of encouragement?

Experiment around and see what works best for you just keep in mind that we are all different, so just because someone has been able to achieve bra strap length 3 years after their big chop doesn’t mean the same will apply to you. Why? Because everyone is different. It’s solely up to you to find out what’s best for you.

Everyone has beautiful hair natural or not, so embrace and love your tresses with confidence !!

 
Where can we find you? 

Twitter : @jennyoteng
Instagram : jenniferoteng

My hair was in need of moisture as it had been in twists for 4 weeks. So James (one of the lovely hairdressers) applied the Philip Kingsley Elasticizer Extreme – “a pre-shampoo treatment that instantly delivers replenishment, hydration and nourishment ”.

Once this was applied I was then under a hooded steamer (not dryer, steamer lol) for about 15mins. After that time had passed, James rinsed off the Elasticizer Exteme and applied their own  Custom Blend Treament to my hair and I was back under the steamer for another 5 mins. My hair felt soooooooo soft and moisturised after this.

Once all the treatment was done…my hair was then washed and conditioned with Philip Kingsley Moisture Extreme. If you don’t know, now you know – Darren Scott Salon give the best shampoo/head massages ever! Lol the first time I went I fell alseep.

Theeen, It was time to blowdry! The Label.M Relaxing Balm was applied to my hair (nothing to do with a relaxer/perm ladies lol) as well as Mizani Thermasmooth. My hair was blowdried with a round brush – I need to get the hang of this man lol.

The most exciting part of this salon trip was having the new L’oreal SteamPod Straigteners used on my hair – definitely going on my to-buy list.

“L’Oréal Professionnels’ ground breaking straightening and smoothing device has only just been launched and is designed to produce sleek results on a variety of styles with a beautiful, shiny-looking finish.

L’Oreal’s Steampod treatment uses a specialised straightening iron to deliver a localized stream of high pressure steam to the hair shaft, deeply hydrating the hair without causing heat damage or drying it out to deliver a high gloss finish.

The Steam Pod will produce beautifully sleek and manageable tresses with a glamorously  gloss, smooth finish and can be used to create a wide range of finishes from smooth and supple looks to soft, tumbling waves.”

It also comes with a removable comb for even smoother results – perfect for those of us with curly/kinky hair.

My hair has never been so silky smooth before, love it!

Just like my previous trip to Darren Scott Salon, I had a pleasant time. I love that all of the stylists are experienced in working with all hair types & that they are very much concerned about hair care as well as it looking good.

At night I put my hair in 4 bantu knots so it could have a little wave & body to it today.

So Sumetra, have you been natural all your life, if not why did you choose to return back to your natural tresses?

 
No I haven’t been natural all my life. I wish I would have stayed natural. Honestly, a health condition caused me to start losing my hair around my edges and in the front/crown area. I felt like the harsh chemicals weren’t helping the situation. My little sister went natural the year prior and I noticed how thick and healthy her hair was. So I decided to stop relaxing my hair just to see if I could do it. I transitioned for 10 months and then BIG CHOPPED! Best hair decision I’ve made. August 20th will be 3 yrs since I big chopped. My hair is thick, full and a lot healthier now.

How did family & friends react to this decision?

 
That’s an interesting question. I got mixed reactions. My family is full of naturals so they were pretty excited. Others told me that it would be cute and wanted to know when I would go back to a relaxer. One friend told me she wouldn’t advise me to go natural because I had way too much hair and it would be too much to maintain. My husband was the funny one. He LOVED when I big chopped. It was that in between growth period that disturbed him LOL. He would often ask me “so how long is this going to go on?” I think he thought it was more of a fad. Now, if I straighten my hair, he always asks me “when are you going to have the big hair again? It reminds me of sunshine!” (He LOVES my big hair styles!)

Straightened Hair:

Do you have a hair regimen, If so what does it consist of?

 
I wash weekly using Herbal Essence’s Hello Hydration. I recently tried Shea Moisture’s Moisture Retention Shampoo and I was pleased with it. I condition my hair using Giovanni Smooth as Silk for Damaged Hair. It really works great with my hair. I deep condition at least once a month or as needed. I also pre-poo weekly which really helps me to prevent breakage. For a leave-in, I love Cantu Shea Butter or Kinky Curly Knot Today.

3 of your favourite hair products?

 
Those who follow me on Instagram know that my staple MUST HAVE product is Cantu Shea Butter’s leave in conditioner. I love raw coconut oil to seal in moisture. My favorite conditioner is Giovanni Smooth as Silk.

Your go-to hairstyle?

 
Flat twist out is my go to style. I have recently been dubbed the “flat twist out queen” which I think is super cute! Also Flat Twist Updos are my staple.

The hairstyle you seem to be most known for is your fabulous flat-twist outs…what useful tips would you give other ladies looking to achieve this style.

 
First tip would be to practice, practice, and practice! People don’t believe me when I say that I just learned how to flat twist within my first year of being natural. Since I have various textures and patterns, I was determined to find a way to achieve a more consistent look and have the volume I wanted; the flat twist out gives me that! Second tip is more of a recommendation. I get asked how I achieve good definition with my flat twist outs and the answer is I twist on damp hair and allow it to FULLY dry before I take it down. The last tip is to find a really good leave in. This helps to have soft and shiny results.

Have you made any mistakes/faced any major challenges with your natural hair? If so what? and what advice would you give to other naturals?

 
Oh yes! The first major mistake happened early on in my journey. While I was transitioning and even after I big chopped, I was always getting my hair straightened. This caused me to really mess up my natural curl/wave pattern. My advice for those that are transitioning is to avoid using heat all the time. Wear braids and other protective styles to achieve the look you desire without having to use heat. The other mistake I made was not doing my research. I heard that protein was good for your hair so I started using a protein cream and shortly after using the cream on a consistent basis, I started to experience a lot of breakage. I later discovered that if you don’t have a protein deficiency, using too much protein can do more harm than good.

 
Any words of encouragement?

 
Be patient. Your hair is actually growing faster than you think. That’s why it’s good to take pictures so that you can see the progress. Also LOVE YOUR HAIR! Everyone’s hair is different and unique. Just enjoy the versatility of being natural!

Where can we find you? (blog/twitter etc)

 
I can be found on Instagram, Twitter & Tumblr by searching SumetraReed. I can be found on YouTube by searching Natural Metra

I previously wrote a post on how I look after my twists here and for my braids, I pretty much do the same thing. Here’s another post but with a few more products I like using.

It’s hard to get to each strand of your hair while it’s in braids so beforehand I always deep condition & moisturise my hair- this goes for any protective style I do. Doing this before helps ensure your hair is in the best state before you put it away for what could be anything from 4-6 weeks.

While my braids are in moisturise when needed with a leave in conditioner, my go-to has always been Jane Carter Solution leave in –  it’s nice, light, and will cause minimal buildup over time. You definitely want to stay away from heavy creams & greases – they’ll cause more dirt and will weigh down your braids. Overtime I’ve also found a few other products that work so well in providing moisture to my hair while in braids.

*Curls – Quenched Curls, a daily leave in conditioner – I reach for this when my hair feels super dry! Although it’s a liquid spray leave in, its pretty thick and provides great moisture. (Can be used as a curl refresher too)

*Lee Stafford – Detangling Spray. I’m sure you’re thinking, but this is a detangling spray…yes it is and an excellent one it is in fact. However I’ve found it also works well as a leave-in. It’s lightweight and smells Ah-mazing!

*Paul Mitchell – Lite Detangler - This is also a lightweight leave-in conditioner and is great for shine!

A NEW recommended leave-in spray is also the Root 2 Tip Honey Rain Juice! Ah-may-zing!

Furthermore, to ensure my scalp isn’t dry I like to alternate between using light oils such as coconut oil/olive oil & a heavier one like castor oil…and that’s it! My hair stays moisturised with minimal use of product…you really don’t need to pile on product upon product.

I always also get asked about washing braids/twists, I personally don’t wash mine as I find my scalp gets really irritated but there are many videos on YouTube for those interested in washing theirs.

*For more on great deep conitioners – click here

*For more about how to keep your hair moisturised – click here

Have you been natural all your life, if not why did you choose to return back to your natural tresses?

 
No I haven’t been natural all of my life. I chose to return back to my natural tresses in 2010 after spending many years dealing with my relaxed hair that would constantly go through a cycle of growing to a certain length and then breaking off. During this never ending cycle, I finally got frustrated and decided to do some research through YouTube on how to take care of my relaxed hair at the time. As I was searching, I came across the Youtuber BlackOnyx77 who in one of her videos had a big beautiful afro puff that I had never seen a women wearing before. After finding her videos, I instantly fell in love with all things natural hair and wanted to see my own! I then decided that day that I was going to transition for 5 months and then go natural, but due to my impatience my transitioning period only lasted 1 month and then I Big Chopped on September 6, 2010!

 
How did family & friends react to this decision?

 
My family and friends reacted a little bit of every way from negative, to positive, to having mixed feelings when I told them that I wanted to go natural. But for the most part, I think that my family and friends were just skeptical of my decision at the time because they didn’t understand what it meant “to me” – to have natural hair after I had spent most of my life having relaxed hair in a society that deems that having straight hair is more acceptable. My mom was the first person who I talked with about wanting to go natural. That day we ended up having an eye opening conversation, as I had made it known to her that I had never seen my natural hair before because I started getting relaxers at such a young age. I believe that in that moment my decision to go natural really was set in for me and it also showed my mom that this was the decision that I was making and that I knew what I was doing for the most part. My mom afterwards, was pretty much on board with my decision to stop relaxing my hair and even helped me to do my Big Chop! The rest of my family didn’t really care much about my decision, and when I did get some negative feedback from them or other people I just shook it off and kept moving forward lol.

Do you have a hair regimen, If so what does it consist of?

 
The regimen for my 4a/4b hair consists of a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner, a moisturizing leave in conditioner, a light oil for smoothing my hair, and then a heavier oil to seal in all of the moisture that I have added to my hair. For shampoo and conditioner I normally use the Suave Naturals line in “Almond and Shea Butter”. For a leave in I swear by “Cantu Shea Butter –Leave in Conditioning Repair Cream”. For a light oil it depends on my mood. So sometimes I use anything from Coconut Oil to Almond Oil and recently my hair has been loving Avocado Oil! For a heavier Oil to seal my hair, I use Cold Pressed Castor Oil! These are my basic staples that I use on wash days.

3 of your favourite hair products?

 
3 of my favorite hair products hands down would have to be Cantu Shea butter, any type of oil for smoothing or sealing moisture into my hair, and Henna because it keeps my hair strong, shiny, and adds a beautiful red tinge to my hair that can only be seen in the sunlight!

Your go-to hairstyle?

 
My go to hairstyles are twist outs and braid outs when I’m not protective styling!

(Maci in one of her fab protective styles – wigs!)

Have you made any mistakes/faced any major challenges with your natural hair? If so what? And what advice would you give to other ladies?

 
I think that the biggest challenge that I have with my hair is single-strand knots. My 4a/4b hair has very tight coils, squiggles, and spirals etc. lol that get caught onto each other and can cause split ends and cause breakage to my hair. I now always keep my hair in some type of stretched state because of this if I am not protective styling. My advice to minimize single-strand knots or fairy knots is to keep your hair well moisturized and stretched whether in braids or twists or some other type of hairstyle that doesn’t allow shrinkage. Also to minimize split ends and breakage remember to dust your ends whenever you feel it is needed to maintain the integrity of your hair!

Any words of encouragement?

 
My encouragement to anyone who may be reading this is to get to know, love, and have fun with your hair. It doesn’t matter if you decide to rock a beautiful afro puff or if you want to pursue healthy relaxed hair. No matter what you choose, make sure that it is what is best for you. And lastly, always remember that you are worth more than the state of your hair. Be blessed! *:)  -Maci Okwuoha

Where can we find you? 

 
You can find me on Tumblr at www.TransformedByLove.tumblr.com and on Instagram @MaciOkwuoha

After posting this Nicole of Kinks, Curls and More shared her post on using African Threading as a means of stretching her hair and cutting out excessive use of heat.

Guest Post:

How to stretch hair without heat:
Since I’m on a ‘heat ban’ I’ve been having to use other ways to stretch my hair. I’ve been using braid outs and twist outs to do this, but I don’t always want a ‘curly’ look, so I went on the hunt for another method.

YouTube is a God send, I swear. The amount of natural hair tutorials on there makes it so much easier to find out new styles/methods. On my YT search I found a video on African threading by GirlsLoveYourCurls. The theory is that you wrap the thread around your hair tightly and it holds your hair in a stretched out position, so when you take them down your hair stays stretched. The closer together each coil of thread, the more stretched your hair will be. Its pretty simple really.

All you need is: Thread, scissors and something to part your hair with (or use your fingers)

I’ve actually had African threading done before and my mum told me she used it back in the day before straighteners to stretch her hair, but I completely forgot about it. I used it as a style rather than a stretching method when I had it done before – My mum used to thread my hair up really tightly and bend each section into crazy shapes for ‘Wacky Hair Day’ at school.. yep, I won the wacky hair competition everryyy time . It doesn’t have to look crazy though, they can look really nice when done/styled well!

I tried it out on a freshly moisturised old braid out, so my hair was kinda stretched out already, but not as much as I’d have liked. I did 4 sections on each side of my head and then tied them back like in the video. When I took them down my hair was definitely more stretched out, and the waves from the braid out were virtually gone . I threaded my hair up again the night after because I wanted a more stretched out look, but I did more sections that time.

Results:

Its like achieving a blow-dried look, but with no blowdrying involved #winning

There were a few kinky bits because of the way I wrapped the thread the second time. The coils were a bit too far apart so they created some waves – oh well.

The method is actually simple, but on the first couple of goes it can be a bit tricky, until you get used to it. Practice makes perfect! My thread was a bit too far down my hair so the roots weren’t as stretched as they could have been, but I’m going to work on that. The tricky part is getting the thread to stay in place at the start of each section and to stop it unravelling at the end. BUT I found another video from GirlsLoveYourCurls for that too! She shows really clearly how to begin and end each thread braid, so its a must watch if you want to try it out.

I’m definitely going to be using this method again. YAY I’m so happy I’ve found a good way to stretch my hair besides braid outs and twist outs. I’m a little sceptical about how well it will come out on freshly washed, un-stretched hair but I’m going to try that out too anyway.

I’d recommend giving it a try if you want to achieve a blow dried look without heat!

Have you been natural all your life, if not why did you choose to return to your natural tresses?

For the first 14 years of my life I wore my natural hair. I did have my hair relaxed one time when I was about 7 or 8 years. I don’t recall much about the experience but I do know that it was very short lived. A little over three years ago, I decided to “go natural” again because I was bored with my relaxed hair and wanted a change. I curiously ventured into the world of natural hair, and I can say it is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I just LOVE my hair

How did family & friends react to your decision to go natural?

Most of my friends and family were very shocked that I had cut all of my hair off. After the got over the initial shock, they did ask the “why did you cut all your nice hair off?” questions. Many of them were surprised at how brave I was. It was a very bold for me, but I was happy I did it. Since then, many of my friends and family have decided to wear their natural hair as well.

My husband was the only person who knew of my decision beforehand and he was, and continues to be my biggest cheerleader. I’m just happy he loves my hair as much as I do.

Do you have a hair regimen, If so what does it consist of?

My hair regimen is pretty simple, at least I think so. I may switch up the products, but the routine remains the same. I think consistency is very important in maintaining healthy hair. I generally cleanse/co-wash my hair once a week.
I always do a pre-poo/hot oil treatment prior to cleansing my hair. Coconut oil is my first choice for pre-pooing, I may add conditioner sometimes, but it depends on what I feel my hair needs at the time.
I detangle and twist my hair up prior to washing, and I’ve found this method helpful in reducing tangles.
I deep condition my hair weekly, then proceed to moisturize, seal and style my hair for the week.

I also like to incorporate special treatments such a Henna/Cassia Glosses, Amla Pastes, Rhassoul clay treatments and Tea Rinses as well. I only shampoo/clarify my hair about twice per month at most. I just really enjoy taking care of my hair. Sometimes it’s a task, but it’s worth it.

 
3 of your favourite hair products?

I absolutely love Shea Moisture’s Deep Treatment Masque (as a styler), BASK Palm Tapioca Hair cream and Qhemet Biologics Amla & Olive Heavy Cream. Lately, I’ve being loving the Nubian Heritage Grown & Strengthen Masque for my twist outs. Sorry, I know you said 3 but I had to stick that one in there

 
Your go-to hairstyle?

 
I wear my hair in twists most of the time because of the styling versatility they offer. During the week, I generally wear them in various updo/pinned styles, and wear “out” styles on the weekends. I do this more in the cooler months. As it warms up, I tend to wear my hair out more. I really enjoy trying new styles and just like having fun with my hair.

 
Have you made any mistakes/faced any major challenges with your natural hair? If so what? and what advice would you give to other naturals?

I had issues with highly porous hair early on in my journey. Once I figured out that was the problem, I took steps to remedy it. Incorporating Ayurvedic treatments, Apple Cider vinegar rinses and other treatments/methods that help smooth down/fill-in the gaps in my cuticles, were very helpful in allowing my hair to retain moisture.

 
My advice: If you have issues with retaining moisture, one of the many culprits can be your hair’s porosity. I honestly feel that everyone should know their hair’s porosity. I think it can be a very helpful piece of info that can make caring for your hair easier.

One useful haircare tip you’d pass on to other naturals?

A very simple tip that has proven valuable for me, is to keep a log/record of your product usage/style results. I keep a “hair calendar” where I record what products I used, in what order and the results I received. This is not only helpful when it comes to recreating a certain style or look, but it can also be a way to narrow down a product or ingredient that you does not agree with your your hair, or you may be allergic to.

 
Any words of encouragement?

 
It’s important to love and learn your hair. We all know our hair has a mind of it’s own sometimes, but if you take care of it, it will cooperate…most of the time.
Remember that healthy hair starts on the inside so it is important to eat a balanced, healthy diet and stay hydrated. It sounds so cliché, but it is so true.

 
Also, be patient and enjoy each stage of your journey because it goes by quickly. Draw inspiration from others, try new styles to keep things fresh and interesting, but most of all have FUN with your hair, but don’t allow it to control your life.

Where can we find you? 

 
My blog can be found at www.thehodgepodgefiles.blogspot.com.

I’m also on these social media platforms

Facebook

Youtube

Instagram: @veepeejay
Twitter: @veepeejay1

I am also the co-organizer of Bella Glam Naturals meetup group based in Dallas.

http://www.meetup.com/Bella-Glam-Naturals-Meetup-Group/

I love your website, thank you for providing your followers with such a great resource.

Like many others in the UK, I have switched to more natural hair products over the past few years and have noticed many positive changes with my hair growth, texture and thickness. I mix many of my own conditioners and scalp reliefs at home. But (big ‘but’), my hairline is still a bit weedy. I can’t help but notice that in some of yours and Angel Smith’s (Natural Lounge) pictures, your hairline is a thinner than the rest of your head too. In my case my hairline has never fully recovered from a bad weave. But I can see that the hair there is growing – just not very thickly or very quickly. Do you have any views as to the reason for this? Are those nightly head wraps (too tight perhaps) or lack of moisture in this area to blame? Or other practices?

I would love to hear your views on this touchy subject.

All the best and keep up the great blog”

Hiya,

Thanks for the email! Very happy to hear you like the blog. I’m very glad you asked this question as it was something I was planning on covering very soon.

Many women suffer from thinning edges/hairline because of excessive pulling from styles such as weaves, braids, tight ponytails and like you mentioned even tight scarves too can cause tension on the hairline. Also chemical burns from relaxers have resulted in some losing their hairline. So the first thing I usually tell ladies when they ask about how to combat this issue is to stop the excessive pulling. Pulling and pulling on the hair overtime can result in permanent damage of the hair follicles and subsequently the hair cannot grow back.

One big misconception people have is weaves/braids ‘grow’ your hair. They don’t at all they do is help retain length which many other styles can do as well. Read more about this here

Secondly, natural oils such as castor oil has given some women amazing results in aiding the re-growth of their hairline (providing it isn’t already permanently damaged).

Celebrity stylist Felicia Leatherwood has also seen good results with the Organic Root Stimulator’s ‘Fertilising Temple Balm’. However, results aren’t overnight and once again your hair will only grow back if the damage isn’t permanent.

I get many emails asking how to tell if there’s still hope for the hairline and I always say, yes try the castor oil/supplements – avoid styles that pull on your hairline, give it some months and see if there’s any improvement.

However if you find your hair isn’t growing back or is of great concern to you I always always recommend going to see a Trichologist, such as Philip Kingsley. They are hair doctors and can examine the damage to your hairline and recommend the best form of treatment for you.

Now in terms of my hair. I have naturally fine hair and it’s been this way all my life. As well as my hair being fine, my edges are very fine too…so I take extra care. Since I was a lil one the first inch of hair that surrounded the perimeter of my hair has been shorter, finer, and very wavy in texture. I wish I had a better picture to show (and a scanner) but here you can see what I mean. It wasn’t like this due to tight braiding or pulling – as the first year of my life my mum mostly left my hair out in a curly fro.

My hair as a baby

My hair now…see what I mean?

As a result my hair has always been this way. There have been times (years back) I’ve had a braid or two pull my hair out right from the roots but it grew back eventually. Now because my hair is fine and my egdes are fine and super sensitive I stick to the easier styles. Even with braids, I get them done 2 times a year. I currently have Kinky twists in now and did braids back in October. When doing braids/weave I never ever get my edges done, I always leave those bits out.

It’s taken me a few years to accept that my hair has and will pretty much always be this way and although there are some styles I can’t do…I now truly do love it.

Some have been blessed with fuller hair lines, others have been blessed with thinner ones…as long as the thinning isn’t self inflicted love your hair the way it is and work with what you’ve got girl! Just like I did, compare your hairline to older pictures to see if there’s a difference if so examine your hair practises that may be contributing to the thinning.

On one final, important note. I urge the mother’s out there to take very good care of their daughter’s hair. In my opinion  there is absolutely no excuse for using extensions on little girls. Try out styles on their own hair. Having little girls constantly wearing extensions is first off bad for their fragile hairline and secondly bad mentally. You have them thinking from such a young age that they need ‘added’ hair to look pretty.

Tell us a little bit about yourself & UKnaturals…

 
I am Rachael Mckenzie-Sealy, to many just Rachy. I am a 25 year old creative who likes to be involved in things that express creativity and fun. I have my own fashion label, Concreterose clothing, fashion brand, Making Fashion Happen and blog Just Rachy. I am also 1/2 of Uknaturals, the other half is Naomi Morris.

Uknaturals is a Youtube channel, dedicated to embracing and celebrating naturals hair via debates, interviews, product reviews and general chitchat. We are two different people, with two different heads of hair and two different lifestyles.
We held our first event in October 2012 in aid of Breast Cancer Research and are featured in the Dec/Jan 2013 issue of BlackHair magazine. It really has been such a fun journey and we hope to develop the even channel more this year.

What inspired you to start UKnaturals?

We decided to start Uknaturals because when searching on Youtube for hair advice, all we found were US channels. The products that they were reviewing were not available in the UK so it was kind of irrelevant. So we said lets start our own.

Have you been natural all your life, if not why did you choose to return natural’?

I’ve been natural all my life and didn’t know I was ‘natural’ until a few years ago. I never used that term before being involved in the natural hair world. I have adopted a healthy hair lifestyle about 3years ago as my hair was breaking really badly.

How did family & friends react to your decision to go natural?

 
My friends have always complimented my hair and asked questions about it. Some can’t understand why I haven’t relaxed it. It’s been a talking point for a lot of conversations.

Do you have a hair regimen, If so what is it?

 
I am mainly a wash-n-go girl. Its easy, gives me great results and isn’t time-consuming. I use the Vatika egg protein mask before washing my hair, it’s great for strengthening and adding softness to my hair. And then shampoo every 4weeks using a sulphate shampoo. Other weeks I will co-wash or recently I have been using black soap to cleanse. I love that stuff!

Then I use the Aphogee 2min keratin protein treatment every other week as I have colour and bleach in my hair, so I have to make sure it is well-looked after. Then I will use TRESemme naturals conditioner to deep condition with added oils depending how my hair feels. I usually use coconut oil. Then I apply a leave-in, castor oil to seal and a gel, let it air dry and I’m good to go.

 
What is your favourite go-to hairstyle?

 
A lazy day, when I really can’t be bothered – it will be in a high bun.

3 of your favourite hair products?

I have tried a lot of products and my favourites so far are:
TRESemme naturals conditioner
Curls curl soufflé
Shea moisture curl enhancing smoothie

Have you made any mistakes with your natural hair? If so what advice would you give to other naturals?

 
A mistake I made was being too wrapped up in what products everyone else was using and trying everything. It isn’t necessary at all or cheap! Do what works for your hair, it is more about the ingredients than the products. I know my hair love aloe vera, castor oil and coconut oil, so when looking for new products I look for those that feature those ingredients.

You recently coloured your hair, how was that experience & what advice would you give to other ladies thinking of adding colour?

 
I coloured my hair twice in 2012. I wanted something different. I had never use any type of chemical dye on my hair before, only a crazy colour dye about 5 years ago but it didn’t last. So I decided to get a copper brown colour done. I researched for about 6 months prior to getting the colour done, as I was curious to know how colour affects your hair. I had heard a lot of people had experienced dryness. So I made sure my hair was the healthiest and stronger it could be, and I did this via protein treatments.

So I decided to go to Aveda to do my colour as they use a dye that contain a lot of natural ingredients. I would advise everyone to have a consultation before opting for colour. The colourist has to understand exactly what you want and your hair. After 6months of having colour in, I got bored again and wanted to change the colour as it was faded and blah. So I went to the Darren Scott salon in November and opted for a ombre effect, using bleach. Initially I did not want to use bleach, but it was the only option to achieve the look.

Since the colour my hair hasn’t been that dry and I haven’t experienced breakage, as I do a light protein treatment every wash to help build the bonds and condition the hair. The key is moisture to maintain coloured hair.

 
Any words of encouragement?

 
Do what works for you! And be patient. Hair is hair, it is an added feature to the beauty you already obtain. Treat your hair like a plant and it will flourish and grow. And enjoy it!!

Ladies you can find Rachy over on Twitter, Instagram & Youtube

So I get a lot of questions about dryness, brittle/breaking and ‘hard’ hair and what to do next. One word – MOISTURE!

I cannot stress enough how beneficial moisture is for our type of hair, especially as it’s more prone to dryness.

Thee best source of moisture is from water! So I’ve found what works for me is…

*Co-washing my hair at least once a week (washing with conditioner only)

*Use water-based products to style my hair with (waster-based meaning water/aqua is the first ingredient)

*Seal/lock in the moisture by then using an oil/oil-based product.

*Throughout the week, if ever feel my hair is a little dry I use a spray leave-in conditioner to refresh my hair. My favourite two are:

- Jane Carter Solution: Revitalizing Leave-in Conditioner

- Root2Tip: Honey Rain Juice

*The MOST effective way I’ve found to keep my hair moisturised is by NOT covering my hair in the shower. I usually wear twist outs or updo styles. But when I’m in the shower, I let my hair out and let the steam hit my hair – firstly this adds volume to my hair and secondly – MOISTURE!

*Finally I deep condition my hair weekly – read more about my conditioner recommendations here

As a natural water really is your best-friend, and if she isn’t yet…you need to change that! lol!

List of Water – Based products I use/have used & recommend:

• BeUnique Hair Care – Moisture Custard
• Curls - Quenched Curls – Curl Moisturizer/2nd Day Curl Refresher
• Root2Tip – Honey Rain Juice
• Jane Carter – Revitalising Leave-in
• Sisay – Okra Moisturiser
• Root2Tip – Triple Moisture Milk
• Cioccolatina – Fatima