Tag: Curly hair

Do Men Treat You Differently When You Have Natural Hair?

Recently I watched the YouTube video #MenOnNaturalHair : Do Men Treat You Differently When You Have Natural Hair? by Davina from The London Curls. She answered two questions in her video, ‘Do men treat you differently when you wear your hair natural?’ and ‘Would you ever change your hair for a man?’. I found it really interesting hearing about Davina’s experiences and it got me thinking about my own experiences with men and my natural afro hair. I hadn’t thought about these types of questions in a long time before watching Davina’s video and it made me realise how different each persons experience with their natural hair, relationship and the opposite sex can be. I felt eager to do a response to this and decided to answer Davina’s questions…

So, would I change my hair for a man? Watch my short video to find out.

Samio x

More on afro hair: How to Embrace Your Natural Hair

September 8, 2015
My Braid Out Tutorial Video – Getting To Grips With YouTube

This week I uploaded my fifth video onto YouTube. A few people had been requesting I do a braid out video, so I finally got round to doing that and for those of you who have watched it already, thanks for taking the time to do so and I hope you found it useful.

I’m slowly getting to grips with the whole YouTube thing and I’ve really appreciated all the lovely comments and suggestions so far (which have of course prompted me to make this current video).

I’d originally only planned on doing a one off video, after having requests for a video on my Wash and Go routine. But I guess there is no such thing as ‘just one video’ when it comes to YouTube, as I am now learning. I like to go with the flow with these things, so we’ll see if it becomes a regular occurrence or not and although I’ve not quite got the bug for it yet (like I do with blogging), I must say I have found it surprisingly enjoyable (aside from a few minor filming/editing frustrations).

So anyway, here is my most recent video. It is aimed at people with curly to Afro hair but I actually have a friend with European/straight hair who uses the same technique (with no product, on damp hair). So some of you non Afro haired ladies out there could find it useful for creating waves or lose curls in your hair, heat free. My advise is, the less coarse your hair texture, the less product you’ll probably need to use… Anyway, check out the video and you’ll see. Plus if you’d like to see my step by step written braid out tutorial, you can check out this older post here.

http://youtu.be/wOM78iwC4gM

Samio x

April 10, 2015
How to Embrace Your Natural Hair

I thought I’d do a video for those of you with naturally curly hair, who are maybe thinking about wearing your natural hair out for the first time but are unsure. Or for those of you who may currently have your hair natural but struggle to embrace it. This is for you guys! These are just a few of my personal tips which I hope can help.

http://youtu.be/plbndb1Ha0Q

If you enjoy this video, then please do like and subscribe for more.

Samio x

February 25, 2015
OGX Hydrating Macadamia Oil – Penetrating Oil Review

Previously I’ve used the Organix Moroccan Argan Oil Serum and the Organix hydrating Macadamia dry styling oil and really liked both, so this time I thought I’d give this OGX Hydrating Macadamia Penetrating Oil a go. –(The link is to an American site, however for those of you from the UK, you can actually buy this in Boots, they just didn’t have it online.)

First of all this oil smells really nice (as do all the OGX oils I’ve previously used). The consistency of the oil is quite thick but easy pours out onto your hand. You can apply this oil to damp or dry hair and it works great to help control frizz and define curls whilst adding a nice shine.

Usually I would use an oil along with another leave in products but on this occasion I used just the oil to see its effects in my hair.

I applied the oil to my hair whilst it was damp and then let it air dry. You can see below my curls after air drying with the penetrating oil left in. My curls were left looking glossy and defined. The product isn’t too heavy on the hair and so my hair was left feeling light weight and soft too. Because this product isn’t too greasy it would be good for use on straight and wavy hair too, as it is meant for all hair types.

After air drying my hair, I then used a hair dryer to blow parts of my hair out slightly and add volume. You can see on the image below that my hair had gone a lot bigger but my curls were still defined. I was left with a little more frizz (which is fine by me) and my hair still felt light and soft with a nice shine through it.

like I said, I’ve used the OGX oils before and for me they are ideal for when I’m off to a shoot or to pop in my gym bag if I’m washing my hair. For my particular hair type I feel it’s best for me to use this product along with another product, like say a leave in conditioner first. Otherwise if I regularly use this product alone, I end up using it up too fast as my hair soaks it up so easily. I like using this penetrating oil just before drying my hair, to help add shine. It is also a good product for me to use on the ends of my hair and I like to keep it in my bag for on the go.

Samio x

January 31, 2015
2 Easy Methods for Creating a Quick and Easy Frohawk

It’s always good to experiment with different styles with your afro or curly hair, especially if you’re transitioning or are in a process of trying to grow your hair and fancy something different. Some days the regular puff just doesn’t cut it, so why not try out a frohawk if you haven’t done before. It’s actually a rather simple style to achieve and here a my two easiest methods for doing so…

Method 1 – The Kirby Grip/Bobby Pin Method

Whatever you like to call them, kirby grips or bobby pins, using them to pin your hair in place is a super easy way to create a frohawk hair style.

First of all I added volume and fizz to my hair by combing it out slightly with an afro comb. You can do this look with any type of curly hair of course, I just decided to go for a more wild, frizzy look so that I could create a bigger frohawk.

First of all get a bunch of kirby grips. I used around 8 or 10 kirby grips (between 4 and 5 on each side). For a tighter more slick style or if your adding product to neaten up the sides you may want to use more kirby grips.

Make sure all of your kirby grips have their nibs on the end, like the one on the right here. Often I find some of my older kirby grips lose their nib, like this one on the left, which can be slightly painful as well as damaging on your hair when trying to pin it in place. So be sure to throw any kirby grips without a nib in the bin before you get started.

(btw, kirby grips/bobby pins go curvy side down when sliding them into your hair, in case you weren’t sure)

Start by grabbing the lower section of your hair on one side of your head and pull it back before sliding in your first kirby grip to hold the section of hair in place.

Work forward, grabbing the next section of hair and pinning the hair back in place until you have lifted and pinned all of your hair on one side.

Work from the front to the back of your hair if you find it easier and repeat the technique on the other side of your head so that both sides are pinned up.

There you have it, your kirby grip frohawk. Like I said, if you want a slicker, more neater looking frohawk then you can add products to the sides and comb the hair as you pin it to make it look super neat. I however rather like the rough and ready look.

Method 2 – The Bobble/Hair Tie Method

Again, whatever you call these, bobbles (my personal favourite) or hair ties, you will need three of them.

Section the middle front part of hair on your head. This doesn’t have to be neat but try and make it central, then bobble it.

Repeat this with the middle section of hair (behind the first puff), this time also bringing in the hair from the sides, up to round about your ears. Again don’t worry about the sections being super neat.

The first two sections tied up should look like this – a semi frohawk.

Finally grab the remaining lower section of hair and tie in a bobble.

This will create three puffs on your head, which you can tweak around slightly with your fingers to make sure all the hair blends together (if it doesn’t initially).

And voilà, the quick and easy three bobble frohawk.

So if you’re having a bad hair day, or maybe just fancy doing something different, why not try out a quick and easy frohawk using one of these simple methods.

I would love to know some of your thoughts. Have you ever tried a frohawk or do you think you’d like to try out this style in the future?

Samio x

January 13, 2015
Naturally Curly Hair – Wash and Go Routine

I get asked quite a lot about my hair routine and more recently quite a few people have been asking me to do a video on how I style my hair. I previously posted a mini video of my wash and go on Instagram a while back but since some of you were asking, I though it was about time that I made a full length version for those of you with similar hair or others who may just be curious.

I’ve done a previous post detailing my wash and go here. Since then some of the products I use have changed, plus I have a different hair cut. In this video I use Macadamia Healing Oil Treatment and Macadamia Leave In Cream . Prior to drying I washed my hair with The Body Shop’s Rainforest Moisture Shampoo & Conditioner.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy the video. If you do, please like it. 🙂

Samio x

January 11, 2015
Girls with Curls

Yesterday I was in London. I was up bright and early (5am if you must know) as I had a shoot for Speedo in the morning. Then in the afternoon I made my way into central London to meet up with fellow blogger Fro Girl Ginny. It was mine and Ginny’s first time meeting and the pros of meeting up with a fellow curly girl is that I’m able to spot her fabulous curly mane from across the station. Straight off we began chatting away and it was nice to see that Ginny is just as lovely in person as she appeared over email.

Together Ginny and I headed to The Breakfast Club for a bite to eat and even though I wasn’t actually very hungry, as it was my first time eating there, I couldn’t help but opt for The All American. This is a dish that consists of sausage, eggs, fried potatoes, crispy bacon, pancakes and maple syrup. Considering I ‘wasn’t very hungry’ I soon managed to finish it all of course and it certainly pleased the tastebuds and set me up for the day.

The rest of the afternoon we spent wondering around London, popping in some shops and stopping for drinks to chat more. Obviously when two bloggers meet there is rarely a moment that the cameras are away and so we spent plenty of time getting ‘snap happy’ and capturing plenty of shameless double selfies too.

These are my first shots of my newly cut fro. As I mentioned in my previous post, my hair had some seriously damaged ends and so I had two inches cut off. I’m still slightly mourning the loss but my hair is feeling so much better for it and anyway, it will grow. Today I was rocking a braid out and embracing the frizz but it will be interesting to see how it looks after a wash and go when my curls are in their natural coils, as I can see I’m going to have some major shrinkage but we shall see.

What I Wore:
Biker Jacket – Zara
Vest top – Forever 21
Skirt – H&M
Shoes – Office

After lots of fro snaps and a fun day with Ginny, it was eventually time for me to make my way to the station and head home back home to Manchester.

If you haven’t already then go check out Ginny’s blog and YouTube channel:
Blog: http://frogirlginny.weebly.com
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/frogirlginny
Instagram & Twitter: @FroGirlGinny

Samio x

September 2, 2014
Curly Hair – How I Get Defined Curls

My hair type is 3c and so it naturally forms into very tight ringlets, however the way in which I comb my hair, along with what products I use, effects the definition of my curls.

For me, defining my curls starts with detangling. I comb my hair after washing it, whilst it’s still wet and usually with conditioner still in the hair. This makes it easier to comb through the hair and detangle without causing breakage. I detangle my hair by brushing the ends first, slowly making my way up through the hair until it is fully detangled and smooth enough to brush from root to tip.

I use the Macadamia No Tangle brush. I’d definitely recommend this brush (or one similar) to those with curly hair, as it really does make it much easier to comb through the hair and it prevents the breakage that a regular brush would cause. This is my main tool for creating defined curls as when I comb through the hair it glides through without separating all of the curls (like some afro combs do) and so when my curls bounce back up they form into their natural coils.

I then add my Macadamia Healing Oil Treatment and brush through my hair once more to make sure that the oil is spread throughout my curls. After combing I then add a leave in conditioner, in this instance I used Macadamia Leave in Cream. I then wrap my hair in a towel to begin to dry it.

When my hair is still damp I then take the towel off my hair, spray it with Macadamia No Tangle spray before using my hairdryer on a medium heat to dry my hair fully. I use a TREsemme hair dryer without attaching the diffuser.

If I feel any parts of my hair need it, I will rub some more of the Macadamia Healing Oil Treatment onto my hands and rub it onto my hair.

Once my hair is fully dried, I’m left with defined and glossy curls like this.

Samio x

August 30, 2014
Mega Instant Braid Out

Recently I’ve been getting a lot of questions on how I do my braid outs. I previously did a similar post last year: Braid Out Vs Wash & Go but since so many people have been asking and also as I sometimes use different products, I thought I’d do an updated post with lots more images to show it step by step.

For this particular braid out I used Aussie Mega Instant Conditioner. I usually use Aussie Miracle Moist Conditioner but whilst shopping I picked up the Mega Instant by mistake and so I’ve been using this one. There isn’t a huge difference, both work rather well on my hair. I just tend to find Miracle Moist is more wet and adds more moisture to my hair, where as Mega Instant, I find is thicker and slightly heavier on the hair so I tend to use it more sparingly.

Here is a before picture of my hair. Here my hair had been washed the previous day and then left product free. As you can see there is quite a lot of frizz and the curls are slightly fuzzy and less defined.

I first divide my hair into 5 rough sections. I only made the center part neat this particular time, as it is where I wanted my hair to part once I’d done the braid out. If you decide you want a side part, then make sure there is a neat divide on whichever side you would like to wear your part once you’ve taken out your plaits. I then apply a dollop of the Mega Instant Conditioner to my first section (usually working on a front section first) and began to comb through, slowly working through from the ends to the root of my hair.

I use enough product so that the hair is damp and easy to brush through. Once the product is fully brushed through the first section of hair, you can see how my curls have become defined and tamed by the product.

I then tightly plait the first section of hair. I start the plait loser at the top of my head, so not to put too much strain on my hair at the root. I then begin to plait tighter about half an inch into the plait until the end.

Tip: It’s important to make sure the hair is not too wet when you plait it, as then it often makes it harder to dry once braided up and when the hair stays wet the style doesn’t set. If you need to, wait a couple of minutes for the hair to dry a little before braiding up. If the hair is just slightly damp, then it should be fine.

I repeat this process of applying the product and then plaiting the combed through sections until I have five plaits on my head. As you can see my sections have been roughly parted, as you won’t see these back sections once the braids have been taken out. I have only paid attention to making the center part straight as you can also see below.

If you’re sleeping on your braids, then it is advised to wear a silky head scarf to prevent fiction which can cause frizz. As my parts and braids aren’t particularly neat, I also like to wear a head scarf if I am going out with my protective hair style before doing a braid out.

When I’m ready to take my braids out (usually the morning after) I first check that the plaits feel fully dry. If I take the hair out damp, the style usually just falls flat. So it’s rather important that the hair is fully dry before taking out the plaits. I separate each plait carefully, as not to mess up the newly formed waves/curls.

Once all my braids are out, I then use my fingers as a comb to carefully separate through the roots of my hair. I focus mainly on the root and not as much on the ends so that it doesn’t break up the curls and become too frizzy.

If I want extra volume I will then go through my hair (again carefully) with an Afro comb… I also then like to give my hair a good shake.

…And once the braid out is complete, I’m usually left with something like this.

Want more styles to do with your braid out? Check out my previous style post here.

Samio x

May 2, 2014
Braid Out – Retro Up Do

So you’re waiting for the fro to grow and you’re fed up with the same style, or maybe you’re happy with the length but just fancy trying out a new do… Well here is an easy to follow step by step tutorial of a simple yet fancy looking, braid out style. This style can be done on long or short hair and is perfect for those of you who like the vintage look. Continue below to follow my 12 simple steps to achieve this style

What you will need:
Leave in conditioner (or braid out product of your choice)
Curvy grips/bobby pins
Fabric or headscarf

Step 1:

The night before, separate the hair into about four sections, add product to each section (I used Aussie Conditioner) and then plait… Basically you’ll be doing a braid out, if you need instructions on how best to do a braid out, read this previous, how to post here. Please note: Make sure one of your parts is to the side of your head and not in the center. This will just help the hair to fall to one side better when you take out the plaits, so then the style will be easier to achieve.

Step 2:

The next day, following on with the braid out process, undo the plaits carefully so not to mess up the newly formed wave in the hair.

Step 3:

Continue to undo all the plaits until you’re left with a head of waves. Separate parts of the hair slightly if you feel you need to. Do this gently using your fingers so not to create too much frizz.

Step 4:

Grab the majority of the hair, leaving about a quarter section to hang lose at the front…

Step 5:

Pin the grabbed hair at the back of the head. Do this using bobby pins/curvy grips (as many as needed) to secure in place.

Step 6:

Once the back part of the hair is pinned up and secured, you should be left with something that looks like this.

Step 7:

Now grab the front section of hair and take it to the side and again pin in place. One hair grip should be enough to hold this section but use more if needed.

Step 8:

Check that the front piece of hair is secure and that all grips are hidden.

Step 9:

Now that your style is in place, it’s time for the finishing touch… Grab a headscarf of your choice. Here I have chosen to use a long strip of organza fabric. You can buy this fabric at most haberdasheries or even online for a reasonable price. Don’t worry if you don’t have any organza fabric, a head scarf or any remnant of your choice of fabric will do fine. Just make sure that the fabric/headcarf you use is long enough to wrap around your head and tie into a large bow.

Step 10:

Wrap the fabric around the back of the head. Bring the fabric/headscarf together at the top of your head, just behind the front piece of pinned hair, then cross over and tie.

Step 11:

Finish tying the bow (the same as you would with a shoe lace) at the top of your head and then adjust the bow so that you are happy with it. If needed, secure the fabric/headscarf with more pins.

Step 12:

For the end result you should be left with something similar to this. Now go out, rock your new style and feel fabulous!

Did you try out this style? I would love to know how it worked for you… Feel free to share your results with me via Instagram & Twitter – @samiorenelda

Samio x

April 10, 2014