Author Archives: Maicurls

About Maicurls

I got inspired write a blog due to my passion about my Natural Hair. It took me a while to find my way with my Hair...but I wouldn't change a thing now! I basically got to know my Hair through the help I found online (YouTube, Forums, Blogs etc) and want to "give back" by sharing what I have learnt over the years. My blog mainly consists of information about Natural Hair Care, Do It Yourself recipes and and tips I've learnt from all of you. I also share Skin Care and Health (Exercise) tips.

The battle of “Good” versus “Bad” Hair – Global Couture

3 Replies

Hi Maicurlies,

I wanted to share my latest contribution article on Global Couture:

The battle of ‘good’ versus ‘bad’ hair

The battle of “Good” versus “Bad” hair is a “controversial” topic. Personal choices and preferences are something we all have and are entitled to. We can, do not and should not find all the exact same things attractive. Can you imagine if we did?! (The mayhem of fighting over partners that WE ALL find attractive…at the same time LOL)! Seriously…scary!

When it comes to hair, some of us like volume, others like it “tame”, some of us like like long hair, others prefer short, some of us like light hair others prefer dark…you get the picture. However, when it comes to “categorizing” something as “good” or “bad” – that is a whole different game in my opinion.

I have previously mentioned that this topic and the classification of “curl types” gives me an allergic reaction, especially when it is used to put someone down! I find ALL curls beautiful, I do not care how tight or loose your curls might be, what color your hair is or how long or short it might be. HEALTHY HAIR is what people should focus, obsess and strive for – regardless of whether you have a TWA or hip length hair.

Have you ever been in a situation where someone made comments about “good” or “bad” hair?

Thanks

Maicurls

DIY Hibiscus Infused Almond Oil (Recipe 2)

13 Replies

Hey Maicurlies,

Here we go, my second Infused Oil Recipe 😀

Hibiscus Infused Almond Oil

I have previously written about using and making Hibiscus petals & powder for the hair and skin here and have listed (below) a few reasons why you might want to use the oil for your hair/scalp:

Helps grow healthy hair
Stops excessive hair shedding
Provides the hair with a boost of luster and bounce
Soothes scalp irritations
Adds a natural shine to the hair
Strengthens the hair
Helps reduce dandruff due to its moisturizing properties
Helps conditions the hair

Note – If you have light hair e.g. blond to light brown, the oil can darken your hair. Hibiscus oil is slightly acidic. Due to the fact hibiscus can stain, you might want to cover your workspace and wear clothes you don’t mind getting stained when making the oil.

Carrier oils:

Depending on the carrier oil you choose, you also get the additional benefit of that along with the properties of hibiscus. On my blog I have a list of different carrier oil benefits for the hair and skin.

I personally use Almond oil because:

Almond oil is rich in Vitamin A, B and E which is excellent for the hair and scalp. It is easily absorbed into the skin as well as the hair and therefore does not weigh down the hair nor clog up our pores. It is known to help sooth irritated scalp, reduce dandruff due to its moisturizing properties and gives the hair a natural sheen. It can be used as a conditioning agent, smooths the hair’s cuticle, reduces hair shedding and promotes growth.

Ingredients/tools:

Spoon
Measuring cups
Containers (I used 2 to make both forms of the oil)
Stirrer
Sieve
Lavender Essential Oil (optional – I used 15 drops)

For the hibiscus powder

1/4 cup of hibiscus powder
3/4 cup of Almond Oil (roughly)
Coffee filter
Rubber band (to close the coffee filter)

For the hibiscus petals

5/6 hibiscus petals
1.5 cups of Almond Oil (roughly)

Mixing Process:

Making hibiscus powder bag

Hibiscus Powder Bag

Hibiscus Powder bag in Almond Oil

Hibiscus Petals in Almond Oil

Sieving the petals & powder bag

Adding Lavender Essential Oil

I have a video up on my process:

*NOTE: I am not a dermatologist nor a doctor. I provide this for informational purposes only so please consult with a professional before you apply anything new to your skin or hair. Should you be taking medication or creams from a medical professional please do not replace that with my DIY recipe – consult your medical professional first! If you are allergic to any of the ingredients I use do not use them. Do a small patch test on the inside of your arm when trying anything new before applying it all over your hair/skin. Always ensure to dilute the Essential Oils (EO) in a carrier oil as they can cause skin irritations if used undiluted. If you are pregnant you should NOT use any EO.

If you try this please let me know how it turns out. If you make your own Infused Hibiscus Oil I would love to hear from you!

P.S if you missed my Rose Infused Grapeseed Oil check it out here.

Thanks

Maicurls

Protective Style & Castor Oil Challenge (Sept – Nov)

16 Replies

Hey Maicurlies,

As I write this I am bouncing around in my seat! So as the title says, I am going to be doing a protective style and castor oil challenge from September 21st – November 2nd with a few lovely ladies on the Napturally Curly (forum). This is my first proper challenge and I am uber excited!

I have previously mentioned that I am a member on Napturally Curly which is run by the beautiful Naturallista Lisa (I have linked both her Site and YouTube Channel for your reference). After going through her site, following her on YouTube (of course), join the forum! Even if you are not interested in taking part in the challenge there are a lot of fantastic women on there to share ideas, learn from one another and just discuss EVERYTHING (none hair related too!)

If you do want to join the challenge it is never too late. You can also opt to just join one part of the challenge, all up to you!

So back to the challenge, we have a forum member who has always been on top of all the challenges agreed upon by the group. I am not sure if she would mind me mentioning her name here as she also reads my blog so I will just say Thank You hun (you know who you are :D) She deserves a shout-out for all the effort she puts into organizing the challenges, providing us with style inspiration and motivating words!

In case you are curious about the guidelines for the challenge here they are:

Protective Styling Challenge

You will wear your hair in a Protective Style for no less than 2 days of each week of the challenge. (Some of us are installing twists, braids using weaves, wigs etc).
Please post pics of your hair throughout the duration of the challenge, it would be great to see not just all of the styles you come up with but also any and all length that you gain, improvement to the health of your hair and even see how your styling progresses and your aesthetic changes.
Each week you will answer several questions about your progress or setbacks from the previous week and so forth.

Castor Oil Challenge

You will use choose how many days (between 3-7 days each week) and the way you will use your Castor Oil. You are free to choose the type of Castor Oil and how you will apply it to your scalp and or hair. (Some of us are diluting the castor oil a little with another oil)
Don’t beat yourself up if you forget to use your oil each of the days you originally set for yourself, if this isn’t something that you normally do then you are creating a new habit.
Just as we will check in on a weekly basis for the Protective Style Challenge we will do the same for this challenge.

My Challenge tactic:

First off I am going to trim my hair between today (19th) and the 21st September. I want to start off “fresh” so a trim is in order. I will be taking off more hair at the back since this is were I have the most uneven length difference to the rest of my hair and then lightly dusting the rest to get rid of SSK’s.

I will be doing low manipulation/protective styles but not in the sense of using extensions, additional hair, wigs or weaves. Things like twist and tucks, buns, jumbo twists, medium two strand twists with my hair tucked away will be the styles I’ll use.
I plan on trying to keep my hair in styles for at least 3 days (touch-up my roots when needed) and will take my hair down to re-moisturize and then put it away again.
I will wash my hair once a week (as normal) which will include DC’s.
I also plan to do henna glosses at least 3 times during the challenge.
I will be using a mix of castor oil and infused rose oil (in a couple of weeks my combination of Ayurvedic infused oil will be complete and I will be using that). Castor oil is just too heavy for me so I will dilute it 70% castor to 30% other oil.
I will apply the oil 3 times a week to my roots/scalp, hair line and a tiny bit on the ends of my hair.

The purpose of me taking part in the challenge is to help thicken up my hair and for overall healthy hair. I want to retain length (if I see growth that is of course a plus) but my goal is to help boost my hair line which is quite fragile and has always been thin, even as a child. (I will write a little more about my hair line in another post). I also need more practice at simple low manipulation styles so this will be a great opportunity.

I will be taking photos during the course of the challenge of my hair styles and will also do a measurement check after I have trimmed my hair to compare to the end results in November.

I am so excited to get started and hopefully see positive results!

Are you currently doing or planning to do a protective style or castor oil challenge? If so what are you doing, I would love to hear from you!

Thanks

Maicurls

Autumn is upon us!

Why Moisture Retention is Important for Natural Hair – Global Couture

2 Replies

Ello Maicurlies,

This is my latest article on Global Couture:

Why is moisture retention important for natural hair

As naturals, I think we all know that natural hair is “drier” by nature, compared to other “hair textures” and therefore it is vital that we maintain a level of moisture in our hair.

“Why Moisture Retention is Important for Natural Hair“ explains why it is important to not only apply moisture to the hair but retain moisture as well. I also wanted to give a very brief explanation of the potential consequences if we are unable to retain sufficient moisture levels in our hair.

I hope you enjoy the article!

Thanks

Maicurls

DIY Rose Infused Grapeseed Oil (Recipe 1)

8 Replies

Good Morning Maicurlies,

I mentioned in my last post (here) that I am going to making a “mini series” of DIY Infused oils and here is the first. My DIY Rose Infused Grapeseed oil.

DIY Rose Infused Grapeseed Oil

So, why would you want to use Rose Infused Oil for your hair and/or skin?

Hair

Helps retain moisture
Provides Shine
Strengthens hair at the root
Protects against frizz
Gives the hair a boost of luster
Helps stimulate growth (when massaged on the scalp)
Can help relieve psoriasis & dandruff – (consult your dermatologist)

Skin

Moisturizing effect on dry and chapped skin
Nourishes the skin to help retain moisture
Natural astringent
Reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles – (with frequent use)
Can fight light skin irritations due to its antibacterial properties – (consult your dermatologist)
Soothing effect on lightly sunburned or sensitive skin – (consult your dermatologist)
Lightly fade acne scars and stretch marks – (with frequent use)
Improves the texture of the skin due to vitamin C

Depending on the carrier oil you choose, you also get the additional benefit of that along with the properties of roses. On my blog I have a list of different carrier oil benefits for the hair and skin.

I personally use Grapeseed oil because:

Grapeseed oil is easily absorbed into the hair and scalp without weighing down the hair or clogging up pores due to the fact that it is an extremely light oil. Those with fine hair (such as I) can use it without worrying about having greasy hair. It is known to help heal alopecia areata as well dry and itchy scalps (consult your dermatologist) and can help fight dandruff. It is great at sealing and retaining moisture.

Ingredients/tools used:

1/2 cup dried white roses (2x as I made 2 jars)
1/2 cup dried red roses (2x as I made 2 jars)
1.5 cups (roughly) of Grapeseed Oil (per jar)
11 drops Rose Essential oil (optional)
Spoon
Stirrer
Sieve
Coffee Filter
Funnel

Mixing Process:

Red & white rose petals ready to be covered with Grapeseed Oil

Red & White dried rose petals with Grapeseed Oil

2 Weeks later I sieve the petals.

After sieving there are tiny pits of Rose petals in the oil. I choose to filter them out (optional)

I filter the oil with a funnel and coffee filter paper

Clear Rose Infused Oil free from bits. I now add Rose Essential Oil (optional)

DIY Rose Infused Grapeseed Oil With Rose Essential Oil

I have a video up of my process (see below):

If you try this please let me know how it turns out. If you make your own Infused Rose Oil I would love to hear from you!

Thanks

Maicurls

DIY Infused Oil “Mini-Series”

2 Replies

HELLLOOO Maicurlies,

I hope all is well!

I have been BUSY making DIY mixes, recording videos (editing), taking photos and have come up with an Infused Oil “series”! Do I hear you say: HOW EXCITING! (Yes, it is!)

Infused Oils

If you are wondering why would you want to make an infused oil? I say why not?!

In all seriousness, infused oils give you the option of incorporating your favorite ingredients to your favorite carrier oil – adding more punch, nourishment and benefits for your hair and/or skin.

Uses of infused oils for the hair

Infused oils can be used in a number of different ways such as: Pre-poo’s, hot oil treatments, scalp massages, Deep Conditioners, leave-in conditioners, whipped butters, sealing…ANYTHING! Their benefits depend on the ingredients used for infusion and the carrier oil you use. With each of my infusions I will list the benefits of each and how I personally use them.

Infused oil for skin

You can incorporate infused oils into a DIY Body butters, sugar scrubs or even directly onto your skin to trap in moisture after a shower.

So which Oils have I made (are in the making?)

Rose Infused Grapeseed Oil
Hibiscus Infused Almond Oil
Amla Infused Grapeseed Oil
Coffee Infused Almond Oil
Neem Infused Coconut Oil

Heads up – Rose Infused Grapeseed Oil will be first!

I hope you enjoy this “mini series”.

Do you make your own infused oil? If so what do you make and how? I would love to hear from you!

Thanks

Maicurls

Tips for natural-heads that enjoy swimming

7 Ways To Avoid Single Strand Knots

6 Replies

Hey Maicurlies,

I wanted to share my latest article on Global Couture about “7 Ways to avoid Single Strand Knots”.

7 ways to avoid single strand knots

If you are anything like me (and most naturals I know) you have probably experienced, experiencing or potentially will experience the dreaded Single Strand Knots (SSK’s).

By winnond – Ropes And Knots www.freedigitalphotos.net

If you are not plagued by SSK’s (lucky!) or are newly natural and not sure what I am talking about then let me explain: they are teeny tiny knots formed by our natural hair curling up on itself as it grows and which results in a knot! Sounds insane right? But it happens (believe you me!) The knots are also referred to as fairy knots – because they are so tiny that “fairies” must have made them.

In my article I explain the different ways in which they can be formed as well as some steps you can take to help keep the numbers down. Now, I am not saying theses are 7 ways to avoid SSK’s completely because in my experience it is close to impossible to get rid of them without cutting your hair off and chances are as you hair regrows they will return (dumdumdum) 😛 But there steps you can take to help keep them under control.

One things I will say is that as my hair has grown I have noticed more SSK’s and if I do a Wash-n-go I get more! If I don’t detangle my hair properly there they are, if I constantly wear my hair out….you guessed it…there they are!

Hopefully the article will help you get a better understanding about SSK’s, why they develop and how you can try tame them.

Do you have SSK’s? If so, what steps do you take to keep them under control? I would love to hear from you!

Thanks

Maicurls

Large Straw Set

8 Replies

Hello Maicurlies!

Large Straw Set Curls

I am back with another styling demo. I attempted to do a second straw set (first since being fully natural) about 2 weeks ago. In my previous attempt I was working with transitioning hair that was damp and just resulted in…let’s call it a mess! My hair was still damp the next day and because I was manipulation damp hair = frizz galore!

So this time I did things a little differently. I set my hair on dry hair that was co-washed, detangled, moisturized and sealed. I put my hair into less than 20 braids the night before and took them down in the morning because I figured it would be easier when it came to installing the straws if I had pre-made sections. 1 braid has 3 parts so I used 3 straws for each braid and had a total of 40 straws (and boy was it difficult to sleep, more on that later.)

In the past I used “regular” drinking straws but found some super huge straws (I think they are called Milkshake straws) and decided to try those.

The only product I used was my Rosewater Spray Flaxseed Gel.

I have a video demonstration on my YouTube channel (below)

Products/Tools Used:

Rosewater Spray Flaxseed Gel
Large Straws (I used 40)
Bobby pins
Hair clips (to keep my hair separate)

Installing the Straws

My process was really simple, after applying the gel:

: I twist my roots a little (only my roots)

: I wrap my ends around the straw and slowly wind up a little

: I then use the straw to twirl around my hair like moving in a spiral

: When I get to the roots I roll the straw towards my scalp

: I hold the straw against my scalp

: And bobby pin my hair to the straw

This is a closeup of my curls after I took down the straws

After I separated and fluffed my roots

A little “extra” 😉

I do have to say I LOVED the style but there are a few things I would change. E.g. I would cut the straws in half because sleeping with 40 large straws in my hair…was NOT comfortable! I think I might actually be able to get away with not having to leave the straws in overnight if I start early because I prefer to work with dry hair so they should be dry before going to sleep.