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.

Neglecting Skin and Health Sections!!!

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Good Morning Lovely Maicurlies,

Source: http://office.microsoft.com/

It is a beautiful day today and as I was getting ready to start my day I thought about going over my blog and then it dawned on me! I seem to have gotten so caught up on my Hair sections that I somehow forgot about the Skin and Health part! Now, when I first thought about making my Blog I said “yes I will focus on my hair ….I will show this mixture…that style…blahblahblah”. I made a little “brainstorm” of ideas and all that good stuff. I then thought I should also include something else because life is not ALL about hair right?! But ever since I started doing my DIY Mixing Videos I seem to have gotten sidetracked. So I have to apologize about that!

If all I do is focus on Hair…I will run out of things to write about and record LOL! As I have mentioned 100x by now…I am NOT a professional. So instead of creating a blog that will die down in a year (due to lack of material) I will start to include more posts, videos etc about Skin Care and some “Health tips”. For example I have a new exercise schedule that I need to load up and some odd’s and ends I can mention. In regards to Skin I will start making videos on my little mixes at first. There are also some alternative options that you can use as apposed to just the ones I use so I shall start doing something about that too.

This way I am not boring you with hair…hair…hair! Ok I got that off my chest 🙂

I hope you enjoy your day/night!

Maicurls

Styling Introduction Video Uploaded on YouTube

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YES..so the time has come… I am going to start with the styling videos *biting my nails*! I really am excited to start this but super nervous as well because as I have mentioned numerous times…I am not a professional hairstylist nor a styling “guru”!

Here is a quick video explaining what I plan on doing. I will start off with my simpler styles at first and then take it from there. I also have some styles that I had tried when I was newly natural and at the time some of them did not work out. E.g my first attempt at Bantu Knot-outs. They did not fair well at all and I decided that “it would never work for me”. This year I wanted to give them another go but did them a little differently you can read about both here and the end results were much better! So what I will do is mention if a certain style was attempted before and failed and then you will get to see what I do differently now. I have a couple of new styles in mind that I have never tried before but want to try out and I will record them as well (I am sure a couple will be epic fails LOL.)

I of course would LOVE to hear from YOU! So please do leave me messages, suggestions etc of certain looks you think I should try!

Side note – apart from my styling videos I will also put a few Skin Care videos out because 1. I will otherwise probably end up running out of styles to do and 2. it is nice to have a variety of different topics…who knows this might lead to something else as well!

So I look forward to starting and as always I will have write-ups of styles (the ones I have not yet added and the new ones I want to try.) I really hope they workout because there is nothing worse than boring hair tutorials!

Have a lovely day!

Maicurls

Finding and/or Giving Help/Inspiration/Guidance through forums!

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Good Morning Maicurlies,

Whether you are considering going natural, transitioning, newly natural or a natural veteran, the sources of help out there (online) really are endless. I wish I had known this when I was going through my transition. I do not know why I did not consider going online or realize that I am NOT the only one going through this. So ladies I just wanted to make a quick post about the forums I have joined. Before I get into that, there are not enough words I can use to describe how inspiring the forums are! There are so many wonderful people on there that it can even be a little overwhelming! I love how connected you can get to people, share experiences, learn from one another, look at stunning photos for “hairspiration”. Apart from learning new things another aspect I personally love is sharing my information with people and perhaps providing motivation to someone!

I actually like the somewhat “smaller” forums just because I feel like I get to know the people on there a little better but I have joined both large and small communities.

So without further adu here are the forums I have joined:

Napturally Curly

Hairlista

Curl Friends City

Thirsty Roots Community

Black Girl Long Hair

Going Natural

Naturally Curly

Like I said above it doesn’t matter if you have been a natural head for years or if you are just playing with the idea…you will find people out there willing to help, talk, share and inspire! (These are just some of the forums online – the ones I have joined so far)

Have a nice day!

Maicurls

DIY Mixed Sealing Oil Video Uploaded

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Gooooood Evening Maicurlies,

First of all I hope everyone is having a lovely day!

So yet another video has been recorded, edited and loaded on YouTube! I made a roughly 5 minute video explaining the Oils I mix together to Seal after I have Moisturized my hair. This is the last part of my Daily Routine “Series” as I am going to start making my Styling Videos. I am excited and nervous about that…but let’s leave that for another post!

So as I mentioned above my Sealing Oil is used AFTER I have Moisturized my hair. If my hair is already Moisturized (not feeling dry) then I might add a little oil IF I am trying to retouch a style but generally I do not like applying oil if I haven’t used a moisturizer first. This is because the Oil is used to as a “trap”. If my hair were dry and frizzy and I applied Oil to it, it would be as if I am trying to trap in that dryness which is basically counter productive (in my opinion.)

Anyways… I have a link to my Sealing Oil Mix here and also have a quick link to my YouTube Video here.

I would love to hear what you use!

Thanks

aMaicurls

Redcarpet Look Inspired from YouTube Vlogger MsVaughn

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Good Afternoon Maicurlies,

So as I have mentioned before I am not a styling “guru” by any stretch of the imagination. I do however love trying different styles (some of them are fails) and this weekend I was shown a BEAUTIFUL Updo through a lovely new friend on the Napturally Curly forum. She showed me a video by the stunning Vlogger MsVaughn. This is a link to her direct video (where I got the look from.) My first attempt and results look a little different to the original because 1. I did not blow dry my hair as I do not use heat and 2. my hair is a little longer than MsVaughn’s so her twists seemed to meet in the perfect place and I had to try and twirl them around to get one “unified” twist look.

For my first attempt I am quite happy with my results.

I did play around with the look a little and tried to make the twists a little “tighter” just to see what it would look like. So I have found a new favorite Updo and with practice I am sure it will get better!!! 😀 I have put a little explanation of how I did the look on my Updo page here.

Feature Story on Glam Natural Life

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Good Morning Maicurlies,

Source: http://office.microsoft.com/

So I was lucky enough to get My Hair Story to be featured on the beautiful Ms.Shelly’s Blog Glam Natural Life. I love the “feel” of her blog! She touches on topics that I find interesting which makes it even more of an honor to be featured on her Blog. You can read the post on my story here.

Take a few minutes to go through all the other information on her site. If things like Product Reviews and DIY recipes interest you, you will find that on Glam Natural Life!

Thank You Shelly for featuring my story!

Thanks

Maicurls

H2O and Essential Oil Mist

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Hi Maicurlies,

So today I figured I would do a post on the ” Hair Mists” I have experimented with during the course of my Natural Hair Journey. The basic recipe of the Hair Mists I have used consisted of water and Essential Oil. Usually:

1 cup of distilled or bottled water (based on the size of the spray bottle I use)

5 drops of essential oils

There are different kinds of Essential Oils one can use for different purposes. The Oils I have experimented with are:

Peppermint

Known to promote growth by stimulating circulation
Acts as an antiseptic for the scalp.
Known to remove dandruff and lice.
Help scalp irritation, dry skin and makes hair healthy and shiny.

Lavender

Known for its balancing, soothing, regenerative and antibacterial properties.
Good treatment for dandruff and itchy scalps.
Can help control hair breakage and improve hair growth.
Known to help treat alopecia areata (a condition where you lose excessive hair in patches.)

Ylang Ylang

Can help reduce stress.
Can help increase the thickness of the hair shaft to grow thicker hair.
Can have a balancing effect on scalp oil production.
Said to help with split ends.

Apart from the properties mentioned above I use the Hair Mist as a “nice smelling curl refresher” in the morning when I want to revitalize my curls instead of using plain water. Just shake up the spray bottle before you use it so that you distribute the Oil a little.

There you go Maicurlies! I would love to know what essential oils you use!

Thanks

Maicurls

DIY (Creamy) Leave-In Conditioner Video uploaded and Additional Blog Page: Mai Tips – Hair

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Good Evening Maicurlies,

So I have uploaded another video! I put up my Creamy Leave-In Conditioner Video which I use as part of my Daily Routine. It is the second option of my DIY moisturizers that I use when my hair is feeling dry. Before I apply it I will first lightly mist my hair with water, apply the Leave-In and then Seal the moisture with my Mix Sealing Oil.

I have a link to the video here and you can read a little more about my mix here.

I also decided to create a page where I have put together all of the little “tips” I jot down regarding hair care. For example about trimming my ends, what I take with my when I travel (for my hair), what I do when I go camping etc. The page is called “Mai Tips – Hair“. I will also start with a Skin Tips page shortly.

I hope you have a lovely night!

Thanks

Maicurls

Hair Care While Camping

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Good Afternoon Maicurlies,

So I got back from a camping trip (on a stunningly beautiful beach with a lagoon on the other side) and decided it might be a good idea to share what I take with my in terms of my hair care and what I do with my hair. Look at that view!

Lagoon Side

Beach Side

Lagoon Side

Beach Side

So first of all my hair and Ocean water (salt water) just DO NOT MIX! They are like Oil and Water…it is just a no go! It is fine while I am actually in the Ocean…it is after I get out and my hair starts to air dry that it becomes let us just say vengeful. It feels weirdly crunchy because of the salt in the water. The salt content in the Ocean here is really high and like I said it is just not a good mix for me.

Anyways so while I want to be able to relax, enjoy the sea, swim, chill with friends, eat and party (who does not like a little partying) I also know that if I neglect my hair it will come back to haunt me 3 fold!

So when I go camping (especially if I will be at the sea) I take:

A spray water bottle
A little of my DIY (Creamy) Leave-In Conditioner – I pour some a little travel sized plastic container
A little of my Mixed Sealing Oils – I pour some a little travel sized plastic container

Before I apply anything to my hair I ALWAYS make sure I at least rinse my hair (if I get it wet in the sea.) This helps to remove the salt build up, sand and dust. Then I proceed with applying the items mentioned above.

Now the spray water bottle helps “freshen my curls” but more importantly it helps to keep my hair from feeling dry as well as aids in distributing my DIY (Creamy) Leave-In Conditioner.

The (Creamy) Leave-In Conditioner helps to restore moisture that I know I lose due to the salt in the water, heat, wind and all the other elements that can affect the moisture of my hair.

Finally, the Mixed Oils is used to help retain that moisture I added through the water and (Creamy) Leave-In Conditioner.

Now I do try to keep my hair either in a protective style before I actually go camping otherwise I will put it up in a bun.

Front of my Regular “Normal” Bun

Back of Bun

That is it Maicurlies! Let me know what you do to protect your hair when you go camping, swimming etc.

Thanks

Maicurls

Thank You Ms. Victoria Davis Blogger of ClassyCurlies.com

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Good Morning Maicurlies,

So this morning I randomly decided to visit Victoria’s Blog ClassyCurlies.com just to see what she might have posted lately and I came across this post. Now I do not know how to explain this apart from saying that it is amazing how someone I have never met before in real life can be so supportive! We both have a passion for our natural curly hair and I had the honor of not only having my story posted on her blog (I provided a link to it in a previous post here) but she also was kind enough to allow me to feature her own story on my Blog here.

I was so touched that she would ask her dedicated followers to check out my little blog! Now I know I am new to all this and have not even scratched the surface of the reader/follower reach Victoria has with her blog however, I still feel like I need to say THANK YOU and hope that anyone who happens to stubble upon my Blog will go check out her own! As “corny” as it might sound I truly am so touched by her willingness and selflessness to 1. show support for someone she has never met and 2. has not yet made a name for herself in the World Wide Web of Blogging! So once again Victoria THANK YOU!!!

Have a fantastic day!

Thanks

Maicurls