So in the spirit of Valentine’s Day I decided to so a styling video for a “Date Look”. (I think I might potentially do a second styling option – depending on if I will have time to record and edit in time before V-day).
I am keeping it simple (as always) and quick. The style looks quite “chic” a little edgy and works as a protective style as well so overall I like it! I also kept my product use simple too (once again as always).
It is easier to watch a demonstration rather than read how I did the style:
Tip:for those with shorter hair, you can use braiding hair to do this style by adding it to the middle and bottom section, and twisting your hair together with it. I would recommend either doing a loose flat twist with the pompadour section go backwards or just making three sections, add braiding hair to all three and then make two – two strand twists within each sections. (You will need to watch the video so that this is clearer).
Tip:In case you don’t want to redo the style in the morning my suggestion is to take down the bobby pins (it is never a comfortable night with them in and not necessarily a good idea). Use a scarf to cover your hair, paying attention to your edges and side; for a smooth look in the morning and then just re-pin the twists down. You might need to “touch up” your edges with a soft bristle brush but other than that, it should be fine!
So here is my “final look”. Like I said, if I can I will do another styling option too and hopefully have it up before the 14th!
Whether you have a Valentine or not, are celebrating or not, I hope you manage to have a lovely day Maicurlies!
Yes she is finally back with an actual tutorial & video! I know I have been terrible and a little Missing In Action on both my Blog and YouTube (if you don’t already follow me on Instagramplease do because I tend to post a lot on there) but I have been away, getting back into “regular routine” and working on a few projects so I do apologize.
Today’s post is based on a request; I was asked to share my morning and night routine so share I shall. Now before I get into the post and demonstrate (in the video below) I will point out that my night routine tends to be the same pretty much all the time apart from if I re-braid/re-twist/re-bantu knot my hair. So, for the most part if my hair is down then this is what I do every night and yes the same applies for my mornings too.
I take my hair down from my modified Pineapple (explained below) and first try and arrange, separate and gently manipulate my hair to arrange it. I then move onto my beloved scalp massage (read about it here). Then depending on how dry my hair is feeling I either use water, Spray Leave-In Conditioner or my Creamy Leave-In Conditioner to re-moisturize my hair. Again depending on my hair I will follow up with any carrier oil within reach to seal in the moisture. The final step is to use my Afro Pick to lift my roots and I am done!
Night Routine Products/Tools:
Satin/Silk Scarf
Method:
Instead of doing the traditional pineapple (a very loose and high ponytail using a hair bubble) I do the modified version where I skip the hair bubble. I lean forward to get my hair gathered together and cover with my scarf. I feel whenever I use a hair bubble it over stretches my hair (I do not need help on that front, the less the stretch the better for me). That is my night routine!
What is your Day and Night routine would love for you to share!
Quickly jumping on here to share my latest obsession…yes I know I have many “current favorites”….favorite of the moment? Anyways, yes I am here with a styling post.
Braid and Curl
Yes, it is a braid and curl, I LOOOOVE this style Maicurlies! 1. it is simple to do, 2. it is quick to do, 3. it tends to get better (aka bigger and fluffier) as the days go on and 4. look at my volume (even on my fine hair)!
So I will quickly explain the products used, the process I used and then will let the Video demonstration from my YouTube channel do the rest.
I actually (oddly) prefer the results of doing this on wet hair (normally I prefer dry styling) but when I start on wet hair and incorporate the combination of products mentioned above I nearly always (95% of the time) get results I am super pleased with. I start on wet hair that was either co-washed or deep conditioned. While in the shower i detangle, split my hair into 3 and twist each section (left, right and center). My application process is: Leave-In, Oil, Gel. I make a total of 8 braids; 3 left, 3 right and 2 in the center and do not braid all the way down, just a little more than half way before wrapping my hair around the 8 perm rods.
I let my hair air dry overnight by pinning the braids down with bobby pins and covering with a silk scarf. The following morning I take down the braids with a little oil on my fingertips (any will do), separate sections and fluff the heck out of my hair with an Afro pick. That is it!
Today I have a review that I would like to share with you!
Now yes I know, I know, this review is going to be based on something that isn’t “correct”……I can live with the fact that I bought something fake (sorry)! So yes, this is all about my knock-off curl formers. You have no idea how much I wanted to buy these for the longest time and I finally was able to get my hands on some (yes not the real deal but still).
Disclaimer: So before I get into this review 1. I bought the knock-offs with my own money and I was not requested to do this review, I just wanted to share my experience and thoughts of them. 2. If you feel strongly (against) buying none originals then please skip this post…because you won’t like it (but then come back and read something else). 😉
Why did I opt for the knock-offs instead of the originals?
To break it down I have several reasons but the main two are: The originals are more than double the price of what I paid, I would have gotten less of the originals, and since I was not sure how much I would like/dislike them I decided it made more sense to pay less (in case I didn’t like them).
Where can you buy the knock-offs?
I know that in the past the Vakind knock-off curl formers were available on Amazon however, I think they must have been blocked and blacklisted (I tried my darnedest to find them without success) so I ended up having to purchase from Ebay. There are different sellers on Ebay offering different sized knock-off curl formers and different widths too. I bought mine hereand this is theseller details.
Details on the knock-offs I bought:
The seller offers (as off 13.03.2016)
10 curlers with 1 hook GBP 4.51 ($6.49)
20 curlers with 1 hook GBP 7.91 ($11.39)
30 curlers with 1 hook GBP 10.81 ($15.56)
The curlers are manufactures and sent from China. When I bought mine I ordered 60 curlers (3 x 20 curlers). First I made an order of just 40 but then decided to add another 20 and paid $33.57 in total. I actually got 1 hook for each 10 curlers so I ended up with a total of 6 hooks even though I paid for 20 curlers and 1 hook…go figure (I am not complaining). My curlers are 45 cm long when stretched and 2.5 cm wide. As I mentioned there are different types of curlers available on Ebay and this seller actually also offers longer curlers on a different page (I didn’t notice this at the time but would have gone for those if I had).
Each packet of curlers came in 10’s – 5 orange and 5 pink along with the hook (there is no colour option). The two colours lay your curls in opposite directions so the curls lay and frame your face nicely.
**
Now I want to mention a few Pro’s and Con’s about the knock-offs along with some of the experiences I had while ordering them to keep you informed and provide as much information as I can.
Con’s:
Packaging – The curlers cam in sandwich bags, there was no pretty packaging so don’t expect to get something sturdy and “pretty” to hold your curlers. If you have a unused container/bag you might want to transder the curlers to that so you have them all together (that is what I did for the most of them).
Instructions – There was no instructions on how to use the curlers. You can find a little guide on the sellers page when you order them but you don’t get instructions with the package. (If you are unsure about how to use them, I suggest watching a ton of YouTube videos beforehand so you know what you are doing and you don’t damage your hair).
Hook – It is very simple to put the hook together but it can be a little tricky (requires a little strength) to pull them apart. I am unsure if it is the same with the origianl curl formers but you do have to pull the hook parts with a little strength to get them separate.
Communication – Communicating with the seller was really quite tedious! English is not his first language and since I don’t speak Chinese it became a little difficult when I contacted him to ask some questions. You will require a little patience (a bit of patience) since Emails can perhaps go back and forth without getting the answers you are looking for at first. In the end it worked out but just remember to be patient. (This can apply for other sellers on Ebay since they too might not speak the same language you do).
Lost Order – I had to have my package resent to me because when I initially made my order, I never recieved the package. I Emailed the seller to inform him and he immedietly resent the package the following day after the email, so the issue was resolved but I feel like I need to mention this point.
Curler ends – Some of the edges of the curlers seemed to be a little stuck together, probably from when they melted the plastic. However, once you put the hook through the curler they open up as normal.
Uncomfortable – This is something that I think applies to all curl formers, at least from the reviews I have seen on YouTube (both originals and knock-offs). Trying to sleep with these in your hair is a nightmare! The curlers are quite hard and uncomfortable so be prepared for a sleepless night if you choose to leave them in!
Installation – When I first tried the curlers it was not all that simple to get the hang of it, but once I got a few of them installed it become easier.
Pro’s
Price – I got to save A LOT of money by opting to go for the knock-off’s it was nearly half the price to get 60 of these compared to double the price of the originals for just 40.
Multiple Hooks – With the originals you get 2 hooks for 40 curlers with this option even if I went for 40 curlers I would have gotten 4 hooks (since I opted for 60 curlers I got 6 hooks) but the bottom line is you get more hooks which means if you break one, you will have extra and you can set up more curlers at a time which saves you time while installing!
More Curlers For Less – More bang for your buck! You get more hooks that you would (in terms of price of the originals)!
Free Shipping – I opted for free international shipping when I ordered which meant that I didn’t have to pay anything to get the package delivered however, going for this option meant having to wait 25 business days. You do have the option of getting the package sent quicker by paying roughly $35 (this was what it would have cost to get it sent from China over here so depending on where you live the price will change) and with that option I was told I would receive the package within 5 – 7 business days but I opted to wait.
Size Options – Talking about buying knock-offs from Ebay, you get a number of length and width options when it comes to the curl formers you can buy so even if you do not opt for this seller, check out other pages on Ebay, I am sure you will find the right knock-offs you are looking for!
Tip:When you order yours keep in mind that you might want to let your hair grow and if you plan on continuing to use them as your hair grows, try go for curlers that are longer than your hair. This way you won’t “out grow” the curlers (this is something I forgot!). However, if you do have curlers that are too short for your hair you can two strand twist your roots and then install the curlers a little lower down (below your roots) to make up for any missing length.
Sometimes if I didn’t get all my hair within the latch of the hook my hair would refuse to want to be pulled through, if that happens STOP, push your hair back and retry! If you continue to try and pull your hair through you will yank your hair out!
I didn’t do a “how to” video on the curl formers since I feel there are thousands of videos out on YouTube already however if you would like to see a tutorial please let me know. I have a video review of the curlers along with a very quick (few second) demo of how I took down my curlers which was initially made for my Instagram page at the end of the review.
Please let me know what you think of this review. If you own curl formers, knock-offs or decide to purchase some from this seller or someone else on Ebay please let me know how it goes, I love hearing from you!
So as always I am here with a super simple styling tutorial (yes in true form). I always mention that I like to keep it simple and these two styles are exactly that!
Asymmetrical and Heart Shaped Updo
I like to do pin-up updos whenever I can’t be bothered with my hair, when I want to give my hair a break or when my hair is “old” and in need of a wash/co-wash but I have yet to get around to it (as in this case).
I don’t like adding too much to my hair if I am going to wash it the next day and I also don’t want to spend too much time trying to restyle when I will wash it the next day. So instead, I pin my hair up and away. These two styles can be done in 5 minutes or less, allowing me to quickly get ready for work/head out without any hassle.
I love doing the “Asymmetrical Updo” when I am running late for work.
Asymmetrical Updo
Asymmetrical Updo
Asymmetrical Updo
Asymmetrical Updo
This “Heart Shaped Updo” is another quick and pretty style.
Heart Shaped Updo
Heart Shaped Updo
Heart Shaped Updo
Heart Shaped Updo
They are both really simple but in a chic way so you still look “put together” without any effort!
So I have recently become a little obsessed with Flexi Rod sets and wanted to share a method that I like to refer to as the (cheat) Twisted Flexi Rod set. I say “cheat” because I basically wear my hair in twists first for a few days and then instead of just taking down my hair for a twist-out I twirl my hair around Flexi Rods overnight and then have a Twisted Flexi Rod set the following day.
In this particular example I had my hair in 23 twists for 5 days and remoisturized them two days before putting in the Flexi Rods. To remoisturize I took them down at night, applied my DIY Moisturizing and Curl Activating Sprayand retwisted. I felt no need to add moisture before using the Flexi Rods so I just went straight into setting my hair with a little gel. I literally rubbed someDIY Rosewater Flaxseed Gel (FSG) over my twisted hair (without undoing the twists) and then followed up with some oil. The FSG does two things: helps provide hold and has moisturizing properties of its own. The oil helps to seal in the moisture from the FSG and also adds shine.
I covered my hair with a scarf overnight and then took down the Flexi Rods, unraveled the twists, separated my hair and then lifted my roots a little with an Afro comb. Le fin!
I know I have been a little absent as of late but I had some Internet issues! I HATE Internet issues….I think I might actually be a little too attached/addicted to the World Wide Web! But I’m baaaaack! I did manage to make a few videos and some write-ups, I just need to edit the videos a little. I shall have a new Skin Care Routine Video up shortly along with a few new styling videos and write-ups to go with them. I also finally got my new workout program going… I have been slacking on the workout part. (I shall elaborate in the post.)
So I am sorry for being slow but I should be back on track now! I will keep you posted when everything gets loaded up!
A New Year brings new missions, plans, goals and so on! This of course is not only true for our professional, personal and day to day lives but some of us also have goals for our hair! I will be touching upon the “Hair – side of things”!
One of the most resourceful way to measure, record and monitor your goals is to write it down in a Journal. Now with the “Digital Age” you can of course use a Digital Journal. I personally prefer to physically use pen and paper (I guess I am “Old School”.) Now, when it comes to what to write in the journal I say EVERYTHING!
I recently joined a Natural Hair Forum (which I have previously mentioned) Napturallycurly.com Hair Forum and in there I spoke with a few of the lovely ladies and checked what they note down in their Hair Journals. It was great to share ideas because they brought to light some points that I seemed to have missed. So together with a few of the ideas I had and some of the suggestions I got, I have made a little list of things you can note down in your journal (these are just suggestions!)
Routines
You can map out the kind of routines you do/want to do e.g. when you want to pre-poo, Shampoo, deep condition, Co-wash etc. You can not down the products/ingredients you used, how your hair felt afterwards, how long it was been treatments etc.
Hair Styles
In this category you can note down what hair styles you have tried and how they worked out for you. Included in here you can also write what products you used, how your hair was when you styled it (e.g. wet, damp, dry), how you set it (e.g. air dry, hooded dryer, hair dryer). You can also note down future planned styles you want to try out.
Products/ Mixes
For this section you can note down any new products you have had your eyes on or new recipes you want to mix. When it comes to recipes you should write down the ratios of each ingredient used, how you mixed it and how you applied it. At the same time I think it is just as important to record what worked or did not work. This way you save yourself (and your hair) have repeating a mishap or forgetting about a product/mix that your hair loved. Same as before you should note down how your hair felt, the process you used, how long you left it in, did you use direct heat or not, did you warm up the product/mixture etc.
Photos
Now when it comes to psychically writing in a journal it might not always be convenient to print out photos and stick them in the journal (although I LOVE the idea of that!) So what you can do is, have a folder on your computer dedicated to your hair journal which is ONLY used to document your hair progress. You can have a section for before/after Deep Conditioning, new product before/after results, new DIY mixes before/after results, tracking your growth, new hair style results etc. TIP: What I plan on doing for measuring my hair’s health and growth is to actually choose one hair style as my “staple monitoring” hair style. For example if I choose a Wash-n-Go to be the staple examining style I would take photos of my hair when I do a Wash-n-Go every month/two months and then track how my hair looks (in terms of health, shine) its density (thickness.) and its growth. This way I have a more reliable measurement instead comparing stretched to un-stretched hair or puffy versus “un-puffy” hair. You might even go as far as to use the same product, wash routine etc. when monitoring the results.
Challenges
Challenges are always fun to do (you might get a bigger kick out of it if you involve others as well.) So you can forum a group (or on your own) challenge yourself to do more protective styles, moisturize your hair more frequently, reduce heat, completely stop using heat etc. For example: write it down, note how you felt on the day when you would normally flat iron your hair, and what you did to overcome the urge to use heat. Having it noted down somewhere might make you feel a little more accountable to go through with it!
Short Term Goals
In here you can include when you plan on cutting/trimming your ends. You might also plan on dying your hair for a special occasion and you can plan and prep your hair for the event. Straightening your hair might also be on your plan (if you are not already using heat more frequently) so again you can plan and prep your hair for the special occasion. Note down the same as above: how you prepped, what you used and how your hair felt afterwards.
Long Term Goals
Now when it comes to long term goals this really is a personal thing. Some of us might want bra strap length hair, mid back length or longer! For some, your long term goal may be to use only organic products throughout the year. You might have a date picked out when you want you hair to be xx cm. If you integrated a new routine into your hair care then you long term goal might be to compare how your hair felt and looked one year ago compared to now and you will be in a better position to see if the new routine worked for you or not. You get to really determine/measure the results if you have recorded your progress every step of the way.
Final Tips
There are a few tips I think you should consider when you start to map out your goals.
KEEP IT REALISTIC (most important!) If you are starting out with a Tiny Weeny Afro (TWA) it might not be realistic to say “By the end of the year I want Hair reaching my B**T.” There is nothing wrong in wanting something however, if you setup goals that you KNOW are unrealistic, you might end up being disappointed or unmotivated if they do not turn out the way you want.
KEEP IT SIMPLE. For example: if you want to try out more protective styles saying “I want to try out a new hairstyle three times a week” might not be effective. Having conflicting goals e.g. trying to do more protective/less manipulative styles might not work out if you are constantly changing your hair style during the week.
DO YOUR RESEARCH. If you are working with a budget you might & should not go spending all your money on the ‘most expensive products’ just because you think that is what you have to do! There is so much information online! Do your research, experiment, read reviews, and ask questions. There is always an alternative out there, you just need to do a little homework!
DO NOT GIVE UP. It can be a hassle at times (believe me I know!) But you can not give up just because it is “hard.” Life in general is not easy and most of the time you need to push through to get what you want, but the rewards really are worth it! If you are stuck in a rut or think you can not make it, take a breath and relax. Keep in mind that you are NOT the only one going through this or struggling. Sometimes just looking at pictures, reading peoples stories, communicating with other can be just the thing you need, so do not give up!
Ok so I wrote a book and will end it here by saying I am ALWAYS happy to answer any questions, discuss topics and share whatever I know so in case someone wants a shoulder to lean on (mine is free!)Good luck on whatever journey you might be on this year and remember you are not alone!
I hope all is well and you are enjoying the start of 2014!
I haven’t tried a “Faux Hawk” in a while, there is no real reason as to why I haven’t…I guess I just forgot. After my Wash Day Routine I put my hair in 5 braids, applied my DIY Creamy Leave-In conditioner (to wet hair) and then sealed in the moisture with my DIY Mixed SealingOil. I used bobby pins to pin the braids down and stretch them and then covered my hair with my scarf overnight. My intention was to actually wear my hair out and “flowy” so the next morning, I took the braids down (with a little sealing oil on my fingertips) and my hair decided it did not want to corporate. It wasn’t feeling the “flowly-ness” I wanted, so I gave in and tired something different and this is what I ended up with!
Now this is not your traditional “Faux Hawk” because gravity is basically pulling my hair down due to its length. I will be trying this again after a Wash-n-Gobecause I am sure if I do not stretch my hair (with braids) then the length will be a little shorter and I might get more of a “spunky” look. I do love this though because I find it elegant and I LOVE that just due to braiding my hair I get to take advantage of my length!
I have a write-up of my Long “Faux-Hawk” and photos to go with ithere.
Do you rock a Faux-hawk, Fro-hawk? If so let me know, I would love to hear from you!
Maicurls 