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Showing posts with label Natural Hair. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Natural Hair. Show all posts

11.10.2013

Natural Hair in the Workplace

"Yes I'm fly and so is my hair!" 

Let's discuss what to wear with your natural hair in the workplace! This will be fun!  

When you arrive to work, walk into the office, approach your work station or cubicle do you feel the onlookers honing in on you from every corner in the room? 

Does it make you uncomfortable and insecure? 

Did you remember to do your "lets go getem" spot-check in the mirror before you walked out of the house? 

If this is your life then we have something in common, let's chat!
The most important thing you can do as a natural woman is STAND ABOVE THE "REST".  Don't give people any ammunition as it relates to your natural tresses. 

Everyone isn't going to like your natural but guess what, they don't have to! Returning to natural wasn't about them...it was solely for you! They don't have to love it but they will respect it! Be sure to take care of your natural hair and give them something to admire!  Being natural is not just a hairstyle, its a life changing experience! Own it!

When you get dressed for work in the mornings dont forget the following:
1. A Smile 
As women, the most beautiful curve you have on your body is your smile. Wear it, everyday! When you wear your smile along with your natural style you better believe the onlookers will notice it. They notice EVERYTHING anyway right? Make it contagious! 

2. Confidence
When you appear insecure about yourself or whatever hairstyle you chose for the day, it's obvious so go the extra mile with your ntaural, keep it maintained and professional. Make your colleagues admirers! 

3. Class
There's nothing wrong with being creative but there's a time and place for everything. A lot of naturals love BIG imperfect hair, "the wilder, the better". Well, the office environment is probably not the best place to sew your wild oats! Work is about "work", aim to be respected and accepted. Carry yourself with dignity and keep it classy! You can be overly creative some other time LOL. 

Do these things and the unwanted opinion of others will be least of your workday worries.  Honey we are loving and "Living the Natural Life"!

article edited by @royalbeautyV


10.27.2013

Teach your Natural Babies to LOVE their Hair!

Hey there Parents!!
It's Certified Natural Hair Stylist Ms. Nikki J here.....
Can we chat our natural babies?

I love the fact that the LOVE for natural hair is everywhere! We live it and we love it and now it's extremely important that we teach those same hair loving principles to our little princesses!

I'm an aunt, a godmother, a mentor and stylist to many young ladies and I know how important it is to discuss how to completely fall in LOVE with your natural hair with our babies! Drill it in them! 

Choosing this state of hair FOR them is very important! Children have to be taught everything either directly or indirectly. Be sure they are directly learning healthy hair care habits from you! 

Well, how do you teach young black girls how to accept their natural hair? No worries Ms. Nikki J's is here to help you!! 

Here are a few easy focal points that you can follow in your discussions:

1. Start with explaining to them why their natural hair is beautiful!

2. Discuss what makes them so different and beautifully unique from girls with processed hair

3. Share your personal experiences with your babies so that they understand from your point of view

4. Instill the confidence of a Queen into your baby...and target the fact that natural beauty doesn't define "what" you are! It defines "who" you are!

5.Teach her how to hold her head up high and embrace her natural hair because our natural is Napturally FABULOUS!!

6. Explain to her that ANYONE who speaks negatively about natural hair, more specifically, "her" natural hair, lacks the gems (information) that you are giving her right now ♥


Teach your princesses how to fall in LOVE with KNOWLEDGE! Knowledge = Power!

Signing Off,
Master Stylist | Ms. Nikki J.
Article edited by @royalbeautyV

10.21.2013

Natural Hair | Laying the Foundation

Can We Talk about Foundation!
Hair Foundation; that is!

The most important element to being natural is making sure your foundation is done correctly! Let's paint this picture for you... As you know, no mansion can be built with sticks and mud. No, no, no it won't happen, not EVER! It needs a foundation sturdy and strong enough to endure whatever is it that it may go thru. Well, the same goes for your hair. 


Your shampoo process is your foundation! 
There are 4 steps in beginning to build strong tresses of beautiful, lasting hair.
Step 1:
Primary shampoo: this shampoo is not going to be a overly expensive name brand shampoo with 62 characters in its name that you nor I can pronounce. Its a basic shampoo and its only purpose is to get whatever is on your scalp and hair off so that your pores and hair shafts can open up for deposit.

Step 2: 
2nd shampoo (Purpose shampoo): Now that your scalp and hair is open and ready for deposit, the "purpose" shampoo used at this stage is going to provide what your scalp and hair is lacking or what it needs enhanced. Therefore the Purpose Shampoo will be a cleansing, purifying, moisture and shine, moisture retention, exfoliating, or any type shampoo that has what your scalp and hair needs!

Step3:
Conditioner (also deep Conditioner): This step is going to trap and conceal alllll of the goodness you've just deposited into your hair from your shampoo. With heat, (deep conditioning) the conditioner is able to penetrate deeper into the hair shaft, leaving your tresses Oh So Soft! 

Step 4:
Leave in Conditioner: Now this step is always debatable but from Ms Nikki J's stand point, It SO necessary!  Once you have done all of the shampooing and conditioning, the last thing you did was Rinse It All Out, there's nothing wrong with that, however, wouldn't it be the icing on your favorite cake if you could provide your hair with the last ingredient of shampooing your hair. The Point? Simple, you want to protect your hair while its still wet so that when it's time to dry it, you do this with the leave-in conditioner still in. It dries easier, feels softer, provides that extra "Umph" for the hair shaft and makes styling so much easier :-) 

To make all of these steps less stressful, grab your trusty sidekick (your wide toothed comb) and comb your hair after each step. You WILL quickly see the difference!!

Living the Natural Life is actually Easy but remember you have to Lay a Good Foundation!!!


Certified Natural Hair Stylist - Nikki J
Edited by @royalbeautyV



10.06.2013

Meet Ms. Nikki J | Master Braider and Certified Natural Hair Stylist

BEAUTY INTOXICATED | BUSINESS
"She is the Boss..."

Have you ever seen something in the making, and couldn't really describe what was going on but you felt deep in your spirit that it was going to be BIG enough to be remembered a lifetime?

That's the feeling I got when being introduced to Ms. Nikki J. This "She-Boss" is doing amazing things in the Natural Hair and Braiding Industry. Not only is she a Master Stylist, she's also has a huge heart for little girls and genuinely caters to them when they have the opportunity in coming to be styled by her blessed hands. Nikki has the most positive energy and her work is well respected around the world! Yes, I said the "world". She has clients that fly from opposite sides of the country to sit in her chair and she's also had clients arrive from other countries as well. Her work HAS TO BE PERFECTION, doesn't it?! Well keep reading and you will see why!

Meet Ms. Nikki J.  | Master Braider & Certified Natural Hair Stylist
She is quite the TOTAL PACKAGE.  I recently had the great pleasure in getting an insider's pass to her Natural Hair Meet & Greet in VA. A mutual naturalista told me to contact Nikki to acquire a pass into this SOLD OUT event. I'm told this event sold out in record timing simply because of the force behind it....Master Stylist Ms. Nikki J. Her professional reputation precedes her and the quality of her work speaks volumes.  Well, I got her contact info and instantly on our 1st phone conversation we clicked like long lost friends! LOL, we talked and laughed for almost 2 hours and I can honestly see why people love her. Not only does she have the most welcoming personality but she is also very educated in her field. After engaging in a conversation with her you are guaranteed to walk away having learned something new. How many people can you really say that about? It's very refreshing!

Two weeks later I attended her highly anticipated Natural Hair Meet & Greet and was not disappointed at all! What made her event different from other natural events I've attended (and I attend a lot) was how well-planned it was and how organized the coordinators were. This event offered a panel of almost a dozen other master stylists, hair instructors, natural stylists, and vloggers. It was truly impressive. I'm a person who believes if you are going to have a gathering and you are inviting the public into your working environment then you need to bring your A-game. You are 1 of thousands in a very competitive industry and only the great will reach the next level. I'm saying all that to say this....Ms. Nikki is ready for the next level.

Her work speaks for itself!
Contact Nikki via Facebook! Click here!







Related Articles:
Natural KIDS



9.05.2013

Product Review: Cantu

Let's Review
Cantu!
@RoyalBeautyV (instagram) 
September | 2013

Everybody loves Cantu! When I returned to natural for the first time a beautiful natural sister in the hair store recommended this product line for me. Her hair was beautiful so I thought…hey if it works for her then it should work for me! 

The products pictured here are from my personal hair care haul and although Cantu has a very large line, these are the only products that I have purchased. Did they live up to the hype?

Let's talk about this line. Why is it so popular amongst naturals?
Cantu products are...
  • Made with pure shea butter
  • it's Gentle formula removes buildup
  • it leaves hair soft and shiny
  • are Safe for relaxed or color treated hair
  • Helps protect your hair from heat damage
  • and very Affordable
The Cantu Review!
Cantu Rinse Out Conditioner
Beauty Intoxicated Product Grade: B+
Ok so when I made the choice to buy these products this conditioner is what I was dying to try first and the price point was right up my ally so I wasn't nervous about buying it. It's priced under $5 and I easily went through about 2 bottles a month because I use A LOT of conditioner. When I used it my hair was very soft and manageable and I didn't have any tangles whatsoever.
I haven't tried this as a leave-in yet because it clearly states that its a "rinse out" conditioner. Some naturals will use any conditioner as a leave-in but I'm a little apprehensive of that. Now when I'm doing my shower rinse I do leave a little product on my hair just so I can feel that some of it is still there and working:) Is it safe to use a "rinse-out" as a "leave-in"?? Click here for more info on that topic. To say the least after using this product I still felt like there was something better out on the market that I could use, I wasn't deeply in love at all. I wasn't disappointed either…I was just satisfied.

Cantu Cream Shampoo
Beauty Intoxicated Product Grade: C
I wasn't that excited about purchasing this shampoo and it's probably because I've never had a shampoo that was exciting lol. I really just don't like how harsh the process is on black hair but you have to clean your tresses right?!  Well, this one didn't seem any different from other shampoos that i've used. I'm going to be honest...my hair and scalp felt clean but it still felt like my hair's natural oils were stripped. I despise that feeling YUK! It's going to cost you around $4 and I recommend pre-pooing before you use this product. A "pre-poo" is usually a treatment applied to hair prior to shampooing and yes it's necessary.

Cantu Leave-in Conditioning Repair Cream
Beauty Intoxicated Product Grade: C+
I picked up this leave-in repair cream because of it's description. I have some small areas in my hair that I like to pay special attention to so this cream seemed like a good buy. I love the way it smells but I noticed that it doesn't mix well with other products and it's best if applied to freshly washed clean hair. I do not recommend this on old hair that has other products in it because it leaves a noticeable residue. Those unsightly mini white product-balls are a hell no-no! LOL

Cantu-Curl Activatior
Beauty Intoxicated Product Grade: C
A few weeks later I was ready for a visit back to the beauty supply store because of a review I saw on instagram. I read a short insta-review on this activator and it peeked my interest enough to want to try it. I'm going to tell you right now…if you mix it with other products you are going to have a milky residue in your hair and if your are anything like me then prepare to be mad lol. This pasty residue will become more translucent as it begins to dry but you will need to wash it out at the end of your day because it feels tacky and I don't mean tacky as in 'tasteless" I mean tacky to the touch. In my opinion, this curl activator is better on wash-n-go hair. I'm a twistout Queen and wash-n-go's aren't really my thing. If you love your wng's then you probably would love this product because it does activate your curls beautifully.

Check out some of these Reviews from my Instagram friends:

@lawann_33I do used these products when I started out. They are great products especially the leave in conditioner it is definitely a must have. I recommend anyone rather a natural or relaxed hair to use cantu you will not be disappointed.

I am new to this natural hair and so far I'm loving it but I have heard to use this product b/c it works so good! I'm alway looking at ways to help condition my hair n grow! So any tips will help. I will be getting this product to start off with tomorrow!

I hope you all enjoyed these reviews! If you have a product you would like me to try out leave a comment below or shoot me an email at beautyintoxicated@gmail.com 
Peace & Light Curlfriends! 

9.02.2013

Natural Kids

Natural KIDS

Meet Londyn Shanell, my 7 year old:) Oh my how time flies don't it! She is a natural just like her mommy and she understands the importance of proper hair care. I teach her about pre-pooing, shampooing, the harmful ingredients in shampoo's, conditioning, deep conditioning, the dangers in heat styling and moisturizing. She's only 7 but she is absorbing this knowledge early. It's vital that we teach our daughter's the do's and don'ts of black hair and how to enhance it's beautiful features.

Londyn's texture is very easy to work with due to genetics. LOL, let me clean that up…I'm not patting myself on the back either, that credit goes to her father who's hispanic so her texture is mixed, curly and silky. I would never ever put a relaxer in my daughter's hair. I remember how pretty my natural was when I was very young and I also remember my first perm…well we all know the damage relaxers do to black hair over time and I really wish I could have known that and learned how to maintenance natural hair early but I didn't have a clue until the age of 27. The mistakes I made with my hair I vow to never let my daughter go through. I heavily research this industry and we both we benefit from it.

This pictures shows the results of her quick 2strand twistout . Last night I put about 6 twists in her already damp hair, I even showed her how to do it herself and she caught on quick.  This morning when we took her twists out I noticed that her hair was still damp in some spots meaning her hair is high porosity and retains moisture very well. Porosity is simply defined as hair's ability to absorb moisture and it makes a difference in what products should be used. My hair on the other hand is low porosity and needs assistance maintaining moisture like "sealing" it in with an oil.

The 2013-2014 academic school year starts tomorrow and my daughter says she really doesn't want a lot of hair bows and ponytails this year. She wants her hair out. I think she's too young to start wearing it out all the time because in my opinion hair bows preserves the youthful innocence of children so to come to a happy medium for the both of us I decided that she can wear different variations of natural styles. Now I have to toss out the twisty hair balls and purchase clips, headbands and ribbons:) I'm going to have a lot of fun with this!

Natural Kids are blessed:)

Products Used
To Twist:

  • Water and Aloe Vera juice mixture
  • Cashmere Curls Leave-in Conditioner
  • Wetline Extreme Styling Gel
To Untwist (in the morning):
  • Shea Moisture Gel SoufflĂ©
  • Beautiful Textures Curl Definer Mousse

8.15.2013

First Twistout Experience


Hello Natural beauties! Do you remember your very 1st twistout? I do! Ummmm let's just say it took a few attempts to get it right! Beauty Intoxicated has tag-teamed for some Curl Talk on Love. Embrace. Inspire to chit chat about the experience! 

"Are you having a hard time with twist outs? Are you feeling like you will never get it right?  Well ladies, you are not the only one!!! We've been there!" read full story…


8.10.2013

Curly Afro

Oh how I love the Almighty Afro!


Many of the exciting benefits of being a natural is the many options that you have for hair styles! I wear a plethora of styles so I don't get bored. To mention a few, I sport the low side part, middle part, pin-ups, up do's, the side ponytail, the curly mohawk, the Mega bun, and the Almighty Afro.

Out of all of natural hair's versatility, the Curly Afro is my favorite! I gravitate towards my afro because it makes me feel more powerful. It's BIG, it's BOLD and it's Afrocentric. It's like my afro gives me an earthy type of energy. Huh? What the heck does that mean lol?? I swear I get this neon green glow around my body when my afro is in full effect, I feel like a superhero lol! ok I'm lying.

Let me explain. We all are made up of energy, in fact that's ALL we are…walking balls of energy. It's true. Your energy can be good, bad, high, low, mysterious, sexy, confident…whatever. Your energy is what people FEEL when they are in your presence.

When you are attracted to people, the attraction is not necessarily physical sometimes what you are attracted to is a person's ENERGY and that can go both ways. When you occasionally get a 'bad feeling' about someone you are feeling a energy from them that conflicts with yours.

My energy is Earthy. Like I was born in the wrong era. All of my friends can agree that I'm very adventurous, outgoing, energetic and connected to nature. I love being outdoors. I can sit in a field of dandelions naked with a straw hat, a mimosa and BE HAPPY lol. I'm in a stage in my life where I'm connecting more with Mother Africa and I feel like I'm finally coming to terms with who I really am and my purpose in this life. Learning more about the land from in which my people came has given me a connection to the root of my energy and that connection is the strongest when I'm sporting my almighty AFRO!



8.03.2013

Top Bun on Natural Hair

Mega Bun!!
by @royalbeautyv (instagram)

Today I decided to try a natural bun for the very first time….I nailed it lol! ok let me rewind a little…"it was so easy a toddler can do it" is the real reason I nailed it lol.

Ok so I literally went through 3 different hair styles today, I had an Afro this morning, a side puff this afternoon and now this MEGA BUN this evening. Why so many styles in one day? BECAUSE NATURAL HAIR IS THAT VERSATILE lol! No really it's because I had 3 different events to attend to and they all called for a different style, besides…its very fun to have to change your hair as often as you change your clothes. hehehe.

Want to learn how to achieve this look! I was inspired by the Essence video tutorial below! Enjoy!



7.28.2013

My Natural Hair Story


My Natural Hair Story

Being a Natural is one of the most liberating experiences of my life!
That’s a strong statement right?!  Well, I’ve self-published a novel, I’ve toured the east coast doing motivational speaking, I’ve led teams of over 400 people in MLM, I’ve hosted countless empowerment events, I’ve organized countless beauty workshops, I’ve been featured over a dozen times on some of the biggest social natural hair platforms online and I’m the creative director of my own beauty column entitled “Beauty Intoxicated” on www.beautyintoxicated.com
However, thee most notable of all …I AM A NATURAL MOMMY. 

For years I relaxed out of frustration, and wore weave for convenience and length. I had a complete disconnect and disdain for my naps. I was NEVER taught how to properly care for my hair so I did what I knew: permed it. Perming made it easier to manage BUT what I didn’t know was… the awful damage I was doing to my natural hair. I was relaxing hair that DIDN’T NEED TO BE RELAXED BECAUSE THERE AIN’T A DAMN THANG WRONG WITH BLACK HAIR! Whoooo knew??? LOL! I sure didn’t!

I big chopped in February 2010 after yearssssss of irreversible hair damage.  At this time my intent wasn’t to “go natural”, I just wanted the ‘appearance’ of healthy hair. The first year after I big chopped was a rollercoaster, I relaxed my naps a few more times and endured some color damage and heat damage. At this point I still didn’t learn my lesson so I was engaging in the same damaging styling behavior getting the same damaging results. I switched gears and started wearing half-wigs until my hair grew out to cornroll length. After that I begin wearing full sew-ins and at this point my hair begin to grow like wild fire. I wore my Brazilian weave hunty and you couldn’t tell me nothing lol. Looking back I now I realize that I still wasn’t fully connected to my natural-ness (yess that’s a word lol). 

My TRUE hair revelation came from an African workshop that I decided to attend one weekend in VA. I was INSTANTLY captivated by the amazing textures, voluminous curls, jaw-dropping afros, gorgeous locs, kinky curls, and flawless coils in the building. I felt like I just walked into HAIR HEAVEN! That one experience changed my life. I was ready to unleash my Natural fire! Returning to natural was the best decision I have EVER made for my hair.
Everywhere I go people of all cultural backgrounds compliment me on how beautiful my natural is. I’m obsessed with my texture and overall I’m just simply obsessed with Natural Black hair!
Hey Curlfriends!!!

7.17.2013

Favorite Natural Hair Products

By RoyalBeautyV
BeautyIntoxicated.com © 
RoyalBeautyV@gmail.com
July, 2013

I get asked this question all the time...What are my favorite products? What products do I use the most?

Those are excellent questions beauties! I'm the type of person that has to fall in love with something before I purchase it. It has to stand out for many reasons and packaging isn't one of them!

Huh?! What?!  Bet you didn't know I was to say that did ya ;) *wink*. No but seriously I'm not sucked into fancy packaging because I believe "you can NOT judge a book by it's cover". I've had some of the best things come in plain packages. I'm solely looking for quality in every aspect of my life!

When it comes to hair products, it's important that I only use what's good for my natural hair. My hair is my side-chick and I love her lol! No but seriously I'm so serious about what goes into my hair because it's one of my best assets. Don't you have a favorite asset? Your rump, your eyes, your thighs???? Mine is my hair. And if you want to go a step further just for general purpose GP, my eyes are my 2nd favorite LOL.

Anywho here's a rundown of what I, (@royalbeautyv) love to use for my Natural Hair. Think of it as a "kit list", and don't steal that phrase because I just coined it LOL! I'm gonna copyright it later (yea, right!) LOL.

Protein Treatment (once a month)
Greek Yogurt: Yup just slap that food right in, let it set under a plastic cap for about 30mins and rise out!

My Shampooing/Conditioning Regimen: (once a week)
Terressentials Lavendar Mud Clay Wash: it's my hair detox. It washes impurities and unseen synthetic residues that may have been present in other products I've used throughout the week
Kinky Curly's Organic Gentle Shampoo: because it's gentle on my tresses and doesn't dry my hair out after shampooing.
Dax Roots Hair Mayonaise: It has mayo and egg protein and I use it to restore the protein back in my hair.
Cantu Shea Butter Rinse Out Conditioner: It makes my hair superrrrrrr soft
Organic Aloe Vera Juice: to strengthen and grow my hair. It also gives a beautiful natural hair some shine, post styling (used cold straight from the bottle BEFORE I seal in my moisture with an oil)
Extra Virgin Olive Oil or Flaxseed Oil: to seal in the moisture on wet hair after I used my aloe vera juice

Moisturizing (Twice a day | Day and Night)
Water/Aloe Juice mixture: I use it for growth and strengthening purposes. (1 part aloe vera juice and 2 parts water)
Cashmere Curls Leave-in Conditioner: lightweight doesn't leave residue and moisturizes like an angel sent from heaven LOL, seriously tho!
Extra Virgin Olive Oil: lightweight oil that aid in dandruff prevention and it's great for scalp health.
Flaxseed Oil: also lightweight and great for growth.
*I rotate those oils, I don't use both in the same day. To make sure your hair is retaining moisture be sure to hydrate it by water-spritzing and then LOCK IN THAT MOISTURE with a healthy oil. 

Styling (as needed)
Dax Roots Bergamot Butter: Good for dry hair and reduces breakage while enhancing length
Cashmere Curl Soufflé: it's a good curl cream and smells like buttercream cupcakes LOL!
Beautiful Textures Curl Definer: use it as a curl pudding/definer when doing my 2-Strand Twistouts.
Curls Unleashed Curling Jelly: gives my curls an all day hold without the stiffness of a gel.



Welp! Those are the staples in my Hair Care Regimen Curlfriends!!! I love them all and they play a HUGE roll in my hair's health!!

What are your favorite products?
Stroll down to leave your comments below!



7.07.2013

Starting Your Natural Hair Journey

beautyintoxicated.com
By RoyalBeautyV
BeautyIntoxicated.com ©
RoyalBeautyV@gmail.com July, 2013

What do you do? Where do you start?

Being a Natural is one of the most liberating experiences of my life. It was the best decision I have EVER made for my hair. Three years ago I did the BC (big chop) and after a few years of sew-ins, my hair finally grew back to a length where I was ready to unleash my Natural fire!

Everywhere I go people of all cultural backgrounds compliment me on how beautiful my natural is. I love it and my love for it shines through. I get this question a dozen times a week…"How to do you Return to Natural?", well today I will give you "7 Quick Steps to Get Started" so print this article or take notes:)

Step 1: FALL IN LOVE WITH YOUR TEXTURE
That's the first thing I tell women. In order to start a successful natural journey, you must change your mindset about natural hair. Your journey doesn't have to be hard, stressful or discouraging, it should actually be simple and fun! Do not get overwhelmed because there is no right or wrong way to return to natural, the most important thing is that "you do it".
Term: Natural Hair is defined as hair texture that has NOT been altered or processed by perms/relaxers or chemical straighteners. Natural hair is your "God-given" texture.
Need to Know: Relaxers are a permanent process and cannot be stripped away. It can only be grown out and cut off. Don't relax out of frustration just understand that being a natural is a commitment.

Step 2: GET TO KNOW YOUR HAIR
You are a "one of a kind" individual. What works for your hair may not work for others. There isn't a "one size fits all" regimen but there are a few basic steps in natural hair care that you need to incorporate in your journey. When you get to know your hair it will tell you what it needs. Is it dry? Brittle? limp? breaking? fragile? shedding? Listen to your hair's language and learn what works best for your hair. You may like brand name products and that's fine. You may like to experiment with making your own products or purchasing homemade products and that's fine too. Whatever it is that you like just make sure you research it throughly (ingredients and all) to be sure it is right for your hair.  Your hair will grow with your knowledge.

Step 3: PRE-POOOING AND SHAMPOOING
Have you ever noticed how nappy and dry your hair is after shampooing? It's scary! Why is shampoo so harsh. Shampooing should be a very gentle process right? Welp help has arrived, we have the secret…if your hair is rough after shampooing then you are probably washing your hair wrong and you are using the wrong shampoos.
What the heck does that mean? Well, if you hair is at least earlobe length then you should be sectioning your hair into at least 4 sections. Twist each section into one 2-strand twist and keep it that way during your entire wash cycle. YUP! Keep it twisted because it will discourage tangles and keep you in control over that beastly mane. It's a stress-less method that will change the way you dread washing your hair.

How often do I wash?
It's important that you don't over wash your hair. African American hair does not have to be washed everyday. I recommend once a week, pick a day out the week and devote it to being your weekly wash day. Overwashing leads to dull looking hair because you are stripping away your hair's natural moisture but don't let that deter you from washing because under-washing is not good either! If you have product buildup or a lot of product residue your hair will appear dirty and could negatively impact your hair. It's important to find a happy medium on what works for YOUR HAIR.

Now let's talk about "Pre-pooing". What the heck is that?
Remember we just talked about how harsh the shampooing cycle is right? You can soften that process by applying an oil to your strands before the washing cycle.
Good oils to use include:
Avocado oil: lightweight and easily absorbed into the hair. A great sealer that aids in locking in moisture.
Coconut oil: Keeps hair strong and moistened
Evoo (extra virgin olive oil): Repairs damaged hair and infuses moisture.
Grapeseed oil: Great for dry scalps and dandruff
Now when you get started be sure to wash with warm water because hot water strips the natural oils from your follicles. Those natural oils are your natural conditioners from God and lord knows we need them! :) You also want to wash your hair in a downward motion, you are not a white women so don't pile all your hair on top of your head unless you want it be to matted and knotted, and don't forget to keep it sectioned and twisted.

Step 4: CONDITIONING AND DEEP CONDITIONING
Why do I need to condition? If I just cleaned my hair with the shampoo, what the heck is the conditioner going to do for my hair?
Conditioners soften and adds moisture into your hair strands. It gives your hair body and protects it from breaking. It's a very important step in your routine. Without conditioner your hair would be more difficult to handle. Naturals define conditioning as "co-washing".

Step 5: MOISTURIZING
After you rinse out your conditioner, seal in that moisture with an oil. Just like you learned in school; water and oil doesn't mix so while your hair is wet it's important to lock in that moisture with an oil on top. Oil will sit on top of your hair, trapping the water in.
In your daily moisturizing regimen, be sure to lightly water-spritz in the morning and night, and as previously mentioned 'lock- in' the moisture with your favorite oil.
Tip: Don't soak your hair when spritzing because water makes the hair follicles swell, just spritz enough to hydrate your strands and use your fingers to evenly distribute that water from roots to ends.

Step 6: PRODUCTS
Effective products are critical to your hair journey but you don't have to become a product junkie. There are 3 types of shampoos that are great for natural hair: Moisturizing shampoos, Clarifying and Protein Shampoos.
There are 3 types of conditioners that are great for natural hair: Moisturizing, Protein and Leave-in conditioners.
Detanglers, butters, oils (Jojoba, Jamacian Black Castor Oil, Sweet Almond Oil and EVOO), creams and gels are great products to incorporate into your hair care and natural styling regimen depending on your texture and the thickness of your hair. Mousse and light creams are good for those that have thin hair. Thicker textured curls hold better with butters and gels.
Recommended Brands: Carol's Daughter, Giovanni, Burt Bees, Kinky Curly, Miss Jessie, Anita Grant and Taliah Waajid

Step 7: NO HEAT, NO COMBS AND NO BRUSHES
A lot of manipulation can increase breakage and no no no we can't have that:) Heat appliances like blow dryers, curling irons and etc will lead to damage because the heat can result in breakage or dry brittle hair so that's a no-no too! Finger detangling during your wash process is highly recommended as opposed to using combs. If you have to use a comb purchase a wide tooth comb so that you don't stress your strands. Brushes and those damn bristles can tear and break textured hair so try to stay away from them if you can. If you just haveeeeee to use a brush because you just can't see yourself taming your tresses any other way then purchase one that has a few rows of bristles that are somewhat far apart.


Use these Quick Steps to get you started Queens and be sure to check back weekly for updated Natural Hair Articles:)

Send all comments to royalbeautyv@gmail.com


6.08.2013

Protein for Your Natural Hair

By RoyalBeautyV 
BeautyIntoxicated.com © 
RoyalBeautyV@gmail.com 
June 8, 2013

Your hair needs protein!
Your body needs protein to build new cells and maintain tissues. That's extremely important right?! Uhhhh YEAH DuHH!
Protein is necessary for the proper growth and function of the human body. The same thing applies for our HAIR! Hair needs protein for growth, smoother strands and strength. There are a lot of different foods in the protein family so today Beauty Intoxicated will focus on the most common foods consumed regularly that can also double as great natural hair care products.
Let's Go!



Eggs
Are the absolutely best source for protein on natural hair. The yolk is great for moisturizing and in natural hair care maintenance MOISTURE is key! The egg white is full of bacteria eating enzymes which aids in cleansing the hair and scalp. Beat the eggs until frothy and apply. Leave in for 20-30 mins and rinse with shampoo and cold water.





Olive Oil, Honey
Olive Oil is great for locking in moisture and adding shine. Honey has great hair health benefits and it also hydrates the hair.
Mixing the two creates a homemade hair mask. They are natural conditioners. Apply the mask evenly to hair and scalp then cover with a plastic cap for an hour. Rinse out.



Mayo
Mayo is great for restoring moisture to damaged hair. Let's face it, all of us have some type of damage to our hair, whether minimum or extreme. Mix organic mayo and coconut oil for an awesome homemade natural hair conditioner.






Enjoy these great protein treatment recommendations from Beauty Intoxicated!!! Happy Hair Health!




6.02.2013

Unleash those Kinky Curls!

By RoyalBeautyV
BeautyIntoxicated.com ©
RoyalBeautyV@gmail.com 
June 2, 2013


Unleash those Kinky Curls!
This picture is Day 2 of me rocking my Natural Texture. Day TWO in the last 10 years!!
When I look back over the last decade it blows my mind that I have not worn my natural hair outside of my home within that timeframe! LOL. Geessh!

A few years ago, ummm I think about 3 years ago I did the big chop, I chopped all the perm/relaxer out. I did not do it with the intension of 'going natural' either, my hair was just damaged. Damaged from the harsh styling and chemicals used over the years so I vowed never to do that extent of damage to my hair again…hence the reason for the "natural".

Three years later here is my natural texture in it's natural state and it's more beautiful than it's ever been my whole life! Isn't it gorgeous! I'm so in LOVE, I could hug it lol! Let me just hug ME!

Are you thinking about becoming a natural and need tips on how to Unleash those beautiful kinky curls? Stay tuned in this entire month because Beauty Intoxicated in dropping the Hair Care jewels every week with new hair articles!

If you have hair questions please email me royalbeautyV@gmail.com
Time to Unleash!



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