nappilynigeriangirl: 2017

Lifestyle

HADASSAH LATELY

By Hadassah Agbaps - December 07, 2017

Hi guys, what's been on?!

I know, I know...it's been a long time since I blogged!!!

I have a project I'm working on and several qualifying exams to boot!

I thought it would be a good idea to focus on that rather than blog half assedly just for the sake of blogging.

Thankfully, I've kinda worked through the difficult bits and have a clearer head to write.

I've been quite active on Instagram though, please follow me if you haven't.

What's been up behind the scenes?

Skincare

I've been trying out several new skincare products geared towards sensitive skin.

Since turning the big three oh, I've gotten serious with my skincare and use less irritating products preferably those that are paraben free, sulfate free, mineral oil free, petrolatum free and pthalate free. I've written reviews on some such as

Baobab oil

Orico Orange Micellar Cleansing Water

Midas Naturals Shower gel

Burts Bees Body lotion and Shower gel

Soap nut aka reetha and grapeseed oil

Rosemary leaf facial scrub

There are more gems I think are worth sharing especially now that harmattan season is upon us.

With the sun beating down on already parched skin, one definitely needs sunscreen but until recently, I haven't found any I really liked.

You can read about my sunscreen woes here!
Just last week, I bought one that's zinc oxide based, paraben free, oxybenzone free, for sensitive skin and doesn't leave skin greasy or ashy. I'll share my first impression on Instagram.

Do you also remember, how I tried micellar cleansing water and loved it? Well, I discovered another one that's just as lovely. It's very gentle (I even used it to clean out a recent cut on my knee and it didn't sting one bit) and cost under N1000 for 200ml!

Oh, did I tell you I tried another Burt's bees product! Well, I got their natural salicylic acid based toner and let's just say I use it to quickly dry out pesky period zits!

Annndddd, I discovered another light, non greasy lotion for sensitive skin that's also under N1000 and can be found in beauty stores near you!

Just be patient, I'm working on the posts for these products and more so you don't miss out anything even if I have to disappear again! Lol!!!

Makeup!

I won't kid myself.....my basic everyday makeup is just that....basic!

I'm just a girl next door with oily, acne prone skin who likes her makeup to give her matte, fresh looking skin with little effort....all day!!!!

I've found a few gems here too!

I've also successfully edited my makeup bag so the contents are way smaller than it was in this post!

Health!

My not drinking water often has come to bite me as I was recently diagnosed with kidney stones!!!! Arrrggghhhhhhhh!!!!!!!

I've had what's known as "mittleschmerz' for a while but the pain got worse to the point of waking me up from sleep!

I'll have you know that nothing comes between me and sleep!!! Nothing.

So, off I went to the hospital to look at what I thought was the usual pain for two weeks only for the scan to detect kidney stones!

Luckily, it was detected early enough and I'm drinking water like a camel!

The downside to this whole thing is I'm like an open ended pipe!

Lemme stop right here and spare you the details but lesson is ALWAYS DRINK WATER!

I mean, here I am harping on how to moisturise your natural hair and I forget to drink water! SMH!!!

I know..... water is tasteless and uninteresting but just for the sake of clear skin and clear, painless kidneys, please drink that stuff!

Seriously, the pain isn't worth it!

Anyway, to motivate me, I got myself this cute looking Citrus Zinger bottle.

Did I tell you fushia pink is one of my favorite colors?

And finally,

Haircare!

It's harmattan season and you guys already know my default hairstyle is the silkpress which I shared here. As promised, I'll be comparing two different straightening products and give my thoughts on which I think is better! My hair is still curly though....I suspect it doesn't want to be straightened. All thanks to one unusual SheaMoisture product whose use was modified to give me well moisturised hair!

3 Comments

SHEAMOISTURE COCONUT AND HIBISCUS KIDS CURLING CREAM REVIEW

By Hadassah Agbaps - November 30, 2017

0 Comments

NappyRegimen

PRODUCT REVIEW: GOLD N HOT SOFT BONNET DRYER

By Hadassah Agbaps - October 17, 2017

0 Comments

PARABEN AND MINERAL OIL FREE SKINCARE PRODUCTS UNDER N2000

By Hadassah Agbaps - October 01, 2017

0 Comments

NappyQandA

HOW TO PROTECT YOUR EDGES WHILE BUNNING

By Hadassah Agbaps - September 29, 2017

Hi people, what's been on?

Lately, I've been pulling my hair in a low bun because it's a classic look and it's different from a high bun.

The thing with doing buns on the regular is that it tends to put extra stress on your edges.

My main hair is fine textured and the hair on my edges is even more fragile and wispy. It has the tendency to break off if any stress is applied and it gets worse as I age.

To prevent a situation where I'm turned into a Chinese monk just because of the convenience that comes with simply throwing my natural hair up in a bun, I do the following listed below ....and it's been working great for me

1. Use a turban

The most common advice given with regards to protecting your edges is "Make buns loose". The problem with this advice is putting your hair in a loose bun means your bun is frizzy, rough and unattractive because there's a lot of hair that couldn't fit into the bun ... especially if you don't have long natural hair!

So, to make sure I don't stress up my edges, I would pull my hair into a loose low bun and then use a scarf to make a turban around my hairline. Putting a turban around my hairline tames flyaways and keeps my style looking neat and thus, it prevents me from gathering my hair tightly as I try to keep every strand in place.

Tips:

- In a very conservative working environment, I'd use a black turban or just take off my turban once I get to my location. By the time I do this, my hair is smooth without the use of gels.

- To get the best result out of this method, I'll apply raw shea butter to damp hair before wrapping it up in a turban.

2. Make "V" shaped parts.

Making "V" shaped parts instead of the regular single parts means I distribute the stress to multiple parts. I don't have to pull my hair as tightly as I would if I had a single part to get a sleeker look.

Tip:

- I use bobby pins to hold the hair in each part in place.

- I use a small amount of Ecostyler gel and a scarf to keep my hair in place when I can't find bobby pins.

- I slightly dampen the hair on each part and used raw shea butter/castor oil to hold the hair in place when I run out of Ecostyler.

3. I use Marley hair.

For this style, I used the same "V" shaped parts but instead of pulling the top "v" backwards into the bun, I braided it up with Marley hair and wrapped it up forward.

Then I loosely gathered the back and braided it up with Marley hair and wrapped it up into a bun. By using extensions, I do not force all my hair into a bun. This helps save my edges.

Tip:

Using extensions is good if you're at "in between length" natural hair. You can make more sections in front so you have less hair to pull back into a bun.

4. I avoid cornrows and braids.

This one is personal. You may skip it if cornrows/braids don't break your hair. From experience, cornrows and braids are way too much stress for my hair. I prefer flat twists and twists. Putting them in is not stressful and taking them out does not require the use of any pointed end. I could just do it with my fingers. Also, flat twists/twists don't hold my hair and the hair on my edges as tightly as cornrows/braids do, so personally I favour these for my hair type.

Finally, everyone's hair is unique. You know your hair more than anyone does. If you have fine, light hair, you shouldn't be doing the same things people with coarse, thicker hair are doing.

2 Comments

BUYNAIJA: BLOT XTRA MASCARA BY BLOT COSMETICS REVIEW

By Hadassah Agbaps - September 26, 2017

0 Comments

NappyRegimen

WASHDAY: HOW I WASH MY NATURAL HAIR AND REDUCE BREAKAGE

By Hadassah Agbaps - September 24, 2017

Hi people, what's been on!

So, wash day has come and gone....drama-free! As you already know, I wash my hair once in 3- 4 weeks.

My wash days focus on cleansing my scalp and thoroughly infusing moisture into my hair.

My hair texture is of the 'fine' variety. Not fine as in pretty, but fine as in my strands are not thick.

The older and longer my hair gets, the more fragile they become. So my wash day is not only trying to have a clean hair and scalp but also trying to avoid as much damage as I can while strengthening my hair.

natural hair products for nigerian type 4 natural hair

For this reason, the oiling method I've adopted stays in my life forever!

I've also kind of phased out the use of shampoos in my regimen by making several changes.

- I try to avoid ingredients that will require me to use a shampoo to remove them.

This means no insoluble silicones, no heavy waxes, no petrolatum, no mineral oils...in fact anything that is insoluble in water!

I'm really careful about this so read my ingredient list thoroughly.

- I try not to be heavy handed with products. This is so as to prevent my hair from being a dust and dirt magnet! I favour products that give me at least two days moisturizing, can be refreshed by spraying clean water and of course can easily be rinsed off with water.

- I try to keep my hair covered especially when I'm on the road.

COWASH

A cowash cleanser is my staple cleansing product. I occasionally use bentonite or rhassoul clay as natural hair cleansers but since they can be messy, I only use them when I have a very free weekend. A cowash cleanser works better for me. I've tried several co-wash cleansers but the best cowash cleansers for me so far are:

Karen's Body Beautiful Lather Free Wash,
Mazuri Naturals Shea Butter Cowash and
As I Am Coconut Cowash Cleanser.

I always have one or the other in my stash. What makes these cowashes stand out are:

- They clean my hair thoroughly without residue.

No moisturizing coat of anything. This is why I also avoid all those body washes with "ribbons of moisturiser". No thanks. I'm looking for clean.

- They don't dry out my hair. Not at all! My hair feels squeaky clean but supple. My coils boing like never before! I can't explain it! Clean but boingy.

- They have amazing slip! If you have tightly curled hair, you'll know that a product with good slip is everything! With a good slip, you can rule the world!!! Okay, you can detangle like a dream!

I may finally bump into other products that may give me results but these three are lit!

I usually detangle with my fingers first and then a wide tooth comb like the Hercules Sagemann pictured above. It's a seamless comb with rounded teeth so there's less likelihood of your hair snagging on rough surfaces. It's worth investing in.

CONDITIONING/ DEEP CONDITIONING

After I cowash my hair, I deep condition. Depending on how long or short I can afford my wash day to be, I'll deep condition using heat (longer washday) or just use a deep conditioner I can leave in (short).

While I really do miss my Shea Moisture African Black Purification Masque (reviewed here), the replacement - Sheamoisture African Black Soap Dandruff Control Masque works well enough as a deep conditioner and thick leave-in conditioner for me.

That's just where I think it has one up on the former.

I rinse out the deep conditioner using a conditioner or cowash cleanser. In this case, I used Shea Moisture Superfruit Complex 10 in 1 Renewal System Conditioner. I think it's a pointless effort shampooing off a deep conditioner.

It just leaves my hair feeling dry.

OILING

After the deep conditioning step and before the leave in conditioning step, I blot my hair dry using the Cantu Microfibre Towel I was gifted at their meetup and then apply NappyGirl Growth Enhancing Oil to my hair and scalp.

This stuff is amazing!

I can't ever not talk about this!!!! It strengthens my fine hair and also helps it retain moisture better. A little goes a long way too. (Here's how I used it to grow my hair waist length!!!)

I transferred some into the darker bottle to make it easier to apply. It came originally in a spray bottle but I'm thinking spray bottles and wet hands don't work well for me.

LEAVE IN CONDITIONING/STYLING

Right now, I'm using SheaMoisture Curl Memory Leave-In Conditioner.

My first impressions are it works very well with Ecostyler gel for wash and gos and it softens it up so my hair doesn't dry crunchy.

If I'm not doing a wash and go, I stretch my hair with twists. Thanks to wigs, I can make 6-8 twists and allow them to dry gradually under the wig and still look good.

After a week when my twists are completely dry, I would rock a curly well-defined twist out or my hair will be stretched enough for any updo I like.

(Here's my favourite updo)

I use the Aphogee Tea Tree Reconstructor as a refresher spray to hydrate my hair in between washes. It contains hydrolysed keratin and green tea extracts so does double duty as a mild protein treatment and prevent excessive shedding.

Thus ends my wash day!

2 Comments

NappyRegimen

SIMPLE PROTECTIVE STYLE BEFORE WASHDAY

By Hadassah Agbaps - September 19, 2017

1 Comments

Lifestyle

I FINALLY GOT TATTOOS

By Hadassah Agbaps - September 16, 2017

Hi people, what's been on?

So, after years of thinking about it, I finally got two tattoos!

Henna tattoos, y'all!

Yep, the henna we use to strengthen and impart colour to our hair!!!

It's a temporary and painless way of getting body art done.

In Nigeria, we know it commonly as "Lalle" and it is very popular with Northern Nigerian brides to beautify their hands and feet.

I also learnt that in Igboland, body art was commonly known as "uli" and was done to beautify Igbo brides too.

Henna is also used by the Yorubas and when I asked if there was a different name for it, I was told it's also recognized as "Lalle".

The patterns done differ from tribe to tribe.

I'd been looking for a good henna artist who won't "draw spoil"! I came across a very talented artist at my friend's. She's an optometrist by profession but a henna artist on the side.

I had seen the tattoo she had done for one lady and as an optometrist, she certainly has a good eye for detail!

So I booked an appointment and my friends and I had a "tattoo party" of some sort.

Here's what I got...

A peacock design on my waist

A lacy wrist cuff

I also got my nails painted because henna strengthens nails too. I'm also a chronic nail biter so this will hopefully let me grow out my nails.

My friend had a "Moana" inspired artwork done on her forearm.

The henna tattoos lasted two weeks before fading out. The one on my wrist faded out earlier. I think my hair conditioner had something to do with it.

The henna on my nails is still on as I write.

I love the beautiful effect of two-toned nails it creates as my nails grow longer.

My nails were stronger too and broke off less.

P.S. If you're G6PD deficient, are allergic to paraphenylenediamine or have ever had sensitivity to dyes, please don't use.

Henna is not naturally black so additives such as PPD are used for black henna.

If you're interested, you can find the henna artist on Instagram via @omeira_sanguine. She's currently in Lagos.

0 Comments

WIG MAINTENANCE FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF WIGS

By Hadassah Agbaps - September 08, 2017

0 Comments

WIGGING IT!

By Hadassah Agbaps - September 08, 2017

Hi people, what's been on?
It's been the longest time since I posted anything new! A lot has been happening behind the scenes but I haven't had time to update you guys. I didn't forget you though so I'll bring you up to speed!

For the past month, my hair has been hidden under wigs. Wigs are a better alternative to weaves in my opinion because

1. It saves time ...I'm not going to spend time in a salon installing a weave. Also less anxiety that I'm going to miss a salon appointment. If you are making the wig yourself though, you'll spend some extra 3 hours on each wig but that's about it. The only other time spent will be how long it'll take you to wear the wig!

2. I have easy access to my hair. I can wash it when I want to or deep condition it when I want to. When I deep condition under the wig, I make sure I apply a thick deep conditioner to dry clean hair so I can avoid drippies. I'll also put on a showercap, wear a tight wig cap (to flatten things out) and then put on my wig! Deep Conditioning Mode Activated.

3. Presentation! I can't be carrying anyhow hair especially not in the conservative environment of hospital and school! I'm usually not bothered about how perfect my cornrows or weave beneath the wig are. I just braid it anyhow, put my wig cap and put on my wig and go! No one's will know that beneath the slayer is a Simbi fighting to get out! One time, my colleague had to point out that my head had a weird shape. This was because the four thick braids I had under the wig did not lie flat! I've learnt the magic number is six braids.

4. It saves money.
The initial cost of making a wig might be more compared to getting a weave installed but in the long run, it saves me money.
I make my own wigs so the only extra cost is my wig supplies. I can easily get wig caps on Konga for between N1200 and N1500 depending on the vendor. I also got a mannequin head to make the wigs on for N2500. I bought weaving thread and those big needles from the local market for about N500 for both. Then the hair to be installed, I have a habit of buying hair I like randomly and keeping them just in case. I choose styles based on my mood and I always like to have the hair I want close by.

5. I can easily switch up my look without the stress of trying to carefully cut of weaving thread. In fact speaking of switching things up, I plan to make different styles of wigs.
- A short fringe wig
- A lob
- A wavy wig
- A long straight wig
- A blow out wig
- A curly wig (short)
- A curly wig (in some wild color)
- Kinky wigs in black and in some wild color
- Braided wigs (million braids, short bob braids, chunky braids/twists, faux locs, waistlength ombre braids).
So far, I have 4 wigs which I wear for 1-2 wigs before switching. I do this to mimic the "I got a weave installed" look.

0 Comments

product review

PRODUCT REVIEW: ORICO ORANGE MICELLAR CLEANSING WATER AND MAKEUP REMOVER

By Hadassah Agbaps - August 29, 2017

0 Comments

product review

PROTECTIVE STYLE MAINTENANCE: CLEANING MY HAIR WITH BABY WIPES

By Hadassah Agbaps - July 21, 2017

12 Comments

ABOUT THE NATURAL HAIR SLAY

By Hadassah Agbaps - July 21, 2017

0 Comments

Natural hair basics

REVIEW: MY TOP 5 BEAUTIFUL TEXTURES PRODUCTS FOR NATURAL HAIR

By Hadassah Agbaps - July 08, 2017

Hi guys, what's been on?

I'll be sharing a comprehensive review of Beautiful Textures range of products.

The first thing that drew me to Beautiful Textures products was (still is) their affordability.
I would like to have said their brightly colored purple and red packaging with the overly informative labels that attracted me to the brand but I'll be honest and say it was the price that made me reach out and grab a product off the shelf.

My first product out of this range was the Tangle Taming Moisturising Shampoo.
I don't usually bother much with conditioners since I have natural hair friendly brands like VO5 and Organic Roots Stimulator Replenishing Conditioner available to me. Finding sulfate free shampoos under N2500 however, was a whole different pack of cards.

As you know, I gave up using African Black Soap because it dried out my hair and made my hair looked dull. (Like dust settled on it)

The shampoo had a price tag of N1500 at the time and this was within my price range for my hair products. I loved how it smelt and also loved how it cleansed my hair without drying it out. A little product also lasted a long time.

My positive first experience thus encouraged me to try out other products in the range. Luckily for me, I also won their complete set of products when I took part in their Instagram #LoveYourTexture photochallenge. You could imagine how happy I was to be able to finally try out every single product in the range and believe me, they have a lot!!!!

I was sent two sets of Beautiful Textures (though just one set made it back because of excess luggage) ,

🌼Tangle Taming Moisturizing Shampoo
🌼Tangle Taming Leave In Conditioner
🌼Moisture Butter
🌼Curl Control Defining Pudding
🌼Curl Definer Custard
🌼Curl Definer Mousse
🌼Rapid Repair Deep Conditioner
🌼Texture Manageability System
🌼Shine and Silken Growth Oil
🌼Edges to Ends Silkener
🌼Curly to Straight Flat iron Silkener

Between my mum, two sisters, brother, friends who are all natural and myself, I have been able to collate a list of the top products in the range.
To make for a short review, I decided to share my top 5 products!

1. Beautiful Textures Tangle Taming Leave In Conditioner

DESCRIPTION

Achieve amazing manageability and styling versatility for Curly, Wavy, Kinky-Coily or Frizzy hair. Get soft defined curls, bodacious bouncy spirals, and smooth silky tresses with this Intensive Moisture-Rich Formula for mixed textured hair.

Get Ultimate Shine & Curl Control.

Tangle Taming Leave-In Conditioner Helps to:

Unlock Tangles
Deeply Moisturize
Tame Frizzies
Nourish Curls with The Right Blend of Natural Oils

Ingredients

Aqua, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil/Olive Oil, Argania Spinosa Nut Oil/Argan Oil, Glycine Soja Oil/Soybean Oil, Cocos Nucifera Oil/Coconut Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit/Shea Butter, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter/Mango Butter, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract/Rosemary Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract/Aloe Vera, Dimethicone, Panax Ginseng Root Extract/ Ginseng Extract, Polyquaternium 37, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Glycerin, DMDM Hydantoin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ceteareth 20, Polysorbate 20, Propylene Glycol, Imidazolidinyl Urea, Phenyl Trimethicone, CI 15985/Yellow 6, Parfum/Fragrance, Benzyl Benzoate, Benzyl Salicylate, Coumarin, d-Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal, Lyral, Methyl Ionone Gamma.

(I got this information off their website to save on having to type out everything from the bottle!)

My review.

This product is one of our favorite in the bunch because it has very good slip for detangling and can be easily refreshed by spraying on water. It is also moisturising especially if using a light hand. The downside is that it tends to leave my hair feeling coated when used consistently for two weeks on a daily basis.

2. Beautiful Textures Rapid Repair Deep Conditioner

DESCRIPTION

Renew Damaged Hair, Add Brilliant Shine

Rapid Repair Deep Conditioner Helps to:

Restore Hair’s Natural Moisture Balance
Control Damage from Transitioning, Heat, and Color Treated Hair
Restore Elasticity to Prevent Breakage

Ingredients

Aqua, Glycine Soja Oil/Soybean Oil, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Argania Spinosa Nut Oil/Argan Oil, Cocos Nucifera Oil/Coconut Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil/Olive Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit/Shea Butter, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter/Mango Butter, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract/Rosemary Extract, Dimethicone, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract/Aloe Vera, Phenyl Trimethicone, Panax Ginseng Root Extract/Ginseng Extract, Polyquaternium 37, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/ Dicaprate, Steareth 2, Steareth 20, Lanolin, Imidazolidinyl Urea, Polysorbate 20, DMDM Hydantoin, CI 15985/Yellow 6, Parfum/Fragrance, Benzyl Benzoate, Benzyl Salicylate, Coumarin, d-Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal, Lyral, Methyl Ionone Gamma.

My Review

If I had to choose between the Tangle Taming Leave In Conditioner and this deep conditioner, I'd choose the deep conditioner. Not only does it have better slip than the leave in conditioner, it also comes in a bigger tub. It also doesn't weigh down my hair or leave a filmy residue as much as the leave in conditioner does.

3. Beautiful Textures Tangle Taming Moisturizing Shampoo

DESCRIPTION

Get Gorgeous Tresses

Tangle Taming Moisturizing Shampoo Helps to:

Detangle ~ Restore Shine and Body
Improve Manageability
Soften and Stretch Natural Curl Pattern

Ingredients

Aqua, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate, Cocamide DEA, Argania Spinosa Nut Oil/Argan Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract/Rosemary Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract/Aloe Vera, Panax Ginseng Root Extract/Ginseng Extract, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil/Olive Oil, Cocos Nucifera Oil/Coconut Oil, Tocopherol/Vitamin E, Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit/Shea Butter, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter/Mango Butter, Glycine Soja Oil/Soybean Oil, Triethanolamine, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Glycol Distearate, Citric Acid, DMDM Hydantoin, Imidazolidinyl Urea, CI 15985/Yellow 6, Parfum/Fragrance, Benzyl Benzoate, Benzyl Salicylate, Coumarin, d-Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal, Lyral, Methyl Ionone Gamma.

My Review

This shampoo smells lovely, foams well and cleanses my hair and scalp without drying it out at all! It also melts away tangles and makes it easy to finger detangle my hair. A little goes a long way too so I usually just use a cap full of conditioner in a cup of water to wash my hair. When I use silicone rich products for my silk press, this shampoo gets rid of the silicones thoroughly without leaving my hair feeling brittle. However, it is not completely free of sulfate so I recommend using it not more than twice a month if you have dry hair.

4. Beautiful Textures Moisture Butter Whipped Curl Creme

DESCRIPTION

Soften and Nourish Curls ~ Silken Waves
Elongate Kinky Coils ~ Tame Frizzies

Ingredients

Aqua, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil/Olive Oil, Glycine Soja Oil/Soybean Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglycerides, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, PEG 75 Lanolin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ceteareth 20, Cetyl Alcohol, Argania Spinosa Nut Oil/Argan Oil, Cocos Nucifera Oil/Coconut Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit/Shea Butter, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter/Mango Butter, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract/Rosemary Extract, Dimethicone, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract/Aloe Vera, Phenyl Trimethicone, Panax Ginseng Root Extract/Ginseng Extract, Polysorbate 20, Imidazolidinyl Urea, DMDM Hydantoin, CI 15985/Yellow 6, Parfum/ Fragrance, Benzyl Benzoate, Benzyl Salicylate, Coumarin, d-Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal, Lyral, Methyl Ionone Gamma.

My Review

My mum and brother absolutely love this product. My mum even repurchased! It was a bit heavy though for my hair and my other sister with low porosity hair and mixing it with water like I did with Cantu Butter Leave In Conditioning Creme didn't work for us at all. It worked well for a friend of mine with very curly and dry type 4c hair. In fact it was way too moisturising for her hair that her bantu knot outs would refuse to dry properly and set!

See how unique our individual textures are? Natural hair textures should be used in place of finger print identification if you ask me!

This product is up on my best list because of the good reviews. Personally, it's not for me.

5. Beautiful Textures Texture Manageability System

DESCRIPTION

Now in four quick steps, curly girls can go from natural curls to straight styles and back again without compromising or permanently altering their curl pattern. The system gives ReversibleTM Straightening that lasts up to 6 weeks, along with the benefit to stop damaging your hair from daily heat straightening, or the choice to stop using harsh chemicals on permanently relaxed hair. The Texture Manageability System gives you the choice to go back to natural at any timely simply using a clarifying shampoo. The key ingredients are essential oils, natural butters, amino acids, and no harsh chemicals.

Ingredients

Gentle Cleansing Shampoo: Aqua , Sodium Olefin Sulfonate , Shea Butter Amidopropyl Betaine , PEG-150 Distearate , PEG-75 Shea Butter Glycerides ,

Inner-Active Leave-In Conditioner: Aqua , Glyoxyloyl Carbocysteine , Glyoxyloyl Keratin Amino Acids , Shea Butter Aminodpropyltrimonium Chloride , CyclopentaSiloxane , dimethiconol , dimethicone crosspolymer , Silanetriol , panthenol , Isopropyl Palmitate , methylchloroisothiazolinone , methylisothiazolinone ,

Humidity Defense Anti-Reversion Shampoo: Aqua , Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate , Shea Butteraminopropyl Betaine , Cocamidopropyl Betaine , Cocamide MEa , Polyquaternium 67 , Ethylene Glycol Monostearate , Imidazolidinyl Urea ,

Humidity Defense Anti-Reversion Conditioner: Aqua , Cetearyl alcohol , glycerin , Shea Butter Cetyl Esters , Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil , Behentrimonium Methosulfate , Shea Butter Aminopropyltrimonium Chloride , Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit (Shea Butter) , Olea Europaea Fruit Oil (Olive Oil) , Hydrolyzed Glycine Soja Protein (Hydrolyzed Soy Protein) , Mangifera Indica Seed Butter (Mango Butter) , Argan Spinosa Kernel Oil (Argan Oil) , Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein , Cocos Nucifera Oil (Coconut Oil) , Hydrolyzed Triticum Vulgare Protein (Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein) , Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil (Sweet Almond Oil) , Hydrolyzed Avena Sativa Protein (Hydrolyzed Oat) , Citrus Aurantifolia Peel Oil (Lime Oil) , Citrus Limon Peel Oil (Lemon Oil) , Citrus Limon Peel Wax , PHenoxyethanol , TBHQ , Phospholipids , Glycolipids , Glycine Soja Oil (Soybean Oil) , Glycine Soja Sterols , Hydrolyzed Keratin , Creatine , PEG 90M , Butylene Glycol , hydroxyethylcellulose , Imidazolindyl Urea , DMDM HYDANTOIN , Citric Acid , fragrance , BEnzyl Benzoate , BEnzyl Salicylate , Coumarin , d-limonene , Hexyl cinnamal , Lyral , Methyl Ionone Gamma

My Review

If you've been following my blog, you'd notice that this product has replaced all my protein treatments! It's my personal favorite product and has really made protein treatments for my hair a breeze! It's easier to use and apply than henna and you're getting proper hydrolysed keratin protein that will actually bind to your hair!

I also love it for my silkpress and blowouts and I used the Beautiful Textures Curly to Straight Flat iron Silkner as my heat protectant.

So that's it for my top 5 products.

There are products in the range I would never touch with a 12 foot pole....or more realistically, products I would not purchase.
These are:

🌼 Beautiful Textures Curl Control Defining Pudding....

made our hair feel hard!

🌼Beautiful Textures Curl Definer Custard ...

made our hair feel hard, had no hold and flaked!

🌼Edges to Ends Silkener.....

this edge control is no different...it turned into an oily mess before hitting the door.

Oh yes, before I forget the Beautiful Textures Curl Definer Mousse is a very good mousse. I always think, if you've used one good mousse, you've used them all. It doesn't flake and it leaves sets shiny with soft hold.

If you're interested in knowing more about these products, you can check them out on www.beautifultextures.com

Where to purchase Beautiful Textures Products in Nigeria.
Beautiphic.com
Sizzelle.com
Konga.com
Casabella Stores nationwide.

That's it for my review. I hope it was helpful. I've still not forgotten about that post comparing Beautiful Textures and SheaMoisture Straightening Kits. Subscribe so you don't miss it!!!!

3 Comments

NappyQandA

NATURAL HAIR BASICS: HOW TO WASH YOUR NATURAL HAIR WITHOUT TANGLES

By Hadassah Agbaps - July 05, 2017

2 Comments

Protective style

MASTERING STRAWSETS / STRAWCURLS ON NATURAL HAIR

By Hadassah Agbaps - June 25, 2017

Hi people, what's been on?

Today's style is straw sets.....yep curls made from drinking straws......yep the drinking straws used to take a bottle of coke........yep, wonders will never end, abi???
Lol!

This style is very popular here in Eastern Nigeria. It can be done on both relaxed hair, texlaxed hair, transitioning hair and of course natural hair. It is a very durable hairstyle lasting up to three weeks and above with the right maintenance. However it lasts longer on natural hair because the natural tendency of the hair to curl holds the style firmly in place.

Depending on the size of the strawers and the size of your sections, the style takes between 3hrs-6 hrs to do ....more if you are styling yourself.

I love this style because once done, you can almost forget about your hair.....remembering it only when it draws compliments!

So here's what you need to set up before you start...

- A pack of straws cut into three (for short hair) and into two (for longer hair)

- 3 packs of bobby pins

- a setting lotion or gel for hold

(I like Ecostyler and Ultrasheen Supreme Setting Lotion but Lottabody will give nice hold too)

- a rat tail comb for parts

- a wide tooth comb for detangling

- a bottle of oil for separation and shine.

- a cup of Patience and extra arms if you can get one...

HOW TO

- Start with clean well moisturised hair. For natural hair, it is important to do a moisture deep conditioning treatment beforehand as it will give your sets more staying power.

- Working from the back of your head, section out a thin section of hair. The thinner it is, the faster it will dry and the more defined the curls will be.

- Detangle thoroughly the sectioned piece so it is smooth.

- Apply or spray on a small amount of styling gel or setting lotion. Comb through to distribute product evenly from roots to ends.

- Wrap your hair firmly around the straw and hold in place with a bobby pin.

- Continue all over.

- ALLOW TO DRY COMPLETELY!

- Carefully remove straws.

- Apply a small amount of oil to palms, rub together and pat onto hair. Use oily fingers to separate curls for volume.

VOILA!
You are done!

On type 4c natural hair

On relaxed/ transitioning hair

You may not be perfect at first but don't be discouraged. It gets better with practice.

MAINTENANCE

- Avoid large amounts of water especially if done on relaxed hair or the curls will fall.

- Always go to bed with a satin bonnet and sleep like a princess....no ninja night time routines...to avoid squashing your curls. If you aren't a very careful sleeper, I'd advice you do it mohawk style with the sides braided up so the curly middle can be protected.

- The moisture you get from the hair style is gotten prior to the hairstyle via deep conditioning and any further moisture can be added by applying a light coat of moisturising lotion with less water content especially if you are relaxed.

- It's normal for the curls around the hairline to straighten, you can simply re-curl them.

- For shine, a light oil hair spray will be fine. Alternatively, apply oil to your palms and pat on. I advice you use light oils like jojoba oil, grapeseed oil...however any oil will suffice.

Hope this helped!

1 Comments

NappyQandA

LOW MANIPULATION NATURAL HAIR REGIMEN

By Hadassah Agbaps - June 12, 2017

14 Comments

NappyQandA

5 REASONS YOUR NATURAL HAIR IS FRIZZY

By Hadassah Agbaps - June 10, 2017

2 Comments

Food Indulgence

FOOD INDULGENCE: BOILED PLANTAINS AND VEGGIES

By Hadassah Agbaps - May 21, 2017

6 Comments

NappyQandA

NATURAL HAIR STYLIST GUIDE

By Hadassah Agbaps - May 07, 2017

2 Comments

Food Indulgence

FOOD INDULGENCE: COCONUT FRIED RICE

By Hadassah Agbaps - May 01, 2017

2 Comments

NappyQandA

HOW TO BUY NATURAL HAIR PRODUCTS ON A STUDENT'S BUDGET

By Hadassah Agbaps - April 18, 2017

3 Comments

LOOSE TWISTS FOR THE WIN!

By Hadassah Agbaps - April 14, 2017

0 Comments

product review

DISCOVER: MIDAS NATURALS SKINCARE AND HAIR CARE BRAND

By Hadassah Agbaps - April 10, 2017

2 Comments

Natural hair basics

SLEEKY SLICKY SIDE SWEPT KINKS

By Hadassah Agbaps - April 07, 2017

3 Comments

Protective style

FOUND: QUICK GODDESS LOCS EXTENSIONS

By Hadassah Agbaps - April 02, 2017

2 Comments

NappyQandA

HOW TO GET THE BIGGEST BADDEST NATURAL HAIR BUN.

By Hadassah Agbaps - March 31, 2017

20 Comments

Lifestyle

GOING GREEN WITH NATURAL HAIR CARE

By Hadassah Agbaps - March 27, 2017

Source: here

Warning!! Long post alert (updated ) with lots of scientific mumbo jumbo but hopefully an interesting read if you are able to get through it!!! Okay.....let's go!

What does 'GOING GREEN' mean?

According to Wikipedia,

Going Green a.k.a. Environmentalism advocates the preservation, restoration and or improvement of the natural environment, and may be referred to as a movement to control pollution or protect plant and animal diversity.
It is an attempt to balance relations between humans and the various natural systems on which they depend in such a way that all the components are accorded a proper degree of sustainability. Environmentalism and environmental concerns are often represented by the color 'green'....hence 'going green'.

The concept of going green is very broad and there are many things we can do to contribute to reducing environmental degradation caused by our activities.

Some of these include:
- Recycling items
- Using fuel efficient vehicles that emit low carbon
- Reducing water waste
- Planting trees and gardens to provide us with organic food so we don't have to depend on processed foods. The production processes of these processed foods create waste products that are harmful to the environment.
- Making use of organic more eco-friendly natural products rather than chemical filled ones.
.....and so forth.

I could go on and on but since this is a natural hair and skin care blog, it'll be interesting to know how we can contribute to protecting our environment when it comes to our hair care and skin care choices.

Okay...so going natural is a way to go green right?!
Yes and no!👀

YES because you're reducing environmental pollution by using more natural products. For example, natural hair prefers oils and butters such as olive oil, jojoba oil and Shea butter to inorganic oils such as mineral oils, petrolatum and silicones. When these are washed off your hair on wash day, they would more likely be degraded by soil microorganisms easily to simple harmless and useful waste products than the mineral oil, petrolatum and silicones which in a way 'clogs up the soil in the same way they clog up your pores'!
Good going, right?!👌

Well, there's the.....NO!
We know on wash day, naturals use up a lot of water.....which equals water waste.....which isn't helping our environment.
Not only that, many of the manufactured natural hair products we use (and we use up a lot).....are....let's be honest...not completely natural.
Yes, they may scream "organic olive oil" on the bottle but if you read the product ingredient list, the "organic olive oil" is drowned by a host of hard to pronounce chemical names! Many companies keep claiming to be organic or use eco-friendly ingredients when they don't. It's not really like they lied but it might be the 'one drop rule'! One drop of organic oil makes the whole bottle of chemical rubbish an "organic product".👾

Green washing of so called 'organic' products
Source: here

Which begs the question , 'What exactly does natural mean?'😖

When we say natural, we most likely want to say 'naturally derived'. This term means that the ingredient comes from or is made from a renewable resource found in nature. This nicely excludes petroleum compounds such as mineral oil, petrolatum, etc.

We all know that some useful products cannot be used directly in its raw form....for example there is a difference between that nice, light, milky shea butter lotion and raw shea butter! You also cannot use raw shea butter as shampoo unless you mix it with some 'chemical' alkali to make the popular black soap.

This is where the term "naturally-processed' comes in. This means that the "naturally-derived' ingredient was processed using ecologically friendly processes. These processes try to preserve as much as possible, all the good stuff within that natural ingredient.
These processes include,
-steam distillation
-condensation
-hydrolysis
-pressure cooking
- biofermentation
- saponification etc.
Most times biodegradable reagents are used. Biodegradable meaning that these reagents can be broken down easily by microbes in the environment. These processes try to maximise the purity of the ingredients while minimising the change in the composition of an ingredient to the point it becomes 'unnatural'.

Some processes that could 'make the natural unnatural' include,
- ethoxylation
-polymerization
-sulfonation etc
(let me stop here before it gets too high school chemistry!!!) 😌

Basically, the end products of these processes do not break down easily in the environment...hence, another term 'environmentally-unfriendly'.

An ingredient can be 'naturally derived' but not 'naturally processed' and therefore will not be classified as being natural. One example is sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate (SLS)!
SLS is actually derived from coconut oil!!You didn't see this coming, did you?
However, because the coconut oil is ethoxylated and sulfonated (😁abeg, just ride with me o)....it gives rise to a product i.e. sulfates, that do not break down easily in the environment (environmentally unfriendly).

Using a completely, 100% natural product means goodbye to your favorite soaps, shampoo, lotions, gels, curl definers with awesome fragrances etc because not only do the natural ingredients in them have to be processed, they also have to be preserved and right now, most effective preservatives are still chemicals.

This bring us to the concept of 'safety'. Safety means that the ingredients used in the products do not cause irritation or threaten the health status of the consumer. For the environment, safety means the product do not cause harm to the flora, fauna, environment in any way....think biodegradable. Also remember, natural doesn't mean safe. Snake poison is natural...

So yeah, when you say you want a 'natural' product, what you really mean is, you want a product that is 'naturally derived, naturally processed, biodegradable, environmentally friendly and safe'.

A list of ingredients/products that fit the above description will be nice....yes???? Don't worry, it is my side hustle...will share once I'm done....subscribe so you don't miss it and have to go looking through a thousand posts to find it!

While we are waiting for that list, what other ways can you go green with your natural hair care?

Here are some suggestions...

1. REDUCE WATER USE:

- Try reducing the number of steps it takes to wash your hair.

- Reduce the quantity of shampoo you use especially the foamy poos because you'll need more water to rinse it off!

- Try using leave in conditioners instead of rinse out conditioners for your hair.

- Try to reduce the frequency of washing your hair.

- Reduce the amount of products you use on your hair. This way there's less product buildup and you'll use less water trying to wash your hair.

- You don't need to wash and go everyday to revive your curls. Simply spritzing with water can help rehydrate your curls.
These tips are not only good for your hair (no stripping of moisture) but also good for the environment (less water wasted).

2. REDUCE POWER USE

Source: here

-We use up a lot of power...electricity...when blow drying our mane of hair or when sitting under the dryer/steamer or when flat ironing our hair. Since we have a lot of hair, we spend more time than our relaxed sisters when using these heat appliances!
Reduce the frequency of blow drying your natural hair. Air Drying is not only "greener" but a healthier option for your natural hair.

- Reduce the frequency of heat styling with hair straightener, tongs, heated rollers and electric steamers.
Use heatless methods such as Bantu knotting,twisting, threading, straw sets, bendy roller sets, magnetic rollers and silk rollers to mention a few.
In place of steamers for deep conditioning, the good ole baggying will suffice!

- You don't really need hot water to wash your hair. Not only is it stripping and drying to your natural hair, it increases your heating bills.

3. USE ECO-FRIENDLY NATURAL HAIR PRODUCTS

It is easier to degrade natural waste (to useful products that can be used by plants to grow) than inorganic chemical products that are not found naturally in the environment.
Not only is using natural products safer and healthier for you (by reducing your exposure to possibly carcinogenic products), it's safer for the environment as well.

Some companies are helping out by producing natural hair products that are:-
- Paraben free (parabens are chemical preservatives)
- Phthalate free
- Sulfate free
- Mineral oil and petroleum free
- Silicone free (especially non biodegradable silicones)
- Made of naturally sourced ingredients
- Artificial fragrance free

Rule of the thumb for choosing eco friendly hair products is "the less chemical names there are and the more natural ingredients there are (especially in the first ten ingredients), the better."
I agree that some of these products may be a bit pricier than their chemical filled counterparts but they are better for your natural hair, your health and the environment too!

I really really have a lot to say on this topic but trying hard to avoid information overload...so, if you want to discuss more on the subject, send me a mail on nappilynigeriangirl@gmail.com.

Do you have more suggestions on how to go green with our hair and skincare?
Do you have eco-friendly hair care products to recommend that can easily be purchased in Nigeria?
Pls share with us in the comments section!
Do you have any thoughts with regards to the "green movement"?

Till I spill again,
Live Beautifully. Naturally.
Hadassah

3 Comments

Skincare

Makeup!

I won't kid myself.....my basic everyday makeup is just that....basic!

Health!

Haircare!

1. Use a turban

2. Make "V" shaped parts.

3. I use Marley hair.

4. I avoid cornrows and braids.

COWASH

CONDITIONING/ DEEP CONDITIONING

OILING

LEAVE IN CONDITIONING/STYLING

1. Beautiful Textures Tangle Taming Leave In Conditioner

2. Beautiful Textures Rapid Repair Deep Conditioner

3. Beautiful Textures Tangle Taming Moisturizing Shampoo

5. Beautiful Textures Texture Manageability System

HOW TO

MAINTENANCE

Coconut Fried Rice

1. REDUCE WATER USE:

2. REDUCE POWER USE

3. USE ECO-FRIENDLY NATURAL HAIR PRODUCTS

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