Hi people, what's been on???

So, I finally started a YouTube channel to be able to demonstrate a lot of what I share here on the blog.

Sometimes, reading about a routine seems like a whole lot of steps and looks like it's time consuming, so I figured that showing rather than saying would help a lot.

I started making the videos on my Instagram channel and from your feedback decided to share on YouTube!

Please encourage a sister and subscribe so I know I'm not in this on my own!

Creating videos is a time consuming process and I'd like to know that the time and effort put into these videos is really helping someone who needs it.

For this video, I was thinking about a style that doesn't require extensions and can work for short- medium length type 4 natural hair.

 It's not something you may be able to do on your own but it's pretty easy for a BFF or sister to follow and create on you.

This style lasted a total of 18 days on my model. You can definitely take it for longer.

Take down is pretty easy too. Just cut off the rubber bands and your hair is free!!!

Let me know what you think of this style in the comments section. 

💦STRETCHED💦

Just a quick one this morning showing how I keep my ends stretched.

This is an easy solution for those who complain about single stranded knots.

I'm using rollers at the ends of my hair. I leave them in overnight so my ends are stretched by morning. 

No rollers? Do bantuknots.

Knots come with the territory of natural hair since curly hair likes to play a game of 'Tangle tag'.

Knots can't be avoided ...well unless you want to be a full time knot police for each of your 1 million + curly strands.

However, they can be minimised by keep your ends stretched, moisturised and split free (a trim will work here)

Hope this helps someone.

What's your go to method for tackling knots?

Here's a QUICK and EASY natural hair style that isn't a bun.

(Seriously, who else is tired of boring ole bun???)🙄🙄🙄🙄

I'm a lazy naturalista and I usually don't like doing styles that'll take all day and a half!!!😓😓😓

I also don't comb my hair....maybe like two or three times a year.🤔

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One of my secrets for tangle free hair is using products with lots of SLIP...like snail slime slip 🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌

I recently received Afrobynature Hair products and boy...this Nigerian brand does not joke with SLIP.....and they smell absolutely yummy...like vanilla cream caramel 😋😋😋😋

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For this hairstyle, I used Afrobynature Hydrating Leave In Conditioner In Conditioner to detangle and moisturise my hair. .

Then I used AfrobyNature Hair Butter to style. 

Unlike some hair butters, this product isn't greasy at all...and the slip!

Can you see my curls popping?😍😍😍

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These products were part of the NNGxAfrobyNature 'Moisture' Kit which is SOLD OUT!!!💃💃💃💃💃

PS.  This is one of ten natural hair style video tutorials I created!
Yup, I've finally started making videos!!!

You can watch the rest on my Instagram and let me know what you think!

Here's my chilled zobo (hibiscus) drink infused with pineapple because.....I don't like soda...icecream or beer.🙄🙄🙄

I'm the weird woman at a party who prefers to drink plain water.

How do I tell my host that I don't drink Coke, Fanta, Sprite etc. ?

How do I tell my host that I'd rather take fresh fruits, fresh juice or yoghurt?

How do I tell my host that it has nothing to do with watching my weight as my host looks up and down my slender frame?

🤷🏾‍♀️🤷🏾‍♀️🤷🏾‍♀️🤷🏾‍♀️Quick question: 

Is it only when one wants to lose weight that a person tries to eat healthy??? 🤷🏾‍♀️🤷🏾‍♀️🤷🏾‍♀️🤷🏾‍♀️🤷🏾‍♀️

What's the random fact about you that people find puzzling?

Hi guys, what's been on!

You know how I'm always going on and on about the importance of effective products in your natural hair care...and how the right products can make hair care super easy?🤔

Well, I finally got a perfect picture to illustrate what I've been saying.😋😋😋.

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Soooooo, I used two different products on two different sections of my hair....

Product A: was a moisturising product and Product B: was a protein product. 

I applied them directly on dry hair. 

I did not use water or any product beforehand. 

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🌿As you can see, the moisturising products made my curls looser than the protein one. 🌿

💦The moisturising product contains active humectants that draw moisture to my hair. The weight of this moisture caused my fine natural hair to stretch...a lot like how your hair stretches out in the shower when wet.💦

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🍳 The protein product contained hydrolysed proteins that immediately binds to hair, repair peptide bonds and improve curl structure which is why my curls appeared tighter.This is why you think proteins causes your hair to feel harder.🍳

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💦A balance of both moisture and protein helps keep my hair healthy, moisturised,  prevent breakage and improve length retention leading to longer hair.💦

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🌺Need help deciding what products are best for your hair and your budget? 

Check me out on Instagram 

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What's your favourite protein or moisture deep conditioner?

Deep conditioning is an important step in my regimen especially since I have breakage prone and colored natural hair.

I deep condition everytime I shampoo or cowash my hair. Depending on the state of my hair, I'll do either a protein or moisture deep conditioning treatment.

I was asked on Instagram whether I prefer store bought deep conditioners to DIY deep conditioners and which one was most effective.

The way my life is set up currently, I prefer store bought deep conditioners.

 I wrote a post explaining my preference in more detail here

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🤔🤔🤔Meanwhile which deep conditioners do you prefer? Store bought or DIY🤔🤔

You don't stop laughing because you grow older, you grow older because you stop laughing!😁😁😁

An optimist laughs to forget; a pessimist forgets to laugh....and a 

well-balanced person is one who finds both sides of an issue laughable. 🙂🙂🙂🙂

No matter what life throws at you, don't forget to stop laughing....and being grateful always gives one a reason to keep laughing. 

Give thanks for all the small things, big things and everything in between.

. 🍃P.S. You can start with giving thanks for your shrinkage because it means your hair is healthy!🍃

💋: By TopfaceNigeria and lipgloss by Victoria Secret (I don't like matte lips)

Happy New Month guys! 

Sorry I haven't been posting in a while!

I've been more active on Instagram though so try follow me there so you don't miss out on any natural hair or skincare tips!

Hi people, what's been on?

How has your month been going? Mine has been pretty hectic which is one of the reasons I haven't been blogging of recent. I've been looking forward to updating you guys on the gems I've discovered for natural hair and skin care!

Today, I'd love to share with you a little gem that has made my skin very very happy.

First off...this is NOT a sponsored post. I bought all products mentioned with my money...but even if it were, trust that I'll always give you the real deal!

Oya, let's continue....

Makeup free!!!

Since I turned 30, I do my best not to use products that aggravate or dry out my skin. I prefer using products with ingredients that are naturally derived and safe.

My facial skincare routine is an adaptation of the Korean skincare routine with a few minor changes to suit the Nigerian weather.

I,

- cleanse using a pH balanced cleanser and/or micellar cleanser

- tone with rosewater/orange blossom water, 

- apply a water based serum like Korres Black Pine Serum

- apply one or two drops of my facial oil mix

- apply sunscreen such as SunBum mineral Sunscreen SpF 30/50. 

For my body,

I use SheaMoisture African Water Mint and Ginger Detox Lotion or this natural Eden Body Works Citrus Fusion Hair and Body Butter

I do a little bit extra on spa days. 

I did a clay mask using Shea butter cottage Rhassoul Clay mask which I purchased from OrganicLifePlus online store.

Rhassoul clay is more moisturising than Bentonite Clay and slippery too so great as a clay wash for hair. 

I'm mixing it with edible orange blossom water which has astrigent properties to close pores, reduce oiliness and keep skin clear.  

I added cinnamon powder  which is very good for acne. When using cinnamon please use a dash. It's really strong!! It makes my skin tingle a lot so I use it sparingly. 

To shower, I'm currently using this handmade Fruit infused face and body wash made by a new natural skincare brand (coming soon). It contains kojic acid, citric acid pineapple, papaya, orange amongst other ingredients. 

It smells amazing and acts as a mild chemical peel.

I usually use it at night but since it's spa day, I use it in the day time too.

So far, so good, my skin is benefiting from using gentle, naturally derived products.

What's your skin care routine like?

Hi people, what's been on?

So, Saturdays or Sundays are designated as my wash days because that's when I have more free time.

Unlike most naturalistas ....lol....I find wash days relaxing.
I usually wash my hair once or twice a month so I'm always mentally prepared for wash day. 

My wash days are really short (max 45 mins) especially when I cowash my hair with a cleansing conditioner instead of shampoo.

Cleansing conditioners don't strip my hair as much as shampoo does so I spend less time trying to infuse moisture back into my hair.

Another time saver for me is using store bought products. 

Going the DIY route for my hair care is time consuming and I reserve my DIY hair potions for when I have a lot of time on my hands to mix the DIY and clean up afterwards!

On days I want my wash day to be really short, I reach out for ready made deep conditioners, protein treatments and other treatments my hair will need.

For this particular wash day, I did a cowash/claywash.

I prepooed, detangled and cleansed my hair using Sheamoisture ABS Purification Masque  ( I love products that multitask).

Then I'll deep conditioned with Ruutos Reconstruct Anti Breakage Mask.

This is a protein based deep conditioner containing hydrolysed keratin, collagen and biotin.

After creating a clean slate, I styled my hair in a wash and go.

I used As I Am Luxe and Long Curl Enhancing Smoothie for the first time.

It's created with Type 3 and Type 4 textures in mind.

My first impression of this product:

It has amazing slip but for some reason my hair felt some kind of way and it didn't really hold my curls in place.

Thankfully, it plays quite well with Ecostyler gel, so I was able to get a decent looking wash and go.

 I sealed the ends with Ruutos LOC Butter. It prevents my ends from getting dry especially since my hair is colored.

I created a video for how I achieve curl definition which works for a lot of type 4 textures (4a, 4b, 4c ....4z).
I shared it here

I left the twistouts in for 3 - 4 days before I washed. It looked like this after humidity played with it....

Hi people!

It's been over two weeks since I did my silkpress and it's still going strong.

Using products on silkpressed hair is difficult because most of them contain water ...and water will cause my silkpress to revert quickly.

So I apply oil (not silicone serums to avoid build-up) to keep my hair supple. This time, I used Ruutos LOC Butter.

It has really good oils and butters such as sheabutter, cocoa butter, macadamia seed oil, avocado oil etc for nourishing the scalp and keeping straightened hair supple. A little goes a long way!

My favorite part is that it has a little hold to keep my hair laid without having to use a gel.
A gel would cause my hair to revert.

Also, since my hair won't be moisturised with water, I try to reduce manipulation and do gentle protective styles.
These styles also help keep my hair stretched.

Here's what I've done so far!









I also created some 1 min video tutorials to help you recreate these styles.
Here's the link to the videos

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Take a leap of faith and begin this wondrous new year by believing. Believe in yourself. 

And believe that there is a loving Source—a Sower of Dreams—just waiting to be asked to help you make your dreams come true.

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Jesus, we made it!!!

Happy New Year everyone!!!

😀😁💃💃💃💃💃💃💕💖💖 

I've not been very active on the blog of late but you can always find me on Instagram!

Click here to view all my recent updates!!!