How to style your hair the simple way - Naturally.

 It's not easy being a natural chic. I hear this all the time! How is it I find it so natural to be natural? I am sure it's not the supposedly easy to manage texture my hair possesses because Lawd I wish my mane was a little thicker so I can achieve the big twists and fros!!! It's never about the texture. I feel that it is more about knowledge of the products that work well with your mane.

Basics of hair regimen varies from one naturale to another. I mix my routines up. So it's never really a regimen. All I know is that shampooing, conditioning, hot oil treatment, masque, protein treatments, and deep conditioning are all in that non-systematic regimen. Point of this post is to encourage y'all to think it simple, keep it simple, and the results will simply amaze you.

Take Lily's hair for example. She has not relaxed her hair for over a year and today, I snipped the final few wisps of relaxed hair. Today she shampooed and conditioned with Shea Moisture products.

 

Love love love the way her hair feels after using this pair and following with 5-10 minutes of Organics hair mayo treatment. This last step is optional. She could have skipped it but I was not sure if she had the conditioner...... So she followed instructions from the last wash.

 

In comes the famous Cantu leave-in conditioner....

 

Sorry, darn picture pasted so big but this seems like the actual size LOL!!!!

I let it rest in 4 big matutas while we ate dinner then I undid them to prep for styling.

 

Last time I twisted her mane I discovered that Olive oil twisting gel does not go well with the leave-in. Makes this grainy residue. So now, no gel but not sure if the twists will hold without any, I was not going to be embarrassed with a flop. Mimi nani? Translating that phrase makes it sound a little stupid. "Who am I?" :-) LOLEST! I opted for the Pro Styl gel. Not my go to product on natural hair but it worked great! It promises not to flake and after drying, I did not see any. Whew! My choice of twisting gel currently is the Cantu twist and lock gel. Aaaaamazing! But my hair stash is in KC and I am in Austin.... Long story for another day.

 

Applied a very small amount to each section making sure it coats the hair thinly from root to tip then I did my twisting. Combined flat twists and double twists to create an asymmetrical do.

 

I love the shine on her hair!! 

I did Bantu knots to 'lift' the twists a bit by bunching up about 4 twists and twisting them snugly and wrapping the ends under the knot. 

I love how the result turned out!! She should be able to rock this do for about two weeks. It can tolerate workouts and still manage to be dressed up for work by simply maintaining the sheen using a touch of jojoba oil every two days or so. 

I hope you like it. It was simple, easy and Lily loved it! So you see, it didn't take much. Do not overwhelm yourself with too many products  for one-time styling. With time, you will learn your own basic styling must-haves. For me, it is the Cantu leave-in and jojoba oil/my homemade shea, coconut oil, jojoba mousse. Done. Simple way, naturally.

 

Think it simple, keep it simple, and be amazing, your own way. It's your mane after all!!

 

Yours truly,

The Frugal naturale

Nightly Moisturize & Seal Winter Routine

Flat Twist Updo

Review - Homemade daily moisturizing spritz

Sorry guys it took a looooong while to write the review I promised on the spritz I made. http://mytangledmane.blogspot.com/2014/01/homemade-natural-hair-moisturizing.html 

Love, love, love this stuff! I use this spray once a day, sometimes twice just coz it is so amazing! My mane loves it. The lightness of the spritz is good for all kinds of hair. One thing to note, if you have straightened your hair, the water (or Aloe Vera juice) will revert your curls. In this case an oil based moisturizer would be preferable. Any who, on open, twisted, braided, or weaved hair, this spritz works great.

What would I change in my concoction?

Probably the aloe Vera juice. For my refill, I used plain water instead of the juice. It saves me the need to refrigerate.


Notice a different bottle? The last one I used gave me more of a stream than a spray. This one is recycled. Doesn't take many spritzes to do the job and I am assured all hairs are covered. It pays to be a packrat...... sometimes. :-)

Don't forget to adjust your measurements to suit the size of your spritz bottle. Now I just eye ball the ingredients and actually use less of the leave-in conditioner for the same results! Too much of a good thing can yield bad results. Like the time I used ten drops of tea tree oil and I thought I smelt like an entire forest of pine trees. Bet no bee dared land on me though! ;-)

Oh, another suggestion. Want a fresh scent without breaking your bank? I know I do. Those essential oils can get so costly! I have tons of Bath and Body Works body sprays I am yet to use up. I used a small amount of that with the water and I love the scent. Tweak it till you find your favorite, then tweak it again to discover your next new fave!

How have I used it?
I have used it prior to finger-detangling my hair and left it at that and rocked my fro.
Before double twisting or bantu knotting (that is a word, I think?).
I am currently using it to keep my hair moisturized while in Senegalese twists. I can almost hear my hair sigh in contentment every time I spray it! Thirst-quencher is what it is to my mane.

Verdict
Amazing stuff! Simple and it stretches your moisturizer. My $11 knot today detangler/leave in is still going! Usually it would last my a few weeks tops. Now? It's on its second month coz I use it to make the spritz and water makes the bulk of it so, saving a dollar baby for a rainy day!!!

Have you tried making your own bottle of my version of spritz? Tell me how it turned out and how you like it.

Your hair is your crowning glory. Therefore, love it, live it, rock it!
Blessings!