Natural Hair 101: Embrace the Frizz!!!

Hey there Lovies!!!

     This will be a short, sweet, and to the point blog because there really isn't much to say about frizz.  Curls come in all shapes, sizes, and forms, but one thing that every natural has in common is FRIZZ.  For some, frizz is the enemy but for me frizz is my best friend.  Crazy huh?? I'll explain my reasoning a little later on in this blog.

     Let's start off by defining frizz.  Frizz can be defined as a tangle of hair that sits upon your head from time to time.  There are many ways that hair can become "frizzy" but the main reason is simply because of a raised cuticle layer.  Which in turn causes the hair to look dry and frizzy instead of laying flat.   Curly hair appears to be more frizzy than straight hair because of a simple factor called dehydration.  As we all know, curly hair is drier than straight hair so that only makes sense.  How one styles their hair is also a factor to consider if you are experiencing frizz.  Hence, why I spoke on not using towels, shampoos, extra manipulation to the hair etc,. 

     How one views frizz is a major factor.  I myself, love when my hair is frizzy.  I love big hair and volume in my curls.  For me, I can't achieve either without the frizz.  So I purposely manipulate my hair in order to create a healthy amount of frizz by picking and fluffing my hair.  If you are not comfortable with big hair, then I don't suggest that you use the above method.  When styling your hair you will want to style it with your product, air dry, and leave your hair alone.  No flipping your hair upside down, diffusing, picking, or fluffing it.  Keep in mind...the more manipulation you use on your hair the more frizz and volume you will create.  Frizz is not a bad thing ladies....embrace it and make it work for you because you will always deal with it on your natural hair journey.  So why not learn to love it!?!?

XOXO Moeneak 

The picture on the left shows my hair with no manipulation.  There is barely any volume or frizz.  While the picture on the right shows my hair with tons of manipulation to include diffusing, picking my hair with a hair pick, stretching my hair with a concentrated nozzle, and fluffing my hair with my fingers.  The results are very much different when the style process changes but I love both options.  Ladies, again find what works for you and own it!!!! Mwah!!!

Natural Hair 101: Hair Typing

Hello Lovies!!!

HAPPY FRIDAY!!!!!

     I received a lot of questions concerning hair typing so today's topic will be all about HAIR TYPING.  Let me first start off by saying, I do NOT know what my hair type is.  I do NOT believe that identifying your hair type serves any purpose in your natural hair journey.  I do NOT pick my hair products according to my hair type (clearly, because I don't know it). 

     Next, hair typing simply means your hairs special care and styling needs based on its unique curl patters.  According to most of the hair charts, there are three different hair types.  The first is type 2 wavy hair, the second is type 3 curly hair, and the third is type 4 coily hair.  These three hair types can further be broken down into subsections.

      Type 2 wavy hair: 2A wavy swavy, 2B wavy curvy, and 2C wavy whirly.  Type 2 hair includes light to very wavy hair patterns.  The waves and curls in type 2 hair form in the shape of an "S" and typically stick close to the head.  Wavy hair won't bounce up, even when it is layered. 

      Type 3 curly hair: 3A curly twirly, 3B curly spirally, and 3C curly coily.  Type 3 hair includes lightly curly to very curly hair patterns that are well-defined and springly. 

      Type 4 coily hair: 4A coily springy, 4B coily crimpy, and 4C coily ziggly.  Type 4 hair can range from fine and thin to wiry and coarse with lots of strands densely packed together.  Coily hair tends to have fewer cuticle layers than any other hair type, which means that it has less protection from the damage caused by combing, curling, blow-drying and straightening. 

(I'll post a picture of the hair chart at the end of the blog for visualization)

     I myself do not use hair typing for several reasons.  The main reason is because almost every natural has more that one curl patter or type in their head.  I myself, have yet to meet any natural who only has one curl type.  That alone just sounds like it makes for a difficult hair regime.  To find products that work on all those hair types.....WRONG. Nobody has time for that.  And secondly, come June I will be celebrating my 5 year natural hair anniversary and I made it this far without hair typing.  Lol.  I learned what works for my hair simply by knowing my hair's porosity.  (Again, if you are unfamiliar with hair porosity I have a previous blog about it that explains how you can find your hair porosity). 

     Consumers stress hair typing and curl patterns because it is a sure way too get you to purchase their particular product.  If you have identified your hair as a 3C curly coil and a particular product markets their product for silky curly coils.  You are going to more than likely buy their products based off of the curly coily part.  If you have not identified your hair porosity you have just wasted money.  Especially if the type of product is not geared for your hair porosity. 
     For an example,  I have high porosity hair.  Any product regardless of the name that comes in a butter or cream type consistency will NOT work on my hair.  It will only cause build up.  All of the hair products that I use MUST be water based due to my hair porosity.  Since, I know this I no longer waste my money on hair butters and hair creams.  I buy the products that I know will work for my hair according to my hair porosity. 

     So naturals, I stress to you.  PLEASE, learn your hair porosity.  It will save you so much money, heart ache, and pain.  Again, knowing your hair porosity really is the key to your natural hair journey.

As always, thank you and talk to you soon.  Have a WONDERFUL weekend.

MWAH!!!!!!!!
Moeneak

Natural Hair 101: Healthy hair vs. Hair lenght

Hello Lovies,

     How many times have we all made the statement, I can't wait until my hair reaches the length of so and so?  Or I can't wait until my hair reaches a certain length so that I can do this or that to it.  I wish I had hair like whomever.  I know I am guilty of making all of the statements above, and I have heard all of these statements regarding my natural hair.  Ladies, we are so guilty of always wanting something that another women has (but that is a whole different topic of discussion that I am not even going to go into right now) Lol. 

     My main reason for this particular blog post is because I want to encourage all of my natural hair women out there to just sit back, relax, and enjoy your natural hair care journey.  For many of us we debated for months and maybe even years on if we wanted to actually BC (big chop) or transition.  I myself wasn't patient enough so I did the BC.  When I first did the BC I was sooooo not confident in myself.  Ladies, who are natural and did the BC  but also did a BC during our relaxed hair days...I know you all understand what I am speaking about.  Chopping off all of your hair while you are relaxed is totally different then chopping off all of your hair when you are natural.  The getting used to process is something else. Lol.  Once I did the BC I wore wigs, literally for the first year of my hair journey.  Very rarely did I ever let my curls out to be free.  A lot of that had to do with the fact that I did not have a clue on what was going on with my head.  I didn't understand the process and care that I would need to have on my natural hair.  I was so lost, and confused.  During this year I buried my face in Youtube.  THANK GOD FOR THE YOUTUBERS OUT THERE. I started researching natural hair and trying to learn everything I possibly could, because this was now going to be a new life style for me. 

     Once I figured out the basics of being natural (check previous blogs) I realized that this journey wasn't going to be as hard as I originally thought.  I figured out what worked for Izzie and I stuck to just that.  By doing this it taught me the importance of maintaining healthy hair.  Healthy hair is a topic that many of us don't really focus on or care about and I am here to tell you that you need to care.  Healthy hair is what determines how you will be able to maintain your hair growth.  Researches say that we average about a half an inch to an inch of hair growth every month.  Obviously, this is going to be different for every individual.  As for me, I tracked my hair growth for a few months and I found out that I average an inch of hair growth a month.  Average growth rate.  BUT I also practice a very, very, very healthy hair care regimen.  Which includes a healthy diet, exercise, water intake, low manipulation on Izzie etc.  All of these are key factors in the health of your hair; as well as, your ability to retain the hair that you grow per month.

     Often times people ask me why I cut my hair off as much as I do.  And my answer, not boasting or bragging is simply because I practice a healthy hair care lifestyle; therefore, I know that my hair will grow back.  And I know that I am capable of retaining my length once it does.  So I say all of that to say this, ladies focus less on your hair length and more on your hair health.  Your hair is a lot like plants.  If you care for them by providing the correct amount of sun light, feeding them with water, and chopping off the bad weeds and such then you will end up with healthy and lively plants.  The same is to be said about your hair.  How you treat your hair reflects the health of your hair.  Your hair is trained to grow.....but what are you going too do to retain your length once it grows???

I hope this was helpful to you beauties,

XOXOX Moeneak

Natural Hair 101: All about the LOC and LCO Method

Hey Lovies,

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!! I hope that you all had a wonderful New Years.  

     Now that we have discussed hair porosity I figured we would discuss the next steps in your journey.  I currently practice the Curly Girl Method.  The Curly Girl method is an approach to caring for curly hair that teaches you what to use and what not to use on your curls.  It gives you a breakdown on how to properly wash, condition, dry, and care for your hair.  
     Because this is the method that I use I do not use, shampoo, combs, sulfates, parabens, silicons, alcohols, excessive amounts of heat etc on my hair.  Now, if you use these following products and they work for your hair...by all means please continue to do what works for your hair.  Again, I am just giving you the rundown on how I care for Izzie and for what works for my hair.  I co-wash my hair twice a week.  Typically on Wednesday and Sunday.  The days may vary but whatever the day I will always co-wash my hair twice a week.  Secondly, I deep condition my hair every other week.  Thirdly, I wash my hair with apple cider vinegar once a month to cleanse my scalp (since my hair is prone to product build up) and I also do a protein treatment once a month on my hair.  After I wash my hair I NEVER towel dry my hair.  Using a towel on your curly hair can create frizz and hair breakage.  Two things that most of us dread so I try to avoid this at all costs.  If you must dry your hair I strongly suggest that you use a cotton t-shirt or a microfiber towel.  It helps to reduce frizz; as well as, breakage.  For Izzie, I leave her dripping wet and I instantly begin styling my hair using the LOC Method.

     LOC method simply means using a leave in....an oil....and a creamer (or styler).  In this particular order.  I use a tea tree conditioner from Trader Joes, Giovanni Conditioner, or Tressemme Naturals.  I then seal my hair with castor oil.  This is my oil of choice 99% of the time.  I also sometimes use coconut oil, and olive oil.  Not often, but sometimes.  My styler of choice is eco styler gel.  It provides me with a great hold and it really defines my curls like I want.  Because of my hair porosity, all of the products that I use are water based.  The other Method is the LCO Method which means leave in....conditioner (or styler)....and oil in that order.  Now your method of choice, whether it be LOC or LCO will depend 100% on your hairs porosity.  If you have low porosity hair, the LCO Method will work better for you.  And vice versa, high porosity hair works well with the LOC Method.  After you have applied your stylers you will need to figure out whether you are going to air dry your hair or if you are going to diffuse your hair.  I honestly do both of these methods.  I diffuse my hair when I wash my hair later in the day and don't want too go to sleep with wet hair, and I air dry my hair every Sunday.  I am currently in the process of switching over to completely air drying my hair because although the diffuser compacts the heat and it doesn't come out as fast, it is still damaging to your hair.  

     Lastly, I preserve my curls by using the pineapple method.  The pineapple method is when you pull all of your hair on the top of your head with a hair tie in a very loose ponytail.  I then tie my satin hair bonnet onto my head and hit the sack.  I also sleep on a satin pillow case because I tend to be a bit of a wild sleeper.  Lol.  When I wake up the next morning I apply a small amount of castor oil and I style my hair according to how I feel that day.  

     Now that we have figured out our hair porosity and our method of style we are well on our way to healthy hair.  Thanks so much lovies. 

Have a great day!!!
XOXO Moeneak