Natural Hairven: 2016

Product Review: Mega Growth Anti-Breakage Strengthening Deep Conditioner.

As i was walking past the hair product section at Shoprite, Jabi Lake mall Abuja, the Mega growth anti breakage Strengthening Deep Conditioner caught my attention and i quickly picked it up and proceeded to read its content and uses. After reading everything on the bottle, i wasn't satisfied.

With product in hand, i googled review on Mega growth strengthening deep conditioner and really there was not much to see. I also checked YouTube and ended up calling a friend to ask if she has ever used the product. Don't judge! I always like to be certain before buying products and i know you do too.

I love me some DIY's but it's not everyday you're in the mood to start mixology 101. I thought about it and finally purchased the product for #1700 and now i have to give my honest opinion about this product.

Product Claims

Anti-Breakage Strengthening Deep Conditioner Infuses an ultra protective blend of natural oils and conditioning proteins that strengthens hair deep inside for Stronger, Longer, Healthier Looking Hair.

Whatever your texture or Hairstyle, MegaGrowth defends against Breakage, Split-ends and Dryness by helping:
. Rebuild Hair Strength Deep inside
. Protect against Styling Stresses
. Restore Softness and Natural Shine

Directions:

Apply to damp hair after shampooing working from roots to tips. Leave on fro 10 mins, rinse and style as usual.
For deeper penetration, Cover hair with a plastic cap and sit under a hooded dryer for 10 mins, rinse and style as usual.

Ingredients:

Aqua, Paraffinum Liquidum/Mineral Oil, Petrolatum, Propylene Glycol , Polyquaternium 37, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, PPG-1 Trideceth-6, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil/Olive Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit/Shea Butter, Persia Gratissima Oil/Avocado Oil, Triticum Vulgare Protein/Wheat Protein, Glycine Soja Protein/Say Protein, Hydrolysed Oat Protein, Argania Spinosa Nut Oil/Argan Oil, Cocos Nucifera Oil/Coconut Oil, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Hydrolysed Vegetable Protein, PG-Propyl Silanetriol, Glycine Soja Oil/Soyabean Oil, Dimethicone, Steareth-2, Steareth-20, Phenyl Trimethicone, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, DMDM Hydantoin, CI 19140/Yellow 5, CI 16035/Red 40, CI 42090/Blue 1, Parfum/Fragrance, Parfum/Fragrance, Benzyl Benzoate, Citral, d-Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal, Lilal, Linalool

My thoughts on this product

PROS

I love the smell, that was what actually made me buy it. It penetrates my strands and leaves my hair really soft. It has water as it's first ingredient which is something you should always look out for in a product. It's affordable. It has the perfect consistency for a deep conditioner, it's thick and doesn’t run when you apply it on your hair.

CONS
Contains Mineral oil, Petrolatum, Paraffin, Parabens.

Would I purchase again? Yes.

I love it as a deep conditioner but it also contains mineral oil, paraffin, and the rest. So if you don't mind those ingredients, you can purchase it. Now it comes in handy for those days i don't have the strength to do mixology 101.

Have you used this product? if yes give us your own review in the comment section.
Hope you found this post helpful

Till next time, Love your kinks...

DISCLOSURE: THE PRODUCT REVIEWED WAS PURCHASED WITH MY MONEY. THIS OPINION IS BASED ON MY OWN EXPERIENCE.

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, by Natural Hairven

Crochet Braids

CROCHET BRAIDS __ GODDESS LOCS

If you haven’t heard of Dr Kari Williams, Trichologist and creator of Goddess locs in the natural hair community then who do you know? She is the one in charge of those gorgeous locs on Brandy, Meagan Good, Eva Marcille, Rutina Wesly and other celebrities. You might want to ask Google now.

Goddess locs have been trending since she created them and everyone wants to rock that style including me. My sister already slayed hers a few months ago and all i could do was patiently wait for my hair to get to Nigeria. She's the one that bought this hair so i might as well mention her and say another round of thank you, Ahunya ooo!!!

I finally installed my own crochet braids using Bomba dreadlocs and I have been getting a whole lot of compliments about my hair followed by questions on how I achieved this look. This is going to be a pictorial and I really hope you understand it. This is another way to create the gorgeous goddess locs using Bomba dreadlocs.

i used 6 packs

I suggest doing this before installing the hair to make it easier. I only did mine after i installed it because i wanted to see what the hair would look like but i wasn't feeling it so i quickly changed it up.

Before changing to goddess locs

Pick a strand of hair and carefully separate the hair into two sections starting from the tip. Don’t separate all the way to the root, just a small length is fine.

Split hair into two

After splitting the hair into two, use one half of the hair to wrap the other half like you’re doing the threading method. When the half you’re using to wrap the hair finishes, divide the hair again in to two and continue wrapping with one half till you get to the tip. leave a small amount and curl the hair with your fingers.

Wrap the hair with one half

When you're done wrapping all the strands, dip hair in hot water and let it air dry. Your goddess locs are ready to be installed.

Here's the final look

It's really simple but if you still don't understand i suggest you watch a YouTube video on how to change Bomba dreadlocs to Goddess locs.

Don't forget to subscribe.

Till next time... Love your kinks

5 comments

, by Natural Hairven

4C hair

WASH AND GO ON 4C HAIR

My first attempt with wash and go was an epic failure. My hair was a tangled mess and I ended up losing so much hair in the process, it was horrible. After that experience, I said my goodbyes to wash and go forever. I love when I see people slay on instagram with wash and go but whenever I remember how horrible my first attempt was, I totally forget about it.

Few days ago, I attempted it again and got good results. I have been rocking this wash and go for some days now and everywhere I go, heads turn. The first thing i hear is Omg I love your hair and then comes the continuous questions like, is this your hair? how did you do that? Can my hair turn out like this? what's the secret?

Here’s how I achieved this Glorious Wash and Go

1. Shampoo

2. Henna Treatment

3. Condition

4. Bentonite Clay Mask

5. Leave-in Conditioner and Aloe Vera Gel

Step 1: Shampoo

I shampooed my hair in 4 sections with Crème of nature sulphate free shampoo the night I mixed my henna and did the henna the next day. I like to apply my henna on dry hair to avoid making a mess, it can be really messy.

Step 2: Henna treatment.

Ingredients

1. 100grams pure henna

2. 2 tbsns Apple Cider Vinegar

3. ¼ cup Green tea

4. 2 tbspns Olive oil

5. Few pumps of favourite conditioner

Directions

Mix the above ingredients into a plastic bowl, stir until well incorporated, the mixture should not be too thick or too watery. Cover and leave in a dark place for 12 hrs or overnight to allow henna release the dye properties.

The next day, apply henna on dry hair in sections making sure that each strand is well coated. Cover with a plastic cap and leave for an hour. I always just go about my business while I wait for the henna, so do something while you wait.

After an hour, rinse off the henna thoroughly. This might take a while. Even if you don’t rinse off everything proceed to the next step, by the time you get to the clay mask, it will wash off.

Step 3: Condition

Put 1.5oz of nature your favorite conditioner treatment into an applicator bottle and dilute with 4oz of warm water. Apply to your hair in sections, carefully detangling as you go. Cover with a plastic cap and leave for 10mins. You can sit under a hooded dryer but I prefer diluting with warm water. Rinse and proceed to the clay mask. You can mix your clay mask while conditioning your hair

Step 4: Bentonite Clay Mask

Ingredients

1. 4 tbspns Bentonite Clay

2. 2 tbspns Apple Cider Vinegar

3. 1 tbspn Glycerin

4. 8oz water

5. 1 tspn JBCO

Mix the above ingredients and pour in an applicator bottle or an empty product bottle for easy application. Apply to hair in sections working the clay into your strands from root to tip. Don’t just pour it all over your hair, you have to do it in small sections. Your curls will begin to clump if you do it well. After saturating your hair with the clay mask, leave for 10mins and rinse.

Step 5: Leave-in Conditioner and Aloe Vera Gel

Put 1.5oz of your favorite leave-in conditioner and dilute with 4oz of water. Apply to a small section of hair, making sure it’s well saturated and work the gel into that section, separating the curls as you go. I think this part is called shingling. Continue working in sections till you’ve covered all your hair.

Allow to dry and avoid touching your hair, your hand will want to go there but that will just invite frizz. You can apply a small amount of oil on your hair when it’s dry for shine.

Voila… Curls popping. This Camera doesn’t do justice to my curls and I can’t wait to get a better camera. If you know a mid-range camera that takes great pictures please let me know in the comment section.

Products used

Hope this was helpful.

Till next time… Love your kinks

4 comments

, by Natural Hairven

Feature

JOURNEY TO HAIRVEN

with South African Chisomo

My hair has always played a major role in defining who I am, an adjective used to describe me more often than not by other people. All through high school I was one of a few girls with beautiful, long, relaxed tresses. Compliments about my hair came swinging from almost every direction.

Fast forward a few years later, my now over-relaxed hair pretty much stopped growing and started to break. By then, my sister had been natural for about a year or two. I fell in love with natural hair watching my sister’s hair gain length like never before. I was mesmerized with the texture, how one crop of hair could appear short one minute and long and huge the next minute. My sister encouraged me to go natural and I had my first big chop in early 2014.

Getting comfortable with natural hair, specifically how to care for it, wasn’t an easy thing for me. It was confusing, especially with the amount of information there is. My regimen was all over the place at the time, but co-washing without scheduling any clarifying washes brought my first try at natural hair to a halt because it resulted in a lot of build-up which I frustratingly mistook for dandruff. So a few months later, on the 15^th of October 2014, I had my second big chop.

Going in this time around, I decided that giving up wasn’t an option and that I would inform myself as much as possible about natural hair. I followed as many natural hair groups and pages as I could and sought advice from other natural hair ladies. I haven’t had any issues with my hair except for build-up which has brought me to a knowledge of hair porosity, and how even though I’ve had steady, healthy hair growth, I haven’t necessarily been using all the right products for my hair. I’m learning to treat my hair not as 4a hair, but rather as low porosity hair without overlooking what’s essential for type 4 hair.

My regimen consists of washing my hair once a week. Currently, this involves dry detangling my hair the day before wash day and setting my hair in chunky twists. On wash day, I wash my hair with a solution of one part water and one part Tresemme Deep Cleansing shampoo. This is followed by spritzing a solution of water, aloe vera juice and ACV into my scalp and hair and finger detangling before rinsing it out. Then I deep condition with a mix of Tresemme Naturals conditioner, ACV, African Pride Olive Miracle Growth Oil, lemongrass oil and tea tree oil, using heat while I deep condition. Lastly, I do the LOC method using Dr. Miracles leave-in conditioner, grapeseed oil and avocado butter and keep my hair in a protective style for the week, only letting my hair out over the weekend.

One thing I love about my hair is how it naturally and beautifully coils up, I literally fall in love with my coils over and over again. I really feel like God was showing off when He made kinky, coily and curly girls (and guys).

Being natural has helped me grow in many areas of my life and it has taught me, most importantly, how to be my authentic self. I’m no longer the girl who relies on anyone’s acceptance because truth be told, whether it comes to your hair or who you are, there will always be someone who doesn’t approve and you know what? It’s okay…you can’t please everyone. Being on this journey has made me realise that my hair doesn’t define me, it is just an extension of me, a manner of expressing who I am without spilling a single word at all.

You can find Chisomo on social media

Instagram: @oh_fro

Twitter: @OhFro_

Facebook: www.facebook.com/OhfroOfficial

Blog: www.ohfroblog.wix.com/ohfro

To be featured, please send an email to naturalhairven@gmail.com

2 comments

, by Natural Hairven

Coconut Oil

DIY: HOW TO MAKE COLD PRESSED VIRGIN COCONUT OIL

After using cold pressed virgin coconut oil, you won't want to use the regular coconut oil for your hair and that's exactly what happened to me. I've always felt the regular coconut oil loses some of its benefits while undergoing the heating process and that's why i prefer the cold pressed. I love me some cold pressed coconut oil, its very easy to use while pre-pooing or during a hot-oil treatment and of course that coconut smell... Divine!

Cold pressed virgin coconut oil is not as affordable as the regular one and since exchange rate keeps rising, the price keeps increasing hence the need to make my own virgin pressed coconut oil. The last time i checked, a bottle of Trader's Joe coconut oil goes for 8000 naira on konga excluding shipping, now who has that amount of money to spend on coconut oil? definitely not me!

Here's a detailed pictorial on how to make your very own cold pressed virgin coconut oil for your hair, body, mind and soul...

I used five Coconuts but you can use more.

Coconut

1. Cut coconut into small pieces to enable you blend it using an electric blender. Trust me you don't want to use a grater for this, you'll be tired before you even get to the third coconut.

cut coconut into small pieces and blend

2. Use the coconut water while blending, you can add a little water if it's not enough.

Coconut water

3. Extract the Coconut milk from the flakes making sure to squeeze out all the milk. After the extraction, cover your coconut milk with cling film and leave in a dark place to ferment for 24 to 48 hours.

Coconut Milk

4. After fermentation, you'll have three layers, the first layer is this brown residue, the second layer is the oil while the last layer is water.

After Fermentation

5. Using a spoon, gently scoop the first layer to expose the second layer which is the oil.

First layer

6. I didn't do mine gently and at the end i still had the first layer mixed with my oil. don't worry if yours looks like this, i have the perfect way to separate it.

Second layer is the oil

7. Put in the freezer for two to three hours or longer to help separate the water from the oil

After putting in the freezer

8. When you take it out of the freezer, you will have a solid white mass on top, that
is the coconut oil, break the iceberg and use a strainer to carefully separate the oil from the water.

Coconut Oil
Because i didn't separate the first layer well, i had to let it melt so i could sieve it to remove the brown residue.

After extraction, i had about 1/4 of coconut oil and i wasn't happy. All the effort and i couldn't even get enough coconut oil for two hot oil treatments so i decided to try something else.

Remember that brown topmost layer? because i didn't separate well, i had my oil in the mixture so i decided it to pop it in the microwave for about five minutes and my Coconut oil appeared, all of it. Sieve the coconut oil again to remove the remaining brown residue and add it to the other one you got before. Your homemade coconut oil is ready

Is it still virgin pressed? i think so! but the next time i try it i will gently separate the first layer from the oil to avoid the heating process. If you live in Nigeria, you might want to leave this in the fridge

Here's the final product.

THE HEAT PROCESS
For those of you that can't go through the long process, here's the heating method.

Let the coconut milk ferment for 12 to 24 hours, here you will have first layer which is coconut cream and second layer which is water. Carefully separate the Coconut cream from the water.
Pour the coconut cream in a pot and cook on low heat, stir the cream while heating till the oil starts coming out, you will know it's ready when the left over residue in it turns golden brown. Sieve with a strainer and your Coconut oil is ready.

Are you willing to splurge on Coconut Oil or will you be buying 600 naira Coconut and making your own virgin pressed coconut oil like me?

Till next time... Love your kinks

4 comments

, by Natural Hairven

Act Natural

ACT NATURAL, THINK NATURAL, BE NATURAL

2 comments

, by Natural Hairven

Afro

NOTES BEFORE GOING NATURAL

Lately, Natural hair has become a trend, everyone is going natural or transitioning, they are all joining the natural hair community which is a good thing considering we are all saying bye bye to relaxers and all the chemicals in it but I think some of them are going natural for the wrong reasons.

Here are some of the reasons i hear when people see my hair or i discuss hair with random people,

I want my hair to look like yours, (I kinda like that one) I want my hair to look fine after bantu knots, I saw someone with natural hair and it looked so curly, everyone is going natural now so lets join the train…. Blah blah black sheep!

At the end of the day you find out that they don’t have a good enough reason to go from relaxed to natural, most of them are the ones that end up relaxing their hair after 6 months because they can’t handle it. I know some of them are reading this… looool

Before you go natural you need to make up your mind that you’ll take very good care of your hair, learn how to style your hair yourself. I mean every naturalista needs to learn how to be their own stylist, if you can’t wash your hair yourself, how will you do all the deep conditioning, pre-poo and all the other treatments involved…

Right?

Going natural is not just about not relaxing your hair, its about caring for your strands like your life depended on it…. No scratch that, it’s really not that deep. Think of something you love, lets say makeup for makeup lovers and put your hair in the same position, the same way you care about your brushes, your lippies and co, care for your hair like that and it will grow to respect you.

Don’t expect your hair to go from 0 to 100 overnight, this is my 3rd year post relaxer and my hair didn’t just become a massive fro all of a sudden. Learn to love your hair at every stage because once you pass that stage you cant go back, you can if you want to cut your hair. I didn’t enjoy my twa(teeny weeny afro) stage because I was too engrossed in hair length that I forgot to rock my TWA and i don't want that for you.

My advice to all newly naturals, enjoy every stage of your hair, go on YouTube, read blogs, try new things, get dirty with all the tips and tricks of natural hair so you can find what works for you. Try not to become a product junkie in the quest for growing your natural hair, your kitchen should be your first store. Always remember Its your hair journey so embrace it.

Yes, you have to say this out loud

Good!

Till next time... Love your kinks

2 comments

, by Natural Hairven

ACV

HOW I WASH MY HAIR WHILE WEARING A PROTECTIVE STYLE

1 comments

, by Natural Hairven

Braids

THE PROTECTIVE STYLE CHALLENGE

The Protective Style Challenge simply means having your hair in a protective style for 6 months… from now till December. I don't mean having the same protective style for 6 months... NO, i mean changing it up once after 6 weeks or more, but making sure your hair is always tucked away in braids, twists, weaves, wigs, whatever protective style you want from now till December.

The whole point of this challenge is to retain length. Who doesn't like length retention? Everyone wants to see growth and that means retaining length. The idea is that when you have your hair in protective styles you minimize the rate of manipulation caused on your hair. A protective style should be left on for 6 - 8 weeks that is 2 months max.

Always remember, just because your hair is in a protective style doesn’t mean you should abandon it! Now you're asking yourself what is she talking about. Keep calm…While your hair is in a protective style you should moisturize daily to avoid dry scalp, itchiness, and dandruff. If you already have a protective style on and want to learn how to moisturize your scalp here’s what you’ll need

Spray bottle

I cup Water

3 pumps of Conditioner

2 tablespoons Coconut Oil

2 tablespoons Castor Oil – Increases hair growth

3 drops Tea Tree Oil

Mix all the above ingredients in a spray bottle, and spritz your hair every morning or every night, whenever it’s convenient for you. You don’t have to use this exact ingredients, you can use any oil you have, you can also replace the conditioner with a leave-in conditioner, whatever you have in your house at the moment works. The shell life of this moisturizer is two weeks, you can make a small batch to avoid pouring away after two weeks.

As much as protective styling is good for your hair, it can also cause damage if you leave it on for too long or if you don't care for your hair underneath the protective style, this is where moisturizing daily comes in, you can also wash your hair while in twists or braids. I will be putting up how I style and take care of this hair as the weeks go by, I plan to leave this on for 6 weeks or more… I can only hope

Finally, here comes the big question! If you think you can join in this challenge just comment down below. We will all send in our progress report at the end of the year to see if we retained length.

Who’s with me???

Till next time... Love your kinks

2 comments

, by Natural Hairven

PRODUCT HAUL

Product Review: Mega Growth Anti-Breakage Strengthening Deep Conditioner.

CROCHET BRAIDS __ GODDESS LOCS

WASH AND GO ON 4C HAIR

JOURNEY TO HAIRVEN

with South African Chisomo

DIY: HOW TO MAKE COLD PRESSED VIRGIN COCONUT OIL

ACT NATURAL, THINK NATURAL, BE NATURAL

NOTES BEFORE GOING NATURAL

HOW I WASH MY HAIR WHILE WEARING A PROTECTIVE STYLE

THE PROTECTIVE STYLE CHALLENGE

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