Natural hair and winter 101

The colder season means it’s time for chunky knits, hot chocolates and boots. It’s also time to update your hair regime for the fall/winter season. Natural hair needs more moisture and protection in the winter than those warmer months. Remember your wash and goes and cute twist outs? It’s time to say good bye to those and opt for protective styling.

With the weather dryer than usual, your hair will be affected by the elements: rain, wind and snow (not yet but hopefully we get a white Christmas!) the trick to maintaining healthy hair during this time is really simple: moisture, moisture, moisture and condition, condition and condition and throw in protective styling too. This simple guide will give advice/info on how to carry your hair ( and head) through the season.

Wash day      

Pre- poo– I must confess when I am in a hurry, I completely miss this step and go straight for shampooing. In the colder seasons, you want to make sure you incorporate this into your wash regime every wash day! Hot oil treatments are the one for the season. This will help shed hair slip out easily and also provide extra moisture if you have to shampoo. Try all time favs like olive oil, coconut oil or castor oil. Of course feel free to mix and match for your perfect concoction

Co-wash – It’s to swap your shampoos for co washes (like you haven’t done so already). Creamier co-washes will ensure your hair is cleansed without stripping your hair of moisture. Try Cantu conditioning co wash, review can be seen here >> http://wp.me/p1uQOd-D2      IMG_20150701_202723

Deep condition- I can not stress this enough. Deep condition every wash day is also a must for this season. For extra benefits, use a heat cap, steamer or warm towel to help the conditioner penetrate the shaft more. Reconstructors are ‘light’ protein treatments that will help repair any damages to your hair. Try Curl Harmony Intensive treatment

deep conditioner is blue
deep conditioner is blue

http://wp.me/p1uQOd-Fe , Boucleme curl conditioner http://wp.me/p1uQOd-FO

Finally, do not skip on your leave in conditioners (I recommend Cantu leave in, Giovanni direct leave in, heavy butters and oils to seal all that moisture in!

Protective styling

Trimming – Since many of us opt for protection styles like wigs and braids, it’s now the perfect time to get a trim. This is get rid of any split ends and ensure your hair is healthy. If you got a bit scissor happy or your stylist did, don’t worry as it will be hidden in your protective styles anyway. When wearing a protective style, remember to keep your scalp healthy by using scalp oils. My fav combo at the moment is castor oil, olive oil, rosemary and spearmint oils. This will ensure your scalp is not dry which in turn will prevent itchy scalp (Weave pat anyone?).

That’s all folks! What are your tips for maintaining your tresses in the colder seasons? Share them below! Let us know what products you’re using/loving, I am always on the hunt for new products to try ( with that been said, I will have a bunch of reviews up shortly as I have acquired a lot of new products recently, yay!)

Happy Friday

How you celebrating?

Love Sarah

Top 10 under 10!

Hey beautiful people, how is everyone doing? Good I hope! So todays post will be for anyone who is looking to save money on some hair goodies! If you’re on a budget, or just looking to try something new without breaking the bank then check out my top 10 products under 10 pounds that do just the trick! These 10 have been tried and tested by me so that you take out the guess work and just purchase, purchase purchase lol. Infact most of these are under £5! As a bonus I will have 5 more products that are worth checking out too

What I did as well is to add some stuff from UK brands ( first 4 are UK brands) as I know from my Laika project survey( if you haven’t taken the survey please do so by clicking here >> https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1k9hvKmw3wjICTL-rFAqo3XxF29eO5l9MzJXeI1X1W8w/viewform?c=0&w=1 ) a lot of you would like to try UK brands but find there isn’t enough reviews or don’t know where to purchase.

I will leave links to where to purchase, prices (of course) and reviews, all you gotta do now is get a notepad and pen and start writing! Let’s get started!

  1. LoveShea whipped Shea butter in key lime pie- £8.50IMG_20150810_193255

1st impressions review >> http://wp.me/p1uQOd-H1

Full product collection post > http://wp.me/s1uQOd-loveshea

Buy online at http://www.loveshea.co.uk/products

 

2. Mon Shea Shea soap -£ 4.50 sheaso

First look > http://wp.me/p1uQOd-ys

Full review > http://wp.me/p1uQOd-AM

Buy online at http://monsheabutter.co.uk/

 

 

 

3. Curl Harmony intensive repair deep conditioner 60ml- £ 4.95

deep conditioner is blue
deep conditioner is blue

Full product collection > http://wp.me/p1uQOd-Bn

1st impressions review> http://wp.me/p1uQOd-CP

Full review > http://wp.me/p1uQOd-Fe

Buy online at http://www.curlharmony.co.uk/shop/

 

 

4. SheaButter cottage bentonite clay- £ 3 for 100g bentonite-clay

Bentonite clay experience > http://wp.me/p1uQOd-wg

Buy online at > http://www.sheabuttercottage.com/home.php

 

 

 

5.Cantu leave in creamy hair lotion- £ 5.49

my cantu collection
my cantu collection

Full product collection> http://wp.me/p1uQOd-yF

1st impressions review > http://wp.me/p1uQOd-zh

Full review > http://wp.me/p1uQOd-D2

Buy online at http://shop.britishcurlies.co.uk/cantu/

 

 

 

6. NuNaat garlic shampoo £ 5.95NAAT_Garlic_Extra_Force_Shampoo_260x260_15537.1411569336.380.380__50936.1423217067.215.215

Full collection > http://wp.me/p1uQOd-yV

1st impressions review> http://wp.me/p1uQOd-Bb

Buy online at http://shop.britishcurlies.co.uk/nunaat/

 

 

7. ecoEco styler gel- £ 2.50

Buy online at http://shop.britishcurlies.co.uk/ecostyler-gels/

 

 

 

 

 

8. Motions pre wash detangling butter- £ 4.69pre wash

Full collection> http://wp.me/p1uQOd-Er

Review> http://wp.me/p1uQOd-t7

Buy online at http://www.pakcosmetics.com/brand/motions/motions/motions-enhance-and-define-pre-wash-detangling-butter.html

 

 

9. ApHogee curlific – £ 3.9911349400_1012397648793566_707707684_n

Buy online at http://www.beautybyzara.com/aphogee-curlific-moisture-rich-leave-in-8-oz/#

 

 

 

 

 

10. Creme of nature leave in spray £3.99leave in

Buy online at http://www.beautybyzara.com/creme-of-nature/ 

 

 

 

 

Bonus 5 products also under 10 pounds!

  1. Try the rhassoul clay from SheaButter Cottage for £ 3.60 for 100g

Review > http://wp.me/p1uQOd-us

 

  1. Mon Shea pure Shea oil £ 7.99

First look > http://wp.me/p1uQOd-ys

Full review > http://wp.me/p1uQOd-AM

 

  1. Dr Miracle’s conditioning shampoo £ 2.99

Mini review plus other recommendations > http://wp.me/p1uQOd-za

Buy in store

 

  1. Try Love Shea other scented whipped Shea butter, I have the bake well tart scent too

1st impressions review >> http://wp.me/p1uQOd-H1

Full product collection post > http://wp.me/s1uQOd-loveshea

 

  1. Cantu Leave in conditioner for natural hair

Full product collection> http://wp.me/p1uQOd-yF

1st impressions review > http://wp.me/p1uQOd-zh

Full review > http://wp.me/p1uQOd-D2

 

That’s all folks! This will be the 1st post in my budget series. i hope this is helpful to anyone looking for UK brands or new products to try out. Please check my UK brands page under the natural hair tab for good products from UK brands!

Please comment and subscribe so you don’t miss a thing! I usually post mini reviews on my Instagram so check out that under the social tab and follow me!

Let me know what your fav products under 10 pounds are!

See you soon!

Curl Harmony Full Review

Hey family, many of you having been asking about the full review on the Curl Harmony products I received! Curl Harmony is a UK based natural hair company providing natural hair products with the finest ingredients. Check out all the previous posts below:

Curl Harmony product collection > http://wp.me/p1uQOd-Bn

Curl Harmony 1st look/impressons>> http://wp.me/p1uQOd-CP

 

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I now have a full review written which is currently up on the British Curlies website! I told you guys I am part of their Bloggers association now right? Anyway to check out the post, link the link below:

http://www.britishcurlies.co.uk/2015/08/curl-harmony-review/

My final verdict – I love these products esp the deep conditioner and will recommend that to my type 4 girls. If you would like to visit their website for more info or to make a purchase, please click Curl Harmony image right below the insta bar and it will take you directly to the website!

July Monthly Products

Hey family, how you doing *Wendy voice* this is the 3rd post in my monthly products series. I was blessed this month with 90% of the products. I was given them to review. These are now up and if you would like to check them out please click the corresponding links

Cantu for natural hair > http://wp.me/p1uQOd-D2
Curl harmony > http://wp.me/p1uQOd-CP
NuNaat > http://wp.me/p1uQOd-Bb
Nailbox (for the nail polish n tool) > http://wp.me/p1uQOd-zc

20150719_104625

 

The makeup forever step 1 mattifying primer-£13 pounds from Debenhams. This is the 15ml size, it also comes in 30ml for £23 pounds I think. I read some good reviews for this and I really wanted to try it out: hence the smaller size. I will let you guys know how it performs.

20150719_235603

 

Montague jeunesse runny honey mask – this was 90p from Primark. I have used this now and you can check it out by clicking here > http://wp.me/p1uQOd-Df

20150719_122439

I also got some goodies from SheaButterCottage! I love this store so much and I have been stalking it for quite some time now lol. I got African black soap, pure cocoa butter which smells so good btw and bentonite clay. I prefer this over rhassoul clay even though they say rhassoul is better. I got a bigger packet to last longer.  I will have some recipes up for the cocoa butter once I gather all my ingredients and play around with them.

Anyway I have tried both clays from SheaButter cottage and reviews for them are on here if you wanted to check them out.

Bentonite clay > http://wp.me/p1uQOd-wg

Rhassoul clay> http://wp.me/p1uQOd-us

That’s all folks. Products I have bought/ been given this month. Let me know if you have used any of these.

Watch out for next month’s edition. Also I have something very different for you guys, not hair or beauty related! Like a mini vlog? Well what do we call it if it’s written? Blog? Lool for you. I also have a Nailbox swatches post for you guys coming up!

Until then, I hope u guys had a fab month and looking forward to August. I am! Can u we are more than half way through the year?

Until next time

Love
Sarah

Want to know all about curly hair and how to maintain your tresses with the right products? The essential guide from Curl Harmony is the one for you! click on the image for more information!

 

 

CURL HARMONY 1ST LOOK

Hey loves, how’s everyone doing? So this post will be the 1st impressions on some Curl Harmony products I received last week. I feel as though this post is late lol forgive me.

So I featured Curl Harmony in my product collection series, you can view the post the clicking this link >> http://wp.me/p1uQOd-Bn  What’s great about this? Its UK based!

So Nadine the lovely owner sent me the intensive deep conditioning treatment, the buttercream and the curl reviver
20150715_174738

I have now used all of them and here’s my 1st thoughts on them

Intensive conditioning treatment. I love the super thick consistency of this! The thick consistency is perfect for my type 4 c hair. I applied it and left for about 20 minutes then an extra 10 mins with heat. Results?  Super soft and moisturised hair. My curls came out a little more defined!  I then used the buttercream to seal in my leave in conditioner and used the curl reviver for a twist out. That buttercream is good! A little goes a long way. I didn’t have to use my hair lotion for about 3 days because of the buttercream! It’s great for sealing in moisture I highly recommend it. You can actually use it as a hot oil treatment too. I haven’t tried this but next wash day I will and let you know how it performs. The smell reminds me of something else but I can’t remember what that thing is lol. I have been thinking about that for a while trying to figure it out.

Curl reviver was great in defining my twists. This would be the second time a product has been great in giving me definition in my twists. Loveeee. No flakes! No flakes I repeat no flakes lol! I also like the smell of this one.

I applied my Cantu leave in, buttercream then curl reviver. This is a perfect combo!

Next wash day I will be using the buttercream as a hot oil treatment then follow up with the conditioner.

That’s all folks my first impressions on these Curl harmony products. If you want to check them out here’s a link for u, click the image below,

For more info follow them on twitter and Instagram

Curl Harmony
and their website >> http://www.curlharmony.co.uk/

That’s all folks for now. Let me know what you think. Until next time

Love

Sarah

CURL HARMONY

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Hey family! I hope everyone is doing great. So I have been working hard searching for the best UK based brands for you and voila, I came across Curl Harmony!

Curl Harmony is a UK based natural hair company that produces products free from harmful chemicals e.g. sulphates, silicones and petrochemicals.  All products are made with natural or naturally derived ingredients with minimum amounts of fragrance oils.

In simpler terms, the products have been formulated using luxurious natural ingredients to suit every curly girl’s needs! I’m talking to my type 4 sistas and type 2 a/b/z (lool I don’t think there is a type 2z…. yet…)

So it’s a good collection featuring all the essentials: a cleanser, deep conditioner and a leave in conditioner! The full product list is as follows:

  1. Curl Cleanser
  2. Smoothing conditioner
  3. Leave in conditioner
  4. Intensive repair deep conditioner
  5. Buttercream
  6. Curl reviver

Since you guys don’t mind not having pictures of every single product (thank God lol), I will be doing these collections without them, Lord knows I am running out of storage on my WordPress account lool.

Review time!

 

 

So I have been speaking to the lovely Nadine, the owner of Curl Harmony who sent me some products to review! I got the

20150715_174738

  • Leave in conditioner
  • Deep treatment mask
  • Buttercream

So you guys are in for a first impressions/ full review from me! I’m sorry I can’t try all the products I feature in this series lol (I’m only human with a limited amount of space and one head of hair lool, but remember this series is to bring you information on the brands out there for us and where to purchase them in the UK, if I happen to use it of course I will add a personal review for you guys J)

So look out for more information about these products soon, wash day is close by! Lool. Here in the UK you can get the full product range on their website > http://www.curlharmony.co.uk?tap_a=3216-11cfd5&tap_s=4594-418706

That’s all folks. I am really happy you guys are enjoying this series. I have loads more to come. I have realised in doing this series that, there are a lot of companies that now have a natural hair product collection from just catering to relaxed girls previously. Obviously the quality of these are yet to be determined by us. There are also a LOT of natural hair companies that offer great products. There are also UK based companies with really great products waiting to be discovered by us. (Did I just get deep there? Lool)

So until next time (off I go to enjoy my curl harmony products and my days off lol)

Love

Sarah