MY 'GO-TO' TWIRL, A SIMPLE STYLE TUTORIAL

In my recent post I shared some tips that make managing my natural hair easier >here<, and I mentioned my 'go-to' style - you know that style you can always 'go to' when all else fails, or you're running late. Mine is a simple 'roll tuck and pin' style, that I've been asked about plenty of times and have been meaning to share a tutorial for, so here goes...

I posted a tutorial for this style on Youtube when I was new to vlogging, but I've been meaning to film a clearer updated version. Until then here's a written step by step. I hope it helps...

My 'Go-To' Twirl, Step by Step

1.) Work on moisturised hair, preferably detangled.

2.) Section off some hair at the front.

3.) You can decide what to do with the front section. I usually flat-twist it or do a canerow, or sometimes I just pin it loosely to the side.

4.) & 5.) Use a large elasticated headband. Place it on and roll it back slightly, as if you were going to create a puff.

6.) Sweep your hair forwards over the band (top, bottom and sides). Start by grabbing a section at the top and begin twirling it over the front of the band. Use the band as a guide/frame and continue following it around as you twirl.

7.) Use bobby pins to secure the roll at intervals as you go around.

8.) & 9.) Depending on how long your hair is, you may have some hair left by the time you get back to the top. I twirl up whatever is still out and pin it down slightly in front of where I originally began, and I'm done.

Professional, Protective & Suits Shorter Lengths
This style is not only my go-to because it's neat and easy, but because it keeps my ends tucked away, so it's worked as a brilliant protective style, and I think it's really helped my hair growth over the years. It's also possible to recreate this style on short/medium hair too, as I have done in the past, on a friend. It just takes a few more bobby pins to secure it.

If you want to make it really neat you can brush you edges before putting on your headband, or alternatively, once you've finished the style, you can wrap a headscarf around for about 10mins (or more) to set the hair.

Let me know if you give it a try, or even send me a picture. I'd love to know your thoughts.

Four Caribbean Beauty Secrets Revealed

Sponsored Post: Four Caribbean Beauty Secrets Revealed
The Caribbean is home to several thousand varieties  of tropical and exotic plants that grow and thrive in the natural sunshine without human intervention, no fertilisers. Many of us have already used, know of, or have reaped the benefits of using Jamaican Black Castor Oil or the Haitian variety l'huile maskriti. This oil is wonderful for kinky, curly hair but can be used for all hair types. It encourages circulation to the scalp which in turn brings the hair strands much needed nutrients for growth. It also helps maintain healthy hair.

There are other plants in the Caribbean which older generations will tell you are the best way to keep hair and skin supple and also keep the wrinkles at bay.

1) Jamaican Tuna

Jamaican Tuna or Opuntia ficus-indica is also known as 'Prickly Pear' or 'Barbay Fig'. 

The oil derived from Opuntia Ficus-Indica is said to be the most expensive beauty oils in the world due to the labour intensive and time consuming process to produce it. It contains numerous small black seeds from which the precious Prickly Pear Seed Oil is extracted. In Jamaica this plant is used to wash the hair but it can also be used for hair, skin and nails. Prickly Pear Seed Oil nourishes, moisturises, and softens the skin, tightens pores, has been known to prevent premature ageing and wrinkle formation, brightens dark spots and under-eye shadows.

2) Papaya

The fruit sometimes called Paw-Paw is bursting with antioxidants, minerals and vitamins A, C and E and has anti-inflammatory properties. Papaya has natural conditioning, moisturising and healing properties and is great for skin and hair. For supple, healthy, clear soft, spot free skin papayas smoothing and exfoliating properties are perfect. It helps to reduce brown spots, is smoothing, assists with wound healing, pimples, wrinkles, psoriasis and eczema. 

3) Aloe Vera

Promotes hair growth, reduces dandruff, and is a natural conditioner known as "the elixir of youth" and "the herb of immortality". It provides moisture and hydration for dry hair.

4) Guava

This delicious fruit is very rich in Vitamin A, B and C, and it helps prevent oxidation of cells. It is revered for both its vitamin content and anti-ageing properties and can also be important for hair as a natural source of fibre.

How Can I Get A Hold Of Products
With These Lovely Ingredients?

Joliette is AfroDeity's own brand of natural products for hair and skin formulated with a Caribbean theme. Joliette's CURL ME SOFT is a light shea butter and aloe vera leave-in conditioner. There are 3 versions: Guava & Prickly Pear, Mango & Papaya, and Caribbean Berry.

Why Joliette Created Curl Me Soft

Many people still believe that an oil can moisturise the hair. OILS DO NOT MOISTURISE! They can seal moisture into the hair or act as humectants and draw moisture in but they do not actually moisturise the hair. Applying an oil to dry hair will not moisturise it. A build up of oil may even block moisture entering the strand. 

We created Curl Me Soft as a way to add much needed moisture to the hair before applying an oil. It is great for twist outs and doesn't weigh hair down, as it has a light formula.  It also contains all natural ingredients particularly fruit extracts. This product has a mild fruit fragrance from incorporating fuit extracts like pomegranate and cranberry, and this gives it a pink colour too.
Ingredients: Aloe vera gel, Organic shea butter, Castor Oil, Green Tea extract, and Caribbean inspired fruit extracts.

*AfroDeity Ltd. is an online store that features and retails natural Caribbean Inspired hair and skin products. The ultimate goal is to help small farmers in the Caribbean and reinvigorate the declining agricultural industry by bringing natural healing oils and butters to the UK. Our main product line the signature Fountain Jamaican Oils Collection from which products are a mixture of oils and herbs grown in Jamaica is exclusive to AfroDeity. 

AfroDeity was founded by mother and daughter team Alicia and Joliette around the knowledge of healing herbs, oils and butters passed down through the generations and culminating in Alicia’s interest in science. As such combining beauty, science and their commitment to the rural Caribbean. 

Sources:

Guillaume, D. & Charrouf, Z. (2011). Argan Oil. Alternative Medicine Review

http://www.altmedrev.com/publications/16/3/275.pdf

Official Laboratory for Chemical Analysis and Research, Casablanca, Morocco

http://www.livestrong.com/article/557601-health-benefits-of-the-jamaican-tuna-plant

http://caribbeanessentials.com/pages/ingredients/4/

This is a sponsored post. The views, opinions and statements within this post are those of the author. They are NOT mine. Please view the PR & Policies Page for my blog disclosure statement. - Crystal Afro

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3 TIPS TO MAKE MANAGING NATURAL HAIR EASIER!

I know a lot of people still think that natural hair is hard to manage, but personally I've come to completely disagree with that idea.

It's hard to manage if you're trying to make it look like, or do the same things as, straight hair, but if you embrace it for what it is, its own unique qualities, it's not the problem that some people would have you believe.
For example, I used to spend ages trying to avoid my hair looking "too big", until, after ages of admiring other women's afros, it finally dawned on me that natural hair is naturally voluminous, and looks better when you embrace the volume, and play to that strength, instead of trying to fight it.

WHAT'S THE REAL ISSUE
I also think notions of social acceptability have a lot to do with this idea of "hard to handle" hair. If people felt that wearing their hair in its natural afro-like state, looked as acceptable as straight hair, there'd be no reason to try and change it.
In other words maybe our hair is not the problem. Maybe the real problem is our idea of what our hair "should" look like.
What do you think?

Again, when handling natural hair, if you're used to using techniques for straightened hair, you will find handling natural hair more difficult. I think its important to accept that different hair types require different techniques. Once you know the techniques that are best for you, they wont seem difficult.

3 HAIR HANDLING TIPS
Since going natural I've learned (and am still learning)  a lot about what does and doesn't work for me when doing my hair. I like quick fixes, so easily manageable hair is a must! Aside from my "Go To" style (which I'll post about soon) there are a few other techniques I employ to make managing my natural hair easy.

1. Separation
Whether washing or styling, it's so much easier and actually quicker to separate my hair into sections. The number of sections varies depending on how I feel. I tend to start with 4 and then depending on whether I'm styling or just going to bed I might split each of those sections into 2 or more smaller sections.
I often divide the areas that are most prone to tangles, into the smallest sections. Once they're sorted, everything else is so much easier.

2. Hydration
I prefer to work on my hair when it's moisturised.
Hydrating the hair increases it's elasticity and moveability, and can also help reduce friction and tangles. Depending on how much moisture my hair needs, I'll either go for a light spritz, a leave-in conditioner or hair milk. As long as it's water-based it usually does the trick.
I only add moisture when I feel it's necessary. For example, I'm reluctant to spritz a freshly unravelled twistout, as I'll loose the definition. Instead I'll spritz it while it's twisted up the night before taking it out; which leads me to my final tip...

3. Preparation
As with most things, she who fails to plan, plans to fail. Lol
If I want to get up and go quickly in the morning, it's all about preping the night before. That could be with twists or plaits, chunky or small; pineappling or a top knot, or on my laziest nights just covering my hair, whatever it's state, with a satin scarf or bonnet. Be warned the more prep you do the night before, the easier your hair will be to work with in the morning. On a wash day/night I put my hair in twists to dry overnight, but on a regular evening I tend to just do 4-6 chunky twists, plaits or flat-twists. This really helps keep my hair tangle free and easy to manage the next day.
I find the key to preping my hair at night is to put it in any style that prevents the ends from tangling. 

I hope this helps.
I'd love to know what your tips are for handling your hair with ease?