Friday, February 13, 2015

Protective Styles-BUN life


5 Easy Bun Styles.


One of my favorite styles is the bun. It's quick, easy, and there's so many different ways you can do them. Buns are also a great low manipulation/protective style to keep your ends tucked away, especially if you're currently experiencing freezing temperatures like me #sadface lol. Below I'll show you 5 of my recent favorites, along with a few tips that I always use when doing this style.



1.
Simple, twisted bun.
2.
Braided high bun.


*Adding small cornrows along her hairline not only helps the style last longer, but also eases tension along her hairline.


3.
Low braided bun w/ clip accessory.


4.
Half  and half. Twisted top knot bun w/braidout



*Using an accessory like a clip or headband is always a nice touch. Half up/half down styles are always super cute too!



5.

Sleek, twisted side bun.


*I rarely use gel when doing buns. To achieve a nice, smooth, finished look I tie a satin scarf around her hair for about 10-15 minutes.



Thank you for taking a look at some of my favorite buns. I hope the tips provided will help if you decide try your version of any these styles. 


Be on the look out for my next post where I will do a "High Bun Pictorial" which includes the general 'step by step process' and products used on all of the buns pictured. :)


Sneak Peak: High Bun
















Monday, February 9, 2015

The "L.O.C. method"





I get a lot of questions about dry hair or keeping hair moisturized in general, and I always tell people about the LOC method. This method was one of the first things I learned about in regards to natural hair care, and has been instrumental in keep Amaya's hair moisturized.

Each letter in the acronym stands for a different step in the method. When done correctly the LOC method can help to lock moisture in the hair longer, preventing breakage and aiding in length retention.

L.O.C. (L-Liquid O-Oil C-Cream) Method
 Below I will list some of my favorite things to use when doing the LOC method.
12-17-15 UPDATE-Products highlighetd in red are still used as part of my current regimen.
To see updated LOCmethod picture and products click The LOC method via Instagram
Liquid
  • WATER!! Water is thee ONLY true moisturizer so I always start with wet hair.
  • Aloe Vera Juice. Great for itchy scalp, dandruff. Promotes shine and strength.
  • Strawberry Custard (now Strawberry Pudding) for girls via @naturalkidsrocktoo. Great WATER based moisturizer which also includes ingredients like aloe, jojoba, avocado, castor, argan and glycerin. I love to mix this with water in a spray bottle for daily/nightly refreshing of her ends.
Oil
  • Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • Crisco. Yes, that Crisco lol. It's just a mix of soybean and palm oil. The consistency is perfect for her long, thick hair. I use this as the 'C' sometimes as well.
  • CoCoNutty Oil via @naturalkidsrocktoo Some of the ingredients are Organic coconut oil, organic burdock root,  and organic lavendar. While my hair hates anything with coconut, her hair eats it up!
Cream
  • Tresemme Conditioner. I actually haven't used the Tresemme recently, but it was my go to for at least a year. I wanted to start to use an actual leave in for her hair vs a rinse out conditioner because, that's what they're made for lol. 
  • Giovanni Direct Leave-In. I saw this product being suggested by quite a few people I trust but was hesitant to switch because of the bottle size/price ratio. I'm happy to say I'm glad I gave it a shot because it is the BOOOMB! 
  • Bigger Is Butter via @naturalkidsrocktoo. I always thought it was weird when people said they thought about eating certain products..until I received this one! Whipped cocoa and shea butter, JBCO, jojoba oil, avocado oil to name a few make for a nice, creamy consistency that not only smells great, but adds softness for days.

  After using this method on wash days, I also mix the same products in a spray bottle for refreshing and touch-ups throughout the week. How often you do the LOC method is strictly up to you and what you think your hair needs.You may see some people use the LCO methodLOCO method or several other variations and that's fine. Its all about finding what works for your hair and sticking to it. Thanks for stopping by, I hope the information provided was helpful in your natural hair journey!