Hair Profile: Babalwa

 Fresh Dos, Hair care & Products, Natural hair  No Responses »
Oct 102013
 

 

Origins & current location?

My family originates  from a small, dusty town called  Alice in the Eastern Cape where my mom and dad grew up although most of our relatives reside in Port Elizabeth. We are currently staying at  Khayelitsha in  a township outside Cape Town in a section called Makhaza.

What are you currently up to?

I’m  currently  doing my second year at Cape Peninsula University of Technology studying National Diploma in Management, since I’m still hustling for a part-time job. I spend my weekends in poetry sessions performing or attending Hip Hop shows  where I mostly meet motivational soul sisters. I love art, I’m a proud book worm  who loves literature like serious business, and a peer educator at Tech when I don’t have assignments. I dedicate my time distributing condoms  at the campus, educating  our fellow students  on how to lead a positive lifestyle.

Why did you decide to go natural? Briefly take us through your natural hair journey.

I decided to go natural because I realised after so many  years of being tortured by  cream relaxers  five minutes  with the cream on my scalp felt like five years of agony  while my mom would be  shouting at me to wait  a little longer,  that was wasting her money. When I refused she would call me a coward  so I could give in. I had enough because every winter left me hairless. Finally I admitted that my scalp was too sensitive; even after the pain and burns my hair was still silky here and there.

In 2010 during the month of June I decided to start from scratch shaved my hair short. I groomed it by washing with Sunlight bar soap and moisturised with Vaseline although it was bumpy and uneven sometimes it saved me lot of time when preparing for school. In 2011 the comb became stiff, ruthless and showed no mercy so I went for treatment  at the salon  to be stylish  since our high school didn’t allow braids  or weaves so an Afro was and still is the million dollar hair style for Chris Hani Arts & Culture High School. During the holidays I cornrowed  the afro with edgy looks and patterns and kept on treating it once a month with Rosemary  oil moisturiser and Vaseline . In 2012 my first year at tertiary I got the title of being the late comer of the month so by the end of February that’s when I concluded on my birthday. I chose dreadlocks to be my tiara because  they’re convenient  and I’ve always said that  after high school I was going to be a sister (what they call ladies with locks in the township).

What do you love/ dislike about your locks?

I love the volume, the soft texture they have and the fact that  they make me look younger (without make up of course). What I don’t like about my locks is that they can get  so untidy. I think it’s the growth that drives my mom crazy because it grows so quickly then I end up looking bushy as if I’m high on weed or something.

What are some of the challenges and advantages you’ve experienced?

A challenge I’ve been struggling  most of my life with is dandruff; hair styles like cornrows would only last a week.  I couldn’t help scratching my scalp and  sometimes I had cuts and scars on the scalp, you would swear I was a Weet Bix  supplier cause the dandruff would pour on my shoulders in brown thick  dry flakes. Thank God  for the locks I was introduced to anti-dandruff  products  that nourished  my hair rapidly. I’ve managed  to grow a natural  pony tail of my own after years  of being teased  by siblings  and cousins;  the locks really really rescued me!

What is your hair care regimen?

I wash my hair every second week  with Jabu Stone shampoo and conditioner. I then base with the bees wax or with Maroza professional hair fertilizer.

What product are you using for your locks?

I use  and trust Jabu Stone’s anti-dandruff  spray, bees wax, Lite hair nourisher  and Maroza hair fertilizer which was recommended for baldness and dandruff.

Are you planning on cutting off you locks and growing an afro in the future?

It’s been a year now with locks and I’m not planning to retreat or surrender  anytime soon. I’m enjoying  each day with them and I have developed a bond with them. Theyare my babies and I’m giving them all the massages they need when they look dry and brittle, they’re a part of me now.

Which type of natural hairstyle(s) do you like to rock?

I like opening a side division and twisting  them into  a diagonal cornrow it always makes look neat and classy.

Do you have a favourite hair salon?

My favourite hair salon is Malume’s place on Lindela road in Makhaza, Khayelitsha. They don’t  plant wool on your hair compared to other salons I’ve been to. They work with your hair’s potential to lock , pay attention  to every detail of your locks  and provide  answers to all of my questions.

Any hair care tips you’d like to share with our readers?

All I can say for now is moisture, moisture and moisture ladies. Make it a priority, it’s working for me!

Where can our readers get hold of you?

Facebook: Babalwa Kepe.

#TlhodiGetsAWeave!

 Fresh Dos, Hair care & Products, Natural hair  12 Responses »
Jun 122013
 

Yes I got a weave, my first ever sew-in  in the history of weaves! At the beginning of this year, one of my resolutions was to try out a weave for protective styling once the cold season starts kicking in. As you guys know I’ve been experiencing issues with receding hairline this past year and that was actually one of the reasons I procrastinated.

Another reason was straight up the thought of myself wearing straight hair – I mean the main reason I went natural had nothing to do with chemicals; I just happened to believe I looked prettier natural (long, short, locs…whatever) than I did with straight hair. So after much consideration and a few discussions with my husband (who happens to be more anti-weave than he is anti-chemical…strange), I took the plunge and went for it.

The aim is to get to a certain length by December before I BC in the new year and I know I won’t get there with my hair constantly out. I started looking for a hairstyle that would be more me and finally I decided to go with what used to be my high school signature look (with my real hair back then); a look I’d be familiar with and this is what I finally decided on:

Oh the way Ntombi (my hairdresser) laughed when I walked in asking for a weave. It took her a good 10min+ to actually realize I was being serious.lol

The process

  • So what we did was the usual wash routine. I also tried out some conditioner a friend made & asked me to be her guinea pig (she wants to go into the hair product business).
  • We then applied the Nubian Nature hair Elixir (mixture of all sorts of natural oils) to the damp hair as a heat protectant. Please note this was a tester; their range goes on sale end of June.
  • This was followed by low-heat blowdrying.
  • She then used the same Hair Elixir oils to base my scalp.
  • Then the weaving began and I know most of you will relate to the famous “ungangiqinisi please (please don’t pull my hair too tight)” line that comes before they get into it.
  • I also used this tip I got from True Love magazine’s beauty editor, Thami Kwazi. What she does is ask the stylist to leave out the hair on the hairline in an attempt to prevent…well…you know what. *wink*

 Why I went for the cropped look?

  1. It’s not long. It’s become clear to me that I don’t like long straight hair for myself. Although it looks stunning on other people, it just doesn’t suit me.
  2. I’m more familiar with this look on me.
  3.  The best part – it covers my receded hairline, which gives me time to nurse it (which by the way has been improving lately) back to health without trimming my edges.

People’s reactions:

  • Husband – It took a day or two for hubby to get used to it and finally bring himself to say “Maar it’s not bad shem. It actually suits you”
  • Colleagues – When I went back to work, everyone LOVED it. Although it worries me a bit that people would get this excited about hair that’s not even mine than they would with my natural hair.
  • Friends – Another friend said “Oh that’s a razor cut; I though you said you got a weave” Well, I thought any sewn in hair, long or short was classified as weave…I could be wrong. *shrugs*
  • Others – My hubby’s friend screeched “Maara why??!!” when he drove my car and saw shed bits of the weave in the car. If anyone is 100% anti-weave, it’s that guy. My husband just responded with a “Ba re ke protective styling mfwethu” hahahaha. Bless him

I must say it took some adjusting geting used to this “hat” on my hair. I promise you on day one I kept feeling like I have one of those beanies on Nangamso’s hat post on. Every few seconds I’d get this urge to take the “beanie” off. And then the next morning I decided to clean the bathroom mirror…never been that freaked out at the sight of my reflection.lol

Two reasons I may not go for this particular sew-in again:

1. Itchiness. Yoh…the way I pat my head frantically like a mad woman when no-one’s looking. #CantDeal

2. My daughter has already mentioned several times how she want’s “hair like mine” when she grows up. Now I have to work extra hard to convince her how gorgeous her hair is in it’s natural state. Also #CantDeal!!!

How are you protecting your glory this winter?

Spotted On Twitter: Claire Mawisa

 Fresh Dos, Natural hair  4 Responses »
May 212013
 

We follow Claire Mawisa on Twitter & I recently spotted her gorgeous avi – and I just had to share! Check out those locs! Insane.

 I love the thickness of them, the colour and those curly spirals! Too beautiful! Do y’all agree??

You can follow her on Twitter @clairemawisa

Breaking Down Black Hair Types

 Fashion & Beauty, Fresh Dos, Hair care & Products, Natural hair  No Responses »
Apr 192013
 

I was surfing the net recently and came across a feature an essence.com article, titled Decode Your Coils: A Simple Guide to Curly Hair Types by Nicole Marie Melton.

I’m sure there’s thousands of articles out there on hairtyping but what I loved about this one in particular is that Nicole focused specifically on black hairtyping, and left out all those obvious Caucasian type As and Bs; better yet, she advised on how to look after each type. So here goes (and this is just an extract from the article, you may follow the above link for a full one).

 

Type 3 Curls

Description: Type 3 hair has a curl pattern with clearly defined spiral curls when the hair is wet. The hair tends to be springy and achieves natural, springy ringlets with wash-and-go’s. The loose curls of type 3 hair can either be as wide as a jumbo marker to as thin as a pencil. Larger curl sizes are most frequently identified as type 3A and 3B, while smaller curls are called 3C.

Type 3 curls can range in hair thickness from coarse to fine. It’s important to determine whether your hair has wide, thick strands or fine, fragile strands. Most often, type 3 curls are fine, thus they should be handled with extreme care.

Styling & Products: If your curls are type 3, your hair responds well to curl-defining gels, mouses and creams. Your hair tends to have a natural slickness to it, and is easier to achieve styles that require sleek edges such as updos and topknots.

Maintenance: Shampooing type 3 hair with a gentle, sulfate-free shampoo is highly recommended. Your hair dries out very easily, so it’s important to use moisturizing conditioners after each wash. Since your curl is naturally looser, heavy creams and butters tend to weigh the hair down and make it feel greasy. Instead, opt for lighter moisturizers with a serum-like formula to help maintain hydrated hair and shine.

When wearing wash-and-go’s, type 3 curly girls may experience frizz. This can be avoided by “plopping” the hair after you wash. Plopping is using a T-shirt instead of a towel to dry the hair which reduces friction because of the finer T-shirt fabric. You can also use a diffuser to help dry your hair and add a bit of volume.

Finger detangling is another secret that type 3 curly girls swear by. Instead of using a wide-tooth comb to detangle your hair with conditioner, try using just your fingers. This practice has been said to reduce the amount of breakage that can occur when combing the hair with plastic combs.

 

Type 4

Description: Type 4 curls are kinky, coily and tight. The curls are not defined when the hair is wet, and when the hair dries, it has a lot of shrinkage and a thick, fluffy feel. The tight coils of type 4 hair can either have an “S” or a “Z” curl pattern. “S” curls are most frequently identified as type 4A whereas “Z” curls are called type 4B and 4C.

Maintenance & products: Type 4 hair has fewer cuticle layers than any other hair texture, thus it has less natural protection from damage caused by excessive heat styling, too-tight styles and dryness. The key to maintaining healthy type 4 hair is moisture, moisture, and more moisture! Type 4 hair has been known to “drink” up moisturizer and responds well to sealing in moisture with oils, such as coconut and jojoba, and shea butter.

Type 4 hair must be handled with extreme care since your individual hair strands are often thin and therefore delicate. When washing your hair, look for moisturizing, sulfate-free shampoos or products specifically designed as co-washes to cleanse the hair. Deep conditioners are a must for maintaining moisture and occasional protein treatments can help strengthen fine strands.

Products for type 4 hair should be highly moisturizing and provide “slip” to the hair, meaning they help the hair stay detangled. When handling your hair, be sure to do in sections. Since your hair is very dense, detangling and styling section-by-section with a wide-tooth comb will make your hair easier to manage.

Styling: Twist-outs, braid-outs and updos work well on type 4 hair since it is more pliable and tends to hold styles more readily than looser curl types. Many women with type 4 hair also enjoy wearing protective styles, which are styles that conceal the ends of the hair in order to prevent breakage and aid in length retention. Protective styles include mini-twists, pompadours and any low-manipulation style that keeps the hair moisturized and tucked away.

This is an essence.com article.

My 1st Updo!!

 Fresh Dos, Natural hair, Photo Album  10 Responses »
Mar 082013
 

Yes, my hair has gained enough length to pull off an updo! I can’t even begin to tell you how excited I am. I’m sure a lot of you can relate to having a favourite natural hairstyle you’d die to pull off…if only your hair was long enough…but it’s not.

I tried it for the first time on Thursday and wore it to work (despite the short hair at the nape).

So I sent the above pic to a few friends and their positive feedback gave me courage to repeat the look the next day. The next morning I made more effort and pulled the hair a bit more higher, which made the bun slightly smaller than it appeared the previous day.

I must say I loved the day 2 look more and boy the compliments in the office…*clears throat*. I think I found MY LOOK (after bantu knot outs)!! Thank You Lord!

I softened my hair first with the moisturizer concoction inspired by Aisha of myfroandi. Be sure to check out her 30-day updo series. Girl got some sssskills for dddecades. I really wish I could braid my hair and work it the way she does hers. Well, I improvised and added coconut oil and olive oil instead…and tap water instead of Aloe Vera juice.

I then wrapped a wool thread around my head and gradually pulled it up ensuring no hair gets left out until I got to the bun I was happy with.

Please send your fave look to us and we’ll put it up on the blog.

Relaxer Big Chop vs Dreadlock Big Chop

 Fresh Dos, Natural hair  1 Response »
Mar 082012
 

We’ve all heard the words “Change is good” before. These two ladies decided to jump right into it in the not-so-new-anymore year by chopping their   pretty long manes off and going for shorter (natural) looks.

Muriel’s Relaxer BC

Before BC

After BC

How long have you been relaxing your hair before chopping it off? 

I think I started relaxing my hair when I started high school on 1996 since then it has been every six week.

How long was your hair when you cut it?
About shoulder length.

What motivated the big chop?
I thought about it for a while & every time I went to the salon to cut, I’d come back with relaxed hair. Eventually i went out for lunch with relaxed hair on my head and went back home with short natural hair.I got tired of relaxing & using chemicals; it’s also high maintenance and looks good first two week after relaxing then not so pleasing afterwards. Mine was also breaking so I grew tired of that as well.

Did you enjoy your relaxed hair?
Most of the times I did.

Describe the feeling you got after cutting it.
Light headed. Fresh air, it’s also great that I can shower from head to toe.

What challenges have you experienced so far with natural hair?
At first I didn’t know what to do with it and was not sure if it suited me or not. I also find it’s much more difficult to plait, comb & blow dry.

So far, have you been tempted to go back to relaxing?
Not yet; and I don’t think I will be for a while.

Would you encourage a friend to go natural as well?
Oh yes I would.

Where to from here?
I’m still trying to do different hair styles with my natural hair. I might go for dreads one of these days…baby steps.

Masindi’s Dreadlock BC

Before BC

After BC

For how long did you have your locs, before you decided to go short?
It was gonna be 3 years this March.

What motivated the big chop?
My locs started thinning and I am really in love with thick locs so will redo them in good time.

Did you enjoy your locs?
I loved every moment; now I wanna cry…

Describe the feeling you got after cutting them.
Sad at first but loving the new look as well…I still got tiny dreads (mafofora lol)

Did you keep them like other people do these days (so they can re-sew them back on again in the future)?
Nah, I’m definitely gonna grow them again but will make sure it’s the right thickness.

Had you kept them, would you lend them to someone else?
Had I kept them I don’t think I would. It was  tough getting to that length, so I feel everyone should go through that journey on their own; that way you’ll learn to appreciate, love and know how to take care of your mane….it’s a beautiful journey don’t deny yourself the opportunity. It teaches you patience and natural hair.

Where to from here?
Keepin it natural all the way baby….I want to treat my hair till its rich and thick again; regain my hair line then will decide….

Would you go back to locking in the future?
Ohh yeah locs are part a of me, I think I look pretty in them than any other hairstyle….It felt good to have long hair that was all natural.

 

 

 


My Loc Journey…

 Fresh Dos  4 Responses »
Feb 162012
 

So this year I decided to start the year off with a bang – or more like, a new “look” ! lol

I had been toying with the idea of locking my hair for a while now, partly because I wanted to try them out and see how it I would look like with dreads, and for the fact that I mostly wore my TWA (teeny-weeny-afro) in two-strand twists most days. I was getting tired of having to re-done them after a few days since they would get untidy too quickly or start unravelling. I also turned the big 3-0 recently and thought what better way to celebrate a new phase in my life than locking my hair:-)

So I plan to document my hair progress with dreadlocks and see how long it will take for them to grow and share my experiences with you along the way. I will also post up pics of myself sporting different hairstyles that the hairstylist manages to come with up (must say dreadlock hairstyle are very beautiful and so creatively done).

As a start, below are pictures of how my hair was like before I locked my hair (I started my dreads on a medium afro). The guy who started my dreads told me he uses a technique that makes them lock immediately…and he was right, they have actually locked (yay!) I will also include a picture of how they look now (after I unplaited the hairstyle). I started my dreads on the 5th of January 2012

This is my TWA in December 2011, before I started my dreads…

This is the hairstyle they did on my hair after they did my “starter dreads”…

I unplaited the hairstyle after two weeks, my scalp was starting to itch a lot by then. Below is how my locs came out after I washed them.

 I know my loc’s look a hot mess on the above pic, lol…but it’s still early days  The ends had locked but the roots were still loose.

This is how long they are at the bottom…(The red ‘bump’ by the nape of my neck was caused by the tight hairstyle, ouch)

The products I’m using so far are: Coconut oil, Jabu Stone’s All Purpose Spray and Styling Dredz Moisturising Spray.

Please feel free to give me any advice you have on dreads and I will also be sharing what works for me.

Looking forward to this journey of discovery!

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