My blow drying magic

Hey everyone..I get so excited when I discover new ways of making my hair look better and yes this is me sharing it with you. I'm 12 weeks post (it's been 12 weeks since I last relaxed my hair) and I can't believe how amazing it looks just by undergoing a proper blow dry...

• It's usually tough to manage so much new growth especially when you have to be on your hair. Protective styling (especially fixing) does help but really if you feel better being on your hair like I do, then a proper blow dry can help you flaunt it for a few days.
• First I had it steamed with a mixture of Hair mayonnaise, olive oil, shea butter etc.
• After washing and drying, I made sure to apply a heat protector before blow drying from the roots.

                       Picture from Africanhairblog

If you're overdue for a relaxing or texlaxing process

like I am, do not expect this to last longer than a week or two but you can enjoy the lustrous feeling while it lasts.

To trim or not?

Oh well! I haven't been here in ages and I have missed my blog. I'm back now to share the latest on my hair care regimen.

Everyone says trimming is good for the hair. Most hair stylists also recommend it but when asked about the benefits of trimming all you'd hear is "It helps your hair grow longer". I was never satisfied with that because it wasn't logical but rather ironic that cutting my hair every six to eight weeks would help it grow longer. I didn't understand the science behind that and truly I never tried to. I relax my hair quarterly, and each time, I expect a significant increase in length, but how do I get to see it if I have to trim that often. These were my thoughts...
 
So recently, I decided to give it a try and here's the result....

Before

 

.......meets After

 

And now here is my conclusion.

 

Trimming is quite necessary to avoid and to get rid of split ends because hair breakage usually sprouts from the weak and damaged hair strands. For relaxed hair, as it grows, and also due to frequent combing, styling and other environmental conditions, it is likely to have split ends, which if neglected leaves the hair looking frayed and brittle at the ends. When you trim, you actually get rid of those weak ends, thereby maintaining a healthy long hair, full and dense to the tips and free from breakage.

 

It's advisable to trim every time you relax your hair, because then you have a new growth, which you would love to maintain. Every retouch process can make your hair thin out at the ends, therefore it is advisable to trim.

 

 

                                                 

 Picture from Make me beauty place

 

Trimming isn't what makes the hair grow longer, apart from efficient hair care routines and proper dieting, your hair grows half an inch every month. Trimming only assures its firmness to the ends, and this way, you get to enjoy a break free and bouncy length.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Easy and Natural

Have you ever longed to do a quick treatment on your hair, but got discouraged by cost and time constraints?  Are you like me, who gets tired of all the big names and sophisticated hair products sometimes? Are you simply a fan of natural remedies? Do you dislike long routines that get you tired? Well, here is something for you. It's very natural, easy,quick and affordable.  I tried this and loved the outcome.

Avocado Treatment for your hair.

• Avocado
• 1/2 cup of water 
• 1 tsp of Olive Oil

Wash or co-wash your hair. Blend this together and apply to your hair, from the scalp to the tips. Put on a shower cap and wrap up in a hot towel (not necessarily). Leave it on for about an hour before rinsing it out completely.You do not need to shampoo again.

You can repeat this weekly, the result would be amazing, though I did it once and got lazy...

Avocado is an effective deep conditioner for your hair. It adds shine, prevents hair loss and that also means it promotes growth. Rich in vitamins A, K, E, C, B6, Amino acids and so on....It works wonders on black hair, either in the natural or relaxed form.

I've always known that avocado, just like other natural products (egg, honey....) is good for the hair, but it's one thing to know and another to try it out yourself. The soft and lustrous feeling I got was simply amazing.

Arit goes back to her roots

Hi everyone, Mondays are always too serious to accommodate anything else, but start yours on a lighter note with Arit's display of her Naija heritage.

      

  

All hail the Oron, Akwa Ibom Princess, the "uyaya" Arit Edet on her traditional wedding ceremony. I love it when people go deep down to the roots like this. Check out her traditional attires, maidens and the cultural dance display which is usually a significant part of the ceremony....

When it comes to culture, it's quite obvious Naija has it in abundance. 

Be Proud, Be Royal, Be your own Queen!! "Rep your culture" 

If you're out there thinking you had the highest number of traditional outfits and hairstyles on your wedding,you just haven't met Arit yet. She nailed it, and I'm totally in Love. Akwa Ibom/CrossRiver surely has got the culture magic wand....*wink*

more pictures

                                                                                          

Unfolding MyNaijaheritage

MyNaijaheritage opens with Oty and Smart's cultural pre- wedding photo shoot. Very ethnic, Very inspiring!

Photos by Image Faculty. Smart, The groom to be himself.

Makeup by Otis Makeup Artistry, the bride to be

When the photo guru and makeup artiste come together to conquer the world. lol. The perfect union.

They look absolutely amazing together, with the ibibio casual outfit. So original! like back in the days when culture dominated. "I'm getting married to my friend, classmate, sister, colleague, makeup artist and missing rib"- Smart.

This depicts culture in the modern world. I love it...
Follow on Instagram @mynaijaheritage
Email mynaijaheritage@gmail.com
Send your naija"repping" pictures

How to get your simple curls without applying any form of heat.

In whatever form you have your natural hair, whether relaxed or purely natural (virgin hair), your hair needs to stay moisturized. The simplest, cheapest and most natural way of moisturizing is by using oil ( Extra virgin olive oil ) and water. 

Don’t mind all these bottles (na just packaging). It’s just oil and water. Divide your hair into three or four sections. Spray the oil and water (now you see why I need the bottles, it’s for easy spraying), the water first, massage a little before spraying the oil, massage it into your scalp and then braid each section of hair and tug the tips right under “Calabarizing style”Lol

                                             

       

You can leave it on over night, or all through the day if you have to be at home, but preferably all through the night. The next day, loose the braids, run your fingers through them to keep them aligned, and then you would be set to go.  You can do this consistently for a week or more. I can go anywhere like that.
 
                                              

  
This exercise is particularly recommended because it helps you avoid combing. Yes, I don’t like combing my hair so much. This keeps your hair moisturized, it prevents breakage and gives room for so much growth. Anything that is natural is good for your hair and health generally.

Other moisturizers can be applied two to three times in a week. Your leave in conditioner for example should be used after shampooing and rinsing out to restore back the moisture you washed away. 

                   
   Your Oil moisturizer can be used everyday or two to three times weekly. This also works perfectly for natural(virgin) hair, not just relaxed hair, for the sake of our sisters that have gone natural. Dark and Lovely is what I use but there are so many other brands, Olive Oil, Motions etc. They all have their leave in conditioners and oil moisturizers. If, you haven’t been doing this, I think it’s time now…..

                                                                                                                          xoxo Eka

My Queen

She's one of the greatest gifts God has given to me. A mother like no other. She's beautiful, the queen of my heart, my best friend, gist partner, my sunshine, superwoman, super mum, super wife, I can go on and on. I love you mummy and on this special day, I wish you Long life, so long that you would see my grandchildren. I wish you more beauty as you age. I wish you good health and above all peace of mind. I love you with all my heart. Happy Birthday Mummy!.

Another November Queen, November babies are special. If you don't have a November baby in your life, please find one quickly. we are amazing..lol...and yea that's me in the picture, with absolutely no hair. Kai see baldness, but we thank the Lord that remembered me.

I wrote this back in the days. I can't even remember the year but reading it now, it's so funny to me. I cannot ignore the childish tone echoing behind the scene....but IT WAS ALL FOR MY MUM SO IT'S JUST FINE.

THE ONE I LOVE MOST

You are my best friend

And our friendship will never end

We stay by each other everyday

And have the happiest times while we play

But you cannot be so sure

That you are the one I love the most

And not even the wisest ghost

Can guess who I could count on for sure

I have a very special friend

Who can never let my fragile neck to bend

Who was there for me before I was born

And would never allow my gentle heart to mourn

Now my dear friend

We've been together since childhood

And together we will be till adulthood

So let's not deceive one another

For the one I love the most is my MOTHER.

                                                                                    Ekaette Ikpang

*unfiltered* *unedited*....I love you mummy........Happy Birthday!