THINGS THEY DON’T TELL YOU ABOUT THE BIG CHOP

You can go/ return natural by either transitioning or big chopping. For the newbies in the group, welcome! Transitioning is growing out your natural hair, while only trimming the damaged parts, until you’re all natural. Big chopping is, well, picking up the scissors and cutting your hair to any size between bald and a TWA of about 2-3 inches. I big chopped, and I’m here to tell you what your experience might be.

You will look different

Regardless of how long your hair was, once you big chop, you will look different. Hair frames your face according to how you style it. Having no hair will frame your face differently as well. For some, they love their new look and embrace it. For others, they feel the need to use more makeup or accessories. Others will want to cover up. Either way, embrace your journey! It is a way of challenging your inner confidence. Is your confidence tied to your looks? Because it shouldn’t.

You will feel different

This is especially for those of us who don’t experiment much. If you’re used to having your hair one way or at a certain length, having shorter hair may strike something on the inside. Like I alluded, my confidence was tried and tested. I had to be confident regardless of how different I looked. I had more bad hair days than good but I still had to show up. Prepare to feel different and to work on some stuff on the inside.

Styling won’t get easier

The good news is you will use less products and your wash days will be incredibly shorter. But styling shorter hair is not necessarily easier. Your hair may be too short for a braid out or too short for braiding in general. Defining or sleeking down short hair can be a tideous task. Hope for the best, prepare for anything.

Your curl pattern may not be what you expect

If this is the first time you are going natural, your curl pattern may surprise you. When your natural hair is growing out, it’s being weighed down by the damaged/ relaxed hair and this causes it to elongate. For example, an elongated 4c coil may appear like a 4a coil. Be ready to embrace the curls and coils.

Your hair will not grow as fast as you may anticipate

Using Youtuber’s length checks as your benchmark can be quite frustrating. In an year or two, your hair might not be down your spine, and that’s okay. Again, shrinkage can be savage. Your hair could seem like it’s stuck at the same length for months, but it’s just shrunken.

Pro tips

• Embrace the length, the look, the struggle, everything! You’ll be out of it faster than you know it and you might miss it.
• Experiment! Try new products and techniques. If you’ve been itching to colour your hair, do it now!
• Short hair is sexy, period! Short hair is gorgeous, stunning and it can make quite a statement.
• Document it, take photos, lots of them.

All the best!

TIPS ON WEARING YOUR NATURAL HAIR OUT FOR BIG EVENTS

I graduated! Yaaay! I’m officially a Quantity Surveying graduate. Yes!

Usually, on a big day such as my graduation, I’d straighten my hair or wear braids. However, I made the decision to wear my natural hair out on my graduation day because in my opinion, natural hair is just as beautiful as straight hair or braids or wigs. It was a big deal for me. I know that most people would choose to wear wigs because it’s easier to fit in the graduation cap (Chizi Duru has a youtube tutorial on fitting your natural hair in a cap) or it’s easier to maintain it throughout the day. I totally get it, and I agree! I have short hair which will get frizzy within minutes of styling. On top of that it shrinks (up to 30%). This can be very frustrating on a day where you want to look your best throughout.

Tip 1: Find a low maintenance style that caters for the characteristics of your hair.

Since my hair is short, medium to low density and loves frizz, I figured that the style I wear has to suite this. On photoshoot day, I went with a frohawk. With frohawks, I don’t have to worry about shrinkage, in fact, the more the shrinkage, the better. Definition was also not really as important as it would have been had I worn a braid out or twist out. And that’s my first hack.

Frohawk

Tip 2: Bobby Pins

Pins! Pins! Pins! Regardless of your hair characteristics, it’s bound to move around during the day. You’ll be out in the sun/ humidity and you’ll be hugging people etc. You need to try and maintain how you positioned your hair so that it frames your face the same way throughout the day. It doesn’t have to be pins, you can use ties or clips, whatever works for you.

Pins help frame your face

Tip 3: Roll and tuck

On the actual day of my graduation, I wanted a hairstyle that was elegant and different. I didn’t want the every day braid out, twist out or afro. I really think the most elegant way to wear natural hair for big events is in an up do. You don’t have to go to the salon, all you need is some gel and some pins. Stretch out your hair, roll it and tuck it. There are many tutorials on YouTube for this.

Roll and tuck updo

I really challenge you to wear your natural hair out on your graduation, wedding day, baby shower, TV interview, photoshoot or whatever your definition of big day is. Your hair is elegant enough!

BASICS OF STYLING NATURAL HAIR

The two main steps of maintaining natural hair are: cleaning it and styling. It is largely assumed that once you go natural you automatically know how to style your hair and so a lot of emphasis is put on the cleaning part. However, styling your hair is just as important. It is actually the determinant of whether or not you love your natural hair.

I like grouping the methods of styling into three:

1. Protective styling
2. Low manipulation styling
3. Heat styling

Your choice on which one to go for mainly depends on your routine and your technique. For example, if your routine does not allow you lots of free time to deal with your hair, protective styles may be your best bet. On the other hand, if you like playing with your hair and wearing it out, the other two may suit you best. That said there are other factors that will influence your choice. So here goes all the information you need to make an informed decision.

1. Protective Styling

Protective styles are styles that involve you tucking your hair, including its ends, away. They could be done with hair extensions or without but the main factor is that your ends are not exposed. They are the best if you do not have lots of free time to deal with your hair or if you want to grow out your hair.  They give you a break and allow you enjoy versatility. However, they can be bad when they are installed or uninstalled wrongly, left in for too long or neglected altogether. Examples are wigs, braids, twists, locs, cornrows etc

2. Low Manipulation Styles

As the name suggests, these are styles which involve some level of manipulation. They are styles which are not intended to last very long, usually one or two weeks. The ends of the hair may or may not be tucked in. They usually do not use any extensions. They are your best choice if you’re trying to have a consistent regimen which involves cleaning your hair often. They are also easier to install and it is usually a ‘do it yourself’ kind of thing. They can be bad when they manipulation is too much. For example, if you do not leave the style in for at least 3 days, it could count as over manipulation resulting in breakage. Examples are: braid outs, twist outs, Bantu knot outs, wash and gos, tuck and roll, high puffs, low buns, ponytails etc.

3. Heat Styling

This involves manipulation of your hair using heat. It could be completely bone straight of just slightly stretched. It allows the hair to be easily managed and styled in a variety of ways. Needless to say, it is not thoroughly embraced in the natural hair community because it can result in heat damage and breakage if done wrongly. But of properly spaced out and done carefully, they can give you a great styling experience.

Credit: Google

All the styles above should be used in moderation. I do not advise anyone to consistently use one style back to back because one, it’s boring and two it can deny you a break. If you love protective styles, consider at least a one week break in between. If you prefer low manipulation styles, consider protective styling at least once every few months. That said, do what works for you❤.

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BENTONITE CLAY ON NATURAL HAIR: What they don’t tell you

Bentonite clay mask is really popular in the natural hair streets. There are a lot of demo videos and information on it. But there are things I did not know until I tried it! But first, a quick overview of what you should know.

Bentonite clay is a natural substance containing calcium, magnesium and iron. It has become one of the most popular DIY ingredients for both skin and hair care. It is most commonly used as a natural cleanser. When applied, it absorbs oil and dirt by sticking to them so that they are rinsed out together. Some people also consume the clay itself for health benefits, but this has its dangers. However, when used on skin and hair, there is hardly any risk.

Benefits of Bentonite Clay on Hair

• It cleanses and softens hair
• It helps with irritated and flaking scalps
• It has minerals which encourage hair growth
• It reduces frizz
• It gives curl definition and shine

Other uses of the bentonite clay

How to Prepare and Apply the Mask

1. Use a wooden, plastic or ceramic bowl to prepare the paste. Metal activates the clay before it can get to the hair and thus ends up being less effective.
2. Mix the clay and water, or clay and apple cider vinegar together to a consistency of your liking. Add oils of your choice to counter a possible drying and stripping effect.
3. Apply the mixture on damp hair thoroughly and in sections. Your hair should be evenly weighed down and defined. You can use any excess as a face mask.
4. Let it sit for 30 minutes then rinse out. You can follow up with a shampoo and deep conditioner. Ensure you rinse it out thoroughly

What they don’t tell you

1. It is a very messy process. The paste will be all over your clothes, floors, sink, entire shower, neck and face. Please be ready.
2. It is extremely difficult to rinse off. It took me close to an hour in the shower trying to rinse it off and a week later, I still have particles falling from my hair. Mind you, my paste was of very light consistency.
3. It doesn’t have to be stripping, with enough oils, you can have perfectly moisturized hair right after.
4. Do not wait until it is stiff dry for you to rinse it out.
5. It is a detox and a very laborious one at that, its best to use it once in a while.

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Thank you so much for reading today’s post, please feel free to share your experiences as well.

WHERE TO GET NATURAL HAIR PRODUCTS IN KENYA

Finding natural hair products in Kenya can be a hassle. While you’d expect supermarkets (retail stores) to be the number one choice, most of them are flooded with hair food (grease) and cheap shampoos that will strip your hair dry. However, there are places flooded with quality Kenyan and international products and they are listed below:

1. The Brand’s Retailers

Most Kenyan brands will have their own retailers all over the country where you can order from. They will be listed in their websites, Instagram and Facebook profiles. These retailers usually have their own platforms as well. This makes it much easier to communicate with them. The prices of these retailers are usually the cheapest as compared to other places where you can get the product. Here is my list of Kenyan Brands you should try.

Sheth Naturals is a Kenyan brand with retailers.

2. Small Retailer Shops

There are quite a number of small retailer shops in various towns who stock only natural hair products. For example, in Nairobi, there is sasa mall and sawa mall in the CBD which houses retail shops like Natural Hair Kenya. The thing about such shops is than their prices are much higher than the normal retail prices.

3. Best Lady and Super Cosmetics

If you are in Nairobi, you are in luck! Best lady and super cosmetics retail stores have the widest variety of natural hair products. Most of the popular products will be stocked there at very fair prices. They are also rich in accessories and very friendly to salons that want wholesale packages. Here are my tips on shopping for natural hair products.

An example of a brand stocked in Best Lady

4. Instagram Shops

Instagram (and probably Facebook) is full of small businesses that are purely specialized in selling natural hair products. Those rare oils, Shea butters and African soaps that supermarkets don’t stock, are flooded in Instagram. Others like Jesavi and Beauty Bay (on Instagram), specialize in imported products. Before you make a purchase ensure the page is legit, with a decent following and customer reviews.

Jesavi on Instagram

5. Online Shops

If you are away from the capital, Jumia is your best friend. It stocks both Kenyan and international products. If there is the tag ‘official store’ on the product you’re looking for, the better because that’s the cheapest price in the market for that specific product. Amazon is a good option if you’d like to import your products.

6. Others

You can also find natural hair products in:

• Some supermarkets eg. Quick mart and Carrefour
• Shops in malls eg. Buffalo mall in Naivasha has Kipusa Beauty
• Dubois (I don’t trust them, they could be fake)

Thank you so much for reading today’s blog. Follow me on Instagram: Natural hair reviews Kenya

SHOPPING FOR NATURAL HAIR PRODUCTS ON A BUDGET

Being a newbie in the game or on a budget can really discourage you on your natural hair journey. Products tend to be so highly priced and at the same time, your favourite YouTube influencer told you to get them all, lol! Taking care of natural hair doesn’t need to be expensive. Here are some tips that helped me save my coins.

1. Establish a regimen first

When you have a consistent order of cleaning, moisturizing and styling your hair, it will be easier to pin point what product you need, what product is not working for you and what product should be your staple. At the very least, you need a shampoo, deep conditioner and a leave in. Eventually, get yourself oils, gel, mists and butters/ creams.

2. Look for product reviews

By listening to other people’s experience, you will know the performance to expect. All hair is different and what works for me may not work for you. However, especially when you are new in the game or are on a budget, you may want to skip buying a product with negative reviews. Here’s my top 5 Kenyan brands.

3. Just because its expensive doesn’t mean it will work

Don’t be shy to pick up that slightly affordable product. I don’t want to say cheap because cheap is relative. A product that is highly priced won’t always work for you. And besides, you have a lot less to lose if a ‘cheaper’ product fails.

4. Buy only one type of a given kind of product

There are so many brands producing shampoos, deep conditioners and leave ins. Even within the brand, there may be a range of say, shampoos. When you are on a budget, its important that you only try one at a time. Buy just one shampoo, try it out before you get the other. Otherwise, you will end up with a stash of products of the same kind that you don’t use.

5. Do not throw away products that do not work

This one is important! Unless you have an allergic reaction to a product, do not throw it out if it doesn’t perform. Try different ways of using it, add oils to it or even mix them up. Try and use the product to the end so that you can get value for your money as well as get to know how to tell a product works for you. I cannot tell you how many times I completely hated a product first time I used it but ended up loving it eventually.

6. Stock your staples in large sizes

Once you have settled on a product as a staple or a favourite, buy the bigger size of it as it is likely to be cheaper than two small containers of the same. Try and get staples in all categories of products before trying out new products. For example, say African Black Soap is your favourite shampoo but you haven’t found a conditioner that works for you, instead of buying another shampoo on your next shopping, buy a new conditioner to try out instead.

As a pro tip, always check out different retailers before settling. You’ll be surprised at their price differences.

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Happy Shopping!

NATURAL HAIR RULES THAT I BREAK

My personal slogan when it comes to natural hair is “Always do what works for you”. I don’t follow all the rules of maintaining natural hair and I don’t think anyone should. I try them out and if it doesn’t work or its too much for me, I just don’t do it anymore.

1. I don’t moisturize my hair midweek

I know, I know, hear me out, lol. In my first year, I used to religiously moisturize my hair midweek. However, over time I have gotten to understand my hair and it happens that it is an unnecessary step. My hair is medium porosity, so it absorbs and retains moisture pretty well on wash day. Once I use a heavy sealant I’m good to go for a week after which I wash my hair. If I wear my hair out, I either spritz with water or shower with no shower cap to let the steam do its thing. That said, if you have hair that dries out fast and requires frequent remoisturizing, do it by all means.

2. I over manipulate my hair

I’ve always been thoroughly obsessed with my hair since going natural. My hands are always in my hair, whether I’m washing it, styling it or just playing with it. I have dealt with the consequences, my hair thinned out and it would break a lot. I have in the past tried leaving my hair alone for at least two weeks but that didn’t last long. The thing is, I absolutely love playing with my hair. I’m at my best mood when I’m doing my hair. (I am one of the very few who genuinely enjoy hours of detangling). Having said that, I am always very gentle and nowadays I try to at least go seven days without restyling. I’m working on it!

3. I use hair grease

I know more naturals are embracing hair grease but for a long time, it was a ‘bad’ product. I use grease once in a while when I don’t have my go to at hand or when I am installing a protective style with extensions. I always moisturize thoroughly before hand. Do your research, try it out, if you don’t like it, don’t use it.

4. I don’t have a trimming schedule

I have talked about this in a previous blog (this one). In my first year I used to chronically over trim. Now I know better. I don’t trim monthly or every three months or twice a year. I trim as often as is necessary. If I see split ends after a month, I trim them. If its been months and I don’t have split ends, I won’t trim. That’s what works for me.

5. I don’t do any scalp care

I happen to have a really sensitive scalp. Once I shampoo it on wash day, I avoid putting any other thing there. My scalp doesn’t work well with growth oils or stimulators. Too much oil on the scalp will have me itching all week. For that reason, I clean my scalp and leave it alone.

Once I identify what my hair loves, I stick to it and do it time and time again. For example, my hair loves black tea rinses so I always do it every other week (Click here for more kitchen items your hair might love). My hair also likes coconut oil and so I always use that.

Thank you so much for reading today’s blog. I’d strongly advise that you identify what works for you and stick to it. Your crown is so unique that no regimen suites you better than that which you create yourself.

Check out my Instagram here for more content. Love and light!

How To Detangle Natural Hair After A Protective Style For Minimal Breakage

Protective styles are great for length retention and they also give you a break from having to style and manipulate your hair. However, the taking down process can be tiring, stressful and can end up causing more breakage. Breakage is bound to happen during detangling due to high manipulation and friction. There are a few tips, however, that can help you minimize breakage when detangling your hair after a protective style:

1. Don’t plan on doing everything in one day

Sometimes we may want to take down a hairstyle, detangle and do our wash routine all in one day. It may be because of convenience or lack of time. This however does more harm than good. It is a tiring process and you can easily get frustrated and lose patience. I personally recommend that depending on the style, dedicate one day to taking down the style, detangling your hair and doing your prepoo then wash your hair the next day.

2. Take down your hair in sections

Divide your style into sections and undo them one by one. You can spray some water on your hair to make it easier. Once you take down a single plait or braid, separate the hair from it out before you undo another one. This helps a lot. It is so difficult trying to get a comb through clumps of matted hair. Take your time to separate every clump per braid that you take down. Once you’re done with a section, put it away by braiding, twisting or tying it.

Always separate as you go to avoid matted hair

Pro tip: Always entertain or distract yourself. Watch or listen to something, or better still have people around to converse with. It helps with the ‘patience’ aspect, trust me.

3. Once you’re done taking the hair down, undo all your previous sections and make cleaner parts.

This can sound counter productive but it helps. Cleaner sections will prevent further tangling of hair. Redoing your sections will also allow you to concentrate on specific areas. For example, my crown area is the thickest, densest and longest part while the rest of my hair is less dense and a bit weaker. Redoing my sections allow me to isolate the two so that I start with my crown, which requires more work. You need to know and examine your hair by strength and density, then start with the parts that require most attention.

Example of divided sections

4. Always start by finger detangling

A quick guide to finger detangling is as follows:

• Apply water and an oil or conditioner that gives you slip. You do not need an expensive conditioner. Actually, the cheap conditioners full of silicons will give you the best slip and besides, you’ll wash it right out the next day. If you’d rather use an oil, warm it up first for maximum slip. Whatever your choice, never detangle dry hair!
• For each section, start by removing shed hair. Shed strands have the potential of tangling up with the rest of your hair causing more pain and breakage. Remove them by gently pulling your ends.
• Use your fingers to feel for any big tangles and deal with them individually. I told you you’d need patience, lol! Try and separate the tangles. Remember breakage is bound to happen, we are just reducing it.

5. Use a wide toothed comb (optional)

I personally prefer doing a thorough job at finger detangling then leaving my hair as is. However, if you have very thick, dense, long hair, or you don’t have enough time or patience, combs may come in handy. If you also have shorter hair (TWA) combs are your best option. Just make sure to start with the widest teeth and always spray your water and add conditioner/ oil.

If you follow all the above steps, you will considerably reduce your breakage. As for shedding, it is normal to have more shed hair after a Protective style. Here’s the difference between shedding and breakage. If you find the steps too many or too demanding, feel free to take the ones that best suit your schedule and your needs. Remember to always do what works for you.

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TOP FIVE KENYAN NATURAL HAIR BRANDS YOU SHOULD TRY

Here’s a list of Kenyan brands that I’d recommend to anyone who is starting out their journey or anyone who’s been in the game for a while but wants to switch it up. In this list, I rate the brands according to the following criteria:

1. Price
2. Accessibility
3. Quality
4. Social media engagement

1. Mikalla

Mikalla is the most affordable brand featured in this blog. It has numerous products, most of which have very good reviews. They include:

• Shampoo (ksh 400 per litre)
• Leave in treatment (ksh 299 per 500ml)
• Conditioner (ksh 430 per litre)
• Hair mayonnaise (ksh 350 per 261g)
• Protein treatment (ksh 1200 per 1kg)

The above prices are as stated on jumia. Other places where you can get these products include: Best lady, super cosmetics, kasha Kenya, most retailing supermarkets and beauty shops. Mikalla products have a good reputation in the market. Their quality (given the price point) is rated as very good. My personal favorite was their honey and butter conditioner back when I would condition my hair. Here’s why I stopped conditioning my hair.

Mikalla has an Instagram presence of over 5k, with lots of information dispensed there. However, due to the high traffic, it may take time before they get back to you.

2. TCB Naturals Kenya

This brand is available in many countries but since it is popular in Kenya, I decided to include it here. It is an affordable brand and has a myriad of products including:

• Leave in treatment (ksh 180 per 200ml)
• Anti dandruff treatment (ksh 342 for 250ml)
• Deep penetrating treatment (around ksh 300 for 250ml)

The above prices are as stated on jumia. Other places where you can get these products include best lady, super cosmetics and most supermarkets. It has lots of reviews and a good quality as per the price point. Here’s my review on TCB leave in treatment. They also have a good social media presence with lots of information.

3. Mosara Kenya

This is also a relatively affordable brand. Its quality is very high and all its products are 100% natural. This makes it a favourite for many. Its products include:

• Deep treatment (ksh 385 per 250g)
• Hydrating butter (ksh 425 per 250g)
• Moisture milk (ksh 425 per 250ml)
• Conditioner (ksh 340 per 250ml)
• Sulfate free shampoo (ksh 550 per 250ml)

Mosara has excellent reviews and an amazing social media presence. This is what I think about their deep conditioner. Their products are available at jumia, some supermarkets and some beauty shops.

4. Sheth Naturals

This brand is one of my favourite. Although its relatively pricey, the quality is high. It has two lines: mizizi and sheba. Mizizi includes oils, clays and butters. Sheba has the following products:

• Shampoo bar (ksh 450 per 100g)
• Deep conditioner (ksh 800 per 200ml)
• Wash n Go gel (ksh 450 per 200ml)
• Sheba curl creme (ksh 600 per 200g)
• Wash day love bundle (ksh 500)

Their products are very high quality and most of them are in my holy grail basket. Their packaging is very unique and well done. All their products have only natural ingredients. In terms of accessibility, they have stockists all over the country. They cover the following areas: CBD, Mombasa, Nakuru, Eldoret, Naivasha, Kisumu, Rongai, Kasarani, Meru, Juja among other places. This makes it very easy to order. For this reason, they are very proactive on social media and will always get back to you when you reach out.

5. Bu.Ke

This brand, despite being a bit pricey, is very high quality. They have a lot of variety but those specifically for natural hair are two: the green tea line and the purple tea line. As the names suggest, their products are also all natural. The pricing is as follows:

• Shampoo bar_ both green and purple tea (ksh 650 per 100g)
• Leave in custard (ksh 1100)
• Deep conditioner (ksh 1250)

They also have many stockists all over the country. These include super cosmetics, kasha Kenya, Kasarani, Kahawa west, Nakuru and Eldoret.

Their social media presence is exceptional. The aesthetics of their pages are very attractive. They also engage their audience a lot.

Bu.Ke’s Instagram

Thank you so much for reading today’s blog. Follow me on Instagram here and let’s talk about some brands I might have missed.

BAD HAIR DAYS AND HOW TO DEAL

Don’t we all dread bad hair days? There are those that come because you just didn’t put in the effort. Others happen when a product flaked on you or didn’t come through with the definition. Oh, and what about those that are caused by wrong techniques? My personal worst are those that started out as good hair styles until the wind, humidity and body sweat happened.

Even after two years of dealing with my hair, I still have more bad hair days than good. Most times my hair wants to do its own thing. I used to think the longer the hair the less one experiences this but I was wrong.

How to deal:

There are a few options when it comes to bad hair days. I prefer to group them as long term and short term. Long term options apply when you the bad hair days are too many and you want to reduce the probability of their occurrence. Short term options apply when you have somewhere to go or something to do and so you do not have the time to redo the style.

Long term options

• Practice the techniques before hand. If your Bantu knot outs are always failing, try installing them when you don’t have to go anywhere. Watch several tutorials and practice, practice until you’re comfortable.
• Get the right products. If you want a very defined hairstyle, avoid products with humectants (eg. Glycerine and honey). If you are using a gel, be careful what creams and leave ins you are using it with, to avoid flakes. If you want to take a shorter time to dry, use lighter products.
• Know what you want. Very few people can get volume, definition, shine and length elongation all at one go. Depending on your hair, you may have to choose one or two. For example, I have medium density, awkward length, high porosity 4b, 4c hair. If I go for definition, I won’t get volume. If I go for volume, my hair will be super frizzy aka no definition. Since I prefer volume over definition, I deal with bigger sections and, separate and pick my hair a lot. Similarly, if you prefer elongated hairstyles, you may have to give up on definition and vice versa.
• Ensure your hair is healthy. If your hair is damaged, it will most likely disappoint you when you want to wear it out. Split ends, dry hair, colour damage, chemical damage and heat damage are recipes for disasters.
• If you forget all these tips, don’t forget this one, it’s the most important. NEVER undo your hair when its wet. Don’t do it sis. You’re better off sitting under the drier, slapping on a wig or rocking the hair as is. Do not unravel wet or damp hair because you’ll get frizzy, unevenly shrunken hair with hardly any shape.
• Last long term tip, anticipate bad hair days. Have it in mind, even during installation, that there is a chance it might fail. So as your are installing your braids or twists, do it neatly so that if they aren’t dry when you want to unravel, you can rock them the way they are. Stock up on head wraps, pins, caps and most importantly, confidence.

Short term options:

• Head wraps, caps and wigs. Put your hair back in a pony tail or huge cornrows/ flat twists and slap something on top.
• Wash and go. If you have shorter hair and a bit of time, hop into the shower, get your gel and do a quick wash and go.
• Wear a fro. Again, this is for us with shorter hair or hair that easily shrinks up. Spritz your hair till its damp then rock your afro.
• High puff. This is for the ones with longer hair. You can never go wrong with a puff. You can sleek it down, lay your edges or leave it as is and you will still look stunning.
• Confidence. Rock your hair as it is. You’ll be surprised that majority of the people you’ll meet won’t know its a bad hair day because they don’t know what style you were going for in the first place. So if your twist outs are more frizzy than you hoped, just wear it out. If you left the house looking good and wind, body sweat and humidity happened, your best bet is to rock your hair as is. Here are some of the reasons you may lack this confidence.

Thank you so much for reading today’s blog. Follow me on Instagram: Natural Hair Reviews Kenya (here), for more conversations and tips.