We're so excited to announce that No Knot Co is now available in Sainsbury's!
Woohoooo!!!!
Do you know what's more exciting than that? Sainsbury's is one of the largest chains of supermarkets in the UK!! We are so honoured to partner with this amazing retailer who's focus is on making their stores more inclusive.
So how did we get here?
It's been a long road for us, but we've finally made it to this point. "Before I started this business, I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life, and I even had no idea if my product would be successful or not. But when I started working on my hair tools, it wasn't long before I realized that there was something to this!" - Keshia East, Founder.
We were lucky enough to be recruited on to the Sainsbury's Future brands programme - which works with small businesses and brings them into the retail space.
Now that we are in Sainsbury's we cannot wait to the impact it makes in the retail space.
Our tools are recyclable, BPA-free, and perfect for wavy, curly, and afro hair.
We are available in over 143 stores UK wide. We hope you'll stop by and say hi!
Hugs,
No Knot Co
]]>1. You have Split Ends
If you've got curly hair, odds are you've heard of split ends. They are the sharp and rough edges that are visible after your hair has been damaged. If you're suffering from split ends, you're aware of the importance of being able to look after them before they get out of control. Did you know that splits may occur at the mid-point of the shaft of your hair?
Make sure to moisturize your ends. Also, get your curls cut by a hairdresser at least once a year to keep split ends in check and stop them from moving higher into your hair shaft.
2. Lack Of Elasticity
Hair that is damaged loses its elasticity which causes the curls to become looser and stretch. If your curls seem less than perfect and sloppy, adding an intense conditioning step to your routine could assist in restoring the elasticity of your hair and restore bounce.
3. Dry & Brittle Hair
Pay attention to your curls! If your curls are unusually dry, it's time to increase the amount of moisture. You can try spraying your hair with water every day in order to ensure your hair stays hydrated. You can also apply oil on top to keep moisture in. A regular deep conditioning treatment every week will get your curls back to their best.
4. Texture Change
Straight ends, stringy edges, and curls that are looser are indicators of excessive heat damage. But, it could also result from chemical or bleach treatments, as well as over-manipulation or dryness.
If you're unsure if your hair has changed, or is it just within your head, you can compare photos from the past. You'll determine how much (or even if) the hair has changed.
5. Stubborn Tangles
The first step towards putting an end to knots and tangles that are stubborn is to equip yourself with the proper tool. If you're constantly fighting with your hair or notice that your curls have tangled up right after you've untangled them, something isn't working. Damaged and dry hair strands cause more friction and stick to one another more quickly.
Be gentle when you tackle these knots. If you're rough you'll end up snapping your strands. This could create split ends where the knots were.
6. Breaking & Snapping
It's normal to experience some shed hair when styling or detangling however it's crucial to be aware of the distinction between breakage and shedding.
The damaged strands split apart at the weakest spot in the hair shaft. They usually vary in length however they are generally shorter than your total length. Although hydrating and deep conditioning can strengthen your curls but cutting off weak ends is the most effective method to avoid further damage to your hair.
7.Excessive Frizz
No one knows your hair more than you do. You're aware of what constitutes and doesn't constitute the normal amount of frizz in your hair. Of course, there are a lot of causes that cause frizz (like humidity and excessive manipulation during hair styling) But did you know that dryness and damage can be a factor too?
The hot oils are the ideal method to smooth out hair that isn't smoochy since they seal moisture in the cuticle while adding shine to curls.
Final Thoughts?
Are you worried that your hair could be damaged? Don't be afraid or worry about it! Every curly lady is prone to damaged hair from time to time and you shouldn't abandon your curls now. A bit of deep conditioner and using the right tools can go a long way and could be just what your hair is in need of. Add a bit of patience and affection and your curls may be back on track in short order.
Check out our tools for a perfect curly hair routine! And if you want to give your partner a subtle hint to get you any of these hair tools and accessories then send them this link!
Right let's get to it, shall we?!
This little gem is perfect for keeping your curly/wavy/coily hair tangle-free! This is a must-have detangling tool for in the shower and we can guarantee your curly loved one will enjoy using it in the shower! Gentle on your strands - Detangling can be a stressful business but our Gentle Detangler is designed to gently work through your knots, the soft bristles won't allow you to forcefully detangle your hair.
They do say the greatest gifts come in small packages... well this shampoo is like no other and is a heavenly edition to your wash day routine. It has the longest teeth on the market, helping you get the deepest clean, and it the most effective scalp exfoliation you can get from any other shampoo brush. It is also highly hygienic as ours is 100% silicone. Meaning you will get no cracks for water to creep in or mould to manifest. Our Shampoo Brushes are easy to clean too!
This bad boy saves you drying time and protect your curls at the same time. Let us walk you through how. The luxury microfiber material is designed to be gentler than any other microfiber towel on the market, making it great for plopping. Making it an essential for drying your hair, saves you time when diffusing your hair. It quickly absorbs excess moisture without damaging or breaking your hair. This is key for any curly wanting to save time and to keep their curls/waves/coils and afros healthy.
These twin flames bring your hairstyles to life with precision. The Tail Comb can be used to comb and part your hair. While the Sectioning Comb is designed to give you precision when parting your hair and you can use the other side to section larger parts of your hair. If your curly loved one loves creating their own hairstyles then is not only a want but a need!!
These scrunchies can become a reminder of you, if you gift this to your curly loved one this Valentines Day! Spoiling them doesn't mean you it can't be a memory of you. Especially when this set is super gentle on your hair as they avoid pulling, tugging and tangling. Preventing creasing, kinking, breakage and Frizz like your regular hair scrunchies. These are a natural hair must-have!
We left the best till last! Every Curly friend deserves this set as it is the ultimate gift set which already comes in a cute wash bag. It saves you the time of picking out which hair tools is better, as this set comes with the Award-Winner Gentle Detangler, our Shampoo Brush, and our Curl Comb. A Collection of Tools tailored to meet your curly hair needs! For those of you who love the typical pink, then check out our Pink Curl Essentials Set here.
So there you go, all the dreamy Lilac hair tools which are a must-have for any natural curly. Why not share the love for curly hair this Valentine's by sharing one of these gifts with your curly loved ones, we promise they'll love you forever if you do (unless you mess up in the future...then that's your fault)
Love No Knot Co x
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This year we challenge you to embrace all aspects of yourself, the good and the bad because let's face it there are things we all need to improve on. So don't be scared to ask yourself the hard questions, and learn more about yourselves this year. Take the first step to embracing change by switching it up with some cool and quirky hairstyles and hair cuts. Our hair inspo is for those who want to start small and for those who want to go all out!
Layers are perfect to give you that puff for your curly wavy hair. This would suit those with thin hair and need that extra volume, but if you have thick hair it would also help you balance out the heaviness of your curls! You are not going to want to miss out on having big bouncy curls, so what are you waiting for? Go get your layers done curlfriends!
Photo Credit: @oliviacalabio
Let the beautiful @mcleodmanna show you how to rock a streak of colour! It's as adventurous as it looks! Though those of you with naturally dark hair we would recommend introducing an olaplex treatment in your hair care routine as your curls can become a little dry. This is perfect for those of you who want that slight edgy look. Let us know what streaks of colours you want to try?
Photo Credit: @mcleodmanna
Here we have the unapologetic Cherry with some blond locks/almost white, is perfect for those of you wanting to give yourself a whole makeover. Your glorious curls will definitely stand out in the crowd but why not?
This gorgeous colour is perfect to give you that extra glow. It emphasises your volume. Keeping some of your natural hair colour helps create a sense of shadow creating the illusion of fullness. This is another great way to enhance the volume of your curly waves!
Photo Credit: @amanda__guido
Well, this last hair inspo is just for you!! We give the beautiful @lyssamariexo who has short curly hair and bangs! The greatest combo, that really highlights your pretty face!
Photo Credit: @lyssamariexo
There you have it curlfriends, all the hair inspo for 2022! Let us know in the comments which style or chop you're going to go with this year?
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Combine all the ingredients together, give it a good mix and then apply evenly all over your hair and scalp. Place a shower cap on and leave on for 30 minutes, and wash off.
Watch how soft and moisturised your hair feels afterwards, try it for yourself, and let us know your results in the comments! We would recommend using this yogurt based hair mask for those of you with wavy and curly hair types.
This beautiful leave-in conditioner is perfect for those with tighter curls. We found it easier to melt the coconut oil, shea butter and the lovely honey in the microwave for 15-20 seconds or in a pot on top of the stove for 2-55 minutes. Then pour it all into a bowl and stir it well so that it blends. Pour the mixture into a glass container with a lid and put it in the freezer for about 5-10 minutes. Once it hardens, take it out and store it in your bathroom for easy access! Use this as a leave-in conditioner, as you require.
This will leave your hair moisturised and leaves your hair smelling amazing!! We would recommend this for the more coarse and coily hair in particular as we love a good leave-in conditioner.
For this hair oil you will need to put 3-5 tablespoons of herbs in a glass jar, then cover it up with 1 cup of any organic oil of your choice. Pour this mixture into a tightly closed jar for two weeks. You need to shake the jar daily to infuse it all, once that's done you can just strain the herbs out and use it as a hair oil.
This leaves your hair feeling super soft, depending on what you would like to focus on you would need to adjust the herb that you use. For example if you want to tackle an itchy scalp then we would recommend using burdock, if you want to reduce hair loss you could use lavender or rosemary etc. Research to see what you can use for your specific problem!
I know this DIY hair oil takes some time so for those of you in a rush, we recommend heating up the mixture on low heat for about 15-20 minutes, let it cool down and then place it in the fridge. This can be kept in the fridge for up to 6 months.
We would highly recommend this to everyone, as it depends on what you would like to tackle, so choose wisely!
This tingly refreshing pre-poo holds many benefits, it leaves your hair feeling soft and healthy. All you need is a spoonful of olive oil or coconut oil, then mix in 5 drops of peppermint oil. Wet your hands with the mixture and massage it into your scalp. Make sure to rub the mixture all the way down to the end of your strands. This is good for those who need a good pree poo.
I am sure you have seen so many influencers doing this DIY hair gel mask. We have tried and let me tell you it is a must have.
First pour 1 cup of water (preferably room temperature or tap water), into a saucepan. Then add the Flaxseeds/linseeds and turn the heat on high. Then, stir often to keep the seeds moving, you do not want them sticking at the bottom of the pan. This is also said to help create the gelatine like texture to form.
As your water comes to a boil you must stir it gently and constantly. Once you get a thin, foamy jelly turn the heat down a little, and keep on stirring. Look out for the point when you let the seeds settle for a second and they suspend in the clear jelly instead of sinking to the bottom of the pan.
At this point, turn the heat off and give it one good stir, pour the liquid and seeds immediately into the strainer over your bowl. Do this quickly as you do not want to allow the gel to dry as it could get messy. Then lift the strainer and check for any stray seeds in the gel. If you do have any seeds in the gel then you can stir it one more time using a finer mesh.
Then, use a whisk and give the gel a good, quick beating (for about 10 seconds), do this to break up any really gelatinous strands there might be, or to mix in whatever I might have added in, and pour it into the bottle.
This one seems a little longer though we can reassure you it took us 6-8 minutes. Depending on the type of thickness you like either the consistency of egg whites, or if you want it thicker then I would suggest pouring it back into the pan and heating it up a little more. It should almost look and feel like the consistency of egg whites. Remember to save the seeds and put it in a ziplock bag in the fridge, so that you can use it again next week or the week after.
Slightly longer instructions however, it does not take that long to do, takes about 8-10 minutes, once you get the hang of it, you probably will go through it quicker.
Omg. So don't get me started!! I Love DIY Hair masks I use them every single wash day and I use a tone of ingredients. I use Ayurvedic herbs, I use aloe vera, hibiscus, all sorts of great natural ingredients. I don't use Argan oil but I use loads of other oils, like olive oil, Castor oil, Jojoba oil. I have a massive collection of oils and I make my own ones as well with the herbs. @rusheenshair
So there you have it, some of our fave DIY hair masks for you to try out from the comfort of your own home! And you got some good ingredients that our No Knot Co Ambassador loves to use too!
Let us know how you get on in the comments below and if you have any tips don't forget to share it with us!!!
I want to try some of your new brushes. They look amazing. The Flexi Detangler and the high power hair pick.
I would give them the gentle detangler just because every girl needs one.
My top six favourites are the gentle detangler, the ultimate detangler. The sectioning clips, the silk brush and silk scrunchies. Let me not forget the microfiber Towel as well. That's such a good wrap around your head towel. I use it all the time. I regularly go to London and I have friends up north as well and it's easy to pack in my suitcase. I love it!
So why can’t we be cheeky and get ourselves a gift this Christmas? After all we’ve been through the past year, we're lucky to live another!! Check out some of our best sellers throughout the year which could be a perfect treat for yourself.
And for those of you wondering well I want something that meets my needs specifically… we have a separate section for the curly, wavy and afro babes. Click the following links for your hair type:
Remember, it is never too early to spoil your loved ones or yourself this Christmas!!
Don't forget to follow us on Instagram @noknotco and Rusheen x
We KNOW!! This has been on the wish list for many curlfriends and we wanted this to come back so bad too! So many of you have requested this so no wonder it has become our bestseller!! This set includes our gentle detangler, our shampoo brush, and our curl comb. This set is valued at £30 and can be found in lilac or pink!
This is a good present for stocking fillers for your curly hair mums out there and even for the kids! They are handy for detangling in sections, styling, and creating volume when diffusing your hair, we have these in Pink and Black. This Black Friday get the Pink Section Clips for £10.20 and the black sectioning clips for £8.93. You do not need to miss out! Why not try our new Vegan-friendly combs too, they're a super cute addition to your bathroom. Prices range from £7.23 - £10.20.
For the styling queens why not get them the Lilac Comb Duo! They are very popular among Instagram influencers with the likes of @keshiaeast_ @rusheenshair @elissescurls @ashleecurls Was £10 and Now £8.50. You can also get the Slick Brush and the Styling Brush which are usually priced at £12 and £16. Now you can find the Slick Brush at £10.20 for the Styling Brush and £13.60.
Why not get some of our best Detanglers to help make wash days easier and quicker!! Gain back sometime during wash days with our Award Winner Gentle Detangler in Black and Lilac (Was £15 and now £12.75. Check out our Ultimate Detangler in Black and Orange (was £15 and now £12.75), use our Flexi Detangler (was £12 and now £10.20) for those tight curls and why not use our wide-tooth comb for a vegan-friendly choice.
For those of you who are in need of some scalp treatment on a weekly basis then our Shampoo Brush in Black or Lilac, it is the perfect gift! This brilliant brush can stimulate hair growth whilst gently cleansing your scalp. This can be used to apply oil treatments too and is an amazing scalp massager if you like a little spa treatment why not get someone else to apply the oils for you!! Get yours now at the sale price of £8.50. To help maintain your curls and scalp in good condition we would also recommend using the silk pillowcase, which is now priced at £25.50.
Check out what other products are on our sale here.
Happy Black Friday Shopping Curlfriends x
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Winter is when I really pull out my deep conditioner. I usually try and deep condition/mask my hair weekly anyway, but in the winter I make sure this happens once a week if not twice a week.
Winter is a great time to introduce oil into your hair care routine. I like to use the LOC method. So leave-in conditioner, oil then curl cream! It keeps my curls hydrated even in the cold weather.
Silk pillowcases or hair bonnets are also great to use in any season. But in the winter months, it’s good to treat your hair to a little more TLC. Silk pillowcases help reduce frizz and knotting. (Try our silk pillowcase! -Don't say we never told you)
Now is the perfect time to get the perfect Detangler for your hair. I love my Gentle Detangler in the winter because it’s gentler on my hair and my hair tends to feel most bristle when the weather is cold.
I hope you have enjoyed our winter Curly Hair tips series! If you liked reading through this series let us know in the comments and we will be sure to do another one next year!
No Knot Co x
]]>I know last time we gave you some top tips on hair products and tools to use during the winter time. However, this time round we have some Top Tips from our Brand Ambassador Rusheen!!
Rusheen has type 4b/c hair, a beautiful fro- which we love at No Knot Co and today she is going to walk you through some of her changes to her curly hair care routine. Including her wash day routine and what she does when styling her hair. Every hair type is different so it is always great to see what other natural curly hair babes are doing to help care for their hair, so here are her top tips!
I apply leave in conditioner or hair lotion, then seal in the moisture with an oil. I usually twist or plait my hair after applying leave in or lotion to keep the moisture locked into my strands.
Deep condition regularly. Don’t just use a rinse out conditioner. Deep condition for 30 mins with heat or 45 mins with a plastic cap on. What I like doing is applying a leave in or lotion to the hair regularly in between wash days, to help with restoring that moisture.
Avoid heat when possible, I would say that if you are using heat, make sure you use a heat protectant. I would also recommend to use lightweight styling products to avoid weighing your hair down. In the winter time you will notice your hair changing so do not put too much product on your hair as it wont make it better, you should actually avoid doing that as it will start to weigh your hair down.
Remember these are just some pointers and make sure you test out what works for your hair! The best hair care routine comes from you, as you know what works well for your hair.
Don't forget to follow us on Instagram @noknotco and Rusheen @rusheeenshair. In Part 3 we will be getting some top tips from another special someone so keep your eyes peeled!
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Are you feeling frustrated, frosty, and forever confused on how to treat your hair during the winter time? Well since winter is around the corner it is important to make sure you are listening to your hair! See our Top 3 Tips on how to care for your curls during the winter season.
During winter time the air is very dry and this causes your curls/waves and coils to become dry during this season. This then causes your curls to become a little more frizzy too! I know, we do not like the look of dry and frizzy hair either!! So our first tip is to help prevent your hair from becoming dry we recommend using the technique of locking in moisture.
To get a good balance between using too much product it is good to start with small amounts first. We recommend looking out for this particular ingredient “Glycerin” because this is known to pull in moisture from the air to keep your hair moisturised. It’s basically like magic!!
For those who love a good co wash we recommend using the Curl Smith Co Wash which is full of wonderful ingredients such as the famous Glycerin, coconut oil, avocado oil and sunflower oil.
Noughty also has shampoo and conditioner to help your curls, waves and coils to feel moisturised during your wash days! Buy the shampoo here and the conditioner here.
We would also recommend using our shampoo brush to get the full benefits. It stimulates hair growth, and gently cleanses your scalp at the same time. Buy here.
Though if you have high porosity hair we recommend avoiding glycerin as it may impact your hair differently. Causing it to be flat and dull, which is not the look you’ve been looking for this winter! For this we recommend using hair oils, and now you’re in luck because now loads of brands are including hair oils in their shampoos and conditioners!! Read here our blog post of different hair oils for damaged dry hair!
I know your hair is going through some seasonal depression and you need some soft shiny curls/waves and coils but you also do not want all these products to weigh your hair down. So you need to lock in that moisture we just spoke about with some protein!! It is like a protective shield to help your hair stay moisturised.
This could be in the form of deep conditioners that have protein in them, curly creams, even co wash products. To search for this you need to find the ingredient hydrolysed "protein name" this could range from any source of protein, some popular ones are soya and quinoa.
This Briogeo Curl Charisma Rice Amino with Avocado Oil Co wash is perfect for keeping your curl pattern and helping with that frizz! Buy here!
Flora and curls Sweet Hibiscus Curl Activating Lotion brings you the protein and the it is also plant powered with beautiful flower extracts and rosemary to keep our curls, coils, and waves smooth and shiny! Buy here.
To detangle your curls and maintain it smooth, we recommend using our gentle detangler, not only is it our award winner it is also one of our most popular products! Buy yours now here.
For a good deep conditioner filled with protein why not try Amika’s Kure Intense Bond Repair Mask. It has hydrolysed quinoa protein, which is perfect as a deep conditioner. Make sure that you follow the correct instructions of all your products. We recommend using a deep conditioner on a weekly basis. Buy yours here.
Ok, hear us out! Using a mousse is not going to disrupt your curl pattern as it is a lighter hold for your hair. If you have low porosity hair you can use some curly cream before applying the mousse and oils. To scrunch out your strands you can rub some oil in your hands and start de-clumping your hair. Again, start using small amounts of products and then work your way around your hair in sections. Try our Sectioning Clips in pink to help you separate your curls.
For this part we would recommend using the Vegan friendly Curl Comb to spread out your favourite curly cream. We would recommend using the Curl Smith Light Protein Cream. Buy yours here!
This Camile Rose moisture milk has a good balance between protein and moisturising ingredients too! Get your hands on this curly hair essentials now!
This Curl smith Mousse is perfect too as it has rice protein and oils with a blend of guava and blackcurrant extract!
We would also recommend using our Afro Pik and the Lilac Duo combs to help you style and create volume. Taking styling to new heights and to create your desired style.
Tune in for part 2 where we discuss some more tips from some special influencers!!
Don't forget to follow us on Instagram @noknotco to find out when part 2 of winter curls will be out!
]]>We decided it would be a good idea to play a game of would you rather curly hair edition with our brand ambassador Rusheen!!
Take a look at her answers below and comment your answers in the comment section we would love to know what you would pick.
I like to let my hair dry naturally all the time. I've got a diffuser but I think I've used it once before.
I use both haha... but if I had to pick one, it will have to be the bonnet just because I wear my bonnet all the time it's comfy.
I would say curly cream. I don't use gel in my hair because Number one, I've tried a few gels before and they caused my skin to break out. Secondly, I feel like with gels, whenever I use it I feel like I have to wash it out within the next few days. Otherwise you start to get the white cast on your hair. But when I put cream in and it will last me a week or two and it will still look fresh.
-No Knot Co x
Dont forget to follow us @Noknotco and @rusheenshair
]]>Dr Mae Jemison is the first black woman to travel into space, she has also funded a technology research company, then later on formed a non-profit educational foundation. Jemison has also written various children books and has taken part in many television shows such as Star Trek. She has been giving back to society in many different ways and we love her for it!
Johnson is the first black model to be on the front cover of American Vogue! Johnson changed the beauty ideal in US fashion as all the popular fashion designers wanted to feature more black models. We love seeing black women shaking things up!!
Baker was the the first black woman to feature in a popular motion picture back in 1934, and refused to perform for segregated audiences in America. Baker is equally known for her work in the Civil Rights Movement. She really took her roles without fear and stood her ground, something that we truly admire at No Knot Co.
Rosa Parks was most commonly known for standing her ground too. In 1955, after a long shift at work, Rosa waited for a bus with empty seats. Then finally got one with a seat in the overflow section [if this part was available then any black person could sit in the empty seat]. But when the white section became full, Rosa and others were asked to move. She refused and did not leave her seat. Rosa was arrested and jailed. The protest that came from it caught the attention of the whole country. This chain reaction made the US government change the bus system, and it finally became integrated!
Rebecca Lee Crumpler became the first African-American black woman in the United States to receive an MD degree back in 1864. She also took it upon herself to write an educational book about her medical course which she dedicated to nurses and mothers. What a wonderful gift to leave behind!
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Well the answer looks simple- you would probably say during, right? But let's discover the importance of brushing and detangling your hair.
Did you know that the way we decide to wash, dry and brush our hair directly impacts how healthy and strong our hair is? As you may already know our haircare routine can be long and overwhelming as there are so many underlying conditions, ingredients, different brands, dietary options, and even different hair care choices that affects the overall health of our hair. That is why we bring you this juicy article on how and when to brush and detangle your curls/waves/coils.
Brushing your hair after you shower can cause a lot of damage, as your hair follicles are weaker when its wet so it is best to use the right tools to insure your hair not getting pulled. First let's look at the difference between detangling on wet hair and brushing your dry hair!
In shower detangling- best time to detangle your hair
If you like to brush your hair we recommend:
Final thoughts
It is very important to have a hair care routine that suits you, now you know the difference between brushing your hair and detangling your hair and what type of brushed to use. Doing both will help keep you curl pattern, as long as you do so gently! Keep your curls/waves and coils healthy by using the right tools, and the best technique that you know your hair loves!!
]]>A diffuser can be your best friend so long as you’re using it right! Now I am pretty sure that the majority of you curly babes out there own a diffuser, and let’s be honest we can’t live without them. So let me guide you on how to use it properly, and how to get those voluminous curls you’ve always wanted without damaging your curl pattern!!
A diffuser attachment is made for your waves/curls and to disperse the airflow of a blow dryer. It’s aim is to dry your hair nice and gently whilst reducing the amount of frizz. It is also designed to maintain your own curl pattern and to create volume!
Taking it back to the 90’s there was one standard diffuser that nearly every curly babe had, but as time went on the options for a diffuser evolved. As does every other thing in the world! So choosing one now has become a little more interesting.
Here are some diffusers that have been on the market making all the curly babes talk so let's get into it, shall we?!
DevaCurl DevaFuser Buy now:
We have seen the likes of Zendeya using this to dry her curly locks… so what is all the fuss about? Well, this diffuser is said to fit onto smaller hair dryers, and the very famous green hand is said to rotate 360 degrees in order to dry the roots and hair gently. Though some have said it was a bit of a handful to accommodate around your head whilst your diffusing, it is still seen as a popular option.
The Silicone Diffuser Buy Now:
This Curl Keeper pop-up silicone curl diffuser has caused some mixed emotions, but don't worry we won’t be playing with your feelings here! Now this diffuser is known to be the best diffuser to travel with, hence the pop-up feature and it’s also said to stretch over almost every hair dryer.
Scirocco Universal Diffuser Buy Now:
Then there's your usual universal open diffuser that has been the no. 1 choice for all the curly babes for many years! This one in particularly good to put on and take off your typical hair dryer with no fuss.
Let's start with the settings, it is recommended by many curly hair experts to put the settings on a cool temperature and a low flow of air, so that your beautiful curls do not break- because safety means better curls! This will also ensure that you do not have frizz forming and keeps your hair moisturised instead of drying it out.
No Knot Co Top Tip: use the cool button (most of you should have this on your hair dryer) at the end once you are done drying your hair on the lowest setting.
Right, that's all the temperature set, now how to diffuse properly!
Once you have finished your washing routine and added your fave styler, section your hair in the direction that you want it to dry in. Allowing your hair to air dry just a little before diffusing is recommended as it cuts down the blow drying time ;)
Attach the diffuser accordingly and put the settings to low heat (medium if you have a looser curl pattern). Then cup your hair into the diffuser up towards the scalp. Hold it in place for up to 20-30 seconds. Then you're ready to move onto the next section. Keep on going around your head tilting your head depending on the side you’re on and voila!
No Knot Co Top Tip: if you have coily hair it is best to diffuse a little further away from the roots so that there is less shrinkage and frizz, and use the lowest temperature and air flow.
Creating volume for your curls is a technique we can all practice! Yes sis even you reading. All you need is to add some tools and products to your routine. For example you could add in some mousse, and place some sectioning clips at the root before drying your hair so it can hold the lift you’re creating. You can then go ahead and start diffusing your hair. Though the quickest and fastest way is to simply flip your head upside down whilst your diffusing and say hello to voluminous curls!!
Let us know in the comments what your top tips are for diffusing your curls!
]]>Yes!!! We’re back again giving you some of the best hair oils to help with dryness, and keep your hair feeling smooth and soft!
There are many causes that contribute to having dry hair making it feel and look damaged! It could be because you might not be drinking enough water, you’re stressed out, because believe it or not our hormones affect our hair too! So what we’re trying to say is look after yourself sis and everything will follow through. Let us guide you through some amazing hair oils that can help revive your hair!
In its natural form it is quite hard, and it is best to use when melted. To fully see the benefits of it, we recommend heating it up so that it becomes more like a liquid. You can incorporate this into your hair care routine by using it as pre-poo either overnight or for up to 30 minutes before you shower. Particularly if you have thick coarse hair.
Why is it clever? Well because it has ricinoleic acid, which increases blood flow and circulation to your scalp. This encourages growth of your hair and nourishes it too! You can also incorporate this into your hair care routine as a hair mask- you can add some fresh ginger juice, either blend or grate and squeeze the juice out! Leave on for 20-30 minutes then rinse it out.
It can revitalise your coils!! How? Well, it is said to have vitamin E and Omega-6 and lots of nutrients to help revive your natural hair! Particularly taking care of your scalp as its antiseptic nature maintains a healthy scalp. This truly helps to replenish and give your scalp a rest from dryness and even itchiness.
For years and years these types of hair oils have worked amazingly across the world! Why? Well this is because they are filled with loads of benefits for your natural hair. So it works perfectly well with all curly hair types! Some of the more popular oils are amla, neem, brahmi to name a few. They work well with maintaining moisture as well as strengthening your hair. Amla oil is probably the most popular one you've heard of but there are many different ones out there that do the same job!
Many centuries ago it is believed that the Moringa Tree is a magical tree because all parts of the tree can be used for making traditional African and Indian medicine. There is no surprise that the oil is packed with vitamin E which helps reduce shedding and is also good to put on while detangling as it creates more slip. It keeps your coils protected and smooth.
Let us know in the comments which hair oils you love the most!
Unlike straight hair babes, curly hair babes need some TLC when detangling their curls to ensure they do not disturb their curly pattern.
The amount of strength needed in your arms to not only wash your hair, but detangle, rinse and style your hair, well let's just say it’s basically an arm workout.
If you're looking to detangle your hair gently, without damaging your hair then you have come to the right place, let us show you the easy way to detangle your hair with our No Knot Co detangling brushes!
First shampoo/ pre-poo your hair. Try and focus on massaging the shampoo into your scalp. Rinse out once you have lathered a good amount on your head.
Use a conditioner that works for your hair. Bearing in mind that you’ll have to go through a trial and error period to find the right products for your hair.
Once you have lathered your curls/coils/waves/fro’s with a conditioner of your choice, choose your favourite No Knot Co detangling brush! (We know it’s a tough choice!!). Check them out here.
Split your hair into 4-8 sections depending how thick your hair is or how long it is. Those with a tighter curl pattern we would suggest having more sections so you avoid any breakage.
Grab a section of hair and start brushing from the ends of that section, slowly working your way up to the roots of your hair.
Then do the same on all other sections, making sure you start from the ends so that there is less shedding.
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Raquel is a London based curl expert, infamous for her dry curly cuts. She's probably cut the tresses of some curl babes you may know, including; Singer Emelie Sande, Influencers @Curlygallal and @keshieast_ to name a few. We sat down with her as she shared her top tips for healthy hair.
I started learning about how to care for my hair at the age of 15 following my big chop. At this time, there wasn't a lot of information around. A lot of what I learnt was trial and error. I was at university on the path to becoming a Sports Therapist when I decided I wanted to work with curly hair. I soon left university to begin assisting in my mother's hair salon. I then went to hair school to become a qualified hairdresser and travelled to New York to receive specialised curl training in a well-known academy. Most of my expertise came from caring for my own hair and hands-on experience in working with various different clients and hair types.
"That you must Co-Wash"... I'm not a fan of this method. I believe that our scalp should be washed with cleansing agents which are not found in conditioners. Over time, co-washing can create build-up which can breed to other scalp problems. My advice is that a cleanser is used weekly in one's hair routine.
D&D - Detangle & Deep-Conditioning. Detangling thoroughly every time you wash your hair. It may be easier to detangle before cleansing if you have thick or highly textured hair. Detangling should be done on wet hair with lots of conditioner. This is will also protect your length & ends during cleansing.
Deep conditioning with a mask every 1-2 weeks. This is usually done after cleansing and left on for approx 30mins and rinsed. If you have wavy/very fine hair, you can use the mask before cleansing and leave on for a shorter amount of time. This is to not over moisturise and weigh hair down.
-NoKnotCo x
]]>It’s funny that you actually ask that as the first question, because one thing I try my best not to do is “hair typing”, but if I had to pick one, it would probably be 4B.
I would say when I was younger, my mom was the one doing my hair. Then, probably around year nine (when I was about 14), I had more of a relationship with my straighteners. I used to straighten my hair often. I just wanted [my hair] to look straight. I didn't have any care of what I was putting in my hair. When I was probably about 17 or 18 years old; that was when I started to investigate and take care of my hair. Before then I would use anything from shower gel and stuff like that in my hair because I thought it didn’t really matter. But as I got older, I had a bit more of an understanding. Though, when it came to our prom in Sixth Form, I decided to relax it. So, I fell off for a bit. After that, I decided that I was getting bored with the relaxers and I decided I'm going to cut my hair!! I think my relationship back then was very up and down, not really too caring. Now, I'm overly caring. It’s a big change.
I didn't feel the pressure coming from my family, it was more so the media. Subconsciously I looked at the looks [that were] on TV. Everybody had straight hair, nobody had an afro. I thought if that's what everyone else has, why does my hair look different? I wanted to emulate that. That was why I had more of a relationship with my straighteners than I did with wanting to take care of my hair. I wanted it to look straight because that was how I preferred it. Interestingly, fast-forwarding to now or to a few years ago, whenever I have my hair in a twist out or something, people will look at me and be like, “Oh, are you gonna do anything with it?” or “are you gonna brush it because it doesn't look brushed”, but this is the style [I was going for]. It's interesting that if this happened to me a few years ago, I probably would have felt that pressure, whereas now I stand my ground!! I'm going to tell them and explain to them this is this way I want it.
Interestingly enough, the voice of “you should straighten your hair or you should brush your hair” comes from family and friends. Now I would be able to combat that with a whole load of natural hair community people behind me. When I went to work earlier this year [2020], I decided to do a twister and everyone was like, “oh, my goodness, Cheyenne, I like your hair. It looks really good.” So you just never know the response you're going to get from people. I think I would have been very scared to do that a few years ago, whereas now I've come into my own and I can be like no, I want to have my hair like this. I don't feel or succumb to that pressure anymore.
Considering that I like to do a lot of DIY stuff, I think the top one of the top ones to me that I use, would be Rhassoul Clay, which is what I use as my shampoo. I will also say aloe vera. That's what I would use to mix with water, for example, for a leave-in.
There's this new product that I've been trying out for probably about a year and a half now. Rhassoul powder comes in the form of a shampoo. But in terms of products, wise, I think Kinky Curly leave-in conditioner tops it all.
Creams wise, definitely Miche Beauty hydrating butter, for sure. Born Beautiful Naturals flaxseed and marshmallow gel is very good, I'd highly recommend those three products.
To my younger self, I would say, love your hair a lot more. My first tip would be to try your best NOT to be influenced by those around you [to determine] how your hair should look. The second tip would be don't get too caught up in the hype of products. There’s this thing that whenever there's a new product out there I think I have to buy it, to make my hair look like that. [I have to remind myself] not to as these people are giving you options. You don't have to buy everything that you see.
Obviously, people like having products and that's perfectly fine. But if you can't afford it, don't stress out too much to go buy it. There's a lot of young people that follow me, that do this as well. But you can't always afford to buy all these hair products that people have and you don't need all of these things to make your hair healthy.
The third tip would be to enjoy your hair in each stage. When your hair is long, and when it is short. Your hair is fine the way it is! I think some people get so caught up. [I’m guilty of this too] I was very caught up when I was younger. I used to think that I must have hair down to my back. This came from Disney and watching stuff like Rapunzel. You think to yourself, “Oh, I wish I had that kind of hair that was long and flowy.” I would always straighten it so that my hair would be down, long and straight. You have to embrace the hair that you've been given. Hair is nice, short or long. It's nice either way.
I have no idea because I felt like there wasn't really anyone. I probably could say my mom, because she always had her hair in a natural state. She always used to plait my hair for me as well. She never made me feel like [my hair] was 'different', because she never pressured me to straighten my hair or relax it. My hair was done based on what I'd seen in the media and what's around me. For the oldies, the ones who might know her, DPrincess28, she was an OG from way back when and she really helped to encourage me. When I started the journey DPrincess28 was the first person I found on YouTube when it came to hair. She just showed me how to simply look after my hair in a chronic state. I was like, oh my goodness. I can't believe it, I found gold.
I definitely realised over the course of a year or so to stop doing too much. You probably look at my Instagram page and think she's doing this, she's doing that. But I like to provide recommendations, not everything that you see me do on my page, you must do yourselves.
Ensuring that I deep conditioning my hair and finger detangle are key things for me. I realised that detangling was something that I obsess over because when you have very tightly coiled hair that is something that can lead to breakage. If you have tightly coiled hair, there's a high likelihood that you're more susceptible to breakage. That's one thing that a lot of people battle with. What has worked well for me is reducing the kind of combs I’m using. I’m not saying combs aren't good, because I do think using combs and brushes are good, but I think working on finger detangling is very important.
I think using a lock-in method is useful, using water and then sealing it with a cream. As well as ensuring that my ends are well looked after, putting it in a simple style, which for me are twists. I have done that for probably the past five years. Also, twisting and leaving it alone and tucking those ends in.
I think using a lot of ayurvedic products and stuff like that also contributes to me not having not used sulfates and stuff like that. It is good to switch it up a bit, but I find that when something works for me, it works and I try not to change it.
If I'm quick, and I decide to not deep condition that week, which I wouldn’t advise anyone to do, it would take me about 90 minutes. On average, including deep conditioning, it's about two and a half hours to three. I always start with detangling, that can take about an hour. I think once you finger detangle correctly, everything else can go smoothly. If you don't, which I've done once before, I didn't detangle and oh my goodness, I had a lot of breakage from that. That wasn't a good idea!!
I'll use a conditioner or water, or even aloe vera juice/gel to separate the hair. That can take about an hour depending on what product I’ve used. If it’s water, probably about an hour and a half. [With] a gel or conditioner the finger detangling can be a lot quicker because it has a lot more slip. I always do it in sections, probably about 8 to 10 twists. The twist that I have, I normally detangle in those twists, shampoo in those twists, deep conditioning those twists and then put those twists back in.
Considering [we’ve been living through] COVID I don’t need to create a style per se. Once I'd go from finger tangling I then move on to shampooing. If I'm using Rhassoul Clay, or even any just a store-bought shampoo, I do it outside of the shower. I put it on my scalp first and then I'll put it onto the rest of my hair because my hair would have been sprayed with water. Then I'll go in the shower and wash it out. I like to make sure that I've got every nook and cranny.
After my shampooing which can take about 30 minutes I deep condition. I normally like to spend about 45 minutes doing this with either body heat just by putting the bag in or the towel or I use indirect heat like a dry on attachment. I like to sit for about 30 to 40 minutes and then I wash that out and I move straight on to the leave-in conditioner. Sometimes I'll use oil but not all the time and most of the time if there's oil present in the creams I'll tend not to use an oil. I'll just use the cream and that's it. Then put on a headscarf and I normally finish at like 11 p.m. so then I go straight to bed after that.
Everyone probably would say her but definitely @naptural85, Whitney, because I mean she's been in the game for a very long time. It's nice to see someone's journey. She's been there for probably the best part of like 10 years. To see her journey progress from when she cut her hair. Where some people see someone and all they see is how long their hair is. But how did you get there? Whereas with Whitney, everyone was able to follow her from when she cut her hair to now or when her hair has grown. Seeing the products that she was using [during that time]. Whenever I had an issue I’d type in her name on YouTube and then go in and check her out. To be honest, when I kind of got into my natural hair journey, she was someone I followed.
She's got that haircare line Melanin hair care which she just released. It's been about a year or two years, she released cream and shampoo and stuff like that. Social media can really change the game, even when you go to Boots and Superdrug, things like Camille rose, and all these natural products too, you see all these other people that come in and just pick them up. I’m thinking “What? Do you need them just as much as I did?” Social media can be really powerful in that sense.
I would say, India Arie, I am not my hair. If you listen to the lyrics of the song it's just interesting to see that sometimes you can be defined by your hair. I think as much as we love our hair, we look after it, and we obsess over it. It's not something that has to define you. I was reading a post from someone I follow yesterday and she was saying that; she got a new curly haircut, and she cut her hair a lot shorter than what it was before. She was quite nervous because she thought she might get some negative comments. A lot of people when they're watching your videos, or your pictures and stuff like that they get attached to it and [when you make a drastic change] oh my gosh, they question why did you cut your hair all of a sudden. Then, they're not interested in you anymore. Hair does grow, you know!! So I think, to me, that song does help to represent that; although we love our hair it doesn't define you.
- No Knot Co x
#HairDiaries #NoKnotCo
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I don't like to answer with a curl pattern but I typically would say my hair is 3C/4A. For me, a better explanation is that I have high porosity hair. It's medium density and the front strands are fine to medium.
One thing that I'm grateful for is that my hair is not a pain. There are things my hair likes versus other things [it does not like]. But generally speaking, it's not too hard to manipulate.
Growing up, I definitely felt like I didn't know anything about my hair. I've always been a huge proponent of the natural hair movement. However, living in the Caribbean, it's a whole different experience. I didn't care about my natural hair until I was maybe 17 or 18 years old. I feel like [after that], the natural hair movement skyrocketed mostly in America before coming to the Caribbean. Over here it wasn't that we needed to have straight hair [because of what we saw] - as there are predominantly black people where I live, but there were so many [other] factors. Part of it was texture discrimination. It was not like we were trying to have straight hair to look more Caucasian, but it was more about having a looser texture. Hence, you would relax your hair so it was easier to manage.
I have 3C/4A hair but I wasn't like “oh yes I have looser curls that everybody loves.” I didn't have this huge affinity towards my hair type. I thought “it is what it is.” The reason I wanted my hair to be relaxed was so that I could fit in with my peers. I didn't have an opportunity to learn about my hair because that information wasn't accessible to me until the natural hair movement happened. When that shift happened, I went from 0 to 100 really quick!! I went all in.
I think my natural hair journey has been one of the most intimate parts of self-growth and evolution. It allows you to see yourself for who you are without any filters or walls. It's a beautiful experience to go through and I'm happy that I embarked on my natural hair journey. Now, I have no desire to relax my hair. I love my hair and taking care of it. It's therapeutic for me when I have wash days. I know everybody doesn't love wash days, but it can be very therapeutic to indulge in that kind of self-care every week and make yourself feel good!
I don't know if I would call it “pressure,” but I'd probably say influence. It's a little different. I have type 3C/4A, somewhere in the middle, [with this] hair type it’s still somewhat seen as 'acceptable'. The influence came from my peers because they were [getting relaxers]. Which made me think I wanted straight hair too. It felt kind of childish going into secondary school with natural hair. I know it's a cultural thing.
I am lucky that my mum never said, “you need to do this or don’t do that,” she would say, “oh, you want to do it? No problem. But you could also be natural. I'm not pressuring you to do anything.” I am happy that my parents never made me feel bad about what I did with my hair or anything like that. Unfortunately, it was the society I grew up in that made me feel like I should do certain things. My parents were always open to allow me to explore with my hair, which was nice.
I've been trying so many things in the last half of this year [2020] because I started working with a lot more brands. It's been very hectic as I'm not good at switching it up. I’m very much a “what works for me, works and I'll use it till it die” kind of person. I would say my go-to products are Shea Moisture and Jamaican black castor oil. The castor oil was my everything when I could not get a hold of Shea Moisture. People have mentioned that Shea Moisture has changed their formula and maybe it has a little now, but that's my Holy grail. I don't think that will ever change because when I used it the other day, it was great!
Next, I would say, my Uncle Funky's Daughter Curly Magic Gel is the best gel I've used in my entire life. I don't say that lightly. It's so good!!
A third one would be my Camille Rose Moisture Milk. All of The Camille's moisturising products that I've tried like their almond one and twist & butter curl moisture water, they all have an intense moisture factor. It's really good! I don't know what they're doing over there, but shout out to them!
I big chopped my hair when I was around 15 years old. I didn't have a bad relationship with my natural hair, I didn’t hate it even though I would relax it. However, my advice would mostly lean towards self-care. I feel like [my hair] is a part of that. It doesn’t matter what length it is or what style it is in, I value that part of myself. I think especially with younger women, long hair is everything. It’s not about a particular length that you have, it's about how you are taking care of yourself. By extension the thing that grows out of your head and how it makes you feel as a person.
Upkeep yourself on value, be very positive, no matter what you look like. That's what I always say to myself. I think [back then] I was trying to maintain this “aesthetic look” with my hair and it was less about taking care of it. But I have to ask myself “is what you’re doing healthy? are you taking care of yourself?” I would lean into my younger self and say: “Hey girl, I know that you think that looks good, but you probably shouldn't do that!”
My peers and I would look at celebrities and unfortunately at the time natural hair wasn't important to us. It was about what looked good, that's who you would aspire to be like. After I did my first big chop, I was 15/16 years old, at the time when more natural hair influencers were on YouTube. Shameless Maya @mayasworld had a huge influence on me, she still does. By the time she had her big curly fro, it was so dope to see her, I love her hair!
I'm super simple and I'm so unapologetic about it! I've been natural for about eight years now; it's been a minute. But I've become more seasoned as I’ve gotten older. I know what works and what I don't have to do as much. For my wash day, I try not to go past a week because of my scalp, she doesn't play [games].
When I do a full wash, it takes me about maybe two-three hours. I shampoo, I don't pre-poo. With the type of hair I have, I don't feel like I need to as most times I have super dry or super tangled hair. But mostly I'll start with my shampoo (a salvage free one). I use Kérastase, it's my favourite shampoo because it's very moisturising and it cleanses my scalp very well. My hair gets really soft from just that.
Then, I follow up with a conditioner. I usually switch up my conditioners, now I’m using one from my Mommy Moisture and before I was using one from Swab. I go in and detangle to try to take out all my hairs that have shed.
I do a defined wash day routine where I put in a lot of conditioner in my hair, once it's detangled, I shake my head like a wet dog. It really brings it together! It works pretty well, especially as my hair gets longer, there’s this new weight on my head and it starts to clump.
Then, I put my head under the shower and rinse out all the conditioner, but I don't touch my hair after or whilst washing out the conditioner so that I don't get any frizz. When I let the water run, the curls remain clumped and I just leave it like that. If I'm deep conditioning that day I will condition to detangle, then follow up with a deep conditioner to get in there. That's it for inside the shower!
Afterwards, I'll come out and depending on what type of style or if I'm doing a wash and go, I will usually leave my hair as wet as possible. I then come into my room, grab my products and I like to style my hair immediately after coming out of the shower. It’s best for me. I grab the moisturising products that I'm using at the time and I flip my head over to pass the products through my hair, trying not to manipulate my hair too much. My hair is already defined from the shower so I don't have to do too much to it. I have high porosity hair, thankfully, so I don't have to do much for the products to soak into my strands. After that, I put gel in the areas where it’s the frizziest and the tightest, usually in the middle. I also don't like to air dry my hair anymore, I don't have the patience for it, it's too long!
I then diffuse my hair which takes about 20-30 minutes to completely dry. I typically would leave my hair to lay over my shoulders, let it get its natural shape, letting gravity do its thing! Maybe an hour later I'll go back in to break, whatever is there and stretch my hair. I typically do the banding method, where I’d put my hair up in four or five sections and put some scrunchies to stretch my curls out. After about an hour of stretching, that's it!
There are many styles, especially when I'm doing a weave or wearing a wig, I'm either doing box braids on my natural hair without any extensions or anything. It's usually in a protective style already. I think anything that is low manipulation and hides your ends, is good, it doesn't always have to be a protective style.
My favourite is braiding my hair with extension box braids! I think it's best for me because:
I've recently got into Knotless box braids, which is more seamless. It looks nicer, it's cool, and there is less tension on your scalp. I know there's also passion twists and all these different things, but those styles don’t last as long for me.
Once you have a good pre protective style routine, making sure your hair is properly moisturised and conditioned, then your hair is good for at least three to four weeks in that style.
I would say patience is your best friend, it's key. I know this for a fact! I cut my hair in 2018 and it started growing late last year so I get it. I get that it's high maintenance because you need to make sure you're styling it properly and style it regularly, more so than when you have long hair. At least with long hair, you can style it in a high ponytail, you can do this, you could do that, it's a little easier. It's important to know that you will learn [about] your hair over time.
It's not as quick for everybody, your hair may be high maintenance to you. Especially girls with type 4 hair, they may feel like there is so much to do, the ends are easy to break off and it's sensitive. I get it. But your hair is like a baby in a sense, It is delicate. It requires you to be gentle with it and to take that time with it. It can be frustrating, but I think when you get a good flow and when you shift your perspective from, "oh, this is too much" to, "this is part of my process of learning who I am.” Then, it can become a little more tolerable for you.
I would also say to do a lot of research! Just because it works for me, doesn't mean it works for you. I don't care about curl patterns because I feel like the density or porosity of your hair are relevant factors with regards to taking care of your hair. Don't look at somebody because they have the kind of hair that you wish you had. This is because you might hear me say, “I use this kind of gel on my hair which makes my curls look like this” but when you use it, your hair is not the same as mine. You will then find that you’re not getting the same results as me. Well, that's because it's not meant for your hair. You have to find those products that work for you!! That's when research comes in handy. Even if you're into watching YouTubers with natural hair; look at different ones, find somebody with as close to your hair type to you as possible so that you can refer to it.
I look at growth, it's less about goals and more about the attitude, demeanour and approach to haircare. Casey Aliyah @aaliyahjay is somebody I followed for years and was even able to connect with her via social media. She chopped [her hair] probably as many times as I have and got backlash for it. I find that within the natural hair community girls with tighter hair curl patterns like type 4 hair (she's 4a/4b), it’s somewhat of a crime to people when you don't want long hair. If you cut your hair short, people question why you did it. especially if your hair wasn't damaged. If you wanted to cut your hair for whatever reason you should be allowed to, but for some reason, people get upset about it. Seeing Casey evolve [from the backlash] and grow, to be confident in saying: "Y'all, I don't care about how y'all feel about what I do with my hair, it’s my hair and that's how I'm going to operate through life. It's about how I feel about myself.”
When I got a big chop in 2018, I did go through a similar thing of, “oh, am I as feminine? Am I as beautiful?” It can really shatter your confidence. To even see her progress through her journey like that has been so inspiring to me!! What matters to me is that my hair is healthy, I love what is growing on my head and how it looks. Self-love is fully encompassing everything, not just a certain aesthetic.
There is one song that came to my head, and it's hot and cold by Katy Perry. That was literally me because I have gone through the highs and lows [with my hair]. Damaging it with colour and heat. It’s been a whole journey! Yeah, that's my song!!
- No Knot Co x
#HairDiaries #NoKnotCo
Happy New Year and welcome back to Hair Diaries X No Knot Co! This is a blog post that aims to inspire as we explore the natural hair journeys of our favourite influencers and their advice to other wavy, curly and coily babes. We interviewed the inspiring Alpha Ngana, who made her own rules when she embarked on her natural hair journey! She gives us an insight into her simple hair routine pre and post motherhood, and how self-acceptance is the key to enjoying your hair journey. Are you ready to learn and discover new tips and tricks from @alfangana's hair journey? Then keep on reading!
I think within the natural hair community, we tend to divide into types A, B, C, but I believe the most productive way is to just stick to type 1,2,3 and 4. This is simply because I have all kinds of super coily strands, I've got some curly ones, and I even have some straight ones. So, it becomes hard to differentiate A, B or C. But I reckon I'll be an A or B. But again, I'd rather just say type four.
I didn't have a very positive relationship with my hair, in the sense that the days that we had to do our hair, [it felt like] a long process. It was so painful because there was that lack of knowledge. My parents didn't do my hair, I used to go to hair salons. Going there for hours, I had the hairdresser combing my hair whilst it was DRY. At that point, I was so young and my scalp was so tender, I could not bear that pain. It was one of those things that I dreaded [the most]. [After that] you have to then come home and you've got one whole day or even three where you can't sleep properly because your braids are so tight. It wasn't a great experience.
Now we are in an age where [there are] resources online or you can go on YouTube. That's the good thing about the digital era we live in, people are educated. So today the relationship that I have [with my hair], is no longer a chore.
I no longer [dread] wash days. I think life is simple. Why complicate it with just hair? I already have a whole day of having to take care of my child and trying to sustain my home. I don't want to take another whole day trying to deal with hair. So I simplify my routine.
So growing up [for me] relaxing hair was the norm. You would never see people with their hair in a non-relaxed manner. Those that I saw with their natural hair; their hair wasn't “kept.” They didn't know how to care for their hair. So, if I didn’t have relaxed hair, I didn't know what to do. So I got a relaxer every three months at least. That was as a young child and that burns; as a young child your scalp is so tender it is not good for your hair. But I'm glad that things are changing now, young girls are looking at natural hair'd influencers online and I think that's amazing!
At the moment it's my conditioner. I love it, it is key. For type 4 hair I need a conditioner because it just gives me that slip feel for detangling. It just makes life easy and sometimes I can use it as a leave-in conditioner as well and just add a little bit of water so it is not as thick, that works well for me. Shea Moisture leave-in conditioner is the one for me. And my Cantu curling cream I love that too! I had it when I first went natural and it's one of those things I always have somewhere in my bathroom so it is easy to get a hold of.
I discussed this with my husband; within the natural hair community, there are a lot of dos and don'ts. We don't understand why exactly, or we just take them and we don't test them out. For example, the whole concept of not washing your hair every day. I believed those things, but what would happen if I washed my hair every day? Now that I have tried it, it is the best thing I ever did. Honestly, it has kept my hair well moisturised. I do love the freedom of not having to run away from water. Every natural hair girl will tell you to run away from water!! But for me, that has helped me out [a lot].
Just like we as brown people can struggle to love our skin colour because of the history that we've gone through... once we begin to accept our hair, I think there's so much freedom that comes with it. Believing that there is beauty in it, changing the narrative that a relaxer is a norm, changing the narrative that brown people cannot grow their hair, you can grow your hair!! I've grown my hair with a very simple routine, and my hair grew to my waist. I've cut it a couple of times in the process as well. So it's very, very possible.
Listen, you are not your hair. I know a lot of people will say oh your hair looks a certain way, therefore, you must be like this. This is not the case! That's a big mistake because you are anything you want to be in life. It doesn't matter whether you're type three, or B or whatever type you may be because the truth is even within different types there is still “hair type discrimination.” The truth is you can do so much with your hair.
This pursuit for the curl pattern, this thing where we're constantly pursuing to define our curls. It's one of those things that we need to let go. So, I would tell my younger self, don't pursue that curl pattern. Your hair is your hair. Just love and work with it. Experiment with it. See what works for you. Don't just take the “natural hair do's and don’ts rules," don't follow any of that, see what will work for you!!
Straight up no. [Natural] hair wasn't a thing. But as a teenager, [my hair role models] would be like Beyonce and Rihanna, I would think oh her hair is nice, but it’s a wig, I can't even be inspired by that because I would have to go find that [exact] wig or weave.
It's very important for me, now that I'm a mother, to think long term for my son, and maybe I’ll have a daughter at some point. I want him to know that this is what [real] hair looks like, and not think that straight hair, or Caucasian hair or type 2 B is the norm. It's very good that we live in a generation with social media, where people can see themselves, they have a representation of who they are.
It takes one hour, I don't believe it should take you a [whole] day. Why is it that I never hear our Caucasian counterparts say “Oh, it takes a whole day to wash my hair.” We don't hear this. I usually wash every two weeks. I moisturise once a week, I just spray a little bit of water in with product.
During my wash day, I finger detangle quickly, take away all the dirt, shampoo, condition, deep condition, all of that is done in the shower. The reason I don't take long is that I style in the shower. I have long hair, I have to finger detangle and do all the beautiful things in the shower. I love water, so it may take me two hours including styling in the shower. It's easier because my hair is well saturated with water. I can put the product in my hair and get it into a bun or do a flat twist and problem solved.
Then I let it air dry, I find that working on damp hair makes the process much easier. There is no better moisturiser than water. I sometimes four-section my hair- the four sections will give me the same definition as if I did eight twists and this is because I styled on damp hair.
Since having my baby I wash my hair every two days or every other day. I won't [always] use shampoo. I just use a conditioner. But if I were to go out, I would just underpin my twists, finger detangle with my conditioner and rinse it out. I put my leave-in conditioner, then my Cantu, Shea Butter, put oil in my hair. That takes me about 20 minutes and I'm done. This works better since I am finger detangling every other day, not only is it helping with my postpartum shedding, but it also means that when it's time for me to do a shampoo, the shampooing takes me less [time]. So, that's it, that's me with waist-length hair.
Don't be led astray by Hair Types, everyone's hair is different. Enjoy your journey. Don't let washday be a chore, don't let it be the sort of thing that you dread.
So go out and try your own thing. See what works for you and your time. How much time do you want to spend washing your hair? If you have a whole day then, sister, take the whole day doing it. Gaining knowledge is key.
It may be very hard because I'm a Christian. So I don't listen to anything but Christian music, so people may not even know it. But for me, the song that is speaking to me right now is Promises by Maverick city.
It just summarises everything about life. God is faithful in every single way; if you’re a Christian, then what can't God do? Do you think growing hair is a problem for God? It's not! It is the least of his worries. So surely your hair shouldn’t be a problem [for you].
- No Knot Co x
#HairDiaries #NoKnotCo
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I have Type 4 Hair 4B/4C, it is low porosity and high density.
Growing up I didn’t know anything about how to take care of my natural hair, all I knew was that my hair was a thick Afro and I didn’t know anything about hair types. I wanted it to be like other girls and so I would straighten it, texturise it, add gel etc. But all that did was consistently damage my hair. It’s amazing to look back at my hair journey because now I love and embrace my natural hair! I’m continuing to explore what my hair loves and the various ways to restore and nurture it. This year has been a time of experimenting and embracing my hair again, trying new hairstyles and I find that sometimes putting in less effort, it turns out good haha. I also have tried out new products and getting to know my hair fully. So I’m proud of how far I’ve come with my hair. I have finally got to a point where I’ve started to let my hair out and not let it be in a bun hidden away.
Yes, I definitely felt pressured to straighten my hair especially because that was what I would see all the black men and women doing. I feel like because within the media and TV what is really shown is type 3 curls. And then most of the black women with type 4 hair would always have their hair straightened or relaxed so for me that was what I was made to feel as beautiful and refined in that sense.
My favourite is my deep conditioner mostly because I can see the benefits straight away and it’s like a little pampering session for my hair.
I would also say my scalp oil! I love taking care of my hair, and it’s so important to have a healthy scalp as that’s the root of where your hair grows from. I particularly love using herbal ingredients that stimulate and soothe the scalp. I also love it because it helps to release stress and tension throughout the body.
My third would be clarifying/hydrating shampoo. It has to be sulfate-free as I have low porosity hair, the product build-up is definitely a struggle. So I need to make sure that I gently clarify my hair without stripping moisture from it.
Health over length!! I would tell my younger self that your natural hair is beautiful and that you don’t need to look like the other girls. I would also tell her to step away from the straighteners and to stop comparing yourself to everyone else and start to embrace all the things that make you beautiful and unique.
I didn’t, to be honest, but I always wanted to have type 3 hair. This was because those were the only curls that got showcased. So in my head, that was the only look of “beautiful” natural hair that I saw around me. But obviously, my hair was nothing like that!
Yes, my hair is pretty much always in either a protective style or a low manipulation style. My go-to style is usually a bun. But my favourite is definitely twists or box braids. I have some tutorials on my page where I have crotchet tutorial, twist in and twist out, and I try to be creative with my styles too.
Be patient. It’s not going to happen overnight. So, you need to just enjoy your journey. Keep it simple, sometimes less is more. Especially when it comes to products, make sure that you take the time to understand your hair and scalp properly. Get to know what it really needs, and what ingredients work best for you and what to stay away from as well.
It would have to be, India Arie “Just do you,” I love that song!! The lyrics resonate with me the most with my journey of learning to love and embrace my hair.
- No Knot Co x
#HairDiaries #NoKnotCo
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My hair type is 4C! I have a bit of 4B at the front, but mainly 4C.
I feel like growing up, coming from Africa-our parents didn't really know how to take care of our hair so much. They relaxed it because that was the easy way out. So, growing up, I didn't know my hair type at all, my mum would always relax my hair. And then I think I started watching YouTube videos. And I was like, wait my hair can be curly? What? People can have curly hair, like I can have this?
I think 2015 is when I got [my] big chop. And I literally chopped it all off. My mom did it for me actually and from then it was such a struggle. Learning to actually love myself for my hair type because growing up seeing pictures of hair, I thought I'd get like 3A hair. I realise now I have coarse hair, it’s quite tough [and can be] hard to manipulate. It was a tough journey. Thankfully now I'm seeing how to love and care for my hair. But at the start it was definitely really difficult. Also, having friends that take care of their hair really helped me get through the struggle. My sister got her big chop at the same time as me.
With hair journeys, you have to just remember that it is your hair. What works for someone else is not gonna work with you. So yeah, that's what I had to remember. It’s been tough, but it's all about self-love, honestly.
Not so much straightening my hair, because growing up, my hair was already straight because it was relaxed, but to continue relaxing it...I did feel pressured!
One because, that's what I was used to. So, I was like, if I don't do this, then what else is there? And also, I think around the media as well. We're seeing straight hair a lot of the time. I think natural hair wasn't that widely shown in the media. I felt pressured to just try and adapt to what I was seeing as a little girl growing up.
When I started my Instagram, I started off by doing natural hair videos, and that's how I kind of built my page. That is what I started doing because that's why my name Elvira Styles, [stood for] like styling hair. The title was there, so then I rebranded myself to do more of a lifestyle page. But it all started with hair and I was just doing hairstyles, braids, protective styles. And I feel like in the UK there aren't as many people doing this, because my audience came from America. The natural hair community is so big there. But in the UK, there's not as much of a natural hair community, it’s not as big here. And I really, really would like to see a change for that in future.
1. I can't live without my gummy hair gel. But it just works on my baby 4C hair. When I found that I was like, listen, I'm keeping you!
2. Another thing I'd say because 4C hair is so tight, quality hair clips you know those hair clips? After wash day, it's so hard to really get in there. So, the clips really separate my hair, that is so useful for me!!
I would tell her, "it's okay, patience." That's the number one thing, because it's so easy to look at other people but everyone’s hair is different. At the end of the day everyone's [hair] grows at different lengths, and it’s okay, patience. Know that your hair is different from so and so’s, your sisters, your friends. So just be patient in your journey and stay in your lane. Because looking at other people is not gonna make your hair grow faster. Calm down, eat well, and have patience. It’s a journey.
As I've said, before, it's about self-love, it's what God has given you. This will be your forever kind of thing. And no matter what kind of chemicals you put in your hair, like relaxers or perming your hair, it doesn't change your genetics. Your hair is still gonna grow whether you chemically change it. So, patience and self-love will take you so far. And you're born like this. So why not love yourself as is?
I would have to say @nappyfu. I think she had 4C hair; I think 4 B? And it was really weird for me to go on YouTube and see someone with possibly my hair type. Her hair was quite long, showing different styles, how she takes care of her hair, like wow, the natural hair community in America really influenced me to big chop [my hair]. I was like, wow, I could do this. I could have this hair. Let me try and see what the possibilities could be. So, it really did get me to big chop and just embark on that journey of self-love for my hair.
Ohh my God it is long!! Especially, let’s say from a protective hairstyle- if I had braids in it's like taking that off first. So that's a few hours to take off. But I'd say once I've undone my hair and I've decided that I'm going to wash it-because it's a journey!
First thing I do is, I put conditioner in I'd like to condition and then leave it in, put a mask on and I'll listen to music or do something, just try to ease my way to the long process.
Then section the hair, [use] clips, and then go [in]to the shower, obviously wash it out. And I'll shampoo the hair. Wash out the shampoo, then condition [it] again. And then I like to leave it a little bit. Then wash it out and come out [of the] shower. Then, because my hair shrinks a lot- shrinkage is so common for loads of hair types. Mines, like so drastic-I think for like 4C hair. So, shrinkage is so hard within a wash day because when it's wet, it's so tight.
So, I like separating it and then moisturising it-the clips again come in handy. So, I have this section of my hair and then apply their essential oils. I like to use Argan oil, Jamaican black castor oil as well. But first I use water-based products. And I use oils to like lock in that moisture. And I'm listening to music right at this point! Then it’s about the protective hairstyle. So, when I'm usually doing wash days towards the evening- so I know that when I sleep and I wake up in the morning, I can just style my hair.
Usually what I do is probably cornrows, depending upon my nails. Maybe I’d just do headbands and just do sections and maybe just plait it upwards or something and just put my bonnet on and sleep. Wake up and style it but I make sure I stretch it!! I have to stretch my hair because the next day when I wake up it looks like a Rottweiler or something because it is [has] shrunk. I just cannot function with it. So yeah, I make sure to moisturise. Stretch it, so [in] the morning I can style it how I like!!
My mom is really good at doing protective styles. She's really good at styling hair. So, I was fortunate that every time I wanted to do a hairstyle I'll have my mom. And I'll be like mum can you do my hair for me? Growing up, I had braids that I liked 90% of the time.
With my natural hair journey it wasn’t like that, when accepting my hair, it was just covering it up with a protective style. And I feel like you have to understand why you're doing it. Is it because you're trying to protect your hair? Or is it because you’re just trying to avoid it? And at the start, I think it was more avoidance and now I've grown out of that and it's more like I'm actually trying to protect it. It's become the purpose of what I've wanted. So yeah, at the start it was much more [about] braids. . So, I'll just show her [my mum] any hairstyles, and she’s like okay, let's do it, sit down!! Then 5 hours later I'm done!!
Sometimes I do [hair] clip-ins, I recently just did some, which is quite cool. But yeah, mostly been braids. Even at school I went to school with bantu knots. I've just really done it all, like on my Instagram as well. And there's more to come.
I think similar to the advice I gave myself. Patience. I think, just have fun. Enjoy it!! I feel like the whole hair type of 4C, 4B, 3, 2, everyone has different kinks. Everyone is different, so have fun with your hair, have fun with your routine! How fun would it be taking care of it? How fun would loving yourself, [and] your hair be? Have fun with the whole journey trying to see the positives in it and try to make friends through it. I definitely met loads of curly hair sisters on Instagram. Just definitely have fun. That's the most important thing.
I want to say “I'm a survivor” by Beyoncé [Destiny's Child]. I'm a survivor because it was tough. The short hair, trying to stretch it when you know, there's nothing really there. I definitely am a survivor. When the tears are coming... “I'm not gonna stop. I'm gonna work harder”. I say that song really relates to my hair journey because it wasn't easy. My whole journey about self-love, and you have to just suck it up. It is what you have you're going to have to work with it and you know, you have to love yourself. So yeah, I'm a survivor. I survived it!!
Welcome to the first interview of our Hair Diaries X No Knot Co series; a blog that aims to inspire and uplift as we explore the natural hair journies of our favourite influencers and their advice to other wavy, curly and coily babes. To start off this series we had the privilege of interviewing Ioni. She is a curl-fluencer that documents the reality of her curly hair journey and she will be sharing with us all her go-to hair products, how she feels about the impact of social media, and how natural hair is presented in the media. Keep reading to discover the hair journey of @CurlyMunday.
So, I think the way I describe my hair really- in terms of curly, coily, wavy; it is curly. And it's high porosity. So, when I wet my hair it soaks up all the moisture. It works really easily. And in terms of the numbering system, I'd normally say 3B or 3C. I don't tend to grade my hair very often. I don't find it personally that useful. But a lot of people ask me so. Yeah.
When I was younger, I think my hair was more of a nuisance, like it was something that made me stand out, but in the wrong way. I think when you're growing up, most people I think, tend to want to fit in and want to just kind of hide, you know, don't want to stand out too much. And that's how I was, and my hair was soooo different to all my friends (I grew up in a neighbourhood that was predominantly white). Everyone had caucasian straight hair. And so, I kind of resented it. It was really I think, in 2013 when I decided to go natural, and then ever since then, it's been a massive part of my identity. It kind of sounds a bit cringey, but it's almost like a crowning glory now. If it didn't have my hair, I wouldn't feel myself. So, it's completely changed, like completely 180'd. And I think that's a lot to do with the media and how things have changed in that respect as well.
Yeah, I think it was more of a media in general, you don't realise it’s happening, but I think because I was trying to fit it, I did straighten my hair for most of my teenage years. And looking back, I kind of think, why did I feel like that? And I think it's because you know, obviously at school everyone around you. Like I said- were white, they had straight hair and I didn’t. And then you come home and look at adverts on the telly, or magazines and even Disney Princesses, they all look a certain way. And it kind of perpetuates the image that to succeed…you have to look a certain way. Because everyone is successful looking, you know, with straight hair, then you think oh, well, I have to do that myself. So, I think it definitely affects you. And I think it's improved a lot though. Even just things like Instagram and social media in general. Now, there's so much more diversity. So hopefully, you know, young girls and guys today don't feel like that, that much.
Okay so, I think all the time I always recommend a silk or satin pillowcase. There's no way I would ever go to sleep without one. Anytime I know I'm going to stay over anyone else’s it will be with me. That's a must!!! At the minute I'd say moisture milk, I'm using the Camille rose moisture milk, which is perfect. I think it's glycerine free. And because the air is really dry [at the moment], it's sort of drawing out all the moisture from my hair into the air and then leaves from my hairdryer so I'm using stuff that's relatively glycerine free. So, the Camille rose gel and moisture miracle at the minute are saving me. Those are my staples, I think.
Okay, so I think it would be; to be content and comfortable with what you're given. Because it's exactly what's meant for you. And also, my big, big big one is I wish I documented products I use on my hair or like took more photos of different days of my hair. Because otherwise I think you’d look back and you will start to think “oh my hair, I have a bad hair day”. “Oh, I hate my hair or whatever”. However, if you see how far you've come, then it's easy to appreciate, I guess where you are now and like how much your hair has developed and grown. And yeah, just look at yourself, it's obvious, and it's cheesy, but it is so true. It's sad to think that young girls will think that their hair is not pretty, or cool, or beautiful. You know, the way their friends are. Yeah, that’s my advice, I think.
No, I don't think I had any, but I thought if I was growing up today, if I was at my sister's age, who's 16, I think [one of] the girls today that I'd look up to would be Leigh-Anne Pinnock from Little Mix. Yeah, she's kind of rocked her natural hair. She also wears wigs and, you know, weaves and braids. But she does all the varieties of hairstyles. I like that. And also, Amanda Stenberg. She's in the Hunger Games. She had a pretty cute name (Rue) . She's known for kind of just wearing her hair naturally and I think those would be mine because they’re someone that looks like me in the media. And you think oh my gosh, if she can wear her hair naturally then so can I.
I think it's so important if you're represented when you look at others and you look at any advertisement campaigns like even when you just go to the shops on the high street and see people in clothing, to see someone that looks a bit like you, it's important.
It's a long one, so long! It’s a whole afternoon to the evening process, I don't usually like to do it in the morning mainly because after, if it's wet, you can't really go out after it. So, it's kind of like you have to do it at the end of the day.
If my hair is particularly dry, I'll do a pre-poo as well as put some oil on my scalp just on the roots, sometimes on the ends. And then I'll get into the shower, and I'll use a shampoo to cleanse my scalp and take my hair mask out of any product build up. Then I will normally go in with a deep conditioner. And sometimes I use a normal rinse out conditioner to detangle first.
Then I condition, I leave the deep-in the conditioner for 20 to 30 minutes, and I'll get out of the shower. And I'll put like a plastic cap on and maybe heat as well depending on how I'm feeling. And then I'll go back in and I will rinse that out. And then I'll use my leave in or moisture milk and I use a towel. I'll pop my hair up, always pop it in a cotton t-shirt. Nothing expensive, literally just an old pyjama top and just pop it in a cotton t-shirt. I could never style on damp hair, it wouldn't work for me. I have frizz everywhere, unfortunately.
So, I'll pop that on and then I leave that in my hair for 20 minutes as I just get ready and moisturise. Do whatever in the house. And then I will lay it out and then I'll just let it air dry on my shoulders and that's the longest bit. That'll take you know, three hours. So that's what tends to happen, even the whole process takes long. I know…it sounds long but it's the drying that takes the longest I could diffuse if I wanted to.
If I don't deep condition it, it's not that long. And then you can diffuse as well, which is quite long; It's like half an hour sometimes because you're meant to defuse it slow and cool. So, there's no heat. And then it's not that fast. It's just like, ahhh, but it's fun!!
So, I'm actually not very creative with my hair. I wasn't much when I was younger; I didn't learn how to do cornrows. That's my biggest regret. I wish someone had taught me because I'd love to be able to do that. So, I'm very basic to be honest about protective styles. And I do twist sometimes literally just to try and twist and I'll leave them in a couple of days. My go-to ones are like just two buns. Like two low buns at the side because and then it's just slicked back in. And tucked away nicely and protected, and then I've started to do like single braids.
Single plaits, or two low buns are on my go-to’s. They’re basic and they're easy.
The big one to me is literally going in on it, whether you're writing it in a diary and taking photos physically and putting them in there, or wherever you're putting them in your notes on your iPhone, or your Android, whatever you choose. Whether you end up creating an Instagram blog or an online blog or whatever, just track your progress. Because 1) it will give you a boost because you're saying “oh my God, I've come so far.” 2) the most important thing I've realised is taking a picture of yourself on a certain day and then saying I used X Y Z product. And then in future when you need to go to have a good look for a certain event or whatever, you know the products that work.
You can start to notice patterns of things that don't work. If you start to use a product with, let’s say coconut oil, and your hair always comes out without definition, for example, you might think, well, maybe my hair doesn't like coconut oil. So, I'll change my products up. You need to journal your hair. I think it's like a journey, journal your transition journey, document it. That's my biggest advice. I think that's the main thing!
There's been someone on Instagram that I follow since the very very start. Well, when I first realised there was a curly hair community on Instagram and her handle is @CurlyGallal. She's absolutely lovely, but her hair is gorgeous, she's got like a big fro and it's just so full of volume and she just is a genuinely lovely person. So, I love to follow her and she inspires me, she has a lot of tips, a lot of advice, and I learned a lot from her. So, she's always been my inspiration in that respect. Also, cheese again, but just myself because you can't compare yourself to anybody. If I'm looking constantly at someone that's got 4c hair, or 2a hair, there's no point me getting too hung up on what their hair is like, it's never gonna be my hair. And then you might end up feeling like “oh, my hair's not like theirs.” That's rubbish. And it's not something that you'll ever be able to achieve. It’s [just] different. So, I think just get into a stage where your hair on a good day is your hair inspiration. I think that everyone should be their own hair inspiration.
I think you've heard of it, there's a song called “Video” by India Arie and then from the lyrics, it's basically about loving yourself “I know my creator didn't make no mistakes on me” - I like that because it just means that you know what you are, how you’re meant to be. [An]other one is “learn to love myself unconditionally because I'm a queen.” So, I love that song. I think everyone should listen to that. It’s a happy song.
- No Knot Co x
#HairDiaries #NoKnotCo
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Having a space where you can write down how you feel, what runs through your mind, set your goals for the day and watch how liberating you feel afterwards. So, get yourself a cute notebook with enough pages to hold your thoughts, inspirations, and goals, and start writing away!
There are quite a few books out there that inspire and motivate you to be the best version of yourself. ‘Think Like a Monk’ by Jay Shetty is among one of them. It launched this year and it explores some exercise and lessons to overcome negative thoughts and habits. This empowering book will help you find the peace and calmness that you need during this second lockdown.
Grab a copy here.
Make sure that you allow yourself to have some fresh air, even if you’re not feeling to workout, get your ass up and go for a walk girl! Now if you have a lot of energy that you need to release then why not get a party started in your living room and get pumped with some dancing workout!
We recommend doing a 15-minute dance workout, here is one that we love, and we hope you love it too.
Here is one way to gather your memories, all the holidays, all the Christmas parties and the birthdays you have celebrated. Time to put your creative mind into it, and make it your own. Though you’ll feel nostalgic, you will be pleased to know December is only around the corner!
Give yourself some ‘me time’ do what it is that relaxes your body and mind so that you’re in the zone for your hot bath time. Unwind, relax in your warm bubble bath and tell Alexa to play your old-school jams, and pour yourself a glass of wine or gin or even some rum and coke whatever tickles your fancy. To really get the relaxing feels why not treat yourself to a scalp massage with our shampoo brush. You deserve it girl!
Relaxation levels 10/10.
Being stuck at home gives you the perfect excuse to get those errands you've been avoiding for months! What better time than now to clear out your wardrobe? Not only will your clothes be super organised, but a good clear out is great for your mental health.
No idea where to start? Marie Kondo has some great tips. Check them out here.
Find a topic you’re interested in, or you want to learn more about even if you’re up for a laugh whatever your mood, there are plenty of podcasts you can get your hands on. It’s a different way to bring your spirits up!
Looking for a Natural Hair Podcast? Check out the Snatched Edges Podcast.
There are many board games that will keep you and your family entrained; whether you're an intellectual gamer with chess or a risk taker with Jenga; it’s a great way to bring everyone together and have some fun!
Just because you cannot see your friends it doesn’t mean you can’t have any fun! So, gather some pub quiz questions, pop them into a quick powerpoint presentation and give your friends and family a zoom call and get your own zoom quiz rolling! Don't know where to start? Here are some ideas to get you started.
Another suggestion for using this time to do the things you never had time to… is updating your portfolio or CV. Whether you’re applying for that new job you’ve always wanted to or just need to add some new skills/experience to it, this is the perfect time!
Additionally, if you are reading this and you’re between the ages of 18-30 or know someone who is who needs some help in writing a cover letter or CV, the Young Women’s Trust aims to guide you and support you with job applications, free coaching and more! To check them out and see how they can help you, here are their contact details:
For general enquiries:
Phone: 020 7837 2019
Email: contact@youngwomenstrust.org
Website: https://www.youngwomenstrust.org/
Now that you’ve got some suggestions, tell us which one/ones you're going to try out? -head over to our Instagram/twitter/Facebook to let us know.
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