Healthy Habits for Natural Hair Growth, Part 2

Hey all, 

Before reading today's post, make sure you check out last week's post, which is part 1. It can be found here. 

Last week's post dealt with habits for healthy hair growth from the scalp! So today's post is part 2, and it will deal with habits for length retention! 

Without further adoo, let's get to it!

Part 2: Habits for Length Retention:

In addition to healthy hair growth from the scalp, most naturals want to retain and maintain the current hair they have. Here are some habits you can do right now to help retain  the current natural hair you have. 

1. Moisturize, moisturize, and moisturize some more! Even if you spritz your natural hair with water or actually do the LCO/LOC method, moisturize those strands. In a future post, I'll be discussing my LCO method, and I can't wait to share those details (as well as results) with you!

2.  Low manipulation and protective hair styles are key. The less you manipulate your hair, the fewer instances you will have for hair breakage! Examples of low manipulation/ protective hair styles includes buns, twists, flat braids/flat twists, braids, wigs, and weaves. And even when your hair is in these styles, you still have to care for your hair so shampooing, conditioning and moisturizing should still be taking place! 

3. Being gentle with your hair is the last habit. If you have to manipulate your hair, then take your time and be gentle as you work with it. Often times, when I am most tired, I am the roughest on my hair. I have learned to put it in a puff and leave it alone. Also, I typically use my fingers rather than styling tools like combs and brushes. Nothing against them, but my fingers create less wear and tear.

Let me know your thoughts for length retention! Definitely share them below.

Until next time...

Be faith-filled, fearless, and fabulous,

Kurly Ken 

My Top Five Tips for Low Porosity Hair

A while ago... and I do mean a while ago, I did a blog post on hair porosity (You can read it here). In this post, I discussed my own hair porosity, which you might have already guessed by the title, is low porosity. Being a low porosity girl is interesting. It definitely takes work--- mainly a lot of trial and error, but I have come across several tips that have made the difference in my low porosity hair. I figured I would share them with you whether you are newly natural or a natural hair veteran like me (Whoop! Whoop!).

Kurly Ken's Top Five Tips for Low Porosity Hair:

1. Clarify your hair. Low porosity hair typically accumulates product build up. Remember, low porosity hair can be stubborn in a sense that the hair shaft doesn't easily open up so there is an increased likelihood that products are sitting on top of hair causing build up. 

The best way to clarify your hair is to utilize a clarifying shampoo or treatment. Now, I love bentonite clay. It is a great clarifying treatment for your hair-- not to mention, it works well on your skin as a facial mask!!! Another common treatment is an apple cider vinegar rinse. And lastly, any shampoo that boasts "clarifying" properties is another great option when it comes to removing buildup. Remember, removing build up will allow the hair products to penetrate the hair shaft and do their job!

2. Deep condition with heat and/or steam to open up the hair cuticle. I just discussed how the hair cuticle of low porosity hair is a bit stubborn, and it takes more work for it to open. After removing any product build up with your clarifying product/treatment, you should use heat/steam to open the hair cuticle. The heat/steam will allow moisture to come in and work its magic!!! 

As a low po girl, you have a number of options you can use to incorporate heat into your wash day regimen. You can put your deep conditioner in a bowl and warm it up prior to applying it to your hair. You can also take a damp towel and warm it up in a microwave for a few seconds and apply it to your hair for additional heat. In addition to those methods, you can also place conditioner on your hair with a plastic cap and sit under a heated dryer. Many naturalistas are investing in a steamer as a means of incorporating heat into their regimen and can be quite effective at add wet heat to your hair regimen.

3. Add a little protein in your life. Some of the best proteins for low porosity hair are silk, wheat, and hydrolyzed protein. These proteins are small enough to penetrate the hair shaft. Other proteins are too large and ultimately, they are unable to enter the hair shaft to strengthen the hair.

4. Warm water over cold water. Obviously, I have talked in length about the benefits of heat, and this is no different. Rinsing with warm water allows the hair shaft to stay open, further allowing the products to penetrate the hair. Cold water closes the cuticle, and I'll just stop right there. 

5. Apply products to damp hair- NOT wet hair! As a low po girl, putting products on WET hair is simply useless. Have you ever experienced that white product residue while doing your LCO method immediately after washing your hair? Then the next day you are stuck with horrible first day hair that resembles a greasy jherri curl!!! I know I have one too many times! It's like there is literally a layer of cream cheese looking products sitting on your hair---seriously! Well, that's low po hair for you, and low po hair has difficulty absorbing product when it is damp. Why so? Well, low porosity hair already has one moisturizer on it when it is wet, which is water!!! Therefore, allowing some of the water to evaporate provides room for other products to penetrate! 

Damp hair = faster product absorption; product penetration 

Wet hair = slower product absorbption; product build up

Alrighty low po peeps, do you feel more informed??? Do you have some new tips in your Arsenal? If these aren't new tips to you, were you reminded of some things you can add to regimen? I surely hope so. If there are some tips you have learned or even product suggestions, just leave them below. Lastly, be sure to check out my previous blog posts on...

Drink your Way to Healthy Hair Growth
Natural Hair: The Afro Puff

My Wash Day Regimen

My Current Natural Hair Regimen
Natural Hair: Tips for Hair Growth + Length Retention

Until next time...

Be faith-filled, fearless, and fabulous,

Kurly Ken  

Drink your Way to Healthy Hair Growth

I know you picked up your wine glass in anticipation, but when I say drink your way to healthy hair growth, I'm referring to a smoothie filled with tons of vitamins and minerals that are essential to your overall health and hair growth! If you remember in one of my previous blogs on my current natural hair regimen as well as a post on hair retention methods, I talked about incorporating a smoothie into my daily regimen and the benefits I have seen in my overall health. In addition to the benefits seen in my overall healthy, my skin and the health of my hair have increased. My hair is growing in thicker and appears shinier.

To drink your way to healthy hair, you will need the following:

• 1 Handful of Kale, Chard, & Carrot (You can buy this as a salad mix)

• 2 Handfuls of Spinach

• 1 Cup of Greek Yogurt

• 1 Whole Bananas

• 1 Handful of Blueberries & Strawberries

• Almond Milk (or whatever liquid of choice)

Each of these foods is packed with so many nutritional benefits. For example....

• Kale is packed with tons of iron. Iron is essential because it delivers oxygen to the cells, and when oxygen reaches the cells, this helps revitalize and regenerate cells, preventing hair loss. 
•  Chard has biotin and MSM in it, which promotes hair growth. 
• Carrots have loads of vitamin A. Vitamin A promotes healthy hair and scalp. In addition, vitamin a promotes healthy sebum production, which also affects hair growth. 
• Spinach, blueberries, and strawberries are all packed with vitamin C, and vitamin C is essential in assisting the protein in your body and hair. As we all know, hair is made of protein, and Vitamin C acts as a facilitator for protein, allowing your hair to grow to its fullest potential. 
• Bananas are the next contender, and they are rich in potassium. Potassium promotes a healthy scalp, which ultimately affects hair growth. Remember, you need a healthy scalp to have healthy hair! 
• Greek yogurt is packed full of protein, and as I have stated, your hair is made of  PROTEIN. Having the proper amount of protein in your body allows you hair to grow at its greatest capacity. 

Now, you have my smoothie recipe so you can begin to drink your way to healthy hair growth! I love smoothies because they are easy to make. Also, smoothies allow you to consume the appropriate amounts of fruits and veggies needed for healthy daily living. So give it a try and let me know what you think! If you have a smoothie recipe, please post your smoothie details down below! 

Until next time...

Be faith-filled, fearless, and fabulous,

Kurly Ken

OOTD: Winter Style with a Herringbone Puffer Vest

Today's post is solely focused on the herringbone puffer vest. This vest is certainly a staple piece that adds a level of class and prep to any style and can certainly take any outfit to the next level.

This particular puffer vest was recently SOLD OUT (Yep!!! I said sold out) at J. Crew, and while this vest is of higher quality, the J. Crew version costs a pretty penny too. Despite it being sold out at J.Crew, some sellers on EBay still have this vest available, and if you play your cards right, you can find it at a steal of a deal, which I highly suggest. But if EBay is not your thing, there are a number of other places that offer reasonably priced dupes, such as the vests at Zulilly's.

Today's outfit of the day was totally inspired by this picture I snagged from my Pinterest page. Follow me at Keeping Up with Kurly Ken.

Source: A Southern Drawl

Here's how I recreated the look with my own personal spin! Enjoy! 

Herringbone Puffer Vest| Gifted

Red and Black Buffalo Plaid Shirt| Gifted

Black Three Quarter Length Sweater| Forever 21

Black Jeans| Forever 21

Black Riding Boots| Nine West

Now if you aren't inspired by this vest, check out these other pictures from my Pinterest page as well.

Source: A Southern Drawl

Source: Cort in Session

Until next time...

Be faith-filled,fearless, and fabulous,

Kurly Ken

My Current Natural Hair Regimen

Well, shame on me! It's been a long time since I have provided an update to my current natural hair regimen. For the past 8 months, I have been solely focused on protective styling! I literally only took my hair out to wash, deep condition, and wear my hair out for a few days in preparation for the next protective style. However, I now OFFICIALLY miss my hair! I've been wearing it out naturally for the past few weeks, and I have slightly tweaked my natural hair regimen to include some new products and practices.

But before I get into my natural hair regimen, let's take a walk down memory lane. Remember, in April 2015, I cut my hair. My hair was seriously neglected, under moisturized, thinning, and desperately needed a fresh start.

New cut with a twist and curl in April 2015

Soooo.... after my hair cut, I increased the moisture levels in my hair by incorporating daily moisturizing habits and deep conditioning on a more frequent basis. Consistency was the key, and my hair truly began to bounce back. As the summer time approached, I wore my hair in braids or twists, but I still moisturized daily as well as washed/conditioned my hair while in these protective styles.

 Braids

In September 2015, I unleashed my locks for a bit. I was pleased with the overall growth and length retention; hence, the picture below. Check out my posts on some of the things I was doing to increase growth and retain length.

 September 2015

After wearing my hair out briefly, I decided to go back into protective styling for the duration of the semester. Braids, of course, were my first choice. 

November 2015

Now, January 2016, I miss my natural hair as I stated above so I am wearing it out. When I reflect over the past 8-9 months, I can see that my hair has seen substantial growth as well as retained its length. Of course, I have trimmed it, but in spite of the trims, my hair appears healthier. It's much fuller and stronger, and I am definitely pleased with the results.

January 2016

January 2016

Let's do a comparison!

Top picture is from January 2016; Bottom picture is from September 2015

Below you will see the modifications to my natural hair regimen:

Internal

1. I take one prenatal vitamin, which includes fish oil and biotin in it as well. I no longer take a separate supplement of fish oil or biotin.

2. I increased my water intake from 8-10 glasses to 10-12 glasses of water per day. 

3. My diet is still mainly pollo-pescetarian, which means my meals consist of fish, chicken, vegetables, and fruit. I eat this way about 85% to 90% of the time. No changes here!

4. I wanted to increase the daily amount of fruits and vegetables. I currently drink a 32 ounce smoothie that includes a smorgasbord of fruits and veggies. Read more about it here.

5. I work out at least 4 times per week (running in conjunction with lifting weights)

External

Wash Routine

First off, I wash my hair as needed. Sometimes, I wash weekly and other times bi weekly. It really depends on how my hair feels and my schedule.

During my wash routine, I typically:

1. Pre-poo with coconut oil and honey for at least 30 minutes under a plastic cap. Check out my post on my pre-poo process here.

2. Then I clarify with 1/3 apple cider vinegar, 2/3 water. I place this mixture in a bottle and massage it into my scalp. Then I rinse out the mixture with water and repeat these steps until I feel my scalp is clean. Since I work out a lot, clarifying helps to remove the sweat, oil, and product build up from my scalp.

3. Next up, I  deep condition with a little homemade concoction of Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Deep Treatment Masque, olive oil, glycerin, and honey for 30 minutes to an hour. Other ready made conditioners I have recently tried (and enjoyed) have been Creme of Nature Argan Oil Intensive Conditioning Treatment and Eden's Body Works All Natural Deep Conditioner (Jojoba monoi).

4. Next, I rinse out the deep conditioner. Apply an oil to seal and then I allow my hair to air dry for an hour or two.

5. After 70-80% of my hair is dry, I begin my LCO Method with my 1/4 aloe vera juice, 1/4 glycerin, and 1/2 water spray mixture, followed up with Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Deep Treatment Masque as a cream, and olive oil to seal

Moisturizing Routine

Now, when my hair need a little moisture, I apply Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Deep Treatment Masque and/or coconut oil. I also like to do a 5-10 minute scalp massage with a little olive oil or coconut oil on my finger tips when I moisturize my hair.

And Every Now and Then....

Occasionally, like every 6 months or so, I do a henna treatment.  If you would like to know more about my henna treatment, click here to read the post.  

Well folks, that's pretty much it. If you have any questions regarding any of the products or practices, please feel free to leave a comment down below. 

Denim and Things

I just want to start this post by stating how much I love this denim shirt!?!?! Seriously, I must wear this denim shirt at least once a week in some shape, form, or fashion. Denim shirts are so versatile and timeless. You can button it up to wear with slacks, wear it open as a jacket, wear it open with the front lapels tied, or wear it around your waist! 

In this post, I chose to wear my denim shirt as a jacket with a simple white v-neck, which is yet another classic piece. I paired these items with black jeans and black pumps. This was the perfect outfit for a lunch date with my mom, but this look could easily be worn for an evening out with friends. 

Enjoy! 

Black Wool Hat: Forever 21 (Find a similar look here) 

Denim Shirt: H & M

White V Neck: Forever 21(Find it here)

Black Jeans: Forever 21 (Find it here)

Black Suede Pumps: BCBG

And yes, I am still rocking my box braids. See why I love box braids as a protective style here.

Until next time...

Be faith-filled, fearless, and fabulous,

Kurly Ken

Birthday Behavior

Today is my birthday, and I feel incredibly blessed! I am so grateful for all that God has given me, and I am incredibly excited about what the next year will bring. 

Today's post is a few pictures of my birthday outfit. Lately, I have been very into the black, gray, and white color palette, which goes along with my own minimal vibe. I still like to add a pop of color, which often comes across in my accessories and makeup. 

Black & White Stripe Turtleneck: H & M

Black Trousers: H & M

Black Leather Chain Booties: Aldo

And then I decided to add a hat because I felt like I was missing something! 

Black Beanie: Forever 21

Until next time,

Stay faith-filled, fearless, and fabulous,

Kurly Ken

Style Post: Outfit Collaboration with SHEisADollOnABudget

So I decided to do an outfit of the day blog post collaboration with my long time friend and fellow fashion blogger, SHEisaDollOnABudget. On this particular night, we headed out to the Dallas Museum of Arts (DMA) to try something different.

The DMA is open late nights every third Friday of the month and MAN... IT. WAS. PACKED!!! There was a whole lot of art, people, and street vendors! 

Here is what we wore:

If you would like to know the outfit details for my friend, please head over to SHEisADollOnABudget, where you can learn tons about her personal style, gain tons of outfit inspiration, and find links to key style pieces she has been rocking. 

Now my outfits have been pretty minimal these days. 

Outfit details:

Olive Green Muscle Tank-Forever 21

Black Midi Con Stretch Skirt-Forever 21

Wristlet- Coach

Until next time...

Be faith-filled, fearless, and fabulous,

Kurly Ken

Until next time....

Be faith-filled, fearless and fabulous,

Kurly Ken

Ten Reasons Why I Love Box Braids

So for the past four weeks, I have been living in box braids, and may I just say, I freaking love them.

Here are my Top Ten Reasons Why I Love and Am Living in Box Braids:

Número Uno... I can simply wake up and go. I spend less than a minute or two styling my hair in the morning, which means I can sleep a little longer! Who doesn't want that!?!?!

Número Dos... I have multiple style options! There is never a dull moment when I rock my braids. Whether it's a simple ponytail, complex updo, or just all down, I can always switch my hairstyle with ease. Check out my other blog post for box braid style inspiration:

Creative Hairstyling Options for Box Braids

Box Braid Hairstyle Pictorial: Braided Pompadeur

Número Tres... Braids are a great protective style. I can easily moisturizer my own natural hair with sprays and leave in conditioner to ensure my hair is not being deprived while its tucked away!

Número Cuatro... The hair for box braids is fairly inexpensive. While the installation process may take some time, especially if you are doing a self-installation like me, it will all be worth it.

Número Cinco...My wash day routine is cut in half because I can easily get to my scalp to clean it. I wash my braids once a week and moisturizer my braids just like I would my own hair, but the process moves much faster.

Número Seis... My hubby loves them. Enough said!!!

Número Siete... My hair is growing like a weed!

Número Ocho... Did I mention I can leave them in my hair for 6-8 weeks? Winning all day over here!!!

Número Nueve... You can safely rock hair color when you wear box braids! I stepped outside of my normal 1B/ Off black/brown box and added a little honey blonde just for a little spice.

Número Diez... Box braids fit any setting you're in, whether it's casual, semi-casual, or professional. You can get away with box braids anywhere you go! 

Now, after reading this post, you should want box braids in the near future! Don't be surprised if you see me rocking them again before this year is over! 

Until next time,

Be faith-filled, fearless, and fabulous,

Kurly Ken

HAIR UPDATE + GOALS

I wanted to show how my hair was growing since I cut it in April. Check out the post here to see how it looked when I first cut my hair.

Hair Update:

Since "THE" cut, my hair has been growing out thicker than ever. It literally is stacked full of body, which may also be attributed to the layers I cut in my hair. I think the cut helped to give my hair a healthy beginning. Not to mention, I have been protective styling ALOT lately with braids and marley twists. And even when my hair is tucked away, I moisturize, moisturize, moisturize! 

But I am loving the grow out process....

Goals for Both Hair and This Thing Called Life:

So as I enter my fifth and final year of course work, I want to really ensure that I take time to take care of my hair--- as well as myself. Often times, when the school year hits, self-care falls to the weigh side, but not this school year! Nope! I'm devoted to taking better care of myself by doing the following:

1. Prayer and Meditation

2. Journaling in my Prayer Journal 

3. Exercise at least 4 days per week 

4. Eating Healthy (Incorporating more fruits and veggies on a daily basis via smoothies)

5. Taking care of my hair and skin 

6. Spending time regularly with family and friends

7. And the list goes on...

I currently feel like I'm on the right track when it comes to self-care, and I want to stay that way. Last year, I spent a lot of time stressed and depressed trying to jump through doctoral hoops! My self-esteem was waning, and my self-care was at an all time low. But I took a lot of lessons from last year, and one lesson was to maintain self-care, pouring into yourself so you can pour into others. With dissertation, internship applications, and my final year of coursework, I have to execute it! No excuses! Taking care of myself will overflow into other areas of my life like work, school, and relationships, whether directly or indirectly! So to all my readers who are returning back to school, in some shape, form, or fashion (whether student, teacher, or both---like me), have a blessed school year and take care of yourself (and your hair;-)

Until next time...

Be faith-filled, fearless, and fabulous,

Kurly Ken, the doctoral candidate

My Secrets Revealed: My Homemade Moisturizing Cream

Hey Kurlies,

I am finally dishing the goods on my homemade moisturizing cream/mixture. It's super simple. For the most part, I use the same oils and definitely the same cream. I may supplement one or two oils depending on my hair needs, but in the end, my natural hair is moisturized. 

 My recipe includes the following ingredients:

OKAY African Shea Butter

Crisco Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Louana Coconut Oil

Sunny Isle Jojoba Oil

De La Creme Sweet Almond Oil

Now, when I combine these ingredients, I never use exact measurements. I "eyeball" it everytime.

1. First, I start with the shea butter, and I use a substantial amount of this. 

2. Add the olive oil. This is about a teaspoon amount. 

3. Add the coconut oil. I add a large amount of this. The amount of coconut oil is typically more than the Shea butter. Coconut oil has been working really well on my hair as of late so I always include it in this mixture.

4. Jojoba is added next. I literally add a quarter size of this.

5. The last thing I add is the sweet almond oil. I typically add a table spoon of this. I love the way this oil smells. Pure sweetness.

I whip up all the ingredients and let it sit for about 30 minutes. Then...Ta-da! I have my mixture. On this day, I placed my hair in large twists and pinned them up. I'll keep these twists in for the week.

My hair is moisturized and protected. This will also cut down my time preparing for school and practicum this week. At night, I'll spray my hair with the aloe/ water mix and then I'll apply my homemade cream to my twists as needed. Simple and easy!! My hubby loves this hairstyle on me, and I get a ton of compliments from others when I wear this style as well. Perfection!

If you have any questions or comments regarding my concoction, please comment below.

Kurlies weigh in: Do you have a DIY mixture you use on your hair? If so, feel free to share. If not, are you thinking about creating one? What would you include in this mixture? 

Until next time...

Be faith-filled, fearless, and fabulous,

Kurly Ken

How To Achieve that Bronze, Sunkissed Glow for Brown Skin

Summer time is here, and I have been searching for ways to get that perfect bronze glow. However, finding products for brown skin girls, such as myself, has not been easy. I wanted a naturally sun kissed look for the summer months so I did a little research.

Below are some of my top product recommendations to achieve this look, and most products are budget friendly.

(left to right: MAC Mineralize Skinfinish, ELF Sunkissed Glow Bronzer, Nyx Blush, Mary Kay Lipsticks)

Top Products:

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Dark Deep

If you have not heard of this product, you have officially been under a rock! This is one of my holiest of grails! This product provides an all over natural glow. While it retails as a high end product, the product formulation and the color pay off suit my skin perfectly. Also, my skin is super prone to breakouts so when I find a product that doesn't break me out, honey, I stick to it like glue!

Elf (Eyes Lips Face) Sunkissed Glow Bronzer in a Warm Tan 

This bronzer is most certainly a bargain product. Initially, when I picked it up, I had no idea how I would use, but for $2, I couldn't leave it there. But now, I literally use this products as a highlight on the bridge of my nose, Cupid's bow of my lip, tear ducts of my eye, and as an illuminator on my cheeks! I seriously love this product and just a little goes a long way in providing the perfect shimmer you need. 

NYX Blush in Terra Cotta 

This is a product that has been in my makeup kit for a while, and I suddenly found use for it. I use it as a blush to warm up my cheeks. It is the perfect way to provide subtle warmth. 

Lipsticks

The next two lipsticks are used in conjunction with each other. When I want a nude lip with a little shimmer, these two lipsticks certainly do it for me:

-Mary Kay Lipstick in Shell

-Mary Kay Lipstick in Amber Glow 

As a brown girl, it hasn't been easy finding an affordable (key word here!!!) nude lipstick, but these lipsticks provide that sultry, barely there lip color I want to achieve that compliments this brown skin of mine. Not to mention, these two lipsticks are super moisturizing! 

(All products mentioned above were used to achieve this look)

What are some of your favorite make up products that help you achieve that summer glow? 

 #randommomentsofken

And on another random note.... I have some different ideas for my upcoming blog posts that cover my other areas of interest like healthy eating, exercise, minimalism, spirituality, and yada-yada-yada. But don't worry! I still have plans to do some upcoming posts on hair, makeup, and style. I just wanted to mix it up a little. Stay tuned lovelies!

AND LASTLY, HELLO TO MY NEW SUBBIES! GLAD TO HAVE YOU HERE!!!

Until next time...

Be faith-filled, fearless, and fabulous,

Kurly Ken