This Could be Us..... But it's Not

The internet has a way of making everything look great. Social media timelines are filled with perfect celebrations, perfect pictures, and What seems like perfect lives. Well, I live in the real world, and Today I'm not feeling pretty. In fact, I am feeling quite ugly. I thought about slapping on a head wrap, or slicking my kinks into a bun. As I reached for the gel, I realised how I felt, could not be fixed with a handful of gel or a colourful scarf. Bad hair days are inevitable, but negative feelings can be overcome. I share my top "pick me ups" for mind hair and soul.

Meet This Curly Girl!

Kathie

Student

NYC

Meet This Curly Girl

IndigenousCurls       How long have you been natural? What is Your hair type?   How was it received by family and friends? 

Kathie: I have been natural for a year and a half. My last relaxer was in August 2011. I big Chopped in October 2012. My hair is definitely in the 4 range. Whether I'm 4a, 4b, 4c, or a mix of all three, I don't know. 

Meet This Curly Girl

Meet This Curly Girl

Name_____Débora Cunha____________

Occupation___Technical Textile___________

Location____São Paulo/Brazil_____________

IndigenousCurls       How long have you been natural? What is Your hair type? What made you decide to go natural?  How was your new style received by:  Friends, Family, Co-workers?

Débora Says: I've been natural since 2012, when I started my transition.  4 years of natural hair. My hair is 4A. Some parts are more dry, like the curls at the top of my head, and there are some other parts in the back of my head where the curls are more defined.

IndigenousCurls     3 Product Must Haves, and why.

4c Kinks: No Definition, But Plenty of Influence

Picture this: You see a woman strutting down  the street, fly from curls to toe. Her care free attitude, the sureness in each step, she exerts “Dopeness’  with each gesture, and you cant help but notice! You think to yourself “YASSSSS” or, you want to do a slow clap to celebrate her fierceness.  We have all seen this lady. In fact, sometimes we Are these ladies. She is an influencer.  Her style, her attitude, or general way of life captures attention. Some will  admire her. Some will make fun of her and say ‘who does she think she is’? One thing is for sure, most everyone will notice her. This is what is like to have natural 4c hair, in a world of relaxed and weaved styles. Some will embrace & complement it, & even join in on the journey. Others will make fun, or suggest a relaxer. Everyone will notice.

4 Brands of Gel Natural Girls Can Use

4 Brands of Gel 4c Natural Girls Can Use

Let’s face it, there are so many gels and styling products on the market, it can be hard to know just what is good and what is bad for your hair. Not all products that claim to be good for your hair, will give you the hold, and performance you need. Kinky, tightly coiled hair can be a pain to  lay down. Here are a few brands of gel that not only keep kinky hair looking sleek, they  keep my curls defined. My preferred gels are extra sticky, and goopy. Applying the sticky gels to wet hair is easiest. However, I apply gel on damp hair if I am looking to minimize shrinkage, and have the most defined look. I use gel on wet hair to get the sleekest bun. Using gel on wet hair, usually gives me a shrunken puff, as the curls are not that defined.  I notice my hair shrinks more when the gel is applied to dripping wet hair. No matter the look Im going for, these gels leave my hair happy!

Meet This Curly Teen! | Izzie

Meet This Curly Teen! |  Izzie

Name : Izzie R.

Occupation Student

Location Kingston, Jamaica

1.     IndigenousCurls:   How long have you been natural?  

       Izzie Says:

I have been natural for 1 year and 8 months. I did my big chop 9 months ago.

2.      

      IndigenousCurls: What is Your hair type?

       Izzie Says:

I think my type is 3c to 4a. I went natural because my hair was damaged and breaking from relaxers and coloring.

Meet This Curly Teen!

Meet This Curly Teen!  |  Jurnee 

Name: Jurnee A. 

Occupation: Student 

Location: Texas 

IndigenousCurls: How long have you been natural? What is Your hair type?
Jurnee Says: 
I've been natural since birth, but I've been heat damage free for almost 2 years. My hair type is
so random! Some places I'm a 3c, other places I'm 3b, and other places are 4a/4b!

DIY Trends | Flower Headband VIDEO

DIY Trends |  Flower Headband & VIDEO

We just love this springs trend,

 Flower Headbands

You can rock these trendy accessories in various sizes, colors, and styles. You can chooses a simple or complex flower head band. This versatile accessory can save a bad hair day, jazz up

Meet This Curly Girl | Growing to Love Her TWA

Finding Confidence Rocking my TWA

My big chop liberated me! 

I always said that I would cut my hair when I was ready to make a change. 

And my change finally came.

I've always been a little wary of short hair. I thought I couldn't be beautiful without long, thick, and straight hair. The fact that I had a boyfriend who hated natural hair made me even more self conscious about myself. I was always worried that I looked bad with my hair in its natural curly state.

Spring Hair Show

This Past Weekend was the Spring Hair Show in Atlanta, GA. The Internet was buzzing with excitement from the festivities. We look forward to being at next years show. Here is a Summary of this past weekend with

CeCeNaturally

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 IC Lifestyle Section

How To make SunScreen For Your Hair

The sun can reak havock on your hair 

To keep your hair and skin healthy, it is reccomeded that you use sunblock. Here is a recipe for Home Made Sunscreen for curly hair. 

Many natural oils can act as a sunbock. Carrot seed oil has a SPF of 38-40, while oilve oil can have a SPF of 2-8. Mix 3 or 4 of theses oils in equal parts, and incorpoerat them in your styling regomine. You can also use grapeseed oil as your base and sweeten things up with raspberry oil, and macadiamia oil. Combine theses oils in a small jar and use as needed, and during the final parts of styling.  If your hair loves the thick stuff, reach for Avocado oil to coat your strands before heading out the door.

Meet This Curly Girl

Meet This Curly Girl 

 @akanbutnojeezyy

Follow her on Tumblr, and Twittter

Love that Sweatshirt!

Water Only?

      Water Only for Curly Girls

As a High Porosity Type 4 curly girl, I am hesitant about naked hair. I layer my hair with various products to lock in wash day moisture, and keep my 4c hair soft and supple. I use oils, butters, conditioners, and gels in layers on  my hair. It never dawned on me that my naked hair could feel just as soft, and be just as defined, using the 'Water Only' method.

That's right! ONLY WATER. You may be hesitant to to allow your curls to dry without adding additional oils, but its possible! Your scalp naturally produces oil, or sebum. The water only method encourages your hair's natural oils to increase, and coat the entire strand, possibly eliminating the need to layer product after product on your hair.

Is this for everyone? NO! As always, do what works best for your hair. If you notice adverse side effects while trying a new method, adjust your method, or stop completely. But, if you are tired of products just sitting on your strands, as opposed to seeping in,  you may want to give this 'water only' method a try!

CurlFriend  Dee Shares her Water Only Experience with us! Check out her video, and our one on one interview below!

Big Choppers | DIY Salon Barber

Hey Big Choppers

We asked a group of curly girls where they turned for their big chop. Here is what they said:

• 

  
  

• 

  Indigenous Curls  Where did you Big Chop? Did you go to the salon? Vist a Barber, or do it youself?  I recently shared my big chop story with Total Beauty. Check out the feature on my big chop here. 

•  I went to my hairstylist. She told me to come back when it grows to get a relaxer -___- lol
• I did it myself!!

  
  

Lay that Natural Hair

Want Your Kinky Curly hair to Lay Down?

Kinky curly hair seems to grow up, and towards the sun. While this unique property gives curly girls show stopping volume, I don’t always want my hair ‘out there’. 

The first year of my journey was a constant battle to tame my kinks, in an effort to make them “Lay  Down” Despite loads of gel, hours with a scarf on, and gentle tugging on my resistant ends. My hair would simply would not comply. No matter what style I rocked, with one gusty wind, my hair would immediately stick up, stand up, Waving in the breeze. This persistent section at the top of my head and along my hairline, left me with only a few options. When your hair is tightly coiled, it is more likely to stick up. These methods stretch your hair, allowing it to hang without damage. 

Set Down

Pinterest

There are various ways to set your curls. However you set your hair, is exactly how it will turn out. Set your curls in

Meet This Curly Girl

Meet This Curly Girl  | Alexa

 I’m 19 and decided to return natural after my freshman year of college.  I had my last perm in

Creative Curly Girls

Creative Curly Girls  

D.I.Y. Distressed & Tapered Denim 

How this curly girl maintains her curls, and jazzes up her thrifty finds! She shares how she stays put together from Head to Toe! 

BY CherrieAmore 

My hair gets really dry so I use a lot of moisturizing products. Below are the products that I always have on hand for my hair!

My Hair Must Haves

Shampoo:

Herbal Essence Hello Hydration Shampoo

Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl & Shine Shampoo

Conditioner

Herbal Essence Hello Hydration Conditioner
VO5 Moisture Milk Conditioner (pre-poo)

Deep Conditioners

Beautiful Textures Rapid Repair Deep Conditioner

Detangle That Fro

Detangling | One Naturals Perspective 

By: MissT of Karif Beauty 

If the methods for detangling seem endless, that’s probably because they are. Various tools include the Tangle Teezer, Denman brushes, the Hair Bean, and wide-tooth combs, just to name a few. Oh, and your fingers. And then there’s dry detangling, oil detangling, wet detangling, conditioner detangling…and the smoothing method…and specific finger motions…and..... you get the picture.

Throughout the natural hair world, every expert has

Meet This Curly Girl

Meet This Curly Girl  |  Adiatu

I Started my transition after I gave birth Feb 2013. It’s been a Wonderful year! I swear, I have more clarity in self since swearing off the ‘creamy crack’.

Some of my must haves:

Shea moisture curl milk, 

JBCO, 

aloe vera,

peppermint, 

garlic, 

grape seed oil mixed with coconut oil as a carrier (I can't live without it!).  I seal my ends with raw shea and  my Godess Kurls pop....

 Loving and Living the skin I'm in Peace and Blessings

Indigenous Curls Thanks Adiatu! 

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Natural Hair Love at Any Age

One Highschooler was asked to write about her Passions in her Advanced English Class. Here's a snippet of what she wrote....

Loving Your Curls at any age....