ORS Straightening and Strengthening System - First Impressions.

Okay so I'm sure I've spoken about the amino acid based thermally activated strengthening systems that are getting popular by the minute. At the moment in the salon we use the Design Essentials Strengthening Therapy System as the professional line but of course as with everything, companies will create an 'at home' alternative.

The ORS system is the second at home system I've come across (the first one being the Beautiful Textures one I spoke about in this post) and while it's pretty much the same technique as the Beautiful textures, there's an added product step in this system.

Anyways Detuke who blogs at tukesquest.blogspot.com came in today, all excited about trying out this straightening system. Her plan was to straighten her hair and then fix a weave so straight from NYSC camp, she showed up all smiles and infectious bubbly energy.

Having Natural Hair = No Braids or Weaves?!

It's funny how in the last 4 weeks since I've had braids, I've had mixed reactions from people who haven't seen me rock braids since I went natural.  A number of people actually stop me, call me or send me messages asking me why I have braids on if I'm supposed to be natural??

I was mystified the first time it happened actually - I mean is there a memo somewhere that I missed?




I say this because a number of them actually spoke with forceful authority as to how I have no business with extensions in my hair since I'm supposed to be 'natural' lolllll

I've come to take it in my stride or laugh it off when I'm not in the mood to explain but when I am, all I say is , braids and weaves are a form of 'protective styling' that can be worn by anyone whether natural, relaxed or transitioning. They help you retain length as you don't have to worry about daily styling manipulation.

Sometimes they way I'm asked is akin to my being accused of betraying a trust/code or something - mind you, most times these questions are from non natural peeps so it makes me wonder how they came about their own interpretations of what it means to have natural hair.

Fun At The Savvy And Chic Garden Party!!

My Floral Dress :)

Lovely Set Table with us lovely ladies having a chat :)

It was fun all the way at the Savvy and Chic Garden Party yesterday evening (then the rain tried to ruin it all but we overcame! lol)

Beautiful Dabs

To bring everyone else who hasn't read the previous posts up to speed: Dabs the lady behind naijahaircangrow.com, The Savvy and Chic Hub and The Savvy and Chic Magazine, decided to bring a few bloggers together to have a chilled time, talking, networking and pretty much learning from one another. She'd also given each blogger the opportunity to bring one of their readers as a +1.

Gotta show my toned legs :)

From the minute I'd received the invitation from Dabs, I knew I would be in for a pleasant visual stimulation  - the card was all pretty and floral and when she said the theme for the day was 'Florals' she certainly wasn't joking!

'Damage Be Gone' Natural, Home Made, Deep Conditioning by Olori.

I love all the fantastic natural cosmetic products that local entrepreneurs are producing and promoting - it's a testament to the growing awareness on healthy living and our desire to take better care of ourselves.

I got a hold of the deep conditioner 'Damage Be Gone' earlier on this year, used it and loved it!  I was attracted to it because it's made of natural products, can be used in a variety of ways and can be used on different types of hair! Recently I met the lady behind the products and we've concluded plans for KL's Natural Beauty Bar to retail the products!

According to their really cute 'call card' the product 'deeply moisturizes to improve the texture of hair as well as restore its lustre and shine. It is also gentle enough for little princesses ages 2 and upwards'

The conditioner comes in  3 different sizes - a large 27 oz Family Size tub, a 13 oz tub and a 6.7 oz tub. Now, it is mainly made up of natural butters and oils which means it's very rich in it's composition and consistency - you don't need to slather it on the way you would regular conditioner so you get a lot of uses from each tub.

Back at the Afterburn Bootcamp!!

Honestly, I battled with this one for a while. I did the Boot camp earlier this year as a way to jump start my fitness regime and it helped a great deal! I lost inches round my waist and hips, toned up my arms and legs and got my endurance and fitness levels up.

After it was done, I continued at home, using a few of  Jillian Michaels' DVD's ( my favorites being '6 week, Six pack' and  '30 Day Shred') I managed to get even more toned and developed my very own six pack!!!

I was so happy when I got here!

Alas, trouble started brewing when I started getting bored with Jillian Michaels; I'd skip a few work outs and do some push ups and core work instead (but for shorter and shorter periods of time)

And the winner of Our First Giveaway Is........

Coming later than planned but today has been one of those excruciatingly long days that hasn't ended yet as I have some prepping to do for my bride tomorrow morning.

So I got 5 entries  - out of which 4 were correct (The title of my first post was 'Hair We Go' not 'Here We Go' :) and using the random number generator, I'm excited to say, we have a winner!!

Caring For Your Hair While In Braids.

Source

Five or so years ago, I went to get some braids installed and opted for a deep condition first .The hairdresser  mixed the deep conditioner she was going to use with some Shea butter and put me under a steamer for a deeper penetration of the conditioner. I probably  had the style in for about six - eight weeks and I remember the day I took it out at the salon, I noticed (and my hair dresser also remarked) that my hair seemed to have grown about an inch and a half.

I'm a lover of braids so I figured I'd  get another deep condition with Shea butter (hey! it was the magic ingredient), go get 'million braids' leave them in for longer and witness another 'miracle' when I took them out. The day I took them out, I immediately went to get a relaxer - so I could see the 'true' length of my hair.

I will never forget how when the hair was being combed with the relaxer in, it seemed as if surely, someone had hidden a blade in the teeth of the comb! The amount of hair that came out!!! I still see clearly in my mind's eye, how they put all the hair mixed with relaxer on the instruction sheet of the Relaxer kit as if to say 'well if you can't see it on your scalp, have a look at what could've been)

Of course by the time I washed and styled, my hair was shorter than when I got the first set of braids that got me so excited!

Needless to say I thought the magic could be recaptured if only I remembered the exact deep conditioner that my hairdresser used that first time - I thought maybe the Shea butter worked better with that one.... and so began this search for THE conditioner that surely was the one that would make me grow rapunzel like lengths.