Tuesday, March 29, 2011

The Big Chop

Cutting the hair was the easy part. Now, you have just a few inches of hair left and even fewer clues to keep it beautiful. Luckily celebrity stylist Maisha Oliver has got you covered, she knows from experience how much fun it can get. Here are 5 steps towards maintaining your new short do.


STEP ONE: RETAIL THERAPY - SORT OF
Your first stop should be at the beauty supply store to buy the [right] styling tools." Ideally, you should have a blow dryer (with a diffuser for curly styles and natural hair), a flat iron and a curling iron that's between 1/4th and 1/8th of an inch.  Keep in mind: Be careful with hot styling tools! You'll be using them more often than normal, which can lead to hair breakage if you're not careful.

STEP TWO: PLAY WITH IT
You can look for style inspiration in magazines and BV Hair Talk, but you'll need to get re-acquainted with your hair to make those inspirations a reality. Cutting your hair was a major styling change that will take some time getting used to.  The best way to do this is to whip out the styling tools and just go. "You need to take a weekend to play with your hair and experiment, just so you can really learn how to maintain the hair and create a couple of hairstyles."  Styling tip: When it comes to versatility, it's all up to you. You can add color extensions. You can add extensions to make it longer. You can play around with the bangs. . .make it creative

STEP THREE:  UPKEEP DAILY FOR BEST RESULTS
When you wake up, use a moisturizer with a light, non-greasy formula since you'll be using it daily, you want products to keep it simple.  At night, tie hair with a satin or silk scarf since tossing and turning on cotton sheets can make hair more difficult to manage in the morning. Wrapping is good to help the hair retain the natural oils and moisture. Styling tip: Worried that wrapping will leave hair flat? Try this trick from Maisha:   Some people like the volume on the top, so they only wrap the nape area of the hair, leaving the top out to keep the volume.

STEP FOUR:  WASH WEEKLY
Short hair often requires more upkeep than longer styles, and as a result, you'll need to use more styling products on your hair. When you use a lot of styling product, it can create a lot of buildup. Maisha recommends that you wash your hair once a week to prevent hair-dulling product buildup.

STEP FIVE: KEEP YOUR APPOINTMENTS
With less hair, your new growth and color roots will be more visible, so you may need to see your stylist more often. According to Maisha, your hair is constantly growing since you're cutting it frequently to maintain the style.  Ideally, you should relax the entire head every 4 weeks, taking extra care to ensure that the relaxer is only applied to new growth. You'll also need to re-touch the edges to keep the hair lying flat. "For the napes and the side, it's usually every two weeks," she suggests.

RELAXED AND COLOR TREATED HAIR
The type of color formula will determine how often you need to re-touch your roots. Your stylist can relax your hair and apply semi-permanent color the same day.

PERMANENT COLOR
For permanent color, you're going to be alternating. You're either going to get your relaxer first, and then getting your color 2-3 weeks after.

NATURAL HAIR
If your natural-texture hair is color-treated, you can reapply the color every 4-6 weeks.  Styling tip: Coordinate your hair cuts and trims with your chemical treatments. You should trim your hair every 4-6 weeks on the same day that you get your relaxer or color. If your hair is completely chemical-free (no relaxer AND no color), Maisha says that it's fine to trim it every 6-8 weeks.

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Monday, March 28, 2011

RECAP: Week of March 21

10 Weave Commandments



What every weave wearing woman should live by
[read more. . .]
Angélique Kidjo Africa's premier diva





Top 100 Most Inspiring Women in the World
[read more. . .]

New Feature
Precious Curls




A natural hair blogger embraces her kinks! [read more. . .]
Did You Know?





Do you know what co-washing is?
[read more. . .]
New Page
Beauty






Influence Under Grace [read more. . .]

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Thursday, March 24, 2011

New Page: Beauty

A BEAUTY page has been added to the site.  Crown Chronicles will not be limited to just hair related topics.  Be on the look out for beauty tips.

 ♥ 
Thank you for your continued support.  Much appreciated!
 ♥

Did you know?

Co-washing is when you wash your hair with conditioner ONLY.

 Co-washing does NOT wash your hair! Would you put lotion all over your body in the shower instead of soap? Frequent cleaning of dry hair is necessary, because we must use hair products daily to help replace lost moisture. Also, keep in mind that over conditioning can make your hair limp and unable to style.

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Angélique Kidjo

Born in Benin (West Africa), Angélique Kidjo is a Grammy award-winning music recording artist deemed "Africa's premier diva" by Time Magazine and the Guardian has listed her as one of their Top 100 Most Inspiring Women in the World.

Known for her dynamic and uplifting music, she has translated her distinctive work in the arts to that of philanthropy; by promoting education for girls in Africa through her foundation, Batonga and as a UNICEF Goodwill ambassador Kidjo travels the world to inspire and empower.  With joy and passion Angélique Kidjo embodies the spirit of Africa. Through her music, life and exuberant commitment to advocacy she exemplifies unity, peace and diversity.

Angélique is in shape physically and definitely rocks her white blonde short hair very well a woman in her 50's!
MOVE ON UP with Bono and John Legend 

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Tuesday, March 22, 2011

The 10 Weave Commandments

Whether you wear a weave to add fullness to your natural mane, as a protective style, or to simply change up your look—here’s what every weave-wearing woman should live by.

1. Thou shall blend. There’s nothing worse than a weave with conflicting textures. If you’re unable to manipulate your true texture to mimic that of your weave, then you should get a weave that replicates your true strands.

2. Thou shall not let thy tracks be visible. You might as well leave the house with a pack of Remy 1B 14-inch in your hand. If you’re unable to properly conceal your weave, just skip it all together.

3. Thou shall have thy tracks sewn on securely. Over time, tracks will loosen as you style your weave. But there’s no reason for them to be hanging on for dear life by a single strand of weaving thread after one week of wear.

4. Thou shall not leave the salon in discomfort. Too many women leave the salon with a headache because their tracks were sewn on too tight. Not only is it painful, but it also puts you at risk of traction alopecia.

5. Thou shall not wear a shiny weave. A quality weave will have a natural luster to it. There is no need to weigh it down with tons of product. This will only make it look fake. The more lightness and bounce your weave has, the more authentic it will look and feel.

6. Thou shall use the proper products for maintenance. Each weave has different needs. A curly weave might require a leave-in conditioner to reduce frizz, while a straight one might call for a lightweight moisturizer, or nothing at all. It varies, so do your research.

7. Thou shall care for thy weave as if it were thy real hair. Maximize the life of your weave by properly protecting it at night, avoiding over-processing with heat, and cleansing it regularly. Consult your hairstylist about how often you should shampoo and condition your extensions.

8. Thou shall protect thy edges and scalp. We’ve all seen the photos of Naomi floating around the web. Ladies, this doesn’t have to be your fate! Massage an oil, such as olive or jojoba oil, infused with a stimulating herb, like rosemary, along your edges, nape, and scalp, to prevent breakage.

9. Thou shall not wear a weave beyond its expiration date. It’s recommended that you keep your extensions in for 6 to 8 weeks. Any longer than that can lead to matting (of your actual hair) and result in hair loss.

10. Thou shall not become attached to thy weave. Not talking about having a styling preference. Talking about feeling that you need a weave to be attractive. At the end of the day, beauty exudes from the inside. Your weave should be an accessory not a mask for your insecurity.
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RECAP: Week of March 13

I will be doing a weekly recap of posts you may have missed. This is a great way to make sure you don't miss a thing! ;-)
Learn to tie a head wrap or turban

Thanks to Naturally Curly, learn how to tie a turban or head wrap (read more. . .)
Go Bananas!



Simple steps to a DIY Banana Hair Treatment (read more. . .)

Throwback



Vintage Print Ad of Satin Sheen hair grease from Nigeria (read more. . .) 
Ododo Originals



Beautiful hand crafted hair pins (read more. . .)
Product review



My Cantu shampoo & leave-in conditioner product review (read more. . .)
New Feature - Dorcas Ola


Lovely Dorcas shares her hair regimen (read more. . .)
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Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Ododo Originals

I came across Ododo Originals handmade beaded hair pins and was amazed.  Being a fellow jewellery maker myself, I can't imagine how much time and effort is involved making such gorgeous pieces; stinging tiny seed beads just to make a bracelet can get pretty tedious. All Ododo Original hair pins are wired to perfection.

Ododo in the means "flower" in the West African native tongue Yoruba - unique name and most definitely original.  Not only are Ododo beads carefully selected, these duckbill hair clips slide effortlessly into straight, kinks or puffy hair!

If you don't wear hair pins, don't worry these beautiful flowers can be made into pin/brooches.  Check out Ododo Originals website for more pictures, show schedules across the United States and how to place an order. 

I wonder if Ododo Originals can be made into rings as well - hint hint - (*_*)

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Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Vintage Print: Nigerian Beauty Ad

Satin Sheen plaiting aid and hair conditioner is the hair conditioner specially made to condition your hair for plaiting and weaving as well as dressing.

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Go Bananas!

Bananas enhance the strength, endurance and shine of the hair.  Full of vitamins, bananas are the number one ingredient for strengthening and volumizing the hair. It helps in repairing dry and sun-damaged hair.

Do It Yourself Banana Mask Hair Treatment
INGREDIENTS
  • Ripe bananas (number varies depending on the length of your hair)
  • 1 - 2 tablespoons of honey
  • 2 - 5 drops of almond oil
  • 1 egg yolk (for dry hair)
INSTRUCTIONS
Mash the bananas, honey, egg yolk and almond oil  to make a smooth paste.  Moisten your hair with warm water and apply the paste to your your hair.  Use a shower cap or wrap you hair with a towel to ensure the pack penetrates deeps into the roots.  Let the pack set for 25 - 30 minutes.  Wash it off with regular shampoo.


BENEFITS
Banana is rich in potassium, natural oils, carbohydrates and vitamins.  These help in softening the hair and protects the hair's natural elasticity preventing split ends and breakage.  The type of hair that is suitable for this treatment are dry hair, dyed hair and for hair after perm. It also serves as an excellent treatment for addressing the problem of dandruff and is helpful in retaining moisture on your scalp.

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Monday, March 14, 2011

How to tie a Turban or Headwrap


We've spotted a few different celebrities working turbans. India Aire was brave enough to step out on the red carpet with hers - she looked fab! Courtesy of Naturally Curly, here's a 2 minute tutorial on how to tie a gypsy girl style turban/headwrap.

Fight the frizz

We've turned the clocks one hour ahead which means longer hours of daylight, summer is around the corner and spring is even closer.  As the humidity raises, so does our frustration, when it comes to fighting frizz.   Follow these do's and don'ts for taking care of kinks, curls and coils.




Handle With Care: Never brush your hair while it’s wet. Detangle with your fingers or a wide-tooth comb

Don’t Blow It: Excessive blow-drying or or heated styling appliances can just lead to more frizz. Give your tresses a break from all that heat

Don’t Shampoo Daily: Two or three times a week if sufficient if you tend to cleanse daily. Sulfate-free shampoos and cleansing creams are great alternatives

Keep Cool: Rinse hair with cool tepid water. This will assist in closing the cuticle and locking in the moisture

Cover Up: When lounging at the beach or pool like a glamorous Madame, protect your hair from the damaging rays of the sun with a gorgeous scarf or light summer hat

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Thursday, March 10, 2011

We Love Her Style - Janelle Monae

One can't help but notice the pomadour Janelle Monae hairstyle.  Janelle is very unique and also displays her creativity through her fashion choices.
It’s called the “Monae” and it’s a lifestyle thing. I’m not just doing it because it’s a trend. It’s like my superhero uniform. When I’m working and performing and even in my off time, this is how I like to wear my hair. It’s just transcendent. You can wear it anytime and it works. It’s like a retro-futuristic feel. I’ve seen people trying to wear it, and that’s fine. I just know it’s a trend for some people.  People mean well and I didn’t invent the pompadour, but only one person can wear this particular hairstyle and that’s Janelle Monae.
 

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Special Feature - Yvonne Ekwere

Crown Chronicles is pleased to feature Dynamix TV personality of the year 2010 and Producer for Silver Bird TV Nigeria, Yvonne Ekwere also known to many as Vixen. This style connoisseur, writer, entertainer, jeweller and ceo I-BLING accessories and Tees reveals her hair regimen.

NAME: Yvonne Ekwere

HAIR REGIMEN: I wash my hair at least once a week if I don't have hair extensions on. I re-touch with kiddie relaxer every 2 months. I steam once every month. I trim the roots every time I wash and when it comes to drying my hair, I NEVER go under the hair dryer, I hate it! I'd rather use a hand dryer and curling iron! LoL

WHAT LIES BENEATH? Describe under hair underneath the extensions:  Underneath my hair extension is texturized hair; styled into a Monica -type hair cut.

WHAT PRODUCTS DO YOU USE ON YOUR NATURAL HAIR:  I don't use too many products on my hair but I'm a fan of the Beautiful Beginnings hair relaxer as it gives my hair a soft and fine texture.  Organics Hair Mayonnaise is also a fave of mine.  Any hair cream/wax that's got coconut oil, shea butter or marijuana (yup! I said it) in it works for me!  Products I use vary depending on my hair style or directions my hair stylist gives

LENGTH OF YOUR EXTENSIONS:  Extensions are very important to me because of the glam nature of my job so to keep me noticeable I do different styles with different extensions and their length and colours but I'm a big fan of extensions between 16" - 34" inches!

HOW OFTEN DO YOU GET YOUR HAIR DONE?  Oooh! I get my hair done very often! I think the longest I've had a hairstyle on was a month and I had long early 90's inspired braids on

Yvonne Speaks! - WHAT IS YOUR VIEW ON THE IMPORTANCE OF PROPERLY GROOMED HAIR FOR WOMEN:  It is very important to keep ones hair groomed because as we all a women hair is her crowning glory and tells a lot about her personality. Without the perfect hair texture and style, the "perfect look" can't be achieved! So find a great hair stylist and listen and obey to instructions given! :-)


Thanks for sharing Yvonne!
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Friday, March 4, 2011

YouTube Wig Tutorial

The video on how to make a wig for beginners is now available on the YouTube channel.  Click here to watch it

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Thursday, March 3, 2011

Did you know?


Hair's natural part is caused by the condition known as a hairstream.  Hairstream refers to the effect that is created when the hair follicles slope in the same direction, thereby determining the directional flow of the hair. When two hairstreams slope in opposite directions, a natural part occurs.

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Luster's Pink Moisturizer

When you think of Luster's, you think the pink oil moisturizer, that’s been in every black household throughout the world.  

I was born in Canada but raised and lived in Nigeria for a few years and I'll always remember my mom buying the biggest bottle on the shelf to take back with us towards the end of our summer vacation in Toronto. 

Did you know that Luster’s essentially branded the "S-Curl"? 

Luster products was founded by the late Fred Luster, Sr in 1957.  Fred was a successful hairstylist in Chicago, Illinois, was inspired to develop a line of hair care products that would specifically cater to the health and maintenance of the hair of African-Americans. Inspired by the support of his family, Mr. Luster guided the company from a storefront operation into a multi-million dollar, worldwide enterprise.

Luster products is now headed by his children Jory Luster, Fred Luster II and Sonja Luster-Munis. The Chicago-based company is one of the largest black owned companies in the African-American hair care market.

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Vivica A. Fox Hair Collection

Where have I been?  It wasn't until about a month ago, while looking through Sophisticates Black Hair Magazine at the salon waiting for "my turn" in the chair, I saw the ad for Vivica's hair collection.

Early last year during an interview before the launch of the collection, Vivica said she was learning to become a business woman. She believes in getting involved in many different things in order to not just be limited to acting. Her wig line is called Fox Devine which launched mid 2010 ranging from extension pieces, pony tails and a variety of colors and textures.

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