𝐶𝑢𝑟𝑙 𝐽𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑛𝑒𝑦 𝑇𝑜𝑝 10 𝑇𝑖𝑝𝑠. 🌀Everyone’s curl journey begins somewhere. Many curl journeys have started during the covid lockdown. Did yours start then?
What is my advice when your beginning your journey to curl health? Here are my top 10 tips.. 1. Accept that that your curls are unique. Every single curl on your head is different. Don’t get caught up in the letters and numbers. 2. Lifestyle plays a massive part of how your curls transition. For example if you’ve straightened your hair every day for 10years and bleached your hair regularly your transition will probably take longer. 3. Water is key. Unless your curls are hydrated they won’t shine and bounce. 4. Genetics is important. Some of us have drier skin, some of us have oilier skin. The same goes for your scalp and hair. So, what works for one may not work for you. 5. Always add more water 💦 But never sleep on soaking hair. 6. The one key product to spend your money on is a conditioner. Without a solid foundation what ever you put on top is just papering over the cracks. 7. Don’t let your length hold your curls back. There’s no magic cure for excessively damaged hair except cutting it off and starting afresh. 8. Buy a diffuser and use it with patience. 9. Did I mention hydration? Drink water too. Hydrate your curls from the inside out. 10. Try products for longer to give you enough time to learn the product, how much to apply, how to apply. And finally... there’s never a ‘bad hair day’ because your curls are beautiful however they look..with product or without, with frizz or without. They are yours, and yours alone. Own them. 🌀❤️
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When following curly girls on social media you’ll often hear of porosity. But, what does is actually mean and does it really matter? And do you need to put strands of hair in a glass of water to know? Firstly, the strands of hair in a glass of water... this is not a reliable way to learn about your hair. It tells you nothing about your head of hair. In the same way that every curl is different so is every strand on your head, they are all at different points in their growth cycle. They are all different ages. A more comprehensive way to determine porosity is to take a section of dry hair. Run your fingers from root to tip and then from tip to root. If your hair feels bumpy, snaggy and rough then you have more porous hair. . Also, when you are washing your hair do the water droplets tend to sit on top of the hair strands? If so this would indicate lower porosity hair. Think of your hair as if it were a pine cone... all opened up = high porosity. Tightly closed = low porosity. HIGH porosity hair absorbs water easily and, displaces water rapidly. This can be due to genetics, colouring, lightening or general damage. If this is your hair be sure to add plenty of moisturising products, leave in some conditioner and create a barrier to hold the moisture in, such as with a gel. Also, when in humid conditions (think Rainforest biome at Eden 😂) you need to seal/create a barrier on your hair to prevent it absorbing the moisture in the air... which then leads to frizz .... remember Monica in friends?
LOW porosity hair repels water due to having tightly closed cuticles and can be difficult to really get the moisture in. If you have this type of hair then heat is your friend. Heat helps to lift and open up the cuticle. Deep conditioning treatments work well for low porosity hair, apply on wet hair, wrap in a shower cap and then a towel to keep your hair warm. If you have access to misting treatments then these are fantastic for your hair, warm and tiny water droplets penetrate the hair to leave it hydrated. As with my other product blogs I shall start with posting the ingredients, they are completely Curly Girl Method appropriate. Water, Aqua- EAU Water, Galactoarabinan5, Pullulan5, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Juice1*, Glycerin, Gluconolactone, Sodium Benzoate, Calcium Gluconate, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Decyl Glucoside, Sorbitol Powder3, Potassium Sorbate, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Salvia Sclarea (Clary) Oil, Vanillin, Pogostemon Cablin Oil, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Honey2, Citric Acid, Diheptyl Succinate, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer5, Vaccinium, Macrocarpon (Cranberry) Oil, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Cucurbita Pepo (Pumpkin) Seed Oil4*, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Macelignan *Certified Organic Plant Source: 1 Aloe Vera, 2 Honey, 3 Sugarcane, 4 Pumpkin Seed Oil, 5 Naturally Sourced The foam is very light, it does not weigh down on curls or waves at all. It has a slightly sticky consistency and is very easy to create a cream when rubbing it in your hands. I have found that the foam adds volume to fine hair and really defines. It moisturises as it works and leaves curls and waves shiny and soft once it has dried. It does give hold but possibly not enough to suit everyone’s needs so I team it with the I Create Hold for a stronger set to the hair where necessary. If a CG mousse is what you are missing in your routine then the I Create Lift is what you’re looking for. Cornwall Curl Specialist ~ BlewBelle
〰️➰➿🌀❤️ I’ve been using the Innersense range since completing the Curly Hair Artistry Mastery Program. The first product I’m going to review is the ‘I create hold’ styling gel. I’ve used it on a variety of waves and curls over the last few weeks. I’m going to start off with the ingredients ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Water, Aqua- EAU, Organic Aloe Barbadensis Gel*, Organic Glycerin*, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Maltodextrin Copolymer**, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Fruit Water*, Organic Rooibos African Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract2*, Organic Honey Extract3*, Rice Amino Acids4, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein4*, Organic Urtica Dioica (Nettle) Extract6*, Organic Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract5, Organic Equisetum Arvense (Horsetail) Extract*, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Sorbate**, Sodium Benzoate** *Certified Organic **Plant Derived Plant Source: 1 Aloe, 2 Rooibos, 3 Honey, 4 Rice, 5 Nettle, 6 Rosemary This ingredient list reads like a recipe from a cook book, it’s full of clean, non toxic, organic products. Trying to avoid chemicals, then this ticks that box completely. You’ll notice humectant (glycerin), polymer and some protein in there. The gel smells beautiful, a light fragrance, citrus notes and sweet smelling. The #icreatehold gel is a clear, thick, glossy substance. It is a little sticky. It does not flake. Innersense website suggests the gel is suitable for medium to thick hair and I agree with that. However, if you mix the gel with a little water it is completely suitable for finer hair. It does not weigh the hair down and gives a great hold. If you are looking for a cast then this gel delivers. If you’re looking for an easy SOTC (Scrunch Out the Crunch) then again this gel delivers. Overall the Innersense #icreatehold gel is a strong product that will leave you with well supported bouncy waves or curls. It does not add weight and, it’s completely organic and natural. I’ve been impressed with this gel on a variety of curl patterns. Cornwall Curl Specialist ~ BlewBelle
〰️➰➿🌀❤️ Hair has a growth cycle consisting of 4 stages, anagen, catagen, telogen and exogen (shedding). Anagen is the ‘growing’ phase of the hair and can last anywhere between 2-7 years. It varies from person the person, it changes and generally shortens with age. Typically those people who feel they can’t grow hair very long have a shorter Anagen phase. Catagen is a ‘ transition’ stage, the hair stops growing and this stage only lasts around 10 days. Telogen is the ‘resting’ phase and lasts for around 10-12 weeks. Exogen is part of the telogen phase and is when the hair sheds.
So hair loss is normal...until it’s not.
If you’re washing your hair twice a week you could have around 400 hairs come out in the shower, wash once a week it could be around 700. If you typically lose one handful and that changes to 2 handfuls then that’s the time to speak to your gp. Lack of iron, nutrients or medical conditions like hypothyroidism can cause hair loss. Along with stress, and, worrying about hair loss. A simple blood test can rule out most things. Cornwall Curl Specialist ~ BlewBelle 〰️➰➿🌀❤️ WOW....I am loving these hair products. Organic, full of natural ingredients. No nasties. Innersense bottles proudly boast... “Our unwavering commitment to Beauty Without Comprise is a reflection of our personal values and the products we create. We formulate with the highest intention and purity. Our products are formulated without phthalates, ethoxylates, sulfates, silicones, 1,4 dioxane, parabens, petro compounds, propylene and butylene glycol, PEG, MEA, TEA, MIA, artificial dyes, synthetic fragrances, gluten, GMO’s, and always cruelty free” I am very proud to be stocking these. Over the coming weeks I shall review each of the products for you.
If there is a product you’d like reviewed/ingredients listed/more information please do comment below Cornwall Curl Specialist ~ BlewBelle 〰️➰➿🌀❤️ Those of you who have visited my salon will know exactly what I’m on about.... if you haven’t visited yet you’ll probably be wondering ‘what an earth does that have to do my with curls?’ This is a term I use to explain how to squish your conditioner into your hair..that’s how it realates to your curls. The photograph below shows a hair magnified. The outer layer of the hair strand is called the cuticle and it looks a little like a pine cone. When we wash our hair the cuticle opens. This allows the water and product to enter leading to nourished and hydrated curls. We need to close the cuticle back down to leave our hair looking shiny and keep it protected. When you are finishing off the conditioning part of your curl routine take sections of your hair and squeeze the conditioner in, working your hands down the length of your hair from root to tip, just like you are milking a cow. This closes the cuticle, helps to keep the water in to hydrate your curls and leave them smoother and glossier. Cornwall Curl Specialist ~ BlewBelle
〰️➰➿🌀❤️ At the beginning of the year I was asked to answer 4 questions for Bouclème....they then included me in their #stylistsessions 🌀❤️ Cornwall Curl Specialist ~ BlewBelle
〰️➰➿🌀❤️ Starting your curly journey is an exciting time...it can also be daunting due to the vast amount of information on the internet. Facebook groups are a goldmine of product recommendations and tips to enhance your curls but, it can be a little overwhelming with lots of jargon and acronyms.
My final recommendation is to avoid comparing your curls to those who have already transitioned and established their routine. They have been where you are, and you will be where they are however, Curl health does not happen overnight. Comparing your curls during the early stages of your curl journey can often lead to disappointment. Your curls are unique to you, love the curls you have. 🌀❤️ Cornwall Curl Specialist ~ BlewBelle
〰️➰➿🌀❤️ I love these spray bottles, they produce such a fine mist that your curls are not disrupted. Even coverage of your hair too. Easy to mix in some conditioner or curl cream. Try adding a little gel and using it like a hairspray. Available to purchase from Cornwall Curl Specialist salon.
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AuthorCornwall Curl Specialist Archives
October 2020
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