Tenecia Hall

5 Reasons to Celebrate Shrinkage

Hey 4Evers, I know that shrinkage is no fun but I want to give some reasons to encourage you. Although we might not love the appearance of shrinkage it means that we have healthy hair. All the articles I’ve found on shrinkage explain how to combat it but I want to offer some reasons to celebrate!

The more shrinkage you have the more natural your hair is. Natural hair is full of coils and curls and to change that we have apply heat or use other methods to stretch our hair so when we see shrinkage our hair is in its most natural state. Black hair can shrink up to 80%-90% of its length. It’s part of our black girl magic. So congratulations on your natural hair journey your shrinkage shows that your hard work is paying off.
The more shrinkage you have means your hair is properly moisturized. It means your hair can retain moisture. It also means you are doing a good job with your regimen! When your hair is moisturized it will curl up. It’s just like a plant that isn’t getting the proper water and we know what happens in that situation. To help retain this moisture don’t forget to cover your hair in satin at night.
Shrinkage is a sign of elasticity. The more elasticity the less prone the hair is to breaking and the stronger it is. In order to retain length breakage is just not an option and the elasticity or shrinkage will help prevent breakage.
The more shrinkage you have the more likely your hair will revert back to its natural state after using moderate heat within reason. Use heat at your discretion but healthy curls will most likely return after heat is applied.
Shrinkage makes our hair versatile. Imagine having hair that only could look one way. Changing up your look can be done in so many ways. Wash and go’s, twist outs, textured buns, wet looks etc. If your hair was permanently straight with no curls and coils these styles would not be possible. The volume that most of us love would not be attainable with straight hair.

I hope this helps someone embrace their shrinkage. If you need a community to vent to or see other women embracing their shrinkage feel free to join my facebook group or follow on instagram.

Love,

Curl Muva

Pattern Beauty (CURLBOX) Review

CURLBOX did a collaboration with Pattern Beauty for their first year anniversary. I knew it would be a great box to get. The box contained full sizes of the Pattern hydration shampoo, Pattern medium shampoo, Pattern leave-in conditioner, Pattern jojoba oil serum, Pattern hair clip, and Pattern detangling brush.

The shampoo lathers very well. After washing my hair it felt very clean but not stripped. A little goes a long way with the shampoo which I love because it will last me a long time. The CURLBOX was $25 and this product by itself is $25. The shampoo is free of sulfates, parabens, silicones, phthalate and formaldehyde. The smell is slightly masculine in my opinion but that does not bother me. The smell comes from the jasmine, bergamot and sandalwood oils. Overall, I give the shampoo a yes.

The medium conditioner smells like a lotion. It’s pretty thick. I felt like I had to use a good bit of it but I am always heavy handed with conditioner. My curls felt very hydrated after using it.

The leave-in conditioner has a great smell and consistency. I would recommend this leave-in conditioner. It is very good for moisturizing and can be used on wet or dry hair. This leave-in won’t replace my favorite but I do think this is a good one.

The jojoba oil comes in a nice bottle. It’s a pump bottle which I like because you can get the exact amount you want. I like the blend of jojoba and lavender.

The shower brush is very sturdy. I would think this brush would last for years and years. I would recommend using this brush in very small sections on dripping wet hair hence the name. My favorite thing about the brush is that the bottom is flat and the brush can stand up on the counter. I lose my Denman all the time so this design is convenient. The brush also has a hole so you can hang it.

The hair clip is sturdy and I feel it would last for a long time as well. The clip is $10 and for the durability I think it’s a good price.

Overall I loved this box. My favorite CURLBOX to date. I love Pattern because everything is well thought out. The packaging is gorgeous and the bottles are all refillable and recyclable. The products are cruelty and chemical free. I love how moisturized my hair was after using the products. There is a travel size available so I definitely recommend getting that and trying it for yourself before investing in the full sizes.

Luv, Curl Muva

My 5 Step Wash Day Routine

Hey Curlfriends! You guys have been asking for my wash day routine and I wanted to make sure that I had it perfected before I shared it with you. In today’s blog post I am going to give you a step by step breakdown of my wash day routine. This is my tried and true method for happy and hydrated curls. Enjoy!

Step 1: Pre-poo. This is a step that can be tempting to skip, but prepooing is a great way to make sure that your hair retains moisture before applying shampoos that may strip your hair of its natural oils. I like to apply my pre-poo product 24 hours before I wash my hair. Your pre poo elixir can be a combination of oils that you blend yourself, or you can purchase some of the hair masks and treatments designed specifically for this purpose. Whichever route you choose, be sure not to skip this step because it sets the stage for a successful wash day.

Step 2: Wash with Conditioner OR Shampoo (as needed). I do not use shampoo every time that I wash my hair. I have found that using shampoo too frequently can spell disaster for my curls. To ensure that my hair maintains the right balance of moisture, while still having a clean scalp, I alternate between shampoo and cowash. I only use shampoo once or twice a month, or if my scalp feels physically dirty. Your hair will let you know when it needs a good shampoo, but for the most part I have found that cowashing gets the job done most of the time..

Step 3: Deep Condition EVERY TIME . That’s right, I deep condition with every wash. I know that deep conditioning can sometimes feel like a hassle, but this is without a doubt the most important step in my wash day routine. Deep conditioning makes the next step of detangling so much easier, it also just makes my hair look and feel the way that I need it to.

Step 4: Detangle. The star of the detangling process for me is my denman brush. I always detangle while I still have conditioner in my hair. The denman brush helps to separate and define my curls, and the conditioner provides the slippage necessary to ensure that there is no breaking and unnecessary shedding. Although detangling can be the most challenging step in the wash day process, it is key to making sure that your end result is ideal.

Step 5: Towel Dry and Style While Wet. I prefer to style my hair while it is still damp, this is the method that I’ve found works best for me. After detangling and rinsing out the deep conditioner I use a microfiber towel to lightly dry my hair. The microfiber towel is an essential tool because it is designed to avoid the breakage that can come from using a regular towel. While styling my hair I add my favorite leave in and allow my hair to air dry. Leave in is also my secret method for retaining moisture between washes.

So there you have it. My wash day in 5 simple steps. Click here for a list of my favorite tools and products, and for more tips and tricks for simplified wash days be sure to follow us on instagram @curlfriendsforvever.

Why You Aren’t Wearing Your Bonnet at Night and How to Break the Bad Habit

Written by Alice Pen Writing Service

We all know the importance of protecting our natural hair at night. When you do not cover your hair with a satin bonnet at night there is an increased amount of friction that is created from your hair rubbing against the cotton fibers of your bedding. This breakage leads to split ends that travel up the hair shaft, inevitably causing breakage. In addition to the increased amount of breakage, sleeping without a bonnet strips your hair of its moisture, which we know is essential for healthy hair and length retention. There is no shortage of evidence to suggest that we should be covering our hair when we lay down to sleep, so why aren’t we doing it? In this blog post you will be reminded of the top 3 reasons why you aren’t protecting your hair at night, and the best solutions to help you break this bad habit.

#1- It doesn’t stay on your head all night, so why bother? Few things are more annoying than waking up in the morning to find that your bonnet is laying on the pillow and your hair is all over your head. Your good intentions of wrapping your hair before bed are not rewarded when you don’t have a bonnet that can withstand the tossing and turning that comes with a full night of sleep. You are a lot less likely to stay in the habit of wearing your bonnet at night, if you don’t see the benefits from it when you wake up in the morning. That is why it is essential to have a bonnet that is well constructed and has the proper amount of elastic around the perimeter to ensure a secure, yet comfortable fit.

#2-You hate the way you look in it. Style and attractiveness do not have to be the price that you pay for protecting your hair at night. Finding a bonnet that not only locks in your hair’s moisture, but that also makes you feel cute is going to ensure that you actually wear your bonnet when you’re supposed to. Many women fear that sleeping in their bonnet will be a turnoff for their partner, or make them feel less attractive. The truth is that the freedom that comes from not being worried about your hair can be a sexy confidence booster. You can find a bonnet that makes you feel beautiful, one that comes in your favorite color or promotes your favorite brand or sports team. Having a bonnet that makes you smile when you look in the mirror will make you want to put it on every night.

#3-It’s uncomfortable-We all have had that bonnet that is just way too tight, or is made of material that makes you feel like it’s breaking your ends off with every turn of your head. When it comes to choosing the right bonnet, quality is essential. You need a bonnet that is made of the best silk or satin material. The elastic band that goes around your head has to be strong enough to remain secure, yet flexible enough to mold to the shape of your head. It is also important to take into account the size of your bonnet in relation to the style you are choosing to rock at the time. You will need a much larger bonnet when your hair is in box braids than you will need when protecting your twist out. Choosing the correct material and size of your bonnet will ensure a comfortable fit, and help increase the chances that you will actually wear it.

So there you have it, the top three reasons why you’re not wearing your bonnet at night and how to break the bad habit. Whether your issue is a bonnet that won’t stay on, is too uncomfortable, or just isn’t cute enough for you, we invite you to give our bonnet a try. Tag us in your pictures and join the dozens of curlfriends that are loving their bonnets today!

5 Tips to Avoid Natural Hair Burnout

By Raeah Carroll

Every naturalista knows exactly what we mean when we say “natural hair burn out.” It’s that inevitable feeling of overwhelm, mixed with some “sick and tired” and a dash of “just cut it all off.” If this is you don’t worry, we have some tips that will help reignite your love for your natural curls.

Burnout happens for all of us at different times and for different reasons throughout the natural hair journey. Sometimes it’s the result of never ending wash day routines. Sometimes it’s the disappointment of one too many failed twist outs, and sometimes it’s simply the desire to switch things up. Either way, no matter what the cause of your burnout, we have 5 tips that will remind you why you decided to transition or big chop in the first place.

#1 Take a walk down memory lane. Taking a moment to look back on old pictures of yourself throughout your natural hair journey will spark feelings of nostalgia and remind you just how far your hair has come. Looking at your progress will help you not only appreciate your growth, it will serve as motivation to keep pushing to meet your hair goals. Being reminded of how much your hard work has paid off will make it a little easier to whip out the deep conditioner one more time.

#2 Go stalk your hair crush. There is something so powerful that comes from finding someone that optimizes your idea of #HairGoals. Seeing someone that has the volume, length, and healthy hair that you crave will not only motivate you to keep trudging along, it will remind you that what you desire for your hair is possible. Sometimes we get discouraged because our hair seems stuck at a certain length, or we can’t get past a particular issue that’s plaguing our hair such as breakage or dryness. Finding a good hair crush, someone with your same texture, will inspire you not to give up on your hair. Dig through their archive, look at their hair journey, see how much time and commitment paid off for them, and let that be a reminder that you can do this too.

#3 Try a new hair treatment or product. We all know the danger that can come from being a natural hair product junkie. One trip to the beauty supply can leave you missing hours of your life and hundreds of your hard earned dollars. There is absolutely no need to go broke for the sake of your natural hair, but trying a new product or treatment can be just the thing you need to make you look forward to wash day again. The internet is full of natural hair care treatments that will leave you and your hair feeling and inspired. Try our rose water detangler for an easy and effective way to use those old rose petals to pamper your curls.

#4 Get A Protective Style. Sometimes the best way to battle burnout is to leave your hair alone for a while. Having your curls tucked safely away under a wig or some box braids will give you enough time to take a break from the daily care of your hair. They say that absence makes the heart grow fonder, and that is also true for our hair. A couple of weeks of protective styles will have you missing your curls and begging for the chance to see them again.

#5 Wrap it up! Similar to the idea of a protective style, putting your hair away under a scarf or hat can help you feel less overwhelmed with the idea of your natural hair. Feeling that you have to style your hair every time you leave the house can become daunting. Remembering that you can accessorize with a headwrap or hat can return you to a sense of freedom and allow you to cut your getting ready time in half. You can even match your headwrap with your mask like this curlfriend.

So there you have it, 5 ways to avoid natural hair burn out. For more natural hair tips, tricks, and secrets subscribe to our blog and follow @curlfriendsforver on Instagram .

Ideas to reach your hair goals while social distancing

Since we are all stuck in the house it’s a great time to work on some of our goals including hair goals. If growth or increased hair is one of your goals shoot for low manipulation or protective styles. Youtube university has so many tutorials I’m sure it has something that will teach you a beautiful style. Definitely keep your hands out of your hair if you can. Give yourself a scalp massage while binging your favorite shows.

Try new things. Try some new products that you haven’t tried. Sometimes just switching up products can help. Your hair can get used to products. Now that your lifestyle has possibly changed with being more inside than outside or being more active your hair may require different things. If your go to product isn’t giving you your ideal outcome now is a good time to try something different product because if you don’t like it nobody has to see it (lol). The season has also changed and your scalp needs different things.

Experiment with making your own products. Pinterest has so many recipes you can try or you can find your inner Annie Malone or Madam CJ Walker and create your own recipe ideas. I have recently been trying to make rice oil. My first attempt didn’t come out right but I have time to keep trying.

If you want to grow out your edges put castor oil on them daily and don’t brush them or pull on them. When I lost my edges I would literally put castor oil on them and pray daily while taking a hair growth vitamin.

This is a good time to plan out your hair year. For instance I get a press and trim twice a year so I already know a tentative date for when these will be. I get protective styles once every other month usually so I can plan these out. This way I’m able to budget and have an idea of what I will be doing with my hair. You want to let your hair breathe between protective styles so you can plan these breaks.

If you’re a product junkie consider selling or swapping some products that you no longer want. This is a great way to create space for more products or just declutter and make some coins.

Last but not least, wash those silk pillowcases and bonnets. You have the time now (lol).

Stay safe and well.

Love, Curl Muva

Save your roses! Rose water is a great detangler.

One of my sorority sisters posted herself making rose water last year and I knew it was something I wanted to try. I had never heard of it or its benefits. After using it I will never throw roses in the trash without making rose water.

Rose water smells so sweet. It can be used a body fragrance. Other uses are as a facial toner, setting spray, makeup remover, eye treatment, linen freshener and many uses for hair. Since this is a hair blog we will set our focus here. For your hair It can be used as a detangler and as a rinse. It has anti-dandruff effects, adds shine and reduces frizz. It helps maintain the ph level of hair, triggers growth, rejuvenates hair follicles and treats smelly hair and scalp.

I used the rose water as a rinse and my hair felt very soft and detangling was so easy. I also used the rose water in my bath water. It has a soothing effect anti-anxiety and antidepressant properties.

I used the simmer method to make it.

What you will need:

Rose petals
Water
Pot with lit
Strainer
Container with lid

How to make it:

Remove the petals from the stems and wash them.
Put the rose petals into the pan
Add water, cover and bring to a boil
Reduce the temperature, let simmer and cool
Store in the refrigerator

To use it run it through your hair AFTER shampooing.

If I could do it all over again I would have better containers. I ended up having to search my cabinets to find bottles to put the rose water in. I do suggest filling up a spray bottle. I twisted my hair after the wash day I used the rose water and used the spray bottle through the week to add moisture to my hair. My hair was so curly and fluffy. I actually had someone come up to be and touch my hair and say “yass fluff” which for me was a compliment because I love big hair.

Let me know if you try this!

Luv,

Curl Muva

You don’t have to spend a bag to be natural. My favorite must haves for under $5.

A lot of the times when I think of products I think of spending lots of money but it can be done on a budget. Yes there are some things that you are going to be expensive but overall you can have healthy hair for a reasonable price. This post was inspired because I was talking to my cousin Tiora and she was talking about transitioning back to natural hair and I told her that my favorite natural hair products that give me the BEST curls are less than $5 a bottle.

Aussie Miracle Curls has everything you need for healthy curly hair and each container/bottle is $5 or less. This blew me away because when I found out about them I was paying $22-$28 per bottle for products to curl my hair. The best place to get these products is Walmart. Sometimes they are marked down to $2.97. I use the co-wash, shampoo, deep conditioner, conditioner, creme pudding, frizz tamer, everything really. It gives the hair definition with no flake. They have everything you need to keep your hair healthy. If you look up aussie miracle curls on youtube there are tons of reviews on different types of hair so you can see the possible outcome on your hair. If this line doesn’t work well for your hair keep looking I’m sure you can find a line that works within your budget.

Here are a few other hacks that I use regularly that are free/inexpensive. Water is the best conditioner. I put water on my hair and ends daily to add moisture. A plastic grocery bag can be used for deep conditioning. Target has silk pillowcases for $12.99. I suggest a daily hair growth vitamin but if that’s not in the budget fruits and vegetables will give your body the same nutrients. While at the store grab your bag of rice for your rice water. My favorite affordable edge control is edge booster. The small container is less than $5 and it goes a long way. Wild growth hair oil is between $6-$8 and it lasts for a long time.

I get a lot of products at the Taaliah Waajid World Natural Hair Show. They have products for half the price that they are in the stores. They also give out a lot of samples that can be used to try products and for travel.

The internet is a good resource. I’ve won hundreds of dollars worth of products from instagram giveaways. If you need help finding giveaways DM me @curlfriendsforever and I will tag you in them. Youtube is a free outlet for teaching you how to do different styles and take care of your natural hair. It’s also good for reading reviews before purchasing.

I do invest in hydration treatments and trims because I’m not comfortable doing those things myself. I also invest in protective styles although one of these days I want to start doing those myself.

Let me know your favorite affordable products in the comments!

I hope this helps someone,

Luv,

Curl Muva

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly on rice water

By now you’ve probably at least heard about rice water but I want to go into some detail. For starters rice water isn’t new it’s just new to us. Rice water was used in the ancient eastern cultures of Japan and China for beauty. Rice water contains 8 amino acids that encourage hair growth as well as vitamin B, C and E.

The good is that aside from growing hair it has many other beneficial uses. Rice water adds shine to hair and reduces dandruff. It can help tighten and minimize pores for beautiful skin. Rice water also contains inositol which helps prevent hair breakage.

The bad is that it does take preparation which can deter use. The preparation isn’t hard but it does take pre-planning. I usually pour my rice in water in a closed container 2 days before I use it. It’s easy to forget to do it and by the time wash day approaches it’s too late to ferment the rice. There’s another method that you can do the day of which is boiling the rice but I prefer the fermented rice. Another bad part is that some people report that it does nothing for their hair. If you look it up on youtube you’ll see a list of bloggers that report it didn’t grow their hair. My suggestion is to try it for at least 3 months to give it time to make a change. Consistency is the key.

The ugly is that the fermented rice smells really bad. Like terribly bad but it is fermented rice. You’ll need to dilute the the rice water after you strain it and that will help with the smell. I also suggest having a bottle with a top on it. After shampooing is the time to rinse your hair with the rice water. Use cool water to rinse.

I’ve had great results with rice water and it will be in my regime for as many wash days as I can remember to prepare it. My steps are :

Pour the water and rice into a container and put the lid on it.

Let it sit for at least two days.

Strain.

Dilute.

Rinse hair with rice water after shampooing.

I hope you give it a try and let me know how it works for you.

Luv,

Curl Muva

My hair growth routine

Every queen has different hair and hair growth patterns but I’d love to share what my routine is. I still remember back in 2012 when I reached out to my sorority sister Shakeena and asked her for her hair routine. She in detail shared with me what she does to grow her hair and she is and forever will be my HairBae. Since then I have created a routine that works for me and I hope that it helps you.

The keys are moisture, low manipulation, regular trims, and supplements/diet.

Deep conditioning (moisture) once a week will greatly help your hair grow. The extra moisture will help with elasticity and make your hair less likely to break. Moisturized hair is also easier to manage. If I have time I will put my deep conditioner on and let it stay in my hair all day. If I’m in a rush I will put the deep conditioner on use a thermal cap to heat it up. If you need info for a thermal cap message me and I’ll send it to you. I’m not above a good ol grocery bag and dryer either lol.

Low manipulation and low heat will also help. The less times you pull on your hair, comb, or brush it. To be honest during work weeks my hair is in a bun so that ends put up and less likely to break. Overuse of flat irons and curling irons can lead to brittle split ends that won’t grow. Using indirect heat for heating deep conditioners is ok because it encourages blood flow to scalp and help the conditioner penetrate the hair.

Frequent trims are important for healthy long hair. Trims allow you to get rid split damaged ends. I would like to get trimmed every 3 months but for the past few years I’ve gotten trimmed twice a year. A big part of this is being comfortable with who trims your hair. Ive heard of trimming horror stories where what you ask for and what you get are totally different. Unfortunately it takes time to find the right person to do your hair the way you’re comfortable.

Supplements and diet are often overlooked. I recommend a daily hair growth vitamin. With the daily grind you may not always be getting the nutrients your body needs to help with hair growth. Diet is important. Fruits and vegetables along with foods with vitamins A, C, E omega 3 will help supply hair with the nutrients it needs. Since hair is made of protein ensuring that protein is in your diet is pivotal.

Something new I’ve added is rice water. It works well for my hair. I put the rice and let it ferment for about two days. Once it ferments I strain it and use it after shampooing. It smells terrible but I’ve noticed growth since I started using it.

If you have problems with your hair tangling or knotting I recommend you pre-poo before washing. Tangles can lead to breakage because you’re having to pull out hair to detangle. I section my hair into four section, detangle each section, and twist each section with coconut oil.

Wild growth hair oil in the green and white bottle works well for my hair. Only use 3 times per week.

If you have any questions I’d love to answer them. I’m still learning as I go. My goal is waist length hair. I have about 2 inches to go.

With any routine consistency is key and patience is a virtue the picture below has 6 years between them.

Luv,

Curl, Muva