Natural Hair Essentials

Hey Guys,
A quick posts on some of the tools that I cannot do without. These are the tools that I find absolutely necessary for taking care of my hair.

Wide Tooth Comb:
I find that with a smaller tooth comb, it is harder to get tangles out of my hair. A wide-tooth comb is easier on the hair, puts less strain on the hair strands, and glides more easily through my hair.

Satin scarf or Bonnet:

This will help protect your hair strands at night when you sleep. The satin is a smoother fabric and is less likely to snag your curly hair. Less friction equals less hair breakage, and tangles. I have at least 5 of these in different colors, the are really affordable, come in different forms, and also help preserve a hairstyle.

Satin Bonnet

Hair Pins/ Bobby Pins:

I use these to pin up my twists, and to hold back my hair in different styles. I prefer these to bobby pins, (the pins with closed ends) because they don't pull on my hair as much. Bobby pins however, do hold up longer and can keep more hair in place. Either one is fine.

Hair Pins

Bobby Pins

Spray Bottle:

I have a lot of these and I use them for whatever moisturizing mix tickles my fancy. I always have one in my purse, can't be walking around with thirsty hair lol. My current spray bottle has water, olive oil, and glycerin.

Spray Bottle

 Hair Section Clips:

I use this to section my hair off into smaller parts while I am washing, detangling, conditioning, or styling. They help keep my hair separated, which allows for easier manipulations and less tangles. 

Hair Section Clips

 

There are a host of other tools out there that help in taking care of your hair. Please share which hair tools you cannot do without.

Hope you enjoyed

XOXO

Bella Joya

Natural Hair Twist- Out

Hey Guys,


Just a quick post on how I achieved my first legit twist-out..
I finally took out my kinky twists that I had in for about 7 weeks.

Somehow, I succeeded in chopping off parts of my hair, while taking out the braids.. :( Whomp! Whomp! Whomp !!!! but it's alright, I like to think I was chopping off split ends... lol

I detangled my hair as I took down the braids, because the last time I didn't I spent hours trying to detangle after I washed it. 

Freshly Detangled Hair

I got a little camera happy  at my 1 year hair growth.....

I pre-pood my hair over night with grape-seed oil, and then washed my hair in sections using my Herbal Essence Hello Hydration Shampoo with orchid and coconut milk. I deep conditioned with my Bella Joya Deep Conditioning Goodness for about 8 hours. The result as always, was soft, yummy-licious hair..

I know I look crazy..

I rinsed out my deep conditioner and then twisted my hair up in sections for my twist out... using one of my favorite youtuber's Naptural 85's twist method... Twist Out 101.

The result...... ulltra defined twist-out that was super cute...

I pulled back the front, and dressed it up with a flower...

I am soo excited about all my growth, and I cannot wait to try out different hairstyles.

Please comments on hairstyles you have tried, or look forward to trying out.

XOXO

Bella Joya

My One Year Nappiversary

Hey Guys,

Today April 17, 2010 is my 1 year Nappiversary and I am soo excited. I cant believe that a full year has passed since I did my Big Chop (BC).

I transitioned for all of maybe 3 and a half months ....

Then I just grew really impatient and got it all cut off !!!!

Picking up my permed ends right after my BC

Month 3

I loved wearing my hair short!!!!! I was convinced that I was a lot of hot stuff.. lol

Month 5

Month 8

Month 12

Month 5

Month 7

Month 9

Month 12

My hair can fit in a ponytail now...

My Teeny Weeny Afro!!!

I can't believe that my hair has grown so much.... It has not always been easy though. I remember once during this past year , I had kinky twists in my hair for about a month, and a half, by the time I took them out, my hair had started to lock at the roots...!!! (Insert my panic face here). 3 hours, 2 bucket full of tears and 2 fist full of hair later I was headed to the store to buy a box of perm. I eventually calmed myself down by looking at pictures of natural haired women, and I decided to give it another go. It has been a wonderful year with its ups and lots of downs but I am grateful that 1 year later it has definitely payed off and my hair is healthy, thick,  and growing strong.... Looking forward to the next year of my natural hair journey... :)

XOXO 

Bella Joya 

Teeny Weeny Afro (Part 3 in the afro series)

Hey Guys.

This is the final part of the Afro series, and for most naturals the term TWA (Teeny Weeny Afro) is a familiar one. To me, this is what your hair looks like after about 9 -14 months of growth, from a clean shaved head. I know most people are going..... hold up..... what??? ( I will explain my reasoning so hold off on stuffing me into a box of nerds). I refer to this stage as TWA because at this stage I feel you finally get to see significant amount of growth. This is the stage where you hair is long enough to form not just a lil 'ol poof ball but  you can actually get it to look like a PUFF!!! .

You hair is not quite ......

This ..... 

Or This..

Source

It is more like this..... a Teeny Weeny Afro..

Source

One thing that has helped me in my natural hair journey is understanding that my hair will go through different stages of growth. Some stages I will like more so than others... The important thing to remember is that each stage comes with it's own  unique challenges and victories. It may seem like your hair is taking forever and a day to grow, but trust me it is growing and with care, time, and patience you will go from having a SWA (Squiggly Wiggly Afro) to an  IBA (Itty Bitty Afro)  and eventually a TWA (Teeny Weeny Afro) and  a BOA (Big Ol Afro) .

I hope you enjoyed part 3 of the Afro Series..
Read  more on Squiggly Wiggly Afro and Itty Bitty Afro


XOXO
Bella Joya

Natural Hair Inspiration

One of my natural hair idols..aka mahoghanycurls....
source

                                                

The Best Natural Hair Deep Conditioner

Hey Guys,
I want to share with you all, the Deep Conditioning Treatment that has never failed me. The deep conditioner that thoroughly moisturizes my hair, replenishes, and makes my hair all sorts of wonderful. I am sure you are wondering what this magic product is but not to worry, I will tell you....

I have continuously used this deep conditioner since my big chop (April 17, 2010). Occasionally I tried other deep conditioners that I saw other naturals use, and some of them would wow me, others not so much. This deep conditioner however, has been a staple, and it is safe to say that this is something my natural hair loves...

This is not a commercial product but  my own deep conditioning recipe..I like to call it "Bella Joya's Deep Conditioning Goodness"

Ingredients:

Raw Honey

A cocktail of EVOO, Grapeseed Oil, Sweet Almond Oil and Jojoba Oil

Any cheap conditioner like this, my hair prefers thick conditioners with a lot of slip.

Recipe:

1. In a medium sized empty container, pour in enough conditioner to coat your hair (for my hair I use about a cup of conditioner)
2. Add in about 2 tablespoons of whatever oil, or combination of oils you choose to use (I usually add olive, grape seed, and sweet almond oil. I use the jojoba less frequently because it is expensive). Occasionally I add peppermint or lavender essential oil for that extra zing..
3. Finally I add about 2-3 tablespoons of raw honey.
4. Mix it all together, for about a minute to ensure that all the honey and oils have blended well with the conditioner (also use a spoon to mix because you would hate to be done applying the mix, and see all the honey and oils at the bottom of the container... lol I have done this a few times)
5. Apply thoroughly through-out hair and cover with a plastic shower cap or some saran wrap.
6. Leave one for about an hour or two. I usually deep condition my hair overnight because I have somehow convinced myself that less time and my hair is getting little love..( I know silly .. but yeah..) 
7. Rinse out thoroughly and ..viola.. you are left with incredibly soft, moisturized, yummy-lee-cious hair.

Try out "Bella Joya's Deep Conditioning Goodness" and let me know how it works with your natural hair.

If you have any of your own deep- conditioning mixes please share, I'd love to find another deep conditioner that my hair will love.

Hope you enjoyed.

XOXO

Bella Joya

Natural Hair Inspiration...

Cute Hair Styles For Short Natural Hair

Hey everyone,
These are just a few pictures of various hairstyles I have worn on my short natural hair.
They are mostly mini twists, different pin-ups of my twists, and mini-twist outs.
I am slightly obsessed with myself, so excuse the Bella Joya Overload..(giggle...)
If you are interested in how I achieved any of the styles, leave a comment and I can do a quick tutorial on how to re-create the style.
Enjoy.........

XOXO
Bella Joya