Care For Your Hair Give Away: Still Time to Enter


Care for Your Hair is having  a 12 days of Christmas Giveaway and today is sponsored by AfroDeity!
Giveaway ends at midnight  See here for details
http://www.cfyh.co.uk/2012/12/18/day-9-sponsored-by-afrodeity/



 There is still time to enter!

Joliette – Caribbean Berry and Melon Clay Cleanser  (200g)






This SLS free cleanser uses the natural cleansing power to clean both hair and scalp without stripping natural oils. Follow up with an Intensive Conditioning Mask of your choice and you will notice how soft and tangle free your hair feels. Only a 10p sized amount required each wash!
Features:
SLS and Paraben Free
Natural Cleansing Power of Rhassoul Clay
Fruits Extracts
Caribbean Scents

Joliette – Caribbean Berry and Melon Curl Me Soft (25g sample)





Moisturise and seal with this beautiful Shea butter based formula to create beautiful curls! Fragranced with fruit extracts. Your hair will look, feel and smell great. Great for twist outs, Great Moisturiser, Light on Hair: doesn’t weigh it down and contains natural ingredients.


Fountain Pimento Oil (10ml sample)




Unique to Jamaica, this powerful liquid remedy has been used for centuries as a traditional “Bush medicine”, renowned for its healing, soothing and antioxidant benefits.  Fountain™ Pimento Oil’s advantages include well being, moisturised and toned skin, amongst many others!

A natural anesthetic, (numbs pain) relieves sore muscles and relaxes joint stiffness, as an antioxidant, pimento also draws excess fluid from the knee, ankles and areas where swelling is noted. Added to a hot bath, it promotes relaxation, moisturizing & stimulant benefits.


Fountain Jamaican Black Castor Oil Hair Food  (10ml sample)


 


Now here’s a new, lighter, pleasantly scented Jamaican black castor oil, that won’t leave your hair greasy, dense & dare we say it – smelly! Infused with peppermint leaves which is said to be the oldest medication in the world, this amazing liquid hair food is also supplemented with other natural herbs for enhanced benefits.

This unique combination gives a cooling effect to the scalp, binds the hair roots & increases blood circulation. The resulting stimulation of your hair follicles culminates in a renewed and reinvigorated hair growth cycle. Cool and refreshing peppermint acts as a regulator and is the reason why your scalp will be so vibrant!

It provides nourishment, eliminates dandruff, dry scalp, psoriasis and is antibacterial – No more receding temples (hair lines), ladies & some gentlemen, just thicker, stronger and longer hair.

Giveaway ends at midnight  See here for details
http://www.cfyh.co.uk/2012/12/18/day-9-sponsored-by-afrodeity/

AfroDeity Castor Oil Challenge 2013


To coincide with Alicia's Big Chop on January 01 2013, AfroDeity will be running a Castor Oil Challenge in 2013.
Alicia will be using the Fountain Jamaican Black Castor Oil Liquid Hair Food for this challenge. The challenge will run for 3 months from January 01, 2013 until March 31, 2012. 

To Enter Comment and Share here

Please bear with us as this is first challenge we have run so if you have suggestions or questions please feel free to comment or email 
challenge @afrodeity.co.uk







All races, all hair styles , all lengths are able to take part in this challenge! Protective Styles, Relaxed, Locs, Weave, Extensions, Twists, Braids, Natural,  please join us. Open to everyone, AfroDeity is based in the UK but we want to hear from everyone who is interested in maintaining their hair.
You can buy Castor Oil from your local beauty supply store but if you are after Fountain Jamaican Black Castor Oil we are able to supply you with a sample if you email us. We will be sending sample to our stockists at the beginning of the challenge so you can pick up a sample from these as well.



The great thing about Fountains Jamaican Black Castor Oil hair food is that it is perfect for styles like locs or braids as it is quickly absorbed and is not thick and greasy,as such it will not block pores and can be left on the scalp. This is also a bonus for all hair types as people with thinner hair strands may have difficulty applying such a thick oil.
How To Enter?

You will need to join the challenge by January 6th 2013. To do this you can comment here answering these questions or join us on Facebook and Pinterest.
1. How will you be using your Castor Oil? (Hot Oil Treatments, Sealing Your Ends, Applying to the Scalp)
2. What is your ultimate hair goal (Arm Pit Length, Shoulder Length, Mid Back Length)
3. Is this your first challenge?. If not did you keep up with the last challnege you did and did you see any results. 
4. What type of Castor Oil will you be using? (Jamaican Black Castor Oil or clear Castor Oil - Samples of Fountain available at AfroDeity and soon to be available from Stockists)

If you are on Facebook or Pinterest you can join us at these links. Any problems please email challenge@afrodeity.co.uk
Pinterest AfroDeity Castor Oil Challenge Board see Alicia's progress and catch up with others on the challenge.
If you have any questions you an email Alicia directly on alicia@afrodeity.co.uk to ask her about her Big Chop or challenge@afrodeity.co.uk for any other questions
The last day to register for this challenge is January 6th 2013
Any questions email CHALLENGE@AFRODEITY.CO.UKI
Comment and Share here

Is the way slavery is taught in UK schools appropriate



We were appalled and disgusted to hear about how a girls school in London teaches students about the slave trade in history class. The method employed was to get the students to imagine they were slave traders and write a business proposal as to how they would catch and imprison slaves. The entire exercise seemed to trivialise the atrocities of the slave trade, only seeing the slave trade from an economic perspective and through european eyes. This story has another side.

The slave trade was not just some form of imprisonment of African peoples without pay. This entire event in human history instilled a sense inferiority in an entire race that still exists to this day. It can still be felt today in every part of British society, from television ads and football to the corporate boardrooms and the language we use. The head teachers comment that the exercise showed a lack of empathy to another's culture also shows a level of ignorance. Were they only acting because one child in that school was offended? The effects of the slave trade affects us all black and white in ways we might not even recognise and it is not just a part of African and Caribbean history but British history too.

Children should not just be taught about the economic effects of the slave trade on Britain but its cultural and social effects too.

Although slavery has existed in many forms and can be traced back as far as 1760 BC. The African Slave Trade was system of capturing African slaves and transporting them in appalling conditions to the 'New World'. It is not just that the slaves were forced to work for their masters without pay, these slaves were also stripped if their names, their religion and their language. They were not allowed to congregate and had to learn the language and customs of their masters. They were thought of as property to do with as their owner pleased, lower down the list than their master's horses or cattle. As these restrictions were imposed on the slaves it was necessary to justify this enslavement to the white population who had to be convinced that slavery was a necessary evil, that the slaves needed help to be civilised, because they were inferior.

Even the simple matter of how I wear my hair each day is affected by the atrocities of the slave trade. Our general hair type is thought to be inferior and that we should go to so much effort to change the appearance of the hair that grows out of our heads just shows how much this affects us today. Psychological slavery still holds us back. We still believe that natural hair is not appropriate fot the work place and in some instances we are even discriminated against for the way we wear our hair by both black and white people. Young black people should not have to change their physical appearance and even their names just to show that they are just as capable as their white counterparts.

As a British black woman with young black children this article really struck a cord with me.
This ignorance stems from this topic having never been taught properly in schools in the UK. All races of children should understand this period in human history, its effects and the reasons for its beginning and end as much as they would learn about the Second World War. It is as much a part of British history as it is a part of African or Caribbean history.

It would have been better served for the class to imagine themselves as slaves. Seeing the ocean for the first time, being loaded onto ships, no way to return to your family. Your name, language and religion taken away and abhorrent punishments imposed if you did not comply.


 This article was posted in the London Evening Standard - Please Read

A school was today forced to issue an apology for a history lesson in which  pupils were asked to imagine they were slave traders.The students aged 13 and 14 were shown manacles, a whip, thumb screws and iron brands and asked to come up with a business proposal for how they would capture and imprison slaves in Africa. One part of the lesson pointed out positive aspects of slavery, such as “having an affair with a beautiful African slave girl”. The headteacher at Queen Elizabeth’s Girls’ School in Barnet said the lesson material has since been withdrawn and apologised on behalf of her staff for being “patronising” and for the “trivialisation” of slavery. A girl of African heritage complained to her mother, who contacted Pan African human rights group Ligali, which put in a formal complaint to the school. Kate Webster said: “I am satisfied it wasn’t a deliberate attempt to humiliate or denigrate in any way but it did demonstrate a lack of empathy for people’s heritage.” She said the child who raised the issue had “expressed concern and distress”. School governors were informed and “appropriate steps” had been taken in relation to possible disciplinary action against the staff member who devised the presentation. Part of the presentation had been used by other teachers since September 2010, but Mrs Webster said she only became aware of it last month after the complaint was made.
Ligali’s Toyin Agbetu described various elements of the material as “morally repugnant, insensitive and disrespectful”.
Sources
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slave_trade
http://www.standard.co.uk/news/education/queen-elizabeths-girls-school-says-sorry-for-morally-repugnant-slavery-lesson-8368279.html

Product Review: Sisay Flax Aida Moisturiser



Hi All,


I have been trialling the Sisay Flax and Okra products for a while now while I have been transitioning and I have to say I love them all. I am currently using the Flax Aida moisturiser (my absolute favourite). 



Product Speil
Flax Aida is from the curl enhancing line of products from Sisay. Flax, is not only known for its nutritional properties but also for its "curl defining" properties. It is also a very great detangler.


Ingredients: Behentrimoinum Menosulphate, Cetyryl Alcohol, Lunum Usitatissimum, Butrospernum Parkii(Shea)Simmondsa Xhinesis(jojoba)oil, Prunus amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Guar Hydroxypropyl Trimonium chloride, Hydrolised silk protein, panthenol, soy lechtin, capryl glycol, phenoxyethanol, fragrance oil.

My 2pence:
It has very slight smell of cocoa powder but not quite like chocolate, more a mild sweet scent, and it has a thick creamy texture. I rubbed it between my palms before applying to my hair, as indicated by the instructions. It left my hair feeling soft and moisturised and I was particularly pleased with the way my roots felt. Here are some pictures of my hair before and after.


Before: Just after washing my hair 

After: Four Days of using the Flax Aida 

I love the curls I get from the Flax products (and the Sisay Okra products just ooze moisture). You do have to work the Flax Aida into your hair. The instructions do say to rub your hands together before applying. An AfroDeity favourite on both relaxed and natural hair





Sisay's products are all natural and are supposed to be mild enough to use on children. The back of my daughter Ruby's hair is always dry, I can never get it to look moisturised. I had been using the Mixed Chicks moisturiser for kids but found that even though on application her hair looked moisturised and her curls defined, I had to keep on reapplying every few hours or hair went back dry. I applied the Flax Aida on a whim to see the results on her hair and I havent had to moisturise her hair all day and she went to bed without the usual ordeal of me combing her hair and re-plaiting it so it didn't get tangled overnight.






Great for me! Great for my Daughter too! 

A winner in my book


Embrace Your Inner AfroDeity 

Leilu

Boots Health and Beauty

Hi All,

I had the chance to glance through this months Health and Beauty and was supper excited to see a black model on the cover. Not just that, but they also give a tutorial on how to do her makeup. Boots Health and Beauty is free with your boots card or only £1 from stores.







There was also a feature about our lovely new natural british bond girl 'Naomie Harris'


Thought you might want to pop out and get the look!

Embrace Your Inner AfroDeity 
Leilu

Today's Everyday style Transitioning

Hi All,

As you know I am currently 9+ months into transitioning and finding styles that I can wear everyday, that are quick and easy is always difficult. Today's style took me about 10 minutes and is really just 4 twists meeting at the centre of the head. Quick, simple and very easy to do.

To start I part the hair into four sections.
Then I brush the two front sections upwards. 
I then twist the hair together, I do this as if it was a two strand cornrow, grabbing more hair into the twist as I go along, this makes the twist stay together and not unravel as easily.
I twist them all towards the centre of my head and leave either curly or straight spiky ends at the back. To get curl ends I would twist the hair the night before but I didn't have the time for that so I just leave the ends out as you can see below.

Quick. Easy. Peasy.
Not great pics but you get the idea.






I suppose it might not be to everyone's but it is neat and takes few minutes to do. Just thought I'd share!

Embrace Your Inner AfroDeity
Leilu











AfroDeity Profile: Operations

AfroDeity's Operations Manger Alicia agreed to let us feature a few candid shots that we took of her this weekend.


Alicia deals with the day to day running of AfroDeity and is often the point of call for any major problems our customers may have. She also organises the warehouse to ensure that your orders leave us and get directly into your hands. Essentially when something goes wrong she is our fixer!






Alicia wearing a Warehouse grey cotton top with glitter edging. 
Not visible in the photo black leather boots by Next 
Makeup by MAC and Revlon.
Hair in Messy Curly Bun/ Updo

Favourite Protective Styles: Twists, Braid Outs
Hair type: 4b/c currently transitioning with her transition buddy Niki
Relationships: Joliette's daughter


Embrace Your Inner AfroDeity 
Leilu


Scooby Doo's Angel Dynamite Cuts her Hair


Angel Dynamite is Crystal Cove's resisdent DJ in the newest incarnation of Scooby Doo, Mystery Incorporated. Although the characters identity and history are shrouded in mystery the coolest thing about her and the her most disctinctive attribute is her large afro. I was quite surprised when the writters decided to cut all of Angel's hair off. Giving her a TWA. But I absolutely loved Angel's attitude to it and it is the kind of thing I think kids should see on TV. 

"No, I'm gorgeous. Hair is just hair."

Almost as  surprising  as Angel Dynamites decision to cut her hair was that there is Black Hair dresser in Crystal Cove. Anyway i digress. In Mystery Incorporated Season 2 Episode 3 Angel goes to her Hairdresser 'Gorgeous G' and asks her to cut it all off.


"All of it…  Cut it all off.  Don’t give me that look, Gorgeous G, I mean it.  It’s so gone…"


"No, I'm gorgeous. Hair is just hair."

"Hotness is as hotness does"
For the actual hair cut see Time 4:40 in this video


Like me I hope you not only love this character but her super cool attitude!
Enjoy!

Embrace Your Inner AfroDeity
Leilu

Coca Cola in your Hair?



I came across a post on MuslimahBeauty, (You have to check out this blog) a blog about all things fashion and beauty, about a bizarre practice of using Coca Cola on your hair to achieve bouncy curls.

Hmm... Bizarre Right. How did anyone even think of this?

From the ingredients I was able to get from the internet, I found that  Coke contains lime extract, caffeine, phosphoric acid and glycerin. It probably contains a whole lot more than this but it is a secret recipe.

The ingredients that were interesting are: 
Glycerin, a humectant draws moisture into the hair 
Caffeine, regulates and aids hair growth even when applied topically
Lime Extract has a regulatory effect on the production of sebum and can have a detangling effect.

Phosphoric Acid which is used in many baldness remedies is used to control the pH of cosmetics and personal care products. 

pH
Coke has a pH of around 2.5 - 3.4. A Ph of 7 is neutral, this is a logarithmic scale however, so a Ph of 2.5 is very acidic. This is probably mostly likely due to the phosphoric acid. Table vinegars pH ranges from 2 - 4. The ph of our hair should be around 4.5 - 5.5. Many hair products, shampoos, hair colour and relaxers are strongly alkaline. Rinsing with Coke as with Apple Cider Vinegar could help to balance the ph of the hair.


I am not sure if the combination of ingredients in coke is 'good' for hair and we can only guess as the proportations and the other ingredients.  I cant say I am advocating anyone to try this.

This is probably a safer way of curling your hair 


There is a lot of information out there about Coca Cola used for all kind of things but most of it is anecdotal and I couldn't find any scientific study proving or disproving any of these results.

Do you know of any?

I found more observational and anecdotal  information about using topically here:

http://members.tripod.com/~Barefoot_Lass/cola.html
http://www.naturallycurly.com/curltalk/recipes-%97-hair-body/37931-coke-hair.html

Not to put you off drinking Coke, but I've used it to clear my drains. 

Anyway I found it very interesting that people use this on their hair. I doubt that the acid and additives would be beneficial to long term hair care and as I said there is probably a whole host of other things in Coke than the ingredients I was able to find.

Was anyone brave enough to try this if so what were your results?

Embrace Your Inner AfroDeity 
Leilu




Sources
Hill, L; Woodruff, L; Foote, J; Barretoalcoba, M (2005). "Esophageal Injury by Apple Cider Vinegar Tablets and Subsequent Evaluation of Products". Journal of the American Dietetic Association 105 (7): 1141–4. 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coca_cola
http://blackgirllonghair.blogspot.co.uk/2009/01/good-natural-hair-product-apple-cider.html
http://www.afrobella.com/2011/05/27/the-beauty-benefits-of-vinegar/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vinegar

Product Review: John Freida Smooth Straight


I have never been a fan of John Freida's frizz ease. When I started my journey I naturally went for the big brands and Frizz Ease was for curly hair, I even ordered the Relaxed Hair Care Shampoo and Conditioner specifically for Afro Textured hair that has been relaxed all the way from America back in the naughties. These did nothing for my hair and this was more money wasted on products I had to at the time import from the US. I have also been slightly wary because the Frizz ease definition of curly was never synonymous with mine.

So when I was given the chance to review their new Smooth Start range, I thought well cant hurt to give it a go. The products were:
John Frieda Frizz Ease Smooth Start Hydrating Shampoo
John Frieda Frizz Ease Smooth Start Hydrating Conditioner
Frizz Ease Extra Strength Formula Hair Serum



I started with the John Frieda Frizz Ease Smooth Start Hydrating Shampoo

The Speil: Nourishes each and every strand of hair to replenish lost moisture and restore the hair's natural defence against frizz.
  • Contains Frizz-Mending complex and natural olive oil. 
  • Fights all levels of frizz with added nourishment and a moisture-boost. 
  • Leaves parched tresses silky, shiny and highly manageable. 
  • Ensures hair is given the optimal smooth start leaving parched tresses silky, shiny and highly manageable, without residue. 
  • Lightweight formulations that won't weigh the hair down but deliver exceptional results. 
Verdict: After a month trialling this I was not overly enamoured with this shampoo. Shampoos generally leave my hair feeling a little dry and this was no exception. My hair was alittle too clean for my liking and had a weird feel after washing.

I did however like the smell. If you read this blog ou know the smell of a product is very important to me. It was like a papaya scent or something of that ilk and didn't smell chemically.

Next I tried the John Frieda Frizz Ease Smooth Start Hydrating Conditioner


The Speil:Specially formulated for all hair types and hair colours.
  • Nourishes each and every strand of hair to replenish lost moisture and restore the hair's natural defence against frizz. 
  • Contains a unique Frizz-Mending Complex, together with natural olive oil Fights all levels of frizz with added nourishment and a moisture-boost. 
  • Ensures hair is given the optimal smooth start leaving parched tresses silky, shiny and highly manageable, without residue. 
  • Lightweight formulations that won't weigh the hair down but deliver exceptional results. 
Verdict: This was hands sown my absolute favourite of the three products. It really did make my hair feel soft and moisturised. Again it had that papaya like smell that I liked so I did really enjoy using this. Definitely worth trying and of the three I would purchase this again.



Lastly I tried the Frizz Ease Extra Strength Formula Hair Serum

The Speil:

  • Blocks frizz. 
  • Instantly and dramatically transforms coarse, wiry, unruly frizz for ultra-sleek, purely polished, super-shiny results. 
  • A high-potency blend of silicones infused with Algae extract and Silk protien. 
  • Leaves dry, defiant hair extremely supple, easy to manage and healthy-looking. 
  • Repels humidity to help prevent weather-related frizz. 
  • Contains a UV filter. 

Verdict: For my hair this serum just seemed incredibly greasy and I did not like the feel of it. However I have never been a fan of serums as they have a weird feel in your hand. If you like serums then perhaps this product may be for you.


All in all the conditioner was my absolute favourite, great smell and great product. Please that I had some luck with a Frizz Ease product as i have not in the past. Mixed feeling about this range.

Embrace Your Inner AfroDeity
Leilu

Transitioning a week with CurlFormers

My week with Curlformers on my transitioning hair

I must say I am having a love/hate relationship with this product. I love the way my hair look as after it has been styled and as my hair is held in place at night, no tangles in my natural roots. However, I am a quick styling kind of girl so curling my whole head would be too time consuming. To get around this and after perfecting my technique of applying them, It takes me 10 minutes to do the front of my head, in the style shown in these pictures. I did have to do a lot of trial and error in perfecting my technique if you insert them incorrectly they can be a bit too tight. This is easily remedied by squeezing the end and pulling slightly off the root. So I apply them roughly 5cm from the scalp.

Anyway here are some pictures, even a few grey hairs there! About time really. I might even start to look my age. 
Transitioning since February/March so nearly 9 months in!

 

So what products am I using to ensure my hair looks good in the morning.

On the hair that was not being curled, I used the Flax Aida so that this hair did not get dry and was also taken care of. This has to be my absolute favourite moisturiser. Goes on the hair so smooth and my curls just pop!


I found that using the Joliette (Shea/Aloe) Curl Me Soft worked really well as a moisturiser and kept the curls really well. Contain shea butter, castor oil and green tea extracts.



First I sprayed a little water onto the section I wanted to curl, then applied curl me soft moisturiser. I then sealed with the Fountain Jamaican Black Castor Oil Liquid Hair Food. As this contains Jojoba Oil, my relaxed ends benefit greatly from this infusion as well.

Has anyone tried the Curlformers? What products do you use with them?
Do you only use them after washing or for styling everyday?

Embrace Your Inner AfroDeity 
Leilu





Leilu's Transitioning Journey

                                          


This is my first hair update for a while, I guess because I am transitioning, length checks don't really tell you much. Also I am trimming constantly so there isn't much in the way of length. I had written breifly about Curlformers and I think they have become, my go to hair styling tool while I am transitioning. I had previously been relying on bantu knots and twist outs, but i got a bit bored with them and at times my relaxed ends did not seem to get on well with these styles. So I have had a play with the Curlformers. Note I only have time at night to do a few on the front and this way I can  sleep on my back at least.

I have just heaped the curls on top and twisted and pinned the back. Sort of a hommage to a more Victorian style.



You can see that my relaxed ends havent been fairing well, but I am not really bothered, I am erring towards the big chop soon as it is getting more difficult to handle two textures. Anyone else doing anything similar. More styles to come as the experiment continues!
    

Embrace Your Inner AfroDeity
Leilu