Hair Essentials - Natural Braided Updo (Professional Natural Hair)

Morning, Morning, Morning! I am so excited to make this post today featuring my girl, Rachel Boo. she is rocking a recently done braided hairstyle. I took pics of the sides and front, but forgot the back. The back is just braided up toward the donut. It is really simple and a great style to workout out with. Just tie your head and go! The braided top knot is becoming a fad in natural hair styling I see, but it has definitely been done for years. I'm waiting for Marley braids to get stale, so I can put them in in the Fall, tee hee. At any rate, here are the pics I took right after I redid my girls' braids. I think these pics are super cute. :-)

See my IG @Livlyhood for recent natural hairstyles. :-)

Hope you enjoyed the pictures! Our Natural is Beautiful 2013. MuAh & CiAo!

Hair Essentials - Natural Hair Updo (4c)

So, I braided and styled my bff's hair. She usually combs and styles her own hair. I can probably count the number of times I've done her hair on my one hand. Anyhoo, here goes:

Prep Time: 1 hr   (includes consulting)
Style time: 2 hrs (includes consulting while styling and catching up on each other's lives)

YOU KNOW HOW THAT GOES! lol

**I also completed her natural hair profile and natural hair goal plan which added an add'l 45 mins to the prep time**

1. She washed and sectioned off her hair in about 10 twists (5 on each side). I took over from there.
2. I untwisted each section and combed each section as I went along.
3. Next, I used Carol's Daughter heat protectant moisturizer and rubbed it into her sectioned hair from root to tip and blow dried each section and re-twist.
4. I repeated steps 2 & 3 until all the twists were completed.
5. Then I moisturized with JCS moisturizer and sealed with jojoba oil
6. Then I sectioned hair into 4 big sections, re-twisting 3 of them and started braids from the untwisted 4th section.
7. With each part, I further moisturized and seal with JCS nourish and shine product (GREAT FOR BRAIDING HAIR)
8. Then repeat step 7 for all other sections, leaving some hair out in the front (as much hair as desired)
9. With loose hair in the front, I moisturized with JCS nourish and shine product and loosely twisted it and rolled the twist under and secured with a pin.
10. I repeated step 10 until it was all twisted and pinned down the way I wanted it to be.

Here are the results:

 

 

 

Two important things! PLEASE COMB AND SECTION HAIR OUT FROM ROOT TO TIP. Do not take any shortcuts, it creates more breakage and tangling when attempting to comb out for styling later. Also, it doesn't allow for product to get to the root properly. And properly combing hair out especially when having type 4c is imperative to maintaining a healthy head of hair.

** Also Important - brush hair on either side of the section parted to braided all the way through so that the parts are more defined. Some hair is more stubborn to braiding and does not seem to hold a defined part. With more training, hair will work just fine **

This was a nice style, no additional hair was used and I think my bff looks gorg!

Our natural is beautiful. MuAh & CiAo! :-)

Hair Essentials - Nia's Updo

FINALLY!!!! I posted picsof the do I created. I rocked this thing for two week.s I finally took it out last night. My hair was begging to be washed, especially with all the working out I've been doing. These pics were taken this past weekend. I took the style out last night, washed, put in a conditioning treatment and twisted into big twists with the replenishing treatment mist and styling creme both by Wen  and of course, JCO.

I plan to do more braided styles with the summer coming and all. I may even put it into braided extension, but I can't imagine not being able to put any treatment in my hair for months on end and not being able to wash my hair after my workouts. My hair doesn't look bad, just feels hot and moist if I do any "bumped-looking" styles as is shown above with this Ledisi type do.

I loved being able to get up and go, so this style was pretty nice AND it transitioned into a nice style I could wear to a wedding. Anyhoo, I did a couple new hairstyles this week, so 'll post those next week. Stay tuned! MuAh & CiAo! Live on Purpose. :-)

Hair Essentials - Natural Hairstyles

Here is a recent updo I did in my girl's hair. She washes it and then I braid it moisturizing her hair with Jane Carter solutions twisted fro, a tiny bit of jojoba oil and then I use Dr. Edge for edge control at the start of every braid. Works like a charm and her hair always feels nice and soft when I'm braided it. In fact, I see her tonight for another appt. This hairstyle can easily transition from a professional work style to a night on the town with your girls or a nice evening with the beau.

With the front being in single twists, you can also change up the front for a change in the look by:

1. Untwisting twists for a "Rocking Out" hairstlye

2. Comb out twists and use curling rods for gorgeous curls in the front

3. Comb out twists and bantu knot the front for a cute spiral-looking curls

So many options, you're sure to enjoy this style for 2-3 weeks!

Hair Essentials - More Protective Styling (Pictures Only)