Happy New Year!!!

Posted by Kyara | Posted on Thursday, December 31, 2009

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I’m about to go spend New Year’s eve with my friends on a boat on the Seine river, in Paris :)

I just wanted to write a little note to let you know that I hope you’ll enjoy the last night of 2009 and that I wish you all a happy New year 2010!

I’ll try to post about my resolutions for 2010 tomorrow, so stay tuned!!!!

++

K.

PS: I still don’t know what I’ll do with my hair but I’ll keep you posted! ;)

She rocked it both ways: Judith Hill

Posted by Kyara | Posted in | Posted on Wednesday, December 30, 2009

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Hello Guys! I had to share this with you…

I first discovered Judith Hill at the Jackson memorial. She came at the very end of the memorial to give a last tribute to MJ.

When she began to sing “heal the world”, it was such a moving moment!!! I was wondering who was this beautiful natural girl! Seeing this article, I wasn’t the only one!

Judith was one of Michael’s vocalists. Here she is with Michael Jackson, preparing the THIS IS IT Tour.judith Here are pics with the crew:

cast-this-is-it-michael-jackson-trbute-wall-4

draft_lens7517582module62695922photo_1255361971this_is_it_backing_vocalists_picture

I absolutely loooooooove her  style! And the hair is GORGEOUS!!!LA-this-is-it-Judith-Hill

[Pics are from getty images]

And guess what?!!! Judith Hill rocked it both ways: straight and curly.

Check it out:

 P1050035 t02200330_0600090010320639418

Sorry to be so predictable but I definitely prefer the curly version of Judith!!

Here is the wonderful tribute…

 

Were you as moved as I was????!

++

K.

Update & Christmas hair

Posted by Kyara | Posted on Tuesday, December 29, 2009

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Hi Guys!!

I’ve been away for a little while because of personal reasons but I’m ready to share my new hair adventures in 2010!

For the come back of Trendy Curly Hair, I wanted to give a little update about my hair. Here is what it looks like now (speaking of the length):

CIMG1927

For Christmas, I wanted a style a little bit different from what I usually do so I chose to curl my hair.

I used these perm rods:

I washed my hair with the aphogee shampoo and then I conditioned with HE Hello Hydration.

And I must say that I found THE setting lotion that works for my hair:

Paul Mitchell Round Trip Curl Definer, 6.8-Ounces Bottle

Let me introduce you to Paul Mitchell Round Trip Curl Definer! I applied it to each section before rolling and this thing was not only good at setting my hair but it also made my curls soft and bouncy!!

My hair was so happy!!

Let me show you the curl definition:

CIMG19601

Here is a closer look:

CIMG1975

And look at this shine!!!

CIMG19581

For the final look, I did a line on the left side. I secured the side with a flower bobby pin (bought at Claire’s for 3 euros) and I added a little bit of coconut oil for extra shine.

Hope you like it!

Let me know what was your style for Christmas and what you plan to rock for the New Year!

Hope you had wonderful moments with your family and friends!

++

2ACFE0A7E03EE5F9D8E1C746A12B54B7

REPOST – Another transition style : bantu knots

Posted by Kyara | Posted on Tuesday, December 29, 2009

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I recently got some issues with formatting so I’m reposting older entries…
 
I just wanted to show you the results of my bantu knots-out. It wasn't very easy to sleep on it but I'm glad I tried! I liked the results because the curls looked natural and bouncy.
I slept on the bantu knots with a satin headwrap. The next morning, I took them down beginning with the back, separated each of them, put a little bit of coconut oil and finger combed.

This pic was taken right after I took them down:


The next pic shows the back of my head. Some of the knots weren't completely dry... as you can see there are looser curls in the back.


This is a closer pic:


This is the finished product... There was a lot of humidity here so the curls were looser after a while.


If you have questions about the way I achieved this style, you can ask your questions in the comments section below or send me an email. I'll do my best to answer.
I also tried the curly fro, so stay tuned for the technique and results!!!

UPDATE – NATURAL HAIR GLOSSARY

Posted by Kyara | Posted in | Posted on Tuesday, December 15, 2009

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Hi Girls I wanted to share what I've learned during my researches on natural hair. I might have forgotten lots of information, I will keep updating this glossary. Hope this will help some of you.

Hanging light bulb
A
ACV: Apple Cider Vinegar (In french: Vinaigre de Pomme). It can be used to clarify hair (to get rid of buil-up)

AMLA Powder: AMLA is an Indian Gooseberry. It is known to be antibacterial and rich in vitamin C. It can be used to deep condition the hair
B
BAA: Big Ass Afro

Banding technique: Technique consisting in putting bands on your hair to elongate the strands. It is used to fight against shrinkage.

Bantu Knots: Hair style consisting in twisting the hair on itself.

BC: Big Chop. The big cut you do to get rid of relaxed and damaged ends.

Bentonite clay: It's a clay used to deep condition. It has detoxifying properties.

BKT: Brazilian Keratin Treatment. A treatment used to loosen your natural curls for between 4 and 6 months. It contains chemicals and is quite expensive.

C
Carmel treatment: Natural Treatment said to make your hair more manageable

CG: Curly Girl. Book and technique from Lorraine Massey. Describes how to take care of naturally curly hair.

D
DC: deep condition. Apply a nourishing cream on your hair for enough time to enjoy the benefits.

E
EVOO: Extra virgin olive oil

J
JKT: Japanese Keratin treatment

L
LFW: Lace Front Wigs.

LHCF: long hair care forum (forum talking about long and natural curly hair).

Lisa Akbari's Curly Fro technique: technique to have curls and volume for natural hair.

Low-poo: use of a less aggressive shampoo and less often.

N
NC: naturallycurly. Website with information about curly hair

No-poo: stop the use of shampoo

P
Pre-poo: apply product to the hair in order to prepare it for the shampoo

S
S&D: Search and destroy method. Search the damaged ends and trim them one after the other.

Saran wrap treatment: technique to straighten your hair without heat
 
Shake&Go: pretty self-explanatory...

Shingling: Styling technique

T
TWA: Teeny Weeny Afro

W
Wash&Go: pretty self-explanatory...



REPOST : Sleeping beauty

Posted by Kyara | Posted on Tuesday, December 01, 2009

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I got something to tell you ... We are told lies from our childhood! It is impossible to sleep for 150 years and look like this:

Sleeping-Beauty


A rosy complexion, a rested face and mostly ... A PERFECT HAIRSTYLE!  That’s a lie…


OK ... Now we know that we won’t look like this ...


... We can try to limit the damages not to scare Prince Charming the man with smelly feet (if it is not the case, it will be one day ...) who shares or will share your life. :p


Anyways ... back to the main topic: Stay beautiful even during the night:)
You can find some nice satin scarvesto protect her hair from dehydration and breakage (can not say it enough, the cotton pillowcases dries hair!)


Here are beautiful scarves for every wallet :

freywille_banglesImage: http://www.frey-wille.com (price on request)

image
Topshop.com (price: £ 22)

image
Image: luxuo.fr (Hermes Carré)

image
Image: The Clutch Magazine


If your significant other still does not bear to see you wear a scarf at night, there is a solution! The satin pillowcases!


Now that this is solved, there are other problems which can come from over-night treatments:
-The smell of eggs and mayonnaise ...
-Olive oil spreading on the sheets ...
-Carapate oil acting as a repellent even for your boo...
These methods are known to be very effective, but every once in a while, replace carapate oil or olive oil with oils that have a good smell ...
[the air oil tui from carol's daughter, or the Monoi oil prodigious Nuxe may be the case]

image
... And put a smaller amount  can not hurt (Honey won’t say the contrary ...): p


And you? Have you already had problems with your loved one because of that? Other tips to stay beautiful at night??


+ +

Hair Check

Posted by Kyara | Posted on Thursday, October 01, 2009

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This post is just meant to show you how my hair looks now:

hair check3

Headband: Next (£4-£5)

Products used:

Conditioning: Redken Fresh curls conditioner

Styling: Bumble and Bumble calming cream

Technique: finger styling

I can’t wait for it to grow longer!!!!

++

K.

Shack's’ rendez-vous: “Vitamins, vitamins, vitamins...”

Posted by Kyara | Posted on Tuesday, September 01, 2009

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This is our new rendez-vous. We will have shack’s coming from time to time to talk about her natural journey!

If you are in serious turmoil about your hair growth, you might have heard about what vitamins can do to fasten it.
To sum up, your hair should be supplied with various things among which : moisture, protein, vitamins, etc.

There are 3 types of vitamins:

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- Natural product extracts, supposed to bring your hair some specific attributes
- Pure vitamins
- Vitamins complexes

Here are the different ones that I have experienced so far:

Type 1: garlic (supposed to prevent hair breakage due to its high sulfur content),

garlic-clove[1]
           horse tail (a grass supposed to provide with silica)
horsetail_1[1]

Type 2: B8 (also known as biotin)
           MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane)


Type 3: B complex
           Various vitamins mix
           Women vitamins
           Hair, nails and skin complexes
           Yeast

Pros:
- Vitamins are, generally speaking, good for your health. Doing a cure from time to time prevents shortage, and is good for your overall metabolism
- When you take the appropriate amount for you, chances are you are going to end up feeling good and looking freesh!

the-fresh-prince-of-bel-air_324x218_1229284306
- Prices in pharmacy or local supply store usually are reasonable. No need for it to be expensive, what matters is the dosage. You can also get it from online stores

Cons:
-It might take a while for you to figure out what amount is really appropriate for you. General advise is: increase slowly. If you really do not want to stick to the label, start slow, and take it up from there
-Missing your dosage and taking too much might lead to breakage (especially with biotin, beware, take it at your own expense)
-Your body only uses what it needs for 12h. Consequently, to maximize effects, do not take it all at once, try and take it at breakfast and dinner for example or throughout the day
-Taking multiple pills can get quite tiresome

So, what kind of results have I seen on myself:
- My new growth feels stronger
- It grew quite fast I think (I got approximately 4 cm in less than a couple of months)
- I'm currently on a break since I experienced breakage because of biotin. I'll resume with my routine in a few days I think

Vitamins can only be an addition to an external routine as well as eating well and exercising. If you don't take care of your hair externally (keeping it clean) or eat well, it might lessen the effectiveness of the vitamins.
HHG!

If I could turn back the hands of time

Posted by Kyara | Posted on Thursday, July 02, 2009

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Hi guys,

I’m in holidays in South America, where I come from.
Since I’m back to my roots, I wanted to tell you a little bit more about my story…

So, I was born in Bordeaux (French city) and right after, my parents decided to go back to South America, where they were raised.

Here are some pictures I found :

 

For this one, I think I was around 4 years old :CIMG1520

These two pics were taken during my sixth birthday, if I remember well…CIMG1522 CIMG1524

If I could turn back the hands of time, I would never have relaxed/texturized my hair!

Length check: 7 centimeters. I hope it grows that long again!!!

See ya!

K.

She rocked it both ways; Macy Gray

Posted by Kyara | Posted in | Posted on Tuesday, June 23, 2009

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I think Macy Gray tried everything as far as hair is concerned! That the reason why she’s the spotlight  of the month in “She rocked it both ways”

As a reminder, Macy is one of the most talented soul and R&B singer. The sound of her voice can be recognized among thousands!

Check out my favorite song of her… I try:

And yes, Macy rocked it both ways:

Macy-Gray-u01 macy gray rrl ready

I must admit that I like her highlights in the straight look, but I prefer the curly look and you? Which one do you prefer??

K.

TOP 10 reasons why you should BC now!

Posted by Kyara | Posted in | Posted on Friday, June 19, 2009

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Hi guys, if you are transitioning and hesitating to go back to your natural texture, this post is for you!

bc

  1. Summer is almost there (yayyyyyyyyyy) and the first style you will try is wash and go! (especially if your natural hair is really short) … And a wash and go in winter … hum you can wash but you’ll have to wait a little while before you can go…
  2. It will be easier to take care of … No different textures… No line of demarcation…No need to figure out how you can blend the two textures anymore!!
  3. Your hair will look better! yes… it looks really weird when the two textures are not blended! ;)
  4. You’ll actually see your hair grow! You can be tempted to put a relaxer in your head if you don’t see the results.
  5. You’ll learn how to take care of your natural hair. I figured out that I had to change my regimen after I BC’ed. The sooner you figure out what works for your naturak hair, the better…
  6. You can enjoy it… Play with it… And I can assure you, it will be a lot of fun :)
  7. You don’t want to begin your natural hair journey with split ends… and it may happen if you don’t pay attention enough to the demarcation line.
  8. You can get used to your new cut during the holidays and when you get back, you know how to style it and to take care of it.
  9. The weather is hot so less hair is better :)
  10. Finally, there’s a time when you got to jump into it !! after all, it’s just hair!! :)

I hope this list helped you!!!

But the first reason why you should BC now is if you FEEL READY!

K.

Chronicles of a Product Junkie

Posted by Kyara | Posted in | Posted on Wednesday, June 17, 2009

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IMG_0092-1

Welcome to my world! lot’s of products everywhere… Moisturizers, mousse, shea butter, styling products, oils, conditioners, masks, and many more!!

Hello everybody, my name is Kyara and I’m a product Junkie…. (Say “Hi Kyara” lool)

It was difficult to admit it but now that I have accepted it, I’m trying to find a cure…I like the smell, the texture and most of all, I like to see what each product does to my hair!

I know that it’s bad because when you find a product that works for you, you should stick to it… but I can’t help it! When I hear about a new product, need to try it (I have my staples though)!

The pic shows you some of the products that I use.

But I think that even if you’re not loyal to ONE product, you should always follow some rules:

  • Do not use too much styling products (Gel, mousse,… they can dry your hair out)
  • Do not mix them (If you want to see the effects of one product, it’s very important)
  • Read the ingredients (you should be careful about the fact that the product contains protein or not for example)
  • Try to curb your cravings (Do what I say, don’t do what I do :p)

Am I the only one with this addiction?? :) What do you do? do you curb it or do you listen to it??

I got some requests about product reviews (as you can see there are many to come) so stay tuned!

 

K.

Let’s do some math!

Posted by Kyara | Posted in | Posted on Tuesday, June 16, 2009

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Hi guys, it’s time to see if the math class was a waste of time! :)

Don’t worry, we are still going to talk about hair!

Ok… so hair growth is very predictable in fact… If you wanna know how your hair will look like in a year, keep reading ;) If you don’t like mathematics, bear with me!

Here is the equation:

DISCLAIMER: these numbers vary from person to person so if your hair grow faster or slower don’t sue me! lol!

Let x be the length that you want to reach, y the growth speed and z the time you’ll have to wait.

Given that 0.8cm < y <1.5cm (your hair grows approximatively at a rate between 0.8 and 1.5cm/month)

So: x= y*z

To be more practical, let’s that I want my hair to grow of 12cm. I will have to wait at least for 15 months (z=12/0.8).

My hair is now about six centimeters so in September 2010, my hair will be about 18cm (If no breakage).

I will keep you updated with my length progress. I would also be really happy to hear about your goals too!!

Leave a comment or drop me an email at kyara.natural@gmail.com to tell me..

Oh! and I almost forgot… These are just numbers!!! Don’t be too obsessed about that, no need to measure your hair every week…

If it’s healthy, the length will automatically follow!

See you soon!!!

K.

Kyara's style of the day (summer is coming!!)

Posted by Kyara | Posted in | Posted on Thursday, June 04, 2009

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She rocked it both ways : Wakeema Hollis

Posted by Kyara | Posted in | Posted on Thursday, June 04, 2009

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"She rocked it both ways" is back!!!
This month, the gorgeous model I wanted to feature is Hollis.
This 25 year old girl was born in Tennessee and she's now the face of Paul Smith Women.

Look at her rocking her Fro in this Baby Phat "Defilé"


Now, as many models, she's asked to wear her hair straight for some campains but otherwise, it's natural. Check out her two looks and tell me what you think!


In the second pic, the curly fro can be reached with a twist-out on short hair.
Do you prefer Wakeema Straight or Curly???

My TWA routine

Posted by Kyara | Posted in | Posted on Tuesday, May 19, 2009

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Little update to tell you about my new routine since my Big Chop...

Young Woman Annoyed with Hair


-I will Deep Condition (over night) at least once a week (this week I tried AMLA powder - pics are coming),
-I'll try to comb only once a week (other than that, I'll finger comb),
-Pre-poo with honey,
-I will co-wash once or twice a week (since my hair is super short) and shampoo once a month,
-Moisturize with Kinky Curly Knot Today or Carol's daughter Black Vanilla leave-in conditioner,
-Seal with Shea butter or Monoï oil,
-Flat twist every night,
-Massage my scalp once a week.

WISH ME LUCK & TELL ME WHAT'S YOUR ROUTINE!

K.

Officially BC'd

Posted by Kyara | Posted on Sunday, May 10, 2009

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Yesss! It's done!!!
I'm so happy. Almost like when I graduated!!! lol!

So here's the story: I got my last relaxer at the end of december or begining of january 2009. Not long after that, I decided that it would be my last relaxer and I began the transition. It lasted 4 months of protective styles, braids and impatience...
But let me tell you that it wasn't so easy to get that cut done...
The story begins last week. I wanted to schedule an appointement at NIWEL (it's Franck PROVOST for "ethnic" hair). I called them but they were full until the next saturday. I decided to wait until this date.

The week seemed to last for ages!!!
The day before the fateful date, I decided to go out with some friends and have fun. We went to a party and danced till dawn :)
The next day, I woke up at noon... I had missed my rendez-vous...
I was so determined to cut those relaxed ends that I tried to call my usual hairdresser to ask if they had a spot available for me. SURPRISE! They had one at 3!!!

I jumped under the shower and ran to the salon.
When I arrived, they asked me to wear their robe (you know, the sexy robe that never is your size!) and to wait until my hairdresser was free.
In the meantime, they offered me a lemon tea (it was welcome because I had to wait more than an hour before they took care of me!)

Then my usual hairdresser came and I told her that I wanted to cut it all off.
First reaction: she calls all the other haidressers to share opinions...
Second reaction: her eyes went out of their sockets "Whyyyy????? your hair was so beautiful!!"
Me: I just want to get rid of the damaged relaxed ends
Third reaction: "You sure??? Did you have time to think 'bout it?"
Fourth reaction: "I know lots of girls who decided to go natural and then went back to the relaxer because they couldn't manage their natural hair. I'm sure you'll change your mind too"
Me: "you bet??" ;)

The assistant came and told me "you're so right! when you have beautiful hair, you shouldn't relax it, it damages it!" then she added: "I'm natural too but I flat iron every morning".
Yessss another natural girl!! :)

A third hairdresser took care of my hair. When she was giving my afro a nice round shape, she told me that she used to be natural but her daugthers were like "you're not pretty with your afro, mummy" and she decided to go back to the creamy crack...

I guess every single black woman has a story about the relaxer and natural hair... But MY story has just begun and for the moment I couldn't be happier!!!



Stay tuned for other pics!!!

K.

She rocked it both ways : Gelila Bekele

Posted by Kyara | Posted in , | Posted on Sunday, May 03, 2009

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I want to add a new feature to "Trendy Curly Hair": She rocked it both ways... The idea came to me when I saw the the pic of Oprah with her natural hair so I wanted to show people who rock straight and curly hair.


I'm sure that like Oprah, there are lots of natural chicks that keep straightening their hair and I woulld like to spotlight them!

The beautiful model I chose for the first "She rocked it both ways", as you can guess from the pic, is Gelila Bekele.
This picture shows her with a stunning natural hairstyle!!
This haristyle can be achieved by braiding the crown of your hair and twisting the strends in the back of the head.
To obtain the finished producted of the first picture, you just have to pin the twists up with bobby pins in an artistic way.
This wonderful ethiopian girl is 25 and has been working with ford models for several years now. She is said to be dating Tyler Perry (actor and movie maker).







Here is a picture of them having fun in the Opening Gala of Tyler Perry's new Motion Picture & Television Studio on October 4, 2008 in Atlanta (Getty images)












Gelila has beautiful curly hair but she sometimes straightens it for fashion shows



I must say that I prefer the curly style. She looks more natural and stands out of the crowd.
Which style do you like most?


COMMENT, SHARE OPINIONS AND ANSWER TO THE POLL :)

Here is a video where Gelila is explaining her haircare routine (She uses Pantene daily renewal shampoo and conditioner):



Next one will be Oprah. If you have suggestions about other curlies who rock it both ways, please send them to me!

Stay tuned for the next "She rocked it both ways"!!!


K.