e.l.f 50% off everything

e.l.f cosmetics UK are currently having a 50% off everything sale. e.l.f which stands for eyes lips and face  are opening their first store in Europe in Cardiff on 24th of October 2013. They offer a variety of  cosmetics, but its their makeup brushes that seem to make the headlines the most.

Good quality brushes can be very expensive, and e.l.f brushes are very good quality at a very good price. They have a basic £1.50 range and the Studio range which is £3.75

These bushes are great if you are a beginner, trying to build up a collection or if you are doing beauty on a budget, definitely some must haves in both brush collection ranges..

The 50% sale ends tomorrow, 24th of October at 10am BST. The discount code is 5010131.

I spent £25.32 on 11 brushes, a make case, daily brush cleanser, brush shampoo and p&p. 

Absolute Bargain!!

Even if you cant get involved in the sale, e.l.f brushes are definitely something you should check out in the future. There are also some good reviews on the e.l.f HD Powder. You can check out the many many reviews on you tube. Below are a few of my favourite brush review vids, they just give you a basic guide on  the brushes worthwhile investing in.

www.eyeslipsface.co.uk

"Can I Touch It?" White Women with "Black" Hairstyles

For a project entitled Can I Touch It?, Photographer Endia Beal, captured corporate photos of white women with black hairstyles. Endia reached out to white women over 40 years old and gave them hairstyles mainly seen on black women and then took a corporate photo of them.

The concept came to her while she was interning at Yale getting her MFA in photography.

 She says she had a big red Afro and that it would stick out over her cubicle at work. She noticed that most of her male co workers were fascinated with her Afro, as most of them had never seen anything like it before. Eventually some one asked her if they could touch it, she said yes and went on to document the experiences of her white male coworkers in the form of a short video below.

This project further inspired  Endia to think about how women are perceived in the corporate world. That its possible that things like appearance, body language and of course hair can affect the way women are treated

She approached women, some of which she knew and some were strangers and asked them to participate. What she found amazing was that her as a 28 year black female could relate to the same experiences as middle aged white women. Their experiences were completely relevant to what she had experienced working in IT. She goes on to say "The experiences I had were experiences that crossed generational gaps; that crossed race, that crossed gender"

She found that so many of the women had similar stories. "One woman named Desiree, told me her employers once told her to change her name because it was not inappropriate. Another woman who had big curly hair was told by her boss that people would be distracted by  her hair, so could she send a representative in her place." 

 

"So these are all experiences of being the "other" in that space. Its not just a minority experience, its the experience that people across gender, across race and across generation can relate to; the idea of having to perform, be somebody different in that space."

 For almost all the women it was their very first experience in a black salon. "The reaction to the new hair do's were mixed. Some people loved it, some people said "this looks great but not on me"

Endia goes on to say " And so for me it was about the idea of posing that question: What if this was the norm? What if this is how these women looked on a regular day?"

Let us know what you think.

013 Beal Office Scene Excerpt (Full Video 4mins) from Endia Beal on Vimeo.

Creme of Nature 100% Argan Oil

I've finally got my hands on Creme of Nature's 100% pure Argan oil.

 I have tried a couple of products in the Creme of Nature Argan oil line, the sulphate free shampoo being one of my staples, It leaves my hair feeling clean without that stripped dried out feeling.
I love Argan Oil,  also one of my staples, I love the way it make my hair all nice and shiny without leaving my hair feeling greasy and weighed down.
Pure Argan or Morrocan oil can be quite pricey so when I saw this in my BSS for only £4.99, I had to get involved.

100% Pure Argan Oil

100% Pure Argan Oil with our acclaimed fragrance is an all natural, multi-purpose beauty treatment that helps to retain moisture, renew and revitalize hair, scalp and skin, while adding instant shine and protecting against damage. Argan Oil is a rare, precious and moisturizing oil used for centuries as a beauty treatment in Morocco. Extracted in pure form, the lightweight daily moisturizer has absolutely zero synthetics, fillers, mineral oil or parabens.

Naturally rich in Vitamin E & great source of antioxidant Zero fillers, mineral oil, parabens & sulfates Lightweight daily moisturizer for hair & skin Promotes healthy hair & gives Exotic Shine™ Beauty treatment for healthy, radiant, youthful looking skin Hair care treatment for damaged hair & split ends Nourishes weak nails & softens dry cuticles

Pros: 

Budget friendly.

Its a thick oil, but it moisturises the hair without leaving the hair feeling weighed down

Penetrates the hair shaft.

The only ingredient's listed are 100% Pure Argan Oil and Fragrance

Cons:

The only con would be if you are suspicious about what the fragrance actually contains, as it does not say on the packaging.

Definitely worth a try!!

Hair Care Tools

Regardless of if you like to wear your own hair natural/relaxed or if your preference is a weave/wig, there are some tools you will need to arm yourself with in order to achieve and/or maintain your chosen style option and for the overall health of your hair. Many of you will have have some if not all of these, if you don't and have made a decision to look after your hair properly this year, now is the time to invest. Some tools are absolute must have's and some are just optional great tools that can be bought as and when needed and will dramatically reduce your visits to the hairdresser saving you money in the long run.




Wide Tooth Comb

This is the one item that every woman of colour should own without exception. Whether your hair is relaxed or natural, long or short a wide tooth comb is essential. Its excellent for detangling and minimises hair loss/shedding.




Hooded/Soft Bonnet/Blow Dryer

A dryer is another essential for the longterm health of your hair. Both the hooded and the soft bonnet dryer are good for deep conditioning treatments, roller and wrap sets. Let your finances dictate whether you should invest in a hooded or a soft bonnet dryer. They are both very similar but the hooded dryer drys hair faster, but the soft bonnet dryer does have its advantages. One is the cost. They range between £8-£15 as opposed to a hooded dryer they start from £35. Also storage of the soft bonnet dryer is easy because it can be folded, unlike a hooded dryer which can be bulky and hard to store away.

A blow dryer is good for those days when you have to wash and go but unlike the hooded and the soft bonnet the blow dryer does not provide constant and even heat. Heat from a blow dryer is concentrated on one section of the hair at a time, which if done to often can result in heat damage. (In the near future I will be doing a post on the pro's and con's of a hooded v blow dryer ) I would recommend that if you do a lot of roller and wrap sets to go for the hooded dryer, if you mainly use a dryer for deep conditioning then you could just work with the soft bonnet.

Silk/Satin Scarf, Bonnet or Pillowcase

 

The head scarf is yet another essential tool, one which many of us can not be parted from. I'm wearing mine right now :)

Whether its keeping your straight styles nice and sleek or keeping those curls from tangling, a head scarf is a fantastic way of preserving your do overnight. If you find it uncomfortable sleeping with a scarf or in my case it never stays on till the morning, you could try a silk pillow case. Even though this option will not maintain your hairstyle it will minimise shedding and breakage and stop you waking up with frizzy hair. Unlike regular cotton pillowcases which can suck moisture away from your hair satin pillowcases can help retain moisture.

Rollers

Rollers come in many different styles, shapes and sizes. Fantastic for natural and relaxed hair, also great on weaves and wigs too. Always handy to have a size that can give you a regular roller set, and try satin rollers for overnight sets.




Pins & Clips

Hair pins are a very useful tool to have. They are great for creating buns and ups do's as well as securing wigs and other styles. Duck bill clips are another favourite of mine as they help when working with your hair in sections, they help hold hair away from the section of hair you are working

Shower/Plastic Caps


These are very inexpensive and can be found more or less anywhere. Absolutely essential for those deep conditioning treatments.





Hair Straightners/ Curling Iron

When purchasing a hair straightner there are one or two things to consider. Relaxed or natural, heat must be kept to a minimum, so a temperature control is a must. Cheap hair straighteners work just as well as expensive ones but the damage done to your hair will be more. If you must straighten your hair, a tourmaline or ceramic (not ceramic coated) are your best choices. Tourmaline is a natural source of negative ions so will leave your hair feeling and looking silky and moisturised, while the ceramic ensures the heat is distributed evenly. A curling tong might not be necessary if you have a good straightener as most of them have curved edges that allow you to curl your hair while straightening it. If you still decide to use a curling tong or wand make sure it's ceramic.

Brush

A brush is very handy to have. Can be used for detangling and for blowouts, if using a brush for blowouts make sure your hair us at least 60% dry first. A paddle brush really gets up in those weaves, and a bristle brush is great for slicking down your hair.
My personal favourite is the Denman brush.

Tail/ Small Teeth Comb

Tail combs have several uses. It can be used to part the hair more precisely and for general styling. My favourite use is to scratch under my the weave/wig :).

To avoid breakage please make sure your hair is completely detangled before using a small tooth come on your hair.

Fingers

Those things at the ends of our hands are probably the best styling tool ever and they are completely free!

 

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Black Hair Myths Revealed

Over the generations women of colour have inherited a number of hair care / growth myths that have been passed down from mothers, grandmothers, aunts etc along the way.

Common sense should have told us that some of these myths are completely false and could never ever be true but we still seem to hang on to them almost religiously, regardless of the damage they may cause to our hair. In hindsight i'm sure many of us would have had longer and healthier hair if we had questioned some of these myths earlier. Well its never too late to get your hair back on track.
Knowledge is power!
 

Hair Myth #1 Trimming your ends makes your hair grow.

 
False: Although trimming your ends does make a difference to the overall health of your hair, it does not promote hair growth.
You should trim your ends when they need to be trimmed and not as part of a monthly regimen. Hair grows on an average of 1/2" a month and grows from the roots. So getting a trim every 6-8 weeks if not needed does nothing but make your hair shorter. If you are taking good care of your hair you will rarely have split ends and they should be trimmed every 3-12 months depending on how severe. Cutting your ends will appear to make your hair look healthier because you are getting rid of the damaged ends.
 

Hair Myth #2: Greasing your scalp/hair makes your hair grow.

False: Greasing your scalp actually block the pores on your scalp and stops moisture from getting in. Most of us grew up on these greases that came in blue, green, yellow and even red! The main ingredient in alot of these hair grease products is petroleum. Petroleum is NOT a moisturiser, it is a barrier. It either seals moisture in or out of you hair or body. If your hair is already moisturised without petroleum and mineral based products you can use a tiny bit to act as a sealant to lock moisture into your hair, But if you hair is not moisturised properly and you use these greases in your hair all you are literally doing is adding grease, to your hair, you are also sealing moisture out of your hair, which will make your hair dryer in the long run.

Greasing the scalp is not for everyone but if you feel that you benefit from putting something on your scalp try natural oils. Coconut oil and Jojoba oil are two oils that actually penetrate the hair shaft and provide moisture, mix a concoction of the two or use them alone, but most definately a much better choice than grease.

Hair Myth #3: Braids grow your hair

 

False: Braids are a great protective style if done correctly, but they do not accelerate the rate at which your grows. Hair grows roughly at the rate of 1/2" per month, unless your hair follicles are damaged your hair will grow regardless. Braids that are not put in or taken out correctly, done too tightly or too often can have a very damaging effect on the hair. Putting your hair in braids is an easy style option to manage, one of the biggest benefits of braids is that they shield and protect your hair giving it a rest from daily styling, heat damage and the elements. When your hair is braided it's much easier to see you hair growth because the hair has been protected and manipulation kept to a minimum. Its also easier to minimise breakage and retain length for the same reasons.

Hair Myth #4: Dirty hair grows hair

False: I speak to soooo many women who really still believe that dirty hair grows hair, some women are still going well over a month without washing their hair. Washing your hair too often with shampoo that contain sulphates can dry out your hair, and of course dryness is one of the leading causes of hair breakage. Again hair grows roughly between 1/4" and 1/2" per month dirty or clean. Not everyone who does not wash their hair often suffers from odours or itchy scalp, but product build up can weigh down your strands and block pores. A clean scalp is a healthy scalp and the perfect environment to promote healthy hair growth.

If your hair is not in a protective style I would recommend washing your hair at least once a week with a sulphate free shampoo followed by a deep conditioner.

 

Hair Myth5: Black hair grows slower than other races

False: Once again ALL hair types grow at an average of 1/4" -1/2" a month. Regardless of the race it's impossible for everyone's hair to grow at the same rate. But that does not mean that black hair grows slower than any other race. The natural curl pattern of black hair is coiled so it can sometimes look like your hair is growing slowly, but when the hair is stretched you are able to to see its real length. Just because you are white does not mean you can grow hair down to your ankles. And your hair will not take 20 years to grow to your waist if you are black. Many women of colour do not know how to look after their hair properly and are not able to retain length because of damage caused to the hair that leads to breakage. If the amount of breakage you have is equal or more than your hair growth it will appear as if your hair is not growing.

 

I would recommend that you keep your hair well moisturised with petroleum and mineral oil free products, and pay special attention to the ends of your hair, always remember that the ends of your hair are the oldest and a lot of breakage occurs at the ends which prevents you from retaining length.
 
 
 
These are just a few myths that were at the forefront of mind, if you have any other myths that need to be unravelled feel free to add.
 
 

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Black Hair Structure

Before you embark on a healthy hair care journey, I think it only makes sense to find out a little bit about the structure of hair. Basic knowledge of the hair structure can be very useful in your hair care journey.

Like all other types of hair, black hair is made up of many different parts.
A hair strand consists of a bulb, root and the hair shaft. The part that is visible to us is the hair shaft, the bulb and the root are found under the scalp. Follicles enclose each bulb and root. Surrounding the follicles are sebaceous glands which secrete sebum, coats the cuticle and gives it sheen.
Although black hair produces more sebum than other ethnic groups, in comparison to straight Caucasian hair follicles, the follicles in black hair are curved. These curves make it is harder for sebum to flow through the hair. That's why black hair can be very dry.


The hair shaft has 3 separate layers.

Cuticle-This is the outer layer which protects the hair shaft. It is colourless and coated with sebaceous glands which gives hair its sheen.

Cortex- This gives hair its strength. Responsible for shape, texture and elasticity.

Medulla- This is the most inner part of the hair. No one is quite sure what the function of this layer is, but it is only present in large thick hairs.

Black hair, like all types of hair is made up of proteins, roughly 88%. These proteins are of a hard fibrous type known as keratin. Keratin protein is comprised of what is called "polypeptide chains." The word polypeptide comes from the Greek word "poly" which means many and "pepto" which means digested or broken down. In essence, if we break down protein, we have individual amino acids. Many (poly) amino acids joined together form a "polypeptide chain".

Black hair has two amino acids are joined together by a "peptide bond", and the correct number of amino acids are placed in their correct order will form a specific protein; ie Keratin, Insulin, Collagen etc.
The "alpha helix" is the descriptive term given to polypeptide chain that forms the keratin protein found in human hair. Its structure is a coiled coil. The amino acids link together to form the coil and there are approximately 3.6 amino acids per turn of the helix coil. Each amino acid is connected together by a "peptide bond". The peptide bond is located between the carbon atom of one amino acid extending to bond with the nitrogen atom of the next amino acid.

Within the keratin the hair contains 4 different bonds. Each bond is important in understanding hair growth and maintaining healthy hair.

The Hydrogen Bond- This bond is responsible for the hairs ability to be stretched and returned to its natural shape (elasticity). With the aid of water, the hydrogen bond allows the shape of the hair to change (i.e wet sets, twist outs and other curling methods done to wet hair. These bonds are responsibly for approximately 35% of the hairs strength and 50% of the hairs elasticity.
During a chemical process such as a relaxer, the hydrogen bond is broken down and reformed making the hair more prone to breakage.

The Salt Bond- This bond is an ionic (electrolytically controlled) bond formed by the electron transfer from the side chain of a basic amino group (an amino acid with an 00C-group) to the side chain of an amino acid, ie NH3+. This is two positive and negative charges attracting one another. This occurs in a position paralleled to axis line of the rotation of the helix of the hair. The salt bond is responsible for approximately 35% of the hair strength and 50% of the hairs strength

The Cystine Bond- This bond is perpendicular to the axis of the hair and between the polypeptide chains. Also known as the sulfur or disulfide bond, because of its position in the hair it is responsible for the hair's toughness or abrasion resistance. It holds the hair fibres together.

The Sugar Bond- This bond is formed between the side chain of an amino acid having an OH group and an acidic amino group. This bond is also formed perpendicular to the axis of the hair. Because of its position, it gives the hair toughness but little strength (5%).

Feel free to add to this if you have any more info.



References;
www.hairformula37.com

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6 Quick Tips for Brittle and Dry Hair

1. Moisture is essential. Try and moisturise your hair and the ends on a daily basis. Without moisture the hair gets dry and starts to break

2. Deep Conditioning is key. Deep condition your hair at least once a week.

3. Ease up on the heat. If you use heat on your hair on a daily basis, try and cut back to 2 times a week but aim for once a week.

4. Protective Styles. Wigs, Braids, Ponytails/Buns are all protective hairstyles. Anything that will protect your hair from daily styling tools and the elements

5. Always cover your hair at night with a silk/satin scarf or pillowcases when you sleep.

6. Just Let Go. If your hair is badly damaged, put your big girl pants on and just Cut It Off. It will grow back. Healthier!

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