Diary of The Plus-Size Naturalista

Very often, you see YouTubers making  natural hair seem like one very easy ride and making you want to grow natural hair, but what they never tell you is that this natural hair journey is not for the faint at heart. Believe me, it isn’t beans. I know because I have been wearing my hair natural since January 2014. That’s two years of hardwork, shea butter, spray bottles, coconut oil, argan oil, olive oil, black jamaican castor oil, peppermint oil, hemp oil, "vegetable oil, palm oil, and who knows, engine oil?" I have to admit that there have been good days too, when I got so many compliments, to which I just smile and said to myself, “If only they know how much work goes into this”.  Such days are like finding an empty filling station in Lagos right now that’s selling fuel at N86.5, rare! You probably still don’t believe me, especially considering the rate at which Nollywood actresses are wearing their natural hair these days! Well, the following tips m

Sulfate shampoos are often shunned in the hair care community because of the stripping nature of the sulfates they contain. However these same sulfates are necessary from time to time to give our hair a thorough clean down of products that cause build up. Think of it as spring cleaning your hair. The same you would do in your house or room. How do I know it's time to use a sulfate aka clarifying shampoo? If one or more of these factors are present, it's a good indication you need a deep clarifying clean. If you have been using products that contain silicones especially the type that are not water soluble e.g. gels, stylers, heat protectants, setting lotions, hairsprays. If you have just taken down a long term protective style. Even though you were faithful with washing during the period you were protecting your hair, it's still necessary to give your hair and scalp a thorough clean down. This will remove excess gunk and give you a clean slate to moisturise and cond

Avocados in the form of face masks are a natural and chemical-free way to nourish skin. If you are looking for some natural home remedies to replenish your face, especially if you have dry, red, itchy, or rough skin due to the harsh weather, then you should really consider all the benefits of avocado, including: As mentioned, it's great for skincare. They are rich source of essential nutrients that soothe and moisturize your face. They contain vitamin B, vitamin E, and amino acids. Topical application of them as masks will give your skin numerous beauty benefits. Below are five different ones you can try. 1. Avocado and Honey This is a hydrating face mask, perfect for cleaning and moisturizing. Honey is a gentle astringent and extremely moisturizing. The combination of avocado and honey in this will refine the pores, tighten the skin, and smooth over wrinkles and reduce aging spots. Simply mash a ripe avocado and mix it with one tablespoon of honey. Spread a thin layer

The natural hair movement among black women kicked off around 2011, but not everyone was super excited about growing out their nappy hair; there were indeed some people that thought is was crazy. Fast forward to 2016, the natural hair movement is only growing stronger, most of my friends have either cut down their permed locks to grow out their natural hair (the big chop) or they’ve stopped relaxing (transitioners). For those of you newbies who want to join the natural hair culture, am here to give you a prospectus; Here you would see some of the things nobody tells you before joining the natural hair team. If you are brave enough stay, if not, au revoir! People would judge you based on your hair, their interactions with you would be based off your look, some people would think you are mean or frustrated while others would be in awe or afraid of it. Its nothing like relaxed hair, it can be painful and frustrating, especially for the working class woman who rolled out o

Hello Curlies! Have you gotten yourself so worked up with this question before, "is my hair healthy?"  Well, I hope this post comes to the rescue! Read through to know when you can tell your hair is healthy! Poser is: do you really know when your hair is healthy? Please note that healthy hair has nothing to do with length! Ways to tell if your hair is healthy: Shrinkage - We are regularly not very excited when we can't flaunt our hair length but we need to recognise the value of the shrink because it means your hair is getting enough moisture. Do ensure you are sealing in your moisture! Minimal breakage. Soft to the touch. Retains Moisture Shedding - Do not raise an alarm when your hair sheds, it is a normal part of the growth cycle. When it becomes excessive then you should raise the alarm. You shed an average of 100 strands a day, it's totally normal!  So, what do you think? Was this post helpful? Share your thoughts in the comments box. Gracia

Hello Naturalistas! I hope you all are doing great and also taking extra special care of your manes. Today's post is about making your own herbal shampoo in the comfort of your home. It's not rocket science so you should find it easy to make if you follow the process carefully. Usually when making your herbal shampoo,  castille  soap   is always used as the base. But if that is not available, you can opt for our usual black soap. It is important to note that homemade herbal shampoo is nothing like your regular store-bought shampoos. You won't get squeaky clean results instead you'll have a clean and moisturized hair that isn't stripping your natural hair oils. Also, the herbs present will aid in treating whatever scalp conditions you might have. What You Need  Castille  Soap or Raw black soap  Dried herbs  Oils - Jojoba or Olive or whatever   you have Essential oils  The measurements are based on the quantities you want. It is not advisable to make too

Hello Naturalistas! How are y'all doing? Hope you all are doing great and also taking extra special care of your manes. I am doing the best I can to be a good ambassador of the "natural nation". I finally decided to unravel my crochet braids in order to achieve a new look and you bet am in love with the look! Is anyone feeling like a burnt toast these past couple of days? The intensity of the sun and the heat is beyond me! I sincerely pray that this electricity and fuel wahala will end in no time. But I have made up my mind  to go makeup free during this period in order to help me cope with the heat. Like I said in the last post, I'll let y'all know about my adventure with herbal infusions. Always remember to stay hydrated! #muah! Yay or nay? NB: I haven't given up on my weightloss goals just incase you thought so. Last week saturday, April 2nd 2016, I participated in a walk to raise awareness for individuals living with Autism (I'll b