#HAIR-SEGMENT Guest BlogPost : IT’S ALL GOOD GENES

Our next guest blogger on the hair series will be miss fabulosity Cyndi.

I have what they call steel wool hair. Black and hard. Needs extra time and patience. When I look back at all the things my hair has been through rather everything I have taken it through, I come to come to one conclusion- it’s all good genes.

My childhood hair memories consist of weekly lines being plaited by our good Ugandan house help. It was a routine that was painful. Friday afternoons were scheduled strictly for a wash and plait of 15 small lines but one week when she was away I simply told my mum I cannot and do not want long hair and in under 15 minutes it was all short.   

So I joined a mixed primary school at the onset of my teens and instantly knew hair was a plus and so the hair journey started, again, plaiting painfully. Fast forward to my adult life and when you have some coins you know you can do as you please. There is choice and variety.

I’m a slave of braided hair because Kenyatta market has made it quick- with 3 people tugging every corner of your head- you just need music for 3 hours and then you hear someone tell you’ madam imeisha’ and you know your good to go. I must also credit Darling Kanekalon for the variety of braids- I’m at the point where I can confidently tell you what braids last, what does not, colour availability, retail price, best place to shop, what is best for hot water use, what is best for what season and what will give you a headache. I can also refer you to several braiding experts in Kenyatta Market. I’m that dedicated.

Okay back to my hair routine…. I actually don’t have one. I love my retouched hair on week 3 as that’s when it has bounce and body. Dark & Lovely Regular Chemical always works. I treat when I remember which my sister and friends find ridiculous. I use Olive Oil mostly because it smells nice. My salonist gave up on me a long time ago though she is still very kind and calm with me. I actually consider a retouch when the ladies at ‘Kenyatta market start to make snide comments on my ‘growth’ levels. ‘‘hii inataka chemical madam’’ and I feel some hint of rejection-like they don’t want me to look nice in my 3 packets ZoukBal braids after arriving there at 7.00am. Then I know it’s time to give Wairimu that long overdue call. I have actually just retouched my hair this month after 13 months of braiding glory. She was thrilled to see me but dismayed at the state of my hair. Weak and lack lustre. She said it to my face.



My most exhilarating hair experience was colouring it bright red (with Dark and Lovely)…- 2 years ago. I felt sooo fabulous and on top of things… people staring at my red mane was so exciting. I was finally enjoying open hair BUT I did not give it the care- weekly treatments- it deserved and so after 1 year I got bored. This is especially when I noticed the black hair growing and I now had to colours- black and red. I swiftly went back to braiding monthly then it started to cut as it was so brittle and weak. With each braiding style- it got shorter and weaker but hey Darling Kanekalon had my back, no hair so who would know.

I’m finally back to a black mane after just retouching it- it’s kinda boring and I’m considering colouring it again- with a different brand- (Crème of Nature ) but my salonist- Wairimu has advised (begged) me to give my hair time to recover but red hair is sooo fun! I am trying to treat it weekly- so far 2 treatments in 4 weeks so kudos to me. I can say from the feel currently – it feels lighter and still weak compared to 2 years ago before the red colour business but it still looks good. It’s all about the good genes because I really do not give it the attention it deserves. Which side of the gene pool you may ask….well that’s a story for another day but I certainly am thankful. I already know what I’m braiding in roughly 2 weeks. Hi Darling, it’s me your favourite braids client. Maybe if I took better care of it- this hair just might grow to my lower back, maybe. If all else fails I will do a big chop, go natural and yes, colour it red and live happily ever after.

Tips from what I’ve experienced and seen.

1. Hair likes to be oiled.

2. Hair likes to be washed.

3. Hair likes treatment.

4. Hair likes to be loved.

#BEAUTYSEGMENT Guest BlogPost: my formerly blemish-less skin but now acne-prone skin

Nduta is our guest blogger today as part of the beauty series.

I had my first significant pimple in April of 2013; now a little over 2 years ago. Before that I may have had the occasional heat rash or mosquito bite but no pimples. Then come 2013 and a few life lessons later, it seems that one morning I got up and my face had broken out into all manner of hideous and concerning pimples. Of course I ignored them because I thought that they would just go away as quickly as they appeared but they didn't.

I've never had much of a skin care routine - I was always one of those girls who would use whichever soap was in the soap-dish but then I started reading up and learnt that it was near sacrilege to use the wrong soap. It feels like I have tried it all but this isn't very true since I neither fancy nor have the time and money to keep up with pricey facial routines (I don't know if they work). I did the recommended monthly facials but each subsequent facial seemed to make things worse! At my most desperate I even saw a dermatologist for a while but as soon as I completed the course of medication the pimples were back in full swing. I finally tried the famous 'African black Soap' from Nigeria but it left my face feeling overly dry, sensitive and looking raw. I don't wear much make up which led me to the conclusion that this is more a symptom of stress rather than anything else..right? 

Anyhow, a friend of a friend recommended that I try some natural products that she was using made by another innovative nairobian. A lady (from the Coast of course) makes natural soaps for problematic skin - be it oily, acne-prone, dry etc - and she suggested that I try the 'haba soda' soap for my formerly blemish-less skin but now acne-prone skin. Having nothing to lose, I decided to try it and though I don't know what exactly it is made of, I do know that it is gentle on my skin, it removes all my mascara without being harsh on the skin around my eyes (which I've noticed is usually quite sensitive), leaves my skin feeling clean and fresh and does not dry my skin out. I'm on my 3rd bar (I buy a bar at Kshs. 400 and break them in half for each to last longer) and I would recommend it to anyone who's willing to try something new.

When I'm done washing my face with this soap (which I usually do twice a day; immediately I wake up and just before I sleep - I don't use an face cloth; just my clean hands and lukewarm or cold water, 

I then apply virgin coconut oil which has a natural SPF 4 (*the benefits of virgin coconut oil are just to many and too awesome - I use it for my hair, my face, my entire body, for cooking and I recently discovered that I can use it as spread for toast as well!), 

Then I add sunscreen on top of the coconut oil each and every day regardless of the weather and I'm good to go.

Incidentally, I don't know if I have dry skin, combination skin or normal skin (I've heard varied and contradictory feedback from one facial expert too many) but I am sure that 

(a) it's not oily and that 

(b) so far this stress-free regimen seems to be working quite fine but now I need a natural, simple, affordable and sustainable solution for the scaring and blemishes..

When I have a particularly nasty pimply I dry it out by putting a little Apple Cider Vinegar (bought in nakumatt or uchumi) on a ball of cotton will and dabbing the pimple.

It's usually gone by morning.

If anyone needs the number of the lady who makes the soap then let me know - nduta.njenga@gmail.com.

#HAIR-SEGMENT Guest Blogpost Straighteningni pesa ngapi?

Sasha is our first guest blogger for Hair segment and I must say if you grew up in East Africa you will surely relate.

I stepped in to the UK and I gained mad respect for my hairdresser, honestly I miss her even though we fought from time to time but hey ‘wagombanao ndio wapatanao’. Making your hair in the UK is bloody expensive; you can easily fuel a range rover as opposed to doing your hair. A simple blow dry (and you have already washed your hair) so ni ku straighteniwa tu (local salon language) comes to a whooping 3000 bob (£20) which is a lot of money. With (£20), you can buy groceries for a week and that’s inclusive of treats (ice cream, cheese cake or even a bottle of wine). A new blow dry at argos is ksh 3,750 and you can get cheaper ones for almost (£20)

If you are feeling generous you can get one for KSH 6,000 (£40) and its colored and am sure if you call the supplier they could engrave your name on it , okay maybe I'm pushing it a bit.

So better to buy the blow dry and straighten your hair from your house. Sounds very practical, right? Well it is until you get mid hair section and your arms are so tired you feel like you have been lifting weights. To top things up, you finish the whole straightening process and it doesn’t look the way mama Sue does it. One side is shinier and straighter than the other. Also there is no one to hold for you a back mirror to check out how it looks from behind. To finish the whole experience you have now smoked your room because ventilation is limited; the windows don’t open fully but that’s another story altogether. So now you have semi good hair, body aches of a weight lifter and have to stay in a room that smells of mixture of oils and burntness (the state of being burnt). I laugh when I remember how when I was charged KSH 50 to straighten my hair I would think I am being ripped off. Me bargaining mad, ‘huwezi fanya na 30 bob?’, hahahahha. I had not realized how even being held for a back mirror felt till I wrote this. Next time you are in the salon and your mama Sue holds up a mirror for you, enjoy the moment and say thank you.

The story of a friendship … as told through clothes and accessories

So today I am really honored have one of my closest and best friends as a guest blogger.  She has a very amazing blog titled ' First Hand Account of a former homebody'  and you definitely need to be reading and commenting regularly. Gnovember has this as her bio:

I have started this blog to keep in touch with my friends and for them to keep in touch with me and know whats happening with me. Never have I been away from home for periods greater than a week and now it seems I will be gone for almost a year plus. From zero to hero has nothing on me I tell you! So who am I?

Loyal|Passionate|Avid reader|Beloved daughter, sister, aunt,friend and something to someone|Loner, crowd avoider|Smart mouth, naughty, loves to laugh|NOT serious|Growing up and well doing it still|CHILD OF GOD.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I remember when my friend first informed me that she would be leaving her full time job for a stint as a fashion stylist and hopefully to go and study fashion overseas. I think shocked is too mild a term because I remember thinking, “how random? I never heard you talk about fashion, you are stylish but … I am apparently very emotive in my speech, will I now become a full-time actress? Nah! Will pass

But then as I thought about it further, it did hit me that she would do very well in this particular field and that for the longest time, she has been giving us her friends (me definitely included) very sound fashion advice. We have frequently gone shopping and all the things she has recommended, I have bought. All the gifts she has given me, I have loved and so many I still have in my wardrobe.

These jeans below – I remember I was a bit conscious of the print detail in the back pocket. I feared that it would make things look bigger or draw unnecessary attention to my bum and she encouraged me to get over myself and just get them. To date, I am still grateful that I did so.

My earrings – can’t even say enough how much I love them all, wouldn’t you?

I vividly remember the day she gave me this dress – this was a gift y’all. I loved the neckline, but a part of me also thought it was so loud and so fashionably out there that I would not feel comfortable wearing it. The shot doesn’t capture it, but it was also quite clingy and if you over-indulge at lunch, then it will certainly show! Silly me! If I may say so, it does clean me up something good.

Vest that literally saved my life – that I stole and never gave back. (Bet you have forgotten that I still have this!)

What I know?

My friend can do anything and even in this new phase, she will bring her legal and accounting training as well as her business acumen to make it all work. She is loud, very expressive and the most self-assured person that I know. While I would be worrying about what people think or say or whether something is acceptable, she listens to her inner voice and won’t let herself get swayed. And if I was going to let someone edit my wardrobe, shop for me or give me style advice, I want someone who has a keen eye and who will tell me about what is good for me and what is not and advise me to stay true to myself, just as she is true to herself.

So from one of her earlier clients (thank goodness the service was free back in the day) watch out for this lady.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This guest post brings me such amazing memories of friendship, simpler times and the knowledge that whatever latent gifting one may have are ever present if unnoticed. Who you are is always manifesting itself in so many ways if only you take a minute to see it.  I completely forgot about the vest. lol but i am happy it found a happy home.   At the end of it all I bless God for the precious people He places in my life.