Mombasa Diaries: Day 9: Pool Paaaartay!

I meant to wash off my coconut oil yesterday but I got soooo lazy so it's been on for almost two days now. 

I can't wash it off as I'm going for a pool-party today at the amazing Swahili Beach so I need to be looking equally amazing so nobody notices that I'm not actually getting into the pool. A couple of people we met last night tell us it's going to be a rave and I'm getting ready thinking 'What do people wear to raves?' 'Am I too old to be at a rave?' 'Am I going to have to fist pump?' 'Do I need a glow stick?'

Yeah..I'm fly...

Curls R Us: Josephine is Ab Fab!

Hi, my name is Josephine and I live in Nairobi. I have been natural now for about one year and a bit. 

Mombasa Diaries: Day 8: Race and Hair

'Is it true black women don't like to wet their hair?' 

this picture is so wrong...you go Michelle with your bad self!

This is the question directed at me by a little white girl as I paddle in the shallows with The Child. 

'I....er....hmmm....saywhatnow'. 

Ok, so the truth is that this is not an inaccurate observation.  We don't like to get out hair wet ovyo ovyo (that's willy nilly to my non-swahili speakers). Just, how to explain this to a four year old and her thoroughly embarrassed mother? It's also hard to explain it without putting a natural slant to it and do a disservice to the crackettes and the weave posse. (Shoutout!)

How many of us prior to being natural were ok with random, unplanned hair wetting?

Mombasa Diaries: Day 7: Coast Coconut Farms

I finally make it to the coconut factory.  Haaaaaaaallelluyiah!

And find it shut. *primal scream* For the holidays. Until the 2nd. By which point I will be carless and it's too far to bum a ride. This is my second coast trip in a row that I've been here and they're shut. I mean why do they constantly take holidays when their biggest fan comes calling?! #selfish!

Mombasa Diaries: Day 6: The Effect of Salt Water on Natural Hair

Boxing Day is a bust. The only boxing going on is in my head. Damn you sweet, sweet, wine. 

Over the last two days, I've managed to avoid getting my hair in the pool, so I was expecting it to feel much softer than it does. Granted, the scarfless night meant that cotton pillowcase did a number on it but still. It's one night. And my hair was still held up so not too much of it had pillow contact. It really shouldn't have broken the moisture bank. ESPECIALLY considering that I have been spritzing daily land sealing liberally with Kakena's Hair Milk DAILY!  

So I sit down to do some research on the effect of salt on our hair. Because here's the thing. ALL the water where I'm staying, is salty.

Mombasa Diaries: Day 5: It's Chriiiiiiistmaaaaaas!!

Ho ho ho! Meeeery Presents Day Christmas!

It's really hard being Christmassy at the beach, but we try.. 

Mine, mine, mine, mi....

Mombasa Diaries: Day 4: Ghee! 2

My nanny is here!!!!! Glory be etc etc! Seriously, holidaying sans nanny is not for the faint hearted. 

My sister leaves today too *sad face* but nanny's arrival means I can:

a) wash my hair PROPERLY, full detangling session and all and

b) finally try out the Ghee! *seal clap*

After dropping my sister off at the airport, I rush back for phase one of my hair day. It really is pretty sad how excited I am. I also kind of embarrassed about the Ghee! as both my nanny and husband are burning with curiosity about what it is so I wrap it in my sarong and head upstairs, whistling nonchalantly. Pretty slick. 

And here it is!