Yet Another Salon Prize!

Afro Siri has joined the fray! And kindly donated a full wash, deep treatment and set. Click here for more details. Hurry! Competition ends on the 20th!

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Product Review: Kinky Curly Come Clean Shampoo

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This product was never on my radar. I'd heard loads of reviews about how stripping it was for hair and I was happy enough with my sulphate-free shampoo. So when someone gifted it to me, it sat rather reluctantly on my shelves until I decided to try it out a few months ago. Boy was I in for a surprise.

How To Be The Best Natural Ever!

1. Avoid Bandwagons

Nobody wants to miss out on the next big thing but jumping onto every single fad and natural trend will get you nowhere, fast. Know what your hair likes and stick to it. If you absolutely must have/try something new, weigh the pros and cons before you dive in with your eyes wide shut.

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My 4C Hair Hates My Denman Brush

In the throws of newbie-ism, I read a post on Kurly Kichana about Denman brushes and the excitement of their announcement immediately put it on my 'Gotta Have It' radar. It took a little while but the obsessive compulsive me managed to land two Denmans. The D31 and the D13. Result.

D31 on the left. Battered D13 on the right

I was wildly happy and fast-forwarded my wash day so I could have an excuse to use my brushes right away. I had already watched countless videos of naturals detangling and shingling to their hearts' content so I was pretty confident I knew how to use it: Section hair. Wet it. Apply lots of conditioner (Garnier Fructis Triple Nutrition at that time). Comb through individual sections with wide tooth comb. Brush with Denman. Easy-peasy.

Um..not so much.

The Inversion Method: How To Grow An Inch In Five Days!

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By Debbie of NaturalKenyanGirl

On average, it takes over a month or more for African Hair to grow an inch. However, how much of the length you retain all depends on how well you take care of your tresses. Now, Imagine being told of a method that could help your hair GROW AN INCH in at-least FIVE DAYS!! Yep! I said it! Five to seven days to grow an inch of hair. 'How???' you ask. It is none other than the inversion method.

Curls R Us: Nkirote is Ab Fab!

Whenever I’m asked how long I’ve been natural I don’t quite know what to say because the truth is I have no clue.  

I come from a very pro-natural family so when I was younger I had natural hair but mostly kept it short. This was until a friend of my parents took me to get a relaxer. (Fyi if anyone tries this on my kids I will kill you with my bare hands!!).

Local Coconut Oils Ranked from Best to Worst

In my previous post about coconut oil, I discussed the difference between virgin and refined oils. In this post, I compare all the locally available oils and list them in order from best to worst*.

FIRST: Navida Virgin Coconut Oil: MBFA'S Top Pick!!

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- Ingredients: 100% Pure Virgin Coconut Oil

- Light, coconut smell and taste.

- White in colour.

- Oil is extracted from cold-pressed coconut milk using the centrifugal process. Basically, this means very little heat has been used in the extraction, leaving the highest amount of Lauric Acid and antioxidants intact. This is definitely the best method for extracting coconut oil.

- After extraction, oil is not refined and no additives are added.

Uses: consumption and external application.

(I use mine for cooking, in my hair, as my baby's diaper cream, for oil pulling and mixed into my body lotions.)

Edit: Healthy U's Naturalli Virgin Coconut Oil is actually Navida's oil which they purchase wholesale and repackage.

SECOND: Coast Coconut Farms Virgin Coconut Oil:

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the labelling may have changed, my bottle says Virgin, not Extra Virgin

- Ingredients: Pure Virgin Coconut Oil

- Mild, slightly toasted coconut smell and taste; more pungent than the Navida, but not overwhelmingly so.

- White in colour

- Oil is extracted by expeller pressing the coconut flesh within hours of opening the fruit.  This probably means the flesh has to be quick-dried first in a kiln so it can be squeezed out. Expeller pressing exposes the oil to high temperatures caused by friction, which may cause some loss in nutrients.  Heating the oil also gives it the slightly toasted taste and smell.

- Oil after extraction is unrefined and unhydrogenated.

Uses: consumption and external application.  

I used to use this oil but it has become impossible to find locally since Dr. Bronner's decided to take it all. Besides, now I have Navida :)

THIRD: Kentaste Virgin Coconut Oil:

- Ingredients: Pure Virgin Coconut Oil

- Distinct toasted coconut smell and taste.

- White in colour

- Oil is extracted by cold-pressing mature grated coconut kernels. As the oil smells toasted, heat must be used at some point during extraction, possily to dry the coconut flesh before it is grated and pressed. 

- Oil after extraction is unrefined and no additives are added.

Uses: consumption and external application.  

I use this oil when Navida is out of stock and although I don't mind the smell, anyone who doesn't like the smell of coconut may find it too strong. It is the best priced virgin oil on the market.

FOURTH: Alisons Tropical Coconut Oil:

- Ingredients: Pure Coconut Oil.

- Strong, toasted coconut smell.

- Light brown in colour.

- Refined - contacted Alisons, they buy it already refined in vats and do not know what additives or processes it undergoes.

Uses: External ONLY! 

Do not eat this oil. However, it should work perfectly well for hair (subject to any additives it may contain).

FIFTH: Dabur Vatika Naturals Enriched Coconut Hair Oil:

I wasn't planning on rating this for the simple reason that it is brought in all the way from India yet we have perfectly good coconut trees here but a friend asked me to so here goes:

- Ingredients: Coconut Oil, Herbal Extracts, Lecithin (softener and emulsifier), Perfume, Aqua, Rosemary Oil, Tocopherol (SP?) Acetate (skin-conditioning agent), Citrus Oil, BHT (preservative)
- Doesn't smell of coconuts at all; smells quite perfumed, like a fragranced soap.
- forgot to check colour.
- Refined (see ingredients).

Uses: External Only:
Although this product is quite popular among naturals, it comes in a solid last for me simply because it is processed. There is some speculation that it contains mineral oil but I haven't found any evidence to substantiate that.

*Disclaimer: When it comes to oils, I prefer to use food grade, virgin oils as much as possible. My ranking is therefore based on least to most refined oil.