Saturday 6 February 2016

Merilyn Hair Diary - Part 2

Howdy? How you been? It's a while since the last post. I've been postponing this for a while. January got a toll on me chile. I got sick and stayed in bed for the better part of two weeks and got recovering in the last week. Then I got a bad cold in this ending week that is just subsiding. But we got to keep strong. Jesus is alive people. We shall conquer all. Can I get an Amen?

Anyway, I digress. My hair took a back seat for a while but I kept it in bantu knots because I couldn't stand going to the salon. Head scarves are a best friend. That friend that runs to your side at 2am if you need her. In the moment of sickness, I came up with a headscarf style that I'll demonstrate one time.

I didn't do much with my hair but I oiled it every chance I felt strong enough. And the idea about finger combing, genius. I'm loving the fact that no one minds our hair styles that seem uncombed nowadays. Piece of cake for me.
I washed it last Sunday, then didn't oil it and washed it come Monday morning because I was heading to the salon. I know that's bad but I didn't want the salonist washing it or saying it's too 'hard' for braiding.

Good news is I didn't take a whole half hour on blow-dry like I did the previous times I had been to the salon. My hair is tough. I'm yet to know where it ranges in comparison to other people but it takes a while to straighten it.
This time it took a few minutes and I'll give credit to the frequent oiling and finger combing to detangle it. I'm liking the feeling.

To the oils, I'm currently using castor oil, coconut oil, olive oil and nice and lovely avocado oil.

I have braids on for like the next 2-3 weeks so I'll see how it feels after I've removed them. I'm planning on a weekly 'oiling' with the braids on..
I'm also eating as healthy as I can. Diet matters too. And I'm downing at least 2 litres of water a day.

Catch up soon. Now I can get back to the game. January slowed me down but it didn't stop me.

As Always,
@thestylechief

Tuesday 12 January 2016

Merilyn Hair Diary - Part 1

I undid braided lines about five days ago and I'm letting it rest and breath for a while.

It's actually nice to let hair sit for a while after unbraiding with the curls. If your scalp is not that itchy you could let it sit for like two days (or more) which is great for busy people who have little time to spare.

I let mine sit for a day then washed it. It's not that long so I thought it won't look so good walking around town in it just yet. Maybe when it's longer I'll do it.

I used to wash hair with the hottest water the shower could let out. The myths about cold water were scary. Lol. People actually say cold water will shrink your hair. But in real sense cold water preserves moisture in your hair while hot water strips moisture out of it. I didn't know that. I didn't oil it as frequently.

A hair dresser matters as well. You got to have one that is good enough to advice you on things. Not keep things about your hair to themselves and watch it go downhill.

So I decided to take the responsibility in my own hands and take care of it. And I embarked on research. And I'm liking it. So far.

I've been oiling it every two days (don't know if it's too much yet) and oh my goodness, it's becoming softer. The steel wool hair is disappearing. I'm super happy.

My hair sheds badly when I comb it. Apparently, I came across a blog called craving yellow and the owner has amazing hair!! Apparently she combs it once a year. Once people!! Lord!! So in taking advice, I'm putting my fingers to work and letting my combs rest for a while.

So far I'm happy with a week's work. Let's see how it goes.

As always,
@thestylechief

Monday 11 January 2016

Merilyn Hair Diary - Background

            "Hair brings one's self-image into focus, it is vanity's proving ground. Hair is terribly personal, a tangle of mysterious prejudices." - Shana Alexander

I started keeping my hair on 6th January, 2014. This is a significant day that I'll come to explain about one day.
It's been two years now. I've tried all braids, a weave once, dreadlocks for three months. You name it. I've had enough of it and I couldn't cut it. To make matters worse, a hairdresser once cut a sizeable chunk in the middle while undoing it and didn't tell me until I visited a different salon and it was pointed out. This has reduced my hair confidence by three quarters!!

I'm wondering whether to cut it to be in size with the shortened patch or just ignore it.
Another thing, my hair is as coarse as steel wool. Combing is a hustle. I could go for days without combing it just to postpone the pulling and untangling. And the shedding. Hunni!
So most times when it's not plaited I opt for headscarves which le mister does not like. So I have to get the act together and make my hair presentable enough to walk around without covering it.

I'll be the first to admit, I've been lazy to go past the shampoo and water routine. It tangles, I wash it. It's too dry, I wash it. Anything, I wash it. I've been washing it too much. Which I thought was good for it, but it was hair suicide.
I'm glad I know better from the research I've embarked on and I'm glad for the things I've learned.

According to my resolutions post here, I got to get it to be better than it was before. Take this journey with me as I do a hair diary post once in a while just to keep stock of it all.

Hoping it will be great.

As always,
@thestylechief

Saturday 9 January 2016

MerilynReverie 02 - 2016 Resolutions

Howdy y'all?
It's been a while and seems like forever since the last post - which was last year!! 2015 is gone.

I took this week to think of things I would want to achieve this year. Not to pressure myself but put them down to act as reminders.

1. Get a solution for my stubborn hair
My hair is at it's 'stubbornest'. It's never been this hard to handle and I really regret the day I relaxed it which forced me to shave. Then I decided to grow it back. Now it's at an awkward stage. It's unproportional. I don't know how to handle it. But I'm not giving up on it yet. I'm employing some tricks I'm learning and I'll brief you when we get results. So we'll be talking hair a lot this year.

2. More turban experiments
If you follow me on social media then you've seen I love my turbans.. Every time I undo my hair, I tie turbans for a week or so before I get it braided again. My mum likes it but le mister doesn't. Lol.

3. Learn a few make up techniques
I think I'm the only one who knows the least about make up.. Face cream and lip gloss is all I do. I got to be all round and I'm aiming on learning every small detail about this sector. Posts on this coming soon too.

4. Learn on Nail Polish
To be honest, I can't give myself a proper manicure. Not only that, I don't apply polish that well. I can do a great job on the toes, but not that great on the fingers. I prefer to go without on the finger nails but I got to get this right!

5. Maximize on my closet
Styling can transform one outfit to fit different occasions. I've got lots of accessories and I want to maximize on using them. Scarves and necklaces. Earrings.. The whole lot. I'll do posts on this to help you maximize on yours as well.

6. Exercise
This must be the number one cliche resolution considering how many people mention it every beginning of the year. I'm just lazy on it. I've got a skipping rope. A bike and a neighborhood I could cycle in but all I do is sit and read novels all the while. I've got to plan my time well to accommodate all things. Amen.

7. Drop the stock take posts
I don't feel like they go with my blog and I just decided to discontinue them. I'll do any posts unrelated under this #MerilynReverie.

8. Wear heels more often
Yes. I'm a flats kind of girl. I last wore heels on Christmas day. They are gathering dust on the shoe shelf and I got to do something.

Bonus :
9.Keep supporting Manchester United. Enough said. See you on the style streets. Be smart. Be fashionable. Be classy.

The Style Chief.