Welcome to Naturally Awethentik!!!

Hello Ladies and Gents!

My name is Sumayyah and I was inspired by many great websites and blogs out there relating to all things natural hair but the one thing I noticed is that none of these bloggers are professional natural hairstylists! A light bulb went off and here I am. Okay let me tell you a little about myself, I am nearly 14 years into my natural hair career. I started out in Atlanta at the tender age of 18 as an assistant to a very busy natural hairstylist. My mother tells me that I always had a love for hair and that I carried out my dream by becoming a natural hairstylist. This was truly my calling because I took to this craft so fast and easily and I grew to love it and nothing's changed I still love it and continue to evolve. I now reside in San Lorenzo, CA (Bay Area) and my goal is to help make the west coast as affluent to natural hair as the east coast. It's important that women (and men) know how to care for their natural tresses and give all the love and care it deserves.

I created this blog to give advice, give product reviews, share photos, give tips, post videos of some of my techniques (coming soon) and much more. I love to talk about hair, create styles on hair, accessorize hair, give advice on hair, try new products on hair,  if it's about hair, I am all in!

I look forward to your questions, comments and natural hair stories on transitioning and your hair regimens and concoctions and so on and so forth! I hope that Naturally Awethentik will be your go to place for all things natural hair... Let's get it started shall we?

Sumayyah

Have you ever encountered someone like this?

Shit Natural girls say!

http://youtu.be/L5ha8lafbi0

I had to laugh because some of these were me especially the one of her finding out a product is being carried at  a certain store, lol! That's me all day!

Carrier Oils and Their Benefits

 There are so many great oils with great benefits that help the health of the scalp and hair, they can be used on the skin as well. You can do hot oil treatments with these oils or just put on your hair and scalp for shine and moisture.



Sweet Almond Oil – Sweet Almond Oil is a light weight, mild, non greasy oil and is one of the most commonly used carrier oils. It is suitable for all types of skin. It does not clog the pores of the skin and easily absorbed into the skin. It helps in relieving itching, irritation and inflammation of the skin. It is a very good moisturizer, helps to leave the skin soft and smooth. It is used for facial treatment and body massage.

Apricot Kernel Oil: – Color of Apricot Kernel Oil is virtually clear with a tinge of yellow and it has a faint aroma. It is suitable for all types of skin. It is used for facial message. It softens rough skin and used for the treatment of inflamed skin and slowing down the aging process.

Avocado Oil: – Avocado Oil has a sweet aroma and its color is deep olive green. It is rich in amino acid, vitamins and minerals. It heals scaly skin, softens and moisturizes dry skin. It can be used for the treatment of sun damaged skin, acne and eczema. It is nourishing oil not only for skin but for hair also.

Jojoba Oil: – Actually Jojoba oil is not an oil but a liquid wax. Its color is yellow. It is nourishing and soothing oil for skin of all types and it is a scalp cleanser also. It is a good moisturizer and gently unclogs the pores. It is an antioxidant and used for the treatment of acne.

Grape seed Oil: – Grape seed oil has a light, sweet and a bit nutty aroma. Its texture is thin and its color is usually clear. It is easily absorbed by the skin. It helps to tone and tighten the skin. It is useful for the treatment of acne and other skin problems. It contains linoleic acid which is an essential fatty acid and is important for the skin and the cell membranes. It is a moisturizer and nourishes the skin. It is used in the preparation of body creams, hair care products and massage oils.

Olive Oil- Olive oil can nourish and condition and improve the strength elasticity of your hair. Being that olive oil is a completely natural product, treating yourself with it will help reduce the stress caused by chemical products and therefore improve the health of your hair overall.

Jamaican Black Castor Oil -Jamaican Black Castor Oil address many health and beauty conditions. It can serve as a hair and scalp conditioner; a skin moisturizer and healer; a massage oil for aches, pains, fibroids and lumps in the breasts; a powerful laxative and can be used as fist aid for cuts, wounds and burns. Black castor oil seals moisture in the hair with a protective coat. It’s also the only oil in nature with ricinoleic acid. It helps to destroys viruses, bacteria, yeast and molds that cause many skin problems.

Natural Hair Acronyms

You may have read a blog post or facebook post that used these terms and you find yourself scratching your head wondering what it stands for... As you know we are in a generation were everything is shortened and abbreviated, the natural hair world isn't any different. Refer to these when you're stumped and if there is one I missed, let me know!

EL – Ear Length
NL – Neck Length
SL - Shoulder Length
APL – Arm Pit Length
BSL – Bra Strap Length
BSB - Below Shoulder Blade
MBL – Mid Back Length
WSL – Waist Length Hair
NG – New Growth
BC – Big Chop
TWA - Teeny Weeny Afro
CG - Curly Girl Method
DC – Deep Condition
CW- Conditioner Wash
ACV – Apple Cider Vinegar
AVJ - Aloe Vera Juice
PJ – Product Junkie
Slip – When the comb easily glides through the hair with conditioner
EVOO - Extra Virgin Olive Oil
EVCO – Extra Virgin Coconut Oil
JBCO - Jamaican Black Castor Oil
SLS - Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate
CONES - Silicones
HIHS - Hand In Hair Syndrome

These are some tools that EVERY ONE of you should have at home. They are essential to your everyday care for your hair and so if you don't have all of these already I think you need to make a trip to the Beauty supply store and fast! 

1. WIDE TOOTH COMB (safer on hair causes less tearing and breakage on the hair)
2. DENMAN BRUSH (hard plastic bristles and prevents frizziness due to the rubber base and works great for blow drying)
3. RAT TAIL COMB (great for parting when  sectioning your twists,  braids etc)
4. DUCK BILL CLIPS (great for sectioning the hair off during styling or detangling)
5. PROCESSING CAPS (should be used to prolong and protect styles like rod sets, coils, twist outs and retwisted locs in shower or bath and deep conditioning treatments)
6. TANGLE TEEZER (One of the most effective detangling tool I have used, great for detangling with conditioners and everyday use, less tearing on the hair.)
7. OUCHLESS HAIR TIES AND BANDS (can be used for sectioning, ponytails, afro puffs etc)
8. SATIN BONNETS AND PILLOWCASES (preserves styles, protects the hair and keeps moisture in)
9. APPLICATOR BOTTLE (good for applying oils to the scalp and hair)
10. SPRAY BOTTLE (good for leave-in conditioners and water to restore or maintain moisture)