A Blue Mani

Posted by IrieDiva on Apr 11, 2012 in Hair and Beauty | 0 comments

I phased out putting acrylics on my nails some time back for several reasons. For one, I realised that I wasn’t on the type of budget any more that allowed the bi-monthly upkeep it needs. That meant that I’d do them for a special occasion, then  after two weeks they looked like sh** and were a pain to sit and soak off. Secondly, I had long stopped wearing them very long. Even when I got acrylics, they were always short and painted full polish, one colour, no designs. Designs were so college days. Thirdly, I never really had a problem growing my natural nails. I drink a lot of milk after all. And a by-product of using natural oils in my hair has definitely been the strengthening of my nails. They chip much less these days. So with all of that blended together along with a pin I recently repinned on my pinterest page, my interest in doing my own nails resurfaced with a vengeance. I did a short course in nails one time long time when I wanted to make a few bucks while going to school and though I’m no artist, I can at least do my own nails. 

The Yahdie Conscious GlamHEAD Trunk Show

Posted by IrieDiva on Apr 3, 2012 in Hair and Beauty, Jamaican Designers | 0 comments

Though quite late, I managed to make it out to the trunk show over the weekend and I was so happy I did! I was introduced to a variety of headbands to jazz up my teeny weeny afro and help me get through “the awkward stage” although I have a sudden urge to shave my head a la Cassie

Anyway, I met the lovely designer Jami Spence on arrival and she graciously snapped my pics as I tried different headbands…these are a few that I loved:

The Natural Hair Scene in Jamaica

Posted by IrieDiva on Mar 30, 2012 in Hair and Beauty | 6 comments

When I read interviews of naturalistas on the big natural hair blogs based in the US, they always ask what the natural hair scene is like in the interviewee’s community or country as the case may be. I began to look around and wonder how I would describe the scene in Jamaica. It’s a little difficult to describe, as the “fad” of natural hair in my opinion is all the rage overseas now, but our elders here have always been wearing their hair natural. My grandmother and my mom was the one to introduce me to a hot comb. I’m not sure if my grandmother ever got a relaxer but my mom has tried every hairstyle under the sun. Jherri curls, relaxers, braids, weaves, natural, colour, the whole nine yards. She’s now back to natural. I think I would sorta describe the scene in Jamaica as evolving. Our elders always wore natural hair and always used things like castor oil and grease in their hair. Us youngsters (calling myself a youngster sure feels good LOL) may have had relaxed hair ever since we were babies or may have grown up and experimented with it when we were allowed (as in my case) and are now embracing our natural hair and researching new spins on old ingredients that our ancestors used.

Munchkin Twistout

Posted by IrieDiva on Mar 16, 2012 in Hair and Beauty | 1 comment

Combing munchkin’s hair is a challenge. Any intricate style you see in her hair was probably done by her daycare. I dunno how they get her to sit still while they do all that. I used to think it was because all her friends were around her, but isn’t that distraction? I am clueless. Anytime I go in her hair she is miserable and moody. I haven’t yet found the right time to get her to be OK with hair time. Distractions work, but not for the whole time. With all that said, I have not yet been able to deep condition her hair because of this. I can’t imagine her allowing a plastic cap to stay on her head for any period of time. Right now my routine for her is to wash every week, apply leave-in conditioner, my usual oils and some shea butter to seal/twist.

I tried to put my satin bonnet on her the other night after I did her twists and she seemed excited to have it on so I’m thinking we’re now at a point where she may be willing to have me deep condition her hair. She thinks it’s kinda cool. But how long will it last on her head. She’ll get curious and wanna rip it off just like any other hair adornment I put on her.

I saw these hair contraptions selling on Nettle and Moss’ facebook page and I am intrigued. According to them: 

Moisture, Strength, Conditioning: Henna Number 1

Posted by IrieDiva on Mar 4, 2012 in Hair and Beauty | 1 comment

It’s really hard to believe I am only two and a half weeks post big chop! I have already done so much experimenting on this head it ain’t even funny. And, it’s already grown out a bit. Crazy. I must say that I am already somewhat bored with short hair and have already begun considering braids. I haven’t braided my hair since sometime in college umpteen years ago. I really don’t wanna go back there. I’ll need to get some more accessories. Anyway, I henna-ed my hair over the weekend after hearing rave reviews about its strengthening and conditioning properties. You already know that shortly after I big chopped I threw a box of red colour in my hair even though I really wanted to go back to blonde. I was trying to be different. Henna is supposed to give you a red tint as well so I was excited to see what it would do to my hair that was already coloured, albeit not nice and bright.

So I Big Chopped

Posted by IrieDiva on Feb 21, 2012 in Hair and Beauty | 35 comments

As I alluded to last week, I went ballistic and chopped off all my hair. It was the morning after Valentine’s day. I was trying to figure out what to do with my hair. My frustrations were raging as I knew anything I did with it would only last a day or two and then I’d be back at square one. I knew I was close to a big chop, but I figured I would go and get my favourite hairstyle done one more time as that one should last me about a week.

So I was trying to get ready to go but I was also battling another demon inside. I was trying to take control of several situations that I had allowed to spiral way too far outta control and I decided I needed to do something to take back the reins. That something was staring back at me in the mirror. I said fine, I’ll go to the hairdresser and let her cut it. But even that seemed like me giving control over to someone else. I wanted an immediate solution. I decided it really couldn’t be that bad if I chopped it off myself.