Search Results: Chelsea Fregis

By Chelsea Fregis · Published January 31, 2012

Braid extensions have been around since forever and many women have used them over the years as protective styles to grow longer, stronger hair. But for every one women who reaches her hair goals with braids, there are several more who experience damage and breakage from this style. To avoid making the common mistakes many women do when wearing braids, read on for helpful tips to ensure that you get the most out of this style.

Deep Condition Before

Before even considering installing braid extensions, you have to ensure that your hair and scalp are strong enough to handle the extra weight and tension of the braids. To prepare your hair for braids, I would suggest doing a strong protein treatment followed by a moisturizing one at least twice before event thinking about braiding your hair.

Also, try to solve any scalp issues you might have that may be weakening your hair. For instance, try to focus on curing dandruff, dry itchy scalp, any fungal infections, etc.

Installation

Properly installed braids are the key to maximizing your hair growth. Failure to install your braids correctly can do more harm than good, and leave you with breakage and thinning hair. Here are some guidelines to follow when installing your braid extensions:

1. Parts should be smaller than half an inch by half an inch. By creating smaller parts less hair is being incorporated into each braid. This means that fewer strands will have to bear the weight of the added hair creating more tension than if a larger part was created and more hair was used.
2. Braids should never be bigger than the part. In order to achieve a fuller look and hide some of the parts you may be tempted to use a lot of hair per section to braid. The problem with doing this is that you are forcing only a few strands of hair to bear a lot more weight than they are accustomed to. This could cause the strands to snap from tension created. See the guide below for further detail.
3. Do not try to braid all of your edges. The edges of your hair are very weak and fragile and susceptible to breakage. Most people experience breakage from doing everyday things like brushing their edges and wearing too many back to back ponytails, so you can only imagine the breakage that can be caused by braiding the edges tightly and leaving that tension on it for a prolonged period of time. Try to use larger sections when braiding the front to distribute some of the tension throughout more hair strands. Also, avoid braiding the very front of the hair. Try leaving out the very front and simply applying a pomade and a scarf for ten minutes to smooth it down.
4. Use less hair near your edges to avoid adding too much extra weight and try to redo them whenever they get loose to prevent tension from remaining on the same region of the hair shaft continuously.
5. Ensure braids are not too tight. Contrary to popular belief tighter braids will not increase hair growth. The tightness, apart from causing damage, can lead to tension headaches and unsightly bumbs and sores.

Maintenance & Cleansing

There are many ways out there to wash braid extensions. I find that the most effective way is to split the hair into four sections, then using watered down shampoo and your fingers, apply the shampoo to the scalp and rub gently to lift the dirt off of the scalp. If you have a lot of product buildup from using greases, oils and growth aids then the use of a soft and small baby toothbrush can help. Just ensure that you do not rub too hard.

1. Once the dirt has been lifted off the scalp, band your four sections of hair to ensure that the braids remain in a downright position and do not mat during the washing process. Take more diluted shampoo and pour it over your head and squeeze sections of your braids to ensure that the shampoo penetrates the braids and cleanses the hair inside. Once done run your head under the water until it rinses clean ensuring your hair is still banded to avoid tangling.
2. You can now apply your deep conditioner, then conditioner, avoiding your scalp to prevent build up and squeezing the hair to ensure that it penetrates the braids. Rinse really well as conditioners and deep conditioners tend the be thick and could cause build up which can make removing the braids and detangling the hair once they are out difficult.
3. Keep braids banded until they about about 50 percent dry, then remove then bands and gently finger detangle if you have loose ends. Removing the bands before the hair is completely dry will prevent your hair from drying with the shape of the bands in them.

Moisture

It is important to remember that you still have hair underneath your braids that require TLC. The same way you moisturized your hair when it was loose, you need to ensure that your hair is moisturized while in braids. In fact, your hair may need more moisture as the braided hair can absorb some of the moisture from the hair. To ensure that your tresses do not become thirsty, use a liquid moisturizer or braid spray twice daily, spraying it on liberally. A liquid moisturizer is best as it can penetrate the braids and get to your actual hair better rather than simply sitting on top and will help to prevent build up on your braids, especially at the root.

Also this is a good time to keep your scalp happy with oils.

Take Down

The procedure used for removing braid extensions is just as important as the one used for installing them. The right technique is key to ensure that you hold on to as much your new growth as possible. To help to make the hair more slippery and pliable, try using a water, conditioner and oil mix to unravel the braids. Once it is out, detangle that section of hair right away rather than trying to tackle one large section. Do not run a comb through it, simply remove any residue at the base and gently pull the hair apart.

Also keep in mind that a lot of hair shedding is normal. It is estimated that we shed about 100 hairs per day, so if your hair has been braided for a prolonged period  then that shed hair is only now being removed from your hair.

Lastly, to prevent a nightmare of a detangling session, do not leave braids in your hair for more than 2 months, and even that is pushing it. You will end up losing more hair to tangles and knots than you will gain in hair growth.

Final Thoughts

I hope this info helped, and if I left anything out, please feel free to share in the comments section. 

By Chelsea Fregis · Published November 21, 2011

You’re a super social butterfly, so you know it’s only a matter of time before someone calls you to go visit that new dance club that just opened up.

You’ve been practicing your ‘dougie’ all week and you have the perfect outfit and the killer shoes to match — the ones that are so tall that if trip in them you’ll break your neck. But the inevitable question that will pop into your mind is what are the best curly hairstyles for a night on the dance floor? A night of dancing is sure to make a straight style revert back to normal, and a twist or braid out will leave you with an undefined frizz ball at the end of the night.

So what’s a dancing diva to do?

Wavy (Type 2″>

While applying my makeup one day, it occurred to me that all of my beautifying efforts were in vain. After all, once I dropped my hair it would cover up the cheekbones I’d accentuated with blush, cover the smoky eyes it had taken me forever to get just right and hide much of my face. This brings me to look number one.

Pull it Up and Out of the Way

Accentuate your face with a chic top knot or super hero ponytail.

1. To begin, apply a styling mousse to freshly washed hair. Grab a medium sized piece of hair and roll it around two of your fingers until it forms a wheel or pin curl. Using a bobby pin secure the pin curl to your head. Continue to do this until your entire head has been pin curled.
2. Sit under a hooded dryer or start off with damp hair and allow your hair to dry naturally. When your hair has dried completely remove the bobby pins. You should have a head full of gorgeous loose curly waves.
3. Bend over from the waist down and using your fingers as combs secure your hair into a high ponytail. Bending over will allow gravity to help you get your hair to the very top of your head.  After securing your hair wrap it around the ponytail loosely to create a curly bun and secure your curly bun with bobby pins.
4. Then, grab a section of hair from the underside of your ponytail. Wrap it around it and secure the loose end with a bobby pin. Again grab another section of hair from the underside of your ponytail and wrap it around it and also secure the loose end with a bobby pin. You can do this until the wrapping of your hair extends your ponytail an inch or two away from the base.
5. To finish the look, do an exaggerated cat eye to draw the eyes up and use bronzer or blush to give you the high cheek boned chic look of a model. Lastly, for longevity of your style try spritzing your hair lightly with hairspray.

Your daringly high ponytail and uber sleek up-do is sure to turn heads the moment you enter a party.

Curly (Type 3″>

Let me begin by saying that I am a fan of wash and go curly hairstyles for clubbing. Why one may ask? Well it has the ability to withstand a long night of humidity and sweat and has shock value. Considering every woman wears some variation of the little black dress, ridiculously tall heels coupled with poor lighting and beer goggles, everyone pretty much starts to look the same.

As curlies, we are not ones to blend in. While there is nothing wrong with a perfectly round wash and go ‘fro, pulling your hair to the side just creates a new spin on an old ‘do.

An Asymmetrical ‘Do

For very thick hair:

1. For very thick hair: Grab a rat tail comb, ponytail holders and bobby pins to achieve this look. Part your hair from ear to ear into two equally sized sections. Secure each section close to your ear. Gently pull on your hair and fluff it to get your desired volume. Bobby pin some of your hair to hide the ponytail holders.
2. For thin to medium hair: Gather your hair to one side of your head into a ponytail. Secure a banana clip lengthwise around the ponytail then remove the ponytail. The banana clip will secure your hair whilst leaving plenty of volume.
3. To complete the look wear a long dangly feather earring on the opposite side of your ‘fro.

Kinky (Type 4″>

As a kinky haired diva, I know all too well what happens to twist and braid outs when the club humidity gets to it. So here is your reversion preventative plan to help you look just as fabulous stepping out of the party as when you entered.

1. Start off with with freshly washed hair and apply a generous amount of styling product. Two strand twist your entire head into medium sized twists using a lot of styling product for a firm hold.
2. Take each individual twist and wrap it around its base to form a bantu knot. Allow your hair to dry completely before removing the knots and unraveling the twists. Only unravel the twists and try your best to not separate as the humidity of the club will cause your hair to swell anyway so starting off with really defined hair will allow your style to still look great après clubbing.
3. Using a wide toothed comb smooth the front of your hair and put on your favorite wide headband. Take the ends of each curl and loosely wrap it and pin it to your head. When done the curls should hang messily and loosely from your head. Use additional bobby pins to pin and tuck your hair to hide your scalp that may peek through.

This style will help you weather the dancing storm because the extra product will give you the hold that will help to keep frizz at bay and the knots will help to give a more defined curl pattern than traditional twist and braids outs. Also, by pinning your hair up and out of the way, you will not get the uncomfortable heat that loose hair creates nor will any sweat be able to ruin your ‘do.

By Chelsea Fregis · Published November 1, 2011

We used it then, but should we use it now?

There has been much debate about the re-emergence of one old school product that was once on the “Natural No-No” list: hair grease.

Who would have thought that of all ingredients from silicones to sulfates, grease would be the one to come back? When we think of grease, we think back to the days of being between our mothers laps having our scalps ‘scratched’ and greased, or sitting in kitchens having our hair prepped with grease before being pressed.

For some, the grease days are reminiscent of longer, healthier hair, and for others, grease stains left on furniture, greasy foreheads and overly shiny hair. But with so many women singing the praises of a product that’s cheap and easily available, it makes you wonder, is grease really our enemy, or could it be that because of our and our parent’s lack of knowledge, we failed to reap the benefits of it long ago?

This question will probably always spark debate, but it is interesting to note exactly how curlies are implementing hair grease into their daily regimens.

Sealant

Just about the first thing you learn when joining the online natural community is the art of moisturizing and sealing. Most of us know that sealing the moisture in is critical for maintaining healthy hair. While light oils may work for some, there are women out there — like our high porosity sisters — who need more to lock in moisture.

Many women have attested to having well-moisturized hair for days after sealing with hair grease. This may be due to the fact that grease is a lot heavier than its natural counterparts and doesn’t dissipate easily. This means that when you apply that barrier of grease, you can trust that it is not going to go anywhere, and neither will your moisture.

Light Hold

Think back to your childhood days when you undid your plaits on wash day and had lovely definition. Of course, it was combed out since our mothers had no clue about what a twist or braid out was, but the definition was there.

As curlies, we have come to expect that definition comes only with creams and gels. I bought into the hype too, until one day, out of sheer desperation from running out of my styler, I used some grease and twisted my hair up expecting nothing more than limp, lifeless locks. Imagine my surprise to awake the following morning to a fabulous twist out! It seemed that the stickiness of the grease was just enough to give me the soft, touchable hold I craved.

I’m not surprised that many women are experiencing the best styling days of their natural haired lives using hair grease. It can be quite gooey and sticky, which can be just enough to lock in a curl pattern, minus the hefty price tag.

Reducing Crunch

Almost every curly who has tried a wash-and-go can remember having hair that came out too crunchy at least once. They’ve probably also whipped out just about every oil and pomade in an effort to “scrunch the crunch.”

After perusing the hair boards, it seems that many women have eliminated that problem by using good old hair grease. The trick is to use it after the moisturizing step, but before the gel or styler. This barrier of grease helps to prevent the gel from hardening, and also seems to help with curl definition.

The thickness of grease is probably why it is so good at eliminating this problem. Many leave-ins and moisturizers simply aren’t thick enough or are easily absorbed by the hair as opposed to grease which cannot be absorbed by the hair and will therefore sit on it, providing the long lasting barrier that the hair needs from gel.

I also think back to my own experience the last time I was natural as a little girl, having my hair twisted with a mixture of gel and beeswax or grease. This was a miracle mixture for twists back then and it still is today in St. Lucia. It gave me and my sister’s twists good hold that would last for weeks at a time, and give our hair a lot of shine without ever being crunchy. But this mixture was only used when our hair was dripping wet.

Words of Caution

Despite the praises I’ve sung about hair grease, keep in mind that it’s not for everyone. Some may hate the smell and texture, and fine haired curlies should beware the product!

But let’s face it, for $2 to $3 a jar at your local beauty supply store, it’s worth a try. Here are a few extra things to keep in mind if you want to add hair grease to your regimen.

1. Less is more! If you think you’ve taken enough out of the jar, put about half back and then apply the rest to your hair. Hair grease is very concentrated and can make your hair an oily mess very quickly. Try layering very, very small amounts of grease, and if you feel you have applied too little, it probably means you’re using just enough.
2. Don’t use it on your scalp! Hair grease should not be applied to your scalp, since it  can block pores, irritate your scalp and cause a whole host of issues. Make sure to use it only on the length of your hair.
3. Use sulfate shampoos and wash more often! There’s a catch to using hair grease. Due to its chemical makeup, co-washing isn’t enough to remove grease from your hair. Only a sulfate and/or clarifying shampoo will work to remove grease from your hair. If you fail to heed this advice, you can find yourself suffering from really bad build up.
4. Use a water based moisturizer first! Regardless of how our parents used it back in the day, hair grease is NOT a moisturizer. In and of itself, grease has no moisturizing properties. It should only be used as a sealant after applying a water based moisturizer. It should never be used alone unless your trying to lock in water after having saturated the hair.

Final Thoughts

There you have it ladies — the breakdown on hair grease. As I sit here contemplating whether or not I’ll begin to start using grease again, I’m keeping my eyes open for the post on Jherri curl juice as a leave-in.

By the way, if anyone knows where I can purchase some Soul Glo, please leave a comment below. I like to be ahead of the trend because I have a feeling that this one will be making a comeback too.

By Chelsea Fregis · Published August 31, 2011

School is right around the corner or, for the unlucky few, already here.

Unfortunately staying home is not an option; it’s kind of the law that you go. So we might as well look super fly from day one, because an awesome ‘do can give us unwavering confidence and set the stage for an amazing school year.

So here are this year’s hottest curly hairstyles that will have people asking you, “How did you get your hair like that?”

Feathers

More versatile than you think!

Feathers are not just for your jewelry anymore. Many well-known celebs, and one or two super trendy women, have already jumped on the bandwagon. Even our very own Cassadie Blackwell tried feather hair extensions with much success! So, do a little hair hunting and find a stylist that can install the feathers. A bonus is that they can be styled like human hair, which means you can straighten or curl them and create different looks for different days!

See more photos of feathered wavy hairstyles! »

See more photos of feathered curly hairstyles! »

See more photos of feathered kinky hairstyles! »

Streaks

For every clique, even yours!

A long time ago, in a far away kingdom, brightly colored streaks were just for the grunge and punk girls. Now, everyone seems to be getting in on the craze. The good thing about this style is that depending on how you do it, you will be able to add as many streaks or as little to suit your style. This way, everyone, from the boldest to the more tame curlies, can enjoy the look.

Plus, if you don’t like the permanence of dye, you can always get the clip-in hair streaks to suit your moods or better yet your outfits.

See more streaked wavy hairstyles! »

See more streaked curly hairstyles! »

See more streaked kinky hairstyles! »

Fedoras & Beanies

Perfect for hiding bad hair days!

Cute hats are popping up everywhere, and in many different variations. They not only act as a chic accessory for an outfit, but as a way to hide a bad hair day. But, for the big haired curlies among us scratching their heads trying to figure out how to fit their hair under those hats, then check out the video at the end of this article!

Overall, it’s pretty simple. Just choose your the right hat styles for your face shape and your needs: large hats are better to hide your hair under, small and cute are better as accessories, and both come in plenty of colors to go with every outfit!

See more wavy hairstyles for hats! »

See more curly hairstyles for hats! »

See more kinky hairstyles for hats! »

Random Braids

Show off your creativity!

Bohemian curly hairstyles are very much in this season. All summer we have enjoyed long dresses, feathers and ethnic looking beads and prints. The accompanying hairstyle for this look is grabbing random sections of hair braid or cornrow hairstyles. For the faint of heart curlies who can’t fully commit to this style, try the tame version of simply gathering the front section of hair on one side of your head and doing a loose cornrow and pinning it behind the ear.

See more braids styles for wavy hair! »

See more braids styles for curly hair! »

See more braids styles for kinky hair! »

Afros…

…are definitely in!

And not the tame ones either! I’m talking block out the sun, can’t see past you, get banned from the movie theaters, big. As natural hair becomes more popular, more and more women are embracing this style. Whether you achieve it from a wash-n-go or braid/twist out, wear your ‘fro with pride and at its bossiest.

See more wavy afro hairstyles! »

See more curly afro hairstyles! »

See more kinky afro hairstyles! »

Deep Side Parts & Low Buns

Formal or everyday, rock it!

These styles are just variations of styles we already know and love. The part and bun have been around since women have roamed the Earth. These sleek and easy hairstyles are perfect for looking pulled together and professional, or runway model-esque. But, the bun and deep side parts are not just for formal events. The simplicity of the style allows you to be able to pull off the biggest and most obnoxious accessories without looking overdone. So go out and get the largest, sparkly, multicolored accessory you can find, because you now have the perfect hairstyle for it.

P.S. This style is also perfect for wearing the very popular fedoras!

See more parted wavy hairstyles! »

See more parted curly hairstyles! »

See more parted kinky hairstyles! »

Warning!

• If you are allergic to looking awesome, and tire easily of people staring at your curly hair in longing, do not attempt any of the styles mentioned above!
• If you are a curly who loves the attention a good hairstyle can bring, then try the above and tell me how it goes!
• By the way, how was your first day of school, and if you haven’t already started, how do you plan to rock your curls for the first day?
• Until then ladies, love, peace, and curly haired bliss!