New YT Video - BACK TO SCHOOL FRENCH BRAID TUTORIAL

Bonjour tout le monde! 

It's a new year which means it's time for a new video! Many of you have been requesting hair tutorials from myself so I thought I'd kick off this year with what I'd call my 'signature style' which are my french braids! They're super cute but does take a little bit of practice but hey, practice makes perfect right! I hope you enjoy this video and if you do please like, comment, share and subscribe! I'll be back with more tutorials so stay tuned!

(PS - I know I haven't been blogging as much as I used to but that's all about to change, 2018 is going to be a great year!)

Au revoir x

New YT Video - GETTING MY BROTHER WAVES (FAIL)

Bonjour tout le monde!

I'm back again with another YouTube video and this time it's featuring my younger brother! For the past two years he had been growing out his hair into a box/high top which my father and I HATED. However last week he decided to take the plunge and cut his hair super short, don't they grow up so fast! Anyway this is my attempt (failed one at that) at trying to get him waves. Maybe next time I'll learn but until then, enjoy the video! Don't forget to like, comment and subscribe too!

Au revoir x

Can Heavy Braids Damage 4C Hair?

Bonjour tout le monde!

So I am back after much deliberation to talk to you about my favourite protective hairstyle - braids! As many of you may know, I absolutely love love love braids. They're inexpensive (when compared to weave) and are extremely versatile. Not only that but it also has a very Afrocentric vibe to it. You can wear it up, down, with a headscarf, however you want!

HOWEVER, I realise that a question that comes up very often when talking about braids is 'how big is too big?' 

What's the answer? Personally I think it depends on your hair. I love having chunky, jumbo braids which I'll picture down below. I typically use 7/8 packets of expression braiding hair when doing my braids. This is A LOT for the average person I know. Barring the fact that I have a big head, the average amount of packs used on a head is 4/5 packets. This is usually used when having medium sized braids which is a perfect size for most people. I personally don't like medium sized braids as they don't seem to suit me but I love seeing it on other black girls! 

Braids are great protective hairstyles when done correctly and are a reasonable size. For me I think a reasonable size depends on the health of your hair. For example, when my hair was damaged back in January 2016, I couldn't wear any other than small/medium sized braids. Reason being, my hair was super damaged (my ends were dead straight) which made my hair extremely weak and fragile. Any little bit of weight or slight agitation from my braids would've caused it to become further damaged and the ends of my hair would've snapped. I was having a dilemma between wearing braids to aid my hair growth and making sure my braids wouldn't damage my hair. 

Now a year and a half later after having cut off my damaged ends, I am able to wear bigger sized braids because my hair is stronger. HOWEVER, I am still mindful that heavy braids can still cause damage to my edges and hairline. So how do you combat this? The best way is to just get medium sized braids, not too big to weigh down your hair but not too small either. This is probably what you would class as normal sized braids. Make sure to pay attention that the person doing your hair isn't pulling and tugging and your hairline causing damage. BUT if you do end up getting the same jumbo sized braids that I rock, then be sure not to have it in for too long and make sure there is a decent amount of time in between to allow your natural hair to rest and breathe.

Long story short, braids can only be damaging if done incorrectly especially on 4C hair, other than that it is a fab protective hairstyle!

If you have any questions, feel free to message me other than that,

Au revoir x

2017 - New Year, New Braids!

Bonne annee tout le monde!

It's 2017, a brand new year for everyone! This is the time where you can re-invent yourself and use this time to set yourself goals to achieve by the end of the year. In 2016 I was able to grow my hair from it being extremely short to just touching my shoulders. By the end of 2017 I aim to get my hair somewhat past my shoulders. If you have damaged ends that you've been meaning to trim/cut then this is the perfect time to do so. Why not choose now to cut your hair and start afresh, now's a great time as any!

I have decided to make 2017 a year of protective hairstyles as was 2016. I saw a really drastic length change in my hair when I took the time to keep it protected whilst well looked after. Currently my hair is in chunky red braids (as many of you will know chunky braids is my number one go-to) and I absolutely love it! I've had red braids before but these I love. They really compliment my skin tone and sometimes it's fun to take the plunge a go for a bold hair colour! I'm going to try and take more chances and go for more drastic hair colours, should be fun!

Anyway this year is going to be a great year, I have a lot of things planned so stay tuned!

Au revoir x

Top Tips To Retain Length

Bonjour tout le monde!

Today's post is all about length retention and top tips to retain length. Now nearly every naturalista wants their hair to grow to their bum yet many complain that their hair doesn't grow. This isn't the case, our hair does grow around 1/2 inch to 1 inch a month yet many of us do not see this growth as our hair breaks off before that. Our hair is doing its part by growing, now it's our turn to do ours by minimising the amount of breakage and shedding we experience to truly see our hair grow!

• Detangle gently with conditioner - As we all know, natural afro kinky hair can get very knotty and tangled so using conditioner gives the hair the extra slip it needs to ensure that the hair can be combed with ease without breaking it.

•  Trim split ends regularly - Split ends can play a very big role in aiding the breakage of our hair so it is advised that we give our hair a much needed trim every six to eight weeks to reduce the amount of breakage we see.

•  Keep hair moisturized - As easy as it is for our hair to absorb moisture, it is equally as easy for it to lose moisture so be sure to keep your hair moisturized, especially during the winter months when our hair is at its most vulnerable to becoming dry and brittle.

• Utilize protective hairstyles - Protective hairstyles are a great way of growing out your hair such as braids or natural styles as they are very low manipulation and don't tend to tug on your natural hair allowing it to grow to its fullest.

• Avoid heat styling hair - Heat styling not only dries out our hair but also damages it making our hair weak and brittle. In order to maintain healthy hair, try and keep your heat styling down to a minimum.

• Use wide tooth combs - Using wide tooth combs are less aggressive on the hair and tend to tug less on the hair cuticle thus causing less unnecessary shedding to your hair

• Opt for henna dyes vs chemical dyes - Due to it's intense nature, chemical dyes can be very harsh and dry out natural hair causing it to break. If you want to jazz up your look, opt for henna hair dyes as they are natural and don't damage your hair.

• Choose low-manipulative styles - These styles can be as simple as just putting your hair into twists or braids but these styles are so good for your hair! Low manipulation styles allow your hair to grow without the daily constant daily tugging and pulling of the hair. Be sure to remember to keep your hair moisturised whilst in these styles!

• Sleep in silk or satin scarf/cap - Often cotton pillows are harsh on natural hair as it can cause needless pulling on the hair resulting in shedding that could've been prevented. Instead wear a silk or satin scarf or opt for a satin pillowcase to allow your not be tugged!

• Massage scalp 2-3 times a week for 5-10mins - Massaging your scalp increases blood flow to your hair thus increasing hair growth so choose your favourite oil and incorporate this into your hair care routine to aid your hair growth. If done correctly it's said that a difference of up to an additional 1/2 inch a month can be seen!

• Give your hair a break between protective styles - As much as we all love having braids and weave in, it's great to give your hair a rest. Your hair is usually being tugged in these protective styles so it's always good to remove these styles and give your hair the necessary TLC it needs.

Current Length Check - September

Bonjour tout le monde!

I know it's been so long since my last blog post! I've passed my driving test and started university but I'm back and better! I am going to jump straight back in to Youtube videos again so stay tuned. As you all know, I cut my hair very short at the beginning of January 2016 due to heat damage and I'm currently in the process of growing my hair out back out to the length it originally was. I am taking biotin on a daily basis to aid my hair growth as well as keeping my hair in protective styles such as braids and twists.

Below I'll post pictures of my hair after having washed it and after being blow dried:

As you can see my hair has grown tons! I am so glad with the length of my hair and how healthily it's coming along. I hope this has shown many of my fellow naturalistas who may have been interested in transitioning or cutting of any damaged parts that your hair will grow! My hair has come a long way and I'm so happy to see the end of my journey. I'm planning on making an updated 'Wash Routine' video for Youtube but feel free to message if you have any other videos that you would like to see. Remember new blog posts every Tuesday and Friday!

Au revoir x

Black Hair Magazine - My Appearance!

Bonjour tout le monde!
I wanted to start by telling you all a little story. So I was going to my local Tesco's store with my brother to pick up some shopping and decided to have a little browse around the magazine aisle. I've always loved Black Hair and Beauty magazines so I decided to give that a little glance. If you'll all remember from one of my previous posts, I took part in the Creme de la Bride photoshoot. On the front of the Black Hair magazine was one of the beautiful ladies who were at the shoot on the same day as I was. I decided to give the magazine a little flick through and look at the different hairstyle inspirations. I stumbled across the bridal looks section and happened to see my face on there! Yes, I made it into a magazine! My mouth dropped as I couldn't believe that it was me but there I am. I'm in the March/April 2016 issue of Black Hair for anyone who decides to flick through and find me themselves. Here's a few pictures of me:

I had such an amazing time at the shoot thanks to Dionne Smith and can't wait to have an opportunity like that again! Hopefully that was the first of many shoots for me to come. This was just a little post as I'm so happy to see myself in a black magazine, what an amazing achievement! 

If you'd like to see more pictures, check out both of my Instagrams:

@ikeeyah

@DivinusAter

Otherwise, until the next time.

Au revoir x

Protective Hairstyle - Cornrows

Bonjour tout le monde! 

As most of you may know, I cut my hair very short at the beginning of January due to heat damage. Now it was hard at first as I'm sure you can all imagine cutting off your beloved hair is. My hair was so short that it was very difficult to even do two French braids on my hair like I use to be able to do. I was unsure of how I was going to wear my hair when it was natural due to how short it was but I had to keep reminding myself that HAIR DOES GROW BACK! I couldn't even dream of plaiting my hair into cornrows because the strands were too short for me to grab a hold of. However after just about two months, my hair has grown tremendously! I've left my hair in a variety of protective hairstyles to allow it to grow whilst ensuring my hair was still moisturised. I am now very capable of doing cornrows in my hair with ease; take a look:

I wanted to show you all as a prime example that hair does grow back! If your hair is damaged whether it is because of split ends, heat or chemical damage, don't be afraid to take a pair of scissors and chop your hair! The front of my hair is still shorter in comparison to the rest of my hair as that's where the majority of the damage is but it's still growing healthily. If you need any tips or any words of encouragement to take the plunge and do the big chop then please DO message me, I love hearing from my fellow naturalistas! 

Email: inquiries.divinusater@yahoo.co.uk

AskFM: www.ask.fm/DivinusAter

Until the next time! X

Protective Hairstyles - Short Cut

Bonsoir tout le monde!

Now I know I'm a bit late with this post but life has been so hectic at the moment however, I'm still here! I thought I'd keep you guys updated with my latest hairstyle. So a few of you may know that it was my birthday on the 4th Feb (I'm now 18 woohoo!) and so decided to go for a shorter look to compliment my transition into adulthood. I was very hesitant at first to get a short style as this is something very new to me. I've always had long hairstyles whether it be my natural hair, braids or weave so I was afraid that this change would be so drastic and different that it wouldn't look good. However I decided to take that plunge and give it a go. In one of my previous posts I did say that this year is the year of protective hairstyling for me after having cut my hair due to heat damage. I've already seen some growth in the last month alone after having taken my hair out of braids but it doesn't stop there! My aim is to at least maintain protective hairstyles and allow my hair a chance to grow until summer if not the end of the year. That way I'll be able to regain the length I lost from chopping my hair and be well on my way to growing new, luscious locks! 

This is a short weave I instead went for where one side is curly and longer than the other. I've absolutely fallen in love with this hairstyle and don't think I can imagine myself with anything but! This has given me a new lease of life not to mention making me look older! I'd definitely recommend that if you've ever wanted to rock short hair but weren't sure if you could pull it off, give it a go! If I hadn't taken that plunge I wouldn't have known how great this hairstyle looks on me! After taking out my braids and before putting in this weave, I was using the inversion method (I'll explain this in a future blog post) alongside biotin. The key to growing long hair whilst in protective hairstyles is to ensure its moisturized. You can either buy special hair serums made to moisturize your hair in weave or make your own and apply it to your hair in a special applicator bottle. Either way, providing your hair isn't right and isn't tugging on your hairline, this is a great way to grow your natural hair whilst still looking glamorous!

If there's any blog posts or YouTube videos you'd like to see from me, ask:

www.ask.fm/DivinusAter

Alternatively, I'm always looking for fellow naturalistas to feature on my blog so if you're interested in sharing your natural hair journey on Divinus Ater, email:

inquiries.divinusater@yahoo.co.uk

Au revoir X 

Do Lace Front Wigs Damage Hair?

Bonjour tout le monde!

Now if you're like me then you like alternating between wearing your natural hair out and protective hairstyles such as weave and braids. I pride myself in knowing quite a bit about protective hairstyles and the best way to do them that doesn't do any damage to my natural hair. However I must say, one protective hairstyle I know the least about is lace front wigs. We always see our favourite celebrities such as Beyoncé and Rihanna sporting these beautiful lace front wigs but in reality, how good is it for your hair?

Many women like wearing lace front wigs as it gives the illusion of long, straight hair growing from their scalp whilst ensuring that none of their own hair is left out. The traditional method of securing lace front wigs is by merely applying glue or tape to the circumference of the head. About 6 years ago, Countess Vaughn who played Moesha's bestfriend in the 90's sitcom, spoke out about the adverse reactions she had with regards to lace front wigs. She was introduced to them by her hair stylist and fell in love with them instantly. Lace fronts enabled her to change up her hair as often as she wanted whilst, as she believed, causing no damage to her hair. She gradually however began to experience oozing from the nape of her hair, wherever she had applied the adhesive. She then noticed that her hairline was receeding as she wasn't take care when removing her wigs as each time she took them off, it removed a layer of skin each time. She now experiences discolouration under her eyes and around the nape of her hair which makes her more self conscious. 

This all sounds really scary doesn't it! Now I know there's many of you probably thinking 'why would I ever wear a lace front wig!' There are other ways to ensure that you are able to sport this hairstyle whilst minimising the damage caused to your natural hair:

• USE ADHESIVE IN MODERATION - if you have to use adhesive such as glue or tape to secure your lace front wig then please use it in moderation. Apply glue once a week and take care to look after your wig so it doesn't lift or come off which would force you to have to reapply the adhesive. 

• DO NOT WEAR FOR LONG DURATIONS - lace fronts are fine to be worn for 1 - 2 months but do not wear for long blocks of time such as 6 months. Your natural tresses need to breathe! Not only will your hair be severely damaged as it lacks moisture, you may cause excessive damage to your edges as you're placing unnecessary tension onto your hair for long periods of time. 

• SEW OVER GLUE - there are more people than before who want to wear lace front wigs without experiencing the damaging effects of glue/tape. There are many hair stylists who are able to install these wigs to give the natural look without having to use anything but thread to secure the wig into the head. Make a conscious effort to seek out stylists in your local area who are able to sew in lace front wigs to minimise hair damage. 

I hope that has been helpful for you!

Au revoir x