The Organic Afro

08/06/2023

05/06/2023

It's The Little Things That Matter In Life & It's The Same With Afro and Natural Hair Care

"What product should I use?" is often the first thought that comes to mind when someone is about to set off on their natural hair journey. The search commences for the best products, that will get their desired popping curl patterns in the shortest amount of time.

Obviously non-toxic products are essential to healthier hair care, but people often put the focus on product consumption and not their own hair care practice.
Truly, it's the little things that make a huge difference.

I'm talking about how we handle our hair, the conscious time and care that we put into it.
Are we handling our hair gently?
Have we removed our rings and made sure that our nails are tidy before we handle our hair?
Are we making sure we're not pulling our hair too tight?
It's amazing how self-awareness leads us to flourish in all areas of life, including our hair care.

In the Organic Afro Circle you'll get the knowledge and support you need to get thriving natural hair without the struggle

Join the waitlist today - Doors opening a the end of the month!
https://www.theorganicafro.com/organic-afro-inner-circle-waitlist/

One Love,

Your Fro-Ologist
Natalya

29/05/2023

3 Myths About Afro Hair

Afro hair has been shrouded in mystery due to the oppression of the Black community.

In many countries, especially colonial ones, we have lost our natural hair practices due to being forced to assimilate into eurocentric standards of beauty for our livelihoods and overall social status.
These are some commonly held myths about black hair that have been accepted as fact.

Black Hair Doesn't Grow
It actually does, but we have 3 factors that can work against "showing" length
- A lot of us use chemicals and heat to style our hair
- Even more of us unknowingly use harsh products on our hair
- Shrinkage, even when we have length, healthy curls, kinks
and coils bounce up and out

Natural Hair is Expensive
People think that you need loads of different expensive products to take care of and style natural hair but it isn't true.
Knowing what products to avoid and what ingredients are more likely to work effectively. So if a product is more expensive, you'll probably use less and it will actually last longer.

It's Not Good To Wash Afro Hair
We've been told to avoid water and to avoid washing our hair when both are actually two essential parts of a healthy hair care routine, no matter what pattern your hair has.
Got dry hair? Water is the only way you will be able to hydrate your thirsty curls.
Itchy scalp? Washing your hair regularly is an easy and inexpensive solution.

FACTS:
Whether we like it or not, a lot of the care practices that have been drilled into us are either based on myths or on how to make it appear in a way that works to the demands of a eurocentric beauty standard or racial bias.
It's time to break the chains of that programming, reclaim our self-care and decolonise beauty by learning how to care for our natural hair.

Join The Organic Afro Circle waitlist to get the knowledge and support you need for thriving natural hair.

Doors open soon!

https://www.theorganicafro.com/organic-afro-inner-circle-waitlist/

🖤 One Love
Natalya

Pic Walker

22/05/2023

𝟑 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐖𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐖𝐢𝐠𝐬 𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐓𝐨 𝐇𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐋𝐨𝐬𝐬

1 Tension on the hairline
The Front band of wigs can cut off blood circulation to the front of the scalp,
starving the follicles of nutrients, leading to thinner or receding hairline

2 Delaying Wash Day Wearing wigs can delay hair washing practices leading to build
up and scalp infections, which left untreated can lead to hair loss

3 Wigs Get Sweaty Betty! Wigs that haven't been cleaned properly can also lead to
scalp infections that lead to hair loss

Sometimes it leads to a cycle of repeated behaviour because we can want to cover up the receding hairline or scalp infections which just makes the situation worse.

It doesn't need to be this way, you can skip out on the wig by learning how to nurture and style your natural hair without the use of synthetic hair.

Wanna learn how? Join the Organic Afro Community where you can find out more about caring for afro hair and more about styling.

🖤One Love
Your Fro-Ologist
Natalya

15/05/2023

Whyt Suprem@cy Is Not The Shark, It's The Water - Kyle "Guante" Tan Myhre

Ophélie Lawson and I had a beautifully open discussion during our Embracing Natural episode.

The experiences we shared reconfirmed that the violence of whyt suprem@cy is not something that we have to occasionally take extra caution and cover from, but it has contaminated the waters, streams, lakes and oceans of society.

So how do we cope when it feels like the when the poison gathers to form an ugly head of this monster, able to jump out at us at any place and time?

The American Psychology Association advises that "if the person committing the microaggression is someone you don't care about maintaining a relationship with, respond however you see fit if it seems safe to do so."

You can plan what you want to say and practice with friends or in front of the mirror.
Focus your criticism on the microaggression, not the microaggressor, explain how the statement or behaviour made you feel.
"Why do you say/do that?" "When people say/do that it makes me feel ____"

It can be helpful to talk things over with peers who are members of the same group as you. It will help to validate your feelings and re-establish your sense of belonging.

If you're a bystander and an Allie, avoid speaking on behalf of the targeted person by starting with could start with "Why do you say/do that?" "Here's why I'm offended, upset or hurt."

Although we know society is riddled with systematic racism, we should do our best to honour our truest selves.

By shedding the skin of col0nial expectation, we are reborn to hold our own and open up space where we can all grow and evolve into a safer, fairer society.

If you have other effective ways of confronting racial aggressions, please do share.

🖤One Love
Natalya
The Organic Afro

15/05/2023

This month's Guest Expert at the Organic Afro is all about Locs.

With so many varieties of locs, how do you know which would best option for you?

Master Loctician Gillian McKenzie talks with us about having a healthy loc journey.

Register Now for our FREE event on Tues 16th May at 3pm UK
https://calendly.com/theorganicafro/guest-expert-gillian-mck

12/05/2023

Natural hair is super versatile and locs are another beautiful option.

Master Loctician Gillian McKenzie talks with us about having a healthy loc journey.

Register Now for our FREE event on Tues 16th May at 3pm UK
https://calendly.com/theorganicafro/guest-expert-gillian-mck

08/05/2023

A study has found that 59% of African American women have experienced excessive hair loss.
That's more than half!

Knowing that around the diaspora many women with Afro and curly hair follow similar hair care practices, the figures wouldn't be much different around the globe.

But it doesn't have to be this way.

We've been taught from a very young age that the only way to "get ahead" in the world is by looking a certain way.
And a lot of the time, achieving that "look" leads to hair damage.

The work I do is about bridging the knowledge gap we have around afro and curly hair care.

The framework I developed involves helping you to:

- Embrace your unique beauty
- Wash and moisturise hair in a nourishing way
- Learning how to work with the texture of your hair instead of against it
- Learning how to style your hair in ways that prevent damage

Learning how to care for and love ourselves is essential to bring about the changes we want to see in the world.

Join the waitlist for The Organic Afro Circle where we untangle our hair care and embrace our natural selves.
https://www.theorganicafro.com/organic-afro-inner-circle-waitlist/

🖤One Love,

Natalya

08/05/2023

Every thought about experiencing a loc journey?

Find out how to have a positive healthy experience with Master Loctician Gillian McKenzie!

Register today for our FREE event on Tues 16th May at 3pm UK

Link in bio 💜🌱

04/05/2023

Have you ever thought about getting locs?

This month our guest expert, Master Loctician Gillian McKenzie will be discussing healthy loc journeys!

You’re invited!

Tuesday 16th May
3pm UK time
Register via link in bio

See you there!

01/05/2023

3 Myths About Afro Hair

Afro hair has been shrouded in mystery due to the oppression of the Black community.

In many countries, especially colonial ones, we have lost our natural hair practices due to being forced to assimilate into eurocentric standards of beauty for our livelihoods and overall social status.
These are some commonly held myths about black hair that have been accepted as fact.

Black Hair Doesn't Grow
It actually does, but we have 3 factors that can work against "showing" length
- A lot of us use chemicals and heat to style our hair
- Even more of us unknowingly use harsh products on our hair
- Shrinkage, even when we have length, healthy curls, kinks
and coils bounce up and out

Natural Hair is Expensive
People think that you need loads of different expensive products to take care of and style natural hair but it isn't true.
Knowing what products to avoid and what ingredients are more likely to work effectively. So if a product is more expensive, you'll probably use less and it will actually last longer.

It's Not Good To Wash Afro Hair
We've been told to avoid water and to avoid washing our hair when both are actually two essential parts of a healthy hair care routine, no matter what pattern your hair has.
Got dry hair? Water is the only way you will be able to hydrate your thirsty curls.
Itchy scalp? Washing your hair regularly is an easy and inexpensive solution.

FACTS:
Whether we like it or not, a lot of the care practices that have been drilled into us are either based on myths or on how to make it appear in a way that works to the demands of a eurocentric beauty standard or racial bias.
It's time to break the chains of that programming, reclaim our self-care and decolonise beauty by learning how to care for our natural hair.

Get more of the truth on natural hair care by joining the waitlist for The Organic Afro Circle
https://www.theorganicafro.com/organic-afro-inner-circle-waitlist/

🖤One Love
Natalya

01/05/2023

Join us for an expert session presented by The Organic Afro with Trichologist Lorna Jones talking about the difference between seeing a doctor, a trichologist and a dermatologist for your hair issues.

Time: Apr 25, 2023 07:00 PM London

The Zoom link will be sent to your email after registration

Register now link in comments

28/04/2023

Doctors, trichologists, and dermatologists can all help with hair issues. However, it can be tricky to know which professional to see.

Join us for an expert session presented by The Organic Afro with Trichologist Lorna Jones discussing the differences between these three.

Time: Apr 25, 2023 07:00 PM London

The Zoom link will be sent to your email after registration

Register now
via link in comments

24/04/2023

I Don't Jump On Styling Trends

In my experience, I've seen loads of hair influencers jump on the bandwagon when it comes to hair care trends and approaches.

In fact, I usually do the opposite, sit back, do some research and apply scientific knowledge to the fad and make my judgement from there.

Why Bother?
Because I'm not the kind of person who relies on celebrities for my health care advice. A lot of influencers out there jump on trends because they know it will bring them attention. And perhaps help them sell a product.

For example a few years ago when the baby hair trend came back up again. This is where people would use a gel or other weighty styling product to flatten their baby hairs so they "laid" at the top of their forehead.
Don't get me wrong, it looked super cute. And this became a go-to look for loads of trendy peeps around the world. At the time I resigned from adopting the look, even though I thought it looked cool.

Why?
Because my knowledge of afro hair care taught me that those baby hairs are super fragile and that using weighty products on them daily would cause major damage to them and my hairline.

In fact, at that time I said that I'd probably need to start an edge regrowth campaign with the afro hair product company that I was working for.

Fast forward a couple years and the baby hair, edge, hairline damage is real. Loads of people ask about how to regrow their edges.

But I'm here for them with a science-based approach to hair care to get their edges thriving and showing how to avoid future damage.

Ready to re-grow your edges?

Join The Organic Afro Circle waitlist to get the knowledge and support you need to regrow those edges
https://www.theorganicafro.com/organic-afro-inner-circle-waitlist/

🖤 One Love,

Natalya
Your Fro-Ologist