Be Inspired: Fulani Tribe Inspiration

The Fulani woman can be found in Nigeria, Senegal, and parts of Guinea. They are very beautiful and graceful and are known for wearing attractive attire and gorgeous hairstyles. 

They are mostly nomads, moving from one location to another, but this has not affected the level of attention they pay to their personal appearance.

The women of the Fulani Tribe believe in taking the time to care and maintain their looks. This especially goes for the appearance of their hair. Since the lifestyle of a Fulani woman is very active, they tend to lean towards styles that are convenient for their daily activities. They adorn themselves with elaborate and artistic hairstyles that make heads turn.

The women from the Fulani tribe are no different than any other beautiful woman anywhere in the world and what we all have in common is our love for beautiful hair.

Women in general, love to stand out from the crowd no matter their environment. The easiest way to gain the spotlight is by donning a hairstyle that will make heads turn.

    Fish Tail Up-Do    

  This fish tail up-do will definitely have heads turning to check out this unique hairstyle. No better way to show off your beautiful face than by wearing your hair up in an elegant up-do. The Fulani women are known for their exquisite facial features. This is a style that can easily take you from day to night. Fish tails are timeless braid styles that can be worm on women of all age groups.

Vixen Weave

Fulani women love to show off their jewelry and their beautiful hair at the same time. This is another similarity between the Fulani women and women from the states. With a vixen weave, you can wear your hair in a variety of ways. This hairstyle shows that the weave can be braided to enhance one’s features. The vixen weave is perfect for the common woman who wants her hair to always be classy.

Afro Wet N Wavy Weave

Watching a woman’s hair transform is an incredible sight to see. This weave style can be worn in its curly state to create a playful look or it can be flat ironed for a sultry appearance. Like the women of the Fulani tribe, versatility in a woman’s hair allows her to showcase all the wonderful aspects of her personality.

Women all over the world love a beautiful hairstyle. And we can all gain inspiration from each other. What hairstyles do you wear to showcase your beauty? 

How To Choose The Right Braid Stylist

With the emergence of social media sites such as, Instagram, there seems be new stylists popping up all around us. 

Looking at all of their beautiful braid styles, makes us eager to schedule an appointment. 

Although we would like to jump at their next available time slot, it is so important to get to know your potential stylist before booking. Let's face it, braids and extensions can cause the most damage to our hairline and hair strands, so you don't want just anyone playing in your hair. 

This is why I came up with a short list of things to look out for when choosing your next braid stylist.

Here are 3 Tips to help you to choose the right braid stylist

1. Quality of work

Social media sites like, Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook make it so easy to take a peak at your stylist's work before scheduling an appointment. Take some time to do your research on the stylist so that you can discover the quality of their braid styles. Take a look at the photos they post online so that you can get an idea of what to expect. If they are not online (they should be) see if they would be willing to send you at least 3 photos of their most recent braid jobs. Yes, pictures can be deceiving but stylists are usually willing to show off their work if they are proud. 

Side tip: if you have some time, see if you can visit their place of business to witness them doing another client's hair. This is the best way to learn what to expect for your own hairstyle.

2. Reviews 

What are other clients saying about the stylist's work? Are they pleased with their hair? Are they showing it off on their social media profiles to their friends, family, and followers? The feedback that other clients are giving, speaks volumes. Pay attention to what others are saying because this will help you to make your decision a lot quicker.

3. Appearance

Appearance is a huge factor in the beauty industry. This goes for the way the stylist presents themselves, their work, and their salon. Even if the stylist works from home, do they convey a clear message on their social media profiles? Do they present themselves to be professional, clean, timely, and friendly? These are all important aspect to look for in a quality braid stylist because you will be spending a good amount of time with them. You want to be comfortable and know that you're hair is in good hands.

If all else fails when searching for the perfect braid stylist, follow your gut. If you are getting a good feeling about someone, chances are, they will do your hair justice. Have fun with your new hairstyles!

Nonye Hair Braiding Salon is located in North Austin, TX. If you are interested in scheduling an appointment with us,  please give us a call at 512-686-8011.  

Creating a Moisture and Protein Balance Routine

Moisture and protein are like the yin and yang when it comes to hair.

On one hand, you want your hair to be soft and well moisturized so that it maintains its luster and shine.

Yet, protein is necessary to keep your hair strong and flexible.


The two components are needed to keep your hair beautiful and manageable.

How does one go about maintaining the proper balance?

  It comes down to testing! Yes, in order to find out what your hair needs, you are going to have to figure out by running a couple of tests.

 

Test 1: How does your hair feel when wet?

You want to get your hair wet so that you can check to see what it’s lacking. Does it feel limp or mushy? This may mean that it has too much moisture. If this is the case, you want to do a protein treatment. A simple protein treatment containing coconut milk will do the trick.

Test 2: Does your hair easily break off with the slightest bit of manipulation?

 You can put this test to work on dry hair. You want to do a light a finger combing with one section of your hair. When you do this, are you noticing a lot of strands in your hand? This might be a clear indication that you need to a moisturizing treatment. Another way to tell if your hair needs moisture is to see how it feels to touch. Does it feel coarse and dry? A simple olive oil or argan oil treatment will do the trick.

Test 3: Now it’s time to test the elasticity of your hair.

 You can easily do this by taking a strand of your hair and tugging on each end. If it continues to stretch out, it needs more protein. If it easily breaks, you need more moisture. If the strands bounce back with no problem, you have mastered the right balance.

 It is best to run tests every few months to make sure you are on the right track. We'd love to hear how you are keeping your hair well balanced. Drop a few lines below.

Versatile Vixen Weave

Although the majority of us women lead very busy lifestyles, most of us are not willing to sacrifice the look of a great hairstyle to save on time.

Luckily, there are so many styles to choose from that allow you to maintain your schedule and your beautiful hairstyle all at the same time.

Styles like, braids wigs, and weaves, make protective styles fun and appropriate for the busy woman of today.

We have seen extension techniques such as: fusion and clip-in extensions that can be applied to any area of the head. Now we are being introduced to the vixen weave.

Now, for some that have been in the industry for quite some time are more than familiar with this versatile weaving technique, but for those who only visit their hair stylist a few times a year, this weaving style is revolutionary.

Vixen Weave 

You can finally wear a weave in a variety of ways without worry about your tracks being exposed. This allows you to wear your hair up while running errands or running on the treadmill. You can style your vixen weave, any way you see fit.

There are many techniques out there to help you to achieve a beautiful vixen weave. Check with your local stylist for more information.

Vixen Weaves in Austin Texas

If you are in the Austin, Texas area, please give us a call to schedule your vixen weave consultation. (512) 686-8011

How to Cleanse Your Scalp With Red Rose Water

We love all-natural products here at Nubian Chic. So we are always on the look out for natural hair care alternatives. Our new favorite hair care treatment has been around for quite awhile among the natural hair community and for centuries among the Ayurvedic hair community.

Red rose water is known to be used as a natural astringent or toner. You can apply it to your face and it will easily remove dirt and grime without making your face extremely dry. Due to its antiseptic and anti-bacterial properties, rose water make for an awesome scalp cleanser as well.

You will want to part your hair in many sections so that you can easily get to your scalp in all areas.
If you are wearing braids, this will make the cleansing process a lot easier.

You then want to pour some rose water in a bowl so that you can dip a cotton ball into water or you can pour the rose water onto a cotton ball directly.

You then want to apply the doused cotton ball to your scalp in a dabbing motion. You don't have to worry about rinsing your scalp because the rose water will absorb itself into your scalp leaving it to feel very moisturized.

Rose water is made by steeping red roses in water. You can purchase already made rose water or you can make your own. It is a fairly easy process and should only take 40 minutes to prepare.

DIY Rose Water Recipe:

Place 3 handfuls of rose petals in a saucepan
Add 3 cups spring or rain water to the saucepan
Let boil for 15 minutes
Strain the petals into a jar
Close jar tight and store up to 1 week in a refrigerator

There you have it, a cheap yet, effective way to cleanse your scalp.

5 Ways To Maintain Braids

Wearing braids is a great way to switch up your look.

Whether you are looking to grow out your hair, or just want to try a different style, braids are a great choice.

After having your hair braided, it is important to maintain them so that the style can last at least for 6 weeks.  Here are 5 ways to maintain your braids
 

Wrap your braids with a satin scarf every night 

 This is so important because it will help to keep your braids from frizzing up sooner than they should. If you are sleeping on cotton pillow cases, you may want to consider switching to a satin case instead. This will give your hair extra protection during those restless nights.

  Cleanse Your Scalp

 If you have ever had an itchy scalp while wearing braids, then you probably know how annoying it can be. Scratching your scalp is only going to make it more irritated and you will make your braids look a lot older than they are. Your best option is to rinse your scalp so that you remove the dirt and build-up from your hair care products. You can purchase a product like Sea Breeze and lightly apply it to your scalp by using a spray bottle. You can also fill a nozzle with castor oil and lightly apply it to your scalp. This will cleanse, moisturize, and speed up your hair growth.

 Wash Your Braids

It is equally important to wash your braids as it is to wash your scalp. You want to wash your braids with a gentle cleanser that is moisturizing. This will ensure that your hair stays healthy and that your braided extensions keep their luster. Allow your braids to air dry for at least a full day after washing them before doing any heavy manipulation.

  Keep your hair and braids moisturized 

 Moisture is always important and especially important when your hair is braided. If you are using synthetic hair, you want to make sure that you are applying some type of moisture to it your hair since synthetic hair can be very drying. An oil based spritz will make sure that your hair is maintained while put away. The spritz will also add shine to your braids which will make them look shiny and new. Try an olive oil based spritz and make sure to cover each and every braid.

  Stay Away from Tight Ponytails 

 A high ponytail full of small or big braids is a cute look but if tied to tightly, you can be ruining your hairstyle and hairline. Rocking ponytails are great hairstyles especially while working out or running errands but be careful to not wrap the elastic band too many times. Instead of using simple elastic bands, opt for a loose satin band that can be wrapped around few times and won’t tug or your hair. There are a variety of satin hair ties available to purchase.

There you have it. All of the tips you will need to maintain your braided style. If you plan to keep your braids longer than 6 weeks, remember to have them redone section-by-section so that your braids continue to look fresh and neat.

Cassia Obovata for Hair Growth & Shine

Every year, there seems to be a new natural product that has the hair community going crazy.

For some reason, I think that this year will be Cassia's year.

Cassia is a tropical tree that is known to grow in east, northeast, south, and west-central Africa. What people seek the most is the brown-reddish bark. 




This fragrant bark resembles the look of cinnamon when in powder form. It has dark brown color and very sweet yet, spicy aroma.

This aromatic bark has been popular among the natural hair ladies in the past, it seems as though it is making its return but this time to mainstream.

Although there are a variety of Cassia types, Cassia obovata is known to be used for hair growth. Cassia works by strengthening, conditioning, and adding shine to your hair strands, thus making it stronger and all around healthier.

Cassia also goes by the name "Neutral Henna" because of its similarities. The powder does resemble that of henna but it will not stain your hair the way that henna can. From what I see from other cassia users, it will only enhance your natural hair color.

Recipe

The best way to use the all-natural solution is to combine 100g of the powder to 1 cup of warm water in a mixing bowl.

As the substance becomes a paste, it is now time to apply it to your hair.

You can apply the mixture with your hair or you can use an brush applicator. I like the applicator because it is less mess.

You want to leave the substance on your hair for at least 30 minutes and no longer than 2 hours.

Rinse with cold water so as to close the hair follicle to keep the nutrients in the hair shaft.

If you feel that your hair is a bit dry, apply a conditioner and rinse after a few minutes. This should help it to restore its moisture levels.

If you are weary about applying the mixture directly to your hair, do a strand test. This will let you know if your hair can withstand the use of Cassia.

Visit your local Indian store to buy a box of Cassia obovata or you can buy the product from Amazon.

Here is the link: http://www.amazon.com/CASSIA-OBOVATA-Neutral-Powder-Natural/dp/B002DXXDOM

Let us know how Cassia obovata worked on your hair!