DOING IT NATURAL

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  • Are You Combing Your Natural Hair the Right Way?

    Are You Combing Your Natural Hair the Right Way?

    Combing natural hair can be a challenge, depending on your hair type. While 3C and 4A hair may be a little easier to comb, those of us with 4B and 4C hair know just how difficult it can be.

    4C hair, in particular, can be very challenging to comb.

    Some of us dread combing our hair because of the breakage, tangles, knots and, of course, the pain that can come with it.

    But what if some of the things we do while combing are actually making the process harder?

    Here are some common mistakes that can make combing natural hair more difficult.

    What Makes Combing Natural Hair Difficult?

    1. Not Moisturising

    Combing your hair when it is dry and without adequate moisture can turn the process into a tug of war.

    Dry hair can be more difficult to manipulate, and trying to force a comb through it can result in unnecessary breakage and pain.

    Moisturise your hair before you start combing.

    A woman gently applies water to define and moisturize her curls at home.

    2. Combing From the Roots to the Ends

    Doing this is almost like asking your hair to break off.

    Tangles and knots are usually concentrated towards the ends of the hair. Starting at the roots means you are dragging those tangles through the entire length of your hair.

    Instead, start from the ends and gradually work your way up towards the roots.

    3. Not Being Gentle and Patient

    If you are rushing out to go somewhere, it may not be the best time to comb your hair.

    When you are in a hurry, you are less likely to have the patience and gentleness needed to properly detangle your hair.

    You can wake up earlier so you have enough time, or you can detangle and style your hair the previous night.

    Don’t rush your hair.

    4. Not Twisting, Braiding or Pineappling Your Hair Before Sleeping

    When you go to bed without preparing your hair, you may wake up with more knots and tangles the following morning.

    And then, of course, you have even more work to do when it is time to comb your hair!

    Twisting, braiding or pineappling your hair before bedtime can help reduce unnecessary tangling.

    5. Using the Wrong Type of Comb

    The type of comb you use matters.

    If you are using a fine-tooth comb on your natural hair, you may be setting yourself up for unnecessary breakage.

    A wide-tooth comb is a much better option for detangling natural hair.

    And if you visit a hairstylist, make sure you let them know how you want your natural hair handled. Don’t be afraid to ask them not to use a fine-tooth comb on your hair.

    6. Combing Wet Hair

    Hair is very vulnerable and flexible when wet, so be mindful when handling it in this state.

    If you are going to detangle or comb your hair while it is wet, make sure you are gentle and avoid forcing a comb through tangled hair.

    How to Comb Natural Hair the Right Way

    Now that we’ve looked at some of the things that can make combing difficult, let’s talk about how to make the process easier.

    1. Detangle First

    Always detangle your hair before combing, preferably with your fingers. A wide-tooth comb can also be used if needed.

    Start from the ends and gently work your way up towards the roots.

    This can save you a lot of stress when it is finally time to use your comb.

    2. Moisturise Your Hair

    Make sure you moisturise your hair before combing.

    You can use the LOC or LCO method to moisturise your hair before you begin.

    This can make your hair easier to work with and help reduce the pain and difficulty experienced while combing.

    3. Try Finger Combing

    Finger combing involves using your fingers to gently work through your hair instead of immediately reaching for a comb.

    It takes more time and is best done when you are not in a hurry, but it can be worth the effort.

    You can divide your hair into about 8–12 sections and take your time working through each section.

    For 4C hair, finger combing can be a great way to reduce the amount of manipulation from combs.

    4. Use a Wide-Tooth Comb

    If you prefer using a comb, a wide-tooth comb is one of the best options for natural hair.

    A lot of naturalistas swear by wide-tooth combs because they allow you to work through the hair without forcing the teeth too closely together.

    5. Comb From the Ends to the Roots

    Natural hair should generally be combed from the ends towards the roots because of its kinky and curly nature.

    Unlike relaxed or straight hair, natural hair can easily form knots and tangles along its length.

    Start at the ends.

    Remove the knots and gently work through the tangles before gradually moving upwards.

    Ends → middle → roots.

    Final Thoughts

    Combing natural hair doesn’t have to be a battle.

    The key is to prepare your hair, take your time, work in sections and be gentle.

    Your natural hair deserves patience and care.

    And if you have 4C hair like I do, you already know that sometimes your fingers can be your best comb!

    So, the next time you pick up your comb, ask yourself:

    Are you combing your natural hair the right way?

    What combing challenges have you experienced? Do you finger-comb or use a wide-tooth comb?

    I’d love to hear from you in the comments. ❤️

  • I’m back after 9 years: What happened to Doing it Natural?

    I’m back after 9 years: What happened to Doing it Natural?

    I can’t believe it has already been 9 years since I started Doing It Natural Blog.

    I started Doing It Natural in 2017 with so much passion for natural hair, health, beauty and healthy living. I was excited to share what I was learning, connect with other people and create a space where we could talk about the things I genuinely loved.

    And for a while, it was going really well.

    I actually had two versions of Doing It Natural — my original free blog and a monetised version that grew from it. I was so proud of what I had built and excited about where it could go.

    Unfortunately, I eventually lost the monetised blog.

    And then… life happened.

    My last blog post was in 2017, and somehow, almost nine years have passed since I last sat down to write here.

    Since my last post, I’ve had my fair share of ups and downs. I relocated to the United Kingdom to start a new life, got married, and I am now a mother as well.

    My life in the UK has largely been focused on building my family and developing my nursing career.

    The journey to becoming a mum in the UK, especially with limited support around me, has been quite a rough one. There have been beautiful moments, difficult moments, exhausting moments and plenty of times when I’ve had to figure things out as I went along.

    Life became busy.

    Really busy.

    And somewhere along the way, the woman who was so passionate about blogging in 2017 became a woman trying to balance family, motherhood, work and everything else life was throwing at her.

    Doing It Natural was put on the back burner.

    For years.

    But recently, I found myself looking back at this little corner of the internet again.

    And something surprised me.

    People were still visiting.

    Even after all these years of silence, some of my old posts were still being read. People were still finding my content, including through Pinterest.

    I couldn’t help but wonder:

    Maybe Doing It Natural isn’t finished after all.

    Maybe I didn’t really abandon it.

    Maybe life simply took me on a very long detour.

    And now, I’m ready to come back.

    But I’m not the same person who started this blog in 2017.

    I’ve grown. I’ve changed. I’ve experienced marriage, motherhood, relocation, career changes, challenges and so many things I couldn’t have imagined when I wrote my first posts.

    So this new chapter of Doing It Natural will evolve with me.

    I’ll still be talking about the things that brought me here in the first place — natural hair, skincare, beauty, health and healthy living — but I’ll also be sharing some of what I’ve learned along the way.

    I’ll be talking about navigating life as a Black woman in the UK, motherhood, finding time for yourself when life is demanding, beauty routines that actually work for busy women, and the products and practices I’m discovering along the way.

    And I also want this to be a place where I can be honest.

    Not everything has to be perfect.

    Sometimes self-care is a 10-minute skincare routine.

    Sometimes it’s washing your hair when you’ve been putting it off for two weeks.

    Sometimes it’s finding a product that makes your life easier.

    And sometimes it’s simply admitting that you’re tired and starting again tomorrow.

    So, after almost nine years, I’m giving Doing It Natural another chance.

    I’m not promising to be perfect this time.

    I’m simply promising to show up.

    If you’ve been here since the beginning, thank you. ❤️

    And if you’re discovering Doing It Natural for the first time, welcome.

    There’s a lot that has changed since 2017.

    But one thing hasn’t changed:

    I still love doing it natural.

    Welcome back to Doing It Natural.

    Let’s see where this new chapter takes us. 🌿

  • 500+ Followers

    Hey guys, I recently hit 500 follows on my blog and I’m so excited about it. I started this blog in March, 2017 and it has been an amazing journey with you all.

    I deeply appreciate all your likes, comments, reblog, awards nominations and many more. I never thought I was going to get 50 followers let alone 500+. I appreciate all the love so far.

    To all my readers from 100+ countries especially the top four countries (United States of America, Nigeria, India and United Kingdom), I say a very big thank you.

    I have moved to a self hosted site, www.doingitnaturalblog.com, I will be very grateful if you can also follow me on my new blog. Thanks for the love.

  • 7 signs of a bad natural hair stylist – Doing it Natural Blog

    Can you trust your hair stylist? Check this post out guys.

    https://doingitnaturalblog.com/2017/09/26/7-signs-of-a-bad-natural-hair-stylist/

  • Are You Combing Your Natural Hair the Right Way? – Doing it Natural Blog

    This is an article I wrote on my new self hosted site.

    Combing natural hair can be a tough work, the tangles, knots and breakage experienced can be heart breaking and tiring. Are you thinking of giving up on your natural hair journey because of combing? Check this post out to know what you are doing wrong.

    https://doingitnaturalblog.com/2017/09/01/are-you-combing-your-natural-hair-the-right-way/

  • Natural Hair Tag

    Hey guys, I have been tagged. I’m super excited about this. Thanks to pursuit of natural for nominating me and Yeka for creating this tag.

    Pursuit of Natural is a blog you need to follow, if you are into natural hair and arts. Also, she is such an amazing person. She made a portrait of me that I’m truly grateful for, check it out below.

    The Rules: It goes for all hair types… From straight to the coiliest, kinkiest strands.

    • Put the logo/image on your blog.
    • List the rules.
    • Thank the person who nominated you and link their blog.
    • Mention the creator of the Hair Tag and link their blog.
    • Answer the Hair Tag Questions plus the additional question asked by your nominee
    • You have to nominate 5-10 people.
    • Notify your nominees by commenting on their blog.
    • Ask your nominees 2 questions of your choice.
    • Post your picture on Instagram and Tag @de-naturelle for a repost or use the hash tag #denaturelle
    • Reblog their Response (optional)

    Questions

    • Tell us a little about you? What do you do with your spare time? My name is Adeyoola, I am a Nigerian and of yoruba tribe. I’m also a registered nurse. For my spare time, I surf the internet, watch movies, chat, blog or write.
    • Are you natural? Yes, I’m natural and lover of all things natural including skincare and health
    • How long have you been natural? I have been natural for 2 years, 8 months.
    • Why did you go natural? My hair doesn’t relax fully, get burnt easily, breaks and very difficult to manage.
    • Was anyone against your decision? How did you surpass it? My two sisters, some friends and senior colleagues etc. I surpassed it by always remembering why I went natural and I was just very decisive.
    • What’s your hair type and how do you manage it? My hair is 4c, I prepoo ,deep condition weekly or biweekly and also use the LOC method daily or every other day.
    • How do you keep your hair moisturized and healthy? I trim split ends when necessary, do a protein treatment once or twice a month, I also deep condition and use the LOC method.
    • What are your go to natural hair products? Are you a DIY fan? Do you have hair goals? My go to natural hair products are water, sheabutter, coconut or olive oil. Yes, I’m a DIY fan from diy leave in conditioner to diy deep conditioner. My first hair goal is to ensure my hair is super healthy and serve as a muse to others. Also, I want to grow my 4c hair below mid back if not waist length.
    • How do you style your hair? I do two strand twists, afro, afropuffs, bantu knots, updos, roll, tuck and pin.
    • What’s your favourite protective hairstyle to do? Twists, with or without extension.
    • Do you use heat on your hair? How do you prevent heat damage? Since I have been natural, I’m yet to use heat on my hair.
    • Do you hairxperiment? How crazy can you go with your hair? I hairxperiment a lot, recently, I tried banana and onion diy deep conditioner, I ended up with lot of particles on my hair. I guess I didn’t blend the mixture well enough. I couldn’t get the particles off my hair at once, I decided to braid my hair and wear a wig for the week instead.
    • Have you faced any challenge as a natural? Of course, I have, tangles, knots, breakage, split ends and even the most annoying, slow growth.
    • How do you manage bad hair days? For bad hair days I opt for a wig, or a headscarf. I hate bad hair days a lot.
    • Can you share with us your thoughts on natural hair and relaxed hair? I believe you are the only one to decide however you want your hair to be, be it relaxed or natural. In my own opinion, I believe natural hair represents African’s heritage.
    • What hair rules have you stuck to as a natural? Moisturizing with LOC method, wearing satin scarf before sleeping, finger detangling and combing. My hair hates comb.
    • Can you share with us some pics of you counting your hair strands? Be creative.
    • Where can we find you? Blog: www.doingitnaturalblog.wordpress.com and www.doingitnaturalblog.com. Instagram: @doingitnaturalblog Facebook page: Doing it Natural Blog Pinterest: Adeyoola Adegoke.
    • What do you have to say to the the new, upcoming and already naturals? Firstly, natural hair is beautiful and natural hair community is one of the best. There are so many natural friends you can make and learn from. Whenever you are facing challenges in your hair journey, feel free to ask other naturals, most of us have experienced same. Don’t let anyone intimidate or put you down because of your natural hair. Try to find out what works for your natural hair, most common rules or methods might not be for you.

    Pursuit of Natural Questions

    • What hairstyle took you the most attempts to get right? That would be bantu knots.
    • If you could have someone else do one step in your hair care regimen for you, which step would that be? That would be finger detangling after 2 months of wearing a protective styles.

    My nominees

    1. Stellascreativity
    2. Daibydai
    3. Jamaicangyal
    4. Keepupblog
    5. Curlyhairvegan
    6. Fisayo
    7. Chevznatural
    8. Hairbykee
    9. Peoniesandrubies

    My Questions

    • What’s your favourite thing about being natural?
    • What is your say about shrinkage?

  • Sorry Guys

    Hey guys, how are you all doing? It has really been a while I published a post. I am so sorry for keeping you guys waiting. I missed you all so much.

    I have been so busy with work and family. I also lost my phone recently and my laptop is faulty.

    I’m back now, I promise to check out as many posts as I can and also check out the blogs of new followers.

    Thanks so much for understanding. I love you all.

  • Sunshine Blogger Award

    Wow!!! I can’t believe I have been nominated for yet another award. Thanks to the two darlings that nominated me; Xvenussx and Natural Muse, am so grateful.

    Xvenussx blog is about almost everything. Natural Muse blog is about lifestyle and natural hair care and tips. Both of them have amazing blog posts, please check them out, you won’t regret doing so.

    Here are the rules for this award:

    • Thank blogger(s) who nominated you in a blog post and link back to their blog.
    • Answer the 11 questions that the blogger asked you.
    • Nominate 11 blogs to receive the award and write them 11 new questions.
    • List the rules and display the sunshine blogger award logo in your post and/or on your blog.

    Xvenussx’s Questions

    1. Why did you start a blog? To encourage people to try natural alternatives to their hair, skin and health problems.
    2. What would be your passions? Watching movies, cooking, dancing, searching for information online.
    3. What are you looking for in a friendship? Understanding and trust.
    4. The best memory of your life would be? I don’t have a best memory yet, looking forward to it though.
    5. What gives you hope? God
    6. Is there any book/movie which changed your perspective? I used to think all romantic movies is all about lust, Korean and Indian dramas changed my view about that. It made me believe genuine love without lust is possible.
    7. Do you like history? I like bible history and also legendary movies such as Hercules.
    8. Is there an answer that you think humanity will never receive? Can’t think of any now.
    9. Do you usually trust people? I trust a lot and easily too, it hurts when someone breaks my trust.
    10. Would you rather live in the past, now (being the time you were born) or in the future? Now, because I believe God has a purpose for keeping me here this time.
    11. What do you think about science and technology? I think science has to do with nature and the universe while technology has to do with machinery and devices.

    Natural Muse’s Questions

    1. How do you spend your free time?I spend my free time watching movies or surfing the internet for information.
    2. Who do you most admire in life? My parents, they are always ready to help anyone, they are amazing.
    3.  What are you most afraid of? Death
    4.  What is your strongest personal quality? Forgiveness
    5. What are your top 3 favourite books and why? The Bible because it contains the truth and is the greatest of all books.
    6. What is a skill you’d like to learn?Hair styling
    7. How would your friends describe you? Crazy, naughty, troublemaker, bully (lol), kind, patient.
    8.  What genre of music do you listen you?? Anything that catch my attention, might be the beat or lyrics.
    9.  What cheers you up when you are down? Rewatching funny movie scenes.
    10. Which countries have you visited?Cotonou.
    11. If you would live in a book, TV show or movie, what would you be? Cinderella or Rapunzel

    My questions

    1. What or who is your source of inspiration?
    2. What personality trait do you dislike?
    3. Will you do anything to earn money?
    4. How do you feel and react when people talk down on you?
    5. Do you find it easy to please everyone?
    6. Which of your blog posts do you love most?
    7. What is your favourite color and why?
    8. What other language are you interested in learning?
    9. In your own view, what makes a good relationship?
    10. Do you find it easy to apologise when you are wrong?
    11. What is your favourite thing about blogging?

    My Nominees.

  • L.O.C Method of Moisturizing Natural Hair

    “Ouch!!!” Do you always say that whenever you comb your hair? Do you experience serious pain when your hair is left out for more than two days? You might be missing out on the important benefits of LOC method.

    Moisturizing is an integral part of natural hair care. Natural hair especially 4c hair type can’t survive without adequate moisture. 

    LOC simply stands for liquid, oil and cream. It is a common terminology in natural hair community. LOC is a process that keeps our hair moisturized a bit longer than usual, about 2 to 3 days.

    LOC products

    1. Liquid: The liquid can be a leave in conditioner preferably a water based leave in or just water. Water is the best moisturizer for natural hair.
    2. Oil: The oil seal in the moisture from the first step. Coconut oil, jojoba oil, olive oil, castor oil etc are examples of oils that can be used.
    3. Cream: For cream or butter, you can use shea or mango butter or any natural hair friendly curl or twist defining cream.

    How to moisturize using LOC method

    • Put your hair in 6 or 8 sections.
    • Spritz the section you are working on with water or water based leave in conditioner.
    • Apply a thin layer of oil from roots to ends making sure your ends (the weakest part) isn’t neglected to prevent tangles, knots and breakage.
    • Apply the cream next from roots to ends to give the hair more definition and more sealing.

    Benefits of LOC method

    •  It makes hair softer and manageable.
    • It prevent tangles and knots.
    • It prevent split ends 
    • Reduce pain while styling.
    • Minimize breakage 
    • Prevents excessive dryness.
    • Minimize frizz.
    • Keep the hair shiny.
    • Helps with hair growth.

      If the LOC method doesn’t work for you, you can also try LCO (liquid, cream and oil) method, it is also very effective. Also, LOC method works best for people with low porosity hair and LCO for those with high porosity hair.

      What method do you use in moisturizing your hair, LOC or LCO? What products do you use for LOC method? Please share your thoughts in the comment section. Thanks so much for reading.

      Please like my facebook page, https://m.facebook.com/Doingitnaturalblog/

    • Health Benefits of Honey

      Honey has been around since ancient time. It is widely used as natural remedy for certain skin and health issues and also as sugar substitute in meals. It has a sweet taste and is a lot healthier than sugar. 

      When purchasing honey, it is better to go for raw honey because it contains more nutrients and antioxidants than processed or refined honey. Honey shouldn’t be given to children under 1 year because of risk of botulism.

      • Anticancer: Honey contains antioxidants which help combat carcinogenic cells.
      • Antibacterial and Antifungal: Some research studies have proved honey to be effective in treating infectious diseases because of the defensin 1 protein it contains, this also enable honey combat antibiotic resistant infections

      • Regulate blood sugar level: Though honey is sweet and contain natural sugar, it is safer in regulating blood sugar level than sugar, it doesn’t cause an insulin spike but should be used sparingly.
      • Relieves cough and sore throat: Honey has been proven to be effective in relieving cough and soothing sore throat, it is preferred to OTCs (Over The Counter) medications such as antihistamines which can cause drowsiness and other side effects.Make a mix of honey and lemon for natural cough remedy.
      • Wound management: Honey is used in some health care facility for dressing wound, this is because it prevent and fight infection and also aid wound healing.
      • Boosts energy: If you are feeling fatigued, instead of reaching for energy drinks that contain harmful ingredients, opt for honey instead, it will replenish your energy.
      • Promotes sleep: Suffering from insomnia? Put an end to the sleepnessless by adding honey to your tea or water or just take a tablespoonful of honey before bedtime. Honey contains tryptophan which is later converted to serotonin, serotonin is then converted to melatonin, an hormone that promotes sleep.
      • Burns management: Honey’s antibacterial properties, hygroscopic effect and hydrogen peroxide content makes it effective for burns management.
      • Brain health: The antioxidants in honey enhance cognitive function, boosts memory etc.
      • Improves immune system: Honey contains vitamin C and other antioxidants that can boost immune system and make you less susceptible to infections.
      • Prevent heart diseases: Honey lowers triglycerides level, prevents heart attack and can improve blood circulation.

        Do you take honey? Do you know other health benefits of honey? Please share your experience with honey in the comment box. Thanks so much for reading.

        Sources