DOING IT NATURAL

Category: Lifestyle

  • 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. 🌿

  • 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/

  • 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

      • 15 negative things people said about my natural hair

        Hey guys, how are you all doing? I want to share some of the worst things people have said to me about my hair. I think most of us naturalistas have also heard the good, the bad and ugly things concerning our hair from friends, colleagues, coworkers, family etc especially when we just started out.

        I believe going or keeping natural hair should be your own decision and what others say or think about it shouldn’t bother you. I didn’t allow myself to be discouraged by the negative statements but it just made me dogmatic about my hair.

        1. If I were your boyfriend, I would have broken up with you because of your hair.
        2. I will buy a chemical relaxer for you, I think you can’t afford one.
        3. You will soon get tired of your natural hair.
        4. Your hair looks too untidy (because is not slicked down like relaxed hair)
        5. Those hairstyles (referring to bantu knots out, twist outs etc) you see online are sew in weaves, your hair can never be like that.
        6. Your hair won’t grow.
        7. Don’t you have money to go the salon?
        8. Is that an afro? That’s old school, people don’t do that anymore.
        9. Don’t come to my house with natural hair. (It was a joke though)
        10. Don’t ever wear your hair out, is not nice, always put on wigs or use extensions to braid or twist.
        11. Your hair looks weird.
        12. You need a lot of makeup to accentuate your look with that hair.
        13. You are only limited to styles like cornrows and African threading.
        14. Why are you using fruits and kitchen ingredients on your hair, is meant to be eaten.
        15. You are wasting your time, money and energy on that hair, is it worth it?

          What are the negative things you have heard about your hair? Have you ever felt discouraged because of what others think of your hair? Please drop your comments in the comment section. Thanks for reading

        1. Eczema: Causes, Triggers and Natural Remedies

          I had eczema the first time ever 2 months ago, I was totally shocked because I always thought I had good skin and can never get it. I have seen many people suffer endlessly from eczema and most resort to over the counter medications, topical antibiotics etc.

          Eczema is an inflammatory condition of the skin characterized by dry scaly skin, itchiness, weeping and oozy rashes and blisters. It occurs mostly on the face, hands, elbows, back of knees, feet and back. It occurs mostly in children and affect adults too.

          Causes/Triggers

          • Genetics: Eczema runs in the family, it is common among people with family history of eczema and asthma.
          • Dry skin: Having a dry skin predispose you to getting eczema
          • Stress: Stress can trigger a lot of conditions, eczema included.
          • Extremes of hot and cold temperature: Feeling too hot can make you sweat a lot and get heat rashes which can become eczematous. Also, feeling too cold can also dry your skin out.

          • Certain skin products: Some skin care products such as bathing soap and body creams contains ingredients too irritating to the skin such as parabens, sodium lauryl sulfate, mineral oil etc
          • Foods containing gluten: Eating food containing gluten such as bread can worsen symptoms of eczema
          • Dairy foods: Dairy products such as milk especially cow milk can trigger eczema and should be avoided
          • Wool fibers: Wearing clothes made of wool can also irritate and scratch your skin 
          • Detergents: Washing your clothes with detergents containing irritants can cause eczema
          • Environment allergens: Some people are allergic to pollen, grass etc and some to animals such as dogs. Coming in contact with allergens can also trigger eczema
          • Water: If you think you are doing everything right but can’t figure out what is causing eczema, your bathing water might be contaminated. That was the case for me when I had it.
          • Immunosuppression: Suppressed or abnormal functioning immune system can also predispose you to eczema.
          • Hormones

              Natural Remedies

              • Ginger:Grate some ginger and add some honey to make a paste, apply on the affected part and rinse off with warm water after 30 minutes.
              • Chamomile tea: Brew chamomile tea and apply on your skin to reduce inflammation.
              • Aloe vera gel: Aloe vera soothes the skin, relieves itching and also moisturizes making it an effective remedy for eczema relief. 
              • Apple cider vinegar: Dab some ACV on the affected part 3 times a day to relieve dryness, itching and rashes.
              • Baking soda: Make a paste of baking soda and water and apply on the eczema area, wash off after 30 minutes. This will ease symptoms of eczema.
              • Shea butter: Shea butter is very moisturizing and can also reduce scars caused by eczema.
              • Coconut oil: Coconut oil has antibacterial properties, it also relieves itching and moisture the skin
              • Olive oil: Olive oil contains omega 3 oil which helps reduce inflammation. Massage some on the affected area
              • Probiotics: Probiotics such as yoghurt and raw cheese can help the immune system fight eczema.
              • Vitamin E: You can either take vitamin E pills orally or apply the oil topically on your skin to reduce the discomfort caused by eczema.
              • Cucumber slices: Cucumber can soothes the skin, reduce swelling and redness. Place some cucumber slices on the affected area for relief.
              • Oats: Grind some oats into powder and sprinkle on your bathing water to ease the discomfort caused by eczema.
              • Honey

                  Other helpful tips

                  1. Avoid dairy and gluten food products.
                  2. Limit bathing to once daily with warm water, using soap repeatedly will further irritate your skin and hot bath will dry your skin out.
                  3. Eat omega 3 filled foods such as fish.
                  4. Avoid tight fitting and rough fiber clothes. Go for clothes with smooth surface instead.
                  5. Avoid scratching the affected part, doing so will lead to more rashes.
                  6. Ensure you wear appropriate clothes for each season.

                    Do you get eczema? What trigger it? What natural remedies do you use in managing eczema. Thanks for reading.

                    Sources

                    www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/14417.php

                    https://medlineplus.gov/eczema.html

                    http://everydayroots.com/eczema-remedies

                    http://www.naturallivingideas.com/get-rid-of-eczema/

                    https://wellnessmama.com/12065/natural-eczema-remedies/

                  1. Home Health Nursing In Nigeria 

                    I was inspired by C.E Robinson a retired nurse practitioner and fellow blogger to write this post. Most people don’t know that home health care exists in Nigeria. Home health nursing just like in any other country is the care of patients in the comfort of their homes.

                    Home care nursing is also known as Domiciliary care. Domiciliary care involves care of elderly and dementia patients, hospice care, post operative care, care of recuperating patients and those with disabilities etc in their homes.

                    Although home care nursing is well established in developed countries like United States, United Kingdom and Canada etc, it is still a new and developing phenomenon in Nigeria.

                    There are different home health agencies in Nigeria, though still few in number, are mostly located in Lagos, Nigeria.

                    My perspectives

                    • Professionalism: In Nigeria,some people view home care nurses as unprofessional because 75% or more of nurses in Nigeria work in an hospital and Nigerians have the mindset that nurses only work in hospital. Also, the fact that you work in a patient house sounds unacceptable to some.
                    • Agency: Home care nursing also varies from agency to agency. In Nigeria, your shift might be 3 days on and 3 days off duty or 1 week on and 1 week off depending on the agency you are working with.
                    • Emotional attachment: Working as a home care nurse you grow an emotional attachment to your patients because you get to see and spend time with them often unlike hospitals where patient get discharged early.

                    • Patience: As a home care nurse in Nigeria, you have to be very patient because some patients and relatives can be so unappreciative no matter how hard you work. Some use abusive words and can even attempt to be physically aggressive. There also those who are uncooperative owing to the fact that you are caring for them in their house. There are appreciative and respectful ones though who appreciate every little deed you do.
                    • Experience: Most time, the experience you get working as a home health in Nigeria isn’t as much as what you get working in an hospital.
                    • Cost: Those that go for domiciliary care in Nigeria are usually well to do people who can afford the cost.
                    • Companionship: Elderly patients often feel lonely, home health nurses provide companionship to such patients by interacting with them. They also give psychological, spiritual and emotional support more than other nurses.
                    • Sense of humour: If you have a good sense of humour, it will help you in coping as a home health nurse. For me, instead of getting angry at what a patient said, I will just change it into a polite joke. 

                      If you have an elderly person whose needs are beyond your capacity, I will suggest you get a home care nurse that will be responsible for him/her. It will also be nice if home health agencies are in all states in Nigeria.

                       What is your opinion on Home Health Nursing? Please drop your comment in the comment section and share. Thanks for reading.

                    • 9 Easy Natural Ways To Exfoliate Your Skin

                      I recently wrote a post on  8 amazing benefits of exfoliating and I promised to write another post on how to exfoliate your skin.
                      When choosing an exfoliant, it is better to go for exfoliants with all natural ingredients or use DIY recipes.Not only are the diy exfoliants cheaper but are also safer for the skin and you can easily get them in your kitchen.

                      DIY Natural Scrubs

                      • Sugar: Sugar contains glycolic acid which helps remove dead skin cells and improve cell regeneration. Mix 1/2 cup of sugar with olive or coconut oil.This might be too harsh for your face.

                      • Baking soda: This works as gentle exfoliant, it works best when mixed with honey and is also safe for the face.
                      • Salt scrub: Salt is also a good exfoliant, combine 1/2 cup of salt with coconut or olive oil and massage it on your skin.
                      • Coffee scrub: Caffeine in coffee can boost collagen production. Mix some ground coffee with olive oil and honey.

                      • Lemon scrub: Lemon contains alpha hydroxyl acid which is a great exfoliator. Squeeze a lemon in a mix of sugar and honey and use it to scrub your skin.
                      • Oatmeal: Oats is also a gentle exfoliant and very good for those with sensitive skin. It is my favourite especially whem mixed with honey. Grind some oatmeal and mix with honey to exfoliate your skin. You can also use the oat without grinding by mixing with warm water but it will make your bathroom messy.

                      • Papaya: Papaya contains an enzyme called papain which helps get rid of dead skin cells. Mash some papaya and apply it over your body with a loofah.

                      • Milk: Lactic acid in milk makes it a good exfoliant. Mix equal parts of milk and honey together and scrub your skin gently with it.
                      • Honey: Honey has antibacterial properties, it can brighten skin, fades stretch mark etc. You can use it alone to exfoliate but is better to use with other exfoliator for effective results. 

                      Things you will need

                      1. Loofah, soft brittle brush or exfoliating gloves.
                      2. Exfoliating agent preferably natural scrubs such as oatmeal, sugar, honey, coffee etc
                      3. Moisturizer
                      4. Warm water
                      5. Cold water

                      Steps of exfoliating

                      1. Take a warm shower, this will open your skin pores so that the exfoliating products can work effectively.
                      2. Apply the exfoliating agent on your loofah or exfoliating gloves
                      3. Spread or slather the scrub all over your body working from your chest to your legs gently in a circular motion if you are using a shower and from your legs to your chest if using a bath tub.
                      4. Don’t forget your back, you can use a brush with handle to scrub if you can’t have full access to it.
                      5. Apply a gentler exfoliant on your face and neck, avoiding your eye area and lips because of their thin skin layer or scrub gently. Also, use your palms to exfoliate your face, using loofah or brush can be too harsh for your face.
                      6. Rinse your face and body with cold water to close your pores back.
                      7. Follow up with a moisturizer immediately after towel drying your body.

                          How do you exfoliate? What diy recipes do you use? Thanks for reading.