Grooming Tips For Your Kinky Twists & Single Braids.

Our advise is based on, ‘Follicles 1st, Styling 2nd.’

Hair looses it’s moisture whilst in braids.  We advise our clients to use natural oils for their scalp such as Avocado, Castor and Jojoba.   These oils absorb into the pores and compared to over the counter (petroleum based) products, they don’t create build up and therefore hair growth is encouraged.  Apply 2-3 times a week.

Spritz,Spritz,Spritz…

This is a water based mixture.  It supports your daily grooming regime and can be applied as many times as required to ensure gloss to hair  whilst keeping your scalp & hair hyderated, avoiding that flaky, dry feeling.  If you are feeling adventurous try creating own concoction which would be suitable for your hair type (e.g a variation of Olive, Jasmine Oil, Glycerine, Coconut Oil, Rose Water etc).

Wash,Wash, Wash…

Once your braids have settled in (Approx 14days after installation), think about  cleansing your scalp and try not to disturb your extensions, or they will become loose & possibly could fall off.  Wash at least once every 10-14 days.  To cleanse scalp and promote new growth.  Before washing, section your hair and then band.  Whilst washing massage your scalp with the pads of your fingers enough for your scalp to move.  Do this gently.  No scrubbing please.  Ensure you dilute your shampoo with water, (over the corner shampoos tend to content Parabens, Lauryl Sulphates etc..)  half water/half shampoo is a good ratio.         We advise our clients to read products’ labels before purchasing & applying to their scalp.

Rinse, Rinse, Rinse…

Thoroughly rinse off braids to ensure all residue is removed.  Once clean, we advise the use of micro fibre, or absorbent cotton cloths and towels to ensure lint build is avoided.  Remove bands after you have towel dried your extensions, this will help reduce risk of extensions slipping off your wet strands.  Leave your braids down to allow air circulations, avoiding mould build up.

More Tips:

• Itch Relief: Essential Oils such as Lavender, Peppermint and Tea Tree helps soothe and moisturises dry and itchy scalps. Please ensure you have carried out an allergy test. A tea spoon (small amount) can be added to your 1ltr  water based spritz mix.
• Be clear on your wish list with regards to your hair.  Why are you braiding your hair?  What long term results do you want for your hair?  Is your braid choice the best for what you wish for your hair?
• It is important to have a relationship with your Braider.  Have they checked on you after style installation?  Are you able to call them and ask questions regarding your hair care regime?
• Braids must be kept in for no longer than two months (ideally 6weeks).  Bespoke Hair Styles Advises a 2-3 weeks break before re-installing new braids, this is to help relieve the tension on your scalp.
• Your extensions must not hurt your scalp and bumps are a sign of pulling, if the latter occurs try to loosen the braid, soak affected area slowly twirl in a downward motion make sure you use one had to hold down the base so you aren’t pulling on your already hurt follicles.
• We recommend you check out http://www.sheabuttercottage.co.uk  and  http://www.tlcnaturals.co.uk/   for best shampoo & conditioning products for your hair during the time it is in extensions.

Enjoy your extensions!

Let’s Talk Braids: Hair Shedding & Breakage

It is important to understand the difference between shedding and breakage of hair.

Shedding is when hair naturally falls on average 50-100 strands daily, this still occurs when hair is in braids. As a result, when they are removed, the accumulation of the shaded strands over the period of time your hair has been in braids will be evident. This Normal, you are experiencing shedding which has occured  through the weeks when you wore your braids.

Breakage is when your strands are prematurely cut or pulled from the root. This can be avoided.

Some of the reasons for breakage includes:

• Hair being pulled too tight during installation.  Is your Braider asking you whether they are pulling?
• Braids being installed too soon after hair has been processed.
• Braider needing to pull every little strand of hair into the braid especially along your hair line.
• Be careful of wearing heavy braids . If there are more extensions pieces than your own sectioned hair (this could increase the risk of breakage) this leads to heavy pulling and therefore heightens the risk of hair loss.
• Size of parting must be considered &  micro partings have a higher risk of hair loss.

Melissa Blake & Huguette Lawson

Natural Hair Stylists

  Bespoke Hair Styles

   Mob: 07939 218 372

  http://facebook.com/bespokehairstyles

(Add Us)

5 Tips On Selecting A Follicle-Conscious Braider

• Always consult with your Braider before extension installation.  Start with a phone conversation, start talking about your hair history.  Your reasons for choosing to braid.  When you first meet, talk through your scalp’s health.  Let your Braider know whether you have used the extensions you want installed before to confirm whether you need an allergy test.

• Ensure your stylist assesses your scalp.  If you suffer in parts of your scalp from high sensitivity tell your Braider, so you aren’t in pain during installation.

• During your consultation,  your Braider should check your hair and scalp, to be sure it is safe to install your extensions.   They should understand your grooming regime because this will also help clarify best extensions for your hair.

• Be warned, whether permanent colouring or relaxing agents have been applied to your strands, Bespoke Hair Styles’ research has shown, you must wait ideally 3 weeks before adding anymore tension on to your weakened strands.  Tension has already been placed unto  them as a result of the chemicals used for straightening or colouring your hair.  There is a higher risk of hair breakage if extensions are installed any earlier.

• If at the beginning of your consultation your Braidert first discusses price, please end that meeting because their first interest must always be your scalp and hair wellness.

           Melissa Blake & Huguette Lawson

           Natural Hair Stylists

           Bespoke Hair Styles

         Mob: 07939 218 372

http://facebook.com/bespokehairstyles

(Add Us)

The Bespoke Hair Style Service.

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Melissa: born of Sierra Leonean & Gambian parents, as a little girl in Sierra Leone, I’d sit under a bench while my hair was hot combed, braided, canerowed or threaded and sometimes it hurt.

It’s 2011 & together with Huguette, we have chosen to provide a natural hair consultancy & styling service personal to you.   We understand when you worry about transitioning from perm to natural.   1994, I stopped the perm to transition to curly perm (Jheri curls), because there was no way I thought I could survive without chemicals,  but then I discovered my natural curls and I loved them.

We hear your concerns about styling your natural hair, for 12 years I styled my hair to suit my PR Recruitment environment, then as a mentor within a college.  My hair has got nothing but compliments.  Leading me to ask the question, I feel fab with my natural hair, everyone says I look fab, what’s the issue with rocking afros within a corporate environment?  I discovered the problem is lack of hair care support within UK.  Not Enough Natural Hair Stylists?!  I began styling my hair and then friends, then clients suddenly I stopped just because, I did not value my work.

When you ask what else can you do with your hair we get it.
I have twisted, threaded, done bantu knots, jumbo & micro extensions plaited, my final versatile style was single twists. In 2006 I knew I wanted a permanent natural change and was close to screaming when I discovered Sisterlocks at an Adornment event, I just knew it was for me. 8mnths later I was Sisterlocked up and I love it!

When you tell us you are suffering from hair loss we understand and support you as best as we can. Our research shows us Traction Alopecia is a leading cause of hair loss.  We will give you tips to help encourage re-growth.

When you say you loose your voice within a salon environment we get it.  I am heading to my 6^th year of Sisterlocks and I love this type of service, we bring this professional intimate very private service into the natural hair care market, I would have loved this service to have existed when I needed support with styling my natural hair.

 

The Bespoke Hair Styles Experience.

• We launched in August 2011, we stay learning.  We say, you remain the expert in your scalp & hair and we support you into enjoying hairstyles to suit your lifestyle.
• We are mobile, working with clients from our home space or within yours.
• We ask you not to blow dry your hair, as we work from 100% shrinkage, which is the healthiest point of your hair.  The curlier your hair, the better The Bespoke Finish.
• We do all finger combing work.
• We work with pure natural oils.
• We do not pull your hair.
• We do not work with heat.
• We work with honesty and we will tell you if we feel a style could weaken your follicles.
• We are consultative and work with your hair type, everyone’s hair is different. We do not categorise or label your hair as it would not help us support your scalp or hair care regime. We recognise everyone’s hair story is different.
• Children our welcome and we love mother & daughter styling sessions.  Let your children learn how to enjoy their hair through you.
• We are Locticians, Qualified Trainee Sisterlocks® Consultants & Natural Hair Stylists passionate about bringing Threading Back!

Thank You For Reading Our Blog.  We Are Happy For You To Share.

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Bespoke Talks Hair Extensions.

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Are You A Lover Of Extensions?

Do You Wish/Want To Enjoy Wearing Your Own Natural Hair?  If Yes, Then Make A Decision To Not Continually Wear Your Hair In Extensions. Your Strands Must Be Free So You Get To Know Your Hair’s Habits.  Become An Expert In What Your Hair Loves (Or Doesn’t).

If  You Want To Truly Know and Love To Rock Your Natural Hair, Only Use Hair Extensions For Short-Term Temporary Styling (No Longer Than c6wks). When Extensions Becomes Your Daily Routine, You Begin To Hinder You Knowing Your Hair And Supporting It Into Being At It’s Optimum Growth. Remember When You Are Wearing Extensions, Ensure You Are Giving Your Strands The Right Moisture Balance,  Spritz Often And Oil Regularly.  Bespoke Suggests Using Natural Oils (Reducing Risk Of Build Up).  To Avoid Risk Of Traction Alocpecia (Hair Loss), Avoid Heavy Braids.   Your Extension Piece Must Never Be More Than Your Own Sectioned Hair.

Do You  Love Your Natural You? Nothing More Powerful & Freeing Than Being Happy With Your Reflection Without Any Add Ons.  What Is Beautiful Is Loving Your Natural Reflection Not Waiting For Others To Tell You You Are Beautiful, But For You To Feel It, See It and Own It, Then You Can Celebrate Natural You.

Do Not Become A Hair Extension Addict.

Look Book Two

It’s All In The Feeling!

The Feeling.  We Get Whilst We Touch Your Hair.
It’s Moments When We Share Our Stories.  When A Connection Is Felt.

In That Moment When Your Words And Ours Intertwine.
Energies Change Reflecting That Feeling.  We Are Connecting!

Your Shoulders Relaxed, With Your Straight Back.
Your Eyes Open Smiling At Your Reflection.  Can You Feel It?

You Feel It!  You Say, “I Look Beautiful.”   She Hears You,
Sees You Touching Your Hair.  She Gets It.  You Are Beautiful!

You Look At Her Smiling Up At You.  You Beam Back.
Smiling At Mirrored-You, We Hear You Say, “I LOVE MY HAIR!”

It’s In That Moment, We Know It’s All In The Feeling.
We Love To Touch Your Hair, Keeping You, Hair-Beautiful!

Thank You For Inviting Us To Be Part Of Your Hair Journey.
It’s All In The Feeling When We Touch Your Hair

MelissaBlake 6/10/11

A Collection Of Our Work To Date.

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It’s Just Hair!

It’s Just Hair!

Seventeen years with no chemical straighteners,
Gone through the salon stares, the glares, the shaking heads,
“What?!” They say, “WHY? Why choose that Afro Hair?”

Touching my hair, loving this nice natural feeling.
I chose no more stares, glares and shaking of those perm heads,
No more voiceless, panicked strickened Afro Hair Me.

No Blogs, Face Book, You Tube to guide me towards my natural style.
There was no one like me, I felt at that time. Did I mind?
Naaa I slowly began to love being Meli… Afro Red Hair Me!

At work, at play, I’ve been told my hair is “To die for.”
I Got it!!! I got it! My hair is fine. It’s Enough. Perfect as it is!
Successful recruitments, career moves all whilst I carry My Afro Hair!

My hair styles changed as I changed,
Room walls painted too bright, my bright hair twisted too tight.
Meli… “Where’s your head at? Just look at my Bright Copper Afro Hair!

Now with my sister locked up hair, cream, chocolate accent walls,
My roots of Africa, touching my solid British trunk, holding my branches…
Can You Guess my head space from my Henna Locked Up Hair?

With my self awareness, pride & knowledge, I feel ready, qualified.
To touch your hair, to share your hair story, to support your follicles.
Afro, Permed, Mixed Curly, Straight…. I Am Honoured to touch Your Hair.

Hairs to the future. One community. Same follicles, different melanin.
My Mission; demystifying groups perception of each other through hair.
Not one head of hair is the same and yes you can touch My Hair.

We Touch all hair types. We oil, style & you go!
You stay Fabulous, loving all the stares, glares and nodding heads!
Because it is what it is…. Just Your Hair!

MelissaBlake 4/10/11