On this episode of Snatched Edges podcast, ‘My Black Hair Heroes’, I list some of my faves who have helped me on my natural hair journey.

Episode Overview

Companies and Products mentioned in this episode:

Shea butter Cottage Afrocenchix Afrocks Lovejamii https://myluxebeauty.com

https://xsandyshairandcosmetics.co.uk http://www.noscrunchie.com

https://shop.catface.me https://curlytreats.co.uk

https://theblackhairbook.com

https://www.youtube.com/user/FusionofCultures

http://www.curlture.co.uk

https://www.instagram.com/hairnbeautydirectory

http://www.thewigwitch.com

Full episode Transcript

Welcome back to the Snatched Edges podcast. I'm your host, Ebuni. This is a podcast where you learn how to have healthy hair, a healthy scalp. You know, grow out your fro, reach your hair goals.... all of that....all of that. Can we just talk about how long January was?! Because I feel like 2018 is over. It's like it's 2019, now that lasted forever.

I'm so glad it's February, it means that the Healthy Hair Challenge has started. We are now on Day Two. If you haven't signed up already, there is still time. You know, just go into the description box. There'll be a link for you to sign up. And I will send you all you need. It's a 21 day Hair Challenge, where you learn how to have healthy hair. We go through everything from products to tools..... to you know, everything else. You can just find that you can sign up..... you can find out, it's all free. And yeah...... today, just a quick one. I wanted to talk to you about, you know, some of my..... my Black Hair Heroes in the UK. 

I feel like February is Black History Month in America. And I just say instead of going into the past, so that's cool. But I wanted to go to some people who right now who are poppin ', who have really helped me on my natural hair journey. And you're just showing some love. It's the Month of Love. Valentine's Day is coming up. So I wanted to get you guys right! Get you guys together! And give you a few of my tips and tricks and anything, to help your hair journey go as smooth as possible. 

So let's start with products. I'm a bit of a DIY queen. Like I don't really like buying, too many products. Because I find that, sometimes it can be a bit weird of how it works on your hair. Some ingredients are very, very, very suspect. You have to do a lot of research. So I've been making a lot of my own moisturisers, shampoos, that kind of thing. 

And I get all of my products, well like the main bulk of them from a company called Shea Butter Cottage. It's ran by a really lovely lady. And I really liked them, because all of their products are Fair Trade. They are Organic, most of them are like Vegan Friendly, and they're really ethical. So any of the profits go back into funding, you know, small local projects back in Ghana; in her hometown. She finds them education for children. She supports all of the workers who create the Shea butter for her.

 And I think it's like really good to, to kind of see where your products are coming from and knowing like the journey that they've made. Because sometimes we can hear like, "Oh yeah, you know, these products are natural, they're great", but maybe the company's ethics aren't so good. So to know that you're actually supporting, you can know where your pounds and your pennies are going back, to help people back in the motherland. I'm really all about that. 

Another one I've tried recently, is Afrocenchix. And I really was impressed with their customer service. I .... my mom needed some new products and I wanted to try out something new, as I've heard a lot about them. So I decided to hit them up, I bought the little Travel set and it's actually like the cutest thing ever. I think at the moment they've got five products in their range. So there's a shampoo, a moisturiser, a sealing oil, a scalp oil and a leaving conditioner or like a daily moisturising spray. And yo! It's so cool like they're so cute. You can tell that they were made of love, like they put a lot of effort into it. And they are actually the first British Afro Hair brand to be stocked in Whole Foods. 

So we have to go out and support our sisters. Because that is a big big move. That's a good look. You know if you can go out and buy it, try it. The set for five products, the little minis only costs like 20 pounds (£). So if you are a product junkie or you're a bit wary about buying full size products, that is a great way to kind of try and see if it works for your hair. And you know, support them if you can. 

Now if you're looking for a stylist, and you're not really sure who to trust. Because we all know that going to black hairdressers can be, a difficult experience to say the least. And everybody's got their own different horror stories about you know, days that they've gone out and not had the greatest. Or sometimes, they've had the best and they want to share it.

So there is a review site called No Scrunchie and they list... I'd say like the majority of Afro Hair stylists in the UK. So it's not just London, it's all UK wide. And people can actually go on there and leave user reviews. So if you have a place in mind, have a look on the website first. See what the reviews are saying, you can find out about different stylists. 

You can find out who's the best for cuts, who's the best for colours. All in your local area. And they actually run as well, a Good Salon Awards every year. So they like to recognise. I think that's really important that they're trying to push, the Afro Caribbean market forward. As I said, it does have a bit of a bad rep. But they are promoting and rewarding stylists and salons.

 Who do a good job and who are loved by their clients. So if you have a place of mind, if you're not too sure about it, you can check it out first. Now if you're not really a salon person and you prefer a stylist to come to your house......

There are two websites, I'm going to give you that can help you out. The first one is called The Black Hair Book. And it helps you to find out Afro salons in your area and another one is called Afrocks. And I'm actually on there, as a Mobile Stylist. So if you don't want to go out, you want someone to come to your house.... you'd like to be pampered at home.

You know, you got your comforts, you've got your tea, got your Netflix chillin, there's no waiting times.... you prefer the more personal touch...

That is a great website for you to go on. And to book a mobile stylist, braids, extensions locs, you can do children's hair ..... It's really really good. All the stylists on there are vetted. They have reviews, so can see. You can talk to them first. Definitely check out, Afrocks.

For events, if you like to go out, you like to mingle with people. In July of this year, there's an event coming up called the Curly Treats Festival. And it's actually the UK's Biggest Natural Hair event. It used to be called Natural Hair Week, where the ladies who put it on, used to do events all over the UK.

So there would be some in London, I think it was like Birmingham, Manchester all over the shop. And they really wanted to promote natural hair, but they've changed it now. And it is one day event in July. They've just sold out all of their early bird tickets, but you still can get tickets for the event. I think they're still quite reasonably priced. 

You can find out about new product launches, talk to retailers. It's a good place to just come and see loads of people with their.... their hair shining and like I'm sure there's Afros' galore, bantu knots... everything. It definitely will be some style inspiration for you. If you are more of an extension girl, a brand that I absolutely love is called Cat Face Hair. Now they were like doing unicorn and bright colour braids extensions before, most people. 

Like, they were the easiest ones to get and their quality is like...... I'm yet to find another brand who can match their quality. Their colours don't run, they have such a range. And the lady that runs it..... Marie Antoinette, she's an absolute gem that she's so lovely. Like, she's the cutest thing ever. 

Her Instagram has got like...... she's like the most carefree black girl. She does these cool styles. She's not afraid to rock colours. It's just like...... yeah man have to support that. If you're looking for style inspiration, a Instagram page that I follow called Hair and Beauty Directory. Has like.... they're like.... they're like the Pinterest on Instagram. They promote and they showcase the finest stylists across the UK and worldwide. So you can find out what the latest trends are. See what people are doing, you know.

  If you're.... if you're going to your stylist you can like..... I'm too sure what I want to get done. Definitely go have a look through their page, because there's something for everyone. 

If you're a YouTube girl, and you like to watch videos and tutorials.....I would say Fusion of Cultures and Curlture.... are two British girls. Two.... three British girls in fact, who you need to be following. Fusion of Cultures, she's got like a long lovely hair and does these most amazing styles. And Curlture, do like the cutest Headwrap tutorials and their styles are so easy to do. 

So even like if you can't braid, you can't canerow, you don't know how to flat twist. There's something there for you, that shows you step by step how easy it can be. 

 There's a blog I used to follow back in the day, when I first went natural years and years and years ago. Called Care For Your Hair. I don't know, if they're still on the internet as much. But I'm sure like in the archives you can find something about them. Now, what else is on my list? What else, what else? What else? Wigs!

If you are a Wig Queen, there is no reason why you are not following the Wig Witch. And, when I tell you, she's a witch with these wigs. I'd be looking at her picture.... like I can't see where that..... Blending Queen is absolutely magic. She has the finest Afro textured wigs, that I have seen in a long long time. So she is like, the Afro Textured Wig Queen. If you want like the big blowout, kind of look the 4C fro..... if you want something a little bit more tapered..... she has all textures to suit Afro hair. And it is so cool. Like when I tell you...... Magic! Wig Witch, she's earned her name. You have to check her out on Instagram. 

I have to give a shout out to xSandy's. Which is one of the few, if not only...........I don't be mistaken, say only. But I know they were one of the first Black-owned product stores. They've got a store in Lewisham, they've got a store in Peckham. So instead of going to you know, the Asian man that's going to be rude and you know giving them.......

Let's circulate our money within our community, give some of our people, our coins. And UK Jamii, they have a discount card for loads of black businesses. So it's not just for hair stuff. You can get other products on there as well. So you know, get your discount while you're spending your money. 

MyLuxe Beauty is another online store. Where you can buy products. Now a lot of them are from the US, which I think is quite good. Because you can get them shipped to you. So if you live, I know for people that live in London, we're really, really spoiled. We have a lot of choice. But for the people who live further out, and they do worldwide shipping as well. So you can get products, wherever you are based.

I just really wanted to give a shout out to some people who are like, you know, doing good work. This is no way an exhaustive......... This is no way an exhaustive list. These are just a few people that came to mind. I thought today I want to give a shout out to people, who.....I have appreciated their work. And I feel like they are making big moves, in the Afro Hair and Natural Hair scene. And I wanted to show some love because sometimes people can think that, "oh, you know, natural hair, or like it's very exclusive. We don't want to help each other." And I think that's rubbish. 

And these people out here, who have been working hard. To produce content for us to make really good products, and they care about their craft. And they care about the people who are buying them as well. So they're not just out here, to make a quick buck or to exploit. They are really focused, on getting the best out of people. And so, you know, so it's only right that I support and show.... show love.

I thought it is an easy way, when people ask me where I get my hair stuff from.... or who do I like? Or what things I'm using, this is just a way to come back. I will probably update this, every so often. Because I'm sure I've missed out hundreds of people, who are also doing good things. So if I didn't mention you, it's not a bad thing. I just couldn't remember you, at the time that I was recording. 

 So, I am sorry. But you know, we'll get there. We'll get .....I will get to everyone. And yeah, so if there are other people that you think are...... "Ebuni, I can't even believe that you didn't even put this person in", definitely drop a comment below. 

Tag them, share this, you know, let's help each other out. Because some of the products here, you might be like, "Oh, that's cool, but have you tried this ?"And I always want to learn and know more. So you know, the Month of Love, let's show some love to our people them, let's support their businesses. And I'm telling you, your hair is gonna like thank you so much. Because they are, great products and companies and events for us to go to. To get our hair poppin. All right. I think that's me rambling on for a little bit. 

Again, if you haven't signed up for the Hair challenge do so. There's no reason not to. Your hair is missing out. You know, don't do that to yourself. It's about Love, this month. Love your hair, improve your hair. And yeah, I'll see you next week. All right, guys. Take care. Bye bye.

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