For happy winter skin...

Cold air can cause havoc for your poor skin. Just the other day, a colleague was asking for some Vaseline because his lotion had been “blown” from his face. Another guy laughed at him saying his skin was flaky because he hadn’t taken a bath. We all had a good laugh but this is a genuine problem during cold days. I experience it sometimes. My regular lotion doesn’t seem to be enough; I sometimes have to add extra moisturiser to avoid dry patchy skin. Cold weather and low humidity levels result in dry air which then steals moisture away from the skin every second of the day.

Additional moisture helps, but you need to do more to actually counteract these effects and keep skin looking youthful and smooth. To reduce dry, chapping skin which feels a little tight, try hot showers and baths but when you’re particularly just washing your face or hands, choose lukewarm water to avoid stripping too many oils from the skin. Your skin not only needs more moisture during cold days, but moisture right after you bath. Applying moisture to damp skin helps seal that dampness into the skin. Keep a bottle of moisturiser near the bath tub, shower stall, and at every sink and use liberally every time you wash.

Some over the counter moisturisers have petroleum-based ingredients that can actually further dry your skin in the winter months. Be sure to choose a smart formula that has natural, nourishing ingredients. Go for an oil-based rather than a water-based solution, as it’s more likely to help your skin retain moisture during winter. Try products with natural, hydrating ingredients like lavender, chamomile and jojoba which help soothe dry skin. 

Get used to wearing gloves and scarves to protect the skin from cold winds. I know it’s not that cold yet but when the time comes, do remember this.  Also, don’t forget the sunscreen. Winter sun can be just as damaging as summer sun, so apply a safe option like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide to any exposed areas.

We tend to drink less water during winter because we turn to hot drinks like cocoa and tea, but don’t forget that your skin needs hydration from the inside out. A little warm water with lemon can be very refreshing and hydrating at the same time. Dryer areas like hands, feet, elbows, and knees have thin skin and tend to lose moisture faster than other areas on the body. Consider slathering on a deep moisturising balm at night, then wear cotton gloves and socks to seal in the moisture until morning. 

We often forget to help the skin slough off dead cells during winter, particularly on our hands. Yet moisture can’t get in if the dead cells are too plentiful. Find an exfoliating mask and use it on your face and hands, as well as gently on your lips, then follow immediately with moisture to truly see a smoother difference. Exfoliating body washes are also helpful during winter months.

Experts say if you have eczema, dermatitis, or psoriasis, you have to avoid allergens and irritants that may trigger a flare up. Winter skin is more fragile, so avoid irritating fabrics like wool and chemical-laden detergents, and use mild cleansers and moisturisers designed for sensitive skin. Eating foods high in water content can help hydrate your skin from the inside out. Try watermelon, apples, oranges, kiwi, and watery veggies like celery, tomatoes, cucumbers and carrots. Make sure you’re getting enough vitamin C and zinc to support the healthy production of collagen and elastin. Also consume more fatty fish to give your skin the building blocks it needs to appear supple and smooth. 

Cleansers can be extremely drying to the skin. If you’re used to using options that contain glycolic or salicylic acid, rotate with a more hydrating version that contains moisturising ingredients. After cleansing, don’t leave the skin naked for more than 30 seconds, as this can dehydrate it, leading to increased dryness. Apply a hydrating toner and moisturiser to seal in moisture.

Crochet braiding is the G.O.A.T!

I ABSOLUTELY love braids but the thought of a four-hour session at the salon every time I needed to get them done always deterred me from getting them. Besides having to sit in the same position for four cool hours, I hated how my hairdresser would get two or three other people to help her with the braids. The pain! Braiding by one person already causes various levels of pain and discomfort. Imagine four people pulling at your scalp at once! It’s torture. And while you’re on the hot seat, you can’t afford to go to the loo or get a bite because you want to finish and be out of the salon.

They’re always other women walking in to also get their hair done so if your hairdresser is given the opportunity to leave your head – then you know you’re doomed. Even the smallest portion of hair could take forever to get done if you find your hairdresser on a bad day. So, for years I endured the discomfort and sat through the entire four hours, until my backside was numb even. But beauty is pain, right? Wrong. You don’t have to suffer just to look good – they’re always simple, less abrasive ways of getting your slay game on fire.

Because of the nightmarish braiding sessions, I preferred to let my hair be, no braiding until after four-month intervals or so. You know, when I’ve recovered from the previous braiding session.

For years I endured utmost discomfort from the braiding until a friend told me about crochet braids a while ago. I’ll admit, this is something I never particularly paid much attention to – probably because I don’t experiment much with my hair. I’m not into weaves because I feel they’re fake on steroids so crochet weaves were never a thing for me although they’ve been around for a while. You’ve seen women with afros of overly thick “natural” hair? It’s all crochet weaving.  

 
So my friend had the most perfect braids I’d seen and I couldn’t resist asking who had done her hair. It later turned out that the person who had done her hair didn’t matter – it was the technique that was used that was lit. Crochet braiding has for years been less known but it is such an innovative and low maintenance hair technique. I thought I’d try it out and I’m really glad I did. The process is painless and takes about an hour 30 minutes to complete. I really couldn’t believe how short a while I had been at the salon. 

Did I mention how light the braids are? It’s unbelievable! Whenever I got the regular braids, I could feel the extra weight but with crochet braids, I’m reminded there’s something happening on my head when I look at myself in the mirror or scratch my scalp. The crochet braid is so smooth it doesn’t lift bobble from your clothes neither does it damage clothes made of delicate fabrics. Although crochet braids can look incredibly real, they are all made of fake hair. In my opinion, these are definitely less fake than weaves. Somehow, they are.

To attach the braid, hair existing on the scalp is cornrowed all the way back, and the braid extensions are attached by using a crochet needle. Those are the basics, but there are a lot of ways that this style can be used to achieve different looks. Depending on how you would want to style your braids, your hairdresser could do the cornrows in such a way that when the crochet braid goes on, you can style them in different directions. The great thing about crochet hair is that you can play with it to make it as thick or thin as you want, depending on what looks best for your style, and what is easiest to maintain.

If you’re all about saving time and making your trips to the salon less daunting, you may want to consider crochet braiding. My hairdresser says they last for as long as you want them on – three months even. But you and I know I’m not going to be having the same hairstyle for three months! Hair starts to smell after a while. The crochet braids are available in various types of twists, box braids and you could even get faux locks if you choose. If you’ve been thinking of getting crochet braids, go for it. I guarantee you it will be quick and painless.

Give dreadlocked men a break

Photo Credit: Mgcini Nyoni

FOLKS were on Twitter the other day saying artist Nkululeko “Khuliyo” Nkala must cut his dreadlocks after Christiano Ronaldo scored a hat-trick. I wasn’t there when the bet was made but Khuliyo allegedly said he would cut his locks if Ronaldo scored a hat-trick – which he thought he wouldn’t, but the guy did. Ronaldo made history with an incredible hat-trick versus Atletico Madrid, helping Real Madrid demolish their city rivals and take one giant step towards the Champions League final. Of course Khuliyo didn’t cut his locks but it reminded me of a guy, a barber, who a few months ago cut his locks after someone said they would pay his children’s school fees for as long as they were alive.

This guy actually cut his dreadlocks and I certainly hope his children’s fees are taken care of as a result of this personal sacrifice. Another guy cut his locks at the request of his fiancé who just decided she wouldn’t marry him in dreadlocks. He had dreadlocks the entire time they were dating but she just decided she didn’t want a dreadlocked husband. “What would people say,” she said. And the poor guy cut his locks. I suppose he loved her more than he could ever love his hair. And then Jaden Smith has been trending all week after he cut his glorious locks and then showed up to the 2017 Met Gala with them in his hands!

He chose to accessorise his dapper, all-black Louis Vuitton ensemble with boots, gold jewellery, a grill, and his own shorn dreadlocks. While some may have found Jaden’s final accessory a bit unorthodox, he seemed perfectly at ease, carrying his hair with the kind of elegance that one might hold a clutch. Khuliyo says he didn’t cut his locks, which he has had for the past nine years, simply because they’ve somewhat become an investment. And this is quite common with a lot of people who have dreadlocks. They take time to grow and you really can’t wake up one day and chop them off just like that.

As much as dreadlocked peeps hold on to their locks, many more people in society despise locks, especially on men. I remember some years back, my cousin dated a guy with dreadlocks and no one took the relationship seriously because “rastas are good for nothing”. They’re dingy people who have no direction in life, people assume. Few people regard dreadlocks as just a hairstyle. Many assume because someone has dreadlocks, they’re rastafari.

You get dreadlocks and suddenly your name is prefixed with “dread”, “ras” or “empress”.

Rastafarianism is a young, Africa-centered religion which developed in Jamaica in the 1930s, following the coronation of Haile Selassie I as King of Ethiopia. The religion promotes abstinence from most or all meat, artificial foods, and alcohol, uses marijuana in religious rituals and for medicine and encourages dreadlocks as opposed to cutting hair. They even have their own language where “wa gwaan” and “me a go” mean something to this particular discourse community. A lot of famous artists like Bob Marley and Winky D have dreadlocks and are somewhat inclined to Rastafarianism.

I love Winky D and I think he’s a master at what he does. His locks bring some vava voom of some sort to his look. I mean, can you imagine a Winky D without dreadlocks? I didn’t think so! It’s the same with a lot of people. They can’t imagine themselves without dreadlocks and that’s really okay. What matters most is making sure the locks are washed regularly, retouched and sufficiently oiled. Dreadlocks are a special kind of hairstyle which requires serious maintenance. Nothing will put a sister off like dreadlocks which stink. A combination of oily and dirty hair is a major turn off. And when the locks have blanket bobble all over them, gees! You know you’re in trouble when your locks smell and they have bobble all over. 

A lot of women like to have their dreadlocks styled and this can be absolutely gorgeous but men with hair often have unique challenges. I suppose after the retouch, shampoo and oiling, there aren’t too many options on what to do and you sometimes really don’t want to have them hanging loose and haphazard. It can look untidy, especially if you work in the cooperate field. You’re probably already being judged for having locks in the first place; at least go out of your way to make sure they look desirable. Have them tied back wherever necessary or get a professional to style them appropriately and you’ll be good to go.