Category:

Hairstyles

No Hairpiece Protective Hairstyles

by Evenes Ruth Mafupa 21 January 2022

written by Evenes Ruth Mafupa

Not everyone is fond of using extra hair on their heads and this was me for the whole of 2021. Working in a hair salon, I would have hairstyles lined up with different new hair extensions for the whole year. To detox from such mentality, I decided to challenge myself and not do braids and twists with hair extensions. And, it was liberating.

I learnt so many different ways to style my hair because I had to style my hair very often. Sometimes 3 times a week especially when I did not use gel to style my hair. I show some of those hairstyles on my YouTube channel. And here is another of my recent one. I will most definitely do a compilation of all the hairstyles I did last year.

This is a version of a staple hairstyle that I have done over the years, either on twists or loose hair. This time though, I wanted to create a subtle low bun and I liked the outcome. What do you think? Please leave me a comment.

21 January 2022 0 comment

Easy Holiday Hairstyle On Natural Hair

by Evenes Ruth Mafupa 25 December 2021

written by Evenes Ruth Mafupa

I know, life gets in the way and doing your hair may not top your to do list. And still, you need to look good. There are many natural hair hacks every natural haired girl should know and one of them is a sleeked ponytail, high bun or high puff. Yes you may not wear it for a long time but it sure saves a bad hair day many a time.

This hairstyle is one of those. When you don’t have a lot of time on your hands and yet you don’t want to look like you have fallen on hard times. Because you haven’t girl. God has blessed you so abundantly and you need to look it as well.

Let’s start from washing the hair. If you can, do it in the shower. It is easier to detangle under running water. The knots just melt away. When you are done with your final rinse, while in the shower, brush your hair wet to tie a ponytail. Be careful not to make it too tight though. This helps stretch your hair for drying. Wear a satin scarf, a durag or something to keep your hair down while it is drying. This step may not be necessary if you have very long hair. But if your hair is short, even 2 inches long, you can use this method to dry your hair stretched. Go about your day while your hair is drying.

It does not have to dry completely as well. When time allows, undo the ponytail and style your hair as you wish. Apply gel only on the top of the hair to set your hairstyle.

Since you may not have enough time to dry the gel, do not apply too much. Brush it down to sleek.

Tie a satin wrap, scarf, durag or doek to really lay your hair for about 30 minutes to an hour. In this time, you can do other stuff or prepare your hair piece. when hair is close to somewhat dry, you can remove the wrap and attach the hairpiece.

That’s it. Total time from wash to finish should be less than 30 minutes. Surely, even with the tightest of schedules, you can pull this one off. Watch the video for more visuals.

Will you be trying this hairstyle, any time soon? Please tag me on your socials. My handle is @evemafupa Until then. have a merry Christmas and the happiest of 2022.

Of course I will give you some photos because I (shyly) did a mini photoshoot on my phone.

25 December 2021 0 comment

Hairstyles

Learn how to flat twist with inverted bun

by Evenes Ruth Mafupa 16 April 2021

written by Evenes Ruth Mafupa

Learning a new skill is always good. What’s even better is when that skill can actually put food on your table or just earn you that extra cash so that you can get that project finally started. For me, doing hair has been my source of income for so many years. Okay, I didn’t exactly get paid when I did hair when I was still in primary school. But all the same, I have been doing hair for a long time. When I was in college, I was in residence at the college, I would spend most of my weekends doing hair. That kept me away from mischief and I never ran out of cash as much as my clients were mostly cash strapped college girls. Those were the good old days.

flat twists on natural hair

In this post, I am showing you how to do a flat twist on natural hair. Flat twists with your own hair are the best protective style there is no matter how you look at it. when it comes to the health of the hair and scalp at least. They can also look cute and if you have the length and volume, you are really spoilt for choice when it comes to styles. There is no pulling of the hair, there is no tension on the hairline or scalp, so no inflammation of the scalp, the hair is tucked away and yet it is kept stretched to make sure single strand knots are kept at bay. Which other protective style ticks all the boxes like that?

Flat Twists with extensions

Actually, when recovering from a receding hairline due to traction alopecia, this is the best hairstyle to wear. So make sure to ask your stylist to do flat twists if you are trying to grow your hairline.

This is a very easy hairstyle actually especially if you are not adding any hair extensions. I always work on wet hair. Guys! there is no need to blow dry the hair just to do a hairstyle like this. For the sake of the health of the hair, work on damp hair.

If you can do 2 strand twists, then learning to do flat twists will be easier for you. Because, the flat twist version is actually just picking up hair along the section as you twist. How you are going to be hold the hair as well will be just a bit different. Check the video below on how I hold the hair. This allows for an effortless picking of the hair as you go along.

And yes, it becomes better the more you practice. You know you can get a practice head for under R100 in Jo’burg? Okay, it will not have a lot of hair on it and the hair will also be very straight and synthetic. But for the purpose of learning different hairstyles, you can start there before you can afford to get one that has a curlier texture and easier to learn African hairstyles on. Of course it comes at a heftier price.

For real beginners, concentrate only on doing a 2 strand twist while picking up hair as you go along a section. Do not worry about how tight or loose it is. Even how neat it is. Once you master how your fingers are going to be moving and working together to do the flat twist, then you can work on making it tighter and neater. I promise, you will get the grip of it with time. I did too.

flat twists on natural hair

Tips on how to flat twist well.

Find the direction that you are comfortable to twist in and stick to it. Rather work on perfecting that.
Make sure you are working on well detangled hair so that you don’t run into any snags or knots along a section.
keep the sections small until you master the technique
Keep your parts neat and clean. Use a gel or edge tamer if you need to
Practice, practice, practice. That’s the best way to better your craft.

Is there a hairstyle that you would like to learn? I may know how to do it. So, let me know in the comments below and I will see if I can do that for you. If I can’t, I may point you in the direction where you can get help.

I am also running Natural Hair Care workshops and Braiding classes at my salon. If you would be interested in learning, make sure to follow me on Instagram, @evemafupa where I will be posting the dates and more details.

Till next time, stay blessed.

16 April 2021 0 comment

Hairstyles

Braid Hairstyles For December Holidays

by Evenes Ruth Mafupa 14 December 2020

written by Evenes Ruth Mafupa

This December has proved to be colourful again when it comes to hairstyles. And braids never disappoint. Everyone can do colour. From school kids who are now on holiday and the older conservative woman who has always stayed in the comfortable zone of her natural hair colour. Here are some braid hairstyles that one a can do this holiday season.

Full on colour.

Rainbow braids, colourful braids, holiday hairstyles

These rainbow colours are people’s fav these holidays The number of requests we have had in the Beauty Studio for these colours. The only downside is availability. Were available at Supermelanin but they too have run out of stock. These colours just say “HERE I AM” yes in bold. They are bold and playful.

Ombre braids

Can someone say “OMBRE” Wow! Ombre braids or extensions just make hair braiding amazing. If you don’t agree, you have not tried these ones.

Colourful braids, holiday braids, Ombre braids

The subtle ombre which is a mixture of colour 1 and 30 or colour 1 and 39 are best suited for those

Holiday braids, Ombre braid ideas

who are not so used to colour and want to try it out or want to still keep that professional look because these also speak the language of business. Not kidding. When done really well, the subtle ombre colours really come out to do business.

Have you seen the pink, purple, orange and green ombre colours? I always thought they were a reserve for the younger generation but guess what? Anyone can do these and they look stunning. Just look at the photos below

Highlights in braids

Not a fan of ombre braids (though I don’t understand how that is even possible) you can still use different colours for your braids. A common choice is colour 27 or 30, mixed with platinum white. It looks amazing.

More Holiday Braids Ideas

Box braids

green short bob braids

Goddess braids

Gentle reminder,

How to get the best from your braids

When you do your braids, make sure they are not too small. The bigger the sections the better so that you don’t cause unnecessary tension on your scalp.
Tension alopecia is real. Don’t have them braided too tight either. If your hair stylist can only braid tight, it’s high time you went scouting for another one. No need to lose sleep over a hairstyle.
Styling your braids all the time or too tight may also lead to braids pulling out or tension alopecia. Avoid it by all means.
Moisturise and moisturise your hair when in braids. This will take care of your actual hair.
Take care of your scalp as well. Keep it fresh and free from dandruff. That way, you will not be scratching your scalp which will definitely irritate your scalp and may also lead to hair loss.
Lastly, don’t keep those braids for too long. After 4 weeks, you need to start thinking of taking them out. If you go to 8 weeks, that is the maximum. It’s time.

Happy holidays and always remember what they are all about. Show some love, compassion, and care to those around you. Your friends and family and even random strangers. They say an act of kindness is contagious. It only starts with one person and goes on like a wildfire. It also takes one lousy person to stop that fire by pouring water on it. Be the one to start the fire of love. And don’t be a fireman who douses love with hate. Add some fuel on it rather and let it burn on.

14 December 2020 0 comment

Hair Hairstyles Protective styles Videos

Getting the most from your braids

by Evenes Ruth Mafupa 10 June 2020

written by Evenes Ruth Mafupa

We all know the salons are still closed. If you can pull off a DIY on a long -term protective style, like braids or twists, good for you. However, installing a style is one thing and knowing the best way to take care of them and styling them can make a big difference in how much benefit you can get from your braids. Whether it really is a protective style or a disaster and major setback on your hair goals.

There are few things that you need to consider when you have braids in your hair. Top of the list is how to take care of your hair and your scalp while in braids.

Braids can be kept in the hair for as long as 8 weeks. In those 8 weeks, a lot of people do not wash their hair. Which is not too bad. However, the hair may become too dry if water is not introduced to the hair for that long.

Hair Care

Spraying your hair with a water-based spray is important. Even if you do not wash the hair, it can remain moisturised throughout the time your hair is braided. If the spray has a good perfume, even better. Your hair can smell great as well.

Scalp Care

You also need to take care of your scalp when you have braids in. Some of the flaking that a lot of people experience is from general dryness of the scalp, something a good braid spray or scalp pomade can fix easily.

However, if your flakes are a result of dandruff, caused by an overgrowth of yeast on your scalp, an anti-dandruff spray will give you better results and will also keep the itch away. I prefer something with tea tree oil and peppermint oil in it. Works great on my hair.

Styling braids

Hair loss is not something anyone wants but it happens. Traction alopecia is a type of hair loss that is caused by pulling of the hair from its follicles, which tends to inflame the follicles. Prolonged inflammation of the follicles will the cause them to close-down the production of hair.

Tight braids and tight styling are some of the causes for traction alopecia. This can be avoided right? True. There is no need to suffer from hair loss just because of a hairstyle.

Box braids hairstyles.

So, to begin with, never get braided too tight or do ridiculously small braids. It will most definitely cause some hair loss. Some people recover quickly from a once off stint with tight braids or micro braids. However, if it becomes a habit, your scalp may never recover.

Use braids that are not too heavy for hair. I love one million braids from Darling because they are super light and they do not weigh my hair down. Heavy braids tend to pull the hair out from its follicles. And you know what happens when the follicles are inflamed. You do not need that in your life.

box braids

When styling your braids, be strategic about it. Try not to pull from your hairline, especially if your hairline tends to have thinner hair than the rest of your head. Here are some hairstyles you can try which will not be too tight when done well.

Make a part on the side or the centre and tie your braids. Talking about parts, it is a good idea to switch them up as well. Using the same part every day may also lead to hair loss where you normally part your hair.

Style your hair very loose most of the time. You should always be comfortable after styling your hair. If you feel any pulling at all, that style is too tight, and you need to loosen it up a bit.

Night Routine

When you go to sleep, make a loose bun if you have long braids like mine. Wear a satin scarf or bonnet. That will help you keep your braids neater for longer and will also hold your braids in place while you sleep.

Satin scarf

How long can one keep braids on for?

About 8 to 9 weeks maximum. 10 weeks, umm, you are pushing it. But that is final. No more than 10 weeks please. The tangles and knots that you may need to deal with after 10 weeks or more will not be worth it.

Just to recap.

Take care of your hair while it’s in the braid. Moisturise often to combat dryness and breakage.
Take care of your scalp. Keep it fresh, moisturised, and free from flaking.
Make sure your braids are not too heavy for your hair. You may lose hair over them.
Avoid any hair loss by utilising looser methods of styling your braids
If you have micro braids, do not make that a go to hairstyle. Micro braids may cause hair loss especially along the hairline. Bigger section are a better option.
Tie a satin scarf or bonnet when you go to sleep. It will keep your hairstyle for longer and keep your braids in place while you sleep.

Having braids can be the best thing that you could have done for your hair this winter. But, they can also be the worst nightmare ever. That depends on your choice of braid extensions, the style or size you choose to get installed, how you take care of your actual hair and your scalp, and how you style your braids.

For these braids, I used 4 packs of Darling One Million braids in colour 1/35. They are lightweight, the sections are not too small and I could style them in so many ways without any issues. Here are a few ways to style Box braids without losing hair over them.

Once you get them installed, make the best of them, and also take the time to enjoy them. Until then. God bless you all during this hectic time.

10 June 2020 2 comments

Hairstyles Videos

Needle & Thread Cornrows

by Evenes Ruth Mafupa 6 March 2020

written by Evenes Ruth Mafupa

I have added a bit of spice to the usual needle and thread cornrows so it looks chic and really cute. You know, when you have just finished a job, in this case, a hairstyle, and you tell yourself, “Yeah, this is beautiful.” That’s what I felt when I finished this hairstyle. To tell you that when I started doing the hair, I had only a slight idea on how I was going to do the hair, otherwise the final look, even I was in shock. When I do hair, it is kind of an empty canvas and although I will be having an idea on what to create, the style changes as I go along. And this is what happened here as well.

I did a combination of techniques here to create this protective hairstyle but what I wanted to showcase is the needle & thread technique. I also used good old cornrows and crocheting of synthetic hair onto cornrows and African threading. Wow! that’s quite a combination. Didn’t realise it until I wrote it down. When I posted the video on YouTube, it got quite a good response and some of the comments are requests for me to post more beginner friendly videos of the needle and thread technique. What do you think? Let me know in the comments below.

Here is the whole process in case you are unable to watch the video.

Are you subscribed yet to my channel? If not, please do. You know what, I will keep asking you to and most importantly, watching my content because that is how I get paid and manage to sustain this blog. So far, it is about R1000 over 3 to 4 months. And that is good because I can pay for hosting the blog among other things. If that could come every month, it would really be great. So, please share my videos, comment and give me a thumbs up if you think I put out content that is beneficial to you. If not, what kind of content do you think will give you more value? Please share in the comments below.

Same time, same place, next week. God bless you big time.

6 March 2020 0 comment

Hairstyles Skin care Videos

Get ready with me | Bantu knot out and makeup

by Evenes Ruth Mafupa 31 January 2020

written by Evenes Ruth Mafupa

I like the way my makeup game is coming up. I’m quite a newbie when it comes to makeup but I’m making good progress. The natural look is what I like better than anything. I like to look natural and yet accentuate my features a little to make them pop a bit. This time I added a 2 shades lip colour and I am telling you, every time I use these two shades, it just adds a whole dimension to my lip game. I use a lot of Yardley products in the video but believe me when I say, it was not sponsored at all. I just happen to use a lot of them when it comes to makeup because that’s the brand I was introduced to first. And, because I don’t apply a lot of makeup, what I buy normally lasts me more than a year.

Look at these pictures while wearing the same lip colour.

I have not done bantu knots in a while and all this time, I am busy struggling with volume of my hair especially when I let it out or want an afro. If you’re not over 40 yet, you will understand that for some women, the hair is not as full at that age going up. So, yes, my hair is not as full as it used to be when I was younger, but I am working on it. However, the bantu knots just do it for me man. They really come to the rescue. And I prefer the untwisted ones because one would think I put rollers or perm rods to curl my hair. The curls are also a bit undefined which adds on the illusion of more volume.

Yes, afterwards, I did a whole photo shoot you guys, mainly because the dress I was wearing was new, designed and cut by me, had someone help me finish sewing it because, you know, your girl is short of time. But I still love designing clothes and from time to time, I do indulge myself into doing that. My hubby calls it fishing. Because it is regarded as a relaxing activity when I do it.

The work of my hands

And thank you for the love on Instagram, Facebook and even on Twitter when I posted pictures of this dress. Thank you so much. I really appreciate. The shoes are from Makro. Super affordable and yet classy. Not too comfortable though so I got what I paid for. It’s always a give and take.

Here are some of the pictures.

Bantu knot out

Thank you so much for reading this far and I’m hoping that you have already watched the video, if you were not subscribed yet, now you are and you even left a comment, letting me know what you think. Otherwise, I’ll see you in the next one. Blessings to you and yours.

31 January 2020 0 comment

DIY Hairstyles Protective styles Tutorials Videos

A protective Style on a Budget

by Evenes Ruth Mafupa 18 December 2019

written by Evenes Ruth Mafupa

Hey! Hey! It’s the festive season and our hair, well my hair and a lot of people who have been visiting my Salon in the past days, also goes festive. The colour, the style and everything needs to reflect the season we are in. Right? I know, your budget may not allow for a lot of play when it comes to funky hairstyles and you may be feeling down and out. Well, don’t be. Come out to play. There is a lot that can be done with a limited budget. With just R80 or less, you can create this hairstyle too. If you have the crochet hook and thread of course. If you don’t have a crochet hook, a bobby pin will do as well. I’m not kidding. I did a video tutorial using a bobby pin to do crochet braids some moons back and you may want to watch it. Otherwise, get yourself a crochet hook. It’s not too costly. Get it here.

One million braid

In the video, I used just under 2 packs of Darling hair in colour T30 and that will cost you way less than R80 if you get it yourself from the shops and not from a hair salon. If at a hair salon, prices may vary. That’s also part of where they get their profit from. Sourcing hair for clients. You are going to need a bit of time as well to prepare the hair and do the installation. In total, about 4 hours. But, you’re probably on holiday anyway and that should not be a problem.

So, here is the process. I braided the straight one million Darling braid and then put it in hot water so that it could curl according to the braid. I then dried it and unravelled the braid to release some amazing curls and crocheted the curly hair to my natural hair. Viola. Watch the video. It is very visual and more step by step than I can ever be able to explain.

If I don’t get to writing/blogging again before Christmas, well, Merry Christmas and a blessed 2020 to you. Oh my God, it is already 2020. I remember back in the days in college, when we used to think 2020 is so far ahead and made goals that should be realised by year 2020. Well, it’s here. And I hope you will have a great one. Love you and may God bless you richly. Watch the video. Subscribe if you haven’t already and also leave me a comment. I will greatly appreciate that. Until next time, hugs.

18 December 2019 0 comment

Hairstyles Videos

African Threading with Marley Hair & Chebe butter

by Evenes Ruth Mafupa 15 November 2019

written by Evenes Ruth Mafupa

So, you can’t do twists on your own but African threading is your thing? I got you covered.This hairstyle indeed involves some braiding and twisting but it is done on the natural hair. The hair extension, in this case Marley hair, is then crocheted into the hair. So, no problems with braiding with extension which can be a challenge for a lot of people. The hair and extension is then wrapped using yarn and viola, a protective style that will get some people confused if it is your hair or not. Go on, watch the video and you will see how simple it is.

I started off with stretched hair. However, any condition of hair is great. Any length as well. As long as you have enough length to do the initial braid to crochet the hair extension. I also applied some Chebe butter which I have been trying out for some time. I’m happy to report that, after 3 weeks when I removed the hair style, my hair felt smooth and very soft. Very little breakage of the hair as well. So, I’m loving the Chebe butter and very soon it will be available online for those no so DIY girls or who want a one process application of a product.

I find that, this hairstyle was really the best when applying Chebe to my hair because, the small pieces of Chebe powder where not visible at all after my hair was done. So, I could slap on as much as I wanted without the fear that I will be asked a few questions by people I meet wanting to know what was on my hair. I will surely do this hairstyle again and my hair pomade of choice will definitely be the Chebe butter.

For the Marley hair, I used old Brown & Ayo Marley hair. Did you know you can use Marley hair over and over again? Yeah, it’s true. You can use it for different things as well. You just need to wash it and condition it to freshen it up a bit. Otherwise, it’s an asset to a naturalista who is into hair extensions. I have used mine over 5 times already. Call me skimpy, I don’t mind. I’ve got kids to feed hey! Every cent counts.

I stayed with this hairstyle for over 3 weeks and I even styled it like dreadlocks at some point. So, really, there is not limit on how long you can keep this hairstyle for. Just make sure your hair doesn’t lock. Unless that’s your plan, to transition into real locks. I enjoyed this hairstyle shame. Too much.

15 November 2019 0 comment

Hair Hairstyles

Sleek Ponytail on Short Hair.

by Evenes Ruth Mafupa 12 November 2019

written by Evenes Ruth Mafupa

This is the second part of the hairstyles that I managed to do with my sleek low ponytail. Depending on the accessories I wore, I managed to wear my hair from a date night outfit to an African themed wedding. Since we are in the wedding season, end of year parties or just getting together to celebrate life, what to do with the hair is often a girls worry and sometimes we forget how versatile African hair is and that we are spoilt for choice when it comes to hairstyles. In my opinion, a sleek low ponytail is the best hairstyle that can fit many occasions. It is also very easy to do and can be done in minutes, soon after washing the hair. That way, no need to spend the rest of your day indoors just because you washed your hair. This hairstyle makes the life of a naturalista pretty easy and looking glamorous literally effortless.

sleek ponytail, Date night hairstyle

Sleek ponytail, African themed event or date night

For these two hairstyles, I used the same sleek ponytail that I did in this video and if you have not watched it, then go ahead and check it out. I also used Marley hair and I like using the Brown & Ayo Marley hair. Any kind of hair will do just fine though. Just that, the closer the additional hair is to your hair texture, the more realistic your hair will be looking. The accessories used are basically the pins and also the beads in the African themed hairstyle. I loved creating these styles and I hope you will get some ideas on how to do your hair as well.

The question I got the most is, what I used to sleek the hair down. I used eco styler gel. The green one with Olive oil. It has maximum hold and helps to keep my natural hair laid down. If you watch part one of the video, you will see what I do to sleek the hair down. The other question is, how long I can keep this hairstyle for? Well, that depends on my schedule. Sometimes I can do a hairstyle but need to attend an event where my hair should be out. In the end, I may remove the hairstyle earlier. Otherwise, one can keep the sleek ponytail for 8 days or even more. Tying a scarf when you sleep and also when you shower will preserve your hairstyle very well. You can also add some more gel, not too much, on your hairline and brush the hair down using a small brush, comb or a toothbrush that you have now upgraded to laying of edges.

sleek ponytail, Date night hairstyle

Taking down the hairstyle is also very easy. You just wet the hair and wash the gel out. That’s it. What can be easier than that? If you need hairstyle ideas, go ahead. Watch the video and let me know what you think in the comments. Please subscribe to my channel and give it a thumbs up if you liked it. Otherwise till next time, may God bless you big time.

sleek ponytail, Date night hairstyle

Sleek ponytail, African themed event or date night

12 November 2019 0 comment

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