I've Big Chopped - Now What Do I Do?

 
Just a week ago, we had our big chop (transition cut) party at Taji's Natural Hair Salon.  It was an amazing event and we enjoyed it!  We also know that as the weather gets warmer, others who have been transitioning from relaxed to natural hair may be thinking about getting rid of those relaxed ends and taking the plunge to become totally natural.  So you now may be thinking, I have this TWA, what do I do with it?   Well never fear,
here are some tips for maintaining your TWA!

1.  Develop a simple maintenance routine!  There are many natural hair products out there, be careful not to go overboard buying products.  All you need is a sulfate free shampoo, a conditioner, an oil for sealing in moisture, and a styling product.  Ask your stylist for retail product recommendations or you can also purchase in house products directly from Taji's!

2.  Combat dryness by moisturizing your hair regularly!  Many new naturals often complain of dry hair.  The best way to keep your hair moisturized is by applying water. This doesn't necessarily mean shampooing the hair every day (a common mistake that new naturals make).  It does mean however, that your hair needs water frequently.  Mist (don't saturate) your hair with a spray water bottle for moisture and a light oil (i.e. coconut oil, olive oil, sweet almond oil, jojoba oil) to the hair to seal in the moisture.  Always sleep with a satin bonnet or on a satin pillowcase to keep dryness at bay as well.

3.  My hair looks dull, is it unhealthy?  Naturally curly hair reflects light differently than straight hair because it has bends and curls in it therefore instead of it being a totally reflective surface, its structure fragments light.  It is very rare for highly textured hair to appear "shiny", however you will notice that it does have a healthy "sheen" to it.  Again, the use of light oils can help with this.

4.  Utilize low manipulation styles on your TWA.  A few simple hair styles for your new TWA is a wash & fro (without gel) or a wash & go (which uses gel to define your natural curl pattern), finger coils & coil outs.

5. Accessorize your new look!  Your TWA will naturally draw attention to your facial features.  Use the time to try a new bold make up look, feature your favorite jewelry accessories and wear flowers, bows, and unique headbands in your hair!

6.  Lastly remember, short natural hair DOES need care & maintenance.  Short natural hair is not  get up and go hair.  While you may not have to spend hours styling your hair you will need to care for your hair in order for it to have a healthy and neat appearance. 


Do you have any questions about maintaining your TWA?  Leave a comment in the comment section below and we'll answer them!
 

Announcing: Transition Cut (Big Chop) Party 04.21.2012!!

Have you been thinking about going natural?

Currently transitioning and haven't yet set a date for cutting the rest of your relaxed ends?

Nervous about taking that next step?


We are having a Transition Cut (Big Chop) Party on Saturday, April 21st from 9 am - 4 pm!

Come join us as we encourage, support, and celebrate those who take the final step in becoming completely natural!  There will be food, fun, and gifts for all to enjoy!

As an additional incentive, ALL transition cut (Big chop) services will be HALF PRICE!

So don't delay!  We have a few appointments left so call and schedule your appointment today!

You Asked For It: Announcing New Customer Referral Program

One of the greatest compliments that we can receive as stylists is for our current customers to be so pleased with the service that they have received that they encourage others they know to check us out!  Many of you have asked if we have a referral program.  Because we love our customers we are announcing our new customer referral program.  This referral program goes into effect for new customers referred after March 15, 2012.

It's simple!  Refer 3 new customers to any stylist at Taji's Natural Hair Styling. They must book an appointment and show up for their scheduled appointment.  You will receive 10% off  next your appointment following the 3rd individual's completed appointment.  Please be sure to have the person who referred you to mention your name OR take a few business cards from the front desk and write on there referred by XX (your name).  Pass them out to those who ask about your hair!

This is our way of saying "THANK YOU" for sharing Taji's Natural Hair Styling with those that you know!

**Please be sure to mention to the receptionist or stylist prior to check out that you qualify for a referral discount prior to checkout.  New customers & confirmed appts. will be verified in the calendar prior to applying discount.




 

Loc Makeover Giveaway - We have a WINNER!

We have a winner!!!   Reviewing all the entries and making sure they were qualified (a loc wearer with 3 years of growth) we put all the names into random.org and the name returned was

 NICCI BROWNDREADS!!

Please join us in congratulating Nicci as the winner of our 1st Loc Makeover Giveaway!

Her salon experience will include:

• Locs cut and fabulously styled by Taji Shabu!
• Locs natural hue transformed with color by Tiffany Denay!
• Her  best features enhanced by an experienced make-up artist!
• Before and After Photos of her new look
• Feature on the salon blog and Facebook page

Thank you to everyone for participating!  We will be having a giveaway for the loose natural hair wearers very soon!

Wearing Wigs As A Natural Hair Protective Style

Drew lace front Wig by Beshe

Wearing a wig has gone from being something you do when you have a bad hair day to a frequently used option to try out new styles, change your look & have fun without permanently changing your own hair.  In the natural hair community, wearing wigs is seen as a great low cost, quick protective style.  While that is true, we also wanted to share some tips for keeping your own hair healthy underneath your glamorous coif.  

1.  Make sure you keep your own hair cleansed, conditioned, and moisturized underneath your wig.  Just because your hair isn't exposed to the elements while you're wearing your wig doesn't mean that it won't need to be cared for.  Make sure you are maintaining your regular hair cleansing regimen even while your hair is under your wig.

2. Either twist, cornrow, or braid your own hair underneath.  Not only will this provide a flat foundation for your wig but it but will also prevent your own hair from tangling under the wig. You can actually moisturize your hair in the braids or twists by misting your hair with a moisturizing spray.

3. Watch out for your edges!  The friction from your wig can actually rub out the fragile hair on your edges.  Make sure you wear a stocking cap or wig cap underneath your wig.  Also, if possible eliminate the use of tape for your lace front wigs. 

A Natural Hair Makeover GIVEAWAY for Loc Wearers - CLOSED

Taji's Natural Hair Salon announces its first Natural Loc Makeover!  Are you looking for an opportunity to do something drastically different with your locs?  Ready for a whole new look?  Well this makeover giveaway is for you!  Here is what you will get:

• Your locs cut and fabulously styled by Taji Shabu!
• Your locs natural hue transformed with color by Tiffany Denay!
• Your best features enhanced by an experienced make-up artist!
• Before and After Photos of your new look
• Feature on the salon blog and Facebook page

Here are the requirements:

• You must have 3 years of loc growth
• You must be open to a creative look with your hair (stylists will have total creative license)
• You must like the Taji's Natural Hair Styling Facebook page AND
• Like the link to this post on the Facebook page

The GIVEAWAY begins today, February 9th and ends on February 27th at midnight.  The winner will be chosen by random selection using random.org.  The winner will be announced on February 28th!

The date and time of the makeover will be Monday, March 5th at 10 am.

Good Luck!  And don't worry if you don't win this one, there will be future makeover giveaways for our loose naturals coming soon!

Oh my Loc! - Loc Breakage

After achieving great length with your locs you want to do everything possible to retain their health.  Today we look at another problematic area for loc wearers, loc breakage.

What are some of the causes of loc breakage and what can I do to prevent it?

1.  Too frequent tightening- Your locs should be tightened about once every 4-6 weeks.  We all want our hair to look neat, however, tightening your locs too often can cause your loc to become weak.

2. Frequent tights styles - While it can be understood that you will want to experience all the creative styling options that locs provide,  be careful.  Just as with loose natural hair, styling your hair in creations that are too tight will cause your hair to break.  This is not to say completely eliminate these styles, just utilize them in moderation.

3.  Hair is already in a fragile state- Building hair length on weak strands will not help you sustain long length.  It is always best to remove the weak or fragile hair by cutting it before starting your journey.


What are some of the issues that you experience as a loc wearer?  Leave a concern in the comment section below and we'll answer you there or write a blog post to educate others!