Enter into the Neno Naturals giveaway for a chance to win $500!

Before we take you back to your regularly scheduled blog posts (yes, even I chuckled as I typed that), just wanted to bring your attention to the giveaway going on at Neno Natural's blog in case you hadn't heard of it already. She is so grateful for the support she has received over the past year, she is giving one lucky winner ANYWHERE in the world a chance to win $500!

The entry details are very simple: You need to be subscribed to the fan list at NenoNatural.com/freeinfo

• If you get their emails, you are already subscribed
• If you don't get their emails but you think you subscribed, check your SPAM folder
• If you unsubscribed you would need to re-subscribe to be eligible
• Payment will be via PayPal unless you are in a country that doesn't have PayPal in which case we can do a wire transfer to your bank (bank charges may apply)
• Anyone from anywhere in the world can win
• Competition closes on 19th November at midnight New York time (6 a.m. November 20th Lagos time)
• The winner will be selected and announced on 20th November

How will the winner be selected:

• All subscribers will be downloaded into excel and their position on the list randomized
• A number will then be picked using a random number generator and whoever has that position in the excel spreadsheet wins the entire $500 in time to buy Christmas gift or to pay down that annoying debt!
• Neno Natural will then email the person to ensure it's an email that is still in use, ask them for their phone number and call them to tell them they have won
• All this will be on video so everyone can enjoy the process

So what are you waiting for?? Such a generous offer so head over to nenonatural.com/freeinfo and make sure you're subscribed!

SN: And because we love a good giveaway, we'll also be doing a (much smaller and much less significant) giveaway of our own today on Twitter and Instagram, to mark the end of Natural Hair Month (how is it already October 31st?!) So make sure you're following us on both (we're @kinkyapothecary on both Twitter and Instagram) for a chance to win. 

Good luck!

Natural Hair Month continues with the Kinky Apothecary Pop Up Shop

If you haven't been down to our pop up shop yet, there are still 6 more days to go.

We have all your favourite products in stock, including a couple not available for online order yet (such as Jamaican Black Castor Oil and Vatika Oil). We also have an increased selection of Ayurvedic herbs and powders, some new lines (Jane Carter and Curls), books, tools, hair accessories, etc. Head down, we're waiting for you!

Also at the pop up, make up, makeovers and lash and brow services by Sacred Creative Artistry. Don't forget to have a look at the Gallery Exhibition by Temitayo Ogunbiyi exploring the Kink.

And for anyone in Lagos tomorrow, we have a Zumbathon starting at 1pm by Fuzion Fitness in aid of Breast Cancer Awareness. 25% of all proceeds raised by The Kinky Apothecary, Sacred Creative Artistry and Fuzion Fitness will be donated to the Pink Pearl Foundation.

All this is happening at our Pop Up at The Whitespace, 50 Raymond Njoku, Off Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.

Don't miss it!

Nigerian Naturals, get your hair done by celebrity stylist Felicia Leatherwood!

Just 3 days to go until Felicia Leatherwood's first Nigerian workshop, and now we're giving you the chance to get your hair done by the stylist to the stars.

Yup yup! You have a chance to get your hair big chopped or styled by the lady who has done the same for Jill Scott, Teyona Parris, Viola Davis and countless others!

So what are you waiting for? Follow the simple steps below, and your tresses could also be getting the star treatment this Saturday.

All you need to do is:

1/ Buy a ticket if you haven't already. (They're going fast and we don't envisage having any on the door) from Afritickets, L'Espace (19a Olosa Street, Off Karimu Kotun, VI) or Sacred Creative Artistry (2 Abiola Close, Shonibare Estate, Maryland)
2/ Like us on Facebook
3/ Follow us on Twitter
4/ Fill out this form

Easy peasy!

Winner will be drawn at random and notified on Friday evening. 

So what are you waiting for? Get clicking, and good luck!

Felicia Leatherwood, celebrity stylist and natural hair expert coming to Lagos!

  

Helloooooo all...

So we know it's been ages, but we've been working on something huge, and here it is!

Remember this report on celebrity stylist (to stars such as Jill Scott, Teyonah Parris, Tomiko Fraser, Sanaa Lathan, Viola Davis...I could go on) Felicia Leatherwood's London workshop?!

Well guess what... she's bringing it to Lagos!!!!

When: On October 12th, 2013.

Where: The Wheatbaker, 4 Onitolo (Lawrence) Road, Ikoyi, Lagos

Time: 12pm

Tickets available now on Afritickets. Just click on this link to purchase.

You do NOT want to miss this one.

Can't wait to see you there, we are SO excited!

Locs 101: New Growth: Interlocking Vs. Palm Rolling

Ok, so this was promised 2 Mondays ago. No explanation or excuses, let's just get straight into Fiona's post:

Guest blogger Fiona

Hey peoples! I know my post is overdue (blame Nibi!) but better late than never, non?

Let’s jump right in….

New Growth: Interlocking Vs. Palm Rolling

Maintenance is an important part of having healthy locs and part of loc maintenance is the regular re-twisting of your new growth, which ensures that the hair continues to loc.

The palm rolling versus interlocking debate can be a heated one and varies wildly depending on whom you speak to. I have spoken with locticians that favour one and disparage the other and some that use both techniques. The main issue, as I see it, is lack of proper “how-to” knowledge, either on your part or your loctician’s, leading to damaged locs. Don’t be fooled into thinking that everyone that dons the title “Loctician” knows what he or she is doing.

So what is the proper way to re-twist new growth? I think this boils down to personal preference; both techniques have their pros and cons. Palm rolling will give you a lovely cylindrical look, while interlocking produces a ropeier but tighter loc – no unraveling. I started my first set of locs with palm rolling and eventually switched to interlocking (myself), as I had a lot of slippage with the locs in the middle of my head. This time round I do both, interlocking every 2 to 3 months and palm rolling as needed.

The procedure for palm rolling is exactly as it sounds: rolling the loc in your palm, with the aid of a light gel, loc butter or even plain old water. The key is to always, ALWAYS roll your locs in the same direction in order to train your roots and to avoid warping the rest of the loc.

Palm rolling is demonstrated in the video below, but note she doesn't discuss direction, washing or clipping after you roll (not that clipping is a neccessity):
 

Interlocking can be done with your fingers, a latchhook or crotchet needle, using a 4 point or 3 point method i.e. passing the tip of the loc through the root (as if it were a clock face). Enter the loc at 3 to 9, 12 to 6, 9 to 3, 6 to 12.  (3 point: enter from 9 to 3, 12 to 6, 3 to 9). 

For all the "visual learners", interlocking is demonstrated here, however note she doesn't discuss the small flyaway new growth or what happens if you go the wrong way when interlocking. She also suggests you only complete one rotation, which is great if you only have a little bit of new growth but otherwise, you'd have to keep going till you get close to the root (without over tightening):

The point is to NEVER pass the tool in the same direction, as this will leave a "Y" part at the roots that you definitely do not want. Essentially, you will have split the root into two. I made this mistake once; with my first set of locs and boooooy was it a complete   [insert expletive]  to undo. After creating the Y, in an effort to back track, I ended up making a knot at the root of my loc. I did eventually unravel it, after much cursing and a temper tantrum that would have made any toddler proud!

With either technique you need to be gentle with your locs. Don’t over twist with palm rolling or interlock too tight, as this will lead to a painful scalp or worse, weak and or broken locs.

Re-twist Bantu Knot Out Experiment

Due to a bout of extreme laziness, (don’t judge me, it happens), I decided to try a clip free method of palm rolling. After washing my locs, I sectioned into four bunches and then palm rolled each loc before twisting into a Bantu knot.

I wore the Bantu knots for two days and then pulled them out into a new curly do. I admit that despite my initial apprehension of too much forehead with the Bantu knots and medusa curls on the pull out, I quite liked the end result with both stlyes. 

Until next time...

Don't forget to follow Fiona on Twitter @fifipommes