Courtesy of my sister Debbie. I just love that fact that my sisters and I share a love for natural hair. They inspire me in more ways than one.
Stay Naturally Fabulous Queens
www.leeshxoxo.tumblr.com
I made a little side bang with the bun and incorporated a laced hair bow to add a little pizzazz to the overall look. It’s a creative, chic, and very feminine way to style long braids.
Me, letting my hair down. 
It usually takes me 2 days to do these braids, of course with several breaks in between. I love to do these when I either don’t have the time to cater to my hair or my hair is stressed and needs a vacation. In this case, it was both of those reasons. Nonetheless I am enjoying them, although, I do miss my hair. I figured I will keep them in until my one year natural hair anniversary which will be September 11th. At that point I will also get those highlights that I’ve been contemplating.
Stay Naturally Fabulous Queens
“Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one’s definition of your life; define yourself.”
~Harvey
Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse is an extremely beneficial and pocket friendly way to cleanse natural hair. It’s acidic components help to rid hair of product buildup as well as close hair cuticles for a desirable sheen and moisture retention. The fact that its’ pH level is much more acidic than the natural pH level of our hair means that it does an excellent job of cleansing the hair, either equivalent or better than most shampoos.
Now because it is so acidic the only precaution I would advice is that you don’t use too much of a good thing. Meaning I would not advice doing a ACV rinse more than once a week. Also, it is important to dilute the ACV as it is very acidic and acids can have harmful effects if overused. I did my first ACV rinse this weekend, and although I did not do any precise measurements, I diluted the ACV with approximately 3x’s the amount in water. What I found after the rinse is that my hair was soft and had a sheen to it, which was so unexpected. It wasn’t until after I did more research that I found out that because the pH level in the ACV closes the hair cuticles, it allows increased moisture retention and leaves a sheen. Not only that but it also works to restore lost pH levels in hair and scalp, promotes blood circulation in the scalp, and leaves hair feeling soft. These are all components we look for in shampoos. The ones we shy away from because of harmful ingredients are usually the cheap/affordable ones and the ones that claim to be very beneficial cost an arm and a leg. So I figure with my frugal tendencies why not cut out shampoo usage all together. An ACV rinse gives me everything, I need and more.
Open or Raised Cuticle. Cuticles should only be raised during deep treatments to allow for deep penetration into the hair shaft. Otherwise, open cuticles only result in more vulnerable strands.
Closed Cuticle. Closed cuticle retains moisture into the hair shaft resulting in a sheen and less frizz.