A brand new regimen for women with 4C, 4B and 4A hair to help it grow fast and long.

My Strategy to Grow Your 4C Hair

This is a strategy I have created for anyone who is reading and my subscribers. 4C hair alongside 4B and 4A hair is wonderful but it can be overwhelming if you do not know how to care for it. This strategy explains a new strategy that you can follow in order to grow and boost the growth of your hair.

This is the 5 step strategy on how to grow 4C hair quickly

Step 1: Do African Threading for 1-15 days at a time

African threading makes 4C hair grow so fast and quickly. As long as your stylist does it with yarn thread, it will not itch or hurt you. I would seriously recommend doing African Threading every month. If you work in a job where you are feeling shy about having threads as your hairstyle, get your stylist to make small African threads instead of big ones. This will allow you to cover the threads with a lace front wig for example instead of cornrows. This way your hair is protected with African threads and you can still wear as many wigs as you want.

Step 2: Use hair vitamins

Hair vitamins are particularly helpful if your hair breaks a lot. I like Biotin-enriched vitamins for 4C hair and Type 4 hair in general. Get in the habit of swallowing them every day in order to see the best results. Hair vitamins work best with African Threading hairstyles in my opinion and I would encourage you to use them in this strategy.

Step 3: Take a break of 3 days in between styles

During your 3 day break, keep your fingers out of your hair by wearing a printed head scarf that you can leave the house in. Always ensure minimal manipulation of your hair if you want 4C hair to grow especially.

Step 4: Do African Threading again for 15 days

It can seem tedious but this style is absolutely perfect for helping 4C hair to grow long and fast. You allow the hair to grow long because it is isolated and it isn’t manipulated.

Step 5: Do braids or a sew-in weave for 3-4 weeks

After using African threading hairstyles, you should try sew in weaves or braids to give your hair more chance to grow. Don’t forget to be taking hair vitamins every day and drink fresh and clean water every day as well. If you are using braids or a sew-in weave in this step, use Jamaican Black Castor Oil on your hair line or near the braids and sew-ins to keep your hair line nourished and to avoid getting hair patches that are associated with some tight protective styles.

Why does this regimen work for 4C hair compared to others?

Because I made this growth regimen especially for women with 4C, 4B and 4A hair. Let’s face it, 4C hair and type 4 hair have different needs and requirements. Our hair is different to other people’s and we need to embrace that. This regimen is focused on giving 4C hair a break so that it can grow and thrive. If you are constantly manipulating your hair, you are giving it a chance to break instead of a chance to grow.

How long do I need to follow this regimen to see results?

You should see results within 30 days but within 60 days, there should be substantial growth as long as you follow my instructions for this 4C hair growth strategy.

Where can I learn more about growing 4C hair and maintaining it?

Obviously you can get the best tips here at Charcoal Ink which is why you are reading it. Sign up for email updates as well.

Top 4 Beautiful Hairstyles for Black Women and Black Girls

These are just 4 gorgeous hairstyles for black girls in 2019 that I could not stop obsessing over for this year. Even though I am natural with 4C hair, I still love the power of weaves and wigs as protective styles as long as they are used correctly, for example. Which are these styles is your favourite?

I am working on creating a new hair and beauty regime to supercharge growth this year for my hair and to improve how I look and I will definitely be sharing my new hair and beauty regime here with you.

Tell me which of these hairstyles you like the most?

The Most Beautiful Box Braids Hairstyle

I love the vibrancy of this box braid hairstyle because I like how she contrasted the hair colour with the threads to create this super earthy African braided look.

Box Braids Hairstyle Top Tips

I would definitely do something like this but I also think if you are going to do box braids like this you should be aware that styles like this don’t last long without getting messy because larger braids go bad faster than smaller braids.

That said, larger braids put less tension on your hair as well. I always go into vivid detail in my exclusive newsletter so make sure you sign up to get it.

I would definitely recommend buying human braiding hair instead of synthetic to avoid the itchiness that comes with synthetic braiding hair as well.

Which box braids hairstyles do you like? Let me know by getting in touch.

Check out a brand new concept I have on Charcoal Ink. I would love to hear what you think of this shopping vlog. My boyfriend and I went shopping in Sandton City, a luxury shopping centre in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Do you want to see more shopping vlogs? Do you like my new Senegalese twist hairstyle that I got? They are pretty chunky.

Sign up for the exclusive Charcoal Ink newsletter where I share subscriber specific content as well. Let me know what you thought of this vlog and don’t forget to get my email newsletter.

Top 3 tips for taking care of grey hair for black women

One of my loyal subscribers, Yvette, asked me to tackle to this topic and I was honoured that she cared enough to get in touch. Grey hair has kind of gone a renaissance – people used to want to hide it but now there are grey ombre hair weaves everywhere and people are embracing it. I couldn’t agree more with it. There is something almost imperial about grey hair. I’m going to share the top 3 tips of taking care of grey hair if you are a black woman. Feel free to use these tips and let me know how you get on.

• Stop colouring your hair

One of the most important things about managing grey hair is to stay away from colour. If you are a hair dye addict but your hair has started to become grey, just get your colour sugar fix by wearing weaves or wigs. It’s not worth destroying your hair colour especially if you are becoming grey just because you want to have red hair. Black women especially don’t have that luxury because our hair is more prone to breakage compared to other ethnicities.

• Invest in protective styles

Whether you are an older lady or a younger woman, I believe in the power of protective styles. For grey hair, I love Senegalese twist braids because this protects the strands and you can either opt to have black extensions or you can bask in the beauty of grey hair by choosing grey extensions. You can also do it without extensions as well.

• Use a good hair vitamin to encourage strength

As women age, keratin and collagen decrease and these are the two most important components for healthy hair and healthy skin. I love the idea of using a decent hair vitamin with Biotin. Some hair vitamins have 5,000 mcg which is a lot. I don’t think you need one this big (although I am a sucker for length so I would get this one LOL). Start taking a good hair vitamin to encourage strength and a healthy appearance in your grey hair. If you want recommendations, get in touch with me and I am happy to share the ones that I like.

The most important thing for black women with grey hair is stay away from anything that encourages breakage in your hair. Whether you are a woman of a certain age or a younger girl, grey hair requires love and care. No pulling, no yanking and don’t overly process your hair either if you aren’t relaxed. I think grey hair for black girls with natural hair is awesome but it needs way more attention than we think. With these 3 tips, you can be well on your way. I’d love to know what you all think of these tips.

1–Creme of Nature Argan Buttermilk

Ladies honestly — this product is it. I remember I first tried it in 2016 and my hair has never stopped being so soft and fluffy since then. My 4C hair flourished under the creamy goodness of these product. If you are in the US, you can purchase it from Walmart for $5.05. In the UK, it goes for around £8.99.

2–MAC Lipstick in Heroine

This super vibrant purple lipstick looks amazing on black skin. I really like this lipstick but I’ve noticed that MAC constantly has price increases. It costs about $17.50 in the US and £18 in the UK. I love wearing Heroine when I am going out on the weekend with friends or for dates with my boyfriend.

3–MAC Lipstick in Twig

This is the perfect nude pink for black women of all skin tones. I seriously recommend this product if you want that nude pink Instagram hue that many black girls wear. I love this lip colour and I should be getting another tube of it when I go on holiday to South Africa in the New Year.

I do think any of these products would be amazing as a gift for a friend or family member who loves beauty. Trust me, these 3 are ridiculously awesome gifts. If you are going to be doing Christmas shopping, check them out and also let me know what you think.

5 Awesome Hair and Beauty Products for Black Women

It is Christmas so obviously there is a sense of festive cheer all around the world. This got me thinking about my favourite beauty products that I have personally used and spent my hard-earned female cash on LOL. It wouldn’t feel right for me not share any leads with you girls especially if you are shopping for friends and family. These aren’t affiliate links so I am not being paid for these recommendations however it would be amazing if you do like this post, just check out my Etsy store to check out my Christmas card listings if you are interested. These are my 5 ultimate favourite hair and beauty products and I cannot wait to purchase them for Christmas.

1—MAC Lipstick in Twig

This is one of my favourite lipstick ever. This picture doesn’t do it justice. I am dark-skinned and it looks wonderful on me for that Instagram-glossy makeup look that we see everywhere.

2–IC Fantasia Heat Protectant Serum 

This is one of my favourite heat protectants for black hair because it softens your hair, doesn’t change your curl pattern either. I haven’t done a blow dry in a while but I find this serum excellent for stretching 4C hair without heat and it is also good for daily moisture.

3–MAC Lipstick in Photo

This is my favourite nude brown lipstick for black girls. I think it is the best nude brown lipstick in the world. So creamy, so chocolatey, so amazing!

4–Creme of Nature Argan Buttermilk

This is the best hair moisturiser for 4C hair – yes you heard it here first. It is hard to find but you can get it at Amazon. It’s $5.05 for US customers, £8.99 for UK customers on Amazon UK and it ships internationally.

5–MAC Lipstick in Heroine

This is a super vibrant shade of purple that leans towards violet. I love how creamy the texture is and it always brings me tonnes of compliments from men and women about how good I look with it. Definitely recommend.

These 5 products are amazing and I genuinely adore them so much. I can’t wait to stock up on them before Christmas. Which ones are your favourites? Let me know if you decide to choose some Christmas gifts from this list. You can also visit my Etsy store to get more Christmas inspiration.

Get incredible Christmas cards here 

Guys, I am so excited to show you a selection of 2 beautiful Christmas cards that I commissioned for my brand new Etsy store. I wasn’t going to share this initially because I don’t want to annoy anybody but I am so proud of the high standard of these Xmas cards and I think you all could benefit from having them if you are celebrating this holidays this year.

I brainstormed with my designer and we came up with this unique bundle of 2 printable Christmas cards that come in 2 options for sizes. I am absolutely obsessed with Christmas, holidays and sharing gifts with people so I think these cards are a wonderful way to start celebrating the holiday season.

I would love to know what you all think of the cards or if you think they would be something you are interested in. I am currently working on a gift guide for hair, beauty and style for black women so I will share my top suggestions for Christmas gifts this week as well.

Merry Christmas babes and let me know how you are celebrating this year!

One thing I love about Cardi B’s hairstyles is that her looks always change her entire face. She can look so different depending on which hair colour she is wearing. She tends to wear wefts and wigs but I have noticed that I like her looks most when she contrasts between blonde weaves and black lace fronts. She tends to keep her makeup subtle when she has bright hair or she will contrast a vibrant makeup look with a soft hair style. Which of these top 5 are your favourite? I would love to know. Don’t forget to check out Beyoncé’s top 10 hairstyles as well.

Top 5 Cardi B Hairstyles

[Click each image to enlarge and see in detail within the gallery]

Which of these hairstyles is your favourite? I actually like the blonde wig she wore when she did a YouTube segment for GQ. I like the dark contrast of those roots as well. I would love to know which one is your favourite.

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Beyoncé’s hair has gone through incredible transformations in her 20+ year career as an entertainer and performer. I am a big fan of her music but I have always loved her approach to her hair. She loves blonde hair, but she does surprise us every now and then with her wigs and her natural hair is very long as well. Here are her top 10 best hairstyles.

My favourite hairstyle is her hair during the B’Day era of 2006. The wispy layers just made her skin and beauty pop like nothing else. I hope she brings that style back!

The Top 10 Best Beyoncé Hairstyles [Gallery + Click to Enlarge Each Picture]

She seems to like sticking to honey blonde. I have seen pictures of her with brown hair and she does look wonderful with brown but she has her signature which is honey blonde hair with dark tones every now and then. Her makeup tends to match the warmth of her hair colour which is something that I find interesting.

Which one is your favourite?

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