New Product T444Z hair food in SA

Don't know if you have but I've been hearing about T444Z hair food from many different women with natural and relaxed hair. Apparently it's a gem of a product, I have never used it myself. I tried to get it last year sometime only to discover it is rarely sold in SA as it's an England made product. Well that's all over, product junkies like me will be pleased to hear that the product is finally being launched in South Africa on the 26th April by Niche Haircare.

From what I see the ingredients look good(Herbal extract, Aloe, Rose oil,Papaya,castor oil, peppermint, Vitamin A, Shea Butter, Carrot extracts and Essential oils).
 It cost about R250 which is a bit high for hair food but I'm looking to try it and see if it's worth the praise. If your in  South Africa or maybe even around www.nichehaircare.co.za is were you can get your hands on it.

 If you've used it let me know in the comments below?

MagCovers: Kelis for Schon Magazine

There is not much more to say about these pics than this is why I adore Kelis. She always brings it in the hair and style department. I mean who would make grey hair look this trendy only Kelis can. She's always been a hair trendsetter of note, check out her spread from Schon Magazine.

Source: www.schonmagazine.com

Dineo Ranaka LuvDR in Legit stores today!

  

We know SA presenter and radio Dj Dineo Ranaka has a passion for fashion as we saw on her reality show Dineos Diary.One of the few local reality shows I actually enjoyed. She is moving her LuvDR clothing label to a new height as she launched her Winter range at Legit stores nationwide last week.This is a peek of what to expect from her range. I think its cute and will be affordable as Legit always is.

We cant wait to see what the rest of the LuvDR range has to offer. What do you think about Dineo's new range?

Whats your Hair type?

A lot of women either don't know their hair type or oppose the idea that knowing it makes a difference. I used to think that only people who wear their hair natural need to know their hair type. Truth is whether you have relaxed, straight or dreaded hair knowing your hair type helps you understand your hairs needs.Knowing your hair type won't be the solution to all your hair issues but it is a great start to help you take the best care of your hair. As it helps when choosing the most suitable products for your hair and not just any new product for black hair.

The easiest way to check your hair type is by looking at it in its natural state(unprocessed). If you have relaxed hair or dreads the best way to tell is by looking at your new growth. My hair type is 4B(when my hair is natural) and I currently relax my hair but knowing my hair type helps me manage my new growth and hair a little better. Most African women's hair falls in the type 3 and 4 hair ranges. Type 3 hair ranges from wavy to loose spirals and the higher the up the scale you go to type 4 hair the tighter the curls become. Check the the dialogue below to learn what your hair type is and share with us.

Tips for type 3 & 4 hair:

 Both textures crave moisture so use water based moisturiser(once/twice daily depending)
They need, butters and cream like products (shea butter is a good one)
Seal in moisture with oils (i.e castor, grapeseed, coconut, olive oils) 
Cleansing and conditioning your hair once a week with protein rich and moisture rich

As you can see type 4B and 4C hairs curl pattern are tigher than type 4A and 3. Which means it makes it harder to absorb or retain moisture from products. Making these hair types prone to dryness, damage and breakage. With this in mind you can use your hair type as a guide for what could potentially be good for your hair. But it is important to develop your own routine based on what works best for your hair because ultimately your hair is unlike anyone elses. 

Hairspiration: Mermaid Blue hair, would you dare?

There was a time most of us wanted aqua coloured hair, probably in primary school when mermaids were real(so I thought). Since then I never thought I'd genuinely like aqua hair or that it could look good. It's a trend a lot of celebrities like Nicki Minaj, Katy Perry,Amber Rose and Lil Mama have worn and I thought well they are celebrities so they can  do whatever wild things to their hair.

But it's only recently when I saw a few SA ladies on instagram rocking it that I started liking it. I must admit Im falling for it and think it's a fun hair trend. I don't think I'd try it myself but I absolutely dig the aqua sea vibe going on. One of the first SA ladies I saw rocking mermaid hair was this gorgeous lady Nqobile @nqobiledreams on instagram. 

She is a professional dancer so I think her profession allows her to get away with this fabulous colour.

She has somehow managed to make this aqua mermaid hair look everyday wearable and versatile with the different cuts and curl styles.Another hot South African beauty I recently spotted donning blue long locks is Durbanite, Tracy Noma @nomziii_leaux(instagram) These ladies know how to make it work.

Get the look:

 They both permanently dyed their weave which is great because their natural hair is still protected. An alternative for ladies who want to try this daring colour but not permanently. Try chalk dying, it's really easy and a temporary colour solution that won't damage your hair and can be washed out with shampoo. 

Here are some more blue haired hairspirations in natural, dreads and short hair.

  Would you dare dye your hair green, blue or aqua?

Product junkie review: Amla Legend haircare

I did a little hair shopping and picked up these new Amla Legend products by Dark and Lovely.  I've seen them around, they got launched in SA a few months ago but I never bothered. I decided to buy them now after a friend of mine tried them and told me about the night hair mask. She claims it's good, I have never used a night hair mask before or any of their products so I'll be doing a product review to let you know what I think of them. I'm currently wearing my hair in braids so I'll see which I'll use and do a review for in a few weeks.

I was meant to just get the night mask but ended up getting most of their products because they were cheap(I love a bargain). They are quite reasonably priced, which surprised me because most products with amla aren't as reasonably priced. Maybe it's because they are still new to the South African hair market. The prices ranged between R10 to R38 for each, not bad right well now to see how well they really work. For now I'll try out this Billion hair potion(R19)  the bottle looks like it will make moisturising my scalp in braids easier.



 I'm also going to try the treatment pack(R9) it looks like the ORS replenishing pak that I already use all the time. Even the ingredients are similar so I'll definetly try that and share what I think in a couple of days.

If you have used any of these products leave a comment and share, what you think of them if you've used or are using them? Feel free to share ladies!

African Faces for Big Brands, Black Up and Elizabeth Arden

  

Amidst the buzz with Lupita Ngonyo being announced as the new face of Lancome and on Marieclaire. I realized there has been quite a number of other African women locally and internationally chosen as faces for big make-up brands this year that we should celebrate. Because honestly seeing an African face represent a cosmetic brand was and still is rare. When I saw these campaign shots for Black Up I couldn't stop oogling  them and was more than excited. And when I discovered the model Christelle Yambayisa has African heritage I had to write this 

        

Black Up(French) is one of the first premium cosmetic brands for black and mixed raced skins. Some thing I applaud them for as black women are often under represented in the cosmetics world even here in South Africa. The fact that black women still struggle to find their perfect shade when there are so many beauty lines says it all. I still need to try of Black Up's makeup and maybe give the foundation I currently use a break because this gorgeous campaign with Christelle Yambayisa is definetly convincing me.

While Elizabeth Arden is not new to having a beautiful black woman represent them. They had Lerato Moloi (model) as their South African face last year. However, their newest ambassador Nigerian model, Adeola Ayiro, is the first ever African Ambassador. About time cosmetics brands have African ambassadors for the entire Africa. Here are Adeola Ayiro for Elizabeth Ardens beautiful campaign, now I can relate to this.

 Elizabeth Arden which is already in Angola, Zimbabwe and Mozambique and  will be expanding to Nigeria, Kenya and other Sub-Saharan African countries this year. So look out for it I think it's great they chose Adeola to represent their brand.

 

 Big up to both these ladies on being the chosen one's. We hope to see more makeup created for African skin or at least a wider range of complexions being included in these brands makeup lines. Do share what you think about the beauty houses growth and diversity and having more African ambassadors represent them.

Images : Black Up and Elizabeth Arden SA                                                                                                                                                                                      

Glamour's 10 most Glamorous

This past week Glamour magazine held a event to honour 10 of SA's most glamorous women for their 10th anniversary April issue.The event was in association with L'oreal and Mimco(the new trendy australian accessories store I'm digging). Here are the 10 ladies at the event last week.

 

 In case you haven't picked up the April Glamour issue yet here is a taste of SA's 10 most glamorous women. 

 

Rocking her baby bump is Lee-Aan  Liebenberg-Model

 

The futuristic Lindiwe Suttle-musician

 

Queen of all things Bonang Matheba- TV PrePresenter and Radio Dj

 

Our very own leading lady Terry Pheto- International Actress

 

Lala Hirayama-Presenter

 

Pearl Thusi-Model, Presenter, Actress

 

Tarryn Alberts- Dancer 

 

Melinda Bam- Former Miss SA 2011

 

The vivacious Jeannie D-Presenter, MC

 

Nicole Flint- Former Miss SA 2009, Presenter

I totally love all these however my favourite has to be Ms Terry Pheto that hair and african inspired dress, is everthing. Who is your personal most glamorous, let us know by commenting below.

Lupita Nyong'o face of Lancome

Our fellow African beauty, oscar winner Lupita Nyong'o star has been beaming brighter and brighter since her first movie debut.Too me it seems it was only a matter of time before Lupita joined the beauty game. She has been announced as the new face for Lancome french luxury cosmetics brand. Well done to her as the brands first black ambassador, she keeps proving that beauty should not be dictated. Her style represents as she has said "an expression of a woman's freedom to be herself. She is definitely always herself in her style and hair game. Check a few of Lupita's trendy hairspiration below.

 

Check a few of Lupita's hairspiration for short natural hair she makes it look so easy and flawless. If I ever had the guts to cut my hair this short again I'd definetly rock these.

 

Lupita is a natural haired sister who is constantly experimenting and showing us that short natural hair can be versatile.

 

Fab Ideas on how to style you short hair while you wait for it to grow out or whether just want to keep it short and cute. Which one of these have you rocked or would you try ladies?!

Solange, Erykah and Ledisi all cover Essence Mag

We here at Black Hair Affair are a blog that celebrates All types of african hair types and textures and  with me being a total magazine addict(you will find a stack on my coffee table). I got super excited when I saw Essence magazine had three new covers for May 2014. The three covers had hair trendsetters Erykah Badu, Solange Knowles and Ledisi.

 

Here they are check them out. Erykah Badu was in South Africa for the past week this March performing at the International Cape Town Jazz festival and thankfully I got to see this talent live. Truly amazing like no other.

 

Solange Knowles covers rocking her natural afro our as she talks learning to love her natural beauty. And such a natural beauty she is, should be easy.

 

The third cover has another er music sensation and hair trendsetter Ledisi. She is rocking her luscious dreadlocks styled to perfection. I can't wait to get my hands on all three, which cover are you loving best?

Great Hair is Always in Fashion: SA Fashion Week

South Africa Fashion week took off with a bang last week 2-8 April 2014 in Johannesburg. The fashion obviously took centre stage at fashion week. But hair seems to have been just as important as hair brands Motions and TRESemme were part of the action. Apart from the beautiful designer clothes I was blown away by some of the hair trends I saw on and off the fashion runways.


Heres some of what I saw and loved on the scene and behind the scenes on models, celebrities and fashion lovers.

 

First up was presenter, actress Minnie Dlamini who opened up the Sheer Glamour show on day one. She wore a Gert Johan Coetzee gown with hair styled into a modern pompadour by hair guru Nthato Mashishi for Motions haircare.

 

 Behind the scenes other models runway hair was done by hair extrodinaire

 Matthew Mansoor for TRESemme and Nthato 

 for Motions.

Where theres fashion and cameras there are celebrities of course. Here are some of the celebrities at SA Fashion week who's hair we adored.

 Short 80's inspired hair was trending as we spotted two of SA's finest ladies, musician Nandi Mngoma and actress, Mbali Mlotshwa. Rocking short edgy afro's to watch the shows.

 

Presenters, Tumi Voster and Pearl Modiadie worked their signature long hair. In weaves we trust!

 

And then we spotted these ear cuffs on the ever stylish Zuraida Jardine and bold beauty Nomuzi Mabena. These are definetly accessories most girls will be rocking this winter. What did you think of the looks at SA Fashion week this year? share your thoughts below