Nature’s Parlour is spearheading a national network of natural hair, beauty and wellness shows to include not only England, but Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland too.

The first expo is to take place in Leeds on 25 September 2011.  Other shows are scheduled to take place in Manchester & Birmingham this year.

Nature’s Parlour is looking for top notch vendors for the Expo – this could mean YOU!  Please contact info at naturesparlour.co.uk  if your business falls into the following categories:

• natural hair products (moisturisers, oils, shampoos, conditioners, etc)
• hair accessories (loc jewellery, wraps, scarves, etc)
• beauty products
• body care products
• natural hair stylists who are willing to display their expertise with live demonstrations, before/after pictures and hair care advice (locs, sisterlocks, brotherlocks, braids, thermal stylists, canerow, mixed race & afro hair care)

Have you ever wondered how you can accessorize your hair with a beautiful scarf?

Well here are three simple ways:

How To Tie A Turband 3 Ways from LEAFtv on Vimeo.

This is a great way to decorate your hair whether you have locs, loose natural hair, transitioning or plaits!

How do you accessorize your hair?

For those looking for the best curly hair products, consider shampoo, conditioners and styling tools designed specifically to maintain bounce without leaving your style drab or brittle. Nature’s Parlour has natural hair products to help maintain your locs.

Use conditioners and shampoos to strengthen and provide soft, but lasting hold to improve appearance, while adding shine and luster to your hair. Use hairsprays, mousse and gels for controlling design, humidity, heat and outdoor factors.

The good thing about natural hair remedies is that you can keep your hair looking gorgeous without spending too much money and sacrificing its health. Moreover, you are also helping the environment by not adding harmful wastes to your surroundings.

With these natural hair care remedies, you are sure to maintain beautiful and healthy locks.

Ever wondered what some of the basic principals of loc’ing your hair would involve…? Well here are some simple pointers for you:

There are a few ways to loc including:
*two strand twists, which get washed and re-twisted without combing the hair through – a very presentable, tidy way to do it)
*gel coils which get redone at the hair dressers fortnightly or so without combing through the hair – can be quite messy in between washes
*have plait extensions and keep getting the hair re-plaited without combing the hair through
*sister locs

There are three stages of growth:
*baby locs (look neat, cute and nice)
*teenage locs (don’t do anything you want them to do)
*mature locs (settled in, manageable, thank God you didn’t give up!)

There are two ways to maintain locs after (or in some cases in between) washing your hair:
*palm rolling
*latch hooking

Things to be aware of:

* if a hairdresser knows that you want to loc your hair they may charge you more money, saying that they’re “starting your locs off”. If on the other hand you say you want comb coils, you’ll be charged the normal price for comb coils; if you say you want your hair to be twisted they’ll charge you a reasonable price to do that too but use the term “please start my locs off” at great expense.
*don’t get your locs any thinner than pencil sized (unless you like Sister locs) – remember to be practical: Don’t have more locs on your head than you’ll be comfortable managing on your own

A good tip:
*If you’re going to have slim locs, have a centre parting from the front to the back of your head when you start them off so that you can have neat bunches/pony tails, etc when your locs mature

There are some great Yahoo! groups which you could join including
*LadyLocs (Good site)
*Lovinlocs (I highly recommend this one!!!)

Natural Products for your Natural Hair

*Maintain your hair with natural shampoos, conditioners and oils – no beeswax, wax or petroleum based products as they are almost impossible to wash out of your locs.

Want to know more about loc’ing your hair or any of the pointers mentioned above?  Post your questions below…

Yours naturally,

Xina