*Prepared for BGLH by Meosha Tall of 1MeNaturally
Introduce yourself!
K: Hey, my name is Kanga. I was born in Ivory Coast 24 years ago and now I live in France.
Why did you make the decision to go natural?
K: I have been natural for 5 years. My mother did my first relaxer treatment at the age of 4 and my hair seemed to be nice and healthy, but my last perm at the age of 18 went wrong. Unfortunately, I lost a lot of hair…I mean…A LOT of hair. I had bra-strap-length hair before and then shoulder length. I was so disappointed, I didn’t know what to do with my alopecia and my short, fragile and unhealthy hair. Finally, I subscribed to a French forum named “Cheveux-Ebêne” dedicated to natural hair, and when I saw the beauty and versatility of our hair I fell in love with it. I chopped all my relaxed hair in 2008 after a year of transition. I decided to loc my hair in 2011 but, I picked them out recently with a comb, conditioner and water. I needed a change!
How would you describe your texture?
K: My curls are very tight, 4C or something like that. My strands are fine, but my hair is dense.
Describe your styling regimen over the course of the month.
K: My strands are fine and can tangle easily so to avoid that, I do a lot of updos and high buns every week. I rarely let my hair down. I retain length with protective styles and using the baggy method for my ends.
What does wash day look like for you?
K: I try to use only natural products on my fro because they work perfectly on my hair. The day before wash day, I condition my hair with coconut and jojoba oil and the next morning I shampoo with Dudu Osun African Black Soap twice a week. After that, I rinse my hair with an herbal infusion of ayurvedic powders (amla, bhringaraj, neem etc…). I have a low porosity so I add moisture to my hair with flaxseed or aloe vera gel and seal with murumuru butter. I am a huge fan of peppermint and tea tree on my scalp.
Describe your favorite go-to hairstyle for days when you don’t have a lot of time to style.
K: I wear a high bun 90% of the time. It takes me 2 minutes to do and I tuck the ends of my hair with bobby pins.
How do you combat shrinkage?
K: African threading is my secret to maintaining stretched and tangle free hair. I divide my hair in 8 sections or more when doing this method. I don’t use any heat on my hair.
What are some of your problem areas (if any) that require special care and attention?
K: My edges are very fragile since my last relaxer and I have to deal with it even 5 years after. Due to this, I avoid any kind of traction on my scalp.
What are 2 do’s for your texture?
K: Finger detangling, low manipulation and keeping it moisturized and sealed with the L.O.C. method (liquid, oil, cream). In the beginning I used to comb my hair all the time. I wasn’t gentle with my fro. I had breakage and split ends everywhere. I learned that I have to be patient with my hair, especially when I had locs.
What are 2 don’ts for your texture?
K: Wash’n’gos are definitely the worst thing to do for my hair! Knots and even single knots everywhere!
Is there a blog/webpage where we can find you?
K: Yes, on http://princesseakan.blogspot.fr.
108 Responses
I just realized how old this article is. I haven’t been on this site in a while. Why are there so many old articles on the homepage?
Where are the rest of the photos?
Where are the extra photosssss? lol Great hair!
Also there’s an extra “e” in her blog url. it’s actually http://princessakan.blogspot.fr/
The French are really doing it big when it comes to natural hair. I’ve been following some french vloggers on youtube and their hairstyles and methods are always a bit more innovative then their American sisters .
I wish there were more pictures of her hair tho.
Thick and lush hair!
😮 Fab-U-lous!!!! How can I keep up with you??? Your Blog is not responding. Its saying it does not exist :-/. I have 4C and my hair is stuck. I am looking for some things to do to get it growing back. This is my 3rd full year of being natural. Trying to link up with more 4-c’s. Thanks for the inspiration …I needed it.
Tes.
Awww thank you!
I have a new blog:http://theprincessakan.wordpress.com/
Girl!! I was just about to get a perm (idk how to rock it ) but seing an Ivorian more over an Akan like me rock it so well girl I changed my mind now u r my role model!!
#proudIvoriangal!
Wow, Nice ! I’m so happy to meet an Akan like me there! Glad to inspire you!
is there a way to read your website in English? I cant remember my French from high school 30 years ago
Her hair looks healthy. I’m inspired.
Thank you!^^
My hair is like past 4C I mean tight and knots everywhere! Plus I have a lot of breakage in the back from 18wks of bed rest with my last babe. She’s a year now but not much in way of rebound for my hair. What do you suggest for daily/weekly upkeep? So dont want to relax again but it looks bad!
I started transitioning slowly in 2010 but relaxed a bit of the front in 2011 and since then i havent relaxed it. In september 2012 i decided to do the bc and once again in december and ive been managing my hair since then. Trying a few products and doing 2 strand twist for protective styling. Now, my ends are looking worse than ever before and its breaking alot. I’ve tried putting protein in my hair but sitting there for an hour cold blowing my hair for it to harden is just not for me, so i abandoned that. I’m not sure if its due to the weather or not but im so lost on what to do.Please help
Have you ever try hydrolysed protein?? I use Rice protein in my daily moisturizer.My hair especially my ends are preserved from breakage, my strands are thicker and i have even more volume! Just give a try! Rice protein change my Life!
And you Know what?? Now, i CAN use Heat very often (twice a month) without damaging my hair!!
what is rice protein and where can u get it
OH…. Mlle,ta chevelure est magique.Je tiens a battre ton record lol 🙂
Je te remerci!! Je te le souhaite en tout cas, j’essaie de battre moi-même mon propre record en encourageant la rétention de mongueur jusqu’au niveau de la taille, ce serait cool^^
Gorgeous hair and spirit !
Thank you!!^^
Beautiful Hair, Beautiful Girl, pleins de bisous ma belle 🙂
Merci à toi ma belle! Bisouxxx
Your hair looks great. I have 4c as well. Its been a year since I had a relaxer. I actually had been without a relaxer for almost 3 years and wish I had continued doing that if I had the info that I had today to keeping it natural. When I did go without relaxer for 3 years starting in 2005-2008, my hair was past my shoulder after beautiful straighten it out but boy when the humidity got to it. It was poof!! LOL! I am really liking this site. Seeing some of the 4c styles have been a breath of fresh air. I just now have to be very patient. Because some days I just want to relax it or shave it all off cause it gets on my nerves sometimes. God bless! 🙂
Thank you a lot! I’m glad to represent tight curls on this website.
4C is my hair type too. I have been transitioning a few months and I can already identify with the knots Kanga refers to. I might try threading to straighten my hair as twists don’t stretch the natural under-growth.
Beautiful hair Kanga. I can tell you take good care of it.
Thank you sis’. Yes, two-strand twists can’t properply straighten the hair based at the roots … This is a huge mess for 4c hair!
That hair is just BEAUTIFUL
Thank you girl.
Kanga, I love your hair… It is beautiful and so are you… Continue taking care of yourself and stay healthy, it shows you look great…
That’s the Afrikan baby!!!!!
Awww…. thank you.
Full and luscious hair and on a beautiful lady too!
Thank you^^
Lovely thick Black hair! Gorgeous girl. Never thought of using African Black Soap as shampoo.
Thank you , yes, i try to always keep it simple. I don’t want to waste my time into doing my hair every single day….
I think I have a #hairtwin lol. Great hair, I love how simple and straight forward the regimen seems, natural hair doesn’t have to be a headache! 🙂
Thank you , yes, i try to always keep it simple. I don’t want to waste my time into doing my hair every single day.
Kanga your hair is absolutely GORGEOUS!!!! I have extreme hair crush rite now.
Thank you ^^
The blog is in French…can’t speak French. Is there an English version?
Someobe said that they were a google option to translate my blog but i don’t know how to do it .
Someobe said that there were a google option to translate my blog but i don’t know how to do it .
use google chrome. As soon as you enter the website, there will be an instruction asking if you want to translate to English.
see? 4Cs can grow their hair long!
Kanga, please help me me grow my hair. Should I loc my hair like you did? Then take from there. I would like to know what to do to stop fly away hair.
Thanks girl
really pretty hair
i love seeing these international sisters!
Thanks Kanga for helping sistershow to care for their locs.
What would you recommend to do or use for fly away hair.?
I do ever like moisturize the hair
Co-wash, deep condition when twist my hair it don’t hold for a day or so. And I’m fighting shrinkage, they grow then shrink now they are not growing.
I cut my hair since last July.
What do you suggest ?
hey i’m not kanga but i went on her blog saw that we had similar regimen: pre-poo once a week with coconut oil then shampoo with a gentle shapoo or co wash and then condition with a water based leave-in conditioner before styling it and leaving the hair alone for a week. like me she barely wears her hair out and moisturizes during the week as needed with water-based spray (that you can make yourself with an oil of your choice). i found this to be great for 4C hair that gets easily dry and can break easily too. what regimen do you currently have?
and of course she’s addicted to the kind of hairstyles that keep the hair streched to prevent it from tangling
love,love to see beautiful ladies with 4C hair!
Me too!although im a true 4a, I am obsessed with long 4b&4c hair.
Great 4C HAIR! BRAVO!!
Thank you^^
YeSSSSSSS, A fellow Ivorian. I literally scream when I saw Ivory Coast. Your hair is banging, can’t wait for mine to get to that length
Yeah!! Thank you!! Are you from Ivory Coast as well?
YES! Yes to everything! Beautiful head of hair!
xx
Aww thank you!!^^
Kanga, ……d*mnnnnnn!! Fierce locs/mane! Great tips =) Thanks for the details =)
Thanks you Sis !! <3
Gorgeous! Gorgeous! Gorgeous!
Thank you so much. Love .
Wow her hair is bangin! This is inspiring for a girl like me who is also 4C, and only a couple months into my natural hair journey. I hope my hair can look like that in 5 years too!
Thanks you Sis !! <3 . low manipulation is THE key!!
WOW! What a beautiful full head of gorgeous hair!
Thans you so much. Love.
It awesome to see 4C natural, while love uniform curls of 3s , I equally enjoy seeing the ferocity and the awesomeness of a kinky 4C! I think her hair is striking.
Yeah! Thanks you. i understand what you mean I love wild hair!
Hi Kanga, I do love big hair! What makes your hair striking to me is the texture and the fullness. I think we don’t often appreciate the different textures that we have as black women have. I appreciate yours 🙂
a fellow afro-french girl yay! we have similar hair and regimen that’s amazing! de quelle région de france tu viens? you’re amazing 🙂
Thank you !^^ Je suis vis en Ile-de-france
Wow, so, so inspiring. I have hair that is a very similar texture but it “won’t grow” and it’s been so frustrating. I’m going to try your regimen, I like that it is completely natural, and see what happens!! Thank you!
I absolutely love your hair! I have the same texture and I just don’t know how to control it. I swear if I had seen this post 2 days ago, I would not have gotten this weave which i hate with passion. I struggle alot with shrinkage and was wondering how you deal with it. I am at my wits end and don’t want to loc my hair because of it.
Dear BGLH,may you please feature more fine haired naturals,its very discouraging when all you see are thick haired naturals. Keep up the good work
I love me some 4c hair,I can’t wait to get to that length!my hair isn’t as bulky as yours but I’m using castor oil to thicken it up. Wow your hair is gorgeous!!
Found my hair twin! Yay! I’ve been considering doing African threading & this has confirmed. Great styling regime!
Hi!! I’m glad to be featured in BGWLH because we need to see that black hair is beautiful with various textures and routines. Really unique.
Such a gorgeous head of hair! Very informative too!
Thank you!
She’s blessed that head full of hair.
When I read this line “My curls are very tight, 4C or something like that” I totally “heard” it in her french accent. Her blog looks cool (although I don’t understand what it says.)
I just switched to using google chrome instead of my old trusty internet explorer. And it actually gave me the option to translate her blog from French to English! I was so excited like I discovered a new toy lol. Try it out 😀
Aha ! Thank u girls. So sorry , i can’t translate all my blog for the moment . Glad to know that you can translate it with google options.
Sighhh, absolutely gorgeous head hair on that lady. I’m going to check out African threading and see if that’s something I need to add to my repetouire (sp).
Love, love, LOVE! Great feature.
I love this hair and I love her as an icon! When I lived in Kenya, the women would tell me their hair wouldn’t grow because it was “real” African hair. I love that this gorgeous woman from the continent with goo-goobs of beautiful hair blows that theory out of the water!
Ignorance is the problem… because most of african women don’t even know how to detangle correctly natural hair. That’s why i can’t stop to share my experience with my sisters and stop the misinformation about kinky hair.
I always get excited when BGLH features a 4C natural!! It gives me hope of achieving great length! Her hair is healthy and beautiful, rock on 4C’s!!
Thank you! Having 4C natural hair is not a problem to achieve a great length.All you have to keep in mind is that low manipulation and moisture are the best things to do to retain some length.
Look at all that beautiful hair I just love thick hair FineHairProblems
Beautiful hair! When u wear buns do you take it down to moisturize daily?
Thank you! I always moisture my hair twice a week even when i wear buns or any kind of hairstyle.
I am so in love with her hair! Simply beautiful!
Thank you Mika!
I plan to google this one for sure, but could somebody go over what ‘African Threading’ is? [like from a first-hand experience] my tangles might appreciate that… lol
At gigi, African threading is a heatless stretching method that has been used in Africa for centuries. It can also be used as a great protective style. If my memory is correct BGHL had a post about it last year. It is also called yarn wrapping when you use one to several threads of yarn to wrap around your hair. When the threads are closely and tightely wrapped together around a piece of hair, the result can be mistaken for a lock. The difference is only the end of the thread that is usually burnt. You can also separate the threads as you wrap it down the hair. This technic can also be used to do and hold bantu knots longer securing them with the thread; loose corkscrews that look like twists and some other styles. You can find good tutorial on you tube under “african threading” or “yarn wrap”. Here in the USA we use yarn a lot for this method because it’s available,cheap and it keeps the hair really moisturised. In Africa we have different kind of thread we use imcluding yarn. Hope this helped!
Hey African threading is the wool used to knit jerseys, you just part the size you want to straighten at a time and then from the bottom tie around the thread. We hardly(almost) never use heay for straightening in Africa plus it really stretches the best. If I don’t have thread I use cut up strips of sheer stockings lol yes they work too.
African threading!! Such a good idea. My mum used to do that on me when I was a kid. I live your hair. Defiantly incorporating that tip into my regimen ????
Thank you girl! You should do it on your hair. My mom used to di that on me when i was relaxed to ensure the manageability of my new growth.
Im just too filled with animosity right now! Those ponytails are killing me! You look AMAZING. I need prayer
Thank you girl, all you need is patience and protective styling. ^^
Nice to see some fellow fine haired naturals! Beautiful head of hair.
Hi! Thank you!
Absolutely gorgeous, lush hair that looks incredibly healthy. Love it! My texture is similar to yours and I wouldn’t trade it in for the world. I ADORE the variety that type 4 hair gives!
Awww… thank you. Our hair is so unique!
Love them buns!
Thank you ^^