7 Tips for Natural or Relaxed Hair.

We are women of every colour on the outside but what goes in is always the same.

Healthy hair starts with a healthy scalp, but many women suffer from various conditions that rob them of optimum hair performance.

You are what you eat..

Experience Hair&Beauty Stylists and also Miss Congo UK Beauty Pageant Director Nadege Tshiobi offers us tips on how to care for your natural or relaxed hair for the sisters.

Natural Afro Hair

Chemical Processed Hair

 1. Leave the Chemicals to Professionals.
Have your hair relaxed in a salon or by a hair expert; the stylist will determine whether it’s healthy and strong enough to handle the chemicals in a perm.

If you dont know, leave it to the professional experts

Always seek professional advice before applying perm for the first time

Coloured, under-conditioned, or over-processed hair may not be ready for straightening and you will alleviate hair breakage from a “bad” or untimely relaxer. Professional/salon perms also offer various types and strengths of chemicals used to straighten the natural curl of African or Caribbean hair, that is not ofetn available in home perm kits.

Avoid over-processing you hair 

Examples of home kit perms

2. Invest on Organic Products.
Natural oils are a wonderful tool for making curly hair soft and shiny and enable you to avoid unnecessary exposure to chemicals. Eating and applying the right diet can help promote strong growth and healthy hair. When it comes to healthy hair, it is not just what you put on your tresses that counts - it is what you put in your body too! Here are a few examples on what to take to promote healthy growth and skin (you can purchase them all at many leading food supermarkets, food markets and hair/beauty stores, just make sure they are *organic*):

Avocado/Avocado Oil

Coconut/ Coconut Oil

Grape/ Grape Seed Oil

Olives/ Olive Oil

Walnuts/ Walnut Oil

Salmon/ High in Omega 3 Fatty Acids

3. Sleep on Satin. Why? 
Cotton pillowcases have a rougher texture than their silk sisters, creating friction between the pillow and hair, which can cause hair breakage and cotton can absorb oil from the scalp which leads to drier hair. Silk or satin pillowcases and hair wraps (“wrap caps” or “head wraps”) retain moisture. For women with perms or pressed hair, wearing a satin or silk head wrap also helps flatten hair and keep your style neater for a longer time. Wrapping hair around the head alleviates unkempt edges and ends. Plus, satin pillowcases are hypoallergenic.

Satin head wrap

Natural hair ends keep its moisture

Example of satin head wrap

Choose to sleep on Satin Pillowcases

Results whilst sleeping on Satin Pillowcases, hair ends looking healthy.

4. Minimize Heat.
Limit the amount of heat from curling irons, flat irons, and blow dryers as well as styling products. Heat removes essential moisture and can “fry” and damage hair. 

Avoid heat on processed hair

Examples of heated styling products

Avoid heavy heat on your hair

Avoid over heating/ *fry* hair, may cause hair to shred and damage ends.

 Instead, air dry hair,towel dry, use rollers, straw sets, or different braiding/twisting techniques to achieve desired curls.

Use hair rollers

Straw roller sets

Towel dry hair

5. Styling Can Be Stressful!!!

Not only is styling stressful for you, it can be stressful on your hair. Wear and tear is normal, but you can minimize damage by practicing protective styling. Dare to be adventurous, but be cautious when you suspect that the trendy look you love will damage your tresses over time.

Natural cornrows

Natural Fro'

Weave

Braided and Styled

Micro Cornrows

Relaxed and long

Twist-rows

Long box braids

Fringe/ Wavy weave

Daring cornrows

Maxi-Long Box Braids

Short and Cropped

6. Good Diet = Good Hair.

Hair follicles need nutrients to grow strong and healthy. Meals high in protein, omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamin B12 promote healthy hair growth. Drink plenty of water and take a multi-vitamin to supplement the nutrients you may be missing.

Natural oils

Balanced diet is the way forward to a healthy living

Eat lots of vegs/fruits

Dairy products is a good source of calcium, and also provide nutrients vital for your health to also promote health hair growth

 Protein, Dairy and Omega 3 foods are good for health hair growth.

 

Avoid purchasing cheap hair products as chemicals used to produce these products may be deadly against your hair/skin.

Do not forget to drink plenty of water and take a multi-vitamin to supplement the nutrients you may be missing.

Water is Good For You!!

Vitamins/Minerals

7. Rest.
Instead of regularly applying heat, chemicals, and other products to your hair, let your hair rest through protective styling – or a loose bun a few days a week.

Of course, there's more to your hair than what you eat. Smoking, hormonal imbalances, and not enough sleep can also affect how your hair looks and feels. No magic nutrient can make up for those concerns.
Still, you have a lot more leverage than you might think. If you eat a balanced, varied, protein-rich diet that focuses on the above 7 tips, you will be giving your hair the TLC it needs and deserves.
  
If you liked this blog or found it interesting please leave a Comment, Subscribe and Share our blog.
Thankyou and God Bless!

Published by: http://www.twitter.com/deshii

Send us an email: misscongouk@gmail.com
Add us on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Misscongouk?ref=hl
Follow us on twitter: http://www.twitter.com/MissCongoUk

I Dream of Congo: Narratives from The Great Lakes - Sat 23 Feb 2013 LONDON, UK

‘I Dream of Congo: Narratives from The Great Lakes’ is a self explanatory exhibition combining words and images from renowned international creatives alongside a groundbreaking exhibition of photos taken by women in eastern Congo.

Bukavu, eastern DRC - Photo by Fjona Hill

Bukavu, eastern DRC - Photo by Fjona Hill

The exhibition and accompanying events celebrated the hope and optimism that pervades in the region despite its years of war. It also poses hard questions around the international community’s inaction in the face of the conflict, the continuing illicit trade in minerals from Congo and the failure to stem the tide of sexual violence.

I Dream Of Congo' Campaign is run by Congo Connect, a small UK-based group of individuals working to raise hope for eastern Congo.

"Our mission is to create a space where we can challenge the prevailing attitudes of hopelessness and despair that dominate the perception of the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, by highlighting many of the incredible untold stories of bravery, strength, positivity and innovation from eastern DRC....

We are driven by the injustice of Africa’s deadliest conflict in which an estimated six million people have died and half a million women have been raped, in a territorial struggle for supremacy and mineral wealth among warring factions."

Click here for more information on Congo Connect and their work in Eastern Congo:

Rape victims in Eastern Congo

Rape victims in Eastern Congo

Rape victims in Eastern Congo

Contributions from renowned photographers and writers featured alongside photos and words from women in eastern Congo who have also responded to the phrase ‘I Dream of Congo’. This part of the project has been developed with Women for Women International.

Photo by IDAPTV

"This content will also feature online, as part of our drive to raise the profile of Congo and positively influence the debate around it.... Any proceeds will go to funding projects on the ground in Congo".
Congo Connect 

During the exhibition, The Frontline Club, Women for Women International, One Billion Rising and Save the Congo held events in the space that relate to the theme. A ticketed music concert featuring special performances from Gasandji, Mulele Matondo Afrika and DJ Ya Kil and other Congolese musicians in association with Save the Congo took part on the Saturday 23rd February 2013 at the Cornway Hall, London.

Winner of Miss Congo UK 2012 Sandra Gondora reads her poem in phase of 'I Dream Of Congo'.

Below are photos taken by IDAPTV of guests, amongsts attendees were Miss Congo Uk 2012 Sandra Gondora, Congolese Model Lisette Mibo, SourceDivine VIP CEO Guydile Mambote, SHE'SKING ENT CEO Mya Santos, including friends and supporters of Miss Congo UK.

Guydile and Lisette

L-R Mya, Lisette, Sandra, Guydile

L-R Kiyana Wraps-Madelaine, Guydile, Lisette

Lisette, Sandra

Gasandji, Lisette

Uhuru Movement: Brother Likay, Brother Papy

Save the Congo CEO- Vava Tampa and friend

Save the Congo staff and guest

L-R Mya, Vava, Sandra

Sandra, Madelaine

Poet- JJ Bola

Special performance

Vava and Sandra

Gasandji and guests

Guests

Special performance

  
The exhibition, curated by Leslie Thomas of Art Works Projects and produced by Congo Connect was shown on the selected dates between 12th-23rd February 2013 at Conway Hall London, and soon to be moving on to further venues in the UK and US throughout 2013.

"Thankyou to Save the Congo team for their efforts and hard work....The turn out was fantastic with a wild mixture of people...Thank you team for your hard work and for having me. Well Done, I am so proud"
                                                               Sandra Gondora: Miss Congo UK 2012 Winner 

If you liked this blog or found it interesting please Like, Subscribe and Share our blog.
Thankyou and God Bless!

Published by: http://www.twitter.com/deshii

Send us an email: misscongouk@gmail.com
Add us on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Misscongouk?ref=hl
Follow us on twitter: http://www.twitter.com/MissCongoUk

 
 

 

  

We Congratulate Our True Friend of DRC, (Hollywood Actor, Director, Producer) Ben Affleck on his Oscar Award for Best Picture.

Ben Affleck

We would like to Congratulate, a true friend of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Congolese people, Ben Affleck on winning the best picture award for his at last night's Oscar award. This was a remarkable achievement as as Ben, Co-produced, directed and featured on the movie. Our hope is that Ben will continue to fight our cause and rally other influential people to expose the atrocities in our motherland. It will take our efforts as a people and that of influential people like Ben Affleck, for us to see lasting change in the DRC. 

Here is a piece from Ben Affleck's acceptance speech. “It doesn't matter how you get knocked down in life, because... All that matters is that you have got to get up.” This just goes to show what an inspirational man this guy is.

Director-producer Ben Affleck accepts the award for best picture for "Argo" at the Oscars at the Dolby Theatre on Feb. 24, 2013, in Los Angeles.

DID YOU KNOW THAT Ben Affleck has visited the DRC more than 10 times #Fact

Well it all started in 2010, Affleck founded the Eastern Congo Initiative (ECI), which strives to increase investments from private and public funding sources to support Congolese-led programs that build sustainable community, raise public awareness about the needs in the region as well as to generate policy change that amplifies the U.S. government's engagement in the Congo. 

Check out the website: http://www.easterncongo.org

  

Check out the website: http://www.easterncongo.org

One of the actor’s recent initiatives to support the DRC’s economic development led the actor to team up with chocolatier Joe Whitnney, owner of the Seattle-based confectioner Theo Chocolate, to kickstart organic chocolate production in Congo, by creating chocolate bars made of 100% Congolese cocoa. For the first harvest, which began in September 2012 and will extend through February 2013, Theo will export more than 300 tons of Organic, Fair Trade certified cocoa from Eastern Congo. Cocoa production is a strategic economic solution for the region, given that cocoa has no commercial value for the rebels and is, as a result, not considered a resource or a threat in the conflict.

Cocoa Production In DR. Congo

Theo Chocolate

In an effort to raise awareness on the situation in the DRC, the Hollywood actor has taken part in numerous conferences, meetings and panels. In July, Affleck took part in a Washington D.C. conference focused on child survival with distinguished participants, including U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, USAID Administrator Dr. Raj Shah, health ministers and practitioners from around the world. During the conference, he presented his experiences during his previous trips to Congo, during which he met children who were faced with key obstacles as a result of the militias’ activities and stressed that, without peace and security, Congo will not be able to reduce infantile mortality rate and provide its children an opportunity to grow up and contribute to their society’s development. While recently making an appearance on ABC’s The Week, Affleck urged the U.S. government to do more for the DCR, as he expressed concern over the deteriorating conditions in the African nation, where M23 rebels are carrying on an intense conflict with the government.

Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/339353#ixzz2LxCIY9Cm

While recently making an appearance on ABC’s The Week, Affleck urged the U.S. government to do more for the DCR, as he expressed concern over the deteriorating conditions in the African nation, where M23 rebels are carrying on an intense conflict with the government.   

Please click here to view the coverage of Ben Affleck's concern.

Ben Affleck expressing his concern for Eastern DRC at Congress.

If you would like to know more about what Ben is doing for Congo please search for Eastern Congo initiative and follow the link:  m.tmz.com/2012/12/19/ben-affleck-capitol-hill-congress-congo/ 

We hope you found this blog useful and interesting. Please do leave a Comment, Like, Share and Subscribe to our blog for more updates in the Congolese Community Worldwide.

Please continue to follow us on twitter: https://www.twitter.co./MissCongoUK
Send us an email: misscongouk@gmail.com

Un Chinois tue un travailleur Congolais à Limete

Il y a deux jours, une source confidentielle hautement crédible nous révélait un effroyable meurtre commis dans le quartier industriel de Limete 1ère Rue Dilandos, à Kinshasa (RDC). Un crime crapuleux dont l’auteur est un industriel chinois possédant une usine dans ce quartier. Confronté à la colère débordante d’un employé congolais qui réclamait à juste titre ses arriérés salariaux, l’intéressé n’a pas trouvé mieux que de lui trancher la gorge, avant de le passer violemment à tabac, aidé par cinq autres de ses compatriotes, eux aussi cadres au sein de la même industrie. Se rendant tardivement compte du drame qui venait de se produire, plutôt que de se livrer à la police, ils s’empressèrent de dissimuler le corps sans vie du jeune homme à l’arrière d’une jeep fortement teintée dans l’espoir de le faire disparaître à la première occasion. Heureusement, très vite, l’affaire s’est propagée comme une traînée de poudre, au point de mobiliser tous les employés de l’usine ainsi que les riverains. La police qui a été saisie de cet homicide a préféré comme à son habitude de prendre fait et cause pour l’expatrié chinois en créant un cordon de sécurité pour le protéger, au lieu d’interpeller le délinquant, de mener une investigation sérieuse et de concéder l’affaire aux autorités judiciaires. A l’heure où j’écris, c’est la plus grande incertitude pour la famille de la victime.

Difficile de faire entendre raison dans un pays où l’impunité est devenue un fait courant, à plus forte raison, lorsque l’on ne dispose pas d’assez de revenus pour se payer un bon avocat. Et encore ? Quand on voit tout l’imbroglio judiciaire et la négligence des autorités dans l’affaire Chebeya – un crime d’Etat – on ne peut que s’attendre au pire, c’est-à-dire une absente totale de poursuites judiciaires à l’encontre du criminel en question. Aussi, il serait plus qu’urgent que les organisations de défense des droits de l’homme exigent aux responsables politiques de prendre les choses en main et de porter l’affaire en haut lieu, en mémoire de la victime et de sa famille.— à Pont en construction sur le petit boulevard sur la 1ère rue limete côté St Raphael ou côté résidentiel, Il y a deux jours, une source confidentielle hautement crédible nous révélait un effroyable meurtre commis dans le quartier industriel de Limete 1ère Rue Dilandos, à Kinshasa (RDC). Un crime crapuleux dont l’auteur est un industriel chinois possédant une usine dans ce quartier. Confronté à la colère débordante d’un employé congolais qui réclamait à juste titre ses arriérés salariaux, l’intéressé n’a pas trouvé mieux que de lui trancher la gorge, avant de le passer violemment à tabac, aidé par cinq autres de ses compatriotes, eux aussi cadres au sein de la même industrie. Se rendant tardivement compte du drame qui venait de se produire, plutôt que de se livrer à la police, ils s’empressèrent de dissimuler le corps sans vie du jeune homme à l’arrière d’une jeep fortement teintée dans l’espoir de le faire disparaître à la première occasion.
Heureusement, très vite, l’affaire s’est propagée comme une traînée de poudre, au point de mobiliser tous les employés de l’usine ainsi que les riverains. La police qui a été saisie de cet homicide a préféré comme à son habitude de prendre fait et cause pour l’expatrié chinois en créant un cordon de sécurité pour le protéger, au lieu d’interpeller le délinquant, de mener une investigation sérieuse et de concéder l’affaire aux autorités judiciaires.
A l’heure où cet article est rédigé, c’est la plus grande incertitude pour la famille de la victime. Difficile de faire entendre raison dans un pays où l’impunité est devenue un fait courant, à plus forte raison, lorsque l’on ne dispose pas d’assez de revenus pour se payer un bon avocat. Et encore ? Quand on voit tout l’imbroglio judiciaire et la négligence des autorités dans l’affaire Chebeya – un crime d’Etat – on ne peut que s’attendre au pire, c’est-à-dire une absente totale de poursuites judiciaires à l’encontre du criminel en question.

Aussi, il serait plus qu’urgent que les organisations de défense des droits de l’homme exigent aux responsables politiques de prendre les choses en main et de porter l’affaire en haut lieu, en mémoire de la victime et de sa famille.

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Misscongouk?ref=hl
Twitter: https;//www.twitter.com/MissCongoUK