‘Watching It Grow And Flourish Brings Me So Much Joy’: Shahira Allan On Embracing Her Natural hair

Beauty fanatic and content material creator Shahira Allan started running a blog 4 years in the past. ‘In 2014 I used to be attacked in my hometown,’ Shahira tells us, ‘I used to be left with a damaged leg and post-traumatic stress dysfunction (PTSD).’ Shahira underwent two surgical procedures, months of physio and hydrotherapy because of the malicious assault, in addition to a yr of remedy. ‘When my remedy periods got here to an finish, my therapist informed me to discover a strategy to exchange these weekly periods.’ This marked the second that Shahira turned to running a blog and created her now famend platform Afro Glory as a strategy to share her pure hair journey, help different black magnificence creators and lift consciousness round psychological well being.Now, the inspiring content material creator makes use of social media platforms Pinterest and Instagram alongside her weblog to showcase her ardour for magnificence with content material spanning all the things from daring and exquisite make-up tutorials to haircare ideas and myriad skincare suggestions in-between. Here, Shahira talks solely to Grazia about her favorite pure haircare strategies, the place she attracts her make-up inspiration from and the way she recommends curating your social media feed.On Discovering Her Passion For Beauty‘My love for magnificence got here in phases,’ says Shahira. ‘The first stage was after I realised making use of make-up served as type of leisure for me.’The second stage? ‘Realising different individuals noticed magnificence in the same method,’ says Shahira who began discovering content material creators by means of platforms like Pinterest. ‘I found tutorials, suggestions, black girls instructing me the best way to use merchandise, magnificence manufacturers and a lot extra.’‘Stage three, that is the stage I’m presently in. I’ve labored within the magnificence business for 2 years as a social media assistant, junior content material editor and junior model supervisor and I’ve been capable of see an entire world inside magnificence. It’s like discovering the door to Narnia however as an alternative of a wardrobe, lion and all the opposite issues, it’s all about magnificence campaigns, influencers, budgets, competitor analysis and so many extra attention-grabbing issues.’On Hair Acceptance‘I used to be 11 years outdated after I had my first hair relaxer remedy,’ says Shahira, ‘I bear in mind feeling so good! I might really feel the breeze on my scalp, my hair was hanging DOWN, I purchased my first hairbrush. I used to be dwelling the swishy hair dream, or so I believed.’ But the truth? ‘What nobody informed me was what number of chemical compounds it took to get hair like that, the painful burn of the chemical compounds on my scalp, the big sore scabs that may kind if I left it even a minute too lengthy, the fixed straightening to keep up the swish and the breakage. The breakage was the worst half.’In a solid after surgical procedure, Shahria made the choice to cease enjoyable her hair. ‘I had been by means of a lot bodily trauma in the course of the previous few months, I made a decision to not alter the rest.’ Now, Shahira loves her pure hair – ‘watching it develop and flourish brings me a lot pleasure.’ Her recommendation to anybody else who needs to embrace their pure hair? ‘Get on Pinterest! No significantly, it’s been an unimaginable supply of data for me and there are such a lot of pure hair content material creators on there.’On Her Go-To Natural Haircare RoutineShahira switches up her routine relying on what her hair wants. Typically her haircare routine begins with a masks – ‘I apply this within the bathe, wait 5-minutes earlier than rinsing.’ Next step is shampoo. ‘When utilizing shampoo on pure hair, I prefer to advise individuals to deal with the scalp. Use a brush like a tangle teezer, £12, to softly exfoliate your scalp whereas eradicating product construct up.’Post shampoo and conditioner, Shahira applies a leave-in conditioner, cream and oil to seal in all of the moisture. ‘I put loads of time and power into my hair, however I discover it therapeutic, not laborious.’ Watch Shahira’s 4C pure haircare routine on Pinterest right here. On Make-up InspirationOne scroll down Shahira’s Instagram feed and also you’ll quickly clock her penchant for daring, brilliant and complicated make-up seems. ‘I draw inspiration from my experiences, from objects, colors, phrases and different individuals’s creativity,’ she tells us. ‘I believe it helps that my mum is an artist, as a result of I’ve watched her inventive course of which has helped me to develop my very own.’‘I additionally love to attract inspiration straight from magnificence. I’ve an unimaginable Pinterest board that I consistently reference for inspiration known as “make-up inspiration”. Within this board you’ll discover a number of classes like ‘inspiration is in every single place’ that includes all the things from knee excessive galactic heels to patterns and shapes to assist encourage me. You’ll additionally discover ‘eye make-up’, “make-up for black individuals”, “delight make-up” and lots of extra nice boards to maintain you feeling impressed.’On Her Favourite How-To Video‘Wow! This is like choosing a favorite little one. I actually put all my power and love into all of the content material I produce so after I submit one thing new it’s normally immediately my favorite as a result of I’m consistently rising and evolving.‘I do have a selected love for my Idea Pin “get inventive with make-up”. I might like to see extra individuals utilizing make-up for psychological well being care and this tutorial is type of just a little step-by-step on how that may be achieved.’ For the uninitiated, Idea Pins is a brand new characteristic on Pinterest which serves up ‘How To’s’ for final inspiration.On The Positives Of Social Media‘It’s straightforward to neglect that we will curate the issues we wish to see,’ factors out Shahira. ‘Personally, I’ve by no means forgotten that the unfollow, mute and block button exist and thus, I’ve had a really clean social media expertise.’ In phrases of Shahira’s private life, she has been capable of join with so many unimaginable, like-minded and proficient individuals through social media. ‘I’ve realized and unlearned so many behaviours with the assistance and power of my social media household,’ she provides, ‘I’m ceaselessly grateful to have the privilege that’s social media.’A Final Piece Of AdviceDon’t draw back from vibrant eye make-up. ‘Pick your favorite color and add it to the internal nook of your eye while you’ve completed your common eye make-up look. When you’re feeling a bit extra assured, experiment with a vibrant wing or add some vibrant eyeshadow to your decrease lash line.’Slide 2 of 10Olaplex, Bond Building Hair Treatment, £26″Olaplaex is our no 1 remedy and vary for serving to to revive broken hair. It’s backed by science and you may really feel and see the outcomes after one use of our in salon remedy.” Florence Johnson, Simply Gorgeous.Best For: All hair varieties, for harm restoreAfroani, Wide Tooth Comb, £7.99 Don’t underestimate the significance of a large tooth comb for detangling in your submit wash routine! Afroani’s blackcurrant comb is light on the hair and the scalp, and is made out of a plant based mostly cellulose acetate that’s kinder to the setting than plastic.Best for: Type 3 and 4 curly hairThe Afro Hair and Skin Co, Bloom – Omega Healthy Hair Oil, £22.50This multifaceted oil works as a leave-in conditioner, pre-shampoo remedy or to be used as a scorching oil remedy.Best For: Type 3c to 4c hair that wants an additional enhance from intensive nourishing oils.Afrocenchix, The Moisture Surge Set, £40All merchandise within the Moisture Surge Set work by layering collectively forestall dryness and quench thirsty tresses, every equipment incorporates a moisturising sheen spray, pure hair oil seal and smoothing hair cream.Best For: Type 3c to 4c hair with delicate pores and skin Bread Beauty Supply, Gentle Milky Hair Cleanser, £18 An excellent light milky cleanser infused with argon and tea tree oils to sooth harassed scalps. The smartest thing since sliced bread.Best For: Types 3a – 4c curly to kinky hair Charlotte Mensah, Manketti Oil, £48Distribute a small quantity of Manketti oil by means of moist or dry hair and therapeutic massage into your scalp, comb by means of and magnificence. Lightweight sufficient to tame frizz and situation with out being too greasy.Best For: All hair varieties, however just a little will go a good distance for sort 1 and a pair of hair.Nylah, Moisture Retention Leave In Cream, £16Use as a every day depart in conditioner the identical method you moisturise your pores and skin, or use on moist hair as a moisturising detangler.Best For: Type 4 hair that wants a protecting barrier Afroani, Solid Shampoo Bar, £9.99A handmade shampoo bar containing virgin olive oil, coconut oil, almond oil and tea tree, to softly clear the scalp with out stripping your hair’s pure oils.Next:These Are The Best Curling Tongs To Invest In NowDizziak, Deep Conditioner, £22Massage into clear, damp hair and depart in for five to half-hour relying on how deep you want the conditioning to be. The outcome? Super comfortable, shiny hair.Best For: All hair types1 of 9Olaplex, Bond Building Hair Treatment, £26″Olaplaex is our no 1 remedy and vary for serving to to revive broken hair. It’s backed by science and you may really feel and see the outcomes after one use of our in salon remedy.” Florence Johnson, Simply Gorgeous.Best For: All hair varieties, for harm repairshopnowREAD MORE: How to Care for Afro Hair: Everything I Learned About My Natural Hair During LockdownREAD MORE: The Best Afro Hair Salons In London