The Afrocks Blog

Alright guys let’s get real here: we LOVE buying new natural hair products from our faves black owned businesses right?
Also it’s January and we’re all broke following Festive season and Boxing day shopping spree, and we might need to do a bit a DIY to take care of our crowns and manes.
Well good news! You won’t need to go too far and to spend too much cash as we have something for you: HONEY!
Honey is literally one of those miraculous natural products for skin and hair care! It has healing, softening, purifying, moisturizing and antioxidant properties – so keep browsing for some cool DIY hair and skin care right before you book your mobile afro hairdresser with us!

We have spoken before about the silent sacrifices many afro stylists make in order to provide an exceptional service to clients. We bend, turn, twist and place our bodies in awkward positions as well as the standing for long periods of time. We should also acknowledge the emotional toil of styling (also discussed before). The difference between a stylist and someone who ‘does hair’ is the attention to detail, which requires concentration, all the while ensuring the client is comfortable/entertained – and it is only emotionally taxing because we care so much about meeting the client’s expectations. As there is no professional certification for afro styling, see this as an afro stylists guide to personal health and safety. Even if you are not a stylist, please continue to read – these tips apply to all in some way or other.

Photo credit: @Adeolu Eletu

Ok so you woke up this morning with THAT killer idea for a startup, and you just can’t wait to get started: build that sh*t and ship it, right?
It reminds me when I first thought about starting Afrocks. To me, it was pretty much all mapped out. I was going to build the product, launch it, grow it, maybe sell it and then breeze through the rest of life as a successful entrepreneur. Daydreaming!

Photo credit: Snatch Edges podcast

By far, live radio has been dominating the audio landscape for ages. However, with mainstream media often being pointed and the level of trust declining, we can arguably wonder if this era of glory is coming to an end?
Our habits have evolved drastically, especially when smartphones landed in our hands. Millennials know it well.They are the biggest consumers of audio content on mobile devices.
The last decade have been witnessing the rise of podcasts. According to the Radio Joint Audience Research, 6.4 million adults or 12% of the adult population in UK use a Podcast in an average week and that number is growing year on year.

Afrocks Hair and Business Consultant Simone, shares the inspiration behind the ‘Take a Seat’ poem. It may be hard to believe but self care is a new concept to many black women.

Photo credit @William Stitt

Following a challenging few months at afrocks HQ, we have had a look at how we look after ourselves, not just in business, but in life – full stop. 
Over the next few weeks our Head Afro hair and Business, Simone will be sharing her thoughts on self care. Although aimed at stylists and entrepreneurs, the content of this 4 part series can apply to anyone.
Enjoy part 1.
From us to you

Photo credit @AuraKits

Festive season is just around the corner – you can feel it in the air (and TV ads) but you are desperately in need of inspiration for your christmas presents. Afraid not! We’ve done all the work for you and picked awesome gifts from black owned brands that will definitely impress friends and family.

Photo credit: Fiona Whyte Photography

For some, it has been a long time coming…for others, it is a shock to the eyelids! We like to think of it as ‘Afro Inception’. Out of nowhere (it seems) melanin magic is hitting the mainstream. You don’t have to be well read to know the importance of having your own beauty reflected in what you see in the media, and we are in a time where Afro is doing the most YAAASSSSSSSSS! Growing up, many of us did not have this amazing experience of seeing people on TV that looked like or represented our beauty, so this not an over reaction, this is curl appreciation at it’s finest.

Picture credit: David McFadden, Associated Press file

“Dreadlocks? There is nothing dreadful about my hair!” I have heard this expression and read some interesting posts on Tumblr about the use of the word “dreadlocks” to describe the ropelike matted hairstyle popularised by Bob Marley in the 70’s. Because I was born and raised in the caribbean in the 90’s I could understand the very valid point made by these locticians and afrocentric activists about using language to elevate and not denigrate ourselves, but the country girl in me had some reservations and if you have time I’ll tell you why you will never have dreadlocks and if you do, why it is, on the contrary, a wonderful and powerful ting.

Back in 2016, I wrote about 5 locs salons I had personally visited in London for my loc maintenance – at the time I had long and beautiful dreadlocks; still don’t know why I cut them off to be honest 🙁
2 years on, I am happy to say this post has literally been one of the most popular on our blog with nearly 12,000 visits to date. Wow! this is quite huge, and we’re always proud to give top quality black businesses the exposure they deserve. However since publishing the blog post I never stopped receiving emails from other salons in London, asking to be featured in an updated article, which is fair.
So here we are now, here is a list of 8 smaller or less known salons that you should still visit if you are in London. Enjoy! In no particular order!