Black Girl with Long Hair

Tawana // Natural Hair Style Icon

2013-05-18T20:12:13Z

Introduce yourself!
T: My name is Tawana Johnson. I was born in Jamaica and have lived here my entire life. I am a University student studying psychology. I am a pretty simple lady who appreciates the small things in life and is trying to live life her way!

How long have you been natural?
T: My last relaxer was in August 2011. I transitioned for 9 months, then big chopped in May 2012 and have been natural ever since.

How and why did you transition into natural hair?
T: I transitioned for more than one reason. Firstly, I didn’t start out with the intention to go natural. On the day of my last relaxer I was very frustrated with my hairdresser and my hair after she told me it was breaking. I was annoyed because it seemed like it was always breaking and I was always getting trims and cuts. So I told her I was never coming back and that I would not relax my hair again. While that relaxer grew out I started discovering YouTube videos of natural hair ladies and I loved how it looked on them. Also my friend Chantel had just went natural, so I was inspired by her as well. I started to research more and natural hair became more appealing to me. I loved the idea of a big chop and a drastic change of my look because I had been craving a change in my life at that period. So I finally decided to go natural and impulsively chopped all my relaxed hair off by myself one day in my room.

What are your must-have products for shampooing, conditioning and styling your hair?
T: I must first start out by saying I am NOT a product junkie. I like simple, and that includes my hair regimen. When I find something that works for me I stick to it. My favorite shampoo is Tresemme Naturals Vibrantly Smooth Shampoo. I use it once per month to clarify and remove buildup. My favorite conditioner is Tresemme Naturals Vibrantly Smooth Conditioner. I use this every single weekend to deep condition my hair. I mix it with coconut oil, castor oil and honey. I also use it alone to cowash my hair the few times I do cowash. For protein treatments, which I do once per month, I use an egg, honey, castor oil, coconut oil and mayonnaise mixed together and let sit under plastic caps for an hour. I always deep condition after I do this.

My favorite leave in conditioners are Cantu Shea Butter and Beautiful Textures Tangle Taming Leave-in Conditioner. I prefer the Cantu Shea butter for its consistency (a little goes a long way) but I love the ingredients in the Beautiful Textures. I use either one depending on how I feel. I use them after I wash my hair, before twisting, or braiding, and apply them with an oil of my choice and Eco Styler Olive Oil Gel. For moisturizing, I use a spray bottle filled with water and coconut oil to refresh my hair and Organic Root Stimulator Smooth n Hold Pudding. I use these like about week to give my hair a boost before retwisting or rebraiding, or just on my afro while it’s out.

What is your signature hairstyle?
T: Because my hair is still short, it doesn’t give me a big enough puff when I put it in one. So I just stick to my afro most times. That is my go to hairstyle, just to wear it out. Or I may do a turban wrap or a crownbraid.

What is your style philosophy?
T: I dress to suit myself. I go through different phases with my style so I never stick to one way of dressing. I guess you can say I dress for comfort in my own skin because everything I wear appeals to me and what I think flatters my body shape and ideas of womanhood. My mood also has a lot to do with my style. Lately I’ve been very into the androgynous look so a lot of my outfits have reflected that. So I don’t think I have a philosophy; I really just wear what appeals to me at a particular period in time. Today I may feel like a hippie, tomorrow I may feel hood, lol.

What are the three favorite things in your closet?
T: Right now because it is approaching summer in Jamaica and it’s getting very hot I would say denim (I love denim anytime of year, I’m obsessed), a nice pair of brown sandals and a good pair of shorts. I hardly ever shop in Jamaica because I find the things to be very overpriced and not worth it, but sometimes I see little pieces I just can’t leave the store without. I do most of my shopping when I travel in the summer to the States. I am a bargain shopper, lol. I do not stick to one place. I look for the best things, at the best price. So I looooove thrift stores. I shop at H&M, Forever 21, Banana Republic, little no name stores in New York, Macy’s, Express, Charlotte Russe, Marshall’s (I love Marshall’s) and some others. I literally just go wherever something catches my eye. Brand matters to me, but hardly. It’s mostly how it looks and how well I wear it.

Is there a blog/webpage where we can find you?
T: You can find me on Instagram at TawiJ. You can also find me on Twitter @TawanaAJ.

Can Excessive/Daily Product Use Lead to Hair Loss?

2013-05-18T14:38:51Z

Via The Beauty Brains

Janelle asks…My mom and sister are big supporters of the theory that excessive use of hair products (E.g: Hairsprays, shampoos, gels, etc) are the reason why my hair is falling out/isn’t so thick. In general, can usage of these gels and hairsprays every day cause hair loss? I don’t shampoo more than twice a week, but I do use hairspray and gel on my hair every day. Are they correct, or is this an old wives tale?

The Beauty Brains respond:
Ah, Janelle. You are wise to ask us rather than just blindly believing what you’re told by “old wives.” (No offense to your mother and sister.)

Damage causes breakage causes hair loss
Hair care products can be involved in certain types of hair loss but that doesn’t mean they cause it. For example, shampoos and conditioners almost always involve the use of water which causes a swelling/contracting cycle that damages hair. This damage can eventually cause the hair to break. Also, if you use a hard holding hairspray or gel AND if you roughly drag a brush through your hair, then yes, you’ll experience some hair loss. (Because the hair is locked in place by the styling products and you’re yanking it out by the roots!) And of course, the use of towels or heat styling tools to dry your hair is also damaging.

In other words, the ingredients used in hairsprays, shampoos, gels, etc do not inherently cause hair loss even though the process of using these products may cause damage that could lead to hair loss due to breakage.

An exception to the rule
There is a special type of hair loss called “follicular degeneration syndrome” or “central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia” in which use of hair relaxer and similar chemicals permanents, and even heat processing, can permanently affect the follicle and result in hair loss. In these extreme cases, shampoos which dry the scalp or conditioning products which occlude the scalp and can cause irritation that can hair loss worse. However, this only occurs in African hair types.

The Beauty Brains bottom line
Anytime you wash and dry your hair or use a brush or comb you can be causing damage which can cause the hair to break. But there’s nothing special about the chemicals used in those hair care products that would cause your hair to just fall out. The exception is for certain medical conditions which can cause hair loss can be worsened by cosmetic ingredients That irritate the scalp.

Reference: UPDATE ON THE DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF COMMON CAUSES OF ALOPECIA AND POTENTIAL INTERACTION OF HAIR COSMETICS Elise A. Olsen, M.D. Duke University Medical Center, presented at annual SCC meeting, 2004.

Ladies, in your experience has excessive product use been detrimental? Share your experience!

BGLH Real Style May 17, 2013

2013-05-18T15:09:42Z

Here is our weekly style round-up for the week of May 17, 2013. This week’s readers submitted looks that consisted of a mix of sass and elegance! Would you like to be featured? Send a full-body photo of you in your best outfit to rinny@blackgirllonghair.com and you could be one of next week’s selected readers!

Koku

Summer Breeze dress- 71Jules. www.71jules.com
Earrings, Necklace and Ring- Fantah Celah

Bria

Blue scoop back dress and Snake ring - thrifted from Buffalo Exchange
Bag- Jessica Simpson
Shoes- Jessica Simpson.
Black opaque tights- Forever 21.

Kellee of Black Girls Social @blkgirlssocial
My hair is natural but was blown out and pressed in this photo.

Shirt: H & M
Skirt: Target
Shoes: Steve Madden

Gorgeous! If you want to be featured next week email rinny@blackgirllonghair.com with your fiercest head to toe outfit photo!

Which look is your favorite?

Fro Spotting: Solange’s Red Carpet Glamour, Chrisette Michele’s Tats + Kimberly Elise’s Romantic Pinup

2013-05-18T12:53:32Z

So, here’s our latest roundup of natural and natural-inspired styles in the celeb world.

Solange Knowles look stunning on the Gatsby red carpet. We love that her fro was part of the look!

Corrine Bailey Rae rocked a twistout while attending the Versus Versace launch in New York. How cute are those shoes!

Chrisette Michele rocked her signature TWA at the 2013 New York Association Of Black Journalists Gala in New York. Cute dress and we love the tats!

Up and coming songstress and Prince protege Andy Allo rocked a curly fro at the 2013 SESAC Pop Music Awards in New York.

Kimberly Elise pinned up a side of her fro for a romantic Grecian look at the CARRY Foundation’s 7th Annual ‘Shall We Dance’ Gala in Beverly Hills, California

Beautiful hair all around!! Ladies, which look is your favorite? Photos courtesy of Essence.com. Solange Knowles photos courtesy of TheYbf.com

Raven Symone’s Colorful Instagram Braids

2013-05-17T15:10:11Z

Although her Twitter account has been deleted, we can still keep up with one of our favorite natural celebs, Raven Symone, on Instagram. She recently posted a pic rocking a set of colorful braids.

Pastel coloring is a hot hair trend this year, with most people achieving the look through hair chalking. What do you think of Raven’s look?

The Natural’s Guide to Silicones

2013-05-16T21:12:24Z

Lorraine Massey’s book, ‘Curly Girl’ was a catapult for naturals to reject silicones. Silicones were blamed for pretty much everything from buildup, excess shedding, breakage and dryness. Several years down the line, naturals discovered that Lorraine’s products did actually contain silicones. Was this hypocrisy? In my view, it was not. At the time of the writing of the book, Lorraine was in effect referring to the silicone serums that many naturals were using to style their hair daily. Years after writing the book, silicones had been redeveloped and in fact the silicone included in the Deva products is quite different from that in styling serums. Here is the updated science on silicones:

1. What is a Silicone?
Silicones are essentially artificial oils. They therefore behave as oils do, meaning they can attach to hair and to some extent prevent moisture entry and loss from hair. Do not be alarmed, all oils including castor oil, coconut oil, olive oil etc behave in this way. However, none of these oils can ever fully block water exit or entry – otherwise your hair would never ever get wet.

2. What makes silicones different from natural oils?
The old generation of silicones such as dimethicone tend to form a firmly attached coating on hair with a few gaps. Natural oils like coconut oil meanwhile can penetrate a little and do not tend to latch on to the surface so strongly which is why they transfer easily to your hand or to your pillow. The strong coating of dimethicone means it is better at sealing hair and to some extent blocking moisture entry. It also means that the silicone is much harder to remove from hair as it sticks well to the surface.

3. What are the new silicones?
The ‘new’ class of silicones are real game changers because they are water-soluble. A very common ingredient is amodimethicone (a modified version of dimethicone). The addition of the ‘amo’ or amino group to the dimethicone makes it able to be washed off easily with just water

4. So should I avoid the old dimethicone and go for the new amodimethicone
Actually no, there are different reasons for using both the old and new silicones. In summary:

- Heat protection: Dimethicone serums are really excellent if you are heat styling. They offer good heat protection during the heat application and also humidity protection to maintain a heat styled look for longer. For daily styling however, a dimethicone serum may not be the best product.

-Hair conditioners and Leave ins: Amodimethicone or any other water-soluble silicone is usually preferred in conditioners. This is because the silicone acts as a conditioning oil which can be washed off to a large extent which will leave hair with less chance of build up when subsequent products e.g gels or natural oils are layered on.

-Shampoo: Any silicone in shampoo is much better than a shampoo that is totally oil free. Do note that some shampoos will not have silicones but may instead contain an oil such as jojoba instead, these are equally fine. Shampoos which have some oil (silicone included) in them will tend to be gentler on the scalp and hair. Oils actually reduce the cleansing power of shampoos but most naturals do not really aim for complete removal of oil anyway.

Ladies, what have you believed about silicones in the past? Does this article clear up misconceptions you might have had? How do you approach silicones now?

Leila // 4A/B Natural Hair Style Icon

2013-05-17T17:20:49Z

Introduce yourself!
L: My name is Leila Henrys. I was born in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti. Now I currently live in Coral Springs, Florida.

Why did you make the decision to go natural?
L: For as long as I could remember, I’ve always dreaded getting relaxers. My hair was quite healthy and well maintained when I had a relaxer, but I have a very sensitive scalp. So I’d always get burned from relaxers. My freshman year of College at FAMU, I saw all of these beautiful women with natural hair, and it made me curious. I toyed with the idea for a little while and did some research. Finally, I decided I was tired of paying my hairdresser to burn my scalp and began my natural hair journey! I started my transition in January 2011. Cut my relaxed ends off in June 2012. So I’d say I’ve been fully natural for about a year.

How would you describe your texture?
L: My hair texture is somewhere between 4A/4B. Very thick and coarse, especially towards the back.

Describe your styling regimen over the course of the month.
L: My favorite hairstyle is the dry twist out. I love my dry twist outs because they reduce shrinkage. I usually double strand twist my hair the night before. When that doesn’t work out, I do it the day of and leave the twists in while getting ready. I don’t get the most defined curls when I do it that way, but it still looks great! I use Cantu Shea Butter Leave in Conditioning Repair Cream and coconut oil to style my hair.

What does wash day look like for you?
L: I wash my hair every two weeks and co-wash in between. Sometimes I try to stretch it to 3 weeks, but that hardly ever works out. I use Giovanni Tea Tree Shampoo (works wonders on my itchy/sensitive scalp) and I condition with Giovanni Avocado & Olive Oil Conditioner. I usually add a little bit of coconut oil and Cantu Shea Butter Leave in Conditioning Repair Cream after washing, and I let it air dry before styling.

Describe your favorite go-to hairstyle for days when you don’t have a lot of time to style.
L: My favorite go-to style is the “pouf”. It’s the easiest thing to do when I am on the go. I just dampen my hair while in the shower, add a little Cantu, brush, and push my hair back with a rubber band or small scarf. Easy!

How do you combat shrinkage?
L: Dry twist outs!

Tell us about your hair color?
L: My natural hair color is dark brown. I recently had a friend dye it with One ‘n Only Argan Oil Hair Color in copper brown purchased at Sally’s. I also used their 20 Volume Developer to make my color pop. I was afraid it would change the texture of my hair, but surprisingly it didn’t!

What are some of your problem areas (if any) that require special care and attention?
L: My scalp is always itchy, so tea tree oil is my savior.

What are 2 do’s for your texture?
L: Moisturizing and Deep conditioning

What are 2 don’ts for your texture?
L: Wash & gos and Hair gel!

Is there a blog/webpage where we can find you?
L: Instagram: (_Msleila)

Parodies: Rihanna’s Pour it Up (Perm It Up) and Drake’s Started from the Bottom (Wash and Go’s Don’t Work on 4C Hair)

2013-05-16T23:17:12Z

So, a couple hilarious hair-related parodies have been released that we just had to share.

First is vlogger C Corner with a parody of Rihanna’s single Pour it Up called Perm it Up (Watch it All Fall Out).

Second is vlogger GlamFun with a parody of Draked’s Started from the Bottom called Wash and Go’s Don’t Work on 4C Hair.

Although we love this parody, we have to disagree :) Wash and go’s *can* work on Type 4 hair. Back in December 2012, writer Chinwe highlighted three Type 4 vloggers who incorporate wash and go’s into their regimen. Check it out here. Still we love this parody because it highlights how frustrating it can be to get certain styles to work. We’ve all been there, right?

What are your thoughts ladies?

BGLH Style: Antia in New York

2013-05-16T19:34:22Z

Introduce yourself!
A: Hello! My name is Antia Joseph and I am a Brooklyn native! I am a singer breaking into the Christian Music industry.

What is your style philosophy?
A: You should always be able to make a statement with your clothing no matter what your budget may be. Money doesn’t buy style; spending top dollar doesn’t guarantee a great outfit. I have outfits that cost less than a Thai dinner. I love mixing and matching my pieces and I don’t mind investing in a great quality piece from time to time.

What is the process of deciding what to wear in the morning?
A: Let’s just say my room almost always looks like a tornado hit when I’m done. I usually just do trial and error; I’ll try an idea, if it works GREAT! If not then NEXT Lol! I dress based on my mood; sometimes I feel bold, other days comfortable and low maintenance.

How would you describe your sense of style?
A: I think my style matches my personality. Laid back, goofy, boyish and yet a girlish charm all at the same time.

What are the three favorite things in your closet?
A: 1. My BB Dakota leather bolero jacket. 2. A vintage leather bag with an eagle medallion on the front. I got it at a vintage liquidator store called Peachfrog in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. It’s closed now :( 3. My classic Gap denim chambray shirt. I’ve had it since I was 14!

What are some of your favorite shops/websites for clothes, shoes and accessories?
A: My Mothers closet. I thrift a lot and don’t really have a set of stores. If I see it and I like it I’ll get it Lol.

How long have you been natural?
A: My whole life. My mom would not allow me to get that perm that I wanted so badly, and now I’m thankful for that.

What is your signature hairstyle?
A: If you bump into me in the street 9 times out of 10 I’ll have an updo with a pompadour. I love the versatility of that style. I also love the fact that it looks good with an array of various looks.

Describe your styling regimen over the course of the month.
A: My number one rule is to keep my hair moisturized. I have a spray bottle filled with water, jojoba oil and vitamin E oil. I spray my hair a couple of times daily depending on what my hairstyle is for that day, then I seal it with coconut oil. (which is my favorite oil – it’s so light and it’s an excellent moisturizer, conditioner and sealant) I usually try to keep styles that I can wear for weeks at a time to minimize hair manipulation. So that means a lot of braid up styles, twists, buns, etc. I like to stretch styles, so when I have twists in my hair and I’m over them I will unravel them until I’m almost at the top, this creates a very cute twist out look.

Is there a blog/webpage where we can find you?
A: Instagram: @AWalkingDoxology
Also my Music groups website: www.DestinyMusicGroup.net
Thanks a lot! :)

6 Alternatives to EcoStyler Gel for Slicking and Defining Natural Hair

2013-05-15T16:38:58Z

Many naturalistas and transitioners love them some EcoStyler gel. Green top, red top, clear, pink, white…the possibilities are endless. Except for me. Don’t get me wrong, EcoStyler is great at what it does. It will hold, slick, and define ’til Jesus comes back. Unfortunately, without the right combination of “softening” products or oils layered in, the gel hardens impossibly. And even with all that work, I still found myself having dry hair. What’s a gal to do when you need some hold, or want your edges slicked down for a puff or bun? Check out these 6 alternatives to EcoStyler Gel that wont dry out your hair…or your wallet.

If You’re A DIY-er:

DIY Fluffy Styling Cream

When I’m in the mood for whipping out my hand mixer, this is one of the first things I make. I love this cream, which my sister as affectionately dubbed “I Put That on Everything” (because you can, literally, put it on everything), because it provides touchably-soft hold, while infusing your hair with moisturizing and nourishing oils and butters. You can use any variation or combination of shea butter, cocoa butter, coconut oil, sweet almond oil, jojoba oil, olive oil, glycerin, apricot oil, grapeseed oil….the list goes on. My mixture typically includes a base of shea butter and coconut oil, with jojoba, sweet almond, and vitamin E added in. For more information on whipping up your own fluffy styling cream, click here.

Flaxseed Custard

I know many of you have heard of flaxseed gel, but have you heard of flaxseed custard? I experimentally whipped some up about a month ago when I didn’t feel like going out to buy a styling product for my pending twist n’ curl. It’s a simple recipe really — a 3 to 1 ratio of flaxseed gel and shea butter. After cooking up a batch of flaxseed gel that’s still warm, melt down a few tablespooons of shea butter (feel free to add in your favorite oils — carrier or essential), and whip them together in a bowl with your hand mixer until a goopy custard forms. This DIY custard is great for moisture, softness, shine, and definition — and the shea butter kicks it up a notch from the standard flaxseed gel recipe. Unless you’re a pro DIYer or hair scientist who happens to have emulsifying agents on deck, I recommend only making enough to use on the day of. Otherwise, it will separate. And look yucky.

If You’re A Product Junkie:

Eden BodyWorks Coconut Shea Control Edge Glaze

I’ve become a huge fan of EBW recently. Eden BodyWorks won me over recently with their Coconut Shea Pudding Soufflé, beating out Camille Rose Naturals Almond Jai Twisting Butter for my favorite moisturizing/styling butter product. But I digress. The Coconut Shea Control Edge Glaze is the answer to my prayers, and everything I wanted Sof n’ Free’s Nothing But Mold and Hold Wax to be. If you’re looking to slick down your edges softly and with tons of sleekness, this product is for you. For wash n’ go’s, twist-outs, braid-outs, bantu knot-outs and more, this product provides great hold with plenty of shine, softness, and zero drying out. Although it’s only a 6oz jar for around $9, a tiny bit of Control Edge Glaze goes a long way. A tiny, tiny bit.

Beautiful Textures Curl Definer Styling Custard

A lot of naturalistas complain about this product. For the life of me, I don’t know why. I have nothing but good things to say about this stuff. It’s an affordable gel alternative that doesn’t dry out the hair, leave flakes, or turn the hair hard when you use it correctly. Based in water and aloe vera extract, and full of goodies like rosemary, vitamin E, coconut oil, shea butter, mango butter, and argan oil, the Beautiful Textures Curl Definer Styling Custard is a great product for reducing frizz, creating definition, and shine. At under $7 for a 15oz jar, this product is a great value for all it does. To prevent the flaking/buildup some naturalistas complain about, make sure to test your product mixes on the back of your hand, and only use a dime-sized amount per small section.

Nubian Heritage Indian Hemp and Tamanu Edge Taming Taffy

I’m cheap. And therefore, I like products that are capable of doing more than one thing — especially if I’m paying $10 or more. Luckily, I caught this product at CVS during a buy one, get one half-off sale, which was right up my alley (even though buy one, get one free would have been better). I initially purchased the taffy to show my edges some TLC, because I had been bunning a lot. But after playing with the product on a small section of hair, I was determined to use it to set my satin strip braidout one weekend. So I did. And it worked. Because it’s based in shea butter, coconut oil and glycerin, it plays well with other products and layers easily. It made my hair soft and super defined — not to mention the taffy is great for sealing in moisture. Even though it sales for around $12 for a 6oz jar, you’ll discover that a little goes a long way — for your edges and styling. Tip: this product works best on damp/wet hair (that goes for your edges, too).

Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curling Soufflé

Move over, Curl Enhancing Smoothie (or at least just fall back for a second)! This sweet, sticky soufflé is a great alternative to your typical gel product. Notice that in my description, I included the word sticky – because well, it can be incredibly sticky if you go overboard. It’s based in agave, sugar cane and glycerin — all which can lead to sticky city if you’re too heavy handed. It has great hold and exceptional shine, and will leave hair touchably soft. For optimal results, use no more than a dime-sized amount on any given section. To balance out the stickiness, this product works best on damp to wet hair. It also mixes well with the Curl Enhancing Smoothie and the Curl and Style Milk from the Coconut & Hibiscus line. For around $11, the 12oz Curling Soufflé jar will last you a mighty long time.

What are some of your favorite alternatives to gel?