Naturally Beautiful Hair

A Hair Story by Briaan

2012-01-24T06:00:00.000-08:00

I've been meaning to write the story of my hair. It has a history of its own now. And my decision to document it is not an effort to romanticize my natural journey as is trendy to do now, but to use it as an example of a lesson I recently learned and as a motif in my transition to adulthood.

My hair regimen used to be a complex process. First stop, the beauty supply. It appears modest from the outside, but once you enter the little white door, bell ringing at your arrival, you see hair hung from floor to ceiling. Any type of hair you could dream of donning: long, straight, wavy, curly, blue, green, yellow, blonde, wigs, tracks, pieces, bangs, ponytails, they're all there. As a regular, the decision doesn't overwhelm me. Routinely, I request "Three packs of 'Tasha Deep Wave', two of them in a number two and the third, a number 2 and 33 mix, please". In translation, two packs in deep brown, my "natural" hair color, and the third pack, deep brown with honey blonde highlights. The beauty supply has a language all it's own. If you're familiar, then you know what the terms Yaki, Remi, Wet n' Wavy, and synthetic refer to. You know the number that represents your real hair color and that which represents the hair color you wear most. I already know the price of this style. $34.00 altogether. My requested packs of hair are retrieved and tossed into a black plastic bag. I once concluded that they chose the discreetness of a black plastic bag so as to stay true to the illusion. Who would want the public to see their hair in a package before its made it to their head perpetrating a glamorous fraud? Next stop, the beauty shop.

My beautician submerges her fingertips through the jungle of my new growth until reaching my scalp. "Ooh wee," she utters in reaction to the thick crop of texture that has interrupted my relaxed tresses. In an instant, she's slicing through the treachery of my roots with a parting comb and slathering a cold creamy relaxer into them. She smoothes it through until my whole scalp is covered and the familiar chemical rids my hair of any unwanted kinkiness. I then transition to the sink where she rinses out the relaxer, fingers now slipping effortlessly through my flat, thin strands. By the end, I emerge from the sink with my hair slicked straight back on my scalp, which tingles now in reaction to the process. At this point, about 95% of my hair is thrust into a modest bun with only a portion in the front left free. This is for the sole purpose of blending my natural hairline with the weave. After a spell under the dryer, I'm prepared for an hour in the salon chair. My beautician retrieves the tracks of hair from the first package holding them from end to end like strings of garland and begins glueing them to my head. By the end of this process, the salon chair twists me toward the mirror to reveal me with a head of full, silky, shoulder-brushing, perfectly spiraled curls that could pass for my own. Scents of hair glue, gel, and spray still linger in the air as I peer into the mirror satisfied, feeling beautiful.

This style was my signature look. I used to go to the store, spend money, chemically straighten my hair, sit under a dryer for an hour, and sit in a chair for another hour getting things glued onto my head to achieve a head full of beautiful curls. Imagine my excitement when it FINALLY dawned on me that I could achieve them just by growing them from my very own scalp.

The halfway mark of my undergraduate career was perfect timing for me to start rocking my natural hair. I would soon be 21 years old and transitioning into legal adulthood. A college setting was an appropriate space for me to experiment with style and color without concerning myself with the expectations of a job environment. So I put together a collage of photos that inspired the style I wanted to achieve and made my appointment at the salon in New York. I went alone. The only support and encouragement I needed was my own. I arrived quite a bit early so I wouldn't get lost and decided to get a manicure at a shop across the street first. My appointment was made for the first weekend after I arrived back in New York, right before classes officially started. I was excited. I knew I wanted a crop of short red curls just like I'd seen Kelis rock in some photos.

I sat down in the salon chair facing the mirror, a familiar position. The stylist submerged his fingers into my roots, this time without an instant "ooh wee." Instead, he said, "It feels very dry." There was no relaxer to the rescue at this appointment. The appointment felt more like a physical therapy session for my hair. I was taken to the sink, washed, conditioned, coached on how to care for it, then taken back to the chair for my relaxed remnants to be trimmed for good, then taken back to the sink for a rinse, then blowdried and colored, then another rinse and another blowdry, then cut into a shape then saturated with some product and dried and finally I was natural, red-headed, and short-haired. I felt brand new and free. I smiled the whole way back to my dorm. And the next day I went straight to the mall to shop for clothes and accessories to complement the look. That evening I played dress up in my room and produced a Facebook-ready photo shoot to reveal the transformation. The flood of supportive responses both relieved and rejuvenated me, validating my decision.

The first time I returned home and my family saw my hair in person, they glared in pure fascination at the tiny spirals protruding from my scalp. Many of my relatives, mainly my mom, couldn't resist the urge to touch it. My grandma asked me if I curled it manually and stared in genuine disbelief when I explained that it curled like that itself, all I used was water and gel. My great aunt fawned over how beautiful I looked. I felt absolutely on top of the world. My mother, who has suffered with alopecia for the past few years, was relatively skeptical when I told her I planned to cut my hair. She said she was concerned about my style versatility, but I know she probably also hesitated with the thought of how it would look. I realized during my trip home how incredibly unfamiliar my family was with the nature and texture of natural hair. But suddenly after seeing mine, my mom started showing me proudly her newly grown natural curls that formed around the edges of her braided hair. I urged her to go natural too by insisting that her hair could look like mine also. So the evening she told me she was going to cut off her relaxed ends after she took down her braids, I rejoiced inside but tried not to draw too much attention to my excitement. Remembering how much it tugged at me that she didn't fully support my decision to cut my hair off, I loved that I was able to inspire her. It made me feel more adult, the concept of making a decision despite my mother's hesitance that, in the end, inspired her to change her initial perspective. So prior to her next braid appointment, my mom cut off her relaxed hair herself, put some grease in her virgin curls, looked in the mirror and smiled. And I pray that her scalp will take her gesture as a peace offering and that her alopecia will start to heal for good.

During this same time, my grandmother had applied a relaxer to her hair that caused an extreme amount of breakage. And the day before I flew back to New York, she said to me, "I'm 'bout to grow my hair out like you did." I smiled and said, "That's good, it will be good for it." I'm excited that my choice to take better care of myself and my hair has motivated the women in my family to do the same and see the beauty in natural hair. But what has resonated with me from the experience was the fact that I did my own research, garnered my own courage and confidence, and made a decision that both educated and inspired the older generations of my family. I feel that that's what each generation is supposed to do. Young, old, or middle-aged, everyone has room to learn, grow, and evolve.

Gorgeous!

2012-01-23T21:47:00.000-08:00

Source: Queennubian

Excercise For Back & Chest Muscles

2012-01-20T13:11:00.000-08:00

With the new year coming in, I am all about self empowerment and bettering my health. My friend and I got together and created a list of our 2012 goals. We also decided that we are going to encourage each other to lose weight, have better out health and make better choices over all. With this, I have started eating better and working out more... I am already feeling so much better. As of today, I have lost 6 pounds and I am off to a great start.

While watching the new tv show The Revolution, they talked about how with age, women's breast start to sag a bit. They also suggested some great exercises that will help to strengthen your chest and back muscles. I search for a few key words on youtube and found some great exercise videos that demonstrated the recommended exercises. The recommended exercises to strengthen your chest and back muscles are Reverse Fly, Bicep Curl (Helps to strengthen upper body. If you don't have and exercise band, you can use hold two bottles of water or two cans of food, and still do the same moves.), and the Superman (strengthens back and front muscles). Here is an example of the Reverse Fly below.

3 Ways To Help Our Little Princesses Love Their Hair

2012-01-19T10:54:00.000-08:00

3 Ways To Help Our Little Princesses Love Their Hair

By Terez Howard

I ask my daughter, “How do you want me to fix your hair?”

“I want my puffs. I like them big, real BIG, because I like to squeeze them.”

After I fix her puffs as big as I can get them, she stands about 2 inches from the full-length mirror in our hallway and gives them a good squeeze. She’s obviously very pleased with the results.

“My hair is like yours,” she says excitedly.

My 4-year-old loves her curly hair. After a no-poo wash, I swear that she’s going to get whiplash from whipping her hair. Although she believes her hair is just like mine, it isn’t. She is half white. And I have micro locs.

Happy with my hair

Before Micah was born, I learned to love my natural hair. I have been determined to ensure my daughter loves what she’s been given - her skin, her nose, her toes and yes, her hair. Children learn by example. I love my hair. The Girl wants to be like Mama, so she loves her hair.

That means that I don’t complain about my hair texture. I do not talk about limitations associated with my hair. And, I certainly do not long for “good hair.” She will never hear me talk smack on my own hair.

I take pride in my hair. I show off that pride by trying out a variety of hair styles. I show off her hair with a plethora of hair styles, as well. This way, she can see that her hair doesn’t need to be fried or altered chemically to look cute. That is exactly what our little princesses should know.

Hair talk

Like I said before, my daughter is 4. But I don’t underestimate her capacity to learn. She knows that Mama’s locs will not come out, that I have to retighten my roots, why I needed to braid and band during shampooings, why I braid her hair at night, why we use a Denman imitation, why she gets regular trims, and I could go on and on. Now, I certainly don’t sit her down and put her through Naturalicious Hair 101. Yet, as we go about our day, we talk about everything we do. That includes what we do with our hair.

Take time to explain what and why you do what you do to your hair and your daughter’s. For a 4-year-old, just a couple sentences suffice.

Micah likes to share what she knows about hair. Just recently, she very matter-of-factly told her 3-year-old friend, “My Mama has Sisterlocks.” Like the old adage, knowledge is power. That power gives her confidence.

Show natural love

My daughter loves Nonna’s waist-length, straight, black hair. She loves Mama’s micro locs, too. She and I compliment hair styles from women of all hair textures. Together, we show our appreciation for the hair on various ladies’ heads.

Spending time to speak well of various textures shows that we don’t favor anyone. It’s not all about straight hair or just curly hair or only locked hair. We don’t avoid giving praise where praise is due. We take time to appreciate everyone.

Our little princesses deserve to feel beautiful with what God gave them. We can engender this pride by what we say, what we do and how we feel.

Terez Howard
Freelance Writer, Editor and Naturalista

Writing/Editing: www.thewritebloggers.com

Natural Hair: www.naturalicioushair.com

E-mail: terezhoward@yahoo.com

Natural Glow

2012-01-14T09:30:00.000-08:00

Source: Naturally Candi

Link Of The Day

2012-01-10T06:00:00.000-08:00

Source: 18-15n-77-30w

High Puff Tutorial - By Ebony

2012-01-09T06:00:00.001-08:00

Natural hair tutorial from Ebony. She shows us how to create a High Curly Puff. To see more of Ebony, check her out at Coloured Beautiful on Youtube.

Gorgeous Hair!

2012-01-04T06:00:00.000-08:00

Love this photo from Essence Magazine.

Source: 18-15n-77-30w

Natural Ladies In the House

2012-01-03T15:00:00.000-08:00

Model - Noel
Hello Natural Ladies!! My name is Noel Simone Wippler. I am 20 years old and I am born and raised in New York City. My goal is to be a Natural Hair Model. I would like to be a model and advocate natural hair and hair styles for stylists, photographers, for magazines, for hair shows, & websites. I am open to all natural hair styles and opportunities and advocating natural hair care. I would like to promote healthy hair styles for ladies aspiring to be natural. People admire my hair everywhere I go! My hair has been on a spiritual journey with me. When I had my hair relaxed since I was 6 years old with Super Relaxers, my hair would be lifeless and easily damaged. No matter how much I cared for my hair, and protected it, it would still be weak, and dry! It seemed as if I were wasting all of my money and time on my hair, and I wouldn't be content with it. So in 2009, I decided I was going to grow my relaxer out. Two years later, and I am happier than ever! I will grow my hair as long as it can go. I want to show ladies that it is possible! Would you like me to be your hair model? I would love to work for you! Contact Information: Noel S. Wippler, Email: n_wippler@yahoo.com. Thank You For Your Time. Peace.

Curtnita

I love sites that appreciate being natural and how natural is beautiful..so with that being said "I'M HAPPY TO BE NAPPY...AND FADED TIGHT"

CURTNITA

Model - Nekesha

I am 36 years old and I have a career in social work, in addition, to being a full time mother. I work with individuals who have had their children taken away for abuse, threatened harm or neglect, in addition to, working with parents that have substance abuse issues that have also resulted in their children being removed. I have worked in this profession for over 10 years. I have been growing my locks for 11 years and I remember when I started them, there were not many encouraging sites such as your to help me with my journey. My locks are so much a part of me and who I have become. Contact: tobesmother@comcast.net.

Jacqueline

I was all about relaxed super straight hair. The straighter the better. I loved wigs and weaves. I mainly did quick weave bobs, or long curls. I decided to go natural because my hair looked life less and unhealthy. It wasn't growing the way I wanted it to. I had recently dyed it myself (bad idea) and it broke off really bad. I just wanted my hair to look healthy and grow which is why I decided to go natural

I didn't know what my hair would look like without being relaxed and was afraid I would go back and relax it if I couldn't take care of it. I also was worried about how my then boyfriend would react to it. He surprisingly loved it and I was really shocked by this. I decided in July 2011 that I was not going to relax my hair anymore. By August I was ready to get that Dark and Lovely in my head, but I remained strong. I was just doing wigs and extensions. Then in October of this year, I got off work one day and just decided to cut my hair! I cut off all my relaxed hair and had tight curls left. I couldn't believe it and took a picture and sent it to my boyfriend. I washed it and just wore it in a fro the next day at work. I received a lot of compliments on it. I was alittle leery because I didn't feel like a girl. But after watching youtube videos( love love love iknowlee, HUGE help to me) I started buying cute headbands and flowers(my favorite). I haven't quite mastered the two strand twist but I'm working on it. So its either in a TWA or a puff most of the time. This also gave me a chance to play up my eye makeup and wear different earrings( feathers, feathers, feathers!). When I look at myself now, I feel absolutely beautiful and I love how fast my hair is growing and how healthy it looks. Being newly natural, I enjoy the blogs and youtube videos because it gives me confidence to remain natural and be true to myself. Truely glad to have found the new me!

My favorite products: Shea Moisture Curling Smoothie..makes my hair feel really soft and healthy looking. Knot Today Leave In from Kinky Curly. Use this to detangle my hair in the shower. If though it doesn't get that tangled surprisingly. ORS Edge Control. I use this when I do my puffs. I don't like my edges looking bad and this really smoothes them down. ** Bonus- Organix Nourishing Coconut Milk Conditioner...so thick and leaves my hair feeling really soft and smelling even better. My advice for others: I would say just to go for it! I have gain so much confidence in myself and the woman that I have become just by the few months of me being natural. I see my mom who passed away in 2006 when I look in the mirror and I love that! If you want healthy hair that grows extremely fast(like mine has) I think going natural is the way to go. Wish I would've have cut my hair sooner!

Love this Photo!

2012-01-02T06:00:00.001-08:00

Source: Stranger To Love

Happy New Year!!

2012-01-01T06:00:00.000-08:00

Link of the Day!

2011-12-30T06:00:00.000-08:00

From: 18-15n-77-30w

Brittany's New Gorgeous Look!

2011-12-29T06:00:00.001-08:00

An already gorgeous Brittany, wowed me on Facebook today, with her new hair cut and how gorgeous she looks in these evening gowns. I love her style! Thank you for sharing... :-). To learn more about Brittany, check out her interview with Naturally Beautiful Hair blog here.

Starting the New Years with Pops Of Color!

2011-12-28T16:50:00.000-08:00

I am loving my new Feather Fashion Clips hair accessories. Each feather clip-in has great color combinations, that give awesome pops of color, that can help to change my look when I want to try something new with my hair. Feather Fashion Clips work with any hair type and are affordable. Go to their site now to see their Buy 2, get one free sale now!

Singer - Elle Varner

2011-12-28T06:00:00.000-08:00

Great music by talented singer - Elle Varner!

To see more of Elle, check her out on Facebook, Youtube, Twitter and her Website.

Goody Accessories & Double Wear Line

2011-12-28T05:55:00.000-08:00

I am loving my new hair accessories from Goody! Lots of great headbands and hair clips that can also be worn as pins. Goody accessories are a great brand because the're are accessories that work for both your little girl and for you. They have organic based hair products. And they has also have new line of Double Wear accessories that include 2-in-1 headbands and ponytail holders that can double as necklace or bracelet. To see more, go to Goody.com.

Have a Wonderful Holiday Weekend!

2011-12-24T06:00:00.000-08:00

Inspirational Photo of the Day!

2011-12-22T06:00:00.000-08:00

Gorgeous photo!

Source: Young Brian

Shabby Apple Dress Giveaway Winner!!!

2011-12-20T11:44:00.000-08:00

Thank you everyone that participated in the Shabby Apple Dress Giveaway. The winner is Dada Chiku (Curly-haired Chatterbox)!!! Congraguations... :-). Please contact me at naturalhairbeauty@gmail.com to give me your ship to address. This will be forward to Shappy Apple Rep, who will send the dress to you in your size. Thank you everyone and Happy Holidays!

Someday Perfume

2011-12-20T11:34:00.000-08:00

Great last minute holiday buy! I usually don't wear perfumes, but I love this new perfume called Someday! It smells really good and is quickly becoming one of my favorite scents. This will be one perfume that will not sit on my counter collecting dust.

"SOMEDAY by Justin Bieber is more than just a perfume: it's a fragrance full of the energy, passion, and confidence that pushes him to the top of the charts. This fragrance's glass bottle is fresh yet flirty, anything but ordinary, and topped with a burst of blooming hearts. A crystal-encrusted, heart-shaped charm can be removed and attached to a keychain or zipper pull."

African Doll Clothes by Donnilah

2011-12-20T06:00:00.000-08:00

What inspired you to create dolls with African clothing? My original inspiration came from an African woman who requested me to make dolls that reflected the ladies in her African wedding. I am always up for the challenge. I studied the pictures and found the fabric… I’t all started coming together.

How did you learn to sew/create African styled clothing? My father taught me how to sew. His mother (my grandmother) taught him and all of her 10 children how to sew. I am grateful to have a skill that has been passed down through generations. The concept of African/Ethnic styles comes from watching the top designers who have adopted the styles of Ancent African clothing, geometric designs and patterns. We are so diverse in style and flare. We are the originators of fashion. I am still studying and interpreting style and fashions on a global scale.

How has the response been to your doll creations? The responses have been awesome. I have customers of all ethnic backgrounds who enjoy the dolls and the beauty they represent. I am really encouraging people to collect them and enjoy their back story. I want to teach the children about fashions from around the world. These dolls create awareness and appreciation of global beauty, not just African beauty. African people are all over the world because we all from Africa.

What is your goal with bringing these dolls to our community? I am hoping my art and stories will educate little girls. We also need to teach our children its ok to be, look, like who you are. God made no mistakes in creating us it’s a blessing we are so diverse and we come in so many beautiful shades and colors. I also hope we learn to leave a legacy as my grandmother and father has left with me. In every doll that I make I leave that legacy the spirit my grandmother's art and fashion lives on.

How can people see more of your work and how can they contact you? I can be reached at: info@justblaque.com. I am opening up an online boutique soon Annie Bella's boutique, named after my grandmother Mrs. Annie Bell McClendon.

Inspirational Photo of the Day!

2011-12-13T12:31:00.000-08:00

Source - Natural Hair Rules!

Shabby Apple Dress Giveaway!!

2011-12-12T12:42:00.000-08:00

Hey Everyone! I'm giving away this great Baciami dress from Shabby Apple (www.shabbyapple.com), an online boutique of women's dresses. The dress is a great look for a lunch, work and more! It has an $88.00 value and is free to whom ever wins this contest. To win the Baciami dress, following these steps:

Go to Shabby Apple's website, and leave a comment here telling us what is your favorite dress.
Like Shabby Apple on Facebook
All contestants must have a US shipping address.

The contest ends Saturday, December 17th, 2011, at midnight. Good luck!

Link of the Day!

2011-12-09T12:16:00.001-08:00

Great photo from Pull My Dreads.

Holiday Gift Guide!

2011-12-08T06:05:00.000-08:00

Check out the post below for great Holiday Gift giving ideas! For Accessories, there is Hair Feather from Fine Featherheads; and hand-made hair bows from QuellyRue Designs.

For hair and body products, see the post for Dr. Miracle's hair care products, Shielo Hair Technology & Care and Tattoo body scents!