CurlyNaturalBeauty

It's a NEW Year!

2012-01-30T15:52:00.000-05:00

I'm so sorry I have been slacking but I've been very busy I will do better. I'm so excited about this new year. Some new things are happening for me. I got another job working at another salon but I still work at my original salon too. I'm so excited about the new salon because it is a green salon...I LOVE THAT! Our vision is the same as far as promoting healthy hair and a healthy environment too. I really hate the Keratin Treatment...I hate the smell and how I feel afterwards. So I opt not to do them. I care more about my health. The great thing about the Green Salon which is Called Shear Luxe Hair Studio is that the products then use work great and they are environmentally friendly. My clientele is building up and I'm very excited about that. I have you all to thank! I just feel that this new year is going to be a blessing. I'm learning about new things that are out on the market and I will share it with you all as soon as I get the information. I hope you are all well and blessed. Check me out over the NEW YEAR!

Anniversary

Hair in the front

Hair in the back

MERRY CHRISTMAS

2011-12-25T19:02:00.001-05:00

Merry Christmas to you all! I hope you got everything your heart desire!

Conditioner ONLY

2011-12-21T21:29:00.000-05:00

Day 1

ok I've tried conditioner only in my hair in the past before and it was a bust but I was recently inspired to try it again and it's worked and I actually like it. Before when I tried it looked like a puffy fro and now it's makes my hair look like the gels. You're probably wondering why it is different now. I will tell you why because of all the other reason why my hair changed because of hydration. Getting the hair hydrated is the key to everything. Hydration makes the hair easier to manage and I have achieved this. The only way to get the hair hydrated is constance water. (meaning co wash often) I will talk more about hydration in another posting but I'm so happy for my hair. I can style it will just conditioner. I could never do this before believe me I tried. I'm a firm believer in the power of hydration. Picture above is my hair styled with conditioner. BTW I used Tresemme's Moisture Rich ( I got the new formula)

Textured Beauty of the Day!

2011-12-19T17:14:00.001-05:00

Meet Linda! She's a dear friend of my mines from California. The picture above is her hair now. I remember when I met Linda she use to constantly wear wigs or weaves but Linda learned to love doing her natural hair and have been doing it every since. I don't think Linda has worn a wig or weave since but she and her hair are beautiful. I'm very proud to see how far she's come. Check out her youtube

CNB: How long have you been natural?

Linda: 3 years

CNB: What made you go natural?

Linda: I loved how natural hair texture looked

CNB: What do you like about being natural vs being relaxed?

Linda: I love how I can be curly one day and straight the next.

CNB: What do others say about your natural hair?

Linda: My boyfriend loves my hair he is always complimenting me on my curls.

CNB: How do you feel about yourself now that you are natural?

Linda: I feel like I am beautiful and my hair is beautiful. I love my hair.

CNB: Have you inspired others?

Linda: Yes my niece is now natural and my oldest sister has locs

CNB: What is your basic routine for your textured hair?

Linda: I co wash my hair everyday or every other day depending on how I feel. I shampoo my hair every Sunday. I use activator gel as a leave in and the green Eco styling gel for hold.

CNB: What do you want others to know about being natural?

Linda: Water is our friend we were brain washed into believing that water would dry out our was and nothing is further from the truth. I keep a small spray bottle of water and olive oil in the bathroom and everytime I go in there I spritz my hair. I dont have to worry about build up because I co wash my hair so often.

Thank you Linda for sharing!

Bonus Picture Below of when I did her hair. This is a curl and define!

How to Maintain Length

2011-12-14T20:42:00.001-05:00

1. Trim every 3-4 months don't skip out on this.
2. Moisturized the ends consistently
3. Don't allow the hair to get too dry
4. Detangle hair regularly with conditioner and water to keep from having breakage.
5. Deep Condition with heat at least once a month.
6. Don't use too much heat in a short amount of time.
7. Sleep with a satin pillow case or bonnet because cotton absorbs moisture quickly.
8. Lay off the Protein if you have kinkier texture too much protein isn't good. Actually can cause breakage too if use too excessively.
9. Last but NOT LEAST give that hair some WATER. Hair needs water just like everything else.

New Video on Wash N Go's and why they are helpful

2011-12-12T10:32:00.000-05:00

Sorry I've been M.I.A again...I got a new family member

2011-12-12T10:13:00.000-05:00

MEET NEWTON!

He's a Rottweiler. He's only 3 months old.

Newton is names after some of my favorite people in history or who has made history that share the same name Huey Newton, Sir Issac Newton, and Cam Newton. Yes I said Cam Newton! I'm a HUGE Panther's Fan! So my new dog Newton is destine for Greatness! I will update you all with Newton as he grows.

3 Year Anniversary of My Big Chop...and Trimming...

2011-11-06T10:31:00.000-05:00

I'm so happy that it has been 3 years since I cut my hair and decided to be completely natural. I have accomplished my goal for my hair. I made my hair easier to do, more versatile, and healthy. I have become a genius when it comes to MY hair. Two things that have been a big part in helping my hair grow long, look thicker and just remain healthy(there is a such thing as healthy hair) Hair, nails and skin are made of the same content just different proportions but you still have to keep your skin and nail healthy right?...So why wouldn't you have to keep the hair healthy it's still attached to your body. (Someone told me there's no such thing as healthy hair just want to clear that up.) The 2 things that contribute to my grow are wear wash and gos (the right way) and trimming my hair periodically. I trim when I need to and I do a REAL trim. I don't do search and destroys, I don't trim my hair while in twist, and so on. If you want he goal of having mostly even hair, thicker looking hair, and less split ends then you want to avoid those other methods. I will tell you wants wrong with both methods. They sound nice in theory but the fact is when hair is uneven and if there's even one split end if the hair next to it is a different length then it's going to catch on to the other hair and made it split and then it become a ripple down effect. If you don't around and do an all over trim then you can miss that one split end that is causing the problem and an over trim will mad it easier for you to seek out where's the problem quicker. I really dislike the twist cutting because you are not seeing all of your hair. You will miss some on your hair that might have the problem and it's not a true trim. If your goal is not all 3 of these healthy, thicker looking, long hair then carry on with what you are doing. If you are a natural who like to wear your hair straight you should definitely avoid these cutting method for trimming. Remember this is only for trimming not for shaping the hair. How I trim is on straight hair...I know some don't like to straighten you hair but "straight hair tells you the Truth about your hair." It reveals just how well or bad your hair is doing! I trim my hair usually every 3-6 months but you can tell when you need a trim even when hair is curly. If you ends are looking and feeling rough, ends are very tangled and I mean very tangled and if you can see through them well then you need a trim.

Here's a test take your index finger and thumb and rub it down your strand and it your feel a "BIG" texture difference then that's an indication that you need a trim or if you let it go too long a CUT!

I hope this helped!
Below I will show some pictures of my split end and after

These are my splits

The ends are see through and rough looking

You can see how some of the ends are tangling up on each other causing the hair to be hair to comb and break.

This is a frontal view not too bad here compared to the back but I still see some so I will go ahead and nip in the bud.

After the Trim

I can actually curl my ends under now that's another sign of split end when you can't curl your ends.

Hair looks fuller and smoother now and HEALTHY

I still have growth and now I can be haircut free for at least another 3 months.

This is all the hair I cut off my entire head not much considering that I went 6 months without a trim but my hair was begging for one and I listened.

Keratin Treatment...Good or Bad

2011-10-25T21:48:00.000-04:00

Keratin Treatment...Good or Bad

Well that depends on what your goal is...First let's understand what the Keratin Treatment is. Keratin is not marketed as a straighter but is marketed to make the hair smoother. Now how does that help??? Well when the hair is smoother it can make your hair easier to manage. The frizz in our hair is what really contribute to the time we spend on our hair. How many times have you passed the flat iron or straighten comb through the hair until you got it smoother... with the Keratin Treatment it can make your hair so much faster to do. I've had people come in who has a keratin with afros who want their hair straight and I think to myself well this is going to take awhile but when I start doing the person hair I soon realize how much easier and quicker it is to do. Another question is can the keratin help with my curly hair? Yes it can but it depends on what you are going for. From what I've seen the Keratin Treatment does tend to loosen the curl pattern some and for others it can loosen the curl pattern a lot but the results vary. I've also seen some people who are happy to have their curls a bit looser so it works for them. Most people whether they are curly or straight like the Keratin because of how much easier it is to do their hair. As a stylist I must admit it is easier to do a person hair with a Keratin and what I mean by that is the process to so much quicker. Do I have a Keratin? No. Why not? I don't feel I need one. I"m natural and I LOVE my hair just the way it is and I feel that it's easy for me to manage my hair. When I wear my hair straight I could probably use the Keratin but I won't because I wear my hair curly a lot more often than I wear it straight. I know of naturals who get the Keratin and it works out fine for them but I suggest not getting it every 4 months like some stylist suggest because depending on the brand I believe some Keratins last way longer that 4 months. Which is not a bad thing. Also if you are relaxed and wanting to go natural Keratin might actually be a good way to transition especially if you want to still wear your hair straight even if you don't want to go natural and just want a healthier alternative to relaxing just do a keratin. Yes the Keratin is actually healthier than the relaxer. Even though it has formaldehyde it's still better than putting that Sodium Hydroxide to your head. If you don't believe me look it up. Anyway below are the Pro's a Con's to Keratin Treatment

Pros

Makes hair more manageable

Less Frizz

Can do you hair faster

Healthier hair (If done right)

Great alternative for a relaxer

Can be used for tranistioner

Can also be used for naturals who likes to wear their hair straight and curly

Can promote hair growth (it's acts at a barrier for the hair)

Temporary (Can be a pro or con)

Cons

Formaldehyde (they have non formaldehyde but doesn't seem to work as well)

Can Loosen curl pattern (Can be a pro or con)

How to pick the right stylist for you

2011-09-27T19:32:00.000-04:00

Since being in the hair business I have learned there are stylist different kinds of stylists and almost everyone have different opinion about hair. I'm going to share some tips in what to do and look for when finding a new stylist or what I like to call myself hair care consultant

1. Get to know your hair. This is the MOST important one! Never tell them that you don't have a clue about your hair because if you get a stylist who's an opportunist then they will take advantage of the situation.

2. Find someone who's not arrogant. I know some stylist can be too over confident where they can sound condecending to the clients. You don't want that person because they will never do your hair the way you like.

3. Make sure the stylist have the look you are going for. This is a biggie! Example if you are natural you don't want to go to a relaxed stylist or one who promotes relaxers or vice versa

4. Get a stylist who's easy to talk to. The reason for this is so you can tell her what you want with ease without him or her questioning you.

5. Make sure your stylist have the same mentality about hair just like you do. For example if you goal is to use minimum heat and you know that your stylist loves firing up that press and comb stove then you two might not be a match.

6. Make sure your stylist offer treatments from time to time especially after doing chemical services. This is important because it shows that they actually care about the health of your hair. With me if I have a client who is badly in need of a treatment I will sometime just do it anyway. I care more about the health of their hair verses how much money I can make off of them.

7. Last make sure you and your stylist are partners. Don't let the stylist make all the choices. You must have some input also. This shows that the stylist value your opinion.

Remember these things and you will find a stylist who meets your needs.

Dating in this Era

2011-09-26T10:12:00.001-04:00

I had a lot of trails and errors when it came to dating. I also have a lot of insight from the men around me. So I picked up a few things about dating and I got a reality check. I use to think man find woman fall in love, get married and live happily ever after....Wrong! It's not that simple at all. If you want to be a smart dater you date multiple people so you can see what you really want. Here's a video below talking about dating in this Era. Dating isn't how it was when your parents or grandparents was courting.

Textured Beauty of the Day!

2011-09-23T10:36:00.001-04:00

If you are active on youtube then you might know the next Textured Beauty as
LuBellaCoils! I love her style! She has that jazzy style! If you haven't checked
her out on youtube Click here.

CNB: How long have you been natural?

I started my physical transformation in the fall of
1998. I say physical
transformation because yrs prior to 1998 I began a
spiritual and mental "hair"
transformation unknowingly. I stopped talking negatively about natural hair along
with other changes I made. Some women do start their journey without a second
thought but for many African American women it requires a lot of self evaluation
whether they realize it or not: What will my husband say? I'm single so will going
natural extend my single years? Will my employer like it? These are a few of many
questions that come up when women decide to do what was and in some cases
still deemed as unacceptable or unprofessional.

CNB: What made you go natural?

I honestly believe that going natural is apart of one of my life's purposes, to be a
"natural" role model. I didn't have any "natural" role models. Even though I was
raised in the 70's there was still an unspoken belief that natural hair was
antiquated. This makes me think about one of my favorite movies, "Crooklyn".
The little girl Troy went to visit her highfalutin relatives in the suburbs. Her aunt
immediately took down her cornrows and pressed her hair straight. Even though I
preferred my hair straight I always felt like something was wrong with how we as
African Americans openly mocked our hair. Even as a small child it really bothered
me that we felt such disdain for your natural hair.

So I can't say I had anyone telling me how beautiful my natural hair was. But I
definitely heard how beautiful straight hair was. Even if it wasn't discussed, the
mere fact that my friend's and my hair was pressed super straight on picture day
or for the Easter Program at church sent a message that straight hair was more
appropriate or even better than my natural hair.
Going natural and more importantly, staying natural is very important to me. We
send messages to our young girls and boys every time we step out of our homes.
I want to send the message that Black is beautiful without a wig or straight hair.
So starting this natural journey was personal. Staying on this natural journey
goes beyond any personal convictions. I think our young girls need to know they
are naturally beautiful and actions speak louder than words.

CNB: What do you like about being natural vs being relaxed?

Everything. I no longer get upset when it rains. Rain and humidity were my
enemies during my relaxed days. Swimming? I did try to learn as an adult but it
got in the way of my hair routine. Sad statement to make but true. I wrote a
poem titled, "The Other Parent" which is in my book Black Is Beautiful A Guide To
Loving Your God-given Hair. I talk about how my relaxed hair was like a 3rd
parent. It dictated a lot of decisions and activities of my daily life. Now, I can
take steamy hot showers, exercise (when I'm not feeling lazy), if it rains it's not
the end of the world. I have found that being natural is very liberating in so many
ways.

CNB: What do others say about your natural hair?

For the most part I get a lot of "oohs and ahhs". Especially from other races who
embrace diversity. The people that I do come across who have snide comments
are only showing how immature or brainwashed they are. I can honestly say that
over my 12-13 yrs of being natural, I've gotten more positive feedback than
negative.

What newly naturals need to understand is people tend to reflect to you what you
truly feel about yourself. When I wore Locs I knew they were beautiful. As a
result many people complimented my Locs. Even a 2 yr old baby who could
barely talk tugged on me relentlessly until he got my attention. He told me, "I like
yo hair". I can't help but smile every time I tell that story lol.

CNB: How do you feel about yourself now that you are natural?

I guess I'm conceited because I don't ever want another woman of another race
to think that I went out and bought some hair to try to imitate her. I know I
don't have to straighten my hair to be glamorous or beautiful. God already took
care of that part when He fashioned my hair into these tight coils. Our hair is so
unique and truly stands out amongst the crowd. Why would I want to alter it and
be like the majority of women on this earth. There is something special about
having a beauty that's like no other. I truly appreciate the tight coils God has
blessed me with.

CNB: Have you inspired others?

I try to inspire others every time I walk out of the house showcasing God's art: my
natural hair. I also enjoy uploading videos on my Youtube channel: LuBellaCoils.
I published my book in 2007. In the book I talk about my personal natural
journey and provide tips on how to make a successful transition from relaxed to
natural.

CNB: What is your basic routine for your textured hair?

Omg…I'm getting so lazy. It isn't a bad thing because that means I'm not
manipulating my hair. Low manipulation is a way to give your hair a rest and one
way of letting it retain length. My routine is very simple and inexpensive. I
shampoo 2x a month (I used to do it once a wk but like I said I've gotten lazy). I
try to deep condition with heat every time I shampoo. Since my hair has gotten
longer, I detangle and plait my hair into 8-10 large braids prior to shampooing
and conditioning. I basically keep it simple. If you're getting frustrated or
annoyed with natural hair then maybe you're doing a lot of unnecessary
maintenance and spending unnecessary money. It's not complicated nor
expensive. It can be challenging initially with finding what works for your hair.
After you find out what your hair likes/dislikes, it's very simple to maintain.

Since I am a licensed cosmetologist (I don't do it for a living) I have fun with my
hair. Growing long hair isn't a goal of mine. I've had long healthy hair my whole
life. I find that many naturals mistakenly use hair length as a gauge of who has
the "best hair regimen". Naturals who do that are assuming everybody's goal is to
have waste length hair. I'm not interested in ever having waste length hair lol.
I'm positive I will have Locs again one day. I loved wearing my hair short. I love
color. So I have fun with my natural hair while keeping it healthy at the same
time.

CNB: What do you want others to know about being natural?

I really want women of color to know that they are beautiful with their natural
hair. Why would God create you with hair that doesn't look right on you? I'm still
trying to figure that one out. One of my sisters, God bless her heart, said that
God caused people to make wigs so women can wear them and feel better about
themselves. Ok, in all fairness I can definitely see that with women who may
have an illness that caused hair loss. But my sister wasn't talking about that lol.
With that said, I have learned to laugh. I refuse to argue with women about the
natural hair thing. My Youtube channel and message is not for everybody and I'm
perfectly ok with that.

I want women to know that natural hair is really simple. Its individual. What
works for you will likely not work for me. There is no one way of caring for your
natural hair. Just like we all use different lotions and soaps for our bodies, our
hair is no different. Once you find out what your hair likes then you are on your
way to a beautiful natural you.

Ms LuBellaCoils also have a book called "Black is Beautiful A Guide to Loving Your God-Given Hair" You can check it out Here

Sorry been M.I.A

2011-09-22T20:51:00.001-04:00

Hi all! I've been super busy but I hope you all have been doing well. I'm super excited and impatient about straightening my hair in November. What's so special about November???? Well November is my 3 years anniversary of doing the BIG CHOP. I cut it off and never looked back. My hair now is longer than it has ever been. I feel I have accomplished my hair goals. I know exactly what to do to my hair to get it how I want it. It feels good when you get to a place where you don't have to second guess what to do to your hair. That's something that will come with time for those who are wondering how do I get there. I wanted to check in and also I want to start a series interviewing men about the beauty of a black woman. Do you ladies have any questions you would like for me to add in this series for the men? Your input will be greatly appreciated! And remember if you want to be a Textured Beauty of the week just let me know. I will have a new Beauty up soon.

Hair Growth Again

2011-08-28T16:09:00.000-04:00

I'm so amazed with my hair growth. I found the key to making the hair grow the way it's supposed to. I really think I have it down! It's what worked for me and for others that's listened to what I told them. I will do a youtube on that when I reach my 3 years anniversary of my Big Chop at the end of November and I will straighten my hair so you all can see my real growth. Deciding to go against what everyone advised me including my stylist and family going Natural has been one of the BEST decisions I've ever made. People always say I don't think Natural hair will look good on me...why not???? It's YOU! It's how God made you and God don't make mistakes. I'm encouraging people who WANT to go natural! Do it! You will not regret it at all! Check out my growth!

Big Chop

Head bent back more but you can tell the length of it by look at the side pieces. It's really just at my shoulders or a little below.

At my arm pits

Bra Strap length

Below Bra Strap

I only got 3 more months before I straighten and I should gain 1.5 inches of growth since hair grows .5 inch a month. So far my hair growth has been on target. Even with the fact that I straight, color, and do NO Protective styling! (Just something to think about) Hmm! If her hair is growing and she doesn't do any of that stuff then what is it. I will tell you in NOVEMBER! So you can see the real proof!

Feather Extensions!

2011-08-27T09:23:00.000-04:00

I decided to try feather extensions to see how it will look in my head. I like it! It adds something different to your hair style. I've gotten a lot of compliments on it more than I expected. With the feather extensions you have to strategically place it in the right area to get the look that you are doing for. I placed mines near my ear because I didn't want it to look to kiddie or too out of place. I wanted it to flow with my hair styles. The great thing about the feather extensions is you can wash, blow dry, curl and straighten it just like your hair. The price to get them put in ranges from $15-$25 per feather. My husband came home and told me he saw a 60 years old woman with the feathers in her hair so this is a popular trend right now. Feather extensions isn't for everyone but if you want to add a little something, something to your hair try one or two but don't go overboard!

Henna

2011-08-22T15:20:00.000-04:00

I get questions time to time about Henna and how I feel about it. Well I don't really care for it for myself. I do see the benefit for other people. Henna does tend to make your hair thicker from what I've found. If you are thinking about doing henna do your research and don't just research on the henna sites...lol I will tell you this much about henna if you are the type of person who likes haircolor, highlights, have haircolor already you want to stay away from henna. The mixing of henna and haircolor can be harmful for your hair. I don't care for henna because I like highlights and color and henna limits that. I also don't see a great benefit in my hair. Over time with continue use henna does turn your hair into a dull red color which I personally don't like but hey others might like it so do what you like. If you decide to do henna you have to decide are you going to color your hair in future and do you think henna will benefit you? Whatever you decide to do, I hope it work out for you!

OH! The Versatility of Textured Hair!

2011-08-22T15:19:00.000-04:00

Just gotta Love It! I just did two big braids and got this wavy look that I'm feeling! I just thought I would share. My hair was starting to revert so instead of re straightening I just came up with other options. So See...You don't have to keep straightening your hair when you already straighten it once. Take advance of it and try styles that you normally couldn't do on the curly hair.

Miami Natural Hair Meetup

2011-08-22T14:40:00.001-04:00

Please join me for a meet up at Glow Salon Miami on September 11 and share with other in this area. Please RSVP here https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=260277430657180

Hair Color Tips!

2011-08-21T11:20:00.003-04:00

I recently got my hair colored again. I like it so far but it's not complete yet. I'm going to add a few more highlights in the front. I"m going to talk about some benefits to hair color and what you must do to take care of it. First in foremost, you can't be lazy with your hair when it comes to getting hair color. You need to tend to it yourself or either go to the salon for treatments at least every other 2-3 weeks. Hair color is drying especially if you get all over color and going lighter. If you are going darker it's not as bad because you are added color to your hair instead of taking away.

Lighter Color Darker Color
You are taking away and then adding color You are just adding color and not taking away

Hence going darker isn't going to be as drying.

Let face it most of us like to go lighter. I know I do! So we need to take these steps to take care of it:

- Moisture, Moisture, Moisture! Can't say that enough. We need to deep condition right after or ASAP. I use a steamer to amp up my moisture and it helps tremendously!

-Protein! Going lighter does weaken the hair a little so you will need a protein treatment but make sure your hair is good on moisture before doing a protein treatment. You NEVER want to do a protein treatment on dry hair. Think about something that's dry and hard (which protein makes hair hard so it can be strong) if you pull on it, it's going to break right? The same thing happens with your hair if you put protein on hair that lacking moisture it's going to be dry and hard and it's going to break when you try to comb or brush it.

-After the protein deep condition again. Continue to deep condition weekly or biweekly until you hair feels like it's at it's normal hydration.

That's pretty much it for taking care of color!

If you are wanting to get color you have to make sure you hair is:

-in good condition meaning not damaged
-hair is strong
-hair is hydrated
-make sure you are willing to care for it by either pampering it yourself or going to the salon.
-haven't used henna in the last year.

Reason why one will want color! There's plenty of them but I will name a few and some that are personal to me.

-Can make you look younger
-Brighten your skin
-Bring out your eye color
-Can make your cut or style look a lot better
-If you have a bigger forehead it can minimize it with highlights
-If you have curly hair or if you are natural lighter colors or highlight will make your curls pop a lot more!(my favorite reason)
*and many other reasons*

Hair Color is fun and can make a person feel brand new but which hair color you do have to make a commitment to take care of it. So far my hair color and I are getting along well!

Textured Beauty of the Day!

2011-08-13T09:12:00.000-04:00

"Hair Rockin" RHODA

CNB: How long have you been natural?

Rhoda: Back on July 21, 2009 I embarked on a very exciting adventure in my life: transitioning from relaxed hair to natural hair. It has been 2 years and I it makes me sad to think I did not embrace my natural hair sooner.

CNB: What made you go natural?

Rhoda: Well, there are two reasons why I decided to go natural:

First, as a child I remember my mother caring for my natural hair with homemade mayonaise conditioners and moisturizing creams. My hair grew and certain hair accessories would not clasp due to the length and thickness of my hair. Fast forward to my adult years, I began to notice serious thinning and shedding of my hair. I felt my hair was nothing special and life-less. I always took good care of my relaxed hair, but their was still the comparison in my head of what my hair used to look and feel like.

Secondly, I have two young daughters and as I cared for their hair, I began to take note of their beautiful curls and waves. It hit me one day...these children have my DNA, therefore, my natural hair is most likely just as beautiful!

CNB: What do you like about being natural vs being relaxed?

Rhoda: I love the look, feel, flexibility, versatility, and individuality of my natural hair! I also like the fact that I can care for my hair myself, and save the money I would spend going to a salon.

CNB: What do others say about your natural hair?

Rhoda: When I Big Chopped my hair, my husband was my biggest supporter and still is to this day. He loved my new look, and said it felt like he was married to a new woman! What was most shocking was my mother's reaction, which was seriously negative. She was unable to hide her love for long hair. Not so surprisingly, the reaction from my co-workers was mixed: I was working in a predominately caucasian environmentwhere everyone looked and dressed the same. I received some strange, and even offensive comments. Although I was insulted, at the end of the day I didn't really care what they thought because they were already so boring. Today, I receive so many compliments on my hair, even from my mother!

CNB: How do you feel about yourself now that you are natural?

Rhoda: When I first went natural, the Big Chop caused me to really focus and take time to get to know myself. I felt like layers of my old self had been peeled and fallen away. I began to learn about make-up and tried to accessorized my dress when appropriate. It feel like my natural hair journey has added an additional level of consciouness to my being. Accepting how God made me and encouraging other's to get to know themselves as well.

CNB: Have you inspired others?

Rhoda: Yes! My sister and favorite cousin recently began their natural hair journeys. It has been great sharing products and social media sites with them. One important note: I do not think my natural hair journey would have been as successful, if not for YouTube and Fotki hair forums. The inspiration and encouragement I received from ladies (and some men) from around the world has been FANTASTIC!!! I hope to soon create my own social media site and pass the inspiration forward to others.

CNB: What is your basic routine for your textured hair?

Rhoda: Well, it seems my hair has experienced a serious growth spurt (Yay!!) So, I co-wash my hair about every 2-3 days, and clarify about every month or two. I have been enjoying braid outs, but can't live without wash n' gos. As my growth continues, I hope to wear twists and twist-outs. I sleep in a satin bonnet and on satin pillowcases. I have learned to love water on my hair!

CNB: What do you want others to know about being natural?

Rhoda: I want ladies to know our natural hair is so beautiful. While some enjoy relaxed and smooth hair, the curl and texture of my natural hair is so fun and gives me additional personality! Ladies should also understand that anything nice, requires maintenance and care. Natural hair is not easier than being relaxed, but once one learns what works for their hair it becomes easier (if that makes sense!!). I believe the generation in which I was raised, never learned how to care for their natural hair due to the popularity of relaxers and lack of products. Today, I feel fortunate to be present in a day of shared information and products via the internet. As well as an increased consciouness, acceptance, and appreciation of the value, beautiful people of color contribute to the world...however we wear our hair!

Pictures Below

Relaxed hair

Big Chop

Few months after BC

Now

Thank you so much Rhoda for sharing! Rhoda was actually my first natural client! I really appreciate her giving me a chance to do her hair while I was in California and for being a friend to me when I was in there. She a beautiful person and has beautiful hair and I'm so happy that she's continuing to love it!

Curl and Define on the Go!

2011-08-08T20:57:00.004-04:00

If you don't alway have time to visit...

2011-08-05T16:07:00.002-04:00

Add me to your feeder on google, yahoo, etc.
Here's the link http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/Swqmm

Interesting in being a Textured Beauty of the Day?

2011-08-05T14:06:00.002-04:00

If you are interesting in being featured on this blog and to share your hair story with other just email me responses to the questions below. Just send me at least 3 photos of your hair growth process like one of your TWA or before you were natural on to now. My email is acurlynaturalbeauty@gmail.com I look forward to your emails!

CNB: How long have you been natural?

CNB: What made you go natural?

CNB: What do you like about being natural vs being relaxed?

CNB: What do others say about your natural hair?

CNB: How do you feel about yourself now that you are natural?

CNB: Have you inspired others?

CNB: What is your basic routine for your textured hair?

CNB: What do you want others to know about being natural?

Include anything else you want people to know about you like if you have an youtube channel, blog, or business.

Giveaway Time!

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Look at the video below

Oils are NOT heat protectors for your hair

2011-08-03T16:50:00.001-04:00

Wanna straighten your hair but worried about heat damage....Well let me tell you what not to do. Oil is not your friend when it comes to straightening. You should never put oil on your hair before straightening. You are cooking your hair when you do that. You will develop heat damage! The oil I"m talking about is shea butter, olive, castor, coconut, and etc. A lot of those oil you cook with. Think about frying chicken when you drop the chicken in the heated oil do it protect the chicken?...no it doesn't... so why do people think oil protects your hair from heat from a flat iron or blow dryer. You need to use something with silicone to protect your hair from heat. Silicones are your friend when your hair is straighten or better yet being straighten. Silicones creates a barrier between your hair and the oil. Think about it when you use a silicone heat protector like CHI silk infusion and rub it on your hand it doesn't absorb all the way right??? Because it's protecting the outside layer. When you put oil on your skin it absorbs kind of quick so it's going to absorb in your hair quick too therefore not giving you much protection or any! Now if you want to put oil on your hair after you straighten it...that will be fine but don't put it up there before straightening it. I hope this helped someone....Remember we want to protect our strands from heat NOT cook it!