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Today's Hair

Style: Cornrows into AfroPuff

Approximate time to complete: 45 mins (depends on how fast you braid)

Products Used: Burdock Root Butter Cream, Lil Better Butter, EcoStyler Olive Oil Gel

Tools Used: My fingers, rattail tooth comb, ponytail holder

Reason for style: I've been practicing my braiding!
(I plan to take down the puff and do two strand twist in back.)

Lessons Learned: I can cornrow.

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What does the world think of us?

I was reading another blog and found a short entry stating that women of color in other countries believe that African-American women have naturally straight/wavy hair. T shook my head and thought no one could believe that. I began to read the comments and woman after woman from abroad supported the blog. I was taken aback then thought about what they said. The mainstream images of women of color that are sent to the world from America are of relaxed women with weaves.The commentary expressed their desire as children to have "American" hair. Their mothers told them Americans just had hair like that. One even said all American women of color had a white person somewhere in their family and that accounted for their hair texture. I read Americans had stronger hair so relaxers left it beautiful long and shiny. I was filled with horror! I lament everyday that little black girls have to endure the "white beauty myth" in America. How do you combat it when the images are all black? How does a young girl abroad not feel less when she actually thinks that is their hair?

American Hair ( a lace front wig )

Reasons for Black Women to Wear Natural Hair

Black women typically chemically alter their hair for a myriad of reasons. Some do it for the look, some do it for social reasons, and others do it for professional reasons. Here are the reasons black women should wear their hair in its natural state… Kinky.

10. It grows in that way. If your creator meant for you to have straight hair it would be
straight.

9. You can do fun and versatile things with black hair. Unlike straight hair, black hair (naturally kinky) can stand straight up, can be braided into complex designs, can be temporarily straightened without chemicals, and worn in its natural state again the next day.

8. It is in style. Natural black hair is more and more acceptable every day. It is just another fashion choice; therefore, there is really no reason to go through great pains to change it.

7. Straightening chemicals are dangerous. If not applied correctly, it can cause burns, hair damage, and temporary to permanent hair loss.

6. Hair chemicals are really, dangerous. The food and drug administration says, “Hair relaxers and hair dyes are among its top consumer complaint areas. Complaints range from hair breakage to symptoms warranting an emergency room visit”. Also” In February 1994, FDA and the American Cancer Society released an epidemiologic study involving 573,000 women. Researchers found that women who had never used permanent hair dyes showed decreased risk of all fatal cancers combined and of urinary system cancers.

5. You never know when it might go wrong. Just like food, allergies show up over time, so do hair chemical allergies. What worked fine two years ago, might cause a bald spot in two years.

4. If it went wrong before, it will very likely happen again. If you had a bad reaction to a perm, do not do it again. Nine times out of 10, the chemicals are just as much to blame as the stylist.

3. Pride: Your hair is an identifying symbol of your race. If you are proud of your race, you should also be proud of your hair.

2. The work place cannot discriminate against your hair. There was a time when wearing an Afro, dreadlocks or braids, your job could say you were going against the dress code. This is illegal. Do not tolerate it.

1. Time savings: Over time, you will learn to shower, wash your hair and get dressed just like people with straight hair. It is just a matter of time until you find a natural style that works well for you.

Link to original story - 2006
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/38468/reasons_for_black_women_to_wear_natural.html?cat=69

Shala Monroque - GOTM -whowhatwear.com

I just recently subscribed to the daily newsletter at WhoWhatWear.com and I was pleasantly surprised to see Shala Monroque in my Inbox this morning.

Always happy to see beautiful women with natural hair reflected in the upmost positive light.

Check it out.

White Man using Relaxer - Yes you heard me right

Check it out

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Must See!! - I have no words...

Dear Lord,
I’m saying this prayer to you today,
Please help me get away.
The parents you gave [me] were rejected by you,
I came out the womb with no clue.
You created me grand,
Tiny and precious and not in command.
These pictures will live in infamy,
A pretty baby made to look ugly.
My mommy and daddy are too stupid to know,
That my hair will eventually grow.
Dear Lord, Please help me leave.
My idiot parents gave me a weave.

Composed by Tracy Mendoza

SMH

Reprinted from: http://sandrarose.com/2009/11/19/who-knew-they-made-lacefronts-wigs-for-babies/

Train your hair or your pet?

I was recently reminded( by a YT video by LexiWithTheCurls) of a unique term/phenomena in the AA hair community: training. I have an associate who wears her hair pressed. She mentioned matter-of-factly that she didn't have to worry much about her thrice weekly workouts because her hair was trained. If you are unaware training is a form of permanent heat damage. People who press or blow their hair out do not mind this. It is a form of physical ( as opposed to chemical) relaxer. There is no problem if you want to wear your hair straight. The problem is when a natural woman goes to a stylist who assumes that anyone with any texture to their hair wants it to be trained.

Beware ladies! Stylist who talk about training your hair will probably give you and extremely hard press/ flat iron that will prevent your hair from reverting. I have had my hair straightened rollerbrush Dominican style. I find this less damaging and have had no problems with heat damage. I'm sure a knowledgeable stylist can do a good job with any method. The problem is most stylist knowledge is limited to how to make and keep hair straight, train it. I train my pets not my hair. How about you?


Russell gets trained not my .

If I had hair like yours...

I'm sure this topics has been discussed ad nauseaum but I had a recent occurrence. I would characterize my co-workers as open-minded. No one has made any comment about my hair other than to compliment it. They are the backhanded variety like: "Oh, you can do that cause you have that good grade of hair." or " That is cute on you but I couldn't do that with this( fill in the blank with negative adjective) mess". I just accept the compliments and move on

This past week someone came to work in a hat, a knit hat, a snug knit hat, a snug knit hat with a pom-pom on top! Needless to say, jokes ensued. She explained she was having a bad hair day. We suggested she just slick it back (as her hair is short). She said, "My hair is thick. I can't just slick it back between perms." We all sort of nodded because you can't tell a woman about her own hair. She then reached out and playfully ran her fingers though my twists and said, " If I had hair like this I could probably slick it back." I found the whole exchange sad. She's at work looking borderline unprofessional because she believes that straight hair is her only alternative. I thought to myself,you do have hair like mine you're hiding it under that goofy hat!

Clear service: "It's the sweet, sweet 'fro of mobile internet speed and coverage"

CLEAR is the brand name for next generation mobile internet products and services offered by Clear Wireless, LLC. They offer wireless internet service over WiMAX in a number of major cities right now.

But anyway, I work in Telecommunications so I keep up to date about a lot of new services and I wanted to sign-up for Clear when it's offered in Detroit. My co-worker picked up a pamphlet he saw while out of town for clear and it has cartoons illustrating its service compared to hair on your head.

I DIED when I read how they illustrate the Clear service: "It's the sweet, sweet 'fro of mobile internet speed and coverage"


LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE

Visit Clear.com to learn more

Is this funny?

I found this cartoon and I failed to see the humor. It was among a collection of cartoons about bad hair days. This was the only one featuring a woman of color and the only one comparing human hair to an animal. Am I being sensitive?

Today's Hair

Style: Curly Two Strand Twists

Approximate time to complete: 1-2 hrs (depends on how fast you twist)

Products Used: Burdock Root Butter Cream, water,Honey & Mango Butter Pomade

Tools Used: My fingers, wide tooth comb

Reason for style: Ready for something low maintenance

Lessons Learned: Pomade really adds shine!

Natural Hair Bun/Afro Knaps Product Review rachelodem.net

More praise for Lil Better Butter. =D

SistahChick uses Lil Better Butter

SistahChick give's Knapsgirl.com a shoutout after using Lil' Better Butter @ 2:00.
click the image below to visit her YouTube!



Thanks SistahChick!