Today's Hair- Fall Protective Style

 Style: Fall Protective Style (updo)

Time to Complete: 20-25 mins (on dry stretched hair)

Products Used: Water, Sof'nFree Nothing But Curl Sealer, Qhemet Biologics Grapeseed Oil and Tea Tree Pomade thinned with castor oil

Tools Used:  brush, rattail comb, bobby pins (lots!)

Reason for style: My continuing quest to vary from twists.

Lessons Learned: Open all products first when using oils and pomades ( greasy hands!), Thinning a pomade with castor oil made a great smoothing pomade with the benefit of the nourishing oils

other side

back view

Today's Hair - African Hair Threading (updated)

Style two weeks old in this photo

Style: African Threading (Ghana Plaits)

Time to Complete: 2hrs with breaks and first try

Products Used: Water, AvoCoco moisturizer

Tools Used: Rat tail comb, Denman Brush, Soft bristle brush, Spray bottle, spool of weave thread, scissors

Reason for style: I spent the holiday weekend enjoying videos from Girls Love Your Curls on YouTube. I was so inspired that I decided to thread my hair.

Lessons Learned: You must part Ghana plaits. I tried to do the first few like I do two strand twist with "same size" pinch parts. This will not work, treat the part as if you are making box braids.

  

I  added some flat twists on the side.

There is special thread for hair it looks like this:

While researching online I found this classic article from Ebony Jr here.

So far I love them and they threaten to last longer than two strand twists. I would really like to do more sculptural style once I get better/faster.

Help a natural in need

2kurly4u

Our reader Harriot writes:

I'm new to the haircare scene.  I've been trying to find how to make 2kurly4u's (YouTube) shampoo and the aloe gro solution. The videos are removed.  Can you help me out?  I hear its good for thinning hair.  Mine is in some serious need.

I'm trying the Jamaican Black Castor oil right now.  It seems a little heavy but I'm continuing with it.  This summer when I'm off work I'll try the baggie method to increase moisturization.  Yes, I sure would like for you to post an inquiry for the 2kurly4u's shampoo and the aloe gro treatment.  I tried emailing her but I didn't get a response.

If anyone has the recipe or can contact 2kurly4u please help Harriot out. :)

All other advice is also eagerly accepted below.

Sh*t relaxed girls say to natural girls

Couldn't keep this to myself:



"Why you not running?!" *dead*




I'm SO guilty.



"Get yo' Erykah Badu ass outta here, go get you a window seat, I'll see you next lifetime." *climbing out of the grave to die again*

Lacefront wigs on children

Derby City Naturals said it all in her blog. I will only add that in viewing the posters response video she compares images of children playing with, switching and modeling wigs to what she did in the initial video.

There is a vast difference between children playing with wigs and applying a lacefront wig to your child and telling her how beautiful she looks.

The mother seems to be a very talented wig designer/stylist I just think she doesn't realize the impact of her actions.

Really Black Men? You don't like Natural Hair or Lace Fronts what do you like!!??

I agree with some of the points in this video but WHY did she have to start by "classically" letting everyone know that although she wears weaves and lace fronts she REALLY does have hair.

In my opinion, it detracts from her credibility. You are questioning why black men are so worried about your hair but you use a full two minutes to let strangers know that you have long hair under your wig. That is why men care, they were raised by women like you.

What do you think ladies?

"Black People, You've Been Hiding the Butters"

I watched this and I almost fell outta my chair! She's talking about black people hiding "the butters" from everyone else.

PLEASE WATCH!!! :)

By Heady1313 on Youtube

Remember the "Natural Hair Expert"...

The "Natural Hair Expert", Clover is at it again. She has decided to share the secret to giving your infant a "desirable" hair texture.



Who knew?! LOL.

Too funny had to share- Naturals vs. Relaxed

A hilarious video by Ms. VCharles

Feeling frustrated, you're not alone

An adorable spoof of Solange Knowles TONY starring CREAMY (crack).

The Natural Hair Experts

Last night on the natural hair twitter chat, someone mentioned how easy it was to be duped by fly-by-night natural hair "experts" on YouTube. I agree. YouTube is a great resource but one must be aware it is an open forum. There is nothing to stop someone from making a YT video saying motor oil is the best oil for natural hair. Please watch more than one video on a topic by more than one person. I make YT videos. I share advice based on my experience, I say this often. I can only speak for myself and my hair, I say this often. Many people do not make these disclaimers in their videos. Beware of the natural hair experts.


Don't forget bloggers, books and magazines also get things wrong.

EnKore uses the same products we do!

I was cruising around YouTube this morning and I saw a new video up from EnKore about his hair regime. EnKore is really known on YouTube for all his makeup tutorials so I was surprised to see him posting about his hair. He says: Many people ask me at beauty shows what I do to my hair to look healthy. I personally think its dry looking, but its been that way since I can remember. So, I thought I'd share my haircare regimen.

WELL - was I SUPER surprised when I saw him hold up ORS Olive Oil Moisturizing Lotion! Then I found myself thinking, "Am I ignorant? I didn't think anyone else used this stuff except for us." He also goes on to show his Morrocan Oil & Chi Silk Infusion!

Go EnKore!

Is Being Natural Easy?

A vlogger on YouTube asked for responses to the question "Is being natural easy?". Here is my response. For those not as enchanted with YouTube as I am here is a summary:

I believe that natural haircare is as easy as relaxed hair care. I think the reason many newly natural women find themselves frustrated is because they have unrealistic expectation of their hair.

Women who are relaxed and visit the salon regularly do very little to their own hair and know little about it. These women, in my opinion, should keep this same plan when they go natural. They should visit a natural salon regularly and let the natural stylist maintain their hair just as they did when they were relaxed. Women who do all of their own hair care should continue to do all of their own hair care. Women who are moderates, care for their hair but visit a professional regularly for maintenance, should also continue. This is very seldom what happens.

A woman decides to return to her natural hair texture and regardless of whether she was a salon regular, moderate or do-it-herself-er she decides she can do it all. I understand this coming from the latter two groups as they have cared for their hair in the past. These ladies have a very moderate learning curve. It is the salon regulars that seem to have the most difficult struggle. They have no frame of reference for their hair. They come on YouTube and lament that other are more adept stylists then they are immediately after their TWAs grow out. They wore a wrap between salon visits but don't think they should wear a wash-n-go. Ladies, please realize if you never cared for or styled your hair before it's going to take a while for you to learn. Many women who were not salon regulars they are "ahead" of you because they cared for and styled their hair prior to their natural journey. Natural hair, in my opinion, is not any less maintenance than relaxed hair.(I'm a do-it-herself-er.)

Natural hair does not maintain itself.

Natural hair doesn't style itself.

Today's Straight Hair - YouTube Updo

I got the how-to on this updo from a wonderful YouTube video.

Style: Fast Quick YouTube Updo

Approximate time to complete: 5 mins

Products Used: Lil Better Butter, Herbal Essence Hair Spray

Tools Used: 8 Bobby pins, boar bristle brush

Reason for style: Needed a no-heat, easy, work safe style for when my hair is straight

Lessons Learned: I love this style! An updo can be simple. I need to use a lil' more hair spray or wax to trap my fly aways

Sincere flattery-or-Great minds think alike

My video created Sept. '08


A recent response created July '09


YouTube viewers loved my original and it never occurred to me to translate it. So please do as many culturally relevant rip-offs as you like just please credit me somewhere.

Men with Lacefront Wigs - Seriously...

Now this is just taking it TOO far! He says it's the new "metrosexual". I think this is taking it past personal grooming.

Now we have our men who don't want to wear their own hair?? What's next??

Would you date a guy who wore a lacefront??

White Man using Relaxer - Yes you heard me right

Check it out

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!

Blow-out blowback?

I posted a short video showing that my curls successfully returned following a blow-out. I was surprised that I had comments that condemned me for doing this. I was told that my post was irresponsible and had warnings about heat damage added in the comments.

I am aware that heat damage exists that is why I chose my stylist carefully. I thought that it went without saying that a good salon experience is attributed to a professional, knowledgeable and skilled stylist.

The video was posted for those who may not have realized they had this styling option. I believe I have warned against heat damage in the past and any Youtube or Knaps Blog followers know that I use heat in moderation.

I found characterizing me as irresponsible a little extreme.

Monica's curls bounce back

A short video about the return of my curls.