so we spent the bulk of this month focusing on moisturizing. but, as you saw in the "tough love haircare series", there are many unhealthy hair practices and that need to be abolished and issues that need to be addressed before your moisturizing regimen can be successful.
please look back at the "moisturizing masterbook" and the labels: moisturizing products and regimen, rock solid regimen and march moisturizing madness where we showcased some of the best moisturizing regimens. the ladies profiled on BGLH and our followers provide fantastic hair tips and invaluable information for you. for those of you still at a loss, ask yourself if you’ve tried everything to achieve healthy hair. just like with weight loss, achieving healthy hair is a lifestyle change. there is no magic pill, no miracle tonic. you have to change your hair diet, supplement deficiencies where necessary and start exercising good hair practices. a good moisturizer’s job is to trap moisture in – that’s it. some trap moisture in better than others. as i result, you will experience additional benefits like smoother, softer hair with better coil/curl definition.
i'm aware that there is a lot of information on this blog, especially this month (and that's a great thing). but there is a take home message in between all the pretty pictures. i've repeated certain things over and over in a rhythmic fashion and i hope you were able to follow along with the song :)
so here it goes: co-wash or gentle shampoo every week, clarify if needed; conduct a deep conditioning treatment at least once a week; keep that in balance with your use of protein; use a spritz/moisturizer every day (twice a day if needed) paying special attention to ends; then seal in that moisture with a nutrient rich oil (castor oil is my favorite but coconut and jojoba are other excellent choices). for protective measures, there are many protective styles featured on this blog you can use to help keep that moisture in and at night don't forget to make use of that satin sleep bonnet. you can use this information as a guide and tailor it to your specific regimen's needs. we have established a wonderful little community here and in this magnificent age of technology, the information is accessible. some of us are “newbies”, while others are “veterans”, but we’re in this natural journey together. we all want the best for each other. but just like anything else in life, you must put in the time and effort to get the results you want. after that, it will be a breeze!
besos,
~j~
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Monday, March 30, 2009
naturals from around the world: benedicta in the netherlands!
Benedicta says: "Thank you for posting this oh and come visit Europe! You'll love the great old buildings and fabulous shopping cities like Paris, Antwerpen, Milan, Londen, Lille and so on... if I spelled something wrong like I said : Mijn Nederlands is vele malen beter. (My Dutch is so much better)"
L says: no worries Benedicta, lol.
i'm LOVING your style... the red glasses, the checked scarf... i'm sensing fierceness.
this is our second person from the netherlands to be profiled. the dutch are representin'!
BGLH: Where are you from?
BENEDICTA: I am from Delft (city ), Zuid-Holland (province), The Netherlands(country). I am originally from Curacao (a small dutch caribbean island near the coast of Venezuela)
BGLH: What's interesting about the place where you live?
BENEDICTA: The most interesting thing about living in Delft is the history of the city, the city is one of the oldest in the Netherlands, we have alot of tourists everyday during the entire year, we have alot of different types of people around here with also a few naturals here and there. You can come across people from all over the world. Because Delft has a good technical university we have all kinds of modern stuff, like our library is the most modern one in Europe.
BGLH: What is the climate/weather like?
BENEDICTA: The climate is mild, so the winters are not so cold and the summers are not so hot. But there is alot of rain and wind most of the time. So my hair gets extra crazy.
BGLH: What is the natural hair scene like? Is natural hair normal or unusual? Is it accepted or resisted? What are the reactions to natural hair?
BENEDICTA: Here in the Netherlands, black people are usually immigrants so the natural scene is bigger in the big cities that have alot of immigrants. In the big cities , especially Rotterdam, the natural scene is amazing, actually it's mostly young girls or boys with loose textures, and the ones with tight textures don't wear it natural usually but there are exceptions if they have dreads. We have alot of mixed people and they wear it natural too. In Amsterdam there are alot of people with dreads and tight textured afros. In the Hague not so many naturals, but alot of weave and stuff. ugh!
BGLH: Where do you buy your hair products?
BENEDICTA: I buy my products from a carribean black hair store in the Hague, but I am going to try to buy some natural hair products online.
BGLH: What do you like about being natural in your country?
BENEDICTA: What I like about being natural in my country is that my hair will not be considered weird, because we have so many naturals and that alot of Dutch (white people) like natural hair, hehe.**
BGLH: What would you like to see in your country in terms of natural hair care?
BENEDICTA: I would like to see more tightly natural hair, I see the loose texture all the time! come on ladies. And I hate seeing weaves aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah
**benedicta is currently transitioning
thanks Benedicta! i'll make it to europe one of these days :)
and to BGLHers, what do YOU want to hear from our international ladies? are there questions from them you want answered? hit me up in the comment box, or email me at contro_versial@hotmail.com
and american ladies; if you have mad pride in your 'hood, this series is for you too :)
monday style icon: sensiu
#2 the natural journey has been a challenge for her, but she continues to overcome! sensiu grew out her hair (which she describes as 4z), starting with just 2 or 3 inches, and a very damaged hairline. her hairline is restored and even to this day, as she approaches bra-strap length, knotting and dryness present major challenges. but she still works hard to keep her hair healthy, and continue to improve her regimen.
#3 her straight styles are dope.
be sure to hit her fotki up here.
whoa... TONS of diverse looks coming from one head of hair! be sure to check out sensiu's fotki page
Sunday, March 29, 2009
jamgirl/raq brings it home with our last moisturizing regimen!
introducing...
"Jamgirl/Raq’s super duper easy moisturizing regimen!
First of all, can I say I LOVE this blog-super informative, and the writing is superb! This brought out my competitive nature - I love a challenge, lol!"
BGLH: What is your hair type (kinky/curly/coily)?
JamGirl/Raq: I’m a 4a/4b mix, I guess. Who really understands that stuff? I have more important things to learn in school. Just check out the pics. One thing to remember: my hair looks kind of thick - at least that’s what I’ve been told. However, the individual strands are very, very fine. It’s very easy to straighten. Banding my hair results in an almost blowout look. In the summer, I wear my hair shrunken and cowash nearly every day. In the winter, I shampoo about every two weeks - I live in Chicago, and I would get sick doing it any more often than that.
BGLH: What products do you use to moisturize? Why?
JamGirl/Raq: I’m a firm believer in the philosophy that it’s NOT ABOUT PRODUCTS, IT’S ABOUT THE TECHNIQUE. Being a broke high school student (albeit a senior, woot woot, class of ’09!), I can’t afford to order products online or spend more than $4 dollars on anything. So I stick with a couple of nice things that I get from the BSS (Beauty Supply Store), the grocery store (I’m reppin’ Dominicks), Target, Walgreens, CVS, or Whole Foods. I have one main deep conditioner, one main regular conditioner, two main moisturizers and two main sealers. Important thing to know-my aim is MOISTURE-I don’t care much about curl definition, so can’t help anyone there. Note: my prices are a pretty accurate estimate-but things may be different in your area! Don’t kill me! Also, these are my STAPLES. I’m not saying I don’t get bored and try new things-but these are the things that I end up coming back to.
* Queen Helene’s Cholesterol-Some say this actually contains protein. Some say it has all types of bad stuff, maybe even mineral oil. I say, if ain’t broke, don’t fix it! I don’t even wanna look at the ingredients, because this has never done my hair wrong-leaves it moist, smooth, and hydrated for $1.69 (you get a BIG tub, too!) at your local Beauty Supply Store. For extra power, add a little coconut milk, which you can get from your regular grocery store-about $1!
* Suave Tropical Coconut Conditioner -I’ve somehow gotten my entire family hooked on this stuff. I use it in the summer religiously for cowashes. In my opinion, it’s the best cheapie conditioner out there-when Target has a sale, I can get it for $0.69! People look at me like I’m crazy as I fill up a whole basket-they just don’t know how good it is!
* Sunsilk Hydra TLC Cream - I dunno what this is. Is it a leave-in, a moisturizer, or what? Who knows? But who cares? It smells yummy, it leaves my hair very moisturized, and doesn’t break the bank. Yours for a measly $4.49-hit up your local Walgreens.
* Profectiv MegaGrowth Daily Anti-Breakage Strengthener - You can tell this has lofty goals from the name. This stuff is a sort of a yellowish, buttery cream and smells kind of like pineapples and coconuts. It really is amazing for my hair. Get yours from your local Beauty Supply Store for $4.99.
* Coconut Oil - I love this stuff! First of all, it smells amazing-can you tell that I’m big on smell, lol? It locks in moisture like nothing else, adds shine, and has some protein-which my hair loves! There are many different brands and sizes, but I roll with the generic Whole Foods Brand (it’s called 365 Everyday Value or something fancy-schmancy like that) for $5.99. Yummy!
* And finally, my baby daddy - Castor Oil! I love this stuff sooo much! Seriously, my ends will cry out and rebel if they don’t receive a generous coating at least once a day. It seals in moisture like nobody’s business, and best of all, you can get a ginormous bottle of the very reputable Home Health Brand from your local Whole Foods for around $7.99!
BGLH: How frequently do you moisturize (conditioner, deep conditioners, and daily applications...)?
JamGirl/Raq: I deep condition at least once every two weeks with Queen Helene’s, and cowash with Suave right after that, at least during the winter. During summer, I cowash pretty much every day, and deep condition once a month. I apply my moisturizers every 2 days, and seal in my moisture with castor oil. I apply my moisturizers and sealers in four sections, making sure each section gets enough of the goodies!
BGLH: What moisturizing mistakes have you made in the past?
JamGirl/Raq: I didn’t part my hair in sections, so parts of it got neglected. I also thought I had to spend a lot of money to moisturize and felt jealous of ladies who can go the whole Oyin/Qhemet/Carol’s Daughter/way too expensive for my broke behind route. I needed to learn what works for me, my hair, and my wallet.
BGLH: And finally, how did you finally figure out what worked best for you? Take us along on your journey.
JamGirl/Raq: Honestly, a whole bunch of trial and error went into figuring things out. I had to figure out that when my hair is stretched via banding, it doesn’t like as much product as my shrunken hair. I learned that I like soft, touchable hair, and I don’t need as much product as I think. I was really lazy with deep conditioning in the past, and once I started doing it like clockwork, there was a huge difference in my hair’s health. You really just have to go through the whole trial and error thing to find out what’s gonna work-honestly. No two heads of hair are exactly the same.
what i love about jamgirl/raq's regimen:
first off, how cute is jamgirl/raq?! this is our last and i must say the most entertaining regimen! can you feel her exuberance thru cyberspace?! i lol'ed @ the "baby daddy" comment! jamgirl recognizes that her strands are fine and works with that, not against it. she avoids overloading her hair with heavy products. i like the fact that she uses readily available products. jamgirl is representative of many of you that like to keep things simple, economical and local. you gotta work with whatcha got! (just watch out for the "fillers" a.k.a ingredients on the natural girl's black list.) she co-washes, deep conditions her hair every two weeks, and uses castor oil to seal in moisture. she applies her moisturizers in four sections so that every area is thoroughly covered. instead of using heat to straighten her fine hair, she employs the banding technique to stretch hair. this is based on the african art of threading. the entire length of the hair is wrapped in yarn or rubbery thread. an example of this was featured during african style week. many naturals nowadays use elastics, or cut off nylon sections to section off the hair for a stretched effect. jamgirl alters her regimen seasonally to protect her hair from chicago's extreme weather. her regimen addresses every issue except #9 (dandruff) on the top 11 reasons why natural women aren't properly moisturized. i love jamgirl/raq's attitude about products and hair. it reminds us all that in life, sometimes we have to ignore the fine print in the "rule-book" and just kick-back, relax and have fun!
so there you have it ladies (and gents-stop frontin')! five different regimens with some similarities, but all very effective in moisture maintenance. so whether you're on a college budget or a thriving "product junkie" budget, there are plenty of products and ideas to check out. thanks again to all the ladies for submitting your regimens! :)
~j~
First of all, can I say I LOVE this blog-super informative, and the writing is superb! This brought out my competitive nature - I love a challenge, lol!"
BGLH: What is your hair type (kinky/curly/coily)?
JamGirl/Raq: I’m a 4a/4b mix, I guess. Who really understands that stuff? I have more important things to learn in school. Just check out the pics. One thing to remember: my hair looks kind of thick - at least that’s what I’ve been told. However, the individual strands are very, very fine. It’s very easy to straighten. Banding my hair results in an almost blowout look. In the summer, I wear my hair shrunken and cowash nearly every day. In the winter, I shampoo about every two weeks - I live in Chicago, and I would get sick doing it any more often than that.
BGLH: What products do you use to moisturize? Why?
JamGirl/Raq: I’m a firm believer in the philosophy that it’s NOT ABOUT PRODUCTS, IT’S ABOUT THE TECHNIQUE. Being a broke high school student (albeit a senior, woot woot, class of ’09!), I can’t afford to order products online or spend more than $4 dollars on anything. So I stick with a couple of nice things that I get from the BSS (Beauty Supply Store), the grocery store (I’m reppin’ Dominicks), Target, Walgreens, CVS, or Whole Foods. I have one main deep conditioner, one main regular conditioner, two main moisturizers and two main sealers. Important thing to know-my aim is MOISTURE-I don’t care much about curl definition, so can’t help anyone there. Note: my prices are a pretty accurate estimate-but things may be different in your area! Don’t kill me! Also, these are my STAPLES. I’m not saying I don’t get bored and try new things-but these are the things that I end up coming back to.
* Queen Helene’s Cholesterol-Some say this actually contains protein. Some say it has all types of bad stuff, maybe even mineral oil. I say, if ain’t broke, don’t fix it! I don’t even wanna look at the ingredients, because this has never done my hair wrong-leaves it moist, smooth, and hydrated for $1.69 (you get a BIG tub, too!) at your local Beauty Supply Store. For extra power, add a little coconut milk, which you can get from your regular grocery store-about $1!
* Suave Tropical Coconut Conditioner -I’ve somehow gotten my entire family hooked on this stuff. I use it in the summer religiously for cowashes. In my opinion, it’s the best cheapie conditioner out there-when Target has a sale, I can get it for $0.69! People look at me like I’m crazy as I fill up a whole basket-they just don’t know how good it is!
* Sunsilk Hydra TLC Cream - I dunno what this is. Is it a leave-in, a moisturizer, or what? Who knows? But who cares? It smells yummy, it leaves my hair very moisturized, and doesn’t break the bank. Yours for a measly $4.49-hit up your local Walgreens.
* Profectiv MegaGrowth Daily Anti-Breakage Strengthener - You can tell this has lofty goals from the name. This stuff is a sort of a yellowish, buttery cream and smells kind of like pineapples and coconuts. It really is amazing for my hair. Get yours from your local Beauty Supply Store for $4.99.
* Coconut Oil - I love this stuff! First of all, it smells amazing-can you tell that I’m big on smell, lol? It locks in moisture like nothing else, adds shine, and has some protein-which my hair loves! There are many different brands and sizes, but I roll with the generic Whole Foods Brand (it’s called 365 Everyday Value or something fancy-schmancy like that) for $5.99. Yummy!
* And finally, my baby daddy - Castor Oil! I love this stuff sooo much! Seriously, my ends will cry out and rebel if they don’t receive a generous coating at least once a day. It seals in moisture like nobody’s business, and best of all, you can get a ginormous bottle of the very reputable Home Health Brand from your local Whole Foods for around $7.99!
BGLH: How frequently do you moisturize (conditioner, deep conditioners, and daily applications...)?
JamGirl/Raq: I deep condition at least once every two weeks with Queen Helene’s, and cowash with Suave right after that, at least during the winter. During summer, I cowash pretty much every day, and deep condition once a month. I apply my moisturizers every 2 days, and seal in my moisture with castor oil. I apply my moisturizers and sealers in four sections, making sure each section gets enough of the goodies!
BGLH: What moisturizing mistakes have you made in the past?
JamGirl/Raq: I didn’t part my hair in sections, so parts of it got neglected. I also thought I had to spend a lot of money to moisturize and felt jealous of ladies who can go the whole Oyin/Qhemet/Carol’s Daughter/way too expensive for my broke behind route. I needed to learn what works for me, my hair, and my wallet.
BGLH: And finally, how did you finally figure out what worked best for you? Take us along on your journey.
JamGirl/Raq: Honestly, a whole bunch of trial and error went into figuring things out. I had to figure out that when my hair is stretched via banding, it doesn’t like as much product as my shrunken hair. I learned that I like soft, touchable hair, and I don’t need as much product as I think. I was really lazy with deep conditioning in the past, and once I started doing it like clockwork, there was a huge difference in my hair’s health. You really just have to go through the whole trial and error thing to find out what’s gonna work-honestly. No two heads of hair are exactly the same.
what i love about jamgirl/raq's regimen:
first off, how cute is jamgirl/raq?! this is our last and i must say the most entertaining regimen! can you feel her exuberance thru cyberspace?! i lol'ed @ the "baby daddy" comment! jamgirl recognizes that her strands are fine and works with that, not against it. she avoids overloading her hair with heavy products. i like the fact that she uses readily available products. jamgirl is representative of many of you that like to keep things simple, economical and local. you gotta work with whatcha got! (just watch out for the "fillers" a.k.a ingredients on the natural girl's black list.) she co-washes, deep conditions her hair every two weeks, and uses castor oil to seal in moisture. she applies her moisturizers in four sections so that every area is thoroughly covered. instead of using heat to straighten her fine hair, she employs the banding technique to stretch hair. this is based on the african art of threading. the entire length of the hair is wrapped in yarn or rubbery thread. an example of this was featured during african style week. many naturals nowadays use elastics, or cut off nylon sections to section off the hair for a stretched effect. jamgirl alters her regimen seasonally to protect her hair from chicago's extreme weather. her regimen addresses every issue except #9 (dandruff) on the top 11 reasons why natural women aren't properly moisturized. i love jamgirl/raq's attitude about products and hair. it reminds us all that in life, sometimes we have to ignore the fine print in the "rule-book" and just kick-back, relax and have fun!
so there you have it ladies (and gents-stop frontin')! five different regimens with some similarities, but all very effective in moisture maintenance. so whether you're on a college budget or a thriving "product junkie" budget, there are plenty of products and ideas to check out. thanks again to all the ladies for submitting your regimens! :)
~j~
sneak peek: tomorrow's style icon...
i'm pretty excited about tomorrow's 'style icon'. her styles are beautiful, and her story is great... i think you guys will really like the photos :)
also, i heard back from nonhlanhla khumalo, the south african scientist whose research we've discussed on BGLH. that's going to be posted this week. we'll also post the final winning moisturizing regimen... tons of good stuff, so stay tuned!
your photos your thoughts: eboni
i decided to post this "your photos your thoughts" today, because it ties in with my retrospective. eboni is relaxed, and she follows BGLH. she emailed me her photos and her reflections... thanks eboni!
my name is eboni... and i am not natural, i am relaxed. i have commented on your blog a few times and i am an avid follower; your blog has opened my eyes to so many things and i thank you for that. i am really considering going natural, and am especially looking into dreads. my mother has been a 'dreadhead' for ten years now, and her hair is past her waist. we have similar hair texture, thick and curly, and she was completely against my putting any types of chemicals in my hair as a child. at 13 i convinced my grandmother to give me a perm, believing that would end all of my problems with keeping my hair manageable (because my fro was a thing to behold... it has eaten many combs in its day and often took over 3 hours to wash, comb, and braid up when i was younger). instead, i found myself with a whole new set of problems involving hours in the salon chair with stylists who couldnt understand why my hair was still so curly even after being chemically treated. my hair proved to be very resistant, and, to this day the perm doesnt knock the natural coil out of my head, instead it softens them into thick waves that have to be beat into submission with a blowdryer and flatiron to be made bone straight. but once i wash my hair again, its a wrap (no pun intended), and my curls are back with abandon. i'm really starting to wonder: why do i keep forcing my hair to do something it so clearly doesnt want to do? one wash and its curly; if i dont comb and moisturize it IMMEDIATELY, locks start to form on their own and have to be picked out. i also have to moisturize like crazy (castor oil for the win, woot woot!) because my hair just eats it up and i have never learned how to wrap it.
not to villanize perms, however: i have a working knowledge of my hair and have realized what it likes and doesnt like, and i have never suffered from scalp irritation, hair loss, thinness, or any of those problems that are related to chemically treated hair. ...perms are not the end all and be all of hair; a LOT of the damage comes, in my humble opinion, not from the perm itself, but from overprocessing.
all in all, i just wanted to say that relaxed and natural are walking hand in hand... both can be equally beautiful and healthy. but if you really feel like relaxing is just not for you, like im starting to feel, im glad that your blog exists to open my eyes to natural styles and make me think that maybe i could do it too.
eboni today:
a fro-ed out young eboni:
eboni's mom's waist-length locs
sunday retrospective: what is normal?
question: which one of these pictures looks more "normal" to you?
this is going to be a short retrospective... because i want to hear your thoughts.
so... i don't know if it's because i'm inundated with pictures of nappy and curly hair everyday, but i'm starting to view nappy/curly hair on black women as normal, and straightened/relaxed hair as un-natural (lol, pun intended.) not ugly, not unfortunate, but definitely not natural.
if i'm waiting in line somewhere, or flipping through a magazine and i see a relaxed woman, i find myself wondering what her real hair looks like.
or if i see a woman with a particularly tragic head of relaxed hair, i find myself thinking... she would be so cute if she cut it off and grew her hair out.
it's kind of mind-bending. who'd a thunk it? that, in my mind's eye — natural hair would become normal, and relaxed hair would be "different."
this is going to be a short retrospective... because i want to hear your thoughts.
so... i don't know if it's because i'm inundated with pictures of nappy and curly hair everyday, but i'm starting to view nappy/curly hair on black women as normal, and straightened/relaxed hair as un-natural (lol, pun intended.) not ugly, not unfortunate, but definitely not natural.
if i'm waiting in line somewhere, or flipping through a magazine and i see a relaxed woman, i find myself wondering what her real hair looks like.
or if i see a woman with a particularly tragic head of relaxed hair, i find myself thinking... she would be so cute if she cut it off and grew her hair out.
it's kind of mind-bending. who'd a thunk it? that, in my mind's eye — natural hair would become normal, and relaxed hair would be "different."
Friday, March 27, 2009
coming in april!!!
***update @ 6:49 p.m.... i posted this earlier today, but re-posted it a while ago so it stays on top of the 'blog queue' for a while***
okay, i SWEAR i'm not a "series junkie" lol!
but in addition to the amazing series we already have, here are a few more i'm cooking up... they will be fully released in april so get your photos ready and STAY TUNED!
NATURAL BRIDES (WHY didn't i think of this before?!) send in your photos! i would love to see some curly/nappy/and yes, even straight (but still natural) wedding styles. photos from any formal event are also welcome. i'm thinking of calling this "the kyhla series" in honor of our first featured natural bride who expressed difficulty in finding styles.
so if you know anyone who wore their hair naturally on their wedding day — even if they don't follow the blog — encourage them to submit their photos! natural hairstylists are also welcome to submit their work. information on your hair salon will be included in the post.
THE COLOR PROJECT... this series is for natural women who color their hair (i'm talking dope coloring!) now, this will be tricky, since a lot of women — natural or relaxed — aren't able to color in a healthy way. the series will serve as more of a forum for color-treated women, and those interested in coloring, to share tips and photos. j is a veteran colorist, so i look forward to her input :)
PRODUCT DIRECTORY... we'll start running these in april.
UNconVENTIONAL... this series was inspired by a couple people: kesh, a fashion designer whose blog i ARDENTLY follow, and (believe it or not) rihanna... lol. both women are natural, both women have done DOPE things with their hair. kesh shaved her hair into a permanent curly fro-hawk (complete with an upside down heart tattoo on one of the shaved sides.) can we say... inexPLICABLE dopeness?!?!?!?
also, i never thought rihanna was natural, but i recently saw a beach photo, and her wet hair was curly. so i'm gonna assume those are her real curves/waves. in any case, she has a DOPE hair cut. similar to kesh, actually, her sides are shorter than the rest.
***i've been alerted that rihanna might have tracks in her hair... so i'll just use her as a hypothetical example of a dope natural style. much like we do with erykah badu's afro wigs.***
when it's straight:
i want women who share that innovative approach to their hair! send in your photos :) inspire us!
i don't want the blog to get overloaded with information, so i'll be retiring a few things as these new series come in... more details to come!
okay, i SWEAR i'm not a "series junkie" lol!
but in addition to the amazing series we already have, here are a few more i'm cooking up... they will be fully released in april so get your photos ready and STAY TUNED!
NATURAL BRIDES (WHY didn't i think of this before?!) send in your photos! i would love to see some curly/nappy/and yes, even straight (but still natural) wedding styles. photos from any formal event are also welcome. i'm thinking of calling this "the kyhla series" in honor of our first featured natural bride who expressed difficulty in finding styles.
so if you know anyone who wore their hair naturally on their wedding day — even if they don't follow the blog — encourage them to submit their photos! natural hairstylists are also welcome to submit their work. information on your hair salon will be included in the post.
THE COLOR PROJECT... this series is for natural women who color their hair (i'm talking dope coloring!) now, this will be tricky, since a lot of women — natural or relaxed — aren't able to color in a healthy way. the series will serve as more of a forum for color-treated women, and those interested in coloring, to share tips and photos. j is a veteran colorist, so i look forward to her input :)
PRODUCT DIRECTORY... we'll start running these in april.
UNconVENTIONAL... this series was inspired by a couple people: kesh, a fashion designer whose blog i ARDENTLY follow, and (believe it or not) rihanna... lol. both women are natural, both women have done DOPE things with their hair. kesh shaved her hair into a permanent curly fro-hawk (complete with an upside down heart tattoo on one of the shaved sides.) can we say... inexPLICABLE dopeness?!?!?!?
also, i never thought rihanna was natural, but i recently saw a beach photo, and her wet hair was curly. so i'm gonna assume those are her real curves/waves. in any case, she has a DOPE hair cut. similar to kesh, actually, her sides are shorter than the rest.
***i've been alerted that rihanna might have tracks in her hair... so i'll just use her as a hypothetical example of a dope natural style. much like we do with erykah badu's afro wigs.***
when it's straight:
i want women who share that innovative approach to their hair! send in your photos :) inspire us!
i don't want the blog to get overloaded with information, so i'll be retiring a few things as these new series come in... more details to come!
new to the natural movement: faren!
then:
now:
faren had TONS of great things to say (i highlighted some of them.) this is a great read! thanks faren!
BGLH: where are you from? where you reppin?
FAREN: Miami
BGLH: when did you go natural and why?
FAREN: My last perm was in March of last year. I did the Big Chop on August 27th.
I went natural after doing a documentary that focused on the many dimensions of hair concerning Black women and how our hair has implications on our relationships, our professional lives, ideologies, politics and so forth. After talking to beauticians, professors, lawyers, and sisters from all walks of life, I myself, for the first time questioned why I permed my hair. I asked, "Why would I permanently alter my hair to a point that was the polar opposite of how it was meant to be.", and, "By committing to this alteration, what did that say about my self-acceptance?", and, "Did it have anything to do with how I viewed myself in this society?" I wanted to silently protest this hegemonic society that has taken its toll on how every person of color views themselves. I decided to to make myself the protype of beauty :) (L says... she used the term "hegemony"... i love her :)
BGLH: what is unique about your journey into natural hair?
FAREN: I hear a lot of naturals complain about their processed hair and thus resorting to natural. My [relaxed] hair was very healthy. And I knew how to do it well. Now everyday is an experiment! In fact, I feel this whole process is so ironic...I'm relearning how to do my hair at 22, a process that should be natural (pun intended) and easy. Also, I received virtually no support from my family. My mom hates short hair. My sis said my nose would look huge. (L says.... whaaaat?) My dad said he would disown me. (lol this is no exaggeration). Gladly, as it has grown it has also grown on them.)
BGLH: what mistakes have you made in your natural journey that you've learned from?
FAREN: In my beginning stages (first month post-chop) I was obssessed with achieving the "well-defined" look. I was constantly putting IC Fantasia in my hair to get a certain result. And then I realized that doing so was also not truly embracing my hair for its natural texture. (L says... amen! starting to feel like church up in here!)
BGLH: what products/ingredients do you use? why?
FAREN: My favorite product line is Giovanni. I use the Direct Leave-In Conditioner and Co-wash with the Smooth As Silk Conditioner. They leave my hair full of luster, shine and softness. My favorite ingredients are shea butter, aloe vera gel and olive oil. The latter two products go on as a base under my Giovanni Direct Leave-In. I've tried gels, Cantu, oyin handmade, and komazacare...but none of these have left my hair looking so healthy as the Giovanni line.
BGLH: what products/ingredients do you stay away from? why?
FAREN: Anything with petroleum, mineral oils, etc. I use all natural products now. They work best and they're cheaper!
BGLH: what length are you aiming for? do you want to keep the short look? or do you want it longer?
FAREN: I'm not aiming for a length per se. Perhaps that stems from the fact that I've always had long hair so I've never obsessed about it growing. However, the husband-to-be likes long hair so I won't be cutting it anytime soon. And truthfully I do miss my length. (L says... aww congrats!)
BGLH: is there a blog/webpage/fotki where we can check your progress?
FAREN: Check me out on youtube: farenmonique
BGLH: what is your one burning question for natural veterans?
FAREN: How long did it take to get the ponytail length. Oh how I miss my ponytail.
alright ladies, help her out with the burning question! how long did it take you to get a 'tail?
now:
faren had TONS of great things to say (i highlighted some of them.) this is a great read! thanks faren!
BGLH: where are you from? where you reppin?
FAREN: Miami
BGLH: when did you go natural and why?
FAREN: My last perm was in March of last year. I did the Big Chop on August 27th.
I went natural after doing a documentary that focused on the many dimensions of hair concerning Black women and how our hair has implications on our relationships, our professional lives, ideologies, politics and so forth. After talking to beauticians, professors, lawyers, and sisters from all walks of life, I myself, for the first time questioned why I permed my hair. I asked, "Why would I permanently alter my hair to a point that was the polar opposite of how it was meant to be.", and, "By committing to this alteration, what did that say about my self-acceptance?", and, "Did it have anything to do with how I viewed myself in this society?" I wanted to silently protest this hegemonic society that has taken its toll on how every person of color views themselves. I decided to to make myself the protype of beauty :) (L says... she used the term "hegemony"... i love her :)
BGLH: what is unique about your journey into natural hair?
FAREN: I hear a lot of naturals complain about their processed hair and thus resorting to natural. My [relaxed] hair was very healthy. And I knew how to do it well. Now everyday is an experiment! In fact, I feel this whole process is so ironic...I'm relearning how to do my hair at 22, a process that should be natural (pun intended) and easy. Also, I received virtually no support from my family. My mom hates short hair. My sis said my nose would look huge. (L says.... whaaaat?) My dad said he would disown me. (lol this is no exaggeration). Gladly, as it has grown it has also grown on them.)
BGLH: what mistakes have you made in your natural journey that you've learned from?
FAREN: In my beginning stages (first month post-chop) I was obssessed with achieving the "well-defined" look. I was constantly putting IC Fantasia in my hair to get a certain result. And then I realized that doing so was also not truly embracing my hair for its natural texture. (L says... amen! starting to feel like church up in here!)
BGLH: what products/ingredients do you use? why?
FAREN: My favorite product line is Giovanni. I use the Direct Leave-In Conditioner and Co-wash with the Smooth As Silk Conditioner. They leave my hair full of luster, shine and softness. My favorite ingredients are shea butter, aloe vera gel and olive oil. The latter two products go on as a base under my Giovanni Direct Leave-In. I've tried gels, Cantu, oyin handmade, and komazacare...but none of these have left my hair looking so healthy as the Giovanni line.
BGLH: what products/ingredients do you stay away from? why?
FAREN: Anything with petroleum, mineral oils, etc. I use all natural products now. They work best and they're cheaper!
BGLH: what length are you aiming for? do you want to keep the short look? or do you want it longer?
FAREN: I'm not aiming for a length per se. Perhaps that stems from the fact that I've always had long hair so I've never obsessed about it growing. However, the husband-to-be likes long hair so I won't be cutting it anytime soon. And truthfully I do miss my length. (L says... aww congrats!)
BGLH: is there a blog/webpage/fotki where we can check your progress?
FAREN: Check me out on youtube: farenmonique
BGLH: what is your one burning question for natural veterans?
FAREN: How long did it take to get the ponytail length. Oh how I miss my ponytail.
alright ladies, help her out with the burning question! how long did it take you to get a 'tail?
friday afternoon fun: share your spritz concoction.... feel like a superstar
First up, THANKS!! I've been following the blog really hard lately and it's taking me on another journey of taking better care of my hair (MOISTURIZING, protecting, being gentle, etc). So thanks to you for the blog and all of the other followers. Ok, I want to use a daily spritz for my hair. I used to use the one on Motown Girl's website ... I have the following ingredients now: Lemon essential oil, Peppermint essential oil, castor oil, distilled water, MSM (L says ~ a sulfur-based hair growth supplement), coconut oil and Afro Detangler leave in conditioner. I was curious to know out of those ingredients, which ones would be beneficial to mix together to create a spritz or maybe have more than one spritz. I'm also curious to know if any of the other followers of the blog use a spritz and if so, what's in their spritz bottle?
Thanks!
Khyla
your spritz concoction sounds fine. except i would take out the castor oil, since it's better at sealing hair. i've heard really good things about afro detangler, so that's great that it's in there.
ok now let 'er rip ladies... what's in your spritz bottle?!
Thursday, March 26, 2009
tough love: get rid of those scraggly ends!
cut it out!
yeah i said it...the dreaded c-word! get rid of damaged hair!if it's raggedy, it needs to go! ladies if your ends are severely split, or breaking off with every wash - cut them. get it over with. i’ll even let you do a little at a time :) and while you're at it get a pair of hair shears like those pictured above to do the job right(don't use little timmy's craft scissors!). then get right with your moisturizing regimen and baby those ends to prevent future damage! when your hair is properly moisturized, you will find the need to cut diminish. you'll have a great foundation to grow out your hair to your desired length.
that's it...short(tee-hee) and sweet
~j~
yeah i said it...the dreaded c-word! get rid of damaged hair!if it's raggedy, it needs to go! ladies if your ends are severely split, or breaking off with every wash - cut them. get it over with. i’ll even let you do a little at a time :) and while you're at it get a pair of hair shears like those pictured above to do the job right(don't use little timmy's craft scissors!). then get right with your moisturizing regimen and baby those ends to prevent future damage! when your hair is properly moisturized, you will find the need to cut diminish. you'll have a great foundation to grow out your hair to your desired length.
How to Prevent and Protect Your Hair From Split Endscheck out the rest of the post which provides 11 tips and techniques to avoid split ends.
(courtesy of spa boutique)
A split end is when the hair-shaft splits or flays due to excessive heat and misuse. They happen when the protective cuticle has been stripped away from the ends of hair fibers. Split ends are more likely to develop in dry or brittle hair. Typically the hair splits into two or three strands, and can be as long or two to three centimeters in length. There is no way to repair split ends; when they occur, the hair must be trimmed. Did you know that splitting of hairs at the ends” is also known as “Trichoptilosis”? It comes from the Greek root “tricho” meaning hair and “ptilosis” meaning “falling out of the eyelashes.”
Typical causes of damage include:
* Vigorous brushing.
* Excessive usage of hot styling tools and drying (irons, blow dryers, hot rollers).
* Overuse of chemical treatments (perms, hair color and highlighting).
* Use of inferior styling tools that rip or snag hair (cheap synthetic brushes or combs, brush rollers, etc.,).
* Environmental damage from heat, cold, wind and other climate issues.
* Lack of routine maintenance such as regular trimming.
* Trimming with inferior scissors.
* Improper de-tangling techniques.
* Excessive use of low quality styling products such as gels, waxes and sprays.
* Over washing.
What Split Ends Can Look Like:
a) Start out to look like this - the classic split end.
b) If the classic split (a) is not stopped it continues to split along the shaft
c) Multiple Splits – worse case when classic (a) and (b) is not stopped
d) The Dot looks like a piece of fluff, but doesn’t brush off
e) The Dot bends at a straight angle. This is not really a split thought, it is Trichorrexis Nodosa and is actually caused by an explosion of the cortex (2nd layer) of the hair in a single spot.
f) The hole is the most difficult split end to find. The hair shaft has developed a split in the middle. To find this one, look for a small section that is lighter.
g) When you take the hole split strand and push them together, it pushes the split apart and creates and hole.
that's it...short(tee-hee) and sweet
~j~
back to curly's moisturizing regimen!
"I draw inspiration from your blog, so thanks a bunch for talking the real talk, and never sugar coating anything!"
BGLH: What is your hair type (kinky/curly/coily)?
BackToCurly: I'm not good at hairtyping but I'll venture and say...my hair type falls under a 3b/3c. 3b at the crown & 3c everywhere else. It's a crazy mix of some zig zag curls and other parts spiralness. The texture, which I think differs from what my hair type is, changes frequently depending on the moisture level. The more moisture, the more curls pop out, the less moisture and I'm left with what my mother considered 'bad hair" because of it's unmanageability. Which it isn't of course, it's actually my preferred way of wearing my hair in summer.
BGLH: What products do you use to moisturize? Why?
BackToCurly: To moisturize I recently found Jane Carter's Twist & Lock Creme, and reintroduced myself to Aveda's Humectant pomade. The Jane Carter creme, after trial and error, works better on my hair when dry to twist at night. The Aveda Pomade I use on extra dry days when my hair is especially thirsty. A little goes a long way with this stuff, which works out perfectly because it ain't cheap, and it leaves an incredible shine for the next day! The best part is you can use it on wet OR dry hair. And if all else fails, or I'm broke I just use water in a spritz bottle. It's my saving grace.
BGLH: How frequently do you moisturize (conditioner, deep conditioners, and daily applications...)?
BackToCurly: I moisturize with conditioner once a week. An absolute must! I either DC for 45 min to an hour, or 25 min under a heating cap with a good conditioner (Aubrey Organics is on my shelf at the moment, for a deep DC I use Curl Junkie's Curl Rehab). At night I twist my hair and pin up, and this helps to seal in the moisture that I already have. Before going to bed I also do a strand test to see how much moisture I've lost in the day, how much I need to add. If it's okay, I leave alone, but if it was pretty windy and dry out, I add just a dab of something for good measure. A new method I've recently adopted that has done WONDERS for my hair is doing a final rinse with cold water, this seals the hair cuticles, leaves my hair less frizzy and traps the moisture almost instantly!
BGLH: What moisturizing mistakes have you made in the past?
BackToCurly: Moisturizing mistakes include not conditioning properly or forgetting to run a comb/or denman through the hair while hair is still wet with conditioner. Over moisturizing is also a common mistake, something I've just noted happens a lot with my hair! My hair gets extremely dry in winter, anything I add to it is quickly absorbed, so I have to go slowly with the products I use while it's wet, otherwise I'll wake up in the morning with a texture that's hard and weighed down. Even with highly textured hair it's important for it to feel soft, but light. Textured hair can move and have body, it just takes a bit more TLC;-)
BGLH: And finally, how did you finally figure out what worked best for you? Take us along on your journey.
BackToCurly: Figuring out what works best for my hair is still sort of a work in progress. I'm still learning about dew point changes in the weather and how that factors into how we moisturize our hair. A lot of women have different textures to their hair, which can make retaining moisture an extra challenge, but it's possible, I am standing proof! Recognizing when your hair needs a trim is also important because dead ends sort of negate all of the positive effort you already put into your hair. I've also stopped using commercial shampoos because they continually dried out my hair, I switched to co-washing, ACV rinses and have no regrets! The options available to cleansing the hair without stripping it of it's natural oils are in my opinion endless! You can make your own, or research success stories of others who've had the same problem.
what i love about back to curly's regimen:
back to curly addressed all of the issues top 11 reasons why natural women aren't properly moisturized except #s 9 and 10. back to curly has successfully figured out how to moisturize her varying textures. she uses conditioner and apple cider vinegar to gentle cleanse her curls. she uses a deep conditioning treatment once a week, thoroughly detangles her hair and rinses with cold water to seal the cuticle. afterwards, she slowly adds products one at a time to wet hair allowing each product to penetrate and absorb into the hair shaft. back to curly alters her regimen seasonally depending on her hair's needs. she uses a water spritz or product to keep her hair hydrated throughout the day. i love how she took time to describe her nightly regimen. this includes analyzing her strands for moisture loss, then putting it into a protective style to seal moisture in. she trims her hair as needed to keep it in tip-top shape. lastly, i love the subtle pops of color in back to curly's hair! she obviously does a great job keeping her color treated hair properly moisturized. back to curly's pictures serve as a visual of how her hair evolves throughout the week. she is blogging about her hair story on her wonderfully organized and informative blog. BGLH approved!
we're rounding the bend ladies...one more regimen to go!
~j~
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