Curly Nikki | Natural Hair Styles and Curly Hair Care

Naturallycurly writes:

Is this chilly winter weather drying you out?! No time to run to the salon? Well, guess what…you have a secret weapon to heal dry hair in your kitchen cupboard! Olive oil and mayonnaise aren’t just good for cooking, they’re an excellent moisturizing treatment for your hair and scalp. Here are fabulous tricks from stylists Josh Rosebrook and Robear Landeros at LA-based salon The Parlour on 3rd.

I think I broke up with my hair stylist. Well, I did in my head, at least.

To bring you up to speed, I’m “going natural.” I haven’t had a relaxer since December 12, 2009. That’s a mighty long time, and I’m proud of myself for sticking it out. I recently heard growing out relaxers described as the new black. Everybody’s doing it.

Negative. Especially not in my stylist’s shop… Nothing but perms and weaves are done. Our business relationship is similar to a dead-end romantic relationship. You don’t want to believe it’s coming, but you can see it a mile away. There’s nowhere to go, but the other way to get out. Don’t get me wrong—I love her to death. I’ve tried to hold on to her, getting spiral curls and even twists to get me through, but as I sat in her chair last week, I knew I wouldn’t be back for a long time.

Why, you ask? Because she doesn’t know how to style “virgin” hair. How dreadful. Maybe she just doesn’t want to. When I made the decision to transition, we talked about my options and the fact that she’d no longer be my stylist after a while. The conversation was refreshing. Thankfully, she’s not the type to get offended if a client goes elsewhere for services, but I don’t think she thought I’d go this long. My visits have dwindled from every other week to once or twice a month, if that.

My hair grows like weeds, so after two months, it was a beast. Instead of random “beauty shop” conversation, I listened to her talk about how long it was going to take to spiral, how she doesn’t have the patience to deal with it and how I’m going through a phase. I didn’t pay for that; I paid for styling services. End of story.

Take away the customer service component (which is stellar usually), and my main gripe is stylists’ limited skill sets. Why don’t they know how to handle transitioning or natural hair? Why do I have to go to an older stylist or one who “specializes” in children’s hair? I don’t think natural hair should be a specialty. It should be a requirement because we don’t come out of the womb with relaxed hair. Yes, natural hair is fragile and needs special care, but so does relaxed hair. So why aren’t both taught in cosmetology school?

According to the State of Tennessee Board of Cosmetology, a cosmetologist, which requires 1,500 hours, and a natural hairstylist, which requires only 300 hours, are two separate classifications. Moreover, I think that proves the takeover of relaxed hair. Yes, I understand that some women’s hair requires so much to maintain, perhaps, a perm is “needed.” Even better, I understand that the unbe”weave”able world of weaves and perms is where the money is, but are we so far gone that some “stylists” don’t even know what hair without a perm feels like?

Unfortunately, there’s an ignorance about our hair in the African -American community. I’m far from what the natural community calls a “hair nazi,” I don’t want to rock ‘fros and twists or emulate Angela Davis or Jill Scott. I’ll most likely continue to wear it flat ironed because that’s what works for me. I don’t know if I’ve had any self-discoveries that many women talk about, but I have gotten a glimpse of the lack of education about what grows out of our very heads.

Maybe I’m selfish in feeling like my stylist should be able to do all things cosmetology. I doubt that natural hairstyling was even apart of the curriculum when she took state board exams. Even so, I think a stylist should be trained to work with all types of hair. I pray styling options are added to state boards nationally because contrary to popular belief, everyone does not have a relaxer.

I’m not venting because I think natural hair is the only way to go. No elitism here. There are days when I want to run to the chair and feel that cold Mizani cream on my scalp, and who knows–I might do just that. My biggest concern is the miseducation about hair–- period. For far too long, we’ve been sitting in the chair or even standing behind it without knowing what’s really going on. Our only mission is to make it pretty.

Aside from my rant, the obvious solution to my problem is simply to find another stylist. Already taken care of, whether she knows it or not. In addition, I know how to do my own hair, and did so weekly for years. Luckily, I inherited those skills from my granny, who was a cosmetologist for 40 years. When I don’t feel like dealing with it, which is often, I pay someone else to do it. Complaints and jokes about what I do with my hair isn’t apart of the agreement.

It’s been great, but I’ve got to say goodbye now.

Kay of Life as a Nappy Headed Black Girl writes:

While browsing a beauty forum the other day, I came across a thread about good-smelling hair. The poster said one of the things that originally attracted her husband was her hair. He said it smelled wonderful, not like “typical black hair.”

The first thing I did was *roll eyes* Her husband must be white because really, what kind of dumb mess is that to say?

But then I continued to read some of the responses and realized that I could relate and that maybe you can, too.

Let’s be real…black women have some funky-smelling hair products. I’m not saying that women of other races don’t; I’m just speaking the truth from my side.

You know that “feel-it” tingle in your favorite grease? Or the super-gro complex in your trusty hair treatment? That ingredient is called Stankonium Funkdiferous.

And to make matters worse, many of us don’t have the best hair practices. I’ll use myself as an example:

· Not washing my hair for weeks to preserve a style…

· but continuing to pile on products

· Old, stanky extension braids

· The “I just curled my hair this morning” stench

· Pump It Up spritz

· Oil sheen, grease, black gel…

Lawdhammercy, this list could go on forever! And the sad part is that I know some of you can relate and I know people who still follow these practices.

I have an acquaintance who smells like straight Ultra Sheen grease every day. You know, the green one. It’s so strong that it actually lingers when she passes. When she walks by I get flashbacks of my old hot comb days.

I mentioned the smell to her one day (I’m tacky like that) and her response was:

“Well, I already got a husband, so I don’t have to worry about that.”

Touché.

Which brings us back to “typical black hair.” Maybe men are just used to our hair smelling a certain way. Maybe we’re used to it smelling that way, too.

An African American female television reporter decided to let her straightened hair "go natural" during sweeps week and let viewers see the transformation process. Rochelle Ritchie of WPTV-TV in West Palm Beach, Fla., called "The Big Chop" a success, and ratings confirmed that. The station put up a web page with her two stories and related ones.

News director Jeff Brogan told Journal-isms that the ratings for the 11 o'clock news on Nov. 17, which featured Ritchie's second piece of the day, increased from the lead-in show and stayed at the high point during the broadcast. That is "not an easy thing," he said. The "share" of the audience numbered 11 at 10:45 p.m., rose to 14 from 11 p.m. to 11:15 p.m. and stayed there from 11:15 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., he said. The seven-minute piece aired at 11:15.

When Ritchie explained the story to him, said Brogan, 33, who is white, "I had no clue this was an issue," he said of the chemical burns caused by straightening of hair. "I never heard about it, and I had African American friends. I instantly bought into this" story. "I had not seen this story done. It brings up a safety concern," he said. Brogan said his only worry was insensitive audience reaction, but all the feedback was positive, he said.

Ritchie shared her own back story via e-mail with Keonte Coleman, assistant professor in the Journalism & Media Studies Department at Bennett College, who posted her comments on his website:

“Making the decision to go natural was not an easy one, especially being a black female reporter. After graduating Western Kentucky University in 2004, I accepted an editor position at a local tv station in my home of Lexington, KY. I had sent out tons of resume tapes hoping to one day be a reporter. But I didn’t get one interview with my relaxed shoulder length hair. One day an anchor, black female, told me I needed to get extensions if I wanted to land a job. I got extensions and made a new tape with my new look and I started getting calls immediately. From there the belief that I needed extensions in order to be hired set in. I spent more money on my hair than anything. In six years I spent $9600, my student loans are $9500, so that should give you an idea of where my priorities were.

"The story about going natural developed while I was having a conversation on the phone with a friend at work. My producer heard me saying, 'I am going natural, I am tired of wigs, weaves and relaxers.' She (producer) asked me what I meant by that and I showed her YouTube videos of black women who were on the journey of going natural. She was stunned and said, 'Rochelle that would make a great story for sweeps.' I pitched the idea and with her support as well as our female anchor they allowed me to do it. My news director’s response was great. His only concern was just keeping up with the process of my story and hair. My general manager is a great guy and totally supported me as well.

"The fear of getting a new job with my new look does not scare me because I believe my work and passion for this business will shine through.

"I have had such an AMAZING response from the community. People of all genders and races have completely supported me with positive feedback. Of course if there were any negative emails my news director does not send those to me. But personally I haven’t gotten one email or Facebook comment that was negative. A matter of fact many of my white and Latino colleagues say I look more professional. I believe this as well. I feel I look more polished and sharp. I also feel like I think better without all that fake hair on my head! lol….

"For my 'black female reporter hopefuls' I say let your work show your ability to be a good, excuse me a great reporter. My story is a way for me to pave the way for black women’s hair to be acceptable not just in the professional world but on TV! I would say if you are natural. Keep it neat. And if you are worried about getting a job the fabulous thing is we can straighten our hair for the interview and go back to our beautiful curls when we leave.

"Do I have any regrets? Yes I do. I regret denying my natural beauty. I regret falling into the belief that I needed to look a certain way to get into this business instead of believing in my ability as a reporter. I regret allowing someone to cover me up. But no more! This is me, Rochelle Ritchie a natural, professional and happy television reporter. And I feel more confident now than ever before and look forward to climbing the ladder of success with all my kinky curls.”

"Good Hair" on the TV News Set (Oct. 7, 2009)

Courtland Milloy Creates Buzz Tracing Issues to Race and Class

Washington Post Metro columnist Courtland Milloy Jr. sparked attention far outside the Washington area when he dissected the racial dimensions of D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty's September primary defeat for reelection and this month took on the portrayal of black men in Tyler Perry's movie "For Colored Girls." Now Milloy is the cover story in the Washington City Paper.

"If he’s not quite a mouthpiece for a black agenda in the District, he’s the closest thing to it at the Post — or anywhere else in the local mainstream media, for that matter, Rend Smith wrote. "Milloy’s column cuts against the usual conventional wisdom in journalism these days, giving readers a mirror of an urban, poor D.C. instead of the wealthy suburbs advertisers would probably prefer. And while the newspaper lavishes attention on its new iPad incarnation, and courts Facebook and Twitter like a desperate teenaged boy chasing after a crush, Milloy almost gleefully stays away from the trend.

"Like the late Herb Caen in San Francisco, he’s an old-school journalist doing an old-school job: the Metro columnist writing about, and for, the city’s downtrodden. For decades, that was a generally quiet, low-impact job. But following a mayoral campaign that pitted rich against poor in dramatic new ways this fall, Milloy’s knack for reducing post-modern problems to their race-and-class roots has suddenly made him a controversial, buzz-generating columnist — the man that the supposedly liberal class of newcomers to D.C.’s gentrifying neighborhoods love to hate.

"In the steadfastly non-gentrified neighborhoods that Milloy covers, though, he’s rarely seen as incendiary."

The piece also asserts that in the 1970s, your Journal-isms columnist "was known for opening his Dupont Circle house up for late-night get-togethers that catered to the black media elite." (!)

Alyssa of NaturallyCurly writes:

Who would have thought that items that taste so good in your mouth would work so well to deep condition those curls? The key to these great recipes is remembering that they are for your curls and not your stomach (at least until you have finished the recipe)! You’ll notice that these recipes have a lot of similar ingredients because these are what have worked the best for so many curlies thus far. Try them out and see which base product makes your hair feel the softest. Special reminder: For some curlies, protein can actually dry out your hair. If you have find that happening, it might be best for you to try a different treatment or alternate between one of these and another one that doesn’t contain as much protein.

Think Your Hair is Too Short to Pineapple? You Thought Wrong!

So yesterday, I was having hair talk with one of my girls on the hair board, and she was telling me how much she looooooves pineappling. Her hair is much longer than mine, and she’s my hair nemesis (jokingly, of course), so my response was, “Psssssssssh, I can’t make a ponytail, I can’t pineapple!” She was very encouraging and let me know that she couldn’t pineapple until she was about a year and a half or two years into her hair journey, and when I got there, I’d LOVE it.

But it got me to thinking…sure I can’t make a FULL ponytail, but I sure can get some bunches of my hair in a ponytail easily. So what did I do? I got off my couch and sauntered over to Rite Aid, and picked up a pack of Mini Scrunchies – these kind:

When I got home, I split my hair into five sections – two on top of my head (my hair is thick, so I didn’t want the scrunchie to be too tight and make dents in my hair), one in the back, and one on each side. I pretty much ended up looking like one of the Snorks. Observe, my friends…

I placed my satin bonnet over my Snorktails, and went to bed. In the morning, I took them all out (sorry, no pic). Now, the curls were intact, but obviously needed to be fluffed back out and grouped together. So, I took my spray mix of AV gel (Lily of the Desert kind, it’s more watery than Fruit of the Earth), a little bit of DevaCurl Set it Free, and rose water. Then, I shook it out. My hair looked good!!! Here’s the back -

However, as my hair dried, it felt a wee bit crunchy (I’m guessing due to the AV gel). So, I scrunched in some Curl Junkie Smoothing Lotion and fluffed it out some. Here is a pic of the finished results -

Verdict? I love this! I haven’t tried to detangle my hair, but I feel like it’s going to be less tangled because my hair didn’t get to smoosh all the way to my scalp, my hair is stretched some, and it was so easy to refresh! I think we’ve got a winner, girls!

Do you pineapple? Pigtails? How do you maintain your curls at night? Sound off!

by LoveBrownSugar.com

If you're a curly-haired black woman walking down 125th St in Harlem on any given day, you will inevitably stumble upon traditionally dressed West African women soliciting you with this dreaded question. Though innocent and for most of them a necessary question for survival, these words have become the bane of my existence. Let me clarify one important thing - this post is in no way, shape or form intended to bash or badmouth these hardworking women who are simply trying to feed their families in this promised land known as America. However, I've grown to develop strong feelings about the ideology and societal norms that have conditioned them to assume that this question is harmless and only for their monetary gain. On the contrary, while they may not understand it, it's a daily reminder and a setback to many natural-haired gals who unlike most don't want "hair braiding" or extensions. We simply want...to be.

It was June of 2010. I headed uptown to Harlem in the early evening to cover a book signing for one of my new favorite authors. Upon walking into the bookstore on 125th St, I scanned the crowd, and my eyes stopped on an all too familiar afro puff; signature style of my good friend Nicki. We make eye contact and I rush over to greet her. As I walk up, she greets another diva with beautiful natural hair in a tightly curled style framing her face. Nicki introduces us and says to her friend, "Your hair looks great! I commend any natural who can wear anything but a puff. It's all I do!" Her friend responds, "Girl, I'm just satisfied if I can walk by the African ladies on 125th street without them screaming out 'Hair braiding miss!'" They both laughed and sighed. Somehow I thought I missed the joke. At this point in time I was rocking a long Indian silky weave so I had no idea what these ladies were talking about. Yes, I had seen African ladies on the street before but never had I directly been yelled at or solicited to get my hair braided. After all, it was already braided. Under my long Indian silky weave. For the purpose of this story, the silky weave's name shall remain anonymous. Let's just say I had a nice full head of hair.

Fast forward about 5 months to November 2010. The day after I locked myself in a bathroom and tore my permed ends to shreds saying hello to the "new" me. I walked outside and headed to the train station, only to find I had a few new friends. The West African ladies. "Hair braiding, miss?!" they shouted at me from the steps as I rushed off to catch my downtown train. Confused, I proceeded thinking they must have mistaken me for someone else. Eight hours later I emerge from the train platform once again in Harlem to find them yelling at me once again."Hair braiding miss? Hello miss? Hair braiding!"

No! I don't want my hair braided. I want it to flow free in the wind. I want my curls to hang low and stick up high. I know eventually I'll need a protective style but for now, right now, I just want my hair to be free. It bothers me that there's an obsession in the African and African-American psyche with covering up what naturally grows out of our heads. If it's flying free, clearly something is wrong. If I'm walking down the street with my natural curls, I MUST be on the way to the salon, or simply having a bad hair day. But I'm not! According to me, I'm having a great hair day. All until these African women look at me with eyes of disdain and tell me different.

Tell me my natural hair is ugly.

Tell me I need to go under disguise.

Tell me that my curls are not cute and extensions are inevitable.

I don't mind braids or weaves or extensions. And this is not a proclamation against any of it because if you check the records ladies and gents, I've done it all before. All I'm saying is, can't I have a choice? Can't I choose to be naturally me, nappy and free without being verbally abused by West African ladies on the streets of Harlem? Can't my hair be "done" without having extensions or being bone straight? Can't I just be?

Am I overreacting or does anyone else feel me? It doesn't have to be ladies on the street. It could be your neighbor, your best friend or a family member. Does anyone else wish they could just "be"? Free of judgment and free of societal pressure?

Rayanne writes:

Lately I've been thinking about how much more resilient and healthy my hair is. I can style it much easier and my cornrows look so much neater. My question to the Curly Nikki community is:

Teen naturals. We lurk, we post, and we are all around you. We enviously read the reviews of our older counter parts, gazing longingly at the pricey products they can afford that we, on our junior high/high-school/college budgets, cannot. We try desperately to find products that work for our own natural strands, without angering our mothers for spending so much money solely on our hair. We follow tutorials, sometimes with great success, and other times with disappointment and frustration.

I’ll tell you, from 3 years of experience, at the age of 17-it’s hard out here fo’ a teen natural. A lot of us have NO school mates who share our hair issues, considering most opt for a relaxer or take a weaved up approach to avoid the truth of the kinky locks that emerge from their roots every few weeks. We have to face the critique of teachers, peers, parents, and strangers as we rock our controversial curly 'dos. Many of us come from families that have no idea how to take care of our “type” of hair and would simply suggest we just slap in the tried and true creamy crack. We know why we went (or in some cases, stayed) natural. I’m sure that, for the majority of us, it was not a fad, it was a life decision. Or, at least it was for me.

There are times I think about relaxing again. The times my progress is nuked by SSK’s and raggedy ends, the times that a product that worked fine last week wants to act a fool this time around, and the times I spend hours on my hair only to come up with less than great results. We’re not very different from adult naturals, to be honest, but we lack something that most of our elders have-a foundation.

Where do we start, when most of us were raised on Pink Oil and Vaseline? How do we even begin to figure out our regimens, when we have so little finances to experiment, and so few ‘teen natural’ examples to follow? How do we find a support system? My suggestion would be in each other. I think that all the scattered teen naturals who floats along the forum pulses should come together in order to support each other. I learn a lot from the people who have been natural for 6+ years, but I also want to hear about people MY age who have just b/c’ed and how exactly they’re dealing with it.

Sooner or later, time will come for me to take on the role of an adult. I’ll be supporting myself, and my (slight) hair fetish with my own dough, but for now I’m just a senior in high school with a hectic schedule, scrambling to apply to colleges, and simply want someone MY AGE to relate to. Don’t get me wrong, 21yr+’s. You guys have been a wealth of knowledge, but birds of a feather stick together, and right now my fellow birds are under drinking age. So what do you say, fellow teens? Want to start our own little community?

Adonya writes:

Do you think its "cheating" that I've been natural for the past 8 years, but rarely wear my own hair? I actually hate doing hair, so when other naturals are talking about spending entire days conditioning and styling, all I can think is "who has time for that?!" So for convenience, I wear lots of braids and sew-ins. I take very good care of my hair when I actually do it (henna, deep conditioners, no sulfates, biotin supplements, eating well, etc.), but can I really rep for naturals if I'm hardly ever wearing my natural hair?

With that, do you consider natural hair celebrities who regularly wear lace fronts in Camp Natural? What about celebs that sport curly and afro weaves and wigs, or texturizers... do you feel they're representing for the curlies?

Hola chicas!

It's that time again! The images below are of CN readers at their flyyest...at work, on the town, and with the fam. Showing us all that natural hair is not a fad, it's a way of life...an extension of our beauty! Click on the images to enlarge them:

Ebony writes:

My natural hair and I have had an "on again, off again" relationship. My sophomore year in college (1998-99), I met a phenomenal freshman who wore her hair in it's natural state. Someone who was that confident and prideful doing something that was so touchy (at the time)- - I had to meet. She played a huge part in my decision to explore the "other side". But how could I, why would I... SHOULD I?! My hair was one of the things that made me who I was, or so I thought. One of the things everyone complimented me on was my hair- - no matter the length, color, style, etc. It was always on point. So, I started thinking long and hard about ridding myself of relaxers. Ironically, doing hair was how I made money in college. This phenomenal freshman gave me the privilege of taking care of her mane. I braided it, twisted it, coiled it, and eventually I was head over heels. I knew this lifestyle was for me. I cut my hair gradually in the fall of 2000 and stopped getting touch ups. By the beginning of 2001, I BC'd with only 3-4 months of new growth. I loved it!...Until the in between length came. I hated it. All the while, people were in my ear with "OMG, I can't believe you cut all that pretty hair", or, "your hair was so pretty, why did you do that?!?!"

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I hope everybody is enjoying a safe and happy holiday. Next week we’ll pick back up with our Super Foods, but for now here’s this week’s Fit Tip. Happy Turkey Day!!

-KinkyShea J

Fit Tip of the Week:

Battling Cellulite

Cellulite. It’s one of many words women fear (and probably hate) the most. We know what it looks like, but what is it and how can exercise help? Cellulite is simply plain old fat, but it does have one defining characteristic. Cellulite presents itself with a dimpled, cottage-cheese, orange peel look and here’s why. Everyone has connective tissue that separates fat cells into compartments. Men typically have a horizontal or criss-cross pattern to said compartments. For women the compartments have more of a honeycomb appearance, giving fat a greater chance to protrude or bulge, which yields the cottage-cheese effect. Thanks to this women are more likely to develop cellulite than men, mainly around the hips and thighs. However, keep in mind that men can develop this condition too. Cellulite does become more noticeable with age, because the skin gets thinner over time. This generally strikes individuals in their 30s. Now, does this mean that everyone will develop cellulite? No. Genetics determine where your fat cells are distributed and how many fat cells you have. Activity level is another key factor associated with cellulite. If you regularly exercise, you will decrease your odds of developing cellulite (by lowing your body fat percentage) or if you do develop cellulite the cottage-cheese appearance won’t appear quite as pronounced.

Unfortunately, there are far too many people who buy into to (literally) the idea of quick and easy fixes. There is no such thing. Skip the creams, liposuction, pills, and body wraps. In all honesty, they don’t work. No cream can penetrate the skin and rearrange the fat cells beneath the surface. Liposuction is designed to remove excess deposits of fat, but it won’t change the appearance of fats. The effects of body wraps are just temporary, because all it does is compress the fat. Immediately after, your skin looks nice and smooth, but your skin will return to normal by the next day or two. Also dieting alone will not make the fat go away. There are diets that do make you lose weight, but at least one-quarter of the weight loss is muscle, which can lower your metabolism (among other things). If you return to your normal eating habits you will not only regain the weight but you will probably regain more than what you lost because of the lowered metabolism.

So, what can be done diminish the appearance of cellulite? Experts recommend daily cardio exercise combined with two to three strength-training sessions a week and a healthy diet. I know this sounds like a broken record but this is the only approach that has been proven for years to work, thanks to hundreds of documented case studies. An example is a case study conducted by Wayne Westcott Ph.D. In one study lead by Westcott, 72 men and women did three 30 minute workouts for eight weeks. The group that did only aerobic activity, lost about 4 pounds of fat but gained no muscle which only slightly improved body composition (the amount of lean tissue vs. non-lean tissue in the body). When subjects participated in aerobic activity and strength training they dropped 10 pounds of fat and added 2 pounds of muscle, which resulted in a greater improvement in body composition.

Keep in mind, an exercise program doesn’t have to be complicated to be effective. For strength-training exercise any tool is fine. Dumbbells, elastic bands, machines and even your own body weight, all are very effective for strength training. If you like machines, then try leg presses, seated leg curls, hip adduction and abduction and overhead presses. If free weights are your thing give dumbbell squats, band hip adduction and abduction, body weight trunk extension and tan curls. Keep in mind results will not come overnight. With a consistent exercise program and a healthy sensible diet the results will come and the cellulite will start to diminish.

Until next week…

KinkySheaPT

Sunday:
3. Waahlaa! Massiveness.

Kattya writes:

Hey Nikki!

A friend of mine posted this on Facebook. I don't have any kids yet and had never thought about the effects a mother's hair being relaxed has on her daughter. I thought this news report was very interesting, touching, and empowering. Thought I'd share with the CurlyNikki community:

Hey y'all! As a college student (and a product junkie) I'm constantly on the lookout for the cheapest and most effective products for natural hair. I've compiled a list of products under $12.00 that naturalistas rave about. Enjoy!

Shampoos:

• Bobeam Shampoo Bar
• Paul Mitchell Awapuhi Moisture Mist
  
• Giovanni's Tea Tree Triple Treat
• Trader Joe's Tea Tree Tingle

Conditioners:

• Herbal Essence's Hello Hydration
  
• Herbal Essence's Totally Twisted
• Herbal Essence's Hydralicious
• Suave Naturals
  
• Suave Professionals
• V05
• Aussie Moist
• Organix
  
• TRESemme Naturals Silicone Free
• Aubrey Organics GPB Conditioner
• Trader Joe's Tea Tree Tingle
• Trader Joe's Nourish Spa
• Yes to Cucumbers/Carrots
• Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl & Style Conditioning Milk
  

Products for Hold/Gels:

• Herbal Essence's Set Me Up Gel
• Aloe Vera Juice or Gel
• Eco Styler Gel
• Kiss My Face Upper Management Gel

Oils/Sealants:

• Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• Unrefined Shea Butter
• Vitamin E Oil
• Coconut Oil
• Oyin Handmade Burnt Sugar Pomade
  

Leave-Ins/Styling Creams:

• SheaMoisture Coconut & Hibiscus Smoothie
• Giovanni Direct Leave-In Conditioner
• Neutrogena Triple Moisture Silk Touch Leave-In

Other:

• Honey
• Glycerin
• Coconut Milk
• Henna Powder
  

Hola Chica,

Having a hard time accessing the forums lately? We've been working out some issues, and things should be back to normal soon! In the meantime, you can login as usual at the following domain address- www.curlynikki.forumotion.com.

Later Gators!
Nik

Valmy Beauty of NaturallyCurly writes:

The mere mention of winter can conjure up thoughts of the holidays and chestnuts roasting on an open fire, the smell of wood smoke and pine, bright sunshine on a clean white blanket of newly fallen snow, festive decorations, brightly wrapped gifts, cookies and eggnog, or perhaps a long-awaited getaway to an island in the sun.

The winter season may be all of these to some people, but it can also be the most stressful time of the year. . . so many of us go through it in a daze! During the holidays, we don’t eat well or we eat too much, we spend our free time shopping for and wrapping gifts, we stay up late attending celebrations, or catching up, and every moment is needed for chores, added duties and preparation. We hardly have time to think of ourselves.

Sooner or later, reality hits and the stress of the holidays sets in, especially for those who live in the northern areas and have to deal with colder weather. Because of exposure, skin of the face suffers the most during cold weather. Intense dry conditions dehydrate it, and excessive indoor heat contrasted by outdoor cold exacerbates the problem. In the winter, even oily skin becomes drier. Dehydration affects the youthfulness, elasticity and health of the skin. The slow rate of diffusion (the natural process of skin that makes a small amount of water work its way up through the layers of the skin to the surface) combined with the fact that there is very little humidity in the environment during winter causes another problem—a fast rate of evaporation. To make matters worse, this excessive dryness causes dead cells to cling to the surface and inhibits the natural exfoliation process.

Therefore, a standard routine of cleansing and hydration is not sufficient for winter, and extra exfoliation is necessary during this time. Every type of skin needs a specialized home care program to get through the winter and holidays.

Add to all this the hectic schedules and added responsibilities of the holiday season, and the best way to prepare, repair and boost your skin is with simple at-home skin care recipes.

Let me share with you two recipes for a wonderful at-home treatment with professional results that will not take too much of your precious time. Those recipes are prepared with ingredients from your kitchen that will save you time and money while offering your skin a natural, professional treatment.

CN: Were you a long term or short term transitioner, and why?
Short term, transitioning for about 3 months. I was wearing a lot of weaves because my hair was really short and I didn't like applying heat. Eventually, I got tired of buying the weave and having hair everywhere, so one Monday, I decided to have my cousin CHOP it off!

CN: When did you BC? What was your initial reaction to your natural hair?
I BC'd 3 weeks ago today, Monday, November 1st! My initial reaction was "OMG WHAT DID I JUST DOOOOO?!" I kept checking myself in the mirror at every light on the way home. It began to grow on me that quick! I mean, I liked it, I've had short cuts before, just not THIS short or CURLY!

CN: How did family and friends react to the new you? What was your response to them?
My cousin who cut it, loved it. My best friends loved it. My sister, who was a long term transitioner, loved it. Even my boyfriend, who said he'd hate having a girl friend with hair almost as short as his, LOVED it! My mom on the other hand...HATED IT. In fact, I cried when she looked at me sideways. My feelings were so hurt. She was the only one who had something negative to say. It has grown on her though. She *likes* it now :). When I went to bible study the Wednesday following the BC, everyone loved it, they couldn't believe I had cut my hair all the way off, but I was working it. All of the positive reinforcement helped cover my mom's feelings.

CN: What was your staple hair style during the transition?
Bonded in weaves. I know, the glue was horrible for my hair. But I took care of it.


CN: Why did you choose to go natural?
I chose to go natural because I wanted to see and embrace my natural hair. Also, because I've done so much to my hair, it was time for a fresh start. Now that I've BC'd, I feel brand new, liberated, and fresh! I love me! I'm black, beautiful, and I ROCK!

"Don't touch your hair for five minutes. Go!" That's the challenge I give my mother since she went natural earlier this year. Mom loves her hair and constantly touches it (a few times she didn't make it to five minutes). She's not alone. For some of us neo-naturals, our kinks and curls are like new discoveries after years of straightening. And our fingers are itching to explore the treasure on top. I remember friends in college always twisting their hair during early stages of their locking journey. And I'm proudly guilty of playing in my mane as well. Since I've put down the pressing comb, my fingers seem to be dancing in my afro and twists non-stop.

A few months ago I sent my hot comb and pressing cream on a long vacation. My hair needed a break from the heat and I needed a break from pressing it. I got a few ideas for styles from Prettydimples01 Youtube channel. Her hair is much thicker than mine and she's a professional stylist. When I tried to mimic her styles with my bathroom-beautician skills and semi-thick strands...well, just imagine the catastrophe for yourself. I had to tweak her styling methods for my own texture. This meant a lot of experimentation. There wasn't much need for a brush and comb. My fingers were doing the work. I've been using a hot comb for a least 25 years. That's most of my life. So while I had straight-hair styling down, I was in the beginners class of Natural Hair 101. The more I played with my hair, the deeper I fell in love with not how it looked, but felt. I noticed its softness through manual teasing to make it poofy. I could feel its bushiness under my fingernails while massaging my scalp with rosemary oil. Even combing out the little kink balls shedding from my hair ends was fascinating. It was as if my fingers touched my hair for the very first time.

My first natural style were two-strand twists. I overindulged on shea butter and locking gel. The result wasn't pretty, but droopy. My twists looked and felt sad. I gave the style another go, less gel and no shea butter, and my twists curled up like a smile. I stood in front of the mirror, pulled a twist and boing, it snapped right back to my head. My little twists have springiness and should I dare say, energy. I didn't know my hair could go boing, but I liked feeling the springiness. Many times when I'm working or doing nothing, I catch myself pulling at them.

Two weeks later I took down my twists and picked my hair in an afro. I noticed it starting to get dry. Although I put the shea butter away after my droopy twists, I rubbed some in my 'fro to give my hair life. My hair turned into cotton candy. It was soooooo fluffy and thick. I let my fingers lose themselves in the meadow on my head. Once again I was pleasantly surprised by the texture and the look. I always thought my hair wasn't thick enough for an afro. Not only is my hair thick enough, but soft with a little bounce.

Since sporting my first afro I've said a little thank you to God. All of these years I've been straightening my hair and not fully appreciating my God-given texture. That's not to say I'll never press my hair again because I like the versatility of black hair. But it will be a while before I do. I'm having fun discovering cute ways to style my hair, minus the heat. Embracing my natural beauty a little more feels good. And so does my hair.

Hola Chicas!

After my amazing results with CURLS, I reached out to the creator Mahisha Dellinger to thank her for the line... and to ask about a giveaway for my lovely readers! They obliged and offered up five '4 Step Kits'! Each week, one lucky curly will win full size bottles of Curlicious Curls Cleansing Cream, Coconut Sublime Conditioner, Quenched Curls Moisturizer, and a styler of her choice. Awesome, huh?!

Amy Ford of Brown Babies Pink Parents writes:

I learned my lesson—the girls' hair must be done, no matter how big a rush I'm in...

I’ve learned a lot over the years about combing black hair. It all started when I picked Madison up from day care when she was about 3 months old and, much to my surprise, she had a head full of pony tails. They were the tiniest pony tails I had ever seen! I was amazed her teacher was able to do it. That was the week I started spending time with the teacher after the other kids went home to learn how to manage what she correctly predicted was going to be an incredible mane of hair on Madison’s head. Since then I have learned how to create a dozen or more styles in addition to the daily rituals of maintenance. Whenever I can, I pass along these lessons to other parents through workshops, webinars and quick tips in the grocery store. However, I am not a perfect parent and there are days when I do not practice what I preach.

Yesterday was one of those days. My mother is visiting from Savannah and, at the last minute, we decided to visit a new church on Sunday morning. The church is enormous, a landmark in our suburb of Austin. I have been drawn to the stained-glass window for years. It did briefly cross my mind as we dressed for church that I had not done McKenzie’s hair yet. Madison’s hair looked great, but McKenzie’s was definitely in need of attention. I decided our spiritual well-being was more important than the hair and off we went to worship.

The holidays are fast approaching, and many of us will be debuting our *new* selves to family and friends. In a perfect world, we'll only hear wonderfully uplifting compliments, but the reality is that there will be a backhanded comment or two. How will you respond if Aunty asks, 'when are you gonna relax again?', 'why did you cut your hair... are you depressed?, or, 'what are you going to do with it?'.

by Ernessa T. Carter of Fierce and Nerdy

I've climbed to the top of a volcano in New Zealand, I've landed a book deal, and I've given birth to a child. But I would say that 2010 brought my biggest challenge yet: keep my natural looking pretty while on book tour for my first novel, 32 CANDLES.

Did I succeed? Well in a couple of words ... not always. But that doesn't mean that you can't. Just in time for Thanksgiving, I'm sharing what I learned about keeping a natural awesome on the road, so that you don't have suffer as I had to suffer.

DO buy travel-sized containers at your local beauty supply store, so that you can bring along your must-have products. Also when making your hair products order, check to see if there aren't smaller sizes available. Companies like Oyin Handmade sell many of their product in carry-on friendly sizes.

DON'T get a new hairstyle the day before you're set to go on the road. I know you want to look nice for your event, and it would seem that right before an event would be the best time to invest in going to the hairdresser. But trust me, don't do it. It takes time to get a new hairstyle really looking the way that you want it to. Going with a tried and true style might feel boring, but it will guarantee that your hair will look good on the day of the event.

DO wear a protective style on the plane, but...

DON'T wait until right before your event to take down your hair. I've been unpleasantly surprised with only minutes to spare before an event upon taking my hair out of its protective style. Now I always take it down the morning of, giving it a chance to breathe and settle into a style throughout the day or for me to save it with accessories if it refuses to act right. Speaking of which...

DO make sure to bring along an array of accessories. I now carry two headbands (one with a distracting flower and the other with a more subtle design), two elastic bands, a bohemian hat, and plenty of combs, b/c when all else fails, and frohawk will save the day. Just remember headbands distract, hats cover, and an updo is definitely your friend.