Curly Nikki | Natural Hair Styles and Curly Hair Care

Susonnah of Naturallycurly writes;

Styling curly hair can be quite a challenge as humidity, frizz, and dryness present obstacles for even the most experienced of curlies. Curly hair has such personality that it’s often difficult to perfect a hairstyling technique when the behavior of curls can vary from day to day. Whether you’re new to the curly scene, or just in need of some advice, check out these ten tips that can make styling curly hair easier.

1. Start Fresh
Before styling your hair, it is important to wash out all the leftover product, spray or serum that might be in your hair. Starting with a clean, fresh head of hair will ensure that you don’t have any product left in your hair to conflict with your next styling. Use a proper cleanser, preferably a sulfate-free cleanser, to wash out all the excess. Curious about the shampoo free routine? Find out if the shampoo free method is right for you!

2. Grab that Leave-In Conditioner
The key to a frizz free style is moisture. Moisturizing the hair will not only help its overall health, but it will keep your frizz at bay. Before styling your hair, be sure to spray your hair with a leave-in conditioner. It acts as a prep for your hair style, and gives your hair that extra moisture that it craves.

I big chopped on Feb. 10th 2010, so I'm one year strong! The picture above is a couple of days after my big chop. I haven't really experimented with various styles. I have stayed true to the two strand twist-out because I love the results. I just recently started re-twisting my hair every night before going to bed. I love how it stretches the hair out and aids in longevity of the style. Now I co-wash every week and a half rather than twice a week. My old routine consisted of wearing the silk cap to bed and refreshing my curly fro with Jane Carter's Leave-in Conditioner.

My current regimen:

Once a week:
-Co-wash (Burt Bees' or Giovanni's Conditioner)
-Deep condition (Jessicurl's Weekly Deep Treatment)
-Spray hair with Jane Carter's Leave-in Conditioner
-Two strand twists on wet hair with Jane Carter's Nourish and Shine
-Air dry overnight
-Release in the morning, shake, and go!

Monthly:
-Henna treatment (Jamila Summer Crop '09 or '10)

I get my ends trimmed every 3-4 months or whenever the knots get out of hand.

My nightly rountine: Like I stated earlier, I used to leave my hair out and just wear a satin cap to bed. I would wake up to smooshed hair and I would spray it with a leave-in conditioner and pull it out by the root while trying not to cause frizz. Now I re-twist my hair nightly and I continue to wear a silk cap.

Lynnieluve writes;

Wendy writes;

I need help with the best way to style my mixed curl pattern hair! Like many other curlyheads, my hair is a hodge podge of different curl patterns, however mine is starkly contrasted right down the middle of my head...on the right side I have tighter curls like Rachel True, but on the left side I have much looser "S"-waves like Jurnee Smollett.

When my hair is straight, it's perfectly even but when I wear it naturally curly, the different curl patterns look SO ODD since with shrinkage, my "Rachel True" side gets short and curly, but my "Jurnee Smollett" side stays long and wavy. I usually end up pulling my hair back into a ponytail but I really would love to wear it all out. What's a girl to do?

As we learned last week, figs can be a great source of nutrition, but in processed cookies, granola and energy bars they are commonly smothered in refined flour and sugar decreasing the health benefits of figs. This recipe is a healthier alternative by paring figs with high fiber oats, and honey decreasing the sugar and increasing healthy nutrients. This recipe makes about 16 squares.

Nutrition profile: Low calorie, low cholesterol, low saturated fat, low sodium, high fiber, heart healthy, and appropriate for maintaining healthy weight.

Ingredients:

24 dried Mission figs

¼ cup extra virgin olive oil

¼ cup honey

¼ cup nonfat milk

1 ½ cup whole-wheat pastry flour

½ cup rolled oats

½ teaspoon baking soda

¼ teaspoon salt

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 305 degrees F. Place dried figs in a small sauce pan, cover with water and bring to a boil. Turn off heat and allow figs to soften for 5-7 minutes.

2. Lightly coat an 8x8-inch baking pan with cooking spray. In a small bowl, mix oil, honey, and milk. In a medium bowl, combine flour, rolled oats, baking soda, and salt. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and mix well.

3. Remove softened figs from water and place into a food processor or blender. Add 3 tablespoons of the re-hydrating water. Puree until smooth.

4. Place a little more than half of the oat mixture in the prepared pan; spread evenly across pan bottom. Spread figs evenly on top. Add remaining oat mixture atop of fig layer allowing some of the fig to show. Plat lightly until flattened.

5. Bake for 20 minutes. Remove from oven and allow cooling completely. When cooled cut into 16 squares.

Nutrition Facts Per Serving (2x2-inch square): 170 Calories, 4g fat, 0g saturated fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 3g protein, 33g carbohydrates, 5g fiber, 80mg sodium.



Undoubtedly we all know that if you consume more calories than your burn, you will gain weight and if the opposite happens you will lose weight. But do you know where your calories are coming from and what the best way to burn them is? Test your calorie I.Q. and see how well you do with the following quiz, based on the information from Carole A. Conn, PhD, RD, instructor of nutrition science at the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque; and Len Kravitz, PhD, researcher and coordinator of exercise science at UNMA.

1. True or False: The primary source of calories are carbohydrates.

Answer: True. All foods come either from plants or from animals that have eaten plants. Plants create carbohydrates, which is the primary food molecules that contain energy known as calories. From carbohydrates plants can create other molecules (including fats and proteins) that also contain energy. Like plants, humans can use carbohydrates to make fats and proteins. However, the primary source of all calories remains carbohydrates themselves, which plants alone can create.

2. True or False: Carbohydrates, proteins, and fats provide the same amount of calories per gram.

Answer: False. Different foods will have various calorie levels, because their regular servings contain different amounts of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. These nutrients provide different amounts of energy per gram. Fats supply the most energy at 9 calories per gram. Carbohydrates and proteins both provide 4 calories per gram.

3. True or False: Strength training is critical for calorie burning.

Answer: True. Your resting metabolic rate (RMR) is the calories you need to maintain all of your body’s vital processes and systems at rest and uses the largest component of calories you intake. Increasing your RMR helps enhance calorie burning. There are various factors that can influence your RMR but the amount of muscle tissue (which is the tissue that burns the most amounts of calories in the body) is particularly important. As you may know, strength training builds muscle and the more muscle you have the higher our RMR. The higher your RMR, the more calories you will burn.

4. True or False: Dietary supplements can enhance calorie burning.

Answer: False. There are many supplements on the market that claim to enhance calorie burning and trigger weight loss without changes in diet or activity level. Ephedra or ephedrine are usually the major components found in the supplements, however these supplements cannot be recommended for maintaining a healthy body weight. The reason is because they have not been proven effective in humans or because the risk of heart or nervous system problems associated with these supplements outweigh the benefits. The only FDA approved weight loss supplement on the market is Alli but this too should be used only after consulting your physician first.

5. True or False: Endurance training is important for calorie burning.

Answer: (All together now…) True. Endurance (aka cardiovascular) exercise contributes to several changes in the body that enhance calorie burning. Using large muscles of the body in a continuous, rhythmic fashion that is easy to maintain at various workout intensities, and satisfy your personal interests are all necessary for endurance exercise to be most effective. Alternating the mode of endurance training should be incorporated to avoid overuse injuries. Also interval training can be incorporated into your endurance workout to add an element of interest, challenge, and to super charge your workout.

Until next week...
KinkySheaPT

• Be an active student of your self and your life.
  Who are you? How are you…? Why are you…? Life is a mirror and we are constantly being revealed to ourselves. Are we paying attention? Taking time to get quiet and distill my own energy from everyone else’s is a vital part of this process.

• Love is freedom, not possession.
  Love the being of a person, not the having of a person. Possession is an ever-enduring illusion.

• Choose your response.
  We are free to choose how we are going to behave and what energy we are going to bring in every moment. As much as possible, I want to choose my response deliberately. Knee-jerk reactions are an unskillful way to maneuver through life. I want to be who I want to be independent of how/who others choose to be. My mantra is “amidst it all, be love.”

• Thank your way through it.
  There’s value even in the valley. Everything isn’t what it seems. When we look back on our lives later, even if it doesn’t seem so now, we’ll find this amazing architecture we could’ve never dreamed of. The key, I’m learning, is to be grateful for it all. Create the meaning along the way.

• Kindness begets kindness.
  Karma is real. Keep doing you and watch the return. I dropped $4 during a trip to the store. All I had on me was that $4 specifically to purchase some food for work. It fell out of my pocket and someone stopped me to return it. Small, yes, but still huge. As Will Smith said, “Throughout life people will make you mad, disrespect you and treat you bad. Let God deal with the things they do, cause hate in your heart will consume you too.”

• You are a gift.
  You are here on purpose. Your love is a gift. Your forgiveness is a gift. Even your gifts are your gifts.

What are you learning?

Share below!

Also, if you’re on Twitter use the #whatmyworldslike hashtag and let’s start talking!

INSPIRATION

The most challenging aspect of curly hair is detangling it. This next generation tool is designed to do all the work in a fraction of the time and without the ripping or tugging caused by a regular comb.

For years Ouidad had used her fingers to start the detangling process. She was inspired to create a tool that would do the work with more ease and less ripping and pulling. Ouidad began by taking 2 regular combs and gluing them together with a space in between. She experimented with different sizes, shapes, weights and even the length of the teeth until she had a tool that was perfect for curly hair.
HOW IT WORKS

The primary feature of the tool is the spaced double rows of teeth. The first row is designed to start the detangling process by eliminating difficult knots. The second row of teeth prevents curls from springing back and re-tangling. The length of the teeth is also a key design element to allow the comb to reach through curly hair that is often dense. The design also allows the tool to detangle with fewer strokes encouraging curls to stay together and remain defined instead of fanning out and inviting frizz.

FEATURES

• Wider than a regular wide tooth comb to better start the detangling process for curly hair
• The space or distance between teeth is the right width to get rid of knots for all types of curly hair
• Length of the teeth is important since curly hair is so fine yet so dense, so they need to be long enough to handle the density of hair.
• The gap between the teeth is essential – the first row of teeth start the detangling process and does the more challenging portion of untangling any knots. The second row of teeth prevents curls from springing back and re-tangling.
• Rounded tips on the teeth so soft to the scalp
• Ergonomic fit to the hand
• Performs like stylist fingers working the tangles out of the hair
  

BENEFITS

• Detangles all types of curly and wavy hair
• Detangling curls with a lesser number combing strokes means that curls stay together and defined, instead of fanning out and inviting frizz.
• Does not rip hair or pull hair like other combs and brushed can.
• Prepares curly hair by is ready to be styled, cut, washed, conditioned, etc.
• The heft or weight helps it work through the hair more easily. Normal combs require you to put tension and pull which can damage the hair and hurt when hair is pulled out at the root.
• Provides time savings – hair can be detangled and prepped more quickly and more efficiently
  

HOW TO USE IT

The best time to use the double tooth comb is after shower to detangle.

It can also be used in the shower to help detangle during and after the conditioning process.

And depending on the curliness of the hair it can be used to detangle when the hair is dry. Occasions that you would detangle dry hair is potentially before you take a shower or before a treatment or process is applied to the hair. Using before the shower will help your hair have less stress during the shampoo process since it has already been detangled. Using it on dry hair also depend on the curliness of hair.

Michelle Breyer of Naturallycurly writes;

Marketing coordinator Cyntelia Abrams was walking down the hall at Design Essentials two years ago, bemoaning the fact she needed another relaxer, when a visiting stylist suggested she go natural instead.

Abrams, who started working for the Georgia-based haircare company in 2005, had experimented with low-lye relaxers, but she had never been quite ready to embrace her natural texture.

“I hadn’t seen my natural hair since I was five years old,” Abrams says. “Growing up, I never thought natural hair was pretty.”

She decided to transition to her natural hair. “I was still wearing my hair straight,” says Abrams during an interview at ‘Fro Fashion Week in Atlanta.

A year and a half ago, the light bulb went off. She said it was time that she finally embraced her natural hair— kinks, coils and all.

“I can’t just love my natural hair when it’s straight,” she says. “I realized—this is my hair. It was time to get comfortable in my own skin.”

Although she still wears her hair straight every now and then, Abrams says she wears it natural most of the time. Usually, she just wets it and goes.

And Abrams’s acceptance of her own natural ‘do is reflected by Design Essentials, which is committed to natural hair. The company developed its Natural Hair Care System— a collection of curl definition products infused with a combination of natural butters and oils to maintain and style loose wavy to tightly coiled hair textures. Each product is specially formulated with a blend of nourishing natural ingredients such as jojoba, cocoa butter, coconut oil, soy and almond oil to better meet the individual needs of each hair type. The ingredients provide the intense moisture that natural hair needs and the curl definition the natural consumer desires.

Read more...

CN: Were you a long-term or short-term transitioner, and why?
A: I was a short-term transitioner for 3-4 months. I was getting lazy when it came to doing my hair, and I didn't like the 2 different textures. I was so excited to go natural and was becoming very impatient. I knew that if I didn't do it soon, I might end up getting a relaxer.


CN: When did you BC? What was your initial reaction to your natural hair?
A: I BC’d on October 16th, 2010! My initial reaction to my natural hair was, "Ooo, I have some good hair!" I was so excited, and I absolutely love my natural hair!

CN: How did family and friends react to the new you? What was your response to them?
A: My family and friends loved my hair! My dad really didn't like it at first, but it is growing on him now. It took him a whole day to realize that I had cut my hair. My sisters loved my hair because they are natural too. They were my inspiration to go natural, and I received a lot of compliments from friends and my church family!


CN: What was your transition routine?
A: My transition routine was pretty much styling my hair every Saturday night and wearing that style all week. I would wash with Organics Olive Oil Shampoo by Africa's Best and DC with Organics Olive Oil Deep Conditioner by Africa's Best. Then, I would use Organics Olive Oil Setting Lotion by Africa's Best, and style my hair.

CN: What was your staple hair style during the transition?
A: My staple hair style during transition was rodded curls or twist-outs.

CN: How did you moisturize your hair to prevent breakage at the new growth line?
A: To prevent breakage at the new growth line and moisturize my hair, I DC once a week. During the week, I would use 3-N-1 Botanical Oil by Soft & Beautiful Botanicals to keep my hair from looking dry.

CN: Why did you choose to go natural?
A: I chose to go natural because I've always wanted to have curly hair, and seeing my sisters wearing their naturally curly hair made me want to try something new. Also, I got a short hair cut in January. After a few months, I became lazy with doing my hair. I felt that I really didn't have to because it was short and easier to manage. When I was in a rush, I would rock a slick & go. Then after watching the movie "Good Hair," it made me not want to get relaxers anymore because of how much damage it does to your hair and scalp. I attend a HBCU, and I see a lot of natural girls around campus. Their different hair colors, curl patterns and styles are so cute to me. I noticed that with natural hair you can just play with your hair, and create different styles.

Trina L. asks;

Confession: I'm addicted to hair porn. I look at hair blogs and tumblrs alllll the time. I adore big, huge, kinky, wavy, curly hair. Unfortunately, I feel like I don't get my big hair rocks off as much as I would like to when styling my own hair.

Why not? Well, I can't wear it obnoxiously big to work everyday because I work in a conservative environment. But even when I'm going out on weekends, I hesitate because the bigger my hairstyle, the more detangling and knotting I'm going to have to deal with afterward. I'm trying to retain length, so I have to consider this. I don't think I'd care so much if I wasn't working towards a hair length goal.

So for now, I'm sticking with protective styling most of the time and modestly big hairstyles when I feel like wearing it down. I'll save the super orgasmically big hair for only super special occasions.

Alyssa Hawkins of Naturallycurly writes;

Though not listed in any medical dictionary, and often “harumphed” by doctors, many women of all ages face a serious problem in their daily lives: product addiction. In a 12-Step program, it is said that Step 1 is admitting you have a problem. Okay, I admit it. Now what? Am I ready to change? No way. Am I okay with getting rid of products? Absolutely not! Would I spend a good chunk of change on something I’m not even sure works? You betcha!

Hi, my name is Alyssa and I’m a product junkie. (“Hi, Alyssa!”) I never thought it could happen to me, but it has and I’m here to take full responsibility. I am also here to help you figure out if you’re a product junkie, too. I’ve put together a list of 12 things below, and if any apply to you, it could mean that you are a product junkie, too! Admittedly, this is my own version of a 12-step program—I don’t actually have a cure. Some may point fingers and protest that I don’t truly want help, and they are correct. I love my products! If you are a product junkie, I urge you to take full responsibility for your actions—and you may want to learn to love yourself and your cache of product. Don’t look to me for any real help; I’m happy with all my goodies stashed under the sink, in the shower, in the fridge—wherever I can find a place for them. Plus, I’m busy hoarding more product!

You may be a product junkie if:

1. You make sharing a bathroom impossible for any other person. You need your counter, drawer, cabinet space, wall space and even floor space!

2. You have more products than food in your refrigerator or worse—you have 2 refrigerators to handle your space problem!

3. Your day revolves around mail delivery and you are on a first-name basis with your mail carrier.

4. You purchase products containing ingredients that you have tried before and didn’t work for your hair, but they might work this time, right?

5. You have a product wish list longer than your grocery or To-Do list.

CN: When you first chopped, what were your thoughts and feelings? How do you feel now?
C: I BC'd in September 2010. I was a bit nervous and apprehensive at first. I had been relaxing my hair for so many years. I had no idea what my natural hair was going to look like or if I would be able to take care of it properly. However, I was tired of relaxers, curling irons and weaves and all of the damage they had done to my hair. I was ready for a change. As I watched the hairdresser chop off all of my relaxed hair, I remember feeling relieved and proud. When she was finished, I looked in the mirror in amazement. I loved it! I felt so liberated. Six months later, I love my hair even more. I love the way it feels and looks. Even though I know it's not a good thing, I can't stop touching and playing with it. It seems that I learn something new about my hair every day. Going natural was one of the best decisions I have ever made.

CN: How did you cope with the responses from your family and friends?
C: After I BC'd, I was worried about how my family would respond, but I'm happy to say that everyone has been completely supportive. I have three sisters, and they have all told me how nice my natural hair looks. When I first told my husband about my plans to go natural, he gave me tons of encouragement and said that if it would make me happy, then I should do it. However, I was still worried about his reaction because he had never seen me with short, natural hair. It turns out that he loves it, and he even says that I look better with natural hair than I did with relaxed hair. I agree with him. So far no one has said anything negative to me. I've received lots of compliments and admiring glances, even from strangers.

CN: What are your plans for your hair?
C: For as long as I can remember, I've always wanted a huge, puffy ‘70's style fro. I don't know if it's possible for me to achieve that style, but I want to try. Right now, I'm focusing on growing a big, healthy fro. On the other hand, sometimes I look at photos of my hair when I first BC'd, and I love the way I look with only 1/2 inch of hair on my head. If and when I achieve my dream fro, I will probably rock it for a while, and then BC again super short. I love having options. I'll see how it goes.

CN: Do you find it necessary to "doll up" your look to feel more feminine?
C: Right after I BC'd, I found myself paying more attention to accessories and makeup. I built up a collection of big hoop earrings, chunky necklaces and colorful headbands. I also started experimenting with new lipstick colors and eyeshadow. Now that I'm more comfortable and confident with my natural hair, I don't feel the need to "doll" myself up as much as I did in the beginning. I feel beautiful and feminine with or without the makeup and accessories.

CN: How do you keep it moisturized?
C: I live in a colder climate, so my hair gets very dry and needs lots of moisture. I make sure that I drink at least 12 cups of water every day. I deep condition once a week. Every morning, I apply a water-based moisturizing lotion to my hair. Before I go to bed, I spritz my hair with water and seal it with a light application of avocado oil. So far, this routine seems to be keeping my hair soft and moisturized.

CN: What products and techniques do you use to style? How often do you style?
C: I am strictly a wash and go girl. I shampoo, condition and deep condition my hair once a week. I have to shampoo with a special anti-dandruff shampoo because I am prone to dandruff and dry, itchy scalp. This shampoo is the only one that can manage the situation for me. Right now I am also experimenting with Marc Anthony Strictly Curls Shampoo, Giovanni Tea Tree Triple Treat Shampoo and Elucence Moisture Benefits Shampoo. After washing, I condition with Giovanni Tea Tree Triple Treat Conditioner. I deep condition with the Organic Root Stimulator Olive Oil Replenishing Pak. I add 2 extra tablespoons of EVOO to the conditioner. I put on a plastic cap and leave the deep conditioner on for an hour with no heat. I've been reading lately that it's actually better to sit under the dryer when deep conditioning. So I might try that. For my leave-in, I use Oyin Honey Hemp Conditioner. After applying the leave-in, I very gently detangle and moisturize with Wave Nouveau Finishing Lotion, seal with avocado oil and air dry. That's it.

I haven't experimented with any other products, styles or routines so far. Now that my hair is growing out, I'm at a point where I want to try some new styles like twist outs or braid outs. I have to admit that I'm a bit nervous to experiment. I don't know why! It took me a while to find a routine that worked, and I don't want to mess with it too much. I'm in a comfort zone right now, but I know I need to break through and experiment more. I just bought some of the Kinky Curly products, so I'm looking forward to trying the Curling Custard on my hair. I try not to manipulate my hair too much. I just want to focus on growing the fro!

CN: How do you preserve your curls at night?
C: I spritz with water, apply a bit of avocado oil, and put on a satin bonnet. In the morning, all I have to do is apply some moisturizing lotion, gently pick out and shape my fro. Then, I'm good to go!

Larna asks;

Do you plop (with a tshirt), scrunch with a microfiber towel, diffuse, or pull out the hooded dryer?

Oddly enough, one of the biggest obstacles I’ve had to face during the early phases of my first BIG CHOP was something far more delicate and difficult to ignore than frequent quips from ignorant family and friends. While those instances are just as important to confront and learn from during the natural hair journey, coming to terms with the changes in my own personal thinking seemed always the biggest hurdle.

During the days after my first BC, I was left feeling helpless and bordering on failure. Standing in front of the mirror with a boar bristle in one hand (incredulous!), and a tub of Aloe gel in the other to slick down and hide the massive growth sprouting from my head was a regular occurrence.

Imagine giving birth to something you’d envisioned for so long, wanted and craved because of all the incredible things you’d heard (not so silly…), only for it to arrive and have nothing to feed and nurture it with, simply because you were not mentally prepared.

The love part, that some of us instantaneously expect doesn’t always happen, and while that’s okay…even normal, being unafraid to wait takes even more strength. The love…the adulation is worth having and worth waiting for if your reasons for going natural were honest, and solely for you.

The most effective way to silence your own worst critic and gain a more firm footing on the image you see before you in the mirror…is to make time for yourself. Don’t rush your thinking about what your hair ‘could’ look like, what it ought to be, instead face the fear. If it is small, stomp it out. If it is large and overbearing, stemming from years of hidden insecurities, claim it before it collapses your wall of confidence and the burden of rebuilding is all you see.
I love this quote from Sociology of Sheena, “the power of contentment lies already in you. You can be your own source.”

Our worst critics…even those found within the confines of our own thinking are our best guides. Abuse them if you have to, but don’t ignore them, nor allow them to manifest into something greater than what you foresee. Be your own source…envision it, until you’re able to claim what’s yours.

THE TAMING OF THE CURL. That's what I just saw on the front page of the Wall Street Journal. "Oh really," I thought as I grabbed the paper, "Just what do they have to say about a curl and why in the hell does it need to be tamed?"

I quickly found the article and skimmed it. I came across some phrases like "fear of frizzy curls" , "wild, curling tendrils", "pressure to tame", "can't look unkempt", "makes it a prettier curl", "curly hair in theory", "too big...undefined...looks a mess" and "kinky curly.... more manageable."

The title of the post made me look up the definition of 'TAME', since my first reaction was, "Who said it needs to be tamed?"

This is what I found. TAME means...

1. Curly hair is suitable for the workplace.


2. My curly hair has never hindered my professional life... both in corporate America and in the arts.


3. Depending on how you style ANY hair; straight, wavy or curly...you can come across as unkempt or kempt.


4. Depending on your place of employment, they can be as picky as they want. (One company wanted me to wear company issued red lipstick and corporate pearls around my neck. Just put me in chains, why don't you!)


5. For most corporate companies, taking a pick and fro'ing your hair out probably isn't best! But wearing your hair as it naturally grows like a wash & go or styling it "appropriately" while still being stylish, is more than okay!

Besides, for the three comments she made in regards to my hair, the OWNER of the company often stops to compliment my hair. He usually speaks up when I am wearing a curly fro or a big poofy puff. "I like your hair," he'll quietly say as he passes by my desk. He's most vocal about my full out afros. One of my former managers would often say, "I love your hair. I wish I had hair like that!" His wife, who'd visit the office would say, "You always change it up. I love your style." Another colleague jokes that depending on the day you just never know what I might look like.
That's the type of environment I live and work in. If your environment is domesticating you, taking your power and trying to harness and control you until you are spiritless, I'd consider finding a different environment or developing your own. You make the rules. Don't just go with the flow, BE THE FLOW!

The dream that you want and the ability to be yourself while you achieve it CAN HAPPEN. Perhaps you want to be the top prosecuting attorney in the country. Or you want to be a neurosurgeon, or a best selling author, or the next president. You can be anything you want and you can be yourself while achieving it.
Sure, its easier for me to boost my style and personality in the theater and art industry but I was able to find a corporate job on Wall Street where I could FRO it out too!

Ladies, it's been one of them days. I woke up angry (which means tears... I don't get mad, I get sad), running late (per usual), left Gia's doctor's appointment without checking out (another story for another day), nearly cussed out a waitress (for good reason, trust me), and have surely driven my poor husband crazy (pulled everything out of the closet, for good reason, lol). The best part... I don't even know what's wrong! This is so not me... I'm usually very cheery... sickeningly so.

Ugh.

I came home to finish the Search & Destroy mission I started last night, and ended up chopping off about 2 inches (+) all around, leaving me somewhere between collar bone and arm pit length. I was planning to go shorter but was stopped by (1) my husband who took the scissors and gave me the side eye, and (2) the thought of not being able to bun... nothing scarier!

But I'm so loving the idea of a *true* bob...

Alyssa Hawkins of Naturallycurly writes;

Deciding to go natural is only half of the battle. While you might think it is the hardest part, getting your curls to look their best can often be much more difficult and plain frustrating. We want you to have the easiest possible path to loving your curls, so we put together a list of five hair habits that once you adopt, will completely change your life and the love you have for your curls.

Stop Straightening

Curlies in numbers agree that the hardest part about being natural is simply doing it. We are often accustomed to changing the texture of our hair, so it is hard to quit and embrace how we look with the hair we were given. Once you can put down the straightening tools and products, you can embrace who you are and work to get the best possible curly version of you. Say “goodbye” to heat damage!

Deep Conditioning

Moisture is key when being curly and one of the best ways to get moisturized curls is through deep conditioning. Conditioning daily is important, but deep conditioners are made specifically to penetrate your hair’s many layers and give your roots the moisture they need to stay frizz free.

Trims Every Six-Eight Weeks

The length of time that you can go without a trim depends on the length of your hair, but most stylists will suggest that you come in every six to eight weeks. Once you get in the habit of getting your hair trimmed on a regular basis, you will notice your hair looking healthier; something many curly girls strive for.

For the healthiest curls, make sure you are sleeping on a satin pillowcase and/or sleeping with a satin bonnet. They are inexpensive, so buy a couple! You won’t be disappointed.

Benefits:

• Aids in Preventing dry hair - Cotton sucks moisture right out of your hair
• Reduces Frizz- your hair glides along the material rather than be snagged
  
• Keeps your hair in place
  

Bonnets are a STAPLE in my hair care! It doesn't fall off my head like a scarf, and I am a wild sleeper!

**Avoid hair bonnets with elastic. They are very likely to damage your edges, go for a bonnet that is flat and smooth.**

I saw this on Naturallycurly in the General Discussion and thought it'd be fun (and informative) to do here! Below, the overly porous ladies will check in and share their hair biographies and next week, we'll check in with the low porosity divas. Hopefully the responses of others may help YOU and give you a starting place for a routine.

Here are some links to help you figure out your hair properties:

Porosity and Why it Matters
Not Every Natural is Coarse, Of Course
Live Curly Live Free - Curly Hair Basics How to type hair using the Fia system | eHow.com What hair elasticity is and how to measure elasticity or hair stretch Welcome to Weather Underground : Weather Underground



Thickness of Strand: Fine, medium, or coarse
Curl Pattern: 3c,4b, etc.
Density: thin, medium, thick
Elasticity: low, normal, high
Characteristics: flat top/no root curl, easily weighed down, lots of shrinkage, etc.

CG/ModCG/not CG: If modified, state how you modified the method.
Hard water or soft water:
Average climate/dew points:

Protein section:
Do you PT? If so how often?
How long? 10 minutes, 1 hour, etc.
PT with heat or steam?
Favorite PTs:
Favorite products that contain protein? Conditioners, leave-ins, styling products, etc.
Proteins your hair likes? Wheat protein, collagen, keratin protein, etc.
Proteins your hair dislikes?

Moisture section:
Do you DT? If so, how often?
How long? 15 minutes, 1 hour, etc.
DT with heat or steam?
Favorite DTs:
Favorite products to moisturize your hair: Conditioners, leave in conditioners, styling products, etc.
Ingredient likes: behentrimonium methosulfate, glycerin, jojoba oil, etc.
Ingredient dislikes: shea butter, oils, cetrimonium chloride, etc.
Do you seal? If so, what do you use to seal?

Do you avoid humectants? If so, which humectants do you avoid? Do you avoid them at all dew points or only certain dew points?

Low dew point combos:
Normal dew point combos:
High dew point combos:

HG/Go-to Products: up to 5 products that are constantly in your rotation

Name the methods, techniques, and tricks that work for your porous hair? Spritz and condish, prewash treatments, sealing, etc.

Tanika Ray, TV Host and Pop Culture Specialist extraordinaire, is On the Couch! She dishes on how she came to discover her curls, her different 'hair phases', and how she's wearing her hair today.

CN: Your hair is stunning! Have you always been a curly girl?

TR: As a kid, I would wash and go, I think because I grew up in Los Angeles. The only pressure to get a perm was from my mother, who was from Ohio. Other than that, I was in the pool almost every other day so it didn’t make sense to spend much time on my hair. That’s actually where all of my dreams kind of came to life. [Laughter] It was like this little magical world under there, and I felt like the Little Mermaid, or Diana Ross! I used to love swimming, and my hair was really, really long, I mean I was probably sitting on it at the time, and I loved to get it wet, and feel it move with the water.

I’ll never forget the first time I saw Diana Ross on television. I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, that’s what I look like!’ I embraced the poof and I embraced the largeness of it all. I think that’s when I discovered the power of my hair.

That's so cool! For me, when I saw her daughter Tracee, I wanted her hair, which definitely inspired me to start experimenting with my curls.

What’s funny is that when I was young, I never knew my hair was curly. My mom doesn’t have the same hair that I have. My dad’s hair is very straight, and my mom has very coarse hair. So the combination of the two made my hair. My mom was old school and only knew that when you get out of the shower, you comb or brush your hair. She never knew that that would disrupt the curl pattern. So for a long time I didn’t even know I had curly hair, until I was a preteen and took control over my locks. I got really lazy one day and didn’t do anything to it and was like, are those curls? Wow, that’s kinda cool. And realized the magic of NEVER EVER brushing your hair outside of the shower.

When I started high school, I remember my hairstylist, who had been trimming and conditioning my hair since I was 3, said, ‘you know your edges are a little rough. How about we start a little mild relaxer on your edges, just the new growth?’ I allowed her to do it, but after a while, of course, my whole head was permed, because new growth becomes your length as it grows out. My hair didn’t curl up as much as it used to, but I was okay with it because it was actually a little easier to manage. It was straight with a slight wave and I rocked it like that for a while. So much so that folks thought my hair was naturally straight. I had a lot of people in my head at the time. They would say things like, ‘it’s so pretty straight’, ‘I like it better that way’… you know all the pressures you get from people who are conditioned that Black women should wear their hair a certain way.

So I did that for a while, I even went to college that way. And then I got sick of putting chemicals on my head. But I did want to experiment with color. And I knew with my type of hair, perm and color was a dangerous combination. It wasn’t worth me having hair break off, or me living in the hair salon to keep it conditioned. It’s not my favorite place to be. I’m going to be perfectly honest, I feel like there’s another way to spend 8 hours of your day than sitting in the hair salon. And this hair salon was social central. She would do 3 people at once, so you’d sit, and you’d talk, and it was your whole Saturday! I loved being outside, I wanted to do things, I wanted to go see my boyfriend... whatever it was, I didn’t want to be stuck in the hair salon all day. So I had to pick one or the other. And I picked hair color over perming.

Did you transition out of the relaxer, or big chop?

I went through a transition where I was kind of sick of the hair thing. Everybody else was like 'your hair is so pretty', 'so long', it became everybody else’s thing, versus mine. It became the thing that everyone wanted to talk about except for me. It became the thing that everybody put so much pressure on me about, and at the end of the day, I was like, it’s just hair. I realized that I had to take my hair power back... reclaim it. So I chopped it all off. I don’t know if you’ve ever been short before, but there is nothing like a woman finding her beauty, her self-esteem, and her sexuality, sans hair, and I loved it. It was powerful.

I cut it to like about an inch and a half, and rocked a really short 'do for a while… for nearly 8 years. I've always been interested in hairstyles that I could visualize and clearly describe but according to hairstylists a 'lil tricky to execute. I went to all the top black salons in LA and said, 'I want a short, cute, rock 'n roll, spiky ‘do'. Most of all, I wanted it be low maintenance. Can you believe I was turned away?! Every hair salon was like, 'no, no, you gotta get a perm, you gotta do this, gotta blow dry it, gotta use a curling iron'. It seemed so daunting, and I all I wanted was a cute, spiky ‘do- - I wanted to wash, let it get spiky, and go. I wanted to be like 30 seconds, in and out of my bathroom. So I finally succumbed, and returned to the relaxer, thinking it would be easier. And let me tell you, I hated it! Hated it, hated it, hated it! It was so stringy and thin. The perm was too strong, and proved too much for my poor strands. I actually shared this on the Today Show. We were talking about worst hair styles, and that was the picture I showed- - with my hair short, really, really straight, and spiky. On top of it damaging my hair, it still was too much work, and wasn’t the easy wash and wear style I was hoping for. It was time to move on.

So you decided to stop perming and grow it out?

I’m a curly girl, I know this… I always knew this. It just sucked that once I was out of the short, straight hair phase, that I had to wait for my hair to grow back out. I wanted to just snap my fingers and have my curls back. But you have to be willing to be patient enough to go through a year and a half of bad hair days, and just embrace it and work with what you have. And eventually, it will evolve into something beautiful! Big and curly... this is me! And luckily as the perm grew out, my curls came back in. And that’s the hair that you saw me on Extra with.


Then I found the right person to cut it- - A Japanese phenom who is really great with razor cuts. My other stylist was about maintenance. So she would trim the ends, and he would cut it for the shape. He kept it choppy, no two strands were the same length, and it worked wonders. That is the only way to rock your fro—disheveled, asymmetrical, and choppy! I’m no ‘perfect fro’ girl. His cuts changed my life! So fierce!

I rocked my hair like this for 6-7 years and I loved it. It got blonder and blonder and at some point, I got bored. Even though I got so much love, especially from the sistas, which was so unexpected, and so appreciated. It was an amazing hair style, but you just can’t keep doing the same thing over and over. I was ready to grow my hair out, and that’s what I did! And maybe I’ll go back to that style one day.


How do you feel about the natural hair movement?

I love that so many people are experimenting with their natural hair because they’ve seen me on a television show, or Kim Coles, who I love, that just went natural, or any of the other natural hair celebs. I love that we’re inspiring each other to go outside of the box and know that you can look beautiful and at your best, without listening to the masses saying you have to be or look a certain way. So the Natural Hair movement thrills me to no end that we are empowering each other, rooting each other on and celebrating the results.

How are you wearing your hair today?

These days I'm wet-setting my hair. I'm working on a couple of projects and wanted versatility. I love embracing a more glam look but refuse to use heat in the form of curling irons and blow dryers if at all possible. I'm frequenting Dominican Hair salons. They have mastered the wet-set and my hair is looking awesome awesome awesome! It seems that wet-setting my hair is the healthiest way to preserve my hair color and health. I'm so excited to hear what the viewers will have to say about my hair when the shows air. Stay tuned...All I can say is that I'm having a total blast with my new projects and I can't wait for everyone to see them and my hair!

Tell me how you style your hair when you’re not working?

I wash and go as often as I can. If I’m not working, I am ‘hair in a bun’. I’m talking right out of the shower, put a little product in it, Moroccan Oil, Aveda Be Curly, roll it up in a bun to generate those curls, and put it on top of my head and go. That's kind of my everyday look. And it can be chic from time to time with the right earrings and lip gloss! [Laughter]. In the winter, I love letting my hair dry this way. Sometimes I’ll wash my hair the night before and sleep with my hair in the high bun, and in the morning when I let it down it’s gorgeous. This technique works for me because it straightens the back and the sides so that the curls hang a little looser. It’s little tips like this that I’ve picked up along the way that really help. For the most part if I’m not working, I am curly wash and go. I’m talking the easiest possible process ever.

I heard you say you like Moroccan Oil and Aveda Be Curly. Any other must haves?

Another must have is Living Proof. It’s a new great brand at Sephora. They have a No Frizz line that is unbelievable. It seems to lock in the curl and keep the frizz down. I really like it. It’s not too expensive, so you can experiment with it. I recommend everyone try it at least once. Which reminds me, us curly girls, we’re all so different. What works for some doesn’t work for all. No two curlies are alike! And it's so funny, when we see each other, even complete strangers will touch each others hair and share product tips. It's an easy conversation that will perk up our day!

Hola Chicas!

Two quick points;

(1) I recently revisited PM The Conditioner (the Generic version from Sallys), after a 2 year hiatus.
I remembered why I loved it and why I ditched it. If you're looking for VERY shiny, soft results, with nearly medium hold, give it a try. I'm talking amazing, predictable results. I was inspired to try it after recommending it to two curlies that later thanked me profusely.

Sadly, if you're porous and very dry like me, it will not moisturize your situation for more than a day or two, so you may want to use a heavier conditioner on your ends. But for real, try this as your leave-in/styler for your next Twist-Out or Wash&Go and report back!

Random but equally important;

(2) I went to my favorite Sushi spot Friday afternoon to get take out, Gia in tow. I was looking all cute, sitting at the bar, folks walking over oohing and ahhing over G Babes, and she was hamming it up. And then it happened. She farts... and it was unbelievably smelly... truly a grown man fart. No sooner than she cut loose, in comes this sweet old couple. They immediately walk up to us, smiling at G and asking her age and what not, and all I could do was smile... knowing that of the two us, they assumed I was the culprit.

Later Gators,
Nik

Angela Lukach of Naturallcurly writes;

Your mother was right...

As if you needed yet another reason to eat vegetables, new research shows that your skin actually looks healthier with the glow you get from eating foods rich in carotenoids.

Carotenoids are phyto-chemicals that create the orange, red and yellow pigments in many fruits and vegetables. They are mainly involved in the production of Vitamin A in the body. In recent years, carotenoids have been discovered to have anti-oxidant and immune-enhancing benefits. Studies indicate their efficacy in anti-aging products (retinol) and preventing cancer.

You’ve probably heard that if you eat a lot of carrots, your skin will turn orange. This happens to be true; it’s even got a medical name—carotonemia. But you have to eat one heck of a lot of carotenoid-rich foods in a short period of time for this to happen. One enterprising gentleman in Germany ate nothing but carrots for two weeks to see what would happen and the palms of his hands turned orange-ish. The blog about his experience can be found here: The Orange Man Project.

While it isn’t advised that you eat such a restrictive diet designed with the express purpose of turning yourself orange, a recent study conducted at the University of Nottingham in England, shows that the golden cast to fair skin that comes from a diet rich in carotenoids makes skin look better. The researchers found that study subjects looking at the participants’ faces found those with the yellower tone to be more attractive and healthier in appearance. This behaviour has been noted in other species, too.

Read More...

I have been natural all of my life, but there are some things that I dread doing to pamper my hair:

1. Ordering products online when the shipping costs half, almost the same price, or even more than the product (Ahhh! That irks me, which leads to me not purchasing what I want, and then going back into my pouting mode. But thank goodness for Target!)

2. This kind of goes back to number 1, but...Trying to find henna in a store where I can talk to someone directly about it. I can't seem to find henna anywhere but online. (This is my excuse for not attempting to henna yet.)

3. Trying a new style. I just don't want to waste a lot of product or time on a Saturday style and then use all of my Sunday after church doing one of my staple styles because the Saturday style was a whomp whomp. I am slowly walking my way out of this mindset.

4. Giving up a date weekend with hubby because it's style weekend. So, I'm kind of learning how to get around this one. I deep condition Friday night, sleep on it, wake up early Saturday morning and style. Then, we have our Saturday! But then when I think about it, ladies are in the salon all day regardless if you are natural or not. Guess that's just life.

Through it all, I definitely love my hair.

Hola Chicas,

It's that time again... a virtual play date to celebrate the beautiful, curly babies in our lives! Click on the images to enlarge them:

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: