Charnika writes:
This video talks about how some women don’t have a curl pattern once they Big Chop (like myself) and so they’re sort of lost and don’t know what to do with their hair. This serves as inspiration… with a twist to show that natural hair is so much more than CURLS!
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Cintoca, I understand what you mean. You want to make sure ppl don't take the wrong message out of her positive message. And I understand that she is telling people to love what they have. Both of you have great points. I was afraid to cut b/c I was worried that I would have type4 curls/kinks, rather that what my mom called "good hair". I was so happy when I naturally curled. But if I didn't curl I would probably have relaxed again. This video shows that if you don't have wavy or curly hair you can still be a fly natural. I needed this reality check b/c curls don't make my natural hair beautiful. Until I loc my hair I will rock twist outs or my big and tightly curled, thick fro. But now I know if any friends, family, or people are discouraged about not having curls I can do more than suggest ways to make them get curls. I can encourage them to work with what they have. But I encourage youtube. I hope sistas and brothas with no curl pattern post tutorials for the fly styles they do with their straight or kinky hair. We need to continue sharing knowledge. Blogs and youtube are a support. Before this web world of natural hair most ppl wouldn't have done it.
Great vid. Great Advice. I'll be subscribing.
Wonderful video! Very nicely done! I wish I had saw this the day before it was posted. LOL! I am a very new natural, but somehow I thought I knew SO much. I have a TWA, and I tried to help a friend with a TWA as well to have curls like mine. Well in the moment of me going through my process and doing her hair, it turned out JUST like your reenactment. I felt horrible, because I had promised her the process was SO easy. I didn't realize that not every woman has curly hair. I then suggested that we do a twist out and go from there. We also watched this video together the next day. Thanks for the inspiration!
Charnika… I didn't say you meant that. I loved your video. I just expressed a concern. I don't understand the commotion. But never mind. Congrats on you beautiful hair!
Thanks so much for all the compliments people! I see that most you guys get it lol.
To Cintoca:
In no way do I mean that someone is not natural or not happy with themselves if they use gel and or curl definers. Hell, I have some myself (that I obviously won't be using for awhile, but still, I own some).
This video was made with the intention to persuade people to love what they have NATURALLY so they can do more with their hair than just create curls (or get upset with themselves if they CAN'T create them or DON'T have them).
Thanks BrownEmber for the clarification.
****The main point is that each and every individual LOVE THEIR hair no matter what type/grade it is. :o)
-Charnika
I wish I had seen this video 3 months ago!!! This video is right on point! For a few months after I went natural I kept watching youtube looking for answers to what to do with my hair! The cycle of searching and frustration went on for months, it was devastating and I wasn't getting what I was looking for, but then I realized all of those wonderful naturals were telling me what I needed to do: To get up and away from youtube and get to KNOW my hair, to play with my hair, to experiment within my means, and to learn what my hair could and could not do. Once you learn to experiment and play around with your own hair, the answers as to what works for your hair style-wise and product-wise will pretty much land in your lap, but you'll never get these answers unless you start on your journey for real instead of living your journey through the natural vets that already know their own hair. Don't get me wrong youtube is a GREAT HELP, but you have to know when you're turning it into a negative and not using it resourcefully.
Dear Cintoca,
There's nothing "unexpected" about this young lady not having any curls in her hair—that perception, that non-curly hair is a strange aberration, is part of the problem. The vast majority of natural black women I know IRL have hair exactly like hers and, just like the v-logger, they struggle to understand why their hair won’t react to all the curl defining crèmes. There would be nothing to “overcome” if curl definition was not seen as infinitely preferable to a lack thereof. If anyone's likely to feel badly about themselves in this scenario, I'd say it's those without the curls. Just look at the marketing schemes of some of these companies (again, why exactly do kinks need to be turned into curls?). I think your advice (be careful that we don't make others feel bad about themselves…) is better applied to those with the idolized hair type. I find this video refreshing because it shows that all hair types are praise-worthy. No one’s being slammed in this video, but a seriously under-represented and unappreciated segment of the “natural community” is being uplifted. I think that’s a good thing and I’m so glad that Nikki saw fit to put this message on a platform where lots of people would see it 🙂
Dear BronwEmber, I understood the message of the video. And as I said it is a great video and I admire her attitude towards her hair. We can all agree that she is creative and used her creativity to overcome the unexpected lack of curls definition. I just expressed a concern that some people tend to go to extremes, which could lead some to think that they are not really natural or that they love something it's not real because they use curl definers. We need to be careful that in the process of working towards loving ourselves and accepting our hair we don't make others feel bad about themselves. I'm not saying she did that… but she got close.That's just my opinion.
Thanks Ms Britt, for understanding my point.
Sooooooooooo true. I absolute love this video and it came just in time for me. I've done and said everything she mentioned. I became a PJ because I watch youtube and try to mimick the hairstyle using the products mentioned. And of course it never comes out the same or just doesn't work at all. THANK YOU!!!
This video made my day. Word.
Excellent Video, U go girl 🙂
I agree with BrownEmber!
The video was so funny.Humour is a great tool to get across hard truths!
I loved this VIDEO. I have honestly spent hours and hours indulging in "hair envy" on youtube, instead of going in the damn bathroom and playing with my own. Great Message!
She's speaking truth. I had to stop watching so many hair vids. Comparing yourself to others can be damaging to your self-esteem.
LMAO! She had me rolling! I'm glad that someone made a video like this. I have curls but my hair is very thick and it loves frizz. Funny thing about it is that I love the thick frizzy crop. I knew I was going all in when I started no matter what my hair texture is. I applaud her for loving her hair the same too!
Because if you don't love it, don't expect anyone else to!
LOVE THIS!!! Wish more naturals would read this.
Love this video! *says YouTube fanatic* Very good advice for all natural hair types. Thanks for posting it.
I concur BrownEmber
in the words of Guy…leeeeeet's chillllllll
LOL, I love Charnika! She is hilarious…and speaks the truth. I'm so glad she made this video because I just did my BC friday (10.8.10) and I have found myself comparing my TWA to others and searching for products to make curls refined. It's just too much stress over nothing and I just need to make sure the hair on my head is healthy. Thanks Charnika and Nikki for posting!
C'mon now Cintoca. The young lady in the vid isn't talking about women WITH curl patterns that can accentuate the curl with gel. She's talking about women, like herself, who have NO curl pattern and because of all the curl hype think something must be wrong if nothing's popping. Natural women with and without curls should feel comfortable loving their hair and
I'm glad that someone's addressed the disturbing attitude towards natural Kinks that don't Want to Turn to Curls (ringing any bells for anyone?) that some YT channels, hair boards and product lines are pushing.
*Screaming like Mo'Nique* YES, BABY! Thanks, Nik! All of us, naturals, "transitioners", and those thinking about it, but haven't made the commitment to go natural yet, need to hear this inspiration. If you are styling your own natural hair and loving it… liking it… growing to like it, we need to hear this encouragement. It's "a whole new world, a new fantastic point of view, no one to tell us no…" (Oh, I was getting into Peabo Bryson and Regina Belle's duet LOL; now where was I…) It is "a whole new world" for a lot of us because now we are getting to know our hair on our own for the first time. So now let's get our portable mirror, a spray bottle of water (try not to manipulate dry hair), some oil for those ends, and get into your coils, crimps, curls, kinks, waves, and/or wiry pieces that just won't go the way you want them to, but that's cool because it is yours (and sit in front of the computer screen and watch YouTube videos, if you have to because I sure do for ideas and I need the help :-D). So in the famous words of Tim Gunn "Make it work" even if it is a work in progress, but it is progress and a beautiful process ;-).
THANK YOU CINTOCA!!
"…if we keep goin…soon washing and conditioning will be on the line too…"
ROFLMBO. My thoughts exactly, good grief!! <3
I LOVE THIS VIDEO! Heck, I'm not trying to find anything to define my curls I actually like my hair type/texture although I'm not sure how to classify it. My only problem is the left side of my hair and trying to figure out how to get the original curl back in it (damaged from perm/heat YIKES!)
Well done video! I am just a little concerned people will try to go to extremes here and start saying that a people with natural hair that use gels and curls definers are not really natural. if we keep going on this path soon washing and conditioning will be on the line too. Some hairs may do great with a totally naturalista approach – indigenous indians are an example, and it fits they lifestyle. As far as I know curl definers cannot change your hair into something it is not. There's gotta be some curl pattern there to be be defined in the first place, right? Or wrong?
I do admire her attitude towards her hair. And I see in this a great exercise to love your hair, but I wouldn't say that if you love your hair with curl definers it's not your hair. I believe it's more like wearing the right make up on your face, that will enhance your features, rather then hiding something you don't like or that you're not.
Thank you thank you thank you!!!! It is so great to see a true and honest vlog from a 4 type hair beauty. I think this hair type and radical (if u may) approach from this grain of hair is so needed. I noticed the natural hair community (in general but not specifically) doesn't give the same shine and praise to those who have tightly curled or lack of curl members. This video totally rocks. I hope to see more type 4 hairs representation and love.
Me likey lol 🙂
You're so cute! LOL I love this video, its hilarious and so true at the same time. Love your hair BTW
Nothing but the truth 🙂 I love this girl AND her non-curly hair 😀
I loved this video….
I love this video. This is what I've been saying on this site all along. Using a boatload of product is just not natural. This chica said it best.
I LOVE THIS VIDEO! SO TRUE AND HER HAIR IS GORGEOUS, WITHOUT ALL THE "CURL DEFINERS" ..I CAN RELATE..I CHOPPED MY HAIR OFF AND THREW SOME KCCC AND WAITED FOR MAGIC TO HAPPEN..NEVER DID..
LOL Okay, this video was very true…I totally agree. Although it was done is a very sarcastic way, I totally get and agree with Charnika LOL
AMEN!
Loveeeee this.
LOVE LOVE LOVE
thumbs up, charnika
you know, i very had similar thoughts when i first discovered miss jessie products and their slogan: 'turn your kinks to curls'
i have yet to try them because of that slogan :/
Funny video…great reminder too.
Too funny! Great video and nothin' but the TRUTH!!!
Greta vid!
LOVED THIS!!!!
"curl defining" product AD….
How ironic that there was a "curl defining" product right below the video. LOVE IT!!!
Loved it!
truth!
Curl or no Curl …IT WAS THE BOMB!!
I <3 it
OMG,she is sooooo funny. I loved that video, it was very inspirational and so true. I have tried for over a year to get my hair to look like the ladies on you tube and some of these other sites but it wont. I need to learn to love MY HAIR for what it is. I'm tired of buying products, twisting every night and having to wash my hair every two to three days because of all the stuff i've put in it. I spend more time on my hair now than i ever did when i was relaxed. I'm bout to go wash my hair and let it air dry with nothing in it and see what my REAL HAIR looks like. Thanks Taren916.