I recently attended a family reunion back home in the San Francisco Bay Area. Now, my family is fab-u-lous. All of the women in my family are gorgeous. We stay with our hair laid and many of us are hairstylists ourselves. Some in my family have gone natural (like me) while others rock the chemically treated tresses. And, while I myself have turned away from the creamy crack called “relaxer,” many women I know and love still use it. The one thing though that reminded me of my less natural days was when one of my cousins patted her weave. A seemingly innocuous occurrence – being that fellow weave wearers everywhere know you pat your weave never scratch – it reminded me how much that used to annoy me. [Read more…]
I Got Tired of Patting My Weave
August 13, 2013
Beyoncé Challenges ‘Light Skin, Long Hair’ Trope with New Pixie Cut
August 9, 2013
On Wednesday night, Beyoncé fans all over the world went into shock when the songstress posted a few pics of her new look on Instagram. Her normally flowing tresses of brown and blonde were snipped and shaped into a cute little pixie cut. She looks just as Queen Bey as before, but her new look says a lot more than folks are realizing. [Read more…]
Hair Tutorial: Olive Oil Moisture Mist/Spray (Video)
July 4, 2013
I previously posted about the wonders of olive oil. And, I posted the recipe for my go-to summer product: olive oil moisture mist. I went ahead this week and recorded a video tutorial walking through the steps of creating my homemade moisture/braid spray.
In the video below, you will get my tips and tricks on how to make a moisturizing spray which can be used on synthetic hair braids and Senegalese Twists, cornrows, or other long-term protective styles. I used it for the entire summer last year and saw less shedding and breakage overall.
What is really great about this recipe is that you can adjust it in whatever ways work best for you. If you prefer thicker, heavier spray, you can increase the condish. But, if you are just looking for something to freshen your twist-out or daily style, you can increase the water. One important bit of advice, never use more aloe vera juice (AVJ) than water. To maintain proper pH balance, always use equal parts water and AVJ or less AVJ than water. [Read more…]
“You Can Touch My Hair” Exhibit: A Setback for Black Women?
June 14, 2013
Have you ever had someone ask you, “Can I touch your hair?‘ Or better yet, have you had someone reach up to your freshly permed, pressed, braided, coiffed, twisted, weaved, or blown-out afro-puff to rub their grubby little finger tips through your carefully styled tresses? Well, I have. Anyone who knows me knows I have rocked the ‘fro to braids to weaves to twists to perms and every derivation of everything in between. And, I have had people of all races ask or un-invitedly reach into my hair. Well, needless to say, that has gotten old for me. But, for Antonia Opiah, founder of Un-ruly.com, the curiosity drove her to create the public art exhibit “You Can Touch My Hair” in New York City. The public display of real-life curly and kinky haired women, which debuted last week, has been met with mixed reviews. So, I guess it’s time to offer my own. [Read more…]
Worthy Products for Summertime: Olive Oil (Extra Virgin That is)
June 6, 2013
So, I hope you are keeping track of my favorite hair oils. I have already covered castor oil, jojoba oil, and coconut oil. Extra virgin olive oil is among my faves for all of my hair and skin needs. You may be shocked to find out that EVOO is not just for cooking. While it is a great substitute for veggie oil in the kitchen because of its nutritional content and health benefits, it is also a powerful oil for any hair care regimen. But, since it is so heavily used in food, it is really easy to find in your local grocery store. I purchase mine in bulk from Costco.
Like many of the oils I have covered in our “Growing” theme of worth, olive oil is chock full of vitamins and natural proteins. It is also anti-fungal and antibacterial. These features make it a great oil for scalp maintenance, scalp repair, and hair growth. Comparatively, it is relatively lightweight allowing it to penetrate the hair shaft more effectively than heavier oils like castor oil. [Read more…]
Worthy Products: Coconut Oil
May 22, 2013
I have a minor infatuation with natural hair care products (as if you haven’t noticed that already). And oils, by far, top my list of useful, multi-purpose hair care items. One of the most flexible and accessible oils on the market is coconut oil. Some use it for cooking purposes and internal health. I use it for consistent hair and body moisture maintenance. Truthfully, it is an ingredient in every single body butter and hair oil I produce for my family. Because of its natural capabilities, coconut oil boasts many benefits for women of color in particular.
Here are a few reasons why I love it so much. [Read more…]
