Naptural85's Top 10 Tips on Growing Long, Healthy, Natural Hair

Hello everyone,

I've entered my grading vortex so today's post is rather short. I'm providing a link to Naptural85's top 10 tips on growing long, healthy natural hair (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7ouKM2v6Uc&feature=colike). I absolutely love her laid back vibe and authenticity! Here is a link to her website: http://www.naptural85.com/.

Here is a list of the ten tips for those who'd prefer not to watch the entire video (though I encourage you to watch it because her commentary is insightful). Plus, as you can see from the pic, her hair is GORGEOUS!! So, evidence suggests that she knows what she's talking about, at least what works for her!

1. Moisturize.
2. Trim your hair when necessary.
3. Don’t overshampoo. Co-washing is great (she buys 3 bottles of conditioner for every 1 bottle of shampoo)
4. Low manipulation styling, be careful of your edges, loosely style your hair when possible
5. Protective styling, especially when your hair feels particularly dry (Naptural85 has a blog post on this)
6. Don’t do your hair when you’re stressed out, angry, etc.
7. Be mindful of your hair accessories
8. Avoid brushes and combs if possible; when you do use them, use wide-toothed combs and wider set brushes when possible; use finger-detangling
9. You are what you eat, eat healthy food
10. It’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon

Image found at: http://www.google.com/url?source=imglanding&ct=img&q=https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ClhtayUZq6Lor3VKi3s_QvopIMGG0LJyBiLeIdXJx_SUIeAL93-BDKV4E0eR-Iph42m7zcjYmbxiZ1tI64rhtK-FzVGUZrC5fzUJ3DiqF4z0WapYbk7m5Kf8NshsXR-41Ao94Sf3kfpc/s1600/210815_103906373026300_103009129782691_36726_4405733_o.jpg&sa=X&ei=815iT8nvN6j40gHr2aCYCA&ved=0CAkQ8wc&usg=AFQjCNE5tw5gNVGBxeKuELG6o4CO09z5_w

Natural Hair in Corporate America

Hi everyone,

I recently read a CNN Wire article (http://www.12newsnow.com/story/17126872/rareview-going-natural-in-corporate-america) that begins:

"Her black, female, co-workers pressured her to re-consider, but Ivy Grant, an associate partner in a marketing consulting firm decided to make the transition from her processed straight hair, to her naturally textured hair twelve years ago, and has no regrets.

"Everyone has this fear that you're not going to be accepted in the work place with this kind of hair," Grant said referring to her curly afro."

The article, "Rareview: Going Natural in America by Claudia Morales really hits home for me. When I interview women about their hair, a consistent theme they share is the fear of going natural at work. I am thrilled that more women (and maybe, hopefully, more corporations?) are realizing that natural hair is a viable option. What do you think? Would your organization accept natural hair? If not, would you still wear your natural hair?

Image of Janelle Monae found at: http://www.google.com/url?source=imglanding&ct=img&q=http://witchesbrewonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/monae.jpg&sa=X&ei=j0NdT7a2Muna0QHCzemaDw&ved=0CAkQ8wc&usg=AFQjCNGkY2Z7Zc_bRHraTAt9hugO8qIHng

Viola Davis Stuns on the Oscar Red Carpet

Hello everyone,

I am simply blown away by the gorgeous Viola Davis at the Oscars. Hurray to her for putting aside the wigs, weaves and sporting her natural hair. No, I'm not saying that wigs and weaves are bad. I am saying that I think Ms. Davis' natural hair is simply elegant, stunning and unique on the red carpet. I am ecstatic and hoping she wins the Oscar!

Whew-hew!!

Tina

Image found at: http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/movies/oscars/chi-oscars-academy-awards-main-20120223,0,1626683.story

Natural Hair Strongly Embraced

Filmmaker Cindy Hurst

Hi everyone,

You may recall that I wrote a post pondering whether regional differences might create cultures that are more or less accepting of natural hair (see the post here: http://tropie7189.blogspot.com/2011/11/north-more-hospitable-to-natural-hair.html).

I came across an article from a student at Northern Kentucky University that suggests that women ALL OVER are indeed embracing their natural hair! Here's a link to the article: http://www.thenortherner.com/arts-and-life/2012/02/15/natural-beauties/comment-page-1/.

The article mentions a film called "Natural Woman", a Sankofa Project Production by filmaker Cindy Hurst (pop quiz: how many of you remember the post I wrote about "Sankofa"?). Here's a link to a a trailer for the movie: http://www.naturalwomanfilm.com/.

While it might sound like these issues are specific to African-American women, I argue that the underlying principles of embracing one's natural self apply to women AND men from all walks of life. It's about learning to accept one's natural self. What do you think? I look forward to your comments. Thanks for reading!

Image found at: http://www.google.com/url?source=imglanding&ct=img&q=http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/image_full_width/hash/0b/f5/0bf52dddccb9086b8793287061a82d5c.jpg&sa=X&ei=joM-T6vUOIb20gGzypi_Bw&ved=0CAkQ8wc&usg=AFQjCNFzfRfFxqo3UKU97dGhVcmrAZ_OXg

MTV Does Hair

As we've discussed over the several months on this blog, hair matters. It affects how we feel, the image that we portray, how others receive us. It appears that we're not the only ones who accept that hair is important.

MTV is casting for an episode called "I hate my hair" on it's show "True Life". Here's the casting call (http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1610594/all-new-true-life-episodes-coming.jhtml):


TRUE LIFE: I HATE MY HAIR
Is your hair your obsession? Do you spend hours of your day and week to style and manage your hair? Are you digging yourself into a financial hole just to deal with your hair? Do you have unwanted hair, or not the "right" hair? Are you someone with a hormone imbalance that leads to hair loss, or facial hair growth?

How does your hair affect your social life? Does your hair make you feel unattractive and affect how you interact with members of the opposite sex? Do your friends and family think you are out of control with your hair obsession? Are you undergoing a procedure to alter your hair or do you go to great lengths to manage it?

If you appear to be between the ages of 15 -28 and have hair that's making you unhappy, email us at casting@lintonmedia.com and tell us about your story. Please include your name, location, phone number and recent photos of yourself.

I can happily say that I don't hate my hair...I am learning to love it in all of it's shapes (wow, still working on loving that just woke up, mashed in shape, whew!).

So, while this casting call's not for me, I wanted to share it because: 1) some one may be interested in the casting call; 2) it strikes me as interesting that MTV is interested in this topic. A few days ago, MTV even did a casting call for women going natural (see this article on The Root: http://www.theroot.com/buzz/mtv-true-life-black-women-go-natural). I couldn't find the actual MTV casting for the natural hair show so I didn't blog about it but I thought that you all might like to hear about it. What do you think? How would you like the hair stories to be portrayed? Any True Life fans out there? What do you think?

Image found at: http://www.google.com/url?source=imglanding&ct=img&q=http://wae.blogs.starnewsonline.com/files/2011/07/mtv-logo.png&sa=X&ei=E_bwTtbSOKH20gHew_WbAg&ved=0CAsQ8wc&usg=AFQjCNE5XHuFV304mn_vLUNaGbvLvz7GuA

MTV Does Hair

As we've discussed over the several months on this blog, hair matters. It affects how we feel, the image that we portray, how others receive us. It appears that we're not the only ones who accept that hair is important.

MTV is casting for an episode called "I hate my hair" on it's show "True Life". Here's the casting call (http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1610594/all-new-true-life-episodes-coming.jhtml):


TRUE LIFE: I HATE MY HAIR
Is your hair your obsession? Do you spend hours of your day and week to style and manage your hair? Are you digging yourself into a financial hole just to deal with your hair? Do you have unwanted hair, or not the "right" hair? Are you someone with a hormone imbalance that leads to hair loss, or facial hair growth?

How does your hair affect your social life? Does your hair make you feel unattractive and affect how you interact with members of the opposite sex? Do your friends and family think you are out of control with your hair obsession? Are you undergoing a procedure to alter your hair or do you go to great lengths to manage it?

If you appear to be between the ages of 15 -28 and have hair that's making you unhappy, email us at casting@lintonmedia.com and tell us about your story. Please include your name, location, phone number and recent photos of yourself.

I can happily say that I don't hate my hair...I am learning to love it in all of it's shapes (wow, still working on loving that just woke up, mashed in shape, whew!).

So, while this casting call's not for me, I wanted to share it because: 1) some one may be interested in the casting call; 2) it strikes me as interesting that MTV is interested in this topic. A few days ago, MTV even did a casting call for women going natural (see this article on The Root: http://www.theroot.com/buzz/mtv-true-life-black-women-go-natural). I couldn't find the actual MTV casting for the natural hair show so I didn't blog about it but I thought that you all might like to hear about it. What do you think? How would you like the hair stories to be portrayed? Any True Life fans out there? What do you think?

Image found at: http://www.google.com/url?source=imglanding&ct=img&q=http://wae.blogs.starnewsonline.com/files/2011/07/mtv-logo.png&sa=X&ei=E_bwTtbSOKH20gHew_WbAg&ved=0CAsQ8wc&usg=AFQjCNE5XHuFV304mn_vLUNaGbvLvz7GuA

Natural Hair Health & Beauty Showcase

Altamese Osborne (Houston Press blog) wrote an article on the recent Natural Hair Health & Beauty Showcase. The showcase was sponsored by Miss Jessie's (http://www.missjessies.com/).

I particularly love the fact that the article couches "natural hair" as not just about Black women but about women of all backgrounds embracing their God-given hair.

Here's the article: http://blogs.houstonpress.com/artattack/2011/12/like_a_natural_woman_nzuri_nat.php

AND

Here is information about the showcase: (http://naturalhairshowcase.com/)

Enjoy!

Image found at: http://www.google.com/url?source=imglanding&ct=img&q=http://www.stylemagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Hair-Show-postcard-front-pink2.jpg&sa=X&ei=kM_nTqmsO6bw0gGV6oyTCg&ved=0CAsQ8wc&usg=AFQjCNGdLteK9p7xdN0gN4lxSp2FjqW44w

Natural Hair Health & Beauty Showcase

Altamese Osborne (Houston Press blog) wrote an article on the recent Natural Hair Health & Beauty Showcase. The showcase was sponsored by Miss Jessie's (http://www.missjessies.com/).

I particularly love the fact that the article couches "natural hair" as not just about Black women but about women of all backgrounds embracing their God-given hair.

Here's the article: http://blogs.houstonpress.com/artattack/2011/12/like_a_natural_woman_nzuri_nat.php

AND

Here is information about the showcase: (http://naturalhairshowcase.com/)

Enjoy!

Image found at: http://www.google.com/url?source=imglanding&ct=img&q=http://www.stylemagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Hair-Show-postcard-front-pink2.jpg&sa=X&ei=kM_nTqmsO6bw0gGV6oyTCg&ved=0CAsQ8wc&usg=AFQjCNGdLteK9p7xdN0gN4lxSp2FjqW44w

Best way to refresh natural hair?

I am happy that despite an intense workout, my twist outs are still in fabulous shape. Once I’d showered, I unwrapped my hair (I use a satin head wrap / scarf when I sleep and when I shower) and applied coconut oil. I gently rubbed my hair in a circular motion thinking that any stray hairs would be swirled up into my coils. I was happy with the final look.

As I mentioned the other morning, I am now on a hunt for tips on how to refresh my hairstyles…especially twist outs (I simply love this style and I bet I’ll be wearing it a lot). On one hand, I have heard that whenever you refresh your hair, water should be involved. On the other hand, I’m hesitant to wet my hair in any way shape or fashion when I’m trying to preserve a hairstyle. What do you all do?

Best way to refresh natural hair?

I am happy that despite an intense workout, my twist outs are still in fabulous shape. Once I’d showered, I unwrapped my hair (I use a satin head wrap / scarf when I sleep and when I shower) and applied coconut oil. I gently rubbed my hair in a circular motion thinking that any stray hairs would be swirled up into my coils. I was happy with the final look.

As I mentioned the other morning, I am now on a hunt for tips on how to refresh my hairstyles…especially twist outs (I simply love this style and I bet I’ll be wearing it a lot). On one hand, I have heard that whenever you refresh your hair, water should be involved. On the other hand, I’m hesitant to wet my hair in any way shape or fashion when I’m trying to preserve a hairstyle. What do you all do?

Workout hair tips

I am having a superficial hair dilemma this morning. Why superficial? Well, I just had my hair professionally twisted last week and it came out great (thanks Niecy). This morning I have an intense boot camp class. Don't get me wrong, I AM GOING to my class but I hate the way my hair gets puffy at the roots. Aargh. Hey! I will choose health over style AND DAY!

However, I am now on a hunt to find out how folks preserve/ protect natural hair styles (especially twist outs and other loose styles). Please share your workout tips. I will be sure to post a comprehensive list. Thanks!

Workout hair tips

I am having a superficial hair dilemma this morning. Why superficial? Well, I just had my hair professionally twisted last week and it came out great (thanks Niecy). This morning I have an intense boot camp class. Don't get me wrong, I AM GOING to my class but I hate the way my hair gets puffy at the roots. Aargh. Hey! I will choose health over style AND DAY!

However, I am now on a hunt to find out how folks preserve/ protect natural hair styles (especially twist outs and other loose styles). Please share your workout tips. I will be sure to post a comprehensive list. Thanks!

New York Times article on TSA Natural Hair Patdowns

Image found at: http://www.rlc.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/tsa-logo.gif

I don’t know how you feel about airport security. I for one want to feel safe in the airport and have confidence that the plane, crew and passengers all pass the muster. Recently, however, I’ve been concerned that a lack of education may be causing natural hair wearers to receive disproportionate attention from Transportation Security Administrator (TSA) screeners. An article published yesterday on NYTimes.com (http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/16/business/natural-hair-pat-downs-warrant-a-rethinking.html) explores this issue. The article does a nice job of addressing the notion that Black, women, natural hair wearers may experience “cultural pushback” even from other Black women. I’d add that the cultural pushback may even originate from the self. After all we are all affected by the cultural norms of the societies in which we live (you may disagree with the norms, rebel against them, decry them but you are still affected by them in some way, shape or fashion). I know I’ve had my share of personal moments when I looked at my kitchens (interesting blog about it: http://blackerberry.wordpress.com/2008/09/13/hair-changes-from-birth-the-kitchen-the-pick-pressing-hair/) and frowned, upset that I either had to “do something” to the hair on the nape of my neck or cover it up. Yes, cultural pushback is a real issue and I’m delighted that Mr. Sharkey raised this point.

I also appreciate the fact that Mr. Sharkey noted that White women with similarly voluminous hair do not seem to experience pat downs to the same degree as Black women natural hair wearers. Of course, Mr. Sharkey did not conduct an empirical study, however the anecdotal evidence suggests that there may indeed be differences in how the two groups of women are treated by TSA screeners. Wouldn’t it be great if the TSA investigated this? I guess folks would say that the TSA is too busy protecting us to protect our rights.

I also have a few issues with the article. It opens by saying that the protagonist, Ms.Nance, “has a thing about her hair” and quotes her as saying that she doesn’t use chemicals or straighteners and instead wears her natural texture. Why does this equate to having a thing about her hair? She is wearing her hair as it grows out of her head!!! Also, Mr. Sharkey refers to natural hair wearers as being defensive when they become irritated by requests to touch their hair. Now you KNOW how that can go over (insert). Hey, maybe I’m just another defensive natural hair wearer. But, I think if I asked to touch Mr. Sharkey’s underarm, mouth or some other personal area he might understand that it is human to negatively respond to violations of personal space. This is not something specific to natural hair wearers. It would have been great if Mr. Sharkey had drawn this parallel.

All in all, I would submit to a TSA screener patting down my hair but I would be asking questions the whole time. I know, some of you might think that I should keep my mouth shut. Hey, I can’t do that, this is me pushing back on culture.

New York Times article on TSA Natural Hair Patdowns

Image found at: http://www.rlc.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/tsa-logo.gif

I don’t know how you feel about airport security. I for one want to feel safe in the airport and have confidence that the plane, crew and passengers all pass the muster. Recently, however, I’ve been concerned that a lack of education may be causing natural hair wearers to receive disproportionate attention from Transportation Security Administrator (TSA) screeners. An article published yesterday on NYTimes.com (http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/16/business/natural-hair-pat-downs-warrant-a-rethinking.html) explores this issue. The article does a nice job of addressing the notion that Black, women, natural hair wearers may experience “cultural pushback” even from other Black women. I’d add that the cultural pushback may even originate from the self. After all we are all affected by the cultural norms of the societies in which we live (you may disagree with the norms, rebel against them, decry them but you are still affected by them in some way, shape or fashion). I know I’ve had my share of personal moments when I looked at my kitchens (interesting blog about it: http://blackerberry.wordpress.com/2008/09/13/hair-changes-from-birth-the-kitchen-the-pick-pressing-hair/) and frowned, upset that I either had to “do something” to the hair on the nape of my neck or cover it up. Yes, cultural pushback is a real issue and I’m delighted that Mr. Sharkey raised this point.

I also appreciate the fact that Mr. Sharkey noted that White women with similarly voluminous hair do not seem to experience pat downs to the same degree as Black women natural hair wearers. Of course, Mr. Sharkey did not conduct an empirical study, however the anecdotal evidence suggests that there may indeed be differences in how the two groups of women are treated by TSA screeners. Wouldn’t it be great if the TSA investigated this? I guess folks would say that the TSA is too busy protecting us to protect our rights.

I also have a few issues with the article. It opens by saying that the protagonist, Ms.Nance, “has a thing about her hair” and quotes her as saying that she doesn’t use chemicals or straighteners and instead wears her natural texture. Why does this equate to having a thing about her hair? She is wearing her hair as it grows out of her head!!! Also, Mr. Sharkey refers to natural hair wearers as being defensive when they become irritated by requests to touch their hair. Now you KNOW how that can go over (insert). Hey, maybe I’m just another defensive natural hair wearer. But, I think if I asked to touch Mr. Sharkey’s underarm, mouth or some other personal area he might understand that it is human to negatively respond to violations of personal space. This is not something specific to natural hair wearers. It would have been great if Mr. Sharkey had drawn this parallel.

All in all, I would submit to a TSA screener patting down my hair but I would be asking questions the whole time. I know, some of you might think that I should keep my mouth shut. Hey, I can’t do that, this is me pushing back on culture.

Natural Hair Rules: To Follow or Not to Follow

Image found at: http://www.kisforkinky.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/natural-hair-nevers1.jpg

Reflections on WhoisSugar's "How to Do You with Natural Hair"

I needed a good laugh today, so I went back to a YouTube channel that always brings me a deep chuckle (you know the kind that you feel in your belly?)! Whoissugar is HILARIOUS to me. In her videos she is able to balance humor with great information. Here is a video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGy-umrnG9o) she did earlier this year on “how to do you with natural hair”. Her main message is that there appear to be a million and one natural hair rules and, perhaps, they infringe on our ability to fully express ourselves. Here are a few of her comments:

1. If you want to flat iron your hair every day for the rest of your natural hair life, do it

2. If you want to use a fine-tooth comb to comb your hair with and start at the root do you

3. If you refuse to use a Denman brush on your hair to detangle it, do you

4. If you want to have weave on top of your natural hair, that’s alright

5. If you want to put vagina cream and horse products and silicones and baby urine or whatever in your hair to make it grow faster or whatever, do you

6. If you sleep on cotton sheet, with a cotton pillowcase and a cotton scarf, wrapped with a cotton bonnet with cotton ponytail holder in your head, if that’s what you want to do you, do you

I like the video because it sheds light on how natural hair itself can become bondage if we’re not careful. Not the natural hair itself but the rules that we or others may impose on us natural hair wearers. For me, natural hair is about FREEDOM. DO YOU!

What natural hair rules have you heard of? Do you or don’t you abide by them? Why?

Natural Hair Rules: To Follow or Not to Follow

Image found at: http://www.kisforkinky.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/natural-hair-nevers1.jpg

Reflections on WhoisSugar's "How to Do You with Natural Hair"

I needed a good laugh today, so I went back to a YouTube channel that always brings me a deep chuckle (you know the kind that you feel in your belly?)! Whoissugar is HILARIOUS to me. In her videos she is able to balance humor with great information. Here is a video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGy-umrnG9o) she did earlier this year on “how to do you with natural hair”. Her main message is that there appear to be a million and one natural hair rules and, perhaps, they infringe on our ability to fully express ourselves. Here are a few of her comments:

1. If you want to flat iron your hair every day for the rest of your natural hair life, do it

2. If you want to use a fine-tooth comb to comb your hair with and start at the root do you

3. If you refuse to use a Denman brush on your hair to detangle it, do you

4. If you want to have weave on top of your natural hair, that’s alright

5. If you want to put vagina cream and horse products and silicones and baby urine or whatever in your hair to make it grow faster or whatever, do you

6. If you sleep on cotton sheet, with a cotton pillowcase and a cotton scarf, wrapped with a cotton bonnet with cotton ponytail holder in your head, if that’s what you want to do you, do you

I like the video because it sheds light on how natural hair itself can become bondage if we’re not careful. Not the natural hair itself but the rules that we or others may impose on us natural hair wearers. For me, natural hair is about FREEDOM. DO YOU!

What natural hair rules have you heard of? Do you or don’t you abide by them? Why?

Natural Hair Causes Damage? Say WHAT!!!???

Image found at: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRftlNkBCO_4TJugMysk7FikTklY4Sd4Ova666qa6q1FFslvRXM-IWg3h8zII7ThCkHMGqqHD649Ba46YJz5ec_VhpBORqFoWfK50qEK_x8VPKsF6eA-nKKYDMdpTuD1J4ZU2iEplrDnc/s1600/african-american-women-suffering-hair-loss.jpg

The following text was copied from a 7/24/11 article by Zuri Brannen of the Observer-Dispatch article entitled, “Hair trends: Women choosing new styles over chemicals” (http://www.uticaod.com/living/x1009570588/Hair-trends-Women-choosing-new-styles-over-chemicals):

All-natural options

Of course, not everyone follows the crowd. Many women still prefer to wear their hair relaxed because they find it easier to manage. Laly Marte, owner of Laly’s Beauty Salon in Utica, said that relaxers are something that some women have grown accustomed to.

“Once you try something new, it’s hard to go back to what you had before,” she said.

Marte encourages women to use relaxers, and does not suggest that they wear their hair natural because it also causes damage.

“If you leave your hair natural, it breaks off,” she said.

Rachel Yangasa, 15, has been getting relaxers since she was eight years old, and said she prefers to keep it that way because it makes her hair straighter and easier to manage. She said that she would never wear her hair natural because of how difficult it would be to maintain it.

“It would be like an afro,” she said.

But her younger sister, 12-year-old Ticia Yangasa, gave up relaxers last year in favor of a chemical-free alternative: wash and sets from hair salons. Stylists wash and straighten her hair using blow dryers and hot irons so that it can still be straight without using chemicals.

Since Ticia switched, she’s noticed that it has helped her hair to grow better, and it is more healthy, she said.

I don’t know if you noticed the comment by Ms. Marte that wearing your hair natural causes it to break off. SAY WHAT!!!! Now, I’m not the natural hair police snatching women up when they get relaxers (wow, is it really necessary, let folks make their own choices!) but I certainly think it’s uncool to say that natural hair causes damage. What do you all think? Have you ever received advice like this?Please share your story and how you responded.

Natural Hair Causes Damage? Say WHAT!!!???

Image found at: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRftlNkBCO_4TJugMysk7FikTklY4Sd4Ova666qa6q1FFslvRXM-IWg3h8zII7ThCkHMGqqHD649Ba46YJz5ec_VhpBORqFoWfK50qEK_x8VPKsF6eA-nKKYDMdpTuD1J4ZU2iEplrDnc/s1600/african-american-women-suffering-hair-loss.jpg

The following text was copied from a 7/24/11 article by Zuri Brannen of the Observer-Dispatch article entitled, “Hair trends: Women choosing new styles over chemicals” (http://www.uticaod.com/living/x1009570588/Hair-trends-Women-choosing-new-styles-over-chemicals):

All-natural options

Of course, not everyone follows the crowd. Many women still prefer to wear their hair relaxed because they find it easier to manage. Laly Marte, owner of Laly’s Beauty Salon in Utica, said that relaxers are something that some women have grown accustomed to.

“Once you try something new, it’s hard to go back to what you had before,” she said.

Marte encourages women to use relaxers, and does not suggest that they wear their hair natural because it also causes damage.

“If you leave your hair natural, it breaks off,” she said.

Rachel Yangasa, 15, has been getting relaxers since she was eight years old, and said she prefers to keep it that way because it makes her hair straighter and easier to manage. She said that she would never wear her hair natural because of how difficult it would be to maintain it.

“It would be like an afro,” she said.

But her younger sister, 12-year-old Ticia Yangasa, gave up relaxers last year in favor of a chemical-free alternative: wash and sets from hair salons. Stylists wash and straighten her hair using blow dryers and hot irons so that it can still be straight without using chemicals.

Since Ticia switched, she’s noticed that it has helped her hair to grow better, and it is more healthy, she said.

I don’t know if you noticed the comment by Ms. Marte that wearing your hair natural causes it to break off. SAY WHAT!!!! Now, I’m not the natural hair police snatching women up when they get relaxers (wow, is it really necessary, let folks make their own choices!) but I certainly think it’s uncool to say that natural hair causes damage. What do you all think? Have you ever received advice like this?Please share your story and how you responded.

Unbound

When I wore a natural at my consulting job, I was on a covert cosmetic mission (the image in my mind is making me crack up): keep the naps out of sight at all cost! I want to reflect on a comment I made yesterday about my constant attempts to make my natural hair more palatable to others: “What a waste of time and energy! Given that other women have confided in me that they’ve also engaged in such activities, I can only imagine the loss of mental energy and productivity in the workplace. When people feel that they have to constantly strive to attain an image that is not naturally attainable, such striving cannot lead to their best performance at work or in life.” Strive. That is a perfect word to describe how I related to my hair. According to Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/strive), strive means: 1) to devote serious effort or energy, and 2) to struggle in opposition and the word originates from Middle English to quarrel, contend, fight and is similar to the word “strife”. WOW!!!!

I was in a constant process of looking in the mirror, groaning and then doing whatever I could to fight my hair’s natural tendencies. I kept trying to get my hair to comply. Bind it up. At some point, I realized that my striving was futile. If I wanted to wear natural hair, I had to learn how to work with it and stop fighting against it. This poem by Sharon Harvey Rosenberg (http://www.endarkenment.com/hair/poetry/rosenberg/unbound.htm) captures this sentiment.

Unbound

by Sharon Harvey Rosenberg

Knotting:

My unbound hair turns

on itself, coiling

into single-strand

knots and tangles.

Annoyed:

I separate

and snip

the locking loops.

Sighing:

There were no knots

when my kinks were

straightened

smoothed

hair

hanging

limp

lifeless

like

nooses

from trees.

But I'm Unbound:

and thanking God

For napping,

Knots.

Image found at: http://blogs.lifeway.com/blog/conferencecenters/unbound%20logo.jpg

Unbound

When I wore a natural at my consulting job, I was on a covert cosmetic mission (the image in my mind is making me crack up): keep the naps out of sight at all cost! I want to reflect on a comment I made yesterday about my constant attempts to make my natural hair more palatable to others: “What a waste of time and energy! Given that other women have confided in me that they’ve also engaged in such activities, I can only imagine the loss of mental energy and productivity in the workplace. When people feel that they have to constantly strive to attain an image that is not naturally attainable, such striving cannot lead to their best performance at work or in life.” Strive. That is a perfect word to describe how I related to my hair. According to Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/strive), strive means: 1) to devote serious effort or energy, and 2) to struggle in opposition and the word originates from Middle English to quarrel, contend, fight and is similar to the word “strife”. WOW!!!!

I was in a constant process of looking in the mirror, groaning and then doing whatever I could to fight my hair’s natural tendencies. I kept trying to get my hair to comply. Bind it up. At some point, I realized that my striving was futile. If I wanted to wear natural hair, I had to learn how to work with it and stop fighting against it. This poem by Sharon Harvey Rosenberg (http://www.endarkenment.com/hair/poetry/rosenberg/unbound.htm) captures this sentiment.

Unbound

by Sharon Harvey Rosenberg

Knotting:

My unbound hair turns

on itself, coiling

into single-strand

knots and tangles.

Annoyed:

I separate

and snip

the locking loops.

Sighing:

There were no knots

when my kinks were

straightened

smoothed

hair

hanging

limp

lifeless

like

nooses

from trees.

But I'm Unbound:

and thanking God

For napping,

Knots.

Image found at: http://blogs.lifeway.com/blog/conferencecenters/unbound%20logo.jpg