Professional Hair

The other day, I blogged about model Chrystèle Saint-Louis Augustin (http://tropie7189.blogspot.com/2011/12/what-we-can-learn-from-chrystele-saint.html). I talked about how proud I am of her for sporting her naturally coily hair on the runway and in fashion spreads. Of course, I do recognize that not all of us are in the fashion or entertainment industry.

Having said that, I wonder if each of you can describe what "professional hair" is in your particular industry? Please comment and let me know: 1) the industry in which you work and 2) how you would describe professional hair and unprofessional hair in your industry. It would be great if you even have a picture to illustrate your point!

For example, in academia, I've noticed that women in particular seem to be more comfortable wearing their natural hair. Natural might mean gray, curly, kinky, straight, wavy, blonde, black; however it NATURALLY grows out of the head. Also, what is it about academia that might affect how professors wear their hair?

Professional Hair

The other day, I blogged about model Chrystèle Saint-Louis Augustin (http://tropie7189.blogspot.com/2011/12/what-we-can-learn-from-chrystele-saint.html). I talked about how proud I am of her for sporting her naturally coily hair on the runway and in fashion spreads. Of course, I do recognize that not all of us are in the fashion or entertainment industry.

Having said that, I wonder if each of you can describe what "professional hair" is in your particular industry? Please comment and let me know: 1) the industry in which you work and 2) how you would describe professional hair and unprofessional hair in your industry. It would be great if you even have a picture to illustrate your point!

For example, in academia, I've noticed that women in particular seem to be more comfortable wearing their natural hair. Natural might mean gray, curly, kinky, straight, wavy, blonde, black; however it NATURALLY grows out of the head. Also, what is it about academia that might affect how professors wear their hair?

Insecure, Teenaged 40 year old?

My heart is racing, I have a bit of agita and I'm getting a nervous headache. About to make an important presentation? Being chased by an assailant? No, nothing like that. I'm about to see my Southern family for the first time in a few months. I don't know what it is, but seeing my family makes me revert to my insecure teenage self when I was just as likely to think that I was going to be the next President of the United States as I was to feel like a nerdy, unattractive social outcast. What is this all about? Why do these feelings emerge? I guess it's natural...I, like most us want to please my parents. But, they haven't seen me for awhile and my waist is three inches bigger than what they're used to. Plus, I am four+ months after the Big Chop and while I LOVE my twist-out, this style is definitely an acquired taste. I'm wondering if its positive reception is affected by the fact that we live in the North. As I've blogged before, I've heard that the South may not be as hospitable to natural hair (http://tropie7189.blogspot.com/2011/11/north-more-hospitable-to-natural-hair.html).

Despite this angst, I'm going to rock my same self and see what happens. I'll be sure to share the details. :)

Insecure, Teenaged 40 year old?

My heart is racing, I have a bit of agita and I'm getting a nervous headache. About to make an important presentation? Being chased by an assailant? No, nothing like that. I'm about to see my Southern family for the first time in a few months. I don't know what it is, but seeing my family makes me revert to my insecure teenage self when I was just as likely to think that I was going to be the next President of the United States as I was to feel like a nerdy, unattractive social outcast. What is this all about? Why do these feelings emerge? I guess it's natural...I, like most us want to please my parents. But, they haven't seen me for awhile and my waist is three inches bigger than what they're used to. Plus, I am four+ months after the Big Chop and while I LOVE my twist-out, this style is definitely an acquired taste. I'm wondering if its positive reception is affected by the fact that we live in the North. As I've blogged before, I've heard that the South may not be as hospitable to natural hair (http://tropie7189.blogspot.com/2011/11/north-more-hospitable-to-natural-hair.html).

Despite this angst, I'm going to rock my same self and see what happens. I'll be sure to share the details. :)

What We Can Learn From Chrystèle Saint-Louis Augustin

I imagine that the pressures of modelling must be overwhelming at times. It must be much easier to go with the flow and blend in with all of the other models. That is why I admire Chrystèle Saint-Louis Augustin, a French model of Caribbean descent (both of her parents are from Martinique according to information I found about her: http://chrysteleaugustin.tripod.com/chrystele_information.html). Why do I admire Ms. Augustin? Well, among other things as the pictures illustrate, she sports a head full of coily hair. In my opinion, she ROCKS HER FRO! It could be said that Ms. Augustin's mane is remniscent of an earlier super model, Ms. Peggy Dillard. Don't know who she is? I'll be sharing more details about her in an upcoming post.

What can Ms. Augustin teach us? Well, I'd argue that if she can make her coily and/or curly hair part of her brand, we can all think about how we can do the same. Granted, we don't all have model looks, nor do we all work in the entertainment / fashion industries. However, perhaps we each can revisit an unstated (and sometimes stated!) assumption that straightening our tresses is a necessity if we desire to project a professional image.


Vogue Paris image found at: http://www.google.com/imgres?hl=en&sa=X&biw=686&bih=604&tbm=isch&prmd=imvnsfd&tbnid=alf-r9N7rQ7rjM:&imgrefurl=http://getatmexl.tumblr.com/post/5891308589/chrystelle-saint-louis-augustin-vogue-paris-oct&docid=boo5nT3sziOl2M&imgurl=http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lkxr6iMH1J1qjr6l4o1_500.jpg&w=468&h=640&ei=Yx7yTq6gH6230gH2raC_Ag&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=94&vpy=65&dur=224&hovh=263&hovw=192&tx=114&ty=125&sig=111245176624317175719&page=1&tbnh=124&tbnw=91&start=0&ndsp=16&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0


Bottom image found at: http://www.google.com/imgres?hl=en&biw=1199&bih=674&tbm=isch&tbnid=xfqKbf3Wn9YslM:&imgrefurl=http://ieatmypancitwithrice.tumblr.com/post/3542587139/french-model-chrystelle-saint-louis-augustin&docid=6FrON8SrdPOXNM&imgurl=http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lh9u53hIcd1qeq7tpo1_500.jpg&w=500&h=578&ei=OVXxTrLQFsrr0gGO5P2sAg&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=126&vpy=108&dur=548&hovh=241&hovw=209&tx=101&ty=69&sig=111245176624317175719&page=1&tbnh=159&tbnw=143&start=0&ndsp=21&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0

What We Can Learn From Chrystèle Saint-Louis Augustin

I imagine that the pressures of modelling must be overwhelming at times. It must be much easier to go with the flow and blend in with all of the other models. That is why I admire Chrystèle Saint-Louis Augustin, a French model of Caribbean descent (both of her parents are from Martinique according to information I found about her: http://chrysteleaugustin.tripod.com/chrystele_information.html). Why do I admire Ms. Augustin? Well, among other things as the pictures illustrate, she sports a head full of coily hair. In my opinion, she ROCKS HER FRO! It could be said that Ms. Augustin's mane is remniscent of an earlier super model, Ms. Peggy Dillard. Don't know who she is? I'll be sharing more details about her in an upcoming post.

What can Ms. Augustin teach us? Well, I'd argue that if she can make her coily and/or curly hair part of her brand, we can all think about how we can do the same. Granted, we don't all have model looks, nor do we all work in the entertainment / fashion industries. However, perhaps we each can revisit an unstated (and sometimes stated!) assumption that straightening our tresses is a necessity if we desire to project a professional image.


Vogue Paris image found at: http://www.google.com/imgres?hl=en&sa=X&biw=686&bih=604&tbm=isch&prmd=imvnsfd&tbnid=alf-r9N7rQ7rjM:&imgrefurl=http://getatmexl.tumblr.com/post/5891308589/chrystelle-saint-louis-augustin-vogue-paris-oct&docid=boo5nT3sziOl2M&imgurl=http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lkxr6iMH1J1qjr6l4o1_500.jpg&w=468&h=640&ei=Yx7yTq6gH6230gH2raC_Ag&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=94&vpy=65&dur=224&hovh=263&hovw=192&tx=114&ty=125&sig=111245176624317175719&page=1&tbnh=124&tbnw=91&start=0&ndsp=16&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0


Bottom image found at: http://www.google.com/imgres?hl=en&biw=1199&bih=674&tbm=isch&tbnid=xfqKbf3Wn9YslM:&imgrefurl=http://ieatmypancitwithrice.tumblr.com/post/3542587139/french-model-chrystelle-saint-louis-augustin&docid=6FrON8SrdPOXNM&imgurl=http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lh9u53hIcd1qeq7tpo1_500.jpg&w=500&h=578&ei=OVXxTrLQFsrr0gGO5P2sAg&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=126&vpy=108&dur=548&hovh=241&hovw=209&tx=101&ty=69&sig=111245176624317175719&page=1&tbnh=159&tbnw=143&start=0&ndsp=21&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0

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

Barbie!

It seems that a trend is afoot. Folks are taking "regular" Barbie Dolls and turning them into coily-haired goddesses. A visit to the Mattel website (www.mattel.com), revealed only one Black doll:

However, dolls like this are showing up:

Can you say GORGEOUS!!!!? Wow, if only such dolls were readily available. The thing is, it sounds like the "regular" hair can be converted to coily glory with hot water and pipe cleaners (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/14/natural-hair-group-in-geo_n_1149574.html?ref=hair-beauty). Would it really be that difficult for Mattel to figure out how to manufacture such dolls? I guess it's going to take significant consumer demand before such adjustments are made. What do you think? Would you buy one?

Barbie!

It seems that a trend is afoot. Folks are taking "regular" Barbie Dolls and turning them into coily-haired goddesses. A visit to the Mattel website (www.mattel.com), revealed only one Black doll:

However, dolls like this are showing up:

Can you say GORGEOUS!!!!? Wow, if only such dolls were readily available. The thing is, it sounds like the "regular" hair can be converted to coily glory with hot water and pipe cleaners (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/14/natural-hair-group-in-geo_n_1149574.html?ref=hair-beauty). Would it really be that difficult for Mattel to figure out how to manufacture such dolls? I guess it's going to take significant consumer demand before such adjustments are made. What do you think? Would you buy one?

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

Paul Orfalea and Kinko's: A Surprising Hair Inspiration

Paul Orfalea, Founder of Kinko's

Yesterday between analyzing data and washing my hair, I watched "The One Percent", a documentary by Jamie Johnson (heir of the Johnson & Johnson estate) on social class in the United States. One colorful personality covered in the documentary was Paul Orfalea, the founder of Kinko's. I've wondered about the Kinko's name because it sounds like kinky but I didn't think much of it.

Well, it turns out that the Kinko's name came about because Mr. Orfalea has very kinky hair (let's just say that an alternate name was Pubo...I'll let you figure out the origin of that) and was teased about it. Talk about making the best out of a situation. I found it interesting that Mr. Orfalea didn't shy away from this unique character trait (he was in Santa Barbara, CA when he founded Kinko's. Demographic data suggests that kinky hair would have been an anomaly), rather, he embraced it and used it to his benefit.

As I type this in my car, I look at my reflection in the rear view mirror. Just this morning, I asked my husband if my freshly-washed double-strand twists made me look like a pickaninny (I blow-dried my hair before I twisted it and the extra length gave me a different look). Yes, those were the exact words I used. I have a meeting today with several colleagues and they present themselves as having conservative, White backgrounds. In other words, thinking about this meeting made me wonder if I looked "hyper-ethnic". I coined that term (I think) to refer to the sensation I sometimes get when I feel like a neon light is shining on me and highlighting how different I look, think, act, speak, etc.. Now, I try to figure out how to turn that agita into positive energy. Yes, I have the negative thoughts but then, I say, "Girl, this is who you are and how you look, OWN IT". Who knows, my "Kinko's" may be just around the corner.

Have you ever felt hyper-ethnic in a professional or social setting? Please, share your stories!

Image found at: http://www.google.com/url?source=imglanding&ct=img&q=http://www.usc.edu/dept/pubrel/trojan_family/spring99/images/insupport2.gif&sa=X&ei=dgzmTumYM8jm0QGH0eD6BQ&ved=0CAsQ8wc&usg=AFQjCNE_XzsxWpZEJ2bHsbp-fBgqcNEcIA

Paul Orfalea and Kinko's: A Surprising Hair Inspiration

Paul Orfalea, Founder of Kinko's

Yesterday between analyzing data and washing my hair, I watched "The One Percent", a documentary by Jamie Johnson (heir of the Johnson & Johnson estate) on social class in the United States. One colorful personality covered in the documentary was Paul Orfalea, the founder of Kinko's. I've wondered about the Kinko's name because it sounds like kinky but I didn't think much of it.

Well, it turns out that the Kinko's name came about because Mr. Orfalea has very kinky hair (let's just say that an alternate name was Pubo...I'll let you figure out the origin of that) and was teased about it. Talk about making the best out of a situation. I found it interesting that Mr. Orfalea didn't shy away from this unique character trait (he was in Santa Barbara, CA when he founded Kinko's. Demographic data suggests that kinky hair would have been an anomaly), rather, he embraced it and used it to his benefit.

As I type this in my car, I look at my reflection in the rear view mirror. Just this morning, I asked my husband if my freshly-washed double-strand twists made me look like a pickaninny (I blow-dried my hair before I twisted it and the extra length gave me a different look). Yes, those were the exact words I used. I have a meeting today with several colleagues and they present themselves as having conservative, White backgrounds. In other words, thinking about this meeting made me wonder if I looked "hyper-ethnic". I coined that term (I think) to refer to the sensation I sometimes get when I feel like a neon light is shining on me and highlighting how different I look, think, act, speak, etc.. Now, I try to figure out how to turn that agita into positive energy. Yes, I have the negative thoughts but then, I say, "Girl, this is who you are and how you look, OWN IT". Who knows, my "Kinko's" may be just around the corner.

Have you ever felt hyper-ethnic in a professional or social setting? Please, share your stories!

Image found at: http://www.google.com/url?source=imglanding&ct=img&q=http://www.usc.edu/dept/pubrel/trojan_family/spring99/images/insupport2.gif&sa=X&ei=dgzmTumYM8jm0QGH0eD6BQ&ved=0CAsQ8wc&usg=AFQjCNE_XzsxWpZEJ2bHsbp-fBgqcNEcIA

Tracee Ellis Ross: Hair Idol!

In a recent article I wrote for the Washington Post (see it here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/therootdc/post/at-war-with-unmanageable-hair/2011/09/05/gIQAp2wP9J_blog.html), I shared that Tracee Ellis Ross was (still is!) one of my hair idols. Why? Well, one look at this slide show of her hairstyles and you'll see why. Ms. Ellis Ross manages to look uniquely quirky, elegant, stylish and gorgeous while ROCKING her natural hair. Go Ms. Ellis Ross!

See the slide show at Essence.com: http://admin.photos.essence.com/galleries/hairstyle_file__tracee_ellis_ross#1030413

Tracee Ellis Ross: Hair Idol!

In a recent article I wrote for the Washington Post (see it here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/therootdc/post/at-war-with-unmanageable-hair/2011/09/05/gIQAp2wP9J_blog.html), I shared that Tracee Ellis Ross was (still is!) one of my hair idols. Why? Well, one look at this slide show of her hairstyles and you'll see why. Ms. Ellis Ross manages to look uniquely quirky, elegant, stylish and gorgeous while ROCKING her natural hair. Go Ms. Ellis Ross!

See the slide show at Essence.com: http://admin.photos.essence.com/galleries/hairstyle_file__tracee_ellis_ross#1030413

Essence Magazine and essence.com

Given my personal hair evolution, I'm keenly attuned to depictions of natural hair in the popular press. I must say that Essence magazine has impressed me of late. I received the January 2012 edition (Queen Latifah looks radiant on the cover) and I was delighted to see an article by Tasha Turner entitled, "Growing out a relaxer: Caring for your strands". The three-page spread covers everything from transition do's to styles for the in-between stage, to hair care products. The article seems particularly helpful for people opting not to do the Big Chop.

Further, I went to essence.com and I was greeted by a beautiful photo montage on 2011: The Year in Natural Hair (http://www.essence.com/2011/12/07/2011-the-year-in-natural-hair/).

I don't work for Essence and I didn't receive anything for blogging about this. I just want to give credit, where credit is due. Happy Saturday!

Image found at: http://www.google.com/url?source=imglanding&ct=img&q=http://i.huffpost.com/gadgets/slideshows/200280/slide_200280_527401_huge.jpg&sa=X&ei=z4jjTq-CFOfY0QGs_pHKBQ&ved=0CAsQ8wc&usg=AFQjCNG0tujGS-Q0Of-cHWlHQlciDkjoeg

Essence Magazine and essence.com

Given my personal hair evolution, I'm keenly attuned to depictions of natural hair in the popular press. I must say that Essence magazine has impressed me of late. I received the January 2012 edition (Queen Latifah looks radiant on the cover) and I was delighted to see an article by Tasha Turner entitled, "Growing out a relaxer: Caring for your strands". The three-page spread covers everything from transition do's to styles for the in-between stage, to hair care products. The article seems particularly helpful for people opting not to do the Big Chop.

Further, I went to essence.com and I was greeted by a beautiful photo montage on 2011: The Year in Natural Hair (http://www.essence.com/2011/12/07/2011-the-year-in-natural-hair/).

I don't work for Essence and I didn't receive anything for blogging about this. I just want to give credit, where credit is due. Happy Saturday!

Image found at: http://www.google.com/url?source=imglanding&ct=img&q=http://i.huffpost.com/gadgets/slideshows/200280/slide_200280_527401_huge.jpg&sa=X&ei=z4jjTq-CFOfY0QGs_pHKBQ&ved=0CAsQ8wc&usg=AFQjCNG0tujGS-Q0Of-cHWlHQlciDkjoeg

Should: A Dirty Word?

Should. A word with only six letters but such far-reaching implications. Lately, I've been asking myself why I do the things that I do. Far too often, my answer is "because I should". Not "because I want to", "because I like this", "because it's a good thing to do" but "because I should". Hmm. For some reason, that's just not getting it for me anymore.

How is this related to hair? Well, I think that many people sport their current hairstyles because it's what they think they should do to please their Momma, Daddy, friends, boyfriends, girlfriends, bosses or some invisible "they" lurking out there in general society. I recently interviewed several college students about this very issue. The discussion revealed that they, and likely many others, spend at least an hour a day so that they (and particularly their hair) can look like they "should". Sometimes they don't want to, sometimes they don't feel like it, but yet and still, they rise earlier from their beds to ensure that they look the way that they "should".

I am not saying that "should" doesn't have a place. BUT, doesn't it feel better when you go running because you want to feel the wind in your face versus when you feel obligated to go?Think about that! Ask yourself, when was the last time that you did something because you truly enjoyed it NOT because it's what you should have done?

Isn't enough, enough? Let's say we all start spending more time doing things because we want to rather than because we should. I know I'm looking forward to release from the bondage of "should".

Image found at: http://www.google.com/url?source=imglanding&ct=img&q=http://moniquemonicat.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/deliverance-release-from-bondage-demons.jpg?w=300&h=195&sa=X&ei=tmfhTpaFC6n00gG7qKn5BQ&ved=0CAsQ8wc4Og&usg=AFQjCNFVbCnfKpGHWm7CFKtAZbdI_h5YhQ

Should: A Dirty Word?

Should. A word with only six letters but such far-reaching implications. Lately, I've been asking myself why I do the things that I do. Far too often, my answer is "because I should". Not "because I want to", "because I like this", "because it's a good thing to do" but "because I should". Hmm. For some reason, that's just not getting it for me anymore.

How is this related to hair? Well, I think that many people sport their current hairstyles because it's what they think they should do to please their Momma, Daddy, friends, boyfriends, girlfriends, bosses or some invisible "they" lurking out there in general society. I recently interviewed several college students about this very issue. The discussion revealed that they, and likely many others, spend at least an hour a day so that they (and particularly their hair) can look like they "should". Sometimes they don't want to, sometimes they don't feel like it, but yet and still, they rise earlier from their beds to ensure that they look the way that they "should".

I am not saying that "should" doesn't have a place. BUT, doesn't it feel better when you go running because you want to feel the wind in your face versus when you feel obligated to go?Think about that! Ask yourself, when was the last time that you did something because you truly enjoyed it NOT because it's what you should have done?

Isn't enough, enough? Let's say we all start spending more time doing things because we want to rather than because we should. I know I'm looking forward to release from the bondage of "should".

Image found at: http://www.google.com/url?source=imglanding&ct=img&q=http://moniquemonicat.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/deliverance-release-from-bondage-demons.jpg?w=300&h=195&sa=X&ei=tmfhTpaFC6n00gG7qKn5BQ&ved=0CAsQ8wc4Og&usg=AFQjCNFVbCnfKpGHWm7CFKtAZbdI_h5YhQ

Henna: It Should NEVER Be Black

In my blog post "Dying to Dye" I talked about the fact that henna and other plant-based dyes don't contain PPD. Well, did you know that there is something called "Black Henna" that does contain PPD?

Henna is not supposed to be black (here is a resource that answers quite a few questions about henna: http://www.hennapage.com/henna/ppd/index.html). I learned that henna is not supposed to be black during a recent, local international culture fair. A henna tattoo artist was there and so my children and I all got tattoos (they last about a week). During the application, the tattoo artist implored me to NEVER use Black Henna because it is poisonous and contains harmful irritants. She added that if I did use Black Henna I'd likely get terrible skin issues. This kind woman's advice coupled with website information I've found have convinced me: folks, stay away from black henna on your skin and hair.

Henna: It Should NEVER Be Black

In my blog post "Dying to Dye" I talked about the fact that henna and other plant-based dyes don't contain PPD. Well, did you know that there is something called "Black Henna" that does contain PPD?

Henna is not supposed to be black (here is a resource that answers quite a few questions about henna: http://www.hennapage.com/henna/ppd/index.html). I learned that henna is not supposed to be black during a recent, local international culture fair. A henna tattoo artist was there and so my children and I all got tattoos (they last about a week). During the application, the tattoo artist implored me to NEVER use Black Henna because it is poisonous and contains harmful irritants. She added that if I did use Black Henna I'd likely get terrible skin issues. This kind woman's advice coupled with website information I've found have convinced me: folks, stay away from black henna on your skin and hair.