PDA With My Hair

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I’ve always been what I consider to be a rule follower for the most part.  I believe parameters are put in place for good reasons that are not always transparent and serve the purpose of balance and order.  Of course that comes with a few qualifiers; will it affect my life negatively, i.e. will I go to jail?, does it compromise my morals and values?  That being said, I do things that fall outside the proverbial invisible lines we are not supposed to cross but nothing that requires much more than a slap on the wrist.

 

Its rule #104 on the natural hair don'ts list and goes against all things holy as it relates to handling your delicate tresses.  We are all too familiar with said list.  While it annoys some, others seemingly worship it.  The indubitable Hand In Hair Syndrome (HIHS) is almost of epidemic proportions and afflicts most of us.  What girl doesn’t engage in a little hair play throughout the day?  It’s only natural to want to show affection to your soft coils or touch your coif in admiration.  For some it’s simply a habit done without even a thought.  Others are getting familiar with their new texture or style.  Every now and then, just as a reminder of how dope my mane is, I gently twirl my curls around my finger.  Whatever the reason, it can lead to consequences down the line; unwelcomed frizz and breakage just to name a few. 

 

Do you suffer from HIHS or PDA?  What do you do to combat it?  I still haven’t figured it out yet!

Check me out on CurlyNikki every Friday.

Gone With the Wind Fabulous

Top down and a new pair of sunnies!  This week the temperature finally broke 75 degrees as we welcomed Spring for the second time this year.  The first one signaled by the calendar, the latter dictated by the weather.  Either way Spring has arrived and I’m ready.  After such a long, challenging winter season, it’s a nice to leave the coats behind in exchange for light jackets.  For me the warm weather represents freedom and hair liberation and I want to ride around with the sunroof open and let my hair blow in the wind while taking in the sunrays.  Sounds dreamy but reality is, wind can wreak havoc on your precious locks by robbing it of moisture causing dryness and brittleness as well as massive tangles and knots.  Steering clear of the wind is simply not a practical solution so here’s my plan of action.

1.      Utilize gel in a different manner

I am not a fan of using gel for anything other than edge control primarily because of the crunch feeling that comes with it, however, in this case the crunch works in your favor.  Combining gel with my styling cream of choice gives me some holding power.  (A cream gel product is also an option).

2.      Continue deep conditioning practices for extra nourishment and dry and brittle hair prevention.

3.      Apply a leave in- conditioner after each shampoo session for added protection against the wind and all the other elements as well.

4.      Minimize heat exposure – no need in upping the dry quotient by excessive heat usage.

5.      Be consistent with my monthly protein treatments.  I deal with high levels of porosity which will contribute to the extra dryness caused by the wind and protein addresses this issue.

6.      Protective styling

For me this simply means tucking my coils in a bun, which protects the ends while keeping it stylishly in place.   

 

While it is impossible to completely eliminate the sabotage, it is possible to minimize it and still have great hair moments this Spring and Summer.  What is your plan of action to protect your mane from the wind?

For articles like this one, check me out on Curly Nikki every Friday !

 

Bring Back the Afro

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Did you hear? The afro is making a comeback!  Shout out to the 70’s for taking the look reminiscent of the era back never again to be seen.  Unless you look in cities such as New York, Philly, or Baltimore just to name a few, that is.  Simon Doogan is championing the cause and has called for the return of the afro.  It’s almost like Christopher Columbus discovering America.  Um, sir, it’s been here all along.  Question is where the hell have you been?  By now everyone’s heard about the controversy surrounding statements made by, fashion commentator, author and creative ambassador for Barneys New York.  In the article penned for Slate.com, Mr. Doogan talks about the current state of the afro during his interview piece with the iconic Pam Grier, best known for her 70s Blaxsploitation films.  If you haven’t had the pleasure, allow me to provide you with an excerpt.

 

 “I take comfort from the fact that style is a cyclical mutha and that everything comes back into fashion, eventually. The current global obsession with pin-straight hair will run its course, and the afro, and maybe even the jewfro, will return in all its glory.”

He goes on to say:

“Thanks to the current unpopularity of the afro, afro picks can be purchased at rock-bottom prices. I recently paid $10 for a box of a 50 from a beauty supply store in Harlem. These objets d’art make great gifts and can be used to tweak and tease non-afro coiffures. The grooviest picks have a Black Power fist in place of a handle. The revolution is coming, and it will be YouTubed. So get your pick now and start practicing.”

Is he being a cheerleader for the afro and simply regurgitating what many black people say all the time, and that is reject the European standards of beauty and wear your natural like a crown?  Or is his ignorance of his surroundings (he is a resident of NY where afros are a dime a dozen) more telling of a bigger issue?  His seemingly finger pointing statement “African-Americans have largely turned their backs on the freaky ’fro” seems to have really pushed some over the edge but does he have a point?  Is he just expressing feelings of nostalgia not only for the afro but for the time period?  Some critics say while his tone may come off a little condescending, he is speaking out of admiration, if not adoration for both Ms. Grier and the afro, describing the afro as “natural, symbolic, regal, unisex, and glamorous”.  Is is yet another opinion on natural hair, which he is entitled to, even if he is a white man?

To check in the article in full, click here.

Ready, set, weigh in!

P.S. While Doogan has yet to respond to the negative response his article is generating, I have a feeling he will soon.  #Don’tbelievemejustwatch!

You can find this article and others like these weekly on Curly Nikki.com!

Bun Day Hump Day

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As of late I’ve been really enjoying my curls so much that I’ve worn my hair out nearly every day.  This morning I decided to get back to the business of bunning, which was once my signature look.  I woke up this morning feeling every bit of Wednesday and just wasn’t feeling hair in my face, hair all over the place, etc.  So instead of taking my nighttime pineapple down and shaking it out, I decided to leave the pineapple, tuck the hair in and walk out the door.  Instead of covering my head with a shower cap I opted to allow the mist and steam from the shower to do its thing.  My goal, keep it as simple as possible today.  I reached for my Curls Passion Fruit Pomade (review to come at a later date) to address my fuzzy areas, put my scarf back on for my commute and viola.

How are you handling your hair on this Hump Day?

NaturalView - Brianna

 

Meet Brianna

I found this beautiful natural on instagram and couldn’t wait to hear all about her fabulous hair! Check out what she had to say about her gorgeous mane and how she takes care of it.

The question everyone always wants to know is why you made the decision to go natural.  I’m more interested in why you chose to stay natural?  Most will tell you it’s not easy to stay motivated.

It is a very hard process to remain motivated after going natural for some, but for me it has never been an issue. I have not once thought about the “creamy crack” since I’ve been natural, and never will I go back. I fell in love with being able to see how my natural hair grows from my roots and how many different hairstyles I can obtain. It was just so amazing and I wondered “why did it take me so long to return to my natural hair?” 

What is your current hair regimen?

My current hair regimen is not complicated at all; I like to keep it simple. I wash my hair with shampoo once every two weeks, I deep condition or hot oil treat my hair weekly, and I co wash 2 times a week. I try to stick to this religiously, but my schedule can sometimes be overwhelming and I may not do it exactly on time every time.

What are the products you cannot and will not live without?
Ok, so I admit I am a product JUNKIE *covers face*. I try everything as soon as it comes out, which is a bad habit I'm trying to break. Even though I love trying new products, these are products I've never strayed away from:

*For braid outs and twist outs: Shea Moisture’s Curl Enhancing Smoothie or Cantu Shea Butter's Coconut Curling Cream

*For moisture: WATER and coconut oil

*For co washing: Herbal Essences “Honey I'm Strong” or “Hello Hydration”

*For a leave in: Giovanni's Direct Leave-in

 

Do you have a signature hairstyle?  If so, what is it and why is it your signature?
My signature hairstyle has to be my “big puff”, even though everyone who's natural has probably done a puff before, but when people see mine they are amazed at how big it is. I love a good puff, it’s so simple to do and a very cute style.

I can tell from your photos you’ve done some modeling and your fashion sense is awesome. How do you think that fashion sense ties into your hair and hairstyle choices?

Yes, I do model in my spare time, a very fun hobby of mine. I feel that I like to be fun with my fashion sense, so that of course ties in with my hair, because I like to experiment with different styles and colors. Natural hair can become boring if you let it, that’s why I don’t limit myself when it comes to my hair.
 
What is your favorite thing about your natural hair?
My favorite thing about my natural hair is its ability to be resilient. I’ve done soo much to my hair (color, heat, cuts), and my hair is still holding strong. When I had permed hair it would break so easily, but my natural hair can withhold the storm.

What is one of the biggest natural hair faux pas you have made thus far? Explain what it was, how you recognized it was not good for your hair and what you did to correct it.

The biggest natural hair faux pas that I have done was, pulling my hair up too tight when I did buns or puffs. When I pulled it up so tight it was beginning to break my edges so I started to loosen my pony tails and apply castor oil, and they have grown back tremendously.

 

What has been the reaction of your family and peers to your hair?

When I first big chopped all of my family and friends hated it, and I would cover my hair in weaves, I guess trying to gain their approval. Eventually I got tired of covering my hair and didn’t care what they thought, but guess what? Now everyone loves it, now that it’s grown out, which is so ironic.
 
Do you see yourself remaining natural or are you open to relaxing again?  Explain.
I will remain natural, never will I go back. Being natural has changed me in a way (positively), I feel like I've embraced who I really am and I'm not hiding behind what society wants me to be. I feel free, and I love it! :)

 

Freestyle.  Is there anything you would like to add or share with the readers?

I just want to say to anyone who is transitioning or is even thinking about going natural, stick with it and just give it a try. I hate when people say being natural isn’t for everyone, but what they fail to realize is, this is how we were born, so how can it not be for “everyone”?  Another thing is never compare your hair to someone else’s, it’s okay to have inspirations but understand that everyone’s hair is different and your hair won’t look exactly like someone else’s. Love your hair first, then admire someone else. :)

Peace & Love. Follow me on Instagram: @fiercelynatural, to keep up with the latest. :)