Back in the days of relaxed, long, flowing hair a bad hair day was all-too-easy to remedy: PONYTAIL. The ponytail was a very common hair "style" for me before my Big Chop and it never, ever failed me. Between a soft brush and some moisturizer, there was no stopping a smooth, pretty ponytail.
Fast-forward to post Big Chop.
"Mommy, I don't like your hair like that," said my usually complimentary 3 year old son.
"You DON'T?" I ask. "Well, I don't either." If you ever need an opinion...ask Nasir, he knows what he likes and will tell you whether it's good or bad!
In an attempt to soak my third child (aka my hair) in moisture I washed it then did an olive oil treatment followed by another wash and twisting. Now I wasn't planning on sporting this 'do anywhere but today I decided to take a little jaunt to the bookstore. I could have easily unleashed my twists, sprayed with water and applied gel to bring it down a bit, but why go through all that? So I went out with the twist-out (picture D.L. Hughley only wilder). Can you say BAD HAIR DAY?
But when your hair is about 3.5 inches long what do you DO? I am not a wig kinda girl, I just see my wig being twisted the wrong way or itching my head...no thanks. And if I did have a hat I was wearing a sweat suit, what hat goes with THAT look? Plus, short hair and a baseball cap...I'll pass on looking like a boy. It occurred to me that I could have used a headband or scarf to make it look better but I was already in the car well on my way.
"Just rock it like you planned on your hair looking like this" has been my motto since the Big Chop and today I did just that. Surprisingly I didn't get any second-takes from the few moms that were at the bookstore. I guess I rocked it like "this is hot ain't it?" Or they figured I preferred it this way.
So with each day I find more interesting trials to overcome but I really try hard to do it with at least a little bit of class. Heck, if I don't I'll be stuck at home trying to "fix" my hair when it's just better to take it with a grain of salt and buy several more scarfs to tie around my head. Now THAT is a safe bet.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Natural Hair is TOTALLY Different
It seems to have taken ages for the hair product market to catch up to the Black woman's desire for long, straightened hair once the relaxer took hold of our culture but now you can find an endless supply and variety of hair moisturizers, shiners, glossifiers, you NAME it, they make it.
Now go into the beauty supply store to find something specifically made FOR and good for natural hair and you're going to struggle. An employee at Trade Secrets in Fort Collins knows what Black women should try because her manager is Black and tests products for said use. That's wonderful, I thought, because just a few years ago I went into a chain salon to get my hair washed...yes just WASHED...and the stylists looked at me (and my relaxed hair) like I had 3 heads!
"We don't do Ebony hair," was the response. I was just happy she was upfront because not all of them are!
So Trade Secrets is moving up in the world. Then it occurred to me, I wonder if the manager has relaxed hair, so I asked.
"Yes, it's relaxed. Oh, and we know how to do relaxers too, someone came in to show us!" the employee said excitedly. Funny.
"Oh, well my hair is natural and I know, from experience, that my hair won't react to products the way relaxed hair does. Thanks for your help though!" I said.
She probably has no clue, to this day, what the difference is but after trying a few things my mom suggested I realize there are some key ingredients to look for in products for natural hair. Thanks to nappturality.com I got some help on this.
If your hair is natural, use products with the following ingredients and you almost can't go wrong!
*glycerin - A humectant and emollient, it absorbs moisture from the air, thereby keeping moisture in.
*cetearyl alcohol - Leaves hair feeling softer
I am aware that many ingredients are considered unsafe, but if you are looking to buy products on the market these two are pretty good as far as natural hair goes. You can also make your own (see Motown Girl for recipes) or you can buy natural hair products, from Carol's Daughter and, I'm sure, many other makers.
By the way, one of my newest FAVORITE products is Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Reconstructor, you get curls very similar to the result you get when using Mixed Chicks for only $3!! WooHOO!!
Now go into the beauty supply store to find something specifically made FOR and good for natural hair and you're going to struggle. An employee at Trade Secrets in Fort Collins knows what Black women should try because her manager is Black and tests products for said use. That's wonderful, I thought, because just a few years ago I went into a chain salon to get my hair washed...yes just WASHED...and the stylists looked at me (and my relaxed hair) like I had 3 heads!
"We don't do Ebony hair," was the response. I was just happy she was upfront because not all of them are!
So Trade Secrets is moving up in the world. Then it occurred to me, I wonder if the manager has relaxed hair, so I asked.
"Yes, it's relaxed. Oh, and we know how to do relaxers too, someone came in to show us!" the employee said excitedly. Funny.
"Oh, well my hair is natural and I know, from experience, that my hair won't react to products the way relaxed hair does. Thanks for your help though!" I said.
She probably has no clue, to this day, what the difference is but after trying a few things my mom suggested I realize there are some key ingredients to look for in products for natural hair. Thanks to nappturality.com I got some help on this.
If your hair is natural, use products with the following ingredients and you almost can't go wrong!
*glycerin - A humectant and emollient, it absorbs moisture from the air, thereby keeping moisture in.
*cetearyl alcohol - Leaves hair feeling softer
I am aware that many ingredients are considered unsafe, but if you are looking to buy products on the market these two are pretty good as far as natural hair goes. You can also make your own (see Motown Girl for recipes) or you can buy natural hair products, from Carol's Daughter and, I'm sure, many other makers.
By the way, one of my newest FAVORITE products is Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Reconstructor, you get curls very similar to the result you get when using Mixed Chicks for only $3!! WooHOO!!
Monday, January 14, 2008
My Favorite Products
As of today, I have a few favorite hair products that make my curly mane look and feel just how I like it. And, you'll be glad to know because I know I am, that they are all very affordable!
-Mixed Chicks Leave-In Conditioner ($11-12)
-Proclaim w/Aloe Vera & Protein Activator Gel ($1.50-3 depending on size)
-Pantene Classic In Control Mousse ($2-3)
-Pro Line Comb-Thru Softener AND their Lite Creme Moisturizer ($6 total)
I "water wash" my hair (get wet daily in the shower) then apply the Pro Line products, then either the Activator gel or mousse, depending on what I feel like. The mousse will give nice curl with hair that newly washed or at least conditioned in the shower, but the activator gel will do a great job on hair that lightly misted or soaked.
The Mixed Chicks product is used after washing (no-poo wash or just water wash) and you can get by with just that for the day. I don't use the MC product daily because it's the most expensive but it's perfect when I don't want to wonder how my hair will turn out for, say a party or event where I want to look my very best. As an at-home mom, gel or mousse does the trick and I'd even use one of those if I worked. Want MAJOR curls and got some dough to put into it? Mixed Chicks will do the job well.
I have tried Miss Jessie's product Curly Pudding (the purple one) and gotten fabulous curls but A) it's expensive ($30+), B) left my curls a bit too hard for my taste, C) leaves white flakes in my hair when it dries after 2 days so it would require a wash every other day. There are other products through Miss Jessie, but this particular one did not work well for me.
Another product that does not help natural hair is oil sheen, it just sits on the hair, and the Proclaim Glossing Polish just absorbs into the hair. I haven't found anything that shines my hair yet, but Motown Girl has a suggestion or two I'll be trying soon...I'll let you know how it goes for me!
If you have any product tips or ideas, let me know! I'm willing to try just about anything!
-Mixed Chicks Leave-In Conditioner ($11-12)
-Proclaim w/Aloe Vera & Protein Activator Gel ($1.50-3 depending on size)
-Pantene Classic In Control Mousse ($2-3)
-Pro Line Comb-Thru Softener AND their Lite Creme Moisturizer ($6 total)
I "water wash" my hair (get wet daily in the shower) then apply the Pro Line products, then either the Activator gel or mousse, depending on what I feel like. The mousse will give nice curl with hair that newly washed or at least conditioned in the shower, but the activator gel will do a great job on hair that lightly misted or soaked.
The Mixed Chicks product is used after washing (no-poo wash or just water wash) and you can get by with just that for the day. I don't use the MC product daily because it's the most expensive but it's perfect when I don't want to wonder how my hair will turn out for, say a party or event where I want to look my very best. As an at-home mom, gel or mousse does the trick and I'd even use one of those if I worked. Want MAJOR curls and got some dough to put into it? Mixed Chicks will do the job well.
I have tried Miss Jessie's product Curly Pudding (the purple one) and gotten fabulous curls but A) it's expensive ($30+), B) left my curls a bit too hard for my taste, C) leaves white flakes in my hair when it dries after 2 days so it would require a wash every other day. There are other products through Miss Jessie, but this particular one did not work well for me.
Another product that does not help natural hair is oil sheen, it just sits on the hair, and the Proclaim Glossing Polish just absorbs into the hair. I haven't found anything that shines my hair yet, but Motown Girl has a suggestion or two I'll be trying soon...I'll let you know how it goes for me!
If you have any product tips or ideas, let me know! I'm willing to try just about anything!
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Travel...and the Hair
With so many important issues plaguing our world today I often think...and my blog is about hair. But, there's plenty out there about Bush, the war, our 2008 election (thank the Lord!), and hunger in third world countries. I won't apologize for having a blog all about my hair and that of many women of color, so Happy New Year and thanks for stopping by!!
{{{{{{Now back to your regularly scheduled programming}}}}}
My darling husband's pretty cool career often allows us little getaways to various sporting events around the country. Over New Year's Eve it whisked us away to Orlando, Florida for four days in the warm, humid climate that I longed for after two back-to-back snow storms and extremely cold weather plagued the Mile High City. I worried a bit about what I would wear, I didn't have much by way of summer clothes then it occurred to me: I'd never worn natural hair in humidity.
"This should be interesting," I thought.
I quickly decided it might be best to just go with what I know. How much damage could the wet air do, right? So I started packing. My hair just might LOVE the moisture, in Denver we have none.
-Curl Activator hair gel
-"lite" moisturizer (why can't they spell it correctly?)
Check, check. No curling irons, combs, ponytail holders, nothing. I hoped for the best and we were off.
When I got to Orlando all was well. My hair, to me anyway, appeared to take waaay more product to curl it up, but as it dried it seemed to get a bit bigger (read: poofy) with some curlier curls right along the edges where it is a bit thinner.
"Maybe it's time for a cut," I thought. "Babe, if I need to get it cut every couple of weeks I'll have to let it grow out, I can't keep up with that kind of maintenance." Silence from babe. I know he's so sick of my drama where the hair is concerned but he still has to hear it!
Needless to say my hair was wonderfully behaved although each day I had to stand under a stream of hard water to help loosen or "open up" my curls, as Jayla says. The water made my hair feel like I'd dumped salt or baking soda all over it and the water couldn't compete.
"Had to be the water." I know natural hair loves water but not hard water, so I'm chalking any poofies up to that lovely water provided by the Peabody Hotel...I can't wait to get back home to my OWN water issues to wash it and get back to normal. But I might still need a cut, definitely a color because the gray simply does NOT curl it's just straight and wiry, somehow I'll have to work my hair into submission so I can let it grow. We'll see what happens!!!
Happy NEW YEAR by the way!!
{{{{{{Now back to your regularly scheduled programming}}}}}
My darling husband's pretty cool career often allows us little getaways to various sporting events around the country. Over New Year's Eve it whisked us away to Orlando, Florida for four days in the warm, humid climate that I longed for after two back-to-back snow storms and extremely cold weather plagued the Mile High City. I worried a bit about what I would wear, I didn't have much by way of summer clothes then it occurred to me: I'd never worn natural hair in humidity.
"This should be interesting," I thought.
I quickly decided it might be best to just go with what I know. How much damage could the wet air do, right? So I started packing. My hair just might LOVE the moisture, in Denver we have none.
-Curl Activator hair gel
-"lite" moisturizer (why can't they spell it correctly?)
Check, check. No curling irons, combs, ponytail holders, nothing. I hoped for the best and we were off.
When I got to Orlando all was well. My hair, to me anyway, appeared to take waaay more product to curl it up, but as it dried it seemed to get a bit bigger (read: poofy) with some curlier curls right along the edges where it is a bit thinner.
"Maybe it's time for a cut," I thought. "Babe, if I need to get it cut every couple of weeks I'll have to let it grow out, I can't keep up with that kind of maintenance." Silence from babe. I know he's so sick of my drama where the hair is concerned but he still has to hear it!
Needless to say my hair was wonderfully behaved although each day I had to stand under a stream of hard water to help loosen or "open up" my curls, as Jayla says. The water made my hair feel like I'd dumped salt or baking soda all over it and the water couldn't compete.
"Had to be the water." I know natural hair loves water but not hard water, so I'm chalking any poofies up to that lovely water provided by the Peabody Hotel...I can't wait to get back home to my OWN water issues to wash it and get back to normal. But I might still need a cut, definitely a color because the gray simply does NOT curl it's just straight and wiry, somehow I'll have to work my hair into submission so I can let it grow. We'll see what happens!!!
Happy NEW YEAR by the way!!
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