Protective Style of the Week: Marley Bun! [PICS]

I decided to deviate from my flat twist go-to 'do, and try something a little different today.  I've seen a couple of girls on the inter-webs do tutorials on up-do's, supplementing their own hair with Marley Braid.  I must say, the results were quite nice indeed...Not perfect, but not bad for a first-timer!

After removing my flat twists, I sprayed my hair down with water, put on a generous amount of Eco-Styler Gel, and brushed upwards, all the way around.  Instead of putting the hair up in 1 pony tail, I made 2 pony tails at the top of my head.  I twisted each pony tail to protect the ends, and tucked them away.

I used 1 package (2 separate bundles) of Marley hair, and 2 black hair bands. 
[Sidebar: I love the kinky Marley!!  It matches 4c texture so well!  I would look real cray with some Indian Remi sitting on top of my kinks!!]

I put 1 band around each bundle.  The took each bundle (one at a time), put the band around my own pony tails, and began to shape and pin.  The result is what you see in the pics.  Please stay tuned for my tutorial on this.  Coming soon!  - YB

Wash 'n Go?

 

Hell no!

It would be really awesome to be able to step in the shower, soak my kinks, throw in a dollop of gel, and head out the door with little springy coils.  But that is not the world I live in.  Wash 'n Gos stopped being an option for me when my baldy grew in longer than 1/2".

Being a 4c, we do have curls, as tiny as they are.  However, since they don't clump together in clusters, the definition is not cohesive an therefore not visible.  Attempting to wash 'n go, would leave my hair in a hot tangled mess fraught with knots and despair.

I have found a product that can actually define my curls and clump them together, giving the desired result and definition so many seek with the wash 'n go.  Literally, one product on this earth.  It is called American Crew Pomade (For men), and it retails from $9.99-$16.99 a jar (and it's tiny).  You can find it at Target, the grocery store, or any drug store across the country.  It is a product designed to style/hold straight textured men's hair, but is an INCREDIBLE moisturizer for me.  Makes my hair so soft and shiny and amazing.   Great for twist/braid outs.  (I will do a Youtube tutorial at some point in the future on how to define 4c curls using the Crew Pomade, because it does take some doing.  You don't just slap it in and get results....Please stay tuned for that. )

 

I personally, am not hung up on having springy curls, and rocking the Wash 'n Go look.  The whole point of Wash 'n Go, is to do precisely that.  Sitting in front of a mirror for 2 hours with a vat of gel, trying to coax out curls sort of defeats the purpose.  I have realized this particular style is not for me.  I am not going to try and force my hair to do something it just can't do.

 

What do you think??

 

 

10 Reasons Why Your Kinky Hair Rocks!!

10.  It's what your mama gave you!  You were born with these kinks....no amount of pulling, prodding, or Eco Styler gel is going to change that.  Love these kinks!  Werk these kinks!
9.   No one can rock an afro better than a kinky girl.  Our hair stands at attention, ready to take on the world.
8.   You've got plenty of it....and even if you don't, it sure looks like you do.
7.   It's so soft (if properly moisturized) & fluffy (even if you don't want it to be!).
6.   It drives the boys bananas....okay, not all the boys, but there is a small group of  dedicated man-fans out there....we know who you are!
5.  It's so pretty!!
4.  It is the most versatile hair on the planet.
3.  It stretches up to 3 times it's shrunken length...who else's hair can do that?
2.  We get the bangin'-est twist outs ever.  Hands down. 
1.  It's a labor of love, and anything worth having is worth fighting for.  -YB

Andre Walker is a natural hair care product hawker now? SMH.

Lo and behold....Oprah's kink-hating hairstylist has decided to make himself a few bucks by jumping on the natural hair care bandwagon....Why all the vitriol, you ask?  Well, let me refresh your memory. Back in 2011, Mr. Walker was quoted as saying (and I swear I'm not making this up):

"I always recommend embracing your natural texture. Kinky hair can have limited styling options; that’s the only hair type that I suggest altering with professional relaxing." 

Okay, kinkies - put down your samurai swords, and nunchucks.  He was dealt with....The backlash was swift and brutal.  So much so, he tried to back-pedal with the following cringe-worthy explanation:

"It is a fact that kinky hair (my Type 4 definition) is extremely fragile and breaks easily. Even when you are very careful, something as simple as combing can break this texture. It is very difficult to achieve a longer length when the hair breaks, even with simple combing. That being said, there is the style option of wearing braids, dreads, or twists, which allows the hair to grow longer because it is combed less often. Another style choice is to simply wear a shorter cut, which is very attractive on some women but just not right for others.

So when I say to embrace your natural texture, but consider relaxing kinky hair, am I contradicting myself? I don’t think so! You see, even relaxed hair can still be worn naturally. If you want a natural look, but find that your kinky hair is difficult to manage, breaks too easily, lacks shine and luster, and limits your preferred styling options, I say feel free to consider a mild chemical relaxer, sometimes called a texturizer, that eases your hair to a more manageable texture and allows you to Make Peace With Your Hair.”

 This new natural hair care line is set to launch in July, boasting sulfate-free shampoo, moisturizing conditioners, "Beautiful Kinks" (gag) styling crèmes, and a host of other products.  Now I suppose he sees an opportunity to make some cash off the girls he trashed.  I won't be spending my dollars on Mr. Walker's line. Will you? -YB

 

 

 

Length Check: April 1st, 2013!! [VIDEO]

It's length check day!  Hooray! I had major issues with knots and split ends recently (see Fairy Knot Slayer part II), so I had to chop, chop, chop! Kinks were flying everywhere!!  That was a couple of months ago. My hair is on the road to recover. Check out my 1st official length check video posted to my youtube channel - 4cKinkyHairRocks.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VW51YQ84sys

I would have posted the video directly to this entry, but Youtube is messing with me.  The thumbnail is ATROCIOUS!!!  Cross-eyed, snaggle puss and all that.   #SorryFolks  - YB

The Kinky LifeStyle Files: The Easter Edition [PICS]

Aside from my obsession with kinky hair, I love a good holiday get together. 

My intent was to flat twist my freshly washed hair today......I instead put together an Easter feast for the ages (with help from my good friend).  On the menu, herb roasted lamb, roasted chicken, blue cheese twice baked potatoes, bacon mac 'n cheese, Caesar salad, and garlic bread, to give just a bit of the menu.  We got dressed in our Easter finest, and had us a fancy time! -YB