Oregon Legislature Passes Natural Hair care Bill



Amber Starks - Natural hairstylist and advocate for the new Oregon Natural Hair Legislation.

This is a really cool story.

In many states, it is illegal for people to practice natural hair care (braiding, twisting, locking, cornrowing etc.), without a cosmetology license.   Any one who has a cosmetology license,  knows the rigors of prep, study, and testing to become certified. It's no joke - 1,700 hours of training at a minimum.

These requirements have stopped many Africans and African-Americans from practicing something that has been passed down from generation to generation.  It has stopped black women from running these types of businesses, and has driven the respective revenue out of the state.  If you think about it, there are no chemicals involved, no clippers, no heat, no scissors....so is it really fair to require so much training?  I think not...and the lawmakers of Oregon agree.

Democrats and Republicans came together unanimously to strike down the current requirements, and instead have implemented a much less intensive online certification.  This is a very smart move on the legislators' part.  More small businesses = more revenue for the state.  Win-Win. Read more about the decision here.  - YB

5 Ladies We Would LOVE to see Go Natural! [PICS]

1.  First Lady Michelle Obama - It would be a dream come true to see our First Lady, as elegant as she is, werking her natural hair at 1600 Pennsylvania.....But we know it's never going to happen.  Not that I don't think it is something she would consider, but I can just hear the right wing already  - 'Look at the First Lady of the United States of America wearing a Black Power afro.  Who does she think she is representing the radical black racist movement with her hair!!  Let's impeach Obama!'  You might think I'm being over the top, but do you remember this little ditty from New Yorker Magazine, circa 2008?  I rest my case.

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

Hats! A Natural Girl's Best Friend! [VIDEO]

I wear hats, headwraps, and scarves all the time.  Head coverings are a wonderful addition to any natural's hair regimen.  Hats protect us from wind, sun, cold, and other elements that conspire to dry out and break our hair.

There are a myriad of options out there for head gear.  I put together a little video to share just a few of my faves.  Enjoy!
 - YB

Wear your Kinks with Pride

I wanted to holler at the gals out there that are thinking about taking the plunge into the natural pool, but are feeling a little apprehensive.....

I have been wearing my hair natural for many years.  MANY years.  I realized from a very young age that I in no way, shape or form reflect the Western standard of beauty.  It is not something I ever strove for.  It was an unattainable goal, and quite frankly for me, an undesirable goal.  I learned to  love accept everything about me....most notably my kinky afro hair.

I have always worn my hair with pride.  It was always something different.  Something marvelous, and something to be envied.  I was raised to buck the system, to a certain degree.  My mother always told me, 'I'm not raising followers.  I'm raising leaders'.  I was raised to do my own thing.  Create my own standard of beauty, and force other to celebrate it.  For me, the nappier the better.  The bigger the 'fro, the better.  I LOVE AFRO TEXTURED HAIR.  There is NOTHING in this world like it. NOTHING.  We are blessed to be so unique in our natural state.

I will never judge someone's decision to perm up or weave their hair (except Rev. Al Sharpton...I love and respect him, but it's time to put down the TCB! ).  It's another facet of our follicular diversity.  But, it kills me to see sistas trying so hard to reach this standard, and killing their crowning glory in the process....Naomi Campbell, anyone?  Or gals wearing these gawd-awful helmet weaves that look like a minute too long in the sun may cause spontaneous combustion. 

It is so liberating just to be natural.  Once you reach a level of acceptance of what God gave you, it is pretty remarkable.  Of course, not for everyone, but I would venture to say, for the vast majority.

At the end of the day, if you're on the fence, just give it a go.  If it's not for you, you can always go back to your creamy-licious ways.

-YB

What's with the Shade, Ms. Wendy??

I do like Wendy Williams.  I don't love her, but I do like her a lot. She makes me laugh.  She's even made me shed a tear or two.   It kind of annoys me that she uses her platform to bash people who have decided to take their hair to a natural place.  Look, there's nothing wrong with wigs, weaves, and perms, if that's your thing.....but I think it is extremely rude, and very irresponsible  to use your bully pulpit to slam people for WEARING THE HAIR THEY WERE BORN WITH!!!  I mean, if you're not into it, don't do it.  But don't shade us with your hater-ade, please.

I can totally understand why Derek J is not down with it.  Perms and weaves are his bread and butter.  The brother's got to eat, so of course he is not going to advocate women taking control of their own hair destiny.  It hurts his bottom line....but Wen-dissima??  No excuses, boo.

You don't have to love us, but please don't hurt us!

-YB