The 3 Biggest Enemies of Natural Hair

Sometimes it seems as if the universe is conspiring to cut our natural hair journeys short.  There are so many land mines littered on the field of strength and length, making our already difficult missions even more tenuous. Here are 3 major culprits:

How to get your kinks to shine!! **UPDATE!! [PICS]**

As you know, it is really difficult to get a nice lustrous sheen on type 4 kinks.  I've been struggling with this particular issue for a long time.  Even when my hair is well moisturized, it always looks kind of dull.  I was kind of over it, when I met this gal with the sheeniest kinks I'd ever seen. I begged her for her secret....Lo and behold, she told me she used castor oil.  I was like 'Whaaaa?'  I had a big bottle of cold pressed castor oil sitting in my war chest - hadn't been touched.  I decided to give it a whirl.  I moisturized as normal (taliah waajid detangler & curl enhancing smoothie), and I sealed with my cold pressed castor oil.  Twisted my hair up and the next day, I had super-soft, super-shiny hair.  I couldn't believe it.  Will update this post with pics when I take my twists down.  #I'mABeliever ***UPDATE! PICs on the Flip!

Lavender Queen Liz - Kinky Blogger of the Week!

As much as I like to think I am the only kinky blogger in the universe, sadly I'm not!  There are a lot of talented ladies out there bringing us info, and inspiration all over the inter-webs.  One of my favorites is Lavender Queen Liz!    Her blog is designed for people like you and me.

Great visuals, insightful articles, and fun, fun, fun! The site is well organized, easy to navigate, and chock full of juicy information to help you along your natural hair journey. You can check her out at
http://lavendernaturals.wordpress.com/.  Definitely worth it!!

Drizzy Drake is Giving Us all Types of Mutton Chops!

 

Thank you Anchorman 2.  This is awesome!

L'Oreal-Mizani is doing the most!

L'Oreal Paris has just signed alt-pop uber-star Shingai Shoniwa of the Noisettes, as the new spokesperson for their professional grade, kink-centric product division, Mizani.  Shoniwa is famous for her daring fashion,  and super-sweet vocals.  She is not afraid to werk her kinks!  Kudos Mizani.
Hit the flippy-flip for more pics of the beautiful Mz. Shingai. - YB

FOLLOW FRIDAY!!

If you like what you see on the blog, follow us!  Click the 'Join This Site'  link directly under the archives to your right.  Once we reach 100 followers, we will be doing a Shea Moisture Give-Away to one lucky kinky!!!  Help us reach that milestone.  We promise, you won't be sorry!! - YB

Lolzzz!!! Kinky GIF of the Week!

Solo in Cannes!

It's nice to see a natural sister getting so much shine on the world stage.  Solo Knowles in Stephane Rollande at the Great Gatsby Premiere in Cannes.

3 Simple things you can do RIGHT NOW to increase hair growth!

So you're interested in growing your hair longer, faster. Me too! There are a few things that you can do everyday that will help you on you mission:

Massage Your Scalp
Increased blood flow to the scalp leads to increased hair growth. The key to scalp massage success is consistency. Massage your scalp for 2-4 minutes everyday, keeping your fingers planted in the same area, and moving them slowly in a circular motion, applying only moderate pressure.  You can add oil to your massage regimen to lubricate your scalp. Pure natural oils - olive, avocado, almond, jojoba, or coconut -  will be your best bet!

Inversion Therapy
Inversion therapy is a fancy name for hanging upside down.  Opinions are mixed as far as the efficacy of this treatment!  If the idea that increased blood flow to the scalp will help increase growth, then inversion can't hurt!  You don't need any fancy equipment.  You can simply hang you head off the side of your bed, or bend over (while standing), as if to touch your toes.  Downward dog is always a handy pose for inversion.

Drink Water
It is a scientific fact that inadequate water consumption has an adverse effect cell function.  Hair growth is a cellular process where by the follicle divides, pushing cells outward into the shaft, constantly. If the follicle does not have enough hydration, it's ability to divide (grow) will slow down, and eventually diminish.  So drink your water people!!

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

BENETTON is Back!

Benetton was the go-to brand for multicultural, political, cutting edge, shocking, and beautiful advertising back in the 1980's and 90's.  They are back, doing what they do best for Spring 2013.  We ride hard for anyone who bigs-up Alek Wek! Hit the flip for some more gorgeous pics.

Throw Back Tuesday!!

Now I'm not advocating smoking but this ad is giving me life right now!!

The Accidental Twist-Out!

So, I like to take my hair out of my protective style on Fridays....let the locks breath for a day before I wash on Saturdays.  This week, I took down my hair, and I think I may have had a half way decent twist-out...  It's been a while since I've had an OK twist-out.  I've had to contend with my mini-chop, and my weakened edges, which have conspired to keep me from twist-out nirvana.

Now, I will say, twisting your hair for twist outs requires more prep - different products, and perhaps a tighter twist to promote definition.  Being that a twist-out was not my intent, I didn't use any stylers (just curl enhancing smoothie and shea butter), and my flat twist were big-ish and not that tight. The result is what you see.  I kind of likey.

 

Have You Ever Heard of MSM?

I hadn't either until quite recently.

After I posted the article about L'Oreal's  new hair growth product, I got to thinking.  I said to myself: 'Self, you know what would be awesome?  Being able to extend the anagen (growth) phase in your hair growth cycle.'  I thought I had come up with the most brilliant idea in the world.  If you can extend the growth phase, you can buck your genes, and have longer hair than you are genetically predestined to.  You follow?

 I decided to Google my brilliant idea, thinking it was somehow original....What I discovered was a supplement called MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane), which it alleged to extend the anagen phase of hair growth.  MSM is 'a naturally occurring form of sulfur found in many foods', that is critical in providing the sulfur necessary to produce collagen and keratin - the proteins required for healthy hair growth.

There has been limited research done on the efficacy of the sulfur-based supplement, with  one unpublished study claiming increased hair growth in subjects, and a published study claiming hair growth in rodents.  The majority of the information available is anecdotal....you can check out many stories or less shedding, thicker hair, etc on any natural hair care forum.  Widespread scientific studies have yet to be done.

I have not tried MSM, and I probably won't, as I've been seeing tremendous growth with my current hair regimen, and vitamin/biotin regimen....If it ain't broke....

I'd be interested to know if any of you guys decide to try it.  Sounds interesting!  - YB

Read more about it on WebMD:
and form our friends at LongHairCorner.com

Finally, a proper cure for baldness??

This week L'Oreal has introduced a new salon quality product called Kerastase Defensique, which claims to be able to reverse baldness in men and women.....Sounds good, but it ain't cheap!  A 3 month supply retails for approximately $445 USD.

Scientists have isolated one of the major causes of baldness as oxygen deficiency in the scalp.  Kerastase Defensique contains a molecule that increases oxygen flow to the follicles, thus stimulating growth in existing follicles, and reversing dormancy in dormant follicles.

Does it work?  The research seems to suggest it does. 

A clinical trial of 101 people over a 3 month period yielded on average a 4% increase in hair in the number of hairs each participant grew.  About 1700 hairs. 

Head researcher at L'Oreal Patricia Pineau had this to say:

 ‘We’ve known for 100 years that hair grows and falls out.  We haven’t known what makes hair regenerate until now. It is all about hair stem cell environment. In 2000, we have published the existence of two stem cell reservoirs in the hair and, more recently, we have both identified the optimal environment and designed a molecule able to favour it.'

Very interesting.  It's nice to know that there might actually be a solution to balding/thinning hair.  My edges can use a boost, for real!! - YB
Read more from our friends over at the Daily Mail:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2319137/285-cream-claims-reverse-baldness-

And for my Frenchies, check out the official promo on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Yb6MYEFhwk

Let Me clarify! - Science Friday

 

 

One very important step in an healthy hair regimen is incorporating a clarifying shampoo.  What is a clarifying shampoo, you ask?  And why do you need it in your regimen?

Let me break it down for you one time!  A clarifying shampoo is one that is designed to strip old product off of your hair strands.  During the week, we pile on oils, butters, pomades and gels  to achieve the looks we want.  Eventually these products begin to build up, and block the effectiveness of shampoos, and conditioners, and can also block hair from absorbing the moisture necessary for it  to thrive.  Signs of build up are - limp hair, little to no lather from shampoos, coated hair and scalp feeling, and products generally not doing what they are supposed to do.  Build up can lead to seemingly inexplicable breakage.

I usually clarify my hair every 4th week.  Although any sulfate-free shampoo can be used to clarify the hair, I prefer to use an actual clarifying shampoo.  It is called Alba Botanica Daily Shampoo, and is chock full of all natural ingredients.  It does not leave my hair feeling super-stripped - you know what I'm talking about ladies.....when your hair feels so clean, you can practically hear it squeak. 

You can identify clarifying shampoos by their transparent appearance.  The moisturizers in other shampoos tend to be cloudy, and give the shampoo an opaque appearance.

What clarifying shampoo do you use?? - YB

Leave Blue Ivy Alone!!

Ignorance is alive and well in the TwitterVerse.  I was disgusted to learn about the malicious comments being floated around Twitter about Beyoncé and Jay-Z's beautiful baby girl, Blue Ivy.  There was a lot of slick talk about the baby's hair, and the fact that Bey let it flow in it's natural state.

Comments ranged from mildly offensive to down right ignorant.

Naomi Campbell's Break.

So, this is a little off topic, as I usually blog about natural-haired girls and issues.  I am making an exception for Naomi Campbell - because deep down inside, there is a natural girl desperate to be unleashed!

That being said, I was really disappointed by the news that Naomi split from her foxy Russian boyfriend of 5 years, Vladimir Doronin.

Do you know who V. BOZEMAN is??

V Bozeman is otherworldly.  We have music impersario Cee-Lo Green to thank for this striking singer/songwriter.   I'm not going to say much more.  Check out her 'Black Mama Sh*t':

Finally! Barbie Dolls I can get down with!!

People have been modifying these dolls for a while....I guess I was never up on it because I never had a daughter, until recently.

6 Winnig looks that will fly in Corporate America!

You can't go wrong with this little Pixie cut. TWA's are always a good look!

Does natural hair hurt you in the corporate world?

Raissa B. Nebie - Founder & CEO of Spoondate

This is a question that many naturals in the job market struggle with all the time. Traditionally in the corporate world, natural hairstyles have been frowned upon. Other areas such as retail, and the service industry have been a lot more accepting.

Can you guess the Celeb??

This one kind of stumped me at first.....but you guys are probably a lot smarter than I am!! 

 

Click here to find out!! 



Wash Day!!! (And all the dirty deets!!!!)

Wash day is a vital part of every kinky girl's regimen.

I love wash day!!  I actually look forward to it all week.  There is something very therapeutic about going through the steps, and taking good care of my hair.  I can practically hear it thanking me.

I usually wash my hair once a week.  Every 4th week, I use a clarifying shampoo (to get rid of product build up) and add a deep protein conditioner (to build strength). 

 

The following is a step-by-step outline of how I was my hair weekly.

My Dirty Little Secret - [PICS!!]

I'm coming clean, people! 

My edges are a HOT mess.  I've been prattling on about them for quite some time now, so I wanted to take a few moments to share with you why they are so ratchet, and how I intend to get them back to their proper state!

I had a beautiful baby girl about 15 months ago (in the car I might add, but that's a story for another day!!).  My hair was amazing during the pregnancy, and immediately after.  Thick, full, sheeny, long, and awesome!  Several months after she was born, I began to experience the dreaded post-partum shedding.  My hair didn't fall out in clumps.  The shedding  kind of snuck up on me.  I lost all the hair around my temples, as well as farther beyond my hairline.  I was not happy.

December 2012