Thursday, June 30, 2011

New Protective Style

The gr8 think about having a protective style is that you can literally get up and go each morning. I sometimes find that when you don't bother your hair it grows. I grease my hair every other day with my 17 Essential Oils and I also spray my Greg's Juice in my hair too( which is gr8 to use during the summer months) and go. Below I will show you what i use in my hair when I have a protective style in my hair.




I took my braids out!!!!

I love thick hair and I got a lot of it. check out my pictures!!!! I am doing one full year of protective styles. I am entering into month 7.. Typically the only time you will see my hair out is when I am washing it, and/ or about to put it in another protective styles. Click on the read more tab

Top 10 Reasons to Go Natural

Let me begin by stating, that this list is not meant as an attack on relaxed, or otherwise processed hair wearers. In fact my last relaxer was in October of 2007, so as someone who has gone through the mental and physical transformation and journey into the world of natural hair I can totally sympathize with those who are reluctant, if not defensive, when it comes to the discussion of natural versus permed hair. However, through educating myself both academically and practically [I've posted a list of resources at the bottom], and through the support of friends, family, and other naturals, I came to the conclusion that I had to make a change.

After battling for years with insecurities about my hair's length and texture, and even becoming a self-proclaimed "weavologist," I realized that I had never stopped to question, or even consider that there might be another way of living and seeing myself. Even after learning how detrimental these hair processes are to black women physically, mentally, and emotionally it still took some time before I could gather the courage to take that step for myself towards becoming a happier, healthy, more authentic me. Now that I'm on the other side, I hope to offer to anyone who cares to consider an alternative that for me has been well worth the struggle.

I do not condemn those who choose to wear weaves or relax their hair, because after all that was me a couple of years ago [natural for 27 months whoop whoop!!]. However, I do encourage anyone who like me, never even questioned the insanity that (most often) is relaxed hair to consider the following arguments for why you should make the change.

Monday, June 20, 2011

You put a WHAT on your 3 year old?

So I was browsing through facebook this weekend, and I came across a facebook friend of mines who took a picture of her daughter's hair. And she proudly writes my three year old daughter's hair! It was bone straight. Before I posted a comment I read the post prior to mines. One person asked her did she relax her daughter hair, and she proudly writes yeah I did. Then another person writes, I had to do that with my child's hair because I didn't know what to do with it. Then another write I hope you take care of her ends. I look at the poor baby's hair and I notices she had split ends with straight hair. So not only did the poor baby have a chemical in her hair but the baby also had damaged ragedy ends. So I commented why would you but a chemical that strong in a three year old hair. Most doctors recommend that you w8 at least until the child is 7 or 8 years old. She goes her hair is curly and I didn't know how to manage it. So I l8r commented and said did you research how to maintain curly/natural hair. I said all you would have needed was a wide tooth comb, conditors, and used bows that did not have metal endings, and wet her hair when you needed to detangle it. Also go to your daily grocery store and buy some oil to seal the moisture and her hair would have been fine. But I guess its too late for that, whats done is done. I am not knocking perms because I use to have one, but three years old?!?!?!?  At what age do you think a parent should put a relaxer in their child's hair?

So Just What Does It Mean To Be Natural? Everyone's Got An Opinion.

Hey Curly Nation!

It's NaturalNikkiDST, and today, I would like to discuss the concept of "being natural". Just what does it mean to be natural anyway? I actually thought I knew what it meant until I visited various chats and online discussions, but now I'm a tad bit confused.:( I've always thought that being natural in its basic definition was being free of relaxers. Now, after being a part of different online conversations, I've found that the concept of what is natural can vary from person to person. I remember visiting a Facebook fan page that was not a natural hair page, and they posted the question "What does it mean to be natural?" Of course, I looked at several people's answers before posting my own and was shocked and amazed that some people actually believe that being natural included being free of weaves, wigs, and any type of extensions (such braids). I thought that was rather absurd considering the fact that your natural hair will still remain natural even while covered under weave, because it does not alter your natural hair pattern (I digress). I then proceeded to give my opinion which was along the lines of what I stated previously, and tried to educate people on the use of extensions as protective styles by natural women. I was then verbally chastised by one young woman and told that women who do that only do that because they don't want to do their hair. She also told me that she had been natural for quite a while and didn't use protective styles, that I didn't need to either, and that people should do their own hair in a nutshell. I did try to explain that everyone is different and that there is no right or wrong to this natural hair thing, but I wasn't going to argue. I just left the conversation with a "to each his own" type of comment, and kept it moving. Upon further analysis of this whole natural hair debate, I've realized one thing. For some people, natural hair is a state of being and not just a simple change in hair texture. In other words, unless you're rocking your own natural hair 24/7, in some people's eyes, YOU'RE NOT NATURAL.  I say, WHO CARES! Whether you rock your natural hair as an Afro or under a weave, we all belong to the same sisterhood of naturals and should embrace each other for our differences as well what we have in common. As I climb off my soapbox, I hope you all have a wonderful start to the week! Until next time Curly Nation!


  Live Free! Live Natural!

Monday, June 13, 2011

Finding Your Natural Hair Swag

Lots of self-confidence is needed to rock natural hair.

Name a few things you did to help build your confidence... to find your swag in order to feel comfortable with and embrace your natural curls.
NaturalNikkiDST Response:1. Educated myself on care methods and styling options. I became the expert at looking after my curls. It's the lack of skill and knowledge that will send you running back to that flat iron or relaxer.

2. Practiced Positive self talk and did my best to push the negative, self-defeating, and destructive thoughts from my mind.

3. Took less stock in other people's opinions. That meant the compliments and the snide remarks. It was my thoughts and feelings that counted.

4. Found a support network of amazing women at NaturallyCurly.com, CurlyNikki.com,various YouTube uploads, Natural Sunshine.ning.com, and of couse my blog spot...naturalnikkidsthair.blogspot.com. It always helps knowing that you're not the only one going through.


What about you?!

Saturday, June 11, 2011

Detangling 101

I did not write this blog personally. However I do agree and do these tips myself so the moment I read it. I felt like I wrote.lol. I added in  some pictures because I am a visual person. Anywho this post is all about detangling. The how tos and the please don'ts...

Dishing on Detangling
by Cassidy of NaturalSelectionblog.com
Detangling 101
Start with a wet head. Hair doesn't have to be soaking wet, but it should at least be damp.
Scratch that, before your head is wet, make sure its deep conditioned. Dry hair is more prone to break. A recent deep conditioning is a great way to ensure that your hair is in tip-top condition.
Add some slip. I like to use creamy conditioners to help my detangling tool glide down my strands. Other options are oils and butters depending on your preference. Whatever you choose, be sure to have some sort of lubrication on your hair to help out the process.
Eyes on the prize. If you are busy, in a rush, or distracted, drop the comb and step away. Improper detangling can break your hair and cause irreversible damage. To prevent both of these tangle travesties, make sure you've got time, energy, and focus to dedicate to the process.
Bottom up not top down. Never detangle from the root to the tip. Make sure you go in the other direction from the tips of your hair towards your scalp. Going from root to tip will just cause more tangles at the bottom of your hair.
Work in sections. This will help you manage the process and keep your task organized.

not my hair, just an example
Shed hairs be gone. The human head sheds on average 50-100 hairs each day. If you have curly coils, these little buggers are probably getting stuck in your coils rather than slipping out on their own. Detangling will help you get these hairs out and prevent tangles from reforming.
Timing is everything. Chances are you don't need to detangle once a day. Take sometime to figure out how often you really need to be detangling in your regular regimen. Weekly, bi-weekly, monthly are all good choices!
Ok, now that we're done with the foundation of detangling, lets talk about the various detangling methods. I am a firm believer that each of these methods have their own time and place. The great thing about being the boss of your very own self is that you can mix and match these techniques as you see fit within your own routines and hair care regimens.
Finger Detangling

Perhaps the most gentle of all detangling methods. Your fingers are like nature's combs and the great part about using your own hands is that they are part of your own nervous system, meaning that unlike plastic, they can really feel out knots and use their dexterity to work through them. Finger detangling is great for focusing on major knots and working to break them up one strand at a time. Never ever ever do the thing where you stick two fingers into a section of hair and pry them open to pop open a knot at the tip of your hair. That popping sound is your hair breaking. Sad.
Finger detangling is also a great option to use before combing or brushing to get rid of any big snarls before really getting into the nitty gritty of the process.
Brushing

The most polarizing detangling method in curly hair-dom. While some curlies' hair starts to break at the mention of the word 'Tangle Teezer', others should be posed on the cover of a Harlequin romance novel with their modified Denman D3. The thing about brushing is that if it works for you, it WORKS. With all of those rows of teeth, after a thorough brushing there will be no tangles to be found on your head. The key with brushing is that you must, must BE GENTLE. Be delicate, be tender, be soft. You are not MarciaMarciaMarcia Brady and should not aimlessly brush your hair as if you were. If you hear snapping: stop. If you see short strands covering your sink: quit. If you notice split ends: call it a day.

Combing

Probably the safest bet in the detangling department. It's thorough, it's efficient, and unless you're not following the basics, it's gentle. Select a model with widely spaced teeth and a good grip for holding. A basic wide tooth comb will run you a couple bucks at a beauty supply store, but you can upgrade to jazzier versions such as a seamless comb, shower comb (hangs in the shower), or the Ouidad Double Detangler (with it's 2 rows of teeth) to name a few.

Ok, fine I get it. But what do YOU do, Cass??
Ouidad Double Detangler all the way baby. That thing is a workhorse (and probably as heavy as one too). The double spans of teeth slice and dice my detangling time in half, while the wide width of the spaces between the teeth ensure that I'm not doing damaging my fine strands while I pull the comb through my hair. I also like that it's pretty sizable so that I can work through large-ish sections of hair. I've noticed no breakage or splits with this comb and its more efficient than using just a single wide tooth comb. I detangle religiously once a week, and if I push this any longer, I will really be paying for it and cutting out locs that form at the end of my coils. Again, sad.
I am in the process of considering - just considering - using the Tangle Teezer once a month on my hair. I tried it for the first time just yesterday and I loved the smoothness I got, but I've read enough reviews about TT imposed breakage to know that frequent use of this tool could wreak havoc on my fine strands. I am considering using it because it really did a great job of pulling out my shed hairs and I liked the thoroughness of the tool.
This is the Tangle Teaser

The Moral of the Story
Detangling is a way of life for naturals and for fine haired naturals is can be a dangerous endeavor. Just make sure to listen to your hair and find a method that works for your your curl pattern and your porosity. Remember that fine hair is more fragile than most so treat it as such. Do not rip, pull, or tug. Break out the scissors if and only if you can't get a tangle out with any of the above methods (some tangles just won't budge). Get your combs and brushes through gently and with ease. If your tangles are unrelenting, think about using a different method or getting a trim.
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

Oil Spill for 100?

Hi Ladies and Gents,

Since it’s been extremely hot like 90 and up and it’s important for us Naturalista’s to properly moisturize the hair etc.  Have anyone experienced any oil spills yet? I recently purchased some coconut oil because I’ve heard great reviews about it.  However the day before yesterday oil kept running down my face, on the sides, and in the back non-stop. What is that about?  I was so embarrassed literally and wanted to runaway.  I honestly don’t believe I over oiled my hair and is that even possible to do? Or is it normal in the summer time? Any help would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks so much in advanced!

Update: I also use 17 Essential Oils which is by my favorite YouTuber  blackonyx I usually grease my scalp with this every other day. I like that it has a little applicator because I tend to be messing with some things. haha. I think it promotes hair growth and a healthy scalp. I don't know if she says that or not, but it works for me  when I have protective styles like braids and twists. Another one of my favorite moisturizer is by Oyin Handmade.... more specifically Greg's Juice on hot days like this I spray it in my hair. Then I hop in the shower, and let the steam from the shower soak in my hair. (I do that method in the winter time) In the summer time, I just spray it on my hair and go. Plus it smells really yummy. I have Greg's Juice, Juices and Berries, and Frank Juice. But my favorite is Greg's Juice. I also bought a small spray bottle, I filled half with Greg's Juice and the other with water and I place it in my purse and I spray it on my hair throughout the day.

How to do your own Spring Twists/ Nubian Twists/Fluffy Twist

I found this link and I thought you guys would like it.I really want to get this look next!..This fluffy twists link tells you how to do your very on Fluffy/Puffy Twist.. 

In case you are wondering, this is what they look like






Wow, you "pull-off" that natural hair so well—not everybody can do that…

I have been natural for quite some time now, I’ve noticed that I come across this “compliment” quite often…“Wow, you pull-off that natural hair so well—not everybody can do that…” For some reason this statement irks me. While I know that the person is most likely being genuine, I can’t help but wonder about the implications of the statement. There are so many perceptions that come to mind when I hear this, but I want to hear from you all first! So, what do you think about the above statement? Has someone said something similar to you? Please weigh in!

Jill Scott says" I wasn't trying to be the spokeperson for natural hair"

Well I’ll be spamned.lol You know I have been waiting on someone to do a interview with Jill Scott about the fact that she’s not “natural” anymore and I finally got it. In a interview with Afro Bella Jill states “I wasn’t trying to be the spokesperson of natural hair” and you know what, I’m not mad at her. Check out what all she had to say below.
Afrobella: …to so many people, they look at your and they brand you as an icon that speaks to their particular experience. So to so many women, you’re considered a natural hair icon, or plus size icon and now you’re in a period in your life where you’re changing. How is that, and how do you feel about being seen that way by women and how do you feel about your hair and your beauty and your evolution that we’re all getting to see right now? 
Jill Scott: Well I think that change is good, and its necessary. Typically when I go through something, I’ll always cut my hair off. And I’ll wear wigs, and I’ll wear weaves and I’ll wear pieces because I like fashion. I like style and its fun to me. I’m very much a girl and I don’t know. I wont say worried…I’m interested to see how people look at me as someone who’s lost 60 [lbs] and working on 20 more. I’m interested to see if they’ll still feel connected to me or not. I don’t know. I wasn’t trying to be the spokesperson of natural hair. I just like my hair. I like how it feels, I like how I look. I enjoy my culture and my heritage. I see my mother and my father in my hair and I enjoy that. But at the same time I’ve been natural for 20 years and it was time to change. And when I get bored of this, I’ll cut my hair off again.
When it comes down to it, if you ask me just because a celeb is natural, unless they come out like ooohhhh say Kim Coles did you really cant blame them for changing their hair style. I mean really when it comes down it its their hair and who are we to get brittle about what these celebrities do and don’t do with their hair. Another way to put it is, you wouldn't want anyone telling you how to do your Natural Hair journey and if you decided to go back to perming I would think you would be a little irritated if everyone was jumping on you about YOUR hair as if, if you don't have hair like them anymore they feel like they have no reason to hang in there. I don't that's just me. Don't get me wrong I realize that when things like this it means there is one less person repping for naturals but at the same time, its and it is what it is situation and there is nothing that we can do about it.
All I gotta say is as long as her hair stays looking nice I could care less if she’s natural or not.
What do y'all think?????
Side Note: I will say this though, if she so didn't want to be a spokesperson for naturals why did she really go out and get a type 4a like wig and wear that on her album cover. Do you think it was because she just likes hair like she said, or do you think it’s because old habits die hard, and she just was having a I wanna be natural moment.

Who Have You INSPIRED to go Natural?

I have been natural two years and two months.(I BC April 17, 2009) and since then I have inspired five people to go natural. I was so comfortable with my natural hair and made it look so good other women hopped on the natural journey scene! Other women have said they will join me when they get in their 40's but why not now? Now is the time so when they become forty they will have bra strap hair length. Natural Hair is a movement that is progressing at an unbelievable rate! My former church, I swear every other woman was natural! Natural is in and it can not be stopped!

New Hairstyle June 10th

Went to the shop the other day, and look what my stylist Did... Special Shoutout goes to my girl Faith of Black Butterfly... If you want her info hit me up!

back view

the front, it is a little blurry

front

Cut Down on Hot Styling Tools Tip # 2

The heat from styling tools, such as hair dryers, curling irons, flat irons or hot rollers, can leave hair dry and damaged—which leads to more frizz. In addition, hair tends to form uniform curls more easily when it dries naturally. I always let my hair air dry.  Try to keep the use of these hot styling tools to a minimum. When a flat iron or hair dryer is a must, use a silicone-based serum beforehand to protect hair from the heat and control frizz. Also if you are always using heat to your hair, this can change your curl pattern, and also possible break your hair off. For example when you use to relax your hair, you didn't apply a perm to your hair every day or every week did you? No, because you would be bald. Everything is always about moderation. Applying heat once in  a while is ok, but not all the time. Remember our natural hair is very delicate. ;)

Never Use a Hairbrush on Your Curls!

Never Use a Hairbrush on Your Curls!Skip the hairbrush—separate your curls and define your hair style with a wide-toothed comb, A DENMAN BRUSH or your fingers. Don't brush your hair ever at all! Get yourself a wide-tooth comb and comb your hair while it's wet (you may want to comb the conditioner through in the shower to help with tangles). Brushing while wet will break your hair, and brushing while dry is a curly hair sin.
i like to call this the YES List
This gr8 for detangling, AND DEFINING CURLS.

I go back and forth with this comb and the one below. Its a gr8 detangler.

Gr8 for detangling your hair

Always comb your hair when its wet. Always detangle your hair when its wet

Sleep on a Satin Pillowcase

When you sleep, you toss and turn, which creates friction that causes tangles, split ends and breakage. Satin pillowcases minimize hair breakage and reduce split ends. Satin pillowcases also make it easier to maintain hairstyles. Using satin on your hair, whether a pillowcase or a scarf, helps maintain the moisture in the hair. Cotton and other materials dry hair out, which adds to frizz.
I PURCHASE MY SATIN PILLOW CASES AT SALLYS

Cut Down on Hot Styling Tools

The heat from styling tools, such as hair dryers, curling irons, flat irons or hot rollers, can leave hair dry and damaged—which leads to more frizz. In addition, hair tends to form uniform curls more easily when it dries naturally. Try to keep the use of these hot styling tools to a minimum. When a flat iron or hair dryer is a must, use a silicone-based serum before hand to protect hair from the heat and control frizz.

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

TOP 5 NATURAL HAIR TIPS

 So I found this flyer online and I thought the tips were so true that I decided to share with you all! I don't use this praticualr product line, but the tips that they gave are true.