Just the other day at a Super Bowl gathering (go, Saints!!) someone was admiring myheadwrap, and she asked me how I did it. This reminded me that I had written a headwrap article a while back for a natural hair site, so I decided to make it a Cultured Expressions free project sheet. Enjoy! --- lisa
http://culturedexpressions.com/make-projects.php

I’m bald and I really want my hair to grow!!!!

Well, the truth is that I am not really bald. But my hair is really, really short. I had long natural hair until my head was shaved during my initiation into the orisa priesthood. And though I feel that the sacrifice was well worth it I am starting to realize something:

I really miss my hair.

It’s coming in slowly and I am loving the little curls that I now feel on my head (feel because I cannot look in the mirror yet to see them). But a few nights ago I had a dream I had big fat juicy twists and I even felt the weight of them as I moved. I was a never a fan of doing hair but I realize that I miss washing, conditioning, and styling my hair, as well as making my homemade hair products.

Rosemary Oil
Then I remembered something. I used to make a hair growth spritz made simply of water, hair conditioner, and rosemary oil that I combined together in a spray bottle that used to contain Bath and Body Works’ Sweet Pea Body Spray (I miss perfumes too. *sigh*). The conditioner helps to keep my hair soft and the rosemary oil stimulates the scalp and helps hair to grow.

I found myself talking to locs one afternoon while retwisting. It's kind of a quiet meditative time for me, but when I told one loc to "stay still" and another loc to, "get out of the way" I realized that these babies have taken on a life of their own! In a way I am like a mother, a "LOCTOMOM" and these are my babies. As they grow and mature, they are growing personalities unique to their strands.

THE FAT ONE that's the one that sits at the top of my head. I kinda think of it as the cheerleader on the squad who you notice has packed on some weight over the summer, but you don't know how to approach her with the issue. I mean, I didn't plan to have a loc that thick, but alas.

THE THIN ONE The one that sits right about my right ear. It was crying out for help. So I paired her up with the loc next to it and they became siamese twins.

Hello ladies...

I've haven't had a relaxer since September. I'm blessed to have decent hair that does what it is told. I like straight styled hair. I'm going natural to be healthier and to grow my hair out, say shoulder length. And maybe wear it curly in the summer.

Since Christmas I've noticed that my new growth is becoming a challenge.

I teach Zumba fitness 3 times a week. So my roots are getting thick. I use a hair dryer with a comb every morning and evenings of the 3 days I teach class. Since Jan. I've had to use a straightening comb.

I have a hair stylist that does awesome work with my hair. Instead of seeing him every other month. I need to go once a month now.

I got my hair done New Year's Eve.

This is me and my husband New Year's Eve.

And now I'm ready for another hair appointment.

I can't count how many times a day I find my hands in my hair feeling the different textures each of my locs has thus far designed. Each one different than the next but filled with love all the same. Although this is my second set and I am some what impatient on the growth and have regrets for cutting the first set, I have never been more satisfied with any hair style more than this one. I have become more confident in myself, more spiritual, and have discovered so many more beautiful loced sistahs as myself who also share the love of being loced or even natural. I have come to realize it is not a hairstyle but a way of life. I find myself wanting to eat healthier, meditate more, seek the truth of my history more and not allowing my desire for knowledge to be denied.

Hi ladies! My name is Tasha and I'm a natural gal and have been without a relaxer since April of '08, but I BC'd in August of '08.

I was one of the lucky girls who was able to quickly adapt a routine and products when I started my natural hair journey. I've been fortunate enough to try a few products and I've stuck with them since day one.

One of those products was shea butter. I started off with a very expensive shea butter because I wasn't sure where to find shea butter that was on the ground in my area. I bought something from a store in the mall (bad combo of words there) and I will NEVER do that again. What I did do, was add oils and things to my shea butter to enhance it's effectiveness.

Since then, every time I've bought shea butter, I've tried adding new things to it. It wasn't until this summer that I finally found the magic recipe for my hair.

www.christinegant.etsy.com

I find that the transition into natural hair care is as big as the transition into natural hair. I didn't start out using natural products for my hair. I don't even remember making a decision about it. It just happened. I guess one day I looked at the ingredients of my shampoo and literally did not recognize any of the ingredients because they looks like names of chemical compounds rather than something that should be in my hair. I also knew I had to do something about my psoriasis which is a skin condition in which the skin cells mature at a rapidly faster rate than normal and the end product of this maturation is flaky dead skin cells. Unfortunately, I have this condition towards the front of my scalp. I knew I needed something more to handle this problem. So I started researching products. I decided to start using pure essential oils and for shampoo, I decided to use Carol

My precious daughter is 5 yrs old and begin to wonder why her hair was not long? It really concerned me that she had these feelings so young but I had to be real with my self and look at her life; I have two older sons( 9 and 13) and these types of feelings have not surface yet. I decided to walk in her shoes and began to view her world through a 5 year old, and noticed all the fake braids, weave and perms at such a young age, at church and school and TV. I even research the internet for solutions. this is how I found ymib a while ago. I found information but not always gear towards children; I have viewed positive and negative hair care solution on you tube. My hair is natural so it is normal for me to have wanted this style for my daughter. I even thought that Chris Rock's movie "Good Hair" would offer more positive insight; ( I have not seen it... but the reviews I read were mixed- especially lacking women and children with natural hair.

Ymib has help me to stay focus on being a mom(thanks) ...this is my first real post..but now I realized my creative force I will now blog natural hair and living for my princess and share my information.

I send many thanks to Lumayna for posting the Oprah episode on Chris Rock’s “Good Hair” documentary. Please check out her blog because this sistah brings up so many interesting and precise points. I have not seen the movie yet and do plan on doing so. (Hasn’t been released yet) Lumayna mentions that Chris Rock should have touched upon the historical attributes of the term “Good Hair.” And I do also believe the same to an extent and how he missed certain things that should have been discussed. Another thing I have to agree with Lumayna on is the fact that this movie is just repeating a lot of stuff sistah’s already know. And for it to be an informative movie targeting black women, it sure does play a broken record.

Ok, so I know everyone heard by now of the documentary that Chris Rock sent forth. If you haven't, well here's some clips of his enlightening journey

Ok so what is he trying to prove or change? What is he trying to accomplish by putting this video out there? What is he trying to shed light on? Are some of the questions I had after viewing this pre-screening clip. So I watched the Oprah show hoping to answer some of these questions and Chris Rock still failed me.

Here's some more clips

People always ask me, "How did you get your hair like that?" and without I thinking, I proceed to tell them how I achieved the style I am wearing and it’s maintenance aspects. Some follow up with asking how to go about transitioning. And again, I just explain ways to transition with the end result being cutting off their processed ends and having a head full of natural hair.

I have never thought of starting off my natural hair ‘dissertations’ with what should be the very first opening sentence and should go something like; before embarking on the natural hair journey, you must first be in a natural state of mind. Being in a ‘natural state of mind’ is actually the most important part of the natural hair journey and this really determines whether you actually stay on the journey. You must first change the way you think about natural hair before transitioning or doing a big chop.

A Page From My Journal

A few years back, I started writing down my thoughts, inspirations, and experiences so that one day I could look back and see how I came to be. There is one particular journal entry that I really felted moved by, and I share this passage with my friends on my natural hair website and blog. So I thought I would share it on here as well. It's a little poetic and very expressive. But sharing this is really about reaching out to any one that may have struggles of their own. It doesn't necessarily have to be the same struggle, but if you can recognize that their is something in your life that is missing - then maybe you can relate. It's good to express yourself through writing, art, music or dance. Because that is one of the best ways that you can learn and grow as a person. This journal entry is from 2006, but the thoughts and feelings are alive and well today.
 

Drawing by Eric Battle

This article can be found on www.meshplex.org and type in relaxers in the search engine.

The Effects of Hair relaxers

SisterlocksEvery six weeks for years sometimes from childhood it happens. What would make a person bounded in this way for years? The answer is hair relaxers. Most people of African descent have tightly coiled hair that most people call “nappy”. Some people take the statement of nappy as negative whereas some people embrace it. Black people from all different countries relax their hair, because they are afraid if they don’t they will not be accepted by corporate settings and sometimes their own family and friends.

Why not keep the status quo and do what most Black people do and relax or what some people call it “perm” your hair?

Hair relaxers have harmful health effects.
Chemical burns
Irritation
Red scalp
Receding hairline

Absolutely avoid any products that have mineral oil, petroleum jelly and alcohol. These are the 3 bigger no nos for natural hair. I recommended anything 100% organic. These are the products I use and will post their websites. The products I use are not only organic but they are black owned and made by black people. Remember Black Green Black. They have products for women with and without locks so no one is left out. Enjoy!

www.goingohm.com- crown of glory herbal shampoo or the lemongrass shampoo. I will be trying their aloe vera hair gel and oils soon.
www.joienaturals.com- Mygel lock gel
www.viennasherbalcompounds.com- I use their jojoba oil, rose oil, and hair dressing conditioner which is very liquidy thin and it smells very good

If you suffer with constant itching of the scalp. I recommend Thayers Medicated Superhazel with Aloe Vera. You can find this at a health food store or on ebay.

So far it's been one month growing strong, but some of my locs are becoming rebellious. I thought I had plethora of information of how to care for my locs, comes to find out that I don't really know what I'm doing. I had someone start them off for me and decided to continue caring for them on my own. The reason for that is because I had numerous bad experiences with people doing my hair, so I only trust myself and people with good aura. With that said, I use to have dandruff problems and would use Top Brass to medicate my scalp. It worked miracles for me and even discontinued using it. But once I started my loc'ing process, my dandruff problem returned and I committed a crime by applying the cream without realizing that it will cause buildup. Now my build ups are visible and I don't even want to know what's going on in back of my head, but I know it's an embarrassment. I have white specs every where and I don't want to say this, but my locs are looking dirty. I was told not to wash my hair for 3 months and to re-twist every 2-3 weeks in order to prevent my hair from thinning and becoming fragile.

so, I have naturally curly hair, and I have no idea what to do with it.
I mean it looks nice. but it gets soo frizzy and dry at times and too much oil makes it heavy. I just do not know what to do with my hair. also what other hairstyles can i do besides wearing it down and all over my head? I have tight curls and the frizz is a mess.

Can someone please give me some tips and product to use?? I need some help.

Thanks!

Jenny

Hey Sistahs!!

Today I'm closing the contest at 11:59pm for the chance to win "The Knotty Truth" and a winner will be choosen will it be you??

Check out my blog for details!!

www.NappturallySpeaking.blogspot.com

Hey Sistahs

I had the pleasure to meet a great author today by the name of Michelle George. She is the author of "The Knotty Truth" I've started reading the book and so far it's great! Check out my post about it on my blog!!

http://nappturallyspeaking.blogspot.com/2009/08/knotty-truth-part-2.html

Nappturally Yours,

MoZaic

Here is a list of a few healthy foods to incorporate into our diets for healthier hair.

Whole Grains
Stone ground whole wheat bread and fortified whole grain breakfast cereals contains healthy doses of zinc, iron, and B vitamins. B vitamins are very important for the health and growth of the hair.

Dark Green Vegetables
Spinach, Broccoli and Swiss Chard are excellent sources of vitamins A and C, which your body needs to produce sebum. Sebum is an oil secreted by your hair follicles in order to lubricate the skin and hair.

Beans
Kidney Beans and lentils should be an important part of your hair care diet. They provide plentiful protein to promote hair growth, iron, zinc, and biotin. Zinc helps to create a healthy scalp, and without it, dandruff and flakiness can occur and can lead to hair shedding. Biotin is often recommended for strengthening hair and nails. Deficiency in Biotin is extremely rare, as intestinal bacteria generally produce an excess of the body's daily requirement.

Salmon

Hey Ladies,

I found a lady by the name of Michelle George she's the author of a book called "The Knotty Truth". Michelle George is a resident of Columbus, Oh and a Natural hair care advocate. Her book "The Knotty Truth" is for people who are transitioning to a natural state. From her website the description of the book says it "explores the mental and physical journey of transitioning back to your nappy roots. How to do it successfully with the right products, the right styles and the right tools!"

Even though I'm not transitioning I will be purchasing the book this weekend and blogging about it afterwards. If you are in the metropolitan area of Columbus, OH Michelle George will be at 'The Raisin Rack" Natural Grocery Store 2545 Schrock Road Westerville, Ohio 43081 on Saturday August 8, 2009 at 11am. They have limited seating folks!! So RSVP by calling 614-882-5886

Be sure to check out her website at: http://www.theknottytruth.net/home.html

Nappturally Yours,

MoZaic

Adornment365 is the salon experience brought to you by the producers of the pioneering Adornment Natural Hair, Health & Beauty Exhibition. With its salon based in Morley’s Department Store Brixton Adornment365 is a premium hair salon specialising in natural afro hair and natural beauty products.

The Adornment team of natural hair & beauty consultants will be at You’re Beautiful, Woman! 2009 offering guests the opportunity to experience Adornment365’s supreme natural hair & beauty services. With their very special approach to natural hair and beauty care the Adornment365 experience is a welcome addition to the You’re Beautiful, Woman event. Adornment365 will happily be providing complimentary hair consultations, quick-styling, mini-beauty treatment and samples of its natural and organic products in a dedicated mini-salon space at the Highgate Newtown Centre.

I must confess. I have taken a lover. We are still in the honeymoon phase of our affair, so forgive me if I gush about my lover shamelessly. Just indulge me for a moment. I have fallen head over heels for my hair. Yes, I’m talking about my hair, and I am so serious.

I have to start this by sharing the story of how we met. Many times when I got on the A train anywhere between Brooklyn and Harlem, this woman would get on. Sometimes I'd be having the toughest day ever, and then this woman would get on the train with me, who looked like she stepped out of one of my paintings. She had the most gorgeous deep brown skin, and a short afro with a flower stuck right in the front, every time time I saw her. And somehow her presence gave me strength. She would remind me of joy, beauty, and sisterhood. I would sit or stand on the subway incredibly focused on drawing strength from her image, all the while trying not to have her notice me of course!

I love infusing oils. The process involves grinding freshly dried herbs and allowing it to steep in oil over a period of time. I like to infuse my herbs in extra virgin olive oil. I leave my infusions out in a sunny location to let the sun gently heat the oils to allow the herbs to release all of its potent nourishing properties. I use this potent infusion in my hair oils and hair butters. It's a potent blend of herbs to stimulate hair growth and soothe the scalp.

I used the following herbs in this Infusion:

Organic Burdock: Maintains and Promotes healthy Scalp, encourages hair growth, Improves Hair Strength, Shine and Body.

Comfrey Root: Most well known herb for healing Skin, Offers relief to dry itchy skin.

Organic Neem: Repairs Damaged Hair, Restores Sheen, Encourages Hair Growth.

Organic Chamomile: Heals inflamed Skin

Organic Nettle: Antifungal properties, Simulates the Scalp and encourages Hair Growth

Black Walnut Hull: Antibacterial, Antiviral, Anti parasitic

Organic Calendula Flowers: Nourish the skin, healing and Anti fungal

Try a scalp massage. Scalp massages are vital for beautiful healthy hair. Massages should be done with the pads of your fingertips or with the heels of your hands.

With a few drops of your favorite hair oil, gently massage scalp in a circular motion. I do this right before I go to bed at night. Massaging the scalp will increase blood flow to the hair roots stimulating hair growth. It also helps keep the scalp flexible and stimulates the secretion of the lymph glands. Massages are very soothing to the nerves and promotes relaxation.

Some experts have asserted that reduced circulation in the scalp can contribute to hair loss.

This blog is about my hair and also my pregnancy. I feel broken. Maybe its just my the hormones from being pregnancy. Maybe i am just emotional. I am a natural hair girl. I started out wearing my hair almost two years ago. After a year i of going natural, i decided to loc. I am almost 3 months locs and i was loving it. Deciding to go natural after years of damage from perms and wearing weaves was an easy decision. I was even backed by husband who cut all of my chemical hair off for me. I did not do a transition. I just wanted it off and he cut it. So i sported a low cut for a while til it grow to a lil fro. Anyhow now decided to loc was different. I wanted his opinion and his so to say permission to do this because he basically thought locs were unattrative and dirty. So i held off and i kept letting him now that i really admired locs and i want to have some of my own. So eventually he gave in. I look at so many pictures of beautiful loc wearers with gorgeous locs. I show him these pictures so he started appreciated them more i think. He comments on my hair a lot. My hair now is in the teenage locing stage or some may refer to this as the ruff stage. Fuzzy everywhere.

Come Join Us!!!!
Haircare social network for curly and afro textures.
Grow your hair to long lengths, learn how to treat your hair for growth and health

Click on link :
http://hairsistas.ning.com

Visit MyHairSistas

There are good products and bad products for you air. Eliminating the ingredients and prooducts found in the "just say no list" will be hard, but it is necessary. Please become an avid reader of the ingredients list. No more picking up branded items! Choose items with the right stuff! Throw out products that are harmful to the body like:

Sodium/Calcium Hydroxide-carcinogenic/perms
Beeswax/suffocates hair/hair pomades
Synthetic dyes/perfumes/color/additives-allergies,hair breakage*caution
SLS/SLES-shampoos/diarrhea,irritation,carcinogenic,hair breakage,strips nutrients
Silicone(anything that ends in cones)-products for shine/locks moisure OUT of the hair, creates a wall, preventing O2 and product exchange.
Proteint-with caution, as mentioned, follow up with a moisturizer if used/plant or animal based
ALUMINUM/hair dye/excessive dryness/breakage/linked to Alzheimers
DEA/MEA/TEA-instant penetration into the bloodstream, alters hormones in body
PETROLEUM/’moisturizers’/headache/discoloration/dizziness/mental depression/nausea/narcosis/coma/suffocates hair preventing nutrient exchange including O2!

Mission Statement:

The Good Hair Shop exists to serve

the kinky, curly, nappy, straight hair or

no – hair at all

type of client who deserve an environment that will empower and inform by providing

specialty organic hair and skin products and styling solutions.

All hair types are welcome.

Here, everybody has good hair.

The Good Hair Shop is growing.

The Good Hair Shop is seeking locticians and natural hair artists to join the family of The Good Hair Shop.
Our studio is a holistic environment that offers our guests an organic experience with each visit.
Experience and portfolio required. Willing to train.
Please contact info@thegoodhairshop.com