Some People Have a Lot of Nerve!

I was on Facebook... Minding my own business and I see this post that said something about women cutting their hair.  It was a man of course and he was perturbed at all the black women letting go of their tresses and "going bald". 

Now most of us know what the revolution is, A lot of women are finally embracing their natural tresses.  He continued with his rant as to say that its very disturbing and that he just doesn't understand it.  He can't understand why some are cutting and continue to cut, why won't they let their hair grow back?

I knew this guy from the past, he is a good amount older than me, but I remember as a little girl he used to go on and on about my long hair.  My hair was pressed then but he definately had a infatuation with long straight hair.  I mean if that's your preference so be it, but must you down the ladies for their changes??

I then read through comments, because he got a few reactions from females and males.  I didn't put my two cents in because I might say something not so nice, so I just left it alone.  But one lady said, " Some women are going natural and some just want change! "  His rebuttal was, "while some want change why won't they wear wigs and weaves as they are going through this so called change??"

REALLY?? 

It reminded me of the time I was upset because this guy who was harping on me about why I won't straighten my hair.  You know what????? Men are something else sometimes, while some are embracing our changes, there are others who are working hard against the positive changes that we are making in our lives, they are too busy making it into a negative.  You don't have to embrace my change, but you can SHUTUP about it if you don't have nothing nice to say!  

Below is my Rant in 09 about this very subject.....

Stay Beautiful Everyone....

My Rant on Black Men & Natural Hair

Curls for Thought: So I mean..... What do you do?

I was at work, minding my own business and me and a co worker got into a discussion about natural hair.  See ... she has been natural and was wearing wigs, and braids but recently decided that enough was enough.

Cool.

So we were just chatting up about textures and things of that nature and my hair was in a wash and go.  Nothing spectacular, it was summer so I was in lazy mode in it's finest, my hair was in a nice puff from a wash from the previous day.
so the convo takes a turn

Her: You know I love your hair.... but I don't know how you do it *She shakes her head*

Me: How I do what ?*puzzled look*

Her:  I mean how do you do go through doing your hair like that?

Me: What do you mean? *really puzzled look*

Her:  Well you have to be tired of getting up and individually curling your hair like that! You have to get up pretty early!

Me: *Puzzled then frown... then a Ah ha Look* Oooooh, No, when I wash my hair this is just what it looks like.  I just slap some conditioner on it and keep it moving... (I laugh)

Her: *Amazment* Really?? When you wash your hair it looks.... like that?

Me:  Pretty much.... I add product and go

Her:  Wow... all this time I thought you were doing your curls by hand...

Smh.. mind you My natural curls looks like a straw set ( on good day..lol), but this is not the first time someone has asked me that.   And even though some folks are natural I think they don't understand that our hair has a wide range of looks... from curls, coils and kinks.. but they are all curls just the same.  Some curls are just tighter and looser than others.  I think we as Black folks period sometimes are programmed to think that our hair is not curly at all... All we think about is Nappy.  Not to say that Nappy is a negative word, but it has been used in the wrong context for so long that we think of the hair in a more negative light.  Some feel that it is impossible for our hair to be curly.
My co workers hair is probably about a 4b-4c, but it's fine and it has the zig zag curls going on and she doesn't even realize that her hair is curly!

We have to take the time to educate ourselves about the in's and outs of hair, learn to appreciate every kink, curl, and nap!  I love my hair for what it is... and I think everyone should do the same....

~ Beauti

Where is the "Stove Irons"?

I love hair.


With that being said, I really would be what you consider a "Healthy Hair" Stylist. I want to do what is best for your hair at all times. I enjoy watching the hair grow and just look healthy all around.

I was having a conversation with one of my clients who came in just to get a flat iron and she asked me if I used the Stove Irons.

I have before, but I can't say that I'm skilled in using them. Now I was raised on those hot irons. I remember going to get my hair done and wanting those irons to hit my hair to "silken" me out. When I first got my hair professionally straightened after being natural I walked into the shop looking for those stove irons. I didn't see them and I asked her where they were! I mean really, how are you going to straighten all this hair out with a regular old flat iron??


But the flat irons these days are anything but old and ordinary.

This is my take on the stove irons and why I believe the flat irons are better for your hair. Stove irons are not heat controlled. Yes it is up to the operator to control that but there have been so many times when they are not. I can say that the temp on the stove irons are probably never the same temp twice. Not to say that you won't get great results, but the test is when your hair is washed and you see the damage.

I have some professional flat irons and at the hottest it gets up to 430 degrees! That is extremely hot, and I rarely use them that high. Especially on natural hair, the highest I have went is 410 but I try to stay about 395 and below. It just doesn't take that much to straighten natural hair. Our hair is so fragile and I know we were raised to believe that we need all this heat, but I am always proud that I can get you nice and silky with a temp of 395 and below!

My educator told us that the stove irons were always so hot on Afro hair that was relaxed because most times it was over processed because of the relaxer. So in order to put any kind of bend in the hair it needed to be at a high temp.

So think about it.... With your hair in its natural state, the hair is healthy, not overprocessed and can be easily straightened with a lower amount of heat.

I think sometimes we look at those stove irons and want them out of habit, but fact of the matter is.....

we don't need them.

I prefer my hair to be be healthy and not heat damaged.

Of course the best recourse is not to flat iron at all, but personally I get the itch sometimes, and there is nothing wrong with it. Just Be Careful!!!

~ Beauti

Let Her Be CURLY!!

I'm in school for Cosmetology and I have stories to tell to say the least. I am enjoying myself and it is trying sometimes but I hope to do good for my part of the Natural community..LOL, Hope to make you girls proud!

So I have a pretty steady stream of natural clients that I service. Most heard of me through word of mouth and some have stumbled upon me on accident. I have a little girl that comes to see me about every two weeks. She is about 10 years old and her mom brings her in to get her hair straightened. She has a head full of hair that is even more beautiful Wet and wavy!

So she's sitting in my chair and we are conversating about kid stuff. You know music, favorite colors and.... Hair. So I ask her, "Do you like your curly hair?" She says, "Yep!" I say, "Well how come you won't wear your hair curly?" She said kind of sadly, "My mom won't let me..."

My heart sunk.

How could mom deprive her of her curls. Mind you... mom has been really informal to me, despite that apparently she loves how I do her hair because she reschedules with me before she leaves. When I met mom she is rocking a short relaxed do. No shade to the relaxer honey... if that's your cup of tea.. than so be it! But I felt so bad for the young girl that was not allowed to rock her curls.

I then asked the little girl, "What do you think pretty hair is?"
She answers,"Long and curly."

Awwwww man! How beautiful is that. And my thoughts were, I thought it would be so much easier to rock the curly hair than getting it straightned every two weeks. Every time she comes to me her hair is all over her head and she is just looking a mess. I guess mom is not really into doing anyone's head.

So what should I do? I want to approach the mom and fill her with a little bit more of info about rocking the curly hair. She just seems a little unapproachable, you know what I mean....

I say... Let her be Curly.....

What would you do??

Happy 1 Year Nappiversary!

If you don't know that I'm a nappy Gal.... You've been at my place totally blind. But I'm so proud to say that Today... THIS DAY... November 3 IS MY NAPPIVERSARY! 1 year all natural and it has been an exciting journey . I am totally looking forward to great things my second year. I've broken stereotypes that you only can wear you hair in an afro, that your only limited to one style, when some of you know that being natural is totally about versatility and creativity. It is a Blessing to show off the Kinks and Curls that God has Blessed us with!





I was explaining to one of my good friends, He is married and he wants me to talk to his wife about going natural. He was going on explaining that she doesn't have "bad" hair. HOOOOLLLLD UP!...LOL.. So you know I had to break it down to him. There is no Bad hair. I tell anyone in order to love your own hair, you have to fall in love with natural hair.... However it comes. I dont look at it as texture I see it as a beautiful head of hair. Hair is Beautiful, no matter what the texture... it's all about how u rock it! Only after you fall in love with natural hair can you accept your hair. Because the truth is...... My hair is not going ot be like yours and vice versa. Being natural is your own personal journey. It's about self acceptance and loving yourself. I believe naturals have the highest of self esteem that I've seen. To overcome what is accepted of the world as far as hair is concerned is awesome!




but anyway... I wasn't trying to go on and on about that, but I guess that was dear to my heart. But what I wanted to share was this video I created channeling my 1 yr of being natural. Thanks for coming by and celebrating with me!


Take care of you!