What Does "Natural" Mean?

It seems like there are always unnecessary issues in the black community. If it's not relaxed hair vs. natural hair, it's light-skinned vs. dark-skinned or some other insignificant "problem." Now it's natural vs. "truly" natural. I thought having relaxer-free hair was enough for me to call myself natural, but evidently to many people being natural is much more than that. To some, to be considered "truly" natural, you can't dye your hair or wear weave/extensions and you can only use all natural products (that's right, juices and berries). Some people even think that you can't wear fake nails or makeup and you have to be a vegetarian. Really? When I first went natural, I had no idea that people had differing opinions of what natural hair was. I thought having natural hair was just that...having natural HAIR--the way one's hair naturally grows out of their scalp--kinky, curly, or coily. Personally, I don't care if you have natural hair and dye it 4 different colors, use products with silicones or eat 5 cheeseburgers a day (ok, maybe that's a little too much). You still have natural HAIR in my book.

Just because someone chooses to wear their HAIR natural doesn't mean that other aspects of their life should automatically be natural as well. It almost seems like people who expect women with natural hair to be tree-hugging vegetarians do this because they think that ladies with natural hair feel that they are superior to women with relaxed hair. So, those who criticize do it to make natural hair ladies feel less than natural. Self-proclaimed "truly natural" women do this as well (to show superiority to natural hair women who dye their hair, wear makeup, etc). Yes, there are natural women (often referred to as "natural nazis") who do believe relaxers are the devil and bash women with relaxed hair, but they are the minority. Why can't being relaxer free be enough? Why can't we applaud women for embracing their kinky hair...period. Even relaxed women who can stretch their relaxers for long periods of time and embrace their new growth, rather than run from it, should be applauded.

What do YOU think?

Featured Onyx Rose: LaToya

OR: Where are you from?
LaToya: I'm from Richmond, VA, but I've lived in San Antonio, TX for almost 7 years.

OR: Random fun fact about yourself?
LaToya: I have an extra set of wisdom teeth :)

OR: What inspired you to go natural?
LaToya: All the beautiful naturals I saw on various hair boards and Youtube.

OR: How long did you transition/Describe your transitioning experience.
LaToya: I attempted to transition a couple times before actually doing the BC, so I guess the third time really is the charm. My last relaxer was on January 16, 2010. I got a short asymmetrical bob cut on March 5th then had my husband cut all the relaxed ends off on March 6th. I actually planned to do my BC on the 5th, but my friend didn't want to do it, so she talked me out of it. The cut she gave me was really cute, but the next day I admitted to myself that it wasn't what I truly wanted, so I asked my hubby to do it. Initially, he said no because he didn't want me to be unhappy with it, but he finally gave in.




OR: What do you love about your natural hair?
LaToya: I love its thickness, sheen, and that it holds twists very well.

OR: What's one natural hair myth you wish would die?
LaToya: *sigh* I wish the "mineral oil, cones, and sulfates are the devil" stuff would stop. It really irritates me when someone passes up a product because of one ingredient while ignoring the other 20 ingredients in the product. However I've learned to keep my thoughts to myself. Live and let live, ya know?

OR: Has your natural hair changed how you view yourself?
LaToya: It has, although I can't fully explain it now. Even though the hair transition is over, I'm still going through my mental transition. I know for sure that some of my concepts of beauty have changed. When I look at kinky or coily hair that grows upward (including my own), I see nothing but beauty.

OR: Name your top three hair products and what you like about them.
LaToya: This is hard because I'm a HUGE PJ and still figuring out what I really like, but here are three of my faves:

1. Hairveda Moist Condition 24/7 - It's wonderful as a cowash, leave-in, and moisturizer, and smells great!

2. Darcy's Botanicals Pumpkin seed Moisturizing conditioner - I just cannot say enough about this conditioner. It smells like pumpkin spice cookies and makes the hair super soft. I use it for cowashing and dcing.

3. Hawaiian Silky 14 n 1 - This product is amazing! I was truly surprised at the moisture, softness, and definition it gave my hair. And best of all, there's no greasiness!



OR: What advice do you have for those thinking about transitioning?
LaToya: Don't be disappointed if you don't go through with your first (or second or third) attempt at transitioning. You'll definitely know when the time is right. Also don't beat yourself up about not being able to transition for a long period of time. If 2 months is your limit, then just end the transition and chop it all off!! LOL

OR: Where can people find you online?
LaToya: Fotki
I'm also on CurlyNikki, Hair2Toe, Hairlista, Longhaircareforum, and Natural Sunshine.

BET Awards 2010: A Night of Natural Hair!

Natural hair ladies were representing at last night's BET Awards. Singers Janelle Monae and Esperanza Spalding both rocked their signature natural hairstyles--Janelle with her pompadour and Esperanza with her classic afro.





Natural hair rocker girl turned Covergirl, Shea Rose was also present at the awards. She along with four other young women are featured in Queen Latifah's/Covergirl's "Ignite Your Persona" Campaign (Shea was the one with the afro that everyone noticed).

How did you feel about seeing women (although not many) with natural hair on stage?

Featured Onyx Rose: Natasha

OR: Where are you from?
Natasha: I'm from many places but now I reside in the south.

OR: Random fun fact about yourself?
Natasha: I'm so extra goofy. I love to make people laugh.

OR: What inspired you to go natural?
Natasha: Many Youtube ladies, but I've always wanted to have my natural hair. Just never had the courage like I did last year to go for it.

OR: How long did you transition/Describe your transitioning experience.
Natasha: I transitioned for 8 months and the transition wasn't bad at all. I kept my hair in braids, extensions, and up-dos or roller sets.

OR: What do you love about your natural hair?
Natasha: I love the versatility and that I can wear it curly, straight, and then I can flip my hairstyle all over again to something new.

OR: What's one natural hair myth you wish would die?
Natasha: I hate when I hear that natural hair is bad or that it isn't good hair. No one's hair is better than the other. Some people's hair is just more looser or tighter. Plus, I think that it's just ignorance and people just desire to be like others more and that makes them dislike their beauty even more.


OR: Has your natural hair changed how you view yourself?
Natasha: Yes. I thought I was pretty (maybe fine at times) when my perm was fresh, but natural hair has taught me that there are more things to people than just their hair. I always used to see people with short hair and I'd be ignorant and say "Ugh, she has no hair" and I didn't know what was going on in that person's life. Now that I have short hair I see how others may have felt when I did those things and it's taught me to put my feet in someone else's shoes for a while before judging someone.

OR: Name your top three hair products and what you like about them.
Natasha: I use Suave and it really makes my hair soft and easy to manage. I also love Mane 'N Tail. Those products feel so good and seem to be working for me. Oils like rosemary and jojoba oil are good for the scalp as well.

OR: What advice do you have for those thinking about transitioning?
Natasha: My advice would be to just research as much as you can before deciding what to do with your hair and remember it's YOUR hair, so do what YOU want to do to it not what everyone else wants. You're going to be the one washing, combing, and styling it so what others say doesn't really matter unless they are trying to help.

OR: Where can people find you online?
Natasha:
Youtube
Blog

Product Review: Taliah Waajid Protective Mist Bodifier

Price: around $7.00 for 8 oz. from local BSS

Ingredients: Water, Propylene Glycol, Cetearth-20, Cetrimonium Bromide, Wheat Germ, Indian Hemp Seed Oil, Olive Oil, Aloe Vera, Bee Pollen, Silk Amino Acid, Bay Laurel, DMDM, Hydantoin, Fragrance.

Description: The Protective Mist Bodifier is a daily leave-in conditioner. Can also be used for comb outs and detangling curly hair. Use on wet or dry hair. The Protective Mist Bodifier coats, protects, and softens the curl pattern. This results in easier to comb hair as well as long lasting styles.

My Opinion: Someone recommended this product and I’d heard good things about it from various other people, so I decided to finally try it. I thought it was a leave-in that I could easily spray on my hair, but it has the consistency of products like Wave Nouveau Finishing Lotion, S-Curl, etc. Although I the coconut smell (actually, it smells like piña colada ), I’m not impressed by this product. When I tried it on wet hair and allowed it to air dry, my hair felt kind of soft, but dry. What good is a leave-in if your hair still feels dry? I tried this product on dry hair as well and got the same results. It was also recommended that I dilute this with water and I did. Was there a difference? Nope. It was actually worse. I won’t repurchase this.

Rating: 2.5/5

Featured Onyx Rose: Kadia

OR: What's your name and where are you from?
Kadia: Kadia aka The Afroballerina from London by way of Jamaica & St. Lucia.

OR: Random fun fact about yourself?
Kadia: My 2 dance goals are to be en pointe in ballet and to perform in a Latin ballroom dance competition.

OR: What inspired you to go natural?
Kadia: In 2000, I worked at a salon and it had been 8 weeks since my last relaxer. The owner/stylist blow-dried my hair completely straight and it lasted for 2 to 3 more weeks. I decided then that it was pointless to keep perming my hair and have been natural ever since.

OR: How long did you transition/Describe your transitioning experience.
Kadia: I transitioned for about 6 months, from October to March. I wore straw sets, cornrows, and curly styles, no braids. I never did the big chop (BC) which I regret now. One day, it was warm and I was tired of having relaxed hair on the ends and desperately wanted to wear my fro out. I wet my hair and took scissors and cut off all the straight pieces at the ends and had the cutest 3 to 4 inch afro ever!! I rocked it proudly that day!

OR: What do you love about your natural hair?
Kadia: love the versatility. I love the way it curls. I love how it always changes and is quite unpredictably predictable. :) I love how it blows in the wind and then returns to its rightful place. I love how soft it is. I love how it frames my face.



OR: What's one natural hair myth you wish would die?
Kadia: Nappy natural hair is not a 'bad grade' of hair!!!

OR: Has your natural hair changed how you view yourself?
Kadia: I am definitely more confident than when I had a relaxer. I never got as many compliments on my hair as I do now. I also feel as though I inspire others to be natural...to express...to be free.

OR: Name your top three hair products and what you like about them.
Kadia: I keep it really simple with my product usage. Although I've been natural for a decade, I still get tips and advice from others who have discovered products that work for them. 1) Kinky Curly's Knot Today & Curling Custard: they really detangle my hair, enhance my curl pattern, and smooth my hair beautifully. 2) Olive Oil & Honey (as a shampoo/pre-poo): it leaves my hair feeling loved, nourished, and enriched. 3) Extra virgin coconut oil: One of the best moisturizers ever!

OR: What advice do you have for those thinking about transitioning?
Kadia: JUST DO IT! Don't hesitate. You won't regret it! Drink plenty of water. Take your vitamins. Eat healthy. Exercise. All of these things affect your hair. Use natural hair products. Avoid mineral oil. Moisture, moisture, moisture!!! Condition, condition, condition!!! Learn natural hair lingo like pre-poo, co-wash, BC, DC, etc. Do your research! Talk to others with natural hair. There are millions of us out there on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, etc. Find us. Ask us questions. We share our knowledge!



OR: Where can people find you online?
Kadia: www.twitter.com/afroballerina and a video I did for a friend is at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsWkxW4kYNc

Fierce On a Budget

Creating a set regimen can be expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. When I first started my HJ (hair journey) I initially spent almost $90.00 buying random products that I had no business buying. Before you begin making your regimen, do research so that you’re not left buying $90.00 worth of products at one time like me (go ahead and laugh). If you’re starting from scratch, research products from each category (shampoo, deep conditioner, etc) and pick one from each category that you would like to try. If the product doesn’t work for you, you can always try another one, but if it does work for you, you’re not left feeling bad that you have two extra, random moisturizers laying around—you’ll have that one staple product that you can depend on. This also prevents you from becoming a product junkie. There are inexpensive, quality products out there that can give you the results of expensive products. I often hear people say that they can't afford to properly take care of their hair. Here’s an example of how to have a great regimen for less than $25.00.

Sulfate-Free Shampoo

Organix Coconut Milk Shampoo: $5.94 at Walmart

Conditioner

Suave Naturals Tropical Coconut Conditioner: $1.78 at Walmart

Moisturizer
Cantu Leave-In Conditioning Cream: $4.99 at Walmart

Deep Conditioner

Queene Helene Cholesterol: $3.49 at Sally Beauty Supply

Oil

Castor Oil: 2.76 at Walmart

Gel
Olive Oil Eco Styler Gel $2.99 at Walgreens

Total: $21.95

Of course you don't have to buy these exact same products, this is just an example. Try whatever you think will work for YOU (because not everything works for everyone). Just remember to keep it simple! Your hair (and wallet) will thank you for it later.

Scab Hair: What You Need to Know

After some ladies complete their transition to natural hair, they notice that some sections of their hair are very dry and brittle. The texture of these sections is often described as neither natural hair nor relaxed hair which can make it difficult to style, moisturize, and blend in with the rest of one’s natural hair texture. Scab hair is damaged hair caused by the prolonged use (many years) of relaxers, so the longer you relaxed your hair, the more likely you are to have scab hair. The harsh chemicals of relaxers can damage your scalp and hair follicle, causing your hair to be frizzy,rough, and less defined. Though many complain about scab hair, not every natural gets it. With that said, not everyone “believes” in scab hair either. Some naturals think that scab hair is merely caused by lack of deep conditioning and moisture, and it gets better as one learns how to attend to her hair's needs. However, if you believe that you do have scab hair, there’s no need to worry. It’s temporary and some people cut it off while others simply take care of it and let it grow out (which may take months). Deep conditioning weekly and moisturizing your hair daily will help you manage your scab hair as it grows out.

Do you think scab hair is real?

Featured Onyx Rose: Ebony

Hello lovely nappturalites! My name is Ebony Washington. I am from Alabama and currently reside in Washington, DC.



Random fun fact about yourself?

I delicately balance my left and right brain as a software consultant and poet.


What inspired you to go natural?

After many years of sensitive scalp, dandruff, and hair breakage, I decided to cease the monthly ritual of getting a relaxer. Having been permed since elementary school, I started the journey to naturally, coiled hair. Growing up in rural Alabama, I knew nothing other than pressed or permed hair. It was only after I moved to the San Francisco Bay Area that I saw the beautiful diversity of natural African American hair. I was inspired by the versatility of natural hair.


How long did you transition/Describe your transitioning experience.

I started my transition in the summer of 2007 after a failed attempt at going natural in 2005. With a very nervous husband and a “What are you trying to do to your hair now?” family, I gradually grew out my relaxed hair and did the final trim in early 2009. I kept my bi-weekly appointments with my stylist religiously during the grow-out phase. Though I kept my hair pressed during the transition, I now only wear it curly.



What do you love about your natural hair?

The texture of my coils are so amazing! I cannot keep my hands out of my hair. Finding such perfect coils after years of relaxers was like removing cheap linoleum from the floor to find pristine hardwood. I can wear it in a funky fro hawk or press it straight. I can work out and not worry about my hair reverting. I can wash it daily, apply leave-in condition, and go after pulling it back into a puff. I feel complete with my natural coils.

My natural hair has made me more aware of the things I put on and in my body. After going natural, it was like a complete lifestyle change. I wanted to live more…well…naturally.



What's one natural hair myth you wish would die?

“Wow, your hair is so soft!” I wonder why some people think that natural hair would be wiry and rough. Good hair is healthy hair and healthy hair is soft and full of body.



Has your natural hair changed how you view yourself?

My natural hair enhances facial features that I thought were problem areas before (forehead and cheekbones). I spent years covering my forehead with bangs only to find that natural hair brought out the true beauty of my features. My natural hair, cheekbones, and forehead were always meant to be together.



Name your top three hair products and what you like about them.

Aloe vera gel, shea butter, and coconut oil. These are 3 staples that I use in most of my hair recipes. Aloe vera gel is great for hydration and moisturization. I mix aloe vera gel with filtered water and jojoba oil and use it as a daily leave-in spritz.

Shea butter is my overall favorite as it softens my hair and seals my ends. Coconut oil is the ultimate oil-based moisturizer. A little coconut oil goes a long way and I do not have to use a lot of heavy pomade to get the healthy shine that coconut oil provides.



What advice do you have for those thinking about transitioning?

1. Ask yourself why. If you are doing it because you think it is the latest fad then the journey may not be for you.

2. Once you are ready to start, tap into the rich source of information found on the Internet. YouTube, Twitter, and blogs helped me learn so much about natural hair.

3. Surround yourself with positive, supportive people as there are a lot of people who are very vocal about their misunderstanding of natural hair.

4. Document your journey. Start a blog, video log, or just take pictures. Honor each stage of the journey and celebrate once the journey is done.

5. Find a stylist that specializes in natural hair. Improper care of natural hair can be just as damaging as harsh chemicals (i.e. relaxers).



Where can people find you online?

Finding salons and hair products that specialized in maintaining type 4B hair was a struggle. With that, I began to experiment with natural ingredients in my own home to create hair, bath, and body products. The products are designed to work for people with naturally curly hair, sensitive skin, and an affinity for using all-natural products. Good hair is healthy hair. Good skin is glowing skin:

Blog: http://blog.ebonylaquise.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ebonylaquise

Earrings Are a Natural Girl's Best Friend

If you’re newly natural with a TWA, you may feel like your short hair makes you look like a boy. As a natural chick, earrings are your best friend because they add femininity to your look…the bigger the earrings, the better. Forever 21 really has their stuff together when it comes to…EVERYTHING (especially online)! They have an abundance of earrings that will make you feel comfortable rocking your natural hair, but most of all, make you look fierce. Check out these earrings:




















More earrings at: Forever21.com

Fave 5 Under $5!

Shower Comb

 

A shower comb is probably the most important thing for wash days. It makes detangling a breeze and causes less breakage than fine-tooth combs. I bought mine from Family Dollar for $1.00. However, in case you’re not that lucky, Sally Beauty Supply sells the Jilbere Pastel Shower Comb for $1.59. Still a great price, right?

Satin Scarf

It’s vital that you keep your hair protected while you sleep. Make sure your scarf is satin or silk, not cotton. Cotton will suck out your hair's moisture. Satin scarves are great because they prevent dryness, breakage, and they keep your hairstyle secure. These can be found at your local beauty supply store, Sally Beauty Supply Store for $3.59, or Walmart for about $3.00.

Applicator Bottle

Applicator bottles allow you to apply products easier to your hair and scalp. Use these bottles to apply your oils, diluted shampoo (especially castile soap users), hair dye, etc. They are especially great for washing your hair while it’s in braids. I have various ones, but I bought a 4 oz. one from my local beauty supply store for $1.00. Sally Beauty Supply sells a 6 oz bottle for $1.89.

Spray Bottle

Spray Bottles are great for homemade spritzes, leave-in conditioners, etc. Many people like the fact that you can change the way the nozzle squirts (many like the “mist” effect that makes moisturizing more effective). Walmart sells 8 oz. spray bottles in a variety of colors for $1.00. You can’t beat that.

Duckbill Hair Clips

Hair clips make styling natural hair a lot easier. Clips secure your hair, making your hair easier to section. If I didn’t have hair clips while I did my protective styles, I’m sure my hairstyles would look all kinds of jacked up. Sally Beauty Supply sells a pack of 12 clips for $3.59.