"Why Are Black Women / Girls Cold Towards Each Other?!?"

This may or may not solely be a "black woman" issue, but it's an interesting question. Some people have told me that before they knew me (and they had just seen me) they thought I would be mean (I guess my natural facial expression comes off mean...trying to fix that, lol), and then they tell me that I'm such a nice person. It's kind of annoying/disheartening to hear that, especially when you know that you're a friendly, typically happy person. It seems like I can smile all day long, but that one moment someone doesn't catch me smiling...call the popo. But anyway, I digress.

Are you an approachable person? 

Or could some people have a skewed perception of you because of your body language, facial expressions, attitude etc?

Is this an issue that is more prevalent among black women or is it women in general?

"We got 99 problems but new growth ain't one. Hit me!"

I stumbled upon the blog Natural Hair Problems and I have to say...whoever is the creator of this blog, may God bless you. I absolutely love it! It's funny and I know many of us can relate to some of these problems:

Male Perspective: Natural or Relaxed, Stop Hating

It cost an arm and a leg, but was well worth it!

Are there any expensive products that you've bought and don't regret? So far, the only expensive product that was worth it for me was KeraCare's Edge Tamer. I don't use it anymore (a little too greasy), but it lasted for a long time and was $16 well spent.

What about you?

Link of the Day: "Can I Touch It?"

From CNN.com:

Tamara Winfrey Harris tells a story of being in a chain restaurant with her husband when their names were called for a table.

Just as the couple rose to go, a middle-aged white woman standing nearby reached out swiftly to touch Winfrey Harris's hair which at the time was styled in natural twists.

"She missed by mere seconds, she was actually going to grab my hair as I walked past her," recalled Winfrey Harris who runs the blog What Tami Said. "I turned around and she said, 'Oh, your hair is neat.' It just floored me because who does that, just reaches out and touches strangers?"

Have You Experienced Texture Changes?

I've heard about naturals experiencing texture changes over time, but what exactly causes it?

From naturallycurly.com:

“What adds to the curl or takes away from the curl is a fascinating issue scientifically,” says Tom Dawson, a principle scientist at P&G Beauty. “You’d think with something as fundamental as human hair, and the amount of time and money we put into our hair, that we’d know more than we do. But it’s a tough nut to crack.

“What is known is that hormones have a major effect on hair texture.”Hormones influence the hair in several different ways since they are regulators of the body’s metabolism,” Christo says. “Hormones tell our body how to perform, therefore increasing or decreasing specific hormones can directly affect the way our body functions.”

He cites three major hormones that affect the hair: Thyroxine and triiodothyronine are produced by the thyroid gland and influence the way the body uses the food we eat. An under-active thyroid can cause brittle hair and hair loss.

Featured Onyx Rose: Brée

Guest Blogger: Pre-pooing before shampooing; is it in vain?

By Jarmelia of DIY Hair Care Blog:

Shampoo and conditioner aside, any product you place on your hair is going to coat the strand, somewhat, causing varying amounts of buildup. This is why we shampoo our hair, to rid our hair of buildup. For some shampoo can be too stripping, meaning, it can take away the hair's natural oils leaving the hair very dry even after conditioning.

To remedy the drying effects of shampoo many women do pre-poo treatments. The basis of a pre-poo treatment is to add some type of oil or conditioner to the hair so that after shampooing the hair, some of the oil is left behind. Natural Hair Haven just did an awesome post about this subject.

Essentially, I  look at it as adding more build up to already dirty hair (dirty as in product heavy) to make it so that the shampoo can't clean the hair thoroughly. For example, I wouldn't come home from the gym, put lotion on and then hop in the shower. To most people that would be gross, well essentially you are doing the same thing to your hair. Here's why:

Video: 6 Styles w/ Mini Twists

Link of the Day: Exercise? But My Hair!

From tampabay.com:

Summer weather can wreak havoc on anyone's hair, but for African-American women, moisture interferes with more than just our tresses. It lowers our willingness to exercise.

Like many black women, I've worn my naturally kinky hair straight since childhood. Sure, it took hours to tame my hair into submission with a hot comb or chemical relaxer, and I was spending $35 to $75 every two weeks on maintenance. But it was worth it. My straight hair was easier to comb and I liked the style.

But there's one thing that can undo all that work, all that expense, in a heartbeat: moisture. Like the kind from a summer rainstorm or a sweaty workout.

In a St. Louis University survey of overweight and obese black women, 48.6 percent said they don't exercise because they don't want to mess up their hair.

I can sympathize. I kickbox, do aerobics and yoga, bike and jog. I've even finished a couple of half-marathons. And after running 13.2 miles, the last thing I feel like doing is my hair.

So in February, after nearly a lifetime of sporting a straight bob, I asked my hairdresser to suggest a style more compatible with my daily exercise habit. She recommended a curly, moisture-proof 'do.

Now, instead of devoting hours to keeping my hair straight, I can spend that time loading my iPod with a playlist perfect for running in the rain.

Can you relate?

Featured Onyx Rose: Nina

Biz Spotlight: Urbane Natural

Urbane Natural was created for women with personal style who believe in the freedom of self expression. We appreciate the diversity that comes with it, along with the originality. Our brand represents women empowerment, pride, confidence and effortless style.

 Head Wraps:

 

Help! How can I style my heat-damaged curls??

If you cringe at the thought of cutting your hair, but also hate the appearance of your straighter curls, then I would opt for styles that don't make your heat damage so obvious (straight ends on your two-strand twists aren't cute in my opinion). The following styles are great options for allowing your heat damaged hair to grow out (and of course you can alter them to your liking):

Ends are protected. Even the front twists can be nicely tucked away if you choose.

Bantu knots

Curly Nikki's Bantu knotout

Featured Onyx Rose: Elle

Video: Bantu Knot Out w/ Styling Options

Featured Onyx Rose: Shaunell

 

OR: How is the natural hair scene where you're from?

Shaunell: [In the] Caribbean (St. Maarten), natural hair is not a big deal here. It's all about the relaxers and braids. Although there are a lot of people with natural hair, it is still not embraced.

OR: Random fun fact about yourself?

Shaunell: I love using twizzlers as a straw!

Should Black Girls Play with White Dolls?

 Excerpts from Should Black Girls Play with White Dolls :

My daughter’s first birthday party was full of family hyped to usher in her first milestone-packed year of life. Amidst the stampeding of little people under three feet tall, I managed to lure her onto my lap to perform the ceremonial opening of gifts.

About three or four presents in, we unfurled a pink box that I flipped over to show Toddler Girl. My mom, never one to let her private thoughts stay that way, mumbled “oh Lord” before I even had a chance to look, probably because she anticipated the fallout. Staring back at us was a white doll. Blonde synthetic strands, painted blue eyes, rosy cheeks, alabaster-colored skin.
I plastered a smile as fake as hers across my face and thanked the guest who’d brought it, a cousin who was hovering at a conveniently unslappable distance by the snack table. But I was irked. Why in the name of all that’s good and sensible would a black woman buy a black girl a white doll?

Link of the Day: TSA to woman: 'We're going to have to examine your hair'

From king5.com:

SHORELINE, Wash. -- Laura Adiele wasn't expecting any trouble when she put her hair up, packed her bags, and headed for SeaTac to catch a flight to Texas. So, she was quite surprised when she was pulled out of the security line after having gone through the Advance Imaging system (that see-through technology) and told she needed a pat-down.

"When I first heard her say, 'We're going to have to pat you down,' I thought she was talking about my body. I was turning around and putting my arms out and she said, 'no, we're going to have to examine your hair,' and I said, 'no, we're not going to do that today and you're going to have to get security or your supervisor,'" said Adiele.

Adiele claims she looked around, saw plenty of other women with "big hair, ponytails" who weren't being searched, and it made her mad. She felt it was discrimination, that she as a black woman with an afro tucked up into a curly bun, was being selected for hand-screening when women of other races weren't. She had nothing to hide but just didn't want strangers feeling her hair.

"It's just totally a violation of my personal space and my biggest question is if I'm going through a full body X-ray what more do you need to find, after that?" Adiele said.

Read more here.

Video: Easy Wash 'n Go Tutorial

Guest Product Review: Organix Moroccan Argan Oil Treatment

By Natasha 

Price: $7.99 for 8 oz.


Ingredients: Water Behentrimonium chloride Cetyl alcohol CETEARYL ALCOHOL N DIMETHICONE 200 (DIMETHICONE 200 FLUID) DC-200 CYCLOMETHICONE D4 Glycerine Ceteareth-20 Glycol stearate Polyquaternium-11 Dimethiconol Fragrance (Irritating to eyes) Lanolin oil Simmondsia chinensis extract Panthenol Argania Spinosa Oil Tetrasodium EDTA Dmdm hydantoin Methylchloro isothiazolinone and Methyl isothiazolinone
Description: This rare formula has a centuries-old history of providing natural vitamin E and antioxidants while renewing your hair's cell structure, sealing in shine, and creating lush softness. A precious blend of Moroccan argan oil which instantly penetrates the hair shaft restoring shine and softness while strengthening. Derived from the southwest region of Morocco, argan oil protects from styling heat and UV damage while creating soft, seductive, silky perfection.
 
Natasha's Opinion:

Featured Onyx Rose: Somina

OR: How is the natural hair scene where you're from?

Somina: The natural hair scene around me is pretty scarce. When I first went

natural I was the only one...the only. But in the past few months I've

seen a few around my area. So I could say that it's getting better.

OR: Random fun fact about yourself?

Somina: Hmm...I have a serious love for word searches and thrift shopping

OR: What inspired you to go natural?

Somina: Honestly, I have NOOO idea. I woke up one morning and just felt as

though I wanted to try it because no one around ever has or ever spoke

about it, but my aunt refused to let me. By the time I hit junior

year in high school I said eff it and went natural anyway...maybe it

was the taboo effect natural hair had that made me want to do it.

Product Reviews: Carol's Daughter

Price: I won this from a giveaway hosted by Wise Curls. This product retails for $16.50 (8 oz).


Ingredients: Water, Zea Mays (Corn) Oil, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond Oil), Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) Fruit, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Glyceryl Stearate SE, Beeswax, Stearic Acid, Fragrance (Parfum), Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ Oil, Triethanolamine, Phenoxyethanol, Capryl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Butylene Glycol, O-Cymen-5OL

Description:

Moisturizes, adds shine and improves manageability with Cocoa and Shea Butters

Absorbs quickly to rehydrate and restore luster

Moisturizes, protects and nourishes with Cocoa and Shea Butters

Soothes and calms the scalp with Lavender

Helps strengthen hair and promote growth with Soy and Sweet Almond Oils and Vitamin B

My Opinion:

Guest Blogger: "I know I fit into the 'bad hair category' "

Jamie of J'amie Boutique

I discovered that research shows African Americans spend more on black hair care products than they do on annual medical exams or university tuition! Can you imagine? When comedian Chris Rock’s daughter, Lola, came up to him crying and asked, “Daddy, how come I don’t have good hair?” he did a documentary focusing on black culture, to find out who had put that question into his little girl’s head. So what is this good hair/bad hair debate all about?

Well I know I fit into the 'bad hair category.' You see, I've been on a natural hair journey for the last two years; my hair is thick, very coarse and kinky, but I love it that way! If I get tired of taming it, I braid it or weave it. 'Good hair' is a sleek, soft, wavy/straight, long and easy to manage mane-- so what!? I can buy that! Which leads me to the question--why are black hair shops always owned by Asian people? Very interesting don't you think?