Does doing a Big Chop make you more natural?

When I made the decision to stop getting relaxers and style my hair in its own natural texture it was a slow decision. I am accustom to long hair and I was not going to just chop it all off and have short hair. Nowadays I see so many women at my university and just around who have big chopped. I wonder do they feel more liberated than me? Is the big chop your initiation into Natural Hair Community? So if you gradually transition does that make you a cheater?
I can only speak for those who have transitioned into natural hair. I personal do believe this is the best route towards natural hair because you are able to learn your hair in the the time you are transitioning. We transitioners get the change to chop up our hair a bit also. But not in the same vein as a big chopper.

The concept of a natural afrocentric woman might be the woman that big chops her hair to free herself of her creamy crack addiction. Free herself of the norm, free herself of societal requires of beauty.

But the lady transitioning has to two opposing textures basically fighting each other on her head. She might try to preserve some kind of social acceptance until she is conformable and confidence in her natural texture.

Am I saying a gal with a TWA is more confident than someone with bra strap length hair with some relaxed ends? Not really, I'm saying the initial release that comes with cutting off all of your relaxed ends (ie societal norms, things that are commonly perceived as beautiful) disappear and the gal is now left with just her. Her natural untouched, untamed, possibly unruly self.  Now that is staying beautiful.

In  the end it's really up to the woman and her preference. I don't think I would want to big chop. I liked watching my hair awkwardly change in front of me. It was pretty liberating.

Five Natural Hair faves

Pajamas and flippy hair

Christmas is near and my break has been so relaxing... I stay in my pajamas. And I have kept my hair still straight even though my sister doesn't think it's straight because it has body.... It's nice to run my fingers through it. I like doing my hair for me. Never because someone has asked me to straighten it. I love the versatility natural hair gives. But I know the versatile comes at a price.... HEAT DAMAGE! I have a few super straight pieces in the back. I have tried the aphogee and it helped bring the shape back. But it is probably permenantly that way. I'm going to have to cut it some day. I could say I'm not going to straight my hair next year. But sadly I might have to conform to a look. But I can tell you I'll be the one doing the straighting. People don't know what my hair does. So no I don't trust anyone with heat on my hair. It may look good or it may look stringy. But if I didn't do the straighting it wont be straight. Soon I will be posting my back to health video and blog series. I'm going to start with a natural protein treatment. Something like an egg, olive and coconut oil, mayo and a little fragrance. Ill keep you posted!!

Natural Hair Update

It has been so long since I have blogged. Ahh the feel of the keys, it's great.  My hair right now is actually straighten because I just got an Instyler. I do believe it is a good straightener.  Better than my FHI maybe? The new products I have used are: Shea Moisture everything Curl Enhancing Smoothie, the shampoo Curl and Shine, moisture retention shampoo,Pantene Curls products, olive oil,mixed chicks, Organix bkt treatment and I'm sure there is more. Not crazy about Mixed Chicks but everything else is wonderful. My hair has seen alittle damage. But I am ok. My hair is starting to get longer. Flat twist make it stretch out pretty good. I am probably not going to straighten or put heat on my hair next year. Unless I have to, to fit a certain look. My new favorite protective style is flat twist tucked in my banana clip. I can wear that for like 3 days with  Quench curls and coconut oil each day and then for the rest of the week I can wear my hair out. It's pretty smart. I'm just trying to get shoulder length curl. I'm not sure how long it would take but I'm going to do it. Since I straighten my hair I'm going to get my ends trim. I think it could use alittle trimming. My natural hair journey makes me sensitive to my hair but love it more. It's so interested to see all these women now trying a more natural look. It's a cool feeling to feel like I could have been someone's inspiration towards containing to be natural. Good Luck

Day 1 and 2 of Protective Styling

My personal challenge has started. July 31st I co washed my hair with some Suave conditioner and MyHoneyChild OliveYou scalp cleanser. I used the wrong thing leave in conditioner. This Mixed Silk stuff is terrible. If I wanted my hair to be weighed down  I would use it but  for a wash and go it was terrible. But that's another story. My hair wasn't fresh feeling. It was soft and what not but I didn't like it. I'm back in my banded french ponytail style. It's becoming my favorite protective style. I think i"m going to wet my hair and slight it back into a bun tomorrow. I really hope that my hair will grow out like I need.

So here is another thing that is bothering me. Well not bothering me but just is interesting to me. Everyone is cutting their hair. It is so interesting to see everyone just as interesting in natural hair now.  I guess it bothers me because I felt judged when it was transitioning  and now it's trending.  I suppose it a good thing. I feel like I started this trend at my school . LOL

Protective Styling Challenge

The challenge will begin July 31st and go to Sept. 25th . That is 8 weeks so hair should grow an inch. Right? We shall see.
Here are the rules for the challenge.
1. Style your hair in protective style for 3x out the week.
2. Cleanse your hair weekly
3. Do a treatment weekly ( protein/ oil/ deep)
4. Moisturize daily
5. Seal ends/ massage scalp with oil
6. Be gentle with hair

Good Luck http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Nl7D6762xQ

Long Time No Blog

The time 4:21pm, the place the news station, my energy way down!  I could barely keep my eyes open while in the car with the reporter and photographer. So maybe the news room and working at a station isn't for me. I really love music so that is probably what I should do. I really love cable tv not so much news. That is probably the best job for me. I want to work with OWN now or Harpo. I'm claiming it now, I will work at OWN or Harpo.  Forget you news stations. This job just isn't for me. I'm actually happy I see that now so that it's not a big disappointment later in life. Imagine  being stuck at job that is only good for headaches and paying some of the bills. I want straight fulfillment in my life. That kind of goodness only comes from know what makes you happy and living within your means. Why do so many journalism majors craze for the anchor jobs? Mercy they are like puppets. All they do is read. The reporters, now that's the REAL work. Perhaps this is my month's worth of news station experience and irriation at work. Perhaps my childhood dreams of hosting my own TV show are foolish but I still believe. Maybe I will write a magazine. But I know one thing. I can't get anywhere without taking chances. When you dream big  you do big. ( please put that on a postcard).  So my dreams need to be a bit more practical for now. I need to get my feet wet somehow and gain some valueable experience for the next 50 hours of this internship. My goal is to work with the producer. I'm not going to be intimidated I'm just going to go and talk to her.Maybe I can write some scripts.  Then I can put that on my resume. Script writing. I love writing. My tooth is hurting. HMMM. I"m rumbling. But the point of this post is.....  It's been a minute I missed you.

That's what friends are for

Sometimes I feel like I'm drifting through life all alone. Then someone texts me good morning every other day and i realized or yeah I have friends. I think people believe I'm some kind of bubbly social gal but I'm not. If I'm totally honest with myself I would rather be alone than with my friends or even my boyfriend.  Why is that you may ask? If I had to trace it back it would probably start with always being around older people growing up. Yes I have two girl cousins the same age as me ( really more but these are the first cousins I'm referring to sorry name sake). I was always at the my Grammy and Papa Taylor's house. Grammy ( as I have grew to call her) was hooked up into her TV and my Papa honestly he must have been at work because I really don't remember what he was doing. I remember him there in the evenings... anyways but I was always with my grammy and my older sister. We would watch soaps all day and honestly we would be pretty hot.So my sister and I would go to the basement or go outside until my grandma decided it was just too hot and to close all the doors and windows and cut on the air (IT WAS NOT CENTRAL AIR) Now my childhood and going into my adult hood didn't involve  going to friends houses or just chilling. I was mostly with my family. Which sounds strange now that I think of it but now I get it. This is why I am aloner.  I am used to being around my family, relaying on my family for support. Now I have friends that want to help me and a boyfriend that wants to be supportive but what do I do? Blow them off. It's so rude actually.  So today when I was just passing through a bit of a crisis, friends were there in numbers to be supportive. " That's what friends are for."

Don't compare yourself to others

I analyzed my position in my family, my school and just my community. Why do I always see what people think of me and not what I know of me? This has nothing to do with the outer beauty this is all about inter beauty. It's crazy how your misperception of yourself can hinder you from just being you. If you don't know what that means well you're not there. It's like a break through. Yes judgement is alive. Society gets trapped in "stuff and things" like my mama would say, not not in wise and passion. Not in hope and determination. Not in service and kindness but in cars, houses, clothes, shoes.  Life isn't about the job you have but the service you do for no fee.  It's about the love you share.  Don't compare your life with others around you. Focus on what you bring to the table. What are your strengths? Life is simple. I believe we all have a purpose from GOD and I believe we all want to be happy and to be loved. That's it.  All this need to keep up with the latest everything is simply complicated. Stay true to you. You are the only that walks in your shoes each day. You have to be happy with you each day. I think "rich" people are probably not as happy as we thing. Even the pretty girl with the long hair that I may be  jealous off or the beautiful lady with flawless skin. Or the curvy slim lady with all the right body parts is still just as judgmental as I am.  Grass isn't always green folks
PEACE

Curly Nikki | Natural Hair Styles and Curly Hair Care: 7 Fabulous Natural Oils For Natural Hair

Curly Nikki | Natural Hair Styles and Curly Hair Care: 7 Fabulous Natural Oils For Natural Hair: "By Dr. Phoenyx Austin You don’t always have to buy fancy, big name hair products for your hair. Sometimes the best products are actually v..."

Natural Hair Style

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9eA0hXv3IU

Where is the Natural Hair Journey Taking Me

So tonight I was thinking. I am looking at all of these pictures of myself and other youtubes and thinking it's going to be a year of natural hair in October and what do I have to show for it? That is a terrible attitude and outlook and I know this but seriously. My hair isn't at the length I would like it to be to do more wash and gos. Or is it that I am not happy with the texture?  I'm thinking of all the growth and success I see from other people through videos. But where is mine? I can map out a plan to graduate college on time but not for healthy  hair growth. I guess I thought by now I would be styling it differently and maybe it's a challenge for to find more hairstyles. Who knows.

Natural Hair is a Personal Decision

Today my sister, who hasn't had a relaxer for probably 5 months or more, not sure,said she  is going to get a relaxer soon. I'm not sure why she hasn't relaxed sooner. She said she wanted to have 2 relaxers a year. Now today my mom, who has a TWA, said my sister needed a relaxer or needed to do something to her hair because it was starting to look rough.

This was my first surprise to hear my mother say this. But I think that is more because my sister doesn't take great care of herself. So back to the story. She told me she was getting the relaxer today. I convinced her to let me do her hair in a curly style before she does this. She said she understands how harmful relaxers are but doesn't care because her edges look bad. So I said I would even straighten.

Now I was watching some youtube videos and then I realized I can't make her want to be natural. It's a personal decision. She flat out said she doesn't like her curls or the way I wear my hair. I saw my strength today because her statement didn't even make me mad. It actually made me say hmmm. Well whatever. See my hair isn't going to be loved by everyone. Just like what I wear each day won't be loved by everyone or even what I say won't be loved by everyone. But the one who loves it is me. It was my choice to embrace my natural hair and I can't see myself going back. The thought of the relaxer is making me shaky.

So I guess tomorrow I will tell her I can't make this decision for her , she has to and if she does want to get a relaxer, well that's fine. But if she wants me to straighten her hair I will. One thing I know is that natural hair is not a thing your friends should decide for you it's for you to decide. Good luck

My black is beautiful. The beauty lies within  wavy, curly even kinky texture hair.  It comes with multiple skin tones. Our beauty showcase some any different beautiful shapes. Black is beautiful.  Going to an historically black college university showcases the beauty of the African American race. The perception of beauty for blacks has been skewed by the American view.  Images and thoughts can mess up what is beautiful to black people. But beauty lives within the person’s personality and how they carry themselves.  Black people have over come so much as a people, we are beautiful because of our struggles. Black people are beautiful, therefore black is beautiful.

Beauty is a word commonly described as “in the eye of the beholder.”  After speaking to several people, they believed in the cliche phase. My aunt  believes beauty is a “beautiful person on the inside and out.” She also says “the ugliest on the earth  can be the most beautiful.” Even my grandmother, explains beauty comes from within,  “It is the love for people that makes you beautiful. “ A more mature generation sees  the true meaning of beauty. These beliefs were passed don towards my generation.

It was actually shocking not to hear a shallow perception of beauty from my peers.Beauty to young women all define beauty as something within. One believe it is about personality. Similarly, another thinks beauty is about inner beauty. Another girl  states, “beauty is undefinable.” All of these opinions are valid to the conversation of beauty in the black community. Acknowledging what beauty is in the black community gives a better understand of why black is beautiful.

Even beauty from a male’s view is similar to females’ views.  Beauty to a male is strictly for women. Most males I surveyed believed beauty is solely for women. My boyfriend  says, “beauty is a feminine word, you can call me handsome,” Another guys agrees by saying, “It’s not proper to call a boy beautiful.”  This is, however, a whole separate topic. My guy friend  defines beauty as a mental thing. He says, “beauty doesn’t have to be physical, it’s deep within.” One guy, “outer appearance is the first thing I see as beautiful but personality attitude and how she carries herself.” Male’s views of beauty gives more insight on beauty. 

Beauty within the black community is defined at a young age. In Chris Rock’s documentary, Good Hair,  it describes how his young daughters believe their hair was not beautiful because it wasn’t straight. Throughout the movie, Chris explains how so many black women wear weave and don’t view their natural  hair texture as beautiful. This movie, along with a few other factors made me decide to stop relaxing my hair.  This was my move towards embracing my beauty, my natural black beauty.

As a child beauty was long, silky hair, fair skin and slim women. But thankfully young women like Victoria,who is 15 doesn’t have the same views I once shared. She believes beauty is, “discovering what makes you, you and loving yourself.”  Victoria said it’s the personality that is most important.  When she was younger she thought beauty was about being pretty or cute. But  just two years  ago this whole image changed.  

The phrase black is beautiful is a saying that has been heard since the 1960s.  It’s even the title of a popular BET television show.  But why is black beautiful?  According to Victoria, black is beautiful because, “we stand out, so many different skin tones and we love who we are as a people.”  Some couldn’t really answer this question.  Yet my grandmother still says, “black is beautiful, white is beautiful, yellow, purple doesn’t matter what color they are, it’s beautiful.” 

Black people do have a confidence about them and a strong other races don’t. Perhaps this is past down because of our struggles in slavery to discrimination and so on. Beauty in the black community reaches deep. It reflects our heritage , our history and our future. Black is beautiful because we are unique people. Our shapes are different, our personalities are different, this is what sets the race apart from most.

An article from CNN “Weaves, Braids May Speed Hair Loss in Black Women” by Keren Pallartio for Health.com

(Health.com) -- Weaves and braids may contribute to a type of permanent hair loss that appears to be common among black women, a new study has found.

More than one-quarter of the 326 black women who participated in the study had hair loss on the top of their scalp, and of those women, 59 percent had signs of central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia, or CCCA, a poorly understood form of baldness that begins at the crown of the head and leads to scarring.

For many years, CCCA was known as "hot comb alopecia" because it was attributed to the use of hot combs to straighten curly hair. That appears to be a misnomer. Neither hot comb treatments nor chemical relaxers, which were used by more than 90 percent of the study participants, were linked with CCCA in the study, but braids, weaves, and other so-called traction hairstyles that tug at the scalp were.

Health.com: Naturally gorgeous hair makeovers

Black women often maintain these styles for long periods of time, and the stress they exert on the scalp can lead to the development of pus-filled bumps, says the lead researcher, Angela Kyei, M.D., a dermatologist and chief resident at the Cleveland Clinic's Dermatology and Plastic Surgery Institute. "Over time, these bumps can develop bacteria" that can lead to scarring, she explains.

Making matters worse, women who are already losing their hair are more likely to favor these hairstyles because they help disguise thinning hair, the study notes.

Black women should consider refraining from using these hairstyles on young children, and they need to think about the consequences for themselves, Kyei says. "If you start to notice this type of hair loss, get evaluated early," she urges.

Health.com: 15 ways to be a natural beauty

The average age of the women with CCCA was 58. The condition often presents itself when women are in their 40s, but it's sometimes seen in women as young as their 20s and 30s.

It's not clear from the study that these hairstyles are solely responsible for CCCA, however. Women with the condition tended to have balding maternal grandfathers, and they were also more likely to have diabetes. While only 8 percent of the women overall had type 2 diabetes, 18 percent of those with CCCA did?a "surprising finding," Kyei says.

Dermatologist Andrew F. Alexis, M.D., the director of the Skin of Color Center at St. Luke's--Roosevelt Hospital, in New York City, says that more research is needed to confirm a link between CCCA and diabetes. "However, it does suggest that it may be useful for dermatologists to ask their CCCA patients about diabetes and refer them to their primary care physicians for annual screening," he says.

Health.com: Could you have type 2? 10 diabetes symptoms

In the study, which was published Monday on the website of the Archives of Dermatology, researchers asked women from two African-American churches and a health fair in Cleveland about their medical history, family history of hair loss, and hair grooming practices. Dermatologists trained in hair loss examined the women's scalps and graded them on the degree of hair loss and scarring they exhibited.

Raechele Cochran Gathers, M.D., a senior staff physician at the Henry Ford Hospital's Multicultural Dermatology Center, in Detroit, says that the findings, though preliminary, provide good information about a little-understood condition. "I think that the study's excellent because it not only gives environmental factor data, which a few other studies have reported on, but also it's unique in that it's looking at these medical risk factors," she says.

In light of the findings, Gathers adds, it's incumbent upon doctors and hairdressers to make women aware of CCCA and the potential link with traction hairstyles.

http://youtu.be/tZOiDGOiOPY

Embracing Yourself

As a teenager I was bullied. As a child I was bullied. Now I roll my eyes or crack jokes because I don't have time for all of that. In my class a friend presented a topic about bullying. He asked if anyone was bullied in high school for being different. I was the only one to raise my hand out of 25 people. I think people are lying.
The strangest thing is that bullying has made me into what I am today. I pour out a confidence only God can take responsibility for these days. But back in the day, that bullying would drive me crazy.
So today, a person constantly being judged for my appearance, reached out and did something different. I wore my natural hair. And at first it gained too much attention. I didn't realize how important hair was until I went natural. Conversations about how I should wear my hair from people with straight hair, giving suggestions. Sensitive I am so you can imagine my shock from all the retarded attention towards hair. When my hair was shoulder length and straight there was no conversations only "ooh you're hair is so pretty."
Hmm. So I guess the purpose of this first post is to introduce myself as a blogger. I have been vlogging on youtube for over a  year. But I want to expand my message to women  like myself. Women that have been taught straight is great, and you will never be happy nappy ( i just wanted this to rhythm).
Going natural is helping me to embrace myself. I wish women could feel this liberated. LOL
Peace
STAY Beautiful
in2itgirl