Are Relaxers Causing Uterine Fibroid Tumors?
20 Feb
A new study is making waves in the hair community for linking relaxers to uterine fibroid tumors. Check out the video and let us know your thoughts!
Hair Today, Tumors Tomorrow?: MyFoxHOUSTON.com
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How long have you been natural and when did you BC?
Strawberricurls Spotlight: JoJo
3 Feb
How long have you been natural and when did you BC?
I have been natural for 3 years now, w00t w00t! I did the BC on Inauguration Night, January 20th 2009 in my bathroom. My younger sister helped me to cut the relaxed ends out of my hair.
What are your staple products and hairstyles?
Since I have Sisterlocks, I don’t use too many products. Honestly, all I really use are the Sisterlocks’ “Getting Started” Shampoo and an Anti-Itch mix that I created, which contains Witch Hazel and Rosemary Oil. However, when I was a loose natural I LOVED Oyin Handmade and Aubrey Organics products! I still highly recommend them to anyone and I use them on my client’s hair.
My favorite hairstyles to do with my Sisterlocks are Updos or Curly Sets. I really like updos because they get all of my Sisterlocks out of my face and look chic. And I love Curly Sets because they last a good 2-3 weeks with my Sisterlocks and all I use to set them with is water.
What is your regimen?
My regimen is really simple. I get my Sisterlocks retightened by my Sisterlock Consultant every 5 weeks and in between retightenings, I normally shampoo my hair twice. On a daily basis, I try to spray my scalp with my Anti-Itch mix to help alleviate any itching and keep my scalp clean.
What are your natural hair goals?
When I first went natural, my goal was to grow my loose natural hair for at least 5 years and then get Locs, but clearly that was a lost cause, LOL. I loc’d my hair within 22 months of going natural. Now my hair goals are to grow my Sisterlocks to great lengths and eventually learn to retighten them myself. I also look forward to trying more styles because I have been pretty hesitate to do so while my Sisterlocks are still settling.
How do you keep your hair intact overnight?
I normally wear a Loc Soc, Dreadsock, or Satin Bonnet to bed, depending on how my Sisterlocks are styled. But no matter what, I always try to keep them my hair proetected at night because cotton sheets/pillowcases can be really drying.
How do you maintain length?
With Sisterlocks, or any Loc’d style, its fairly easy to retain length because the hair naturally intertwines and encapsulates. I do my part by not pulling off any of the buds that form on the ends of my Sisterlocks. The buds help to secure and keep the very ends of the locs protected so they don’t thin.
Name 1 reason you went natural and why you love being natural.
I went natural because I no longer wanted to subject myself to the harmful chemicals in relaxers and I love being natural because its such an empowering and carefree lifestyle.
StrawberriCurls Spotlight: Lenise
2 Feb
How long have you been natural and when did you BC?
I’ve been natural for 6.5 yrs. I did the BC in May 2005 and then again every summer for like 4 yrs until I started letting it grow out.
What are your staple products and hairstyles?
I’m hair stylist (I do natural and relaxed hair) so I go through tons of products so I can make recommendations for my clients. I always seem to recommend something in the Shea Moisture line, specifically the Curl Enhancing Smoothie and the Coconut & Hibiscus Curl & Style Conditioning Milk. I also LOVE Moroccan Oil products. I switch my hair almost daily but my staple style is a twist out. With the conditioning milk, I can retwist it every night…quick, simple, and cute.
What is your regimen?
I shampoo & condition weekly with Moroccan Oil and deep condition every other shampoo w/a cocktail of the Moroccan Oil Intense Hydrating Mask & their Restorative Hair Mask. I use the Mixed Chick Leave-In Conditioner and mix it with the Curl Enhancing Smoothie (but I play around w/different leave-ins), and then seal with olive oil. Detangling starts with my fingers to cut down on breakage, and then eventually with a wide-tooth comb. Then, I do chunky, individual twists and roll the ends. (If you use perm rods, don’t forget the end papers! Those rods can be super harsh on your ends.)
What are your natural hair goals?
I just want to continue encouraging new and transitioning naturals by experimenting with my own hair. There’s so many fun things you can try…you just have to be comfortable. Like I tell all my clients, your transition begins on the inside!
How do you keep your hair intact overnight?
Most times I retwist my hair but I always use a satin bonnet or a silk scarf.
How do you maintain length?
Consistent trims and maintaining moisture…those are key for me. When your hair is dry and brittle, it breaks with ease. I also challenge myself to go at least a month or 2 at a time w/no heat before I blow dry or straighten it.
Name 1 reason you went natural and why you love being natural.
I actually did it by accident. I chopped it b/c that was something I had always wanted to do, but I loved it so much I never went back. Once it started growing out, I had so much fun with it, I knew relaxers weren’t for me anymore. Being natural makes me feel bold and confident, and that’s contagious…we should all feel a little bit of both.
Tumblr Question: Why Won’t My Hair Revert Back
2 Feb
Tumblr Question: I recently got my hair pressed out and now my hair won’t revert back to my natural curl pattern. What can i do?
Hi! It sounds to me like you have heat damage. There is very little that you can do about this. You can try to reconstruct your hair with protein treatments, grow it out or cut it off. There is really nothing else that you can do.
Baby your hair, come up with a regimen if you don’t have one because you will need it to get you over this hump. Mask the damage with rod sets and cover it with twistouts as best as you can. When your hair grows out to a comfortable point, cut the damage off and start fresh! Good luck on with your hair’s recovery!
Any more tips to add ladies?
New Hair Braiding Laws: It’s Serious Business!
1 Feb
Although there are several states with interesting laws, Utah, South Carolina, Illinois, and Nevada are among the states that have laws on hair braiding. That’s right — hair braiding.
This may seem like a strange set of laws to have, but in actuality, it makes a lot of sense. Hair braiding state laws are imposed to detail an already established set of laws and tradition for all hair care professionals.
Professional Hair Braiding History
Originally, hair braiders in multiple states suffered greatly. Just a few years ago, laws in many states indicated that every hair braider must take between 1500 and 2500 hours of cosmetology schooling to receive their cosmetology certificate. However, the cosmetology education was not only a lot of money, but lacked education on braiding hair. The choice for hair braiders was a tough one; either they endured thousands of hours of expensive education or worked under the radar of hair braiding state laws and therefore, illegally.
Changes in the Hair Care System
Hair braiders across the nation protested the regulations in place for a more logical and affordable approach. As recently as last October, The Chicago Tribune posted an article about newly imposed regulations on hair braiders. The laws would benefit hair braiders state wide by regulating a system and making education more affordable and detailed oriented. Last year, a lawsuit challenged the regulations on hair braiders due to the excessive amount of hours (and money) of education to become a cosmetologist when there’s little training on hair braiding.
Like Illinois, the hair braiding state laws in Nevada were altered to accommodate hair braiders. South Carolina and Mississippi both already had new regulations imposed. These states are perfect examples of the structure of regulations for hair care specifics.
New Laws for Hair Braiders
In Illinois and several other states, new laws remove the old 1500-2500 hours of cosmetology education for something that directly correlates with the hair braiding profession. If education is included, the new hair braiding curriculums involve everything from proper technique to hair care and even sanitation and safety. Instead of the expensive cosmetology education, many states are opting for new and improved hair braiding state laws in which hair braiders are required to complete just 6 hours of education, as in the case of South Carolina, of hair braider education and, as in Mississippi, a simple test.
Hair Braiders Rejoice
To some, this set of hair care regulations are the kind that go along with the crazy laws such as, “don’t have the donkey in the bathtub past 6 p.m. on Thursday night.”
That being said, the consensus in many states is now the same. Hair braiders nationwide have the opportunity to continue in their profession with a bit of education and a test. In turn, the brand new hair braiding state laws not only provide a certificate or license, but peace of mind as well.
Sounds like this could get interesting as well as lucrative for many people who just want to braid hair and nothing else. What do you all think?
Five Ways to Drink More Water
26 Jan
Via Sporty Afros
We have all heard it, 60% of the body is composed of water. But isn’t it hard to drink the recommended 64ounces of water a day? I can’t lie, I struggle with it but I’m working on it. So here are a few tips on how to drink more water.
Carry it with you!- It seems soda, coffee and energy drinks are all around. If you always keep a bottle water on you then you can sip it throughout the day. Try putting water in one of these cute bottles.
Tea-This is a quick way to drink water without the added calories. Try having hot tea in the morning and cold tea during lunch. With a variety of flavors such as Ginger and lemon berry, you’ll never get tired of drinking tea!
Random Note: Did you know there is Ayurvedic tea?! WHITE AYURVEDIC CHAI TEA. Ayurvedic items are everywhere!
Sparking Water- Get all the benefits of being calorie free but satisfies your fizz craving. Here are a few brands of sparking waters I like: San Pellegrino, Perrier, Trader’s Joe and Wholefoods. I love adding zest to sparking water with a little lemon and lime juice.
Frozen Fruit – Instead of flavoring your water with lemon, try new adding fruits and veggies such as: limes, raspberries, orange, cucumber or coconut. Take it a further step by adding few frozen pieces of fruit into your water, tea or sparking water. It will make your plain jane glass of water look pretty and its really refreshing.
Eat It! -Fruits and vegetables contain large quantities of water in proportion to their weight. When these foods are eaten, the water can be absorbed by the body. Here are a few suggestions: watermelon, broccoli, cabbage, grapefruit, tomatoes and cucumbers. All of these fruits are at least 90% water.
