Permission to be nappy

I shouldn't have to ask for your approval
I shouldn't have to ask for you to understand
I shouldn't have to ask for you to appreciate who I am

Why do you think there's only one measure of beauty?
Why do you think to that I have to conform?
Why do I have to fight to be the way I was born?

I don't need the negative comments
Nor the nasty stares
I don't need your permission to be happy
because for your opinion - I just don't care

Nappy is what I was
Nappy is what I am
Nappy is what I'll be

I don't need your permission to be nappy
I don't need your permission to be me

Embracing my curls

When I first begin to ponder becoming natural, I did not intend to wear my hair in its natural state. Growing up my hair was always thick and long. My memories of my hair were spending countless hours detangling and styling my massive locs. Back in the 90’s there weren’t many people around that knew how to care for natural hair. I remember the look of stylists upon first meeting them. The look of shock and the gasp that they would have on their face – the look of disgust that they would have to style this huge fro on this little black girl.

But for some reason that didn’t bother me. I enjoyed my hair even at a young age. I loved my hair. I just didn’t like the combing – I use to be very tender headed but quickly got over that with the mis-styling from my numerous hair braiders. My hair is very coily, like my mother’s, and some people thought that starting at the root to comb it was the best way to tackle it. I would go home with a beautiful style but a sore head. My mother seemed to be the only one that knew how to care for my hair – because it was her hair on my head. She had her own bouts with her natural hair. She has relaxed two times only to come back to her coily hair.

Looking back I realized I only relaxed because I didn’t know how to enjoy my hair once I was older. So for those that say it’s self hate – IT’S NOT SELF HATE!! High school was upon me and I wanted a more grown-up style. I tried wearing bangs because I had a phobia over my forehead and the humidity would send them running right back up to my scalp. So I relaxed to end my war with humidity.

So now, I’m here. I’ve had my fun with my relaxer and I’ve had my fights with my relaxer. After experiencing so much breakage and dry hair, I decided to go back to plan A. My natural hair never did me wrong and it was much healthier than my current situation. Plus all my thick hair was gone. So I planned on flat iron my hair – a ton of my friends currently do this now. Will I wear my hair straight once I’m natural – occasionally yes. But since entering the natural world, and learning about all the styles and products. I only wish that in 2000 I had the knowledge I have now then. I am glad to say I’m embracing my curls. I’m embracing me, and my heritage – past, present, and future.

Modeling world is not color blind

Essence recently featured a short documentary on their blog following a young black model struggling to become apart of Fashion Week. I think it's an interesting story that shows the under appreciation of black beauty in the fashion world.

100 Day Hair Challenge

After 2 months and some change of transitioning my frustration became overwhelming. For the first couple of months, I tried twist outs and roller sets. I fell in love with my roller sets but they were too high maintenance for my lifestyle. So I decided to get kinky twist to help manage my wonderful new growth. Around the time that I decided to make this decision, I was inspired by BlackOnyz77and her 100 day challenge. She did her 100 day challenge to give her hair a break from styling and give it a chance to grow. There are many different rules and ways to do the challenge.You can try braids, twists, sew ins, and wigs are great styles to use during the challenge. Here are some guidelines that you should follow during the challenge:

• No heat
• Moisturize daily
• Deep condition weekly
• Protect your hair at night with a satin scarf.

The 100 day challenge is a great way to countdown to your BC or just to give you and your hair a break from styling. There are many more rules you can add to personalize your challenge such as guidelines that focus on your diet or exercising through during the 100 days.  No matter what you do, as long as you follow the basic rules you will be on your way to growing healthy happy hair!

Day 9 of the 100 day challenge

So far I'm on day 9 of 100 and at the end of my challenge I will BC (big chop). Well technically I will BC on August 25, 2010 which is a couple of weeks after the 100 day challenge. Wearing the same style everyday can be boring for those of us that are use to the versatility of our hair. There are many options to styling braids and twist. I have become an avid youtuber since I decided to go natural and there are several videos that offer different tutorials for styling braids and kinky twist.

BlackOnyx77 Pompadour with Short Bob
I love this video because she gives a solution to conceal the spaces in a braided pompadour.

BlackOnyx77 Kinky Puff
This a super easy style that I have used several times since getting my twist. 

BlackOnyx77 Frohawk
I have yet to master this style but if you are able to do it send me a picture! 

arr1216's Kinky Twist Styles
She offers many styles for twist that can be used on braids as well. This is only video 1 of 3.