Natural Hair Book: Get Read on!

Naturalistas!  There are a number of excellent books on natural hair and I thought that providing you with a list would be very helpful to continue in your wonderful experience of knowing that Natural is Cool Enough.  This list is not a novel idea because a number of Blogs that focus on natural hair have moved forward in preparing a list so I thought I would just share their links with you so that you can see the lists and get exposure to other Blogs (if you haven't already) which focus on natural hair.  So, the list of links is below.  It is so exciting that so many books have been written about the subject of late.  I hope you will find several to choose from and absorb the detail, especially for those of you who are transitioning and still in need of support or who just want insight and information regarding maintaining your natural hair.  I will try and update you with information on books often. Enjoy!

List:
First Blog:  Don't Worry Be Nappy!  http://www.tytecurl.com/v02/hairbooks.htm
( Has a list of 10 books (including children's books) about Natural Hair).

Second Blog:  Coco and Creme!  http://cocoandcreme.com/2010/07/natural-hair-summer-reading-list/
(Has a list of 5 books about Natural Hair)

Third Blog:   Althea Prince, Ph.D   http://altheaprince.com/default.aspx
(Focuses on Dr. Prince's Book, The Politics of Black Hair!

Scenting our Natural Hair with Essential Oils: Lotus Oil Contest!

Per my last post, I shared the details of a wonderful trip that I recently took to Egypt.  I am still basking in the enlightenment of this trip as I continue to read all of the wonderful books that I bought from there as well as many other wonderful items.  One item that is particularly special is pure lotus oil from the lotus flower.  The smell of it is so wonderful and special that I absolutely must share it.  So I am having another contest!  Win Egyptian Lotus Oil in a beautiful Egyptian glass bottle to scent your natural hair!  How?  Here are the rules:

1. You must be a follower of this Blog, so if you are not, sign up!
2.  Share your natural hair story...how did you transition to natural hair? (if you want to add pictures, I will add them if you send them to me by e-mail). If you shared your story before, update us.  Winning something on this blog in a previous contest does not mean you cannot win again.
3.  Tell us what you know about the Lotus flower and its relevance to the Ancient African Egyptians and why you think this oil will be a wonderful fragrance for your natural hair. 

Deadline for Entry is Saturday, August 28 at Midnight!

I will select a winner and your Egyptian Lotus Essential oil in an Egyptian glass bottle will be on the way!  Have fun!

Below is a picture of the beautiful lotus flower that I took in front of the Cairo Museum (which holds most of the artifacts of ancient Egypt) and a Papyrus piece of Lotus flowers presented to Isis by Ramses II (my favorite piece which hangs in my home).

 

African Hair In Antiquity: Natural Was Cool Enough!

Recently, I took a wonderful trip to Egypt where I journeyed from Cairo to Giza, cruising the Nile to Luxor and other cities, all the way to Aswan and ultimately to Abu Simbel to see the great tombs of Ramses II and Queen Nefertari. I was also able to see the temple of the female Pharoah Hashepsut and acquired significant information about Queen Nefertiti and her Husband, Pharoah Akhnaten. A highlight of the trip was also the Pyramids and the Sphinx.   Although I have traveled extensively throughout the world, this journey was the most profound and enlightening.  I took over 1000 pictures in Cairo and at the various sites, tombs, temples, etc. and while doing so, among other things, I focused on the hair of the ancient African Egyptians.  A quick map of the world or of Africa will show one quickly that Africa is located in North Africa.

Below is a collection of photos that I took personally as well as additional photos of mummies which I obtained through web research since in the Royal Mummy Room that I visited at the Cairo Museum, where most of the precious items of Egyptian Antiquity are stored, including all of King Tut's treasures found in his tomb, pictures are not permitted. Photos are not permitted at all in the Cairo Museum but were permitted in the Nubian Museum in Aswan. I purchased a book which includes photos of most of what is in the Cairo Museum as well as a book entitled Royal Mummies which includes all of the Mummies in the Royal Mummy Room. So, below, for your consideration, are pictures of a small sampling of the African people of Egyptian Antiquity and their hair. If you are squeamish about mummies, this post may not be for you but surely we can see that for these African people of antiquity,  N.I.C.E.!

     

The pictures above and to the left, which include braided hair, kinky hair, short cornrowed styled hair and afro styles as well as an afro pick are clear indications of the Natural Is Cool Enough perspective of the African people of  Egyptian Antiquity, from the Pharoahs and Queens to the Common people.  There is also documentation that African Egyptians during antiquity (ancient times) also wore wigs (often braided) and used henna which accounts for the red hair of some of the mummies such as Ramses II (not pictured here).