A Natural Sister's Hairstory: The Journey to Amina

As a faculty member at a University, I often encounter delightful young people at the beginning stages of making big decisions about their lives.  What I enjoy most is the opportunity to dialogue with them and to share my own stages of growth, professionally and in terms of my hair. I give a lecture entitled "Getting Down to the Roots" which is about the history of the hair of Black people and the various aspects of evolvement that individuals have experience in terms of their hair including perms, weaves, jherr curls, braids, locks, etc.  Below is a story from one of my former students who recently graduated from college which is a fantastic accomplishment and now her graduation to natural hair.  For her, N.I.C.E.!  I hope her story will inspire the many sisters who are considering taking the step to natural or who are already in transition.

Rahel Callender’s Natural Hair Journey

When I first decided to go natural it wasn’t a magical epiphany I had one day, or a new desire that came over me in a rush. Instead I simply wanted to stretch out my perms. Since the age of 9 I have had my hair relaxed and I have been so addicted to perms that as soon as I felt a little bit of new growth on my scalp I would run to the nearest salon and get a relaxer. Well at least until the summer of 2009. It was at that time that I realized that my hair was very unhealthy and I needed to make a change. My purpose was to try to grow out my hair without perming it as often. I never intended to stop. So I decided to put micro-braids in my hair as a way to grow it out. When I took out my braids I saw that it damaged my edges and so therefore I decided I would put extension twists which are not as damaging to the hair. I decided to do twists for approximately 11 months as my “transition” period. Of course I didn’t know that was what it was called at the time.

I started to do research on hair products and started finding out more information on natural hair, learning that perm is the WORST thing you could ever put in your hair, I decided I would attempt to go natural. Luckily for me I had a solid support system of friends, colleagues and natural haired sisters within my community who encouraged me during my transition. I got very anxious to see the development of my hair but decided to wait it out until I knew I had the opportunity to do the “Big Chop”.

I graduated from college in May of 2010, which was a huge accomplishment in my life, and I felt that would be the perfect time to cut off the permed hair as a symbol of “part 2” of my life beginning.

On June 29, I sat in my living room with my mom, a pair of scissors in my hands and a mirror, and cut all the perm off of my hair.

I was NOT prepared for the emotional feeling that overcame me. I felt so liberated, I felt free, I felt excited. I felt scared. Staring into the mirror with no makeup on, and the hair on my head the way it was SUPPOSED to come out was a bit shocking. It was then I noticed qualities in my face that I never noticed before. It was then my true beauty was exposed.

I found myself reading blog after blog on how to care for natural hair, what products to use, researched curl patterns, hair regiments and different techniques on how to take care of my hair

The one thing I love the most about my hair, is it catches people off guard. The endless compliments from friends and strangers alike and the feeling that I get knowing that people are complimenting God’s creation the way it is. No alteration, no adjustment but 100% real. And it’s an amazing feeling! I have learned so much about myself since my transition.

I decided to give my afro a name and call her Amina. People laugh at me when I say that. Why you ask? Because Queen Amina was one of the great queens of Nigeria and when her father died, she succeeded him and became the first and the last queen and during her time. Her strength and courageous attitude was well noted.
Wherever she conquered, she used to order people to build a wall around the town or city, so people still maintain what is now known as 'the walls of Amina.'

When I read this story I thought of my hair, because of its strength, the fact that I let it grow the way it should be, never weakening and representing me and my life.

So that’s my story! It’s a wonderful experience, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for my hair and I. I know it will be a challenge but so far its worth every moment. =)

N.I.C.E.!

The Hair Stories of Carmelo Anthony and Hanley Ramirez

So, it seems that this dialogue about the hair stories of male athletes is a formidable one.  People have asked for other examples of my point about Bosh so here are a couple. There's lot's of speculation as to the reason why Carmelo and Hanley have cut of their locks.  Sometimes the decision is  mandatory.  For example, Hanley Ramirez, to his dismay, was advised based on the requirement of the Marlin's Manager, that he had to cut his locks undr the team's new rule of "professionalism".  Why is it that locks and cornrows are not considered professional?  Cornrows and locks are beautiful and natural. What does one's hairstyle have to do with the game of basketball or baseball or any other sport anyway?  The article, per this link, provides some insight into the Ramirez story: http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/Marlins-find-themselves-in-a-hairy-situation-wit?urn=mlb,151033

Beautiful to see Hanley's little one is still wearing his locks...

Then of course there is  Carmelo Anthony who cut his braids.  Some say it's because he lost a bet and others say it's because he opened a Barber Shop and wore his new cut to support his new business venture.  This article provides all of the speculative detail as well as a video relevant to the bet: http://www.bvonsports.com/2008/11/11/why-did-carmelo-anthony-really-cut-off-his-cornrows/  

The bottom line is that no matter the reason, using these athletes as examples, including Bosh from my last post, there is no doubt that brothers definitely have their hair stories. The conclusion ultimately is that they go through the same changes as women about their hair.  Should I conform or not?  Is wearing my hair naturally (in cornrows or locks as examples) professional? It seems that these kind of decisions place men, and in this case, athletes wondering, whether N.I.C.E. to which my answer is yes!

Chris Bosh and His Locks: A Male Hairstory

So, generally when I talk about natural hair and transitioning, I am referring to women but men are involved in these stories too.  Now that Chris Bosh is one of the newly named "Three Kings" of the new Heat trio, Wade, James and Bosh, there is a lot of discussion about them all.  The focus has been on Wade and James primarily so I will focus on Bosh as he has a true hairstory.  I am not a sports fan, per se, but because Miami is where I live, and my husband and son are sports fanatics, I thought I would chime in, just a little bit, but my focus will be hair, of course.  So below is a comment I  found on SI.com to start this discussion (January 25, 2007):

"The In Between"

"Chris Bosh is one of the few players who sport the short braids.
AP
The look: A mini-Afro that can be twisted into tiny braids."
NBA type: Steady rebounder, scorer without the flair of cornrows."



I can't believe that there is an actual hair analysis in that article.  In any event,  subsequently, Chris Bosh, as a Free Agent and very soon before his big decision to go to the Heat, cuts off his trademark locks. This was actually a topic of conversation via the web (see link below).

     This brings to mind a conversation that I had with an athlete that I know who was recently drafted to the NBA.  He used to wear locks and explained to me that he couldn't get any media coverage (front page covers, photo shoots etc.) while he had his locks. He said that his locks were definitely a hindrance to his career so sadly, he cut them off. He said he had regrets about it but it had to be done. 
When he decided to cut his locks, suddenly media outlets suddently wanted an image of him.  He was recently drafted. So, it just makes you think; what was the story associated with Bosh cutting off his locks?

Per a quote from: http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/ball_dont_lie/post/Chris-Bosh-cut-his-hair-hasn-t-talked-to-LeBron?urn=nba,251011 , here is a thought...

"Cutting off your "trademark" hair when you're hoping to sell yourself to franchises as a marketable superstar is kind of strange."

In any event, locks or no locks, for the brothers,whether they go for the big chop, where cornrows, or locks...the bottom line is that their hair remains natural. So for Bosh we can presume that Natural Is Cool Enough and that's N.I.C.E.  If we see Bosh with a perm next...well that WILL be kind of strange.  Below are some photos of Bosh's hair journey....

      

                                      

Perhaps Bosh's Tweet says it all:  "I can't believe it's gone...." - Twitter / Chris Bosh: I can't believe it's gone....

Celebrities Natural Hair Do's: What's Your Style?

Ok.  So I am back to hair after recuperating from my Gulf trip and seeing the outlandish results of the BP Oil spill firsthand (see pictures in previous blog post).  But now, back to the primary focus of this blog...natural hair.  It seems that slowly but surely, celebrities are embracing natural hair styles; not all but some.  Below, I have provided recent photos of some celebrities with natural styles.  As we are still in the midst of summer, what are your natural styles?  Take a moment and share.  Whether your hair is long, short, medium length, braided or locked, any ideas on how you accomplish a sense of style and positivity, in terms of your hair, will be an inspiration to others.  Inspire us because N.I.C.E. and we need ideas...
                                                     

Ciara

Jill Scott

Ledisi

A Journey to the Gulf: A Crying Shame

From time to time, I must deviate from my discussion of hair to talk about pressing issues.  Once again, it is necessary to do so as I continue to follow what is happening in the Gulf.  I recently traveled to the Gulf Coast region and the pictures below show what I saw which was appalling.  We visited Pensacola and Gulfport /Biloxi where oil had clearly stained the beaches.  I was able to witness oil in the water, tar boils on the beach, clean up crews, media presence and very disheartened communities.  The most heartwrenching aspect of it all was standing on the beach in 90 degree + weather and not being able to get into the water because of the oil.  This will definitely hurt the fishing, hotel and tourist industries in the areas affected and prevent tourists from coming to the areas.  You could feel the sadness of the people while walking around.  It was so difficult to see little children who had come to the beach with their parents, longing  to go in the water only to be told that they could not venture in.  My heart also goes out to all of the sea life and birds so greatly impacted by this awful tragedy. Below are some pictures of what I saw.  This is what happens when there is an oil spill and reckless disregard for the beautiful environment.  Truly, if Natural Is Cool Enough (in this instance, our natural ocean) then why destroy it?

Final Natural Hair Rules and T-shirt Contest

Recently, I took a brief journey and every where that I traveled, provided no respite from the heat.  So I continue to sport my updo and abide by my natural hair rules to get me through the summer, naturally.  So here, I will share with you the final of my list of a total of 10 rules. Remember, these rules are mere suggestions that I hope you will find helpful.

But before doing so, please note that the final (of the current lavendar and yellow), N.I.C.E. t-shirt contests is on.  After the winner receives this shirt, these colors will be retired for N.I.C.E. shirts forever!  So, I hope you will be a winner of this shirt.  To win, you must be a follower or sign on as a follower of this blog and answer the following questions.  The first to do so, by posting a response to this blog, with the correct answers, to the questions below, will be the winner!

QUESTIONS:

1.  Who is the creator of the dolls in the post entitled "Black Dolls with Natural Hairstyles: Truly N.I.C.E.?
2.  What is the third natural hair rule?
3.   Tell us your hair rule (it must be different from rules 1-10 presented on this blog)!

Good luck and enjoy the natural hair rules below!

Natural Hair Rules: (7-10)

Rule # 7

Avoid Products That Make "Miracle" Claims About Your Hair Such as:

1. It will make it grow.

     2. It will thicken your hair.

   3. It will make it stronger.

You know the drill.  I am not saying that the claims are wrong for all products but the reality is that you generally do not have proof that the product can do what it says it will do.  So why not just stay natural with your products, stop trying product after product and love your hair naturally to growth, strength and thickness if that is what you desire.

Rule # 8

Do not put anything in your hair that you personally can't put in or take out and that does not enable you to wash your hair whenever you want to because it will ruin the style.

Examples:

1. Extensions of any kind

2. Weave

If you can put either of the above in yourself and take it out, and you do not have to pay anyone to do it, then you might feel comfortable doing so.  But, at the end of the day, when you have a natural style and you are wearing your own hair as it grows out of your scalp, you don't have to be beholden to anyone else to take care of your hair and you can wash it when you please. 

Rule # 9

Be Mindful of What You Acquire In Hair Supply Stores

This rule brings to the forefront again, a number of points from previous rules.  Many of the products of Hair Supply stores contain harsh chemicals, mineral oils, make miracle claims, are over-priced and there are little to no natural products.

Suggestion:  Go to health food stores, go to the hair product aisle, read the ingredients of selected products and keep it natural. 

Rule # 10

If you must go to someone to get your hair done naturally and the person who is doing your hair puts on gloves before applying the product (with the exception of natural henna)

you may want to ask why or ask to see the ingredients of the product.

If gloves are needed to protect his/her hands from the product, what about your hair and scalp?

At the very least, you should have the opportunity to read the ingredients so you can decide if the product is natural enough.

Natural Hair Rules: Part II

This post is to continue an exploration of Natural Hair Rules.  The fourth rule is:

# 4)  Avoid Products that Contain Mineral Oil

Mineral oil is a byproduct of the distillation of crude oil. Crude oil is a term that leaves a sour taste in our mouths right now due to the BP Oil Spill.  In any event, although I am still very devastated about that situation, I will stay focused on the discussion at hand.   Rather than reiterating information that has already been written on mineral oil in terms of natural hair and an informed opinion, please check out the following link:

http://www.articlesbase.com/hair-loss-articles/should-mineral-oil-be-used-on-the-hair-get-healthy-hair-now-1050163.html

  After reading this article you can make a determination as to whether you feel using mineral oil in your hair is appropriate.  Many hair products do contain mineral oil so beware.

# 5. Avoid Harsh Dye Products that contain Ammonia and other harsh chemicals.

Definition of Ammonia:  "Ammonia, chemical symbol NH3, can take the form of a strong smelling liquid or gas. Most popularly, consumer and commercial products use the alkaline substance to clean grime or fertilize crops. Even in low concentrations, inhaling ammonia or getting the solution on your skin can cause burning, fainting, or death, so always use caution when handling this chemical."

The above information can be found at http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-ammonia.htm

Many hairdyes use ammonia.  In a previous post on this blog, I wrote a piece about Henna and the coloring and conditioning benefits of it as a natural approach to dyeing your hair.  Check it out and then you can surely adhere to Rule # 5.

# 6. Be a Minimalist About Your Hair

The Less Product, The Better

5 Key ingredients:

Water

A natural shampoo

A natural conditioner

Shea Butter (or another natural moisturizer)

A natural dye if you must have color variation

Of course all of the above are mere suggestions.  The key point here is that the more information that you have about caring for your hair the better because certainly,

N.I.C.E.!

Final Natural Hair Rules and T-shirt contest soon!  

Hair Scandal: Little Girl removed from Class Because of her Olive Oil Hair Moisturizer!

I will continue my Natural Hair Rules soon as well as the upcoming announcement of the final Summer T-shirt contest which will also begin soon, but I must interrupt these items to share this first.  An 8-year old little girl was removed from her class becase her teacher did not like her olive oil hair moisturizer. The Teacher claims that she is allergic to the product  The NAACP has stepped in on this one and her parents plan to pursue a  law suit. In the meantime, the little girl has been waiting for a decision to be made for her to return to her Honors Class.  This is beyond scandalous!  Take a look at this story and see what you think.  I have provided a video and article below for your review.  Perhaps this is an example of a statement that Natural is NOT Cool Enough in school, and that is a problem. 

Article with Video:
http://www.king5.com/news/education/Child-Removed-from-Class-Beacuse-of-Hair-Product-95645359.html

Second Article:
http://www.bvblackspin.com/2010/06/07/8-year-old-removed-from-class-for-using-olive-oil-hair-product/?icid=main

Natural Hair Rules

Recently I read a book by Michael Pollan entitled Food Rules.  I was very intrigued by the book and immediately began to recognize how some of these fantastic rules for eating healthy and naturally could be transformed into natural hair rules.  So, here, I begin a series of three posts in which I will provide what I believe are Natural Hair Rules to strive for.  I would be interested in hearing your thoughts on them, that is whether you agree or disagree and why.  So, the first three rules, out of a total of ten are:

Rule # 1:  Define your natural

• Chemicals or no chemicals at all including hair product, hair dyes, extensions or no extensions, etc.
• In defining YOUR natural you should decide what natural means for you.

To help you in your decision, I have developed a natural hair continnuum.  I hope it helps you decide.

Transitioning:
a) no more perm (perhaps the big chop); wearing your hair completely natural or straightening hair with hot comb or flat iron only.
b) Using chemical products (shampoos, conditioners, dyes, etc.)

Semi-natural
a) no more perm; no more straightening of any kind
b) wearing braided extensions or sister locks
c) using natural product only

Completely natural
a) no more perm
b) hair is worn in the texture in which it grows out of your scalp such as braids (you own hair, no extensions), locks (your own hair), Teeny weeny afro or other natural style.
c) natural hair products only

Rule # 2: What Would your African Ancestors recognize about your hair? If your ancestors would not understand the texture, avoid whatever process is necessary to achieve the unrecognizable texture.

Imagine your pre-slavery, African ancestors (if you are African American, Brazilian, from the Caribbean or any of the nations where Black people dwell in the Americas and their ancestors were slaves) seeing your hair texture today.  Would they understand the texture?  Would it appear to be your natural hair to them? Would the texture make sense to them?

Rule # 3:  Avoid hair products that contain ingredients that you have no idea what they are such as Pollan's advice for natural food ingredients which is if a third grader can't pronounce the ingredients, don't use it/

Why not try shea, jojoba, natural oils, citrus, aloe and products with only all natural oils.  They're out there or you can make you own.

Stay tuned for the next three rules which all are in line with the concept that N.I.C.E...