I'm Still Alive [Hair Post]

Hey everyone!!!

So I haven't posted in a WHILE! It's not even as if I've been without a computer, I've just been a little preoccupied.  Anyway, I figured that I'd stop by and make a little post just to let you all know that I am in fact alive and to thank those readers that emailed me demanding for a new post! lol

So I used to be known as the girl with the big bush, but for the past year I've had my hair up in weaves (I just don't want to deal with my hair). I recently decided to give myself a nice cut (about 7 inches). I have serious shrinkage so BRACE yourself for the pictures.

I forgot to take a picture with my hair combed out so that you can see the length. Oops!

...and yes, I do miss my hair. I craddled the cut off chunks for a few minutes before unwillingly throwing them into the trash can.  :'(

BEFORE

Black Women...Let's Get This Straight.

Okay, so in the area where I live (Washington DC), we have fads...and when there's a fad, EVERYONE somehow ends up following it or knowing someone that follows it. Right now a couple of the fads we have are women going natural, wearing feathers, and being Afrocentric while men are wearing foamposites, form fitting jeans, and going for the scruffy look. Yes, I am VERY observant and I've noticed it...you can stop acting as though you started the trend.

Anyhow, this post is for my fellow women of color. 

More power to those of you that have decided to go natural...if your hair type is anything like mine, then good luck. Yeah, it's great to have long, textured, and healthy hair...but PLEASE my natural sistas, do not begin to look down on those women that still get perms. Just because being natural works for you, does not mean that it works for other people...and quite frankly I've seen some afros with hair that was barely there...so before you go around trying to force any and every woman to go natural, think twice; it's not by force.

Another thing is when girls start to proclaim "I'm doing the big chop! I'm going natural!" and after cutting off their locks, they dye their hair platinum blond, crimson red, or chestnut brown... *deep sigh* The point of going natural is to rid your scalp of all damaging chemicals sweethearts, if you're out here dying your hair while claiming to be natural...stop. There's more to it than simply not getting perms. 

Please stop trying to force this natural hair movement on people and stop being so doggone obsessed about it. 

xoxo,

Miss Nwoka

Best Tressed

So here we go! I ordered this Carol’s Daughter “Best Tressed,” hair care package.

I’ve been reading a lot about how awesome everyone says Carol’s Daughter is, and I’ve been looking for something amazing for my natural hair for some time. 

I really like Kinky Curly, but I also need a good shampoo that smells good and an oil moisturizer.

The kit I ordered has all of that and more. 

You can check it out at the Carol’s Daughter website.

xoxo,

Miss Nwoka

Reality Star New York Goes Natural!

T.V personality New York has gone natural. Was I the only one that was unsure if she had a decent amount of hair under all of that weave she used to wear? I'm happy for her...the looks makes her look so mature and serene. It's definitely an improvement to her appearance. 

xoxo,

Miss Nwoka

Natural Hair and it's Controversies.

I stumbled upon a very interesting video on Youtube just now. There are many definitions and views when it comes to African American women and wearing their 'natural' hair.

My definition of natural hair: Wearing your hair as is. The way you were born sans relaxers or hair DAMAGING chemicals.

I've heard some females saying that so long as you use products such as shea butter to moisturize your hair and help to loosen your curls, it's unnatural and therefore means that your hair is not natural.

The video below depicts this controversy...and I want to know what you think about what it means to be natural? 

xoxo,

Miss Nwoka

My Hair...

   I wish that I could give an elaborate story about how I did the "big chop" and got rid of all my permed hair and became natural via a long and hard process...but I can't. I've been natural for some years now; all my life I knew my hair wasn't what you'd call manageable. When permed it felt synthetic, almost like horse hair not to mention it was INCREDIBLY coarse and strong. It's been YEARS since my cut, and even then it was a shave...ALL of my hair went; nothing was spared. 

   I won't sit here and make it seem like going natural was amazing. I missed my hair like crazy and it was months before my hair was long enough to be able to do any type of hair style...but when it was long enough, I tied my hair with thread (a very effective method among west Africans)  I did that style for years until my hair was down to my mid-back...which took about three years. Amazing right? I went from BALD to hair down my back in a manner of years! But of course a healthy diet consisting of A LOT of fatty acids helped. I also used 'Virgin Hair Cream'

Its prices vary from place-to-place. I bought mine at my local corner store for about $9, then my mom bought me two more (Yay! Free stuff) I have NO clue what the active ingredient in it is, but it grows my hair extremely quickly. The main steps are to just wash your hair, condition, dry, and apply the cream. It stings for about 5 minutes and have a very strong peppermint smell, so I advice that you use it at night...before you go to sleep where no one can smell you...

Where Am I Now?

Well, my scalp is kind of weak so I try my best to lotion my hair and avoid harsh weather...so around winter most likely you'll see me with a beret, hat, scarf, or something to cover my hair and protect it from the horrible weather.

People try to butter me up and say that short looks good on me so from time to time I do chop a few inches or so off my hair. This is it pinned up at the roots....

I am still trying to figure out a cure for split ends because Lord knows I need it. Other than that, I'm doing pretty good. I do partake in wearing weave though, I'm trying to give my scalp some rest and not constantly touch it...whenever I touch my hair, my mother yells at me saying my hair will fall off...so yeah...that's basically where I'm at for now.

 Me as of December 7th 2010.

xoxo,

Miss Nwoka