blogspot, curly fro, dreads, Facebook, loc's, natural hair, tagged, TWA, twist outs, Twitter, why I write

Why I Write

Wow, it’s funny how things happen and make you think and realized your true gifts & talents. I had been having a debating with myself about picking up my blog, dusting it off and get back in to it. I hadn’t posted in months, mainly because I’d gotten bored and ran out of things to talk about. There are so many blogs available; I didn’t think 1 more blog with pretty much the same information you can find anywhere/everywhere would be missed. BOY WAS I WRONG! I started my blog to share my experience, journey, joys, and lows with natural hair. I’ve went from TWA, Loc’s, to a full afro during the course of my natural hair journey. I hadn’t really received many comments about my blog postings, so I didn’t think that anyone was interested in what I was blogging about. I began to get emails, DM’s (tweets), and FB questions regarding natural hair do’s and don’ts and product suggestions. I’ve realized that although I may not have gotten a lot of commentary regarding what I was posting, my followers did enjoy my postings and felt I could speak intelligently on the natural hair care subject. Over the past few months, I’ve been contacted by several PR agencies to do product reviews, and offer giveaways, I’d been wrestling with the thought to host a natural meet up in DC (I’ve never attended one nor am I sure how to conduct one), and I wanted to include a segment on my blog about my skin issues and whether or not my hair and or products were the culprit. Then today I was tagged in a post by @coilyEboniqueMe WOOOOOWWWWWWWWW!!!!!-ok, HINT is taken and I’m bringing my blog back to life!!
I’ve always been a writer. My notebook and a blue Bic pen were my best friends when I was young. Growing up the youngest of 6 children, I was often left alone to entertain myself (my siblings are 15-20 years older). I always wrote stories, poetry, and was awarded several awards in high school for my writing abilities. I recall being teased for loving to write L. I allowed the teasing to stop me from growing as a writer, and I feel that over time, I’ve lost my “style”.
As CoilyEboniqueMe has stated on her blog (http://coilyeboniqueme.wordpress.com/) “So when it comes to my natural hair, I write to TEACH people about what I have learned myself during my journey. I RELAY the message that they are not alone in this process, and last but not least I write to COMMUNICATE with others.” My writing is meant to be taken as conversations and lessons between sister- friends.

Three Peals of Wisdom

  1. Don’t be afraid to share your experiences- the Good- the Bad- the Ugly.
  2. Embrace the power of writing and words.
  3. Relax.. Relate.. Release ( whooosah!)

@ CoilyEboniqueMe Thank you for tagging me 🙂 Ya’ll please check her out http://coilyeboniqueme.wordpress.com/and with that I tag @AuNaturalle85, @curly365, @bossygirl1980, @silverlips, @deepqueendiva (tag! you are it!). Ladies please tell us in a post, Why You Write? Please also tag 5 others and offer them 3 pearls of wisdom for other writers/bloggers 🙂

Thanks for reading 🙂

3-C hair type, 4-b hair type, au naturale, curl defining, damage hair, denman brush, detangle, maintenance, miss naturale, miss sixx, styling products, tangle teezer

Tangle Teezer Detangling Brush

If you have experienced hair breakage or damage from your denman brush- take a look at the tangle teezer. I was put on to this product by a natural sista on Twitter. Check it out the article and let me know what you think..

Tangle Teezer is the first of a new generation of detangling hairbrushes! Upon picking up Tangle Teezer you will notice the teeth aren’t like that of an ordinary brush which is where the hair genius comes in. The unique configuration of specifically designed teeth flex just the right amount to detangle and help smooth the hair’s cuticle which in turn protects the inner cortex from damage.

Using the Tangle Teezer will ensure your hair will appear more lustrous by minimising cuticle damage which in turn will help colour last and reduce the risk of fading. The hair shaft is also better prepared for the onslaught of damaging heat from styling tools. That’s why we like to call it first aid for hair.

SHAUN P SHARES HIS TOP TANGLE TEEZER TIPS

Tangle Teezer can be used for all types of hair and held however you prefer without affecting its high performance. Here I share my tips and advice on getting the absolute best from your Tangle Teezer, helping to put your hair on the road to recovery. As the Tangle Teezer is all about your hair and you, if you have any tips or suggestions for using your Tangle Teezer then please share them and send them to info@tangleteezer.com

HAIR NECESSITIES

• Tangle Teezer is excellent for detangling both wet and dry hair.

• Don’t be tentative! Fantastic, painless detangling is achieved by using a firmer pressure. Remember: it’s like no other brush.

• It’s a workout for your hair. Tangle Teezer gives a blissful, relaxing head massage even for the most sensitive scalps.

• Unlike conventional brushes and combs where you have to try and ease tangles out starting from the ends of the hair and working up towards the roots, Tangle Teezer can be used from roots to ends and mid-length to ends. Tangle Teezer is perfect for those on-the-go with busy lifestyles and fidgety children! Mums have also discovered that Tangle Teezer is a brush sent from hair heaven when it comes to detangling their little darlings’ hair that loves to knot. Hair is calmed in minutes where out go the tears and in come the smiles!

• Detangle hair by using brush strokes from the underneath of the hair with the teeth pointing upwards. Alternatively, brush from the top of the hair pointing the teeth downwards. For those with long hair, turn your head upside down and start detangling from the nape of your neck down to the roots. Ideal for taking conditioner evenly through the hair when wet. Tangle Teezer ensures a light and even distribution of product which adds up to weightless blow-drying. For professional results and to ensure maximum root lift from blow-drying apply conditioner from mid-length to the ends – not from the roots. Tangle Teezer will distribute a fine film of conditioner at the roots which ensures no product overload that leads to flat hair.

HAIR REHAB

• Tangle Teezer is a must-have for hair extension wearers. Tangle Teezer will simply glide though the hair from roots to end, passing painlessly over the bonds without pulling. For those with hair extensions you will find less hair is pulled out and your style will last longer and look better. After three months your hair extensions will continue to look like new rather than pieces of twisted and frayed rope!

• Gives superb results for the daily and on-going maintenance of wigs, wefts, weaves and clip in hair pieces. Tangle Teezer leaves them looking and feeling just like new.

• Excellent results are achieved on even the tightest curls and afro hair.

• Daily brushing refreshes hair for a sleek style and helps to smooth the cuticle for increased shine. While on the go, Tangle Teezer is the ultimate styling tool to give your hair a professional finish all day long.

• To funk up short styles, apply your styling product to the hair and use Tangle Teezer to shape and mould. Great for guys too!

• Tangle Teezer minimises hair breakage, so over a period of time you will notice your hair feels thicker and looks healthier. A results driven brush, the minute you start using Tangle Teezer the sooner you are on the road to beautiful hair. It sounds crazy, but it’s true!

• Three is the magic number! Keep one Tangle Teezer at home, one in the office and one in your gym bag – you never want your hair to be caught without it!

TAKE-OUT SALON TIPS

• When cleansing the hair use a light shampoo along with a gentle massaging action. Remember: you wouldn’t use wire wool to cleanse your face, so why scrub the hair with shampoo? Never pour shampoo straight from the bottle onto the scalp, instead follow the rhythm of: bottle to palm and palm to scalp.

• For mid-length styles avoid aggravating and knotting the hair by gently patting the shampoo through the hair. This will minimise the stress on hair strands.

• Wet hair is more susceptible to snapping, stretching and breaking especially for those with long hair, highlights or with damaged or mistreated hair. For the ultimate conditioning treatment it’s essential to remove excess moisture from the hair. Do this by taking paper towels and scrunching them through mid-length to ends. Pour a deep conditioner onto the palms of the hands and distribute evenly through the hair. Leave on according to product instructions.

• When blow-drying, remember practice makes perfect. To save hair from unwanted and damaging heat practice your style using ‘cool’ tools. Become use to the brush and blow-drying motion of creating your desired styles by putting your dryer on a cool setting. The same with your straightening irons. Use them cold until you feel comfortable you’ve got the technique perfect.

TLC FOR YOUR TANGLE TEEZER

Like your hair, the more you look after your Tangle Teezer the better it will perform. Here I give my TLC tips for looking after your detangler:

• Always place your Tangle Teezer with the pointing teeth up. This way you minimise damage to the teeth.

• Rinse your Tangle Teezer with warm water after using any kind of product.

• Dry at room temperature. Do not be tempted to speed dry by putting on a radiator or drying the teeth with your hair-dryer.

• Clean using a toothbrush by lightly brushing through the teeth with soapy water once a week. Rinse thoroughly.

au naturale, coils, curls, curly fro, detangle, fro hawk, kinks, miss naturale, miss sixx, natural hair

My Knotty Truth- No Lye!

I’ve been natural since off and on since March 1995. I’ve rocked everything from a relaxer to loc’s and everything in between. Last night as I was responding to a natural beauty on Twitter, it hit me- THIS SHIT IS TIME CONSUMING! There I said it!!!!!! Sometimes its too much! I dont always want to braid, twist my hair before bed- I miss the days of just laying down! Don’t get me wrong- I LOVE my natural hair, and I will NEVER- EVER relax again – NEVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But lets be honest- I’ve never in my life had to dedicate so much time into hair. I mix everything that I apply to my hair-conditioner, leave-in conditioner, deep conditioner, hair butters, treatment oils, scalp oils, henna, hair moisturizing mask/clays and lets not talk about the ayurvedic treatments. One day the hair is poppin.. looking like a million bucks….the next she feeling herself- just acting up for NO REASON!!!!! I’m tender headed to the 10th power and DETANGLING IS HATEFUL!!!! Saturday I had a Twitter friend educate me on testing the PH balance in my water-and why I should do it -OK-WHAT??? Among checking labels, and having a boat load of ingredients edged into my brain of what not to use- Now, I gotta put my chemist coat on, get the testing strips and test the PH level in my water???? {OK} you know I’ma do it right ( hehehehehe).

I love my natural hair- we fight, we argue, when I really need her to show up and show out- SHE DOES ( whipping my hair back and forth right now). Having natural hair has made me more conscience of what I put on my hair, and surely has given me greater confidence and pride about my culture. Back in the day if you rocked any variation of a natural you was viewed as “earthy” or “Afrocentric” today- we are from all walks of life and we don’t have to walk around with the “assumed” impression that we are “earthy” or “defend” our hair choices (BTW: there is nothing wrong w/ being earthy or Afrocentric). There is no greater, stronger bond than the natural ladies who network and bond over “HAIR”. The natural movement is growing and getting stronger, and stronger by the day. I love the feeling I get when I sit down, and ” do my hair” – when people ask me ” who did your hair” I gleam with pride when I say ME! When I go to the grocery store, I have 2 baskets- (1) for my groceries, (1) for my hair crack. I feel a rush when I stumble upon an item in the store that “may ” be the answer to any hair woes that I may be having. I’ve awaken out of my sleep when Ive forgotten to wrap my hair with a silk bonnet- ( lol..lol..) – yes, I m pressed sometimes (lol..lol..) I’m loving how kids (especially my daughter) just marvels at my hair and wanna embrace their coils, kinks, and curls!!! So yes, caring for natural hair is time consuming – it can be hard work, even a little frustrating-BUT I love it and there is nothing else I rather be doing 🙂