Put the Scissors Down

By Tenisha Mercer
www.HairNista.Blogspot.com

 

 

I need your help, HairNistas.  I saw this style and I can't get it out of my head. I'm a sucka for a fly, short cut. I'm seriously thinking about this style, but a cut is a drastic decision. And it would require me to get a relaxer, which would be a major hair change.

I'm not one of those naturals who forever swears off relaxers. Hair is like anything else, an accessory. I may, at some point in time, get another relaxer if the mood strikes. Sure, I love my natural hair, but I also am not totally opposed to getting a relaxer, either, though natural hair suits my lifestyle better; always has.

The style isn't original. It's a trademark style of Chicago TV anchor Val Warner and a similar style is worn by Tamron Hall. It's classic, chic and edgy at the same time. Technically, it's a pixie cut with longer sideburns.

Want this style so bad. But then I think of the maintenance it would take. I tried a short style -- once -- in 2006. It was high maintenance. And the same thing with this style. Maybe I'm just bored. Maybe I just need to do something different.

Hair setback

I had a severe trim a few months ago, cutting off about 3 inches (went from armpit length to shoulder length) because of damage ends. I don't have a problem cutting my hair but I like it much better when it's my choice.

So, that's why I'm contemplating a change. Do I just stick it out, suck it up and wait for my hair to grow out? Or just make a drastic change? My mind isn't made yet.

What do you do when you want to change up your style?

Janelle Wears a Loose Pompadour, Straightened Natural Hair on Vibe

By Tenisha Mercer
www.HairNista.blogspot.com

Singer Janelle Monae looks fab on the cover of Vibe Vixen. Love her hair. Looks as if she straightened it (a loose, unstructured pompadour is still there) and it's braided to the back. Don't you just love the versatility of natural hair?

HairTroversy: How much hair is too much?

By Tenisha Mercer
www.HairNista.Blogspot.com

In natural hair circles, more hair is good.

But just because something is 'good' doesn't mean that its good for you.

Let's take the case of Asha Mandela of Atlanta. Usually, hair isn't a health issue. But in Mandela's case, it is: Holding the title of the person with the longest dreads in the world, a recent measurement found that one of her locs was 7 feet long. She hasn't cut her hair in 30 years, and her locs weighs 39 pounds and must be carried in a baby sling when she goes out.

But she still will not cut it, even though it poses health risks, though she said she believes her hair helped with her cancer recovery in the 1990s.

"Cutting it would be equivalent to suicide. It would be like being a zombie," the woman with the world's longest dreadlocks told the Daily Mail.

 

How much is too much?

 

According to this story in Yahoo, this is Mandela's hair regimen:

Mandela handles her dreadlocks carefully, washing them once a week and conditioning them with natural oils. After washing, her hair can take a whopping two full days to completely dry.

Still it poses health risks.

"The doctors seem to think I have a curvature of my spine and that it's the length and the weight of my hair that's making me curve," she said. "Some have said my neck has collapsed at the back and that I need to be careful because I could start having spasms in my spine and probably be paralyzed."

Still, she won't cut it, adding: "My hair has become part of me. It is my life. I will never cut it."

I have a fraction of Mandela's hair, so to each its own. Still, I can't help but think that at some point, it becomes a crutch.

Loc wearers, what do you think?

66th Annual Bronner Bros. Hair Show in Atlanta

By Tenisha Mercer
www.HairNista.Blogspot.com

The 66th Annual Bronner Bros. International Hair show touched down in ATL August 17-20 and for those of you who know about it, you know that this show is legendary.

It's a mad competition of hair stylists, styling hair upside down, in water, and all kinds of positions, in competition. Not to mention the amount of hair care products for sale. It's a can't miss event.

Are you going to Bronner Bros.?

Oprah's Hair

By Tenisha Mercer
www.HairNista.Blogspot.com

It's all the rage to write open letters to celebrities these days, but this isn't an open letter, it's an open request: I need Oprah's hair.

I think it may be a wig or a hairpiece, but I need it in my life. I absolutely love the look. I'm sure Andre had something to do with it, but I'm going to need it. That is all.

3 Ways to Cut Time for your Natural Hair Routine

By Tenisha Mercer
www.HairNista.Blogspot.com

Spending hours searching for natural hair products, then meticulously applying multiple products to each and every curl each morning, and hours-long detangling sessions. Repeat. Whew! Who new natural hair could take so long to style and maintain?

Who has time for that? I know I don't.

Bey's Hair Cut on Instagram

By Tenisha Mercer
www.HairNista.Blogspot.com

                                           Instagram


Cutting your can be a life changing experience. Beyoncé chopped her hair off and debuted it to fans on Instagram on Wednesday, styling it into a chic pixie style cut.

Oprah Rocks a Huge Fro on the Cover of O

By Tenisha Mercer
www.HairNista.blogspot.com

Oprah Winfrey is rocking another afro on the September cover of O Magazine -- this time a huge afro wig.

The hair? It's huge. Last year, Oprah rocked her own afro on the cover last September. Might September be the natural hair cover month? Hmmm.

Slight departure this year with the wig, but beautiful, nonetheless. Her hair weighs a whopping 3.5 lbs and was created by Bey's stylist, Kim Kimble for Andre Walker. We've got some natural hair folks who actually have real hair that big and large.

Natural Hair is Mainstream

By Tenisha Mercer
http://www.HairNista.blogspot.com

I've been natural for so long that it's easy to live in a natural hair 'bubble' -- you see the blogs, the YouTube natural hair stars and you think that everyone is going natural or at least trying. I happened to see a recent issue of Black Hair Care Sophisticates and, even as a natural, I was shocked to see how much natural hair was represented.

Clearly, natural hair has gone mainstream.