Thursday, October 31, 2013

Kanye West and his case of foot in the mouth

It's official: Kanye West has lost his DAYUM mind!

During an interview with Ryan Seacrest, Kanye had the nerve to use FLOTUS and Kim Kardashian in the same sentence.


Kanye West and Kim Kardashian



“No one is looking at what [the president] is wearing. Michelle Obama cannot Instagram a [sexy swimsuit] pic like what my girl Instagrammed the other day,” West said about First Lady Michelle Obama.

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

What will Kerry Washington wear while pregnant?

By Tenisha Mercer
www.HairNista.Blogspot.com

Gladiators, get ready to pop the champagne.

Scandal actress Kerry Washington is pregnant. The 36-year-old star, who married San Francisco 40ers Nnamdi Asomugha in June, is reportedly about four months pregnant with her first child, according to US Weekly.

With news of this announcement, I can't help but think about how stylish Kerry is going to look while pregnant. I know she'll turn up maternity fashions. Here are a few things I think she might wear:




 
 
 
 
 
 

Report: Schoolmates bully, rip out hair extensions of 8-year-old Atlanta girl

By Tenisha Mercer
www.HairNista.Blogspot.com

This story broke my heart. An 8-year-old girl in Atlanta was teased so bad by her classmates about her hair extensions that they allegedly tore them out, ripping out pieces of her scalp.

Aoloni Dunbar's scalp was damaged so badly that she may have to get skin grafts to replace it. Doctors worn that her hair may not ever grow back. It's one of the most brutal cases of 'hair abuse' that I've ever heard (yes, what those kids did to this girl was not only criminal but also abuse).



Can weaves cause scalp worm infestation?

By Tenisha Mercer
www.HairNista.Blogspot.com



A story about a woman in Kenya with a worm-infested weave is making the Internet rounds.

The iReportersTV.co report tells the story of a woman who had chronic headaches shortly after getting a weave:
"She went back to her doctor who decided to examine her scalp and under the beautiful weave he found worms! The worms were burrowing into her skull and after sending the samples to the lab they found that the hair had eggs from which the worms had hatched. The doctor told her that the hair was probably from a corpse because those worms are usually found on dead bodies. Efforts to reach her doctor for further comments were fruitless for he was said to be out of the country."

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

New reality show about about hair and cosmetology school on OWN

By Tenisha Mercer
www.HairNista.Blogspot.com

If you've gone to a cosmetology school -- I occassionally get my hair styled there for cheap  -- then you know all of the drama that can happen in a school setting.



I've had my hair whipped by folks who can do some hair; the only thing they're missing is their state license. I've also had it done by others who needed a little coaching from instructors. Just as entertaining are the students themselves, who come from all walks of life (the young student fresh out of high school, the older mom trying to make her dreams come true and the divalicious dude who, BABY, can do some hair!).

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

What to wear for fall: 80s retro

By Tenisha Mercer
www.HairNista.Blogspot.com

Many of the hot items for fall -- big, chunky slouchy knit sweaters, sweater knits, boyfriend jeans, shirts with bow collars and moto jackets -- look like they came straight out of the 80s.

I'm an 80s baby (sorta) who loves this trend, but I'm still scratching my head on some things and I'm thinking: What year is this? All they're missing is the big hair! Wait, we naturals have got that covered.

Here are the top 80s trends. Tip: Don't pay big bucks for these. Instead, hit up your local Goodwill or thrift store.
MUST. GET. MOTO. JACKET. FOR. FALL!

Love this slouchy fit sweater. I'd pair it with boyfriend jeans, not leggings, though.



Love this vintage look.







'Black' hairstyles on white women

By Tenisha Mercer
www.HairNista.Blogspot.com

We've all seen 'that' girl -- the white girl who will rock the hell out of Black hairstyles, wears Black styles better than Keisha, talks Black lingo better than folks 10 shades deeper and just loves Black - period.

Close your eyes and you'd swear you were talking to a Black woman and honestly, she thinks she's black, anyway; she's just light skinned, LOL.

Yet, for all the admiration and love of Black culture and the many things that define it, that usually goes out the window right about the time the corporate climb happens. For some, that's during college or right before it, but it's at the point where many, though not all, choose their ethnic heritage in favor of moving up the career ladder.

Friday, October 11, 2013

The 2013 World Natural Hair Show in Atlanta

Taliah Waajid World Natural Hair Show 2013
By Tenisha Mercer
www.HairNista.Blogspot.com

One of the biggest hair shows in the southeast begins on Saturday, Oct. 12 and Oct. 13 -- the 16th Annual Taliah Waajid World Natural Hair Show in Atlanta.

HairNista will be in the building! Tens of thousands are expected.

The fall event is the smallest of the World Natural Hair shows, held in the fall and spring.

But it's still one of the best places for vendors, hair stylists and natural hair fans to meet up. It's a great place to get new products and see natural hair.

I'll post updates, videos and pics.

Are you going to the World Natural Health & Beauty Show?

Thursday, October 10, 2013

3 Natural Hair Myths

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

There are plenty of hair myths, and natural hair is so different. While there are very few hard core "rules" (each natural has to determine what's good for THEIR hair), there are quite a few common misconceptions about natural hair and how to maintain it.

Many of them are leftover from our days wearing relaxed hair or they are flat out untruths that have been followed so much that many people swear they are true.

Here are a few common hair myths:

1. Wetting your hair every day will make it fall out. This is a biggie. And it's easy to see why this is a misconception. Water has been behind the ruin of many a hairstyle, especially straight styles. And when we wore relaxers, we swore off water like it was cancerous. I'm not even sure why, because wouldn't relaxed hair benefit from water But this 'rule' was rewritten by many naturals, who spray, douse and spritz their hair with water every day, or every few days, for moisture. You have to determine what works well for your hair. Some naturals' hair is better served by wetting it when it's dry or every few days, and then sealing it with an oil to lock in moisture. Water = moisture. And when have natural hair,  moisture is half the battle. Fact: Dry hair breaks and damages easier.


2. Cutting your hair will make it grow. Umm, no, it won't. Cutting your hair will not make it grow; it will make it get shorter. Now, with that said, you should TRIM your hair only when your ends are split. If your ends aren't damaged or split, no need to trim, and you don't necessarily have to follow the 4-6 week trim mandate that some stylists swear by. But by all means, trim damaged ends when necessary and stop holding on to scraggly ends for dear life. Hair growth IS affected by split ends that travel up and thwart hair growth.  Fact: Trim hair only when necessary.


3. Putting grease on your hair/scalp will make it grow. Ahh, that jar of Blue Bergamont and Royal Crown. Many of us grew up with shiny foreheads, thanks to plenty of grease rubbed on our pigtails and plaits. It served a purpose for our young hair, but greasing your alone will not make it grow. You need water + oil to seal in moisture, and greasing dry hair alone just won't cut in. Grease is a personal choice. Many hair textures are too fine, and grease only wears the hair down in some cases.

There are many natural oils (grapeseed, avocado, coconut, olive oils, etc.), silicone-based moisturizers and conditioners that will do the trick, though some people still swear by Vaseline and a jar of hair grease.

I use oils or grease when flat ironing my hair, because naked hair and a flat iron do nothing for me and a bit of oil makes it easier. Fact: Greasing your hair will only cause greasy hair; it's a personal hair decision if grease is beneficial.

What are some natural hair myths you believed or heard? Please comment below.





Wednesday, October 9, 2013

'Good hair' days

There are some days that your hair miraculously cooperates. This is one of those days.

Thursday, October 3, 2013

Scandal Season 3 Premiere on ABC

By Tenisha Mercer
www.HairNista.Blogspot.com


Kerry Washington scandal
Kerry Washington at the "Scandal" red carpet premiere in NYC. Usually Kerry's fashions are so on point, but this dress?


Gladiators, get ready. "Scandal" kicks off its third season premiere tonight at 10 p.m. on ABC featuring actress Kerry Washington.

Get ready for another season of Washington's stylish fashions as character Olivia Pope, and the scandalous affair with President Grant. I can't wait to see what creator Shonda Rimes has on tap for this season.

Don't text me, email me or call me at 10 p.m. on Thursdays. I'll be watching. Will you?





Wednesday, October 2, 2013

5 transitioning tips for transitioners

By Tenisha Mercer
www.HairNista.Blogspot.com


Relaxed hair transitioning to natural
 
A family member is transitioning to natural hair after years of relaxers.

I don't want to pry or pretend to be the Miss Natural know it all (I'm there for questions, but I don't want to give unsolicited advice) but here's my advice to anyone considering going natural.

1. No one's curls will look like yours. Your curls are unique. Sure, there are some that will mimic or even closely resemble yours, but virtually no one will have the same curl (density, texture, curl pattern, hang, volume, etc.) as you do. So don't try to make all-or-nothing comparisons. Your hair will most likely not look like hers. Get over it.

2. YouTube vids are great to get new style options, but your hair will not look like hers (see #1 above). It's so easy to delude yourself into thinking that your hair, when fully transitioned, will look just like name your favorite YouTube star. It won't. It will look like your hair.

3. Wig it or weave it. It's not all or nothing. You will have some effed up hair days, to be sure. It's OK. Throw on a wig or a weave (preferably a natural one) and keep it moving. Just be sure to moisturize, condition and take care of your natural hair underneath.

4. Breathe. Be patient. You are just getting to know your hair. Hair forums, websites, YouTube videos and natural hair Instagram stars are great, but we all have different, unique natural hair journeys. Try to embrace yours. Your natural hair won't grow in overnight, and neither will your knowledge of hair care products, what works and what doesn't work, and even hair styles. Each state of your hair may be different. It's a learning process. You will get there.

5. Forget curl typing. Many natural swear by this, but curl typing means little to me. Sure, it's good to familiarize yourself with the concept, but keep in mind that products, density, texture and porosity play a much bigger role in the condition of your hair -- not if you've got type 2, type 3 or type 4 hair -- I don't care what the products say.

What tips would you give to new or transitioning naturals?



On Trend for Fall 2013: Leather

By Tenisha Mercer
www.HairNista.Blogspot.com

It's leather, leather everywhere for fall.

Unless you've been stuck under a fashion rock, you've probably noticed how leather is THE hot trend for fall. From moto jackets to the uber popular leather and fabric combos (think t-shirts with leather sleeves and pockets, fabric blazers with leather sleeves, leather leggings, leather peplums and leather
dresses), leather is the must-have for fall.