So would you actually go here for braids?

So ..... ummm yeah. Raise your hand if you would actually get your braids done here?

Exactly what I thought ... Chile, BYE! Place looks all kinds of sketch. How can I be sure you aren't going to use hair from a Cabbage Patch Doll in my head if there is no sign on the front door? 

Photo credit: Joel Kurth

Now, Oumy might be able to lay my braids down like nobody's business. She might be able to beat these edges down like the Gawds, but I will never find out, I swear

Braids on Eight Mile Road 

Oumy's is on Eight Mile Road near Kelly in Detroit. And as much of a born and raised Detroit homegirl as I am, this ain't happenin'. 

Some places you just don't go.

The only sign on the front of the building looks like it saw the wrong end of a blow torch. The sign on the side of the building isn't much better: Looks like somebody painted it using a Dollar store paint brush and leftover mistake paint from The Home Depot.

I cannot with you today, Oumy!

Now, I'm fully aware of the term 'hole in the wall.' But that does not mean that I would patronize such an establishment and trust it with my crown and glory! You know how much time I spent on this hair? 

No ma'am and no sir! 

Just why?
If it all goes left and you leave me #teamnoedges, I need to know how to ... ahem ... get recourse, if you will. How do I find you? Especially when the front door is boarded up with a piece of plywood and appears to be padlocked?

Curb appeal much? And just who is 'Oumy'? Is this a government name? Is the number even legit? Bye, Oumy, whomever you are! 

E'rybody can't play in your head

I'd rather have a crooked neck sitting at someone's kitchen table while they're doing my braids, with them eating Chinese, watching Judge Greg Mathis and Maury and running after their bad ass kids, than mess around with Oumy. Or have my head dangling under a kitchen faucet while getting my hair scrubbed with Dawn dish soap, than deal with Oumy's foolishness.

Because, you see, I know what to expect from the hood beautician. Hey, a girl's gotta save coins somehow. But Oumy? I am really not so sure about any of this. Braids and taxes are not exactly complimentary. 

Will be edges be snatched and my taxes done?
Can I pay for my Sengelese twists using my tax refund?

Must I give Oumy my W-2s to get some zillions?

IJS. These are all things you must know.

Ummmm ... nooooo

Cultural appropriation is a MUTHA!

These are not 'twisted mini buns' they are damn bantu knots. If you are gonna snatch, snatch right! Don't you just hate it when natural hairstyles on us are considered 'ghetto' but on white folks, they are considered 'hot' and 'high fashion.' Enough of the BS.

Hair Crush

Lush!

HairSpiration Friday!

By Tenisha Mercer
www.HairNista.Blogspot.com

Hair Friday! Pictures sourced from 4UsNaturals on Facebook.

Her hair is giving me life!

Hairspiration: Lovely Locks

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Doesn't her hair look super moisturized?

Natural Hair Pic of the Day

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Natural Hair Pic of the Day



Gorge! --Source



Natural Hair Pic of The Day



Loving the curly fro -- Source



Natural Hair Pic of the Day

YESS!!!!!!!!!  Source

Natural Hair Pic of the Day

Love her curls -- and color -- Source

Alicia Keys Cuts Her Hair Into A Chin-Length, Assymetrical Bob



Alicia Keys cuts hair into a bob style -- Source

 Beyonce isn't the only celeb sporting a new hairstyle these days; songbird Alicia Keys unveiled her new look -- an assymetrical, chin-length bob cut -- today on Instagram.

The look is definitely retro, an 80s/early 90s throwback. Alicia is definitely a hair icon. Her debut in the early 2000s wearing braids influenced that trend, as have her other styles. We'll just have to see if this catches on.

Do you like Alicia Keys' bob cut?

HairCrush Friday

Who says natural hair isn't corporate?

Like this. Banana clip?

Very simple, classic and carefree look

Simple yet stunning

She Killin' it!

HairCrush Friday

Love these pics, courtesy of blkgirlsrock.tumblr.com

Natural fro



Love it!

Flower power!



Fro

Can't Tell Me Nuthing!

Cute hair day ....

Inna Modja For Cosmo

Inna Modja for Cosmo

I don't have to tell HairNistas how fly, sexy and sophisticated natural hair is --- you already know!

But in case you need a little reminder, these natural hair images via BlkGirlsRock.com speak for themselves.



Inna Modja for Cosmopolitan Magazine

Daddy, Daughter Hair Moments

President Obama and a young Malia Obama with her hair in a puff. How cute!

Seems that our favorite president, President Obama, himself, has hair styling skills -- or maybe not!

During a dinner with six guests at a private dinner with the President and FLOTUS as part of the President's dinner contest, Obama told a story of when he styled Malia's hair. This is what he said, according to BGLHOnline.com :

"My favorite story out of this is Malia, when she was 4, she had a little dance thing. Well, Michelle was gone that weekend so I’m taking her to ballet. And I get her in her little leotard and her little stuff. I did her hair, put it in a little bun.

We get to the dance studio and one of the mothers there right away comes up to Malia – she thinks she’s out of earshot of me and she says, ‘Sweetie, do you want me to redo your hair?’ And Malia who she’s 4 says, ‘Yes please, this is a disaster’ you know, she didn’t want to hurt daddy’s feelings."

Too funny!

No Daddy Memories, but Hubby Memories

I don't have any daddy/daughter hair stories (my father didn't raise me) but I would always "help" my grandfather, who did raise me, comb his hair.  He never combed mine, LOL! Grandaddy was mostly bald, but had a wee bit of hair on the sides.

He'd come home from work, tired from working as a supervisor on the assembly line at Chrysler, and sit in a chair at the kitchen table. I'd grab his pocket comb from his shirt pocket and begin combing his hair as he nodded off to sleep. I had to have been a very  young child. My grandfather has been gone for almost 14 years now, but it's one of the memories that I cherish.

Now, my husband on the other hand,  has done the girls' hair a few times -- once when my oldest was 1 1/2 and I was having my youngest -- and brushed it down a few other times when the girls' ponytails were a mess and I was out of pocket. All of those times, my girls looked a HAM!

I had just had my youngest, who was born premature, and I took one look at my then toddler's hair and was like, WTH? Yup, he's been "banned" from doing their hair ever since!

What daddy, daughter hair stories can you share? Or,  does your  husband do your daughter's hair? Is he better at styling than you?

You Know You Are Obsessed When ...

Three naturals in a crowded TJ Maxx. One natural says to another natural (they both worked for TJ Maxx),

"I have that shampoo for you from Miss XXX."

I'm standing in the check out line and thinking, "What shampoo?" I wanted to ask so bad!

Later in the parking lot, hubby asked me why didn't I ask about the shampoo? He knows me and knew was just dying to ask. I told him that I started to ask, but didn't want to butt in the convo.

Have you ever overheard another natural talking about a product or regimen and you wanted to butt in?

HairSpiration: Esperanza Spalding

 

 



Esperanza without her fro at a recent CD promotion



 

Esperanza Spalding emerged onto the music scene a few years ago with her trademark fro -- and we've been in hair love ever since!

A Grammy nominated bassist, Spalding is known as much for her beautiful fluffy coils as for her music -- which she's played for the Obamas at the White House. She has flaunted a variety of natural hairstyles -- her mile-high fro at the Academy Awards, a chic updo at the Academy Awards last year, pinned back styles and dense, curly fros.

Now, I'm not one to tell people what styles they should wear with their own hair, but Spalding was recently sported wearing what looks like a wash-and-go. I like it, but I like her fro better! Since her big, fluffy cloud of curls is her trademark, I'm not used to seeing her without them.

This look is going to take some getting used to.

 



Esperanza with her fro at the Academy Awards



What do you think? Fro or no?












HairTroversy: How Do You Handle A Hair Compliment When Wearing A Weave/Wig?

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Sometimes, even the most well intentioned comment can go all the hell wrong.

I was at Rack Room shoes today when I saw what I thought was a headful of thick, natural hair. Mid-back length straight, thick hair, lots of body and thick curls at the end.

Before I could compliment her, she complimented me: "Your hair is so pretty!" I returned the compliment and said: "Actually, I was going to tell you, I like your hair."  She immediately pointed to her hair said, "Oh, thank you, I'm natural under here. It's hot and I had to do something with it. I couldn't take it anymore. "

My face was probably looking all kind of wrong, because I had no idea she had a weave. The ends of her hair were thick, like sponge roller thick type of curls. Most weaved up girls get the long, pin straight weaves. This young lady had thick, but straight hair. I just knew it was hers.

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When A Compliment Goes Horribly Wrong

Turns out it wasn't, and it left me feeling awkward as hell. I immediately felt like I might have made her a bit uncomfortable. If I could do it over again, I wished she would have said thank you and kept it moving. I didn't need an explanation about why she wore her hair the way she did; that's her business.

All of which left me thinking: Is there a right way and a wrong way to give a hair compliment?
Should the receiver of the compliment just say thank you and keep it moving or should they admit that it's not their hair?

I don't like to throw shade. If it's obvious that a person has a wig/weave and I like it, I just say, "Nice hair" and leave it at that. Now, sometimes the person will say, "thank you." Other times, they'll admit it's not theirs.

Hey, I'm cool with both. Personally, I've done both when I wore wigs, but especially the latter when I was new to wearing my La Jay wig. The more comfortable I got wearing it, "thank you" became the only explanation needed.

Do you admit you are wearing a wig/weave when you get a compliment? Do you make excuses for wearing a wig/weave?

HairSpiration: Pump Up The Volume



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I love her hair! So thick and lush. Itching to do a light blow out, so maybe I'll see if I can pull off this look.

Either way, it's a great summer style.

My hair is thick, but I don't know how I'll make it appear this dense or have this much volume?