Afro perm takes Asia by storm

By Tenisha Mercer
www.HairNista.Blogspot.com 

We all know what a relaxer can do to kinky hair. But what about when you want to turn straight hair into kinky? There was really few ways to turn it kinky - until now.

A new chemical process can now turn straight into kinky --  and the Japanese are pioneering it by wearing it, according to AfroHair.net.

Hey, I'm all about kinky inclusion. And this s some straight up kinky, 4C-beyond type kink.

And it's entirely different than most chemical processes, which usually tend to straighten the hair.

The process is extremely popular in South Korea and Japan, where it's being used to transform straight hair into dreads and cornrows. The process is known as the Reggae Perm or the Asian Afro Perm. It creates new hydrogen bonds to form in the hair using small perming rods during a chemical process that transforms straight into straight up kink.

Now, let's hope that those of us who are born with kinky hair can learn to appreciate what we've got naturally, a little bit more. 

Janelle Monae at the BET Awards

By Tenisha Mercer
www.HairNista.Blogspot.com

Janelle Monae killed it at the BET Awards on Sunday.

Loved the different look she tried with her side-twist pompadour, her signature black and white ensemble. Later, she performed with Erykah Badu, who donned a massive honey-wheat colored fro.

Janelle Monae at BET Awards

Janelle Monae and Erykah Badu perform at BET Awards

Does Your Hair Cost Too Much?

By Tenisha Mercer
www.HairNista.blogspot.com

Some women spend a killing on their weaves

Listening to a popular radio station in Atlanta and a caller said she pays up to $900 a month on her weave; $500-$700 a month when she wants to "save." And that she will skimp on other bills so that her hair stays done.

My thought: That's a top of the line Mercedes car note every month -- on yo hair? Have no idea what she does for a living, but when you add up the cost? It's insane.

That Much on Hair?

It went so above my head, because I've never been one to just throw money at my hair; in fact, I'm the opposite, sometimes being too cheap! But it got me to thinking: How much do we as Black women s spend on our hair, especially those weaves, which ain't cheap. How much is too much?

Years ago, I was amazed that women spent $1,200 to lay away their weaves on the movie, Good Hair. In fact, I'm still amazed. Is our hair that important that we will not pay our bills? How much is too much to spend on your hair? Is your hair your top priority -- over say, your electric bill?

And it's not just weaves. There are many women who get their hair done every week -- to the tune of 60-$75 dollars a pop. It all adds up.

Is Natural Hair Better on Your Wallet?

Cost is one of the reasons why natural hair has become more popular -- it's a lot cheaper. Even if you go to natural salon, chances are you are spending much less money than a weave install. And given the fact that many naturals maintain their hair and only pay for services such as trims or dye jobs, natural hair is a budget saver.

What's the most you've ever spent on your hair?

Natural Hair Pic of the Day



Black skin is the absolute best canvas! Source



Supa Dupa FLY

Thought my hair looked supa dupa fly! Lasted 3 wks w/dry twist and curl on damp hair w/dax and castor oil. Hair got bigger each week - loved it!

Last week, I added glycerine

But glycerine + rain + humidity = shrunken fro, not the look i was after. About to start the process all over again with a deep con and light blow dry this wknd, but in desperate need of a trim. Will post pics soon!

Is Heat Damage Real?

After reading the umpteenth article warning about heat damage -- and naturals swearing off heat like it's the Bubonic Plague ---  I'm starting to wonder if *some* heat damage is in our heads.
Note: This article is only my opinion, and by no means scientific. I'm sure this article will ruffle some natural feathers, but put down the heat protectant and hear me out.

If you read any of the articles about the use of heat, you'd swear that 90% of naturals who use heat -- pressing combs, flat irons -- get heat damage. If you've got heat damage, by no means am I saying you don't have it.

Do You Believe the Heat Damage Hype?
Heat damage is real, especially among finer hair naturals, but I wonder is it as common as some would have us to believe. Many naturals swear that just one use of heat can cause lasting damage. Many, many naturals claim that heat training -- the process of regularly using flat irons and pressing combs to obtain straight styles -- is nothing but heat damage.

Not gonna dispute what's going on in any other naturals' head, but let me give you something to think about:

I don't believe that all this heat damage is a "natural" phenomenon. Think about when you had a relaxer. Chances are, you had a relaxer, blow dry, and then your hair was curled to death. Especially if you had a short style. Why wouldn't our relaxed hair -- which, would be chemically weakened by relaxer bonds -- suffer the same, if not worse fate, when it came to heat damage?

Is Heat the Devil?
Why does it seem that heat damage is a new term circa 2000s, when black women have been wearing relaxers and frying their hair for at least have a century? If you read most hair blogs and naturals' avowing any use of heat, you'd think heat is the the devil.

I can only use myself and others I know as examples. Except for a brief dalliance with a texturizer in 2007, my last relaxer was in 1995. I know, a long time ago. But, I'd get my hair blow dried straight, flat ironed and finally a slight curl with curlers in a super hot Marcel iron. Lots of heat.

Full disclosure: I was a heat trained natural on and off until 2008, when I began wearing my hair curly. I have never experienced large scale heat damage.

Does a No Heat Regimen Work For Everyone?

Again, no scientific study here, but I'd gather that my regimen was much like others. And if you had short hair, you had even more heat, with direct heat from those curlers, applied throughout the hair, concentrated on each strand.

Pressing curls and stove curling irons are by no means new; they've been around quite some time. I find it hard to believe that our hair in a relaxed state was stronger than our natural hair. Am I anti-heat? Depends on your hair.

I know that I've not used heat for months at a time. And guess what? My hair still tangles, knots up and gets SSKs in the crown -- the thickest portion of my hair. I can either risk heat damage or have to cut out knots in my head. I don't know which is worse.

Why Heat Damage Now?
Up until 2008, I never heard of folks chopping all their hair of because it was damaged. I can't count the number of flat iron and pressed styles I had with naked, no product hair. We knew nothing about heat protectants then, and we cranked that heat up! My stylist routinely gave me a deep conditioner, but you were lucky if your stylist put a little oil in your hair before flat ironing or pressing.

True, most of us didn't wear our hair curly, so we never knew if it wouldn't revert back to curly; we only cared that it was straight. However, if the same heat damage in dictators were used then as used now, we all had heat damage, right?

Is Relaxed Hair Stronger Than Natural?
I mean, we'd still have split ends, right? I've read plenty of stories of naturals getting their hair flat ironed once and then reporting split end city. Some so severe over a length of time that they do a big chop to get rid of the damaged ends.

When I was relaxed, I never recall anyone who cut all their relaxed hair off because of heat damage. I know some folks who had their hair fall out because of bad allergic reactions or poor applications of relaxers, but never anyone who did a big chop because of heat damage on their relaxed hair.

Yet, I can't tell you the number of naturals who will do a big chop after just one application of heat. Does it depend on how much heat you use? Of course. If you are flat ironing your hair every week, you can expect some damage.

All I'm doing is asking critical questions; I'm hoping to get answers. I hear lots of naturals experience heat damage, but I've never seen anyone admit to heat damage when they had relaxed hair. Did it not exist then? Am I saying that heat won't damage our hair? No, it depends on your hair.

Just wanted to give you some things to think about.



What do you think? Is heat damage now as naturals as common as some would believe? Did you ever experience heat damage when you had relaxed hair?

HairSpiration: Natural Kids

I love this kid. Is she posing or what? Uber cute!



Source: BlkGirlsRock.Tumblr

HairSpiration: Solange Knowles

Earlier, I posted what I felt was a unflattering pic of Solange.



This is a pic of her via BlkGirlsRock.Tumblr that I just love.






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It's ... so cosmopolitan, so sexy. Now, THIS is the Solange that we've all come to know (friend in my head, right?) and love for her spunk, creativity and uniqueness. This picture is sooooo different than the earlier pic.

She seems so comfortable in her skin. Isn't that what we all want?

What do you think of this pic of Solange?

HairNista Challenge: No Gel 7-Day Challenge

Gel insecurity? Not sure if I'm feeling this? I thought it looked cute.

My name is Tenisha. And I am addicted to hair gel.

Gel is my creamy, err, goey crack? It's just something about how my hair hangs with gel.I've never got the knack of the tightly curly method of just using conditioner. I NEED something more in my hair than just conditioner to make it hang right.

I use conditioner (lately, Cantu Shea Butter) + Doo Gro under it, but I also use gel. Typically, I'm not able to get 3-4 day hair, either, so I at least have to wet it every morning. I'm so bad with it that my friend says I use WAY too much of it, LOL.

Unless my hair is flat ironed, it's rare for me to go two weeks without using gel -- usually EcoStyler with Argan oil, but before that it was Sallys Proclaim Activator gel. My hair just don't feel right unless I add just a teeny, tiny bit, at least to the front.

All of this worked fine until this summer, when my hair really began to thicken up -- especially the crown. EcoStyler started tangling my hear. I swore it off and began using Proclaim again. But I couldn't stand the feel of Proclaim in my hands, so back to EcoStyler we went.

Sigh. I just don't know if this recent thickness and length will allow me to wear a wash and go. I swore off Wash and Gos not even a few weeks ago, but they are my go-to style that I KNOW will turn out  halfway decent (my twist outs are often a #fail).

Curls, Curls, Curls
I think I have a curl obsession, no? I know. I know. In previous posts, I said I would stop using gel, because of knots. Well, I backslid... and started using it again. This week, I slapped a pound of it on the back of my hair. And let's not even talk about my damaged crown (found a few more tangles there, too).

Wouldn't you know it that some of the back of my hair, where the length is, has tangled. Can you say setback? I don't have patience to remove masses of tangled knots, so I snipped snipped two knots out this morning. I think I lost a good 3 inches, and I don't want to think about how long it took me to grow that -- nor how long it will take to grow back!

Major setback, HairNistas, or at least I feel like it's a major setback. My crown is noticeably shorter, and now the same issues are affecting my length.

That's why I'm committing to not using gel. I'm starting small -- one week, no gel. Let's be real. I'll probably have to replace it. Thinking about using Shea Moisture's Curl Milk or an old fave -- Hawaiian Silky 6 in 1 or Carefree Gold activator. Something, anything that won't tangle my hair, AND that's not made with gel.

Can I do it?

Yesterday, I put gel on it, but it was in an updo and slightly stretched. This morning, I fluffed my wash and go and got rare second day hair. Tonight, I think I'm going to detangle it and set it on curl formers for a Corinne Bailey Rae inspired curly do or blow it out because I'm tired of knots. Other than avoiding gel like the plague, I think I'm also going to up my detangling routine.

Lovin' this updo, but why do I ALWAYS cut by head off in pics?

Admittedly, I'd gotten away from it, after reading one too many blog posts about naturals who finger comb or don't detangle at all. I thinks my hair can still manage fingers, but I definitely need a comb!

What non-gel products do you think I should use for a wash and go? Does gel tangle your hair? Has this happened to you?

My Daughters' Dominican Blowout: Part 1

The girls' natural hair in Oct. 2011

Natural hair after blow out

Natural hair after blow out

For months, I've debated taking my daughters to a Dominican hair salon for a Dominican blowout.

I thought the heat for the blow dryer would be too hot -- and so I put off taking them.

I thought, there is NO way they are going to be able to take the curdles of smoke and red hot heat from the blow dryer. I mean, these are the same girls who flinched if I barely touched their hair. And I just knew they'd leave the salon in tears.

But, after years of wearing their hair curly, they both wanted straight hair, even going so far as asking for a perm (the answer was "no"). 

Their  Hair Story

Let me back up a little bit. My girls haven't had the best salon experiences, either. Actually, they've been quite negative. Most hair stylists don't want to do their hair or complain because of  their hairs' length and thickness. They've left the salon in tears, from stylists who weren't gentle and probably resented all the time it took to do their hair, while admonishing me to perm their hair when they were 6 and 8. (Nope, wasn't gonna happen).  

Their hair is supa dupa think, and it's proved no match for my lack of hair skills post ponytails. Ponytails, I could handle. But as the parent of a 5th grader and 7th grader, my girls wanted something different. Plus, they've outgrown all of those cute little ponytails and barrette styles I used to do.

Why Momma's Not Always The Best

They wanted their hair straight. But Momma's not a hair genius. No matter what product, or styling tool (professional ionic blow dryers and good flat irons from Sally's), it proved no match for their long, thick tresses.

I only got minimal results. I just couldn't get their hair straight. I'd flat iron it, and it would get somewhat straight. But it never lasted. At worst, it would begin reverting the very same day I pressed it. At best, it would last until the next day or two.

With two thick heads, we all ended up frustrated -- and exhausted -- on wash day. The whole process was laborious, taking hours to detangle, wash, blow dry and flatiron -- for each head! Love hair, but I'm no hair expert. I just felt like I couldn't get the hair thing right.

Will it Work?

Enter the Dominican salons.

Notorious for heat, Dominicans are wunderkinds with the round blush and blow dryer. They're famous for coaxing kinks, curls and waves into damn near perm straight locks with a bend and flick of a wrist.  If you want bone straight locks, with no chemicals, they're the best thing going.

I knew if anybody could get the girls' hair straight, it would be the Dominicans. On Saturday, we trekked to Juanita's Hair Salon in Alpharetta. I warned them about the heat. Told them it would be hot. But they insisted (my warnings didn't deter them).

I tried to detangle their hair at home, but once it was wet at the salon, it tangled all over again. It took about four hours -- and a long detangling session on my youngest, whose hair had gotten super thick after weeks of wearing twists -- but they emerged with straight hair.

The Process

Here's how the whole thing went down:

After a long time detangling at the shampoo bowl, it was time for deep conditioning under the blow dryer. I thought I'd have to check my oldest daughter's stylist, after she used a rat tail comb. I didn't see any ripped hair, so I didn't say anything

What's in that Mystery Mix?

What they use is a mystery. Bottles and  jars of creamy stuff. Some had labels, but I couldn't see that far, LOL. They didn't rinse the conditioner out, but blowdried it in. This goes against traditional advice, which says hair should have little to no product in it for a good flat iron. The only exceptions to that rule are heat damage serum/spray and dabs of grease or pressing oil. And, hydrating the hair with moisture or deep conditioners BEFORE blow drying/flat ironing is recommended.

Well, the Dominican blowout took all of that and threw it out the window. After wet detangling under the shampoo bowl, they washed it, put the girls under the dryer for deep conditioning, and then sectioned and detangled again in small Bantu knots. They didn't rinse out the conditioner or whatever mystery mixed they used, because I could see it foaming up on the girls hair. Maybe this process protects the hair or gets it straighter?

Next, they blowed it straight with a round brush and, finally, flat ironed it pin straight for a finishing touch. (It took not one but TWO stylists to blowdry Mya's hair).

They did an excellent job, charging $55 for a blowout+trim and $60 for a blow dry. Their standard prices for natural hair were $45 for a blowout  + $5 more for long hair. I tipped generously, because it took my youngest a LONG time to detangle.

Overall, I'd do this again in a heartbeat. I plan to have their hair straightened once a month -- no more. Heat in moderation, and trust, their next appointment is already booked. My girls? They're happy as pie. My youngest said the detangling hurt, but she liked the results. My oldest daughter's hair is MBL, and the youngest is WL.

Why it was Worth It

And Mommy? Yeah, I'm good! The girls have trusted my non-hair doing behind with their hair for so long that they're old enough and now it's time for me to hand the hair reigns to someone else who I trust. (In full disclosure, I went to this particular salon a few times in 2009, but stopped going because I no longer wanted to heat train my hair).

I'd much rather fork over the cost to let professionals straighten their hair, and I managed to catch up on some work while I was at the salon.  Yeah, that heat ain't no joke, but I'm hoping that blowouts will stave off their desire for a perm for a looooong while.

What do you think? Would you get a Dominican blowout?

What's Wrong With Your Hair?

I'll admit it: There are some days that my natural hair is on point. And, other days, not so much.

Take the day my hair was an unintentional fro because of rain/humidity. Nothing wrong with a fro; hell, I wear one all the time. But there's nothing worse than a fro frizzball that you didn't set out to be a fro.

Later that day, a comment from my husband that my frizzed out hair did not "look becoming" of me, had me ready to take out the claws, grab the vaseline and take off my earrings, LOL. I brushed off his comments, with a my hair frizzed in the fog and an I don't care.

The next day, I put it into two cute flat twists, that I eventually took down. I thought it looked a HAM, but a transitioner gave me a compliment about my hair that lifted what I thought was a bad hair day. That didn't last. After a few hours outside, my hair was an even bigger frizzball, so much so that my daughters asked, "what's wrong with your hair?" the moment I walked in the door.

I mostly ignored them, and said nothing. Our natural hair and curls, loves them. The frizz? That ish can get back. I don't know many people who like frizz, and I know I don't. My frizz has a direct correlation to my style. Any humdity in the air and my hair instantly poofs - unless it's gelled down or flat ironed bone straight. Even if it's straight, I still have to put it into a braid for it not to revert.

I don't know why loved ones' comments about our hair get to us so much. I mean, if a stranger had told me what my family said to me, they'd have gotten told.

Are you in love with your frizz? What do you do when people make unflattering comments about your hair?

HairSpiration: Corrine Bailey Rae

Source

I love Corinne Bailey Rae's hair. In my book, she ranks right up there with Tracee Ellis Ross in terms of natural hair. Every pic of her natural hair, I absolutely love.

It looks like she used flexi rods or curlformers to achieve the sideswept look, and I love the pompadour in the front. Really sets off the entire look. Don't know if I can rock it with my forehead, but Corrine looks lovely with it.

What do you think? Would you wear this hairstyle? If so, how did it turn out?

HairTroversy: Koreans in the Black Beauty Supply Business

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I ran across this article about Korean beauty supply stores in the Cascade Patch (Atlanta) via Kisforkinky.com.

Frank Mohadou closed the door to the beauty supply business he was struggling to keep, in the slice of space he obtained from his sister. The still night held no comfort for the African native as he slid behind the wheel of the $250-a-month car he could barely afford.

Read more here.

Written in May by Kimathi Lewis, the "Ugly Side of the Beauty Supply Market" was an excellent piece. As a former journalist who has written an article or two about the beauty supply industry, it's the first "expose" that I've read about the inner workings of the beauty supply industry.

Is it Really That Bad for Black Beauty Supply Stores?

For years, I've heard that the industry was strictly controlled and strongarmed by Koreans, almost like the Korean mafia. It shut black beauty supply owners out, limiting or banning products they purchase. This was the first written account that I've read that painfully details the Koreans' stronghold on the Black beauty supply industry.

Why is this all on the low? For a long time, folks were afraid to talk. Last year, I heard a radio interview by a member of a Black beauty supply association in Atlanta about how tough it was for Black entrepreneurs to succeed in the industry.

I believed every word he said.

Why We Must Control More Products For Our Hair

Now, I'm all for capitalism. Not to get too political, but I know of very few industries that serve an ethnic group where said ethnic group doesn't control at least a majority of it. It would be like me controlling the market for Passover and Hanukkah merchandise; I'm Black, it's a Jewish product. Or, it would be like me making tortillas for Latinos -- I could do it, but that doesn't mean that it would be successful.

It simply would not happen.

It's something inherently "wrong" about an ethnic product in which the people who the product is intended for have such a small stake in its success. It's also wrong that a product that African Americans consume cannot be purchased in large quantities for the purpose of resale by the very people who it is supposedly made for. I have no legal background whatsoever, but doesn't this smack of an unfair trade advantage?

New Madame C.J. Walkers?

Isn't it bad enough that the once proud Black hair care industry is no longer run by us? Hair used to be one of the few industries that was controlled by us, dating back to the early 20th centuries with Madame C.J. Walker.

White folks didn't care about our hair -- we did -- and always have. Pioneers like Walker and others invented things like the pressing comb for our hair care maintenance. Today, Dudley's is one of the few large Black owned hair care manufacturers. Others sold off to majority interests in the 70s, 80s and 90s to large conglomerates like L'Oreal. Many of the products you see on store shelves, despite names like "African Pride," etc., are just products owned by majority companies; they aren't Black-owned.

It's only been recently, with the explosion of natural hair care products by folks like Lisa Price of Carol's Daughter, Miko and Titi Branch, founder of Miss Jessie's products, Jane Carter and a bunch of others, that we've seen a small portion of the black hair care industry back in our hands.
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But that's not enough.

It's Not Enough To Just Wear the Weave/Wig

And when it comes to weave, you can just forget about it. The weave industry wouldn't be where it is today without African Americans. Sure, white girls are weaved up too, but we have very, very little stake in a product that we slap on our heads on the regular.

There's something wrong with that.

You have a few wig makers, Beverly Johnson, Patti LaBelle and Vivica Fox, with wig lines. But other than that, our control is very, very little.  It's time that we regain control of an industry that we use. It's time to fight with our dollars, purses and wallets.

Black Beauty Supply Stores Need Our Support

When you see a Black beauty supply store owner, support them. Yes, their prices will probably be higher. And there shelves may be a bit emptier. But you'll have the added benefit of knowing that your dollar is probably going to travel further in your community than to just simply walk out of it with no added benefit.

And, if you have a large hair purchase to make, please make it with people who look like us. I'm all for customer service. But you know that, in many cases, we don't get that when we go into Asian-owned stores. We get just the opposite -- followed around as if we are going to steal their products, little to no product advice, and no refunds or even exchanges many times.

Black beauty supply owners and businesses are struggling.

I'm all for capitalism, but unfair advantages -- shakedowns, product limitations and the like -- isn't fair business. It's not an equal playing field. The only way this will change is if we acknowledge it and move to change it.

Let's give Black beauty supply owners and Black hair care manufacturers a bit of the loyalty that we've given to others over the years -- many of whom don't deserve it.

HairSpirations

There are many naturals whose hair I admire.

Usually, it's of the fluffy, thick variety, with banging and defined twisouts/braidouts/fros.

Many times, I love their hair because it's a look that my hair hasn't quite been able to accomplish yet; I'm just really getting the hang of flat twists, or their hair is longer than mine or lusher (is that a word, lol)?

I call them hair idols. Yeah, I know my curls are unique and I won't ever rock their curls, but dammit, I sometimes want their hair, if only for a day.

Here are a few HairSpirations from NaturalHair.tumblr.com.

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Are Grease, Mineral Oil, Parabens and Silicones Really Bad For Your Hair?

If you're a new natural -- or even a natural who's been in the game for a minute -- you've probably heard the warnings about the use of grease, mineral oils, petroleum, silicones and parabens.You'd think that you were lacing your strands with cyanide, based upon the number of naturals who vehemently swear off these ingredients like it's the H1NI virus.


Mention that you're even thinking about using them, and it's almost like a come to Jesus meeting in a roomful of Wicca practitioners.

Usually, it goes something like this:

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

"You will RUIN your hair."

"Mineral oils block moisture."

"Silicone coats the hair strand."

Or, worse yet, your "Hair WON'T grow!"

Some naturals will do their damnest to convert you to the "other side."A recent post about mineral oils on CurlyNikki.com, via Beauty Brains, got me to thinking: Are these ingredients really so bad? I'll be upfront with you: My absolute favorite deep conditioner is Silicon Mix -- and it's chock FULL of mineral oil.

It moisturizes my hair like no other, it's cheap for just $6, and it works like a charm every time. My hair absolutely loves it. And I love it as well as other Dominican products. Generally, I follow the "do you" regimen. If it works for you, then do it; damn what other naturals say, because they don't know your hair.

I know it's almost blasphemous, but I'll say it: I just don't believe that all the things that are supposed to be "bad" for our hair us, are really bad. One of the most popular products, Miss Jessie's, is full of mineral oils and petroleums.

Yet, some naturals swear by it and think nothing of slapping it on their heads. But those same naturals would never put mineral oil or petroleum on their hair. I'm not a big fan of Miss Jessie's, but it's not because of the ingredients, but rather, price.


We know how little mineral oils and petroleum costs. I just refuse to pay a premium price for non-premium products.

I'm of the same opinion about things like grease. Naturals douse their hair with every kind of exotic oil imaginable, but hardly anything, I've found, works as well for long-term moisturizing than good old fashioned grease on the hair -- not the scalp. Full disclosure: I use Vaseline to seal, olive oil for oil rinses, and coconut oil for my wash and gos.

I've tried pricey pressing oils and anti-humectant serums, but nothing, and I mean nothing, gives me a silky flat iron when I do it myself, like good old fashioned Crisco. I know naturals who read ingredients like stans, instantly throwing out anything with a paraben or "un-natural" ingredient.

Many naturals have tried the all-natural route -- some refer to it as the Curly Girl method -- that avoids parabens and silicones. Their hair has absolutely revolted, with dry, lackluster results. I'm not gonna get too scientific, but it seems that for while everyone says that things like silicones and mineral oil block moisture, but they were created in a lab to moisturize hair and skin.

Most of our mothers knew nothing about 90% of the popular natural hair care practices today: co-washes, heat damage, sealing, finger combing, low manipulation regimens and natural oils were foreign to many of them.

Yet, our hair grew like weeds, often with just a little Blue Magic and Royal Crown grease and ponytails. Look, I'm not saying that we shouldn't reexamine some of our hair care practices. All I'm saying is that the all-natural ingredient route isn't all what it's cracked up to be for everyone.

Do what works for your hair, because what works for one head may not work for another.

Your hair will tell you if a regimen or product is "good" or "bad."

How Will You Wear Your Hair This Fall?

The temps have nosedived, the leaves are falling and the chill is in the air.

This week marked the first week of fall. And, with all the changes in the weather comes another big change -- the change in how many of us wear our hair. For naturals, it means a 180-degree turn. It's less humidity -- say yes to "out" styles and blowdry/flat iron for some naturals) -- and a return of heavy moisturizers and also humectants.

But, how will you change your regimen, if at all?

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After a record-scorcher summer of mostly 90-degree temps, I'm sooooo ready for a sleek blowout and flat iron. I just want to wear my hair straight for a few weeks. No doubt, I'll miss my curls, but it'll be nice to wear my hair swangin' without it looking like Chaka Khan by the end of the day because it swelled up with humidity.

I probably won't change my moisturizers much. I already use gels and glycerine, but I am looking at incorporating Hawaiin Silky glycerine moisturizer back into my routine and perhaps using up my cupucau butter stash.

I'm also seriously thinking about wigging it for protective styling. I'm a bit tired of my wash and goes, and I've been shedding a lot (at least I think so) lately. I just think I need to give my hair a break for a while.

My La Jay by Vanessa will be my go-to style during the week and I'll take another stab at dry twist outs after two good twist outs this week.

What about you? How will you wear your hair this fall?

So, What is HairNista.com?

Do a quick search of "Natural Black Hair" or "Black Hair" on Google and you'll unearth thousands of sites -- everything from those hawking vitamin supplements purported to grow black hair quickly to Internet stalwarts such as CurlyNikki.com and LongHairCareForum.com (My blog idols, and I want this blog to be like theirs when it grows up)!

Enter HairNista.com -- where hair and fashion meet. It's my hope that we'll be a community and a resource to the hair community -- a place where everyone of every hair texture is welcome. Hair and fashion are my two passions, and I decided that it was time that I quit talking about the types of blogs and I wanted to see and start my own.

A bit about me: I'm a professional blogger who's written lots of blogs for others -- everything from urologists, retail and apartment communities to DNA research companies. And, while I had written plenty of stuff for others, I hadn't written a whole lot about my passions - save for a few blogs that lost steam over the years, but that's another story!

Sit back, enjoy and of course, comment on my blogs. I'd love to hear what you think of HairNista.com!