Protect Yo' Edges: Hair Damage from Weaves

By Tenisha Mercer
www.HairNista.Blogspot.com

I'll say it: weaves are the devil, especially if said weave -- or poor installation or maintenance -- is causing alopecia, permanent hair loss or missing edges.

Now, plenty of naturals swear by weaves to grow their hair long, but what good is a weave if you end up losing your hair -- permanently. Sometimes, you never know how your body will react to a product.

Something is very, very wrong when a product you install to grow your hair instead kills it and forces your edges to go RIP.

What to do when your edges are all wrong

This is in no way meant to embarrass folks; but as someone who deals with thinning hair (not due to weaves and only an annoyance because I remember how thick my hair USED to be) I can't imagine risking my already thin hairline on this. It's just not worth the risk to me.

It's simple: Know better, do better. And that often means STOP wearing the weave that left your hairline jacked up in the first place. It's a problem that hits anyone -- whether you're wearing a $2,000 weave like Naomi Cambpell or a $50 weave like the everyday woman. The potential damage is the same.

In any case, hair growth treatments like Rogaine and even castor oils and finger massages are highly advisable (need to take my own advice, too, LOL).

Check out these photos from Bossip.com.

Has a weave killed your hair? What did you do about it? 

Supermodel Naomi Campbell's disappearing edges

TV star Countess Vaughn's receding hairline 

Kim K. has a thinning hairline from weaves

This woman's headline may never recover

TV actress JazMone from Bad Girls Club. Why, why, why is she pressing her damaged edges?

Men aren't immune from messed up edges

It's a problem when your hairline STARTS at your ear

 

The Perfect Bubble Ponytail on Natural Hair | How To - Naptural85

By Tenisha Mercer
www.HairNista.Blogspot.com

The bubble ponytail is one of the trendiest hairstyles of 2014.


Expect it to make major waves this summer. For me, this is a retro style that I wore as a kid. Remember how we used to have them with different color ponytail holder and rubber bands? Funny how time makes old things new again.

Check out this vid by Naptural85, who shows how to do a bubble braid on natural hair.

Child TV star Countess Vaughn says lacefront wigs caused severe health problems

By Tenisha Mercer
www.HairNista.Blogspot.com

Child star Countess Vaughn says she has found the source of her major health crises -- her lacefront wig.

The former "Moesha", "The Parkers" and "227" show told The Doctors TV show yesterday that her 5-year affair with lacefront wigs (the star was introduced to them by her stylist in 2004) have cost her her health. Vaughn said the wigs, which she wore 24/7, caused her to have severe scalp infections and hair loss.

It got so bad that Vaughn's scalp was oozing, but she didn't pinpoint that wigs and, more specifically, an allergic reaction to the glue that is used to secure lacefronts, was the source of the problem, despite seeing a dermatologist.

The dangers
Now the 35-year-old star is forced to fill in her sparse hairline with eyeliner, and her skin is discolored to the point that it looks as if she has vitiligo -- a skin condition that causes severe discoloration.


Vaughn fought back tears on the show as she urged lacefront wearers to be cautious.


“I had to go through this to teach my little one that you have to love yourself before anyone else will," she said.

Avoiding scalp infections

I noticed that Vaughn is wearing what appears to be a weave or a wig. I can't help but wonder if she truly "loves" herself, especially with her health challenges. What better reason to wear her natural hair?
 
This isn't the first time there have been issues with lacefronts. Supermodel Naomi Campbell's edges are nearly non-existent, after years of wearing weaves/wigs. And there have been reports of fatal reactions to hair glue, with a 34-year-old woman dying from a severe allergic reaction after her weave install.

So many naturals wear lacefront wigs that these tips bear repeating:

• Let your scalp breathe. Lacefronts, or any wig, should not be worn 24/7. 
• Oozing puss is a sign of infection. See a dermatologist or get medical attention IMMEDIATELY!
• If your scalp/hairline is irritated,  red, itchy or breaks out, the glue could be the problem. Stop wearing lacefronts IMMEDIATELY until you know the source of irritation and seek medical help.

Halo Braid Tutorial | How to Crown Braid Your Own Hair

Here's a quick tutorial on how to do a halo braid. It takes just 10 minutes.

Vogue's blackface problems

By Tenisha Mercer
www.HairNista.Blogspot.com

Maybe Vogue didn't get the memo: Black face in 2014 -- no, eff that, at any time -- isn't cool.

But Vogue's European editions just keep doing it, over and over again, failing miserably at cultural appropriation and humanity -- period. It's to the point that, even on this blog, I don't highlight everything fashion mags, with their limited and biopic representation of Black folks, do on the regular.

Now, Vogue Italia has its turn with the March 2014 issue showing a European model with darkened skin and posing in headdresses, wrappings and animals. So you throw some brown paint on a white model and act as if African safaris are the newest, coolest, chic thing to do. Really?

90s flashbacks

By Tenisha Mercer
www.HairNista.Blogspot.com

There they were, hanging on the display aisle in the mall -- several pairs of blue jean overalls (pants/shorts). And then there were other signs -- floral flowy skirts and shorts, crop tops, wide leg pants with exotic prints, high-waisted and even stone,washed (now called "acid" wash) jeans.

Wait. I rubbed my eyes. Have I been magically transported back to the 90s? You might think so, if you take a look at what's for sale in most trendy stores these days. From Target and Forever 21 to small boutiques, retailers are rediscovering retro 90s fashions -- complete with grunge.

Express boyfriend overalls $98

Express high waist acid wash skinnies $88

90s fashions have come back in a big way, though modified (block heels are very popular now, we haven't seen the last of color blocking and sheer shirts are still very much on trend).

Longing for nostalgia?

As someone who got my fashion life in the 90s -- and wore most if not all of these trends --- I'm not so sure I like all these nostalgic fashions making a fashion comeback. And as much as these items are all up in Goodwill (the original versions), I, for one, won't be buying some of them.

Wore these fashions once and I'm not so sure if I ever want to some of them again. What's next? It's already been a minute since the ripped and damaged jeans (although modified from back in the day) and boyfriend jeans made a strong and heavy reappearance on the fashion scene. Other than skinnies, they are just about the only trendy jeans you'll find for sale these days.

It's someone else's turn
Some of these fashions I think I'm just going to leave to the young folks. At a certain point, considering that I've worn some of these once -- they look stupid on a grown woman. I'm almost 40 and I can't think of one good reason to wear a pair of denim overalls. Not one.

Now, I'll do the crop top with a pair of high-waisted pants and I do regularly rock the damaged jeans. As far as shoes, I love a chunky heel (always have) and I absolutely love the ankle strap shoes that have made a strong comeback.

New look: ankle strap heels and damaged jeans

And I absolutely love color blocking.

But some of the other stuff? No thanks! You can have all that. I never want to see another floral anything ever again.

Is this what fashion is going back to?


 

Do you wear 90s fashions?

Who knew Angela Simons had all that hair under that weave?

By Tenisha Mercer
www.HairNista.Blogspot.com

She's known for weaving it up, but Angela Simmons recently revealed waist length flat ironed natural hair on her Instagram.

She's the latest celebrity to reveal her natural hair.

Source: Instagram

Her photos are a good reminder that:

• Weaves are protective styles.
• Only wear weaves 2 months at most to avoid matted and tangled hair.
• Take care of your weaves -- deep conditioners and protein treatments (depending upon hair sensitivity) are recommended.