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."

HairTroversy: Is it More than Just 'Hair'?

There's a very real debate in the natural hair community between naturals vs. permies.

Just look at the comments on many blogs, Twitter updates, Facebook stats or even in our very own homes when it comes to textured hair.

Let's keep it real, HairNistas.

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The "hate" comes from both sides of the hair fence.

Fresh from the "creamy crack," naturals flub their permed counterparts, questioning their so-called "Blackness" for chemically altering their tresses. Permies are no better, admonishing those with their natural roots to run a get a perm stat or believing their straightened hair is somehow better.

Both are misguided. And both show just how deep the hair pain is on both sides of the hair fence.

Many times, those lobbing the painful hair bombs are often those who we care about the most -- our mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, girlfriends, boyfriends and husbands -- which does nothing to ease the very painful sting that Black women feel daily for how we decide to wear our hair.

So, it didn't exactly surprise me when I heard about a club promoter in Atlanta -- a self described lover of natural hair -- offering $5-$10 discounts to naturals for a series of events centered around an HBCU football game and homecoming in Atlanta last month.

With the conflict between naturals and permies bubbling up in a virtual all-out hair war on Twittter, Facebook, blogs and in real-life, the promotion took some naturals aback. Some loved it, because for once, finally, a brother was showing us natural girls -- who, unfortunately are often the topic of disdain from the very same men who look like us -- some well-deserved love.

Others hated it, because, really, how do you know who is "natural" and who isn't? I'm rocking a flat ironed coif today; does that make me any less "natural"? What about those who protect their naturals under straight weaves or wigs? Do they count, too?

And wait, isn't all of this really divisive anyway, yet another way to pit black women against each other. Sounds eerily reminiscent of Spike Lee's 80s cult classic hit, "School Daze" mixed with a healthy dose of the "Good Hair" documentary by Chris Rock.

*Sigh.*

Blogs lit up, with sites from TheGriot.com, Root.com to Essence.com weighing in with news coverage and editorial commentary. The promoter, Joey Digital, later apologized for the hair dustup a few weeks before the events.

No word on how "successful" the discount proved; if anything, though, it did serve to boost publicity.
The events were a fundraiser for FAMU. Unfortunately, the only thing anyone could talk about was this natural hair debate; the event became overshadowed by the controversy, even though the promoter said natural hair was just one of many discounts that he offered on a Facebook page.

I get it.

Naturals are so often looked down upon by everyone else, that it feels good -- for once -- to get some love from your own. Though perhaps well intentioned, Digital's natural hair discounts only served to divide us even more.  

Permies, don't worry. It's not us vs. you, nor do most of us who wear our natural hair think that we are better. Heck, most of us have been permed up at some points in our lives. This way of thinking is no better than that "good" hair "bad" hair crap that has so wrongly permeated our culture and beliefs.

Whether you are braided up or locked, twisted up or braided out or your straight tresses are blowing in the wind, let's just show each other some hair love today.

Every day, naturals wear T-shirts and jewelry with unabashed pride for what grows out of our scalps. We say it's "just hair." But sometimes, I really wonder if we believe that ish or are we talking out of the sides of our necks?

Maybe it sounds good, but I sometimes question if we really believe it. There are many days when I wonder is it more than just hair?

Garage Sale Haul



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I get borderline obsessive when it comes to finding good deals.

I will scour websites, hunt down goods, and do what I need to do to look good -- on a budget.

Ya'll know I love to shop at thrift stores, but here's another love -- garage sales!

I absolutely love them! Summer is always prime garage sale season, but fall is also a good time, especially in the southeast. It's not too hot, and you can comfortably look without the heat.

This morning, I went out and got some good finds -- for about $15. I didn't have a whole lot of time, but I managed to find a pretty good community-wide subdivision garage sale. I frequent them, because they're more potential bang for the buck.

Instead of hoping that a single garage seller has what I want, I'd rather go to a community sale or block sale. These days, I don't need baby stuff like cribs, bedding and such because my kids are teens and tweens, so I'd much rather stake out adult stuff.

I love garage sales because the very same things I can find at a thrift store, are at garage sale for literally pennies on the dollar. Hey, charity is a good thing, but I'd like to avoid the markup, if at all possible.

I found a lot of cute goods, which I'll upload in a pic later when I combine them with the rest of my accessories.

American Eagle leather belt for 25 cents -- with a price tag of $38!

American Eagle ripped jeans - $2

J.Crew white linen shirt - $2

Jessica Simpson hobo bag - $3

Juicy Couture jacket -- $5

American Eagle tank -- $1

Here's how I do my shopping.

Arrive early. If you sleep in on Saturdays, this may not work for you. Competition is steep. Most sales begin at 8 or 9, and serious buyers get there before the sale starts. I've found that it's best to get there when the sales begin to find the best merchandise. I'll warn you, though, you can get the best "deals" at the end of the sale when sellers don't want to lug their items back into their home -- if you find anything left. Better yet, lots of communities have sales on Fridays, so if you're available then, get a rush on other buyers.

Have cash. You'll need cash -- plenty of it. Cash rules, and no, you can't use your debit card. I've never run into a seller with a credit card swipe machine or a Square or Intuit card reader. Carry small bills; no one wants to make change for a $50 or $100 unless you're buying appliances or electronics.

Be ready to buy on the spot. Did I say how much competition there is? There's a lot, so if you spot something, immediately pick it up. Better to not buy it than to let it stay there while you think about it and then someone else nabs it.

Negotiate. Unless you are getting a brand name at a steal or a completely new item, it's perfectly OK to haggle. In fact, sellers expect it. Generally, I offer a few bucks off the asking price. All the seller can do is say no.

Shop in upscale communities. Generally, folks with more disposable income have more of the things you want -- often at bargain prices. Not saying that people with less income don't have good things, but chances are, they may want too much for them. Many times, people with money to burn are just cleaning out their closets to make way for more stuff. Or, they never remember how much they spent for something and just want to get rid of it. Why not take advantage, especially when it's a win-win for everybody? I've found good fakes -- Louis Vuittons-- and even real ones, at a steal and vintage furs.

Have a plan and know what you are looking for. Generally, the day before, I check out community newspapers and sites like craigslist.com for garage sales. I really like sites like craigslist, because sellers often post pictures of the merchandise for sale.

I'll warn you: You will literally find everything at a sale -- 70s knick knacks, dusty printers and flat screens to fashionable finds. If you are the type of person that gets overwhelmed easily, this might not be for you. Have an idea of what you want, so that you'll be ready to get it when you spot it.















Here are a few tips:

Ankle Boots: The Must-Have Boot for Fall

This year, is yet another season of ankle boots.

I love them and are glad they're enjoying a resurgence. Not quite mid-calf but definitely not over the knee, ankle boots are versatile to wear with just about anything you've got in your closet.

They just lend a certain funky edge to just about any outfit. This season, I'm loving all the embellished ankle boots -- stud-addorned wedges, chains, buckles and such. And don't forget wedges and leopard print.

Who doesn't want to drop $1,075 on a pair of drop dead gorgeous pair of Alexander McQueen boots in bright fuschia, no?

Alexander McQueen boots $1,075 on ssense.com

If your feet aren't trying to wear a boot that costs as much as your car note, try these faves from DSW.com or Zappos.com. These retailers are a must for any HairNista because of their relatively affordable price points -- $100 buys you a decent pair; add some zeros to that figure for a fancy pair by Loubotin or Giuseppe Zanotti.

Lovin' these Giuseppes in bright blue!

Giuseppe Zanotti Booties in Cam Bleu --  $925 -- zappos.com

Otherwise, you may want to check these out if you're looking for cute boots that are more affordable:

DV by Dolce Vita Banya -- $119.95 --Zappos.com

 

Zigi Soho Jamie Boot -- $79.95 DSW.com



L.A.M.B. Nathan Bootie  -- $254.95 -- on DSW.com

 


 

Kanye Debuts Women's Clothing Line at Paris Fashion Week



Photo by Pascal Le Segretain for GETTY Images

The hip hop swaggu himself, Kanye West, dropped a clothing line for women -- DW by Kanye West-- named after his late mother, Donda West.

West has asked critics to take it easy on his runway debut, which was attended by fashion heavyweights Anna Wintour and celebs Ciara and Mark Kate and Ashley Olsen, among others. So far, DW has been met with mixed reviews.


DW on the runway -- Photo by Giovanni Giannoni on WWD.com

AP called DW "sophisticated" and Women's Wear Daily dubbed DW "neither triumph nor train wreck" and "high-end streetwear." I guess that's a compliment? No word where DW will be sold, but finally a hip hop-inspired, couture line for women! I can't wait to see it.

The buzz on Paris runways was a bit more receptive, with the Spring 2012 collection featuring edgy and sophisticated bold cut outs and lots of my favorite material -- leather -- as well as lush fur stoles and collars (PETA, it ain't)!

The hip hop inspiration was evident on the runway: models donned gold nameplate necklaces, rocked giant fur backpacks, and sizzled in bare back designs and belly button plunging necklines.  The Paris debut featured about two dozen pieces -- dresses, pants, jackets and such.

Really, did you expect anything less from Ye? Surely, you know that nothing he produces will every be boring.

West is such a risk taker when it comes to fashion that you know his thumbprint is all on his line and you know it will be H-O-T! Say what you want about Kanye, but he goes out of his way to do the most with everything he does.

What's clear is that Kanye was involved in every step of the process, from picking fabrics to hiring designers, to make his vision come to life. This is a game changer. It will be interesting to see who rocks DW, and I can't wait to see the rest of his collection. Kanye is known for mixing it up -- after all, he's been known to wear red skinny jeans, colorful women's shirts and just about anything else.

Photo by Giovani Giannoni

Usually, when hip hop artists launch a clothing line, it's usually like, *yawn* um ... OK. What hip hop artist doesn't have or used to have, a clothing line?  Unless you are Sean Combs or Russell Simmons or Jay Z/Damon Dash, no hip hop clothing line has been uber successful.

Besides Kimora Lee Simmons' Baby Phat spin off following her ex-husband's sale of Phat Farm, Combs is one of the few rappers still in the game -- and doing well, mind you. I get so tired of hip hop artists launching little more than denim, hoodies and T-shirts and just slapping their name on a line of clothing -- with no or very little creative direction -- and then claiming they have a "collection."

You'd have to be blind not to see through that, and that's why many of the lines fizzle and fade out so quickly. (Remember G-Unit's clothing line, Em's line or even P. Miller clothing)? It's well known that hip hop fashion tastes change overnight. Young hip hop heads have fashion ADD and don't stay focused on a particular line for more than 5 minutes at a time and are then are quickly on to the next one.

And, it will also be interesting to see which of West's hip hop brethren follows in his footsteps.

Really, now, most hip hop heads older than 25 have grown up. We've outgrown denim that hangs off your ass. We want grown up clothing with some modified hip hop swagg that's still edgy, raw AND professional.

You know, that we can rock during our grown up 9-to-5s.

What do you think of DW by Kanye West? Hot or Not?

Five Words: Buy The Stella McCartney Dress!

I first saw this Stella McCartney dress on Good Morning America last week and nearly spit out my oatmeal.



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It was so friggin' gorgeous. I mean like, stop dead traffic gorgeous. How can you not like it? GMA dubbed it the "miracle" dress, and I'd have to agree. If you're looking for a traditional sheath dress, forget it. This is not the one.

This dress from McCartney's Fall 2011 collection is definitely more trendy. Really, it's a fresh take on a modern classic. First worn by Kate Winslet at the 68th Annual Venice Film Festival last month, the dress is now sold out.

But that hasn't stopped celebs from La La Anthony Kim K to Liv Tyler from wearing the frock. 

It's an absolute must-have for curvy girls, and I think it looks best on girls that have ample curves. Yet, if you've always wanted an hourglass, but don't quite have it, look no further than this dress. This dress can give you what your momma didn't.

It features contouring and color blocking for illusion at its best. With contrasting, strategically placed shades of off white, black and and beige, it lifts the girls, cinches in your waist to make it appear two sizes smaller (who doesn't want that?), elongates your torso, and makes your hips appear curvier. (Hello, Jessica Rabbit!)

It makes you look slim and curvy at the same time. You must, must, must rock this with major attitude, as it's definitely form fitting. Throw on a pair of Spanx, if you need them, and do the damn thang! I hope this dress marks the return -- at least in Hollywood -- of the acknowledgement of the curvy woman. Most women aren't a size 0. We've got curves and we're proud of them!

At $1,600, this dress is a hefty price tag. I'm all about doing it cheaper. Check out this replica in black and plum from Asos for less than $80. Can't beat it.

Asos.com

What do you think of the miracle dress?

JOAN!

How do you like what I call my "Joan" hair  a.k.a the La Jay? After wearing it on Friday, it just became ... too much. I cut off a a good 3-4 inches. And, the wig is still pinned down with bobby pins.

I call this my version of "Joan" hair -- full and thick. What do you think?