Lets Talk about Hair

Inspiration for the month of November

TKeyah Crystal Keymah

Multi talented and beautiful TKeyah Crystal Keymah is definitely one of the original natural queens, you may remember her from the popular 90s sitcom "In living Color", I was pleased to come across a recent article about Ms. Keymah on Clutch magazine, its one of the best articles I have read about her.  Check out Clutch magazine online for full article http://clutchmagonline.com/.

Besides her charismatic personality you cannot help but to take a second and third glace at TKeyahs beautiful tresses. For more of her and her crown and glory check out her websites http://www.tkeyah.com

Natural Queen of The Week

I am thrilled to introduce my very first natural beauty; meet  Kierra, I first seen her featured on www.bglhonline.com on their style snag along with my appearance. My jaw dropped upon seeing her beautiful natural hair and striking red highlights. Upon reading her blogspost I immediately became one of her followers, her hair is truly inspirational. I thank you her for taking the time to do an interview here. Get inspired queens!

1. How long have you been natural? how long did you transition?

I have been natural since 2004! I transitioned for 2-3 months, then chopped it all off because I had no idea how to care for two very different textures.

2. what are the pros and cons (if any) of being natural?

Pros: Versatility of styles--I can rock it straight one day and fro'd out the next, Individuality--no two persons have the same texture, it may be similar but not the exact same

Cons: Keeping it moisturized is challenging at times

3. Please describe your hair texture and its behaviors ex. kinky curly coarse coil very dry....

My hair is coily and dense with fine strands. It is easy to detangle and has a decent amount of shine.

4.What made you want to become natural?

I always admired my father's hair. I thought if I stopped getting relaxers my hair would be like his (3A). I would obssess with my roots as a little girl, but was not able to break away from relaxers until my senior year of high school.

5. What is your hair goal?

I want to continue to maintain the health of my hair. I am entertaining the thought of growing my hair to my waist...we'll see!

6. Name 4 fave hair products?

Vatika Coconut Oil, Qhemet Biologics Alma & Olive Heavy Cream, Ecostyler Gel, and Shea Butter

7. What tips and advises would you share with us?

1.Style your hair where it lasts at least a week without much maintenance.

2.Don't compare your hair with others. Admire and be inspired, but appreciate what you have to work with :)

8. where can you be found?

Blog: www.txqt24.blogspot.com

Youtube: www.youtube.com/user/txqt24

9. what advice would you give someone who is considering becoming natural?

Go for it! Just do it!...enjoy the transition/journey--the results are rewarding!

10. would you say being natural affects your life? if so in what way?

Being natural does not affect my life; I do not think my hair is running things like that! lol

However, I do notice how others are intrigued by my hair and I am asked questions about my hair quite often. Considering the fact that I am a cosmetology student, my hair must remain on point because I am my own advertisement :)

~Kierra

Product of the Week: Sauve humectant conditioner

One of the things I have learned being natural is our kinky hair is deprived of moister and is in dyer need of hydration. Co washing is the best thing to happen since high waisted belts lol.

I was introduced to several conditioners as a new natural, but I have a few favorites. This week I will start with the one I use regularly;  its suave humectant conditioner from the professional line. I grew closer to the suave brand after I discovered the Shea butter and almond conditioner during a horrific encounter with another product (that story is for another post). Prior to that I was a vo5 moister milk fan, and although I still like vo5, Suave has my immediate attention. Designed with dry hair in mind,  this conditioner is hydrating, thick, moisturizing, and rich!  Words cannot express how great my hair feels after a nice day of co-washing, and the fact that this conditioner is water based, the moister last days after my washes.

 Terms:
1. co wash- washing hair using only a conditioner or conditioning hair
2. water based conditioner- conditioners that has water listed in the 3 ingredients

The entire suave professional line, I have all except the coral bottle

Humectant Ingredients:  Water, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Dimethiconol, Fragrance (Parfum), Lactic Acid, Potassium Chloride, Disodium EDTA, DMDM Hydantoin, Glycerin, TEA-Dodecylbenzenesulfonate, PEG-150 Distearate, Propylene Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate [Vitamin E Acetate], Arginine HCl, Lysine HCl, Panthenol, Panthenyl Ethyl Ether, Hair Keratin Amino Acids, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Quillaja Saponaria Bark Extract, Silk Amino Acids, Methylisothiazolinone, Honey, Urtica Dioica (Nettle) Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract

Hair styles tutorials you can look forward to

Mini twist updo

Mohawk on loosely natural hair

Puff

finger coil for twa

twist out puff

Bantu Knot

two strand twist

mini twist updo

updo

twist out Mohawk

flat twist

twist out style for twa

2 strand twist on dry hair

updo on dry hair

twist out

vintage updo

Pin up girl hair tutorial

This style was a 1940s pin up girl inspired it is very classic and can be dressed up. These pic were from my first attempt but sometime you have to repeat the style before you get a polished finish, so please do not be discouraged if it doesn't come out right the first try. Every time I revisit this style it looks better, perfection comes with practice. For more natural style you can make a special request. Will be posting tutorials weekly.
peace & blessings











You will need; Perm rods (i used the purple ones), wrap foam, setting lotion, end wraps, rats tail comb, bobby pins, and water

Step 1: part damp (wash & conditioned) hair into 4 sections with rats tail comb. Start on back area of head begin by applying wrap foam to section, them apply setting lotion

Step 2: Next part hair in small sections, begin by wrapping end wrap  to ends of each sections before applying rods, then tightly roll perm rods to section...tips:
1.be sure each rods are tight and secure.
2. you may have to add water to each section as hair dries. add water b4 anything else
3. the Thinner the parts the faster hair will dry.
4. For the back and side sections roll perm rods in downward motion towards your neck and face. for the front crown section roll rods  upward.

step 3: Repeat this step until all sections are in rods.

step 4. you can let hair air dry, sit under dryer, or sleep with rods in overnight using a silk bonnet to control frizz ( I did the overnight method)

Step 5. Once hair is COMPLETELY DRY, carefully take out rods, you will have curls all over your head now its time for styling

step 6. use hands to pull hair up into style. pull back and sides in upward direction toward top of head while pnining then up with bobby pins. For the top center curls gently wrap curls around your finger and pull for volume. The ends may look frizzy but you can hide then under curls. Tip: no matter what you do, do not use comb,brush, or water base products for styling

second attempt July 4th weekend

Happy Birthday mom!!!

Today my family,friends,and I gathered together to celebrate my mothers 55th birthday, for those of you who do not already know I am Haitian, when we celebrate a special occasion we go all out with the food and if you haven't already heard; Haitian food is the best ever!!!!

My mother and niece today 10/23/10

I have watched my mother face so much obstacles growing up, through it all she has been able to triumph and concur all things, she has carried everything but the world on her shoulders and the fact that she stands tall and strong today makes me wonder to what capacity can one withstand challenges?  I only pray and hope one day I may inherit a quarter amount of the strength she has. Not many can say this but my mother is my hero, she taught me to stand and be there for the people that means the most to me, even if they are strangers.

my mother, sister, and I in Haiti summer 2010

Cheers to you mom; the most phenomenal woman that ever walked this earth, you deserve the world for the worlds greatest mom, I love and thank you for making me the person I am today. Life would not be worth living if you weren't in it making differences in peoples lives everyday. The  sun would not rise if it could not look forward to shining on yours angelic face. To a powerful being with a beautiful soul, may God continue to bless you all the days of your life.  You are my #1 QUEEN, mwah!!!

my father, niece and mom

My BIG family

my sis, niece and I

Myths and misconceptions about Black hair

Ladies, at some point in your life have you ever heard of the following myths about our hair? I know I have and I believed them too, SHAME ON ME!!   It is no surprise that so many of us brought these lies, growing up I recall seeing only a few black women with naturally, healthy long hair and when asked they never spoke about their "secret" on how they grew their hair (I never understood why) so i thought they were just the few lucky ones.The only truth to this list is that they are all false, lies someone told someone else and passed on from generation to generation.

1. Water is the enemy

2. If you wash your hair often it will fall out

3. Dirt helps hair grows

4. Black hair don't grow

5. Dandruff promotes growth

6. leaving grease in the scalp  promotes growth










*I know the list is longer as more come to me I post them, if you have some in mind you would like to see on this list please put it on the comments and I will be sure to add them.

Product of the week

Beginning next week and every week I will try to do a product review on a product I am currently using. This is not so people can run out and buy, it is so you as naturals know details about certain products. When you are educated about them you will make better choices about whether or not you should purchase them. I use organic natural products so hopefully there aren't too many issues with them.

random pix from internet, promise I do not own this amount of products

Introduction

 Hello all,

I would like to formally introduce myself to this blog, my name is Durelene aka Dee, I am 25 years old and live in California. I made the decision to create a blog because I want a site to call my own this website will serve as my personal diary (without the lock on it); here I will share my thoughts and opinions about the things that I am most passionate about; God, natural hair, and fashion. I am open to all opinion as long as they are out of  respect and love. I have high regards for my sistas, we are all queens so lets act and treat each other like it. Negative energy is not welcome so please stay out.

I have been natural for 1 year and 2 months. I decided to go natural because I was tired of my hair controlling my life; I was always broke and the days my hair was not done to my satisfaction I was in bad moods. Last year in march I got my last touch up relaxer in 6 months post relaxer, I knew I had retained a lot of growth so I was excited to see my new length. My excitement was short lived when my beautician said "oh girl you need a trim".
That day I remembered walking out of that shop  extremely sad; I had been 6 months post relaxer and all i had to show for was thin shoulder length hair.  I remembered getting emotional while looking in the rear view mirror and asked myself,  "is this the length your hair will always be?"
  My hair had always been thick so it didn't matter to me that it didn't grow past shoulder length, but when I lost my voluminous hair I knew it was time for a change.That was when I vowed to never get relaxers again. I didn't know how or what I was going to do without relaxers, all i knew was I was done with both relaxers and weaves.

June 08 half sew in weave

Real hair relaxed

Vegas 4th of July 09. Bet you cant spot me and my natural friend

Latonda and I at vegas

Fast forward to July 4th a group of friends and I met up at Vegas where I met the young woman that changed my life, she was beautiful, natural and brown skin. Up until then I had never met a natural who fit her description, I grew up thinking only light skin biracial girls had the right to wear their hair natural. I was fascinated by her hair, beauty and confidence and the fact that she was nice made it easy for me to approach her. I asked her how she got her hair that way and she told me she transitioned for 11 months then Big Chopped. I then asked her if there was another way to go natural without having to cut all my hair off and when she replied no I had mixed emotions; I pondered in disbelief at all of the hard work, spending hard earned money on my hair and I still had to start all over.

Conditioned hair nite b4 BC

Flashback - I had absolutely no idea what my texture looked like, let alone how to treat it, all my life I either wore it in braids, weaves or relaxed.  Unlike many of my fellow sistas whose mothers put relaxer in their hair at a young age to help with managing it, my relaxed hair was a result of a rebellious 10 year old. I was forbidden to get a relaxer, my mother did not support it, but like every little girl I looked up to my oldest sister and wanted hair like hers. So one day when my mother was away I begged my sister to put it in . I knew there was severe punishment  for my defying my mothers rules but I wanted relaxed hair so badly that it didn't matter. My mother and sis were the two who styled my hair growing up and it didn't matter to me what they did since i was oblivious to hair and hair care.

After explaining to Latonda ( my new found natural  friend)   my concerns she advised that i did some research on the web and youtube.  I took her advise and was introduced to a world I never knew existed; what I saw was videos of  beautiful courageous Black women with  different shades, hair textures and length proudly rocking their hair in its natural state; I seen how happy they were and how healthy their hair was. That was went the blindfolded had lifted from my eyes. I knew going natural was for me and could not stand living a lye a day longer so I had my oldest sis put in some kinky twist and began transitioning. I grew anxious after continuously watching videos of  women who were taking the plunge to BC, so three days after my 24th birthday I had my brother (who is also a barber) Cut off my hair; I had been transitioning for just 1 month. My hair was cut down to about 1/2 an inch and the rest is history.

Along with the hair went the burden and insecurities I faced most of my life; It was like the world was lifted off my shoulders. Although I went through an emotional roller coaster having a TWA, I am glad I did it. This journey has striped me of my pride and insecurities and build me up into a strong, confident and proud black woman. Through it all I learned to find my inner beauty. I know everyone goes natural for a different reason, but for me it was more than just cutting my hair off, this decision has drastically altered my life and rebuild a wiser, better me . I look back at the days I was uneducated about my hair and get so upset that I did not inquire and asked questions. I am no longer living in the dark cave. When  I see natural hair I see so much beauty and empowerment. I am forever thankful for this experience. This is why I say natural=freedom; I was freed the day I BCd.

I am here to share the love and passion  for natural hair, life and its Beauty. God did not make any mistakes when He created us and our hair texture and to wear it proudly is telling Him we are thankful  for the BEAUTIFUL image He seen and created in us. I am here to inspire and grow. So lets talk about hair!!
peace&blessing Queens