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Thinking of going natural, but don’t want to do it alone? Find a transitioning buddy to help encourage and motivate you to make the switch.
Why You Need a Transitioning Buddy
Considering transitioning?
When you decide to transition from chemically-treated hair to an all-natural style, there are all kinds of obstacles that might arise during your personal journey towards a thicker, fuller, curlier version of you.
We have you covered with some of our best tips on transitioning to natural hair this year and also how to deal with hair envy once things really get going, but sometimes the best way to get through a period of transition is to get a buddy.
Brainstorming buddy
Having a transition buddy can help you generate new ideas, hip you to new types of products and keep you motivated.
Like a workout buddy, transition buddies are excellent for keeping you accountable for your haircare regimen, and also offer emotional and moral support. They help you from just thinking about it to finally going through with the big chop, to the months and years later as you are not only getting familiar, but becoming comfortable with the natural texture of your hair.
Support system
Transitioning is a physical as well as psychological transformation, and there may be times when you just need some encouragement and perspective to keep going from someone who understands exactly how you feel about your curls and coils.
Sharing the highs and lows of your progress, from awesome compliments from strangers to vulnerable moments like bad hair days, is the key to creating the type of bond you need from your buddy.
Virtual buddies
None of your friends are transitioning right now? Start the trend! Thousands of potential transitioning buddies are now at your virtual fingertips with all of the blogs and message boards (hello CurlTalk!”>. Once you’ve found someone you connect with, you can share photos, swap style secrets and chat online about your wins and woes.Whether you choose someone in-person or online, you want to find someone that is dependable, consistent and just as dedicated to the long-term commitment of growing their natural hair.
Do you have a transition buddy? How has it helped you during your transition?
At some point in every person’s life, our hair reaches that awkward stage. It makes us question whether we should persist with the style we are starting to hate or jump ship and take off in a totally new direction. Here are a few tips for dealing with “the grass is always greener” syndrome.
Dealing with Hair Envy
Put an end to comparisons
It’s important to cultivate a relationship with your hair that includes an unconditional acceptance of whatever may come.
There are a number of ways of to deal with all-consuming hair envy but the first step is to stop comparing your curls, coils or waves with someone else’s.
As soon as you put an end to the comparisons, you can begin to chisel a more precise vision for what you want for yourself based on your personal tastes and preferences, not your insecurities.
Your texture type is unique
One of the most important things to remember on your hair journey whether you’re a newbie beginning your transition or a longtime naturalista, is that your hair is unique. Your curl pattern, porosity, density, width, and length are totally unique to you alone. This affects the way your hair reacts to products, styling tools, and haircuts so of course your hair will never look exactly like anyone else’s – and that’s a great thing!
MORE: Find Your Texture Type
Try a new style
Often you’ll find that boredom is at the root of your hair envy! Feeling stagnant and uncreative can make even the most confident of curlies feel like their curls and coils have lost their pizazz forever, but hang in there!
One way to shake hair envy is to try out a new look. But before you take the plunge with any permanent change like a cut or color, try changing up your style first. Get a new styling tool or try watching YouTube tutorials for fresh ideas.
Change up your regimen
Beat the hair blues is by changing up your hair regimen. Research and try out a new product or deep treatment. We love testing out new products and not only is it a fun way to spend an evening, but your hair will look all the better for it. Showing your hair a little appreciation and changing your perspective about what makes your hair beautiful will make the biggest difference.
What is your best advice for dealing with hair envy? Tell us some tips that helped you through a rough time!
There’s a new curly-haired star on the rise, and she’s only nine years old. Curly cutie pie Quvenzhané Wallis (pronounced “Qui-ven-ZHEN-ay””> took the silver screen by force with her debut in 2012’s critically-acclaimed film “Beasts of the Southern Wild,” and now she’s making Oscar history before the awards season has even fully taken off.
On Thursday, the bright-eyed, natural showstopper became the youngest ever nominee for the Best Actress category. She shares the nomination with other actresses including Emmanuelle Riva from “Amour,” Jennifer Lawrence from “Silver Linings Playbook,” Jessica Chastain from “Zero Dark Thirty” and Naomi Watts from “The Impossible.”Wallis’ cute coils, vibrant personality and star power presence have catapulted her into the spotlight. It’s clear that this little girl has what it takes to keep an audience captivated just by listening to the anecdotes circulating about her from how she boldly fibbed about her age just to be considered for a role in the film to how she beat out thousands of other girls and eventually landed the prestigious nomination.
Most recently she starred in an awesome, imaginative short video “Dream” featured in the New York Times and was also spotted giving an acceptance speech by reading right off of her bright pink smartphone on Critics Choice Awards where she snagged the Best Young Actor/Actress trophy.
Among the many questions being asked about her now is how the rising star will wear her hair for the big 85th Annual Academy Awards event. We’ll just have to wait until the big night to see whether she will wear a dressed up version of her little afro like in “Beasts of the Wild,” or with her natural hair straightened like she’s been seen most recently in the spotlight. Either way, Quvenzhané is sure to shine on the red carpet like the star she’s shown everyone she can be.
Known for his signature wavy strands, innovative snowboarding moves and goofy grin, Olympic gold medalist Shaun White made headlines last year after his arrest for public intoxication. But things are turning around for the happy-go-lucky guy who now has a new look and new projects on the horizon.
Recent images of snowboarder Shaun White with his well-known curly, crimson locks have surfaced from the set of NBC’s show “Go On.” The photos show stills from an upcoming episode that is set to air later in January. What they don’t show, however, is his brand new look.
Over the years, White’s hair has gone through all kinds of phases, from his boyish, chin-length cut during his adolescence, to varying stages of progressively shaggier locks as the years went on.
Right before the end of the year, however, the snowboarder chopped off his much-loved curls and donated his red mane to Locks of Love, a non-profit organization that aids those suffering from long-term hair loss by generously supplying hairpieces for them.
His transformation from long hair to short cut came out of left field for both friends and fans. His video, which has attracted over 4 million views on YouTube to date, documents his secretive trip to the hair salon where he grins and squirms as his hair gets washed, put into a messy ponytail and snipped with a pair of scissors.
What do you think of Shaun White’s new look?
Watch the Video
Shaun White Cuts His Hair for Locks of Love
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The choice to remain or go natural is a truly liberating experience for many people, though lots of curly, coily and thick-haired curly folks still know all too well about the pressure to keep their hair styled in ways that are considered fashionable and neat in our society. Whether it’s another ad in the media with rude undertones, a commercial condemning that full head of hair, or snarky comments from a friend or family member, the prejudice against natural hair in a casual social setting is still being felt by many. While that can be frustrating enough, the tension of your hair complicating your career prospects can be downright maddening.
Curls at Work
In a recent “Vice Magazine” article, men and women with Afros were asked if their choice to wear their hair natural has negatively impacted them professionally. The answers varied from person to person. One young man encountered problems at school, while another person dealt with indirect but insinuating remarks at a career event. Still others found that their careers weren’t stunted as a consequence of wearing their hair natural.
In some opinions the long sleek look is the only look appropriate in the workplace, leaving hairstyles like big curls, locs, braids, twists, Afros and all the variations in between in an undesirable category. If those opinions were taken to heart, many unwilling candidates would be forced into wigs and weaves, chemically treating or spending hours to straighten their hair just for the sake of gaining or maintaining a career.
Thankfully, men and women around the world who wear these styles aren’t deterred from embracing their own natural hair texture and continue to forge forward in environments that may not necessarily be welcoming them with open arms.
MORE: Top 10 Professional Curly Hairstyles
Has your natural hair ever impacted your career negatively? Do you think natural hair is appropriate in a professional setting?
via TwitterModel Amber Rose has been in and out of the spotlight for a number of reasons throughout the years, ranging from dramatic romantic drama to daring fashion feats. Although most of the attention has chosen to pay attention to her gorgeous curves and bright, blonde hair all this time, since her break-up with Kanye and embarrassing NSFW photos making their way onto the web, she’s been cooling off with her main squeeze, Wiz Khalifa.
With her pregnancy in full swing, Amber Rose chose to stay land-bound while her chart-topping fiance embarked on his international tour around the globe. While happily vacationing on the beach, she was spotted with her adorable baby bump, but without her well-known platinum blonde tresses! She let her natural side out and wore a short, cute crop cut in a beautiful chocolate color leaving the bleach back in the salon for a little bit.
The mother-to-be and brunette for the moment may be choosing to embrace her natural roots more and more as the due date for her little one draws closer and closer. In addition to donning a darker hair color, she’s also mentioned on Twitter that she wants to have a natural childbirth as well prompting questions of whether or not the brown look might be here to stay with her interest in going natural in full flare.
Only time will tell. She’s known to switch up her style when it comes to both fashion and beauty as her fans have seen over the years. One thing is for sure, though: whether she’s rocking the platinum blonde short cut, another bright, bold color or something closer to her natural brown, her little bundle of joy will always have a mom that’s known for standing out.
What do you think of Amber’s darker hair color?
Although it may seem like long ago, it was only earlier this year that the beautiful and talented actress Viola Davis took the 84th Oscar Academy Awards by storm with her thoughtful and deliberate choice to wear her natural hair. At that time, she was getting major attention for her role in the controversial, yet publicly-lauded film, “The Help” and felt that it was important for her to showcase her real self and her real look by ditching the long, straight look and embracing her self-proclaimed “very curly hair.”
Still, months later, Davis’ red carpet fashion feat is garnering even more media attention and adding to the gaining momentum of the ever-evolving conversation about not only naturally kinky, curly, thick hair, but more specifically, black hair. Recently, she was able to elaborate a little bit more on what it means to be an African American woman in the spotlight in an industry that somehow finds it not only necessary, but appropriate to comment on how she chooses to wear her hair offscreen.
In an appearance on the nationally syndicated talk show “Anderson Live” with co-stars from the film “Won’t Back Down,” Davis explained that getting rid of the wig was a step towards embracing herself fully. She also acknowledged the complicated and loaded issue of black hair. She also confessed that she still occasionally wears wigs, but stressed that she was done hiding her naturally curly hair for good!
With more and more women daring to take the reigns when it comes to their looks, Davis’ candid and outspoken honesty about her hair adds yet another perspective to the growing list of stars and celebrities going natural while in the spotlight.
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What do you think of the continued attention towards Viola Davis’ choice to go natural? Is it an issue worthy of discussion? Why? Why not?
Gorgeous, naturally curly diva Jennifer Lopez has never been shy about showing off all the many different transitions that take place in her life. Whether it’s her fashion choices or her relationship ups-and-downs, she’s been the celebrity that has remained in the public eye because people care about what she does. From her days as a young Fly Girl on “In Living Color,” to blossoming actress to all-out pop star diva, J. Lo has always been known as a risk-taking trendsetter when it comes to her power moves in her career. And now, more and more, she is defining her reputation as a style icon among the stars.
Most recently, the 42-year old fashion trailblazer was spotted in Chile with her talk-of-town boyfriend and 25-year old back-up dancer, Casper Smart and an updated look just in time for summer. Jennifer has traded in the long, straight hair that became her signature look on “American Idol” for a shoulder-length crop of bouncy, honey brown curls.
Her hair history runs the gamut from dark to light, straight to curly and a little bit of everything in between, but this most recent hair choice is a great way to start the new season. With the trend of soft, fluffy curls paired with a bit of controlled frizz making its way through the fashion world, her carefree, cropped look is a great way to stay cute and curly as the weather heats up.
Her decision to snip off a few inches might also be inspired by the recent kick-off of her tour which began last week on June 14th. As she embarks on the Dance Again tour with Enrique Iglesias, her fans will no doubt be pleasantly surprised to see her performing with a new ‘do.
What do you think of Jennifer’s newly cropped, naturally curly hair?
The power of subliminal messaging has been discussed and debated in regards to commercial advertising for many years. By now, most savvy consumers are aware of all the companies’ and corporations’ implicit and explicit claims to improve a person’s potential to have more sex, become more attractive or jump start their social life just by picking up a product.
As consumers, we have watched as some brands hit and miss the mark, often making headline news when they miss like with the Hail to the V campaign and Nivea’s “Civilize Yourself” campaign. These ads often push the boundaries so much so that they go overboard, and Seagrams liquor is no different.
Sitcom Joke Turned Reality
For people who remember the sitcom, “The Wayans Brothers,” featuring Marlon and Shawn Wayans, you may remember an episode entitled, “Gots to Have a J.O.B.” During the course of this episode, budding actor Marlon is cast for a role in a commercial for a new type of malt liquor called J.O.B. He quickly realizes, however, that his dreams of stardom come with a complicated price when issues regarding color and stereotypes arise as not-so-subtle racist marketing tactics come into play.
The episode was meant to be funny and shocking, but also sought to call attention to the ways in which businesses can reaffirm and even create stereotypes that in turn lead to prejudice against certain classes and cultures.
More than a decade later, in a time period that many once thought would be void of such stereotypical messages, Seagram’s has seemingly taken a page out of the same ridiculous book that inspired the Wayans. Except this time, Seagram’s is serious.
In their most recent marketing campaign, they have made it quite clear as to who they believe will be purchasing their alcohol by including a free du-rag with each bottle. Yes, a free du-rag emblazoned with their gold marketing.
Branding & Demographic Stereotypes
Although other cultures have worn scarves and other fabrics to protect their hair throughout history, in the United States, in our current time period, the du-rag is pretty much universally seen as an African-American headpiece. In fact, the du-rag was established as an African-American piece as early as the 1800s.
Whereas other companies are typically smart enough to only subtly insinuate their racist or sexist slants in advertising, Seagram’s has decided to go all the way into exploitative territory by directly targeting Black consumers by offering a product that is historically African-American.
By shamelessly targeting the urban market with these free products, they clearly show their ignorance of the breadth of Black culture as well as their insensitivity towards the very people they are trying to convince to purchase their liquor.
Your Money, Your Choice
Luckily, when companies make massive mistakes that reveal their greed for money, consumers will always have the last laugh. When people stop spending their money on things they no longer stand behind — for moral reason or otherwise — the corporations that make those products as well as the advertisers that agree to run thoughtless campaigns have no other choice but to take heed.
Anyone with natural hair already knows how important it is to keep our locks covered and protected at night, especially to extend our the life of our hairstyles. But as a community, the line must be drawn when companies without the health of our hair in mind start to suddenly take interest, and pair it with alcohol no less. For this natural, I say no thank you!
Want More?
The advertising industry often seems to just not get it. Check out what they really think about curly hair!
Final Thoughts
What do you think about Seagram’s du-rag advertising campaign?
In a world where only about 4 percent of women consider themselves beautiful, it’s no wonder so many feel awful about their tresses. Between embarrassing hair pat-downs in airports, men making insensitive comments about natural hair, ads insinuating a certain hair type’s inferiority and top-notch stylists urging women with kinky hair to chemically-alter their natural texture, it is clear why many women regardless of age, skin color, financial status, education level or hair type are struggling to embrace their hair.
A recent survey released by the well-known beauty and skincare company, Dove, revealed a shocking and depressing sentiment among women about their hair: they don’t like it.
Sad State of Hair-Esteem
Out of the 1,000 women surveyed, only a mere 7 percent of them reported that they love their hair. In fact, the survey showed that Black women were more likely to report satisfaction with their hair than any other race – at a whooping 14 percent. Still not as high as Dove would have wanted.
The Make Friends With Your Hair project was a bit of a social self-esteem mission. And although the Dove.com site is complete with cute games, quizzes, tool kits and advice on how to be the best you, their survey definitely let the cat out of the bag on how women truly feel.
Other finds in the survey also show that women value taking care of their hair more than feeding themselves, putting on makeup or sleeping in for a few extra minutes in the morning. According to the survey, one in five women have skipped a planned social event because of unpredictable hair!
Live Above the Fray
Did you know that the average woman changes her hair 104 times in her lifetime? With the female life expectancy in the United States at about 80, that means that women in the U.S. change their hair at least once a year, or about every 280 days! Ladies, we have got to embrace our hair’s natural beauty!
If you can relate to the whopping 93 percent of those 1,000 women surveyed that can’t find the beauty in their hair – natural or otherwise – take a step back from the haters and find a community that values the diversity of beauty. It’s important not to be discouraged by the information presented by polls like the one Dove conducted.
Challenge yourself and others to resist stifling beauty standards by not letting your tastes be dictated by narrow-minded people. You’re fine – and we mean, FIIINE, and so is your hair.
Want More?
Learn how the creator of MopTop learned to overcome the curly hair bashing she received as a child, and moved on to create a curly hair empire – all about embracing and being empowered by your curls!
Final Thoughts
Curlies, let’s get to the bottom of this! Do you love your hair? Why or why not?
Trending topics on Twitter can sometimes be humorous, crass or just plain dumb. But they can also serve as an insight into what a large group of people are buzzing about. Recently, a lively conversation began about whether or not having natural hair makes you “blacker.”
Can you be “blacker” if you’re already black — and “blacker” than who? We decided to get to the bottom of the controversy and add our own opinion to the conversation.
Does Natural Hair Make You “Blacker?”
Over the last few weeks, more and more articles and responses have popped up on the Internet regarding natural hair and “blackness.” Sister 2 Sister posted an article that asked this same question: does having natural hair somehow make you “blacker?”
The question spurred a frenzy of comments on Twitter, and the author shared her thoughts on the issue as a woman with a perm. She revealed that she “never believed in the silly notion that Black women who straighten their hair are trying to resemble their White female counterparts with long, silky smooth tresses.”
A look through the comments on the article shows that most women agree with her, and that hair does not define a woman, nor can it be used as a measurement of “blackness.”
Blackness and Natural Hair
Trying to define blackness is like trying to define love; it’s different for every single person and produces unique experiences that can rarely be duplicated. Of course, like love, blackness means something different depending on who you ask.
For some, blackness reflects someone’s interests, clothing or the way they talk. For others, it may have more to do with deeper qualities, such as a knowledge of black history or having and displaying cultural pride.
Historically, natural hair has been used as a source of black pride and resistance to assimilation. The Afro in particular had social and political connotations that reflected the “black and proud” sentiment of the time. Since then, however, the decision to go natural has become popular for all kinds of reasons and has even become a national trend devoid of political implications.
Natural Hair is a Personal Choice
Wearing your hair naturally may make your more confident or more conscious of your native texture, but does natural hair make you “blacker?” The short answer is no.
Sometimes harsh words fly back and forth between the natural hair community and those who wear weaves or get their hair chemically-straightened. But one thing everyone has to remember is that our hair does not define us — it simply reveals our sense in style and fashion much the same those killer heels do!
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Rocking your natural hair and want to give your confidence a boost? Use your naturally curly hair to your confidence advantage!
Final Thoughts
Choosing to wear your hair naturally says as much about you as your shirt does. Some go natural because they want healthier hair, some because they want to save time or money, and others because they simply like the way it looks. Wearing your hair natural doesn’t make you blacker, it just shows you’re up for the adventure of loving yourself the way you were made: naturally curly.
There are a lot of factors that determine whether or not a relationship will work. There are a number of things like compatibility, communication skills and life goals that make the difference between a fling and a life partner. Of course, once the broom has been jumped and the wedding bliss has worn off, there are other issues that can arise that may threaten your romantic career.
But imagine for a moment that things in your marriage are going along smoothly. The babies are taken care of, the house is in good shape and the bills are paid. What could possibly break up such a fateful and joyous union?
Could it be your curly hair?
What a Man Wants
Earlier this year, BeyondBlackWhite.com featured an article from a woman who shared her experience of being looked over by black men because of her full afro. Essence.com ran a poll of men’s preferences, showcasing a range of aesthetic likes and dislikes. The poll revealed that some men want long hair, some men want straight hair, some men love curly hair and some men honestly don’t care.
However confusing these conflicting preferences are, it does leave many questions unanswered and raises a number of issues regarding a woman’s right to look however she wants, and fails to get to the bottom of men’s buried emotions towards women with natural hair.
It’s Me or the Hair
CurlyNikki recently shared a painful story about a woman who found the future of her marriage in jeopardy based on her decision to wear her hair natural. Although her husband agreed that she had more to offer to the relationship than her hair, and that their daughter’s naturally curly hair was “beautiful,” he still felt his pregnant wife’s “nappy” hair was unattractive.
For better or for worse, she agreed to wear more straight hairstyles, allowing the couple to reach a boggling agreement that insured that his happiness and comfort would not be compromised by her appearance. Of course, what followed this courageous confession was a hailstorm of angry, confused, offended and empathetic comments by users who could barely stand the audacity of a man’s ultimatum towards his pregnant wife. But is this an isolated situation, or can having curly hair really be a deciding factor in whether or not a marriage can stand the test of time?
A quick Internet search provides an almost bipolar range of results about how men respond to women who embrace their natural hair texture and choose to skip chemical treatments in search of perfectly straight hair. It seems that men who like natural hair are really into it, and for the ones that aren’t? Well, it might cost you your relationship.
Want More?
Follow Teri’s online dating experience, with two separate straight and curly-haired accounts! Get the real dish on if men prefer curly or straight hair!
Final Thoughts
As more and more women take the plunge into rejecting the social conformity that pressures them to alter their natural appearances, many are wondering if the issues surrounding their hair are deeper than just the need for straight hair.
What do you think the real issue is?
Last week, Supermodel Jourdan Dunn unleashed her frustration at yet another fashion industry failure through a tweet that simply read: “I swear some people need to learn how to do black hair/skin.”
She made this comment from Paris, where she was taking part in two high-profile shows for designers Emmanuel Ungaro and Giambattista Valli. Although no details have emerged regarding any incidents that could have potentially taken place, it is likely that there was no dramatic fallout or huge outburst. Chances are that Dunn simply had enough of the lack of concern given to making sure that a woman of her color and with hair that has a dramatically different texture than that of her white counterparts was provided with someone capable of doing it.
Keeping Up With The Times
As more models of color make their way to magazines, billboards and runways, one issue that has not been resolved is how to make sure these women have natural hairstylists and makeup artists that are knowledgeable about textures and tones. It seems that, regardless of how diverse the models become, there is a lack of diversity in the people paid to make the models up.
The fashion industry has received a number of critiques about how it’s run, who it includes, what it represents to our society and how it affects the ways women perceive themselves. Similarly, the world of fashion has responded in kind, taking notes from the concerned mainstream and making tiny changes here and there to reflect the real world. Rail-thin, often-starving models have given way to a few plus-size starlets, and the diversity among models has grown to include women of all colors. Recently, Ford Models even put out a promotional ad that sought to highlight their diversity by featuring only black models, making the days where Tyra Banks and Naomi Campbell were the only black models a thing of the past.
The Changing Face of Fashion
A study performed by Loop21 provided data showing that diversity was on the rise in fashion, specifically during fashion week in New York where over 200 runway shows featured models of African descent. There were only a few designers that had shows that were completely devoid of any models of color, or varying ethnic backgrounds, and featured only white models.
Slowly but surely the fashion industry is changing. But the bigger question surrounding this issue of diversity is how to make sure that black women and other women of color are given the same care, attention and precision that white models are given when it comes to perfecting their hair and makeup.
Behind the Stage
In addition to the need for increased diversity among models, another focus should be put on the need for natural hairstylists and make-up artists that are knowledgeable of different hair types and textures, capable of recognizing the subtleties of various skin tones and respectful of the need for the diversity behind the scenes, as well as in the spotlight.
Diversity is not merely a showcasing of different types of people, but the embracing all of cultures and colors. The fashion industry may be hiring more and more diverse models, but until they begin to hire makeup artists and natural stylists who are experts in the fields related to those diverse women, we cannot truly say the playing field is level.
Want More?
Read all about Corinne Bailey Rae’s natural hair attitude in our one-on-one exclusive interview!
Final Thoughts
What do you think about Jourdan’s tweet, and how the fashion industry can attract more natural hair stylists?
When we first visited the issue of Transportation Security Administration invading the privacy of one its passengers earlier this summer with our story on Laura Adiele, there was a wide range of strong opinions and intense emotions that surrounded the commotion around patting down big hair.
For us natural hair girls with lots of poof, body, shape, volume – whatever you choose to call it – we know that while we may find pride or liberation in celebrating our natural textures, the way we wear our hair has sometimes been a source of contention and confusion for others.
Earlier this month, there was an occurrence of a woman of color getting her natural hair searched, which also caused her a great deal of frustration, discomfort and anger. Courtney-Rose Harris recounts her own tale of what she found to be a dangerous and discriminatory act performed in the name of protection and security at the Denver International Airport.
Protection over Privacy
Last week, Dallas hairstylist Isis Brantley was halted during a trip through the Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta due to the size of her natural hair. Brantley’s hair, which is a big, beautiful afro, became a source of humiliation rather than pride which it usually is for her.
After leaving the designated security area, she was approached by two TSA agents on her way to board her flight and asked she had had her hair searched before leaving the area. When she told them she hadn’t, the agents proceeded to give her hair an inspection that included a pat down and feeling Brantley’s scalp on the spot instead of taking her to a private area where personal screenings take place.
Consistently Inconsistent Stories
According to the accounts by both Adiele and Harris, neither of the women saw other passengers getting their coifs searched by TSA agents, and although Brantley has been traveling for over two decades as a professional hairstylist, her incident last week was the first time she had ever experienced anything like her intrusive hair search.
Regarding Brantley’s nightmare experience at the airport, the TSA released an unapologetic statement that indifferently asserted that, “TSA’s screening procedures are designed to ensure the security of the traveling public,” and that, “Additional screening may be required for clothing, headwear or hair where prohibited items could be hidden. This passenger left the checkpoint prior to the completion of the screening process. She was offered but refused private screening.”
The Complicated Truth
These stories, which fuse together our inquiries on privacy, personal space, personal style and skin color, compel many to wonder if these incidents are racially motivated or just unfortunate instances of circumstance. On comments left on the report released by NBCDFW, there are a range of opinions about what a person who chooses to wear their hair naturally should expect, as well as evaluations on why they think the TSA has become strangely stringent on checking heads full of hair. Unfortunately, no one has the answer.
Want More?
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Final Thoughts
What would you do if your hair had to be searched, and do you think this is truly an issue of protection?
Have you ever considered working out but decided against it because of the possibility that it would mess up your ‘do? If this sounds like you, take note: there is a trend among women with relaxed hair to entirely forego a much-needed trip to the gym for a number of reasons.
Relaxed Hair & Fitness
Beauty Over Health
Some women reason that busting a sweat is a waste of the hard-earned dollars they spent on securing the sleek, straightened look of relaxed hair. This issue has even been brought to the forefront by the surgeon general showing that avoiding exercise in the name of beauty may be a bigger problem than some might have imagined.
In an August interview with CNN, Surgeon General Regina Benjamin called for women to focus on their health instead of their hair. Dr. Benjamin, an African American woman herself with relaxed hair, mentions that “unlike other races and ethnic groups, African Americans can’t just wash [our] hair and go out.” She acknowledges that “we need to spend a little bit more time on our hair.”
What that means is that activities which jeopardize the appearance of relaxed hair lead to even more time spent in restyling. For most women, squeezing in a workout is difficult enough. Add the time it takes to entirely restyle your hair, and you can see why more and more women are choosing cute over cardio.
Facing the Facts
The Centers for Disease and Control Prevention recommends a minimum of 150 minutes a week or 20 minutes per day of moderate to intense exercise A recent study performed by Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in North Carolina found that one third of 103 local black women chose not to exercise in favor of maintaining their coifs. About 88 percent of them did not meet the suggested fitness guidelines for physical activity suggested by the CDCP.
The New York Times also released an article echoing the same sentiment that included details of the surgeon general’s fitness initiatives, including reports on tobacco, a replacement for the food pyramid and improved fitness.
Dr. Benjamin also brings to light the misconception that this issue only occurs within the African American communities. Although black women as a group have more occurrences of being overweight, Dr. Benjamin has encountered this behavior among other ethnic groups as well.
Changing Bad Habits
As more and more attention is given to the topic, more and more women will have to face the fact that their health is more important than their relaxed hair. The first step is changing bad habits that prohibit us from making informed choices based on priorities. Perhaps some of those women with relaxed hair should consider working with what they’ve got on their heads naturally – like us!
There has been some time for things to clearly come into focus since the initial release of Nivea’s poorly conceived, and badly-received, advertisement. At the beginning of August, the international body and skincare brand published an ad that portrayed a clean-shaven African-American man throwing the head of another black man with a big, kinky Afro and equally full beard. The copy that accompanied the image read, “Look like you give a damn — civilize yourself.”
Throughout the company’s time as a staple beauty brand, they have recruited a number of models with natural and curly hair to represent their brand around the globe. The beginning of this year marks Nivea’s “100 Years of Skincare,” and to celebrate, they enlisted Barbadian singer Rhianna to not only perform at the festivities, but also to act as a spokesperson for the brand. So, when they released the controversial ad in the September issue of Esquire, many people were surprised at the racial-insensitivity coming from a company that is usually first in line to promote tolerance and inclusion.
Social Media Backlash
Once images of the ad hit the Internet, social media sites like Twitter and Facebook were lit up with angry consumers. People felt the ad was not only disrespectful to the curly hair community, but was also ignorant to the historical reference it was making towards the need to civilize oneself. The notion of somehow being less sophisticated or groomed by wearing varying ranges of naturally curly and kinky hair has long been a topic of contention. At different points throughout history, and even in some parts of the world today, wearing natural hair is a form of social pride.
Consumers tweeted their rage and openly vented their disgust with what they felt was more negativity aimed at people who chose to keep their hair natural. Within a day people had the company’s misstep spreading on the internet like wildfire and even got the issue to be a trending topic on Twitter, showing the power of the curly hair community at its best.
The Aftermath
After the widespread outcry at the imagery in the ad, many media outlets including news sites and blogs began to cover the story. Most of them shared the same confusion towards the portrayal of natural and curly hair as uncivilized, as well as the anger towards the company for carelessly allowing the ad to be run nationally. Clutch Magazine made references to the “Planet of the Apes,” and some of the comments left by our CurlTalk readers reflected similar sentiments of sarcasm and hurt.
Shortly following the outbursts where many curly-haired men and women publicly declared their intentions to abandon the brand, Nivea released an apology that sought to explain their total and complete shock at the bad reception of their ads. In a letter released by parent company Beiersdorf AG, they explained that they intended for the ad to be entertaining and lighthearted, and expressed their continuing efforts to maintain diversity, tolerance and equal opportunity as tenets of their brand.
Want More?
Bad advertisements aren’t a rare beast – especially when it comes to using natural hair as the butt of their jokes. See what Summer’s Eve’s last advertisement campaign consisted of!
Final Thoughts
What do you think: did the ad go too far, or are people being too sensitive?
Candace Kelley, author of “Coif Cuisine.”Candace Kelley’s debut work “Coif Cuisine: Natural Hair Recipes & Side Dishes For the Natural Hair & Now” is a true work of passion written from the heart. Her move from casual conversationalist to maker of curly hair products, and then author, was an organic journey highlighted with curiosity, honesty and candor. An Emmy-nominated writer and founder of Curl Prep Natural Hair Solutions, a natural hair care line crafted especially for tightly-coiled hair, Kelley decided to begin this book after encounters with women who wanted to know her curly hair tips and secrets.
Kelley’s allegiance to keeping naturally curly, kinky and wavy hair healthy runs much deeper than her two decades of just keeping her own coif well-maintained. As the daughter of a woman who has never, not even once, gotten a chemical perm relaxer, she has always had a chance to behold the beauty of being comfortable with the realities of her hair as a black woman.
Recipe for Hair Success
“Coif Cuisine” was released Summer 2011.“Coif Cuisine’s” central theme focuses on your ability to influence the health of your hair with products found throughout your home or easily within your consumer reach. A bulk of the book shares ingredients that you can easily find in the cabinets or refrigerator that do wonders for your natural texture, including eggs, avocados and olive oil.
The book is written from Kelley’s perspective with a plethora of anecdotes, personal experiences and whimsical colloquialisms mixed with recipes, curly hair tips and cautionary tales. As she urges all of us naturals to “continue to learn our hair” so that we can forge brand new relationships, she also teaches everyone how to naturally condition, clean and even color your natural hair.
The Breakdown
The structure of “Coif Cuisine” is straight-forward and easy to jump right into. The chapters are separated in a way that allows readers to take in the book as a whole, or skip to specific sections where they need the most help. Natural hair gals with dry hair can skip right to the “Butters” or “Conditioners” chapters. Curlies, kinkies and wavies can figure out how to get rid of build-up and extra dirty locks with help from chapters about healthy, homemade shampoos and clarifiers.
The book was definitely written with a familiar tone and is no way supposed to be considered an encyclopedic effort, even though there is a helpful list of oils and what they can do for your hair. In addition to the intuitive flow of information, there are also photographs, illustrated images and extra tidbits to spice up the repetition of recipes and tips.
Praise and Criticism
The strength of this “Coif Cuisine” relies heavily on the emotional qualities of the writing. Kelley’s personal tales of meeting the Bushman in Jamaica, after randomly seeing his picture in a magazine, or sharing souls and secrets with other natural women at seminars and workshops really breathes life into her narration.
The humor and wit throughout the text is comfortable and makes for a very light and easy read. However, aesthetically, the book does lack the formal presentation most readers might be used to encountering. The text is a bit large, the format is quite inconsistent and the quality of the photos is mediocre.
More Curly Book Reviews!
The curly hair market is exploding, and books on the subject are no different. Check out the “Curl Girl” book review and see what others are saying.Final thoughts
For natural hair girls who are just getting into their beauty regimens, “Coif Cuisine” could be a good place to start. The books simplicity and Kelley’s bright personality and humility make it an enjoyable quick read that can get you on the road to natural hair success!
Let us know what you think!
That fear in her eyes is so warranted.Although keratin straightening treatments have never claimed to have any magical properties, not that long ago the Brazilian Blowout was the hottest thing to hit salons.
Those behind the process admit that it will not mysteriously straighten your hair, especially if it is exceedingly curly or kinky. But they do claim that it can drastically eliminate frizz, provide radiant shine and improve the overall health of your hair.
The temporary beauty treatment straightens your hair by sealing it with liquid keratin solution and the aid of a flat iron. Each treatment can cost anywhere from $150 to $600 with the promise of totally noticeable results, which can only be maintained with proper aftercare, including the use of certain products to prolong your hair’s new straight texture.
The effects of the Brazilian Blowout are supposed to last from 10 to 12 weeks, with the aid of proper aftercare maintenance, but the blowout is also considered a “cumulative treatment” — the more often you repeat the treatment, the longer the results will last.
Heath Concerns and Controversy
Formaldehyde is usually used for preserving animals and specimen.When hairstylists at an Oregon salon began complaining about respiratory problems including hacking coughs and randomly occurring nosebleeds, the reputation of the Brazilian Blowout as the latest miracle product came under scrutiny. After that incident, a series of important and pertinent questions began surfacing about the safety of the treatment.
What is Formaldehyde?
- Formaldehyde is a carcinogen that can potentially lead to cancer. In the case of the Brazilian Blowout, because toxic fumes are inhaled, there is risk of lung cancer for both the stylist and the person receiving the treatment.
These health complications prompted the Oregon Health and Science University to research the product. After testing the ingredients, they issued a health warning about Brazilian keratin treatments due to dangerously high amounts of formaldehyde present in the product.
Consumer and Media Backlash
Immediately following the emergence of this news, fashion magazines, beauty blogs and everyday consumers began openly criticizing the Brazilian Blowout. Unsatisfied and concerned consumers wanted to know why the fumes from this product were so noxious, and most importantly, was it safe to use?
News outlets began widely broadcasting the potentially life-threatening properties of the Brazilian Blowout. Message boards lit up with angry curlies and wavies, frustrated that they had spent their hard-earned money on a temporary treatment that had long-term health consequences.
Today, many women are armed with the details needed to make informed decisions about the risks of keratin treatments like the Brazilian Blowout.
Women with naturally straight or smooth hair rarely have to participate in all the research, planning and forecasting that curly girls do when it comes to hair. As curlies, we have to be conscious of what we’re being sold to make our hair straight, and we must be diligent about insisting on the best products and ingredients.
More Hard and Fast Facts
The much debated treatment is still a popular option for many women looker for straighter strands. Curl Chemist investigates in to the formulas and chemicals behind the process.
Final thoughts
What are your thoughts on the Brazilian Blowout? Have you ever gotten one, or would you?
