"These little nappy headed hoes need a perminator", says rapstress Nicki Minaj and quite a few people are not too thrilled. As a Nicki fan myself, I found the lyrics ignorant but I still continued to bop my head to it as I drove blasting Did it on Em' on my way home from work. However, now that I heard for a second time that in her latest song Stupid Hoe, she dropped some ignorance on us again, its definitely not a good look.

In her song Stupid Hoe she says,

"Them nappy headed hoes but my kitchen good."

No Nicki, my kitchen is quite good without a perm.I don't have to put on pounds of makeup, wigs, or false eye lashes to feel beautiful. Hopefully, mothers out there are teaching their daughters the same, and showing them that don't have to follow your Barbie standard to be beautiful.

I won't lie I still will bump a Nicki track, because I don't have to like her as a person, but her mentality says that she has fallen for the brainwashing that our ancestors had to endure many moons ago.

What in the world would make someone think that it is okay to go up to someone that you never met before and grab their hair. It is an invasion of personal space, and for people who don't see it that way or can't understand the concept you must be an ignoramus. After reading this article via CNN some women have harsh feelings about those who come up with out any warning and touch their hair.

Los Angelista says no you cant touch my hair,"Because my black ancestors may have been your ancestors' property, and had to smile while they got touched in ways they didn't want to, but I am not YOUR property and never will be so you'd best move your hand away from me." and her response is entitled.

It's hard to understand why someone would not get why walking up and gawking at someone's hair is offensive, but put simply it is an invasion of privacy. In the past I have had someone touch my dreadlocks without warning (when I use to have them), and tell me that my hair reminded them of yarn.

 Now me, I actually found it quite funny, being that some of us do rock our yarn braids, but the next person she tries this on might not take it so lightly. Hands off, respect peoples privacy and do not touch people's hair that you do not know. Curious, try asking instead, or better yet do some research if you are that interested.

I find it admirable, that he is in support of his sweetie's goals of becoming the next big pop sensation. When you don't have a partner that doesn't have enthuisiam for your hopes and dreams its tears a hole in you like nothing you have ever felt. Its good to hear that Amber has found love and has a partner with her every step of the way.

Need a little help stretching out those kinks? Shea Moisture Deep Treatment Masque helps to extend my hair while giving my thirsty roots that moisture it craves.

Quick Tips for Color Treated Hair

1. Minimize your sulfate shampoo time and up your co-washing 
2. Never, ever wash your hair before you do a dye job
3. When you touch up your color, your application should be focused on your roots and then work your way down to your ends
4. Keep your hair moisturized by using a water based product, a creamier product, and then seal in the moisture with an oil 

Usually I am more of a co-washer, but last night I decided to use Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Shampoo. After my shampoo last night my scalp felt refreshed, my hair was soft, light, and fluffy. I was trying to avoid washing my hair until the weekend but, my hair just couldn't go one other day without being washed.

Now, I did wash my hair last week, but my hair was getting weigh down from product build up so even though I didn't want to, it was time for a wash. To my surprise my was last night wasn't so bad because I used my technique that helps me to cut down on time and it keeps the tangles out of my hair.

My hair is almost always in some sort of protective style, so when I wash my hair instead of taking my cornrows or twists out I leave them in. This prevents my hair from getting tangled when I wash it and when I want to take out my plaits out its easier to do because they are moist.


Washing my hair with Shea Moisture Shampoo, was far from my typical experience. Usually after a wash before I detangle, my hair is matted and tight to the scalp. While I still did have some of this going on, it wasn't nearly as bad. What made me absolutely elated was that my hair had some poof to it which I love. I can't stand flat hair. I was able to do a big braid out style so overall I was pleased with my hair's moisture and volume after my wash. Looking for a shampoo that won't dry your hair out? This is a great buy.

Rochelle Ritchie  reporter from WPTV in West Palm Beach, Florida made serious waves last year when she made a big chop. She discussed how she went from living in weaves and wigs for the camera to wanting healthier natural hair. With her own natural hair journey as inspiration, she decided to do a story on the increase of the number of women in the black community going natural.

While the creamy crack may be working for some people, this news feature highlighted how many women end up suffering from permanent hair loss or Alopecia as a result of chemical burns from relaxers. It also displayed pictures of real women who suffered from thinning hair lines from the constant braiding and weaving of the hair. For women who may be dealing with unhealthy or breaking hair this story must have been a huge eye opener and perhaps a motivator.

Staceyann Chin welcomes a beautiful baby girl into the world Zuri- Siale. Reading about her journey via the Huffington Post and Facebook has definitely been thought provoking. Now her beautiful miracle is here and I am glad that she can experience the gift of family. Ever since reading her book The Other Side of Paradise and listening to her dope poetry on Def Poetry Jam, I have become a big fan.


For my Daughter



~Staceyann Chin~


Congratulations! 

During your travels you want to be ready and up for anything. You don't want your hair getting of the way of splashing around in the pool or indulging in a relaxing hot tub with bubbles dancing across your back. Which is one of the many benefits of natural hair, you can get your hair wet or sweaty without the worry that your hair will be totally ruined. During my travels here are some styles and natural hair care tips that have made things more convenient and stylish for me.

For us kinkier ( 4b/4c) gals the go to styles for travels are (or at least for me):

Box braids/Yarn Braids
Two strand twists
Kinky Twists
Cornrows
Bantu Knots

Why?


They are great protective hair styles
You don't have to worry about messing in your hair for your trip, keep it simple.
Frizz and dryness can be easily controlled
If you desire a curly style, you can take them out for a nice braid out or twist out

Products for travel

Right now for my New Orleans trip I am enjoying Jane Carter Solution's traveling kit. I like this because to my knowledge few natural hair product companies are doing this. This makes my packing time easier because I don't have to worry about going to Walmart, purchasing the travel size bottles, and squeezing my hair products into them.

The kit comes with almost every hair item you could possibly need: sculpting foam, conditioner, shampoo, curl defining creme, moisturizing hair butters, and one my favorites her leave-in-conditioner. I was especially pleased with the curl defining creme's work, it gave my twist out marvelous definition.

After Using Jane Carter's Curl Defining Creme

This song is one of hate and its lyrics certainly don't beat around the bush with this. To hate a group so much that you have to make song about your prejudice means that group has some sort of significance or power over your life.  Hate takes energy out of you, so for someone to go that hard something is behind it, perhaps jealously.

Brazilian Woman

What I can't wrap my fingers around is how many of the Brazilian people look black themselves, yet some are so full of hate toward black people. Oh, and if you ever dare call them black they throw hissy fits, this especially frustrates me when it is clear they have some sort of African ancestry going on. When I hear ignorance such as this, it automatically makes me think they are just haters because their hair can't do all the cool tricks my can.

It can appear short and coily when I want it to
Braided and glorious
Curly shiny ringlets
Fluffy, big, and bold
and if I so desire
it can be worn pressed,
straightened, and silky

Anyone ignorant enough to make a song about another peoples hair is nothing short of a hater, they are probably mad because they feel their own style is limited.

The man behind the racism, Tiririca

By nature 4b or 4c hair in its natural state, is not exactly what we would call curly, but it definitely has a rather coily look to it. On its own after washing your hair, as a 4b/4c lady it is not likely that you will have loose ringlets without a little work on your part.

For me I find that for the best curl definition I like to deal with my hair while it is still wet. This is because once I blow dry it out it straightens fairly easily and the curl is just not the same. My twist outs and braid outs on wet hair turn out more defined, smooth, and shiny.

My key to elongating my hair somewhat and getting a defined curl is achieved by  a combination of three things: A detangling session, twisting, and the right product.

Taking the the time to detangle my hair section by section combing from the ends of my hair and working my way on up helps to expand my hair.

Although braiding the hair may stretch it out more, I prefer to do a two-strand twist out my hair because I prefer the s curl shape it leaves behind.

For hold and definition I use a either a heavy butter, creme, or moisturizing gel.

                         
                           Me after using Jane Carter Solution's Curl Defining Creme today. I love the results  : )

Over the course of my natural hair journey I have learned what works for my 4b kinky hair type and what doesn't. Although, many women have a mixture of textures in their hair, for me the typing system simply signifies that different hair types require different techniques of dealing with hair.For example, I know certain techniques someone with 4a hair uses would not cut it for me, like spraying my hair with water. If I did that on a regular basis my hair would look like a dried out matted pancake. With that being said here are my list of do's and don'ts.

I have said a few things of off this list:

Do you have an extra do-rag? My hair can't touch this cotton pillow case.
Does my forehead look shiny
I'm thinking about getting dreads
My hair is looking dry!

What's on your list?


Almost all of us had to say at least one of these statements. While natural hair does come with perks like being able to work out without  the worry about sweating out your hair,  not hiding from the rain fall like a mad woman, or thinned out hair it still requires some upkeep like any other hairstyle. We battle with dryness, shrinkage, getting the perfect curl, maintaining our curls, and the list could go on and on.

What makes comedy especially funny is when its speaks about what we know to be true. I had to laugh because I knew I had a few on this list that I had said before and if I didn't make the statement I knew someone who had. 

Years before natural hair became the "in thing", Nerissa has been gracing magazine covers, showing the world  that natural is beautiful. Her locs are free formed, which are the original or what you would call traditional locs. Out of all the free formed locs that I have seen hands down she has one of the best, and they have me reconsidering go backing to locs for myself.

Lips Like Alicia's

I would never have thought that I would be able to say makeup cleared my skin, but I am able to now. I have been using Neutrogena Skin Clearing Oil Free Makeup for about a month now, and I absolutely love it. When I first started using this makeup I feared that I was going to break out like crazy, but I didn't!

At the time that I first started using this product my breakouts were pretty bad. I kept getting an Acne cyst on my chin area and my right cheek kept breaking out with smaller pimples. I am all cleared up now but as for my right cheek I still have some battle scars from that and I have to find something to lighten those dark spots up.

After two weeks of using this foundation I saw an improvement. My pimples didn't just vanish just like that or anything but I noticed that they healed up rather rapidly. I give credit to my whole skin care regimen, but the makeup definitely plays an important role, because it is not just ordinary makeup its Acne medicated with salicylic acid.

By week 3 and 4 is when I saw the transformation, and I have been using this product ever since. Not once has it clogged my pores and left me broken out. This product does what it says and it is a major Acne fighter. My only criticism is, they need to make more makeup for darker complexions. I find myself having to use a dab of my mothers Loreal foundation that is in a darker shade so I don't look like a ghost or too washed out. Other than that good job Neutrogena!

Shrinkage is not one my favorite aspects of being natural. Especially since I have been wearing my hair pressed for a while having my hair shrink up was a big adjustment for me. As opposed to banding or blow drying my hair every time I wash my hair, there is one method that I prefer over anything else.

Shrinkage After Washing Hair

I like to cornrow, braid, or twist my hair while it is still wet and the next day if I desire to wear it out I take out my plaits and gently fluff it out. This stretches my hair without the long process of banding and it reduces my contact with heat so I can avoid heat damage.

It never stretches to its full extent without the use of heat, but it gives me enough working room so it isn't matted or too tight to my scalp. Due to the cold weather down in Jersey I will be implementing a lot of protective styling and I am considering yarn braids. Until I make my decision I will be rocking my cornrows.

For me shrinkage is definitely not fun. My hair gets extremely tight to my scalp and the matted look definitely annoys me. However, I have found that reducing my contact with heat keeps my hair healthier so I rather just use my braiding method and deal with the shrinkage.

Cornrows and Two Strand Twists