Power & Influence of the Natural Hair Movement

Did you know that YOU are changing how hair care products are being marketed recently? Yes. YOU-the one who decided to accept the way your hair grows out of your scalp-yeah, YOU. Have you perused through your local hair care retailer to see numerous product lines (once marketed to women with chemically-treated afro/ethnic hair), now expanding to include products to style afro/ethnic hair in it's natural texture (e.g., Aphogee)? It is unprecedented to be able to walk into your corner drug store or pharmacy and find a multitude of products specifically designed to further enhance and beautify your hair. Anyone who was hesitant to take the natural plunge, now has the tools and resources readily available. It's incredible. And all you had to do was make the (sometimes brave) decision to wear your hair just how it is.

I wonder what other change you could influence by deciding how (and on what) you are going to spend your money???? Hmmm....

It doesn't stop there...just go to YouTube and search 'natural hair, 3/4/a-c, or anything related to natural beauty'. You will find tubers who show everything from how to care for and style one's own natural hair,  to DIY natural hair care products. You've (in some way) helped to create a rich and supportive community. A community who strives to promote individuality and esteem, without demeaning others whom have not yet made the decision to follow suit. 

Who knows, I may try my hand at creating a tutorial, vlog, etc.  

;-)

By the way, I saw some very interesting footage come across one of my social media feeds...Have you seen the Huffington Post-Black Voices feature on Anthony Dickie's hair regimen method? Did I totally miss this?

Anthony Dickie, sir, please clone yourself! Thank you.

I never thought to do this, but I may give it a try. Have you tried this technique? What techniques do you use to spruce your look?

Cheers to Hair Growth!

May 19th made my journey one year long!! I'm mostly proud that I was able to stick with something for so long! Take a look at the video...it's not perfect, but it is my first YouTube and it shows my growth after one year and after finding the ideal regimen for me.

To all my fellow journey-ers: RAISE YOUR SERUMS...Here's to you, your journey and your growth progress...

Cheers to hair growth!

n.videl

It's ALL GOOD - I Couldn't Agree More!

Just sharing a web video of one gentleman's take on "Good Hair." By now, most of us have heard the term - widely used in the African American community - to differentiate hair types. The problem with the term is that it suggests that there is something inherently "wrong" with hair types that don't fall into the "Good Hair" category. In case you don't already know, or are still breaking the mind-set: the BEST hair is the healthy kind that grows out of your scalp, sheds naturally and regrows. No matter how you accessorize or treat your hair, make sure it's always protected and restored to the healthiest state possible (nothing against my natural hair journeyers). He puts it best in the last few seconds of the video, by encouraging us all to take care of our GOOD HAIR - it's ALL GOOD and I couldn't agree more!

Take a look:

 

Hair Confessions...

So, if you've been following this blog for any period of time, you have likely noticed that I no longer have the 'Hair Progress' page available for viewing. I took it down because there have been some changes to my regimen - again. My quest for growing out my hair is still going strong. I have continued to focus on growing my hair through protective styling [and low-manipulation]. Even though my regimen has not been as stable as I would have liked, I have experienced tremendous hair growth. But I must confess, there is a new ingredient I've added...Miconazole Nitrate (MN). Normally, I would be looking down right now; but the fact of the matter is my hair is growing at a rate I have never experienced.

Now, before I tell anyone to give this a try, let me just share some of what I've been reading about the use of this on one's scalp.

Protective Maintenance

It's a tough job, but someone has got to do it...my previous blog (entered nearly a month ago) declared the stance I was taking against what I had been advised by some - NOT to braid my hair. Though all the reasons varied, they were thoroughly considered. As some of you may have guessed, I went ahead and braided my hair. With temperature indexes reaching +120 degrees here in DC, I was especially thankful for my braided hair. The DC humidity would have shrunken the "S-T-R-E-T-C-H" I touted earlier (that would not have been pretty). I've also been very busy (on the makeup front) working weddings and other special events, so it's been a help not to have to worry too much about my hair. I have been worrying about the hair of my clients --I have been spreading the protective love. Yep! Weaves and braids. When styling hair, I like to share some of my regimen (for protective maintenance) with clients. So, it's only fair that I share the same information with my readers...

Hair-ducation: Hair Growth Support

On my quest to learn more about growing healthy hair, I've stumbled upon a universe of information. I will attempt to share the information specific to growing and maintaining healthy hair between visits/consultations with your professional hair care provider. I should provide some overview first.

The Hair Growth Cycle
Each hair on our heads has its own cycle. The cycle mainly has three phases: Growth-Transition, Rest/Sleep and Re-growth/Shed. The cycle can last anywhere from two to six years. Obviously, each hair starts growing at different times; otherwise, we would all loose a head-full of hair simultaneously (thank goodness that's not the case).

"Tex"laxing Hair?

I am getting such an education about haircare techniques women are using to protect their hair from long-term damage. If you're familiar with hair relaxers, then you've probably already guessed what texlaxing is. Relaxing your hair, but not long enough for it to "take" or be bone straight. I was leery about the concept, initially, but I've been trying it and I think I prefer it. My hair doesn't look as thin as it used to and it still has the flow and bounce that I like after washing and conditioning it. The only draw-back is
what the "tex" of my texlaxed hair does in the hot humid weather...

My Personal Hair Growth Challenge...

For most of my life, I have had the hardest time growing my hair out. I would try protective hairstyles (e.g., braids, weaves, etc.), but [maybe] weeks after I removed the style and paid for my hair to get some TLC (i.e., deep conditioned, trimmed), it would either stop growing or start breaking. My stylist (at the time) would wonder with me as to what the issue could be. We both resolved that that's just how my hair was. But, not so...

Hair-ducation: a Recent Science?

Not really, and the holistic education of hair is still evolving beyond the basics. Let me first recognize the knowledge of our professional cosmetologists - they bring a much needed degree of attention to our hair. However, when it comes to knowing and being educated about one's own hair, there's a significant gap.

For example...

I was recently on the phone with a friend and we began discussing hair. She started telling me that her hair was 4c and she was looking for 3c (clearly, I've been under some rock)...