For Loc Wears.. Share your Loc Journey

****Send story to: rizerfall@yahoo.com subject (hair). Please help me to get the word out for the need of participants and I thank you in advance. PLEASE LET HER KNOW THAT YOU SAW THIS POSTED ON AU'NATURALE BLOG ****


I am a twisted dread wearer and lovin it. I am also an author penning a book titled "Don't Dread, Dreads" and I need a few people to share their experience with dreads.

When did you start your dreads and why?

What were the initial reaction/responses of friends, family, and co-workers?

Did you notice a boost in confidence or any other personality changes?

What do you like or dislike about your hair?

What are the reactions now to your hair?

I will notify all participants of the release date of the book so you can see your story in print. Send story to: rizerfall@yahoo.com subject (hair). Please help me to get the word out for the need of participants and I thank you in advance.

Essential Night Time Routine for Natural Hair

Along with the appropriate moisturizer, shampoos, conditioners and treatment methods, doing the right things before you sleep is important to ensure your natural afro or curls is well looked after.

Twists or Corn-rows Before Bed
Natural hair doesn't need to be wrapped (using a comb or brush to sweep the hair around the head into a mound) before bedtime because it doesn't need to be kept straight. The best way of preserving shape and keeping hair strands together is to twist the hair in sections or plait it in corn-rows.

The smaller the twist, the tighter the curls in the morning once they are loosened, but generally dividing hair into fist-sized sections and twisting (by diving each section into two and twisting gently but firmly until you reach the tip) is adequate, as are corn-rows plaited from the front to the back of the head. Both styles keep the hair in shape rather than splayed out all over your head.

In the morning, separating the twists or corn-rows with your fingers is preferable to combing it out. The less use of combs and brushes the better as these can pull out natural hair which is very delicate.

Moisturize Both the Scalp and Ends
Natural hair, especially the ends, needs more moisture than other types of hair. Dry ends lead to breakage so keeping both the scalp and tips well-oiled at night is a must. Light oils (olive or avocado oil works well) are better than thicker ones like Pink Oil, which can just sit on your hair and make it lank and heavy. Sparse oiling of the scalp followed by a bit more for the ends of each of your twists is recommended before bed time. The average sleeping time of six to eight hours, and the lack of harmful interference from sunlight or winds means nightly moisturizing is the best time for giving your hair the nutrients it needs. Repeat the light oiling for both the scalp and ends in the morning.

Silk Scarves and/or Silk Pillowcases
As you sleep, your hair rubs against the pillow and against itself which can also lead to breakage. This rubbing can be reduced with the use of a silk or satin pillowcase because these are made from softer materials that's kinder to hair than cotton. The hair oils you've put in is also more likely to remain on your hair if you use silk or satin pillowcases.

Because natural hair doesn't need to be wrapped, you can twist and sleep without a scarf, provided you're sleeping on a silk or satin pillow case. You may, however, choose to wear a scarf as extra protection, and it'll also ensure smoother hair in the morning.

There may be other night time routines you find work well for your hair, but doing these three things regularly goes a long way in managing natural hair.

How to Co-Wash Natural Hair

If you wear your hair natural, you are probably familiar with co-washing, or washing their hair with conditioner only. Conditioner washing avoids harsh results from frequent washing with shampoos and helps to keep natural black hair soft and manageable. Co-washing can be done as often as you'd like, even several times a day (this is a plus for natural hair wearers in the hot days of summer).

Oftentimes the question of "How do I co-wash my hair?" comes up. The answer would seem simple, but there are some steps you can take to get the most benefit from this technique and do it with ease.

* First, find a conditioner that works for your hair type.

* Get to know your ingredients. The long, hard-to-pronounce ingredients on the label can be overwhelming. But with familiarity, you can learn to spot which ingredients you want to keep and which you want to avoid. Ingredients like propylene glycol, cetyl alcohol and panthenol are common. Search online for ingredients lists. One such list can be found at http://sci-toys.com/ingredients/ingredients.html.

* Recommended: Purchase an extended shower head/hose. Handheld shower heads with variable sprays offer the best control for rinsing the hair and are often well worth the investment.

* Rinse the hair with warm water. Avoid water that is too hot (if it initially stings the back of your hand, it's too hot). Cleansing results from the action of water plus cleanser (shampoo and/or conditioner) and agitation (hand movements through the hair). Warm water will clean hair well while hot water can be damaging. While rinsing with water, gently comb your hair with your fingers.

* Apply your conditioner. This can be done in several ways.
Pour a line of conditioner into your hand (as opposed to pouring a dollop) and apply each line onto parted hair sections. Work the conditioner from the roots to the tips. Continue until all the hair is covered.

Squeeze your normal amount of conditioner into a large bowl, preferably plastic. With the shower head, add water to the bowl and mix the water and conditioner well with your hands. Bend your head over the bowl. With a cup or other small container, scoop up some of the mix and pour it onto your hair. You can then lean further over into the bowl and wash your hair with your hands directly over the bowl if you'd like. This allows for even coverage, but note that the conditioner will be more dilute.

Squeeze your normal amount of conditioner into a large clean spray bottle and mix with water. Shake well and spray liberally onto the hair. Again, this mixture will be more dilute than a direct application. This method is great for those who only have minutes to spare in the mornings. Make a large batch of diluted conditioner, spray your hair and rinse out after bathing.

* Comb your hair with a wide-tooth comb with rounded-edge teeth. This step is optional, as there remains a debate as to whether combing while wet does more damage to hair than combing while dry. It has been said that combing while wet can stretch the hair past it's longest point, thereby causing breakage. However, many who wear their hair natural report that combing while the hair is fully conditioned is the best time for them, as the hair is soft and pliable, leading to less breakage. In either case, comb hair gently by grabbing one small section at a time. Comb from the TIPS first, ensuring there are no snags then work your way to the roots. It's ok if you cannot comb from root to tip in one stroke. The main idea is to ease tangles and distribute the conditioner evenly.

* Allow the conditioner to set on your hair for at least a few minutes if possible. Both steam from the shower and the conditioner itself will work on your hair during this time. Give yourself a nice salt or sugar scrub while your hair is being conditioned.

* Rinse your hair well, again with warm water. Ease your fingers through each section while the water flows through to remove any remaining conditioner.

* Optional: Apply your hair products at this step -- while your hair is dripping wet. Many naturals swear by this technique and believe the best absorption is gained at this time. At the least, your product(s) can be more evenly distributed throughout your hair while it is sopping wet.

* It's time to dry. Just as with the application, there are several ways to dry your hair.
Dry with a towel. Avoid rubbing your scalp and hair with a towel at all costs! Instead, simply dab and pat your hair dry, or grab sections and squeeze excess water into the towel.
Shake and go. Lay your towel across the back of your shoulders (lengthwise shoulder to shoulder). Grab the bottom corners of the towel and raise it up to your head, almost over your head. Think of Batman's cape raised up as he jumps off a tall building! With the towel raised, shake your head from side to side (ear to shoulder) and left to right (like saying no), shaking excess water into the towel. This is what I call the "no touch" method. Sometimes drying the hair directly with a towel can remove products you've just applied, even helping to separate your freshly-formed coils and spirals. You want your coils to group together to avoid the frizzies. This method is perfect for the warmer months when you possibly can afford to go longer periods with damp hair.

Blow dry, but with care. When blow drying, the use of a diffuser is best. A diffuser will spread the heat from your dryer more evenly and minimize potential heat damage. You can find diffusers at most beauty supply stores at a minimal cost. If you do not have a diffuser, use the low heat or cool setting and blow dry from at least six inches from the furthest part of your hair. Remember, you are not trying to get the hair bone dry -- just dry enough to style and go out.

In summary, with the above methods you'll find shampooing your hair by co-washing is a great alternative to traditional shampooing which can strip your hair of much needed oils and moisture. With just a touch of practice, getting in and out of the shower with a clean head of hair will take less time than applying your makeup, and your hair will benefit greatly from it.

Good Hair Chris Rock and Nia Long Come Straight in Documentary

In this award winning documentary about African American culture, Chris Rock asks, "What's your definition of good hair?" The answers are as varied as the hair itself. One woman interviewed said, "Someone that looks relaxed and nice. If your hair's nappy, their not happy." Chris Rock will take you back to your roots. Vanity Fair says Good Hair is "Hilarious!" Variety claims "Audiences will wig out!"

When Chris Rock’s daughter, Lola, came up to him crying and asked, “Daddy, how come I don’t have good hair?” Rock, known for making
people laugh, was baffled, and committed to finding the answer for his little girl.

Rock's fact finding mission catapults him into a multi-country tour determined to dig deep into black community and cultures. What Rock discovers is the world of relaxers and straighteners, weaves and extensions. Celebrities Nia Long, Kerry Washington, Al Sharpton, Maya Angelou, Ice-T and more, share their personal stories in Good Hair, a Sundance Festival film.

Speaking of Relaxers and Straighteners, these harsh chemicals - sometimes referred to as "creamy crack" - are a huge money making business. It's not unheard of for a treatment costing $5000.00 or more.

Horror stories of chemical burns and hair loss. This practice of straightening, relaxing and totally changing a black woman's hair has been described as a "torture session", and one that they put themselves through time and time again to achieve the perfect look. Sodium hydroxide can burn through your skin, but these women - and men - are willing to take the risk.

There are so many pressures for black women to straighten their hair. The lighter, the brighter, the better, the prettier, they want to go like this - as Farrah Fawcett swings her head around, her golden mane flows from one side to the other - that's how some black women perceive beautiful hair.

Just don't touch the hair! Anyone that has gone through the grueling process of extensions and expensive weaves, will not want you to touch it. "Weave sex is awkward, just stay on top," says one woman with a gorgeous head of hair.

The documentary isn't all serious and straight. Although Good Hair is downright shocking and truthful in some scenes (it is a documentary after all), it's also full of Rock's hilarious comments, innuendos and big-hearted laughs. Human hair is India's biggest export. Rock then goes on the streets with bags of hair and shouts, "Black Hair! Anyone want to buy some black hair?" You have to laugh at that, even though you know where it comes from.

Good Hair will be released in certain cities on Friday, October 9th, and nationwide on October 23rd.

*Good Hair is the recipient of A Special Jury Prize: U.S. Documentary.

See the official "Good Hair" Trailer here.

Natural Hair Online Support Groups

Through a simple online search you will come across natural hair community sites, forums, personal blogs and natural hair albums within Fotki and Flickr. You can find natural hair groups on Yahoo! and MySpace as well as Twitter, and Facebook. By doing a search on these sites for ‘natural hair’ or entering in specific names of some of your favorites, you can even have natural hair support via cell phone.

One of my favorite Facebook profiles is Tassanee ‘Happynappyt’ Walden. When you log on to her profile and see the natural hair information, which includes pictures, product reviews, hair challenges and links to other natural hair sites, you will feel like you stepped into a natural hair community site. Through the Internet you will find sites that are solely dedicated to natural hair, as well as inclusive sites that cater to all who are in search of healthy hair advice.


Nappturality.com: (www.nappturality.com) is dedicated to natural hair and women who wear it with pride. Any and every topic concerning natural hair can be found on the site. It not only features the best online photo albums and discussions about natural hair, but also discussions on education, employment, health, spirituality etc. I love Nappturality and I’ve pretty much learned everything I know from the site.

Motowngirl: (motowngirl.com) – is a wonderful site. The site description says it’s a “one stop shop” for natural hair information, and that’s nothing but the truth. Some of the many features are natural hair facts, product recipes, and do it yourself hairstyles. Motowngirl also features extensive product reviews with pictures, ingredients, and ratings.

Going Natural.com: (going-natural.com) – features blogs, hairstyles, natural hair journeys, natural products, articles, and recipes. There is also a downloadable preview of its creator’s – Mireille Liong-A-Kong aka Masoesa book Going Natural. Natural Hair Digest: (naturalhairdigest.com) is also dedicated to natural hair. The site is another great source for natural hair topics featuring hairstyles, links, articles, product recipes and natural body care information as well.

Natural Hair Care Guide: (naturalhaircareguide.com) – features great information on how to maintain natural hair and provides articles on transitioning, styling, product ingredients and more. Be sure to join to get your downloadable e-book, Five Secrets to Long Natural Hair. The Coil Review: (thecoilreview.com/en/index.php) – this beautiful site features, natural hair tips, photos, product reviews/recipes, and hair care articles.

The following sites are what I would categorize as inclusive sites that cater to those with natural, texturized, pressed, and permed hair. Some of my favorites are;

Hairlista: (hairlista.ning.com) – a wonderful site that is a guide to healthy hair care, skin and beauty. It features blogs, product recipes, photos and tons of hair challenges such as healthy ends, conditioning, and protective styles.

Black Hair Media: (blackhairmedia.com) – features hair discussion topics and styles, along with information on health and wellness and DIY hair/skin care recipes. It also features a Natural Corner and Hair Care Forum with topics on natural hair care. Long Hair Care Forum – (longhaircareforum.com/forums) – growing healthy beautiful long hair – features blogs, product reviews, as well as fitness, fashion skin care and more.

There are also numerous natural hair blogs on the Internet that feature personal natural hair journeys, product reviews and how-to videos. Among my favorites are; Natural-belle: (hairspiration.blogspot.com) – this belle posts the most beautiful inspirational pictures featuring natural hairstyles. Texture Playground: (textureplayground.com/blog) – tons of product reviews and great advice on natural hair maintenance and styling.

Newly Natural: (newlynatural.com/blog) – great product reviews and style tutorials. Kcurly the blog’s creator has the most beautiful finger coils hands down, with step by step instructions. Black Girl With Long Hair: (blackgirllonghair.blogspot.com) – beautiful photos, interviews and great natural hair advice. Curly Nikki: (curlynikki.com) – tons of henna information, product reviews, natural hair interviews and it’s creator has the most beautiful curly twist-out.

YouTube is another source for natural hair information. You will find step-by-step videos on hairstyles, DIY product recipes and more. Glamazini: (youtube.com/glamazini) – great natural hair tips, product reviews and more, but beware – she will definitely have you laughing out loud. Kinky Hair Blog: (youtube.com/user/KinkyHairBlog) – tons of wonderful easy-to-do hairstyle tutorials, product reviews, tips and more.

Family Going Natural: (youtube.com/user/familygoingnatural) – beautiful family of natural hair featuring hairstyles and tips. Kinkycoils: (youtube.com/user/Kinkycoils) – over 30 videos featuring transitioning, hair routines, and styles.

These sites are a great help for those who are either thinking about transitioning, in the transitioning process or who are already a part of the natural journey. Afrobella: (afrobella.com) is another favorite that features beauty, natural hair care, skin care, makeup advice, and more. Also check out Kinnks: (kinnks.com/directory) – a worldwide online directory of natural hair links.

What are your favorites?

How to Score Free Samples and Great Deals

The good news is that the economy is starting to show signs of improvement. The bad news is that for most of us things are still tight and saving money is as important as ever. With that in mind I have decided to find the best deals in beauty right now. This list is just a sample of all the wonderful deals to be had. You can find deals everywhere from your local drugstore to your favorite beauty counter. You can get buy one get one deals, 30% of your favorite products and even some totally free samples. I was actually surprised by how many deep discounts I was able to take advantage of. The deals are there you just have to know where to look.

Deals and Free Samples:

Perfect Results Moisturizing Shampoo: Try this moisturizing shampoo free of charge by going to the website — perfect-results.com. Then click on the “Try for Free” link and fill in your info for a free sample to be sent to your address.

Aveda Lavish Hand Cream: Get a free sample of Aveda’s Lavish Hand Cream for joining their birthday club. Go to avedabday.com. A great way to get your hands on something free.

Go to your favorite counter at your local department store and ask about getting your makeup done. Services run from free to the cost of buying some products. Every company is different but you might be able to get a professional makeup job if you buy a lipgloss or even free.

Who doesn’t want to block humidity? Well now is your chance to check out a sample of Joico’s Humidity Blocker. You can get a free sample at joico.com. Easy as that.
Top of the line skincare products usually cost an arm and a leg. Now you can get samples from a leader in the skin care industry Perricone MD. You can go to blog.perriconemd.com/2009/07/08/survey/ to register to test and review skincare product samples.

Check out your local beauty college. Many offer low cost services on everything from manicures to hair cuts. Of course the services will be done by the students so you might not want to get a major style but for a wash and blow dry it might be worth checking out.

Go to Sephora.com to check out this amazing sample deal. Right now you can get a free new 10-day sample Bare Escentuals Matte Foundation and Mini Brush.
You can register to be a product tester for some nail products. Nailene has amazing nail products and you can get some products to test for free. Just go to nailene.com/product-tester/default.aspx.

Dove Skincare products are great for the skin. If you don’t know about them yet you can check them out for free at content.dove.us/dovehairmsn/free_sample.aspx?source=dove_s. Even when the products aren’t free they are still a really good deal.
Feet Dry? If so check out this free sample from Kersal. Just go fill out your information here and receive Kerasal Skin Care products for the cost of a self addressed stamped envelope.

Elasta QP and Profectiv: Who doesn’t want to try before you buy and especially from tried and trusted brands. Both Elasta QP and Profectiv offers free samples for those interested in checking out the brand’s products before they drop the bucks. Get your samples here and here.

And always ask about samples and discounts whenever you get a service done or buy something. You never know what type of deal you can get.