Can I Touch Your Hair? by Drea Camille

"So I decided to write an impromptu blog article about my encounters of being a natural beauty in a Euro-centric society. I have not always been a natural beauty, but being an African-American woman” other non-ethnic cultures are “intrigued by the texture and hairstyles of African-Americans. At first, I use to be offended because some people wanted to ask a million questions about my hair and even go to the extent of wanting to touch my hair.

I remember asking one of my cohort members in graduate school about their fascination about the kinky/tightly coiled texture of people of color hair. She gave me the most realest and sincere answers ever; she wasn’t taught about the various texture of hair and thought it was best to ask. “Close mouths don’t get fed!” Amen to that quote. So back to the topic - I educated my cohort member, but ended up getting some valuable knowledge from her as well. I remember her telling me that she has “bad hair” because it was coarse, curly and tangled. I’m thinking to myself, wow here I am complaining about my hair and she was having similar issues like me. When she told me that it took her 4-6 hours to straighten her hair, I gained a deeper appreciation for my hair at the moment. During this time, I was in a relaxed state of mind and complaining about bringing my breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the hair salon and hearing the “hoodrat chronicles”. LOL! So, ladies and gentlemen, not all non-ethnic people’s hair is straight and easily manageable. They too have various hair issues as well. I don’t think I could handle washing my hair daily, de-tangling it for hours and possible straightening my hair for another 4 hours. That’s not what’s up!

Since moving back to the New England, many people admire my natural state, especially non-ethnic people. I receive many compliments from them about my natural hair. I don’t take offense to this because honestly, I am a beautiful woman who embraces my natural state to the fullest and appreciate those who recognize true and natural beauty. I don’t feel compelled to straighten my hair just to please society and to assimilate. If you can’t accept me for who I am, than you are missing out on an amazing, loving, and gifted person.  This blog article goes out to all my natural Beauties, Princesses, and Queens out there. Another shout out to those who want to become more educated to our natural state and are open to asking genuine questions." - written by Guest Writer, Drea Camille

To see more of Drea, go to  - Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr

Bold Cuts - by Sylva

Bold Cuts - life experience story by Sylva

Trip to Puebla, Mexico, March 2001. I was disappointed. All the Mexicans were so, well, American. The clothes, music, Costco...my college experience abroad seemed like the stateside version, only dubbed over in Spanish. 

While ruminating on alternative interpretations for ‘we didn’t cross the border, the border crossed us’ it occurred to me that maybe I could benefit from some introspection. After all, who was I to judge when I was wearing shoulder length braids? I saw a golden opportunity to begin extricating myself from the obligations piled on to me by my family, race and culture.So, I cut my hair. I pulled out those braids and took to sporting the quintessential fade of black boys everywhere. Instantly, I was riveted by my face. What cheeks! My big eyes! My little ears! I didn’t have anything to hide behind. I was forced to face the world unapologetically. No more using my hair to make the appearance of my person less shocking or more palatable. 

Going natural in another country was definitely eye-opening. When I was just black, everyone assumed I was easy; when they thought I was African, their ignorance became even more outrageous. People asked my white classmates if I was their maid and if I spoke English. At drum circles, the crowds eyed me expectantly like they were waiting for me to break out into dance. My mailman called me his ‘Jamaiquena’, his sly way of calling me African. The bright spot in all this was being approached by rural women who asked me to kiss

Making That Natural Step

Making that natural step – Loc's

Advice and Inspirational written piece by Naturaleza

What if…

no-one likes it?

everyone says it is not me?

people look at me strangely?

Do these sound like questions you ask yourself? 

Try these on instead - What if...?

I like it alot?

it makes me happy?

doing this allows me to be creative in other ways?

people say crap about it? I'm doing it for ME!

Don't let the views people have of you hold you back from doing it.

You know what I mean!   Having natural hair!

I won't pretend to be the guru on the topic. I can only share my experience. This is the second time that I've begun the journey. I don't know exactly what it is, but this time I feel more relaxed, feeling fit in my skin and loving who I am. 

Maybe it comes with maturity...not with chronological age per se. But maturity that allows us to block out the detractors. When we get to that phase that as people we are comfortable with who we are, who we see and quite frankly, we are not put off by what people say.

We just smile and nod!

Trust me...I smile and nod!

-Ask questions:        Educate yourself by asking other people around you who have natural hair how they maintain it. In my case, I preferred to ask questions about sizing and method to start my locs because I did

Skin Care Tips - from Esthetician Juliette Samuel

Black Skin Care Tip: Shea Butter, The Natural Ingredient for African American Skin Care 

By Juliette Samuel
Publisher & Esthetician For Nyraju Skin Care

While dark skin may have its advantages, it can be prone to its challenges.  An example of this is dry skin. Yes, African American people get dry skin. Melanin is a great protector of African American Skin and dark skin in general, but dryness is a condition that brings a different set of issues to be addressed. For most African Americans shea butter is among the top natural treatments that can be used on dry and sensitive skin.  It is packed full of vitamins and nutrients that give protection to the layers of your skin.  Shea butter has the ability to refresh and bring it back to the original suppleness and texture that it’s accustomed to.

Good news for you is that shea butter will have your beautiful black skin responding to it quick, fast and in a hurry.  This enables your skin to retain moisture and have greater elasticity immediately after its application. Shea butter, used on black skin, makes it easier to repair the damage sustained by your skin, such as flaking and itchiness that’s caused by excessive dryness. In addition to making your skin feel better, shea butter has the ability to even out your skin tone.  Your skin is the largest organ of your body and if you’ve ever experienced dryness, you know that there is a tendency for white spots to develop.  The application of shea butter to black skin can reduce the dryness, spots as well as get rid of the streaking that takes place when you scratch dry skin.

In order to take full advantage of the benefits offered by this natural beauty product, make sure that when you shower or bathe, your water temperature is lukewarm.  Extreme temperatures in water, particularly hot water, will strip the natural oils from your skin.  If your challenge is extremely dry skin, do not soak in water for more than 10 minutes.

Your body cleanser should be made from natural products such as vegetable soaps or soaps made from vegetable oils, like olive oil.  Even better, use cleansers that contain shea butter.  Your skin will benefit from the gentle cleansing action and provide it with the moisturizing properties of shea butter.  Hopefully you've enjoyed the black skin care tips in this article but here is one last tip: apply the shea butter while your skin is still damp in order to ensure that the moisture is sealed in.  Do not rub your skin with a towel, instead blot it dry or use your wash cloth to remove the excess water.  This is much more considerate of your body’s fragile protective layer.

Guest Writer:  Juliette Samuel
Authors Bio:  Meet Juliette

Sisterlocks 101 - from Guest Writer Salkis

Guest Writer, Salkis, gives us a little education on the how to start Sisterlock's:

Sisterlocks(tm) is a system of locking hair that allows hard to locks hair-(wavy, curly or relaxed hair) to be locked in a uniformed micro-sized pattern. The trademark of this look is the clean part lines and uniform pattern that each loc is formed into.

Its a three step process:

• 1st Consultation. This is were you will get to find out more about the system, cost, time it will take to complete your whole head and “tester” locks will be done to get the correct size for your hair type.

• 2nd Installation. You are on your way to an entire head of lush beautiful Sisterlocks(tm), bring some snacks, your mp3 player and maybe a good book and a fluffy pillow. You will be sitting for a while and you don't want your stomach howling while your technician is working on your head.

• 3rd Follow Up. This is when your consultant checks your locs for slippage, she may have to tighten some of them. Its an overall check up to make sure the set up is going smoothly. For some this would be your first re-tightening session

If you are afraid of locing your hair because you think you can't look polished with locs, think again! You can from corporate to a basement party seamlessly! Sisterlocks(tm) usually takes 10-20 hours to complete depending on hair density, length and the size of locs desired. Most people average a weekend to complete a full head of Sisterlocks(tm), but once its complete they are truly happy with the results. Looking for a certified consultant in the Atlanta, GA area? Call Salkis Re @ 478-501-7836 or go to http://www.combmyhair.com/

Poetry from Als Simmons

Thank you Als for submitting your poetry and for this peaceful photo. Look below her photo, to read her poem - Stripped down like Nature

Me
Stripped down like nature
To the naked depths
And makeup-less core
Imperfections revealed
Scars of Life
Birth and Death
Celebrated

My roots have been planted
Deep within every crevice
Of the Earth’s floor
My Life has become
Part of Life’s Lore
I’ve been
Stripped down like nature

My Self-consciousness
Exposed
Only to realise
My doubts make me human
Rough edges and random quirks
Transforms to uniqueness
Stripped down like nature
Silence is revealing

I am me
Only one
Stripped down like nature
Changing like the seasons
By the many actions and externalities
Transformed but not lost
Aged yet still youthful
Moulded to the will of the transparent

Fate I believe
Altered and shaken
Renewed never crushed
Stripped down like nature
My Identity
Where I’ve come from
Where I’m going
Strengthened by will not might
Secure

Stripped down like nature
Uncovered
By the wisdom of living
Contained by the traditions
Of unknown mysteries and
Acknowledged belief
Cloaked by a thousand prayers
And endless whisperings

My nakedness touching
Pressing on bare earth
My arms
Stroked by subtle trees
And the delicate branches
Of conviction
My essence is caressed by the
Eternal wind of Faith
Stripped down like nature
I am me and me is One

14th April, 2009

- from Als Simmons
Her blog: Theories of Anything