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My First Blog Post:Texture

TEXTURE

“You have good hair”

What does that really mean? Keep reading to find out…

In my first blog post I’ve decided to explain hair textures.

Many don’t know that hair is categorized into 4 different types. Each type grows naturally from someones head.

Vector Illustration of a Hair Types chart displaying all types and labeled. Curl types.

Hair types range from Type 1- 4C, with the straightest being 1 and the kinkiest being 4.

But don’t get the length twisted! When you pull a curl, the shrinkage is real. It could look as if someone with type 3-4 hair has shoulder length hair but when pulled straight it’s way longer than you would expect!

Hair Porosity

Porosity refers to how well your hair is able to absorb and hold moisture. It is affected by the flexible outer layer called the cuticle, which determines how easily moisture and oils pass in and out of your hair.

This can affect the look of your hair, if you aren’t using products help retain moisture within your hair.

This depends on a number of factors including texture, product, and maintenance of hair. Different textures need different types of maintenance so someone with 4c hair is going to need a creamier, more water based products when selecting their hair care.

P.S. I’ll have future blogs on natural hair products, tips, and styles

Black hair types

Content from the HuffPost

Black hair textures typically range from types 3A-4C. This includes curls, coils, waves, and kinks. We can have different hair textures all over our head. Inluding having 3C in some parts but hvaing more so 4A textures in other sections.

Why the GIF above with Yara Shahidi and her mom shows more than them being fabolous

Yara has more of a 3B/3C hair texture while her mom has more of a 4A texture. Yes just because our moms might have one texture we could come out with something completely different, texture often ends up being a mixture of our parents.

“good hair”

I’m sure a lot of black girls can relate to either hearing or being told that they have good hair because they have a looser curl pattern and hearing that someone with a kinkier hair texture has “nappy” hair. This is something that society needs to take a hard look at and realize that “GOOD” hair is simply a statement created by society. This doesn’t exist, every texture is acceptable because we aren’t in control of the curly, straight, or coily hair that grow from any of our heads. So… maybe think twice next time you tell someone they have “good hair”. Might not be your intention to discredit another persons texture but maybe consider that all hair is “good hair.”

Final Blog post of the semester

I hope that my blog post have been beneficial in teaching all types of people and hair textures about natural hair.

Natural hair is a big part of African American/black culture and I feel its important that everyone is able to appreciate its versatility while also being educated on the subject.

A big topic I addressed in my previous blog post was the stigma of natural hair in the work place. It’s personally saddening that this is still a topic of acceptance but hopefully my blog can help shed light on why wearing our natural hair is so important. Especially because often times hair is most healthy in its natural state.

I’m personally entering the TV news industry soon and I will be wearing my natural hair and I’m proud of it. Someone once told me if you don’t accept yourself 100% how can you expect others too.

I hope you’ve enjoyed my tips, tricks, and facts about natural hair!

Who has the best hair gel?

Gel is a NEED in many naturals lives but it’s also hard to find the best ones. I’ve created a small list of hair gels with pros and cons to help pick what’s best for you.

  1. Uncle Funky’s

Pros: Healthy ingredients! Organic Aloe Vera Juice, Aqueous-Infused Extracts of Marshmallow, Chamomile, Nettle & Horsetail, Vitamin E, Agave Nectar Extract, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate & Natural Fragrance

Gives a good hold without drying, defines curls

Cons: Can feel sticky on the hands, A little pricey

2. Camille rose curl maker

Pros: Good ingredients! Sweet extracts of marshmallow and agave are melted into a gourmet oil base of coconut and pomegranate, then layered with botanical juices of seaweed and aloe. We finish with an enriching infusion of vitamins E and B-12 for optimal hair nourishment. Moisturizing hair gel, hold for finer curls

Cons: thicker or kinkier hair types might not get as much desired hold, defines curls, a little pricey

3. Wetline extreme

Cons: ingredients contain a lot of chemicals, can be very drying, need to be used with hydrating products

Pros: creates an amazing hold, very affordable, UV protection

4. Eco styler

Pros: affordable, a lot of naturals “go to” easily accessible, creates a good hold. Has many different types ex: olive oil, organ oil, and many more

Cons: contains a lot of chemicals , could be drying if not used with hydrating products

From research and using every single one of the gels I would have to say including definition, moisture, and health reasons I would go with Uncle Funky’s as the best gel. I think as naturals it’s important that you use products that help your hair in the long run.

Although if you are doing quick styles and not a full wash n go routine then I would be okay with using eco styler but I’ve learned it’s better to just spend the money now and not deal with the damage later.

6 ways to pump up your puff

A lot of natural hair women enjoy wearing the hair in a high puff. It’s a cute laid back look but can be dressed up as well!

Here are some tips and style that you can do to switch up your puff!

  1. Different edge styles
  2. Use a “puff cuff” instead of a hair tie to create a fuller puff

3. Use headbands

4. Pin some hair back in the front to create a look like you have bangs

5. A sleek down puff using hair gel while brushing it up into the style

6. A relaxed puff: just grasping hair into puff on top of head with no brush

Transitoning naturals

There are a lot of videos out there that share natural hair journeys and many wonder what exactly that journey entails.

Some women have been natural all their lives but some had perms before. Those who have had perms (straightens hair with chemicals) have decided to grow their perms out into their natural hair.

This can be a process because you have to buy all new hair products as well as form a new regimen. So many will post their journey on YouTube to help other transitioning naturals.

Another big term is “The big chop” which is when people begin to grow their natural hair out and majority/ends go hair might still be straight from the perm so they do the “big chop” which is chopping off the rest of the permed hair so they are fully natural.

Below is a video of one popular natural hair vloggers journey.

Shrinkage

You might have heard someone say “the syringe is real” Well today I’m going to explain that and ways to help combat shrinkage

Shrinkage is when someones hair shrinks up in length because of their coil, curl, pattern.

Check out these pictures for some examples:

There’s not true way to combat shrinkage but there are some tools and techniques that can help stretch you hair when curly, not to its full length but longer than if you air dried!

  1. Blow drying roots: Section your hair into 4 sections and hold the end of your hair and pull i taught. Then use the blow dryer on your roots while you pull your hair.
  2. Banding: Section your hair into 4 sections placing hair ties spaced apart going down the hairi shaft

3. Pineapple: Put your hair into a high loose puff while sleeping

Studio shot of a beautiful young woman posing against a pink background

The hard decision of Product choice

In the natural hair community there are a lot of different options when it comes to hair products. Which means you go through a lot of trial and error when finding the right one.

As I talked about before, in a previous blog your texture affects what type of products you need.

Click here to find out your texture!

While products vary based on hair texture I advise you to make youtube your best friend if you are in search of new products. There are TONS of natural hair vloggers with all different types of textures that are constantly trying new products and reviewing them.

Youtube became my holy grail when it came to Natural hair. Although in doing research I have learned there’s a lot of GOOD products out there but also a lot of BAD ones.

In the beginning of my natural hair I didn’t focus on the quality of the product as much but mostly if it worked. But, if you want long, strongwomen, or healthy hair then ingredients do matter. Not going to lie, for it to work and have good ingredients it becomes a little pricey but your hair can become a big part of you so you’re investing in yourself!

I personally have made the transition to products that are more on the natural side. But tou do have…

Benzene

Diethanolamine (DEA) Triethanolamine (TEA)

Formaldehyde

Fragrance

Isopropyl Alcohol

Methylisothiazolinone

Mineral Oil and Petroleum

Parabens

Phthalates

Retinol

Retinyl Palmitate

Sulfates

Common sulfates: Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate

Synthetic colors

Toluene

Triclosan

I know it’s a long list but better to be safe than sorry!

Protective styles

Protective styles are exactly what they’re called. They’re used to protect your natural hair and basically give your hair a “break” from all the wash n’ gos and constant manipulation that you do on a typical week. This allows for your hair to grow and decreases breakage, since you aren’t touching your hair as much. Some styles include extensions, sew ins, or wigs while some are just done using your hair own hair.

Some protective styles are… but not limited to!

Box Braids with extensions

Natural hair Twists

Sew-ins or weaves

Step 1
Step 2

Natural hair french braids

Natural Hair Wash n’ go’s

There are various ways a naturalista can style her hair but a common one that many do is “Wash N’ Go”. Don’t let the term decieve you it’s far from a wash and literally go.

These typically take a decent amount of time which is why many refer to wash day as its own day but… it can also be seen as a self care day!

There are different ways people go about their wash N go’s, some like to do them in the shower while their hair is drenched while others like to be outside the shower spraying there hair to re wet it. Regardles both take similair steps.

The Loc Method

This stands for “liquid, oil, and cream” while G isn’t in there many people use gel after this method as well to help hold their curl pattern .

Step one: section hair into 4 sections and wet your hair with a spray bottle or if in the shower then wet that section under the shower head.

step two: lock in moisture by using any type of hair oil (different textures require different oils) if you have more type 4 hair you might want to use a castor oil while type 3 uses more of an avocado oil.

step three: Pick out you favorite hair cream! (mine is moisture Rx by Mielle organics), a common cream is the curl enhacning smoothie by shea moisture. Coat this on your hair very well moisturizing every curl or coil.

Step four: Keep those curls poppin! Add gel to the section by raking through your hair helping define your hair pattern and making sure each is coated with gel

Extras:

If you want extra moisture some might want to add a leave in conditoner between steps one and two but it’s up to your preference.

Drying

To help hold your definiton you can use an attached hooded blow dryer and use clips to help lay the top of your hair wether that’s flat or voluminized

You can also twist your hair in a microfiber towel to get some of the water out just in case your hair is very wet then proceed to your preffered drying method

**Regardless of what you choose do not use a regular towel to dry your hair becasue this can create breakage instead use a microfiber towel or cotten shirt

Finally.. rock that Wash N Go!!

Natural hair in the workplace

For many years society has seen natural hair as an unprofessional hair style but in today’s workplace were seeing a shift in for the better. There are many organizations promoting natural hair and even laws in states like California and New York being passed to protect the wear of cultural hairstyles such as dreads and natural hair. 

History:Why it’s more than hair 

To understand what’s going on now we must take a look at the future. 

Going back to the 60s there was a woman named Beverly Jenkins was denied a job from blue cross blue shield because they felt she could never represent them while wearing an Afro. 

Sounds a little familiar today doesn’t it? 

So… in 1976 she went to court with Blue cross and it was determined that Afros were protected under the title VII of the civil rights act

 NOW: The crown act

Crown: Create a respectful and open workplace for natural hair

This law now implemented by my California and New York declares hair discrimination as illegal. This includes natural hair, styles, dreadlocks etc. 

This law follows after multiple high profile cases such as a girl in Louisiana being sent home because of braided extensions. As well as a wrestler being forced to cut his dreads if he wanted to continue in competition. 

“History has constantly implemented laws and societal normal that equate blackness and the associated physical traits to separate and unequal treatment”

-Teen Vogue

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/new-york-second-state-ban-discrimination-based-natural-hairstyles-n1029931

Why is it such a big deal for you to ask me to straighten my hair? 

Straightening black hair can often cause a lot of heat damage and change a curl pattern because high levels of heat aren’t meant to be used on your hair almost everyday. 

Now getting your hair straightened is not a bad thing everyone is entitled to their choice. There are many people with natural hair who get their hair straightened constantly but use the proper products and heat protection to protect their hair and still keep a bed of healthy natural hair

The main idea is PEOPLE ARE ENTITLED TO A CHOICE  because the hair that grows naturally from someone’s head should not be frowned upon because it is biologically out of their control.

Organizations taking a stand

#NABJ 

The national association of black journalist is trying to embrace journalist that wear their natural hair.

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