A Few Natural Do's at Danielle's Wedding

Our cousin Danielle married Terrance on July 17 at Callanwolde Fine Arts Center here in Atlanta. It seems "wedding websites" are all the rage these days...

Us.

:o)

Sisterlocks Evolution Remix 4

Using the Animoto "Fire" theme

Been Checkin' out Phyllis the Video Locktician's live broadcast...

...via Livestream. Watch previous broadcasts by following this link.

Live show on Sunday nights at 9pm. Be there or be square :o)

videolocktician on livestream.com. Broadcast Live Free

20 years of marital bliss...

...I was, of course, a child bride...(and several pounds lighter ;o)

[Circa 18 months married]

Seven Myths About Highly-Textured, Natural Hair

Natural Hair - Seven Myths About Highly-Textured, Natural Hair

The Truth about Natural Curly, Coily, Kinky Hair

Let us begin with a few basics about natural, aka Napptural, hair. Natural hair is hair that has not had its physical properties altered by chemical processes, including, but not limited to hair relaxers, texturizers, silkeners and jherri curls. These products alter the natural texture of the hair by breaking down disulfide bonds, which hold together the keratins (proteins) in hair. We won't discuss the ins and outs of permanent chemical processes, rather this article will discuss natural hair and the myths associated with it.

Natural hair comes in many textures. Some natural hair is very tightly coiled; some is more loosely coiled or curled. Some textures have no curl pattern and no definition. Some textures have very visible definition. One head of natural hair alone can have more than one texture. These are all things to consider when talking about natural hair because actual textures vary just as much as the faces that proudly smile beneath it.

MYTH #1: Natural hair is hard to manage. This myth probably really is number one. There is a huge misconception that naturally curly or coily hair is hard to manage. Simply, it is not. What many people do not understand is that highly-textured hair is very unique, even from looser, naturally curly textures. Any type of hair is hard to manage if it is being 'managed' in such a way that works against its natural texture. Those who embrace the natural texture of their hair often wear styles that compliment that texture, and are not trying to force their hair to do something it will not naturally do. Extreme manipulation of the hair is stressful not only to the hair, but also to the person who is doing the manipulation. Not understanding the natural hair texture is one of the main reasons many people return to relaxers.

MYTH #2: Natural hair is rough and tough. Natural hair, contrary to obviously popular belief, is neither rough nor tough. Upon looking at a head of luscious nappturalness, some believe that it is rough to the touch. However, actually touching the hair (which is not recommended without consent) may reveal something entirely different. Most, in fact all, natural hair is very soft if properly moisturized and conditioned. Afrikan hair tends to be dry, but a good moisturizing and conditioning routine will keep the hair moist and soft. Any texture of hair that is denied proper moisture will be dry. Because natural hair is very full and thick, people often assume that it is super strong and tough. This is false. Each and every little bend in the shaft of the hair is a potential breaking point. When handling natural hair, you must be sure to be gentle because it is very delicate. In an Essence magazine article, Rodney Barnett, a trichologist, states, "'Think of your hair as a delicate piece of thread, not as a rope that can be knotted and twisted (30-Day Hair Repair).'"

MYTH #3: Natural hair is trendy. No doubt many people choose to be natural for a myriad of reasons, including to be stylish or trendy. But in no way should anyone believe that the only reason to be natural is to be trendy or hip. For those of us who have made the decision not to conform to European standards of beauty, this natural is far from a trend. Many naturals have made a very conscientious resolution to love who they are entirely. Giving up caustic and carcinogenic relaxers is, surprisingly, not something that is favored amongst the African-American community. Enduring comments of disgust and disapproval are oftentimes an accepted part of being natural, and there is nothing trendy about that.

MYTH #4: Natural hair grows slowly and does not get long. This is one of my favorites because it allows me to explain the wonder of highly-textured hair. Natural hair neither grows more slowly nor more quickly than relaxed hair. What naturals must take into account is what is known as shrinkage. Like a telephone cord, natural hair coils up tightly, more or less, thus increasing the surface area within a given length of hair. For example, six inches of relaxed hair is six inches, period. Six inches of tightly coiled hair could be up to twelve inches long when stretched. Natural hair, because of its density and volume, tends to grow big or out, as opposed to lengthy or down, depending on the actual texture of the hair. It is also a myth that the only way natural hair can be long is by locking the hair or wearing twists. This is very untrue.

MYTH #5: Most naturals wear twists and these twists are unattractive because they show the parts in the scalp. Wrong answer. As with all freshly twisted or braided hair, the parts show the scalp. The beauty and magic of natural hair is that, within a day or even a few hours, the hair swells and gets a little fuzzy, creating a very beautiful and unique style. The only way for relaxed heads to achieve this look is with synthetic kinky twists. Another beautiful thing about twisting or braiding natural hair is that no product is needed. Using relaxed and synthetic hair, the hair must be spritzed with holding spray or burned at the ends to keep it from unraveling. Although companies manufacture loc and twist gels, many nappturals opt out of using any product other than water to twist or braid the hair. The natural coiliness of the hair keeps the hair from completely unraveling, and the style can last for days or even weeks. Twists are only one of many styles that showcase the versatility of napptural hair.

MYTH #6: Natural hair is not accepted in the work place. While there have been instances of discrimination against those who choose to wear their natural hair, there are more examples of women who are working in all kinds of positions with their naturals. There are doctors, teachers, cashiers, social workers, writers, lawyers, artists, etc. who are proudly wearing their hair and bringing home checks. This is a completely bogus reason for thinking natural hair is unacceptable. Discrimination against natural hair is wrong and should not be tolerated.

MYTH #7 Natural hair makes one an exhibit or a spectacle of some sort; your intelligence will be overlooked. False and false. If anything, natural hair entails a sense of self-awareness. Naturals are not societal anomalies. While a person may choose to express herself through her hair, no one should feel that natural hair will make her an exhibit. Any natural would find this belief to be highly offensive, not to mention downright incorrect. Now, why, again, are you still relaxing?

Article URL: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/240771/seven_myths_about_highlytextured_natural.html?page=3

Sisterlocks Up-do Weekend

Back from Spring break in Florida today and haven't blogged in a blue moon so here are some photos from a couple of months ago - went to a luncheon and a formal that weekend...




Mommy-in-law, hubby, me and mommy


Winter weights gotta come off :o)


Niece, mommy-in-law, cousin and me

Getting my re-ty in the morning. Got a 6am start time with Julia...

Sisterlocks Photos: Atlanta Meetup & Booksigning

Dr. Joanne Cornwell, originator of sisterlocks, educating, entertaining and engaging her audience as only she can!

The Atlanta Sisterlocks Meetup and book signing was a wonderful ingathering of sisters, each one of us admirers of sisterlocks whether sisterlocks wearers or contemplatives.

Natural Beauty Salon in Gwinnett County (Duluth) Georgia was a great venue. The parking was ample and the food tasty (and free!)




My consultant, Julia Stewart-Stackhaus' beautiful head of sisterlocks.

Julia is a multi-talented sister. She has a degree in broadcast journalism, she is a sisterlocks consultant extraordinaire, and a professional body builder.

[Stone Mountain: Julia Stewart-Stackhaus (404-718-9371 or 770-987-8928)]




Julia Stewart-Stackhaus' mommy wearing her beautiful silver sisterlocks.

There were brotherlocks wearers who modeled as well.

I sat next to a brother who was marveling at all of the beautiful sisters sporting their sisterlocks and saying, "I'm in the Black mans heaven." :o)

My cousin, Ebony and me by a promo photo of Joanne.

A happy Ebony with Joanne and her signed copy of "That Hair Thing"

Coming to a town near you - Dr. Joanne Cornwell for a "That Hair Thing: The Sisterlocks Approach" book signing event...

Sisterlocks Book Signings!

She’s been EAST and she’s been WEST and now…
Dr. JoAnne Cornwell is waiting to come to your town!!

With wit, insight and humor, Dr. Cornwell will bring her unique prospective on “The Natural Hair Revolution” to your group to sign and discuss her latest book,

That Hair Thing, 2nd Edition!

After successful Book Signings and Panel Discussions in Oakland, CA; Baltimore, MD and Philadelphia, PA, Dr. Cornwell is all set to visit these cities in 2010:

Atlanta, GA - Fri, Sat & Sun, Feb. 19-21;
Dallas, TX - Saturday, Feb. 27;
Teaneck, NJ - Friday, March 5;
“HUE-MAN” Bookstore in Harlem, NY - Sat, Mar. 6;
Brooklyn, NY - Sunday, Mar. 7;
Durham, NC - Saturday, April 10;
San Diego, CA - Friday, April 16;
Chicago, Il - Saturday, April 17;
Detroit/Ann Arbor, MI - Sunday, April 18;
Northern NJ - Sunday, April 25;
DC / VA - Saturday, May 1;
Miami, FL - Saturday, May 15;

To invite Dr. Cornwell for a Meet and Greet – Book Signing event Call Carol at 858-248-6196

That Hair Thing
(and the Sisterlocks Approach)

Read about why our natural hair issues have been such a sensitive issue for African American culture.Contains 50 pages of gorgeous color pictures - including kids, youth and adults of all ages!

Available from your local Sisterlocks Consultant OR

Order directly from the Sisterlocks website: http://www.sisterlocks.com/ OR

By phone at 800-456-5032

_____________________________

From the Sisterlock website. Hoping Sister Jo doesn't mind my clipping this...after all, it's free advertising! ;o)

See y'all at the signing in the ATL this Sunday...for details, follow the links below...

Click here to check out
The Atlanta Sisterlocks Meetup!

...or click the "Atlanta Sisterlocks Meetup" badge in the sidebar

Keeping your sisterlocks permed ends intact

Nicky asked:

How did u keep ur permed ends from breaking off hardcore with the strong loc texture at the top?
______________________________________

DL:

Hi Nicky,

I couldn't keep them from breaking off, but I was able to slow down the process. After all, my ends were permed and therefore, weaker than my natural hair. But I think the following things helped slow the process:

• I didn't wash my hair excessively - Only once or twice between retightenings.
• I NEVER used a curling iron or other heating implements, except for a bonnet dryer.
• I never lifted color out to lighten my hair.
• I continued to bind the permed ends very well and EVERYTIME I shampooed to avoid bunching. [You can loose 1/4 of your ends with one bad episode of bunching!]

But slowly losing the ends is unavoidable. When my hair was wet, you could really tell the difference between the roots and the straggly ends.

The final ten month photo that shows coily, full ends is an due entirely to the 'braid-out' hair style!

Sisterlock Texture Shot Photos: My second Loc' iversary

My how time flies. In two weeks it'll be two years - February 3, 2008.

Our annual MLK weekend ski trip always get me remembering my "installation anticipation."

No slope photos this year. I went out with the guys only on Saturday and my camera batteries died early, but I took a few inside shots.

Texture shots follow...

Gotta acknowledge those seasoned sisterlocks bloggers that inspired me when I was just a "contemplative."

Amba
Maryee
Brunsli
Kalia-Dewdrop
Sophia, Naturally
Blaqkofi

...there are others and I'll grow the list as their names come to me...

On Chris Rock and the movie "Good Hair": The Sisterlocks Response

I was lurking on Mimi's blog, Naturally Rooted, and discovered this video - Dr. Cornwell's response to Chris Rock's "Good Hair."

You'll love the parade of styles at the end of part three of the video - Dr. Cornwell's gift to Chris Rocks daughters.

As Dr. Cornwell says, we don't have 'problem hair', we just don't know it yet...







Peace, love and self-acceptance,
DL

Kwanzaa Decor at My Moms' Place 2009

Kwanzaa Heri Sisters!
(and lurking brothers :o)

Just a few pretty Kwanzaa decorations on my moms fireplace mantle for you to enjoy below.



Kikombe cha Umoja (Unity cup)



Cute circular kinara (candle holder)




Mazao (Crops)




Vibunzi (corn) and the Mkeka (woven mat)





Mom's fireplace Kwanzaa display

And a Kwanzaa decorating segment with Sheila Bridges featuring interior designer, Tangie Murray.

"Sisterlocks on Pipe Cleaners" Photos

My first Pipe cleaner set!

And I didn't like it :o( - Maybe I did something wrong.

Went back to binding, just a bit, since I had a couple sisterlocks come undone after I clipped my ends a few months ago.

I've been using Suave clarifying shampoo and Herbal Essence Drama Clean.

Sisterlocks on pipe cleaners...and the result...

Interesting. Sorta looks like...ummm...let's see...

...Pipe Cleaners!

I don't like it as much as I do when I set my hair on my "spongeless sponge rollers." The ends are flyaway and not coiled as I had expected.

Gonna be goin' back to using my trusty spongeless sponge rollers. My old flexible rod rollers were great for my braid-outs when I had permed ends, but I had to abandon the flexible rod rollers once my sisterlocks grew and thickened and I cut my permed ends off.

Still though, it nice to be "loc'd up and lye-free" :o)