Still Learning to Embrace Our Beauty

Just being silly.

My nieces and my husband. Just being silly, yet again.

BOTH OF my nieces are ALL natural now.  Woohoo!

T

Passion

& Me.

P.S. We're all still loving it and learning to embrace our beauty.

My niece T, just decided she wanted to be natural.  She opposed it for so long.  I actually didn't want to cut her hair beause I didn't think she was ready for this journey.  But I did, against my better judgment.  I'm still not sure I made the right decision; however, I am certain that hair grows back.  And if I can teach her now to learn to see her beauty, first within, then on the outside, then I'm glad I started now. 

As followers of God, we believe that God looks at the heart.  Therefore, the heart is where true beauty should be.  It doesn't matter how wonderful and nice you look on the outside if you are not beautiful within.  God doesn't care how much good we do if our motives are selfish.  And that, from the inside out is what my husband and I are trying to teach our nieces.  And they are learning, slowly, but surely.

But we do not ignore the media and how women, even younger girls, are protrayed in our society today.  Everyone is thin and beautiful.  Girls, even black girls, have long, straight hair (often times with the help of extensions, for both whites and non-whites).  So when my niece returned home to Chicago, after "going natural" she was made fun of.  She was told her hair was "jacked up" and that she was "balded head" and had "nappy" hair.  I asked her how these things made her feel.  She said she didn't care.  That made me proud.  It also made me sad that for many women our beauty lies within our looks, not within that which is in our hearts.  It made me sad that a young, African American girl would even be made fun of for wanting to get rid of the chemicals that damaged her hair.  That an afro could strip her of her "beauty".  Come on America, it's time for a reality check!  Beauty fades, hair falls out, and that's why I believe that God is real and the Bible is true: "Man looks on the outside, but God looks on the inside."  In the end, what is inside is what matters most of all.  And maybe if we all believed this, we'd all be a lot happier, less shallow, and could save tons and tons of money on make-up and botox!

FroHawk!

 

Here's a quick style I have done on my nieces!

This is my first attempt on my own head, which you'll  be able to tell with my crooked parts.

I don't braid my own hair because it's far too frustrating.

First, I divide the hair into 3 parts.

I will have braids come up the sides, meeting at the middle where I live some hair out

(hair that is to be twiseted later).

Each side of my head has 9, unfortunately, crooked braids.

               Right Side!                                                                      Left Side!

Once I am done, I'll have a bunch of hair collected in the middle.

Here ae some better shots.

Finally, the coils (blog to come).

I take a small amont of gel and wet my hair.

I then take my pointer finger and begin to rub the hair around my finger until it coils up.

The result:

I know, terrible parting job.  But I just couldn't see and my arms are so short.

Practice makes better.  It can only get better from here, right?!  I sure hope so.

The back.

Quick, Easy AFRO Hairstyles!!!!!! 2 Strand Twist and Twist Out!

This is my BIG o' forehead and my MINI afro!

This is the product I will be using: Olive Styling Gel by IC.

Cost: $4.00-$5.00 (with taxes)

I begin by taking a fair share (1 tablespoon) of gel in my hand.

I pick up my hair, based on how big and thick I want my twists to be.

I put my tablespoon of gel on my selected hair.             And I begin to twist the 2 halves together, into one!

Back view of what the twists look like!

I'm not balding. First day (until the twist out) there will be spots in your hair, unless you comb it out (at the root, as not to undo all of the curl).

Side View!

Big O' Forehead again!  Can't seem to cover it up.

Day II-Twist out

(I unravel each of the 2 strand twists)

Side Shot of Twist Out!

Notice I can continue to split twists apart to get even smaller, fuller curls.

Front Shot of Twists Out!!!!!!!

Braiding and Beading!

Here's a quick how to "Braid and Bead" with tons of pictures for you to follow! 

Braiding and beading are great for little girls (and if you pick the right beads, boys too).  My niece can keep a style like this in her hair for up to 1 and a half months.  We are currently on week 2 and going strong!

Materials Needed: Beads, Beader, Rubber bands, Time, and

Patience (an extra dose if this is your first time!)

Front Finished

Back Finished

Side View

Step 1: Parting

Directions: Part hair in the direction you want to braids and beads to lay.  I parted her hair down the middle both vertically and horizontally (towards the back of her head).  Then, I decided I wanted 8 braids going across the front (4 on the right, 4 on the left).  The rest, I pinned back until I was finished with the front.


Step 2: Braiding

Directions: Remember braiding your dolls hair or braclets?  Well, cornrowing is the same concept, EXCEPT, the object is to attach the braids to the scalp so that it sticks to the head.  First, part your row based on how big or small you want your braid.  The more hair the bigger the braid.  Then, pick up 3 strands of hair from that row (all aligned).  Begin criss crossing them over one another.  BUT, when you cross them over to the middle, PICK UP more hair from the head and

                                                       continue braiding and crossing.

She is really just faking! Getting her hair done is such

an ordeal. NOW, that she knows she has a camera

in her face, she's milking it for all it's worth.

Braiding can be painful, but you'll get to know your child's

temperment quickly (what their scalp can and can't withstand!).

  This is the braid at the very end.  See the size

  of the row?  I wanted a smaller braid so I part

 the row smaller.

Step 3: Beading:

 Directions: Once your braids are all in or one is completed or a row (however you decide) you can add the beads.  In my hand are beads (which can be mixed and match creatively!).  Today we're just using white.  With her, we usually go with pink because she LOVES PINK (as you can see by her shirt).  I'm also holding a beader (the long thing with the loop on the end).  I'll attach my beads to this. 

 PART 1: Add beads to top of loop (pointed edge).  They will just slide down.

PART 2: Place end of finished braid through the loop.

PART 3: Push the beads up toward the very top of the braid (the scalp). As you are pushing up the beads, pull back the beader, slowly. The beads will then attach themselves to the hair.  Pull beader completely back and get a rubber band.  On African American hair, black rubber bands are the best to use because they blend in with the hair.   PART 4: Take last bead on braid and put a small gap in between that bead and the rest of the beads.  Fold the remainder of the hair over the last bead. Take a rubber band and begin to warp the rubber band around the folded hair and last bead.  This will secure the beads and keep the ones on top from falling off.  When the rubber band can no longer wrap, push the tops beads down (carefully) so that they cover the rubber band and touch the last bead.

Step 4: Finishing:

Directions: Continue to braid and bead throughout, deciding on what style you want. You can use a few or as many beads as you'd like. Aim for symmetry! What you do to one side, do to the other. It'll look better in the end.

"That's All Folks!"

Time: 1.5-2 hours (longer for first timers)

Length Style Should Remain: 1.5 -2 months

Cost: Free (all materials on hand)

*If you do not have the materials, beads cost $3.00-$5.00 pack, beaders cost $2.00, and rubber bands cost $.99-$3.00

Freedom!!!!!!!!!

Crazy, Wild, and BEAUTIFUL!

It doesn't have to be contained!  That's right!  STOP trying to make sense out of natural, African American hair.  STOP trying to make it go straight or lay flat.  It can be wild and crazy and fun and beautiful.  Yes, beautiful! This is just a quick style because she wanted something "fun".

My favorite way to describe the beauty and versatility of African American hair is through this video:

Hair Chronicles of Little Black Girls: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQuJMhAzz1o

It's 4:35 but it's worth every minute. It celebrates the history of African American culture and hair and some of the possibilities for young girls.  It teaches young girls to love their natural hair and celebrate their heritage.

It might even give you some ideas!

Inspiration:

Celebrate!

 

Take Pride!

 

THINK: Beauty!

Imagine&Create!

To natural, beautiful, YOU!