Going Natural with Hair

Are you transitioning from relaxed to natural hair? Do your locs need help? If so, you'll need stylist with specialized knowledge and skills. Traditional hair salons often lack the skills to work with natural hair. Fortunately, salons catering to natural hair are springing up everywhere and Loc'n Twist is Florida's newest. Loc'n Twist's founder, Davis Vaught, compared pricing for natural hair services in the region. He then realized that his community did not have easy access to the grooming services and that service fees were high. By opening Loc'n Twist, Vaught brings grooming that projects pride, dedication and a self-knowledge that opens doors to opportunities to the community. The shop serves men and women with complete barber and hair care services.

There has been a notable amount of conversation on the internet on the rebirth of the natural hair movement. Cherise Luter (2014) states that despite afros and the natural hair movement not being a new concept (i.e. the Black Power Movement), it has gone under what she calls a “refreshing change”. Furthermore, what used to be “I’m black and I’m proud”, has been replaced with “I’m me and I’m proud” (Luter 2016). So, what is the natural hair movement? It is defined as a movement where black women decide to not conform to the social norms of chemically altering their hair and wearing it in its natural, kinky, or curled state (Joignot 2015). The movement could also be considered as an outlet for black women to display their racial and cultural pride or to articulate their “political position (Brown 2014:297). However, simply the terminology “movement” is something that should be shocking to many. There is a great amount of historical context behind the continuous influence Eurocentric beauty ideals have had on black women for centuries. According to Nadia Brown (2014), Black natural hair throughout history has proven to be recognized as “either unintended or intended personal and political statements” (298). the beauty standard in Western society which praises European hair textures, has influenced many black women to be critical of other black women who choose to chemically straighten their hair, accusing them of being subservient to the dominant and pervasive racist

William watched Tabitha climb out of the hot tub. He took in a long, full look at her ass. She stood at the edge of the hot tub, wringing water from her ponytail. Droplets of water trickled down over Tabitha’s chest and stomach. William watched Tabitha’s body steam in the frigid air, the night’s icy fingers tickled her body, tightening her flesh and firming her nipples. She walked around the side of the hot tub and sat down next to William, dipping her feet into the water. William felt the flesh of her thigh rub against his shoulder.

Natural hair on African Americans is not the easiest hair to deal with. One hairstyle that is used as a protective style, and helps you avoid doing your hair for a couple days, is doing individual twists. You first have to saturate your hair with water, oil of your choice (I prefer coconut oil), and a leave-in conditioner. Then, you should horizontally part your hair in the back (work your way up to the front) to prepare to twist. Then you part a small strand vertically and put a curling crème on the strand. Next, you should separate the strand in the middle, and then start twisting the strand. When you twist, you’re putting one strand on top of the other. Then you should repeat the instructions for each strand until you complete your whole

As a senior in highschool, one of my future goals is to become either a doctor or an administrator in health sciences. As long as I can remember, I had a fascination with animal documentaries when Animal Planet was very popular. However, then in high school, I was introduced to the Human Body, and it fascinated more than ever. I want to become a doctor because I have the drive to save other people’s lives.

The bell tolls. I stumble downstairs in a drear. I can’t stand it, I can’t stand this heaviness, this heaviness in the air. I could scream. My feet begin to thud, thudding down the stairs. I shove the front doors open. To hell with the repercussions. I run. I run like I have never run before. I let it all drip away. The fog thickens around me, clouding my vision, tripping me up. It’s the fog of me, the fog I’m releasing. My toes sink in the grass, squelching and sinking. I’m light as air now. It’s like I’m painting, but not painting in my head, I’m painting on canvas. I’m building sculptures. I’m shaping sand.

Hi, Jamie thank you for the response I appreciate your empathy. I too have experienced several hair mistakes. In the past, I went to a hairstylist that was untrained in multicultural hair. I am a woman of color with very fine hair. Assumingly the hairstylist conveyed that my hair type could adapt to a chemical relaxer and or texturizer. Unfortunately, the head hairstylist was mistaken; I experience a chemical burn on my scalp with scabs all over my head. Next, my hair turned a red shade and then fell out. Sadly to it took me over a year restore my hair. Over the years I experience several inexperience hairstylists. So it is rare to find a quality professional stylist. When this occurred, I never spoke to the hairstylist to convey my disappointment.

After many years of progress, the popular culture has begun to appreciate Black people as much as Black people love themselves. The western world is beginning to recover from many years of racial discrimination. Fashion trends usually associated with minority groups have gone from being shunned in popular culture to embraced. Previously, minorities would be forced to conform their image to look more standard, and within recent times, the standard has changed to encompass more people. A prime example of this is the acceptance of natural hair.

The smell of fresh herbs filled the air around her as the sun shone down on her back, a sense of tranquility fell upon her in the lush, backyard garden. A soft tune could be heard from inside the house where the radio played. Tante Lou hummed along to the music while she snipped off sprigs of parsley to use in the meal she is preparing for her nephew, Grant, and his guest. Today was a special day. It’s the first time Tante Lou is meeting her nephew’s girlfriend, Vivian, and she wants to make a wonderful dinner for them all to enjoy while getting to know each other.

I have been counting the days ever since I heard the lousy news. I am ecstatic for her because it was her day to shine! (if she was dreading it then why is she happy) DING!! Blasted the bell above the door of the salon. The noise rang in me as we walked towards the woman behind the desk in the salon. “ Welcome!!” she exclaimed. “ Savannah will help you!” Hannah (and I) turned to see a tall, young, copper-haired women. The woman took said hi and took Hannah’s hand and lead her and her mom to the last chair on the left side of the small tattered house. Hannah sat in the chair and pulled me up and into a black, marble bowl behind the chair. She turned the tap on the bowl and the water blasted out of the nozzle I was soaked in the water- it was starting to burn. I could barely make out the woman pouring a sappy, white liquid into her hand. She rubbed the liquid on me. It cleaned me rubbing the oils and dirt off me while the water washed it in the sink and down the drain. Finally, it was all gone but she was pouring some more liquid into her hand. Here we go again. I thought. But it wasn't the first white, sappy liquid it was actually thriving and making me feel like I could do anything!!! It felt soo good and it was refreshing. I’ve never felt so good in my life! Finally, the woman pulled me out of the hot burning water and put a black towel over me blinding me from my

“So I’ve been told.” “It’s as shame you weren’t here for his final days..it all came on so

Many people have compared natural hair and relaxed as both being healthy. I strongly agree that natural hair is healthy for various reasons. I agreed to that because you not using the chemicals that you use for relaxed hair. For natural hair all you need is water, wild growth and moisturizer. Relaxed hair make your hair look very thin also you using perms which has chemicals that's not healthy for your hair. Some women think relaxed hair is better than natural. Why is that ? It’s because they think when your hair natural it’s very unlikeable. Natural hair has all the components to grow healthy, long, and thick hair.

One of the terms that stood out to me was enculturation or the process of connecting back to your culture of origin. It captured my attention because I have found that over the past few years, I have begun to embrace aspects of my culture that I did not in the past. For example, within the African American community there has been a “natural hair movement” amongst women, this means that I, along with many others, have decided to no longer straighten my hair with chemicals. Although, some may see this as not a huge issue, it is the exact opposite. There have been many girls and women who have been ridiculed because of the texture of their hair and I know from personal experience the impact this treatment can have on the self-esteem of young

As the season changes from the warmer humid weather to colder weather, women with natural kinky, coily hair become concerned about retaining moisture in their hair. Due to the lack of moisture in the atmosphere and the colder temperatures, retaining moisture can be challenging. Many naturals turn to “Protective Styling”. This involves styling the hair in such a way that prevents damage from everyday elements. Protective styles are ones that don’t consist of the hair being worn loose. Hair worn in protective styles requires that the ends, the oldest and most fragile part be tucked away and sealed with some kind of moisturizer.

Nowadays, not only women but men too are willing to pay any amount of money for finding out the secret behind healthy hair.