A Look Back at Natural Hair in 2012.

2012 was the year of the kinky, curly, coily tresses. The media was buzzing with curly news, celebrities embraced the transitioning movement and several books were written to help women conquer their curls. Here are a few noteworthy natural hair events of 2012....

In December 2012, just when we thought, we had seen and heard it all when it comes to natural hair....Rhonda Lee a meteorologist for an ABC affiliate station was fired after responding to comments about her natural hair. (Meteorologist Rhonda Lee Fired from ABC Affiliate For Natural Hair Comments. )

Even though Solange claims not to give a "damn" about her natural hair or team natural, no matter where she goes her hair gets attention. In November 2012, TSA got a little touchy-feely with Solange's natural hair while she was on a trip in Miami, FL. The question still remains, "What did TSA find in Solange's hair?"

In October 2012, Nicki Minaj aka Barbie, hung up the pink, purple, blonde and every other color wig and gave us a glimpse of her natural hair via twitter.

In the September 2012 issue of O Magazine, Oprah revealed her natural tresses and it became a heated debate on our blog and facebook page when I posted a throwback photo of Oprah's hair in the 80's. (Wait Did Oprah Get A Texturizer?)

Hampton University did the unthinkable and bans dreadlocks and conrows for some of it's business school students in August 2012. (Read More Here). 

The Coiffure Project- May 2012. Glen Nunez, the founder of TYP Photography Studio, released a collection of portraits celebrating the beauty of black women and their magnificent natural hair. (See more photos here.)

Who could forget Viola Davis in that stunning emerald green gown and her beautiful TWA. Viola Davis, star of "The Help", was the talk of the 2012 Oscars and even Joan Rivers of the Fashion Police did not have a bad word to say about the actress's new look. (Viola Davis at the Oscars in February 2012)

What does 2013 have in store for the natural hair community......

 Curly Nikki's Book "Better Than Good Hair". 

The Release of Kurlee Belle Natural Hair Care Products!!!!! YAY!

Are you looking forward to the natural hair movement in 2013? 

Happy New Year! 

curly close up

for more pics. follow us on IG: Kurleebelle

It's The End of the World! How Are You Wearing Your Hair?

According to the Mayan calendar, today December 21, 2012 is the end of the world. Since, the Mayans were a little off base and we are all here alive and well. The planet earth is still spinning around and around......the more important question is "How are you wearing your hair?" 

Introducing: Kurlee Belle Natural Hair Care Products!

Michelle Obama Doll....

Would you buy this doll for yourself or your daughter? To me it looks more like Olivia Pope a.ka. Kerry Washington than FLOTUS. 

Meteorologist Rhonda Lee Fired from ABC Affiliate For Natural Hair Comments

The beautiful Rhonda Lee a meteorologist at an ABC Affiliate in Shreveport, La was allegedly fired after responding to derogatory comments from a viewer about her natural hair. Here are the comments that led to Rhonda's dismissal: 

On Oct. 1, a viewer identified as Emmitt Vascocu wrote, “the black lady that does the news is a very nice lady.the only thing is she needs to wear a wig or grow some more hair. im not sure if she is a cancer patient. but still its not something myself that i think looks good on tv. what about letting someone a male have waist long hair do the news.what about that (cq).”

Rhonda’s response –   “Hello Emmitt–I am the ‘black lady’ to which you are referring. I’m sorry you don’t like my ethnic hair. And no I don’t have cancer. I’m a non-smoking, 5’3, 121 lbs, 25 mile a week running, 37.5 year old woman, and I’m in perfectly healthy physical condition.

I am very proud of my African-American ancestry which includes my hair. For your edification: traditionally our hair doesn’t grow downward. It grows upward. Many Black women use strong straightening agents in order to achieve a more European grade of hair and that is their choice. However in my case I don’t find it necessary. I’m very proud of who I am and the standard of beauty I display. Women come in all shapes, sizes, nationalities, and levels of beauty. Showing little girls that being comfortable in the skin and HAIR God gave me is my contribution to society. Little girls (and boys for that matter) need to see that what you look like isn’t a reason to not achieve their goals.

“Conforming to one standard isn’t what being American is about and I hope you can embrace that.

“Thank you for your comment and have a great weekend and thank for watching.

What are your thoughts on the matter? Do you think Rhonda should have publicly addressed the viewer? What do you think about the viewer's comments?

Honey Be Natural Magazine Feature!

We are honored to be featured in "Honey Be Natural Magazine"! 

Here is a little info on HoneyB! 

Honey Be Natural Magazine is an on-line publication that covers news, events, and people a part of the natural world. Whether hair, fashion, beauty, food, or health, HoneyB will provide you with news you can use. We will also familiarize you with businesses, naturalistas, and products by featuring them in our publication. HoneyB intends on becoming a resource for you to find NEWS, coverage, info, advice, and the inspiration you may need to stay the TRUE natural beauty that you are! We're using a magazine-styled format to shed color and bring life to our Natural world! We can only hope that you journey with us!

Check out Honey Be Natural Magazine Online, click here. 

On Facebook, click here. 

The Bag Lady

At work, they call me the bag lady because I have too much stuff. The sad part is I truly need all of my crap to get through the day.

A typical bag day:

• Lunch bag usually a grocery store plastic bag (I know it's ghetto)- contains my breakfast usually a banana and apple with a Tazo Tea bag. Lunch- leftovers from the night before. 
• Handbag- all personal items including wallet, cell phone, lip gloss, vitamins, mirror, receipts, pens and whatever else I feel is necessary to carry around all day. 
• Computer bag- Macbook Pro, portable keyboard, work journal, note pad and assorted pens.
• Victoria Secret gym bag- sports bra, t-shirt, work out pants and sneakers. 

All of the above items are necessary on a daily basis but I need to cut off some of the baggage because my back is starting to hurt. I have been shopping around for the perfect bag that would allow me to consolidate some of my items. Since it does not make sense to consolidate my lunch bag or gym bag, I am looking for the perfect handbag that can hold my laptop and personal items.

I am down to these two fabulous picks. Tell me which one you prefer! I need your HELP! 

Aldo Tilt Handbag! 

Michael Kors Jet Set MacBook Pro Travel Bag

How To Tell If You Are High Maintenance

Usually, high maintenance women get a bad reputation. We have been called stuck up, uptight, crazy, opinionated and most men are intimidated by us. Why is that? It is mainly because we know what we want and will not stop until we get it.

My girlfriend and I was having a discussion about "High Maintenance vs. Down To Earth Women". Her theory was that, one could not be down to earth and high maintenance. My rebuttal was that they are not one in the same. I consider myself to be very high maintenance and down to earth. We went through the below exercise and turns out you can be high maintenance and down to earth:

You know the old saying, 'Birds of a feather flock together."? This is true of high maintenance women.

Do the majority of your friends care about their appearance? Do you have special days set aside when you get manicures, pedicures or hit the salon? When Drake came out with "Fancy" was that your national anthem? Nails done, hair done, everything did?

If you have answered yes to one or all of the above questions then you my dear are high maintenance!

• High maintenance women love to look good. They take pride in what they wear and it's not just to be noticed. It is because they genuinely want to look good for themselves. Many women like to dress nice to attract men and when they get a man, they let themselves go. A high maintenance women dresses up for herself. Just because she has a man does not mean that taking care of herself goes out the window. She looks and dresses nice because it is apart of who she is. It is ingrained in her DNA. 
• She is not afraid to express her true feelings or tell it like it is. If something is bothering her, she lets you know. High maintenance women tend to have a high self esteem and look for perfection. If there is a problem, she will either try to fix it or scream it from the hills. 
• All of her girlfriends have very similar attributes. They are either smart, sexy or dress to kill. When you get them all together, they are a force to be reckoned with. Think the ladies from Girlfriends or Sex and The City.  
• As in her appearance, she is very serious about her goals and career. She does not drop everything she is doing for a man or anyone. She understands her true worth and any guy that wants or deserves her will understand the same or can wait! 
• Her standards are high, when it comes to relationships and friendships. She knows what she wants in a man and never settles for the first guy that says "I love you" or "Hello". With a truly high maintenance women, the guy has to work to gain her love and trust...and he is never 100% sure because she runs a tight ship. Friends are high on the priority list and loyalty is the main criteria. She has no time for nonsense or drama since she is mostly focus on achieving her goals. The first sign of "You said and I said" or arguments...you can expect her to call you less or be missing in action.
• She may seem aloof, cold or made of stone but this is not her intention. She is really down to earth and friendly (once you get to know her). She does not give affection and praise to just anyone. When she gives a compliment, you know it's genuine! She is the friend that you can always run to when you want her honest opinion. 

Of course, not all high maintenance women meet the above criteria to a T (tee)...but they come close.

Here are some shows of high maintenance women that I love! 

So tell me....Are you high maintenance? 

The Boyfriend vs. The Bonnet: Sh%t Natural Hair Boyfriends say!

Ladies I need you to back me up on this one! Watch the below video and let me know if you have the same problem!

We are thankful for you!

Braided Updo: Protective Style

Today, marks the beginning of The Good Hair Blog Protective Style Challenge. TGHBPSC is all about protecting and growing HEALTHY HAIR. I usually wear my hair in mini twists but because I have fine hair, twists only last a week. I wanted to find a style that was low maintenance, cute and conservative so I opted for a braided updo. The back of my hair is braided in a swoop direction from right to left and the middle are two strand twists that are pinned down. Although this is a protective style, I can loosen the two strand twists for a wilder style as the style gets older. To keep my hair fresh and moisturized, I will spray it lightly with a concoction I made....and I mean spray lightly (one or two pumps and that is it!). My concoction consists of a half cup of conditioner, a tablespoon of olive oil and majority water. At night, I tie a silk scarf around my head to protect the braids in the back (the bow of the scarf is in the front near forehead.) I then place my satin bonnet on to make sure that my entire head is protected. I plan to keep this style in for two to three weeks. 

For more photos follow me on IG: @terrinique 

Do you like my new look? What is your go to protective style and tips?

GIVEAWAY: Love & Support Bracelets By Kurlee Belle

Hello Kurlees! It has been awhile since our last giveaway! This post is two-fold, we are introducing our new line of bracelets and doing a giveaway! 

The Story

Kurlee Belle's colors are Hot Pink and Teal. Initially when the bracelets were designed, our team wanted colors that represented love, hope, peace, joy, kindness, trust and support. Our brand is not  about making money but about helping others. 

We have designed the Love & Support bracelets as a way to give back to our friends all over the world that need our help. When you purchase one of our bracelets, a portion of your purchase will go to charities that supports people in need. 

-Pink is the color of pure love. 

-Turquoise is the color of the ocean and symbolizes peace. 

-Silver is the color of security. 

-Black is the color of our heritage. 

How To Enter the Giveaway:

Three easy rules.

1. Follow KurleeBelle on Instagram @kurleebelle and send us a message with the following hashtag: #Loveandsupportbracelet

2. Join our blog by clicking "Join This Site" on the right hand side of the blog. 

3. Comment below by leaving your email address and twitter name below. 

Giveaway Begins: November 15th, 2012

Giveaway Ends: November 30th, 2012

What's The Problem With My Hair During Cold Months?

Photo Source


My hair just does not look the same, I don't know what is wrong with it. My twist outs, braid outs and wash n go's are not as defined as they used to be. What's the problem? 

As the seasons transition from summer to fall to winter to spring, so do the needs of our hair. If you have been natural for awhile then you may have noticed that your hair care regimen needs to change with the season. For instance, protein heavy products may have been used during the summer months because of the humidity but those same products tend to dry out your hair during the fall or winter months. Here are some helpful tips to help with your hair's transition from warm to cooler temperatures. 

Daily Condition & Moisture

If you live in a cooler climate, the cold months can wreak havoc on your hair. One minute you are in the blazing snow, the next your sitting by the fireplace with the heat on blast. The change in temperature from cold to hot and hot to cold can dry out the hair. To avoid damaging your tresses, frequent conditioning is a must. Curly hair is porous so conditioners fill in the gaps of the cuticle to lock in moisture. A good hair care routine during this time, would be to incorporate daily conditioning or moisturizing. 

In my spray bottle, I mix one half of my favorite conditioner, one half H20 and a couple spoons of olive oil or coconut oil. This mixture gives me the right amount of moisture and conditioning to fight the dry air. I usually style my hair each night by re-twisting it, before I re-twist, I spray about two pumps of my mixture onto my hands and rub in a downward motion through the hair (This step is repeated for each section). 

Deep Treatments

We all know we should do it but avoid this crucial step. I love meeting new naturals. One of the reasons is I get to talk "Hair Care Regimen" and almost always the new natural that I've met says "I know I should do a deep treatment once a week but I don't". Deep Treatments are a crucial step in the hair care process and to grow, long, healthy, shiny hair. This step should be followed no matter what season it is. Depending on the needs of your hair, you may need a protein treatment, oil treatment or cream based treatment. I prefer to alternate between the three during the cool months. To help make your decision easier, check out my post---->Deep Treatments & Oil Treatments

Sealants

You've conditioned your hair with a wash out conditioner then applied a leave in conditioner. It is now time to seal those curls and lock in the moisture. Everyone's hair is different so an oil that works best for me, may not work for you. Some oils that have been proven to work better during the cooler months are jojoba, rosemary and lavender. These oils are easily absorbed and help keep your hair and scalp in good condition. Check out my post on how to make rosemary oil at home---> Rosemary Oil: Hair Growth in a Bottle. 

Stylers

You've searched long and hard all summer for the perfect styling creme. It's fall now and that perfect creme forms less than perfect curls. Although, it may seem very discouraging right now, it is time to bring out your inner product junkie and the good news is most products go on sale during the holidays!!!! If you like using gels to form your curls, opt for a non alcoholic based gel during the chilly season. Avoiding humectants is a good idea too! Humectants draw in moisture from the air and cause your curls to swell and get bent out of shape. Ingredients like honey, glycerin, panthenol, hydrolyzed wheat protein and propylene glycol are common humectants and may be the reason why your summer styling products are not working in the fall/winter. Also, since you are using more product during the winter, it is important that the hair is cleansed properly to avoid build up. I am not a fan of co-washing. If I am going to wash my hair, the product must have a cleanser in it. Properly washing your hair helps the styling gel or creme to work better because the product does not have to fight through a ton of dirt and grime to form beautiful curls. 

Accessorize

Cooler months are a great time to wear woven hats, beanies and fedoras. These options are not only stylish and can add the extra oomph to your outfit but protect your hair from the harsh winds of the cold. Not to mention that it will keep your head a little warm...I don't know about you but I do not like it when my ears are cold :). 

Want to add to the list? Please leave your comment below. 

Fashion & The Work Place

Fashion is a popular trend, prevailing custom or style of dress. Work is defined as employment, as in some form of industry, especially as a means of earning one's livelihood. When the two are merged, it maybe unclear as to what is fashionable for the work place. Therefore, many organizations have produced employee handbooks with a lengthy section dedicated to "The Dress Code". If you work for a corporation, I am sure you have seen, heard or been reprimanded in reference to "The Dress Code".

As of recently with the plethora of blogs and YouTube channels, it seems as though everyone is a fashion expert. Do not get me wrong, I love the arts, self expression and everything pretty but when it comes to fashion I have tunnel vision. My style is classic with solids, prints and leather. Style icons that I look up to are Michelle Obama, Victoria Beckham, Audrey Hepburn and Coco Chanel. Give me a black pencil dress, simple jewellery, killer pumps and a chic clutch and I am ready to take on the world. 

Let me just say, I am not a Fashion expert or guru but here are some guidelines when it comes to the work environment. 

Sequins, Spandex and Transparent Clothing

If it is shiny or glow in the dark then you probably should not wear it to work. Ladies, there is no such thing as a transferable piece when it comes to the club versus the work place. If you can wear it to the club you cannot/should not wear it to work. Tight or ill fitting clothing or any piece of clothing where others can see your stomach or lace bra its a no. 

Clothing that shows your religious or political beliefs

Freedom of speech is a wonderful thing but when someone else is cutting your check you should keep your religious and political beliefs to yourself. I am not against religion or supporting your political party but they have no place in the workplace. These are touchy subjects and can cause you to lose your job. 

Social Media

I know you are thinking social  media...that is not fashion but it is. Social media is a popular trend in which many use to express themselves. Adding coworkers to your social media pages can do more harm than good. In work environment's where team building and "making friends" is encouraged, it may seem normal to add your coworkers on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram but ask anyone who has been fired because of their indiscretion on social media outlets...This is not a good idea. My advice is to block your coworkers from your pages. Not DELETE them because this can work against you too. Either block them or open up another account under an alias and do not add coworkers to your personal social media accounts. 

Designer Shoes, Handbags and Jewellery

Louboutins, Cartier and Gucci are nice to have but anything in excess is trashy. Heard the saying "Less is More", this is the same with designer items. Yes you have a nice bracelet, necklace, earrings, handbags and shoes but you don't have to wear every designer piece you own "AT THE SAME DAMN TIME". :) 

Hair

Work appropriate hair depends on your industry. Once your hair is well kept, I think that is all that matters. Of course, if you work for a conservative company then you should stay away from unnatural bold colours and any hairstyle that would be seen as an attention getter.

What would you add to the list? 

Crazy Black Hair Superstitions

Black hair superstitions from the book "Hair Story, Untangling The Roots of Black Hair In America" by Ayana D. Byrd & Lori L....

1. Always burn the hair in your brush or someone could use it to put a hex on you.

2. Never comb, brush, or cut your hair outside because if a bird comes and collects a stray lock for its nest you will:
 a. Feel it pecking at your head
 b. Get headaches
 c. Lose your mind
 d. Suffer the same fate as the bird's babies

3. Always wear your hair covered when menstruating

4. If you allow more than one person to work on your hair at a time:
 a. Your hair will fall out
 b. The youngest worker/helper will die

5. Don't let a pregnant woman do your hair or you'll become pregnant too

6. After someone finishes working on your hair, it's bad luck to say thank you. Instead say "More hair."

7. Never cut a boy child's hair before age one or:
 a. It won't grow
 b. It will be kinky and nappy
 c. It will make the child weak

8. After you cut your hair, if you place a lock in the Bible it will grow back faster

9. It's bad luck for a woman to cut a man's hair, especially if she's menstruating

10. If you want your hair to grow back, only cut it when there is a full moon

11. If you get gray hair when you're young, it means you were a good baby

12. If you get gray hair when you're young, it means you will have a lot of money when you are old

Any you want to add to the list? 

Dry Detangling Curly Hair

The above photo is an example of what NOT to do when detangling your precious strands. 

Detangling hair is one of the most important processes to healthy hair and retaining length because many strands are broken or damaged during this process. Before I proceed, I must warn you, "Never Detangle Your Hair If You Are In A Rush." You will always do more damage than good if you rush through the detangling process. Bring your patience.

Some causes of hair damage during the detangling process are:

• Stripping of the cuticle layer by use of detangling brushes and combs.
• Shed hair that wraps around other strands creating tangles.
• Knots formed by styling and frizzy hair.
• Detangling hair from root to tip instead of tip to root. 

The best way to retain hair/length and limit damage is to first finger detangle the hair when it is dry. Hair is less vulnerable when dry and tangles can be easily seen and manipulated.

Why?

Hair is weakest when wet, this is because water breaks down the natural hydrogen bonds in the hair. Hydrogen bonds link the keratin chains of each strand. When hair dries the hydrogen bonds are restored (Hair is the strongest when the hydrogen bonds are linked or when the hair is dry). This explains why reshaping styles like roller sets, twists outs or spiral curls are most effective when the hair is styled while wet. When the bonds break as a result of water, the shape of hair changes, as the hair dries new hydrogen bonds are formed and the hair is reshaped.

Since hair is strongest when dry. Finger detangling the hair while it is dry is important because it not only allows you to easily see tangles and knots but your hair is less likely to break during this process. Finger detangling hair when dry will save more time and strands during the wet detangling process because the hair is mostly detangled. NOTE: This is a win win situation because hair is weakest when wet so the less manipulation the better. 

Crazy fact: Even though hair feels dry to the touch it is never completely dry because hair is hygroscopic. Meaning it attracts water from the atmosphere. Ever wonder why your hair frizzes when it is humid? This is why. 


To learn more about Finger Detangling wet hair and techniques, click (Finger Detangling Curly Hair).

Kurlee Girls That Rock: Tessa aka I Love Lucy!

Nappturalite Radio & Kurlee Belle: Getting Gorgeous with Greens

Hey Kurlees! Tune in to Nappturalite Radio this Thursday (October 25th, 2012) at 7PM EST. I will be co-hosting the show with Dawn Yerger! 

The Topic: "Getting Gorgeous with Greens"

Click on any of the below links to TUNE IN and Listen to past recorded shows: 

www.nappturaliteradio.com 

www.naturalhairradio.com 

www.blogtalkradio.com/nappturalite

Finger Detangling Curly Hair

I experience 80% less shed hair when I finger detangle. FACT! 

Tools:

A Good Wash Out Conditioner

Fingers

Spray Bottle 

PATIENCE

Time

Tips:

Moisturizing Shampoo's make finger detangling easy because it softens and makes the hair more manageable. 

Adding coconut oil or olive oil to dry hair the night before can aid in the detangling process. These oils provide lots of slip and make the hair soft. 

Part hair into small sections. The smaller the section the easier it is to detangle hair. 

Always use a wash out conditioner. Do not be afraid to pile on the conditioner! The more the better. 

Apply conditioner and let stand for at least 5 minutes then start detangling. Allowing the conditioner to stand gives the hair time to soften and become more manageable. 

Detangle hair from tip to root. Hold hair mid way between tip and root while detangling. Move hand closer to scalp as you detangle ends. Try to refrain from detangling from root to tip. I know this is a bad habit we picked up when our hair was relaxed but this is a no no with naturally curly hair. Always detangle hair in a downward to upward motion. Think the strings of an accordion.

After rinsing out wash out conditioner, apply leave in conditioner for further manageability. 

Knots are somewhat inevitably with curly hair. If you encounter a knot do not yank it out. I know it's very tempting to just tear it. DON'T. Gently pull out the strands that are in the knot until it is free. You need a lot of patience for this process, so do not wash or detangle your hair when you are pressed for time. 

Keeping your hair stretched in between wash days  this will help with the detangling process. Styles that stretch the hair: twists and braids. 

If you can hear your hair tearing then it means the hair is not wet enough and you are not using enough conditioner. Be sure to pile on the conditioner because you will rinse it away. 

The only way to retain length is to maintain your ends. Finger detangling helps reduce the amount of breakage and damage to your strands in essence helping you to retain length. 

Want to add to the list? Please leave a comment below. 

Michelle Obama Looking Stunning at Presidential Debate

In case you missed the Presidential Debate last night, we wanted to share these fabulous photos of FLOTUS! As I watched twitter blow up with comments about the President and Mitt Romney, I could not help but notice the comments on Michelle Obama's hair.

Here are some Tweets from my Twitter Line: 

Did Michelle NOT KILL IT Last Night?

Be You. Be Natural.

Follow Us on IG: KurleeBelle & Terrinique

Solange Knowles Dressed By African Designers on the Cover of Elle SA

Solange's wardrobe is as colourful as her personality. The stylish singer graces the cover of Elle South Africa in African mix and match prints. Printed top by Tart and shorts by South African designer Loin Cloth. We know that Solange loves colours and patterns. Check out her Brooklyn home featured in an earlier edition of Elle (Brooklyn's Finest: A Look Inside the Home of Solange Knowles).

Do you like Solange's Look? I think it's Cool. 

Naturally Curly: Curly Hair Growth Chart

The above chart is courtesy of NaturallyCurly.com. 

Have you been following the 5 Tips on the left?

Home Hair Recipes: Egg & Mayo Deep Treatment

Looks and feels like pancake batter! Mainly because I went light on the mayo and did not remove the egg whites. 

Ingredients:

2 Eggs

1/2 Cup of Mayo

2 tsp Coconut Oil

2 tsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1 splash of Pure Vanilla Extract

How I mixed this concoction: 

1. Heated Mayo in microwave for 20 seconds. Reason: The fats and oils in mayonnaise will penetrate the hair strands better when warmed. 
2. Added eggs (for a thicker mixture just include egg yolk. I included the egg whites in my mixture-this made it pancake batter like in consistency.) 
3. Then added coconut oil, olive oil and pure vanilla. 
4. Mixed well. 
5. Applied mixture to dry hair from root to tip. 
6. Covered with plastic cap. 
7. Sat under a hooded dryer for 20 minutes. Then wrapped with towel.
8. Left the towel on for another 20 minutes to seal in the heat.  
9. Rinsed mixture out with cool water to retain the oil and moisture then shampooed with Kurlee Belle Almond and Shea Butter Moisturizing Shampoo. 
10. Sectioned hair into 7 sections using Aussie Moist Conditioner. 3 in front, 2 in middle and 2 in back. Detangled hair with fingers and braided each section. After letting the conditioner stand for 10 minutes I rinsed it out without separating the sections. 
11. Applied Kurlee Belle Thirsty Curls Leave-In Conditioner and sealed hair with Coconut Oil. 
12. Applied Kurlee Belle Kurl Defining Creme and braided hair into smaller sections (about 14 braids). 
13. Let hair air dry. 

*Remember always use a wash out conditioner and leave-in conditioner. This reduces tangles and knots. 

Eggs are packed with protein. Great for rebuilding strands and nourishing the scalp. 

Mayo is rich in natural oils that coat each strand and fill the gaps of roughed up cuticle to repair each strand.

Coconut Oil also fills the gaps of roughed up cuticles and gives more body to hair. It seals in moisture, prevents protein loss from hair, nourishes scalp and prevents dandruff. 

Extra Virgin Olive Oil is strong enough to penetrate the cortex of the hair shaft and is a great antioxidant that contains vitamin E and vitamin A.

Pure Vanilla Extract was used to give the mixture a pleasant scent. 

After this deep treatment, my hair felt stronger and looked shiner. I love it because it is packed with protein and fatty oils which are good for dry, damaged hair. 

Will you try it? 

Why Black Women Straighten Their Hair.

Photo Source: MoptopMaven

I recently googled "Why Black Women Straighten Their Hair". The results of my search were somewhat expected and shocking. Many said because of self hatred, they want to look like white women, to make their hair more manageable, etc. Although, these maybe reasons behind why some black women straighten their hair, I wanted to get to the root cause of the issue at hand.

I found this study called "Why African American Women Try to Obtain "Good Hair"" conducted by Whitney Bellinger of the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. Although, this is a small study of 15 African American women, I think it provides great insight into the reasoning of why African American women straighten their hair.

I will provide you with a brief history into the psyche of why hair is a deep rooted issue among our race. In early African nations hair was considered a symbol of status, ancestry and identity. Nothing has changed from hundreds of years ago....today the most followed and celebrated natural hair vloggers and bloggers are those with big and long hair. Am I right? Or am I right? In the celebrity world, the most popular celebrities set hair-fashion trends and some women even follow their every move...Rihanna for example. Let's face it, in our culture hair is a BIG DEAL. This is not something that we picked up over the years. It has been ingrained in our DNA.

When slaves were sold and packed on the ships to sail to America. The slave owners shaved the heads of the slaves for sanitary purposes. They looked at the texture of black hair as being like wool and unsanitary. The shaving of the head in the mind of the slaves, stripped them of their identity and status. To further complicate matters, slave masters referred to the hair of their slaves as wool and would encourage slaves to groom their hair. Out of this formed the tradition of constant grooming. Sunday's were the days when slaves were free from work and would have time to groom their hair. Women that were adept at braiding would be encouraged in the trade and were praised in the community.  (Does this sound familiar to you? Was Saturday's/Sunday's the day you would spend all day at the hair salon with your mom? Did everyone fight to get an appointment with the best hairstylist in town?) As the saying goes, "the more things change, the more they stay the same." As technology and education advanced and we become more creative, the relaxer was invented. The relaxer allowed women with kinky curly hair to straighten their locs and become more like Europeans.

Fast forward to the future, one hundred years later, we see that most women do not know why they have a relaxer at all. In the study, most of the women interviewed admitted that they never knew their hair texture because it was relaxed at such a young age and they continued to get relaxer because that's what their mother did. Like mother, like daughter? For generations, we have been relaxing our hair and had no idea why were doing it in the first place. Crazy right?

The great thing about the Natural Hair Movement is the fact that tons of women are embracing their natural beauty in turn changing the image of African beauty. This is seen through many mediums, for instance, Oprah sporting her semi-natural hair on the cover of O Magazine, Viola Davis wearing her TWA (tweeny weena afro) at the Oscars and Vogue Italia featuring natural hair models in their campaigns. Although, natural hair is being embraced in the media there are still many women struggling to tame their hair into a looser or less coarse texture. Self acceptance is the first step on the road to happiness. If you idolize a natural hair blogger or vlogger, please keep in mind that your hair will never look like theirs. In fact, your hair may not achieve the longer length that you want but be thankful that you have hair and try to make the most of your texture. My hair is not perfect and has a mind of it's own but it is my hair and I love it! It may not reach down the middle of my back but I love every inch of it.

Embrace your natural beauty and do not let anyone tell you that the way God created you is unacceptable!