Hair Stories & Secrets: Yaya, Solange & Corinne

When I'm flying there is absolutely one thing that I must have stashed in my carry-on....and that's a copy of InStyle Magazine. I love the smell of a fresh magazine and the way its' crisp pages feel between my fingertips. But most of all, InStyle's pages are full of new and fresh content that always leaves me drooling for the next issue.

This time around, I decided to pick up InStyle Hair. Which to my surprise was as delightful as InStyle which focuses mainly on Fashion & Beauty. In the Special Spring 2012 Issue of InStyle Hair there is a feature on celebrities: Yaya Dacosta, Solange Knowles & Corinne Bailey Rae. 

The title of the excerpt is called "Natural Wonders"...sub-titled- "How three curly- haired beauties learned to stay true to their roots." The article is quite delightful and shares products, tips and hair stories from the three lovely ladies. 

Hair Story: Yaya who has never had a relaxer, shared her hair story about being ridiculed as a little girl because of her natural hair. Not succumbing to others version of beautiful hair, she joined a group of girls with natural hair and came up a list of commandments. One of the commandments being, " I will never relax my hair." 

New naturals should take a page out of Yaya's book, by finding a natural hair support group. There is nothing like positive energy when you're undertaking a new venture.  The natural hair journey can be difficult, so it's important to find women who share your views and struggles to keep you on the right track. 

Hair Secrets: Yaya makes her own shampoo and conditioner from essential oils. To keep her hair shiny and healthy, she massages coconut oil onto the roots and ends of her hair every day. 

Product Must Haves: Goody Ouchless shower comb, 365 Everyday Value Organic Pressed Virgin coconut oil, and Sedu revolution pro 6000i dryer. 

Hair Story: Solange shares her childhood memories of her and sister Beyonce in their mom's salon. She doesn't take her hair too seriously and says how she dyed it bright Crayola red and had to chop it all off because of breakage. Solange loves the versatility of natural hair and hasn't had a relaxer since she was 15. In the article she quotes, " I'm not a poet just because I have an Afro!" Which is a common misconception of women with natural hair. 

Hair Secrets: Before shampooing, Solange usually detangles her hair with a wide tooth comb to prevent strain and breakage. After shampooing she applies conditioner, covers hair with a plastic cap and sits under the dryer for 15 minutes. Twice a month she does a hot oil treatment using pure coconut oil which stops the hair from shedding and breaking. 

Solange admits that most of the time she gets extensions or wears wigs because she doesn't want to damage her natural hair.

Product Must Haves:  Goody Quickstyle detangling comb, Carol's Daughter Black Vanilla Moisturizing Shampoo, Hesh Coconut Perfumed hair oil and Carol's Daughter Black Vanilla Moisturizing Hair Smoothie. 

Hair Story: Corinne gives us a little insight into British culture by stating, 'Most young black girls in England wear their naturally curly hair.' She didn't get a relaxer until age 13. She accidentally stumbled back over to #teamnatural when her hairstylist was too busy to give her a relaxer. Corinne loved her new curly look and found that it was less expensive than getting a relaxer. In the article Corinne brought to light a deeply rooted issue that black women struggle with when it comes to their hair. She says, " There's a lack of confidence when it comes to relaxing your hair. It's like you're saying, 'My hair is not right in some way.' As though other people will think it's weird, or that you won't fit in." 

I totally agree with Corinne. Since I've been natural, I see myself differently and wouldn't trade it for anything. My only regret about "going natural" is that I didn't do it sooner. 

Hair Secret: Corinne washes her hair every 9 days focusing mainly on the roots since the ends are drier. After shampooing, she applies a conditioner, covers her hair with a plastic cap and reads a book for an hour while the conditioner soaks in. Detangles with a paddle brush and applies pomade. To achieve her signature look, she sections her hair, curls each section with fingertips, bobby pins and lets hair air dry. She never uses a hair dryer because it makes her hair big and bushy. 

Product Must Haves: Aveda wooden paddle brush, Aveda Shampure Shampoo, Rahua conditioner, Goody colour collection bobby pins, and Black &White Genuine Pluko Hair Dressing pomade. 

What are your hair stories or secrets? Do you use any of the products mentioned? 

Mad Hair Monday Model: Brandy at the Billboard Music Awards

I am loving Brandy's new look! She has me thinking about getting a sew-in for the summer.

How do you like Brandy's new look?

OMG! National Natural Hair Meet Up Day in The Bahamas!

National Natural Hair Meet Up Day is a one day annual event where women with natural hair get together to network, share hair stories, discuss products, styling tips and hair care tips. This event which is held mainly in the US was also held in The Bahamas! After seeing all of the buzz on twitter, I decided to team up with my friend Lashona Knowles of All U Natural Hair along with Via Caffe and host the event in The Bahamas!

The turn out was phenomenal! Lots of Bahamian Naturals came out to support the event and Mix and Mingle. To give you a recap of what went on: Ladies were greeted at the door by our fabulous volunteers with a Kurlee Belle & All U Natural Hair Trivia questionnaire as an Ice Breaker! The first 50 ladies received a free treat which consisted of a special non alcoholic beverage and/or an alcoholic beverage. Throughout the night, there were raffle prizes which consisted of a Melissa Chanel T-shirt Giveaway, All U product samples, Product Junkie Bags, and Kurlee Belle Beauty Giveaway Bags! During the event ladies enjoyed various cocktails and yummy finger food from Via Caffe's delicious menu!

The ladies had a great time taking photos in front of the Kurlee Belle and All U banners with fun props!

Special thanks to Dawn and Maria from Via Caffe! These two ladies are AMAZING! 

Special thanks to our volunteers & Kristenell Fowler, my Aunt Pammy, sisters Adassa & Tasha and Cousin Kenya who came out to support Kurlee Belle! 

Kurlee Belle & All U Presents National Natural Hair Meet Up Day!

VIDEO: Terri of Kurlee Belle & Lashona of All U Natural Hair 

Black & White: What white girls are really thinking….

This topic brings to mind a very hilarious and clever video that I watched once called,  "Shit White girls say..... to black girls". While watching the video, I couldn't compose myself because I'm that black girl who white girls get comfortable with and say what's really on their mind. I'm not sure what it is about me or my personality but a lot of people not only "white girls" think it's appropriate to tell me exactly what they're thinking. (and sometimes it's too much information)….anywho…People always say to me "You're going to marry a white man." or " You're a white girl trapped in a black girl's body." So I guess that's why I'm the perfect confidant.

While having a late lunch with one of my friends the question came up "Why do you'll wear your hair like that?" (Scene: We were in a restaurant filled with black witnesses…all of whom were wearing lace front weaves.)

Mid way through a piece of lettuce, I stopped chewing to see what she was talking about and asked, "Wear our hair like what?"

She proceeded to say " You know what I'm talking about….like that…" Ok, I decided not to be the smart@$$ that I usually am and said, "Do you mean a weave?" Her response…."Yes"…."Well Tori." I said…."White women wear weave's too and who is you'll cause I wear my hair natural?"

Her response, "Yea, I think your hair is so cool. It looks much better than those lace fronts that all the girls are wearing."

I think you're hair is so cool is a common descriptor used by other races to describe natural hair. What exactly does the word "cool" mean when describing our hair? I pulled out my cell phone and decided to poll a number of my white, asian, and latina friends. Here is what I found.

#1- Cool means peculiar. It is quite different. We love it and it looks great on you.

#2- Well to be honest with you, my dad said your hair was cool. He used to date a girl back in the 60's that had an afro....weird I know lol.

#3- I have really curly hair but it isn't as curly as yours. I like my hair straight...my frizz is out of control.

#4- I wish I could grow an afro. That would be so cool. Maybe for halloween, you can dress up as an Asian girl and I'll dress up as an African American. Wouldn't that be cool?

#5- You're afro is cool but I like you better with straight hair. It suits your face shape better…just to be honest.

#6- (dating a black guy)- I love your hair girl. You know that. I will be bringing my little girls over to Auntie Terri's house because you know I can't do black hair.

The dictionary's meaning of cool is "the quality of being fashionably attractive or impressive."

I think I'll opt for the dictionary's version of cool.

By the way, I love all of my friends regardless of race so this post is not racial just meant to share what I've learned and humor in what some people think about our hair. Remember the only opinion that matters is your own.

How do your non-black friends describe your hair?