by Tyrika on September 10, 2009
Welcome back!
I had the same conversation within about an hour’s time today about caring and styling natural hair. Styling is not my expertise, I don’t take the time to style my own, nor do I take the time to pamper myself and go see a stylist (with nuptials rapidly approaching I will need to make sometime soon though) However, hair care and health is in my realm of knowledge so I will take a moment to say a few things:
- Color – There will always be a line between those who believe coloring natural hair makes it no longer natural. I stand on the side of the line that coloring does not take away from my natural state. Coloring is a chemical; I will not deny that and with that chemical can come damage. That damage can be prevented with proper care. Moisture is key to hair care, no matter what state it is in, but chemically altered hair requires adequate, consistent moisture in order to prevent breakage. Please take this into consideration when deciding if you want to change your look and add a little spice with color.
- Bondage – There is no simple route with hair. People with natural hair at times feel limited by what they can do to add some variety to their hairstyle and at some point, we wear a style that binds our hair in one form or another: weaves, braids, knots, twists, etc. These add variety but can also cause breakage if not maintained properly. Hair needs to breathe and have a break from that bondage from time to time in order to ensure it gets the healthy supplements it needs. I will reiterate: moisture is key, so give your hair a break every few weeks from bondage for at least a week to let it breathe and get a break from the strain of styles that bind.
- Conditioning – Conditioning and moisture go hand in hand. Your hair needs to be nourished and moisture regularly and that is exactly what conditioning does. It provides those nutrients and supplements to keep it strong and beautiful. Read your labels and aim for products that have few to zero harsh chemicals. There are ingredients in your kitchen that provide more nourishment to your hair than a $60 bottle of conditioner.
- Attention – Along the lines of reading labels, pay attention to what products and ingredients your hair does and doesn’t respond well to. For every woman whose hair love thrives off butter based products, there are plenty of others who hair doesn’t absorb it and it settles and builds up and weighs it down. Try out one product at a time and see what your hair responds to favorable and what it doesn’t before you begin piling on three and four at a time. Find what works for you and build your hair care regimen slowly.
Beautiful, stylish, healthy hair is every woman’s desire. Your hair is your hair and it isn’t like anyone else’s on the planet. Love the hair you were born with and give it the attention it deserves, no one else is going to Love your hair is much as you do.
by Tyrika on March 26, 2009
If you’ve been here to the blog before, you are aware that I devote every Friday to making sure you are taking time out of your busy schedule to do a little something for yourself; a little something to brighten your own day. There are times where the care you should give to yourself is more than a trip to the spa, or treating yourself to a new book. When your mental or physical health needs attention, it truly is important to take the appropriate amount of time to rest and recuperate.
Often we feel the pressures of life, work, family, and other commitments and allow those to take priority, thinking ‘Oh I can handle it’ or ‘I don’t feel that bad, I can push through it and rest later’. Sometimes waiting until ‘later’ can make the difference between being a little ill or having a major breakdown.
We have to keep Picking Our Afros because it’s always important keep our spirits uplifted and doing those little things for ourselves make us smile. It’s ultimately important to keep our health in as best shape as we have control over. Take your time and take care of you!
by Tyrika on October 3, 2008
In the song ‘What Have You Done for Me Lately’, Janet Jackson goes into a tirade about what her man is and isn’t doing for her, and why she needs to give him the boot. However, before giving him the blues about not showering her with love and diamonds and glitz, you have to wonder ‘Had she been doing anything for herself? Or did she just expect him to do all the work for her?’
Pleasing yourself
Earlier this week I received my weekly UNnewsletter from Charlon Bobo at editcopyproof; she posed the question to her readers “What did you do for yourself today?”. I loved the question because it was a topic that had been swirling around my life for the past few weeks. I’d posed a similar question to a good friend of mine who does so much for the people in her life and was finally hitting a wall. Just days before that, I’d given similar advice to another very close friend who simply needed to do some introspective thinking.
Friday is ‘my day’. It’s ‘my day’ to do something for myself. Just a tiny something that doesn’t cost me a dime; just a few minutes out of my day. I wear my naturally curly hair picked out into an afro. I wear it rather conservatively Monday through Thursday when I am in the office; however, Friday’s are most often work from home days and I love to see my hair picked out into a glowing afro. Sometimes I adorn it with a colorful headband; sometimes I just let it have a mind of its own. This one tiny gesture of love to myself bolsters me emotionally and contributes to my ability to love, encourage, and appreciate those around me.
My Afro Idol - Jill Scott
Introducing…
Starting today, Fridays will be now be Pick Your Afro Friday. This is the day for you to show us what you do that makes you happy. Is it wearing your favorite pair of jeans to the office? Is it having a ‘splurge’ meal that you worked hard for all week? Is it taking your doing something special with someone you love?
When was the last time you can remember something that was purely for your enjoyment? Something that put a little pep in your step. Something made you smile inside and out. What did you do and how often do you do it? Share your ‘Afro’ with us.
