A Chop for the Cure!

I just saw this amazing video by youtuber femenistbabe and it blew me away. Not only is this girl amazingly beautiful and brave to shave her head, but she did it and found a way to give back to a good cause in the process! I especially loved watching her hair grow back in over the months following her chop. In my opinion, she looks absolutely gorgeous with and without hair. It just goes to show that the big chop, while a daunting and scary task for some, can be a liberating experience for others. I remember when I BC'd the second time, I really tried to enjoy my short hair as it grew back out.

Tell me what you think about the video and what your BC experience was like. Did you chop early or after a long transition? Do you have any regrets or are you happy with the way things turned out? Has anyone out there chopped again recently? Check out this vid for more pics of her chop!

I love hearing about your hairstories so please drop your two cents!

So Heidi and Seal Finally Had a Girl...

(Photo from HERE)

..so now what? I mean, yeah they make beautiful babies together and I love watching their family grow. But so far, they've only been spitting out cute little boys. You know where I'm going with this, right? (By the way, if you don't know who these people are, this is a great article about how they met and their backgrounds.)

(Photo from HERE)

It is always interesting to me when mixed couples have children, especially when those children are girls. I love to see the different skin, eye, and hair color/texture combos that come out, you just never know! So I wonder what this little girl, little Lou Sulola Samuel, will look like. I wonder what her hair will be like. I wonder what it will be like for her growing up in this culture and society with a very White, blonde, mother (and not to mention a White half sister). They look and seem like super loving people, and I am sincerely hoping they will make a conscious effort to raise her with a strong sense of self worth. It's one thing for use to debate about growing up in a White beauty-obsessed culture but to actually grow up with a mom whose looks help put food on the table, and then possibly look nothing like her, will definitely be interesting! She may have no issues at all, or, she may grow up wondering why she isn't fair with long blonde hair.

I love this article from LoveIsntEnough.com about caring for the hair of Black children when you, the parent, are not Black yourself. I can only imagine what it must be like to wait nine glorious (sometimes) months for your beautiful baby, as you try to picture what features they will have or what the gender might be. Then all of a sudden they get here, and on top of their head is a mass of curls that you have no idea how to approach. Terri from TightlyCurly.com knows just what I mean.

So here's a question for anyone out there who knows someone or is someone who was raised with a White mom and a dad of another race/ethnicity/whatever (you know what I mean!). How was it as a child for you? Were your raised to appreciate and embrace both "sides" of your heritage in a conscious way or was it considered not a big deal? Did being darker or lighter than one of your parents make you uncomfortable ever in social situations?

I ask all this having been raised with a mother who is also a social worker. She dealt a lot with adoptions and I remember her talking about the importance of educating White parents who wanted to adopt Black children. This is an old issue but I think it has some relevance to actually raising your own mixed race children, especially in a society that tends to want to call any person with African ancestry Black.

I know, I know, a lot to think about, but I want to hear what you all think.

Sunday Cuteness: Corrine Bailey Ray

The woman is super talented and simply stunning. I'm loving her grown out hair these days. She is totally Sunday Cuteness!

(Pic from here)

(Pic from here)

( Pic from here)

Sosa So Much Lighter...

UPDATE: I just saw this video. Warning...it's brutal! But another interesting example of what is happening around the world. Is "de-racialization" really happening? Should we be more concerned about it? Is this really just a result of globalization like the doctor said? It's about 48 minutes long but very interesting. Tell me what you think.

Sosa shocked fans when he showed up at the Latin Grammys last week looking like a completely different person, complete white skin and green eyes. He insists, however, that the lights from the camera made him look a lot lighter than he actually is. "I'm not a racist. I live my life happily . . . I don't think I look like Michael Jackson,” he said. (Latina.com)

I have seen this now on various sights and I have to say, it turns my stomach a bit. I am not surprised at this point that anyone would want to lighten their skin, straighten their hair, and change their eye color. But this photo was so striking to me that it literally took my breath away. He's been catching a lot of flack for it over the web and I can see why now. Here's what he had to say: "It's a bleaching cream that I apply before going to bed. . . . I use [it] to soften [my skin], but [it] has bleached me some," he admitted.

I think what bothers me most about this is that he thinks he looks better. How is that possible?? I am not hating on him, really I'm not. It just never fails to amaze me that, in the pursuit of a more "euro" beauty aesthetic, people will so alter themselves, no matter what the end result. It's like, cause my eyes are green and my skin is light I must be more beautiful now. Yes green eyes are beautiful on some people and light skin is nice on other people but so are dark chestnut eyes and mocha skin. It's all beautiful. I fear he has made a mistake and it might be too late to correct.

Scientists out there- can his skin ever go back? I mean, if he stops bleaching it, will it eventually slough off enough and be replaced with new cells of his original color?

I know I should live and let live and probably not waste time caring but at the same time, I can't help but think about the little brown boys (and girls) who look up to him because he's a big baseball star, and they see this and think something must have been wrong with him before.

Think that's crazy? Read this and this and this (especially if you love the Dove Campaign for Real Beauty stuff).

Peace, Love & Pretty Things

I feel truly honored to be featured on Peace, Love, & Pretty Things whose mission is "to provide inspiration and chicken soup for your one-of-a-kind, deserve to be happy, superfly soul." Sounds awesome doesn't it?! They have a really cool segment that celebrates women from all walks of life called GEMS.

Peace Love and Pretty Things celebrates the depths and complexities of a woman's spirit and the potential that lies therein.

Our GEMS feature showcases women who are tapping into their unique talents and breathing life into their dreams.

GEMS stands for:

Grace and
Encouragement for
Motivation and
Success

The women who are showcased as PLPT GEMS are accessible examples of women who are doing interesting things, overcoming challenges, expressing themselves and making a difference in a unique and beautiful way.

Wow! That is a lot to live up to but I feel totally honored. I love anything that celebrates women in a positive and healthy way. Check out all their GEMS segments, and stay awhile to be enlightened, encouraged, and inspired.

Reader Question: Products for Hold

Here is the lady in question showcasing her lovely locks. Isn't she gorgeous! Keep the help coming, you guys are great!

We have another reader question that I'm sure applies to many. I myself have experienced this and, especially in the tricky NC climate, I have wondered what different products could yield the best results to really set a twist out.

I have been natural for about 10 years now, but like you I'm still learning new things! Earlier in my natural phase I would use products for my twist out that wouldn't be healthy, but my twist outs would last up to a week. Now that I use unrefined shea butter, the hold is not so great. Do you have any tips on making the twist out last longer and preventing shrinkage? Do you twist every night? I usually only twist the front and top area at night, but I miss the length that I get from a new twist out. Any advice would be appreciated.

My thoughts: I used to use products that are now considered unhealthy for my hair (like petroleum based products/gels with high alcohol content) and I also love my CocoShea mix. But, like you say, my twist outs don't always hold as well, especially when there is any humidity in the air.

So, I have tried using different gels/stylers to stretch the time between twists and I also re-twist certain sections at night as needed to re-set the curl.
My favorite gel is IC Polisher Aloe gel and I use this mixed with just a little bit of coconut oil on the length of my hair (sometimes I use Aubrey Organics Honeysuckle Rose conditioner as a leave in under the coconut oil if I feel I need more moisture). I save the CocoShea for the ends as a sealant moreso than a twisting agent, if that makes sense. The gel seems to set the twists better and my results last longer. Some people use a conditioner as a leave-in/styler which provides them with a little hold.

During the colder months, I can get away with using the CocoShea mix on the entire length of my hair if I choose, and I get pretty good results. But again, that is with no humidity in the hair. During the summer, I almost have to re-twist every night no matter what, because my hair just likes to swell. I actually don't mind that much unless I am going for a particular look.

So I am calling on you again, NL readers, what do you do to set your twist outs for long lasting results?

***Also...don't forget to send me your list of tried and true products/hair type/texture for my master "go-to" list! Check out this post for more details.

Reader Question: Heat Damage Solutions???

Naturally Leslie reader Sewing Stardom had this wonderful question and she needs our help. What would you do if this described your hair situation???

I have a hair issue maybe someone can help me.

Ok so i have been natural my whole life, but i have been using heat to get my hair straight since i was about 11 or so. My hair used to be kinky and curly(i hated it then) but now i want that texture back. sadly my hair is no longer as tightly curled as it once was. Now when I wash my hair it is curly on one side, puffy on some parts and wavy/straight on others. I'm craving that naturally curly hair i once had. I do braid outs and twist outs and all those other styles but I want the natural hair back without all the effort those styles take. Do you guys think I should just chop of my hair and start from the beginning? i feel like I have no hope now. I can either cut it, deal with it or use more heat to get it all one texture....(sighhh) i need advice.

As you may remember, I suffered from some minor heat damage and decided to chop it all off about 2.5 yrs ago. It was just easier to me and I wanted to experience the "big chop" again. That worked for me and I enjoyed working with my hair as it grew to different lengths. Here I am 2.5 yrs later with MORE hair than I had before I cut it. It has been a joy for me to watch my hair grow and thrive in such a short amount of time, and I really liked finding new styles for my hair at all the "in-between" lengths.

I know chopping is not the best choice for everyone as some women like to retain as much length as possible when growing out a perm or damaged parts. But I don't think continuing with heat straightening is the best way to go either. Further damage will only make you more frustrated and could lead to permanent hair loss.

So...Naturally Leslie readers, what do you suggest? If you want to weigh in and give your two cents, please submit a comment. I'm sure this lovely reader is anxious to hear your thoughts!

The Coil Review: November

It's that time again! The November issue of the amazing online natural hair resource The Coil Review has been published and is ready for your viewing pleasure. My article this month is entitled I Confess: I Am My Hair After All. Of course, it is an opinion piece about my views on natural hair so I would love to hear your responses and opinions. So, are you your hair or not? How much importance does appearance have in determining our identity? Weigh in!

Sunday Cuteness: My Little Builder!

Halloween fun! I went to a Halloween get together last night. I was a gypsy and I got to hang out with my (best friend's really) little builder baby boy! So much fun!! What did you dress up as last night??