Our Golden Girl Starla is Back!

...And she was gracious enough to do a quick interview about her natural experience, her wedding, and she even included a few casual shots!

NL: Starla, thanks for taking the time to talk with me about your beautiful hair and your fabulous wedding! I loved the overall style of your big day. How did you decide on the colors, the dress, and the flowers?

I think that the most important thing about our wedding was that it completely reflected who we are both as individuals and as a couple. I was really NOT excited about planning a wedding--my mama didn't have a big wedding, I had never been in a wedding, and most weddings that I have been to didn't really reflect the couple. So making the day "ours and us" was most important. It actually wasn't until I discovered OBB, that I realized that we could do whatever we wanted!

As for the dress, my Grandma made it for me! I am so lucky that I have her. Really, it's a super simple dress with badass fabric--for about 1000 dollars less than a traditional wedding dress. I initially wanted a birdcage veil, but realized that what I really wanted was a big ass feathery headpiece, so I ended up making all the hairpieces. Flowers--we got lots of flowers from a local farm, and both my friend Naomi and my mother-in-law grew lots of beautiful flowers. Naomi did all the arrangements--I didn't really have much to do with the flowers, I just trusted my friend to put together a giant, beautiful bouquet. And she did. We love old soul music, and wanted our wedding to have a throwback feel, but still wanted to look young and fresh.

NL: I love the fact that your beautiful natural hair was proudly on display at your wedding. What went into your decision to style your hair the way you did?

I did struggle a bit in how to do my hair. I am a pretty casual person (and somewhat lazy when it comes to hair), but I did want it look "done." I didn't really have a plan until the day of the wedding when my aunt started doing my hair. She brought over a small curling iron and some hairspray to try out a style she thought would look good. The minute she started curling it, I was like..."STOP!" We both decided that a little lift with the blow dryer was all I needed. The three cornrows were sort of impromptu.

NL: Have you always been natural? If so, did you feel any pressure to straighten or alter your natural texture for the wedding? If not, what is your natural hair story?

No, I have not always been natural, I have had a couple of different hair styles throughout my life: a jheri curl (fell out), a relaxer (fell out), braid extensions, and then I sort of came into myself, and went natural. I didn't really have any pressure to straighten my hair for the wedding... I think people knew better than to ask me that:)

NL: It was so cute and emotional how your husband looked at you on your big day. You must have felt like a queen. Tell us, what does your husband think about your hair?

Thomas and I have been together since I transitioned my hair about 6 years ago and he has witnessed everything from my insecurities to m pride. I think that he (especially being white) has learned how important hair can play in black women's lives. He has seen it matted to my head, freshly shrunk after swimming, cornrowed, twisted, blown-out, all that. And he wouldn't have it any other way. He doesn't run his fingers through it or anything, but luckily he doesn't care about that!

NL: When you're not all glammed up, how do you normally style your hair? What is your typical hair routine (like when you wash, condish, etc)? Are there any particular products or tools that you prefer?

Like I said earlier, I'm pretty lazy about my hair. I didn't realize how much work natural hair actually is! In the summertime, I wash it a lot more cause I swim alot (it's hot in Texas) or I leave it in cornrows. Any other time, I wash it once a week--I use Shea Butter Shampoo and Conditioner. For a long while, I was using almond oil, peppermint oil, and rosemary oil to keep it moisturized, but my hair is extremely kinky and dry, so I am trying out different products right now. Any suggestions? But on a normal day, I braid my hair in large cornrows overnight, unbraid and finger through....that's if I'm not wearing a headwrap. I love headwraps.

NL: Is there anything you would like to add for other potential natural brides out there?

I think that it's important to just be you. And there is no better place to be you than at your wedding in front of all the people who love you. If you are confident enough to wear your natural hair everyday, then you should wear it on your wedding day. Plus, natural hair is beautiful.

Thanks Leslie. Your blog is awesome. I'm honored!

p.s. the pics are everyday me. nothing to fancy. The one with Thomas and I is Honduras on our Honeymoon!

Wow! Thanks again to Starla (and hubby Thomas) for sharing hair tips and the big day with us! Click here to see more pics of this beautiful natural bride.

Gorgeous.

Ahhh the lovely Corinne Bailey Ray. She looks like an ethereal fairy goddess. What else can I say?

Photo from here

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Hello lovely Naturally Leslie readers! Today is my grandma's birthday and I will be out of town so I will be off celebrating for the next week. I hope each and every one of you has a wonderful Christmas holiday and ring in the New Year safely! Thank you all so much for your readership and support-I totally appreciate it! See ya in 2010!

An Open Letter to African American Women...

Photo from here

I missed this from a month ago but the Miami Herald published a letter written by Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Leonard Pitts Jr which was written in response to Chris Rock's Good Hair.

Here's an excerpt:

The very notion of ``good hair'' springs from that same wellspring of self-denigration that offers the N-word as a fraternal greeting and once filled our newspapers with ads for skin-lightening creams. It suggests the difficulty of loving oneself when one uses as a yardstick of worth another culture's physical standards. As in an old episode of MASH where a Korean boy wanted the doctors to fix his eyes and make them look ``American.''

Click here to read the entire letter.

Like what you read and want to let Mr. Pitts know? Send him an email to LPITTS@MIAMIHERALD.COM.

Are Sisterlocks for You?

I always say that if I didn't want to ever wear my hair loose again, I would seriously consider locks. Sometimes I really get tired of detangling and twisting and I daydream about how much easier it would be to have get-up-and-go hair. I think they are so pretty and are very versatile. But, after a few days of twists or braids I remember that there is just something about rocking a puff or twist-outs that keep me from going there.

My mom sometimes complains about constantly having to do her natural hair too. I will admit that working with natural hair can be frustrating, especially if I neglect it a bit and let it airdry or sleep on it so it mats. Our hair does require a certain amount of patience and care that straight hair does not. Does this make our hair less than or bad? Of course not! You guys know me better than that. I'm just saying that when it's dirty and I'm tired, it just doesn't get done till the next day!

So when I ran across this article on Essence.com about the very popular Sisterlocks, originated by Dr. JoAnne Cornwell, it made me revisit the idea of locs in general.

"In 1993 Cornwell invented a special crochet hook that tightly intertwines between 300 and 500 strands of hair. The result: thin locks that represent a celebration of curls and kinks that are easy to style, using curling irons, rollers and styling products, without changing the natural texture of the hair with chemicals." (Above photo and excerpt from Essence.com)

I don't know, what do you guys think? I think they look pretty and they definitely seem versatile. They would also eventually grow very long if left alone, which I know matters to some women who want natural hair that also shows its length. I can't imagine maintaing them myself and I'm sure you would need to go to a special loctician to get them re-twisted every so often.

Also, Sisterlocks recently posted some youtube vids in response to Chris Rock's Good Hair.

I really love around 4:00 where Dr. Cornwell talks about the same thing I felt when I left the theater. The slideshow of pics of lovely natural girls is

great!

I guess in the end, I still do not want to lock my hair. I'm not ruling it out, never say never as they say. But, if I ever get to the point where I do, I might consider Sisterlocks.

Is there anyone out there who has or knows of someone who has Sisterlocks? If so, what has been your experience? Would you recommend it? Let us know!

Golden Soul Love Shakedown!

Oooh do I have something amazing for you guys! I was casually visiting one of my favorite sites, Offbeat Bride, when I saw something that took my breath away. You may or may not recall how I've mentioned in the past that I loooooove natural brides. And ladies and gents, I found one! These breathtaking shots were captured by the Austin, Texas based photographer, Lauren McGlynn. If you're in that area and looking for a photographer, check out her rates here.

Please meet Thomas and Starla who were wed September 6, 2009.

What a beautiful bride! Here are just some of the amazing details from their special day......

Such a pretty and unique gown...

Prepping her beautiful natural hair...

I love the cornrows...

Such a cool hairpiece!

Don't these two look adorable? And I'm luvin that dress and the gorgeous flowers, btw!

I am madly in love with this wedding! It looks simply but elegant, heartfelt and joyful. I love the colors and the overall style of the bride.

To see the entire set of captures, check out the photographer's blog here.

This just reminds me of how beautiful natural hair can be when left simple. I like how the bride chose to let her natural texture shine through and take center stage on her big day. Talk about care free! Just goes to show that natural hair IS elegant, formal, and special enough for an occasion as grand as this!

And stay tuned...Not only did this bride allow me to use her photos, I am hoping to get an interview for a more in-depth look into her natural style and her big day!

Essence's Eye Candy

I just luuurve me some curly hair so anytime I run across some being featured I gotta share. Essence spoke with Titi Branch of Miss Jessie's Salon about caring for natural hair.

WTF?? Teacher Cuts Off Little Girl's Hair

Just saw this on BGLHonline.com. This would absolutely make me hurt this woman. I cannot believe she only received a $175 dollar fine for this. I am so appalled so early in the morning, I don't know what to do. What a horrible message to send this little girl!

"Lamya Cammon is angry, confused, and scared by the incident last week in which the apparently frustrated teacher cut one of her braids off after she wouldn't stop playing with them in class."

How dare they blame this on the freaking budget!!!!

“As budget constraints get tighter every year, the stress level and frustrations do increase,” said the MTEA’s Sid Hatch."

Lots of people wrote comments under the article so read those too. Watch the video here. Thanks to BGLHonline.com for posting this.

"Acting White" on Black Women and Hair

I love the internet. There is so much information at my fingertips and yet not enough time to properly devour and digest it all. From time to time I find myself looking for stories and articles which reflect my interests and I often find them. This time, I was looking at one of my favorite blogs, ActingWhite.blogspot.com by James Collier. I say it is one of my favorites, not because I agree with everything that is said, but because it is always thought provoking and interesting.

The post I just read is entitled Hair Length, Quality, and Attractiveness and is part of a series called Acting White: Black Women. Read this excerpt:

"The key to understanding attraction of hair color and skin tone is that humans have an innate sense of what is natural and healthy, as an indication of longevity and reproductive capacity. Any deviation from what looks natural challenges our senses, resulting in negative sexual selection. Also, coloring the hair is a tactic of short-term gain, due to the backend ‘cost’ of unattractiveness, once the natural color returns. For the record, coloring also damages the hair, leads to shortening of average length, and thinning, again enhancing unattractiveness."

Check out the entire post and come back here to tell me what you think. Do you agree, disagree or are you indifferent?

If you're interested, check out these other posts in Collier's Black Women series:

The Mating Plight

Waist to Hip Ratio and Attraction

Weight, Body Fat, and Attractiveness

Rollerset Tutorial!

Hello guys and dolls! I have never roller set my hair since it's been natural but lately I have been tempted to give it a try. I want to find more styles that I can do that will last a week, even through working out and sleeping rough (which I usually tend to do!). So I found these two vids on youtube and thought I'd share.

What do you think?

If I were a Spring Bride...

I would want to look just like this...

(Photo Credit)

Light, airy, natural. And did I mention how much I love butterflies? Well. I do.