Psychology of Natural Hair
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My hair has been in a yuck for a while. My twist-outs lasted a day or so and kind of fell apart. I couldn’t figure out why, but I realize I deviated from what works for my hair, the SCOSS routine. I honestly couldn’t get the comb through my hair and experienced more hair lost than usual.
My newest SCOSS routine…
Shampoo: I broke my only Shampoo rule, “Must be clear”. I tried Herbal Essences’ Hello Hydration Shampoo. I read great reviews. It was great at first, but my hair seemed to gain too much build up. I then tried the clear Herbal Essences Drama Clean, but it seemed to dry my hair too much. I went back to TRESemme. Instead of the Moisture Rich Shampoo, I tried Flawless Curls Moisturizing Shampoo. Did I mention 32oz for less than $5?
Condition: Since I didn’t have good luck with the Herbal Essences’ Hello Hydration Conditioner, I went back to TRESemme’s Smooth & Silky Conditioner. Before washing, I drenched my hair in it and covered with a plastic bag for a few hours. My soft manageable hair is back! After blow drying, I sectioned hair into several Bantu knots for ease of styling.
Oil: Yipi for coconut oil!! I went to Whole Foods and bought their brand Expeller Pressed Virgin Coconut Oil. The pressed oil can be used as a dietary supplement! What surprised me the most about the coconut oil is since I’ve used it on my face, my breakouts have decreased significantly! I swear my hair and skin just drink coconut oil. Being that we are having a very dry winter, I “greased” my scalp with Jojoba Oil. Alternative Successful Oils: Extra Virgin Olive Oil or Morocco Oil
Shea Butter: I love 100% Shea butter!!! This week I used Jane Carter’s Nourish and Shine. It consist of different butters with grapefruit and pear essential oils. JC’s Nourish and Shine gives my hair its shea butter fix, and acts as styling butter that smells like citrus goodness. (Every Kinnks Tee purchased will receive a free Nurish and Shine sample courtesy of Jane Carter herself!).
Style: Before the Super Bowl, I popped in American Gangster in the DVD and started twisting. I may decide to curl, or pin up twists to provide versatility throughout the week.
Question and Answers
* Erica: I would like to know do or have you ever had an itchy scalp and what can be done about it?
Keeping your scalp clean and moisturized will help with an itchy scalp. You may wash your hair too much, or not enough. Experiment with the SCOSS routine to see what works best. If severe, you may need an anti-fungal shampoo or to consult a dermatologist.
*Valerie: How do I achieve soft hair?
Try the above routine, my hair feels soft, and manageable every time. Note that since we have such unique hair, one person’s favorite product may be your worst. Good luck experimenting.
*Machelle: Since going natural I don’t know what to use for my scalp. When I had a relaxer I used regular grease now I am lost and my scalp feels dry!
When I think of grease, it is somewjat sentimental. It reminds me of the bonding time my mom spent parting and greasing my scalp. The truth is that grease is filled with petroleum, which does not allow your scalp to breathe. Try different oils mentioned above and you’ll never go back. You probably won’t need as much oil as you did grease.
*Wanda: What’s the best hair products for natural hair?
A common mistake I make is thinking one product will be the new it! I tried this with Coconut oil and my hair was sooo thirsty! Find your ideal routine, then experiment with different products to see if you see an enhancement. If not, you know you don’t need it.
*Erica: What do you do to your hair a night?
At night I use a loc soc, or old stockings with runs. I avoid tying my hair because it makes my hair flat while a “stocking cap” will keep it in place without making it a pancake. Remember to wash your pillow case, combs, brushes, and head ties as often as you wash your hair.
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I was blessed to spend time with my brother and family in Arizona. The dessert’s beautiful tones were breathtaking. I had the opportunity to jot notes during a heart-to-heart discussion with my sister-in-law about her 20-year natural hair voyage. I am inspired that Denise is not only in love with her natural hair, but proud to rock her beautiful graying hair. Who says graying hair is taboo?
(Denise and Myself posing in Sedona, Arizona)
Read more about the Natural Salt-N-Pepper below...
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I have had relaxers, Jheri curl (Michael Jackson look), and hair extensions. I actually wore extensions for three years at one point. I would take them out and put them right back in. No matter what style I tried, I always came back to natural. Natural is easy, and it pleased my husband. Being natural is convenient. 
Childhood
Back in the day, If you had short hair in Trinidad, they would call you all types of names. When I was nine or ten, I would wear my afro puffs. I was Ruff –n –tuff with my afro puffs. When I first had my full afro, it was back in the 70s. At first, everyone wanted to press their hair. I was too young; my grandmother would not allow me to. Then the black power movement came, and I was finally in style with my ‘fro.
Say It loud, I am Black and Proud.
It wasn’t until the late 80s I went to Medgar Evers, a Black college in New York that I felt sexy because of the way I wore my hair. I had my son, long hot pink nails, mini skirt and an afro. The guys would constantly tell me how real and good I looked. I was even asked to be featured in a magazine. I was considered uplifting, and called nice names like African Queen. I started to appreciate how I looked, because I realized it was a beautiful thing. Being in a Black school it was so appropriate, my hair seemed to fit. I was more comfortable being there with my afro.
Now I am older, this is me, Denise. Anything else will just be fake. Now you can do natural styles. I’ve always had an afro(giggles). It is the most natural thing for me to do. I have no desire to put any straightness in my hair. Sometimes I toy with color. Weather I do it or not, I don’t have to. I don’t feel obligated.
Salt-n-Pepper Hair
At one time, I couldn’t deal with the gray. During my grandmother’s funeral, I looked around and saw all the beautiful gray-haired women like my mom. I also saw the beautiful images of my gray-haired grandmother who I looked just like. To honor the women of my family, I decided to stop coloring my hair. When I first started wearing my hair salt and pepper, some people were in disbelief. You’re not going to color it, they would ask. But others would say, wow you are so beautiful with your silver hair. You wear it with so much pride, I could never do that. I tried to encourage them that they were just as capable.
I started to get a lot of compliments. My friend, who makes quilts told me not to ever die my hair because I have such a distinguished look. I feel good wearing my hair like this. I noticed, when you see other people with gray hair, you feel a bond. Just like if you see other people with natural hair. You compliment each others hair, it’s the Salt and Pepper secret club.
Men and Natural Hair
When I decided to stop coloring it, he suggested I continue to color it. After I explained to my loving husband I wanted to do it for me, he seemed to be on board. After I owned the look, and I would mentioned I wanted to color it he would say: No, keep it salt and pepper but short. Whenever I would have braids, or straightened my hair my husband wound’t touch it. Once I cut my hair he will rub it, and its seems as if he falls in love with me all over again. He just loves the natural look, and loves my hair. He seems satisfied long as it is cut really short! .
Do you have any advice for anyone going Natural?
When you wear your hair natural, feel the beauty and appreciate your hair. That is what God gave you. Feel beautiful. Earlier when people told me I was beautiful with natural hair I wouldn’t believe them. But take the time to just believe people. I feel real. You don’t have to put any strengtheners to feel like anyone else or go through pain and suffering.
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Read about More Kinnks Natural Hair Guest Bloggers
Become a Natural Hair Blogger
Did you miss me? I have not had the opportunity to blog as often as I would like, but I thought I should drop you a quick line and apologize for my absence.
DC Natural Hair Examiner
Ms. Laquita, Natural Hair writer extortioner, has featured yours truly, Lady Kinnks in DC Natural Hair Examiner. She writes…
With it’s home base located in Richmond, Virginia, Kinnks.com is a worldwide community of resources, history, tools, and advice for people with natural hair. Kinnks’ mission is to enrich the lives of those who were taught they are not naturally beautiful, and it’s goal is to be the informational source for all things natural hair. Lady Kinnks, the lady behind Kinnks.com and her hair story… Read More
Thank you Laquita for being a continued supporter of Kinnks.com, and helping free women of the diaspora. Another Natural Hair warrior is Yardley.
Work Hair
Since I deal with corporate America daily, I have received opposition because of my natural mane. Thankfully, my skill within the business world, and hair has been accepted more times than rejected. Ms. Yardley of The Coil Review continues to provide share her love from Kinnks! Corporate America, The Business World whatever you want to call it is no longer a one track (no pun intended) hairstyle… do you!
The Coil Review has been gracious enough to feature the following blogs and articles by Kinnks.com.
Riches In a Recession
The View Tackles Natural Hair
The Real Black Barbie
Visit The Coil Review’s First Commercial…
Side Part, Tuck Under Type of Girl
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The Haiti Earthquake has a third of all Haitians - 3 million people - in need of emergency aid, Read More
I am so hurt and sad. If you have the means, I listed options for providing financial support. You can make a difference… donating just five dollars will mean a lot to an earthquake victim. Look at that (wo)man in the mirror!
Donation Options
* Red Cross
* We’ll donate $5 to the American Red Cross for every Kinnks Tee purchased
January 4, 2009 we posted our first entry, My Natural Hair Story. Lady Kinnks presents, the Psychology of Natural Hair. A blog is born! Before taking on this enormous task, I struggled. Does the internet really need another natural hair blog? I decided to invest the time into creating a blog to speak on the natural hair experience rather than the “how to”. Race, age and gender influence my experience, but it is amazing how different your experiences are by just having natural hair! Can you believe there are enough stories to full a blog? Lady Kinnks blog is year old today!! Within 2009 our Kinnks Directory grew to over 400 links all dedicated to natural hair! We also successfully opened our shoppe, with three types of Kinnks Tees.
January 20, 2009 history was made! Our 44th President Barack Obama is sworn into office! For me, words can not describe what this means for so many. I am also glad to have a positive African-American family-role model that mostly EVERYONE admires. Unfortunately, being the First African-American family- there has been small controversy. One that I thought was ridiculous is the criticism of Malia’s “ethnic” hair. Read More
Hair for many is somewhat of an armor. I would have never thought it would stop a speeding bullet. Last February, Ms. Bond stopped a speeding bullet with her weave. Yes yal, her weave! Read More
While visiting South Carolina State University, rapper David Banner made the comment “Blacks Don’t Love Themselves.” He said that Black women who perm their hair are examples of black on black crime and media control.Read More
April, we visited the Baltimore Natural Hair Show
We lost a legend, the King of Pop Michael Jackson. Michael Jackson is one of the few successful icons who we’ve none from the beginning of his life to the end. Just like we experience rights of passage from the afro to our our first hair chemical treatment, so did he. Read More
In August, I also discovered my favorite alternate hair style. I will always love the twist out! But the ‘FRO HAWK influenced my inner rock star! Read More
Southeastern Art Association ‘African-American Festival’ where we saw the come back of the high top fade amongst the young-ins Read More
August, with 90+ degree weather here in Richmond we went to the Happily Natural Hair Day event and took plenty of pics. Read More We had our first feature article in kinky fabulous thecoilreview.com, Riches In a Recession. Our first online radio interview with Black Hair Talk Live.
Tyra has bloggers talking with the announcement that she would start her new season with her natural hair. Natural Hair bloggers every where turned in to see the infamous super model without her trademark weave. Disappointed we were. The show should have been advertised as real hair, not natural hair. Read More
Chris Rock’s documentary Good Hair sure had a lot of people talking about African-Americans and their very interesting hair obsession! Read our Review
The argumentative ladies of the view even talked about natural verses relaxed hair. Read More
Mattel decides to create a line of African-American Barbies, In Style. We think better, Read More
The Movie Avatar features natural hair, Read More
Then to end to year, we hear a crazy teacher cuts a student’s braid, Read More
I had a few posts in which I asked you various questions…
Is Natural Hair Patriotic?
How does Natural Hair differ by region?
Is Smoking Natural Hair a contradiction?
Oh yes, and don’t forget the 9 Beautiful Guest Bloggers!
This is just a highlight. Many more posts to review. Well, I have learned a lot my first year of blogging. It can only get better :o) Thank you for reading! Your feedback is always welcomed. Shoot me some electronic mail to !
Peace, Love and Shea Butter!
~Lady Kinnks
Looking into 2010, ask yourself, what are you thankful for, and what can you improve on?
Wish you health, prosperity and clear thoughts in 2010.
Happy New Year from Lady Kinnks :o)
Merry Christmas
My Favorite Christmas Song…
This Christmas by Donny Hathaway
As you read this, I am probably listening to Ledisi’s Christmas CD. Here is a clip…
Cute seven year old Lamya Cammon kept playing with her beaded braids. The clicking of the braids annoyed her teacher. After a failed warning, the young girl was called to the front of the class when her teacher cut off a braid! After Lamya’s mom confronted the teacher, she apologized and said it was out of frustration.
The police charged the teacher $175 fine for disorderly conduct. Congress Elementary school will conduct a discipline hearing.
I have been blessed with great teacher, some that I am still in contact with. I have also had mean teachers who just don’t like specific students. It is a shame that we have this one teacher with so much power, who decides to be vindictive in their lessons.
Black hair is a large part of our lives. The truth is, within our American culture hair is sacred. What gives the teacher a right to cut a student’s hair? If twirling hair makes her that frustrated and destructive, what else is she doing to students behind closed doors?
I am going to pray for all parties involved.
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