Tag Archives: natural hair news
Side-Eye Of The Week: How Toxic Is Black Hair Care!?
Hello everyone! I tell you, I ALWAYS find material for a ‘Side-eye Of The Week’ right on time! Today’s side-eye is a little different. It isn’t a “What were they thinking!?” side-eye, it’s more of a “Wait, what are WE thinking?” side-eye, if that makes any sense. Let’s get into it, and maybe you’ll see what I mean.
Yesterday I found an article titled “How Toxic Is Black Hair Care?”. The article talked about the chemicals that are found in common black hair care products like shampoos, conditioners, detanglers, and of course, relaxers. The chemicals are referred to as Estrogen and Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals, or EDC’s. EDC’s are believed to be linked to reproductive effects and birth defects, breast cancer, heart disease, cognitive disorders, premature puberty and altered immune function (so far). The article listed a few of these EDC’s:
Is There A Big Chop Revolution?
Hey everyone! My recap of ‘Fro Fashion Week is coming soon, but in the mean time, what do you think about this? An article was posted recently at The Griot titled “Women’s Shaved Hair Revolution Taking Shape”. You can read the full article here!
In case you didn’t click the link (Lol), I’ll just summarize for y’all. Chicago based stylist Emon Fowler recently opened her shop, The Harriet Experiment, in an effort to encourage black women to give up the harmful chemicals, and begin experiencing their natural hair starting with a Big Chop. In Emon Fowler’s opinion, doing a Big Chop is the only way to go natural. Fowler wants to have 700 women go natural, then make a documentary about their 12 month natural journey. She has organized meetups, started a website, and recruited women via Facebook and in grocery stores (O_O) in an attempt to convince them to let go of relaxers, and cut their hair. The article then goes on to talk about other women who have big chopped, and stylists who support the natural hair movement. Many are expecting the number of black women embracing their natural hair texture to grow in the coming years. Celebrity hair stylist Patrick Wellington states at the end of the article that “It’s a trend that is moving this year… I have seen a few people who have transcended from chemicals to natural, but it’s not the biggest wave. It still has a way to go.”
So that’s a summarized version of the article, and I find it very interesting! Do you all think that the ‘only way’ to go natural is by a big chop? Also, is Emon Fowler really stopping women in the grocery store trying to convince them to do a big chop? I wonder how those conversations went. What really caught me off guard however, was the little bar underneath the picture of Issa Rae. The one where you can rate the article. Just take a gander at it. WHY are so many people rating the article “So Sad”, “ROTFL”, and “SMH”? I mean, it’s hair people. It will grow back! IF the article was rated these things because a ceasar on a black woman somehow offends some people, I now want to know, “Why do they care?”. Do they expect the women who choose to big chop to care? If so, I can assure them they don’t. What is so shocking about a woman choosing to cut off her hair? In any case, I do appreciate the fact that many readers “Loved It’, and found the article “Inspiring”! I hope Fowler’s documentary gets funded. I think it would be very interesting, and I love documentaries anyway! What are your thoughts? How would you all rate this article?
No More Brazilian Blowouts… In Brazil??
Hello Everyone! While the Brazilian Blowout is still going strong among American women, There seems to be a new hair trend in Brazil for women with naturally curly hair! I think this is a great thing, because there have been a lot of stories in the news lately describing the discrimination that goes on against women who choose not to straighten their hair. From stares and jeers on the street to threatening conversations on the job, Brazil doesn’t really seem to be the most welcoming place to be if you’re a woman with curly hair. Now, however, there is a new salon emerging in Brazil called Beleza Natural, which specializes ONLY in natural hair. Check out the story on the salons and their owner Leila Velez here!
In case you didn’t click the link, here’s the synopsis:
Leila was 14 and working at a Mc’Donalds when she and a co-worker got the entrepreneurial urge. They teamed up with a beautician and her husband and opened their first salon in 1993. Twelve years and TWELVE SALONS LATER (let’s just pause there. TWELVE salons later? Sista girl was putting in WERK wasn’t she? Let me go get my hustle together!), The Beleza Natural salons have 1400 employees and have taken over the natural hair scene in Brazil.
Customers of Beleza Natural begin their visit with a hair consultation, then receive Beleza Natural’s special “Super Relaxer” treatment (put a pin in that, we WILL be back), then get a hair cut, after which a beauty consultant educates them on how to care for their hair until the next visit. Finally, the visit ends at the register where clients can buy Beleza Naturals hair products which are customized for different hair types and formulated to last EXACTLY 30 days until the next visit.
Beleza Natural salons do sponsor community activities and education programs, and provide benefits for their employees from day one, many of whom are young single mothers. Leila is already plotting on becoming international. She says, “We’ve already chosen the street in New York where we’re going to open our first salon in the US. In Harlem on 125th Street, where the Apollo Theater is. Right there,” .
Welp! We can’t knock her hustle, obvious business savvy, and determination, but I just have one question. What EXACTLY is in this ‘Super Relaxer’? The article says that Beleza Natural salons have 87,000 converts A MONTH, and that’s only for their Super Relaxer treatment. So to get the scoop, I went to their website. It was in Portuguese, so I let Google translate it for me. All I was able to tell from the badly translated posts was that the Super Relaxer was a chemical treatment, that apparently defines curls. So, is it a texturizer?? Someone HALP! All I have to go on is this picture:
I get it, everyone is happy. But what exactly is IN a Super Relaxer?
Despite my confusion surrounding their star hair treatment, it is good to see that more Brazilian women are able to feel comfortable rocking curly hair! What are your thoughts on Beleza Natural salons? What about the mysterious ‘Super Relaxer’? Let me know in the Comments!
Side-Eye Of The Week: “Natural hair isn’t for everyone” Naturals
Hello everyone! Isn’t it too early in the week for me to be giving out Side-eyes, you ask? *side-eye* I think not… I know that many natural women view other naturals as friends, battle buddies, confidants, and supporters, but what if you run into a natural who is none of those things?
I have a friend who is surprisingly close-minded to be natural. She seems to believe that only certain textures can go natural. She uses doesn’t like styles that look too ‘fro-like’, she asserts that “Natural hair isn’t for everybody”, told me I was ‘going back to Africa’ by not using synthetic products in my hair, and refers to certain hair types as ‘nappy’ (not in a good way, either) or ‘slavery hair’… O_O y’all… I just… *SIDE-EYE*
I suppose I assumed that a woman who was natural would have an appreciation and respect for all hair textures, since most naturals see natural hair as a declaration that the way we were born is beautiful. With that thinking, most naturals will respect and admire your style choices. Not this natural woman, though, oh no!! Apparently, you must have a certain hair type to wear it naturally.
Anyway, I was just so taken aback to hear her speak like this because she herself wears her hair curly! What is the point of going natural if you are still going to keep the idea that one type of hair is more acceptable than another? In addition, by holding on to this idea, she is limiting herself from an entire community of women with all different hair textures to a much smaller group of women with only her texture or looser. Too bad for her…
Do you all know a ‘Natural-hair-isnt-for-everyone’ natural like this one? What did you/should you do in this situation? Help me out, I’m at a loss!
Side-Eye Of The Week: Monistat?! I Can’t…
Hey everyone! *clears throat* so, this has apparently been happening for a WHILE now, but has been mostly under wraps (at least from me). Women are using Monistat to cure dandruff, and grow their hair to great lengths. *sigh* ok…
Go ahead and read this webpage, and watch the video below to find out what this is all about.
In case you didn’t read OR watch either of those things (side-eye at YOU, my friend), I’ll just tell y’all the basics. The active ingredient in Monistat is Miconazole Nitrate, a synthetic anti-fungal. The THEORY behind the use of Monistat for hair growth is that Monistat will kill fungal infections on your scalp (like dandruff), thereby creating a healthy scalp, and healthy hair growth. It has also been said to increase hair growth from the normal 1/2 inch a month to “1-2 inches a month” as said by SuicidesEve, the woman in the video above. It also “oxygenates the scalp, thereby allowing more blood to flow” (another SuicidesEve statement). Oh, ok. *SIDE-EYE* My question is: Isn’t that what BLOOD is for? First of all, blood flow increases oxygen in the scalp. The mere presence of oxygen does not increase blood flow. Blood goes throughout your body delivering oxygen to tissues that need it. Why can’t you exercise, or use scalp massage to increase blood flow in your body and to your scalp, thereby increasing the oxygen it gets? I mean, that’s just me… and science… and common sense.
ANYWAY, The thing that got me was all of these side-effects reported from using Monistat on the scalp! Severe headaches, inflammation on application sites, tender and sensitive scalp, increased shedding that may or may not subside, ringing in ears, general discomfort, extreme shedding once you stop use of Monistat, etc. (found here)
What?? People are still using Monistat on their hair after all that? What part of the game is THIS?!? I’m not here to tell anyone that Monistat doesn’t work. From the testimonials I’ve seen, it definitely seems to! I’m just saying that Lavender, Rosemary, Henna, Neem, Tea Tree, Burdock, Sage, Garlic, and Cloves have all been shown to have anti-fungal (and in some cases growth stimulating) properties. WITHOUT the severe headaches and extreme shedding. Now, if that isn’t an easy choice, I don’t know what is!
As always, do your research ladies! There are a lot of ‘trends’ going on out there. Some work, some don’t, and some are just downright dangerous! Stay ‘woke’ in these natural hair streets!!
Just one final question: Would you all try this?
Side-eye of The Week: Defining ‘Natural’
Hello everyone! Although it’s the holidays, issues abound. I actually went back and forth on what topic to choose, and finally decided on this one. It should spark some good dialogue, and if not, it will at least get you thinking. If it doesn’t even do that, I don’t know what to tell you. 
I was chilling out on Twitter (as usual), when I saw some retweets of PhillyDiva19154 (fashion/style vlogger) from Taren916 (Natural hair vlogger) about how some vloggers with natural hair get slack for rocking wigs and weaves. Naturally, I clicked on the link, which took me to PhillyDiva’s Facebook Fan page. I read the comments under her status update, all 123 of them… (Ok, no, I didn’t make it that far. I did make it through around 50 though). Anyway, I would just like to give this whole ‘debate’ the side-eye. Why it seems to be such a touchy issue is beyond me, honestly.
One comment that stuck out to me was from a woman who said that PhillyDiva was, in her opinion, “Chemical free, but not natural.” Oh… *SIDE-EYE*. So, even though I don’t chemically treat my hair, if I wear a wig or extensions I can’t be natural anymore? I’m pretty sure I don’t need to explain why that got the side-eye from me.
In my opinion, there is no reason you can’t use wigs or weaves CORRECTLY (i.e. not so tight, or for so long that it damages your hair or causes pain) to give your hair a styling break. Wigs and weaves used properly, can be a useful tool for women who want to grow their hair out, or who simply want to change their look! To say that one is not natural anymore, or that they must not love their natural hair because they wear wigs or weaves is a bit presumptuous and judgmental to me.
I think trying to define what is or is not ‘natural hair’ beyond “hair that has not been chemically treated to alter its texture” is a slippery slope. If weaves and wigs aren’t acceptable, what about flatironing? Am I no longer natural when I wear my hair straight occasionally? What about dyeing? Hair dyes are most CERTAINLY chemicals. If I’m wearing my twist-out with some highlights in the front, am I no longer natural? Wait!! What if I’m CREATING a texture (i.e. a braid-out, or twist-out) instead of wearing my NATURAL texture?
See how this can get out of control? I believe there is more than one way to be ‘natural’, and that’s the beauty of it! Natural hair is versatile, let’s take advantage of that! Don’t put my beauty in a box, bro… I’m serious.
PhillyDiva uploaded a video responding to the discussion on her page, and I thought it was spot-on! Enjoying our options is half the fun, y’all!
What do you think? Is there a specific way one should wear their hair in order to claim to be ‘natural’? Does wearing wigs/weaves send the wrong message about natural hair? Does any of this matter at all? Let us know!
I'm Holly, a chemist, foodie, and natural hair enthusiast! Here I share product reviews, DIY hair recipes, the hair journeys of others, and my own journey! Whatever the texture, style, or length, I'm dedicated to bringing Healthy back! Welcome to Curl Rehab!