I Am Not My Hair: Police Me Not

Courtesy of Project Embrace

Back to school season has arrived. As if its not enough fulfilling school lists and figthing crowds for uniforms arent enough to keep parents busy, they must now also contend with what hairstyles violate school dress codes. For many people of color living and working in predominantly white spaces, its not difficult to imagine being told that the way your natural hair grows violates a school or place of business dress code or policy of professionalism. Furthermore, what perpetuates this narrative is the lack of afro textured hair in mainstream media and marketing. While there is a rise in women of status appearing in advertisements rocking their natural hair, there are still deficits in women sporting natural hair on large and very public platforms.

Whispering Roots Hair Care

For those of African descent, hairstyles associated with ethnic identity have often been singled out and targeted for discrimination. Across the United States, discrimination on the basis of hair is fleeting topic of discussion. California and New York are among the first to ban discrimination on the basis of hair. The New York City Commission of Human Rights states that the same law that prohibits discrimination based on race, gender, or religion applies to hair, which is ultimately an extension and intrinsic part of black identity. People across the country have reported various bouts of discrimination regarding their natural hairstyles and are often forced to cut it off or change it to "meet" codes of dress and/or professionalism.

For black people, hair is symbolic and a huge stance against the violation of civil rights. It is the rebellion whiteness and for a long time a stance against assimilation. In the event that you are
worried about your child's hair violating existing dress codes, it is suggested that you stand to break boundaries and change the perception, one coil at a time.

Watch WHAT You Allow In Your Head: Wood Combs and Natural Hair

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If you ask any black woman about their hair care experience while growing up, the stories you are bound to hear will be seemingly one of pain and torture. From pressing combs to ponytail holders there isn't a shortage of the horror that came from a typical moment of hair combing. Some of those pain inducing treasures are sitting in our bathroom cabinets right now....I'm not talking about barettes are harsh chemicals, im talking about plastic combs. You just flashed back to a time it felt like you were being stabbed, scratched and violated by a plastic comb in your hair.

Plastic combs are known to dig into the scalp and if you have thick (high density), dry (low porosity) hair then you know how torturous plastic combs are to the scalp and how damaging they can be to your natural tresses. Plastic combs are easy to produce, economical and durable compared to other (earlier) combs, such as wooden combs. Convenience and mass production made plastic combs the primary tool for separating hair follicles.

Wooden combs, however, are absolute must-haves for natural, thick and curly hair. Sandalwood combs are perfect for maintaining and encouraging the growth of natural hair. Using a sandalwood comb in your crown has a few benefits you may want to make note of.

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Sandalwood combs don't produce static as often found in plastic/rubber based combs. This prevents hair breakage and helps detangle the hair. In addition the teeth of the comb massages the scalp as opposed to digging and scratching. This helps stimulate the scalp by increasing blood flow and encouraging nutrient deposits to the roots.The natural wooden fibers of the teeth of the comb helps condition the scalp distributing the natural oils from the roots down the hair to its ends. This helps minimze dandruff production. Using a wooden comb in your natural hair will give you that beautiful and healthy mane that you have been working so hard to maintain.

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Black Hair Don't Care: How to Manage Your Low Porosity, High Density Hair

Source: Youtube

The growth of the natural hair care business is booming! More women are returning to their roots, while caring for their roots. >Insert boisterous laughter here> No? Ok, bad joke aside, according to a research by Mintel, more black women in the United States of America are gravitating towards natural hair care products and this has seen an increase in the sale of hair styling products, which jumped to 26.8 percent between 2013 and 2015, reaching a value of $946 million which represents more than 16 percent of the overall hair industry. Black women are moving away from chemical based products, this change in lifestyle has created the boom in natural hair care product sales. 

While business is booming, there are a massive number of women that find it difficult to manage natural hair. Deciding to go natural involves a process almost as rigorous as the FBI hiring process. After finally taking the leap of faith to just do it, because why not, do the most liberating, socially rebellious thing as wearing the hair God gave the lady must:

*determine the type of hair they have (like seriously, what does the c in 4c hair even stand for?)

*identify if its low, medium or high porosity and density (My hair is poros? What is that? Is it bad? Is this why my hair is thick?)

*search high and low for the right hair care products (is there a medium search button for hair care products? i'm on product 8 bazillion and 5, i'd like to scale this back)

*research "growing hands" stlyists (Is this stylist a renowned edge whisperer?)

*develop an intense daily and weekly regiment to ensure healthy manageable hair (Why does my hair feel drier than the desert, I've moisturized daily?)

Whispering Roots Hair and Scalp Moisturizer

So, while getting back to the root of all is on a steady rise, choosing to properly care for your natural hair is not easy requires tenacity and werewithal. While there are several places to start, understanding your hair type can be the most difficult one to start with. No worries, we will provide a cliffsnotes version, a cheat sheet if you will to putting the pieces of your hair puzzle together. 

You've finally did the big chop and are now standing in the mirror envisioning yourself in the middle of the beauty supply with what seems to be miles and aisles of products. Where do you begin? How do you decide? Before you jet out the door, do a simple search on your hair type based on its porosity and density. Porosity is your hair's ability to absorb moisture/water. Low porosity hair is resistant to moisture and if tested (clean hair only) will float in a bowl of water. This hair type finds difficutly in getting water in and keeping it there. High porosity hair absorbs moisture greatly. This leads to frizzy hair. Choose products that are water soluble if you have low porosity hair as this aid in the reduction of build up and are rich in moisture. For high porosity hair choose products that protein rich and lightweight to avoid heavy hair. 

If you have ever heard an elder in your family say, "That baby sure has some thick hair" then you have an idea of what hair density is. It simply refers to the thickness of your hair. This is not be confused with the hair strand, but rather the thickness of your hair in any given section of your head. Thick hair bearers (high density hair) should use products that are heavier. However, beware if you are low porosity and high density as thicker products may block /seal the small folicle openings before moisture has a chance to penetrate. So always moisturize before sealing with heavier products. Low density hair should use leave-in conditioners that promises appearance of fuller hair. 

Now that you have had your science lesson on hair, lets discuss the economics of hair care products...in other words, let us examine how what supply of products your hair will demand. Low porosity hair should look for products with water and either coconut, sunflower, grapeseed, or argan oil in the first six ingredients. Jojoba, jamaican black castor oil, almond oil and shea butter will also work for sealing the moisture in. Adding heat to your regiment also helps hold moisture in. High porosity hair should seek products with avocado oil or high protein conditioners to help control the frizz. In addition to these products, creating a diy at home conditioner using any combination of these products that may work for you: honey, mayo, avocado, olive oil, and a banana. 

"Buzzworthy Cravings, Creatively Satisfied!"

Why Do You Care About My Hair? Real Talk, Black Reflection: Gabby Douglas Commentary

Who are you attracted to? I am in love with the tall, dark and handsome type. The most important descriptor being 'dark'! There's something that drives me insane about sun-kissed skin. Truth is I'm partial to the dark skin of others because of the love I have for my own dark skin. Now that's nothing against my light-skinned counterparts, I'm just saying I have an admiration for my skins pigment. It seems however, that this self love is hindered by self hate in our community. By now the world knows Gabby Douglas as the history making First African American woman to win the Olympic All Around Gold Medal. This young woman inspired more than a nation as her mother told her she could competing in a predominantly white sport...yet, at the height of her herstory book making success, others seem to be more concerned with her hair. I guess for some hair is more important than herstory.

Malcolm X said, 'the worst thing racism did was make us hate ourselves.'  Two forms of slavery exist: physical and mental. Enslaved African Americans were subjected to both, but mental enslavement is the ULTIMATE worst—and one they were NEVER freed from. This fact should NOT be taken lightly. The mind of the enslaved African American was tinkered and toyed with, corrosively manipulated, abused and misused.  One of the greatest powers in the world is the power to define reality and make others accept it, even when it’s to their disadvantage.  This is what has happened to the Black African American race. Despite peonage ending in 1948, on the brink of the civil rights movement, Black America continued to struggle with their identity, not without compromising who they really are to become who and what they perceive as better than what stares back at them in the mirror. From socioeconomic status, skin color, and, which neighborhood their home was in to hair type African Americans begun to define who and what they were based on things they had, as opposed to their actions. 

 In the 1960s, when African Americans were implored to be proud of their dark skin and natural hair, black women sported afros — short and sassy or big and billowy. Since the 1990s, young African Americans have rocked dreadlocks and braids, which are particularly popular among artists. Straightened hair, however, has never gone out of style and continues to draw criticism from those who say it is an attempt by black people to mimic the texture of white women’s hair. But for many black women, straight, perfectly styled hair is a shield against a society that doesn’t appreciate afro-centric features. Black women’s obsession with straight hair and weaves was the subject of the much-talked-about 2009 documentary “Good Hair” by comedian Chris Rock.  The commentary on Gabby's hair shows the preoccupation with creating the picture that we like ourselves, when many of us don't! This outburst of ignorance begin on social media, which has opened pandoras box showing the damage and pain that continues to keep us in the chains of enslavement. For something as simple and petty as hair in the prime of a history making event, shows that the crabs in the bucket are snapping harder and pulling tighter than ever. This same type of mentality exists in our day to day lives. People dislike, slander and find enjoyment in the pain of others simply because they haven't yet learned to love themselves. When you love yourself, you love the accomplishments that others who look like you make. I think it's time we as a people heal, and begin to love self. 

Sources:
 http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/gabby-douglass-hair-sets-off-twitter-debate-but-some-ask-whats-the-fuss/2012/08/03/38548064-ddaf-11e1-9ff9-1dcd8858ad02_story.html 

 (http://thyblackman.com/2011/06/29/wake-up-black-america-time-to-teach-the-truth/)


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