The Black Power Flag is a symbol of our movement, the Red stands for the blood that unites all people of Black African ancestry, and shed for liberation, the Black stands for our whose existence as a nation, though not a nation-state, is affirmed by the existence of the flag, and power and Green the abundant natural wealth of Africa. This flag is not to offend or put down anyone but to uplift and bring together a culture that has been through too much for far too long. It is important to know why we have this. It is important to know why we have to fight to keep this movement alive. It is most importantly to do research on the subject before you go and get pissy because black people are pushing "Black Power".
Okay so a step away from hair real quick because this needs to be addressed and I know what people think, "here goes another angry black woman" and honestly you are right I am and I have every right to be but that is another topic for another day. Today I want to discuss the difference between "Black Power" and being "Afro-Centric" and "White Power" and "White Supremacy". First let me state that yes I am full on Black Power and my Afro is always on fleek and on high and I do not apologize for it because there is nothing for me to apologize about. The Black Power Movement which took hold in the 1960s and 1970s was a movement to support black rights as well as political power. But this movement was more than just that, this movement just like Black Girls Rock was meant to empower the oppressed. It was to uplift people of color who felt they were not as great like their non black counterparts. Black people from the time we landed in America have had to rebuild a culture that was stripped from them. We had to remake ourselves because the culture we had was taken from us and lost in the past. Black Power is to uplift and bring together and is not used to oppress anyone. I can not say the same for "White Power" and "White Supremacy". Those two movements are to oppress any culture non white. It is used to scare, and put down those who are not like them, namely those who are white. It is not wrong to show black pride, because you are showing pride in who you are and where you come from and you do not oppress anyone else with that because there is nothing wrong with showing pride in your heritage. But what Black Power is and will never be is to stand to put those beneath them because of color, that is what white supremacy does.
The Black Power Flag is a symbol of our movement, the Red stands for the blood that unites all people of Black African ancestry, and shed for liberation, the Black stands for our whose existence as a nation, though not a nation-state, is affirmed by the existence of the flag, and power and Green the abundant natural wealth of Africa. This flag is not to offend or put down anyone but to uplift and bring together a culture that has been through too much for far too long. It is important to know why we have this. It is important to know why we have to fight to keep this movement alive. It is most importantly to do research on the subject before you go and get pissy because black people are pushing "Black Power".
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So here is the thing this was not done because I had some kind of epiphany, in fact it was the exact opposite I went natural purely out of vanity. I was always changing my hair and I was really getting tired of my straight hair, also I was girl who always had long thick hair, but my hair was really damaged and I was no longer that girl with the long straight hair. I think in 2010 is when I cut all my hair off unknowingly and when i saw that the back of my hair no longer took to relaxers and I saw how curly it was I was very much interested in this curly hair wave. But as life would have it I went back to relaxers. I knew about natural hair but to be honest I was ignorant on all of it. Though I loved girls with curls I thought that those with no defined curl pattern to have ugly hair. But when I finally decided to transition in 2012 I honestly swore I was going to have nice Shirley temple curls, clearly I was really full of myself and well youtube didn't help. The summer of 2013 I was struggling with two textures and it just wasn't working. So I cut the relaxed ends off and man was my hair short, it was the shortest it was in a long time since it took so long to grow out from the last time I cut it all off. The struggle became real and not only that I started to learn about natural hair. I started to learn about my culture I also came to realize man was I extremely ignorant and well a product of society. Why I went natural may have started out as pure vanity wanting nice ringlets but now that I am older I realize there is more to natural hair than just having curls and sorry but my epiphany came later. Better late than never.
Out of all the natural hair type charts I've seen this is probably the best one, but let me clear when it comes to natural hair no ones curls are identical. The first thing women discover when going natural is the hair type chart this chart pretty much shows the different textures and curl patterns of natural hair and acts as a guide to better understand your curl pattern, texture and what products are best suited for your hair.
Type 2a-3a: Curls are more looser and elongated, the texture and feel is more on the finer I like to say silkier side. Type 3b: This is just about the same as 3a but a bit more thicker but the texture is still on the finer and silkier side. Type 3c: Getting to the more thicker, bigger more coily than those in 2a-3b. Texture runs about the same but some in this hair type may experience more dryness and coarseness than those in 2a-3b. Type 4: This is the type that I myself am in, and speaking for myself I am what you call multi-textured. Some parts of my head are different from others. This type is more on the kinky, coily side of natural hair and this type is the most driest. Type 4's need a bit more moisture than the other types and type 4 experiences breakages as well as shrinkage's more often than those in other types. Bonus Texture is the multitexture any one of the types can have multi-texture type hair whether you are in the 3s or 4s or 2s. Natural hair grows how it wants and does what it wants. The point of this chart is to just give the basic idea of curl types and patterns and some charts even offer suggested products. Although I would like to point out the issues of hair typing and the chart that is another post for another day. I just wanted to simply explain quickly different types of natural hair. I hope you enjoyed this quick little post. =) Today is the day! I have decided to go cold turkey and start my official journey into veganism. For the past few months I have been in a transition stage (this stage has also been going on since I was 16, but whose counting). When I decide on doing something I like try to and get as many facts as I can, I go research crazy, then I decide if this is the right choice for me. I read all the pros and cons to this lifestyle and aside from the nutritional aspects of it I have come to realize veganism is more than just a healthier diet choice (though it is possible to be unhealthy and vegan many processed foods are vegan). The fact of the matter stands not only am I doing this for myself but also I feel that like animals are not here for my benefit. I had to ask myself, how can I call myself an animal lover if I only show care for one set of animals like dogs and cats but not show the same love and respect to other animals. I have spoken to family and friends and although they have health concerns I am confident that this is the best choice for me. I am ready to move on in this journey and ready to post everything in between. I will try and update everyday on what I eat and do related to this and hopefully inspire someone to take the plunge.
When I set out to be a blogger I wanted to make sure that my blog offered more than just one subject. I needed something not only that I was passionate or obsessed with but something that I can talk about all in one space and that my readers (if I have any) would enjoy. I am new to this, so that's probably why posts are not often but I will do my best as to keep up with that. Now for the topic at hand. I am the kind of person that if there is an abundance of steps in a tutorial, recipe, even an application I just cant bring myself to sit still long enough to do it. I love food, I really do love food and as much as I love it I do not like preparing it. I like things to be quick and easy and if it requires me to do more than I am willing to do it is like a uphill battle, on a hot day with a backpack that can carry a small child. Yes I am dramatic but I think we can all agree that cooking is not a thrill for everyone. When I was in middle school Spy Kids came out and they had this microwave that you popped a small packet in, turned the microwave on and there you go your meal hot and ready. They made a 3D printer that can make a pizza, this microwave is quicker. I think in the year 2015 we need to have this patented, like yesterday.
Now with all of that drama I will admit that starting my transition into veganism has made things a bit simpler. There are lots of recipes with 5 ingredients or less even meals 30 minutes or less. Rawtil4 meals is probably one of the quicker ways to prepare your meals everything is eaten how it is no need for cooking. But I don't want to just stick to the same ones I would like to try the more intense recipes, I just want someone to do them for me. I know that I am not the only person who feels this way. I would really like to know about all the people who hate cooking as much as I do and maybe we can motivate each other to actually want to, or we can just sit and talk about how much we love food but we hate making it. I have not been on for awhile been caught up with family issues, and blogging is hard.
Now the reason behind this post. Firstly my blog is not just about natural hair. I want to use this to inform about anything I am passionate about and this is one of those things. I am sick and tired of being sick and tired. What took place in McKinney Texas should never have happened. What is worse is the blatant justification of what an adult male, not a cop because he crossed the line feels the need to use his authority on a 15 year old girl in her bathing suit. This was a clear violation of human rights and another situation where black lives where mistreated. I am tired of those who abuse authority and cause harm to others simply because they think they can. I'm tired of feeling like if I speak out on any injustice especially those done to black people I'm too black power, or I am an angry black women. I watched that video and I nearly fell. That could have been my cousin, my friend and no adult saw anything wrong because well she was being "mouthy". I will no longer stand for this, we need to get it together this mistreatment of black lives has gone on long enough and something needs to be done. I need people to stop and think and really take a good look because in order for us to come together we need to address the problem head on. #blacklivesmatter #stoppolicebrutality #treateveryoneasyouwouldliketobetreated #loveoneanother #stopracism I subscribe to many natural hair bloggers but out of all of them these two ladies are my favorites. They have great tips and tricks to natural hair and lifestyle habits but also their camera presence is what kept me wanting more. When I didn't know how or what to do with my hair these women were my savoirs.
If you find yourself in the beginning of your natural hair journey and even still on it I think these two will help greatly. YouTube Channels https://m.youtube.com/user/heyfranhey https://m.youtube.com/user/Naptural85 https://m.YouTube.com/user/dearnaptural85 So when I first started my journey I mostly rocked protective styles. From semi mini twists, to twist updos. I was not one for wash and go's mostly because I was convinced that I could not maintain nor have a successful wash and go. A few months ago I got into my feelings I was wearing protective styles almost all the time and I was not enjoying my hair like I wanted. So I did some research on wash and gos and how to define them. So of course I looked to my favorite natural hair guru Naptural85 for some tips on how to define type 4 natural hair. So here are some steps to have a successful wash and go on type 4 hair.
Step One: -Before I do anything I detangle my hair. Starting from ends to roots I first finger detangle. You can use coconut oil, a conditioner of your choice I prefer aloe vera juice. Step Two: -The next step is to cleanse/clarify your hair. I've notice my wash and gos turn out best on clean hair. You can use shampoo (but since this is for type 4 hair that may be too drying if uses too often) so you can cowash with a conditioner that's cleanses the scalp and hair good or an alternative like apple cider vinegar, Castile soap. Step Three: - I always deep condition so I recommend that or just a follow up but left on for a few extra minutes. Step Four: -Now I saw that some girls work on damp or dry hair, but for me I've learned that soaking wet hair is best. Choose a leave in as a base and a curl definer, it can be a creme or gel I use both just because I like maximum hold. Some gels cause your hair to be hard others don't but it also is on what products you use them with so its all on trial and error. Some videos will suggest using a denman brush, or raking but for those with type 4 hair that may not work. The idea is to clump your curls together raking maybe separate them, though I do that from time to time because I like frizz and bigger hair but if you want a more defined look I suggest not doing that. Last But Not Least: -Diffuse, you can air dry but for me diffusing has made all the difference especially with combating shrinkage, if you aren't bother by shrinkage dry your hair how you please. For any more tips and tricks on defining curls for type 4 hair you can always visit Naptural85 on YouTube as well as many others who use different techniques to define their kinks and coils. This is the first product review I'm doing for this blog so please just bare with me. I will try and make is as short as I can cause I know I don't like to read too much so here it goes.
So I'm not a crazy product junky but for me sometimes if I keep using the same thing my hair gets used to it and after awhile won't respond to the products so I like to switch it up. I have used Shea moisture but mostly their coconut and hibiscus curl milk so I wasn't very familiar with their other products so I though to give it a try. Products Used: -Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Deep Treatment Masque -Shea Moisture African Black Soap Deep Cleansing Shampoo -Shea Moisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen, Grow and Restore Leave-In Conditioner Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter DC When I was looking for different deep conditioner and I normally go for my mayo and egg DIY or the macadamia oil dc by Organix, but I wanted to try something new and I've been eyeing this one for awhile. Though when I looked into this one I saw it got mixed reviews but I decided to just try it anyway. Product Claims: SheaMoisture's Raw Shea Butter Deep Treatment Masque deeply moisturizes and repairs dry, damaged or over-processed hair. An all-natural intensive treatment perfect for transitioning chemically treated hair to healthy natural hair. Pros: I'm big on scents, whether natural or artificial as long as it isn't over powering its okay with me. Since this is a natural product the smell I actually enjoyed very much even after I wash my hair. It works great as a detangler, I moisturized my hair and my hair didn't feel weighed down in any way. It can also be used daily. Con: I could do without the price, $10.79 for a 12oz jar doesn't seem like a deal to me, I'm generous with products so I would prefer more if I'm paying more than $5. It left residue on my roots, but to be fair it does work best on washed and clean hair so I personally recommend you washing your hair whether that is with shampoo or a cowash. Final Thoughts: With all the mixed reviews and claims it didn't penetrate or moisturize your hair the good thing with this one is you can add to it, an oil of your choice to better help as well as adding heat. I used this with oil and honey and without but each time I added heat and I have to say I have no complaints other than the size and price. I love this product and I have added it to my regimen. I do very much recommend this product to all hair types but especially those of us whose hair is always on the dryer side. If using it as a deep conditioner doesn't work try using it as a leave in on a daily basis that might work better in your favor. Shea Moisture JBCO Leave-In This one actually belongs to my mother, who herself is not natural. Since my mom is relaxed and uses heat often she likes to use natural and organic products she says they work best for her and they keep her hair soft. Since this one is for natural, chemical and color treated as well as those with heat damage I thought I would give it a try because right now my hair has chemical damage due to color treatment. Product Claims: SheaMoisture’s Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen, Grow & Restore Leave-In Conditioner softens and detangles hair while controlling frizz. Perfect for those who regularly color, straighten, perm or heat style their hair, as well as kinky, curly or wavy natural styles. Formulated with Jamaican Black Castor Oil and certified organic Shea Butter to nourish, moisturize and support elasticity so hair resists breakage when detangling. Conditioners provide a protective layer that improves the appearance of split ends. Peppermint stimulates the scalp for an invigorating experience. Pros: This product goes on easy, and leaves my hair feeling soft and moisturized even after wash day. It comes in a large which makes me forget about the price of $10.99. I use it on my wash and goes and this also works well with my other products. Con's: I can not stand the smell at all. I've seen women review this and say they love the smell for me the smell is disgusting its too pungent. Its more of a cream but its sort of watery kind of a runny feel to it. Even though it moisturized my hair I notice if I use too much it can leave my hair feeling greasy for days even after wash day which for me isn't good because that buildup ends up on my scalp and causes issues. So be mindful of how much you use. Final Thoughts: Apart from the horrible smell and that I can't be too generous with this product I have also added this to my regimen. I have a leave it but its really light and I have to apply that daily but this allows me to use it once and I'm set for a few days. The price is fine for me because I'm getting a big tub of it. I am looking forward to trying the other products from this line. I will say this though its like a one day use leave in so use sparingly. Product Claims: SheaMoisture's African Black Soap Deep Cleansing Shampoo gently cleanses as it removes buildup from styling products and soothes dry, itchy and flaking scalp. Helps regulate sebum production. Sulfate-free. Helps regulate sebum production, while alleviating itching and flaking Pros: This product does have lather but not an extreme amount which for me is nice. No over powering smell, and it did take away itch and my dandruff which by the way I do suffer from. Con: Like all shampoos this one is very drying, completely stripped my hair of all moisture. The relief from itch didn't last. When I normally cleanse my scalp and hair the relief from itch and dandruff will be gone for an entire week until next wash day. This only worked for one day and I was back to where I started. Final Thoughts: Although using it on wash day and it working that day I can't say that I love this one at least I don't like it for the long term. I like when I use a product for it to work past wash day. My cowash and cleansing alternatives work better than this. I do like it took out the dandruff but that's about it. I'm not going to waste it I will let my mom use it hopefully she has better results. So this is a loss for me, but I will try their deep treatment maybe that will do a better job. All in all two out of the three were wins for me. I know everyone's hair is different but I also feel you will never know about a product until you try. Let me know what products you want me to try and review and I will definitely try them out. As an I am introducing you to my Blog I am trying to come up with something catchy, to draw you in and make you want to bother even listening. But I will just simply introduce myself, I am Elle and I am natural and this is my natural hair blog. I have been deciding for awhile whether or not to make one and thought its either now or never. I am making this for many reasons one being for fun, another being I am completely obsessed with natural hair but also the journey that it is taking me on. So this blog will be a bit rough at first but to put it plainly this is for the curls with curls, whether they spiral or zig zag this is all about embracing your natural self as well as a bit of my life because I was not sure if I could just limit this to one topic. Im sorry for making this a bit short but trust me there will be more coming soon. So with that I hope you'll find what I talk about interesting or useful and share this natural hair lifestyle with me.
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