Hands down, Tyra Sanchez was and forever will be the fiercest bitch to walk the catwalk of RuPaul’s Drag Race.
Quick Post/Update:
I’m attempting a bantu knot out for an event I have to attend tomorrow. I’m praying that it comes out well since I won’t have much time to do a wash n go.
I will photograph the results whether successful or hot ass mess.
Reggie Watts|I Just Want To
I think I have a bigger crush on Reggie Watts’ fro than Reggie Watts the man. But how could you not? He’s also talented and hilarious. Anyways, just sharing this with my followers. Enjoy the music and hair.
HairStory: Grace Wingo
It’s been a while since the last profile, but I’m glad to announce its return. We are returning with the profile of a fairly new natural, Grace Wingo (of flaneur-.tumblr.com) She’s been natural for seven months, midway through the first year.
Favorite styles/products: Nature Valley Shampoo, Trader Joes Refresh Citrus Shampoo with Vitamin C and Conditioner, Olive oil, Jojoba Oil, pure Shea butter, Vegetable Glycerin
What was the general reception of your decision to go natural?
The general reception of my decision to go natural was really positive. I actually didn’t have any negative reception, however there was a little of hesitation from women who were not natural. Questions such as “really, are you sure?” or “why? you have such long hair.” One woman, after i got my Big chop exclaimed, “Grace, you cut all your hair off! But your hair was so long, why did you cut it off?” Almost as if having long hair is the only way to wear your hair, (and it’s not!) and let me say, my hair wasn’t even that long at this point, which is one of the reasons I wanted to go natural, it had been gradually getting shorter and thinner as i continued relaxing my hair. It used to be almost mid way down my back and before i got the BC it was barely down my shoulders. My friends and family on the other hand were all for it. They encouraged it actually and boosted my confidence and enthusiasm greatly, and most of my friends are natural, almost all by now actually. When i got it cut, they loved it, the look and feel of it, and gave such positive feedback. That definitely gave me confidence and seeing how confident they carried themselves with their naturals, i fed off that energy and that allowed me to feel more comfortable in with my newly natural hair.
Do you see your decision as being more than just about hair? 
My decision to go natural, initially was mostly just about hair, yes. But it’s interesting, when I cut my hair, i started paying more attention to how i dressed. I wasn’t really into fashion before,and still not really, but just putting more effort into my clothes, or more so letting social conformity’s go and letting my outfits express myself more fully. I am definitely more comfortable in my own skin. Almost as if shedding off that hair, I was able to let go of a lot of “European standards of beauty.” Letting go of all that, it’s all about self love, loving the person you are, and loving how you look, and loving and being proud of my African heritage. I completely embraced my self more, my heritage, my skin tone, my hair texture, my body type, everything. So at first it was just to have healthier hair. I researched the damage done by the chemicals in relaxers and was appalled, i just couldn’t continue doing that to my scalp anymore. And it’s little things like that, now I’m more careful about what i eat, what i’m putting into and onto my body. Clothes, food, I try to stay away from processed foods, fast foods, trying to move towards a vegetarian diet. I would say it was a lifestyle change. I also have 3 young nieces, and I want to be a good role model for them and show them, just by being comfortable in my own skin and embracing my natural beauty, how beautiful it is to have your hair worn the way you are born. I completely embrace the body, the hair, and the skin, i was given and i aim to be the kind of person for my nieces and younger cousins to want to emulate.
Name the high and low points (if any) of having natural hair for you.
The low points of having natural hair, I’m not sure i’ve discovered them yet lol. My hair is still fairly short so it’s easy to manage so maybe when it gets longer i might encounter difficulty with tangles, or i may never, but I guess only time will tell. So far, i can’t say there are any low points to having natural hair.
The high points are many: Easy to manage! that is the biggest one. I wake up, rinse my hair with water and put a little natural oil (jojoba, or kemi oyl) in it and that’s about it. That’s really it. On days that i wash it, i do a little more (hot oil treatment, shampoo, deep condition, leave in conditioner) but it’s so simple. There are so many high points, it’s fun to play with new styles, before when I had a relaxer i didn’t want to touch it too much because i’d be afraid of messing it up, or making it frizzy or sweating it out, now when it rains or i sweat, i could care less. It’s very liberating and very freeing to just let all of that go. And just let your hair be. I don’t even try to control it, my hair does what it wants and i think that can flow into the rest of your life. Another high point, everything i use on my hair i can use on my skin. So if i get a little oil or shea butter or whatever product i’m using on my skin or even on my clothes, it’s not a big deal because it’s all natural. Not having to worry about harsh chemicals is relieving, so if anything drips onto my skin it’s okay. My hair is a lot healthier. It’s a lot less dry, it’s not damaged by chemicals, the strands are thicker and stronger. It shines (when i’m taking care of it properly.) I’ve noticed significant change in the health of my hair and skin. 
Define “good hair.”
Good hair is healthy hair. If it’s moisturized and well taken care of, i think that’s good hair. I would even go as far as getting rid of the whole good hair label all together, hair is hair. Everybody has different hair. Even if it’s dry and damaged, it’s just that: dry and damaged. It doesn’t make it “bad hair” just means you need to drink more water and use more suitable products for your hair.
Do you have any advice to new naturals or transitioners?
To new naturals i would say it’s all about accepting and embracing your hair. Your hair is beautiful. The texture, the length, the type, the color- it is beautiful. As long as you love how you look, truly love and accept how you look, i. I’m in awe of black women’s hair. How it defies gravity, how it hangs down, the volume, and the glory of it. I’m in awe of black women in general. As far as maintenance, drink a lot of water. The moisture has to come from within, so hydrate as much as possible. I think they say 6-8 glasses a day. Fatty acids found in fish help alot with protein and essential oils. I don’t find myself eating a lot of fish so I bought these omega 3 fatty acid pills from Trader Joes and I take one each day. Massage your scalp each day to keep circulation going. Use all natural products. Get in the habit of reading the ingredients not only on your hair products, but also in what you eat. And have fun, because you may encounter lots of discoveries and surprises, notwithstanding just your hair, so just be accepting and enjoy the journey. As long as you love how you look, truly love and accept how you look, that will shine and radiate outward. 
I’d like to thank Grace for an awesome response to the questions. Very inspiring. You can find Grace on Tumblr.
It’s been a long time since I left you…
without some hair pics to show you, show you….
All fuckery aside, please excuse my abrupt departure from this blog. You know how life can be.
To catch up,
My nappiversary was January 1, 2011. It’s been a year since my big chop and my last perm was March 22,2009. Time flies and so did the progress of my hair.
I went from Velma Dinkley…
to a twa…
Then I took a break and gave the kinki twists a shot…
Took those out midway through my journey and was too surprised at how far my hair had progressed…
(Sorry, no photos for mid journey)
Then it seems I woke up one morning and realized the current status I’m at today. My big, full, and FLUFFEH AFRO!
The ‘fro in action!
I apologize in advance for all the photo spam, but seeing as it is showing my natural hair in it’s yearly process, hopefully it’s alright with ya’ll.
So that’s my hair. I’ve had some ups and downs and this journey has just begun. I’m thankful for the support of my family and friends and everyone who is even found this eventful enough to follow. Look for a lot more updates in the near future!
For any concerns, comments, or inquiries to being a Hairstory for Hair Noir, just email hairnoir(at)gmail.com
Peace!
Stank face aside, it’s kind of crazy how my hair has progressed since January. Due to incorporating black tea rinses as a weekly routine, my hair has very little breakage and it seems thicker.
I’ve decided to try out Biotin, since I’ve heard a lot of good things about it. It’s Vitamin B packed, so it strengthens the nails, helps hair growth, and supposedly aids the skin. The only concern I have is that it’s said to also increase hair growth everywhere, including the eyebrows.
If any of you have tried Biotin, tell me did it work for you or was it a waste of time/money?
Going Natural by WPTV News
How do you guys feel about this report and calling natural hair a “fad?” Personally, I think it’s ridiculous to refer to the way your hair naturally grows out of your scalp being a “trend” or “fad.” Just because straight hair is something that is popular, doesn’t mean it’s the standard.
I’m on the fence, but it is great to see women at least giving their natural hair a chance. There’s no denying that it is healthier and lowers the risk of severe hair loss later in life.
What are your opinions?
Hair PSA:
You do NOT need more than five ingredients for a pre-poo/deep conditioning treatment. I just saw a video where a woman used 15 different oils, butters, and cremes for her pre-poo.
I find that to be completely unnecessary and wasteful. If you want moisture, choose a product you believe will be the best; not three. The same goes for curl definition, softness, strengthening the hair shaft, etc.
When I pre-poo, it’s simply:
- Conditioner
- Honey
- Essential Oil
- Carrier Oil
I usually interchange them on a weekly basis, but my staples are usually olive oil, grapeseed oil, and peppermint oil. It’s quite simple and effective. This may not work for your hair, but I don’t believe weighing your hair down with multiple products is the solution. At some point, it’s nothing more than product build-up, which can stunt growth and unpleasant itchiness. There is such a thing as “too much of a good thing.”
Simplicity is wonderful for a natural hair care routine. It’s easy to remember, keep up with, and saves you time and money.
Very interesting and hilarious video about the natural hair community and the foolishness women encounter from the viewpoint of a transgendered woman.
Her other videos are also comedic gold.
Products Review
Hey Everyone,
Sorry for the lack of posting. Work and life have been keeping me very busy. Not to mention the havoc it’s wreaking on my tresses. However, I’ve been doing some splurging on ingredients and products the last few weeks and I’ve decided to compile a list of my favorite and least favorite products. Overall, I’ve had great experiences, but I also have some semi-horror stories.
Best Products:
Out of everything I purchased, this was my absolute favorite. After washing my hair yesterday using Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap, I added the mask in sections and twisted up my hair. It has a very dense and creamy texture. It stands true for a little going a long way. I didn’t use much and my hair is very thick. It also did well with detangling and the effects are immediate. I kept my hair under a cap for about 10 minutes, then rinsed it out. My hair was soft, free of tangles, and bouncy. Even today, it’s still very manageable and well moisturized. My only issues would be the ingredients and it didn’t rinse out easy. 4/5
What I love about HE’s conditioners is the thick consistency. It never takes half a bottle to coat my hair as it does with other conditioners. However, Totally Twisted seems to have a better slip factor, especially for curly hair. I had no problem with detangling at all and it’s a cheap, but effective product. Cons? I’m not really a fan of the scent, but it dissipates as the hair dries. This conditioner also contains cones, so if you’re wary of this; I’d advise not to use it. 4/5
Rainy Day Products:
While it is an 100% organic shampoo free of sulfates and parabens, my hair still felt a bit stripped. It cleansed my scalp well, but I could not detangle my hair. The biggest pro would be the volume it gives to hair and curl definition. I’ve only had definition like that when using ACV rinses or beer shampoo. Overall, it’s not a product I would constantly use, but it’s good to have on hand. 3/5
There’s a lot of hype around Bronner’s in the natural hair online community, but I’m not adding to it. While my hair smelled clean, there was still residue left over even after using non-diluted soap. It didn’t leave my hair with that stripped feeling, but the washoff did a less than substantial job at cleansing the hair shaft. However, it has a really pleasant scent and it does have 17 other uses. So far, I’ve used it as a body wash and have added it to my laundry. So, it’s not a complete waste. 2.5/5
Don’t Waste Your Time or Money:
Sometimes, you really do get what you pay for. The only thing I liked about this conditioner was the smell. Everything else was a mess. Practically no slip, I had to use 3/4 of the bottle. It left my curls all stretched out and limp. My hair rebuked the hell outta this conditioner. Even when I added olive oil to it, it couldn’t save my hair. I ended up just wearing a hat that day. Don’t even waste your dollar, might as well go get a candy bar. 0.5/5
This was another hell of a fail product. While it boasts such great ingredient, as a whole it’s an ineffective product. It may work on fine/wavy hair, but it did nothing to my curls. I used the entire 8 oz bottle to cover my hair and it still wasn’t evenly coated. While my hair was moisturized and soft the first day, after two days my hair seemed lackluster and dry. I didn’t enjoy this product at all and I’m only giving it some score for being on sale when I purchased it. 0.5/5
I hope these quick reviews give you a good idea at products to try and stay away from. If you’d like to recommend me to any product for review, just send an e-mail to hairnoir(at)gmail.com
