Wicked Wednesdays

 

Wicked Wednesdays

It's Wedneeesssdddaaaaay!

 

Time to celebrate all things amazing and beautiful!

 

 

Hair Porn

 

 

Roseiby and her amazing curls!

 

Hair Porn

 

 

Jasmine Sierra

 

 

Hair Porn

 

 

Mona Leza

 

Don't forget to submit your pictures of yourself to be featured in Wicked Wednesdays, just send a picture of yourself and a caption about it to spokenheart_mf@aol.com

 

What are you doing to celebrate life and beauty today?

 

 

 

 

 

The Right Way...

The Right Way....

A friend of mine recently queried me on the best way to begin her natural journey, she informed that she had not had a perm in 3 months and was just too nervous about actually cutting her hair off.

My response: there is no "best way".

I can only speak from my personal experience and the truth is the best way to go natural depends on each person and their comfort zone. Of course, as a woman that experienced the big chop, I encourage every woman who is brave enough to try that method. Not for the sake of growth or beauty, but for the experience. Women are judged by their hair so much and the big chop does not relieve you of that judgment, trust me! But, it gives you an opportunity to get to know yourself.

With that being said, there are certain things to keep in mind when beginning your natural journey.

1) Do not be afraid of your kinks.

If you choose to transition, your new roots will obviously not be as tame as your previously relaxed ends. This does not mean that you need to flat iron them every morning or smother your head in gel and pull your hair back in a ponytail so tight your curls get scared straight. This is the perfect time to start experimenting with natural looking hairstyle, such as twist out, curls, braids and things of that nature.

2) Heat is no longer your friend.

Honestly, heat was never our friend, hence the term "heat damage". But, with your new natural hair, it is even more important to avoid over usage of heat. Using too much heat can have consequences such as: loss of curl pattern due to permanent straightening or your hair could become so dry and brittle that you would have to cut off the damaged area. But most importantly of all, every time you apply heat to your hair, you are robbing it of the moisture needed to thrive and be healthy, you can even cause your hair to boil and create hair bubbles.

3) Be careful with the weave.

A lot of people choose to use sew ins and different extensions to transition. This can be almost as damaging as heat if you do not care for your hair properly. Sew ins can be very beneficial to help your hair grown and even see yourself in different natural styles. Even fully transitioned naturals sometimes wear them for protective styling. But you should also keep in mind what it is doing to your hair. Sew ins are adding extra weight and stress on your hair and scalp that isn’t normally there. This could cause the loss of edges and breakage. Also, don’t forget to take a breather, your hair is not able to get the proper moisture when buried underneath your extensions and will need to take a moment between sew ins to recover these lost nutrients. Also, be sure to go to a quality stylist who will be able to make sure that your hair is not receiving too much stress from the sew in.

4) It will not be easy.

You probably will not wake up tomorrow with hair looking like Tracee Ellis Ross unless of course you have her hair type, in which case consider me jealous. It is called a hair journey, because that is really what it is. You will have to get to know your hair and what it needs and what it doesn’t like. I had to try many products before I learned that my hair just likes to keep it simple.

Long story short, there is no correct way to transition. But, whatever way you choose, make sure you treat it right!

Attachment Issues

 

Attachment Issues

One of my biggest hair fears is getting my ends clipped. The only New Year’s resolution that I made was to get over my fear and finally get a trim. It is actually really surprising to me since I wore my hair in a low cut for over a year and now after two years of growth I am dreading getting a simple trim, even though I know that it is stunting my hair growth.

This began me to thinking about Black Women and our hair. We have come so far, but it seems we still are struggling to let go of the limitations of our locks. We have those of us who put weaves on layaway and cannot leave the house or even guests over without making sure we have our hair covered or a wig on. We have those of us who sprint to the hair salon or hair store for a relaxer as soon as we feel the threat of a kink in our scalp. Then we have our naturalistas who are still afraid of their own kinks and coils.

We have a group of naturals who are afraid to just wear their afro as is. Some of us choose to hide our afros beneath natural looking weaves or braids. We have naturals that blow dry and flat iron it every week to keep it under control. Or just some that keep it as tame as possible.

Of course, we all have our own comfort zones, I understand. But, why are we so uncomfortable with our hair? We have been able to overcome so many obstacles as black women but our hair has always been a big hurdle in our society. Whether it be the “good hair” argument or just the struggle of treating our hair until we think it is good enough. Even amongst naturals, we tend to envy and praise the women with 3c or 4a hair and admonish ourselves for having anything more. I like to call it curl envy, though I am sure I did not coin this term.

3a Curly Twirly           3b Curly Spirally         3c Curly Coily

 

 

4a Coily Springy        4b Coily Crimpy            4c Coily ziggly

from naturallycurly.com

     No matter how much people compliment my hair, I am still always wishing that it was curlier or that it was longer or that it was more.

I know that the biggest reason that I am so afraid of trimming my hair is because I have received so many compliments on its length and growth rate and now I fear that going so long without having trimmed my ends will cause me to have to cut off a great length of my hair. (I have thought about it so much that sometimes I think that it would be easier for me to just cut all of my hair back off than it would be for me to simply trim my ends.) But, even more important than my knowledge of my fear is my knowledge that I am only hurting my hair worse and preventing further growth by not trimming it.

Why is it that we still consider women who wear their hair short as daring? I, like most naturals who allowed themselves to experience the big chop, can say that cutting off my hair was probably one of the most beautiful experiences of my life. Not to sound corny but it really is liberating. Before I cut my hair, I used to hide behind it. I use to always have my hair hanging, covering most of my face and in some ways shielding people from getting too close to me. When I cut my hair, I had to learn to look people in their face, I had to learn to walk taller and be more firm in myself because there is no way to blend in with a low fade. Then when I eventually grew my hair out, I had to learn that just because it does not look tame, does not mean that it does not look nice. I had to learn that my hair is not going to sit down and cascade down my back because, well, that is just not what afros do. I also had to learn how to deal with criticism from people who didn’t understand this or just didn’t believe that it was the proper way to present yourself. Now, I am back here again, so attached to my hair that I am afraid of losing a inch or so even though it could help gain a few.

I will trim my ends this year, before March. Baby steps!

What hair fear will you overcome this year?

 

Happy Nappy Complex

 

 

Happy Nappy Complex

 

You would think with this natural hair movement going on in America I would finally stop hearing stupid questions like: "can i touch your hair?"
or even more annoying: " Girl when you gone do something with your hair?"
or most annoying of all statements from black women about how they cant quit the creamy crack because they hair too nappy,
that's like black men saying they don't date black women because they have too much attitude,
we just weren't made to lay down
soooo
Forget what ya heard
because i am my hair
this disorganized chaos is me at my best
twisted, picked and pinned up on the left
braided, plaited or all over my head
even when I'm hungry my hair get fed
mayonnaise, honey, eggs, coconut oil
cinnamon and oats stretch from curl to curl
or should i say strand to strand
cause my hair be just as confused as the curious hands
that flock to my fro like flies
oblivious to my rolling eyes
but most of the time, i don't really care
even i cant stop touching my hair
especially since i tend to be a product junkie
Shea Moisture, Organix, my hair is my personal little lab monkey
and I'm rarely afraid to experiment
whether with avocado guts or some electric blue tint
YouTube has become an educational source since Dec 210
before that it was low fades and earrings bigger than big
now its Afro that reach our for God
3 strand twists and Bantu knots
its like my hair embodies versatility
and an uncanny ability
to display the definition of just chill
a mind of it's own, it does whatever it feels
and i just get to accent it
I'm usually quite meek but bring up my hair and it gets passionate
so many reasons a woman of color should never be ashamed of her crown
when they get to be preaching bout they naps i cant help but frown
ain't no such thing as bad hair just hair that's misunderstood
we just need to rethink our definition of good
cause too many women with the bone straight be wishing they hair stood proud like ours
be wishing they could make fros that looked like chocolate clouds
now I'm not bashing the relaxed just saying if they wanna know the meaning of undisturbed
they should kick that creamy crack to the curb
and come rock with this real stuff
this shocking face at how good it feels stuff
this hop out the bed and fluff it out swag
wash and go, smelling like a fruit snack
its a lesson in patience but a bigger lesson in self love
a test of confidence and just when you've had enough
it helps u find a friend that can pry from your hand the box of creamy crack
understand the criticism and helps u snap back
so despite my love for India i just cant agree
cause my hair says almost everything there is to say about me
©, 2012, Spokenheart

From "Abnormal Behavior" by Spokenheart available for purchase at http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/Spokenheart

Wicked Wednesdays

Wicked Wednesdays

Where I come from Wednesdays are the days we celebrate life, love, friendship and artistry. We even have a chant for it, though it's really simple. It consist of us screaming:

It's Weednneessssday!

So what better way to celebrate Wednesday than to showcase naturals here and far?
 

Tank of Tank & The Bangas

Hair Porn

 

Ebony Payne, mentor

 

Hair Porn

 

 

RocXii Mitchell, designer

Hair Porn

 

Send your pictures of your favorite styles to Spokenheart_mf@aol.com!

A Day In The Fro of Michelle Ellechim

A Day in The Fro of Michelle Ellechim

 

On a Purple Fold Down couch across from a homemade art studio and surrounded by several works in progress on her living room wall, I sit with Michelle Ellechim of The Assembly Era. Michelle is a graphic designer who recently dipped into the world of painting. Today we will be discussing how this all became the platform for upcoming Art Exhibit "Giants & Elephants" and of course how her natural hair journey effected this positive movement.

 

Q:  So let's start with the basics, how long have you been natural?

Michelle: I would say about 2 years now.

 

Q: What prompted you to go natural?

Michelle: I was looking for a different style.

 

           (Michelle Ellechim Pre-Natural)

 

 

Q: What method did you use to go natural?

Michelle: I had micros in my hair which I grew out for about 2 months, before that I had not gotten for a month, then I did a big chop after 2 months of growth with the micros.

 

Q: How did people react to you going natural?

Michelle: Weird, like I was getting a heart transplant or something. I cut it off in my grandmother's bathroom so my family was looking at me crazy.

 

Q: Would you say that being natural has changed you in anyway?

Michelle: Yes, I use to be the girl with the expensive weaves so, in a way it liberated me. It enlightened me, felt like I was discovering something new.

 

 







Q: Would you say that being natural has affected your art in anyway?

Michelle: I guess it effected how I see women. When I paint women I include coils and kinks now instead of waves and tresses.

 

Q: What are you most looking forward to for your upcoming show?

Michelle: I am most looking forward to my family finally seeing the bigger picture. So they can finally see that the choices that I made were worth it and that I think I know what I am doing, to see that I am trying.

 

Q: How long have you been painting?

Michelle: It has been about 2 years for painting and I started getting into art around that time too.

 

Q: How long have you been working on the "Giants & Elephants" exhibit?

Michelle: 6 months

 

Q: What is the meaning behind the title "Giants & Elephants"?

Michelle: Well, Giant as in my belief is huge. I chose Elephant because I believe that if I were any animal, it would be an Elephant. I say that because of their respect for life and nature. Elephant's have something that is called a Dharma which is like their master's call. When ever they hear it they drop everything and stop at nothing to reach their goal. I feel like art is my Dharma.

 

Q: What is your favorite piece you have produced for this show?

Michelle: Well, it was my Basquiat before it was stolen from the studio I was working out of.

 

Q: Wow, well what would now be your piece that you are most excited about?

Michelle: You gone have to get back to me. I am not done making pieces yet. I got some stuff you not ready for. I got a lot of different ideas and different mediums that I want to try. I am just proud of it all.

 

Q: Who would you say is your biggest art influence?

Michelle: I don't have one yet. I am still discovering. I don't know a lot of names but I like the Expressionist like Basquiat and the Surrealist like Dali. I haven't had a first love yet.

 

Q: What is your favorite artistic medium to use?

Michelle: Sharpies. I love drawing lines and using Sharpies on anything.

 

Q: And, what is your favorite product to use on your curls?

Michelle: Organix Coconut Milk line and raw Coconut Oil

 

Q: Lastly, what is your signature hairstyle?

Michelle: I don't really have one, I guess my head wraps.

 

 

Come out on March 1st for a one of a kind experience. You can find more information on "Giants & Elephants" on the website listed above or on Facebook. Reserve your spot today!

 

Gel House Blues

 

Gel House Blues

 

If any of you grew up like me then the above picture should be very familiar and so should the stress of having hair matted to your head and flakes all over your clothes and personally I hated have big brown spots of gel all over my little yellow scalp. There was nothing I hated more about getting my hair done than when I saw this bottle on my mother's or sister's lap. Maybe, that is why I had such an obsession with braids growing up. Either way, it was liberating day when I started doing my own and never had to see this gel again.

 

 There are now so many alternatives to this gel and I know that most of our naturals have discovered them but for those of us who are new to this or are just still experimenting here is a little information to save your tresses.

The best place to begin would be with the why, as in why does this gel make our hair so hard and flaky? Well most of the gels we were using back then were alcohol based and when the alcohol and the water evaporated all that was left were the chemicals that were making our hair "stay put". Eventually it began to wear off and then we were left with the chemicals snowing all over our shoulders.

 

From Details.com

 

"Most gels, because of the amount of polymer in them, are considered to be almost an adhesive," says Johnathan Antin.

 

Luckily, through much education we have advanced enough to move past putting "almost adhesive" in our hair.

 

Ecostyler Gels



 

Krystal Eco Styler Gel

Best for Hair Types: 3a, 3b, 3c, 4a, 4b

Perks:

· No alcohol

· no frizz,

· bouncy curls,

· soft,

· well defined,

· minimal shrinkage

· small price

Cons:

· takes longer to dry

· typically must use in large quantity

Olive Oil Eco Styler Gel

Best for Hair Types: All

Perks:

· no flaking

· anti itch

· contains 100% pure olive oil

· alcohol-free

· contains UV protection

· does not leave hair feeling weighed down

· small price

Cons:

· contains protein which may not react nicely with all hair in daily use

Argan Oil Eco Styler Gel

Best for Hair Types: 4a

Perks:

· no flaking

· anti itch

· contains Vitamin E and Omega Fatty Acids

· provides hydration and prevents shrinkage

· does not weigh hair down

· smells great J

· small price

Cons:

· can leave some hair types crunchy L

The last alternative would be the method I use. I am personally not a big fan of most gels, I guess I was traumatized as kid. But, I personally prefer to style my hair while wet so that it will set in the desired style or, I also like to use Organix brand serums with a somewhat heavy brush. I understand that not all naturals like hard brushes, so this may be a downfall to my method.

What products or methods do you use to keep your hair under control?

 





Nail Polish Junkie

Stained Glass

 

Confession: I am a nail polish junkie

 

Over the past year (2012) I have developed an addition to nail polish and begun teaching myself different designs because as much as I love being catered to, getting your nails done every week is not the most affordable thing in the world.

 

So this week's lesson was stained glass nails, as seen above.

It is actually a quite simple design.

All you need is a few complimentary colors and a thin tip black polish.

Step 1

Apply base coat to protect your nails from yellowing due to the nail polish.

Step 2

Pick out as many colors as you think your nails can handle.

Step 3

Dab different areas of each nail with your chosen colors leaving a little space between each color.

Step 4

Use a skinny nail art brush dipped in black nail polish to outline the colors, giving it the stained glass effect.

Step 5

Apply top coat and do your best to sit still long enough for them to dry.

Step 6

Admire your work!

That is how you get the stained glass effect. If you try it, feel free to share pictures!
 

What is your favorite polish?

Introductions

 

Introductions

 

Hello and welcome to my world!

I am Spoken!

And the creature atop my head is Dandelion,and these are our adventures together! I hope you enjoy!

 

 

I guess I should start at the beginning!

I have a childhood friend, named Ayesha!

When we were living together, I was making attempts at "transitioning", though I did not know that was what it was called then, and she convinced me to give up my natural pursuit and revisit the creamy crack. So I did, lol. Then soon after I decided that i wanted to dye my hair blonde and out of sheer blondeness allowed myself to be convinced that it would be safe to do so soon after having relaxed my hair.

(0_o stupid! I know!)

Well, after letting my dye sit a little while it was time to wash it out!

 

Now picture this:

I am bent over a kitchen sink as Ayesha is washing the dye out of my hair. My best friend Slam is monitoring when she suddenly says in a joking tone: "Why it look like yo hair falling out?"

Ayesha quickly hushed her as I began to freak out.

This quickly became a dramatic movie scene as I ran my fingers through my hair and felt my hands fill up with hair that should've been connected to my scalp. Then slowly backed into a wall and sunk to the floor in tears as I half cried and half laughed at what use to be my hair.

Then quickly realized there was no use crying over spilled tresses and jumped into action. I text every barber and stylist I knew and inquired about house calls and how late was too late (it was almost midnight).

 

The very next day I made the first step in the conception of Dandelion.

I wore my hair in a low fade or variations thereof for a few years until I finally decided I was ready to embark on my mission to have the record for the longest afro. It has been a quite a journey in learning to love myself and letting go of my hair stigma, but it has been one of the best experiences of my life.

I hope that you feel the same way through your natural journey or that I can help you find this feeling through this blog.

I am a poet, naturalista, artist, friend, nail polish addict, recovering product junkie and so much more!

Welcome to my adventures with Dandelion



 

Would you like to share your natural hair journey as well? Contact me at Spokenheart_mf@aol.com.