You're either here because you're in need of inspiration and ideas, or you want to know what others are doing with theirs and how, or you're curious about Black/Brown women's hair and why we're so anti having our hair touched by random hands!
I talked about my teen hair journey (sort of) in a previous post here but, in this entry I'll share with you the products and methods I use to look after my hair in its current form and I'll also speak on the reality of managing (my) 'black' hair.
In my mid twenties, I decided to stop trying every recommended product and the many suggested ways to 'look after' my hair. Instead I tested (on strands at the back of my head) products I had researched (ingredients, compatibility, benefits) and stuck with whatever had me see positive results. Since then the relationship between the fro and I is good and *that's the real 'secret' to having a nice head of quality hair. We still have a way to go, but, as of 2015, we're on the right path and I'm seeing results (albeit super slow). I went from having a pixie cut (due to how damaged my hair was) to a mini Sideshow Bob afro! My hair grew fast, curly-wavy and thick!
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| Sideshow-Charley at home |
Ove the years, I have preferred wearing braids. Simply for the fact that they're a lot easier to look after and I can just get up and go. We each treat our braids differently (hair extensions plaited into our natural hair). For me, it works to apply a teeny bit of pure coconut oil to my roots as and when I feel my head is dry, to massage olive oil into my scalp, have a steam (weekly) and then spray the hair every other day. I use both of the oils to treat my natural hair too. I usually keep my braids in for about 3 - 4 months and am likely to have washed it (with Palmer's Coconut Oil Formula conditioning shampoo) no more than twice during this period. I also allow my natural hair to breathe for up to 2 weeks (as well as moisturising my hair, I will also plait and wrap my hair when out and about) before I braid again.
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| Some hair products I use |
In my teens and twenties I started to realise that I was spending a lot more time and money on my hair than my non Black/Brown (female) friends and all of the experimenting, treatments, magazines and hair shows attended saw me damage my (natural) hair quite badly which is why I had to cut it (not trim, CUT) really short more than once! However, that struggle was nothing in comparison to having my ('black') hair be misunderstood by those outside of my race and also ill judged (back when I cared what others thought of my hair) by fellow Black and Brown women and 'our' men too!
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| Pixie Charley |
The desire to touch my hair, be that in its natural form, or braids, I find weird. To reach out and do so without my permission? RUDE!! Black and Brown women's hair can be very sensitive, like a person's skin can be. The wrong hand might cause increased dryness, lead to breakage, or weakness. NO JOKE!!!! Even if that were not the case, we're all well within our rights to not allow some random individual to touch our hair 'out of curiosity'. Nobody has ever seen me try to touch a woman's overly made up face just to see if my finger will sink into her cheek past the layers of slap she's wearing! Choopse!
Black and Brown women's hair is part of their identity. Not a statement, or a flag to be flown for all other Black and Brown women. Nor is it to be worn or styled the way any other individual, regardless of their race, believes it should be so as to have the Black/Brown woman 'fit into' someones ideal. Once upon a time, Black and Brown women were encouraged to adopt a more european look, hence the use of relaxers (chemicals used to straighten natural hair) and now there's a not so subtle pressure for us to 'return to our roots' from all types of people, for whatever reasons...
Black and Brown women's hair is part of their identity. Not a statement, or a flag to be flown for all other Black and Brown women. Nor is it to be worn or styled the way any other individual, regardless of their race, believes it should be so as to have the Black/Brown woman 'fit into' someones ideal. Once upon a time, Black and Brown women were encouraged to adopt a more european look, hence the use of relaxers (chemicals used to straighten natural hair) and now there's a not so subtle pressure for us to 'return to our roots' from all types of people, for whatever reasons...
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| The length I wore my braids 2014 - 2015 |
The choices you make about your hair is entirely yours to make and (to a degree) depends on your lifestyle because, hair management, as you know, is no quick step!! It's time consuming, takes a lot of planning, prep, strict routines (to see real benefits), money, and the world of patience (especially if you wear your hair in its natural form). So, while all of the related/relevant YouTube videos, Instagram pages, Facebook groups, etc., are 'showing' you 'How To Do This', when, why and telling you what the so-called results would be, know that your goal must be realistic, affordable and the success you'll see (if any) will be a reflection of your lifestyle not just (if at all) the tutorials you follow. No 2 heads of hair are the same; there is no one size fits all.
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| 2017 |
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| 2017 |
*I believe less is more and if you commit to a routine, it will likely be super effective.
Written by Charley Jai - @charleyjaiuk
All details and information correct and up to date at the time of publishing.
Very good reading and I agree no one size fits all when it comes to hair!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by to have a read and for taking the time to leave a comment, Caroline x
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