Showing posts with label hairstyles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hairstyles. Show all posts

Apparently, many people were upset with Cheryl Cole and L'Oreal over her commercial for their shampoo as told by NY Daily News. Whatever!  People really think those adverts on telly are 100% authentic?  If so, they should have no access to any advertising at all.  We are influenced, no matter how we hate it, by the things stimulated by one of our senses.  I don't get the hype about who's hair is real, fake, natural, etc.  Whatever makes people feel good radiates through there personality.  Salty people are usually unhappy somewhere, and take it out on others as self reflection is painful. 
So, lately everyone is doing the clip in extensions.  I don't know why but I'll outline three of many types of extensions/weaves for you. 

  1. Clip Ins: Most popular in certain circles.

  2. Sew Ins: Popular in ethnic hair predominantly.

  3. Fusions....
So first we start with the clip ins.  I defy you to turn on YouTube and not find a video about clip in hair extensions.  They are like the answer to world peace right now.  I don't think there's enough Remy or synthetic produced in the world to meet the demand for these wefts.  These are easiest to apply, requires a intermediate level of skill and can be done within minutes.  All that is required is your hair must match the wefts, unless you're going for a different style, clips (Sally's has them) and thread.  You attach the clips to the ends of the wefts, and center across the nape, occipital (mid brain) temples, etc. You can do a full head, half, or just clip in for added color (Nicki Minaj). 
Clip ins are fun!  There's more flexibility and, if done properly, minimal damage to the hair. 
I would not recommend clips for anything other than DAILY wear.  Unless you have very thick hair, over time the weight of the clips will wear your hair down.  In addition, if you aren't patient enough with them, in an attempt to remove them you may take some of your own strands with you.  I understand the point is to make thin hair appear thicker, but it's not a good method as thin hair, being less dense, doesn't leave much for the clips to adhere to. 
(clip ins)

Sew ins are really popular in the Afro textured community.  You can attach partial or a full head of hair with this technique.  You begin by braiding your hair, in cornrows, around your head at the places you will attach the weft.  Then you take a needle (Sally's or any beauty supply store who sells hair) and thread and attach the weft to the hair.  This is a tricky technique if you are new to extensions.  Most hair dressers are familiar, but there are people who are weave specialists who can make you do a double take. 
I like sew ins, because they don't slide down, become unhinged, feel uncomfortable, and, (if done properly) don't harm or manipulate your own hair.  You can design the cornrows in ways to blend your own hair so that you have a natural part, thus making it less obvious you have extensions.  Or, you can do a full head and attach a closure, it all depends on what you are trying to achieve.  I have heard horror stories of people getting their hair and the thread confused which wound up in the person's hair getting cut instead of the thread.  Choose your beautician wisely.  You can wear this style a lot longer than clip ins, depending on the rate of your own hair's growth.  As your hair grows, the extensions will need to be redone.

(sew ins)

FUSIONS!!!!! oh my goodness...I feel myself getting ill writing about this technique.  I've used the red to emphasize the threat level for this particular method.  It requires a HIGHLY SKILLED stylist.  Do a lot of research and ask a lot of questions.  How do I care for this?  How do you remove them? Will this cause damage to my own hair?  How long have you been doing this? Would this be sufficient for my length, texture, etc.? Hell, ask them if they would do this process to their mother, sister, daughter.  Whatever you need to feel comfort because I have yet to see a person's own hair benefit from this process.  There are several ways to infuse the hair to your own.  Some do it strand by strand (Hollywood or high rolling) or there are the "pinching" which is shown below.  You take tiny sections of your own hair, which are clamped together with the extensions throughout the head.  This style looks the best, it's the Rolls Royce, but the maintenance is a bitch.  You really have to follow instructions on the care and maintenance.  It is also important to have a patient, highly skilled stylist remove these from your hair.  As your hair grows, these will need to be re done, but it's very aesthetically pleasing.  It's similar to comparing lash extensions and false eyelashes, one looks natural and requires gentle treatment AT ALL TIMES, while the other is more forgiving and less natural.

(fusions)

Again, I've been there and done it all, and had it done for me.  I love to experiment and try new and innovative things with my appearance.  I don't really take myself too serious, there is no paparazzi following me, I'm not being ambushed for a makeover by anyone, and nothing I've done has been permanent.  If I totally fuck mess up, I can shave it off and start over.  I don't advise doing so, but heck, Britney made it look fun!
(smiling at least)


Good luck! If you have questions, by all means ask me, if I don't know I'll find out.
Cheers!
xoxo

I never thought the color red would work for me.  I believe 90% of my clothes are black, and I'm challenging myself to incorporate color.  Color is something that gets you noticed, it says, "I'm here!  Look at me!"  Although the demure black is quite sophisticated, I'm tired of the remarks if I'm honest.  So, here is day one and rather than sport the black camisole with a blazer, I scored a $12.00 long sleeved blouse with french cuffs (my fave for my long arms) at Ross to go with a pencil skirt I got at F21 last season.  I did wear black opaque tights with my Mary Janes (also Ross) because it's cold in the morning when I'm catching the train to work. 

The jacket was a great deal at Buffalo Exchange, it's by BeBe and is a petite so the french cuffs make a good detailing for it. I think it was 1/2 price on $15.00 so for $8.00 it has been a great piece I can wear with jeans or pair with skirts for work!







The last bit are these cool fake nails I bought at Walgreens on sale!







Hello Gorgeous,
I don't know about you, but I'm really not feeling this new hair era. African American women have so much more knowledge, resources and products than our ancestors, but we can't seem to come together when it comes to certain issues.
The other day I was having a conversation with two beautiful sisters and the topic of hair came up. One woman was under the impression black women should never wash our hair more than once a week. The other woman and I protested immediately! "What?" we were a bit frisky, "You can wash your hair everyday if you care for it properly," I told her still looking at her like she immediately grew a second head on her shoulder. She then went on about white hair versus black hair. It reminded me of the old, "good hair, bad hair" arguments I had grown tired of. Why do people believe African Americans are deemed to hell for having a coarse texture of hair. No, we don't all have 4 a/b hair, but even so, with proper care and maintenance, you can grow your hair to your waist and I have done this and I don't have any Dominican Republic or another ethnicity I can trace.
That said, the conversation got a bit more interesting when another sister came and scolded us for having "relaxed" our hair!
I knew where the conversation was going, so I'll speak my peace here. What anyone chooses to do to his or her hair is their business. Why does our "crowning glory" determine our Afrocentrism? I am no less black for having relaxed hair than a person is for having natural hair. I'm not going to become any less black by chemically straightening my hair than bleaching my skin. I'm not brainwashed and I don't think Madame C.J Walker was either. If I want "natural" hair, I don't think I'm going to be embracing my race any more or less than I do with it relaxed.
I remember being in Texas and being "educated" about how white America had brainwashed me. Well no, I wasn't brain washed when I marked "black" on the plethora of applications for school, work, etc. I knew I was black. I wasn't in denial the first hundred times I was called a "nigger." I don't think when I was called a "black bitch" by a woman in the mall that she meant me. So...I am pretty sure I'm black.
It should be infuriating this is even a blog post, but it's sad. I am not in denial the black culture has a lot of issues in terms of afrocentricity. If we aren't fighting over light skin vs. dark skin, we are ghetto or sell outs, we are representing or perpetrating. When will be just be?

Peace,



B.P.

Hair It Is!

by on 12:35 PM
Hello Gorgeous, I don't know about you, but I'm really not feeling this new hair era. African American women have so much more knowl...

Hey Felines,
I know I am not the only one who finds Halle Berry to be ridiculously beautiful. What's more, she has defied Hollywood by proving one does not lose her sex appeal after her 21st birthday.
Halle was recently spotted with long time lover Gabriel Aubrey and baby girl Nahla, sporting her trademark short, yet truly chic pixie. I find it refreshing to see her out and about enjoying the sun with her family. She proves that women can have it all after they turn 40. I really wish Hollywood would let go of the non-knicker wearing, boozed up, late night party going, plastic surgery overloaded celebs and show more celebrities who are living their lives. I reckon that wouldn't sell their publications.
I think I've gotten to the point where, I'm tired of seeing celebrities either airbrushed, claiming they haven't had any cosmetic alterations *cough,Nicole Kidman,cough* looking perfect on covers of magazines or lad rags and photos of Paris, Lindsay, Britney, Mary-Kate, et al. out partying every night at a different venue only to appear on Dr. Phil or Oprah, wanting sympathy for their addiction and to sell their story of how fame nearly destroyed them. In these tough economic times, it's really difficult for me to feel sorry for someone who blows what I make in a year on a night out on the town. It's terrible to judge but that's how I feel.
In looking at some of Halle's styles, I think the short hair suits her best, as it accentuate her bone structure perfectly. What do you think?

Hello Kit Cat,

I forgot to post the style I usually wear as a protective style. This is it, sometimes I mix it up, but as soon as I wash, condition and add my products and oils, I twist it, and pull it to the top of my head and clip it with something to hold it in place and voila, that's it. The secret is to style while wet in order to keep it together so it will dry and I can put my hair wrap on it at night and it will maintain this shape.

Love, Laugh and LIVE!!!

B.P. (no paw here :()

Hair Story Part II

by on 9:56 AM
Hello Kit Cat, I forgot to post the style I usually wear as a protective style. This is it, sometimes I mix it up, but as soon as I wash, co...