It's been more than six months since my big chop. I finally feel like my hair is growing. My hair is actually pretty long, but I won't show a length shot until next month. But just so you can see how long/big my hair has gotten, see the photo below.

Positives
I love the size of my afro.
My hair loves Aloe Vera gel.
Detangling is easier.

Negatives
None for this month.

Growth
I'm 6" in most parts and 4.5-5" in the tighter areas (like my crown and a little bit below).

The lovely Andrea of Fly shows you how she does her hair.

Eric Benet and his daughter, India, out and about.

Photo via The Ybf

Next hair update later today... Stay tuned!

Rating: Okay. (7/10)

Product Name: CURLS Whipped Cream
Price Range: $17.00 (8 oz)
Company: CURLS LLC (http://www.curls.biz/)
Catch Phrase: Whipped Cream is the perfect product for natural styles (twists, locks, afros & more) for thick, kinky, curly 3c-4b hair! This thick, and ultra rich whipped cream has a warm vanilla cream fragrance that makes you want to eat it! It provides SUPERB curl definition, frizz protection all while providing moisture and sheen. Enriched with natural oils, exotic butters and nourishing extracts and botanicals. Also works great as gel substitute to smooth edges, slick hair, and to hold twists and locks in place.

I used this product for my first ever twistout. While the smell is very yummy, the residue left behind wasn't. Using too much of this stuff will leave a greasy, white-ish residue on your hair. No worries though, a little water can take it out. My twistout came out very beautifully despite that and my hair was soft. Not soft like when I used Miss Jessie's, but soft enough. If you want to try this product, I would suggest only using it for braidouts and twistouts. Has anybody tried it? Share your experiences!

Ingredients: Purified Water, Certified Organic Sunflower Oil, Certified Organic Aloe Vera Leaf Juice, Cocoa Butter, Polyimide-1, Glyercin, Certified Organic Coconut Oil, Certified Organic Sweet Almond Oil, * Gardenia Essential Oil, Tahitian Coconut Oil, Grape Seed Oil, Wheat Germ Oil, Avocado Oil, Plumeria Oil, Olive Oil, Sodium Carbomer, Centillica Asiatica, Panthenol, Octyl Palmitate, Polysorbate-80, Soy Tocopherols, Phenoxyethanol, Ethyl Hexyl Glyercin, Fragrance.

Missed a product review? Click here to view past reviews!

The lovely ladies of AfroCityTV.

Have a question? Ask away and either we or other users will answer it for you!

• Want to try a new product, but unsure of the results?
• Thinking of transitioning, but don't know where to start?
• Want to know a safer alternative to coloring your hair?

written by Miss Fizzy

It is possible that this topic has been talked to death, but I will hold on tenaciously until women start to get the message.

There are several reasons why women refuse to go natural. A few of which make sense, and a lot of which don’t. I am not knocking anybody for not being natural, let me put that out upfront, however, I want to understand why.

One of the excuses I hear the most (after “it’s hard to manage natural hair” and “It won’t look good on me”) is this one: black men won’t find me attractive anymore. (Insert sound of me screeching to a halt). What? So what these women are telling me is that their self esteem is so tied up in what a group of individuals with extra equipment between their legs thinks of them that they will let these people’s opinions stop them from being themselves? Please pull the other one, because I think that is complete and utter bullshit. Nobody that is worth their salt will ever judge you based on your outward appearance. It shouldn’t matter if your hair is straight, curly, kinky or bald, if they scorn you because of your hair, then please sister, turn away from them. You don’t need them and they don’t deserve you.

Many black sisters will tell you that they tend to get more positive attention from other races when they rock their hair natural than from black men. This might be true, but they will also tell you that the black men that do approach them are of a different breed altogether. The black men that approach them are respectful, deep, have their act together and are more likely to call you ‘princess’ and ‘woman’, and not ‘bitch’ or ‘ho’. They will tell you that you look beautiful, and not ‘hot’ or ‘phat’. They will ask if they can take you out to dinner, and not to the club. They will want to get to know the real you inside and not just what’s under your clothes.

As a black woman, in a relationship with a black man, I can tell you that it is the person under the hair that counts. If a woman carries herself with dignity and confidence, if she wears her hair proudly, if she believes she is beautiful, then everybody will have no choice but to believe it too.

Your hair does not define you and neither do black men. Now what’s the next excuse?

Miss Fizzy is a graduate student studying something really dull and would rather spend her days playing in her afro. She runs the blog Chaotic Order and also co-runs Leave in the Kinks in between classes, setting up her business, playing with her hair and generally being fabulous.

You can find out more about Miss Fizzy’s natural hair journey at http://leaveinthekinks.blogspot.com and about Miss Fizzy at http://fizzychaoticorder.blogspot.com.

Website | Contact

I will reach my hair goal in/on...

The Denman D4 brush is one of the best brushes I have ever used, but twenty bucks is a little steep for a detangling brush. For those who aren't willing to spend $20 on a hair brush, you can try the Goody Styling Therapy Jojoba Styling Brush for around $10. Women have been praising this brush for the past few months and with good reason -- it rids the hair of tangles with little to no hair brushed out.
Ah, Kinky-Curly Curling Custard. I adore this product, really I do, but it's pricey. I mean, you don't use that much, but there are products that work the same if not better for a cheaper price. Introducing Ecostyler Krystal Styling Gel... it's much cheaper than my beloved Curling Custard. You can get 32 ounces of the stuff for less than $5!
Diva Smooth is a good product for those looking to loosen up their curl pattern, but it honestly didn't work that well for me. Not only that, but the price is a little too much. You can make a similar product by mixing honey, Castor oil, and ripe bananas.

Diddy's not-so-secret-girlfriend, Cassie looked pretty fly on the red carpet. Not feeling the half-shaved hairstyle anymore.

Fefe Dobson came in looking great. The hair looks nice and shiny. Can't wait to hear more music from her.

Amerie showed off her gorgeous legs in this mini dress. The dress and hair could've been better.

Angela can do no wrong in my book. I'm loving the entire outfit. The hair looks good, but I miss the bob she had a while back.

Vanessa looked amazing, as expected. Wish the shoes were a different color though. The hair was on point.

A fly afro spotted on the streets of New York. Photo via Elle Street Chic.

Solange came in looking faboosh as usual. Loved her rendition of Kings of Leon's "Use Somebody." Not too pleased MTV scheduled her mini performance right after Bey.

Beyonce wore a classy red dress. Love Bey, but the hair could've been better. And of course, Bey showed her kindness by inviting Taylor Swift back on stage after the Kanye incident.

Loved the makeup and performance with Jay-Z. Not a fan of the dress, but I'm glad she left that lacefront wig home this time.

Sidenote: Did anyone see Kanye take Taylor Swift's spotlight? SMH. The girl is only 19 and the man took away her moment.

Photos via The Fashion Bomb

written by Jacquette of Nappy and the City

Chris-Tia Donaldson, native-Chicagoan, lawyer, and author of Thank God I'm Natural: The Ultimate Guide to Caring for and Maintaining Natural Hair has penned the most perfect resource and reference guide for anyone considering going natural or anyone who has been on their journey for years. Recently, I've gotten the opportunity to speak with Chris-Tia about her new book, personal views about natural hair, and her favorite things.

On writing her first book, Chris-Tia says, “It was devine intervention…definitely!” After the two of us joked about Chicago and the natural scene in St. Louis, I eagerly continued with more questions:

NSTL.com: What can we look forward to from reading Thank God I'm Natural?

Chris-Tia: This book is a comprehensive, well-organized reference guide that will answer every single question you have about natural hair.

NSTL.com: How long have you been natural and what inspired you to go natural?

Chris-Tia: I've been natural since 2002. What inspired me to go natural? It had to be money and time. Wearing my relaxed hair had become a healthy obsession. It didn't make sense to me to spend that much money and time on something so temporary.

NSTL.com: During your own natural journey, did you have any moments of non-acceptance with your hair?

Chris-Tia: Oh sure. Even with family. They weren't initially supportive and didn't consider [natural hair] to be professional. My dad asked me, why are you doing this? Now, my dad says, “I really like your hair.” He's even told me that he would tell his lady friends to wear their hair natural if they were younger.

NSTL.com: In your full time career as an attorney, do you feel that natural hair is accepted in corporate America?

Chris-Tia: You know, we [African-Americans] make it an issue. I always felt that if you make sure everything looks good in addition [to your hair], no one will think otherwise. If you make it an issue, other people will make it an issue. [In her book, Chris-Tia elaborates on this topic: "I found it much easier to be myself around my colleagues and clients sporting natural hair rather than with perms and wigs."]

NSTL.com: Who is the book intended for?

Chris-Tia: Thank God I'm Natural is a resource for people who are newly natural and natural vets looking for more information or inspiration. It's for black women in general.

NSTL.com: What future projects do you have in the works?

Chris-Tia: Right now, I am working on a product line [for natural hair]. For this, I have a vision and a plan.

For more information about Thank God I'm Natural, visit www.thankgodimnatural.com or purchase your autographed copy from Tginesis Booksellers online at Amazon.com.

An East. St. Louis, IL native, Jacquette “Ms. Quetta” Smith is an author who writes regularly for www.nappystl.com. She has a BA in English and future aspirations of publishing her first novel. Nappy and the City is a natural hair care blog that chronicles her “Natural Hair” journey and has features on various hair products, local salon reviews, and interviews with other natural women who love all things nappy. Jacquette currently lives in St. Louis, MO.

Website | Contact

Rating: Great! (9/10)

Product Name: Miss Jessie's Curly Buttercreme
Price Range: $58.00 (16 oz)
Company: Miss Jessie's LLC (http://www.missjessies.com/)
Catch Phrase: Our legendary super softening soufflé spiked with extra cooling peppermint essence is the premium ultimate for growing out natural hair and preventing peppercorn tangled knotted ends.

Okay, I've been wanting to try Miss Jessie's for a long time, but was always turned off by the price. I decided to give it a shot and I'm very pleased! After co-washing earlier today, I applied the Curly Buttercreme to my hair and brushed it through. After my hair dried, the softness remained. I love the way my hair feels. Although I'm not too happy about the peppermint smell (it's VERY strong), there's always the Baby Buttercreme which has a softer scent. Whenever I decide to use it for two-strand twists, I'll post pictures! Has anybody tried it? Share your experiences!

Ingredients: Deionized Water, Acetylated Lanolin, Beeswax , Shea Butter, Cocoa Butter, Carbomer 940, Fragrance, Peppermint Oil, Castor Oil, Dilaurate Laneth-15, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Hydrolyzed Animal Protein, Imidazolidinyl, Jojoba Oil, Laneth 15, Mineral Oil ,Methyl Paraben, Milk Protein, Panthenol, Paraffin, PEG-400, PEG-100, Stearate, Petrolatum, Propyl Paraben, Triethanolamine, Vitamin E, Wheat Germ Oil.

Missed a product review? Click here to view past reviews!

I did it once when I was 16 and again when I was 18,” she said backstage at BCBG. “I just need to kind of start over and liberate myself and feel empowered. I feel like so many women put so much of their power in their hair, and I was succumbing to that — like, spending so much time and money and energy on my hair.”

- Solange on why she went natural, NY Magazine

After watching the videos from Clutch Magazine's Perceptions of Natural Hair: The Black Male Perspective, I have to ask:

How do the Black men in your life feel about your hair?

I ask this because personally I've gotten many compliments from the Black men in my life, but I had two insults that just made me wonder... why would they say that?

The two insults came from two Black men at my place of employment. One calls me "Zimbabwe" while the other says I might as well wear tribal clothing and move to the jungle. Both men date women who wear weaves, synthetic at that, and told me if their women ever went natural, they would leave them.

I want to hear from you! Let me know how the Black men in your life feel about your hair. Good or bad.

We're experiencing some technical difficulties with TCHD. Hopefully we'll have it resolved soon!

Thank you for your patience. TCHD should look normal now. Sorry for the inconvenience.

Your name/username
My name is Kathy/ still don't have a user name

Where are you from?
Bronx, New York

How long have you been transitioning?
I have been transitioning since July

Tell us your hair story. Why did you decide to transition?
Growing up I always wondered why my hair never seemed to be long. I would always see family members and friends with beautiful long locks yet my hair never passed my shoulders. I have been relaxed for about 13 years (I'm 21 yrs. old now), which has basically been most my life. What triggered me to go further with this transition was early this summer when my hair started to get weak and extremely frail. As a result I started to pray about it, and I finally realized that I had to stop relaxing my hair b/c it was causing the breakage/ damage.

What have you discovered so far in your transitioning journey?
I have discovered that eating right ( such as your proteins) , drinking plenty of water , and taking vitamins can help your hair grow fast and strong.

What technique has helped you the most during your transition?
My best technique is pre-shampooing my hair with various oils such as Extra virgin olive oil and coconut oil and most importantly I deep condition EVERY week, needless to say I have no breakage and I barely have shedding. Another thing I forgot to add, is that I trim my relaxed ends gradually every month. (New Growth = trim relaxed ends )

Your advice to the readers
My advice to readers is to drink lots of water, eat healthy ( fish, chicken, greens, etc.), take vitamins, and DEEP Condition at least 2x a month

Clutch Magazine posted some incredibly powerful videos on Black men & their thoughts on natural in their Perceptions of Natural Hair: The Black Male Perspective post. This comes after their previous post, Are White Men More Appreciative Natural Hair? got mixed responses.

Talk about a throwback! This is me & my natural hair at just six years old; right before I got my first relaxer. How old were you when you got your first relaxer?

Tyra showed her fans her real hair via Twitter right before her haircut on her show earlier.

Another lovely lady from the Do You Have An Afro? project by ERROL Photography.

The ever-so fabulous Miss Tolula Adeyemi.

Benzoyl peroxide oxygenates skin. Acne bacteria cannot live in oxygenated environments. Benzoyl peroxide is also a mild drying and peeling agent which is thought to help keep pores from clogging. 2.5% benzoyl peroxide is just as effective as 5% and 10% but much less irritating. Remember, irritation alone can aggravate acne.

Source
Acne.org

Special thanks to Lola for directing us to this ever-so fly gallery from Essence entitled Street Style Tributes Michael Jackson. Check out the gallery for more naturals!

Eggs can be very useful in skin care. Proteins in the egg whites absorb oil and improve skin's firmness. If you're a vegan or allergic to eggs, you can substitute with cucumber purée.

Fabulous afro-inspired artwork by Dawn Okoro. Check out her other incredible pieces here.

It's been a while since the last discussion so let's start one today!

What hair problems are you going through? Dryness? Length retention? Breakage?

Let us know what your hair problems are!

Stay tuned for the product reviews for Miss Jessie's Curly Buttercreme & Baby Buttercreme and ApHogee Keratin & Green Tea Restructurizer. And of course, a giveaway!

NEWARK, N.J. — A man from the West African nation Togo has admitted his role in the smuggling of dozens of girls and women who were forced to work at hair braiding salons in New Jersey.

Lassissi Afolabi pleaded guilty Wednesday in federal court to conspiring with his ex-wife and others to commit forced labor and related crimes in Newark and East Orange, where he lived.

Afolabi has been held without bail since his arrest in September 2007. He could face up to life in prison when he's sentenced Dec. 8.

Prosecutors say between October 2002 and September 2007 at least 20 girls and women were taken from Togo using fraudulent visas. The girls were forced to work six or seven days a week and to turn over all of their earnings to the defendants. (Source)

Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

A flyer than fly model from Cut It Out Apparel.

A fast and easy hairstyle you can do in less than 10 minutes!

Fly hairstyles from Salon Tres Belle.