Naturalista within me speaks

Probably you are wondering what is a naturalista......... 
As defined by urban dictionary, a naturalista is a Black female who takes pride in her Black hair (hair that is not permed or been chemically changed in anyway).

A naturalista is someone who wears their hair the way that it naturally grows out of their scalp. 
This could mean they have curly, wavy or "kinky" hair. 

Whichever "hair type" they may identify with, they love and accept themselves because they know and understand that they are beautiful in their anatomy. 

Yes, yes, yes, I am a naturalista. My hair has never been processed but I have pressed it before. It was heat damaged a few weeks back but i have vowed not to use heat in my hair again. As the title  of my blog, Kinky Tough African Natural Hair, so is my hair. Most of the time I don't treat my hair as I ought to and it reacts to this. It becomes a literal monster. Rar! I become scared of it in these times when it appears impossible to  detangle but I always seem to get out of the situation. 

I really like to see healthy, well taken care of natural hair. I am usually not biased by genes. Some of us really did not get any of 'the good genes' in hair. When it has no curly pattern or is not straight, when it doesn't grow fast, when what I call optimal length is not where we want, when everyone around us isn't crazy over your hair. Sometimes we have to like our own hair. We have to look pass the European notation that we are not good enough, that we are not pretty. This is what was placed on my head and this is what I will have to work with, love and appreciate. I love my curls. I stand for them and nobody can make me say otherwise .   

Hair Talk

What is it that we all want from our hair? Length? A thick rich body? Softness? Moisture? Sheen? Many of us would agree that these are key factors and our goals we want to attain with our hair, but many of us do not know how to get there? Well, I've got a little friend on youtube who gave me some very good suggestions I would like to share with you:

Healthy Living - What you eat not only effects your waistline but also your hair. Focus on consuming fruits/veggies and lean protein. Ensure that your drinking plenty of water. 

Moisturize - The first ingredient of your leave in should be WATER. Learn how to properly moisturize your hair to slow down the evaporation process. Sweet almond oil and jojoba oils are great leave in oils. Coconut oil is very common in the natural hair community however I find that coconut oil is better for conditioning. Regardless oil and butters should be used as sealants and not to add moisture to your hair. WATER = moisture. 

Determine the porosity of your hair. If you have high porous hair you may apply oil directly to your hair and scalp without applying a leave in first. 

Retain Your Length - Learn to leave your alone. Over manipulation can cause damage to your cuticles. Learn how to finger tangled your hair. Low manipulation styling is your friend. 

Limit Heat- avoid direct heat if at all possible. If you do use heat, make sure the blow dryer is set to low and that you use a heat protectant. Deep condition regularly. Trim your ends - Avoid split ends by trimming your hair. If you don't want to trim your own hair, go to a stylist whose has exp. with natural BLACK hair. 

                                                                                                                                ~Annettemint

                                                                                          http://sassysoutherncurls.blogspot.com/

Additionally, the basic procedure I use to wash my hair which has proved very efficient and has resulted in my hair being much more healthier, was gained from the Youtube video below. I strongly recommend the using of this procedure. Even though my hair is a bit tighter coiled than this lady's own, the procedure works for me 

Introduction and Welcome fellow 4c-4d hair types

"Remove the kinks from your brain, not your hair" Marcus Garvey. Whether you are transitioning, you have transitioned or you've been a naturalista all your life, this blog is a must read for you. You will find out all my struggles and glory as it relates to my hair, get tips I have gotten and basically hear all my views and knowledge as it relates to natural hair. 

A warm welcome to all interested parties to my blog. It means so much to me that you choose to use your precious time to read my blog. You want to know about me? Well, I am minutely awesome. Nah, I'm awesome. Physically, I am a phenomenon. I have a very light complexion with a hair opposing that. My hair is medium length, almost reaching my lower neck, ranging from 4c - 4d hair type, from time to time. It shrinks a lot. I love my hair but I also hate my hair. It is definitely a great stress to handle but I love how different it make me. My hair makes me fabulous. (not necessarily). Anyways this is a school project and I doubt all this is needed so onward we go to share with my fantastic readers about natural hair, my natural hair. 

Finally, I must state that I am not biased as it relates to who ever has processed hair or who wears their kinks. It is your choice definitely and if you can't live with how you were naturally made, and straight is what your confidence needs, then go ahead. Be you!