We did it again!

NewNaturalista and The Organic Beauty Vixen teamed up for the second Kinks, Curls & Cocktails meetup last night at Island Soul in Seattle. All I can say is WOW! The women were so beautiful, inside and out. We had a wonderful time over drinks, laughing and connecting. The whole experience showcased the true definition of sisterhood!

Organic Beauty Vixen Sherrell Dorsey & NewNaturalista Tonya Mosley

Brianne, Safiyyah, Zabrina

Jeani & Andrea

Shawn!

Shantau!

Sherrell & Stacy

Jeani doesn't use ANY product in her hair! It's beautiful!

Zabrina rockin' the sisterlocs!

Andrea doesn't use product either - she really does wash and go!

Lloryn! (I heart her hair!)

Join Us Next Month!

1. Hugo Naturals French Lavender Body Wash $8. Pleasant and mostly natural with jojoba, vitamin E and coconut oil. Sold @ Whole Foods, Amazon

2. Simplers Organic Lavender Essential Oil 5ml $11. I use a drop or two in my weekly hair moisture concoction: Coconut oil, shea butter and lavender!

3. Lavender Luvies Spray $7. This spray is perfect for freshening up a room or your linen. Just the right amount of lavender!

4. Hugo Naturals French Lavender Dead Sea Salt Scrub $14. Nice pairing with Hugo Naturals Body Wash.

5. Lavender Luvies Satchels $4.55. The folks at Lavender Luvies used to have a storefront in Seattle and I’d visit at least once a month. These days you can order online or stop by their booth at Pike Place Market (a must visit for tourists.) These fragrant satchels are perfect car air fresheners!

6. Avalon Organics Nourishing Shampoo $8. I use this shampoo about once a month, it leaves my hair feeling clean and residue free. Awesome ingredients: Lavender essential oil, Beta Glucan & Vitamin E.

By: NewNaturalista

Seattle’s Good Hair Salon Owner Danyale Thomas takes us through the top 5 natural hair mistakes we often make when transitioning from a relaxer or caring for our natural hair.

TOP 5 Mistakes

5. Not finding products to support your natural hair texture.

4. Not doing your own research or consulting with a hair care professional

3. Failing to wear protective styles or dry combing your hair

2. Not doing the big chop soon enough or avoiding regular trims

1. Using extreme heat to straighten new growth!

Thomas says all of these mistakes can cost you valuable time and make the process tougher than it needs to be.  Happy hair growing!

http://www.goodhairsalon.com/

Monday I was flooded with emails about this article on CNN.com. In it, blogger Los Angelista offered a quote about her experience with a white woman who wanted to touch her hair:

“Because my black ancestors may have been your ancestors’ property, and had to smile while they got touched in ways they didn’t want to, but I am not YOUR property and never will be so you’d best move your hand away from me.”

This quote initially stopped me in my tracks. Seriously? After reading her blog I realized she had run into a lady who was clearly not all there. Yet Los Angelista’s experience was lumped into the CNN article which made it appear that natural black women are being fondled and petted continuously! I’m so over articles about the negative reactions to our natural hair. Each time I read one I think, “Wow, am I the only one who HAS NOT had an overwhelmingly negative experience?”

I conducted an informal poll after reading the article and I found that most of my natural friends (and I have quite a few) from all over the world have NEVER REALLY experienced negative reactions from other races about their hair. Curiosity? Yes. Blatant hate? No. One friend wrote me saying:

“You know what’s interesting my experiences have been positive too. If anything I may have had other black women touching my hair.”

As a television reporter I come in contact with people of different races every day. In the two years that I’ve been natural, I’ve only had one woman reach out to touch my hair. One. She was an old Irish woman – we had a conversation, I briefly explained my natural hair to her. She stood there with her mouth open and said, “I had no idea!” She left that conversation with real information – I didn’t scold her or make her feel ashamed of her ignorance. I understand people are amazed and intrigued by our hair. Heck, the black community is still trying to figure it out. I could have gotten a lot of response if I had written an article about that lady, but she was one lady – why give it that much importance?

In the beginning I would always get someone telling me my hair was “cool” or “neat.” Recently it feels like people are getting it. I had a middle aged Jewish guy stop me in the book store recently and say, “I love your hair. It’s strong, regal. Congrats on going natural.”

I say all of this to say, the same people who would walk up and touch a pregnant woman’s belly are the same people who would touch someone’s hair.

Your thoughts?

Our grandmothers, mothers and even some us swear by them – but waiting to wash your hair, oiling your scalp and running from scissors can be detrimental to your scalp and hair health. Here’s why:

1. WAITING TO WASH

Growing up I had this notion that in order for my hair to grow, I needed to wash it no more than every 2 weeks. By wash day my hair would smell – a mixture of oil sheen baked on by flat ironing (yuck) and two weeks worth of activity. By college I realized washing every week was a must – and these days I’ve bumped it up to every 2 to 3 days. I know I’m not alone in this misguided thinking – and there are actually some real practical reasons why it may seem like a good idea to space out washings.

Black hair is inherently dry. Other races (white, asian) tend to have oilier hair – washing it more often keeps the oil at bay. We (black women) put products in our hair to add oil and moisture. That oil mixes with our natural scalp oils, environmental dirt and can make our hair pretty dirty and our scalps clogged. Washing adds must needed moisture back into our hair (water is moisture) and ensures our scalps stay healthy!

2. OILING THE SCALP

Oiling the scalp is an outdated practice that still lives today. Some swear by it – and for many people who suffer from dry scalps oiling may offer some temporary relief.

In reality oiling the scalp does nothing but clog it – especially if petroleum products are used. Petroleum, which is the number one ingredient in hair grease kind of acts as a “rain coat” for your scalp and your hair, preventing air and moisture from entering.

According to The Natural Haven:

“The problems associated with use of oil on the scalp (Semin Cutan Med Surg 28:103-108, 2009) are

1. It can make scalp conditions worse (e.g dandruff, itching).

2. It can mask scalp conditions, so you really do have dandruff but you just don’t see it

3. Prevent effective treatment of  dandruff by blocking access to the scalp.

4. Some oils can actually give you scalp problems, for example neem oil which is actually antifungal and antibacterial can cause allergic reactions in some people resulting in dermatitis. (Dermatitis ;19(3):E12-5, 2008)

5. The scary one is Oil folliculitis – inflammation of the follicle leading to scratching and eventual loosening of the hair from the follicle (Journal of the National Medical Association, Vol 97, Issue 8, 2005).

Is there anything beneficial about oiling the scalp?

There are reports on the successful use of oils for scalp conditions. Bear in mind, this is not recommended as a regular practice but rather a treat, cure and stop therapy. Examples include:

1. Mustard oil – antifungal at 1% (Medical Mycology, Volume 8, Issue 3 1970 , pages 174 – 176)

2. Teatree oil – antidandruff at 5% (40% of people responsed to treatment) (J Am Acad Dermatol;47(6):852-5, 2002.)

3. Aniseed, Cinammon leaf, Red thyme and Peppermint+Nutmeg – Antilice – Complement Ther Nurs Midwifery, 2(4):97-101, 1996) “

If you swear by it consider:

Using Natural Oils: Jojoba. This natural oil is similar to the sebum your scalp produces. But even The Natural Haven says some natural oils can be irritating so beware.

Don’t Oil Everyday: During the winter months, if your scalp is dry (but not flaky) you may benefit from a light application every now and then, but remember the hair is what needs moisturizing.

3. RUNNING FROM SCISSORS

If you’re wearing your hair straight, there is nothing worse than being able to “see through” the ends of your hair. If your mane is full and healthy until you get to those last two or three inches, you need a trim. Trimming prevents those split ends from traveling up the hair shaft. If you aren’t seeing much growth and you haven’t had a trim lately, maybe you should consider it.

Tell us what you think of these myths. Do you agree or disagree? Weigh in!

Take a moment to check out Rochelle Jordan, Toronto’s newest contribution to downtempo R&B.

Rochelle’s voice is reminiscent of Aaliyah and Amerie and yet she also offers something refreshingly unique. She’s soulful and spunky, with an added layer of complexity and depth that I love in an artist.

She and producer Klash will be releasing a full length ode’ to N.E.R.D. and Radiohead titled, “In Search Of… Radio” this summer.

Download her new single “How To Feel” here.

Let’s face it – it  is not easy keeping let alone finding your style when you’re pregnant.  SoFull Sista Monique Hutcherson has found a way to do both! The 24 year old blogger and engineering consultant out of Philadelphia shares with NewNaturalista how she does it.

SoFull Sista Monique Hutcherson

NewNaturalista: Congrats on your pregnancy! Tell us the thought behind your choice not to wear pregnancy clothes.

SoFull Sista: Thank you! My choice not to wear pregnancy clothes was really a result of me looking crazy in 90% of the maternity clothes I found.

I bought a handful of tops and pants early on in my pregnancy, when I realized that nothing fit well – I returned all but one pair of pants, and decided to continue to buy clothes like I always have. That is – buying clothes that are cute, appropriate, and fit my body well. I’ve found that a good number of non-maternity styles and clothes work well with this mind: tunics, box-shaped dresses, harem pants, and anything with an elastic waistband!

SoFull Sista Monique Hutcherson

NewNaturalista: Have you found this decision (not to wear pregnancy clothing) more difficult as you progress?

SoFull Sista: Somewhat. The main change is that some dresses now turn into more tunic-like tops as my belly grows and things get shorter!

NewNaturalista: Describe your style?

SoFull Sista: My style is eclectic – you can catch me in anything from a vintage dress that is classic and traditional, to a short/modern dress with a lot of color, and I still have my casual days where I’m wearing a tunic and jeans.

NewNaturalista: How are you feeling about your body these days?

SoFull Sista: Most of the time, I feel pretty good. I’m mostly belly, so my weight gain has been healthy and on pace with my original height and weight. I also make sure that I feel confident about my “look” before I leave the house which helps a lot!

SoFull Sista Monique Hutcherson

NewNaturalista: What advice do you have for pregnant women out there who don’t want to sacrifice style for comfort?

SoFull Sista: I truly believe that you can still maintain your style and savvy while you’re pregnant. I have two pieces of advice to help with this:

1. DO NOT sacrifice fit because you’re pregnant.

2. Create a waist whenever you can. Proper fit is key to a solid style, and while creating a waist with a big belly is difficult – it’s not impossible. Belts have become my best friend!

Monique is having a girl! Check out more of her stylish tips here

My daughter brought this book home from her school library today.

Nappy by Charisse Carney-Nunes.

We own several “hair” books – one of her favorites is I Love My Hair by Natasha Anastasia Tarpley. It’s sweet, uplifting and appropriate for a 4 year old. This “Nappy” book – not so much.

We plopped down on her bed this evening, opened the book and began reading.

Our hair is super-nappturally nappy…

“Cute,” I thought. I continued reading.

It’s super-abundantly NAPPY… Our hair is…”break the comb” NAPPY

“Hmm,” I thought to myself, but I kept reading.

…”run out the chair” NAPPY…”scalp just can’t bear” NAPPY

The picture shows a little black girl running from her mother’s comb. “Ugh,” I thought to myself. I wondered if I should continue reading. I did. Big mistake.

“Our hair is…”left-hand turn” NAPPY …”scream for a perm” NAPPY …”perm ’til you burn NAPPY

The picture shows a mom imagining her daughter with straight hair, the little girl smiling. The book then goes on to say:

“Our hair is PULL…ouch, TWIST…ouch…TURN…ouch, KINK…ouch…COIL…ouch.. SNAP…ouch, CRACK…ouch, POP…ouch NAPPY!! But girl, God didn’t give us nothing we couldn’t handle.”

The book goes on to point out important points in history – “back of the bus NAPPY’ – “Underground Railroad NAPPY…” etc, etc.

I began making up my own words at this point, telling her the story of Rosa Parks and Zora Neale Hurston from memory. We finished the book – (finally) and I put it on the counter next to the front door – this book is GETTING OUT OF MY HOUSE by the morning!

Here are my issues with this CHILDREN’S book:

1. It makes our hair appear to be an affliction, like some sort of burden. Our hair is different – much more complex to manage but by no means is it an affliction.

2. The book says it’s for 4 to 8 year olds – but the language feels like it’s for an adult. It’s for someone who already has an understanding of themselves and history.

I can see how this book is trying to empower a child – by saying basically “you were born to be able to endure the “pain” of your hair – look at your ancestors and what they went through.”  As an educational tool however, it fails – because during the course of the book it never explains who these people in history are until the end – and anyone who has a 4, 5 or 6 year old knows they do not want to sit and listen to a “biography” with no pictures at the end of a book. The negative setup takes over – and it takes too long to get to the historical perspective.

3. I just can’t see what child is going to feel good about their hair after reading this. My daughter and I like to talk about what our hair CAN do. She sees me with my natural hair and is surrounded by successful role models. I’m trying to set her up for success through positive reinforcement.

I’m still floored this book got such high reviews on Amazon. It just doesn’t work for us – maybe I’m in the minority? Your thoughts?

I recently tested some top shelf products that happen to be my top favorites and found out that it doesn’t matter if you have curly, kinky or wavy hair – the product you want is one that moisturizes and and protects the hair from harsh elements.

Here are my top “Product Junkie” picks.

1. Shea Moisture’s Moisture Retention Shampoo & Balancing Conditioner – I love the way it makes hair feel and the shine is amazing!

2. Jane Carter’s Curly Defining Cream – Great for twist outs and coil outs

3. Carol’s Daughter’s Healthy Hair Butter – For giving dry kinky curly hair length and moisture on dry Twist Outs

4. Karen’s Body Beautiful – Jojoba Lavender Vanilla Hair Oil – For conditioning and oiling the scalp – smells great too!

5. Curls Sulfate Free Shampoo – Great natural lather, detangler and helps balance the pH of the scalp

6. Fantasia IC Hair Polisher Mist – Need to add a little shine before going out into the elements? This is the perfect shine spray. Gives shine and also provides sunscreen protection. helps dry looking hair, revive!

We launched NewNaturalista this time last year full of giddy anticipation.

One year later we still feel that drive, that passion that goes along with creating something organic that will hopefully inspire, entertain and educate.

Here is a look back at our most popular stories of 2010:

10. AIDS ACTIVIST RAE LEWIS -THORNTON – “The denial is killing us.”

We caught up with AIDS activist Rae Lewis-Thornton just days after her 48th birthday. It was a monumental celebration, after all Lewis-Thornton was diagnosed with HIV back in 1986. Twenty-five years later she is still teaching the young and the old that no one is immune to the disease. She ended our interview with a plea to black America – “The denial is killing us.”

9. RAISING NATURAL DAUGHTERS

Last September we spoke with Sociologist Gwen Sharp about raising black girls in a world where long straight tresses are coveted. Sharp’s message to parents, “You have to realize you are never going to protect your kids from those images that show long, straight hair as the ideal. What helps is developing those non verbal and verbal affirmations that will help them retain a positive sense of self in the long run.”

8. THE DYNAMIC FARAI CHIDEYA - “It’s not a failure if you try something and it doesn’t suite you.”

In this video series, NewNaturalista sits down with author and multimedia journalist Farai Chideya to talk about self love, acceptance and the benefit of self-reflection.

7. SISTAH VEGAN - “I hope that I can help African American/black women to integrate a type of nutritional liberation into their lives that works for them.”

Back in April, author and PH.D. candidate Breeze Harper gave us a powerful interview on her recently released anthology “Sistah Vegan: Black Female Vegans Speak on Food, Identity, Health and Society.”

Harper looks at whether the choice of becoming a vegan is directly influenced by race, class, sexual orientation and social injustices. It’s a topic that cuts right to the core of food consumption and our relationship with health, human and animal rights.

6. ARTIST BLANCA SANTANDER

Also in April we caught up with Seattle based artist Blanca Santander. Her stirring images of mother earth captured our eyes and our imaginations.

“I’m also inspired to be part of the collective conscience that we as a world be better served by focusing on peace as opposed to war, love as opposed to hate and acceptance as opposed to fear.

5. VIDEO: 30 DAY YOGA CHALLENGE

NewNaturalista kicked off the year last January with a 30 day vinyasa yoga challenge!

4. VIDEO: ONE ON ONE WITH JOHN SALLEY – “Food is medicine”

Former NBA player John Salley sat down with NewNaturalista in June to talk health, being a vegan and discipline. “You either do or you don’t there is no try.”

3. 5 NATURAL HAIR MISTAKES

In this video we shot last winter, Seattle based Good Hair Salon owner Danyale lays out the top 5 natural hair mistakes women make that often sabotage their progress.

2. 1 YEAR NATURAL – 10 LESSONS LEARNED

In October, NewNaturalista celebrated her one year anniversary of “going natural.” She reflects on the lessons learned about herself and others. “There are many definitions of “natural” – we’re all different, and that’s ok.”

1. TEIKO DORNOR-TAGOE – REDEFINING PLUS SIZE

And finally, in the #1 spot, our interview with plus size model Teiko Dornor-Tagoe. This piece continues to be a popular one in the blogesphere. Dornor-Tagoe’s candid thoughts about the industry and wearing natural hair resonated deeply with you.

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So far this year we’ve shared nearly 300 stories in written, photo and video form. All of them were written and produced specifically with you in mind.

Thank you for a wonderful 2010 – here’s to 2011.