A Hair Story

Straight: Jan 2008

I recently realized that I hardly ever talk about my hair in my blogs, odd for someone who spends lots of time organizing and attending hair events. I'm going to post more about my hair, because, well...it's pretty freakin awesome. And because I hope someone will find my posts useful. My hair story below:

I've been natural for almost four years now, since May 2008. 'Going natural' is basically black girl lingo for deciding not to chemically straighten your hair, in some circles of hair purists it means avoiding any chemical manipulation, i.e. coloring, texturizing, etc.

I guess I'm more of a purist when it comes to my hair, although I wouldn't deny anyone the Naturalista title. I went natural because I wanted stronger, healthier hair and I was curious about the little coils I saw whenever my relaxed  hair grew out a bit. Plus, a friend motivated me...good ole' peer pressure, gotta love it :)

TWA: Jan 2009

I'm super picky about the products I use. Lately, I've bypassed most branded products to create my own stuff --I make my own deep conditioners and hair butters based on tutorials by my fave hair vlogger, Naptural85. I've been a fan of Afiya products, especially the herbal shampoo bar, and was so bummed to learn that they're no longer in business. Anyway, I love mixing my own stuff and customizing it to fit my hair's needs, so I guess I'll start making my own hair wash too.

Blown Out: Jan. 2010

I've had a pretty awesome hair experience, with the exception of a Brazilian Blowout that left my hair lifeless and worse, coil-less. That was two years ago and cost me a good six inches of hair, a lesson learned the hard way. I've avoided salons since then.

 I'm usually rocking my hair curly, in a twist-out, or in a pinned-up style. It's super healthy and the biggest issues I have are tangles and an ongoing, all-out war with...Lint. Seriously, any suggestions on avoiding lint are welcome, it causes most of my tangles and is always staring back at me in the mirror. I don't use any sticky hair products and sleep on silk pillowcases. Grrr!

Curly Fro: Oct. 2011

A year ago, I started BNHC, a hair club. As a newby to Baltimore, I thought it would be a good way to meet more people and share hair tips. I was right, but its also proved to be an unexpected way to support small businesses in Baltimore, from restaurants to salons to boutiques and more, we've had amazing collaborations with lots of small business owners. We're growing at an amazing rate, and I can't wait to see how things progress with the group.

Anyway, I have an upcoming appointment with a local hair stylist/BNHC connect. It'll be the first time I've been to a salon for a real style since my blowout experience, two years ago! I'm super excited! I decided to try a flexi-rod set and can't wait to share my experience and the results with you all!

That's my story. A bit longer than expected, but...shrug. Expect to see more hair posts in the future!

Hugs and kisses peeps,

Bethany