Rantings of a Creole Princess

Tell the truth and shame the devil!

Do you buy the products your stylist uses on your hair?

Hair Heredity

Someone told me once that she started having hair loss issues because her father went bald pretty early and her hair and head is mostly like and shaped as her father's.

I thought to myself...thank goodness my hair and head is more shaped like my mommy's.

Is your hair more like your mother's hair or your father's hair?  Any validity to her way of thinking in YOUR mind?  

Ugh!

I don't like being price gouged.

In fact...it makes my teeth itch.

I don't care if it's only fifty cents more than what it's supposed to be...I will roll out without a look back.

I called a stylist around the corner from me because, again, it's around the corner from me.

I've seen her work and it looked good.

She told me that she didn't take cards so I'd need to bring cash.

I asked how much cash.

She quoted me a price that sounded like K Street in DC prices.

I was like...ummmmmmmm...

Her "salon" is in the back of a barber shop in one of them lil strip mall thingys.  

She then stated that new clients get 30% off first time.

She's lucky she said that cuz seriously...I was about to bail.

And I still might.

Cuz this ain't K Street in DC.  

This happened to me once and the chick tried to guilt me by saying something like..."What's 20 extra dollars?  I mean...it's not like you don't have it."

That shit made my teeth itch too.

I remember another stylist went up on her prices SIGNIFICANTLY once.  Like...her ish was only $40 for a wash and style and then she started charging $65.

I never went back.

How do YOU feel when you know the prices are too high and the vendor tries to justify it when you know good and well it's waaaaaaaaaay too high.  

Hair Salon Fees

When's the last time you visited a hair salon?

How much did it cost?

How much did you tip?

Where was the salon located?

How long were you there?

Convo at 13700 Regarding my natural hair transitioning journey...

CreoleInDC:  I'm not going natural

Les:  girl

CreoleInDC:  What in the fug was I thinking?

Les:  You should've seen my face when I read it in the first place.  It didn't even warrant a response.

CreoleInDC:  I hate detangling with hair and having to detangle a full head of it?  HELL.NO.  Too much time.

CreoleInDC:  I don't abuse my hair.

CreoleInDC:  Or relaxers.

CreoleInDC:  My scalp is healthy.

CreoleInDC:  As is my hair

CreoleInDC:  I don't have that kinda time

CreoleInDC:  so there

Les:  Don't have to convince me..lol..I'd see if your hair was jacked up and you needed to "start over"

Les:  Your hair is gorgeous.

Les:  Fuq it.

CreoleInDC:  And if Robby says one more thing about sodium hydroxide I'm going to slice his azz half in two.

CreoleInDC:  Only he could get in my head and have me talking crazy talk.

Les:  lol

 

SIP:  Journey huh?  You didn't even pack a bag.

Me:  You right.

 

Erica B:  Um...yeah...I knew you weren't going to make it.  You like to be in control too much and you can't control natural hair all the time.

Shelly:  *snicker*  I was thinking what were you going to do with a whole head of natural hair.  

SIP:  Yeah...I could see her now with a comb stuck in her hair jumping in Deuce and rolling up on a stylist demanding IMMEDIATE attention.

 

 

Relaxed to Natural Transitioning WITHOUT the Big Chop

A few weeks ago I got a haircut by my stylist who usually cuts my hair every September and every March.

She's currently VERY pregnant.

She sat on a stool while she cut my hair, which she never does, and she kept telling me to sit up or scrunch down in the chair.

I did as I was told.

I didn't pay much attention because she's the person who has never cut it wrong.

See...I like my hair a certain length so I can get a nice ponytail.  If it's too long it makes me look like a horseface so I like it layered so it frames my face well.

The kid is a one trick pony.

SIP:  What's with all these horse references this morning?

Me:  Seriously...that's what you're focusing on?  Sheesh!  

N E WAY!

When she finished styling my hair it was very curly which confused me because we never do my hair very curly.

So I felt some kinda way.

I drove home and Robby scrunched up his face at my too tight curls.  

Robby:  What happened to your hair?  You look like an old lady.

SIP:  Not a good time dude.  Not a good time.

New Haircut!

 

 

What say YOU?

Wendy Williams Says Viola Davis’s Natural Hair Made Her Look Like A Man

 

SIP:  So what's Wendy's excuse for looking like a man?

Dri Sweat Headband

Shelly...CaliGirl...this is the one I bought at Target for $3.99. 

It works pretty well I think.  I think Tsiporah bought one too.  

Dri Sweat Edge Women's Headband

Grey's Anatomy: Black Baby, White Parents and HAIR

What say yall?  Grey’s Anatomy Tackles African-American Hair In Latest Episode

Sooooooooooo...

Can we talk about Precious last night?  Whose turn was it to watch her this week?  Tiffany?  Erica?  onefromphilly? 

Who dropped the ball?

 

Question from my inbox:

Monica, please ask the tribe if any of them started having breakouts in their face when they first went natural?  Thanks.

 

Me:  Hmmmmmmm...did you start using new products or something?

Natural Hair Salon Visits

Does it cost the same or more to get your hair done in a salon when your hair is natural?

A friend was on Facebook saying how much longer it takes to do a head of natural hair as opposed to how long it takes to do relaxed hair and saying this is why it costs more in her salong.

What do YOU think about that?

Self Cornrowing!

Could you put cornrows in your own hair?????????

I just tried and I have to say...for a first try...it's not half bad!  I could actually see me rocking this on occasion other than just to see if I could do it!  I tried to do it in the pattern of the picture below and it didn't take that long to do! 

I put it in a bun cuz the ends kept unraveling.  UGH!  What do you do for that?  I am NOT putting rubber bands on the ends so I guess bunning it up is going to have to do.

Cornrows!

I like this style of cornrows! 

SIP:  I just really wish they weren't done on a dude.

How many of you don't like cornrows on dudes?

Aveda Invati

Anybody try this yet?  Aveda Invati

Oil Sheen

Do any of you still use it?  If so...what kind?

What about hairspray?  If so...what kind?

Scenario...

You, your daughter and your ex-husband are Black.

Your ex-husband's current wife is White.

Your daughter is 9 years old and can't comb her own, VERY thick hair.

Her father has never been able to comb her hair either.

Your daughter is going to spend three months with her father and stepmother while you take a temporary assignment in another state.

What instructions do you leave for her hair maintenance?  Who do you tell this to?  Do you think it would be something that would concern you?  Would you be surprised if her hair care became an "issue?"

Yeah...okay...

I was at the hair salon the other day because I wasn't in the mood to do my own touch-up and it was way past time.

I went to a local stylist that a friend goes to because she had an opening same day.

The stylist was doing something to a woman's weave when I arrived.

The woman was cool so we all started talking.

That's Hot!

Scenario...

One of your best girls is getting married.

She has asked you to be in her wedding.

You agreed.

You've puchased all the crap you need to purchase, including your airline tickets, to take part in her celebration.

You get there and she's set up hair appointments for everyone the morning of the wedding.

COOL!

She pulls you to the side and tells you that she wants you to straighten your natural hair.

Are you offended?

 

 

Hair + Color

I had highlights in my hair once.

And only once.

My hair broke off wherever I had the highlights and I was MAD.ABOUT.IT!

Since then I've done a rinse a couple of times but they never really did it for me even as I just really wanted a change.

Well...now I want a change again.

I'm not willing to go shorter in length than shoulder length these days because I rock a ponytail probably 300 times a year.  LOL!

I NEED a ponytail as they are just really the best go to hairstyle for me.  I just can't be worried about how my hair looks a lot these days and I find that a ponytail and a pair of fab shades make it so easy for me to appear presentable.  LOL!

Back to color.

I read this on Oprah's site:  http://www.oprah.com/style/How-to-Dye-Your-Hair-at-Home-Hair-Makeovers/3

And I've been reading up on demipermanent formula, which contains no ammonia and much less peroxide.

What kind of color have you used recently?

Are you relaxed or natural?

What color is it?

Did you have to change up much from your normal routine to accomodate the color?  Like...step up moisturizing, etc?

I've heard that real color and relaxed hair is a disaster waiting to happen by way of breakage.  Do you subscribe to that?

Yall know me pretty well by now I'm thinking...yall think I could do color the right way?  Or is it going to end up being too much work for me to maintain with my being the ponytail queen and all?

Holla atcha girl.

The Science of Black Hair

Many moons ago I met a young lady who had th emost beautiful "light" surrounding her.  Super positive, smart and funny.  Her passion?

BLACK HAIR CARE.

Seriously...It is her PASSION!

NATURAL AND RELAXED!

She told me that she was going to finally do the proper research for a book about Black hair so people could use it as a reference.  We would discuss the amounts of bad information out there and laugh at some of the beliefs and myths surrounding Black hair.  The number one being...

BLACK HAIR DOESN'T GROW.

Mythology 101.

I knew if anyone could do it in the proper way...it would be her, Ms. Audrey Davis-Sivasothy.

The Science of Black Hair: A Comprehensive Guide to Textured Hair Care

GET.IT.AUDREY!

She sent me a copy of her extremely gorgeous book and I've been keeping it on my reading table.  I pick it up whenever I need a break from what I'm doing and read something in it and, I have to be honest, it's like a reference book that is seriously like a thesis breaking down the science of Black hair from all considerations. 

I'm a fan.  This book is like...WHOA.  I'm totally feeling like it's the only book one ever needs to read regarding Black hair in order to finally, finally GET IT.

She also has a website with lots of excellent information on it as well:  www.BlackHairScience.com

It's my new favorite book.

Imma hafta hide it when Dr. Punkin gets hre next week cuz I don't want to have to cut her about my book hell.

Tell me something...have you ever read a book about Black hair care?  Would you?

 

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Combing Hair in Public

Last night I was in the concession line behind a woman who had a big azz comb and was combing out her hair. 

Her very long hair.

She had two textures.

Her hair growing out of her head and her hair purchased at the Yaki shop.

Her purchased hair was very tangled.

She was handling those tangles.

She got up to the concession stand and ordered her drinks and snacks.

Still combing her hair.

DETANGLING her hair.

She balanced her purchases and put her comb under her arm.

She wasn't finished.

*BLINK* *BLINK* *BLINK*

What do YOU think about combing your hair in public?  What are your PERSONAL rules regarding?

 

Dear Natural Hair Divas:

When you want to straighten your hair...what's your process? 

How often do you do it?

What's the hottest you set your iron on?

Edge Stick: HotNESS or HotMESS? (SM)

Would YOU buy?  Edge Stick

Crossing off my list...

I really don't have time to sit in a hair salon today so I'm going to do my hair myself tonight.

I've gotten to the point where I HATE doing my own hair even though I'm pretty darn good at it.

What about you?  Do you enjoy doing  your own hair?  Are you good at it?

 

SIP:  If you see Monnie out and about today, be nice and don't stare at her hair too hard okay?  She'll have on a hat but yeah...it's gonna be under that hat coated in coconut oil.  LOL!  Oh...and don't worry...I'm going to FORCE her to wear some kinda makeup this weekend.  I PROMISE!  We gotta get our STANK.STRIDE.BACK!

Dear Natural Hair Divas:

How's your hair?  What did you do to it today?

Big, Messy Braidouts are FUN!

E:  What happened to your hair?

Me:  Go play outside.

Hair Braiding

Do you know how to braid your own hair?  I was surprised recently when someone told me they couldn't do the two lil braids I do sometimes to switch up my style.

 

SIP:  Stop lying.  You only do that when your hair is dirty and you're trying to grab another day or two of NOT washing it.  BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Dredlocks

This is my hair idol.  She knows that I think her hair is the most beautiful on anyone I've ever seen in real life. 

Anybody know how one could achieve dredlocks without doing a big chop?

VERY Interesting discussion in the comments of this post!

http://bglhonline.com/2011/09/hair-journey-discoveries-how-i-achieved-more-length-and-healthier-natural-hair/ 

Hmmmmmm...Scenario...

A friend decides to return to wearing her hair in it's natural state.

She cuts it off in one big chop and rocks a mini-fro.

Everyone who loves her hates the style on her.

NOT because it's natural...but because the style isn't very flattering on HER.

Her face is round.

VERY round and folks think she looks BLAH and extremely unattractive with the CURRENT natural style she's rocking.

She asks you DIRECTLY what do you think of her hairstyle.

Personally...you agree that the way she is wearing it is the most unflattering style in the world for her and thinks she'd look far better wearing it in twists or braid outs or pretty much anything other than the afro she's been consistently sporting.

But...those are your PERSONAL beliefs.

You KNOW she loves her hair.

Even if she asked you DIRECTLY...would you tell her what you REALLY think or would you tell her something along the lines of...if you like it...I love it...do you girl.

Is criticizing natural hairstyles a no-no in the world of being PC?

Are YOU going to pledge?

Pledge “PiNappaKappa”

Scenario...

A mother is raising her son pretty much solo.

His father is real absent in his life but mostly because he lives across country and their son is only 4 years old.

He does pay his child support without any issues.

The mother has never cut her son's hair and keeps it cornrowed.

His hair is pretty long.

His father flies out to pick up his son and take him back with him for a visit.

He then flies back to bring the son back.

He's had the son's hair cut off.

Says long hair and braids are for girls.

The mother is LIVID!

Pissed the hell off!

Should she be?

Scenario...

You send your 9 year old daughter down South to spend a couple of weeks with your parents before school starts.

You and your mother don't see eye-to-eye on a lot of things but hey...that's normal right?

Your mother ADORES her grandaughter and spoils her ROTTEN!

One of the things you don't agree on is your and daughter's hair...which is natural.

Your mother hates it.

Your sister calls and tells you that your mother took your daughter to the hair salon and had a relaxer put in her hair because your daughter ASKED your mother to.

Your sister says your daughter's hair is absolutely beautiful.

How do you handle immediately?

How do you handle tomorrow?

How do you handle come touch-up time?

 

Sleep Hair 2011!

How did you sleep with your hair last night?

Are you relaxed or natural?

Do you use a silk or satin pillowcase?

 

"Black In Latin America"

Watch the full episode. See more Black in Latin America.

Hadali Organic Caribbean Skincare

I got this oil in a swag bag in Cannes. Beauty fine oil for body and hair

I didn't pay it much mind.  I figured I'd get around to using it eventually.

I ran across it one day and put a bit in my bath.

LOVED.IT!

Then I put a bit on my legs after shaving.

LOVED.IT!

Then I decided to read up on it a bit more and found that it's good as a pre-poo treatment for my hair as well.

Yall...LOVED, LOVED, LOVED it!

And now I'm down to about half a bottle.  The ingredients are outstanding and I love the feel of it on my skin AND hair.  But 39 Euros is like six hundred and fifty million American dollars.

Aw well...

If yall run across some of this on the cheap...holla atcha girl.

Have YOU ever tried a product you LURVED but couldn't justify the cost?

Kiddie Hair Care

How long does it take you daily to do your daughter's hair?  How long does it take when you do the weekly washing?

 

By the way...I showed up at Reagan yesterday to no avail.  You know who  you are.  LOL!

4 Parts

My hair is such that I need to put it into four sections before I deep condition it.  When I do...I'm much more confident that I don't miss any strands.  When I finish...ALL of my hair feels good and not just the top layer.

Do you section of YOUR hair before you deep condition?

When's the last time you deep conditioned your hair?

How often are you doing it these days?

What was the last product you used for deep conditioning?

LOL!

What do YOU think about people wearing a weave selling (modeling in advertising) hair products?

Tell the truth and shame the devil!

Do you scratch your scalp when you wash your hair?

The Hair Up There

My hair is DURTY.

Yes lawd.

Who's coming over to wash it for me today? 

Anybody?  Anybody?

Yall suck.

How are you rocking YOUR hair today?

Hair Repair Mode

So...last week I had every intention of making my Wednesday hair appointment but then my schedule got crazy and I couldn't return home to do that.  There was a mall across the street to my hotel so I went over and hit the Sephora to purchase the PhytoSpecific products I like to use on my hair.

 

In Arizona.

*sigh*

They didn't have them, of course.

So I hit up the Aveda and got some shampoo and conditioner I could live with.  Then I went to Target and bought a flat iron.  I don't buy flat irons from Target usually so I got one that had triple coated ceramic plates and went up to 450 degrees.

Cool.

I then flew to Seattle the nex morning and washed my hair there.  I blow dried it and it was big.  HUGE even.  Then I got out the flat iron and had a major snaffoo to overcome trying to get the super hard azz plastic off of it.

In a hotel room.

With big, wild hair.

*sigh*

So I got it off and was shocked as hell to find that it didn't have a temperature dial.  The damn flat iron had either ON or OFF as the options. 

At 450 degrees.

*sigh*

I was PISSED!  Mainly because the damn thing cost $90 so you'd THINK it would have a damn temperature dial right?  RIGHT!  I mean hell...that's the only reason I bought the damn $90 one in the first place.  I didn't NEED a flat iron.  I have a top of the line perfectly good one at home!  I.WAS.LIVID!

But I had to do something to my damn hair. 

So I flat ironed it in thick clumps as lightly and as quickly as I could.  My hair started smelling burned and gave up, coated it with oil and put a headband on.

*sigh*

So now I feel like I've damaged my hair.  I'm sitting here RIGHT NOW with some serious deep conditioning stuff on because I truly feel like it's going down hill.  Like...yesterday...when I rub my hand down my hair...it felt scratchy.

UGH!

I totally hope this works.  I'm not going to put heat on it for a minute and hope I didn't do much damage to it. 

Sheesh.

When's the last time YOU did something that ended up being damaging to your hair?  How did you remedy it?  Did it take a long time to get it back right?  Yall know I'm pissed right?  RIGHT!

You know your hair is dirty when...

...it's night time and you have to use your sunglasses as a headband.

Your turn.  Fill in the blank.

You know your hair is dirty when _______.

My mommy this...

My scalp was doing some SERIOUS itching this morning and I found myself laughing remembering my mother always said that when her scalp was itching it meant her hair was in a growth phase.

She also never cut her hair unless a full moon was out and wouldn't DARE pull a gray hair even though she didn't do anything to cover her gray.

Her advice to get your hair to grow?  Leave it alone.  LOL!  

I love my country roots and I KNOW I'm not the only person here whose female elders didn't think some of the same.

SPILL IT!

True or False?

Pulling out a gray hair will cause ten more to appear there.

Even if you don't believe it...do you not do it just in case?  LOL!

Itchy Scalp Means Rapid Hair Growth?

True or false?