Natural Celebs: Franchesca Ramsey is a Beautiful Person via Paper Mag

We've reported on the beautiful and talented Franchesca Ramsey many times. Her videos and hair 'how-to's' have reached millions of people. However, nothing pushed her into the spotlight faster than her video , "Shi*t White Girls say . . . to Black Girls". The funny and truthful video pushed Franchesca into many people's living rooms via their laptops.

Now, Franchesca has appeared on the Anderson Cooper show several times and she is writing a TV pilot and, basically, living her dream life.

This month she was voted one of Paper Magazine's most beautiful people. She truly deserves it. Check  out what the magazine has to say about this rising star:

At press time, the video had about 8.5 million views and Ramsey says, after it premiered, her "life changed in a month." Video blogging since 2007, she was already part of YouTube's partnership program, which places ads on original content; meaning she's made enough money to quit her job as a graphic designer. She's also in negotiations to write for a TV show and is putting together a pilot. "I'm making entertainment my career," Ramsey says. "Which is what I always wanted." (source)

SALE: BOGO Organix Hair Products at Walgreen's

I always gotta let you know about sales! So, while shopping at Walgreen's I saw this display at the end if the product stand and I knew I had to snap a picture.

Click here for my review of Organix Moroccan Argan Oil Conditioner

Organix has won all types if awards and it's a favorite of ladies around the globe. Their cool, smooth, modern packaging lends to an aesthetically pleasing product. Additionally, the shampoos are sulfate free but have a great lather. The product line is vast and the company works hard to add all types of natural ingredients to their line-up such as: coconut milk, Moroccan Argan oil, macadamia oil, ginger, tea tree, Shea, and many more.

So, this is a great time to give the Organix a try! I'm especially interested in trying their line of dry styling oils - spotted on the second row. I'll be sure to give you a review.

 Ooh! Let us know your results!

Hair Lust: Natural Elegance

Image from www.khamitkinks.com

When I first started my locs, all I wanted was a bun.  A simple, classic bun.  I love to see locs displayed in such an iconic way to show how universal natural hair can be.  Now that my hair has some length, I've want to break out of the classic bun from time to time and I LOVE way the sections of twisted hair are swept into an elegant updo here.  This would be perfect for a formal event.  Someone tell Wendy Williams this lovely lady is doin' just fine!

Discussion: Money and Hair

I am not a hippie. However, it's no secret to the people around me that I make my own hair products sometimes. And I often get happy on days like today. I was walking in Target, purposely speed-walking past the hair aisle (You know Target has those magical powers and I am trying to kick my product junkie habit). Even though I was walking fast, I wasn't walking fast enough to miss the price tag on the aisle display. $32.00 for an 8 oz. tube of natural hair gel.

My hair is dense and thick and it's getting longer. There's a good chance that if I was loyal to that brand (or was a major fan of wash and go's) I would have to make some serious life choices. I'd be standing there like:

• Wait. What's today? When do I get paid?
• Have I paid my light bill?
• I wonder if this tube comes with a golden ticket.
• I COULD take this out of my grocery budget. I've been meaning to go on a fast anyway.

Why oh why are companies still mass producing products that cater to our natural hair for $30.00 or $40.00? When I was newly natural, I used to be all for buying some of the great brands that are all natural and don't test on animals and don't contain any of the natural hair enemies (sulfates, parabens, alcohol, etc.). But now that I know ingredients and their functions, I can pull out my blender and whip up a hair and body cream that works very well and costs about 1/8 the cost of that gel. I refuse to pay that much for hair products!

I have SO many questions. Why do companies insist on charging us extra for being natural? Are natural products REALLY more  expensive to manufacture? Are they charging us for the years of work and fertilizer that it takes to grow organic shea nuts? I just don't understand why these allegedly natural products charge so much more. I would think that it takes more to acquire and produce and test chemical based products with reactacnts. But that's just my opinion. What about you?

What's the most you have paid for a hair product?
Where do you draw the price line?
Also, what's your favorite product under $10?

SALE: Join KYNX Haircare Premiere Member's Club!

As a "thank you" for their loyal Kynx fans, Kynx Haircare is offering a NEW Premier Membership club. Starting today, the i am Free Kit and the i am Unique Kit will each be $19.99. These kits include a set of (4) products:

• i am Natural...Softening Cream Cleanser
• i am Strong...Silky Kinks Ultra Hydrating Conditioner (my personal favorite)
• i am Fierce...Refreshing Leave In Moisturizer 
• i am Free...Miracle Kink Cream or i am Unique...Texture Defining Gel

When you purchase your kit now-April 30th, you will automatically become a member of the Premier Membership Club. This will lock in your discounted pricing for 1 full year! 

For the next year you will pay only $19.99/kit or $5.00/each for individual products! This is too great a deal not to share! For more information check out the details at www.kynxhaircare.com

Click here to check out our review of Kynx Products 

Hair Lust: Luxurious Twist-Out

Source

Seeing hair like this makes me wish the month of April will speed up. I'm taking my braids out at the end of the month and I can't wait to get my hands in my hair. This beautiful head of hair was just too fly to pass up - I had to share. The shine and volume of her hair is something to behold. Love it!

Toya's Hair Diary: Nashville, Your Hard Water is NOT the Business

There are certain things that a northeastern transplant has to grow accustomed to once they move to Nashville: A ridiculously high pollen count that brings on allergies that never plagued them back home, the slower pace of the city, the fact that almost everything imaginable can come deep fried, and Nashville's hard water.  My hair has been in a state of shock ever since I returned from Christmas vacation.  The tap water in New Jersey is fantastic! My skin and my hair look fabulous when I go home for vacation.

It was so shiny and bouncy that I was walking around shaking my curls back in forth like I was in a Soul Glo commercial:

But then I came back to Nashville's hard water and not only did my hair get dry but the combination of Kinky Curly and Shea Moisture Curling Souffle' didn't work as well anymore. I really thought I had found the perfect combination of hair products but now I see that it depends on the water I am using. Although Melissa wrote about hard water in September, I had no idea how key that was. 

Here is a picture of my hair now:

It looks and feels a bit dull. When I wash it this weekend, I am going to use Apple Cider Vinegar to clarify and get a good hair mask to restore some moisture and shine. Those are just a few things that I can do short term. However long term I would love to get Jonathan's Beauty Water Shower Purification System

Back when his reality show was on the air, I remember watching how he came up with this concept. I believe he couldn't use the water in his home for some reason so he used Evian water on his hair. Never again did he want to use LA tap water.  I think this may be a birthday present to myself because Nashville's hard water is not letting my curls live up to their full curly potential.  In the meantime, I will be making sure to protect my hair and its shine by continuing to use a sulfate-free shampoo and less products with silicone in them. Silicone can cause too much build in your hair if you aren't careful and make your hair really dull. Until I can get my filter, I guess I will be on the hunt for my perfect combination of hair products again.

And why do they say wearing natural hair is easy again?

Roots 'n Rhythm: Floetry "Floetic"

When Floetry (Marsha Ambrosius and Natalie Stewart) came on the scene in 2002, I remember immediately falling in love with everything about them. I was crazy about their clothes, their natural flair and how they married spoken word with R&B melodies that brought something new to the flourishing Neo-Soul scene at that time. Their video for their debut single "Floetic" instantly put the British duo on the map.

Their debut album Floetic did rather well spawning hit singles "Say Yes" and "Getting Late".  The duo followed up with their sophomore album Flo'Ology three years later.  Not too long after its release, Floetry split.  Nowadays members Marsha Ambrosius and Natalie Stewart have both pursued solo careers.

Although they are no longer together, the former members of Floetry continue to put out great music and still look absolutely gorgeous rocking their natural styles.  To find out what they are each currently up to, check out www.marshaambrosius.com and http://www.thefloacist.com .

DISCUSSION: What if the First Lady was Natural?

Photoshopped pic of Michelle Obama, sporting a curly fro

The photo above has caused quite a stir on Facebook. Someone photoshopped a picture of First Lady, Michelle Obama, wearing a curly fro. The photo, a fake, had natural hair mavens hoping and wishing that our first lady would rock natural curls.

This photo just brings up more concerns and question in the lives of women who want to wear their hair natural.

Is natural hair really accepted the higher on the ladder you go? If Michelle Obama, wore an afro hair style, do you think it would help Barack's re-election campaign? Could a woman with a full, yet styled, afro run for official office? Would Michelle, rocking an afro, help or hinder the natural hair movement? Would this hair style make Michelle less approachable to women of ALL races?

These are just questions that popped in my mind when I look at the picture. Michelle Obama has never been one to shy away from breaking the status quo. But would she go #TeamNatural? Hmm, let's discuss.

Here's the original photo - Michelle Obama rocking a sleek bobbed style

Discussion: A Curl by Any Other Name...

-Your dreads are cute.

-Are they? Then why are you calling them dreadlocks? Dreadful locks? You mean... they are so dreadful that you like them?

- Ooh. You know you have some naps in your head.

- [silent pause].....

I generally refer to locs as locks or locs. Long ago I referred to them as dreads. But since I don't have locks, here is Ashiya's take on how people name her hair:
After wearing my hair loc'd for so long, I've gone back and forth on how I refer to my locs. While considering a response to this discussion, I realized more recently I call my hair what it is: hair.  Personally, I prefer the term "locs" for descriptive reasons. I have grown locks of hair.  For some time, I did not refer to them as dreads and was annoyed with anyone who did. My Beloved's decision to loc his hair changed my view.  While traveling in the Caribbean, he was called "dread" as a greeting.  Listening to more roots, rock, reggae, we realized that "dread" was a term of endearment used to refer to a kindred spirit.  While "dread" may carry malicious intent in some circles, it symbolizes the peaceful warrior in others.  Ultimately, I believe intent is far more important than word choice.  Someone that is speaking with appreciation can always make their point with respect.

As for my kinky coily curls... There's just something about people calling my hair nappy that kinda grinds my gears. Why, you ask? Well, my hair is curly. In some places it's tightly curled. Sometimes my tight curls get kinks. And knots. And snags. And other things. But that's not a bad thing. It just comes with the territory of having tightly curled hair. But that's no reason to say that it's better or worse. Tight curls aren't better than loose curls. Loose curls aren't better than tight curls. Don't 'Don Imus' me and my hair. I don't care to know what the line is between curly, kinky, and nappy. I have 4b hair and 3b-ish hair all on the same head. It's completely okay to refer to African American naturally textured hair as curly hair. Completely. Okay.
In conclusion, if you want to be politically correct when speaking about natural hair,

This is acceptable:
Kinky
Curly
Coily
Wavy
Textured
Afro
Hair

This may get you a side-eye:
Nappy
Dreads

Do you still get offended when people call your hair nappy or refer to your curls as naps, or have you learned to accept it? 

Did we miss any names that cause you to give a side eye?

Naturals Out and About: Delishia and Tiyana

I was out this weekend and spotted these ladies rocking awesome hairstyles. Above is Delishia. She started going natural in 2002, big chopped in 2003. She's been wearing locs for a little longer than 1.5 years. I think this style is fly. (I plan to try this on my mini-twists). Thanks in advance for the style inspiration, Delishia.

This naturalista is Tiyana. Like Delishia, she stopped using relaxers in 2002 and big chopped in 2003. They're good friends now, but did not know each other during their decision to go natural. Her bun is very sleek. I can never get mine to lay as amazingly awesome as hers. Seriously... how does that work?

Anyway, both of these styles are great for the warmer weather that is right around the corner. If you try these, let us know how they work for you.

Ashiya's Hair: 10 Years Long

October 2009

July 2002

When I decided to wear my hair in it's natural state, I was desperate.  It was falling out in patches and I felt like I was loosing my mind along with my hair.  It was just a few days before I graduated from college and my classmates were taking pictures to capture the moment we had worked so hard to achieve.  Between a creative best friend, a few scarves and the cap required for the ceremony, I survived the weekend.  I have a friend that started her locs a few months before graduation, so I decided to follow her lead.  I did not know much about locs then, but I knew more than I ever wanted to about relaxers.  At the time, I thought my classmates might question what was going on with my hair that weekend for the rest of our lives, but I decided I wasn't going to wonder any longer.  In March of 2002,  I was ready for The Big Chop.  A close friend was my stylist at the time and when she hesitated, I channeled Angela Bassett from Waiting to Exhale and started cutting.  

Roots 'n Rhythm: Esperanza Spalding "Black Gold"

Grammy award winning Esperanza Spalding's wild mane has been the target of envy for many natural hair lovers everywhere. Her hair just looks so...free!  Looking at her bio, it seems that she has always been a little bit out the box. She taught herself violin at five years old, entered college at sixteen and then went on to become the youngest faculty member in Berkley's history at just twenty years old. 

Her fourth CD release, Radio Music Society, is slated to drop this Spring. Check out her new video for her latest single "Black Gold" featuring another noted natural beauty, Algebra Blesset.

Link Love: Coily Beginner’s Guide: How to Wash Your Protective Style

Just in time for our protective style challenge, website Naturally Curly has a feature on how you can wash your protective style. It's important to remember to take good care of protective styles because much like our natural hair, these styles also need moisture and frizz fighting maintenance. Check out their feature which includes a video with some tips given by vlogger BlakIzBeautyful.

Discussion: How do you do your natural formal hair?

A bridal flower headband makes this puff more formal

Did you see Viola Davis at the Oscars? What about Esperanza Spalding? Did it make you happy to see women in formal dresses and natural hair? It thrilled me to see natural hair on the red carpet.

However, talk-show host Wendy Williams remarked that Mrs. Davis' hair just wasn't "formal" enough for her taste. This is not a discussion about how we feel about Wendy Williams but talk like this suggests that certain Americans are not comfortable with seeing kinky hair, in it's natural state, on the red carpet. Although there is a trend of African Americans wearing natural hair, there is still an idea that it's not suitable for upscale engagements. It seems that the kinkier the hair is textured, the more informal it's considered.

Kinky hair has been used to make political statements. It's been used to express free spirit. But why can it not express my intelligence?

I admit last year, I straightened my hair for a wedding because I didn't know what to do with it. I did not know what was considered formal for natural hair. That's why I was happy to see Viola Davis and Esperanza Spalding on the red carpet. It helps to reiterate the fact that kinky hair is beautiful and appropriate for all occasions.

Les Nubians sport afros with ballgowns. More photos at the source

I understand everyone doesn't feel that same way; so let's discuss it:

• Do you agree with Wendy Williams? 
• Do you think that natural hair is informal? 
• How do you wear your hair to formal events?

LINK LOVE: Fab Glance Nashville talks the new trend in hair accessories

Image from Peace Images hair jewelry

Our sister site, Fab Glance Nashville, just posted a cool trend update - hair jewelry! I know many naturals spice up their looks with flowers and hair clips, but hair chains and jewels seem to update your fro even more. It's something about this simplistic design that just appeals to me.

Design available on Etsy.com

What about you, would you wear a hair jewel/chain in your hair?

CLICK HERE to read more - Trend Alert: Hair Chain Jewelry

Candice's Hair: Mini-Twists and more

Well hello there, mini-twists. I've missed you.

I'm an advocate for this protective style. It's twists, but they are stretched. Like... temporary locks. I have about a month (well, 3 weeks now) to rock these twists. In the first week of April, can one of NIN's fabulous readers e-tap me on the shoulder and remind me that it's time to take my twists out? You all know I can get attached to minitwists.

I don't have any deep or insightful thoughts about my hair right now. I can say that my hair and I are like BFFs nowadays. I am learning what it likes, and it's learning to behave. I haven't had a "bad hair day" in a while. It's not necessarily all great days, but we are getting by just fine nowadays. I do know that I saw someone I had not seen in a while and she commented on how long my hair has gotten. And then I did my dougie in my head. Anyway, I'll post some styles later.

Also, I'm beginning to focus more on what I put into my body. A healthy body = healthy hair. I know there's a big fuss about vitamins and oils to help hair grow healthy and strong. And I'm about 3 pills from being out of biotin. Here's a hair secret: the best way to condition your hair is from the inside. 

I spent three days this week eating no meat. It wasn't hard at all, and I indulged in an assortment of vegetables. I also used my juicer for the first time. Since natural juice smoothies run about $5.00 for a 16 oz. bottle, I figured this would be a healthier and less expensive way to get my vitamins and vegetables. Yum. Hopefully my hair enjoyed these nutrients as much as I did. It was fabulous. And it tastes so much better than a biotin pill.

Have you tried to adjust your diet to specifically improve your hair? How did that work out for you?

Tips & Techniques: Transitioning Style

Meet Natasha. She's transitioning and it's been over 3 years since she's had a relaxer. She's nervous about wearing her hair in a natural style for the first time. If you're a natural girl who has transitioned, you know the feeling. You go through the "I don't know if this will look right on me" phase. Cutting off the relaxed ends pretty much signifies that the hair you once knew is gone. It can be scary.

 We decided to do a twist out. A lot of her hair is natural, but her ends are still relaxed. So I used rubber bands to secure the ends of her hair. She has a loose curl pattern, so I used coconut oil to seal in moisture, followed by Herbal Essence Tousle Me Softly finishing cream for a light hold. The results:

See? I love it. And it doesn't take much. It's okay to ease your way into your curls. This will last for days and it's low maintenance. I may be biased because I styled her hair, but I'd say that this definitely "looks right" on her.

HAIR LUST: Silver Foxx

I don't know who this beautiful lady is, but let me tell you, I aspire to have hair like hers when I reach my old age. I haven't come across too many older women who wear their hair in it's naturally curly/kinky state - not covered with a wig, nor pressed out. I love her look and this wonderful crown of grey wisdom that float upon her head. I bet she has some stories to tell!

Discussion: No One Cares About 'Natural' Hair?

-"I'm ready!! I'm doing the big chop!"

-"So?!"

Image Source

Have you heard? This whole ‘natural hair thing’ is catching on!  Women of color have stopped using chemical processes (relaxers, texturizers, Brazilian blowouts) to achieve straighter hair. They've started wearing their hair in its natural state. The term 'nappy' (and the negative connotations that used to come with it) is being replaced by more politically correct adjectives like kinky, curly, or textured.

If you’re on this site,  you know about this trend. Personally, I love seeing the naturally diverse hair.  I’m happy to hear someone announce that they  decided to stop putting dangerous chemicals in their hair. However, as more and more women rock their natural hair, people eventually become immune to it. It’s just how things work. Hair can only be ‘new’ for so long. After a while, the term 'naturalista' will have less significance because so many people doing it. This can be good and bad. For example:

GOOD: The variety of hair products targeted to chemical free 'natural' hair will increase. The prices of hair products will decrease once some of these products become less exclusive and more profitable to make.

BAD: People will not adore natural hair like they do now. The extra attention will soon fade. Stand out hair will just be another style. You'd actually have to do something more to gain that attention that once came with wearing your hair natural.

Don’t misunderstand the point. It’s  exciting to see so many of us embrace our hair and not conform to a cookie-cutter standard of beauty. That will not change. But sometimes I like to make a statement with my hair. When I walk down the street with big, fabulously blown-out hair, fewer heads. WHY? will turn, As the trend continues there will be 10 more women on the same street with the same style. It’s just like 10 people wearing the same awesome dress at the same time. It’s not as exciting.

So the questions come:

• Do you use your hair for attention? 
• Does it bother you that everyone may start to look like you, and (potentially) no one will care about your hair? 
• How else do you express your individuality BESIDES your hair? 
• How do you think the trend will affect society (or even your own) view on natural hair? 

Let us know in the comments below.

Product Review: Curl Goddess Curls Gel

I'm pretty sure we've all done this. Whether you are a confessed product junkie or not, it's easy to become curious about almost every product we see. We go into a hair supply store to buy one or two things on our list and walk out with those items and about three never tried before items in a bag.  This is what happened when I walked into Kim's Beauty Supply store to get a diffuser.  I walked out with some plastic caps, two packs of deep conditioner, a hair clip, and Curls Goddess Curls gel....and yet no diffuser.

In my last hair diary, I revealed how pleased I have been with the combination of Kinky Curly Custard and Shea Moisture's Curling Souffle'.  Unfortunately for me my hair needs a lot of said $16 KCC and a small jar lasts me about a good three weeks. Completely forgetting that I bought Goddess Curls for a product junkie fix, I was glad to find it amongst my hair supplies.  I decided to give it a try and this is what my hair did:

Yup. It laughed at me. My hair is way too thick for this stuff. It just...sat there.  The gel has a light consistency and it really didn't give me any hold or definition.  Now I have extremely thick hair.  A hair braider once described my hair as having a million strands of hair coming out of one pore.  This is why I could never go to the same hair braider twice because they all threatened to charge me double if I ever came back.  If my hair were relaxed, texturized or simply not as thick, perhaps it would've given me some definition. 

If you are anti-crunch like many naturalistas are, this product may work for you. It was definitely non-drying which is a plus. All in all, I wouldn't say that it is a bad product. It's just didn't give me the results that I like for my hair. Again, if you are someone with a thinner texture of hair or only like a little bit of hold, this gel may work better for you.

Pros:

- Botanical gel with no sulfates, silicones, parabens, mineral or petrolatum oils (if you like that sort of thing)

- Good price point at $7.99

- Non-drying

Cons

- Not recommended for those with thick hair who desire curl definition

Product Review: i am Pure....monoi de tahiti oil by Kynx

While sharing the struggles of dry hair with Melissa, she went into her product stash and emerged with i am Pure....monoi de tahiti oil by Kynx.  After I read the ingredients and found only Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil and Gardenia Tahitensis Flower Extract, I was down to give it a try.  Both coconut oil and Monoi de Tahiti are well known for restoring dry, damaged hair individually so my guess was they could only do good things when combined. 

One of the first things I noticed about i am Pure was the texture.  True to the nature of coconut oil, i am Pure was solid at at room temperature, but melted easily when warmed with my hands.  I loved this because it was easier to use as a scalp treatment at room temperature and covered my hair well when I warmed it to use as a finishing product.

I liked i am Pure more as a finishing product than as a scalp treatment.  It left my hair extremely soft and added a very nice sheen to it while keeping it moisturized.  My scalp was still a bit dry and needed more attention than my hair did.  I also loved the sweet, understated smell of gardenia that followed me most of the day.  i am Pure worked well for my locs because I did not have to use much leaving little chance for product build up.  Although I only used it on dry hair, i am Pure can also be used as a hot oil treatment, which could deepen its ability to condition and moisturize the driest of coils.  Overall,  my hair responded well to i am Pure and I would consider adding it to my product line up.

Pros
-Softens, moisturizes and adds sheen quickly
-Pleasant smell
-All natural ingredients

Cons
-Did not work well as a scalp treatment

Many times, using an entire line will reveal the full benefits of the products.  For those with locs considering the Kynx line, I would probably use the other products in the following manner:

i am Natural.....softening creme cleanser-  I could see this being added to my product line up as an alternative to shampooing.  I wash my locs often and having a cleanser that takes the work out of washing my locs every now and then could be a well-deserved break.  It might also be good for those who are still in the early stages of locing when vigorous washing can challenge the process.

i am Strong....silky kinks hydrating conditioner-  I would use this as I do my current conditioner when shampooing or co-washing.

i am Fierce.....refreshing leave-in moisturizer- I like oil-based moisturizers, but I always keep a good water-based moisturizer in my arsenal.  Our hair needs water as much as our bodies do, so I would use this one to fill that role.

i am Free.....miracle kink creme-  I love to style my locs in curls, braid outs and other set styles, so this would definitely be used as a setting lotion in my world.

i am Unique....texture defining gel-  If i am Unique dries clear, I would use this as my loc gel when it is time to wash and interlock.  I'm not sure if it was designed to be used with locs in this manner, but as a styling gel, it may give the hold needed to promote the locing process.

If you try any of the products out on your locs, let me know how it goes!  The Kynx line can be purchased at www.kynxhaircare.com. 

MELISSA'S HAIR: Holding on to my edges

 

I'm so happy with my new box braids; I love wearing extensions, especially braids. As I reported last week, this is my first time doing an install. The amount of money I saved more than makes up for having tired arms the next day.

However, I always worry when wearing extensions (weaves, braids, clip-ins) as a protective style. The tension on my edges is my biggest worry. I've always had weak edges. I talked about this subject in the summer, when I wore braids (see post). Box braids are gorgeous, but the synthetic hair can be heavy and tend to pull on the hair. In order to combat my hair from breaking and pulling out, I make sure to tie my hair loosely at night, moisturize my edges daily, and massage my scalp weekly.

In addition to the products I regularly use to keep my braids shiny, moist, and looking new, I intend to add a new product to the bunch, to aid in keeping my edges - Jamaican Castor Oil

Word on the streets is that Jamaica Black Castor Oil is the BUSINESS! The Amazon.com reviews were enough to entice me to buy the product. Castor oil comes from the castor bean and is usually light colored. Jamaican Black Castor oil is said to be manually processed over a fire and the ash is what gives it the dark color. This brand is known to help grow hair on temples, eyebrows, and eyelashes. It has no other oils in the mix so it's 100% pure.

Well, I'll keep you all posted on my hair growth. FYI: Since going natural, the hair on my temples and nape has grown tremendously. Clearly, not using as many chemicals in my hair was a good thing.

ROOTS 'N RYHTHM: Electrik Red - "So Good"

Today's Roots 'n Ryhthm takes a quick trip back to 2009. A group called Electrik Red hit the scene and promised to be a new edgy version of Destiny's Child. The group had alot of Vanity 6 influence and  some hip-hop as well. The members were dancers who became singers and formed this group. They can be seen dancing in many of Ciara's videos.

They had one minor hit, 'So Good' which included a remix featuring Lil Wayne (back when he was on everyone's remixes). Sadly, this girl-group was short lived. I don't know if it was label issues of internal issues with the group, but I haven't heard from them in years. Sad, they had enough talent to keep me entertained. Their song was one of the faves in my ipod back in '09.

Oh well, I'm here to talk hair. I loved the groups whole style and appeal. It was kind of a rugged, updated version of SWV with a dash of Pussycat Dolls. My favorite member was lead singer, Naomi. Her wild curls were EVERYTHING! That's why I chose them for this week's music spot. Below is their song, 'So Good', which features a sample from Prince. Take a listen:

Discussion: Relaxers Linked to Fibroid Tumors and Early Puberty

According to a Boston University study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, relaxers may be linked to uterine fibroid tumors and early puberty. The study followed over 23,000 women from 1997 through 2009.

The women reported on their use of relaxers. The frequency of use of relaxers, the number of scalp burns, the length of time the relaxers are left on the hair---these things are all directly related to the risk of uterine fibroid tumors. In other words, the longer you expose your scalp to the chemicals, the higher the risk of developing uterine tumors.

A previous study determined that African-American girls who used relaxers reached menarche (their first menstrual cycle) at an earlier age than other races. The earlier menstruation starts, the higher the chance of developing fibroid tumors.

Clip from the movie, Good Hair

So not only does it appear that the chemicals in relaxers are directly linked to uterine fibroid tumors, it is also linked to earlier puberty, which leads to higher chances of uterine fibroid tumors. This is an intriguing development. It makes me lean towards natural products, and it's a reminder to be more aware of how chemical exposure affects our health and the health of our children.

This news is definitely a nod to the benefits of being natural. How do you feel about these new findings?

This article was spotted via MadameNoire.