1Blessed Natural Mag

Q: Dear 1BlessedNatural,  I wear protective styles, but my natural hair is still not growing. What could I be doing wrong?   A: It is a popular misconception that if you wear your hair in protective styles, it will automatically grow. While, part of that is true...It will grow, but you might not retain length if you don't take care of your hair. You have to care for it before, during, and after protective styling. Before you install a protective style, be sure your hair is in good condition . Ask yourself these questions: 1. Are my ends healthy? If they are damaged, you may need to trim them before installing a protective style. An exception to this rule would be if you trim your hair while it is in twists, like I do. 2. Is my hair dry? I like to wash, deep condition, moisturize, and seal (with an oil) my hair before installing any protective style.  3. How long will I keep my protective style? It is a good idea to take breaks between styles to let...

1BlessedNatural 2010 photo of my braid-out on permed hair while transitioning Hey my blessed naturals! One week ago, I ran into a young lady who complimented me on my hair. When I asked her if she was thinking about going natural, she said she didn't think she would look nice with natural hair. I had the same concern when I was thinking about doing the Big Chop. Natural hair is so versatile that you can find a natural style or styles that you like for yourself. If you are considering going natural and want to get an idea of how you would look, try doing braid-outs , twist-outs , rod sets, Bantu knots and knot-outs , straw sets, and roller sets . Those styles are the closest to textured hairstyles. During my transition, I loved doing braid-outs like the one below, and combing the hair out to get a kinky look (above). I also tried parting my hair different ways. If you don't like the textured hairstyles, many naturals chose to straighten their natural hair with h...

Dear 1BlessedNatural, My Boyfriend Doesn't Like Natural Hair... (photo cred: Ashleigh W under the CC by 2.0 ) Q: Dear 1BlessedNatural,  I want to go natural but my boyfriend said he doesn't want me to do it. He said he doesn't like girls with natural hair. What should I do? A: When you go natural, you do it for yourself. It is my belief that if you are not married, your significant other cannot have a say in how you wear your hair. If your boyfriend really likes and/or loves you, he'll accept you natural hair and all. It might take him time to warm up to your new look, but he will eventually. I'm speaking from experience. If you want to go natural, do it for you. Go for it! If you have questions about natural hair, you can email them to me at 1BlessedNatural [at]gmail[dot]com! What did your boyfriend say when you went natural? Related Articles: Dear 1BlessedNatural, What Can I Expect After I Big Chop         ...

Dear 1BlessedNatural... Hey, my blessed naturals! Some of you have asked me questions about maintaining your natural hair, goals, etc., and I love assisting you all. So, I'm officially starting a "Dear 1BlessedNatural" portion of this blog magazine. You can send your questions to 1BlessedNatural[at]gmail[dot]com, and I will answer them to the best of my ability. Some of them will be featured in upcoming articles! I look forward to hearing from you! Related Articles: Dear 1BlessedNatural, I'm Tired of Doing My Kids' Hair                             Dear 1BlessedNatural, What Can I Expect After I Big Chop

Dear 1BlessedNatural, I'm Tired of Doing My Kids' Hair! Hey, my blessed naturals, Yesterday, I had a conversation with my nieces' mom because she was thinking about perming my 9-year old niece's hair. Many of you have seen previous articles about my nieces, Big Sister Natural and Little Sister Natural's hair which is thick and long. Their mother knows how to keep their natural hair healthy. Her problem is that she will soon have 3 children, and she doesn't think she will not have the time to do the girls' hair on top of taking care of a newborn. She also plans to let the baby's hair grow out, making 3 heads of hair to do, eventually. This is an issue that many busy moms with children, (especially more than one) face. Although a perm may seem like aN easy choice, it may come with a price of your children's self-esteem and health. There are better ways to remedy the problem. Teach Your Child to Do Their Own Hair By the time you...