Wooden handled medium totes
Large hobo purses
The bags go for $20 and can be purchased here....
Do I feel another giveaway coming on?
Hello Queens, below is a question that a reader sent me in all sincerity. I am publishing it because I have been approached for number of years with the same question so let me answer it the best I can, truthfully (the only way):
Q: Hello, I have a question that I have wanted to ask for years, but didn't have the courage to ask anyone for fear that they may not be truthful or may become affended. I trulymean no disrespect in the question that I'm about to ask. I too have locs and I have had them since 2/14/1997, technically before then, but I came out in 1997. That I would need to explain, but I would like to pose my question before I lose my train of thought.
I would like to know, truthfully what it is that is added to the hair to sustain the locs and keep them with that thick look from root to end no matter how long they are. I don't want to be lied to because I know how hair grows and to keep that fullness of a twist from root to end is virtually impossible without some sort of added hair, twine, or other element which may or may not have grown natually out of the scalp. Especially if these are uncultured locs in which you just let them go and they are unmainted. I work in Baltimore Md. and I see about 60 percent of the people of color there who tend to wear their in locs but whom have started them with a substance not of their ow entirely. Their are guys who will have 1 inch hair on Monday and then 12 inch hair on Thursday and it looks so very natural, but I KNOW BETTER!!!! Please tell me what it that in their hair. I do have locs and I have always had long hair since I was a child, so when I started my locs, I started them with the length that I already had. I didn't get the fullness from the scalp that i truly want, but I have been blessed enough to get the length over and over again. I say over and over again, because I have cut it numerous of times and by the grace of God, it always grew back to the length from which I had cut it. I always cut it in the spring and it grows right backe summer and I start all over again. I will not be doing that anymore, because I am going to be 50 years old this year and I don't want to keep taking away what God has blessed me with. I also have very fine wavy hair and that does'nt allow my roots to become truly bushy or kinky which I woud like. I should'nt keep asking for something that God has not given me, because so many of us do that on a daily basis and don't even see what is in front of us, and with me, I have realized that God has blessed me with a full head of long hair since I was a girl and here I am still asking the question about the thickness from the root. Well I have something that others would probably steal to get and that's the length, no matter how many times I cut, God always gives it back. But I wont do it anymore. Just please tell me what it is that they are adding to the hair. I pose this question to you because you seem to have the same texture and look of the hair in question that I see everyday for over ten years now not saying that it is but that's the reason that I'm asking you the question, because only you know what you have. I mean this in no direspectful way so please don't take it this way. God Bless You
A: Hello, name withheld out of respect, thank you so much for you question and I will be happy to answer you. You have no reason to think I will take the question the wrong way because hey at least you are asking and not making assumptions right? Well I have had my dreadlocks for over 7 1/2 years. I started with just an inch of hair, just enough to actually twist; which stylist call coils. I had no problem starting off with little to no hair, as I wanted to experience "me" throughout the 5 stages of dreads which are:
For me it was all about getting to know "me." Having been wearing relaxers, perms, and weaves for the majority of my life this was a very important process. During the early stages of my dreads I was like most people, admiring, wishing, and wanting them to be long and beautiful. I was very tempted to gain length at all costs which you are referring to. But, no way was I going to get, "caught out there." That would just defeat the purpose of getting to "love, and accept" me as I naturally am. However, I do know the different methods that people are running to, just to accept temporary length. The methods used are wrapping the root of the hair with; yarn (mohair), or kinky textured hair which matches the persons hair. Again this method is for people who want the length, and fullness that they may not be able to gain on their own, or because they aren't patient enough to grow it.
So, this is what you are most likely seeing on those that have 1' one day, and 12 in' another! However, for me? I am 100% all natural, thankfully to the women on my mother's side of the family. My grandmother, mother, and all of my aunts have beautiful hair! My mothers' texture is fine and wavy, she has been wanting locs for years, but her hair isn't kinky enough to loc, and she doesn't have the patience to allow it too. So, thanks to my father for passing on that good African kinky texture for fullness, and hair that will loc. I have the best of both worlds, kinky for locing and good genes from mom for the length.
So again, as with anything everyone has different hair textures due to genes; my hair grows very thick, and bushy, and yours as you have mentioned will grow long, but not as thick. Its just in the genes. Also, with all due respect keep in mind also, that age does and can make a difference. Our hair growth slows down with age, so I may not have such thick and bushy hair in the future (I hope this isn't the case at all) but I have seen it too many times.
As I have blogged about before, diet is a key factor in the health of hair. Plenty of water, and vitamins are important for the growth of hair. I take vitamins on the daily, drink 8-10 glasses of water throughout the day.
We all have to embrace what we have and build from there. So thanks again for your question, I hope I have answered it, and I do hope you continue to visit the site!
Happy Locing!
This giveaway includes your choice of one of the following:
To enter the contest, visit Tomoka's Twists check out the items, come back to the blog and leave a comment here tell us your favorite item.
Just by leaving a comment, you will be automatically entered. The contest runs through April, 19, 2009 at 11:59pm EST. One random winner will be selected from all the comments to receive all the items.
Please only enter once and leave your email address in the appropriate spot so that we can contact you.First I just want to say thank you! It is so nice to finally get a chance to interview you; I have admired your beautiful hair for years. Thank you much.
1. Approximately what is the current length of your hair, and what style do you predominately style it in for day to day wear? I actually just cut my hair last week, so it’s not quite shoulder length. Recently, I’ve been wearing it braided flat to my head, then out for a few days before I wash it again.
2. What is your maintenance regime? Honestly, I’ve been neglecting my hair recently while I do lots of grunge work around my house and yard. J But now I’m getting back on track, starting with a fresh cut during the new moon (to encourage growth), and a deep conditioning and message. When I’m good - I massage my scalp and lightly oil my scalp and hair every day; wash, condition, and braid my hair every week; deep condition it once or twice a month; and trim it when needed during the new moon.
3. What products work for you and why? My current favorites are anything by Heavenly Healing and Niyat because they are all natural products that are good for skin and hair. One of my hair rules is that if I wouldn’t put it on my face, I won't put it on my hair.
4. How hard has it been to wear natural hair in the entertainment industry, and has it prevented you from obtaining acting jobs? Are you kidding me? Luckily, my first television series was one in which I wore lots of wigs and it didn’t matter to the show how my real hair was because you only saw it when we were all doing our own thing. I’m sure I’ve missed a lot of work because of my hair (more than one casting director has told me so) – but obviously not enough to make me run out and slap some lye on my head.
5. Who has instilled that great sense of self-esteem and pride that you embody? Wow. That great sense of self-esteem and pride is truly a daily effort on my part. I was raised by grandparents who did not value the nappy head as I do, so I’m thinking this sense of self must have come from genetic memory. It was fueled though by my first trip to Africa where I saw not only the Black people who looked like me and everybody I knew, but those who had straightened their hair trying to look like us (because they didn't realize that we were trying to look like the white people who made us think there was something wrong with how we looked in the first place).
6. Have you always worn your hair naturally? Please. I sat right in front of that hot combed kitchen stove, dreading singed ears like most girls of my generation. I didn’t get a perm until college and I didn’t keep long after that. It’s been natural (with two unfortunate exceptions that I detail in my book) for more than twenty years.
7. How do you care for your skin as well? When I’m good, I wash with warm water, rinse with cool or cold, tone (my face) and then moisturize and apply sun block. I also have a spa scrub at least once a year – but I mean to do it once a quarter. I also have a paraffin wax tub for my hands and feet. I don't use it as often as I thought I would when I bought it.
8. What advice do you have for our readers in regards to natural hair care? If you wouldn’t put it on your face, don’t put it on your scalp or hair. If you’re new to being natural, have patience. Treat your true hair like a new love interest. Take time to get to know your hair - respectfully and with kindness. With a bit of effort you’ll probably find that you’re a great match. Any whatever else you do, visit my website, www.tkeyah.com and order an autographed copy of my book, Natural Woman / Natural Hair: A Hair Journey, with Simple, Step-by-Step Instructions for Taking Care of Your Natural Hair. :)
Thank you; it has been truly an honor! You’re very welcome.
Please visit her website to get a copy of her book, Natural Hair: A Hair Journey.