Thanks to faithful reader Tashia Jones (Hey, girl!), we were sent a story about all the fuss over Angelina Jolie putting extensions in the head of her daughter Zahara at just six years old. To be specific, she doesn’t have a long, flowing sew-in or something like that, but braids (the old-school Brandy kind). Radar Online talked to celebrity “groomer,” DaRico Jackson, who commented on the fact that the braids put in little Zahara’s hair were not only promoting her to second guess her own beauty, but they will damage her own hair in the future:

“If Angelina wants Zahara to be in touch with her roots and have her hair braided then she can do that with the child’s own hair and she doesn’t need to add extensions, Jackson stated. “She is far too young for that and Angelina is creating insecurity in the little girl that what she has is not good enough. Growing up with siblings who have long flowing hair, Zahara may grow to feel that her own natural hair is not pretty enough, and that without the fake hair she is not beautiful. She should be made to embrace who she is.”

Waltzing around with her mommy recently, little Zahara (from Ethiopia) held Angelina’s hand as she showed off her new braided extensions that reached down to the middle of her back in a ponytail. While many people (mainstream websites of course) thought the braided look was cute, many hair experts seemed to jump out the woodworks and blast Jolie for resorting to extensions for a young child.

As much as we used to see Jolie parading Zahara around with uncombed hair that was probably tangled as all hell, I’m not really surprised that she would resort to throwing braided extensions in her hair. As many kids as she has in her pack, and running around starring in movies and directing joints, she might not have the time. Because of that, the one whose hair might need the most tender love and care just doesn’t seem to get it. I’m just wondering why they won’t hire someone to take this child to the salon every few weeks!? Seriously, some braids using her own hair wouldn’t have taken as much time as having someone put extensions in Zahara’s head, which I’m sure had that little girl tired and antsy (I know that’s how I end up feeling!). I don’t think I started wearing braided hairstyles with extensions until I was like 12, and even then, after one month they were driving me crazy. When I took them bad boys out they had already started tugging some of my hair out, especially around my edges, so I’m hoping she won’t lose much of her own hair when they finally un-braid those things.

I totally agree with Jackson that this look is not necessary at such an early stage in her life. When you’re young, that’s when parents should be working with your hair, and as unruly as we would see Zahara’s mane looking since she was a baby, it’s a shame to see she the few options she’s being offered. However, if we’re going to put Angelina on a skewer for resorting to braided extensions, we also have to put some criticism on ourselves for putting perms in our children’s hair at a similar age, if not younger. As my sister would say, you can take out braids, but you can’t take out a perm (Well, you can, but that might take even more work).

In the end, braids are all good, but why not try it out with her own hair first? Angie should use some of that baller money she has and invest in Zahara’s hair future by getting someone to actually offer it some real TLC. I’m not hating on Angie hard for this decision, because having a child of a different background then your own probably will cause you to have some missteps when it comes to dealing with hair, keeping them in touch with their own culture, and more. However, this look is just a little much at six. But what do you think?

*Feature photo courtesy of mybrownbaby.com

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Ever since Alicia Keys jumped on the scene singing “Fallin’” with braids and beads dangling old-school A Taste Like Honey style, her hair moves have been some that many women all over have followed. Cornrows never looked so fab on a chick! But like most women when it comes to hair, a lady has to change it up, and hair changes can do you good. Check out some of our favorite ones from Mrs. Beatz as well as just a few that we weren’t so crazy about…

We’ve professed our love for the Huxtable family and The Cosby Show before; so it should come as no surprise that we just can’t leave them alone. Before it was all about the clothes, but now we’re talking about the hair. It’s no secret that The Cosby show pushed the envelope when it came to innovative hair styles for black women. If you were old enough to style your own tresses at the time this show aired, then chances are you were inspired to recreate one or more of these fly looks.

At the 2011 BET awards, Keke Palmer showed up dressed to impress in a black and silver tube dress body-con number. To top it off, she styled her ombre mane in sultry beach waves that added to her soft glamour. Beach waves are a simple and stylish alternative when you want a break from straight styles or just want to add some volume and definition to your hair. Here’s what you need to get the look. Before you begin, make sure your hair is washed, conditioned and not weighed down with products. Then:

As you may have learned in my article, “Let Me Count The Ways: 6 Reasons Why I Love My Weave” , I have been wearing hair extensions on and off since the age of thirteen.  Shortly after having my hair professionally micro-braided for my eighth grade graduation, I attempted to braid my hair myself.  Needless to say, I spent many days of my freshman year of high school looking a hot mess.  There was the time I unknowingly bought synthetic hair and ended up with a head full of waxy, shiny, unable-to-be-curled craziness. Oh and let’s not forget the burgundy individuals that hung way past my waistline and made my neck muscles about ten times stronger.  Eventually, after much trial and error I perfected my craft, and soon had friends wondering how much I charged.  (The funny thing is ‘till this day I still can’t style anyone else’s hair as well as I style my own).  From micro-braids I graduated to weave ponytails and when I get enough time, I vow to master a sew-in weave without the help of my stylist.

This post expresses my unending gratitude to all of the weavologists and stylists of the world.  I still can’t claim to be a master in the arts of installation and style of extensions, but I have learned a few lessons along the way: