Madame Noire | Black Women's Lifestyle Guide | Black Hair | Black Love

After a night of clubbing, Atasha Graham collapsed but it wasn’t because the 34-year-old was partying too hard. She went into anaphylactic shock which, according to the Southwark Coroner’s Court in London, was caused by an allergic reaction to the latex glue used to bond her hair extensions to her head.

After being rushed to the hospital, Atasha never regained consciousness, and died there. After checking her organs and ruling out any alcohol or substance abuse, Home Office pathologist Doctor Michael Heath examined the glue on one of the hair pieces she was wearing. Although allergic reactions to latex typically occur within 30 minutes of contact, Dr. Health said if Atasha was sweating in the club, the perspiration may have caused the latex to enter her bloodstream.

What’s odd is that this was far from Atasha’s first time wearing extensions. She had been wearing weave since the age of 20, which makes doctors even more curious about her mysterious death. Still, they are sure it was caused by anaphylactic shock.

“The diagnosis is correct, but I am not sure what triggered it,” Dr. Heath said.

“If she had recovered we could have carried out tests, but the situation we have, tragically, we cannot take it any further.”

Dr. Heath added that he’s seen increasingly more cases of people going to anaphylactic shock as a result of the hair glues used to apply extensions, which means everyone should be more careful about what substances they’re putting in their hair.

“There are about 10 to 20 deaths a year in this country, many more in America. I have seen four in the last three months.”

That’s definitely a terrible way to go.

Do you use hair glue to attach hair extensions when you wear weave? Have you ever had an allergic reaction?

Brande Victorian is a blogger and culture writer in New York City. Follower her on Twitter at @be_vic.

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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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Length, volume, color, and styling options are amongst the reasons women choose to wear extensions. Most of the ladies I know use clip-in extensions primarily for volume. You can find ready-made clip-ins at beauty supply stores in various lengths, colors and textures, or you can make your own using the hair of your choice by following the steps below—trust me, it’s super easy.

1. Hair Extensions

• Purchase the hair in the length/texture/color you are going for.
• Shampoo or prep the hair as you normally would.
• Section off the area of your hair where you want the extensions, and measure.
• Cut the hair extensions to suit your measurements.

2. Hair Clips

• You can find hair clips at your local beauty supply store; Sally Beauty Supply sells a pack of 3 for $1.99. They come in different colors, so purchase the color suitable for your hair.
• The length of your track will determine how many hair clips will go on it.
• Sew into the holes of the hair clips making sure the part that snaps open is facing the right direction (where your real hair will go).

3. Preparing Your Real Hair

Clip-in extensions like many other forms of styling can cause breakage if not handled properly. The point where your hair and the clips meet can become fragile because of the constant pressure. Here are some tips to consider that will help ease the strain:

• Moisturize the area where you will be clipping the extensions onto.
• Rotate the positions of your extensions to avoid continuous pressure on the same spots.
• Remove them gently to make sure they don’t get caught in your hair.
• If you comb them while they are in your hair, place one hand on the track while combing to prevent them from tugging at your roots.
• Don’t sleep with your clip-ins because rolling around at night will cause stress between the hair clips and your hair, which can only result in one thing: breakage!

By Indigo Black and Renay Alize

Serena Williams has come a LONG way since her beads-and-braids wearing early tennis playing days. Seriously, when you think of young Venus and Serena, you think of tennis–then braids. But the tennis champ has left those things behind for a bevy of extensions that could take up a whole weave aisle in a beauty supply store (variety IS the spice of life). Some have been very chic and sexy looks, others have been very crazy and confusing. This gallery features some of her best and worst hair looks over the years. Hopefully you’ll get some inspiration of what to try out, and what Yaki to leave in the bag.

The super model took off her ever-present weave to pose for Lurve magazine. Of course you can’t see what’s under that fabric but what do you think Naomi would look like without her security blanket of hair? Would you be interested in seeing her real hair or better yet, to see what she would look like with a fade?

Source

It’s a rarity you see black female celebrities come into the Hollywood limelight with their own locks. Some people proudly do so and own it, showing off hair that’s as thick and kinky as it wants to be, and we love it! You know, the Janelle Monáe’s, the Leela James’ and the Esperanza Spaldings of the world. But others keep their natural locks on the low and go on to successfully change the lace front game, re-invent wigs, and have some women flocking to the beauty supply store for similar look with bubbly and stripper-esque names like, “Candi.” They look just as fab.

But trying to catch a glimpse of a natural strand of their hair or some new growth is like ogling through an advanced version of  “Where’s Waldo?” for the bespectacled little man. You’re not going to find what you’re looking for. They keep their heads on lock. If they have a bad hair day you’ll never see it, and if that new growth is a-coming, you’ll never know it. And that’s all good and dandy. But it would be nice if we could see the following celebrities de-wigged and de-weaved for once. And not because we’re on some natural revolutionary initiative. The complete opposite. But just as it’s intriguing to see them without their makeup it’s just the same with hair–to see them in their everyday woman, natural form. That is, not always so done up. Why is it important you ask? Well, for no other reason than to ease our own curiosity…and yours!

As individuals that are seen on the covers of magazines, in movies, in music videos and more, a celebrity’s hair has ALWAYS got to be on point. Hence the stylists you see that pop up at every drop of a camera and at award shows to primp their strands between breaks. So with that knowledge in mind, it only makes sense that black figures in entertainment would extend their influence into the hair care industry, a definite moneymaker. So we’re highlighting “Dark & Lovely” ladies who have used their influence and tresses to make their mark in the haircare industry as a side hustle. We’re just waiting for Wendy Williams, aka the “the wigged one,” to go ahead and step on in…

Read the rest of this entry »

Beverly Johnson Human Hair Wet & Wavy 16” in 1B was the brand that took my weave virginity.  It was my eight grade graduation and a 13 yr. old me longed for a glamorous look to compliment my newfound maturity and sophistication.  What better to do that in than some fresh micro-braids? Gone were the days of sitting in a sweltering kitchen for hours while my mother tried to convince me that it was only the “heat” biting at the back of my neck, not the actual hot comb itself.  The tears that I felt building behind my eyes and the knot full of nerves in my stomach said otherwise.

Don’t get me wrong, no one could tell me I wasn’t cute on 6^th grade picture day in my Mary Janes whipping my homegrown hair back and forth brushing my shoulder blades.  But was getting fussed at for fidgeting and the occasional harry Potter forehead burn worth it all?

Almost 5 years later after breaking up with Beverly Johnson, I became a literal hair whore.  Outre’, Sensationnel, Milky Way and a slew of lesser known names whom I can’t even remember all laid on my scalp.  As my money improved, so did the quality of hair I purchased.  We did all kinds of positions as well: braided, curled, crimped, and straight.  I had blue and black, red and auburn and let’s not forget the two that had me sprung for the longest: #27 and #33 (and my weave connoisseurs know what I mean).

All I need in this life of sin, is me and my sew-in.  And all you India Arie “I am not my hair” purists can ride that self-righteous high horse if you want to, but I’ll be glad to take it’s silky mane and braid it into my own.  It has absolutely nothing to do with self hate, but it may have a lot to do with boredom and laziness.  I work 3 jobs and the last thing I want to do at the end of my day is wrap or roll anything.  While weave has its share of maintenance, for the most part I can get up and go without having to fuss with a flat-iron.  Weave allows me to be a bohemian curly goddess one month, and have romantic waves flowing to the small of my back the next.  Nothing can compare to what I can only describe as sheer delight when the silken strands of Virgin Remy Model Model Ego II  flows between my fingers.  Some women plan parties, I plan hairstyles.  I conduct my research surrounded by the  latest issues of Sophisticates Black Hair, several on-line hair websites, and sampling the goods of my local beauty supply stores. As long as I’m maintaining the health of my natural hair and being financially responsible, what does it matter to anyone else how I achieve my “fly”.

Both men and women have their assumptions about hair extensions and while I can respect those opinions, you can’t knock this side of the tracks until you try them.  I’ve seen a whole lot of bad weaves: track showing, poor color choices and sub par installation.  But with all of the innovations in technique and quality hair, you might learn to love weave as much as your own hair.  Here’s a few reasons why I love my weave as well as some tips on maintaining your own.

Being a beautiful black woman can be hard work, but many of us ladies are working harder and not smarter by using accessories that detract  from our beauty instead of making our job of being fierce and fabulous a little easier.

Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing that lifts my heart more than the smell that fills my nostrils after opening a fresh pack of Indian Remy hair.  And if it wasn’t for my acrylic tips my fingernails would be bitten down to the bone marrow.  But when it comes to enhancements, the same rule applies as to anything else in life: Balance.  Many of us think that all we have to do is throw on the ponytail and glue on the false eyelashes and walk down the runway of life, but your enhancements shouldn’t be your beauty, they should enhance the beauty you already have.  Take a look at the following list and ask yourself, are these things helping or making the job harder than it has to be?

To weave or not to weave? There is a lot of back and forth discussion over Black women and their love/hate relationships with hair extensions. While they can be a fab styling option for the girl who wants to change her style, color or even texture from week to week, simply put….they aren’t for everyone. Considering hair extensions for your African American hair? Here are some things you may wish to consider.

The Good:

-Hair extensions provide flexibility in styling that would be impossible to mimic with real hair. Attempt to change your own hair from red to blonde to black in the course of two weeks and you’ll be wearing weave sooner than you planned, trust me.

-Much of the taboo surrounding Black women and weaves has gone away. They are so commonplace now that you’ll even see the occasional man walking around with a ‘hair bag’ after picking up his girlfriend’s new extensions.

The Bad:

-Can you change your extensions often? Sure. But it’s gonna be costly. And if you aren’t a skilled weave-master, the last thing you want to do is put your own tracks or pieces in. The streets will notice, honey. The streets will notice.

-Like braids, hair extensions can cause stress to your own hair. Which is the worst thing you can do if you plan to wear your real tresses out in the future.

The Ugly:

-Not everyone can keep up $300 trips to the salon every few weeks, but some will get those fancy extensions knowing full well they can’t replace them in an adequate amount of time. The result? The unfortunate sister sitting in front of you on the bus with a head full of matted Remi and a faint mildew smell.

If you choose to try a weave, make sure you are prepared to deal with the costs and upkeep associated with it! Hair extensions can be uber fab…but you have to do your part!