via Etsy

Are you growing tired of the debate over natural hair versus chemically-treated tresses? Well, Andrea Pippins, a Baltimore-based graphic designer, is so frustrated by the ongoing question of whether women should go natural that she created a four-poster series of prints entitled “Crowns of Color” that not only celebrate natural hair, but all African-American hair choices.

It is all an effort to get black women to celebrate their hair whichever way they want  to wear it. “With all due respect, I am personally tired of the natural hair conversation in regards to one having to defend the choice to go natural, encouraging someone to go natural, or speaking to it from a place of political debate,” said Pippins in an interview with Colorlines Magazine [via Clutch Magazine]. “For me, the conversation has totally shifted. Although my work has always been about embracing natural hair it initially came from a place of, ‘You should do it, too.’ I don’t feel that way anymore.”

According to Pippins, hair should be to each her own. “I think women should be able to do what they want as they wish and that they express their beauty in a way that speaks to them. So now I really want to highlight and focus on how beautifully diverse, stylish, innovative and fun our hair really is. I will add though that the re-emergence of natural hair has elevated hair innovation and style to a whole other fabulous level,” she told Colorlines.

In the colorful posters Pippins created, she takes a lighthearted look at the hair debate. They series feature women with various hair styles– relaxed to natural.

What do you think of the posters?

It’s just not about creating the hair style but also accessorizing it to give it that extra umph. Stylist Maria Thompson demonstrates how to add accessories and clips to upgrade your look. Let  us know how you’re enjoying our hair series in the comments below!

Want more Madame Noire Hair Videos….check out links below:

NATURAL HAIR

• Noire Naturals – The Natural Twist Out
• Noire Naturals – Maintaining Your Twist-Out Style
• Noire Naturals – Creating A Sophisticated Elegance
• Noire Naturals – Accessorizing a Sophisticated Updo

RELAXED HAIR

• Relaxed & Real – From Daytime To Evening
• Relaxed & Real – How To Prep Your Hair Before A Relaxer
• Relaxed & Real – Protective Styles For Working Out

WEAVES

• Weave Wisdom – How To Prepare For A Good Weave
• Weave Wisdom – How To Install A Hair Weave
• Weave Wisdom – How To Maintain A Hair Weave

More on Madame Noire!

• Somebody Lied to You And Your Lacefront: 9 Celebs Who Need a Lacefront Wig Intervention
• An Open Letter To Boob Sweat
• Why Are There So Many Daycare Facilities in the ‘Hood?
• Keep It Movin’: Why You Need To Resist The Temptation of Relationship Relapse
• LOL! The Funniest “Love & Hip Hop Atlanta” Parody Ever In Life
• Rest In Peace…Or Not: 9 Posthumous Albums We Loved, And Some We Could Have Lived Without
• Bet You Didn’t Know: Secrets Behind the Making of Juice

We all know how difficult it can be to keep up a workout routine and maintain our hair’s vibrancy at the same time. For the non-natural sistas, Mizani stylist Rod Horton offers up tips on how to protect your hair style while exercising.

Let us know what you think of this third episode of our hair series Relaxed & Real.

Want more Madame Noire Hair Videos….check out links below:

NATURAL HAIR

• Noire Naturals – The Natural Twist Out
• Noire Naturals – Maintaining Your Twist-Out Style
• Noire Naturals – Creating A Sophisticated Elegance
• Noire Naturals – Accessorizing a Sophisticated Updo

RELAXED HAIR

• Relaxed & Real – From Daytime To Evening
• Relaxed & Real – How To Prep Your Hair Before A Relaxer
• Relaxed & Real – Protective Styles For Working Out

WEAVES

• Weave Wisdom – How To Prepare For A Good Weave
• Weave Wisdom – How To Install A Hair Weave
• Weave Wisdom – How To Maintain A Hair Weave

More on Madame Noire!

• Can An Artist Sell Sex and Still Have Their Music Taken Seriously?
• Ask a Very Smart Brotha: Are My Male Friends Keeping Me From Finding a Man?
• Thanks But No Thanks: Why I Refused To Be Her Bridesmaid
• How Ya Going? 9 of Our Favorite Celebs Of Trinidadian Descent (There’s Some Surprises!)
• An Open Letter to My Single Sistas: Being Single is Not a Curse, It’s A Gift
• UGH! 10 Things Men Do That Drive Women Nuts

Source: Styleblazer.com

From StyleBlazer.com

We know that hair can be a touchy subject.  But before you get offended, keep in mind that most of us have been caught with at least one of the bad hairstyles listed. You are not alone!  There’s nothing wrong with trying different styles in your tresses.  And when all else fails, keep it simple.  A simple cut and groom will never steer you wrong, promise.  But to drive this point home, we think it’s important that you reminisce on your horrible hair days, and be thankful that they are in your past.  If your current style is on this list, then be thankful that you read this.

Check out 15 of the worst hair trends past and present.

The Finger Wave

Check out the other 14 suspect hair trends on StyleBlazer.com.

More on Madame Noire!

• Bet You Didn’t Know: Secrets Behind the Making of “Waiting to Exhale”
• Know Your Shape: The Best Hair Cuts For Every Face
• The Silent Killer: HPV Do You Have It?
• Evening Eye Candy: Maxwell
• You Know You Wrong For That! 6 Lies We Tell Our Girlfriends
• Single Black Male: Should Women Still Expect Men to Pay for Dates?
• NEVER STOP, NEVER GIVE UP: 7 Things You Should Never Stop Doing For A Woman

Stronger, Longer Hair Challenge

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Have you tried wearing turbans? Over the past year or so, turbans have been coming into the scene. Sure, some fashionistas like June Ambrose have been wearing them for years, but a lot of ladies have recently been getting into them. If not for the fashion statement, for the awesome fix to a bad hair day.

Check out some great turban styles to accessorize your ‘do.

Here June Ambrose styles singer Chrisette Michelle’s turban over her low haircut.

You can even try it over protective styles like box braids like Solange. 

Wear a turban over straight or loose curls.

Elle.com

Here is an updo with hair exposed with a turban in the back à la Solange.

Turbans work with all hair types- whether you decide to put all of your hair up, half up or have all of it down, just get a fun print and have fun doing different turban styles.

To achieve Solange’s look in this picture:

• Take your hair and bring it to the front
• Pin the hair so it’s all focused to the front leaving the back as smooth as possible.
•  Take the fabric and fold it in half to create a triangle. Start at the nape and tie it at the top. Let your curls cascade in the front!

How do you like to wear your turban?

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Join the Optimum Stronger, Longer Hair Challenge! Complete the Hair Survey and share your experience in the challenge by commenting below or tweeting us @MadameNoire with the hashtag #StrongerLonger for your chance to be our weekly winner and score amazing Optimum Care products!.

We are looking for the most engaged users. Participate in the challenge, send us your questions… and we could feature YOU on Madame Noire! At the end of the challenge, three Grand Prize winners will receive a salon experience, tons of Optimum Care product, and the opportunity to serve as an Optimum Care blogger. Join us!

Feel free to e-mail us at HealthyHair@madamenoire.com

Stronger, Longer Hair Challenge

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Take the Healthy Hair Survey

There are so many amazing accessories you can rock throughout the year, but in the summertime- I’m not trying to wear hats! Let’s take a look at some great ways to accessorize your hair that are fun for summer:

Braided Headbands

Some ladies find it confusing to make a braided headband with your own hair, so why not buy one! They typically come with a hard headband or just a flexible headband. It is a cute look and you can wear your hair down or put it in a cute updo!

To achieve Raven-Symoné’s hair style:

• Start off with a rollerset
• Create a loose, low side chignon and secure with bobby pins
• Take your braided headband and find the perfect positioning for you and use a couple of bobby pins to secure so it doesn’t move around too much

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Tribal Headbands

Forever21.com

Forever21.com

Tribal prints are huge for clothing! Now bring that into your accessories. From beaded headbands to African, Native American and Latin American inspired prints- they are perfect if you have a boho chic look.

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Headpieces

NyneLyves.com

Credit: NyneLyves.bigcartel.com

Clip In Extensions

Add a pop of color to your hair! It is a cute accessory that takes no time at all to show your creative side. Most of us are scared to go purple, blue or any other non-natural hair color, so this is the safe route.

To achieve Katy Perry’s look:

• You can take any type of hair or style- straight or curly
• Purchase some colored clip ins from a beauty supply store (or make your own clip ins)
• Clip in chunks of color throughout the hair. You can use one color or multiple colors.

What is your ultimate summer hair accessory?

_________________________________________

Join the Optimum Stronger, Longer Hair Challenge! Complete the Hair Survey and share your experience in the challenge by commenting below or tweeting us @MadameNoire with the hashtag #StrongerLonger for your chance to be our weekly winner and score amazing Optimum Care products!.

We are looking for the most engaged users. Participate in the challenge, send us your questions… and we could feature YOU on Madame Noire! At the end of the challenge, three Grand Prize winners will receive a salon experience, tons of Optimum Care product, and the opportunity to serve as an Optimum Care blogger. Join us!

Feel free to e-mail us at HealthyHair@madamenoire.com

When you think of Ms. Patti LaBelle, naturally her one-of-a-kind voice comes to mind first. Then perhaps you recall her kicking off her shoes during her epic performances. You may even think about the fact that she’s one of the last true divas we still have left these days. But when you talk about Patti LaBelle, you cannot neglect to mention the hair. One of the first black women to rock the “big hair, don’t care” look, Patti has never been afraid to experiment with her tresses. Check out some of her hairdos over the years.

Source: Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images via Essence.com

TWA 

Before Patti and her group members Nona Hendryx, Sarah Dash and Cindy Birdsong went extra extravagant with the wigs, bejeweled hair and the spritz, she kept it relatively simple. In this picture from the early ’70s, before Patti and the Blue Belles decided to take on a more flamboyant stage look, Patti rocked a short afro under some of her conservative performance wigs.

Who said bangs were the thing of the past? These celebrity divas clearly didn’t get that memo because they rocked their bangs with sass and style! See here at Stylebazer

In addition to her powerful voice and acute rhymes, Lauryn Hill is a natural beauty. And she didn’t have to bare her boobs and butt for us to see it. That’s why it was so hard for us to accept her departure from the music industry. She was truly one of a kind. Since The Miseducation Lauryn has traveled down an interesting path:. multiple children, some diva behavior and most recently, her own Maury Povich moment. But such is life and it  wouldn’t be complete without its ups and downs. The same is true for a hair history. If we dig through our old photos, we’ll find some wonders and some womps. Check out Lauryn’s.

Close and Curly

I absolutely love this look. Her hair is short, but the style, texture and sheen of her hair in this shot, gives her style so much more dimension and character. The fact that Lauryn’s eyes are so engaging in this photo definitely seal the deal. It’s no wonder this is one of the more popular pictures of her.