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

source: thehotness.com

Even if you haven’t heard of London-born Shingai Shoniwa before, chances are you’ve seen her stylistic choices and gorgeous head of natural hair floating around the web. As front woman of the Noisettes, this Zimbabwean beauty is known for being quite adventurous when it comes to both her musical performances and her wardrobe. Let’s face it, details like feathered shoulders are kind of hard to miss.

Shoniwa gravitates toward clothing that shows off her small waist, extensive headpiece collection, and her love of bright colors. Yet, what we love most about Shingai’s look is that she manages to embrace and exude multiple style vibes simultaneously. This is no easy feat, just ask any of the poorly dressed celebs included on this list. Still, Miss Shoniwa combines afrocentric, futuristic, and feminine elements flawlessly! We considered deeming her “trendy”as well, but that word would be an understatement for a woman that sets trends, rather than following them.

View our slideshow as we praise some of Shingai Shoniwa’s most visually pleasing looks.  Just keep an open mind, and prepare to be inspired…

By Dantel Proctor

Source: natreview.com

I’m sure I don’t have to tell you that hair is a very sensitive topic among the black female population. One topic that keeps arising in the realm of that is the natural hair versus relaxed hair debate. Why it’s “versus,” I still don’t really understand.

I remember in high school seeing black girls get ridiculed for not having a relaxer and have their locks labeled as “nappy.” Yet I also remember how in college no judgment was passed; people were celebrated for making their own decisions and not being afraid to stray from the pack. With time, we were all becoming more accepting of doing whatever worked for our hair. There were girls with relaxed and natural hair and you were saluted for whichever route you took. Then I entered the “real world,” coincidentally at the same time that the recent resurgence of the natural hair movement seemed to really take off, and that same high school judgment returned, but this time it was for the opposing reason. This time rulers were hitting the knuckles of the non-natural women, the ones who would dare to still relax their hair.

I am now one of the ridiculed ones, but I’m having a hard time understanding why. I have been relaxing my hair since I was eleven years old. My hair is soft and fairly curly and my roots do in fact grow up, not down. However, I prefer my hair straight. I like my hair to flow, lay across my shoulders, and I hate to say it, but I am a habitual hair twirler as well. I can’t help but get the “I need a touch-up” itch every couple of months to maintain the ultra-straight look that I’ve loved my entire life. This once was also the practice of all of my friends, but now everyone is natural, and that’s fine, but they’re pointing a finger at me because I have yet to “convert.” Do I have to?

A close friend of mine told me that all women that wear perms are only doing so because they are insecure and care too much about what men and society think of them. Another friend was a little less judgmental and said that those aren’t the reasons for all women, but it sure is for a lot of them. I have also been told that I am living an unhealthy lifestyle and that I am just assimilating to what “White America” wants. My question is, why does it have to be that I’m appeasing white folks if I like my hair straight? I am the type of person who doesn’t adhere to every new trend or fad and style-wise, I am basic and constant, knowing what I like and not straying too far from it. My mother had her reasons for giving me my first perm, but my continuing it for all these years has little to do with what others think and more to do with my own personal style choices and how I like my hair. Keyword, my hair.

To hear some of the harsh things said about women with relaxers is hurtful. I don’t insult people who have decided to be natural, that would be prejudice of me; so why the double standard? If people think getting a relaxer is strictly to please white people, then wouldn’t that mean going natural is being done strictly to please black people? I know that this isn’t true, and it’s a pretty far assumption, correct? But the assumption that this is the only reason a person would get a perm is pretty far reaching too, and warrants this kind of logic. I bet natural women would be offended by that accusation, so why shouldn’t we, those who choose to use relaxers, be offended too? Is it a crime to do your hair the way YOU want to versus what everyone else feels is right?

Honestly, I have given a lot of thought into going natural and I’m still undecided. I have not relaxed my hair in four months and I am experimenting to see if I can still maintain the hair style I love, without a perm and without doing the big chop, but I just don’t like a lot of the natural styles that I’ve seen. I’m entitled to my own opinion. I see the benefits of natural hair, but a relaxer has never actually done any damage to my hair, and by all accounts my hair is healthy–just ask my stylist. If my hair is still thriving, despite the fact that it is relaxed, then am I really doing wrong by not going natural?

I think what a person does with their hair is a personal choice and there should be no pressure surrounding it. It should not be assumed that because someone goes natural, it is because they just want to be in on the newest fad or that if they keep a perm, it is because they are insecure or want to blend in with everyone who isn’t black. I don’t like people pushing me to try and feel ashamed or as though I haven’t “evolved” because I still like my hair relaxed. It’s nice that there is sense of camaraderie and celebration in the black community in regards to wearing hair natural, but shouldn’t all black women share that, despite the way they choose to wear their hair?

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Wouldn’t it be nice to see FLOTUS with curly hair? That’s what someone thought when they Photoshopped curls on the First Lady.

However, while all the natural hair bloggers exploded with glee over this photo, it was debunked by natural hair guru Curly Nikki with this post

 The tweet that made me lose it–

Now, let it marinate.

Photoshopped?.. Yes, sadly, but I can stare at it all day long. Hell, I might even print it and pin it up somewhere.

Also, whoever is responsible for this… *raises hand* me next!

Aww Man, wouldn’t it be such a powerful statement in Michelle started rocking curly hair or a fro? America isn’t ready for that though.

How do you feel about this look on FLOTUS?

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Source: Black America Web

If you’re thinking about going natural or still struggling to find the best products since you made the big chop, Carol’s Daughter will soon have you covered. The natural skin and hair care line is launching a specific effort to help naturals everywhere with thetransitionmovement.com, and Solange Knowles has been named the face of the new campaign.

In the 30-second clip below, Solange teases the site launch, but overall details on what all is involved in the movement are slim. According to the website, the movement is expected to drop in the spring, presumably with new products and tips on how to handle your natural tresses as you transition. A few hair bloggers feel calling natural hair a movement makes the decision seem more like a trend rather than an effort to have healthier hair—and they say it’s a tad late considering how many women have already opted to forgo chemicals—but I figure the more product options black women have to take care of their hair, the better.

Check out the clip and tell us what you think about the idea of Carol’s Daughter’s new transition movement?

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

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By Angela Thomas

Source: curlynikki.com

The TWA (teeny weeny afro) has been around for ages and has been worn by neo-soul singers like Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu, and India Arie. But now there are a new crop of celebrities who are choosing this style. Whether it is a personal form of expression, a result of damage, or just a new look, more and more celebrity women are deciding to ditch their weaves in favor of their natural hair. Here are six celebrities who boldly chose to chop it all off and/or expose us to their inspiring TWAs.

Source: chellebelle416.blogspot.com

As black women, most of us have been through some changes when it comes to our hair. And I don’t mean transitions from relaxed to natural from gheri curl to texturizer, I mean real emotional and even psychological changes because of something that’s gone wrong or right with our hair. Some of these experiences occur in the bathroom mirror, in our kitchen or in the beauty salon.  Whenever and how ever they happened, many of us have a traumatic story or two to share. Check out these stories from our readers and once you’re finished, share your own horror stories in the comment section below.

Tisa: The hater trim! (le sigh) Went in to get my hair trimmed and left with 3 1/2-4 inches chopped off! Smh

Karin: The person used a bad relaxer in my hair. Burned my scalp and nape of neck. Hair appt: $75 Emergency Room visit & prescriptions: $300, Going natural: PRICELESS

Natural hair can be a wonderful thing as well as a tiring struggle. While many women are pros at their daily hair routine and know all the right products to use, some of us have lots and lots of questions. When that’s the case, it’s always nice to run to someone who has many answers (not all though) about hair in general. If you’re one of those women who could use some guidance when it comes to your locks, check out our short list of hair blogs for natural hair that have been known to save women from bad hair days more than once.

Black Girl Long Hair

If you hit their “About Us” page, Black Girl Long Hair lets you know that they are dedicated to helping women of black, Latina and multi-racial backgrounds get their hair right. We respect their site because aside from giving the regular hair tips (like how to air dry your hair fast, which is a constant issue for me), they show love to the everyday fierce hair mavericks with coifs of all backgrounds, and they tell you their backstory. It’s always nice to see women who look and go through the same exact things as you get props, and tell you how being natural affected them. Plus, the design of the website is fly too…

Hair Milk

Transitioning? I had to give this blog props because of the fact that you get to go through your transitioning journey with someone else who also is, or make that was–Dani. She shows you her over two year journey to natural hair from trying to get it to grow with wigs, twist outs, braids–all of the things you can think of. And on top of that, she also provides links to great accessories for your new look, as well as different products to use to get the best results for your head. Check her out, please.

Afrobella

Uh, who hasn’t heard of Afrobella? If you haven’t that’s cool too, but you should check out the popular hair blogger’s site, because it’s fabulous. She’s got giveaways, hits up the hottest events, recommends dope products and makeup looks and more. The blog was started in the hopes of helping women celebrate natural hair and its beauty, and since it started in 2006, the site has reached major heights. She better work!

Curly Nikki

A psychotherapist, the creator of the blog Curly Nikki says that in her daily work counseling women, hair comes up more often than people think. Interesting, right? We’re thinking that was part of what influenced Miss Nikki to start Curly Nikki, and help women learn how to take care of, and love their naturally curly hair. She covers issues with image based on your love (or lack of love) for your hair, and provides tips on all different types of styles, as well as advice on life issues in general. It really is hair therapy.

K is For Kinky

I love how this website not only gives you hair advice, but they give you fashion and life advice as well. From how to deal with your child’s natural hair, to the significance of good and bad hair days and more, everything you’ve ever thought about your hair you can find these folks saying on this beautifully executed blog. And I love the “I Want Her Hair” parts with awesome photos of women with amazing hairstyles. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this site.

Which blogs would you also recommend?

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Source: thankgodimnatural.wordpress.com

My whole natural “awakening” was by accident truthfully. My sisters were natural, I had friends who had been natural for years, but me, I did whatever to my hair, whenever, however after a while. In all honesty, I wasn’t a fan of the naturalistas who were overly aggressive and acted like you didn’t love yourself with chemical in your hair, so for years, I was pretty defiant. But after going a long time with stalling hair growth, I stopped trying to make my shoulder length hair work and started chopping it off in college. Mushroom cut for a while, cut it again. Long top short sides for a while,  cut it off again. I had no problem with people going natural, but at the time, it just wasn’t for me.

I had a texturizer that I adored about a year and a half ago. But getting to the adoration part of it was a struggle. When I got it, they literally had to give me a bald fade for it to work, so I went through an “Am I pretty?” struggle for weeks. Once it started growing out, I was certain it was fabulous. Almost six months later it became this big, curly, uneven fro. I refused to go through the same process to have another texturizer treatment done, so I thought, maybe if I can even this unexpected fro out, I can still rock a texturizer but keep all the hair I had grown (a wealth of new growth popped up by six months–Nigerian hair for you).

So when I took that texturizer to the man at my dad’s barbershop, with the help of the overzealous barber, I found myself unexpectedly natural. There I was, in the barbershop with an eerily perfect spherical and kinky fro with no more of the fake, silky curl I had an hour before when I walked into the barbershop (it was on the floor). I thought to myself, “Oh snap! Am I natural?”

While I could have chosen to go back down the same route and try for a relaxer again, it occurred to me that my TWA wasn’t all that teeny after all. So I went to the store, bought a few products and started my natural journey. It has been a year since I made the decision to stick with my natural hair, and I can’t say how glad I am that I did it. After a lot of ups and downs, some braids, a dry winter, and a sad trim or two at the salon (“I’m not draping anymore!” I thought), I, like most people have learned a lot about my hair, have grown proud of it, and actually plan to get locs this weekend (woo-hoo!). I’m sure what I’ve learned you can relate to if you’re growing with your natural hair as well, so yes, let’s share.

Source: Vogue

The natural hair movement hasn’t just caught on amongst everyday women seeking to rid their hair of harsh chemicals and products, the look is showing up on runway models around the world and Vogue Italia has caught on to the trend.

In a recent profile on the website of the Italian version of Vogue, which is always ahead of the diversity curve, Marjon Carlos talks about trendsetters like Naomi Campbell and Tyra Banks who have openly discussed battles with alopecia due to the damaging handling of their hair by stylists. The writer points out that now many other models are also saying “no thanks” to the careless way their tresses have been fried and dyed behind the curtain, and are opting to rock what God gave them naturally.

“It is uplifting then to see the newest pack of Black models storming the catwalks in full embrace of their natural hairstyles, from cropped Afros, flat tops, to buzzed scalps–and in turn being embraced by the industry that has typically approached Black hair with skepticism and harsh critique,” Marjon writes.

While Marjon does acknowledge that natural hair is still only embraced by a small number of models and designers, and that models like Alex Wek and Noemi Lenoir have been natural for sometime, he says “one can’t help to argue that such a general upsurge in visibility surrounding natural Black hairstyles, if they be worn by fashion darlings Julia Sarr-Jamois or Solange Knowles, or are documented thoroughly by the press, is helping usher in a new era of hair treatment for Black women broadly, and Black models specifically.”

As more and more natural hair products come on the market, Marjon is hopeful that runway stylists will soon catch on to the trend and make it a priority to understand the needs of natural black hair. But as Jessica C. Andrews points out in an article on Ebony.com, the very fact that natural hair is seen as a trend means its promotion and acceptance is likely to be here today, gone tomorrow, as the story goes with other fashion fads.

What do you think? Will the fashion industry ever be fully accepting of natural hair?

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

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