Mallorie's Tips for TWAs

Let's try this again.....

I love it when other naturals find a system that works for them...and then they share!!! I wish I had someone to look up to when my hair was first growing out. I was clueless and had no "role model" to follow. Fortunately for you all, there's Mallorie! Isn't she adorable, btw??

Mallorie sent me this email and I just had to share it with our NL community. Check out her routine and fabulous results.

Lately, I have gotten tired of the wash 'n gos, and I can't seem to preserve a twist out for the life of me... probably because my hair is not long enough to put in a high ponytail at night ;-) Since the weather is getting colder, and my hair is growing a bit, I have been on a protective styling quest. I wanted to share this protective style that I developed for TWAs, inspired by your twisted updo that you had for the recent photoshoot you were in.

1st pic (above) shows the length of my hair untwisted

2nd pic is shrunken and curly (1 and 2 are for those who doubt their hair is long enough)

3rd, 4th and 5th are the twist style

6th pic is my day 6 and 7 twist-out look

I wash, deep condition, detangle, and twist on a Sunday. This style lasts the whole week. I take the twists out on Friday night or Saturday, and wear a cute twist-out look (ex:mohawk) look until Sunday evening rolls around. This is my 5th cycle of doing this, and I have been getting so many compliments. People can't believe that I did it myself. To twist, I use Cantu Shea Leave-In and then dip my finger in Carol's Daughter Loc Butter, Raw Unrefined Shea Butter, or Aloe Vera Gel (I have tried each one on different occasions and they all work equally great). I make small to medium twists all over my head, and then strategically pin them back with bobby pins to the desired look... basically until they are all up and accounted for. By day 3, I like to add headbands like the Goody Stay-Put athletic bands, or even fun regular handbands with feathers or jewels.

I encourage all of my fellow TWAs to try this... who says that we can't play around with protective styling this fall too?!

I love her creativity and the results look great! Thanks for sharing this with us, Mallorie!

40+ Naturals - Meet Marci!

Hey guys! I have not posted in about a week, things are wrapping up with school and I am super busy.
But please allow me to introduce our second 40+ Natural...Marci!

Marci, a lovely 42 year old natural, graciously agreed to do the interview and sent us some great pics of her hair. I think you will find that Marci is a wonderful inspiration and full of effervescence. Her story is a testament to the fact that sometimes it takes a few "go's" to go natural and stay natural but when you do, it is so freeing!

When did you decide to go natural and what led to that decision?

This is my third attempt at going natural. This time is the final TIME! I am more relaxed when I am a natural. Curling irons or a flat iron is NOT my kind of thing. My natural is so much easier to style! I am not good at styling my hair. The very first time I went natural, was because my ex-husband told me I was his Jill Scott and he liked her look! I loved it. I was trying to get a new look with my natural and got a haircut! BIG MISTAKE!!!!! It was shoulder length, at that time. The stylist, (unfamiliar with natural hair), basically gave me a low cut fade. I ran back to a perm for fear of a TWA. (teenie weenie afro). The last time, I was so tired of the curling iron! This time, I ran back to my NATURAL, the hair that I am most comfortable with. Finally, I did the big chop and am happy with my look!

Did you transition or big chop to natural? How did you make that decision?

I did a little of a transition for 4 months. I went in for a big chop and have not turned back. It was easy, since this was my third time being a natural.

What are your favorite products and styles?

Miss Jessie Curly Buttercreme and Miss Jessie's Baby Buttercreme, Shea Butter, Darcy’s Botanicals- Madagascar Vanilla!

I wear twist outs or coil outs. I also love to make homemade concoctions with shea butter. I have one that has sheabutter, castor oil, honey and peppermint oil. My hair loves this!!!

Currently, I am using Kinky Curly Curling Custard. Or a co-wash and apply the Madagascar Vanilla.

If you just recently went natural, what were your expectations, fears, or concerns beforehand? How did you feel after you made the transition?

I was afraid that my hair wouldn't grow. This is my third time and I guess I didn't really pay attention to how my hair grew the last 2 times. I never did the Big Chop before- I would transition using micros, this is my first time doing the BC. I am loving my hair so much this time! and discovering all these cute ways to style my hair!

What have been the reactions from family, friends, co-workers, peers?

My mom has always wanted me to wear my natural hair. My co-workers are another story. I am the only black in the office out of 8 people. One of the guys always compliments my hair when I wear the flower. The women want to touch it. I am tender headed so that is a NO! I think that also might be a reason I went natural! One friend asked, ‘Why I don't want a perm?’ I told her I guess the same reason, you don't wear a natural!

What was it like to go to work after the change to natural?

I really didn't care what they thought- I love me! If they didn't like it, oh well! I am ME! and I love my hair!!!

What has been the most unexpected change since you’ve been natural?

That I would learn how to really STYLE it in a bunch of cute ways! I want a fro hawk! and I know I could rock it, once it grows out some more!

What advice would you give another 40+ woman wanting to go natural?

40 is about being fun, flirty, and fabulous! Go for it!

Fly over 40!

Lovely Fro with Flower:

Kinky Curly Curling Custard:

Cute Puff:

Raven-Symoné is so fly!

“I always enjoy helping girls feel comfortable about themselves and I’m thinking about whose watching with my projects,” -from Essence.com

I love this young lady! I am so glad that she is out there being a positive image for young women. I have never heard any one negative thing about her in the media or seen any scandalous pics of her flashing herself. In a time when most child actors-turned-teens are falling into drugs and bad behavior, Raven-Symoné has continued to mature and stay grounded. Working with kids in schools, I see many young women who are dissatisfied with their bodies. They believe what they see on t.v. and in magazines is real. I love doing girl's groups to teach them about the reality of the media and how to build positive self esteem. I think she looks lovely and and I am so glad to see that she is now working with Dove's Campaign for Real Beauty to help young women develop healthy ideals . It is so sad to see girls at younger and younger ages wishing to be stick thin. I hope she continues to spread the message that beauty is not just about what you look like on the outside but how you treat others and how you treat yourself. You go girl!