Beyonce's Lemonade and Becky's Good Hair!

Beyonce released a 60 minute video project called "Lemonade."  

Within the first 16 minutes, she 

• destroyed about 20 car windows with a baseball bat,  
• big wheeled over another 20 cars, 
• told the hubby if he gets caught again, then he is going to lose his wife,
•  and finally, she put 

"Becky with the Good Hair" 

on blast!

I am not going to address her violent relief captured on video, but I do want to address 

the "Good Hair" topic.

"Good hair" should NO LONGER be associated with any particular type of hair.  For example:

 Cassis Ventura has gorgeous hair, but it is NOT "Good Hair" for the Loc Nation.

photo credit: iamlocd.tumblr.com

And those who do well with Locs usually don't have "Good Hair" for chemical or heat straightening.

So my point is this:  If you are trying to make your hair do something opposite of its natural behavior then you are going to run into challenges.

Beyonce, Oprah, Tyra Banks, Naomi Campbell -  are all examples of successful, smart women who were born with hair that probably would flourish in the "Loc Nation." However, after generations of brainwashing,  we have been taught that our hair has to look a certain way to fit in, to pass, to make us blend.

The best thing that I can say is that wigs can be worn over locs.  YouTube channel "bronzegoddess01" has a video "how to get long locs under a wig." It shows loc wearers how to flatten their locs in order to wear straight, long hair wigs seamlessly.

https://youtu.be/s0ydKc6ALr4

So leave the baseball bats at home!  Figure out what "your hair" is "good for."  Locs? Relaxer? Hot tools only? Braids?  Then do you!  When you need to look differently, grab a wig!

On a separate note, talking about turning lemons into "lemonade" . . . . please sign my online petition surrounding the false imprisonment of my cousin. He needs your moral support.  NO MONEY! Just sign and share his story!  Thank you so much in advance for supporting my #exonerateMichael campaign! Link below!

https://www.change.org/p/nathan-deal-hold-widely-respected-judge-danny-craig-accountable-for-framing-michael-c-blocker?recruiter=532225508&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink

The Loc Nation: April 2016 Honorable Mentions

Loc Crush:  Willow Smith

Willow Smith is rocking locs on the covers of W magazine (April 2016 edition) and Teen Vogue ( May 2016 edition).  They are starter locs!  Bold move. She is a trendsetter. 

For those who want loc extensions, I learned to use Marley hair to complete the loc extensions!  I attended the Design Essentials "Mane Event" seminar to get hands-on training in Charlotte, NC USA!

Three bundles of natural hair by Indique is how this platform artist achieved her "big hair."  This picture is not a loc related picture, but it was worth mentioning.

Also, faux locs for crochet interlocking is now available.

Bohemian Braid Look: Crochet braids on Relaxed hair

Crochet braid service and cut by Benita Blocker

My client was only around 6 weeks post relaxer. She wanted pre-summer workout hair so we decided on crochet braids.

We used mostly color 1b with some color 2 for natural highlighting.  It looks like it's growing from her head right?

I cut 5 or more inches off for this look.  I also had to double anchor the base of the crochet braids because of the slip of this Bohemian braid texture. It is made of fiber exclusively developed to resemble the touch and feel of human hair.  This fiber can only be curled at 350 - 400 degrees Fahrenheit. It does NOT have Kanekalon nor Toyokalon written on the pack.  So it is just an exclusive fiber.   We used 2.5 packs for this style as well as a custom braiding pattern for a natural fall based on her head shape.

Wet Loc Check-in at 3 years 9 months

It's my 3 years 9 months Sisterlocks Anniversary.  This is my wet check-in with Carol's Daughter Tui Conditioner left on.  That Tui line of Carol's Daughter left my locs super soft.  Incidentally, I also realized that my wet set did not last as long because my hair was so soft.  It is all good though.

My lighting was horrible for this picture, but as you can see - I am gaining loc length.

I have finally reached the loc length that if I had to, then I could live with this length for the rest of my life.  However, since I am an overachiever, let's see just how much length becomes too much!  I think that I am probably another five years before I say "cut."  And on a separate note, I have seen a lot of faux locs lately. I think they are crochet braided in.  Have you?

Lash Extensions for my 3 years 9 months Loc-Versary

Inspired at the February 2016 Bronner Brothers Hair Show under Makeup Artist Cherry, I decided to put on some Lash extensions!!!!

I hope you love them, because they are too much work for me!!!!  Once they come off, mascara will all that my lashes will see again anytime soon!

I used the "Sassi" brand Lash glue and Kiss $3.00 lash extensions. 

Mistakes I made:

1) I glued my eye shut because the glue caught my bottom lashes into my top lash.

2) Glue spread too far down the lash extensions and caused the lashes to clump.

3) I probably ripped out my own lashes to put on a second pair of lashes because I messed up the first set.

I could go on, but besides praying that I didn't go blind from the lash glue, I think that you get the idea.

I hope you like them!  I did a perm rod set for my 3 years 9 months Sisterlocks anniversary.  I am a few days early, but it is close enough!

(NOTE:  I have been working on a #exonerateMichael campaign for a cousin in Georgia.  I hope to write more regularly when I complete that campaign. Thank you for your patience and support!)

I had my fun with the strip Lash extensions!

Three Reasons for the Shrinking Black HairCare industry!

Flat Irons
When the electric, ionic flat irons took over the market,  they evened the playing field.  Everyone with or without a hair license had the ability to deliver salon styling results.

Remember the conventional stoves and marcel irons?  How about the pressing comb?  Those tools required practice and skills.  Everyone could not work the conventional hot tools.  The Black hairstylist had the competitive edge on Black hairstyling prior to the flat irons.

Salon Suites
When salon suites started making salon ownership affordable, hairstylists flocked to independence, but hairstylists stopped learning from each other.  "Divide and conquer" is exactly what happened.  Then YouTube took over.  Everyone with or without a hair license began learning from each other on an international level.

The "perfect hair" movement redefined
People have always wanted "perfect hair" despite the weather and the workouts.  However, one can not control the humidity and sweat without a lot of spritz, holding spray, hairspray, gel, or some styling aids. Over the last decade, people decided against a lot of "frozen hairstyling."  They wanted softer, flowing hair that could withstand the weather and an active lifestyle so wigs, extensions, weaves, and protective styling became mainstay.

Nowadays, many salon clients shampoo and condition their hair before going to the salon.  The Black salon in 2016 has become the place for protective styling application or braiding.  Many Black hair salons in 2016 are less about hair care as well as less about hair products.  However, around hundred years ago, it is interesting that Madame C. J. Walker started her business with hair products and expanded her business into hair services.

Black hair - Freedom or Slavery?  Are we controlling our hair or being controlled by our hair? Are we becoming the "Stepford Wives" or just simply expressive? You decide.

I look forward to 2017.

New Naturalon Fiber content in Havana Mamba Twist

100% Naturalon has replaced the 100% Kanekalon fiber in the "Janet Collection" Havana Mambo Twist.

I did not find anything about this new fiber change on the Internet.  BeautyPlus Trading Company, Inc. is the parent company.  Made in Indonesia. Same SKU number.

The Naturalon/Toyokalon package also has "Handmade" on it.

I look forward to feedback on whether anyone has noticed in changes in how the Havana Mambo Twist continue to hold up. 

The only thing that possibly stood out to me was that the new fiber may slide more at the interlocked root. If this is the case, then the hair will try to undo itself if not reinforced.

I will update as I get more feedback on this change.

Locs in Three Dimensions: Silly, Simple, and Sexy

"I thought I saw a bunny rabbit!" 

Easter: 2016.

"Simply a sunny day!"

"Playboy Bunny" in the forecast!

I am an HerbaLife distributor!

My Salon/ HerbaLife nutrition station offers soup, tea, shakes, and protein bars!

Join Me! Keep the sexy going with HerbaLife!