The Power of Hair: Deal or no Deal

This "long hair look" took me down memory lane after I noticed the number of extra stares that I received on my day off. I even had one gentleman to say that he could not believe that no one had come along and just scooped me up. Now, I remind you that I am still not fitting back into my size 6 (six) pantsuits. I am still amazed how men can go "crazy" about "hair" despite a woman's full figure.

I specifically remember meeting a particular guy at a networking function several years ago. I was wearing a "fresh out the pack" half wig that blended very nicely with my own hair in front. Well this particular guy approached me and began conversation. He was intrigued with how beautiful my hair was. He even asked to touch it. I said "sure." He just ran his fingers through my hair ends (reality check: the ends of the long half wig). He just melted. He was in love with my hair. I was happy that I wore my "new" piece that evening. So I passed the "touch" test, and we then slipped away to the "happy hour" bar scene. We talked for about two hours, and he complimented me on my hair about four more times during the two hour conversation. He then walked me to my car.

At this point, I was mentally at war over the hair topic. Should I tell him that I had "help" to achieve my hairstyle or just let him keep thinking that it is all "home grown." Well, since I was getting the vibe that he was purely a "hair man" - I decided to tell him "this was not all my hair." His response in a nutshell was: "are you baldheaded?" Of course, the answer was "no." And I never heard from him again - "The jerk." Smile.

I can happily say that I made the best decision based on our prior two hour conversation. He had some growing up to do. He was very self-centered. I was not fond of how he talked negatively about his "baby mama" etc. Should I say more? In my mind, I think that I was looking for an excuse to get rid of him as well. He was physically attractive, but the conversation was barely tolerable. It all worked out for the best. It was a little traumatizing to have wasted two hours, but that is better than wasting two more dates. Smile.

Nonetheless, hair is a very powerful thing. Natural looking long hair can lure more men than you could ever imagine . . .

Male Chest Hair: What's your preference?

Chest hair on men came up during one of my conversations with a client. She apparently like many other ladies, can not stand chest hair on men.

Then you have some ladies that may be okay with male chest hair as long as it does not look like "taco bell beef" (i.e. kinky) One blogger literally had a "Taco Bell" picture attached to her article on how disgusting and appalled she was by kinky chest hair.

I have to admit that I never gave much thought to the whole chest hair question until now. I was always looking for men with a personality and an attractive face. I don't think chest hair would be a deal breaker for me. I think that it is something that I could get used to if my mate had chest hair. I actually think that both of these men in this article seem to be confident in their sexiness with their chest hair - be it kinky or not.

The male chest hair topic is just like other ladies' hair topics. If the hair that you show is not "wavy" "exotic-looking" or "tamed" then you are not considered socially acceptable.

So how stressed are men over their hair????? Do the estheticians remove just as much hair off of men as women? Any thoughts?

Perm Rods: From Straight to Curly!

So how many of these blue perm rods does it take to roll a full head of hair? (The answer is at the end of this article.)

I had to complete a "curly perm" or a "permanent wave" on an elderly client recently, and I realized that the blue perm rods deliver the best curl pattern for anyone who wants a head full of curls. Our main purpose for applying the permanent wave solution was because her naturally straight hair would not hold a roller set for more than a couple of days, and she was homebound. So we still roller wrapped her hair after the neutralizing of the perm solution, and her final styling was soft and curly.

As I was rinsing out the perm rods to store them again, I decided to count them. I counted 58 (fifty-eight) blue perm rods. So was your guess close?

Timing to roll equated to parting time plus end paper wrap and perm rod roll. So about 35 minutes to roll the whole head is reasonable if all other conditions are in your favor like no interruptions!

This service is not designed for those with naturally curly hair although many people interchange the terms "perm" and "relaxers." Perms and relaxers are too different chemicals that serve two different purposes. Although one could argue that "perm" means "permanent" but then the question to ask is "are you going for permanently straight or permanently curly?" Most hairstylists can read your mind on this one!

Why force Dreadlocks into Straight hair?

As you know, I plan to get my hair "SisterLocked" soon. SisterLocks promote themselves as a "lifestyle" not a hairstyle. This picture is NOT SisterLocks! SisterLocks are much, much smaller in size, and they are designed for those born with "kink" in their hair.

People born with straight hair or loose curl patterns that want a neater, slightly smaller lock can consider the Interlock method as recommended by the "KeepItKinky" e-magazine.

You may be wondering why do I have this straight-haired woman with dreadlocks on my blog??? Well, I do not like the dreadlock look. I am only choosing the SisterLock method because they are micro/small in size, and one can barely identify that they are locks from the distance. The SisterLocks are very feminine, and I can say "good-bye" to relaxers forever.

So my question is why would a person born with straight hair want matted dreadlocks? I do not get it! We as Black women constantly struggle with trying to keep our "nappy" hair straight by either relaxing it or pressing it, but to see a White person backcombing to force "kink" into their hair is unnerving.

It is an awakening to know that beauty is in the eyes of the beholder . . .

The Press and Curl Regimen to beat the HEAT!

The Summer Heat is on, and the only "Afro Circus" that you want to see is probably in the latest Madagascar III movie! (Loved it!!! in 3D! :)

On a more serious note . . . Are you all natural and want a press and curl service that will beat the heat?

I have been tweaking this regimen for years! This one is the best one yet!!!!!

Tools needed: Kizure Pressing Comb, pressing pad (optional), paddle brush, Marcel curling iron and stove.

Products needed: KeraCare 1st Lather sulfate-free shampoo, Bee Mine Botanical Moisturizing Shampoo, Mizani Moistufuse conditioner, Chi Silkeratin17 treatment, Joico Detangling Leave-in, Pureology SuperSmooth Elixir, Kayvel Creme Press, and Kayvel Curling Wave.

Technique: 1) Shampoo with KeraCare 1st Lather Sulfate-free shampoo once or twice if hair is extremely oily from a hot oil treatment, etc. 2) Shampoo with Bee Mine Botanical Moisturizing Shampoo two or three times until hair feels soft. 3) Towel blot the hair and generously apply the Mizani Moistufuse conditioner through out the hair. Comb the Moistufuse conditioner through the hair. Spray the Chi Silkeratin17 fortifying treatment through the hair layering the treatment on top of the Moistufuse conditioner. Comb through and apply the Silkeratin17 everywhere that the comb is catching in the hair. As soon as you are completely detangled from the Chi and Mizani cocktail, then sit under the platform dryer for about 15 minutes. Not much longer because most of your work is already done . . . you detangled before going under the dryer remember? 4) Rinse the treatment out and apply your two leave-in conditioners for your blow-dry service. (Joico Leave-in detangler and Pureology Supersmooth Elixir) Comb through to distribute evenly. 5) Blowdry completely, start warming up the pressing comb, and then apply your Kayvel creme press. Distribute a nickel size amount emulsified in your hands trhoughout the hair, and that is all that you need. Comb the creme press to finish even distribution through the hair. 6) Test the pressing comb to make sure it is not too hot. Grab your pressing pad if you have one. Soft press the hair all over with pressing comb and pressing pad if your comb is starting to cool down on lengthy hair. The hair should be manageable by combing through without being bone straight. Warm up your marcel irons. 7) Comb the hair into a ponytail. If there are any extremely uneven ends, clip some of the hair ends off. Apply your a nickel size of Kayvel Curl wave emulsified in your hands throughout the hair. Comb through for even distribution 8)Test your marcel iron. Begin curling your hair and clipping the curls down until they cool down.

Then voila - your core press and curl is complete! If you need smoother edges, then decide if you need a temple pressing comb (small pressing comb) or just some smooth edge styling aids.

Results: Soft, straight hair without the grease! Very humidity resistant too!

Let me know how you like this technique and product selection!!!!