Are you natural, thinking about going natural, or currently transitioning to natural hair?  If so, and you’re wondering, “What do I do with my hair”, then you are not alone.  In fact, styling and maintaining natural hair is one of the hottest topics in hair care.  Thousands of women have made the transition; either through the B.C. (the big chop) or by growing out their tresses.  For most, this requires them to “relearn” their hair since natural hair opens up a whole new world of discoveries.

First, there’s re-discovering your texture: fine, medium, or coarse.  Then, you have to understand your curl pattern: wavy, curly, tightly curled, coiled, and tightly coiled.  And of course, the biggest challenge is often finding (and maintaining) the right styles for your hair, personality, and lifestyle.  Sound a little exhausting?  Well it can be.  But this is why “Ask Natalie” is here-to help you get through it, and discover your naturalista!

May is all about natural hair.  So we’ve got an entire month to answer all things related to natural hair.  Here are a few tips to get us started:

1. Determine your hair goals. Think about why you went natural.  Are you looking for styling versatility, texture definition, volume, or easy maintenance? Your goals will help you find the right products and styles.  They’ll also help you to connect with your hair and the natural hair experience.
2. Consult a professional hair stylist.  A professional stylist will help you understand your hair type and texture.  They’ll also be able to recommend products and styles based on your hair care needs.  Remember, natural hair requires tender, loving care; often in the form of trims, conditioning treatments, or special styles.
3. Embrace your texture! Your curls and coils may take some getting used to if you haven’t seen your natural texture in years.  But, you must learn to embrace your natural roots, especially if staying natural is one of your goals.  Everyone’s texture is unique, and there is beauty in diversity.

Speaking of embracing your texture, The World Natural Hair, Healthy, & Beauty Show, held in Atlanta April 30^th-May 1^st, had a sea of beautiful, funky natural hair.  Ladies and gents from all over the country came out to rock their natural hair, and to learn about the biggest movement in hair in decades. Design Essentials was there and I was one of their educators.  The event was FABULOUS of course!!!   View the photos on the Design Essentials Facebook Page.

Be sure to send me all your natural hair questions at DEasknatalie@gmail.com

Bye Beautiful!

How To Treat Colored & Chemically Relaxed African American Hair

New Hand Towel Proven To Reduce Frizz & Hair Breakage

The Natural Sister is a group for the Black woman who wears her hair natural, transitioning to the natural, or thinking about going natural. As well as for the men who love to see a Black woman sporting her natural do. Check it out here.

(From Tara Hoyt, Design Essential’s Staff Writer)

Just like back in the ‘60s, sistas are rockin’ natural hairstyles, but now they’re much more creative. Instead of just afros, black women are proudly sporting low naturals, locks, and twists. But as different as these styles may look, they all need the same thing – MOISTURE.

Moisture makes natural hair easier to comb and style, and promotes the hair’s natural sheen. Having it is a must, but you can’t get the necessary moisture with outdated products that weigh hair down or cause dryness. In between salon visits, try these steps at home…

Keep It Clean
It doesn’t take long for natural hair to show signs of build up from smoke, air pollutants, and products, so don’t be afraid to shampoo natural hair frequently. This build up overshadows the hair’s natural moisture and leaves it dull and dry. Shampoo your hair as needed, depending on texture and style, but be sure to use a clarifying shampoo like Design Essentials Organic Cleanse Deep Cleansing Shampoo with oatmeal to completely remove any impurities from your hair. Follow that with a moisturizing shampoo like Design Essentials Moisture Retention Conditioning Shampoo to soften and detangle your hair.

Condition
Once the hair is clean, don’t abandon it. Prepare your hair for whatever it may encounter – styling tools, humidity, heat, – by taking a few minutes to condition after shampooing with moisture rich Design Essentials conditioners.

Lace Front Wigs: Love It Or Hate It

Check out celebs who love their lace fronts below:

Tricks of the Trade
1. If you want to wear your natural hair straight, use the best technology available – pHusion Ceramic Styling Irons and Ionic Blow Dryers. These tools literally retain the hair’s natural moisture, unlike regular irons and blow dryers that tend to leave hair dry and dull. Just make sure the hair isn’t too wet, because it is at its weakest when wet and can easily break with excessive pulling. Salon stylists suggest using a towel to soak up extra water or waiving a blow dryer over the hair to shake out excess water.

2. Salon professionals use Design Essentials Diamonds Oil Sheen Spray for immediate shine and moisture. Since it contains extracts of Wheat, Aloe and Olives, you can use Diamonds daily without worrying about build up. Spray it all over for full coverage or use it to relieve dry, itchy scalp.

3. Another must-have for natural hairstyles is Wave By Design Define & Shine 2-N-1 Dry Finishing Lotion. Not only does it act as a daily moisturizer, but 2-N-1′s non-greasy formula also defines curls and softens hair, making it more manageable. Men and women alike can appreciate this product on their short natural dos.

Locks & Twists
Sistas wearing twists or locks, must take extra care to keep the hair and scalp moist, otherwise hair can break at the root. For complete and even coverage use Diamonds Oil Sheen Spray which is great for daily moisture, conditioning, and shine.

Natural hair is not what it used to be – it’s better when the right products and techniques are used, and the natural beauty of your hair is revealed through the styles and trends of today.

Want more? Go to designessentials.com

Whew, we’ve been waiting for this day to come for years…Tyra Banks has announced that she’ll show her real hair for “The Tyra Banks Show” season premiere!!!!

The talk show host said:

“This season on The Tyra Show we’re taking it to the next level and getting more real than ever before by encouraging women everywhere to own and rock what they’ve got and be proud! For the Season 5 premiere, I will be doing just that – no fake hair, I’m rocking my REAL hair. This will all be going down on September 8, 2009, which we’re declaring National Real Hair Day! We welcome everyone to go natural with me!”

We wonder if Oprah will follow suit and do the same???

Check out Tyra and her tumble weave:

Tyra Banks investigates good hair

Many of us are eating natural foods and buying more-natural body care products, but have you given any thought to natural deodorants.

Here are 5 natural alternatives to freshen up in the summer heat:

4 ways to add color to your makeup

Take care of your skin the way celebrities do

Beyonce was spotted out with absolutely no make up on a lunch date with hubby Jay-Z. Take a look and tell us what you think!

Click here for more Bey & Jay sightings!

See photos from Beyonce’s new movie Obsessed here!

I guess that’s good hair. But I never called it that. That’s my hair. I didn’t learn the term ‘good hair’ until the first grade.

Standing in size order waiting to walk into class on the first day of school the girl behind me kept staring at me. I kept looking around and looking down at my uniform thinking that there was something wrong until finally she spoke: “Can I touch your hair?”

I was never asked that before. Growing up and playing with dolls, they all had hair like me. My mom had hair like me and so did my grandma. I never thought of my hair as something special or unique. Actually, since I was tender-headed, most of the time I thought of it as a pain. My grandmother used to tell me, “if you look at your hair too hard it will tangle up.” And it was true, with naturally curly, thick hair, getting a comb through it was almost impossible without putting in at least three hours of work. Doing my hair was an all-day affair. I longed to just be able to wear it straight like my mommy and have it swish and blow in the wind. But, it was a fleeting thought. I never thought my hair was bad – it was just annoying.

And so while walking up the stairs on the first day of class I was shocked, more than anything, that this little girl just wanted to touch my hair. I wanted to ask her why, but I was new to the school so I just said okay. And she took one of my pigtails and twisted it around like a jump rope. It was a little awkward, and I did not know what to do. As I was standing there and I looked I her I noticed for the first time that her hair did not hang from her barrettes like mine. It did not look like mine either; it looked like if I touched it, it would be coarse. I guess that was “bad” hair, but I only knew it after she said, “I wish my hair was long like yours.” I wanted to say why again, but I didn’t.

After a while, I got used to it. People saying things like: “never cut your hair” and “is that all yours?” The next question is always, “What are you?” I was never fully black to them. My hair could not just be from me, but had to be the result of some exotic mix. Black girls were not supposed to have hair like me, and so I could not be “just black.”

And so, growing up, my hair defined me. I was never the loud girl, or the bad girl, or the funny girl. I was the nice girl with nice hair and good grades. I wasn’t even described darkskin girl or the brownskin girl, as kids often use in their descriptions, until much later. But for a while it seemed like my hair excused even the color of my skin, until we got older and more people had hair like mine, or at least appeared to…

So what defines “good hair” versus “bad hair”? To read the rest of this story, go to SocietyandStyle.com.

See what Chris Rock has to say about good vs bad hair in his new documentary

Suffering from your own hair woes? Ask Kiyah for the Wright advice!

Every woman knows that no single thing makes multiple statements about her more than her choice of hairstyle. When confronted with the European standard of beauty daily the choice to rock a natural hairdo is bound to raise eyebrows and questions. How do you deal with the transition from permed, pressed, or curled to all natural?

The BlackPlanet Group “The Natural Sister” lets you express yourself, share hair care tips to keep you looking your best, and lends support to those who choose to display their ethnicity through the crown on their heads. Hello Beautiful you are not alone. Click the link to check it out. http://groups.blackplanet.com/naturalhair