UnAltered

Hey guys,
It's been a minute since I've blogged but just wanted to update you all on the latest. My cousin and I started a t-shirt line called UnAltered. It's geared towards, but not limited to natural hair. We are going to put out a new design every month to a month and a half. They will have different slogans, sayings, expressions, as well as graphics. We are very excited.
Please check the site out and give me your feed back..Also, don't forget to pick up your t-shirt:-)

TTYL,
www.unaltered.net

INTERVIEW WITH BIANICA

~Check out what BIANICA had to say on how and why she decided to go natural~

RELAXED

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN NATURAL?
2 & 1/2 years

WHY DECIDE TO GO NATURAL?
1) I have a very sensitive scalp and relaxer really irritated my scalp (yep flakes...not a good look..lol) and 2) I was curious to see my natural texture. 

DID YOU DO A BIG CHOP OR TRANSITION?
 Well I transitioned for about 9 months. I took a job in South Texas and could not find a decent hair stylist to "tap" my roots. So while looking in the mirror one day, I just started cutting off all my straight pieces.  So fortunately, I was in a city where I knew NO ONE, so the "big chop" wasn't soo bad.

OCT 2009

WHAT DO YOU DO ON 'BAD HAIR' DAYS?
 In the summer I wet my hair and put on a headband and in the winter, I wet my hair then I pull it up in a ponytail with a bun.

DO YOU HAVE A SIGNATURE HAIR STYLE?
 Not yet. I am still learning my hair and now that it is growing I am trying different styles other than the wet and go look.

WHAT ADVICE CAN YOU GIVE SOMEONE WHO'S STRUGGLING IN THEIR TRANSITION?
Embrace who you are and what you are trying to accomplish.  Don't allow your hair type (relaxed or natural) determine the kind of person you want to become. 

OCT 2011

IS/ARE THERE ANY PRODUCT(S) YOU JUST CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT?
 I love all natural coconut oil to condition my ends and scalp. I also love Jane Carter's curling cream.

DO YOU SEE A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR HAIR SINCE ITS NATURAL VS WHEN IT WAS RELAXED? IF SO, WHAT? YES!
 My scalp is healthy (NO MORE FLAKED...lol) , I also noticed that my edges are longer and do not break off easily.

DID YOU RECEIVE NEGATIVE FEEDBACK FROM FAMILY/FRIENDS WHEN YOU DECIDED TO GO NATURAL? IF SO, HOW DID YOU DEAL WITH IT?
Yes I did. The good thing was I only saw them once or twice a year so I didn't have to put up with their feedback much.  The funny thing is, now that my hair is longer and fuller, everyone loves it...lol

WHO/WHAT DO YOU USE FOR SUPPORT? (WHETHER STYLES, ENCOURAGEMENT, IDEAS, ECT)
My friends who are natural are a big support. Me and my best friend often compare our stages of growth.  She also does alot of research online for new hair styles and products. Then she passes it along to me so I can try them

ME NOW

Natural Hair on the Runway

 Vogue Italia: Natural Hair A Trend On The Runways | Necole Bitchie.com

INTERVIEW WITH TIFFANY

Check out what Tiffany from New Jersey had to say about her natural hair journey as she shares her favorite hair products, accessories, and fav hair idol.

(Before)

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN NATURAL?
I started to go natural July 2011.

WHY DECIDE TO GO NATURAL?
 I had two friends convince me and my mothers hair is very thin due to the perm so im trying to avoid that.

DID YOU DO A BIG CHOP OR TRANSITION? 
I just did a transition since my hair was already short 

WHAT DO YOU DO ON 'BAD HAIR' DAYS? 
I usually take a stylish scarf and tie in a bow until my hair gets done 

DO YOU HAVE A SIGNATURE HAIR STYLE? 
My hair is short so there isn't much I can do with it but I love the cut that it's in 

WHAT ADVICE CAN YOU GIVE SOMEONE WHO'S STRUGGLING IN THEIR TRANSITION?
 Just to stick it out. It is rough in the beginning but the end result is amazing! Someone told me to get a rod set or straw set during the transition and that really worked

IS/ARE THERE ANY PRODUCT(S) YOU JUST CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT? 

The products that I'm using Talia Wajid. It makes my hair very soft and it's not expensive. 

DO YOU SEE A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR HAIR SINCE ITS NATURAL VS WHEN IT WAS RELAXED? IF SO, WHAT? 

I feel that my hair is much thicker and healthier than before. 

DID YOU RECEIVE NEGATIVE FEEDBACK FROM FAMILY/FRIENDS WHEN YOU DECIDED TO GO NATURAL? IF SO, HOW DID YOU DEAL WITH IT?
WHO/WHAT DO YOU USE FOR SUPPORT? (WHETHER STYLES, ENCOURAGEMENT, IDEAS, ECT)  I received some negative feedback from my hair dresser and a friend of mine saying that I couldn't do it and I'll be getting a perm that next week. Well it's almost been a year and I'm still going strong and they can't believe it. I use my friends as encouragement and I love Solange's natural hair. Looking at her hair has really encouraged me to keep going. 

I LOVE MY NATURAL HAIR BECAUSE ...
I love my natural hair because it represents being Black and being Black is beautiful. 

(After/Now)

~Post any questions or comments you have regarding Tiffany's interview below.~

INTERVIEW WITH LATIFAH

Check out Latifah's Interview as she gives us advice, words of encouragement, and products she can't live without.

(Transitioning hairstyle)

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN NATURAL?  It has been 1 year and 8 months since I had a perm and I will be  9 months since my BC on February 14

WHY DECIDE TO GO NATURAL? I decided to go natural because I use to go through this big hair curly look so I stop putting perms in my hair and I used my curl formers and curuso rollers. I also decided to go natural because when I had a perm my hair use to shed a lot.

DID YOU DO A BIG CHOP OR TRANSITION? I did both..
 
WHAT DO YOU DO ON 'BAD HAIR' DAYS? Going natural you can never have a bad hair day, that's how I look at it. If you do not like your look you can always do a wash and go.

(BC)

DO YOU HAVE A SIGNATURE HAIR STYLE? When Ifirst cut my hair I loved the wash and go's. Being that I have length now I like to do twist out and use my curl formers. I do not use heat in my hair. I used heat for the first time last month to get a trim and a color.

WHAT ADVICE CAN YOU GIVE SOMEONE WHO'S STRUGGLING IN THEIR TRANSITION? It depends on what look you are going for, going through the transition stage is hard being you have two textures to deal with. I would say be strong and hang in there, think of your hair as long term not by the moment and make sure if you decide to do a BC that you do it for you and not for anyone else.
 
IS/ARE THERE ANY PRODUCT(S) YOU JUST CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT? I love JANE CARTER PRODUCTS and now I use CAROLS DAUGHTERS, but I can not live without JANE CARTER.

(8 months post BC)

DO YOU SEE A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR HAIR SINCE ITS NATURAL VS WHEN IT WAS RELAXED? IF SO, WHAT?  Yes Yes Yes my hair is so healthy, so full and I can do more with my hair natural vs a relaxer. The chemicals are not good for your hair.

DID YOU RECEIVE NEGATIVE FEEDBACK FROM FAMILY/FRIENDS WHEN YOU DECIDED TO GO NATURAL? IF SO, HOW DID YOU DEAL WITH IT? I had a couple of people who said they didn't like my hair but I will tell them I cut my hair for me not for you and I'm sure it will grow on you. This is why I say make sure you cut your hair for you because if you ask someone what they think you should do they will sometime have a negative feedback and that will stop you from doing what you want to do. Now that my hair is full and I wear different style's they love it, now they say I love your hair, it fits you. You have to wear your hair don't let the hair wear you and you have to wear your hair with confidence, own your look.

WHO/WHAT DO YOU USE FOR SUPPORT? (WHETHER STYLES, ENCOURAGEMENT, IDEAS, ECT) I love to go on youtube but I am my encouragement. I love to try new things with my hair. My girlfriend is natural as well so to me we support each other.
 
I LOVE MY NATURAL HAIR BECAUSE ... It's me, I feel free, I receive a lot of compliment and to me it encourage a lot of girls to become natural when they see other people natural, this is who I am, my roots, I love the texture, curl, fullness, look, and I'm not bored with my hair.

(Styled using curl formers)

SANAA LATHAN ON NATURAL HAIR

Who knew?!?!?!?!? Sanaa Lathan is natural! She was interviewed by Afrobella regarding her new position as the new spokesperson for Pantene Pro-V Nature Fusion products. She talks about her hair texture, how she maintains her hair, her opinion on natural hair VS relaxed hair, and her love for natural ingredients.

~Check it out!~

T-SHIRT VS TOWEL

T-Shirts seems to be the best for drying natural hair. The t-shirt, being 100% cotton absorbs the water quicker and also with little to no friction. Covering your whole head with a towel and rubbing it vigorously causes friction and damage. The best way to to dry is to section hair off, wrap towel each section and squeeze the excess water out. You have more control over how much you want to dry by using a t-shirt. If you wanted to air dry your hair fast, you can apply more pressure when squeezing excess water out. If you want to set it (twist/braid out or roller set), you can use less pressure so that hair can stay damp a little longer as you work through your hair to complete the setting process.

~So grab you a T-Shirt and let the drying began~

~How do you dry your hair?~

LENGTH CHART

If you're natural or are transitioning you've read or heard someone mention different lengths of hair  using abbreviations but may not have known exactly what it meant. Well here is a cheat sheet for you to study. Read it, study it, sleep with it, date it, take it shopping, so the next time you're having a conversation about hair, you will be able to keep up.

~ENJOY~

TIP FOR FULLER TWIST/BRAID OUTS

Want fuller twist/braid outs but your hair type is on the thinner side? Try air drying your hair about 50% and the set. Air drying make the hair thicker blow drying or setting completely wet.

- Try it out and let us see the results.-

BIOTIN

Biotin also known as vitamin B7 or vitamin H is a vitamin B complex that plays crucial roles in cell growth. A deficiency in biotin can lead to and will lead to hair loss. The lack of nutrients will cause hair strands to become thin and unhealthy which will lead to breakage and then to hair loss. By taking biotin , this will renew the nutrients in your hair, which will lead to and promote healthy hair. Biotin can be used by almost anyone and it works well with other hair growth products. This is the perfect time to start your biotin. The winter months can be harsh on you hair so go stock up today!

SERENA WILLIAMS

Aside from the beef that Serena Williams has stirred up between rappers Common and Drake, are we feeling the crimps and curls on her? What are your thoughts....I think it's a go.

Bun hairstyles