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)

THE ROOT OF THE MATTER IS: GENETICS

          We'd kill to have that long, runway, flowing model hair that we see so often in hair show, commerical, or magazines. Truth is, it took alot of time and effort by professional hair stylists to achieve that look. These models were not born with that 'perfect' hair.
Our hair varies from strands, to color, to pattern, to texture, which gives all of our hair a unique look. I'll explain how each of these play a part. So the next time you complain about your hair just remember, it's all genetics. No product on the market is going to permanently change your hair.

STRANDS- On average, the head has about 100,000- 120,000 strands of hair. So if you have more strands, your hair will appear fuller, if you range in this average, you have will appear normal, and if you have less, your hair will appear thinner.

COLOR- The darker your hair the thicker the strands are. If your hair is black, reddish, or a dark brown, the strands will appear the thickest. Blonde and light brown appears to be thinner. (If you've every lightened your have from dark to light, you will be able to test this on your own hair. Pull a strand out after you've accumulated some new growth and see how the strand goes from thick to thin.)

PATTERN- African/Black hair is the most fragile. This is because of the pattern of the hair when it grows out. It makes all kinds of twist and turns and zigzags, making each of those curls and corners a potential breaking point. Asians have the thickest hair. Their hair is very straight and heavy.

SENK- SHAMPOO BAR AND CONDITIONER/HAIR LOTION

I ran across this line of products when I was searching for a new product to try and just wanted to share.

This link will give you the 411 on the Senk Shampoo bar.

http://www.senicanaturals.com/senicastore/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=18_25&products_id=88



Thislink will give you the 411 on the Senk Conditioner & Hair Lotion.

http://www.senicanaturals.com/senicastore/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=18_26&products_id=89

If you try the products, please share your thoughts

PRODUCT REVIEW

So once again I tried another combination of hair products to see if I get a different result of my twist out. This time I used AG Fast Food Leave in conditioner and Isoplus Dread locks & twists molding creme. Now lots of you wouldn't have even purchased this product be of the ingredients (petrolatum and mineral oil), but I was willing to give it a try because the butters, cremes, and leave ins just was cutting it.

These 2 products together gave me the  little bit of weight I needed and as each day went on it lightened up. I didn't have to add any product to my hair the whole time.

To reserve my hair style, I separate my twist once a day....Also this was done on wet hair.

Products used

day one (side/back view)

day one (front view)- Just untwisted once



day two- untwisted more



day two (front view)- every day I seperate more to make fuller

day three- seperated even more

SNIPS AND TIPS OF THE WEEK

POST FROM WILLIAM:

HEY GIRLS! DO YOU LOVE TO USE OIL SHEEN BUT DON'T WANT YOUR HAIR WEIGHED DOWN BY PRODUCT? GRAB A CUSHION BRUSH WITH MESSAGE BRISTLES. SPRAY PANTENE'S RELAXED AND NATURAL OIL SHEEN ON THE BRUSH, PART HAIR INTO 4 SECTIONS, AND BRUSH HAIR IN UPWARD MOTION FROM ROOT TO TIP. 3 SPRAYS PER SECTION FOR THICK HAIR AND 1 SPRAY PER SECTION FOR THIN HAIR.

STAY TUNED FOR NEXT WEEK'S TIP.....

REVIEW ON PINK LOTION

So I took it back to the old school and used pink lotion to set my twist out.... Every time I twist my hair, I use different products....and everytime I get a different result. The butters  give me a dry look, the oils give me a shine but no bounce, but this gave me shine, softness, and moisture....I will be using this again. I now have to work on styling my hair with the twist out. The longer it gets the harder it is to get big hair.

SIDE

UP CLOSE

FRONT

Products used:
AG FAST FOOD leave in conditioner, Luster's Pink Lotion

BASICS OF MAKEUP

Natural Junkies is here to keep you informed on makeup essentials to help you feel confident and look pretty. Before we get into the art of makeup application, do’s and don’ts, care & maintenance, colors and skin care, let’s start with the basics. You may not be able to have full or advance makeup supplies but you should have the basics for everyday use. Your makeup should be well organized in your bathroom (drawer), dresser counter top, or a makeup bag. The items below should definitely be in an everyday bag to help you maintain your beauty throughout the day.

Concealer – is used to hide blemishes on imperfections on the face to help the skin look more uniform.

Foundation – is also used to hide imperfections and it protects your skin from the drying of sun and/or wind. There are different types of foundations. We’ll get into the details later on but see variety below.

Liquid Foundation
Cream Foundation
Powder Foundation
Stick Foundation
Mineral Foundation
Spray Foundation

Eye Shadow (at least two)
Eyeliner
Mascara
Blush
Lipstick
GlossLip
Pencil