WHO INVENTED THE STRAIGHTENING COMB?

Born: Sarah Breedlove

1867-1919

Madam Walker was an entrepreneur who built her empire developing hair products and the straightening comb for black women. She claims to have built her company on an actual dream where a large black man appeared to her and gave her a formula for curing baldness. When confronted with the idea that she was trying to conform black women's hair to that of whites, she stressed that her products were simply an attempt to help black women take proper care of their hair and promote its growth.

With  decades and decades of improvements,  the hair industry is now at an all time high. Women spend so much time and money on hair, with BLACK women being the biggest consumers. A lot of the products damage our hair and some being very healthy for our hair...either way, good or bad, expensive or inexpensive, we'll try it.

There are so  many options out there now from braids, to weaves, to wigs, to ponytails, to perms, that is so exciting to see that so many of us are reverting back to 'our roots', being natural. It's almost like the same feeling I had when Barack Obama became president lol. . In my eyes it's a wonderful thing that we are converting back and embracing our own natural hair. The hair industry is a billion dollar industry, and as I mentioned black women are the biggest percentage of the consumers, yet 'they' (other races) won't let us in the business side of the industry.

Perms aren't moving off the shelves as fast as they were I'd say ummmm 5 years ago so now the hair care companies had to think how to stay relevant. They see that black women (again, the biggest percentage of consumers) are going natural. Well guess what? We need products for our natural hair. These companies are now coming out with a line for natural hair. I would've never thought I'd see Pantene with a line for women of color, or a natural hair care line from Isoplus....and there are more to come, trust me.

No one knows our hair better than us...There are small independent  black owned companies with there own natural hair products. We should patronize these smaller companies more rather than always supporting bigger and well known names......

Lata,

Chan, PJ1



RAPPER METHOD MAN'S TAKE ON NATURAL HAIR

When recently asked in an interview if he liked women with natural hair, Method Man responded:

"No. I don't like peasy afros, sorry. I don't like dreads either. I like a woman to get her hair did."

My thoughts: First of all, to each is own...However, I feel like this comment was very ignorant coming from a man of color. So Method Man, are  you saying that a woman that has natural hair doesn't get her hair done? Or, because it's kinky/curly/wavy (anything but straight) it doesn't look like it's done? There has been plenty of times I saw your hair 'wolfin'... So in your eyes it's cool for you to walk around with a peasy afro but not women? Again, your preference is your preference, as I have my own, but the ladder part of your comment you could have kept to yourself. BTW, where have you been??? -__-

LATA, CHAN PJ-1

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS??

COMBS

There are many types of combs out there on the market. Although I will not list all of them, I'll list the basic ones we see and use on a daily basis.  Although you may say to yourself  "Why do I need more than one comb? A comb is a comb, all I need is one", this is so not true.  These combs are made differently for a reason.


TYPES OF COMBS

• Wide tooth combs: This is generally used for detangling.

•  Rat tail combs or fine tooth tail comb: This type of comb is mainly for styling and parting hair.

• Picks comb: This type of comb is used for  lifting the hair away from the head, it is also used to add volume.

• Regular styling combs: This type is used for styling and smoothing.

• Fine and wide tooth comb (regular comb): This type of comb is divided in two parts and one part have a close and the other a wide tooth. This type of comb is used regularly. 

• Teasing combs: This type of comb is used in teasing hair.

Combs Tips

• Always rinse comb with hot water after each use. 
• Don’t use a close teeth comb on wet hair to avoid breakages, instead use a wide tooth comb.
• Use combs with smooth ends not sharp and/or broken teeth to avoid hurting your scalp.
• Buy strong, sturdy combs not weak ones...even if it costs more it's worth it. 
• All combs style differently so use the perfect comb for your style.

Lata,
Chan, PJ-1