Words of a Softy

[JS: My friend and I are forever having soft-hair wars. I lost on this particular day...and this is how he described his afro soft hair...for the win. I have to laugh, because there is almost a poetic ring to it. So I have entitled it...Words of a Softy. Please see the "Soft-O-Meter" for reference to "Wombs of a Marshmellow Mermaid". Enjoy.]

Verdict In!! Wombs of a Marshmellow Mermaid are jealous now...

I have been crowned: "La materia más suave".. Or at least my hair...

Soft as the gazillion blessed honourable hopes & dreams of angelic people scattered across time/space,

if those veritable super soft whimsys of light could be stuffed into the mattress of a cradle,

 to which his/her divine self would be placed in as a newborn of existence itself!

Hug and Touchers

So this post is dedicated to the the "Hug and Touch" and all those "Hug and Touchers" out there!

So how do you know when you've encountered a Hug and Toucher?

A hug and toucher is fascinated with your hair. You can see them eyeing it from across the room. They likely already know you, but it is not uncommon to meet someone for the first time and have them be a hug and toucher.

When they come up to say hello and go in for a hug, their hands end up in your hair (referred to as the Hug and Touch). And not just a light touch, but there's some scrunching action...and what could be mistaken as a head rub. You will likely be taken by surprise but not to worry they are not dangerous. Just fascinated.

The hug lasts slightly longer than the normal 2-3 seconds (due to the hands in the hair) and it is a normal to feel uncomfortable.

The hug and toucher often ends with :"I love your hair!"... "It's so soft!" ...or "Sorry, I couldn't help myself!"


Last week, I ran into 3 hug and touchers. It happens so often now, it doesn't even phase me. But for all you hug and touchers out there: If you must scrunch, please, BE GENTLE as to not mess up the curl pattern!


Take care,


J.

Peace. Love. & Hugs.

:)

xx

5 Non-Hair Related Uses For Your Afro

Click for Pic Link

1. Pillow

My most favourite use! I use my afro as a pillow on the train, or at my desk (shhh don't tell my Manager!). It's so soft, it's lovely. Other people (your boyfriend/girlfriend/significant other) can use it as a pillow too! Sharing is caring, I was told.

What's awkward is when people you don't know try and use your hair as a pillow. Don't ask but it happens all the time lol

2. Helmet

This is definitely not legal...but sometimes when my hair is mad with product build up...I feel like this is possible.

3. Bee catcher

Bee's flying into your hair and getting stuck? Not fun. It's a true story. But if you're in the Bee-business, it's a great tool.

4. Conversation Starter

It's a great conversation starter....most often times people are very intrigued and I hear "How do you get your hair like that?" a lot.
Check out the post:

Sh*t People Ask Black People About Black Hair

5. Height

Comb your hair out really big, and you'll add like 4-5 inches on your height. If you weren't blessed vertically, use your hair!





xo - J

Peace. Love. Afros.

Sh*t People Ask Black People About Black Hair

Disclaimer: This post is meant to be humorous..don't take it personal ;)

1. If you don’t wash your hair every day...do you shower?

It's called a shower cap! Or a plastic bag...Apparently it’s inconceivable how we can shower and not wash our hair at the same time! The answer is YES, I shower...and daily too! :P

Unlike straight hair, our hair doesn’t get oily as quickly. Therefore, we don’t need to wash our hair everyday. I shampoo my hair once a month, if that much. And I'll co-wash during the week.

When I permed my hair, I would wash it once a week, and when I pressed it....every 2 weeks. I use to catch myself lying and saying that I washed my hair every couple days just so people wouldn’t think I didn't wash myself lol.

2. Why don’t you grow your hair?

I use to get this so much in high school...it's like, I’m trying here! [Boss face]

Hair grows on average a half an inch a month and some people’s hair grows above average.

Personally, I’ve battled with breakage which prevents length retention. Some hair types, especially kinky curly hair are more fragile and susceptible to breakage which can hinder length retention.

My hair may not grow as fast as yours, but does yours grow as bold as mine? :)

3. OMG....It’s so soft!!

It’s like really, what were you expecting? A bristle pad?

4. Why don’t you like to get your hair wet?

Now that I'm natural, I don't care.

But having had permed hair..if you spent 5 hours in a salon on a Saturday morning and upwards of $100 to straighten your hair...you wouldn’t want to get it wet either. Just saying :)

5. Can I touch it?

Sadly, most of the time that answer will be a NO. LOL

Comic Relief

6. How do you get it to stick to your head like that? [cornrows]

7. Does it just grow from your head like that? [braids and cornrows]

8. Wait...where does your hair end and the fake hair start?

9. Do you wash your scalp with a tooth brush? [When I had braids or extensions]

10. OMG, your hair grew over night!

11. Is it real?

12. You can do so much with your hair!

13. How does it do that?!?

14. OMG, you actually sew fake hair in your head? How does that work, do you sew it to your scalp?

What are some crazy questions you've gotten from others? And how have you responded?

J

Peace. Love. and BIG Afros (Like a BOSS).

;)

I Am Not My Hair - India Arie

I was listening to this song today and thought I'd share the lyrics, because they speak such truth. They are very much a source of support and inspiration! I have loved this song for years, because I could relate to every verse in some part of my natural hair journey. I posted because I think it's an important reminder that we need to be confident and proud of who we are on the inside, and remember that we are not defined by our hair.

Happy Wednesday everyone! :)

J
 ----------

"I Am Not My Hair"

[Talking:]
Is that India.Arie? What happened to her hair? Ha ha ha ha ha
Dat dad a dat da [4x] Dad a ooh


[Verse 1]
Little girl with the press and curl
Age eight I got a Jheri curl
Thirteen and I got a relaxer
I was a source of so much laughter
At fifteen when it all broke off
Eighteen and went all natural
February two thousand and two
I went on and did
What I had to do
Because it was time to change my life
To become the women that I am inside
Ninety-seven dreadlocks all gone
I looked in the mirror
For the first time and saw that HEY....


[Chorus]
I am not my hair
I am not this skin
I am not your expectations no no
I am not my hair
I am not this skin
I am a soul that lives within


[Talking:]
What'd she do to her hair? I don't know it look crazy
I like it. I might do that.
Umm I wouldn't go that far. I know .. ha ha ha ha


[Verse 2]
Good hair means curls and waves
Bad hair means you look like a slave
At the turn of the century
Its time for us to redefine who we be
You can shave it off
Like a South African beauty
Or get in on lock
Like Bob Marley
You can rock it straight
Like Oprah Winfrey
If its not what's on your head
Its what's underneath and say HEY....


[Chorus]


[Bridge]
(Whoa, whoa, whoa)
Does the way I wear my hair make me a better person?
(Whoa, whoa, whoa)
Does the way I wear my hair make me a better friend? Oh
(Whoa, whoa, whoa)
Does the way I wear my hair determine my integrity?
(Whoa, whoa, whoa)
I am expressing my creativity..
(Whoa, whoa, whoa)


[Verse 3]
Breast Cancer and Chemotherapy
Took away her crown and glory
She promised God if she was to survive
She would enjoy everyday of her life ooh
On national television
Her diamond eyes are sparkling
Bald headed like a full moon shining
Singing out to the whole wide world like HEY...


[Chorus 2x]


[Ad lib]
If I wanna shave it close
Or if I wanna rock locks
That don't take a bit away
From the soul that I got
Dat da da dat da [4x]
If I wanna where it braided
All down my back
I don't see what wrong with that
Dat da da dat da [4x]


[Talking:]
Is that India.Arie?
Ooh look she cut her hair!
I like that, its kinda PHAT
I don't know if I could do it.
But it looks sharp, it looks nice on her
She got a nice shaped head
She got an apple head
I know right?
It's perfect.