I literally cannot count the amount of times that I looked back at something I did or said and thought “I need to change that ASAP!” and then I sat and did nothing until that action or thought process reared its negative head and I was forced to change it. That change meant betterment for myself and the people around me. And with that being said, it’s never to late to make a positive change in your life. I read something that said (I’m paraphrasing here) “In a year, you’ll wish you started today…” and I couldn’t stop laughing. It’s so true! Just think if you started saving money A YEAR AGO, starting eating healthier A YEAR AGO, stopped hanging with negative people A YEAR AGO you’d have more money, be healthier and have a less stressful social life. Now on the flip-side, sometimes that change comes too late. Not too late for you per say, but too late for the individual that it was negatively affecting. In these cases I implore you to look inside of yourself and make those positive changes before it’s too late and you lose the friendship or companionship of someone that you don’t want to be without.
It was over 10 years ago when I sat in my high school Social Studies class (do they even teach that subject in school anymore?) and my teacher, Mr. James, said something so profound that only recently resonated with me in my adult life. Mr. James announced to my class “People will tell you that your hair is ‘nappy’ to make it sound like a bad thing. I need you all to understand that your hair is very curly. Do not let people make you think something is wrong with you and that you are not beautiful because your hair is NATURALLY curly and not NATURALLY straight.”
Ah! Why didn’t I listen to Mr. James back then?! I’m sure I’d have the curls & length that I hair crush on in natural hair blogs by now. More importantly, being cognizant of the importance of being able to rock my hair naturally, why do I continue to straighten it using a pressing comb? For the past 2 and 1/2 months I’ve been wearing straight extensions. Do not get me wrong, I like the look and I enjoy switching up my style, but I miss my afro. The good and the bad hair days that it came with lol So, I’ve been scouring the internet for style tutorials and ideas for medium length hair. I’m curious to see my hair length after I take out my extensions, as well as find a new moisturizer. I’m open to suggestions and I’ll definitely post pics of my hair styles to come.
Still rocking my box braids and attempting to find innovative styles.
Here’s a pic of one of my fav styles. The back (which is not pictured) is a faux french braid and the front is tucked and pinned. I found a great Box Braid Style tutorial on YouTube. It’s posted by Tiarra Monet. Check it out below!
I absolutely heart this song (click the YouTube link above to hear it). My favorite lyrics are:
Is it possible there’s a kiss that’s so divine? Or am I just a fool? Is it all in my mind? Is there something chemical? A scientist might say. ‘Cause love must be a drug to make me feel this way…
I hope you all enjoy the song as much as I do. To those who are in love, enjoy your happy and healthy relationships. For those of you who have not yet found true love don’t give up the hunt…it’s sometimes the last key that opens the door 🙂
I have had my hair in medium sized box braids for the past month and I love them. When my hair was first braided people were saying “I mean, what can you really do with braids? How many styles can you really have?” And in my opinion braids can be very versatile. I find a new way to twist my hair up or pin it back every other day to the point where everyone is now saying “Charm, everyday it’s a different style with you!” *shrugs* Oh well, it’s my hair and I can be as creative as I want. This pic is one of my favorite styles. It’s a braided top bun positioned towards the front of my head. Over the next few weeks I’ll post other styles.
(Me on Saturday, 06/30/2012. The end of my 1st week back to my Natural Hair)
For all of you who don’t know, hair is a big deal. Not just for me as an African American woman but for well millions of other women and men from various cultures and socioeconomic statuses. In some cultures, hair is used to decipher an individual’s social status, mood or even their marital status. Some religions and cultures regard hair as such a precious adornment that it must be covered from being seen by anyone other than the person’s husband, close relatives, or female friends. And just think about the panic that sets in when men (or women) find themselves balding prematurely. So yea, hair= big deal.
Lately, there has been a sudden increase in hair care products that cater to women of color who wish to wear their hair natural. For all of you who don’t know, by “natural” I mean not chemically treated to be straightened and in their hair’s natural state. Although my hair has not been chemically treated in about 15 years, I was an avid fan of extensions and straightening my hair with flat irons for the past 4 years or so. I recently transitioned out of my extensions to embrace my natural hair and let’s just say this has been a tough process, mentally, emotionally and physically. But a positive journey of self discovery to be honest. It takes a certain amount of self-confidence and self-love to look at yourself in the mirror in your natural state and say “This is me. I’m beautiful and I define what my beauty is.” That’s why I cringe when I hear people call natural hair a “fad” or a “trend” or when I read an article where manufacturers of natural hair care products want to increase production and jump on the “trend.” This should not be considered a fad. I feel that the term demeans the value of the process and the entire fact that natural hair styles came before anything else. I am happy that women of color are becoming increasingly comfortable with themselves and their hair and are embracing it.
For any of you who are transitioning to natural hair I wish you the best!
Everyday my friends, family members, colleagues and acquaintances complain about just about everything. They either hate their life, their job, their mate, their friends, and the list goes on and on. I am guilty of doing this too. But then, today, as someone was talking to me and unloading a barrage of complaints I looked right through him and had an epiphany. Life is short! Too short to be in any situations that you don’t want OR need to be in. See, the problem is that people fool themselves (or allow others to convince them) into believing that they truly have control over only a few things. But you are completely in control of your life if you decide to take the responsibility for it. For example, you’re dating someone and you hate the relationship you’re in? Leave! You hate your job and the thought of going makes it hard for you to get out of bed? Get a new job. Create a short-term exit strategy and give yourself a due date to find new employment. You have crappy “friends” that you don’t like because they treat you poorly? Forget about them.
All in all, it’s important for people to remember that constantly repeating negativity will just keep you housed in a negative mental state. You have to think more positive and at least celebrate the things in your life that are positive on a daily basis and more like-minded people will surface.
Retro.Charm.Star's Blog 