Excuse Me, Please Don't Touch My Hair!!!

So as I start to wear my hair out, people and their hands find themselves landing on my hair.Take a good look at my face.

Not cool at all!

My step-dad loves natural textured hair. This I know.When I came home from school, I went to visit him and he hugged me and touched my hair and I can't lie, I had reflexes that could have knocked him out.
I politely said "Could you please not touch my hair?" He laughed and asked me "Why?" and I simply told him that I didn't like it when people touch my hair. He proceeded to play around and try me. I love my daddy but........

Don't touch my hair!

2nd scenario- A family friend who hasn't seen me in awhile came up to give me a hug and said "What are you growing dreads or something?' Then he touched my hair. I looked at him, slapped his hands from my hair and said "NO!! they are not dreads, it's called a twist out and please do not touch my hair again"

The 3rd scenario was when I was driving home from dinner with my biological dad. I was talking to him in the car and I told him how I don't like people touching my hair, not even people I know. So what does he do? You got it! He touched my hair and laughed about it! All of this happened in one week.

The reasons why touching my hair is not cool:

1. It's a part of my body, which means if I didn't give you permission don't think about reaching for it.
2. Where has your hands been?
3. I put in a lot of work to style my hair and I don't need you to mess it up.
4. Just because it's real, does not mean you can touch.

I just don't understand why people can't just look. They feel as though they need to touch. This one Caucasian girl said to me once "Wow, you hair looks like pasta noodles. Can I touch you hair?"(moment of silence please.......................................................................................................) SMH. Well at least she asked, however I still said no. Touching my hair without permission is a violation!

Whoever is reading this, I'm certain that you wouldn't want people to touch your hair after all your hard work into styling it and getting it just right. So with all of this said "Please do not touch my hair!" and we won't have any problems.

By: Jasmine Skinner

Product Review of the Day!

As I Am

   I went to Walgreens about 3 weeks ago, to refill some of my hair product stash. I had my mind set on getting the Tresemme Natural sulfate free conditioner.
However, something caught my attention. I saw a brown and gold container that read Coconut CoWash.

I said Hmm let me take a look at this for a minute.  It was around $8.00 for a 16 oz. at Walgreens which wasn't too bad. I instantly took a look at the ingredients. (It is a habit for me to read the ingredients before I make my purchase). It looked promising. Here is what it says:
Key Ingredients: Tangerine, Coconut Oil, Castor Oil, Saw Palmetto and Phytosterols

The rest of the ingredients were:

Aqueous (Water, Aqua Purificada, Purified) Extracts: Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) and Citrus Reticulata (Tangerine), Cetyl Alcohol, Cetrimonium Chloride, Cetearyl Alcohol, PEG-40 Castor Oil, Stearlkonium chloride, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Phytosterols, Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract, Quaternium-18, Potassium Sorbate, Fragrance/Parfum, Limonene, Methylisothiazolinone

Oh my! this sounds really good. I am a big coconut and castor oil fan. So I was sold. Next thing I know I was out of Walgreens with my hairs new found friend. 

What is it and what does it do?
Well, it is a conditioner that removes product build-up. It actually cleanse the hair without the suds and yet still maintains moisture for your curls, kinks and coils.

This product smells so yummy, it would tempt you to just eat it. (Please don't eat it). You can smell the coconut and almost vanilla, mocha like scent. I like it.

You can tell I have been using this up!

http://www.asiamnaturally.com/

It is not too thick in its consistency and not sticky. Just creamy. I normally like to work my products into my hair if I have enough time. So, I divided my hair into sections and started smoothing and finger combing it in. I love how my curls just began to instantly pop out. It definitely de-tangles my hair and makes my hair manageable to comb through. Which is a plus.

I have been using it for a few weeks now and I will honestly say I really like this product. It does keep my hair clean but not to the point where it leaves that squeaky dry feeling. I love the smell and the packaging, brown and gold touch to it really stood out to me.  I wouldn't use it as a leave-in, though I wish it was. It was also afforable which got me sold. But overall, I would rate this product at a 8.

Meet Jasmine! Naturelle Me... Feature Of The Month!

Meet: Jasmine S. 

            I was given the honor and privilege to interview a young woman whose heart is made of gold, and whose spirit is as gentle and undeniably warm that it magnetically draws others to just remain around her. She knows full well that I wouldn't and just couldn't allow her to back down from this Natural Hair Interview, and that I will not take "no" for an answer. Lol! Jasmine is a fellow natural haired sister, who is always on fire for God and loves to encourage others to do and become the best that they can be.

Let me start off by asking you: where are you from?

I'm from Detroit, Michigan 

What do you do or are doing now? 

Right now I am a full time nursing student and I teach hip-hop dance.

So, Jasmine describe what your hair was like before you decided to go natural?

I have been natural for about 10 years. My hair was damaged from having a perm back when I was in the 8th grade. When the perm was applied, it was left in for too long that my hair began to shed and my scalp was left with burns. From that day, I decided to never get a perm again. I later began to cut my permed hair off, then abused my hair by using a lot of heat while I was in high school. My hair  suffered heat damage and I didn't know how to take care of it.So, I started wearing weaves and extensions a lot. It wasn't until college, which was when I got introduced into the natural hair epidemic. A friend had introduced me to go natural and other women who were growing long healthy hair in it's natural state. Let's say I learned a lot.

How did you feel about your decision of becoming a natural?

    At first, I was scared to wear my hair in it's natural state because of how people were so quick to say "you're nappy headed".  Plus, my hair is frizzy and it will shrivel up in a minute, so I was insecure about that.

What does being "Natural" mean to you? 

Being "Natural" to me means being who God made me to be and not pretending to be something I'm not. A long time ago, my mother used to tell me "You can't be like everybody else" and today I live by those words. Being natural means to be unique, to stand out in a way I'm predestined to stand out. Being natural goes beyond hair, being natural means to just be me. And be the best me I can be.

What motivated you to take on the natural route? 

My good friend (Lyn). I just loved how her hair looked when she wore it natural. I always was afraid of wearing my hair out, but seeing her confidence when she wore her hair in it's natural state inspired me. I was tired of hiding my hair under extensions. I would always miss my hair and at times forget what it looked like. (that's a shame right?) Also my step father is a fan of naturals, which gave me a really good support system.

Take us through a normal day with your hair. (Process or regimen or schedule if any) 

Well.....during school, I can't lie. I do wear twist with extensions, however when my hair is out I wake up and put water and oil on my hair and scalp, then style it. I shampoo my hair once a week and I use leave in conditioner after I shampoo. I deep condition once a month and I also use a leave-in conditioner in my daily regimen. It's that simple! That has got me to where I am today....healthy growing hair.

Describe your style. ( fashion, music, dance etc) 

Fashion wise, I am a woman who will wear a nice blazer with jeans and some banging heels. I am also the type of lady who will wear a stylish shirt, jeans, and some really dope kicks. I will wear a dress at times. I like halter top dresses that are form fitting and look classy. Sometimes I like being colorful, but earth tone colors are my thing. As far as music I like gospel of all kinds, as well as soulful, R&B, jazz, and old school music. 

I'm a dancer, so my style at times is very unique. I do hip-hop, but actually I am a modern dancer at heart, I like to do ballroom or anything fun.

What are some of your favorite protective and best hair styles? 

I love my sock bun and my twist. I don't exactly know my best hair style. I'm still experimenting!

What advice would you give to a new natural? 

Don't listen to people who talk negative about your hair, because 9 times out of 10, they can't do what you are doing. Keep experimenting and researching how to take care of your natural hair. There are plenty of videos available on-line. Become an expert on your hair and most importantly love yourself for who God made you to be. 

What hair goal would you like to attain? 

My hair goals are to maintain healthy hair and to reach Mid back length (MBL) by May 2013.

Favorite products 

My leave-in mix conditioner, Carols Daughter Rosemary mint shampoo, Giovanni products, Shea Moisture Deep treatment masque, castor oil, jojoba oil, coconut oil.

What advice or things would you have told your younger natural self? 

Don't be afraid to be who you were born to be. I would have told myself that my hair will be healthy in it's natural state and that it will take time to gain the length I want. Shampoo more often and condition your hair every week and that water is good for your hair.

What do you love about yourself and have gotten to learn about yourself?

I just love me! I love the person God is creating me into. It's showing on the inside and out. I love that I am myself no matter where I am and who I'm around.

Where do you see yourself making a difference? 

I want to make a difference within my community. I want children from the same type of community I was from to know that they too can have a better future and do not have to be a product of their environment. I want to be the one young women to look up to and trust. I want to give back not only to my community, but to somehow make a difference in the world. 

Share what has kept you growing, encouraged and going forward that would help another woman or young girl now, tomorrow and in the future. 

Jesus Christ and His word has kept me strong, growing, and encouraged. Without Him I would be a mess. I have been through a lot within my 22 years of life. However, through those trials and tribulations God has implanted blessings and for that I am grateful.

I would tell young women to find out what gives them hope and let that be their strength. For me it's God, but for others it may be something else such as family. I want them to know that their hope should be in something that is not tangible. God is the perfect example of that. I want people to know that He is my rock and the reason why I am able to share all of this with you all.

What makes you a NaturelleMe... Feature of the Month?

I am always NATURALLY myself and I express that through my actions, through my fashion, hair, my dances, my faith, and my character. I am NaturelleME...