UN-BE-WEAVE-A-BALD

I had to bring this to my sistah's attention!!!  Yes, we all want the pretty long, flowing hair.  You know what I'm talking about...that Remy hair.  Many of us want to try that Quick Weave that the waitress in the restaurant wears, or that Sew-In the chick on the third pew wore in church last Sunday.  One thing is for sure, we all would like to look our best.  For some of us, that may mean adding hair, or colored contacts, or acrylic nails, etc.  Whatever it takes for you to feel comfortable in your skin, baby, I don't knock you!!!  However, some of our decisions may cause long term consequences.  In the pictures above, you can see how Traction Alopecia has become a part of these young ladies lives.  Traction Alopecia is only reversible if caught in the early stages, and if not, it leads to permanent hair loss and there is nothing that can be done about it.

Traction Alopecia is a hair losss condition caused by damage to the dermal papilla nd the hair follicle by constant pulling, tugging or tension over a long period (i.e., braids, cornrows, ponytails, etc).  There are many different styling techniques that put women, especially African American women at risk for alopecia.  Overprocessing of the hair, such as, chemical treatments like dyes, bleaches, relaxers, excessive use of heat and hairstyles that pulls or put tension on the hair root will cause alopecia to begin to take place.  Ladies, pull a switch-a-roo...switch up your style every now and then. 

If your stylist is telling you that there won't be any damage to your hair or scalp due to a weave, HE/SHE IS LYING!!!! 

Naomi Campbell has the money to get the "best of the best" to style her hair...Alopecia does not discriminate.  Have fun and try new styles, but I wouldn't suggest that you make it a habit.  People that don't have a choice, then I understand.  When a client sit in my chair, I give her what she wants, but I also tell her what she needs.  If for some reason, what she wants is damaging, then I let her know that she will have to get it else where.  Some may say that it's not right, but guess what?  I don't care!  I refuse to be the reason my sistah is walking around bald.  I am all about natural, healthy hair.

If you have hair, and you're constantly wearing someone else's, then shame on you.  The saying "You reap what you sow" or in this case "You reap what you sew" is cliche'.  Being beautiful is also about being healthy.  That goes for your hair as well. 

Wishing You Beauty & Blessings in 2011

~Tamara "PinkDymunz" Mott

http://www.coloredprettybytamara.com/