Do Yourself A Favor...

With the economy in the state that it is in, many are cutting back on their spending.  Let's be real...  Getting your hair done on a weekly basis can become pretty expensive.  But who are we kidding? 
We all like to look good right?  Of course we do!!!  When it comes to your hair, my advice to the penny saver is to think things over before deciding on what to save on.  If you can not afford to do your hair every week, you should decide what is affordable to you.  Even if you attend the salon once a month, at least you're making an                                                       effort  to get some proper haircare. 

(Picture Credit: instructables.com)

Let's talk about what should NOT be done at home...  CHEMICALS.  If you DID NOT attend Cosmetology school, you should not be applying chemicals to your own hair or someone else's for that matter.  THIS IS SERIOUS BUSINESS!!!  I can not stress this any more.  You would not go to your best friend to pull out your wisdom tooth or give you a pap smear now would you?  I REST MY CASE.  I do not care how much someone thinks they know about hair or the chemicals used to relax or color, if they have not studied it and possess the proper certification, they can not apply a chemical to my head.  Point, Blank, PERIOD.  I don't know about you, but I like "my" hair.  Below you will see a picture of someone who has been chemically burned and scarred for life.

(^^^Picture credit:  healthylocsblog.com^^^)

There are dangers associated with the procedures such as overlapping, overprocessing, chemical burns, scarring of the scalp, just to name a few.  Which is why if you want to skip a salon visit, skip your in between visits.  You know, the ones in between relaxers or color appointments.  That is where you will save the most.  How, you ask?  Well, it'll save you from the cost of repairing damaged hair.
The chemicals in relaxers are so strong that they have been compared to Drano.  Yes, Drano.  It has gotten to the point where so many African-American women have decided to go natural (chemical free).  I've even given it some thought.  I think that it's a beautiful thing to see these beautiful women embrace their natural kink. (Picture Credit: myhairisme.com >>>>>>>>>>>)

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/