Lookbook: Small Afro & Casual Summer Outfit

For a fresh summer look, try pairing cropped dress pants that are skinny at the ankle with a clean, white blouse. The v-neck blouse, art deco bangles, and floral necklace add texture to this outfit. Wear this look with a large fluffy afro or a small TWA (teeny weeny afro).

How to create an afro | outfit

What natural hairstyles are you wearing this summer?

More: Small Afro TWA Professional Hairstyles

Lookbook: Coral Accessories for Natural Hair

These chic accessories go great with natural hair. I decided to add a natural hair vibe to the scarf, clutch, and shades trio shown above. The fluffy afro and "I love natural hair" poster complete the look. 


Purchase posters like the one shown above and greeting cards at lovenaturalsunshine.etsy.com

how to create an afro | poster | scarf | clutch | shades

Collection of accessories from brunchatsax. 

How To Detangle Finger Coils, Twists, Bantu Knots, and Rodsets

Wearing natural hair in finger coils, twists, bantu knots, and rod sets can make it a challenge to comb out and detangle, because the hair has been trained to coil or twist on itself.  If your hair is hard to comb out and detangle you will get breakage and hair loss. I have found these 5 steps to detangle natural hair after wearing finger coils, twists, bantu knots, and rod sets have helped me to minimize the damage.

Pre-poo your hair

1) Do a heavy oiling or pre-poo of your natural hair before you wash your hair. This will set the stage for your further detangling before you shampoo. Put your hair into several twists.

Finger detangle

2) Detangle with your fingers. Work on only one section at a time.  If you encounter any resistance, carefully pull the tangled hairs or knots apart.

3) When you feel you have adequately finger detangled, start to comb with a wide-tooth comb.  If you encounter any serious resistance, go back and finger detangle this spot again until you can comb it through easily.

4) If hair feels very dry and starts to break, add more oil, water, or even your favorite conditioner that has lots of slip.  Anything that will make the coils and knots release.

5) Be sure you have enough time (and patience) to do your entire head this way.  I have found when I feel rushed or I get tired, I rip through my hair and cause more breakage than usual.

After each section has been adequately detangled, proceed on to your hair washing.

Prevent breakage and hair loss and keep more of your hair on your head where it belongs with these 5 steps to detangle natural hair after wearing finger coils, twists, bantu knots, and rod sets.

courtesy of Alyce, blackhaircaretoday.com

You Can Touch My Hair Exhibit in New York City is Controversial

What began as an idea spurred on by the rhetoric surrounding the “Can I touch your hair” comments many women with natural hair encounter, ended up as a living New York City conversation piece this past weekend. In an effort to bring light to the controversy, Antonia Opiah set up a one-weekend-only exhibit entitled “You Can Touch My Hair.”

Much as its name suggests, the exhibit, located in Bryant Park, allowed passers-by the opportunity to touch natural hair in an atmosphere without bias. But, better than the opportunity to touch natural hair was the conversation sparked by the exhibit amongst the natural hair community.

The “You Can Touch My Hair Exhibit” had very few online supporters. By placing what is a mild annoyance for some into an exhibit for all to see, many felt that the showcase was more of a human petting zoo than something to encourage dialogue and open minds. 

Opiah, founder of un-ruly.com, said, “Because if you’re actually friends with a person, ‘Can I touch your hair?’ is a question you don’t have to ask because you know that you can either just do it or know to steer clear. And if you don’t know any black people that well enough, maybe you should be asking yourself a different question.”

via naturallycurly.com

Watch: Huffington Post discusses the “You Can Touch My Hair” exhibit featuring the Opiah and Professor Imani Perry of African American Studies at Princeton University and Michaela Angela Davis, Image Activist / Editorial Brand Manager at BET.

I disagree with Opiah in having the “You Can Touch My Hair” exhibit. I agree that African-American hair is something to be celebrated. However, I feel that the event exoticized African-American hair. I think a forum would have done a better job of sparking a racial dialogue. Having the opportunity to touch African-American hair can be a form of cultural exchange if it is presented in the correct format. Instead, I think many people who participated in the event simply satisfied a curiosity. And as for people who have never touched or learned about African-American hair, I think it is a reflection of the lack of relationships they have with other cultures.

 

photos courtesy of okayafrica.com, concreteloop.com, thegrio.com, and Taren Guy

What do you think about the exhibit? Are you for it or against it?

More: 'You Can Touch My Hair' Exhibition: A Social Experiment, NOT A Movement via Huffington Post

How to tie a scarf for natural hair turban

Scarves and turbans are great ways to add a stylish accessory to your natural hairstyle. Turbans work especially well with TWAs (small afros) and up dos. Turbans can also gently cover thin edges while they are in the process of growing back. Make sure your scarf or turban is made of 100% satin to ensure that the material does not snag the hairline.



This video demonstrates...

• how to use a scarf as an accessory
• how to create a turban for natural hair

Lookbook: Chunky Twist out & Three Summer Outfits

This set of chic outfits prove that one skirt can be worn many ways. Try a floral pattern skirt and mix and match for new looks. The chunky twist out hairstyle finishes off this easy-going, dressy casual style. Styles provided by Karrina Renee Krueger, photography by dfinney photography.

how to do a twist out| how to create a chunky twist out afro | outfits

Havana Twists Photo Challenge

I love havana twists photo challenge! via lovenaturalsunshine

how to enter…

1. send us a photo of you rockin’ havana twists, marley twists, or chunky extensions.

2. tell us how you feel when you wear them.

3. we will feature you on Love Natural Sunshine!

submission deadline: June 30, 2013

send photos to lovenaturalsunsine@gmail.com or fill out the submission form.

How to Create & Maintain an Afro

To create an afro style your hair in several chunky twists with your favorite styling cream. Let your natural hair air dry before taking down the twists. Fluff your roots, using your fingers or a wide tooth comb. For a less defined afro, separate the chunky twists. 

Less defined afros can become drier quicker as the hair strands tend to be more exposed to the elements (i.e. sunlight, wind, cool air, etc.)

Using chunky twists to create an afro allows your hair to stay clumped together in thick strands. This will prevent your hair from loosing moisture quickly and from becoming dry.

An example of a less defined afro

NaturalChica with a more defined afro created by chunky twists
photography by dfinney photography

Below are four tips on how to maintain your afro.

via clutchmagonline.com

1. Wash your hair no more than once a week. This will prevent your hair from becoming dry and brittle. 

2. Condition your hair overnight. Get a conditioner cap and some oil – pure olive oil, grape seed oil or and jojoba oil – and add a generous amount to your hair at night before bed and put the conditioner cap on. Put your regular hair scarf over the bag for added moisture. In the morning, your hair should be soft and easy to comb. Add your regular moisturizer and seal. You can baggy every night if your hair if very dry and you should see results after two weeks.

3. Trim your natural hair regularly. When your Afro gets to the length you want, hit the salon regularly to get a trim to ensure that it is growing evenly and achieving the look you want.

4. Finger comb your natural hair. Rather than use a comb, use your fingers, or a wide-toothed comb. When choosing a wide-toothed comb, try to find one as wide as when you spread out your fingers.

How do you style your afro?

Lookbook: Braid Out & Summer Outfit

how to do a braid out | outfit

Try pairing gold & blue for a fashionable summer look. A fluffy braid out adds the right accents to this easy-breezy outfit. How are you styling your hair this summer?