climbing deeper into this natural ish: banishment of the boring bun
Hey guys!
A last word before we head into guest blogger week tomorrow. I recently gave a brief update on my hair, and spoke of my entrapment in the seductively easy (and lazy) bun. Okay, I’m not knocking those who choose to bun! It’s a great style. But I was exploiting it… rocking it 24/7 for a good 10 months (starting when I took a new job in a very conservative county.)
Anyway, I went to the beauty salon Friday, determined to step out of my comfort zone. I started out small – just a basic twist-hawk – and it turned out pretty nice.
I wore it out that weekend but planned to bun it for work, to get a cool ‘designs on the side of my head’ look.
So I bunned it Monday, but on Tuesday I was like f*ck it, and wore the full twist-hawk to work (I did a little bump in the front), and noone said anything. I got a couple compliments, a few second glances. That was it. I took these pictures in my bathroom before work. (The scarf is cuz my office building is cold as hell!)
This series is called “climbing deeper into this natural ish”, and I feel it’s becoming truer and truer in my life. I really am starting to embrace this natural thing wholeheartedly. My natural hair is not divorced from my professional self, but I think my bun, in many ways, was an attempt to separate out those selves, to ‘tone it down’. It was kind of a half-assed way to be natural.
Well, the bun will always be in my arsenal of styles, and I don’t think a twist-hawk will be appropriate in every work situation. But with this newfound confidence best believe I will be exploring tons of other styles in the coming weeks and months. As always, I will keep you updated.
~Peace
***update 7/1/2009***
Msjaim asked a really great question. Check it out, along with my response:
Blogger msjaim said…
very nice, where’d u get it done & were they gentle?
Blogger Black girl with long hair said…
@ msjaim… LOL! good question!
i got my hair done at “hair mechanics” on chicago and homan on the West Side. the lady who did my hair is the same who did my big chop. it’s a “hood” salon in the austin/east garfield park neighborhood (one of the worst in chicago in terms of crime and economics), but my hairdresser is really open-minded. she’s never questioned my choices about my hair, and even allows me to wash it myself beforehand so i don’t have to use her harsh shampoos and conditioners.
i haven’t worked up the nerve, though, to ask her not to use gel to twist my hair. one day i’ll walk up in there with my elasta qp and make demands.
and yes, she was very gentle with my hair. a light blowdry before the twisting, and the cornrows weren’t too tight.
it’s funny, my hairdresser’s specialty is cornrows/twists/box braids (even though she’s relaxed) so she always seems relieved when i come in, to get a break from doing relaxers and press and curls. whenever i ask her to put in a cornrow design she gets really creative.
i actually have pictures of an old style she did where the cornrow design was very, very intricate. it was ‘rows going up the crown of my head, with a fake kinky ponytail attached to the top. (that was back in the early teeny weeny afro days.)
i should find those pictures and post them one day.
also, i have tried to some of the more high-end natural hair salons in chicago and i’m sorry, but it’s not worth the money. i really can’t afford to pay an extra $40, $50 for random, superfluous bougieness. there are other times in my life when i indulge in random, superfluous bougieness, but this is not one of them.
i know a lot of black hairdressers get a bad rap (and rightfully so!), but there are definitely some gems out there.
keep in mind that many can cornrow, flat twist and braid to kill! (i think they learn some of this in beauty school) but they just opt to advocate the relaxer.
I will say that this does not excuse the fact that I don’t know how to cornrow! I’m still trying to learn and I’ve been practicing.
it looks good girl
well done. I love the bump in the front! Your hair is growing beautifully
gorgeous!
I luv it! Looks good!
lovely! Just lovely!
Pretty!!!
P.S. I feel you on the cold as hell at work comment. I work in the same conditions as you. Brrr!
love it!!! IM GOING TO TRY THIS SOMETIME!.
love it!!! IM GOING TO TRY THIS SOMETIME!.
love it!!! IM GOING TO TRY THIS SOMETIME!.
love it!!! IM GOING TO TRY THIS SOMETIME!.
love it!!! IM GOING TO TRY THIS SOMETIME!.
love it!!! IM GOING TO TRY THIS SOMETIME!.
love it!!! IM GOING TO TRY THIS SOMETIME!.
The more I think about it the more I have come to feel that WE think others are more moved (read offended, shocked, think it's not professional) by our hair than they actually are. I know this comes from years of being told (usually by black family members) that if we go natural we can't hold jobs or be respected. But truthfully, most people I have ever worked with or in public only have great things to say. I love the style btw so rock it with pride. It's HAWT!
lovely girl!! i think its FLY!!
you take the cutest pics lei. love the do!
i love ur new do, i see that ur hair has grown beautiful, longer and thicker from the first time maybe like 4 months ago or so when u should pics. keep growing that hair, and keep experimenting w/ diff styles
Yay!! Love it girl its super cute!!
I love it. You look very chic and it seems like it even brightens up your face. You were beautiful with a bald head, but the styled twists are just sharp! You make me want to go get my hair done. I need to learn how to twist/braid/something!
Be thankful for A/C in your building. My building has no A/C, granted we only have about 3 months of hot weather here, but in the summertime it is BLAZIN in my office! You can leave here soaking wet if you don't have at least two fans blowing on you all day.
I like the happy shot. You have such a lovely smile and your hair is so thick
@ j… hee hee
@ everyone… thanks for the encouragement!!! i'm tryna do things.
I love it! Your hair looks quite professional to me. Your hair is growing really beautifully too. I agree with Naturally Leslie. I think that we assume people are paying more attention to us than they actually are. I used to be shy about my hair because of the lack of black people in my office. Finally I got to the point that I just didn't care anymore. As long as I know I look good, I walk into the building as if my hair is bone straight and waist length. I don't look for their approval or the absence of it. It is what it is! You look good. Be proud!
very nice, where'd u get it done & were they gentle?
@ msjaim… LOL! good question!
i got my hair done at hair mechanics on chicago and homan on the West Side. the lady who did my hair is the same who did my big chop. it's a "hood" salon in the austin/east garfield park neighborhood (some of the worst in chicago in terms of crime and economics), but my hairdresser is really open-minded. she's never questioned my choices about my hair, and even allows me to wash it myself beforehand so i don't have to use their harsh shampoos and conditioners.
i haven't worked up the nerve, though, to ask her not to use gel to twist my hair. one day i'll walk up in there with my elasta qp and make demands.
and yes, she was very gentle with my hair. a light blowdry before the twisting, and the cornrows weren't too tight.
it's funny, my hairdresser's specialty is cornrows/twists/box braids (even though she's relaxed) so she always seems relieved when i come in, to get a break from doing relaxers and press and curls. whenever i ask her to put in a cornrow design she gets really creative.
i actually have pictures of an old style she did where the cornrow design was very, very intricate. it was 'rows going up the crown of my head, with a fake kinky ponytail attached to the top. (that was back in the early teeny weeny afro days.)
i should find those pictures and post them one day.
also, i have tried to some of the more high-end natural hair salons in chicago and i'm sorry, but it's not worth the money. i really can't afford to pay an extra $40, $50 for random, superfluous bougieness. there are other times in my life when i indulge in random, superfluous bougieness, but this is not one of them.
i know a lot of black hairdressers get a bad rap (and rightfully so!), but there are definitely some gems out there.
keep in mind that many can cornrow, flat twist and braid to kill! (i think they learn some of this in beauty school) but they just opt to advocate the relaxer.
Your hair looks awesome!
Super cuteness! I, too, am style challenged, (I rock twist out curly fros like there is no tomorrow) but I think I will try this! Too cute!
I just found your blog, and I'm so glad I did! In fact, I'm even more happy that you gave a shout out to the West Side, where I was born and raised! I currently live on the North Side, but Austin will always be my home
.