I love the super bowl.
While I love the commercials…I also love how it brings people together. 

Tiquan Underwood Super Bowl hair cut ]]> Inspiration Natural Hair Supporters herStory Routine Fri, 03 Feb 2012 23:55 GMT http://www.kinnks.com/blog/index.php/site/how_one_white_man_views_our_natural_hair/ http://www.kinnks.com/blog/index.php/site/how_one_white_man_views_our_natural_hair/#id:250#date:13:02 By Terez Howard

Why do you spend all that time on your hair?
That’s what my husband used to ask me about 6 years ago.  I was natural.  But I didn’t wear my natural hair.  I straightened it as straight as I could.  I rolled it every night in curlers.  I rarely wore my hair down for fear the dreaded moisture monster would scare my hair into its natural state.

Now I spend about 8 hours retightening my locs every 5 weeks.  And he says, “That’s really fast, Terez.  You’re getting good at that.”

That might seem ridiculous.  However, my white husband appreciates that I am wearing my natural hair.  Ethan has been my No. 1 biggest supporter.  Although I had a lot of chemical-free bloggers, Internet-based DIY-ers and online naturals to turn to, if I didn’t have him in my corner, I don’t think I could have done this natural hair thing.

When we first got married, he did not understand what I had to do to make my hair look “presentable.”  I would not dare go out with freshly washed hair.  Ethan would always ask why.  I always retorted, “I can’t.”  He was the first person to tell me there was nothing wrong with wearing my hair after it was washed.  I think that was on our honeymoon.

It took me a year of marriage to realize that he was right.  There has got to be a better way to maintain my hair, I thought.  Even though he couldn’t show me what to do with my natural hair, he always told me that it looked beautiful.  Sometimes, it didn’t.  Those beginning months were days of experimentation.

Once I started wearing my natural hair, he probably had his hands in my hair as much as I did.  He was just as enthralled by what could be done with natural hair as I was.

Then came locs

Unfortunately, Ethan couldn’t be with me when I got my micro locs installed.  The day after installation was the first time he saw them, and I had prepared him for the worst.  Most people don’t like the initial look.  His first reaction was, “Oh.  They look REALLY GOOD!”

He faithfully drove me hours away from our home to get my hair maintained.  He footed what totaled an enormous bill for my hair over the course of a year.  When I need to retighten my hair now, he happily occupies our 4-year-old daughter.  He has never ever complained about what could easily be looked at as a hassle with my hair.  Instead, he encourages me.  He loves natural, and everything else – the driving, the money, the time - is inconsequential.

My blogging begins
With my blog, I spend a considerable amount of time writing and researching as well as reading, watching and promoting other naturals’ resourceful information.  Is it too much time for Ethan?

Not at all.  Once again, he has only been a source of encouragement.  He recently said, “It’s great that you just want to help people.”

He helps me help other naturals by being my personal photographer.  Most of the pictures on my blog were taken by Ethan.

We have taken note of innumerable black naturals with white men.  We like to believe that these white men are encouraging their black women to embrace what’s naturally theirs.  That’s what happened in our case.
Ethan has taken an active interest in my natural hair.  He listens to my discoveries and watches the Youtube hair videos I love.  He had an interest in natural hair before I did.  My natural hair obsession started with one white man.

About the author
Read more about Terez’s obsession with natural hair at her blog, Naturalicious Hair

I’ve been told a lot of these things from people I love, with lots of love.  However - I am still a Kinnks Girl!

Check out CharyJay
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It seems like 2011 just flew by!  For much of it, I feel like I was auto pilot, the details seem blurry.  Our multi-tasking, social media, smart phones, tablets, gadgets, tv and whatever distractions from faith, friends and family.  In 2012, I want to slow down and be a little more present.  I started 2011 by sharing tips to achieve your Resolution.

2011’s Buzz was natural hair’s popularity and come back!!

The number of black women who say they do not use products to chemically relax or straighten their hair jumped to 36% in 2011, up from 26% in 2010, according to a report by Mintel, a consumer spending and market research firm. Sales of relaxer kits dropped by 17% between 2006 and 2011, according to Mintel. [1] 

Those who follow natural hair can’t be surprised. 
Even Dr. Drew touched on the topic of natural hair!

We celebrated legends and newbies of natural hair like
Gil Scott Heron
Jean-Michel Basquiat
Miss Universe Contestants
New York - Tiffany
Web Casts featuring naturals.

We even launched a Calendar dedicated to Natural Hair Events!

Special Thanks to our 2011 Contributors
Laquita
Terez Howard
How to Stay Natural by Tanene Jackson
Maria’s Growth Challenge
Malaka’s VersionI am not my hair
Christina J ‘Why I Went Natural’.
We’d love to hear from you…Share Your Story!

Thanks for your support! January 4, 2012 is Kinnks Blog Third Year Anniversary!! Peace, Love and Shea Butter!]]> Inspiration Legends Scene Natural Hair Supporters herStory Transition Contributor Why I Went Natural Product Junkie Finds Boadcast Web Links Tue, 03 Jan 2012 03:55 GMT http://www.kinnks.com/blog/index.php/site/holiday_hair/ http://www.kinnks.com/blog/index.php/site/holiday_hair/#id:247#date:21:26 Happy Holidays!

Merry Christmas!

This holiday season, I had the opportunity to meet Donna Deeken, aka The Snow Queen.  (You might have also seen her on wife swap a few years ago).  Mrs. Deeken is known for her vital role in Miller and Rhodes’ Snow Land (a former Richmond Virginia Department Store).  She made sure Santa always knew the children’s name!  Her work has made her a local legend.

I didn’t get to fussy over the holidays…

I used my ordinary twist out to create a bump bang, and two pony tales.  Who says natural hair has to be difficult?

In the middle are my two dogs Chrome and Kettle.  They wish you a Merry Christmas too!

Peace, Love and Shea Butter!
Lady Kinnks

The “Hair” documentary highlights three hair stories.

(1) A lady suffering from Trichotillomania.  A disorder in which one compulsively pulls their own hair out.

(2)  Mireille Liong, founder of going-natural.com on the natural hair prospective over time.

(3) A gentleman explaining the importance of not cutting hair within his Sikh religion.

“Hair” Documentary from Will Ellis on Vimeo.

After hearing his opinion on natural hair - I am going to cut all my hair off!

Dear Casting Director,

I have attached a picture of myself admiring my hair. I am still working on my growth journey.
::sigh::

Yes, my reflection in a mirror makes me stop and check out my kinnks.

Is your hair your obsession?  Yes.  I dedicated an entire website to natural hair.

Do your friends and family think you are out of control with your hair obsession? Yes, they tell me daily.

Do you spend hours of your day and week to style and manage your hair? Yes, but don’t most women?

Are you digging yourself into a financial hole just to deal with your hair? The term is product junkie.

Are you undergoing a procedure to alter your hair or do you go to great lengths to manage it? I vowed to never again use a lace front, or apply the creamy crack!

How does your hair affect your social life? Oh I love attending Natural Hair Inspired events.

Do you have unwanted hair, or not the “right” hair?That is what society tells me.

Are you someone with a hormone imbalance that leads to hair loss, or facial hair growth? Awwwh hell no…

In actually I would be a very poor rated reality star.  I have a HEALTHY love of hair.  I embrace my Kinnks, and hope that my self pride will encourage others to love them self unconditionally.  If embracing your natural hair is that catalysis…then so be it!

Lady Kinnks]]> Lady Kinnks Random Thoughts Conspiracy Theory Finds Web Links Fri, 16 Dec 2011 15:20 GMT http://www.kinnks.com/blog/index.php/site/play_with_it_-_a_natural_hair_coffee_table_book_documentary/ http://www.kinnks.com/blog/index.php/site/play_with_it_-_a_natural_hair_coffee_table_book_documentary/#id:244#date:01:42 Ms. KeetaRay (All Things KeetaRay) posted about an up and coming Natural Hair Documentary/Coffee Table Book.  I love hearing about natural hair from a male prospective. 

The project is called “Play With It a Natural Hair Coffee Table Book & Documentary” by Vaughn Dabney

About the Project

Street Interview: I enjoyed watching this short interview.  Her eyes seem to be filled with so much joy!
Vaughn Dabney Links: Follow Vaughn Dabney on Twitter ]]> Finds Videos Web Links Thu, 15 Dec 2011 01:42 GMT http://www.kinnks.com/blog/index.php/site/what_am_i_going_to_do_with_my_hair/ http://www.kinnks.com/blog/index.php/site/what_am_i_going_to_do_with_my_hair/#id:241#date:14:08 By Terez Howard

When I stopped submitting to the acceptable norm of straightening my hair back in 2006, I vigorously researched what I was going to do with my hair in its natural state.  I discovered a plethora of natural hair styles that could try on my short hair, which shrunk to the shortest length I’ve ever worn.

Then there were locs
Naïve as I was, I thought locs were unnatural.  I thought the manipulation used to maintain them was contrary to allowing hair to stand up freely in its natural state.  And, you couldn’t comb your hair?!  I had to comb my hair, so I thought.

But what would I do with my hair if I ever got locs?  Just let them hang there?  I thought locs were a style, which is true to an extent.  To me, that meant there was a tight limit on what could be done with them.  How wrong I was!
During my Sisterlocks journey, I’ve discovered countless styles I’ve tried and plan to try on my hair.  My eyes have opened, and I see that I can do every style that I did with my loose natural hair, with an exception of one – the afro.  Although I had to bid my fro adieu, I have welcomed a host of natural hair styles I simply could not do with loose natural hair.  Dare I say, my styling options have widened with locked hair.
Free, at last!

I liked my loose natural hair.  But I LOVE my locked hair.  It’s funny.  The things that repulsed me about locs are the things that attracted me to them.  I can ditch my comb.  No super long, frustrating detangling sessions.  The so-called manipulation to form locs was minimal.  My Sisterlocks were installed, and my only maintenance has been in my roots, my new growth.
Presently, I have re-entered the world of DIY-ers and maintain my locs on my own.  I know exactly what I am going to do with my hair.  Be happy.  Be proud. 

About the author
Terez Howard, natural hair aficionado, knows what to do with her natural hair, and she shares her discoveries with you.