http://www.essence.com/hair/hair_story/sesame_street_teaches_girls_to_love_their_hair.php

I love this video. Sesame street is taking a stand in helping young girls love and appreciate their hair!

http://www.essence.com/hair/hair_story/sesame_street_teaches_girls_to_love_their_hair.php

Crown and Temple Introduces Robin

Crown and Temple is happy to introduce our new series, Naturally Professional.  This series will examine the experiences of professional women with natural hair. 

Please join Crown and Temple  as we welcome Robin, a natural professional who works in Higher Education.  

Please click the picture to read more about Robin's experience.

Crown and Temple Introduces Naturally Professional

Professional Women with Natural Hair....We Want to Hear from You... 

When I told my peers I was going to get Sisterlocks they were excited for me and supported my decision but some made sure to let me know they could never do it because natural hairstyles are not accepted in the professional world.  Sure, it hurt my feelings to hear my friends say they thought my choice was unprofessional but it did not make me question my decision. 

I remember walking to the gym on day, reflecting on what we do as black women to fit into a professional environment.  For many of us, it means we cannot wear our hair the way it naturally grows out of the scalp.  Then I realized many of  us do not even consider the fact we feel we have to chemically alter our natural hair to be considered professional.  This began to bother me on another level as I tried to think of another race of people with the same dilemma but could not.   

Although, I have only had Sisterlocks since March, 2010, I have been natural for 10 years working in a professional environment and can say most of my experiences have been very positive.  However, natural hair has been in the news recently as the reason for disqualifying candidates for employment at Six Flags.  Additionally it was not too long ago when a Glamour magazine staffer told a group of female lawyers that natural hair was not suited for a corporate environment.  Given these cases, I understand why choosing to go natural could pose a legitimate concern for professional women. 

Since living in the Bay Area, I have been blessed to see many women of color wearing their natural crowns in the corporate environment.  Additionally, top executives, Ursula Burns, the first black female CEO at Xerox and Constance White, Style Director at Ebay are not afraid of showing their natural beauty to the world and certainly did not let the hair dilemma stand in their way! 

Crown and Temple knows there are more natural, professional women out there and we want to hear from you.  Take pictures of your natural, professional style and be featured as one of our Naturally Professional, movers and shakers.  We are not alone out there so let's show all those in doubt that our hair is not only beautiful but women with natural hair are successful in professional environments.
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Crown and Temple is happy to introduce our new series, Naturally Professional.  This series will examine the experiences of professional women with natural hair. 

Please join Crown and Temple in welcoming our first Natural Professional of the series, Rahkia, a Writer who works for a public relations firm.  

Please click the picture to read more about Rahkia's experience.

Introducing Crown and Temple

http://crowntemple.blogspot.com/

Many of you know I write two blogs, Crown and Sis Nufit. I recently decided to combine these interests in a more complete blog called Crown and Temple, a natural hair, fashion and fitness blog. 

I have found many of you who are on a natural hair journey are also very interested in topics concerning health, fitness and fashion. If you are interested in exploring and discussing our natural beauty as a whole, please check out my new blog, Crown and Temple. 

A Simple Gift

I hate impulse buying.  One of my shopping rules is to look at something and walk away.  If it is still calling to me after leaving the store I may then go back and purchase.

This past weekend, while attending the Woman's Prayer Breakfast put on by the Women of Faith at Revelation Christian Fellowship in San Leandro California, I had a very similar experience.  I spotted these beautiful flowered earrings at Danielle's vendor table (A Twist of Color Jewelry & Accessories).  They were gorgeous.  During each break I would return to admire these earrings knowing I could not afford to purchase at that time, instead I asked Danielle for her business card.  Then I stood towards the end of the table and watched longingly as other people purchased some of her creations.  My heart sank when I saw her put the pair of earrings I wanted into a bag.

I went back to my seat, my friend's chair was empty as she had not yet returned from the ladies room, or so I thought.  She returned to her seat, placing a cute little gift bag into my hands.  At first, I thought she wanted me to place it in the empty seat next to me.  She laughed and said, "no, those are for you."  I knew right away what was in the bag but I was still filled with shock and disbelief. She is so slick!  How did she pull this one off?  It really does take a lot to surprise me, and she got me good! 

I don't think my friend knew she made me cry that day.  I was just having one of those weeks where nothing seemed to be going my way.  She really has no idea how much this gift means to me.  They are so much more than the beautiful earrings she gave.  I took it as a message from my heavenly father, saying, "I see you and hear you my beautiful daughter, hear is something to make you smile."

Her kind gesture is making me smile from the inside out.  You never know when your friend is in need of a kind gesture, gift or simple prayer.  When you feel the need to do something special for someone.  Don't hesitate just do it!

I Want the White Doll

Growing up, I loved Barbie.  I can even remember a time when my mother, trying to get me to see my own beauty, thought she would surprise me with a black doll while shopping one day;  to her surprise and embarrassment, she pulled the black doll off the shelf, causing a complete meltdown of screaming in the middle of the floor, "Mommy I want the white doll, I want the white doll."  My mother was truly embarrassed and proceeded to pick me up and march me right out of that store.  You can only imagine what happened next as it was a different time back then and mothers did not believe in their children throwing fits in the middle of the floor in a store of all places.

My mother still recalls this incident even into my adulthood.  She says she is still hurt by the fact that her daughter rejected the black doll and in turn rejected her own beauty. I still remember preferring the white dolls over the black dolls as a child.  I just thought they were more beautiful and I even remember wishing and praying for long straight hair.  When I learned Mattel released a new line of African American, So In Style dolls, I was very excited!

I also discovered African American mom, Stacey McBride-Irby, who also wanted her daughter to grow up seeing beautiful images of black people reflected in her toys, was the designer of the So In Style Line.

While I celebrate the accomplishment of McBride-Irby and think her creations are beautiful, I am a little saddened by the fact that all of these dolls have silky straight hair unless you curl it or twist it with one of the doll's styling tools.  I am thankful to see these dolls appear in a variety of skin tones as we all know black beauty comes in many different packages and shades.  I would also like to see our varying types of beauty reflected in their hair and sincerely hope Mattel and MicBride-Irby will consider developing dolls with naturally textured hair for future lines.

Mom and Me

I just wanted to share this photo of my mom and I sporting our Sisterlocks.  It is always good to spend time with my mom and now we have more time to spend because we don't have to spend hours on our hair.  We just do a finger comb and go.  Mom is 3 months Sisterlocked and I am almost 5. 

I Won Something!

Have you ever been to a dinner, event, conference, meeting, etc. where you get a raffle ticket as you enter.  I always seem to get these tickets but I never seem to win.  Well I am happy to report my luck has changed and last month I went to an event, picked up my raffle ticket and really did not pay much attention to it after sitting in my seat until they announced the door giveaway.  The prize: Eat This Not That by Author David Zinczenko.  "Are you kidding me," I thought, I have had my eye on this book for a few weeks and it was on my list to purchase.  I immediately started my positive thinking and next thing I know, the announcer calls out my number as the winning ticket.

I promise I never win these things but for a first timer, I received one of the best prizes and something I carry with me wherever I go.

Eat This Not That has completely changed the way I look at food in the grocery store or in a restaurant.  I am now getting to the point where I can pick out healthier options and avoid common food traps.  

 I love this book because it suggests tasty alternatives for some of our favorite foods.  I do well when I am on my own and cooking for myself but I now feel empowered with knowledge when going to a restaurant with friends. 

In addition to this book, I have learned that several restaurants have nutrition menus.  Sometimes you have to ask for them but I have found discovering how many calories are in one restaurant meal makes me think twice about what I order and how much I eat. 

Healthy Habits

I have a blog called Sis Nufit which stands for Sisters Inspiring Sisters to reach our nutrition and fitness goals.  I am joining my blogs together because I have learned many of my natural sisters are also interested in taking care of their entire temple.

I have read many stories about our hair and how for some it can be a sticking point and the reason it is more difficult to work out.  I must admit when I was younger I quit the swim team because of my hair.  If only I knew then what I know now.

I understand now that our CROWN is our covering and can represent our entire well being.  I am creating this space within CROWN so we can have a complete conversation about our health and all of our triumphs and successes in between.

Comparison Photos

This is a quick post to show side-by-side photos of my progress.  I am pleased with the progress I have made in 4 months and glad I took these pictures to document my success.  

 

 

Month 4

I celebrated my 4 month Sisterlock Anniversary on July 28th.  I have uploaded some photos to show my progress.  I think I can finally see a real difference between now and when I first had them installed back in march.

What do you think?

I also started experimenting with curling my hair.  I love the way it looks but have only done it once since I don't like putting heat on my hair.  I am going to invest in some rollers so I can accomplish the look without the heat. 

These last two picks were taken right after a workout.  I would say this is not a bad look for just completing 8 miles.  I absolutely love Sisterlocks because they give me the flexibility to workout and look good before, during and after.  I am going to write another post about how my Sisterlocks have helped me to shed 20lbs.  I love my wash and wear hair.

You will find comparison shots below.  I can see a difference!  

 One week Sisterlocked. 

Two weeks

It's Working....Dandruff Relief

I have been complaining for a long time about dandruff flakes and the other day I noticed it was getting better.  I used to wash my hair once a week because it would get so bad and any time I would shake my head little flakes would fall all over.

Unless you deal with dandruff you really don't know how frustrating and embarrassing it can be.  Many people with Sisterlocks told me to wait it out and it will go away but I often wondered if they really knew what they were talking about.  After speaking to my Dr. about my hair, she let me know that Dandruff was a fungus and unless treated it would not just go away on its own.

My Dr. told me to use Nizoral.  She told me to use the over-the-counter shampoo first and if that did not help she would write prescription for the other one.  It has been about 4 weeks now and though I still have dandruff, I have noticed a significant decrease in the amount of flakes.  Additionally, I have been washing my hair every two weeks instead of every week which helps cut down on the slippage.  So far I have only been using the over-the-counter and plan to keep it that way unless or until it stops working.

I Curled Them

 

I celebrated my 4 months Lockaversary on the 27th of July.  I have seen major changes in my locks.  The other day I started to notice how much it has grown since I first had them installed.  

Even with all of my excitement I was beginning to grow tired of the same style so today I decided to curl them with a large barrel curling iron just to see.  I absolutely love it and received so many compliments on it all day.  I think I have found a few more clients for my consultant, now that they see how versatile Sisterlocks are. 

June Update

June has been a whirlwind of a month.  I went home to visit family at the beginning of the month and during that time celebrated my birthday, attended a baby shower and a graduation.  I had a blast in June but unfortunately did not keep up with my blogging. 

In addition to taking care of my hair, I have been taking care of my body, a journey I started last year but decided to get serious about it this year.  Vacations always scare me because it means I will be around good food and may not get to the gym as planned.  My Mom (who is newly Sisterlocked!!) walks at least 5 miles a day with her friends so I joined her.  We decided to challenge ourselves and make it 6.  In the end while I was on vacation I lost one pound which is huge because I always gain on vacation but the true victory is that I lost 2% of my body fat.  I now walk at least 5 miles 2 days a week in addition to my other workouts of choice, spinning, boot camp and kick boxing.

June has been a very exciting month and my Sisterlocks definitely stood up to my active lifestyle.  

The Nudred

I was amazed when I saw this video. I would love to try it but I cannot because I am newly Sisterlocked but for those of you who are natural and looking for some alternative styling, this might be for you. Check it out.



The Nudred can only be found at nudred.com

6 Wks Sisterlocked and first ACV Wash

My babies are changing so I thought I would do a quick update.  I just did an ACV wash and my scalp is thanking me.  It feels so good!

ACV Wash April 29 - Slideshow

I watched the following video to learn how to make the mix but in the end...I did not really measure.  I used one part ACV to two parts water.  I felt my hair needed something strong yesterday.



I found plenty of helpful videos on Youtube, just search ACV Wash

Six Flags Denies Jobs to 2 Women Based on Natural Hair

Really????  First of all, Six Flags needs to learn a little more about natural hair.  Natural hair is not a style but a way of life and they are treating it like it is an option.  I am only glad to know they do not list "afro" in their policy of undesirable hair as that is how my hair naturally grows out of my head.  I am not even sure Six Flags knows or cares that there are many different types of Locks in today's world and they are not going to be able to get away calling every locked style Dreadlocks.  Are they going to tell all locked wearers our hair is unprofessional? Personally I believe these practices have the potential to become discriminatory if not already. 

Please review the story linked below and tell me what you think. 

Six Flags Denies Jobs to 2 Women Based on Natural Hair

First Re-Tighten Session

It's official.  Well I will officially be one month on the 24th but I just had my first re-tightening session.  I can already see a difference in my locks. 


These were taken before my session.

These were taken after.

Sisterlock Doll

Have you ever wanted to make a keepsake of your locks if you ever decide to cut or trim them.  I am new to this world so this is a loooooooooooooooooooong way off for me.  Right now I want mine to keep growing, growing and growing.  However when I went in for my first tightening session my consultant showed me the doll.  One of her clients cut her hair and decided to give this doll Sisterlocks!

Day to Night

I have been Sisterlocked for almost three weeks and just love them.  I get so many compliments, love the fact people like actually like my REAL hair and I am no longer hiding behind some weave.

This weekend was really busy. I had events in the day and night so I wanted to see how it would be to transform my look.  I have posted a few pictures to show the transformation.

I was hoping for a sunny day as I had planned to wear a cute spring dress to my friend's baby shower but it was rainy and cold instead so I opted for a jacket.  This picture shows my afternoon look.  I am wearing a side part and my hair is tucked behind my ear on the other side.

After the shower I had to get ready for a night on the town with the girls.  It was time for a birthday celebration.  I found the perfect little headband to match my shirt.  I think I may be going on a little shopping trip to find other hair accessories to glam it up.

Thanks for visiting.

Week 1!

I have officially been Sisterlocked for one week and loving it!  I just bundled and washed my hair today. 

This is my hair all bundled and ready to wash.  

I used the Sisterlock Starter Shampoo as my locks are still baby locks.  I did lose one rubber band in the process but otherwise things went very well.

After washing I bunched some of my hair and formed two strand twists like I used to do just to see how it would look. It turned out a a little more crinkly but no real difference for now.  I can't wait until it starts growing but I know it is a journey and I am enjoying it.  I still can't believe how little time I spend on my hair before having to go somewhere. 

Day 1

Today is 3.27.2010 and I am officially starting my Sisterlock Journey.  I love my new look.  I had about 3 inches cut off before the locking process began.  It took 21 hours to finish my hair.  I am getting used to the new length and know I will have to get used to working with it.  Any new style takes some getting used to.  I am a little shy about the length but get lots of compliments.  I guess it just has to grow on me.  I am very excited about the journey and to see where my locks go in the next few months.  I will make sure to update with pictures and information often. 

I took this one right after I was done.  Hubby took me out to lunch to celebrate! 

Here are a few close up shots of my new Sisterlocks (day 1)

     

Natural for 10 years

I have been natural for 10 years and ready to take my journey to the other side to experience life in Sisterlocks in about a week. I just want to journal my experience and share and learn from others out there.

Hopefully I will learn to get better at blogging by watching some more advanced bloggers. I think it is a great way to keep track of our own experiences.

Since I am saying goodbye to my old hair, I thought I would start this out by paying tribute to some of my old styles.