How To: Janelle Monae Style

I created this style without watching a tutorial. I spent more time figuring out how to create the style, than I did actually styling my hair. Here is the secret to how I did it.

Janelle Monae Inspired Hair Style

Hi everyone. I know it's been a while. Well, last night we had our school prom and I decided to attempt to recreate Janelle Monae's gorgeous updo. Mine didn't turn out quite like hers, because instead of watching a tutorial on how to do it, I just made it up myself. I think it turned out nicely, though, and I got compliments on it all night!

Puffs of Rage!

This was how I wore my hair this week. I let my hair dry in a fro, then to sleep I pulled it into two puffs towards the top of my head so they don't get tangled from being slept on. The only product I have in it is "Curl Creme Brule" by Curls. That is also what I've been refreshing my hair with each morning.

You're never too old for some "Puffs of rage"! Do you wear afro puffs?

Follow Up - I Untwisted My Hair!

All made up for church! Probably my first post with makeup.

So, a few things I learned as a result of that last hairstyle.

1. Humidity ain't no joke, son! Granted, the heat protectant I used claimed a 24 hour humidity free style, but I got much less than that out of it. So my hair started to puff up immediately.

My Stylist, My Inspiration

Here is a recent video that my stylist Reniece posted about her hair journey. I was brought to tears when I watched this, honestly. She has been such an inspiration to me over the years. Especially at the beginning of my hair journey when I needed it the most.

Ah, The Power of Gel

... and strategic curl clumping. For Thanksgiving, I wore my hair down and used gel to define my curls. I will post details on the products I used to create this style soon. So my fellow naturals, how did you wear your hair on Thanksgiving day?

MsNastassja's Hair Today

I just took a quick picture MsNastassja's hair. She used gel to style her hair and promised to write a post about it later.
I will be ambushing her and taking pics of her hair all week.

Heating Things Up (sort of)

Well, I did it.

I straightened my hair.

See, what had happened was... I was getting very frustrated with the length of my hair. With shrinkage, you can't even tell the difference in the length between now and maybe 2 years ago. At least that's how it seems (I can probably dig up some pictures later). So I thought that perhaps the solution to this was to hack it all off. Some begged me not to, others threatened bodily harm if I did. Ms Kibibi said regardless of what I did, I must write a post about it...and include lots and lots of pictures of course.

One Strand Twists

Hi everyone! I know it's been a while. Sorry!

So we had a three day weekend for labor day, so I decided to try something I'd never done before. I really had no idea what I was doing, but I think it turned out quite nicely.

Reader Mail: Tips for Relaxing Natural Hair

Reader F.R. posed the following question on my Facebook Page: "Do you have any suggestions for someone going from natural to texlax/relax?


My first suggestion is to reevaluate why you want to get a relaxer. Is it for the style versatility (i.e. being able to wear straight hair without reversion)? If so, then you can always blow dry and flat iron natural hair, and have it look straight as if you had a relaxer. Plus, with the right products, you can avoid your hair reverting back to its curly state. Are you prepared for the relaxer upkeep (touch-up, dealing with two textures, etc.). Relaxed hair is prone to higher levels of breakage and damage than natural hair, so it requires special considerations.

Product Review: Target Aloe Vera Gel

So I did this hairstyle on a Friday after a very difficult biochemistry test. Buying things for my hair (or my pets) make me happy, so I figured it was a good idea. I bought a few hair products that day, but I'll review them (and others) in a later post or two. Promise.

For this, I want to focus on the finishing touch - Aloe Vera. Or, as a Jamaican (and maybe other Caribbean islander) would call it - Sinkle Bible. I purchased the Up&Up brand (Target's store brand).

Curls and Coils: Pictures of My Wet Hair

Here are some pictures of my wet hair. I detangled with whatever conditioner was in the shower. Surprisingly, it wasn't that hard to detangle from the twist out. The hardest part was untwisting my hair to make the twist out. I washed with Kinky Curly Come Clean. Left in the Kinky Curly Knot Today.

Formal 'Fro

The versatility of natural hair is undeniable. You just have to know what works for you and how to achieve different styles. MsNastassja also went to my cousin's wedding (you probably saw her in my last video). 

I initially suggested that she wear a style like the one I featured in this post here, but after a few attempts we were unable to make it work to her liking. 

So she kept the small pompadour and wore an afro in the back. It looked lovely at our cousin's wedding.

Twists on My Natural Hair

This is how I wore my hair this past week. I used Giovanni leave in to style and Curl Creme Brule every day to refresh it. 

Natural Hair Styles in Jamaica

You guys already know that I love all hair, relaxed, natural, dreads, etc., as long as its healthy I appreciate it all. So while in Jamaica, I couldn't resist taking pictures of some of the fabulous hair I noticed. I was not able to interview each person about their regimen, but I'll try reach them via Facebook and get details. I also made sure to get their permission to post the pictures on my blog.

J's natural puff. He took out his braids and washed his hair.

L's formal style

Products I Use on My Natural Hair, Part 2

By: MsNastassja

In my last post, I shared the products that I currently use and love.  Here are some other things I really like to use:

Giovanni Direct Leave-In. I'll add this either right after washing my hair, or in the mornings to dry hair before school. I just apply it to the ends with wet hands.

Alberto V05 Hot Oil Shower Works. This has been hard to find where I live, but I use it sometimes after my Aussie detangling session.

Natural Hairstyle Pictures

MsNastassja's new cowgirl hat

Natural hair is very versatile and offers the same styling options as relaxed hair.  

If you are natural or transitioning, check out the Style Gallery for pictures of MsNastassja's hairstyles. Hopefully they will give you some ideas and inspire you to try a new hairstyle.  

MsNastassja went to her first rodeo yesterday and bought a cowgirl hat.  Who knew that a cowgirl hat could be so sultry? LOL. My sister is something else I tell you.  

Products I Use On My Natural Hair

By: MsNastassja

So I just wanted to give a brief rundown of the products I use in my hair.

There is a bit of variability in the products I use, but there is one thing that I always use and love. Aussie Moist conditioner. It is cheap, comes in a huge bottle with a pump, and I use it to detangle my hair with a wide tooth comb before I attempt to wash it. This is also a good co-wash between shampoos.

From there, things can get interesting. For years I only used Kinky Curly products, including:

• Come Clean shampoo, 
• Knot Today leave-in conditioner, 
• Curling Custard (which is a gel that smells like sugary cupcakes) 

Natural to relaxed and back to natural!

By MsNastassja

(Although I have posted a few comments as Afro Chiq, I'll be going by MsNastassja from here on out. Sorry for the confusion.)

I heard people have been asking about me (YAY!). So I figured I should write a little blurb about myself and the journey I have gone through with my hair.

I first got my hair relaxed in the 4th grade. I don't have any pictures saved on my computer from when it was natural in 3rd grade, but surely you can use your imagination.

4th grade - 1998

In the 7th grade I took swimming lessons, and the chlorine damaged my hair. That, plus me not knowing how to take care of my hair (and obviously being too grown to let my mom help me out with it), led to my mother deciding it was time to go natural in the 8th grade. She said that she too had to go natural at one point due to damage and breakage, but that once my hair was healthy again I could go back to relaxing as she had done. She made it sound fine and dandy.