Celebrating Natural Hair Through "The Coiffure Project"

Check out the new, fabulous ways natural hair is being celebrated- highlighted in this Huffington  Post article:

(To read the full article and see pics click here)

Every historic moment needs its recorder. The natural hair revolution now has the stunning photos of Glenford Nunez.

Nunez, the 25-year-old Baltimore-based founder of TYP Photography Studio, is the man behind "The Coiffure Project," a collection of portraits celebrating the beauty of black women and their magnificent natural hair.

Shot in both black-and-white and color, Nunez's work is simple yet striking -- and to think the project only started by accident.

Looking at the extensive collection of pictures he'd taken of his natural-haired assistant one day, Nunez decided to run with the idea of photographing curly maned black women.
Sounds like a brilliant idea when you consider the current trend toward natural hair. The New York Times has covered the movement, countless YouTube tutorials provide tips, and celebs like Solange Knowles and Viola Davis have become official and unofficial poster women for au naturel awesomeness.

Surprisingly, Nunez wasn't hip to the growing number of black women embracing their curly manes -- but he's a guy, so we'll give him some slack.
"I had no idea until I started putting the photos together," Nunez told The Huffington Post. "People have thanked me for what I'm doing for natural hair and black women, but I genuinely had no idea. It's a super awesome feeling though."

So far Nunez has captured the bountiful beauty of 10 subjects and is on the lookout for more curly coiffed ladies to photograph.

"I find women just walking down the street, and I use models I've worked with in the past," he said. "There's always a certain essence and style I'm drawn to."

Anyone who has second-guessed going natural -- whether by slow transition or big chop -- will definitely find reassurance, excitement and plenty of inspiration when looking at these beautiful images.

While the portraits currently reside on Nunez's website, he hopes to turn them into a coffee table book in the near future. Yet another gorgeous volume we'll place on our must-have list.
"Now that I know about the movement," said Nunez, "I'm hoping this project will really bring the beauty of natural hair to the forefront."

Black Women's Transition to Natural Hair

There's no question that more and more Black women are making the choice to embrace their natural coils and curls. A New York Times article recently shared the story of one woman's journey to transition.

Read the article here:

When I set out to make a documentary about black women who are “transitioning” — cutting off their chemically straightened hair and embracing their natural kinky afro texture — I had no intention of appearing in the film. I felt I was an objective observer and really just wanted to highlight a growing movement. (Of the 50 or so women I struck up conversations with randomly on the street, the vast majority had gone natural within the last three years. According to one industry study, sales of chemical straightening kits, which can be harmful, reportedly dropped by 17 percent between 2006 and 2011.) But including my own story forced me to examine how I felt about my hair with more honesty than ever before.

There are as many “natural hair journeys” as there are transitioning women. What I find remarkable about the movement is the way it is spreading through black women in America. Many are transitioning silently, without much fanfare. Some are inspired by friends and family members who have already made the switch. As Anu Prestonia, the owner of Khamit Kinks, a natural hair salon in Brooklyn, told me, “There’s been an evolutionary process that has turned into a revolution.” It is not an angry movement. Women aren’t saying their motivation is to combat Eurocentric ideals of beauty. Rather, this is a movement characterized by self-discovery and health.

But black hair and the black body generally have long been a site of political contest in American history and in the American imagination. Against this backdrop, the transition movement has a political dimension — whether transitioners themselves believe it or not. Demonstrating this level of self-acceptance represents a powerful evolution in black political expression. If racial politics has led to an internalization of self-loathing, then true transformation will come internally, too. It will not be a performative act. Saying it loud: “I’m black and I’m proud” is one thing. Believing it quietly is another. So the transition movement is much more profound and much more powerful — and I believe it offers lessons in self-acceptance for people of all hues and all genders.

 

Zina Saro-Wiwa is a documentary maker and video artist.  Her work includes the documentary “This Is My Africa,” which was broadcast on HBO.    She is British-Nigerian and lives in Brooklyn.

Watch the video here:

Black Women's Transition Video

The Sharmooz Scarf

The Sharmooz Scarf is a fun, fashionable alternative to the traditional bedtime headscarf.  We are all familiar with the old school “head rag” that we grew up seeing on our grandmothers and mothers (my mom definitely had one).  As a consequence, we followed in the tradition of our family matriarchs and we too wear our “head rags” around the house, and sometimes in the streets.  As we all know, it is slightly more appealing than a dishrag, so I am so glad to see that someone has created a more attractive and functional version of this “head rag”.  The Sharmooz Scarf protects your hairstyle as you sleep, but also provides an easy transitional style for women who want to wear a headscarf outside the home to run errands or head to the salon.  I personally don’t wear headscarves outside of the house, but I did feel FLY when going to bed.  So ladies, if you want to maintain your sexy when going to bed, especially if your man is sharing that bed with you, I recommend tying up your hair with a Sharmooz.

I was so excited about receiving this scarf I shared it with my client and namesake, Kari Woods. Here is what she had to say:  “I really liked the scarf and think it's very well made. I feel like my hair is really protected while I sleep. I love the little rubber tab in the front that keeps it from moving around or coming off in my sleep.”

Like this review and want to purchase one for yourself? Visit sharmooz.com and use coupon code: Kari25 to receive 25% off your order before s&h

Going Natural In Corporate America

A recent article on CNN.com addresses a popular conversation among Professional Black Women...How will my natural hair be received in Corporate America? This topic has been discussed and debated in my salon among women. Some feel and have experienced the heaviest criticism from their Black female counterparts, while their white colleagues are either intrigued or indifferent. Others argue that white colleagues do not know how to address the topic of hair, so to avoid accusations of discrimination they say nothing to us, but definitely discuss amongst themselves. This leaves some women apprehensive about making the decision to wear natural styles.

Personally I think that this is a healthy conversation that we need to have. For years we have been bombarded with images of a beauty ideal that we will never be able to accomplish. The choice to wear a natural hairstyle is not always a statement of rebellion but a claim of freedom and self-love. For most women it goes hand-in-hand with the choice of leading a healthier lifestyle. They are no longer allowing their hair to prevent them from being active. For others, they are suffering with hair loss and cannot continue harmful styling techniques that will make the condition progressively worse. The reasons for going natural are endless, but at the end of the day, we must first get to a place of acceptance and comfort with ourselves and our reasons for choosing a natural hair style so that we are not projecting our insecurities onto others. In particular, our colleagues in Corporate America.

Read the article for your self and let me know your thoughts:

Going Natural in Corporate America

Perms Linked to Uterine Fibroid Tumors and Early Puberty

A new study in the American Journal of Epidemiology is linking relaxers to uterine fibroid tumors.
For the full article visit: http://www.dallasblack.com/entertainment/permedup

I hope that this new research will influence more women to choose chemical-free ways of styling their hair and the hair of their children. It is not worth sacrificing your health for beauty.

Keep your hair Happy.

All Things Natural Hair Care Seminar

For more event and ticket information visit: allthingsnatural.eventbrite.com