Natural Sunshine.com - Where Natural Hair is the Norm!!!

Where Natural Hair is the Norm!!!

The place for naturals to meet, discuss their journeys, offer support for transitioners, exchange style tips & regimens & seek encouragement

What night are you most likely to be available for "Chat Night"?(surveys)

Latest Activity

Tansby commented on Sabrina's photo 'First Three Strand Twists and a Hat'

Nice twist and you are gorgeous!

4 minutes ago

Tansby commented on Sabrina's photo 'Sabrina'

WOW.. your hair is amazing!

6 minutes ago

fanchion r kenady added a photo

IMG00003-20100209-1623

26 minutes ago

Claudia Gonzalez updated their profile

30 minutes ago

chelby kellington left a comment for Naturally Nubian

44 minutes ago

chelby kellington left a comment for Naturally Nubian

46 minutes ago

chelby kellington left a comment for BunnyAC

47 minutes ago

chelby kellington replied to Victoria's discussion 'Miami Meet Up?' in the group Southern Naturals

yes.. the last saturday is cool.. have you found a place yet.. would you like some help on something? Well keep me posted.

56 minutes ago

Browneyedgurl commented on Sabrina's photo 'First Three Strand Twists and a Coat'

Hi Sabrina, just wanted to know are u going to discuss a bit about what you felt about the three strand twist for the first time and a tiny tutorial on how it was done or do you need a couple more tries :), just asking. Also you stated that you felt…

59 minutes ago

chelby kellington replied to Victoria's discussion 'Miami Meet Up?' in the group Southern Naturals

Good Morning Tracie, Yes.. please do.. that would be great.... Thank you

1 hour ago

Browneyedgurl left a comment for Tansby

1 hour ago

chelby kellington left a comment for angie isaacs

1 hour ago

Victoria Alexanderia Hopkins joined Pascale DELaSoul's group

2010 HealthyHair Growth Challenge

So since joining this site...mind you its only been a day or two…LOL, I’ve become very encouraged and am ready to start 2010 with a bang in regards to my hair care, hence this 2010 growth challenge.

1 hour ago

chelby kellington left a comment for Irisha B.

1 hour ago

Amartha Ogburu added a photo

beauty

1 hour ago

chelby kellington left a comment for naturally blessed

1 hour ago

Amartha Ogburu updated their profile

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2 members updated their profile photos

1 hour ago

Jalissa NaturalBella Harris replied to Bridget (NuBeauti)'s discussion 'What do you blog about?' in the group Bloggers

Hello Natural Beauties!!!! My Name is Jalissa sum calls me Lisa & I am currently working on a blog called, INTRO[2]CHRIST it is not up & running yet but, when it do it is gonna be powerful. I will keep everyone posted, all who are interested in foll…

1 hour ago

Irisha B. updated their profile

1 hour ago

Naturally Fabulous...and loving it!!

WORLD Natural Hair, Health & Beauty Show

Hello Naturally Fabulous family!

For those that may be interested, the annual Natural Hair Show in Atlanta is being held April 10-11, 2010 this year. If you are in the area, and would like to go, I think it would be a great experience. I plan on going [for the first time] this year. There will be demonstrations of hair styles and products... a fashion and entertainment show... and plenty of vendors ~~to buy products and tons of accessories from.~~

Have any of you been? What was your experience like? Or do you plan on going?

You can find out more about it here -->INFORMATION<-- (as far as hotel packages, vendor, ticket info is concerned)

-Brandiss

Not HIDING anymore!!

I decided to wear my hair out everyday of 2010 as a hair resolution. Here’s why. Last year I began to let my hair grow after wearing it in a low cut for about 7 months. During the 7 months where I kept my hair short, being natural was EASY. I didn’t have any hair to fuss with or worry about, so concerns over my hair were non-existent.

Once I started to let it grow out, however, I noticed I was only happy with my hair when it was shiny, neat, styled and looked “managed”. Wild hair with no clear “style” was a major no-no and I avoided it like the plague. On days when my hair was not “up to par” I would cover it with a hat or a scarf and shamefully keep it hidden from the world. I could honestly go up to 4 days doing nothing to my hair and hiding it.

You may be wondering “What’s so wrong with that? When having a bad hair day isn’t it okay to cover it up and hide it?”

Yes and No.

While I was relaxed and weaved up, my hair was always hidden. Its realness was always camouflaged. I had negative thoughts about my hair and wanted nothing to do with it in its curly state. Chemicals and hair with price tags made me happy and made me feel pretty. My real hair was a burden. I didn’t know how to properly care for it and didn’t think it was necessary to learn. It was much easier to tuck it away and not even think about it. It wasn’t beautiful so hiding it was necessary and expected.

When I cut all of my hair off and decided to be natural, I had to begin the process of re-learning what was beautiful, acceptable and appropriate. But it wasn’t until I let my hair grow that I really came face to face with my ignorant beliefs of the past.

When I began growing out my hair, I went to great measures

to make sure it always appeared neat and styled and that every hair was in its place as to not offend or be too loud with my wayward, non-conformist hair style. There was a part of me that still found it okay to hide my hair and take the easy way out by not dealing with it for days on end. This became a problem to me.

In my observations of women (of all different races and back grounds) I noticed, for the most part, black women were the ones who would regularly come out of their houses with their hair covered up. Whether it was covered to hide it, save a style for later, or in my case just not have to deal with it, it was US that I saw in large numbers hiding our hair. Whether it was under a weave, wig, rag, scarf or hat, it was US.

So then I thought to myself, if I am still hiding my hair for days at a time, what negative thoughts am I still holding on to? Why can’t I just leave out of my house like any other race of women with my hair just “doing what it do” and be content? Why does my hair always have to be styled? Other women I know (who are not black) didn’t seem to have the same preoccupation with whether or not their hair was styled. They just washed and went. Maybe they would add a few styling products or blow dry it or whatever they do to their hair, but they were free to walk out of the house at a moments notice and their hair didn’t have to be hidden.

Don’t get me wrong, I know other races of women wear hats sometimes and have bad hair days, I know that, but how often do they have bad hair weeks? How likely are they to have an arsenal of weaves and wigs to choose from on their dressers on underneath the bathroom sink? How likely are they to be on a first name basis with the person who sells tracks at their local beauty supply store? And I know we can argue this point to the ground about how other races do the same thing, blah blah blah, but that’s not the point I am trying to make here.

I want to experience the same freedom other women have. I want to be able to walk out of my house everyday with my own natural hair free. Whether it's styled or not, shiny or dull, nappy (yep I said it) or not. WHATEVER it is, I just want to feel okay with it. So that is why I resolved to wear my hair out everyday this year. To confront my demons head on and truly learn how to manage my hair day to day.

And let me tell you... it has been a struggle. We are only 3 week into the New Year and I have already covered my hair because it was too straight. So this is a work in progress. Just like many of you, I am a relatively new natural and I am still working out the kinks in my mind. I am learning day by day how to accept myself, flaws and all. I am learning little by little to let go and just be SUNSHINE. Whatever that entails.

So here are the actual rules to my resolution. I have to wear my hair uncovered and out most of the time. My hair can only be covered if, I am rocking a style that requires my hair to be covered like head wraps or when I am going for my hip hop look when I wear a cap and large hoops. I am not allowed to “hide” my hair. If I am reaching for something to cover my hair with, I have to ask myself, am I “hiding” my hair out of shame today? And if the answer is yes, I am not allowed to cover it. If the answer is “No, I just want to rock this scarf today or hat” then I am allowed. But uncovered days need to significantly outweigh the covered days.

And that’s that. What are your thoughts? Do you find yourself "hiding" under weaves, wigs, protective styling, hats or scarves? Are you a natural who has yet to wear your “real” hair “out” because you are still holding on to your old beliefs? What do you think about us being so content to hide our hair and not have the freedom to just “BE”?

***I am not referring to protecting your hair from the weather, or choosing a protective style for whatever reason, but you know what I mean....I am asking about shamefully hiding your hair or hiding it so you don't have to deal with it.

I wanna know!

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Videos

My big chop nightmare

Added by Ronni
Dry Natural Hair: How to Avoid It!!

Added by Mae - Natural Chica
HAIR UPDATE!

Added by sade

Styling Short Natural Hair: Quick and Easy TWA Style

Added by Mae - Natural Chica
Big Pimping Bobby

Added by Ronni
My Big Chop Video Footage!

Added by Mae - Natural Chica

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Blog Posts

Okay I did it the BC I think is what you call it ... when my duaghter started my twist she discovere…

Okay I did it the BC I think is what you call it ... when my duaghter started my twist she discovered curls... yes my nappy mess actually had curls under all the damage hair so I told her ... I mean I demanded that she cut all the damage hair off... she said no mommy you will be bald headed!!! I cant complain I mean I trained her to think short curly hair is wrong and now I want her to believe its right and normal well after watching a few u tube videos she saw the look I was trying to achieve a… Continue

Posted by Graciela Pinder on February 9, 2010 at 6:30pm — 2 Comments

Good morning I think well as long as I dont look in the mirror well I guess I better wake up and hea…

Good morning I think well as long as I dont look in the mirror well I guess I better wake up and head straight to shower for now on and wash this head so I can style it... but wont washing it everyday make it dry okay so what do I do??? I guess that is what all the talk is about co washing what is that?? I need a go natural dictionary and guide book I am going to check u tube for some inspiration.. Wish me Luck :-)

Chela

Continue

Posted by Graciela Pinder on February 9, 2010 at 11:56am — 2 Comments

Trying to convince My husband that Natural Hair is Beautiful! Help Me!

My husband has never seen me with my natural hair.... lets be honest, I have Never seen me with my natural hair.
I have pictures which I have shown him, but they just seem to make him more certain and apparently "Put his Foot down" on the fact that I am never to stop Perming my Hair.lol! Anyways, he does not know it yet, but I started transitioning in December, 2009 using braided styles and I am planning to do the Big Chop in about six months… Continue

Posted by Candice O Busgith on February 8, 2010 at 11:23pm — 2 Comments

You can’t get a job with natural hair?

… Continue

Posted by Angie on February 8, 2010 at 7:43pm — 5 Comments

Forum

What do YOU think about the "N" word? 31 Replies

Over at Black Girl With Long Hair, there was a debate over the term nappy. Do YOU think it’s bad word? What terms do YOU use to describe your hair? And also…. What is your opinion on the typing syst…

Tagged: texture, nappy, politics, hair

Started by Sunshine Abuwi in Opinions.... What's yours?!?!?. Last reply by Porscha Collette Cox 2 hours ago.

" twisted fro-hawk" 11 Replies

i noticed this style on the le coil website, and i thought it was very chic. i really want to try it, but i have to wait a little longer for my hair to grow out some more. thanks sunshine for introdu…

Started by Okeisha in How-To's. Last reply by Porscha Collette Cox 2 hours ago.

Baking Soda Conditioner Treatment 3 Replies

Today is my wash day and I wanted to do a cleanse and I deciced to try the baking soda conditioner treatment by prettydimples101. The recipe is as follows: Ingredients: 1/2 C Baking soda 1 C condit…

Tagged: treatment, soda, baking

Started by Miss B in Questions??!?!?!?!?. Last reply by bambixx2 3 hours ago.

Please Help! 9 Replies

Can anyone suggest a product or proceedure for my hair to get out the straight areas. Over the holidays, I had my hair straightened with a flat iron. My hair is super fine after its straightend, and…

Tagged: straightened, cutitoff., flatiron, cut, parts

Started by Angela Oriste in How-To's. Last reply by bambixx2 3 hours ago.