*Prepared for BGLH by Meosha Tall of 1MeNaturally
Introduce yourself!
T: My name is Tamika Fletcher, I am the co-owner of Natural Resources Salon in Houston, TX. I’ve been natural since 1997 and for the last 15 years I’ve had an intimate affair with my hair. Like most good relationships I’ve tried to be tender, kind, patient and understanding about exactly what it is without trying to change its true identity.
Why did you make the decision to go natural?
T: I started this affair because the relationship I had with it before was damaging its core, so I decided to change. I kept going back until finally I felt like some of the damage was possibly irreversible mentally and physically. I was losing more hair than I was growing. So the answer at that time was to stop everything and research better possibilities.
How would you describe your texture?
T: My hair type is a very curly 3C.
Describe your styling regimen over the course of the month.
T: I shampoo and condition my hair once a week. I detangle first with Nourish – Earth’s Nectar Leave in Conditioner. I twist my hair into large twists prior to shampooing. I shampoo while in chunky twists to prevent tangles. I remove the twists during the conditioning, rinse out step. I then use a blow dryer and Earth’s Nectar Hair Conditioning Cream to stretch the curls.
Stretching out curls with a light blow dry makes natural pin ups easier, which is my favorite natural look when I’m on the go. I’ve never lost curl definition using a blow dryer. However, so far in 15 years I’ve been too afraid to flat iron my hair straight or offer the service at the salon because so many of my friends and customers suffer heat damage after flat ironing their hair at the 450 degrees it would take to straighten my hair. So, the most I’ll do is a blow dry. It helps to add volume and length when twisting, curling, or pinning up hair.
I love micro twist outs on my wet hair for hot summer months, or natural two strand pin up buns on hot days when I need to pin it all up and away. My fav go to accessory is the Upzing by Conair. It holds my thick curly hair together giving me the modern version of my favorite old school banana clip that my hair has physically outgrown.
Tell us about your hair color?
T: My hair color can be achieved with Dark and Lovely Honey Blonde. I definitely have to condition more often now to make sure I’m balancing the effects of the color on my hair.
What are some natural hair care do’s and don’ts you would recommend?
T: One of my favorite tips is never shampoo tangled hair thinking “the conditioner will detangle it.” you will actually have more tangles that are easier to break wet. Take the time to gently detangle with leave in conditioner or a small amount of conditioner mixed with water in a spray bottle.
Don’t put tension on your hairline with hair bands or by pulling it back with hair ties too often. It will weaken your hairline over time. Try a two strand flat twist or braid from ear to ear (w/o tension) to frame the face and jazz up a simple Afro style.
Don’t flat iron with high heat. You could possibly lose a significant amount of curl.
Don’t be afraid to experiment. The first style I recommend to naturals is to try every version of a twist out possible (wet hair, dry hair, damp hair, with gel, with oil, blown dry, small twists, large twists!) This is great practice for the basic skills you will need the rest of your “natural” life.
Is there a blog/webpage where we can find you?
T: Please look for us on Facebook as Natural Resources Salon – we post something new and interesting everyday!
YouTube: NaturalResources TV – lots of informative natural hair videos and DIY beauty product videos
Pinterest: natural resources salon
Instagram: naturalrsalon
The twisted styles are divine. The hair color divine. Your hair is gorgeous. You in your hair are gorgeous.
Repeats to self *must not dare, ever attempt that magnificent color, must not…*
What a face! And really liked your story. “I kept going back until finally I felt like some of the damage was possibly irreversible mentally and physically” – Wow!
Loved the pompadour roll in the last pic and great tips, you’re fantastic on camera!
love the hair color. glad to know you don’t have to lose your hair if you add color.
Beautiful hair and great color.
I looked under the 3C naturals and was suprised to see different textures claming 3C and was a little confused as i didn’t realise it looked so different from each other.
1- http://blackgirllonghair.com/2012/06/lexi-multi-texture-style-icon/
2- http://blackgirllonghair.com/2012/05/frans-3b3c-cleansing-regimen/
3- http://blackgirllonghair.com/2012/05/jennifer-3c-style-icon/
No malice is intend before i get pelted with virtual tomatoes LOL.I just want to understand this a bit better since Hair Typing ain’t going nowhere we might as well discuss it.
I agree, so many folks say 3c and it looks like 4a. I love her hair and think its beautiful regardless of the hair type. But, when you try to get a regimen together you compare types to see what may best fit your hair. I know there isn’t a one size fits all regimen out there but the system at least gives you an idea of what is best for your hair.
Thanks for understaing my point,it is helpful knowing what works for others as you can always learn something new. :)
honest question: is hair typing really necessary since you have to find out what works for you regardless of what works for others in the same hair category?
example: almost EVERY 4 type i’ve read up on loves Coconut oil…. my hair, type 4, doesn’t like it at all!!
i’m not sure that every 4abcde hair reggie will work for all 4abcde’s, same with every other type.
i ask because i think across the board we know some things are “no goes” (especially w/ consistent use); such as petroleums, sulfates , some silicones, no matter what hair type.
just saying.
but again, i’m sure some people have had great results becuase of this.
Well, Kimmaytube describer her hair as type 4 (I think), but I definitely remember her saying her hair does not like coconut oil. She mainly uses olive oil.
I used to make the mistake of only viewing reggies that were for what I believe to be my hair type (4abcde…whatevs) but I see now that the typing system is flawed and good info is just good info. I think it’s too confusing.
i understand what u mean…her hair does not appear 3C to me at all…but then i guess this hair typing thing is subjective. Her texture blowdried reminds me a lot of mine, and i wud consider myself a type 4 natural
Nonetheless…her hair is FABULOUS!! i ADORE her updos! they are creative and chic! n the colour is fantastic as well…enjoyed reading and clicking thru her photos ;)
*intended
Fabulously elegant hairstyles in the bottom pictures of the post, I’d love to see some of tutorials for your styles!
I second that!!!
Please ask Tamika to do some tutorials if she has the time! Her updos are simply fab!
I want to go to TX just so you can bless my hair! Simply gorgeous, keep up the phenomenal work lady! **Off to visit your YT channel**
Beautiful hair indeed and great styles!
But I must concur with ‘J’ and this is why I HATE hair typing! I dont mean to bash anyone but this girl is NOT a 3C, 4A/C at most. Why can’t we just embrace what we have instead of trying to make it more than it is? And so many claim to be 3C cus it’s still looked at as “good hair” and I for one thought going natural was helping US to accept who we truly are, beautiful, in all our ‘types’.
i know.
i don’t usually care how people classify their hair and don’t think it’s worth disagreeing with them, but imo, this is obviously not 3c hair.
i don’t mean to “insult” her, but that hair is almost 4c looking to me.
lol.
Is her hair type so obvious? I can’t see her natural curl pattern in any of the photos, so I couldn’t say with confidence what her hair type was, regardless of the confusion already surrounding the typing system. Moreover, I am insulted by your suggestion that is should be an insult to imply that she has 4c hair.
“And so many claim to be 3C cus it’s still looked at as “good hair” …yes, yes, yes.
OMGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG! SMH LOL, I was waiting for someone to re-type her hair…
“but this girl is NOT a 3C, 4A/C at most”. How in the world are you going to tell this woman what her hair IS or IS NOT?!
Until you see her hair or anyone else’s hair in its natural state just washed you cant say sh*t. Depending on how someone styles their hair you might never know, what their real texture is. My hair is extremely curly, but if I don’t put anything in my hair it will dry up or if I comb out my hair it will look like a 4 something.
This is my hair without any product freshly washed, and then this my hair combed out.
your hair is beautiful either way
Wow,you have beautiful hair! :) My point was, just to say that hair typing is subjective.It is hard to pin point which is which if everyone is claiming a texture and it ALL looks completely different. I understand no head of hair is the same but there should be a common denominator.
Seeing your picture makes me think even more and shows that we really don’t know much about natural textures. I think it’s important to discuss things as that is how we grow. It isn’t our job to say “this person isn’t this hair type” but what we CAN do is discuss what unites us. :)
I totally agree Gigi, I have ramen noodle type curls on wet and products on my hair but on dry comb out hair there is no curls in sight…thanks 4 sharing your pics!
You are so right! It kills me how people just think they are the expert on someone’s hair/type. All of that stuff is relative until you see hair in its natural state. When my hair is wet, I have O-shaped and S-shaped curls. I have extra curly hair. You and I can be hair twins, actually. Almost similar to yours. When mine dries or if I blow it out, it looks similar to Tamika’s texture and my fro is similar to yours. Typing is subjective yet, but pictures don’t tell the whole story. She’s been natural for 15 years and some of us have been natural for 5 minutes and we think we know it all. SMH…
Your hair is beautiful, chica!
Hi everyone..can someone please tell me the difference between 4a and 3c. Is it the same?? Am so confused..
don’t worry, she isn’t even 4a.
a 3c/4a might be naptural85. see her youtube channel.
a 3c might also look like denimpixie. see her youtube channel.
search “3c hair” on youtube.
Whitney wears a lot of twist/braid outs and Elle wears a lot of w-n-gs so it’s not really the same comparision as when the hair stretched, as Tamika is wearing. Hair typing is best done on wet hair so you can see the curl pattern before manipulation. It’s not a perfect way to identify curl pattern, but we should keep that in mind. Hope this helps!
all you have to do is look at her twist outs vs whitney’s…
tameka has videos on youtube.
and elle/denimpixie is not always in wigs. that’s nuts.
i would also add mahogony curls to the 3c/4a. haircrush is probably 4a/4b.
pretty amazing that you can look at this woman’s hair and act like it’s actually 3c. i don’t usually like to get into discussions of this nature (because they can be petty) but by no measure is this woman’s hair 3c, wet or dry. she got nappy-arse hair. lol.
sorry.
@ merry,
she actually said w-n-gs, (wash n go’s).
but in general (not directed towards merry).
the reason hair typing can be divisive instead just helpful is because people put labels on others, if 3c is not “good/better” in our own minds than 4a/b/c then it wouldn’t ?!” (if indeed those bringing it up are 4a/b/c [like myself])? but because we don’t think her hair looks like Tia & Tamera Mowrys then she’s not 3c, it isn’t an exact science, every 3c isn’t going to look exactly the same.
we’ve not been on the intimate journey she’s been on withher hair & we haven’t seen it wet.
truth is it really doesn’t matter, her hair if natural & its dope! Plus: there isn’t anything “texture” specific to her hair advise, so it will work well no matter the type.
** if 3c is not “good/better” in our own minds than 4a/b/c then it wouldn’t MATTER RIGHT?!”
lol typo
Merry
Why is this bothering you so much? Hair is hair, child.
can’t say i’m bothered, just mildly amused. i looked at the hair and i’m thinking, no way that’s 3c.
so, i just wrote it.
+1
Maghony Curls is defiantly in the 3 family of hair tyes….nothing about her hair says 4abcdefghijklmmop
Oh cool thanks :-D:-D:-D
SO IN LOVE WITH THE COLOR!!!!! I may have to start back coloring my hair
I LOVE LOVE LOVE her up dos! I definitely want to learn how to do them on my self.
Okay, I’ve just adopted you as my best friend Tamika. You just look like someone who’d I’d want to listen to. Quick question: I just watched one of your vids and you said that you use your Denman brush on you dry hair only–the vid where you showed how to do a quick twisted bun. Which Denman are you talking about AND isn’t brushing dry hair supposed to be the debil? A real no-no? Help me out here…Thanks so much
Aside from the relevant debate on whether this sis has type 4 hair versus type 3, it’s good to see that the news affiliate in her hometown has taken to having her and her salon be featured on several topics for women and our hair.
I’m surprised at the debate about whether or not she’s 3C. I could be wrong, but I have long been of the assumption that hair type is best discerned when the hair is wet. In all of the pictures featured here, her hair is clearly in some sort of stretched style, which makes it difficult to tell what type she actually is.
I actually don’t care about what her hair type is. I can’t get over how beautiful and simple the styles are, and I love the fact that she’s been natural for longer than it’s been popular. I loved going to her salon’s Facebook page. Although my hair is extremely short right now (and might remain that way for the time being), those pictures are definitely inspirations for future styles should I decide to grow out my hair again.
It’s bothersome to me to see people make these comments about hair type when you’ve hit the nail on the head…”her hair is clearly in some sort of stretched style, which makes it difficult to tell what type she actually is”
We have to remember that the hair typing system is not perfect. And keep in mind that she is a stylist, and I’m sure she knows what kind of hair she has. I’ve met Tamika on several occasions (that’s actually me in the green cardigan getting a quick style) and she’s a beautiful person who knows a lot about natural hair & how to care for it. For those who have questions I’d recommend checking her out on Facebook or the salon website.
Even though her pictures have her hair in stretched styles her hair has the appearance of type 4 hair in stretched styles. 3c hair tends to look smoother when stretched because the cuticles of the hair are smoother. If her hair was pressed in every picture I would agree that we couldnt discern the hair type but it looks clear to me that that’s type 4 hair.
I am mostly 3c/4a and the back of my hair is looser (3bish). I would have to disagree with your assumptions that hair that falls into the 3 category always looks silky smooth when stretched. That is flat out wrong! Perhaps, it can look that way when it is freshly down, but after a day or two, it begins looking like a Type 4. The drier the hair becomes, the less silky it looks. Also, you have to factor in hair porosity. Someone with really porous hair (anyone can have this type of hair), will not have silky looking hair. There is so much to consider than the individual’s curl type. I have to say that 3c hair is very versatile because you can really manipulate your curl pattern, by making it appear kinkier or leaving it in its natural curly state. I confused all my neighbors every time I manipulate my natural hair texture. On the other hand, Tamika may indeed be mostly 4a. But, how can anyone truly tell in any of these pictures. I know I can’t! SMH!
I was wondering about the 3c bit, cause her hair texture is alot like mine. Love the hairstyles though
YOUR HAIR IS GORGEOUS!!!!!
GORGEOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Her hair is beautiful and so it the color! How do you even “type” hair? Should it be while the hair is wet or once it dry? I really don’t get or even care for the hair typing thing I just like to see all beautiful hair regardless of texture.
Your hair is beautiful! I have often seen images of your hair(you) online and it was nice to read how you care for your hair. I too use the blow-dryer to stretch my hair as I get a lot of shrinkage. I will be elated when my hair is long enough to achieve some of your looks! Thanks for sharing!
Lovely hair! I wish I could color my hair but my fine strands can’t take it, I know from years of doing it. I will definitely be trying some of these pin up styles! I am not a fan of hair typing at all because it always seems unclear. Is typing done when hair is wet or dry? With product or naked? I think if she says she is 3c why not believe her…what would she gain from saying she is a 3c if she is a 4 something?
It’s not about believing her some people just don’t correctly know their hair type. By looking at her hair she looks like a standard 4a/4b. I just think hair typing shouldn’t be the only way to describe your hair. She should have went into more detail about her hair(density, thickness, etc.).