Photos via TheYBF.com

So, *sigh* it was slim pickings at the Billboard Music Awards as far as natural hair was concerned, but we did notice a gorgeous trend that would translate well to textured hair. Both Alicia Keys and Monica rocked elegant single braids. Alicia’s braid was set atop her crown and wrapped along the right side of her face while Monica positioned her braid from her ears and along the nape of her neck. Of course, both looks seem to have been accomplished with the use of extensions.

What do you think of the looks ladies? Would you re-create them on natural hair? More pictures are below.

Here on BGLH we sing the praises of natural hair constantly. We talk about how beautiful it is and how, with the right information and techniques, it’s easy to manage. But even we have to admit that there are just some things that are undeniably frustrating about natural hair. Here is our honest list:

1. Protective Styling

Protective styling (or low manipulation styling) is one of the cardinal rules of natural hair, and although many naturals come to appreciate it, it is certainly an acquired taste. I mean, who doesn’t want to show off their curls, coils and kinks?? Plus, we live in a non-protective styling culture. From movie stars to street fashionistas, wearing your hair out and long is the name of the game. While protective styles like turbans and headwraps have gained some traction, the average American woman doesn’t have her hair tucked away. Still, in the name of hair health, many naturals hide their ends for days or even weeks at a time. The end result is beautiful, luscious hair, but Lord knows it can be frustrating.

2. Growing Out the Big Chop

I’ve never seen a big chop I didn’t like. The low cut style works wonders for highlighting a woman’s eyes and bone structure. Not so much the awkward 4 and 5 inches that follow. It’s a weird length where your hair is not short enough to be a fade, but not long enough to be the curly mop so many of us crave. The best way to get through the awkward phase? Figure out at least 2 styles that look good at that length (twist outs and flat twisted updos are good options) and stick with them. Also, buy copious amounts of headbands, flower clips and hair accessories.

3. The Product Chase

While there are some natural products that are almost universally effective (coconut oil and shea butter in particular), beyond that there are seemingly infinite variations; water-based moisturizers/spritzes, leave in conditioners, hair butters, deep conditioners, styling products. They’re everywhere! While products aren’t the primary determinant of hair health, and they certainly won’t make or break your regimen, it’s nonetheless important to find a set of products that work well together, and leave your cuticle feeling smooth and soft. And the time it takes to test out various combinations of products can be undeniably frustrating.

4. The Styling Learning Curve

It’s not so much that natural hair is difficult to style — most anyone can do a puff or a set of twists — it’s that it can be challenging to learn styles for a variety of scenarios. How do you style your hair for a date? A casual weekend? A work conference? A formal event? It can take months to figure out a set of basic looks that can work in a variety of situations.

5. The Regimen Tweak

There is a wealth of knowledge about natural hair online — and while that’s mostly a good thing, it can also present a challenge. Every day dozens of naturals give haircare advice — on blogs, in forums and on YouTube — and they’re all right because they’re all speaking from their own point of view. One might recommend co-washing, while another recommends using shampoo. One might recommend low manipulation styles, while another recommends heavy protective styling. One might recommend a daily spritz while another recommends a full sealing regimen. It’s all relative. Part of going natural is trying out these different bits and pieces of advice until you find what works best for you. It can be frustrating, but it’s an inevitable part of the journey.

6. The Temptation to Compare

For every natural who grows out a gorgeous, full head of hair in no time flat, there are plenty others that are struggling. But with blogs, Pinterest boards and Tumblrs providing a constant stream of “natural hair porn” it can be tempting to compare and become subsequently frustrated with your own progress. Be sure to view hair porn as inspiration ONLY and not a timetable or template of what your hair should be like. It’s also good to draw inspiration from all kinds of naturals. All your natural hair idols don’t have to have waist-length hair. There are plenty of gorgeous naturals with short, fine and mid-length hair to die for.

What about you ladies? What are some aspects of being natural that frustrate you? Let’s keep it real :)

Introduce yourself!
P: My name is Pédrhina. I was born and raised in the oh so infamous city of Miami, Florida (Dade County Baby ;o) Moved to Boston about 12 years ago and about a little over 3 years ago I took the plunge and decided to pursue my passion of writing, acting and supporting the love of my life (My Hubby) and moved to Sunny Southern California…San Diego to be exact.

Why did you make the decision to go natural?
P: I made a conscious decision to go natural around late 2005 to early 2006, but I wasn’t secure enough in myself to stick with it…although I couldn’t own up to it that at the time. I can openly admit to that now because after much reflection I recognized that I would literally go to a natural hair salon, pay my money, spend no less than a few hours there and would seriously have a wig in my bag to plunk on before I walked out the door. Looking back on it now, I can laugh out loud but that was pure foolishness I tell you. I was embracing what I loved about myself, but in the same breath I was so consumed with what I thought society, my family, my peer group, and my professional counterparts would think of me. So much so, that I completely ignored/rejected being authentically Me. Before the end of 2006 I was back on the creamy addiction…a relaxer.

Fast forward a few years, 2009 was a life-altering year for me. After moving to California I really got clear about who I am and what I stand for. So I made myself a promise to be true to me no matter how hard I thought it was going to be. A few relaxers later, over lapped with amateur color services, also paired with bad hair care habits left me with heavy breakage on the left side of my head. And after about 4 months (February 2010) of slicking down my longer hairs over that troubled spot, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror one night while mixing up a batch of store bought relaxer and thought, “What’s wrong with you being you, your basically harming/damaging your hair for the sake of what? You talk a good game, but you’re not living up to it Pédrhina…you can’t say that you love yourself, but yet you’re afraid to see the real you.”

At my core, my idea/perception of beauty is diverse, but at the time I was conforming myself to only one view/perception of beauty. I didn’t like who I saw in the mirror that night; someone who wasn’t being authentic…doing one thing and saying another. And without even a second thought I grabbed a pair of scissors and my husband’s clippers, cut off what I could and buzzed the rest of it all off. I stepped out of my comfort and decided to fully embrace the natural me…pairing what I believed on the inside with representing what that meant on the outside.

How would you describe your texture?
P: I have a little bit of everything going on in this unruly mane of mine. Overall, it’s really cottony and completely ambushed by frizzies with a mix of curls, really tightly wound coils, kinks and waves. My individual strands are just as diverse. My bangs, crown and nape are fairly thin and everywhere else is densely thick and coarse.

Describe your styling regimen over the course of the month.
P: I’ve learned to really pay attention to how my hair feels and that determines how I manage it from week to week and typically that varies from month to month. So my style choices are based on whether I’m focusing more on moisture or protein balance. Here’s what I mean. I find that in the weeks that my hair needs more moisture balanced attention, usually during the dryer Fall and Winter months it retains better moisture when I follow a strict CG (curly girl) method; and for me that means NO shampoo at all, staying away from ALL silicone based products, co-washing every 3 to 4 days with VO5 Tea Therapy, TRESemmé Naturals Line or Organix Coconut Conditioner. Followed by a really thick and creamy leave-in. My hair loves Kinky Curly Knot Today, and Giovanni Smooth As Silk (it’s a conditioner buts works great as a leave in).

Following that I seal my leave in with some coconut oil and I’ll either twist or braid my hair with a really thick creamy or buttery styler. I love Shea Moisture’s Curl Enhancing Smoothie and CURLS Whipped Cream Curl Cream. In the weeks/months that my hair needs more attention towards protein balance, I usually shampoo once a week with a homemade Aloe and African Black Soap/essential oils shampoo…See my blog for deets: (www.jesuispedrhine.com) and following that I’ll deep condition with either a concoction of coconut milk, Mega Tek Rebuilder, honey, castor, coconut and olive oils or Aphogee Keratin 2 Minute Reconstructor. And since the protein treatment makes my hair super strong I tend to play around with styles alternating between flexi rod sets, a cute puff with a twisty pompadour or mini suicide roll and fancy updos.

What does wash day look like for you?
P: My hair absolutely loves protein (I attribute that to the protein structure loss from coloring) so when I’m preparing to wash with a shampoo I’ll mix up a quick little treatment I found on a Natural Hair Care app. It consists of mixing an egg or 2 (for thicker/longer hair…I only use the whites of one egg, those whites pack a heavy protein punch) apple cider vinegar, a couple of tablespoons of castor and olive oil whipped up for about 15 minutes. I apply the mixture to my hair focusing on my scalp and ends, then plop my hair up into a conditioning cap. After about an hour or 2 I’ll hop in the shower, section my hair off into 6 sections with banana clips and then proceed to rinse out the egg mixture with lukewarm water, and follow that up with my homemade Aloe and African Black Soap Shampoo.

Describe your favorite go-to hairstyle for days when you don’t have a lot of time to style?
P: I loved, loved, loved twist outs, but after recently giving birth the 10 to 15 minutes it used to take to unravel and fluff my twists now seems like hours. So, a high puff and a little edgy pompadour or pomparoo (my version of a pompadour), and I’m fiercely ready for my day ;o)

How do you combat shrinkage?
P: I’ve recently discovered a little something called the Flexi Rod…lol. Life changing I tell you ladies…ABOSLUTELY life changing for my mixed textured mane. Following a wash, I set my hair with a little LottaBody Setting Lotion (foam), Kinky Curly Styling Spritz and a little added aloe vera gel. Once completely dry I can get up to 5 to 6 day hair with zero shrinkage. You can’t beat that in my book, especially since my hair can revert back to a TWA in what seems like under 2.2 seconds :o)

Tell us about your hair color?
P: Hmm, first things first ladies, don’t be scared or steered away by all the false info out there about hair color. I’ve been color treated since literally day 2 of my big chop and this past February 2012 was my 2nd Natural Hair Anniversary. So it is possible to not only grow your hair out while color treating it, but it is also possible to have healthy color treated hair. Just like achieving anything else in life. It takes a healthy dose of discipline with a bit of added care in how you manage it, i.e. daily and regular/weekly Deep Conditioning (DC) treatments. With that said, that doesn’t mean that you won’t have some hiccups and hit a few learning curves, but if you’re patient and stick with it it’s feasible.

So, as I mentioned I started off my journey with colored tresses and I actually color it myself. I use a combination of two professional grade semi-permanent colors called Golden Honey Bronze and Honey Blonde. Both purchased at Sally’s and mixed with a level 30 developer (sometimes a 20 for touch ups). I attribute my length retention to my weekly DC steaming sessions. Be that with a protein heavy or moisture heavy conditioner, if there’s a treatment on my tresses I’m sitting under that steamer, plain and simple. I have a Huetiful Hair Steamer now, but during my beginning stages I used the towel and shower cap method. You can Google hair steaming methods for the deets.

The color treating process alone hasn’t changed my texture, but the product junkie (pj) turned mad scientist that lives inside of me (and a careless mistake) on the other hand has :o) A few months back I was in one of my ‘need to buy’ withdrawals so I purchased a product (no mention of brand) that claimed to remove brassy tones from hair. My inner pj got curious and decided to test it out on my bangs. After the application I noticed that the product actually made my hair appear brassy and left my tresses feeling uber mushy with a thinner/finer texture in that section.

What are some of your problem areas (if any) that require extra care and attention?
P: My ends…Having hair like mine that loves to intertwine with itself I have to pay extra close attention to those bad boys and seal, seal, seal. Oh and my crown. I’m not sure if it has something to do with post partum hair shedding, but my crown has decided it wants a TWA and is suffering heavily these days.

What are 2 do’s for your texture?
P: Co-wash and weekly deep treatments WITH STEAM, you’ll love it.

What are 2 don’ts for your texture?
P: Detangle dry un-moisturized hair. Seriously if you want any hair strands on your head, don’t do it! :o) I’m not sure if my second tip is strictly just for those with mixed textures like mine, but more so for all naturals in general. Don’t just run with a regimen based on your hair’s classification 3a,b,c,…d,e,f,g…k…z, okay maybe not D thru Z, but in all seriousness…Get to know YOUR hair. Truth is MOST of us have more than one texture growing in some section of our head, so you’re going to have to do some fine tuning to get any regimen to work just right for you.

Is there a blog/webpage where we can find you?
P: Oh yes, of course!! I’ve got a blog and webpage that are in the beginning stages. You can find me there at www.jesuispedrhine.com. Twitter: @JeSuisPedrhina and Instagram: JeSuisPedrine

I’m always up for chatting with and getting to know other naturals. Be Beautifully Blessed Loves and thanks BGLH…xoxo

It appears that Rapper Lil Mama is reppin #teamnatural. She took to Twitter recently to post a photo of her hair with the caption:

No Make Up, No Weave….Fro Flow Just Me;D #MYBLACKISBEAUTIFUL @BLACKGIRLSROCK @BEVERLYBOND

Lil Mama typically rocks straight weave styles, but I guess there’s always been an impressive fro underneath. Get it! Ladies, what do you think?

Introduce yourself!
J: Hi! My name is Jonelle and I’m 27 years old. I’m from New England and I’m a preschool teacher. I love anything artistic and expressive (I am a praise dancer at my church, I love to crochet, I love working out and staying in shape, and I love cooking and coming up with new healthy recipes).

Why did you make the decision to go natural?
J: Well, I’ve always had long relaxed hair and it was my “pride and joy”…but it was slowly getting damaged and breaking off. I kept needing to get a “trim” (aka cutting off the broken ends) to make my hair look healthier. Then I let my hair grow out without a relaxer and I got intrigued by my “cute waves” in my new growth. I thought, “Wow, what if all my hair looked like this?!” That’s when I started obsessing over YouTube natural hair videos and decided to do the Big Chop :-) No regrets!

How would you describe your texture?
J: I would describe my hair as mostly 4a with a splash of 3b on the top and some 4b on the sides…my hair is weird like that! I have a ton of fine hairs…the individual hairs are very “thin”, but there are so many of them it makes my hair thick! My hair cooperates with me pretty well, as long as I care for it well. My hair has the attitude, “You take care of me and I’ll take care of you LOL!”

Describe your styling regimen over the course of the month.
J: I don’t really have a set styling regimen, but it all depends on what my hair needs and what my schedule allows me to have time to do with my hair. I do however really try to always wash and deep condition my hair weekly. I sometimes get lazy and just co-wash if time is tight, but the ideal situation is for me to wash with sulfate-free shampoo and deep condition. I then usually moisturize my hair and twist (if I have time) or moisturize my hair and put it up in a bun (quick/lazy/cute style).

I always use Qhemet Biologics Amla Oil Nourishing Pomade on my scalp because I struggle with dry scalp/itching…this stuff really helps though! It is the only product I’ve found to help prevent dandruff and itching! Then I spray on my newfound love, Taliah Waajid Protective Mist Bodifier to detangle. I then apply my homemade Shealoe mix (shea butter, aloe vera gel, castor oil, olive oil, and a bit of tea tree oil) to my hair to moisturize. Then, I twist my hair in about 25-35 twists. I usually keep the twists in overnight to air-dry and then wear a twist-out throughout the week. To moisturize before bed, I’ll use my spritz (consisting of water, an oil of choice, and a little Taliah Waajid Protective Mist Bodifier) and retwist into larger sections).

My Favorite Products:
Shampoo: Trader Joe’s Tea Tree Tingle Shampoo
Deep Conditioner: Aubrey Organics GPB Conditioner
“Cheapy Conditioners” for detangling: Suave Naturals/VO5 Conditioners
Spray Leave-In: Taliah Waajid Protective Mist Bodifier
Cream Moisturizer: homemade shealoe butter mix
Daily Spritz: water, leave-in, oils
Tools of choice: Tangle Teezer, overhead dryer for DCing, my hands!

Describe your favorite go-to hairstyle for days when you don’t have a lot of time to style?
J: When I’m lazy or don’t have time to twist my hair, I will put my hair into a bun with bobby pins…simple as that!

How do you combat shrinkage?
J: Shrinkage isn’t a big deal with my hair anymore. I don’t really wear wash-n-gos now that my hair is longer so my usual twist-out styles don’t allow much shrinkage. When my hair was a lot shorter I loved the shrinkage! I never had short hair all my life so it was a cool experience to just be able to have a short do!

What are some of your problem areas (if any) that require extra care and attention?
J: My problem area is always the front of my hair (the 3b/4b combo). The crown of my head is 3b and in front of my ears is more 4b so it takes more finagling to these sections to make them do what I want them to do and blend well together. I struggled so much with this section when I first BCed because I wore mostly wash-n-gos at this time and the curls never “sat well” in the front! Uggh, it used to irk me lol!

I also have problems when my hair needs a trim or if it is dry…it won’t cooperate well or style easily so I know I need to pay more attention to my hair at that point.

What are 2 do’s for your texture?
J: 2 Dos for my Texture: I would definitely say to keep your hair moisturized and trimmed! Take care of your hair because it will be less difficult to style! Also, I’d say to experiment with styles! Be creative and take inspiration from others (whether they’re natural, relaxed, have similar texture or not). You can always adapt a style to fit your texture with the right method/tools/etc. Most of my hairstyles come from problem-solving and/or experimentation! Be creative and have fun! You’ll love your hair even more when you have fun with it!

What are 2 don’ts for your texture?
J: 2 Don’ts for my Texture: Don’t compare your hair with anyone else’s! Love your hair and texture for what it is and work with what you have! In fact, don’t compare anything about yourself with anyone! God made you perfectly and the way you are for a reason! Also, don’t become lazy with your hair…keep your hair healthy (detangled, moisturized, and washed). Drink plenty of water and eat healthy! Take vitamins as well…for all-over health and not just hair health! Oh and one more thing: use the proper tools that work well with your hair texture. I use a Tangle Teezer for my detangling…I can’t use a Denman brush because it’s too harsh…use the tools that work well for you! Be gentle with your hair as well…don’t do your hair when you are upset/stressed because you’ll take it out on your hair and not be as gentle with it as you should be.

Is there a blog/webpage where we can find you?
J: Instagram: beauty4ashes, Etsy Store: http://iluvcherish.etsy.com (crochet accessories)