Taking down your braids just got--fun?

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If ever you doubted black people's ability to create and cultivate---go to Afro Punk!

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Summer is full of barbecues, beach days, and bikini pics. It’s also full of direct exposure to sunlight which can be harmful to even the healthiest of hair. Luckily the entrance of a new season provides us with the perfect excuse to not only freshen up our wardrobes but also change our hairstyles and beauty routines. As our founder proves daily on social media for many creatives and entrepreneurs no two days are alike, so we asked a few of our favorite busy creatives what their favorite protective styles to rock were when giving their hair a break from the routine.

Actress and founder of Leaders in Lipstick Nate’ Jones said “braids and buns” are her got-to. She described buns as “classy and quick” and said “braids can take long but they last longer.”

Recreate her bold box braids with our new colorful selections.

Lit Brooklyn founder Denequa Williams' go to protective style of choice is a well constructed wig “because of the idea that they aren’t permanent.” She describes them as “literally a temporary decision with zero attachment.”  She’s also fond of “braids and faux locks”. She appreciates “the freedom of them and the ability to imitate any hairstyle with them.”

Looking for a way to embrace the freedom of your protective style? Check out the Latched and Hooked Youtube channel for tips and tricks on how.

Beauty vlogger "Delightful" Ace Watson shared why she prefers “crochet styles” above all others. “They look realistic and they they last for a long time. Wigs are fun but I love the freedom of getting up and going, instead of deciding what wig I should wear next.”

Founder of The Editorial Nail and one of the most celebrated masterminds behind the elaborate nail designs on the TNT break out hit “Claws” likes “cornrows”. With the amount of cover shoots and runway prep the in-demand creative is booked for the low maintenance option is a great pick but she says “I can pretty much rock with any protective styling as long as my hair is protected.”

Trainer Kenisha Brockington is rarely spotted without signature her faux locks. As someone who exercises so frequently she relies on them to help her navigate her “active lifestyle as a health and wellness coach.” She says “the older they get the better they look” and claims that they afford her “twenty minutes of extra sleep because I don't have to twist, comb, or separate my hair in the morning!”

We want to know how your routine is switching up with the seasons! Tag us in your new look!

 

 

 

Photo Credits: Nate' Jones, Gracie Jean, Ace Watson Spiked Spin, Ebony.com  

 

New York Fashion Week is in full effect! That's right black clad PR girls, their giant sunglasses, and the bottle service girls and baristas that keep them going strong have been joined by models, celebrities, influencers, and street style photographers in the city that never sleeps. But while the designer clothes on the runway are intended to be center stage we can’t shift our focus from the fabulous hairstyles presented at this year’s “Texture on the Runway”. A celebration of the curls, kinks, and coils that have long been absent from New York Fashion Week designer presentations this year’s annual show was presented by Texture Media and Sally Beauty Supply. Here are three ways you can incorporate the looks from this year’s show into your personal beauty routine.

1. Don’t Be Afraid To Mix Textures

One of the best things about having crotchet twists is that you don't have to commit to just one look. Usually that refers to being able to swap styles quickly but in this case it means being open to mixing textures in one style. Stylists added large fluffy curls to the back of braided hair to create looks that were fun and flexible. Achieve this by braiding the front of your hair and added our large Mckenzie curls to the back or adding a long loose braid. 

2. Switch It Up With A Little Shimmer

My absolute favorite theme of the night was the gold toned “style and grace” created by stylist Key Glover! He took a literal approach to the term black girl magic by adorning models in glitter specked gold paint.

Depending on your profession that level of sparkle might not be appropriate on a consistent basis but there are many ways to ease this style inspiration into your everyday routine. Consider weaving some golden hair accessories into your braids or twists or covering them with some hair jewelry to add a little shine!

3. Embrace The Trends Through Accessories

The 90s are back! And if ill fitting overalls and oversized athletic jerseys aren't really your thing you can still get in on the fun! Accessories like backwards baseball caps and big earrings can take any hairstyle to the next level. Don’t forget modernized beads are your friends!

Check out more from the show below! 

 

Photo Credits: Allure, NaturallyCurly.com 

Fetes honoring the faces of “young hollywood” used to be just a sea of blonde starlets with stick straight strands and their cookie cutter boy band counterparts. But slowly but surely the red carpets in tinseltown have been making room for the melanin and textured manes that teens everywhere are starting to embrace. Enter stunning child star Skai Jackson.

After spending a fair amount of time consistently sporting her now iconic and meme-inspiring high ponytail the Disney Channel star has stepped out of her comfort zone towards another age appropriate slay. The young actress arrives at Variety's "Power of Young Hollywood" party this year wearing a charming and simple style that was perfect for the occasion.

She finished the look off by lining her bright eyes with an electric blue liner and adding a pure pink lip. 

We’ve got the details on how to recreate her look for the next red carpet moment in your life in just a few easy steps.

1. Part front of hair horizontally
2. Braid the back of hair so it can easily attach to our kinky bulk hair
3. Separate the front of hair into three sections using our tortoise shell rat tail comb,  make sure that the middle section is significantly larger than the two side sections and don’t worry about parts being super straight a little curve looks great here 
4. Pull each of the three separate sections into an individual ponytail using rubber braid binders that match your hair color
5. Twist each of the ponytails loosely
6. Manipulate the twists into loose individual buns
7. Add our kinky bulk hair to the back of your hair using crochet or diy clip-ins  

8. Add gold or silver charms to the front of each of your buns

9. Using a toothbrush or another thin soft bristled tool emphasize your baby hairs with your favorite edge control

10.Complete the look with your favorite finishing spray!

Jackson and her classic self-satisfied expression might have already taken over social media but her modest yet modern dress selections and smart beauty choices are bound to land her on more than a few best dressed lists.  We can’t wait to see what this rising star does next!

Alicia Keys rocking neon box braids like it was no big deal might have momentarily broken the internet but the trend has been around a lot longer than social media.

For years black women with colorful braids have represented stereotypes and judgements. Whether you saw one on the silver screen or the pages of your favorite magazine the message their image was meant to convey was clear. They were dubbed “ghetto” and “classless” only appearing to be worthy of attention when an editor or creative director was looking to infuse a little “edge” into their creation.

While young white girls have always had options like hair chalk, and glitter sprays to express themselves young black girls have had to maneuver around the implications of respectability politics when choosing a style.  

Today a (slightly) more culturally sensitive society has sought out new language to describe the many facets of black womanhood and girlhood. While sites like Quirktastic, Refinery 29, and others are presenting more inclusive images showing that black girls can have fun with their looks too.

When covering what they're dubbing the “Unicorn Hair” trend publications haven’t left out women of color. Condé Nast's "Allure" prominently featured Amina Muccio as a “real life mermaid” allowing the young woman to display her love of mixing things up with “colorful braids, backgrounds and personality.”

This shift has been reflected in the attitudes of parents as well. In an article for SocaMom Eva Wilson explained why she chose to indulge her daughter’s request to look like “Rainbow Dash of My Little Pony.”  Wilson pointed out  “There's been a lot of chatter on social media about how black girls with colorful hair are 'ghetto', but when white girls do it, it is considered 'trendy' or 'creative' and made it clear that with all of the expectations on society places on black children to assume adult responsibilities she’s determined “to let them hold onto their youth as long as possible.”

Mainstream beauty companies seem to be understanding that need as well. This year beauty powerhouse L’Oréal Paris teamed up with the minds behind Curlfest  and it seems everyday products are popping up on the shelves to temporarily tint braids, twists, curls, and coils. There’s still a lot of "image activism" to be done before no one bats an eyelash at a receptionist with bright purple kinky twists.

Hopefully the normalization of women with colorful braids will lead to women of color rocking every and any trend being seen as only themselves.

 

Photo Credits: Joybird.com, Allure.com, Socamom.com 

Wigs are a busy girl’s best friend. Whether you’re a carpool driving and couples game night hosting wife and mother or a single college student trying to cram four years of study groups and coffee runs into three one thing is for certain-a wig can save you valuable time. But while this low maintenance styling option can relieve some serious styling pressure it still requires a little TLC. We tapped celebrity hair stylist and Lucid Bliss founder Tiffany Lamb to give some tips on how she prepares her clients including “Power” actress Naturi Naughton, “Refill” songstress Elle Varner, and "Girls Trip" star Tiffany Haddish for getting the hollywood treatment on their (often removable) hair.

1. Keep it Clean

Tiffany doesn’t allow her clients to neglect undercare. She stated “the first thing is definitely keeping your hair clean. You need to be washing your hair. You want to make sure that your hair is clean before putting the wig on. A lot of time people put wigs on and think because it’s an easy go-to style they can do whatever but keeping your hair healthy up under the wig is the most important thing. What I have my clients do is come in and get their hair washed at least once a week.”

2. Lay Then Play

She believes that a strong start will ensure a flawless style saying “Braiding the hair under the wig is important as well. The foundation is important. You want it to be natural and look as flat as possible. So having your hair braided in the proper size braids is very important. And if you’re wearing lace wigs parting it right is important as well. If you’re wearing a middle part it’s important to part your hair down the middle when braiding it down, because you want that part to match up with your natural part to make your hair look as realistic as possible. That goes for side parts as well and hair length doesn’t matter. I have clients whose hair is short and they still part it where the wig’s part is perfectly.”

3. Don’t Forget The Details

While some stylists advocate for physically sewing together the braids in preparation for wig application Lamb says paying attention to hair texture prevents those extra measures from being necessary saying “No matter what I pay attention to hair texture. For someone who has fine hair it’s okay to for them to get a regular cornrow. But for someone who has thick hair they should be getting their hair under braided. It makes your hair very flat so you don’t need all that. I don’t braid all of the braids together. I don’t want the hair to be so tight. That’s the whole point of wearing a wig. You want to feel free and loose.”

4. Choose Custom

One size fits all wigs may be more affordable but they’re certainly not the most comfortable Lamb says  “You shouldn’t be getting a headache. We all know if our hair is too tight. If you have to keep popping an Advil or something like that, the wig is too tight. What makes a custom wig special is it fits your exact head shape. If fits perfectly.  If I was to give you my wig it wouldn’t fit. A Lot of time people aren’t properly measuring. If you measure properly you don’t need anything else. Also the number one mistake I see with lace front wigs is the lace color and the hair line! They drive me crazy! With any style weave or wig it’s supposed to look as natural as possible. Some people they I don’t know what they be doing! Anything custom is going to fit you nice. It’s going to fit you to a tee! It’s just like buying a custom suit. It fits you better than a suit out of the store! That's what makes it so special. It fits you and it fits you properly.”

Check out some of our custom creations in our crown collection and considering keep them fresh with some of Lamb’s Lucid Bliss OOOH and AAAH refreshers!

 

Photo Credits: Hype Hair, SashaNycole.com 

There are few things more painful than committing an entire Saturday or Sunday to sitting in a chair and getting your hair braided. Not only are you losing half of your precious weekend, you’re voluntarily choosing to be shifted around like a rag doll while your hair is parted and pulled on by someone who would rather be doing anything else and isn't afraid to show it. Here are some thoughts we’ve all had while spending our eight-hour sentence in the braiding salon chair.

1. It’s a Shame I Had to Bring My Own Shampoo!

Like basic doobie shops and blow-out bars, most braiding salons are known for one thing and extensive hair care isn’t it. You’re not alone if you’ve felt like you needed to bring your own supplies to make sure your hair was properly prepped for protective styling.

2. What The Heck Is This Movie?

Haven’t we all wanted to ask why Beyonce’ vs. Rihanna part seventeen doesn’t feature either Beyonce OR Rihanna and where exactly Rihanna got that blinged out machete?

3. How Do They Not Take Cards?

People who have never ran to the ATM with their hair in a bonnet will never understand this struggle.

4. Whose Kids Are These?

You showed up at 7am to avoid it but somehow you’re still surrounded by sticky fingers and loud screams. At some point we’ve all just had to accept that no matter what there will be multiple minors running around with reckless abandon. Just make sure not to say yes when they ask if there’s games on your iPhone 7- it’s a setup.

5. Ow! That Was My Neck!

Sit still or suffer the consequences.

6. I Wish I Brought My Headphones!

The rowdy children and searing neck pain wouldn’t be so bad if you had thought to stash some earbuds in your clutch but now you’re stuck listening to faux Rihanna strangle phony Queen Bey as somebody’s baby cries in the corner. You knew better but we’ve all been there.

7. Do I Smell Chicken?

 

 There is nothing more gross than the smell of Crisco coated fingers sliding through your hair. Did this lady fry chicken before doing my hair? Bringing your lunch from home is cool, but sis so are wet wipes. 

8. You On The Phone Again 

 

 Ugh! If you pick up that phone or text one more time---I'm out. Not really, but girl.

9. How Is She Not Done Yet?

 

Somehow that last patch of hair in the front of your head always seems to last way longer than the twenty minutes you told your best friend you were going to be. Good thing you didn’t confirm your uber because you’re clearly not going anywhere anytime soon.

10. I Can’t Feel My Brain

The second you’re done you realize you no longer seem to have a scalp. Bright side? You probably won’t need to re-up on edge control.

If you can relate to these moments and would like to avoid reliving them consider installing some of our Zoë twists or slipping on one of our crown wigs! It’s the same style without the same struggle.

 

Photo Credits: Essence, Giphy

Now that the natural hair movement has picked up some serious steam it’s easy to be fooled into thinking that kinks and curls are now considered the norm across the nation. But not all women of color feel comfortable embracing their natural texture or even experimenting with textured protective styles. For some the hesitation is related to fear of judgement by their families. Others cringe at the thought of uncomfortable exchanges with their co-workers and supervisors. Many flinch at the thought of learning a new routine and the accompanying lingo (TWA, ACV, EVOO it’s enough to make your head spin.) But a select few hesitate out of concern for their significant others.

Now that social media has given everyone a platform people are able to express every idea that pops into their heads. And some of those ideas are a strong “preference” for women with relaxed hair.  

On the surface going natural is purely an aesthetic choice but the unpleasant history associated with hair can make it a deeply personal one-with the potential for personal consequences.

In response to an inquiry by someone writing her advice column author and relationship expert  Demetria Lucas D’oley advocated for communication between partners sharing the opinion that she  unequivocally did not think women had to ask permission before doing the big chop but that it would be thoughtful of them to inform their significant others so they weren’t shocked by the sudden change to their appearance.

We asked Girl & Hair Founder Camille Vevoric if she consulted with her husband and eventual business partner before making the big chop that sparked the idea that birthed her line of undercare products. “No. Not at all!” she said “I literally got home and was like ‘I’m tired of this. I’m going up the street.’ I went up there and I cut my hair and I came home. My husband is not that involved. He’s never been vocal about my style. He says as long as you love it I love it.”

Clearly her husband’s approach represents the ideal but sadly not all men feel this way. It seems every few weeks there’s an article on Clutch or Madame Noire asking whether women's styling choices are required to stay within men's comfort zones (who could forget the outrageous debate over Keyshia Kaoir’s trend setting lipstick?)

What do you think? When it comes to your hair should bae get a say?

Photo Credits: Black Enterprise, Good Housekeeping, The Source

When a hair stylist attempted to slander her client on social media she was met with a collective “oh no baby what is you doing” from the natural hair community. The “internets” did what they do and rallied the troops in defense of her unsatisfied customer attacking everything from the woman’s character to her closure. Comments ranged from the slightly dissapointed to the full on infuriated. Women couldn’t believe that a stylist would turn on her client in such a public fashion.

A staple in every community, a visit to the hair salon is sacrosanct.  As a result the stylist/client relationship is a trusted one, built on a mutual investment of time and trust, but when it goes south the situation can be difficult to salvage. And once the drama is made public the same can be said for the stylist’s reputation.  We’ve prepared a list of hard and fast rules to ensure you lose a client in sixty seconds that any stylist can benefit from NOT following.

Be A Chatty Patty

Clients see their stylists as part service professionals and part therapists. While they may indulge in petty gossip about their friends, family, and even fellow patrons don’t join in. Keep it cute and they’ll always trust you enough to keep coming back. This cone of silence extends to dissatisfied customers as well. No matter what was done or said make it a policy to keep news of client drama limited to relevant staff and for God’s sake DO NOT share it on the internet.

Throw Some Shade

Hair salons are generally pretty informal environments. Because of this it may feel like your client is your friend and sting when they hurt your feelings by criticizing your work or offending you in some other way. Still that’s no excuse to get snippy or sling insults. Call up your man, mom, sister, or a girlfriend if you need to vent and remember that a clean reputation is the best revenge.  

Cuss Up a Storm

Save the potty mouth for off hours. No matter how well my edges are flourishing I’m not recommending you to my boyfriend’s mom if you're going to be handing out four letter words like they’re penny candy. She doesn’t want to hear that and frankly no one else does either. Having trouble following this one? Challenge yourself with a swear jar. You can give the proceeds to charity in the salon’s name.

Apply Peer Pressure

We know you think Trina would look great as red head. Trina knows you think she would look great as a redhead. All the shampoo girls and the Portuguese barbecue delivery guys know you think Trina would look great as a redhead. But Trina asked you for highlights, so give her highlights. Suggest, don’t oversell or soon Trina might be gone.

Be Tardy for the Party

Time is valuable for everyone not just those in the service industry. We all know accidents happen but if you know you’re not a morning person don’t book a 7:15 appointment and show up an hour later with coffee. Your client won’t be amused.

Embrace False Advertisement

The temptation to fake it until you make it has never been stronger than in 2017. Fear of missing out has everyone claiming to do everything. Here's a valuable secret --lying about something won't improve your skills. If you’re unable to accommodate the latest trend let your client know that you care too much to set her up for failure. Use the clean reputation you’ve maintained by not being messy to refer her to another stylist you’ve connected with and use your free time to brush up on some new techniques! Hair isn't a situation where it's cool to fake it until you make it. 

 

 

Photo Credits: Healthy Black Woman, Pop Sugar, Uptown Magazine, Hello Beautiful, Bravo