Black Hair Superstitions

New Year's Eve is a time when new beginnings are contemplated. A reaccessment of the old year is in the forefront of our minds. We are sifting through memories and actions in which we would not like to carry into the new year. What is hoped for the most on the eve of a new year, is a new year filled with good luck. Some will just cross their fingers and hope for the best, some will employ superstitious rituals to give them an advantage, and others will formulate a plan of action not relying on good or bad luck.

Superstitions seem to follow the African American tradition and culture in many aspects of life. New Year's Day many will be eating black eyed peas with hog jowls for luck, carrying a shiny new dime in their pockets to ensure money for the new year, and other such superstitions. In the world of hair there remains elements of superstition and here are a few for you to check out:

1. Always burn the hair in your brush or someone could use it to put a hex on you.
2. Never comb, brush, or cut your hair outside because if a bird comes and collects a stray lock for its nest you will:
a. Feel it pecking at your head
b. Get headaches
c. Lose your mind
d. Suffer the same fate as the bird's babies
3. Always wear your hair covered when menstruating
4. If you allow more than one person to work on your hair at a time:
a. Your hair will fall out
b. The youngest worker/helper will die
5. Don't let a pregnant woman do your hair or you'll become pregnant too
6. After someone finishes working on your hair, it's bad luck to say thank you. Instead say "More hair."
7. Never cut a boy child's hair before age one or:
a. It won't grow
b. It will be kinky and nappy
c. It will make the child weak
8. After you cut your hair, if you place a lock in the Bible it will grow back faster
9. It's bad luck for a woman to cut a man's hair, especially if she's menstruating
10. If you want your hair to grow back, only cut it when there is a full moon
11. If you get gray hair when you're youn, it means you were a good baby
12. If you get gray hair when you're young, it means you will have a lot of money when you are old

Even though I found these hair superstitions in the book "Hair Story, Untangling The Roots of Black Hair In America" by Ayana D. Byrd & Lori L. Tharps, my family repeated these same superstitions when I was young. Superstition 7c and 12 were added to the list from the book from my family superstitions.

I would be interested to hear how many of these same superstitions are a part of your family history? Please leave a comment

Creamy Crack, the hair addiction

Creamy Crack is the word my young cousin used to describe hair relaxers. I must agree, perming the hair for some, has become an addiction. My sister would not contemplate giving birth to one of her kids if her hair was not freshly permed. A male friend of mines in the military said his wife would not receive visitors in their home if her hair was in need of a touch-up. Women avoid rain, wind, sweat, and other natural occurrances if their hair will be messed up. They are willing to sit for hours on end for their appointment for the creamy crack to be applied. Is this truely the new addiction for African Americans? What legnths will they go to get their hands on the creamy crack? If it was proven that it was harmful to their health, would they still search it out?

Hair relaxing, or lanthionization, can be performed by a professional cosmetologist in a salon, or at home with relaxer kits purchased from discount stores and pharmacies. As with hair dye, the treated portion of the hair moves away from the scalp as the new growth of untreated hair sprouts up from the roots, requiring periodic retreatment (about every 6 weeks) to maintain a consistent appearance.

The relaxer is applied to the roots of the hair and remains in place for a "cooking" interval, during which it alters the hair's texture by a process of controlled damage to the protein structure. The hair can be significantly weakened by the physical overlap of successive applications or by a single excessive one, leading to brittleness, breakage, or even widespread alopecia.

When the relaxer has worked to the desired degree, the hair is rinsed clean. Regardless of formula, relaxers are always alkaline to some degree, so it is prudent to neutralize or even slightly acidify the hair with a suitable shampoo immediately afterward. The prompt use of hair conditioner is also important in order to replace some of the natural oils that were stripped away by the process

Alkaline relaxers were informally discovered in the United States during the 19th century when Garrett Augustus Morgan, an African-American, observed that it is possible to change the basic structure of the hair shaft when certain chemicals penetrate the cortical layer. Hair relaxing products often require washing and combing with soap which had been made with excess lye.

A lye relaxer consists of sodium hydroxide (also known as NaOH or lye) mixed with water, petroleum jelly, mineral oil, and emulsifiers to create a creamy consistency. On application, the caustic "lye cream" permeates the protein structure of the hair and weakens its internal bonds, causing the natural curls to loosen out as the entire fiber swells open. No special deactivation step is required after washing the lye cream out, other than the routine pH adjustment and hair-conditioning.

Manufacturers vary the sodium hydroxide content of the solution from 5% to 10% and the pH factor between 10 and 14.

Relaxers chemically altar the composition of the hair. The ingredients in relaxers are harsh to natural hair. The January-February 2001 FDA Consumer magazine warns about the possible dangers of chemical straighteners. In the article Heading off Hair-Care Disasters: Use Caution with Relaxers and Dyes, author Michelle Meadows states that “according to the Food and Drug Administration's Office of Cosmetics and Colors, hair straighteners and hair dyes are among its top consumer complaint areas.” Ms. Meadows then details how relaxers can cause bald spots, scalp irritation, and hair breakage. And worse, 2nd degree chemical burns can result when relaxers are improperly applied directly to the scalp.

The main ingredient: Sodium Hydroxide has other interesting uses:

Solid sodium hydroxide or solutions of sodium hydroxide will cause chemical burns, permanent injury or scarring, and blindness if it contacts unprotected human or animal tissue. Protective equipment such as rubber gloves, safety clothing and eye protection should always be used when handling the material or its solutions.
Dissolution of sodium hydroxide is highly exothermic, and the resulting heat may cause heat burns or ignite flammables.
It is used as a Paint stripper, Drain cleaning agent, to make paper, to make soap, used as an additive in drilling mud to increase aldalinity, added to poor crude quality oil to remove sulfurous impurities, and used to produce aluminum metal.

POWER TO THE PEOPLE'S hair

    To say African American hair is unique would be an understatement, yet we treat our hair as if it is not special. To love your hair is to understand your hair and to form an intimate relationship with it. As in any successful relationship, both participants must be willing to give in order to receive. Give your hair what it needs and it will do the same for you.     Approximately 12 million Africans were shipped to the Americas during the Atlantic slave trade from 1492 to 1888. Today their descendants number approximately 150 million, most of whom live in the United States, the Caribbean and Latin America, including Brazil. Many have a multiracial background of African, Amerindian, European and Asian ancestry. The various regions developed complex social conventions with which their multi-ethnic populations were classified.     The texture of hair in people of Sub-Saharan African ancestry is noticeably different from that of Eurasian populations, as was already noted by Herodotus, who described the peoples of Libya (the "western Ethiopians") as wooly haired. Such "afro-hair" texture is denser than its straight counterparts. Due to this, it is often referred to as 'thick', 'bushy', or 'woolly'. For several reasons, possibly including its relatively flat cross section (among other factors), this hair type conveys a dry or matte appearance. It is also very coarse, and its unique shape renders it very prone to breakage when combed or brushed.(Wikipedia)

  The specific characteristics of the natural afro-hair form are unique among the rest of the races. Evolutionists, not Christians, attribute the character of the hair texture to an initial need for all mammals to have a protective fur barrier against weather. There are those that attribute the hair texture to the proximity of the African American to the equator. Whatever the specific reason, our hair texture does not retain moisture. 

 Armed with a better understanding of our hair, we now can move to becoming friendly with our hair and eventually embracing and loving our natural hair. African-Black Hair Care Tips A healthier lifestyle will result in healthier hair. Massaging your scalp on a regular basis will stimulate oil production, which will help reduce the dryness of your hair. 

     Daily shampooing is not recommended, ethnic hair is dryer than other types of hair, shampooing strips away the oils from your hair so try shampooing once every 3 to 7 days instead. If you engage in daily activities that cause you to sweat, it is recommended that you rinse your hair out with water and only use shampoo on occasion, but if you feel the need to use a mild shampoo, go ahead and do so. Use a mild moisturizing shampoo with a low PH level when washing your hair. Don't use a 2 in 1 shampoo and conditioner, use a separate shampoo and conditioner, 2 in 1's aren't suited as well for dry hair.

     When washing your hair rub only in one direction to avoid tangling. Shower with warm water, hot water can dry and/or irritate the scalp. Oil your scalp after shampooing, with your hair still moist, massage the oil into your scalp and brush out to the ends of your hair. Use a conditioner when you shower, it'll moisturize your hair, give it extra protection, add shine, reduce static, and makes it easier to untangle. Use a leave in conditioner, it'll hydrate and protect your hair. A leave in conditioner on your hair is the equivalent of moisturizer on your face. Don't rub your hair dry with a towel, instead blot the water out of your hair, when you rub, it'll cause your hair to tangle and you'll also risk breakage. Limit your use of "hot" items on your hair such as blow dryers. Use a wide toothed comb or pick to comb your hair. It makes it easier to comb if your hair is slightly moist so the comb can slide easier across your hair. Using a leave in conditioner will also make your hair easier to comb. If your hair is very wet, wait until it dries more, hair is most fragile when it is wet. If you encounter a tough knot or tangle use your fingers to loosen it and then continue combing. Comb your hair to remove any tangles before brushing it, using a brush to detangle your hair will stretch your hair and may cause your hair to break off. 

     Use a soft boar hairbrush on your hair daily which will distribute the oil at the root of your hair and scalp to the rest of your hair. Dampen the brush slightly before brushing. Get a hot oil treatment once a month which will remoisturize your scalp and hair. Hair can get caught on cotton pillow cases and break when you are sleeping especially if you toss and turn a lot when you sleep. Using a satin or silk pillowcase where your hair will make it so that hair will slide across the pillowcase without getting caught. An alternative to the silk pillowcase is to wear a silk or satin scarf over your hair before your sleep to prevent breakage. Avoid hair products that contain alcohol which dry out your hair. 

These tips are a baseline, each individual's hair has its own quirks, and no one knows your hair better than you do. As with permed hair, the hair is healthier when split ends are cut. If your natural hair is split it may benifit the integrity of the hair shaft to get a little trim of the ends.

Hollywood reacts with acting

DECEMBER 13, 2009 I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO STUMBLE UPON THE HISTORY CHANNEL.
I had forgotten that there was a program I wanted to see when it originally aired "The People Speak." I am so happy that I did not miss this program.
A number of Hollywood stars turned out to put on a dramatic reading of letters from prominent figures in the history of America. Clearing up many misconceptions about the Constitution and what it would be like to return to the time of our forefathers when there were slaves, women could not vote or possess property, the rich were rich and in power and the poor were poor without any hope for betterment, Indians were murdered, and prosperity and justice was only for the elite wealthy white man in power.

It would not be a nice existence to go back to the time of our forefathers. Every group imaginable had to wrest from the closed fists of those in charge their basic right to exist. The program showed the continuous tyranny of the rich and elite throughout American History.
Here are the names and several pictures (below)of some actors that did dramatic readings or sung a song: Matt Damon, Benjamin Bob Dylan, Marrissa Tormei, Don Cheadle, and Bruce Springstein.

There are those who claim President Obama and others won the election on the back of "White Guilt," White people feeling guilty for the wrongs they committed against minorities in the past. This show could be accused of playing to that same theory of white guilt, but it isn't playing to a fictitious slogan-White Guilt- it is just an accurate account of the action of a group in the majority against minorities.

Despite apprehensions that the information might endanger his freedom, Douglass published his autobiography, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, Written By Himself. The year was 1845. Three years later, after a speaking tour of England, Ireland, and Scotland, Douglass published the first issue of the North Star, a four-page weekly, out of Rochester, New York.

There was a powerful reading from Sojourner Truth that every African American girl should hear.
In 1843, she took the name Sojourner Truth, believing this to be on the instructions of the Holy Spirit and became a traveling preacher (the meaning of her new name). In the late 1840s she connected with the abolitionist movement, becoming a popular speaker. In 1850, she also began speaking on woman suffrage. Her most famous speech, Ain't I a Woman?, was given in 1851 at a women's rights convention in Ohio.
AIN'T I A WOMAN?
by Sojourner Truth

"Well, children, where there is so much racket there must be something out of kilter. I think that 'twixt the negroes of the South and the women at the North, all talking about rights, the white men will be in a fix pretty soon. But what's all this here talking about?

That man over there says that women need to be helped into carriages, and lifted over ditches, and to have the best place everywhere. Nobody ever helps me into carriages, or over mud-puddles, or gives me any best place! And ain't I a woman? Look at me! Look at my arm! I have ploughed and planted, and gathered into barns, and no man could head me! And ain't I a woman? I could work as much and eat as much as a man - when I could get it - and bear the lash as well! And ain't I a woman? I have borne thirteen children, and seen most all sold off to slavery, and when I cried out with my mother's grief, none but Jesus heard me! And ain't I a woman?

Then they talk about this thing in the head; what's this they call it? [member of audience whispers, "intellect"] That's it, honey. What's that got to do with women's rights or negroes' rights? If my cup won't hold but a pint, and yours holds a quart, wouldn't you be mean not to let me have my little half measure full?

Then that little man in black there, he says women can't have as much rights as men, 'cause Christ wasn't a woman! Where did your Christ come from? Where did your Christ come from? From God and a woman! Man had nothing to do with Him.

If the first woman God ever made was strong enough to turn the world upside down all alone, these women together ought to be able to turn it back , and get it right side up again! And now they is asking to do it, the men better let them.

Obliged to you for hearing me, and now old Sojourner ain't got nothing more to say."

In contemporary times another great stepped into the spot-light:
MUHAMMAD ALI
"Why should they ask me to put on a uniform and go 10,000 miles from home and drop bombs and bullets on Brown people in Vietnam while so-called Negro people in Louisville are treated like dogs and denied simple human rights? No I’m not going 10,000 miles from home to help murder and burn another poor nation simply to continue the domination of white slave masters of the darker people the world over. This is the day when such evils must come to an end. I have been warned that to take such a stand would cost me millions of dollars. But I have said it once and I will say it again. The real enemy of my people is here. I will not disgrace my religion, my people or myself by becoming a tool to enslave those who are fighting for their own justice, freedom and equality. If I thought the war was going to bring freedom and equality to 22 million of my people they wouldn’t have to draft me, I’d join tomorrow. I have nothing to lose by standing up for my beliefs. So I’ll go to jail, so what? We’ve been in jail for 400 years."
As quoted in Redemption Song: Muhammad Ali and the Spirit of the Sixties (1999) by Mike Marqusee; also quoted in the International Socialist Review Issue 33 (January–February 2004)

This is one DVD I plan to purchase to have in my family collection of great African American History and as a teaching and ministry tool for self esteem, ethnic pride, and the need for education. Once again, Hollywood stepped up to the plate.

ACTOR: Keith Hamilton Cobb

So far I have not heard from any men on the subject of dreads, so let me introduce you to a guy with dreads.

Keith Hamilton Cobb (born 28 January 1962) is an American actor, best known for his roles as the ruthless Nietzschean mercenary Tyr Anasazi in the science-fiction series Andromeda from 2000 to 2002, and as Noah Keefer on All My Children from 1994 to 1996. He also appeared in two episodes of the Beastmaster television series in 1999.

Cobb was born in North Tarrytown, New York; he graduated from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts in 1987. A classically trained actor, he appeared in a number of Shakespeare productions in the New York area before breaking into television in the mid 1990s. One of his first movies was the 1995 Daniel Robert Cohn film Eyes Beyond Seeing in which he plays a mental patient who claims to be Jesus Christ.

The character he played briefly in Beastmaster is very similar to his Tyr Anasazi character in the Andromeda television series. Cobb is a very muscular and fearsome looking actor who appears to fit the warrior's role, but has never played the "big dumb guy;" rather his characters are best described as thoughtful philosophical warriors.

In 1996, Cobb was named on People magazine's annual "50 most beautiful people" list

He left the Andromeda TV series after its third season, citing dissatisfaction over the development of his character, Tyr Anasazi.

In an interview given in the book "Dreads" page 48, Keith states that in the 60's men wore short hair cuts and in the 70's afros were in style. But he believes his locks are a part of his essence. He acknowledges some groups consider dreads as a statement against vanity, his are an outward manisfestation of who he is:

"I think dreads, when worn with pride, give a man a regal bearing. The image is a powerful one, like that of a lion and his mane."

When Keith's hair was short and kinky, he couldn't get a job, casters didn't know what to do with him, after locking his hair, the perception of him changed as far as how to cast him. With dreads, he better fit the image of a BLACK MAN. His look became less ethnic and more exotic.

The Princess and the Frog

HORRAY FOR DISNEY!!!!

My family planned for months what we were going to wear and how we were going to behave when the first black princess appeared on the big screen before us.

We all wore crowns (seven of us). My neice who is four wore the biggest crown and a black princess costume I had purchased during Halloween for her to wear to the movies. The rest of us wore something purple or green (the colors of the princess). We put on purple and green eye shadow and liner, took several pictures (I will upload as soon as I can), and off to the movies we went.

At my country movie theater there were no lines of little children or anticipation lingering in the air. People began to stare at our little group whispering as to what the heck was going on. The ticket person asked how many children and how many adults? One child, six adults. The cashier laughed. With popcorn and other needed food items off we went.

We sat in the last row so we could watch the theater fill and it began to, without any white people. My oldest daughter made a rude comment about where were all the little loyal Disney princesses? She was admonished by her younger sister. Five minutes after start time there were approximately four white adults and five white children. PRETTY GOOD FOR MY NECK OF THE WOODS.

The theater went black and then it began.......

It was great. I did not think Disney would pull it off but they did. The color was vibrant, the characters were loveable, the songs were not annoying, and there was the trademark African'esk feel to the movie. The lightening bug reminded me of a cousin of mines. The voodoo woman represented a long line of aged African American women. The ending was priceless.



If you haven't made your way to see the movie, then you are missing a treat. Don't bootleg this one, pay. It is worth every penny.

Ministry of Hair!!!

If you have read any of my biography, you will have noticed that I was a seminary student. I completed my Masters in Christian Studies. As a women with dreads deep into God and making sure His teachings are kept pure, I did not believe the traditional religious community would accept my choice of hair style; and I was correct. I don't look pious with the polyester two piece skirt and jacket most Christian women wear. I am not a part of the big-hat group. I do not fit the standard approved Christian womnan look. I chose not to put on the outer appearance of Christianity and then neglect the inside in which God sees and judges. My look is my montra: DON'T JUST PUT ON THE UNIFORM. BECOME COMPETENT IN YOUR PROFESSION. THERE IS TOO MUCH SPIRITUAL MALPRACTICE GOING ON ALREADY.

The interviewee below faced a somewhat similar dilemma dealing with ministry and dreads.

1. When and why did you decide to dread your hair?
I began in 2001. The why of it at the time was that it was kind of fashionable. I was looking for a new style, and dreads was new.

2. What was the initial response of your family, friends, and co-workers?
Friends thought i looked 'cute.' Family thought i shouldn't be wearing "those little worms" since i was getting into the ministry at the time.


3. What do you like or dislike about your hair?
i love it because it's mine, god given, no more no less....what i don't like is i'm kind of addicted to it...i think i would cry if someone asked me to cut it.

4. Have you noticed any boost in confidence or any other change in your personality?
I did experience a confidence boost..i got kind of cocky for a while, it's more a part of me now.

5. What is the response to your hair now?
I do hair professionally now, so it's a mark of pride, kind of free advertising

6. What state do you live in?
Lousiana

Terilyn Cobb Interview

When did you start your dreads?
About 6 years ago, right after my divorce. I wore my hair permed and in a Halle Berry style for a long time, but my hair didn't "hold" a perm well at all so I was getting a relaxer every 3-4 weeks which is not recommended. To add to that, I hated the entire process and felt like a "sale out" every time i had my hair relaxed. So when I was separated, I went to braids. My ex would tell me how unattractive they were, but I felt good about not burning my head w/chemicals every month. But I felt so ugly every time I had to take the braids down and deal w/my 1/2 straightened, 1/2 natural head of hair.

Why did you choose this hair style?I saw a professionally dressed sister w/long locs and she was so beautiful. I realized that beautiful hair was possible while being true to who and what I am as a black woman. Also, I realized that a black woman could really have long hair!

What was the reaction/responses of family, friends, co-workers?My parents were mortified. My mother promised that my career would end if I persisted in this nonsense. My father just shook his head. Coworkers (I live in Sacramento which is not known as the most culturally diverse or open city) were intrigued. I got all the "how do you wash your hair" and "can I touch it" questions from co-workers. Oh, and I was promoted in the same year that I started my locs.

Did you become more confident or have any other personality changes?I'm in my mid 40's and my hair is almost to my butt. I think the combo of embracing the liberty of no longer feeling the need to conform to a European standard of beauty and stepping out of a very bad long term marriage was incredible. I experiment with different natural hair products that leave my hair smelling like coconuts, and almonds; I walk slowly in the rain and I exercise w/o worrying about my hair "reverting". I am definitely more self confident and I feel beautiful.

What is the reaction to your hair style now?Often I see fear on the faces of people when they first meet me, mostly whites, but not always... I guess they see my hair which is long and usually worn wavy, and think I'm a cannibal and they are my next meal. Or they think I'm "ghetto" and my head is gonna start rolling around my shoulders while I deliver a barrage of expletives about their mama at any given second. But honestly, my sistas can be the most annoying. They will often approach me and fling their weave out of their eyes and tell me how they like my hair, but they could never do anything like that because they like to wash their hair every week. Or, I'd love to do that to my hair, but my man loves to run his fingers through my hair". Or my personal favorite is the comments like "wow your hair is so long, you could take that a loose and straighten it and it would be beautiful" (my eyes rolled even while typing that one..). Almost w/o fail these remarks come from the sista w/the mostest weave who has managed to convince herself that she's sporting her real hair. My parents refused to believe that "all that hair" is really mine for the longest. In fact, I'm not sure my dad (77 yrs old) is fully convinced yet - everyone knows black folks hair don't grow that long. My sister, who straightens her hair, but was my stylist during my Hallie years helped convince me to loc my hair ( I think that was because she got sick of giving me free relaxers every 3 weeks!) thinks my hair is beautiful and she loves to color and style and decorate my hair w/shells.

Do you love your hair why or why not?Locs are a lot of work let there be no mistaking that and I often think about cutting them to shoulder length because of this. But then I look in the mirror after I've just washed, colored and curled my hair and all thoughts of scissors are gone. I also love having my hair smell of coconuts and almonds. The best part of that is when my 11 yr old son is tired or had a rough day, he leans against me while I'm sitting down and lays his head on mine & tells me how nice my hair smells. I also get a lot of attention from black men who stop me on the street to tell my how beautiful my hair is and ask what I use and how long I've worn my locs. I also love the secret society that we loc'd folks have. There is always at least a smile or nod when we cross paths - both with men and women. But I have to say my hair being beautiful makes me feel beautiful and I don't see myself ever again getting my hair relaxed or wearing a weave. That goes against everything I believe in about self acceptance

Hair Power!

Here is a response from a person proud of her hair and is not afraid to say it. I found her on a hairstylist website. She does wonderful work at: Bamboo Hair Studio and can be contacted at www.millenniumsol.com She informs me that in Florida, every 3out of 5 people you run into on the streets have locs and that her clientel is made up of at least 35% men. Drop her a line to tell her to keep up her positve work.

Thank you for contacting us. My name is Anita Spencer. I have been locing for 15 years. I decided to loc because it was a closer connection to my ancestors, as well as the beauty that I felt outward and inside about myself. When the European's first saw our hair they said that it looked dreadful and because of that the term Dread Locs has become a part of our communities across the world, people do not realize how negative this saying really is.

Because I am a natural hair specialist I teach my clients to love there hair without the negative sterotypes. I am here to tell everyone that there is nothing dreadful about our hair.

My family's initial response was: WHAT IN THE HELL ARE YOU DOING. Because my mother, grandmother and greatgrand mother had done hair before me, they didn't understand. I have no Dislikes about my hair, I love everything about my hair.

The response now is overwhelming sometimes, with praises of beauty, my mother now brags to everyone about my hair. I now live in the state of Florida.

Thanks Again
Anita Spencer