Here, Hear, Hair I am.

Since I chopped off my locs arond three months ago, I've looked in the mirror too many times and wondered what the hell I'd done. It was long. It was 'somewhat' socially acceptable and becoming mainstream. It was easy. It was safe.

In the last 2 weeks or so, I've come to terms with this hair and many other changes in my life. Now I moisturize, style, let go...do something , do nothing.

Wearing a twist out while eating a snail. Yeah a snail. See the story here.

Bantu knots- ish!

Pinned up. Eyes closed.

Newly conditioned with castor oil.

Saturday 'fro

Child's play

Janelle Monae- esque

Have you changed your hair recently. Why does length give such security?

be good. do better. look your best ( regardless!!)

Hair is St. Lucia

Over at my travel blog, I shared a bit about Hair in St. Lucia. See here

Not long after that post, I found this lovely article “

“Zahara Jolie-Pitt and the Politics of Uncombed Hair”

Hair is often the first thing others notice, be it the texture, length, fullness, or shine. In the African-American community it can also tell a story. It can indicate your background, lineage, and social standing. From slavery until today, skin color and hair texture played a large part in how the overall society viewed blacks and ultimately the way African-Americans saw themselves.

……this too shall pass.

Picked up at the library...but the boy couldn't carry me!

I bought this little cotton number on a recent "poop inna" shopping trip. 

Friday at the library.

Boy no more than 13 years old approaches me, " Hey there beautiful".

Me, flattered by the compliment, turns around to the surprise and replies: "Hi? Thanks. I guess?! [Pause] Are you old enough to even be here alone."

Boy: "Don't play me like that. You go to Madison Hyde Park right?"(referring to a local high school)

Me: "Excuse me?"

Boy: "I'm a be in junior high in the fall."

Me: "You are too cute. Do you know how old I am?"

Boy looking confused and realizing I wasn't a 'shorty', walks away.

I should probably trade this dress in and reconsider the flower in the hair ......

Hairy Jamaica

I am sitting in bed wearing lingerie and pearls  (TMI). I got dressed up for bed because I am still working on a paper and wont leave the house for the day.

 I was fueled to do the post when I read an interview over at BGLH'.(Click here for full interview)

"Jamaica is more accepting of traditionally African features mainly because the dominant culture is of African decent. Though they have a tendency to make note of skin tone with terms such as brownin' etc which is no worse than red bone/yellow bone in the U.S. The U.S. really pushes light skin, and straight hair BUT I am seeing the U.S. incorporate more ethnic beauty in the media. It's so refreshing!!!"

I cant say I agree, but I wanted share some images in any case.

Images directly from the site Afflicted Yard. His warning on piracy would be quite scary..had  I not been Jamaican too. See the link below for more.

The Afflicted Yard

On eggs, mayonnaise and honey

Two nights ago out of sheer boredom and annoyance with the drying effect of alcohol and  the other ingredients I cannot eat nor spell that are found in my conditioner, I went old school.  I just about forgot that there was a time when moisture immediately meant a concoction of beer, eggs, mayonnaise or some other moisture and protein rich food found in the fridge.  Now, a store bought product with the right description coined by marketing executives, dashes with the word natural and organic, detracts us from reading the labels.

It worked out well. I tried some bantu knots or what I called 'chinese bumps' as a child. The very next day I tried to dress like the items I had in my hair.

be good. do better. look your best.

Tammyanka

( I so need a new camera or a photoshop tutorial)

Guest Blogger over at BGLH

Blogging has opened me up to a new community of beautiful women ( no men just yet) with whom I have so much in common. An example is the lovely Leila over at Black Girl Long Hair.

Today is the start of her guest blogger week and I jumped right in with a my thoughts on the connection between Natural Hair and Sustainability. I tried not to be too preachy!

Funny enough, I do not say  as much and work as hard  in my own blog space. It must be the student in me...trying to ace a paper! Take a look http://blackgirllonghair.blogspot.com/

be good. do better. look your best.

Tammyanka

tamika on natural hair and sustainability [guest blogger week]

Tamika working in rural Jamaica
While I may be preaching to the choir here, I thought it necessary to articulate the connection between sustainability and the natural hair community. In particular this article speaks to the unprocessed hair of women of African decent. Sustainability according to UNESCO “means consuming goods and services without harming the environment or society. 

Living a sustainable lifestyle is essential to overcoming poverty and conserving and protecting the natural resource base for all forms of life.” 

For the most part style and sustainability are arc nemesis. The pursuit of all things stylish , conventionally promotes waste, consumerism and usually harms the environment.

The folks over at Hair.lovetoknow.com writes, “As society grows more conscious of the effect chemicals have on the environment, trends like natural hair care become more popular. While it may not seem like a few bottles of shampoo or other products affect the environment, each time those products are washed down the drain they have the potential to contaminate water supplies and harm the surrounding ecosystem.”

Here are my top 5 reasons why your natural hair, in addition to its fashion forwardness and fierceness, promotes a healthy environment and why our kids will thank us . This list is no way scientific and based on my own observation, research and conversation with peers.

1. Reduced use of Aerosols. Many aerosols such as hair spray, spritz contain CFC that are proven ozone depletory.

2. Reduced Toxic Runoff- Reduce use toxic chemicals passing into drains– relaxers etc

3. Potential to Save Energy - Due to reduced heat styling, fewer hood, drying, hot curling etc

4. Greater demand and use of natural and organic products. Most of us have tried honey, shea butter and other home concoctions thus reducing consumption. (Raise your hand if you have made your own treatment)

5. Promotes greater conscious for social justice. It starts with our hair, our search for natural products, pursuit of community building (I am blogging on the page of a otherwise stranger) and eventually greater conscious of issues related to products, consumerism, health and the environment.

What are your thoughts? Are you even aware that your hairstyle choice can have an impact on wildlife and potentially climate change?Okay….indirectly!! But as the Jamaica adage goes “One, one coco full basket!” (Translation: Every small gesture makes a difference)

Be good. Do better. Look your best.

Tammyanka


Tamika has been wearing her hair natural for the last four years. She recently transitioned from locks. A native of Jamaica, currently residing and pursuing a Masters of Arts in Sustainable Development in Massachusetts. She struggles with balancing her passion for style, sustainable development and conservation. Tammyanka blogs athttp://sustainabilityandstyle.blogspot.com/.

Borrowed from the boy

I need an oversize cardigan. Okay,…I want one because the images in the magazines and my habit of buying new items dictate that I should get one. After realizing that I really can’t live without it, I raided Mr. Husband’s closet and found his well fitted J Crew sweaters are great as ‘this seasons must have’ over sized sweater for me.

I used to wear my mother’s clothing as a pre-teen when I wanted to achieve the tomboy early 90’s hip hop look. (I also remember trying to moon walk tooo...)

So I took it further and borrowed a few other pieces from Mr. Husband that I’ll mix sparingly into my wardrobe…….

Dress- FCUK

Sweater- J Crew(Mr. Husband)

Basket- Gap

be good. do better. look your best.

Tammyanka

The Strong one

image via

My mother says my new do ( or non do) reminds her of Etana. Problem is, she has never actually  seen my hair post locks.  Etana is a Jamaican reggae artiste who bust on the scene after I left Jamaica, but I have grown to love her music.   Check out her song 'Dont Forget'.

There is perhaps no similarity between myself and Etana except that we are both black girls with natural hair. But for my mother who was born in pre-independent Jamaica and came of age in post colonial Jamaica where a Jamaican and black identity was not yet defined; my natural hair, suggests a rebellious act. Surprise, surprise. Mommy dear, I am maroon and so are you. 

She is a little concerned about grad school internship prospects with my untamed hair. She constantly asks me, 'what are going to do with your hair for next semester?'

Mommy....it's done!

Flower hair clips- H&M

be good. do better. look your best.

tammyanka

And now for your feature presentation....

Today I am featured as a 'natural bride' in one of my new favorite blogs Black Girl long Hair.

 Seeing the pictures and the kind comments made me realize how much I miss my locked tresses. 

I have since chopped my locks (after 3 years and some) and am caring for my hair in its natural state. A first since adulthood. ( I had my first relaxer at 12 years old)

I have no clue what I am doing. But with the help of my fellow bloggers I am learning. Wash. Moisturize. Care. Twist. Style. Repeat.

The images above were taken by my bets friend Kerrisha in Barbados last week.

be good. do better. look your best.

Tammyanka

Return from my hiatus!

Exams done, graduations, parties, wedding.....bridal duty in Barbados....blah,blah, blah. May was busy. I  no longer enjoy taking daily pictures of my outfits. It stifled my creativity. I was no longer dressing for me, I now had an audience. Not too sure I enjoyed that. As a matter of fact, I didn't.

So now I'm spending more time researching my new lockless hair.......

Found some new blogs that I like to follow. Check them out:

http://lecoil.tumblr.com

http://flygirls.typepad.com

be good. do better.look your best.

Tammyanka

Change has come....

Photo: via

I purposely took a step back from this blog, the 10 or so other fashion blogs I checked daily and the number of hours I spent online.

I am rethinking a few things....

be good. do better. look your best.

tamyanka

Sunday Best

 

I'm excited about this dress. Mr. Husband bought it as a gift when after mixed up all the colors of the rainbow in the washer and destroyed some of my dresses.

Abstract wrap dress - Banana Republic

Nude sling back pumps - Anne Klien

Vintage Suede clutch - yard sale, (circa 1970)$1

Monet earrings - thrifted

Happy Easter, Passover or neither of the above!

be good. do better. look your best.

Tammyanka