No Lye: The African American Woman’s Guide To Natural Hair Care
Product DescriptionFor years, African-American women have relied on harsh chemicals and relaxers to “manage” their hair–which more often than not did more damage than good. Improper braiding techniques have also contributed no small amount of harm, resulting in frail, damaged hair and even pattern baldness in women. No Lye! offers a safe and easy alternative. In this hair-care and styling guide Tulani Kinard reveals the secrets to obtaining and maintaining beautiful healthy . . . More >>
No Lye: The African American Woman’s Guide To Natural Hair Care
I LIKE THIS BOOK VERY MUCH. However,there is one scientific error in this book,at the beginning to do with the chemical make up of hair. . . . I am not at home and I can’t quote it from memory. This book could still be more informative. . . . This book is like having group therapy or interviewing other women,but it is not all black women’s views. I am reviewng it because I think it is worth a read. As you may or may not know African coily hair is quite unique in vision, texture, behaviour and probably in chemical make up too. Coily haired women around the world, go to the most extremes in terms of spending. (Spending time, spending pain and the spending price to have African coily hair styled)A hairstyle that we believe looks good or will help us to become socially and economically advanced. Or maybe for our own self-esteem and maybe to attract the charms of a love interest. Either way, psychologically and philosophically I believe that your hair is a reflection of the state of your consciousness, your internal beliefs and your relationship with the world. What about exploring physics through african hair?For example how much pressure, gravity and tension and tearing do we put our hair through by combing it?let alone excessive harsh combing. Mathematically speaking how many of you readers can tell me how many curls/coils per inch your hair has, and does it vary in coil and moisture?Next question:When does the nature of the hair change and why?(i know it does!) It seems to me all these books on afro hair are good and I welcome it, but we still need to be more informed and they all seem to need better editing, just like Black American beauty magazines. I must campaign for better grammar and less air brushed photos!!!It is as if we like to see ourselves falsely rather than the reality of what we are. . . Black women need to demand more scientific reasoning from our books and be less competitive over black men which only fuels their egos and as a result probably creates more baby-mothers!!!Sorry but I had to vent out my opinions. I maintain that this book is still worth reading,more than any carcinogenic chemical so called hair treatment that you pay for. Anyway what do I know I am a black african british woman!!!!Most of you Americans think we in Britain have no trains or any kind of progressive development!!!Anyway if I wrote my book answering my questions that I recently put to you, how many of you would buy it?
Rating: 5 / 5
The author turned me off as soon as she started classifying all the textures of coarse black hair as “rough”. Long winded information about locs and dreads weren’t what I was expecting either. We need more information and pictures of individuals with free flowing, healthy, lengthy “kinky” black hair. When that’s done, we can get to the different styles such as dreads. I hope the title of the next edition is changed to more accurately reflect what the book is really about.
Rating: 1 / 5
Tulani, I remember when you first started braiding. The day you had an aha! experience and knew there was more to this than just the physical. You’ve taken an idea and turned into a masterful piece of education and spiritual wealth for all women, because whatever frees some – frees us all, whether we agree with your research or not, at least we are now educated to have the choice to agree with it or not. Your book is exceptional as has of all of your accomplishments – even in terms of negotiating and fighting to make natural hair styles acceptable in corporate environments. Actions taken from this type of work have birthed an entire generation of folk who empower themselves to say – I will accept this part of myself – floppy, frilled, or grilled! Keep on showing informing and enlightening us because it’s more than a hair thing, my sista, it’s a self esteem, a self love, an acceptance, a fearless, a no mo’shame, and more thing! So keep up the magnificent work. Keep looking ahead when some are trying to get even, and most of all keep “walking in the way of love. “Peace, Yasmeen and Summer
Rating: 5 / 5
this book was very informative and well-written. i suggest it for the pre-teen and teen girls in your life.
Rating: 4 / 5
There were many useful instructions and suggestions throughout the book, nearly all geared toward non-chemical hair care. If you are interested in natural African-American hair stylings and treatments, including tips on how to keep your hair healthy and long, this is a great resource. My only complaint is the heavy use of racial undertones. The book is relatively Afrocentric and has many comments regarding how racism plays into the African-American woman’s concept of beauty. Even this is not “bad,” it just gets to be a bit much throughout so much of the book.
Rating: 3 / 5