A Phenom TWIST OUT

So I have so many pictures of my latest hair style that I thought it would be most appropriate to share the look and to describe how I was taught by Zakiyah (one of my hair stylist at the nappy hutt).

So here is the photo journey!!

This front portion here are two strand twists.  In the back of my head these are not braids/cornrows. These are actually twists agaisnt the scalp! They do the same job as cornrows but no pulling and pain!

side views of the hair do.  Zakiyah pinned up the back in the center of my head kinds creating a crown almost.  All my twists in the front followed and did the same.

 

 

The following photos are just me actually sporting the style. It awesome how it can transform from like a sexy conservative to a sexy sassy with the twist out. 

Now how does the twist out actually work?! Well the way I was taught is to take some product - I used Taliah Waajid Black Earth Product called "The Strengthener" Medicated. I take a little bit of product on my finger tips and run it from scalp to hair end and then I begin to rotate the twist in the opposite way it was formed, this causes the twist to unravel instead of being picked apart. be careful not to tear apart the previously twisted strands or else it'll get frizzy. Over time hair swells after a juicy twist out which gives your hair a fuller look.

 Now I had all these curlies bouncing every which direction and I pinned them in a way that gave it some order. In the very last image was the day I was going to get my next hair do and I let the curlies free with no pins. Oh yes and I'm wearing contacts :)

R.I.P. To those Hoop earrings that broke :(

New Year New Nappy Hutt = 2014!!

December of 2012 saw me with a head full of Bantu Knots by a young girl who didn't last too long at The Nappy Hutt. BUT while she was there she gave me some funky bantu knots that I rocked all of December till the week before Christmas.

After the bantu knots I unraveled them. I proudly took my observations from Trell (the QUEEN on Pin-ups at the nappy hutt) and pinned my curly fries together in a very sexy (sorta androgynous look) that I rocked into the New Year! The front corners of my scalp right before my ears do wonders for me when pulled back. My face is angled and just damn awesome looking. lol.

Here are some ways I rocked my curly fries pinned up.

I rang in the new year with my Bebe/ Neo Perry on the downtown streets of Delray Beach, FL and watched fireworks from the roof top of a local garage :) and  a peak of the moon from the beach.

Since then I returned to Savannah with Perry and we spent the last few days of our winter break together before we parted ways and went back into our academic schedules :/

Last night I got my hair done at no other place but THE NAPPY HUTT and celebrated my anniversary with them lol. I've had my hair styled by all of the hairstyles starting with Trell and last night I cycled back to her :) I was blow dried a little bit in the process of getting some braids and damn near cried. Heat hadn't touched my hair in nearly a year but my thickness and tangley curls were cramping Trell's hand sooo she heat protected my hair and blow dried it some. I constantly touched it making sure it was still ok but my tresses and I made it our safely lol.


I also got a TRIM!! No more bad ends (again) and I'm hoping to keep up with it by doing the following:

-No more keeping hair styles in for 4+ weeks. Since my hair is so coiled and curly I have the advantage of not needing a wash as frequently because the oils from my scalp take longer to travel down my hair shaft. Unfortunately I have abused this advantage and pulling out months old braids and twist leave my head full of sad oily dirt balls in the roots and hair ends.

So new rule!!! No matter what I wash every 2 weeks. and I'll trim every 2-3 visits. I'm getting a lot more comfortable with the idea of trimming my hair. I went from anti scissors EVER to once in a while. but my hair depends on my hair ends to grow and this year I am DETERMINED for some super growth. So my hair ends come first!

Lots of people straighten their hair to see how long its gotten but after straightening my hair for so long back in the day I don't need to do that. I know based on my fro and portions of my hair whether my hair has gotten longer or not. Its grown a little but not as much as I know it can with better care.

But I'm in good hands at The Nappy Hutt, I just have to do my part and show up!

In even better new The Nappy Hutt will be expanding into a brand new and much much bigger Shop! more details to come!

Thoughts from a MAN about women Hair!

So today I was talking/texting a new friend, Ronnie Williams, about an assortment of things. But of everything we talked about the topic of hair brought about a discussion well worth blogging about!

So here was our little Q&A + some insight from me for the readers lol.
I(Me) began by saying the word HAIR and Ronnie(R) has to respond to what came to mind first...

Me: Hair
R: My favorite thing about a woman physically.

Me: Why do you like hair so much?
R: Ok...so much can be done with a woman's hair. There's a wide range of styles. Also, the way a woman keeps ger hair usually determines what type of person she is. For instance, if a woman keeps her hair neat, clean, and nice all the time, she's usually a tidy, organized, neat woman. Women with consistent weave are usually more lazy and dependent. Women who try many hair styles are free spirits!!! A woman's hair just says so much about her.

I couldn't agree more! I have plenty witnesses to the "women with consistent weave" especially in college students. Not to condem anyone for saying this but a frequent story I hear from female college students is that they cover their natural hair because they'll be too busy to deal with their hair, they won't have time, they don't want to be bothered with it, or perhaps they can't afford their chemical routines while in college.

Me: I think this is so insightful especially coming from a male. So what does my hair tell you?
R: You aren't afraid to be yourself, you're creative and innovative. You are tidy and responsible. You're confident. Thats what I get from your current hair style.
Me: So true! I gotta blog about this and quote you.
I gotta agree with the man. When I enter the nappy hutt I tell them I got some professional events and church to attend but I also need to exert a creative unique me in my daily hair styles. And when a woman is proud of her hair confidence will always be on her side.

Me: So what do you get from your girlfriend's hair?
R: Adrionna is conservative and humble. She is proud of her natural beauty. She stays within her comfort zones.
Me: Does she wear her hair naturally?
R: Not completely natural as in no chemicals. But she doesn't do weave.
Me: do you have an opinion on women chemically treating their hair vs. wearing their natural hair?
R: I don't think women should put chemicals in too often. Just enough to keep it manageable.


Okay okay now this is where I get to go on a mini rant. Ronnie's response isn't wrong but just ill educated like that of many other men and women on the WORLD! Natural hair is not I repeat NOT High Matienence!
I'll tell you whats high matienence, perms and relaxers and blow outs. They keep you from the pool, they keep you running from the rain, they keep your hair lifeless, they chemically break down each and every hair follicle causing you to buy more products to prevent your hair from actually breaking off. Seriously do your research its pretty scary stuff! Go into a hair product isle, look for the relaxers and then note what you see next to next to those relaxers...(reconstructors, products to give your hair body/lift, extra conditioners, etc.)

Natural hair is always "managable" with the use of the right products. Everyone's curl pattern is different, everyone's texture feels and acts a different way therefore by seeking the advice of a professional and some experiementation you can find NATURAL products for you Natural hair that complement your hair and make you feel beautiful as you are. Your hair is capable of growing beautifully with very little maitenence and guess what natural hair LOVES water!

The concept of natural hair being inappropriate, not for the work place, and hard to manage is a lack of education, a lack of self-confidence, and influences from years of a segregated society where the caucasion image was the "right" image and was idolized by african americans who pursued educations and careers they felt they had to "fit the image".... Times have changed people! Natural is not wearing a mask, its not chemically straightening your hair. Natural is rocking the beautiful hair God blessed you with. Your hair is not a nightmare and its not a curse its a blessing! In my blog and in the natural hair photography i've done on www.nappyhutt.com you can see our beautiful BLACK HAIR can do the most! Wear it long or short with no use of scissors. Braids, coils, twists, locs, and even straight with the use of a HEAT Protectant!
Over the break I read the book Thank God I'm Natural! I highly suggest it to anyone who is natural or trying to decide to start the journey back to their roots(literally). The book tells the truth to many natural hair myths. Breaks down how relaxers work, how the hair follicle grows, breaks down the names of ingrediants in your local stores hair prooducts. She shares with you the good the bad and the ugly WITH PICTURES TOO! And in the end she even gives you recipes on how to make your own products! So if you are on a budget no worries! The best products are probably already in your kitchen. Reading that book her opinion was even more relevant because she is a lawyer. So its insite from a working professional who proudly rocks her natural hair.


Think about it... what's stopping you from embracing how God made you?

https://www.facebook.com/thankgodimnatural

October 2012 Hair at The NAPPY HUTT

September- October hair doo.
If you read my blog about "HELP TIGHT BRAIDS" it was from THIS hair style!
As beautiful as it was the over lapping did cause some pain for a few sleepless nights. AFTER that I was able to fully enjoy the hair style.

This style is a total original! Overlapping braids, and two strang twist "shag" in the bag and bantu knotted two-strand twist at the top.





I LOVE LOVE LOVE styles that are versatile. so when I was ready I pulled down my bantu knots and had a head full of curly fry twists to play with.


Sorry for the pictures being side ways when I'm on my phone it doesn't let me turn them :/







This style was completed by Zakiyah at The Nappy Hutt in Savannah, GA 31401

Natural Hair Spotlights

So due to recent experiences and relationships being built amoungst hair salons, natural hair representatives, products, and individuals I have been inspired to build a deeper portfolio in terms of natural hair. Not only do I want this to be photography but I want it to be an opportunity for me to begin a conversation about individuals and their natural hair journeys.

I've also learned its beneficial to me as a photographer to be able to shoot basic video in terms of audio and light. And when I photograph people my portraits are as great as they are because I've gotten a chance to get to know them. A slice of their life in a still image is all I attempt to provide. Also I decided over the summer that I want to get my masters in Journalism. So every blog counts even more now lol. I want to appeal to others while still talking about things that matter to me and especially things that can help someone else and touch their lives. I choose to use my God given talents to serve.

So every post on a natural hair individual is going to be titled "Spotlight on ___________" whoever is the model. I did my first one today and I can't wait to showcase it later in a fresh new post!
I hope that these posts get deeper in the minds of ladies on their journey's because that what it is. Your hair is an extension of you. And from what I recently learned at the Taliah Waajid World Natural Hair Show is that there are a lot of things emotionally that put a strain on your body as well as your hair. As I learn more I'm starting to really see hair as a reflection of the individual. Maybe one day I'll look and feel someone's hair to determine who they are like Ray Charles felt a pair of hands.
I even got some books about natural hair that are dated back in the late 1990s and early 2000s which I hope will teach me some things that were known well before this "era" of going natural. I know its been going on much longer than most know.

 

My Roarin' Twenties

Just last week I turned 20 and my world has already began to change. I have a feeling in my heart that this age is going to be my year of transition. My oldest sister and I have already deemed this year: My Roarin' Twenties.

I began my birthday(oct. 5th) on the road with my super assistant (Perry) to Atlanta, GA for my first contracted gig with Taliah Waajid's World Natural Hair, Health & Beauty Show. Based off the pictures I took at their Spring Show earlier this year, her people contacted my people (I'm my people lol) and asked if I would work their Fall show! So this gig was a big deal, contracts, deadlines, travel plans, BIG DEAL! And a footstep in the right direction and hopefully a lastly relationship with Taliah Waajid and her shows.



Amongst that shin-dig, I scoped out a new magazine coming out of New Jersey titled JOURNEY. Journey is going to be the FIRST and ONLY published Natural Hair Magazine. I've been in contact with the publishers and I'm hoping to make a lastly relationship with them as well. I rather not drop any more info on that because my excitement and fear like to walk hand in hand sometimes lol. But lets just say I'm contributing to the beauty and education of natural hair to women all over the world with my photography and words of wisdom.
More Info on the magazine can be found on their site HERE

My 20th year is also symbolic of a transitional year for me because I moved into an apartment, began a new decade of my life, began my 2nd year at SCAD(half way to graduation :), and I'm working on expanding my portfolios and polishing them up!


The apartment life is wonderful! I love my roommate and I love cooking. I have lots more cooking things I haven't posted in a while.

2nd Year at SCAD = Sophomore! woot woot lol. I'm taking Intro to Printmaking which is forming a new interest in my heart. I always said if I could afford to minor I would minor in printmaking. Which is why I took this class as my directive elective. I've carved into wood, scratched into copper, and so much more is to come with that! I'm also taking CMPA so I'm learning Illustrator, more photoshop, and next week we are doing InDesign. These computer applications I learn will be important on my resume so companies know I am proficient in a range of adobe applications. And lastly I am taking my Studio Lighting Course which has got me reading about light and loving it. lol. Just this morning I took out my little photo book on lighting - Light, Science, and Magic and read two chapters back to back. Reading it just gets me excited as to what I can learn today to apply tomorrow.

CAREER!!! Its getting a little scary as I approach the big graduation date I gotta look at my work, where I want it to go, and the type of professional audience I want to reach. Not to mention I want to enjoy what I'm doing of course! I still have my body stuff, but I'm beginning some personal projects on natural hair which is going along with my portraiture and lighting i suppose. And whenever I find a willing model it will go hand in hand with my nude body of work. Today I'm actually suppose to start what I call are portfolio planning books where I will put my plans and ideas and contacts in writing in something tangible I can build upon.

Speaking of careers I've separated business from pleasure if you will lol. I now have TWO facebook LIKE pages: one for my personal work - Stephanie Brown Photography and one for my event photography which is Saje Creations (link is in the tool bar of this blog.) I am still working on the website for my personal work and it should be up by Spring for the big career fair.

The ROARIN' TWENTIES!!! Its only beginning but I'm excited to grow as a photographer and adult and business professional. I've been ready all my life and now its time for me to start applying all that I've prepared .