Finally a  Beauty segment all about Natural Hair! The November issue of Essence magazine is a must read.

Inside you will find a Go-Natural Cheat Sheet on tips, tricks, tools, and styles for your natural hair.   There is also a conversation piece with Nia Long, Solonge Knowles, Tanika Ray, Ledisi Young, Tonya Lewis Lee, and Ursula Stephen discussing all the hot button hair issues.

I’m so glad Tenika and Solange were included in the conversation.  Tenika has great hair and Solange’s natural hair frames her face so well.  Her new hairdo also sets her apart from her big sister… Beyonce.

Nia Long has been hitting the media circuit spilling the tea about Black Hair and her own hair trials while promoting Chris Rock’s documentary, “Good Hair”.  Several photos were taken of her for the cover of Essence.  She tried on several wigs in the process and even wore an afro (the picture can be seen on page 22).  I find it ironic Essence went with the relaxed hair wig instead of the natural hair piece.  You would think they would put her in a natural wig since their Beauty segment is all about Natural hair… hmmmm…

The article, “Scared Straight”, on page 126 tells the true life story of a beauty queen going head to head with HBCU administrators over her natural hair.  Can you believe she was asked by school officials to straighten her hair??!!!  A Historical Black College/University is one place I would think  your natural hair would be embraced, SMH!

Again, this is a great issue to continue the discussion about our Hair regardless of how you choose to wear it.  If anything I hope we begin to educate ourselves and our young girls on how to take care of our hair and instill them with the belief that “Good Hair” is Healthy Hair.

Karla Thomas-missnp3