The Need for Hair-oes.

In case you didn't know...I've been having a hair warfare since 2008....




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(Flickr)





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I had a sincere NEED for hair-roes.


In his essay "The Need for Heroes," Langston Hughes informed [us] that heroes are not always famous, and they are not always the people we like to deem most significant. They are not always in the forefront.


After I decided to embrace the natural texture of my hair [circa 2008], I realized that I needed a hero. I needed a hair-o.


Seriously when I get down and out about my hair especially when I'm trying to detangle it, I go stalk natural hair photos to remember once again why I sought out the journey. I'm gonna share some of my inspirations.


Mop Top Maven

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I've been stalking her blog for a while. Seriously. When she doesn't have new content I get angry. The LA based blogger/hair guru has a ton of hair health care tips and ingenius DIY projects too! She's undeniably inspirational to any natural interested in strengthening her tresses.


Lexi with the Curls



She's an awesome blogger with natural hair tips, advice, and a lovely set of curls atop her head! Check out her blog: Curls, Coils, and Kinks!



Model: Jordan Richardson




Artist: Janelle Monae





Model: Sabina Karlsson




Teyana Taylor

Reader Question: Do I have any natural hair onlookers that care to share some ways to cope with natural hair sad days?

errrrr.

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Oneof my new years resolutions was to start writing on this thing everyday, even if its one line.

Well clearly...

I've already effed up. smh.

Anyway, the other day on the radio I was listening to this song, I think it was like one of those songs with PITBULL yellin in it, you know, I forgot the name of it but I was STRAIGHT JAMMIN until I heard this line and I just got really pissed. He said:

she was worth the money.

I was like WTF???
No. dude, no. If this sounds like one of those feminist-doublestandard-having-rants, or a complaint-from-a-part-time-conformist-party-hopping-college-student....I DONT CARE!!



The phrase just played over and over in my head....she was worth the money?

Seriously. What thee hell...


The degradation with equating a female a HUMAN BEING, with the value of a car, home, or some other inanimate object...is just disgusting! I was genuinely surprised at how much it bothered me, but I rode on home in SILENCE.

I mean, I dont go out and purchase my friends and then at the end of the day kick my feet up and say..."gee, she/he sure was WORTH THE MONEY...all that lovely advice she/he gave me and all the time she/he spends with me...man I work hard everyday at work just so I can BUY me some her/him!"

I mean, I know in this instance the song is referring to a male paying for RELATIONS and not necessarily a RELATIONship...but gah-lee...how much easier would that whole process be if you got to know a person and the person actually wanted to give you relations in exchange for MERE companionship?! Amazing thought huh? I mean then you could spend your money paying a bill or even paying child support!

smh.

I mean come ON people....is it really that painstaking to develop real relationships with people????



Says the girl that can probably count her friends on one hand.

Well, I guess it is pretty hard.

(pause)

Faster you SHOULD RUN--into Janelle's arms.

Okay I'm not blabbing about clothes today. And because I've listened to Janelle Monae's album non-stop since it came out, I figured I'd do a review.

This is my personal review of the MAY 18th release of
Janelle Monae's album: The ArchAndroid.

Now her previous album, Metropolis: The Chase Suite, didn't feel as much like a soundtrack as this one. What I liked most about this album is it's connectivity and the way each song rolls into the next, and helps convey the love story between her fictitious character, Cindi Mayweather (the android Monae portrays herself as on the cover of Metropolis), and her human love interest.

As with ANY album, you're not going to love every song immensely. This album has tracks that can make you cry, dance, laugh, and some of them you'll just be like what the ef? Overall, if you appreciate true artistry--I would suggest it as a great purchase.

Monae invites you in to her world with the cool melody of Dance or Die this track is dope--definitely. I love the line: "Protect the mind from degradation//sew in the seeds of education."

The energetic "Faster," is my favorite! She says, "Faster, Faster I should run// Faster, Faster from your arms" in the chorus. My fave line is: "We've been like magnets in our play//we smash and then pull away, everyday." This song is so relatable to any girl whose ever had a seemingly unattainable crush.


The stoner Jam (in my opinion) "Mushrooms and Roses" is pretty captivating.


The jazz tune "BaBopByeYa," makes me want to throw on my character shoes and break out in a dance number--loves it.


"Tightrope" is awesome, super groovy. Feat. Big Boy too. ::big ups::


"57821" is a dreamy love song; her harmonious sounds with
Deep Cotton are relaxing.

"Coldwar" is teeming with political innuendos. My fave line: If you wanna be free// below the grounds the only place to be// cause in this life//you spend time runnin from depravity.


"Sir Greendown" is kind of a stoner track too. Dedicated to Cindi's human infatuation: Anthony Greendown.


LOVED "Neon Valley Street" it starts slow, but--she raps!!



WEIRD TRACKS:

NEON GUMBO- completely eerie and creepy. but strangely intriguing.

MAKE THE BUS (Feat. of Montreal)- sheer ANNOYANCE. ugh.

WONDALAND- maybe Christmas time or something. maybe.


bottom line: IF YOU LOVE MUSIC AND UNIQUENESS: COP IT!

IF YOU DON'T, STAY LAME! jp.

XOX,

Denia