Natural 4 a/b Ladies HELP

[CarefreeinChicago]

When I went into my boss’s office he glanced at my hair his facial expression was like WTF? (it rained this morning by the time i got off the train the half fro made it's appearnce) I have to do something to my hair that does not require chemicals (my mother keeps say you need a perm) or weave(i have been in braids almost a year) and not look to ethnic (i am a staff accountant i have only been here 30 days when they hired me i had microbraids in a bun also i am the third black woman one has long waist length hair the other one short blond hair) i am trying to baby my ends since my cut on 4th of july so any help would be greatly appreciated

 

[MeccaMedinah]

When I went into my boss’s office he glanced at my hair his facial expression was like WTF? (it rained this morning by the time i got off the train the half fro made it's appearnce) I have to do something to my hair that does not require chemicals (my mother keeps say you need a perm) or weave(i have been in braids almost a year) and not look to ethnic (i am a staff accountant i have only been here 30 days when they hired me i had microbraids in a bun also i am the third black woman one has long waist length hair the other one short blond hair) i am trying to baby my ends since my cut on 4th of july so any help would be greatly appreciated

So, are you saying that you need suggestions on a natural, non ethnic hairstyle?

 

[Cheleigh]

How are you wearing your hair currently?

 

[deedabug]

on rainy days maybe u should try taking a nice scarf to tie your hair down..with some of it or all under the scarf...

pack a bag with a brush...a wide tooth comb....some gel and a couple of accessories (one could be a scarf)

it is possible to wear natural hair out and not ''scare white ppl'' ....besides white women have bad hair days too on rainy days...i would think of it like that...

 

[moda]

on rainy days maybe u should try taking a nice scarf to tie your hair down..with some of it or all under the scarf...

pack a bag with a brush...a wide tooth comb....some gel and a couple of accessories (one could be a scarf)

it is possible to wear natural hair out and not ''scare white ppl'' ....besides white women have bad hair days too on rainy days...i would think of it like that...

I have all kinds of accessories and hair products in a file cabinet at work for the days when my hair misbehaves, and I need to pull it back. Styles that seem to hold up to humidity for me are braidouts, twistouts and strawsets.

 

[jainygirl]

Scarves would work great for the office. Get a few cute scarves to dress your hair up during those crazy hair days. Also try twists or a a cute puff. Puffs always looks good and the rain only helps them to look better. Good luck with finding something that works . -- jainygirl

 

[CarefreeinChicago]

Thanks ladies ...I had a blowout ...but the it only looks nice at the house by the time i make it where ever i am going it's done....gel and tools in my desk are great sugguestions ...i love to wear cornrows but i would but my head is to big and they always look scalpy if could get some in a nice bun...i may just wash it and where my afro and to hell with the looks(some of the people at the office look at me like they never seen a AA before and we all know they have and i don't want to be sterotyped)

 

[Cheleigh]

Thanks ladies ...I had a blowout ...but the it only looks nice at the house by the time i make it where ever i am going it's done....gel and tools in my desk are great sugguestions ...i love to wear cornrows but i would but my head is to big and they always look scalpy if could get some in a nice bun...i may just wash it and where my afro and to hell with the looks(some of the people at the office look at me like they never seen a AA before and we all know they have and i don't want to be sterotyped)

I think you're spot on to forget the blowouts at this point and find styles that will not be adversly affected by the rain. Twistouts/braidouts and puffs like other posters mentioned are not too affected by the rain, so maybe try those (and twist the hair into a french roll/twist after the braidout if you want a beautifully textured updo).

 

[kristina]

Not sure if this is too ethnic but you can try either tiny twists or tiny box braids. I have pictures in my album of both styles (done w/o extensions) and I've worn both to work with no problems at all. Both styles are humidity resistant and will look cute and professional ima. i'm sure you already know this but straightened hair will not work with humidity. I also always wear a black hair band on my wrist so I can put my hair up if it's looking crazy.

 

[jainygirl]

Thanks ladies ...I had a blowout ...but the it only looks nice at the house by the time i make it where ever i am going it's done....gel and tools in my desk are great sugguestions ...i love to wear cornrows but i would but my head is to big and they always look scalpy if could get some in a nice bun...i may just wash it and where my afro and to hell with the looks(some of the people at the office look at me like they never seen a AA before and we all know they have and i don't want to be sterotyped)

If you wanna wear your fro or a puff just wear it. White people know what our hair looks like under the relaxer/pressed hair, and if they dont or wanna ACT like they dont you can let them know the real deal by showing up au natural . No need for you to have to suffer and go to work looking a hot mess to keep the white folks in their comfort zone. Good luck . -- jainygirl

 

[CarefreeinChicago]

i love my natural hair my scalp feels so much better but every day my mother my sisters every person i come in contact feels the need to say something about my hair and how they don't like it and i don't have that type of hair it makes me want to scream ...it might be long enough to put in a puff ...my coworker asked me if i wanted to go to lunch on state street i was like no that would entail going out side

 

[jainygirl]

i love my natural hair my scalp feels so much better but every day my mother my sisters every person i come in contact feels the need to say something about my hair and how they don't like it and i don't have that type of hair it makes me want to scream ...it might be long enough to put in a puff ...my coworker asked me if i wanted to go to lunch on state street i was like no that would entail going out side

Awweee dont feel down There is so much you can do with your hair. When I stretch out my hair after my shampoo I use a tablespoon of shea butter that was warmed in the microwave for 15-20 seconds rub that over damp hair then do really fat twists in my hair (this stretches out the hair but doesnt leave it straight -- which happens when I band my hair). I let that dry then I loosen the twists and gently fluff my hair with a pick then add an ouchless headband. My hair will stay stretched like that in a puff for about 3 days. I just sleep with a scarf wrappred around the sides at night to prevent me from having to brush them back in the morning. This would look really cute on you.

2 strand twists are such a standby style I swear. They can look however you want them to. Your hair is longer than mine but check out page 3 of my album for style ideas at this length. You can also do a cornrowpuff if youre worried about your head being too big ...lawwwddd GIRL I got a BIGGGG head and the cornrow puff looks good for some reason. Whatever you do dont let those people make you start feeling down about your hair as well. Just keep loving it like you have and i'm telling you the more you play around with it and try things the more and more confident you will feel to the point that you wont even care about those people. I work for a bank and I go from a shrunken fro to a stretched out puff to 2 strand twists on back to back days . People are always looking at my hair like 'how did you go from less than an inch of hair to that puff ??? Leave people feeling amazed instead of letting them make you feel down. Good luck . -- jainygirl

 

[kristina]

i love my natural hair my scalp feels so much better but every day my mother my sisters every person i come in contact feels the need to say something about my hair and how they don't like it and i don't have that type of hair it makes me want to scream ...it might be long enough to put in a puff ...my coworker asked me if i wanted to go to lunch on state street i was like no that would entail going out side

Aw girl- you shouldn't feel like that- your hair is gorgeous! I love the two pony puffs in you album. Trust me, it's not your hair, it' the fight to keep you hair constantly straight that's the problem. I know some people do it but it's fighting nature for me and my quick to revert hair. Last summer I decided to press my hair regularly so that I'd look more professional. While I had some good days, more often than not, something about it would end up looking off. This summer has been much better (and cheaper). Oh and there's always the bun.

 

[CarefreeinChicago]

just passed by this lady and she did a double take looking at my hair! And the receptionist just asked me a bout my hair she said you took your braids out you were hiding all that hair under there I have been in my office all day and made a run to the vending machine and was noticed

 

[Netta1]

just passed by this lady and she did a double take looking at my hair! And the receptionist just asked me a bout my hair she said you took your braids out you were hiding all that hair under there I have been in my office all day and made a run to the vending machine and was noticed

OK Imma tell you straight up point blank.......YOU LACK CONFIDENCE. And you know what thats OK At the MOMENT, its all part of the growing process. You don't know how beautiful your natural crown is yet, thats why you feel like you wanna run and hide everytime YOU THINK someone is looking all upside your head. You MUST SEEK to develope confidence in your natural hair. Its pointless IMO to continue to try to KEEP your hair straight when you made a decision to go NATURAL.....you WILL have a fight on your hands...when it RAINS OR GETS HOT outside. Stop fighting with your NAPS and let them just be. Do a wash and GO and be done with it. How in the world can you expect for folks to give you suggestions on a "less ethnic" hair style when your hair is AFRICAN AMERICAN?????? Whaaaat???? Girl Puleeese!!!! Take a two steps back, find a mirror, and look at how truly BEAUTIFUL YOUR hair is. Once your mind has changed about your hair, you'll feel better. Stop letting your family members put you down about your decision... SPEAK UP and tell them to get over it. GET some COURAGE and BE yourself. And as far as your job is concerned.....They HIRED YOU not your HAIR.

 

[nurseN98]

Amen Netta!


Other than that, I agree that maybe you should try puffs in this hot, summer weather. You can put a nice neutral scarf in front and just call it a day. If you don't mind using a ton of serum or some other humidity blocking product you could try doing a braidout again. Just make sure your hair dries completely before unbraiding.

 

[caligirl]

What does "too ethnic" mean? I don't want to make any assumptions about what you meant by that.

 

[mahoganee]

Thanks ladies ...I had a blowout ...but the it only looks nice at the house by the time i make it where ever i am going it's done....gel and tools in my desk are great sugguestions ...i love to wear cornrows but i would but my head is to big and they always look scalpy if could get some in a nice bun...i may just wash it and where my afro and to hell with the looks(some of the people at the office look at me like they never seen a AA before and we all know they have and i don't want to be sterotyped)

Model: FELICIA STEVENSON 0005
Ever thought about a cornrow updo? You can have the cornrows spaced closer together if you don't want your scalp showing. I think this is a combination of cornrows and crochet/latchhook.

 

[CarefreeinChicago]

mahoganee- the updo is cute

caligirl- i mean a 5 in one hair style with multi colors

kristina- i want some twist but the lady that micro braids told me she could not do them on my hair because i did'nt have a perm

Netta1- you are on point because on the weekend i wear it however but at work i know they are staring ...

 

[BBabe]

I totally understand where you are coming from, when I worked in corp world it was exactly the same. I usually always wore a conservative braid style or weave until my 3 mths probation was up - then I'd let loose lol.
It is obvious by the "hoopla" surrounding your hairstyle today, that the style does not fit into their "corp culture". I think until your position is secure, you may want to try some conservative protective styles, such as a weave, wig, faux bun/ponytail etc.

 

[Country gal]

I was you three or four months ago. I still get the what are you doing to your hair comments from family. The difference is I have the confidence to wear my natural hair. I agree with Netta about confidence being really big step for naturals.

 

[mahoganee]

I had comments from coworkers a few weeks ago and it kind of pissed me off but I wore my hair the way I wanted to. My braider got pissed too when I told her what was said. They might as well get used to it because this is the way my hair grows out of my head and this is the way I'm wearing it. It still kills me that we are the only race of people who aren't to supposed wear our hair natural. My youngest sister has the same problem at her job as you do. I told her f**k them your hair is ethnic. The first time I wore an "ethnic" style to work people messed with me all night. I truly think that they thought I was going to take my hair down. Ha, I threw some shells in it.

 

[CatSuga]

a natural, non ethnic hairstyle?

Well, nappy hair does look very ethnic, no matter the style.


Unless you have enough hair for a bun, just go buy a wig.