I know that I am late with this today, but as I stare out my window trying to determine what question I want to ask in today’s poll, all I can see is dark clouds and the threat of yet another rain storm. This reminds me of one of my very first Val & Nadine cartoons.  Back in  2006, I drew a cartoon called “True Freedom” (see below or click link to see original post) which shows Val walking in the rain, not concerned about her TWA getting wet in the rain.  It is obvious to me that I drew this cartoon in my naive TWA days.  Now that my hair is a lot longer, I frequently wear my hair in braid-outs, twist-outs and bantu-knot outs that I usually want to last for as long as possible.  Once the rain hits these styles, I end up with a strunken drawn-up version of what was once a very nice style.  I’m sure there is someone else who can relate.

On other occasions, when I am wearing a wash-n-go, two-strand twists and other protective type styles… I welcome the rain.  Rain equals moisture and moisture equals less breakage.

So I try to avoid rain when I am wearing certain styles (nothing like my relaxed days, where I avoided rain like the plague) and welcome it while wearing others.

So in honor of this potentially stormy day – my question to you is, now that you wear your hair in its natural texture (or now that you are transitioning); Do you still run from the rain?

Up until about a month or two ago (I’ve lost track), I didn’t even get what Tumblr even was.  I had visited a few Tumblr pages, but I did not know much about Tumblr.  Now I have become hooked.  If you check the right side menu, you’ll see a preview of my Tumblr page under the header “Visit Us on Tumblr”.

Actually, let me back up for those who have never heard of Tumblr.  Here’s the definition (taken from Wikipedia – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tumblr ): “Tumblr, sometimes styled as “tumblr.“, is a microblogging platform that allows users to post text, images, videos, links, quotes and audio to their tumblelog, a short-form blog. Users can follow other users, or choose to make their tumblelog private. The service emphasizes ease of use.”

Here’s a link to my tumblr blog: http://natural-ness.tumblr.com/ (feel free to follow) where you can get an idea of what microblogging looks like.  My Tumblr is basically where I post pictures and info on natural hair, along with anything else that I find interesting and beautiful.  I love it because it allows me to express myself in a quick, fun way.  So hopefully you have a better understanding of what Tumblr is (those who didn’t already know).

My question this week is, Do you visit Tumblr? Please choose one answer below.  If you have a Tumblr and you want people to check it out and possibly follow you (it does not have to be a natural hair Tumblr), please leave the address to your Tumblr in a comment below.

I have been relaxer free for almost 6 years now and I still get frustrated with my hair at times.  Not often, but it does happen and yes…I admit it!  Today I felt that way after taking time to rope twist my hair into about 16 twists.  I just knew that I would look flyy once  I took the twists down.  This morning I removed them and they looked a hot mess with a capital M.  I went ahead and brushed my hair out into a stretched afro puff.  The puff was cute, but I spent a lot of time twisting my hair .

Another source of frustration is my darn Tangle Teezer.  Don’t get me wrong, I love it, but what the heck were they thinking when they made the thing so hard to grip and hold on to?  My goodness!  I was ready to throw a fit…yes like my three year old, the other day when I was trying to detangle my hair (is it just me?). It’s like a cruel joke to make this miracle of a product, but make it difficult to hold. I’m wondering whose hand they designed the thing to fit in?  Please Tangle Teezer makers…a redesign may be in order.  Can I get a handle please?

A couple of years ago when detangling my hair became a source of pain and sorrow for me, I did a second BC.  Now that I am in the process of growing my hair back, I cannot see myself doing a 3rd BC.  So how do I plan on dealing with these new minor styling and detangling woes? I think it’s time to experiment with a new style.  I will be checking out some youtube videos and experimenting until I come up with something that excites me all over again.  So please stayed tuned while I work through this mini hair war.

I know I was supposed to be doing the guest poll question thing, but I have not received any questions yet, so I have one of my own.  Please choose one or more answers below (yes, choose all the answers that apply to you):

Last week’s poll question was a guest question from T.O.  I want to try the same thing next week.  Do you have a question that you would love to see asked in a poll format? If so, please send me an email at diego2memphis@cbpublish.com with the subject Poll Question. Be sure to include your poll question in the body and I will consider it for upcoming Sunday polls.

Whenever I post a poll question, I like to follow it up with a short post with my view on the subject (whatever it may be that week).  If you would also like to send a follow-up expressing your opinion, feel free to do so.

Thanks and I look forward to receiving your poll questions!

Last Sunday, I opened up the polls to questions from natural-ness visitors.  Here is our first guest poll question from T.O.:

“I have practiced washing my hair once a week in the last one year and I have lost about 6 inches of hair due to that. I wash in the shower so I dont know if my breakage has to do with the force at which the shower is hitting my head. I use non sulfate shampoos and even co-wash. I do monthly protein treatment followed by a moisturizing treatment. I am healthy and even take multivitamins.. Please help!!!”

T.O. wants to know: How often should hair be washed? And should it be done in the shower or at the sink? Please choose one answer for each poll question below and feel free to elaborate in a comment below:

Do you have a poll question that you would like to ask? If so, please send me an email at diego2memphis@cbpublish.com with the subject Poll Question. Be sure to include your poll question in the body and I will consider it for upcoming Sunday polls. Thanks and I look forward to receiving your poll questions!

I’ve loved seeing so many responses to the poll questions that I’ve been posting each Sunday.  Thanks to all who have been participating.  If you haven’t had the opportunity to vote in the polls, or you’ve missed a few, click here to check them out.

This week, I wanted to do something different.  I wanted to know if there is anything that any of you would like to ask Natural-ness visitors.  Are there any questions that you’ve been curious about when it comes to natural hair, routines, products, etc?

If so, please send me an email at diego2memphis@cbpublish.com with the subject Poll Question. Be sure to include your poll question in the body and I will consider it for upcoming Sunday polls.

Whenever I post a poll question, I like to follow it up with a short post with my view on the subject (whatever it may be that week).  If you would also like to send a follow-up expressing your opinion, feel free to do so.

Thanks and I look forward to receiving your poll questions!

If you’ve been checking out my recent Val & Nadine comics, you’ve noticed that the subject for the past two weeks has been men and their reaction to natural hair.  In fact, this is not a new subject with the comic strips, Val and her boyfriend Tommy had to work through a lot of issues before he learned to love Val’s hair in its natural state.

I was wondering how many of you also had issues with your significant others when you first went natural.  This week’s poll question is: How did your significant other respond to your hair when you first went natural?  Please choose one answer below and feel free to elaborate in a comment below!

I will post an article about my husband’s response in a future post.

This Sunday’s poll question:  Is wearing hair natural just a fad?  Do you plan to sport your curls for life? Please pick one answer below.  As always, feel free to elaborate in a comment below!

This is a follow-up poll to my article posted here: Expensive Hair Products

Please pick one answer below.  Feel free to elaborate in a comment.

I realize that over the years, I have never posted any information on locs.  I’m not even sure how many visitors of this site actually have loced hair.  So I created this week’s poll just to find out how many of you have locs or are thinking about locing.  Please choose one answer below: