Nappy Kitchen

Why So Pressed About Pressing?

Y'all I want to talk about something that's always a hot topic over at NP.com, and that's pressing. *gasp* Yes I said the P word! :D Here's my take on the situation: I think pressing is ok for a style change, but one must realize the potential for damage is there. I myself can't say I will do it, because my hair is fragile as I don't know what and I want to minimize damage as much as I can. That's my stance on pressing for the moment. I'm not a fan of bandwagon jumping. I develop my own opinions based on experience and factual information.

I can not stand when someone comes up in a thread strictly to say, "We already talked about this. It's wrong and I don't understand why it has to be talked about again." It's talked about again and again because it's a live wire topic that people love to run into the ground. Just like discussing the perils of hair grease or the merits no-pooing. Just deal with it and move on to the next topic instead of pointing out the patently obvious. People need to stop being so militant about what other people are doing to their hair. Let them fry it and dye and even lye it if they want...that's on them.

I went with my friend to press and curl a natural sista's hair on Saturday. Y'all she had the most beautiful curls and coils (a year's worth of growth), and had the nerve to say she doesn't like to wear them out. Lawd what's her problem?! Ok yeah I understand some people don't like to draw attention...but damn. It was beaurtiful y'all. Just beaurtiful. (Yeah I meant to spell it like that!)

And I watched that hair get blowdried. And pressed with a HOT ass comb. AND flat ironed! And inhaled that acrid smell of burning metal and hair. And watched the house fill with smoke. My friend didn't even do the paper towel test (you know, if it burns the paper then it's too hot). What??!?! Talking bout it's a trial and error thing and you will know if it's too hot. Ummm...exsqueeze me, but I ain't finna be sacrificing hair strands so that I can tell whether or not I've done some irreparable damage! Especially since I've laid a hot comb on a paper towel and lit that shit on FIRE in the past! *lol* Yeah it happened, and needless to say that comb did not pass through my hair. Her hair turned out beautifully by the way, but look at all the work that had to go into it! No wonder she only gets it done once a month!

I asked my friend to shape up my hair and taper it in the back. Good and fine, right? Umm...why'd she start picking out my hair with a FINE TOOTH COMB! I was like...ouchiieeeee!!!!!!!! That was a big nono.That comb only works on my relaxed fine hair, not nappy hair! That was the last thing it needed. She finally switched to a wide tooth comb to finish the job. I wish to gawd I had brought my pick. I know better next time.

Do y'all think I should refer her to NP.com? *lol*

Anyway she trimmed the mini fro into a nice shape and got rid of some of the back growth. I can't say I'm upset though...it was starting to look way unruly and shag-like, as the hair there grows quicker than any other area. To be perfectly honest, I'm starting to get attached to the look of short hair and the low maintenance. So at this point I'm not even sure if I want to grow it out. Maybe I will just to see how big my fro will get and then hack it off again.

I took some pics of the picked out fro post trim. Here's one with me looking overly happy about my new shape. Click for a larger version of my low quality webcam pic:

It's funny how when I pick my fro out and look in the mirror I always think it doesn't look very flattering. But really it's not so bad...I like that retro vibe that I get from it. I fiddled with one of the webcam pics to make it black and white...trying to capture that feel.

Never mind the headset wire that greatly retracts from the retroicity of this pic! *lol*

Once it gets bigger I will definitely be rocking it in public, heck maybe even now. Can't hide behind the curlies forever! :D

Peace and CD Mimosa Hair Grease!

Posted by Lisa at March 2, 2004 02:57 PM