Nappy Kitchen

Twists

Sunday I twisted my hair. I have no idea how long it took, since I stopped whenever I felt tired. But I'll guesstimate it was around 3 hours in all. I know some people find it tedious, but playing in my hair relaxes me, so I didn't mind too much. It was kinda frustrating trying to get the back though as well as deal with some of the softer hair back there. I twisted my hair using a combination of Elasta QP mango butter and honey, which gave some good shine AND most importantly held the soft hair. Here's the results:

The only good digicam pic I got before the batteries ran out

A sideview. As you can see the back ones are all over the place

And the finished product. :D

Last night I rinsed my twists in an effort to reduce the scalp itching I was starting to experience. When I got up they were all over the place, which was not a problem. BUT that itching was a sign that I need to wash my hair, so I decided to unravel the twists. Here's the resulting twistout:

I grabbed two chunks of hair in the front and secured them with mini clips. I liked the results. Too bad I didn't have anywhere to go and show off my curteness!

And in other news, the t-shirt that I designed came! And the quality is better than I expected. Yaaay! I'll take a picture when I get some batteries for the digicam. Or maybe I'll throw a webcam version up later.

Au revoir kiddies

It Ain't That Serious

My Fotki album has a folder containing some of my graphic fiddlings. I came across this comment on a photo manipulation of Pam Grier:

I'm so surprised to see this Jezzi-Bell image as one of your t-shirt designs! For centuries, black women have been portrayed as sexual objects by men and still today black women struggle with this same issue of objectification. I find this nude portrait highly offensive, degrading and demoralizing. So please do us (black women everywhere) a favor an take this objectification off your website.

My response:

1)Actually this isn't a t-shirt design, but a result of photo manipulation using Photoshop. But if I so choose I will fashion a t-shirt design from it. Like Bobby B. says, "It's my prerogative!"

2)Yes women (and not just black women) are being sexually objectified every single day. That's life. Either you refuse to let external perceptions affect you or you take others' perceptions and fashion them into something that works for YOU. YOU flip the script. YOU wrest the power of public opinion from their hands. I believe that's what Pam Grier did. When I look at pictures of her I don't see a demoralized, downtrodden black woman. I see a woman that REVELED in her sensuality and sexuality and WORKED that shyt to her advantage. Check out any pic or movies featuring Ms. Grier from back in the day. Her whole vibe was one of strength and confidence. I love working with her images and will continue to do so because they are compelling. Heck, you were compelled to leave an inane comment in my fotki album, no? ;)

3)If I were to take this picture out of my album based solely on your displeasure I would be forced to label myself a weak simpleton that is actually affected by random opinions of strangers. That, my dear, would be akin to death. Alas, I'm afraid this picture will stay. You may now skip along to albums that have more...palatable content.

One credo that I live by in life is "It ain't EEN that serious." I find that there are way too many people walking this earth that take life and themselves far too seriously. How you gone get all het up over a damn picture that Pam Grier took like 93849238409238 years ago? Bottom line no one forced her ass to do it. She is not in that pic with her hooha gaped open to the world. There isn't even any overt nudity! She was a grown ass woman that chose to take pictures and make movies that played up her sensuality. Chez Whitey ain't held a gun to her head, ya know? Honestly, that is one of my favorite images of her. Isn't it funny how different perception is?

I know that opinions on sexual objectification vary like fingerprints. Bottom line I'm just not very affected by it, as there other larger issues with which I have to deal.

Here's the pic, by the way:

In other news, my fro is on the grow! Check out the panty hose headband/fro combo:

I'm going to twist my hair tomorrow. I'll post a report on the results with a few pics.

Later gators!