Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing
Review: Warning! Don't buy this book unless you have or want braids or dreads. It's named No Lye, but that's a lie in itself. The subtitle is a far cry from what the contents actually deal with. It in no way gives advice for "natural hair care" (in its TRUE form). The author's bias to dreadlocks are blatantly evident, since they are so extensively explored and photograhped (hers and her dauighter's included). In dealing with braids, she painstakenly explains how to do 2 stranded twists, apply beads, and finishing off extensions by either burning the tips or dipping them into hot water. Give me a break already! Braids have been popular long enough for every black woman to be familiar with these BASIC techniques. She could've used that space up to tell us something we didn't already know or couldn't already figure out.Also, there is about 1 picture of a woman with "loose" kinky hair (and that was a close-cropped fade). The author NEVER gives advice about how to style long kinky hair and protectit from the elements, etc., when you're sick of braids and simply don't want to loc. She never even shows pictureS of loose hair to give ideas to inspired women. Ironically, most of the Afrocentric hairdos photographed resemble Eurocentric hair, long and floppy, not puffed and coiled. I tried the "great" banana conditioner she prescribes, and in short, it was an absolute nightmare to wash out. I would've been better off rubbing globs of Ultra-Sheen into my scalp. Also, the type of shampoo she recommended for "my" hair type dried it to the bone. Now I'll NEED to wear braids to give my poor hair a rest, so maybe that was her plan all along. I was just fine before all of this by using Cream Of Nature shampoo (for dry hair) and a simple vinegar rinse follow-up. I encourage black women with natural hair to try a basic regimine like this one, letting the hair air-dry. Moisturize, but not with anything petroletum or mineral oil based. It'll be so shiny, soft, and springy. I regret buying this book. I ordered Pamela Ferrell's book, too, and hope it hits closer to home.
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