Natural Hair Care and Braiding

Rating:
Summary: Why I wrote this guide
Review: For too long, the beauty enhancement industry has ignored the versatility of African-textured hair. Often our kinky hair was considred problem hair that needed to be "controlled" or "straighten." This new guide defines what is culturally aesthetic for African-textured hair, and helps both the stylists and client make the holistic journey to natural beauty and self awareness. It offers grooming tips, herbal treatments, traditional braid, loc and weave techniques without chemical processing.

Rating:
Summary: Finally the answers I have been looking for.
Review: I agree with the reader from Oakland. This book... is much too expensive. The book is about 260 pages long but there aren't any photos of natural hairstyles until page 185! The first 2/3 of the book is a manual for cosmetologists on how to care for a clients natural hair. Since I have most of the other popular books on natural haircare (Pam Ferrel, Tulani Kinard, Bonner, etc) I already know most of this information. Except for a special 8 page section at the end of the book, all the photos are in black and white. This is fine but some of the photos are instructional and it's very difficult to see how the styles are made. The section on locks styles (palm rolling, etc) is very very short and not very good. For example there is only one small photo that shows how to palm roll and since it's not in color you can't see it. This is the biggest problem with the book. The short chapter on flat twists is a failure. The photos are lovely but there is not photo instruction and the author tries to explain how to achieve the style in 3 sentences. That's it. If you are a person that frequently buys black hairstyling magazines, I guarantee that you've seen ALL of the photos in this book. They are used frequently in hairstyle magazines. If you are beautician who isn't familiar with natural african hair, you will find this book useful but for women with natural hair who are looking for new styles, I would buy LETS TALK HAIR instead.

Rating:
Summary: Not what I expected.
Review: I agree with the reader from Oakland. This book... is much too expensive. The book is about 260 pages long but there aren't any photos of natural hairstyles until page 185! The first 2/3 of the book is a manual for cosmetologists on how to care for a clients natural hair. Since I have most of the other popular books on natural haircare (Pam Ferrel, Tulani Kinard, Bonner, etc) I already know most of this information. Except for a special 8 page section at the end of the book, all the photos are in black and white. This is fine but some of the photos are instructional and it's very difficult to see how the styles are made. The section on locks styles (palm rolling, etc) is very very short and not very good. For example there is only one small photo that shows how to palm roll and since it's not in color you can't see it. This is the biggest problem with the book. The short chapter on flat twists is a failure. The photos are lovely but there is not photo instruction and the author tries to explain how to achieve the style in 3 sentences. That's it. If you are a person that frequently buys black hairstyling magazines, I guarantee that you've seen ALL of the photos in this book. They are used frequently in hairstyle magazines. If you are beautician who isn't familiar with natural african hair, you will find this book useful but for women with natural hair who are looking for new styles, I would buy LETS TALK HAIR instead.

Rating:
Summary: truly natural!
Review: I am truly glad someone has came out with a book about natural hair because not everyone likes perms and things in their hair. It truly does makes a different when you want to be one hundred percent real.

Rating:
Summary: Finally the answers I have been looking for.
Review: I have been considering going natural for some time now, unfortunately there is a social stigma along with this, and because of this not too many people know how, or what to do with natural hair. I was one of those people until I found Ms. Bailey's book. It open my eyes to what natural hair really meant and also showed me that you do not have to relax your hair to have braids. It also explains how to do things right, like how to remove extensions without having to cut your own hair off, (a chapter that I had read after I had such a fiasco and saw all the things I did wrong). Now I do not do anything to my hair without first consulting the book. I look to it for styling ideas, and products. My only regret is that Ms. Bailey's shop is in New York and I cannot got here personally. But having her book is the next best thing to being in her salon.

Rating:
Summary: Good pictures but pricey for the information given.
Review: I probably have all of the books available on African/curly/coily hair and this book was expensive and not for the do-it-yourselfer. There are definitely less expensive books that offer better value. In my opinion, the books "Let's Talk Hair" by Pam Ferrell, and "No Lye" by Tulani Kinard offer excellent photographs, hair care tips, and how-to-do-it style information. "Good Hair" by Lonnice Bonner is also good besides being fun to read. By the way, I have what Ferrell calls 75% shrinkage hair and I love it!

Rating:
Summary: Good
Review: I think the book was good but it could have been better. I agree with another review which said that techniques on palm rolling and flat twists were scant. It would have just been better to leave these two styles out, than to have step-by-step instructions on other styles and nothing on these two. I am guessing Mrs. Bailey and her associates do not want to give away too many tips and secrets and it left me a little disappointed. Overall the good was very good but I agree the instructional portion should have had bigger, clearer pictures. I liked "Let's Talk Hair" better also.

Rating:
Summary: Good
Review: I think the book was good but it could have been better. I agree with another review which said that techniques on palm rolling and flat twists were scant. It would have just been better to leave these two styles out, than to have step-by-step instructions on other styles and nothing on these two. I am guessing Mrs. Bailey and her associates do not want to give away too many tips and secrets and it left me a little disappointed. Overall the good was very good but I agree the instructional portion should have had bigger, clearer pictures. I liked "Let's Talk Hair" better also.

Rating:
Summary: Great Instructional
Review: If you want a book that tells you step by step what to do to create duplicates of styles that are in the book this book is for you. It is a no nonsense book - keeping you focused and on point to create georgous styles. And even if you don't turn out exactly like the book, you get one of a kind workable masterpieces that will always bring compliments and turn heads. The book is one I will always keep as a reference book.

Rating:
Summary: Great Instructional
Review: If you want a book that tells you step by step what to do to create duplicates of styles that are in the book this book is for you. It is a no nonsense book - keeping you focused and on point to create georgous styles. And even if you don't turn out exactly like the book, you get one of a kind workable masterpieces that will always bring compliments and turn heads. The book is one I will always keep as a reference book.