Category: Social Awareness

Two weeks ago in Tulsa, Oklahoma, seven-year-old Tiana Parker was forced to choose between her hair — adorable, short dreadlocks held back with a bow — and her school, which deemed her hairstyle “unacceptable.” Tulsa’s Deborah Brown Community School sent Tiana home in tears for not being presentable for having dreadlocks. Rather than cut off her hair, she decided to switch schools. I wish this could have ended differently, with all parties recognizing that was an opportunity to introduce a very important dialogue about awareness, differences, equality, tolerance and self-love; explaining the difference in hair textures while emphasizing the beauty in all textures! Schools offer a safe, welcoming climate for children and should focus on the promotion of understanding the culturally diverse world we live in.

As your children have headed back-to-school and are getting settled into new classes, it’s important to reinforce that they are beautiful – exactly as they are. There is no better time to initiate the discussion than when doing hair before school, you only need 5 minutes! Hydrate nourish and style your little one’s hair with these quick back-to-school styling tips; long enough to reinforce self-esteem but quick enough to get them out the door on time:

Wavy Hair Styling – buoyant, light curls

Locks Styling – maintain hydration

Straight Hair Styling – reduce dullness

Twists – fight dryness

Curly Wash n’ Wear – define curls

Coiled Wash n’ Wear – control frizz

To celebrate the vast yet absolutely beautiful differences, please enjoy our Jane Carter Solution Back-to-School Sale:

Buy Any (2):
Restore Moisture Mist
Hydrate Seal & Shine
Nutrient Replenishing Conditioner
Creamy Leave in Styling Smoother
Scalp Nourishing Serum
Scalp Renew
Curl Defining Cream 6oz.

Then, Choose (1) for Free:
Wrap & Roll
Natural Hold Spray Gel
Hydrating Invigorating Shampoo
Hydrate Quench

Valid on orders $35 or greater. Offer valid thru 9/20-9/23 3am PDT. Must buy any (2) of selected JCS products to receive (1) free item of lesser value. Be sure to add your FREE item to your purchase in order to receive it!

Please share, how do you encourage your children to love the skin that they are in? Join the discussion on Facebook and Twitter!

Love Your Hair,

Jane

Thanking God for a bountiful harvest is not unkown in other parts of the world, there are a number of religions and countries that celebrate harvest related festivals. They are observered with different names and some during differnt seasons but all have the underlying theme of being thankful for abundance and prosperity.

Chung Ch’ui is also a three day long harvest festival celebrated in China on the full moon day of the eighth Chinese month which was believed to be the birthday of the moon. The specialty of the festival was its round and yellow ‘moon cakes’ with an image of rabbit on them. Their feast featured roasted pigs and first fruits of the harvest. A legend says that anyone who sees flowers falling from the moon on this day is blessed with a good fortune. An interesting anecdote to these moon cakes narrates that at the times when Chinese were surrounded by enemies, their women used these moon cakes to deliver secret messages in the name of their rituals and thus, helped the men to win back their liberty.

The Jewish Thanksgiving is known as Succoth. It starts on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Tishri, usually held in September and October lasting for seven days. The festival goes back to the period where the Hebrews would go through the wilderness on their voyage to Israel. During this time they lived in booths, which the open living space is called succah, where they gathered to worship and to share. Today the modern Jewish community continues to build Sukkots where they hold their festival.

The Indian, Thanksgiving id known as Pongal. Pongal is a popular harvest festival in South India named after a sweet rice dish. Pongal stars on January 14th and last three days. On the first day they offer pongal to Bhogi or Indran, the rain gods. On the second day pongal is offered to Surya, the sun. On the third day, they celebrate the cattle for all the hard work they done that year. The main activity includes the entire village having a feast that everyone brings food from their harvest.

Everybody shares their thanksgiving in a different way, but they also share it with their friends and family. So this Thanksgiving, think of all the other ways thanksgiving is celebrated and maybe share them with the rest of your family.

In 2007, Ashley Baker, a then-associate editor at Glamour Magazine, spoke to a group of 40 lawyers in Manhattan about the “dos and don’ts” of corporate fashion. When Baker got the slide showing a black woman with an Afro, it read “just say no to the fro”…and outrage ensued.

Natural hair, braids, twists, and dreadlocks were traditionally considered unemployable based on antiquated beliefs. Many natural hair wearers have felt the brunt of conservative employers who disapprove of “ethnic” hair. What is hiding under the guise of natural hair wear? Is it more about how well maintained your natural hair is or solely about hair being natural?

Many say we have progressed, is Corporate America is starting to accept natural hair? Or are there still some environments that consider natural hair to be taboo?