DECISIONS, DECISIONS








.....and so it's not like i'm trying to convince anyone to loc, but right about now, with the infinite possibilities for styling locs knocking at my door, i'm just so happy about this new beginning.

as i was saying to this sister at the health food store today, i'm just not into this whole hair thing that many women are into. another part of my decision to loc comes from the hard core fact that no other group of women on this planet spend as much time and energy talking about and worrying about hair as black women. i mean really, how long does the average woman of color spend in the salon? practically all day, every other or every third week. not only that but correct me if i'm wrong, i don't know of any other ethnic group that applies a toxic chemical to their hair -- a chemical that requires the applicant don gloves, mind you -- all in the name of looking beautiful. now i'm not bashing women who chose to wear relaxers. i was one of them. and had spouse not complained of my hair being on every floor in our house --bathroom, kitchen, livingroom -- and had i not noticed the quarter sized balding spots scattered around various parts of my head, i would probably still be a card carrying member of Revlon. but the truth is no matter how good a relaxed head of hair looks, ie no matter how much it swings in the wind and lays down and obeys, there is no such thing as a healthy head of relaxed hair. relaxed hair is unhealthy by nature of it being relaxed (which to me, is such an interesting term. i can't imagine anything 'relaxing' about hair that is singed with lye).

which brings me also to this whole beauty industry and my rebellious nature. last night i was *so* wanting to pamper myself with a nice hot shower and my sample sized body butter from here. it's been a long time since i've bought anything new so i got to thinking that maybe i should stiffen the lip and go on and order something from either them or from her. i even skipped over to burt's bees and then over to my all time favorite to see if either of them had a good sale going on. honey, did i not close down that computer just too quick or what! maybe i'm getting cheap in my old age but i just can't see getting off of $25 (plus shipping, mind you) for a four ounce container of something i could really make myself. i mean, come on, all of these products are a mix of essentially the same thing: olive oil, coconut oil, jojoba oil, cocoa or shea butters, and some essential oil for fragrance. that's it. all of which can be purchased in the health food store. i'm making better decisions about my money these days and $25 on body butter and unnecessary gizmos and gadgets and wing-dings around the house are just not on my radar screen right now. i have to give it to warm spirit, there products are really good and i truly love the mango butter over at the body shop but let's face it, $20 is $20. that's a ticket and a soda sit and listen to maxine hong kingston or toni morrison this fall at the 92nd Street Y. so didn't a sister jump on over to the health food store today to pick up a little bit of sandalwood and some lavendar essential oils; already have coconut, shea butter and olive oil at home. and didn't i cook up my own version tonight? hmph! oh yes i did. found a good recipe last night online for body butter right over here. all of this to say that nap-turality breeds naturality and clarity and sooner or later one begins to buy out of the whole notion that what is beautiful is fake, expensive, external. one begins to find and connect to that which is easiest on the body, the mind, the spirit and the wallet.

be good,

angel