aHead of MY Hair

January 1, 2019

Happy Kwanzaa ❤️

Happy Kwanzaa naturalistas!

I was super excited about celebrating this year because Project Africa: LA hosted it's first Kwanzaa at Hot and Cool Cafe in Leimert Park Village. Set on Kuumba (Creativity), it was a great time for open mic expression.

I decided to rock a headwrap style featuring a wrap I purchased in South Africa this past summer on the PALA Back II Afrika voyage.

It was a wonderful night filled with libation, youth candle lighting ceremony, drumming, poets, singers, story tellers and more. Over 25 artists shared their talents on the mic in addition to the featured performers.

Nguzo Saba

* UMOJA (unity)

* KUJICHAGULIA (self-determination)

* UJIMA (collective work and responsibility)

* UJAMAA (cooperative economics)

* NIA (purpose)

* KUUMBA (creativity)

* IMANI (faith)

- "Mo hair"

Rahkua Ishakarah

rahkua.com

YouTube: A Head Of MY Hair

Instagram: @aHeadOfMyHair

Tumblr: http://rahkuanailshair.tumblr.com

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December 18, 2018

My Hair is Growing!

My hair is growing! Ok, so yes, it is still a teeny weeny afro, BUT, it is now long enough to add my hair back into it.

If you've been following the blog, you know that after I cut off my locks a couple years ago, I saved them. After doing a deep clean and conditioning, I did my natural hair extensions using my own hair. <CLICK HERE FOR ARTICLE > I've been dealing with some discontent over this stage of my hair journey, so have been eagerly awaiting the moment I had enough growth to finally reattach. The moment has arrived!

Casual Monday Vacay in Vegas

Performance in Bakersfield, CA

I love the versatility this affords me. Going from super short to super long in a matter of hours is a pretty powerful feeling. I love it! I even chose to don the look for a dope fashion show, and it is bomb.

Have you ever used your own hair as extensions?

Do you prefer long or short?

- "Mo hair"

Rahkua Ishakarah

rahkua.com

YouTube: A Head Of MY Hair

Instagram: @aHeadOfMyHair

Tumblr: http://rahkuanailshair.tumblr.com

SUBSCRIBE to my mailing list at iHEARTrahkua@gmail.com

October 2, 2018

Natural Hair Pixie Fail

So it has been a couple months since the big natural chop and I can admit that I am a little frustrated with the current stage of my hair. I'm completely down from the "I'm loving it" phase and starting to move to the opposite spectrum unfortunately.

I just celebrated another revolution around the sun (Happy Birthday to me!) and wanted to try some new things with my hair. I bought a thick brush and tried out this style for the Beyonce concert:

The baby fro is really not doing it for me, so I decided to try a pixie look. Unfortunately, I didn't realize that those cute little cuts have relaxer as a main step haha. I tried straightening it, but was a big giant fail. I won't show all the pics because they're too terrible, but here's a glimpse:

When I realized it wasn't as simple as merely grabbing a flat iron, I still didn't want to give up. So I grabbed a huge jar of eco-styling gel and foam/mousse and slathered it all on my head. I didn't quite achieve the cute pixie I was looking for, but I instead chose to embrace the slick down look.

The slick didn't hold that well next day but it wasn't a terrible transition a little dried out.

I still wasn't quite satisfied, so I decided to try again. The second time, I achieved better results....maybe it was a combination of allowing it to dry, tying it down overnight, and using a bit more gel.

Though cute, the aftermath is a bit concerning. It's troubling that only a couple months in, I already heat damaged my hair again. Major face palm.

Hopefully the damage isn't too permanent...but I think I'll preempt the effects by just cutting it off again. Oh the twists and turns in this head of hair!

Have you ever tried a relaxer-free pixie style?

What products did you use?

- "Mo hair"

Rahkua Ishakarah

rahkua.com

YouTube: A Head Of MY Hair

Instagram: @aHeadOfMyHair

Tumblr: http://rahkuanailshair.tumblr.com

SUBSCRIBE to my mailing list at iHEARTrahkua@gmail.com

September 12, 2018

Bantu Knots W/Fam

Bantu Knots are probably one of my favorite looks. Even before, when I had locks, it was definitely a go to style. I love the symmetry of it, the neatness, the durability, and of course, the fact that when you take them down, you have a whole new hairstyle for another 2 weeks! Recently I spent some time in my hometown and ended up doing my sister's and aunt's bantu knots.

I was able to stick around long enough for us all to take them down as well. Our curls are poppin!

My sister and I even ended up shooting together with Alexander Fre$co of VisualsAF.

Do you wear your bantu knots out or just as a protective style?

How long do you keep your bantu knots up before wearing them out curly?

- "Mo hair"

Rahkua Ishakarah

rahkua.com

YouTube: A Head Of MY Hair

Instagram: @aHeadOfMyHair

Tumblr: http://rahkuanailshair.tumblr.com

SUBSCRIBE to my mailing list at iHEARTrahkua@gmail.com

August 4, 2018

South Africa Baybeee!

As some of you guys may or may not know, I'm the founder of a platform for artists to connect culturally, artistically, socially, and psychically to the motherland, Project Africa: LA. Some of you guys have donated to the cause, attended our events, and in general showed your support and I'm so grateful for you!

I just wanted to share some hair photos from the journey. (You can check out other types of pics as well as highlights of the travel on projectafricala.blogspot.com). As you can see, I'm rocking a twa now as the hair starts to grow back. I can say it gets a little difficult to feel like I have some variety, but it was a bit of a relief not to have to stress over hair as I traversed the many other concerns of being in a foreign country.