The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

It's the most wonderful time of the year
Where this hair care blogger will be of good cheer 
As I critique the best and worst hair styles of the year!

In 2014 we saw some interesting hairstyles come across our varying screens. With the ability to see what is going on in the entertainment industry, or the ability to see the person sitting directly across from you without them even knowing it is pretty interesting. In addition, photos can be posted to social networks like Facebook, Twitter, Snap Chat, The Vine and now the ever trending can't do without it, scrolling through your phone as you ignore people, Instagram. They all have the ability to give us an immediate glimpse into the world of the masses caught on camera by others, photographers, paparazzi and selfie masters world wide.

As we all know there are pros and cons to this sweeping phenomena called "sending" and posting to social networking. The pros of course are exposure to what is caught on camera by way of sending, following, getting followed, getting liked and now hashtagged. While filtering does wonders of hiding, blending and accentuating what we like and dislike about a photo; it does not save you from the world of those who like to compliment and critique. Rather the complimenting and critiquing is done by the every day, all day; anytime "sms/mms sending," or the 24 hour non stop inundated talk show hosts gossiping, funny and loquacious radio disk jockeys joke telling or screen shooting to repost... SMH, it is all exposure none the least. 

So as 2014 has come to an end, it truly is the most wonderful time of the year where I get to add my two cents about the popular and not so popular hairstyles of 2014. Drum roll please:

She did that; that thang!

The Sock Bun. For a minute there, I was getting kind of excited that women from all over were paying us hair stylists top dollars to create this vintage look that is very easy to do as well as maintain until, the "As Seen on TV" infomercial introduced the masses to a simple way to re-create the look at home. I know; but I ain't gone hate. It truly is simple to do when you have enough hair...lol

Way too much weave

Next up, Weaves, the R&B Divas LA. I could not resist. Honestly, I have never seen it. Well, from the looks of this Google image with their hair weaves jumping out atcha, this photo is worth a thousand words and I will just pick the shortest word that comes to my mind...FAKE! I admit, I have no concept of how to create a hair weave by any stretch of the imagination. Yet, I am truly of a fan of the option to transform oneself just because you can. However, reality shows that are full of fake everything gets my "hair styling" goat. I am of the understanding of the skills it takes to wear a weave let alone make a weave; but when every Reality TV show casts women wearing fake hair during almost every show and photo op; the fake hair actually takes away from the reality of  real hair styling...LMAO 

The incomparable Jill!

Next, Funky Spiky Hair. The incomparable songstress extraordinaire, the lady Jill Scott tore it up in 2014. While I was not a fan of her blonde weave on the cover of Essence this year, I loved the versatility of a woman who can do what ever she likes. Especially when she does it well. I was attempting to think of all kinds of fascinating things to say about Jill Scott, but her hair speaks for itself...YOLO

Ok, Natural Hairstyles. This one was an easy... but the SMH of the millennium goes to the entire United States Armed Forces. That is right the United States Armed Forces took a stance earlier this year to say that "braids wider than 1/4 inch and artificially enhanced braid and twist styles violate the code." Code, schmode. They get a big fat WTF! This is the most wonderful time of the year to honor the women who leave their families behind to go out into the world to make it safe for us to do everything from blog to buying the fake hair and everything in between. And the best the gov'ment can come up with is a "code" to violate hair styling. "Tisk, come on, don't gimme dat!" In my Biz Markie voice. United States Armed Forces, yall got me twisted on this one! I would love to sign that petition to have that changed. While the Armed Forces give these braid styles a violation without a salute, I give them two thumbs up and a salute! ...IJS

I hope they change this one day soon.

Weaves that look bad in photos in any year. This one is so difficult for me. Because 2014 really went HAM on posting and selfies, I have to blog about it. I love to be in photos and I take my share of selfies. But, the truth of the matter is that if it looks bad in a photo; you know it looks worse in real life. So, it is also that time of the year to inform Ne Ne Leaks that her weaves do not look nice in photos. There are many hairstylists who can create her a more polished natural looking and PHOTOGENIC weave. Why do the people who work around her do not tell her that her hair looks like the "Little People" toys in her photos? Can you say, "The Emperors New Clothes?" If there was one celebrity I would love to hear the truth about how wiggy and plastered on her weave look, it is her. NeNe is a beautiful woman. Her skin is flawless. Her smile and attire are always pristine. I don't care if she has had a little lift and tuck; she is beautiful as she is statuesque. However her hair is too fake for a woman that is so very real...TTYL

This is what happens when you surround yourself with...

Ahh, on to Long Layers. All by her wittle lonesome in 2014, the first lady Michelle Obama is set the tone for versatility in a world of diversity. Michelle Obama wears the kind of hair almost any woman, with any image of any race on varying income levels can relate to. Her hairstylist is excellent at reflecting and capturing what makes her tick...her personality. I love the new color. I love the hair cut. I love the way she keeps herself looking nice and adjusts her image to what the work day or life calls for...HAK (hugs and kisses)

I love it!

Next, the Pony Tail! Rhianna shut it down in 2014 hair style wise. As iconic is her taste in fashion and attitude, so is her flair for hair. The pony tail, by far, is the most under rated and most hated hair style. As a hair stylist, I do not know why. A pony tail does wonders when time is of the essence, money is low, products are no where to be found, water is not near by and when a comb is just too much to bear. I love the pony tail. In 2014 there were so many takes on the pony tail. I loved them all. For Rhianna to wear one during a very personal and formal occasion, further proves my case.  In the infamous words of my favorite world renowned make up artist Renny Vasquez, "You betta ...CYE (check yo email)!"

Last but not least, Not Knowing How to Do Your Own Hair hair style. It is the year 2014, believe it or not there remains a large number of hair stylists who continue to service women and not make sure they know how to re-create that "paid for" hair style in between salon visits. It remains the number one thing in the beauty industry that I do not like the most. Image for many is very important. It is not uncommon that I come across women and men who do not have the courage to stand up for how they want to look; let alone how to do it. This can be an issue for those who have not developed a sense of individuality or a skill of how to do their own hair. Yet as hair stylists it is imperative that like a doctor who never gives up on a patient, we should never give up on teaching someone the basics of preserving or creating a hair style. With that being wrote, absolutely nooooooo woman comes to mind as I write this last example of hair styling at home gone wrong than Pam Oliver. I would be some kind of not wonderful if I was to give a bad review on her hair style.

Supposedly, she mostly does it herself. And unfortunately doing so cost her her job. This one is difficult too because it more than demonstrates the most un-talked about topic in hair care and hair styling; not knowing how to do your own hair.....SOS

Make the time to take the time to learn your hair.

SOS, help, assistance, guidance and the likes is what Ms. Oliver needed. While I am not sure if she has hair underneath her wigs and weaves, I am certain that she somehow lost herself along the way. Many women see hair as an accessory. Hair is not and accessory. Your hair is an intricate part of you as your personality. Like her, I have been put under the pressure to look nice on a moments notice with limited hair styling options. Though I have never worn a weave, styled one or even applied one; I am sure that with proper guidance and strong foundation of who she is; this unwanted hair style of shame could have been avoided.

So with that being said, I am a fan of inspiration. There is nothing wrong with throwing a wig on in a pinch and incorporating it into a style that you call your own. I am a even bigger fan of being uniquely you. In 2015, make the time to take the time to learn your hair. When it comes to hair be it your hair or hair additions, I highly recommend taking the time out to investigate, consult with and invest in a stylist who can help you help yourself as you grow and change with your image. Do not puppet your image. Do not surround yourself with people who tell you what you want to hear. 

There will be much hair styles a showing
And hair will be growing
When hair stylists are or not near
It's the most wonderful time of the year!

Happy new year...