Let's Talk Hair, Volume 1 [Paperback]

Pamela Ferrell (Author), Lurma Rackley (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0939183021 | ISBN-13: 978-0939183029 | Publication Date: December 1996

pamela ferrells natural hair care system has helped thousands of women grow healthy hair. you will feel like you have her one-on-one personal consultation to talk about your hair...it's unique qualities and how you can care ofr it without chemicals. learn beauty industry secrets and answers to all the questions you wanted to ask but didn't know who to ask.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Cornrows and Company (December 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0939183021
• ISBN-13: 978-0939183029
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 7 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (45 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,032,950 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

92 of 94 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read for the Beginner Natural Hair Wearer, March 15, 2000

By 

Minnesota Raven "Viking Vixen" (Minnesota) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Let's Talk Hair, Volume 1 (Paperback)

I found this book very very informative on the basics of natural hair care. This effort by Ms. Ferrell and the book entitled No Lye both gave me the confidence a year ago to stop the chemicals. I started my search for information on how to get from under the chemical umbrella and discovered this book here on Amazon.com.

I opted to use braids to grow out my chemical hair just because I knew I could not handle a teeney weeney afro, that's just not me. Well a year has gone by and I have a head full of natural hair and it's not scary at all. Trust me I had some bad moments the first time I had to take out my braids but have since come to see what Ms. Ferrell meant about the texture of your hair changing as it comes out from under the influence of the chemicals. My primary reason for going natural has nothing to do with Black pride, sorry to say. I had way more selfish reasons. I was worried about my health. Over the last few years I had undergone an intense learning period of understanding about the foods we eat or don't eat and the functions of the various organs of the body. When I realized the absorption capabilities of our skin I grew quite concerned. The skin is powerful and very good at one of it's jobs which is to absorb. I came to the conclusion that I should not have anything put on my scalp wherein my stylist had to wear gloves. If it was too dangerous for her hands it was too dangerous for me. Ms. Ferrell touches on this very topic and it was gratifying to see others express this concern.

After having said all of this I have to admit I was still nervous the other day as I sat in the chair to get my first set of twist. Hallelujah.... I have been set free. It is so hard to describe the feeling of wearing my hair a la natural. I do believe this is easy enough with straight twisting to do it on my own soon enough but..... I am lazy and just like other people's hands in my head.

So whatever your reasons for wanting to go natural this book is great. I have to agree with another reviewer and put in a request for more styles in the next book but this is excellent for those just starting out.

59 of 60 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The "naptural" hair care bible, June 14, 2001

By 

lbellatrix - See all my reviews

This review is from: Let's Talk Hair, Volume 1 (Paperback)

Every black woman who is either thinking of going natural or is already natural but doesn't know what to do with "it" should own this book. "Good Hair," "No Lye," and this book all take different approaches to the same topic -- how best to care for chemically unaltered tightly curled Afro-textured hair -- but this one is by far the most comprehensive, particularly in terms of the number of chemical-free styling options available.

I have been natural for the better part of 5.5 years and this is the book I always recommend first. My favorite sections involve descriptions of black hair and the various properties and characteristics it has. So many of us are so used to thinking of this hair type in "can't, doesn't, won't" mode...this is a book that will have you operating in "can, does, will" mode. The key to caring for this hair type involves abandoning everything you've been taught about your hair -- a methodology that simply isn't designed for this hair type! -- and learning from scratch. This book will help you get there.

The only reason I don't give this book five stars is that it's very poorly edited. But I was once an editor, so I pick up on bad editing right away. If you can get past the shoddy editing (and the average person usually can), this book is well worth the money.

If you need more information about caring for natural Afro-textured hair, there are a plethora of Web sites containing discussion forums in which you can participate. Do a search on "natural hair" on Google.com.

46 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Well Written and Chock Full of Hair Care Info, May 16, 2000

By 

Minnesota Raven "Viking Vixen" (Minnesota) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Let's Talk Hair, Volume 1 (Paperback)

Finally, someone that knows what its like to have to really deal with OUR hair. I use this book as a reference guide when trying to deal with my hair. Girls, women, females... it's just not easy. I turned a new leaf at the age of 40 and began to really get into my health, eating and drinking habits. I tend to do my investigation through books and kept coming across books that talked about the skin's great absorption capabilities. That started to finally sink in when it came to my hair. That why would I put dangerous chemicals on my scalp for over 20 years and not think eventually it would catch up with me. I took the route of growing out my relaxer via braids for a little over a year. It worked but I got tired of them too. My problem which I don't know if it was explained in any book is that while my hair grew quite nicely while in braids it was also quite damaged. You just can't take care of your hair properly the way you need to with extensions in your hair. So I have now given up the extensions and have a head full of wonderful nappy hair and it's scary believe me. But while it has taken me some time to get used to shampooing it, combing it and just getting it tamed, each time I get better and better at it. Heed the tips in this book, I did and now I know how to shampoo my hair without getting a head full of tangles, I know how to blow dry it (if I want to and most times I don't) and I know how to condition it. If I have one complaint it's that there should be more step by step pics of what's going on. I have to admit I now have a wig, a false hair piece for buns to cover me for those days when I just have a tacky looking corn row. My hair isn't long enough (not yet anyway) to just throw a long braid down my back but I know now that it will only get better. Take the effort, don't listen to all those out there who encourage the chemicals and be true to yourself, if not for your own ethnic pride then for your health.