No Lye: The African American Woman's Guide To Natural Hair Care [Paperback]

Tulani Kinard (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 15, 1997

For years, African-American women have relied on harsh chemicals and relaxers to "manage" their hair--which more often than not did more damage than good. Improper braiding techniques have also contributed no small amount of harm, resulting in frail, damaged hair and even pattern baldness in women.

No Lye! offers a safe and easy alternative. In this hair-care and styling guide Tulani Kinard reveals the secrets to obtaining and maintaining beautiful healthy hair--naturally.

Discover...
The art of making braids, terrific twists and lovely locks
Easy recipes for products that clean, strengthen, and condition the hair
Ways to heal damaged hair
Painless methods of caring for your children's hair
Fast, easy styles for all lengths and textures of hair
The pros and cons of using hair extensions

Ask me your hair-care questions...I'll tell you No Lye!

Editorial Reviews

Review

"No Lye is a degree granting, home study course in the mystique, magic and proper care of black women's hair. What a blessing!"
--Iyanla Vanzant, author of In the Meantime

"No Lye is not an ordinary how-to book. Tulani Kinard's study on African American Natural hair care is based on her philasophical belief that beauty and self-love is also healthy and biologically sound. A must-read for every African-American women, man, girl, and boy--at least!" --Bernice John Reagon

About the Author

Tulani Kinard is the owner of Tulani's Regal Movement, a natrual hair-care salon in Brooklyn, New York. She has worked as a contributing editor to Blackstress and Black Hair Care magazines and her hair sculptures have been featured in everything from Essence to The New York TimesI. She is cofounder of the International Braider's Network and former president of the National Braider's Guild.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin (September 15, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312151802
• ISBN-13: 978-0312151805
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (55 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #719,337 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

75 of 77 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Best!, September 6, 2000

By 

NappyGirl (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: No Lye: The African American Woman's Guide To Natural Hair Care (Paperback)

NO LYE! is probably my favorite book on the topic of natural haircare for Black women. Although I've owned it for several years, I still find myself pulling it off the bookshelf when I'm contemplating a new style.

Tulani takes a decidedly "Afrocentric" approach to hair styling so you won't find any braid styles that "mimic" European hair (for example, there are no weaves or individual braids w/ human hair ends left free flowing).

NO LYE! is full of useful information about the various "types" of African hair and how to best care for it in it's natural state. It also contains information on hair adornment, proper diet, caring for children's hair, alopecia and dryness/breakage.

The book is full of beautiful black and white pictures of sisters (with and without extensions) sporting braids, naturals and locked styles. Since I'm considering locking my own hair, I found the info in the lock chapter to be inspiring and extremely helpful.

NO LYE is a fantastic all-around reference book for natural hair but many of the styles would probably have to be done by a professional stylist if you aren't an expert braider yourself (I'm not). There is a brief segment on how to braid with extensions but it wasn't detailed enough for me to copy. Aside from twists and short naturals, there aren't many do-it-yourself styles for natural sisters in the book.

In any case, I would recommend this book to anyone that has recently made the committment to natural hair.

51 of 52 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Pics and Good Infomation, May 16, 2000

By 

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

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: No Lye: The African American Woman's Guide To Natural Hair Care (Paperback)

Tulani has done an excellent job of putting together the much needed info for caring for natural, chemical free, hair. Why there are so few books on the subject is a mystery to me given the health ramifications involved with continuously using caustic chemicals on ones scalp. But, the need to "fit in" is greater than the need for a healthy life. Well I am finally brave enough and secure in my own heart to know that whatever God gave me is what I have and if it sticks straight up then it sticks straight up. I use this book as a reference guide along with Pamela Ferrell and Lonnice Bonner's books. It helps to re-read some of the sections when you are staring in the mirror with a head full of nappy hair and thinking why oh why don't I just get a perm. Whenever I feel the urge to take that road I read one of my reference guides. Not only for the how to info but the moral support as well. My hair is now 6 to 7 inches and growing like crazy. In other words it quit breaking off and I think that the longer it gets the easier it will be to manage. I look forward to the day I can easily wear buns and do single braids. This isn't far off but until this time I will deal with the twisting and braiding while I wait for a few more inches to grow.

35 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Overjoyed!, November 26, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Decatur, Georgia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: No Lye: The African American Woman's Guide To Natural Hair Care (Paperback)

I heard about this book in passing and was anxious to read it. I LOVED this book! As a college student who will graduate in a few years I am constantly searching for hairstyles that I can wear on a job interview or hangin' out with my girls. Ms. Kinard's book allowed me to explore some natural hair options for myself (I don't plan on putting a chemical back into my hair ever) and push my mom towards the natural hair experience (it really is healthier). This book is especially helpful if you're coming out of a chemical and want to strengthen your hair, or if you just want to know a little more about the whole natural hair movement. One thing I can guarantee, you won't want to go back to chemically-treated hair after turning the last page.