Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

If you are trying to decide what natural style to wear? Should you loc? How much maintenance natural haircare will be, or just plain confused about natural haircare, this is the book to have. Tulani's African-American Womens Guide To Natural Hair Care is a wonderful tool.

In this book I learnt what is the best PH balance for our hair, why my hair might be dry or flaky. Tulani explains how you can make herbal and fruit conditioners from your own kitchen.

Sisterlocks, Flat Twist, two-strand twist, palm roll twist, Comb Coiling, and just about every thing on braid extension and hair wrappings can be found in "No Lye". And those of you looking for the "Root of it all" that's chapter 1, understanding our hair and the composition of it.

Tulani mentions in the book and I quote" Eventually your status as an "educated consumer" will have an impact upon the product manufacturer's research and development process. You will move aeway from products that are popular or familiar, toward products that you know will satisfy your hair's biochemical needs"

I only have one more thing to say this is not a book to be without.

Sadly, there are few books dedicated solely to the process of locking hair and its maintenance. It's really too bad since more and more women of color are viewing locked hair as a viable alternative to harsh chemicals, weaves and extensions. At the very least, you would think authors and experts would pick up on this trend and write a useful book just on the topic of lock maintenance alone. But I digress.

Tulani Kinard may not have devoted her entire book to locks, but she comes quite close by focusing enough attention on the subject as to make this book both a highly useful primer and an inestimable ongoing reference guide.

Anecdotally, I locked my hair over the course of two days after finally accepting the reality that my quest for straight, sleek styles had caused me to develop dire and incessant scalp irritation for which I had begun using prescription shampoo (yikes), and a head of hair that was more equine in nature than of the human variety. Read: It was a sad state of affairs.

Needless to say, Kinard's book was invaluable in pointing me to products (and telling me which to avoid) that would help my puerile locks stay, well, locked. She recommended scalp treatments for the anything-but-enjoyable first few months when the committed self-stylist finds themselves abstaining from hair washing so as not to unravel their hard work (trust me, this is the hardest part). Kinard even goes so far as to cover the transitions locked hair goes through, how to keep hair looking and smelling fresh with homemade tea and herbal rinses, and by gosh if she didn't sprinkle the work with inspirational photos of men, women and children sporting natural styles (from braids to locks) that kept my dedication high as I soldiered through the early and mostly unflattering stages of locked hair.

Three years later, I have a beautiful head of mature, small locks that have grown longer than my relaxed hair ever did. I continue to reference "No Lye" from time to time when I want to freshen up my hair care regimen.

In addition to "No Lye," I also recommend "The Black Woman's Guide to Beautiful, Healthier Hair in 6 Weeks! The 2003 Edition." Although light on specifics for women with natural hair, it's still a good starting point for developing a hair care regimen that offers definitive results.

In short, "No Lye" is an indispensable resource for the curious neophyte to the long-time wearer of mature locks looking for a new "twist" on hair care.

I was very disappointed with this book. I do not care for the artificial look of extensions & braids, nor do I want to get locked into as drastic a hairstyle as dreads, so I really hoped that Ms. Kinard's book would offer some creative options. I was wrong. She's a hairdresser but the only styles this book presented were extensions, dread locks, and knots. As a Black woman with long, thick, kinky hair, I am still searching for alternate, creative hairstyles that don't involve chemicals, enormous amounts of heat, or styles that cost so much time and money that I'll be reluctant or unable to change them easily. But if you don't mind weaving somebody else's hair into your own, or even trying synthetic or Yak's hair, this book is definitely for you.

Warning! Don't buy this book unless you have or want braids or dreads. It's named No Lye, but that's a lie in itself. The subtitle is a far cry from what the contents actually deal with. It in no way gives advice for "natural hair care" (in its TRUE form). The author's bias to dreadlocks are blatantly evident, since they are so extensively explored and photograhped (hers and her dauighter's included). In dealing with braids, she painstakenly explains how to do 2 stranded twists, apply beads, and finishing off extensions by either burning the tips or dipping them into hot water. Give me a break already! Braids have been popular long enough for every black woman to be familiar with these BASIC techniques. She could've used that space up to tell us something we didn't already know or couldn't already figure out.

Also, there is about 1 picture of a woman with "loose" kinky hair (and that was a close-cropped fade). The author NEVER gives advice about how to style long kinky hair and protectit from the elements, etc., when you're sick of braids and simply don't want to loc. She never even shows pictureS of loose hair to give ideas to inspired women. Ironically, most of the Afrocentric hairdos photographed resemble Eurocentric hair, long and floppy, not puffed and coiled.

I tried the "great" banana conditioner she prescribes, and in short, it was an absolute nightmare to wash out. I would've been better off rubbing globs of Ultra-Sheen into my scalp. Also, the type of shampoo she recommended for "my" hair type dried it to the bone. Now I'll NEED to wear braids to give my poor hair a rest, so maybe that was her plan all along. I was just fine before all of this by using Cream Of Nature shampoo (for dry hair) and a simple vinegar rinse follow-up. I encourage black women with natural hair to try a basic regimine like this one, letting the hair air-dry. Moisturize, but not with anything petroletum or mineral oil based. It'll be so shiny, soft, and springy. I regret buying this book. I ordered Pamela Ferrell's book, too, and hope it hits closer to home.

I call "No Lye" a companion book, because there was not enough useful information regarding free form natural hairstyles for my purposes. This book has much more information on braiding and locking than it does on styling freedom hair. Having said that, I still give it 4 stars because I find myself referring to it frequently. Ms. Kinard gives a lot of information on caring for the hair and scalp using natural oils and herbs. She gives useful information on the ingredients contained in commercially prepared shampoos and conditioners. I love the pictures and her writing style. As far as the care of natural hair is concerned, this is an excellent book. If you want to learn to style free form natural hair, you would be better off with "Let's Talk Hair" by Pamela Ferrell.

"No Lye" is a great beginners guide to natural haircare. It is life-affirming and inspiring. After wrestling with my hair for years up until Januray 2000, when I permed my hair for the last time, this book has solidified my resolve to stay 100% natural.

Like a lot of sisters who have gone natural, the journey has been long and arduous. I have experimented with so many different styles: synthetic braids, twists, relaxers, you name it I tried it; you'd think by now I'd be permanently bald.

I guess you can say, the straw that finally broke the camels back, occured during the summer of 1998, just before my graduation from college. I got so fed up with my hair breaking off from perms and braids, that I just decided to start twisting my hair in knots, then undoing them once they were dry. I liked the look so much, I kept doing it, even in spite of some negative comments and looks from friends. It would take me forever to twist and pin those little tiny nots, but words can not describe how liberated I felt. I was even exercising regularly; getting up at the crack of dawn to go running.

But this natural twisting ritual state only lasted through the summer. Under the pressure of trying to find a job, I cracked. Thinking I would appear unprofessional to potential employers, I permed my hair. While I found a good job which I am currently still at, slowly but surely I began to feel like I was betraying my race, my culture, my self-respect and dignity.

So, again, I started experimenting with my hair. I tried so many different styles within the course of a year, that I was hailed "Queen of Most Changed Hairdos" by my officemates, white and black a like.

The marking of the year 2000 was and still is symbolic for me in many ways. It was finally the opportunity for me to not only change my life for good, but for me to shed my ever changing image.

Since perming my hair for the last time in January, I feel like a new woman. I am no longer slave to my hair, or what others think of me. Going natural has even motivated me to change other things in my life. I am exercisng regularly, and getting involved in more life-affirming and changing activities.

Each day I embrace the natural, and that's "No Lye".

I eagerly bought this book when it was first published and I still recommend it to everyone I know who is interested in natural hair. Although detailed, it does not provide extensive information on how to actually do the hairstyles. However, it gives wonderful insight and spiritual motivation to those who are considering natural hairstyles. If you want step by step instruction, I recommend Natural Hair Care and Braiding by Diane Carol Bailey. She actually has pictures and detailed instructions for her hairstyles. I bought Where Beauty Touches Me by Pam Ferrell and I was disappointed by the number of white women with weaves featured in the book. But Ms Bailey's book, which is written for natural hair care professionals (and is much more expensive than No Lye), is extremely well written and is a good follow up for Tulani Kinard's book, once you actually decide to go natural. By the way, I am a professional woman with an MBA and after I read No Lye, I locked my hair. That was 3 years ago, and my hair is past my shoulders and growing down my back.....