Thread: Anybody rockin' a 'Fro?

Hi ladies, I know this is an odd question, but I'm really having difficulty finding any post related to this topic. I have decided to go natural, and my original texture is "kinky". I do NOT want to wear a wig, but I also do NOT want to give up performing. I know once my hair grows past my bra strap, it will be fine, but is anyone here dancing in a "natural"? Any ways to jazz it up? Do you just go ahead and wear a wig for performances?

Also, if you have been natural, have you noticed any differences in the way the audience relates to you?

Thanks for any responses

White Bread here, and I dont...but there is a dancer in a town near me by the name of Hannah who wears one 8 inches deep. She is tribal fusion in her style and is 10 feet tall and sucks all the air out of a theater when she is on stage.

Originally Posted by anala

White Bread here, and I dont...but there is a dancer in a town near me by the name of Hannah who wears one 8 inches deep. She is tribal fusion in her style and is 10 feet tall and sucks all the air out of a theater when she is on stage.

Hey, Thanks Anala for the feedback! I'm sure a lot of it stems from "owning" your big hair and letting the goddess shine through. That's part of why I'm transitioning to natural. Does she wear hair ornaments?

Thanks

The bigger the better I say! Adorn it with bejeweled flowers and have fun with it!

Originally Posted by mysticdancer

Hi ladies, I know this is an odd question, but I'm really having difficulty finding any post related to this topic. I have decided to go natural, and my original texture is "kinky". I do NOT want to wear a wig, but I also do NOT want to give up performing. I know once my hair grows past my bra strap, it will be fine, but is anyone here dancing in a "natural"? Any ways to jazz it up? Do you just go ahead and wear a wig for performances?

Also, if you have been natural, have you noticed any differences in the way the audience relates to you?

Thanks for any responses

I <3 natural hair, but I don't have to deal with it. That having been said, my mom DOES and I've done her hair since I was 12.

I like when the front is slicked down and the back left to do it it's thing, or when it's twisted, or when they're are hair ornaments or or or...

I just love the texture ..g.: it's so much fun to play with.

OK, here is a website that might help http://www.longhaircareforum.com/forum.php

The beautiful and talented Ebony Qualls seems to wear her hair natural, or just dressed to settle into full ringlets.

Here she is doing hip-hop fusion:


And here doing orientale:

Hi Mysticdancer! I am natural, and also rock a 'fro, but not while performing. My hair is not as long as I would like it to be for performing, but I wear a wig that looks kinda natural, it's long, bouncy, big and curly....kinda Diana Ross-esque. It suits me. My suggestion to you is to try to find a style that you like, or reconsider a wig...it's really not so bad ..g.:. I love wigs b/c I can be anyone I wanna be, change my hair color and look, and not have to damage my own hair in the process. You could even use a half-wig, and blend it with your own hair (depending on the textures of your own hair and the texture of the wig that you choose). Good luck!

Thanks Zumrad for those clips. The first one reminds me of how I already dance in my bedroom to James Brown! I love her hair, but unfortunately, this is the length I'm TRYING to get to. I think right now, the natural part is about 3 inches. :(

Birdielee, thank you also. I may consider the wig thing. I'm so on the fence about cutting it all off since it's so damaged. Still thinking.

OK, I know NOTHING about African hair, but many years ago when I lived in London I worked with a West African girl who wore her hair natural, and about shoulder length at that time (she wore it pulled back into a little knot). She said that in the winter, she and her sister often braided their hair to the scalp in a spiral and sewed a wig piece in place to get the look of longer hair. When summer came around they'd unbraid and found their hair had grown lots without them having to deal with it, and was in good condition.

That second clip of Ebony is giving me hair-envy! I think the volume of the 'fro goes really well with cabaret. After all, those of us without volume are often teasing, curling, pouffing and faking to achieve it!

I think like you said, you just have to have the attitude, and anything you do will rock!

I'm half black, half white. I have shoulder-length hair, and I wear a half-cap wig for performances. It's just SO much easier for me. Every once in awhile, I'll perform in my "normal" hair.

If you google something like, "wedding afro hairstyles," You should get sites/images with "dressed up" fros, like this:

(Now, some of these aren't fros, but you can get ideas from them)

http://www.vibrantbride.com/index.ph..._Photo_op=view

http://www.vibrantbride.com/index.ph..._Photo_op=view

http://www.vibrantbride.com/index.ph..._Photo_op=view

http://www.vibrantbride.com/index.ph..._Photo_op=view

Good luck! Hope this helps!

Johara of Richmond VA:

She usually does Tribal Fusion, but I have seen her do Cabaret at least once (can't find the picture though). She had a gorgeous blue dress and headband.

Jamilla al Wahid has short natural hair, I couldn't find any videos to share but this link has a good non- belly dance photo of her. On the videos I own that have her performances she usually has a hair ornament that matches her costume

http://www.barkcuits.com/about.php

Also up in the Seattle Area is Y'Chessa Dahli, here is a link to their website. scroll down a bit for a nice photo from one of their events.

http://www.ychessa-dahli.com/Events.html

Marya

The gorgeous Samar Dahab has some great pics in her gallery http://www.samardahab.com/Gallery.php

I know I can't truly relate because I'm white, but I have ass-length dreads and dance cabaret style. I don't perform more than once a month but everytime am very conscious that my hair disrupts people preferred vision of "bellydancer". Audience members have even made negative comments to my troupemates about it. One woman even said she hated it. So even if I wear sequins and beads with dreads it is "me". I love it. I get to have long hair with no maintenance. My hair is a curly nightmare that requires tons of work to look good otherwise.
Your hair natural is "you". Actually, any style you pick is "you" and if you love your 'fro you will rock it. Fros can be really cute.

A local dancer in Rockford, IL rocks a fro:

http://www.youtube.com/user/thesamardahab

I'm a natural-haired dancer. For a while, I only did my natural hair when I danced solo and wore wigs for NDC performances, but now my hair is so long and thick it won't fit under a wig, so I only wear my natural hair. I have Sisterlocks now, but had a 'fro for a while. Attached is a pic of me with my 'fro and pics with Sisterlocks.

Luvnafctn I love these! the first one is just fabulous! I bought myself a Bella costume this year and was trying to figure out what would match such a confection to wear on a TWA(Teeny Weeny Afro). I'd really like to be as close to me as possible and this does the trick.

I have a few great ideas now for what to make as headpieces, so this was wonderful. If I get the chance, I'll take pix of what I make and post them here too. Love your hair Makeda.

I have been aware that this is a "beauty" business and sometimes, all that I am does not fit what is expected. In my new quest to become the "Josephine Baker of Bellydance", I feel it's necessary to stretch the boundaries of what is considered beautiful, as she did.

Thank you so much ladies!
Peace

I have shoulder length locks (don't like calling them dreads -- there's nothing dreadful about them.) The duo that I'm in has an American Classic style, with a touch of fusion every now and then. I like to give them a bit of body before performance by braiding them beforehand or wear then in various styles. They work for me. Here's a photo:

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fb...05578849472915

I've got kinky hair and to perform I usually wear a braid/twistout, looking much like the second clip of Ebony. Doing a braid/twistout makes your hair look a bit longer and the curls are more separated, which makes it easier to do a glam look. My hair goes well with velvet hairbands, you may want to try one. Alternatively, you can waer an afropuff and add a flower to your hair, that always looks cute.