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Welcome to my new digs. Stretch out your legs, grab a coffee and get comfortable. It’s time to help out our fellow BB&W sister regarding a niggling problem a lot of us face. The hair issue (DUN DA DUMMMM!) and our insecurities about rainbow men perceive our curly locks:

Do white men like black women with braids? I ask this because my hair is short. I love my short hair, but I was thinking of getting braids to save it from the hot iron and the summer heat. Also, heat starts to break off your hair after a while and I want to grow my hair [longer]. I know this white guy I think could possibly be interested. I have found him checking me out, but I don’t know if he will still be interested if I put my hair in braids, aka fake hair in braided form.

Anonymous, braids have become extremely mainstream in the last decade or so, and unless you plan on using synthetic hair sporting the colors of your favorite basketball team (Go Lakers!), braids can be quite classy–basketweaves and bright burgundy hair aside, here’s a few tips from Laudia Guilao, owner and proprietor of The Braid Lounge, located in Norfolk Virginia.

• She recommends invisible micro-braids because they look more like natural, straight hair (Wet and Wavy human hair is best for summer swimming and lasts for three months)

An example of micro-braids

• Individuals–single, braided styles– have the most styling versatility. Again, Laudia recommends human hair. However, I’m in braids right now and I’m using synthetic hair and it looks great, so…as long as it doesn’t break my hair bald as a baby’s butt I’m cool with the cheap stuff.

What rainbow man could resist this hair? Too cute!

• Here’s a final word of warning about leaving any type of braids along your edges for an extended time: Laudia says, just don’t do it. Crud from soap, shampoo, oils and creams create a build-up that can cause knots, dreads and mucho hair breakage around those tender spots. She recommends re-braiding the edges every three weeks.

But Anonymous, from one black woman to another, I just want you to be aware of a growing movement by many black women to wear their hair in beautiful styles in their natural state. Hair styling technology has made leaps and bounds, and you can find support in you natural hair journey all over the web. Here are some of my favorites:

www.curlynikki.com

www.longhaircareforum.com

www.nappurality.com

Oh! Something you might find really interesting: A Facebook fan page called, “White Men Who Love Black Women with Natural Hair.” It just may inspire you.

To get more information about Laudia, visit her fan page, which has all her contact information just in case any BB&W members who live in the Virginia area want to braid it up for the summer too.

BTW, this question brings up the oh-so-touchy (or you better-not-touchy) hair issue as it pertains to interracial dating. What have been your individuals experiences? Any sage advice to pass on to Anonymous?

tag.