It's Black History Month -- 28 days of education and celebration of our ancestors. And here at BVHairTalk we're certainly going to join in the tributes, from our own unique area of specialty, of course!

The history of black hair and hairstyling of course began in Africa. Before the slave trade began, many African cultures wore notably elaborate hairstyles. This is where twists, braids, and intricately parted styles began. From the minute black people were brought to America, many of these traditions began to die as these proud people -- now slaves -- were deliberately separated from each other. Because their indigenous styling techniques and products were now out of reach to them, they were forced to use their ingenuity. That involved taming afro-textured hair with animal fat, kerosene, lard, butter - whatever.

In the 1900's, Madame C.J Walker revolutionized the hair straightening market with her "Wonderful Hair Grower."

We have come a long way, baby.

You can directly see the influence of our ancestors in our cultural beliefs about hair, and in the various ways we care for our hair today. Madame C.J Walker can be seen to be an influence for today's entrepreneurs -- Lisa Price of Carol's Daughter, Karen Tappin of Karen's Body Beautiful, Miko and Titi Branch of Miss Jessie's, Mahisha Dellinger of Curls, Shelley Davis of Kinky Curly and Anthony Dickey of Hair Rules come most immediately to mind, but there are so many more men and women of color who have realized the power of the hair products they've whipped up in their kitchens at home. Today black hair is a billion dollar industry, and we've come full circle when it comes to hairstyling. Now there is recognition that we have a choice in how we wear our hair -- whereas in the past so many women and men of color saw straight hair by any means necessary as the only way to get ahead, now it's recognized that you can wear your hair in any style you wish and find success.

What lies in the future for black hair? It is up to us. And only time will tell.

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Quite simply, she was the first. And the fact that her legacy shines bright 35 years after her passing, proves that she was the best. Josephine Baker is an icon for the ages.

There she is serving up half-naked glamor and singing in a birdcage decades before Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Pink, Fergie, any of those ladies who turned it out at the Grammys were even dreamed of.

La Baker wore her hair in myriad styles throughout her lifetime, but she is particularly remembered for wearing a short, sleek, cropped do, usually accented by curls or finger waves. The style she became known for back in the 1920's remains eternally wearable -- this same style has become the trademarks of contemporary stars like Halle Berry and Toni Braxton.

Josephine Baker remains a style icon, and there was more to the woman in the banana skirt than many may have imagined. I interviewed her son Jean-Claude some years back, and he revealed many of his dear maman's secrets. Click here to read.

Want to give tribute to Josephine Baker with your style? I recommend a dark berry lip and a bold, smoky eye. You'll also need a good hair gel -- Devacurl's Angell gives great hold without stickiness.

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When you consider the rich history of hair and beauty products targeted to people of color, there's one name that has remained consistently, unwaveringly popular for a century now. SoftSheen Carson. The company began in a basement on the southside of my new hometown of Chicago. And today, SoftSheen Carson is owned by L'Oreal, and includes 18 brands, all dedicated to the beautification of black hair and skin.

We recently had the opportunity to catch up with Angela Guy, general manager of SoftSheen Carson and she offered some amazing insight on the evolution of this venerable company, that has always been dedicated to products made for us, by us.

On Chicago's influence in the company:

"Chicago is an amazing place for us, our main product testing facility is still based there. And I don't think there's anywhere in the world solely focused on developing products for people of color...and it's right there in Chicago, on Wabash just off of I-55...We spend a lot of time in the community."

On the most popular SoftSheen Carson brands:

"Dark and Lovely is our biggest brand and has the biggest brand awareness of any African American haircare products in the world. There's Dark and Lovely, and then there's Magic Shave which is almost 108 years old and remains extremely popular. Our focus is always the same -- what can we do from a technological standpoint to enhance our consumers' hair and beauty? We talk one on one with our consumers to find out what they need. And we've evolved over the years to meet a variety of need, whether you wear your hair natural or colored or relaxed, or you want to cover your greys, or you need products to help hold a style."

On SoftSheen Carson's new products for natural hair:

"Most of our products work for both relaxed and natural hair, but our new line Roots of Nature is truly dedicated to the needs of the natural hair. Those with natural hair tend to gravitate towards natural ingredients, like green tea and shea butter. Together with SoftSheen Carson's technology, we've made a natural cocktail to help hair grow longer and stronger. We introduced four products last year, and this year we've developed two -- a shampoo, and a thickening cream to help with those thin spots. Alot of people think natural hair means less work. But of course you know that isn't true! And last year we introduced Dark and Lovely Color Coverage, which is a no-ammonia hair color that includes three times the conditioner."

On why SoftSheen Carson's color is the best for us:

"Not all hair color is created equally. We specifically design hair color with our texture of hair in mind -- it moisturizes while doing its job."

On the future of black hair:

"I see the future being about being able to celebrate your individuality. Everything is OK! Relaxing is a choice many women make because it's right for them. So for those who choose to relax, we want to make sure the hair is healthy and the process is painless. For those who are interested in being natural, it's a process as well, and a matter of making the right choices in terms of products. We want to make sure we continue to innovate. Our job is to stay on top of trends."

On products for the fellas:

"Regarding styling, we've got Let's Jam, the most popular conditioning gel on the market. And there's Magic Shave, which now has shea butter to make for a smoother shave. The whole idea is, we've developed products whether you're natural, relaxed, or even bald!"

On obstacles in the future for black owned hair care companies:

"I have an interesting point of view on that. To me, it's about the brands. While the brand may transfer hands, the key is to make sure the products remain available to the consumers who need them most. We're keeping brands alive that are known and trusted. The reality is, the economy today has created situations that so many of us may not have expected. The business exists because of US, and the products are for US."

Click here to visit the official SoftSheen Carson website. Which is your favorite SoftSheen Carson product? (I've been a Dark and Lovely user since my teens!)

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What would you do for straight hair?

Some of us use chemicals or heat. Some of us buy hair and have it sewn or glued onto our heads. And soon, there may be yet another option for those who desire the straight look.

From The Daily Mail:

"Researchers in Australia identified the trichohyalin gene as being mainly responsible for creating curls. Although it was known to play a role in the development of the hair follicle, Queensland Institute of Medical Research scientists have discovered its role in curliness.

Professor Nick Martin, author of the research, said a variation in the gene determined the straightness or curliness of hair. Professor Martin said it may be possible to come up with treatments to make hair straighter rather than relying on heated hair straighteners.

He said: 'Potentially we can now develop new treatments to make hair curlier or straighter, rather than treating the hair directly."

That is straight outta the Jetsons, am I right?

But the advent of a possible straight hair pill also raises all kinds of questions, some of which are addressed by the Black Snob:

"I don't even want to know what the side-effects of this puppy would be. I have a fear of going bald and if ANYTHING sounds like it could make you bald a pill that makes your curly hair straight sounds like one. But what's fascinating (and sad, kinda) to me, is that if this pill is created and works with side effects someone can live with (like say, dry mouth), how long do you think before black beauty salons across the nation would be closing up shop? The perm is the bread-n-butter of most beauticians. You can charge tons for it and you get that repeat customer business coming back every four-to-six weeks. If you customer can just pop and pill and get the straight hair she's always dreamed of won't she just drop you? Folks HATE going to the beauty shop anyway. It takes FOREVER. Your appointment is almost never the time you actually make it. This could be potentially devastation. I'm talking a beauty shop apocalypse!"

Valid point -- in a world where you can alter the texture of your hair by taking a pill, where does that leave the hair relaxer industry? What are the potential side effects of this medical breakthrough?

So inquiring minds want to know -- would YOU take a hair straightening pill? What potential side effects could possibly keep you away? How do you feel about this development in the beauty field?

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What a difference a year makes! In 2008, Johnny Wright was already making a name for himself as a celebrity hairstylist. Then a very special client came into his life, and as her star rose so did his. Soon, every possible snip and tuck became the topic of beaucoup speculation, and Johhny Wright found his name in the headlines. That client of course, is First Lady Michelle Obama. Mr. Wright has been the man behind the mane since the days of the Obama campaign. Now, sometimes he finds himself working with his most famous client at Washington DC's most famous address -- just this past week, he made sure Michelle's coif was styled to perfection for her husband's State of the Union address. Johnny is also Artistic Style Director to venerable African American haircare brand Softsheen Carson.

When we were offered the opportunity to speak with the witty Mr. Wright, we jumped at the chance! Without further ado, heeeeeeeeeere's Johnny!

BV Hair Talk -- I believe the main thing that most people know about you is that you are Michelle Obama's go-to hairstylist. Tell me how that came about.

Johnny Wright -- Basically we met towards the beginning of the campaign, for an Essence photo shoot and it's been marvelous since then. And that's how I made my mark by doing her hair for the inauguration -- I think the quality of my work shined, and we just hit it off. One of the things I'm most proud of is the comfort level I have with all my clients. They treat me like family.

BV: Talk to me about the infamous "tuck up" -- back during the White House's Country Music Night everyone thought Michelle had cut her hair. But it was a style you'd given her!

JW: That's something I'd learned when I was working with Fredrick Fekkai -- it's a great updo for when you don't actually want to have a haircut. It's something I've been doing for a while now. In the presentations I've been doing for Softsheen Carson, I've been teaching people how to mimic that style. It's surprisingly easy!

BV: Let's talk about haircuts. Right now, the bob is super hot. Do you think this is a style that'll have staying power through 2010?

JW: If you asked me what is my signature hairstyle, I'd have to say the bob. I love the bob. If it's cut correctly, it can work with any shaped face, any frame, any texture. People used to say the bob is the hardest cut to do but to me it's one of the easiest cuts. I love an A-line bob, or a bob with long bangs. It's a classic cut. All the celebs I work with I try to let them know a medium length bob can be very versatile - there are so many styles you can wear it in.

BV: So I have natural hair -- how can a bob work for me?

JW: A bob works for natural hair - it's a nice shape when your hair is curly or when you want to poof it out. Right in the middle between short and long. It's all about finding a shape that is right for you. I've always felt that a hairstylist should look at themselves as a sculptor, and cut the shape that suits the style for the person. That's how I have been able to create styles that go beyond basic haircuts.

BV: Many of this blog's readers are natural but they like to switch it up from time to time and straighten their hair with heat. Do you have any particular recommendations of products they should use?

JW: For heat styled hair - it's most important to have hair that's conditioned well. With Roots of Nature we've got 4 products that condition the hair and provide moisture. Next up we're releasing a shampoo and a thickening cream. I always say, healthy hair starts at the bowl. These products are going to enhance the Roots of Nature line.

BV: Do you have any tips for winter hair issues? Between the snow outside and the heat inside, my fro is fried right now!

JW: Natural hair can be just as dry as chemically treated hair, so if you don't have the proper products to give your hair the moisture it needs, you'll have issues. Roots of Nature is made with good ingredients like shea butter and green tea, it helps you to keep that moisture. You wanna make sure you use products that are highly concentrated and shea butter is your most moisturizing product. Putting shea butter in our products is helping to keep hair moisturized in the summer and the winter. And another one of my fave tips is - use vitamin E. Either take the oil, or pop open the capsules to rub it on your scalp.

BV: Have you ever used castor oil? That's one of my favorite natural oils.

JW: I've never used castor oil! I do use olive oil - real olive oil and use it as part of a deep conditioning treatment. I add it to Roots of Nature Reconstructing Deep Treatment to enhance the conditioning.

BV: You're from Chicago. I live here now! Tell me about the city -- how did it help to shape your career?

JW: It all started in Chicago! I had a huge clientele - that's where I made my mark. I'm from Chicago and I moved to LA. I love love love Los Angeles, but what I do appreciate in Chicago is its keen ability in shaping these great people. Kanye is on shaky ground these days, but he's a talented artist. Then we've got the Obamas and you see how talented and real they are. And that's the core of what I am about - being from Chicago makes you have a certain character, and it's always a nice, warm feeling to meet people from Chicago. I had over 300 clients there, but I left them because I was chasing a dream. And now my dreams have come true. I never thought I'd be stepping foot into the White House!

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Whether you love her exaggerated delivery and in-your-face style, or think she's overrated and super annoying -- there's no denying that Nicki Minaj is hot in the streets right now. Although I tend to ascribe to the philosophy that less can be more when it comes to being sexy, I'm enjoying Nicki's brash flow. And I'm hoping heartily that this leads to a resurgence of female MCs in the game.

Check her out, escorting Diddy's son to his Super Sweet 16 birthday party.

Nicki's style is bold and overtly feminine -- the self-dubbed "Harajuku Barbie" often wears her hair long with blunt bangs. Her hair color is usually dark, and lately she's been rocking bright pink streaks at the back. It takes a brave woman to pull this look off, and here's how you can do it!

-- In Nicki's verse on "5 Star Chick" she alludes to "gluing her weave in" -- so we can assume that she's rocking a weave or at least extensions. Extensions would be the easiest way to wear pink streaks in your hair. You can find hot pink hair extensions like Nicki's at Horrorkidz.com, at Hot Topic, and I'm hearing people on hair forums talk about finding bags of pink hair at the swap meet but of course that would vary according to a swap meet near you.

-- Your other options would involve more damaging methods: like bleaching out parts of your hair. Manic Panic is best known for offering bleach kits and dyes in whatever color you're seeking, and if you want to go for a slightly safer alternative that may allow you to change your hair color almost as often as you change your mind, try a semipermanent dye like Clairol's Jazzing.

What are your thoughts on Nicki Minaj's do? Are you a fan? Or is that much too much for you?

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The rain came down on the stars as they walked the red carpet at last weekend's Golden Globes, but thanks to a team of ardent stylists, their beauty wasn't washed away even in the slightest. Case in point, Zoe Saldana, star of 'Avatar' and the new face of Avon.

Saldana rocked cascading waves on the red carpet and, thanks to celebrity stylist and products by TRESemme, she maintained her gorgeousness despite Mother Nature's best efforts. How did Mara do it? Read on to find out!

- Starting with damp hair, apply TRESemme 24 Hour Body Foaming Mousse, and part hair to one side (slightly off center). Blow dry with a small round brush.

Spray a soft hold hairspray all over head, and curl one-inch sections using a one-inch barrel curling iron. Let hair twist as your wrap, and pin to scalp.

Let the hair sit in pin curls for at least 10 minutes. Take out pins, and brush delicately, without a lot of tension to keep the shape.

Use a small drop of smoothing cream or serum on palms of hands, and gently flatten out roots to tame any fly-aways.

Pin one side (side with less hair) behind the ear, and finish with a finishing spray. Make sure to keep the "S" form around the face.

Now pose for the cameras!

Did you love Zoe's red-carpet look? Tell us in the comments!

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When the hottest R&B stars in the game take the stage, pose for a magazine cover or prepare for a big television interview, there's one name they all ask for: Tippi Shorter.

Tippi's client roster is like a who's who of black music.

"My current clients include Alicia Keys, Keri Hilson, Rihanna periodically, she travels often and has other stylists she works with. I just started working with Mary J. Blige," she explained, in a telephone interview this week. I had to ask Tippi about her predictions, hair trends, and best tips for those of us who aspire to be as stylish as her clients are.

BV Hair Talk: Tippi, you work with some of the hottest ladies in the music biz right now. Your clients are always ahead of the trend. What do you predict will be the next big trend for 2010?

Tippi: The next big trend for 2010 -- the bob. A couple of my clients have already bobbed their hair. Rihanna has talked about growing hers out into a longer bob. I cut off Alicia's hair as well. I predict everyone is gonna be wearing a bob by the summer. They may be longer and graze the shoulder, choppy, maybe a long fringe, a lot of movement. They could be straight, wavy, crimped -- I just had a client ask me to use a crimper on her hair. Let me tell you, they are not easy to find!

BV: Talk to me about your line of products. What is Get Gorgeous Hair?

Tippi: A lot of my clients use hair extensions. I went to India and did the research, made the right connections. Now I use my own brand of hair extensions on my clients. You can visit getgorgeoushair.com.

BV: What are your thoughts on hair color? Do you see any trends coming in 2010 in that area?

Tippi: Recently, I colored Alicia's hair, and Alicia has never ever worn hair color before. That was a big deal for her. In terms of trends... I think I've seen it all.

BV: How did you get your start?

Tippi: By doing lots of beauty shoots with Essence magazine. It was so long ago. I worked hard behind the scenes. And they were doing a celebrity for their cover -- Foxy Brown -- and they wanted to give her a softer look. So that was my first celebrity client.

BV: You've managed to become a superstar in a field that is ever evolving. Do you have any tips for those trying to advance in the field of celebrity hairstyling and image making?

Tippi: Yes. Learn your craft. Just because you came out of school and have a license doesn't mean you're ready for the big time. It takes hard work and networking.

BV: I blog here at BVHairTalk.com, and I also am the creator of Afrobella.com. Many of my readers have natural hair, and they're very proud of their natural hair. But sometimes even natural women want to switch it up and rock the styles they may see their favorite celebs wearing. Got any heat styling tips?

Tippi: Yes! You gotta prep the hair with a great shampoo and conditioner. Condition first -- I use that on anyone's hair as a heat barrier. When you're changing the style you need to be cautious with the cutting. You want to make sure the shape you get works for both relaxed and natural hair. Same goes for color. Like right now, Rihanna has a graded hair color, that may not work as well for a style going between natural and heat straightened.

For shine, Tippi cites Avon's Advanced Techniques Anti-Frizz Serum Capsules as one of her favorite products for her on-the-go clients.

It was wonderful talking with Tippi! Check her out at TippiShorter.com and she's also on Twitter (although she admits that she needs to Tweet more!).

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Ted Gibson is hair stylist to the biggest names in Hollywood. The A-listers flock for him because of the artistry he brings to hair and his solid reputation within the industry.

The year has just begun and has already proved itself to be incredible for Gibson. He was responsible for Kate Gosselin's mind-blowing transformation that debuted on the cover People Magazine a week ago. Gibson stayed up for over 20 hours as he added extensions to Gosselin's short, spikey hair. The front cover became a major topic for the media and shinned a brighter light on Gibson's amazing talents.

When a celebrity lands on the cover of a major magazine you can bet that Gibson has his hands in their hair. He has worked his magic touch on Zoe Saldana for the cover of Elle, Tina Fey for her sultry cover on Harper's Bazaar, and Serena Williams for the cover of Glamour. Gibson was also responsible for the red carpet locks of Angelina Jolie, Omorosa, Debra Messing, Marion Cottilard andTwilight's Ashley Greene, to name a few of the celebs that are in his client rolodex.

The trend for celebrity hairstyles last year was a retro 80's/40's look. According to Gibson this trend has sailed straight into 2010.

"The fashion designs of 1980's were influenced by the 1940's," Gibson told Black Voices. "2010 will continue to reference these times periods." The fashion forward celebrities that really exemplify this trend are Rhianna, Zoe Saldana, Kim Kardashian, Anne Hathaway, and Lady Gaga.

"Rhianna with her side-shaved head, Anne Hathaway with her classic bob that I waved all the time for the award shows, and Kim Kardashian who wears those 40's siren side parts with her wavy hair; all are the front runners for setting hair trends for this year."

2010 has been predicted by fashion experts as the "Return to Glamour". The runways of Bryant Park , London, Paris and Milan all showcased a strong and confident woman for Spring. Gibson predicts the same will be reflected in hair styles this year.

According to Gibson, "Hair is a reflection of fashion and fashion is a reflection of hair. Women want to feel glamourous and sexy. 2010 we will see strength and confidence reflected in the most popular hairstyles."

With the Golden Globes and Oscars coming up Gibson's plate is undoubtedly full with the star-studded line up who have requested his services for these special occasions. You don't have to be envious of these celebrities because you can have the Ted's touch on your hair as well. His products are sold on his website, www.tedgibsonsalon.com and his salons are located in NYC and Washington, DC . They are accessible to the everyday person.

You can also watch Gibson on TLC beginning January 8th in the new season of "What Not to Wear". This show will give us a chance to watch Ted work his celebrity hair expertise when he gives red carpet looks to everyday women.

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I must be honest -- it's difficult writing about hair care and beauty products at a time like this, when thousands upon thousands are suffering in Haiti right now. But good news from the world of hair and beauty -- some very charitable companies have stepped forward to give support to our brothers and sisters in Haiti, just as they need it most.

Every donation to Wyclef Jean's Yele Haiti organization that is made through Karen's Body Beautiful will be matched by the company. Also, KBB is sending products directly to Haiti. Click here to visit Karen's Body Beautiful, and click here to go straight to the donation page.

Super fly jewelry designer Camille Peace of Peace Images will be donating a percentage of all her proceeds this week to Yele Haiti. Click here for details, and click here to visit her Etsy store. Her loc chains are gorgeous!

Sarah, designer of stylish online hair accessories Sarenzo Beads, will be donating 20% of every sale that uses the word Haiti at checkout. Click here for details, and click here to visit her web store.

If you know of another business that is legitimately donating funds to Haiti, please let me know in the comments below. Our hearts go out to Haiti at this time of unbelievable tragedy.

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It takes a woman who's truly confident in herself to rock a super-short haircut. Halle Berry is that woman.

She's worn her hair short and sassy pretty much since she's been on the acting scene (her style in Boomerang defines the Nineties for us!) -- and now Halle's gone dramatically shorter.

According to FameCrawler, the Academy Award winning actress got her locks cropped at the Kinara Spa in Los Angeles. Dying to know what products Ms. Berry uses - her hair always looks shiny and super healthy.

We're loving Halle's crop, her effortless California-girl style, and her ageless beauty. What about you? Are you feeling Halle's shorter 'do?

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You probably made some for the rest of your life, but in 2010, your hair needs some brave new promises as well. These are our resolutions here at BV Hair Talk -- feel free to adopt them yourself, or add your own in the comments!

1. Stop referring to hair as "good" or "bad." Healthy hair is good hair, point blank period. Using disparaging terms to refer to your crowning glory isn't the biz in this bright and beautiful new year.

2. Stay away from hand-in-hair syndrome. Natural, relaxed, or even woven in -- constantly playing with your hair can be damaging. For us its almost instinctual to twirl our kinks and coils, but it's better to leave it be and let it do its thing.

3. Try a protective style during the cold weather months. Two strand twists, kinky twists, cornrows, even a bun or a French braid qualifies as a style that'll keep your hair protected from those harsh seasonal elements.

4. Let kids be kids. We're all guilty of having judgmental thoughts from time to time when you see someone with crazy hair or a crazy outfit...but taking the time to talk trash about someone's child doesn't make you look any better. Leave that mess in 2009!

5. Find security in your own beauty. Don't look to a celebrity or your friend who has a different hair length or texture for your standard of beauty - find it within yourself. So many of us look in the mirror and don't truly appreciate what we see. Take the time everyday to smile at yourself, and affirm your own happiness with your reflection. Then give that back to the women you see in your day to day life -- offering someone an unsolicited compliment feels good!

Those are our five hair resolutions -- what do you think? What are yours?

Happy New Year!

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I am of course talking about Tracee Ellis Ross, also known as Joan from 'Girlfriends.' My god, I loved her hair. It was just big and beautiful and full and curly. OMG. So what was the best way to get it? The weave way. I wanted that hair but also we were going to a wedding in Vegas...in August...and I had to be able to do the pool thing without having a hair crisis out there. No gambling, ahem, with your hair 3000 miles away from home I say!

Pros of a Weave:
Your hair is DONE. You can get up and go and look fly!
The time. Again, pretty much fluffing it out or put in your product and rolling. 15 minutes tops!
The compliments -- I almost died when Raven Symone (one of the weaviest ladies around) told ME that she couldn't tell that I had in a weave (me: screaming!!!!)

Cons of a Weave:
Sometimes it's a pain "blending" your hair with the weave hair
The Expense. A good one ain't cheap. With human hair, however, you can use and re-use.
It itches. Like Beyonce says, "Ladies, pat your weave!"

To Contact Dana Gibbs or get her Hair Products: www.danasloft.com

For Tippi Shorter's Fabulous Hair: www.getgorgeoushair.com

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Michelle Obama becomes first lady. America goes wild. Any post written with the words "Michelle Obama" in it instantly garners attention. The media realized that this year and wrote the "Michelle Obama's Hair" stories into the ground. Is it all hers? Did she cut it, or is that just a new style? And, most importantly, what does it all mean? Nobody's hair got more attention that Mrs. O's. Unless you count...

Rihanna: Good Girl Gone Blonde. Rihanna's had quite a crazy, dramatic, in-the-spotlight year herself, one which I am sure she wishes went differently in many ways. The changes she's been through can be noted through her hair. She was already wearing it short and sassy in January, but over the last 12 months she's amped up the edgy factor with 'dos that were asymmetrical, half-shaven and increasingly blonde. We're not hating. She wears it all very, very well. Almost every style she's rocked set hair trends, just like ...

Amber Rose and her baldy. Kanye's woman, Amber Rose, is a striking beauty. She knows how to work a bald head like nobody's business. Not every woman can pull off the bald look, and she does it so well that she's fooled many women into thinking they can do it, too. Case in point: Danger from 'For the Love of Ray J.' Although bald ain't for everybody, it was fun to see so many women freely expressing their individuality by shaving it all off -- and all in spite of one documentary that made it seem like so many of us have these deep-seated hair issues. That's right, I'm talking about...

'Good Hair.' Even now, months after this film has come and gone from the theaters, I get asked the question. "Did you see Chris Rock's 'Good Hair'? "What did you think of it?" Well, we covered the' Good Hair' debate here at BV Hair Talk to exhaustion. Chris Rock even got mad at us for it. Then Tyra Banks got inspired to do her natural-hair episode. And now, in retrospect, we'd see the film again when it eventually airs on HBO. Chris got more controversy than he may have bargained for when he set out to explore the mysterious world of black women's hair and why we do the things we do to it. Despite all of the flaws of the film, he made a valid point about caring for our children's hair. Which leads us to...

Black celebrity kids and their hair. Zahara Jolie Pitt got chastised for wearing her natural hair in Newsweek of all places. Anything Sasha or Malia Obama did to their hair made headlines. Mel B (who may still be better known as Scary Spice) thrust her own daughter, Angel Iris, into the spotlight by giving the little girl a mohawk at an age when it's unlikely that she asked for it herself. Then Willow Smith emerged at the Nobel Peace Prize concert rocking quite the mature Rihanna-esque hairstyle. Our children take their inspiration from us, and the attention that these hairstyles got was quite telling. Here's hoping that in 2010 kids stop feeling the need to conform to the standards of beauty set by adults. We should allow them to be free, beautiful and innocent.

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Christmas is over, but party season continues. And that means -- whatever the weather -- your hair's gotta be cute enough for a photograph. You know people will just click, click, click and then post your photos all over Facebook. Here's three foolproof styles that'll ensure you look fly in every picture you're tagged in.

Romantic, accented with accessories.

There's something simultaneously retro and modern about feminine, romantic curls pulled back and accented with an eye-catching accessory. Right now, I'm loving the Chloe collection by Lilla -- luxe headbands and hairpins available at bylilla.com. The Lotus Pin is bad and bold in black and gold, and the Bloom headband is gorgeous and distinctive. It's a definite splurge at $84, but, hey, it's the holidays -- you deserve the best!

An updo, or the Michelle Obama tuck-up

Updos are elegant. Updos are classy. Updos are formal. Sweeping your hair up automatically makes you look mature and dignified, and they're a great way to show off your makeup and jewelry. When I first blogged about Michelle O's up-tucked hair, I wasn't sure if she had cut it or just styled it differently. Turns out an up-tuck is a great way to transform yourself for an evening.

Streaks of color

If you're down with clip-in hair and extensions, tis the season. You can add temporary color to your hair without the aid of chemicals if you have the right clip-in pieces. If you're averse to hair assistance in the extension department, you may want to try a temporary solution like Clairol's Jazzing. It's incredibly easy for at-home use.

So what are your plans for New Year's Eve? What will you wear and how will you do your hair?

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File this under: When Keeping It Real Goes Wrong.

This story comes to you by way of Elegant Ignance -- meet seven year old Lamya Cammon. When she's nervous or bored, she plays with the beads at the end of her braids. And one day at school, her new teacher wasn't having it.

Since that original report, Essence.com caught up with Lamya's mother, Helen Cunningham for more details on the outrageous incident. Apparently this teacher didn't think she'd done anything wrong, because she was frustrated with the child's behavior, and because she didn't think Lamya's hair was actually her own natural hair.

Oh, so it's OK to just cut off a microbraid or an extension, to put a little girl in her place? Where they do that at?

Milwaukee Public Schools gave the teacher a $175 citation for disorderly conduct. I'm not one to advocate ignorance or violence, but if that had been my little girl, I may have caused some disorderly conduct myself. Having done a little teaching, I know it can be incredibly frustrating trying to reach a student who is disengaged or not paying close enough attention. But seriously, there had to be a better way to get this seven-year-old to behave, that didn't end with a pair of scissors and tears.

What do you think the teacher should have done? And what would you have done, if you were Lamya's mother?

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I'm not one to gossip, so you didn't hear it from me. But over the weekend, the Internet was abuzz over one little girl with a very grown-up hairstyle.

Nine-year-old cutie Willow Smith accompanied her famous parents to Norway, where the family performed for the Nobel Peace Prize concert. And although her brother Jaden's mop of curls got lots of attention, Willow's half-shaved Rihanna-esque haircut stole the show.

Here on BV Hair Talk, we strive to cover all things hair-related and hair-raising, but kids are generally off limits. We extend the same courtesy to little Willow as we do to Zahara Jolie Pitt , Malia and Sasha Obama, or any other celebrity child of color coming up in the spotlight -- let a kid be a kid. Willow is clearly feeling herself and loving the hairdo.

But having said that, my mama wouldn't have let me get that haircut at age 9, no matter how much I begged. So inquiring minds want know. Dear readers, is a style like this appropriate for a little one? Is this cute and fun or much too much for a girl? What do you think?

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