Take time to NURTURE...

#10 NURTURE

When I take the time to nurture my hair, I feel good about myself. I’m a bit of a workaholic and, at times, I’ll just go-go-go without resting at all in between, without nurturing myself. After experiencing burn out, I learned the importance of nurturing and taking care of myself— before anyone or anything. When I’m being good to my hair, I’m being good to myself. My hair has taught me that nurturing myself regularly is vital to my happiness. 

*Every day starting February 24th at 11:11AM EST (it is said that the angels sing at this time!) until April 10 I will count down the remaining days of our 'A Call to HAIRiette ARMS' fundraising campaign. We're raising funds to create an interactive series --with YOU!-- and a haircare line (a portion of which goes to charity, THE ACTOR'S FUND).

We'll share one essay from my upcoming book I FOUND GOD IN MY HAIR: 98 spiritual principles I learned from my relationship with…my hair! (via twitter: @tanyaTTwright, @HAIRietteharlem). As with all things that give you struggle, my hair has taught me a lot about life, love…and FAITH. It is my hope you will find inspiration in these essays to apply to your own life.

Click the link below to view a fun video about HAIRiette of HARLEM and support our fundraising campaign today! THANK YOU!!!!

xo Tanya

http://www.rockethub.com/projects/37433-a-call-to-hairiette-arms-let-s-raise-50-000-in-50-days

PS--If you can't click on the link above, just copy and paste it to your browser! :)

if it's DAMAGED, let it go...

14 days to go!

DAMAGE:

Sometimes in love, some people stay much longer than they should. They’ve been unhappy for some time—with no resolution in sight—but they stay out of sheer habit. It reminds me of a split end—if you cut it, you won’t have the immediate “desired length,” but...won’t it cause more damage in the long run if it stays around? Sometimes, it’s best to cut things off—people, cir- cumstances—in your life and start anew. Holding on to something that is damaging to your soul or psyche isn’t good or healthy. My hair has taught me to let go of things—and peo- ple— who are otherwise damaging to prevent further damage. Letting go also accelerates the growth process because, by cutting off the “bad stuff” now, you’ve im- mediately said “yes” to making a way for the good stuff. My hair teaches me that damage can be damaging and helps me to let go.

*Every day starting February 24th at 11:11AM EST (it is said that the angels sing at this time!) until April 10 I will count down the remaining days of our 'A Call to HAIRiette ARMS' fundraising campaign. We're raising funds to create an interactive series --with YOU!-- and a haircare line (a portion of which goes to charity, THE ACTOR'S FUND).

We'll share one essay from my upcoming book I FOUND GOD IN MY HAIR: 98 spiritual principles I learned from my relationship with…my hair! (via twitter: @tanyaTTwright, @HAIRietteharlem). As with all things that give you struggle, my hair has taught me a lot about life, love…and FAITH. It is my hope you will find inspiration in these essays to apply to your own life.

Click the link below to view a fun video about HAIRiette of HARLEM and support our fundraising campaign today! THANK YOU!!!!

xo Tanya

http://www.rockethub.com/projects/37433-a-call-to-hairiette-arms-let-s-raise-50-000-in-50-days

PS--If you can't click on the link above, just copy and paste it to your browser! :)

#15 The Power of Protection!

#15 PROTECTION!

This is a biggie! I fi nd my hair thrives the most when it is protected—either by styling (twists, buns) or silk scarves at night. Whenever it is kept in hibernation (and I usually do this if I’m working from home and/or puttering around the house), it’s protected from the elements of heat or cold, both of which can be damaging to the hair. Be mindful of when you need to protect yourself. Now, I’m not saying go out in the world and be fearful of everyone and everything you encounter—on the contrary. Danger is real, and arming yourself with protection in any endeavor can make you even more fearless as you pursue whatever goal you set out for yourself. My hair has taught me the importance of protecting myself as I fearlessly navigate life.

*Every day starting February 24th at 11:11AM EST (it is said that the angels sing at this time!) until April 10 I will count down the remaining days of our 'A Call to HAIRiette ARMS' fundraising campaign. We're raising funds to create an interactive series --with YOU!-- and a haircare line (a portion of which goes to charity, THE ACTOR'S FUND).

We'll share one essay from my upcoming book I FOUND GOD IN MY HAIR: 98 spiritual principles I learned from my relationship with…my hair! (via twitter: @tanyaTTwright, @HAIRietteharlem). As with all things that give you struggle, my hair has taught me a lot about life, love…and FAITH. It is my hope you will find inspiration in these essays to apply to your own life.

Click the link below to view a fun video about HAIRiette of HARLEM and support our fundraising campaign today! THANK YOU!!!!

xo Tanya

http://www.rockethub.com/projects/37433-a-call-to-hairiette-arms-let-s-raise-50-000-in-50-days

PS--If you can't click on the link above, just copy and paste it to your browser! :)

Shedding: a most natural process...

#17 Don't Dread the Shed!

It’s the most natural of processes. We are constantly shedding skin and hair, all day every day. It’s not always visible, but the body knows this is a healthy process of any living organism. Shedding is nature’s way of slough- ing off the old and making way for the new! I use to be so devastated after the end of a relationship when I was younger— now, as I’ve gotten older (and hopefully wiser!) there’s little if any pain related to shedding, whether it’s my hair, a relationship or circumstance. My hair has taught me to receive shedding with grace. ‘Cause you never know what’s on the other side…

*Every day starting February 24th at 11:11AM EST (it is said that the angels sing at this time!) until April 10 I will count down the remaining days of our 'A Call to HAIRiette ARMS' fundraising campaign. We're raising funds to create an interactive series --with YOU!-- and a haircare line (a portion of which goes to charity, THE ACTOR'S FUND).

We'll share one essay from my upcoming book I FOUND GOD IN MY HAIR: 98 spiritual principles I learned from my relationship with…my hair! (via twitter: @tanyaTTwright, @HAIRietteharlem). As with all things that give you struggle, my hair has taught me a lot about life, love…and FAITH. It is my hope you will find inspiration in these essays to apply to your own life.

Click the link below to view a fun video about HAIRiette of HARLEM and support our fundraising campaign today! THANK YOU!!!!

xo Tanya

http://www.rockethub.com/projects/37433-a-call-to-hairiette-arms-let-s-raise-50-000-in-50-days

PS--If you can't click on the link above, just copy and paste it to your browser! :)

#21 Never underestimate what COURAGE can do

#21 COURAGE

Hair—particularly in the African-American community— has oft been fodder for political expression. Diatribes on the merits of straightening or not, weaving or not, natural or not have been written by many, many people. The truth is, most people don’t have the courage to be themselves— whatever that is. Most folks follow the herd. I started to wear my hair natural because I was interested, simply, in wearing it the way it actually grew out of my head. It wasn’t a political statement. I never cared too much about what people thought of me (I learned early you can’t please everybody) and I sure wasn’t going to start now. My hair taught me to have courage to be who I truly am, even if it looks different from everyone else around me.

*Every day starting February 24th at 11:11AM EST (it is said that the angels sing at this time!) until April 10 I will count down the remaining days of our 'A Call to HAIRiette ARMS' fundraising campaign. We're raising funds to create an interactive series --with YOU!-- and a haircare line (a portion of which goes to charity, THE ACTOR'S FUND).

We'll share one essay from my upcoming book I FOUND GOD IN MY HAIR: 98 spiritual principles I learned from my relationship with…my hair! (via twitter: @tanyaTTwright, @HAIRietteharlem). As with all things that give you struggle, my hair has taught me a lot about life, love…and FAITH. It is my hope you will find inspiration in these essays to apply to your own life.

Click the link below to view a fun video about HAIRiette of HARLEM and support our fundraising campaign today! THANK YOU!!!!

xo Tanya

http://www.rockethub.com/projects/37433-a-call-to-hairiette-arms-let-s-raise-50-000-in-50-days

PS--If you can't click on the link above, just copy and paste it to your browser! :)

#22: Practice DOES Makes Perfect

#22 PRACTICE

A few years ago, I noticed that people started asking me questions about my hair. “What do you put in it? How do you get it to curl up like that?” The truth is, for most of my life, my hair was my biggest thorn and I ain’t ashamed to say it was a hot mess. Nothing gets great on its own nor does it suddenly improve overnight. A prima ballerina spends endless hours in rehearsal to get her plies just right; master cellists rehearse unceasingly to learn how to hit just the right notes at the right time. I can’t tell you how many drafts of screenplays I’ve written over the years just to eek something out I felt was worthwhile for human eyes. Folks usually don’t see the blood, sweat and tears you put into something, just the result of your blood, sweat and tears. I was determined to master my hair, and so I did what I always did when I want to get better at something— I practiced. Try practicing something you want to master when other folks are watching TV or playing around.

*Every day starting February 24th at 11:11AM EST (it is said that the angels sing at this time!) until April 10 I will count down the remaining days of our 'A Call to HAIRiette ARMS' fundraising campaign. We're raising funds to create an interactive series --with YOU!-- and a haircare line (a portion of which goes to charity, THE ACTOR'S FUND).

We'll share one essay from my upcoming book I FOUND GOD IN MY HAIR: 98 spiritual principles I learned from my relationship with…my hair! (via twitter: @tanyaTTwright, @HAIRietteharlem). As with all things that give you struggle, my hair has taught me a lot about life, love…and FAITH. It is my hope you will find inspiration in these essays to apply to your own life.

Click the link below to view a fun video about HAIRiette of HARLEM and support our fundraising campaign today! THANK YOU!!!!

xo Tanya

http://www.rockethub.com/projects/37433-a-call-to-hairiette-arms-let-s-raise-50-000-in-50-days

PS--If you can't click on the link above, just copy and paste it to your browser! :)

#23: FRAGILITY! Respect it.

#23: FRAGILITY

I have very, very, very fi ne hair—it’s extremely fragile, so it’s no wonder it snapped off when I raked the dryer over it or neglected to moisturize it for a day or more. Some heads can withstand more than others, but I know that my hair can’t. And I honor that. My hair taught me to respect fragility with tenderness whenever and wherever I find it. 

*Every day starting February 24th at 11:11AM EST (it is said that the angels sing at this time!) until April 10 I will count down the remaining days of our 'A Call to HAIRiette ARMS' fundraising campaign. We're raising funds to create an interactive series --with YOU!-- and a haircare line (a portion of which goes to charity, THE ACTOR'S FUND).

We'll share one essay from my upcoming book I FOUND GOD IN MY HAIR: 98 spiritual principles I learned from my relationship with…my hair! (via twitter: @tanyaTTwright, @HAIRietteharlem). As with all things that give you struggle, my hair has taught me a lot about life, love…and FAITH. It is my hope you will find inspiration in these essays to apply to your own life.

Click the link below to view a fun video about HAIRiette of HARLEM and support our fundraising campaign today! THANK YOU!!!!

xo Tanya

http://www.rockethub.com/projects/37433-a-call-to-hairiette-arms-let-s-raise-50-000-in-50-days

PS--If you can't click on the link above, just copy and paste it to your browser! :)

#24: It's always there when you need it. Sometimes, you just have to ask!

#24: ASSISTANCE! HELP IS ALWAYS THERE WHEN YOU NEED IT. YOU JUST HAVE TO ASK!

I cannot tell you how grateful I am for the ladies on YouTube. WOW! Hundreds of women have posted vid- eos about All Things Hair and they have helped me so so very much! Their assistance has been invaluable as I transitioned from my relaxed hair to my natural state. My hair teaches me to seek and ask for assistance when I need it. No man— or woman— is an island! 

*Every day starting February 24th at 11:11AM EST (it is said that the angels sing at this time!) until April 10 I will count down the remaining days of our 'A Call to HAIRiette ARMS' fundraising campaign. We're raising funds to create an interactive series --with YOU!-- and a haircare line (a portion of which goes to charity, THE ACTOR'S FUND).

We'll share one essay from my upcoming book I FOUND GOD IN MY HAIR: 98 spiritual principles I learned from my relationship with…my hair! (via twitter: @tanyaTTwright, @HAIRietteharlem). As with all things that give you struggle, my hair has taught me a lot about life, love…and FAITH. It is my hope you will find inspiration in these essays to apply to your own life.

Click the link below to view a fun video about HAIRiette of HARLEM and support our fundraising campaign today! THANK YOU!!!!

xo Tanya

http://www.rockethub.com/projects/37433-a-call-to-hairiette-arms-let-s-raise-50-000-in-50-days

PS--If you can't click on the link above, just copy and paste it to your browser! :)

#25: NATURE! Our best, most generous teacher

#25 NATURE

When times were lean and mean in my very early days as an actress and I couldn’t afford hair conditioner, I went to my kitchen! Mayo. Egg. Avocado. Olive Oil. Coconut Milk. Shea Butter. The natural stuff was accessible, had great value and often did a better job than the highly processed stuff. I made these hair pastes my weekly ritual, spending time with myself, pouring myself a glass of sparkling apple cider (I don’t drink) and taking a load off while God’s Harvest did the heavy lifting on my hair. My hair teaches me to enjoy nature’s bounty and that what works for the inside also works for the outside. 

*Every day starting February 24th at 11:11AM EST (it is said that the angels sing at this time!) until April 10 I will count down the remaining days of our 'A Call to HAIRiette ARMS' fundraising campaign. We're raising funds to create an interactive series --with YOU!-- and a haircare line (a portion of which goes to charity, THE ACTOR'S FUND).

We'll share one essay from my upcoming book I FOUND GOD IN MY HAIR: 98 spiritual principles I learned from my relationship with…my hair! (via twitter: @tanyaTTwright, @HAIRietteharlem). As with all things that give you struggle, my hair has taught me a lot about life, love…and FAITH. It is my hope you will find inspiration in these essays to apply to your own life.

Click the link below to view a fun video about HAIRiette of HARLEM and support our fundraising campaign today! THANK YOU!!!!

xo Tanya

http://www.rockethub.com/projects/37433-a-call-to-hairiette-arms-let-s-raise-50-000-in-50-days

PS--If you can't click on the link above, just copy and paste it to your browser! :)

#26 FAITH: The most important one of all

26: FAITH

Without it, there’s nothing. You can work as hard as you want, read every book in the world, do all the things you see other “successful” people doing, but without faith you’re just spinning your wheels. It took a while for my hair to get on track. Many times I just wanted to quit and slap some relaxer on it. I didn’t always know where I was going— and, I’ll confess, I didn’t always feel great about the journey—but I had faith that I was headed in the right direction. I have questioned my faith more times than I can count. The thing about faith, I realized, is that you have to let go of “how” something is going to happen and just fi x your mind on “that” it’s going to happen—or, better yet, embrace the fact that it’s already happening! It’s a hard one to truly master, but there are few things more powerful than faith. Period. My hair teaches me to have faith!

*Every day starting February 24th at 11:11AM EST (it is said that the angels sing at this time!) until April 10 I will count down the remaining days of our 'A Call to HAIRiette ARMS' fundraising campaign. We're raising funds to create an interactive series --with YOU!-- and a haircare line (a portion of which goes to charity, THE ACTOR'S FUND).

We'll share one essay from my upcoming book I FOUND GOD IN MY HAIR: 98 spiritual principles I learned from my relationship with…my hair! (via twitter: @tanyaTTwright, @HAIRietteharlem). As with all things that give you struggle, my hair has taught me a lot about life, love…and FAITH. It is my hope you will find inspiration in these essays to apply to your own life.

Click the link below to view a fun video about HAIRiette of HARLEM and support our fundraising campaign today! THANK YOU!!!!

xo Tanya

http://www.rockethub.com/projects/37433-a-call-to-hairiette-arms-let-s-raise-50-000-in-50-days

PS--If you can't click on the link above, just copy and paste it to your browser! :)

Labels: actress, advice, crowd funding, hair, hairiette of harlem,health, natural hair, Orange is the New Black, rocket hub, spirituality,True Blood, web series, wellness

#27: THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITY...

                 Me, my cousin Danielle and her beau Tres!

#27 If I’m not careful, I can be a hermit. I can spend days or weeks in the solace of my home and mind, creating worlds on paper conceiving characters that live. The importance of community, though, can never be underestimated. When I found there was a vibrant textured hair com- munity online, I was so excited! There was so much to learn, to share, to exchange. I felt like the community was something bigger than myself, something that I can both feed from and contribute to. My hair taught me the importance of community as an anchor and ever-present well of inspiration in my life. 

*Every day starting February 24th at 11:11AM EST (it is said that the angels sing at this time!) until April 10 I will count down the remaining days of our 'A Call to HAIRiette ARMS' fundraising campaign. We're raising funds to create an interactive series --with YOU!-- and a haircare line (a portion of which goes to charity, THE ACTOR'S FUND).

We'll share one essay from my upcoming book I FOUND GOD IN MY HAIR: 98 spiritual principles I learned from my relationship with…my hair! (via twitter: @tanyaTTwright, @HAIRietteharlem). As with all things that give you struggle, my hair has taught me a lot about life, love…and FAITH. It is my hope you will find inspiration in these essays to apply to your own life.

Click the link below to view a fun video about HAIRiette of HARLEM and support our fundraising campaign today! THANK YOU!!!!

xo Tanya

http://www.rockethub.com/projects/37433-a-call-to-hairiette-arms-let-s-raise-50-000-in-50-days

PS--If you can't click on the link above, just copy and paste it to your browser! :)

#28--celebrate your uniqueness!

#28 UNIQUENESS

Hair is like a fingerprint: no two heads are exactly the same. There are, literally, a billion ways to express your thoughts, feelings and emotions through your hair. Our hair gives us an opportunity every day to celebrate our own uniqueness. My hair reminds me that I am a unique being and I have the ability to express myself in any way I want through it. 

*Every day starting February 24th at 11:11AM EST (it is said that the angels sing at this time!) until April 10 I will count down the remaining days of our 'A Call to HAIRiette ARMS' fundraising campaign. We're raising funds to create an interactive series --with YOU!-- and a haircare line (a portion of which goes to charity, THE ACTOR'S FUND).

We'll share one essay from my upcoming book I FOUND GOD IN MY HAIR: 98 spiritual principles I learned from my relationship with…my hair! (via twitter: @tanyaTTwright, @HAIRietteharlem). As with all things that give you struggle, my hair has taught me a lot about life, love…and FAITH. It is my hope you will find inspiration in these essays to apply to your own life.

Click the link below to view a fun video about HAIRiette of HARLEM and support our fundraising campaign today! THANK YOU!!!!

xo Tanya

http://www.rockethub.com/projects/37433-a-call-to-hairiette-arms-let-s-raise-50-000-in-50-days

PS--If you can't click on the link above, just copy and paste it to your browser! :)

29 days left: THE FREEDOM TO BE FREE!

#29: FREE!

There are many words to describe my hair and “free” is defi nitely one of them! When my hair is loose and completely unencumbered is when I feel most like myself, it’s when I feel the most free! When it’s in its wildest, craziest state is when, strangely, I feel most relaxed. Freedom has been a recurring theme in my life. A friend told me years ago that the reason I wasn’t married was because I valued my freedom too much. Dunno if that’s true or not— I know some married people who seem incredibly free–but there might be something to explore here. Maybe the statement that “freedom is more a state of mind” is accurate. My hair teaches me that I am forever free. 

*Every day starting February 24th at 11:11AM EST (it is said that the angels sing at this time!) until April 10 I will count down the remaining days of our 'A Call to HAIRiette ARMS' fundraising campaign. We're raising funds to create an interactive series --with YOU!-- and a haircare line (a portion of which goes to charity, THE ACTOR'S FUND).

We'll share one essay from my upcoming book I FOUND GOD IN MY HAIR: 98 spiritual principles I learned from my relationship with…my hair! (via twitter: @tanyaTTwright, @HAIRietteharlem). As with all things that give you struggle, my hair has taught me a lot about life, love…and FAITH. It is my hope you will find inspiration in these essays to apply to your own life.

Click the link below to view a fun video about HAIRiette of HARLEM and support our fundraising campaign today! THANK YOU!!!!

xo Tanya

http://www.rockethub.com/projects/37433-a-call-to-hairiette-arms-let-s-raise-50-000-in-50-days

PS--If you can't click on the link above, just copy and paste it to your browser! :)

#30: The Water Beautiful...

#30 

Most of the earth is covered in water; similarly, most of the body is made up of H2O. We can live without many things, but no one— no living thing— can live without water. This is a biggie. Every cell in our body needs it every moment of the day. They say dehydration is the root of countless health problems, and I really do believe that it’s true. You need water. Your body needs water. I know that my hair—and every part of me—needs water in order to survive and to thrive.

*Every day starting February 24th at 11:11AM EST (it is said that the angels sing at this time!) until April 10 I will count down the remaining days of our 'A Call to HAIRiette ARMS' fundraising campaign. We're raising funds to create an interactive series --with YOU!-- and a haircare line (a portion of which goes to charity, THE ACTOR'S FUND).

We'll share one essay from my upcoming book I FOUND GOD IN MY HAIR: 98 spiritual principles I learned from my relationship with…my hair! (via twitter: @tanyaTTwright, @HAIRietteharlem). As with all things that give you struggle, my hair has taught me a lot about life, love…and FAITH. It is my hope you will find inspiration in these essays to apply to your own life.

Click the link below to view a fun video about HAIRiette of HARLEM and SUPPORT our fundraising campaign! THANK YOU!!!!

xo Tanya

http://www.rockethub.com/projects/37433-a-call-to-hairiette-arms-let-s-raise-50-000-in-50-days

PS--If you can't click on the link above, just copy and paste it to your browser! :)

#31: HERE COMES THE SUN!

#31 THE IMPORTANCE OF THE SUN!

I stumbled on the Beatles’ “Here Comes the Sun” while watching vloggers on YouTube—Nina Simone’s version of the song is out of this world! A few months ago, my mother bought me a mirror that looks like the sun and I put it over my bed. This “sunny” mirror reminded me of my hair: the round shape was my face and my hair, the rays of the sun. The sun has always been a thing that has made me happy in my life. It’s ever-present grace and benevolence sits high in the sky, the warmth and light making a way, rising daily and without fail. My hair teaches me to never take the rising and the setting of the sun for granted. Every day is a new day and a new chance to start again. The sun makes me feel hopeful. I love the sun!

*Every day starting February 24th at 11:11AM EST (it is said that the angels sing at this time!) until April 10 I will count down the remaining days of our 'A Call to HAIRiette ARMS' rocket hub.com fundraising campaign. We're raising funds to create an interactive series --with YOU!-- and a haircare line (a portion of which goes to charity, THE ACTOR'S FUND).

We'll share one essay from my upcoming book I FOUND GOD IN MY HAIR: 98 spiritual principles I learned from my relationship with…my hair! (via twitter: @tanyaTTwright, @HAIRietteharlem). As with all things that give you struggle, my hair has taught me a lot about life, love…and FAITH. It is my hope you will find inspiration in these essays to apply to your own life.

Click the link below to view a fun video about HAIRiette of HARLEM and DONATE to our rocket hub.com campaign! THANK YOU!!!!

xo Tanya

http://www.rockethub.com/projects/37433-a-call-to-hairiette-arms-let-s-raise-50-000-in-50-days

PS--If you can't click on the link above, just copy and paste it to your browser! :)

Did you PLAY this weekend? I hope so! Playing's good for the soul…happy Sunday!

#32 PLAY

I haven’t been 10 years old in some time (LOL!), but my favorite hair style, hands down, are two power puff balls on either side of my head. I style my hair like this whenever I’m feeling playful. My dog, Macarena, is a Labrador Retriever. And if any of you have or know anything at all about labs, you know they love two things: water and balls! Macarena has made a religion out of placing a tennis ball in my lap whenever I feel life getting heavy, and this simple act immediately makes me smile and throw the ball, which is her ultimate goal. My hair reminds me that I have the choice of how I’m going to respond to stressful situations in life. It re- minds me there is always the choice to take the lighter load and that whenever I can, I should choose to play. Playing can change perspective. 

*Every day starting February 24th at 11:11AM EST (it is said that the angels sing at this time!) until April 10 I will count down the remaining days of our 'A Call to HAIRiette ARMS' rocket hub.com fundraising campaign. We're raising funds to create an interactive series --with YOU!-- and a haircare line (a portion of which goes to charity, THE ACTOR'S FUND).

We'll share one essay from my upcoming book I FOUND GOD IN MY HAIR: 98 spiritual principles I learned from my relationship with…my hair! (via twitter: @tanyaTTwright, @HAIRietteharlem). As with all things that give you struggle, my hair has taught me a lot about life, love…and FAITH. It is my hope you will find inspiration in these essays to apply to your own life.

Click the link below to view a fun video about HAIRiette of HARLEM and DONATE to our rocket hub.com campaign! THANK YOU!!!!

xo Tanya

http://www.rockethub.com/projects/37433-a-call-to-hairiette-arms-let-s-raise-50-000-in-50-days

PS--If you can't click on the link above, just copy and paste it to your browser! :)

#33! Beautiful Beauty...

#33: BEAUTY! 

Beauty is not an indulgence—I believe it actually inspires creativity. I’ll never forget the time I was in Rome and went to the Vatican for the fi rst time to witness the splendor that is the Sistine Chapel; the moments walking through the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens or watching the Alvin Ailey dancers perform their yearly Christmas-time triumph. It stirs something within me that urges me to create something that can only hope to complement the beauty I see before me. But beauty is an inside job that manifests itself in an outward reality. When you feel beautiful, you tend to automatically look beautiful. The work I was doing on the “inner” me manifested itself in my outside me. Around the time I started to believe that my hair was “beautiful,” I also began to drink more water and work out. Not to look beautiful, but because I already felt beautiful:) My hair helped me to reveal the beauty I already felt inside.

*Every day starting February 24th at 11:11AM EST (it is said that the angels sing at this time!) until April 10 I will count down the remaining days of our 'A Call to HAIRiette ARMS' rocket hub.com fundraising campaign. We're raising funds to create an interactive series --with YOU!-- and a haircare line (a portion of which goes to charity, THE ACTOR'S FUND).

We'll share one essay from my upcoming book I FOUND GOD IN MY HAIR: 98 spiritual principles I learned from my relationship with…my hair! (via twitter: @tanyaTTwright, @HAIRietteharlem). As with all things that give you struggle, my hair has taught me a lot about life, love…and FAITH. It is my hope you will find inspiration in these essays to apply to your own life.

Click the link below to view a fun video about HAIRiette of HARLEM and DONATE to our rocket hub.com campaign! THANK YOU!!!!

xo Tanya

http://www.rockethub.com/projects/37433-a-call-to-hairiette-arms-let-s-raise-50-000-in-50-days

PS--If you can't click on the link above, just copy and paste it to your browser! :)

#34. GRACE.

#34 According to the dictionary, the word “grace” is defi ned as “elegance or beauty of form, manner, motion, or action.” In action, grace is a way of moving that is smooth and attractive, not stiff or awkward. In spiritual terms, grace is the mercy given to us by God. Grace is one of my favorite words–the very sound of it makes me feel peaceful. Well, it took a lot of work, practice, commitment and resilience to get here, but you can’t tell me that my hair is not Grace in action:) 

*Every day starting February 24th at 11:11AM EST (it is said that the angels sing at this time!) until April 10 I will count down the remaining days of our 'A Call to HAIRiette ARMS' rocket hub.com fundraising campaign. We're raising funds to create an interactive series --with YOU!-- and a haircare line (a portion of which goes to charity, THE ACTOR'S FUND).

We'll share one essay from my upcoming book I FOUND GOD IN MY HAIR: 98 spiritual principles I learned from my relationship with…my hair! (via twitter: @tanyaTTwright, @HAIRietteharlem). As with all things that give you struggle, my hair has taught me a lot about life, love…and FAITH. It is my hope you will find inspiration in these essays to apply to your own life.

Click the link below to view a fun video about HAIRiette of HARLEM and DONATE to our rocket hub.com campaign! THANK YOU!!!!

xo Tanya

http://www.rockethub.com/projects/37433-a-call-to-hairiette-arms-let-s-raise-50-000-in-50-days

PS--If you can't click on the link above, just copy and paste it to your browser! :)

35 days. 35 ways. To forgive...

#35. FORGIVENESS...

I got from being frustrated with my hair to downright loving it by forgiving— myself. I had to forgive myself for adopting ideas about my hair that belonged to other people—ideas that were not mine. They say “when you know better, you do better.” I had to forgive myself for following the herd; forgive myself for trying to cover up, alter or otherwise change what grew out of my hair to fi t some societal idea. My hair taught me that, before I forgive others for wrongs or perceived slights, I have to first forgive myself…

*Every day starting February 24th at 11:11AM EST (it is said that the angels sing at this time!) until April 10 I will count down the remaining days of our 'A Call to HAIRiette ARMS' rocket hub.com fundraising campaign. We're raising funds to create an interactive series --with YOU!-- and a haircare line (a portion of which goes to charity, THE ACTOR'S FUND).

We'll share one essay from my upcoming book I FOUND GOD IN MY HAIR: 98 spiritual principles I learned from my relationship with…my hair! (via twitter: @tanyaTTwright, @HAIRietteharlem). As with all things that give you struggle, my hair has taught me a lot about life, love…and FAITH. It is my hope you will find inspiration in these essays to apply to your own life.

Click the link below to view a fun video about HAIRiette of HARLEM and DONATE to our rocket hub.com campaign! THANK YOU!!!!

xo Tanya

http://www.rockethub.com/projects/37433-a-call-to-hairiette-arms-let-s-raise-50-000-in-50-days

PS--If you can't click on the link above, just copy and paste it to your browser! :)

#37: What I learned about the importance of gratitude…from my hair!

#37

Being grateful in the midst of perceived misfortune is extremely diffi cult. It’s hard to see generosity in the face of earth-shattering, cataclysmic change. When my brother died some years ago, I thought I would die with him; in fact, I believe a part of me did. The lessons he left in his wake were enormous. Gratitude is hard to cultivate when your heart is bust so wide open. I never in a million years thought I would be writing a book about my hair! AH! My hair has been a thorn in my side ever since I could remember. But once I began to cultivate gratitude for it, it began to give back to me in ways I could have never imagined. My hair teaches me how to be grateful for what I already have. And that what I have is beautiful–and enough! 

*Every day starting February 24th at 11:11AM EST (it is said that the angels sing at this time!) until April 10 I will count down the remaining days of our 'A Call to HAIRiette ARMS' rocket hub.com fundraising campaign. We're raising funds to create an interactive series --with YOU!-- and a haircare line (a portion of which goes to charity, THE ACTOR'S FUND).

We'll share one essay from my upcoming book I FOUND GOD IN MY HAIR: 98 spiritual principles I learned from my relationship with…my hair! (via twitter: @tanyaTTwright, @HAIRietteharlem). As with all things that give you struggle, my hair has taught me a lot about life, love…and FAITH. It is my hope you will find inspiration in these essays to apply to your own life.

Click the link below to view a fun video about HAIRiette of HARLEM and DONATE to our rocket hub.com campaign! THANK YOU!!!!

xo Tanya

http://www.rockethub.com/projects/37433-a-call-to-hairiette-arms-let-s-raise-50-000-in-50-days

PS--If you can't click on the link above, just copy and paste it to your browser! :)

My hair helped me to realize how volunteering helps makes other people’s lives better...

38 DAYS! Here's #38 of I FOUND GOD IN MY HAIR: VOLUNTEER…

I spent the weekend with my friend Sarah; her daughter Maddy has hair with a similar texture to mine. When I arrived, the girl’s hair had clearly not been combed in months—it was matted so bad it was starting to dread; they weren’t like beautiful dreadlocks, just a hot matted mess of uncombed hair–very different. When I asked Sarah about Maddy’s hair, she almost broke down in a heap of tears. Sarah was frustrated and ashamed about what to do with her little girl’s mane. We went to the store and purchased some hair products; when we came back, I proceeded to show Sarah how to do Maddy’s hair. Now, I admit this was not a fun time for little Maddy, but I promised next time would be better. And better, and better and better... When we were done, Sarah thanked me profusely. There was no need, though —she was my friend and Maddy is practically my niece! I’d do whatever I could to help. It made me feel good to volunteer that day and decided I was going to do more of it. My hair helped me to realize how volunteering helps makes other people’s lives better. And makes me feel great! “

*Every day starting February 24th at 11:11AM EST (it is said that the angels sing at this time!) until April 10 I will count down the remaining days of our 'A Call to HAIRiette ARMS' rocket hub.com fundraising campaign. We're raising funds to create an interactive series --with YOU!-- and a haircare line (a portion of which goes to charity, THE ACTOR'S FUND).

We'll share one essay from my upcoming book I FOUND GOD IN MY HAIR: 98 spiritual principles I learned from my relationship with…my hair! (via twitter: @tanyaTTwright, @HAIRietteharlem). As with all things that give you struggle, my hair has taught me a lot about life, love…and FAITH. It is my hope you will find inspiration in these essays to apply to your own life.

Click the link below to view a fun video about HAIRiette of HARLEM and DONATE to our rocket hub.com campaign! THANK YOU!!!!

xo Tanya

http://www.rockethub.com/projects/37433-a-call-to-hairiette-arms-let-s-raise-50-000-in-50-days

PS--If you can't click on the link above, just copy and paste it to your browser! :)

Head= top. First! 39 days to go...

(uh, YES, that's Eddie Murphy! Random, I know…:)

#39 HEAD

When we are born, the top of the head is perhaps the most sensitive part of our bodies. Have you ever looked at a dog when you scratch the top of his head? They pull away and fl inch— they don’t like it at all. Our head houses the seventh (“crown”) chakra. It is said when the crown chakra is clear and open, it opens our own personal vortex into higher dimensions. It is also the point on our bodies that is closest to the sky, the place where “heaven” is for most of us. My hair teaches me to protect and respect my head. My head is a sacred part of my body and the place which houses one of the most important organs we have: the brain. 

*Every day starting February 24th at 11:11AM EST (it is said that the angels sing at this time!) until April 10 I will count down the remaining days of our 'A Call to HAIRiette ARMS' rocket hub.com fundraising campaign. We're raising funds to create an interactive series --with YOU!-- and a haircare line (a portion of which goes to charity, THE ACTOR'S FUND).

We'll share one essay from my upcoming book I FOUND GOD IN MY HAIR: 98 spiritual principles I learned from my relationship with…my hair! (via twitter: @tanyaTTwright, @HAIRietteharlem). As with all things that give you struggle, my hair has taught me a lot about life, love…and FAITH. It is my hope you will find inspiration in these essays to apply to your own life.

Click the link below to view a fun video about HAIRiette of HARLEM and DONATE to our rocket hub.com campaign! THANK YOU!!!!

xo Tanya

http://www.rockethub.com/projects/37433-a-call-to-hairiette-arms-let-s-raise-50-000-in-50-days

PS--If you can't click on the link above, just copy and paste it to your browser! :)