Category Archives: A&M

Natural Hair 101

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Photo Credit: AyeCiara

Natural hair is a beautiful thing. Without the right tools, it can be a frustrating, yet beautiful thing. Regardless of the frustration, natural hair does not require much for healthier lengths. With minimal work, it is quite simple. Minimal work does not mean neglecting your hair. It means the right strategies that work for your hair. Your hair needs your cooperation, not your help for healthier lengths.The following steps will help you personalize a successful hair care routine and surpass the stumbling blocks for healthier long locks.

Moisturize your hair daily

Photo Credit: Naptural85

Just as your body needs moisture, your hair needs moisture. Water is the moisturizing agent for natural hair. Without moisture, the hair dries, brittles, and results in breakage, single-stranded knots, or split-ends. Spritz your hair with a water bottle regularly. Lock in the moisture with water-based products (creams, leave-in conditioners, oils) for daily use. Water-based products should list water as the first ingredient. Based on your hair’s porosity, use the LCO (liquid, cream, oil) or LOC (liquid, oil, cream) method. Use the LCO method if you are low-porosity. Use the LOC method if you are high-porosity. If you do not know your hair porosity take a porosity test. Porosity is your hair’s ability to absorb and retain moisture. To determine your hair’s porosity, you will need a hair strand and a cup of water. Find a loose hair strand and place it in a cup of water. If the hair soaks, it is high-porosity. If it floats, it is low-porosity. High porosity hair quickly absorbs moisture. Low porosity hair slowly absorbs moisture. The moisturizing process becomes easier after your hair porosity results.

Deep condition your hair weekly

Photo Credit: ivycharlaine

Deep conditioners add extra moisture than regular moisturizers. You will need a hooded dryer, steamer, heating cap, plastic cap, or a plastic grocery bag with a warm towel. Heat is not the enemy. It is an essential tool for a successful deep conditioning routine. Heat opens your hair’s cuticle layers to receive the moisture your hair needs. Without heat, your hair cannot get the proper moisture you need, especially if you are low-porosity. Regular moisture will not retain moisture if you do not properly deep condition with heat. Depending how dry your hair is, deep condition for 20 minutes to an hour.  Your hair becomes softer and more manageable.

Wash your hair on a regular basis

Photo Credit: Jewellianna Palencia

Remove product build-up with a sulfate-free shampoo. It will not dry or strip the hair as rumored. Shampoos clarify and cleanse the scalp, but do not condition it. Co-wash cleansers do not equal a shampoo. They do not remove product build-up as a shampoo. After a few days, your scalp becomes itchy and dirty, resulting in hair loss. Of course, your hair is moisturized, but is still dirty from product build-up. Product build-up keeps the hair from retaining moisture. Regular shampooing keeps the hair moisturized, yet clean. Clarifying shampoos are available at Sallys, Target, Wal-Mart, and beauty supply stores. If a clarifying shampoo becomes too drying, use a moisturizing shampoo for a clean scalp instead. A clean scalp is a healthy scalp.

Trim your ends regularly

Photo Credit: Craving Curly Kinks

Length does not mean healthy hair. Do not be afraid to trim your ends. Health should be the primary focus of your hair. Your hair will still grow over time. Split-ends, see through ends, or single-strand knots should be cut immediately. Avoiding them will split the hair strand towards the top. Straighten the hair after a shampoo wash, deep conditioner, and a blow dry. Cut your ends evenly with a sharp pair of scissors. Even cuts prevents unevened layers unless you desire the layered look. A regular trim should be every three months.

Wear protective styles

Photo Credit:
Ambrosia Malbrough

According to CurlCentric, hair grows half an inch monthly. This means your hair grows six inches per year. Protective styles retains length throughout the year. They should be worn every 5-7 days. Braids, twists, wigs, or weaves should not surpass 4 weeks. Protective styles also prevent constant touching or styling the hair. Constant combing, styling, brushing causes breakage, hairloss, and split-ends. Your ends are the oldest part of your hair and require the most attention. Tuck them away and leave your hair alone. During protective styles, you are still accountable for your hair. Braids will not give you longer hair if you neglect it. Your hair will be more prone to dryness and breakage.

Find holy grain products

Photo Credit: PowerInYourCurl

Holy grain products are stable products that work best for your hair. They provide the best results and cater to your hair’s needs. Once you’ve found them, stick with them. Do not change them, unless they stop working. Holy grain products are called that for a reason. Your hair responds extremely well without issues. Do not switch products based on millions of YouTube product reviews. Through trial and error, you will find the right product. It takes time, but not forever. Products are reviewed through daily YouTube videos. Read the comment sections and remember similar pro’s and con’s. Google and read product reviews before purchasing it. Once you purchase the product, focus on your hair’s reaction. If the hair responds well, keep it. If the hair responds bad, return it.

Research

Photo Credit: NaturallyTemi

You will not know everything about natural hair. With daily research, you will learn certain methods regarding your hair type, curl pattern, texture, and porosity. YouTube and blogs are the perfect places for learning natural hair care. They provide specific instructions for each individual’s natural hair care needs. Each individual will also learn beyond the basics. YouTuber, GreenBeauty teaches natural hair visual learners scientific facts through 3D cartoons videos and regular photos. Viewers understand better concepts behind split-ends, natural hair myths, protective styles, and proper hair care.

Choose a successful hair twin

Photo Credit: Glamtwinz

A hair twin matches your hair type, texture, and curl pattern. You can easily spot them through YouTube and social media. If you have a 4a/4b hair curl pattern, follow someone with a 4a/4b hair curl pattern. It makes your hair journey easier to understand based on their experiences. Do not take advice from someone above a 4a hair type. Their hair journey will not be relatable as the 4a/4b hair guru. Millions of natural, curly-haired gurus post YouTube videos social media hashtags. This gives you plenty of choices to follow. Keep in mind, you cannot follow everyone with the same 4a/4b hair. You might have the same 4a/4b hair curl pattern, however, you might not have the same texture, or porosity level. Plus, you will not learn proper natural hair care with too many options. It becomes frustrating and confusing. Narrow down your choices and follow your top favorite. This person should be well-experienced, especially if they have successful healthy hair. Focus more on their health, than length. Their hair did not grow healthy overnight. They experienced set backs and failures like everyone else.  Keep in mind, your hair twin are not hair gods. No need to follow everything she says. She will change routines or products often. You do not have to purchase an item every time they review a product. Stick with what you know and apply what you have learned.

Listen to your hair

Photo Credit: NickyBNatural

No one knows your hair better than you. If something goes wrong, your hair will let you know first. For example, if your hair does not respond to a product your favorite YouTube guru raved about, do not force yourself to love it. Immediately, stop using it and return it. Do not compromise your hair based on another person’s opinion. It causes unhealthy, destructible results. Another example, if your hair seems drier than usual, re-moisturize your hair. Do not stress about a scheduled routine. It’s better to respond to your hair’s needs, than a set of rules. Never ignore what your hair tells you and consider better solutions to your problems.

Eye On Eagles

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Have you noticed all the smiling faces around campus? Students and faculty shared what they think are the most attractive qualities about our university.

Professor of History, Dr. Tom Wagy with fifty years of teaching experience, thirty-four of which have been in the Texarkana area, imparts that he likes the freedom to teach how he chooses and appreciated his obligation to serve students in the hopes that they positively can change their lives. Dr. Wagy believes students with a frontier spirit will find a home at TAMUT, and those who want to complain about the lack of some resources should rejoice in the fact that the universities long-term success rests in all of our hands, “TAMUT is being built before their eyes, and students have a chance to make a real difference.” Dr. Wagy admits that he is not an expert on the current pricing of universities, but believes that TAMUT is a great value for the local community compared to the price of “going off” to seek a higher education.

Eighteen-year-old freshmen Jordann Schuler considered other colleges, but after considering the cost decided to attend TAMUT and is happy with her choice. “I like the friendly environment. It’s like a big family.” Jordann would recommend TAMUT to anyone graduating high school.

Forty-two-year-old graduate student of history Melinda Zwirn appreciates “small classes in which passionate teachers teach.” She would recommend TAMUT to younger students, as there is not an abundance of online or night courses that older students need to help juggle a forty-hour work week. Melinda would like to see more attention paid to the various scholastic competitions that TAMUT students take part in.

Associate Professor of Mass Communication Dr. Drew Morton compares his teaching experience at UCLA and Cal State to TAMUT. He likes the small class sizes, diversity of content he is allowed to teach, and says that he has the opportunity to have relationships and discussions with students as well as Intimacy of classrooms.

“I think Texarkana-A&M is a great value because students are able to have accesses to PhDs as professors whereas at most major universities you would have teaching assistant in a certain area and you might have a PhD for an upper division class that you would actually get contact hours with. Career teachers are here and they are expected to teach well first and foremost.”

Twenty-year-old sophomore Sage Altenbaumer appreciates TMAUT’s quality professors and likes the small class sizes. He would recommend TAMUT to anyone looking to further their education. Sage would like to hear more success stories about recent graduates.

Students and professors agree TAMUT is a great place to learn due to the small classes, the availability of passionate professors that are well-qualified, and the reasonable tuition. How will TAMUT continue grow and gain the prominence that other larger universities have attained? Our university’s long term success lies in the hands of every student that graduates and goes forth into the world to reveal the inner light that was kindled within these halls.

Best Week Ever at TAMUT

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The Office of Student Life, along with other organizations on campus, will host its annual Best Week Ever the week of August 27, 2018.

The assistant director of Student Life, Celeste McNeil, is already beginning the planning process. This week is a time for new and returning students to immerse themselves back into the college lifestyle before classes are in full swing.

The Best Week Ever will involve many of the organizations on campus. During this week, the students will have a plethora of events to choose to attend. In the past, there have been events such as trivia night, bingo, music, and entertainment.

As usual, the week will consist of the Spotlight on Texarkana. This event gives the 50+ organizations on campus an opportunity to market themselves to students. This event also hosts local businesses, such as banks, insurance companies, and restaurants to let everyone know about things to do in Texarkana.

Co-sponsored by the Campus Activities Board, the week promises to be exciting and engaging for students coming on campus. The Office of Student Life, with the help of the TAMUT family, will put on a lovely week of fun-filled experiences for new and returning students.

For more information about the Best Week Ever and how to get involved, contact Celeste McNeil at (903)-223-1351.

 

 

Equality Texarkana’s Day of PRIDE

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On June 9th, 2018, you’re invited to join Equality Texarkana in celebrating PRIDE in historic downtown Texarkana. This year Equality Texarkana combined its Pride Picnic and Pride March into one event.

We have special guest Stephanie Rice serving as the Grand Marshal of the Parade!

If you’re interested in volunteering, click here.

If you’re interested in being a part of the parade, click here.

If you’re interested in setting up a vendor booth at the event, click here.

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Tamut Drama presents Molly Sweeny

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Three characters, three stories, and three ideas lead to the fall of a woman: Molly Sweeny. Sweeny, blind since birth, is convinced by her husband to undergo an operation to restore her sight but is ultimately used by the doctor for his own benefits and betrayed by her husband.

This is the TAMUT Drama Department’s latest undertaking. Molly Sweeny is being played by Nathalie Gounaud, her husband, Frank, by Hollis Thompson and the doctor, Mr. Rice, by David Zwirn. The chorus consists of Chandler Moree, Daniel Jones, Hanna McClain, and Allyson Couture.

The show will run April 26th, 27th, and 28th in Talon Theatre, located in the University Center, room 326. All shows will start at 7:30 pm. General admission will be $8; all students and A&M employees will be charged $5. For more information, contact Brian Billings at bbillings@tamut.edu.

Iota Beta Nacho!

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The ladies of the Iota Beta chapter of Alpha Sigma Alpha are exited to sponsor a Nacho Typical Sorority Party here at A&M-Texarkana. This party is open to all women on campus who would be interested in rushing next semester, would like to get to know us, or those who would want some free nachos! This event will be held on April 26th at 7pm in the TEXAR Room of the University Center. 

The sisters of Alpha Sigma Alpha are looking forward to meeting any women who would like to join the organization, or just hang out and eat free nachos.

Alpha Sigma Alpha sorority is dedicated to developing women of poise and purpose. Since its founding in 1901 at Longwood University in Farmville, VA, the sorority has grown into a strong organization consisting of more than 160 collegiate and alumnae chapters nationwide.  For more information on Alpha Sigma Alpha, please visit www.AlphaSigmaAlpha.org.

RRILH Event: RRILH Festival of Creative Work!

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The main event is almost here! Join us in the Humanities Lab for the RRILH’s first Festival of Creative Work! It is a celebration of the creative talent we have on campus here at Texas A&M – Texarkana, so don’t miss it!

When: April 23rd at 12PM

Where: The Humanities Lab in SCIT 120

On the flier above you can see the individuals that are participating in this inaugural event – if you see them, tell them congratulations!

PLACE/RRILH Event: Henry Jenkins Skype-in Discussion

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Join us in welcoming Henry Jenkins (Provost Professor of Communication, Journalism and Cinematic Arts and Author of Convergence Culture) for an online discussion of his work in Media.

When: April 25th at 1PM

Where: Texar Room

This will be a PLACE event held in association with the Red River Innovation Lab for the Humanities.

RRILH Event: Alumni in Media Roundtable

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Whether you’re just starting your time at TAMUT or finishing it up like me, if you have an interest in Media then you won’t want to miss this. Dr. Drew Morton will be hosting an Alumni in Media Roundtable event!

Where: UC 217

When: April 11th, 3PM – 4:15PM

TAMUT Alumni with various jobs and experience in Media will be joining us on campus to talk about career paths in media and how to navigate your job search. For details on these individuals, please consult the flier above.

Dr. Morton is also seeking to gauge students interested in attending for what specifically they want to know. If you’ve got any questions you’d like to see answered, please leave your questions with the Red River Innovation Lab for the humanities in SCIT 120 or with me, the intern in the RRILH at aaron.caraway@ace.tamut.edu.

As usual, this event is held in association with the RRILH!