</font><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr />
it would be great if we could disagree on subjects here without insulting each other...
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I agree Adrienne.
This has turned into a very adversarial discussion, and that is not necessary.
Minus any animosity, I do however, understand both points.
Of course when someone is selling a product, we are more likely to look at any information from them with a higher level of suspicion and scrutiny. This does not negate correct information though, and so the research and end results should bear the facts, and whether they were looking only to make money, or to also adequately inform.
It is an unfortunate fact that Black business people are often looked down for fairly trying to profit from their expertise. We must try to overcome this issue as well. I must point out that Robin does sell an instructional braids tape (I bought it).
With all of these things in mind, I can make a fair objection to Cathy Howse's methods, and am in favor of Robin's. I studied both of their websites and information at length, and sent e-mails to both.
Cathy Howse does have some good information that has helped a lot of people, and does have a successful business, but there are things that I don't care for in her case. I feel that much of Cathy's information is misleading. I feel that she twisted Paula Begoun's research on Wanakee's products to show her in a negative light, and has other information on her website that made some disparaging statements about her in a similar vein. As a side note, I feel that Wanakee was a pioneer in providing information, products, and techniques to women of color, although her products were very expensive. I have her "pamphlet" which Cathy slammed, and I feel that she just didn't need a whole book to say some very simple things about hair. She also sent this "pamphlet" out free, and I did think Cathy resented this and other things out of jealousy. I have found that she just has a very bad attitude in talking about other people’s methods and responding to questions, which I feel was unnecessary and unprofessional. From looking at the information, I think that the 11 years it took to grow her hair out had little to do with her hair growth cycle, and much more to do with other issues. One was that she refused to trim her hair, rarely even her split ends (setting up a pattern of breakage). She also doesn't really believe in protective styles, and admitted she had some setbacks (which if I am not mistaken was chemical damage). She also seems to believe quite a bit in regular heat styling, with in combination with relaxed hair can do lots of damage. If her methods work for you though, more power to you.
Robin, on the other hand, was extremely pleasant to speak with, and I have asked her lots of questions about hair care and her methods. She has a great site with lots of solid information. The careful instructions on braids and their application, maintenance, and conditioning of the hair in between really impressed me. I see a lot of parallels between how she was able to retain so much healthy length in such a short period of time, and Adrienne's process. I got her tape, but I am putting off braids, as I am wearing a press and protective styling right now. I am also wary of some of the drawbacks of braids in general, as I have heard from other people on this site, who had problems with it fraying their hair. She helped immensely in informing me about pressing, and whether or not to color my hair, and the damage I got from it. She is also a trained cosmetologist, and as I remember, Cathy is not. Now we all know this distinction often doesn't mean anything, but in this case I think it makes a difference, in light of the other comparisons.
I am not trying to bash here, just present my argument, which I believe was supported with facts. As Cathy responded to me in an e-mail in bold letters when I shared these concerns with her, this is my opinion. I hope I did my best to present it in a respectful, though honest fashion. /images/graemlins/smile.gif
