The last week was an exercise in adaptability. On Wednesday, I traveled to The Big Easy mainly to broadcast the New Orleans Natural Hair Expo. I arrived with first-day hair in the dark of a humid night to cooler temperatures than had existed in Dallas that week. As many of you know, the Essence Festival, a four-day music event with parties and concerts stretching day and night, was happening concurrently, which I believe was a strategic ace on the part of NONHE creator, Monique Herbert, but more on that in a bit.

By my first morning there, my schedule began to fill up. First up a press conference at the Roosevelt Waldorf Astoria about the two queens of fierce rivals Grambling and Southern universities being first-cousins for the first time in history. Then the Mayor’s Ball.

There was so much on the slate. Congressman’s party. NONHE. Erykah. Missy. Usher. Trombone Shorty. Mary J. Kendrick Lamar. And the dampness of the air threw me a serious curve ball, but with a schedule like that it’s not like I could stay inside and fret over my hair. My first time traveling as a natural was to Houston a few weeks ago. With similar humidity levels there, my hair held up well with no issues, so I didn’t even bother to bring anything other than oil and a creme moisturizer.

New Orleans was a different story. I don’t know if I was outside more and for longer stretches of time compared to Houston, but by the time I woke up on Saturday to broadcast live from the NONHE my hair went from full to big then full-on frizzy.

I didn’t lose all definition, but enough to lament my decision to travel without at least gel and my trusty curl enhancer of the week. I didn’t even have bobby pins.

In a panic because I knew the ladies hosting and attending the NONHE would have flawless natural hair, I was desperate for a solution. I always travel with two barrettes in case of emergencies and pulled those babies out. I wet my hair on the sides to loosen the gel and clipped them up. Viola!

I had achieved frohawk realness in about five seconds. With this style, the frizzy aspect of my hair worked to achieve the style. It also created an edgier look that worked well for the NONHE and the events that followed.

They say necessity is the mother of invention. I would switch it up a bit, “Desperation is the mother of inspiration.” In my case, both are true, but I’m glad it all happened. I can now add the frohawk to my budding arsenal of hairstyles, especially when my hair is on its last legs and I want to get some more life from it before the big wash day.

The NONHE was a productive and valuable event. I was too busy broadcasting live, taking archival photos and retrieving interviewees to take an official headcount, but I could see it was well attended and as I spoke to brands like CURLS, I discovered many were running out of product due to the high-volume response. I got to know Kinky, Curly, Yaki and swear I will make my top knot dreams come true with some of their extensions before the summer is out. The celebrity bloggers were all knowledgeable about their topics and friendly to boot. I will have lots of fun following them now that I’ve gotten to know them a little more.

I cannot wait for next year’s NONHE. This event is definitely a destination trip that I will travel for in the years to come. If you missed our broadcast you can check out the re-air on Wednesday at 8 p.m. CT, here. Or play it back at your leisure via the #hairbeautybuzz Soundcloud.