HAIR FILE: TWIST N CURL

I find this style extremely cute and plan to incorporate it into my fall routine. There are also plenty of pin-ups styles (trial and error really) and hair accessories you can use to jazz it up :)

WARNING: This video is about 17 mins. long...She does talk alot, but the styling gets started around the 6 minute mark then you can skip to the 14 minute mark to see her take them out.

HAPPY STYLING!!!

Check out Curly Nikki for a pictorial.

ROCdaLOCS

For all my Sistas (and Brothas) interested in growing Locs and Natural Hair/Skin Care!!

This is a 3-day event geared towards learning the basics about Locing, Loc Grooming, Natural Products, and Ingredients.

Register with Anita Hill or Nadira Chase of Natural Roots Styling Studio at 216-681-1359

More info here or check out their Facebook event page.

YES!!! FINALLY...

Big ups to my girls over at Fierce by Nature for sharing this article

The image quickly made rounds in magazines and the blogosphere – Supermodel Naomi Campbell captured on film just as a gust of wind swept back her hair revealing a massive bald patch at her left temple.

Everyone wanted to know: what happened to Naomi Campbell's hair?

The consensus was traction alopecia, a condition that develops when fragile hair strands are stressed due to tension, which in Campbell's case appeared to be from hair extensions.

As Atlanta gears up for the mid-summer Bronner Brothers hair show, which takes place August 7-10, black hair is once again in the spotlight, highlighting a growing cadre of women, who in an effort to avoid a Naomi Campbell-type disaster, have increasingly turned to less stressful hair styles.

Such trends are altering the $165 million mass market black haircare industry, and not always for the better. The two largest black haircare companies, L'Oreal USA and Alberto Culver Company, which account for more than one-third of the market, have both experienced sales declines in recent years, according to a 2009 study from Mintel, an international market research firm.

And while relaxers have been at the heart of the black haircare industry, 2007 saw the beginning of a decline in sales of relaxer kits at mass market stores, which is projected to continue during the next four years.

Read more at Access Atlanta

PJ FIX: LAILA ALI'S NEW HAIR CARE LINE

While on the plane to Miami, I decided to catch up on some much needed Essence reading :) and what did I find?! Professional boxer Laila Ali will be releasing a line of hair care products at Target, Wally World, CVS and Rite-Aid very soon!!!

I'm super excited! I love Laila and from what I read the products in the Laila Ali Professional Hair Care line will be sulfate-free (Goodbye dryness), contain shea butter (YES!), hydrolyzed wheat protein, acai and gogi berries. HOW AWESOME IS THAT?!!

So be sure to check her line out, whenever it hits the stores and let us know what you think!!

OH REALLY??

What would you do if someone said to you ‘I hope you don’t go all Back to Africa on me??’

Now. I HATE comments like this. It’s so…prejudiced. I mean just because I wear my hair natural and prefer oils to grease does NOT mean I’m going “Back to Africa.” So what if I am?? And furthermore what does that mean anyway?? What, do you think I’m gonna go live in a hut in some remote Tanzanian village??? *Breathe* I mean I totally understand you’re used to a certain look and all (a wrap), but pardon me if I want to be more versatile, go swimming without worrying about my hair, or go Angela Davis style. I know plenty of Natural Sistas who you wouldn’t even know were Natural if they didn’t tell you and YES they have REAL careers in Corporate America. I mean I guess they think the inner me is going to change. To a certain degree I have changed. I’ve become more conscious about taking care of myself...and I know it’s for the better. I just can’t stand close minded people. Okay, I’m done venting.

So Ladies in short be ‘HAPPY TO BE NAPPY!!' This is a word of encouragement from your Naturally PROUD Sista! Do your thing girl!

PJ FIX: SHEA BUTTER

Have you ever noticed radiant the skin of our brothers and sisters in Africa is?? I haven't made my journey to the Motherland...yet, but I've seen pictures and I'm just truly amazed at their flawless beauty. I'm learning that what you use on your skin you should be able to use in your hair and there's one recent product from Africa that has just saturated the market - SHEA BUTTER.

I mean here in the past year or so, EVERYTHING from skin lotions to hair grease to wrapping lotion all has "--- with Shea Butter" included in its title. We must not be tricked though, all Shea is not good Shea. Shea comes in different colors (depending on who makes it and how), refined, raw, etc...

Shea Butter uses the extract of the Shea Karite tree. It is a natural conditioner, known for its amazing vitamin and nutrient properties that help repair and moisturize damaged or dry hair. (HOORAY for us TYPE 4 sistas!!) You hair will almost instantly feel softer and have more shine...GUARANTEED!

You can use it on dry hair as a moisturizer or on damp hair as a hot oil treatment. Just warm it up until it becomes all liquid and pour it over your scalp. Leave it in for about 20-30 mins. and wash it out. You will be surprised at how soft your hair feels. TRUST. I know.

Now, the thing about GOOD Shea Butter is it should start to melt once you rub your hands together and is light in color - beige/tan like. The heat from your body should instantly make the Shea soften. [This is a good tester when purchasing Shea Butter from vendors and such]

So, like I said before, shea comes in different colors, some is light and some have more of a dark gold hue to it, totally depends on what spices they put in it to scent it. I prefer the unscented Shea. There's nothing worse than me walking around with a smell I can't stand or get rid of on top of my head...so not cute. But beware, folks are known to capitalize on the 'Shea' brand, so get to know what you're purchasing before you purchase it, if you can (most vendors have samples).

Once you try it, you may get hooked!! Sooooo in the spirit of Ujamaa [Cooperative Economics], let's support our brothers and sisters selling GOOD Shea Butter at these Cleveland events!

HOME REMEDIES: Honey Conditioner

Beauty experts have said that Honey is a best kept secret. It is known to be ripe with molecules that retain moisture and is prime for nourishing and moisturizing the hair and body. I myself, have yet to try this, but I plan to during my newly installed weekly conditioning regimen. Here's a recipe I found on Hair Boutique,

3 to 6 tablespoons of honey (depending on hair length and condition)

1 to 2 tablespoon of jojoba oil (I'll be using Coconut Oil)

So in the spirit of summer conditioning, try adding Honey. (Don't forget to let us know what you think)

SUMMER SUMMER SUMMER TIME

It’s officially Summer and we know what means, hot, humid weather mixed with pools and beaches and SUN!! Lots of it I hope :) If you’ve been in the Cleveland area this week, CONGRATULATIONS you’ve survived 90+ degree temperatures, but has your hair??

I’m ALL about protective styling ESPECIALLY in the summer when your hair is more prone to heat damage because of the sun. Just like we need protect our bodies from sunburn and etc… we need to keep our hair protected as well. Here are a couple of thoughts to keep in the back of your mind as you’re out and about this summer:

TRIM TRIM TRIM!! What’s worse than having to cut way more off your hair than necessary?? I say trim before summer, mid summer, and end of summer. This way what’s damaged before won’t trail up the shaft and you can still catch it in the early stages by mid summer and the end of summer is the last hoorah!

NO HEAT!!! Dare yourself to attempt a No Heat for Summer Challenge. Instead of reaching for the curling iron, do a Bantu knot out, wear a braid-out, rock some flat twists or even a straw set and let them air dry. You’ll have fun playing with your hair and may be pleasantly surprised as what you discover. Oh and don’t forget hats as options too…get a cute floppy hat while lying on the beach.

BRING ON THE CONDITIONER - The more time you spend outdoors, the more frequently you should DC your hair. Put a Thursday evening weekly deep conditioning regimen in place, just in time for the weekend :) DC is a MUST for our naturally dry hair, especially when our hair is exposed to environmental stresses. P.S. Try searching for some conditioner that has some sort of SPF in it, it’ll give you an extra little boost of protection as well.

PART 2 OF THE CONDITIONING IS MOISTURIZING. Post outside activity, use oils ie. Coconut oil, EVOO, or Jojoba oil, they keep your ends protected at the end of the day. Jojoba oil applied to the ends of your strands will help soften them. Jojoba oil works wonders on frizzy hair. Jojoba oil can also be utilized as a pre co-wash treatment and applied to dry strands for protection throughout the day.

UM, DID SOMEONE SAY SWIM?? Pool water is treated with chlorine and as a result can be very harsh on our hair. Try co-washing, then braiding/twisting your hair up, and then let it half-dry on its own before you dive in. This way, your hair is coated and protected from the chlorine, salt or sun and gets extra time to get conditioned.

AND OF COURSE THIS GOES WITHOUT SAYING…BUT I’M GONNA DO IT ANYWAY STAY HYDRATED!! DRINK PLENTY OF WATER!!