HOLIDAY GLAM

Yay!! It's OFFICIALLY the 2010 holiday season and there are plenty of fabulous holiday parties to go to. And since you're going to be rocking a fabulous dress adorned with sequins and flyy shoes, you must complete the look with fab hair right??? RIGHT!!

Here are some holiday hairstyles that are simply chic:

And because we can't live without our accessories:

Home Remedies: AVOCADO CONDITIONER

I don't have Avocados on hand in my kitchen usually because I don't eat them. But for those of you Guacamole eaters and such, here's another great purpose for them: CONDITIONER.

Avocados are great for stimulating hair growth, especially in African Americans. They contain essential nutrients like Proteins, Vitamins A, D, and E, for hair growth and nourishment. They work better when blended with other oils like almond oil or olive oil which we know are also very good for our hair.

Here's a home remedy you can try if you're not an avocado eater like myself.

1 Avocado

1 Egg Yolk

1 Tablespoon of Olive Oil

Mash the avocado in a bowl and mix it with the egg and oil. Separate hair into sections and apply the mixture to the scalp first and then down towards the ends of the hair. Put a plastic cap on and sit under the dryer for 20 minutes. You're all set!

NOTE: The conditioner should be applied from root to end for Normal/Dry hair and half-way through hair for Oily hair.

POST BC STYLE: SMALL SPIRAL/ROD SET

So now that you've decided to BC, you don't know what to do with your new 'do right?? BEEN THERE!!

Welcome to what I have dubbed, the UGLY PHASE. At least that's what it was for me. As I chopped my hair every so often, I had to rediscover styles that worked for my new length. A lot of them I created on a whim b/c I had no CLUE what to do - I didn't like my hair in this in between stage AT ALL!!

WELP, no fear, HELP IS HERE *cuemythememusic*

Here's one style that is super cute AND protective. This was/is one of my staples

Small Spiral/Rod Set:

Here's a vid, hers was really cute for medium length hair (never mind the transition caption, it works on au naturale hair as well):

OIL BUSINESS

In my effort to use more Oils and less grease, I've found that there is a difference in oils...WHO KNEW?

Here's the thick of it:

Basically there are 2 types, Carrier and Essential.

Essential oils are plant-based and usually carry the distinct scent of that plant. An example would be say, Lavender, Eucalyptus, or Peppermint.

Carrier oils come from the fatty portion of plants ie. the seeds, nuts, or kernels. They are usually used to dilute Essential oils before it can be applied, so they Carry the essential oil onto the skin. Examples would be like Olive Oil, Avocado Oil, or Grapeseed Oil.

You want to shop for oils that have been Cold Pressed or are organic as possible. Using less heat to retrieve the oil preserves the nutrients in the oil, which is the reason you are buying it in the first place right? And they last for about 6-12 months. So you've got some wiggle room there too.

Here's my VERY short list of oils to buy:

*Grapeseed - light moisturizer, good for massaging the scalp

*Tea Tree - great for dry scalps (THAT'S ME) and dandruff

What are some of your favorite oils?

SALE SALE SALE

OMG!!! My little piece of Product Heaven is having a MONSTER sale before the holidays. Just about everything is 50% off AND if you have their VIP card, it's an additional 10% off that!! Stop in and stock up on all your faves including Paul Mitchell, Biolage, SexyHair (I LOVE!!) and OPI - I know it's nail polish, but hey why not...

BGR!

So I absolutely LOVED the show! It was very well put together and just about everybody looked completely FAB!!

There weren't that many au naturale looks, but Malinda Williams definitely rocked it!!

***LOVES IT***

Here are some more pics... just for giggles.

So beautiful!!!

BLACK GIRLS ROCK!

FINALLY something constructive on BET. I have just about crossed them off my list of channels to watch with their only saving grace being The Game *plug - premieres Jan. 11, 2011*

I feel obligated to watch the Black Girls Rock! Awards show airing this Sunday at 7pm, I love being celebrated and the lineup looks fantabulous including host Nia Long. It's about time we hear something about how brilliant we are BESIDES how we supposedly can't find a man, how our picking pool is very shallow, we have too high standards, etc.. *iCan't*

Some of the featured ladies are:

* Ledisi

* Rev. Dr. Iyanla Vanzant

* Keke Palmer

* Missy

* Ruby Dee

* Raven Simone - ok Olivia, lolol

and on and on and on.

It's so good to see such wonderful ladies getting together to celebrate us Black women. I can't wait to see the show. I hope you'll be watching and be inspired as well!!!

And afterwards check out my girl's site Fashion Love Affairs, she'll definitely have the lowdown on all things fashion.

P.S. THEY HAVE A STORE!! It's full of cute tees with influential black women and positive sayings on them. Check it out here.

READER REQUEST: PROTECTIVE STYLES

A LOVELY reader asked me to provide some protective styling options for the winter. Now I'm a huge fan of braids and twists anyway, but even more so now that I'm Natural. I will admit, I am a novice at this, so I'm gonna keep it simple for those of us who are not as braid/twist advanced... for now :)

Twist Updo with Roller set ends:




French Braid with Bun:



French Braid Bang with Bun:

**MY FAVE**

The key to Protective Styles are you don't want to fuss with your hair (or minimize the fuss as much as possible). You also want to make sure your ends are not exposed. If they are, make sure you moisturize them to keep from experiencing breakage.


And don't forget to accessorize!!! Earrings, flowers, clips, broaches, etc.. are just the added pizazz you need!


HAPPY STYLING!!

'TIS THE SEASON...TO PROTECT OUR HAIR

Ladies it's almost that time again...WINTER *notready* If you've been here say in the past 12 months, you've seen a true Winter season. We had snow out the wazoo!! BUT just because we are suffering doesn't mean our hair has to suffer.

In the Winter our hair is super fragile, the cold winds, snow, hail, ice, not to mention hats affect our hair. It's a lot drier which means it is MORE prone to damage and breakage.

So here are some tips to get our hair ready prior to Old Man Winter hitting the scene:

** DEEP CONDITIONING IS KEY - Your hair needs moisture!! and especially so in the winter time. Those elements are nothing to play with, so I'd suggest you get your DC on every week. And this includes heat *oyvey* I hate sitting under the dryer as much as the next person, but since I KNOW my hair will need it AND since I've already incorporated it into my routine, it shouldn't be too bad. Get a head start, it'll be easier later.

** FEWER WASHES - I don't know about you, but I cannot afford to get any additional head colds, my sinuses are enough. W&Gs are GREAT in the summer, but in the winter, no sirree. Colder air dries your hair even more and the whole point is to keep your hair moisturized, so instead of a weekly routine, try washing it every 10 days.

** DRY WASH - Speaking of fewer washes, try Dry Washing your hair. What is it you ask? Well it's basically washing your hair without washing it. Use an astringent like the lemon water cleanser.

** HOT OIL TREAMENTS ARE YOUR FRIEND - Have we not noticed a trend here? Coconut Oil, EVOO... oil is ABSOLUTELY wonderful for moisture. They [most] penetrate the hair shaft and provide a protective layer for your hair. Warm it up, put it in your hair, cover with a plastic cap and sit under the dryer. You're good to go!!

** FIND YOURSELF SOME PROTECTIVE STYLES - Protective styling means protecting your hair, concentrating on your ends, so that you don't experience breakage faster than your hair grows. THIS IS A MUST!! Sealing the ends is key to protective styling. I suggest 2 strand or flat twists, buns, or braids.

I hope this helps you prep your hair for the cold months that are coming ahead!!!