**EVENT NOTICE** CURLY CRUISE

 

 

 

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 ALL ABOARD!!  I ran across this video on YT posted by CharyJay.  It's a totally different type of meetup.  It's a cruise!!! I've never been on a cruise, so I think this would be kind of fun.  What better way to network, meet your favorite bloggers, have demonstrations, and all that.  It's April 25-29, 2013, leaving from Miami.  Check out Curly Cruise for more details on pricing and all that jazz.

 

 

Here's the vid:

 

 

 

 

Enjoy and start saving!!!

HEAD GEAR: BOWS

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Hey guys!! There's no BOWS about it, it seems like everyone has taken a cue from Minnie Mouse as they are all the rave this season.  Here's a few you could pick up (click the link below the pic):

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Or you could make this a wonderful little DIY project:

Enjoy!!  Happy Styling!

(Don't forget about the Fall 2012 Grow Out Challenge!!)

HAIR FOOD: GREEK YOGURT

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What you eat influences how you look in more ways than one. The nutrients you take in go toward maintaining and producing body tissue like hair. Protein is a major player because, without it, your body doesn’t have all the nutrients it needs for you be your best self.

A former coworker of mine suggested I try Greek yogurt because of the high protein it contains.  At first try, I was like YUCK!  The consistency of it was a complete turn off.  It was way too thick for my taste.  So instead of being completely turned off, I decided to leave it out of the fridge for a while before I ate it.  YUMMO!!  It definitely worked for me. It was a lot creamier and since I like the kind with the fruit on the bottom, it was a lot easier for me to mix together. 

Another great way to get our protein on!

And for those mixtresses out there, check out the Creamy Greek Goddess Conditioner here or this video:

Definitely check out these recipes too, because it's not just for breakfast!!

ENJOY!!!

FALL 2012 GROW OUT CHALLENGE

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Hey guys!!!  Happy Friday to you all!  So. One of my hair goals was to do a hair challenge.  Well, instead of joining a challenge, I've decided to host my own **CHEERS**  Are you ready??  I am so excited!!

Here are the guidelines:

 
**GUIDELINES**


1. Join the challenge by becoming a follower of The Natural Girl's Guide to Cleveland.  All you have to do is subscribe via email...easy breezy!

 
2. The challenge will start on September 1, 2012 and run through December 31,2012. The challenge is open to join at any time. No cut off date!


3. Once you've subscribed, send the info below to naturally.cleveland@gmail.com

* A beginning picture showing your current hair length

* Length goal for the challenge

* Current Regimen and styling choices

* What do you plan on changing (if anything) to make it to your goal?

* Something you've learned or tweaked during this process.

4. Send update pics/info every month to the email address provided.  I'll share them so everyone can see how wonderful you're doing. (You can also post pictures with updates, ideas, and and anything else hair related that you'd like to share throughout the month via Facebook.)


5. NO NEGATIVITY ALLOWED!!! Don't beat yourself up too bad.  It will get rough and you may be discouraged, but hey that's what we're here for!! 


SO GET READY!!  September 1 will be here before you know it!!  Let's Grow Together!!

TRACEE ELLIS ROSS REVEALED!!

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Hey guys! I'm sure most of you (or soemone you know) are fans of TER (Tracee Ellis Ross) and her hair.  Today, CurlyNikki posted her hair story.  Just wanted to share!!  Check it out here.  And that's not all, CN is hosting an event where TER will be in the building!!  All you Girl/Curlfriends head on over for the deets.  I know several of my friends are in pure bliss right now LOLOL. 

Enjoy!!

HAIR-MERGENCY KIT

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Picture this:  You're out and about around town and you're having a fabulous hair day at a free concert in the park or just walking around downtown hanging out with your girls, then out of nowhere, the heavenlies open up Noah's Ark style.  What do you do?? 

Now granted, this may be a little extreme, but what do you do when you and your summer twist-out hit an unexpected wave of humidity?  I have definitely been here.  Luckily, there a few things I keep on deck for situations like these:

1.  BOBBY/HAIR PINS - I cannot tell you how many times I've had to pin and tuck random flyaway pieces of hair or had to do a quick pompadour when my twist-out started to fall and landed right in my eye *no bueno*

2.  OUCHLESS BANDS - I always have at least one in my purse.  If my hair starts to act up, in a puff it goes. 

3.  SHEA BUTTER - Y'all already know.  I keep my butter in my bag at ALL times.  Multi-functional - hair and skin.  Enough said.

Of course you could add some gel, a brush, water bottle, and various moisturizers and stuff, but I like to keep it simple.  I'm trying to limit the amount of stuff I need to do my hair.

So tell me good people, what do you keep handy for times like these when you're in a Hair-mergency?

HELP!! MY HAIR IS TOO BIG!!

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Have you ever thought your hair was too big and you didn't know what to do?  I'm not there yet, but one of my friends is.  She works in a corporate environment and while rocking her 'fro is cool, sometimes she wants a more demure look.  Something other than a twist-out, a typical bun, or a braid out. 

Here's a couple of ideas I found. 

*Ok, so I know it's a bun, but I think it's a cute little twist on it*

Feel free to share your own ideas/styles! 

And just to drop a little birdie - The Fall 2012 Grow-Out Challenge will start September 1!!  GET READY!!!!

LOC REMOVAL - BUT NO BC!

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Hey all you Loc'd up Lovelies!  I read in a magazine years ago about a lady who detangled her locs.  I thought for sure you would have to do a BC to get them out.  I was amazed at her hair, more so the amount of hair afterwards.  It was beautiful.  Now, Deidre over at Keep It Kinky has taken the leap of Loc removal.

So if you're tired of your Locs and don't have the courage to chop it all off, check out Keep It Kinky.  She chronicled her journey and her hair is gorgeous. It's pretty amazing she had the strength to keep going for over 2 weeks!!  I definitely would have quit.

You can also check out this article. 

Enjoy!!

GABBY, STRAIGHT HAIRED NATURALS...AND MORE

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First off CONGRATULATIONS TO GABRIELLE DOUGLAS FOR BEING THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN FEMALE TO WIN THE GOLD IN THE GYMNASTICS INDIVIDUAL ALL-AROUND CATEGORY!!!  IT DOESN'T STOP THERE, SHE'S THE FIRST AMERICAN GYMNAST TO WIN GOLD IN BOTH THE INDIVIDUAL AND TEAM ALL-AROUND COMPETITION AT THE SAME OLYMPICS!! MAJOR PROPS ARE IN ORDERS!!!!!

SO.  I'm about to have a little venting session.  Over the past week (or so) I've been seeing a reoccuring theme in our Natural Hair Community where people are going overboard with this Natural thing.  People are calling in the guards over Naturals who opt to wear their hair straight over curly; folks getting all excited about Alicia Keys' HAIRCUT and calling it a BC or Oprah's big hair reveal on the cover of her magazine; and something or other about Gabby's hair.   It's like Naturals Gone Wild around this joint!!  I need whoever is leading this infantry to have 13 seats in the back. 

I see why some women distance themselves from "The Natural Hair Movement."  It can be a bit much.  I read this article "In Defense of the Straight-haired Natural Girl" and totally feel her.  I mean maybe it fits their lifestyle better or maybe they actually like it better that way....who knows??!!  I am not one to criticize how people choose to wear their hair. I mean, it is THEIR hair.  Do what you will.  But more and more I'm seeing some level of "bullying" because people feel you're not being "REAL" enough if you don't rock your curls.  Overit.org. 

I am usually mum about the whole exploitation of being Natural (and Real), but this whole incident about Gabby's hair took me to a whole 'nother level.  Baby Girl is making history and we are discussing her hair???  I.ABSOLUTELY.CANNOT.  If anything we should be praising her for her accomplishments and not becoming another statistic!! And if we must talk about 16 year olds, let's talk about the real issues they're dealing with. 

I am so over the Hair Brigade PERIOD.  It's just not that deep.  I'm Team Natural all the way, but I'm not about to make everything people do about "The Movement."  #ENDRANT

What are your thoughts?