Thursday, April 28, 2011

Tips for caring for relaxed hair

Relaxed hair is probably one of the most expensive to maintain especially for someone who really isn't into hair care and all those do it yourself experiments. Growing up, my mom didn't have the time to wash, condition and treat my hair so off we went to the hairdressers. 5 hours later (LoL), she would call to find out if I was finished and when she would be there to pick me up. A vast majority of people do the big chop due to breakage or the amount of money going down the drain every 2 weeks just to get a treatment, lets not even talk about the time spent at your hairdressers. I came across this article on Coco~N~Creme and had to share.

Don’t shy away from hair oil
Oil is excellent for relaxed hair. It serves as a heat protectant, nourishes the scalp and eases dryness to help eliminate breakage. Some people fear that using oil will give locks a heavy greasy look, but this is not true. Coconut oil, jojoba oil, argan oil and olive oil are all lightweight. It’s all about the amount of oil that is used and how it’s used. Always take the less-is- more route when applying oil to hair and scalp.

Wash hair regularly
Clean hair is the foundation of healthy hair. Depending on whether you r hair is healthy or damaged, how often you wash can vary. If you feel the need to wash hair more often, try doing a co-wash; that way, you’re locking in moisture and not stripping hair of essential oils and nutrients that can be lifted with shampoo.

Condition, condition, condition!
Whether it’s a daily or weekly formula, your hair craves conditioner. Choose a daily conditioner that’s lightweight and meets the specific needs of your hair, for example if you have a dry scalp look for shampoo that’s specifically for that problem. Deep condition hair a minimum of once bi-weekly. If you use conditioner on wet hair, be sure to use a wide-tooth comb during the detangling process to avoid breakage.

Limit the amount of heat you use
Some of the worst hair horror stories that I’ve heard are those involving heat damage. Using too much heat on tresses is never a good idea. Instead of blow drying hair right after a wash, try letting it air dry. If you are on-the-go, let hair dry for about 15 minutes and set the blow dryer on medium or low heat. Ceramic hot rollers are also a nice option for a style that’s full of body, but not to taxing on your hair’s health.

SUGGESTED PRODUCTS
(L) Cantu Moisture Cream Shampoo
(R) Organic Root Stimulator Olive Oil Edge Control


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We Love Her Style - Natural Up Do



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Healthy Hair Starts On the Inside

Like your skin, your hair needs nutrition from the inside out. If your diet is deficient in hair-friendly foods or your digestion is not efficient, all the expensive shampoos and hair treatments in the world won’t be effective at maintaining the longevity and health of your hair. So if you want a healthy, shining crown of hair, start by taking a hard look at what you eat, when you eat and how you eat.

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Monday, April 25, 2011

RECAP: Week of April 18

● ● Afrobella and Curly Nicki are teaming up and doing a new monthly series [read more. . .]


● ● Embrace your beauty, find out 10 reasons why black women love themselves [read more. . .]


● ●  Brief write up on Naomi Sims the first african american supermodel [read more. . . ]


● ● NEW PAGE - An introduction to my passion [read more. . .]

George Johnson

George E. Johnson, Sr. was born in Mississippi on June 16, 1927.  He began working as a shoe shine boy at the age of 8 after working odds jobs over the years.  Johnson dropped out of school in1944 and accepted a job as a production chemist for the Samuel B. Fuller cosmetics firm.

In 1954, he began building the world's best-known black hair care products manufacturer in Chicago, Johnson Products Company. Johnson and his wife Joan built Johnson Products from a $500 initial investment.

Unlike earlier African American cosmetics firms which targeted women, Johnson developed his first products exclusively for male customers. His first successful product was Ultra Wave Hair Culture, which was a hair relaxer for men.  In 1957, Johnson Products released a new hair straightener specifically for women called Ultra Sheen which unique among such products could be applied at home. Ultra Sheen surpassed Ultra Wave in sales and popularity.
Vintage Afro Sheen ad
The1960s was the growing popularity of the afro style with the rise of Black Power as a political philosophy, Johnson developed its most famous product, Afro Sheen.  By the late 1960s Johnson Products became the principal sponsor of the national television dance show, Soul Train. With markets in Africa, the West Indies, and Latin America by the early 1970s, Johnson Products Company had become the largest African American owned corporation in the United States.

In 1971 Johnson Products Company became the first African American owned corporation listed on the American Stock Exchange.  Johnson resigned as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Johnson Products Company in 1989.  Johnson Products Company was purchased by the Proctor and Gamble Corporation in 2004, but in March 2009 a consortium of African American investment firms bought the company.


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Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Carol's Daughter New Spokesmodels

Cassie, Selita Ebanks and Solange Knowles have all been named as spokesmodels for Carol’s Daughter.
Carol’s Daughter aims to showcase the customers who can’t be neatly slotted into one category or another. Take, for instance, Cassie, who is of black and Filipina descent, or Ebanks, who has Jamaican, Irish, Indian and African heritage and grew up in the Cayman Islands. Knowles is of African-American and French Creole descent. 

They will serve as cultural ambassadors in bringing forth this acceptance that the definition of beauty is now colorless,” said Steve Stoute. “There are no longer boxes of white, black, Latina, Asian. More and more women are checking the other box.” According to Stoute, the trio was chosen because aside from their beauty “they share the vision and embody the messaging in their attitude, appearance, projects and core values.” 

Carol’s Daughter doesn’t have just one direct demographic,” said Ebanks. “Solange’s hair is a different texture than mine; so is Cassie’s. Our skin and body types are different. Today, people are blended, and I think the three of us are a prime example. Women in my family range from vanilla to the deepest chocolate.” 

While the brand will continue to use longtime spokespeople and investors Jada Pinkett Smith and Mary J. Blige, as well as [founder] Lisa Price, in brand visuals, the three new spokeswomen speak to the “millennial generation, which is basically a colorless society,” said Stoute.


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10 Reasons Why Black Women Love Themselves

I love blogging for 3 reasons -
● ●  I think outside the box
● ● My searches increase 100% once I find a topic I am interested in (sometimes I literally force myself to go to sleep at random hours of the morning because I get so carried away)
● ● I discover and explore different websites I never knew existed

Madame Noire an online publication for black women is one the many sites I frequently visit (discovered it during my late browsing sessions) It is a hub for everything black women want to know about - beauty, health, entertainment, career, living e.t.c  I came across this post titled 10 Reasons Why Black Women Love Themselves and thought I would share.  Enjoy!

1. Less Likely to Buy Into Unrealistic Standards
2. Confidence
3. Different Beauty Standards from Mainstream America
4. Acceptance and Embracement of Ethnic Features
5. Our Skin
6. Admiration and Celebration of the “thicker”/ “curvier” frame
7. Diversity of Features
8. Appreciation from the Fellas (regardless of race)
9. Knowledge of our history
10. Perseverance
. . .continue reading here.

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Tuesday, April 19, 2011

The Natural Professional

Patrice Elizabeth Grell Yursik of Afrobella and natural hair blogger Curly Nikki are introducing an exciting new monthly series and chapter in beauty. The main objective is to prove the fact that women of colour can successfully climb the ranks of the corporate America and take the C-Suite all while wearing their naturally curly crowns titled Natural Professional.

You can also get in on this!  If you happen to be a natural hair professional yourself or would like to see some of your favorite naturalistas featured in the series. Contact Afrobella at bella[at]frobella.com with "Natural Professional" in the subject line or Curly Nikki at curlynikki.com with "SuperNatural Saturday" as the subject. Be sure to have your nominee's name and correct e-mail address for them.

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GIVEAWAY! What's in your bag?

THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED
meek ~n~ mild giveaway
Contest started Friday April 15 and will remain open for about a week so enter immediately.
meek ~n~ mild a lovely fashion and makeup blog I follow is currently giving away these wonderful pieces.  

● ●  In the Gift Set... ● ● 
Girls Aloud Lashes "Nadine"
MAC Eyeshadow in "Orange"
Filthy Gorgeous Nail Polish in "Glee"
Sleek Lipstick in "Peaches & Cream" (NEW True Colour Lipsticks)
Sleek Lip Conditioner in "Monte Carlo" (NEW Mediteranean Collection)
Illamasqua Cream Pigment in "Mould"

All you have to do is tell Shirley, what you currently have in your favorite bag? Leave your reply in the comment box here

● ●  Open worldwide
● ●  Must be a follower of meek~n~mild.com
● ●  Enter Once
● ●  Don't forget to leave your e-mail address
● ● Any Age (Just get permisssion if under 18!)

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Threading


The hairstyle known as ‘threading’ was originally a West African practice that has become common in parts of East and Central Africa. It is achieved by partitioning the hair into various sections and using black thread that is tightly bound around each section of the hair. The end result is a stiff but beautiful protective hairstyle as seen above.

If you read the About page you know'll already know I lived in Nigeria for 10 years.  I remember threading my hair like it was yesterday.  I recall our live in nanny and I walking in the neighborhood to a particular house, walking down the long corridor and sitting on a brown wooden short stool waiting my turn to get my hair threaded.

My mom and sister were convinced that it made your hair grow.  Not sure how true that was but I liked getting my hair threaded because it was very easy take out.  One tug of the thread and it spun around your hair like a pinwheel.


I would be interested to see the styles that would be created if threading came back into style today.


Look at what I found!
Gotta love my mom, she has had these thread for 15+ years!
This is the thread used to thread.
A closer look

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She's Back!

Self portrait washroom pic! *blush*
Hello beauties! I'm back to doing what I love - blogging!  I apologize for the hiatus, I've had to juggle between work, my side hustle (soon to be revealed) and my personal everyday life.  Nonetheless the most important thing here is, I'm back! *yyyyyay*

To make up for my disappearance, there are 2 new posts -
● ●  Adiya, the creator of The Corner Shop blog is my latest feature [read more . . .]
● ●  Read a little blurb from Jane Powell - What Makes You Beautiful? [read more . . .]

I've got to get going, tooooo much to blog about!

● ● twoodles ● ●

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Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Celebrity Hair Stylist - Ursula Stephen

Brooklyn-born Ursula Stephen is the mastermind behind some of the hottest hairstyles in Hollywood.  A hairstylist for more than 15 years, she exploded onto the mainstream scene in 2007 as the woman behind the fiercest and most coveted hairstyles for today's high profile and fashion-forward celebrities.
A hair maven for all ethnicities, Ursula specializes in textured hair. She is constantly working with weaves, wigs, colors and cuts to create unexpected and versatile styles for the unabashedly modern woman. Her work, as well as her expert advice, can be seen across edgy editorial spreads and in countless publications, such as Cosmopolitan, Elle, Essence, InStyle and Seventeen.

inspired

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Monday, April 11, 2011

Motivational Monday

I was thinking if I cheated on my fears, broke up with my doubts, got engaged to my faith then I can marry my dreams

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Lace Wig 101

The lace wig is here and it’s here to stay. It’s always great when you discover a hair extension method that doesn’t add stress and strain to your actual hair, that looks natural and believable (sometimes) and can be worn in many different styles. Celebrities and the elite have known about the lace wig method for years. Now, anybody with $30 can purchase a unit. Here are a few tips to ensure that your lace wig looks as natural and believable as it should.

CHOOSE YOUR UNIT WISELY
Be smart when selecting your lace wig unit. The purpose of the lace wig is to create a natural and realistic hairstyle that appears to be growing from your scalp. Purchasing hair that is extreme and drastic in colors, textures, lengths or styles, will look artificial. Take your time during the selection process, especially if you are spending a lot of money for a long-lasting and high quality unit. The best lace wigs are the ones that match your own hair texture, that are versatile, meaning they can be styled in many different ways, and that actually look like hair grown from your scalp. Purchase from a reputable retailer and ask questions. Remember, you get what you paid for, so choose wisely.

CUTTING THE LACE
When was the last time you saw someone with a perfectly straight hairline? Probably never and if you did he/she was probably wearing a botched lace wig. Before cutting the lace from your unit, be sure to examine your own hairline first. When you do cut the lace, be extremely careful. Use tweezers, if you need to get a closer cut. If you are new to lace wigs, and fear that you will be unable to achieve a natural hairline, purchase a lace wig with bangs. The bangs will hide the lace and your hairline.

LACE WIG PLACEMENT
This seems to be the area where most women go wrong. Here's break down a few rules to help guide your process.

1. Make sure that your own hair is properly styled before applying the lace wig. You want your hair to be flat and smooth, to prevent the appearance of any lumps and bumps in the wig. A wig cap is an excellent tool to ensure that your hair stays flat under the wig.

2. Choose a lace wig application that works best for you. There is no single way to applying a lace wig unit. You can use liquid glue, adhesive strips, tape and/or pins. There are a lot of online resources available to assist you in deciding which application method is easiest and most efficient. Do your research so that you can do it right! If you tend to be heavy handed with glue, use adhesive tape. Nothing is worse than seeing dried glue on someone’s forehead. It screams, “LACE WIG!

3. When you’re finally ready to apply your lace wig, remember that your hairline does not start in the middle of your forehead. This sounds simple enough, but I am shocked by how many women in Hollywood and outside, make this crucial lace wig mistake. Do not mistake your eyebrows for your hairline!

MAINTAIN YOUR UNIT
You find a lace wig that looks absolutely stunning and effortless. No one can tell you that it is not your hair, but the truth is, it is NOT your hair. So, you must treat it as such. Be sure to address any sliding back or loose wigs before anyone else can. No one wants to see your wig cap, corn rolls, or fuzzy hairline. Be able to identify the life cycle of your wig. Synthetic wigs last only a short time, while some human hair lace wigs can last up to a year. The worst thing you can do is to wear a lace front that should have been retired months ago.

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Tuesday, April 5, 2011

In The News: Mixed Chicks - A Curly Revolution

Mixed Chicks LLC has filed suit against Sally Beauty Supply LLC.In the lawsuit, filed in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Mixed Chicks claims that Sally Beauty Supply and the other defendants are infringing on the Mixed Chicks trademark and the overall distinctive appearance of Mixed Chicks’ hair care products.

In the complaint, Mixed Chicks alleges that “Mixed Silk” products sold in Sally Beauty Supply stores infringe the distinctive trade dress of Mixed Chicks’ products, as well as the Mixed Chicks trademark.Mixed Chicks also alleges that Sally Beauty Supply uses the Mixed Chicks trademark on its web page search engine to direct consumers to Sally Beauty Supply’s infringing products.

Mixed Chicks is seeking damages and a permanent injunction from the court preventing Sally Beauty Supply from infringing the trademark and from using an overall appearance that is confusingly similar to that of Mixed Chicks’ Shampoo, Deep Conditioner, and Leave-In Conditioner.

In connection with the lawsuit, Kim Etheredge, one founder of Mixed Chicks, stated: “We’ve worked hard to build the reputation of the Mixed Chicks product as one of high quality. We want our clients to know that the ‘Mixed Silk’ products have no connection with our products, and Mixed Chicks has not endorsed or authorized them. We will protect our brand whenever it’s necessary and appropriate.
About Mixed Chicks 
Wendi Levy (left) and Kim Etheredge (right), two "mixed chicks", created a product line because they needed it. Then, something happened. . .friends and family started encouraging them to package it, and soon they had a full blown business running out of the garage. After a little door to door hustling, a few celebrity endorsements and a ton of online customer support, MIXED CHICKS is bringing their products to the world.

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Monday, April 4, 2011

Be Right Back

Hello beauties! I've been offline for a few days 
(feels like forever) 
Do check back later, there will be a lot to read about!

*kisses*

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