Friday, September 30, 2011

I'll be DAMN'd!

In February of 2011, Fro Fashion Week made its debut with a bang!

For three days, naturals were cocooned in helpful advice, organic, hair loving products and a 100% hater free environment. Fall’s Fashion Week was no different, delivering the same chemical free haven with an extra dose of POW—er, confidence, courtesy of The Damn Salon.

A Damn model
Yeah we said it! And that’s not an acronym either. No ma’am, the name is derived from the first word on clients lips after seeing their transformations for the very first time. You guessed it, DAMN! This daring theme came packaged and delivered to a Fro Fashion Week workshop in The Damn’s feisty salon owner, Mushiya, spunky business partner, Ephinae, and fiercely fabulous team of models and stylists.

The crew, surrounded by an aura of “cool” immediately had audience members fraught with anticipation as three gorgeous models clad in combat boots, studded heels, sequined hot pants and of course, wild, kinky manes took center stage with high fashion poses. And we weren’t disappointed.

The French Kiss (ooh la la...)
As one stylist selected a gorgeous natural from the crowd to demonstrate a signature style, The French Kiss, two others began styling the models center stage, in bold looks that took just moments to create. All the while, Mushiya effortlessly engaged each of her listeners in a pointed confidence crash course on how to be that “haute, damn girl,” explaining that looking good on the outside ignites inner confidence. She also  dropped powerful gems like “you’ll treat me like I’m hot because I act like I’m hot,” and to a closet natural experiencing some dissonance about taking her kinks to work, “it’s you who has to decide that your hair is professional.” Then just to prove that she practiced what she preached, she revealed that her hair was only half done, but that she carried herself with such poise no one had recognized her blunder!
The lucky winner. So damn sweet!

But these women are about more than just show and tell. Just in case we didn’t believe how good they were, they surprised one lucky attendee with a head to toe make over valued at over $1000!


And they saved the best surprise for last. But you’ll have to stay tuned to see what it is ;)  

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Fall Fro Fashion Week Highlights!

At the risk of sounding like a 14-year old school girl, Fro Fashion Week  OMG, SO MUCH FUN!! Not only was this session filled with workshops that taught useful information, but fabulous events that spanned from Thursday to Sunday. Every guest was entertained, educated, and even pampered. To the behind the scenes people and Tarin Boone, you outdid yourselves. Bravo. 

Knotty & Nice and Kim Coles, the host of the Penthouse Party.
Fall Fro Fashion week seems to be all about balance. It led out the weekend with a chic Tweet-up on Thursday night, full of cocktails and information sharing. Friday was for relaxing, exploring the beautiful city of Atlanta, and catching Fro Fashion Week founder Tarin Boone and actress Kim Coles being interviewed by a local news station. But that wasn’t all! Friday night boasted a fabulous penthouse party hosted by the vivacious Kim Coles, who proved to be an awesome addition to the Fro Fashion Week tradition. And after hitting the dance floor in true 90s fashion, Kim Coles showed us that she can move with the best of them!

The useful education began again on Saturday, which was filled with workshops from Kim Coles, Jessicurl, Tress Talk ATL, and many more presenters. The varieties of topics were amazing and ranged from self-esteem subjects to natural hair trends to looking fabulous on a budget. Bloggers and guests alike received a wealth of information. And of course, in true Fashion Week fashion, there were samples to boot. Popular brands like Shea Moisture, Jessicurl, and Curls gave sample sized AND full sized products all weekend. This blogger won’t have to go product shopping for a while! 

We calculated that the guests went home with over $100 worth of products!

In between workshops, guests could visit the runway shopping area, where local natural product and fashion brands exhibited and sold quality wares at reasonable prices. For those who have been a litter harder hit by the economy (ahem…me) window shopping and talking to the exhibitors was just as fun! Also present were representatives from Shea Moisture, Huetiful, and Kinky Curly. And for the tense (or even relaxed) guest, Shea Moisture offered a total body suite that offered relaxing full body massages using Shea Moisture’s new massage oil line. Those who took advantage of this also received a full-sized portion of the Shea Moisture Body Scrub and Massage Oil.


Models showcased the exotic styles and fashions of local designers.
The ending of Saturday’s workshops gave just enough time to go and get fabulous for the exciting fashion show Saturday night. And boy, was it EXCITING! Creative Atlanta stylists showcased their designs on gorgeous and talented models of different shapes, sizes, and textures. Kim Coles was pretty in pink with cocktail length dress filled with fluttery petals. Hostess J’zhanel Cole kept the audience laughing with catchy one-liners and even more eye-catching outfits. The air was truly magnificent, starting with a inspiring poem from Hank Steward called “It”, which talked about the confidence of a woman, and ending with a triumphant and well-deserved final walk from Tarin Boone. 

Knotty & Nice's Janna Peterson poses poolside with Kinky-Curly representative.
Sunday was more relaxing, with workshops in the morning and a relaxing pool party in the afternoon. Guests were able to relax, enjoy some great food and music, and even received full sized bottles of Kinky Curly’s detangling conditioner Knot Today and Gloss Pomade. They also received samples of the Curling Custard, as well as several opportunities to win great Kinky Curly prizes. Kinky Curly was also generous enough to show a demonstration on how to use their products correctly. The relaxed atmosphere allowed for people to connect, enjoy a signature “Frotini” and pick up some great products. It was bittersweet though, because it signified the end of this great weekend.

And it really WAS a great weekend! The best thing about it? There will be another one in February!  Fro Fashion Week has risen to be a contender with other natural hair events, showing us once again that natural hair can be fun, healthy, and most importantly, fabulous (like you didn’t know that already)! We are SURE that you won’t make the mistake of missing the next one. See you in February!
Knotty & Nice with Tarin Boone, founder of Fro Fashion Week.

Saturday, September 17, 2011

Tips for Your Best Hair Ever!!

Now THAT'S some happy hair!!

There are SO MANY tips out there that it can get pretty confusing, can’t it? You don’t know if the tips that you’re reading apply to your hair type, or someone else’s. If I use this product, will my hair dry out? Will it frizz? Look weighted down?
This article isn’t a fix-all elixir. But knowing and getting the basics down can make all the difference in the world. Plus, once you have a good routine down, you can gently tweak until you get your perfect regimen!

1.       Keep it clean.
 Duh, right? But this is harder than it looks.  The kinkier your hair is, the less often you have to wash it. But that time period varies according to your lifestyle, what products you use, and how you style your hair. Here’s a general rule of thumb: if you have category 3 curls, or curly hair, start by washing your hair twice a week and adjust from there. If you have category 4 curls, or kinky hair, start by sudsing up once a week. If you find that this dries your hair out, wash less. If you experience product buildup, wash more often, or change your styling routine. Clean hair is key!

2.       Is your hair thirsty?
Another obvious one, right? But once again, knowing how often to moisturize your hair and with what can be tricky for curls and kinks. Too much and you have greasy product buildup. Too little and you have dry, hard to manage hair. But I have good news! The best moisturizer is water, which doesn’t build up! Whether you’re hair is category 3 or 4, it is a good idea to moisturize every night.  Start by spritzing your hair with water.  If you have product in your hair from the night before, you can get away with massaging your hair a little bit and a silk scarf. If your hair is drier, you may want to add a little bit of olive or coconut oil.
Some naturalistas favor Shea butter or butter-based products. If this is you, moisturizing nightly can cause buildup and frizz. Use the Shea once every few days or so, and water in-between times.

3.       Is your hair hungry?
Are you nourishing your hair? What about yourself? A diet rich in protein and biotin can yield strong hair and healthy growth.  Here are some more vitamins that your hair craves for:

Protein
Hair is made up of keratin, a hardened protein. Your hair needs a combination of essential amino acids (found in red meat and dairy) and non-animal proteins. Try these foods for a complete protein:

· Grains + dairy: yogurt topped with granola, oatmeal with milk.
· Grains + legumes: rice and beans, peanut butter on whole wheat bread.
· Seeds + dairy: sunflower seeds on cottage cheese.


Omega-3
Omega-3s nourish and moisturize dry, brittle hair and relieve an itchy scalp. The best sources of dietary omega-3 are fatty fish, flaxseeds and some varieties of nuts. Herring has the most omega-3 per serving, followed by mackerel, salmon, trout, and tuna.

Iron
Iron plays a starring role in delivering oxygen to all the body’s cells, including hair. Not eating enough of this mineral can cause iron-deficiency anemia, which can contribute to hair loss. If you rely on plant foods for iron, combine them with a vitamin C-rich food to promote absorption. Some prime examples:

· Bell peppers with lentils
· Broccoli with tofu stir-fry
· Stewed tomatoes with beans
· Orange juice with iron-fortified cereals, such as Total or Special K
Thanks to www.lifescript.com for these vitamin tips.

4.       Style with pride!
Whether you’re headed to the gym, class, or church, you should keep your hair fly! Of course, this means different things to different people. The key however, is that YOU feel good about your hair every time you leave the house! Here are some suggestions that can work for every natural:

Wash-n-Go
Wash, condition, and detangle hair.  Apply your favorite gel to dampened, small sections of hair. Use ponytail holders to separate gelled hair from hair that hasn’t been styled yet. Use your fingers to go throughout your entire head. Allow to dry completely before you manipulate. This style can last up to 3 days and only needs water to be refreshed!

Afro Poof
The more resistant your hair is this day, the better this hairstyle works! Using a wide-toothed comb, gently push hair back away from your face. Pick out the ends with a wide-toothed comb if you desire a larger poof. Use a nylon or elastic headband that is cut and wrap it around your head once, tying the ends but NOT knotting them. Pull on the ends to pull the nylon further and further back until you have your desired size. Use your favorite gel or pomade to control your edges. Slick with fingers or a boar bristle brush. Tie your hair down with a silk scarf to make your hair look smoother and remove before you leave the house. That’s it!

Afro
Use your fingers to gently tease and separate your hairs until you reach your desired thickness. For more stretch, gently pull on sections of hair and blow dry the roots. You can rock it without a part, part it in the middle, or add a cute accessory. Finish with oil sheen. Add a funky attitude and a smile and you are ready to go!

5.       And now we come to the end!
Or the ends, rather. Scraggly ends can make any hairstyle look like unhealthy hair. Make sure that when you moisturize that you concentrate on keeping your ends soft. Avoid over combing and over brushing. Don’t twirl your ends when you’re nervous! This is the KEY to splitting them! Trim your ends as needed. If clipping them every six weeks works better for you then do that. Just make sure that you keep them healthy. This is the key to neatness and health!

I hope that we’ve helped to lay the framework! Your hair is so unique already, and all you have to do it maintain the flyness! Remember, experiment and learn your hair until you come up with the perfect routine for you. Happy styling!

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Who's the Bigger Hater, Them or You?

You are GORGEOUS. Unfortunately, the person most likely to refute that is you.

                                                                    
I saw a McDonald’s commercial the other day where one of the black actresses sported a mass of natural curls as she sipped on a McCafe frappe. Or ate a fry. Whatever. And she hasn’t been the first black curly girl that I’ve seen on commercials.  It seems that market execs are finally catching on to the fact that people want to buy what other people that look like them are buying. That includes girls with curls. Douy. But you know the sad thing? Even when watching these commercials and seeing beautiful women like Kim Coles, Raven Simone, and Esperanza Spalding wear their natural hair I can’t help but think, “So, when will a natural-haired girl be a sex symbol? When will she play a love interest in a movie? Or tv show? Hell, even a commercial?? (I’ve yet to see that angle.)

In an interview with Kim Coles, she mentioned that the reason why straight hair is so popular on movie sets is because it’s so easy to replicate. Straight hair is more predictable than curly hair, and when you have to shoot the same scene 8 or 9 times, hair is the last thing that you want to be worrying about. Many actresses opt for relaxers, weaves, and lace-fronts (the good ones, not the ones you see at the corner store with the SUPER full hairline) for this reason. And I get that.

And people are starting to catch on, even outside of the world of marketing.  Legal dramedy  Franklin & Bash has, as should be expected, only two females as a part of their staple cast, both black, both beautiful.  And Garcelle Beauvais, sort of the Mariska Hargitay of the show, sports a wavy/curly mane that captivates her male co-stars every few episodes. It’s a step that I can appreciate. But even with all this, at times I’m watching Nickelodeon (for research, of course) or a favorite program and notice that the brown curly girl ends up with the short end of the stick, playing some role probably named customer #3, or random student #18, but never the pretty girl that makes time slow down and wind machines blow. And then I end up yelling at the TV, or muttering something smart under my breath because I once again realize that American beauty standards have a long way to go.

It wasn’t until this week that I realized that I was so sensitive to things like this because I hadn’t fully accepted the beauty of my curls yet. In the end, it has little to do with the world. How many skinny, straight-haired, and commercially beautiful girls out there still don’t feel beautiful?  How many commercially ostracized "big girls" do? This isn’t about the Hollywood! Yesterday curves were out. Today they’re in.  Everyone is rocking straight hair today. Tomorrow it’s all about texture. Fashions change! Beauty standards change! But do you know what’s ALWAYS in? Self-confidence.

Corny huh? Let’s see it in action. I used to LOVE the Hills (shh, it’s a secret). I always thought that Heidi Montag was so GORGEOUS. She had a great shape, beautiful features, and silky hair. From what I could tell, lots of people shared my same sentiments. Everyone apparently, except her, who’s now been pulled, tucked, and molded more than Play-Doh in a kindergarten classroom. Megan Fox seems to be going down the same path, and don’t even get me started on Lil Kim.

Now let’s look at Queen Latifah. Unconventionally beautiful. People didn’t want to accept it at first, but now she’s a Cover girl and has been listed in more than one Most Beautiful People list. I think about Raven Simone too, who has always been proud to rock her own brand of beautiful, referred to as “delectable” here   by Vlad TV. Now, who’s going to tell her that she isn’t? I think that she can look forward to a long career in Hollywood, seeing as she’s sexy, funny, AND confident…who doesn’t love that? And Ellen DeGeneres, one of the most ungirly personalities in Hollywood, is celebrated for her beautiful face, strength, her ability to accept herself even when no one else was on her side.

When you accept your own unique beauty, other people will have no choice but to love it too! And forget the ones who don’t. Haters are so last season.

Sunday, September 4, 2011

10 Obvious but Neglected Ways to Grow Your Hair Longer

When my afro gets this big, I'm going to throw a  party.


I’ve heard it all. I had a friend who rarely washed her hair because she thought that dirt made it grow faster. Another friend wore ponytails for an entire year in an attempt to lengthen her strands. I even heard of a girl who saturated her hair in pickle juice with the promise of faster growth. (Rumor has it that her hair fell out soon after. Oops.) My point is that we women go through a lot in efforts to lengthen our hair, or at least make our hair appear longer. We spend copious amounts of money, energy, and time on weaves, growth treatments, and the testing of wives tales. Sometimes we are successful. Other times we are not. Great odds, right? (She said sarcastically)

Well today I’m here to give you 10 surefire ways to grow your hair. These steps require patience, above all. Even the healthiest of hair doesn’t just shoot out of your head. And stop comparing your hair growth to your friend’s hair growth.  Her hair is not your hair, and your hair is beautiful like it is! Enjoy it at every stage of growth so that you are not continuously lusting after length. Not only will the time fly, but you will learn to really, really love your hair.
 Ok, enough already. Let’s get started!

1.        Start with healthy hair. This is IMPERATIVE. Healthy hair grows stronger and more beautiful, and healthier strands are more likely to retain their length when they aren’t breaking or brittle. Plus, healthy hair just looks better, at any length. We’ve all see the girl with the super long hair and the 5-inch split ends….and cringed. It’s just not cute. If you have to get a fresh cut in order to start, so be it. It will be worth it!

2.       Be very gentle with your hair.  As was fore mentioned, healthy hair retains it's length, which is what growing long hair is all about. And once hair is damaged, it will not only NOT repair itself, but instead  become even more damaged. A drag, huh? So be gentle with your hair. Be gentle with your ends. Don’t twirl them, or pull on them, or run your fingers through them. Try to pick protective, low-manipulation styles that protect your ends. Here’s a good rule of thumb: treat your entire head of hair as if you were dealing with one strand at a time.


3.       Trim your hair often. But be careful! Methods are different for those who want to maintain their length and for those want more length. Those who are trying to grow longer hair should trim about ½ inch once every three months or so, while those maintaining their length should trim about ½ inch every six weeks. If you are following steps 1 and 2, your hair will be able to handle a good trim every three months. Make sure that when you trim you are using very sharp hair trimming scissors. Don’t use them for anything else!  Also, if time permits, go through and trim individual hairs that seem damaged; this is another way to prolong time between trimmings.

4.       Avoid harsh treatments, chemicals, and heat. Especially ones that permanently change the chemical composition of your hair, whether is straightening, curling, or coloring. Treatments like these must BREAK DOWN the hair strand in order to be effective and then YOU must rebuild it. No other chemicals meant for hair is quite as damaging. High heat, through temporary, must permeate the protective layers of the hair follicle AND alter the chemical structure, also potentially damaging to your delicate hair. If possible, avoid these things. Look for less damaging alternatives, like protective extensions or semi-permanent dye to welt your appetite for a new look.


5.       Avoid chlorine and saltwater. This part is so tough on the swimmers, surfers, and beach babes out there, I know. But saltwater and chlorine can be very drying to your hair, so invest in a good swim cap  in order to protect your hairHere's one made especially for long or big hair: http://amzn.to/nzt4iu. Another option would be to wash and deep condition your hair every time and immediately after you swim in order to lessen damaging effects. It also helps to saturate your hair with clear water before diving in to keep your hair from absorbing too much salt or chlorine.

6.       Avoid extreme diets. Your hair is what you eat, literately. You’ve heard of the drug tests where they can test a strand of your hair and see if you’ve used drug up to several years back? Hair is like the sum of the chemical makeup of what we ingest, meaning that if we eat a lot of crap, guess what? Your hair will grow crappy too. So leave the all grapefruit, or all watermelon, or all water diet alone.  And if you can’t seem to get all the nutrients you need, investing in a good multivitamin may be especially helpful.


7.       Rinse your hair with the coldest water that you can stand. This causes the cuticles to lie flat, reducing snags and tangles, meaning less pulling, smoother hair…you get the picture. You’ll leave your shower with your hair feeling refreshed, and the rest of your body too! Of course, if cold showers just aren’t your forte a good rinse of 1 tsp apple cider vinegar and 2 c of purified water can also to the trick.

8.       Deep condition at least once a month. More often if your hair is very dry or damaged.  Deep conditioning can help to maintain healthy hair, or prevent damaged hair from becoming more damaged. I love home recipes for deep conditioning. Here  are some of my favorite ingredients and basic uses for all of them:
§  Honey- Moisture, lightens and cleanses hair
§  Olive Oil- Moisture
§  Yogurt- Moisture and light protein, strengthens
§  Coconut oil-light moisture, great smell
§  Lemon Juice- clarifying
§  Brown Sugar- Scrubs and clarifies scalp, and feels AMAZING.

9.       Choose styling tools carefully. There are so many hair tools out there that it’s important to know your hair in order for you to choose correctly. Avoid anything with fine teeth, metal teeth, or a weak handle (leverage is important, especially when detangling hair. You want a utensil that will give you a good grip).  A good boar bristle brush is also good to have. Go for 100% boar bristles. There are some that blended with nylon, which can be tough on hair, so please avoid. Sand down pointy seams in your wide-toothed combs, and style with your fingers and often as possible.

10.   Be very gentle with wet hair, especially. NEVER brush wet hair. Load it up with conditioner and detangle with a wide toothed comb or a brush made especially for detangling. This is no time for the boar!  Also, avoid rubbing your hair vigorously with a towel; squeeze sections of your hair gently to remove extra water, or dry your hair with a T-shirt. Its smoother surface is less likely to grab at individual strands.


Now, I am no doctor. I’m not a hair specialist and these methods may not necessarily give your hair magic growing powers. But they should help! Enjoy your beautiful hair and take great care of it, and growth will soon follow.  ;-)