Homegirl Quel (kel) in Austin

Go Girl: Natural Hair Stylist Veola, Do You Naturally

Last Saturday I attended sneak peak event the get a look inside the new location of Jae Undreas full-service natural hair care salon. I was there to support my friend and one of their newest natural hair stylists, Veola, who is also the founder of Do You Naturally. Do You Naturally evolved from the original group Veola founded called Do You Austin, which I last mentioned in a post about the group's Anniversary party.  

At Saturday's event, we enjoyed a nice spread of refreshments and drinks, giveaways, and educational discussions and demonstrations about natural hair care. My favorite part was listening to all the natural hair journeys some of the women shared. All the stories were so different, but the one thing they all had in common was the increased joy and self-confidence every person who made the transition to natural hair experienced after their transition was completed. Love that. 

I left my camera home and my Blackberry died on the way to the event. I had my iPod Touch on me, but there's no flash on it so my photo from the event are crappy. But I do have a video! Homegirl and gents, meet Veola...

Photos of some of Veola' recent clients from big chops to straw sets (yes, on natural hair) to cornrows after the jump. Check 'em...

Happy Hair Friday Any Day! :-)

I saw this advertisement in O Magazine and it made me happy. Yes, I ripped it out just to scan it in to share with y'all. Take one look at it and you'll understand why. (Yes that's Danielle from ANTM Cycle 6, but that's not what made me happy. Take a look at her little co-star.)

And Big ups to Sesame Street for this video!

I'm just so happy that a whole new group of girls get to grow up now with more and more images validating their natural beauty. They get to grow up with Disney Princesses who look like them and little fashion models too...not just the ones on the cover of Just For Me boxes. How awesome is that?!

Do You Austin's First Anniversary Bash

I remember being at the first meeting of this group started by an acquaintance of mine a year ago. Do You Austin (as in Do you, Austin.) started out as a small group of women looking for  solutions to care for natural hair. In just one year, has expanded to over a hundred men and women and kids who come together to celebrate life, encourage and support entrepreneurship, natural living, wellness, art, music, dance and all things beautiful. Do You Austin has come a long way from being just about natural hair care, but you know what? There's no other resource that has been more useful for finding out where to get  your natural hair done or who to consult about caring for your hair at home in Austin.

Words I did not expect to hear at the gym today...

"You smell so good!"

We had just finished Body Jam (a choreographed fitness dance class) and as I was headed to the back of the class to grab my things, the woman who had been next to me tapped me on my shoulder. I turned around and she was all bleached teeth and blond hair and skinny and pretty (not because of all the aforementioned attributes, but she really was pretty) and sweaty and still high off those workout endorphins--we both were. Anyway, she was like, "Oh my goodness, you smell so good, what is that you're wearing?" Then she demonstrated just how good I smelled by sniffing me and pretending to faint in ecstasy. We laughed and I told her how glad I was that she said I smelled good, because halfway to the gym it occurred to me that I had forgotten to put on deodorant after my shower, so I was a little nervous about creating any potential odors during my workout. After revealing my secret, I told her it was my hair, "A natural hair product from Whole Foods."

That's what I told her. If she had had curly hair I would have told her that it was Kinky-Curly Curling Custard aka my new crack, which I will blab on about in a separate post sometime soon which will prob'ly be entitled, "Why I will pay $30 for 16oz of heaven in a jar" or "How the hell can Kinky-Curly charge $30 for hair styling jelly?! Oh! I get it. Because it really is THAT awesome!" Or something like that.

Awesome Video: How to seal in moisture to natural hair.

This is BlackOnyx77 of Natural Diva World on Youtube. Love. Her. She drops knowledge on why we need to moisturize this way around minute 6. Natural Girls, pay attention. Your hair will love you back.

Essence Magazine: The Root of the Issue

I am slowly making my way through the November 2009 issue of Essence Magazine. GREAT articles. I recommend The Root of the Issue starting on page 137. On their website, Essence describes this conversation between singer Solange Knowles; singer Ledisi; TV host Tanika Ray; celebrity hairstylist Ursula Stephen; and writer and producer Tonya Lewis Lee as provocative, hilarious and heartbreaking at moments, and I could not agree more. Essence Magazine, can we please have more of these conversation pieces? At one point when Ledisi was talking about how she reacted to seeing herself as beautiful for the first time, I was nodding and cosigning as if I where right there on the sofa next to her. A friend of mine reacted the same way as she read some of Nia Long's comments. And Solange is so smart and funny! I already knew that since she's one of the few celebrities that I follow on Twitter. Getting to "hear" her in a conversation like this was like confirmation. We could totally be friends in real life. I mean that. *hoping I don't sound like a crazy stalker or whatever because it's SO not like that.* Moving on. Readers get to be a fly on the wall as these smart, beautiful black women discuss their relationships with their hair with insights into the broader topic of our standards of beauty. There is laughter and there are tears--y'all know we can turn on the waterworks when we get into these types of discussions. I really enjoyed reading it and was disappointed when it was over. Have you read it? You should.

Makeup Monday: Go Natural!

Whew! As you may already know, I saw Good Hair this weekend. Y'all, when I saw what sodium hydroxide, the active ingredient in chemical hair relaxers, did to that poor innocent piece of chicken? It made me wonder how many of us actually question the ways in which we systematically poison our bodies and those of our children knowingly or unknowingly. I only used chemical relaxers for about 6 years, between age 13 and 18...and twice over the past 12 years during my natural hair journey. I'm glad to be off relaxers completely now, but can't help but wonder what, if any, long-term effects exposure to those chemicals may have caused me. Is that a major downer or what? Basically, I said all that to say, I'm inspired to go natural...for a minute.

My love-love relationship is back!

I loves my natural hair. Lord knows I do. But I was 'bout to kill it dead a few months ago. Then I found the Afroniquel You Weekly Deep Conditioning Challenge and I knowed there is a god. Aaaaaaand scene. [If you've seen The Color Purple, you know I'm not grammatically challenged. If you haven't seen it, you totally should.]

So I started the weekly conditioning challenge back in May and I started my journey back to natural-hair love. Before I started the weekly conditioning treatments (which have not always been "deep" 45-minutes is precious time for a stay-at-home-mom), my hair had been through a pretty rough time. The year I had my baby, my hair was dry and went through some pretty harsh detangling sessions. it was long, but damaged. So once I started the treatments, I thought I'd get my pre-baby natural back. Did not happen. My hair was more moisturized, but that was about it. It was still stringy an spongy and broken off in so many places that no matter how I changed up my regiment, my hair still wasn't giving me the love I needed.

So about TWO WEEKS ago I chopped most of it off. I took a mobile photo and posted it to Facebook right after I did it. Check it out here-->. See? I literally chopped it off. The day after that, I cut another inch off and my natural-hair love journey advanced by leaps and bounds. Now that only strong new-growth was there, I could nourish and moisturize my natural and be in love again.

I learned about co-washing (washing your hair only with conditioner--never using shampoo) when I posted a contest for hair conditioning and regiment tips. One of the winners, Reese, told me she swore by never using shampoo. So I tried it. And while my hair loved it, I think psychologically, I just wasn't ready to give up shampoo completely. So now, I do co-wash, but only mid-week after one or two pretty sweaty workouts. I can't go a week without using shampoo. Sorry. It's too hot in Texas and with working out on a regular basis, I need my scalp to have some squeaky cleanness. When I do co-wash I use Suave Professionals knock-off of Nexxus Humectress. I also use it as my regular conditioner when I wash it throughout the week, reserving my Creme of Nature Deep Conditioning for weekly treatments on the weekends. As you can see, I don't spend a lot of money on hair products. Right now Im using ones I got for free. I have limited expendable income and can't stomach spending it on expensive hair products. Even when I had more cashola, I pretty much used inexpensive products. I don't have a need for more expensive brands, especially since the ones I'm using are working fabulously. My hair is happy, which makes me happy.

I'm essentially starting all the way over. Some folks thought I was crazy for going so short, but I'd take short happy hair over long dreadful hair any day.

Friday Randoms

• I went to see Maxwell live with my husband this week. It was so fun! The opening act was Laura Izibor. I hadn't heard of her before the show. She's Irish,has awesome hair and is a wonderful singer/songwriter. She performed with only a keyboard and a guy with an acoustic guitar, which was all she needed. That and her AWESOME HAIR! Maxwell put on a quite sexy show. The live band was so tight. He was so funny too! He talked a lot in between songs. After the show, he was like, "Austin, I really appreciate y'all getting dressed up and moisturizin' and getting your hair did, and fellas puttin' on your cologne." He gave Austin much love and we gave it right back. I tweeted through the opening act and after the show. Did I mention how sexy his show was?
• VOTE for ME! in the Black Blog 2009 Awards. Vote <<HERE.>>
• Dear lady at the gym who caught me looking at you crazy, I would say sorry, but I won't. Because when you wear a bra top to the gym sporting a 2-liter instead of a 6-pack, you should expect to be looked at crazy. Put a shirt on!
• Reminder, to any of you guys thinking about attending Blogalicious 2009 (at the W Midtown in Atlanta on Oct. 9-11), early registration for the conference ends on July 11th. After July 11th, the fee goes up to $265. Blogalicious attendees get a special promotional rate of $149 until mid-September. So register and book your rooms early!
  IMPORTANT NOTE: The sessions and events at this conference will focus on interests and issues of the female blogger of color, but it's all love at Blogalicious 2009--we're all brothers and sisters, so to my non-color blogger peeps, you are welcome! Come! You know you want to. 
• My twin brother is here with me! And my mom AND my bff are on the way and will be arriving today! I'm going to be in my happy place this weekend. :)
• And speaking of my twin...here's a totally random photo/photo of the day:

And yes, that's me with a LOT less hair. We'll talk more about that later. Happy Friday! :)

Deep Conditioning Challenge: Week 1

Shampoo: Creme of Nature Red Clover & Aloe (for dry hair and flaky scalp)
Conditioning Treatment: Creme of Nature Jojoba & Olive Oil Moisture Active Deep Conditioning Treatment (for dehydrated hair)
Post-Conditioning Products: Now Personal Care 100% Natural Coconut Oil (from Whole Foods) and Organix Nourishing Coconut Milk Split Ends Mender
New MUST Have Tool: Goody Detangling Brush. Two Words: Life Changing. It's a less expensive version of the famous Denman D4 brush that I found out about over at BrownGirlSpeaks. It looks scary at first, but trust me--if you have textured hair, wavy to kinky (like mine), this brush will make detangling a breeze. While my hair was still damp, I put a little coconut oil on it, sectioned it into four sections and worked my way through each section starting with a handful of ends and working my way up to my scalp. I was brushing my hair all the way down to my scalp in no time. Since I had access to my whole scalp, which hasn't happened in forever, I decided to treat myself to a coconut oil scalp massage. I used the Organix Split Ends Mender on my ends before tucking them into braids before bed.

Note: Don't forget to enter my Monthly Giveaway contest for a chance to win awesome gift sets from Creme of Nature!

An e-Hair Challenge!

So I was on Facebook the other day and ran across this challenge on Afroniquely You. On her website, Afroqueenshae outlines her suggested method for deep conditioning hair for maximum moisturizing and minimum breakage. This challenge could not have come at a better time for me.

I'm a long way away from my glorious pre-baby hair days when most of the natural hairs on my head where all the same length and back when I actually had a hairline. Mother Nature is a byatch post-baby, like she gotta leave behind proof that "A Baby Was Made Here." She hooked me up with a pudgy belly and "new" boobs after I finished nursing, and tossed in a cakey scalp and disappearing hairline for good measure to one-up any move Spanx and push-up bras might make to cover up her handy work. I just sayin', you guys...not complaining...just sayin'. I feel honored and privileged to have a body capable of growing, nurturing and birthing a whole actual other human, and will happily undo all the reconstructive crunches and ab-work, whenever I am blessed with the chance to do it again. Unfortunately, I don't have a nice round head that would look good shaved, otherwise...

So last week, I accepted the The Challenge to do weekly deep conditioning treatments on my hair through the end of 2009. That's a lot of deep conditioning, but that's how serious I am about getting my hairline back and filling in the potholes from random breakage.

I'll post Challenge Updates as I change deep conditioning treatments. I'll be trying a few to find out what's out there and what works for me. There should be a new product bi-weekly or monthly depending on how much of the product I have. Of course I'll post pics from time to time. I'll also talk about any other cool hair products and gadgets I run across on this little journey back to healthy hair-dom. First update, Monday!

First Faux Hawk

I wore it for the first time yesterday. Usually I wear twists or twist outs, but if felt good to wash and go.

Still floating on new love's high

1 week since I went natural again and I'm still not over the excitement. I released my twists a couple of days ago. I'm picking it out tomorrow and then it's time for the biweekly shampoo, condition & twist. I LOVE this cycle. I love being natural y'all.

My sideburns a little too natural though. Ima have to work that out.

I'm Back!

   

God picked these naps out just for me. Who am I to disagree? 

Y'all have no idea how much I feel like ME again. I grew my relaxer out the first time when I was 19. Then when I was 27, I had a 10 hour struggle detangling twists that had started to lock. After the last kink was worked out, I made a bee line to the closest Sally's and bought two Motions relaxers. I've regretted that from the moment I rinsed it out. Now, at 29, I'm natural again...just like I was when I showed up on this here planet, and I feel awesome.  I still have the Chi in my back pocket for those days when I might feel like blending in. I know they say "never say never", but I can say with 99.9% certainty that I will never permanently alter my hair texture again.

50% Natural

Just a few more inches and my relaxed ends go bye bye! This is my current transitioning style. Just a few more months and I'll be back to my old natural self.

Yielding to The Wax

I've decided to allow some other human to take care of my facial hair grooming situation. I never look forward to doing it myself, and am sure hopeful a professional could do a much better job.

I got a brow and lip wax during my lunch hour today. It was more relaxing than I thought it would be. The room I was in had deep wine-colored walls and Bjork was being piped in from somewhere at just the right volume. Her music is very dreamlike to me, so I was instantly relaxed when my head hit the pillow on the service table.

I wasn't too pleased with the "after" of my brows. I'd thought they looked better before. But after sneaking peeks in the rear-view mirror on my way back to work, and after about 5 minutes of staring at them in the bathroom mirror once I got there, I decided that they actually look OK.

The waxer, Brandy, was sympathetic to my disappointment and took a bit off the price (but she seemed so genuine when she didn't get offended that I wasn't 100% satisfied...and she was so sweet...I ended up increasing her tip to cover the amount that she didn't charge me). She also offered me free maintenance tweezes for the next few weeks, so I'm sure I'll go back.

The salon only performs waxing services, so you can imagine all the neat "things" one can have waxed there. Speaking of neat things, I saw a man who looked just like a Ken doll in the lobby on my way out! He was so pretty. And he really did look plastic.

I pledge allegiance to the Chi

This little flat iron has changed my life. Summer heard about it from a friend, passed the word on to me, and I'm passin' it on to y'all.

As you know, I'm growing my relaxer out. Pretty hard to do that gracefully without cutting it off or getting braids. I pulled this iron through my hair and it literally changed it before my eyes! My hair looked like I had gone to the beauty shop...shiny and with so much body. Later I topped it off with Biosilk, it's crazy--if that stuff can make a natural shine, you know it makes straight hair look like glass.

Aside from the color change (my roots are black and the relaxed hair is brown) you can't tell where natural meets relaxed. My days of breakage and pressing grease are over. At first I was going to cut my hair in December, but now I won't have to. I can grow my relaxer all the way out wearing my hair long since there's no danger of breakage now.

The Chi Flat Iron by Farouk is ceramic, and a professional tool--a small investment, but worth every copper penny.

Yay! Now I don't have to always look like I'm between touch-ups...to my mom's delight, I'm sure.

Like India says, I am not my hair. However, my hair is me. And Me likes to switch it up. Once I am 100% natural, with little effort AND without grease & a hot-comb,  I can rock a straight style when I feel the need to blend in. Thanks to Chi, it's on.

Showin' my roots?

Don't mind if I do.

   

In a few more months, I'll be 100% chemical-free...again.

Blog Entry

Hair
I'm getting my hair cut this weekend! Right now my hair is just long and straight. Nice. But easier to wear in a bun than down. So I'm getting long layers done. Of course, there will be pictures...

Reading
I'm reading A Million Little Pieces in a million little pieces. It's taking me forever to finish reading James Frey's novel. Great story, but not good reading. I can only read a few minutes before putting it down. I don't think I like his style of writing very much. The story stays with me; I want to know what happens next, but it's so tedious. I bet the book on tape version is pretty awesome.

Work
I'll be training my replacement at work next week. He'll actually be my coworker for a good minute or two. My bosses asked me to stay as long as I can, though...which may be longer than a minute or two...which is cool with me. Strange conducting a job search with my boss's full knowledge, but it's working out. Leaving this job will be bittersweet. That's life, right?

Sopranos
Back on Sunday night! Oh. Yeah. I hope it doesn't come on the same time as Grey's Anatomy this season. That would suck.

Rap
Note to self: Probl'y best to turn the radio and the bass down when driving into my very "suburban" neighborhood. 'Specially when Kanye and Game are barking, "CRACK music niggahhhhh! That real BLACK music niggahhhhh!" 

Art
I got my print of Black Girl With Wings (my blog image) in the mail today! I emailed the artist through her website and bought one. She also sent me a print of another piece too, which was totally unexpected, and very cool. I'm framing them both, but the Black Girl is going in my main entrance. I'll post a pic when it's up. From now on, when art speaks to me, I'm buying it. I think I'd rather like to have art in my life. I won't be laying down a mortgage payment for originals like my sister does, though. I couldn't anyway if I wanted to. A very affordable reproduction suits me just fine.

What was I thinking when I relaxed my hair?!

After almost 9 years blissful nappiness...

I'm SO growing my relaxer out this winter.