Curl Icon - Corrine Bailey Rae

GIVE ME THESE CURLS!!!!

I am waiting for the day when my curls will be that long :-)

Looks like a twist out to me. Something Corrine does very very well.

These photos are breathe taking.

Vo5 Mositure Milks

 I use this Conditioner on a regular basis. Gets the job done for my Co-washes! Smells Great the whole Moisture Milk line by Vo5. This conditioner is not thick it is thin but does cleanse the hair. It is great detangling. ITS ONLY $1 or LESS (depending on where you go and who has a sale). Usually I can go to Shoprite and get 5 conditioners for $3. So if your interested, shop around and you could pay less than a $1 for one. YOU CANT BEAT THAT!!!!

How its supposed to work:

Soy milk protein-enriched formulas offer extra moisture while strengthening and nourishing your hair.

The ingredients are
Water, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetrimonium Chloride, Stearalkonium Chloride, Stearyl Alcohol, Steareth-21, Glyceryl Stearate, Soy Protein, Tocopheryl Acetate, Biotin, Niacinamide, Polysorbate 20, Ascorbic Acid, Pathenol, DMDM Hydantoin, Disodium EDTA, Fragrance, Red 33 and Yellow 10. {so nothing ending in the letters -cone}

Miss Jessie's

When I went to the Salon on Friday, I was shocked and excited to see Miss Jessie's products available there! This salon is...5 minutes from my house, no lie. So I went ahead a brought 20 oz of Curly Meringue $22.00. I cant wait to test it out this week and see how my hair comes out!

On Sunday my friend told me she has some Curly Pudding that she dosent use. So I will be getting that as well. YEEEHAAA! I can finally test out Miss Jessie's!

I will definitely post reviews on both products. :-)

Sept 24th I GOT A TRIM - OOHHHH MY!

WOW after talking to my girls, I went on lunch and broke down and got a PROFESSIONAL Trim :-) Thanks Ladies. I was stressing because I blow dried and flat ironed my hair last night and small portion of my back section was...matted. I didn't know how to describe what I saw and felt but I call it matted, not smooth! Not the whole strand but close to the ends. I talked to my girls they gave me some suggestions one was MORE MOISTURE. I definitely agree with that. I believe that I have been nurturing my front more then my back and that is definitely going to change PRONTO! The second was that I probably need a trim.... smh....I'm horrible with trims, between having HORRIBLE experiences and just being lazy I don't get trims often. My last trim...are you ready? February! To my surprise the stylist said that my hair is in very good condition especially after she found out I was natural. She thought I had a perm lol. I expressed my concerns and she said that I did need a trim but that my hair in the back simply is a different texture and its a little coarser in that section. So all it needs its some extra love and care! :-) SO HAPPY TO HEAR THAT! I believe that trims are and aren't essential. Honestly my goal is to learn how to trim my own hair. Many people have different ways of trimming, when you have twists in, dry cut, wet cut, search and destroy and many others. I am now on a search of what is best for me. We shall see what happens :-) I'll keep you posted!  

Headbands - Goant Dwarf

Since headbands are in for this Fall I been searching for extra cute ones. I found these headbands from Giant Dwarf. They use recycled and sustainable materials to create colorful accessories. Their creations really have my creative juices flowing! I think I can make a headband similar to these...hmmm we will see. Check them out!

Starlette Sparkler

Rosette Fascinator

Starlette Crown

Poem - We Speak Your Names - Pearl Cleage

I originally heard this poem from Oprah's special of the Legends Ball.

 I thought the poem was beautiful. This is an excerpt of the poem.

Because we are free women,

born of free women,

who are born of free women,

back as far as time begins,

we celebrate your freedom.



Because we are wise women,

born of wise women,

who are born of wise women,

we celebrate your wisdom.



Because we are strong women,

born of strong women,

who are born of strong women,

we celebrate your strength.



Because we are magical women,

born of magical women,

who are born of magical women,

we celebrate your magic.



My sisters, we are gathered here to speak your names.

We are here because we are your daughters

as surely as if you had conceived us, nurtured us,

carried us in your wombs, and then sent us out

into the world to make our mark

and see what we see, and be what we be, but better, truer, deeper

because of the shining example of your own incandescent lives.



We are here to speak your names

because we have enough sense to know

that we did not spring full blown from the forehead of Zeus,

or arrive on the scene like Topsy, our sister once removed, who somehow just growed.

We know that we are walking in footprints made deep by the confident strides

of women who parted the air before them like the

forces of nature that you are.



We are here to speak your names

because you taught us that the search is always for the truth

and that when people show us who they are, we should believe them.



We are here because you taught us

that sister speak can continue to be our native tongue,

no matter how many languages we learn as we

move about as citizens of the world and of the ever-evolving universe.



We are here to speak your names

because of the way you made for us.

Because of the prayers you prayed for us.

We are the ones you conjured up, hoping we would have strength enough,

and discipline enough, and talent enough, and nerve enough

to step into the light when it turned in our direction, and just smile awhile.



We are the ones you hoped would make you proud

because all of our hard work

makes all of yours part of something better, truer, deeper.

Something that lights the way ahead like a lamp unto our feet,

as steady as the unforgettable beat of our collective heart.



We speak your names.

We speak your names.

Beauty Beat: Curly Hair Products Take Center Stage - Essence.com

Essence has sooooo many good articles. I came across this Article entitled Curly Hair Products Take Center Stage. You can click the link for the complete article at Essence.com. This article is very informative it has a list of top haircare brands that are catering to natural curly hair. Enjoy

Beauty Beat: Curly Hair Products Take Center Stage - Essence.com

The days of curly girls facing a hair product drought are officially over. According to a fascinating piece in WWD, the hair care industry is finally addressing the needs of curly, kinky and coily-haired consumers. As more and more women begin embracing their natural texture (surveys indicate that by 2011, relaxer usage will decline 23 percent), stores like Sephora, Ricky's, Ulta and Target are not only carrying several brands dedicated to curly hair, they're even constructing entire in-store sections devoted to textured tresses.Curly girl salons are springing up all over the country, as well. Spearheading the movement is Miss Jessie's salon and retail store, which opens on July 16th in New York City. Like most of these new salons, it'll boast an extensive retail section (Miss Jessie's products have long been a cult favorite among au naturale women)--but it will also include a hair bar, where customers can do "curly hair strand tests and see product benefits," says Titi Branch, co-owner of the salon and product line.As the retail and salon industries start to address curly hair needs on a larger scale, the top haircare brands are following their lead. WWD reports that textured hair products are offered by Tigi, TRESemme, Pantene, Redken, Bumble + Bumble, Carol's Daughter, and L'oreal, whose multi-ethnic brand, Mizani, debuted a Natural Curl Key earlier this year based on data from an extensive study of curly hair (the groundbreaking survey discovered eight different curl types). All in all, this signals great things for curly-haired women. The more products and resources available, the easier it will be to look our fabulous best!Read more:

Kelly Rowland - NewDo

Soiree - Invitation

So this picture is the inspiration for

the Soiree 2010 Invitation

The invitation is very inviting. It is very elegant, I also love the Orchid (of course), the layering effect.

These pictures are the results!

Each invitation varied a little in color but all remained cohesive.

Fall Trends - Headbands

Headbands are BACK

From sequined bows to zippered rosettes to embroider

Discovered this pictures from esscence.com and I put my self

on a mission to find a headband similar

to the one below for $10 or less!!!!!!!!!

I was able to find a headband similar to this one for $1.00

 YES $1.00!!!!

How did I do?

Tracee Ellis Ross - Curl Icon

Look at that HAIR! Who dosent want hair like that? So I posted Tracee as an Icon a couple months back with pictures but I never went into detail why or the routine I finally "rediscovered" online from an old BET interview.  I figured though her routine may have changed I wanted to share. Her routine has helped me alot. I do the sectioning when washing, lots of conditioner. It's FAB!!!! Enjoy

 "Once a week, usually on a Sunday, my trick is that I go to the steam room and I fill my hair up with conditioner. There’s three different conditioners that I’ll use, that’s my deep conditioning day. I wash it once a week, sometimes twice depending on how many products we’ve put in my hair because if you wash it too much it gets dry. There’s a really cheap product called Hair Mayonnaise, it’s an organic product that you can buy at health food stores. It’s a big tub and it’s like a hair growth product [and] really good conditioner. Rene Furterer makes a conditioner called Karite Nourishing Conditioning Cream for dry hair ($22, 3.4 oz.). It’s expensive but good, but I say that the Hair Mayonnaise is just as good and cheap."

"In terms of products to get my hair curly during the week, the trick is the Denman brush, a D4 ($17) or the industrial one, it’s the key to curls. [While in the shower,] wet your hair, fill it up with conditioner. I split my hair into six sections, bottom section split it in two, brush it over the shoulder, next section, brush it over the shoulder, etc. Leave the conditioner in. After I’ve brushed it out, I put a little more conditioner in my hair and (shaking the hair gently) I try to make the curls happen. You can see them develop at that point. Put the hair up in a clip, wash the body, do what you gotta do, rinse it out."

Coming Soon!

Before and After shot's

Coming Soon!!!!

(it was gorgeous!) 

Swanky Tables: Real Soiree: Chic Yellow + Gray Baby Shower

This post on Swanky Tables really shows you that it is possible to do a realy nice event in your backyard. Take a Look!

Swanky Tables: Real Soiree: Chic Yellow + Gray Baby Shower: "This shower reminds me how much I'm going to miss Summer! Love every little detail of this baby shower by The Babs Blog!(a fabulous b..."

Soiree 2010 - Inspiration Board

2010 - 5 Year Anniversary

A Soiree is a gathering of friends.

Soir - Soirée

French soirée, from Old French seree, from seir, evening, from Latin sērō, at a late hour, from sērus, late.

This is my 5 year anniversary of my annual Soiree. At this event I thank the women in my life for all they have done and will do. This year I figured HEY let's go to FRANCE!!!

So I will be re-creating my vision of a Soiree in France. Im shooting for parisician but not the typical parisicial (baby pink, black white and stripes). I am shooting for a romantic, light and airy type feel with beautiful lighting created by dim lighting, touchlights and candels. I want it to be Lavish and Dreamy formal event.

 More detail to come and pictures after Saturday!

Table

Invitation!

Additional Inspiration

Mizani - True Textures Collection

Mizani has this new curl collect. On their website they help you identify what type of curl pattern you have and which of their products will enhance your curls.

Mizani states that this lined is  "designed specifically to care for naturally curly hair, True Textures addresses the unique characteristics of each curl type with specific products to meet individual needs, such as moisture, frizz control, and curl definition."

They also provide tips according to your hair type. So for me... I would classify my hair under their curl grid as type IV - CURLY (see below)

 

The Stats:

Defined, mixed curl patterns: loops to spirals; ringlets to corkscrews

TEXTURE: Thin to thick

GROWTH PATTERN: Grows down from the scalp, then curls

BODY / VOLUME: Body, volume and bounce

ELASTICITY: Moderate stretching with moderate return

POROSITY: Slightly raised to raised cuticle. Prone to fizz.

After you select your curly type them they give you a list of recommended hair care based on consultation for their products. There are four categories Moisturizing, Smoothing, Texturizing, Strengthening Treatments.

Now I'm not sure if I will try this product out because when I had a relaxer my hair didn't like Mizani Products, but that may have changed since I went natural or them may be more gentle on natural hair.

Visit Mizani

Room Makeover - Inspiration Board

The following pictures are inspiration for my Room Makeover!  My parents 25th Surprise Wedding Anniversary Party. My goal was a romantic dinner party with close friends and family (50 people) I really wanted to create a space that was inviting, intimate, elegant with a jazzy, blues touch.  

The following are pictures that inspired me.

I LOVE the Deep blue table clothes but I wanted  white flower arrangements

with pops of coral here and there. Also a simpler cleaner table.

The mood lighting (uplighting) in this room is beautiful

I wanted to use white paper napkins that feel like linen and hang them the same way on the table.

I also wanted to have a TON of candles for lighting so that we wouldn't have to use the harsh lighting.

Stay turned for the Room Transformation photos.

Just a little Jealous...

photo provided by Procter & Gamble

Wow! Should I make him a curl icon???

I'm just a little Jealous that this MAN has all this HAIR!!!

How does Troy Polamalu have more hair than ME!!! That is just NOT right....not right.

Head and Shoulders has insured his hair for $1million dollars!

Shea Butter - What can it do for you?

I LOVE SHEA BUTTER. Personally this is one of the best natural products I have found. I buy 100% unrefined shea butter at the local store usual a 5oz container.

I use to for.....EVERYTHING!!! Bantu knots, Twist outs, two strand twist curls. It conditions my hair and leaves its silky soft and nourished. They tame by flyaways when my hair is smoothed down or curly. Its truly a staple in my regimen. I use unrefined Shea butter, I get it from the local beauty supply store in the city. it comes in a plastic container. The butter comes in a solid chunk, you just cup some out with your finger tips, rub your finger tips together and the butter breaks down a bit ( a little greasy) and you place it onto the desired area. A little goes a LONG WAY!




So I read this article I wanted to share so you can either click the link or read below :-)

EZarticle link is as follows:
http://ezinearticles.com/?Shea-Butter-For-Healthy-Hair&id=801595

"Shea Butter:

Shea Butter is amazing for the hair. With it's hydrating and healing properties, Shea Butter can be used as a deep conditioner. Just rub a generous amount of the Shea Butter between your hands to melt it and apply it to the hair. Make sure to pay close attention to the ends of hair, which is more likely to have damage than the roots. After you have covered all of your hair with the Shea Butter, place a shower cap on your head and allow the Shea Butter to work it's magic for about a half hour or so. Then you can use a gentle shampoo.
Another tip is to use Shea Butter to tame flyaways. Just use a dime sized amount, rub your hands together, and smooth your hair down with it. This will help keep your style the way you want it without annoying frizz.

Beautiful hair can be achieved by everyone, if we all take care of our hair properly."