Highly Textured

Hit 'Em Wit The Roller Set

2010-05-27T09:31:00.000-04:00

Tried a roller set last night -- first one in years, and the first one I've done on my own. I'm happy with the result -- but will it last?! I'm not taking any chances. Heading out to buy an anti-humectant pomade right. NOW. :o)

Check the vid.

Payless Shoes... and Beauty?

2010-03-08T10:26:00.001-05:00

Hey guys!

The new blog is on its way! Just finished the redesign this weekend. (I hope y'all like it!) Soon as I edit my next video, Highly Textured will be back in full effect! (Wheeeeee!)

In the meantime, I wanted to share this, which came across the newswires this morning... Payless (yes, the shoe company) is getting into the beauty business!

From the press release:

Payless ShoeSource, the retailer well-known for democratizing the latest fashion, design and ideas in footwear and accessories for all to enjoy, today announced an alliance with Maesa Group, recognized as the most comprehensive "Beauty-on-Demand" product resource, to create a collection of new beauty and body care products to be available exclusively in about 1,500 Payless ShoeSource stores this fall.

The forthcoming new products will include a range of body care and beauty items such as lotions, creams, butters and shower gels for body, hands and feet; fragrances and mists; color for eyes and lips; as well as nail polishes, among others. Like all Payless products, the new beauty merchandise will be available at a great price -- as low as $2.99 an item.

The products are slated to hit stores in September and will be sold under two brand names -- Zoe & Zace and Unforgettable Moments.

What do you think? Would you try out Payless beauty products? Shoes, handbags AND lipstick... all in one place?

Relaunch

2010-02-24T02:04:00.000-05:00

Allo? Is this thing on?

Happy new year all! So I'm resurrecting the blog! Whoo hoo! Soon, Highly Textured will have a new design and will make its reintroduction to the world as a video blog. (I LOVE video blogging! Seriously!) So keep your eyes on this space. Relaunch coming in 3... 2.....

:o)

Decisions, Decisions

2009-10-27T13:38:00.001-04:00

Awhile ago I shared with you guys that I was mulling over what to do next with the blog. I've finally decided to focus solely on the video aspect of hair blogging (or vlogging, if you will.)

That means not much more writing from me here on Highly Textured. I think my fellow bloggers will agree with me when I say the writing, formatting, finding and coding pictures takes A LOT of time. Going to video is simply SO much more efficient.

My YouTube channel is here: www.youtube.com/highlytextured

So thanks everyone who's been a loyal reader thus far. And don't hesitate to go through the archives (there's some good stuff in there!). I'm not completely abandoning this space, as I'll be posting my vids here. Just not as many words as before. :)

Love ya lots! (Oh, and if you have any questions or video suggestions, please, feel more than free to share!)

- V.

iCant Right Now.

2009-10-07T03:30:00.001-04:00

As a person who spends her free time blogging about hair, I have to say...

...we have become WAY too obsessed with what other people do with their hair.

Live and let live. Discover, explore, experiment. Leave with what you like. And don't question someone else just because they like something different.

It's getting old. Seriously.

{end rant.]

Revamp.

2009-09-28T11:22:00.001-04:00

'Sup guys?

I know, I know, it's been a while. But truth is, I've been rather uncreative with my hair as of late. Lol. Wash, condition, go ... repeat three days later.

I've also been mulling over what to do with this blog. I've been getting busier and busier, and yet the blog keeps getting more followers each day (my YouTube channel has 800 now! Wow!). What does that tell me...? It tells me that more and more women are going natural (two of my friends have chopped within the last month) and that they're looking for ways to care for their new hair.

So Highly Textured will be going back to basics, i.e. starting from scratch. Quick, easy posts on care, styling and products. The site is going to have a new look too. Meanwhile, all the older posts will be still be available in archives. So stayed tuned and stick around... we'll be back in just a moment. :-)

Writers Gone Natural

2009-09-12T08:35:00.003-04:00

Every day, whether it be on Facebook, Twitter, or just randomly surfing around the web, I see another woman who's gone natural. Some say it's a trend (and for a few girls, it may be just that), but I can't help but think it's becoming a growing lifestyle shift for scores of black women. It's exciting!

So imagine my delight when, in the space of a week, two of my favorite writers posted their natural hair stories on their blogs. The first is Erica Kennedy, author of Bling and the recently-released, fiercely-funny Feminista. (Buy both! Great reads.)

On her blog, she talks about getting used to her natural texture, and about wearing long, silky, clip-in hair for her author photo. An interesting tidbit:

"The third reason [for using the silky-hair picture] is, I will admit, that I felt it might be better to present an image that was more palatable to the mainstream chick literati since I already know I'm going to get shit for writing this un-chick litty chick lit, which Publisher's Weekly is calling 'bitch lit'."

Still, she made sure to post a pic of her TWA on the blog (as atonement for the silky pic. Lol).

The other writer who documented her hair journey is Aliya S. King, who's written for just about every major urban magazine and runs a blog that's a fantastic resource for aspiring writers. A pictorial of her hair - long, short, krinkly, curly and straight -- appears on Black Voices Hair Talk. She remembers the styles she wore when she was single, married, pregnant, and as a new mother, all the while trying to find something that was simple and looked good. She ends with a series of pics of her TWA, and writes:

"Am I happy with it? I’m not sure. I don’t have a forehead. I have an eighthead. And this cut just emphasizes my HUGE noggin. So hopefully, it’ll grow in and take a little attention away from the projector screen I’ve got going on up there.

But I do know I was out of Lynn’s chair in record time yesterday.

And when I woke up this morning, I felt like... me."

Make sure to check out both their blogs, and their work. Erica and Aliya are pretty friggin' fly.

Time Magazine: "Why Michelle's Hair Matters"

2009-08-30T08:23:00.000-04:00

After the blogosphere went all a-Twitter this week after Racialicious' questions about curls and the New York Times' explainer on black hair politics, I was amused to open this week's issue of Time and see Jenee Desmond-Harris' piece, "Why Michelle's Hair Matters."

The article -- again -- explains for a mainstream audience the weight of expectation and politics that we carry in our strands. And it makes mention -- again -- of "Good Hair," which, I suspect, is the reason all these articles and essays are coming out in the first place.

I find the most interesting parts of the article are the author's own reflections. Desmond-Harris shares:

Even though I'm biracial and should theoretically have half a share of hair angst, I've sacrificed endless Saturdays to the salon. It is unfathomable that I might ever leave my apartment with my hair in its truly natural state, unmoderated by heat or products. I once broke down at the airport when my gel was confiscated for exceeding the 3-oz. limit.

I'm neither high maintenance nor superficial: I'm a black woman. My focus on hair feels like a birthright. It is my membership in an exclusive, historical club, with privileges, responsibilities, infighting and bylaws that are rewritten every decade.

Not once when I've seen an image of our First Lady has it been lost on me that she is also a member. I don't see just an easy, bouncy do. I see the fruits of a time-consuming effort to convey a carefully calculated image. In the next-day ponytail, I see a familiar defeat.

In the end, it's the same issue, same conclusions, just a different publication. On one hand, I enjoy seeing black women's issues showing up in newsprint and magazines. On the other hand, I wonder how we're going to move the conversation forward. We keep lamenting. We keep complaining. We keep resigning ourselves to external forces imposing their expecations on our hair.

When will we start exercising autonomy over our hair, and what -- whether curled, coiled, pressed or relaxed -- it means?

Happy Birthday Mike!

2009-08-29T06:40:00.004-04:00

The world's greatest entertainer would have been 51 years old today, and people around the globe are taking the opportunity to celebrate. Spike Lee is throwing a huge bash in Brooklyn later today (and he'll be on our show this morning to talk about it!).

Let's have a little celebration here on Highly Textured. What's your favorite Michael Jackson song, video or moment?

Oh, and to set the theme for the day, here's a little diddy to dance to in celebration....

Enjoy Yourself - The Jacksons

The Accidental Moisturizer

2009-08-28T10:59:00.000-04:00

Hola chicas.

You know how everyone is on the search for that ever-elusive, yet oh-so-effective moisturizer. I may have just found mine. Well, created it. Unintentionally.

The ladies and I took a last-gasp-of-summer trip to the beach recently, and, knowing I'd be getting my strands wet in the tide, I brought along two favs in the product arsenal -- coconut oil and Aussie Moist conditioner. The oil was to protect my hair before I jumped into the waves, and the conditioner was around to moisturize and style the curls after I was done frolicking in the water.

But a strange thing happened in the sand. For some reason, I decided to mix the two together. In my palm, half oil, half Aussie. Rub together, and apply.

You would have thought I found a rainbow.

My hair instantly became incredibly soft. And a number of the curls that had fuzzed-out (you know what I mean) sprang back into happy, defined coils.

Oh man, what a discovery. Especially since my last (intentional) experiment didn't turn out so hot.

I don't know exactly what makes it work, but it certainly works for me. Since that trip to the beach, I've been using it as an all-over moisturizer between wash-n-go's. A note though -- it can build up over a few days. But that's nothing a simple co-wash can't take handle.

What about you? Have you discovered any concoctions that just made your hair sing?

New York Times: "Black Hair, Still Tangled in Politics"

2009-08-27T11:00:00.007-04:00

As the discussion around black women's hair grows around the blogosphere and now in the cinema, it was only a matter of time before the issues we seem chat about only in selected company made it to the mainstream print media.

Today's New York Times features a story by Catherine Saint Louis, exploring the tangled politics surrounding the hair of black women. Saint Louis writes:

In the face of cultural pressure, the thinking goes, conformists relax their hair, and rebels have the courage not to. In some corners, relaxing one’s hair is even seen as wishing to be white.

For some, the battle lines are drawn.

But in recent interviews, a number of people of color expressed a weariness with the debate. They asked, essentially: Why can’t hair just be hair? Must an Afro peg a woman as the political heir to Angela Davis? Is a fashionista who replicates the first lady’s clean-cut bob really being untrue to herself?

The article, for all intents and purposes, is essentially an explainer of all the discussions that we, as black women, have had for years, packaged for an audience who may very well be completely oblivious to the politics of black hair. But it also adds a layer to the conversation -- in these days, the choice to be natural or to straighten your hair isn't so cut-and-dry. Not every woman with a perm is trying to "look white." Not every sista with a coil is trying to be "down for the cause." There are times when I personally wonder, "Are we doing this to ourselves? No one else seems to care how black people wear their hair."

And while Saint Louis mentions the sheer ugliness thrown at Malia Obama when a picture of her twisted hair showed up on conservative blogs, I couldn't help but feel, well... indifferent. I do agree that it was disgusting the way some people hurled insults at a child, but personally, Internet bigots aren't the kind of people I want to impress anyway. (People with an insipid, hardline way of looking at the world do not concern me and don't affect my life path. But that's just me.) I will say that in my experience, any negative reaction to my natural locks (and there have been many) has been from within my own race. As Nia Long is quoted as saying in "Good Hair":

“There’s always a sort of pressure within the black community, like ‘Oh, if you have good hair, you’re prettier or better than the brown-skinned girl that wears an Afro or the dreads or the natural hairstyle.’ ”

Key words: 'Pressure within the black community.'

It doesn't mean the mainstream in totally absolved of alienating women who wear their natural coils. The Times article closes with an experience of one Howard alum (pictured above):

Shayna Y. Rudd, of Washington, wore a past-her-shoulders weave to have a better shot at the Miss America title. She said an adviser gave her two choices: imitate Beyoncé’s long luscious look or Jada Pinkett Smith’s flowing mane. “I couldn’t be who God wanted me to be,” Ms. Rudd, 24, said ruefully. “I didn’t win. My spirit was crushed.”

She has since sworn off relaxers and extensions; instead, she occasionally presses her tight-curled hair and slicks it into a bun, which is what she did earlier this month when she won the title Miss Black USA. (She bested 28 other contestants, only 3 of whom wore their hair natural.)

“Don’t buy into anyone else’s standard, set your own,” Ms. Rudd said.

And at the end of the day, after all the films and television reports and newspaper features about what we do to our hair -- it's up to you to have the last word.

We're Back!

2009-08-10T11:07:00.003-04:00

Omigosh, I swear I ALWAYS forget how busy convention weeks are. I just returned from the NABJ convention in Tampa yesterday and I am exhausted. In a good way. I had a great time with all my journalism friends and came back rejuvenated. (Sleepy, but rejuvenated. Lol.)

How'd the hair hold up? Ugh... can we say humidity? It was ridiculous. Borderline oppressive. AND it rained every day at about 4:30 on the dot. The clouds would roll in and then WOOSH -- rain. That "convention blow-out" that I showed y'all in the last vid -- it was done five hours after I got off the plane. Lol! So I had to rethink my strategy and ended up doing a few updos for the rest of the week. Although I did try the blow-out one more time, that time making sure to stay out of the humidity and inside a climate-controlled environment at all times.

Another tidbit: I got a pass to see a screening of "Good Hair." Exciting, right! Except when you get lost on the way to a movie theater in a strange city. *le sigh* So by the time we arrived, there were no seats left. Luckily, the theater offered to let us see another flick for free, so we ran across the hall to watch "Julie and Julia." Very cute.

I will say this -- "Good Hair" got great reviews. My friends who saw it (because they got to the movie on time) said it was funny and thought-provoking. And it was a basis of great conversation in the group shuttle back to the airport the next day, between a TV reporter who regularly rocks weaves to appear on screen and a print reporter who was wearing her natural hair in long twists.

All in all, convention was a blast, as always. Whatever profession you're in, I STRONGLY suggest you joins its national organization and make friends. My NABJ friends are not only some of my best buddies, but also some of the best in the business, and I'm so glad to see them every year.

Next stop -- San Diego in 2010!

Going to Tampa....

2009-08-05T04:29:00.000-04:00

HighlyTextured.com

2009-08-03T18:21:00.001-04:00

Finding Blessed and Highly Textured just got a little bit easier.

You can now directly access the blog at HighlyTextured.com. Update your bookmarks and tell your friends. :-)

Thanks all!

Highly Textured one of "YouTube's Best Hair Bloggers"!

2009-08-01T19:18:00.002-04:00

Whoo hoo!

The lovely Afrobella is now also pulling double-duty as the hair blogger for AOL's BlackVoices.com. This past week, she posted a list of YouTube's Best Hair Bloggers -- and Highly Textured made the list!

Woot woot!

I'm really excited. I love Afrobella and honored that she included me. Go show her some love at the BlackVoices Hair Talk and at her own spot, Afrobella.com.

Giovanni and Kinky-Curly Don't Mix...

2009-07-29T16:19:00.002-04:00

...at least, not in my spray bottle.

I keep a little red spray bottle handy at all times for whenever my curls need a mist of moisture. It's a simple mixture: Giovianni Direct leave-in conditioner and water. But this morning, I noticed it was going to be particularly humid today, and feared that my coils would turn into fluff. I figured I could prevent that with mist that also provided a little hold. In goes the Kinky-Curly Spiral Spritz. I dropped some into the spray bottle, shook it up, and when about my day.

Fast-forward about four hours later, while I'm sitting at my desk. I'm rummaging through my bag for my iPod when I pick up the spray bottle.

It's chunky inside.

Ew.

I shook it up, thinking maybe it just need a good -- well, shake.

No luck. It's still chunky.

Ew.

I don't know why the Giovanni and the Kinky-Curly don't like each other, but when the two liquids come together in a spray bottle, they make a solid. A lumpy, chunky, piece-y solid that floats on top of the water.

It's actually pretty gross.

*sigh* Take two.

Purple Hair, Puuu-urrrple Hair...

2009-07-28T21:10:00.003-04:00

Here's something weird.

My hair is purple.

Okay, not hot, shocking violet. And no, I didn't dye or color it. It's just something I've noticed since I've let my hair be its natural color. (Before this blog, it was colored in almost every shade of red, brown and black possible.) My hair is basically black, but in the sun, it shines purple.

It's so weird.

I noticed this, of all places, in the car. I had the sunroof open on a sunny day, and when I looked up in the rear-view mirror to change lanes, I saw a red-violet/magenta-y kind of color reflecting in my strands.

"My hair is purple," I said to my friend, who was riding in the passenger seat.

"What?" She likely thought I lost my mind.

"My hair is purple," I said again. "Look. It's reflecting in the sun."

My friend looked. "Omigosh," she said. "Your hair is purple."

It's the weirdest thing I've discovered about my hair thus far. And I have no idea where it comes from. I mean, on one hand, it's kind of cool, but on the other hand, I really want to know how I ended up with hair that reflects violet.

Why is my hair purple? The world may never know.

Have you discovered anything about your hair that's out-of-the-ordinary?

GREAT Hair Day! :-)

2009-07-24T09:45:00.001-04:00

It's a fabulous way to start the morning.

Hair-Raiser of the Day

2009-07-23T17:18:00.006-04:00

Never have I updated THREE times in one day, but I kinda have to today.

I'll preface this by sighing and saying... "Only on the internet."

Solange (inadvertently) caused a shockwave when pictures of her close crop hit the Internet today. I, like many hair, beauty, and entertainment bloggers, posted the picture. I knew readers would enjoy seeing a celeb rocking a cut so many women are contemplating. And You ladies had nothing but good things to say, much like the readers of Afrobella. But elsewhere in the digital universe... well, apparently, all hell broke loose.

Let's just say that blogosphere and Twitterverse had less than friendly things to say about Solange and her hair. And with every new comment, I couldn't help but think... "She didn't even ASK for this."

Folks are speculating whether she is "trying to make a statement," is "looking for attention" or is even "trying to be like Amber Rose." The only affirming comments have come from the natural hair circles.

For those with questions, here are some answers... on Solange's Twitter page she says, one) this hair isn't new, it's been cut for a few weeks; two) she's cut her hair like this TWICE before; and three) the photo was snapped while she was taking her son to school (which makes me question our whole celebrity-obsessed culture and wonder if I was complicit by posting the photo myself.)

If you take cue from her Twitter page, you'll see that she's quite annoyed (at best) by the whole thing. And I think she summed up the ridiculousness of the "controversy" as best as anyone could:

From @solangeknowles:

dont. need. your. attention. or. your. co-sign. i am #3. trending topic. before. IRAN. &. some of you cant even locate it on a map. its sad.

dont. want. a. edge. up. or a perm. because. im not trying. to make this "a style" or a statement.

i. just. wanted. to. be. free. from. the. bondage. that. black. women sometimes. put. on. themselves. with. hair.

this. phase. of. my. life. i. want to spend . the time. the energy. and the money. on something else. not in the hair salon.

im. not. mad. at . all of you. that have made your opinions known. and have sent negative. energy. my way. i expected this of you.

you. have. the right to have. an opinion.

ONLY reason i responded to this i have is because i was disappointed to see my name more talked about then #iranelection

we. gotta. do. better. people.

Not So Fast...

2009-07-23T14:18:00.003-04:00

From D-Listed...

After she was spotted with her natural crop yesterday, Solange attended a party for Dita Von Teese with this fringe-y 'do. Afrobella shared the link on Twitter.

Thoughts?

(An aside... I'm feeling the lip color.)

Solange Goes Bzzzzzzz...

2009-07-23T10:12:00.003-04:00

From The Fashion Bomb:

I didn't think I'd see a Knowles sister with a close-crop (though Beyonce has been seen with natural crinks and curls when she's without her signature lace-fronts). What say you?

When Hair Makes Headlines

2009-07-22T10:07:00.005-04:00

You gotta love when you make headlines for changing your hairstyle.

First Lady Michelle Obama switched it up yesterday when the White House hosted a country music concert in the East Room. The day included a morning workshop for students, and is the second in a series of arts and education programs that the first lady launched last month.

But of course, people couldn't ignore the hair.

On HuffingtonPost.com: "Michelle Obama Shows Off New 'Do"

From Us Magazine: "Michelle Obama Debuts Sleek New 'Do."

And on the Daily Mail: "Stylish Michelle Obama Shows Off Elegant New Bob." (This piece also has a cool pitctorial of Shelly's past hairstyles.)

The funny part is that it's unclear whether she even cut her hair. It's possible she just pulled it back... just like she did a few months ago when she visited the Department of Transportation. Everyone fell out of their seats thinking she'd made a date with some scissors. But really, she simply styled her hair away from her face.

It's amusing. And it's one of the few times where I want to say, "Geez, people... it's just hair."

The Pincurl Experiment.

2009-07-20T15:54:00.000-04:00

Why Wait?

2009-07-19T14:52:00.005-04:00

Last week I featured a pretty fly and funky style from AmberMag.com -- sideswept curls adorned with a rhinestone pin.

The consenus was that the style was, in fact, pretty fierce. Some of the commenters said they were looking forward to trying it... but only when their hair had grown long enough.

My question... why wait?!

The beauty of natural hairstyles is that they're open to interpretation. There's no rule that says you have to have shoulder length curls to do a sideswept 'do. There's no law that says you can only wear headbands with a TWA. So don't limit yourself or your hair!

If you see a style you like, find a way to put your own spin on it. Even if you have a little 'fro, you can recreate the side-swept look with cornrows or flat twists on one side of the head, while letting the rest of coils spring free. If you hair is medium-length, keep the twists going so they fall over the side (like my friend Talia did here).

I like to adapt styles on the regular! For instance, I've always loved the look of roller-set locs, but I clearly don't have locs of my own. But no matter, I wanted to try the look -- so I did two-strand twists and put those babies on Flexirods. The next day I was greeted at work with rave reviews.

Point is... there's not pre-requisite for being creative. Your hair doesn't have to be a certain length, color or texture to pull off something fly. So don't be afraid to try out and adapt styles. All it takes is a little creativity and inventiveness, and before your know it, you'll have a signature fly style to call your own.

Veronica's Style Arsenal

2009-07-15T15:31:00.026-04:00

Every curly girl worth her coil knows she needs to have a cache of tools on hand to pull off her signature styles. I have a collection of pins, bands and combs that I call my Style Arsenal. It all sits to the right of my bedroom dresser, making for easy access, especially when I'm on the go.

This particular selection of tools allows me pull off any style I can think of before heading out the door. And it ensures, at the very least, that I never have a bad hair day. (You can check out the YouTube version of this post here.)

PREPPING

A spray bottle is key to keeping hair hydrated while styling. Filled with water or the right mixture of products (mine has water and Giovanni Direct leave-in), the spray bottle becomes a KEY aid in styling hair. It's better than using most commercial styling sprays, because they can dry quickly and leave flakes or build-up on the hair. Moistening hair with your own personalized mixture of water and conditioner will make it easier to detangle, braid and style.

COMBING/PARTING/DETANGLING

A wide-toothed comb detangles hair, making it easier to braid, cornrow or flat-twist for a style. Start at the ends of the hair and work your way up when combing.

The tail on the end of a rat-tail comb is useful for making parts without tangling the hair. I DO NOT use the rat-tail comb for any reason other than parting. My hair will cry out in anguish if I try.

GATHERING

Skinny headbands are one of the most versatile tools to have. You can do puffs, ponytails and updos -- all with a simple band. Use them as they are to simply pull hair off the face, or double one up to form puffs and ponytails. It's insanely easier than trying to bobby-pin an entire head of hair into place. But don't count out pins just yet...

SECURING

Bobby pins are key in allowing you to add detail to your style.

Small bobby pins hold small sections of hair in place. If you want to hold down an individual braid or secure a flat-twist, these are indispensible.

I've never used a roller pins to pin down rollers, but I have an arsenal of them to pin down my hair. They secure medium to large sections of hair.

Curved wrap pins are the unsung heroes of the hair pin world -- they're larger than bobby and roller pins and are capable of holding a lot of hair in place. They're particularly effective on thick and textured hair. Criss-cross two of these (or two of any kind of pins) for secure holding power.

So there you have it ladies... the simple tools in my personal styling arsenal. What about you? What do you rely to create cool styles with your hair?

Work It.

2009-07-13T10:51:00.000-04:00

Another fly hair style, as seen on AmberMag.com.

I'm in love with this, especially since I was planning to try a similar style this week. The rhinestone barrette just sets it off.

What do you think? How would you put your spin on this style?

Message in the Music: History

2009-07-13T08:16:00.001-04:00

Jamie Foxx said it at the BET Awards:

"Did we miss it? Did I miss something?"

He was talking about grief many of us felt when Michael Jackson passed away last month. Not only were we stricken by his sudden death, but we were also hit with guilt, feeling we missed an opportunity to really appreciate MJ's musical genius while he was still on this earth.

That's why it was hard for a lot of people (at least me) to listen to his music after news broke. How did I not notice how great this was? How did I miss the message he was trying to send? Some of us are still feeling it.

Two weeks later, my sadness has been replaced comfort and contentment. Through all his troubles, Michael was able to speak to the world, leave an incredible musical legacy and still smile through it all. (That smile, y'all, I tell ya...) And as I've been "digging through the crates," so to speak, I've discovered a lot of messages that I overlooked in my 26 years of listening to Jackson music.

So now I share them here with you guys. Even if you weren't a Jackson fan, there is always something can be garnered from the lyrics. Enjoy. :-)

He got kicked in the back
He say that he needed that
He hot willed in the face
Keep daring to motivate
He say one day you will see
His place in world history
He dares to be recognized
The fires deep in his eyes....

Don't let no one get you down
Keep movin' on higher ground
Keep flying until
You are the king of the hill
No force of nature can break
Your will to self motivate
She say this face that you see
Is destined for history....

Every day create your history
Every path you take you're leaving your legacy
Every soldier dies in his glory
Every legend tells of conquest and liberty
Every day create your history
Every page you turn you're writing your legacy
Every hero dreams of chivalry
Every child should sing together in harmony

History - Michael Jackson

Smile...

2009-07-08T00:13:00.003-04:00

Smile, though your heart is aching

Smile, even though it's breaking

When there are clouds in the sky

You'll get by...

If you smile

With your fear and sorrow

Smile, and maybe tomorrow

You'll find that life is still worthwhile

If you just...

Light up your face with gladness

Hide every trace of sadness

Although a tear may be ever so near

That's the time you must keep on trying

Smile, what's the use of crying

You'll find that life is still worthwile

If you just...

Star Style: Teyana Taylor's White Party Look

2009-07-07T08:08:00.000-04:00

Teyana Taylor rocked this look at Diddy's annual White Party. It's kind of fauxhawk-ponytail hybrid, and it's hot.

Highly Textured Featured on Texture Playground

2009-07-06T21:39:00.003-04:00

Hey friends!

Cool news... I've been featured on one of my favorite natural blogs, Texture Playground. Fleurzty was kind enough to have me answer a few questions about blogging for her "Who's Who?" series. Check it out by clicking here.

And thanks, Fleurzty! :-)

I Say It's My Birthday...!

2009-07-03T10:59:00.002-04:00

I'm celebrating my 26th today, YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!!

It's only 11 a.m., and I've already gotten a cake, a singing card, a dancing e-card, a bouquet of sunflowers and a huge brownie in the shape of a "V." (Thanks, friends, co-workers and roomies!) Oh, and also a text message from my brother saying "Happy 52nd"... hardy har har.

Each time I celebrate a birthday, I like to celebrate life itself, because it's so fleeting and such a blessing. Last year, I lost a dear friend the day before my 25th. This year, I lost one of my personal icons a week before my 26th. So I say to you, friends and readers, never take your days on this earth for granted. Every day with sunshine is another day to celebrate.

And now, for some b-day body-shaking... :o)

Shake Your Body - The Jacksons

Back Again... With Happy Lips :-)

2009-07-01T17:34:00.004-04:00

Hey chicas,

I know it's been a minute, but this past week has truly been a sad one, with the passing of someone that was so important in all of our lives -- especially mine. But I'm back now, with "Off The Wall" in constant rotation in my iPod, smiling and happy again. Peace is a wonderful thing.

Anywhoo, I needed to tell you about a little gem of a find I picked up in Target the other day. My lips have been EXTREMELY DRY since I misplaced my pot of Neutrogena Honey Rescue Lip Balm. I mean, just dreadful. But when I went to pick up a replacement pot, I found out -- my precious Honey Rescue is discontinued.

How.

DARE.

THEY?!!

Are you serious?! My world has been turned topsy-turvy and worst of all, my LIPS ARE DRY! It's unacceptable. Simply unacceptable.

Luckily, a little fairy whispered in my ear and made me pick up Milani's tiny $4 tube of Crystal Gloss for Lips. And finally, my kisser is returning to normal. It doesn't give the same intense nourishment of Honey Rescue (which forever will be the prototype), but it gives better moisture than most other glosses that just sit on top of the lips, even if they're cracked. (Don't you hate that? It's so gross.)

I picked up a tube in Whisper, and it gives my lips a great, baby pink shine without looking washed out. There are a bunch of other shades, and I've read that "Serendipity" is supposed to be a decent dupe for MAC's "Oh Baby."

What about you? Have you found any replacements for discontinued favorites?

The Moment I Fell In Love.

2009-06-27T09:39:00.003-04:00

I was four or five when Mom accompanied me to the Bad Tour at the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh. So I only remember two things from that night:

One: The "Thriller" set scared the cupcakes out of me.

Two: I decided "Heartbreak Hotel" was the best song ever.

This was the moment I fell in love.

On A Lighter Note....

2009-06-27T08:53:00.000-04:00

Of all the music I've listened to and all the videos I've watched these past three days, this one brings me the most joy.

See if it does the same for you.

Have You Seen....?

2009-06-26T20:14:00.003-04:00

I can't really talk about hair now. Why?

Because I feel like my childhood's been snatched away.

If you were a fan, it's likely because you fell in love with him as a kid. If you're like my dad, you were amazed to see a little brown kid with a wide nose and perfect afro -- someone who looked like you -- singing and dancing on TV. You boogied to "Dancing Machine" at your high school dances, and "Thriller" was the soundtrack of your college years.

Or maybe you're like me. Maybe you were a child transfixed by the "Bad" video. You escaped to another world when you watched "Moonwalker" and "Captain EO." You learned the choreography to "Remember The Time," and tried to do the lean from "Smooth Criminal" without falling over. You were amazed at the people who cried and passed out at his concerts. And even though his skin was a bit, well, lighter, more so than anyone else you knew, it didn't bother you one bit.

No matter what end of the spectrum you fell on, Michael Jackson was one thing: Magic.

Which is why it's so hard to comprehend these last few days. Intellectually, we know every human is mortal. But the child in us wants to believe that the magic will never die.

It's been a weird combination of comfort and torture in listening to the songs and watching the videos. One one hand, it takes you to a memory of a happier time, bringing a favorite dance move back to your limbs. But on the other hand, it reminds you that time will always move forward, and that you can never go back. You can never relive those happy, amazing days.

We can't go back to that magical childhood -- the childhood that gave you every reason, dream, believe and imagine. And yet now, we're trying so desperately to hold on.

And that's why it hurts so bad.

Have you seen my childhood?

I'm searching for that wonder in my youth

Like fantastical stories to share

The dreams I would dare

Watch me fly....

We love you, Michael.

Nothing to Say...

2009-06-25T20:36:00.004-04:00

All I Need Is One Jar

2009-06-24T00:23:00.003-04:00

A few posts back I linked to No-Poo Jillipoo's blog about why your hair products may not be working. One tip she offered was to use one product at a time -- instead of applying them on top of each other -- to get a sense of how a formulation really works on your hair.

I found it to be sound advice, and decided to start trying out the products in my hair drawer -- one at a time.

The first experiment was with my SheaMoisture leave-in conditioner. The results? Meh. But I have to keep in mind that my fat twists were still pretty wet when I took them down. So I need to try it out again, allowing my hair to dry more completely before trying to assess the results.

My second experiment -- the Lustrasilk Olive Oil Cholesterol Conditioner. Can we say *ding ding ding!*? You saw the results of that one in Friday's post. Still, I only got about three good days out of it before my hair started drying up. But I figure it's a solid option to keep in my hair drawer.

Have you discovered that you can use a certain product on its own and get great results? What works for your curls?

Monday Meditation

2009-06-22T08:10:00.000-04:00

A bumper sticker above a co-worker's office door:

"Commit random kindness and senseless acts of beauty!"

Remember... be beautiful! :o)

Good Hair Day!

2009-06-19T22:47:00.000-04:00

I couldn't end the week without tell you guys that I've had GRRRRREAT hair these last few days. As part of my "One-Product Trials" (something I still have to tell you guys about), I used the Lustrasilk Olive Oil Cholesterol Conditioner for my wash-n-go the other night.

I washed, deep conditioned, and then applied the cholesterol in sections. It was late, so I loosely twisted my hair in four buns and pinned them down, leaving the hair so slowly dry over night. The next morning, I took down the buns, flipped myself over the bed (so my hair would hang upside down) and blow-dried with a diffuser.

Can I tell you how my curls are POPPED?! Whaaaaat?! The conditioner left my hair bouny, boingy and soft, and my slightly acrobatic approach to blow drying gave me much needed volume at the crown. My hair looked GOOD, and some of my peeps at work noticed too, so you know I was extra amped.

So, all that to say... sometimes you don't need a whole parade of products. Sometimes just the right one will do.

More about the "One-Product Trials" after the weekend. Until then, I'll leave you with some happy hair pics (from Day 2). :o)

Friday Randomness

2009-06-19T14:44:00.008-04:00

Someone wrote this comment on one of my favorite relationship blogs (the topic was women altering their appearance for men), and I just HAD to share it here:

An (ex)friend had posted on her Facebook status: "If you aren't or have never worn weave, your future is doomed!!!" I thought she was joking -- how could a college-educated women be so foolish about something so shallow, but I guess Jay-Z said it best: "You can pay for school, but you can't buy class..."

Anyways, I posted back that I had worn my hair with and without weave, natural and permed, short as a man and half way down my back...and that I HAD to disagree with her....

I added: "And if your future depends on if you wear weave or not, you were probably doomed from the beginning anyways..."

45 seconds later I was removed from her friends list."

It's Friday, y'all! Enjoy your weekend! :o)

Sisterhood of the Spiraling Strands: Jessica

2009-06-18T10:40:00.008-04:00

Don't you hate her? I try to, but she's so sweet, I can't bring myself to do it. :o) I met Jessica about three years ago at my first NABJ conference. Learn more about her below.

JESSICA
Age 25
Freelance Journalist/
Grad Student
Brooklyn, NY
(photo by Richard Loussaint)

Describe the fabulousness of your hair.
I have a head of semi soft, blackish (yet red in the sun) pencil-width curls that at times touch the nape of my neck and at other times reach my back. They're defined when I first wash and style, but then, through out the week, they expand to a frizzy fro'.

What's your favorite thing about your hair?
I like that I only have to wash it once a week (maybe I shouldn't be broadcasting that). And there is no maintenance involved. When I used to have straight hair, I would spend at least an hour every day touching up the roots and ends. Now I just...well I wake up and that's about it.

What's your favorite product to use? Why is it great?
In the past I used Miss Jessie's curly pudding. But then I got with it and realized that I wasn't balling like that and had to stop. Now I use Eco Styler Alcohol Free Protein Gel (the brown one). It has the same effect as Miss Jessies but for 1/25 of the price. I use natural shampoo and lots of conditioner in the shower. Then once I get out I put some olive oil in my hair. Then I put on the gel, which helps hold the curl, and let it dry.

What's your favorite style to rock?
Mmmm. I beem really unoriginal lately and just doing the down doo. I am in dire need of some new styles though.

How long have you been natural? And how did you get there?
Wow. I think it has been four or five years now. I had a Japanese perm for a year (called thermal reconditioning). My hair was really long but the only way to get the perm out was to cut it all off. People said I was crazy and couldn't believe I would do that. But I was ready to embrace what god gave me. There was no stopping me from discovering my true beauty.

How would you describe your hair's personality?
Good question. My hair has multiple personality disorder. It literally looks different everyday. Right after I wash it is stiff and flat, and the curls are very defined. Then after a couple days it poofs out and starts to get frizzy, but there is still a lille bit of curl. By day four and five it is way poofed out and very frizzy, but in a funky way. By day six and seven it is one big poof and it starts locking up. Then it's time for a w-a-s-h!

What have you learned about yourself or your hair?
That I looked better this way all along and I wish I would have embraced my natural beauty a long time ago. But you live and you learn.

What has surprised you most?
That if you never straighten your natural hair your curls will look SO much better and be more defined. It also eliminates a lot of frizz.

What are you still trying to learn?
Where I can get a decent haircut without getting my locks effed up. I live in Brooklyn. Holla at me if you know!

And finally, tell us your favorite part about being natural. :o)
There are so many things (not being afraid of the rain). But I definitely love the comradery I have with other natural haired girls. There is a certain understanding there and it usually warrants an acknowledgment and a smile.

Jessica with the rest of the SquareRootz crew (photo by Richard Loussaint)

A reasonable-enough hiding place.

Blow-dryer + afro pick = big ass hair.

Jessica is one of the founders of SquareRootz, a lifestyle and media web site based in New York. Check out SquareRootz.net for more.

Tutorial: Flat-Twist Updo

2009-06-17T10:55:00.000-04:00

Done for last week's Ledisi concert. It's almost summer, y'all! :o)

Catalog Curlies: Charlotte Russe

2009-06-16T10:40:00.000-04:00

I've noticed that some of the flyest textured hair can be found in ads, catalogs and online stores.

Take this girl from the Charlotte Russe site. I don't know who she is, but the pic makes me all kinds of excited about summer... and hair.

Guess it did its job, huh?

A Thought: "All That Hair!"

2009-06-15T09:02:00.000-04:00

I know naturals talk a lot about envying other women's hair, and how you should love your own. But is it a bad thing when you start to envy... your own hair?

I guess I should explain. I've found myself coveting my hair from a few years back. Like, I get this kind of "darn it!" feeling when I'm looking at old pictures.

Miami, 2005

Christmas, 2006

Alpha Phi Omega event, 2006 (HUGE hair)

Night in Philly, 2006
The layered bob of January '08...

...which translated into the curly crop.

Now, I have to say I loved the short cut bob. But the blunt cut eventually grew out and simply looked strange on my textured hair, so I had it layered six months later. And then I took the scissors to my head again in January, just before I started this blog, to get rid of the dyed ends that had grown out. And now I'm due for another trim, because it turns out that the self-cut left my ends horribly uneven. (Note to self: Some things I should just leave to a professional. Lol.) Of course now, when my hair is relatively short, I find all these styling options for big curly hair! The nerve!

It really doesn't bother me -- okay, it does juuuuust a little bit. I'd be lying if I said didn't wish to have my hair back so I could make these great, full styles that I keep seeing nowadays. But clearly obsessing over length is counterproductive, because we all know that hair thrives best when it's simply left alone.

Still... that said... I want my hair back.

*sigh* If I leave it, it will come....

Monday Meditation

2009-06-15T08:42:00.000-04:00

This week's Monday Meditation isn't about hair, but about life and how big we live it. From SquareRootz.net:

I love my parents but most of my teachings were based out of fear. Don’t do this or that because this or that might happen. Follow this path because it’s safer or less risky.

I think it’s important to show caution, but it is more important to know your children, to not cut their inspiration or dreams with our own doubts, fears, and insecurities. We have to instill confidence and hope in them. We have to make them believers through our own actions.

-- Mery Vieira

Style Tutorial: Side-Part Puff

2009-06-12T11:15:00.003-04:00

Remember Amel Larrieux's ill side-part ponytail back in the Groove Theory days?

It was my inspiration for yesterday (and today's) style. Enjoy.

Contest!!! First-Aid for Summer Frizz

2009-06-11T11:46:00.003-04:00

Hey loves!

It's getting hot, and you know what that means: dry, frizzy curls. EEP! Luckily, the ladies over at NaturallyCurly.com have come up with a First Aid Kit for curls. The set includes HPO Happy Scalp, AG Split End Spa, Jessicurl Weekly Deep Conditioning Treatment in Citrus Lavender, Arbre de Vie Shea Hot Oil Treatment, and Curl Junkie Curl Rehab Moisturizing Hair Treatment.

The kit retails for about $70, but NaturallyCurly is giving it away to four lucky curlies who enter their contest. The rules are simple: just tell NaturallyCurly what's in your own personal First Aid Kit. You can submit responses on YouTube, Twitter, Facebook or CurlTalk. Check out the contest page for more info.

By the way... the winners of my earring contest will be getting their prizes this week. I know it's been a minute, but they're coming, I promise! :o)

No-Poo Jillipoo's Kick in the Curl

2009-06-10T14:42:00.006-04:00

Ever get upset because a product didn't seem to work? Ever find yourself disappointed in a supposed "holy grail"? Ever wanted to throw out every single product you've ever bought? Well, No-Poo Jillipoo has a few words for you.

Get it together.

The curly blogger, ~~also known as Botticelli Babe~~, has a great post up on why a lot of curlies end up despising products -- it's because we're using them wrong! From her post:

It's my contention that most of us are either not honest about our hair or we expect too much of products. Let's take a little quiz, shall we? Give yourself one point for every "yes" answer.

1. Do you mix or layer more than two products (yes, this includes leave-in)?
2. Have you ever used a product marketed for hair that was different than your own?
3. Are you especially frugal with application? Or especially generous?
4. Do you see photos of other people's hair and think it looks like yours, only to have a friend point out that it doesn't resemble your hair at all?
5. Do you drift in and out of the Curly Girl regimen, tossing in silicones willy nilly and using sulfate shampoos here and there?

If you got more than three points in that test, pour yourself a glass of water -- it's time for you to swallow a large and uncomfortable reality pill.

Jill goes on to list a number of reasons why your products may not be working well: using too many products ("Manufacturers have no idea that you use a conditioner, a leave-in, a gel, and a serum in conjunction with their product," Jill says), buying something that's not designed for your hair, using too much or too little product, or simply not being honest about what your hair will and won't do.

Jill gives number of tips to help you get out of the trap of product disappointment. In fact, I'm going to try one of her tips tonight (using a product alone to see what it does) with my SheaMoisture leave-in. Check out the entirety of Jill's post here.

The Coil Review: I LOVE It

2009-06-10T08:26:00.000-04:00

This video has already shown up on a number of other blogs, but I just can't resist posting it here.

It's a YouTube promo for The Coil Review, which relaunches next month.

Even as I watched with the sound off, this thing made me cheese so hard, from ear to ear.

I LOVE it!!!

"I LOVE Your Hair."

2009-06-09T08:37:00.000-04:00

A thought...

I remember being at a drugstore with a friend not too long ago. As we were walking out, another woman walked in -- a natural with the most perfect, drop-dead gorgeous 'fro of curls that I've ever seen in person. I had to tell her.

"Omigosh," I gushed. "Your hair is gorgeous!"

She beamed. "Thank you!" And then: "We're practically twins!"

We giggled and went our respective ways. And then I noticed something... my friend, who is relaxed, seemed to stand back, with a quizzical look on her face, during the exchange. It was almost as if we'd started speaking a foreign language in front of her. She seemed perplexed that I'd randomly approach someone like that.

It made me wonder later... As naturals, are we more open about supporting other women and their hair? I can't remember a time when any of my friends (or myself for that matter, when I had a perm long ago) stopped another woman to tell her how gorgeous and healthy her hair looked. We only remarked about a girl's hair if she had a trendy cut or superlong strands -- and we only really told her if we were feeling nice that day.

I'm not trying to start a natural vs. relaxed debate. I'm just wondering if, in the lifestyle of being a natural, something makes us more open, affirming and encouraging toward each other. It almost seems like have our own little culture, where it's not a big thing to simply say, "I love your hair."

...or do I just like giving compliments more than my friend does? ;-)

Your thoughts?

Bed Bath and Beyond: Beauty Emporium?

2009-06-08T14:02:00.001-04:00

I don't know anyone who frequents Bed Bath and Beyond nearly as much as I do. And no, that's not because I have some addiction to shams and duvet covers. Last year, I discovered the BB&B actually has quite the extensive beauty department. I'm talking every makeup, body, and hair care brand that you find in the drugstore, and even some brands that you only find in salons and spas.

There's a store near my house, and also one near my job, and both stay full stocked with lipsticks, lotions and leave-ins. I've even found Giovanni, Mizani and CurlFriends products there. And it's quite incredible for anyone who walks into the store only expecting to see sheets.

Not only do they offer a wide product selection, but the prices are rather wallet-friendly. Products there are often a dollar or so cheaper than you would find in a drugstore, or even in Target. It's so bad now that I think BB&B is my new addiction. But I figure I can atone for it by telling you guys about the wonderfulness of it all.

Do you have your own surprise beauty spots? Tell us about them.

I'M BACK!!!

2009-06-08T09:55:00.002-04:00

Hola chicas!

Sorry for the absence. I've been away for a little while, taking the chance to go home Pittsburgh, breathe, and clear my head. (I swear, as many jokes as people make about the 'Burgh, there's nothing like home). I'm back now, ready to get it rolling again. (But no, I STILL haven't found my charger. GRRRR!)

To that end, I'll leave you with some Monday Madness... enjoy. :o)

Monday Meditation

2009-06-01T08:40:00.001-04:00

One woman on her decision to stop straightening:

"Some of my friends were like, 'Why are you suppressing your beauty?' and I was like, 'I'm not suppressing my beauty. My curly hair is pretty'... I think I stand with all the natural sisters as we're saying, 'Let's change the stereotype.' It's gotta be done."

-- Roomtobreathe07

Meh.

2009-05-28T11:54:00.002-04:00

Hey loves.

I haven't forgotten about you all, I promise.

I have just hit a complete and utter wall.

Like... *THUD.* Yeah, just like that.

I adore this blog and each and every one of you, which is why I want to make it a valuable resource for you all. I don't really like yapping about anything unless I have a point.

Which is why I've been posting so sporadically the last few weeks. When it comes to hair, what's new to talk about? I certainly don't want to re-hash the same ol' conversations that have been going on around the web for years, so what's next?

With more and more women big-chopping, curls and coils are definitely working their way into the mainstream. So I want your opinion... what do you see next in the world of natural hair? What's on the horizon for curls and coils?

Beyond Hair: Support Contradiction Dance

2009-05-26T14:01:00.007-04:00

Hey all.

Some of you know, aside from work and, well, hair, a big part of my life is dance. Actually, a HUGE part of my life is dance. Even to the point where my apartment is nicknamed the Dancer's Halfway House (lol). Anywhoo, after all these years performing and teaching, I find myself learning again, with a studio here in D.C. called Contradiction Dance.

Contradiction Dance has become a vital part of the city's dance community and arts community as a whole. I'm now a member of Contradiction's second resident dance company, MASSIVE ATTACK (which has added a world of rehearsals and performances to my life, which is why I've been so busy lately!). I've been dancing since I was 13, but every time I'm in this beautiful studio, I feel like a child again, exploring space, movement and the ways my body can fly. My baby sister has benefited here too, along with a host of other kids, teenagers and adults... moms, dads, grandmothers, you name it. Contradiction has become a haven. And artists know what it's like to find a haven -- you find the ability to wonder, to experiment, to explore and to soar.

This haven has been presented with a chance to become a permanent fixture in our community -- the owner of the building is offering to ensure that Contradiction can stay in its space for a long time to come. Part of the agreement is to pay a portion of the rent up front. The offer is all too generous, but our time frame is tight. We have to make our payment by June 1st.

This where I'm turning to you -- especially the artists and creative spirits out there -- for your support. I'm asking you to take a moment and donate $10 to keep this haven vibrant and alive. That's it. Just $10. Many of us (me included) will run out to pick up a hair lotion or cream because we saw it on the blogs or on YouTube, not knowing whether it will work or not. Now I'm asking you support something I can truly say is a wonderful thing, something that I 110-percent believe in. The arts aren't vital only to artists -- they're vital to an entire community.

Please click below to donate to Contradiction Dance. It would make me so happy, more happy than any compliment I could ever get about hair or this blog. .. because it's bigger than just me. Your support would allow us all to keep dancing.

Thank you.

CLICK HERE TO DONATE TO CONTRADICTION DANCE.

See Contradiction Dance on YouTube.

Monday Meditation

2009-05-25T08:41:00.001-04:00

From a commenter on NaturallyCurly.com:

"My hair and I have a much better relationship now that I have stopped trying to make it something it is not. Now that I pamper my curls, they couldn’t be happier with me and I couldn’t be happier with them."
-- Carisa Montooth on NaturallyCurly

Have a fabulous Memorial Day, loves!

Beyonce's Ego = My Personal Heaven.

2009-05-21T18:01:00.003-04:00

I love Beyonce. We KNOW I love big curly hair. And I love to dance -- and to watch it too.

Ergo... I REALLY REALLY REALLY LOVE this video.

And I want to know who the choreographer is.

*UPDATE* Found the choreographer. Sheryl Murakami. She's all kinds of sick.

Fat Flat Twists

2009-05-19T15:55:00.003-04:00

I still can't find my camera charger, and it's driving me insane. I refuse to buy a new one, so until I find the misplaced one, we'll be having fun with YouTube. :o)

Monday Meditation

2009-05-18T12:42:00.001-04:00

Not from a blogger, but from the talk show circuit... :o)

"You are the only you the world will EVER know. Be AMAZING!"
-- Jackie Guerra

Naturally Fly: Luam

2009-05-15T09:31:00.002-04:00

Four words: The girl is BAD.

Luam's a dancer and choreographer currently living in New York. I've been following her work and taking her classes (when she's in DC) for a few years now. My two favorite things about her: Her hair (of course), and the fact that she quit her corporate tech job at Time-Warner to start her dance career.

All those ladies looking for inspiration to follow your passion, here's one: In the interview below, Luam shares that her family had big plans for her to become a doctor. The Eritrea native enrolled at the University of Pennsylvania and graduated with a degree in neuroscience. She went to New York for a corporate job, but started taking classes in her spare time....

Now she's a hip-hop powerhouse. She's choreographed and danced for a number of stars, she's taught workshops across the globe, and she's launched a line of dance-inspired streetwear called under the name Wildchild Nation.

Luam's definitely an inspiration (for me at least -- and a ton of other dancers). Check the SceneInteractive profile of her below.

GIVEAWAY WINNERS!!!

2009-05-14T17:08:00.002-04:00

We have winners!!!

Woot woot for NATHALIA and PREMIUMDENIM (from YouTube) for winning the first Highly Textured giveaway! You ladies have some super cute Veronica-Marché earrings coming your way. Send me an email (marchemiller AT gmail DOT com) with your address.

Congrats ladies!

Product Junkie Peer Pressure

2009-05-14T00:04:00.005-04:00

A message for all you hair and beauty bloggers out there:

Stop making me buy stuff!

Stop it, I say!!!

The Internet is a beautiful thing. People build communities and establish friendships and share expertise. But dammit if that doesn't come with a price. And that price is what you pay when you run out to buy a product another blogger is raving about.

It's insane! I never knew I could be so easily influenced! Malleable, that's me. Scandalous Beauty sang about Kissable Couture, so I upped and ordered a set. Fafinettex3 raved about Revlon Colorstay, so I got some of that too. I ordered fifty bucks worth of discounted Lorac products thanks to ItsMsHeatherNicole, and went back for more when I realized they added more the clearance section.
I'm becoming a one-blogger stimulus package. Someone may need to confiscate my laptop and my check card.

Stop telling me about all these great products! Stop it, I say!

:o)

Have you fallen victim to product junkie peer pressure? What have you bought because of it?

Twists, Out

2009-05-11T09:54:00.002-04:00

After a week of oohs and ahhs and a handful of questions, I finally took out my sexi FlexiTwists last night. I have to say, I was surprised by the way the twists were received by other folks -- they love 'em!

On Wednesday, I walked into work and literally stopped productivity. The co-workers gathered around and asked how I did my hair and told me how cool they thought it was. My roommate's little sister confessed that she took a closer look when I fell asleep. (It's okay, though. She's so cute and I heart her.)

All this because I got bored last Monday and wanted to do a hair experiment. "Happy accident" is what my friend Kelly calls such things.

Alas, a week elapsed and I had to take the twist outs. Mostly because a) I was getting not-so-sexy frizz, and b) some of them actually started unraveling themselves. (My hair is easily manipulated and yet, refuses to hold a style. I think it's passive-aggressive.)

So now I sit here with a fuzzy puff, wondering what to do next. "Twists!" says the teeny voice in my hair. (No, not my head. My hair.) But my arms are not happy about the prospect of another 6-hour project. And even if they were, my head would not be happy about the prospect frizz and fall-out.

And so I turn you, friends. You've helped me out before and I think you can help me again. How do I do my twists faster? And how do I make them last longer? (A note: My hair will frizz if you so much as blink at it. So I need some creative suggestions here.)

Leave your thoughts below.

Monday Meditation

2009-05-11T08:35:00.000-04:00

When you peruse hair forums, you'll inevitably find little gems like this one:

"What grows out of your head is from God, and 100% of the time it is tailor made for you."
-- KoolKurls11 on NaturallyCurly.com

You Know What Sucks?

2009-05-08T14:17:00.003-04:00

...not having your camera charger.

I have been looking for the blasted thing for two weeks now, and I can't. Find it. ANYWHERE. ARRRRRRRGH!

Clearly, this is frustrating me in a number of ways. I can't take pictures of the randomness that happens from living in DC (exhibit A: Car Afire). I can't take video of my precious kids in dance class (exhibit B: Les Petites). And worst of all, I CAN'T TAKE PICTURES OF MY HAIR!!! AAAAAAAAAAHHHH! This is SO not cool, especially since the twists have been a big hit this week and I've been rocking them with everything from a flower to a scarf.

*sigh*

Help me, please. Someone pray that I find my camera charger. Or else I might lose my sanity.

In Other News: Jewels and Diamonds

2009-05-06T15:40:00.001-04:00

A lot of us watch the First Lady like a hawk, and some instinctively so, since we work in the business of watching people. But somehow, in the all the hubbub over clothes and royal protocol, we missed this when the Obamas were in London over a month ago.

Post your reactions below.

This week... FlexiTwists

2009-05-05T16:34:00.002-04:00

Watch the vid. :o)

Hats Off!

2009-05-04T10:27:00.001-04:00

If you had your money on Mine That Bird this weekend, congratulations. You probably just came into a lot of dough, or at very least, a lot of bragging rights. But when it comes to the Kentucky Derby, who's really looking at the horses. We wanna see the hats! And NPR.org has a great slideshow of some hats found at Churchill Downs. A few favs:

Getting it in the black and gold.

Fly. Just. Fly.

Of course, some hats go the other way on the style continuum, but... the hat got a hat!

Go check out more of the NPR slideshow here. And post links or pics of any cool hats you've seen yourself.

Monday Meditation

2009-05-04T08:52:00.001-04:00

As you start off your week, keep this in mind....

"Do you. Be proud of who you are. Be proud of your hair. Be proud of everything that God gave you. Because if God made it, it's beautiful."

-- Ayanna Naeela

Ayanna is yet another fantastic video blogger on YouTube. Make sure to go check out her channel (and her fabulous hair!).

Can A Tube of Lipgloss Be Sexy?

2009-05-02T09:05:00.006-04:00

Yes, yes it can, if it's Kissable Couture.

Scandalous Beauty was kind enough to let us know that the lipgloss line by Keisha Whitaker and makeup artist A.J. Crimson is having a Mother's Day sale. You'll get 40% off your purchase when you enter the code MOM at checkout. Of course I started browsing the site... and started drooling.

How could you not, with choices like these?

"Innocence" from the Nudes Collection

"Fantasties"

"Bliss"
And of course, there's a shade inspired by everyone's latest style icon...

"First Lady"
I'm loving Bliss, and I'm coveting Horizon too, but think I'll be snapping up the Mini Smooches collection -- a perfect buy for indecisive lip gloss junkies like myself.

Which Kissable shade are you?

Friday 'Fro: My Own

2009-05-01T15:46:00.004-04:00

I haven't been posting style pics lately because 1) my life has been a tornado and I always forget, and 2) I can't find my camera charger so I couldn't take good pics if I wanted to anyway! Argh!

But did use my cameraphone to snap today's curly 'fro (and yes, in the ladies' restroom at work, don't judge me), because I was waaaaay too excited about it.

I used a glycerin/water spray and Heather Nicole's technique (here's Part 1 and Part 2) to do it last night, and I'll probably have to do it again with a better-holding product to get one more day out of it.

But hey, here it is. Don't ever say I never gave you anything. :o)

Last Day -- Highly Textured GIVEAWAY!!!

2009-05-01T14:08:00.003-04:00

You STILL haven't entered? Whatsamattawitchu?! I'm giving away jewelry in my first ever giveaway, but you can't win it if you don't enter!

Check the video to find out what I want you to do. CLICK HERE to enter on Blogger, and CLICK HERE to enter on YouTube.

Hurry! Today's the last day!!!

Thursday Distraction: Highly Textured Roll Call!

2009-04-30T13:57:00.003-04:00

Rep your city!!! I'll start...

PITTSBURGH!!! P-A ALL DAY, son!!!

(...though now I live in Washington, DC.)

Where you from?! C'mon, throw your hood up! :o)

(P.S. And don't forget to enter the first Blessed and Highly Textured Giveaway! One day left!)

Wash, Condition, Go On With Life

2009-04-29T00:01:00.005-04:00

You've followed the blog for a while. You've seen my encounters with coconut oil, my love for castor oil, my spur-of-the-moment experiment with eggs. You hollered at me for buying a tiny 15-dollar-jar of body butter (hi Katie!) and watched me sing the praises of -- then ease away from -- fat twists.

And yet, after all the creams and oils and butters I've slathered on my hair, I've realized... sometimes it's best to just keep it simple.

I returned to an old routine this week -- wash, slather in conditioner, go on with life -- and my hair has just been, well, content. (It could have something to do with a new conditioner, Hello Hydration... I blame Curly Nikki.) But yeah, this week, I skipped my usual, laborious routine -- no layering of products, no twisting, no sitting under the dryer -- and my hair's just... chilling.

She's good, yo.

And it's making me think of the early days, when I really didn't have this hair obsession that I do now, when I did just enough -- wash, slather in conditioner, go on with life -- to keep it looking decent. And now that I think about it, that's when it thrived. Grew like a weed, to lengths more than I knew what to do with.

I admit, it's a blast trying new products and techniques. You become something of a discoverer, and you wind up super-knowledgeable about ingredients and porosity and whatnot. But at the end of the day, could it be that your hair happiness lies in that four-dollar bottle sitting in your shower?

Could be. What do you think?

Found It! A Jewminicana on Naturally Curly Hair

2009-04-28T09:41:00.000-04:00

Most of you already know I ADORE Latina magazine. (Am I Latina? No, not a drop. Lol.) I loved it even more when this month's issue arrived in my mailbox, complete with an essay on one Dominicana's story of her lifelong frustration with -- and then acceptance of -- her hair.

Of course I immediately wanted to share it with you guys, but Latina didn't publish it online. But with a little bit of sleuthing (gotta love being a journo) I found that the writer, Aliza Hausman (shown here in a picture from her wedding), shared it on her blog a few months back, before the magazine picked it up. (And now I'm combing through my own archives for mag-friendly material, hmmm....)

Anywhoo, check out Aliza's hair story here. She describes how her mother (and others) taught her how to hate her hair, and how she fought with it -- until her would-be husband showed her how to love it.

Also, check out her Top 10 Things You Should Know About This Nappy-Headed (I Can Call Myself That But You Can't!) Girl's Head. Hilarious.

Oh, and for those wondering about the term "Jewminicana," it's one that Aliza uses to describe herself -- she's a Dominican-American woman who converted to Orthodox Judaism.

Monday Meditation

2009-04-27T08:55:00.000-04:00

A little change, as this comes not from a blogger, but from a luminary...

"Oppressed hair puts a ceiling on the brain."
-- Alice Walker
Has your mind opened up since you've been natural?

GIVEAWAY!!! GIVEAWAY!!!

2009-04-25T17:40:00.002-04:00

Watch the video! Enter below! Win some jewelry! WHHHHEEEEEEE!!!!

I'm Baaaaaa-aaaaaaaaack!

2009-04-24T21:00:00.007-04:00

Omigosh, loves! The premiere of Obsessed was incredible! I had such a good time in New York, even if the trip was shorter than I would have liked. To give you a quick run-down...

The hotel: Swanky.

The eats: Delish!

The celeb-spotting: Insane! (I hate acting like groupie, but once I saw Michael Ealy and *gasp* *faint* *swoon* Idris Elba... it was a wrap.)

(Speaking of Idris...I wonder how the Tall Chocolate Strawberry feels about curly hair... hmmm....)

And the movie: Actually pretty good! No one believes me, but we came away mostly satisfied and pretty friggin' entertained. I really think the studio somehow picked the dullest parts of the movie to put in the trailer -- maybe to lower expectations -- but the flick turned out to be pretty nice.

OH! And the queen, the one, the only Beyonce?

Fab. U. Friggin'. Lous.

But you all know how I feel. The woman can STILL do no wrong by me.

A few pics below!

Getting ready in the hotel

On the (little) red carpet... after the movie....

You see that? That fine chocolate specimen to the right? That, my friends, is the prototype. Yes MA'AM.

Oh, and I have to give a disclaimer... I've worked in radio for years and met a fair share of celebs and cool people. Decorum is the name of the game, and I was taught to be cool, unfazed, and never, EVER gush.

But gosh... I sure was gushing this time around. HARD.

So please excuse me while I get all this excitement out of my system. It's such a foreign feeling, and yet it's happening so naturally! Lol. I'm going just bear with myself and ride it out. And I'll be back to my regular blogging schedule sooner than you can say Idris.

Oooh... Idris....

Blessed and "Obsessed"

2009-04-22T12:38:00.012-04:00

What do Beyonce and I have in common (aside from both, at one point, rocking curly, fire-red hair)?

We're both going to be in New York tomorrow for the premiere of her movie Obsessed! Woot woot!

Yeah, so I definitely won this random contest at a random party last week (by doing the "Single Ladies" dance of all things... shameless, I know), and now me and my "fake wifey" Lynnette are heading up to Manhattan to see the premiere screening tomorrow.

Color me excited. It's the first time I've won anything since I scored free tickets to Fern Gully when I was a kid. (By the way, I never really enjoyed that movie. Too serious to be a cartoon to me.)

Part of the package includes a stay at the Hudson Hotel, which my friend Nadea tells me is super swanky. (She's tagging along so she can go to the bar.) The only unfortunate thing is that I have to cut the three-day trip in half, since both Lynnette and I have work obligations this week. (Drats!) However, I fully intend to enjoy my time in New York, regardless of how abbreviated it is this time around.

I kinda want to get glammed up, but I've never done a New York premiere before. I'm just a lil' old news producer in D.C., so this will be a whole new scene for me. What's the protocol here? O.M.O., Wes... could you ladies help me out? :o)

My mind is definitely racing, trying to figure this all out before we leave Washington this evening. But please believe I'll be snapping pics and taking photos. I might not be around the blog till I get back, but I will be updating on Twitter. Follow me, baby. :o)

Can You Relate?

2009-04-21T15:09:00.001-04:00

Came across this on YouTube just a few moments ago, and I was feelin' what she was saying. HARD.

Check it out and let me know your reaction. (A note: The special effects get a little trippy from time to time.)

Tips and Tricks for Two-Strand Twists

2009-04-21T09:02:00.000-04:00

Two-strand twists are one of the cutest styles a natural can rock, but they're definitely time-consuming and labor-intensive! I learned this about a month ago, when I tried them for the very first time.

The results were cool, not perfect. But then, my friends and readers seriously CAME THROUGH with some tips for succesful twisting. I was so surprised... and grateful. Now, the next time I carve out two hours out of a day to twist, I can make sure my effort is not at all in vain.

I've been meaning to share those very tips with everyone else, so... here they are. :o)

A note: Some of the advice varies depending on the person (twist while wet? twist while dry?) so use the tips that you think will work best for your hair.

PREPARING THE HAIR:

"If you want to have those smooth even twists with little shrinkage start with a good pre-poo and a co-wash. I use a cheap drugstore cholesterol deep conditioner like Queen Helene. I mix in coconut oil, vegetable glycerin, collagen, silk amino acids, keratin, and honey. I know, it sounds like a lot but all the ingredients are easy and cheap to buy either at your local drugstore, online or at the health food grocer. I just like to add a few table spoons of each and up the conditioning. I then co-wash with a cheap 99-cent conditioner like White Rain, Vo5, or Suave. Hair comes out so soft and smooth. By the way, I usually condition overnight as I sleep." -- tgirl

TWISTING AND CHOOSING PRODUCTS:

"I always twist when hair is very wet with a good leave in conditioner. I use Devachan Condition One. Smells great. I twist with some Palmer's Olive Oil--bought at the dollar store and Miss Jessie's Butter Creme (the most expensive item I use these days). The butter creme has a more oil based hold and keeps the frizz down for days. You won't have to use much cause it's pretty concentrated." -- tgirl

"I'd suggest you use gel. When I twist, I apply a leave in, then I use Garnier Fructis curl cream (heavy hold). I also will use aloe vera gel sometimes, but the Garnier works well. Also, as I'm doing each twist, I coat it with castor oil to seal in moisture, then once again on the ends." -- T-Dot

PARTING:

"Take a rattail comb and place it behind your ear. Draw a line, through your hair, with it, all the way to your other ear. You've got two sections now. From there, just part the lines across -- don't worry about getting perfect lines within each line. I'll make some of them smaller to make the twists fuller in places, and thicker to thin them out in others. After a few times, you'll get the hang of it!" -- T-Dot

"The more you do it the easier it gets to get the partings even. I don't have perfect lines cause once it's all done I can't see much of my scalp anyway! As long as the twists are going in the right direction for the style I'm going for and the twists are of equal thickness I'm good to go!" -- tgirl

PREVENTING FRIZZ AND PUFFINESS:

"To cut down on frizz/puffing at the crown, make sure your hair is pretty well soaked when you do your twists. Not a spritz. It needs to be wet. Then, coat it with your products (gel or oil or what have you) to seal that moisture in. For those wayward twists (and to give me a little more control) I'll pin the twists down as I do them, row by row, with duckbill clips. keeps them close to your head. I sleep at night with a scarf tied around them tightly and then oil and shake in the morning." -- T-Dot

"For the puffy roots, try braiding at the roots and then continuing with twists." -- KCurly

SHOWING LENGTH:

"To stretch your twists, once done, blast them with the blow dryer while stretching them downward. Helps them to extend a bit -- kinda like blowdrying your hair with a pick. It won't be hanging hard, but they will be a little longer." -- T-Dot

"For shrinkage, I twist on almost dry hair or completely dry hair. It takes longer but the length shows more." -- KCurly

THOSE PESKY ENDS:

"For those rebellious ends: twist all the way to the end. Don't be lazy and stop when you get close. Follow through. And coil them with oil once finished." -- T-Dot

"Dunking the ends in a little water helps them to curl/coil up." -- KCurly

"Twist to the ends and coil aronnd your finger to tame the ends. I have the same problem with crazy wild ends." -- tgirl

FINDING THE TIME TO TWIST:

"...it's nice during a movie :)" -- KCurly

(Shout out to T-Dot, tgirl, and KCurly. Thanks for the advice, ladies!)

Stalling on the Fat Twists

2009-04-20T21:10:00.004-04:00

Hey loves,

Okay, so I promised a video on how I put in and take out my fat twists, but I'm going to hold off that for just a quick minute. Why? 'Cause my ends have been tangling, and I need to figure out how to prevent that.

Basically, I've noticed a few more tangles and knots in my hair in the two weeks that I've used fat twists as a styling method. And that makes me a bit sad, because otherwise, fat twists have been so good to me! (*whimpers*) But, I can't bring myself to show you guys anything that might give you knots. It's just not right.

So, soon as I figure out how to keep my twisting tangle-free, I will let you guys know. And THEN, I'll be more than happy to show you lovely people the way. :o)

Smooches!

Wanna See Something Amazing?

2009-04-20T17:38:00.002-04:00

Check out RusticBeauty's rollerset video.

:o)

Linked on Afrobella and Textured Playground!

2009-04-20T13:32:00.004-04:00

Aloha loves!

Today's "hair day," so I'll be doing... I dunno, something, to my hair today, and tell you about it in a little while... but in the meantime, I'm cheesing because Blessed & Highly Textured has been shouted out on two great blogs!

Texture Playground and Afrobella gave Highly Textured some link lovin' today. How cool is that? And it all stems from blogger and writer Laquita, who recently penned an article for Clutch magazine about sites and blogs for natural ladies.

So yeah, colored me tickled. And make sure to check out these lovely bloggers and the article at Clutch.

:o)

Monday Meditation

2009-04-20T08:05:00.001-04:00

"Know that God has made you the way He's made you for a reason. If others can't appreciate it... oh well. And when they do begin to appreciate it, it'll be too late. But learn to appreciate yourself. Look in the mirror and say, 'My hair might be nappy, it might be kinky... but I'm fly.'"

-- BeautifulBrwnBabyDol

(If you haven't already, check out BeautifulBrwnBabyDol's YouTube channel. The girl is BAD, and soooo inspiring.)

Fifty Followers!!! Yippee!!!

2009-04-19T13:54:00.004-04:00

Hey guys! I now have 50 followers of the blog and I'm. SO. EXCITED!

Thanks again to every single one of you for reading, commenting, and adding to the overall discussion on the blog. We've become a little Blessed & Highly Textured community. :o)

I'm working on some posts for this week and I want to continue to encourage everyone to keep commenting, keep asking questions and keep making suggestions. And I want to do a giveaway (I know, just like everyone else, but they're so much fun, right?!), so I'm working on that too.

In the meantime, I just want to let you know that I love you all to pieces!

Kisses!

Tell Us Your Results!

2009-04-17T12:42:00.003-04:00

Many of you have shared your experiences with products, styles and techniques in the comments section on various posts, and as a result, have blessed us with many tips and tricks and some good advice too. Now I'd like to herd all of those experiences together, so that you can easily find them.

So... if you look at the top right corner (over there ---> ), you'll see the "Your Results" box, where you can click to read others' (or post your own!) experiences with styles and products. I'm hoping you'll make great use of them and give others inspiration to try new things. :o)

Have you tried any of the styles, techniques or products over there in the box? Go ahead, tell us about it!!!

Public Service Announcement ...and YouTube!

2009-04-16T14:28:00.005-04:00

Hola folks! So even though Blessed and Highly Textured is a natural hair blog, there are plenty of people who aren't natural (hey, who aren't even girls!) who stop by and read from time to time. (*waves* Hi guys!) However, it's come to my attention that these readers are hesitant to participate in the discussion and comment! Their reasoning: "Well, I'm not natural..." or... "It's girl talk, it's not my place."

To that I say... PSHAW! If you feel like you have something to add to the conversation, add it! Even though the blog is dedicated to natural hair, I don't want anyone to feel like they're excluded from discussion -- especially since sometimes, we go beyond simply shampoo-ing and styling. (See videos: Natural Hair and Men, and Newspeople Tackle Natural Hair!.)

Of course, the rules are the same -- no being evil, being whiny, or bashing other people. Basically no negativity... but I don't have to tell you that. :o)

So yeah, if you have something to say, g'wan an' say it! You will not be cast off the island (unless, of course, you talk bad about Beyonce... then your name is mud). So folks... have at it!

***P.S.!!!!***
I'm on YouTube now! Who'da thunk it? Check out my channel:

youtube.com/highlytextured
Thanks! :o)

(This public service announcement brought to you by the Coalition of Cool People. Stay chill.)

Fat Twists Are A Girl's Best Friend

2009-04-16T00:56:00.005-04:00

"Define without the dryer! Air dry without the drip! Try the magnificent, splendiferous FAT TWISTS!"

I know, I know, I've been needing to update. But I've been enjoying my hair too much.

Fat twists are my new best friend.

An explainer: Fat twisting is what I do now to dry my hair after my weekly deep-condition. The process is simple -- saturate my hair with my styler/leave-in of choice (this week, it was Organix Vanilla Silk), seal with the with the oh-so-wonderful castor oil, and twist the hair in several, large, chunky sections (hence the name, Fat Twists).

I make about seven or eight twists, coiling the ends around my finger so they curl up on their own, and then just leave my hair be. End scene. Turn out the lights, turn on Leno, cuddle up on the couch. I take them out the next day, when they're about 75-85 percent dry. The twisting (I believe) helps the curls find each other and clump together, and after I separate the twists, the hair spends the rest of its drying time settling into happy curl families.

It's worth mentioning that I don't rake my fingers through my hair when I'm separating, out of fear of major frizz. Instead, I slide my fingers down each section -- kinda like I'm shingling, just with no product -- and the clump families seem to separate and define themselves. (Okay, maybe it would make more sense to show rather than tell... ooh! Future video maybe?) Once they settle, I get a head full of bouncy, boingy curls... which "feels like sex," apparently. (That's what my best friend said. Her words, not mine.)

Anywhoo, my second time trying fat-twist drying made me just as happy as my first. Another bonus: the curls LAST. For, like, ever. Okay, not forever, but it sure seems like it. (Confession: Last time I washed my hair was two weeks ago. I was so impressed by the staying power of the curls that I wanted to see how long they'd stick around. Alas, an unhappy scalp got the best of me.)

I especially love that fat-twisting eases the process of drying. I don't have to sit under a hood (and worry about halo-frizz). And I can air dry without having to try to keep wet strands off my neck.

Now I'm wondering how fat twists work on other textures and lengths. Have you dried your hair in chunky twists? How did you like it?

A Video: On Men and Natual Hair

2009-04-13T19:54:00.003-04:00

I made a video earlier today discussing men and natural hair, in response to a video posted by Erin of Naturally Scandalous. She was talking about the types of men she attracts now that she has locs, and I thought it was quite an interesting (and amusing) subject to talk about. So peep my video below... and if you want to see Erin's, click here.

Monday Meditation

2009-04-13T08:21:00.000-04:00

"There is nothing more beautiful than knowing one’s self and feeling free, loving, trusting and strong enough to reveal it to others."

--SuburbanBushBabe on Newly Natural

Alright folks, vacation's over! Let's get back to it! :o)

Newspeople Tackle Natural Hair!

2009-04-09T23:37:00.005-04:00

I know, I know! I said I was taking a break. But I kept seeing this video around the webs, so I couldn't go without posting it.

It's a news report by the Fox affiliate in Chicago -- about black women going natural so they the have freedom to exercise.

I work in the news bidness, but sometimes I can't help but shake my head and think to myself, "A bit late to the game, are we?"

And I'm not sure how I felt about the anchor banter. Or the use of the term "ethnic hair"... But enough about what I think. I want to know your thoughts. Give it a watch and discuss in the comments section.

And I'll go back to my blog vacation, I promise! :o)

Break Time

2009-04-09T09:22:00.003-04:00

Hey ladies (and gents... I know y'all are out there)...

I'm taking a quick blogging break to catch my breath and catch up on everything else I need to. Consider it a long weekend. (Some of you have that anyway, of which I'm extremely envious.) Really, it's a mental/writer's break more than anything else. I've posted almost every day since I started back in January, and I'm pretty proud of that! But I need to read up and refresh, and I think I've earned a blog-free day or two. ;-)

So take the time now to browse through the archives and catch up or comment on anything that strikes your fancy. And if I could nudge you a bit, pleeeeeeease, please please check out my friends in the Sisterhood of the Spiraling Strands Series. These beautiful ladies have such an array of textures, and I'm hoping they can inspire some of you out there.

Other than that... have a happy Resurrection Day! ...or Easter, whatever you prefer to call it. :o)

Sisterhood of the Spiraling Strands: Elena

2009-04-07T16:14:00.002-04:00

I kinda love Elena. She's smart, driven and has already accomplished a lot at just 25. She's traveled the world, going all sorts of places from Nicaraugua to Tanzania, and got her Master's degree in Public Health from Yale. Now she's in med school in South Carolina. She's pretty much your all-around bad-ass chick (although she'll probably shake her head and start chuckling when she sees this)... and, oh yeah. She has gorgeous locs. :o)

ELENA
Age 25
Professional Student
Charleston, SC

Describe the fabulousness of your hair.
Well, I have thick, medium length (just past my shoulders) locs. My hair is black and the texture is more wavy than anything else, which made for a very interesting year-long locking process!

What's your favorite thing about your hair?
The color… its naturally jet black. I love that and really can’t see myself coloring my locs.

What's your favorite product to use? Why is it great?
Anana shea butter... It’s a honey and vanilla shea butter that’s light, doesn’t buildup and smells great! I also never have problems with my scalp; I think this product has something to do with that.

What's your favorite style to rock?
Ummm… I mostly wear my hair pulled back. Not necessarily because its my favorite style, but because its easy and I know how to do it.

How long have you been natural? And how did you get there?
Well, my last perm was in December of 2002. I cut my hair (the drastic, going natural cut) in December 2003 and started locs June 2006.

The journey??? I had only permed my hair for 2 years. I was out of the country for 6 months (January through June 2003) and couldn’t get a perm. When I got back, I was like, “Why am I perming my hair again?” and just didn’t get another perm. I cut my hair on a dare! My friend (to remain nameless) was like, "You’re a punk, you won’t do it." I told her to make the appointment -- and the rest is history. I rocked 2-strand twists and the let out until I decided to loc. I started my locs with 2-strand twists (the length was beyond my shoulders) and it took a year, mostly because of my hair texture.

How would you describe your hair's personality?
Defiant; diva-like; refuses to get in line; determined to maintain its identity as wavy; frustrates the hell out of me at times....

I think my hair is like a confident woman who knows who she is, is comfortable with that and says to hell with anyone (including me) who seeks to change that!

What have you learned about yourself or your hair?
About my hair... I thought my hair was nappy! From all the hair stories and memories from my childhood, I thought my hair was nappy and difficult. That’s not the case. My hair is thick and has pretty much been long since it started really growing around age 2. I’d had a standing hair appointment every two weeks since I was 10. I thought my stuff was nappy and required serious reigning in. When I went natural, I discovered it was difficult because of its thickness and length. The actual texture (wavy) kinda eases some of the pain when dealing with it.

About me... I’m not as attached to my hair as other people are (to my hair). My mother didn’t speak to me for almost a whole day when she saw my first cut. I think hair is hair; it’ll grow back or not. I love mine, but its just hair.

What has surprised you most?
My locs... they look and behave nothing like what I expected. I've learned to love them though.

What are you still trying to learn?
I need to learn how to style my locs.

And finally, tell us your favorite part about being natural. :o)
My favorite part of being natural is allowing my hair to have a personality.

Before the locs or the twists

Twist mode.

More twists.

Formal locs.

Inauguration weekend with twin sister Marlena.

SheaMoisture!

2009-04-07T11:08:00.001-04:00

Look what I found!

I've seen the ladies on NaturallyCurly.com mention SheaMoisture Leave-In, but didn't really know much about it and never saw it in a store... until yesterday, when I went to pick up my Elasta QP DPR-11 at the massive beauty supply store on Georgia Avenue.

It's rich and emollient and creamy and a lot thicker than any other leave-in that I've used, so I'm curious as to how to go about using it. Clearly I won't be using as much at one time as I do other leave-ins. Maybe I'll mix it up with some water when I use it. I dunno, I got a lot of thoughts running through my head.

Have any of you used SheaMoisture? How do you use it... and do you like it?

Random Veronica Thoughts

2009-04-06T17:11:00.010-04:00

The disjointed randomness (is that redundant?) going through my head right now...

1. I really want to say thank you and "I lub you!" to all the blog readers, commenters and followers. You guys are great, and I really, truly appreciate the support. I just wish Blogger had an efficient way for me to contact all of those in the follow box over yonder --->
Like, there's no "E-mail All" or "Contact Followers" function. Wouldn't that make so much more sense? BOOOOOOOO to Blogger! Anywhoo, thank you guys. Seriously. :o)

2. It's almost been a week since I last did my hair and the curls... are still... POPPIN'!!! My theory? Blame it on the ca, ca ca ca, ca castor oil... I think sealing with the castor, air-drying in fat twists, and, of course, donning the bonnet is what's given my curls their longevity this week.

3. I'm formulating (in my head) a post on people touching my hair. My conclusion: I don't really mind it... that much....

4. My jeans are incredibly wrinkled and tattered and holey today... but they're soooooo comfy. And yes, I'm wearing them outside the house. Shamelessly.

5. Pray for Italy, y'all. And the world in general. For real.

6. Meanwhile.... Give someone a high-five today. Doesn't matter what for. Just find a reason. :o)

Another Sisterhood of the Spiraling Strands is coming tomorrow. In the meantime, keep it funky... and kinky. :o)

Word, son. Fa real.

Heh heh heh...

Taking A Moment...

2009-04-06T15:03:00.003-04:00

... to appreciate the flyness of Dorothy Dandridge.

I really have nothing to say, other than that I found this picture on Mischo Beauty and wanted to share it.

That is all. For now.

Monday Meditation

2009-04-06T08:55:00.000-04:00

Today's Monday Meditation isn't a quote, but a post by another blogger.

Todra over at Makeup Theory Workshops has a great post about the way women zero in on their flaws and neglect to celebrate their beauty. It's some good food for thought, so click here to read.

Oh, and make sure to smile and make somebody's Monday a little bit brighter. :o)

Ask and Ye Shall Receive

2009-04-05T07:47:00.003-04:00

Y'all know I gotta love you if I'm putting myself on Youtube.

(...says the chick who's already all over Youtube... lol.)

Look Ma, No Pins!

2009-04-03T19:51:00.005-04:00

An updo, with nary a bobby pin in sight. Just a headband and a little slight of hand.