Meaningful Mondays

How will you spend your day or week?
Stressing about some issue or situation you are dealing with?
Has life dealt you some... lemons?

Life is 90% of how you take. Remember stress affects your total mind, body and soul. So your hair may be taking a beating, along with the rest of you.

Turn those stresses and messes into a tall glass of lemonade. Sweet and refreshing. To reflect beautiful tresses. Find a positive outlet for the stress. Walking, jogging, biking or taking a class.

Weekend Wave: Special Edition III

Truth About LaceFront Wigs

As promised, here is some very important information concerning the oh so recently popular lacefront wigs. Many are under the impression that lacefront wigs are for everyday use. WRONG! They are generally used for movie productions & patients who have lost their hair from chemothearpy. HOWEVER, you have seen mega stars like Tyra Banks, Mary J Blige & Beyonce' rockin' theirs on a very regular bases.
Lace wig units are much more expensive than ordinary wigs. Accordingly, it's vital to do your homework before investing in one.
FACT: most of these wigs are made with human hair, which requires more attention than synthetic hair. Washing, conditioning, and styling must all be done with care. In fact, many online companies selling the wigs offer a service in which buyers can send their wig units in for a professional cleaning (and conditioning.)


FACT: use the wrong kind of adhesive and you may suffer damage to your hairline. It is crucial to understand how the adhesive methods work and all the repercussions involved. Additionally, since it is very easy to damage these delicate lace pieces, it is also extremely important in choosing the correct adhesive remover.

FACT: unlike traditional wigs, many of these lace units arrive un-styled. Tyra, Mary and Beyonce may have the same wig that you do. However, they also have the million dollar professional stylists as well. If you don't have a stylist at your beck and call you may be in charge of styling the unit yourself, from start to finish. If you don't have the styling skills necessary to achieve the look you desire, you may find that wearing the wig is more trouble than it's worth.

THE TRUTH: many of us look up to these beautiful women and admire their talent. However, if you don't have access to their bank accounts or their stylists, you could end up doing some serious damage to your hair, hairline and scalp.

These are million dollar habits that most of us w-2 employees just can not afford to have.

Check out just how intricate & detailed Beyonce's LaceFront Wig is...

Out and About-Natural Hair Beat

A recent Essence magazine article featured

"Getting your Style together."

Guess what? Half of the ladies featured were Natural.

Have we arrived to a place close to mainstream acceptance?

Not so fast...

One rapper asked "What's Up with all of these Nappy Heads?"

So we wake from our dream,

to realize we have more educating to do.
But, You {GO} Essence!!! Rock those funky kinks!

Meaningful Monday

Knowing what NOT to do...

Sometimes it's more important knowing what NOT to do than what to do. I'm sure you've heard people say "knowing what you DON'T want is just as important as knowing what you DO want!"

In many cases if we are not aware of what we do not want we are open for things that are not beneficial for us.

After speaking to a celebrity hair stylist, she wanted me to tell you all the truth about lace front wigs. Which many are sporting these days.

Well tune in Friday for Special Editon III: What NOT to do!

And get the rEaL deal on lace front wigs.

Have a Meaningful Monday & week everyone!

Weekend Wave

The Famous FRO It is all about the FRO! Baby fro, big fro, curly fro, kinky fro... rock yo' FRO!

While the weather still permits, wash-n-{GO} is an easy way to manage your hair.

Jazz up your look with big hoops or long detailed earrings & your good to {GO}!

Condition your hair well & finger comb with the moisturizer that works for you.

Give it a lil' fluff & let your strains fly free.

For me..? I've been rockin' my FRO all week,

so ride with me this weekend &

Strut Yo' Famous Fro!

Create & Cultivate Your Style... be ORGANIC!

Have a brillant weekend!

A Good Oil for Natural Hair

Nature's Best

Jojoba “oil” is different from other vegetable oils in that it is not actually triglyceride oil but a liquid wax. Its unique chemical makeup mimics the sebum naturally present on human skin. This is what makes it such a desirable product for the cosmetics we use everyday. According to the International Jojoba Export Council, jojoba is odorless, natural, non-greasy, and extremely stable. It doesn't break down when exposed to water or oxygen and, a natural carrier of Vitamin E and a natural antioxidant it is an extremely efficient non-comedogenic moisture regulator, penetrating the skin to moisturize without blocking the pores.

As mentioned in Naturally Yours Boutique

Check with some older post for use with the Natural Hair

Weekend Wave

Black Hair CAN Grow!

This is a semi-special Weekend Wave. Not really showing or suggesting a style for the Weekend but rather addressing an issue & encouraging the misinformed.

BLACK HAIR CAN GROW!

When well managed, nutured & cultivated to grow... it will grow!

The proof is in the pudding you say... ?

Well, check out Miss RusticBeauty a youtube fave of mine showing off her long, healthy, beautiful ALL NATURAL hair.. ANDDDD over 18inches long!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pf1LCBFYVWs

Enjoy your Weekend. Cultivate and nourish your hair to {GO}!

The Biology of your hair and skin

The Hair Follicle, Learning about the parts of the hair follicle and skin and the growth stages of the hair can be beneficial in understanding problems that occur in the health of your hair such as slow growth and thinning hair.

Hair growth is natural and we tend to take it for granted. However, the growing cycle of hair is a delicate process that can be thrown off by something as simple as dead skin. Keeping a healthy body and healthy scalp is essential to healthy hair.The life cycle of hair consists of 3 phases.Anagen is the longest phase, in which the hair is growing. It usually last 2 to 3 years.Catagen or intermediate phase is the shortest phase. The lower 2/3 of the follicle is destroyed.Telogen is the resting or falling out phase. The follicle is preparing to return to the anagen phase.

Parts of the hair and skin are a follows:Papilla This is a group of specialized cells that are intertwined with capillaries. This is where a new hair develops.Hair Follicle This is a sophisticated receptacle in the scalp from which the hair grows. Rapid cellular activity in the bulb is responsible for providing the cells to make form the hair shaft.Sebaceous Gland This is an oil gland in the skin. It is hormone regulated and over production of hormones can form sebaceous 'plugs' that clog the follicles.Capillaries in the picture: These are small blood vessels that carry oxygen and nutrients to the papilla as well as carry toxins away from the follicle.Epidermis in the picture. This is the top layer of skin that joins the hair follicle.Stratum Corneum This is the layer of dead skin cells. When you exfoliate, this the layer of skin that you remove. Excess oil and debree can build up at the opening of the hair follicle and cause the follicle to be blocked.

After the Big Chop get a good start by working with the natural process of the hair. Do not clog the pores with petroleum or other heavy oils that work against the natural growth process. Additionally, It may be a good idea to check with your Doctor about hormonal balance and ask about bio identical hormones for peri -menopausal and menopausal women.

Meaningful Mondays

What are Meaningful Mondays?

They are designed to encourage, inspire, motivate and uplift positive thoughts and actions.
We try to focus on YOU the total person. Loving your hair is just an extra benefit to feeling good about your total self.

Do you have any positive thoughts about your natural journey?
We would love to hear from you...

Weekend Wave

Twists

Twists are super low maintance, so versatil and well... cute!
Whether you pin them up or let them hang loose, twists are a fresh way to let your strands rest for a couple days while helping out your curl pattern.

What you need:

• Damp hair
• Moisturizer &/or holding substance
• Comb or fingers
• Ouchless hair holder

For free form twist, if your hair is already detangled your fingers will do the job. Simply make a part on which ever section of your head you want to start on ( I usually part my hair like I would be doing cornrows). Then take a smaller square section of that part and divide it into two pieces (think of pulling apart a Twizzler). Using your moisturizer &/or holding substance, wrap those two pieces around one another from the root to the tip... and that's a twist! Repeat, repeat, repeat until your hold head is done!

Get funky with it, pin 'em up, put 'em in a ponytail, or just rock them loose & flowing!

It's all up to you how you want to ride the Twists Weekend Wave... just be sure to RIDE!

Response to Reader's Comment

Life after the BC (Big Chop)...

There can be a flood of emotions after the BC. Some people feel truly free. I myself felt a sense of shock the first time. WOW... is this really me. I had never seen myself with my hair so short.
One of the first things to do is to prepare your mind for this journey before and after the BC.
Touch and feel your hair in its natural state. Get comfortable with it. Also look for inspiration on the street, online and in magazines. Natural women are everywhere. Educate yourself on how to manage your tresses and what products work. Remember you are not alone.

Above all else... -Love your hair.

{GO} Girl 3

Meaningful Monday

Stressed Out?

Notice that your hair is shedding more than normal? It may actually be falling out from stress! Take a breather... sometimes we have to step back from our "stuff" in life and just relax. Take a walk, try being more positive, change your diet (yep step away from the comfort food and grab a carrot!), talk to someone and vent... let it all go!

Your overall health is important to your hair potential. Stress is not only unhealthy but stress related illness' are #1 killers in America today.

Something to think about.

Make your Monday Meaningful by knowing your limitations!