Image from TMZ.com

I know I may be late, but I was on vacation so get off my back!

But in case you missed it, can you believe how far Loreal went to lighten Beyonce’s skin in their ads in the September issues of Elle, Allure and Essence magazines?  The Associated Press reported,

Cosmetics giant L’Oréal says it didn’t lighten Beyoncé’s skin tone in an ad.

“We highly value our relationship with [Beyoncé]. It is categorically untrue that L’Oréal Paris altered [her] features or skin tone in the campaign for Feria hair color,” the Paris-based company said Thursday. Read more

The other day I wrote an article about a cool salon in Atlanta and one in Henderson North Carolina.  You know Atlanta the “black mecca” of the United States.  Where you can get more flavor than a liquor store candy isle.   And North Carolina has one of the largest African American populations in the country as well.   But where do you turn if you need to get your cornows done and you live in…… North Dakota?

Well they say necessity is the mother of invention.   Today I learned that a small mind is a terrible thing to have.  I spoke with Tarsi of the Calypso Fargo Salon in Fargo North Dakota and she let me know not to sleep on Fargo’s booming urban scene.  Lets be clear, Fargo will not rival the ATL, Chicago or the NYC for urban flavor anytime soon, but they are making a name for themselves.

Kristen Lock: How is salon business in Fargo North Dakota?

Tarsi or Calyspo Fargo:  Business is going well.  We have been opened for a year and the salon stays Read more

Carols Daughter-Mimosa Hair Honey
MotownGirl

Ingredients:

If you want your hair to shine, bounce and smell WONDERFUL, you’ve got to try Mimosa Hair Honey. Naturally colored with annatto seeds and alkanet root, this product controls frizzies and adds luster to all types of hair, while delivering a sweet citrus scent. While faithfully used by our customers with natural styles, this is also an excellent pomade for permed hair. Controls frizziness and adds luster.

This description from the website is very accurate. I have a lot of fine hair that is in transition. I used this product when my hair was completely relaxed and straight, and also curly. A little goes a Read more

If there is one city that I could point to that I get the most request for referrals, it would have to be Atlanta Georgia.   I love my sisters down there, and you can even see the photos I brought back from the hair show in my gallery.  So when I came across a release from a sister making it happen in Atlanta, I thought I would give her a shout.  Lisa Hampton, has great skills from her site and I plan on stopping by next time I am in town.  So here you are ATL ladies, a pro in your area, drop a comment if you have experience with Lisa.

Hair Extensions of Atlanta owned by Lisa Hampton was Voted 2008 Top Hair Extensions, Fusion Hair and Lace Wigs for 2 years in a row. www.hairextensionsatl.com

August 27, 2008 — Hair Extensions of Atlanta, is celebrating 2 years in a row the achievement of being Voted 2007 and 2008 Top Hair Extensions in the Southeast and Atlanta area by Read more

Brought to you by MotownGirl

Dr. Bronner’s Liquid Castille Soap (Organic Eucalyptus Oil)
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO

Ingredients: Water, Saponified Organic Coconut & Olive oils (w/ retained Glycerin), Organic Hemp Oil, Organic Jojoba Oil, Organic Eucalyptus Oil, Citric Acid, Vitamin E\

I began using this soap six months ago. The consistency is sort of watery, but it lathers really well and a little goes a long way. This soap has an eucalyptus scent and it smells fabulous. There are other scents as well, such as, lavender, peppermint, almond, tea tree, and unscented. I love this soap and use it from head to toe. It cleans very nice, but it doesn’t leave my hair or skin feeling stripped of its natural oils.

A while back I asked readers of this blog looking to get their product, business or service out to my readers to send me your details.  I have gotten a few responses, and I hope to make this a regular piece on my blog.  Today’s review is on Barber Eric Cheek, out of North Carolina.  You can find Eric on his MySpace page.  

First I must say that whenever I judge a barber it’s never first based on how his clients look, I always look to see how well kept he is.  A barber with a bad line or one that rarely shaves is an immediate warning sign.  Fortunately for Eric he does not have that problem.  In fact he and his wife are on the top of the list when it comes to keeping themselves, “camera ready”.

Their shop, located in Henderson North Carolina has been operating in our current capacity since March of 2005.  Eric has been major winning awards and I have been referring clients to his shop since I first learned of his styles.   From their site, I found out that,

Eric has been married for eight years to his wife and business partner, Jasmine Cheek. The two seek to represent Christ in all that they do and enjoy a full life with their four outstanding children. Educator, innovator and progressive industry force.

I wish them much success in the future and hope to do some styling at their shop in the near future.  If you are in the area and need a quick cut and yes ladies, he can cut ladies hair too check out his contact info.

I’m looking to spotlight more people so drop me a line when you can.

E-Clips Barber and Beauty Center
1212 E. Andrews Ave
Henderson, NC 27536
Phone: (252)431-0555
Cell:(252)915-9171

www.myspace.com/eclipsbarbershop

This review appears courtesy of MotownGirl:

Curls Milkshake
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO

Ingredients:

Purified Water, Aloe Barbadenis Leaf Juice, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behnetrimonium Metosulfate, Jojoba Oil, Cetrimonium Chloride, Soy Protein, Soyamidoprpylkonium Chloride, Allantoin Soy Lecithin, Beeswax Milk, Coconut Milk, Aloe Vera Milk, Milk Amino Acids, Buttermilk, Arnica Extract, Lavender Extract, Chamomile Extract, White Tea Extract, Methylosothiazolinane, Fragrance.

I love this product. Its both a moisturizing leave in and a detangler in one. The scent is like a coconut smell and its consistency is just like its name: a milkshake. When I put it in my hair, it feels just like silk. I section my hair into parts and apply an ample amount. You could use any desired amount, but don’t use a lot though.

You could use it when your hair is wet or dry (like for styles such as a curly afro, braids, two strand twists, coilouts, and other natural styles). I use it to set my styles when my hair is wet and to moisturize and keep my hair styles in longer when dry. I tried all the natural hair styles and it was simply fabulous. I can also refresh my styles by spritzing it with water.

Another point to note is that this product is also good if you are transitioning from relaxed to natural. It will smooth your new growth and your relaxed hair and there will be less breakage between the two different textures. I tried this on my niece when she was transitioning, and it protected her hair from breaking.

I give this product 5 out of 5 stars (wish I could give it 100 stars!)

So what is the most beautiful gift that a woman can make? I think that everyone out there will agree that a BABY is the most wonderful precious gift that can come from the body of a woman.

Lets talk about the growth pattern of non-pregnant women vs pregnant women:  Normally the hair grows about one half inch per month and goes in to resting phase for a couple of months and then gradually falls out especially during shampooing or brushing. However during pregnancy the hair goes in to rest for a long period of time there fore very few hair falls off and thus making the hair thicker and fuller and enhancing their growth.
This phenomenon happens to more than half of pregnant women causing them to become more hairy during their pregnancy… yes I mean hairy all over not just on your head.  Becaue this site is about hair I will focus only on the hair on your head  ;-)  Your hair will tend to grow because of the hormonal changes that take place due to pregnancy in your body. Your hair may become much thicker or growth could becomes very fast.

Well you may be thinking that this is God sent and your hair will be this long an thick permanently….well I hate to burst your bubble but this is more then likely not the case.  With the birth of your beautiful child your hormones will begin to normalize and your hair growth patterns will return to normal and all the hair that didn’t shed during pregnancy will gradually or possibly abruptly fall out.  For some woman it will come out in large clumps other may notice simple excess shedding.  Don’t worry this is normal you body is just trying to normalize.

So how long after giving birth will this “shedding” occur?

It usually happens about 2-6 months after the birth of your child. There are things that you can do to your hair that may cause the shedding to become much worse!  DO NOT HAVE INDIVIDUAL BRAIDS PUT IN YOU HAIR.  I say this because during this time your hair has a propensity to fall out so you do not want to do anything to it that may cause extra stress on the hair follicle.  And trust me individual braids will be extra stress.  Cornrow braids are a much better choice but be careful who does them because you want to choose someone who will not pull your hair too tight so choose your braider carefully!

Once you make it through this temporary shedding phase your hair growth will be normal again and you will look like a million bucks… maybe more.

So you think that getting green hair after swimming only happens to blonds??

Well let me shed some light on the situation by letting you know that it can happen to you if you have:

 
Blond hair

Light brown hair

Highlighted hair

Or color treated hair (going from a darker shade to a lighter shade)

It obviously effects blonds more dramatically then others but don’t think that it can not happen to you if yor fall into one of the categories above.

So why does it turn your hair a shade of green?

Hair is extremely porous so chlorine found in a pool or jacuzzi  will get into the cuticle of the hair and have a reaction that will cause your hair to change into a shade of green. 

Your hair will be more susceptible to this chemical reaction if your hair is chemically treated.  So that means if you dye your hair this can happen.  It is less noticeable in color treated hair as opposed to highlighted hair.  When you get your hair colored the process opens your cuticle, dyes it, then seals it so that the color will hold, but when you get highlights this sealing component usually is not done thus making your hair more susceptible to changing color when chlorine binds to the hair shaft.

So now that I have scared you, what can you do to prevent this from happening to you?

• Never get into the pool with dry hair
• Use a leave in conditioner on your hair so that the chlorine will not be able to bind to the hair shaft (*tip fill a spray bottle with 75% water and 25%conditioner  and take it with you to the pool and apply it to your hair before getting into the pool)
• Use a regular conditioner after washing your hair because this will make your hair less porous

So what if this advice is getting to you a bit late because your hair is already green?

Well I suggest that you buy a clarifying shampoo and wash it a few times and it should come out.  If this doesn’t work then you may need t go to a hair salon and have a treatment done that will lift the chlorine from your hair returning your hair’s beautiful color!

I have so many people who want to know what style they should get while growing there hair natural. I tell them all tree braids! Here are the top 8 reasons why Tree braids are the way to have your hair styled while growing out your hair.

1. They take about 3-4 hours to complete

2. They last between 6-8 weeks

3. They are less expensive then micro braids

4. You can style them any way you choose

5. You can use any hair that is 18 inches or longer

6. Your natural hair is completely braided so no heat will be applied

7. You can use human or synthetic hair

8. Your hair is able to be conditioned and just grow long and healthy.