Can you say love at first use?  I am a bit of a health snob in many respects.  I subscribe to the notion that everything that you put on your body gets absorbed into your body.  I mean your skin is the largest organ in your body right.  Well this may be true but I don’t want this to come at the expense of looking good right.  I mean I am a happily married woman but I want to stay that was so I need to make sure that I keep it together!

I have natural hair and that at times can be a challenge to keep it soft and moisturized.  I have found that Kinky – Curly’s KNOT TODAY conditioner to be amazing!  It is an AMAZING detangiling conditioner and can also be used as a leave in conditioner.  I used it in my daughters hair last night and did a 2 strand twist and untwisted this morning and let her wear it to school just like that!  It was so cute. She was swinging around her curls and really loving her natural hair, and as a mother that makes you feel great when your child loves their natural hair.

So obveously I like the conditioner but I love what the conditioner does not have.

Does it get better then this?  All I can say is two thumbs to the owner of Kinky Curly  Shelley Davis.  You are keeping sistas like me and my daughter beautiful!  Thanks

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3. Kinky

http://going-natural.com

Got a chance to do a preview of Mirelielle’s photo exhibit of natural hair.  I sometimes surf the web just looking to get ideas for new styles.  People of the diaspora are so creative, that it sometimes amazes and inspires me to get more creative.  

Press release – New York, October 2008

This photo exhibit is a must see for every one who ever thought Black people had “bad” hair. It pictures a hardly exposed world in which natural African hair is prevalent rather than an exception to reveal the new meaning of “bad” hair.

Struck by the beauty and the versatility of natural styles at the annual BAM Fair in Brooklyn, Mireille Liong realized that this was the first time in her adult life that she entered a community where African hair was so dominant that it seemed normal. She started to take photos to reveal this amazing world to those who are unfamiliar with it, in order to expand it. The result is an unprecedented collection of over a 1000 photos that picture bad hair at its best in the Pursuit of Nappiness.

A compilation of these images will be on display at the Casa Frela Gallery in Manhattan New York from November 1st to November 30th. It’s the photographer’s hope that exposure to the collection leads to more natural choices as well as a broader acceptance of afro-centric hair in a society where straight hair isthe norm.

The openings reception on November 1st will be followed by special events scheduled on Sundays. Besides the screening of the award-winning documentary My Nappy Roots, there will also be a hairstyling and head wrap demonstration. The Pursuit of Nappiness will stylishly come to a close with a natural hair show on the last Sunday. 

Mireille Liong is author of the book Going Natural, How to Fall in Love with Nappy hair that tops Amazon’s list of Natural Hair Care books. You can take a peak at her work at her website http://going-natural.com.

The Pursuit of Nappiness 

Casa Frela Gallery: 11/1 – 11/30

Openings reception: 11/1/2008 at 7:00 PM

More info: http://going-natural.com 

info @ going-natural.com

Casa Frela Gallery 

47 West 119th St.

New York, NY 10026

212-722-8577

http://casafrela.com/

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Ingredients:

Olive oil, jojoba oil, coconut oil, ergocalciferol (vit D), choline, inositol, iron, magesium, phosphorous, calcium, natural color, fragrance.

The scent is of cedarwood and something else i can’t put my finger on. it takes getting used to ut it’s worth it. it gives off a great sheen and is so thick that one bottle lasts forever. i like to mix it with my moisturizers to mask the smell and get two for the price of one if ya know what i mean! GREAT oil.

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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 long way and I’m able to use it everyday. This is the only Carols Daughters product that has worked for me so far. The rest weighed my fine hair down

This herbal-infused pomade controls frizzies and adds luster to all types of hair while imparting a sweet citrus scent. With protective alkanet root and annatto seeds for color, this pomade tames and softens permed hair to perfection. (I couldn’t find the actual ingredients on the site).

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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.

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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

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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!)

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Ingredients:

Water,Soybean oil, Glycerine, Olive Oil, hydroyzed collagen ,amino silk acid, orange oil, panthenol, chammomile and rosemary, sage and nettle extracts, yarrow and kiwi extracts, aloe vera gel

light weight citrus scent, creamy consistency,sold for approx $1.49 a pak, or sold in a proffesional size bottle for $12.99. I’ve used this product many times in conjunction with the Olive Oil Creamy Aloe Shampoo. It works wonders. Leaving my natural hair detangled,soft and smelling great.

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Jane Carter Solution Twist and Lock

Ingredients:

Purified water, shea butter, kokum butter, illippe butter, mango butter, vitamins A, D, and E, sweet orange, lemongrass, grapefruit, palmarosa, cedarwood, geranium, bergamot, rosemary essential oils, jojoba, glycerin, polysorbate 80, acrylates/C10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer, phenoxyethanol, potassium sorbate and sorbic acid

Directions: This product was designed to be used on freshly twisted hair.

Consistency: Slighly “gummy” – not a cream, oil, or gel

Review: The Jane Carter Solution Twist and Lock comes in a wide-mouth jar which makes it easy to use. Since this product is not oil, wax or petrolatum and will not attract dirt which is great.

I used this on both damp and dry hair and I found that it worked better on dry hair. Out of many of thousand of products I’ve used (heh) over the years this has been one of the few that worked better on my dry hair. This is great for re-twisting at night or if I wanted to do some quick braids after a twistout. Although it is slightly pricey, I find that it does last long.

Tip: Do not use more than a dab on a small section or you may end up with greasy hair.

Overall performance: 4 out of 5 stars (I didn’t care for the scent too much and it lingers).

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