ChocolateCandyBOX

I Liked Him So YOU Can’t Have Him!!

2011-02-21T12:00:00.000-05:00

That sounds stupid but…it’s real life. Why you say? I have no ufckin clue. Even if you actually dated said guy or girl [Sidebar: Do men have this rule?] why does your friend have to be off limits? There was obviously something that made you two break up so why can’t she give it a try if they’re attracted to each other? I’ve thought of a few reasons why this rule exists:

1. You’re not over the relationship.

I’ve always said that I don’t care if any of my friends date or sleep with anyone I’ve ever dated or slept with as long as it wasn’t my first boyfriend. The reason I had that stance, till about 2006, was because I wasn’t over the situation. Today, I could care less.

2. You don’t want them to get to talking.

You know what you’ve said to him about her…you know what you’ve said to her about him. You’ll end up without a man and a friend. Damn.

3. Sex is an issue.

I’m actually not sure about this one because I cannot think of a reason why this would complicate things unless you apply it to #2…

4. People are idiots.

True story: There’s a girl that I went to college with that I wasn’t friends with. I didn’t know her from a can of paint. She broke up with her boyfriend in 2006 or 2007. About 2 months later, I saw him in the Union and I thought, despite the fact that he was rocking Fila’s, that he was cute. We talked on the phone like twice and that’s about it. She hates my guts and it’s 2011. Case and point.

Like I said, I don’t see the big deal but that’s just me. What are other reasons that you guys can think of that would make a person not want you to date their ex?

Thick Ain’t It

2011-02-18T12:00:00.001-05:00

I understand that I’m the last person that should knock a woman’s quest for thickness and curves but I’m going to do it ANYWAY. I’m not here to preach the common '”love yourself” and “black beauty” and all that good stuff. Who needs to say what has been said, I’m just here to say that you cannot have it all. Period.
We all know that as black women, the media (movies, rap music, magazines, etc.) teaches us that black men want women who look like

And if you’re dark skinned well damn you better look like

Now that we’ve stated the obvious, lets get down to what’s real; women come in a variety of shapes and sizes, hair textures, eye colors, and whatever it is that you don’t like about yourselves. Because body types was the easiest thing to search for, that’s what I’ll focus on.

There used to be a time when men did not place very much importance on a woman's beauty when it came time to choose a wife. It was enough that the village women were kind, loyal and hard working. Fast forward to the days of the E! Network…

A study of over 6,000 women carried out by researchers at the NC State around 2005 found that 46% were banana (rectangular), just over 20% pear, just under 14% apple, and 8% hourglass.

Now me I’m a pear, 20+ percent of the study, but let’s look at the numbers: 60% of women have the body shape (banana and apple) that is less likely to bee seen in King Magazine. That’s more than half which means it’s the norm!! The two women [above] are the “better half” of the pear group and Halle Berry, at 36-23.5-36, holds the coveted title of the hourglass .With that being said, why would anyone try to morph their bodies into something that rarely exist in nature? To be part of the physically elite?? No matter how much you pay for it, you will never be that. Period.

Where is this going to get you besides in someone’s bed?

(and yes he’ll still sleep with you once he realizes you actually have no ass; he’s just going to laugh about your insecurities with his friends)

It really makes no sense. The men that preach to the people of this country who have eyes to see and ears to ear, are somewhat unattractive and may not have had the attention of the ladies before they bought their first ~~iron~~ platinum chain. Who are they to dictate what the standard of beauty in our communities? There is so much more to being attractive that asses and boobs. There are eyes, lips, hands, legs, intelligence (yes. intelligence), etc. that you may have over the next chick to where you never needed to make yourself look like something your NOT.

I’m not preaching self love and I don’t want everyone to give their neighbor a hug, I’m just saying be smart and weigh ALL of your options before you take that flight to Philadelphia and let a transvestite inject silicone straight into your blood stream.

And if that doesn’t make you feel better, how do you think light skinned and dark skinned are going to look after three kids and a slow metabolism?

I’m just saying…

*UPDATE*

I had to add this picture to show how STOOPID ladies will make themselves look just because this is what they think the rappers and ballers like

Idiots...

Oooo You Can Get It!

2011-02-17T12:00:00.000-05:00

Have you ever wonder what that really means? Ok…let’s state the OBVIOUS

Lately I’ve been noticing how many rappers always talk about their stroke like it can cure cancer like in EVERY SONG!! I mean they aren’t the most attractive, facially or physically, so naturally I wouldn’t really see them in that light. You never know but you can guess…anyways…I got to thinking; how many times have I heard my guy friends AND girlfriends talk about their sex like its what the game is missing especially when the see someone the want to potentially want to give it to? Next thing you know, they’re flirting trying to give it away (men and women) or make it seem like it’s available (women). This is all well and good but I think there are some questions that need to be addressed before that statement can be made.

1. Do they want it?

Has this person looked at you? Has one of their friends looked at you? If they’ve looked at you, does your outfit make you terrible? I mean are there any vibes that would lead you to believe that the person even wants it?

2. Have you been evaluated?

99% of adults have been tested but have you ever been evaluated. This one is especially for the men, I assume, because generally women will not tell a man their sex makes them want to commit suicide. I don’t know why. I think its safe to say that if you have never woken up to a full cooked meal (men) or a fully detailed car (women), your good good just might be aight aight.

Among other reasons, I feel like these two should be pretty high on your list if your advertising you sex like it’s the missing link in a person’s life because no one wants to actually realize that their sex is like this…

Chains and Whips Excite ME!!!

2011-02-02T09:53:00.001-05:00

I love me some Rihanna!!

Anyone Seen My Kangaroo??

2011-02-01T12:00:00.000-05:00

Sometimes curvy isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Sometimes I just want to trade in a little booty and/or boobage to get rid of what I call the kangaroo pouch.

It will always be a trouble spot of mine. I had gotten it together with diet and exercise but every since I’ve moved I haven’t been working out regularly and my diet is terrible. I literally have to start over from SCRATCH! I’ve joined a gym but I’ve done a little research on some lower stomach exercises.

Things You'll Need:

time
commitment
journal (pretty notebook and pretty pen you enjoy writing in every day)
optional:
stability ball
medicine ball
cardio equipment

1. Commitment: The first thing to understand is there is no way to really isolate fat loss in one specific area. That being said, there are THREE pieces to the weight loss puzzle. They are not difficult to understand, but they are difficult to commit to.

2. CARDIO: Cardio exercise is the main ingredient in burning stored body fat. This should be done 5 days a week at MINIMUM 30 MINUTES!! An hour is best especially during the weight loss phase. When you are just maintaining you can cut back.A few key things to remember is

a.)keep your heart rate up. You need to be sweating!

b.)variation is key. If you walk on the treadmill 5 days a week at 4.0 eventually your body will adapt to that calorie expenditure (homeostasis). It will not be as effective. Switch it up.

3. STRENGTH TRAINING: Lifting weights and building lean muscle is called anaerobic exercise. When you do an hour of anaerobic exercise you continue to burn calories for 24 hours. Strength training is very important because the more muscle you have the more fat you burn at rest (the faster your metabolic rate becomes).

4. DIET: Last but definitely not least is diet. This is believe it or not, the hardest but most important part to commit to. Everything you eat every time you eat it effects you. Remember that when you are trying to lose weight or lose fat it is important to be more strict than when you are trying to maintain. Some tips:

a.)Eat every 3 hours.It is important to speed up your metabolism. You should have 4-5 200-400 calorie meals per day.

b.)Sugar is your enemy more than fat. If you constantly look at labels and frown at the fat content, you must now reverse your thinking. Look at the sugar content. Excess sugar is stored as fat. So those jelly beans that say 0g of fat? Guess what? They forgot to tell you how many grams of fat they are once your body converts the sugar!!

c.) Limit (do not cut out) carb intake. Many people are confused as to what defines a carbohydrate. Most people think bread and potatoes. Fruit and vegetables are also considered carbs. Think about carbs as sugars. You want sugars that your body will use as energy not sugars it will immediately convert to fat. Something very difficult to fathom is that fruits are simple sugars and easily stored. You want to limit your fruit intake to once a day and I recommend it in the morning. I know, I know, the age old thought is fruits are healthy... well they ARE healthy, BUT there is a difference between eating for fat loss and eating for health.

d.) eat carbs with a protein. This limits how much carb is stored as fat and ensures protein is used properly for muscle growth. Some examples: Tuna and salad, chicken and steamed veggies, eggs and a grapefruit. Some other carbs you can add are brown rice and sweet potatoes

e.)When in doubt, eat from the earth. If it is processed, chances are there are chemical additives. These additives many times inhibit our ability to loss fat. Processed pertains to anything made in a factory.

f.)Supplements: Multi vitamins are very important, as well as Essential Fatty Acids (EFA's) which are Omega 3-6-9. You can pick this up in tablet form and take them with each meal. This helps activate fat burning enzymes in the body, minimizes enzymes involved in storing fat and is an excellent energy source.

5. AB TARGET EXERCISES: Work your abs with every weight training session! It is important to strengthen the muscle underneath the fat. Once you do the other 3 things and lose all the surrounding fat, you will have nice lean, toned muscles underneath!

6. CORE TRAINING: A great way to strengthen and tone abs is by core training. This can be done daily!

Man of My Dreams, I Don't Sleep So I Can't Find Him....

2011-01-31T12:00:00.000-05:00

(I pretty sure he’s the man in my dreams. Green Eyes)

As much as I love being a female, I believe that we can create an alternate reality in our minds when it comes to men. There are no perfect men on this planet our view of our relationships will be ten times better. Now some relationships are not with the time and I do not believe in wasting time BUT in the same breath we need a little more patience because…

They’re idiots.We give them way too much credit as we assume that they will be as thoughtful and caring as we are. Its not a bad thing; that’s just how it is. They’re boys.

As much as women are into macho jocks and manly men, we’ll still want him to send us flowers and be understanding when we’re bloated and cramping. Shit just doesn’t make sense. Jocks are asses.
They’re simple. They can’t really take in a lot of information. You can’t ask them to do multiple tasks because they won’t get done. You can’t tell them stories like you would tell your girlfriends because they won’t hear 87% of it.
They give you stupid explanations when they screw up and and expect you hear what they’ve said and accept it as the truth. When you colorfully explain to them the words that came out of their mouths was the dumbest shit you’ve ever heard, they’re flabbergasted.
They’re selfish.

No matter how many movies we watch where successful ~~white~~ people meet each other and fall in love in the most romantically comical way, that does not happen in real life and we should not expect it to. It’s a far cry from reality. They’re just the relationships of our dreams…

Oh and yes; I am speaking from personal experience.

I Need Your Opinion

2011-01-24T12:00:00.000-05:00

Ok so I'm not getting a relaxer but I NEED to do something to my hair or I will LOOSE my mind! With that being said, some extreme color is about to come into play. I've done some searching on other blogs and here are the colors I'm considering.

From the top left lets number them 1-4 where the scarf is (1), XXI is (2), glasses is (3), and the close up is (4).

Which one would you guys choose?

You Want Me To Do This For 9 Months?

2011-01-12T12:00:00.001-05:00

I remember when I was in high school, all of my friends and I had our lives planned out. Married by 26 and babies by 28. Well I’m 26 and no where near marriage and even further from children. I’m all for marriage but babies…I’m starting to look at it a bit differently.

1. I have no desire to mutilate my body and I don’t know if I ever will.

2. This looks painful. Like FORREAL. That baby is probably trying to turn her ribs into monkey bars.

3. You know how people tell you to stay away from certain things to avoid potential negative effects (i.e. play with fire…get burned).

Well if these things can potentially happen

Stretch Marks

Skin Discoloration

LOOSE skin

Hair Loss (EXCUSE ME???)

(among other things) I’m not sure if I’m that interested in taking the risk.

4. If I GO TO WAR or get pregnant, I can get PTSD.

Posttraumatic stress disorder (also known as post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD) is a severe anxiety disorder that can develop after exposure to any event that results in psychological trauma.

5. Lastly, the thought of allowing my vagina to rip, having a doctor cut my vagina OR WORSE A C-SECTION literally gives me nightmares.

Kute Kids

2011-01-12T12:00:00.000-05:00

Found these on the web…

Awwww!!

Amber Alert!!

2011-01-11T12:00:00.000-05:00

Why does everyone and their Mama consider Amber Rose to be a ho? Serious question. Here’s what we know about her based upon what’s been put on the internet:

She used to be a stripper in Philadelphia.
She dated/experimented with women.
She is an ~~ass~~ model.
She dated Kanye West.
She has capitalized on her assets.

How does any of this make her a ho?

Here’s my deduction:

Someone saw that Amber was bad and asked her to be in a rap video (or she could’ve auditioned). From there men were mesmerized by her ass, as they usually are, and started showering her with gifts and such for the chance to have sex with her. Kanye hollered at her and they dated. While they were dating they traveled all over the world and he bought her things that most mortals can only dream of. They broke up and she’s single. She now has the ability to date in a different bracket and she probably has no intention in looking back. Why would she? Athletes and other rich ninjas try to get at her on a regular basis and she plays her part well by keeping her body right and staying pretty. Hell, she’s only been RUMORED to have dated other men since Kanye (and all that takes is a photo in the club).

So what’s her ho status based on? Stripping? Being bi-sexual? Dating rich men? She just cannot catch a break.

Is It Just Me…

2011-01-10T12:00:00.000-05:00

Am I really the only black female that cannot flat twist or cornrow her hair? I mean I haven’t actually tried in years but right about now I NEED to learn how.

*Lets take a moment to thank God for YouTube*

I found to really good videos with close ups. I’m going to try this on my next hair wash day (probably Friday). Wish me Luck!

Cornrow Video

Flat Twist Video

My Next Tattoo

2011-01-07T12:00:00.000-05:00

I’ve been considering getting another tattoo for sometime now. I really want a bow/ribbon and I [think] I want it on my wrist. I was going to ask the artist to draw it but I think I found the one I want to base mine on:

Photography and Copyright: Wolf189

I think this is bow is cute as can be I just haven’t decided if my wrist is the proper place.

What do you guys think about the bow?

Who’s That Girl

2011-01-06T12:00:00.001-05:00

I was going through a million and one tumbler’s the other day and look who I found:

I think this is the girl who’s finger is I my header!! She’s a hottie!

LookBook.Nu

2011-01-06T12:00:00.000-05:00

Here are some looks that I’m loving:

I love this one but of course it would be fitted with a waste belt

I like this one how it is.

I like this one but I’m afraid that the pants will give me diaper booty! EEK!!

I actually have this one planned out but it’s a destroyed tee, tattered shorts and some tall pumps.

I just put this in here because I don’t wear tights with designs. I need to. LOL

I think I have way too many bumps on my body for this one but I think this would be lovely on a slimmer body shape.

Phuck What You’ve Heard

2011-01-05T12:00:00.000-05:00

What’s your hair type? For a while now I’ve been trying to figure out how I could possibly be classified as a type 4 hair. I’ve seen SO many different typed of Black hair around and I don’t think that all of us can be thrown into this type 4 box.

I found a NEW hair type listing on MIzani and I think it’s a little more accurate when I comes to classifying Black hair.

I am type 6:

TEXTURE: Thin to thick or combination

GROWTH PATTERN: Grows up and away from the scalp, then curls

BODY / VOLUME: Some volume. Likely to be compact, less movement.

ELASTICITY: Stretching with minimal return

POROSITY: Raised cuticle. Some frizz, tangled.

When my hair is wet the description sounds like type five but when it’s dry it sounds like type six. I may be somewhere in-between but this is a MUCH better description that the type four.

SOURCE

One Year Natural (LOTS OF PICS)

2011-01-04T12:00:00.000-05:00

I waited until January to post this because I cannot remember when I actually did my big chop. I know it was in December but I don’t remember the actual date. With that being said:

I loved my perm. I really did. I got a really bad perm one day, got chemical burns, some hair fell out and the rest was history.

I transitioned with braids and a sew in for 12 months. I remember trying to play with the natural hair that would slip out of the braids just to see how it was LOL!!

I remember taking out my last set of braids before my big chop and I was looking in the mirror like what am I supposed to do with this?? The perm was literally dead hair and it looked STOOPID!! Sooooo…

…even though I had no intention of doing it THAT DAY, I cut my hair and here I was, December ‘09 and I was in a whirlwind. I didn’t know what to do with it, like a lot of new naturals.

If I can sum up my first year natural, I would say that I was very lazy. Once I saw that my hair was easy to coil and that it looked good that’s all I did. I didn’t take the time to really learn about heat, moisture, protein etc. to really know how to care for my hair. Now that’s its been one year, this is what my hair looks like:

(shows damage around the hair line)

Damaged and I’m heart broken. I’ve done a few posts about my trials and tribulations with heat and this is the result after my first year but I’m determined to slowly trim the ends and get it together!

All in all, I'm looking forward to a better two year post because 2011 is going to be brand new for me. I’ve entered MopTop Maven’s Hair Challenge and I’m going to take better care of my mane. Here are some of my favorite hair do’s as well as some texture shots.

“I KNOW You Didn’t Call Me a HOE!!”

2011-01-03T12:00:00.000-05:00

Hoes. Yes HOES. The word that won’t die even if you poisoned it and shot it repeatedly in the face. Lets look at the word hoe/whore:

A whore/hoe is a word that is specifically meant for a prostitute where prostitution is the act or practice of providing sexual services to another person in return for payment. What they MEAN to call women are SLUTS where a “Slut is a term meaning an individual who is sexually promiscuous. The term is generally applied to women and used as an insult or offensive term of disparagement, meaning "dirty”.

The term SLUT, in the sense of a sexually promiscuous woman, dates to at least 1450. Since 1450, the New World was discovered, Africans were enslaved, a couple wars, a lot of people died, black people got free…kinda, the Great Depression, Jim Crow enslaved blacks again, a lot of people died, black got free…kinda, women burned bras,…I was going to keep going but there’s a lot of important shit between the birth of slut and today. So why are sluts still hanging around like roaches?

Three reasons:

1.I’s a derogatory term

Seriously. If the words nigga, bitch, whore, faggot, slut, etc. + curse words didn’t exist, what would people say when they were arguing?! People use words that will cut deep and the only reason they cut deep is because people LET them. Period.

2. It gives certain people a reason to think they’re better than others.

Its just another way for someone to think they’re better than you. I remember we were having a conversation about sex and how it relates to….something and one of my friends said “Well I can count who I have slept with on one hand…” as if someone was supposed to clap for her. In my head I was like **Sooo that means you’re a fornicator** People fail to realize is that fornication before marriage is a sin so while they’re spending all of this time judging women for their transgressions God is listening….

3. Men aren’t as sexually active as you think they are…

(The left probably happens more than the right. I’d put money on it)

Apparently men aren’t having the sex “we” deem them capable of. The men who are really getting around only make up a small percentage of the men who are sexually active.

Black men (46%) and women (13%) were more likely to report having 15 or more partners in a lifetime.
Seventeen percent of men and 10 percent of women reported having two or more sexual partners in the past year.
The median number of lifetime female sexual partners for men was seven; the median number of male partners for women was four. SOURCE

I found a few sites (HERE and HERE) where people would answer the “how many partners” question and I don’t know if anyone’s lying but women are having WAY more sex than men and I don’t think they can handle it. Women aren’t supposed to out do men ESPECIALLLY something as dominating as sex. Plus the fact that they’re not having as much sex “gives” them even more reason to go to reason #2 and call you a slut.

FOR ME:

I don’t believe in the word slut, whore, etc. My personal opinion about a person, male or female, that sleeps with a lot of [random] people is that they are nasty; literally. Hygiene becomes a serious issue when you’re all loose with your sex. Nothing scares me more that herpes and HIV. LOL. The more you have sex the more you increase your risk for sexually transmitted diseases and that’s all I’m worried about. People say I’m too picky but it’s saved me from getting burned so far so I’m good!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

2011-01-02T18:32:00.001-05:00

I HOPE YOU HAD A WONDERFUL NEW YEAR CELEBRATION!!

New Years Resolution #7

2010-12-29T12:00:00.000-05:00

Shed back some layers. Evolve.

Happy New Year!

MopTop Maven Healthy Hair Challenge

2010-12-27T08:17:00.000-05:00

MTM is having healthy hair challenge for 2011 and I have already joined! If anyone is interested I have pasted her blog post below. If you enter let me know so we can do this together and make sure that we're keeping with our goals!

Whether your goal is "bra strap" length hair, or growing out your TWA, join me for the healthy hair in 2011 challenge! No matter the state of your hair, you can turn it around by practicing healthy hair care techniques and keeping an air tight regimen [which sounds harder than it actually is]. Healthy hair isn't limited to just wearing your hair in a natural state. You can have healthy heat straightened hair and healthy relaxed as well. The key is to do everything in moderation.

In order to get the best results, it's best to start your personal hair care challenge with a trim. If your ends are in good condition you can skip this step. Trimming your hair is essential to retaining length. Here's why; ends that are split will eventually break off, and you will gradually lose length this way. Couple healthy ends and care when handling your hair and you will be able to retain that 1/2 inch of growth monthly.

There are many ways you can care for your hair during this challenge. You can go with a traditional regimen using some of your favorite products, you can opt for all natural products, and you can even take the Ayurvedic route. No matter which regimen you choose, the things you must remember are:

Proper Detangling Techniques

Keep the stress low on the hair follicles [avoid tight buns, pony's and tight braids]:

Keep your hair moisturized

Lay off the excessive heat: Excessive heat breaks down the Keratin bonds in your hair which could cause breakage and overly porous hair [overly porous hair does not retain moisture well]

Monitor temperatures if you use heat: Always make sure you are using the appropriate heat setting for your hair type.

Go easy on the products that contain alcohol [gels, setting lotions, hair spray]: These products can dry out your hair leaving it brittle, the ends split, and your strands lacking moisture.

Keep your hair protected at night: Sleep with the use of a satin bonnet, or on a satin pillowcase, not only will this help protect your strands from breakage, but it will also help stretch the life of your hair style.

Deep conditioning regularly: Hair that is highly textured needs regular conditioning intervals to help replenish lost moisture and nutrients to keep it healthy and promote hair growth.

Keeping these basic principles in mind will foster healthy hair and also keep you motivated as you start to see the health of your hair improve and also start to notice growth. Some essential tools you need on your journey are:

Wide tooth comb: For detangling

Soft/hard bonnet dryer: For deep conditioning

Conditioner

Ouchless rubberbands

Moisturizing Shampoo

Clarifying/Chelating Shampoo

Natural Oil: For sealing moisture in your hair, I recommend Grapeseed, Jojoba or Coconut.

Styling aid: For doing styles like twist outs or braid outs. You can use hair butters like Bee Mine Bee Hold Curly Butter, or puddings like Miss Jessie's

How the challenge works: The first session of this challenge will last for six months. Every month I will hold two virtual check-ins where I create a post geared towards answering questions, concerns, and talking about products. One check in will be via LiveStream, so that I can answer your questions real time, and the other check in will be via blog post for those that are unable to log on to get their questions answered.

The goal is to create a community that encourages women to start taking better care of their hair, and get questions answered about products, setbacks, general self esteem issues, and regimens so that they feel good about themselves and their journey.

The healthy hair care challenge is open to anyone who wants to ring in the New Year with a healthier approach to hair care. It doesn't matter if you are relaxed, natural, transitioning, or heat straightened.

To participate in the challenge, please list your starting length and your goal length [in the comment section]. Please also list the type of regimen your going to follow. Choose from Traditional [using regular products/methods], Natural [consisting mostly of DIY and natural products] or Ayurvedic [consisting mostly of Ayurvedic Herbs/Oils]. Starting Monday, December 27th, I will list product recommendations and sample regimens for each category.

To kick it off, my starting length is mid back length, my goal is waist-length, and I will maintain a regimen that is a combination of traditional, natural, and Ayurvedic!

The challenge will start Jan 1st, and will run for six months! If you're looking to turn your hair around and you don't know where to start, or you're lost in your hair journey, or simply want a little motivation, let's go!

If you would like to be notified of the check-in dates ahead of time, and receive a newsletter [one newsletter will go out once monthly and will cover a range of topics from protective styling options, to product recommendations, DIY hair care recipes etc], please send an email with "Subscribe" in the subject line to: mtmhealthyhairchallenge@gmail.com

SOURCE

New Years Resolution #6

2010-12-22T12:00:00.000-05:00

Get more comfortable dressing my body type. I probably make it harder than it is but if it looks good…wear it…

New Years Resolution #5

2010-12-15T22:17:00.000-05:00

Show and tell; forget what people will see.

The Aftermath…

2010-12-13T12:00:00.000-05:00

Hi everyone! Remember this post I put up about my sew in and this one about the effects of the flat iron and my hair? Well here’s the aftermath…

I’m kinda blown because the coil was my go to style and it’s looking like I can’t go to it but hey. What can you do….

Lookbook.Nu

2010-12-09T12:00:00.000-05:00

Looks for the week.

I like this look but I could never pull this off without a belt. NOTHING will stay tucked in my jeans without reinforcement.

I just want to walk around my house like this on a Saturday morning. lol

Oh…You Have a Kid…

2010-12-08T20:09:00.001-05:00

As many single mothers and fathers I know that have “working” relationships, I cannot make myself date a man with children. Now, I am a bastard child, born out of wedlock, so some think that I should feel differently about the subject but there are two people I do not want to meet:

1. The Baby Mama: Now I know that all baby mama’s aren’t ~~lunatics who will hate every woman that their baby daddy dates because he didn’t marry her and try to make their lives miserable~~ crazy but who wants to take that chance on a man they just met? Not me. (And no. Telling me a month into dating will not change that.) She will always be involved in your relationship and she will always be the mother of his first (or second or third) child. I do not have any desire to be a man’s wife and the mother of his Nth child. No. IF I do not have any children and can devote all of myself to this relationship, then why do I have to share? On top of that, she will actually take part in scheduling your relationship because of…

#2 The Child: …and their visitation schedule and the only person I want running my life right now is me. Period. Now don’t get me wrong, I believe that any man who has a child needs to take care of that child 100% and put that baby first. With that being said, where does that put me? Close second? So, you’re free on a Friday night and I want to go to a Wizards game but your baby wants to go see Yo Gabba Gabba. Who is going to get your time? The offspring. I would not even WANT you to make your baby miss their show but why am I sacrificing something for someone I do not, nor want to know? I don’t mean that in an evil way but I do not want to build a relationship with your child and be what? Auntie? Some cute step-mom pet name? No no. When I’m ready to be a mother, I will get pregnant.

I don’t feel like I need to discuss the obvious issues with the actual loony baby mama, court dates, ~~broken windows and voodoo dolls~~, etc. but dating a man with children is just something I am not interested in because I am selfish…and that’s all it boils down to.

New Years Resolution #4

2010-12-08T12:00:00.000-05:00

………………………………………….explore………………………………………………..

I Love These!!

2010-12-07T22:36:00.001-05:00

I’m not sure if these are real Nike ads or if I’m like the last person on Earth to see these but I love these advertisements.

Its about time someone paid ANY attention to someone who isn’t skinny or plus size. Some people are just kind of in the middle and can’t find clothing because they have meat in places the designers don’t think they should.

I Gotta Itch I Can’t Scratch!! UGH!!

2010-12-07T12:00:00.000-05:00

In a continuation from my post for altering my regimen for the winter, I’m going to talk about skin care today. Xanthia has DRY skin but I’ve NEVER experienced dry skin like this. I am CONSTANTLY itching and I’m getting white blotches on my face due to dryness.

Something has got to change quickly. I’m always uncomfortable because I’m always itching everywhere; my scalp included. After asking around and talking to my best friend Google, I’ve found some things that I am going to try.

1. Use a humidifier. With the heat on and the windows closed, the air inside can become very dry in the winter, making the dryness and itching of eczema even worse. Use a humidifier to place moisture in the air. I’m looking to purchase this one or this one.

2. Switch to an oil-based moisturizer and moisturize frequently.: The more oil a moisturizer contains the more effectively it protects against moisture loss. Moisturizers that come in ointment form contain the most oil because an ointment, by definition, consists of 80% oil and 20% water. This water-in-oil emulsion forms a protective layer on the skin and makes it more “moisturizing” than creams and lotions.

This next one is going to be a challenge…

3. Dry Skin Tip: Keep Water Lukewarm, Not Hot. Hot water robs skin of moisture causing dry skin, so it's best to shower in lukewarm water. If you can't bear this rule -- I can't -- try to keep your showers short and try showering only once per day. The same rule applies to hand-washing.

4. Dry Skin Tip: Exfoliate on a Weekly or Semi-Weekly Basis: Moisturizer is much more effective on properly exfoliated skin. Use a salt or sugar scrub in the shower and exfoliate your face with a mild scrub made for the face. It's best to scrub skin when it's dry (WHO KNEW), according to Marcia Kilgore, the founder of Bliss Spa in New York, in InStyle Magazine. Apply scrub to dry skin before you turn on the water (mix with lotion if it's not moist enough).

5. Dry Skin Tip: Stay Hydrated But Don't Go Overboard: Many people believe if they drink more water, they'll hydrate skin. But I've read time and time again that this is a myth and you simply cannot moisturize skin from the inside out. That said, a small study recently published by the University of Hamburg (and reported in Allure magazine), suggests people who drink relatively little water could see a significant benefit in skin hydration if they started drinking nine eight-ounce glasses of water per day.

This one has been killing me softly:

6. Dry Skin Tip: Don't Forget Your Lips: Licking your lips will not moisturize them and instead will help dry them out. Lips retain less moisture than other parts of the body, so they tend to dry out more quickly. A simple lip balm helps, as does my all-time favorite lip trick learned in high school from "Seventeen" magazine: moisturize your lips with Vaseline. Take a toothbrush and "brush" your lips in a circular motion. This will remove dead flakes and leave your lips soft and supple. If you have the bucks, try: Kinerase Lip Treatment(about $38).

I already have some of these but I don’t take them like I should

7. Fish Oil Pills: New studies show omega-3 fish oil pills may soothe super dry skin. Patients who took fish oils pills in a study reported in Allure magazine, saw significant results within a few weeks. "You can see, within six weeks, the skin, hair and nails improve markedly," according to skin expert Dr. Andrew Weil in Allure. Ever since I started taking fish oil pills in March, 2007, I have received numerous compliments on how amazing my skin looks. So there you have it.

SOURCE and SOURCE

When It’s Cold Outside….

2010-12-06T12:00:00.000-05:00

As yall know, I’s from the south (lol) and this change in the weather is kicking my arse. Besides the fact that I personally hate cold weather, I can tell that it’s taking a toll on me by touching my hair and skin. I can no longer hold moisture to save my life!

I have no idea how to take care of my hair or skin in an arid climate and I’m planning on doing my own research and experimenting to come up with my own regimine. Until then, I would like to leave you with some tips from one of my go to recourses: Mop Top Maven.

I’ve BOLDED some info if you want to be a light reader…

Mop Top says:

The cold winter months can wreak havoc on your kinks, coils and curls. Extreme winter weather can rob moisture from your hair leaving it dry, brittle and filled with static electricity due to the dryness in the air. The heat from your central heating is also a culprit contributing to the lack of moisture as well. Here are a few winter tips to help combat dryness and retain moisture.

Put away glycerin for the winter: My favorite moisturizer is comprised mostly of glycerin, so I have to pack it away during the cold winter months. Glycerin is an amazing humectant when there is actually moisture in the air. Glycerin keeps hair moisturized by attracting water molecules to your strands which hydrates your hair. During the colder months there is very little "moisture" or humidity in the air, so glycerin has the reverse effect. It pulls moisture from your hair instead of from the elements around you. What this means is using glycerin during the winter could have drying effects; leaving your hair hard, gummy and dry.

* I only stash the products that contain a substantial amount of glycerin. Lets say in the first 2-3 ingredients [think moisturizing spritz's, or moisturizers with glycerin as the second or third ingredient] . Products that contain humectants further down the ingredient list may still work for me [and may also work for you] during the winter, it's just a series of trial and error and dependent upon the product and the climate of your location.- For example, lots of curlies in colder climates rave about Qhemet Biologics Amla & Olive being their staple product during the winter, yet this product contains glycerin. Although I don't know the exact product formulation, I can tell by looking at the ingredients that come before and after it to know that it doesn't contain that much [ingredients are listed in descending order of weight, from most prevelant to least].

Use sulfate-free shampoo: The name of the game during the harsh winter months is moisture retention. Put away your regular shampoo and reach for a product that is sulfate free. Sulfate-free shampoo's are less drying to the hair and scalp which helps your hair retain more moisture.

Product Recommendations:

Always use a leave in: Leave-in conditioners nourish the follicles with hair-loving vitamins and nutrients whilst protecting the hair from the harsh elements of winter.

Product Recommendations:

Moisturize daily with a light moisturizer and seal with an oil: This replenishes moisture and helps your strands brave the elements of the dry, cold winter months. The moisturizer hydrates and nourishes your hair while the oil acts as a barrier and seals in the moisture.

Product Recommendations [Moisturizers]:

VO5 Strawberries & Cream Moisturemilks mixed with water
Jane Carter Revitalizing Leave-In
Taliah Waajid Protective Mist Bodifier
Carol's Daughter Tui Leave-In **

Product Recommendations [Oils]

Castor Oil
Avocado Oil

Apply a heavy moisturizer twice weekly for extra reinforcement: Apply a heavy moisturizer to the ends of your hair only, as the ends are the oldest most fragile portion of your tresses.

Product Recommendations:

Weekly deep conditioning steam treatments: Slather on your favorite heavy duty deep conditioner and sit under a steamer for a deep treat. You can also put a plastic cap over your head and wrap a warm towel around the cap for a steam treatment as well. Steam treatments during the winter helps keep your hair soft, manageable, improve elasticity of the hair, and helps the conditioner better penetrate the shaft by using steam to gently open the cuticles.

Product Recommendations:

Exfoliate scalp regularly: The dry, harsh weather can leave your scalp dry, itchy, flaky and inflamed. Please remember to exfoliate your scalp regularly to avoid hair loss and thinning due to inflammation. You can clarify to gently remove excess dirt, sebum, and dead skin cells, or you can use a natural DIY alternative like the methods outlined in {this} post.

Protective styling: Protective styling is an option to get through those winter months without exposing the most fragile portion of your hair [the ends] to the elements. You can wear buns, braids, wigs, extensions and even phony ponies. Often, many women also decide to go straight for the winter as they find it easier to deal with the needs of their hair while straight.

Na Na Na COME ON!!

2010-12-05T22:04:00.001-05:00

People really don’t understand how much I love Rihanna and you know what; I don’t understand either. It just came about his CD. I’ve always loved the songs that came on the radio but DUH!! That’s why they put out singles; they know what they’re doing! LOL!

I really think she’s came into her own this album. The Good Girl Gone Bad CD was…I don’t really know. The singles were run but she re-released that thang 30 times! Rated R was good. You could really hear her message through her stories and that was probably something that she needed to do. Now that LOUD is here, you can hear that she’s just enjoying life and having a good time with her career and her relationships. I appreciate that Rihanna is the same person on her record and in real life. She doesn’t seem like she’s putting on a front for camera; she’s just who she is at all times.

I her.

New Years Resolution #3

2010-12-01T12:00:00.000-05:00

Work on wisdom and share what I’ve learned as much as…needed.

New Years Resolution #2

2010-11-24T12:00:00.000-05:00

Be a little more pretty in all that I do.

To CHI or not to CHI…

2010-11-22T12:00:00.000-05:00

I’ve never been good at using a flat iron but all I’ve ever heard of using is a CHI iron. Best thing since sliced bread. NOT!!

I purchased the Glacier Ice CHI iron from Overstock and I thought it was all good but little did I know…

One of the “advantages” of this flat iron is that it heats up to a fixed temperature of 302-356°F. WHO NEEDS THAT?! The worst part is that I don’t even know what to do now. I mean, what temperature is best for my hair? Now that the hair around my edges is straight, will it ever curl again?? DO I HAVE TO CUT MY HAIR ALL OVER AGAIN?!?!?! I went searching to one of my fav blogs Mop Top Maven and went searching for heat information and here’s her take on it:

“It is harder to regulate the temperature of plug in tools because the temperatures are preset. We often think because we can't "burn" our hair like we can with regular irons that plug-in tools are safer. While this may be true, we often can't tell the damage from plug-in tools until breakage and thinning have occurred.

For example: Let's say your trusty CHI flat iron has settings of 250, 300, 350, 400 & 450. Three hundred doesn't get your hair quite straight enough, and 350 gets it semi-straight. So you up the setting to 400 to achieve a silky-straight, sleek look. However setting your temperature to 400 might be overkill for your hair texture. You may only need something slightly higher than 350, but since your only option is 400; that is what you're stuck with. This is what I have experienced with the CHI flat iron [so I gave it away].”

She recommends using a hot comb and using the Golden Supreme Heat Tester. It allows you to test the heat of the comb EACH time and it has recommended for all hair types, which includes damaged hair.

SOURCE 1 AND SOURCE 2

Heat Tester ($80)

Stove ($123.95)

Combs (approx $40 for all three)

The (3) irons, heating stove and heat tester will run you $234.40. I know I will be purchasing the entire system……slowly LOL! I need to see how it works first. I’m no longer purchasing item that do not work.

Happy Straightening!

New Years Resolution #1

2010-11-19T12:00:00.000-05:00

More sexy; less cute. I need to drive “him” wild…

Lookbook.Nu

2010-11-18T12:00:00.000-05:00

Some of my favs for the week. I was surprised that I could only find three…

She’s my absolute favorite. I need my hair to grow. The thing I want most in the world (#dramatic) is a bun. I swear; just a bun.

I love these looks but I feel like if I put them on my ass would be all over DC and I don’t want to make a bad impression; I just got here. LOL!

Can Black Girls Blush?

2010-11-17T12:00:00.000-05:00

I’m totally into make-up these days. It has been BREAKING MY HEART that this move hasn’t allowed me to make my weekly MAC purchase and I cannot wait till I’m back in a place where I can have my life back (another post entirely). I like wearing a natural look; I haven’t crossed over into anything SnAzZy quite yet (I’m scheduled for a MAC gift card for my bday though YES!). I’ve been getting pretty good with my technique but one thing I CANNOT seem to get the basics for is blush.

I currently own:

(Left) – Get-Away Bronze Frost Powder Blush and (right) – Petticoat Mineralize Skin Finish blush. Applying the golden blush isn’t too hard because even if I don’t “apply it correctly'” it’s gold. It cannot look bad! LOL! But the petticoat…

Just doesn’t do right! (side note - I had a hair appointment the next day so go easy on me lol)

I KNOW that cannot POSSIBLY be the right spot for blush but I cannot get it right! Thank GOD I’m not a quitter! IF any of you out there are tards about blush like me here are some vids:

Blush starts around the 5:05 mark.

Blush starts around the 5:45 mark.

Up and Running

2010-11-16T20:25:00.001-05:00

Well not really. My computer is still acting an ASS but I’ve secretly downloaded Window’s Live Writer on someone else’s computer so I could get back to business so I’ll be back at it soon. Until then, here are some pics from this weekend. I went to this baby ass club called Recess and to a fight party in the boonies of VA. LOL. #goodtimes

My first time playing power hour. I lasted 47 minutes.

1 and 2

MELVIN IS HERE!!

#laughter

Good night

What's My Style

2010-11-06T23:10:00.000-04:00

Can you put your style into words? I can't. I don't even know if I have style (HAHA)!! Some days I walk out of the house looking like one thing and the next day I can look like a totally different person. I regularly browse LOOKBOOK and just look at other people's outfits. Here are a few that I liked

I didn't mean for this post to be so huge but my computer is broken and I don't know how to post on blogger forreal; I usually use Window's Blog Writer. Anyways, if you could put your style into words what would you say?

Zara Wishlist

2010-11-05T12:00:00.000-04:00

While I was sitting at home BORED TO DEATH, I was on their site and saw a few things I liked:

Tis all…

I Am NOT My Hair

2010-11-04T12:00:00.000-04:00

Being that I’m homeless for the moment and I didn’t want to turn my friend’s bathroom into Beanie’s Hair Salon, I decided to get a sew in!

I love this thang! It’s just so shiny and bouncy and fun lol! In the same breath, I’m really sad about it because I realize that the hair that is left out will be totally different from the hair that’s braided.

Now I’m not one of those people who went natural and think their hair is the passage to heaven nor am I one of the people who hates my hair (even though it took some time to get used to). Truth is that I like to wear it big and curly and I like to wear it sleek and straight. I just wish my hair wasn’t so easily manipulated by heat. For instance…

When I first started wearing sew-ins I left the smallest amount of hair out possible and for about two months and look what happened

The longer pieces = straight pieces and it drives me crazy BUT all I need is a small perm rod and wha-lah problem solved!

All in all I don’t wish to have hair like anyone else, I just wish that mine could bounce back after a good straightening.

UGH!!!

2010-11-03T12:00:00.000-04:00

I’m SO over my ufckin closet!! It’s like I want to throw most of it away, get a sugar daddy and start all over again! On top of that I feel like when God was handing out the ability to accessorize I was off in the corner sneaking sandwiches or something. I hate it when I feel like I have NOTHING to wear and with me moving to a new place I don’t want to go up there looking like bussit baby #3.

If I could blink and see the items I want today, they would be…

IDK where mine went but I need another and AE has a nice one

It’s like I cannot find one of these to save my life…well not one under $170

Sheer tops and bows are killing me softly…

Funky cardis…

I mean I don’t want the $1200 pair but if I could find a replica…

I just want to find a good set of accessories that I can wear when I don’t have the brain power to be creative.

Next summer – cropped tops. Hell I work hard enough

Last but not least I just want to walk into my house and it looks like a make-up add exploded on my counter. LOL! That’s OD but make-up is fun and I’m really into it these days…

Bittersweet

2010-11-02T21:25:00.001-04:00

When I first moved to Atlanta I HATED it!! I remember calling my Dad in tears and we had conjured a plan for me to get and job and move back to Charlotte within 12 months. Now the same tears I cry are from the pain of leaving a place I felt was home. My how things have changed… There is so much that I will miss…

My first job as an engineer. The company way perfect by NO MEANS but it was my first chance and I met some great people there.

(the first pencils I’ve ever designed with )

(good bye card from my department)

I will miss….

The random opportunities to meet GREAT people at random

Spondivits (delicious)

Terrible UFCKIN drivers!!

And most importantly good friends…

Even though I’m 704 ALL DAY (HAHA) I feel like Atlanta, Georgia is my home and I will miss it everyday… bittersweet.

Thrift Store Finds

2010-10-16T17:03:00.001-04:00

I LOVE to shop the sales but I usually don’t ~~make~~ have the time to shop at thrift stores. I stopped by Good Will on the way to Concord Mills to see if I could come up on some winter clothes and I surely did!

View Full Album

Ann Taylor sweater; colorful skirt *needs altering* (for next summer), Tahari blazer and a Polo tweed jacket.

How Do I Dress For Cold Weather??

2010-10-16T14:00:00.002-04:00

Lately, I have a thing for sheer tops, leather jackets, and military styled boots. While looking around on Shop Style I realized that I might not be able to wear these types of items because it's going to be UFCKING COLD in the DMV!!! Either way, I like these individual pieces...I might just take the L on that top ;-)

Boots by Sam Edelman
Jackets by Kristen Blake

Hair Are You These Days?

2010-10-15T16:20:00.001-04:00

I was keeping this blog do document my hair at one point so I’m going to dedicate this post to show the different styles I have been wearing. I used a standard set of products on my hair and it never really varies.

Washing/Conditioning:

Deva Poo Shampoo – this shampoo doesn’t lather (which is why I usually use too much) but it doesn’t leave my hair feeling like a clean glass table.
Mixed Chicks Conditioner – At first I was like I’m 100% Negro but it turned out to be a pretty good conditioner
BeeMine Conditioner – My FAVORITE conditioner!!
Miss Jessies Baby Butter Crème – I don’t think there’s a better moisturizer but it’s expensive as hell. Every Christmas they have a buy one get one sale and the best (and only time) to get the products. It lasts so you don’t have to go broke trying to stock Miss Jessies.
Bee Mine Herbal Serum with Sulfur (Kiwi Strawberry) – Sulfur doesn’t bother me and this smells like strawberry kiwi with a HINT of sulfur. I bought a squirt top so I can apply it straight to my hair.

Now on to the styles:

I usually wear my hair twisted

*Please excuse the one too many and really shouldn’t be driving look* It is INCREDIBLY time consuming but once it’s done my hand are out of my hair for at least three weeks. I am not a trained professional so I can’t really explain how I twist my hair; I just roll it around my fingers when it’s wet and it stays. I didn’t even know it had a name until someone asked me how to do it lol. It’s called a coil out. When I twist my hair I either use:

Miss Jessies Curly Puddy (I wish I could eat that stuff) or
Bee Mine Bee Hold Curly Butter – This product isn’t heavy so it usually leaves me with a frizzy look after about two weeks and I cool with that.

Here’s a link for the people who are interested in the proper way to do a “coil out”: The Proper Way to Do the Coil Out Method.

If my hair isn’t coiled, I usually blow-dry my hair and put a few slave plats in my hair and the next morning I have:

This is a favorite for the older generation of men. They love to tell me stories about the days were their hair looked like this. They always say: “Leave you hair just like this; never change.” Before I blow-dry my hair I use Jane Carter leave-in conditioner and when I plat it I use Jane Carter moisturizer.

Last but not least:

When I first got it straightened I felt so strange. I felt like I looked like everyone else and it kind of freaked me out. My hair felt too close my face and it just looked flat and dead….until I whipped my hair back and forth!! LOL! I usually just deep condition my hair, use a heat protectant (is that a word) and flat iron it.

My Stock is Like the DOW Jones…

2010-10-11T17:16:00.001-04:00

Men are visual creatures and I get that; they’re shallow. With that being said, I didn’t realize JUST how ~~shallow~~ visual they were. I use myself as the example:

When I started college I was 5’1”, 95 pounds soaking wet and by every definition I was skinny. I would post a picture but who REALLY wants to go back that far. Anywho…fast forward to Summer 2008 when I moved down to Atlanta. For the first 8 months I ate at any restaurant whose name sounded like “Big Mama’s ____ _____”, “Southern Fried ____”, etc. I toped off at 131 lbs and by all definition I was thick…and proud of it!! Life was grand!! I didn’t have to pay for anything, do anything, hell I’ve never been so lazy. AND if I put in a 10” Remy, ninjas would buck a U turn JUST do I didn’t have to pump my own gas #truestory. But when I got PHAT in the back I also got…..

FAT in the front and that was a problem that needed to be handled.

Two things happened after that: I went natural and I lost weight due to exercise and nutrition (S/O Bleeding Onions). These days all I can get are opinions instead of compliments; suggestions instead of valentines and although my hair is different and I’m lost TWO (or three lol) inches in my hips I just don’t know what’s different. The person hasn’t changed a bit; I’m still the same ‘ol GEE but I guess life is just a hot or not contest. Now I still believe that I am nothing short of amazing (O_o) but I just say this to let the ladies know that the “beauty is skin deep” is a bunch of bull shit because even though I’m currently shaped like this:

(32-25-36) they really want you to look like this.

Does it bother me that I apparently look like shit now; yes. But hey….you can’t please everyone.

More to Come…

2010-10-10T09:33:00.001-04:00

Man I think I’m back but I’m not sure. I always try blogging when I am extremely busy.

The reason I feel like blogging is necessary at this point is because I find that lately when I try to share my feelings, which include my fears, someone either gets mad (I guess they think I sound stupid) or tells me that I’m complaining. From that, I have deduced that I cannot talk to people so why not try talking to the internet?

From this point on I’m a smoking gun. I will say what I want and do what I want no matter what the cost. I don’t mean that in a F THE WORLD kind of way but since I can no longer depend on people to share my feelings and get their expert (O_o) I just have to do whatever I feel is right and deal with the consequences as the come. Besides I have 30 more days to be 25 so why not end it how I please.

As of right now, I’m a loaded gun.

I Love Getting Nailed

2010-04-28T15:01:00.000-04:00

So I know I'm the most bootlegged blogger in America but every time get going good [blogging] something else derails me and I have to put it on the back burner. Lately it's been studying for this LSAT but don't you worry, it will be over and done with on June 7th and I'm going to be back in action! I've been saving pictures, articles, product information, etc. and I'll have a SLEW of post in the summer. With that being said, I'm here now so I might as well post something right?

I'm a SUCKER for nails! If my nails aren't done I feel like the Earth will stop rotating on its axis and all life as we know it will come to an end. I've recently got into looking for new polish and have found so many polish blogs its CrAzY! I’ve always been one for research so I went to Wikipedia to see what, where, and when on nail polish and look what I found:

The Chinese used a colored lacquer, made from a combination of Arabic gum, egg whites, gelatin and beeswax. They also used a mixture consisting of mashed rose, orchid and impatiens petals combined with alum. This mixture, when applied to nails for a few hours or overnight, leaves a color ranging from pink to red. The Egyptians used reddish-brown stains derived from henna to color their nails as well as the tips of their fingers. Henna dyes are used to draw intricate, temporary designs on hands in Mehndi. Chou Dynasty of 600 B.C., Chinese royalty used gold and silver to enhance their nails. A fifteenth-century Ming manuscript cites red and black as the colors chosen by royalty for centuries previous. The Egyptians used nail color to signify social order, with shades of red at the top. Queen Nefertiti, the wife of the king Akhenaton, colored her finger and toe nails ruby red; Cleopatra favored crimson. Women of lower rank who colored their nails were permitted only pale hues. Incas decorated their fingernails with pictures of eagles. It is unclear how the practice of coloring nails progressed following these beginnings. Portraits from the 17th and 18th centuries include shiny nails. By the turn of the 19th century, nails were tinted with scented red oils and polished or buffed with a chamois cloth, rather than simply painted. In addition, English and US 19th century cookbooks contained directions for making nail paints. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, women still pursued a polished, rather than painted, look by massaging tinted powders and creams into their nails, then buffing them shiny. One such polishing product sold around this time was Graf’s Hyglo nail polish paste. Some women during this period painted their nails with clear, glossy varnish applied with a camel-hair brush. When automobile paint was created around 1920, it inspired the introduction of colored nail enamels. SOURCE

I just got bought some new colors today and I am crunk juicy JUICE about using them next week. LORD willing I will post pics next week but knowing me; I'm lying. lol

Ten Ingredients to Keep Out of You Hair Care Cabinet!!

2010-01-08T21:56:00.000-05:00

Hello all! I've been MIA (again) mainly because I've been obsessed with my hair but I'm going to try my best to me more regular with posting. I've been doing a lot of research about ingredients because as I've been become a [hair] product whore I've wondering what I'm actually buying! Here are ten products you will want to avoid:

10 INGREDIENTS TO AVOID PUTTING ON YOUR HAIR!

Most of the commercially available hair care products today use harmful, potentially carcinogenic ingredients. In the interest of good napptural health, I list below, what are in my opinion, the 10 worst commonly found product ingredients thngs you can put on your hair (and body). Check the list of ingredients on your hair products. The more of a particular ingredient you have in a product, the closer it is to the top of the list of ingredients on the bottle:

1. ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL: This is a solvent and denaturant (poisonous substance that changes another substances natural qualities). Isopropyl alcohol is found in hair color rinses, body rubs, hand lotions, after-shave lotions, fragrances and many other cosmetics. This petroleum-derived substance is also used in antifreeze and as a solvent in shellac. Napptural hair reacts very badly to isoalcohol and this ingredient should be avoided at ALL costs. It will dry your hair out and break it off. According to A Consumer's Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients, inhalation or ingestion of the vapor may cause headaches, flushing, dizziness, mental depression, nausea, vomiting, narcosis and even coma.

2. MINERAL OIL & PETROLATUM: The best baby oil is made from almonds. But the oil which being sold as baby oil is 100% mineral oil. Mineral oil is a derivative of crude oil (petroleum) that is used industrially as a cutting fluid and lubricating oil. This commonly used petroleum ingredient coats the skin and hair just like plastic wrap. The skin's natural barrier is disrupted as this plastic coating inhibits its ability to breathe and absorb the Natural Moisture Factor (moisture and nutrition). The skin's ability to release toxins and wastes is impossible through this "plastic wrap," which can promote acne and other disorders.

3. PEG: This is an abbreviation for polyethylene glycol that is used in making cleansers to dissolve oil and grease as well as thicken products. Because of their effectiveness, PEG's are often used in caustic spray on oven cleaners and yet are found in many personal care products. PEG's contribute to stripping the Natural Moisture Factor, leaving the immune system vulnerable. They are also potentially carcinogenic.

4. PROPYLENE GLYCOL (PG): As a "surfactant" or wetting agent and solvent, this ingredient is actually the active component in antifreeze. There is no difference between the PG used in industry and the PG used in personal care products. It is used in industry to break down protein and cellular structure (what the skin is made of) yet is found in most forms of make-up, hair products, lotions, after-shave, deodorants, mouthwashes and toothpaste. It is also used in food processing. Because of its ability to quickly penetrate the skin, the EPA requires workers to wear protective gloves, clothing and goggles when working with this toxic substance.

5. SODIUM LAURYL SUFATE (SLS) & SODIUM LAURETH SULFATE (SLES): SLS is used in testing labs as the standard ingredient to irritate skin. Used as detergents and surfactants, these closely related compounds are found in car wash soaps, garage floor cleaners and engine degreasers. Yet both SLS and SLES are used more widely as one of the major ingredients in cosmetics, toothpaste, hair conditioner and about 90% of all shampoos and products that foam. They are used in personal-care products because they are cheap. A small amount generates a large amount of foam, and when salt is added it thicken to give the illusion of being thick and concentrated. (SOME OF THE NITROSATING AGENTS ARE: SLS, SLES, DEA, TEA, MEA). Shampooing the hair with a product contaminated with these substances can lead to its absorption into the body at levels much higher than eating nitrite-contaminated foods.

6. CHLORINE: According to Doris J. Rapp, M.D., author of Is This your Child's World? exposure to chlorine in tap water, Showers, pool, laundry products, cleaning agents, food processing, sewage systems and many others, can effect health by contributing to asthma, hay fever, anemia, bronchitis, circulatory collapse, confusion, delirium diabetes, dizziness, irritation of the eye, mouth, nose throat, lung, skin and stomach, heart disease, high blood pressure,
and nausea. It is also a possible cause of cancer. Even though you will not see Chlorine on personal care product labels, it is important for you to be aware of the need to protect your skin when bathing and washing your hair.

7. DEA (diethanolamine) MEA (momoethnanolamine) TEA (triethanolamine): DEA and MEA are usual listed on the ingredients label in conjunction with the compound being neutralized. Thus look for names like Cocamide DEA or MES, Lauramide DEA, etc. These are hormone disrupting chemicals and are known to form cancer causing nitrates and nitrosamines. . These are commonly found in most personal care products that foam, including bubble baths, body washes, shampoos, soaps and facial cleansers.

8. FD & C Color PIGMENTS: Many color pigments cause skin sensitivity and irritation. Absorption of certain colors can cause depletion of oxygen in the body and even death according to A Consumer's dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients. Debra Lynn Dadd says in Home Safe Home: "Colors that can be used in foods, drug, and cosmetics are made from coal tar. There is a great deal of controversy about their use, because animal studies have shown almost all of them to be carcinogenic."

9. FRAGRANCE: Fragrance is present in most deodorants shampoos, sunscreens, skin care, body care and baby products. Many of the compounds in fragrance are carcinogenic or otherwise toxic. "Fragrance on a label can indicate the presence of up to 4,000 separate ingredients. Most or all of them are synthetic. Symptoms reported to the FDA have included headaches, dizziness, rashes, skin discoloration, violent coughing and vomiting, and allergic skin irritation. Clinical observation by medical doctors have shown that exposure to fragrances can affect the central nervous system, causing depression, hyperactivity, irritability, inability to cope, and other behavioral changes," (Home Safe Home). For better health try purchasing unscented products and for fragrance, adding a natural essential oil.

10. IMIDAZOLIDINYL UREA and DMDM HYDANTOIN: These are just two of the many preservatives that release formaldehyde (formaldehyde-donors). Exposure to formaldehyde may cause joint pain, allergies, depression, headaches, chest pains, ear infections, Chronic fatigue, dizziness and loss of sleep. It can also aggravate coughs and colds and trigger asthma. Serious side effects include weakening of the immune system and cancer. Nearly all brands of skin, body and hair care, antiperspirants and nail polish found in stores contain formaldehyde-releasing ingredients.

I Finally Did It!!!!

2009-12-07T15:35:00.000-05:00

I did my BC this past Friday and now I'm 100% natural. I hated it on Friday. I felt like I'd made the BIGGEST mistake of my LIFE and that I looked like the bottom of someone's shoe but now I love it!

Here's a pic of me from before:

And now (drumroll please)..............

This is me with one year's worth of natural hair! I don't really know what to do with it but in time I will. I totally think I'm awesome right now.

Till next time...

Co-Wash

2009-11-26T16:11:00.002-05:00

Am I the only person that doesn't know what a co-wash is? If so, here's a really good explination:

If you wear your hair natural, you are probably familiar with co-washing, or washing the hair with conditioner only. Conditioner washing avoids harsh results from frequent washing with shampoos and helps to keep natural black hair soft and manageable. Co-washing can be done as often as you'd like, even several times a day (this is a plus for natural hair wearers in the hot days of summer).

Oftentimes the question of "How do I co-wash my hair?" comes up. The answer would seem simple, but there are some steps you can take to get the most benefit from this technique and do it with ease.

* First, find a conditioner that works for your hair type. Search online for keywords "hair types" and narrow your hair type down to one or two close categories. You may be a combo 3c and 4a. This will help you better understand which type of conditioner to purchase among the many available.

* Get to know your ingredients. The long, hard-to-pronounce ingredients on the label can be overwhelming. But with familiarity, you can learn to spot which ingredients you want to keep and which you want to avoid. Ingredients like propylene glycol, cetyl alcohol and panthenol are common. Search online for ingredients lists. One such list can be found HERE.

* Recommended: Purchase an extended shower head/hose. Handheld shower heads with variable sprays offer the best control for rinsing the hair and are often well worth the investment.

* Rinse the hair with warm water. Avoid water that is too hot (if it initially stings your back, it's too hot). Cleansing results from the action of water plus cleanser (shampoo and/or conditioner) and agitation (hand movements through the hair). Warm water will clean hair well while hot water can be damaging. While rinsing with water, gently comb your hair with your fingers.

* Apply your conditioner. This can be done in several ways.

(1) Pour a line of conditioner into your hand (as opposed to pouring a dollop) and apply each line onto parted hair sections. Work the conditioner from the roots to the tips. Continue until all the hair is covered.

(2) Squeeze your normal amount of conditioner into a large bowl, preferably plastic. With the shower head, add water to the bowl and mix the water and conditioner well with your hands. Bend your head over the bowl. With a cup or other small container, scoop up some of the mix and pour it onto your hair. You can then lean further over into the bowl and wash your hair with your hands directly over the bowl if you'd like. This allows for even coverage, but note that the conditioner will be more dilute.

(3) Squeeze your normal amount of conditioner into a large clean spray bottle and mix with water. Shake well and spray liberally onto the hair. Again, this mixture will be more dilute than a direct application. This method is great for those who only have minutes to spare in the mornings. Make a large batch of diluted conditioner, spray your hair and rinse out after bathing.

* Comb your hair with a wide-tooth comb with rounded-edge teeth. This step is optional, as there remains a debate as to whether combing while wet does more damage to hair than combing while dry. It has been said that combing while wet can stretch the hair past it's longest point, thereby causing breakage. However, many who wear their hair natural report that combing while the hair is fully conditioned is the best time for them, as the hair is soft and pliable, leading to less breakage. In either case, comb hair gently by grabbing one small section at a time. Comb from the TIPS first, ensuring there are no snags then work your way to the roots. It's ok if you cannot comb from root to tip in one stroke. The main idea is to ease tangles and distribute the conditioner evenly.

* Allow the conditioner to set on your hair for at least a few minutes if possible. Both steam from the shower and the conditioner itself will work on your hair during this time. Give yourself a nice salt or sugar scrub while your hair is being conditioned.

* Rinse your hair well, again with warm water. Ease your fingers through each section while the water flows through to remove any remaining conditioner.

* Optional: Apply your hair products at this step -- while your hair is dripping wet. Many naturals swear by this technique and believe the best absorption is gained at this time. At the least, your product(s) can be more evenly distributed throughout your hair while it is sopping wet.

* It's time to dry. Just as with the application, there are several ways to dry your hair.

(1) Dry with a towel. Avoid rubbing your scalp and hair with a towel at all costs! Instead, simply dab and pat your hair dry, or grab sections and squeeze excess water into the towel.

(2) Shake and go. Lay your towel across the back of your shoulders (lengthwise shoulder to shoulder). Grab the bottom corners of the towel and raise it up to your head, almost over your head. Think of Batman's cape raised up as he jumps off a tall building! With the towel raised, shake your head from side to side (ear to shoulder) and left to right (like saying no), shaking excess water into the towel. This is what I call the "no touch" method. Sometimes drying the hair directly with a towel can remove products you've just applied, even helping to separate your freshly-formed coils and spirals. You want your coils to group together to avoid the frizzies. This method is perfect for the warmer months when you possibly can afford to go longer periods with damp hair.

(3) Blow dry, but with care. When blow drying, the use of a diffuser is best. A diffuser will spread the heat from your dryer more evenly and minimize potential heat damage. You can find diffusers at most beauty supply stores at a minimal cost. If you do not have a diffuser, use the low heat or cool setting and blow dry from at least six inches from the furthest part of your hair. Remember, you are not trying to get the hair bone dry -- just dry enough to style and go out.

In summary, with the above methods you'll find shampooing your hair by co-washing is a great alternative to traditional shampooing which can strip your hair of much needed oils and moisture. With just a touch of practice, getting in and out of the shower with a clean head of hair will take less time than applying your makeup, and your hair will benefit greatly from it.

SOURCE

Tips for Growing Your Hair

2009-11-25T16:05:00.001-05:00

I was searching for new natural blogs to subcribe to and came across this bit of advice:

1. The most important thing you can do is be consistent. You won’t see any progress or know what’s helping or hurting your hair if you’re jumping on every bandwagon. Keep a hair journal with pictures, come up with a regimen that’s suited to YOUR hair needs, and then stick with it.

2. Moisturize your hair!!! I cannot stress this enough. I used to be crazy enough to think grease equated to moisture, which is WRONG!!! You need to find a good water based moisturizer and an oil( I like Extra Virgin Olive Oil) to seal with.

3. Deep condition your hair at least once a week! African American hair is notoriously dry. It craves extra moisture (or at least mine does) therefore deep conditioning at least 1x per week will be extremely beneficial to your hair health.

4. Search and Destroy. If you’re hair is not damaged….meaning no brittle, burnt, split ends, there’s no need to cut it. Just doing regular search and destroys is enough. You do this by sectioning your hair in four parts and searching each section for split ends. Clip only the ends that are actually split. You can also keep your ends looking nice by dusting them (only trimming 1/4 of an inch).

5. Limit your use of direct heat. Direct heat is the devil!!! Excessive heat causes split ends which hinders retention. Your hair is always growing, but if you aren’t retaining any length then you’re not gonna see any progress. If you must use direct heat, please use a heat protectant.

6. Protect your hair at night. Cotton dries your hair out. Dry hair is prone to breakage. Sleeping wild with your hair uncovered also leads to tangles. Find a good silk or satin scarf.

7. Shampoo your scalp only. A clean scalp is a healthy scalp, but excessively cleaning your hair will only lead to dryness. Also, don’t gather your hair up on top of your head when washing, because that leads to tangles.

8. Limit manipulation of your hair. Try not to comb and brush your hair everyday. Even the healthiest head of hair can be sabotaged by excessive manipulation.

9. Stretch your relaxers. Only relax when you have at least an inch of growth This way you don’t risk overprocessing hair that was previously relaxed.

10. Stay away from jealous hair stylists. You’ll never see any growth if they’re constantly chopping it off and ruining it.

SOURCE

BTW: I Googled "Long Hair + African American" and when I went to the images all I saw was pictures of Beoyonce, Ashanti, Tyra, etc. Picture that. LLS.

Brazilian Keratin Treatment

2009-11-24T16:03:00.000-05:00

I have been trying to learn about this Brazilian Keratin Treatment! This all I keep hearing over and over again: "straight hair with no chemicals that last for months." I had to find out what it is because if it's true that's a sure ringer for a summer hairstyle! Oh how research can kill a sistah's dream...

A Brazilian Keratin hair treatment (BKT), also known as “escova progressiva”, is a considerably costly salon procedure that promises to transform frizzy, dull, dry hair into silky smooth, shiny strands that last for up to 4 months and runs from $250 to $600 depending on the length of the hair. . Sound too good to be true? It is. Unless you like wearing a gas mask at the salon.

Wildly popular in all the blogs and a hot topic in those social networking forums I love to hangout in, everyone seems to be thinking about getting one. Wait! I type. Before you call your stylist to book your salon appointment, make sure you have all the info you need to make your choice. Silky hair is good, but with a Brazilian Keratin Treatment you might be getting more than you planned.

What you and your stylist may not know is that the active ingredient in these BKT “wonder” treatments is formaldehyde, which is a dangerous chemical, especially if you breathe it in. Hence the protective equipment – face masks, gloves, ventilation fans – as a safety precaution when giving or getting a treatment. Is straight hair worth wearing a gas mask? Now THAT’S something to consider.

According to Allure Magazine (we love them!) “some of the most popular BKT treatments contain at least ten times more formaldehyde than the .2 percent considered safe by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel. The FDA doesn’t currently regulate cosmetics, but they are investigating the safety of escova progressiva treatments.” Now, I’m no expert, and I have considered a BKT when I originally heard about them, but ten times more formaldehyde really sounds like a bad idea. Very bad. There’s no way that’s good for you.

The best, or I should say worst part about the Allure Magazine expose? I’ll loosely paraphrase here, but the gist is: “Keratin has nothing to do with straightening. Nada. There is nothing in Keratin that will change the structure of the hair, it’s the formaldehyde that makes the treatment work. Keratin is window dressing and provides a good marketing story.” Sounds like a sham to me. And really, who wants that kind of toxic treatment? BUT if you're still interested check them out at Brazilian Keratin Treatment.

SOURCE

Winter Hair

2009-10-27T15:34:00.001-04:00

Hola Chicas,

Not too long ago, I posted Keneesha Hudson's (CEO of Urbanbella) tips for winterizing your curls. It was an excellent article with great product recommendations--check it out if you missed it! Regimen tweaks are truly something to consider as the seasons change-- your curls, which are already prone to dryness, crave even more moisture the cooler and dryer it gets.

What will I do to moisturize my situation, you ask? I plan to incorporate weekly deep treatments (haha, maybe), and shea butter for sealing. During the summer months I alternate between Devacurl Set it Free (SIF) and shea to seal my wet, conditioner laden ends. In the winter, my hair seems to crave the heaviness of shea so I usually shelf the SIF. As for styling, I will continue to do Twist-n-Curls and plan to dibble and dabble in protective styles, utilizing Curlformer sets.

According to The Curl Whisperer, our resident curly expert, we should avoid humectancts in the winter:

In very low moisture areas, dry climates, or during the wintertime, humectants can actually dry the hair out further by absorbing water from the hair itself when there is no moisture in the surrounding atmosphere. Because the sole purpose of a humectant is to find and absorb moisture, it will find it and take it wherever it can get it--and that includes yanking out the moisture from inside your curly locks, leaving you with a dry, frizzy mess.--Tiffany, The Curl Whisperer

Examples of humectants (taken from NaturallyCurly.com):

• Diols and Triols: propylene glycol 1,2,6, hexanetriol, butylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, hexylene glycol, Glycerin, triethylene glycol, erythritol capryl glycol, phytantriol hexanediol or -triol, beeswax
• Humectants of biological origin: panthenol, sodium PCA, hyaluronic acid, inositol, glycogen
• Sugars and modified sugars: sorbitol, polyglyceryl sorbitol, glucose, fructose, xylitol, honey
• Hydrolyzed proteins: elastin, collagen, silk keratin, hydrolized wheat
• Ethers: Isoceteth-x, Isolaureth-x, Laneth-x, Laureth-x, Steareth-x, PEG-x (polyethylene glycol), Silicone copolyols
*I bolded the one's I run into the most, for your convenience!

TRY:

-Curl Junkie Rehab Moisturizing Hair Treatment
-DevaCare One Condition
-Jessicurl Aloeba Daily Conditioner
-Jessicurl Too Shea
-Jessicurl Weekly Deep Treatment
-Aubrey Organics Honey Suckle Rose
-Herbal Essence's Hello Hydration or Totally Twisted (Walmart)
-Generic Value Paul Mitchell the Detangler (Sallys)

SHELF:
-Jane Carter Solution Nutrient Replenishing Conditioner
-Curl Junkie Hibiscus and Banana
-Miss Jessies Creme de la Creme
-Oyin Honey Hemp Conditioner
-Elucence
-Generic Value Matrix Conditioning Balm (Sallys)

As the temperature falls, and the humidity lessens, what will you add to (or omit from) your current routine to promote healthy growth, and beautiful, shiny curls?

SOURCE

Hair Products

2009-10-21T13:54:00.000-04:00

Here is a video from one of the ladies I subscribe to on YouTube with list of her product do's and don'ts!

Good = LANOLIN = Bad

2009-10-16T11:22:00.001-04:00

I've been trying to find information about Lanolin and how it effects Black hair. If you didn't know, Lanolin is also called Adeps Lanae, wool wax, wool fat, anhydrous wool fat or wool grease, is a greasy yellow substance secreted by the sebaceous glands of wool-bearing animals, with the vast majority of it used by humans coming from domestic sheep. (Eew). Its been getting mixed reviews from some of the sites I've been researching but here are some excerpts you can use to make you own decisions:

1. "I am curious about the lanolin oil in the hollywood beauty castor oil. I've been reading that lanolin is a bad ingredient to have in any of your hair care products, so what about the hollywood beauty castor oil with mink oil? Is that ok to use ?"

Advice:

Lanolin is a very greasy material produced by the sebaceous glands of sheep. Lanolin is a mixture of fatty acids, wax esters, and a complex mixture of other organic compounds. In its natural state, lanolin contains about 25-30% water by weight. When applied to skin or hair, it is very effective at penetrating the surface and enhancing moisture retention. Lanolin is also beneficial because it continues to absorb moisture from the air, and can thus act as a humectant for the skin or hair.

Lanolin is sometimes considered to be too thick and greasy to be used liberally on curly hair, as it can really weigh down the curls and create frizz, but this is really dependent upon the degree of curl. A person with extremely curly hair would find it very beneficial to their hair. Its unique and complex chemical composition should make it very easily removed from the hair with a gentle shampoo or conditioner wash.

In summary, lanolin is an excellent conditioning agent for hair, but consideration of hair type should be used when selecting products for hair. People with extremely curly hair (such as those with 3C, and the 4’s) can most likely use lanolin-containing products in their regimen and enjoy soft, smooth hair without losing curl or gaining frizz. Those with wavy or slightly curly hair (such as 2A, 2B, 3A, and 3B type) may find products containing lanolin to be too heavy.

SOURCE

2. My hair is too oily. How can I make it appear less greasy?

Many conditioners and styling products formulated for the African American market contain greasy ingredients like lanolin, petrolatum, cocoa butter, waxes and oils. These quickly build up on the scalp and hair and can even stunt future hair growth. If you do use one of these heavy products, apply just a little; keep it on the hair and off the scalp. Wash your hair at least twice a week with a mild clarifying shampoo to remove the residue. Then use a conditioner, but keep it off the roots and be sure to rinse thoroughly. Avoid two-in-one products. Follow this same advice if it's just your scalp producing excess oil, and not buildup that's the problem.

SOURCE

Gotta Hate That Breakage!!

2009-10-15T16:49:00.002-04:00

At work today one of my co-workers mentioned that she was having some breakage at the back of her neck. I remembered that my hair used to do that because of my head scarf all the time. We started talking about it and I realized that I have no idea how you're supposed to wear a head scarf. It was hard to find some really clear information, but here is an article I found:

1. Step1
  Comb your hair in a normal style. I normally part my hair slightly off to the right. Comb all strands down. If you use a moisturizer, apply it, and then comb hair normally. Brushing your hair is a good way to stimulate your scalp and promote hair growth, especially before bedtime.
2. Step2
  Part your hair on the side. With a brush, begin to "sweep" your hair around your head. Avoid brushing to hard. Use your non-brushing hand to help you with your sweep.
3. Step3
  Continue the process of sweeping your hair around your head until you have all of your hair in a neat cone. Make sure no stray hairs are sticking out. (Beginners may think this process is a little cumbersome. I did initially, but once your hair is "trained", wrapping your hair gets easier and easier.) The advantage is that your strands will become smoother and smoother.
4. Step4
  Now that your hair is securely wrapped around your head, if you would like to apply any additional moisturizer, now would be a good time to do so.
5. Step5
  Take your long scarf and tie it around your head. Position the middle of the scarf at your forehead, and tie the scarf around your head, then either secure a knot or a bow to hold scarf in place. Gently push the scarf up off of your forehead.
6. Step6
  Secure the scarf by placing an elastic bonnet cap over your head. (This is an optional step, but helps keep the scarf on during sleep.)

SOURCE

I'm not to happy with this information so I will be doing another post on this once I consult with a few hair stylists.

NATURAL BARBIES?!?!

2009-10-13T09:41:00.001-04:00

Mattel is preparing to launch a NEW line of black Barbie dolls called So.In.Style. The dolls are supposed to have different features than Barbie and Ken to resemble little black girls everywhere. The dolls will have fuller lips, wider noses, and full curly hair. Black people are in an UPROAR about these dolls and they say that Mattel has completley missed the mark with these dolls.

The dolls are very modern and very similar to the regular Barbie collection. Some black people are upset because they know that Mattel once created this doll and they feel like the S.I.S collection falls short of their previous work. Although this is a beautiful doll, does it at all represent what Black people look like in America? Do you applaud Mattel for helping little black girls see beauty in their natural features or do they need to take the S.I.S collection back to the drawing board?

What Is The World?!?! (Inside Joke)

2009-10-13T09:28:00.005-04:00

I usually like to keep my focus on natural hair but today I want to touch on something else, natural bodies. When I was younger breast implants got really popular but not in my community, (as far as I knew). I honestly thought it was something that celebrities got as an investment or rich white women got for their husbands. Either way we weren’t doing it. Then sometime after J Lo and Beyonce made booties popular, cheek implants became available as well. I still thought it was a fad for the celebs and the wealthy. BOY WAS I WRONG!! For some reason there has been a growing trend in everyday life for regular working women to not only get their breast done but they’re also getting the butts done too?! What is the world coming to?! Why would you want your bum to look like this:

It doesn't even look like it belongs on them!! It looks like someone copied and pasted something on their backs.

Do ladies go into stores and pick purchase panties with butt cheeks in them?? Gimmie a break.

What are your thoughts? Does anything have to be real anymore?

What Does NATURAL Mean To You?

2009-10-12T09:34:00.002-04:00

To be or not to be? That is the questions. What does natural REALLY mean? I have noticed that ladies who decide to go natural almost do a 180 when it comes to lifestlye. The acryllic comes of, the pork stays at the grocery store, and all of a sudden they're homes smell like insence. L0L. Is natural a way to wear your hair or is it a state of mind? Is it instyle or is it a lifestyle?

What are your thoughts?

I'm Just Sayin...

2009-10-09T14:50:00.000-04:00

Good Hair opened today and if I wasn't at work today I would've been the first person in the theatre! Whoever checks it out make sure to leave your movie reviews on CCB!!!

LISTINGS

Do Men Respond To Black Hair Pt.2

2009-10-09T09:25:00.002-04:00

Here are some videos that I've found of black men responding to a ladies' decicion to go natural:

SHE'S GORGEOUS!!!

I LOVE THIS ONE. SO REAL.

Vitamin E for Hair "Growth" - The Benefits

2009-10-08T09:12:00.002-04:00

When I got my hair braided this past Friday I swear it was the tightest it's ever been!! I am in CONSTANT fear of receding hairlines because I was already born with thin edges. Naturally, I've noticed hair bumps that result from putting the hair follicle under too much pressure and I started to FREAK OUT! My mom told me to put Vitamin E oil on it and I have and it's been very helpful (as well as not moving the braids around/styling too much ::ladies be mindful::). I've always known that Vitamin E did wonders for skin but hair was too new to me so being me I did a little research. I used a 12,000 I.U. Vitamin E oil on my skin so I tried to find an article similar to my regimen but I could only find ones speaking about taking it in pill form. Here's an article I found:

What is the effect of vitamin E for hair growth?

A note about Vitamin E for Hair Growth - The Benefits

In natural health and healing, we believe in holistic health and healing, as we realize that different parts of the human body are highly interlinked, often beyond Man's understanding. We also believe that the body has the ability to heal itself of any disease, even supposedly incurable diseases.

In order to do so, the body needs the support of some basic dietary and lifestyle good health habits, such as a full body detox and a proper understanding and application of nutrition. No matter how remote or unrelated a health condition may seem, these fundamental health steps will greatly magnify the effects and benefits of any of our health-promoting efforts, including the use of specific natural health remedies.

Only recently has vitamin E as an oil or supplement come into focus as truly beneficial. Vitamin E has been shown to help even out heart arrhythmia, decrease sun damage to skin, and help keep skin youthful for a longer period of time.

Vitamin E is essential for all kinds of things to do with the body, so it might make sense that there are many benefits to the hair from vitamin E as well. Recently, it has been found that the use of vitamin E for hair growth might be useful; this is on top of its many other health benefits.

By now, you probably know that your scalp needs to have proper circulation in order to keep the hair follicles alive and thriving. While scalp massages are a great tool in helping to encourage circulation to the scalp, this often is only a temporary fix. When done daily, scalp massages can help to grow hair, but only if they are continued.

Vitamin E for hair growth is beneficial because vitamin E has the effect of a scalp massage all the time. It contains valuable antioxidants that help to keep the immune system up and improves circulation to all parts of the body, including the scalp. This isn’t to say that you should stop your scalp massages - they feel too good, but when used in conjunction with a vitamin E supplement taken daily, they will likely be much more effective in hair growth.

While it’s okay to topically use vitamin E for hair growth, it possibly works best when it’s taken as a supplement. It’s important to know before you start taking vitamin E, however, that it does increase the amount of oxygen that gets to the body, and that can cause the blood to thin, as well as clotting problems, when too much vitamin E is taken. When taking a vitamin supplement like vitamin E, it’s a good idea to start slowly, to ensure that there are no adverse affects from the vitamin, before slowly increasing the dose.

Besides the direct benefits of vitamin E for hair growth, this vitamin is also great for the immune system, and that’s great news for hair growth, since when you’re healthier, your hair is healthier, too. Think back to times when you have been on a diet. Was your hair a little less shiny, a little less healthy?

Typically, when we go on diets, we tend to deprive ourselves of the very foods, like avocadoes, that give us the most amount of vitamin E. So, make sure to eat a well balanced, healthy diet that contains lots of different sources of vitamin E to help you grow or re-grow your hair.

Vitamin E for Hair Growth - About Vitamin E Supplements

It is recommended that, if you are going to take a vitamin E supplement, you should start out at around 400 IU daily. This is a good healthy dose that is not extremely high; it will be effective without causing any negative side effects. You should know that, in healthy adults, vitamin E is rarely toxic, but doses of more than 1,000 IU daily can cause some problems.

Generally, though, we much prefer whole food supplements (for example, barley grass powder), as supposed to single-substance supplements (e.g. zinc tablets, or vitamin A supplements), as they are nutritionally balanced and complete foods. The latter, on the other hand, may be made from questionable ingredients, and may upset the body's natural balance.

Overall, if you are looking for a way to help your hair grow or grow longer, it is a good idea to keep eating healthy, keep working out, and to incorporate sufficient vitamin E in your diet.

SOURCE

10 Reasons Why Women Should Wear Their Hair Natural....

2009-10-07T09:39:00.001-04:00

Last night, while cruising through cyber space, I stumbled upon this interesting article about black women and their natural hair. So I thought I would share it with you all to hear your opinion on it. If you have a reason that you'd like to share put in the comment section. The article was written by A. Hermitt and was posted on Associated Content, make sure you click the link to read what others had to say about the list.

Some do it for the look, some do it for social reasons, and others do it for professional reasons. Here are the reasons black women should wear their hair in its natural state… Kinky.

10. It grows in that way. If your creator meant for you to have straight hair it would be straight.

9. You can do fun and versatile things with black hair. Unlike straight hair, black hair (naturally kinky) can stand straight up, and can be braided into complex designs, can be temporarily straighten without chemicals and worn in its natural state again the next day.

8. It is in style. Natural black hair is more and more acceptable everyday. It is just another fashion choice; therefore, there is no reason to go thrrough great pains to change it.

7. Straightening chemicals are dangerous. If not applied correctly it can cause burns, hair damage, and temporary to permanent hair loss.

6. Hair chemicals are really, dangerous. The food and drug administration says, “Hair relaxers and hair dyes are among its top consumer complaint areas. Complaints range from hair breakage to symptoms warranting an emergency room visit. Also in February 1994, the FDA and the American Cancer Society released an epidemiology study involving 573,000 women. Researchers found that women who never used permanent hair dyes showed decreased risk of all fatal cancers combined and of urinary system cancers.

5. You never know when it might go wrong. Just like food, allergies show up over time, so do hair chemical allergies. What worked fine two years ago, might cause a bald spot in two years.

4. If it went wrong before, it will very likely happen again. If you had a bad reaction to a perm, do not do it again. Nine times out of 10, the chemicals are just as much to blame as the stylist.

3. Pride: Your hair is an identifying symbol of your race. If you are proud of your race, you should also be proud of your hair.

2. The work place cannot discriminate against your hair. There was a time when wearing an Afro, dreadlocks or braids, your job could say you were going against the dress code. This is illegal. Do not tolerate it.

1. Time savings: Over time, you will learn to shower, wash your hair and get dressed just like people with straight hair. It is just a matter of time until you find a natural style that works well for you.

Thoughts ??!!??

SOURCE

Sooo.....Yeah

2009-10-06T12:08:00.000-04:00

The sew-in came out....and the braids went in (10/2/2009). L0L. Tryna push them till December 31st so I will be 365 days without a relaxer. :-)

Do Black Men Respond To Natural Hair?

2009-10-06T09:38:00.002-04:00

::this is a long one::

I have been thinking about this for a while now and as a woman I cannot figure this one out. I do not consider myself unattractive by any means and I usually get male attention when I am out from time to time.

When I had the sew-in the attention I received from males doubled. It was like I had a new swag!! L0L! I cannot deny that the sew-in looked good and of course it was a brand new look for me but I did not think that it made me look BETTER.

After that experience I sat down and wondered what response I would receive from men when I cut the rest of my relaxed hair off and only had naturally curly hair. How will I be perceived then? Will I still be as attractive, more attractive, or less attractive? Will the one I’m ‘with’ (L0L) leave me because I am no longer the person he first met?

Here is a post I found on another blog from a woman who gave up her naturally curly hair for male attention (her grammar is the absolute worst):

Ok, let me just get up on my soapbox!( shuffles, stumbles finds feet) I was natural from 2001 all the way up to 2006. it was long and very wavy, I loved it, BUT I found that I could not find a man. men thought it symbolized that I was worthy and a bit pious and not down a damn good time (this girl loves a good time!) they would always address me like they would address their grandmother. having my beneath the shoulder length natural hair was a turn off for them. so despite loving the look myself and feeling ashamed of compromising myself and my ideals I texturized it bone straight……. you know what happened almost immediately??? Guys who knew me on sight before were asking me if I was new in town, or if I only just started going out in the area. it’s sick to admit it and it’s shameful for me, since I loved my natural and miss it, but I like male attention and want male attention and that is what they want………… Trust me I am only alone because I want to be these days. It is sick, that some black men and women feel like this and maybe we all need to politicize our hair again so people can wake up. but me I am just human, principles are fine things……. loneliness is another. Please don’t judge me, if you have ever been truly lonely and hungry for love you will understand why I compromised myself.

Now I have never been the compromising type so I don’t see myself buckling from any pressure but the notion that it will make life ‘harder’ to some extent is saddening. Will it really be this way?

What is everyone’s opinion on this? I need some responses from men?

UPDATE: I think people took the questions I asked as if it's something I'm worried about but they're just questions I 'learned' to ask after reading other females' experiences with men and their natural hair. I just asked the questions in first person. I will be fine; believe me. A man is not going to stop this fro! L0L!!!

New Chris Brown

2009-10-06T08:57:00.000-04:00

This is my song.

The URGE to Blog

2009-10-04T20:54:00.001-04:00

As I was sitting on my couch I just felt the COMPLETE urge to share all the thoughts in my mind and the life I'm about to embark on. I usually find that I like to only 'try' things that need 100% focus and commitment to follow through all the way to the end and it all just hit me at one time that the end of 2009 will be a true test as to who I am. First (as far as the timeline goes) I've been going natural since December 31, 2008 as you all know. That has taken so much commitment and patience just to make it to the finish line and not giving into what I know is easier and more time efficient. I have also recently started the P90X workout system. Even though I am looking for any specific results, it is still a challenge to get up off of the couch and do the video of the day KNOWING that it's going to whop my @$$ in the process. Lastly, even though it's my top priority, is :: drum roll:: the LSAT. I don't think I need to go into any detail as to what the LSAT alone is going to put me through. L0L. I IDK what made me hop onto the computer mid study session but I just wanted to say that if I stick to what I've set myself to for the rest of 2009 I think I will emerge a totally different person. I don't think I'll be a brand new person like OMG I've found myself, but I'll be doing things I've always talked about and never put forth any effort to actually do. It always sounds good but I'm sure it'll be great to actually do these things I've had in my mind all along. Becoming the person I've dreamed I'd be...XOXO Gossip Girl (LOLOL)

Washing Type 4 Hair

2009-09-30T05:10:00.000-04:00

For many women, dealing with their natural hair texture can be a difficult task, and that is the main reason why chemical alterations, hair weaves and excessive heat styling are used. However, with patience, good research, trail and error of products and a positive attitude, you can have healthy hair that can be styled the way you want it .

One key practice in maintaining healthy tresses for 4a-textured hair is the regime of washing and conditioning the hair. Most people with 4a-hair texture do not need to wash their hair every day, instead they can rinse their hair with conditioner . Doing this will help retain the natural oils in the hair that shampooing daily will strip. This is important because 4a hair textures require lots of moisture and stripping the hair of moisture will cause it to be brittle, dry and less manageable. 4a hair textures can range in how it is structured from being kinky with no curl pattern , very thick and curly to tightly coiled. Below are steps to take when washing this hair texture to ensure that it will look its best daily.

First, it is recommended not to wash the hair every day and I suggest washing the hair no more than 4 days a week. This will depend on how your hair feels and is looking. For instance, I exercise daily so I wash my hair every other day because otherwise my hair would be dry and have no curl. This is due to my exercising and the heavy sweating. However, I do rinse my hair with conditioner in the shower on day that I do not shampoo. Get a good moisturizing shampoo, many brands like Aveda, Phyto, Motions, Slickline, Carol's Daughter and Ion have excellent shampoos that leave the hair feeling softer and not dry. This is key because a non moisturizing shampoo will result in hard hair as if you washed your hair ten times in a row. Also I would recommend purchasing a moisturizing conditioner from any of the brands mentioned before and one deep treatment conditioner. In-between shampoo days use the moisturizing conditioner instead and weekly deep condition the hair.

Shampoo, Condition, Deep-Treatment Day
Rinse the hair well, then apply the moisturizing shampoo. Massage the scalp while washing the hair. This helps add stimulation and gets the blood circulating in that area. It has been said that a good scalp massage helps keep the hair healthy. Then rinse the shampoo out and squeeze excessive water out of the hair. Do not towel dry the hair because this will cause the hair to frizz. Once excess water is out and apply the moisturizing conditioner. Massage the scalp again then rinse. Squeeze out excess water then apply the deep treatment conditioner and let set for recommended time. If you have a bonnet hair dry sit under it set on low heat for the time that the deep treatment is on the hair. Then rinse and style as desired.

Non-shampoo Day

Rinse the hair well with water, then squeeze out excess water and apply the moisturizing shampoo. Let set for duration of shower or recommended time stated by the brand. Rinse out the conditioner and style as desired.

Shampoo-and-Condition Day

Rinse the hair well then apply the shampoo and massage the scalp. The rinse out the shampoo and squeeze excess water out of the hair. Then apply the conditioner and let set for desired time. Rinse out and style.

By following this shampoo regimen you will see results such as less frizz, easier to style and better shine and bounce when styling straight. Also you will have less breakage which will enable you to obtain a longer length. I recommend squeezing the water out of your hair because this helps retain your curls or spirals and will prevent them from frizzing during and after the styling process. 4a hair textures look like tough hair that can take any styling technique but in reality the hair texture is fragile and needs extra care. With theses steps your 4a hair will be fabulous.

SOURCE

Miss Jessie's Twist Out 101 Demo

2009-09-29T04:46:00.000-04:00

Miss Jessie's products WIIIIIIILL try to break your pockets but if you don't mind them being broken here's a style I found on youtube:

misskrisnew

2009-09-28T09:14:00.000-04:00

Here is another beautiful woman I hair stalk on YouTube. I'm thinking that my texture will between her hair and BeautifulBrwnBabyDol's. They really keep me motivated not to keep growing my hair but motivated to stay interested as far as believing it will grow, researching products and styles, and just to keep 100% interest in the many things I can accomplish with my naps!

All The Single Babies!!!

2009-09-26T13:56:00.000-04:00

BeautifulBrwnBabyDol

2009-09-25T15:57:00.000-04:00

I love her videos! She is one of the people I stalk for hair advice and products on a regular!! I love everything about her hair and since I think (think) my hair will be somewhat similar to hers, I take notes on these videos! (Also check her accent. It's so cute!!)

A New Study That Cracks Me Up!!!

2009-09-24T13:35:00.002-04:00

Study: Fellatio may significantly decrease the risk of breast cancer in women

[INSERT INAPPROPRIATE PICTURE HERE LOL]

Thursday, October 2, 2003 Posted: 9:19 AM EDT (1319 GMT)

(AP) -- Women who perform the act of fellatio and swallow semen on a regular basis, one to two times a week, may reduce their risk of breast cancer by up to 40 percent, a North Carolina State University study found.

Doctors had never suspected a link between the act of fellatio and breast cancer, but new research being performed at North Carolina State University is starting to suggest that there could be an important link between the two.

In a study of over 15,000 women suspected of having performed regular fellatio and swallowed the ejaculatory fluid, over the past ten years, the researchers found that those actually having performed the act regularly, one to two times a week, had a lower occurrence of breast cancer than those who had not. There was no increased risk, however, for those who did not regularly perform.

"I think it removes the last shade of doubt that fellatio is actually a healthy act," said Dr. A.J. Kramer of Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, who was not involved in the research. "I am surprised by these findings, but am also excited that the researchers may have discovered a relatively easy way to lower the occurrence of breast cancer in women."

The University researchers stressed that, though breast cancer is relatively uncommon, any steps taken to reduce the risk would be a wise decision.

"Only with regular occurrence will your chances be reduced, so I encourage all women out there to make fellatio an important part of their daily routine," said Dr. Helena Shifteer, one of the researchers at the University. "Since the emergence of the research, I try to fellate at least once every other night to reduce my chances."

The study is reported in Friday's Journal of Medical Research.

In 1991, 43,582 women died of breast cancer, as reported by the National Cancer Institute.

Dr. Len Lictepeen, deputy chief medical officer for the American Cancer Society, said women should not overlook or "play down" these findings.

"This will hopefully change women's practice and patterns, resulting in a severe drop in the future number of cases," Lictepeen said.

Sooner said the research shows no increase in the risk of breast cancer in those who are, for whatever reason, not able to fellate regularly.

"There's definitely fertile ground for more research. Many have stepped forward to volunteer for related research now in the planning stages," he said.

Almost every woman is, at some point, going to perform the act of fellatio, but it is the frequency at which this event occurs that makes the difference, say researchers. Also key seems to be the protein and enzyme count in the semen, but researchers are again waiting for more test data.

The reasearch consisted of two groups, 6,246 women ages 25 to 45 who had performed fellatio and swallowed on a regular basis over the past five to ten years, and 9,728 women who had not or did not swallow. The group of women who had performed and swallowed had a breast cancer rate of 1.9 percent and the group who had not had a breast cancer rate of 10.4 percent.

"The findings do suggest that there are other causes for breast cancer besides the absence of regular fellatio," Shafteer said. "It's a cause, not THE cause."

SOURCE

UPDATE!!! If you read the Dr names it appear that the names are fake so I'm assuming the article is as well. It was hilarious though. Good job whoever wrote this!!

I Relapsed...

2009-09-24T11:56:00.001-04:00

I broke down last night and ate some freakin McDonalds for dinner. I ate a #11 [Fish Filet] meal with fries and a medium coke. Here's what I ingested:

Nutrition Facts
Calories 970 (4055 kJ)
% Daily Value 1
Total Fat 37g 57%
Sat. Fat 6g 30%
Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol 40mg 13%
Sodium 920mg 38%
Total Carbs. 144g 48%
Dietary Fiber 7g 28%
Sugars 63g
Protein 20g
Calcium 1800mg

SOURCE

Not only did it start killing me slowly, it made me a little sick since I hadn't eaten fast food in a while. I WILL NOT be going back to McDonalds again...unless it's for that good $1 cone! That thing is the best! L0L!

4 Tips for Lower Cholesterol Fast

2009-09-24T09:28:00.001-04:00

High cholesterol isn't inevitable as we age. Fight back four ways -- and lower cholesterol fast.
By R. Morgan GriffinWebMD Feature
Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD

Deepening smile lines and silver locks may be inevitable features of growing older, but rising cholesterol doesn't have to be.
And while higher cholesterol is often a consequence of aging, young people can have it too. But no matter your age, it poses a big health risk. That's because unhealthy cholesterol levels can boost your risk of heart attacks, strokes, and other problems.
Fortunately, you can do something about it.
"Unlike your age and your genes, cholesterol levels are risk factors that you can often change," says Jorge Plutzky MD, director of the Vascular Disease Prevention Program at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston.
Lower Cholesterol: 4 Ways to Fast Results
According to experts, there are four basic ways to get your cholesterol where you want it:
· Eating a healthy diet.
· Exercising
· Losing weight
· Taking medicine -- in some cases
While each of these works, some people have more success with one than another. Many need a combination of approaches.
No matter what your age or the state of your health, you can reduce your risks of serious problems by controlling your cholesterol -- and it's not as hard as you think.
Know Your Cholesterol Numbers
While Plutzky says that people are often alarmed when they find out they have high cholesterol, many are also confused.
"They don't understand what the numbers mean," he tells WebMD, "They don't know the difference between total cholesterol, LDL and HDL."
So let's start with some basics. Cholesterol is a fat-like substance that circulates in your blood. Some of it is made naturally by your body, and the rest comes from foods you eat. There are two main types: HDL and LDL.
· LDL is "bad cholesterol." It can clog your arteries, increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke. Optimal number: Less than 100mg/dL.
· HDL is "good cholesterol." What's good about it? HDL attaches to bad cholesterol and escorts it to the liver, which filters it out of the body. So HDL reduces the amount of bad cholesterol in your system. Desirable number: 60mg/dL or higher.
· Total cholesterol is the sum of all types of cholesterol in your blood. Although your doctor may still refer to this number, it's less significant than your HDL and LDL levels. Desirable number: Less than 200 mg/dL.
· Triglycerides , while not cholesterol, are another type of fat floating in your blood. Just as with bad cholesterol, having a high level of triglycerides increases your risk of cardiovascular problems. Healthy number: Less than 150 mg/dL.
Think you need to get a handle on your LDL, HDL, total cholesterol or triglycerides? Here's how to do it.
1. Lower Cholesterol by Eating Right
You've probably heard it before, but foods that are high in saturated fat and -- to a lesser extent -- high in cholesterol, boost your cholesterol levels. These include foods like egg yolks, fatty meats, and full-fat dairy products.

Know Your Cholesterol Numbers continued...
Plutzky recommends you also cut down on trans fatty acids as well, which are more often found in processed and fried foods.
But eating a heart healthy diet isn't just about deprivation. In fact, some foods -- eaten in moderation -- can actually improve your cholesterol levels. They include:
· Fatty fish, like tuna and salmon
· Nuts, especially walnuts and almonds
· Oatmeal and oat bran
· Foods fortified with stanols, like some margarines and orange juices
How much does diet help? It depends.
"The effect of diet has a varying effect on people's cholesterol," says Roger Blumenthal MD, director of the Preventive Cardiology Center at Johns Hopkins Medical School in Baltimore. "Some people get a lot more benefit than others."
Blumenthal says diet tends to help people lower triglycerides and raise good HDL cholesterol, but it's less likely to have a big impact on bad LDL cholesterol.

2. Improving Cholesterol With Exercise
Exercise is another way to improve your cholesterol levels. Increased physical activity can have a modest effect on cholesterol, lowering triglycerides (and bad LDL cholesterol to a lesser extent), while boosting your good HDL cholesterol.
Of course, the type of exercise is up to you. Plotzky says just about any aerobic activity -- something that boosts your heart rate -- is good. Blumenthal says that walking is often the best way for people who are out of shape to get started.
"I encourage people to buy a $10 pedometer to count their steps," says Blumenthal. "It's a simple way to measure your progress, and it's easy to work in walking during the day."

3. Lose Weight: Lower Cholesterol
Being overweight tends to lead to unhealthy cholesterol levels. Losing weight can lower your bad LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. It also can raise your good HDL cholesterol.
Of course, weight loss is usually a product of a good diet and exercise. So what if you've already improved your diet and started exercising but still need to lose weight?
Then you need to make some further adjustments -- gradually. Once you've reduced your intake of saturated fats, trans fats, and cholesterol, you can focus on cutting out some calories. In the same way, once you've gotten into an exercise routine, you can step up the intensity to lose some pounds.

4. Controlling Cholesterol With Medication
So what happens if diet, exercise and weight loss aren't enough to bring your cholesterol under control? Your doctor might recommend medicine.
Medicine may also be a first choice for people who have other risk factors. "If you have high cholesterol and heart disease or diabetes," says Blumenthal, "the evidence is pretty clear that you should be on medication."
Several types of medication can help, including:
· Statins, like Crestor, Lescol, Lipitor, Mevacor, Pravachol, and Zocor. Statins are usually the first choice for medicine. They block the effects of an enzyme that helps make cholesterol. They also lower bad cholesterol by a whopping 20-55%. They have a modest effect on triglycerides and give a mild boost to your good cholesterol.
· Ezetimibe (Zetia) is a newer cholesterol-reducing medication that decreases how much cholesterol the body absorbs. It can lower bad cholesterol by up to 25%. Ezetimibe may be combined with a statin to boost the cholesterol lowering effects. Vytorin is Zetia combined with the statin Zocor.
· Niacin, available as Niacor, Niaspan, and Nicolar (among others), lowers LDL cholesterol and triglycerides and raises HDL cholesterol. LDL levels are usually cut by 5-15% and may be reduced up to 25%.
· Bile acid resins like Colestid, Lo-Cholest, Prevalite, Questran, and WelChol. They stick to cholesterol in the intestines and prevent it from being absorbed. They can lower LDL cholesterol by 15-30%.
· Fibrates like Atromid, Lopid, and Tricor. They mainly reduce your triglycerides and may also give a mild boost to your HDL. LDL is affected to a much lesser extent.
Like any medicines, drugs to lower your cholesterol can have side effects. Talk to your health care provider about the risks.
If you wind up needing a medicine, don't feel like your lifestyle changes have failed. Some people have high cholesterol that just doesn't respond as well to exercise and diet, but keeping up your lifestyle changes may allow you to take lower doses of medicine.

Fia's Hairtyping System

2009-09-24T09:20:00.000-04:00

Fia's Hairtyping System
FIRST CLASSIFIER - Your curliness (or lack thereof)

The straight ones
1a - stick straight
1b - straight but with a slight body wave, just enough to add some volume, doesn't look wavy
1c - straight with body wave and one or two visible S-waves (e.g. nape of neck or temples)The

Wavy ones
2a - loose, stretched out S-waves throughout the hair
2b - shorter, more distinct S-waves (similar to waves from braiding damp hair)
2c - distinct S-waves and the odd spiral curl forming here and there

The curly ones
3a - big, loose spiral curls
3b - bouncy ringlets
3c - tight corkscrews

The really curly ones
4a - tightly coiled S-curls
4b - tightly coiled hair bending in sharp angles (Z-pattern)

SECOND CLASSIFIER - What (most of) your individual strands look like?

F - Fine
Thin strands that sometimes are almost translucent when held up to the light. Shed strands can be hard to see even against a contrasting background. Similar to hair found on many people of Scandinavian descent. You can also try rolling a strand between your thumb and index finger. Fine hair is difficult to feel or it feels like an ultra-fine strand of silk

M - Medium
Strands are neither fine nor coarse. Similar to hair found on many Caucasians.
You can also try rolling a strand between your thumb and index finger. Medium hair feels like a cotton thread. You can feel it, but it isn't stiff or rough. It is neither fine or coarse.

C - Coarse
Thick strands that where shed strands usually are easily identified against most backgrounds. Similar to hair found on many people of Asian or native American descent.
You can also try rolling a strand between your thumb and index finger. Coarse hair feels hard and wiry. As you roll it back and forth, you may actually hear it.

THIRD CLASSIFIER - Your overall volume of hair

Put your hair in a ponytail with as much hair as possible in it. Don't bother with the way it looks - the goal is to have most/all of your hair in there. If it means it sits smack dab on top of your head, put it there. Measure the circumference of the ponytail. If you have bangs and/or you can't get all of your hair in there adjust according to how much of your hair you have measured.

i - thin (less than 2 inches/5 centimeters)
ii - normal (between 2-4 inches or 5-10 centimeters)
iii - thick (more than 4 inches/10 centimeters)

My Hair Type - 4A

2009-09-24T08:57:00.001-04:00

Type 4: Kinky hair

If your hair falls into the Type 4 category, then it is kinky, or very tightly curled. Generally, Type 4 hair is very wiry, very tightly coiled and very, very fragile. Like Type 3 hair, Type 4 hair appears to be coarse, but it is actually quite fine, with lots and lots of this strands densely packed together. Healthy Type 4 hair won't shine, but it will have sheen. It will be soft to the touch and will pass the strand test with ease. It will feel more silky than it will look shiny. Oprah, Whoopi Goldberg and the actress Angela Bassett are all Type 4s.Type 4 hairs looks tough and durable, but looks can be deceiving. If you have Type 4 hair, you already know that it is the most fragile hair around. Why? Type 4 hair has fewer cuticle layers than any other hair type, which means that it has less natural protection from the damage you inflict by combing, brushing, curling, blow-drying and straightening it. The more cuticle layers in a single strand of hair, the more protection it has from damage. Each time you damage your hair – fire up the curling iron, fry it with chemicals – you break down a cuticle layer, robbing your hair of much-needed moisture. I cannot emphasize this enough. It's like taking a wire and bending it again and again. Eventually, it's going to snap and break.Many women with Type 4 hair rely on chemical relaxers to make hair easier to control. In its natural states, sometimes Type 4 hair doesn't grow very long because every time you comb it, it breaks. (Of course, if you have dreadlocks and never comb them or keep them braided, your hair can and does grow quite long.)There are two subtypes of Type 4 hair: Type 4A, tightly coiled hair that, when stretched, has an "S" pattern, much like curly hair; and Type 4B, which has a "Z" pattern, less of a defined curl pattern (instead of curling or coiling, the hair bends in sharp angles like the letter "Z"). Type 4A tends to have more moisture than Type 4B, which will have a wiry texture. But what if your hair has been chemically straightened? How can you tell which subtype you belong to if your hair is relaxed? You'll need at least one inch of new growth to tell. Pull at the roots. If you can see a definite curl pattern, then it's an A, if not, then it's a B.

Addendum:
NaturallyCurly.com type 4 readers have found the above description limiting, and somewhat misleading. We offer the following addendum:Type 4 hair can range from fine/thin to wiry/coarse strand texture. Generally, this hair is densely packed to give the appearance of very thick but fragile hair. 4a hair has a clearly visible curl and wave pattern that ranges from pen size curls to pen spring size coils. 4b hair has a tighter wave pattern and kinks of various size. This texture does not exhibit the shine or silkiness of looser type curls, but instead has sheen, and a soft, almost cotton-like feel. As with other types of curly hair, showing the true length can be an extra challenge, as the hair may grow "up" or "out" before starting to hang down. In its unlocked/unbraided state, type 4 hair is known to shrink up to 75% of the actual hair length. With the proper care and technique, type 4 hair is indeed resilient, manageable, durable, growable and easy to control.

What to try: For Type 4ab, creams and butters work best.

Try Hot Buttered Curls for 4a hair or Curlaccino for 4b hair. Other choices:
Blended Beauty Happy Nappy Styles Curl Junkie Guava Curl Creme Mixed Chicks Leave-in Conditioner Long Lovely Locks Coco Light Miss Jessie's Buttercreme MyHoneyChild Type 4 Hair Cream My HoneyChild Natural Hair Creme Kinky-Curly Curling Custard Greenridge Herbals Jojoba Shea Hair Butter Jane Carter Solution Twist & Lock Kynk Hair Honey Naani's Naturals Curly Custard Oyin Handmade Whipped Pudding

Tips: This hair type needs extra moisture and tender care to prevent breakage. Let the hair air dry and do not brush or comb. To refresh bed head or fight fuzzy hair line, use a moisturizing hairdress like Miss Jessie's Curly Buttercreme or Oyin Handmade Burnt Sugar Pomade.

SOURCE

RIGHT NOW, I'M THINKING MY HAIR IS TYPE BUT UNTIL IT'S ALL THE WAY OUT I CAN'T TELL. I'LL POST SOME PICTURES OF FOKI PICS I'VE SEEN THAT I THINK I'LL BE SIMILAR TOO. THE ANTICIPATION IS KILLING ME!

I’m SOOO Pressed!

2009-09-23T18:36:00.001-04:00

Sooo I got home and started brushing my sew in. As I was brushing, I noticed just how much of my hair had come out of the braids in the front and the back so I started playing with it. With a little water and Liv this is what happened….

Some of them won’t curl completely because they have perm on the ends but this had made me like 100% more excited about seeing what this will be like in the future. I know I”m going to need hella product and patience to manage this but I’m ready to get it growing and HUGE!!! L0L!!

Fast Food = Cholesterol

2009-09-22T16:32:00.005-04:00

I'm going to start showing the nutritional facts of some of my FAVORITE meals from my fav fast food spots. First up: Bojangles: (the % are the daily values)

Cajun Chicken Leg (I usually eat two so double this)

Calories 264 (1104 kJ)
Total Fat: 16g 25%
Cholesterol: 96mg 32%
Sodium: 530mg 22%
Total Carbs.: 11g 4%
Dietary Fiber: 0.5g 2%
Protein: 10g

Biscuit

Calories 243 (1016 kJ)
Total Fat: 12g 18%
Sat. Fat: 3g 15%
Cholesterol: 2mg 1%
Sodium: 663mg 28%
Total Carbs.: 29g 10%
Dietary Fiber: 2g 8%
Protein: 4g

Dirty Rice

Calories 166 (694 kJ)
Total Fat: 6g 9%
Sat. Fat: 2g 10%
Cholesterol: 10mg 3%
Sodium: 762mg 32%
Total Carbs.: 24g 8%
Dietary Fiber: 1g 4%
Protein:5g

Green Beans

Calories 25 (105 kJ)
Total Fat: 0g 0%
Sat. Fat: 0g 0%
Trans Fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg 0%
Sodium: 710mg 30%
Total Carbs.: 5g 2%
Dietary Fiber: 2g 8%
Protein: 0g

As you can see, this meal will kill you. L0L!!!

Ok....

2009-09-22T09:19:00.008-04:00

So I've been gone forever and a day because I felt like I really didn't have a purpose for this blog. I was doing it just to do it and as you can see I've fallen off completely!! I had decided to stop blogging but I think I have found my 'purpose'.

I've been going natural for 9 months and 22 days and I and I have been in a COMPLETE whirlwind since I started. I never actually indented on going natural but at almost 10 months in I’m pretty sure that’s what it’s evolved to.

When I first moved my healthy head of hair to Atlanta, I tried to find shops that were fairly inexpensive (around $75 for a perm) so I was doing a great deal of chair hopping. While doing so I experienced many chemical burns, breakage, thinning; just an overall decline in my hair presence. I was too through because unlike India.Aire baby I AM my hair!!! I got my last perm December 31, 2008 and decided to take a break and listen around the water cooler for a new stylist. Finding a good stylist was harder than I thought so…

Then came the braids (March 2009) because I hadn’t found anyone to do my hair. Before I knew it I was getting my edges redone because I was still in limbo when it came to finding a new stylist.

Ok so the braids HAD to come out around July and I didn’t know what to do with myself soooo….

hen came the sew in. I used to be ANTI-weave but now that I have this naturally natural, I see it’s purpose! L0L!

I am currently rocking the sew-in but since I’ve had it for about a month and a half, I know that it will be coming out soon. I am stuck between a rock and a hard place because I do not know what to do next. Getting a perm is last on my list and straightening it weekly isn’t too high on this list either. I have become a natural hair blog stalker (lol) and this is where I think I’ve found my purpose. I don’t want to start yet another hair blog BUT I would like to just show my process and the things I have learned (hair related and not) during this tumultuous journey.

There is only a SMALL amount of hair out at the top and this is what it looks like when some water gets on it. (Don't mind the blue. That's the flash from my camera phone.)

I will be coming back FREQUENTLY with hair updates, YouTube vids (you know I love YouTube), products, and anything else (a lot of food updates as well) I learn while I'm on this journey.

Peace and Blessings.

You May Now Kiss the Bride...

2009-07-28T08:49:00.002-04:00

After the news broke of the uber cute Chris Brown wedding entrance I decided that I HAD to see it since everyone was talkinga bout it! One thing lead to another and here are some other vids I saw:

New Shoes

2009-07-27T22:09:00.005-04:00

Here are some men's shoes that I think are pretty hot for the 'back to school' season. (Yes I work in retail L0L)

Adam Duffy Throw Some Shapes Hi-Top Trainers - $22.23
Puma 917 Low ($68.40) and Mid-Top ($76.95) Popart Trainers. I think it's pretty cool how they look like cartoons.

Puma 917 Mid Factory II Trainers - $58.14

A Movie Lover's Suggestions

2009-07-27T13:14:00.003-04:00

Here are two movies I really want to see:

I love Ari Gold so I KNOW I'll love this character!!

I don't usually watch scary movies...well I never watch scary movies but I think I'm going to take a chance with this one. It looks really good and I am absolutely in love with the actor that played Capt. Kirk so I am looking forward to seeing him in this movie as well.

IDK if This is Me.

2009-07-09T14:27:00.002-04:00

Personality test may be full of shit. I took this 'color quiz' and IDK who the heck they're talking about in this personality analysis but I know it isn't me.

ColorQuiz.com src="http://www.colorquiz.com/images/colorquizlogosmall2.gif" width=120 border=0>

http://chocolatecandybox.blogspot.com took the free ColorQuiz.com personality test!

""Has a strong desire to contribute and influence o..."

Click here to read the rest of the results.

Ego Remake

2009-07-09T08:35:00.000-04:00

Nice

ROTFLMAO!

2009-07-08T08:30:00.000-04:00

Yes Men Can Be BBOM's Too!

2009-07-07T08:29:00.000-04:00

O_o

Flu Bug

2009-07-02T23:14:00.001-04:00

Once again the flu bug has bitten me but it wasn’t just me this time. In one weekend at least 9 people caught the flu in DC. Sounds like a epidemic doesn’t it? This is a random post but I’m trying out this Vista Blog Writer thing and talking about my ailments all at once. Sweet.

Memphis Jookin

2009-06-16T16:44:00.003-04:00

Remember when Three 6 Mafia was REALLY hot and Crunchy Black used to do a dance with his feet? I remember 'we' used to call it "The Crunchy Black" because we thought it was something he created. We were so wrong. The dance is called Memphis Jookin (I've finally caught up to 2009) and I am totally smitten by this dance. Here's a vid: B Frank and Lil Buck killed it!

WHY WHY WHY?!?!?!?!

2009-06-10T22:15:00.004-04:00

WHY WHY WHY are groups so manufactured these days?! A friend of mine is telling me about a 'new' group in Miami (new to the rest of the world) that get hella radio play down there so I Google them and this is what I find:

O_o

How the f*$K am I supposed to take you seriously when you look like a wax figured boy band. On top of that there is SOOOO much autotune in their music that you can't even tell if they're talented!! OMG 2009 makes me sick sometimes. Is this really the only direction music execs are allowing new talent to follow? If so...I digress.

Check out this video. When they sing live (first 20 seconds) they sound alright (talent wise). After that.... SMDH

BBOM

2009-06-10T09:36:00.002-04:00

I have no words.

Cool Bag

2009-06-04T14:30:00.000-04:00

SPOTTED