Link of the Day - Style Inspiration

Picture of Franchesca. Loving her hair and her overall style!

Source - Franchesca.net

Loc Curls - Twist and Curves

 I love this picture!!!

Stylist: Twist & Curves, Maria www.twistandcurves.com
Pipe cleaners used to achieve curls
Model: Nicole
Photographer: Robert Cooper

Link of the Day - Brianna McCarthy!

Beautiful pictures from artist Brianna McCarthy.

Sylist Kem Simmon's - Flexie Rod Curls

 

 Flexie Rod Curl's styled by loctician Kem Juan Simmon's. I want these curls!! Love it Kem!

Link of the Day - Franchesca's Updo

Updo style by Franchesca! Her inspiration for this style is singer Janelle Monae. Makes me wish my hair was a little bit shorter... I would try this style myself. Here is the video tutorial for this style -

Khamit Kinks

Amazing work by Khamit Kinks. Photos from their Facebook page.

Color Correction Tip from Nerissa

Model Nerissa Irving did a YouTube video talking about how she washes her hair. It is a two part video. I can't link the first video, because there is a shower scene... lol.  But above are a few screen shots of of the first and second video. Before Nerissa washes her hair, she does a color check/correction. She looks for any spots where there may be sun damage or embedded lint.  She then uses Bigen to color correct those spots.  I can link part two of the video where she shows how she moisturizes her hair and creates her big curls -

Thanks Nerissa!  I also did a blog a while back on an alternative color spot correction here.

French Native Beauty - Anaïse

Today's Natural Beauty is Anaïse (it sounds like "Anna-is", it's a french). She is from French Guiana.

Q: What is your hair story?  What kind of hair styles have you rocked, before embracing your natural hair?
A: I was 12 or 13 years old when I started relaxing, but I met problems with breakage, lot of length gone and damaged hair! I was 15-16 years old and I thought I would prefer a short and healthy natural hair, rather than “long” and damaged relaxed hair. Then I decided to do a big chop once. Unfortunately, it wasn't so easy at this time because I wasn't enough mature to embrace my natural hair. Indeed, relaxed hair is a standard for a lot of people. I decided to go back to relaxed, as it took a good length. 

Q: When and why did you decide to start wearing your hair naturally?
A: I was around 19 years old and I left my country to study in France. So it was easier to wear my hair in my teeny weeny afro again! Before going to the plane, I went to a hairdresser for the big chop again! No laughs, no unkind remarks… it was easier, new friends, new schoolmates, new life, new community! You know, living in French Guyana is like living in a small village, and it’s harder to correspond with a beauty standard or ideal because people like to talk, gossip, and give "advice". Obviously, in France there are many black people who don't like kinky hair and prefer relaxing but in general, "indifference" is the norm. I realized we can be pretty the way we are. Everyone has complexes and some unkind remarks that can hurt, so you can choose to pay them no mind even if it's not easy everyday!

Q: Did you have any big fears about going back to your natural texture?
A: Hum...looking like a guy! But I found great ways to feel more feminine. Since the BC, I've tried to take care of my hair, my skin, make up, jewels, etc.

Q: What are three products you can't live without for nurturing/styling your hair?
A: Organic Root Stimulator's Olive Oil Moisturizing Lotion, Curl Junkie's Hibiscus & Banana Deep Fix, Bioshine Intense's aloe vera treatment (Brazil)

Q: What would you say to someone who's thinking about embracing their natural hair, but scared about being rejected in various parts of their lives?
A: Appearance isn’t the most important thing (humor, intelligence, temper, points of view are far more important in terms of relationships), but people sometimes act like is. Everyone wants to be loved and appreciated for who they are, but you also do your best to be an “attractive person”. I’ve never really felt ashamed about my hair but there was a gap between my natural hair (+ other things) and some TV idols. Today, I feel prettier than ever because I'm not challenging a beauty standard. I understood 

 there is difference between  "my beauty" and "the ideal of beauty".

Q: How can we keep up with you and your journey i.e. blog, twitter, facebook, fotki, tumblr, personal or professional website? (Optional)
A: I have a blog but if you don't speak french, it's difficult to understand!  http://nefertarians.blogspot.com/

Thank you Anaïse! Gorgeous pictures and I enjoyed reading your interview. ~ Karen

Link of the Day! Baby Twist Out

Michaell

"Baby girl MP and her first twist out!"

- Curly Nikki

Link of the Day - Beads, Braids & Beyond

Cute little girls hair style seen on Beads, Braids & Beyond. The original photos are from Rachelle Yakubu photography.

Wedding Styles by Twist & Curves

 Twist and Curves Natural Hair's Photos
- Bridal Expo and Photo shoot
Styles by Maria Thompson

I Love Your Style!

I have always admired Sergio's Style! Love it!
http://www.runwaywonderland.com

http://eyewonderwhy.tumblr.com

Ima's Curls!

I have total loc envy when it comes to Ima's loc's. I first saw Ima online and then in person, and she is just as beautiful in person as she is in her photos (also see her previous post). Ima recently tried the styling technique of using pipe cleaners, to create big beautiful curls, with her loc's. And it came out gorgeous!

"After shampooing my loc's I put the pipe cleaners in them while still damp & kept them in until they where completely dry, before I pulled them out. I use very little oil on my scalp & hair.  I had so much fun styling my hair, it was easy to put them in." ~ Ima

I am inspired!  I will be trying this style soon. Thanks Ima...

Wedding Perfect!

A very simple, but beautiful bride. 

Wedding gown designed by SAMUELLE

- Source 

Goapele's Hair: Style How-To from Black Voices

(Image above from Kontrol Magazine)

See below for a great article and Style how-to video from Black Voices.

I Want Her Hair: Goapele!
By Aisha I. Jefferson on Nov 29th 2010 12:00PM
 
"Once known for donning waist-skimming locs, Goapele is turning heads with a cornrow-design updo that is truly a work of art.

For those who may remember, on first sight Goapele's natural coiffure is a throwback to the chic braided styles that actress Cicely Tyson wore in '70s. But Goapele, whose father is South African, says the hair creations worn by the late South African singer Miriam Makeba married with styles typically worn on straighter hair served as inspirations for the look seen above -- think the bouffant hairstyles of the '50s or the teased and overly hair-sprayed 'dos of the '80s.


Although the look doesn't have a formal name, it's an artistic conception. "I like to kind of mimic styles you would do with straight hair because it looks so different when you do it with natural hair," says Goapele, who cut her hair four years ago into a short, cropped cut. "It's a way for me to keep things fun and interesting for me now that I've moved on from the locs. And it's a way for me to keep my braids unique."

The Oakland native, who received a lot of attention when she wore her hair locked, is now receiving much of the same type of notoriety for this hairstyle, which takes about nine hours to complete and another two or three hours to wrap. "The braids are so small. And she's patient and so steady," says hairstylist Anana Scott about the timely process.

If sitting for nine hours sounds challenging, Scott says bear in mind that the amount of time is relative and "depends on the thickness of the hair, the width, and sometimes length of the braids and how elaborate the style."

Goapele usually wears the updo for two to three weeks (she doesn't like for it to get fuzzy) and uses a dry shampoo like Organic Root Stimulator Herbal Cleanse ($6.39,Sallybeauty.com) to wash her scalp. She then wraps her hair at night with a silk scarf and moisturizes with Organic Root Stimulator Shea Butter Moisturizing Lotion ($8.29, Sallybeauty.com) or a Carol's Daughter Tui hair oil ($8.50, Carolsdaughter.com).

"As for thread wraps, the design is taut– but not unbearable. It will last through washing, swimming, etcetera, but make sure for both braids and wraps that you keep the scalp moist with light oil after washing," Scott advises. How does it affect the edges? As a way to preserve her edges and avoid any scalp stress, Goapele sports two-strand twists in between getting this style. " I really like for the edges of my hair to get a break for about one and a half to two weeks," she says.

Thread-wrapping isn't a new style for Goapele, however. Scott used to style and thread-wrap the singer's hair when she was a little girl. And even though Scott learned this technique from her Mississippi-bred grandmother, who used do a similar wrap style with women's hair decades ago, she says it's a technique that definitely has its roots in Africa.

"I am glad to say not all of the culture was stripped from us during the dark years!" Scott says.

Watch the how-to video to see how Scott creates this look on Goapele."

~ Source

Here are a few more images of Goaple rocking this unique braided style.

Featured Reader - Paulette!

 

 

Thank you Paulette, for sharing photos of your cool natural style.  Paulette also has a great Etsy store,

Dahlia Soleil Collection.