what is a FRO HAWK????

The fro hawk is a hairstyle that allows a person to wear their hair in a Mohawk style without cutting or buzzing the sides of their hair off. Most fro hawks uses hair twists on the side, cornrows or just pinning up the sides.


Fro hawks for kinky hair is a nice look especially if you wear your hair in a naturally curly hairstyle. Some of the more popular sports figures and fashion models can be found wearing fro hawks in various lengths, textures and colors. The Mohawk has been a style mostly seen on punk rockers and the like but has transcended to all hair types and genres.

Some fro hawk photos for men and women give some great mohawk inspired looks for those who want to take a chance on this trendy hairstyle. If you are not ready for a true commitment you may prefer the faux mohawk which basically lets you wear your hair in its original form once you are done with your fro hawk fantasies.

ITS NOT TOO LATE TO ENTER.. CONTEST TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm hosting my first

Au NaturaleGive-A-Way


The rules are simple:

1. You must be a follower of Au Naturale by Miss Sixx ( http://missnaturale.blogspot.com/)

2. Answer the poll question on the the left side of the page " What is your favorite oil".

3. You must leave a comment including your e-mail address

**US residents only!!**


The winner will be picked randomly on August 4th, 2009 & I'll post the winner on August 5th, 2009.


There will only be one winner but don't fret I'll be doing more give-a-ways soon.


Alright, now for the good part, the prize.

(1) bottle of your favorite oil, along with an orginial Au Naturalereceipe ( named after the winner) to include a body butter or hair butter ( your choice) using your favorite oil.

Receipe: Aloe Vera Moisturizer Mist

Here is the receipe of my favorite moisturizer

Water
2 ounces Pure Aloe Vera Juice
2 ounces Coconut Oil or EVOO
1- Vitamin E capsule
1-2 tsp Glycerin or honey Quat
1-2 tsp jojoba Oil
2-3 drops of Rosemary EO ( or any EO of your choice) **optional**

Mix together in a spray bottle- Mist daily or as needed


** You can alter the amounts until you until you get the results you like***

How do you use coconut milk in your hair??

How do you use coconut milk in your hair??

1. Coconut milk soaks. This involves no other ingredient other than
coconut milk coming into contact with your hair. You douse your hair
in coconut using the whole can and leave on your hair for about an
hour. I have not done this because most people comment that it is so
drippy while your are waiting that hour..but they do say it makes
their hair feel nice!

2. Coconut milk+Conditioner mixtures. I do this very frequently,
about every other week to ensure that I do not have hair protein
overload. I mix coconut milk with my moisturizing deep conditioners
(not protein conditioners because coconut milk is a protein
remember!!). The conditioners that I have had great success with
coconut milk are Lustrasilk Sheabutter Cholesterol (in the bottle)
and Proclaim Aloe&Shea all of which you can find at your Sally's
beauty supply. I mix coconut milk with these conditioners and add
other natural ingredients including coconut oil, aloe vera gel, and
castor oil. You can change your recipes based on what your hair
wants. The general recipe for the coconut milk+conditioner mixture is
as so:

1/4 cup coconut milk
2 tablespoons honey
1/4 cup conditioner
Mix all of these ingredients and let sit on your hair for about an
hour and rinse out! Strong fluffy hair for the rest of the week!

** Courtesy of Moni from Au_naturale@yahoogroups.com **

Au Naturale GIVE- A- WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm hosting my first

Au Naturale Give-A-Way


The rules are simple:
1. You must be a follower of Au Naturale by Miss Sixx

2. Answer the poll question on the the left side of the page " What is your favorite oil".

3. You must leave a comment including your e-mail address

US residents only!!


The winner will be picked randomly on August 4th, 2009 & I'll post the winner on August 5th, 2009.


There will only be one winner but don't fret I'll be doing more give-a-ways soon.


Alright, now for the good part, the prize.

(1) bottle of your favorite oil, along with an orginial Au Naturale receipe ( named after the winner) to include a body butter or hair butter ( your choice) using your favorite oil.

Twist Out

The twist-out has become a very popular natural hairstyle for women with curly and coily natural hair. This style is easy to do but takes a bit of time.
First hair is washed and conditioned. Comb the hair and part the hair in small square sections or flat twist the hair vertically while hair is still damp. Once hair is dry, release each twist carefully. You can use a small amount of gel to your fingers as you release each twist to keep the frizzies at bay. Style the hair as desired.

For best results make sure your hair has been shaped by a professional stylist.

Gallery of Natural Hair Styles

Hair Today... Gone Tomorrow.. Solange cuts it all off!!!!

The sister of singer Beyonce has long resented the comparisons to the famous diva. She once playfully said she would 'go crazy like Britney' if people kept comparing her to her sister.

And it seems she might finally have Solange wrote on her Twitter page that she was going through a 'i wanna cut all my Hair off & have a fade (cropped haircut) phase'.
She has in the past typically worn hair extensions or the lace-front wigs - where the wig is glued on - also worn by her sister.

Ironically in the past she has joked that the constant comparisons to her superstar sibling might tip her over the edge and send her into a Britney-style meltdown.
She said: 'I get asked about Beyonce all the time but I try and make fun of it.
'Sometimes I say she's not my sister. Other times I say I've stuffed her in my suitcase and sent it to Dubai.

'I have to have fun with it or I'll turn into Britney - shave my head and go totally crazy.'
But whatever the reason, she unveiled the edgy new look as she ran errands in LA with her son Juelz, 4.
However, it seems she not too keen to debut the look on the red carpet. As later on she attended a Dita Von Teese


Solange is seen as the more adventurous sister in comparison to pop monolith Beyoncé.
Behind the scenes, she has written hit songs for Destiny's Child as well as some of her big sister's biggest hits.

She finally broke into the music scene as a solo artist with Solo Star, an up-tempo R&B record bolstered by the Neptunes, Timbaland and a host of other super-producers.

Solange - who has released her debut single I Decided last year has received mixed reviews for her self-titled debut album Sol-Angel and the Hadley St. Dreams in which is a mix of electro pop and retro soul.But she has said Americans think she is 'nutty' because of her forthright attitude. She told the Daily Star : 'I get a lot of wrinkled noses because of how outspoken I am.

'Probably not in the U.K. because women here tend to be pretty frank and have a dry sense of humour but back home they're scared of me for some reason and think I'm a little nutty.'

Loc Maintenance Oils-Essential & Others

What Oils Are Good

In a previous article regarding loc maintenance, I mentioned several oils -- essential and otherwise -- that can be good to have in your loc maintenance arsenal. Included in the list were:

Jojoba Oil: A carrier oil; closely emulates the natural oils produced by the sebacous glands

Sweet Almond Oil: also a carrier oil

Rosemary Essential Oil: assists with hair growth; should not be used by pregnant women

Extra Virgin Olive Oil: used for hot oil treatments; can be a carrier oil

Ylang Ylang Essential Oil: very aromatic; used to stimulate

The following herbs, which can be purchased as essential oils as well, should also be considered as part of your hair care regimen:

Chamomile: used to bring out the highlights in lighter colored hair

Horsetail: has a high silica content which helps relieve dry, brittleness; very moisturizing

Mint: stimulates the scalp

Nettle: a stimulant and helps with dandruff

Sage: used in hair rinses to remove dandruff; helps to restore color to hair that is graying

Thyme: treats oily hair and dandruff

You must be very careful in your use of essential oils. Improper or overuse of essential oils can have adverse affects on some. Please be sure that you fully understand the use of essential oils before incorporating them into your natural hair care regimen. There are plenty of resources out on the Internet that can assist you in learning the proper use and storage of essential oils.
One of my readers asked if all the oils listed needed to be used and how should they be used. This article is in response to her questions, and also to further elaborate on how these can be incorporated into your hair care routine.

Carrier Oils

Carrier oils are healthy oils used as a base for other products. They "carry" the essential oils which are added to them to your hair, scalp and skin when a recipe calls for an essential oil to be infused or diluted. Two carrier oils that are great for your locs and natural hair are jojoba oil and sweet almond oil.

Jojoba Oil: Jojoba oil mimics the natural oils that the scalp's sebacous glands excrete. However, care should still be taken to not over-use this or any other oil. Over-use will cause build up, resulting in dull, grayish locs that attract lint and dirt. This isn't what we're aiming for! Use a small amount of jojoba oil in your misting bottle to keep your tresses moisturized. Adding some ylang ylang for fragrance, as well as it's uplifting properties will invigorate your hair and mind.

Sweet Almond Oil: This light, penetrable oil is also a great carrier oil. It also can be used in your misting bottle to moisturize. However, I suggest you use either jojoba or sweet almond -- not both in the same misting bottle. Please remember that this oil is extracted from almonds. Those with nut sensitivities/allergies should be aware.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Although not recommend, extra virgin olive oil can be used as a carrier oil. It is a much heavier oil than jojoba or sweet almond, and therefore is not recommended for this purpose. Extra virgin olive oil is best used as a hot oil treatment, which would be thoroughly rinsed from your tresses, and as an ingredient in conditioners that will also be rinsed out of the hair.

Essential Oils

I cannot stress enough that one must understand the proper storage and use of essential oils. Misuse of these products can cause ill effects. Please read, learn, and understand all precautions of using any essential oil you may choose before incorporating them in your recipes and spritzes. The Internet holds a wealth of information and guidance on this subject. One site that I have used in the past is www.fromnaturewithlove.com. I am in no way associated with this site other than being a customer.

Rosemary: This essential oil has been noted to assist with hair growth. I recommend using weekly/bi-weekly. Some have been known to use daily; however, excess use may cause side effects. Rosemary is not recommended for use by pregnant women or those who may think they are pregnant.

Thyme: Used to control oil and dandruff, incorporating a weekly spritz of thyme can promote the healthy production of oil, while preventing dryness to the point of dandruff.

Nettle: Also used for the treatment of dandruff. This essential oil is known to promote hair growth.

Sage: Another remedy some use for dandruff control, sage is also known as a color restorative to hair which is graying.

Chamomile: Chamomile is known for its benefit to light colored hair -- it enhances the natural highlights without chemicals.

Horsetail: Hair that suffers from brittleness can benefit from the essential oil, horsetail, via a bi-weekly spritz. The high amount of silica present in horsetail helps to soften and condition dry, brittle hair.

Adding a drop or two of Mint essential oil to any one above in your misting bottle will energize your scalp. Mint is a scalp stimulant, and stimulation is of course beneficial to blood flow and a healthy scalp.

How To Use

The question posed by the reader is "do we have to use them all and how?" The simple answer is "no." However, there are some things one should consider...

If your hair has multiple, different symptoms of stress such as severe dandruff and brittleness, you may opt to treat one symptom at a time. This will ensure that you can accurately determine if the method you have used to treat the problem is working for you. It should help also to curb any instances of making one symptom worse while trying to alleviate another.

Let's say you are having trouble with both brittleness ane dandruff. I would think that the first remedy you would like to attempt would be to get rid of the unsightly dandruff. So you would institute in your regimen methods that alleviate dandruff -- a good, moisturizing natural shampoo known for its properties to combat dandruff. Then you would choose one of the essential oils mentioned here (or another that you have learned of elsewhere) which have properties that alleviate dandruff and, following proper care and handling instructions, infuse that essential oil in your spritz bottle or other recipe for your hair. You would stick with this regimen for at least 30 days in order to see if it resolves the dandruff issue. If not, you may have to try a different essential oil which is conducive to combatting dandruff.

Once you have gotten the dandruff problem under control, then you turn your concentration to the brittleness factor. Infuse a few drops, handled properly, in sweet almond oil and spritz your hair with this mixture once a week. I would not recommend using it more than weekly, else you may find yourself with a build up problem since this is an oil-based spritz and not water-based. Make sure to thoroughly spritz your tresses without saturating them. A gentle massage down the length of your locs will help ensures your tresses can easily benefit from this moisturizing spritz.

Now that you have both problems under control, you want to adjust your regimen to a "maintenance" level to avoid product build up or the adverse affects of over-use of your essential oils. Any product that is over-used, whether it contains essential oils or not, can be damaging to your hair, scalp, and or self. Never overdo it. Moderation is key. Maybe your maintenance can be as simple as a once a week spritz with the essential oil that combats dandruff, daily water spritzing, every-other-day spritzing with a water + humectant such as organic honey, and bi-monthly deep conditioning hot oil treatments with extra virgin olive oil.

I also suggest a bi-monthly ACV rinse (apple cider vinegar), especially if you are putting product in your hair daily (essential or other oils, herbal remedies, etc.). This will prevent product build up and dull looking locs. The rinse is easy enough to make and use yourself -- one-part ACV with three-parts distilled water; while holding your head over a large bowl placed in the sink, pour the ACV rinse over your tresses making sure they are all saturated, repeating the process until all of the rinse is gone then rinse hair thoroughly with luke warm water.

Let's Recap

No, you do not have to use all of the oils mentioned here in your regimen. Choose the oil(s) that will treat the condition(s) you are dealing with or the oil that will produce the benefit you are looking for (i.e., more sheen, softer locs, aromatic scents, etc.). Use of too much product can cause build up. And, again, please be sure you know the proper use and handling of any essential oil you choose. Know if there are other ingredients that you should not mix a particular essential oil with.

You must educate yourself on what you put in your hair before putting it in there! From Nature with Love is an excellent resource for information on the proper use and handling of essential oils. Do some research and learn what is best for your tresses.

Most importantly -- Listen to your Locs! They will speak to you. They will tell you what they need and what they are getting too much of. They want to thrive for you. Help them become the beautiful head of natural hair that you have envisioned for yourself throughout your loc journey.

Guide to Purchasing Essential Oils

I receiveed a request asking where to purchase essential oils. I thought I would share an guide on " how to purchase essential oils" and provide a list of vendors/suppliers at the bottom of where I purchase my oils. GOOD LUCK and HAPPY SHOPPING!!!!
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Essential oils are readily available from many health food and aromatherapy stores, via mail-order, and via companies that have Web sites. Although readily available, the quality of essential oils from one vendor to another can vary drastically whether you buy them locally or not. Additionally, the price charged is not necessarily an indication of the quality of the vendor’s oils.

Poor quality oils (oils that have been distilled from poor crops, have been handled improperly, are old, etc.) or adulterated oils (oils that have chemicals or other oils added to them) lack the therapeutic benefit of good quality oils. Additionally essential oils that have been adulterated can cause harmful side effects, or at best provide only minimal therapeutic benefit.

Below are tips that can help you select vendors of pure, high quality essential oils:

Watch out for words such as “fragrance oil,” “nature identical oil,” or “perfume oil.” These words indicate that what you see is not a pure, single essential oil. Many vendors label fragrance oils (that can be combinations of essential oils and chemicals or just plain chemicals) and perfume oils as “aromatherapy.” Countless vendors of strictly fragrance oils have written me to ask for advertising of their “aromatherapy oils.” Beginners need to watch out for these vendors who inaccurately use the alternative medicine term aromatherapy for their own sales gain.


The term “pure essential oil” is overused in the aromatherapy industry. Pure essential oils can be distilled from poor quality crops, be sitting in someone’s inventory or on a store’s shelves for years, be stored in a way that damages the oils, or be mishandled by vendors so that oils are accidentally mixed during bottling. So, don't get overly impressed by a vendor that labels their oils as "pure."


Avoid oils that are sold in clear glass bottles as the clear glass can allow light to damage the essential oils. Instead, buy oils that are stored in amber (brown) or other dark colored glass bottles. Some vendors sell oils in aluminum bottles. Aluminum is said to be acceptable if the inside of the bottle is lined.


Avoid buying essential oils in plastic bottles as the essential oil can dissolve the plastic. In turn, the dissolved plastic will contaminate the oil.


Avoid buying essential oils that have a rubber eyedropper bulb in the top because the oil can dissolve the rubber dropper and become contaminated.


Seek out vendors that promote that they test all their oils, supply samples that you can try before you buy, and that give you confidence in their knowledge (often by providing detailed information on each oil they sell and provide other aromatherapy information that instills confidence).


If you are comparing online vendors, send e-mail to them asking questions that you have. If you don't have any, think of something to ask so that you have a reason to write them. Find out how helpful and knowledgeable they seem. My biggest rant about aromatherapy vendors is that very few have good oils as well as good customer service.


Watch out for vendors that sell all their oils for the same price. This doesn’t mean the oils are not pure or of good quality, but it often does. Neroli, Jasmine and Rose, for instance, should cost a lot more than geranium and Ylang Ylang. A good quality patchouli usually costs more than eucalyptus. The basic citrus oils such as grapefruit, lemon and sweet orange oils are some of the least expensive oils.


When buying essential oils locally, watch for oils that have dust on the top of the bottles. This is an indication that the oils have been sitting around. As time passes, many oils lose their therapeutic properties, and their aroma diminishes. The bottles should be sealed so that the oil couldn't be contaminated by other cutomers. Be sure they have tester bottles of the EOs so that you can sample the oils.


Try to avoid buying oils from catalogs or Web sites that don’t list the essential oil’s botanical (Latin name), country of origin or method of extraction. I’ve bought good quality oils from companies that don’t bother listing this information, but I often wonder why any truly knowledgeable vendor would not realize the importance of including this information. For instance, there are multiple varieties of Bay, Cedarwood, Chamomile, Eucalyptus, and so on. Each has different therapeutic properties. The country of origin for oils is also important because the climate and soil conditions can affect the resulting properties of the oil. Is that rose oil steam distilled or is it an absolute? Any good aromatherapy vendor should realize the necessity for providing this information, so I can only assume vendors that don’t bother to include it are lazy, unknowledgeable about the importance of supplying this information or buy their oils from different distributors and don’t want to have to update their catalogs/web sites anytime they find a different source.


Organic oils may be superior to non-organic oils.

Be careful when buying essential oils from companies that primarily sell to the food & beverage or perfumery industries. Some vendors that primarily sell to these industries may have different goals in the purchase and sale of their essential oils than the goals of vendors that sell therapeutic-grade oils specifically for aromatherapy use. The restaurant and perfumery industries desire essential oils that have a standardized (consistent) aroma or flavor. The oils sold by these sources may be redistilled to remove or add specific constituents (natural chemicals found in the oils). These re-distillations or adulterations may harm the therapeutic use of the oils. If desiring to buy from such a vendor, inquire first to ask about their methods.


Most of us need to watch how much we spend. It’s very tempting to buy essential oils from the companies that sell them for the lowest price. Price alone isn’t an indication of quality, but it can be. Knowledgeable vendors that spend countless hours locating quality oils, pay the expensive fees to test their oils and provide free samples upon request should rightfully be charging more for their oils than retailers that stock oils that they’ve sourced from the cheapest sources.


When choosing to try a particular vendor, place a small first order and ask for additional samples (don't ask for a sample of everything, honestly ask for 2-4 samples of oils that you are sincerely interested in purchasing). The goal is to find out if this is a vendor that you are pleased with without wasting your money on large orders that you might not be happy with.


Be cautious about purchasing oils from vendors at street fairs, craft shows, festivals or other limited-time events. Many of these vendors are selling products as a hobby, and unfortunately some vendors at these events may know their customers have no recourse against them after the event is over. This is not to say that there are not highly reputable sellers at such events, but this is a caution for beginners who are not able to reliably judge quality at first.

Reputable Vendors/Suppliers

GNC ( in store and online)
Vitamin Shoppe
Trader Joe's
Lowes Food
Whole Foods
www.iherb.com
www.amazon.com
www.100pureessentialoils.com
www.herbalremedies.com
www.YoungLiving.org
www.Target.com
www.wlnaturalhealth.com
www.www.RockyMountainOils.com
www.mountainroseherbs.com

How to Moisturize Natural Hair

Moisture is one of the main components to achieving healthy natural hair. Using quality ingredients is also necessary for proper hair growth.

Because African American hair in its natural state can become dry, brittle, and prone to severe breakage it is a must to moisturize the hair each day for optimum results.

Many people are turned off by their natural hair texture due to lack of knowledge and not understanding how to properly care for their hair in its original natural state; so many women revert back to harmful chemicals with the assumption that their hair will become “more manageable" which is untrue. Natural hair is versatile and manageable with the proper knowledge.

Did you know that water based products aid in moisture retention and pentrates the hair shaft?
Using hair grease does the opposite; it draws moisture away from the hair and accumulates dirt and pollutants onto the hair shaft, thereby, hindering hair growth and causing dryness.

Water based products are essential for imparting the proper levels of moisture to properly moisturize natural hair; look for products that are all natural and organic when possible.

In the event you can’t find all natural or organic products choose products that have water (aqua), or aloe vera as the first ingredient.
Natural hair is so beautiful, unique, and bold. The versatility natural hair offers is amazing, and more importantly there are no dangerous chemicals coming in contact with the scalp, nor are there any concerns about over-processing the hair.

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Things You'll Need:

Moisturizing Shampoo
Deep Conditioner
Leave in Moisturizing Conditioner
Hair Accessories

INSTRUCTIONS
Step 1
Shampoo your scalp with an invigorating all natural or organic moisturizing shampoo; you can also add coconut oil, jojoba oil, or any other oil to ensure it does not dry out your natural strands. This really works wonders and it helps to combat unnecessary dryness. Concentrate on cleansing the scalp—this stimulates hair growth and keeps the scalp free of dandruff.

Step 2
Apply a quality deep conditioner to your hair, and use a stream room-- if you have one, while the conditioner is in your hair-- this is amazing for maximum penetration. No steam room, no worries, use a steaming towel-- place a wet (no saturated) towel into the microwave for a few seconds and place the towel on your head for several minutes. You could also use a plastic cap and sit under a hooded dryer for 30-45 minutes, this is also effective. Detangle your strands while they are saturated with conditioner under running water. After rinsing out the conditioner gently squeeze the excess water from your hair instead of roughly pulling your hair with a cotton towel which causes friction that leads to broken strands and dryness.

Step 3
Apply a generous amount of a all natural water based leave in moisturizing conditioner or add aloe vera to your favorite leave in conditioner from the ends of your hair working your way up, paying close attention to the ends of your hair, which is more prone to breakage and dryness.

Step 4
Apply a natural carrier or essential oil to your hair, try coconut oil, peanut oil is great, castor oil, glycerin, or olive oil to seal in the moisture, this helps to keep the hair shaft moist for a longer time frame and reduces breakage and combats that awful dryness and tangles natural hair tends to get from time to time.

Step 5
Gently gather your hair into a bun if it is long enough, always lubricate the hair band before placing it around your hair, this reduces friction that cause breakage and dryness. If your hair is too short for a bun consider pulling your hair back using a silk or satin head scarf to protect gorgeous mane.

Transitional Hair Styles

What makes a good transitional hair style? Good questions. A good transitional hairstyle keeps hair handling to a minimum. That doesn’t mean that you can’t or shouldn’t comb or brush your hair while you are transitioning. It just means that less in this case really is more.

Always remember to work with your natural hair and not against it. If you keep this in mind during your transition as well as when you hair is completely natural, you and your hair will be much happier.

Pressing it is NOT the answer
You may be thinking to yourself, “I’ll just press the roots so that they will both be straight while it grows out.”

Bad idea. For one thing going natural means that you are beginning to learn how to work with your hear. You will have to start some where. Why not now? The skills of tender considerate hair care that you learn now will help you when your hair is completely natural.

The other reason is that you will run the risk of snapping it of at the weakest point, the place where the relaxed hair and natural hair meet.

In general it is best to stay a way from heat. You have so many other options that shouldn’t be a problem.

Transitional Hairstyles
When choosing a transitional natural hair style it is important to think about how you usually wear your hair. One of the biggest mistakes that many people make is thinking that there is a certain look or that their hair has to look a certain way to be natural. Being natural is being chemical free point blank.

Pick a style that suits you. If you are a conservative person you may want to go with conservative style. If you are daring the sky is the limit. Pick a style or combination of styles that are best for you.

Some good transitional styles are :

Braids with extensions
Two Strand Twists
Comb Coils/Twists
Straw Sets
Cornrows with or without extensions
Braid/Twist Outs


Braids with extensions
Braids have been a normal “in” style for a while now. There are lots of braiding gallery magazines that will give you ideas. Although many of the styles may be pushing the limits a little than you may be comfortable with you can get some good ideas.

When going to get braids DO NOT get micro braids or extra tiny individuals. They are not good for you hair to begin with. And they are an absolute pain to take out. Remember you are looking for styles that will require little handling. Tiny braids are prone to get tangled when you try to take them out. As your hair grows your hair will snap off more when you have to untangle it.

Try to stick with braids that you don’t need a tooth pick or pin to pick out. With the wide variety of extension braid styles finding a hair healthy size shouldn’t be a problem.

Cornrows with or without extensions
If you don’t like sitting for a long time to get braids, but want a style that will last for some time, cornrows are a good choice. Like braids they have been in for a while. Even though cornrows have now become associated with men as well as women there are many very feminine cornrow styles. Braiding books are a good place to look for ideas.

Although not as tedious to take out as tiny braids tiny cornrows especially with extensions can be a pain to take out both literally and figuratively.

My Love Affair With Carol's Daughter Loc Butter

I'm continuing my love affair with Carols Daughter Loc Butter. It smell deliciously luscious,and its light, yet moisturizing. Check out my latest hair style with the help of my sister-friend LaDonna McLean. She created this up-do for me to show off my lovely head of loc's..

Madam Walker Braidery S.E.L.F Image Awards

When: September 12, 2009 7:00 PM

Where:
Colony South Hotel
7401 Surratts Rd
Clinton, MD 20735
301 856 7500 or 301 856 3343

For more details, see the full listing:
http://www.meetup.com/Baltimore-Natural-Hair-Locs-Sisterlocks/calendar/10926133/

You can always get in touch with me through the "Contact Organizer" link on Meetup: http://www.meetup.com/Baltimore-Natural-Hair-Locs-Sisterlocks/suggestion/

7th Annual Happily Natural Day

When: August 29, 2009 11:00 AM

Where:
Nubian Villiage Academy
2022 Sledd Street
Richmond, VA 23221
(804) 329-3900

For more details, see the full listing:
http://www.meetup.com/Baltimore-Natural-Hair-Locs-Sisterlocks/calendar/10925758/

You can always get in touch with me through the "Contact Organizer" link on Meetup: http://www.meetup.com/Baltimore-Natural-Hair-Locs-Sisterlocks/suggestion/

RECEIPE: Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse

Add shine, bounce and remove build-up from your hair with this simple apple cider vinegar rinse. Apple cider vinegar is a well-known health food and folk remedy. Acetic acid, the main ingredient, will remove build up from styling products and conditioners and strengthen the hair shaft, leaving you with soft, glimmering strands. Apple cider vinegar hair rinse will also balance hair's pH level, kill bacteria and is a great cure for dandruff. This rinse in not recommended for color-treated hair, as it might strip the color.

Basic Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse

Step 1
Make the rinse by mixing 1/3 cup of apple cider vinegar with one quart of distilled water. Put the mixture in a glass jar or plastic bottle and bring it into the shower or bath.

Step 2
Shampoo hair and rinse well. Apply the apple cider vinegar rinse to your hair. Leave in for a few seconds. Rinse using cold water to seal the hair shaft and create more shine. Since vinegar is acidic, using the rinse daily is not advised. Try it once a week, at most. Pay attention to how your hair responds and adjust usage accordingly. Also, you don't need to condition hair after the rinse.

Step 3
** Optional** add 5 drops of lavender, rosemary, lemon , sage or rose essential oil to the basic vinegar rinse recipe.


Step 4
If you notice a vinegar scent after you're done rinsing, don't fret. The smell will disappear after you towel dry your hair.

Tips & Warnings
Be careful to not get vinegar rinse in your eyes. It will burn.
Do not use on color-treated or processed hair. Acetic acid is a clarifier and can strip hair of color.

Shealoe Hair Smoothie

RECEIPE: Shealoe Hair Smoothie recipe for loc's, fro, twist-out care and maintenance

Ingredients:

4 Tbsp shealoe butter
2 Tbsp tea tree oil
2 Tbsp coconut oil
1 tsp sweet almond oil
1 tsp jojoba
1 tsp vegatable glycerin
1 tsp 100% aloe vera gel
5 Vitamin E capsules
5 drops of peppermint Oil
10 drops of lavender Essential Oil (or oil of your choice)

Receipe: CASHEA HAIR BUTTER

Cashea Hair Butter

Shea Butter
Castor Oil
** equal parts shea butter and castor oil)**
2oz jojoba oil
10 drops vanilla essential oil (optional)
10 drops sandalwood essential oil (optional)
Combine all ingredients, and stir well or whip with a hand mixer. Pour into sterilized jars and let sit until it solidifies. It will have the consistency of soft butter at 70 degrees. Melt a small amount in your hands and use on wet or dry hair to keep ends soft and free of splits. A little goes a very long way! Keep in a cool place or it will melt.

Hair & Now: Mixed Chicks the Curly Revolution

ESSENCE.com: Celebrities like Halle Berry can't get enough of your hair care line. Why do you think your products are so popular among both real women and celebrities?

KIM ETHEREDGE:
I think there has never been a product like Mixed Chicks. Our product not only represents bi-racial and multi-cultural individuals but represents and affects every person whether it be a major celebrity like Halle Berry or an everyday person with combination hair. Women for the most part have struggled for years to find a product for "their" hair that works and that they don't have to spend a fortune on. No more shopping in the "normal" aisle and the "urban" aisle to mix and match products, now one line that fits the needs of them all. Now when you shop at the beauty supply you can find Mixed Chicks in the middle aisle where the worlds come together and you can look like a celebrity without the celebrity cost!

ESSENCE.com: Describe 3 hair care problems you have encountered and 3 solutions since using and creating Mixed Chicks?

ETHEREDGE:
Common curly hair care struggles would be frizz, dryness, oily hair and tangles. Many products contain alcohol and sometimes too much oil that can dry the hair out and leave the hair feeling hard or weighed down. We created our leave-in conditioner without alcohol so with just the right amounts of hydrolyzed wheat protein (strengthens hair and promotes healing), safflower oil (transforms dry porous hair into soft pliable hair), jojoba oil (defrizzes) and methoxycinnamate (sunscreen), you are able to run your fingers through your hair, your hair is moisturized and there is no frizz. Mixed Chicks deep conditioner contains behentrimonium (derived from coconut) chloride which conditions, softens is an antistatic and flyaway reducer and is a mom's best friend when washing hair. It helps detangle and making the "hair washing" experience easy!

ESSENCE.com: Celebrities like Halle Berry can't get enough of your hair care line. Why do you think your products are so popular among both real women and celebrities?

KIM ETHEREDGE: I think there has never been a product like Mixed Chicks. Our product not only represents bi-racial and multi-cultural individuals but represents and affects every person whether it be a major celebrity like Halle Berry or an everyday person with combination hair. Women for the most part have struggled for years to find a product for "their" hair that works and that they don't have to spend a fortune on. No more shopping in the "normal" aisle and the "urban" aisle to mix and match products, now one line that fits the needs of them all. Now when you shop at the beauty supply you can find Mixed Chicks in the middle aisle where the worlds come together and you can look like a celebrity without the celebrity cost!

ESSENCE.com: Describe 3 hair care problems you have encountered and 3 solutions since using and creating Mixed Chicks?

ETHEREDGE: Common curly hair care struggles would be frizz, dryness, oily hair and tangles. Many products contain alcohol and sometimes too much oil that can dry the hair out and leave the hair feeling hard or weighed down. We created our leave-in conditioner without alcohol so with just the right amounts of hydrolyzed wheat protein (strengthens hair and promotes healing), safflower oil (transforms dry porous hair into soft pliable hair), jojoba oil (defrizzes) and methoxycinnamate (sunscreen), you are able to run your fingers through your hair, your hair is moisturized and there is no frizz. Mixed Chicks deep conditioner contains behentrimonium (derived from coconut) chloride which conditions, softens is an antistatic and flyaway reducer and is a mom's best friend when washing hair. It helps detangle and making the "hair washing" experience easy!

ESSENCE.com: Celebrities like Halle Berry can't get enough of your hair care line. Why do you think your products are so popular among both real women and celebrities?

KIM ETHEREDGE: I think there has never been a product like Mixed Chicks. Our product not only represents bi-racial and multi-cultural individuals but represents and affects every person whether it be a major celebrity like Halle Berry or an everyday person with combination hair. Women for the most part have struggled for years to find a product for "their" hair that works and that they don't have to spend a fortune on. No more shopping in the "normal" aisle and the "urban" aisle to mix and match products, now one line that fits the needs of them all. Now when you shop at the beauty supply you can find Mixed Chicks in the middle aisle where the worlds come together and you can look like a celebrity without the celebrity cost!

ESSENCE.com: Describe 3 hair care problems you have encountered and 3 solutions since using and creating Mixed Chicks?

ETHEREDGE: Common curly hair care struggles would be frizz, dryness, oily hair and tangles. Many products contain alcohol and sometimes too much oil that can dry the hair out and leave the hair feeling hard or weighed down. We created our leave-in conditioner without alcohol so with just the right amounts of hydrolyzed wheat protein (strengthens hair and promotes healing), safflower oil (transforms dry porous hair into soft pliable hair), jojoba oil (defrizzes) and methoxycinnamate (sunscreen), you are able to run your fingers through your hair, your hair is moisturized and there is no frizz. Mixed Chicks deep conditioner contains behentrimonium (derived from coconut) chloride which conditions, softens is an antistatic and flyaway reducer and is a mom's best friend when washing hair. It helps detangle and making the "hair washing" experience easy!


ESSENCE.com: What's most difficult about styling and caring for naturally curly and course hair?

ETHEREDGE:
Most of us women struggle with caring for and styling natural hair because we want the look we desire and we want it immediately! Unfortunately we have to learn to style and train our hair. Mixed Chicks deep conditioner is such a great product for naturally curly and coarse hair. Our exclusive conditioning blend penetrates and reconstructs damaged areas, transforming style-stubborn-hair into resilient, easy to maintain tresses.

ESSENCE.com: What style and maintenance tips can you offer our readers?

ETHEREDGE:
Mixed Chicks leave-in conditioner is a terrific product for working women, college students and women who want to look good and don't have a lot of time in the mornings to style. Apply to completely wet hair and let air dry. After an hour at work or after two classes your hair will dry and feel like you spent the time to style. Curls will last for a day or two and for a refresh look, just fill a spray bottle with 1/3 of leave-in and the rest water and touch up hair the following day.

ESSENCE.com: What curly hairstyles for summer are you most looking forward to?

ETHEREDGE:
The whole symmetrical bob is in style, so I'm looking forward to seeing that cut styled with Mixed Chicks leave-in conditioner.

ESSENCE.com: What styling products can you not live without and why?

ETHEREDGE:
I can't live without my leave-in conditioner. Whether I'm going out on the town, on vacation or simply going into the office the leave-in conditioner defines, controls and defines my curls with ease without the sticky, heavy and flaky hold many products provide.

To purchase Mixed Chicks products visit, Mixedchicks.net.



*** Courtesy of Essense Magazine***

Nappy Hair Kitchen

Hair Moisturizers

Most of the ingredients in these recipes can be found in your refrigerator. Recipes with perishable ingredients may require refrigeration since they do not contain preservatives. These recipes are quick to make and will save you time and money. As with ANY recipe, you may have to play with the ingredients a little bit to suit you. These are hair moisturizing recipes that are simple, natural, and beneficial for ALL hair. These recipes will add moisture, sheen, and softness to your hair.


Lemon & Honey Rinse

2 Teaspoons Honey
1/4 Cup Lemon juice
4 Cups Warm water



Mix ingredients together. Wash as usual. Apply mixture thoroughly through hair. Do NOT rinse.



Honey Rinse

1 Teaspoon Honey
4 Cups Warm water



Mix the ingredients. Wash as usual. Apply mixture thoroughly through hair. Do NOT rinse.



Honey & Olive Oil Conditioner

1 Tablespoon Honey
1/2 Teaspoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 Cup warm water



Mix honey and olive oil well. Add to water and stir well. Distribute evenly all over the hair. Apply plastic cap for 15-20 minutes. Rinse well. Style as usual.



Mayo Conditioner

3 - 4 Tablespoons mayonnaise (real mayonnaise, NOT salad dressing)

With hair wet or dry, cover hair with mayonnaise. Apply plastic cap for 15-20 minutes. Rinse, then style as usual.

Note: Leaving a minimal amount in the hair will keep it soft and moisturized.



Hot Olive Oil Treatment

1 - 2 Teaspoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 Sandwich bag (with zip closure)

Put olive oil in the bag and zip it. Run hot water over the bag until desired temperature (DO NOT OVERHEAT!!!).Apply olive oil all over your hair. Apply plastic cap for 5 - 10 minutes. Rinse, then style as usual.


Homemade Dandruff Treatment
1/2 Cup White Vinegar
1/2 Cup Water

Mix the ingredients and stir well. Apply to the scalp. Let sit for 5 - 7 minutes. Rinse well.

Note: You can put this mixtue in a plastic bottle and spray in onto the scalp for ease of use.



Homemade Citrus Hair Spray

1 Orange

2 Cups Water

Chop the orange and boil until 1/2 the original contents are gone. Strain, cool, and put into a spray bottle. Add more water if too sticky. Refrigerate after use.



Homemade Hair Gel

1 Teaspoon unflavored gelatin
1 Cup warm water

Dissolve the gelatin in the warm water. Keep refrigerated and use as you would any hair gel. It's that simple!


oz = ounce
tsp = teaspoon
tbs = tablespoon
c = cup