Be an Influenster and try out free stuff!

I signed up a month ago for what is called a Vox Box and never heard anything, then I got an email about 3 weeks ago to try out a new product. I got in the mail last week (pre Hurricane Sandy) this lovely little set, with a few coupons to share with friends/family :

This is the Palmolive Fresh Infusions line...Offering up new scents infused with natural oils. The Scents are :

• Lime Basil  
• Lemon Thyme
• White Ginger tea

Out of all the scents I think the best is White Ginger Tea and then Lemon Thyme. I don't really care too much for the Basil/lime.

These will be offered at Target and Walmart Suggested retail is $2.99, the smell is great, the product just like all Palmolive products works hard on dishes but not on hands.

The White Ginger tea smells the best reminds me of the VO5 of my yester-year. The lemon smells fresh and lemony and the lime basil has a lime smell that is a bit stronger than I prefer.

If you like to get free stuff and influence the brands you use and have used for years be sure to sign up
enjoy...Also they are planning a special box for the holidays so be sure to sign up, leave reviews about products you love, the more you participate the more product reviews you will be considered for

Gone too soon..But never forgotten Group duo member Natina Reed Blaque

If you were an 80's-90's baby like me and remember the girl group discovered by Lisa "left-eye" lopes from TLC who found the young group known as BLAQUE:

Member Natina Reed (member on the far left with blue on) was pronounced dead after what is being called a hit and run. She was crossing a street in Atlanta when she was struck by a car and the car then sped off. Ms. Reed was 32 years old, and would have turned 33 year old tomorrow.  

This is such sad news God's love and\ my prayers to her\ family and 10 year old son

+

Have you ever...Lost a relationship/friendship over your hair?? Plus exclusive new music from Solange Knowles

Ok so I ADMIT...I committed to going natural, but lately I have been contemplating the growth of my hair and myself in the last 8 months....

As I get closer to my 1 year hair-anniversary I have thought a lot about past friendships/relationships and those I have now...I have realized that in my decision to claim POWER over my tresses and give them the love and care they deserve, I have realized some of those around me were not as embracing of my  "HAIR IN PROGRESS" 

But I cannot let that stop me, ok it does sting a little that a few friends deleted me from their facebook friend's list.... I had a few past lovers/acquaintances whom I ran  into  ask me before they had a chance to say hello or  ask how am I doing? but  "why did I cut my hair?" 

Overall the decision I made was made consciously  not for others but for myself...so all you naturals who may have big-chopped recently and are looking at yourself and saying..What have I done, Know that hair isn't meant to be your source of confidence but an extension to enhance the inner beauty and self-confidence  you already posses, so continue to to rock your hair HOWEVER you want to!


Keep on growing, watering, and loving your tresses...The shortest stage is the TWA...seriously

*** Exclusive****

 Solange Knowles is busy working her Fro' doing all types of projects, but it seems like she is also working on new music for upcoming LP....here is a peek at what she has been up to...I cannot wait for her album to drop!!

Its always encouraging to see the Natural hair confidence shine...Shout out to Solange Knowles! visit her here @ Solange Knowles My damn blog

The New Alternative to No Lye perm...Egg & Soy?!

What a plant-based hair relaxer????

While chit-chatting with a friend of mine we were talking about hair, when I asked if she still permed her hair....she expressed that she doesn't perm with lye anymore but with a less harsh perm that has a soy & egg base.

Known as a Phytospecific hair relaxer (phytorelaxer) is a hair care product designed to loosen the wave/curl pattern out of hair. A phytospecific relaxer is supposed to be free of harsh chemicals that are often found in lye/no lye hair relaxers. Phytospecific relaxers contain egg & soy; having soy qualifies this relaxer as a "phyto" (plant based) relaxer. The product is advertised by manufacturers to relax hair temporarily with he egg and soy extracts the active ingredient in relaxing the hair. 

The issue with this product is it is misleading as it also contains Guanidine carbonate or carbonic acid with guanidine, known as an organic salt. It is this organic salt that activates the relaxer's straightening properties as the guanidine carbonate has a pH level between 11.5-12.5, very similar to the pH levels in lye relaxers.

Advertised on Sephora.com costs $60.00 for one kit :

Ingredients listed below

-Egg Extract: Relaxes.
-Shiitake Mushroom Salt: Boosts the action of the egg extract.
-Soybean Extract: Restructures the hair shaft.
-Wheat Proteins: Strengthen and repair. 

PS641 Pre Calm Balm:
Zea Mays (Corn) Germ Oil (Maïs), Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, Isopropyl Myristate, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil (Huile De Ricin), Hydrogenated Castor Oil (Dérivé D'huile De Ricin), Copernica Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax, Bha, Bht.
PS642 Straightening Balm:
Water / Aqua, Mineral Oil / Paraffinum Liquidum, Emulsifying Wax Nf, Propylene Glycol, Egg Extract / Ovum (Extrait D'?uf), Steareth-100, Peg-75 Lanolin, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Oleth -20, Cetearyl Alcohol, Peg-10 Rapeseed Sterol, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein (Soja), Fragrance / Parfum, Egg Oil / Ovum (Huile D'?uf).
PS653 Inductor Index 2:
Water / Aqua, Guanidine Carbonate, Xanthan Gum, Propylene Glycol, Yellow 5 / Ci 19140, Red 4 / Ci 14700.
PS645 Milky Restructurer:
Althaea Officinalis Root Extract, Cetearyl Alcohol (Dérivé D'huile De Coco), Propylene Glycol, Dicetyldimonium Chloride, Distearyldimonium Chloride (Dérivé De Colza), Mineral Oil / Paraffinum Liquidum, Water / Aqua, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride (Dérivé De Gomme Guar), Stearic Acid, Ceteareth-33 (Dérivé D'huile De Coco), Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein (Dérivé De Protéines De Blé) Amodimethicone, Acetamidoethyl Pg-Trimonium Chloride, Canola Oil, Fragrance / Parfum, Lanolin Alcohol, Oleyl Alcohol, Isolaureth-6, Octoxynol-40, Sodium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Yellow 5 / Ci 19140.
PS644 Neutralizing and Cleansing Emulsion:
Althaea Officinalis Root Extract (Guimauve), Water / Aqua, Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate (Dérivé D'huile De Coco), Propylene Glycol, Peg-7 Glyceryl Cocoate (Dérivé D'huile De Coco), Vinegar / Acetum (Vinaigre De Cidre), Peg-15 Cocopolyamine (Dérivé D'huile De Coco), Peg-4 Rapeseedamide (Dérivé D'huile De Colza), Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride (Dérivé De Gomme Guar), Sodium Laureth-11 Carboxylate, Laureth-10 (Dérivés D'huile De Coco), Fragrance / Parfum, Cinchona Succirubra Bark Extract (Quinquina), Glycerin, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Benzoic Acid, Tetrasodium Edta, Phenolsulfonphthaleine, Sodium Benzoate, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Bisulfite.

 Knowledge is key!

So ladies any thoughts on this product?
 Would you use it?
 Already use this product? 
How does it work?
 Is it worth the price? 

Soundoff!!!!

Patience is KEY!! Have you had a dose of Patience today?

As we all know there is a lot of twist and turns on this road of Natural Hair...But I found this and thought it was worth re-posting. After all your hair depends on it....Heck everything we do in life or don't do in life boils down to the one thing that matters most.... PATIENCE!!!

Patience- bearing pains or trials calmly or without complaint (as per Webster's dictionary)

So whenever you feel like that TWA just wont work or that twist out you spent hours on has left behind a frizzy mess, just remember that despite all that we go through the healthy hair on your head even when its temperamental is still worth all the fuss and fight...but when the going gets tough...break out that spray bottle of PATIENCE to smooth away the fly-a-ways...Oh yeah and by the way...this is the only hair care regimen that will never break the bank...ITS ABSOLUTELY FREE!!

Did you drink ANY water today?? Are YOU up for the challenge?

Did you know:

• Drinking Water Helps Maintain the Balance of Body Fluids. Your body is composed of about 60% water. The functions of these bodily fluids include digestion, absorption, circulation, creation of saliva, transportation of nutrients, and maintenance of body temperature.
• Water Can Help Control Calories. For years, dieters have been drinking lots of water as a weight loss strategy. While water doesn't have any magical effect on weight loss, substituting it for higher calorie beverages can certainly help.
• Eight glasses of water per day is absolutely needed for healthy hair. You should drink water to clean out your system. This way, your body will be hydrated and your hair will also get more moisture. When washing/co-washing hair, cold water helps to close the cuticle layers on the hair strand and helps conditioner work better, leaving the hair more lustrous.

All these important things I always knew about water, but yet I find I have been lately neglecting how much water I drink. In the summer heat all I can think about is water because its hot, but now that the weather is changing, I am back to hot lattes and cups of Joe to keep me going.

Sooo to help with the moisture retention I have signed myself up for my own Triple H challenge: Healthy, Hydrated, Hair. The least amount of water I can drink is 3 glasses of water daily, with no maximum number daily (found out the 8 glasses of water per day is not a conclusive scientific fact but more so a general rule of thumb)

Day one will commence tomorrow, since I always say start off the day the right way...Bright and Early...besides I forgot about it and had a large coffee tomorrow and I actually want to start and end my day with water. 

So ladies how much water do you drink? Should you be drinking more than you do now?

Happy Drinking

LUCKY LUCY BODY DESSERT WINNERS...

MELLY BELLE & NICOLE K.

THANK YOU ALL FOR PARTICIPATING...MORE GIVEAWAYS TO COME...STAY TUNED!!!

LADIES BE SURE TO RESPOND WITH YOUR MAILING ADDRESS TO HAVE YOUR PRIZE SHIPPED TO YOU

ALSO BE SURE TO LIKE LUCKY LUCY ON FACEBOOKLucky Lucy Body Dessert BE SURE TO MENTION PRINCESS NATURELLA SENT YOU TO BE ENTERED INTO THEIR GIVEAWAY OF A GET-AWAY GOING TILL THE END OF OCTOBER 2012!!

September is Ovarian/Prostate/Leukemia/Lymphoma & Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

In support of September's Cancer Awareness month, and gearing up for the Breast Cancer Walk (NYC) in late October I came across a post from a friend of mine and it made me feel like this year I want to do more in the fight against Cancer as it continues to affect people near and dear to me...

The other day I had a friend post this via FB (name omitted for privacy reasons): 

 i would like to make it quite clear as to why i am cutting my hair. i have a friend going through chemo. when i thought chemo, i thought... bed-ridden, person coughing up a lung with a bandana on and not the guy who is kicking my butt in sticks! i asked why he cut off all of his facial hair... he then reminded me of the chemo and stated that everyone should have to experience the eventual loss of all of their hair! i don't like to wait on experiences so i jumped at the chance to make a point by choosing to cut my hair. it's to honor my longtime friend as well as show the odd meaning we place on hair!

I couldn't agree more with the point my friend made....I think often in the Natural hair world when we have an opportunity to go natural or have a Big chop done often times we are fortunate to make a C.H.O.I.C.E where other's are not able to be as fortunate.  


I know that when I went and Big Chopped my hair I had a lot of mixed feelings about how other's would accept me or think about me. How my appearance affected my confidence in my physical looks. So I think  it's important to definitely acknowledge the extraordinary men, women, and children who survive this terribly life altering disease. It takes courage in our society to confidently fight cancer and to confidently lose/cut off all your hair and still walk with your head held high!  So next time you feel a bit self-conscious about your newly cropped hair think about those who do it not by choice but as a symbol of their courage to continue to fight for a chance to continue to live life to the fullest!






September is Childhood Cancer Awareness month.  In the U.S., over 12,000 children under the age of 21 are diagnosed with cancer every year, approximately 3,000 of them will not survive the disease. A diagnosis can turn the lives of a family upside down – days suddenly filled with alternating moments of courage, frustration, boredom, anxiety and pain. The objective of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month is to put a spotlight on the types of cancer that largely affect children, survivorship issues, and – importantly – to help raise funds for research groups working towards cures*.

If you want to make a difference or learn more about Childhood/Ovarian /Leukemia/Prostate cancer  you can click here Choose Hope




If you would like to send love and encouragement to cancer Survivor Taylor Love you can visit her Facebook page here:

Taylor Love 

                                                       















In women age 35-74, ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer-related deaths. An estimated one woman in 71 will develop ovarian cancer during her lifetime. The American Cancer Society estimates that there will be over 22,000 new cases of ovarian cancer diagnosed this year and that more than 15,000 women will die from ovarian cancer this year*.

If you too would like to get involved, be sure to check out the Susan Komen Foundation (Susan G Komen Foundation) where you can donate; The Walk for Breast Cancer  is next month you still have time to pledge or even grab a few ladies to partipate in the walk registration can also be found on the site...

"We are only as strong as our brothen, continue to be each other's keeper" -Unknown

Be sure Ladies and Gentlemen to receive regularly scheduled doctor check-ups and be sure to do self breast exams (men & women). Cancer is now one of the top leading causes of death, it is important that we do all that we can to prevent, detect, and treat cancer as early as possible. KNOWLEDGE IS POWER!

 HairsACure promotes healthy hair growth and hair health for women who are survivors and those battling  cancer or are cancer survivors. The event is scheduled to be held in CHICAGO however it is an event that is happening in OCT 20, 2012. But since it is in Chicago  you may have to plan to make a trip to CHICAGO. Those who live in the Chicago area  in going please review the attached flyer, be sure if you attend to take lots of pictures! The event will talk about and promote natural/healthy hair and will have giveaways and prizes as well.

Even if you cannot attend I plan on making a donation as a percentage of the proceeds go to creating the HAIR'S A CURE FOUNDATION







*All information provided regarding the background and statistics of Cancer comes from the following source and can be accessed here Ovarian Cancer & here Kids Health

CURLKIT / My Shades of Brown (September Issue)

Happy Fall !!

As you know with a new season comes new hair regimens and lots of Fall fun. I don't know about you ladies but I happen to like Fall weather but this will be my first fall with my newly natural hair..I am now 7 months post big chop (will post a picture soon). I am excited/anxious and have been researching the possibility of Fall/Winter hair issues such as dry ends, lost of moisture due to hats/cold weather/snow/rain. But I am still looking forward to the next chapter in this hair journey as I am committed for the long run! 

 What better way to start a new hair care regimen than with new hair care products, received my Curl Kit for September and a New Curly girls subscription from My Shade of Brown (details below):

   CURL KIT REVIEW

September Curl Kit box included the following products

Not Your Mother's Knotty to Nice De-Tangler spray.. I actually like this spray, its definitely good for day 2 and day 3 hair as a refresher. It also features Brazilian Keratin which is good for your hair as well and it smells pretty nice

To powerfully remove frizz, define curls and smooth waves, let your hair feast on all-natural Royal Jelly, the nutrient packed super-food that feeds the Queen Bee in her hive. Packed with 17 amino acids plus vitamins A, B, C, D, and K, the Royal Jelly inMoisture Rich Conditioner works with Jojoba Seed Oil and Green Tea antioxidants to deliver luxurious shine and ultimate softness while defending hair from heat and humidity. 

All natural: No harsh, irritating chemicals like alcohol, sulfates, petrolatum, parabens or phthalates. 

Queen Helene Royal Curls moisture rich conditioner was not my most favorite product, but it was good as a leave in when doing my two-strand twists. However the product for my hair texture just didn't provide much of a different result then what I would get using VO5 conditioner. So I am not a big fan of this product, but that could change as I hear ladies say as your hair grows in length products that didnt work on the TWA may work wonders on longer tresses.

• Provides Shine To All Types Of Curly Hair
• No Waxy Residue Or Build-Up
• Creates Soft, Shiny Curls
• Enriched With Argan Oil
• Alcohol-Free Formula

It leaves a bit of a sticky film, I didn't particularly care for this one, I used it as a styling cream for a Wash N go, but it left a bit of sticky feeling. Smells good.

This Shampoo and Conditioner left my hair soft, however I find it works wonders on my son's hair which happens to be locked. Nonetheless I would use this product again.

MY SHADE OF BROWN

A new hair/body box which features 4-5 items per box. This is fairly new line to me and I had a chance to reach out to founder of the My Shade of Brown glam box for $10.00 a month. They are now 7 Beauty boxes in and have been featured on Essence.com; Huffington Post, and many vloggers have reviewed past boxes shipped.

***Any ladies who sign up between now and September 30, 2012,  you can receive your first My Shade of Brown box for $5.00. This promotion ends on September 30, 2012


Below is my Mini-interview with Meki founder of the My Shade of Brown line & the items in the September Box. I found that every product in the box was something I actually liked and would use. Ladies be sure to check her out:

Your Name:  Meki Adefris

Where did you come up with the concept behind My Shade of Brown?  

Subscripton beauty boxes were becoming popular and I felt that there wasn't anything out there that addressed my needs and wants, so I thought that this would be a great way to provide a very specific service to women of color who love beauty, while also providing a vehicle for the many brands out there targeted for us a chance to reach a wider audience and get their products into the hands of women who want to try beauty, skincare and hair care products for women of color. 

What items do you feature?  

We've featured, cosmetics, nailcare, skincare and haircare and soon we hope to branch out to some lifestyle brands.  As we continue to grow, we'll have more to offer!

Why is your box different than some of the others out there? 

Well, for one, we are the only beauty sampling box specifically made with women of color in mind, so whether it's a well known brand - Carol's Daughter, Jessiecurl, Ada, or a smaller indie brand Nourishea, Amazing Botanicals, Lamik Beauty, they have products that were made to address the needs of women of color (offering a wider shade of colors for makeup and for hair, addressing the many textures and variations of womeon of color)

When do items ship?

 items ship first week of every month

Do you have Natural hair?

 I do, but, I also wear my hair straight a lot and I've also been know to rock a weave every now and then, I also color, so does that count?

How long have you been Natural?

 hmmm, that's tricky, I've only relaxed my hair a handful of times, that being said, coloring has a very "relaxing" nature on my hair, when I color, my hair straightens a bit, believe it or not!  So I guess, that's bigger question, does coloring your hair, still count as natural?

Any Advice for women who are struggling with their Natural hair, thinking about going natural, and/or transitioning?

Embrace yourself whichever way you decide to go!  It will be a much easier journey transitioning if it's something you really want to do! And with so many products out there now, you don't have to go at it alone!  But also realize it may not be for everyone and that's ok. The goal should really be healthy  hair, right?  

 

Facebook : My Shade of Brown Beauty
Twitter: @MYSHADEOFBROWN
Website: My Shade of Brown Beauty


Items in the My Shade of Brown September Box:

Great lip balm, nice moisture, doesn't leave your lips extra greasy.  I found this was a good primer under red lipstick.

HqO Body Lotion provides long-lasting protection against dryness and chafing.  

I like the HQ lotion brand. It is nice and moisturizing without being greasy. I have a child that suffers from Eczema and this worked wonders on his skin. I am going to purchase this in a larger size for the whole family. I find this will be good for the coming Winter months

Great Deep conditioning treatment. I have liked Jessi-Curls products and have used the shampoo and shea conditioner in the past. So never any complaints about JessiCurls

Ada Cosmetics Bronzer in Copper
This has become a new staple in my daily eye makeup. I am not a big fan of bronzer only because I find minimal is best especially when I am in a rush. I have used this as a bronzer and as an eye shadow and its lovely. Doesn't rub off easily  and works well on my complexion.


Also in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month be sure to look out for some PINK items with some of the proceeds from the CURL-KIT going to Susan Komen foundation.


****CONTEST GIVEAWAY ENDS THIS SATURDAY...ALSO IF YOU GO TO LUCKY LUCY PAGE BE SURE TO MENTION PRINCESS NATURELLA SENT YOU TO BE ENTERED IN THEIR GIVEAWAY THAT IS GOING TILL THE END OF OCTOBER 2012..GOOD LUCK ALL!!****

FASHION WEEK...OUT ALL NIGHT!!

FASHION WEEK is almost over in NYC..however s it was fun to hang out and although I hate to see it go..I can say I cannot wait for some really good sleep. Round-up of NYC events I attended along with some of the highlighted Fashion Spring 2013 fashion line ups I have fell in love with below:

Thursday 9/6/12: The ladies of CHIC N' KINKY Hosted  Naturals night out at Pranna lounge in NYC It was a night of hair talking, music and social schmoozing among  hair crushes and all those loving fashion mixed with the fusion of Natural hair (pictures below) :

FRIDAY 9/7/12- Jenell from KinkyCoilyCurlyMe hosted along with Chary-Jay of Chary-jay.com a Fashion blogger meet-n-greet for all. The fusion between Fashion's hottest looks and some of the fiercest natural hair in the NYC-Tri-state area created a night of hair & fun. Hosted at MarX (pictures below):

 Me and my cameo appearance up-top in black...Fun Times

Thank you ladies for hosting such great events!!

NY FASHION WEEK...NATURAL HAIR STYLE..

Its Fashion Week in NYC !!

SEPTEMBER 6th-13th 2012

If you are like me a TRUE FASHIONISTA, with a flair for looks and runway attitude then you will definitely want to check out NYC'S Fashion Night Out....

 There are events going on all over the city and the opportunity for those of us who can't afford the Big tent ticket prices for Runway looks can still hang with A-listers and rub elbows with celebs and Fashions hottest designers...

FASHION NIGHT OUT click here for --> Fashion night out

Listing all the hip and happening events from live DJs and refreshments at the Joe Fresh Flagship stores in NY, or hit up Diane Von Furstenberg for Drinks and giveaways in the meat packing district (10th Ave & 14th street, Chelsea NY) Whatever may tickle your fancy you can find it all, search by category or by neighborhood...

Not into the hipster scene...then check out this Natural's Night out event @Pranna NYC :

****YOU MUST PURCHASE TICKETS FOR THIS EVENT  here****

Tickets are $10.00; and will be on sale at the door not sure if they are more but check it out

Abbey Dawn by Avril Lavigne Fashion Show

Monday, Sep 10 6:00p

at Style 360, New York, NY

Rocker and designer Avril Lavigne will join New York Fashion Week with her Abbey Dawn Spring 2013 Collection. By Invitation Only.

And many more...

And now some sneak peaks from some of SPRING 2013 Collections:

Rachel Roy Spring 2013

Koncept Korea Spring 2013 

I will also be helping out at an event happening Sept 7th @ Marx in the city...will blog about the nights events soon till then Stay Stylish and Fab!