Natural Hair: Celebs gone Natural

First the spotlight was on Solange when she was spotted out and about with her teeny weeny afro (TWA). Over the months, it started growing larger and larger and more celebs are stepping into the spotlight with their natural hair. Whether they have just gone natural or just decided to ditch their usual weaves, I think it's awesome. Go TeamNatural!

Make no mistake, I'm on TeamRelaxed, but I love my TeamNatural girls! Healthy Hair is my favorite hair, whether it's relaxed or natural!

What do you think? I think Kim Coles, Raven Symone, and Tiffany Pollard (New York) look great natural.

TWA Accessories: Fancy Earrings

With so many people going natural these days, I had to do a piece on my favorite TWA accessory. If you aren't hip to the natural hair lingo, a TWA is a Teeny Weeny Afro. When you wear a TWA your face is front and center, there's no hair to hide behind and sometimes some women report feeling like they look masculine. The easiest way to stop that feeling is a little makeup and some beautiful earrings. The best way to get something that's just as unique as you is to shop outside of the box, and Etsy helps you do that.

Etsy shop Autumn Springs by Lidah Johnson provides unique and eclectic pieces. Johnson says, "I love to design for the fabulous woman who want accessories that reflect her individuality and enchances her personal style. Small quantites are carried, so your purchases are truly one of a kind!"

You can enter coupon code "thankyou" at checkout and you will receive a 10% discount.

Hair Care for Sensitive Skin

Finesse has just launched Clean + Simple, the first hypoallergenic hair care line available at mass-market retailers, including Wal-Mart and drugstores. The Clean + Simple line contains no sulfates, parabens, dyes or allergens and is 100% gluten-free. No longer do people with sensitive skin need to order expensive products online, just to wash their hair! Finesse Clean + Simple retails for $3.99 and is a hypoallergenic hair care line, dermatologist tested to be non-irritating and free of allergens.

“Until now,” said Randy Sloan, President, Lornamead Inc., “People with sensitive skin or allergies had to settle for expensive specialty or salon products to meet their needs. Now, they have a good, affordable option for the whole family available where they usually shop for shampoo.”

Sounds like a win win! Will you be trying out Finesse Clean + Simple?

Solange Rocks her Natural TWA

I Love Solange! She's funky and her style is unique. I love seeing her rock natural hair whether it's a wig or her own natural TWA, like here at the Range Rover Evoque Launch.

What do you think? Will matching your lipstick to your shoes be the next big trend?

Shea Butter for Hair

Shea butter:Africa as Argan Oil: Morocco

My skin loves products with shea butter, they moisturize my skin leaving it feeling soft and moisturized all day long. My hair is a completely different story. Originally, I attempted to use pure shea butter for sealing in moisture when I would moisturize my hair, but it left my fine hair really weighed down and greasy feeling. Not quite sure what shea butter is? Not to worry, basically Shea Butter is a made from a nut and used for cooking, skin care, and hair care.

On my straightened hair, I applied a very small amount of shea butter after I applied a water based moisturizer and it left my hair feeling very piece-y, weighed down and greasy. When I airdry my hair a little bit of shea butter helps add shine and controls flyaways, but overall I'm not a fan. I tend to avoid products made with Shea Butter high up on the ingredient list because it's just too heavy for my hair. If you have thick, natural hair you may find that shea butter works wonders for you as a moisturizer, scalp treatment, sealer, and shine enhancer.

What to know more about Shea Butter? Check out this great collection of information over at Treasured Locks.com

New for Naturals: Essentious

I’d like to introduce you to Essentious, the all natural hair care system by Tymeka Lawrence. The line was originally created by Tymeka for African American hair featuring products that are free of sulfates, silicones, mineral oil, petroleum and parabens. I had the opportunity of trying the shampoo and conditioner, so I'll share my thoughts.

Essentious Exonerate Sulfate Free Shampoo

Product Description: Moisturizing shampoo made from organically-based emulsifiers with a base of Aloe Vera gel for healing and moisturizing. It has a rich lather and a light, refreshing scent. Sulfate Free.

Thoughts: All sulfate shampoos are not made equal and this shampoo proves the point. Usually when I use a sulfate free shampoo, my hair and scalp feel clean but not stripped and it's more like co-washing than actually shampooing and I LOVE that. Instead of that super awesome feeling, I had a feeling of impending doom when I used this shampoo. My hair felt hard, dry, and I was scared to actually get in there and lather it up really well because my hair felt so vulernable and fragile. Needless to say, I immediately reached for the conditioner to rectify the situation.

Essentious Hydrate Conditioning Moisture Treatment

The Deets: Moisture treatment restores moisture lost during chemical treatments and heat styling. Penetrates the hair to provide moisture within the hair shaft.

Thoughts: Thank goodness for this conditioner because without it we would have had an emergency on our hands. This conditioner with it's fruity yet vanilla cake batter scent softened up my hair and smooth out all the tangles the shampoo had caused. My hair no longer felt rough, dry, and hard. Instead, it was soft and sweet smelling.

Overall, I'd skip the shampoo but the conditioner has been spared, I'd use that again in a heartbeat mostly because of the fabulous scent.

Visit Essentious.com for more deets!

New for Naturals: Entwine Naturalle

Entwine™ Naturalle Coiffure Collezioni was created by Adrienne Carthon, ‘The Naturalle Hair Professor’. As a seasoned natural hair stylist, professor of African-American Literature & Women Studies, Adrienne created Entwine™ is the premiere line of salon-inspired, ultra-quality hair care and styling alternatives that brings a haute-couture approach to natural and transitioning hair care & styling.

The Collection of products feature custom-made and artfully crafted formulas blended with riche exotic butters, pristine natural oils and luxurious conditioners that are finessed with ‘real-world’ holistic technology to enhance the health and beauty of natural and transitioning hair, while providing maximum styling versatility.

The Naturalle Coiffure Collezioni features four exquisitely innovative products:

• “The Manipulator” Crème Jellé Styler- The Ultimate Natural Hair Styler

• “Indulgently Luxe” Exotique Butter Crème Hydrator- A riche moisturising and shine crème

• “On the Edge” Crème De La Mold- A powerful holding, molding and smoothing mud

• “Total Perfection” Moroccan Argan Oil- A 100% Raw and Vegan oil for total glamorized beauty from head to toe.

To purchase visit their site.

Curlie Alert: Design Essentials Natural

The new Design Essentials Natural product line is designed to manage and style highly textured hair with the finest ingredients. The line includes the Natural Curl Cleanser, Moisturizing Conditioner, Curl Stretching Cream, Defining Cream Gel and Daily Moisturizing Lotion.

Design Essentials Natural Hair Models show off natural hair styles featuring the launch of the new Design Essentials "Natural" product line during the Design Essentials 20th Anniversary Party in Atlanta, Ga. on August 8th. Photo Credit: Shawn Dowdell Photography.

Design Essentials Natural Hair Models pose with Cornell McBride, Sr., founder and CEO of McBride Research Laboratory after the launch of the new Design Essentials "Natural" product line. The product launch was featured at the Design Essentials 20th Anniversary Party in Atlanta, Ga. on August 8th. Photo Credit: Shawn Dowdell Photography.

So Natural Ladies, are you looking forward to trying these products?

Hair Book: Curly Like Me

Teri LaFlesh is a name that is well known within the world of naturals.  If  your natural and haven't taken a trip over to Tightly Curly you're doing yourself a disservice.  Guess what ladies, Teri released her first ever book entitled, Curly Like Me!  With Curly Like Me Teri talks about how growing up biracial contributed to her hair issues.  Her "Momsey" (her black grandmother on her mom's side) did her hair every night and relaxed it every few months, it grew partway down her back but Teri describes her relaxed hair as a "fragile creature".  Once Momsey no longer cared for her hair, it was a supreme struggle from there, hair styles included dreads, jericurls, relaxers, and more.  

Curly Like Me doesn't just give you background on Teri's hair and her struggles, instead it shows readers how to care for curls using simple money saving techniques.  But it doesn't stop there, within the pages of Curly Like Me you will find information on hair structure, causes of damage, what ingredients to use, as well as some hairstyles that look great for curls.   

Curly Like Me is a Wiley book.  Wiley books are available at your local bookstore or by calling 1.800.567.4797 

Better Your Denman - Curlies

Attention All Curlies,

I'm sure you've heard about the Denman brush.  I've been a fan of it ever since I caught wind of it and I'm a relaxed head, but the things it can do for a curly are amazing.  The only gripe most curlies have?  The teeth are too close together making it a bit too rough on their curls.  If you happen to thing the same thing, go get that Denman out of hiding and remove a few of the teeth.  That's right!!! This video will show you how to remove some of the teeth from you Denman brush making it even more curl friendly. 



Shouts out to Vivacious1083 for making this video! This can also be pretty helpful when dealing with tender headed little girls, so mama's take note.

Sulfate, Paraben, SLS, Silicon Free Shampoo Wanted!

Some of us Anti Hair Slaves are always eyeing up ingredients and looking for the most natural products available.  I have to say since I've embarked on this quest to achieving healthy hair I've noticed how my hair reacts to certain products and one that my hair and scalp doesn't like is Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, an ingredient commonly found in shampoos. 

Other ingredients that people seem to avoid include parabens, phthalates, artificial colors, petroleum, and silicones.  Guess what ladies?!?  I've found a shampoo that has none of those ingredients, in fact it's 100% vegan, wheat and gluten free plus it can be found at your local drugstores and supermarkets. 

Keep reading to find out what shampoo it is! 

Wondering what the shampoo is?!?  It's Desert Organics Coconut Shampoo.


Product Description: Bring back shine and health to over-processed, dry hair. Infused with organic coconut oil to provide intense moisture, smooth frizzies, and restore hair’s natural luster. With continued use, hair looks revived, strong, and healthy.

Deal Spotter:  Save 20% DesertOrganics.com $7.19Ingredients:  Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract*, Arctium Lappa (Burdock) Root Extract*, Achillea Millefolium (Yarrow) Extract*, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Leaf Extract*, Foeniculum Vulgare (Fennel) Seed Extract*, Sambucus Nigra (Black Elderberry) Flower Extract*, Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Extract *, Water (Aqua), Sodium Coco-Sulfate (Coconut Derived), Decyl Glucoside (Coconut And Corn Derived), Propanediol (Corn Derived), Coco-Glucoside (Coconut Derived), Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter*, Coco Nucifera Coconut) Oil*, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil*, Cannabis Sativa (Hemp) Seed Oil*, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil*, Dehydroacetic Acid, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides (Coconut Derived), Sodium Chloride, Potassium Sorbate (Fruit Derived), Benzyl Alcohol (Plant Derived), Citric Acid, Stearyl Citrate (Vegetable Derived), Lauryl Glucoside (Plant Derived), Fragrance (Parfum).
* Certified Organic

Mizani True Textures for Natural Curls

Mizani has a new hair care collection out and it's just for natural hair.  Don't think that'll stop me from trying some of the products.  You know I love a good sulfate free shampoo and conditioners "made for" natural hair are usually super moisturizing.  Check out the info on the new Mizani line.

Mizani True Textures: Designed specifically to care for naturally curly hair, True Textures addresses the unique characteristics of each curl type with specific products to meet individual needs, such as moisture, frizz control, and curl definition.

Mizani True Textures Curl Balance Sulfate-Free Shampoo - This gentle, color-safe cream shampoo is formulated to cleanse while keeping natural curls fully moisturized, bouncy and healthy-looking. Lightweight, sulfate-free formula rinses clean while retaining and restoring moisture to detangle and soften curls.

True Textures Cleansing Cream Conditioning Curl Wash - Designed for frequent use, this creamy, low-lather sulfate-free cleanser gently refreshes hair and scalp with a mild foaming action while adding extra conditioning to soften and revitalize curls in between shampoos and deep conditioning treatments. This one-step product combines mild cleansing, detangling and moisture in one.

True Textures Curl Replenish Intense Moisturizing Mask - This ultra-rich, deep penetrating treatment quickly absorbs into strands to revitalize and infuse hair with intense moisture. Perfect for dry, brittle hair, this formula includes essential nutrients to enhance shine, and definition for improved manageability and curl elasticity. Use as an express conditioner or as a weekly intense conditioning treatment.

True Textures Perfect Curl Defining Cream Gel - Designed for loose curls and waves, this lightweight crème-gel re-energizes natural spirals without build-up. Frizz-taming formula boosts natural “lift” to give lasting curl support, memory and control with a satiny finish. Combining the moisture of a styling cream and control of a gel, this product enhances manageability and separation to refresh curls.

True Textures Moisture Stretch Curl Extending Cream - Designed for coiled to extremely tight styles, this moisturizing, curl-smoothing cream helps to loosen and elongate tight, unruly coils without weight or residue. Defines highly textured strands by reducing frizz and shrinkage and revealing flexible, individualized spirals with a clean, touchable finish. Perfect for curl set and finger twist techniques.