Daily Archives: September 8, 2011

Sep8

Bronx * Brooklyn * Queens Exhibit: NYC Meet-Up?

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So, I was on BGLH the other day reading a post by the gorgeous Cipriana, with whose hair I’d previously fallen in love when I read her Style Icon interview several months ago. After she posted a very sweet reply to my “hair lust” comment, I decided to visit her blog, Urban Bush Babes, for the first time. When I clicked the link, I was awed by the images that greeted me!! They were these amazingly gorgeous, energetic and expressive portraits of Black women with natural hair that was as energetic and expressive as the faces it framed! The portraits are by Tim Okamura, a Canadian transplant who now lives in Brooklyn, and Bronx•Brooklyn•Queens is currently on exhibit at the Lyons Wier Gallery in NY.

Anywho, when I saw the series of portraits and the location of the exhibit, I immediately asked Cipriana if I could share her post and she graciously obliged (please check out her detailed overview of the artist and more of his work here). But then, the seed of an idea emerged. This exhibit is on display from September 8th through October 8th. Our DC Meet-Up met an unfortunate demise and it’s very unlikely that I will be able to re-schedule it in the same locale prior to November. So, I was thinking, perhaps we can have a mini- NY/NJ contingent Meet-Up that begins at the gallery and ends with lunch at a nearby restaurant! I’m going to this exhibit regardless, but thought it would be so much cooler if several of us got to enjoy it together!! So, what do you think? Anyone down for this? If so, we have to do it this Saturday (9/10), next Saturday (9/17) or the last Saturday of the exhibit (10/8) as my last two weekends in September are booked and the gallery isn’t open on Sundays. Also, it seems we may need to make an appointment according to the website. So, my NY/NJ ladies, please let me know ASAP if you are interested and which dates work for you, list all and rank from best to worst, so that we can try to make this happen!! A’ight?!?!  LOL! I am sooo not “street.” 😉

With that, I’ll leave you with some more eye candy …

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Sep8

GOC Update: Ky

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Ky (Fifth Wave) gives us her month one recap.

Ky of Hair Today Healthy Hair Tomorrow

Started out strong. An injury left me sidelined for a week and my hair has been slow to recover.
Here’s my plan to get it back in shape:

  • Herbal treatments – cassia for September then the henna boot camp in October
  • Weekly oil treatments- worked so well yesterday I’m putting it in the rotation
  • Deep conditioning for no more than 30 minutes – the extra time contributed to my scalp issues
  • Keeping my hair twisted – unfortunately, no twist outs or bossy fros until my hair stops showing off
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Stop by Ky’s blog for a blow by blow account of her first month in the GOC, including details about her first cassia treatment! Hopefully, she’ll tell us more about this “henna boot camp!!” We want details Ky!!

Sep8

GOC Update: CJ

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Eighth Waver CJ does what needs to be done!

CJ

So the month of August was, to put it mildly, a huge fail in the exercise department. Between working 70 hours a week, my last 2 weeks of the internship, driving back to DC, getting sick, clinic orientation and school starting, I have not been on my eating/fitness game. I have a game plan to fix this all starting tomorrow.

As for the hair …

  1. I quickly gave up on the twisting every night. It didn’t take that long (while watching TV), but my hair HATED it. I was getting more knots and split ends.
  2. The budget doesn’t have room for all the new products I’d like to try.
  3. I did a henna/amla gloss the first week of the month, and will do a hendigo/amla treatment this coming friday. My hair already feels smoother, without curl loss, which has made it much easier to deal with.
  4. I’ve started doing big twist/bantu knots every night and pinning up my hair during the day as a protective style. Keeps manipulation to a minimum and lets me stay on top of moisturizing.

I got my first trim in *gasp* 15 weeks on Wednesday! These pics are post trim. I anticipated losing more than I wanted because my ends are so thin/split. But, it’s long enough to put into 2 french braids!

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I think that we need something to help most of us in the motivation department! Chandra said something the other day that has me thinking! More to come on that! As to your trim, good job CJ! You have to get rid of thinning, split ends in order to prevent additional breakage if you want to work towards retaining length!

Sep8

Another Simple Banana Clip Updo!

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Seriously, I can never get enough of these (hope you can’t either, otherwise there may be a problem! LOL!)! Anywhoooo, here’s Michelle (First Wave) sharing a bulleted tutorial for one of her quick and simple banana clip styles :)!

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by Michelle of Radiant Brown Beauty

Alrighty now, here’s my simple (I’m so simple when it comes to styling lol) banana clip style:

The night before I did this style, I was bum lazy – lol. So, what I did was put 4 flat twists (connected to the scalp) in the front of my head (for texture) and then stuffed the rest of my hair under a satin bonnet.

In the morning I did the following:

  1. Applied Jane Carter Nourish & Shine to the length of the hair that was not twisted and added Aloe Vera gel to the edges.
  2. Whipped out a trusty banana clip (yes I have 7 of them…never know when one will break – lol) and pulled all my hair (but the front) to the side and clipped.
  3. Took one half of the hair in the banana clipped and rolled around clockwise and pinned over the banana clip.
  4. Repeated with the rest of the hair counter-clockwise.
  5. Loosened the front twists and softly rolled them together towards the right, loosely pinning back toward the bunned hair, but left a few ends sticking out (my daughter thought it was cuter this way than to make it so neat by pinning it all down).
  6. I left a small piece  of hair dangling down the side from the hair that was twisted – for a little flair and to hold my edges since I was in a little rush :).
  7. Put on a decorative headband, which also aided in holding back the puffed up front without crushing it.

That’s it! Simple as pie.

I achieved this minimal protective style with 3 simple accessories: The Banana Clip (remember when these came in colors?), Goodie Ouchless Bobby Pins and a cheapie headband I forgot I had.

I did not use a brush or a comb. Only once in a blue moon will I use a brush to smooth my edges, but that’s only when I have time to focus on smoothing carefully, followed by tying the hair down.

Finally, thanks to Shelli, I don’t use a comb EVER without my hair being soaked with conditioner and even then I tend to use my fingers.