Daily Archives: April 30, 2013

Apr30

NBA Newsflash

Posted on by
Standard

hands on a basketballby Weusi

So … when I started writing this, Shelli saw the title and was like, “what is that?”

This is just a little something for you to cause some trouble when you are in the mix with a few  basketball fans.

So … the NBA started in 1949. Why is this important? It’s not. But it is INCREDIBLE to me that, in the 64 years history of the NBA, only ONE man has admitted that he was gay. And it happened on Monday 4/29/13. After 12 seasons in the NBA, currently with the Washington Wizards, Jason Collins says, “I’m a 34-year-old NBA center. I’m black. And I’m gay.” Now, why is a straight male writing about it on a natural hair blog?

jason-collins-profile-single-image-cut

Because this is the kind of moment in time that will be easily brushed over. Yet if you consider the power and influence some professional athletes have in American culture, it is of great social importance. It can be called significant by different people for different reasons. I am not here to direct the conversation in any direction. You don’t have to reply to this post. I just want to share the information. OK … but for real … I do hope that you bring this up in different circles! 

Read the essay written by Jason Collins for SportsIllustrated.com here.

And here are words of support from other athletes.

Now that you are equipped with some tools to cause some trouble … my work is done here!

SHiNE

(P.S. Because I’m a soccer/football fan and am hoping that there are people in other soccer/football countries that read this, I’m throwing this in too.)

Advertisement
Apr30

42: Part II

Posted on by
Standard

 

42-Movie-Chadwick-Boseman looking backby Weusi

 

“42” was number one at the box office its opening weekend and my dude Chadwick Boseman was everywhere in the media! He even got a style spread in TIME Magazine.

chad 3

Shelli and I saw the movie. I enjoyed it … but, like I said before, I am a little biased. In the end, I wanted more. But I understand that it wasn’t a bio-pic. This was really a G rated family film, but due to the language of the time, a PG-13 rating was appropriate. This could have easily been R rated if it were more depicting American history of the time with a more raw, different perspective. There was a lot more to the story that they could have shared, but this was about his first season. I am sure that if the film would have explored more of his career, it would have delved deeper into his life. HMMMM … maybe they’ll do another film … “the later years?” Yeah, I wish! Either way … I hope that people enjoyed it and will continue to support the film in upcoming weeks. Last weekend, it was number 3 in the box office. Let’s keep this film out there for our kids to see! AND please continue to support Chadwick Boseman!

There was another important outcome of the movie. We see glimpses of Jackie Robinson as a patriotic veteran. More importantly, people looked into the life of Jackie Robinson and went beyond the sugar-coated, storybook portrayal to explore the man. Here we find that in his quest to be a good American citizen, he mindfully helped to destroy the life of one of this country’s most significant personalities: PAUL ROBESON.

ROBESON

As an activist, lawyer, athlete, vocalist and film star, Mr. Robeson was more significant to american history than Mr. Robinson.

Jackie_Robinson_at_HUAC

But Jackie Robinson went to congress to speak against Paul Robenson!?! Read more about it here. Years later, Robinson second guessed his actions. Either way, read a little more about the type of man he was through some exerts from First Class Citizenship, where he has some interesting letter exchange between the likes of Martin Luther King Jr, John F. Kenndy, Richard Nixon and Malcolm X. They are all very interesting to me. But I’m a lil’ geeky like that.

That’s all … for now …

SHiNE

Apr30

A Dry Twist Out with Cantu

Posted on by
Standard

cantu2

Yeah … this is way overdue. So, a couple of weeks ago, I teased the results of using a new product to style. As you’ve probably already guessed by the title (or know from IG and/or Facebook), that product was Cantu Shea Butter Leave-in Conditioning Repair Cream!! I had been hearing about the awesomeness that is Cantu for a couple of years now, but had repressed my inner PJ and never bought it … that is, until I saw the GORGEOUS braid and twist-out results that the fabulous Shaniece (aka PGneiicey of YouTube) was getting using it!! Now, I know … 90% of those results are due to the fact that her hair is stinkin’ AMAZE-A-BALLS. But, you know, that never stops a PJ.

So, yeah … when Wei and I stopped at Target a couple of weeks ago and were perusing the hair care/body care aisles in search of some Shea Moisture Body Wash for him, I saw the Cantu. And I snagged the Cantu (along with a jar of SM Raw Shea Restorative Mask … had to restock).

Here’s a little information about the Cantu leave-in:

via NaturallyCurly.com

Cantu Shea Butter Leave In Conditioning Repair Cream is an intensive deep penetrating leave in cream conditioning treatment that is made with pure shea butter and other natural oils to stop and mend breakage, repair split ends, and add manageability and shine with every application.
Product Attributes: moisture, shine, detangling, frizz control, anti-humectant

Ingredients
Water, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Glycine Soja Oil (Soybean), Propylene Glycol, Polyquaternium 37, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, PPG 1 Trideceth 6, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Stearalkonium Chloride, Trimethylsilylamodimethicone, Panthenol, PPG 1-PPG-9 Lauryl Glycol Ether, Lanolin Oil, Cinnamidopropyl Trimonium Chloride, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Acrylamidopropyltrimonium Chloride/Acrylamide Copolymer, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Benzophenone 3, BHA, BHT, Zea Mays Oil (Corn), Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, DMDM Hydantoin, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance
Ingredient Attributes: sulfate free, paraben free

So, later that night, I decided that I wanted to try a dry twist-out with my newest acquisition. First, I finger detangled my dry, 8 day old twist-out (which was still looking pretty good, if I must do say so myself) …

braidout_day8_040613

Then, I set my hair in an 8 twist, dry twist-out with a combo of Cantu leave-in and Eco Styler Olive Oil gel …

cantu9

cantu3cantu11

The next morning I released to some pretty awesome results!

cantutwistoutday1_2

cantutwistoutday1_4

My hair was shiny, defined, light (not “producty” or greasy at all), and flake-free (seems some have had that problem with Cantu/gel combos). So, I was very pleased with the results!!

Tomorrow … Overnight Maintenance: A New Bedtime Technique and Day 2 hair!

***********************************************************************************************************************

 Have you tried/do you use Cantu Shea Butter Leave-in Conditioner? How did/do you use it? How did/do you like it?