Coily World!!

2011-07-11T19:13:00.002-04:00

Pics from a festival in Brooklyn 2 weeks ago. My bf and his niece were with me.

2011-07-11T19:04:00.002-04:00

New pics from last weekend. It was sooo humid, so my hair was very shrunken...

2011-07-09T08:40:00.003-04:00

Hey Coily Girls!! Happy July!!! I've been very busy with end of school activities and I'm also teaching summer school which began this week. In addition, I have gone through a lot in the past few months emotionally, financially, and health-wise, which just hasn't had me in the mood to blog. Thankfully, the storm has passed, and I feel like myself again!

I just got a trim and color last week, and this is actually the best cut I think I've gotten. My regular girl was on vacation, so I got a much older stylist, and was reluctant at first. Turned out she did a much better job than my regular stylist. I told her I wanted to start going darker with my color, so she darkened my roots, and I love the result. I got a lot of compliments. Also, my hair has so much body after the cut she gave me. Not sure what she did differently, but my hair just lays better than it ever did.

Today, my bf and I are hitting the beach. We will probably go to Wildwood.... haven't been there yet this year. I'm a Jersey Girl, so I grew up going to Seaside Heights (where Jersey Shore is taped), but that series has made "our beach" so trashy that I rarely go there anymore. Now all you see are fans and groupies of the show hanging out, and emulating the people on the show. Please.... lol.

I have a few pics..... I'll post them tomorrow, if I have time. Until then, enjoy your day!

I have my hair pinned up in the back with spin pins.

2011-05-15T13:00:00.001-04:00

Hey Coily Girls!!!!!!!

I've been gone for a minute, I know, so I decided it was WAY past time for a new post. Here's what's been going on with me. My bf and I went to St. Thomas, Virgin Islands for a much needed vacation last month!!!! I will post a few pics from that. I wasn't feeling so good, so I did basically NOTHING to my hair the entire time we were there. We had a great time, though... and although everything in the V.I. is overpriced, I plan on returning there again. I just loved the vibe on the island. We also got to take the ferry over to St. John. We wanted to go to Tortola, British Virgin Islands, but I don't have a passport. Maybe next time.

I didn't particularly care for the food there though. I am a huge fan of Caribbean food, but for some reason the food in St. Thomas was lacking something. Maybe it was the restaurants we chose, but I was NOT a fan at all! There was only one place I enjoyed, and that was in St. John, and it wasn't even island cuisine.

OK, so I'm having technical difficulty posting pics, so I may have to come back and add them later. As you can see, I have been growing out my color, so my roots are black, which is my natural hair color. I'm probably going to stick to the black and just do highlights from now on.

So.... I'll keep working on posting those pics. Talk to u soon...

*************************************************************************8

Better late than never! Here are the pics I promised! As you can see, my bad hair days started the minute I got off the plane. I have NEVER seen my hair shrink up like it is in these pics. I had a puff from that point on!! lol

MY bf.... chillin on the beach!

LMAO! Can't believe I even posted these pics!!! I barely recognize this hair!

2011-03-13T14:52:00.000-04:00

pics from www.theybf.com

Hey Coily Girls! I love this pic of Garcelle Beauvais and her twins... this is a gorgeous pic of all three. (And they're all having a good hair day.)

As for my own hair, as promised, I've been growing out my color because I am going back to darker hair. My natural hair is pretty dark, (almost black) unlike both of my sisters who both have light hair. I've decided to grow mine out for a few months before coloring it again. So far, it's been like 2 months since I've colored it.

So....do you think Garcelle is natural or is this a twistout over a relaxer? I used to get twistouts all the time when I had relaxed hair, which gave me nice length, but not as much body as now, and definitely no curls on the ends.

2011-02-20T08:05:00.002-05:00

I just love the girl's hair in this video!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Got some gray hairs you want to cover?

2011-02-06T09:28:00.001-05:00

Here's an article I found particularly interesting, especially since I do have some gray hair, but only in one place, a small patch on my hairline! To date, I have been unsatisfied with how my stylist colors it!!! Now I realize I probably should have just gotten highlights.

(Click here to read it! Very informative!)

Easing Your Clients into Covering Their Gray

2011-01-29T10:49:00.000-05:00

Biotin......what's the REAL DEAL?

OK, I know I'm late with this, but I'm going to start taking Biotin!! So many of my natural hair friends swear bu it, and even my Mom takes it, so I've decided to give it a try. I have never had a problem growing long nails or hair, but I wouldn't mind a little help speeding things up! LOL

For those who have been living under a rock (like me), here is an article I have found on the benefits of Biotin:Many women and men desire strong healthy hair and some also want longer and thicker hair. One thing that can help grow long hair is vitamin supplements. A vitamin that I've found to increase hair growth is Biotin.

AdChoices

It also prevents hair loss and speeds up nail growth.

Biotin is a part of the B-complex family of vitamins and also known as Vitamin H.

Here are some guidelines for using Biotin on your quest to grow long healthy hair:

Choose your brand. The brand of Biotin I use is Nature's Bounty and I've been pleased with it. Each tablet is small and easy to swallow. A one-tablet dosage is 300 mcg. Other vitamin brands that carry Biotin are Country Life, Nature's Way, NOW Foods, Puritan's Pride and Sundown.

Start with a low dosage. Some people need to take more Biotin than others. And some react differently than others. Start with a small amount and work up to a level that is good for you. Any excess Biotin that is not absorb by the body is passed out in the urine.

Take a multivitamin. Your body needs balanced nutrition so eat healthy foods and take a multivitamin. You can get a multivitamin that contains Biotin.

Be patient. Biotin is not a magic hair growth pill. It is a great vitamin supplement and it will need time to work through your system.

Chart your hair and nail growth progress. Chart your progress by measuring your hair length periodically. This way you can tell if your hair is growing at a faster rate. If you are looking for thickness run your fingers through your hair near your scalp to see if there is an increase in thickness. Also look for increased nail growth. The first thing I noticed taking Biotin was the increase in nail growth. My nails were noticeably, stronger, brighter and longer.

2011-01-29T10:09:00.000-05:00

Check out this hair type chart. Looking at this chart, I still think I'm a 3C or 4a..... although, sometimes my curls look like 3B, depending on whether or not my hair has been trimmed.

2011-01-29T09:55:00.003-05:00

(Pic Source) diasporahaircare.invisionzone.com
I love the way her curls graze her shoulders. Mine will too, but only if I blowdry it first, and I hate to use heat on my hair. I can't wait until it passes my shoulder with no manipulation.)
(Pic Source) Essence.com
I like this hair cut... and color.

(Pic Source) www.solazylife.com

I wish my twistouts looked this good from the back... lolafroholic.tumblr.com

www.onyxroseonline.com
Just a fly pic......

Saw this on one of my favorite blogs.... kisforkinky.blogspot.com

www.flickriver.com

Cute headband!
www.seriouslynatural.org

This looks like a blowdried twistout to me. Absolutely stunning!

nu20beauty.com

One of my favorite styles to rock when the sides of my hair aren't cooperating! lol

2011-01-28T18:17:00.002-05:00

This makes me miss my black hair sooooo much!!

2011-01-28T11:38:00.000-05:00

OMG... I am a sucker for a nice roller set!!! This is soooo pretty!

2011-01-27T11:55:00.001-05:00

2011-01-27T10:50:00.002-05:00

Just some pics of gorgeous coily hair.......... I'm snowed in today!!!

I can't wait to have a daughter so I can play with her hair!!!

Hey! Look whose pic came up when I googled "coily hair images?" It's ME!!!!! LMAO!! This was when I first learned how to do a wash and go.

I saw this girl's hair on a blog I stumbled upon. (www.kinkycurlycoilyme.com) Her hair was so pretty, I just had to post. Here's a link tohttp://kinkycurlycoilyme.com/2010_07_01_archive.html her hair story.

2011-01-26T18:32:00.000-05:00

Hey Coily Girls! Isn't this pic soooo cute? I'm really feeling the side-swept bang! I think I'll try this for tomorrow. I've been rockin' a fro all week long. I like to switch it up sometimes!! I didn't even attempt to stretch my curls out. It's been in the shrunken fro all week, and I love it! It's sooo much easier, if you don't mind being asked if you cut your hair ALL DAY LONG! LOL

2011-01-23T11:23:00.001-05:00

It's been a minute since I've shared my hair routine with you guys. I'm constantly changing it according to what I think my hair needs at the time. (Sometimes with disastrous results!) LOL.

Prepoo: Olive Oil
Cheap conditioner (Suave coconut)

Co Wash: Tresemme Flawless Curls or Trade Joe Nourish
Add honey. Detangle with conditioner in with fingers or denman brush and under running shower water.

Deep Condition: Organics Hair Mayonnaise (Weekly)

Twistouts: 12-15 twists while hair is wet. I use Organics Olive Oil Twist-Loc Gel, raw shea and coconut or olive oil. Make sure hair is detangled well and ends are trimmed.

Nightly: Retwist hair, adding shea and oil as needed. I wet my hair every 2 days with steam or spritz bottle or with Greg's Juice or Daily Doctor. Sleep with satin cap or satin pillowcase.

Creams I use: Curls Souffle', Organics (from time to time) and Carol's Daughter hair Milk. (I don't care too much for the Carol's, but I'll use it in a pinch.)

Clarify: Apple Cider Vinegar or Dr. Bronner's. Once every few months. I have color in my hair, so I can't do it any more often.

That's IT! I have a ton of other products that I experiment with, but these are my staple products that are tried and true.

2011-01-23T10:54:00.000-05:00

Hey Coily Girls!!!!

Just wanted to share with you some pics that are inspiring me right now! My hair is still dry, and I'm HATING it..... so these pics are giving me a little hope right now! LOL

2011-01-07T20:50:00.002-05:00

OMG! Have you seen Tempestt Bledsoe lately? I am LOVIN' her hair!!!!!!!!!!!! I think she's always been natural, but this is the best I've seen her hair look. She's in great shape, and her hair is super cute. In case you didn't know, she'll be replacing Niecy Nash on the "Clean House" show on the Style Network.

Here is another pic I lifted from Mediatakeout.com:

What I found interesting was that Tempestt's promo pic for the show looked like THIS:

I wonder why she decided to go STRAIGHT for her pic. I much more prefer the kinky-curly look. What do you think?

2011-01-05T18:20:00.000-05:00

My Hair Today....

I thought I was going to get my hair done , so it's in a lazy "I don't care" low puff. Unfortunately, my stylist is sick, so it looks like I'll be rocking it like this for a while!! I am NOT washing my hair when I can PAY somebody to do it.

2011-01-02T11:02:00.000-05:00

A pic of me and two of my sisters Tammi and Melanie at a a 70's party in memory of my father. I have another sister, Cori, who is not in this picture.

P.S.- Melanie is wearing an afro wig!! LOL

2011-01-02T10:42:00.001-05:00

Photo Shoot with my BF in November.... don't ask me why I waited so long to post these pics!

P

2011-01-02T09:19:00.001-05:00

Just some inspirational pics. These pics are inspiring me to go back to black hair, even though my stylist is trying her hardest to get me NOT to. I think she's afraid I won't need her anymore, and I guess that would be right! I only trim my hair every few months. lol

Brigid Turner- one of my hair idols!!! Love her texture and length!

2011-01-02T08:42:00.001-05:00

Meet fellow Coily Girl, Syreeta Neal!! Looooove those curls, omg!!! Beautiful texture. I found her accidentally on Youtube. Here's her bio:

Spirit, soul and truth are not only Syreeta Neal's foundation, they are also the essence of her art, her music. Born in Toronto to an Italian mother and an African-American father, the fourth generation musician was exposed to music and the art of performance long before she was able to articulate her passion for it.

She began studying jazz and classical music at the age of 11 but her most influential "classrooms" were those of her musical family in Baton Rouge, Louisiana where her father, grandfather and many aunts and uncles are all accomplished blues musicians.

Syreeta grew up hearing stories of Blues legends like Buddy Guy, Muddy Waters and Big Mama Thornton taking her father on the road when he was just a young teenager. And, as is the tradition in the Neal family, in October of 2000 Syreeta traveled overseas to Paris to open for her father, Kenny Neal and his Blues Band. During this time Syreeta also began carving out a place for herself in the live music scene in Toronto and in the last two years she has had the opportunity to perform in Blues and Jazz festivals throughout the U.S.

These experiences were the catalyst for Syreeta to move on to composing and performing her own original material while simultaneously honing her skills on electric and acoustic guitar. This lead to performing acoustically on a weekly basis at local restaurant/lounge Spaha, a residency which continued for a year and a half, as well as playing weekly at a Yorkville blues club (Blues on Bellair), exclusively showcasing her original work with a full band.

Syreeta recently completed her independent debut album, entitled Stand Tall. Innovative and unique, Stand Tall is an eclectic fusion of organic soul, blues and rock & roll; Syreeta's writing has best been described as powerful, deep and honest.

Ever since Syreeta Neal was a young girl she has been called an old soul, startling people with the strength and maturity of her voice. Even through all her formal training she has never lost the rare, soul stirring sound that sets her apart from so many of her peers. She now wears these attributes proudly and she is now ready to be heard.

2010-12-30T20:38:00.002-05:00

Hey Coily Girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I hope you're enjoying the holiday season. I'm slowly coming into the realization that my vacation is coming to an end. :( Where does the time go? I plan to enjoy every second of what's left of my time off being a lazy bum,. (I've become very good at that this week!) Now if I could only break myself out of the habit of waking up at 7:00 every morning! I hate that my body won't let me sleep late!

When we were little,nobody in my house slept late, especially on weekends! Saturday morning was for chores or dancing school.We weren't allowed to lay around leisurely! LOL

So, how's YOUR hair this winter? I'm not feeling mine right about now. I have a hair appointment on January 4th, and best believe I'm bringing my color down a few levels. The dryness is unbearable.

I've been so lazy about picture taking this school year, but a big part of that is that I'm really hating my hair. I've had quite a few bad hair days, and I haven't been feeling photogenic lately! One of my resolutions is to go back to taking good care of my hair. I've been more focused on other aspects of my life, and my hair has taken a backseat.

I'm thinking of taking biotin. Have any of you tried it? If so, what were your results? I'm also going to grow out these layers some.I'm ready to start seeing my length. Maybe then I'll feel some motivation. LOL

Pics are coming soon. I promise! You would think I would have a ton of pics since my bf is into photography, but no.... LOL I only have a few to post... what a difference from last year this time.

Hope you have a fun and safe New Year's Eve!!!!

The Indomitable Blackness of Teena Marie - Ta-Nehisi Coates - Culture - The Atlantic

2010-12-30T12:11:00.004-05:00

The Indomitable Blackness of Teena Marie - Ta-Nehisi Coates - Culture - The Atlantic\\** This has to be the best article I've read about Teena Marie....

2010-12-25T18:48:00.000-05:00

Hey Coily Girls!!!!!! Just wanted to wish you all a Merry Christmas and leave you with this video from Andy Allo. LOOOOOOOOOOOVE her hair! You will too, if you haven't already seen it.

2010-12-05T12:49:00.000-05:00

Have you seen this yet? This is the new Janet Jackson Barbie doll!!!!! Isn't she GORGEOUS?? It would seem like somebody would have thought of this before now, but nevertheless.... she's SUPER CUTE!!!

2010-11-30T20:47:00.000-05:00

I know this is a WIG that Nicki's rockin, but wouldn't this make a cute haircut?? Lately, I've been on this "bangs" kick, courtesy of Nikstar!! (Another natural hair blogger.) Ironically, she's ready to grow hers out!

2010-11-29T20:47:00.000-05:00

Corinne Bailey Rae

Is this NOT the perfect twistout? This is obviously blowdried. I can achieve this length or longer when I blowdry too. I get it blowdried every time I get a trim.

2010-11-28T14:12:00.000-05:00

DOWNLOAD THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is a nice mix... it includes a nice remake of Aaliyah's "It's Whatever." Enjoy!

2010-11-25T10:54:00.000-05:00

HAPPY THANKSGIVING COILY GIRLS!!!!!!!!!!!!! Be safe!

2010-11-24T21:50:00.002-05:00

New from my girl Carmen Rodgers!!! How fly is that haircut????

2010-11-20T23:59:00.002-05:00

TV Reporter Shares Her Natural Journey..... I love this!!!!!!!!!!!

2010-11-20T14:21:00.002-05:00

My hair salon is in this video! Au Naturale! My stylist is Anita, the one with the locs, getting her hair twisted!!

2010-11-20T12:51:00.008-05:00

Okay, so I have a hair appointment coming up and I need a trim. I always dread getting my hair trimmed because it always feels so short afterwards. I've been on the fence about my hair color. This week, I kind of feel like I want to keep it light! LOL I guess I won't know for sure until I'm in the stylist's chair!

Here are some of the hair cuts I LOVE!!!!!!!!! Also, I am definitely considering some bangs....

I mean, I have bangs, but they're long and slanted... I love how these cuts frame their faces. (Note: these pics were on www.socialitedreams.com, www.naturallycurly.com and www.forum.blackmedia.com.)

It's becoming abundantly clear to me that I have the kind of hair that grows OUT faster than DOWN. LOL The only way I see my length is when I stretch a curl, otherwise I would swear my hair is not growing at all.

This is pretty much the cut I have now....

I guess I better not cut too many layers in if my ultimate goal is THIS:
I'm guessing that must be about 7-10 years of being natural.

How to Do a Thyroid Check | eHow.com

2010-11-13T20:33:00.002-05:00

How to Do a Thyroid Check | eHow.com

FYI....

Thyroid disease can have numerous symptoms, including unexplained weight fluctuations, dry eyes, anxiety, depression, infertility, menstrual problems, and fatigue. The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists has published information on how to do a thyroid check. This article passes along this important thyroid screening information. You will find that it is fast and easy to do a thyroid check, so check your thyroid now. A home thyroid check is not replacement for medical care; think of this thyroid check as your first step in screening for thyroid disease.

1
The first step in this thyroid screening is to have everything you need for it close by. You'll want to have a handheld mirror and glass of water within reach so that you can easily grab them when the time comes to check your thyroid.
2
To begin the thyroid check, hold the mirror in your hand. Place the mirror so that it shows the reflection of your neck. You want to be able to see the area between your Adam's apple and your collarbone.
3
The next step in how to do a thyroid check is to slightly tip your head back while still holding the mirror in position.
4
Now take a drink of water. As you swallow, look in the mirror at your neck. Check for any bulges or knots in your neck between the Adam's apple and the collarbone.
5
Repeat step 4 to double-check that there aren't any bulges or knots in your neck as you swallow the water.
6
The final step in doing a thyroid check is to feel for unusual lumps in the neck. Place one hand on the back of the neck, with the fingers holding the base of your head where the top of the spine is. Smooth your fingers along the back of the neck to the front center on one side, checking for lumps. Then do a check for lumps on the other side of the neck.

If, during this thyroid check, you see bulges or knots or feel lumps on the neck, make an appointment with your doctor for further thyroid screening. Early detection of thyroid disease can make a big difference in the quality of your life!

2010-11-13T19:24:00.003-05:00

Hey everybody!!! I haven't been on in a while because I had a bit of a health scare. I recently found out that I have an enlarged thyroid. Had to through a series of ultrasounds, blood tests, and a biopsy. Pretty scary!!! Anyway, all of the results came back negative for cancer and my thyroid is fine. (Thank GOD!!)I felt like my life had been on hold waiting for these results.

This year, I also found out that I am anemic and have asthma! My whole life, I've been pretty healthy, so this was a lot to take in at one time!So, now I'm taking iron supplements, vitamin d, vitamin c and a multi-vitamin. I'm not sure why I was so vitamin deficient all of a sudden. The only thing I can think of was that my bf and I had been trying to be vegetarians, and cut way down on meat. Maybe we had not been doing such a great job of supplementing it. So... this has all been a wakeup call for me.

In other news.... I'm definitely going to go darker with my hair. I think I have an appointment this week. I'm ready to look like myself again!! LOL By spring, I'll probably miss my light hair, but for now, my mind is made up. I'll post pics! Here was my hair last week:

2010-10-23T08:48:00.004-04:00

2010-10-23T07:50:00.001-04:00

HELLO COILY GIRLS!!!!!

I've been away forever, so I must FIRST apologize! My job has me bombarded with more work than I expected. I have a TON of work today as well, but I had to make some time for an update!!

Here's what's new with me! I'm in a TOTAL hair rut!!! I'm bored of my color and have decided I am DEFINITELY going back to my dark hair in November. I'm just getting tired of the upkeep. I will probably go light again in the summer, but for now, I'm going to the darkest brown I can find.

Another new happening is I've decided it's time to leave my natural hair salon and go to a salon that specializes in coily/kinky hair. There IS a difference. My stylist can give a pretty good HAIRCUT, but she seems to only STYLE hair in locs or twists of some kind. I've been going to her for years and just getting color and then leaving with my hair in a wet puff. I need to find a place that can actually style my coily hair when it's wet, and uses products that are good for my hair.

I've done some research and found that there is a place called James Brown in Philly that can give good coily cuts and color too. The only qualms I have about this place is that they also do relaxers. I'm not sure how I feel about that. It would seem that a place that says they do coily hair wouldn't do relaxers as well. What do you think about that? I'll be calling them today to find out about the products they use. If all goes well, I'll make an appointment next week.

Well, I just wanted to check in and tell you I haven't forgotten about you!!! Hopefully, I'll get back to regular updates! I hope all is well with you! :)

2010-09-05T09:43:00.002-04:00

Hey Coily Girls!!!! sorry I've been gone a minute, but as you know, end of summer means back to work for me! :( After this post, I may be on another hiatus while I get acclimated to the new school year.

I got a trim a few weeks ago, and strangely enough, my hair is looking the BEST I've ever seen it! at first, it seemed like it was too short, but once my curls stretched out, I realized it was still shoulder length (curly), and my curls were more defined! I can't stress enough the importance of a good trim! I know we hate to lose our length, but it makes curly hair soooo much more manageable!

Unfortunately, I didn't take any pics, but now that I'm back to work, I'll go back to my at-my-desk- photography!! LOL In the meantime, here's some coily inspiration......

2010-08-24T17:18:00.004-04:00

VINTAGE VIDEOS!!!!

So... I contemplated doing the You-tube video thing, but decided I was much too lazy to keep that up!LOL Here are some of the videos I made which I never ended up using! Not very informative, but ok shots of my hair on what I think are pretty good days! lol

I was supposed to show the completed twists when I was all done, and I forgot! LOL Clearly, I am not cut out for You-Tube!

2010-08-10T10:06:00.002-04:00

COILY GIRL! COILY GIRL! COILY GIRL! COILY GIRL! COILY GIRL! COILY GIRL!

Meet Coily Girl Jacqueline! She sent in some pics of her natural hair journey! Check 'em out....

Relaxed hair

Right after her BC

Twist-out done on hair stretched in previous twist-out and pinned into side bun

Flat twist-out unraveled damp for more volume

Strand twists (mini-twists that she wears) pinned into bob, with loose flat twists in front

Wash and go Bun

Strand twists put into updo with goddess headband

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

Thanks Jacqueline!!! I've got to find one of those goddess headbands!!!!! :) Best of luck to you in law school!

2010-08-10T09:26:00.002-04:00

Check out this video from one of my favorite singers, Cherokee!!!! She hasn' t had an album out in years, but I always liked her vibe. She's also one of my very first hair idols!!! I loved her hair when I had a relaxer and even MORE now that I'm natural!

2010-08-10T09:00:00.002-04:00

Chippy D has NATURAL HAIR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wow! Would you look at that? For those who don't know, this is Larry Fishburne's daughter Montana who has just became the latest PORN sensation!!!! Such a shame, she's a really cute girl. Hopefully, she comes to her senses.

I love her hair, though.

2010-08-08T15:32:00.002-04:00

Pic of my just-washed hair which has not been stretched down to its actual length yet!!I HATE my hair the day after I wash it!! The difference between day one and day two/three is like night and day lengthwise!!

This is Day 2. you can see it's stretching downward a little and starting to touch my shoulder, but I'm still not feelin it yet.....

I still have a lot of frizz going on, but that could be weather related!! Ugh... hated my hair today, so I ended up doing THIS.....

2010-08-04T16:27:00.002-04:00

Coily Girl Marsha Ambrosius looks FANTASTIC!!!! Loving her hair in this pic, and looking forward to the new album!!

2010-08-04T09:28:00.001-04:00

COILY GIRL!!! COILY GIRL!!! COILY GIRL!!! COILY GIRL!!! COILY GIRL!COILY GIRL!!!

MEET COILY GIRL LAKESHI DURR!!!!!!

Keshia is actually one of my little sister's best friends!!! I was so excited for her when she finally did her BC!!! I had the feeling she was going to go natural, because she was showing an interest in it after I did MY BC!!!! When somebody close to you BC's, it DOES make it a little easier to go through with it!! LOL Now I hope Keshia can influence my sister!!

Anyway, read on to find out how she cares for her coils..........

1. Your current products/routine:

In the morning I use a water bottle, and I spray my hair and then I use Miss Jessie's Baby Butter Cream. It's my daily moisturizer. Then I either use World of Curls Curl Activator or Miss Jessie Quick Curl. Sometimes I don't use those two things and just use the Miss Jessie's Baby Butter Cream.
I wash my hair two times a week. I use Baking soda and water and then Apple Cider Vinegar and water. Followed by Trader Joe's Nourish Spa conditioner. When I want to deep condition my hair, I use Shea butter, Oliver Oil, Coconut Oil and set under the hair dryer for 10 minutes, which I do once a month.

2. Do you/ or will you straighten your hair? What precautions do you/ or will you take?

I'll probably straighten my hair for my girlfriend's wedding which I'm in in November. I really didn't want to straighten it until I'm at one year natural on 22nd of January. I don't think I would straighten it often because I don't want it to mess up and not be able to convert back to its natural state.

3. Your hair length goal:

I want to grow my hair down my back like it used to be, but all natural.

4. Why did you decide to go natural?
The are so many reasons why I decided to go natural. One of the main reasons was that I wanted to change something about me since I was turning 30. I decided that it was going to be my hair. I got tired of going to get my hair done every other week and sitting in the shop for hours at a time. I wanted to get a new look that really defines who I am as a person. So... April 2009 was the beginning of the transition phase. Once I was able to get kinky twists, I started!! I would cut out the relaxed hair in between each set of kinky twists. So January 22nd, 2010 was the day I became free!!

5. Reaction of friends/family when you first bc'ed.

My family was so shocked that I cut all my long hair off. My mom didn't like it at all. She would call me "my bald headed baby" and smile, but now she is getting used too it. I got a lot of mixed reactions with my friends, but now it seems everyone likes it and has gotten used to it. I even get a lot of good comments on the street too. I'm so glad that I made this decision to go natural.

6. Your hair type:

I think I'm a 3B... I'm not sure. I know that my hair is very curly even if you don't add anything but water.

Thank you, Keshia!!!!!!!!! Continued success on your natural journey!! :)

2010-08-03T20:39:00.002-04:00

Hey Coily Girls!!!! Here are some pics of my hair the FEW times I actually did it this summer. I'm telling you, I was extremely lazy with it this summer. Including with deep conditoning, so I had a dry spell too. I'm just recovering from that now. Here are some pics from my bf's nephew's wedding. It was a pretty good hair day, in spite of the humidity.

Me and my BF

OK... let me explain these next few. I was helping my bf do an assignment for school. He needed to make a commercial for a rose. So, he took about a million pics and video of me....

Here is the finished product:

2010-07-30T21:16:00.001-04:00

Hey Coily Girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm baaaaaaaack!!! LOL I apologize for being away so long. I've been teaching summer school and also getting all my paperwork done for grad school. Well, I finally stopped procrastinating, and if all goes well, I should be starting classes for my second Masters and another certification next month!! I'm sooo excited about this, because it's something I've been talking about for like 2 years, but finally, I got off my butt and I'm taking steps to make it happen.

Well.... as for my hair, it has been looking TERRIBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL Well, maybe not TERRIBLE, but I haven't really done it all summer. DONE to me is a twistout. I've done wash n go's, but to me, they always look like an unfinished look, not an actual STYLE. Plus, my curls shrink up soo much, and I prefer my length from a twistout.

So, I've been wearing my hair in puffs and buns, and wash and go's. Tonight, I'll be twisting my hair for the first time since school ended.

Oh.... I did get my color done again, and I think the shade I have now is the best I've had. I think my stylist went more blonde-ish or sandy brown as opposed to reddish. I like it. I'm sorry I don't have any pics to show you, but my hair is in a WHAT?? PUFF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anyway, I do have a Coily Girl feature coming up, and I promise to post some pics in the next few days. I'm in desperate need of a trim. I think I'll get that at the end of August.

Talk to u soon!!

2010-06-27T13:32:00.003-04:00

OMG... THE HEAT IS ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's another ridiculously humid day in Philly!!!!! Sorry I've been gone for a minute, but my last day of school was Monday, and I've been in temporary relaxation mode. Temporary because I'm teaching summer school, which starts tomorrow. :(

My bf and I have been hitting all kinds of outdoor music festivals! (Something I'm really into the summer, and fortunately, so is he!! LOL) So far we've gone to the B-Boy BBQ, and Odunde here in Philly, the Michael Jackson tribute in Newark, and the Carribbean Festival in DC. We are debating over whether we're going to Afro-Punk and the Fort Greene festivals in Brooklyn today. (Common and Mos Def will be at these!) It's looking unlikely because I go back to work tomorrow.

Anyway..... it's time for a color and trim, and I'm once again on the fence about whether to go black or keep the color. More than likely, I'll stay light for the summer. I can't help it.... you coily girls with black hair keep making me want to change mind! I miss the sheen I had with my black hair!

OK.... my bf is giving me the signal that he's ready to get out of here, so I will catch you later!

2010-06-12T11:47:00.007-04:00

Don't ask!!! LOL

My Hair Yesterday.... this twistout is about 2 weeks old!!! The dirtier my hair, the more body I seem to have. I actually liked my hair this week a lot because for some reason it maintained moisture! (Except for a drypatch in the front that I must have missed when I was putting in my oil and mango butter!LOL)

2010-06-12T11:38:00.003-04:00

Can A Sista Rock a Mic?????????????????????????????????????????????

I'm on my way!!! I can't wait!! I always wanted to go to this!!! Anyone else going??

2010-06-07T17:39:00.011-04:00

Just some pics I like.....

Coily Girl Jasika Nicole-- doesn't she have the most perfect curls ever???

Coily Girl Avril Guerrero!

God,I love her hair. Texture-wise, my hair is kind of similar, but I haven't had length like hers since I was about 14!! (Thanks, Dark and Lovely!!! LOL)

2010-06-07T10:58:00.004-04:00

BEFORE

OMG!!! What has Jada done to her face? Wow, this is such obvious plastic surgery, and in my opinion, it doesn't make her look BETTER, just totally different!! What was the point of this?

AFTER

2010-06-06T17:27:00.011-04:00

Hey Coily Girls! Happy heatwave! (NOT!!!!) Humidity has not been my friend! LOL !!

I don't know about you, but I've been having some serious puffing and frizzing going on!! I've been having to wear one side of my hair up more often than not because my hair is on its own mission! Decided I needed to use more product in an attempt to keep my twistouts defined. I twist my hair with Twist/Loc gel w/ olive oil. It seems to be helping!

Here are some pics of my hair last week. This is my hair the day after I washed it. This is a twist-out with TINY twists!! I had to make them small because there was no other way my hair would dry by morning! I usually don't like my hair to be this shrunken, but the headband helped a little. (It's still a little damp here.)

Later, I pulled the curls down to stretch my length out a bit. (By 3:00, it was dry.) So, by the end of the day my hair was at its regular length. (I didn't take any pics though, sorry!) Anyway,had I stretched it any sooner, I would have had a serious case of FRIZZ!

This is my hair a day or so later. Dry twisted in FAT twists so my hair would hang down more.

2010-06-02T13:43:00.013-04:00

Meet Coily Girl India Brianne Jordan (Singer Eric Benet's daughter)

She's got gorgeous natural hair, and from what I can tell, she's been natural all her life. With Eric Benet as your Dad, you KNOW you ain't gettin' a perm!! LOL

Makes me wish I never permed mine. Could've been at waist length, maybe. Ok.... wishful thinking! LOL
Her hair is GORGEOUS!!

2010-05-22T11:16:00.001-04:00

OK.... so Janet didn't go natural! :( This is still a fresh new look for her, and much needed!

2010-05-22T09:17:00.006-04:00

Just call me FRIZZBALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wow, what a FRIZZY week this has been! My twistouts have really been failing me this week and I've been ending up with puffiness like you wouldn't believe!!!!! So, I think I'm done trying to wear my hair completely out for a while. For one thing, my front sides have been looking terrible. Time to give them a break.

What I'll be doing is wearing a ton of accessories! I've invested in some really cute headbands with bows, feathers and flowers. I already have an arsenal of barrettes and pins.

I'll also be rocking braids. I like to do a fat braid across the front of my hair and then the back is just out. The braid holds my hair away from my face.Then the back can puff out as much as it wants, and I still have a cute hairstyle.

Next issue, DRYNESS... it's BACK!!! LOL I've been piling on the shea, and it seems to be just sitting on top of my hair and not sinking in!! In fact, when I touch my hair, my hand gets greasy, so I know I've used more than enough shea!!!! My solution? Wash my hair and DEEP CONDITION!!!! Once my hair has reached this degree of dryness, I have no other alternative. Yeah, I can put it off for a minute, but my hair will repay me by being a hot, frizzy, dry MESS!! LOL

I'm still using Hair Mayonnaise and my Knight's conditioner for now, but I am going to try one of the Shea Moisture conditioners Target sells. I know there are a TON of pricey conditioners on the market, but experience has taught me that I don't need to pay a lot for hair products! I read labels! I know what NOT to use on my hair!

I was debating on whether or not to go black or stay with my tobacco brown color. I've decided to stay with tobacco and then go dark for the fall. I've had light hair for so long, I almost don't remember what I look like with black hair!! lol I love THIS color.... maybe I'll go a little lighter!

Well, time to start my day. I'm up early as usual, and I MUST have my CHAI!! lol. Have a GREAT weekend!! :)

2010-05-20T10:16:00.002-04:00

Janet Jackson does the BIG CHOP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Are my eyes deceiving me??? Could Janet Jackson really be trying to go NATURAL?? I was ECSTATIC to see this!! I mean, her sides do look a little straight to me, but maybe this is her way of transitioning!! Imagine the influence this could have on countless other black women if this is the case! 'Tis the season to shed your perms and weaves!!! LOL

2010-05-16T14:25:00.004-04:00

Hey Coily Girls!!! Happy Sunday!!!! I'm coming up on my 3 year Nappiversary! (It will be 3 years since my BC on Memorial Day Weekend, but it has been FOUR YEARS since I last relaxed my hair!!) I couldn't be happier with my decision!!! You see how short I cut my hair. It has grown back, and it is longer than it was BEFORE I cut it!!! When I had a relaxer, I NEVER experience growth. My hair was stuck at the same length for years.

It hasn't been an easy 4 years. I hated my hair when it was short. I felt very boyish! It's a serious adjustment when you're used to feeling your hair on your shoulders. I still don't have it totally figured out. I have good and bad days, just like when it was relaxed, but I find it's easier to create a cute look on a "bad" hair day.

I've experimented with everything from Sta Sof Fro to Kinky Curly to Miss Jessie's, and I've learned that my hair is UNPREDICTABLE. What works for me one day may be a total failure the next!!!

I've also learned, (and this is SOOOO frustrating), that my hair takes forever to show its length. It shrinks up like crazy, especially after a trim, so I never really see my length until I do comparison pics like THESE!!!

I've learned that my hair is EXTREMELY DRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! When my hair needs to be washed, there is NOTHING I can do to prolong it. It's DRY and has no definition because it's THIRSTY. (pretty much!)

Summer is JUST AS BRUTAL on my hair as winter. The only difference is I don't HAVE to deal with it, if I don't want to because I can do wash and go's. I haven't discovered a daily moisturizer YET that works better than raw shea, and even THAT can't combat my dryness when it's time for a deep conditioner.

I'm a complete PUNK when it comes to heat on my hair. I thought I would straighten it more than I have. The idea of losing my curl definition just isn't worth the gamble!!! The funny thing is my hair is EXTREMELY easy to blowdry. A lot easier than when I had a relaxer. This was a SHOCK to me.

I've enjoyed my 4 years of natural hair, and I know I have influenced quite a few other people to do it. Looking forward to many more nappiversaries!!! :)

2010-05-12T09:57:00.000-04:00

Hey Coily Girls!Check out Kelis' new hairstyle! Feelin' it? I think it's cute, but I miss the way she used to wear it when she first came out. I guess she got tired of people copying her look!

2010-05-09T19:35:00.001-04:00

Wishing all mothers a Happy Mother's Day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

2010-05-06T09:49:00.003-04:00

Good Morning, Coily Girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Counting down the days to summer vacation!!! These kids are driving me insane!!!!! Also trying to get my paperwork in to go back for my second master's degree.I am going back in either Summer II or September.

I'm still undecided about what I want to get it in! In a way, I want a change of pace.... away from kids. But... do I really want to throw away all those invested years and start all over again, possibly even at a lower salary??

I've done the corporate thing already, which was the reason I started teaching in the first place!!! I need to decide FAST!!

Anyway, this is my hair today. It is super puffy because of the humidity! LOL You can get an idea of how long it is now because I'm stretching it in this pic.

Right now I'm enjoying a nice break from my class, which is in Gym right now. I have about 15 minutes of peace left.

Summer..... come on!!!! Enjoy your day!!

2010-04-23T19:05:00.002-04:00

Just some inspirational pics......

2010-04-23T11:19:00.005-04:00

Hey Coily Girls!!! I know I've been MIA for a minute, but I got really busy after my spring break with work. :( To top it off, I got a nice little bout of food poisoning from eating a chicken cheesesteak. Abdominal pain has had me under its grip for the past 5 days, and no end in sight so far! Somehow, I've still managed to make it to work everyday this week. Of course, my class has shown me their appreciation by being on their absolute WORST behavior! LOL

I have been eating nothing but soup all week. Slipped up and thought I was better 2 days ago and tried to eat Wendy's... bad move! My stomach let me know in NO UNCERTAIN TERMS that I am not, by ANY MEANS, back to normal. LOL

I got my hair straightened and blowdried two weeks ago when I went for my trim. I think I hadn't had one since October. Needless to say, I was AMAZED at the growth. Unfortunately, I didn't have my camera! I put my hair in twists immediately after. I have to say, I liked my twistout a lot better on my blowdried hair. For one thing, it was LONGER. Fear of heat will keep me from doing this often though. I was VERY worried about my hair losing definition. Lengthwise, I am bra-strap length. Of course, after my trim, I think I lost an inch or two, so now I'm back to being just above BSL.

I need to kick the deep conditioning up a notch, because the last thing I want to do is have my hair be stagnant with my length like it was when I was relaxing my hair. Anyway, here are some pics...

Me eating a hamburger....I would pay for this decision later LOL ! But look at my length!My hair is on my shoulders while it's CURLY!!!!!

Have a GREAT weekend, Coily Girls!!

2010-03-17T20:45:00.000-04:00

Coily Girl Gabrielle Kniery fromn Cycle 14 of "America's Next Top Model".... wow. Nice length!!!

2010-03-12T22:21:00.002-05:00

Just some random Coily Girl pics........ I like this haircut here.

2010-03-12T21:34:00.000-05:00

Pictures and videos of one of my FAVORITE SINGERS and Coily Girls, Amel Larrieux and daughters Sky and Sanji Rei. Sky is gorgeous just like her Mom and has a beautiful voice!!!!!!!!!!! So crazy to see the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. She's so talented, and is only 14 years old!!

2010-03-09T12:02:00.002-05:00

My Hair Today....

No dryness since I washed it because I've been wearing the conditioner cap every night (plastic cap) and then my regular satin cap over that. I do all my oiling at night, along with a little shea butter if needed. By morning, my hair has already fully absorbed it, and stayed moisturized.

2010-03-05T10:26:00.001-05:00

Found this pic of Tracee Ellis Ross with PERFECT CURLS, as usual!!!!!! I actually thought her hair was longer than this! She must have fickle curls like mine that are shrunken to my chin one day and skimming my shoulders another!!! I won't really know my TRUE length until I straighten my hair.

The funny thing about my hair is it has looked the same length to me for about a year. It's only when I stretch it that I see how much it has truly grown. I plan to straighten it soon, I just need to find someone I trust to do it. I didn't go all this time w/o heat damage only to have someone mess up my definition. LOL.... I know you guys understand!!

2010-03-03T09:49:00.001-05:00

Found this pic of Don Cheadle and his wife (or date) for the opening of his new movie, "Brooklyn's Finest" which starts on Friday. But nevermind HIM, look at HER HAIR!!!! Loving her beautiful curly locks and dress.... representing us COILY GIRLS nicely with a twistout!!!

2010-03-02T12:02:00.001-05:00

Hey Coily Girls!!

Just wanted to show you some pics of my hair today. I got a lot of compliments and I think I know why. My co-workers (especially the caucasian ones) prefer my hair when it's "controlled" versus "wild and crazy." LOL I think it's less intimidating. As for me, I like my hair both ways, it all depends on my mood.

So.... I've started oiling my hair and putting shea in it at night and sleeping with a plastic cap. I forgot I used to do this last winter,and it helped tremendously with combating dryness. In fact,my hair was actually kind of MOIST this morning, so I didn't even really undo my twists. Just added two clips and fluffed it at the roots for volume. My twists are really defined. I twisted it last night with Organics Twist and lock gel. I like it, even though my hair looks a lot shorter today because it's still DAMP. Everyone keeps asking me if I cut my hair or was I wearing a WEAVE before!! LOL TOO FUNNY!

I DARE not stretch or pull on the curls because we ALL know that means frizz for days! LOL

This is my hair from yesterday. I just washed it, so of course it was acting crazy! Puffy all over the place! I didn't have time to diffuse it!

2010-02-28T10:41:00.000-05:00

Meet Taren!!! I love her hair and I am constantly stalking her youtube channel!!! I have recently started using my diffuser again because I need my twistouts to be DRY in the morning to avoid frizzing!!

2010-02-23T18:30:00.000-05:00

Cute pic!

Coily Girl Rockin a hat!!! Kinda blurry, but I thought this was so cute! We all know how hard it is to get our curls to fit under a hat!! LOL

2010-02-14T23:34:00.002-05:00

Happy Valentine's Day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hopefully, everyone enjoyed themselves this weekend!! My vacation is dying down, and now I've got just one more day to decompress before going back to the grind. (yuck!!)

Just thought I'd mention to you that my twistout actually came out really nice yesterday!!! My twistouts are usually horrible on the first day with all kinds of "puff" and "frizz; going on. For some reaon, it actually came out really nice!!

I have to attribute this to the Knight's Extreme Moisture conditioner. I'm telling you, this stuff is the TRUTH!!!!!!! I wish I had more info on it, but I have no idea how you can get it. My hair has been drier than ever this winter, and this conditioner has really helped soften and moisturize my curls.

I meant to take pics yesterday, but I had a hat on most of the time and my curls were flat and squished. I was really happy with the results.

2010-02-12T11:55:00.003-05:00

How will you LOVE your curls this Valentine's weekend??

Hey Coily Girls!!! As I told you a few days ago, my bf and I are thinking of going skiing!!! In order to prepare my hair, I've decided to dedicate this whole day (Friday) to pre-pooing, co-washing, and deep conditioning my hair!! I have been negligent and lazy and putting it in puffs a lot more than usual, and my ends have repaid me by becoming very brittle!!

So..... I woke up early this morning to pre-poo my hair with: honey and olive oil. I microwave it for 15 seconds, put it in my hair and pull on a plastic cap. I left the mix in my hair for 30 min.

Next, I co-washed my hair with Hello Hydration. I ran out of my Trader Joe Nourish, which is my FAVORITE conditioner, so hopefully this won't affect anything. The HH just doesn't work as well for me.

Then I applied my new conditioner I got from my stylist called Knights' Extreme Moisture. Washed it out about 5 minutes later.

Now.... I'm sitting with my Hair Mayonnaise and honey in my hair. Say what you want about Hair Mayo, but it has been the best deep conditioner I have ever used. Nothing soothes my thirsty ends like the HM. One thing I've noticed about the HM, it makes my hair reaaally curly. I can actually put on a headband and walk around with it in public in my hair. It actually looks kinda cute. LOL

I'll leave this in for about 2 hours maybe, and then rinse my hair and twist it it with raw shea butter. Once my hair COMPLETELY dries, it should be perfectly moisturized, albeit a little shrunken. LOL It takes my hair a good two days to resume its normal length which is just above shoulder length curly.

By day three, I usually LOVE my hair. I try to wash it a few days in advance when I have plans.

2010-02-12T09:40:00.000-05:00

Check out this video!! I just thought this girl's hair AND style was FLY!!!! I would like out try different blow-out and roller styles like this in the spring and summer.....

2010-02-11T21:36:00.001-05:00

Wow.... the ladies of "The View" Discuss Natural Hair.....

I must have missed this being at work. I loved what Whoopi had to say!

2010-02-11T20:33:00.000-05:00

Snowbound.......
Well, I'm going on Day 4 of my unexpected Snow-cation!!! This has been GREAT!! I have never loved being a teacher as much as I do right now. School was just canceled again for tomorrow, and Monday is President's Day, so I'm in a reaally good mood right about now!!

On another note, OMG!!! I'm so in love with Corinne Bailey Rae's hair right now. She is my favorite hair idol right now. Length-wise, I think HER hair is a realistic goal for me. Texture-wise, we're similar, especially if I really take my time with my hair and make sure it's moisturized properly. I love her hair in these pics:

2010-02-09T09:37:00.002-05:00

Look who uses Miss Jessie's!!

It's Maia Campbell, thankfully looking better than we've seen her in a looong time. I always liked Maia.

At some point, I plan to revisit Miss Jessie's.... and give her products a try just ONE MORE TIME. One thing I do know, it won't be any time this winter. My hair has been too dry for me to gamble with any new products!!

Well, it's Valentine's Day week! What are your plans for the weekend?? My bf and I plan to go skiing! I'm excited. I haven't gone in a loong time! Before I go, I plan to give my hair a good deep conditioning since I know I'll be exposing it to cold temperatures more than usual. The dryness problem is under control, at least for now... but my hair has a mind of its own!!!

2010-01-31T17:11:00.002-05:00

This is my wet hair after a co-wash, no-product applied.I tried a new conditioner I bought at my hair salon. It's called "Knight's Extreme Moisture" conditioner with shea butter. I looked online and found no signs of this stuff. I'm curious to know what's in it, since it doesn't list its ingredients.

My stylist uses this, and it is a great detangler, but time will tell whether or not it will replace my staple products: Trader Joe Nourish and Hair Mayonnaise. I may experiment a little with expensive products, but in the end, I always come back to these two because they work best for my hair. A lot of the conditioners I try APPEAR to hydrate my hair, but then a day or so later, my hair is hard as a brick!!! I don't have that problem with my old stand-bys.

2010-01-27T11:09:00.004-05:00

Teyana Taylor... her style is HOT, undoubtedly. The verdict is still out on whether or not all of this hair is HERS or not! I love her look! I think MOST of the hair is hers, but sometimes it does look a bit WEAVE-ISH!

2010-01-26T09:39:00.002-05:00

I love this pic!!!! Isn't our President the COOLEST??? LOL

2010-01-23T12:20:00.001-05:00

Hey Coily Girls!! Happy Saturday!!! My bf and I are trying to find something to get into it since it's nice out. We were thinking of heading to the Poconos or maybe Lancaster for some snowtubing or skiing. More likely, it will turn out to be brunch at a cool cafe and a movie!

Shout out to Keshia Durr who just did her BC yesterday!!! Keshia is a family friend. I'm so happy you went through with it, Keshia! You'll see.... natural hair is soo much easier and healthier than relaxed hair. Your hair looks really cute too! :)

As for me, I'm going for the record for "most consecutive days of puff-rocking!" Yes, my hair is STILL in a puff. I started gelling it back though, so now it's curly and wavy on the sides. I will clarify,co-wash, and deep condition it tomorrow.

Oh yeah.....I LOOOOVE Corinne Bailey Rae!!! Besides being one of my all-time favorite hair idols, she's got one of the prettiest voices I've ever heard. Click the link below to hear songs from her new album "The Sea" until January 26th! Have a great weekend!!

CLICK HERE: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=122767014

2010-01-20T20:02:00.001-05:00

Feeling kind of nostalgic today!!! I was thinking about some of the music I used to listen to in college. "For Real" was a quartet of natural sistas rockin teeny weeny afros! I loved their style!

I used to love this group back in my college days when I was serious about trying my hand in music. I love to sing, and was always starting up female singing groups or trying to sing hooks on somebody's hip hop track. These are some of the other groups we would emulate:

Remember "Blackgirl"?
"Nuttin Nyce" was like the poor man's TLC, but I loved this group!!!

Wow.... I loved "Sista" because I seriously thought I was gonna marry DeVante Swing some day. LOL

Loved this group!
Y?N-Vee!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I miss the 90's..... best time of my life! lol

2010-01-20T11:41:00.003-05:00

Another Day, Another Puff....

So... I got lazy after having a 3 day weekend, and just wasn't in the mood to twist my hair this week. I have been wearing it in a shrunken puff for about 4 days straight. No gel!!!! I put in some shea and spritzed it with water, and that's it. I didn't feel like wearing a HUGE puff this week. (and believe me, it can be HUGE if I want.) I felt like being subdued, so I was. LOL

2010-01-13T22:51:00.000-05:00

Sorry.... I couldn't resist!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL!!

2010-01-13T13:25:00.000-05:00

DOWNLOAD THIS!!!!!

Check out this new mix by Jazzface... it's a slow builder, and it takes you on a 32 track journey, in little more than 1 hour:

Click Here: http://www.letsmix.com/mix/22112/build_up_the_breakdown

2010-01-13T11:29:00.000-05:00

Coily Girl Rae Dawn Chong!!!

Remember her? At 48 years old, she's still GORGEOUS!!!! Especially her hair!! Check out her blog by clicking here: www.blogtalkradio.com/rae-dawn-chong/ or here: dawnarae66.blogspot.com

This is her younger sister, Robbi Lynn. Here's some useless trivia for you... Robbi was going to play Willis's girlfriend on "Diff'rent Strokes" (1978), but producers thought that she wasn't ethnic looking enough and cast Janet Jackson instead!!!! Wow!

2010-01-13T08:24:00.001-05:00

Wow! Comparison pic from December 2007 until now. (January 2010) My hair is really growing! I have to admit, I really do miss feeling my hair on my shoulders, and having my ponytail hang down my back!! I still have a long way to go to get to my ideal length!

2010-01-12T11:14:00.005-05:00

Hope this article doesn't offend you NEGROS! (LOL)

I saw this on http://www.gothamist.com/. I just might PASS on the Census. Not sure yet. Funny, because I never saw answering the Census as a big deal in the past, but this article is definitely making me raise an eyebrow. (Or maybe I'll just leave that question BLANK! LOL)

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

Census Bureau Wants Negroes to Fill Out Their Forms

"Negro" is pejorative, right? The ethnic classification was common usage through the '60s, and even Martin Luther King used the word in speeches and his Letter from a Birmingham Jail, but we're pretty sure that in 2010 "negro" is widely considered offensive, and the Census Bureau has caused an uproar by including it on their 2010 form.

Question No. 9, which asks Americans to state their race, lists "black, African Amer., or negro" as options. But how come there's only one option for "white"? What if one self-identifies as Poindexter, Richie Cunningham, or Whitey McWhite White?

Congress approved the form more than a year ago, and "negro" has appeared on past forms. Census Bureau spokesman Jack Martin says it's intended as a term of inclusion, telling the Daily News, "Many older African-Americans identified themselves that way, and many still do. Those who identify themselves as Negroes need to be included." But TV producer Patrick Riley asks Grio, "If the census form authors are going to go so far as to include an the archaic term 'Negro,' why not put 'Colored' on there? Just in case someone hadn't graduated from that word usage."

Yesterday the News took to the streets to ask blacks on the street what they think about negro. "It's a bad vibe word," said Kevin Bishop, 45, a Brooklyn salesman. "It doesn't agree with me, doesn't agree with my heart."

Taryn Anthony, a 25-year old graduate student, says, "I've yet to hear someone use it in a respectable manner, so placing it on a census seems as yet another way to set back African-Americans."

http://www.gothamist.com/

2010-01-09T14:37:00.003-05:00

DOWNLOAD This!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

New Jack Swing/Old Skool Mix:
1. PHAT INTRO

2. Ini Kamoze "Here Comes The Hotstepper" -
3. Soul II Soul "Get A Life"
4. Arrested Development "Tennessee"
5. Milli Vanilli "All Or Nothing" - Remix
6. Dj Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince "Yo Home To Bel Air"
7. Pm Dawn "Set A Drift On Memory Bliss"
8. Mariah Carey "Dream Lover"
9. Pebbles "Giving You The Benefit"
10. Whitney Houston "My Name Is Not Susan" -
11. Sybil & Salt 'n Pepa "Crazy 4 U" - Remix
12. Color Me Badd "I Wanna Sex You Up"
13. Candy Man "Knockin' Boots"
14. DNA Feat. Suzanne Vega "Tom's Diner"
15. P Interlude
16. Skee Lo "I Wish"
17. Lighter Shade Of Brown "Hey Dj"
18. LL Cool J "Mama Said Knock You Out"
19. Alliance Etnik "Respect"
20. TLC "Ain't 2 Pound 2 Beg"
21. LL Cool J "Stand By Your Man"
22. Lords Of Underground "Fonky Child"
23. Positive K "I got A Man"
24. Salt N Pepa "You Showed Me"
25. BabyFace Feat. Toni Braxton "Give u my Heart"- Remix
26. Neneh Cherry "Buddy X"
27. Soul II Soul "Joy"

Click Here:http://nphatflavor.podomatic.com/entry/2008-12-20T08_38_56-08_00
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Prince Mix!!!!!!!!!!! I'm a HUGE Prince fan. Well, actually, 70's and 80's music PERIOD! This mix is for all you 70's/80's babies!!!

Click Here: http://groovesauce.podomatic.com/entry/2008-06-19T13_15_57-07_00

****************************************************************************
80's Mix....................

Strange....Cameo
I can’t go for that....Hall and Oates
Mama Used To Say .....Junior
You’ve Said Enough....Central
Just That Type of Girl...Madame X
Nasty Girl....................Vanity 6
Love Bizarre...............Sheila E.
Can u help me..........Jesse Johnson
Let the music play....Shannon
Point of No Return.... Expose
Sweet Dreams.......... Eurythmics
I like.........................Young and Company
Take your time......... S.O.S Band
I didn’t Mean to Turn You On... Cherelle
Let’s Work.................................Prince
Automatic Brain........................Gap Band
Conscious............................... Womack and Womack

** Warning-- This mix is a little "choppy" for my taste, but it does have good music!

Click Here: http://djlotuspetal.podomatic.com/entry/2009-02-24T20_34_50-08_00

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Neosoul Mix:

1. Gina Loring – Somewhere There Is A Poem
2. George Anne Muldrow - Runaway
3. The New Congress – Anguish, Love, & Romance (feat Talib Kweli)
4. Yoshi – Magnetic (feat Darien Brockington & Buff 1)
5. Goapele – Milk & Honey (The Soul of Mind Motion Remix)
6. Preach Jacobs – Fallin’
7. Marsha Ambrosius – I Lost You
8. Kissey Asplund – Work It Out
9. The Tones – If You Could Change
10. Kayo – Who Am I?
11. Zo! – Nights Over Egypt (feat Carlitta Durand)
12. Motionlab – So Excited (feat Reggie Watts)
13. Sun Singleton – Ready (Opolopo Remix)
14. J. Dilla – Milk Money
15. Oliver Day Soul – Soul 4 U
16. Sy Smith – Waiting…Contemplating
17. WLUV Roll Call
18. Spec Boogie – Bed Stuy
19. Conya Doss – Don’t Stop
20. Platinum Pied Pipers – Ain’t No Ifs or Maybes (feat Coultrain)

click here: http://justkeithmac.podomatic.com/entry/2009-11-10T22_57_28-08_00

2010-01-08T11:30:00.003-05:00

My Hair Today....

I gave up on trying to make the left side of my hair cooperate and just threw on a headband!!!! LOL Got a lot of compliments, I guess because I usually wear my hair out (I don't use a lot of accessories unless my hair is acting up!!) This is a Goody headband from Target.

I had to SLATHER on the shea butter when I got home yesterday because the wind has been really drying my hair out. In contrast, today I feel like a grease monkey, but at least I've gotten rid of the dryness! LOL

2010-01-07T18:08:00.002-05:00

Racist??? YOU be the JUDGE!!!

2010-01-07T17:20:00.000-05:00

Gorgeous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Why doesn't Miss Jessie's give ME curls like THESE??? LOL

2010-01-07T11:44:00.000-05:00

I never thought I'd be saying this again in MY lifetime, but I want ACID WASH JEANS!!!!! I've been some really cute ones lately, and I think I like this trend!! Of course, they'd have to be skinny jeans, like these... most of my jeans are now. Are you rockin' acid wash.... or should we leave that in the 80's??

2010-01-07T10:39:00.003-05:00

Good Morning, Coily Girls!!!!!

We're a balmy 32 degrees in Philly today, so my hair can breathe a sigh of relief. (albeit, a veeeeeery SMALL sigh!!) We've been experiencing windchills in the teens, and it has wreaked havoc on both my skin AND my hair!!! So.... anyway, I had a hair appointment yesterday to touch up my color and have my hair deep conditioned. I never have my hair styled, because as we know twists can be VERY costly when you get them done in the salon. I left with my hair in a puff, and twisted it when I got home.

Well, I've come to the conclusion, that one side of my hair is the BAD SIDE of my hair, determined to do its own thing, no matter how much I try to cajole it to behave. It just doesn't respond well to washing!!!! I can't even blame it on my twists being damp, because they were BONE DRY this morning!!!

When I do a side part, it's not so noticeable, but I've been wearing a middle part lately, and I can really tell how different each side is! LOL.... I did the same exact things to both sides, but I still get VERY different results. Does this happen to you??

2010-01-04T21:41:00.000-05:00

I looooove this car!!! My next car HAS to be a convertible. I'm a Cali or Miami girl at heart! This is sooo ME!

2010-01-01T13:35:00.001-05:00

DOWNLOAD THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Vocal House Music Mix by "Hear No Evil Mixes" (Click the link)

http://classichousemixes.podomatic.com/entry/2009-12-27T05_11_44-08_00

YOU MUST DOWNLOAD THIS NEXT MIX!!!! It's 4 hours of smooth and soulful house music that will grab you from the first track!! (DJ Semi)

http://djsemi.podomatic.com/entry/2009-12-22T18_30_48-08_00

2010-01-01T11:48:00.004-05:00

So.... You Want to Be A Runner....

I can't tell you how many New Year's Eves have gone by where I made the resolution to start running! I've always wanted to be one of those people who runs for miles,soooo into their workout that they're totally oblivious to the people around them! LOL Well, reality for ME is I can't run longer than 2-5 minutes without huffing, puffing and gasping for air rather "unglamorously!" LOL

I've got only myself to blame! In my high school gym classes, it was a REQUIREMENT to be able to run around our track TWICE in under two minutes or you'd have to run it again! Believe me, it was only out of SHEER LAZINESS and the thought of having to run it again, that I was actually able to accomplish this!

So anyway, now that I'm an adult, I realize I have to work harder to stay in my shape! I've decided I want to do this by running! Well, did you know there'a actually a CORRECT way to do it? In the past, I just put on sneakers and just started running, and wondered WHY this never worked for me. I've done my research.... and this is what I found out:

How To Start Running:

Time Required: Eight weeks

Here's How:

1. Get medical clearance from your doctor before you get started.

2. Getting the right running shoes for your foot type is crucial for comfort and injury prevention . Visit a running store to get expert advice on buying the right running shoes .

3. Before you start your workouts, make sure you warm up properly by walking for 5-10 minutes. You should always end your workout with a cooldown.

4. Week one: Walk for 6 minutes, then jog at an easy pace for 1 minute. Repeat 3 times. Aim for three sessions with that same sequence for week one.

5. Week two: Walk for 5 minutes, then jog for 2 minutes. Repeat 3 times. Aim to do three sessions in week two.

6. Week three: Walk for 3 minutes, then jog for 4 minutes. Repeat 4 times. Aim for four sessions in week three.

7. Week four: Walk for 2 minutes, then jog for 5 minutes. Repeat 4 times. Shoot for four of those sessions in week four.

8. Week five: Walk for 2 minutes, then jog for 8 minutes. Repeat 3 times. Do four of those sessions in week five.

9. Week six: Walk for 2 minutes, then jog for 9 minutes. Repeat 3 times. Try to do four sessions for week six.

10. Week seven: Walk for 1 minute, then jog for 11 minutes. Repeat 3 times. Do four sessions this week.

11. Week eight: Congratulations on making it to week eight! For your first run this week, try walking for 5 minutes to begin and end the workout, and run for 20 minutes in between. By the end of the week, try to run for 30 minutes without stopping.

Aim to run for 30 minutes four times a week, and you'll notice that your stamina and fitness will continue to improve.

See, this is a routine I can actually live with!!! LOL