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)

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!!

Meet Coily Girl "Fsmith723"!!!! She's Newly Natural and LOVIN' IT!!!






CW: Why did you decide to go natural?



Really, I've never liked getting relaxers..the whole sitting in the chair for an hour getting your hair permed. Too much for me. So when I learned about transitioning I was all over it!




CW: What are the best and worst things about having natural hair?


I think the versatility of natural hair is one of the best things about it. Also the look and feel of it when it's well taken care of.


The worst...maybe pixie knots, but that's about it!!


CW: Do you straighten your hair? What precautionary measures do you take?



As of right now, I don't currently straighten my hair.


CW: Your current products/ routine:


I don't really have a set routine...I wash my hair once a week usually with suave smoothers 2 n 1, I condition with one of my many conditioners, then I use a leave-in and styler. I'm a bit of a product junkie, so I'm always trying something new.


CW: Do you have any color in your hair? If so, what kind?


No color.


CW: Your hair type:


I think I'm a 3c/4a.




CW: Has reaction from family/friends/opposite sex been positive or negative?


Mostly positive...I've had a few members of the opposite sex tell me they prefer my hair straight, but that's about it.




CW: Favorite hair accessories:


Goody ouchless bands and bobby pins. I'm also itching to try a Hairzing!




CW: Your hair length goal:


I'm not sure where I would like to be unstretched, but my stretched goal is waist length.




CW: Your hair idols:


I can't really say because I have so many! There have been so many wonderful ladies with beautiful hair supporting me since before my BC so I would have to say they are my hair idols.






CW: Advice to transitioners:


Make sure you have a solid support system, whether it be online at one of the various hair boards or in your real life. Transitioning is mental and physical and you will go through some changes and really have to take a look at yourself for who you are. Make sure to have fun during your transition, it doesn't have to be all serious!

Coily Girl of the Week:
Meet Naturaldelta04!!

I love her hair! I've been stalking her Fotki page for a while now, and am HONORED to have her as my first Coily Girl interview!!


Your hair type:

Yikes!!!! I don't really know what my hair type is. My curls are extremely tight and they're consistent all over! So whatever that is! :)


Your current products/ routine:

I am a total product junkie!!! I will buy and try anything at least once! I guess the products that are pretty consistent within my hair regimen are the Garnier Fructis shampoo and conditioner. Pantene Pro-V relaxed and natural products and Suave naturals Shampoo and conditioner. To keep my hair moist, I use a lot of coconut oil and shea butter and recently I've invested in some Carol's Daughter products.

As far as a routine goes...I'm pretty boring. (Ha ha!) I either wash, twist and take out once a week, wash and go, straighten or blowdry, braid and take out. Nothing too exciting, but I have those styles down pack and they don't take much time,
(Except straightening), which is what I like about them!


Has reaction from family/friends/opposite sex been positive or negative?

My mom was definitley not a fan in the beginning. She's used to hair being "fried, dyed and laid to the side." lol! And my aunt still does not enjoy hair in its natural state. But of course they didn't stop me. I love them dearly, but I love being natural and wouldn't change it for anything!

I used to say that I would NEVER go natural. I wanted my hair to be down my back and blowing in the wind at all times. But after all the chemical damage, I had no chioce. And I'm actually glad that I damaged my hair with color and relaxers because I would have never known about this thing called "natural". My guy friends LOOOOOOVE it! They think its hot;) And I get compliments all the time, even on the days I hate my hair!


Do you straighten your hair? What precautionary measures do you take?

Yes, I straighten my hair about 3 or 4 times a year because I enjoy switching things up from time to time. I must say, I don't really take any precautinary measures when I do. My hair has been pretty good about reverting back to its curly state and I'm thankful for that thus far.

Your hair length goal:

I don't really have a hair lenth goal because I am more about healthy hair as opposed to long hair. I've cut my hair 3 times since I've been natural because I get bored with a style/length very quickly. I think whether your hair is relaxed or natural, short or long, it should be healthy!

I may leave the scissors alone for a while and see if I can get it to armpit length by 2010. But HEALTHY always looks good:)


To see more pics of Naturaldelta04, visit her Fotki page at :www.fotki.com/naturaldelta04



Naturaldelta04 w/ relaxer. (on the left!)



The BC!!!








Definitely feelin' that gold headband!


Her gorgeous hair today!!






Updo (I will be stealing this look!!) LOL

Natural hair-- straightened (Cute outfit, don't you think?)


I just love her style!! Thank you, Naturaldelta04!

Coily Girl of the Week: Model and Actress Shakara Ledard!!!!!!!!!!!!

Born to a Bahamian mother and a French father, who own several upscale clothing boutiques.
Measurements: 34-24-34
She has brown hair and brown eyes.
She moved from the Bahamas to the United States at age 14.
She grew up in Nassau, Bahamas.

An Evangelistic Start...

When Shakara was nine, she met supermodel Linda Evangelista and tagged along with her on a Vogue shoot. After being encouraged by Linda that she too could be a model, the deal was sealed. At age fourteen, Shakara left her island paradise and set out for America to continue her formal education. Her first modeling opportunity came soon after when she posed for a JC Penney catalogue shoot. One year later, she signed with a Miami Beach Modeling Agency.

While modeling part-time, Shakara attended the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale and graduated with Honors and an Associate of Arts Degree in Fashion Design. Armed with her degree, Shakara moved to Chicago where she had several modeling contracts with catalogues, magazines and billboard ads all over the country.

A tomboy at heart, Shakara feels that as a model she is portrayed completely different than whom she really is. "I can get by in a fuchsia skirt and green blouse," says Shakara, "but I do wear my signature flower in my hair to remind me of home."

Swimsuit Girl With A Secret...

Life as a model can be stressful but the playful Shakara is at total ease with herself and dances when she wants to relax after a hard day. As a matter of fact, dancing is her favorite activity and when she is not on the job, she can often be found at the park, dancing to the beat of African drums.

Since moving to New York, where she now resides, Shakara has booked two national designer campaigns, worked with major magazines, as well as appeared in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue two years running. She also posed as a Victoria's Secret model for the Spring 2000 campaign. Even with her success, Shakara still finds it an occasional struggle to overcome stereotypes and racism in the fashion industry.

Motivated to be a voice for black women in the business and driven to abolish what she perceives as an attempt to take away black feminine ethnicity, Shakara wants people to recognize the beauty inside a person.

Coily Girl of the Week: Joy Denalane

Talk about GREAT hair!!! This girl has always been one of my hair idols.

I also love her music! I feature her songs often in my podcast, "Fusion 101 with Robyn Romele." You can download my podcast here: www.fusion101.podomatic.com

Coily Girl of the Week: Singer, Lizz Fields

Lizz Fields... is not your typical Philly brand. Although the lighthearted beauty was classically trained at the famed Creative & Performing Arts High School with the likes of Boyz II Men, Amel Larrieux and the Roots and even though she hails from Philly where soul music runs through the veins of the city bearing such fruit as Musiq, Jill Scott and Bilal, this songstress stamps her own sound on the scene.

Bridging the gap between what we hear in Philly and how it's produced in Europe became her mission in order to break the mold of old. This is how her inadvertent album "ByDayByNight" was born. Oddly enough Lizz Fields wasn't quite the popular kid growing up nor was she an outcast. An outside observer with a great sense of humor is probably most accurate. Being made fun of in school for not having a conventional church voice is what led Lizz to this thing called jazz.

The playfulness of scatting, the creativity of improvising and the general ease in tone seemed to fit her like a glove. She began to incorporate her sound with gospel music when she joined her church choir. After gaining the confidence to share her voice, Lizz expanded her audience by performing in local clubs such as Zanzibar Blue, Brave New World and The Five Spot. Lizz also expanded her skills by performing in several plays in the city including "Sparkle" where she played the troubled character of Sister. It was her portrayal of Sister that won Lizz the coveted Barrymore Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical in 2001. This is also when Lizz Fields and Damon Bennett began working on Lizz's demo.

Lizz moved around a bit to expand, to learn, to grow. She went to Brooklyn and picked up a part-time job at a local furniture store. This is where the magic began. After her recording sessions with Damon in Philly, Lizz would hop on a cheap bus back to Brooklyn just in time for her shift at the furniture store. There she would play her new music to critique and hear what they had accomplished. There is also where patrons of the store would ask about the music. That's when Lizz decided to burn a few copies, create some artwork and see if she could indeed sell her wares. Much to her surprise, Lizz could sell her music and that music made it to retailers around the world. Lizz began filling orders for 50-200 units at a time. Suffice to say she quit her part-time job and "ByDayByNight" became her full-time gig.

To date "ByDayByNight" has sold nearly 11,000 units around the world mostly by word of mouth, radio support and live shows.Lizz has managed to breakout of the habitual "Philly" sound and cultivate a sound that's all her own and her live show is a representation of that. The live interpretation of "ByDayByNight" is vibrant and infectious and her fun-filled spontaneity draws the audience in like family. Her unique and captivating vocals are uncontrived, loose, animated and warm. If you're already a fan, Lizz's live show will make you fall in love with her. Just ask her audiences in London, NYC, LA and Chicago where she has already rocked stages. Now with the support of Unisex Records (UK) and P-Vine (Japan) where her album is currently licensed, Lizz has been able to expand her team of supporters as well as her fan base. At the start of 2004, Lizz embarks on collaborations with DJ Spinna, DJ Jazzy Jeff, King Britt, Taz and 4Hero to lend her lyrical and vocal touch.

So Is Lizz lucky or is she a stunning representation of success happens when preparation meets opportunity. Well, this is not the end of the Lizz Fields' story. Stay tuned...Lizz Fields, unconventional yet familiar. Contact:info@lizzfields.com http://www.lizzfields.com

**Purchase Lizz's latest album "Pleasureville at www.cdbaby.com

Are u down?? Meet Coily Girl, Esperanza Spalding!


Hear her music by clicking here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15M62OtLrBQ

Esperanza Spalding. I have been a fan of her music (and an admirer of her hair !) for years!!!!

Coily Girl of the Week: Gelila Bekele

Early Life:

After moving with her family to the United States as a young child, Gelila spent most of her childhood in San Francisco. She attended Roosevelt Middle School and Thurgood Marshall High School, where she was an honors student and a member of the school's basketball team. She then spent two years studying at Cornell University before transferring to the University of California at Berkeley to be closer to her family. She graduated with a bachelors degree in 2005. Gelila currently lives in Brooklyn, NY.

Modeling Career:

Bekele has worked with Ford Models, Pantene, Colgate, and has appeared on the cover of 'The African' magazine. She is also featured in many other print ads and has done several runway shows.

Philanthropy:

Gelila is also a humanitarian and social activist. With the success and celebrity afforded to her through her work as a recognizable model, Bekele devotes much of her time to aiding people around the world through her charity involvement with groups that help those living in third world nations attain fundamental natural resources like water. One organization that she is passionate about is simply called: Charity: Water. Some of the other charities Gelila is involved with include Kageno, Keep a Child Alive and Darfur Action Network