Are You Down?

This is Coily Girl, Laura Izibor-- singer, songwriter and producer.

Born to a working class family in Dublin, Ireland, Izibor admits she didn't grow up in a musical household. "My mother raised five kids on her own, so there wasn't much time to buy records ? it wasn't that kind of home. I found myself fancying music at about 13." Once the love for musicians like Stevie Wonder, Candi Stanton, and Roberta Flack took hold, she was smitten for good. "One door opened to the next ? first I discovered Marvin Gaye, and then Otis Redding, and I just fell in love with soul music."

At the age of 15, Izibor won a prestigious national performance competition, the "2FM Song Contest." At 17, she started work on her debut album, taking the time to really hone her songs. Let The Truth Be Told was recorded over the course of four years in a diverse range of cities: New York, Philadelphia, Atlanta, and Dublin among them. Laura also performed live constantly during this period, finding her true home onstage. Having performed several sold-out shows in Ireland, and opened for acts including James Brown, Angie Stone, and The Roots, she's earned the affectionate moniker "The Soul of Ireland" from the folks back home.

Early 2009 will reveal the fruits of this process, when Izibor releases the fully self-penned and co-produced Let The Truth Be Told. "The title felt like a strong, almost biblical statement," she explains. "I've written this album because it's my truth. It's a sincere record and it has a feel of survival in it as well." Izibor resisted the urge to feature established artists on various tracks, instead creating a revealing, and very personal, document of this moment in her life. "I didn't want to be anybody's protégé," she says. "It's very tempting to put in the reinforcements, but for my debut album I wanted it to be 100% from me."

The songs are ripe with authenticity, from the sassy, soulful album opener, "Shine," to the magnificent and deeply personal "If Tonight Is My Last," to the anthemic and inspirational "Mmm," which colored the soundtrack of Step Up 2: The Streets. With her tracks also featured on Grey's Anatomy, The Hills, and The Nanny Diaries, Izibor has found that airing her heartfelt take on life and love has translated to the hopes and struggles of various characters, as well as to the people at home watching them. "I hope people take away a sense of honesty and realness in the record. They're just songs written from a really sincere place, and hopefully people can connect to it on some level and relate their own lives to it as well."

For Izibor, the process of bringing her Truth to light has had a long gestation period, taking her around the world and back. She's poised and ready for her moment. "Life is good. Music is amazing. It's just a great, unusual thing to be doing what I love, and I'm genuinely grateful. I come from a working class family, so my bothers and sisters and my mother worked so many jobs their whole life, just trying to provide for us. That's why I'm extremely humbled and grateful to be able to do something that is not only what I love, but pretty unbelievable."

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!

My Hair Today


Okay... so the twistout only made it a couple days this time! LOL Normally, I can stretch it out until at least Sunday. I HATE doing my hair, and I usually try to wash it once a week during the school year. For some reason, people kept touching my hair this week and ruining my curl definition! LOL

For some reason, people don't understand that even though my hair is NATURAL, I am not trying to wear it PUFFY and in afro everyday! Sometimes I want the curly look, in which case, the untrained hand can totally mess up my look! They tend to puff it up at the roots when they touch it, and pretty much, my hair can't recover from that without having to be re-twisted.

Alas... the puff. Three days early! LOL . I usually like my puffs kind of sloppy. Sometimes I slick it back w/ IC gel for a wavy kind of look, but most of the time, I like it wild.

My Hair Today...

Three day old twistout pinned up with 2 black Goody hairpins. I think this may be the last day I can get away with wearing it out.

Allison from "College Hill"


Okay, I'm embarassed to admit it, but "College Hill" is one of my guilty pleasures!!! I know the show is GHETTO-AS-I-DON'T-KNOW-WHAT", but I like it!!! I guess because I miss college!!! I attended a HBCU, and it truly was the best time of my life!!

Looking at the batch of kids they have as this season's houseguests though, I question whether or not they were good choices as candidates. Whereas in past seasons, the students at least seemed STUDIOUS, these kids seem like they don't even go to college!!! All they do is fight, which I guess is great for ratings!! Anyway, Allison, one of the girls on the show, has GREAT HAIR!!!!! I love her length and texture.

My Hair Today.....

I did a twistout last night using pure shea butter. Once I finished twisting, I sealed in the moisture with coconut oil. This morning I released the twists and applied a little more coconut oil. (I hate dry hair!!)

I think this twistout came out okay.

Cute Flower Hair Clips You Can Make...

OMG... I just saw Curly Chronicle's video on making flower hair accessories. I love to see natural hair adorned with pretty flowers in the summertime. I think it adds femininity to a pretty sundress or haltertop!!

So, anyway, I'm always down for saving a penny, so I looooove Curly Chronicle's video. I'll be making my flower clips this weekend! LOL

My Hair Today

Okay, so it's ANOTHER hot day in Philly! I'm not sure if you know, but I teach 2nd grade, and our classroom is sticky as I don't know what! LOL. I normally wash and twist my hair on Sunday nights, but I didn't get around to it last night, so my hair is a wreck! I have a hair style I use in a pinch, when I'm in between washings., It's kind of a "pouf" in front and a "puff" in back!!!

I achieve this style by pinning the front up. and securing the back in a black elastic band. I like it sloppy... so other than twisting my front curlies around my finger, I don't do much of anything else to my hair. It takes 5 minutes, and it's NO FUSS, NO MUSS! Exactly what I need for a hot day like today! LOL

Well, I'm going to drink my Mango frosty and enjoy the rest of my lunch period. Stay cool!

Luvbenet

Some Call Me Nappy
April 12, 2008 by
Heather Thomas


I Call Me Beautiful!! Have a curly mane? It's a gift and a curse. Beautiful when the curls are just right, a total mess otherwise. Ladies with silky textured curls often have an easier time perfecting their curly style. Ladies who are of African American or mixed-heritage can have a more difficult time fighting off the frizz and obtaining a neat and put-together look.

In my childhood, my mother never recognized the beauty of my curly hair. Born into a bi-racial family, she was raised to believe that there was a certain way to appear put-together. She combed, brushed and blew out her curls, oiled up her mane and made it up in neat braids and buns. Now, beyond middle-aged, my mother has only just discovered the potential beauty of her naturally, silky wavy/curly hair. However, after years of fighting her natural hair with chemical processing, heat treatments, blow dryers, pressing combs, and monthly hair colorings, my mom's curls are in bad form.

Being the out-there child that I was, I had been determined to go against the grain of what my mother taught me was an appropriate way to style my hair and learn to go natural. I was tired of spending ridiculous amounts of time in the bathroom washing, blow drying, oiling, and pressing out my hair. The process could take me two hours! While that may not seem ridiculous to some, it was for me. I was a high school student who needed that time to study, socialize, or do what ever else high school students do.

My first experiences going curly were liberating,to say the least. I simply shampooed and conditioned my hair and blew it dry. I was sixteen and, really, the fro-ish look did not scare me as much as it scared my mother who constantly asked me if I was planning to do 'something' with my hair. At school, many of my peers loved my hair and wanted to pet it or play with it.

I should mention that I lived in South Orange County which isn't known for its large African American population. I was a novelty of sorts or at least my hair was. As much as I liked the attention, I couldn't help feel like there were many who disproved of my big head of hair. I tell you, my curls looked as though they were fighting to get away from my scalp. I had triangle hair and no curl definition. It wasn't until my $10 blow dryer quit working that I was forced to purchase a new one and discovered the diffuser.

Finally, I was able to leave the house with real, shiny and defined curls that fell more neatly down my back. If I had felt liberated before, now, I felt both liberated and pretty. Ever since then, I have been able to wear my hair curly and with little fuss. With the advent of new hair styling technology, I have been able to replace my dead blow dryers with newer, more efficient, and style-saving dryers and reasonably priced serums and hair conditioners.

I feel inclined to add that while I love my curly locks, I also enjoy variety and options in styling my hair. Week-to-week, I change up my style by straightening with a flat-iron (no chemicals here!), braiding, or twisting my hair. I love versatility.It's not always easy going natural, especially for women of color.

I have noticed that there is a very real and legitimate fear that employers, peers, or even strangers may induce certain things about African American women who wear their hair curly. Terms like "nappy" or "kinky" that describe the texture or tightness of curls also carry negative connotations and are often used to describe individuals perceived to be "too Black", unkempt or too lax about their appearance. For that reason, I cannot fault my mother or her family's idea of an appropriate way to wear African American hair.

In retrospect, I can't help but wonder if, in my past, I missed out on employment opportunities or other growth opportunities because of my very ethnic looking hair-do. What I believed was beautiful hair may have been perceived to be just nappy or unkempt. I think though, that learning to care for my hair and appreciate it for its beautiful, curly way has really made me a little bit more beautiful on the inside. Learning to love my hair regardless of what is socially acceptable or popular at any given moment has made me more proud than ever to be me: an individual of African American descent who has dark skin and shiny and curly hair.

For me, this was one important step in beginning the process of shedding the daunting and impossible-to-attain idealized version of beauty.

How to Follow the Curly Girl Method for Curly Hair

Hey curly girls!!
Do you suffer from curly hair that's dry, damaged, frizzy, or uncontrollable? Are you open to trying something new? The curly girl method (also referred to as "no-poo") is based off the book "Curly Girl" by Lorraine Massey. The nickname "no-poo" alludes to not using a sulfate shampoo, because of sulfates' power to strip the hair of its natural oils. Once you take away the sulfates your hair can retain its natural moisture. Like many beauty regimens, the results vary from person to person, but this one just might work for you. So, say good-bye to the frizz and split ends and hello to soft, healthy curls!

Follow these steps:
*Clarify with a sulfate shampoo before beginning. This will cleanse your hair of any silicones--ingredients in some hair products that are not water soluble. (see the Warnings section below).
*Have your hair trimmed. This will get rid of any damage or split ends. If you don't want to visit a hair salon you can always trim your own of course.
*Replace your brush with a wide-toothed comb. It is easiest to damage hair with a brush whether wet or dry. Untangling hair while dry with any tool is not a good idea; separating the curls dry just causes more frizz. *Instead of a brush, switch to a wide-toothed comb, or even better, just use your fingers (when the hair is wet). If it is difficult to untangle your hair this way, add more conditioner to your hair when wet or trim any unruly ends.
*Stop shampooing your hair. Most shampoos contain harsh, drying sulfates that are extremely damaging for curly hair (ammonium laureth sulfate, ammonium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate, sodium lauryl sulfate, etc.). They make curly hair frizzy and uncooperative. Conditioner can be used sufficiently to clean the hair (see the next step). Also, more gentle shampoos that contain mild cleansers (i.e. cocamidopropyl betaine or coco betaine) can be used occasionally or more often for wavier hair types.
"You'd never dream of washing a good sweater with detergent. Yet most shampoos contain harsh detergents (sodium lauryl sulfate or laureth sulfate) that one finds in dish washing liquid. They're great for pots and pans because they cut grease so effectively. Your hair on the other hand, needs to retain some natural oils, which protect your hair and scalp. Stripping them away deprives the hair of necessary moisture and amino acids and makes it look dry and dull." - Lorraine Massey
*Wash your scalp with conditioner (conditioner washing). Begin your routine by wetting your hair in the shower. Distribute conditioner on your entire scalp and massage your scalp with the tips of your fingers (not your fingernails). This rubbing action will loosen dirt and dandruff which can then be rinsed away. (Be sure to avoid silicones in your hair products, see the Warnings.)
* Thoroughly rinse your scalp afterwards. Depending on how dry your scalp is, you can conditioner wash, once a week, twice a week, or every day.
"The curly-haired can leave their hair hydrated with natural oils and clean their scalps quite well by rinsing only with hair conditioner once a week or less. Rubbing the scalp firmly with fingers is enough to loosen dirt." - Lorraine Massey
*Distribute conditioner throughout all of your hair and untangle gently. *Use your hands or a wide-toothed comb. Start by untangling bottom sections of your hair and then gradually move upwards. Let the conditioner sit in your hair for five minutes or so for extra moisture. You also may want to part your hair at this point with a comb. Part your hair to the side to prevent "triangle-shaped" hair.
*Do the final rinse of your hair with cool or cold water. This will decrease frizz and add shine. Leave some conditioner in your hair, especially in dry sections like the ends. It is fine to run your fingers through your hair gently, but do not comb your hair after this point.
*Apply products to your hair. Do it while it is soaking wet if you have curlier hair, but wait five minutes or so if you have medium to wavy curly hair.
* Put product in your hands and rub them together to emulsify. Then, smooth or rake the product into your hair by sections. A common method is to begin with a leave-in cream or conditioner to decrease frizz and then follow with a gel for hold and definition. (Using your normal conditioner as a leave-in is fine too.[1]) However, use whatever type and order of products you like.
*Next, finger shape the curls by scrunching them (cup your hair in the palms of your hands and scrunch in an upward motion) and/or twisting individual curls around a finger.
*Gently scrunch your hair with a t-shirt, paper towels, or a micro-fiber towel to remove excess moisture, as a generic terrycloth towel will make your hair frizzy. You may wish to finger shape your curls at this time instead.
*Next, wait five or so minutes so the hair can permanently assume its current shape.
*Decrease the drying time of your hair by plopping.[2] Spread an old t-shirt or micro-fiber towel onto a flat surface (such as the toilet with seat down).
* Bend over at the waist and position your hair in the middle of the cloth. With your head touching the cloth, drape the back section of cloth over your head. Twist the sides until they form "sausage rolls" and clip or tie them at the base of your neck. After 15-30 minutes remove the cloth. If your hair is frizzy after plopping lightly graze the hair with gel.
Plopping works best for medium to long length curly hair. The curls usually become weirdly squished after plopping in shorter hair. See How to Plop Your Hair for more info. as well.
A hair dryer with a bowl diffuser

*Dry your hair. Air drying is the easiest and gentlest way to dry your hair. If you must blow dry your hair use a diffuser to avoid frizz. Only dry your hair partially (about 80% dry) and air-dry the rest of the way. Do not touch your hair while it is drying or it will mess up and frizz. Both types of diffusers work well in terms of diffusing and decreasing frizz:
A bowl diffuser with fingers causes more volume and clumping (curls sticking together instead of going every which way), is bulky and heavier, and will probably only fit on the hairdryer it comes with. Place a section of hair in the bowl and press the bowl to your head. Then turn on the "warm" setting of your blow dryer. Press the cool shot if your head gets too hot.
A sock diffuser is lightweight, fits on any hair dryer, and is portable. Aim the diffuser at different parts of your hair while you scrunch your hair with your hands. Stop scrunching when your hair is about 50% dry.
Not all hair dressers were created equal.

*Find an experienced hairstylist. Ask him/her in advance if they are experienced in cutting curly hair and what products they are going to use on your hair. Unplanned haircuts can be disastrous for curly hair. If their products contain silicones insist on bringing your own. If your hairstylist uses a razor to thin out your hair it will make your ends ratty and prone to split ends. Remember, it takes a skilled hairdresser to successfully cut layers or other haircuts in curly hair.
*Have your hair trimmed every four to six months. A 1/2-inch or 1/4-inch trim is usually enough to get rid of split ends. Long, rounded layers are more suited to curly hair--short layers tend to stick up and look funny. Curly hair usually consists of a combination of textures, with the crown being the curliest part. For this reason it's hard to tell what dry curly hair looks like when wet--consider having your hair cut dry. Also, take into account that curly hair is much shorter when dry than wet. You may lose only two inches while wet, but that could be four or five while dry!
Give your hair time to adjust. It takes 2-4 weeks for your hair to adjust to the no shampoo and it may even look worse at first. Hair is a long-term project and it may take a couple weeks for it to regain its health after being stripped of moisture for years by shampoo.

Smile!Show off your glamorous, beautiful curls!

Avril Guerrera

Wakeema Hollis

Model,Sabina Karlsson

Wakeema Hollis




Tamera Mowry

How to Detangle Natural African American Hair

By Krystal Clark, eHow Editor
Rate: (2 Ratings)
Natural African American hair is one of the most fragile types of hair there is. A misconception is that because of its coils, and kinks, its not as susceptible to breakage. This is untrue, with with natural hair need to be very cautious when detangling their hair. Because of its coil shape natural oils don't always make it down the entire hair shaft, which means less nutrients, more breakage, and weak hair. Unintentional breakage can be avoided by properly detangling your hair.

Things You’ll Need:
Water
Spray bottle
Wide toothed comb or denman brush.
Moisturizer

Step1:
Natural African American hair is the only hair type where it it advised for you to comb your hair when it is damp. Therefore, invest in a spray bottle to use during the detangling process. Use the bottle to mist the hair with water; just enough to dampen but not soak.
Step2:
Use a wide toothed comb. Another major mistake naturals make is using the wrong comb. If your hair is straight, and fine, a narrow tooth comb will do the trick. However, if used on coarse natural hair, this comb will pull it out. To avoid this type of wear and tear use a wide toothed comb instead.
Step3:
Part your hair into 4 to 8 sections depending on length and thickness. Take a section and spritz it with water to dampen it. Smooth the water into the hair from root to tip. Take the wide toothed comb and comb from the ends working your way down to the root of the hair. Do this for each section until the whole head is done.
Step4:
After you have successfully detangled your hair apply a moisturizer. Make sure it does not have any petroleum, or mineral oil in it. Those are the types of substances that clog the scalp, and weighs down the hair.

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