Green Tea & Nettle Tea Hair Spritz

When you think "tea", you think of lemon wedges, ice cubes, relief for hot summer days or a remedy for a sore throat. However, different teas are beneficial beauty ingredients as well. Two herbal teas that are excellent hair conditioners are Green and Nettle tea.
These little leaves are packed full of antioxidants, vitamin C and E, panthenol, and beta carotene. It strengthens and conditions the hair, stimulates growth and helps relieve dandruff. And here you thought that it was just a delicious drink, shame on you!

I was in need of a moisturizing hair spritz, so I decided to quip up this little concoction. You may already have a few of these ingredients on hand. If not, don't worry! They are inexpensive and can be found at any health food store.

Green Tea & Nettle Tea Hair Spritz Recipe

You will need: 1cup of water,

1 green tea bag,

 1tbs of nettle tea,

 1/4 cup rose water

 about 5 drops of rosemary oil.

You can purchase pre-made tea bags, or create one with a knee high stocking. I put the tablespoon of nettle inside of the stocking and seeped the nettle and green tea in one cup of hot water for about 5 minutes.

Rosewater that I purchased from a local Middle Eastern grocery store in downtown Louisville, KY.

Rosemary is a scalp stimulant. If you do not have rosemary essential oil, use rosemary leaves (often in the spice section of you local grocery)

All mixed up! Let cool and pour into a spray bottle. Viola! All natural and moisturizing hair spritz!

This spritz smelled absolutely wonderful and will make your hair very soft! I will definitely create this again! Be careful, as the tea spritz stained my clear spray bottle. You may store this in the fridge or in room temperature.This will stay fresh for about 7 days.

Using wigs as a protective style

The wigs of today are NOT your grandmama's wigs. No longer are they obvious and embarrassing, perched on the head of young women like a worn out bathroom rug (Kim from RHOA, anyone?). Wigs today (when applied correctly) can look flattering on anyone, even the dreaded {insert dramatic gasp} lace front wigs. Hair wigs can allow you to experiment with color and hair cuts without compromising the integrity of your natural hair thus making them an excellent protective styling option!

Popular wig choices

Lace Front / Full Lace - Wigs with a sheer "lace" base. A lace front has only has lace around the hairline of the wig to give it a natural appearance. Rather you choose to glue the lace around your hairline is your choice.

Full Cap - Standard wig; hair is sewed into wefts on the cap (some wigs are "cap less" and are considered to breathe better than the standard full cap).

3/4 wigs and 1/2 wigs - Wigs that cover half or 3/4's of the head, the wig is then blended with your hair for a natural appearance.

You can purchase wigs at your local beauty supply store, online, or even make your own! If you decide to go to your BSS, make sure to purchase fresh wigs that come in a BAG and not off of the mannequin (thank you Meg for teaching me!)

Hair Qualities

Remy or Remi - Remy hair is hair that has been aligned so that all of the hair cuticles are pointing in one direction, resulting in a shiny smooth hair. The cuticle is the outer most layer of the hair and resembles shingles on a roof. Hair that does not have flat aligned cuticles is often rough, duff and prone to tangle.

Virgin hair - Hair that has not been chemically treated in any kind of way. "Virgin" hair does not always mean "Remy", since remy implied to the way the cuticles have been aligned.

100% Human - This kind of hair is acutally human hair. It is considered a lower quality because it has been chemically treated in an acid bath to remove the cuticle and sealed with silicons to give it a silky appearance. Human hair is often a collection of hairs from different people.

Synthetic - man made fibers. Depending on the quality of the fiber, you may or may not be able to apply direct heat, such as curling irons and flat irons.

Many african american women or women with very curly and coarse hair tend to favor Brazilian, Malaysian and Indian hair. These particular ethnic groups have dense curly hair that blends easily when installed.

Wigs are made either by machine or by hand, and they come in different varieties of hair. Needless to say, the more money you invest in a wig and the better you maintain it will result in a better looking piece.

Make sure to protect and nourish your hair under the wig! Unlike a weave, wigs are easily removed and you are able to continue your shampoo and moisturizing regimen. Also you do not have to worry about tension alopecia with wigs, unless you opt for glued lace fronts which improper use can result in hair loss.


My  Nia Girl

Nia Girl is by Freetress. It is a synthetic half wig. I purchased her to protect my hair from the harsh winter air, and because my laziness prevented me from styling. I hid my hair in either a bun or a few plaits, and even used it as a deep conditioning decoy or a way to camouflage in between mini braids and twists. People assumed she was real, home grown hair! However, after about a week and a half of wear, Nia Girl started to catch a lot of nasty knots by the nape. I have since retired her, but I am not apposed to breaking her out if needed.

The wig blended with my hair. I used twists to mimic the texture of the wig.

Wig used as a "pony tail". I used a scarf to hide the wig line.

Am I the only one who finds this funny as hell? lol

Wigs come in all shapes, styles and colors.Wigs can be dramatic, or subtle. It is all up to you! Check out these helpful videos on choosing wigs, and even making your own! Happy styling!

Videos

DIY Jewelry Storage

You are a jewelry lover. If you were to calculate how much you have spent on earrings, bangles, baubles and such, the equaling amount would be obscene. So why on Earth would you let all your precious accessories become unslightly plastic tub or shoebox?Sometimes a fun little DIY project is the solution to that overflowing jewelry box.

The "Jewelry Frame"

Your earrings will become a work of art!

Step 1: Take a trip to your local thrift store (or attic) and find a nice sturdy frame
It can be as large or small as you would like it to be.

Step 2: If you would like to, paint the frame.

Step 3: Find a few yards of fabric, perferable something you could hook metal into easily. Here I used a old lace curtain,
but netting, chicken wire or any very thin fabric will do.

Step 4: Measure, and cut to fit the frame.

Step 5: Attach the material to the frame using adhesive or a staple gun. If the fabric is very light weight,
consider doubling up to add strength

Tada! All Finished!

I added flowers and beads as decoration.

A mini frame works beautifully to frame your favorite pair of earrings!

Bangle Stacks

I used bottle necked vases, but try fancy champaign bottles or painted beer bottles.

Fun with Color! Dyeing your natural hair

{source}

Hair is the ultimate accessory. Rather it is razor cut into a sexy Victoria Beckham inspired bob, weaved into regal braids, or cascading in a sea of silky curls, the right hair style will set the tone for your clothing and should compliment every facade of your personality.

Coloring your natural hair can give your curls that certain "Je ne sais quoi". It turns any boring ol' fro into something special. Before you go and take the plunge into hair color, you should know your basics and be prepared to make some changes if necessary.

Semi-Permanent Hair Color or "Rinses" : A hair dye that temporarily stains your hair by depositing color. A hair rinse does not change the over all texture of your hair, and is a safe way to play with color without making a commitment. The darker your hair is, the more subtle the color of the dye will be. For example, if you have naturally dark hair and "rinse" it red, the red will be the most visible int he sunlight. If you have light hair and "rinse" it red, it will be more intense.

Hair rinses will last approximately 5-10 shampoos, depending on brand.

Tip: Use a old towel when shampooing hair that has a semi-permanent dye applied to it, as some of the color will come out each time it gets wet.

Permanent Hair Color: This option will provide you with a longer lasting color that will have to be grown out, cut out, or dyed over. Permanent hair dye is formulated with chemicals (some companies use hydrogen peroxide and ammonia, some do not) that lifts the color of your natural hair, and then deposits a new color into the hair shaft. Permanent hair color can often result in dryness of hair, or texture change. The lighter the color of your hair, the more dryness you may experience.

Bleaching: The harshest option of all. Bleaching the hair basically involves opening the hair shafts and lifting the color from your hair. Some individuals choose to bleach their hair and then dye it in two step process to get a vibrant color. If you decide to "bleach" your hair, be prepared to incorporate hard-core deep conditioning treatments and protein treatments into your hair regimen.

For a subtle hair color, try a box product such as Dark and Lovely or Clairol. For more drastic colors, seek professional help. I have experienced that going to professional stylist for color results in more vibrant and thorough hair color.

Natural Alternatives

Henna: a plant that is dried, crushed and made into a paste. Known for its conditioning properties and gives the hair a reddish tent

Lemon Juice: Add a teaspoon to two cups of water and use as a final rinse after shampooing and conditioning your hair. Do not rinse out.

Beet Juice: Gives hair a red tent.

Tea

Amla Powder: Another plant that is dried, crushed and made into a paste. Can be used alone or with Henna. This herb will darken the hair.

My Hair Rinse

 I used two bottles of Clairol's "Darkest Brown" to switch up from my copper hue to something darker and richer. FYI, that reddish color is not my original hair color. I have had permanent hair color for the past 17 months. Since then I have tried different hair rinses and home "box" dye.

I have experienced some dryness, but its nothing a little Shea butter can't handle.

Youtube Videos

The Black Venus, Sara Baartman

The story of this woman inspired "Venus", my digital print of a woman's sillheoute against a repetitive image of Sara Baartman.

The black woman's ass has been the epicenter of the black feminine experience. It is a source for both pride and shame. Our back side often determines our self esteem. Sometimes it attracts the attention we want, sometimes not. For years we have been celebrated, exploited, ostracized, duplicated and showcased for those extra layers of fat.
Some people may not think that it is that serious but, just like skin color or "grade of hair", body image issues are serious in the African American community. Being too skinny, or too fat, or too flat chest, or not enough ass are issues that little black girls have to deal with growing up.
 As a young girl, I was subconsciously aware of what I was holding. Hell, everyone in my family had ass! But like many girls, I became a sexual object to boys and grown men alike once I hit puberty. I learned that values you posses are sometimes ignored by men in lue of physical attributes. Unfortunately, many little girls forgot they are something more then a sexual creature and become the target for unhealthy relationships.
 Men may not understand the effects of being dehumanized as nothing more than a hunk of meat has on a woman. In fact, men may think it is okay to make loud comments, and sometimes even grab at you because it is what they see on TV; they don't ability to separate what is appropriate in a fantasy world (i.e. rap videos, pornography), and what is appropriate in the real world.
That being said, every young black woman should know who Sara Baartman is and discover the difference between being appreciated for her beauty, or being reduced to a pair of jiggly cheeks.

DKNY Launches "Golden Delicious" in a Big Way!

"DKNY created a million dollar fragrance to celebrate the launch of its Golden Delicious fragrance. The bottle is made from white and yellow gold and contains 2,909 precious stones, including a 1.65 carat turquoise tourmaline, a 7.18 carat sapphire, 15 round brilliant vivid pink diamonds, a 3.07 carat ruby and and a 4.03 carat pear-shaped rose cut diamond. Jeweler Martin Katz carefully decorated the bottle with diamonds and other precious stones so it would resemble the New York skyline. The bottle will travel the globe before being auctioned on DKNY's Facebook page. Proceeds from the sale will go to Action Against Hunger. " via Shopping Blog

Return of the Box Braids

Box braids are usually associated with that fly 90's chick that rocked the Cross Colors and Daisy Dukes.
However, this familiar trend has been trying to peak its head in the current fashion era. I think this is a really cute retro trend! If you want the box braids look more "natural" try thinner braids with "dipped" ends, rather than chunky with a burnt end. Take a que from Ms. Patra and rock nice big earrings with your braids!

Then

Brandy as "Moesha". {Mo to tha/ E to tha!}

Joi from Friday, rocking blonde box braids.

Poetic Justice

Janet Jackson

 Now

Solange

Choreographer Fatima Robinson

Mrs. Jada Pinkett Smith wearing "natural" box braids.

Erykah Badu, extreme waist length braids.

Box braids with extensions are a wonderful way to protect your hair, but they can also damage your hair if not done properly. Steer clear of heavy braids around the hairline to prevent traction alopecia. Also, do not braid too tightly! If you cannot move your face - honey take them down! Do a series of deep conditioning (protein and moisture) prior to braiding to make sure hair is in tip top condition.

Consider practicing the Crown and Glory Method! This consists of washing and conditioning your hair (while braided), and using a protein and moisturizing spray (Infusium 23 and a braid spray).
Braids can be left in up to 2 or 3 months. Redo the first two rows of braids around the hairline every 2 weeks to avoid matting and build up. This also helps "refresh" the style.

My Braids
 It took about 4 to 6 bags of Kanekalon {pronouced Ka-neck-A-Lon} hair. I "thinned" the ends of my braids by pulling the hair as if I were going to install Senegalese twists. After I finished, I applied a thin coat of Vaseline to the ends of the hair, then dipped it in hot water. The Vaseline helps soften the hair. I used Infusium 23 and Grandma's Braid Spray every other day. Sometimes I patted shea butter down the length of the braid to where my hair stopped.

After a month!

The rinse I applied began to wash out, and my red hair started to show.

When taking the braids down, start in the middle. This way you can sweep your braids into a bun and hide the middle.

Video

This is what you DON'T want!