Chris Rock on Oprah

I wish I could be home in time to see this.

I am very interested to see how it goes down....

I just saw this and wondered what you all think....

"Unlike Black Barbies of yesterday that appeared to have more Anglo facial features and hair texture, S.I.S. vary in complexion, coiffs and physical attributes with fuller lips, distinct cheek bones and wider noses.The dolls which range in price from about $8 to $25 features fashion forward BFFs Grace, Kara and Trichelle who are all about having a good time, but not before sharing their wisdom with the next generation. In the spirit of mentorship, McBride-Irby created a "little sister" for each of the dolls with diverse interests including music, math and science. Each doll's hair can be styled with the help of new Auqa curl technology which allows them to go from straight to curly with a spritz of a water bottle and hairstyling tools." for the whole article click here on Essence.com

Wedding Weekend!

I have not posted in a while due to work and getting ready for this past weekend in Nashville, TN. My uncle got married on Saturday and I just got home a few minutes ago. I thought I would post some pics of us cause my mom's hair looked great. Mine was ok, it was so humid I just decided to pull it back into a bun and call it a day. The wedding was small and very nice...hope you guys had a great weekend as well!

My mom did a twist out with, of all things, Pantene's Time Renewal Replenishing Mask. It held up pretty well in the humidity.

I pulled my hair back in a bun using Fantasia IC gel. The back started off as a puff that I did individual two-strand twists in. After that, I tucked them all under with a hair band to make the "bun" part. I wore my scarf until it was time to go to prevent frizzies...but they were pretty much inevitable given the heavy moisture in the air.

Me and the bro...

This is SO not hair related but...

...did you guys see this??? What do you think? Here's the article if you want to read the thought behind this dress.

And stay tuned for my review of Thank God I'm Natural coming this week!

You Are Not Your Hair

photo from Essence.com

Essence is really getting on this hair thing it seems. Myss Kay happened to see this article and sent me the link. The article touches on everything from hair length to the hair care industry and beyond. Check it out...

Reader Question: "The Dog" Hairstyle

One reader asked:

Wonderful hairstyles! How did you do the one where you're holding the dog...?

I guess this hairstyle is the closest I got to a frohawk, which I love btw. For this particular style all I did was a regular two-strand twist out. I took each side and pulled it up toward the crown area. I then adjusted it securely with a large bobby pin, one on each side. Back then, the front was short enough that it kinda hung like a bang but I wanted it to be off to one side so I pinned it over. That was it! I really liked this style and it worked great when my hair was that length. Hope this helps!

Mary J's New Banger- The One

I just heard this and I LOVE it! I love the hair, the beat, the colors, the sleek look, everything! Mary looks beautiful and Drake ain't bad either, lol! This song entitled The One has a street edge but is slick and melodious.

"Mary J. Blige has collaborated with Canadian rapper Drake for her new single “The One”, which got released on June 5, 2009. Blige’s new album, the ninth one she was realized so far, is scheduled for a November 2009 release date. She performed the single recently at the Hot 97’s 2009 Summer Jam Concert." ~Source

Check it out!....and if you like that, check out Stronger w/Chris Brown.

Thank God I'm Natural!

I was recently contacted by Chris-Tia E. Donaldson, author of the new natural hair guide Thank God I'm Natural: The Ultimate Guide to Caring for and Maintaining Natural Hair. Here's a little bit about the author in her own words:

Chris-Tia Donaldson is a Harvard graduate with a true passion for hair. By day, Chris-Tia is a successful lawyer for a software company. By night, she is a freelance writer and entrepreneur looking to launch her own product line for naturally kinky tresses. For this revolutionary book, Chris-Tia has interviewed hundreds of women -- from all walks of life -- about everything from the epidemic of hair loss in the black community to the historical effects of slavery on black women and their hair care practices.

Sounds interesting right? Keep reading for more info about the book itself:

THANK GOD I'M NATURAL is a must-read for any black woman who has suffered hair loss or breakage caused by relaxers -- or has grown tired of spending thousands of dollars and their entire Saturday afternoons frying their kinky tresses into submission. Featuring the advice of celebrity stylists for Jill Scott, Lauryn Hill, and Erykah Badu (among others, THANK GOD I'M NATURAL offers thorough and extremely modern and up to date information -- and a plethora of tips to help women go natural the right way. You won’t want to do your hair again until you’ve read this lifesaving, reference book and heartfelt narrative from cover to cover! For more information, visit www.thankgodimnatural.com or check out the Thank God I’m Natural Blog for all the latest in hair care tips, news, and product pics www.thankgodimnatural.word

press.com.

I am excited to announce that I received a signed copy of the book which I will be reviewing here in the coming days. I received the book a few days ago in the mail and so far I am very impressed! The cover detail is lovely in black and white and the pics look great. Just from flipping through, I can already tell there is a ton of info and resources for any woman considering going natural. I can't wait to dive in deeper and let you in on what I find. So stay tuned!

Family Ties

Hey ya'll. I just wanted to share a family pic we took a couple of weeks ago. My mom's hair is a twist-out that she did HERSELF (i'm so proud whoo hoo!) and my hair is the result of a set of curled twists that I took down then later retwisted (without re-curling) to create the final twist-out you see in the pic.

The other three lovlies are my dear brothers and my cute grandma. Work it g-ma!

Politcal Fix

I love politics and if I had more time I would have a completely separate blog to discuss it. But, I don't so I settle for the occasional CNN fix or some other media commentary. So I am really psyched about a cool blog, http://dickpinder.blogspot.com/, by one of my mom's friends Richard Pinder.

"GranStand Posts is an issues-oriented Blog, developed to offer social commentary on an array of topics from history to politics, to religion and life-change issues. New articles are posted bi-monthly, so check back often to read the latest buzz and the comments of other readers."

If you need a regular dose of socio-political commentary, feel free to check him out. Nothing makes for better conversation than politics (besides religion and natural hair of course!) and I love a good debate. If anything strikes your fancy, come back and post a comment.

Fresh-Squeezed Fotki Juice: BrwnSKinBeauty

When I saw this beautiful young woman's fotki my mouth dropped! She is absolutely gorgeous and her mane fabulous. One of the things that stood out to me was that she transitioned for a very long time, 2 years! So for those of you out there that want to hang onto your hair before the Big Chop, here is a great example of how to do that.

Not only is she stunning, she is creative too! Check out her site (http://www.cafepress.com/naturalgirl) where she sells the cutest apparel featuring natural hair!

Here is what she had to say...

NL: How long have you been natural?

6 months. I transitioned for 2 years.

NL: What is your regimen for styling and maintenance?

I wash my hair every week or every week and a half. I wash my hair with conditioner only (Aubrey's Honeysuckle Rose). I use shampoo on my scalp every 4 months to get a thorough wash. I usually twist my hair after I've washed it. I use tons of Giovanni's Direct Leave-In conditioner and coconut oil when I'm detangling it. I only comb my hair when it's wet and full of conditioner. I usually alternate between just wearing twists to allow my hair to rest and twist outs.

NL: What are your favorite styles and how do you achieve them?

I can't pick one! I love them all! I do like the volume I get from wash n gos!

NL: You transitioned for a long time. Why did you choose that route and what was that process like for you?

I am used to having a lot of hair and I have a big head lol. I didn't want it to be a traumatic experience when I bc'd so I waited until I was comfortable. I had two friends to bc before me and they were in shock and had a tough time in the beginning so I decided to wait it out. Transitioning for so long was tough at first but when I found my staple style (braidouts) and the right leave-in (I started with Cantu and then I started using Giovanni) it became easy.

NL: What is your favorite thing about being totally natural?

Having healthy hair! And I could never say that I loved my hair before, but I absolutely love my hair now! I love the versatility of natural hair and how unique our hair is. I love being different from mainstream America.

NL:. Is there anything else you would like to share about your experience with Naturally Leslie readers?

Accept your hair for what it is and what it's not. Don't compare your hair to anyone else's. Love what God gave you! :)

Thanks so much to BrwnSKinBeauty for sharing her amazing journey and pics!

Sunday Cuteness: Carribean Queen in The Garden

You have to check out Nadine in The Pangaea's Garden, photographed by Tamara Natalie Madden. Everything is lovely-the afro, the colors, the crown. See what I mean? Totally cute.

Solange Keeps it Hot

Reader Update:A lovely NL reader sent the pic above to me showing the cute little rainbow Solange added right above her right ear. Click on the pic to see the color better. I never woulda thought to do that but it's really cute!

Q Tip and Solange at the Long Live the King birthday celebration for the late MJ on Aug 29th

So cute it's making me want to snip snip snip!!! Transitioning girls, I would totally do this and take advantage of the opportunity to wear this chicly short do!


pics from Lipstick Alley

The September Issue of the Coil Review is Out!

Hi guys and gals! Head on over to TheCoil Review.com to check out September's issue! If you remember, I mentioned a while back that I will be submitting articles to be featured there monthly. Last month got really hectic so I was unable to contribute but my latest effort is posted there under the title Curing Curl Envy. It is similar to a post I did here some time ago about Hair Envy in the natural community.

The site looks amazing and gets better and better with each issue. There so much information for natural hair wearers and the layout is divine! I really enjoy reading it and I am proud, excited, and honored to be featured there monthly.

If you want to subscribe to receive the monthly newsletter, just sign up right there on the right hand side of the site. So head on over and check it out!

Michelle O's Mane Takes Center Stage in Time

Have you read this yet? I just saw this article over at Glamazini.com and though I'd share for those who have not seen it.

Illustration by Nicole Fineman for Time

Many of us have been talking about Mrs. O's hair since the day she first stepped onto the political scene with our fab president, Barack Obama. Blackness in all its forms is once again taking center stage and this article is just another reflection of this. First it was her clothes, then her arms, and now her hair. I mentioned earlier about how her daughters should be off limits. Kids don't deserve to be dragged into public discussion. But Lady O is definitetly scrutinized on the daily and for many has become a style icon as well as role model for women everywhere.

So read the article (I know, I am assigning articles like I'm a social studies teacher lecturing on current events) and tell me what you think!