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4th of July Angled Fro-Hawk + Au Naturale Anti- Breakage Review

The night before our Independence Day celebration I had planned to style my hair with some of my usual products until I came home to a box full of Dark and Lovely and Mizani hair products from a dear friend, Sara Charles, at Bratskeir & Company. Dark and Lovely’s Au Naturale collection has been on my list of products to try but I never fully got around to doing so until it showed up on my door step. Another reason why I have been brushing it off was was due to my hesitance. I know there may be some people out there, myself included, who are a bit skeptical about the natural hair collections being made by companies that produce relaxers and straightening systems. In the back of my mind I always wonder if they can actually deliver by providing products that will manage, strengthen, and maintain my kinky hair and the textures of many other curly naturals. Since it was time to cleanse and style my hair for all of the July 4th festivities I tried some new products as well.

I used the entire Au Naturale Anti- Shrinkage Collection and the scent reminds me of a tropical paradise.

To prep my hair for my wide Angled Fro-Hawk style, I detangled my hair and sectioned it with chunky twists to make shampooing my hair easier. I used the Tension Release Hair Wash to cleanse my hair twice. It’s great for dry itchy scalps and if your hair has product build up. The shampoo was creamy with a lather but instead of feeling dry and parched after cleansing my hair it was still moisturized. Next, I conditioned with the Strength Restoring Conditioner which can be used as a rinse out or deep conditioner. I applied the conditioner and let it sit for about 13-30 minutes with a plastic cap on my head. It has a thick and creamy texture that will surely penetrate the hair shaft. After shampooing and conditioning my hair it was time to prep for styling. I always like to apply an oil to my hair so it can penetrate through the hair cuticle and dries light and moist. This time I tried the Mizani Supreme Oil Hair Treatment which combines 2 surface oils (Jojoba Oil, Sesame Oil) and 6 penetrating oils (Avocado Oil, Apricot Oil, Olive, Argan Oil, Sunflower Oil, Rice Bran Oil) that are ultra-light and made for any hair texture. Then I applied the Root to Tip Mender to each section of my hair before two strand twisting it. I made about 10-14 chunky twist and then applied the Super Softening Hair Butter only to the ends of my hair. The next morning my hair had air dryed fully, it smelt wonderful and was ready to be styled.

Just with chunky two strand twists my angled Fro-Hawk had ample definition!

I used bobby pins to style and hold my hair in its mohawk form. I also even tried the Dark and Lovely Anti-Reversion Edge Sleeker, $5.99, for the first time which held my edges in its place. The mascara like brush makes applying the clear gel-like product simple and it tames edges with just enough tension for a smooth finish.

I really enjoyed the Au Naturale collection and would highly recommend these products to others. The entire collection is free of sulfates, parabens, and silicones. Dark and Lovely also explains how “Hair that Thrives can grow up to 4 inches a year*” and the “Anti-Breakage recipes with Guarana Root and Honey Help Nurture and Repair for root to tip curl defense.” This collections also “*Reduces breakage making hair stronger so it can grow longer when using the Anti-Breakage recipe of shampoo, conditioner, mender or hair butter. Potential hair growth yearly is 4 inches.” You can’t argue with a products that has driven results! Each of the items retail for $9.99 and can be found at your local super store or drug store (spending loads of money won’t be a concern for this product!). I will continue to use the Au Naturale Anti- Breakage line and look forward to trying the Anti-Shrinkage collection as well.

Have you tried Dark and Lovely’s Au Naturale hair product line? If so what did you like and how did the products work for your hair texture and type?

July 5, 2014 by Marisa.P

Hair, People

Natural Hair Talks with Project Runway Winner Dom Streater

For my first Organix Locs profile it was either go big or go home and then I lucked up with scoring an interview with Project Runway’s Season 12 winner Dom Streater thanks to a genius idea from my other blogging half of a boyfriend, AJ, and the lovely employees at Skai Blue Media. We all know and love Dom for her designs, textiles, and bold mod looks but I couldn’t help but realize how freaking AMAZING her naturally curly hair is! With her little petite frame and all of her hair it’s really hard not to take notice of those springy curls. To get all of Dom’s hair details we sat at a bench in Washington Square Park, off of 6th and Walnut Street, to learn more about her hair journey.

To my surprise Dom’s hair has not always been curly because just like some of us we once enjoyed the ‘relaxer’ life once upon a time. When she was younger her mother would relax her hair and it still retained plenty of its length which reached about arm pit length. Throughout her years in high school Dom admits to damaging her hair from coloring it numerous times and over using heat styling tools while her hair was relaxed. Then one day she realized how bad her hair sucked and wanted to cut it off for a fresh start. In 2007, during her sophomore year in college, she took a trip to Bubbles Salon in King of Prussia Mall to have her hair cut and styled into a mohawk; talk about a daring plunge from long hair to short! Although the damage was cut from her hair she felt naked without all her hair and ended up buying a hat to make the ride back home more bearable. Now that she’s been fully natural Dom describes her hair as being in the 3C 4A category but really fine. When it’s wet it may look like she has no hair, but once it dries it rises and creates its own volume.

When looking back on her natural hair journey there are a few hair mishaps that have taught Dom a lesson along the way:

“Straightening without a heat protectant. Yeah, I didn’t discover that until late in the game […]. Then I realized that my hair doesn’t revert [to its curly state] that easily when not using the heat protectant. That was a big one because I had to keep cutting off the straight ends of my hair. And, oh, when I first learned how to properly detangle my hair. Sweet Jesus was I doing that wrong! My mother was doing it wrong. First of all with that comb. You know that comb that you get from the hair store with the fine end and the wide end? And [my mother] would just go from the top all the way down to the bottom. And she was like why are you so tender-headed and I was like I’m not tender-headed you’re not doing it right! So when I discovered a wide tooth comb and detangling from the bottom up, my hair like turned into a whole different head of hair. Then I started detangling my hair in the shower. It completely changed my hair; I had less split ends. It didn’t hurt [laughs].”

In the beginning of her hair journey, Dom would shampoo her hair every day because she thought that was the only way she would keep her curls looking great but soon discovered otherwise. Her hair would become tangled from it being dry and over cleansing until she learned that she didn’t need too shampoo her hair that often. Sometimes a once a month shampoo and co-washing in between works just fine. Dom currently has her hair on (what I like to consider) a tri-cleansing schedule where she shampoos, or co-washes, her hair on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. She also deep conditions her hair every two weeks.

Dom has never tried having her hair trimmed while in its natural state and would love to experience it. She’s thinking about doing something to the hair for next fashion week!

To tame her split ends and to keep her hair healthy Dom gets a professional hair cut once a year from Hair Cuttery (yes it’s true) but in between she trims the split ends herself using the search and destroy method every 2-3 months. Before heading to Hair Cuttery she blow drys and straightens her hair for a blunt cut done by which ever stylist is available. With the search and destroy option she has a method for her madness. “I have a light box because I’m an artist so I just do it [search and destroy] in front of the light box so I can see the spilt ends faster. And I watch TV and have the light box in my lap and just cut the split ends off.”

When asked what’s a natural hair trend that she can’t stand, it took her some time to think about it and explained why it was bantu knots. Dom understands the purpose of the style but wearing the actual bantu knots in public is not her thing. It reminds her of the Jada Pinkett from The Matrix movie and personally it doesn’t quite compliment her style. On the contrary, there is one natural hair style Dom can’t live without and it’s the pineapple method (when you place your hair into a high ponytail with the ends hanging out) because it helps to elongate a style. “It’s the only way my hair will look normal in the morning. [Laughs] you know what I mean? It’s the only way I make it through the next day […]. My fiancé hates it because he likes to sleep facing me, but there’s like a whole pineapple [bun] in between his head and my head.”

Now when it comes to natural hair icons the singer Sade was the first person Dom saw who had naturally long, pretty, wavy hair. “I didn’t see any women of color that had hair like that before. I mean with the exception of Diana Ross so I was like ‘awww’ I want my hair just like Sade.”

To wrap up this fun interview I needed to know what Dom enjoys the most about being a naturally curly woman and she replied:

“The freedom. Yeah, like it was crazy I never realized how restricted I was from doing certain things when my hair was straight all the time, like when I used to flat iron it I couldn’t go swimming. Like that’s crazy! I used to spend hours searching for a swim cap so my hair would not get wet. I couldn’t work out. I couldn’t go swimming. This was not ok. I couldn’t go outside [laughs]. I enjoy the freedom. If my hair gets wet it’s not the end of the world, pretty much it’s whatever. And I feel like it kind of distinguishes you, it sets you a part because none of us have like an exactly identical set of hair so it’s very unique to like who you are.”
Well there you have it from Organix Locs first! To keep up with Dom Streater and all of her fashion and design updates, or to purchase her SS14 collection go to www.shopdomstreater.com
IG: @DomStreater
Twitter: @Domofix

July 2, 2014 by Marisa.P

Hair, Hair 101

The Organix Locs ‘Feed One Feed All Rule’ For Natural Hair

When it comes to finding products for my hair there is a lot of thought that goes into my search. I like to look up the name of a brand to see what kind of moisturizing products they offer, the price point of the item, where I can purchase it, and most importantly what ingredients are in it. To simplify my life, my hair care routine, and to keep my budget at a minimum I go by the Feed One Feed All Rule I created. If I can feed my body natural and nutritional food items then I can also ‘feed’ my hair and skin the same as well. For instance, I like eating avocados in my salads. I can also use mashed up avocados as a deep penetrating hair or facial masque that’s packed with fatty acids and vitamins. If one part of my body can benefit from what I put in it then it’s great for the entire body. It’s a win win solution! Many of the ingredients are sitting in your fridge, or pantry, and this rule is safe for everyone’s health, even little children. Start experimenting today!

Avocados

The creamy fruit avocado is rich in vitamins K, B6, E, C, and contains amino acids. It also rejuvenates a dry scalp and damaged hair.

Eggs

The protein in eggs fortifies the hair follicle’s strength while leaving a smooth and natural shine.

Sour Cream

The lactic acid in the dairy product sour cream naturally rids the hair of build up while the milk fat replenishes moisture all in one use! (Natural plain yogurt can also be used as another substitute).

Coconut Milk

Coconut milk is filled with vitamins C, E, B1, B3, B5, and B6. Unlike whole milk from a cow, coconut milk has a creamy consistency and it leaves the hair feeling plump from all of the proteins.

Olive Oil

There a many uses for the oil extracted from olives other than cooking. The fatty acids in the oil coats the hair and shields it from damage. It can be used to treat scalp conditions like dandruff, to tame frizzy hair, and adds shine plus moisture.

Brown Sugar

Using brown sugar as an exfoliator works wonders for dry and itchy scalps! Apply to the scalp while the hair is damp or mix with olive oil for a paste like consistency.

Have you ever tried the ‘Feed One Feed All Rule’? Is this something you can see yourself incorporating into your natural hair routine? Share with us!

June 25, 2014 by Marisa.P

Hair, Skin & Beauty

Munaluchi City-to-City Tour Stops in Philly

I noticed how deep into the wedding season it is and this is just the beginning! Everyone around me is either planning a wedding or is gearing up to walk down the aisle on their special day and now I have the wedding bells going off in my head. It will be a while before AJ and I begin to plan for our wedding but trust and believe I have themes and dress designs in the back of my mind already 😉 To top it all of I found out that Munaluchi Bride will be in Philly next week on Wednesday June 18th from 6:30-9:30 pm at the Independence Seaport Museum. Although I won’t be able to check out this extravagant gathering, I know this information will be helpful for all the beautiful brides-to-be. Tiffany Chalk Events will host an evening of wedding inspiration with cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, cake tastings by the winner of Cake Boss Chef Dana, along with bridal fashion and giveaways. The first 100 guest will receive free admission so RSVP your spot today!

Will you attend the Munaluchi event? Do you know anyone who is planning their wedding? If so share the blog post with them!

June 12, 2014 by Marisa.P

Hair, Hair 101, Hair Care

4 Reasons Why You Should Try a Tea Rinse on Your Hair

Tea and all of its herbal qualities have been used for centuries due to its healing properties and antioxidants. There are scientific studies that have been conducted to confirm these findings. In fact, tea can be used in many ways besides being ingested; it’s also useful when applied to the hair. Here are a few reasons given by BlackGirlLongHair.com on why it’s a great idea to add tea rinses to your hair care routine.

“1. Amino acids – Stengthen Hair
Theanine is an amino acid that is unique to tea. A recent study showed that a purified extract of this amino acid could penetrate fully through to the hair cortex of bleach-damaged hair after a 10 minute soak at 30°C (Surface and Interface Analysis, pp 562-565, 2010). The study was designed to complement a previous investigation that related theanine to improving the mechanical strength of bleached hair. Even if your hair is not bleached, it is possible to accumulate damage to the cortex due to styling and combing as well as normal weathering. A tea rinse could be considered as a very mild protein treatment.

2. Polyphenols – Stimulate Growth
Green tea is currently being studied as a possible candidate for treating hair loss. It is preferred over black tea as the roasting of tea to create black tea oxidises the polyphenols. Tests so far have been performed on rats as well as human hair in a petri-dish (not on actual people) with similar results. The polyphenols are seen to stimulate re-growth of hair (J Natl Med Assoc, pp 1164-1169, 2005; Phytomedicine, pp 551-555, 2007). If you therefore have problem spots e.g at the temples, or are experiencing hair loss, then a tea rinse may be worth a trial.

3. Caffeine – Stimulate Growth
Did you know your hair follicles can take up several drugs and caffeine is one of them? Studies done once more on human hair in a petri-dish showed that the hair follicles do rapidly take up caffeine and this stimulates hair regrowth for hair previously showing signs of hair loss. (International Journal of Dermatology, pg 27-35, 2007).

4. pH
The pH of tea actually depends on how it is brewed as well as the water used to brew the tea. In general, figures of between pH 5 and 7 are generally quoted for both green and black tea. For hair, this means that the final tea rinse will be just slightly acidic to neutral. This pH tends not to irritate the skin or disturb the hair cuticle. Naturally, you should not add a squeeze of lemon or orange to fragrance the tea unless you do actually want a more acidic brew.” –BlackGirlLongHair.com

What kind of tea do you like to use for your tea rinse? How often do you apply your tea rinse and have you seen results once adding this to your hair routine?

June 2, 2014 by Marisa.P

Hair

My Curl Confessions

Recently I was tagged by a lovely blogger, Victoria of Tresses and Treats, during her Curl Confessions. Remember those chain letters people would text to your phone all the time a few years back? Well I think of the curl confessions the same way and I better not break the chain! I would hate for the natural hair boggie man to do something terrible to my hair while I’m asleep! To keep the cycle going all I have to do is confess 10 things I do, or have done, to my natural kinks that are against the ‘rules’ or considered taboo in the natural hair community and tag 5 bloggers. Here it goes…

1. When I first went natural I would stretch my hair styles beyond belief and would go an entire month and a half without detangling or cleansing my hair! (A side from not being familiar with my hair’s natural texture, it took some time adjusting to the natural hair life and didn’t want to fuss with my hair at all!)

2. I have thin edges from wearing tight braids in my younger years so if I’m wearing my hair up I’ll use brown mascara to give the illusion of a fuller hairline

3. My first “big chop’ didn’t happen until after I was already about two years natural. I was studying abroad in Delhi, India and I didn’t want to waste to much time styling my hair and just like that I cut it into a TWA (tiny winnie afro)

4. If I see a knot at the end of my hair I usually pull it off if I can’t find my shears

5. I never started to finger detangling my hair until 2014 of this year!

6. I went a whole year without trimming my hair and surprisingly the stylist said my ends “weren’t that bad”

7. A few times I have shampooed my hair and there was still residue/build up on my scalp but I would style my hair as usual..lol

8. I didn’t use sulfate free shampoos during the beginning of my transition

9. I definitely over cleansed my hair A LOT in the past because the old wise tale says your hair should be ‘squeaky clean’..FALSE!

10. When I had a sew-in I tried to blend my hair with the extensions and damaged the heck out of my hair beyond repair from the heat. That happened on 2012 and I am still trying to grow it out!

Tag…You’re It!

Share a few of your hair confessions below and keep the cycle going!

May 24, 2014 by Marisa.P

Hair 101

It’s Not A Secret: Moisturizing vs. Sealing

Licensed psychotherapist, best-selling author, and blogger, Curly Nikki, discusses the difference between moisturizing and sealing natural hair for her Hair Tip Tuesday. This simple and straight forward explanation can come in handy when looking to choose products that work best with your hair.

“What is Moisturizing?

Some synonyms for moisturize are dampen, drench and saturate… words associated with water. Simply put, to moisturize means “to make wet”. Therefore, true moisture comes from either water itself or products that are water-based. You’ll know if your product is water-based if the very first ingredient is good ole H2O. Many leave-in conditioners have this makeup and are great follow-ups to your wash session. Aloe vera juice has also proven to be an effective moisturizer.

p.s. Don’t neglect moisturizing your hair from within by drinking lots of water!

Sealing… What’s That?

Let’s be clear: oils and butters DO NOT moisturize your hair.

These are sealants and which are most effective if used while the hair is slightly damp and/or after applying your leave-in or moisturizer of choice to trap or seal in that moisture. If your hair is prone to dryness and you only apply an oil or butter without having moisturized it first, you’re basically sealing in dryness which does nothing for the health of your hair. Instead of having the elasticity associated with healthy hair, it will continue to be susceptible to breakage when manipulated. Dryness is the top cause of breakage for naturally coily/kinky hair so you’ll wanna make sure that you stay on top of this if you want your hair to thrive.” – Curlynikki.com

Sealing in my hair’s moisture is the best way I retain my hair’s length, health, and shine. My favorite moisturizers are Original Moxie’s Everyday Leave-in Detangling Conditioner and Eden Body Works Coconut Shea Leave In Conditioner. My go to sealing products I love are Shea Butter, Jojoba + Castor Oil mix, and Grapeseed oil.

I am always on the hunt for new products to add to my collection. What products do you use to seal and moisturize your hair?

May 14, 2014 by Marisa.P

Style

New Limited Edition Keds x Kate Spade

The breaking weather has placed me on the hunt for light weight sneaker options like skippers and canvas high tops. I keep telling myself each year I will splurge on a few pairs of Keds in vibrant colors and now that time has come because there are new styles added to the Kate Spade collection! The colors and prints arrived just in time and they are instant mood changers when you look at the designs.

New York Pointer in Floral Pink

Champion Laceless in Geo Navy Red

Champion Laceless in French Navy

Champion Laceless in Maraschino Red

There is one thing you have to love about Kate Spade is her relentless way of keeping style sophisticated and playful. With each Ked sneaker priced at $75.oo there is no way I can let the New York Pointer in Floral Pink slip by me; those are by far my favorite! Go to Keds.com to order yours before they go!

May 2, 2014 by Marisa.P

Reviews, Skin & Beauty

LURK Natural Fragrance Product Review

I enjoyed reviewing the Lurk fragrances and it’s always a good idea to try samples of a perfume before making the initial purchase. In the long run this can save money and time so you won’t have to regret your decision and continue the search for a suitable scent. You can read my previous post for an overview of this amazing natural and sustainable brand here. Lurk has 5 fragrances and each aroma takes you on a different sensory journey. They come in 1/8 oz glass bottles along with a reusable muslin bag (it’s easy to recycle everything, even the packaging it’s shipped in, once you’re finished!). The organic jojoba oil used in the fragrances are domestically sourced by family owned farms with mature trees and have been cultivated for over 30 years. In addition, the fragrances have aromatherapeutic qualities (that explains the quick burst of energy I experienced), are TSA approved so their travel friendly, and has a shelf life of 12 months after opening. Now let’s see what they smell like…

AS 01 I noticed the floral scent right away and it’s due to the sweet rose notes. It has cedarwood, tuberose, and a hint of spice that gives a lively but subtle scent.

Main Notes- Cedarwood (Juniperus virginia), Rose Absolute (Rosa damascena), Black Pepper (Piper nigrum), Tuberose Enﬂeurage (Polyanthus tuberosa) in a base of USDA certiﬁed organic jojoba oil.

RSW 005 This had a powerful strong rose scent. The warm sandalwood, earthy rose with the citrus finish could spring life back into you especially after a workout or during a long dreary day.

Main Notes- Rose Absolute (Rosa damascena) and Sandalwood (Santalum album) in a base of USDA certiﬁed organic jojoba oil.

BS 003 The dry woods mix with citrus notes and sweet bergamot is a balancing act when combined. The fragrance also came across peppery but it was reminiscent of a scent that my friends from African indulge in for celebrations; it’s a cultural reawakening!

Main Notes- Sandalwood (Santalum album), Bergamot (Citrus bergamia), Lemon Peel (Citrus limonum), Black Pepper (Piper nigrum) in a base of USDA certiﬁed organic jojoba oil.

PRJ V1 This is one of my favorites and it has layers of jasmine, rose, and fresh petitgrain which is a bitter orange. The smell is sweet and the jasmine soothes me like a cup of tea!

Main Notes- Petitgrain (Citrus aurantium), Jasmine (Jasmine sambac), Rose Absolute (Rosa damascena) in a base of USDA certiﬁed organic jojoba oil.

TBP V1 Have you ever heard of a floral scent mixed with a black pepper base? Well Lurk does and it’s done well 🙂

Main Notes- Tuberose Enﬂeurage (Polyanthus tuberosa) and Black Pepper (Pipernigrum) in a base of USDA certiﬁed organic jojoba oil.

My all time favorite Lurk fragrances are the RSW 005, PRJ V1, and AS 01. I loved them from the moment I applied it and purchasing these will be a breeze because I know exactly how they smell! Check out the entire site and products at LurkMade.com.

April 28, 2014 by Marisa.P

Style

A Quick Stop into Madewell!

Madewell Philadelphia released loads of new items and as always I had to go inside for a quick, which turns into a long, browse. I just can’t get enough of Madewell’s signature relaxed style that is mixed with feminine coolness but has a rugged tomboy essence. It’s everything I want in my closet this season and here are a few of my favorite items!

Linen Heathered Infield Tee $39.99, Zip Front Terry Slouch Pants $88.00, and The Crisscross Sightseer Sandal $59.50

I did purchase the denim shirt above which was on sale for $29.99. Madewell also has a student discount program where if you show your ID you’ll receive 15% off of your total purchase. I paid as little as $17 for a well needed shirt; oh the perks of shopping at your favorite store.

Photo Credit: Anthony Jamill James of www.Ajsculture.com

April 24, 2014 by Marisa.P

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