It’s no secret the lengths women go to feel beautiful. We get manicures, pedicures, spa treatments, and of course, run to our most trusted hairstylist every two weeks. But for many natural hair women, we are the stylist. We spend hours pre-pooing, detangling, shampooing, conditioning, deep conditioning, moisturizing and sealing- and that’s all before we actually style our hair. I know it may sound tedious and not worth the effort, but the results sooooo make the process worth every second. (plus you get sexy, toned arms in the process!). This leads me to my point. With the natural hair revolution booming, there are so many new trends in the natural hair care world – and I want to share a few!
Today we’re talking about oils!
Argan Oil
Produced from the kernels of the argan tree (native to Morocco), argan oil is highly coveted for its medicinal and nutritious properties. While it’s been said to have restorative and anti-aging effects, argan oil is extraordinarily high in vitamin E and essential fatty acids. Essential fatty acids are necessary for our health and are responsible for the luster in our skin, hair, eyes.
It is used to remedy various skin conditions like acne, psoriasis, eczema, and wrinkles. It also contains phytosterols, which are good for treating scar tissue. Moroccans use it on their skin, hair and nails – some even use it on their babies. (Can we say multipurpose?)
I’ve tried the One ’n Only® Argan Oil Moisture Repair Conditioner and I love it. Remember, every product reacts differently to different hair types. I say, if you’re going to try a hair product with argan oil, be sure to do your research and try it at least 3 times before you decide if it’s for you.
Neem Oil
Neem oil is a vegetable oil pressed from the fruits and seeds of neem, an evergreen tree native to India . It contains vitamin E and strengthens keratin, the main protein component of human hair. In India and Pakistan, it is used for preparing cosmetics like soap, hair products, body hygiene creams, and hand creams.
Neem oil is added to several cosmetic products for its healing characteristics. Antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and moisturizing in nature, Neem oil has been said to relieve dry and itchy scalp, dandruff, the symptoms of scalp psoriasis, as well as encourage growth. It can even help with hair problems like hair loss and premature graying.
Some examples of the Neem in action: A watery extract, similar to tea, is made from neem leaves and is used as a rinse to prevent hair loss. Neem leaf pastes are used like conditioning treatments to soothe irritation, prevent dryness and flaking, nourish the scalp and improve its general immunity and health. It can even be used to kill lice.
Hempseed oil is pressed from the seed of the hemp (cannabis) plant. Refined hempseed oil is primarily used in body care products. The oil is highly nutritious because of its 3:1 ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 essential fatty acids, which matches the balance required by the human body. It also contains vitamin E, phytosterols and trace minerals and hemp protein is high in amino acids and protein.
Hemp seed oil is used for the effect it has on moisturizing and hydrating the skin. It is a highly nutritious food, and contains anti-oxidants, protein, carotene, phytosterols, phospholipids, as well as several minerals including calcium, magnesium, sulfur, potassium, iron, zinc, and phosphorus (two words - super food). It contains all twenty amino acids, including the nine essential amino acids, and contains vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B6, C, D, and E.
Oils are a great way to moisturize the hair and scalp without clogging the pores. These oils are not only good for the hair, but they’re great for the body. Give ‘em a try and I bet you’ll be glad you did!
I love to read. Anything from magazines, to newspapers, to books, to blogs. I love a variety of topics, fiction and non-fiction, love stories, mysteries, self-help – even cookbooks! (don’t get me started). While I don’t belong to a book club, I do enjoy sharing books I’ve read and loved with others. Whether you’re a 20-year-old college student, a 30-year- old entrepreneur, a 40-year-old stay-at-home mom, or a 50-year-old retiree, if you’re like me and you love to read, I’m sure you’ll appreciate these 3 books I recommend that every woman read.
If you read the New York Times Best Sellers list, watch Oprah, or are a Julia Roberts fan, you’ve heard of this book.Written by seasoned author Elizabeth Gilbert, Eat, Pray, Love chronicles Gilbert’s quest to find herself and God after a horribly messy divorce and destructive rebound relationship. She travels to (I)taly to experience pleasure, (I)ndia to experience devotion to God, and (I)ndonesia (notice a theme here?) to find a balance between the two. If you love stories that inspire, encourage, and entertain, this is the book for you.
This book’s inception came about after veteran marriage counselor Gary Chapman noticed a pattern in the way the clients he counseled expressed their love to one another and interpreted their partners love. The 5 Love Languages effortless teaches readers how to effective communicate your love to your partner based on what their ” love language” is (i.e. words or actions). It also effortlessly helps you to identify your own “love language”. At the end of the book, Chapman even provides you with a quiz for both you and your partner to take to truly identify each other’s love language. If you’re looking for another “How To Make Him Love You” book, well this ain’t it.
This book is the epitome of inspiration. Bestselling Christian author and motivational speaker Joyce Meyer aggressively speaks on confidence from a place of positivity in this book. She approaches her message from several angles, first pointing out that confidence is about focusing positively on the things you can do instead of the things you can’t. She shares seven secrets of confident women, gives a list of women who have overcome trials to become great leaders, and devotes seven chapters to telling how women can remove fear from their lives – and that’s only half of what she does. Whether you believe in God or not, this book is a wonderful tool for any woman who is looking to overcome fear, doubt or confusion, and grow into a woman who believes in herself – a confident woman.
These are just three book of many that I recommend every woman read. If you’ve read any of these books, I’d love to hear from you.
I’m a sucker for a good article post or viral video. I read everything from online newspapers like The Washington Post, to Black news sites like The Root, to journalism blogs like Journalistics, and even beauty blogs like Clumps of Mascara. One thing I have to admit is, I don’t like reading about celebrity drama. I know, I know. As a PR wiz I have to stay up-to-date on the latest celebrity news, but it bothers me having to read about some young celeb getting locked up for drunk driving or possession of weapons and drugs. This leads me to my point (finally). Chris Brown.
Now I know his little Good Morning America faux pasis old news by now, but that’s not what I want to talk about. As I was browsing that web like I do daily, I stumbled across this video of frustrated music lover and video blogger, Jay Smooth, who had some pretty good advice for angry ole’ Breezy. What was his point, you ask? Chris Brown should stop complaining because he really doesn’t have anything to complain about.
Now I must say, I was a huge fan of Chris Brown and his music when he first started out on the R&B scene. After the altercation with his then-girlfriend and fellow entertainer, Rihanna, (which I have to say, I’m not a huge fan of) two years ago, my (like so many others) view of him did change and I found myself liking him a little less.
Side note: I don’t hold celebrities to a lower or higher standard than every day, blue-collar workers. I know celebs and entertainers are human too and are prone to make the same mistakes we make. I also don’t condone women assaulting men. But that’s another blog topic
At any rate, Chris Brown’s behavior is disappointing because he failed to show that he has actually moved on and gained control of his anger. In fact, he has this “I did my time so forget about it and let me do what I want because I’m Chris Brown and I’m getting money” attitude, and it’s not sexy. What’s more disappointing is his PR team. They clearly have failed to give him the help he needs and some solid training on how to conduct himself during uncomfortable interview situations.
I totally agree with Smooth’s points in the video. For someone who didn’t have to face hardly any punishment, other than community service and public outrage (which he deserved), Brown sure doesn’t understand that there have been other entertainers who have been publicly scrutinized for much less and some for nothing at all (Muhammad Ali and Paul Robeson are two public figures that Smooth mentioned in the video). Further, everyone on his management and PR team needs to be slapped and fired for not getting him the help he needs.
If Brown really wants his career to go far in the right direction, he’ll dye his hair back to it’s natural color (please, for the love of Sisqo), fire his team and get some real management (hint, hint), and stop making songs about strippers and his genitalia. It just looks desperate.
Meet Kami. She’s the typical 5-year-old girl who loves to do things normal little girls love to do; except Kami is special.She’s an orphan and she’s HIV positive.
Did I mention she’s a puppet?
Kami is a mustard-colored Muppet character on the South African version of the popular TV program Sesame Street, called Takalani Sesame. In 2002, Takalani Sesame introduced its viewers to Kami in hopes that she and her message would aid in reducing the stigma of HIV/AIDS among South Africans, at the imploring by the South African government.
Note: While I’d like to go deeper into the details about Takalani Sesame and HIV/AIDS in South Africa, this post’s topic is headed in another direction. If you’d like to read more about the aforementioned, click here.
While I applaud Takalani Sesame for its pioneering efforts to demolish the social stigma’s about HIV/AIDS in it’s country, Kami got me thinking,
“Should Sesame Street create a Muppet to address HIV/AIDS in America? What about a homosexual Muppet, or a Muppet with same-sex parents?”
Disclaimer: I want to make it clear that I do not believe that HIV/AIDS is a “homosexual disease”, and I am in no waylinking the two. The topic simply came to me as I was thinking about Kami’s message and how it was relevant to her country’s social issues. Currently, same-same marriage/rights are controversial issues in America, and this prompted me to shift gears on this subject.
I have to confess, when I first read about Kami and watched a few videos, I was disturbed that Sesame Street would create a character to educate 5 and 6-year-olds about HIV/AIDS. At first glance, it seemed almost pointless. But I realized that the culture in South Africa is different than America; over there, children as young as 5 and 6 have to deal with friends and family members who are suffering from being HIV positive. So it does make sense to start educating them about it at an early age.
However, I don’t think that it would do much good to introduce a character like Kami to American children. Here, out children don’t have the same issues with HIV/AIDS. Although the disease is rampant in some areas in the U.S., children young enough to watch Sesame Street aren’t the ones who need a lesson on HIV.
This leads me back to my question. With the rapid growth (or “coming-out”) of same-sex couples, and the legal changes being made for them, I wonder if the big wigs over at Sesame Street will consider creating a 6-year-old Muppet boy who loves to ride bikes and has two dads instead of one. I’m not sure if America is ready for it, but I have to say it may be a positive thing. If the goal is to eliminate bullying (both for children who are bullied because they have same-sex parents, and those who bully others who have same-sex parents), then I think it would be a great idea. The message could also emphasize accepting people who may be different.
While I have my own views on lesbian and gay rights. I’ll save them for another post. Right now, I want your thoughts.
Do you think children who watch Sesame Street are old enough to understand the message that Kami is representing? Do you think Sesame Street should create a character to teach children about same-sex couples?
Everywhere we look, from magazine ads to television commercials, companies inundate us with the latest lotions, creams, balms and butters to help us achieve soft, supple, glowing skin. We all want soft skin, right? Well here are 6StyleFree tips on how you can achieve beautifully glowing, soft skin without breaking the bank.
Tip #1 Drink up like it’s happy hour!
The most important thing not only for great skin, but for a healthier body, is water. Drink as much water as you can daily. Our bodies are made up of roughly 60% water, so when we’re dehydrated the first body part to notify us is the body’s largest organ – our skin! When we have dry skin, it means we’re not drinking enough water (dehydration).
No matter how many topical products you use, if you’re dehydrated nothing will work except water. Makes sense, right? So get those eight glasses a day (at least) and you’ll be on your way to sexy, glowing skin in no time.
Tip #2 Create a moisturizing regimen
It’s very important when moisturizing your skin that you are consistent and follow a regimen. The key to getting and keeping soft skin is to make sure to moisturize frequently and daily, according to your skin’s need. The easiest regimen, I find, is to moisturize after every shower or bath. I also recommend using facial and neck moisturizers every morning and night. (Sidenote: moisturizing your neck can help prevent the infamous and dreadedturkey neck) Lastly, be sure to use the same product for a least a few weeks in order to know if it’s actually working for your skin. Most products don’t work instantly and need weeks to take effect, so keep it consistent and give it time.
Tip#3 Know the skin you’re in
It’s important to know what type of skin you have, so pay attention to it. If you find that you wash your hands often and they tend to dry because of that, make sure you keep your favorite moisturizer handy, so you can apply it directly after washing.
Also, pay attention to soaps you’re using; they could be drying your skin. Make sure you’re not showering too often or in really hot water. This can also cause dry skin by washing away the body’s natural oils.
Tip #4Moisturize from the inside out
Oils like olive oil and Vitamin E can moisturize the body from the inside when ingested. Try drizzling a little olive oil on your salad, cooking with it or (if you’re brave enough) taking a teaspoon shot-style every day. Using olive oil and Vitamin E oil in your hair or hair products (you natural ladies know what I’m talking about), will also help to moisturize your skin.
I also recommend taking a Vitamin E pill (after consulting your doctor first) daily to help keep the skin soft and glowy. Trust me, after a week or so, you’ll definitely notice a healthy glow to your skin. I also break a Vitamin E pill open sometimes and rub the oil directly on my lips for added moisture, although you get the most benefit when you ingest the oil.
Tip #5 Try butters instead of lotions
Lotions tend to consist of mostly water, which is good for the body but better when we drink it versus putting it on our skin. Too much can actually cause dryness.
Instead, try all-natural shea butter. It’s thick, but won’t clog the pores, and when used after a shower it will help to lock in the moisture from the water. It melts easily in the hand, and whips up effortlessly in a blender to make a great homemade lotion! It can also be used on the lips and hair as well. Plus, it’s a natural skin protectant, protecting from the sun’s harmful rays.
Most importantly, it’s much less expensive than those fancy lotions sold in stores. And if you’re a sucker for fragrances (like me) you can easily add your favorite essential oil to it to create the perfect scent.
Tip #6 For soft feet, slather on some jelly!
Petroleum Jelly, that is. Vaseline, is the brand that most of us are familiar with, but if you’re trying to save a few bucks you can opt for a generic version (Equate often makes generic versions of name brand products for much lower prices) and get the same effect. While I don’t recommend you use petroleum jelly on your skin (it clogs the pores), I do recommend it for your feet.
The best time to use it is when you’re ready to go to bed. (1) Coat your feet in a nice, thick layer of the petroleum jelly (2) wrap your jelly-covered feet in plastic wrap (any brand is fine) (3) put your favorite socks on – make sure they fit a snug, otherwise they may slide off during the night and you’ll have a huge mess.
When you wake up in the morning, all or most of the jelly will have been absorbed into the skin. Wipe off the excess and enjoy you’re sexy, soft feet. You can do this as often as you like, even every night. Just be sure to exfoliate your feet regularly.
So there you have it; A few inexpensive and fun options to help you achieve soft, gorgeous skin.
Have you tried any of these tips? Do you have any skin moisturizing advice you’d like to share? Leave a comment below and spread the love.
nutritious properties. While it’s been said to have restorative and anti-aging effects, argan oil is extraordinarily high in vitamin E and essential fatty acids. Essential fatty acids are necessary for our health and are responsible for the luster in our skin, hair, eyes.
Neem oil is added to several cosmetic products for its healing characteristics. Antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and moisturizing in nature, Neem oil has been said to relieve dry and itchy scalp, dandruff, the symptoms of scalp psoriasis, as well as encourage growth. It can even help with hair problems like hair loss and premature graying.
contains vitamin E, phytosterols and trace minerals and hemp protein is high in amino acids and protein.
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