Naturally Obsessed

Product Description:  Now Foods Castor Oil is expeller-pressed from the seed of Ricinus communis, and is virtually tasteless and odorless. While it has become synonymous with many other areas of wellness, Now Foods Castor Oil is considered by many to be one of the finest natural skin emollients available today. Now Foods Castor Oil is 100% pure and suitable for internal and external use.  Gently cleanses inside and out.

Ingredients:  100% Pure, Guaranteed. Expeller-pressed and Hexane-free.

Cost:  $5.82 for 16oz. bottle from LuckyVitamin.com

My Thoughts:  I've read and watched so many reviews on Castor Oil that during a recent "PJ" attack I gave in and purchased a bottle.  There are many uses for this oil such as fighting acne, constipation, menstrual disorders, etc.  But I of course was more curious to see what benefits Castor Oil would give to my hair.  It's been said that when used on a regular basis Castor Oil works to repair and prevent damage and can hide the appearance of damage while improving your hair's health.  Which leads to thicker, fuller hair over time.  Castor oil seals in moisture and leaves the hair feeling soft and silky.

I've only used this oil twice, but I already LOVE it!!  The consistency is more like a serum than an oil and its thick, but not at all sticky.  The smell isn't the greatest, but is not too overwhelming and doesn't linger.  I used it to give a my scalp a much need massage and to set my braids for a braid out.  When I was braiding my hair I was thinking that it may leave my hair a bit greasy, but that wasn't the case.  Once dry my hair felt very soft and moisturized.  I'll definitely be re-purchasing this amazing oil!

To read some intersting articles on the many uses for Castor Oil click here and here.

Have you tried Castor Oil for your hair?!? Share your thoughts!!

Solange Knowles, her TWA and big sis were spotted in New York City at The Eldridge.  Apparently Solange is quite the DJ, she had Bey and Jay as well as other party goers up and grooving to the music.  The proceeds from this event went towards Wyclef Jean's Yele Haiti Organization.  I LOVE this look on her :-)

Source: JustJared.com

Grace sent tongue's wagging when she appeared in Trey Songz's video, but not just for her beauty.  Her hair is GORGEOUS!!  I'm pretty sure she's rocking a wash and go throughout the vid, but since my shrinkage is a beast I knew that wouldn't work for me.  So while I was still rocking my braid-out I figured I'd take advantage of the elongation and go for it.  Armed with some bobby pins, I gathered my bang into a hump and pinned it down.  Next I pinned the sides towards the middle, keeping it in line with the front portion. And that's it!.  I could have slicked my edges down with some gel, but I didn't really think that was necessary for me.  And looking at her photo now I could have gone bigger with the hump...Maybe next time.

To see more pics of Grace click here.

To see how I achieved this braid out click here.

The daughter of a Nigerian father and a German mother, Nneka Egbuna was born in Warri, Oil City in the Delta region of Nigeria at the height of its new found wealth in the mid 70s.

For 19 years she soaked up the sounds and rhythms of one of the most musical nations on the planet, a country where expressing yourself through song is just a part of everyday life, a country that has music in its very DNA, where the influence of giants like Afrobeat revolutionary Fela Kuti is never far away.

But at the age of 19 this modest and hard-working young girl made the big decision to leave behind the African way of life. To further her education, she moved to Northern Europe, in the industrial seaport of Hamburg in Germany. For Nneka, it was a dramatic change, and there remains an intangible quality in her voice that speaks of being a long way from home.

Wikipedia says:

Even though Nneka sings more than raps, she names hip hop as her primary musical root and most important source of inspiration, while citing artists such as Fela Kuti and Bob Marley as well as contemporary rappers Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Mobb Deep and Lauryn Hill as key influences in her own pursuit of musical recognition.

Her lyrics reflect much of her history and life in Nigeria as well as her time spent in Western Europe. Her songs stress the issues of capitalism, poverty and war and are often loaded with moral and biblical messages and references, with some music commentators comparing her to Erykah Badu, Neneh Cherry and Floetry.

Source: NnekaWorld.com

R&B/ Pop singer Kelis used to be adored by many for her bold and daring style.  Key words: used to be!  Lately Kelis has been spotted looking far more shabby than chic.  Everything from the dusty color to the Rapunzel  like mullet cut is just wrong.  I don't know who did this to you, but they ought to be fired and find a new profession cause this ain't it!

And here the Kelis we all fell in love with...

..."We fall down but we get up"....maybe not.

Last week after treating my hair to an awesome deep condition (Coconut Oil, AO Honeysuckle Rose & Giovanni Smooth as Silk Conditioner) treatment, tried and without much thought I threw some medium sized braids in.  I wore the braids in an up-do for about 4 days and on Sunday night I took them down in preparation for a co-wash on Monday.  Halfway through unraveling them I caught a glimpse of my hair in my living room mirror and said to myself "That's HOT"!  No way was I gonna be washing this out.  When braiding my hair for a braid-out I usually do bigger braids for a wavier look, but I love the added definition that the smaller braids create.  My hair is bouncy and full just how I like it!!  I'll probably keep it like this until Thursday, it will be huge by then...lol.

Braids...

Twist Out on Sunday night...

Monday morning...

To braid my hair I used Vatika Oil and my favorite rinse out cconditioner turned leave in, Nubian Heritage Coconut & Papaya.   To moisturize through out the week I'll moisturize my hair and smooth my edges with Safi Avocado Shea Butter.  At night I simply cover with a satin bonnet and fluff in the morning.

Instead of running back to my teeny weeny twists, I decided to try something new.  I've seen 3 strand twists before, but only the finished product, never could find a good tutorial on YouTube until I came across a demo by Chiselle Couture.  She made it seem sooo easy that I quickly pulled out a section of hair and began practicing.  After 1 or 2 ...ok maybe 10 tries I had it locked down, and couldn't wait to do my whole head. 

I co-washed my hair and sectioned my hair into 4 parts.  Applied Vatika Oil and Bee Mine Curly Butter, then began twisting one section at a time.  With one out of 4 sections done I was ready to call it quits.  I had to start over so many times, because my hands kept getting confused by the 3 strands and braiding instead of twisting.   But I was not about to let this style defeat me, so I continued on my journey to 3 stranded bliss.  Hours later ( I lost count) I was finished.  Since I don't like to wear my wet twist down, I grabbed some bobby pins and pulled it up.  Here's some pics....

Likes: Great alternative to regular twists and since I used 3 strands instead of 2 it kept my hair frizz-less longer.

No Likey: The twist-out was a disaster.  Next time I'll use a little bit more product for extra hold.  Not sure when that time will be, but I'll keep you guys posted.

Teyana brings the heat in these shots from her Kontrol magazine cover shoot.  Still not sure if these are really her curls or not, but I still love them and she rocks them well!!!! 

...And I'm off to do some crunches...lol!!

Pictures via Twitter

AssociatedContent.com is packed with interesting articles that always seem to make me say "Hmmm".  You can find an article on just about anything if you look hard enough.  Today I came across and article by Shaundra Williams, a former stylist and consumer educator, titled "The Golden Rule For African American Hair Growth".  In the article she breaks down some hair growth myths, bad ingredients and gives product suggestions.  Now I know that all rules are not for everybody and that everyone's hair is different, but I feel that we can all learn from each other.  Will these rules guarantee insane amounts of growth?  It may and it may not, but for hair to grow long and healthy you must understand basic do's and do nots...

Here are some of the highlights....

On Moisture:  "You must deep condition Black hair, at least once per week for it to thrive. A conditioner is nothing more than a cream that is applied to the hair to smooth the cuticle, soften the hair, add sheen, and restore moisture. Although conditioning your hair cannot make it grow---it can reduce shedding and breakage. As a result, your hair will actually become longer".

On Shampoo:  "As an African American you must protect against dry hair, but you also have to protect against an unhealthy, clogged, and dirty scalp. You need to wash your hair at least once per week. However, you cannot do this with cheap shampoos or high priced shampoos that contain the same harmful ingredients as the low priced, disguised under better brand labels".

On No-No Ingredients:  "Do not purchase cheap products with hair stripping ingredients, such as sulfates, alcohols, glycols, and silicones (any ingredient ending in the word "cone"). This eliminates about 96% of black hair care products available on the market".

To read the entire article and for the author's contact info click here.

Cyber cruising through YouTube I found some cool vids on how to get the Janelle Monae look.  Its funky and easy and can work for all hair types, loose curls or locs.  The videos are posted below.  Make sure you rate, comment, and subscribe to their channels...Lots of good stuff there.  Enjoy :-)

KarLeo82

BronzeGodess01

I think I may be trying this.....

Most of you have already seen my GVP review on Youtube, so I thought I'd just post the pics here so you guys could see them close up.  I reviewed GVP's imitations of Paul Mitchell Lavender Mint Moisturizing Conditioner and Paul Mitchell The Conditioner leave in.  I've had a chance to use both of the products more than once and I like them.  The moisturizing conditioner gives great slip and makes my have feel really soft after using it.  The leave in works good as well, it gave me hold without making my hair feel too crunchy.  The one thing I don't like about these products is the smell.  But you only really smell it when the hair is wet, after it dried I couldn't smell it. 

I purchased mine from a local Sally's Beauty Supply, they were 2 for $10.  If you don't have a Sally's in your area you can click the products in the side widget to find an on-lineretailer.  Next on my "PJ" list is GVP's version of Joico K-Pak!!!

Here's pics of my hair (wet and dry) after using the moisturizing conditioner to co-wash and styling my wash & go with the leave-in and clear eco styler gel.....

To watch my video review and puff tutorial click here!!

Great singer, actress, and dancer, but when I was relaxed Aaliyah was my hair idol.  Whether she wore it curly or bone straight, I wanted her hair.  I can't count how many days I was late to school trying to perfect the side swoop...lol.  She was a beautiful girl with talent to match and just when her career was about to sky rocket she, along with many others, passed away in a tragic accident. 

She is missed but never forgotten.  One of my favorite Aaliyah tracks was from her last album "Aaliyah" titled Those Were The Days.  Below is a video montage of her work set to that song.  Happy 31st Babygirl :-)

When and why did you decide to go natural?

I went natural on November 7, 2009.  Going natural was always something that I wanted to do, but I didn't understand what it took to maintain and keep up with natural hair.  I had a lot of inspiration from my two younger sisters who actually went natural two years prior to my BIG Chop.  Conversations with my about their hair gave me a lot of encouragement along with watching YouTube and hair care forums.

Were your friends and family supoportive of your decision?  If not, how were you able to move forward?

My friends were very supportive of my decision to go natural.  On a few occasions they would send me links of certain websites and books I could read.  The one person that I did get negative feedback from was my boyfriend.  I remember I tried going natural once before and he was right there with me.  I took my extensions out after a year and said "I'm going natural".  At that time I didn't know there were sources available that I could turn to for help with my decision.  So a week later i ran to my hair dresser and told her to perm e pronto, and he (the stylist ) gave me a look of I told so.  When I said I was going natural for the second time I knew he would have something to say.  I finally Bc'ed and he told me, which I thought was funny, "You know I never really liked girls with weaves and perms anyway!"

What is your current hair routine?

My routine is perfect for me; I spritz my hair every morning and every night with a mixture that consists of Giovanni leave in, water, jojoba oil, and a splash of glycerin.  I co-wash and deep condition my hair once a week and even though its winter I do wash & go's on my TWA.  Don't be alarmed it usually dries before I get outside.  That's it for now because my hair is still too short for braid and/or twist outs. 

What are your hair goals?

I just want healthy hair!!

How has your perception of beauty changed since going natural?

It hasn't changed much.  I believe beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

What advice would you give to a new natural?

It's not as hard as you think it is.  Please don't be discouraged because you don't have a looser texture, love your coils and kinks.  Take your time with your hair and when you give it your hair will return the favor ten times over!!! 

For more info about this beauty be sure to follow her on Twitter. 

Grammy Award winning singer/songwriter and hair idol to many Naturally Obsessed lovelies, Corinne Bailey glows as she covers the latest issue of Billboard Magazine.  In the interview Corrine speaks on her debut album and how it's massive success was a total shock to her.  The article also touches a little on how the death of her husband, saxophonist Jason Rae who passed in 2008, will make her next album even more personal and deeper than the first.  Her second album titled "The Sea" is scheduled to hit stores January 26.

To read the full interview click here.

P.S. Corrine also has her own blog, check it out here.

LOL!! Crack is wack!!

P.S. This site is not just dedicated to those who wear their curls loose. If you wear dreads/locs your are more than welcome to participate and tell your stories!! 

Hey KKQ,

My name is Jae C. and I'm a big fan of your videos.  Your hair is FAB :-)  I have been natural for about 2.5 years, but within the last year I just really learned how to take care of my natural hair.  These are pics after I blow dried my hair for the first time in about 7 months.  This mini photoshoot is reflective of me embracing my "Beauti-Fro" lol.

That's all...Take care...Jae

**If you have a hair story you'd like to share or just want to "Show Off" your curls, send a breif story along with 2-3 pictures to kkq1984@yahoo.com.

The twists are out and the curls are back in action!!!  It took me 2 days to take them down, which is not that bad since last time it took me 3 days....Anyhoo, I recorded the take down process for you lovelies to see, but I still have to do some minor editing.  Hopefully I'll have it uploaded and ready to go by tonight or earlier Saturday.

Here's a silly pic to hold you until then :-)

Dear Beauti-fro, Welcome Back!!

Blog loving and showing support!!!  Enjoy :-)

10 Ingredients to Avoid Putting On Your Hair Scandalous Beauty

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Big Hair, Don't Care Its Just Hair

Don't Touch My Natural Head Mahogany Knots

Video: 3 Strand Twists Tutorial Chiselle Couture

Video: Anthony Dickey Of Hair Rules Talking Hair YouTube

Amel Larrieux Beauty Tips Lipstick Alley

Curly Nikki Interviews Sherri Saum The Tyra Show

The Coil Review is back with another naturally fabulous commercial to start the new year.  Packed with humor, fashion and gorgeous hair of all kinds...Can't go wrong with that!!

The Coil Review 2010 New Year's Web Commercial from The Coil Review on Vimeo.

To view The Coil Review re-launch video click here.