My LHCF One Year "Hairaversary"

It has been too long since I've posted! The wedding is over and it was beautiful. I will post some pics later...

In the meantime, I celebrated my 1 Year Hairaversary with LHCF. One year ago on December 27 I began my healthy hair care journey. Thankfully I haven't had too many setbacks (just not getting as much length as I'd hope). It has been a wonderful journey and I look forward to it in the next year. I hope to full APL (armpit length) and well on my way to BSL (brastrap length) by this time next year. I will begin to post more on my New Year Hair Resolutions and what I decide to do about my regimen (if I decide to tweak it).

Enjoy some pics of my hair progress over the past year!

Will Return Soon...

I'm so sorry my lovelies that I've been M.I.A. for 2 months...my how the time flies!

I'm planning my cousin's wedding, which commences on December 20. After that time, I will officially have my life back (unless I'm in jail cuz someone from the wedding party has come up missing LOL). I will start posting regularly then.

Stay tuned because December 27 is my LHCF 1-year anniversary and you do not want to miss my progress pics comparing where I started to where I am now!

Haute & Hair: Recommitment to Hair Care Regimen

Ok so I have a confession to make...I slacked majorly on my hair care regimen this last 9 weeks. No vitamins, no MN, more heat than I've used in 6 months, etc.

But I'm back on the bandwagon. Especially after I got my relaxer last week. Yes my hair did grow, but the middle of my hair is weak. It's soft, strong and relatively healthy, but not quite as long as I had hoped. I didn't retain as much length as I think I would have if I would have continued my regimen.

So I'm back on it ladies and gentlemen...stay tuned for what I hope to be some tremendous results when I get my next relaxer in December!

Haute & Hair: My Vitamins

As part of my hair care regimen, I take a buttload of vitamins. There are mixed reviews about growth aids, including vitamins, but for me, it has worked wonders. I didn't get as much growth this 9 weeks because I didn't take vitamins this time, nor used my growth aids (more on that in a future post). I unknowingly conducted my own experiment to see if vitamains really work for me. So I thought I'd share what I take and how it is supposed to help aid hair growth and retention. I loosely based my vitamin regimen on a regimen I found on Motown Girl's site.

• Super B Complex (Spring Valley): Promotes growth and good muscle tone. Necessary for good vision, skin, hair, nails. Creates and helps maintain healthy skin. Improves circulation. May help restore gray hair to original color. Helps maintain proper balance of sodium and phosphorus in body.
• Chlorofresh Chlorophyll (Nature's Way), 200 mg: Internal deodorant
• Women's One Daily (Equate): multivitamin for overall health
• Folic Acid (Spring Valley), 1600 mcg: helps prevent heart attacks when taken with B6 and B12. Essential for growth and regrowth of all body cells.
• Vitamin C (Spring Valley), 1000 mg: A natural antihistamine. Essential for healthy teeth, gums and bones. Aids in absorption of iron. Major antioxidant nutrient.
• MSM (Spring Valley), 1000 mg: Reduces and prevent hair fall out. Extends growth stage of hair.
• Biotin (Rexall), 5000 mcg: Aids in the utilization of Folic Acid, Pantothenic Acid and B12. Promotes healthy hair.
• Conjugated Linolic Acid (Nature Made), 500 mg: Reduces abdominal fat.
• L-Lysine (Spring Valley), 500 mg: Helps form collagen. Reduces bloodshot eyes. Insures adequate absorption of calcium.

I have had no adverse reactions to taking this many vitamins. But other than that, it's been smooth sailing. Clearly I advise that you consult a doctor before you start any type of vitamin regimen, especially one this serious.

When I first started my vitamin regimen, I had a problem remembering to take them. I would remember at odd times and odd places. And I got tired of taking 12 bottles around with me...LOL. So I went to the drugstore and invested in a pill carrier. I have the one below. It just holds all the vitamins I carry. I really can't add another one...LOL

Using this has enabled me to take my vitamins after a meal wherever I am: work, restaurant, home, etc. For me that has been the key to sticking to my vitamin regimen.

I restocked my vitamin carrier yesterday and am restarting this part of my regimen.

Haute & Hair: Are you Flippin' Serious...Beyonce AGAIN?!?!?!

Ok, so clearly Essence didn't read my open letter to them a couple of weeks ago...*sigh*

I have no words other than to say that I'm officially and totally DONE with Essence. Even if I do like some of their magazine articles, clothes or hairstyles, I can no longer take their total and complete LACK of creativity.

It saddens me to the core of my being that I no longer feel compelled to support what was once a cutting edge magazine for black women.

If you feel similarly, I urge you to write Essence.

Haute & Hair: Be the Change

This weekend was pretty interesting at work. My state, North Carolina, is a battleground state in the elections and the National Democratic Party have really been sending quite a few resources as well as people to our state. Obama has been here quite a few times, and has been on the campus of my alma mater and place of employment, East Carolina University.

This weekend, three celebrities came on campus to encourage students and the community to register and vote. Friday, it began with Journee Smollett from The Great Debaters. First, let me tell you she is BEAU-TI-FUL and SKIN-TY!!!! LOL

And her hair is hot too (as you can tell). There was a DJ and she came in dancing...she was bright, funny and charming.

Sunday, Ellen Pompeo from Grey's Anatomy and the daughter on CBS's Shark came (I don't feel like googling to find her name...lol). So I must say that I feel like my BSP (Black Star Power) has risen a point or two...LMBO!

Anyway, it's 2:34 AM and I'm really supposed to be tying these dang boxes for the fashion show on Tuesday. What fashion show do you ask? Well I'm on the Board of Directors for our local domestic violence program and our signature event is a fashion show. Our theme this year is "Sassy in the City" (guess what movie was the inspiration for that theme????).

Anyhoo I'm gonna wrap a few more boxes, then I'm turning it in. I'll just wrap more at work tomorrow...oops, did I say that?!?! LOL

Haute & Hair: My Hair Growth Progress

The picture charts my hair growth since embarking on this journey in December, 2007. I'm glad I updated this because i was beginning to get discouraged. I am trying to reach Armpit Length (APL) by the end of the year, but unless I go for the spinster librarian look, I don't think that's going to happen. But after updating my signature pics, I can see a noticeable difference in the strength, texture and length of my hair.

Over the coming days and weeks, I will begin to break down my reggie (short for regimen) and give you some things that have worked for me along the way.

Stay Tuned!!!!

Haute & Hair: My Hair Care Regimen

• Wash weekly (usually at salon)
• DC every wash
• Co-wash 1-3x a week (at home)
• Rollerset 3-4x a week (I can't stand rollersets when they get old...LOL)
• Protective styles (usually phony ponys)
• Baggy (under phone ponys)
• Relax every 9 weeks (may eventually stretch to 10 or 12)
• Vitamins: biotin, MSM, b-complex, folic acid, women's multi, l-lysiene
• Minimal heat (usually just hooded dryer)
• MN mixture

Over the coming days and weeks, I will go into more depth regarding my regimen and how it's helped me to dramatically change the texture and length of my hair. Feel free to ask questions along the way and let me know your stories and trips too!

Haute & Hair: Makeup Site of the Day

Found this on LHCF...I love her looks! Eva is definitely a diva of makeup! She not only offers wonderful makeup tips and looks, but other beauty and fashion tips. A well rounded site...

Her portfolio is diverse and beautiful...Please be sure to check her site out.

Hairstyle of the Day

I love this set!

To me it's a universal do...

You can wear it

casually with jeans

professionally for work

socially for date nights or evening attire

• Best thing obviously is the fact that it is a low-heat (hood dryer), low-manipulation hairstyle. This is also a great do many weeks post relaxer.

Pallette for Loreal H.i.P. Shadows

Saw this from one of my new followers...

Placed an order...can't wait till it arrives...It will be much easier to travel with and store my H.i.P. shadows this way!

It can be purchased here. I will post pics when I get it and dismantle my H.i.P. shadows...yay!

Hairstyle of the Day

I adore this hairstyle! Of course I'm a huge Angela Bassett fan anyway. I think this is a great style to rock as your rollerset begins to fall and "get old." I think you pretty much finger comb this into the style (for those who are doing a low-manipulation regimen), with maybe some light brushing for smoothness.

This is a great evening look, or if you're going for a sexy librarian look...I love those!

Product Review: Intimately Her by Victoria Beckham

My blogger BFF recently posted about Victoria Beckham's new perfume, Intimately Her.

I must admit I have a love/hate relationship with Vikki. I love her style most of the time, but hate that she's so doggone slim...LOL.

I had heard that she was coming out with a perfume, but I figured with her high-priced taste it would only be sold in Bergdorf's or such. So I didn't really pay any attention until I read the blog post. So I stopped by to smell the new scent at my local Walgreens. It was very musky and seductive. There was a hint of flowers, a hint of sandalwood, a hint of musk...all depends on which spot it was on and which angle you sniffed. At first, I was a bit apprehensive because I'm the consummate clean and citrusy scent gal. So I only bought the .99 trial size.

The next morning I put it on and can I tell you that it immediately increased my personal sex appeal. All day long people were telling me how good I smelled, especially men. I work at a college, so this may not be the best scent to wear around college boys...LOL

But this is definitely going in my bag for my weekend for my S.O. This is so the date-night scent.

Open Letter to Essence Magazine

I originally wrote this letter on August 8, 2006 on Myspace. After seeing the 3rd year in a row with MoNique on the cover, I am sad to say that it's still appropriate.

Dear Essence,

I have been an avid reader of your magazine since I was a young teenager. The covers with Iman, Beverly Johnson, Oprah and other notable and beautiful woman often caused me to shut myself in my room to devour the entire issue from cover to cover. Although I have an abundance of female guidance from my grandmother, mother, aunts and cousins, I learned a lot about fashion, makeup, hair and other things from Essence.

This is why it grieves my heart to have to tell you that Essence is seriously slipping in choice of cover models. Yet ANOTHER Monique Cover for 2008!?!?!?!. Two years ago in 2006, you had her on the cover twice in less than 8 months. Trust me, your readers' memories are not that short. And I bet good money that you will have Bey on the cover since her album drops in November. Yes I know with her new album coming out, B is hot. However, she is not the only celebrity out there.

I feel that you are intentionally alienating the more mature and culturally diverse demographic of your magazine. Those of us age 30 and older have more diverse tastes than just Monique, Mary J. Blige (although I love her) and Beyonce. You barely acknowledge artists like India.Arie, Jaguar Wright, Wayna, Corrine Bailey Rae, etc. These most talented artists will never move into the mainstream unless they are acknowledged by magazines such as Essence. And let's not even get me started on your choice of actresses. I really need for Mikki Taylor and those who choose the covers to broaden their view, scope and thus portrayal of women of color. Please get your heads out of the sand and out of People, Us and the Enquirer and look for artists and celebrities that truly and accurately represent the vast Diaspora of the African American culture. Because to be quite frank, Beyonce does not represent me.

Now I would never criticize you without giving you alternatives, so in addition to the artists I named above, here are some others:

• Angela Bassett
• The star of the Broadway Color Purple (I'm not sure of her name)
• The ORIGINAL Dreamgirls with the current people TRYING to portray them (and have "Beyonce and them" give homage to them)
• The Original Divas: Lena Horne, Dihann Carroll, Nancy Wilson, etc.
• Patti Labelle
• Where are they now (Regina Belle, Allison Williams, Angela Winbush, etc.)
• Selita Eubanks
• Halle Berry (I'm not sure how many she's been on, but it hasn't been alot)

I would prefer if Essence was a trend setter and not a trend follower. And with the proliferation of a very limited number of celebrities (akin to mainstream media), you are just following the pack. Come on Essence, people in publishing are supposed to be creative...so let's get those juices flowing and come up with some other cover choices!!!!!!!!!!

Model in a Bottle

My blogger BFF, Kim, turned me on to this product about 2 and a half years ago after seeing it on Tyra.

Prior to that time, I have always complained of my "nose shining" and my makeup just looking unkept and not fresh by mid-day. I've tried everything from blot papers to powders. All provided temporary relief, but I was having to use them throughout the day. I wanted something that could keep my face "just applied fresh" all day long.

So I purchased Model in a Bottle and have been a loyal fan ever since. I even bought it for all of my girlfriends for Christmas.

I spray my face twice, before I apply makeup and very lightly after. My makeup stays put all day long. I don't have to blot, powder, re-apply anything (except for gloss).

This is one of my staple products...I do recommend for all us "shiny" girls....

Don't Believe the Hype!!!!

Ok, I love, love, love Scandalous Beauty. She pretty much reignited my love of makeup and beauty products. But I have to respectfully disagree with her on her latest post on Essence.com.

Actually, I do love Essence.com's hair gallery...in fact it's bookmarked on the side. However, they are somewhat insulting my intelligence with their autumn hair guide, which is just recycled pictures from past seasons or hair guides. IMO, it's hype. But that's because I have my own issues with Essence in general as of late (but that's a separate post).

Speaking of hype, everyone is going ga-ga over Rhianna's hair. Um, hate to burst the bubble of those who think she is a style icon, but does this look familiar??? Just more proof that style and fashion is cyclical. So please ladies, let's not get short-term memory and think that people like Rhianna and Beyonce are doing something new and thus are trendsetters.

This is why I am a proponent of everyone creating their own style because you even celebrities don't develop their own style and copy other looks.

Create your own hype....

What's In My Setting Lotion Bottle

Here's what's in my setting lotion bottle:

• Distilled Water

Lacio Lacio

• Silk Amino Acid


• Olive Oil (about a tablespoon)

After using this concoction, I usually do not have to add any other products to my hair (no moisturizer or oil or anything). Below are a couple of examples of my rollersets as a result of using this.

Rolling Over Puffy eyes

While stuck in a parking garage for an hour waiting to leave a football game, I started reading an issue of Elle (I don't know what month it was since I'm sooooooooooooo behind in magazine reading. In this issue there was an article talking about the use of caffeine and metal in eye products. Because it's Elle, they had 2 expensive products, but one that was reasonably priced was Garnier Nutrioniste's Skin Renew Anti-Puff Eye Roller.

Here is some info about it from Garnier (courtesy of Walgreens):

• Nutrition + Dermatology
• Caffeine
• Pro-Vitamin B5
• Eye roll-on gentle eye massage
• Decongests puffiness
• Diminishes dark circles
• Roll away under-eye puffiness and dark circles for renewed, refreshed eyes

Is it right for me?

• While you sleep, circulation slows down and causes fluids to collect in your lower eye area.
• Dark circles and puffiness appear.
• Skin Renew anti-puff eye roller is right for you if you want to gently stimulate micro-circulation around skin's delicate eye area to decongest excess fluid for diminished dark circles and puffiness.

How is it different?

• Garnier Nutritioniste Skin Renew is our 1st anti-puff eye roller that uses a unique combination of skin-nutrients - Ingredient complexes developed exclusively by Garnier to work on skin's outer layer - and a cooling, roll-on applicator to stimulate micro-circulation.
  It's ideal for a hygienic application in the sensitive eye area and convenient for use on-the-go.

Skin-Nutrient Facts:

• Caffeine - Decongests puffiness & diminishes dark circles
• Pro-Vitamin B5 - Refreshes & hydrates the delicate eye area
• Clinically tested and reviewed by dermatologists and nutritionists

So that night I went out to purchase. Used it that night during my night-time reggie. Used it again in the moring (I was up late that night as well). It definitely helped my under eye area looked refreshed and renewed (after being up so late). I don't have as much puffiness as I do dark circles. It didn't immediately diminish those, but it did just make my under eye area look smoother and minimized the fine lines. It helped the concealer go on much smoother and I actually didn't have to use as much.

I do use this in tandem with my Olay Age Defying Revitalizing Eye Gel. My eyes look better than they have in a very long time! I'm not sure if this will be a staple product, but I'm not sorry I bought it and would definitely use it again!

Michelle Obama's Hair...

I can't believe I haven't commented on this yet...I'm slipping! LOL

Michelle Obama's hair during her speech at the DNC was FIERCE!!! I mean the slightest turn of her head and I swear I heard, "SWOOSH, SWOOSH, SWOOSH!" Healthy, shiny, body, life, movement, etc. can all be words to accurately describe her hair.



I of course am huge fan of per personally, stylistically and hair-ily (yeah, I just made up that word...LOL).

But when I found out she was natural, I nearly lost it (The article link is below)!!! So of course I had to try it on my relaxed tresses to see if the process actually worked.

Ladies, let me tell you...it worked for me!!! And at the time I did it I was 5 weeks post.

Here's what I did:

Co-washed with Motions CPR Protein Conditioner and Alberto VO5 Volume Conditioner

Steam Treatment with Motions CPR Protein Condition

Dime-size of Lacio Lacio and Chi Silk Reconstructor (adjust based on hair length--a very small amount)

I'm going to give you two ways to do the rest of the styling process: a High-Heat Method and a Low-Heat Method

High Heat

• Hood Dry for 10 minutes
• Section hair in 4 parts (front to back and ear to ear)
• Blow dry on low with paddle brush and regular ol' dryer
• Keep hair sectioned or resection
• Flat iron in approximately 1" x 1/2" sections (in other words, not too big). I usually start from the back and work forwards
• Use 1" or larger curling iron to curl hair all over (adjust size of iron by hair length especially the crown for heighth and body)
• Wrap hair
• Cover hair in saran wrap
• Hair dryer for 5-10 minutes ( I recommend 5 so that the curls are still there)
• Comb down and style as usual

Low Heat

• Section Hair in mo-hawk style for rollersetting
• Roll hair using setting lotion (I will post what's in my setting lotion bottle momentarily) and the "roll, roll, pull" method (to ensure maximum stretch of any new growth). I'd suggest using the largest roller that your hair will allow(based on its length), especially in the crown. I think I could use this size. Look on You-tube for Rollersetting Tutorials, or better yet, purchase Machiere's!!!!!
• Air or hood dry
• Remove rollers
• Wrap Hair
• Cover in plastic wrap
• Hair dryer for 5-10 minutes ( I recommend 5 so that the curls are still there)
• Comb down and style as usual

I used the High-Heat Method (a major no-no for me since I'm growing it out) and here's how it came out...

You can read the article on Michelle's hair here:

I Love This Cover!

This is one of the hottest covers...

I am a feather fanatic and I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE THIS!!! The makeup, the glamour and of course the sister-girl!!!!!

If you don't have this, buy it for the cover alone!

Article from A Life of Style

Great tip from my blogger BFF, at A Life of Style

A Life of Style: Personal Cards

A few weeks ago my friend met a guy while she was in Barnes & Noble. They had a really nice chat and when it came time to exchange phone numbers, she ripped a half sheet of paper from her notebook to write her name and number on. She was excited to get to know him better and was sure he would call within a day or two.

Well he didn't make the first call, she had to call him. He informed her that he was glad she called because he misplaced the paper her number was written on. I told her if she had some cute personal cards like yours truly...he probably wouldn't have lost her number.

Do you know how much random paper you can collect in a day???? Do yourself a favor and make some eye catching personal cards. I only use my business cards for professional events. I never feel comfortable giving a potential suitor my work information right in the beginning.
This is where a personal card comes in handy.

I just have mine printed with my first name, mobile number, and email address. If the guy turns out to be a dud or worse (a stalker), I can easily block his email address and phone number.

**The sample shown was created at VistaPrint.

I Love Your Blog!!!

Big thanks to one of my BFFs Kim of A Life of Style for naming me as one of the blogs she loves. Thanks Kim!!!!!

A Life of Style is a super blog for women serious creating a life of style...whatever that style is.

Here's a list of blogs I read (no where close to the entire list):

• A Life of Style
• The Trendy Socialite
• Erica Bunker
• Scandalous Beauty
• A Girl Can MAC
• Healthy Textures
• Mane and Chic
• The Coarse Hair Diaries
• Miss Celie's Pants
• I Like Her Style
• Sew, Sew Cute...OES Diva's Sewing World

Here are the rules:

1. The nominated is allowed to put this picture on their blogs.
2. Link to the person who hearted you.
3. Nominate at least 7 other people and link to them.
4. Leave a message on those people's blog to make them aware that they're nominated.

The Best $2-3 You Will Spend on Hair Care

I sleep wild...very wild!!!! All over the bed; under the cover, on top of cover....I'm never quite sure how I will wake up the next day. Needless to say, this is problematic for me while trying to protect and hide my hair. Because after a night of wild sleeping I wake up with my hair on top of my head and uncovered. I've tried every type of product known to man, so of course of I was skeptical when this product was recommended on LHCF.

I purchased it at Wal-Mart a few days ago. And can I tell you that I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! For the first time I have found a head cover that stays on all night. Through tossing and turning, flipping and flopping...it stays completely on.

If you purchase this and it doesn't work, you clearly sleep wilder than I do (if that is possible). You might want to get that checked...LOL

The only CON I see with this product...it's a head cover! It's hard to be cute (when going to bed with your DH or SO) when wearing most any head covering, especially one that is meant to protect as opposed to one for fashion. But if that's the only thing that I can find wrong with it, then I'll suffer through it...

I truly believe this is the best $2-3 you can ever spend on hair care...I don't think you will be sorry!

In My Lifetime...

My parents remember where they were when Kennedy was assassinated.

They and others remember what they were doing when they heard the news that Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated.

For the first time in my life, I have one of those memories. In a few years, I will be able to tell my children and (many, many years later) grandchildren where I was when the first black man received the Democratic nomination for the President of the United States!!!!!

Granted, it's not the most romantic of locations. I'm sitting at my desk at work eating chilli-cheese fries and drinking Sunkist....LOL. But the moment is mine and it's still powerful.
I'm emotional, proud, nervous, excited, expectant and about a thousand other emotions over the next few months and the future of our country. It's an exciting time to be an American and an even more exciting time to be an African American!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OBAMA '08!!!!!!!!!!!!

You Smell So Good!!!!!

Wanna know how you can hear this phrase well into the day? Follow these tips for layering your scent and you won't be disappointed (thanks Bublin on LHCF!!!!!).

*Tip: Purchase the most expensive fragrance you can afford. Purchase it in a gift set if you can (which will come with body spray and lotion hopefully).

1. Shower/bathe yourself and then dry off as usual.
2. Spray the body spray on all over
3. Spray the eau de toilette all over
4. Spray the eau de Parfum on pulse points
5. Use the matching body lotion

Putting the lotion on last seals in the fragrance. Let me know how it works for you!

*Please be careful if you have any skin allergies*

RE: 5 Minute Face Challenge

My interpretation of the 5 Minute face

Simply Fascinating Hair Candy

My latest obsession...making flowers for my hair!!!! Hair candy at it's best

Touching Up Makeup Mid-day

Tutorial on taking your face from flawed to flawless...

Beauty, Brushes and Bins

My latest haul during the BOGO sale at Walgreen's, my new brushes and new makeup storage in my teeny, weeny bathroom...LOL

Answer to Scandalous Beauty's Here Comes the Bride...

Here is a video I made in answer to Scandalous Beauty's "Here Comes the Bride" video...hope this has some good tips for you!

Friday's Phony Pony

Today's Protective Style

This is what I'm rocking today...

Products used:
Aloe vera gel, Stay-Sof-Pro (on edges only), MN mix

Method:
Apply aloe vera gel and afrosheen and slick hair back using boar bristle brush. Secure with hair tie. Tie edges down with scarf while dressing (about 30 minutes to an hour). Place bun and secure with hair pins. Remove scarf and dash out the door...