The Mane Ingredient: Dining & Dishing with Naturalistas July 19-20, 2013

I am hosting two dinners for my fellow naturalistas in the Greenville, NC area (my hometown) and Charlotte, NC July 19-20, 2013.

You DO NOT want to miss this intimate opportunity to enjoy good food, fellowship and SWOLE swag bags (smile). I look forward (as always) to connecting with my friends in Greenville, NC and to meeting and making new friends in Charlotte, NC! You can find more information and secure your spot at one of the links below!

Greenville, NC, Friday July 19:

http://maneingredientgreenville.eventbrite.com/

 

Charlotte, NC, Saturday, July 20:

http://maneingredientcharlotte.eventbrite.com/

*~*Itinerary*~*

Arrival and Food Orders*
*Dinner and drinks are NOT included in ticket cost

Curl Talk (and girl talk too)

Group Activities and Raflles*
*must be present to win
Question and Answer

Swag Bag Sponsors Include:

Giveaways

You do not want to miss this intimate time of food, fellowship, raffles, gift bags and networking.

If you have questions, contact Adeea at thetrendysocialite@gmail.com

The 12 Days of a Natural Christmas (Gift Suggestions for the Natural in Your Life)

For the next 12 days (even on Christmas Day!) I will provide you some ideas on gifts you can give the person with natural hair in your life. Most of them will be online vendors, so you will need to order pretty quickly to ensure you receive them before Christmas.


Today's gift suggestion is a holiday giftset from Afiya, LLC. Afiya is an up and coming company owned by Jerilyn Johnson and Ashley Robertson (my soror!).

Afiya was a sponsor of the first meetup I co-hosted with Moni Brodie (of Moni's Haute Boutique). She also sent a couple of products for me to try. I have been hooked ever since!


I haven't tried all of their products, but I am particularly fond of the Essential Hair Oil and the Healthy Hair Butter.

One of my favorite things about this product (in addition to its moisturizing properties) is the smell! My hair smells so good when I use this...and it smells good ALL DAY. I remember one particular instance when I wore it out to an event and a male friend of mine said my hair smelled great! And I had not used the product since applying it that morning.


You can check out my review of the product below.

The 12 Days of a Natural Christmas are my own personal suggestions. Any company I mention is because I like them.

I have been in no way paid or compensated for my opinions or recommendations.

A FROtacular Holiday Affair: A Natural Hair Event

 Food * Fellowship * Giveaways * Swag Bags *

Product Swap * Q & A * Gift Exchange

Join Adeea (The Trendy Socialite) for a natural hair meetup with other ladies from Eastern Carolina. This will be a fun event filled with great food, giveaways, company and LOTS of natural hair talk.
*~*Open to naturals, transitioners and those curious about going natural hair.*~*

 

*~*Holiday Make Up Demonstration*~*

Looking for an easy, yet glamourous makeup look for the holiday season? Join MY fave makeup artist, Rasheeda Waddell, as she gives some tips and tricks for a glamorous, yet simple makeup that will take you through the entire holiday season.

*~*Product Swap*~*

Please bring any gently used products (no less than 1/2 full) that you either no longer use or did not like for a possible exchange for products you either currently use or would like to try. In order to participate in the swap, you have to bring at least 1 product. You will be able to choose “new” products based on the number of products you bring (if you bring 2, you choose 2).

*~*Nail Polish Swap*~*

Please bring gently used (no less than 1/2 full) nail polish that is not clumpy or thick :) that you either no longer use, have duplicates of or did not like for a possible exchange for nail polish you either currently use or would like to try. In order to participate in the swap, you have to bring at least 1 nail polish. You will be able to choose “new” polishes based on the number of polishes you bring (if you bring 2, you choose 2).

*~*Holiday Gift Exchange*~*

We are asking ladies to bring a gift worth at least $5 in order to participate in a gift exchange. The gift should be related to natural hair or beauty related...so the sky is the limit. Combs, brushes, ouchless hair ties, hair accessories, nail polish, lip gloss, eye makeup, etc. You may be surprised at what you can find. Be thoughtful with your purchase and package it nicely (like something you would want to receive).

*~*Sponsors*~*

Goody

I Made It (I.M.I.)

Blue Magic

Nu Skin Soap

*~*VENDORS ON PREMISES*~*

I Made It

Diva Petals

Nu Skin Soap

Spread the word and we look forward to seeing you there!!
Hosted by: Adeea Rogers (TheTrendySocialite)

Email encnhm@gmail.com with questions or for more information!

SULFATE FREE Shampoo List

Thanks to my Nikko's cousins over at LHCF and Dominique at All Things O'Natural for this pretty exhaustive list of SULFATE FREE shampoos. Hope this helps!

Key:

Product is natural, ie. made with whole ingredients, extracts, or is a castile-type soap.

Product has one or more mild cleansers.

Product has non-sulfate cleanser that may be drying.

*No online list of exact ingredients.
# Paraben free.
! Contains silicone.

ABBA True Curls and True Shine #
~NaturallyCurly.com, GoddessWithin; health food stores.

African Black Soap #
~Nasabb; Agbanga Karite.

Alba Botanica
~Life's Vigor, Drugstore.com; health food stores.

Alchemy #
~Adore Beauty (Australia); The Exton (Australia), Purist USA (USA); A'kin (UK).

Aleppo Soap #
~eBay.

Alpenglow Shampoo Bars #
~Alpenglow Skin Care.

Alterna*
~Salons; web beauty suppliers.

Angel Baby Shampoo and Body Wash #
~Kate's Caring Gifts; Earth Mama Angel Baby.

Aubrey Organics #
~Vitamin Shoppe, VitaminLife, health food stores; There Must Be a Better Way (UK); Organics Australia Online (Australia).

Auromere Ayurvedic #!
~Auromere; Life's Vigor; Organics Australia Online (Australia).

Avalon Organic Botanicals # (not all formulas paraben free)
~Life's Vigor; health food stores; Organics Australia Online (Australia).

Azida Hemp Oil Shampoo #
~Azida; VeganEssentials.

Back to Basics Blue Lavender Color Protecting Shampoo*
~Beauty Deals, salon stores; Ulta.
~Partial ingredient list in post #104 of this thread.

Beauty Without Cruelty (non-olefin AND olefin sulfonate formulas)
~Kokopelli's Green Market, Life's Vigor; health food stores.

Blended Beauty Soy Cream Shampoo and Curl Cleansing Conditioner #
~NaturallyCurly CurlMart.

Brocato Cloud 9*
~Monster Hair; other beauty suppliers.

Burt's Bees Baby Bee and Rosemary Mint Bars #
~Balm Works; health food stores.

Burt's Bees Herbal Treatment and Grapefruit & Sugar Beet Shampoos #
~Drugstore.com, Balm Works, Walgreens & CVS; health food stores.

California Baby
~Drugstore.com, Life's Vigor; health food stores.

Carina Organics - Canada #
~Carina Organics.

Carol's Daughter #
~Carol's Daughter.

Chagrin Valley Bars # (my favorite)
~Chagrin Valley Soap and Craft.

Chemistry Store Organic Castile Liquid Soap #
~The Chemistry Store.

Cheryl's Herbs #
~Cheryl's Herbs.

Cornrows & Company Coconut Shampoo and Herbal Deep Cleanse #
~Cornrows & Co.

Creme of Nature
~Walgreens; Walmart.

CWS #
~All Natural Cosmetics.

Desert Essence Daily Replenishing
~House of Nutrition Online, Life's Vigor, Drugstore.com; health food stores.

DevaCurl Low-Poo ! and No-Poo
~NaturallyCurly CurlMart.

DGJ Hair Clinic Hair Juice* - UK (Not all formulas are sulfate-free)
~Waitrose stores.

Dr. Bronner's Pure Castile Soaps#
~Drugstore.com; health food stores.

Dr. Hauschka #
~Essential Day Spa, Skin 1; health food stores.

Dr. Woods # (Castile and no-sulfate formulas).
~Dr. Woods; My VitaNet.
~Ingredients in post #124 of this thread.

Druide Baby Shampoo #
~Kate's Caring Gifts.

Druide Ecological and Organic #
~Kate's Caring Gifts.

Duchy Originals - UK #
~Duchy Originals; UK supermarkets.
~Ingredients in post #125 of this thread.

Dudu-Osum Herbal Shampoo #
~Africa Imports.

Earthly Delight #
~Willner Chemists; Whole Foods.
~Ingredients in post #53 of this thread.

Ebene #
~Ebene Naturals.

Ecco Bella Botanicals
~Life's Vigor, Kokopelli's Green Market; health food stores.

Eco Store - New Zealand #
~Eco Store; Organics Australia Online.

Elucence Moisture Acidifying Shampoo
~NaturallyCurly CurlMart.

Emma Organics Organic Shampoo - Australia #
~Organics Australia Online.

Enjoy*
~Salons; web beauty suppliers.

Evan's Garden #
~Evan's Garden.

Ferlow Botanicals - Canada #
~Ferlow Botanicals.

Florestas Organic Botanical #
~Internatural.

Freeman Pure Color Fresh Shine Shampoo #
~Ulta.com; Rite Aid Drugstores.

Gary Null's Heavenly Hair Cleanser #
~Gary Null, Vitamin Shoppe; health food stores.

Ginesis Shampoo #
~Ginesis.

Giovanni #
~Mountain Rose Herbs, Life's Vigor; health food stores; Organics Australia Online (Australia).

Gourmet Bars and Liquid Black Soap #
~Mia Simone's Boutique.

Graham Webb Daily Strength Strengthening Shampoo
~1st Chair Salon; Ulta.

Green People - UK #
~Mariposa.

Halo Shampoo #
~Anna Bellina Organic Skin Care.

Hamadi Hair Washes #
~Sephora, NaturallyCurly CurlMart.

Haven Scent - Australia #
~Havenscent.

Heartland Natural™ Mint #
~Heartland Products.

Heart of Iowa Soapworks Shampoo Bars #
~Heart of Iowa Soapworks; Prairieland Herbs.

Herbal Choice #
~NaturallyDirect.net; Rubber-Ducky.

Herbon - Australia #
~Eco Shop; Organics Australia Online.

Hope's Shampoo* - Australia
~Planet Blue; Organics Australia Online.

I Dream Body Wash and Shampoo #
~Kate's Caring Gifts.

J/A/S/O/N (Not all formulas are sulfate-free) #!
~Life's Vigor, Willner Chemists; health food stores.

Jessicurl Cleansers #
~Jessicurl; some stores, mostly in CA.

J. R. Liggett's Old Fashioned Bar Shampoo #
~Life's Vigor; health food stores.

Kenya jordana #
~Kenyajordana.

Kettle Care #
~Natural Solutions - Holistic Beauty Body & Bath; Refreshingly Free (both offer samples).

Keyano Aromatics*
~Salons; web beauty suppliers.

Kiss My Face
~Life's Vigor, Kokopelli's Green Market; health food stores.

Koils by Nature shampoos and conditioners
www.koilsbynature.com

Kosmea - Australia #
~The Exton; Organics Australia Online.

Lamas Botanicals (non-olefin AND olefin sulfonate formulas) #! (one formula has 'cones)
~VeganEssentials.

L'ANZA Anti Aging White Tea Shampoo*
~Oasis Place; UK Hairdressers (UK).

LaVida Given By Nature Conditioner and Shampoo Bars
www.lavidagivenbynature.com

Le Savon Populaire Bars - Canada #
~Savon Populaire; stores listed on the website.
~Ingredients in post #84 of this thread.

Living Ecology Royal Organics #
~Living Ecology.
~Ingredients in post #140 of this thread.

Living Nature #
~Natural Solutions - Holistic Beauty Body & Bath; There Must Be a Better Way (UK).

Logona (not all formulas are sulfate-free) #
~Internatural; Natural Solutions - Holistic Beauty Body & Bath.

Logona LavaErde Rhassoul Powder and Pre-Mixed Cleansers #
~Internatural, Natural Solutions - Holistic Beauty Body & Bath, Logona UK; There Must Be A Better Way (UK)

Long Lovely Locks Cleansers #
~LongLovelyLocks (Fragrance-free available on request).
~Ingredients in post #7 of this thread.

Mastey #
~Mastey; beauty supply stores.

Max Green Alchemy Scalp Rescue #
~Max Green Alchemy, Whole Foods; other health food stores.

Melrose - Australia #
~Melrose, The Cruelty Free Shop; Organics Australia Online.

Melvita - France #
~Beauté-test.com; Bio shops.

Miessence #
~All Natural Cosmetics (USA), There Must Be a Better Way (UK); Organics Australia Online (Australia).

MOP Modern Organic Products C-System
~GoddessWithin; Salon Collective (UK).

Morrocco Method #
~Morrocco Method, Natural Solutions - Holistic Beauty Body & Bath; some health food stores.

MyHoneyChild Cleansers #
~MyHoneyChild.

MyUtopia - Australia #
~The Cruelty Free Shop.

Naani # (Castile formulas paraben free)
~Naani.com. (Castile AND no-sulfate versions of each shampoo)

Natural Shop #
~The Natural Shop.

Nature Clean - Canada & US #
~ShopNonToxic.

Nature's Baby #
~VitaNetonline; Internatural.

n-fruizon* #
~n-fruizon; Ulta.

NuHair Volume Maximizing Shampoo #
~Drugstore.com

Onesta #
~Onesta Hair Care.

Organic Children Organic Formula - UK #
~Organic Children; UK supermarkets.
~Ingredients in post #86 of this thread.

Organic Excellence #
~OutletNutrition, MyVitaNet; Natural Solutions - Holistic Beauty Body & Bath.

Organic Selections - Australia #
~Herbal Serenity; Organics Australia Online.

Organikah #
~Organikah.

Organix #!
~Store list.
~Ingredients for the Coconut Milk Shampoo in post #217 of this thread.

Paul Penders #
~VeganEssentials, Life's Vigor; health food stores(?).

PAVES Professional #!
~HairBoutique; Walgreens & Eckerd drugstores.

Prairie Naturals - Canada #
~Q10.ca; health food stores.
~Ingredients in post #69 of this thread.

Pravana*
~Salons; web beauty suppliers.

Pure & Basic
~Internatural.

Pure 'Nuff Stuff - UK #
~There Must Be a Better Way.

Pureology !
~Drugstore.com.

Qhemet Biologics Egyptian Wheatgrass Cleansing Tea #
~Qhemet Biologics.
~Ingredients in post #195 of this thread.

Queen Helene Mint Julep Shampoo With Protein #
~Cosmetic Solutions; Sally Beauty Supply stores.
~Ingredients in post #152 of this thread.

Rainbow Research Organic Herbal, Henna, and Baby ! Shampoos
~Henna by Cynthia(henna shampoo gallons); Life's Vigor.

Real Purity #
~Natural Solutions - Holistic Beauty Body & Bath; Refreshingly Free.

REN* - UK #
~REN Skincare.

Savonnerie Gluten Free #
~VeganEssentials.

Sensibility Hijiki Seaweed/Soymilk #
~Sensibility Soaps.

Shaman Earthly Organics #!
~Life's Vigor; Fresh & Wild (UK)

SheaMoisture Shampoos and Conditioners

www.target.com; www.walgreen.com (both available in store)

ShiKai #! (some formulas)
~Life's Vigor; Kokopelli's Green Market.

Soapnut Washing Powder - UK #
~Soapnut.

Stephen est. 1985 Healthy Hair Cleansers #
~Fashionplanet; Hampton Court.

Sukesha All-Nutrient*
~All-Nutrient; Spiral Haircase.

Terressentials Pure Earth Hair Wash #
~Terressentials; some health food stores.

Trader Joe's Pure Castile #
~Trader Joe's Stores.
~Ingredients in post #100 of this thread.

Ultra Botanicals, MSM #
~GoddessWithin.

Uncle Harry's #
~Uncle Harry's.

Un Jour En Provence #
~Drugstore.com.

Urtekram Pure Balance Shampoos - EU #
~Auravita (UK), Mariposa (UK), Swedish health food stores; Danish stores.
~Ingredients for the Wild Rose Shampoo in post #193 of this thread.

Warm Spirit #
~Warm Spirit.

Young Living AromaSilk #
~Young Living Essential Oils.

Your Crown and Glory #
~Your Crown and Glory.

credit: info found at long hair care forum

Awesome Natural Hair Style

I love the simplicity of this style! It is casual for Saturdays, yet chic for work.

It seems super quick (I haven't tried it yet) and something I recommend to your work hairstyle arsenal.

Hair Style Tutorial (Protective Style)

Sometimes I get inspiration from odd sources. On Easter Sunday two little girls that come to our church had the cutest hairstyles. And I thought to myself, "Self! (my self said, huh?) I think this could be a cute protective style for big girls too!


And here is my version of the 'do which I have named "Her Royal Flyness"

 

I really like this style and it's super easy to do. This is a style that can be worn anytime and anywhere. From running errands on a Saturday afternoon to a formal event like a wedding.

You may view the tutorial here:

One of my subscribers, fanzypants, duplicated the style and added a hump in the front. She was kind enough to send the pictures below. It looks FAB on her!

Great Natural Hair for Maxi Dresses

I love maxi dresses. I do not have enough of them, but I do plan to remedy that in the not so distant future. One of things that I love about most maxis is that they are cool, comfy and appear effortless.

Nicole Richie 26 by Pikagiu featuring metal sunglasses

And that same ease of style should translate to the hair.

For my naturlistas, check out these two tutorials by two of my favorite YTers, African Export and Naptural85 for a casual, relaxed and sexy do to accompany your maxi dress. For those of you who are relaxed, you can achieve similar effects by brushing out a roller set done on larger rollers.

My First Braidout Yay!

I have never tried a full braidout because I didn't think I would like the texture of it. I've done a braidout in the front of my hair for a style, but that's it.

When I did a braidout for a semi-protective style, I like the texture a lot better. I decided to try a full braidout. I was super pleased with the results.

These are days 1 and 2 of a braid out. I rebraid at night. I have a feeling I'll wear this style a lot in the coming weeks.

Add This to Your Natural Hair Style Arsenal

From Faces by Tamara (follow her blog), this is a must-have in the natural hair style arsenal. It can be worn dressy or casual and is super easy to do replicate with about 5 minutes and a few hair pins.

A New Year, A New You: Ashley Transitions in 2010

Name: Ashley C       

Twitter: Ashcren

What influenced your decision to go natural?
It took me a while to actually go through with it.  I had toyed with the idea for a while. I was tired of, my hair being so simple. I wanted to be able to express myself through my hair.  I have a big, fun personality and my hair should be represent that.  After going to a natural hair show with some friends, I realized I had to do it.  No matter what people there had done to their hair, everyone’s was different! (and I loved that!). After deciding to do it I realized how much healthier it is and I am more aware of the qualities of this stuff God gave me.

As it has started to grow I really love the way it feels.  It is so soft and textured and feels so much better than my relaxed hair. I love it!  I would always say, “let me just grow it out and see what happens.” Now that I have felt the softness, it drives me to continue.

Have you set a date for your Big Chop? If so, what is that date? 
I said I was going to transition for a year and then BC, so that would make January the magic month.

What hairstyles are you wearing during your transition? 
In the beginning I would cornrow my hair or flat twist it and take it a loose.  I have tried Curly Nikki’s twist and curl, I have done rods and bantu knots as well.  In July I had to be in a wedding so I got a sew in.  I kept the sew in for about 3 months (best idea ever!!).  Since I took the sew in out I had to get used to the growth and I wasn’t ready to BC, so I got a Lace front wig, and wore that for about a month.  I am now rocking my favorite style, my bantu knots. 

 

Are you having any current challenges transitioning? If so, what are they? 

My only problem is finding products that work best with my hair.  There are so many options out there.  Learning which products work best, and are the most healthy was probably the hardest part.


This kind of answers the next question…

(What do you feel will be the greatest adjustment once you go natural?)  
I also don’t like that my styles don’t always last as long as I want them too.  But I guess that can be a good thing, it forces me to wash it and try something else.

I like to try different things.  It helped me learn to have a relationship with my hair.  That has made my transition very easy.  I am not afraid to try something…and if I don’t like it I’ll slap the lace front bob on it and go on as usual. You can’t be afraid.  You’ve got to be all in!
 
When those roots start coming in and you got relaxed ends, it can be frustrating.  It’s harder to comb through, some styles that once looked good, don’t look good anymore, and you may find yourself wanting to give up!  It is then that you just have to adjust as you will when its fully natural.  I think we all used relaxers as a convenient cop out.  Let’s get back to the way things should be and appreciate it.  Don’t give up!

Who are 3-5 of your favorite Natural Hair YouTubers and/or bloggers? Curly Nikki, Afroniquely You, Afrobella, Felicia Leatherwood- Loving Your Hair With Natural Care (Youtube and facebook), Natural Hair Rules, and Trendy Socialite (of course!)

There is so much good stuff out there, I don’t limit myself to these, but I these are the ones I most frequent.

Who are a few of your favorite YouTubers or bloggers (any topic)? 
My friend Krystle has a fashion blog Mirrorcheck.com (check it out!!)

Who are some of your natural hair inspirations (YouTubers, celebs, ordinary people, etc.)? 
My friends are my inspirations.  We have hair parties and try different things on each other’s hair.  I enjoy making the journey with them and it’s nice to have a support system. I know my hair may never look like any of theirs or any celebrity’s but that’s what I feel is the beauty of it… we can all be unique!