Last week, my friend let me know that Oprah was on the look out for women who had given up their addiction to the creamy crack so that she can feature them on her show.  Unfortunately, by the time that I went to check out the open call it had already been taken down.  Well now I know why – Wednesday’s (sept 30th) epi of Oprah is all about HAIR.  I’m sure Oprah will take this opp to discuss her thoughts on hair and will once again clear up the rumours that she is not rocking a weave and is all natural.  Watch the promo here.

Show description:

Girl Talk About “Good” Hair with Chris Rock

Perms, extensions, highlights…secrets exposed! Then, why Beyonce’s sister Solange chopped it all off. Plus, Oprah’s own hair history unraveled! Emmy-winning comedian Chris Rock talks to Oprah about his new documentary, Good Hair. Plus, Beyoncé’s little sister, singer Solange Knowles.

**Just a quick side note – Oprah was in town (Toronto) to promote her movie Precious which she executive produced.  If you haven’t seen it – all I can say is - Powerful!  Kudos to all the cast, especially Monique.  I hear Oscar nom and dare I say it…a win.

Interesting post about weave from Joy Bryant on the Essence Blog.

Ouch! My tailbone really hurts when I sit on hard surfaces or slouched down in a chair for too long. That’s what I get from busting my butt from too much snowboarding. It makes it really hard to sit in a salon chair for hours on end getting my weave hooked up.

But oh, how we suffer for beauty…I must bring a pillow next time.

As the threads of the grown-out tracks were being snipped, I broke out my laptop and began my ritualistic daily web search. I go from news of the day to articles/blogs about the news of the day, ending up on entertainment/gossip/fashion stuff. 
But that day, something caught my attention and trumped all of the glowing reviews of President Obama’s health care speech:

It was Tyra’s hair.

National Real Hair Day? I missed that one…In fact, on National Real Hair Day, I was calling Extensions Plus in L.A. to make sure they had enough of the 20” “relaxed roots” texture hair that I love oh so much (and that keeps selling out like crazy!), and making an appointment to get my hair, I mean, my weave, hooked up.

So Tyra, while I didn’t take part in your observance, I just want to say: “WOW!” You are such a brave woman for breaking the chains that bound you since your teenage years! What courage that took, for you to expose yourself to millions of people! Such fearlessness! 

Oh, how I wish I had the guts to do that. I guess I’m much too much of an insecure, self-loathing Negro for all that self-acceptance foolishness.
I’m glad we got down to solving the mystery of what’s under your lace-front, though. I mean seriously, it was “THE” question that has perplexed the world over. And now we see that there’s a beautiful head of hair underneath it all, hair that was surprisingly relaxed and ready for the world. Whodathunkit?! If I had the same length and fullness of hair that you have, I might take my weave out too.

Ha!!!! I’m just playing! Even if I DID have your “real” hair, I’d still be wearing a few tracks or clip-ons up in there.

Why?

Because I’m straight weave fo life, kid!!!

Ima ride ride wit this weave, die die with this weave!!

Let me break it down for you:
See, I loooooove taking new hair out of the bag, combing through it with my fingers, holding it up with my two hands, and burying my face in it. Mmmm, mmmm, mmm! Nothing like a new batch of zig-zag curly to get your self esteem out of the dumps!

The feeling of getting my hair, I mean, my weave done over. I feel human again. I feel sexy. I feel powerful. It makes me feel…it makes me feel…it makes feel like a natural woman!!! 

I can be whatever, whoever I want to be with the stroke of a sewing needle…

With long brown tresses and a tan, I’m Pocahontas, ’cause I got Indian in my family. With easy waves, I AM bohemian rhapsody goddess personified. And now that I got blond highlights! What!? I know I look like Beyonce! You can’t tell me nothing! Uh oh, uh oh…

And then I looked up from my computer, and caught a glimpse in the mirror of my head minus the long weavy locks. I looked crazy! Awww hell naw! I looked over at the new batch of hair sitting off to the side waiting to join forces with me. Damnit, I’m trapped, I thought to myself. I can’t let it go. I am powerless over it. Just when I think I’m done, it pulls me back in!

Now I guess I can get help for my self-loathing addiction.
I can learn to accept myself in my entirety. I can emancipate myself from that which keeps me locked-up. I can embrace the natural state of things.

Yup, I can do all of that…

But don’t hold your breath!

Hi, my name is Joy, and I’m a weave-a-holic.

Ok, so what’s up with H-wood?  Why is everyone and their mother razoring their hair off on one side?  Honestly, who knew that Ms Spears would have really started this trend – first it was Cassie, then it was LaLa and now RiRi.  Peronally, I dont think I could do it – maybe if I was a celeb and had a fab hair dresser by my side that could quickly glue in a track, etc – maybe – but me right now.  No way!!!  I wonder who’s next to jump on this half bald bandwagon.  Thoughts?

Okay, so I’m watching Oprah’s Friday’s Live – and Oprah decides to clear up the hair rumours.  If you’ve been watching Oprah lately you’ve probably noticed that she’s been wearing her hair straight.  Well apparently a lot of people (including me) assumed it was a weave.  WELL ITS NOT!  Here’s the picture proof – Oprah sans make up but with a head full of long and fabulous hair.  WOW!  She’s my new hair idol.  This is what her hair looks like before she does her press and curl.  Her hair must be all kinds of strong to endure all that heat styling amd the hot lights.  You go Oprah!

***update: I’ve been tweeting with some tweeps on twitter and some people still don’t believe its her hair. Take the poll or leave a comment and tell us what you think.

 Loading ...

ok, so I was on Twiter tonight and Cassie Ventura posted some pics of her new hair do’.  Interesting, Fierce and Brave come to mind. What do you think – take the poll?  She has a new single featuring Puffy (her rumoured man) called ‘Must Be Love” – so expect to see a lot more of this ‘ish.  I wonder how many copy cats will start rocking Cassie’s look?  Time will only tell…

Yesterday, I visited my local Chapters Bookstore to check out some stuff and came across the April issue of Essence.  Taraji, Iman and Serena look stunning -the pink tones against their brown caramel skin is totally fab!  I definitely need to pick up a pink maxi dress for spring/summer 2009.  Anyhow, I read the article (I know this issue has been out forever) but for those of you who haven’t read the mag (we are in a recession, so its understandable) I  decided to share some of  their fave hair products.

Serena Williams swears by Phyto Phyto Curl defining spray – which retails on Amazon for $26 USD.

She tells the mag “as an athlete I have a lot of dedication to keep my hair up.  I dont have a perm.  I moisturize my hair weekly and I spritz my hair with Phyto Phytocurl; it gives me the pretties curls.”

Directions
Apply a few sprays to dry hair. Scrunch hair to boost curls. Do not rinse.

Product Description
For Curly Hair with Passion Flower Extract
A styling treatment specifically formulated for curly hair, PHYTOCURL Spray perfectly structures and energizes your curls from the first application. Passion flower extract moisturizes and tones while a natural corn derivative gives your curls body and bounce. A natural photoprotection agent, extracted from Sunflowers, prevents oxidation caused by harmful environmental factors and makes hair increasingly resistant and strong. The result is a full head of perfectly defined, moisturized, and strengthened curls, beautiful and full of vitality. In order to optimize results and regain your youthful curls, use PHYTOCURL Shampoo prior to styling.
PHYTO products bring the most potent active ingredients from the botanical world to your hair through Phytotherathrie, the science of haircare through plants.
PHYTO will help maintain the healthy appearance of your hair and reveal its full beauty.
Through its botanical formulas, PHYTO provides a natural and precise solution for the needs of each hair type. Ongoing research and close collaboration with scientists enable Laboratories Phystosolba to continually develop innovative haircare products with clinically proven results.
Environmentally conscious, PHYTO only uses glass bottles and aluminum tubes, which also help protect its formulas rich in active ingredients and limit the use of preservatives.
PHYTO does not test products on animals.

Ingredients
Achillea Millefolium Extract (Botanical Origin), Alcohol Denat. (Botanical Origin), Propylene Glycol, PEG 12 Dimethicone, Glycerin (Botanical Origin), PEG 7 Glyceryl Cocoate (Botanical Origin), Passiflora Incarnata Flower Extract (Botanical Origin), Acetamide MEA, VP DMAPA Acrylates Copolymer, Ilex Paraguariensis Leaf Extract (Botanical Origin), Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Extract (Botanical Origin), PEG 40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil (Botanical Origin), Hydrolyzed Keratin, Lauryl Methyl Gluceth 10 Hydroxypropyl Dimonium Chloride (Botanical Origin), Fragrance (Parfum), Tetrasodium EDTA

Taraji uses a few prods to get her mane right including KIMBLE HAIR SYSTEMS’s Ginger Cream Conditioner which Retails $12.99 for 8 oz. on Kimble Hair Care

Here’s what she revealed to the mag – “when it comes to products, I’m like a mad chemist.  I use a dry scalp shampoo followed by a mix of equal parts Kimble Hair Care Systems Ginger Cream Conditioner, Matrix Solution Biolage Detangling Conditioner and Phyto Phytokarite.  Then I sit under the dryer for 10 mintues – my hair feels like silk afterwards”

Product Descrption

A creamy, mositure-rich formula, KIMBLE HAIR CARE SYSTEMS Ginger Cream Conditioner may be used as both a conditioner and a deep conditioning treatment.  Emollient properties of avocado hydrate the hair without weighting it down while extracts of ginger stimulate the scalp.  Dry, brittle, and damage hair is left feeling smooth and silky.  Ginger Cream Conditioner is ideal for textured and chemically treated hair.

And for Iman, the key to keeping her hair well moisturized – Chi Infra Treatment which retails for $13.99 at Folica.com

Product Description

CHI Infra Treatment with Cationic Hydration Interlink is a superior moisturizing and protecting treatment. Hair will be left with the proper balance of moisture for silky manageable hair with incredible shine every time.

• Thermal Protective Treatment – pH 4.5
• Cationic Hydration Interlink is a superior moisturizing and protecting treatment
• Provides proper balance of moisture for silky manageable hair with incredible shine every time.
• Directions: After shampooing the hair, apply a generous amount of CHI Infra Treatment and work into the hair evenly. Leave on hair for 2-5 minutes and rinse thoroughly.

Ingredients

Deionized Water , Propylene Glycol , Diazolidinyl Urea , Methylparaben , Propylparaben , Cetearyl Alcohol , Ceteareth-20 , Stearyl Alcohol , Dicetyldimonium Chloride , Mineral Oil , Olive Oil , Lauryl Methyl Gluceth 10 Hydroxypropyl Dimonium Ch , Trimethylsilylamodimethicone , Hydrolyzed Silk , Fragrance , Methylchloroisothiazolinone , Methylisothiazolinone , Acetamide MEA , Hydrolyzed Hair Keratin , Panthenol , Sorbitol , Sodium Cocoyl Collagen Amino Acid , Cocoyl Sarcosine , Wheat Germ Acid , Wheat Germ Oil , Linolenic Acid , Sulfur , Polysorbate 80 , Oleth 10 , Jojoba Oil , Tocopheryl Acetate , Hydrolized Glycosaminoglycans , Zinc Oxide , Titanium Dioxide , Mica , Boron Nitride Powder

Leona Lewis -  is such a talented young lady – she’s the Brit popsinger who took the music industry by storm a few years back after winning the UK talent show X Factor.    Now with a slew of hits records under her belt – including ‘Bleeding Love’ – the best is yet to come for the talented songstress.  Currently working on her new album due out in November – Lewis is working with everyone from Neyo, Justin Timberlake to Timbaland.   But the big news for Leona – rumours are swirling that she is set to join the one and only Michael Jackson on his O2 comback tour.

Anyhow – besides her obvious singing talent – she is absolutely stunning and has a great head of hair.  Looks like she employs a number of techniques to get her mane looking great – probably using leave-in condish, gel and diffusing, or a sprial roller set or curling iron for perfect curly q’s and perhaps she uses weave clips every now and then for legnth.  Anyhow, check out her hair evolution…

Read the rest of this entry

Honestly, I’m all about embracing my curly self – but after seeing this hot hot picture of Tia Mowry Hardict in this fierce bob with fringe  and I’m like I want that cut.  Houda – this is what you need to be doing.  Anyhow, Tia and her twin sis Tamera Mowry hit up a TV Guide Sexy Stars in Hollywood this week looking pure fab!  Both are starring in sitcoms – Tia continues to work it out on  “The Game” – while Tamera stars in the new ABC Family channel show called ‘Roommates’.    I wish these two would surprise us one day by rocking their naturally curly texture on the RC…i guess a gal can hope.

 Loading ...

You know what – I love me some Oprah.  I have been watching her for years and thanks to my pvr I get to watch her everynight when I come home from work.  Anyhow, for the longest time Ms Winfrey has been all about texture when it comes to her hair – wig, weave or whatever she did it – was looking good.  However, in the last couple of weeks Oprah’s changed it up with a sleek flat do – thoughts?

Last week I posted the  Hair Evolution of Tracee Ellis Ross.  I’m loving her curls and her style – she’s officially on my hair envy list!  Anyhow, I’m sure I’m not the only one to be inspired by her mane attraction so I found an old article where she discusses her hair routine and I thought it might be resourceful to repost:

Tracee’s hair has been a major topic of interest since she first appeared as Joan in Girlfriends.  Essence Magazine interviewed the lovely star about her tresses and asked for “secrets”.

She told Essence when she goes to the beach or the pool she utilizes the opportunity to deep condition her hair before she swims.

Tracee specifically mentioned JF Lazartique Shea Butter and Rene Furterer Karite as two of the deep conditioners she applies to her hair after a shampoo but before exposing her strands to chlorine, salt or sun.

In Jolie Magazine Tracee shared a variety of hair secrets.  When she wants to wear her hair in its “natural” curl pattern, she told Jolie she uses Aveda’s Cherry Almond Bark and Deep Penetrating Revitalizer conditioners.

She also relies on Denman brushes.  Besides Aveda she alternates with Mixed Girls and applies their Leave-in Conditioner to her hair when it is wet.

When she uses heat on her hair she uses Kerastase conditioning products and blow dries with a blow dryer that is a combo of ceramic and ionic.   She also uses curling irons that have the same ceramic and ionic combination which does not damage her hair or ruin her natural curl pattern.

Tracee told Jolie Magazine “my hair is actually in better condition then where it started”.  She noted “I wash my hair with shampoo and then conditioner and then I put stuff in it once I’ve blow it out.  My hair’s like glass.  I’m like WHAT! Yes, hair’s brilliant”.

In an interview with Black Hair and Braids, Tracee noted “I wash my hair once a week”.  She uses different shampoos which include Aveda Shampure (once a month) that she couples with Rene Furterer Vinegar Rinse.  She also uses Goldwell’s Conditioning Shampoo.

Steam is another of her secrets.  She reported she goes to a Korean day spa and filles her hair up with Goldwell Kerasilk Conditioner.  She goes into the steam room.  If she can’t get to the steam room, she uses a heat cap.  Tracee told Black Hair “with Kerasilk, your hair will not curl up.  My hair gets so soft that it doesn’t curl up, so I have to use another conditioner.

When she wants her best hair, she uses a Denman D-4 rubber brush.  She separate her hair into six sections in order to brush it out, starting at the bottom to prevent breakage.  She does this in the shower.  She mixes Aveda Cherry Almond Bark with Deep Penetrating and then shakes her hair so the curls can find each other.

She puts her hair up with a big clip.  She leaves the conditioner in for awhile.  Then she turns cold water on low pressure because the high pressure will break up the curls that just found each other.  The low pressure cold water keeps it shine and keeps the curl.

***The best advice Tracee gives for hair care advice?  Condition, condition and condition and stay away from alcohol-based products.  It just dries your hair out.