10 Crucial Summer Hair Tips

Posted by twilliams on Jul 2, 2012 in Hair | 3 comments

"Evening with EDEN" panelists Julia Coney, Shirley Gordon, Ylorie Anderson, Kitiya Mischo King and moi. Ugh, why am I so tall? I knew I shouldn't have worn those platform wedges, I look like a mighty redwood next to these girls.

Hola muchachitas! A couple of weekends ago, I had the pleasure of being a panelist at the “Evening with EDEN, A Summer Hair Affair” soiree at DC’s B. Smith Restaurant. The cocktail party was sponsored by EDEN BodyWorks, and if you haven’t heard of this delicious, all-natural black hair brand, you must get into it (my faves are the wildly hydrating Jojoba Monoi Shampoo and the oh-so-necessary Peppermint Tea Tree Oil Temple Balm, which helps prevent weakened edges along the hairline from breaking and shedding).

EDEN BodyWorks. The products smell ridiculously delicious...and we know that's half of it, right?

Anyway, the shindig was full of gorgeous DC area It-girls and epic bloggers like The Makeup Girl’s Lianne Farbes and Ty from Gorgeous in Grey — I love speaking on panels when the audience is so cute. Inspiration!

The crowd, including Yummy411's Kia in a bangin' statement lip

My co-panelists were kinda major, too. It was me; All About the Pretty’s Julia Coney; Strands Hair Studio’s award-winning owner/stylist, Shirley Gorden; and EDEN BodyWorks VP Ylorie Anderson — mediated by Mischo Beauty Blog’sKitiya Mischo King. Fab night. The best part was when the panelists had a “come to Jesus” about the most crucial summer hair tips. Here, ten of the most memorable ones:

1.) Try conditioning BEFORE shampooing (try Eden BodyWorks’ Jojoba Monoi Revitalizing Conditioner, silky hair awaits), and then follow with a deep conditioner.

2.) Protect your summertime strands with a good hair sunscreen (like Redken’s Color Extend Sun line) and deep condition weekly.

3.) City hair is not beach hair. Before hitting the beach, moisturize and seal your hair with oil.

4.) Mineral oil is evil, evil, evil. Avoid it at all costs.

5.) Naturalistas — moisturize with a hair milk, seal it in with an oil.

6.) Try a hair product regimen for at least 3 weeks before you decide it doesn’t work.

7.) Whether you’re relaxed, natural or transitioning — invest in a steamer. Nourishes and hydrates hair like nobody’s business. 

8.) No cotton pillows! They can cause breakage and weaken hair. Use satin or silk ones…or commit to sleeping in a satin bonnet.

9.) Inner beauty determines outer beauty, so be mindful of your diet. Try vitamins like Biotin and Folic Acid, for strong, healthy strands.

10.) Good Hair = Healthy Hair

The EDEN BodyWorks JojOba Monoi and Peppermint Tea Tree collections are available at Wal-Mart, edenbodyworks.net and CurlMart.com. For additional information visit: www.facebook.com/EDENBlog 

Headband Extravaganza

Posted by twilliams on Jun 28, 2012 in Celebs, Hair | 3 comments

Okay girls, I’m up to eight inches of new growth. It’s sweltering in NYC today, which leaves me with only a few choices: A.) Attempt a wash & go, which looks dumb ’cause the relaxed portion on the bottom won’t curl. B.) Try to rock a blowout, which is a #fail the second I walk out the door. Or C.) throw on a hippie headband, red lipstick, and call it a goddamn day. Guess which one I picked?

Yes? Got it at a Tibetan store around the corner from my house. Still smells like incense. Very "Anita Pallenberg attending a hash-hazy soiree at Talitha Getty's Moroccan villa circa 1969."

The boho headband/bandana moment was THE THING a couple years ago, and now it’s come roaring back into style. As a result of the gypsy chic, rich hippie starlets who made it so sexy back then (I mean, if it ain’t broke…). So inspired by these ladies:

Nicole Richie, all sparkly and stuff

Chanel Iman, #tuff

It’s just such a quick, easy way to look “done”….or strategically undone! So pretty with an updo, a topknot, loose waves, on the beach — a headband basically glamifies any ‘do, for any occasion. Que versatile! Here are a few of my favorites right now:

Retro Printed Headband, Forever 21 ($3.99)

Triumphant Headband in Coral, anthropologie.com ($28)

Missoni Zig Zag Headband, shopbop.com ($88)

Angela Simmons Wants You To Buy Her Hair!

Posted by twilliams on Jun 26, 2012 in Celebs, Hair | 2 comments

Years ago, I had a black man-loving white girlfriend of mine say the following:

“It sounds so bad to say, but no wonder black guys don’t like sleeping with black girls. Yuck, all that scratchy, fake hair. No one wants to run their hands through that!”

She was that particular strain of non-black girl who felt that she could make racial comments to me, because I’m “different” somehow. You know the type. The comment was so extravagantly dumb, I didn’t waste my breath saying “you developed a philosophy on race and sexuality based on a drunken makeout sesh with a synthetic weave-wearing Jamaican chick at a BBQ? Vamoose, you square-hipped slut!”

Yeah, black girls wear weaves. Many, many white girls do too! Hello? Of course, when they’re attached to Blake Lively (my crush on this woman is painful) or an OC Housewife, they’re  called “extensions!” Extensions, weaves, whatever — if you bought it, it’s yours! Rock it proudly and sexily! The great news? With all the fancy, boutique-y human hair retailers cropping up in major cities, the tress quality is more silky-sexy and lustrous than ever. Enter adorable Angela Simmons, rap royalty, reality star and burgeoning hair company mogul. This month, Rev Run’s spunky daughter partnered with super-fancy Indique Hair to launch her very own extension line! It’s called ‘Bikini,’ because the hair is wavy/curly when it’s wet — the perfect beach hair! Here, I had a quick chat with the entrepreneur:

SYB: So, why are your extensions so glorious?

Angela Simmons: I designed them with the Indique team, so it’s the highest quality human hair. Indian hair. I spend a lot of time on the beach, so I like my hair to look cute when it’s wet and dry. The Bikini line is so versatile.

SYB: Why did you decide to expand your business to include hair?

AS: It’s something I do a lot of, changing up my hair. Everyone wants to know where I get my hair from, so I wanted to let people in on my secrets! I started wearing full head weaves at 19 and I really love them — it’s a great way to try a new trend, or change up your color while protecting your real hair.

SYB: Any tips on keeping your weave fresh in the summertime?

AS: Get regular hair followups at the salon! Also, when you wash your hair, make sure it’s dry underneath. You don’t want to have your cornrows wet and the weave dry. Also, I’m a huge fan of Carol’s Daughter Tui Moisturizing Hair Sheen — a quick spritz makes your weave look so glossy and healthy!

BIKINI from Angela Simmons by Indiqué Hair will retail for $210-$305, starting June 21st.

Naturalista Chicery at the CurlBox Meetup

Posted by twilliams on Jun 22, 2012 in Beauty, Hair | 5 comments

Karen Tappin and Myleik Teele, running thangs at their meet-up last night.

Hi girls! Last night, I found myself at what seemed to be the very epicenter of fab naturalista chic-ery — curlBOX’s soiree at famed Karen’s Body Beautiful in Fort Greene, BK. A little backstory: curlBOX, founded by my girl Myleik Teele, is a way to experience curly hair products at an insanely low price (for $20, subscribers received 5-7 samples a month). And Karen’s Body Beautiful spa carries a house brand of all-natural black hair products that are legendary among naturalistas (the Sweet Ambrosia Leave-in Conditioner is most coveted). Blended by the gloriously fro’d owner, Karen Tappin, the line is super-hydrating and restorative — and they smell divine.

Karen, Bobina and me! Funniest part of the event? A guy outside was banging congos -- and Bobina handed her doll to me so she could do a quick half-crump.

Naturally, I couldn’t wait to stop by — and I even brought my curly progeny, Miss Lina Bobina. I’ve covered a ton of natural hair meetups during my run at Essence.com, but I’ve never attended one as an almost-chemical-free chica, myself. I saw the whole thing with brand new, covetous eyes! There were hundreds of swaggy bombshells there, with some of the sexiest ‘dos I’ve ever seen — ringlets, fros, waist-length dreads, twist-outs  — and makeup game for days.

I meeaaan...

I saw two particularly stunning girls outside in the block-long line…and being me, I attacked them, demanding to know their beauty secrets.

Gorgeousness.

How CUTE, right? Here’s the tee from the chick on the left, Sherena, who’s been natural for a year and a half: “I’m wearing MAC Eyeshadow in Steamy…I thought the teal was a pretty contrast with the yellow. The lip is MAC Lipstick in Bubbles. And I make my own blend of shea butter, jojoba oil and coconut oil for my hair — I use it as a moisturizer and a twisting cream!”

The cutie on the right, Ingrid, has been chemical-free since ’09 and loves a statement lip: “It’s Wet & Wild Lipstick in Stoplight Red. I love the pop, plus I’m trying to keep it cost effective! And I’m a huge fan of Giovanni Direct Leave-in Conditioner and the Bee Mine Curly Butter.”

Sigh. Forget celebs and models, sometimes the most inspiring/aspirational looks come from the chick up the block. Ladies, what makeup and hair looks are inspiring you these days?

Bobina, finding inspiration at the meetup from her lovely new friend

SYB Freebie: L’Oreal Dark Spot Corrector Collection

Posted by twilliams on Jun 19, 2012 in Beauty, Hair | 2 comments

Hey ladies! First off, congrats to Alicia B., who won last week’s SYB Freebie: the Essie ‘Bikini So Teeny’ summer 2012 collection. She slyly mentioned that the periwinkle shade would be the perfect “something blue” for her wedding next month, while the other tropical hues would kill on her Jamaican honeymoon. How could I resist?

Another round of applause Ashli M., who won the second of my five Carol’s Daughter Transitioning 1-2-3 Kit giveaways! Gotta love a chick who names herself as her natural hair icon. Well okay then! Dope.

Win this dark spot-destroyer!

And now, onto this week’s SYB Freebie, the L’Oreal Dark Spot Correcting Collection, which includes the Dark Spot Correcting & Illuminating Serum and the Day Cream SPF 30 ($25 each). If you are a woman with brown skin, you’ve probably experienced hyperpigmentation hell (ie, the dark spots/areas that appear after a pimple, scratch or rash heals). It sucks. You finally got the zit to go away, and now you’re left with a dark mark that won’t budge! L’Oreal’s new duo contain powerful antioxidants and skin-brightening ingredients to fade the marks…plus mirror-like particles that reflect light and create dazzling radiance. Not to get all technical, but when the scientists were testing these products over 80% of women noticed more even-toned skin in just four weeks. Nice.

To be eligible to win, “like” my new Facebook page.…then hit the comments section to reveal your funniest/most embarrassing beauty don’t. My fave wins!

Crimpin’ Aint Easy

Posted by twilliams on Jun 19, 2012 in Hair | 2 comments

Hey girls! As we all know, much of the fun of going to beauty and fashion events happens in the cab afterwards, when one tears through one’s goody bag like an animal. Honestly, I’m fifteen years in and STILL get a thrill out of finding fun free things I’ll never use (see: caramel-scented tea lights, scratch-and-sniff press on nails, a book called “The A to Z’s of Dating Asian,” etc.). Cut to two weeks ago, me in a cab apres event – I’m rifling through the bag, hoping to find one of those delish FatWitch brownies, and I come across this:

Conair MiniPro Deep Wave Ceramic Styler!

Conair MiniPro Deep Wave Ceramic Styler ($19)…aka, a crimping iron! I had no idea how desperately I needed this until I saw it! Girls, I grew up in the 80s. Madonna, Whitney, Janet, Taylor Dayne and Belinda Carlisle all had crimped/body-waved hair and it was BOSS. So much so that, in 1987, I decided I needed to turn an iron on my own locks. At 12, I didn’t know you weren’t supposed to clamp the iron shut and hold for like two minutes — and thus, my poor, singed hair fell to the floor in a perfectly crimped clump (I told everyone at school I gave myself a trim while sleep-walking. It made for a funny story). I hadn’t gone near any sort of wave iron since then. But with this goody bag gift, I felt that the universe was telling me I must try it again.

Super cute.

It sat on my nightstand, daring me to pick it up, until last night. Insomnia? Boredom? I have no idea what gave me the balls to try again, but I did. And my hair survived! Really, the crimping iron game has changed SO much in the past 25 years. This one has high, even heat, which makes for ultra-quick styling (and less damage). Starting at the nape of my neck, I grabbed random sections (about two inches thick), spritzed on John Frieda Frizz-Ease Heat Defeat Protective Styling Spray ($7) and pressed the iron down the length of each section, holding no longer than 2 seconds. All in all, it took about fifteen minutes. Kinda cute and fun, right? Just for a perky little change of pace?

PS…I apologize for the shitty pic! My camera’s broken, so I’m forced to Instagram until it’s back from the shop. Prettier photos coming, girls!