Hello all,
I wanted to post something to get your opinions, all I think about these days is this blog and how to expand it. Would you prefer to have a shopping cart on a web site to order the top African American beauty brands, orgainc and natural lines and rare perfumes and would you actually purchase them or would you rather go pick up an item in a store? Please let me know your thoughts in the comment section.
Thanks
Leah
Monday, June 22, 2009
Friday, June 19, 2009
Blind Beauty
Do you believe beauty can come in all forms or fashion? I was so deeply moved by watching Hawthorne on TNT starring Jada Pinkette-Smith my she-roe since Lena James on A Different World. The show was excellent and I encourage you all to watch Tuesday nights at 8:00. One of the characters on the show was a beautiful woman very smart and caring that I would describe as a J-Lo type. There was EMT working with her in the hospital who was actively courting her and she kept turing her down for dates. At one point she said no you don't want to go out with me because I am damaged goods. Wow, that blew my mind damaged goods and in that moment I related to her because often I felt that same exact way. For me I had a great father who was present in my home and he provided for me and my sister and we never lacked for anything. Most important he modeled how a man treats a woman and he treated my mother like she was a the most important woman in the world. Together they raised my sister and I to value and to love God, be kind, honest, and to save our money. But what I walk away from the lessons that my Dad taught me was that he loved me unconditionally and supported me through out my mistakes no matter what. I was a difficult kid to raise mainly because I have attachment issues from being adopted at 5 months old. My parents loved me hard and made me feel very secure and had other people in my life who did they very same things like my God Parents. But I never believed that any one could ever truly love me even though I knew that people did. I felt like I was the poor little adopted girl that people just had to love. SO many times I would do things sometime horrible things to challenge my parents and test so to speak their love. Praise Jesus, the loved me anyhow and so did my sister. In high school, I never put myself out there to have boyfriends and such, but one day I met this young man who was a little bit older than me who showed me this same unconditional type of love, I didn't know quite what to do with it he was the most loving, caring real person that I ever been privileged in knowing, and what is so deep other people could tell his love for me. To refrain from being like Superhead I will not name names but I will reveal initials LOL. If you know me you know who he is any way. My behavior was much of the same the more I pushed TSP away the more he loves me. Then one day I pushed too far however in my mind I just knew he would be there because he told me that he would and then had the nerve to say that "I needed to live some and then come back"LOL, I did live my life made some mistakes however we never re-connected in fact I found out on Facebook that he got married. So, I'm happy for him his wife is very lucky. But I thought about him when I was watching Hawthorne because the EMT never gave up. During a crisis in the hospital a patent went crazy and had a knife and stabbed the character with the prosthetic leg in the thigh, she stood there not in pain, no blood running down her leg and embarrassed because now her secret is out in front of him. He says to her I guess that I'll bring over the scapulae when I pick you up for our date. I just about fell of of the couch she then tells her friend played by Jada Pinkette-Smith that she had a date and that this is the first man who did run she seemed hopeful and excited. When he comes to her home and she opens the door he hands her a jar a scapulae with a bow on top and the camera pan to the full body view and she is standing there with a beautiful dress on with her prosthetic leg out and he tells her how beautiful she looks. Okay yall, I cry at stuff like and the tears started to flow because it was so beautiful then I thought about how when someone really likes, love and thinks that your beautiful it shows in their eyes. That exchange so deeply beautiful I still think abut it smile. So I go back to my original thought is there beauty in all shapes and fashion I believe so. Let me know your thoughts in the comments.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
BRAIDS
Braids have been a hairstyle of choice for many of us since we were toddlers. Since we are approaching summer in about a week here are some tips if you decided to wear your hair in braids. Many styles and many braids professionals but here are some things to keep in mind when you decided to braid your hair.
Style: The style you pick is very important, watching re-runs of Living Single I have admired and liked Max's braids. Boy could she rock that bob like no other. If your face can handle it ware it. Then I think about about the dance hall star Patra yall remember her, her braids were off the chain. I wonder if she could dirty wine with those braids in her hair. I think the most famous braids are Susan Taylor's who has wore her style since I was 10. When picking your style keep your hair texture and hair pattern in mind. Some braid professionals braid very tight and tension alocpecia can occur around the hair line in the front, crown and also the back. I prefer micro braids because they are the most versatile for me. But there are box braids, corn rows, kinky twist, individual braids and the list goes on. Just make sure it fits your face hair type and texture.
Up keep: Make sure your relaxer is in its 6-8 week before your put braids in your hair to keep your healthy and to prevent breakage. If you choose a smaller braid style like micro braids do not keep them in over 6 months. Its wise to take them out at the 3-4- month mark. The hair that you choose is important picking a medium to premium grade human hair is best. The synthetic hair will look like a hot mess. Yeah I am bias I like the human hair, some braid shops offer a pretty decent grade but if your picky select your own hair and inch. Its okay to maintain your scalp health while you have your braids in however refrain from using shampoo and other styling products that will build up on your scalp and also it will create a dirty ring around where the ball of were the hair is connected to the braiding hair. You will be in shock when you take you hair down and it will cause breakage. Try: rinsing your hair with a clarifer such as an apple/vinegar cider and water mix. When you mix it mix it in equal parts and spray and or apply to your hair and the rinse with warm water. After you apply this on your scalp find a deep conditioner of your choice I like to use coconut oil and then sit under a hooded dryer for 25-30 minutes rinse your hair with cool water and style as usual. I also like to use Carols Daughter leave in conditioner Tui and Tui oil. Okay here goes here's my secret I use a satin wrap called satinsaak and it can be found at www.satinsaak.com. This will keep you braids looking fresh until you take them out.
Take down: saturate your braids in a conditioner of your choice and sleep with a conditioning cap over night and then take them out. If you don't have enough patience you can go to your braid shop and have them take them down for about 40.00 but do not skip the conditioning part it is very important. If your local here are a few braid shops I recommend LaDiva on Western and University and Malobe on Lake Street. On the radar MBA braids on Rice street. If you know of a good braid shop leave the name and in the comments section.
Style: The style you pick is very important, watching re-runs of Living Single I have admired and liked Max's braids. Boy could she rock that bob like no other. If your face can handle it ware it. Then I think about about the dance hall star Patra yall remember her, her braids were off the chain. I wonder if she could dirty wine with those braids in her hair. I think the most famous braids are Susan Taylor's who has wore her style since I was 10. When picking your style keep your hair texture and hair pattern in mind. Some braid professionals braid very tight and tension alocpecia can occur around the hair line in the front, crown and also the back. I prefer micro braids because they are the most versatile for me. But there are box braids, corn rows, kinky twist, individual braids and the list goes on. Just make sure it fits your face hair type and texture.
Up keep: Make sure your relaxer is in its 6-8 week before your put braids in your hair to keep your healthy and to prevent breakage. If you choose a smaller braid style like micro braids do not keep them in over 6 months. Its wise to take them out at the 3-4- month mark. The hair that you choose is important picking a medium to premium grade human hair is best. The synthetic hair will look like a hot mess. Yeah I am bias I like the human hair, some braid shops offer a pretty decent grade but if your picky select your own hair and inch. Its okay to maintain your scalp health while you have your braids in however refrain from using shampoo and other styling products that will build up on your scalp and also it will create a dirty ring around where the ball of were the hair is connected to the braiding hair. You will be in shock when you take you hair down and it will cause breakage. Try: rinsing your hair with a clarifer such as an apple/vinegar cider and water mix. When you mix it mix it in equal parts and spray and or apply to your hair and the rinse with warm water. After you apply this on your scalp find a deep conditioner of your choice I like to use coconut oil and then sit under a hooded dryer for 25-30 minutes rinse your hair with cool water and style as usual. I also like to use Carols Daughter leave in conditioner Tui and Tui oil. Okay here goes here's my secret I use a satin wrap called satinsaak and it can be found at www.satinsaak.com. This will keep you braids looking fresh until you take them out.
Take down: saturate your braids in a conditioner of your choice and sleep with a conditioning cap over night and then take them out. If you don't have enough patience you can go to your braid shop and have them take them down for about 40.00 but do not skip the conditioning part it is very important. If your local here are a few braid shops I recommend LaDiva on Western and University and Malobe on Lake Street. On the radar MBA braids on Rice street. If you know of a good braid shop leave the name and in the comments section.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
BLUSH AND NUDE LIPS
Since I'm at home chillin with a bum hand all of my creative juices are flowing. When I was a little girl there was a beautiful lady at my church named Shug and no not Shug Avery. Anyway Shug had her hair feathered with a part and feathered in the back almost like Farrah Fosett but African American but wait........ she looked like Natalie Cole in one of her early album covers. What I remember most about Shug is that she wore the latest fashions smelled good and always had on blush and glossy lipstick. The blush, I think every black women used this and appled their cheek and then blushed it up into the hair line at least that's what I saw my mother do. Seriously, some looked like clowns and some looked like they should have been standing on the corner trying to sell it. Wowsa, black women have had a love hate relationship with Blush. There are some things to keep in mind while picking your shade and applying blush. I recently became excited about blush again since NARS came out with Orgasm a few years back. I loved the shade and that I works well with all shades. Then I went to the MAC counter where my artist Jen hooked me up with a few more shades. On a shopping trip with my friends I did notice that my friends gravitated to the blush and it looked so good on them. So here are my picks for Blush according to light, medium, and dark.
It is easier to tell you what not to do while applying blush than how to apply it here goes: Do not apply close to the nose, on the apples of your cheek this technique too much, and in a C around the eye and please do not use bronzer as blush.
*The best tip: Apply blush before all other make up for the best results and the most natural look. This technique gives you the well rested, glow and pop look. My favorite blush brush is MAC 116 the best.
Dark/Deep tones: The most flattering shades for deep and dark skin tones are plums, currants, mauve's and pinks. My picks MAC Pinkswoon, MAC Mineralized Blush in Love Joy and Gleeful. These can be found at http://www.maccosmetics.com/. Nars Super Orgasm, http://www.narscosmetics.com/, and Smashbox soft lights this one is so beautiful you won't stop looking at yourself in the mirror. This is a illuminating formula that compliments any skin tone. http://www.smashbox.com/.
Medium skin tones: The flattering shades for medium skin tones are plums, mauve's, pinks, coral and peach shades. If you fix in this category try: MAC Dolly Mix, Coppertone, Melba. www.maccosmetic.com.
Light skin tones: The flattering shades for light skin tones are coral, apricot, pink and gold. Try MAC CoyGirl, Tenderling http://www.maccosmetic.com/. NARS Super Orgasm and Soft Lights http://www.narscosmetics.com/.
What I'm most excited is a new make line by an African American Women is Color by Cynde Watson http://www.hsn.com/
These are so fabulous there lip pencils that are so creamy and silky that go on so effortlessly and look soooooooo good. These pencils create the perfect nude lip and you can mix and match the colors and it comes in a convenient case and sharpener. My pick would be the Nude Collection and I'm ordering the Pink Lip Color Lip Kit soon these pencils are absolutely fabulous and so easy to use. Smashbox has a similar product the Nude Lip Pencil love these paired with Untamed Lip gloss. These pencils compliment any skin tone and shade. We all can use them. Let me know what you think of these picks in the commet box. Oh, before I go this is Divalicious its a perfume atomizer that you can carry in your purse made of chocolate crystals by Brown Sugar by Justine Simmons simply FABU. http://www.hsn.com/
It is easier to tell you what not to do while applying blush than how to apply it here goes: Do not apply close to the nose, on the apples of your cheek this technique too much, and in a C around the eye and please do not use bronzer as blush.
*The best tip: Apply blush before all other make up for the best results and the most natural look. This technique gives you the well rested, glow and pop look. My favorite blush brush is MAC 116 the best.
Dark/Deep tones: The most flattering shades for deep and dark skin tones are plums, currants, mauve's and pinks. My picks MAC Pinkswoon, MAC Mineralized Blush in Love Joy and Gleeful. These can be found at http://www.maccosmetics.com/. Nars Super Orgasm, http://www.narscosmetics.com/, and Smashbox soft lights this one is so beautiful you won't stop looking at yourself in the mirror. This is a illuminating formula that compliments any skin tone. http://www.smashbox.com/.
Medium skin tones: The flattering shades for medium skin tones are plums, mauve's, pinks, coral and peach shades. If you fix in this category try: MAC Dolly Mix, Coppertone, Melba. www.maccosmetic.com.
Light skin tones: The flattering shades for light skin tones are coral, apricot, pink and gold. Try MAC CoyGirl, Tenderling http://www.maccosmetic.com/. NARS Super Orgasm and Soft Lights http://www.narscosmetics.com/.
What I'm most excited is a new make line by an African American Women is Color by Cynde Watson http://www.hsn.com/
These are so fabulous there lip pencils that are so creamy and silky that go on so effortlessly and look soooooooo good. These pencils create the perfect nude lip and you can mix and match the colors and it comes in a convenient case and sharpener. My pick would be the Nude Collection and I'm ordering the Pink Lip Color Lip Kit soon these pencils are absolutely fabulous and so easy to use. Smashbox has a similar product the Nude Lip Pencil love these paired with Untamed Lip gloss. These pencils compliment any skin tone and shade. We all can use them. Let me know what you think of these picks in the commet box. Oh, before I go this is Divalicious its a perfume atomizer that you can carry in your purse made of chocolate crystals by Brown Sugar by Justine Simmons simply FABU. http://www.hsn.com/
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