Day 1 of 365 Challenge

Day 1

Day 1: hopes, dreams and plans with a picture of yourself.

My aspirations for the next year of my life will be to get started on my book club, open mic and finish editing my novel and submit it to more publishing companies.

I plan to continue to commit myself to improving myself as a poet and growing as an artist in general.

I will finish and publish my second poetry book this year.

I will try and make myself more open to those around me and not let my fears dictate my social or personal life.

I will continue to dream and promote myself into financial independence.

I hope to continue to grow as a natural hair advocate and help people of color everywhere learn to love us as we are, whether natural or relaxed, and respect each other’s decisions to live our lives the way we please.

I will continue to improve both my health and my body.

I hope to be a much better me when I read this 364 days from now.

The Color Curse

The Color Curse

There has been much debate about color and natural hair. A lot of people argue that dying your hair alters it from its natural state and therefore nulls your natural status. I cannot say that I agree, probably because I, like many other naturals, have a weakness for some color. Part of the reason that I enjoy being natural is because I can easily change my hair and try new things, one of those things is colors.

Today, I plan to try a new color in my hair and will discuss the ways to care for your hair for dying purposes.

A lot of people like to deep condition before and after they dye their hair.

Here are a few ingredients to consider for your pre and/or DC next time you dye your hair.

Hair food

·        Banana: rich in potassium, natural oils, carbs and vitamins that soften air and protect elasticity preventing split ends and breakage.

o   Also enhances the sheen of hair, encourage growth and control dandruff
o   Can be difficult to remove

·        Beets: high in crabs, low in fat, source of folic acid, beta-carotene, chlorophyll, potassium, vitamin C, iron and antioxidants.

o   Also can be a natural dye

·        Carrots: the juice can be added to conditioner to give your hair an extra boost of nutrients.

o   Can be mixed with beets to color hair
o   Can be used to restore limp hair

·        Avocado: rich in several vitamins, copper and potassium

o   Will strengthen air and make soft and silky

·        Yogurt: rich in zinc, calcium, lactic acid, vitamins B1, B2, B-6, B-12, protein and yeast

o   Promotes hair growth
o   Makes easy to comb and get rid of knots

·        Eggs: packed with vitamin A, D, E and fatty acids

o   Used for shine, moisturizer and conditioner

·        Olive oil: smooth, shine, soften and condition

These items are equally good for your hair when ingested and when applied directly. I encourage you to try as many as you can, you may learn something new about your hair!

Choosing to dye your hair is a big commitment to your hair, if you thought the maintenance was tedious before, and then it is definitely not a step you would want to take. But, for those of you who are ready to dye and ready to commit to the upkeep afterwards to help restore the health of your hair and maintain it then I wish you much luck.

Here are my results post dye (which I immediately followed with a dc consisting of: avocado, lemon essence, hone

What are your favorite homemade dc's?

Natural Love

Natural Love

What better way to celebrate this day of love then with a little Natural Hair Porn: Couple’s Edition!

Hope you enjoy!

Wicked Wednesdays

Wicked Wednesdays

It’s that time of the week again!

Happy Weeeddnnneesssday!

Don’t forget to share your hair porn with us as well!

Submit all pictures to spokenheart_mf@aol.com

Hair Porn (Cree Summers)

Shawna getting ready for an open mic!

Hair Porn (Kim Wayans)

Media Mouth Mel showing off her new cut!

Hair Porn (Lauryn Hill)

Chrissy getting ready for an evening out!

Happy Nappy Complex

 

 

Happy Nappy Complex

 

You would think with this natural hair movement going on in America I would finally stop hearing stupid questions like: "can i touch your hair?"
or even more annoying: " Girl when you gone do something with your hair?"
or most annoying of all statements from black women about how they cant quit the creamy crack because they hair too nappy,
that's like black men saying they don't date black women because they have too much attitude,
we just weren't made to lay down
soooo
Forget what ya heard
because i am my hair
this disorganized chaos is me at my best
twisted, picked and pinned up on the left
braided, plaited or all over my head
even when I'm hungry my hair get fed
mayonnaise, honey, eggs, coconut oil
cinnamon and oats stretch from curl to curl
or should i say strand to strand
cause my hair be just as confused as the curious hands
that flock to my fro like flies
oblivious to my rolling eyes
but most of the time, i don't really care
even i cant stop touching my hair
especially since i tend to be a product junkie
Shea Moisture, Organix, my hair is my personal little lab monkey
and I'm rarely afraid to experiment
whether with avocado guts or some electric blue tint
YouTube has become an educational source since Dec 210
before that it was low fades and earrings bigger than big
now its Afro that reach our for God
3 strand twists and Bantu knots
its like my hair embodies versatility
and an uncanny ability
to display the definition of just chill
a mind of it's own, it does whatever it feels
and i just get to accent it
I'm usually quite meek but bring up my hair and it gets passionate
so many reasons a woman of color should never be ashamed of her crown
when they get to be preaching bout they naps i cant help but frown
ain't no such thing as bad hair just hair that's misunderstood
we just need to rethink our definition of good
cause too many women with the bone straight be wishing they hair stood proud like ours
be wishing they could make fros that looked like chocolate clouds
now I'm not bashing the relaxed just saying if they wanna know the meaning of undisturbed
they should kick that creamy crack to the curb
and come rock with this real stuff
this shocking face at how good it feels stuff
this hop out the bed and fluff it out swag
wash and go, smelling like a fruit snack
its a lesson in patience but a bigger lesson in self love
a test of confidence and just when you've had enough
it helps u find a friend that can pry from your hand the box of creamy crack
understand the criticism and helps u snap back
so despite my love for India i just cant agree
cause my hair says almost everything there is to say about me
©, 2012, Spokenheart

From "Abnormal Behavior" by Spokenheart available for purchase at http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/Spokenheart

A Day In The Fro of Michelle Ellechim

A Day in The Fro of Michelle Ellechim

 

On a Purple Fold Down couch across from a homemade art studio and surrounded by several works in progress on her living room wall, I sit with Michelle Ellechim of The Assembly Era. Michelle is a graphic designer who recently dipped into the world of painting. Today we will be discussing how this all became the platform for upcoming Art Exhibit "Giants & Elephants" and of course how her natural hair journey effected this positive movement.

 

Q:  So let's start with the basics, how long have you been natural?

Michelle: I would say about 2 years now.

 

Q: What prompted you to go natural?

Michelle: I was looking for a different style.

 

           (Michelle Ellechim Pre-Natural)

 

 

Q: What method did you use to go natural?

Michelle: I had micros in my hair which I grew out for about 2 months, before that I had not gotten for a month, then I did a big chop after 2 months of growth with the micros.

 

Q: How did people react to you going natural?

Michelle: Weird, like I was getting a heart transplant or something. I cut it off in my grandmother's bathroom so my family was looking at me crazy.

 

Q: Would you say that being natural has changed you in anyway?

Michelle: Yes, I use to be the girl with the expensive weaves so, in a way it liberated me. It enlightened me, felt like I was discovering something new.

 

 







Q: Would you say that being natural has affected your art in anyway?

Michelle: I guess it effected how I see women. When I paint women I include coils and kinks now instead of waves and tresses.

 

Q: What are you most looking forward to for your upcoming show?

Michelle: I am most looking forward to my family finally seeing the bigger picture. So they can finally see that the choices that I made were worth it and that I think I know what I am doing, to see that I am trying.

 

Q: How long have you been painting?

Michelle: It has been about 2 years for painting and I started getting into art around that time too.

 

Q: How long have you been working on the "Giants & Elephants" exhibit?

Michelle: 6 months

 

Q: What is the meaning behind the title "Giants & Elephants"?

Michelle: Well, Giant as in my belief is huge. I chose Elephant because I believe that if I were any animal, it would be an Elephant. I say that because of their respect for life and nature. Elephant's have something that is called a Dharma which is like their master's call. When ever they hear it they drop everything and stop at nothing to reach their goal. I feel like art is my Dharma.

 

Q: What is your favorite piece you have produced for this show?

Michelle: Well, it was my Basquiat before it was stolen from the studio I was working out of.

 

Q: Wow, well what would now be your piece that you are most excited about?

Michelle: You gone have to get back to me. I am not done making pieces yet. I got some stuff you not ready for. I got a lot of different ideas and different mediums that I want to try. I am just proud of it all.

 

Q: Who would you say is your biggest art influence?

Michelle: I don't have one yet. I am still discovering. I don't know a lot of names but I like the Expressionist like Basquiat and the Surrealist like Dali. I haven't had a first love yet.

 

Q: What is your favorite artistic medium to use?

Michelle: Sharpies. I love drawing lines and using Sharpies on anything.

 

Q: And, what is your favorite product to use on your curls?

Michelle: Organix Coconut Milk line and raw Coconut Oil

 

Q: Lastly, what is your signature hairstyle?

Michelle: I don't really have one, I guess my head wraps.

 

 

Come out on March 1st for a one of a kind experience. You can find more information on "Giants & Elephants" on the website listed above or on Facebook. Reserve your spot today!