Wicked Wednesday: Afro's and Fashion

Wicked Wednesday: Afro's and Fashion

Pat Cleveland

Pat Cleveland was discovered by the editor of Vogue in 1967 as she was traveling on a New York subway. Her career took off in the 70’s as people became mesmerized by her mulatto features. With a Cherokee, Irish and African America heritage she was marked by light skin and flowing black hair that allowed her to "pass" enough to use "Whites Only" washrooms.

Her distinctive features allowed her great fame and success but not enough to disenchant her with the obvious racism and lack of respect for her heritage. She has recounted stories of her and her fellow colleagues being attacked and even attempted rape from the KKK. This lack of respect prompted her to move to Paris to further pursue her career and she vowed to never return until US Vogue printed its first black cover.

After getting married and making a family she mostly retired but still passed her love of fashion and modeling her daughter, Anna von Ravenstein.

                               Grace Jones

Grace Jones is a Jamaican born model, singer and actress who began capturing fashion lover’s hearts in the 70’s. Her striking features and androgynous looks were hard to ignore and her daring fashion sense secured her as a fashion icon.

By the end of the 70’s she had secured a record deal and secured a name for herself on the US dance charts and earning her the title "Queen of the Gay Discos" After an anti disco movement she released more experimental work.

Then she took a break to focus on film work and  

She has also acted in a number of movies like James Bond and Boomerang.

Eventually she did return to her music career and is still performing to this day.

Donyale Luna

Donyale Luna is considered one of the first black covergirls and was the first black woman to be on a cover of Bazaar. She considered a pioneer as far as black women and the fashion industry grows. She was discovered in the same year as the Civil Rights Act by David McCabe who rushed her to meet Nancy White. Nancy was so engrossed by her beauty that she immediately had her drawn and featured on the cover of Harper’s Bazaar.

At the tender age of 16, she was whisked away to New York and enveloped in the world of fashion and beauty where her career took off as quickly as it started.

She found herself hurled into a world of famous friends with access to anything they wanted when she learned of her mother killing her father out of self defense. She found herself immersed in world of drugs and alcohol despite her firm belief against drug abuse.

Like most talented African Americans of her time, she fled to London and her career recovered.  

At the time of her death she left behind her 18 month old daughter, Dream.

(Dream Cazzaniga, daughter of Donyale Luna)

Alek Wek

Alek was discovered in the UK in the 90’s shortly after her family fled her hectic home of Civil War amidst a dangerous Civil War.

She first caught attention when she made face in a Tina Turner video and then became a common face in ads by Clinique, Victoria Secret and Donna Karan, amongst others.

She has also appeared in quite a few music videos since her career has taken off.

She has also worked on the US Committee for Refugees during her time working for humanitarian rights.

She is both an author, she released the auto-biography "Alek: From Sudanese Refugee to International Supermodel" in 2007, and handbag designer.

She is also a missionary for World Vision, an ambassador for Doctors Without Borders and a volunteer for UNICEF.

 

Jade

Jade was discovered in Cycle 6 of ANTM. Raised in Philly of African American and Indian heritage, Jade had prior experience in modeling and music videos before her discovery on ANTM. During her time on ANTM she was constantly ridiculed and scolded for her arrogance, although she struggled to recognize this trait in herself. Since her appearance on the show she has had much success in her modeling career.

She has even opened her own productions company "Biracial Butterfly Productions" and featured in several ads for Apple Bottom Clothing Line.

Wicked Wednesday

Wicked Wednesday

It’s that time of the week again, where we celebrate all things beautiful and natural!

Wedddnnnesssdaaaay!

Ayesha in her vanity mirror looking pretty amazing!

 

Hair Porn

Fiona out and about working her protective style!

Hair Porn

Anomaly with her TWA, making eyes at her husband!

Hair Porn

Hope you enjoyed this week's edition of Wicked Wednesday!

I look forward to posting your pics out on the town rocking your natural do's!

Send all submissions to spokenheart_mf@aol.com, we always need more to keep Wicked Wednesdays wicked!

Oil Pulling

Oil Pulling

Recently, a close friend of mine introduced me to the ancient Ayurveda process known as oil pulling. Oil pulling is a technique of pulling the toxins out of your body through your gums. It is said to be a total; healing process for your body and assist with illnesses such as: gingivitis, halitosis, eczema, ulcers, diseases of the stomach and much more. It is also believed to assist with the whitening of teeth, which I have noticed during my short time doing this process. It is not an easy process and also not very enjoyable; but the health benefits are well worth it. Listed below are the steps.

1. On an empty stomach pour one tablespoon of Sesame Oil into your mouth. Other oils that are popularly used are Pure Olive Oil, Coconut Oil and Sunflower Oil but, Sesame Oil is the recommended oil. It is recommended to be done in the morning before eating or drinking; if you choose to do it later or multiple times day then it should be done 4 hours after eating and 1 hour after drinking.

2. Move the oil around in your mouth without swallowing it (as it will become filled with the toxins and parasites that are being removed from your body). Do not gargle it, but move it around like mouthwash. You do not have to swish it around vigorously, just in a relaxed manner. You should swish it around in your mouth for 15-20 minutes without swallowing or spitting.

      Once the oil has become filled with the toxins it will start to turn white and thin from being mixed with your saliva.

3. Once you have reached your time limit, spit the oil out and rinse your mouth with warm salt water. While this step is optional, the salt acts as a antimicrobial, helps to mollify inflammation and helps to rid any toxins that may have stuck around after the spitting.

You’re done!

This process can be done every morning or a couple times a week, whichever you are most comfortable with. But, please understand that this is not an overnight detoxification. It takes time to see results, but your health, your teeth and your breath will thank you for it!

What are some natural health techniques that you indulge in?

Walgreens Sale

Walgreens Sale

Ladies and Gentleman, may I have your attention puhleeeezzz!!!!

I stopped by Walgreens this morning to re-up on nearly the only product I use in my hair, Organix. While in the store I became filled with joy to find that it was on sale, bogo, along with a lot of other great popular natural products. I decided to share my wealth with you guys. I hope that you find somehting that can help you, if not then go try Organix brand. My tope three are the Coconut Milk shampoo, conditioner and serum for softness and smell good, Morroccan shampoo and conditioner for shine and softness and the Keratin shampoo and conditioner to battle shrinkage.

- Optimum Brand Products
- Luster's Pink Sheen Hair Spray
- Herbal Essences Hello Hydration Moisturizing Shampoo (I love the long lasting moisture that this shampoo provides!) and other Herbal Essences products
- Nubiam Heritage Products
- As I Am Products (The only thing that keeps me from being a product junkie is money, but I have always wanted to try this expensive brand and a large number of their products are also on sale. )
-  Agadir Argan Oil Products
- Organix Brand Products

I hope that you find something that you like on this list!

What is your favorite product to use?

A Piece of Cake

A Piece of Cake

As you all may or may not have noticed, last week was a bit sparse with the posts. I do apologize.

I am a sucker for a good memoir and a sap for a good book, last week a friend of mine provided me both.

Last week, I barely slept and spent every waking moment either reading this book or thinking about reading the book. I was very amused that I was reading a book all about addiction and felt like I was addicted to the book.

This book "A Piece of Cake" is a about a woman named Cupcake Brown who was found her mother dead in her room at the tender age of ten and before she could blink was ripped from her family and thrown into California’s foster care system. By 11 she was an alcoholic prostitute and eventually became a gang member and addict of almost every drug known to man.

Eventually after hitting rock bottom, she pulled it together and graduated from law school magna cum laude.

I am the type of person that struggles to make human connections but becomes extremely emotionally invested in books. This book took such a toll on me but it is one of the best books that I have read in a while. Not only because of the rawness of the author telling her own story first hand or the struggles that kept pouring on to her but because of everything that she overcame. This is definitely a book that I recommend to anyone who enjoys reading.

I am now reading “City of Bones”; hopefully it will not be as emotionally consuming. But I am sure it will be great!

What are you reading right now?

Long Hair, Does Care: From the Inside

Long Hair, Does Care:

From the inside

Most naturals dream of having a huge afro and twist out that race to the ground. I dream of having the world’s longest afro one day, but retaining this length is not easy. On average our hair grows about 1/2" per month, thats about 6" per year.

 When I was growing up, I was led to believe that black women just could not grow long hair, and based on what I saw as a child it was something I held to be true. I was under the impression that the only reason my hair was even kind of long was because I wasn’t fully black. In fact, it wasn’t until high school that I realized this wasn’t true.

Now as naturals, it is harder than ever to debunk this myth. Not only due to the fact that no matter how long our hair grows, it always shrinks back up to our foreheads and kills our dreams.  But, also due to the fact that we must work even harder to take care of our hair and making sure it is getting all the proper nutrients and moisture that it needs to remain healthy.

This is care that we must make sure we are taking from both the inside of our bodies and the outside. First, I will be discussing the things we must do from the inside to ensure hair health and promote growth.

·         The primary composition of your hair is keratin which is a protein that is formed with amino acids. To grow new hair, we must produce amino acids by consuming protein. A few ways that we can ensure that we are consuming healthy protein is by incorporating the following foods into our diets:  lean meat, fish, eggs, nuts, beans, and soy products.

·         Other nutrients that are needed for both healthy hair and bodies are iron and zinc. Iron and zinc deficits can cause both anemia and poor hair. 

o   In order to transmit oxygen to our cells and help our body build protein we must have sufficient iron. Good sources of iron to incorporate into your diet include: leans meats, poultry, eggs, beans, lentils, tofu and soybeans.

o   Zinc works to repair tissue and keep oil glands working as they should. Good sources of Zinc include: peanut butter, lean meat, oyster, crabs, poultry, pumpkin seeds, chickpeas or fortified grain products.

·         This one may be hard, but don’t be afraid of fat. We need healthy fats to promote hair growth. Fats help absorb Vitamins A, D, E and K. It is important to limit fat intake and primarily intake unsaturated fats and fatty acids like Omega 3.

·         A lack of sufficient Vitamin C in your diet can lead to dry, weak, dull hair that is more vulnerable to breakage. Vitamin C builds collagen which assist in producing new hair cells. Another process that Vitamin C assists with is the absorption of iron. You can get your Vitamin C from sources such as: citrus fruits, pineapples, strawberries, guava, broccoli, kale and peppers.

·         Another vitamin that supports healthy hair and growth is Vitamin B. While there is no scientific proof that shows that taking Vitamin B supplements such as riboflavin or biotin will make hair grow, there is evidence to support that a lack Vitamin B can cause hair loss and hair thinning. Sources of natural Vitamin B include: seafood, spinach, oatmeal, whole grains, soybean products, lean dairy, lean meats, bananas, lentils, potatoes, peas, beets, broccoli and artichokes.

So, in order to have long healthy hair, we must take care of our bodies. Consuming these foods and vitamins will not only benefit our hair health but will also improve our overall health!

A Day in the Fro of Sunny

A Day in the Fro of Sunny

Sunny is a born again natural and owner of

"...And She Bakes!",

this is her hair story.

Q: To begin, how long have you been natural?

Sunny: About 2 ½ years now

Q: Wow! I didn’t realize. How did you go about your natural journey (i.e.: big chop or transition)?

Sunny: Well, this was actually my second BC. The first time I cut my hair was really spur of the moment. Big mistake! I wasn't sure what to do with it, and it was cut all wrong. So, I immediately got braids. Once it started growing out, I was doing "wash and gos" before I knew what they were called. I got a texturizer and rocked the fro for about 6 months then got a relaxer, yes on top of the texturized hair. Another mistake! So for my 21st birthday I got a cute pixie cut but didn't want relaxers anymore. I let it grow out for 2 months then cut off all the relaxed ends. And here I am 2 years later, relaxer free!!

1st Big Chop                                                                  2nd Big Chop

Q:  That is quite a story! How old were you when you got your first relaxer?

Sunny:  I think I was about ten; I was definitely in elementary school.

Q:  Would you say that the decision to no longer relax your hair affected your attitude or view towards yourself or others in anyway?

Sunny: I can definitely say I'm 100 xs more confident! It’s a liberating experience. It’s like I've found me and I can Express that and share it with others. Meeting other naturals is like bonding with a long lost sister.

Q: I love the way naturals greet each other, it’s like women finally found a way to show love to one another. How about with your baking? Has it affected it in any way?

Sunny: It’s made me more conscious about what I put in my food. I like healthier, all natural foods, but there's no good substitute for real sugar and real butter. Just try baking a sugar cookie with fake sugar. It's gross.

Q:  Can you tell us more about your company "...AND She Bakes!"?

Sunny:  "...AND She Bakes!" has been a dream of mine for years now. I've always wanted a bakery that caters to different tastes: off the wall cupcake flavors, decadent cookies, classy and elegant cakes or the classic flavorings, i.e. chocolate, vanilla, etc. The name comes from a woman being well put together, good head on her shoulders, carries herself well...AND She Bakes! Lol she can do it all.

Q: I like it! What can we expect from "...AND She Bakes!" for the year 2013?

Sunny: I'm praying for big things! This month is my debut. I'll be presenting myself and unique dessert samples this Saturday the 16th at Sacred Sounds at the Roosevelt in Ybor. I'll be providing catering needs and I'm also in the works of getting a food truck so I can bring "...AND She Bakes!" to you.

Q: Wow! That sounds great. Is there anywhere that your customers can find information about you and your company at?

Sunny: They can find me on fb:

Facebook.com/andshebakes13 for updates, new kitchen creations and contact info and

Also follow me on Instagram: @andshebakes

 

Q: What are your hair plans for 2013?

Sunny: For 2013, I'm focused on the health of my hair. Getting down to the basics of what my hair needs to thrive and sticking to a healthy hair regimen. On a more superficial level, I love color! So I'm going to be experimenting with brighter hues like richer reds or even purples. There's a semi-permanent brand out there, "Manic Panic" that lets you mix their dyes to make your own colors. I'm doing that!

Q: What is your favorite product to use in your hair?

Sunny:  Well, coconut oil is my favorite for sealing in moisture. It's one of my favorite scents. I think because I bake, I love smelling like coconut and vanilla every day.

Q: Do you have a signature hairstyle?

Sunny: I always seem to do a twist out with a design on the right side.

Q: What is your advice to those of us who have dreams that we are afraid to chase?

Sunny:  Be afraid of them that means it is something worth fighting for. Let that fear bring out your bravery. But you must be confident in whatever it is you want to do. Self-confidence will get you far.

Stay tuned for a local giveaway from "...AND She Bakes!", must be a follower of "Adventures with Dandelion" and like our Facebook page: Facebook.com/curlsbyspoken to qualify for the giveaway!

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!

Look Ma, No Fears!

Look Ma, No Fears!

During my time as a natural hair advocate, I have run into a number of naturals who are still afraid to wear their hair just as it is. I understand! I am not exempt. There are times when I fall under the spell of needing to "do my hair" before I can walk out the door. But, it is something that I have been working on since I started growing my hair. My mama always said I was a wild one, so it may be easier for me to adjust to my unruly mane but I also want to encourage my other curlies. So, I want to share with all of you what I share with them.

     I love being natural, because I feel like it is my middle finger to the world. I mean to say that I feel like it is my way of telling others that I do not need to conform to any standard of beauty in order to feel beautiful. I do not need to comb out my naps, nor do I need to flat iron or shove them into a rubber band. God gave them to me in this big puff because that is how she decided I would look best. If women with flowing tresses do not have to be ashamed or alter the way their hair grows out of their scalps, then why should we?

     Now I know, it can be a lot to deal with, on those days I like to get out of bed, give my fro a little tug back to life and get on with my day. I want all women and men who choose to go down this journey to be able to feel the same way. It isn’t easy with people constantly in our ears saying "When you gone do your hair?" or the side eyes of disgust shooting through our fros trying to lay them down. But, who cares? If it’s not your hair then it will be your outfit or your makeup or anything else that someone can find to criticize. You will never be perfect enough for this world, but you can always be perfect enough for yourself.

     I want to challenge all my fearful naturals to just wake up one morning and fluff out that fro, give it a little shine and walk out the door (after you get dressed, of course). Feel the freedom running through your coils from not trying to make your fro fit in. It’s a fro baby! Once you started down this road, you left fitting in behind! Don't use that scarf to hide your fro anymore, use it to accent it!

     Please, keep taking care of your hair. But, don’t be afraid to just let it be sometimes! The point of being natural is to be natural!

P.S. I also worked on my fears! In my hand below are the clipped ends of my fro! It only hurt a little! I’m so excited about the growth that I made room for! And yours too ;)

    

A Day in The Curls of Kristina

A Day in The Curls of Kristina

Kristina is 3C natural raising a little curly. This is her hair journey. Enjoy!

Q: How long have you been natural?

Kristina: I have been natural since July 2010.

Q: What prompted you to make the decision to go natural?

Kristina: I didn’t really think too much amount the benefits of being natural, I just wanted big hair.

Q: At what age did you first get a relaxer?

Kristina: It was at about 10yrs old.

Kristina pre natural

Q: Do you think it is important for little girls of color to grow up with their natural hair for a while before getting a relaxer? If so why?

Kristina: Young girls, yes. I think that should wait until they are old enough to understand the benefits of being natural vs. having a relaxer.

Q: You have a daughter; do you plan on relaxing her hair at any point?

Kristina: My daughter is 3 now, if I was still relaxed I’m sure I would have thought about having her hair relaxed at some point. However, now that I’m natural, I’d never. I’ll try my best to teach her the beauty of being natural and the benefits of healthy hair.

Q: Do you think being/going natural has affected the way you raise your children?

Kristina: No, not really. I notice myself doing different things with my Daughters hair now. Things like trying to prevent damage and to help with the growth of her hair, but as for the boys, not so much.

Q: Do you ever miss relaxers?

Kristina: I’ll never go back to a relaxer.

Q: What is your favorite thing about your curls?

Kristina: They give me big hair!

Q: What is your guilty hair pleasure (something you do to your hair even though you know it is not necessarily good fort it)?

Kristina: I recently had my hair straighten. I don’t get it blown out often because of the risk of heat damage. But I loved how silky it made my hair... and the feeling of being able to run my figures through my hair was great as well.

Q: What is your signature hair style?

Kristina: The part-to-the-side "wash and go".

Q: What is your favorite thing to use in your hair?
Kristina: At this time it’s "Curls Unleashed Curl defining Creme".

Q: Do you have any advice for mothers that are struggling to maintain their daughter’s natural hair and considering relaxers?

Kristina: DONT DO IT! I know some days may be harder than others however; your daughter will love you for it in the end. I’m sure the reason why my mother relaxed my hair was to make it easier to control. At the time it seemed ok because I didn’t understand the difference. Me now being natural, I would never advise someone to relax their hair or their child’s hair. I found that combing thru my daughters hair while conditioning makes it easier for the both of us.

What are your thoughts on little curlies and when it is appropriate to introduce them to relaxers?