Christine's Big Chop

Christine’s Big Chop

Today we will be sharing the big chop of Christine a.k.a. Chicklet. Previously known for her unique lacefront collection, she is now setting new trends with her exclusive haircuts. I am so excited to share her natural journey with you guys. Enjoy!

What motivated you to go natural?

I was motivated by how badly my medicine was damaging my hair.

Before you went natural, you use to have a large variety of hairstyles that you wore. Were you afraid that you would lose options with natural hair?

Oh definitely, I was not planning on wearing my natural hair due to the fact that I was the lace front queen. I was beyond scared!

Do you still feel like you are limited?

Oh no! I found out through your help and my barber, Giddy, I actually have more choices than ever and more variety going forward as my hair grows.

You kept saying you were going to go back to your lace fronts when you were getting your hair cut, do you miss them now?

Lol, yea I did say that because I thought I would not like it when it was cut. But, slowly I began to like. It was a huge change for me!

Do you feel like you have changed as a result of letting your hair go?

In a good way, I changed my wardrobe and all, but, I’m still the same Chicklet with natural hair

What is your favorite haircut that you have gotten so far?

My favorites are the ones my barber does with designs and I use colored eye liner pencils to add a pop of color to the designs.

Do you have any hair goals?

Yea, to get through this middle stage and grow it so I can do some color, and Mohawks, it has become fun!

Do you have any favorite products yet? If so, what are they, and why?

Ummm...no favorite products yes, it’s still short. But, I use Taliah Waajid to make it curly and it works well for the middle area and love the argan oil.

Lastly, what is your advice to any nervous women that are thinking about doing the big chop?

Just take strong liquor shot and do it! I’m happy I did it; I never knew the unlimited options I had. It’s the best decision I ever made for my hair! 

Would you like to share your natural hair journey? Contact me on "Adventures With Dandelions" facebook page or send it to spokenheart_mf@aol.com!

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.

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.

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?