Twisted Loc Bangs

I had some fun with my loc's last week. I was inspired by Thierry's curls, and came up with some cool styles. On Wednesday, I was just testing it out and had some cute locs that where twisted, and pinned up.  On Thursday, I pumped up the style a little bit and got some height.   I am hoping to get a chance to do some loc tutorial video's (if any one is interested) sometime in the future.

Interview with Teri LaFlesh

Check out my interview with Teri LaFlesh, author of the book Curly Like Me.  Teri talks to Naturally Beautiful Hair Website & Blog about what motivated her to write her book and to reach out to others.

"I didn't want to see anyone else with hair like mine, have to go through with theirs, what I did with mine."
~  Teri LaFlesh


On Teri's website, she talks about her book, and why it can help:


"Curly Like Me is the off-the-grid, do-it-yourself owner's manual for tightly curly hair. Within the book you'll find:
* How to wear your own curls in their natural curl patterns
* Complete curly hair care guide, with simple, easy-to-follow instructions and over 250 original photographs and illustrations (done by yours truly)
* The best products, tools, and ingredients
* Pain-free techniques on how to comb and style your curls, or your child's curls
* Over 30 easy curl-enhancing hairstyle ideas, tips for growing out your perm, and more
* How to avoid costly treatments, products, marketing misinformation, and frequent salon visits so you can enjoy your natural curls, without pain, chemicals, or the use of weaves or extensions
* The story (with photos) of Teri’s passage from hair broken by relaxers, texturizers, improper care, trying to force it to conform, and fighting her weave addiction—to finally understanding her own curls. Now cherished and happy, her natural hair reaches well past her waist.

End your struggles with broken, damaged hair and begin your journey to thriving natural curls. Applying the ideas and information in this book will end the frustration and heartache of the past so you can love your hair the way it really is. Curly Like Me empowers you to take back the care of your hair so you can let your own beautiful curls shine."

To see Teri's interview, go to Naturally Beautiful Hair's Website Interview Page.   You can also find Teri on the following websites:

Website - Tightly Curly
Book - Curly Like Me
Blog - Former Mushroom Haired Child
Her readers Before & After pictures 

Ben & Phoebe's Daybed

I recently helped my cousin and his gorgeous fiance {they just got engaged on the weekend} with the cushioning on this lovely daybed which they purchased from Cotswold for their beach house. We selected an array of brightly coloured exterior fabrics for the scatter cushions and a trusty navy and white stripe exterior fabric for the seat cushions and voila this is the result. I just love it and apparently they do too!!

Crocheted earrings from Fatemeh's Etsy Store

I meet Fatemeh, creator of Fatemeh's Jewelry and Accessories at the San Francisco Natural Hair Event I attended in SF last month. I had a chance to see her beautiful handmade collection of earrings and hair accessories. I received my pair of beautiful blue crocheted earrings from Fatemeh last week, and wanted to share it with you. I think they are so cute and very unique!  They definitely stand out from any other earrings that I own.  To see more of Fatemah's collection, check out her Etsy Store: http://www.etsy.com/shop/fnggrant

 

Friday Flowers

This morning, whilst running very late for school drop off, I raced around my new old garden and cut some foliage for an arrangement I was wanting to create for the shop today. Here is the result above. The arrangement sits on a beautiful oval Antique table which actually just sold to one of my lovely clients this afternoon. I am loving big glass vases filled with masses of leaves at the moment. Luckily my garden seems to have the perfect plants for this type of arrangement.

Nicole Renee Boisseau

Nicole Renee Boisseau talks to Naturally Beautiful Hair about what has inspired her to stop perming her hair & embrace her natural texture. And what her how she maintains her natural hair.

"My children inspired my natural journey. As a mother of 7 saving time and money was very important to me so I decided to stop relaxing my hair. My natural hair enlightenment came as a result of a store visit. A woman in the store asked me about my hair (it had only been 4 months natural at that point) and she told me about a study that was done on deceased African American women with chemically treated hair. Studies showed their autopsy results listing these women with a neon green slimy substance under the scalp and on the brain. Having heard that, there was no turning back for me. I'm the daughter of a naturopathic doctor and for health reasons alone that was enough. After extensive research linking health problems to chemicals in skin care products and cosmetics I studied to become a Holistic Health & Beauty Specialist. Health and beauty go hand in hand.

Because of the health problems linked to chemicals in daily products that we use regularly as well as supporting other entrepreneurs in their endeavors, I strive to find organic and all natural products of the best quality that is also reasonably priced. Hair can become immune to the products with constant use so I try to switch up between 2-3 different brands of shampoo and conditioner. My favorites are Total Body Black Earth shampoo and Enhancing Herbal conditioner, also Shea Moisture Organic Raw Shea Butter Moisture Retention Shampoo and Restorative Conditioner sold at Target Stores. For moisture I use Olive Oil moisturizer, and Organic Coconut & Hibiscus Hold & Shine Moisture Mist. To twist and hold the curl pattern in my “natural” red curly ‘fro, I use Jamaican Mango & Lime Locking Crème Wax.  It is important to use the best products, but remember beauty radiates from the inside out. Nurture your spirit and soul with meditation, replenish your body with water, and get outdoors and exercise breathing in fresh air. Rid yourself of overly stressful situations and people; eat fruits, vegetables, and foods that are conducive to your own body type and lifestyle. Live, laugh, love and do all things in moderation."

In her professional field Nicole Renee Boisseau is a Holistic Health & Beauty Specialist/Entrepreneur. Her background is in the field of cosmetology; a graduate of John Amico School of Hair Design and Taliah Waajid trained in natural hair. She studied Energy Healing under her mother, renowned Dr. Sunni DNM, and also Queen Afua. Nicole Renee Boisseau has a Research Fellow Degree in Divine Metaphysics. She lives with her husband and 7 children in Chicago, IL. Creatively she is an Artist.

Black & Spiro Today

We installed a new window display at Black & Spiro today. There's lots of pretty colour in the lovely fabric drop we have hung and a beautiful Antique piece of furniture sits in front with a few bits on top including my favourite Staffordshire Dogs. Also a few people have been asking about the fabric on our lovely Antique chairs. It is a Mexican embroidered Otomi. We have this textile in quite a few colourways. It is divine.