Photo Inspiration - Usheda

Great picture from Pop Rock singer Usheda.

http://www.facebook.com/usheda

http://www.myspace.com/usheda

http://www.reverbnation.com/usheda

Nicole's Sisterloc's

Read this readers contribution from Nicole about her new Sisterloc's:

Q: How long have you been Natural? If you transitioned from process hair to natural hair, what made you want to change?

A: I have been natural for a year but unfortunately I wore weaves for that whole year. I stopped processing my hair because I thought it was an unnecessary expense since I did wear weaves and I wanted healthy hair. I now currently rock 2 day old sisterlocks. Which I am excited about!

Q: What has been the most amazing or suprising part of your having natural hair?

A: The most surprising part of going natural was how beautiful I looked with my natural fro. As sad as that sounds, I didn't know I would be so beautiful or as beautiful as I was with my long flowing weave. But I love the way I look with natural hair.

Q: What is your maintenance routine? What product do you love?

A: Right now I have a shake and go routine...still new to the sisterlocks.

Q: What advice do you have for any one that is considering going back to their natural texture or getting their hair loc'd?

A: Be fearless. Going natural is scary for black women...society has made us afraid to love ourselves the way God made us. So I would say do not be afraid to be you, because the natural you is the most beautiful. And I am so happy I stopped damaging my hair with chemicals.

Q: How can we keep up with you and your journey (for example: facebook, fotki, tumblr, twitter, and more)?

A: Facebook. I have a photo album that I will update often to show my sisterlocks journey.

Fab Party for Charity - Project Ahimsa

I went to a great party that was hosted to raise money for a charity called Project Ahimsa. It took place on Friday, September 24 in San Francisco. The theme was Bollywood Disco, and the charity is helping to raise money for underprivileged children in India that don't have music programs.   To learn more about the charity, please to go Project Ahimsa Org.

It was so much fun. There was a live band, a henna tattoo artist, amazing food, great music & people. We danced and had a blast. And best news of all, the fundraising goal for that night, was met for a great charity.

Bay Area Naturals Event Coming in October

Mark your calendars! On October 23rd, join us at "Rock Your Natural" natural hair event, hosted by Cassidy, from the  Naturalselectionblog.com.  I went to the last event hosted by Cassidy and it was lots of fun. Their will be product swaps and a chance for you to meet and connect with other Bay Area naturals.

Photography by Sidney Etienne

Beautiful Magazine Quality photographs from Photograher Sidney Etienne.  Amazing work!

"Sidney Etienne is a Haitian-born, US-raised graphic designer and photographer currently active in New York City. With a degree in visual communications from Gibbs NY, Sidney emerged as a specialist in graphic design with a broad range of skills for Sidney Etienne is a Haitian-born, US-raised graphic designer and photographer currently active in New York City.

With a degree in visual communications from Gibbs NY, Sidney emerged as a specialist in graphic design with a broad range of skills for coordinating and producing a variety of graphics products and services. He possesses expertise in digital editing, image manipulation and image restoration.

Sidney served as creative director of the groundbreaking cinematography center of Jacmel, Haiti, Cine Institute before returning to New York to work as post-production manager for KMR Group, Inc. where he has worked closely with high-end clients to administer the activities of a major production studio.

Working independently, Sidney most recently has photographed spreads of Kingsize Magazine, Supermodels Unlimited and Marie Claire. To date he has exhibited his work in NYC, Montreal, Haiti and Brazil. Sidney is available worldwide for assignments in all aspects of undertaking or producing photography including set design and retouching services." - Source

 

Location: Brooklyn, NY, 11206

Phone: 917.445.2807

http://www.sidneyetienne.com/

Facebook

How Cassadie does the Twist!

Check out Cassadie's step-by-step instructions on how she creates her two-strand twist, and what products she used to achieve this look - Natural Selection Blog. 

Amazing Detail!

Great loc styling from Thierry Baptiste.

http://www.thierrybaptiste.com/

Giveaway!! ♥ Model in a Bottle♥

I love Model in Bottle!!

One of my biggest complaints about wearing make up is that it can be messy.  It gets on your clothes, it gets on other peoples clothes when you give them hugs. And forgot about going to the gym. But the time I am done working out, my makeup has melted, leaving me looking like a hot mess.

I recently tried Model in Bottle, and I love it!!! After you apply your make up, you spray it on your face (I always cover my eyes when applying) and it keeps your make up fresh all day.  To give it a test, I used this spray on a day when it was 80 degrees out side, which is hot for an active day. And then that night I went to the gym and worked out. When I work out, I sweat a lot!  I was amazed that after a long hot day and a hardcore work out, that my make up was still fresh.  

The product is from Misikko, and they have offered to host a giveaway on the Naturally Beautiful Hair Blog.  To win the prize of one Model in a Bottle, please answer the following questions:

1.  After visiting the Misikko site, what did you learn about Model in a Bottle that you found interesting?
2.  Model in a bottle keeps your make up fresh and helps to avoid messy make up disasters. Tell us about one of your make up disasters or nightmare from the past?

For me, my biggest pet peeve is when I give someone a hug and leave my makeup on their shoulder; and looking like a melted hot mess after work outs. 

The winner will be chosen by John, from Misikko, who will also ship the item to whom ever wins. The contest ends on September 30th. Good luck!

My new watch

Another one of my birthday presents was this watch that my boyfriend gave me. I haven't worn a watch in years so it feels a little bit strange wearing one again. However, I love it to bits and I will definitely be wearing it a lot. I find it incredibly pretty because of the vintage look that it has and the fact that the band is made of leather.

Today's been a fun day where we've been biking on an empty highway, which was pretty surreal. I'll show you some pictures of that in a few days time. I hope all of you are having a lovely weekend!



Skirt: Sonia Rykiel for H&M, blouse: vintage from my boyfriend's mother, shoes: Noa Noa, headband: H&M and the watch is a present.

Inspirational photo of the week

I love that there are no limits to how natural hair can be styled. This photo, from fashion forward designer, Sergio Wonder, is one of my favorites.

Connect with Sergio:

Facebook

Runway Wonderland Blog

Tumblr.com

600 Subscriber!!!

Wonderful news everyone! We have reached 600 Subscribers (aka - wonderful 'blog followers')!!!  Each time we hit a milestone, I feel so blessed and happy to be a part of this Natural Hair Community. I appreciate you all for sticking with me and contributing every day.  Please continue to join in, share, and help us celebrate the beauty of Natural Hair. 

As always, this blog is for you and about you.  Feel free to contribute by sending in pictures, your stories, experiences, knowledge and or questions. Go to the Contribute page for more information. Also, if you see a great story, book, article or video that should be shared, email me the info at naturalhairbeauty@gmail.com. You will get full credit for any information that is shared on this blog.  Don't forget to check out the website at www.naturalbeautifulhair.com.  Also we have two giveaways right now! So check out the Swag Bag page for more information.

Thank you again!  I learn so much from you all. And it is so great to see that we can empower each other by just connecting.  Peace and Love  ~ Karen @NaturallyBeautifulHair

Artist - Leonceo Omar Bennett

Great drawings from Talented artist, Leonceo Omar Bennett. You can find Leonceo, on Facebook.

RE: Flowers From Fatima

I did a post a while back on a young lady by the name of Fatima. At young age of 21, she has created her own business. She creates beautiful handmade flower accessories.  I was so impressed by this young lady that I wanted to support her business. So my shipment came in yesterday, and I love my flowers. Check it out:

I also got a really cool t-shirt that says "Where there are flowers, there is life", and it fits perfectly!  I love my items from Fatima's Etsy Shop.

Check out Fatima's Esty Store:  http://FlowersFromFatima.etsy.com.
My recent post on her: Fatima's Flowers

Three lovely things

1. Sandy and the 1000 paper cranes.

I don't know how many of you have heard of Sandy and her crane project - I myself only learned about it a few days ago - but I think it's such an inspiring and wonderful project that needs to get some more attention. After reading Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes, a true story about a Japanese girl who on her death bed attempted to fold 1000 paper cranes in order to be granted one last wish (according to Japanese folklore), Sandy was so inspired by the story that she herself made up her mind to start making one thousand paper cranes. But that's not all. She decided to write a positive word at the bottom of each crane from a list of a thousand unique words she'd compiled and then place them on different locations, mostly in New Jersey, in order to spread a bit of happiness to the person who happens to find one. Sandy, in addition hopes that those who find a crane, after contacting her, go on to place it at a different place for someone else to find it. I think that's just lovely, and so sweet.




2. A little recipe book I go for my birthday on Sunday.





Such a sweet little book for writing my own recipes in, and hang on the wall or keep inside the little box which may even be cuter than the book itself!

3. Zara's autumn collection




I stopped by Zara this evening and I loved so many of the clothes that were out at the moment. There were so many pretty brown and autumn shades, and so much I wanted to buy. The polka dot dress with the peter pan collar I spotted on the website while finding pictures for this collage and I desperately need to find that dress. It's just gorgeous.

On a little side note, Emily posted a guest post on her blog today that I've written on how to bake a honey cake. Go and check it out!

Neve Zedek

It's been much too long, again, I know. I'd planned on posting at the beginning of this week, but then I caught the flu so the hiatus became even longer than I'd anticipated. Oh well.
I'm going to share some pictures with you that we took a week or so ago when my boyfriend and I went to walk around in Neve Zedek, an old neighborhood in Tel Aviv one evening. It has a bit of a European atmosphere, I think, and felt nice and romantic. I'd never been there before, and I really liked seeing the old houses and narrow streets. It is very different from the architecture elsewhere in Tel Aviv which is very modern, worn down and dare I say quite ugly.

While we were there I also spotted a little shop that seemed to be filled with antique or antique like treasures. Unfortunately it was closed, but I was standing there staring through the shop window for at least ten minutes, so I simply need to get back there one day that it's open.