NYC New York Color: Liquid Lipshine

A few weeks ago I received my very first Influenster VoxBox. I was so excited that I was selected to sample the products in the Holiday VoxBox. While I enjoyed testing all of the products my favorite complimentary item was the NYC Liquid Lipshine. If you know me well, you know I LOVE all things lip gloss and this was no different. The color I received was Nude York City and I loved everything about it. It offered moisture and high shine without feeling sticky. It is a perfect gloss that can be worn daily. The lipshine is available in 10 shades that range from nudes to bold hues and best of all it retails at only $2.49!!! You can purchase it from your local Family Dollar, Target, Rite Aid, Walmart, CVS, Duane Reade, Kmart, HEB, and others. Check out www.newyorkcolor.com to view all the products available from New York Color and find locations near you...happy shopping!!

TKK Natural Hair Spotlight-Angel N

What is your name and where are you from?

My name is Angel, from Cleveland, Ohio, but I currently live in central NC.

How long have you been natural?

I have been natural since 2000.

Why did you decide to go natural?

I went natural after a series of ‘trying to stay cute while not  actually having to do my hair in undergrad’ microbraids left my relaxed strands (even more) fragile, broken, and lifeless.  At one point, I literally had an afro with wispy permed strands atop.  After realizing that there is no way to look like a professional business student with a crappy do, I decided to go to the barbershop and do the big chop, and it’s been natural ever since.

What is your hair type and how would you describe it (kinky, curly, wavy, spirally, etc)?

I would describe my hair as a combination of 4b and 4c.  It’s dense, but my individual strands are pretty thin. 

What is your hair care regimen?

My hair care routine is pretty simple.  Over the past few months, I’ve been actually getting my hair professionally washed and styled.  However, between professional visits, my routine is pretty simple.  For daily styling/moisturizing, I try to sleep with a satin hair bonnet, and depending if my hair is free or styled in braids, I either moisturize w/ some sort of oil or moisturizing crème.  I put the product in my hair and then hop in the shower, letting the steam help the product penetrate my strands.  By the time I’m out of the shower, my hair is styled and ready to go! 

For cleaning, I use a 2 in 1 hydrating/moisturizing shampoo/conditioner, and I try to get regular trims every 3-4 months.

What are your favorite hair products?

I go in phases.  I’ve tried them all, from the $60 stuff, to the $5 drugstore brands.  Currently, my hair loves Herbal Essence Hello Hydration 2-1 shampoo/conditioner and Cantu Shea Butter Deep Conditioning Cream.  That cream gives my loose hair life!!  I also like Tea Tree oil for my hair when it’s in braids/twists.  I also love wide tooth combs and the tangle teezer for detangling.  I know reviews are mixed, but it really does work wonders on my hair, with minimal damage.

What has been your experience as a natural? Good, bad, or ugly? How has it affected you?

My mom absolutely HATED my hair when I first went natural.  Now she likes it.  I guess she had to get used to it, because hey – it’s not like I’m ever going to get another relaxer.  Other than that, people, especially those not of my ethnicity, are absolutely intrigued with my hair.  My hairstyles are a frequent topic of conversation amongst colleagues at work.  And of course, you have those nosey lookie-loos that not only want to comment on my hair (I’m used to that), but also want to touch it.  Normally a stern look of disapproval and a sharp head nod away from wandering hands stops them in their tracks. ;)

What is an important piece of advice you would give to a newly natural?

Just let it be.  Stop playing with it.  Baby your edges and ends. Keep it moisturized.  Sleep with a satin bonnet.  Drink lots of water and practice sound, mostly healthy nutrition.  Detangle and trim edges regularly.  Just because a certain product works for nappy so and so from YouTube, doesn’t mean that it’s going to work for your hair type/porosity.  Find out what products work for you, and stick with them.  Otherwise, you’ll become a product junkie. ;)

Do you have a blog, vlog, or website where we can find you?

I have a blog, but it’s not natural hair related.  You can email me at angel11e01@aol.com.

Final thoughts or words of wisdom?

Love the hair that you were given.  There is no cream that will make your hair a bucket of ringlets if your strands are Z shaped.  There is a place for natural hair in dating.  Also, there is a place for natural hair in corporate America.  I’ve been natural since graduating college, and I have NEVER been turned away from a job because of my hair.   I recently interviewed for a position with a huge (yet neatly coiffed) afropuff in a black headband.  With my puff, suit, blouse, and pumps, I was the picture of a professional, upwardly mobile woman.  Don’t let anyone else tell you different!

Thanks for sharing Angel!!!

If you are interested in being featured in TKK Spotlight please email me at: TheKinkyKhronicles@gmail.com

My First Henna Treatment

So last week I posted on The Kinky Khronicles Facebook page that I had mixed up a henna treatment that I was planning to apply that weekend. Well, I ended chickening out after doing further research. I was unable to find BAQ (body art quality) henna at my local health food store so I purchased box of red henna for hair. Although I read and watched several good reviews about the product something just was not sitting well with me so I decided against it. I located a small Indian grocery store less than a mile from my house and scored some BAQ henna.

Thursday evening I mixed my paste. I boiled 2 cups of distilled water and added 4 green tea bags. After allowing the tea bags to steep for about 30 minutes I added 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar to the tea. I then poured the package of henna into a plastic bowl. I slowly poured in 4 ounces of organic coconut milk, mixing the paste with a plastic spoon as I poured. Then I began adding the cooled green tea, again pouring a little at a time so the paste wouldn't become too watery. After adding about 1 cup of the tea my paste was the same consistency as a bowl of mashed potatoes which is exactly what I wanted. I covered the paste with plastic wrap, stuck in the fridge, and let it sit for 24 hours.

henna powder & green tea

henna paste all mixed up

The next day I added 3 tablespoons of honey and EVOO to the paste. I shampooed my hair using Reve' Essentials Hair & Body Wash. Some people choose to co-wash their hair but I read that henna takes better on freshly shampooed hair so I opted to go this route. I detangled and sectioned my hair by placing it into several medium sized twist. Starting in the back I unraveled one twist at a time and coated each section with the henna paste with gloved hands until my entire head was covered. Then I wrapped my hair in 3 sheets of plastic wrap and then covered it with a plastic conditioning cap and went to bed. Halfway through the night I felt it dripping so I used a dark colored towel to wrap around my head to catch the drips. 

after dye released

applied to hair

Today, I rinsed the paste out of my hair after letting it sit for a little over 12 hours. I filled my tub halfway with warm water and plunged my head into it allowing the paste to loosen up. Then I used the faucet to finish rinsing out the paste. I co-washed my hair 3 times using Herbal Essences' Hello Hydration making sure the henna was completely out of my hair. Finally, I applied a deep conditioner and let it sit for 5 hours, rinsed, and styled.

all rinsed out

Seem like a lengthy process?? Well it is but hopefully well worth it. It's said that the benefits of henna are not noticeable until after 2-3 treatments so obviously I can't speak to the benefits yet. However, the highlighted sections of my hair that were light brown are now a redish/orange color and it appears that my curls have loosened slightly. I plan to henna every other week and then eventually move to do the treatment once a month. I'm excited to experience the stronger, smoother, and shinier hair that henna treatments are said to produce!

Have you ever used henna? Share your experience below.

TKK Natural Hair Spotlight-Ronyelle Baker

What is your name and where are you from?

Ronyelle – Dayton, Ohio

How long have you been natural?

3 years and 4 months

Why did you decide to go natural?

I got tired of being jealous of other naturals and being afraid of my own head of hair. I also had type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure meds that had severely damaged my hair along with relaxers that created a lot of breakage and bald spots.  Most importantly though, I had 2 foster daughters with natural hair and I wanted to learn /teach them to love every aspect of themselves and their hair.

What is your hair type and how would you describe it (kinky, curly, wavy, spirally, etc)?  

4a-b-c in various spots. Kinky coils is most accurate, I think.

What is your hair care regimen?

I don’t know that I have one.  I wash/cowash every 2/3/4 weeks. I only shampoo if I have put a lot of junk in my hair. I mist my hair with water everyday. Use mostly natural oils and products. I always add natural oils to every store bought product I use. I moisturize and twist my hair into 2-8 plaits every night and sleep with a satin bonnet.

What are your favorite hair products?

Coconut oil, jojoba oil, vitamin e, and tea tree oil. I add them to everything that ever touches my hair.

What has been your experience as a natural? Good, bad, or ugly? How has it affected you? 

It's been good!! My son and daddy weren’t too happy at first but they are dealing now that Ive got some length. My husband has always been supportive. The worst thing that happened was the butcher of ’09. I went in for my first trim at just shy of my first year and walked out with maybe an inch more hair than my BC.  That emotional setback was huge.

What is an important piece of advice you would give to a newly natural? 

Patience. Patience. Patience. Yes, it will grow. No, you wont see it happen. Sometimes simple is better.  Keep it clean and moisturized…the rest will work itself out. Knowledge is power. Research, YouTube, experiment.

Do you have a blog, vlog, or website where we can find you?

I blog at http://mrsrony.blogspot.com/ I also tweet and tumbl and pintrest.

Final thoughts or words of wisdom?

Love the hair you have, not the hair you want.

 Thanks for sharing Ronyelle!

If you are interested in being featured in TKK Spotlight please email me at: TheKinkyKhronicles@gmail.com