By Any Means Necessary!!!

Kinky, Kurly, Naturally Me...It's not only about hair...it's also about the journey! It's food that feeds the mind, body & soul for all women of color. For me, it's more than how I care for my hair.  It is a holistic journey... one that is helping me to learn to love myself as a WHOLE person.  I am learning no matter how pretty someone else my say I am, I have to believe it MYSELF!  I am learning that just because someone my perceive me as being well put together..I have to believe it MYSELF!  We as black women, have been beat down by negative images and demeaning comments for hundreds of years.  I want to nurture and empower women...mind, body & soul.  If I have to start with our hair, so be it...but it won't end there!!!! 

If you have colored your natural hair...check out Makeup by Rachel O!

If you are considering coloring your natural hair.  Rachel O is the way to go.  You can follow her on her blog or subscribe to her youtube channel. I have colored my natural hair and have been studying other natural hair sista channels for tips on maintaining moisture and healthy hair. I  have found her to be very, very, informative, clear and concise. 

Dead Prez "The Beauty Within"

I had posted this video on Facebook when I did my "big chop" in November of 2010. I had to share it again, not only because I am natural, but for the simple fact it portrays black women in a positive light. With so many negative and derogatory images of black women, it is a breath of fresh air to see a black man pay homage to a black woman with dignity and in good taste.

  

e.l.f Haul from Target

In my Makeup Bag

With spring being right around the corner, I needed to spruce up my makeup bag. I love makeup and it can be very costly.  However, I sometimes purchase my makeup either on sale or from a discount outlet such as Lots for Less. Some women will not purchase discount makeup. Why?  I say, “Why not?!!!” Target, Walgreens, and other drugstores are also great places to find budget friendly makeup.   This week Rite-Aid had a great sale on Maybelline and Revlon products.  So, I gathered my coupons and sale flyer and hit the pavement.

With  BOGOs (By one get one half off) and 40% off products, I purchased a tube of mascara, two bottles of  foundation,  two eye shadow palettes and pressed power all for the price of one bottle of designer foundation.  Yup!!  That’s right!  For less than $50.00 dollars, I was able to fill my makeup bag to the brim. 

 I must admit that I am a MAC addict.  My love for MAC came from sheer need.  As a woman of color, it has been difficult to find the correct color foundation.  Back in the day, I use to pay an arm and a leg to have my foundation custom blended at the Prescriptives counter.  We have come a long way baby…but still are not quite there yet.  Although there are a lot more shades available for women of color, not all stores carry those shades.  So please don’t be discouraged if you cannot find your shade in your local neighborhood drugstore. 




40% off $4.43 Revlon Volume Express Falsies

 

40% off $3.59 Maybelline 4 palette in Seashore Frost



BOGO $13.99 Revlon Color Stay Mineral Finish Powder in Suntan Matte



BOGO $6.50 Revelon Photo Ready Foundation in Caramel



Don’t be afraid to color outside the lines!

Accessories are a girl's best friend!

It has been almost 4 months since my big chop. I have tried several ways to spice up my twa.  I must admit, I bought some hair accessories, however, my daughter has forbidden me from wearing them. LOL!!!!

  While I  continue my search for the perfect, age appropriate,  hair accessories, I will rock my fabulous earrings. Earrings are another great way to showcase your short natural do! Not only have I added several more pairs of earrings to my already large earring collection, I have started a scarf collection too.   Remember to ALWAYS buy accessories on SALE!  Charlotte Russe has a great accessories sale...2 for $8.00.  Can't beat that.  Forever 21 is another favorite for very inexpensive accessories. When it comes to costume and fashion jewlery you can always find bargains. 

 However, I will splurge once in awhile on a fab find from a street vendor. But, I will never spend more than $20.00. unless I LOVE it! Don't be afraid to express your fabulousness through accessories!

Review: MAC's Wonder Woman Line

This was originally posted at [insertgeekhere] on March 2, 2011.

 Recently, MAC makeup announced their new line of Wonder Women makeup. As a geek girl, I was thrilled. Yes, it is probably a shameless attempt at the company to get my money, but it makes me feel validated as a geek and a girl. It's nice to feel that a makeup company recognizes that geek girls aren't a stereotype and that we wear makeup.

MAC even sponsored this great fashion show by Jeremy Scott during NY Fashion Week that features Superhero Fashion.

I went with the team to Macy's to check it out because it looked so fun! While Getsuyobi hid by the door holding our bags, Wysefyre and I happily checked out all of the fun cases they had out.

The display was old school Wonder Woman and looked great. A guy even came in off the street just to take a picture of it.

 I loved the look of the compacts and how bright and bold they were. They did capture the feel of Wonder Woman. The makeup colors were also bright and bold to the point of "I can't wear those except to a cosplay" bright. Granted, with the right skin tone, it may look good, but the average girl might feel a bit out of place.

 I had gone into the store planning on buying a lip glass, because I love having all different shades of lip wear. After looking at everything, I decided to buy Secret Identity, a bronze, shimmery shade that looked similar to other lip glosses I own and the only one I liked out of the bunch. When I finally got home to try it, it looked very watery against my lips, almost like melted chocolate. Once I blotted, it looked a little better but I was disappointed. Wysefyre tested the eyeliner on her hand, and it refused to wash off for two days, despite a lot of scrubbing. It finally came off after she used some toxic strength cleaning products.

Overall, this line didn't stand up to MAC usual quality. However, I still plan on buying regular MAC products, and I am hopeful that they will expand the Wonder Woman line with better quality stuff.

Wilderowens writes regularly for [insertgeekhere] as she tries to prove to the world that a Girl can still be a Geek.  She resides in New York. 

Don't be Afraid of a little Makeup

How many of us want to wear more than lip gloss and mascara, but are clueless when it comes to foundations, eyeshadow and blush?  Have you ever tried to experiment and ending up looking like Betty  Davis in "Whatever Happened to BabyJane?"

Even though I love to wear makeup, I am no makeup artist.  I can assist and advise but applying makeup on another person is not my area of expertise.  So for all you that may have considered makeup, but were to intimidated to try, I have included a tutorial from a sista that has it going on.  She is Ebony from Coloured Beautiful. 

‘An essential aspect of creativity is not being afraid to fail.’ ~ Edwin Land~

Natural Hair Lingo.

I have received several questions regarding the terms that I've used to describe my natural hair. Here is a list of the most commonly used  natural hair lingo terms.  Please note, this is not a comprehensive list.  See link below.

TWA: Teeny, weeny, afro.

BC: Big chop- is too cut your relaxed hair leaving only your natural hair.
BAA: Bad Azz Afro or Big Azz Afro.

Pre-poo: preparing your hair prior to shampooing by conditioning hair with oils and conditioner to add moisture to hair.
Co-Wash: to wash hair with conditioner and not shampoo as some shampoos can dry out hair. Co-washing adds moisture back into the hair without stripping it of its natural oils.
Wash n go: to wash hair and apply product and allow hair to air dry.

Below is a link to a very comprehensive list.

http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=104119799618544&topic=1


Naturally Me!!!

Curly Nikki | Natural Hair Styles and Curly Hair Care: CN Presents the Kim Coles' Grow-Out Challenge

Curly Nikki Natural Hair Styles and Curly Hair Care: CN Presents the Kim Coles' Grow-Out Challenge: "Hola Chicas! Immediately following actress and comedienne Kim Coles' decision to Big Chop, we discussed her natural hair journey and exper..."

Hair Food/ My Top Hair Products

I am so loving my natural hair.  However, while it allows my hair to be chemical free, it is not maintainance free.  My mornings consist of wash and go's  in order to rock my TWA. Here is a list of the products that I am currently using.  I will post a tutorial on how I style my hair after a wash and go. Garnier Fructis Fortifying Shampoo for Curly Hair Garnier Fructis Fortifying Cream Conditioner for Curly Hair (I use this to co-wash) Giovanni Organic Hair Care Direct Leavin-In Weightless Moisture Conditioner KEMI Organics OYL All Natural Hair Oil ECO Styler Olive Oil Styling Gel