Curls, Twists, Coils & Kinks Magazine by Curls, Twists, Coils & Kinks Magazine

September/October 2015 www.ctckmagazine.com

MY WIG DOESN’T SPEAK FOR ME

THE NATURAL HAIR COVER UP

Textured Hair in Corporate America WHAT IS ACCEPTABLE? Spotlight On

JULIETTE SAMUEL Nrayja Skincare On the Cover

HELYNE JOSEPH Journey to the LPGA

WEDDING DAY MAKEUP! HAIR TYPES EXPLAINED PICKING THE RIGHT HAIR DRYER

FEATURED SALON

TARA’S HAIR SALON & SPA

Voorhees, NJ

SUBSCRIBE NOW for just $18! www.ctckmagazine.com

September/October 2015 www.ctckmagazine.com

MY WIG DOESN’T SPEAK FOR ME

THE NATURAL HAIR COVER UP

Textured Hair in Corporate America WHAT IS ACCEPTABLE?

Spotlight On

JULIETTE SAMUELS Nrayja Skincare

WEDDING DAY MAKEUP! HAIR TYPES EXPLAINED PICKING THE RIGHT HAIR DRYER

FEATURED SALON

TARA’S HAIR SALON & SPA

Voorhees, NJ

On the Cover

HELYNE JOSEPH Journey to the LPGA

No Credit Card or Debit Card, NO PROBLEM! Send Check made payable to: A. Turner Publishing, LLC Curls, Twists, Coils & Kinks Magazine, PO Box 370524, Las Vegas, NV 89137 Please allow 2 weeks from date of order to receive your first issue.

The Haircare Magazine for Textured Naturals

Table of Contents

DEPARTMENTS 4 Letter from the Publisher

5 Meet Our Cover Model: Helyne Joseph 6 Contributors 7 On the Download: Technology Corner

FEATURES

9 Ask the Expert: Make-up Q&A with Shavonna Finley

8 Textured Hair on Madison Avenue What is Acceptable in Corporate America?

10 Ask the Expert: Hair Q&A with Danielle Green 11 Spotlight On… Juliette Samuel A Business in the Making: Nyraju Skin Care 14

DIY: Avocado and Coconut Oil Hair Mask

22 Meet Rob Diesel AKA Rasta In America 28 Featured Salon Tara’s Hair Salon & Spa 35

Meetup Directory

40 Horoscopes: Predictions for September/October 2015

By Julie Thomas

15 What is Your Hair Type?

By Monét Ravenell

17 Wedding Day Make-up

By Shavonna Finley

20 Get Radiant Skin with A Basic Skin Care Regimen

By Juliette Samuel

23 My Wig Doesn’t Speak for Me The Natural Hair Cover Up

By Tiara Butler

30 The Right Blow Dryer

By Ruth Wilson

Letter from the Publisher Dear Reader...

It is almost hard to believe that this issue represents eight months or four issues of publishing Curls, Twists, Coils & Kinks magazine. Time passes by so quickly, before you know it—we will be celebrating our one year anniversary. This summer has been an incredibly busy season for me and my son. We were able to go back home to the east coast and spend time with friends and family, make new friends along the way and take a much needed vacation with my special friend and our children together. Moments like these are priceless and I am filled with so much gratitude to have been blessed to do it all. In all of our daily busyness, often times we don’t find time to take a breath, to process the information we receive and reflect—I mean really reflect—on our conversations with people that we meet along the way. With every issue I am fortunate to meet interesting people and they all teach me something new—to me, that is a privilege and I take it seriously. In this issue you will see a special technology section which is all about apps that focus on hair, beauty and the busy lifestyles we lead. I have also added an additional “Ask the Expert” Q & A for make-up tips. I consider Juliette Samuels a friend at this point. With that being said, my dear friend, Juliette Samuels, is back with two features and I cannot thank you enough Miss Juliette for your love and support of my publication. I was introduced to our cover girl—Helyne Joseph by a longtime friend, Ninon de Vere De Rosa. Ninon called me one day and said I need you to meet me for lunch on Saturday, I don’t know what it will lead to, but I want you to come, so I showed up. When I sat down to meet her I had no idea of my purpose, it did not take long for me to realize why I was called to this meeting. Helyne is smart, focused, driven, has an incredible story and has set lofty goals for herself. Helyne’s rock was her father, who has now passed away. They had an incredibly strong bond, even though he is physically gone from her life she keeps on pushing through, I hope you enjoy her story. As a single mother, I work very hard every day, which leaves very little time for pleasure. This summer has been filled with pleasures, like meeting extraordinary people who have impacted my life, a little bit of traveling but most important—spending time with family and friends. Take the time to love, take the time to listen, take the time to experience and learn. Tomorrow is not promised—do it today! Carpe Diem my readers!

September/October 2015 | Issue 4 Publisher & Editor Angela Turner Angela@ctckmagazine.com Creative Director Sierra Skidmore Sierra@skidmutro.com Graphic Designer Lyndsey Matoushek Lyndsey@skidmutro.com Project Manager Jenny Strauss Jenny@skidmutro.com Advertising Director Colleen Turner Ads@ctckmagazine.com Curls, Twists, Coils & Kinks Published 6 times a year P.O. Box 370524 Las Vegas, NV 89137 www.ctckmagazine.com 888-601-1986 Advertise: Call toll free at 888-601-1986 or e-mail ads@ctckmagazine.com Subscriptions: To subscribe to Curls, Twists, Coils & Kinks magazine, call toll free at 888-601-1986 or visit our website at www.ctckmagazine.com/Subscriptions

Angela Turner Angela Turner, Publisher

Curls, Twists, Coils & Kinks Magazine

CTCKhairmag

CTCK_Magazine

CurlsTwistsCoilsandKinksMag

4 September/October 2015

CORRECTION: In our previous Issue “FEATURED BUSINESS” Woman’s Touch Apparel -Jenesis LaForcarde, some of the images were taken by j.ashliephotography. We inadvertently omitted listing the credit for the photographs. Please visit her website at www.jashliephotography.com

Meet Our Cover Model

Helyne Joseph

Helyne Joseph is a woman with huge aspirations in a field that does not see many woman of color. Helyne was introduced to the game of golf by her father in Antigua, West Indies. She said that they practiced on the carpets when he came home from

Her hair care routine At the age of 21, Helyne was looking for a change and decided to texturize her hair to straighten her curl pattern. At first it was great not having to deal with my curls, but she quickly realized that was not the change she really wanted.

work, and the enjoyment of the game lead her from riding around in the golf cart as a spectator, to joining the junior golf program at Cedar Valley Golf Club. The formative years of her game materialized in St. Croix U.S. Virgin Islands, where she was able to participate in regional and international tournaments while in high school. She attended Pennsylvania State University pursuing a Bachelors of Material Science & Engineering and she played with the Mont Alto men’s golf team for one year in the Penn State University Athletic Conference. In the summer of 2012 she began playing in events on the Pittsburgh Golfers Tour (PGT), with the intention of re-building her game in order to compete on a larger stage. Helyne is currently living and training for the LPGA in San Diego.

In August of 2014 she developed an empowerment exchange project, which focuses on the stories of East African women. Her goal for the project is to learn about the ground level operations of a few organizations and build a rapport with them in order to speak on their behalf. Helyne has traveled to Rwanda, Kenya and Ethiopia to film the work of three very welcoming organizations. Action Aid Rwanda, Kibera Women’s for Peace & Fairness, and Siiqqee respectively. Her message of empowerment, using golf as her platform, is a project that she is very proud of. You can preview her documentary titled: Women’s Words; Sharing Stories of Empowerment from East Africa by following this link: www.youtube.com/ watch?v=isQPK2vb6B0

When asked what product is a must have for her hair routine she said castor oil. She combines it with her leave-in conditioner after washing her hair. For cleansing and conditioning, she uses the Crème of Nature line with Argan Oil. Currently Helyne is washing her hair with Curls unleashed Sulfate-free shampoo and detangling with

their conditioner. After rinsing I apply a combination of castor oil and Crème of Nature’s oil moisturizer while styling into two strand twists. This routine helps protect my hair from heat damage from the sun, and it also holds on to moisture even with a lot of golf cap wearing.

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Contributors  Julie Thomas

 Juliette Samuel

 Shavonna Finley

Julie Thomas, a native of Philadelphia, PA is the founder and editor of www.juboolee.com, where the focus is the lifestyle and culture of natural hair. It is her mission to uplift, encourage, and inspire women of all backgrounds to embrace their natural beauty. She desires to find the beauty in everything and enjoy the journey of life’s precious moments. www.juboolee.com

Juliette Samuel is CEO-Founder of Nyraju Skin Care. She is an esthetician, aromatherapist, author, publisher and is the fragrance editor and ethnic beauty editor for BellaOnline.com. www.nyrajuskincare.com

Shavonna is a Las Vegas native and seven-year licensed aesthetician and make-up artist. Additionally, she acquired training with MAC cosmetics and is a professional skin care expert and educator in her field. Her motto “love to beat that face.” Shavonna will help you look your absolute best by creating the perfect look that caters to your individuality! www.instagram.com/lovetobeatface

 Monét Ravenell

 Tiara Butler

 Danielle Green

Monét Ravenell is a freelance hair and beauty writer from Los Angeles, CA. She is a contributing beauty writer for www.TrendiMi.com and also works as a beauty host for www.WeAreOnyx.com. www.monetfreelancewriter.com

“Creative expression is my passion!” A North Carolina resident, full time freelance writer who says that she was born with a natural gift with words, writing has been a passion long held dear to her heart.

A Kansas City native and salon owner of Radically Curly in Las Vegas, NV. Having curly hair, she continues to educate herself in the industry and always caters to clients with curly hair. Her philosophy is to embrace and rock the fabric of your hair and be “Radically Curly.” www.radicallycurly.com

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On the Download

Technology Corner ModiFace www.modiface.com

This technology instantly scans a user’s face, recommends personalized looks, and allows the user to preview the look on live video. Consumers can see makeup (featuring over 2000 actual products) on full 3D live video as they turn side-to-side, pause their video to zoom in and explore, and to purchase products.

We all know that the pace of life is ever increasing, not at all like it used to be. Technology, just like hairstyles, fashion and beauty is constantly changing as well, making it difficult to keep pace. In this feature, you will learn about four mobile apps which might be helpful to our readers. I hope these apps can help you before you make your next hair, makeup and/or skincare beauty decision.

StyleBee www.stylebee.com

Skin-Care Visualization: ModiFace has patented a face and skin mapping technology that is able to analyze every detail of your skin and realistically photo render accurate life-like visualizations. Hair Simulation: From hair mapping and auto-detection to realistic simulation of color, style, and texture changes, ModiFace enables any hair product to be realistically simulated on user images. Hair Studio: ModiFace’s Hair Studio app enables you to edit your selfie hair photos by coloring, adding highlights and reshaping. Users can visualize hair color and style changes on any platform, including web, mobile, in-ad, and in stores.

Beautylish www.beautylish.com

Beautylish is a Makeup Beauty Tips app that allows you to see the newest beauty looks and trends for hairstyles, makeup, nail designs and more. With this app you can learn makeup tips, shop for products on the Beautylish app and purchase right from your phone. Beautylish provides makeup product reviews and step by step tutorial videos which will teach you how to create the latest styles.

beGlammed www.beglammed.com

Beauty on demand. Anytime, Anywhere. StyleBee was founded by two busy professional women who recognized a void in the beauty market: salon-quality services, delivered anytime, anywhere. This app offers user’s convenience and professional talent all at a competitive price. This lifestyle service was previously only available to the privileged elite, with Stylebee, this service is now accessible to everyone. Stylists are handpicked beauty and wellness professionals at the top of their industry. Only the most talented professional artist and stylist are allowed to join this network.

beGlammed is an on-demand beauty service that delivers professional hairstylists and makeup artists to your door. Offering services in Austin, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, NYC, and Orange County. VIP service at the touch of a button and at an affordable price. beGlammed will come to your home, office, hotel room and transform you into a more glamorous you.

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TEXTURED HAIR ON

Madison Avenue WHAT IS ACCEPTABLE IN CORPORATE AMERICA? by Julie Thomas

BANTU-KNOT OUT

LOW PONY

To let your hair down, try a bantu-knot out. A bantuknot out will leave you with perfectly curled ringlets for a more “tamed” curly look. Instagram photo courtesy of: @morganalana918

For a quick, no fuss flawless style, slick back your curls into a low ponytail. Instagram photo courtesy of: @mrskelzdavis0311

rom the constant stares to the frequent amount of comments or questions on your naturally textured hair, deciding to wear your hair in its natural state in the workplace can be daunting. Does she think my hair is messy and unruly? Did I not get the promotion because they think I cannot represent the company’s professional appearance? Do they think I look unkempt? These are just a few of the questions that may have crossed a naturalista’s mind when working within Corporate America. Corporate America and its unspoken rules on black hair has embedded in the minds of many natural hair women, that their hair is viewed as being unacceptable in the workplace. These women tend to have thoughts that their hair lacks a level of professionalism when worn out in its natural state in all of its - kinky, curly, coily goodness. Therefore, they hide their textured hair under weaves and wigs to blend in and avoid going against the grain.

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GODDESS BRAID Add a splash of personality to your ‘do while still keeping it simple. Cornrow-braid your hair around your head, tuck in the end of the braid and secure with a bobby pin. Instagram photo courtesy of: @sabrina5681

Society and the mainstream media paints the picture that straight and sleek locks are what is considered “normal” and ultimately the current standard of beauty. This has negatively influenced the self-esteem and self-acceptance of so many black women today. To feel forced to change your hair to make others more comfortable, or view your character and capabilities in a different light should be a crime. People, no matter what race, should be praised to have the desire to embrace who and what they are naturally. There is a lot of pressure on black women to feel they are obliged to conform to the European standards of beauty to fit in or be accepted, especially in Corporate America. When I first unleashed my kinks in the office, I myself felt a bit hesitant in doing so. The fear of my hair being the premise to where I was judged on having an “unprofessional appearance” made me uneasy. I did not want my choice on de-

TOP-KNOT You can’t go wrong with a sleek top-knot. Gather your curls to the top of your head in a high pony and pin into a bun. Instagram photo courtesy of: @akushikagonenatural

ciding to wear my God given mane, the hot topic of discussion. I did, however, disregard the hesitancy and strolled into the office proud of my decision to embrace my hair. The stares and questions arose, but I’ve learned to overcome what society deems as normal and acceptable when it comes to black textured hair. For me, the administration and my colleagues in the office compliment me for always having “cool” hair. Don’t let what you may think the opinions of others are, influence you in not being true to who and what you are. If you make the decision to embrace your natural hair texture, be bold and rock it proudly. Now you may very well want to switch up your look by going for a sleek look for a company party or tucking your curls away in a low maintenance style for a week full of back to back meetings. If you wish to keep it simple in the office, here are a few easy, go-to hairstyles that you can achieve for a sleek, polished look.

Q&A MAKE-UP

Ask the Expert

with Shavonna Finley

Recently in the news, I watched a report about facial hair removal in Hollywood. The story said that woman in Hollywood have been using razors on their face to remove unwanted facial hair for years. I am a woman of color and I would love to have laser hair removal, because of my pigmentation laser hair removal is not recommended. Currently, I use Sally Hansen hair lightener to soften the color and noticeability of my facial hairs or I visit my esthetician for wax removal. If I shave my facial hair will it grow back faster and thicker? – Jaye-Lynn Fisher, CO

Shaving your facial hair will definitely cause it to grow back faster and coarser! In my opinion, the best option for facial hair removal is waxing. It removes the hair completely from the root and waxing regularly every 3-4 weeks will cause your hair to grow in thinner and finer, which makes it less noticeable and easier to remove. Though it is not a permanent solution to hair removal, it gets the job done in a safe way that is not harmful to the skin. Waxing is also a great exfoliator.

Do Make-up Primers really work or is it just another way for these cosmetic companies to make more money? – Nell, Washington, DC

Without a doubt! Primers are a must in persevering the longevity of your Makeup application. As the day goes on, our skin produces its own oils which will start to breakdown the makeup causing it to separate and in some cases disappear. Primers create a barrier between your skin and the makeup allowing everything you put on your face, a solid foundation to lay on. This in turn will keep you looking fresh and fabulous all day long!

I have a two part question regarding concealer. First, what is your advice for selecting the right concealer for your skin tone? Is there a particular brand that you recommend? Second, I have one lip that is pigmented and the other that is pink. I have watched these videos on the Internet about applying concealer, setting powder, lip liner and so on, to your lips so that the lipstick application yields the same color. It seems like a lot of work and

What is the difference between a tinted moisturizer and a light weight foundation? I do not like to wear makeup, but sometimes a special occasion calls for a bit more coverage. Which would you recommend? – Sarah J., GA

who has time to do that after lunch and during the day while you are at work. How do you feel about applying concealer on pigmented lips before applying lipstick to achieve even color or is there a better way? – Coraline, PA

Regarding concealer ... The best way to select the right color for your skin tone is to determine whether you have warm or cool undertones in your skin tone. If your coloring is more red/pink/rose, you have warm undertones. If your coloring is more yellow/golden/olive, you have cool undertones. Any beauty professional will be able to help you determine your undertones. As for brands, my all-time favorite is Prolong wear concealer by MAC Cosmetics, the shades are amazing and it gives great coverage! For concealing pigmented lips, the best solution is a great lip primer. I suggest prep & prime lip primer from MAC Cosmetics and a lip liner in the same or similar color as the lipstick you are applying. First apply the lip primer as you would a lip balm, let it set for a few seconds, then apply the lip liner all over your lips. This will erase your natural lip color, allowing the true shade of your lipstick to show. Then apply your favorite shade of lipstick & keep those lips popping!

My personal favorite thing to use for lightweight coverage is BB Cream, also known as beauty balm. BB cream is an “all in one” formula that consists of a serum/skin perfecting agent, moisturizer, primer, foundation, and sunblock. It has the texture of tinted moisturizer and buildable coverage, which means you can control how light or heavy you want it to be. The brand that I love the most is Skin renew miracle skin perfector by Garnier, it is amazing!

Shavonna Finley is a Las Vegas-based make-up artist sfnatis@yahoo.com, 702-825-0394 www.instagram.com/lovetobeatface www.ctckmagazine.com 9

Q&A HAIR

Ask the Expert

with Danielle Green

I suffer from major hair shrinkage after washing my hair. I believe my hair type is 4 texture and my hair is about 75 percent shorter when wet versus dry. Do you think that blow drying my textured hair once a week to achieve instant elongation is okay? – Gwen W., CA

Yes blow drying is an option once per week is okay for hair with major shrinkage, but keep in mind that doing so could cause heat damage if not properly prepped. Make sure to pre-soak, shampoo and deep condition before doing any heat styling to the hair. Then add a light moisturizer on the ends mixed with a heat protectant before picking up the dryer. Protect your stretched hair over night to maintain the length and to keep the smooth ends healthy.

I read these articles about “cones” and that people with naturally curly hair should avoid products with “cones” and look for cone free and sulfate free hair products. My hair is not opposed to products containing “cones”, sometimes my hair actually looks better after using products with “cones.” As a natuarlista, should I avoid these products? – Carolyn, Atlanta, GA

“Cones” … I believe they are referring to silicones and yes they can be used on natural hair but only in moderation or little as possible. Silicones can cause build up and prevent the hair from reaching its true elasticity and porosity. Although there is an immediate result that cones gives to the hair in the long run it could cause dryness and permanent changes in the natural texture of the hair.

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I live in Nevada, which is a dry heat climate. I am originally from New York, when I transitioned from relaxed hair to natural, I did not live in New York where humidity is a concern. I recently had to take a trip to San Diego, CA, and my hair was, for lack of a better term, ‘A STRAIGHT PUFFY MESS.’ I usually twist my hair at night, in CA it was a waste of time. As soon as I stepped outside into the humid climate, my hair became soft to the touch (felt great) but it looked like a highlighted cotton puffy Afro. What would your hair advice be to someone who might be going to a different climate? – Francis A., NV

I understand exactly what your hair went through when you arrived in CA from NV. My hair loves humidity too but it always looks soggy. Next time try rocking a protective style when changing climates and adding an anti-humidity gel like aloe gel or flax seed gel to your regimen. The gel will give the hair more definition and hold and last a bit longer in the moist air.

How often should I get my hair trimmed or my ends dusted as a curly haired woman? I have read articles that say that if you don’t apply heat or chemicals to your hair, you don’t need to trim your ends, I feel like I could use a clean-up on occasion. – Jennifer, NY

I have never had my hair colored and I want to make a subtle change to my appearance. I really want to color my hair, but I cannot afford the expense of going to a stylist. Is it okay to color my hair using a drugstore brand hair color? – Esmeralda, CA

Yes it’s okay to use drugstore color on the hair to stay within a budget. Unfortunately, if you happen to choose the wrong formulation you may end up paying for a major color correction at the salon. Henna is safe and a natural alternative to coloring the hair at home. It’s a time consuming process that can take from 2-12 hours to process depending on the brand.

That’s a great question. I always recommend my curly clients to get a trim or clean up about every 3-6 months. Any longer than that and the curls will start to lose their shape or become unruly and could split off into a haircut that isn’t desirable.

Danielle Green is the owner of Radically Curly www.radicallycurly.com

Spotlight On…

Juliette Samuel A Business in the Making ... Nyraju Skin Care

e’re a family owned business and when we first entered the beauty business, it was in the bath and body side of the business. I grew up in the era of baths, so the idea of relaxing in a tub filled with warm water was nothing new to me. What was new was the phone call from my Dad telling me they’d found a lump in my Moms breast. How do you run away from such news? Do you run away and if so, to what? We were living in Atlanta at the time, so this put me approximately two hours from my parents. Every weekend, my family and I would prepare ourselves for the trip to Tennessee to do things for my Mom and give my Dad a break. I’d be whipped by the time we got back to Atlanta and wanted to just disappear. I found solitude in the bathroom. This was the only place I could go and no one

would expect me to rush out. I’d run a warm tub of water, light some candles and immerse myself into the water. I began to search for essential oils that would help to relieve stress and relax the body, mind and spirit. The number one essential oil that was recommended, Lavender, would give me a headache. So I set out on a quest to find a blend that would work for me. I’ve always been in retail of some kind and had learned very early in life that I was allergic to the perfume blends that were sold in the stores. It didn’t matter the prices, cheap or expensive, I couldn’t wear them and to make matters worse they also contained synthetic ingredients. My quest for a relaxing blend of oils allowed me to experiment with bath salts and body powders as a base for my blends. I’d take my blends every weekend with me to Tennessee. They were like a security blanket to me. I would use some of them in the car as a stimuli.

A business in the making …

You know you’ve got something when people tell you how good you smell and want to know what you’re wearing. More importantly, they actually want to put their money in your pocket. This began to happen overtime as we’d visit my parents on the weekends. My aunts wanted to actually pay for perfume blends. This was a bit scary, I must admit. I’ve always had a job and/or a business, however this was new ground for me. My experience was in the apparel industry, beauty was a completely new environment. We were coming into the market where other companies ruled. So the question was how do we take inventory of ourselves and take a unique position from what already exist? I handled product development, along with a thousand and one other things and my husband was and still is in charge of

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marketing and metrics. He was online one night and it hit him that skin care was on the rise, anti-aging in particular. As women of color, black women, African American women, we have a tendency to feel that we don’t have any skin care challenges especially with aging. Our thought process is that, we have melanin, in plain English: “Black Don’t Crack!!!” While this can often be a true statement, your “Black” needs special attention and products in order for you to put your best face forward. So … I had to learn everything about melanin that I could find. On the other side of the page, I’m the type of person that will not enter into an

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arena if I can’t go in knowing that I’m to be at the top of the game. This meant that I was going back to school to study esthetics (the art and science of caring for the skin). We were working with a consultant trying to strategize just how we’d approach the beauty business. I threw the question of going back to school to her and her answer was that I didn’t need to go to school to be able to sell beauty products. We’re talking about people’s skin. This is not something I could consider “winging” and feel good about it. Suffice it to say, I went to school and she went on about her business.

Taking a natural/ organic approach to caring for black skin …

It makes so much sense when you think about it. Natural/Organic has been a way of life since my husband and I met in college. I’ve never been much of a flesh eater, so the transition was very easy for me. It doesn’t mean I don’t know how to cook a great meal that contains meat. I grew up in the South, when it was mandatory for women to know how to cook a great meal and keep a clean house.

Fresh herbs and vegetables from the garden not only feed your body, they can also be used to treat scrapes, scars, burns and bruises. It’s the foundation of cooking that gave me insight on when I’d gotten a batter of body butter just right. If it whipped and fluffed up like my pound cake batter, it was gold. In my training and independent studies, I learned that a holistic approach to skin care gave women balance. The beauty of your skin actually begins in your colon. Have you ever wondered why you have pimples and breakouts? One of the reasons is because your colon has not eliminated the waste on the walls and your system is trying to remove the toxins however it can.

There’s Beauty in Your Blackness

Working in the beauty industry has allowed me to see just how cruel people can be. There can be a thousand people in a room and when given the opportunity to see a reflection of the room, they will only see themselves. This is what happens when you see magazine after magazine on a shelf month after month and most of the covers don’t look like you. To grow up with overt and subliminal messages that have you thinking that you’re not an attractive being is cruel. My goal for Nyraju Skin Care is to teach women of color, especially African American women how to care for their beautiful black skin and hair. Not bleaching trying to look like another race of people, but to genuinely take care of your beautiful skin and hair with natural products. Your beautiful bronzed skin is what most people go to the beach trying to achieve. You were born with it, I’d like to show you how to care for it.

Why we sell what we sell …

When we started Nyraju we were trying to be like other companies that existed at the time. What we found is that it just didn’t fit. The product mix was all over the place. The current line of products that we offer have been carefully selected to help you, the client, put your best face, body and hair forward. I keep the line simple and fresh for you, it makes the idea of a regimen easy. For your face, Cleanse, Tone and Moisturize. This is what should take place twice a day, every day. For this regimen, the Green Tea Facial Cleanser, Rosewater Toner and Antioxidant Face Cream will work well. Twice a week you should gently exfoliate your skin, removing the dead skin cells that build up over time. The Jojoba Facial Scrub for your face and the Body Butter Scrub for the rest of you, will have your skin feeling soft as a baby’s bottom. There are serums for your hair and face. The purpose of a serum is to help nourish and replenish, whether it’s for your scalp or face. The Herbal Hair Growth Serum is to stimulate hair growth, especially in your temple area. For your face if you’re challenged with acne, there’s the Vitamin C Acne Serum. Challenged with hyperpigmentation or uneven skin tone, the Natural Dark Spot Remover with help to minimize this. The hair care products are where you will really experience the power of the essential oils. Peppermint Tea Tree for scalp irritations and dandruff and an Herbal blend with Lemongrass to nurture and soften your hair are found in our shampoo and conditioners and the Herbal Hair oil.

Dream big and …

You’ll eventually figure out how to get what you want. When we first started Nyraju, that’s all it was, a company with a unique sounding name that sold beauty products. As we continued to research the market, we learned what it meant to have an ecom-

merce business. We realized we had our work cut out for us. When you choose to be an entrepreneur, there are things that a lot of us have no clue about when it comes to the world of business, especially when you operate in the digital world. There are so many details and layers when it comes to running a business. Aside from learning how to work together as a family, how to increase our revenue, how to use the metrics/data and how to tweak our product offerings, I’d say the biggest lesson we’ve learned, is to know what you need before you hire anyone as a consultant to help you go to the next level. And … when you hire a consultant, make sure they have first-hand experience in what they’re going to consult you on. The role you play in developing your business is crucial, there’s no substitute for experience. You have to get in the trenches in order to take your business to the next level. As you do, look out for the people that want to put a target on your back. Jealousy will rear its ugly head, from so call friends and family. We operate as an online business, www.nyrajuskincare.com. We are not in stores. There are people that don’t believe that you can run a business online and earn money while you sleep. We’ve learned that when people perceive you to be a certain way, they get really angry when they see you moving in a direction that’s different from theirs. There comes a time when you have to Do You. This will often mean walking away from people you’ve known for many years. If you’re an entrepreneur or want to begin the path of becoming one, stay focused, set your goals high, move away from people that make themselves known to you as not wishing you well. You’ll hear little sayings such as: how long have you been doing this (in a high pitch—you should be rich by now—kind of way)? No matter how hard they try, they can’t hide their feelings.

www.ctckmagazine.com 13

DIY:

Do it Yourself

Avocado and Coconut Oil Hair Mask

What You Need: 1 Whole Avocado ½ Cup Coconut Oil 2 Tablespoons of Olive Oil (Optional) 1 Spoon Electric Blender Bowl

1 2 3 4 5

Disposable Plastic Shower Cap Moisturizing Shampoo Moisturizing Conditioner

6 7

Pour ½ Cup of Coconut Oil into electric blender.

Notes:

Scrape the meat of the avocado out of the skin and place in blender.

Avocado – The natural oils and nutrients found in an avocado make it a good treatment for frizzy and dry hair. Moisturizes your hair, acts as a dandruff treatment, softens brittle and dry hair and adds luster and shine.

If using the Olive Oil for this recipe add 2 Tablespoons of Olive Oil to the blender. (Otherwise skip this step) Blend the ingredients in the blender until the mixture is the consistency of pudding. Remove from blender and pour into your bowl. Place bowl in the freezer for 10-15 minutes. This will firm the ingredients, making it easier to distribute without dripping. Apply to your hair strands from ends to root. The recipe should be smooth and free of avocado chunks. Once applied cover your hair with a disposable plastic shower cap. Allow it to remain on the hair for at least 1 hour.

Coconut Oil – Helps to reduce protein loss in hair, rich in lauric acid and easily penetrates inside the hair shaft. Coconut oil has a high moisture retaining capacity, it does not let moisture escape, which keeps your hair moist and soft preventing breakage. Olive Oil – Loaded with antioxidants, it can reduce the damage caused by hair care products and styling products.

Remove the mask from your hair, by shampooing and conditioning your hair as usual.

Images L to R: © Jim Johnstone. Clay Olive Oil Drizzler in Green. Photo sourced from Flickr., © Cyclonebill. Avocado. Photo sourced from Flickr., © USDA. Ol.-Oil---Pomp-Blog. Photo sourced from Flickr.

14 September/October 2015

What is Your Hair Type? by Monét Ravenell

air typing is a popular topic in the natural hair community. Hair type refers to the shape, direction or bend of your curl pattern. Knowing your hair type can actually benefit you greatly because it can aid you in discovering which products work best with your hair.

The System

While there are multiple hair typing systems, The Andre Walker System is the original and most widely known. Walker is a celebrity hair stylist, who accumulated a huge following, once it was revealed that he was Oprah Winfrey’s personal hair guru. His system is divided into four categories, 1, 2, 3 and 4, which dictate how loose the curl pattern is—4 being the thickest. They are then broken down into three subcategories of A, B, or C. The letter refers to the diameter, or width of the curl the pattern. Many black women will find that they generally fall into the 3 or 4 category.

HAIR TYPES

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TYPE 1: STRAIGHT This hair reflects shine easily and is very difficult to damage. Unfortunately, this hair doesn’t hold curl very well. It can also retain huge amounts of oil, because the oil can easily work its way down the hair shaft, without being interrupted by multiple curls and kinks. Thus, product selection is crucial. If the products are too thick, they can weigh this hair type down. Celebrity: Lucy Liu, Mindy Kaling

This hair has a very loose curl pattern. The shape of the curl most resembles the letter “S.” This curl pattern has a tendency to hang low and sticks close to the head. Hair can lack definition and volume. Celebrity: Shakira, Zoe Saldana

Styling Tips: This hair can also be weighed down easily, so avoid thick product like butters and creams. It is not as reliant on moisturizing products. Using products like mousse or gels will help enhance the curls, but not weigh the hair down. Try not to disturb the curl pattern, by doing a lot of manipulation, and air-dry whenever possible. Using just a dab of pomade can help keep flyaways at bay. Sleep on a satin pillowcase.

Styling Tips: Avoid heavy products such as butters and creams, as this hair is sensitive to oiliness. Serums and light oils should be used sparingly.

TYPE 2: WAVY

TYPE 3: CURLY OR CURLY KINKY

TYPE 4: KINKY

This hair type can display up to 3 different hair textures within the hair. Type 3’s may have either tightly curled hair, or kinky. In general, Type 3 hair is best described as springy with an “S” or corkscrew pattern, depending on the diameter of the hair. Hair curl pattern is well defined.

Type 4 hair contains hair that is very tightly coiled. It can be very prone to dryness and breakage, making it the most fragile of all hair types. This hair can range in thickness from fine to coarse, containing multiple strands that are stacked together. This hair does not have as many cuticle layers as the other hair types, meaning that hair product does not easily move through the hair. So this hair should be handled with great care.

Celebrity: Thandie Newton, Tracee Ellis Ross

Styling Tips: This hair type loves moisture. Always use products that are moisturizing, including creams, oils and creams. Always use a thick, creamy conditioner when detangling, and aim to do deep conditioner treatments 1 to 4 times a month. Hair manipulation should be kept to a minimum, and sleep on a satin pillowcase whenever possible.

Celebrity: Solange Knowles, India Arie

Styling Tips: Moisture is this hair’s best friend and should be used generously. Similar to type 3, using moisturizing hair products, including creams and hair butters, whilst employing weekly deep conditioning treatments will keep this hair looking its best. Never use brushes or combs on dry hair. Wear protective hairstyles and sleep on a satin pillowcase whenever possible.

Remember that all hair is good hair. It’s also important to note that hair typing is not an exact science. One could have a mix of hair patterns, grades, and textures within one head of hair. However, discovering what your hair type can be a great starting point towards getting to know your hair. Whatever your type, be sure to embrace it.

16 September/October 2015

Wedding Day Make-Up

by Shavonna Finley

lanning a wedding involves countless details. You have timelines that you need to meet, family drama that you need to try and avoid by seating your guests at the proper tables, budgets to contend with, menu choices, the dress, the tuxedo and on and on. Often times the future bride is so busy stressing out about all the details, she forgets about her needs. Dear bride to be, let us not forget the make-up. Figuring out the perfect look for your big day can be overwhelming!!! Our resident make-up artist, Shavonna Finley, tells us how she achieved this wedding day look for bride Angel Jones. When asked, what are the first things that a bride needs to be consider? Shavonna said, “there are many factors that go into creating your wedding day look.” The first thing is to decide whether you want to go for a “natural” or “dramatic” look. Your personality, the season of the year, the

theme of your wedding, as well as your dress will help determine this. Then I suggest finding a professional make-up artist in your area, book an appointment for a trial run makeup session first. This is the best way to determine if your make-up artist is going to be a good fit for you on your special day, and you both can decide what will look best on you. The featured bride opted for a “Dramatically Chic” wedding day look. I chose a “spotlight” smokey eye with a dark bold lip. Shavonna said, “the ‘spotlight’ effect of the eyes is my favorite look to do.” It adds definition to the eye by using the smokiness on the inner & outer eyelids, allowing the center highlighted portion of the eye to POP! This bold, beautiful eye is perfectly balanced with a deep burgundy hued lip. Topped off with a beautifully highlighted and contoured cheekbone, and false eyelashes.

Make-Up Artist:

Shavonna Finley is a Las Vegas-based make-up artist sfnatis@yahoo.com, 702-825-0394 www.instagram.com/lovetobeatface

www.ctckmagazine.com 17

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GET RADIANT SKIN WITH A BASIC SKIN CARE REGIMEN by Juliette Samuel

ooking for a way to have radiant, youthful and glowing skin … and keep your beauty regimen as simple as possible? You’re not alone. With your busy schedules, rushing to get out in the mornings and all tired out in the evenings, the last thing you want to do is have a regimen that will put an extra burden on you when it comes to keeping your face clean. It’s not something you can skip though. Imagine what your skin would look like if you didn’t have a regimen. Built up dirt, oil and dead skin cells sitting on top of the dirt waiting for more dirt to attach itself. Now you’ve got a breeding ground for bacteria. Not a pretty thought, but this is what you get when you don’t take care of your skin.

20 September/October 2015

Why do I need a skin care regimen? Your words: “My skin’s in great shape!” As women of color, especially those of you with darker hues than others, you’ve told me countless times, that your “black don’t crack.” While it might not be “cracking” yet, it’s definitely “maturing.” I’ve heard some interesting stories about skin care. One woman told me she only washed her face once a week. She said, “I watch documentaries and there are certain African tribes that wear mud on their face all of the time.” While mud serves as a great way to minimize and balance the over abundance of oil, depending on the type of mud, when left on your skin too long it begins to dry your skin out. Have you ever noticed that documentaries about Africa never show you the city life of the people? You either get animal life, or you see people in the blazing sun making their way about. You’re not in Africa in the blazing hot desert sun. Your life is spent in buildings with air systems that have not been cleaned in years. You move about in cities where exhaust comes from cars and buses on a daily basis. The buildings are sending their form of pollution into the air and it becomes a form of invisible debris on your skin. You need a skin care regimen in order to protect your skin from the daily onslaught of pollution. So where do you begin? With the basics.

Cleanse, Tone, and Moisturize

Cleansers - When you use a cleanser, cleansing is the most important part of your skin care regimen. The key here is to make sure you’re not using an aggressive detergent based product that would strip the natural oils from your skin. You’ve been taught that suds mean clean, however, when you use harsh cleansers or the wrong cleanser for your skin type, they can create a host of problems, as your skin is trying to correct itself. Mother nature provides excellent ingredients as alternatives to synthetic cleansing products. And there are very gentle cleansers that can be used in order to give your skin that balance that it looks for and tries to get back to every day. I use and recom-

mend a cream based cleanser for your skin. Cream based cleansers can work for all skin types and are gentle yet effective when caring for your skin. Green Tea and lactic acid (milk based) are excellent ingredients when it comes to cleansers. By the way, if the cow has been grass fed in a natural grazing pasture, the chemical composition of the milk is completely different from cows that have been shot up with hormones in order to bring them to market faster. Toners - After you cleanse your skin, the pH level can go from alkaline to acidic. Toners not only adjust the pH level of your skin, but they can also remove any traces of dirt after cleansing. By the way the only traces of dirt you will see after cleansing is the dirt that wasn’t removed because you didn’t thoroughly cleanse your face. The best toners are hydrosols, and these are like homeopathic waters or byproducts of any steam distillation from an essential oil. We recommend our Rosewater Toner. It contains Aloe Vera juice and Rose essential oil among other ingredients. Rose essential oil has the highest vibration of all the essential oils and is very good for your skin (young or mature). The Aloe Vera acts as humectants to draw moisture into your skin. So using this toner after cleansing can assist you in recharging your skin as well as making it glow. Moisturizers - Moisturizers have what’s typically known as a two-fold purpose. They draw moisture into your skin and they seal it in. This is why it’s always a good idea to put on a moisturizer right after you’ve cleansed and toned your face while your skin is still damp. Moisturizers and toners also support the outer layers of your skin by filling up what’s known or perceived as gaps between cells of the skin. In this respect, you have natural creams that are going to outshine synthetic products. You can use products that are specifically formulated for African American skin because often times you’ll find not every product on the shelf has your melanin or your skin texture in mind. A good moisturizer that’s been formulated for Africa American skin will contain ingredients such as wheat germ. So many

of you are looking for products that will lighten and brighten dark spots that would show up on your face, whether it’s picking chin hairs, popping pimples or even using medication. Wheat germ can often help you with this challenge, naturally. Aloe Vera is another one of the ingredients that stimulates new skin growth and it helps to cleanse, purify and detoxify your skin, leaving it feeling clean and fresh. Rose hip is another one of the ingredients in the antioxidant face cream that we provide. Rose hip makes your skin more elastic, helping it to look younger as you say goodbye to those wrinkles that do show up and sagging skin. One of the other important ingredients is avocado. It is a natural moisturizer that gives your skin the texture of silk.

It’s a simple 1, 2, 3 step regimen...

When done morning and night, you’ll begin to see the natural beauty of your skin. Why morning and night? Unless you change your pillow case every night, you’ve got dust and oils from your hair, breath … you get the picture, all accumulating on your pillow at night. For those of you that wear make up, a clean face in the morning sets the foundation for a smooth application. As for night cleaning, you’re removing all of the pollution, dirt, debris and negative energy from your interaction with the people and places you visited. There are other steps that are part of an extended regimen for a radiant, youthful beautiful and glowing complexion. We’ll talk about these another time. For now, let’s keep it simple, quick and easy, cleanse, tone and moisturize.

www.ctckmagazine.com 21

Meet Rob Diesel AKA Rasta in America

ecently, I visited my family back on the east coast and met Rob Diesel. I loved his hair, and the reporter in me came out. This initial conversation eventually led to me featuring him in the magazine. Rob describes himself as a soul in a body here on earth. He prefers to express himself through music and says that it all came naturally. “I am here to spread love, unity, happiness, positivity, and much more.” Rob is a musician and says that he cannot think of anything more rewarding than creating music for a living and spreading positivity at the same time. His business is RobDieselMusic LLC—Official Business name for all of Rob Diesel’s (composer, producer, and recording/performing artist) ventures. His brand stands for “Universal Love” his message—“I simply express myself and I spread knowledge at the same time.” I give people something different than the usual, I make them feel great about life. Unity is an overall theme to my music, it is not necessarily one genre of music. I mix hip-hop, dancehall, reggae, African, and more cultures into each song. Just music, he says, I don’t like to categorize things, I believe this creates separation. Rob said his business are on the rise faster than ever, but still not near the pinnacle of its success. His debut video entitled “Eat Dem Food” with Spragga Benz gave him a great amount of publicity and he gives thanks. Rob’s ultimate vision for his company is to eventually have an extremely successful record label, with in-house audio and visual production. You can buy “Eat Dem Food” with Spragga Benz on iTunes today and more music is on bandcamp where you can name your price.

22 September/October 2015

ABOUT THE HAIR Rob began the process of growing out his hair almost 3 years ago and locing it about a year and half ago. He started out only growing the top of his hair out. Usually, he wears his hair in a sharp hair cut with tribal designs on the sides and back of his head with his locs braided in an up-do. When I asked Rob, what made him decide to loc his hair? He said that it’s all about his beliefs, as far as what they represent, “Plus, they look great—I love locs.” Rob uses Shea Moisture products to wash and condition his hair. For styling his Locs he uses Jamaican Mango and Lime products—because they support him and his music, and he also likes the scent. Rob lives by a strict vegan lifestyle, he told me that occasionally he will consume honey and said that he is looking for something all-natural to style his locs. What advice would you give to someone who is considering locing their hair? “Fear will only hold you back. Time is the best thing for locs, it’s all about growth and progress.” When asked what does beauty mean to you? “Beauty to me is a form of love. If you love how something or someone looks then you find it beautiful. We all can find beauty and love in anything and everything.” When asked, in a word describe your style—“Blessed.”

“

Check him out! TWITTER: www.twitter.com/rastainamerica INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/rastainamerica YOUTUBE: https://m.youtube.com/watch?list= PLdXqvosEBtx7FkvhZTtWHofk4l64b dDL&v=H8COedIIXxw

“

WE CAN ALL FIND BEAUTY AND LOVE IN ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING.

-Rob Diesel

MY WIG DOESN’T SPEAK FOR ME

THE NATURAL HAIR COVER UP by Tiara Butler

MY STORY

Too often in the “natural community”, I see people who feel compelled to define exactly what the term should mean to everyone. “Remove the kinks from your mind, not your hair”, a quote from Marcus Josiah Garvey is often spread—usually at someone else’s offense. Is there a naturalist rulebook that says you are forbidden to wear extensions? Are you any less “natural” if you choose to wear a wig every now and then? If you like it, I love it, has always been my motto. However, I find that there’s a common denominator with some women who choose to wear wigs over their natural hair. It’s not an expression of their right to do as they please with their appearance. It’s simply because they are completely clueless as to what to do with the kinky coils underneath their wig. It’s a quick fix for an underlying problem within the African American community and I just want to offer a small amount of consolation. I received my first perm when I was only five years old. My mother entered me in pageants which were run by primarily Caucasian judges and attended by Caucasian

www.ctckmagazine.com 23

“D

on’t allow your opinion to be swayed by popular opinion of what curly hair should look like. Whether you have thick kinks or if your waves are thinner than you’d like them to be, your hair is your hair—love it and accept it.”

participants. To keep my little curly pinup in order for every day of the event, a relaxer seemed like the best option. My mother was thrilled over how long my hair was after it was relaxed and straightened. That piping hot pressing comb she used to sit on the stove didn’t get anywhere close to this length. I was ecstatic that the back of my neck and my ears were spared a new set of accident tiger stripes because of the “steam”. And I was a tad thrilled over the shiny head of hair that was blanketed over my shoulders. Five years later, my hair was probably one-third of the length it once was. Burnt, chopped, and broken, my youthful flowing locks were nothing more than a thing of the past. Every eight weeks, it was time for another relaxer. Never did we realize the stress that this routine was putting my hair under. It was just the way things were done. I soon realized that: One, perms were entirely too strong for my hair. and two, that I didn’t need them as often as “they” say. Taking matters into my own hands, at 17 years old I decided to lengthen my

24 September/October 2015

routine to once every six months. What happened? My hair started to grow. After a few failed attempts at DIY coloring (I’m talking a pink, brown, and a honey blonde blend—don’t judge me, I was artistic!), I found myself pulling clumps of my hair out of my head like Tina Turner in “What’s Love Got to Do With It.” Enough was enough. I did away with relaxers forever. Liberated and free, I was faced with the biggest challenge ever. I was 19 years old and didn’t know how to take care of my own hair.

ALL ABOUT YOU

Whatever your reason for returning or remaining natural, remember it’s always about you and what makes you comfortable. If you feel confident when you step outside with that wig on, then by all means, strut your stuff. I just don’t want the wig to be a crutch. I’ve had discussion with women who

made the decision to be natural, but after the big chop or looking in the mirror at a TWA, all of their confidence flew out of the window. Every woman deserves to feel beautiful from the very moment when she wakes up in the morning. I’m talking overnight twists with a little bit of crust in your eyes flawless. That’s only achieved when you accept that you are beautiful exactly the way you are. I typically notice a bit of insecurity with women who have tighter curl patterns and kinkier hair. Shrinkage is an evil villain and if you aren’t careful, it can have you rethinking your natural decisions. With proper care and routine maintenance, you can have a head full of waist-length hair from 4c on up. Don’t allow opinion to be swayed by popular opinion of what curly hair should look like. Whether you have thick kinks or if your waves are thinner than you’d like them to be, your hair is your hair—love it and accept it.

EVERYTHING ISN’T FOR EVERYBODY

Just because a certain product or routine works for someone else doesn’t mean you’ll get the same results when trying it. I see a lot of people in natural hair forums soliciting the help of other “3b-ers” for a list of go-to products. While I understand the concept behind it, I don’t think it’s the best practice. Even if your hair falls into the same curl categorization as someone else’s, it doesn’t mean it will have similar responses. Everything about your history determines the way your hair is right now. Your DNA, hair history (perms, processing, coloring, heat application, maintenance, etc.), diet, and lifestyle all contribute to your hair. If person (A) drinks a gallon of water per day and person (B) prefers

a couple sodas over H2O, their hair type isn’t going to mean anything at all when it comes to products. Don’t get me wrong, suggestions are perfectly fine. People can point you in the right direction but I don’t want you to get disappointed if the results aren’t what they promised. Concentrate on yourself and build your own list of must-haves.

START WITH THE BASICS

Specific products and process will vary depending on you but here’s a general guide of the things you need to do. You’ll try, you’ll fail, and you’ll learn a valuable lesson. That’s the only way to perfect your natural regimen. The fact that you wear wigs may give you a quick “get out of jail free card” if one of your experiments ends wrong. Just remember it’s a process. • Always maintain your moisture. While living a relaxed life, a few rain drops and humidity used to be your worst enemy, now, it’s exactly what you’ll need. Although there are a number of hydrating and moisturizing products on the market, there’s nothing better than old fashioned water. Before you start dousing cups over your head, be mindful of the area that you live in and the state of the tap water there. If your water has a heavy mineral concentration, especially with components like lime, you’re better off filling a spray bottle with spring water and misting your hair. You can also purchase products made with a purified water base. Pure Aloe Vera juice is another alternative. • Don’t forget to drink up. Fuel your body with hydrating food and drink to produce moisturizing oils as well. • Deep condition often. You can purchase a treatment from one of your favorite brands or take a look online

for a few easy recipes you can whip up in your kitchen. Ideally, you’d deep condition once a week, not waiting longer than every two weeks to give your hair that extra nourishment. • Clarifying shampoo is a necessity. Save this treatment for a maximum of twice per month. Cleansing with a clarifying shampoo helps to remove product buildup and reverses potential damage from the chemicals in your products, as well as the environment. Check to see if your clarifying shampoo is pH balanced, be sure it is printed somewhere on the label. You also need to reserve clarifying cleanses for those times when you have enough time to commit to all necessary steps. Every clarifying shampoo needs to be followed by a complete deep conditioning. • No sulfates or parabens. They are drying and damaging to natural hair. Carcinogenic properties also puts your scalp and eyes at risk. The frothy bubbles aren’t worth it, there are plenty of sulfate free products on the market that do an excellent job. • Natural hair deserves natural moisture. Oils and butters in their natural form (many of which can be found in the grocery store for larger quantities and cheaper prices) are much more effective than some watered down commercial blend. It’s important to read the labels on the products you use. Some may advertise as an organic olive oil butter or pomade, only to contain the lowest concentrations imaginable. If you’re looking for a few universal oils and butters to start with, try mango butter, shea butter, jojoba oil, coconut oil, tea tree oil, or carrot oil. As a good rule of thumb, if the ingredients list looks like a NASA experiment, probably shouldn’t put it in your hair.

you don’t use them as a crutch to avoid taking care of your hair. Hair is going to be hair whether it’s blowing through the air or wrapped up in extensions. If you aren’t moisturizing it, washing it, and letting it breathe, the damage done underneath can be extensive. You also have to watch out for who you allow to install your extensions and the hair’s origin. In today’s human virgin hair trend, one must be mindful of the necessary washing and cleansing steps prior to having the hair installed. There has been reports of women contracting lice after having unclean hair added to their heads. On the other hand, you don’t want it to be too tight, too heavy, or improperly installed. If you’re going to go down that road, just be mindful.

YES YOU CAN

Say it with me now, “Yes I can.” You can learn how to take care of your hair. You can take the time out to properly wash and moisturize. You can braid and protect your hair each night. You can figure this thing out. It can be so frustrating not to understand how to take care of the hair that grows out of your head. Beginning the journey may be intimidating but the results are something out of this world. When you achieve that balance you’re after, you’ll look in the mirror and smile at the gorgeous reflection looking back at you. You’ll ask yourself, “Why haven’t I been doing this all along?” You may have to pluck out a quick set of Bantu knots but your natural radiance will serve as a clear reminder of what it really means to “wake up like this.”

The weave balance. Yes braids, extensions, wigs and weaves can be your saving grace on a bad hair day but it’s important that

www.ctckmagazine.com 25

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Featured Salon

TARA’S HAIR

Salon & Spa

(Above) Model: Tanise Tricoche (Right) Meet the team L to R Standing: Tanise Tricoche, Danielle Lewis, Kiara Payne, Whitney Mason, Phylisha Moore Seated: Tara Dean, Salon Owner

Salon Owner: Tara Dean

riginally from Lakewood, New Jersey—Tara’s Hair Salon & Spa is a full service salon who places great emphasis on the overall health of their client’s hair. In the beginning, her business was home based where she braided and weaved her clients hair. Today, Tara has been in the hair care business for 17 years. October 2015 she will celebrate her 7 year anniversary as a salon owner. Tara considers her salon an “educational salon” and believes that the knowledge of healthy hair care habits are vital to each of their guests. As a salon owner her mantra is “heathy hair.” Tara, like most salon owners I speak to, has seen a shift in clientele services. When asked about the percentage of clients converting from relaxers to their natural hair, her response was that her personal book of business consists of approximately 3% requesting chemical relaxers and 5% overall for the

28 September/October 2015

salon—85% of their clientele are natural. Tara has a high percentage of clients who prefer to wear their hair in protective styles because they just don’t know how to care for their natural hair, or do not have the time that is required due to busy lifestyles, so they wear weaves or braids to protect their natural hair. Tara’s full service salon offers pedicures, massages, depilatory services, toddler and teen styling. Please visit her website for more information and to view all of the services she provides. Below are a few of her natural hair services, along with pricing. Tara’s Hair Salon & Spa 300 White Horse Road The Echo Shoppes—Suite #6 Voorhees, New Jersey 08043 856-504-3174 www.tarashairsalon.com

Price Menu: Twist sets $47.00 and up Individual twist $65.00 and up Cornrows $47.00 and up Startup locs $65.00 and up Loc maintenance $60.00 and up Tree braids $175.00 and up Individual braids with hair added— additional cost Contact Tara for more details.

The Right Blow Dryer for… by Ruth Wilson

To blow dry or not to blow dry? That is the question. There are many opinions about whether or not you should use a hair blow dryer to dry your curly hair, should we air dry it or diffuse it? Which process works best for you? Many factors must be considered— like your hair’s texture, length of hair, amount of time it takes to dry and so on. I think the answer to the question is it just depends on what is best for you. Truth is, too much of anything can be damaging or bad for you, if the proper care and precautions are not taken.

When choosing the right hair dryer for curly hair, keep in mind the right dryer will not distort the curl pattern and diffusers create soft frizz free curls. Not all hair types can create a true wash and go, there is additional work required for some textures. Take me for instance, I have Type 4 hair texture and I would love to wash my hair, apply product and walk out of the door. Unfortunately, I have not had a successful wash-and-go to date, so I am one of those curly girls that require some curl manipulation in order to make my curls pop. My hair is thick and coarse and most attachments on a blow dryer have a shelf life of 60 – 120 days. Inevitably, I end up breaking them, or the heat expands the nozzle causing it to pop off of the blow dryer before I can finish completely drying my hair. So I set out on a mission to try and find out what hair blow dryer works best for curly hair and other hair types. Please visit the websites of the manufactures listed if you wish to obtain additional information and to cost compare. Prices and availability at the time of writing this article were as indicated in the following pages. Shop around and you may be able to find better pricing.

30 September/October 2015

Curly Hair

Solia Universal Double Diffuser $15.00

Diffuser

Conair – Infinfity Pro Volumizing Hair Dryer $40.00

Creates bouncy, defined, frizz-free curls.

DevaCurl Diffuser $30.00

DevaCurl Dryer & Devafuser $200.00

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Coarse / Thick Hair Elchim 2001 Professional $109.00

High Air Flow

Sedu Revolution Pro Tourmaline Ionic 4000i $200.00

Dries thick hair quickly.

BaByliss Pro 2800 Super Turbo $80.00

Multiple Heat Settings Lower settings for styling and higher settings for powerful drying.

32â&#x20AC;&#x201A; September/October 2015

Turbo Power MegaPower 4000 Professional $85.00

Fine / Thin Hair

Elchim 3900 Healthy Ionic $140.00

Multiple Heat & Speed Settings

BabylissPro Carrera 2 Ceramic Ionic $90.00

Choose a lower settings for thin or fine hair, for more volume turn the ion generator off.

When purchasing a dryer that includes an AC motor, ionic technology that’s built with tourmaline and ceramic can cut your drying time in half. Less heat means much healthier hair. There are three main functions that work together in a hair dryer—they are air flow, heat and technology. Generally a dryer with 1875 watts of power will dry your hair well, hair dryers with less wattage work best for short or fine hair. Heat is also important. Warm and hot temperatures dry hair quickly and cooler air is gentle on fine or hair that is prone to frizz. The best dryers use ceramic heaters and parts (or a ceramic coating on parts), which distribute heat evenly. The last element is technology. An ionic feature of a hair dryer produces negatively charged ions that have a super-smoothing effect on your hair, which allows the hair to dry faster. Tourmaline magnifies the effects of ionic technology so together they work well to produce fast drying and shiny hair. Regardless of the power level, the key to preventing damage is to keep your dryer moving back and forth over the section you are drying and never focus direct heat on any one area for extended periods of time.

Wattage Guide

Hair Type

Wattage

Fine, thin or damaged

1200-1500

Medium/normal straight or wavy

1300-1800

Thick and curly

1600-2000

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All Hair Types Ionic

Creates negative ions, which smooth hair and lock in moisture while decreasing drying time.

Solia 1875Watt Thermal Ionic $75.00

Ceramic

Adds shine and protects hair from heat damage and frizz.

Cool Shot

Sets the look for long-lasting hold and adds shine.

The Original SuperSolano $150.00 Valera Swiss Nano Rotocord $200.00

Tourmaline

Magnifies the effects of the ionic technology making drying time faster and adding more shine.

X5 Superlite Tourmaline Ionic $119.00

BaByliss PRO TT $80.00 If you are in the market for a blow dryer, if possible try to purchase a hair dryer featuring the three technologies â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Cool Shot, 1500 watt minimum and variable heat and speed settings. Blow drying your naturally curly/ textured hair is fine as long as you take the proper care to protect your hair before applying heat. It is important that you remember to get your ends clipped every 6 - 8 weeks if you use a blow dryer on a regular basis. 34â&#x20AC;&#x201A; September/October 2015

BabylissPro Portofino $130.00

DIRECTORY

ALABAMA Curlfriends of Huntsville Huntsville, AL Founded Jul 24, 2010 /CurlfriendsofHuntsville

Kinky Sistahs of the Gulf Coast Mobile, AL Founded Jul 8, 2011 /Kinky-Sistahs-of-NWF

Magic City Natural Beauties Birmingham, AL Founded Aug 4, 2012 /Magic-city-natural-beauties

ARIZONA New in Town Naturals Gilbert, AZ Founded Jan 25, 2015 /NaturallyCurls

Tucson’s Our “Hair”-itage Natural Hair Meetup Group Tucson, AZ Founded Aug 1, 2012 /TUCSON-OUR-HAIR-itage-Natural-Hair-Meet-Up-Group

Afrolicious Hair LA Los Angeles, CA Founded Jul 10, 2013 /AfroliciousLA

Fierce Naturals of L.A. Los Angeles, CA Founded Oct 25, 2013 /FierceNaturalsLA

Los Angeles ProtectiveStyles Meetup Los Angeles, CA Founded Oct 12, 2014 /Naturalprotectivestyles

LA NATURALS North Hollywood, CA Founded Mar 29, 2012 /LANaturals

Black Hair Naturalistas {Bay Area} Oakland, CA Founded Apr 18, 2015 /Black-Hair-Naturalistas-BayArea

Natural Hair Network of the Peninsula and South Bay Santa Clara, CA Founded Dec 9, 2012 /Natural-Hair-Network-of-thePeninsula-and-South-Bay

I Love My Natural Hair Seaside, CA Founded Sep 27, 2013 /I-Love-My-Natural-Hair-Meetup

I.E. napturals Riverside, CA Founded Mar 7, 2012 /I-E-napturals

Bay Area Fro Friends

ARKANSAS All Coiled Up... Natural Hair Group in Northwest Arkansas Bentonville, AR Founded Aug 5, 2012 /All-Coiled-Up-NWA

CALIFORNIA Wild Haired Mavens Carson, CA Founded Jan 14, 2010 /wildhairedmavens

36 September/October 2015

Berkeley, CA Founded Mar 11, 2014 /Fro-Friends-Natural-Hair-CareMeetup

Natural Born Beauties Los Angeles, CA Founded Apr 8, 2013 /Natural-Born-Beauties

Sacramento 2015 Natural Hair Meetup Sacramento, CA Founded Nov 15, 2014 /Sacramento-2015-Natural-HairMeetup

Sacramento Black Natural Hair Enthusiasts Sacramento, CA Founded May 15, 2011 /Sacramento-Black-Natural-HairEnthusiast

CONNECTICUT CT Curly Coily Naturals Meriden, CT Founded Aug 27, 2012 /CT-Curly-Coily-Naturals

FLORIDA Fabulous Miami Naturals Miami, FL Founded Feb 16, 2011 /FabulousMiamiNaturals

Central Florida Curls & Conversation Natural Hair Meetup Apopka, FL Founded Jul 26, 2011 /Central-Florida-Curls-Conversation-Natural-Hair-Meetup

Natural & Lovin’ It Jacksonville, FL Founded Aug 30, 2014 /NaturalandLovinIt

Orlando Natural Hair Meetup Orlando, FL Founded Aug 5, 2013 /Orlando-Natural-Hair-CareMeetup

Florida Natural Hair Connection Orlando, FL Founded Jan 31, 2014 /FLORIDA-NATURAL-HAIR-CONNECTION

Sistahood of Natural Hair Divas Riverview, FL Founded Mar 24, 2012 /Sistahood-of-Natural-Hair-Divas

Real Rootz Naturals Jacksonville, FL Founded Mar 19, 2014 /RealRootzNaturals

LEI Curlfriends Orlando, FL Founded Sep 24, 2013 /LEI-Curlfriends

Tampa Area Naturally You Hair Meetup Tampa, FL Founded Dec 11, 2010 /Tampa-Area-Naturally-You

Natural Hair Travel Club West Palm Beach, FL Founded Jan 28, 2012 /naturals

Girls of Coarse™ West Palm Beach, FL Founded Feb 17, 2011 /GirlsofCoarse

Natural Hair Connection of NE Florida Jacksonville, FL Founded Jan 5, 2011 /Natural-Hair-Connection-of-NEFlorida

GEORGIA All Natural Wellness Fayetteville, GA Founded Jan 16, 2015 /Nikki-Natural-Health-Meetup

The Atlanta Sisterlocks Meetup Atlanta, GA Founded Jan 28, 2008 /atlantasisterlocks

Middle Georgia Naturals Milledgeville, GA Founded Jun 4, 2013 /middlegeorgianaturals

Natural Hair Freedom Atlanta, GA Founded Apr 27, 2012 /Natural-Hair-Freedom

Atlanta Naturals Atlanta, GA Founded Jan 27, 2008 www.AtlantaNaturals.com /atlantanaturals

ne… li n o t u o Check it Natural Hair in South Metro Atlanta

www.meetup.com/groupnamehere

Stockbridge, GA Founded Oct 27, 2014 /Natural-Hair-in-South-MetroAtlanta

North Atlanta Natural Hair Meetup Alpharetta, GA Founded Nov 21, 2014 /North-ATL-Natural-Hair-Meetup

ILLINOIS The Chicago Natural Hair Meetup Group Chicago, IL Founded Jan 4, 2008 /naturalhair-48

Kurly Girl Nation Bolingbrook, IL Founded Jan 6, 2013 /Kurly-Girl-Nation

INDIANA NWIN Natural Sistahs Meetup Merrillville, IN Founded Oct 25, 2014 /NWIN-Natural-Sistahs-Meetup

Green Hair, Natural Hair Care Meetup Group Fort Wayne, IN Founded Oct 1, 2011 /Green-Hair-Natural-Hair-CareMeetup-Group

KANSAS KC Naturals Shawnee, KS Founded Nov 23, 2013 /KC-Naturals

KENTUCKY Natural Hair Rocks! Louisville, KY Founded Jul 22, 2014 /Natural-Hair-Rocks

LOUISIANA

MINNESOTA

Bayou Beauties of Baton Rouge Natural Hair & Health Group

Kinky and Curly in the Twin Cities

Baton Rouge, LA Founded Jun 6, 2014 /Bayou-Beauties-Natural-HairGroup

MARYLAND Baltimore Natural Hair, Locks, Sisterlocks™ & Transition Baltimore, MD Founded Jun 14, 2007 /Baltimore-Natural-Hair-LocsSisterlocks

The (DMV) Natural Beauties Group- Natural Hair Meet Up Bowie, MD Founded Jun 22, 2011 /Natural-BeautiesGroup

MASSACHUSSETTES Boston’s Natural Hair Meet Up Group Chestnut Hill, MA Founded Aug 1, 2009 /BostonNaturals

Raw Chic Coiffure: A Natural Hair and Lifestyle Meetup Quincy, MA Founded Mar 22, 2013 /Raw-Chic-Coiffuer-A-NaturalHair-and-Lifestyle-Meetup

Minneapolis, MN Founded May 17, 2010 /kinky-and-curly-in-the-twincities

MISSOURI SunShine’s Natural & Loving It! Florissant, MO Founded Dec 5, 2012 /sunshinesnaturalandlovingit

Natural Hair Folks STL Florissant, MO Founded Oct 12, 2010 /Natural-Hair-FolksSTL

St. Louis Natural Hair Meetup Group

Natural Hair Group of NJ & NY Montclair, NJ Founded Sep 24, 2011 /NaturalHairGroup

Jersey Curlies Neptune, NJ Founded Nov 15, 2014 /Jersey-Curlies

NEW YORK Natural Partners in Crime New York, NY Founded Sep 18, 2013 /Natural-Partners-in-Crime

Westchester Naturals Peekskill, NY Founded May 10, 2015 /Westchester-Naturals

Saint Louis, MO Founded Apr 15, 2010 /St-Louis-Natural-Hair-MeetupGroup

Kinky Curly CoilyMe

NEW JERSEY

Naturally Beautiful in the Northeast Region

Jersey City Natural Hair Meet Up

Albany, NY Founded May 14, 2011 /Naturally-Beautiful-Northeast

Jersey City, NJ Founded Oct 22, 2011 /Jersey-City-Natural-Hair-MeetUp

Brooklyn, NY Founded Apr 27, 2011 /KinkyCurlyCoilyMe

Embrace My Hair Workshops Rosedale, NY Founded Feb 19, 2013 /Embrace-My-Hair-Workshops

Fitchburg Naturals Fitchburg, MA Founded Feb 2, 2015 /FitchburgNaturals

MICHIGAN Naturally FLYY Detroit: A Natural Hair Experience Detroit, MI Founded Apr 25, 2014 /Naturally-FLYY-Detroit-A-Natural-Hair-Experience

www.ctckmagazine.com 37

DIRECTORY Jaded Tresses Brooklyn, NY Founded Apr 8, 2013 /Jaded-Tresses-Transform-YourNatural-Hair

Long Island Naturals Mineola, NY Founded Feb 23, 2012 /LongIslandNaturals

Bella-Glam Naturals Brooklyn, NY Founded Jun 15, 2012 /Bella-Glam-Naturals

Natural Hair Darlings Brooklyn, NY Founded Dec 4, 2013 /Natural-hair-darling

LeMetric Real World Hair & Beauty New York, NY Founded Apr 29, 2015 /LeMetric-Real-World-Hair-Beauty

Naturally Beautiful Hair Care Brooklyn, NY Founded Feb 2, 2010 /NaturallyBeautiful

CURLS in the City New York, NY Founded Dec 16, 2010 /CURLS-in-the-City-Meetup-Group

Confident Curls Bronx, NY Founded Jan 27, 2013 /confidentcurls

Brooklyn Natural Hair meetup group: The Kinky Collaborative Brooklyn, NY Founded Apr 18, 2012 /Brooklyn-Natural-Hair

Kinky, Curly, Coiled Natural Hair Meetup Brooklyn, NY Founded Mar 4, 2015 /naturallynatural

The Fabulous Brooklyn Natural Hair Meetup Brooklyn, NY Founded Apr 21, 2015 /The-Fabulous-Brooklyn-NaturalHair-Meetup

38 September/October 2015

NEVADA

SOUTH CAROLINA

Naturally Curly & Natural Hair of Las Vegas

Upstate Natural Hair Meetup

Las Vegas, NV Founded Feb 9, 2012 /Naturally-Curly-Hair-Revolution

NORTH CAROLINA Gate City Natural Hair Greensboro, NC Founded Oct 9, 2012 /Gate-City-Natural-Hair

Natural Sistas in Ohio and North Carolina Burlington, NC Founded Feb 28, 2010 /Natural-Sistas-in-OH-NC

The Charlotte Natural Hair Group Charlotte, NC Founded Jun 5, 2007 /Charlotte-Natural-Hair

Austin Curly, Wavy, Big Hair Meetup

Greenville, SC Founded Mar 6, 2015 /Greenville-Natural-Hair-Meetup

Austin, TX Founded Apr 18, 2015 /Austin-Curly-Wavy-Big-HairMeetup

Natural Roots LLC of Columbia

Curl Friends Abroad

Columbia, SC Founded Oct 23, 2014 /Natural-Roots-LLC-of-Columbia

TENNESSEE Metro Nashville Natural Hair Meetup Group Nashville, TN Founded Apr 20, 2009 /Nashville-Naturals

Memphis Naturals Memphis, TN Founded Jun 11, 2014 /NaturalsinMemphis

Hub City Naturals

Dallas, TX Founded Apr 8, 2014 /CurlFriendsAbroad

Happy Hair Community Dallas, TX Founded Apr 23, 2015 /Natural-Hair-Styles-And-Care

Natural Hair Euphoria of Houston Houston, TX Founded Dec 7, 2012 /Natural-Hair-Euphoria-ofHouston

Church Girlz With Curlz

Jackson, TN Founded May 8, 2013 /Hub-City-Naturals

Richmond, TX Founded Jun 24, 2013 /Church-Girlz-With-Curlz-arewomen-who-love-God-their-hair

Raleigh, NC Founded Nov 20, 2014 /Naturally-Curly-SiStars

TEXAS

VIRGINIA

Natural Hair Texas

RVA NATURALS

OKLAHOMA

San Antonio, TX Founded Aug 22, 2007 /SanAntonioNaturalHair

Naturally Curly SiStars

Let’s Talk About Hair Oklahoma City, OK Founded Aug 12, 2011 /letstalkabouthair

Nappy Love Houston Natural Hair Meetup Group

OHIO

Houston, TX Founded Dec 21, 2008 /nappylovehouston

‘Nati Naturalistas

ATX Naturals and Curlies

Cincinnati, OH Founded Oct 23, 2012 /Nati-Naturalistas

PENNSYLVANIA The Lehigh Valley Natural & Curly Hair Group Allentown, PA Founded Jan 16, 2013 /The-Lehigh-Valley-Natural-CurlyHair-Group

Natural Hair Divas of Central PA York, PA Founded Nov 17, 2012 /Natural-Hair-Divas-of-Central-PA

Austin, TX Founded Sep 10, 2013 /ATXNaturalsandCurlies

Houston Natural Hair Meetup Houston, TX Founded Nov 28, 2014 /Houston-Natural-Hair-Meetup

Killeen Natural Hair Group Killeen, TX Founded Nov 25, 2009 /Killeen-Natural-Hair-Group

Henrico, VA Founded Nov 11, 2014 /RVA-Naturals

Naturally Beautiful - Curly, Kinky, Wavy and more! Norfolk, VA Founded Feb 19, 2013 /Naturally-Beautiful-Curly-KinkyWavy-and-more

Locks, Sisterlocks™ and Natural Hair Woodbridge, VA Founded May 21, 2009 /LOCKSANDNATURALHAIR

Hampton Roads Naturals Hampton, VA Founded May 3, 2011 /Hampton-Roads-Naturals

Transitioning Divas And Naturalistas Of The Roanoke Valley Roanoke, VA Founded Feb 4, 2014 /Transitioning-Divas-And-Naturalistas-Of-The-Roanoke-Valley

Kinks, Curls and Coils Stafford, VA Founded Jan 20, 2015 /Kinks-Curls-and-Coils

Twisted Sistas Lynchburg, VA Founded Apr 20, 2011 /TwistedSistas

WASHINGTON The New Naturalista Seattle, WA Founded Feb 22, 2014 /New-Naturalista-Seattles-OriginalNatural-Hair-Community

WEST VIRGINIA Mocha Curls Beckley, WV Founded Jul 13, 2014 /Mocha-Curls

Nappy Roots Beauty - Edmonton Edmonton, AB Founded Mar 30, 2014 /Nappy-Roots-Beauty-Edmonton

UNITED KINGDOM

ONTARIO

SWITZERLAND

Long Hair and Care

Ajax Naturals

Swiss Naturalistas

London, United Kingdom Founded Sep 15, 2013 /Long-Hair-and-Care

Ajax, ON Founded Apr 13, 2012 /Ajax-Naturals

Zürich, Switzerland Founded Sep 27, 2013 /Swiss-Naturalistas

Manchester Naturals

Toronto Naturals

Manchester, United Kingdom Founded Feb 21, 2012 /Manchester-Naturals-Black-Natural-Hair-Care

Toronto, ON Founded Oct 29, 2010 /Toronto-Naturals

Ottawa Naturally Curly Hair Group

HAIRNATION | HEALTHY HAIR PROGRAM | LONDON London, United Kingdom Founded Oct 26, 2014 /VERB31HairNation-London

UK OfficiallyNatural Enthusiasts London, United Kingdom Founded Oct 26, 2014 /UK-OfficiallyNatural-Enthusiasts

HAWAII

Curls Coils & Cocktails in Toronto Toronto, ON Founded May 18, 2014 /Curls-Coils-Cocktails-Toronto

NETHERLANDS

Ottawa, ON Founded Jan 4, 2013 /Ottawa-Naturally-Curly-HairGroup

DIY Natural Care Products & Living Berlin, Germany Founded Mar 9, 2015 /DIY-natural-care-products-andliving

Curly Girls in the Netherlands Amsterdam, Netherlands Founded Apr 5, 2012 /Curly-Girls-Netherlands

Naturalistas of O’ahu Honolulu, HI Founded May 11, 2014 /Naturalistas-Oahu

www.ctckmagazine.com 39

Astrology

Horoscopes Predictions for September/October 2015

Aries (21 March – 19 April )

Gemini (21 May – 20 June)

Leo (23 July – 22 August)

Taurus (20 April – 20 May)

Cancer (21 June – 22 July)

Virgo (23 August – 22 September)

You will move towards expansion and letting the foundations of earlier hard work continue to work for you and grow organically to help fuel further achievements later. Money should be coming in and professional upliftment or a promotion is around the corner. Something new and very positive is likely to be headed your way very soon. If things are not going so well in committed relationships, you will patch them up soon. For singles looking for love, a rewarding relationship may be just around the corner. Favorable Dates: Sep 1, 6, 9, 15, 18 & 27 Oct 2, 3, 11, 12, 20, 21, 28 & 29 Favorable Colors: Red & Blue. You will need to weigh matters carefully and perhaps make important decisions about your future course. You are feeling the impact of a past mistake. The cause you set in motion at one time is now returning to you as an effect. If you are feeling trapped or restricted right now, seek the blessings of divine power or almighty so that this period passes smoothly. If you are single, do not make final commitments in love and wait for tides to turn into your favor. Patients with heart ailments need to take special care. Favorable Dates: Sep 2, 5, 11, 14 & 20 Oct 4, 7, 13, 16, 22 & 25 Favorable Colors: Brown & White

40 September/October 2015

It is a time to reap the benefits of a bountiful harvest in professional life. It would be wise to keep your ideas, plans and intentions to yourself at this time as you are to have complete faith in your own abilities, rather than taking on the advice of others. You are nearing the point where work success and recognition are well within your grasp. It seems that romantic relationships are not currently a priority for you right now. Overall, there would be professional satisfaction. It brings you revitalized energy to begin something new and face new challenges. Favorable Dates: Sep 1, 2, 10, 11 & 22. Oct 3, 8, 12, 17, 21 & 26 Favorable Colors: Blue & Yellow Work projects are likely to move ahead in a positive way. You are likely to be feeling charged up, ready for action. In matters related to love and heart, be open to exploration of your feelings. It will be important for you to trust your instincts and your impressions. This is also a great time to access the great spiritual books of the world - you’ll get more out of them than usual. Over indulgence in work is to be avoided and make yourself available for calm and peaceful surroundings. Favorable Dates: Sep 3, 8, 12, 17, & 21 Oct 2, 4, 11, 13, 20 & 22 Favorable Colors: Red & Purple

There is a goal in sight for you right now and you are on the right path— learning new tricks, creating healthy environments around you, and otherwise doing what you can to succeed. If you are pondering an investment and then see that endeavor working out in your mind’s eye then it will ... You need to learn to take pride in your small accomplishments. If you want a partner for love and relationship, then you have to set goals for the type of person that you want and the goal will be within your reach. Favorable Dates: Sep 3, 4, 12, 13 & 22 Oct 4, 5, 13, 14, 22 & 23 Favorable Colors: Brown & Blue

You have earned well deserved success and are basking in its glory. Sometimes we need time to celebrate, to let loose and relax so that we can refocus on what it is that we are trying to accomplish. This step is as essential as working hard toward your goal. This joyful time will rejuvenate you for further professional tasks and targets. This is not a time of introspection; this is a time of embracing your inner social butterfly. It is not proper time to make final commitment in love and relationship, as infatuation and not genuine love and attraction will be the driving force. Favorable Dates: Sep 2, 3, 11, 12 & 21 Oct 1, 7, 9, 16, and 25 Favorable Colors: Red & Violet

Libra (23 September – 22 October)

Sagittarius (22 November - 21 December)

Scorpio (23 October – 21 November)

Capricorn (22 December – 19 January)

You are pushing yourself too hard. You need to lighten up for the sake of your health and well being. You have a keen intellect and grasp the finer points of any subject and others rely on your lucid analysis of problems and solutions. However, you need to take care that others do not drain your mental energies by seeking your valuable guidance too much. Learn to let go of your stress via meditation, gain freedom from what burdens you and enjoy regularly your days in the sun and you will live a long and healthy life. Favorable Dates: Sep 2, 9, 11, 18 & 20 Oct 1, 7, 9, 16, and 25 Favorable Colors: Red & Yellow

You’ll need to use both your intellect and your heart, in order to be truly successful. Just do the best you can and don’t waste time on worrying about the way others perceive your efforts. You should be feeling full of vitality, and hopeful and optimistic about the future. In committed relationships, you are likely to find yourself feeling closer and happier with your partner than ever before. If you’re unattached, you’re about to enter a relationship with someone you’ve been dreaming about. Favorable Dates: Sep 1, 4, 10, 13 & 19 Oct 4, 7, 13, 16, 22 & 25 Favorable Colors: Yellow & Blue

There is enough money to go around even if it does take a bit of juggling here and there to balance the scales. You may be trying to work, build a career or business while trying to maintain a relationship, marriage and family. Empathy or compassion towards others may distract you from the task at hand, so it is important that you think with your head and not with your heart at this particular time. Use fact and logic to make your decisions. It is time to present your thoughts and opinions concisely and honestly. Favorable Dates: Sep 1, 4, 10, 19 & 22. Oct 4, 7, 13, 16, 22 & 25 Favorable Colors: Yellow & Blue

You are showing huge potential at this time and are driven by a strong, creative force. It is as if there is a latent talent within that is just bursting to get out and be fully utilized. You would be upbeat, optimistic, and hopeful about your future. You are likely to be feeling quite energetic and positive. Tackle any challenges that stand in your way and always be ready to help others who lack determination and exuberance but who desperately need it. It is also time to develop your love relationship further to culminate in marriage. Favorable Dates: Sep 2, 3, 11, 12 & 20 Oct 2, 11, 12, 12 & 24 Favorable Colors: Blue& Yellow

Aquarius (20 January – 18 February)

You may have the feeling now that you are not in control of your life; sometimes this happens as a result of your own actions, but more often as a by-product of inaction. In professional life too, you may very well feel trapped in a job that you detest but can’t see your way clear to leave because of the security. Try not to resent the situation, but to deal calmly and rationally with it. You need to be ready for ‘mental battle’ and be prepared to find the strength to overcome these challenges. Favorable Dates: Sep 3, 8, 12, 26 & 30 Oct 1, 5, 10, 14, 19 & 23 Favorable Colors: White & Blue

Pisces (19 February – 20 March)

You have used your financial prosperity to build a comfortable home environment and you are focused on investing in your family, as well as your personal wealth. Your prosperity level is very likely to be increasing. Committed relationships will blossom further. If you are single, make yourself available for romantic liaison, but do not be desperate to bring someone new into your romantic life. When the time is right, that will be made abundantly clear to you, and you won’t have to do backflips to make something come about. Favorable Dates: Sep 2, 8, 11, 17 & 20 Oct 1, 5, 10, 14, 19 & 23 Favorable Colors: White & Yellow

Astrologer

Astrology by Manish Kumar Arora K.P. Astrologer, Numerologist, Tarot Card Reader & Vastu Consultant © Sad Monkey Design. Watercolor Texture. Photo sourced from Lost and Taken.

www.ctckmagazine.com 41

Looking for help

with your

Attanasio Financial Strategies Group Our Firm Many people, especially women, believe that their financial well-being is linked solely to their ability to earn a high income. True financial independence, however, has much more to do with understanding and taking advantage of the finances you have. It's more about setting financial goals and learning to use financial strategies that will help you meet your objectives. My goal as a financial professional is to help you plan for financial security. Whether your goals involve building wealth through investing, funding a child's college education, planning for a comfortable retirement, or protecting your estate, I can help you develop a roadmap to reach your goals and make wise decisions to help improve your financial situation. The process I follow in completing a total financial strategy consists of: 1. 2. 3.

Gathering and analyzing your financial situation to develop a clear picture of your specific needs, as sets, liabilities, and risk tolerance; Designing a financial strategy that takes into account the full range of needs you have now, and those needs you may have in the future; and Periodically reviewing your strategy, consulting with you to make appropriate adjustments, and assisting you in keeping your plan on track.

Our Qualifications With more than 20 years of experience in financial services, Melissa Attanasio established the Attanasio Financial Strategies Group to demonstrate her commitment to providing the highest level of professionalism and personal service. Melissa is a member of both the Institute for Divorce Financial Analysts and is an associate, non-attorney member of the Clark County Bar Association. She is a member of the Financial Planning Association. Melissa began her

investment career at Prudential Securities (a predecessor firm of Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network, LLC). She is a Financial Advisor who has earned the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification and the Certified Divorce Financial Analyst designation. In addition, she obtained an Executive Certificate of Financial Planning from the University of Nevada at Las Vegas in 2006. She serves as an investment consultant to various non-profit organizations and individuals focusing on investment planning and has resided in the Las Vegas metropolitan area for over 20 years. Melissa earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Arizona in Tucson.

Our Services We serve individuals and businesses in many areas of investment planning, including: •

Retirement planning - Help making the most of your employer-sponsored retirement plans and IRAs. Determining how much you need to retire comfortably. Managing assets before and during retirement.

•

Tax management* - Help making sure your portfolio is tax-efficient. Developing tax saving investment strategies. Referring you to qualified tax specialists.

•

Estate planning* - Working with our estate-planning and trust specialists to review your wills and trusts, help preserving your estate for your intended heirs, help with beneficiary designations, help reducing potential exposure to estate taxes and probate costs and coordinating with your tax and legal advisors.

•

Education funding - Recommending investment and accumulation strategies to help you pay for your children's education.

•

Risk management** - Reviewing existing insurance policies. When suitable, help finding a new policy for your specific situation.

•

Investments - Determining your asset-allocation needs. Helping you understand your risk tolerance. Recommending the appropriate investment vehicles to help you reach your goals.

•

Employee and executive benefits - Helping your business attract and retain qualified employees through benefit packages.

* Insurance products are offered through our affiliated nonbank insurance agencies**Attanasio Financial Strategies Group, LLC and Wells Fargo Financial Network, LLC are not legal or tax advisors. Please consult with your tax and legal advisors before taking any action that may have tax consequences.

MELISSA ATTANASIO

CFP®, CDFA™ Managing Principal Attanasio Financial Strategies Group 1140 N. Town Center Road, Suite 270 Las Vegas, NV 89144 Phone: 702-851-5858 www.melissaa.net

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