April 2014 - Midwest Black Hair Magazine by Midwest Black Hair Magazine

The Ultimate Upscale Hair & Beauty Magazine

Fro m Mid The To A west The round Glo be!

Superstar

CHairrStyling eer

Lillie McCloud , and more! Style, Career, Family

How to

Combat Weight

black hair from London

Loss Relapse

Curtis Smith Celebrity Barber. Entrepreneur. Philanthropist.

Special Occasion Volume 3

Issue 4

Style

www.MidwestBlackHair.com

Finding the Right Bridal Makeup Artist

1 Hair... Beauty... Health.. Events... And More!!! www.MidwestBlackHair.com

MIDWEST BLACK HAIR MAGAZINE - April 2014

3 www.MidwestBlackHair.com

MIDWEST BLACK HAIR MAGAZINE - April 2014

www.MidwestBlackHair.com @MWBlackHair

5 www.MidwestBlackHair.com

Editor-In-Chief:

Malisse Lockhart-Ford mford@midwestblackhair.com

VP of Marketing & Advertising Christina Richardson trich@midwestblackhair.com

Advertising Department

advertising@midwestblackhair.com

MWBH Contributors Jacquelyn Hollister

Public Relations Manager

Asia Diamond Mason adiamond@midwestblackhair.com

Human Resource Department hr@midwestblackhair.com

Subscriptions

MidwestBlackHair.com/Subscriptions

About the Care4Hair 5K Run and Alopeica

idwest Black Hair Magazine welcomes you to participate in the 1st Annual “Care 4 Hair” 5K Run for Alopecia, sponsored by Tresses Au Naturale. Alopecia Areata is a common autoimmune skin disease resulting in the loss of hair on the scalp ranging from patches to total body hair loss. Alopecia Areata affects approximately two percent of the population overall, including more than 6.5 million people in the United States alone. The event is designed to raise money for victims of this widely spread disease, as well as bring awareness. A portion of the proceeds will go to the Children’s Alopecia Project to help children afected with the disorder.

Midwest Black Hair LLC info@midwestblackhair.com 816-866-MWBH (6924) www.MidwestBlackHair.com Cover Photo Provided By Lillie McCloud Back Cover Photo Model | Alexandria Johnson Photographer | James Seay

MIDWEST BLACK HAIR MAGAZINE - April 2014

s i h t t a H B s W s e M n n e i r o a J w A a i ! t c n e e p Alo ealth Ev &H

MIDWEST BLACK HAIR MAGAZINE PRESENTS...

R I A

4 1 0 2 th, am

4 t Time 9 1 e Jun Star

for a

N U R lopecia a

ne e r a w

K A L C . WA

E R

. r e t s i g e R . n u R 0 3 $ Support.

K 5

H R

y am, Race a d r atu tion 8

S Registra

The Theater In The Park-Shawnee Mission Park 7710 Renner Rd, Shawnee, KS 66207

Post-Race Bash immediately following with vendors, snacks,music, and information.

Portion of Proceeds To Benefit:

7 www.MidwestBlackHair.com

TABLE OF CONTENTS

month this

Contents 13

MWBH Internship Program

MWBH Hair Showcase Special Occassion Style

How To Combat Weight Loss Relapse

In Every Inssue 10 Event Calendar 12 Editorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Letter

MWBH Beauty Info

MWBH MUA Spotlight

Finding The Right Bridal Make Up Artist Genelle Banks- Chicago, IL

88 MIDWEST MIDWEST BLACK BLACK HAIR HAIR MAGAZINE MAGAZINE -- April April 2014 2014

Midwest Black Hair Magazine is a monthly publication that is devoted to showcasing African American hair styles, promoting local hair and beauty stylist, supporting local small businesses, putting a spotlight on hair & beauty events, and providing hair, beauty, and health information specifically to people of color through monthly articles.

CHairrStyling eer black hair from London

Curtis Smith Celebrity Barber.

24 Featured Celebrity Spread:

Lillie McCloud ily, and more! Style, Career, Fam

99 www.MidwestBlackHair.com www.MidwestBlackHair.com

EDITORIAL CALENDAR

April

May

April 26-27, 2014 17th Annual Taliah Waajid World Natural Hair, Health, and Beauty Show College Park, GA http://naturalhairshow.org/

May 3, 2014 Virgin Hair Expo Kansas City, MO http://www.tressesaunaturale.com May 4, 2014 Battle of the Talking Heads Kansas City, MO May 4-5, 2014 Hair Wars Detroit, MI http://www.hairwarsustour.com/ May 5, 2014 The WITJ Natural Hair & Beauty Show London, UK http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ the-witj-natural-hair-beauty-show-2014-london-tickets-7801403207

r u o y s u d n e S g n i m o upc ! ! ! s t n eve

10 MIDWEST BLACK HAIR MAGAZINE - April 2014

May 10, 2014 KC Natural Hair Event Kansas City, MO http://www.CoveredWithCurls.com http://www.MidwestBlackHair.com

June June 8, 2014 Tangieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2nd Annual Braid Fest Atlanta, GA http://www.tangies5starbraidshop. com June 14, 2014 Care 4 Hair: 5K Run For Alopecia Shawnee, KS http://www.MidwestBlackHair. com/Alopecia-Run June 29, 2014 HMM Beauty Convention Little Rock, AR http://www.hmmbeautyconvention.wix.com/hmm-2014

July July 5, 2014 New Orleans Natural Hair Expo Weekend New Orleans, LA

events August

September

More Info Coming Soon

July 19-20, 2014 World Natural Health & Beauty Expo New York City, NY http://nychealthandbeauty.com

Have an event coming up in 2014 that you would like to add to our Events Calendar? 11 www.MidwestBlackHair.com Email us at: info@midwestblackhair.com

editor’s letter

Spring Forward...

Into A New Style

To all the readers of MWBH Magazine: Welcome to Spring! You know what that means, new style, special events, and fun!!! Need a hair idea for your special day? Check out our Special Occasion spread. Speaking of special occasions, we had the honor of interviewing the fabulous Ms. Lillie McCloud, you won’t want to miss it! Another legend in the game that was featured in this issue is Celebrity Barber, Entrepreneur, and Philanthropist, Mr. Curtis Smith and the Xotics Brand! I’m telling you, you’ll want to read this issue cover to cover, because every page has something awesome! We are constantly striving to perfect our magazine for our readers, and would love to hear from you. Please let us know if you have any feedback, suggestions, questions, or general comments that you would like to share with us. Feel free to email us at: info@midwestblackhair.com. Thank you and I hope you enjoy this issue! Malisse Lockhart-Ford Editor-In-Chief Midwest Black Hair Magazine

12 MIDWEST BLACK HAIR MAGAZINE - April 2014

www.MidwestBlackHair.com

13 www.MidwestBlackHair.com

FEATURED

MWBH Hair Salon Spotlight

Creer Hair Styling:

black hair from London

tyling and maintaining black hair is not something that is only done in the states, but around the world. Among the greatest international stylist, we would like to introduce you to Creer Hair Styling out of London! Their creativity and professional work ethic has propelled them into the spotlight, and are a force to be reckoned with! The birth of Creer Hair Styling all began with two young aspiring junior hairstylists', Korell Williams and Ladelle Robinson. They met and started their working relationship while completing their final year of our hairdressing training together at Burnett Fordes Hair Salon. “During that time we worked on our every first solo project, entering the Black Beauty WAHL Hair Awards competition. This amazing achievement of becoming award winning hair stylists' helped put us on the platform alongside other great hairstylists' we looked up to. This began to form a bond between us; created by friendship and sharing the same aspiration of becoming high-quality hairstylists' working in the hair industry, then strengthen by 14 MIDWEST BLACK HAIR MAGAZINE - April 2014

supporting each other, helping each other to grow in our craft, staying focused and always working hard for what we wanted to achieve.” Today, Korell and Ladelle stand with over 8 years’ experience styling Afro and European Hair. They have put their skills, knowledge, and passion for protecting client’s hair and helping it to reach its potential, into creating Creer Hair Styling.

Creer’s unique trend-setting hair styling help their clients to achieve gorgeous glamorous hair so that they get the 'celebrity superstar' look whenever they're at the salon. With a cutting edge innovative hair styling reputation, they were able to build Creer Hair Styling - in The Kieran Group Salon where they are based today. “We aim to leave you with a sensational experience that will keep you coming back. Hair is our love and passion and we are dedicated to making sure our clients get exceptional customer service from the moment they enter. It’s essential to us that we create a warm and welcoming atmosphere so that

15 www.MidwestBlackHair.com

we build trustworthy relationship with our clients. Hair care is what we stand for, we have always been obsessed with different hair types, styles, textures and patterns so we have dedicated ourselves into growing and safeguarding your hair.â&#x20AC;? Midwest Black Hair Magazine salutes Korell Williams and Ladelle Robinson for their ambition, professionalism, skills, and drive. If you are ever in the London area, be sure to check them out! Creer Hair Styling Team at The Kieran Group Salon, 30 Crawford Street, London W1H 1LP 020 7723 00119

16 MIDWEST BLACK HAIR MAGAZINE - April 2014

www.creerhairstyling.com

“Hair is our love and passion and we are dedicated to making sure our clients get exceptional customer service from the moment they enter.”

18 MIDWEST BLACK HAIR MAGAZINE - April 2014

www.creerhairstyling.com

19 www.MidwestBlackHair.com

20 MIDWEST BLACK HAIR MAGAZINE - April 2014

mlfCreations Web Design For Salons & Barbershops mlfCreations specializes in Web Design using the Wordpress platform. Get a professionally designed website that fits your needs and reflects your establishment. Having a professional website for your business is a must for your brand. Need a new site? Or maybe a redesign of an old site? Contact us for a free consulation and let us know what you need.

ONLY

$199

FREE

Consultations mlfCreations

-Includes Up To 10 Pages, domain registration, & web hosting for 1 year -Link Social Media Pages -Online Scheduling Directly on Your Website -Photo Gallery of Your Work -Add an optional blog -Also options to add other features of your choice

mlfCreations.com PROFESSIONAL GRAPHIC DESIGN & MEDIA SERVICES

mlfCreations.com

Lawrence, KS USA

mlfCreations@gmail.com mlfCreations

21 www.MidwestBlackHair.com

mlfCreations

22 MIDWEST BLACK HAIR MAGAZINE - April 2014

23 www.MidwestBlackHair.com

FEATURED

MWBH Celebrity Spotlight

24 MIDWEST BLACK HAIR MAGAZINE - April 2014

Superstar

Lillie McCloud more! d n a , y l i m a F , Style, Career

ining star, Ms. Lilintroduced us to a sh r cto Fa Xow sh ty breath away and ision reali stage, she took our ast season the telev the ed ac gr e sh e first tim song originally of Alabaster Box, a lie McCloud. From the ce an rm rfo pe g pin 9,000,000 views her jaw drop has gained close to e stole our hearts with ub uT Yo on n itio e let it be known ns. Her rend style of her own, sh a sung by CeCe Wina in ge sta the to ith a huge afro ths! Coming cieties standards. W so over the past 6 mon to rm nfo co t no Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m here and urself and ing gowns, she said ak that itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s okay to be yo tht ea br d an s uit , was when she ay of jumps as her beautiful voice and pick, and an arr ing ish ton as as t os and a grandat was alm years old, a mother, here to stay! But wh 54 s wa e sh t tha to figure out th the news body had us all trying hy stunned America wi alt he d an in sk th inside and out, and Her smoo ty at its finest, both au mother, and loving it! be es m hu ex e t to it all?! Sh what was her secre her voice every day. th wi blesses millions superstar, so grab getting to know the of r no ho the d ha Magazine Midwest Black Hair d enjoy! an ink you favorite dr

eam? and living your dr n ai ag g in ng si t ivated you to star s never left me, What or who mot but my motivation ha ain ag er re ca ) rd co better way than rding (re h to teach and what me to try for a reco uc ted m va so oti m e's d er Th lou e. cC m hM es ve of the Lord push My Big Sister Rebeka for Music, and the Lo ion ss pa y m m fro it comes through music. ing style? spired your sing in ho w up g in usical idols grow wife but always Who were your m of course a pastors om m y m r sto pa a s and everywhere. I father wa r, in the house, any ca th great singers, my bo the re in e, we d els da re d he an with 4 kids and my g everyw Honestly first my mom dicated to her family oir but she would sin de ch so s ch ur wa e ch sh the e in us ng ael Jackson. I think s beca singing. She never sa ssional singer. I gues Diana Ross, and Mich r, ofe pr de a on e W m ie co ev be St n't rs, did taine never knew why she st, the greatest enter Motown was the be er. re ca r he s wa s dad, thi 25 www.MidwestBlackHair.com

FEATURED all of Motown performers. What is your favorite genre of music to sing? I love all types of music. I can't sing anything I don't believe in. There needs to be a message important enough to tell, whether serious or fun. At this time in my life I feel the need to bring awareness to people about my Father, their father (The Lord Our God). Music that will express how cool he is and how much fun he is. How powerful he is, how giving and loving he is. I want to sing music about love and caring, music about fun and dancing and smiling, music about thinking things over, about faith and feeling good about giving. Music that anyone can listen to at any age and can be played anywhere. My favorite genre of music is music that’s makes me react. If you could do a collaboration with anyone, who would it be? Michael Jackson/ Donnie McClurkin/ Shirley Bassey/ Paulina Rubio/ Tyler Perry/ Oprah/ Windy Williams sooooo many. Td Jakes You hit the X-Factor stage in 2013 with your huge afro, and a hair pick intact, and WOWED America with not only your powerful voice and stage presence, but a powerful style of your own. Does your hair and style make a statement about your personality, and if so what would that be? 26 MIDWEST BLACK HAIR MAGAZINE - April 2014

I think yes. I'm just me. Been there! I did it all for every reason and now I would love to be all the way myself. No Gimmicks for sell. I don't want to be just a part of who I am I was never good at that. I believe that the Lord doesn't want us to be what we're not or who we're not. The cat suit was my idea for my audition but I planned on wearing a gown to sing Alabaster box. The X-factor told me I had to wear the same thing I auditioned with. I was shocked and went into the bathroom to pray, The Lord and I met in the bathroom in the arena that day, I was praying about my clothing but I came out of the bathroom with the cat suit still on, saying 'Yes Lord, you know what you're doing." As I sang even I was being ministered too. I’d like to share that story in detail with you one day. Not only did your hair make a statement, but America was raving at how beautiful your skin is at 54! Do you have any beauty secrets that you can share with our readers? When I open my eyes in the morning I pray to God for waking me up BEFORE MY FEET HIT THE FLOOR. I Wash my face with warm water and a soft soap then ice cold water to close the pores 4 real. ice ice ice in the water. Drinking water and walk in love. It’s the best facial in the world I promise. AND SLEEP WHICH IS NOT IN MY PROGRAM LATELY, but that must change. What are your favorite hair and beauty products? Derma blend make up for stage, and Mac for the day time. HAIR Just let it go but keep it clean and clipped every three months or so. A little oil but not on the scalp. And my own natural supplements to keep the body

27 www.MidwestBlackHair.com

FEATURED

28 MIDWEST BLACK HAIR MAGAZINE - April 2014

healthy, (The Natural Truth) I’m hoping to release them soon. My man takes me through a girls stretching program and some exercises that are the bomb. I love dancing its serious exercise. Tons of your fans are eager to hear more of you since the show. What projects are you working on? A new song will be released soon "WHAT ABOUT THE BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN". I’m praying that it will touch the hearts of people to help to save the life of at least one child. Imagine how great it would be if you gave one dollar and this dollar was the one needed for a child’s operation. You're in this world! Why not do something good at least one time. Do one great, great thing where you really make a important difference in life. Half of the monies made on this record will go to Carrick Care Institute for Children who are handicap and those who are fighting for a better quality of life. They need special treatment' so they can be helped. They need care they need a real chance, they need your help. I’m hoping this song will touch the hearts of the Angels out there. How can our readers follow you? FACE BOOK Lillie Nicole McCloud TWITTER Lillie Nicole MC INSTAGRAM Lillie Nicole MC The web will be up on June 1st. in June or before there will be the first record release (What About The Beautiful Children ) and A Video. It will be on ITUNES and AMAZON and in the stores. A Movie is in the works also.

I'M SENDING BIG LOVE TO ALL MY ANGELS! ALL MY FRIENDS AND SUPPORTERS. I love you all so much for believing in me and still standing by my side. I thank God for you. I need you and I could never do this alone, let’s make a difference together.

Photos Pg. 24-27 & 29 Provided By Lillie McCloud

29 www.MidwestBlackHair.com

30 MIDWEST BLACK HAIR MAGAZINE - April 2014

31 www.MidwestBlackHair.com

THE

DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE APP TODAY!

App

www.MidwestBlackHair.com @MWBlackHair

32 MIDWEST BLACK HAIR MAGAZINE - April 2014

*Download your Midwest Black Hair App Today!!!

Model | Alexandria Johnson Photographer | James Seay

33 www.MidwestBlackHair.com

HAIR

MWBH Hair Showcase

Special Occasion Style

asion c c o l a i c e p s Take your style r i a h w e n a h el wit v e l r e h t o n a to n! o i s a c c o e h t that fits

Pg 34-35. & 39 Photographer: Irma Lomidze Model: Tina Richardson & Kavan McCambry Hair: LaTasha Brown Makeup: Irma Lomidze Flower Bouquet: Sounds of Flowers Accessories: Precious Heart Designs by Sheila Ellis-Glasper 34 MIDWEST BLACK HAIR MAGAZINE - April 2014

35 www.MidwestBlackHair.com

HAIR

Photo Credits Photographer: Mel Peters Hair: Robert Harris 36 MIDWEST BLACK HAIR MAGAZINE - April 2014

37 www.MidwestBlackHair.com

HAIR

38 MIDWEST BLACK HAIR MAGAZINE - April 2014

39 www.MidwestBlackHair.com

www.randalstephen.com Designs Pg 40-41 by R Stephen

40 MIDWEST BLACK HAIR MAGAZINE - April 2014

41 www.MidwestBlackHair.com

HAIR

42 MIDWEST BLACK HAIR MAGAZINE - April 2014

Photographer: Anna Monaghan Photography Inc.

Photographer: Michael Magers Make-Up: Karen Bates-Ashley Hair Stylist: Karen Bates-Ashley Model: Chantel Walker Model Alias: Chantel La Toya

43 www.MidwestBlackHair.com

BEAUTY

MWBH Beauty Info

Finding the Right

Bridal Makeup Artist By Richa Khandel

Every bride understands the importance of a perfect look for her wedding day. You can't just go about experimenting with a new look at the last moment. Your makeup should help enhance your beauty and overall appearance. The best way to get a balanced and flawless look is by hiring a professional bridal makeup artist. A makeup artist has the ability to create his own individual style to make you stand out from the rest. He will get you all ready for your special day by creating a style that will complement your outfit as well as the wedding theme. You will find many bridal makeup artists practicing in your city and choosing the right one can sometimes be a difficult decision. You should be first clear in your mind about the kind of look you want for your big day. Then you need to discuss it with the makeup artist to incorporate new ideas. The look for your wedding should be something that is totally different from normal and at the same time represents your personality. The artist you choose should have taken some degree in the field before becoming a professional. He will understand your skin type and will know what will work best for you. He will have a good understanding of the ways to hide your eye, nose and cheek bone flaws. Always keep in mind that the artist who asks for a very high or very low price is not always the best. Never select an artist on the basis of the price he asks for. Your wedding photographs will be with you forever and it is very important that you look your best. You might consider spending a little extra money to get the right makeup artist who can offer you the desired look. It is always advisable to go for a licensed artist to feel confident and comfortable. A license means that he has undergone proper training to do his work correctly. Also check their portfolio to be sure of the kind of work they have done earlier. Have a look at the photos of the brides they have done makeup of. This way you can be sure that you are getting the right type of services. Your makeup artist should be full of ideas to give you a unique and attractive look. He should also know all the techniques to bring out the best in you. A [http://forevermakeup.com.au/]bridal makeup artist Sydney will help you get a unique look for your special day. You can search online to know more about [http://forevermakeup.com.au/]makeup artist Sydney. Article Source: Finding the Right Bridal Makeup Artist

44 MIDWEST BLACK HAIR MAGAZINE - April 2014

Photographer: Irma Lomidze Model: Tina Richardson Hair: LaTasha Brown Makeup: Irma Lomidze Flower Bouquet: Sounds of Flowers 45 by Sheila Ellis-Glasper Accessories: Precious Heart Designs www.MidwestBlackHair.com

BEAUTY

MWBH MUA Spotlight

Genelle Banks Professional Make Up Artist & Hairstylist Chicago, IL

Chicago native and lover of all things beautiful. At an early age Genell was exposed to the cosmetology field by an aunt and a close family friend who worked as hairstylist. A passion was born and she knew one day she would make women beautiful. At 18 she enrolled at John Amico school of cosmetology. First in the field of nail technology before continuing on to the cosmetology program to obtain her license. It was there a spark was ignited for her passion of makeup and the idea of becoming a makeup artist was born. After many years in the salon as a hairstylist she finally decided to pursue her dreams of becoming a makeup artist. She’s now living her dream of making women beautiful through makeup! Tell us about your favorite make up look. My favorite look is definitely anything with a winged eye liner.Thats a classic for me. Can you share a make up tip with our readers? The best tip I can offer is less is more. You don’t need to use your entire makeup bag on your face at one time. What colors do you think will be big for Spring this year? Well the makeup color Radiant Orchid has been selected for 2014 as the color to look for. It’s a purplish pink color and expect to see a lot of it in your favorite brands this year.

If our readers have only 5 minutes in the morning to apply make up,what is a quick look that they can do? A look in a pinch using your usual foundation take a damp beauty blender sponge or becca cosmetics “the one” brush to give yourself a quick blend of foundation then for eyes I like to choose a neutral color or atleast nothing to bold but with a little shimmer apply on eyelid up to crease of eye then blend color at crease and corner of eyes to rid any harsh lines maybe a little mascara and lip gloss color of choice.

46 MIDWEST BLACK HAIR MAGAZINE - April 2014

www.etceterabeauty.com www.facebook.com/etceterabeauty

47 www.MidwestBlackHair.com

48 MIDWEST BLACK HAIR MAGAZINE - April 2014

49 www.MidwestBlackHair.com

BARBER LIFE

MWBH Barber Spotlight

Curtis Smith Celebrity Barber. Entrepreneur. Philanthropist. “Our mission is to bring the world a product line completely free artificial colors, harmful chemicals, parabens, petroleum, and sulfates as well as no animal testing. “

-Xotics by Curtis Smith

urtis Smith isn’t just another Groomer in the industry, he’s a consultant and a friend to his clients. He is truly a “cut” above the rest. Smith’s polished cuts and distinctive styles are recognized around the world. Curtis has been the personal barber/groomer for Sean “Diddy” Combs for over 13 years now. He is also the personal barber/groomer to Usher as well. His clientele list includes but is not limited to: platinum recording artists, Maxwell, The Jacksons, Will Smith, Ron Isley, Nas, Ne-Yo, Lyfe Jennings, Ray J, Pras, Mr. Hudson, Trey Songz, Fonzworth Bentley, Carl Thomas, Nelly, Ice Cube, Bad Boy recording artist B-5, Black Rob, Loon, David Banner, 112, Boyz N The Hood, Da Band;music mogul, Russell Simmons, music producer, Swizz Beats; television and film stars Derek Luke, Malik Yoba, Sean Patrick Thomas, Michael K Williams, Bill Nunn; music industry executives Steve Stoute, Benny Medina, Jeff Burrows; star athletes Allen Houston, Larry Johnson, Charles Oakley, Allen Iverson, Dwayne Wade, Gary Sheffield, and Dwight Howard. Smith’s work can be seen in Sean John ads and the ad campaigns for the fragrances Unforgivable and Usher as well as 2007 television ad campaigns for Burger King, Ciroc Vodka, and”Got Milk”. Smith’s talents have also graced the cover of Usher’s 1999 platinum album, “Confessions” and Diddy’s “Press Play” and “Last Train To Paris”. Numerous music videos for various recording artists and all Bad Boy Entertainment artists. His work can be seen in movies and TV shows like “A Raisin In The Sun” (Broadway also), “Carlito’s Way”, “Notorious”, “Get Him To The Greek”, “Making The Band “, “Making His Band”, “Who Wants To Work For Diddy”, and “106 And Park”. His work is also featured in a multitude of magazines such as GQ, L’uomoVogue and Vogue, Essence, Marie Claire, Vanity Fair, Vibe, JET, Vegas,

50 MIDWEST BLACK HAIR MAGAZINE - April 2014

Ebony and Sophisticates Black Hair. Curtis Smith is one of the most respected men in the industry. He is also known as a trendsetter, having set a precedent with the famous “9CHawkie” cut (the faded variation of the Mohawk used during Diddy’s campaign for Vote or Die) and various Sean John ads in 2005. Curtis’s most recent contribution to the world of hair grooming and style is Ushers new ‘ South of France “cut which was developed exclusively for Ushers 2010 - 2011 tour and has been covered in the international press. Curtis Smith’s work can be seen on billboards worldwide. Curtis is also the recipient of the 2001 NAACP Small Business Award, 2004 Oster Golden Clipper, and the 2009 Gillette Man of Style Award. Mr. Smith is also the founder of the Barbers’ Round Table (networking forum for barbers and affiliates) held twice annually in Atlanta, GA during the Bronner Bros Hair Show.

Cuts for Cancer

mixed the old-fashioned way, in small batches, for greater quality control that ensures freshness. Products are sold exclusively online, barber shops / beauty salons, and specialty stores. Our goal is to provide you with products that are prepared with care and packaged upon order”

The Hair Battle Tour The Hair Battle Tour will provide awareness to the importance of maintaining and living a healthy lifestyle, proper grooming techniques, and to educate them on products and services that are available to them as well. The Tour will consist of cities beginning in Atlanta, GA and the grand finale in Las Vegas. Throughout the Tour in some cities they incorporate a sneaker battle and a stylist competition along with the barber battle. The Hair Battle Tour will offer free haircuts at select barbershops or salons that they partner with in the area for youth who are less fortunate or unable to afford them to promote self-assurance. They also offer training seminars/classes from some of the most elite professionals in the business on learning new cutting techniques and proper grooming, how to market yourself to go beyond the chair and how to open and maintain a successful shop or salon.

www.barberstuff.com www.hairbattletour.com www.xoticsproducts.com

Curtis Smith added philanthropist to his repertoire when he created the Cuts for Cancer program. After overcoming a personal battle with cancer, Curtis made it his mission to give back and bring awareness to the barber community. Cuts for Cancer takes place the day before the Hair Battle. Barbers from near and far converge at the chosen barbershop to give haircuts in exchange for donations. The proceeds are donated to a local Cancer Charity in the designated city. Cuts for Cancer has had an overwhelming response of barbers willing to donate their time, and customers willing to donate to a great cause. Curtis plans to groom, shape and continue to grow Cuts for Cancers.

Xotics by Curtis Smith Xotics by Curtis Smith, a family owned and operated business, was established in 2007. They manufacture natural hair and skin care products. Their products are sold via internet purchases through their company’s website as well as distributed to salons, spas, and barbershops around the world. “Our mission is to bring the world a product line completely free artificial colors, harmful chemicals, parabens, petroleum, and sulfates as well as no animal testing. My hair and skin products are comprised of herbs, natural essential oils, butters and other natural ingredients that work effectively on most hair textures and skin types. Our products are 51 www.MidwestBlackHair.com

52 MIDWEST BLACK HAIR MAGAZINE - April 2014

53 www.MidwestBlackHair.com

54 MIDWEST BLACK HAIR MAGAZINE - April 2014

HEALTH

MWBH Weight Loss

How to combat weight loss relapse Y

ou have finally decided to lose weight and are following a plan of action. Things are going good for a while when all of a sudden you have fallen back into your poor eating habits and you’ve stopped exercising. What happened? Today I am going to discuss the 5 stages of change as they relate to weight loss, why one may relapse between the different stages, and how to combat weight loss relapse.

you just give up. Depression brought on by a traumatic life event, such as the loss of a loved one, divorce, loss of job, or financial difficulties, can also result in one relapsing back to the pre-contemplation stage. Boredom is another common reason one may relapse back to the pre-contemplative stage. You may relapse back to the contemplation (deciding) stage if you have briefly stumbled back on old habits, and are trying to convince yourself that you must get back on track.

First, let me describe the five different stages: Stage one is the pre-contemplation stage. During this stage, you are not thinking about losing weight. In some cases, unfortunately, it may require a health crisis to get you to do so. Stage two is the contemplation stage. During this stage you are thinking about losing weight, weighing the pros and cons. If you are currently in the contemplation stage, you may relapse back to the pre-contemplation stage if after weighing the pros and cons you conclude that you are too overwhelmed with other things perceived as more important than pursuing weight loss at the moment. Stage three is the preparation stage. During this stage you have decided to lose weight and you are taking preliminary action which may include signing up for gym membership, completing a “kitchen raid“, restocking your fridge and cupboards with healthier options, purchasing workout gear, etc. If you are in the preparation stage, you may relapse back to the pre-contemplation stage if you perceive that pursuing weight loss is too expensive for you at the time, or there is some other perceived obstacle that prevents you from moving forward to the action stage. Stage four is the action stage. During this stage you are actively following a personal plan to reach your weight loss goal. If you are currently in the action stage, you may gradually relapse back to the pre-contemplation stage if you feel that you are doing everything right, but you are not seeing any results, or you are not seeing results as fast as you would like to. You may also feel that you have so much weight to lose that after a while the journey becomes daunting and

56 MIDWEST BLACK HAIR MAGAZINE - April 2014

Stage five is the maintenance stage. During this stage you have reached your weight loss goal and you are committed to keeping the weight off. If you are currently in the maintenance stage, you may relapse back to the preparation stage if you find that the weight is creeping back on. This may be due to the approach you used to reach your goal is not sustainable long-term. You may have to revisit the preparation stage more than once to make necessary revisions to your maintenance plan until you find a plan that sticks. If you relapse, don’t view it as the ultimate failure. It is this type of thinking that will keep you stagnant. Instead, process the events and emotions that led to your weight loss relapse and address them by being resolution-minded. You can do this by identifying the problem, brainstorming on possible solutions, choosing the best one, then following through. Be sure to revisit the preparation stage to revise your plan of action. It also helps to make family and friends aware of your weight loss intentions to gain additional support. Jacquelyn Hollister, the founder of Her Mind & Body and graduate of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, is a certified health coach who specializes in weight loss. Jacquelyn helps women who desire to lose weight to improve their eating habits, develop enthusiasm towards physical fitness, and employ simple techniques for reducing stress in their lives. Jacquelyn truly believes that YOU have the power to lose weight, and that Her Mind & Body has the tools and resources to help you. Learn more about Jacquelyn and her online wellness programs at www.HerMindandBody.com.

57 www.MidwestBlackHair.com

Subscribe Today! www.MidwestBlackHair.com Hair... Beauty... Events... Q&A’s... And More!!! 58 MIDWEST BLACK HAIR MAGAZINE - April 2014

59 www.MidwestBlackHair.com

The Ultimate Upscale Hair & Beauty Magazine www.MidwestBlackHair.com @MWBlackHair

60 MIDWEST BLACK HAIR MAGAZINE - April 2014