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NATURALSTYLE
TM
Beautiful. Bold. Natural. You!
The ultimate style source for loose naturals, loc lovers and transitioners!
INSIDE: HOT STYLE PICKS! HOT HAIR ACCESSORIES THE RETURN OF THE SEVEN DAY STYLE HEALTHY HAIR FOOD INTERVIEW WITH ISSA RAE, STAR OF AWKWARD BLACK GIRL! CONTESTS AND MORE!
living natural:
E! FEATURE ARTICL
CONTENTS
Visit naturalstylemagazine.com pg. 15
Like us on Facebook: NaturalStyle Magazine naturalstyle gets awkward with comedic genius issa rae
3 Community News & Events
33
Say What!?
The wackiest questions asked of naturals and loc wearers
43
haircare for kids
45
The Teen Scene
haircare & styling tips: 6 Looking back at 2011
Protection Perfection:
Prevent winter hair woes
Reader questions answered.
47
14
Nat Chat
Quick Poll with men on natural hair.
49
International Naturals
the mail bag:
17 makeup bag must haves
Afraid to BC? No problem!
20 Seven Day Style
Holiday Hair Edition
Transition Tips
15 The Natural Life life talk with notable naturals
28 Hot Styles Our top style choices
35
36
36
Hair Food
Food and Recipes that help hair thrive
50
Hair Food
Giveaways!
Enter to win free products and services and other prizes
Hot Styles
Suit Yourself
Clip and copy looks
pics!
53 20
37 Winterizing your skin
14
28
Seven Day Style Skinsitivity
13 The Mail Bag
Transition Tips
Do it yourself edition!
makeup & skincare:
& Events Natural News and events
Information for soon to be naturals
Info for college naturals
48
3 Community News
Readers questions answered
13
Working out with natural hair
IN EVERY ISSUE:
11
46
Welcome to NAT-U
Follow us on Twitter: @naturalstylemag
28 Hot Styles
Brag Book
Readers share their favorite hairstyles plus unedited hot shots from the styling chair!
54
Artistic Credits
Do it yourself edition!
fashion:
50
18
53
Hair Couture:
Accessories you’ll love.
40 fashion focus:
Style staples 1
Suit Yourself
Brag Book
BONUS ARTICLE! pg. 16 budget friendly holiday gift ideas
on th e c ov ers: m odel erica coates as captured by cipriana thompson of soulfully speaking Photos; twists extensions installed by Braids N Hair By La Shawn Carroll, Styled by LocXurious, makeup by Erica Coates for Creating Visions MUA; accessories styled by LocXurious.
C
OMMUNITY
N E EWS &
VENTS
Pamela Jenkins, owner of Koils by Nature hosted the first annual “Natural is Not a Fad” event at the National Harbor in Maryland on Oct.15, 2011. The event was a smashing success within the natural hair community and many attendees say they can’t wait for the next one! Filled with great shopping, education on natural hair and good company, Jenkins described it as an experience, not an event, and who could disagree? Jenkins is an inspiration and a beacon of light among others in the natural hair community. Her product line, Koils by Nature, is a popular and solid group of ensemble natural haircare and body potions that many in the natural hair community go ga-ga for!
Jewel Afrika gave a great showing at the KBN event. Their unique jewelry designs were quite the conversation piece. If you didn’t make it to the event, you can buy goodies from Jewel Afrika online at http://www.JewelAfrikaDesigns.net
Jennifer Lord (3rd top right), Creator of Natural Hollywood Magazine and natural stylist extraordinaire is shown here with a cast of models she styled for a dazzling presentation on the versatility of natural hair.
To learn more about Koils by Nature and Pamela Jenkins, check out her website www.koilsbynature.com. While you’re there, check out their Nourishing Hair & Body Butters. We happen to love Marvelous Mango!
The woman behind the Natural Is Not A Fad event and the creator of the Koils By Nature brand, Pamela Jenkins (shown at the right) strikes a pose with Nyesha Whitten-Wilson during the event. Get a load of these awesome hairstyles!
The beautiful Cassidy Blackwell, of the popular blog Natural Selection, spoke on the expert panel at Natural Is Not A Fad which educated naturals on the tenets of caring for unaltered tresses.
Aevin Dugas, the Guinness Book of World Records Holder for largest natural afro, was a guest speaker at Natural Is Not A Fad. The might of her ‘fro could not be denied as she posed for the cameras sporting her now legendary coif.
The ladies of The Damn Salon showed up to do a few demonstrations and spoke as special guests on the panel during Natural Is Not A Fad.
3
!
CALIFORNIA
Check out this
!
!
Hair’s a Thought presents LA’s Mane Event
section for information on
!
Date: December 3, 2011 6PM-9PM
!
Location: Philippe by Philippe Chow
events
!
On the web: www.lamaneevent.eventbrite.com
natural hair
everywhere!
!
georgia
!
Natural Girl’s Rock Holiday Party & Extravaganza
!
Date: November 19, 2011 5PM-9PM
!
Location: The Chocolate Bar
!
On the web: http://naturalgirlsrockholidaysocial.eventbrite.com/
NATURALSTYLE Winter 2011/12
SAVE THE DATE!
MARYLAND (WESTERN) Natural Hair Care and Holistic Health Conference Date: November 13, 2011 11AM-7PM Location: The Holiday Inn at FSK Mall, Frederick MD On the web: www.westernmdnaturalhairshow.com
NORTH CAROLINA Beauty is Skin Deep Greenville’s 1st Natural Hair Expo for the mind, body and soul Date: November 20th, 2011 11AM-7PM Location: Greenville Convention Center, Greenville, NC Email: bsdnaturalhairexpo@gmail.com Contact Info: (252) 258-5730
TEXAS Killeen/Fort Hood Natural Hair & Health Expo Date: November 20th, 2011 11AM-8PM Location: Killeen Civic and Conference Center On the web: http://killeennaturalhairexpo.eventbrite.com/
Feature your next event in the Community News & Events section of NaturalStyle by contacting our marketing team at mediamatters@naturalstylemagazine.com 4
NATURALSTYLE’S ANNUAL REVIEW
L O O K I N G B ACK AT 2011 In 2011 it was ALL ABOUT wavy looks to super tight spirals layered cuts for loc’d naturals opting to shape their ‘do’s into looks that can’t be achieved by blunt cuts.
The layered cuts of 2011 gave us movement, volume and depth. We predict the cuts of 2012 will feature more exaggerated length contrasts so it looks like layers are here to stay. Lush layers: Coming to a pair of shears near you!
graced the heads of naturals this year. If you didn’t get in on the texture craze of 2011, you can rest assured it will be back in 2012. We predict the curly coifs in 2012 will be more stylized using diffusing and shaping techniques to create different looks and textures with the curls. Loose romantic curls will also maintain a strong presence in the new year.
A triple-trend style is shown here with this curly, colored up-do
NOT SO DIFFERENT A FTER ALL . .
Up-do’s were the style of In 2011 we saw many hairstyles
Curls and other texture choice for ladies who like low that were worn by both loose and styles exploded in the natural hair world in 2011. Many endured record-breaking dryer times to get “the look”. Flexi sets, perm rod roll-ups and pin curled creations gave us endless possibilities. Loose
maintenance, hands-off hair. The great thing about an up-do is the potential to turn it into another style when undone. The volume boosting effects of a loosened updo can lend to a new “out” style.
loc’d naturals. This disproves the notion that locs are not versatile or leave you with few style choices.
We bet this trend will continue and give birth to new and hot styles in 2012 for stylists and “kitchen beauticians” looking for creative hair options. A SCULPTED LOOK REMINISCENT OF THE 1940’S IS DIS PLAYE D ON TWISTS (ABOVE) AND LOCS (BELOW)
CUTS, CURLS, TEXTURE, SIGNATURE COLORS AND UP-DO’S MADE A SPLASH IN 2011!
Loose, defining, temporary texture changing techniques hit the scene with a bang in 2011!
Capturing the same shape and look of loose hairstyles on locs is easy when you have a creative eye...
Layered cuts were a popular choice among naturals looking to swap their long looks for easier to manage, noticeably shorter, stylish strands.
Clockwise from the top: Model: Laurie Ligon, Hair: Ama Hammah of Fabulocs, Makeup: Cynthia Scott-Cook, Photo: VSM Photography, Model: Kristee Des Champs, Hair: Fabulocs, Makeup: Eboni Luck and Sharon Nichols, Photo: Ashley Drakeford, Model: Tiffany Carr, Hair: Lorin Michele, Makeup: Erica Coates, Photo: Soulfully Speaking, Model: Aishah Bilal, Hair: Fabulocs, makeup: Eboni Luck, Photo: Ashley Drakeford, Model: Andrea Shaw, Hair: Fabulocs, Makeup: Eboni Luck and Sharon Nichols, Photo: Ashley Drakeford, Model: Nicole Turner, Hair: Lorin Michele, Makeup: Erica Coates, Photo: Ashley Drakeford
6
NATURALSTYLE’S ANNUAL REVIEW
Taybutta’s Natural Remedies Line of All Natural Hair Butters This is a truly remarkable product that we had to share. These wonderful remedies are magnificent and smell great. You can apply them to the scalp for a quick hydration fix or you can use it on your hair while twisting or for other kinds of styling for a high sheen. We give Taybutta BIG thumbs up- on both hands!
http://fabulocs.com
http://infinitinaturals.webs.com
Jane Carter’s Wrap & Roll
Alter Ego’s Garlic Mask
When you need to lay down your edges after finishing a style, Jane Carter came up with the perfect solution for you. A dab will do you with this liquid gem. One pump of this stuff will take give you a smooth, fast drying finish in minutes. Just style, apply, tie down while it dries, and voila! Not only is it great for taming those fuzzy edges, we also love the way it sets twisted and loc’d hair. Kudos to Jane Carter for helping us “hold it together.” http://janecartersolution.com
Wonder Curl For firm, yet flexible, d e fi n e d c u r l s w e simply love Wonder Curl. The “Get Set Hair Jelly” and “Hair Smoothie” combo from Wonder Curl are a great way to get the long lasting curls of your dreams. These products smooth away and tame frizz without making the hair hard and stiff. The makers of Wonder Curl note that the “Get Set Hair Jelly” is loaded with pro-vitamin B5 (panthenol) to strengthen your hair. As a bonus, Wonder Curl stands up against the enemy curly ladies know as “humidity”. Try Wonder Curl and get to know your curls and coils a little better! http://wondercurl.com
When your hair is in need of a posts h a m p o o moisture infusion, look no further than the Garlic Mask from Alter Ego. This concoction will soften your hair and condition it to perfection. Cut your detangling time down dramatically with this peptide rich solution for dryness. The Alter Ego Line was formulated for textured hair so the science behind this product is solid. As a deep conditioner, this product is more than we could hope for. http://alteregoitaly.com
Black Earth’s Protective Mist Bodifier To untangle knots and achieve an effortless comb through, there is no greater solution than the Protective Mist Bodifier by Black Earth. This pleasant smelling product not only detangles in no time, it provides an added coat of protection with a fast drying, non-sticky finish that we can’t stop raving about.. Five stars for this magical haircare staple. We never leave home without it! http://www.naturalhair.org
*Remember to review product labels prior to purchase to avoid possible allergic reactions for those who have pre-existing conditions.
Roundup:
We LOVE this product line, which consists of oil for heated treatments, a butter-smooth moisturizer, a no build-up loc butter and even a cleansing creme that eliminates the need for traditional shampooing and conditioning. We find that this line works well for most textures, but is a godsend for tighter curl patterns that are difficult to moisturize. If you’ve got thirsty hair, don’t despair! Try this system.
the
The Intense Moisture Therapy, Scalp Treatment and Loc Maintenance Line(s) from Fabulocs.
products we can’t live without!
o u r t o p p r o d uc t p i c k s f o r 2 0 1 1
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NATURALSTYLE’S ANNUAL REVIEW
top t e n s t y l e p i c k s f o r 2 0 1 1 (READER SELECT ED )
Clockwise from the top: Model: Star Taylor, Hair: Fabulocs, Makeup: Eboni Luck and Sharon Nichols, Photo: Ashley Drakeford, Model: Tiffany Jones, Hair: Lorin-Michele, Makeup: Erica Coates, Photo: Soulfully Speaking, Model: Nicole Turner, Hair: Lorin-Michele, Makeup: Erica Coates, Photo: JAZZY Photos, Model: NAZZY, Hair: Lorin-Michele, Makeup: Erica Coates, Photo: Ashley Drakeford, Model: Joy Kingsley-Ibeh, Hair: Lorin-Michele, Makeup: Erica Coates, Photo: JAZZY Photos, Model: India Douglas, Hair: India Douglas, Makeup: Eri Coates, Photo: VOX EFX, Model: Precious Arthur, Hair: Lorin-Michele, Makeup: Erica Coates, Photo: VOX EFX, Model: Lesie Kershaw, Hair: Lorin-Michele, Makeup: Eboni Luck, Photo: Dosh Jackson, Model: Tarsa Scott, Hair: Fabulocs, Makeup: Eboni Luck and Sharon Nichols, Photo: Ashley Drakeford, Model: Nicole Turner, Hair: Lorin-Michele, Makeup: Erica Coates, Photo: JAZZY Photos
NATURALSTYLE’S ANNUAL REVIEW
top u n edited b r a g b o o k s u b mi s s i o ns f o r 2 0 1 1 (Re ad e r Selected)
L to R from top: Tiffany Jones, Nana Jeffrey-Idun, Tarsa Scott, Joy Carter, Lotrice Parker, Submitted by L. Michele, Tasha Anderson, Nana Jeffrey-Idun, Nimat Young, Krystal Charles, Submitted b: L. Michele, Mia Charles, Rikita Katrell, Shakia Mason, Xquisite Rosa, Submitted by L. Michele, Tarsa Scott, Mia Charles, Jymece Seward, Submitted by L. Michele, Shaynah Curtis, J. Greene, KayCee, KayCee, Submitted by L. Michele, Submitted by L. Michele, Submitted by L. Michele, Mia Charles, Submitted by L. Michele, Tiffany Jones, Mica Charles, Joy Carter, Mia Charles, Submitted by L. Michele, M. Charles
10
PROTECTION TIME IS ON YOUR SIDE
When “Old Man Winter” tries to frostbite your fro or put your locs on ice, be prepared to fight back with moisture infusing strategies that keep hair from becoming brittle in damaging winter elements.
Don’t think covering your hair with a hat is the cure all for your winter hair blues. It takes some diligence and
Protective styles also help you save time in the morning because you don’t need to do so much prep work to leave the house. So instead of styling, perhaps you can spend a little extra time with a cup of cocoa and some marshmallows.
attention to your strands to maintain a soft, strong and
PREPPING FOR YOUR PROTECTIVE STYLE
moisturized winter mane. Staying indoors away from the cold should be a surefire, strand-saving strategy, right? Wrong! Some experts say that forced indoor heat has the same effect on your hair as a blow dryer would if you used it during the day for an extended period of time. Needless to say, the results can be brutal.
For a more manageable mane at style time, complete your detangling during the conditioning process once the hair is clean. After you cleanse and condition your hair it is best to gently towel blot some of the moisture away from the hair before you begin styling. If you feel the need to blow dry the hair prior to styling,
MOISTURE RETENTION AND
apply a small amount of oil (dime size) to sections of the
PROTECTIVE STYLING
hair and keep the blow dryer moving quickly through your
It’s probably a good idea to steer clear of winter time wash and go’s if you desire to endure the winter season with hair that still thrives. Why not protect your tresses this season with a combination of protective styles and a creamy, rich moisturizer? If your hair doesn’t respond well to heavy cream style products, find a lighter hair dress to use during the winter and beyond.
strands. Remember, quickly does not mean roughly. The goal is to keep the duration of “heat to strand” contact at a minimum by moving the dryer around rhythmically so that the heat doesn’t linger in one area for too long. If your hair is too warm to touch when blow drying, you need to adjust your heat to a cooler setting. Your hair doesn’t need to be bone dry to be styled. WHAT EXACTLY IS A PROTECTIVE STYLE?
Adding a moisturizer to your hair while executing a protective style can help you lock moisture in for the duration of the style. The most attractive attribute about protective styles are their ability to help you cut down on the amount of daily manipulation you are subjecting your hair to while maintaining good moisture levels. For people with locs, especially those that have been color treated, a good moisture regimen will keep your locs soft and easy to manage. Remember to gently handle the ends of your locs and keep them moisturized as well. This will prevent snapping and breakage. Loc wearers must also remember to use moisturizer with discretion to avoid product buildup on locs.
If you’ve racked your brain about a protective style that can live up to your daily demands, don’t! The truth is, any style that can be worn for a week or more with “low to no manipulation” is considered a protective style. Many like to take it a step further and wear styles that conceal the ends, the oldest, sometimes most fragile, part of the hair. Twist outs, presses and free fro’s are not considered protective styles. However, many opt to wear these styles during the winter as well. Just make sure your hair is well moisturized no matter what your preference may be.
Getting your cold weather haircare regimen right!
SCALP CARE
your hair or hair products and create a problem with lint
You may notice that your scalp becomes more dry during the cold season. To avoid the associated itchiness and flaking that can happen as a result, you may need to increase the frequency of your oil, or other topical product, application. If you find that increasing the frequency of your oil applications does not work, you may want to switch to a different type of oil. Sometimes something a little more heavy is needed to sufficiently quench the thirst of a dry scalp. For example, jojoba and grape seed oils are typically light
causing tangles during hair style take downs. The small, clingy properties of these fabrics also make them a pain to pick out of hair. Again, selecting pre-lined hats and smooth, no-shed scarves are your best bet when trying to avoid lint accumulation. Some ear muffs have moveable plastic or other kinds of parts that can tug at hair when putting them on and taking them off. Be gentle and mindful of the hair at the perimeter of your hairline or those hairs will get pulled off with your ear muffs!
and work well for persons with normal to moderately dry scalps. However, if those single oils aren’t working, you may opt for a blend of essential oils as offered by many natural haircare product makers.
NATURALSTYLE Winter 2011/12
PERFECTION
Select outerwear wisely and avoid kitchen killers and
Avoid kitchen killers and edge eaters!
If ever you find that your scalp is irritated, flaky or
edge eaters! If you can’t locate head coverings with smooth finish linings, make your own lining. A trip to the fabric store and a little sewing may do the trick in creating an effective barrier between your hair and your outerwear.
itchy and the remedies you are trying aren’t working, consult a dermatologist to discuss alternate treatment options. OUTERWEAR ETIQUETTE Wool coats, fuzzy hats, warm scarves, ear muffs and the like are all a part of our winter outwear and chill- chasing accessories. While these things keep us warm and cute, they can also be damaging to our hair if not worn correctly. Coarse fabrics, such as wool, can eradicate the rear perimeter of your hairline if they are not worn with a silky or smooth barrier fabric to protect and cover the hair. In addition to pulling at delicate hairs, fabrics like wool can also suck the moisture out of your strands leaving them brittle and prone to breakage. Hats and scarves that shed can also be a problem for winter wearers. Shedding fabrics can attach themselves to
12 Background image courtesy of CYCreation, Photo provided by Jason Stitt
meet
Issa Rae:
Rae ‘s awkward humor :
By Lorin Michele
So, tell us about your short natural look. Was it the show that inspired you to cut your hair or did you do it for other reasons?
the NATURALLIFE
The Stanford grad, YouTube star and mastermind of the hit adult internet comedy series, “The MisAdventures of Awkward Black Girl,” chats with NaturalStyle about hair and her popular character “J”.
"When I was in middle school, I successfully avoided a fight because these mean girls were convinced that I would take something out of my nappy hair and throw it at them. Natural hair: stopping the violence since 1996."
I honestly just wanted to start regrowing Issa Rae sports an “awkward” trademark tee my hair from scratch and start using only which has become a favorite for online shoppers who follow the series. natural products. My hair was starting to get damaged from some of the different products I was using and I was tired of dealing with it. hand, had always felt self-conscious about my natural hair. I've always wanted a short, no-hassle haircut and had been toying with the People in middle school and high school idea of shaving my head for a while. made me feel so insecure about it, but now, my short natural hair has given me a I was also thinking about finding a way to new confidence and honestly so have the promote my new series and I figured that viewers who support it. documenting shaving my head on YouTube would be a great way to Ever the comedienne, Issa bowled What plans does the show have for promote the series. I was then able to us over with her humorous take on expanding? Is there a network deal make it work as a storyline for "Awkward dealing with hair adversity as a in the near future for ABG? Black Girl" as well. youth: We're currently focusing on building our When I was in middle school, I audience for the web and trying to On Gaining Awkward successfully avoided a fight because these monetize it through ads and sponsorships. Confidence.... mean girls were convinced that I would When we feel like we have a solid take something out of my nappy hair and audience and foundation, then we'll try to Although your character J seems throw it at them. Natural hair: stopping pitch it to networks and see what awkward in general life scenarios, the violence since1996. happens. Right now, I just love the web as she seems confident in her hair. Is a platform. It's so uninhibited. that an accurate assessment of her Can we expect any changes in J's character? look over the life of the series? Any For more information on Issa Rae and more haircuts, etc? the series: I think J is pretty comfortable with her hair and how she wears it. On the show, I think J will grow her hair out and try she cuts it all off as a way to get over her out different hairstyles over the course of WEB: http://issarae.com ex-boyfriend and even though she may the series. As J grows, so will her hair. endure cheap shots about her lack of FACEBOOK: femininity, she still wears it confidently. http://www.facebook.com/awkwardblackgirl TWITTER: http://twitter.com/issarae
H o w d o e s t h a t ( c o n fi d e n c e ) translate to you in real life? I would say one of the few things J isn't insecure about is her hair. I, on the other 15
Recently featured on CNN and in Essence Magazine, Rae’s series has created a major buzz among lovers of raw, witty, adult comedy.
TUESDAY (The Supreme)
Reminiscent of a vintage style inspired by the group, the S U P R E M E is an updated glamourous look that is both sassy and classy. Wear this style when you want to give off diva vibes. A secure bun is created in the top and rear of the head while a few loose twists are molded in the front for a sculpted bang effect. 22
WEDNESDAY (The Fair Maiden)
Find your prince charming in this lady-like hair style. The FAIR MAIDEN flows from front to back with twists that frame the head in a delicate mass of sculpted volume. Hair that is gathered at the rear and sides has been rolled upward and pinned to finish.
THURSDAY
(A Night At the Opera)
A NIGHT AT THE OPERA is the ultimate look for ladies who want to step out in style. Put on your fanciest gems and head out to catch the show in this headturning style. To achieve this look, volume is concentrated at the rear of the head, sculpted and pinned securely, while the front is sideswept at the hairline. 24