There’s something in the air today, and I’m almost positive it has everything to do with the glorious weather. Warm….sunny, dress-wearing, flip-flopping weather is finally here, and it’s gladly wrapping itself around this entire weekend!

So, here’s to everyone enjoying the pursuit of all things sun-filled this weekend;-)

There are only a select few jems in life that seriously get me to smile on a dime. One of them being my grandmother’s home cooking, and the other is the thrill of knowing my naturally boingy hair is rocking hard and taking numbers. No better feeling than to be riding high on the gain of satisfaction, despite the occasion!

This afternoon, as the clock wound it’s way to 5, a co-worker alerted me to a l’il weather tid-bit that I’d completely glanced over. Sunny & 85 degrees on a Friday. Nuff said.

Full disclosure – while I clearly anticipate the onset of Spring during the ruff tumbles of Winter and can’t flippin wait for the return of Summer each year, it takes more than a minute and a half for ‘up keep’ to take it’s full effects. Mani, Pedi, are always waiting for me to oblige their needs until it’s too late. So, after rushing home…slinging my purse down, munching on din din – I reluctantly retired to the bathroom and finally said Hellur to the new season.

Shaving is my thing. Hands down. I have annoyingly sensitive skin, and have the fear of flareup syndrome that descends on most in my situation if anything wax in form comes near. In the past I’ve typically paired up a gentle three blade razor with the ‘ol tried and true Skintimate soft gel/creams. Generally leaving my skin bump free and nick-less, I never opted to change direction until stumbling on the EOS line of goodies at Target a few weeks back.

On a whim I snagged EOS Ultra Moisturizing Shave Cream after seeing the fun, non-traditional packaging, convenient hold bottle…and because it is often times the little things that matter….the metal free bottom rim! Exciting for those who’ve left their old cans of shaving cream in respective showers, only to find a yucky rust colored rim that only Ajax can remove…? Yah. It matters.

I shaved using the Vanilla Bliss scent, and instantly fell in love with the application. Three pumps for full coverage on each leg, followed by treats of softness & easy to glide goodness! The company site hints to ‘the evolution of smooth,’ and frankly…I’m sold. Paraben-free, with shea-butter and aloe to soothe as you shave, it really does what it claims – Moisturize! Now readily available at my local Tarjay, I’m aiming to try the Lavender Jasmine & Island Blue scent!

No more foam, no more mess…finally ready for the season!!

Luck has definitely been in the air lately as far as dabbling in a few new conditioners and stylers. Welcomed into the condish family & tied up in just the most fancy of packaging, was Darcy’s Botanicals Pumpkin Seed Moisturizing Conditioner. This puppy I have long been meaning to swing around to for what seems like months now, though for every reason under the sun…just slipped my mind! It’s a goody because it works.

Case in point:

*Pumpkin Seed Oil:

Pumpkin seed oil is one of the most nutritional oils available, and is an excellent source of essential fatty acids, antioxidants, vitamins, and sterols. It contains Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids, which are known to promote energy levels, brain function, and overall health and vitality. It also contains high levels of Vitamin E, as well as Vitamins A and C, Zinc, and other trace minerals and vitamins.

Vitamins, Minerals and the only instance that I know of where having a high fat content is an added benefit.

HOW DOES THIS WORK?

Use as a cream rinse or rinse-out conditioner to give your curls a wonderful boost of moisture and softness.

WHAT’S IN IT?

Distilled Water, BTMS (a mild conditioning emulsifier), Pumpkin Seed Oil, Organic Virgin Coconut Oil, Japanese Camellia Oil, Cetyl Alcohol, Botanical Oil Complex, Hydrolyzed Oat Protein, Panthenol, Ximenia Oil (Wild Plum) and fragrance.

HOW DO I USE IT?

Use it as a cream rinse to naturally condition dry curls, locs & waves.

Use as rinse-out conditioner to add moisture.

Use to promote healthy hair growth

I used the conditioner on freshly washed hair – clean no residue to be found – because simply by looking at the consistency of the product, I caught a clue. It’s THICK. Yes, thankfully thick and moisturizing love to hold hands, and this one did it’s thing, and did it well! With thicker conditioners there’s always the slight aversion to product buildup, therefore in order to allow moisture to seep into the strands, I made sure to rid my hair of all other previous ailments –>re: oils, butters, puddings, custards..etc. Start fresh & you’ll get even Fresher results;-)!

Because of the conditioner’s consistency, detangling was not breezy, though not difficult either. Extra time was spent ensuring all over coverage, spreading & shingling throughout with a wide-tooth comb & Denman Brush. I hardly ever condition/DC less than 20-30 minutes at a time, so under a processing cap I went for upwards of an hour.

After fully rinsing, hair was noticeably softer, more manageable & it was fairly easy to run my fingers through. Scent wise, it’s an easy guess. The smell of pumpkin cookies is pretty strong, though not overbearing. Does not linger, especially if followed up with an leave-in conditioner.

Make sure to FULLY rinse out of hair! Preferably using warm/cold water. This is not your run of the mill condish that loves to moonlight as a leave-in.  Trust in the fact that you’ll want to safely rinse out the product to reveal uber soft coils/curls/love.

My heart & hair belongs to this condish & we’re sharing good times, my only gripe is that because of the density, my heavy handedness could decrease if it came in a larger size and/or a jar for easy scooping. I have just a smidge left in my 8oz bottle, and as much as I’d love to use up…perhaps even as a short-lived pre-poo treatment…I can’t reach it! Too thick to come down the bottle.

Price is wise at $12, and as always…Darcy herself has some of the best customer service around these parts. Click here to find out;-)

Have any of you guys tried, sampled? Would love to know your thoughts!

*via mountain rose herbs

From The Editor.

For the first issue of Pop’Africana we got personal with a slew of creatives, including artists, Toyin Odutola and Daniela Yohannes, and filmmakers, Eli Jacobs Fantauzzi and Daddy Rohuoraza. Both Odutola and Yohannes provided us figurative interpretations of the African through illustrations.

Transitioning to a broader perspective, Rohuoraza and Fantauzzi focused on Africa’s community settings. The filmmakers gave us mental snapshots into their critically acclaimed films on local movements in Africa.

We then traversed back to the fusion jazz era of the 1960s to capture the ambiance at the Pan African Cultural Festival in 1969. As a complement, Sam Coffie’s jazz-inspired sensibilities and style was chronicled, as were those of students in Abuja, Nigeria. We round off with fashion’s freshest faces, Ataui Deng, Atong Arjork,Gaye McDonald, and Kaven who showcased spring fashion and style in what is merely a teaser introduction to our fashion and beauty pages.

Fashion meets literature in an envisioned literary portrait of Ben Okri’s The Famished Road; the powerful fashion story takes you on an ethereal reverie.

Enjoy,

Oroma Elewa

Have you been waiting as patiently as I have?! Yessir…go to here.

It is only just getting interesting. And I can only say this with as much love & understanding as a weekly bout with my hair could allow. I could have let frustrations and an encore case of bewilderment over-take the ‘situation’ this past weekend, as I hurriedly made my way through my first wash-n-go in over a year.

But I came ready.

As the clock ticked well into Sunday evening, I left my home late to meet up with a friend knowing full well, that amidst a fluttering rain that didn’t seem to want to let up, and an unusual uptake in humid weather…my wash-no-go would slowly, though surely flourish into something clearly obnoxious in form…or bouffant-esque in style.

Er…Still Ready..

With literally no time to spare, I pre-poo’d with a bit of Qhemet Amla & Olive Heavy Cream, continued to part hair in sections then cleansed with Curls Creamy Curl Cleanser. No DC this week. No time.

With hair still in sections, applied KBB’s hair milk followed by Curl Junkie’s Curls in a Bottle. Smoothed, raked & shook the fro with nary a comb or Denman to assist. Diffused until the guilt over being late washed over, made ways out the door and waited…

Lady Fro did grow…and continued her quest over yummy Thai din din and great conversation with said friend, then continued to frizz and blossom on the way to the Shrine where random theater dude sitting behind me thankfully did not mind the intrusion;-).

...Interesting because surprisingly, I did not mind Fro’s last minute growth spurt. Fun because if you’re a young female gracious & lucky enough to have good friends, money enough for both yummy food and cheap tickets to one of the most spectacular musicals currently serenading Broadway…

I’m no fool. Big Hair, Don’t Care…

How was everyone’s weekend? Hot, warm? Productive…chill, lazy?

Well, it was a rainy weekend here in NYC  but lovely nonetheless, no? Saturday was well to do with lots of sunshine, and come Sunday I treated myself to a bit of din din in the city followed by a little theater. I of course, ended up running late to meet up with a friend for dinner before the show, due TO…my hair. Attempted my first wash-n-go in more than a year, and underestimated time needed to dry. Pics to come of my obnoxious glorious bouffant, but if you lovelies haven’t checked out FELA! on Broadway…I implore you!! Get thee to the Shrine! It is some of the most moving (literally), high energy implosion of culturally stimulating music that you’ll ever see…on a stage. I kid not. So very well done, that I’m planning another voyage to see during the Summer.

But as promised, a winner for last weeks hair accessory giveaway! Thanks to all the ladies who chimed in about their favo tool/ product to style their natural tresses.  Hmmm…seriously considering the hair steamer…too many great things have been said about that gadget for me not to investigate:-)!

Congrats though goes to KEMI!! Your lucky number was pulled from this handy site, please e-mail me your addy, so I can send you your prize.

Here’s to a happy, safe & productive  start of the week to all! But if you do need a bit of a boost, check out these *five tips to help improve your Monday.

via Polka Dot Coaching