I'm on Naturally Curly | Coily Christmas Gift Guide

I'm BACK!!! Check out my most recent article on NaturallyCurly.com, where I'm giving you the details on some of my top picks for Christmas gifts for your favorite curlfriend!  Featuring some of my FAVORITE brands like Dope Crochet, Naturally Supreme, Crystals Coifs, The Natural Me, Astella19 and many more!!

Coily Christmas Gift Guide

 

 

Now tell me...what's on YOUR Christmas list?

Sunday Night Live! | The NZURI Experience

I'll preface this by saying I had a really REALLY good time at the Nzuri Natural Hair, Health and Beauty Festival!!  This expo is the biggest one in Houston and it really brought out a great crowd this year.  I got to meet SO many people, and furthermore, forge fantastic new friendships and business relationships.  Being able to represent This Hair of Mine on such a large platform is truly a blessing...sometimes I have to pinch myself so I know it's real! 

Enough with the sappy stuff, here's a video that I did with my buddy Tiffany Kowalski of Venus Fly Naps, and fab photographer behind the lens of Plush Portraits.  We were virtual mirror images of each other, from our The Natural Me headwraps (hey Samori!!) cascading curls, golden eyeshadow and our limited edition Naturally Supreme GOLDEN GIRL shirts.  So we just HAD to do a video :)  I think this really captures the essence of the spirit of Nzuri, not to mention how much fun we had! 

Enjoy the Lisa & Tiffany Chronicles :)

The NZURI Experience: Sights of 2011

 

 

The Nzuri Natural Hair, Health and Beauty Fesitval is coming near and I wanted to make sure you all know what's in store if you come out to the event!!

There will be THOUSANDS in attendance and you don't want to be sitting at home missing all the actions!  Over Saturday & Sunday the Reliant Center will be packed with all sorts of natural hair goodness, and every one from locs to loose hair, updos and fierce fros, braids to curly curls will be represented.  I still am not sure how I'm going to wear my hair yet, but I'm sure it'll be nice and luscious :)

Let me give you a quick pictoral rundown from last year...my very 1st official blogging event :)

The 2011 Bloggersphere crew!!

Titi Branch, co-founder of Miss Jessie's

Celebrity Stylist Felicia Leatherwood

 



Pam Jenkins, owner of Koils By Naature (L);  Jane Carter, owner of Jane Carter Solutions (R)



 



Aevin Dugas (L)

2011 VIP Party, BeautifulBrwnBabyDol (L), Isis Brantley (R)

 

I got to meet SO many people last year and I can't wait to see what all the 2012 Nzuri Festival has in store!! If you haven't already purchased your ticket you can do so HERE. 

Meet NATURAL CHICA Sunday December 9th!

If you're in Houston next weekend then you'll certainly be in for a treat!  The beautiful Natural Chica will be hosting a Meet & Greet during the Nzuri Natural Hair, Health & Beauty Festival at Reliant Center. 

Mae has been documenting her natural hair journey on her YouTube channel and she's got some absolutely gorgeous hair!!  I've yet to meet her in person, but it's clear to tell through her videos that she's such a bright spirit and a genuine personality.  Take a peek below at one of my (still) all time favorite Natural Chica videos!

 

 

I'm super excited to FINALLY get to meet Mae at the Nzuri Festival next Sunday!  If you haven't already done so, make sure you enter the giveaway and let me know that you want to attend on Sunday December 9th so you can see Natural Chica!

Meet CHARYJAY Saturday December 8th!!

 

That's right!! My natural hair buddy CharyJay will be in the building on Saturday, December 8th for the Nzuri Natural Hair, Health and Beauty Festival.  If you're in Houston you don't want to miss her!

I've had the pleasure of meeting her on several occasions and let me tell you she is the absolute BEST!!

At Tendrils and Curls StyleFest 2012, Houston

At Sage Naturalceuticals, Atlanta

She's my buddy!! AND her birthday is the 8th so we've got to help her celebrate big while she's in our city :)  Make sure you enter the giveaway for a chance to win a one day ticket for Saturday or Sunday during the Nzuri Festival!  She'll be doing a workshop and you can purchase your workshop tickets here.

For VIPs Only: NZURI VIP Party

 

 

 

In one week we'll be partying it up at the Aloft Hotel in Houston, Texas for the Nzuri VIP Party!! Tickets are $15 if you bring a toy or pair of tennis shoes, or $20 regular price.  Click HERE to RSVP and get on the list...tickets are limited so don't take a chance on missing all the fun!!

NZURI Ticket Giveaway!! **CLOSED**

The Nzuri Natural Hair, Health and Beauty Festival is getting closer and I have an opportunity for several lucky people to attend this awesome event as guests of This Hair of Mine!

Thousands of people will gather at the Reliant Center on Saturday December 8th and Sunday December 9th to experience what honestly be described as the biggest natural hair expo in Houston!  There will be vendors, live performances, pageants and competitions, and workshops galore!  I will be participating in the Bloggersphere this year along with several other WONDERFUL ladies so if you want to see bloggers Tierra Nicole, Venus Fly Naps (by the way, check out her Top 5 reasons why she's excited for Nzuri here), Indulgence Is Key, DearNatural62, Naturally Twisted Sistah, Natural Hair Rules, Nappturalite Radio and natural hair vloggers personalities Natural Chica, CharyJay and Black Onyx, you'll want to make sure you are in the building!

Trust me you do NOT want to miss out on all this action!!


a Rafflecopter giveaway


For the contest I am giving away FOUR one day passes to the Nzuri Festival!!  This is a Rafflecopter giveaway so there are plenty of ways to earn extra entries.  You also must leave a comment on this post with your full name (real name please!) and which day you would like to attend.

Please keep in mind when entering that this event is in Houston!  I appreciate your courtesy in making sure you are in the Houston area or willing to travel to Houston for this event.  Thank you so much and good luck!! 

Countdown to NZURI!

With less than two weeks til the big event, you can already tell the excitement is flowing.  The Nzuri Natural Hair, Health & Beauty Festival ad has made its way back to the big billboard at the Reliant Stadium where, on December 8th and 9th, thousands will come out to celebrate Houston's biggest natural hair event.

There are literally hundreds of reasons why you should attend the Nzuri Expo, and I'll be bringing you LOTS of exciting details over these next few days.  Stay tuned for ticket giveaways too...10 lucky people will get to attend the 2012 Nzuri Expo courtesy of This Hair of Mine :)

I can understand if you don't want to wait to see if you win tickets, so you can click HERE to get your them now!  Only $10 presale, $15 at the door, but trust me you DON'T want to miss this year!

Oh, and did I mention...

A Day of Thanks



On this Thanksgiving Day, I think we can all find a reason or two or a million to be thankful for. 2012 has been an exceptional year for This Hair of Mine, filled with lots of FIRSTS, lots of new friends, and lots of opportunity for the future.

Thanksgiving shouldn't be the only time you should give thanks.  Every day we wake up is a blessing, because there are those who didn't get that same privilege.  As I sit with my family...waiting to eat...I'm thankful for not only them but for the food as well.  Some people don't get to eat, and some don't have people to call family.  Last year at this time we were mourning the loss of my grandmother, my Big Baby, the last of my grandparents.  It's amazing how fast a year has passed, but the love we share has never diminished....it has increased tremendously. 

And as it goes with my hair...our hair...our natural hair community, I can see the love grow tremendously as well.  There is SO MUCH to be shared and to believe that this is just the tip of the iceberg is hard to comprehend.  I can only imagine how the rest of the year will finish up :)

So as you spend this time with your family, friends and loved ones, take the time to sent a special prayer to those less fortunate, those who may not have suffered tragedies this year, and send an extra special prayer to our military who don't get the holiday off.  My brother is one of those servicemen and I can't tell you how thankful & proud I am of him.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!!

A Product Junkie's Weekend

So for all you that know me, you know I love products...

Not just any products....GOOD products!!!

There are so many sales going on it's almost hard to keep up with, but I'm going to share my absolute FAVORITE place to keep me straight.

DERBY CITY NATURALS

You heard it here, and if you don't know now you know!!

Here's the link to the most complete list of Black Friday/Small Business Saturday/Cyber Monday sales for natural hair goodies ever.  EVER!!!  Haley is doing the business over there and I sure am thankful for that!

Once again, CLICK HERE for the entire list and make sure you check back regularly between now and Monday to stay on top of all the latest and greatest.  She's adding deals as soon as she receives confirmations so it's being updates regularly.

I'm making my list and checking it twice...not sure I'm gonna go as HAM as I did last year, but it's quite possible there'll be a repeat ;)

Have a Happy Thanksgiving and happy shopping!!

It's a SALE!!!

The CurlMart Gray Friday sale is BACK ON for 2012!!

You can get 25% off AND shipping for just $5

 

I'm going to assume this is just for today so make sure you get on over and get a head start on your Black Friday shopping...

 

...you can thank me later :)

 

NZURI Is Coming!!

The biggest natural hair expo in Houston is right around the corner!!  I'll be part of the Bloggersphere again this year, and let me tell you, the entire event will be bigger and better than ever!  Save the date: December 8th & 9th and save the place: Reliant Center...be there or be square :)

I'm on Curly Nikki | How to Get Professional Finger Coils at Home

 

I'm on CURLY NIKKI showing you how to achieve some fly finger coils at home!  These were done by stylist Candace Walls of Sovereign Styles Hair Studio, but with the right products and patience you can do them too!  Click the link below to go to the article :)

Curly Nikki | Natural Hair Styles and Natural Hair Care: How to Get Professional Finger Coils at Home: by Lisa Michelle Finger coils are a great styling option for naturals of many lengths. In all the eight years I’ve been natural, I ...

The Importance of a Vote

I am sure we are all VERY aware of the political climate today.  I try to stay out of hot topic debates over politics and policies, but there is one thing that I urge everyone to do.  VOTE!  Our people's people sacrificed their lives for our right to vote and we must not take that sacrifice in vain.  Whether you're Democrat, Republican, Independent or other, you should utilize your ability to have a voice, a say, an opinion in the way of our world.  Voting is your opportunity to do so.

I will say that President Obama has brought our country a long way from when he took office.  However, the job is not yet done.  Realistically we knew it was going to take more than one term to pull us out of the downward slide that our economy was in, thanks to the previous policies that were in play.  We need transparency, we need leadership, we need to continue on the path of change, to restore greatness back to our country.  This is a learning experience for everyone, I don't think anyone in this generation has had to see what previous generations had been through...but we are moving forward!

I would encourage all of the readers of This Hair of Mine to make sure you are registered to vote.  The registration deadline in Texas is October 9th, but you can check your particular state guidelines HERE.  There's no reason we should not be involved in the outcome of this election.  No only should you register, you also need to VOTE...doesn't make sense to register and not use your voice.

*steps down off soapbox*

Friday Funnies

Patience...every natural needs it!! Make sure you support these ladies because they're all doing phenomenal things!!

Chescalocs
Taren916
Hey Fran Hey!
Urban Bush Babes

Natural Hair Care: The Art of Dusting- Trimming Natural Hair

This is a great article on trimming or "dusting" your ends...I've talked about this often, even done a video (an old, OLD video lol!)  I like the way it's explained here for those who are curious about how I maintain my hair.  This is not to say that you may not need a professional trim every once in a while, but dusting is a great way to keep splits at bay. 

Click the link below and enjoy the read!

Curly Nikki | Natural Hair Styles and Natural Hair Care: The Art of Dusting- Trimming Natural Hair:   via Good Hair Diaries  WHAT IS DUSTING? A dusting is where a very small amount of hair is trimmed off the ends of the hair.  S...

It's the 1st of the Month!

Not only is it the 1st, it's a Monday, and it's the 1st day of the last quarter of 2012.

Talk about a lot going on!

As I sit in my apartment...typing...trying to gather my thoughts after what can only be described as a spectacular week, I'm reminded as to why I started blogging in the first place.

Natural hair itself is one thing, but it is SO much more than that, especially if you were involved with Fro Fashion Week.  This really was an experience like no other, so excuse me while I attempt to put it into words.

Since I've been up all kinds of hours these past few days, I'm just going to drop a few golden nuggets of knowledge on you...just a few things I picked up ;)

DO LOOK BOTH WAYS!!!! Cannot stress this enough...thank you Jess :)

 





DO NOT BE AFRAID

 

 

DO BE CONFIDENT

 

 

DO NOT TAKE A DAY FOR GRANTED

 

 

DO BE YOURSELF

 

 

DO NOT ASSUME

 

 

DO HAVE FUN AT ALL TIMES

 

How's that for some great tidbits to take along for the rest of the year!!  I met some PHENOMENAL people this week that I'll call my curl friends for ever and ever and ever :)  I think this was a great way to bring in October!

 

 

Photos, videos and recap to come soon!!!



Fro Fashion Week | One Week Countdown

This time next week I'll be hanging out with some of the most gorgeous curls in the city of Atlanta.  Fro Fashion Week is one of the top natural hair attractions across the nation, drawing in hundreds of people to discover what happens when fly fashions meets fly hair.

And yes, you can still get your tickets to this fabulous week of events!  Check out the website HERE and you can buy your passes HERE.

I'll be giving a rundown of ALL the activities you'll be able to enjoy during Fro Fashion Week over the next few days, so stay tuned to find out all the reasons why you shouldn't miss this!!

GIVEAWAY ALERT | Flowers From Fatima

Who doesn't LOVE a gorgeous floral accessory for their naturally beautiful hair?

Don't worry, I'll wait.... **Katt Williams voice**

SO since everyone loves a gorgeous floral accessory, and I love y'all so much, you all are in store for an amazing giveaway :)

I've teamed up with Flowers From Fatima to give my THoM family a chance to win this beautiful set of vibrant hair clips.  Fatima was so gracious enough to offer not just one, but TWO floral goodies :) The "Red" and "Plum" pom pom flower hair clips are great on their own, but can be worn together as a bright and fun combination! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway is a great one to start the fall season!!  This is a Rafflecopter giveaway, so your entries must go through there (see the above app) You must like both This Hair of Mine and Flowers From Fatima on Facebook, but you can earn extra entries :)  The rules are pretty simple, and the giveaway is open until Thursday, September 20th at 12:01am EST.  Trust me, you don't want to miss this one :)

PLUSH: My Photo Shoot Experience

This past Saturday I got to play hair model and take pictures with Tiffany Kowalski Photography.  She's a talented photographer in Houston and she's also a natural hair enthusiast!!  What has grown from her love of all things curls is a unique opportunity appropriately titled the Plush Portrait program.  Geared towards naturals and transitioners, this exciting program offers the chance to be photographed and featured on her blog and Facebook page, Venus Fly Naps.

 

It was a really neat time, the location was so cute (and the desserts were YUM!) and Tiffany was beyond sweet!  Even though I was the subject, I also got to learn about her, which is one of the things I absolutely love about natural hair!  No matter what you're doing or where you are in life, it's amazing how hair can bring you together.  I have such an appreciation for photographers, especially those who know how to capture the beauty of natural hair, and I cannot wait to work with Tiffany again!

Check out my full interview and more pictures HERE!

Find out more about the Plush Portrait program and how to get involved HERE!

BeautifulBrwnBabyDol Makes People Magazine!

One of my first and still favorite YouTube ladies is "BeautifulBrwnBabyDol" and she's in People magazine!!  Nina was featured as part of the weight loss special that included 5 beautiful people who had lost 100lbs or more.  Now, I don't mean to sound biased, but Nina was one the most fabulous one of all!! She truly is a remarkable person, inside and out, and I am so glad that I've been able to meet her and be in her presence :)

Check out the article I wrote for NaturallyCurly.com below!

Nina Ellis-Hervey Makes People Magazine!

YouTube Finds: SimplYounique does a Flexi Rod Set

 

 

I bought flexi rods before doing my kinky twists and I've yet to use them...this tutorial is definitely giving me hope!!  I cannot wait to try this style!! Make sure you check out SimplYounique on YouTube and subscribe to both of our channels :)

 



Curly Hair Tips from Tamika Fletcher

 

I love Tamika and the Natural Resources Salon team and I'm SO happy to see her on the pages of NaturallyCurly.com!  She's sharing some of her best hair care tips AND she takes you from consultation to styling in a video as well.  They are doing big things at NRS :)

 

Click the link below to go to the article and view the video

 

Curly Hair Tips from Tamika Fletcher

Deep Conditioning with b.a.s.k.

Finally getting to try my b.a.s.k. deep conditioners, the Y.A.M. Nectar and the Cacao Bark :)

I've heard of people combining them, so I started with the Y.A.M. first, then added the Cacao on top.  They are both VERY rich, the Y.A.M. was definitely something different for me...I've never tried anything like it before.  The Cacao reminds me of a rhassoul treatment almost, very creamy and smells like Ovaltine (I have a thing for hot chocolate!)

I'm excited to be getting through all the unused products in my stash...now I just gotta keep track of them all :)

You can find more information about the products I'm using at www.baskbeauty.com
I'm also using a Hair Therapy Wrap, heated in burst of 30 seconds in the microwave; you can find it at www.curlmart.com

Giveaway Alert | Anita Grant Sampler

You all have heard me talk about the wonderful benefits of rhassoul and my affinity for Anita Grant products....what's better than a giveaway to give you a chance to try it yourself!

My most recent rhassoul experience...makes my hair feel so good!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

These goodies were going to be raffled at the Blogiversary event, but made it a day later so I'm giving 3 lucky people the chance to win a sampler straight from the UK :) You'll get 2 shampoo bar samples and 1 rhassoul deep condish cube to enjoy!  This is a Rafflecopter giveaway, so you'll have several ways to earn entries!  The giveaway will be open until 12:01am on August 26th, 2012 so don't delay, get your entries counted today!

Blogiversary | The Celebration

I know, I know, I'm a day late and a few dollars short! My 1st Blogiversary Celebration was nothing short of amazing...beautiful people enjoying themselves, tasty treats & drinks, awesome vendors providing the best products and jewelry, and of course there were enough giveaways for me to feel like Oprah for the day!  It wouldn't have been the event that it was without the help of my sponsors...if I could give them all a big ole Texas sized hug I could! 

My AMAZING Sponsors!!

Bee Mine

Jessicurl

Jane Carter

CURLS

NaturallyCurly.com
EDEN BodyWorks
SheaMoisture

Coco Curls

HoneyChile HairLove

Pura Body Naturals

Hairveda

Marie Dean

b.a.s.k.

Original Moxie

Sunshine's Natural & Loving It!

Anita Grant

Huetiful

Tendrils and Curls

Oils From Jamaica

Miss Jessie's

ReVe' Essentials

ChariT's Inspirational Creations

Soul Sister Natural Hair Care

Natural Resources Salon

Touch of Heaven Salon

My Natural Pharmacist

mainelement: love

The Gud Stuff

You Pose Photo Booths

Pretty as a Picture Photography

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From the swag bags to the raffle prizes, people were so excited for a chance to win great goodies.  The swag bags were packed to the brim from superb sponsors Jane Carter, Bee Mine, CURLS, Shea Moisture, Original Moxie, Coco Curls, Miss Jessie's, EDEN BodyWorks, NaturallyCurly.com, HoneyChile HairLove, PuraBody Naturals, Hairveda and Marie Dean.  These bags were filled to the brim and HEAVY...it took 5 trips to just load the bags in my car!!  I know these were the star attraction for the 1st Blogiversary and I hope the 20 lucky ladies liked the goodies they went home with. 

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The crowd got to experience the many offerings of great vendors while they mixed and mingled.  People were able to buy great custom jewelry from TatusWelle, Jewels by Anike, Astella19 and Dope Crochet; Afro Angel Organics and Pretty by CeCe offered attendees a chance to try some awesome handmade hair products...I even got to go home with some Pretty by CeCe samples :)  And who doesn't love fab natural t-shirts, and B. Natural Apparel supplied some of the best natural hair shirts around!

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Let me tell you too, the ladies in the building were SO gorgeous!  Everything from locs, to bantu knot outs, to twas and all styles in-between filled the venue.  I wish I could've taken a picture with everyone but I think I managed to get some pretty good snaps of the hair action.  Photos were captured by the wonderful Tomayia of Pretty as a Picture Photography...she has a way of getting the best images!  Attendees were also treated to an awesome photo booth sponsored by You Pose Photo Booths.  This was a super fun option that allowed people able to take pictures with their favorite props The fashions were on point too...I love that so many people came out to support me on my very first event.  I look forward to having many, many more!

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I couldn't have done it without the help of several ladies...y'all really pulled together to take some of the stress off me and I truly can't thank you enough.  My fabulous makeup was done by the talented Apryl...made me feel like a glam girl for the day :)  Ms. Veda...I can't tell you how much I appreciated you taking control and helping me out.  Natasha, Tashia, Georgette, Candice, and Tyrika, you are truly awesome women and I thank you enough for stepping up and helping to make the day even more special.  Jacquise, your Fat Snacks & Pastries were a hit and I'm so glad we were able to have them front and center.  I hope I'm not forgetting anybody, and if I do please don't hold it against me...it's been CRAZY but I really want to recognize everyone who had a hand in helping to make the event my best day ever!  To all of the people that came out, women and men, to support me, This Hair of Mine, and the Houston natural hair community, thank you is not enough.  You all have really made my day, my month, my year in blogging a spectacular one and I cannot wait to see what comes next!

**CLOSED** Giveaway Alert | Win a THoM Signature Logo Tee

CONGRATULATIONS NATASHA JONES!!! YOU'RE THE WINNER OF A
THIS HAIR OF MINE SIGNATURE LOGO TEE!!

I've got another giveaway for you!!

I actually ordered an extra shirt for me, but thought it might be a better idea if I offer it as a giveaway!  As you may know, I've recently opened my very own T-Shirt shop on Spreadshirt, so I would love to give one lucky winner one of my signature logo shirts :)



a Rafflecopter giveaway

This is a white, pre-shrunk cotton tee shirt, size XL.  This size would allow some creativity to make it your own style :)  This style is currently in my Spreadshirt shop, however, without the website.  You can get it in a multitude of colors and in a handful of shirt styles.  I'm super excited about being able to bring my signature shirts to you, and I would love your support of my newest venture :)

Coupon Alert | 1st Blogiversary Celebration

This Hair of Mine is officially one year and one week old!!

Since the official 1st Blogiversary Celebration last Sunday, I've been working to compile a list of all the great coupon codes and special offers we received, in addition to the fantastic giveaways we had.

I am happy to FINALLY present to you all, my faithful readers, the comprehensive list of coupon codes!! Some of them expire within the week, but most are good through the end of the month.  I am so thankful to all of these great companies who were gracious enough to be part of my big day :)  Make sure you show them some love from THoM when you make your purchase!

Thank you to our sponsors!

The Gud Stuff

Bee Mine

Naturally Curly

CURLS

Oils From Jamaica

Original Moxie

EDEN BodyWorks
mainelement: love

Jessicurl

HoneyChile HairLove

Marie Dean

My Natural Pharmacist

ReVe Essentials

ChariT's Inspirational Creations





New Products Alert: Mizani Supreme Oil

I received some fantastic news about a new product line coming out from Mizani, one of the leaders in the hair care industry.  They have recently launched the Supreme Oil Moisturizing Treatment Collection consisting of a shampoo, conditioner, deep conditioner and the Supreme Oil.  They are sulfate free, and offer great moisturizing properties since they include a combination of 8 oils.  Check out the press release below!

Give your hair the royal treatment with the

NEW Supreme Oil Moisturizing Treatment Collection!

July 2012 (New York, NY) – MIZANI, the salon professional authority for all curl textures, is building on the success of Supreme Oil,with a complete moisturizing collection offering the optimal combination of eight unique oils for all curl types.

Starting with the first shampoo, each strand is enveloped with a unique blend of pure oils and nourished from root to tip. The NEW Supreme Oil Moisturizing Treatment Collection is free of mineral oil and silicones, so it penetrates and absorbs to treat and smooth all hair types. This system acts at the core of the hair fiber to restore, moisturize and revive dry, dehydrated hair, leaving it soft, smooth, shiny and full of life.‘Prepare your hair for the purest, most luxurious treatment yet’.

New! Supreme Oil Moisturizing Treatment Collection

Available in July 2102, the THREE NEW products complement the multi-faceted, 99% naturally derived Supreme Oil and is designed to replenish chemically damaged, color-treated hair for improved condition and added softness. 

Supreme Oil Sulfate-Free Moisturizing Shampoo: High-foam, sulfate-free cleansing shampoo with Argan and Sesame Oils. Smoothes the hair shaft while adding shine and manageability. *Paraben, mineral oil and silicone free (SRP $16.99)

Supreme Oil Ultra-Light Moisturizing Conditioner: Ultra-light formula, with unique blends of Avocado, Olive, and Jojoba Oils along with strengthening Panthenol. Improves condition of hair and restores natural shine.  *Paraben, mineral oil and silicone free (SRP$18.99)

Supreme Oil Satin Crème Moisturizing Mask: Intense penetrating treatment, rich in natural Rice Bran, Argan and Avocado oils; with Shea Butter for intense conditioning.  Helps protect from dryness and brittleness while leaving hair soft and supple. Does not weigh the hair down, even the finer hair types. Silicone free (SRP $20.99)

Get your THIS HAIR OF MINE shirts on SPREADSHIRT

I'm starting a new venture!! I'm going to use Spreadshirt custom t-shirts to make my This Hair of Mine shirts available to you!  I received a ton of great feedback on my first shirt, but who can stop with just one?!? Spreadshirt will give me the ability to offer a wide array of sizes and color options to fit any curly girls needs ;) They'll be high quality and even better, they'll be AFFORDABLE!  If there's something you'd like to see, just shoot message and I can try to make it happen!  I would love your support, so make sure you check out my page, www.thishairofmine.spreadshirt.com :)

Oprah Shows Off Her Natural Curls

Did you see Oprah on the cover of the September "O" magazine?  Talk about big hair don't care!! Go head Oprah, show us what you're working with!!  Click the link to read my commentary :)

Oprah Shows Off Her Natural Curls

**CLOSED**1st Blogiversary Giveaway | Jewelry Creations by Astella 19

CONGRATULATIONS TO KERRIGAN CROSS!!

Pease email me lisa@thishairofmine.com to claim your gorgeous earrings :)

NEW GIVEAWAY!! Beautiful hand painted earrings by Astella19!

These beautiful handcrafted earrings are up for grabs with this giveaway.  Based in Houston, the talented designer behind Astella 19 has hand painted these earrings to perfection!  They would make an awesome addition to any naturalista collection.  If you want to check out the rest of her designs, head on over to her Etsy page :)

This giveaway will end at 12:01am EST on Sunday, August 5th.  Get your entries in below!

GOOD LUCK!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

HAPPY NATURALVERSARY TO ME!!

8 Years Strong!!

...and many more years to come!!

The giveaways continue, so make sure you're in the loop :)

Thank you for your support of This Hair of Mine, I appreciate you sharing with your friends and family.  You are loved :)

This Hair of Mine 1st Blogiversary Celebration

I know I've been telling you about it since May/early June, but check out the nitty gritty of my 1st Blogiversary Celebration on NaturallyCurly.com!!

This Hair of Mine 1st Blogiversary Celebration

Click HERE for more details

**CLOSED**1st Blogiversary Giveaway | Sunshine's Natural & Loving It!

CLOSED!!! Congratulations Tangela Lee Bass-Barr!!

The latest giveaway is underway!! This one comes from one of our 1st Blogiversary Celebration sponsors, the gracious Sunshine's Natural & Loving It!

Want to buy one now? CLICK ME!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The winner of this FAB shirt will have their choice of 5 colors, and sizes range from S-2x. (just an fyi - this is a fitted shirt, so if you're busty like me you might want to order up a size!)  If you don't want to wait to find out if you're the winner, you can head right on over to her site and order this or many other designs...shirts to tote bags to coffee mugs, you have so many options to choose from!!  The giveaway is open until 12:01am EST Monday July 30th so you have a few days and many ways to enter.  Good luck!!

New Product Alert!! Miss Jessie's Pillow Soft Curls

There's a new product on the market and it's by none other than Miss Jessie's.  The newest product in their line, Pillow Soft Curls, is perfect for achieving "big, soft curly hair".  Y'all know I love big fluffy hair and I'm trying to break out of my twist/twist out routine.  Pillow Soft Curls is geared towards helping wash and go styles achieve 2nd and 3rd day hair on the 1st day.  You may not have the super defined curls of a twist/braid out, but if soft curls are the goal then this may be something worth trying out :) I think I'm ready to give wash and gos a shot, and this is on my list of products to try!

Miss Jessie's Pillow Soft Curls

Ingredients...not bad at all!

Blogiversary JBCO Giveaway Recap

Here's a quick video recap of the winners of the 1st Blogiversary Giveaway featuring JBCO from Oils from Jamaica, the INTERNATIONAL 2nd Blogiversary Giveaway featuring earrings from 1MeNaturally (ends 7/23, 11:50pm CST) and a hint toward the 3rd giveaway :)

CLICK ME for the current 1MeNaturally international giveaway!

Coupon codes for Oils From Jamaica: "THOM" for 10% off your purchase through August 17th
Coupon codes for The Gud Stuff: "LOVINGTHISHAIROFMINE" for buy one 8oz, get a 4oz free, through September 5th.

Good luck!



Curly Hair Care: Shanti Gets a Trim!

I SO feel her anxiety about getting a trim...albeit, I didn't have the traumatic childhood story she did lol!  I figured a great way to celebrate my upcoming 8 year naturalversary was to have a hair checkup of sorts.  I've not had anybody else in my head in over 5 years so naturally I'm nervous, but I know I'll be in great hands. 

Well, how do you know you're in great hands Lisa?  I've scheduled my very first salon appointment with THE Natural Resources Salon in Houston, TX.  Those of you that follow my blog know I absolutely love Tamika, Monique and the entire salon staff.  I've attended several events and meetups there, and I enjoy the atmosphere and the knowledge they share about natural hair.  I'm not looking to do anything drastic, but I want a nice trim, a deep condition/steam treatment, and just an overall healthy hair check-up.  I trust the team at NRS and I'm super excited!! Wish me luck...August 4th, 2012 is the big day :)


Curly Nikki | Natural Hair Styles and Curly Hair Care: Shanti Gets a Trim!: by Shanti of Around The Way Curls  Before the trim. I look cray *Hair is blown out* Let's do a little back story before I begin. Ev...

Curly Hair Care: Luxurious Hot Oil Treatments

It's been a while since I shared any great articles from Curly Nikki, but this one caught my eye!! I know I've gotten away from doing them, but I've got to start back.  My hair loves oils and loves hot oil/pre-poo treatments and my hair is it's healthiest when I'm doing them consistently :) Hope you enjoy the read!

Curly Nikki | Natural Hair Styles and Curly Hair Care: Luxurious Hot Oil Treatments: Kavuli Nyali-Binase via TheGoodHairDiaries I have been doing hot oil treatments since I was pretty young. I remember my mother ...

**CLOSED** GIVEAWAY: Jamaican Black Castor Oil

The first of many giveaways is underway to celebrate my 1st Blogiversary!  The team at Oils from Jamaica sent me a couple of items to giveaway and I'm doing just that!  I'm giving you a chance to win a 4oz bottle of liquid gold, Jamaican Black Castor Oil.  This multipurpose oil can be used for everything from sealing your ends to stimulating hair growth, and just about everything in between!  The giveaway is happening on my facebook page, and the rules are quite simple!

GIVEAWAY RULES:

 1. You must be a fan of THIS HAIR OF MINE Facebook page
2. You must LIKE the picture on the THIS HAIR OF MINE Facebook page
3. You must leave a comment on the picture of your favorite vacation getaway location (whether you've been there or want to go)

This contest is open to US residents until Wednesday July 18th 11:59pm CST. You must complete all of the steps above to be entered, and a winner will be randomly chosen and announced Thursday, July 19th.  Sorry for the short notice but this is a great reason to stay connected to the This Hair of Mine Facebook page as well!  And don't fret if you don't get a chance to enter this giveaway, there'll be more coming soon!  GOOD LUCK!!

3 WEEKS!! Countdown to My Blogiversary

I'm excited...

I'm really REALLY excited...

I mean really REALLY REALLY excited!!

August 5th is the day ladies and gentlemen...This Hair Of Mine turns ONE!

I can't believe how fast a year has gone by!  I would even venture to say that, by far, the year I've been blogging has been one of my best years ever.  Lately I've been thinking (yes, I just had a Jodeci moment) of more what ifs, but mainly what if I had started when I first went healthy natural?  All the shoulda woulda coulda thoughts can eat you alive if you let them, but I'm just glad I quit procrastinating long enough to pin my first post on August 5, 2011.  I'm so proud of myself...I don't think I've said that phrase too many times, but I really am proud of myself for sticking with it for a year.  Sure I could write more posts, sure I should focus more on styling or product reviews, yes I know I said I was going to do more in general.  I've got to be like Nike and JUST DO IT...it's so easy to let life get in the way and sweep you off your feet, leave you dazed and confused, not knowing which was is up.  And I can admit there have been times where I just needed a hiatus from this, from writing, from styling, from my hair all together.  One thing that always kept me motivated to continue was YOU...yes you reading this.  Strange as it may sound, blogging has really helped me break out of my shell (what shell, Lisa!) and get over my quiet fear of speaking/meeting/interacting with people I don't know.  Blogging has allowed me to find myself, and through hair talks and chats I've been able to connect with people and make new friends.  Great friends.  My curlfriends.  I appreciate every single one of you so dearly, you have no idea! 

This past year has afforded me many great opportunities.

• Participated in the NaturallyCurly.com photo shoot where I met SO many awesome curlies, and developed lasting friendships.  My hair (and face too!) are now on marketing campaigns for  TextureMedia and appear on the NaturallyCurly.com website and other media.
• The start of my blog and the photo shoot led to an opportunity to begin writing for NaturallyCurly.com, discussing important topics within the natural hair community as well as providing style, tutorials and of my own lessons learned as well.
• Was selected as part of the Nzuri Natural Hair, Health and Beauty Showcase, Texas' largest natural hair event.  This was an incredible experience to be able to work with the incredible Nina "BeautifulBrownBabyDol" Ellis-Hervey and awesome natural hair bloggers in the city like Naturally Happy Hair, The Hair Gurl, Women Are Gamechangers, and many more
• I was asked to be a guest co-host on the Nappturalite Radio Show, and had a wonderful time interacting with the host, other guests, and the listeners.  I also appeared on the Chocolate is Natural Radio Show too!
• I attended my first World Natural Hair Show in Atlanta, and it was so invigorating!  They added a new Social Circle component that brought together natural hair and style bloggers to cover the entire event.  I would LOVE to participate next year if I could!
• During the WNHS I got to meet one of my fellow guests from the Nappturalite Radio Show, EDEN BodyWorks.  This connection allowed me to serve on the host committee during their Houston edition of Brunch with EDEN in May
• I was also able to meet the incomparable Kim Coles during an event at Natural Resources Salon, and I was even among the few bloggers who were able to chat with her after the event.
• I would say so far the highlight of 2012 has been being featured as a Natural Hair Icon on the website Black Girl Long Hair...I mean...it's BGLH!!!  Not too long after that, Tamika of Natural Resources Salon was featured on there as a 3C Natural Hair Icon and I was on there again while she was doing a quick style on my hair during a previous event.  And what's even crazier is that shortly thereafter, they posted my video of Tamika doing 4 quick styles during my very first natural hair meetup I attended with Nappy Love Houston.  Talk about getting the love from BGLH!!
• I'll be adding a few more accomplishments to my repertoire in the next couple months, primarily becoming LEAD PRESS SUPPORTER for the Fall Fro Fashion Week coming up in Atlanta September 23rd-30rd.  I am SO psyched, I can't even comprehend it all. 

That brings me to today...officially 14 days until my 8 year naturalversary and 20 days until my Blogiversary.  I have to pinch myself sometimes to make sure I'm not dreaming at times...it's pretty surreal.  One of these days (sooner rather than later!) I'll be posting some of my favorite pictures over the last year.  I will also be sharing a bit more of my hair story for those who are new to This Hair of Mine.  I will also do a favorites video to include all of my favorite products & accessories.  Lots of good stuff coming soon :)

VIDEO | My 1st Visit to Tendrils and Curls

Here's a quick recap of my first visit to Tendrils and Curls, the one stop shop for wavy, curly & kinky hair! This fabulous natural hair boutique will have it's grand opening celebration on Saturday July 14th, from 12p-6p and I hope to see you there!

Houston, We Have a Natural Hair Care Boutique!!

I've been pumped about this since I found out...we're getting our very own Natural Hair Care Boutique!!  Tendrils and Curls, located in the River Oaks/Montrose area at 2501 1/2 S. Shepherd Drive, #1, Houston, TX 77019, will be opening on July 9th, 2012 and I and way beyond excited.  I'm talking about SUPER PSYCHED.  You ask, "but why are you so excited Lisa?"  How about this: they will carry over 30 of the best natural hair care brands!!  I'm talking As I Am, Anita Grant, Aubrey Organics, Blended Beauty, Darcy's Botanicals, Camille Rose, Free Your Mane, Curly Hair Solutions, Mixed Chicks, Komaza Care, Karen's Body Beautiful, Henna Sooq, Original Moxie, Jane Carter Solution, Ouidad, Mop Top, Qhemet Biologics, Jamaican Isle Castor Oil, Bee Mine, Naturalista Cosmetics, My Honey Child, John Masters Organics, Jessicurl, Innersense, and I believe they also just added Oyin Handmade. *drops mic*

  

Okay, now that you've picked your jaw up off the floor, let me give you a little background about the wonderful lady that's bringing this joy to my city.  Paula Chrishon, the owner of this fab establishment, shared a bit of her story with us.

"From 1999 to 2001, I wore a loose natural ... yep, I remember walking down Georgia Avenue during my days in graduate school at Howard University in Washington DC and thinking to myself, "Today's the day." I promptly found the nearest salon, walked in, and announced, "I need someone to cut my hair off." Traumatized by my announcement, particularly given the length of my relaxed hair, a gentleman decided that he would take on the task. Yep ... it was the day of my big chop! Liberation is what I felt ... I fell completely in love with my hair ... every beautiful and sometimes challenging strand.

I continued on to earn my Ph.D. from Michigan State University. It was in 2002 when I moved to New York City to be closer to my now husband, Kris, while he was at Columbia University, that I decided to loc my hair. I loved it! WooHoo! I wore locs from 2001 to 2010. At that point, I decided that the time had come for me to cut off my locs and resume my "loose natural status." My mother, Sharon, helped me to strategically cut each loc ... we had decided to take them down instead of cutting them all off. After days and days of unraveling what was left of my locs, again, I felt liberated. This time, it was a strange feeling ... I had no idea of how to take care of my hair.

My husband and I had decided that I would take a couple of years off to stay home with our new daughter. Zaila (Zay-la). Like many, I took to the internet and quickly realized that there is this big, beautiful, magnificent, glorious community of naturally textured women throughout the world who I could actually develop relationships with and learn from. Amazing. I also discovered that yes ... YouTube is your friend (shout out to all of the YouTubers!) and seriously, to all of the bloggers … thank you and keep doing what you do.

I began thinking about what it is that I want my hair to "do" ... if anything. Was I concerned about the health of my hair or was it more about obtaining a particular look? Was I concerned about curl definition, growth, length retention, etc? Throughout the process, my answer certainly changed from time to time. At one point, I stretched my hair with a blow dryer at the roots every morning to get a little more length while at another time, I wore my hair neatly tucked away with bob pins for four months to prevent split ends, etc. Yes, my mission has certainly changed from time to time but that's part of the process of getting to know, forming a relationship with, and loving your naturally textured hair.

I also discovered ... pretty quickly, actually, that no wave, curl or kink is created equal ... from afar, my hair may look like yours but no ... no, there's more to it than that. How much hair do you literally have on your head per square inch? How healthy is your diet? Do you drink enough water ... are you hydrated? What part of the country do you live in ... dry, cold and windy or hot, sunny and dry or hot and humid? Genetically, do you have a tendency to shed more hair than others? We could go on and on from here. That was the challenge for me. I HEAVILY invested in products that were recommended by others. I purchased online because the majority of products were not readily available to me locally. After the wait and the eagerly anticipated arrival of my goodies, I was disappointed from time to time as I was not able to achieve the level of moisture or curl definition, etc. that others had achieved with specific products. It's true. I had not had the opportunity  (there were no local stores or boutiques similar to Tendrils and Curls in the area) to look a little closer at the products that I was investing in to make educated decisions about what might work best for me and my hair. Honestly, ALL OF THE PRODUCTS ARE REALLY GOOD ... it’s all about what works best for you and your unique hair.

From there, Tendrils and Curls was conceived. I was staying home with Zaila and I had the time to do my homework. After chatting with other naturals about tried and true regimens, struggles with breakage and split ends and identifying what products seem to “do the job,” I came to realize that there was a gap to be filled.  It was the perfect opportunity to start thinking about a new career. My mother owned a beauty supply store when I was between the ages of 7 - 10. As a result, I had always had somewhat of an interested despite my years of education in another field. My mother and I had numerous conversations about revisiting her initial career path ... but this time, it would be a little different. We wanted to open a boutique that would cater specifically to those with naturally textured hair ... a space that is warm and inviting ... a space where you can see other fabulous curly heads and be seen, sit down and chat, compare and contrast products by touching and smelling and trying them out, and of course ... shop! Essentially, a boutique that would celebrate the splendor and glory that is ... naturally textured hair. We wanted to make sure that we not only carried products and accoutrements necessary for the health, maintenance and styling of naturally textured hair but of course, given our love of jewelry, bags and other accessories ... we carefully chose the work of a group of both local and national artists and designers to make themselves at home in our boutique."

 

How awesome is that...I'm glad I'm not the only one who's so enthusiastic about the effects of great products in natural hair care!  Are you excited yet!!  Well you've got a little over a week and a whole payday until the store opens!!  The official open date is JULY 9th, but the GRAND OPENING festivities will take place from 12p-6p on SATURDAY JULY 14th.  It's going to be "A Day of Cupcakes and Curls!"  Stop in for cupcakes, fun, and curls, with gift bags, samples, and prizes being given away every hour! AND you can get a henna tattoo by an amazing henna artist.  I can't wait!!

The store will be open from 10am-6pm Monday through Saturday and I'm sure I'll be a frequent shopper.  Matter of fact, let me start getting my list & budget together now because I KNOW my inner PJ is going to do the fool!

On a more serious note, this is a fantastic opportunity for Houston and we need to support Paula and Tendrils and Curls.  This is a tremendous achievement for the naturals in the city.  To me, you can't put a price on having someplace to walk into and see, touch, smell and try products...it's invaluable!  Now, like Atlanta has Sage Naturalceuticals, we too have someplace to call our own! 

Be sure to follow Tendrils and Curls on Twitter, Facebook, and on their website.  Tell Paula "HI!" from This Hair of Mine :)