What a BUSY week...

This is going to be a semi-random post...I'll do better this weekend (hopefully lol!)

First off, the weather is heating up here in Houston, and the change of the seasons always comes with crazy allergies too...I need Mucinex AND Vitamin C on tap!

There's been so much going on this past week and I want to cover them all, but I'll just briefly do a rundown.

• A week ago I was in Austin spending time with my sister, mother, sister-in-law, and niece...we had a great family picnic on the lake, and my aunt debuted her new natural TWA :)
• Sunday was Mother's Day and I was featured on Black Girl Long Hair!!! AAAAHHHH!!!!!
• Monday May 14th the This Hair Of Mine facebook page reached 1,000 family members!!! AAAAHHHH!!!!! If you aren't following me there, it's as easy as clicking the "Like" button to the right :)
• Tuesday May 15th was Women Are Gamechangers 1st Gamechanger Fusion event!  Although I wasn't able to attend, I hear it was a fantastic turnout at an awesome venue!  I hope I can catch the next one :)
• Thursday May 17th was the Welcome To Houston: Kim Coles Celebrates YOU! event at Natural Resources Salon.  I cannot begin to tell you how much fun it was to connect and reconnect with beautiful naturalistas!  The highlight of the evening was spending it with THE Kim Coles...she's fabulous, funny, talented, eloquent, gorgeous...it was really something special to be part of.  She was also gracious enough to do an impromptu Blogger round table where we were able to ask questions and interact with her on an even more personal level.  I think it really gave us all a peek into the person behind the comedy, and it was really special.
• Saturday May 19th (tomorrow) is the Houston NNHMD event at Pappadeaux, 6015 Westheimer Rd.  This will be a casual event to mix, mingle and CELEBRATE being natural!  Be prepared to chat, laugh, share stories, and enjoy some great Pappadeaux food (I'm needing a Swamp Thing in my life!)
• Sunday May 20th is the cherry on top of a great week for This Hair of Mine!  The Brunch with EDEN event is taking place with the EDEN BodyWorks team and I am serving on the Host Committee with my favorite Houston Bloggers!!  It's going to be a great networking opportunity and I'm super excited for it!

See what I mean!!  I can't wait til I can take a break!!  I've been playing around with the idea of doing twists or braids extensions to get me through a chunk of the summer since it's already getting so hot...I haven't done them in a long, long LONG time so I don't know how that'll work lol!  Y'all pray for me!!

I do want to send a special thank you to ALL of you that follow my blog...I'm coming up on my 1 year Blogiversary and I definitely couldn't have made it without your support.  GROUP HUG!!!

Lisa Michelle

COMING SOON: Natural Resources Salon Event

Hey guys!! Guess who's coming to Houston...Kim Coles!!  She's going to be at Natural Resources Salon for a kick off to the 5th Annual Women's Empowerment Conference!  The wonderful Kim Coles will be the keynote speaker for this fantastic event, and I for one plan to be in the building.  Natural Resources Salon will no doubt prove to be the perfect host for this celebration, providing an upscale ambiance and a modern backdrop. 

WHEN:    Thursday, May 17th, 6:00p - 8:00p

WHERE:  Natural Resources Salon / 5313 Morningside Dr / Houston, TX 77005

RSVP HERE!

AND they're even having a giveaway of 2 FULL passes to the Women's Empowerment Conference, open for those of you who have transitioned in the past year! 

What a great way to lead into the National Natural Hair Meetup Day weekend :) I hope to see some familiar faces in the building for this occasion!  Let me know when you RSVP!



Featured on Essence.com

Can't believe we're 10 days in to February and I hadn't made a post yet!  It's going to be a busy day tomorrow, with a Nappy Love Houston meet-up AND a Naturally Happy Hair dinner event...did I mention I have to work too?  It's going to be a fun and crazy day but I'll definitely keep you posted!

I just wanted to share quickly a link to the pictures featured on Essence.com from the Naturally Happy Hair Mixer, hosted at Natural Resources Salon, from last Monday.  I'm on there, as well as some fellow bloggers, and a few This Hair of Mine members!  Let me know if you see yourself :)

http://photos.essence.com/galleries/street_style_hair__naturally_happy_hair_mixer

Hello 2012!!

Hey! Hey! Hey! What do you say! 2012 is here today!

I'm in a great mood...maxing and relaxing in probably one of my favorite Christmas presents... FOOTIE PAJAMAS :)  Yes, I'm grown but they are THE best!  I hope an pray everyone had a great New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, I know I did!  Seems like the week between Christmas and New Year's always goes by the fastest, maybe it's just anticipation? 

Christmas was great and a bit bittersweet for me, but I always have a good ole time kicking around with my family.  The hair?  Oh, it was something like a hot mess but I didn't have the time nor patience to do anything fabulous with it.  I didn't have time to wash so this was just an old twist out SCREAMING for some TLC and detangling lol!  Crazy hair and all, I just couldn't resist a few webcam snaps :)  Can you tell we had a good time?

Check out the PJs

Take 2: Me & baby cousin Jayda

Take 3: Introducing Sis (l) Jayda (m) and ME!

I, in true Lisa fashion, waited til the last minute to try and do my hair before the Natural Resources Salon photo shoot.  A quick wash and detangle was all I had time for, but the unfortunately the shoot didn't pan out for me.  However, my friend Jessica was able to participate and I must say I can't wait to see the final pics!  In the meantime, enjoy a few pics from the shoot :)

 Jessica's style for the photo shoot.  S!!

Flawless and ready for the cameras!

 Naturally Nicky serving up all kinds of  FIERCE!

Fabulous twist out...another natural beauty. Hair, jewelry, outfit...CHECK!

Now that my hair was half done and with no real styling options in mind, I was left to come up with some sort of style for New Years...last minute Lisa again, I know!  I had intentions of going out to celebrate a friend's birthday Friday but that didn't happen since it took me forever to come up with a style.  I still wasn't fully satisfied with it but since I love y'all I'll share :)

Decided to revisit the braided pompadour style

The back was a little big but I didn't have the patience to work it out lol!

Since I wasn't completely satisfied with this look for the New Year's Eve party I took to messing around with it...not always the best choice with only a few hours left in the year right?  Unfortunately I didn't have any webcam snaps of the end style, but basically instead of a pompadour I had the hair in the front hanging to the side, left the braid intact and created a high bun.  I've got to do better taking phone pics but this is one snapped by a nice guy on the way out of the event (pardon the photo quality lol!)

NYE 2012 with my girls and random gentleman

I brought in 2012 with a couple of my favorite girls and I hope this joy continues throughout the year.  I wish happiness, health and prosperity to each of you who's eyes this may reach.  I do believe in putting positive affirmations into the universe and I do believe 2012 should be a great year for This Hair of Mine :) 

Thank you so much for your continued support, I hope to become even more interactive with y'all.  Please feel free to email me any questions or topics you'd like to discuss on This Hair of Mine, I'm open to all your comments, concerns and feedback!  I would like to participate in more natural hair events and meet-ups and I hope to meet more of you guys out and about.  It really makes my day :) 

My Nzuri Weekend Wrap Up!

The Houston natural hair scene finished 2011 with a bang…a big Nzuri bang!  The Reliant Center was transformed December 10 & 11 into a full blown production of the most impressive kind.  From the fashion shows to pageants, live action styling to hands-on tutorials, expert led workshops to in-depth panels, the Nzuri Natural Hair, Health and Beauty Expo was more than just a hair show.  The atmosphere was one of a family reunion, like a community of kindred spirits with common bonds.  Nzuri was far more than a hair show, it was a show stopping event of the highest caliber.

Icons in the Hair Care Industry

There was no better way to kick off a fun-filled weekend than with a pre party to get everyone pumped for the spectacular affair coming to Houston.  The Just “Froing Off” Pre Event Gala was hosted by the Curls brand and offered great ambiance, yummy food and good company.  This was a perfect opportunity to meet & mingle with some of the elite guests before the Nzuri expo.

Miss Jessie’s did a phenomenal job as the primary sponsor of the Nzuri Expo.  Taking their place front and center, the Miss Jessie’s booth set the tone for what was to come.  The DJ was spinning great music and the atmosphere was buzzing with excitement the entire time.  Patrons were greeted with swag bags filled with yummy samples and promotional items from Miss Jessie’s as well as other vendors. 

I think many were not even expecting the two gorgeous faces of Miss Jessie’s founders, Titi and Miko interacting with the crowd, but it was certainly a pleasant surprise to me!  The ladies so graciously held not one but two stage presentations discussing everything from natural hair styling tips to how the Miss Jessie’s line originated.  They even took the time to pose for pictures with attendees!  It felt like a very personal experience even though there were well over 8,000 people in attendance. 

It’s a Family Affair

Nzuri brought out a wide variety of people to the Reliant Center. Of course there were beautiful natural curls, braids and locs everywhere you turned, but there were also plenty of natural supporters in the building too.  The event was not just geared towards naturalistas, but it was truly an event to bring the entire family together.  Significant others were there offering support to one another, children were there in high numbers enjoying the festivities, and even boyfriends tagged along with their natural girlfriends to see what all the fuss was about!

There were many options for everyone to be a participant in the activities offered at the Nzuri Expo.  Macy’s sponsored not one but two fashions shows on the main stage that really got the crowd moving.  Talk about a great combination of fabulous fashion and fabulous hair!  We were also treated to an extra special presentation of the littlest natural girls and boys.  The Little Miss Happy Headed and the Little Mr. Handsome Man Pageants truly stole the show.  It was heartwarming to see the spirit, enthusiasm and pride in these young naturals!

Knowledge is Power

Even amidst all the entertainment, there was still no shortage of pertinent information during this exciting weekend event.  The coordinators for the Nzuri Expo made sure to feed your mind as well.  They brought in the powerhouse brands of Miss Jessie’s and Jane Carter, Felicia Leatherwood (celebrity stylist of Jill Scott), Isis Brantley (celebrity stylist of Erykah Badu), and featured salons like The Damn Salon out of Atlanta and Houston Based salon Zayd’s Naturally Natural.  These professionals shared a wealth of styling tips and tricks and offered inspiration for new styles too! 

Patrons were able participate in various hair, health and beauty workshops ranging from traction alopecia to the eco chic beauty revolution.  I particularly enjoyed the “I Can’t Workout Because of My Hair!” workshop led by Sporty Afros founders Whitney Patterson and Alexandria Williams.  The topic was quite engaging as most women face this very issue when deciding to go natural.  Being fit and being natural can go hand in hand!  I also had the distinct honor of being a participant on the Blogger Speak panel with Ms. BeautifulBrwnBabyDol and a host of other super cool bloggers.  The Bloggersphere offered a chance for bloggers and readers to connect on a more personal level.  As Cassidy of NaturalSelection.com so eloquently described, “it brings the online offline”.

Shopping Galore!

I shouldn’t even tell you how good the vendors were at this year’s expo, it might just make you jealous!  From t-shirts to hot shorts, hair ties to scarves, purses to products…pretty much anything you can think of was for sale and at great prices!  I picked up some great “Good Hair” earrings from ChariT’s Inspirational Creations and a cute “Curly Girl” tee from The Urban Rose.  This event was the perfect opportunity for shoppers to pick up some unique, handcrafted pieces, no matter if you were shopping for Christmas gifts or just shopping for the heck of it. 

Product junkies shopped til their hearts were content at Nzuri.  Jane Carter of Jane Carter Solution was there in person giving product demonstrations and recommendations.  She even worked some magic in my hair!  I got to meet Pam Jenkins of Koils by Nature and pick up some wonderfully scented Sweet Almond Joy hair and body butter.  Both Zayd’s Naturally Natural salon and The Damn Salon launched their new product lines at the Nzuri expo.  There were products for everyone and I can’t wait to try them all!

Bigger and Better for 2012

The natural hair community in Houston and beyond was well represented over the duration of the event.  People came from far and wide to experience the southern hospitality offered by the great state of Texas.  Nzuri welcomed people from Atlanta, New York, California and even the UK during the Expo.  After the initial tallies came in, it is estimated that well over 8,000 people attended the Nzuri Natural Hair, Health and Beauty Expo.  That is a spectacular turnout and is indicative of the amount of time and effort that went into planning such an impressive event.  You don’t want to miss out on all the fun next year; it can only be bigger and better for 2012!

Houston's Natural Hair Scene is Flourishing!!

If you live in the Houston and surrounding areas you may have noticed an increase in Natural hair events and activities around town.  Not just that, but Natural hair salons and community groups are becoming more and more active as well.  In fact, I see more proud naturals walking around than I think I’ve ever seen before!  With all the city has to offer a curly girl, it’s a great time and place to be natural!

Uncle Funky’s Daughter recently hosted the Do What Comes Naturally workshop created to encourage the natural lifestyle and empower people to pursue their passions.  From the live demonstrations, vision board and art stations, free makeovers and lots of clothing and jewelry vendors, this event brought out hundreds of attendees to celebrate what being natural is truly about.  Tonya & Ray Reed opened the Uncle Funky’s Daughter Salon & Boutique in 2003 and both the salon and the brand have flourished.  They have received numerous national accolades and have most recently been spotted within the pages of Redbook, Juicy Ebony and Essence magazines.  I definitely look forward to more events like this from the Uncle Funky’s Daughter crew. 

Another top salon in the Houston area recently hosted their first of three Naturally Live series on Livestream.  Natural Resources Salon has been a staple in the Houston natural hair scene for the past 10 years, providing healthy hair care and maintenance for new and veteran naturals alike.  The first topics covered during the Livestream included “The Basics of Natural Hair Care & Going Natural in Corporate America”, areas that encouraged lots of dialog amongst the Livestream, Facebook and Twitter followers.  December 13^th will be the next event in the series and will cover “Healthy Product Ingredients to Look for & Holiday Style Ideas”; the session runs from 7:00p-8:30p CST and you can tune in at www.livestream.com/naturalresourcessalon.

Last but certainly not least, Houston will be home to the largest natural hair expo in Texas!  The Nzuri Natural Hair, Health & Beauty Showcase will take over Reliant center on December 10^th & 11^th and will prove to be an event you do NOT want to miss.  How can you go wrong with Miss Jessie’s leading the way as the key sponsor, world record holder for the largest Afro Aevin Dugas emceeing, numerous workshops and discussions including the awesome Bloggersphere panel, the Little Miss Happy Headed pageant for the young girls, two fashion shows sponsored by Macys, and lots and lots of vendors to get your shop on.  Still need another reason to make sure you are in the building?  Well how about tickets start at only $10 a day with kids 12 & under completely FREE!  What a way to round out the year!  You can find more information at www.naturalhairshowcase.com and you can purchase tickets directly through the This Hair of Mine link.

2011 is going out with a serious bang, and I hope we can keep this momentum going through 2012.  Natural Resources Salon will start it off strong by hosting their last Livestream series covering the topics of “The Big Chop & Fresh Natural Cuts and Shapes for the New Year” on January 17, 2012. I have a feeling 2012 will continue to be strong for the natural hair community in Houston.

Are You Livestreaming?

Tonight starting at 7pm CST Natural Resources Salon will be hosting the first of three livestream series to "educate women on natural hair."  For those who don't know, I was a visitor and soon to be client at Natural Resources Salon, where they truly have your best interest at heart.  Tamika Fletcher is an awesome ambassador to the natural hair community and Natural Resources Salon is the perfect place to have your hair taken care of, whether it needs to be nurtured back to health or just pampered by the ultimate salon experience. 

The focus for tonight will be The Basics of Natural Hair Care & Going Natural in Corporate America. You do not want to miss this awesome series, especially if you are fresh on your natural hair journey or just want a professional's expertise.  You can click the picture below to take you to their livestream site so you can be part of this event.  There will be 2 more topics to be discussed in future events on December 13th and January 17th, 2012.  RSVP today HERE!  I will do a rundown in case you missed it, but I hope you can tune in.  Support our natural hair salons and small businesses, they truly mean a lot to our community!

Lisa Michelle

Happy 11:11:11:11

I hope you all had a great 11/11/11 at 11:11pm (since I missed 11:11am!)

I'm posting a TON of good stuff on my Facebook page so please make sure you join there as well.  I haven't made a video in a while but I figure I'll start with the ones I still need to edit lol!!

I'm really trying to get the word out about the Nzuri Natural Hair, Health & Beauty Showcase coming to Houston on December 10th & 11th!! I will be one of a handful of bloggers taking part in the first Nzuri Blogosphere :) GO THIS HAIR OF MINE!!! It's going to be so much fun, I can't even put it into words right now.  None other than BeautifulBrwnBabyDol herself is coordinating this fantastic experience so even if there weren't anything else, the chance to meet her is enough for me!  Please buy your tickets from my link, I appreciate your support!!

Buy your tickets HERE!!

As always, I so appreciate all of the support you've shown me through This Hair of Mine!! I love hearing the stories of triumph and success, trial and error, love and joy!  Natural hair is a beautiful thing :)

I'll leave you with a pic of my first attempt at a logo, hope you enjoy!

Lisa Michelle

Do What Comes Naturally!!

I had the absolute pleasure of attending the Do What Comes Naturally workshop held on November 6^th in Houston, Texas.  This event was coordinated by none other than Uncle Funky’s Daughter, one of the premier natural hair salons in the Houston area.  Established in 2003, they are a sustainable and chemical free salon, offering services to cultivate and pamper your curls.  This event, done in an ever so Funky fashion, aimed to “empower women to free themselves, embrace their natural beauty and follow their passion.”  I’d say they accomplished their mission!

Heading into the private art room

Conversing around the art displays

The Rice Hotel provided the perfect backdrop for this cultured event celebrating natural freedom.  Upon entry to the building we were greeted by lovely hostesses and directed up a grand staircase to enjoy all of the activities of the evening.  There was a space set up with art installations from local artists and there were also tasty hors d’oeuvres and beverages being served.  Next, we were welcomed into a vast meeting area where there were numerous tables, activity stations, vendor booths for us to visit.  They had even created a boutique area for us to shop!  You may not know, but Uncle Funky’s Daughter is not only a salon but a chic boutique where it’s easy to find all things fashionable.  We were invited to peruse the many tables and racks stocked with all sorts of clothes and accessories as we conversed among ourselves about how fantastic the fashions were.  I mean, who doesn’t like shopping!  All this and I haven’t even made it to the good stuff yet!

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Attendees browsing in the boutique area

The spacious main gathering area is packed!

Being the host and primary sponsoring brand, Uncle Funky’s Daughter had a major presence throughout the building.  They had a large area set up offering their top products like Curly Magic and their signature tee shirts.  I even picked up a shirt with the theme of the night, “Do What Comes Naturally”.  As I went around the room, I viewed many of the patrons interacting with the vendors.  I bought a pair of handcrafted earrings from ChariT’s Inspirational Creations, the Lamik Beauty team offered free mini makeovers and beauty consultations, Green Seed Vegan kept the green drink shots coming, and I stood in line for a good 20 minutes for my fabulously free Minx manicure by Queen Minx.  I also booked an appointment to have my eyebrows pampered after having a free consultation at the Eyebrow Energy booth.  Many visitors also took the time to create artistic paintings and vision boards at those interactive stations.  We even got to be part of the Supernatural Power Photo shoot, capturing individual personalities with our very own natural signature phrases.  And that’s STILL not all!

Uncle Funky's Daughter!

Lamik Beauty with free mini makeovers

Queen Minx table with free manicures

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Artistic painting class

ChariT's Inspirational Creations

Eyebrow Energy doing free consultations

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Tonya doing a Curly Magic demo

Tonya Reed, co-founder of Uncle Funky’s Daughter, showed us how to use their top products during several product demonstrations on a few different types of hair.  She took the time to answer questions from us in the audience and, believe me, there were many!  Most of the ladies watching the demo primarily wanted to know what types and how much product to use while styling and how to maintain the style.  Tonya was very helpful and informative, and we all appreciated her candor. After the demonstration we were then energized by a few quick Zumba sessions which really got the crowd moving! 

I really enjoyed this event!  All types of naturals were represented, from the newly natural to veterans, from 2c to 4c, short hair, long hair, locs, and all things in between!  I especially loved seeing all the different hair styles and fashions of the attendees.  It was a joy networking and meeting new people, and generally just seeing people enjoy themselves.  If you ever have an opportunity to attend a natural hair or health expo don’t pass it up; it really is an awakening experience.  Events like these encourage people be free, be themselves, be healthy, and to “Do What Comes Naturally”. 

Yes...those are what you think they are!

 Tonya  & Ray Reed, pictured with Nnete of 97.9 on the left and Tonya's lovely mother on the right

Nnete (L) ME!! Tonya Reed (R)

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My quick self portrait on the way out :)

Did you miss the Do What Comes Naturally event?  You still have an opportunity to attend the largest natural hair event in Texas, which is coming to Houston on December 10^th and 11^th, 2011.  The Nzuri Natural Hair, Health & Beauty Showcase, sponsored by Miss Jessie’s, is going to be a phenomenal event to include: workshops featuring some of the top natural hair stylists, fashion shows and competitions for both stylists and attendees, an opportunity to meet the world’s largest afro record holder Aevin Dugas, interact with the Blogosphere featuring several natural hair bloggers (including myself!), and even a Little Miss Happy Headed pageant for young natural girls!   Of course you’ll also have lots and lots of vendors to shop from and did I mention the first 500 attendees will receive a free swag bag?  So mark your calendars and get your tickets early, they’re just $10 for adults and kids 13 & under are FREE!  You can buy your tickets right HERE from This Hair of Mine! Hope to see you there!


Lisa Michelle
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Enjoying my new Uncle Funky shirt!

M.I.A.

Hi guys!! I know it looks like I've been M.I.A. from the blog in a week, but trust me, I'm working hard for THoM :)  I've been writing articles like crazy for NaturallyCurly.com, and I've also been honored to be one of 12 bloggers for the Nzuri Natural Hair, Healthy & Beauty Showcase coming December 10th & 11th.  I know, exciting right!!!  So that's where my attention has been lately...

 December 10 & 11, 2011!!! Hope to see you there!

I definitely don't want to short change my blog.  I've still be posting lots of updates and photos on my Facebook page....I can't believe I've almost reached 300 likes!! This truly moves my heart and I'm so glad I can reach so many people being one little ole me :)  As with my blog, I really want both pages to be interactive so don't be shy!  We're all a community to help one another, so ask questions, post pictures, start dialogs and most importantly make friends!!  That is what This Hair Of Mine is here for...we're an open community to celebrate natural hair triumphs (and fails! If something isn't working let us help solve the problem!)

I'm going to start a Q & A post on a regular basis.  Send your issues, questions, or concerns to lisa@thishairofmine.com and let the THoM family weigh in and offer advice, solutions and suggestions.  Also, if you know of any natural hair events coming to your area please feel free to post on the Facebook page or shoot me a quick email.  There's so many things going on over the next few months, and I definitely want our members to be aware of what's coming to an area near them. 

And speaking of events coming to an area near you, HOUSTON, we have an event on Sunday!! The Do What Comes Naturally event hosted by Uncle Funky's Daughter is happening this Sunday, November 6.  The event is from 3p-8p at The Rice Hotel, 909 Texas Ave.  The tickets are $20 but expect to get your money's worth!

Thank you guys again for being patient with me...oh yea, I'm coming up on my 3 MONTH BLOGIVERSARY :)  Yea for THIS HAIR OF MINE!!!

Much love!

Lisa Michelle

Natural Hair Tips from Natural Resources Salon

Hey guys!! Check out my latest article on Naturally Curly :) I'm excited y'all...and there's much more to come. Thanks to all of you for subscribing to THoM, I appreciate all of your support! Stay tuned and spread the word!

Natural Hair Tips from Natural Resources Salon

Natural Resources Salon Demos!

I finally got the demonstrations Tamika was so kind to do for us during Nappy Love Houston's visit to Natural Resources Salon earlier this month.  She took us through several quick and easy styles, each taking well under 5 minutes to execute.  She is such a professional, and so kind to actually show us styles that we can do on our own hair.  I highly recommend you take a trip to Natural Resources Salon if you are looking for a stylist in the Houston area.  There's something to be said for her honesty, transparency, and her ability to teach as she styles.  A big thank you goes out to Tamika and the Natural Resources Salon stylists for making it an educational and fun experience!

Do you go to a salon, and if so what do you look for in a stylist?

Lisa Michelle :)

Natural Resources Meetup VIDEO

Hey guys, I know the meetup was last week, but I wanted to go ahead and post the video of the first part of the meetup.  Editing is hard work y'all...the video is still kinda long, but Tamika shares some great tips for caring for your natural hair.  Make sure you subscribe to my blog, YouTube and Facebook pages...it's free and I'd really appreciate your show of support.  Let me know too if you have any questions, comments, or suggestions.  Thanks a bunch :)

Up past my bed time...again!  Oh well, such is life :)

Lisa Michelle

Tell A Friend...This Hair of Mine Giveaway is Coming!!

Hey Naturals!! I know it's late, not as late as I'm used to posting but I'm trying to get a better night routine going (and it does NOT include staying up past midnight lol!)  I've been thinking about what I'd like to offer as a giveaway for my loyal members...and thinking...and thinking.  I finally figured out what I'm going to provide to a couple lucky folks, but I need y'alls help to spread the word about my blog.  I will be announcing the giveaway upon one of two things happening - reaching 200 likes on my Facebook page (go hit the button!!) or reaching 50 members on my blog.  I would love to bridge the discrepancy between the two, but such is life :) I'm just happy and pleased to be able to reach as many people as I can with my one little ole voice.  So help a sista out, tell a friend to tell a friend about This Hair of Mine.  If you know someone who's been thinking about going natural and hasn't quite yet decided, send them my way.  I may be a newbie blogger/vlogger but I think I've made a nice, comfy forum for all those who've joined.  I'm always open for question, comments and suggestions so feel free to be interactive on the site.  

That's enough of a plug, guess what I purchased today? After watching numerous videos and stalking her blog, I finally let Kinky Kurly Queen talk me into purchasing Bee Mine Bee Hold Curly Butter. I figured I'd give it a shot...and I'm a sucker for 20% off at CurlMart.com ;) I feel that my PJ monster is like the plant on Little Shop of Horrors (FEED me Seymour!!) I'm getting some good stuff, so much so I don't think I'll have enough hours in the day to try all of the goodies in my posession.  Check out Kink Kurly Queen, I think out of all the bloggers/vloggers I follow, I most closely identify with her.  Our hair seems quite similar (although hers looks a whole hell of a lot easier to detangle...and thicker too) and I love her disposition and attitude.  Her braidouts are THE BOMB and I promise one day I'm going to get at least one good one like hers :)

Meanwhile, back at the ranch (haha!!) I'm still rocking my twists from Saturday's washing, conditioning, and styling using Shea Moisture curl enhancing smoothie.  I know I have like 3 reviews to edit, this is adding another one on my list, but I figured I'd give it a shot.  It feels a little funny to me, I'm used to butters that melt and this seemed to coat my hands and took some work to get through my hair, but my hair still feels pretty smooth and looks quite shiny.  We'll see when I twistout before work tomorrow.  Tuesday is also our Nappy Love Houston Meet-Up at Natural Resources Salon.  I'm excited to get to see the ladies again, and I'm making sure I bring my camera (charging up as I type) and my camcorder to document the event.  I love being a part of a community that can embrace one another, lift one another up instead of demeaning, and support each other as we travel a similar path. 

I guess that'll do it for the night.  I'll pub again for your support of my blog, Facebook and YouTube channels.  Please take a moment of your time to subscribe to all of my various media outlets.  I appreciate every single one of you, every question, every comment, every suggestion is genuinely taken to heart.  I hope I can spread a little natural love in your day.  Have a peaceful night!

Lisa Michelle :)

PS: Are there any questions or issues you'd like for me to inquire about at the Natural Resources Salon visit?

Nappy Love Houston Meet & Greet 8/13/11

This was a busy weekend for me...I planned on posting while I was out of town but of course my plans exceeded the time I thought I would have to do so.  If you're in Houston, and you're looking for a natural hair group, then join Nappy Love Houston.  It's a group to empower and support Naturals in the Houston area and your presence is welcomed!

Riyike (L) and Sheila (R)

This was the first event I was able to attend and I will say I really enjoyed myself.  It was held at the Chicago Bar & Grill which was more than accommodating to the group, and the wings were on point!!  This was a meet & greet, so the coordinators Riyike and Sheila, set up the event with a cool questionnaire that we used to mingle amongst ourselves.  Talk about a conversation starter!  I'm not typically a talker (well, unless get me talking about a subject I like!) but it was so easy to talk with the ladies in attendance, ask and be asked questions, and make new friends.  The styles were abundant, fros to locs to twist outs and TWAs (teeny weeny afros).  I know a lot of ladies don't care for hanging out with a lot of other ladies because there is usually some sort of drama or cattiness.  That is NOT the case, and when I've been in places with other Naturals, usually there is a sense of admiration floating in the hair.  Other Naturals usually understand what it is to deal with your natural hair, the time and patience involved, and generally they appreciate that you've taken the time to care for your natural hair.

My friends

One of my friends and her sister came through to show support as well.  She started the loc process a month ago, and her sister just did her big chop in February.  I met lots of cool ladies there, and plan to attend any other events I can.  I want to send a big thank you again to Riyike and Sheila, coordinators of Nappy Love Houston, Chicago Bar & Grill for providing a great venue to us, and to all the ladies that attended, I really enjoyed meeting y'all and look forward to many more great events in the future. 

Thank you for stopping by my blog!  I'm still trying to figure out a few things, but I'm learning something new everyday!  Your support is appreciated, so become a friend of my blog and leave your comments and feedback.

Here are a few pics from the event. Enjoy!

 

If you attended the Meet & Greet, or are a member of Nappy Love Houston, please share your comments about the event. What would you tell others who are natural, transitioning, or contemplating going natural about having a strong support system? What are your feelings about networking with other Naturals?

Lisa Michelle :)