Captured Curls: Rachel Stewart

Many of you are familiar with the GORGEOUS Rachel of Rachel Stewart Jewelry.
I was finally able to catch up with her for a feature and
 this is by far one of my favorite interviews. See below for her story and fabulous pictures.

Rachel, I am a huge fan of yours! Thank you for agreeing to be featured on my blog. Can you give us a little background on yourself and amazing jewelry line?

I’m 38, a mom and homemaker, I started my jewelry line 3 years ago after being laid off from my job, I decided I didn’t want to go back in to the workforce and I began making and selling my jewelry from my blog TARGET QUEEN….

   

For those of us who have seen your gorgeous head of hair, we LOVE IT. Can you share your hair care regimen and products that you use?

Well, in February I did another big chop so the hair is GONE!...I normally shave my head every few years, it’s my favorite hairstyle and I always seem to go back to it around the 2 year mark…I always promise myself I’ll get to bra strap length before I cut it BUT I just can’t seem to make it that long…when I had hair I NEVER used shampoo, I condition washed only and used the same conditioner as a leave in, I believe buying a separate leave in conditioner is nonsense, it’s the same as your conditioner but maybe watered down or scented and packaged differently…I challenge anyone to skip leave ins and use your regular conditioner after shampooing or condition washing.

After 20 years of being natural I found that only one product worked best for me and that was my conditioner, I used garnier fructis triple nutrition deep conditioner as a shampoo AND leave in, I also did ACV rinses as needed, that was it for me!

3.       I read on Naturally Obsessed that you often shave your head after letting it grow out for a few years, I think that is amazing! How long have you been natural and what makes you want to shave your head?

Well as I mentioned earlier, I’ve been natural over 20 years and I just always seems to get to the same point after 2 years when I just NEED a change, plus the shaved head is my favorite style..so it’s not a big issue for me to shave it…long hair isn’t the only option for me..I love it long but short hair fits my lifestyle and personality even more.

Many of us are familiar with your jewelry line, how did you get started with making and designing jewelry?

I started a fashion and lifestyle blog about 3 years ago…after losing my job I decided to try my hand at making earrings and headbands and see if I could make some extra money…it just took off from there and since then my business has grown.

Your pieces are very unique, what inspires you when creating a new addition for the line?

I’m an 80’s and 90’s baby and I’m just stuck in that time…I like earrings that are big and bold like the ones I grew up wearing and seeing my mother wear, I just try to create things that are fresh, unique and eye catching…my earrings aren’t for the wallflowers.

What advice do you have for new naturals and business women looking to venture out in becoming entrepreneurs?

It’s not as hard as you think to get started, you don’t need an expensive website..blogs are free, paypal is free, all you need is a camera and a product..don’t hesitate, you don’t need a physical building or a bank loan to have a business anymore…just do it!

      

What makes you love your kinks, curls and coils?

How can I NOT love what the creator gave me?  He knew what he was doing when he made our hair!

      Where can we find you on the web?

I’m everywhere:

http://rachelstewart.bigcartel.com/ (my shop)

http://rachelstewartjewelry.tumblr.com/ (tumblr)

http://www.facebook.com/rachelstewartjewelry (facebook)

http://twitter.com/#!/RStewartJewelry

Loc'd Man: Garfield

Please enjoy this weeks Loc'd Man...

1.      Tell us a little about yourself? (ex. name, age, state, school)

                                      i.      My name is Garfield. I'm a 25 year old 2nd year law student at North Carolina Central University. Born on the island of Jamaica, raised in Ft. Lauderdale

2.      How long have you been growing your locs?

                                      i.      September 2006 was my last haircut. I got my first twists done in December of that same year...so depending on what you count as the starting date, somewhere around the 4.5 year mark.

3.      What do you use on your hair, product wise, to maintain it?

                                      i.      Jamaican Mango and Lime Wax with the black top on it. It's the clear wax. They have other ones, but that's the one I use for my hair. I wash with a dandruff shampoo because my scalp is dry and sometimes gets flaky. I also use Pine Tar on my scalp. Smells terrible, but keeps my scalp healthy and helps with hair growth. I wrap it every night before I go to sleep as well.

4.      How often do you have to wash and re-twist your loc’s and who styles them?

                                      i.      At this point, maybe once every couple of months. I used to get it done more frequently when I was gainfully employed, probably once every 6 weeks back then.

5.      What do you think about women with natural hair? Do you care if your woman is relaxed, natural or loc’d?

                                      i.      I love women with natural hair. I noticed that it's becoming more popular these days and I'm all for it.

                                    ii.      It's not a big deal to me. I mean, as long as you take care of your hair and you look good with whatever style you rocking, then I'm not really in a position to complain. I will say that I've always had a love affair with women that have neatly done locks. Probably biased with that because my hair is loc'd too.

6.      Do you think women who choose to loc their hair are sexy?

                                      i.      Hell yes! Sorry...that was a little strong. I love women with loc'd hair. I've seen women with locs and the way they style them, it's just...man...it's a beautiful sight to see.

7.      What are the pros and cons about having your hair loc’d?

                                      i.      Pros are obviously less day to day maintenance. I wrap my hair at night, I wake up in the morning, I take the wrap off and I make moves. No brushing, no greasing, none of the prep time I had to deal with back when I was rocking fades. And I like the way the look. I think it fits my personality and my look. Also, having someone else wash your hair is hands down one of the best feelings in the world. Like...I see why women always get someone else to wash their hair. It feels pretty awesome.

                                    ii.      Cons? Summertime immediately springs to mind. These things get hot. Also, sometimes I can't get to the loctician within the requisite time, therefore, my hair tends to start looking real crazy. And the itching. Not as bad as it used to be, but every once in a while it flares up and I want to run clippers all the way through my hair. Other than that? Not much. Oh...and sitting under the dryer. Definitely not a fan of that.

8.      What made you decide to loc your hair? Have you always had hair or did you start your loc’s from “scratch.”

                                      i.      I've always wanted them, but we're Jamaican. I have Rastas in my family and I wasn't sure if it'd be offensive to my family if I grew them without taking on the entire culture. Plus, I wasn't sure of the costs, or who was going to do them. Finally, my senior year of college, I met someone who said they'd start and maintain them for me, so I got them done.

                                    ii.      As I explained earlier, I got my last haircut in September of 2006, so I pretty much grew my hair from the lowest fade possible, to where I am right now. 

9.      What makes a woman’s hair beautiful to you?

                                      i.      For women with locs, the styles they come up with can be absolutely amazing. I just think the way hair can be framed to fit someone's personality and bring out their best features can makes their hair beautiful. Also the way it smells after it's freshly washed.

10.  Do you have any advice for my readers who are considering loc’ing their hair?

                                      i.      Patience is a virtue. This is a long road, you gotta be willing to see it through to the end. Also, if a product isn't working, don't be afraid to switch up. Ask other people with locs what they use and see if it works out for you. It can take a while to find the proper products that go best with your hair, so don't be afraid to search for them.

11.  Where can we find you on the web?

                                       i.      http://twitter.com/#!/RealGoesRight

                                     ii.      http://realgoesright.wordpress.com

                                    iii.      http://chan-lo.com

Kiss my Face Gel vs. Eco Styler Gel

Today I decided to make a video that compared my new favorite gel by Kiss my Face and the Eco Styler Argan Oil Gel. Both of the products are good but I prefer the KMF gel--- see the video below for my thoughts.

Loc'd Man: Alex

Ok, so a day or two ago I came across a twitter page of a man with GORGEOUS HAIR, of course I had to follow him. Not only did I notice his great hair BUT he has the same name as me, Alex Smith. I thought that was awesome and I had to have him featured as the loc'd man of the week. Click the jump to read his story...

Headwrap Tutorial

So you all have been asking for my headwrap "secret" and this post is JUST for you! Click the jump to achieve the look below. 

Good Hair Goop Recipe!

Click the jump for recipe details!

Throw back: Luster's Scurl "No Drip" Activator Moisturizer (and today's hair)

Buy Here! 

Do y'all remember this product? Well, I came across this good hair throwback in "Family Dollar" and it brought back many memories. My mom used to use S Curl on my hair to detangle and moisturize when I was a kid. When I first went natural in high school (my very first BC) I started using it again. Not for curl defining (I had no idea what that was back then) but for giving my hair a "drink" of moisture when needed. After seeing it again recently I decided to get a bottle, just because. I also read that some of the ingredients are ideal for hair that has the tendency to get dry. Moisturized hair helps prevent breakage as we all know and I can never get enough moisture. With that said, I am GLAD I picked the oldie but goodie up! My twist out this morning came out great! All I used was water and the product, the second ingredient in it is glycerin, which my hair adores!  

Click the jump for more info and pictures! 

Kiss My Face Upper Management Gel

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8 oz/ $5.39

Buy Here! 

There is nothing better than this gel. Point blank, period. I am in love with the stuff, it beats out my Eco Styler Gels without a doubt. I first heard of this product on "It's Just Hair", one of my favorite blogs. When I first came across the review, I was skeptical. Mainly because the gel didn't work wonders the first time around. The reason why I decided to go ahead and give it a try was because the review ended up being a 5 star one and a lot of ladies on YT love it too, it's also very affordable. 

Ingredients: Purified, Deionized Certified Organic Floral Water (of Nettle, Calendula and Chamomile), Carbopol, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate (Amino Acid derived), Yeast Extract, Panthenol, Tocopherol (Natural Vitamin E), Grapefruit Extract

My Experience: My hair loves this gel! The way my curls clump and coil once this stuff hits my strands is amazing. I used the gel on freshly washed hair along with Kimmay Tube's leave in conditioner and Koils by Nature's Shea Butter mix. I flat twisted my hair is about 15 twists and the results were great! Plump, fluffy, defined hair. No crunch AT ALL which was a great thing, I was so surprised at that. The gel laid my edges down great and I didn't experience any white residue, another PLUS!  

Overall: YES, YES YES! This product is a must have and is now a staple product for me. No complaints at all! Type 3c/4a/4b curlies I suggest y'all give this a try.

Click the jump for pictures...

Guest Blogger: Jamal Frederick

Jamal Frederick is originally from San Francisco, California.  He and his wife have a home in the Bay Area and have a beautiful three-year-old girl. Jamal loves to write, loves music, good food, wine and conversation and spending time with his family. He is a regular contributor for the online hip hop magazine, abovegroundmag.com and has also been featured on mybrownbaby.com.  

www.twitter.com/jamalfrederick

 To read his touching post click the jump...

Captured Curls: Rachel

Many of you may recognize this natural's face from YT. Rachel, aka Jerseystylez, has been a YT favorite of mine fore some time now. I have been trying to get her on my blog for a while now and I finally did! I think you all will love her story and her YT channel! Click the jump to read her feature! 

Interview with Victoria of Ambreose

I am sure you folks remember me RANTING about the amazing products sent to me by the owner of Ambreose in my YouTube video review. After the review I knew I had to ask the owner, Victoria, to share her story with me and you all. She was willing to be interviewed and I must say her story is great! If you want to learn more about Victoria and her amazing new line of bath and body care, keep reading...

Loc'd Man: Derrick

1. Tell us a little about yourself? (ex. name, age, state, school)

Hello everyone. My name is Derrick “Napz” Mosley. I’m 25 and from Philadelphia. I attend Delaware County College studying Photography and Graphic Design.

2. How long have you been growing your locs?

It will be 4 long yrs this May 2011.

3. What do you use on your hair, product wise, to maintain it?

I normally leave that responsibility to my stylist. But lately she’s been telling me to use Lime Juice when I wash it. It softens my hair; plus gets that stench out that water can leave if it stays in awhile.

4. How often do you have to wash and re-twist your loc’s and who styles them?

Mmmm! I can be impatient. So I get my hair done once every 2 months and wash it once a month.  I just like to see my new growth.

5. What do you think about women with natural hair? Do you care if your woman is relaxed, natural or loc’d?

Not to sound deep or anything lol; but I believe it shows another level of confidence. Ladies you don’t need anything else to enhance yourself. Plus natural hair can express more of your identity and I like that.

6. Do you think women who choose to loc their hair are sexy?

Hell yes! Nothing against any other style but women that have locs standout. They walk in with their heels and dress on; and I just say, “Damn”

7. What are the pros and cons about having your hair loc’d?

I hate getting my hair done. And I have no use for an umbrella anymore lol.

8. What made you decide to loc your hair? Have you always had hair or did you start your loc’s from “scratch.”

I didn’t start from scratch. I had a little fro when I started. My reasoning was a little more spiritual also. It represented me locking my flesh.

9. What makes a woman’s hair beautiful to you?

When she captures ‘Herself.” It’s so easy to become common. Especially with me hearing women say they wear weaves because taking care of their own hair is work. I believe you’re worth the time. Plus it’s sexy because its your style. I wont see 10 other women with it.

10. Do you have any advice for my readers who are considering loc’ing their hair?

At least try the process. It takes a little time for your hair to actually loc. So, if you change your mind; you can still stop the process in the early stage. It’s a Win, Win situation.

11. Where can we find you on the web?

Facebook.com/napz.photography

Twitter.com/napzQuest

Cowrie Shell Winners!

Congrats ladies!

Please email me your shipping addresses so I can get your prizes packages and shipped.

([email protected])

459-Nacala85

31-Danielle

555-HellNotesforBeauty

751-LoveMyCurls

567- PishPosh

625- JLowman (Purple Cowrie Shells)


Thank you to all who entered! There will be more giveaways in the near future.
Stay tuned!


xoxo,
Alex

Agape Works: Let's Talk About It (Event)

Ladies, please come out and support this amazing event if you are in the DC area.

We all would love to meet and fellowship with you.

See details below:

This Monday, April 4th at 8pm Agape works will be holding its first ever women's panel.

 Join us as we discuss self esteem, hair, aesthetic and other issues we face as black women today.

The panel will consist of some pretty amazing women: Poet Candice Iloh, photographer Portia Richae, poet Shelly bell, Alex of TheGoodHairblog.com and Crystal of The Cool lots. 

Its going to be an awesome opinion filled event.

 Come indulge in girl talk and Cup Cakes!

Address:

ECAC 733 

Euclid ST NW DC!

Good Link: 4/1/11

This week's good link is...

Click Here

Enjoy!

(For all my jewelry lovers!)