Showing posts with label products. Show all posts
Showing posts with label products. Show all posts

Monday, 3 February 2014

Product Review - Hair Honey


Over the last few weeks, I’ve revisited a product that I used back in my transitioning days, it is Kynk Naturals, Hair Honey.

I purchased the Hair Honey from Noah’s health food store, but it is also available on their website, http://www.kynk.ca.

How to use (as quoted from Kynk Naturals):
A conditioning treatment that improves you hair’s strength and flexibility. Apply Hair Honey to clean wet hair to help ease tangles when combing. Hair Honey can also be used to reinforce hair ends when styling especially with braids & twists. For the not -so -intense kynks but severe dryness issues, saturate dry hair and wrap head & hair in a (not too) hot towel. Then wash as usual. Use Hair Honey as needed on natural or treated hair.

Ingredients:
Persea Gratissima (Apricot Kernel), Prunus armeniaca (Avocado), Cocos Nucifera (Coconut), Cera alba (Beeswax), Melaleuca Alterfernolia (Tea Tree), d-alpha tocopherol (Vitamin E), Mentha Piperita (Peppermint), Ribes nigrum (Black Currant aroma), Oleoresin Rosmarinus Officinalis (rosemary), Petroselinum sativum (Parsley), Thymus vulgaris (Thyme), & love (Agape).


My thoughts: 
Now that I’m 100% Curlie, I find this Hair Honey works better on my hair. It looks honey and has a mild honey and menthol/peppermint scent. The strength of this product is that it is a great for sealing in moisture. I often used it to apply one top of my moisturized hair. Yet for me, the best use of the Hair Honey was adding it to my deep conditioner. It gave my hair a protective coating and I love that.

I may not use it every day because I’m used to fruity and floral scents in my products, yet since all the ingredients used in Kynk Naturals products are all natural, I will keep the Hair Honey on my rooster. I should also mention that the Hair Honey is also has Clean Care's seal of approval for safer beauty & personal care products in Canada. It’s important to note that their mantra is, “If you can't eat it we don't use it!” In essence it makes my hair feel good.

Have you tried this Hair Honey or any of the other Kynk Natural products? Tell me what you think.

Blessings and Curls,


Kim aka B-Curlie

Tuesday, 26 November 2013

Canadian Support



PHOTO: Flag Wallpapers 

So I was thinking the other day about the products I use on my hair, and I realized that none of my staple products are Canadian.

I would love to support more Canadian companies that have integrity especially when it comes to natural hair and beauty products.

I do remember trying Kynk Naturals Hair Honey, in my early transitioning days, and I loved the smell, shine and sealing properties that the product gave my hair. Yet, as everyone know, as you transition, so do the products you use… I think I will revisit some of their offerings in the future.

I also tried Curly Canadians and fell in love with Hair Love, however the company is no more. A company that is new on the scene is Queens & Kings Natural Products. I have not tried any of their products yet, but they are located in Nova Scotia and specialize in natural hair and skincare products.

So tell me where are all the Canadian natural hair products? Do you know of any you’d like to share?


Blessings and Curls,

Kim aka B-Curlie

Monday, 11 March 2013

My Staple Products


So as I mentioned in my previous post, my hair officially turned two years old. I thought I should mention a few of my staple products that have never failed me.

I’m not a hair-typer, but for those who do, I believe I have two textures in my hair. The back is 4A and the rest of it for the most part is 4B. I know these producs won't work for everyone, but hopefully some of them will.

Let’s get to it:

My go to shampoo is Scalp TherapeShampoo Organix South I buy it from well.ca (free shipping in Canada). I know some of you are avid cowashers, but I need to wash my hair every week with shampoo. It’s a natural product that does not give me a lot of lather. The scent is not amazing, but I love how it washes all of the residue from my hair and scalp, without irritation which is important for me.



My go to conditioner and deep conditioner is Tresemme Naturals. It’s just magical. I get great slip from this product and I find it makes my hair easier to finger detangle while in the shower. When using as a deep conditioner, I any natural oil on hand.


My go to leave-in is still the Kimmaytube Leave-in with Kinky Curly Knot Today. I know Kim Love now has her own  product line, that I’ m sure it is wonderful, but I haven’t tried it yet and as of right now this leave-in mixture has been great for my hair. I’ve loved the Knot Today, ever since I began transitioning and it has done nothing but good things for my hair.


My go to styler is Jane Carter's Curl Defining Cream. I came across this product by chance at an iHeartmyHair event. I’ve experimented with others and they have been OK, but I always end up re-purchasing the Curl Defining Cream.


My go to gel is EcoStyler – Morrocan Argan Oil. I love this stuff.  It slicks my hair back like no nobody’s business, especially after a misting of water. I often end up wearing a puff or updo, a few days before wash day, since my hair is not interested in doing anything else at that point.

My go to oil is Extra Virgin Coconut Oil. First of all I love the smell of coconut and the way it just melts in my hands. I use it to seal moisture in my hair and to even style flat twists when it’s too early in the week to use gel.

My go to butter is my Shea Butter mixture. There is something about making something nourishing for your tress. My hair loves it and I use it for everything from styling, sealing or even as a body cream. I will say, that I do not use it all the time, it really depends on how I feel and what my hair needs.
I'm looking for great protein conditioner. I need something mild. So if you have any suggestions, send them my way.
 
Blessings and Curls,
B-Curlie 

Thursday, 29 November 2012

Product review - Curls Curl Soufflé


I pulled out one of my product staples this morning and then I realized that I had not shared this with all of you … my amazing readers!


PHOTO: www.curls.biz
The product is Curls Curl Soufflé. I use it as a moisturizer. When I purchased it the first time, I tried to use it as a styler for my twist-outs. I mean the twist out was OK, but not something to write home about. My hair was soft and smelled great, but there was no real hold so my twist-out frizzed out within a day or two. For me the strength of this product is really its moisturizing properties. It is water-based and smells like cake and looks like pudding. Put it this way, if I was three years old, it would definitely be hard for me not to put it in my mouth.
What I love about this moisturizer is the fact that it’s great to use now that the colder weather is upon us. The Curl Soufflé provides an easy way to apply a form of water on your hair without making it soaking wet and avoiding a case of the winter snuffles. It cannot replace all the natural moisturizing qualities of water, but it’s convenient if you are not fortunate enough to live in a warm climate in the winter.

Ingredients

purified water, certified organic sunflower oil, octyl palmitate, certified organic aloe vera leaf juice, glyercin, glyceryl stearate, potassium stearate, panthenol, stearic acid, sodium carbomer, allantoin, cetearyl alcohol, certified organic sweet almond oilshea buttercertified organic jojoba oil, soy tocopherols, phenoxyethanol, fragrance.

How do I use it?

Well I find myself putting it on my hair in addition to my leave-in after washing, followed by my styler, which is usually Jane Carter’s Curl Defining Cream. I also use Curl Soufflé in the morning when I’m trying to bounce some life into my curls, to get rid of the slept on look. I use a generous amount and distribute throughout my hair and then seal using coconut oil, shea butter or any other natural oil or butter on hand.

What water-based moisturizers are you using during the cold fall and winter months?
Blessings and Curls,
B-Curlie

Wednesday, 28 November 2012

Curly Canadians - New Product Line


Recently I was in touch with Althea, from Curly CanadiansTM, you may also remember her from my post, when I featured her as a Curlie or maybe you are already one of Curly Canadian’s clients.
They started out as an online store that provided natural hair and skin beauty products to all Canadians. The site really reflects diversity in every sense of the word and still prides itself on this fact.

A week or so ago, I was on Twitter and chatted to Althea for a moment. She told me that they are in the process of creating their own product line and the tentative launch is early to mid-2013. They will be releasing the following:

·         shampoo bar
·         cleansing conditioner
·         bentonite clay mask
·         protein treatment
·         deep conditioner
·         styling wax
I’ve reviewed a couple of their products in the past and I love them, needless to say I’m super excited about Curly Canadian’s new line… I will keep you posted as soon as I have more news. Definitely something to look forward to in the New Year!
Blessings and Curls,
B-Curlie

Tuesday, 25 September 2012

Review - Lulu Life Body Butter


So it has been a while since my last post, but I would like to tell you, that my hair was still receiving love during that time. More specifically from Lulu Life Body Butter, that is available at Curly Canadians.

Lulu Life Body Butter is made and produced by the Lulu Life Trust in Sudan. This organization helps families in Sudan who are trying to bounce back from the tragedies of civil war. So with every purchase of Lulu Life products you can guarantee that your dollar is going to help Sudanese families, which is cool.
PHOTO: Curly Canadians

Many of you know about my love affair with shea butter, well I can tell you that Lulu Life Body Butter, did not disappoint.

Although it says it is a body butter, I used it on my hair as a styler and sealer. I did my usual twist out on freshly washed hair and even to do a semi-dry twist out from time-to-time. Unlike other shea butters, that need friction to melt into a creamy texture, Lulu melts into a lovely consistency upon contact. The Lulu Life Butter, left my hair feeling super soft and healthy. The only thing I did not like about butter is that it’s virtually scent-free. I like my products to have a little sweet smell, probably because I’m too girly. On the other hand this would be the perfect product for those who have scent allergies or those who do not like strong smelling products.

So the question is, would I use and recommend this product? ABSOLUTELY! Not only are you helping those in need in Sudan, but you are also getting an amazing natural product that is good for you hair and skin. You can’t go wrong!
 
Blessings and Curls,
B-Curlie

Monday, 25 June 2012

Product frustrations


So a while ago I asked you guys for your favourite natural hair resources. I got a few replies and also started to do my own research, because I think it’s important that we have a myriad of places to go that cater to us and our hair needs across Canada. I have noticed that Walmart, Walgreens and Target have caught on in the States, that the natural hair market is a lucrative one. I wish our Canadian department store would too. On the flip-side, there is nothing wrong with giving some of the independent manufactures and distributors some support as well.

I have three theories as to why we do not see our natural products everywhere.

1st theory:

Many live in a hair product bubble

Photo: sxc.com
I truly think those who do not have our type of hair as our, live in a hair product bubble if you will. Not on purpose, but why should they care, if everything they need is at Shoppers Drug Mart, Walmart or even a local grocery store? They do not have to search for it as an entire aisle is devoted to their products, while black hair products take up less than a third of that space, and that space is usually for those with relaxed hair.

I also think many who do not have afro-textured, may think we can use the same hair products as them, and therefore would not understand why we need different products or tools.   

2nd theory:

We aren’t loud enough


In the words of James Brown, “Say it loud, I’m black and I’m proud.” We need to inquire about our product in the stores we go to, on a regular basis. I’m guilty of this as I’m sure the rest of you are, but the truth is if we do not ask about them, we will never have a chance to see or purchase them in the big brand stores. It is 2012 and it is time we are represented in the stores that we have been spending money in for all these years.


3rd theory:

The Curlie Lifestyle is relatively new

I know rocking natural hair is not new for everyone, but over the last 5-10 years, I think it has really come into its own. In the past it was more so thought of as political statement, but now it’s a form of self-love and to maintain healthy hair without chemicals.  So, if you think about it that way, the Curlie Lifestyle is really, just an adolescent.  It needs to grow and be nurtured like anything else. We have to make it important in our lives and once we do that, hopefully others will follow our lead.

Researched and submitted resources:

So far below are the ones I found or knew of. Please note that it’s also important to check your local Black Beauty Supply stores or even Sally’s, you may be pleasantly surprised. I know there are plenty of other companies/salons in Canada that provide services and products for Curlies. Help me improve this list and send your resources to share!


Online:
Blended Beauty: www.blendedbeauty.ca Phone: 1.877.470.0634
Curly Canadians:
www.curlycanadians.ca

Kynk Naturals: www.kynk.ca Phone: 519.841.7559
Hair by Eli: www.hairbyeli.ca
I Love My Curls: http://storefront.ilovemycurls.ca Phone: 902.802.2409
Love Thy Hns: http://www.lovethyhns.ca

Ontario:
Curl Ambassadors:
www.curlambassadors.ca
Grace Hair Studio: www.gracehairstudios.com Phone: 416.284.8523
Honey Fig www.honeyfig.com Phone: 416.226.2100
Nanni’s Natural Hair Salon www.nannisnaturalhair.com Phone: 416.243.5151

Nova Scotia:
Hy-Style Beauty Care (stylist: Pauline Patten-Bailey):  http://hy-stylebeautycare.yolasite.com  Phone: 902.431.0556.



Tuesday, 24 April 2012

Product Review - Whip Coil Cream


About a month ago, my husband and I started a major clean and decluttering as we prepared to stage our house for selling. In the process, my beloved electric mixer landed in storage. I was devastated and to be honest, I still am a little bit.
The main reason for my devastation was the fact that I was due to make my whipped shea butter, but it’s impossible to get the right consistency without a mixer…at least for me anyway.
I ended up at my neighbourhood Black Beauty Supply store (BBS), searching for a something to set and twist my hair with, since I had also ran out of my supply of Hair Love (need to re-order). I also thought of my readers, It’s was time for another product review.
I found Roots of Nature Remedies® for Natural Hair Butter Whip Coil Cream™. It was only $7.99 for a 6.1 oz jar. I figured it was pretty cheap not to contain drying alcohol, mineral oil, petrolatum or parabens. So I picked it up. Not to mention it also contains mango oil and cupuacu butter. I love everything mango, but the cupuacu was new to me.

Product description: With Mango Oil and Brazilian Cupuacu Butter (6.1 oz.) Found in the heart of the Amazon Rain Forest , moisturizing Cupuacu (coo-poo-wah-soo) Butter has for generations been the secret of Brazilians for beautiful hair. Combined with softening Mango Oil, our Butter Whip Coil Cream deeply nourishes and conditions to stretch and define each coil with just the right amount of hold for twists, braid-outs, and TWA’s (teeny weeny afros). Dull, shrunken coils are transformed into lasting, soft, elongated, shiny coils. Hair Types: Relaxed, Natural, Color Treated, and Over-Processed Hair
Ingredients: Aqua (Water) , Glycine Soja Oil (Soybean Oil) , Butyrospermum Parkii Butter (Shea Butter) , Cetearyl Alcohol , Glycerin , Polysorbate 20 , Cetyl Alcohol , Behentrimonium Methosulfate , BIS-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2 , Butylene Glycol , Mangifera Indica Seed Oil , Mango Seed Oil , Theobroma Grandiflorum (Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter) , Phenoxyethanol , Fragrance , Lecithin , Quaternium-33 , Hexyl Cinnamal , Sorbic Acid , VP , Dimethylaminoethylmethacrylate Copolymer , Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride , BHT , Geraniol , Limonene , Caramel , Methylisothiazolinone , Linalool , Benzyl Alcohol , 2-Oleamido-1 , 3-Octadecanediol
Here is the bottom line, it works pretty good on my 4A - 4B tress. I love the smell and the consistency is creamy. I used it on wet and dry twist outs and I liked the results on both styles. The twists were defined and my hair felt soft and moisturized. I will definitely continue to use this product and keep it as a go-to styler. It does not top my whipped shea butter or Hair Love, but when I want something that has a light texture and is inexpensive I will think of the Whip Coil Cream.
Have you tried this product? What are your thoughts or does something else work for you?
Blessings and Curls,

Wednesday, 11 April 2012

Featured Curlie - Shereen South


Name: Shereen South
Hometown: Jamaican (raised in Scarborough)
First year of curlieness: August 2011
Shereen with relaxed hair
Why I went curlie: Well to be honest I didn’t plan on going back to my natural state. About a year prior to embracing my natural hair, my permed hair was acting up. I was losing hair at a rate that was not normal, so I went under braids. After three months I took the braids out permed my hair again only to have the same issues happen...and this time worse! At that point I went back under the braids this time for a longer period. One August day I was looking at my braids and knew it was time for a redo ... but I was SICK of the braids...did I say SICK? MADD! Something lead me to call my sister girl who is natural and asked her who does her hair etc. She gave me her stylist contact information and I made the call. I was nervous about this new look that I haven't seen since I was 12 years old. I thought alot about what people would say how my workplace would react,  but when I BC'd August 13th,  2011, I fell in love with myself I believe for the first time ever - I couldn't believe how good I looked! I didn't care who didn't like it, but funny enough I was embraced by all. Even my Dad was all for me going natural. I can honestly say that I was unaware of how MANY naturals out there until after I chopped. I feel as though my going back to natural was a spiritual awakening for me!
Shereen rocking her braids
Regime and products: My hair regime and the products I use are simple. I learned very quickly that oils are one of the key products for healthy hair. Castor oil is an oil that I use in all that I do. I use it in my hot oil treatment which I mix with EVOO and Vatika coconut oil. I also use castor oil when I am sealing my hair. I wash my hair weekly and cowash once or twice a week. I use Kinky Curly Shampoo and Kinky Curly Not Today Leave-in Conditioner for my weekly washes. I use Hello Hydration from Herbal Essence to co-wash, I also use Giovanni Leave-in after I co-wash. I alternate weeks of either deep conditioning (a homemade mix of mayo egg and honey) or I will do a hot oil treatment. I always apply the LOC method after washing or co-washing, this method aids in retaining the moisture in my hair, as my hair is all type 4’s. I NEED as much moisture as I can get. I also use Henna once or twice a month for strengthening and conditioning and not to mention to cover up my greys. Every night I spritz my hair lightly with Rosewater & Glycerin and re-twist. At the end of the day I believe and follow the rule of do what works for your hair and LISTEN to your hair!

Shereen posing at the iHEARTmyHAIR photo shoot
The best part of being curlie for me is: Knowing that I am truly loving all that God gave me … NO LYE! One small change can impact your life going natural has also caused me to become more aware of what I am putting in my body. Natural hair truly ROCKS!

Blessings and Curls, 
B-Curlie

Monday, 26 March 2012

Hair Love Review and Giveaway


Althea Joseph from Curly Canadians™ contacted me recently and asked me to do a review on their new product Hair Love. I was ecstatic, since I knew my hair agrees with ingredients in the product.
Ingredients: Beeswax, Unrefined organic shea butter, Organic coconut oil, Sweet almond oil, Sea buckthorn berry oil, Vanilla & Orange essential oils.
Hair Love Photo: Curly Canadians™
Hair Love has the consistency of a firm to creamy shea butter and has a mild sweet citrus scent. I’m a huge fan of shea butter and I’ve come to the conclusion that it absolutely has to be a part of my natural hair’s existence, so it will not surprise most of you that I love this product. Not to mention it also contains my hair’s other best friend coconut oil. Matches made in heaven – plain and simple!

I used Hair Love as a sealer and styler, so much so that I’m almost out of my supply. It was the main styler for my Curlformers set that I did a few weeks ago and for my twists and twist-outs over the last couple weeks. It easily became my go to product to seal and freshen up my hair in the mornings after spritzing it with water.  I found that it helped my hair retain moisture when used as a sealer and styler and imparted lots of shine to my 4A/B combination hair.
I would definitely recommend this product for those who are interested in an all-in-one product that can be counted on.
If you like your own jar of Hair Love and a few other goodies from Curly Canadians™ you can enter my FIRST GIVEAWAY, sponsored by Curly Canadians™. THE GIVEAWAY ENDS MAY 26TH!

Blessings and Curls,
B-Curlie

Tuesday, 7 February 2012

CurlyCanadians Vision - co-founder Althea Joseph


What was your draw to natural hair?
I’ve always been drawn to natural hair. Over the years I’ve gone from synthetic hair extensions to texturizers to finally purely natural hair. Now that I’m getting married & soon to be starting a family, I want to be more aware of what goes in & on my hair & body.

Althea Joseph, co-founder of CurlyCanadians™


Why did you decide to go curlie?
I’d already begun to consider transitioning from texturized to natural last summer. Then my aunt passed away from cancer in the fall of 2011.  After my aunt’s passing, I decided right away to stop putting chemicals in my hair. Better yet, my fiancé, Jason Branton and I decided to completely detox our home from harmful toxins. Reading There’s Lead In Your Lipstick by Gillian Deacon was also a powerful motivator to go natural.

At what point did you think of creating a business that would promote healthy hair and sell natural hair products?
After I made the decision to go natural, I embarked on an extensive Google search for natural hair care tips and products.  I found some great products yet they were not available in Canada. I wanted to find hair care tips for Canadians and I couldn’t find much of that either.

My fiancé and I were (and still are!) inspired to start CurlyCanadiansTM for naturally curly people living in Canada. Our focus is on natural hair care for straight, wavy & naturally curly styles for people from all walks of life.

 When was CurlyCanadiansTM established?
CurlyCanadiansTM was established on October 1, 2011. 





What kind of feedback have you been receiving from Canadian Curlies and abroad and how does that make you feel?
We are completely astounded by the feedback we’ve been receiving from across Canada & around the world! People are really excited about having a Canadian resource for curly hair. Just this morning we received a message from one of our Twitter followers in the United Kingdom commending us for targeting a diverse customer base. Comments like this make us grateful for this opportunity & happy to do what we do.

As a business owner, what do you think on the Canadian natural community?
I believe the Canadian natural community is the most diverse on the planet. There are people who want to live a more sustainable lifestyle. There are also people who are becoming increasingly aware of harmful ingredients in their favourite personal care products. One of our main goals at CurlyCanadiansTM is to provide the consumer with as much ingredient information as possible so they are able to make an informed purchasing decision.

Secondly, I feel the natural community needs to join forces. Canada is so vast that we’re all doing great things in every corner of the country without really knowing that our neighbor down the road is also doing something great. The natural community needs to come together and work together more. That’s why we are open to selling Canadian-made “actual natural” hair care products & accessories from Canadian artisans & manufacturers.

What are your goals for CurlyCanadiansTM in the next five years?
Our main goal for CurlyCanadiansTM is to be Canada’s foremost authority on naturally curly hair and natural hair care for all ages and all walks of life. We want to show the world how products sourced from nature can help you feel, look and be your best without exposure to harmful toxins.

What new products do Canadian Curlies have to look forward to from CurlyCanadiansTM?
Hair Love for starters! Hair Love is our latest handmade product. Look for hair care products from Strauss Herb Company (an amazing Canadian company), handmade hair cleansers from McLeod Naturals and best of all: a new skin care line called Althea Officinalis, which will debut this spring!

How can people contact you?
We invite everyone to contact us via:
Twitter: @curlycanadians

Thursday, 26 January 2012

Celebrity Canadian Curlie - Anne-Marie Woods


It is my great pleasure to feature Anne-Marie as my first Celebrity Canadian Curlie. I first met Anne-Marie when I was in high school and she became our Cultural Awareness Youth Group leader. Her career has expanded so much since then and she touches people in many different ways through her craft. She  also happens to be a teenager in curlie years  - enjoy her riveting story below:

Name:
Anne-Marie Woods, founder of Imani Enterprises, spoken word artist, singer, actress, mentor to name a few .

Hometown:
Toronto, Ontario / Nova Scotia

First year of curlieness:
I went natural in 1997

Why I went curlie:
I went to Philadelphia to do a residency at Freedom Theatre an African-American theatre and theatre school. In many ways my nine months at Freedom Theatre shaped much of my life today. I went there to take an August Wilson Advanced Acting Class, and I was teaching Senior Theatre and Assistant Director on a production. It was an amazing and life-changing experience in many ways.

Having the opportunity to learn and teach in an all Black environment. I was surrounded by beautiful sistas with afros, twists, cornrows, fades, locks, and almost every natural style you could imagine. Everyone was so beautiful. I can’t say that before living in Philly that I thought about going natural at all.

See I was the child of the jeri curl. I started with TCB in the 80’s and graduated to Carefree Curl and then I was a Wave Nouveau woman for life; I swear. I tried a relaxer once when I was about 14, but the lady burned my scalp terribly and so I became a slave to jeri curl juice. When I needed a break from the curl, I would get extensions in my hair.

Anne-Marie with afro kinky twists.

So now, here I was in Philly surrounded by the most amazing and beautiful natural women. I found myself asking people different questions about their hair; especially Ayanna who specialized in Nubian Knots and twists and a short afro or whatever style she decided to do that day. Her hair was short, but so versatile. I was in Philadelphia for nine months and by then end of my time there, I came back to Nova Scotia and went natural. It’s been 14 years since I made this liberating move and I have no regrets, but because I have a lot of hair and I do everything myself I do sometimes dream of a fade.


Regime and products:
My regime is an interesting one. When I first went natural I cut all my processed hair off. It was quite short. I pretty much do the same things now as I did then twist and twist-outs, twists and twist-outs. I like Ayanna the sister I admired don’t rock the same natural hair style daily. For instance for one of my shows I may pick my hair out into a bit curly twisty afro, then the next day wear my hair twisted and pulled back, or I leave it twisted for a few days and then open the twists; I love that look. I also blow dry and flat iron my hair sometimes and then twist it and put it in rollers, for that special look.  That is what I call my 18 hour hair style…it lasts for about 5 hour or so. That’s when I feel like Blackarella – like the Cinderella of hair. Like the time I rocked that style on one of my birthdays and then went out dancing, and half of my hair turned into an afro. Luckily I had a barrette with me – to pull my hair up into one. Cause the ½ curly and ½ afro style was not cutting it for me.
Anne-Marie rocking her 18 hour hair a.k.a. Blackarella.

When I first went natural I was asking so many people and doing research about products for natural hair. I used everything from Mane and Tail to Dark and Lovely which dried out my hair completely, to some type of shampoo that was supposed to be for natural hair. I am sure there are many more products now, but back in the late 90’s every shampoo that I bought for my hair cost quite a bit and made my hair as hard as sandpaper on a sunny day. I have a friend with locks and I remember telling her my plight and she was like “Girl I just use wheat germ and honey shampoo from Shoppers Drug Mart.”  That gave me an idea… I began to try regular shampoos. So, after much trial and error, I now use Dove shampoo for dry and damaged hair (this works really good on Black hair and does not make it brittle or hard), and I love the Organic Root Stimulator (ORS) Olive Oil hair products. I use the ORS Olive Oil conditioner which costs about $6.99.  If I want to deep condition my hair because I dye my hair auburn, I put conditioner in my hair the day before and leave it in before dying it. This has kept my hair soft and it’s never been damaged by the hair dye.  I just use Nice 'n Easy dye because many of the dyes for Black hair damaged my hair and made it very dry. Are we noticing a trend here?  As far as keeping my hair oiled and healthy, I used Natty Jojoba Oil and I have been using that since 1997 it costs $2.99 and you can get it at any Black Hair Product Store in the states. I put that in right after washing. I also use the ORS Olive Oil cream in my hair right after washing. Outside of that I use hair food now and then, and that’s about it.  Nothing I use in my hair costs a lot of money and the products last for a long time.  When I started this journey though I spent a lot of money on products just trying to figure out what works well with my hair.

The best part of being curlie for me is:

The best part of being natural for me is being versatile, and I love the look of my hair. It’s just liberating. It’s like I emancipated my hair! For me this is not a fad obviously, because it’s been 14 years now.  I like to rock different styles, and my hair is long enough now that I can just pull it back into one.  Or I twist it and open, twist and curl, wear a bit Foxy Cleopatra afro, or when I need a break in the summer I put in afro kinky extensions. I prefer the afro kinky twists, because they look just like my real hair.  So it’s simple when I feel like locking my hair, I put in the afro kinky twists. When I yearn for a fade or to cut off my hair, I pull it back into one. When I want it to be a bit more manageable then the ceramic blow dryer and flat iron are there for me. If I really want a straight style then I can do that too. The other thing is I do everything myself including my extensions, so unlike many of my friends I am not paying a fortune at the salon. Yes it takes time and planning sometimes to do this hair of mine, but I don’t mind.  I love my hair!
Anne-Marie at a recent spoken word performance in Nova Scotia.

What professional projects are you working on:

I just finished producing a show at Young Peoples Theatre (YPT) in Toronto called, Word Up it was a spoken word and theatre showcase called, Why I Write and it was phenomenal Word Up is a youth spoken word and theatre program that I developed for YPT.  Presently I am in Halifax, Nova Scotia in a hotel room getting ready to perform at the Word Iz Bond Poetry Series and then in a few days I will be the MC and guest performer for the Nova Scotia Mass Choir’s 20th Anniversary of The Dream Continues Tribute to Dr. Rev. Martin Luther King … then I am back in Toronto and I am the writer and poetic narrator for Tribute a show that is paying tribute to African Canadian Choreographers past and present. It’s being put on by Dance Immersion and it is for me it is one of the pinnacles of my career.  I also do work in schools and will be working on a Spoken Word Anti Bullying project at Queen Victoria Public School and then also working on a big Spoken Word Conference and Showcase for 2013. 


If you would like more information about Anne-Marie and Imani Enterprises feel free to visit her website:www.imanicreativeconsulting.com.