Recognizable Natural - Lizz Wright

Lizz Wright is this week's recognizable natural.  You might not be familiar with this young lady however.  She is a powerful voice in the jazz world.  The daughter of a minister, she was raised in Georgia with strong roots in gospel and in the church.  Music however has been her passion and all of her educational pursuits focused on that love.  I first became familiar with Ms. Wright's music with her solo debut album entitled "Salt".  The title track from that album spoke to me and meant so much to me about being true to what makes me uniquely me and not allowing anyone or anything take that from me.  You'll find with all her music which definately jazz, is also folk with tinges of gospel.

I remember when I purchased that first album how confident I felt she must be to wear a buzz cut hairstyle.  Even then I remarked how regal she looked.  Over the years it appears that she has begun to grow it out a little, but keeps it low maintenance rocking it in a simple TWA.

Leave In Conditioner Review

As I'm going along sharing the prodcuts that I currently use in my regimen I thought I would also share what leave in conditioner I use.

I started out using Giovanni Direct Leave In Conditioner.  I particularly like this conditioner because my hair absorbs it and it leaves my hair soft and is easy to detangle directly before styling.  This conditioner can be found at Vitamin Shoppe and some Target stores for approx. $8.

After hearing about Kimmaytube's recipie for leave in conditioner and its great results I decided to give it a try.  (Note:  Please search kimmaytube leave in conditioner recipie on Youtube to see her step by step directions.)  I have been using the leave in conditioner recipie for 3 months now and love how it makes my hair feel.  Some report that they are able to style their hair just with the leave in conditioner.  My texture won't allow for that but I have noticed that my ends are smoother when my leave in conditioner is applied under styling products for twists & other styles. My hair stays moistured and soft during the week.

Kimmaytube goes step by step in her recipie using a digital scale to measure her ingredients, but I used the teaspoon measurements to keep from having to buy a scale.  Here is the recipie that I use:

2 tablespoons of your favorite leave in conditioner (I use Giovanni Direct Leave In, she uses Kinky Curly Knot Today)
2 tablespoons of Aloe Vera Juice
2 teaspoons of Castor Oil
2 teaspoons of Jojoba Oil

Ingredients before mixing

Ingredients after mixing thoroughly

I can get approximately 2 months use out of 1 batch since my hair is still relatively short.  I keep it refrigerated due to the aloe vera juice which needs to be kept cool. All in all 2 thumbs up!

Recognizable Natural - India.Arie

India.Arie's song "I am Not My Hair" is the unofficial theme song for naturals all across this nation.  It has been the song that has helped us to understand that whether relaxed or natural, our hair does not define who we are as people.  What more fitting recognizable natural  than she?!

Ever since her first album, Accoustic Soul, India has been encouraging women to not be defined by society's standards and stereotypes.  Songs like "Video" & "I Am Not My Hair" encourage women to be their unique individual selves.  Songs like "Brown Skin", "Beautiful Surprise",  "The Truth", & "Chocolate High" celebrate black love.  I particularly appreciate how she sets a standard for love and respect in relationships without being male bashing in songs like, "Talk To Her" & "These Eyes".  Ok, so I'm an India.Arie fan.

By witnessing, India.Arie's career, one gets an opportunity to see her through various stages of hair styles and length.  She's sported brush cuts, medium sized afros, braids, locs and her beautiful signature head wraps.  I love the way she embraces her hair in all of it's stages and wears it with confidence. 

Below, hear her sing our anthem....

In Honor of Mother's Day....

Mother's Day Weekend 2011

Words cannot truly express the amount of love that I have for my mother.  Every year I try to find the perfect Hallmark card that expresses the depth of the emotion in my heart.  I try to select the perfect gift that compares to the value of her presence in my life.  The reality of the matter is that there is no card or gift that truly does her justice.  She has been and continues to be the prayer warrier, confidant, the healer of all hurts, the encourager, the best hugger, the tickler, the playmate, my first hairdresser, the master chef, the educator, the girlfriend, the queen of hospitality, the disciplinarian, the epitome of a lady, my daddy's love, the homemaker, all of my friend's "other" mother, MY MAMA.

All that I am today, is because God in His infinate wisdom, chose THIS woman to rear me.  The seeds that she deposited in me during my 18 years in her home and the years following have taught me how to be the lady that I am today.  She not only taught me, but lived the example like very few other that I have experienced in my life.  I truly love her with all my heart & no one shall ever take her place.

Happy Mother's Day ma!  I wubbb you!!!  Muah!

The Beauty Within - Music Video

I experienced a random act of kindness from a male stranger yesterday.  (Don't worry, it was at an auto supply store.  I wasn't broken down on the side of the road.)  The guy genuinely just recognized I was a little bit frustrated with the lack of service I was receiving (or not receiving) from the associate at the store and wanted to provide some assistance.  I was appreciative of that.  In the midst of him helping, he thanked me for allowing him to be a gentleman to a black queen.  A pick up line?  Quite possibly.  But based on the fact that he went on his merry way afterwards without pursing it further, I choose to believe it was a sincere compliment. Made me feel good.

Anyway, I was rocking my puff at the time and it made me think about this song that I heard recently.  Enjoy!

For all of you who aren't quite loving your natural hair just yet, Dead Prez wants you to know, he see's ya... 

Follow Up Product Review - Original Conditioning Masque- Butters-N-Bars

Right after deep conditioning no products

Today I deep conditioned again with my Hair conditioning masque from Butters-N-Bars.  I am definitely going to reorder this product.  After applying to my hair, I left it in for about 2 hours while I worked.  To see what my hair looks like after application, please go to my Product Review and Hair Revelation post.  The only thing I do differently at this point is I don't sit under a hooded dryer.  I now let my body heat activate the conditioner.  When, I rinsed this product out, oh my goodness, butter soft hair.  I couldn't keep my hands out of it.  It's so soft that I decided not to put any styling products on my hair.  I just put on my leave in conditioner and am rocking an uber soft puff.  I've been using this product since February and I (and my hair) still love it so it will become a staple in my regimen.  (SN:  This product rinses out very easily, however because it does have clay in it, it will leave your tub a reddish mess.  Just be prepared to clean your tub.)

Below you can see pictures of my natural hair texture directly following the conditioner.  My hair has no products in it & still has water in it.  You can see the differences in my hair texture especially in the front, temples and nape of my hair.  I also posted two pictures from when I first applied this masque in February.  You can really tell my hair is growing!  Yay!! (insert happy dance)

This free slideshow design made with Smilebox

Recognizable Natural - Lauryn Hill

L. Boogie as we affectionately called her.  The female lead vocalist of the Fugees, the one who's album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill garnered 5 Grammy's and contains many tracks that I love to sing to this day. The mother of 5 children. The young lady who stole our hearts in Sister Act 2....Lauryn Hill.

Since the huge success of her album in 1998, The Miseducation of Lauren Hill, there has been much controversy around this artist. In 2000, she went into a self-imposed exile, removing herself from the public eye.  Her return to the stage has been sporadic with mixed reviews over the past 3 years.  Reports of late or cancelled appearances, eclectic garb & makeup, and an unusual take on her well known music has been the trend.  However, as recent as winter 2010 through this year, there have been more positive reports of her truly showing up to for her regularly scheduled performances.  I, for one, am very hopeful that she will return to the studio and to her former musical success in grand fashion.  We miss you Lauryn!

Lauryn has also been known to wear both locked and loose hair.  As her 4b/4c hair type sister, I can appreciate the style with which she wears it.

Enjoy a live performance from Lauren Hill from the past....Ex-Factor..