Nappiology Meet Up Highlights

Imagine my surprise and joy when De Phillips Johnson CEO of Nappiology,Inc. and Nappiology meet-up group here in the Dallas/Ft Worth area contacted me offering me the opportunity to present at one of her monthly meet-up groups.  I felt fortunate and grateful that she thought of me.  For the past 2 years I posted my highlights at the Nappiology Expo's I attended, [click to see highlights from 2011] and [click here to see highlights from 2010] ...I can honestly say they get better each year and I'm so looking forward to Nappiology Expo 2012! To learn more about Nappiology [click here]

This was such a great experience for me.  It gave me the opportunity to let so many supporters get to know me outside of my  [Facebook Business Page]  which is where a vast majority of my supporters and clientele have come from.  These women are so kind, uplifting and full of excitement about learning to care for their hair and share with me and other women what they have learned as well.  I really wanted to express how much they have helped me grow both professionally and personally and how much I appreciate them.  This months meet-up was held at Betty Warmack Library in Grand Prairie, TX. Prior to the meet up starting I had chance to talk with a couple of clients I hadn't seen a quite awhile.  They both greeted me with hugs and one of them gave me a gift. I was pleasantly surprised when one Sister named Aledra handed me a little cellophane bag with something wrapped inside.  I opened it immediately!

I remembered her telling me sometime ago she makes jewelry as a hobby.  She made me this BEAUTIFUL jewelry because she said she knows how much I love earrings and that to her I give so much helping others along their natural hair journey's.  I was so touched.  I even rocked the bracelet right then and there...

Women of every shade of brown with kinky curly coils gathering together in a peaceful supportive setting is such a wonderful thing to be a part of...

  It was such a treat just speaking on what I love to anyhow.  It never feels like work when you do what you love!

I wanted to take the crowd through regimen building from start to finish and began first with sharing natural hair care options using oils and butters for do-it-yourself (DIY) hair care. I was so pleased to see women with paper and pens out ready to take notes and iPad tablets on laps, with plenty of questions.

I went through the what I call the 8 steps of regimen building, discussing  natural oils and butters after using water for moisture prior to applying an oil or butter to the hair.  I will go into detail in a future post.  I get asked so many questions on how to build a regimen I wanted to cover it in the most simplified way I could to make the journey towards having healthy natural hair not so overwhelming for some. I really wanted the guests to know the road to healthy hair is not solely in a product but in consistency of care we give our hair regardless what is used to a certain degree. Also, caring for our hair IS affordable, especially when replacing products with DIY hair care options.  We discussed scalp issues, what carrier oils are, what essential oils are and the benefits of adding them to oils and products we already have, to increase the benefits of using them.  I know many of us feel we have to categorize our hair into some "type" so I also touched on why I feel using the word texture instead is a more fitting.  I was so glad to see so many women in agreement.

We also had time for a styling tip segment.  I'd asked my good friend if she would allow me to do a demo on her hair and she agreed. I needed one more model and asked for a volunteer.  Their hair textures and lengths were completely different and I wanted to show how the same products depending on what technique is used can be used on any hair texture.

For more  photos of this event and other Nappiology events [click here].

Once we wrapped it up ( it went 1/2 overtime) De gave me a really cute Nappiology Tee!! I'll be rockin' it at  the next meet-up I attend for sure!

It was a wonderful day.  My son's were there and I was so glad they had the opportunity to see why I do what I do...because it brings so many women of color together, I love speaking about hair care, and most of all it just makes me happy.

Here are a few comments from guests who attended the workshop posted on Nappiology meet-up site:

Thank you Amber for your knowledge and loving spirit. You have educated, encouraged and inspired me. May God continue to bless you and all that you do. 
Also, thank you De for your hard work and dedication to women and their natural hair. ~Monique

Thank you Amber for your knowledge and time. I really enjoyed your workshop. Also thanks De for organizing this enlightening event! ~Amber

My daughters enjoyed themselves; it was awesome. ~ Charles

Thank you Amber I really enjoyed myself yesterday. I gained so much knowledge. Thank you De for organizing the event. I had a great time. ~Yolandia

Meet Up Doo...

The previous post shows my hair style pretty much I just untwisted the twists and re-pinned my updo with hair that was twisted out instead of keeping it in twists...to me it gave this style a much more bold look.

Fro-Fest is around the corner...It's a FREE event so make sure you some out to celebrate Juneteenth with Nappiology,Inc.

Miss Jessie's is the Title Sponsor of the 2012 Best Southwest Juneteenth, Nappiology Fro Fest  

Saturday, June 16, 2012

 Time: 1-6pm

Desoto Civic Center

 Bluebonnett Rooms

 211 E Pleasant Run Rd

 Desoto, Texas

VENDORS, WORKSHOPS, NATURAL HAIR showcase and sooo much more!

 VENDORS - catering to natural hair

 WORKSHOPS

Tranistion workshop by Denise Valentine - Niecy's Natural Hair Salon

Loc Styling 101 with Ms. Ray - Deep in the Roots Salon

HHG!!

Nappiology Fro Fest 2012!

It happened again.  Another one of those accidental doo's that I ended up loving....here's how I did it!

 I twisted my hair in 6 large twists and slept in my satin bonnet.  I didn't happen to fall asleep until around 2am, woke up at 6:30am to get my little one off to school, came home, and unraveled the twists.  My hair was still very damp at the root after separating so I left it loose to dry for a few more hours.  Those intended few hours turned into an all day thing...I was too busy to return back to it until later in the evening.  It looked a mess just before bed. I was too sleepy to re-twist so I kept my fro out and slept in my satin bonnet...

Day 2...

I woke up took of the bonnet and this time my hair was completely dry so to soften my hair I generously sprayed some Deva Curl Mist-ER-Right Curl Revitalize so I could finger style it.  It was so big I didn't want to style it up...I was kinda diggin' my fro at this point. 

I repeated my nightly routine for 4 nights, sleeping in my satin bonnet, spraying Deva Curl Mist-ER-Right Curl Revitalize on my hair, followed up with reshaping my fro with my finger styling.  The first photo was of my hair on day 5.  My hair stretched more and more each day I wore my fro.   My roots loosened a lot which definitely aided in the fullness of my fro and lessening shrinkage.  I'll revisit this style for Fro Fest!

If you live in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area make sure you save the date June 16th (Juneteenth) Fro Fest presented by Nappiology, Inc. 

Cost:FREE

Email: Nappiology@Gmail.com

Venue:DeSoto Civic Center

Address:211 E Pleasant Run, DeSoto, TX,

Hope to see you there!!

HHG!!

Embrace Your Roots: Houston Community College SE

em·brace (m-brs):  2. to take or receive gladly or eagerly; accept willingly.

You never know why people are placed into your life.  No matter how brief or how long the interaction is between someone you meet, there is often a larger plan in the making.  This is certainly the case for me when I met my fellow braiding school classmate Tawanda Alexander.  We met during a 3 day intensive hair braiding course to get our Texas state braiding license.  She and I as well as 4 other women bonded, as if we'd known one another for years.  I hadn't spoken to Tawanda since a few weeks after our class last August.  A few weeks ago she reached out and invited me to come share my knowledge of natural hair care and speak as a panelist at Houston Community College's Embrace Your Roots event in honor of Black History Month.  I was stoked and jumped at the opportunity.  There was no way I could ever have passed up the chance to do what I love doing anyway which is talking about natural hair.  My focus was to speak on product knowledge and hair styling options.

I was one of 2 panelists for the events, the other panelist being Michelle Lewis, Producer of her documentary called New Growth: The Natural Progression which was released in 2006.   The film was shot in Dallas, Austin and Houston. The film was picked up by BETJ/ Black Stories Series which ran on the cable station for one year. 

I wore my hair in large twists I'd done the night before on dry hair.  Since I wasn't sure if there would be any models for me to demonstrate basic styling on I figured I demo my own hair.  I used Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie.

The Venue

 After Michelle gave shared her "hairstory" with us, it was my turn.  I was nervous at first but once I got to talking and watched how attentive the audience was I was quickly at ease.  The energy in the room as very warm and welcoming.

I briefly shared with the guests my "hairstory" as well sharing the events that lead me to embrace my kinky curls.  Everyone in the audience was so attentive which helped to put me at ease.  I felt they were really interested in learning more about what I had to share. It felt great.

I brought several products along with me.  I wanted to appeal to those who had just began their healthy hair journey as well as the more seasoned Naturalistas in attendance.  I touched on oils, butters, which are best and why, the benefits of using oils and how to custom an oil blend to address each individuals hair needs. I spoke on proper hair handling techniques, detangling from ends to roots on wet hair only using a large toothed comb which I also brought with me.  I stressed the importance of using water and water based moisturizers and then sealing in the moisture using oil or butter.  Michelle also spoke on her hair care regimen and the abundance of styling options shes had since going natural 13 years ago.  She added that apple cider vinegar rinses are a big part of her hair care regimen to end dry scalp and itching.

The crowd grew...

I also touched briefly on the benefits of Ayurveda for hair.  I brought along a box of amla powder and a bag of Henna. After discussing Ayurveda, Michelle and I opened the forum to questions...and boy were there plenty! I loved how the attendees were so involved.

One young lady asked Michelle to take her Sister locks down so the audience could see them...

Her hair was absolutely beautiful, thick, and long.

Next it was my turn...

 Once my twist were unravelled, it was time to do a demonstration on one of the facilitators named Yolanda who had recently cut her hair short.  All she did was wash it and allow her hair to dry without any product in it.  I was glad that way I was able to demonstrate on the positive effect water has on kinky curly hair.

Since Yolanda opts for the wash n' go look, I used DevaCurl on her pencil sized curls.  Her hair was gorgeous...I wished my son had gotten a close up shot on those curls.

We took more questions from the audience which lasted a good 45 minutes and even continued on after the closing.

...and the crowd grew some more...Even the men in attendance had questions and input on how they felt about women embracing their natural hair.

At closing Michelle and I were given Certificate of Recognition plaques for presenting by Tawanda.  I was surprised and so thankful she'd given them to us to participating.

Lunch was then served, catered by Jason's Deli.  Tawanda took into consideration I am vegetarian and hooked me up with a huge veggie filled salad.

While everyone ate, Michelle and I continued answering questions from guests who attended.  I gave out my business cards, blog address and, Facebook page while answering questions from both men and women of all ethnic backgrounds. I was honored to have so many women mention they would actually be coming to Arlington to see me for an appointment.  I look forward to it too.

I met some beautiful Sisters...I was honored to be there.

Michelle asked me to style her Sister locks back into a neat bun

...it came out so cute and she said she loved it.  Unfortunately I my son didn't get a picture of the final look...but it was really cute.

Before leaving those still there who wanted to be included came up to take a group photo with Michelle and I.

Special thanks to my son James for helping with the photography.  He was a huge support and even got several compliments on how beautiful his hair was too. I really enjoyed meeting new people and talking about healthy hair care. 

HHG!

Full Moons and the Farmers Almanac: Best Days to Cut Hair in 2012

Old wives tales have played a large part of African-American hair care.  These tales have been handed down from generations and are still followed today with the same faith to their truths as when our ancestors first spoke of them.  One that I  heard over the years and recently spoke with a friend who actually follows it, is cutting/trimming hair only on a full moon and according to the Farmers Almanac there are specific days of the month that retard growth and other days that are supposed to increase growth.  I figured one like this could easily be done since I have to trim my hair anyhow, no harm, no foul.  I also heard from a fellow FB friend, actress T'keyah Crystal Kemah advises cutting hair on the new moon is best for growth. Although I'd never heard of it, I figured I'd add it to the list of dates.

The next upcoming date according to the Farmers Almanac to cut hair to increase growth will be December 30th and 31st, 2011, and January 3rd and 4th, 2012.  My goal is to start the new year off with a healthy head of fresh ends and bouncy curls. The second half of this year I didn't care for my hair as well as I did the first year and focused mainly on styling.  2012 I vow to make my hair care a priority each week like I did during the first 7 months of this year.  I can definitely tell the difference. 

Big Chop 2012

I never will forget being on Twitter during the first week of this year reading and looking at tweet pics of Sister's who took the plunge.  It felt so liberating even though I hadn't cut my own.  Just seeing how far we have come...black women voluntarily cutting their hair and in some cases shaving was unheard of even just 3 or 4 years ago.  For those of you planning to bring in the New Year with  BC'ing I wanted to share the best days to cut your hair according to the Farmers Almanac and Moon Phases calender.  When you visit the website you will find it not only lists the best days to cut hair for growth, it also lists the best days to start a diet to gain or lose weight, quit smoking, host a party, entertain friends, get married, retard growth (I guess this would be beneficial for eyebrows, underarms, legs, etc.), picking specific fruit or veggies for those of you who have gardens, and traveling. 

Best days to cut your hair for GROWTH:

(1st Quarter dates for 2012)

December 30th and 31st

January 3rd and 4th

January 25th - 27th

January 30th and 31st

 February 1st

February 4th and 5th

February 23rd and 24th

February 27th

Full Moon Dates for 2012

January 9th

February 7th
March 8th
April 6th
May 5th
June 4th
July 3rd
August 31st
September 29th
October 29th
November 28th
December 28th

New Moon Dates for 2012
 January 23rd

February 21st

 March 22nd

April 21st

May 20th

June 19th

July 19th

August 31st

September 16th

October 29th

November 13th

December 28th

I was hoping the Farmer's Almanac and Moon Phase Calender dates would coincide but unfortunately they don't.  So more than likely I'll follow the almanac and choose one of those dates (probably the 31st) to give my hair a really good cut to start New Year 2012 off with a BANG!!!

HHG!