Thursday, March 31, 2025

Wrapped up

April is tomorrow and the area I live in is still RIDICULOUSLY cold. I am not sure what Miss. Spring is trying to pull but the DMV needs some warmth. I have been wearing beanies most of the week which has helped keep my head warm a little bit but I figured that I may need something a little more snug to keep in more heat. I decided to wrap my hair with an old H&M scarf that I found laying around my room.
After playing with it for a while I created a chic and simple look that can be worn to out in public.
I will be wearing my hair wrapped until it gets warm out. Being cold is NOT my favorite thing.

I will be making a YT video of the wrap style below. I know y'all are going to want to know how I achieved it. :-)




Guest Blogger: Beauty with Nokomis



Ladies, I am pleased to introduce a new guest blogger to The Good Hair Blog. Her name is Nokomis and she will be sharing makeup tips, tricks and deals with us at least once a month. I am excited to have her and I hope you all love what she has to offer! Read her bio below.

Nokomis is 24 year old self proclaimed military brat from Southern California. A lover of any and all things artistic.She has studied under award winning directors and photographers in her field of photography and honed in on her skills of make up artistry  while mastering her craft of photography. She's freelanced as a make-up artist, been the make up artist on set of many of her own projects and worked in the field as a make up artist over the last year. She is the COO of a production company and will be looking to add to new branches onto the production company within the next year.


Spring Fresh Face



Spring is here! and although it doesn't quite feel like it, its time to pull out the pastels, shimmer and bronzer for that ultimate sun kissed look!
My favorite spring time look is great for every day, its lights no over done eyes or heavy lip colors and blushes here but its easy to go from day to night if you want to add 
a little more drama! Heres what you need!

  • tinted moisturizer (or a light-medium coverage foundation)
  • concealer (preferebly one shade lighter than your complexion)
  • translucent setting powder
  • brown or black eye liner
  • favorite mascara
  • eye brow pencil or brow shader
  •  light pink or peach colored blush
  • highlighter (this is optional)
  • your favorite nude/pink lipstick or gloss
***please note its optional if you want to use brushes for your application, but clean hands are just as good!

Simple step by step instructions




  1. wash/dry face and hands
  2. apply concealer to any dark/red spots
  3. apply tinted moisturizer (apply moisturizer if using foundation then apply your foundation)
  4. apply lighter shade concealer under eyes, on the bridge of your nose, under your bottom lip and around your eyebrows and on your eye lid (blend blend blend!) 
  5. set your concealer so that it does not crease or crack with setting power with powder puff or kabuki brush
  6. line your TOP lash line only
  7. apply mascara
  8. apply highlighter of choice under eye and on bridge of your nose
  9. apply blush on the apple of your cheeks
  10. last but not least apply your lipstick/gloss
*last minute tip! another trick thats great for spring makeup looks is to apply white eye liner on your lower lash line, it will make your eyes look awake and for those with small eyes make your eyes appear to be larger!

Below is a list of the products I used for this look, you can substitute your favorites!
  1. NARS Cadiz foundation
  2. MAC studio fix concealer in NC42
  3. Make Up forever HD setting powder
  4. NAR blush in Albatross
  5. NARS blush in ORGASM
  6. Make Up Forever Smoky lash Mascara
  7. Urban Decay 24/7 pencil eyeliner
  8. Mac Eye Kohl in fascinating
  9. MAC Lipgloss in Boybait

Like this post? Leave comments below! 


Wednesday, March 30, 2025

Captured Curls: Jerica

Everyone, meet Jerica! One of my dear friends who is a newly natural. Her curls are amazing and she rocks her TWA fiercely! Check out her natural hair journey, thus far, below...




1.Tell me about YOU

My name is Jerica Price. I'm a mother, daughter and sister. My daughter is literally my EVERYTHING. I'm a full time student and part time employee. I love shopping, laughing and having a good time. My goal in life is to achieve happiness and success.

 
2. Tell me your hair care regimen (do you use heat, natural products, ect...)

My haircare regimen is still really simple because I have a TWA (wash-and-go's are my best friend lol). I usually co-wash every other morning and moisturize with water on the days I don't co-wash. I use Elasta QP Feels Like Silk Leave-in H20, followed by Shea Moisture Curl & Style Milk and sometimes I also use Eco Styler Gel. I apply theses products while wet and let my hair air dry. I usually deep condition once a month and I wash once a week, usually on Sundays.



3. Tell me your texture and what works best on your hair type

My hair type is 3B/3C. mostly curls and coils. However, I have a couple of patches in my hair that are 3A as well. The products that work best on my hair type are, Elasta QP Leave-in H20, All Shea Moisture products and Eco Styler Gel.



4. Tell me the reaction you got when first going natural

When I first went natural, everyone was shocked. Although my hair was already short, no one believed that I would go natural. I had some people try to talk me out of it, so when I finally did it the reaction wasn't great but it wasn't bad either. I guess you could say it was neutral.



5. Did you BC or transition, if so when or for how long?

I BC'd. Although my hair was already cut into a pixie cut, I transitioned for about 2 months and just went for it! I was so excited.



6. What makes you love your kinks, curls and coils?

I love my kinks, curls and coils, because the define who I a woman of color. They make me unique and different from everyone. I stand out. Everywhere I go I get compliments on my natural hair from ALL races. When people ask "how'd you get your hair like that?" it makes me feel good to say "its my natural hair".



7. Where can we find you on the web?

You can find me on Twitter @Hi_ImJERI



8. Anything EXTRA you want us to know?

Going natural was one of THEE best things I've done in my young life. I don't regret it. I did it mostly for my daughter. I want her to love her beautiful Chocolate skin and curly, kinky hair. I want to be her inspiration in EVERY way.



Alex's Thoughts: 2



Click HERE to watch the video.

Sunday, March 27, 2025

Today's Hair: Protective Style Updo

Ok, so for the past month, with the exception of 2 days last week, my hair has been braided up into a PS. Life has been so much easier not having to deal with my hair everyday and I can definitely see a change in my ends since I have been protecting them. I hoping to reach APL by the end of the year, I think that goal is more realistic than trying to achieve than by my 2 year anniversary, mainly because my hair is cut into so many layers. I am in the process of growing them out and the PS's have been helping with that process. Before I got my hair braided this time around I DC'd with Henna and my Desert Organics Coconut Conditioner (I love this stuff). My hair needed it, badly. I wore my hair in a T.O. the next day and my braider picked it out and styled if from there. I had her use my water, bhringaraj oil and vatika oil, along with my Bee Mine Curly Hold Butter (that I also love) before braiding just to add some moisture. It worked great and I am very satisfied with the results, she always does a great job on my hair.

See the pics under the jump.

Saturday, March 26, 2025

Four Generations of Natural Hair


Above is a picture of me, my daughter, my mother and my nana. We took this photo at today and I just had to share it with you all! Do you notice anything? We are ALL natural. I have been looking at this picture all day--it warms my heart every time I glance at it. Everyone in the picture,except my daughter, has "struggled" with their hair in some way, shape or form. I'm happy to see that all of us are past the perms and the need/want for them. THIS is who we are and I am glad that we are able to show my daughter unaltered beauty. A lot of people ask me how I keep my daughter in love with her hair, the answer is above. Natural is all she knows-- the 3 main women in her life have been natural since she can probably remember (she's only 3, lol). I honestly think that's the reason why my daughter hasn't had the "I want straight hair" itch yet; even with her being the only girl of color in her class at daycare. It's truly an amazing thing. This picture means a lot to me and I am so glad that the women in my life are strong, beautiful and NATURAL! :-)

xoxo,
Alex

Friday, March 25, 2025

Good Link: 3/25/11

This week's good link is...
Click Here
Enjoy!

(Click the jump to see what I got from the "Good Link")

Thursday, March 24, 2025

Full Moon Headband

So, do y'all remember those bow headband I bought from Younikness a while back? If you don't remember, click here to jog your memory. Any who, I have been a big fan of the shop for sometime now and I had my eye on the Full Moon headband for A LONG time, when it went on sale I JUMPED at the opportunity to purchase it. Let me just say, I love the headband more than my Thin Mint cookies, LOL. See the beautiful WELL MADE piece below. I think it looks great with natural hair.




If you like what you see, head over to Younikness and get one! You won't regret it. 

xoxo,
Alex


Wednesday, March 23, 2025

DIY: Flaxseed Gel Tip

 For all my mistresses who like whipping hair goodies up at home, I have a great tip for you when it comes to making Flax Gel. Many folks on YT have made their own flax gels but find it hard to separate the liquid product from the sold seeds. Some people use pantyhose to help strain but that technique is messy and kinda of a hassle--- my advice is use a STRAINER! Place a Tupperware bowl underneath the strainer and allow the gel to separate from the seeds. It may take a few minutes but it's much easier than trying to strain a HOT stocking. It works great and you're able to get almost all of the liquid gel separated  from the seeds without any extra debris floating around or ripped stocking causing a big mess!



Have you made flax gel? If so, what was your technique?

Monday, March 21, 2025

Ambreose Review


Enjoy 20% off at Ambreose by using "GHB20" at check out.
Thanks Victoria!!

Friday, March 18, 2025

Captured Curls: Sam

Everyone meet Sam, the designer behind my blog! She is a fairly new natural rockin and very cute TWA.
Read her story below...



Tell me about YOU
I’m a full-time student, freelance web designer, and blogger living in Maryland.


Tell me your hair care regimen (do you use heat, natural products, ect...)
I don’t really do much of anything. Usually, if I go to the gym in the morning, I’ll cowash with Trader Joes Tea Tree conditioner when I get home. I don’t really shampoo often, I can’t remember the last time I shampooed but I know that Dr. Bronner’s Magic Peppermint or Lavender soap are the only ones I use. I co-wash pretty often and I just really grab whatever conditioner I see first. I usually spritz my hair with either lavender water or rose water on days where I don’t co-wash or when my hair feels a little dry. I’m really sensitive to scents so I try to use things with either really mild scents or unscented in general so I really like Whole Foods Brand (I think its whole foods brand) unscented conditioner. I also apply Megatek to my scalp every night and give it a nice massage. I try to do an Aztec Healing Clay mask either every week or every other week and I just add some Vitamin E oil and Lavender. (Clearly I’m a big fan of the Lavender scent) As for styling, I don’t really do any. I haven’t used heat since the beginning of January and don’t really plan to anytime soon, the most I do now is put some Giovanni Direct Leave-In after I towel dry my hair a little and then I use Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie and a little bit of Garnier Fructis Curl Sculpting Cream-Gel stuff because it doesn’t leave my twa crunchy or anything like other gels have. Generally, though, I just wear my hair like a wild woman.

Tell me your texture and what works best on your hair type
I have absolutely no idea what my texture is. My head has a bunch of different textures, there’s straight pieces and there’s some really tight corkscrew looking ringlets. I don’t even know how long my hair is because it shrinks so much. I typically just leave my hair alone and let it do whatever it wants, there’s not much of it on my head anyway. I guess I’ll figure out what works best for it as I go along although, it does really seem to like water, I keep a spritz bottle of lavender or rose water in my car just to spray my hair whenever I feel like it needs it.


 Tell me the reaction you got when first going natural
Well I wasn’t going to do it, my best friend kind of persuaded me to do chop my hair off. All the women I know absolutely loved my short hair (aside from my mom), but my dad still maintains that I look like a boy.My mom doesn’t really like it either and insists I get a weave until my hair grows back but I don’t plan to do that. All the reactions from my friends and coworkers were really positive and everyone just really likes to touch my hair, which definitely gets kind of annoying.


 Did you BC or transition, if so when or for how long?
I tried to transition, I’m not sure for how long, but I was really annoyed by all of the different textures and damaged bits as well as how terrible (in my opinion) my hair looked so I BC’d in October 2010 for my 22nd birthday.


 What makes you love your kinks, curls and coils?
I absolutely LOVE the versatility. I mean, at this length I don’t have too many styling options but I like how I don’t have to worry about getting caught in the rain or going swimming, I can sleep over my friends houses without having to spend forever preparing my hair for sleep. I can wear it straight anytime I want then I can easily just wear it curly, very little maintenance and its definitely a lot healthier now than it was before.


 Where can we find you on the web?
My blog: http://samantha-marie.org or twitter http://twitter.com/samanthamarie or my food blog: http://samvsfood.com

Anything EXTRA you want us to know?
hmmm.. not really.






Interesting Video...

I was contacted by one of my twitter followers (@Kzoh88) to check out his video about natural hair. I found it very sweet and interesting to say the least. Check it out below for yourself and leave your thoughts in the comment box. I think y'all will like this...


Good Link: 3/18/11




This week's good link is...
Click Here
Enjoy!

(For all my fashionista's.)

Finally...

The Hair and Body Boutique
"Natural and Organic Beauty Treats"
Located in: Silver Spring, MD (White Oak Shopping Center)
Site

Nothing warms my heart more than products for my natural hair, the store listed above made my jump for joy the minute I walked in. I heard about The Hair and Body Boutique a while back from my girl Elle over at Quest for the Perfect Curl, I secretly think Elle likes aiding to my PJ'ism, LOL. As many of you know, I am a Montgomery County, Maryland resident--- so hearing that we have this new natural hair boutique in MoCo was a shock. I drive past that shopping center the store is located in often but I have never noticed it. Yesterday, I decided to poke my head in and see what all th fuss was about and OMG, did I see. I was seriously in Natural Hair Product HEAVEN, no exaggeration. The owner, Doreen was very nice and the her customer service was impeccable. We chatted it up and I told her about my hair care line and blog, I had a nice experience in her store and of course I had to buy some stuff. Below is a list of a few brands she carries-- you are probably going to get excited so brace yourself product junkies...

*Bee Mine
*Darcy Botanicals
*Qhemet Biologics
*Donna Marie
*Curls
*Miss Jessie's
*Curl Junkie
*My Honey Child
*Carols Daughter
... and more! 

How awesome is that? I can now get the products I LOVE on the ground and NOT online-- MoCo curlies, you can too! I am in love. Doreen might get sick of seeing my face in her store. I ended up buying Donna Marie's "Super Buttercream", My Honey Child's "Olive You Deep Conditioner" and Bee Mine's "Deja's Hair Milk" (my fave). I also brought home some samples of My Honey Child's "Type 4" Hair Butter and Donna Marie's "Mira Curl Curling Gelly." I cannot wait to try them out. I actually used the Donna Marie's buttercream on my flat twist this and I really made my hair feel soft and my curls are very defined! 

So if you are a Maryland resident and you live close to the Silver Spring area drop by and give the store a visit, tell Doreen that Alex from The Good Hair Blog sent you! 

xoxo,
Alex 

Wednesday, March 16, 2025

Can relaxers to equate "cheating?"

The other day I featured Jarrett and his gorgeous loc’s. During that interview he made a comment about women and relaxers, some of you wanted to know his thoughts/views on them. Well he sent me this email and elaborated a little more on that thought. See below…




I feel like when women relax their hair they are communicating to their bodies that chemicals are needed in order for the hair to be something that it isn't, which is straight. In my opinion relaxers are like an addictive drug, some women cannot seem to live or be without one. Many fail to realize that once you stop relaxing the hair breakage and bald spots can occur if the hair is not treated with care. I'm on the fence with the topic because there's no denying that some women with perms have beautiful healthy hair; it just sucks women feel the need to chemically straighten their hair in order for it to be sleek and smooth. Can’t that be achieved without a relaxer? To me having hair is similar to a marriage and relaxing it can be compared to cheating. Sooner or later you will get caught cheating and your spouse may leave you, just like your hair (by falling out and breaking off). But if you love your hair, respect it, nurture it, it'll stay with you, grow, flourish and give everything you expect it to—almost like in a monogamous relationship.

What do you ladies think about Jarrett’s opinion/view? Weigh in and share YOUR thoughts; I am dying to know what you think.

Tuesday, March 15, 2025

Chic and Style with Ashley Semila: 9 Spring Essentials

Recently I let you all know that I would be adding some fun perks to my blog. Chic and Style with Ashley Semila is one of the newest additions. Ashley will be posting looks for less, video "how to's" and more awesome fashion fun tips for you ladies. Her posts will include links, prices, style recommendations and more! Below is a quick bio of Ashley and under the jump you can find her very first Chic and Style fashion contribution. I hope you ladies enjoy! Please PLEASE please leave comments, topics suggestions and anything else you feel we need to know, in the comment box.  We want to know your thoughts!  Enjoy!

Bio:


Ashley Semila is a woman after the heart of fashion. She is a 24 year old 
from Maryland with 6 years of fashion experience under her belt; 2 of which have been in 
New York City. Prior to moving to NYC she was a stylist and apart of the 
creative direction for a host of fashion shows in the metropolitan area.
 She relocated to New York City after college and worked in 
sales and marketing for Blackbook magazine. She was also the Wardrobe 
Manager for a film producer. Ashley has branched off and begun working for herself 
as a personal shopper/ wardrobe stylist. Recently 
she accepted a Public Relations position with Rogan, LLC. Ashley Semila is also
the proud founder of an upcoming eBoutique "Fashcapade",  for emerging designers, set to launch 
on June 25, 2011. 



Thursday, March 10, 2025

Loc'd Man: Jarrett


Meet Jarret, this months Loc'd Man. How GORGEOUS are his loc's?
Beautiful!


Tell us a little about yourself? (ex. name, age, state, school)
My name is Jarrett Middleton, I’m 24 years old, born n’ raised in PG County Maryland. I’m employed by C&E services of Vienna Virginia, and this is my first blog interview ever… A little nervous but hey, let’s do it!

How long have you been growing your locs?
I’ve been growing my loc’s since I was 18 years old.  Since then I’ve trimmed 3 times and probably cut about 4 inches off collectively. So it’d be longer right now, but honestly I don’t think I want my hair to  be much longer then what it is…

What do you use on your hair, product wise, to maintain it?
I use Jamaican Mango & Lime to oil my scalp. Olive Oil organic Professional Shampoo to wash it, and Loc’-set Serum to tighten them. I wash it and tighten every 3-4 weeks. I also receive hot-oil treatments 6 times a year, they help keep my roots strong and healthy.

How often do you have to wash and re-twist your loc’s and who styles them?
Well, you already know how often I wash it and twist it but my hairdressers have randomly changed over the years. When I first started, my mother maintained them, she’s actually the one who convinced me to get them! My hair routine and consistency has remained pretty much the same, I believe that  is one of the reasons my hair is still healthy and flourishing.



What do you think about women with natural hair? Do you care if your woman is relaxed, natural or loc’d?
I LOOOOVE a loc’d up woman with heels and… Lets not get into that lol. Nothing turns me on more than a woman who is comfortable with herself, whether they have natural hair or relaxed hair. Unfortunately women with natural hair styles are difficult to come by. At least in PG County… I have a theory on women with perms, but that’s a topic for another blog somewhere else on the vast population of the world wide web.

Do you think women who choose to loc their hair are sexy?
Extremely. There’s nothing sexier but I do understand that variety with hair is the spice of life. 

What are the pros and cons about having your hair loc’d?
Lately I’ve been contemplating cutting my hair, just because of the simple fact that it’s just hair and it might be time for a change. I believe that’s one of the cons that many people have when their hair has reached a certain length that you’ve been satisfied with for however long you’ve had it, but the pros are limitless. It keeps me warm in the winter, it gives you a strong sense of personality and charisma. Loc’s give you a small edge that many people lack. They give you foundation and they give you a voice. People who grow loc’s are making a statement about who they are….

What made you decide to loc your hair? Have you always had hair or did you start your loc’s from “scratch.”
My mother persuaded me to do it way back when.. Now she probably wishes I never had ‘em. I actually grew my hair 2 or 3 times before I finally started my locs. At first I didn’t even want to grow them, but I’m very happy that I did. Thanks Mom!

What makes a woman’s hair beautiful to you?
Where do I start!? The texture, the smell, the feel, the diversity, the effort they put in to it. Almost everything you can think of makes womens hair beautiful. I believe a woman’s hair says a lot about who she is, whether it’s natural or not.

Do you have any advice for my readers who are considering loc’ing their hair?
Before you begin, be aware of what you want out of your hair after it’s loc’d. Understand the effort it takes to maintain them and please if you choose to loc your hair, be prepared to represent the rest of loc nation well!

Where can we find you on the web?
I’m not difficult to find at all. Follow me on Twitter @LocksNtees. E-mial me at [email protected]. Please feel free to ask me any questions regarding locs or life in general lol.

Thank you Alex, for giving me this opportunity!

Tuesday, March 8, 2025

Beauty Product Review: Physicians Formula Happy Booster Blush


Product Description (from website): 
  • Ultra-soft and blendable blushing powder features a fresh and vibrant mix of blushing tones infused with a pop of color to create a healthy glow.
  • Multi-reflective pearls provide a soft iridescence to highlight contour and add radiance to cheeks.
  • Infused with our Happy Boost Blend, featuring Happy Skin and Euphoryl, natural plant extracts which have been shown to promote a feeling of happiness by mimicking the effect of Endorphins and helping protect the skin from environmental stress.
  • The sweet scent of Violet provides a feeling of joy each time you apply.
How to use:
Using a soft powder brush, sweep over entire palette to evenly blend colors. Tap excess powder from brush before applying. Brush over cheeks to define and contour or apply right below cheekbones for a more defined dramatic look.

My Thoughts:
I love this blush. I read about it online over the weekend and I had to have it. I actually purchased it in every color it came in (rose, bronze, translucent), excessive? Yea, kinda. I have a thing for pink, shimmer, hearts, blush and bronzer, so I am sure you can imagine the euphoric moment I had once I saw a product like this one. What I like about the blush overall is that it looks GREAT on brown skin tones not cheesy or overpowering. The company claims it's a mood boosting blush, I am not sure about all that but I do know that just LOOKING at the packaging made me tingle inside, so super cute! I also like that it is MIDLY scented, that's something different , for me at least. The price for this blush will run you close to $12.00 and it is sold at CVS, Walgreens and Ulta. I would recommend you pick up a case to try. I wish I would've seen these on Valentine's Day, they would have made the PERFECT gift for my girlfriends.  Overall, this blush gets two thumbs up from me. 

Good Link: 3/7/11


This week's good link is...
Click Here
Enjoy!

**Please leave your comments about the link below**

Captured Curls: GG

Hey Ladies! I came across this beautiful woman and her gorgeous head FULL of curls on Twitter the other day. Of course I had to ask if she was interested in being featured and she said YES! Her hair story is great, read it below. 


Tell me about YOU
 
I'm a working mother of three, an aspiring writer and a natural hair enthusiast.  I decided to stop relaxing my hair at a time when I was sad and confused and desperately wanting to reconnect with the basics of who I am. The journey of transitioning brought me a new level self-awareness and confidence, and I see it as a definitive turning point in my life.
 
Tell me your hair care regimen (do you use heat, natural products, ect...)
 
Since I have three kids, I try to keep my regimen as simple as possible!  My goal is to reach waist length in 2011, so I've been doing protective styling about 90% of the time since September 2010.  Currently, when stretched my hair is about an inch past BSL.  Typically, I shampoo my hair once or twice a month (as needed).  Everytime I wash, I either pre-poo, deep condition with heat, and/or oil rinse.  I've just started using henna and plan to do treatments once a month or atleast every other month as my schedule allows.  Lately, I've been bunning most of the time, so after washing/conditioning, etc. I'll braid or twist my hair and let it set over night.  In the morning, I'll take it down and put it in a bun. No finger combing and very little manipulation.  Alternatively, after washing/conditioning, I'll stretch it by banding or blowdrying and then wear rock a bun for days and days.  I'm beginning to loooove buns and I try to make them as big and bodacious as possible!
 


Tell me your texture and what works best on your hair type
 
Others have told me that my hair is 3C/4A, but I don't know for sure.  I can tell you that some parts are curly, others are wavy and others don't have much definition at all.  My strands are rather fine, but I have a lot of hair in terms of volume.  My porosity is low (just learned that!) so at times it seems that I can't moisturize my hair enough EVER, but other times it seems that one heavy handed move just completely oversaturates my hair and makes it greasy.  I get single strand knots very easily, so I have to keep wash and goes and even my beloved twist outs at a minimum. If I didn't have a hair length goal, I wouldn't mind so much about the knots.  For now, protective styles and stretched braid outs work the best to help me retain length.
 
Tell me the reaction you got when first going natural
 
My natural hair got a warm reception amongst my friends and family.  Most of them felt that I never really "needed" a perm anyway.  I did get a few weird comments at work on days when my hair was particularly big.  I also had a lady with bad micros and bald spots in her hair at Target tell me that I needed to go comb my hair O_O!  The best part though (aside from me being happy with it of course) is that my daughter loves it.  That means so much to me because I want her to love her natural hair too and know that it's part of what makes her unique and beautiful.
 

Did you BC or transition, if so when or for how long?
 
I transitioned for three years.  I think at the beginning, I wasn't so sure that this thing would work out.  I even kept a kiddie perm in my closet for a long time as a security blanket.  After a year, I finally threw it away and realized that I could stop fighting it because I'd fallen in love with my new growth.  I remember looking at it in the mirror and feeling like I just couldn't wait for it to all be natural.
 
What makes you love your kinks, curls and coils?
 
When I was a little girl, I LOVED big hair. I was a late 70's baby and was always drawn to the freedom and wild abandon of big hair. I remember watching Diana Ross and Donna Summer concerts on TV with my mom and begging her to make my hair look like theirs. As I got older, I tried to fit in with the flatter, more frozen styles of the 80's and 90's but my hair never truly conformed.  Even when my hair was relaxed, it would get fuzzy and poofy very easily.  It was like a wild animal that had been tamed, but was easily triggered to revert back to its natural ways.   I think that my love of big hair has to do with some part of me recognizing it as a way to let who I am come out. I'm free spirited, open-minded, sensitive, rebellious, contradictory and goofy - like my hair. It was only a matter of time before I stopped trying to tame myself and learned to embrace these qualities on the inside and eventually on the outside.  So, I love my kinks, curls and coils because they symbolize the complexity of who I am as a woman.
Where can we find you on the web?
 
I have a personal blog and a blog that I co-author with my best friend:    
 
www.thewritecurldiary.com
www.twitter.com/thewritecurl
 
www.peaceloveandprettythings.com
www.twitter.com/peacelovepretty
 

 Anything EXTRA you want us to know?

Anything worth doing requires patience and mindfulness. This is true whether you're talking about hair or life.  We live in an impatient world and we are programmed by our environment to expect immediate gratification. Life itself is an experiment in faith and patience. The true gift is not the result but the journey of discovery.


Monday, March 7, 2025

Captured Curls: Rachel owner of Original Moxie


Do you ladies remember the Original Moxie products I RAVED about a while back? Well, I had the pleasure to interview Rachel, the owner of the line. I am very excited about sharing this post with you all and I hope you enjoy! 
Read Rachel's hair and business story below.



1. Rachel, please tell us a little bit about you and your awesome hair care line, Original Moxie.
Original Moxie is a full line of natural hair care products for all hair types - from straight and fine to kinky and thick.  As you noted in your YT review, the entire line is chock full of potent botanicals, herbs, and butters - when you use our products, we want it to feel like a trip to the spa for you and your hair.  There's a lot that makes our products stand out from the pack, but I attribute the superior quality and effectiveness to our unique product development process, which begins and ends with real people - not salons and supermodels.
 3. Do you have a current hair regimen  that you stick to and do you use your own products?
(do you use heat, natural products, ect...)
I use only Original Moxie on my hair and haven't used heat styling for a very looong time - years, probably.  Mostly because it dried out my hair, but also because it took so much time!  (I have a LOT of hair).  I wash once a week with Get Clean!TM, my no-foam shampoo, and do some sort of leave-in conditioner and oil treatment every day.  Lately, with the growth of my business, I am all about quick, low-maintenance styles that still look professional.  I'm very excited about the 'Moxie Steam Set TM' method, which we will be debuting on YT in a week or so.  It's basically a way to pre-treat your hair before you shower, let the products and the moisture do the heavy lifting, and then just set it with a little product.  Very quick, very easy, and my curls always look hydrated and frizz-free.  When I have a little extra time, I finger twist my hair, with Shape Shifter TM Re-forming Creme,  and let it air dry The Shape Shifter TM stretches out my curls and gives me more length along with excellent curl definition and hold.  


4. How would you classify your hair (type wise)? What products work best to manage and maintain your curls?
Using the Original Moxie 3-D System TM, I have Thick/Fine, Dry, Very Curly hair.  It would correspond to a 3-C with the Andre Walker system.  Because my hair is naturally on the dry side, I find I always need a combination of an oil-based product (like Hair BlingTM or EmollienceTM) and a creme or gel (like Shape ShifterTM or Lux LocksTM) in order to look my best.  The cream or gel provides hydration and moisture, while the oil prevents product build-up and adds shine.  
5. How long have you been a curly girl? Did you BC or transition? Either way, tell us a little about your hair journey thus far.
I have been a curly girl since I read Lorraine Massey's book 'Curly Girl' in about 2007.  That book changed my life and inspired me to start my own hair care line!  I transitioned slowly, rather than with a 'big chop'.  I had mostly been using a very mild relaxer to texturize my hair, so there wasn't a huge difference at first between the new growth and the relaxed ends.  It has been a very long journey for me, since I began hating my hair at the tender age of 5.  I grew up in a very 'preppy', conservative town and wanted to look just like  all my friends, who had bone straight, feathered hair.   Highschool and college were hard too, since all the boys seemed to prefer girls with hair that was silky and straight.  People asked all the time if I brushed my hair (yes - dangit!), why I didn't just relax it, etc.  Finally I did relax my hair and found that I got many more complements with the straight look than with my natural curls.  It wasn't until I started grad school at a historically black university in Baltimore (Morgan State) and was surrounded by amazingly gorgeous, sexy, confident women with naturally curly hair that I realized that my natural curls could actually be an asset.   So that was my big 'Aha' moment, but it still took me many years before I was ready to say goodbye to the creamy crack and truly embrace the real me.
6. What makes you love your kinks, curls and coils?
It helps that my husband appreciates my hair - the bigger and wilder the better, as far as he is concerned!  But I also love that my hair sets me apart from the crowd and shows of my personal style.    Even when I don't feel spunky, my hair does!  Most of all, I love that my hair connects me to other women (and men) of many different ethnicities.  We are all sisters in a very real way.  If I had been born with straight hair, I would have missed out on so much and never would have started this company!  
8. Where can we find you and your product line on the web  (or stores)?
Original Moxie products are available on our website, originalmoxie.com, and at salons and high end markets in Southeast Michigan, where our company is based.  We're slowly expanding to salons in other parts of the U.S., and hope to have some 'anchor' salons in large metropolitan areas like Atlanta, New York and L.A. within a year.  
9. What advice do you have for women who want to venture out and start their own businesses?
Believe in your product and in yourself, work hard and pay attention to the details.  Owning your own business may look glamorous, but the truth is that you  have to do everything, from making the product, to cleaning the floors when you first start out.    You'll have days (and nights) when you think 'why am I doing this?'. But just sticking with it day after day is half the battle.  


Guest Blogger Topic: Natural Hair and Dating

Natural Hair and Dating
By TwistedMarie
My natural hair story started about three years ago when I had suffered a bad salon experience and wanted to see how long I could go without a relaxer. While transitioning I met a guy and, we had been dating for about a year and a half when I mentioned to him casually in conversation one day that I was fed up with these two textures and planned to cut my hair the following weekend. He looked me square in the eye and said “I think your hair is fine the way it is, and I don’t know how I would like it if it wasn’t straight!” Instantly I felt taken back and laughed said “ok umm sure and brushed off the comment.” That following weekend without any hesitation I BC’ed and everybody around me loved it, he had been out of town that weekend so when we met to go to the movies I thought nothing of it. His face was in shock when he noticed that I had cut my hair and the first thing out of his mouth was “why did you do that to your hair? I knew I wouldn’t like it like that.” I had enjoyed the compliments I had gotten on my hair and the ease of styling since my BC so with the biggest smile on my face I said “the hair is gone, I love my curls. Why are you letting hair define us?” Right in front of the theater I decided to choose my natural hair over him!
This was a starting point for me in my natural journey, I had always thought that the way I wore my hair was simply my choice. Natural hair is a lifestyle for me and I feel like dating should not affect how I rock my curls, my choice of hair style should not cause conflict but if it does my hair wins! Fast forward two years later I am still enjoying my curls, this bad experience has only made me love my curls more. Have any of you ladies experienced a similar situation? How did you choose to handle it?