Boom Shot

These tees may have been from the Fall/Winter 2011 Collection of Violette but they are items that can be worn all year round.
Violette is a clothing brand by Vashtie - island gyal who hails from Trinidad, holding it down in NYC who does it all.  Blogger, Director, Model.. Girl got it going on.

I love them! Not the price tag (starting at $40) for simple printed tees but I love them because well, they showcase my culture.
My faves are the Ting, Champion, Jamaica flag tee and Bandolero.
For the ladies you can style these tees easily with a pair of denim cutoffs and an eye catching pair of heels.
For the men, chinos or jeans rolled up by the ankle with a pair of loafers or boat shoes and a pair of flattering shades.
If these catch your fancy, you can buy them at Karmaloop.

Poetry in Motion

I saw this on Warsan Shire's tumblr and I had to post here.

I love her poetry and my fave is "For Women Who Are Difficult To Love" because I can relate to it so so much.

A woman by the name of Christine Mehr made a short film to the aforementioned poem and that is what I'm sharing with you today. Chick in the film is rocking some dope natural hair so kudos even more.

Here is the poem and here is the film

Enjoy =)

for women who are 'difficult' to love.

you are a horse running alone

and he tries to tame you

compares you to an impossible highway

to a burning house

says you are blinding him

that he could never leave you

forget you

want anything but you

you dizzy him, you are unbearable

every woman before or after you

is doused in your name

you fill his mouth

his teeth ache with memory of taste

his body just a long shadow seeking yours

but you are always too intense

frightening in the way you want him

unashamed and sacrificial 

he tells you that no man can live up to the one who 

lives in your head

and you tried to change didn't you?

closed your mouth more

tried to be softer

prettier

less volatile, less awake

but even when sleeping you could feel 

him travelling away from you in his dreams

so what did you want to do love

split his head open?

you can't make homes out of human beings

someone should have already told you that

and if he wants to leave

then let him leave

you are terrifying

and strange and beautiful

something not everyone knows how to love.

source

Warsan Shire - "For Women Who Are Difficult To Love" from MovingOn on Vimeo.

Happy Anniversary!

Its the anniversary of my BC!

Two years ago, I set out in the rain ( yes it was pouring, no lie) and I walked across the street from my university in FL to a Paul Mitchell Hair School to get my relaxed ends cut off.

I had enough of the two textures so bye bye bye! *cues generic boy band choreography*

Here's a pic from that day after the cut. I had hopped in the shower and did a co wash after I got back from the salon.

I had some ends that needed to still be trimmed. I got out of the salon real quick, no shape up :|

I was in utter shock so I needed to get it together and to help myself cope, I went to CVS and bought some products lol.

Tomorrow I'll post some more throwback pics in comparison to today in celebration of this momentous occasion.

My hair needs to be washed but I've been rocking a banging twist out so that's my excuse.

It's been two weeks since I last washed my hair :|

Blah blah.

Enough of the speeches, tis party time.

Crank ya speakers up and do a two step with me cuz its OUR (me & my hair) Anniversarryy!!

Daily Fix of Hair

Todays Fix is of Noémie  :)

She is also the most recent gal in MANE-ly Speaking so check her feature out!

I'm loving the twists in this photo.. really tempting me to go do some extensions. Just gotta find the time :|

Throwback Thursdays

The 90's is coming back in full effect. 

It started last year with the on set of the infamous "Poetic Justice" braids as seen on Solange 

& now the grunge look is in with Rihanna leading the way in that area.

I love the 90's. I grew up in that era and I love the fashion from there. I especially love the music so today's throwback encompasses the 90's very well.

QUEEN PATRA INNA DI BUILDING! 

or in this post... whichever :)

Patra rocked the mess out of the braids (and she still is) while whining up her body in jean cut off shorts.

Sharing the classic hit "Romantic Call" featuring YoYo. 

Make you find some inspiration in this for your Spring/Summer lifestyle.

Enjoy =)

MANE-ly Speaking

Who are you? Where are you from?

Bonjour!! My name is Noémie, I'm 19 and I'm from Paris. Music is what makes me alive. I am studying engineering in order to work in aviation later :)

3 words you would use to describe yourself.

I am very sensitive, maybe too curious, definitely goofy.

Why did you go natural?

Technically ... Ive always been natural. And I used to have almost waist-length hair. When I was a child my mom (who is white) did the only thing she was able to do with my hair: braiding it ... Growing up I was tired of looking childish, but same dear mom always refused to give me a perm. At age 14 I found an alternative which is ... FLAT IRONING! Worst decision ever for my hair. For about two years i savagely straightened my mane everyday single day and was hit by ... SERIOUS HEAT DAMAGE :( my curls had COMPLETELY disappeared, and my wash and go's were looking like flat ironed hair after a rainy day (perhaps even worse than that). On a fabulous day 3 years ago, I was lookin at myself in the mirror and thought "how ridiculous..", grabbed the scissors and chopped it all off without saying to anyone. That was my best hair decision for sure :)

Was it difficult or easy to go natural?

In my case, considering being natural as not flat ironing anymore... It was not difficult to go natural for me. At first my West Indian dad went crazy when he saw I had chopped it all off, and boyfriend was really surprised BUT afterwards all of my friends and family thought it was best for me to rock my curly fro that was clearly ressembling who I really am on the inside.

4 words to describe your mane.

I would say it is light as a cloud, very versatile, kind of exotic, completely messy.

Tell us a little about your regimen.

My current regimen has to be very simple for timing reasons. Therefore I co-wash my hair only once (or sometimes twice) a week, and use a sulfate shampoo about once a month. I do love wearin my hair out and I found that wash and go was what was working best for me, so what I usually do is co-wash my hair with any Tressemme moisturizing conditioner, then apply my leave-in (I LOVE Cantu Shea Butter and Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie) and seal my ends with raw shea butter. For rainy days or sometimes fifth day hair I usually wear a high bun, or my top-afro puff that my friends are used to calling Noémie's Palm tree. I also deep condition with Hair Mayonnaise every 3 weeks. I refresh with my oil and water spritz in the morning.

What have you learned on your natural hair journey?

Ive learned that patience is the key!! I learned how to be gentle with my hair and to listen to it in order to achieve my shoulder length goal :) Im trying to stick to a regimen that seems to be working for me, and I've been seeing noticeable growth lately. Next step is bra-strap length! :D

Candidly speaking.. (anything else you would like to add)

Well... For sure it is only hair... And it is of everyone's choice to relax or keep it natural. But I wish I saw more fros hanging out in the streets! To me accepting your hair in its natural state is being thankful and loving what poppa and momma gave you. Ain't nothing wrong with that. We should not let anyone fool us about that. Gotta love ourselves!!

And thanks to gorgeous Cinni!!

My Main

Shampoo
I use Lush 's Soak N Float shampoo bar due to my eczema so this helps with the itching of my scalp & I also use Shea Moisture's Moisture Retention Shampoo.
I'll poo with a reg shampoo with sulfates, (right now Tresemme Moisture Shampoo) if I feel I have a bunch of build up.

I used to use Dr Bronner's Castile Soap for my shampoo.. when I can get my hands on a bottle, I will go back to it. Clarified without harsh sulfates and defined my curls.

Conditioner
-Giovanni 50:50 Hydrating-Calming Conditioner. Just incorporated this in my regimen in December. I use it to detangle and also to co-wash
-Tresemme Anti Breakage Conditioner - co wash

Deep conditioner - Shea Moisture Deep Treatment Masque or their Purification Masque.
-also use a reg conditioner (loved using Garnier Triple Nutrition as a base for my deep condish) then mix in olive oil, honey, shea butter an coconut oil.
-For a protein deep condish, I'll use coconut milk mixed with coconut oil.

Leave in - my staple is Cantu Conditioning Repair Cream. I'll use Shea Moisture Restorative Conditioner or their Curl & Style Milk depending on how i feel.

-always apply coconut oil after my leave in. usually seal with shea butter after that.

-I also use Shea moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie as whatever I feel like. Leave in/styler. Very nice to have around.

Daily Fix of Hair

Its Me again. No need for excitement guys. Lol I kid.

This is a Wash n Go. I made a video to go along with it but uhm... I don't like it :|
So I'll just have to type.

later in the night

I decided to try my hand at another WnG..
Co-washed with Giovanni 50:50 Hydrating-Calming Conditioner
Left it in for about 2 mins then rinsed out.

Used Tresemme Anti Breakage as a leave in. Wanted to try something new.
Here's the kicker.. I then applied Cantu Super Shine Hair Silk.
I've had the bottle for over a year.. used to use it when I was relaxed/transitioning but had no need for it while being natural. Decided to try it as a product to weigh my hair down and seal in the moisture.

It worked!

Best wash n go since I had a TWA. I don't do WnGs because my hair is layered and has multiple curl patterns so I usually end up with a square looking thing on my head. No Bueno.

Hair still shrunk up but it was the back part of my hair which always does that. The rest of my hair pretty much stayed at a decent length.