One of my frequent blog reads issued a first in a series of book gift ideas geared specifically for Ladies the other day, and honestly all I could think was…do I really need another book to read?  Another mound of ‘to read’ books stacked up in two corners of a room collecting dust until the dog days of Summer come around?

Ehhh…I guess I’d rather not answer my own question. Instead here’s my own lil book wish list for the Holiday;-). Tokens of eye bliss that have either been on my radar since their hardcover release last year or just as recently as this past Summer.

Letter to My Daughter

The intro to Maya’s latest book reads:

“I gave birth to one child, a son, but I have thousands of daughters. You are Black and White, Jewish and Muslim, Asian and Spanish-speaking, Native American and Aleut. You are fat and thin and pretty and plain, gay and straight, educated and unlettered, and I am speaking to you all. Here is my offering to you”

Initially skipped on a purchase of the hardcover last year, yet secretly gaming myself to snag the new Paperback just released over the past few weeks. The book itself is less than 200 pages, a quick, inspirational read, and a great addition to the Angelou collection of prose. ($15)

Feminista

Some moons & several publishing years ago, I was an adamant book-whore for anything tackled with the fetching tag of ‘chick-lit.’ I devoured countless paperbacks with titles ending in ‘-aholic’, and gravitated towards any heroine that resembled the life I dreamt and craved for, the ‘it girl,’ working at a fabulous magazine CO. in NYC a la Betty Suarez. It’s a fair enough sin to admit to now that the genre is flopping on it’s belly, and the current job pays all most current bills just fine. It was on my lunch break back in September, while surfing through Amazon’s ‘Look Inside’ Feature that I read the first few chapters of a new kind of ‘lit’ that was more fierce than I’d remembered, but most importantly FUN.  I instantly cracked up at  the ‘friend in my head’ feeling that settled in after reading some of  the main character, Sydney’s sarcastic wit in Feminista by Erica Kennedy.  Not many intro chapters change my frugal option to wait for the Paperback to drop, but ‘friend in my head’ sarcastic banter is more than welcomed these days.($24.99)

Posing Beauty

I caught a glimpse of Deborah Willis’ newest work, Posing Beauty with a quick stop into a new local Bookstore in my neighborhood & mentally kicked myself for not being privy to it’s release earlier.  Below is an excerpt from Publisher’s Weekly:

Willis (Reflections in Black), a MacArthur fellow and chair of New York University’s photography department, curates a collection of iconic portraits and snapshots by anonymous photographers in a history of beauty that merges gender, race, family, class. Willis’s words, a distillation of her inquiries into beauty and race, are few—the images speak for themselves. The photographs, organized thematically, reach back to the 1890s and forward to the current first family. Famous photographers share perspective with family photographers and those known only as Unidentified Photographer. The recognizably famous—James Baldwin, Marian Anderson, Joe Louis—appear along with those known only as Mom and Friend, Two women holding magazine, ca. 1950s or Barber cutting man’s hair outdoors, ca. 1930s. Willis’s content is groundbreaking; rarely, for example, are men this adequately represented in a work devoted to beauty within black culture. For Willis, this extraordinary compilation is the culmination of my exploration of beauty within black culture and through the medium of photography. For readers, this is a dazzling eye-opener.

A MUST get if you’re a fan of her previous work and remarkably beautiful snapshots. ($49.95)

Who Shot Rock & Roll

This one’s just for fun but could easily make an amazing coffee table/conversation starter.  Who Shot Rock & Roll really just exudes a creative force of energy capturing the essence of those behind the lens  as opposed to the characters posing in front. As a collective, the images of Jimi Hendrix, John Lennon, Bob Dylan, Tina Turner plus many more is enough to force me into marking this as an early investment.

From now to January 31st you can also catch the exhibition showcasing photographs from the book at The Brooklyn Museum in New York. Below is taken from the website:

The exhibition is in six sections: rare and revealing images taken behind the scenes; tender snapshots of young musicians at the beginnings of their careers; exhilarating photographs of live performances that display the energy, passion, style, and sex appeal of the band on stage; powerful images of the crowds and fans that are often evocative of historic paintings; portraits revealing the soul and creativity, rather than the surface and celebrity, of the musicians; and conceptual images and album covers highlighting the collaborative efforts between the image makers and the musicians. ($40)

Thank God I'm Natural

This one’s for keeps.  Thank God I’m Natural is a companion to those thinking of going natural, many who are already in the pits of being natural, or even those who were a little underwhelmed by Chris Rock’s attempt at delving into Good Hair ( I KNOW! My review is lost in the winds…somewhere.)

The holidays are right around the corner and Thank God I’m Natural would make the perfect Xmas gift for that special woman in your life. Surprise mom, your daughter, or your best friend with an autographed copy of the book with a personalized inscription that reads “Dear XXX, Always stay natural. You’re beautiful just the way you are.” As black women, it is not often that we’re told we’re beautiful as we are, which is why this is such a unique present. The book is available online by http://thankgodimnatural.wordpress.com/store and Thank God I’m Natural is offering free shipping on all purchases from now until Christmas, excluding international orders.

I’ve got more wish lists to share in the coming days.  Really just trying to get into the spirit of the Holidays;-)!

Wavy Ruffle Shirtdress

Today’s my last day here in the Sunny State but I finally sneaked away to do a bit of shopping!  Still some amazing deals out there in the stores & online, so with the Holiday season pressing down even harder this year, I decided to invest a bit early in ‘the dress.’ You know ‘the dress’…the go to number made to impress all eyes during these festive days of the year.  But to be honest, I’m hardly ever the girly girl in the freak’em dress with high inched heels.  Comfort is a born necessity of mine, and it’s usually found with shoes closer to the ground & a cute skirt and top. But alas, when a girl sees a sale, and the weather outside is a balmy 82 degrees, something else tends to take over.  With my Mum in toe, we both tried on dresses at The Limited, where the sales in store will really make your head spin! I snagged this cutie pie purple number, and as soon as I tried it on, I KNEW! Why? The cutie comes with pockets!! Okay…along with the necessity of comfort to bring smiles to my face…functionality! I’m a huge fan, always have been, and the fact that the designers clearly had ladies like me in mind made me an instant fan. The pic really doesn’t do it justice…in reality the purple is a tad softer and the silhouette is killer!!  With a price tag less than 60 bucks…C’mon!

Combo Fabric Shirtdress

My Mum picked up this nice piece on the first try as well, and petite as she comes, it looked stunning! Small bits of happiness can sometimes start with finding the right dress, and I’m happy I can wipe my hands of the search until it’s time to hit up the holiday parties. To compliment the purple # I secretly snuck in a cute jewelry piece to match. Nothing more, nothing less, and I’m already set;-)!

Leaving Florida with a snazzy dress, good memories and an uber relaxed state of mind, yeah! Earlier today came across this super BEAUTIFUL video full of a bevy of well known ladies in the music biz. The artist is Shafiq Husayn, with ‘Lil Girl’ featuring Fatima. This vid just makes you happy on all levels;-)

via Tony Straw

Vacation days are coming to a close in a few days, and although I’m reluctant to admit it…I do miss NYC.  The weather here in FL. has been pleasant, plenty of soft sunny days to make a girl smile, and just the right amount of rainy days to force you under the covers to catch up on some old reading. I’ve caught up long lost sleep, languished in the loveliness that was Thanksgiving with family, celebrated a birthday bringing me one step closer to the big 3-0, and survived another round of Kinky Curly Curling Custard.

Survived, not yet mastered what for some is a random trial and error, and at this point with the second go round under my belt…I’m ready to just throw in the towel. For the most part application was easy. I washed/DC’d and applied the product to hair. Early instincts were relatively good. I had great definition, minimal to zero frizz and my hair was dramatically elongated.

All great factors in a good product. Now, if only all those factors would’ve taken my hand and followed me over to ‘dryland’. After the KCCC became fully dried, a full day and a half later…I had definition, but a bit less than after initial application.  Significant frizz popped up in hidden areas throughout my head…particularly the back.  Shrinkage, never really something I concern myself with….yet somehow, I slowly became unnerved as the days let on, and my hair shrunk…and shrunk some more when humidity wanted to play nice at high noon.

So, I’m done. And it’s not because of what I’ve just explained, it’s largely due to an unexpected irritation that popped up along my hairline a few days after using the KCCC. Painful irritations that had me looking in the mirror…asking myself if it was really worth it.

It was not.

I say all that to say…while I still like the product, it doesn’t fit well at all into my routine. My current gripe really, is not being able to commit the time to find a good balance when using the KCCC & also realizing my scalp issues really do dictate and control all hair related decisions.  Granted, as fast as these flareups pop up, they just as quickly calm down and disappear. Yet, trade-offs are not my thing when a product cost $25 bucks.

As much as I love dressing my hair in different products and conditioners each week, realistically I care more about hair health than the prospects of achieving any kind of ‘look.’ So Friday  found me up & early lightly washing the KCCC out of my hair, conditioning for a few with Herbal Essences Hello Hydration then twisting in medium/large twists with Afroveda’s Shea-Amla Buttercreme under a bit of KBB hair milk. The twists were left in until this morning, unraveled and made to breathe in the Florida air.

I’m a Product Junkie, yes. Again, I love trying out the latest goop to hit the market just like the next girl who has her eye on the new HOBO bag for the new season. If you work hard, play hard, your hair in my opinion is a natural reflection of that. But first and foremost…I’m a realist. If it’s not ‘working’ move on.

*With that, I hope everyone’s Holiday was Blessed, and the prospects of an impending New Year are looking sweet;-)!

Y’all….STILL watching Food Network! I can’t…I mean, I LOVE food, and pre-Thanksgiving specials make me sooo very happy.  The holiday itself is such a treat, being surrounded by family and all the best foods you’ve long craved for throughout the year. I’ve already settled on a few side dishes to contribute to the grand affair…(Pumpkin Swirl Brownies, Roasted Sweet Potatoes w/Honey Butter, & The Ultimate Potato Gratin).  My Mum is the queen of the kitchen as far as the main dishes go, but it’s still nice to contribute something that will hopefully have everyone’s mouth watering.

I’ve got all my ingredients ready to go, but in the meantime it’s time to dish about all the great sales on the horizon!! Time to un-pinch a few pennies and treat yourself to some great deals. Curl Junkie’s having a one day sale this Friday, Nov. 27th with up to 50% off select items online.  In addition, receive 10% off orders of $50 or more… & welcome into the Curl Junkie family 5 all new products!! Snippets about each new reveal below:

Here’s the scoop…the new products are:

Beauticurls Daily Conditioner - an lightweight instant conditioner/detangler that is perfect for everyday use for all hair types.

Beauticurls Leave-in Conditioner - The companion to the daily conditioner, this is an emollient rich, yet lightweight, detangling, and glycerin-free leave-in.

Curl Assurance Smoothing Conditioner - Got Frizz? This is the conditioner for you. It is perfect for giving you daily moisture with just the right amount of frizz control. This will come in a 12 oz. size!

Curl Fix – Intense Hair Treatment - This is a wonderfully restoring deep treatment that is rich in proteins and amino acids to help your damaged/dry tresses. This is a well balanced treatment that does not leave your hair hard or dry. It can also be used in place of a leave-in as an all-day hair treatment. Wonderful for fine-haired curls as well!

Curls in a Bottle – Curl Styling Solution – This product is all you need to get your curls looking right. Perfect for all hair types especially fine hair, this hair styling liquid gel has a flexible, not hard, hold and due to it’s lightweight conditioners, it won’t dry out your hair. Works well with leave-ins and other styling products and adds great shine and bounce to curls! This also comes in a 12 oz. size!

Stop by Curl Junkie Friday, Nov. 27th for more details on each new product along with coupon codes.

Brown Butter Beauty’s having a 25% off one day sale this Friday, Nov, 27th.  Her Etsy store features Bath & Body goodies (handmade soaps, facial moisturizers, body splashes, body butters), and hair products.  My favorite so far is the Healthy Scalp Serum w/Babassu Oil, Acai Oil Rosehip Oil Rosemary & Monoi de Tahiti Oil.

Afroveda!! Sale!! Starts this Friday and ends Nov. 29th with discounts of up to 25% off. Nuff said.

The Miss Jessie’s yearly BOGO starts this Friday and ends December 31st.  If you’re near a Miss Jessie’s distributor, best bet is to stop in and stock up.  BOGO’s are traditionally honored in store as well.  A lot of ladies look forward to this deal all year, stock up and save on the worries of shelling out $58 for a jar of Curly Buttercreme.  BOGO does apply to anything of equal or lesser value, so depending on whether you’re a newbie to the line, trying the small 2 oz sizes might work, or if you’re a veteran opt of the 16 oz.

Another favorite, Darcy’s Botanicals is having a 25% off sale this Friday. Both the Etsy and regular site are temporarily out of stock to gear up for the sale, but Lysandra is also set to introduce a few new goodies to the collection!

Hairveda is also in on the fun! Details can be found here, but sources tell me all favorites and staples will be reduced (Vatika Frosting…).

Our Hair Care Aficionado over at Clutch Mag. Laquita is hosting a pretty awesome giveaway on her own blog All Naptural in conjunction with Shelley of  Naturi Beauty Blog. Both are offering goodies from both their lines, poo bars and hair moistruizers…two absolute essentials for the winter weather.   Click here to learn more about Shelly’s line of moisturizers, and here to stock up on Laquita’s poo bars. I’ve already entered both giveaways…because really why not! The Naturi Quench & Naturi Curli moisturizers really does look perfect for twists!

Alright, these were just a few, please drop me a line in the comment section or by e-mail if you’ve heard any other deals (backtocurly@gmail.com). Right now, I’m off to buy a mixer for my dessert treats tomorrow (my Mum still prefers wooden spoons to mix…Whaaaaaa!!), a Target run is definitely in order;-)

Would you believe me if I reported:

1. I Applied Kinky Curly Curling Custard yesterday afternoon
2. It is now 24 hrs later and my hair is still damp

If you’ve used this product before, we are practically holding hands right about now, am I right?! Well….okay, maybe not.  But honestly I expected no less when I packed up ‘ol KCCC Saturday morning, in hopes of giving it another try in the more forgiving temps promised by Florida weather.

I ended up Pre-pooing Monday afternoon with Herbal Essences Hello Hydration, twisted in sections then followed up with a decent scalp lather using Naked Naturals Shea Smoothing Shampoo.  DC’d this week with KBB’s Deep Conditioner for two hours, cold rinsed than ran through the motions…

…Tip # 1. If you’re planning on using KCCC without a leave-in, you’re already on the wrong track.

…Tip #2. If you’re thinking of using an alternative leave-in to the Kinky Curly Knot Today…you’ve made a wrong turn

…Tip # 3. Patience will not only be your friend, you should also make nice with it’s cousins, ‘Trial & Error.’

I applied the KCKT under the Custard in small sections starting from the back, working my way forward…a complete reverse of how I applied it close to a year ago which was in heaps and globs.  Yes, it has a gel-like consistency, but forewarning…it is anything BUT a traditional gel.  If applied on hair that is not sufficiently wet (practically soaking), the results may leave a visible white residue once dry & or a sticky feeling.  Not a good look.

…Tip #4. If you’re no fan of clarifying your hair, making an exception here might bode well for stellar results.  Applying KCCC to hair loaded with product buildup is an immediate recipe for disaster.  I’d recommend using a non-sulfate poo, or ACV rinse to break up residual buildup from previous product use.

A lot of the times when rinsing out my DC, I don’t have a problem leaving just a small amount, it honestly helps to detangle and my leave-in of choice goes on much smoother, I had to nix on this by thoroughly rinsing the DC before making any strides towards styling. A clean slate of hair will save ample amount of time once hair is ready to dry.

Application took all of 45 minutes, and the Custard did leave my hair elongated and seemingly shiny and frizz free.  The stipulations of these are of course based on time.  24 hours after applying, my hair has experienced shrinkage that even surprised my own MUM, and while there is minimal frizz, the few sections that show signs are where I might’ve neglected to apply the product evenly (*having a water bottle handy sooo helpful! Hair really does need to be WET before applying the leave-in, followed by Custard).

The pic to the left shows a dramatic difference in how my hair initially looked right after application, again…shrinkage.  Something that I don’t mind in the least, yet shrinkage with the Custard leaves the curls a bit stagnant in one place.  I’ve been shaking, trying to free up the fro since this morning, and have little give.  The back portion of the hair is still damp in spots, and at this point I honestly do not care…fudge the frizz.

My biggest concern right now is making the style prolong until…jeesh, I’d say until Thanksgiving and I’ll be more than satisfied.  Tonight I’ll tie it down…or up in two ponies…spread a bit of KBB hair cream to soften up some hardened areas & also to increase the shine for the next morning.  Not really used to my hair looking curly without the benefit of sheen.

Most tips mentioned here & more can be found at Kinky-Curly.com There you’ll also find a product demovid using the Custard.  But in all honesty some of the best results ( I consider my 2nd go still a ‘Trial & Error’), head over to Youtube and peruse your search for Kinky Curly application vids.  TONS to choose & view.  My fav lately is from the already Fab Kimmaytube.  Her latest vid demonstrates the difference between the KCCC and the growing popularity of ECO styler gel, a less expensive alternative for many ladies. At $29.99 you’ll secure a hefty 16oz, while $17 will snag you the cool new 8oz jar.

It’s Monday & I’m watching pre-Thanksgiving specials on the Food Network, trying to decide on side dishes for the Holiday, while DC’ing my hair.  A late start to this week’s wash/style due to packing, traveling…complaining about how HOT it is in Florida…but my biggest gripe:

HARD WATER

Last year I learned a very valuable lesson while visiting the fam here in the Sunshine State. Hard Water is not my friend…nor my conditioner’s friend, or my Shampoo’s friend.  There’s an instant inability for any of my poos to work up a decent lather, my conditioner fails to adequately condition, rather leaving my strands feeling stripped…and any styler added leaves a vile case of the frizzies.

This year, after touching down and retrieving my luggage I essentially had one goal in mind: Find a water filter. I arrived in Florida early Sunday morning (1am ish), woke up close to 12 noon and made my rounds through the strip malls.  With my parents chastising me on the lengths I would actually go to in order to do my hair, I found a decent candidate at a Bed Bath & Beyond store.  At $47….Ehhh…Expensive, I know!

Swiftly moving on, & Monday morning patrolled a few internet sights, and found another possible candidate at a local Walgreens!! Lucky me, there seems to be a Walgreens every other block in Southern Florida, so didn’t have to travel far. Came away with a filter attachment for the faucet, NOT the shower…more pocket friendly this route.

I’m also thinking…why not try KCCC!? Random, but I’ve got ample time to kill, and I’m going to need it while it dries on my head. This won’t be the first time using the KCCC, but this will be my first time using it post-heat damage.  I’ll update with results & pics, and Process details after all this is done;-)

Corinne Bailey Rae

Aside from the infamous gorgeous head of hair, Lady Bailey always seems to exude a remarkably beautiful spirit.  I bought her first album back in 2007 after seeing the breathtaking video for  “Put Your Records On,” instantly fell in love! Her new album ‘The Sea’ drops in early 2010 (my ears tell me early February!). You can watch some of that spirit captured in the video below.

Back to the tried and true this week. I was admittedly happier than usual because of the new cut, anxious to see how it’d turn out once all was washed/styled & done. Re-introduced back into my routine, courtesy of freshly trimmed ends, was my Denman brush! Detangling hasn’t really been too much of a bother using other tools in the interim, although it was at times a bit tedious, taking care not to rip the knots out of my hair which soon formed at the ends. No more snip snipping for a while though…here’s hoping!

Nothing fancy this week—>prepoo’d with Vo5’s Moisture Milks condish, applied Naked Naturals Shea Butter & Avocado Smoothing Shampoo, DC’d to finish off JessiCurl’s Weekly Deep Conditioner. I did manage a good three servings from the jar (which I believe is 8oz). Granted, I’m one of the heavy handed conditioner appliers.  Frankly, my hair does better when applying a good coating of condish, particularly if it’s on the thicker side. With a thinner condish…(thinner for me would be Oyin’s Honey Hemp) it’s much easier to use more sparingly. When using AOHR, the end result is a white coating well throughout my hair…the same went for the Jessicurl. Made sure to apply a good coating throughout the hair, twisted to about 15 or so twists. DC’d for two hours this week (an hr. of that was under a heating cap).

After cold rinsing, dug up the remainder of my lasting KCKT and Donna Marie’s Lock & Load Twist Pudding.

*edit- Honestly, skeptical about using the Donna Marie’s Pudding this week. Whaaaa!! Purchased during the last haul a couple wks back, and realized a few things: the color was different, smell changed & the consistency was not as I remembered.  Skeptical…and curious because my enduring love for this product was in jeopardy.  Read about the lurv here. Here goes—>

Applied KCKT under the Lock & Twist Pudding, air dried and topped off with KBB’s Hair Cream for added shine and to seal ends.  Change of nightime routine! Before donning the satin bonnet, placed a conditioning cap over the dry twists to seal in moisture overnight.  Been doing this for the past month or so and have noticed  a HUGE differnce in how the hair retains moisture. It’s a baggying of sorts, but less so because I do not apply a leave-in or spritz. My goal is to help retain the moisture already in the hair, hopefully to last until mid-week before it’s time to remoisturize. After, donned the satin bonnet as usual, woke up the next morning and fluffed out the twists.

Thankfully, results from the *new Pudding produced no noticeable difference from the last batch tried several months ago.  A bit of frizz from over manipulating first day hair, but other than my own over anxious fingers, hair was singing all the way to work! My ends are looking better than they’ve been for some time, and the layers from last week’s cut are letting the undone twists fall better into place.  This coming week will be a return to protective styling.  Visiting the folks for the holidays, and I’m a no fuss gal whenever I visit the fam…a.k.a, I sit on the sofa and watch Food Network all day;-)!

So I’m starting to think my new cut is bringing about some sweet luck!  The lovely CallaLily of BreaKINK New Ground nominated Back To Curly for the Kreativ Blogger Award!

#1. I NEVER win anything

#2. I’m so thankful & flattered, thanks girl!

#3. I have to pass this sweet award to 7 other fab blogs, but if you’re  a regular reader…you might know I suffer from slight agita over picking randomness relative to just about anything! So…off the top of my head here are just a few lovely blogs run by some inspiring groups of ladies;-)!

Leave In The Kinks

MAKEUP FIEND

The Soap Seduction

Naturally Obsessed

Black Girls Run

Stay Blessed Everyone;-)

*update, so silly! Forgot to mention…rules to accepting are:

Copy and paste award onto your blog/post, nominate 7 other Fab kreativ blogs and do make sure they hear the news by stopping by their blog;-)

So yesterday was finally the day to reassess the situation.  It’d been weeks since I started rambling and complaining about my ends needing to be trimmed.  Just last week I wrestled with so many snarls and knots, I was forced to reach for a pair of scissors, turn a blind eye and snip! It really did feel like the worst kind of defeat, knowing the state of my hair was of my own doing. Shame.on.Me.

Thankfully, with the help of a good friend and a pair of sheers I was able to claim some hair sanity by shedding several inches of damaged colored/fried ends. This had been my dirty little secret for some time…my nicely camouflaged damaged ends.  Each week I’d treat them to EXTRA TLC by sealing and twisting until all was smooth and tucked away.  But with winter, there really is no fooling the harsh winds and the inevitable hat hair, so…what started out as a ‘trim’ transformed into a surprisingly nice hair cut! Ends are now smooth, and the ‘cut’ is layered and happily asymmetrical;-)!

After the cut, the hair was styled with a bit of Afroveda Shea-Amla Whipped Creme and I went about my way.  The twists were medium sized & this morning were undone to rock a short twist out.  NYC’s Indian Summer weather over the past few has been the best blessing in terms of retaining moisture, perfect to let the hair loose for this week without the worry of re-moisturizing each night.

Turns out I’m secretly excited to be sporting a bit of a shorter do.  I lost some length but gained hair health, and the trade off is beyond worth it. My heat damaged fiasco is a mere figment of my imagination these days, and even though I’m still growing out the rest of my hair color from over a year ago, I’m happy to be experiencing a change in my hair routine.  It’d been a while since I did anything beyond washing/conditioning/styling in twists and the week to week Process was resembling a farce. I didn’t want to color my hair, not yet interested in committing to the idea of kinky twists, henna etc., and in my case the happy medium was attained  two-fold by getting rid of the damaged ends & shaping up.

Below are before and afters. The first pic is of last week’s twistout, and the second is my new cut!

Next week I style my new bouffant, and my PJ hands cannot wait!