Archive for March, 2011
Twist-Out Afro
My hair has a mind of its own but I am determined to let it know who is boss. I decided, once again, to copy the cute twist-out styles I saw within the natural hair community in hopes to accomplish a similar look.
I knew my hair needed help to form any kind of pattern. Therefore, on freshly washed and conditioned hair, I used my favorite styling products to achieve a fluffy twist-out. It sort of didn’t work out the way I had planned. But I wasn’t upset with the results. I got a curly afro instead.
This is what I did.
After washing and conditioning I applied:
To each medium to small sized section of hair.
After twisting the pieces, I rolled up the twists using hair rods (This is why I had an afro). Check out the results.
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 3
At night I put on a bonnet and went to sleep. The next morning I lightly sprayed water on my hair, fluffed it with my fingers, and let it air dry. My tresses remained soft the entire three days.
Fifteen Question Tag Peron75
I was searching YouTube for a make-up application video, not a how-to-hair video but a how-to-make-up video, and stumbled upon a Vlog by Blanche Babcock. Blanche is a Drag Queen from Houston, TX. Her make-up tutorials are awesome. I picked up a few tricks from her sessions and was able to apply them to my everyday make-up ritual.
One of Blanche’s vlogs was a tag video I found interesting and decided to do it even though I do not make Vlogs (yet) and was not tagged. This is my first “tag” post. Do bloggers tag posts? I am not sure. But tag! You’re it!
1. What do you think you can do but can’t?
I can run another 26.2 mile marathon but I won’t. The NYC marathon was hard. I didn’t train for it but I managed to finish anyway. There were so many hills. I was in much pain for a week afterwards
2. What’s a difficult word for you to pronounce?
There are several words I cannot pronounce properly. I think it is because I have a slight lisp and sometimes words sound a little funny.
3. What is a favorite TV show from your childhood?
Bugs Bunny, Popeye, What’s Happenin’?, The Partridge Family, Good Times, The Jeffersons, Happy Days, the list goes on…
4. What are your virtues and vices?
My virtue is I am naturally a humanitarian. I will always be that way. It gives me great pleasure to work with communities that need help. My vice is when someone does mean or hateful things to me, I day dream about getting revenge and it ain’t pretty.
5. What’s more important love, fame, money or power?
Love is the most important element anyone can have. Without it where will we be? Next in my book is money. There is nothing evil about having money. Power is after that and then fame.
6. If you could live in any era or time period what would it be and why?
I would like to live in ancient Egypt BC as a powerful royal Queen for a week or so.
7. If you had to redo your entire wardrobe with two stores what would they be and why?
I love nice clothes but at the same time I am very practical. One of the stores I would shop at is Syms clothing store. I have purchased quality stuff for an extremely low price at Syms. I wouldn’t mind going crazy in there. The other store would be DSW. Designer purses, shoes and accessories at a lower price. Please, I’m in love.
8. Can you recall what you were doing a year ago today?
A year ago today I was at work surrounded by catty, jealous, insecure women.
9. Do you have any reoccurring dreams? If so explain.
No not now but about 15 years ago I constantly dreamt that I was about to get hit by a car and as soon as the car was about to hit me the dream ended. That dream went on for about a year.
10. What’s your horoscope?
The best horoscope in the zodiac – Aquarius. I am a true Aquarian because I was born during the first week in February. Aquarians born at the end of January are influenced by Capricorn and Aquarians born in mid February are influenced by Pieces. I am the real deal!
11. What does your dream bedroom look like?
The master bedroom suite will be HUGE with a walk-in closet, like Kimora Lee’s, a bathroom large enough for four but it will only be for me, large windows and furnished with the best of everything.
12. What position do you sleep in?
I sleep in every position but I fall asleep on my right side while watching television.
13. Who is your favorite vampire of all time?
Gary Oldman. He played Dracula in the movie based on the book that was directed by Francis Ford Coppola.
14. What are you currently wearing on your feet?
Slippers. I don’t wear shoes in the house.
15. Do you have neat handwriting? Show us.
If I want to have neat handwriting I can. But normally I don’t. It depends on how I feel. This is it.
Tshombe’s PomAide
Tshombe, an all natural hair and skin product line, sent me a jar of their PomAide to use and write a review. I recently finished the entire jar and below is what I think of it.
As soon as I opened the jar a sensational aroma of sweet citrus rushed to my nose. I hardly talk about a product’s scent because it’s not that important. If my hair likes it, then that’s good enough for me. However, Tshombe’s PomAide provided such a gratifying and calming scent I had to mention it.
I used PomAide regularly and applied it to my hair and scalp. For my tresses it wasn’t heavy. It didn’t weigh my hair down and I could have used it every day without a cakey build up. Even though PomAide isn’t heavy, it still provided moisture and shine and a little went a long way.
The best component about PomAide is the ingredients. If you follow my blog you know I am a big fan of products that are made with natural and organic elements and Tshombe’s PomAide doesn’t disappoint.
Check it out.
Shea butter, argan oil, baobab oil, borage oil, babassu oil, castor oil, apricot oil, pomegranate oil and essential oils.
I was a fan as soon as I read that. So, on a scale of 1 to 5, I give Tshombe’s PomAide 5 curls!
I Entered a Beauty Contest!
Hey Guys!
Every year More magazine has a beauty search contest for women 35 and older. This year I decided to enter (well I’ve entered before) and need your support in achieving enough votes for the judges to even look at my profile.
Every voter must be a member of “more.com” (men included) with their own unique log-on. To sign up please click on the link below and complete the short registeration form.
https://www.more.com/user/register
After completing the form click Create New Account at the bottom page on the left side.
You will automatically go to the “home” page.
At the “home” page look for the Search column at the top on the right side. Enter my name, Staci Shands, and click Go.
Click on the link that reads Staci Shands.
My essay and photo will appear.
Scroll down to the bottom of the page (after reading my essay) and click She’s Got My Vote and that’s it!
YOU CAN VOTE ONCE A DAY EVERY DAY!
So if you are not too busy please log in at www.more.com, put my name in the search column and vote for me!!
I am a little behind. There are women who have received votes since the contest started in February. But I am determined to catch up and with your help I will be able to do it.
Thank you all for your time and support. It means the world to me.
Trimming on a Full Moon!
Is trimming your hair during a full moon an Old Wives’ Tale or a factual hair care ritual that has been practiced by many for centuries resulting in thicker fuller hair?
There was a full moon last night. I heard from a variety of people that trimming or cutting your hair during a full moon promotes full and thick hair. Cutting your hair on a full moon in Leo is especially beneficial since Leo is the sign of the Lion which is born with a full lush mane.
Some people like to cut their hair on a new moon when it is in Taurus, Cancer, Scorpio, Capricorn and Pisces because hair is said to grow faster, healthier and longer.
The Old Wives’ Tale about cutting the hair at the new moon (or full moon, depending on where in the country you are) simply stemmed from the convenient “Calendar Markers” of the moon’s phases to remind people to keep up certain grooming habits. Since the moon is “new” or “full” every four weeks, then the hair would be cut once a month. Traditionally, the entire family (or at least all the men) would get haircuts on the same day for the sake of expedience.
I haven’t tried this hair growth method but last night I decided to give it a go. I do not trust a stylist to trim my hair because I am afraid she/he may get scissor happy and cut off more than needed. This has happened several times before. So I purchased a pair a Tweezerman Scissors for $15.00, watched a few YouTube videos on “Trimming Your Own Hair,” and trimmed my hair for the first time with great results. I am so proud of myself. No more rough ends. My hair is smooth and soft from root to tip.
I picked the night of a full moon to trim because I decided to follow the tradition in search of fuller thicker curls. Saturday night apparently was a wonderful time to test the folklore because it was a “Supermoon” that appeared larger and closer to the Earth in more than 18 years!
If you didn’t trim or cut your hair last night you can still do it tonight and get the same effect. This weekend is exceptionally special for the “Supermoon” because of the Spring Equinox.
I don’t know if the legend is fact or fiction. I’ll just have to keep you posted.
This is what I did:
- Instead of shampooing I co-washed with Mill Creek Botanicals’ Jojoba Conditioner.
- Afterwards, to touch up my gray hairs around the edges, I applied Clairol Professional Beautiful Collection’s new Advance Gray Solution in midnight black. This is a semi permanent color with no ammonia or peroxide. I put on a plastic cap and left the product on for one hour.
- A deep conditioning followed with Giovanni’s Nutrafix Hair Reconstructor. I added a mixture of peanut and coconut oil to the deep treatment. I let it sit wearing a plastic cap for one hour.
- While my hair was still wet I selected a small section, detangled the piece, stretch it, then trimmed just the ends.
- Then I twisted the trimmed section and moved on to the next piece.
When your hair is trimmed you should not notice it. If you do then you probably received a hair cut instead of a trim.
Styles
This is a braid out. I am not too fond of it. I am in the process of training my hair to do what I want it to do instead of it doing what it wants to do.
Enough with the braid out already. Three days later a puff was easy to do.
Quick n’ Easy
This afro was very simple and quick for me to do. I don’t know if you can really see the curls. I am still getting use to using my Nikon Cool Pix L22. I should read the instructions instead of just trying to figure it out. I wish I’d bought a Canon. They are easier to use and take better pictures.
Anyway, after washing my hair, and drying it with a towel, I applied a medium size amount of Kinky-Curly Curling Custard to various sections and shaped my mane in an afro.
I didn’t use a lot of KCCC or apply it to dripping wet hair because I wanted the product to dry fast. It is still chilly in NYC. Going outside with a wet or damp head will only lead to a head cold later on.
Three hours later I felt confident that the KCCC was dry. I slipped in a gold flower on the side and went dancing later that night.
Everyone liked my hair.
I like my afro and flower.
And The Oscar Goes To… 50 Cent!
50 Cent is going to star in what seems to be an impressive dramatic role titled “Things Fall Apart.”
I have to be honest, when I first noticed the title, I thought the movie was about the fantastic book I read in college titled, Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, but it’s not.
The photo below caught my attention. Look at how much weight he loss for the role! I thought it was a joke. Then I said, “No that’s him. Is he sick?!” Afterwards I realized the picture was associated with an upcoming film. 50 Cent has so many talents. Not only is he a super rap star, he is also a best selling author, business man and now an actor – not a movie star – but an actor. there’s a difference.
Check out the trailer.
Press News:
Leaving the actor 54 pounds lighter than his usual self, the film depicts a promising young athlete, Deon Barnes, whose life is perfect, glorious and victorious until the worst happens. Barnes is a University of Michigan football player with a dream of one day becoming a Miami Dolphin.
The well loved athlete is a candidate for the Heisman trophy, but his hopes come crashing down when he collapses in the locker room after a big win. He is diagnosed with cancer and begins the journey to healing as he endures chemotherapy.
In the midst of it all, Barnes has hope.
“My motivation for the project was my best friend, Charles Pringle. He lived across the street from me; he actually died of cancer,” 50 Cent once said on what the film means to him.
No release date has been set.
Length Check
I decided to do a quick length check to document my growth progress. I should have done this a couple of months ago when I stopped transitioning but, anyway, here it goes.
I would say the length of the front is between my eyes and stops where I have a bump on the bridge of my nose.
The back, on the left side, reaches the end of my neck.
The back, on the right side, seems to be a little longer – almost to my collar bone.
The front, on the left side, reaches the middle of my neck.
The front, on the right side, is just under my chin.
My lengths are sort of all over the place. But that’s okay. Let the growth began!!
Permed to Natural’s Favorite Things
In no particular order here they are:
Shea Butter - A great moisturizing base for homemade products
Peanut Oil - Provides loads of protein, shine and moisture
Vitamin E Oil - Just the best beauty oil ever
Vitamins and Supplements - Improves hair, skin, nails and promotes overall gorgeousness
Tea Tree, Lavender, Rosemary and Patchouli Essential Oils - Affords strength, fullness, natural shine and growth
Homemade Hair Cream featuring Peanut Oil (I didn’t create a post for this recipe but I will soon) - I know what’s in it because I made it
Homemade Shampoo - I know what’s in it because I made it
Miss Tee’s Herbal Shampoo, Moisturizing Conditioner and Misty Hair Spray www.naturalhairexpressions.com - A review will follow soon
Tshombe Hair PomAide www.tshombe.biz – A review will follow soon
Giovanni Deep Repair for Critically Damaged Hair - I don’t use a lot and my hair still feels conditioned
Kinky-Curly Curling Custard – Curls, Curls and more Curls
Detangler and Wide Tooth combs by Mebco - Easy-to-use with no shedding or breakage
Denman Hair Brush – My hair will divorce me if I stop using this brush
Frankincense and Myrrh Oils from the Muslim or African Boutique Street Corner Stores - These biblical oils have a sweet musky aroma I like to perfume my hair with just as the ancient Egyptians used to do
