Sage NaturalCeuticals

It's always a good time when I can meet up with my Natural Sistahs, meet new people and talk Natural Hair! And a good time is what was had when we met up with Cindy Primm of Sage NaturalCeuticals.
In attendance was our MC and organizer - CurlyTopLori (Our other organizer Lexi could not attend), MahoganyKnots, Knapsgirl, Atlanta Natural Hair Care and me - TheSistahChick.
Cindy opened Sage in 2008 after she saw a need for a one stop shop for people with Natural Hair who enjoy quality products. At Sage NaturalCeuticals, if you are Product Junkie like me, then you'll be like a kid in a candystore! When you enter the store you are met with beautiful, serene & subtly colored decor that boasts light sand colored walls (some textured) and pristine white shelves that wrap around the store. Each shelf is lined with all of the Natural Hair goodies that you have dreamed of. A large window in the front of the store provides a lot of natural light from the sun which enhances the modern lighting fixtures that hang high above. The floors are covered in dark chocolate tile in beautiful contrast.
Cindy personally handpicks each product that she carries in her store. Each product must meet her standards. They have to be at least 97% organic, they must have a following, and they must have friendly packaging that lists every ingredient. Sage also sells body & skin care products as well as fragrant candles, handbags and even gourmet chocolates. Product Lines include, Blended Beauty, AfroVeda & Bee Mine to name a few. Our meeting included demonstrations by application using the following products that are also carried:




Uncle Funky's Daugher - Curly Magic
Darcy's Botanicals - Natural Coils Curling Jelly
Donna Marie - MiraCurl Curling Gelly
Komaza Care - Coconut Hair Pudding


As Cindy applied these 4 products seperately to each of the 4 sections on the models hair, she explained the different types of curl stimulators that are out on the market right now, and how they differ. She also demonstrated a "palming effect" that she uses to apply product for maximum coverage. The really cool thing about Sage is that you can try the products BEFORE you buy! Thats right!! for every product that she carries, there is a sample of that product available for testing. I could go on and on about the fantastic visit that we had at Sage, but i am going to do you one better and just show you!

Check Out the video footage!

Sage NaturalCeuticals Video on YouTube!



I had such a good time and I cant wait to visit again. If you are looking for a serene spot, full of positive energy, that carries all of the very best that Natural Hair Products have to offer. Check Out Cindy @ Sage NaturalCeuticals. Mention that you saw this video and receive 15% discount.

To Learn more about Sage following this link to the site:

http://www.sagenaturalceuticals.com/


Thanks for reading/watching!


Peace!

DPL Products - An African American Owned & Operated Hair Care Line

I met with Bill Wilborn, VP of Sales & Marketing at DPL Products today. Bill is the son of Dr. Wesley S. Wilborn, the creator of these products and a pioneer who launched the first mainstream skin and hair product line, formulated by a dermatologist to people of African descent. We met to discuss the products, natural hair care, and the future of the line. The meeting took place at the DPL warehouse in Southwest Atlanta, Georgia. After introductions and a quick tour of the facility, I sat down with Bill and since I have never heard of or tried these products I had many questions for him all of which he was more than willing to answer for me.
So tell me about DPL?
The DPL Hair Care Line of products was created by my father Dr. Wesley S Wilborn, a world renown expert on Hair and Scalp disorders in people of color.

What does DPL stand for?
Dermatologist’s Products Limited - we wanted a name that was intelligent and that specifies that physicians are involved. We got tired of seeing products for "us" that contain misspelled words and slang terminology. We are more than that.

What type of products do you carry?
DPL has a full line of shampoos, moisturizers and conditioners for every hair type.

How long have you been in business?
My father started DPL in the early 80's. It began as Back Alive Hair Care and evolved into the nationally recognized product that it is today. I became actively involved with redeveloping the business a few years ago.

Wow really? I am sorry but I have never heard of these products. Where have they been?
My father, is a board certified dermatologist & chemist that specializes in skin disorders. He initially formulated the products for his patients that were dealing with such ailments as, alopecia, eczema, seborrhea dermatitis, etc. and began to distribute them at his office. So we have been in business for decades through his practice. I am breathing new life into the products now by taking a look at our marketing strategies, redesigning the packaging & labels, and also by introducing them to the Natural Hair Community. I want to change up the demographic. Right now my father has loyal older customer base that is faithful to our products. I'll bet a lot of our parents have DPL products on their shelves. You probably see it and dont know what it is. (Bill now retreats and returns with a bottle from the previous product design, and oddly enough it did look familiar, like something my mama would have. lol) Our products are not age specific. They can be used on all age groups including children.

Is that why you chose Bloggers/Vloggers/YT as a vehicle for getting your message across?
Exactly! I wanted to reach out to people in our demographic. The internet, I feel is the best way to do that. I plan to become involved with Atlanta's Natural Hair Community to further spread our message and take our products to the next level. We have an exciting new website as well.

That's really cool, where else are your products currently being sold?
Our products are currently carried by many beauty supplies in several states including GA, NC, SC, TN, AL, FL, TX and IL.

Your prices are VERY reasonable, how can you afford to have such low prices in this economy?
When my father created these products, money was not his motivation. Scalp and skin health was. He offered them at an affordable price because he wanted anyone that needed it to be able to get it. We honor that principle by keeping our prices affordable. We are not trying get all of your money by charging outrageous prices for a mediocre product that you probably wont buy again. We know that our products work, and that you will come back for more, so its not necessary to do that.

In breathing new life into the products will you be changing any of the formulas?
Our formulations will not change. If you look at a lot of products out there, they might say, "dermatologist tested", or "dermatologist approved" but you hardly ever see them say "dermatologist FORMULATED". The difference is that our products were created by an actual physician, they have been tested. Our products are scientifically formulated which produces the best results for healing, moisturizing and protecting the human anatomy. We are not reselling or repackaging a product made by someone else.

I have noticed that your products contain parabens as well as "cones" a lot of people in the natural hair community believe that these ingredients are not good for our scalp and hair.
Again, my father is a trained chemist and physician. A lot of the ingredients that you have been told to avoid are necessary for the preservation of the products and they are added in such trace amounts that they are barely detectable. You cant believe everything you read unless you understand the science behind it. Our products are sulfate free as well as hypo allergenic. Our formula contains the finest ingredients and they are safe for use by the entire family.

What can your products do for my hair?
We are in the business of helping to promote and maintain healthy hair and scalps. A lot of women, specifically black women have caused so much damage to their hair by incorrectly applying relaxers and from stylists who are more interested in making money than taking the time to properly care for their clients hair. We created our Hair Root Conditioner that can be applied BEFORE relaxing to help prevent damage. This was one of our first products. It can also be used for a Wash n Go as a rinse out or leave in conditioner. It will keep your hair moisturized as well as protect it from heat, harsh chemicals, and perspiration. That's just one of our many products. Some others are:

Moisturizing Shampoo - A very mild formula that can be used on all hair types, natural and relaxed.
Curl Revitalizer - This light, non greasy hair lotion is lanolin free and keeps your hair soft and moisturized. Ideal for itchy scalp conditions.
Gel Curl Activator - Can be used on wet or dry hair. Ideal for natural, curly and wavy hair. Apply as needed for moisture.
Instant Moisturizer - Spray moisturizer for natural, curly, braids, twists and locks

Do you use the products?
YES! and so do my wife and daughter, my wife likes to try new things, but she always comes back to DPL. We also use our line of skincare products.

During the course of our discussion, Bill allowed me to smell and touch the products to give me an idea of the fragrance and different textures of each. He also gave me many samples to try and also to share. Between my mother (natural), sister (relaxed), and myself (natural). We will be trying some or all of these products, I will also be giving away samples to members of Our Natural Kids so stay tuned for reviews!!

Until then...

To learn more about DPL check them out on the web:
http://www.dplproducts.com/

Thanks for reading,

Peace

The SistahChick's YouTube Channel!

I am sure that I have made reference to my YouTube Channel before, but please allow me to formerly introduce it to you. In April 2009, I decided that I would like to chronicle my Natural hair journey among other things in a way that documented as well as expressed the real me, doin what I do best and thats running my mouth! LOL. So I set up a YouTube Channel and the rest is history. By joining all of the very knowledgeable ladies of the YouTube Natural Hair Movement not only have i made some really cool friends, but I have also gotten and given some truly wonderful advice. Even though I decided to go Natural and BC'd back in 2006, I had never actually gotten to know my tresses very well, and was limited to simple Puff with Headband styles. I knew nothing about properly moisturizing, curl defining, conditioning...none of that. It was through YouTube that I learned how to properly care for, style and pamper my gorgeous 4a- 4b hair. I continue to learn daily and share knowledge as I go. As you will see, I have gotten my entire family involved in my journey and we are having lots of fun. Its been especially exciting for me and my little girl who is affectionately referred to as "The LittleChick". My decision to go Natural has opened up the door to so many things, and even led me to quit smoking! (I have been nicotene free, since June 19, 2009!!! - Check out the Freedom Series below!) Well enough with the intro... see for yourself :-) Below are several links. I hope you enjoy!

This link will take you directly to my channel, The SistahChick's Spot. Here you can view all of my videos, playlists, favorites, and also check out my friends & subscribers lists plus other need to know info!
http://bit.ly/5NZLg1

I have taken the care to categorize some of the videos that I have made into playlists (videos grouped together by topic)

Fierce 'Do's' & Smokin Hot HairStyles
Here you will see a variety of seriously HOT Natural hairstyles!!
http://bit.ly/8MccLv

Methods & Techniques
Here are some tried and true Methods and Techniques!!
http://bit.ly/4Lctvs

Natural HairCare - Product Reviews
I have tried many products during my journey and will try many more, this link will play a list of the video reviews for some of my favs!
(Remember, I am not a professional, so all of the opinions given are specific to my own personal experiences!!)
http://bit.ly/8BRqm9

Freedom - Journey to Be Smoke Free
My Freedom Series!! Nicotine Addiction is serious and quitting smoking is not easy. Follow my journey to be SmokeFree!
http://bit.ly/6wXunt

LittleChick Hair Maintenance
This is our newest series. It chronicles my daughters haircare & maintenance
http://bit.ly/5KH2MN

There are several other videos posted for your viewing pleasure. Please, check them out & let me know what you think. I also take requests, so if you have a question or an idea that you would like to see as it pertains to Natural Hair Care, etc. Please feel free to send me an e-mail to: TheSistahCafe@gmail.com. All ideas will be considered.

I plan to really expand my horizons in 2010 with vids demonstrating the preparations of some of my fav recipes and also on ideas for redecorating on a budget. Please subscribe & Stay Tuned

I appreciate, as always, that you took the time to read this :-)

Peace,
The SistahChick

Atlanta Natural Hair Meet Up - 09/19

After checking my e-mail and perusing the web a little this past Saturday morning, I decided to see what was going on in YouTube. I was looking through my subscriptions when I saw a vid posted by LexiwiththeCurls titled "Atlanta Natural Hair Meet Up" and stating that this would happen... TOMORROW 3p - 5p!!! I nearly spilled my coffee scrambling to see the date of the video! Is tomorrow today?!!. omg!! Let me see! Low and behold tomorrow was today!! Yippeee! I am going! Let me call my girl Narazonia76 and let her know too AND better go get my toes done right quick. (trust me...it was time) Off I go for a Mani/Pedi. I was brimming with anticipation for this event. Why is it raining cats AND dogs??? I leave the nail shop with 10 bright blue toes, get home, log on again, and guess what?? The event is CANCELLED with a possible postponement to tomorrow. The floods were just beginning in the Southeast. The exit to the area where the event was to be held was closed off due to flooding. AwwWww...Well...ok. So what. I'll go tomorrow! I chill with the family a bit, make a grocery list and prepare to get my shopping done. Before leaving, I logged on to YouTube AGAIN...lmao and guess what? The event was back on!!. postponed till 3 but still on. It turned out that the exits were back open so it was BACK on and the rest is HISTORY! I got to spend the next 2 hours of my life fellowshipping with the friendliest, most positive, highly energetic group that I have ever encountered. Sistahs...from the lightest light to the darkest dark...2b's to 4c's...16 years old to well...ok? All beautiful. All Confidant. All Natural. We represented. We talked hair, we discussed products, we laughed, we ate, we connected...I dont even want to get into the fantastic styles that i saw. These ladies were ROCKIN some do's...omg. And let me say this...its kinda cool being recognized from YouTube!! It is!! Hoping we can do it again reaaal soon :-) Until next time...

Thanks for watching & reading!

TSC

Happily Natural Day

WHAT IS HAPPILY NATURAL DAY?

Happily Natural Day, originating in Richmond, Virginia, is an African Heritage festival committed to cultural awareness, holistic health and social change. Seven years ago, we saw the need for an event that says that natural hair was something more than just the latest style, and way more than just a chic look or fashion trend. At Happily Natural Day we identify with natural hair as a statement. Locks, afros and braids are socio-cultural symbols that are used as public proclamations of self-love and deep pride in being a person of African descent, and so, through Happily Natural Day, we promote the natural beauty of African people. Happily Natural Day is a continuance of the “Black Is Beautiful” campaigns of the 1960s and 1970s – started by Elombe Brath and the African Jazz Art Society and Studio (AJASS) via its “Naturally” shows and Grandassa Models. Happily Natural Day is ultimately married to the cause of redeveloping the maximum human potential of people of African descent through information and inspiration. Our annual August festival features workshops, lectures, live music, and merchants with one of a kind products from around the globe. It inspires us to love ourselves, to support Black-owned businesses, to heal ourselves holistically, and to live for the freedom that comes with doing for self. The mission of Happily Natural Day is to raise consciousness and cultural awareness, and to inspire collective works, self-determination and social change in the African community.
(Excerpt taken from http://happilynaturalday.com/ following the link to learn more)

HairStory - Days of My Napps

As many of you Natural girls know the road to NappiHappiness ain't easy. If you were like me, you've had relaxers in your hair for many years and dont even know what the natural pattern is. After my big chop I was pleasantly surprised to find a head full of small coils. While growing my hair out i mostly wore it in an afro. I am fortunate to be able to work from home so only my family and friends saw my hair as it transitioned from relaxed to natural. Their reaction has been pretty positive. i have been at this for almost 3 years, and have used various products. Finding products developed for natural hair hasn't been easy. I'll be honest and tell you that in the beginning, i never really thought that much about it. My hair routine had gotten so much easier, what else did i need to worry about? I started off with washing my hair once a week, but wetting it everyday to achieve the ringlets that I wanted. The wash included shampooing & Conditioning with Garnier Fructis. I used the conditioner as my comb thru. I would completely resaturate my towel dried hair with Infusium Leave In Conditioner for dry/damaged hair. I would then apply a palm full of Pink Lotion Hair Moisturizer, a follow with a quarter size dollop of Loreal Melting Gel. This was a MESSY process. It left my hair really curly in some parts and poofy in others. Once my hair dried it remained sticky to the touch. Think Coming to America when SOUL-Glo's parents were sittin on the couch. Yep, I think I had a Jheri Curl, Even tho I was using everything made for dry hair, my hair was not being moisturized and it was left dry and damaged. I was also experiencing a lot of shedding. TRIAL/ERROR (I told you it wasn't easy!) Eventually, my routine transitioned to washing once a week using Garnier Fructis Shampoo for Curly Hair. I changed my comb thru deep conditioner to Motions CPR (Critical, Protection, Repair) mixed in with Garnier Fructis Conditioner for Curly Hair. While my hair is still very damp I sprayed with Infusium Frizzologie Leave In Conditioner and followed with a palm full of Motions Conditioning Cream. This process seemed to do a good job of keeping my hair moisturized. It was a little oily to the touch, but not too bad. The shrinkage that i experienced with this routine was insane. By now my hair is shoulder length when straightened with a blow dryer(I would blow it out straight periodically to cut my ends evenly), however, it would shrink to a short afro during the drying process. Once completely dry, I could then pick and pull it out to a reasonably curly afro. I found that as hours of the day went on tho that my afro would get poofy, frizzy and unruly. I didnt mind this so much, but it was unpredictable. On a humid day, I would get a huge out of control mane and on dry days I would get the curls that I wanted but this never lasted into the next day. I was continuously having to rewet and reapply all of the products and would get different results after every application. If I am just chillin in my hood or with my fam/friends this is not a problem but a learning experience, HOWEVER! Not good on special occasions because i could never know what my hair would do. Various headbands & scarves became my perfect standbys in case of Hairtastrophies. (HairStory within a HairStory - Had a business meetin in FL. Got my hair into a nice perfect afro. It was dry and cutely cropped. Fell asleep on the plane and woke to find the back of my hair completely flattened, stiff and unmoisturized. The front was doing its own thing. I had no products, no supplies, not even a comb. I remedied this by wetting the back of hair in the bathroom and applying some hand lotion from my purse. I picked at it and blended it and got it all to at least look uniformily wet (but not dripping) and just prayed that I could get in and out of that meeting and back on the plane home before my hair dried again! OOPS was still in early learning stages!! LOL) My hair is like a Soap Opera - Days of My Napps, All My Napps, One Nap to Live, etc...lol its a different HairStory everyday!