The 1st Annual Beauty Empowerment Panel at Spelman College

I had the pleasure of attending the 1st Annual Beauty Empowerment Panel at Spelman this week.  The event was outstanding.  Presented by Design Essentials Natural, the topic was Black Hair in the Media.  On the panel were a bevvy of natural hair advocates including professional stylists, a radio personality, popular bloggers, you tubers and beauty entrepreneurs.

from the flyer:   Featured Panelists and attendees will discuss how the representation of black hair impacts pop culture and self esteem, including the acceptance and non acceptance of natural hair...

Upon entering Cosby Auditorium, each guest was treated to a light snack catered by Chic Fil A.  We also received samples from the Design Essentials Naturals line and information.

Moderated by Design Essentials Director of Marketing, Tracey Gibson, the dialogue was open and I loved that.

The Panelists:  Kiki of Mahoganyknots(YouTube), Deshonica Kerrie (Salon Owner),
Curlbox CEO Myleik Teele, Linda, Ripoll (Jet), Ebony Steele (Ricky Smiley Show)
Kim Walker (Journalist), Jamila Robinson (AJC)

 

Right out of the gate each panel member was asked who their influences were as children regarding hair and beauty. Most of the panelists said they were influenced by their mothers and grandmothers initially.  As they grew older the influence became TV personalities and/or celebrities. MTV, Solid Gold, Janet Jackson, Vanessa Huxtable, and Diana Ross were all mentioned as early influences.

My takeaway:  as a community we need to make sure that we are nurturing the self esteem of our youth and make DOUBLE sure that we provide positive images to influence them!

Spike Lee's movie, School Daze, was discussed. "Are the themes in the movie still relevant?".  "Have you seen it and how did it affect you?"  Most agreed that skin tone is STILL a major issue in the Black community and that the issues in the movie are still relevant.  I remember seeing the movie when it first came out (1988) as a young college student taking a Black Film in America class at Indiana University.  I was BLOWN away by it.  To me it was such an accurate depiction of what was happening on campus at THAT time. And here we are 25 years later...  

Of course you cannot discuss black hair in today's media without touching on the Gabby Douglas situation where "Black twitter" decided to focus on the hairstyle of the Olympic history making athlete instead of her God blessed athletic talent.  All panelists agreed that was a pretty ridiculous thing to do.  Shame on you "Black twitter"!  The moderator asked this..."Is there too much emphasis placed on hair in the Black community?"  What do you think?

There were several more great questions posed and each panelist gave open and honest opinions.  They were knowledgeable and often shared personal details about their own hair journeys. The audience was filled with mostly Spelman students, bloggers and other natural hair advocates like Fro Fashion Week CEO, Tarin Boone.

Students were also given the opportunity to ask questions.

It ended with a meet and greet with the panelists.  I could tell that the students really appreciated this event.  They were so eager and happy to get up close and personal with the panelists.  I believe that each person on the panel brought something different to the conversation and the young ladies really appreciated them being there.

Ebony Steele of The Rickey Smiley morning show
posing with a student/fan

Deshonica Kerrie sharing useful information

Curlbox CEO Myleik Teele 

Kiki of MahoganyKnots with a student whose hair she admired

I even ran into my cousin, Shawn Dowdell, who was the photographer for this event!

Thank you Design Essentials for putting together such a diverse panel of ladies who were willing to share a little bit of themselves with youth who are not only continuing their education but doing so at one of America's oldest historically Black colleges for women.  It was an honor to be there and a pleasure to see your affect on these girls.

How do you feel about Black hair in the media today?  What are some of the issues that you are facing a Black woman with natural hair? Who influenced you?  Let's keep the conversation going!!

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

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)

Sistah Chick Reviews "Mixed Chicks" Hair Products

About a month ago I was surfing the web for Natural HairStyles/products (like always) and i landed on this site http://www.naturallycurly.com/ . It was through this site that 2 very important things happened. #1 I was able to determine what my hair type is. #2 I was able to find the perfect products for my hair types (notice i said -typeS). The hairtyping system was developed by Andre Walker (Oprah's Stylist). It categorizes hair into types ranging from Type 1 Straight Hair, Type 2 Wavy Hair, Type 3 curly hair and Type 4 Kinky Hair. There are also subtypes like Type 2a (fine), 2b (textured), or 2c thick). All of this info is explained in detail in his book Andre Talks Hair (Which I have had sitting on my bookshelf for years but only recently cracked open and actually read). Taking care of your natural hair without know what type of hair you have is a total waste of time and money, as hopefully you have read in my previous posts. Hairtype is so very important and the folks at NaturallyCurly have taken this science a step further by recommending products for each hair type. With all of that being said, I have determined that my hair has various types. I would say that I am 3b/c (tight corkscrews)around the front and back of my head, the right side of my hair is also a bit thicker than the left, I got a small patch in the back portion of my head that is 4a(kinky). Of the products that were listed for my hairtype was Mixed Chicks Leave In Conditioner. The name of the product alone made me curious enough to at least see what it was about, so I went to the product website. No, I am not mixed but like I said the name made me curious. I was delighted to find on http://mixedchicks.net/index.html some products that i thought would work for me. My goal? To find a product that would not only define the natural curls in my hair but sustain that look throughout the day and possibly into the next all the while keeping my hair soft to the touch but not greasy/sticky or oily. I also desired uniformity in my hair with minimal shrinkage. HALLELUJAH! I have found this in Mixed Chicks Hair Products!! (DisClaimer - What's in a name? - Mixed Chicks is not JUST for Mixed people. Its for all people. don't let the name scare you off. But be advised if you think that using these products will make your hair look like a typical mixed persons hair (don't act like you dont know what I mean by that!) you are delusional. These products dont GIVE you mixed hair! They do, however, enhance what you already have) In other words use wisdom. OK?
I am so happily satisfied with this product! Mixed Chicks came through for me with flying colors and does exactly what it says it will! I ordered the Trio which is Mixed Chicks Shampoo, Mixed Chicks Deep Conditioner & Mixed Chicks Leave In Conditioner. I watched the tutorials on the website (which were verrry helpful) my order was delivered timely and I was quickly off to try my new find. The application process is simple. Wash with the shampoo. Deep Condition according to instructions. Apply Leave in conditioner to freshly washed & conditioned dripping wet hair. Again I will mention my previous posts for written proof of other processes. This process was sooo easzy and like the products claim my hair dried quickly, uniformly and definitively. Its like the Leave in literally grabbed my hair while wet, locked in those luscious shower wet curls, and held on to them while they dried. Once COMPLETELY dry I was left with a head full of beautifully kinky corkscrews that smelled good, were soft to the touch. As an added experiment. I rewet my hair on the 2nd day and applied just the leave in. The results were the same after the air drying process. To be even more sure that this was the product for me...I slept on my curly hair with no cap and no satin pillow. The next day - Hair was still full of curls. I did that 3 days in a row and the results were beautifull! Ok on the 5th day I looked like Shrek..lmao but still. I even ran through mild rain showers to see what would happen. I lost body once the rain got it damp. But that body quickly returned once the hair was dry. This stuff is the shyt and very much worth a try if you're lookin, so please...check it out!! I have reached Hair Nirvana. 3 weeks in and I am still continuously looking for problems with this product. Is it drying my hair out? No. Is my hair a tangled wirey mess after using this product? NO. Is my hair predictable now? YES. Can I attend an occasion now without worrying about what my dramatic natural hair will do? YES.

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!

My Natural Hair Journey

If you haven't recognized by my profile pic already, I am one of them "Natural" Sistahs. The word "Natural" refers to my hair and the fact that I do not perm it or alter my nappy hair texture by straightening it. I have been natural since 2006. My natural hair journey has been in the making for many years I believe. Taking the step to actually make it happen came in waves (no pun intended)before i decided that I was going to do it. Here is my road to change:



#1. I moved to Atlanta in 2000 and was happy to see MANY sistahs with various natural styles that I adored but was never bold enough to try.

#2. With the hot summers here in the south I was constantly pulling my former permed shoulder length hair up into a pony tail.

#3. I asked my beautician to chop it all off into a short bobbish style that was inspired by Missy Elliots hair in her Lose Control video.

#4. keepin it real, in 2006 my hubby got laid off and i couldnt afford them 100 bucks a pop/3 hour beauty shop visits anymore, so I cut the perm out (the big chop)and my natural hair journey began.



Getting to know my hair in it's natural state was like getting reacquainted with an old friend. I haven't looked back since. Am I trying to make a statement? Maybe...wearing my hair this way is like screaming to the world, "I'm me! I'm Free! Get Used to It!!!" That's what it is for me anyway. LOL. I am not even going to go into the whole black self hatred thing or how we as a people have brought some of mental remnants of slavery into the millenium with us. Not gonna talk about the 1- drop rule and the systematic denigration of our people...Oh, and I am not going to talk about so called "good hair" and how your hair is considered to be "good" if its a certain texture and "bad" if its a kinkier texture. Nope. Not going there. This is all about me, and loving myself... just as I am. Natural is more than just nice. I get way more compliments on my hair when we go out and My hubby LOVES my hair natural and he constantly tells me so. When we go out, I am frequently stopped and complimented/asked about my hair. He enjoys that. He also likes the way it smells, when I was permed up it smelled different I guess. The versatility of my natural hair also enhances our relationship too, I think. When we go on vacation I don't have to hide or cover my hair, cause it may be humid or raining. When its time to jump in the pool..I jump. without worrying about whats going to happen to it or spending hours to get it back "right". When we shower together I dont have to put that ugly cap on, cause I am not scared to get my hair wet anymore. It's very liberating in all aspects!