Fro Fashion Week Fall 2012

I wanted my last post of 2012 to be about something that I know, love and am glad to be a part of....  Fro Fashion Week - Atlanta.  Fro Fashion Week is an Atlanta based event that is the brain child of Ms. Tarin Boone.  It is a bi annual week long celebration of natural black beauty.  Since its inception, founder Tarin Boone has taken special care to showcase not only the beauty of African American women, but also to promote black business and networking along with fashion and entertainment.  I have been attending Fro Fashion Week since Fall 2011 and I am honored to have been selected as a Lead Press Supporter for the last  2 installments of this event (Spring 2012 & Fall 2012).  PLUS I just found out recently that I have been selected as Lead Press Supporter again for Fro Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2013!!  Being a Lead Press Supporter gives me front row and backstage access to ALL of the components of the event.  Please enjoy just a few of the many moments that were captured during the Fall 2012 show!!

Fro Fashion Week plays host to MANY beauty professionals and products lines and brings you the best workshops available:

The Blogger's Brunch is one of the many highlights of Fro Fashion Week.  It brings together subject matter experts and bloggers who interested in growing their personal brand into a money maker.  Fall 2012 brought us the guru behind MattieOlogie.com Mattie James.  We learned so much.  A key piece that stood out to me was her definition of how to use your VOICE as it relates to blogging/branding.

V ~ Verify if this is really what you want to be doing!  You need to love this to be successful at it.
O ~ Offer yourself on a silver platter to your audience!  give them your best & they will respond!
I ~ Invent yourself!  Your blog may start out being one thing and end up being another. (It's ok!)
C ~ Challenge yourself
E - Expect to Win!!

We were all very inspired!

After a long and exciting day of activities, seminars and Bloggers Brunch, its time to let our natural hair down at the Fro Fashion Week Penthouse party!!  The Penthouse at the Melia hotel has the entire Atlanta City Skyline as its backdrop.  The view is amazing at night!!

Last but certainly not least there is the fiercest fashion show out there and the grande finale of this culmination of fashion and natural beauty.

Fro Fashion Week Founder Tarin Boone (right)

I hope that you enjoyed the recap.  for more on Fro Fashion Week, please check out http://frofashionweek.com/  

To see more pics:

Penthouse Party!

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.414170541972211.118626.170493373006597&type=3

Bloggers Brunch!

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.412952262094039.118251.170493373006597&type=3

Workshops

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.411450592244206.117887.170493373006597&type=3

Fashion Show:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.436450499744215.123159.170493373006597&type=3

To see more of what you have been missing check out my previous Fro Fashion Week Blog Post!

Previous Fro Fashion Week ReCaps

I hope that you have had a joyous 2012 and wish you a prosperous 2013.  Thank you so much for showing your support by reading my blog this year.  Please come back often!

Peace!

Ohm Body Hair Products ~ A Review

I had the pleasure of reviewing a new product recently and I wanted to tell you all about it! 

Ohm Body Products is a company that makes products for the Body and for the Hair.  Their products are 100% Pure and Natural. They SMELL Great!! and I especially love the fact that the ingredients list on each of the products that I tried start with:  Love, Wisdom and Patience (Or variations of that!)

Products to be reviewed:  Sweet Hair Pudding, Hydrating Hair Milk, Herbal Conditioner

You know what?? I can show you better than I can type all of it!  So here...check out my video review!

 

To Learn more about Ohm Body Products go to http://www.goingohm.com/

Thanks for reading!

Peace :-)

Thai "Tweet Up" in Atlanta

I attended my very 1st "Tweet Up" last nite.  What is a "Tweet Up" you might ask.  A "Tweet Up" is a meeting that takes place amongst people who are connected someway or another on Twitter.  This event was hosted by a Twitter friend of mine named @SwarthyDaisy.  @SwarthyDaisy and I have been friends on Twitter for quite some time so i was very excited when I heard that she was putting this event together.  Held at Thai Fusion and aptly called "Thai Tweet Up" this meeting far exceeded anything that i expected.  I found the ambiance of the restuarant to be very inviting. 

I was greeted at the door by @SwarthyDaisy.  Even though she and I have attended several of the same events, we had never met face to face.  Its always fun meeting people that i have chatted with online.  She is just as friendly and outgoing as i thought she'd be.  I was the 1st one there so I helped her and her husband set up the giftbags that she'd prepared for us.

The bags were filled with various items that I cant wait to try!!

I especially loved my pick!!

As the guests arrived one by one we were all introduced and began to mingle.  I met some AMAZING people from various online arenas.  The area of Women & Finance was represented by @AndreaAmir founder of Smart Money Chicks a site that helps to create financially savvy women through education, webinars, discussions and events.  Health & Wellness was represented by Dalia Kinsey (@EatingBeautiful) She is the creator of EatingBeautiful.com a site that explains how we can escape the diet trap by making certain lifestyle changes.  In the area of Technology we were introduced to Reggie Levine.  Reggie has a website and a YouTube channel dedicated to giving advice, demonstrations and tutorials on all of the latest gadgets from phones to keyboards to gaming system controllers.  You can find him on Twitter @LeReg on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/user/LeReg and on the net http://www.reggielevine.net/.  Art, Photography & Jewelry was represented by Wilma Jean aka @MsLeJean.  Her "She" art series is outstanding and I am hoping to grace my walls with one of her pieces soon.  Do yourself a favor and check out her work http://wilmajean.com/.  Other folk in the house were @WritesALot, @HelloLT, @Lucy_Pearl, @hicksgirl93, @WatchTheShoes, @JavonStyles. @uncleshecky and @LadyLovelyPeace <~~ A SUPER Positive chick that I was already following on Twitter...

Long Story Short

We ate good food... 

We networked...

 We shared ideas and resources...



We had a GREAT time... 



@SwarthyDaisy, @TheSistahChick, @LeReg, @MsLeJean





@SwarthyDaisy & @JavonStyles

I learned SO much!! I should have taken notes but I have already implemented some of the tips that i received.  I can't wait until the next "Tweet Up"!!

Thanks for reading!

Peace :-)

Sistah SpotLight! ~ MahoganyKnots

You know them don't you? They are a Natural Hair Duo comprised of "EbonyKnots" & "MahoganyBella". Together they are known as MahoganyKnots. I had the pleasure of meeting these two young ladies through our hair group, Gorgeous Atlanta Naturals. Since day 1 they have been super friendly and enthusiastic about ALL things Natural Hair related. The LittleChick & I are very fond of them because of their positive energy and I wanted to tell you about them today!

MahoganyKnots are two women who have been friends for years and together they decided to start blogging/vlogging about their hair experiences. The fantastic thing about them is that coming from two different individuals you get to experience the diversity that IS Natural Hair. They are what I consider to be among the "Who's Who" of the Atlanta Natural Hair Scene. They contribute GREATLY to the Atlanta Natural Hair Community by planning and organizing FANTASTIC events (that I try to attend each and every one of!) that I have mentioned in previous posts. They have a terrific blog MahoganyKnots.com that is full of product reviews, interviews, event listings, terminology etc. MahoganyBella has a gorgeous head of thick luscious hair and she is very meticulous with her product reviews. She thoroughly tests products on her own hair, and provides photos of the results. Whether you are newly natural, transitioning or a seasoned natural you will definately gain knowledge from their site. They also have a Youtube Channel, MahoganyKnots - Natural Hair Cafe. With close to 3500 subscribers in just over a year, they are easily a favorite of many. Like their blog, their channel is filled with information pertaining to natural hair. Here you get tutorials of various super creative styles that Ebonyknots creates. She demonstrates from beginning to end and makes it all look so easy. She even does this parody of a Natural Hair guru whose name is "Clover - The Natural Hair Expert". It is HEELARIOUS!! Check her out here The Natural Hair Expert The creation of this over the top character allows us all to laugh at ourselves a little. I love it. Together these two bring a wealth of valuable information and present their seperate hair journeys in creative ways that are both entertaining and educational. Please check them out.!!

MahoganyKnots can also be followed on Twitter @MahoganyKnots and liked on Facebook MahoganyKnots.

Thanks for reading.

Peace,

The SistahChick

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

#NaturalHair Day!

Twitter has become a very popular HotSpot for members of the Natural Hair community. It is a truly wonderful place to chat and to get together in real time with like minded people on a daily basis. You can follow me there as @TheSistahChick. There is an awesome & very popular #NaturalHair Chat that occurs EVERY Sunday @ 10pm Eastern. I have attended for months. Through this chat I have been able to learn everything there is to know about Natural Hair as well as to launch my own Natural Hair inspired Network, Our Natural Kids. I have also met some supreme people through this venue. On Twitter it is appropriate to place the "#" symbol before a word when you want to create what is known as a "HashTag". Creating this sort of "tag" for a word allows you to search for this word as a topic. When a certain word is used by tons of people it becomes known as a Trending Topic. Today, June 1st, 2010 has been declared #NaturalHair Day on Twitter. The main goal of today's celebration was to make #NaturalHair a Trending Topic on Twitter. Natural Hair Tweeters, YouTubers, Bloggers, Entrepreneurs, & Fashionistas from across the globe came together today under their Twitter personas to attempt to make this happen by using the hashtag #NaturalHair within various tweets throughout the day. Some of my signature tweets today included:

Hi TimeLine! Today is Natural Hair day! You can help me celebrate by making #NaturalHair a Trending Topic! Please RT this :-)

Reppin #NaturalHairKids Our Natural Kids #NaturalHair http://tinyurl.com/yyfgq9b Check us Out!!

I teach my daughter to love her #NaturalHair too! My Lil Chick A TwistOut on Dry Hair #NaturalHairKids

I love my #NaturalHair! (This does not mean that I am knocking any1 elses Do) "Do" You!~

LOL, well you get the jist. I honestly don't know if we ever made Trending Topics today. But I do know that I had a blast trying! Our efforts were even mentioned on Essence.Com.

Today, June 1st, 2010, I Tweeted my messages and ReTweeted the messages of others.

Today, We laughed and joked with one another, chatted, shared.

Today, I met some new tweet buddies, local & abroad with the same interests as me. Today...was just an over all online Good time. #ThatIsAll

Thanks for reading :-)