Month: June 2010

Swimming for Natural Chics

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Natural hair women can swim too! I have recently been in and out of the pool these past few weeks and wanted to  a shampoo to use to get rid of the chlorine that seemed to be lurking.  The shampoo for natural hair swimmers award goes to “Infusium 23”.  Equipped with the leave in conditioner, shampoo, and my usual brand Ion’s anti-chlorine leave in conditioner spray, your hair will be looking good and feeling healthy without the stress.  Although you don’t need all three I found the leave-in conditioner and shampoo to work just as good and will be purchasing a bottle to last me.

It’s also important to use a swim cap periodically because you can’t rely on just shampoo and conditioner to save your hair.

(Ion anti-chlorine leave in conditioner spray)

The Ion swimmer’s products are great because I trust them with my dyed hair.  Also these products are not just designed for natural hair, but if you have chemically treated hair these products will work best for you as well.

So ladies, don’t shy away from the swimming pool on your vacation.  Grab some products and enjoy the sun 🙂

Music Monday

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Tank is so underrated and I can’t seem to wonder why.  He’s not your typic R&B artist, but thugs can sing to.  Check out his new single “Sex Music”.  I’m sure there is a video coming soon, and I will be posting it. Enjoy!

Eminem’s music is always so ANGRY.  I like the song “Love the Way You Love Me” maybe because it features Rhianna who adds just a subtle innocence to his ANGRY song.  So for all the Eminem fans, your boy is back!

Afro Chic’s Pick: The Martians Lab Mixtape

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For all you raggae/ dancehall lovers here is the hottest mixtape of the summer by DJ Marvalous aka “The Marvalous One” himself.  By mixing sexy rythmns with carribean beats you will not stop grooving when you pop this one in.  This mixtape entitled “Space Jams Vol. 3 Martians Lab” is amongst the many mixes that DJ Marvalous has succesfully created for all the music lovers and fans.  DJ Marvalous is amongst the only few DJ’s I rocks with and HU Almuni, So enjoy and add this to your party mix!

download like here—> http://www.mediafire.com/?wgazuyttztm

American Apparel rules Straight Hair OUT!

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So earlier this week we discussed Six Flags not wanting black women with locks to represent their company, now we have American Apparel not wanting black women with STRAIGHT hair.  So really, what do you really want from us?!

            Current and former American Apparel employees wrote to www.gawker.com addressing their concerns from their experiences with hiring and firing policing that expressed discriminatory and racial profiling at its best.  Hiring managers were telling employees to only accept applications from people who look a certain way, from their hair down to the pair of shoes they wore that day.  Yes, it is true that you should look presentable when applying for a job, but what EXACTLY does American Apparel look for in a black prospect:

“none of the trashy kind that comes in, we don’t want that. We’re not trying to sell our clothes to them. Try to find some of these classy black girls, with nice hair, you know?”

These following instructions were given to an AA employee by their manager explaining what kind of black woman that they are looking for.  Now here’s the good part, you are probably thinking the black chick with the nappy hair wouldn’t make the cut, but in actuality the managers were referring “nice hair” to the women who didn’t straighten their hair.  The district manager thought it was more presentable to have less raunchy piercings, less weave,but more authenticity and natural hair because of its “Full Body Head to Toe” Policy. The owner of American Apparel himself, Dov Charney, says he prefers that Afro over the straight hair to his company.  But it seems to me he also prefers his models with their legs wide open and nipples showing, oxy-MORON!  I think that is an odd preference to have, but I’m not surprised because there are certain models and looks in other stores like Abercrombie & Fitch and Hollister that lowkey rule out certain looks. So there you have it, not only are black women with natural hair discriminated upon but so are the ones who choose to wear their hair straight.  I honestly don’t think this corporate world or distinctive race (I shall not say) understand the dynamics of a black woman and their hair.  We are our hair and when one takes it as far as messing with our means of living, oh there will be serious problems.  I commend these American Apparel employees for voicing their opinions on this issues and I hope that a lawsuit or some FIRING action gets done about this ridiculous hiring process.  So much for wearing overpriced spandex!

 HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT AMERICAN APPAREL’S POLICIES?

View full article here-à http://gawker.com/5560215/american-apparels-new-standard-no-uglies-allowed

Afro Chic’s Pick: Africa Fashion Week Designers

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While viewing the previews for Africa Fashion Week (June 30- July 3 2010), I came across some African Designers that really match my fly.  Chichia London is a East African designer who grew up in London that designs pieces for the daring, baby doll, and edgy girls.  Her pieces range from tunics, dresses, cover ups, and swimwear. Her influences derive from her native land as well as London giving it a funky street feel that can hit runways all over.

www.chichialondon.com

Spero Villioti is a Greek and Italian South African (if that makes any sense) pretty much a really cool white guy that had some very elegant evening pieces that I wanted to share with you.  He is amazing in the sense of keeping the African feel but with a more modern and European look that we all wear today.

Last but not least my favorite, Gloria Wavawunno of Uganda.  She specializing in cocktail dresses and evening wear and I was the most excited with her because her clothes are so eclectic and different.  Using feather and unusual walk of nature i I had a millions bucks I’d be sure to put her pieces in my wardrobe.

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Lemme take you underground for a minute, to the soul songstress that’s been out since 2008, but hiding in 2010.  Her name is Teisha Marie and her song is “Addicted to Life”.  Born in England, raised in Maryland, She always had a passion in music.  She attended Spelman College (HBCU pride) and studied Music History.  I think she mastered it quite well. She reminds me of a cross from Jill Scott meets Goapole.  Her other current songs are out there: “Awaken” and “More Important”.  You’re probably just thinking that I like her hair, yes I do but I also love her voice.  Keep her on the look out for something hot in future!

Carol’s Daughter Hair Milk

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It works! It works! Finally a Carol’s Daughter that I can say works for me.  Her products are usually really drying and boring on my hair but the “Hair Milk” line really does define my curls.  It comes in a Shampoo, Conditioner, and curl booster.  I want to know you guys review on this one because I think I might have found a favorite product from Carol’s Daughter. Pics coming soon!

Kelly Rowland- Grown Woman

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Being a Grown woman can not be defined in just a song but I like how the upcoming Kelly Rowland uses her lyrics to make slight comeback in the woman empowerment.  It seems like ever since Beyonce went solo it’s always been hard for Kelly  to make her own comeback but I have a feeling about this one.  Tell me what you think.

If it’s not Corporate, it’s Six Flags?

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Just when I thought the corporate world would be the underlying issues with natural hair I came across an article on www.thecoilreview.com that talks about Six Flags of America, the amusement park, might be facing a lawsuit over two natural hair women for their discriminatory policies.  Supposedly Janet Bello with locs, went to get an application for the Washington, D.C. location and asked them what would be the reason for not being hired and the manager stated that she would have to change her hairstyle.  Bello then went on and asked for a written policy on that matter, and there it was: no extreme hairstyles which listed “dreadlocks”, Mohawks, uneven haircuts, and wild hair colors.  The other woman Jackie Sherril told WJLA of DC that she worked there last summer and they issued a rehire only if she changed her hairstyle.  WTF?!

 I do not understand why an amusement park that allows all colors, shapes, sizes into the theme park would discriminate HAIR.  Hair these days are expressive and one should not be judged by the strand of their hair, especially for a minimum wage job.  Since forever locs have been dreaded in the corporate world but you would think a small summer job would cut some slack and allow their staff to wear their hair as they please.  I guess this means all the women who are shaving their hair shaved off to look like Rhianna and Amber Rose are out of a job at Six Flags of America.  Their Policies need to be re-evaluated because we are reaching 2011, and I know that THEY know everyone is keeping up with the latest looks, so if it’s not locs, every other girl is rocking a Mohawk, shaved head, short do, or funky colors.  Also, the Maryland and DC area are quite trendy with their natural hair and locs just like the Bay Area are worn freely amongst African Americans.  As a woman with Natural Hair myself, I have confidence  when it comes to the career and job that I want. So I really do fear for the corporate world and “Six Flags” that plan to discriminate on natural hair because I will be coming full force.  What do you think about this issue?  Should these two women be filing a lawsuit?  Is this borderline a racial issue?

read the full article here http://www.thecoilreview.com/tcr-final/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=493:six-flags&catid=4:the-pieces

The “Bionic” Christina

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There were so many albums and mixtapes that came out and I reviewed all of them but I really wanted to tell you guys about christina Aguilera’s new ablum “Bionic” which just released in stores today.  Back in the day I was a fan of Christina because she seemed so edgy and rebellious not to mention her vocals were up there, so soulful and powerful.  Now its years later and she has the same vibe but a different approach to her music.  While trying to keep up with the latest trends and originality I think this diva has found her niche.  You can’t compare her with Lady Gaga, please don’t cause Christina’s platform in music is way more respected to even compare the two.

This album reminds me of a girls night out, pajama party, or just wanting to have a good time.  The song “I Hate Boys” is playful anthem that really brings her vocals out and the anger of how much drama men put us through, just kidding.  “Sex For Breakfast” slows it down and gives you a very sensual and R&B vibe, the lyrics are metaphoric to emotions that a woman could be feeling.  The old school comes out of Christina when she sings “Prima Donna”. I love this term because it was my mom who would always call my girls and I this when we would tell her about how we live that rockstar lifestyle.  I love Christina for coming back in the game after her break to live a normal life, she’s one of the most talented and I really don’t see her moving to one of those celebrity slumps any longer.  So Afro Chic says go cop BIONIC!