Stephanie Joseph

By Stephanie Joseph

1. Natural hair is strong

This is a very big misconception. Natural hair may look very strong, which is why so many females unintentionally abuse their hair with rough treatment.  The truth is, black hair is fragile and needs to be handled with care so it can thrive.

Tip: Using wide tooth combs/ Ouidad Double Detangler, soft bristle brush, water, natural ingredients, like: Coconut oil, Jojoba Oil, Almond Oil, and even your own fingers are some of the best tools and products that are essential to maintaining your natural hair.

2. You can’t do anything with natural hair

Many people think that Afro, Locs, or Braids are the only hairstyles for those who wear their hair natural. The truth is, there are many amazing styles to try including: Bantu knots, Two-strand twists, Puffs, Flat twists, Locs, Natural pinup, Twist outs. Natural hair styles are endless.

Tip: Search online for natural hair styles.

3. Wearing your hair natural is unmanageable

The truth is natural hair is very manageable. Hats off to the media and relaxer manufacturers who have done a great job of making us believe that our natural hair is difficult to manage and needs a miracle to maintain. It isn’t that natural hair isn’t manageable; it’s that people refuse to learn how to manage natural hair. Once you’ve learned and mastered the basic grooming techniques and have found products that your hair likes, combing and taking care of your natural hair will come easy.

4. Natural hair is a political statement

Natural hair is for everyone. Admittedly, in the ’60s the Afro was once a symbol for political change, but today, being natural is nothing more than a hairstyle. Women are getting tired of a 4-6 week routine touch-up, damage from relaxers, and even avoiding water.  They have decided to go natural. At the end of the day natural hair looks great on women wearing their dashikis as it does on women in a business suit.

5. Natural hair is unprofessional

Women with natural hair work in many professions: from teachers to lawyers, from news broadcasters to professional sports team owner. Ursula M. Burns is chairman and chief executive officer of Xerox Corporation, and she is also natural. As long as your hair is tidy, it’s professional. People need to step away from the mentality that straight hair equals neat and professional. Just because a person has given up the relaxer and is now totally natural doesn’t mean she also gives up on styling and taking care of her hair.  What’s important to remember is that there is no correlation between the hair and actual performance on the job.

Stephanie Joseph is Founder and Producer of the annual Toronto Natural Hair & Beauty Show. Check out the  site www.torontonaturals.ca

Supermodel Naomi Campbell's long straight bangs

By Isake Tom

Bangs are one of the easiest cuts your hairdresser will ever execute, instantly giving you an edgier look.

Bangs can take you from a plain Jane to a glamazon in seconds. This timeless look has proven popular amongst women due to the fact that it can work wonders for the shape of your face if cut right. It’s also very accessible, easy to maintain and suitable for all face shapes. Some gals (think supermodel Naomi Campbell) look absolutely stunning with bangs.

Bangs are the easiest way to revamp your look without losing too much length and can be cut in a variety of ways; blunt, wispy or choppy all delivering different results. The most important thing to remember is that bangs must be cut properly and should work to enhance your gorgeous features and face shape. So the next time you visit your hairdresser ask for bangs and VOILA, a new you!

Below the pros; Lisa Raye, Tamia, Kelly Rowland and Alesha Dixon show us their version of the classic do.

Last week Health Canada released a health advisory warning against the use of the increasingly popular Brazilian Blowout Solution, stating that the formula “has been found to contain unacceptable levels of formaldehyde”.

Now if you’re as shocked as I am, you’re probably wondering why anyone would knowingly apply formaldehyde (a chemical used to embalm dead bodies) to their scalp and hair. But with breathtaking before and after pictures circulating on the Internet, many women have already taken this leap faith and are opting for this revolutionary treatment as part of their hair routines. The solution, which significantly straightens the hair also requires extensive after care treatment with stunning results lasting up to 12 weeks.

So what is a Brazilian Blowout? According to the official website:

The BRAZILIAN BLOWOUT is the most innovative and effective professional smoothing treatment in the WORLD! Through the use of a Brazilian Super Nutrient Complex and a proprietary polymer system, the Brazilian Blowout actually improves the condition of the hair by creating a protective protein layer around the hair shaft to eliminate frizz and smooth the cuticle.The end result is smooth, healthy, frizz-free hair with radiant shine!

The website also states that the treatment contains no formaldehyde, which is in direct contrast to Health Canada’s findings of 12% formaldehyde in the solution. In addition, the FAQ section also states that the treatment works best on chemically treated hair i.e. hair that has been chemically relaxed or coloured. This would automatically make the treatment safe to use for most black women, as most of us chemically straighten our hair on a regular basis.

With many tutorials demonstrating the use of the product on Caucasian hair, it was great to find a video that showcased the product on a female with natural African hair. Below is a video of an African American woman in California undergoing the Brazilian Blowout treatment.

According to their advisory, Health Canada has received numerous complaints of “burning eyes, nose, and throat, breathing difficulties, and one report of hair loss associated with use of the product.” With a straightening process that requires a great deal of heat to achieve the best results, there are concerns that the process may release toxic formaldehyde fumes when in contact with common heat styling tools; i.e. flat irons or blow dryers. This puts clients and stylists directly in harm’s way.

Is it worth it?

That question will have to be answered by women who are considering the treatment as well as Health Canada. Clearly this debate will require more research now and in the near future. Currently Health Canada is working closely with the Canadian distributor of the product to address concerns regarding the Brazilian Blowout and stop distribution of the product to salons across Canada. But with results such as the one witnessed in the above video; glossy, manageable, polished looking hair, I believe I can safely assume that more black women will be seeking the services of the Brazilian Blowout as a solution to their hair woes. Personally, the amount of heat required to achieve this look makes me uncomfortable. The young woman’s hair in the video was literally smoking.  Also, the fact that a chemical such as formaldehyde is deliberately being applied to a living woman’s hair and scalp, really makes me worried. After my research I’ve been left wondering what next? What won’t we try to achieve ”manageable” hair? A colleague of mines suggested that I take a journalistic leap of faith and try the Brazilian Blowout on my hair, I loudly declined. Clearly there needs to be more research done on this new hair craze. To be continued.

Would you ever consider the Brazilian Blowout?

Have you tried it? If yes, what were your results?

We met my first day on the job. Being close in age we hit it off immediately. After a while, I quickly learned that she was a fitness guru of sorts, taking off on her lunch breaks to work up a sweat at the nearby gym. Finally after a few months, and teasing at how I managed to stay so trim without going to the gym she asked me to accompany her to hot yoga the next evening. Hmmm, hot yoga? Sounded like fun, yoga with a twist. There would be steam, calm and detoxification. Just a few more questions and we’d have a done deal.

Then it hit me. Did she say steam? and sweat? Sorry my friend, there will be no hot yoga for me.

Why? My hair. Sounds silly I know, but as much I wanted to experience the relaxation of hot yoga, I couldn’t justify throwing away the $100 I had just spent chemically and thermally straightening my hair. This was one thing my Asian gal pal and I didn’t have in common. How could I explain to her that I belong to a culture where hair is KIND OF A BIG DEAL?

The fact is nearly one third of black women exercise less due to their hairstyle management routines. This was discovered through a survey conducted by medical students at Wake Forest University in Salem, North Carolina. “Sweating out” their hairstyles and the time required to wash, dry, and recreate their previous hairstyle, were the top two reasons the participants (all black women) chose to live more sedentary lifestyles.

The women were considered active if they reported at least 30 minutes of physical activity per day, for at least 5 days a week. While 100% of the respondents (ages 21-60) agreed that leading a healthy lifestyle, complete with regular exercise is important, very few of them were meeting the basic physical activity cutoffs, with 31% admitting to engaging in little to no exercise because of their hair.

So what does this have to do with African Canadian women? Alot! It’s no secret that black women everywhere are known to spend more on their hair than women of any other ethnicity. This fact alone would explain the apprehension towards exercise, as women fear the risk of undoing costly hairstyles. It’s not uncommon for some of us to spend upwards of $100 getting our hair done. After spending that kind of moola, who wants to ‘sweat it out’ at the gym? As for our biracial sisters, or sisters with naturally curly hair they know first hand the horrors of trying to maintain thermally straightened hair. Clearly, hair poses a unique barrier to black women ‘s health.

Recently, I came across some helpful tips on how to prevent a post workout hair nightmare.

1. Wear hair in a ponytail, feel free to twist and secure the ends of the hair with pins. This will help the hair retain its bounce and body  and maintain your style. Wearing a sweat band also works to keep hair around the edges flat.
2. Wrap a silk or cotton scarf around your head to absorb perspiration and prevent  hair around the edges from curling.
3. Simply wear the hair natural.

With health concerns such as diabetes and hypertension, disproportionately affecting our community, physical activity is vital for our people.  Hair should never be a deterrent from living a healthy lifestyle. Find a hair option that works best for you and get moving!

Shaved blonde pompadour

By Isake Tom

From the extremely overdone rendition of the ‘do’ by American singer Janelle Monae to the more street ready version donned by the models of Fendi’s fall 2010 show, the pompadour is back, ready to tackle catwalks and red carpets everywhere. The rockabilly vintage inspired look, made popular in the 1940’s and 50’s, has resurfaced making it a fall 2010 hair trend.

To achieve this look, experts recommend smoothing the hair on the sides of the head, or if you’re feeling really brave completely shaving the hair off is an option as well. This gives the hair in the crown or bangs area some height.

To maintain the height of the hair at the crown, tease, backcomb and pin the hair, firmly securing it. Feel free to use bobby pins or hairspray to keep flyaways at bay, guaranteeing a long lasting glam look.  For a cute playful version of the pompadour, curling the hair in the crown area is also a great trick.

Tip: This trend calls for bold makeup, so go wild with smoky eyes and red lips.

Rihanna's 'spikey' version of the pompadour

Singer Janelle Monae rocks a natural pompadour as her signature look

By Isake Tom

With the release of their fall 2010 collection, esteemed luxury brand Louis Vuitton was clearly enamoured by the polished and graceful style of the 1950’s woman. For runway hair they chose the 1950’s ponytail as their signature look. Simple yet elegant, ponytails are an excellent way to show off stunning features and can be casual or formal depending on the occasion.

To achieve this look;

• Gather hair into a high pony using a secure ponytail holder.
• Once in place, wrap a small piece of hair around the base of the ponytail to camouflage the ponytail holder.
• Finally, a light hairspray can tame annoying flyaways providing a sleek finish.

A Three-Part Installment by Sway Contributor Odeen Eccleston

Today’s Discussion: Hair

Technically, it’s just an abounding assemblage of dead protein, dammit! Yet, technically, it’s also arguably one of the most emotionally-charged topics for women where physical appearance and self-image is concerned– particularly women of colour. For generations, females have been conditioned to consider their hair their crowning glory.

Women spend billions of dollars annually on hair and hair care/styling products, and black women spend more money on hair care than any other ethnic group. Thousands are spent on bi-weekly trips to the salon, expensive hair extensions, hair colour, flat irons and products that promise to reverse the damage done by the daily harm– often unnecessary products that guarantee body, health and strength but deliver disappointing results.  Though hair is understandably important to you, you must not and cannot afford to be a slave to it, especially if in debt or determined to stay out of debt.

To be liberated from the enslaving societal pressures of hair, some brave souls sever ties with the stress by getting rid of their locks altogether.  Shaving it all off in the name of defiance, minimalism, or edginess is a trend that is now more popular and socially acceptable than ever.  Kudos to those beautiful belles who manage to stay hella fly sans their tresses, (Solange Knowles, Amber Rose and Chrisette Michelle immediately come to mind). To reduce your hair care budget by at least 50%, you need not chop off your mane in its entirety; you will, however, have to start cutting major corners.

1. Location, Location, Location. As a real estate professional, knowledge of the dollar and cents value of property based on location is integral.  Location is undoubtedly important when it comes to buying and selling property but is definitely NOT important with regards to getting yourself a stunner hair-do for the highly anticipated End-of-Summer Big Barbecue Bash. The poorly heated unfinished basement of your Church Sister Aunt Betty may not be glamorous, but Betty gets the job done just as efficiently and impressively as the multi-award winning stylist Alberto at his high-priced High Park Salon– for a fraction of the price. Getting your hair done in the basement of someone’s crib instead of the sleek salon in Yorkville will easily save you hundreds.  All that matters is that the hair care provider is a certified professional. If you are a young person saving for your future/trying to speed out of debt, it is imperative that you sacrifice the cool, swanky atmosphere (for now), and get your hair done at discount rates elsewhere.
2. Loyalty is priceless. She miraculously manages to transform the hot mess on your head that you disgracefully walked in with, into an eye- and compliment-catching masterpiece that you’re proud to walk out with. She listens attentively and comments caringly when you’re spilling your guts about all the drama that transpired in your life since your last appointment. She knows you well and knows what works with your hair, and by virtue of this solid foundation and established relationship, she never fails to hook you up.  So once you’ve built a good rapport with an affordable hair-care professional, stick with her. If you don’t develop a sense of consistency and monogamy with one hair salon, it’ll cost you. No sense cheating on someone who gives you the whole package: someone you can trust, rely on (even when you only give them super short notice), makes you better, gives you everything you need and has your back.
3. Wearing weave can get pricy. But if it’s the Rapunzel lengths that you love, desire, and are not willing to compromise on for the life of you, consider this: one pack of hair extensions can run you upwards of $100. $100 times two to three packs plus the cost of professional installation/removal conservatively speaking equals $500-$600. Easily.  And the hair in that price range often has the audacity to lose its lustre after only a couple of weeks, so to stay fresh, you end up spending $500 per month on weave!  $500! On weave! Per month! For someone in debt or on the verge of debt this is utterly preposterous. So if you must have top of the line weave, buying Indian Remi hair that lasts a year is a prudent choice. I recommend a company called www.IndianHairNow.com. This type of hair is purchased by the pound and is a better investment, as it lasts longer and looks more natural.  You can shampoo, condition and re-use it  countless times, so in the long run, it is definitely more bang for your buck.
4. Take advantage of those little sample packet thingies. The owner of your local beauty supply shop may not have informed you of this, but ya know all of those products that he sells? (The relaxers, the deep-penetrating moisturizers, the hair dye, etc.). Well, the companies behind these various products are grateful for his business and inundate him with samples of their products as a token of their appreciation and to ensure that he has a certain degree of product knowledge. So if you’re trying to save money, you need to be bold and ask him for multiple samples of shampoos, conditioners, treatments, anti-frizzers and moisturizers. If he doesn’t have them right there by the cash register, he will indeed have them stored somewhere in the back. Don’t let them go to waste, gladly stock up on these samples to save yourself plenty.
5. Know when to do it yourself. Again, if you are in debt, sacrifices must be made. You simply cannot afford frequent appointments to the salon for root-touch ups, shampoos and trims as often as you may need to. If you currently go the your hair stylist every other week, cut it down to once a month, or even bi-monthly if you can. This will save you the cost of labour and the cost of gas. In between visits, save tons of money by shampooing your hair yourself, doing at-home protein treatments, and calling upon a good friend to help you flat iron the back part of your hair that you just can’t adequately reach yourself. Also, if you can’t do it yourself, ask your bestie to help you to take out your weave – what the heck else are bff‘s for??
6. Time is money. Whether your hair is long, short, relaxed or natural, if you are currently making strides to get out of or stay out of debt, you simply must spend less time on your hair. If this means preserving a perm for longer by swimming less, wearing a silk scarf nightly despite your boyfriend’s complaints, or rocking your fabulous natural curls (as opposed to getting them straightened at the salon weekly), then you must do what you’ve got to do. You can go swimming all you want, let your guy sweat out your perm whenever you want, and bone straighten your hair so often that you never have to untangle a single stubborn set of curls ever again– when you can afford to do so.  Make sacrifices on your hair today, allocate those saved dollars towards the depletion of your debt, and help ensure that a comfortable, care-free, hair blowing in the wind lifestyle is in your near future.

…..to be continued.

****Check back later for more tips, the conclusion of this three-part series about How to Stay Fly While Staying Out of Debt & more.

In the mean time- do you have a hair regimen or any hair tips that save you time and money? If so, I encourage you to share in the comment section below…who knows your tip may very well help someone out.

Have any style, lifestyle or real estate questions for Odeen?  Don’t hesitate to email her at: [email protected], or check out her website at www.MissTorontoRealtor.com

My three-part vacation to England and France begins in Yorkshire. It’s a county a few hours north-west of London. It’s perfect with rolling hills and pre-war stately architecture. And it’s the home of the the world famous Yorkshire pudding. Mmmm…
But like every fashionista, the clothes peek my interest most. Here’s a peek at what everyday people wear out and about in Halifax, Yorkshire:

Leather in any weather

Leather in any weather, rain or shine (in England, there’s lots of both.) This sister stays trendy yet tasteful by complementing her denim mini with leggings. She throws a light scarf around her neck for a fun finish.

Fashion trends are a gal's best friend

From head to toe, these chic chicks got it going on. Ruffled skirts, leg warmers, tights and shaggy bangs are gal’s best friends.

"I got this outfit at H&M in Leeds... The sweater was only 10 Pounds 50"

The handsome lad below shops in the Halifax Borough Market, among other trendy stores. He sports a cotton hoody vest, a fitted tee and skinny jeans which scream: I’m cool, confident and in style! “I got this outfit at H&M in Leeds” He says. “The sweater was only 10 pounds 50″ (translation: about 16 dollars Cnd.)

Heat up your summer with products that won’t burn your budget

The look:  An orange-red lip and braided ponytail.

Where to wear it: A rooftop get-together. This flirty lip colour and inventive braid are guaranteed to make you stand out against the night sky.

How to get it: Choose a lipstick shade with a warm red base and a twist of orange, like Joe Fresh Beauty Matte Lipstick in Poppy, $6. “Use an angled brush to apply it,” says makeup artist Roxanne DeNobrega. “The shape of the bristles gives precise definition around the edge of the lips, and you need more control when applying a strong colour.” You can also use a very light touch of the same coloured lipstick on your cheeks, to keep the tones on your face harmonious. Apply a small dab of it on the apples of your cheeks, only, and blend thoroughly.

Define the eyes to balance the rest of the face. Start by brushing a soft wash of Joe Fresh Beauty Eye Shadow in Pale Pink, $4, from lash lines to brow bones. Then, trace a thin streak of Joe Fresh Beauty Fine Liquid Eyeliner in Black, $6, on upper lash lines, and fill in eyebrows with brow powder.

For this hair look, stylist Maria Bertrand created a braid that crossed diagonally over our model’s head and extended well past shoulder length — thanks to extensions. But mile-long locks aren’t a prerequisite. Start by washing tresses with Kasnique Genius shampoo and conditioner. Then, use Ramoni Leave-in Silk Conditioner to keep hair smooth. Once dry, start a two-inch wide braid from the front of one side of your head and work diagonally toward the nape on the other side. “Leave the bangs loose,” says Bertrand. “This softens facial features and makes it a little different, which is what gets you noticed.”

Photography Alexis Finch
Makeup Roxanne DeNobrega,
roxannedenobrega.com
Hair Maria Bertrand, Kasnique Hair Designs,
kasnique.ca
Beauty editor Ingrie Williams
Special thanks to NAM Models

Budget-friendly beauty

Did you know you can pick up the latest makeup colours at the same place you grab your groceries? Joe Fresh Beauty, available at select Loblaws stores, has a wide range of eye, lip, cheek and nail colours, as well as foundations, concealers and pressed powders. The best part? You’ll only need a handful of toonies to treat yourself because nothing costs more than $8! Visit joe.ca to find a store near you.