Hey Kurlee's! As usual I am back again with a controversial question. Has your employer ever asked you to change your name because it is "not conservative" or "ghetto"?
Let us hear your story. How did you deal with it? How did it make you feel. Would you stay with that employer?
If we can't be free to be ourselves who else can we be?
I am all about self love and self acceptance but what is a girl to do when asked to change something that is at the very essence of her existence. What makes a name ghetto anyway.
The latest edition of the New York Times Style Magazine features natural hair trend setters like Esperanza Spalding, Solange Knowles, and Corrine Bailey Rae. Evening gowns and afros what more could a natural girl want?
Also check out the latest street style of London, Cairo and Japan.......take a sneak peek here.
You are such a feminist is what my boyfriend said to me. I smiled and said I know. What really lit my fire was my experience in corporate america. It only took 72 years for women to gain the right to vote and be considered equal among men---Why do you think it took them so long? Because they knew what we were capable of----In corporate america, I noticed that women were discriminated against in terms of pay, promotion or the fact that they had to take off for a pregnancy. One guy even said to if you have a baby your career is over..and that's just the way the cookie crumbles. Be it black, white or yellow men sometimes look at women as weak or inferior beings. In some parts of the world women are not allowed to drive or pass citizenship on to their children. It is sad but true.
RELATIONSHIPS
Who I really want to speak to are young women who remain in relationships that are beneath them.
How to tell if a guy is a jerk:
He doesn't call when he says he will.
He doesn't do what he says he will.
He always cancels at the last minute because something came up.
You have never heard his phone ring because its always on silent.
He says you're in a relationship but his Facebook says he is "single"....He says he just hasn't gotten around to changing it but he updates his status daily...
Need I say more? You get the drift. A woman's intuition is never wrong (Disclaimer: that is if you are a rational woman.) If you think he is less than faithful he probably is. And if you think you deserve more you definitely do.
WORK
Statistics show that women make 25% less than men for the same job and are less likely to negotiate salary. I know it's a Boy's Club and men tend to network more than we do. They play golf with the head of the department and go out drinking until 5 am and are back to work the next day as sober as a preacher on Sunday morning. Yes, genetically we are built differently but I like to think we are built better. Could you imagine how lonely and confused Adam would have been if Eve wasn't created? Thank goodness Eve gave him the apple because if he were left alone with the serpent who knows what would have happened to mankind (this is just a joke). You know you are smarter than that dumb jock who just passed you over for a promotion. So why sit back and let men have all the fun and make all the money. Get in the game and know that they are your competition and you can do it better than them because you can do it in a skirt with 4 inch heels.
Women we need to take back our power. No longer should we allow men to treat us less than our worth. Or step on us for a promotion that we know we should have gotten.
FACTS
You are WOMAN.
Beautiful and Strong.
Strong enough to bear children and get back to business. (Beyonce)
Strong enough to raise great outstanding children on your own.
For centuries men have raised wars over you. (Summer's Eve)
You are the center of Civilization.
You are the Most Powerful being on EARTH!
You are WOMAN.
So when you're feeling a little down or less than who you know you are. Take a look and listen carefully to the words of Beyonce's song "Run the World (GIRLS)" and the Summer's Eve commercial "Hail to the V".
Run the World (Girls)- Beyonce
Summer's Eve Hail to the V
This post is not about male bashing it is about uplifting women who men have put down.
Don't mess with the power of the tweet---that is my advice to Nivea after Wednesday's battle over an ad featuring a clean cut black man holding a picture of a guy with an Afro. The ad read "Re-civilize Yourself" leading viewers to believe that Nivea's opinion of an afro or natural hair is less than acceptable.
What are your thoughts on this "hot mess" of an ad? I for one think it's marketing suicide---along with other thoughts that I cannot state on this blog. First of all---Does this mean that Nivea does not have African American or Blacks on their Marketing staff? I mean someone should have told them this is a No No. Second of all-----Do they even have a marketing research team? I think someone needs to be fired if they haven't heard about the increasing number of African Americans and Blacks who are embracing their natural hair texture. This ad must have been for publicity only.
As a person with natural hair, would you buy Nivea's products?
Check out the Founder and CEO of Kurlee Belle featured with Artist Keisha Oliver in the Nassau Guardian. Special Thanks to Lashona Knowles of All U 242 and CONGRATULATIONS on your launch.
According to my good old friend "Wikipedia", a model sometimes referred to as mannequin is a person who is employed for the purpose of displaying and promoting fashion clothing or other products.......lately I have been searching for natural hair models. I want to see the kind of fashion that they are wearing to accentuate their natural hair. To my surprise natural hair goes with everything....Runway status dresses...mini skirts.....blazers...button downs....floral dresses......What I am trying to say is, no matter your hair texture you can dress however you want. Just because I am natural doesn't mean I have to dress afro centric (nothing is wrong with this) but I can dress preppy, chic, classic or cutting edge. Don't believe me? Then check out some of the flyest natural hair models in the industry.
Whoever said Natural Hair wasn't high fashion definitely never saw these ladies....the next time you think your hair isn't acceptable remember it was ROCKED ON THE RUNWAY....although not everything on the runway should see the light of day --------you get my point.
Wakeema
Alek
Jesse
Bre
Yaya
Fayruz
Jasmine
Blog post inspired by: MelissaChanel2 Check out her cool blog.
Flipping through the recent edition of Elle Magazine, I stumbled upon a pleasant surprise. Three whole pages dedicated to one of the flyest Naturalista's and musicians of our time--Esperanza Spalding. The article features Esperanza hanging out in her new town Austin, Texas. She shares where she likes to eat, shop and explore when she is not practicing her music. For more on her interview about Austin check out: Austin Found. I love seeing Naturalista's in main stream publications..makes my heat smile.
"The Help" the movie came out yesterday (August 10th). I have been hearing that it is a great movie to see and the book is even better.
The Help is based on the book which captures the views of three extraordinary women in Mississippi during the 1960's. These women very different from each other build a friendship around a secret writing project that breaks societal rules and puts them all at risk.
If you are looking for something to do with your girlfriends this is it. My girlfriends and I are going to see it tonight.
Are you one of those people that like to read the book before you see the movie?
I am really loving this new natural look on Rihanna. These photos taken this weekend of Rihanna in Barbados reminds me so much of Beyonce.....you be the judge.
As much as we want to deny it or change the way the world thinks there are still people out there who think this way. What it all boils down to is survival of the fittest. We want to mate with the most attractive mate to ensure the survival of our offspring. Choosing a mate that is lighter and has "good" hair will ensure that our offspring will be more attractive and therefore be more accepted. --this is not my opinion--
I grew up in the Bahamas where "Mango" skin girls (light skin girls) were considered the prettiest girls. I remember one day in high school a "Mango" girl said to me " I feel so sorry for you because you are so black." After she said that I reached out and slapped her. I was never a trouble maker or violent but what she said to me was an insult to my existence. Although, I grew up in a place where light skin was better than black skin I never thought that anyone regardless of skin color was better than me. I have countless memories from childhood where I was treated differently because of my dark complexion. For instance, my mom's cousin would babysit me and I couldn't lay on her bed or floor because she said my dark skin would dirty her sheets and rug. I recently visited her and she told me " You don't look as dark as you used to when you were a kid." All I could do was laugh.
Do you find yourself dating men with certain characteristics (hair, skin color) because you think the two of you would make "good looking" children?
Take a look at the Dark Girls Documentary that will be released this October. Sad but true.
#1- My hair has a mind of its own. Even though I want it to hang down onto my face, it insists on sticking up in the air. To tame it I pin it down or flexi rod it but in the end it does whatever it wants.
#2- Dryness comes with the territory. Oils, water and conditioners are its best friend. Daily regimen includes spraying with water, applying oil (Vitamin E, Olive oil, etc) then conditioning before twisting or braiding.
#3- My quest for the perfect curl as Elle would say is endless. The hair on the sides and back are kinkier than the front and the middle. Styling can be unpredictable. My twist outs never look the same but its my hair what can I say.
#4- My hair is forgiving. Over the years I have permed, mirco braided, weaved, colored, cut, shaved and fried it but it continues to stand up proudly on my head. We have been through a lot but thank goodness it has forgiven me for I have sinned against it.
#5 My hair is beautiful. I am kind of mad at my mom for relaxing my beautiful curls because I know I would have a long head of curly hair if she didn't. The first time I saw my curls was at the age 23. My only regret is that I didn't introduce them to the world sooner.
Everyday I learn something new about how to style or care for my hair. I know that my hair compliments my dark complexion. It allows me to change up my look, I can be preppy one day and afro centric the next. All in all, there is no potion in a jar that allows others to get my hair texture which lets me know that I am unique. It is so beautiful and different that others are amazed and want to touch it---but this ain't no petting zoo. It may sometimes be looked at as being unprofessional or too African but the good Lord thinks it's beautiful and that's why he gave it to me.
This is for the transitioners who sometimes get frustrated and want to go back to relaxers. Remember it is a marathon not a sprint. It is hard in the beginning but the end result is well worth it. Better to be the best BEAUTIFUL version of yourself than an average version of someone else. At the end of the day there is more to you than your hair and never let anyone keep you down because of the way your hair grows out of your scalp.
If you are having a meet-up and would like to be featured on Kurlee Belle send me an email at Terrinique@kurleebelle.com. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
In the past few years there has been a natural hair revolution in the black community. I find myself looking around at the gym, church, the mall and in airports for women with natural hair. To my surprise, I have been noticing that there are more naturals than relaxed girls....which made me coin the phrase "Perms are so 1992." This is not to disrespect women with relaxers, I am just acknowledging the trend among women of color who have decided to embrace their natural beauty.
It appears that the media is catching on to this trend with recent articles on CNN and the New York Times highlighting African American women and their natural hair. Also a rendition of a Sesame Street puppet singing I Love My Hair and Forever 21's "I love my hair" Tee (Currently out of stock-pictured to the left) further solidifies that the world is taking notice of our big and bold kinks and curls.
We all know the effects of a weave or color gone bad but we still love them. Remember that summer you got micros and it pulled out all your sides? Or those bleach blonde highlights that ate away at your hair? Even though weaves and color look great for the moment they definitely have a lastly effect. Many of us, have chosen to join team natural because of the damage caused by styling. Just like us, celebrities get bored with their style and need to switch it up. Which leads me to wonder what celebrities like Naomi Campbell or Beyonce would look like if they joined team natural?
Naomi Campbell
We have all seen the embarrassing photos of Naomi's thinning sides. That was definitely a weave gone bad. This picture captures the natural beauty that is hidden behind the long Indian hair that Naomi loves so much.
Beyonce
Beyonce! Beyonce! I love this girl and really can't get enough of her music but I’m a bit tired of seeing the same old long blonde tresses as she pops her booty on stage. This pic of Beyonce reminds me a little of Tina Turner or Diana Ross….one of the two but I think she would be a beautiful addition to team natural.
Rihanna
It is undeniable that Rihanna is the queen of hair and fashion trends. Remember the asymmetrical bob trend? Yea I know you do. I bet you even tried it. Or her jet black mohawk? When it comes to style Rihanna's got it. She appears to be over her fierce red mane as we recently saw her sport a new do. Rihanna looks fabulous in this afro/twisted wig.
Nicki Minaj
Nicki is definitely not scaaarrreed to change up her look. From bright pink to multi colored blonde Nicki has tried it all. What I would really like to see is how she would look with her natural tresses. She is such a beautiful girl with an awesome voice.
Jennifer Hudson
If one person in hollywood has brought sexy back its Jennifer Hudson. She looked great 40 pounds ago but she looks even better now. Looks like having a baby and a new man has been good for Jen (it usually works the opposite for most of us---referring to weight). I loved her role in "Sex and the City" and " Dream Girls", in both movies she wore a curlier mane. I think her beautiful face would definitely compliment a textured fro.
which was produced by Q-tip.
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