SNEAK PEEK of Kurlee Belle Products!

Mad Hair Monday: Kimbella of Love & Hip-Hop

This week's Mad Hair Monday model is Kimbella of VH1's Love & Hip-Hop. Kimbella is known for her provocative outfits, baby daddy Julez Santanna and stunning looks. What we like most about Kimbella is her gorgeous gold curly locks. If you have fierce natural hair send your photo to info@kurleebelle.com to be featured as our Mad Hair Monday model of the week! 

Mad Hair Monday: Short Cut with Bronze & Gold Highlights

It's Monday ya'll.....and our Natural Hair model of the day is Melissa Chanel of MelissaChanel blog. Melissa has a short cut which is low in the back and longer on top. To compliment her skin tone and hazel eyes she has bronze and gold highlights. Check out her blog about natural hair and fashion @www.melissachanel2.blogspot.com. If you have fly natural hair send your photo to info@kurleebelle.com to be featured as a Mad Hair Monday model. 

Mad Hair Monday: Fiery Red

Hair done. Nails done. Everything did. If you think you're fancy send your natural hair photo to info@kurleebelle.com to be featured as our Mad Hair Monday model of the week. Every Monday we will post a gorgeous photo of a naturalista and it could be you! Happy New Year & do it big in 2012. 

My Natural Hair Journey around the world...

RELATIONSHIPS & WORK: Ladies Know your POWER!

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.

Natural Hair Models

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. 

Go on now and show the world your swag!

5 things I have learned from my Natural Hair.

#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. 

NATURAL HAIR EVENTS: Mississippi, DC, Maryland, Virginia & Nassau,Bahamas?

Your girlfriend: Girl did you hear about the last natural hair meet-up? 


You: Girl no what happened? 


Your Girlfriend: They gave away all kinda stuff. I'm talking Kurlee Belle T-shirts, product giveaways and they even did demonstrations. 


You: Are you serious? Girl, you know I love FREE STUFF!


Your girlfriend: I sure do! Like my earrings you're rocking right now. 


You: LOL. Well I'm definitely not missing out this time around. 


Hey Naturalista's! If you live in any of the cities mentioned above there is a Natural Hair Meet-up coming your way! 


They are all on AUGUST 13th!!! Weird huh? I thought so too but that's besides the point. If you live in any of these areas here are details. 

Mississippi

Natural Hair Meet up Extravaganza hosted by SouthWest Mississippi Naturals.

Prizes include: Kurlee Belle natural hair self expression tees and more. 

Directions: McComb Public Library, 1022 Virgina Ave., McComb, MS

Time: 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm 

To sign up:  CLICK HERE

SouthWest Mississippi Naturals Facebook Page

DC, Maryland, and Virginia

NuGrowth Meetup with Glamswagger will host a Natural Hair Meet Up at Vapiano Chinatown. 

Directions: 623 H Street NW, Washington, DC 

Time: 6:00 pm

To sign up: CLICK HERE

Glamswagger Blog: http://www.glamswagger.com
NuGrowth Website: http://curlynugrowth.com

Nassau, Bahamas

All U 242 Launch and Mixer (TWO DAY EVENT)

Venue: Marley Resort & Spa

Time: 7:00 pm and August 14th at 7:00 pm 

To sign up: CLICK HERE

Website: http://www.allu242.com

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. 

YouTube's Top 5 Natural Hair Care Vloggers

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. 

Today's article in the Huffington Post features 5 natural hair vloggers we have all grown to love. Check out the link: Youtube's Top 5 Natural Hair Care Vloggers.

Check out Elle's Holiest of the Holy Grail List! She is wearing the "I LOVE MY CURLS" Tee

Check out Elle's blog at: Quest for the Perfect Curl

5 celebrities we wish would join team natural

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.  

Hair Recipes so good you can eat them!

There is no doubt that beautiful hair is a measure of its care. As mentioned in The Natural Hair Care Regimen, it is imperative that you deep condition your hair at least once a week to keep it healthy. 

Curly hair unlike straight hair often lacks moisture. This is one of the reasons why you need to deep condition more now than when you had a relaxer. Here are a some yummy recipes whose ingredients can be found in your kitchen.  

Avocado and Honey Deep Conditioner

1/2 Avocado

1 egg

1 tablespoon of honey

1 cup of mayonnaise 

In a bowl mash avocado to a paste. Mix all ingredients in a blender until smooth. Apply mixture to damp hair. Cover hair with plastic cap. Sit under dryer for 15 mins. Wash hair with moisturizing shampoo. 

Avocado- Nourishes, smoothes and softens hair. 

Eggs- Add shine and bounce to hair.

Honey- Adds shine and makes hair soft and supple.

Mayonnaise- moisturizes while giving hair shine and body. 

Banana and Coconut Deep Conditioner

1 banana

1 egg

5 tablespoons of coconut oil 

3 tablespoons of olive oil

2 tablespoons of milk

Blend banana and egg in a bowl. Add other ingredients and mix until smooth (blender preferred). Apply to hair and cover with a plastic cap. Sit under hooded dryer for 15 mins. Wash hair with moisturizing shampoo. 

Banana- contains potassium which softens the hair.

Eggs- Add shine and bounce to hair. 

Coconut oil- Deeply moisturizes, conditions and softens.

Olive Oil- conditions the hair. 

Milk- moisturizes and nourishes hair. 

For more hair tips, tricks and trends follow us on Twitter and Facebook. 

DIY: Natural Hair and Button Earrings

Studded earrings and short natural hair are a perfect combination! Nothing says elegant and classy like an updo and FAB earrings. Ever pictured a certain kind/type of earring but couldn't find it anywhere? Well here is your chance to create your masterpiece. Below is a Do-It-Yourself guide to creating personalized earrings. 

What do you need:

1. Superglue
2. Earring backs (Purchase online at : www.Hancockfabrics.com or any Fabric store near you.)
3. Buttons, bottle caps or anything with a flat back surface that you think would make a cute pair of earrings. 

How To: 

1. Superglue flat part of earring back to reverse side of flat button, and let dry for 3 minutes.
2. Repeat on second button to make a pair of earrings and viola!!! 

*I'm sure you have some old jackets that have fabulous buttons. If not visit a thrift store and go button shopping. You can even get creative by spraying, painting or decorating your button earrings.*

*WARNING: This can be an extremely fun project if girlfriends are added.*

For more hair tips, trends and tricks follow us on Twitter or Facebook. 

6 Summer Hair Survival Tips

Summer heat can do a number on our hair, leaving it dry and out of control. Here are a few tips to keep your hair looking its best as we try to beat the heat. 

1. Condition and Go! 


The summer heat can leave you feeling sticky and gross...and your hair sweaty. Instead of washing your hair everyday, try rinsing it (with water only) in the shower and applying conditioner. Washing your hair everyday can strip away essential nutrients leaving it dry and rough. By rinsing with water instead of shampoo, allows you to wash away the sweat and odor without stripping natural oils.


*Tip: Section hair in twists or braids before rinsing in the shower to reduce styling time.* 

2. Avoid Clarifying Shampoos.


Curly hair is prone to feeling rough and looking dry. Clarifying shampoos provides no added benefit for curly hair. This type of shampoo offers zero protection from damage, especially when hair is in its most vulnerable state. Moisturizing shampoos are best for curly hair because they defend against damage and frizz.

3. Quench thirsty curls.


"Curly hair has more protein and less moisture than straight hair, so it seeks to balance itself by absorbing any available moisture," says Craig Carter, an ethnic-hair expert with the Carlos Lobo Salon in New York City. If your hair is parched, it will pull moisture from the humid air, leading hair shafts to become puffy and frizzy. A weekly deep-conditioning mask will help curly hair stay well-hydrated and will create a humidity barrier.

4. Air drying is better.


Instead of pulling out the blow dryer or sitting under the hooded dryer...opt to air dry. This summer's heat should be the only heat your hair experiences. Heating your hair with styling tools and staying out in the sun is like baking a cake twice. Bantu knots, two strand twists or a good old Wash-n-go are great styles for air drying.

5. Less is more. 

Has your hair stylist ever told you to "Use a dime size of product?"Applying too much product can weigh the hair down and leave it feeling sticky. Use a dime or quarter size amount of your favorite leave in and apply equal amounts to each section of the hair. The results should yield a uniform curl pattern.


*Tip: Remember to apply the product from root to tip. The scalp should always be clean--no product required.*

6. Get wet before getting wet. 


If you plan to visit the beach or pool this summer don't do so before wetting your hair. Rinse your curls before and after you get out of the water, then apply leave-in conditioner. A thick or cream leave in conditioner is recommended for coarse and thick curls.

For more hair tips, tricks, trends and news follow us on Twitter or Facebook.

The Natural Hair Care Regimen

Natural or Relaxed! Straight or Curly! Hair is Hair and It needs love and care. Ever wonder why some women have beautiful long hair? What is it that they are doing? Maybe it's genetics or maybe it's their hair care routine. 

You can't lose weight without working out and eating healthy. The same applies to growing healthy hair. In order to get long beautiful healthy hair you need a hair care regimen (and like exercising you must stick to it for it to work). "Yea I know some people can eat crap and stay thin...and some don't take care of their and it's still grows." Life isn't fair right? :) 

Someone once told me "Treat your hair like a million bucks and it will treat you back". 

For decades we've had varying hair care practices like: only washing our hair every two weeks or greasing our scalp. These habits were passed down from generations. Just how some things get better with time some things DON'T.......and that includes our outdated hair care regimens. 

I want hair like hers...so here is what you should do: 

#1 Cleansing

Weekly cleansing is very important to get rid of product buildup, bacteria, dead skin cells and dirt that clog our pores. Cleansing the hair and scalp allows our hair to breathe and in turn grow. If you use products that contain mineral oils or petroleum then you may need to use a sulfate shampoo to rinse away the synthetic ingredients. If you use products with natural ingredients then a sulfate-free shampoo is recommended. 

Just so you know....Shampoos containing sulfates can strip the hair of its natural oils leaving it dry and dull looking therefore it is not recommended for weekly use... A sulfate-free shampoo can be used weekly.

How do I know if my shampoo has sulfates? Look for words that are a variation of the following:  sulfate, -fate, laurel, lauryl, and sulfite. 

#2 Protective Styling

The key to growing long and strong hair is protecting it especially the ends. Pay special attention to your ends by trimming them and being extra careful when detangling. Protective styles like bantu knots, braids or the occasional sew-in are good ways to give your hair a break. The ends are the oldest part of the hair and therefore the most fragile. Sebum produced by the hair follicles have a harder time reaching the ends of curly hair because of its spiral like pattern. This means that the ends are more suspetible to dryness. 

Given the hot and humid temperatures of this summer, protecting your hair against UV rays is a must. The less time you spend in the sun the better your hair and skin. Wear a hat, scarf or UV protection products on days when you expect to get extended sun exposure. 

#3 Deep Conditioning

Deep conditioning is important because it allows the conditioner to penetrate the hair shaft. It's also a great way to have a "Pamper Me Party" where you can treat yourself to your favorite magazine or catch up on reading. When purchasing deep conditioners look for products that contain natural ingredients like avocado, honey, vegetable glycerin or olive oil. Stay away from mineral oil or petroleum because these ingredients do not penetrate the hair follicles only build up on them. A good practice is to deep condition at least once a week, wet hair, apply deep conditioner and sit under a hooded dryer for at least 15 minutes. The results should be soft, shiny and manageable hair. 

#4 Daily Moisturizing

Our hair texture requires more moisture than any other hair texture because of its kinks and spirals. Therefore, daily moisture is key to keeping our tresses happy. Since water is the only substance that can penetrate the hair follicle it is important to seek water based moisturizers. Moisturizes make the hair more elastic, soft and manageable. As a result the hair is less dry, brittle and does not break easily. Spray the hair with 100% H20 nightly or before styling to get your daily moisture fix. 

#5 Night time Protective Wraps

Protecting our hair at night time is key to our hair care routine. Since our hair is susceptible to dryness it is important to cover it up while we sleep. Sleeping without a scarf on a cotton pillowcase causes friction between the hair and the fabric. This friction results in the moisture being removed from our strands and sometimes breakage. Have you ever looked at your pillowcase and wondered why so many hairs had shedded during the night? It's because of friction. At night, wrap your hair with a silk or satin scarf or bonnet. These fabrics reduce friction and allow your hair to retain moisture while you get your beauty rest. 

Start your journey to long, beautiful, healthy, natural hair...Let me know how it goes. 

For hair care tips, tricks and trends follow us on Twitter or "Like" us on Facebook.