My Bag Ladies Radio: The Reality of Life, Living and Being a Woman: dreadlocks

Showing posts with label dreadlocks. Show all posts

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

#HEELSTOTHEWHEELS SERIES: @LOCLOV'S HOLISTIC APPROACH TO NATURAL HAIR CARE

I've no doubt been enjoying putting #heelstothewheels in the 2014 +Kia Motors Worldwide Optima Hybrid EX. The fact that it is a Hybrid and has definitely resulted in my being more considerate of the environmental impact of not just cars but habits, products used, etc. I had a Q and A ~~sit-down~~ ride along in the 2014 Kia Optima Hybrid EX with my own stylist (only the best), as well as Owner and Master Loctician, Salih Watts of www.loclov.com, for my most recent #heelstothewheels edition, to dish on the development of Loc Lov Styles 100% natural hair and body collection.

Owner and Master Locitician, Salih Watts of www.loclov.com, pictured in the 2014 Kia Optima Hybrid EX as we dish Loc Lov Hair and Body collection.

Q: RUNNING A SALON IS HARD ENOUGH, WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO START A HAIR AND BODY COLLECTION?
A: I have seen the damage that unhealthy products and styling practices cause in our client's hair, so myself and my Product Manager, Zeenat Watts, developed our own line of 100% natural hair care products that are highly effective.

Q: WHAT MAKES YOUR PRODUCT COLLECTION SO EFFECTIVE?
A: Loc Lov products can restore and reinvigorate damaged or neglected hair.

Q: WHERE ARE LOC LOV PRODUCTS MADE?
A: All of our products are made in-house at our salon in Silver Spring, MD with the right combination of premium quality and 100% natural ingredients. Before introducing products to the masses, we tested and perfected over the past 5 years on our very own clients with all different textures, styles and special hair needs.

Q: WHAT IS YOUR MOST POPULAR PRODUCT?
A: That is a hard question to answer because every customer has different needs. If I had to choose, I would say our Refresh'N which we refer to as the Febreeze for hair. It's designed to be used in between shampoos to neutralize any unwanted odor in one's hair and replace with a fresh, light and natural scent. But we also have products that address common issues like psoriasis and dermatitis and the response has been excellent. Sometimes clients feel as if they have no choice but to deal with their issues not knowing there are available treatment options that are effective. We also have a shea butter product that doubles as both a hair and body moisturizer.

Loc Lov's product lineup includes a no-reside Hair Hold Polish, Refresh'N, Hair Nectar and more. Visit www.loclov.com for the complete hair and body collection.

Q: WHAT ARE SOME OF THE MOST COMMON INGREDIENTS USED IN LOC LOV PRODUCTS?
A: Grapeseed oil, Aloe Vera, Rosemary, Tea Tree. But it varies depending on the purpose of the product. Our biggest thing was just wanting to be all-natural because I've seen the adverse affects of using products full of chemicals and other things that can take a toll on your hair.

Q: WHERE DO YOU WANT TO GO FROM HERE WITH LOC LOV PRODUCTS?
A: Products are currently available for purchase in-house and online at www.loclov.com. But we want to be available to the masses and want to secure mass distribution in both independent and major retail outlets. The natural hair market is huge. We don't want to cater to a select few. We want to cater to the mass market and those who can truly benefit from the products we are producing so that their natural hair needs are effectively met.

Q: LAST QUESTION, WHAT IS YOUR MOST FAVE FEATURE OF THE 2014 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID EX?
A: The panoramic sunroof is amazing. It's so open and makes this ride feel even more spacious.

Do you rock eau natural? What do you look for in natural hair products?

For more about Loc Lov, visit www.loclov.com. This #heelstothewheels series continues. Follow my "Heels To The Wheels" chronicles featuring the 2014 Kia Optima Hybrid EX on Instagram and Twitter @bagladies, hashtag #heelstothewheels.

Follow me on IG/Twitter and Vine @bagladies.

New season lineup soon to come to the online airwaves of Bag Ladies Radio. In the meantime, OnDemand/iTunes are 24/7. Check out my fave show picks and access recent shows and the full archive at bagladiesradio.com/listen. Follow on Twitter and Instagram

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Thursday, June 19, 2014

I WAS FEATURED FOR "WONDER WOMEN WEDNESDAY" ON @_LOCOLOGY_

Locology, which is the Instagram page of LocologyMagazine.com, has a weekly feature tagged as "Wonder Women Wednesday" during which they showcase women who have a natural hair journey specific to locs, dreadlocks, dreads or however you might refer.
I was flattered to have been featured yesterday. I jokingly replied to the post that I oftentimes feel like I'm wearing a cape. Wonder Woman! This is my 2nd time around having locs. After having locs for about 4 years, I cut them in 2004 when my first child was born. I always said I would go another round but this time was completely unintentional. I previously kept my hair very short. An "even steven" is what I called it. I missed seeing my barber for a couple weeks and before I knew it, I had an adorable fro and I just didn't want to cut it. Thus, locs for the 2nd time around. It's been 3+ years and my locs are growing twice as fast this time around and I'm having much more fun with styling options which is a testament to working with a great stylist (Salih Watts, loclov.com), and using good product. You can see pics all over my Instagram page @bagladies.

(Post by Bag Ladies Radio Show.)

This particular featured pic was from a shoot last year by Tiffany Josephs. I LOVE my current length. It's the longest my hair has been in like forever. I said for the summer I would just rock up-do's and not let my hair down until my birthday in October. I can't wait to see the length then. I'm also considering color to switch it up for the summer.

Do you have locs or have you ever considered?

Follow me on IG/Twitter and Vine @bagladies.

Monday, June 9, 2014

I'M HOSTING LOC LOV'S NAPPY HOUR NETWORK + MINGLE THIS SATURDAY ...

If you love to dish hair and beauty as much as I do, then you don't want to miss this affair. And especially if you are a Blogger, Vlogger or Social Media Maven. My own beloved stylist, Salih Watts, the one responsible for keeping my mane tamed is presenting an evening just for you, an intimate affair and I have the privilege of hosting.

Nappy Hour, presented by Loc Lov Styles and hosted by yours truly ...

Picture wrapping up all your Saturday going's-ons and errands and swinging through Nappy Hour for good conversation, fun, lite snacks and libations aka, something to sip on, while having an opportunity to take in not only live styling demos for both locs and natural free hair styles. But also enjoy a live Q&A regarding Loc Lov's own hair and body collection including two signature products just introduced. Celebrity MUA, Lola's Beauty Mark will be participating and dolling everyone up as per her lip and lash bar. So you can come, get cute and then hit the town after. There will also be FANTASTIC give-a-ways and swag. If I said it, you can believe it to be true.

Loc Lov Styles is setting standards and they are endeavoring to share their educated and holistic approach and much more. Nappy Hour is an exclusive event so you must RSVP via email to info@bagladiesradio.com. Click here for the event link. Upon confirmation of your attendance, the location will be disclosed. See you Saturday!!

P.S. - Have your biz cards in hand!

Follow me on IG/Twitter and Vine @bagladies.

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

NATURAL HAIR TIPS FROM THE NATURAL HAIR NSTITUTE TO TAME YOUR MANE!

When I happened upon a post on Instagram last week soliciting volunteers for a "FREE" natural hair consultation offered by The Natural Hair Nstitute to allow currently enrolled students to perfect their skills, I was all in. This is my second time around having locs and I love dishing about maintenance, products, treatments and how I can tame my mane.

I previously met one of the founders of The Natural Hair Nstitute, Angela Walker, at last years, The Naturalista Hair Show which Angela also founded. I participated on a panel alongside fabulous Bloggers, Jonna of Naturally-Glam.com, Jess Gray of HairGetsKinky.com and Mae of NaturalChica.com. I love Angela's efforts to draw attention to the natural hair community and how she shapes her brands to encompass that sense of community is awesome. It was my pleasure to lend her my full support. It was my first time visiting her space and upon arriving, I was greeted and asked to fill out a questionnaire regarding how long I've been natural and how I feel about my hair and the perception of those of us who are natural. As I go about my daily life, I don't necessarily focus on the fact that I am natural but as I answered the questions, I realized how much more empowered I feel being natural. For me, being natural affords me more versatility and being natural in no way diminishes my confidence. I also realized that I've been natural for at least 20 years. Wow, that's a long time! But even though I have been natural for so long, I realize that there is still much to learn. I dare not be so presumptuous as to think I know all there is to know when it comes to taming my mane and making sure it's healthy. I was excited to receive feedback from participating students about how I tame my mane and how I can improve particularly regarding retaining moisture. I wanted to share my favorite take-a-ways and hopefully they might help you in your natural hair journey.

HYDRATE - The standard recommendation is that you drink 6-8 oz. of water 8 times a day but not only is this critical to your physical health but to your hair health. Staying hydrated helps to retain moisture and keeps your scalp from getting irritated.

HAVE A ROUTINE - Unlike my nightly skincare routine during which I remove all makeup and moisturize, I only typically apply product to my hair as needed. Be proactive. Don't wait until a problem arises. Every 2-3 days, apply oil to your scalp and massage it in.

LAYER PRODUCT - In an effort to seal in moisture, apply a leave in conditioning spray which can be applied all over to both your hair and scalp. But then follow-up with an oil and apply directly to your scalp to seal. I am a fan of Eden Body Works Peppermint Tea Tree Oil. But this was a never before considered tip for me because I love the leave in sprays because having locs, the sprays don't leave a residue. But I never considered layering.

KEEP A HAIR JOURNAL - Document that which you eat and products that you use. If you notice an adverse hair reaction be it irritation or shedding or dryness, it makes the process of pinpointing the cause much easier. But keeping a journal also helps when trying different products and if you like a product in particular, it makes it easier to keep track of what you like and don't like.

BREATHE - Not only does this apply to just ourselves and everyday life but also our hair. You know the one-liner, "don't be afraid to let your hair down"? It applies literally to our hair too. You gotta let it out and let it breathe. Up do's are great. I love up do's. My locs have great length so I go through phases when sometimes I want them out and sometimes I want them up but I do switch it up. Don't keep your hair pinned up and pent up all the time.

DIY - I loved this suggestion regarding adding natural ingredients like rosemary, sage or peppermint to water and pouring into a spray bottle and utilizing that as a leave-in. Not only does it help to retain moisture but it also leaves your mane smelling great. And I can do this myself.

I hope these tips help. Do you have any tips of your own to offer?

Stay abreast regarding details for this year's The Naturalista Hair Show, August 2 - 3 2014 in Silver Spring, MD.

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