First, long time no see curlies! More on this later. Second, I need to go to the Afro Punk Fest–stat! I am ashamed to admit that I didn’t know that this event exists and that I’ve been missing out. On my to-do list for next year! I just hope that it doesn’t get overexposed or played out a la Coachella. đ
Check out all the enviously creative hair and street styles, and let me know if you’d rock them steady!
More and more, all types of curlies are popping up everywhere on the television screen. Each time I spot an awesome chica with natural hair, it makes me want to break into a happy dance. For those of us who are a little longer in the tooth, there was a day, once upon a time, when youâd be hard pressed to see a lady on TV with natural hair. Iâm not talking about the good olâ 70s when actresses like Pam Grier and Cicely Tyson were holding it down with their braids and afros ⊠pause. Please tell me that youâre familiar with both ladies. If not, I banish thee to Google, now!
Anyhoo, weâre at another turning point, which will hopefully last beyond generational trends and politics. Itâs difficult to forecast since anything is possible. For now, letâs optimistically hope that this popularity in pop culture is the new normal (crosses fingers).
The first sighting I caught in June is one that Iâm sure youâve already seen. Old Navy gave Boys II Men some props by featuring the boy band (are they too mature for such a title?) in a commercial, titled “In-Flight Entertainment.” In the spot, the Boys treat us to their classic hit, âIâll Make Love To Youâ while seemingly aboard an airplane.
The skit continues with ladies in white Old Navy pants strutting down the aisle, including ⊠you guessed itâa naturally curly girl. Not only does our natural haired gal model, but she also has a speaking part during which she gushes about her pants. Youâll notice that her hair looks as if itâs styled in a braid-out. Upon closer analysis (consisting of pausing, rewinding, and playing the commercial at least five times), it looks as if the modelâs texture is indeed natural. Thumbs up Old Navy!
Cheerios also got cool points for featuring an interracial couple and their beautiful biracial girl. While the young lady questions her mother about Cheerios, all I could look at was the pretty brown curls that perfectly framed her sweet face. Sadly, some viewers were too busy focusing on the couples pairing, and the commercial became controversial. For what??? Ah, people. Câmon! Watch and you be the judge ⊠of her hair, please.
The Wendy Williams Show frequently attracts some of the most stylish ladies, particularly natural haired mavens. So, I wasnât surprised when, on June 13, Wendyâs âeye candy of the dayâ happened to be a naturally curly girl. While she introduced herself (her name sounds like Hafeesa), all I could look at was her huuuge fro. It looked soooo majestic, and of course, it topped off her outfit.
In fact, Wendy commented by saying, ââI love your natural hair. Itâs big and beautiful.â She also then made a point of noting to all of us viewers that itâs all hers. Yes, real and styled in a wash and go. Weeeerrrrk!
Wendy Williams stands next to her “eye candy of the day.”
Did you catch these or other curlies in June? Do tell below!
Actress ZoĂ« Saldana, as seen in Allure‘s June 2013 issue
Yes, ZoĂ« Saldana is that tough girl youâve seen in Avatar and Star-Trek, among a host of other movies. No, she isnât typically whom you think of as having a curly mane, but the actress surprises us (at least me) by sharing some of her hair care routine and personal experiences within InStyle Hair, a special spring edition of InStyle magazine. Of course, you know I had to pour myself through that one!
First things first. Yes, I am showcasing images of ZoĂ« Saldana from the June issue of Allure, while referencing an interview she conducted with InStyle Hair. After all, she is killing it in the Allure pics. No, I wonât continue to go back and forth with the yeses and nos. Ha! Letâs move on to Saldana. The half Dominican, half Puerto Rican beauty shares information on her culture, hair, and overall identity.
She says to InStyle, âIn Latino culture, hair carries a lot of history, a lot of weight, and a lot of energy. I always liked my hair. I never wanted to have any other skin but my own, any other hair but my own. I never had that identity thing where I looked at a blond girl or an Asian girl and thought, âWhy donât I look like that?â Women who spend so much of their lives wanting to have something else miss out on learning to appreciate what they do have.â
Two snaps in Z formation for that one! Saldana credits her mother for raising her and her sisters with a strong sense of self and for teaching them to question whatever they felt did not make sense. She may just be our kind of gal after all.
As for her hair, she admits that, after using a Japanese straightener for the past 10 years, she is now missing her curls.
âItâs been eight months since my last straightening treatment, and Iâm going to let it all grow out. I miss feeling the thickness. Itâs been a long time since Iâve woken up with my hair looking like an Afro. I want to have that again,â says Saldana.
Does this mean that weâll soon see Ms. Saldana sporting her natural tresses Ă la actress Viola Davis? From the looks of the magic hair sheâs werking in these magazine spreads, textured hair really does suit her. Iâm looking forward to the new ZoĂ«, Afro and all.
âChild, let me tell youâitâs pretty expensive, but it works!â she says.
If youâre looking for a cheaper alternative, you can always pre-poo with olive oil and, of course my favorite, coconut oil.
You can catch ZoĂ« Saldana and her stylish mane this summer as Lieutenant Uhura in Star Trek into Darkness. The full interview with ZoĂ« can be found in InStyle Hair, on newsstands until June 14. You can also check out more stylish photos and learn more about ZoĂ« Saldanaâs beauty routine in Juneâs Allure.
Picture this. In a Zombie Apocalypse, most of your days would be spent practicing your killer moves, hiding, or running for your dear life. But what would your hair look like? ⊠Yes, Iâm thinking waaay out of the box here, but itâs a detail that hasnât been lost by the creators of AMCâs The Walking Dead.
Dead Heads like me have noticed that there are now two female, African-American characters with natural hair who have joined the cast of intriguing characters. Thereâ s Michonne, a silent but deadly warrior, whoâs quick with a sword. She fights fast and fearless, all while whipping around lengthy dreads. Yes, she truly whips her hair back and forth!
As you can imagine, in this impressively detailed and believably written, end-of-the-world scenario, there would be zero room for flat irons or relaxers. Ladies, count âem out. Itâs all about survival here! Thank goodness the writers got this right and showed all the ladies in a natural light, regardless of race. In real life Danai Gurira, who plays Michonne, wears her hair in a short afro, which highlights her attractive facial features and allows her to go unrecognized by die-hard fans. In an interview with Zap2it, Gurira discusses the strong and unreadable female role she plays.
âA lot of people just love that she’s a bad-ass. A lot of female friends keep asking my brother, ‘Was she always tough like that? How did she get like that? What should we do to be like that?’ ⊠It was very deliberate to make her unreadable and an enigma. She’s not going to be the sort of character you get to know quickly. That’s who she is. The desire people have to see her unravel in a way, it’s not going to be what they get,â says Gurira.
*Rubs chins mysteriously.* Hmmm. I definitely get it. (more after the jump)
Actress Sonequa Martin-Green from The Walking Dead
In addition to Michonne, thereâs a new character named Sasha, who is among a newfound group of the living. Sasha, played by actress Sonequa Martin-Green, is sweet and courageous. She also has natural hair that is kept neatly swept from her face, you know, in case she has to attack some creature or another. In real life, Martin-Green like Gurira has beautiful, natural hair that amplifies her looks. You can catch her sporting a fluffy âdo or straightened style on the red carpet or in her recently cast role in ABCâs Once Upon a Time.
Now that you know that two naturally fab ladies are among the cast, will you also spend your Sunday nights peering from under the sheets in fear of who would be taken out next? Are you already watching? How would you style your hair in a Zombie Apocalypse? For me, I might have to go with a low afro since I’d have bigger fish to fry. đ Chime in below, but please no spoilers!
This curlie was spotted literally working realness on the Wendy Williams Show.
Whether youâre tuning to the tube or flipping through mags, these days itâs tough not to spot at least one curly mane shining brightly. *My curly mane drops down and throws hands in the air.* Oh, thank you! Thank you curlies for embracing your manes! Itâs thanks to you that me and other former lone wolves donât have to field endless questions about whatâs going on at the top of our heads. Yes, thereâll always be some questions and general interest, but at least weâre no longer gawked at like some form of endangered species.
This is one of the reasons why I love to spotlight those of you who are out there, proudly sporting textured tresses. This includes curlies, who while shelling out products, are also inadvertently (or advertently based on whoâs puppet-stringing in the marketing division ;)) showcasing natural hair. This group also includes those talented ladies, who while working their wicked manes, stand out for simply being themselves.
In case youâve missed it, grab a snack and relax. Let me fill you in on the latest batch of curliesâspotted!
Working Realness On Wendy
On January 13, 2013, The Wendy Williams Show featured American fashion designer Norma Kamali. She is best known for her sleeping bag coat, a garment made from silk parachutesâthink of your fave blanky remixed with Missy Elliotâs âI Canât Stand The Rainâ garbage bag outfit and stitched to meet the sophistication of Audrey Hepburn. Still with me? Picture it for a moment and come back.
While Kamali was at Wendy, she treated us to a mini fashion show of her latest threads worn by real women. Out of the group, my eyes could not stop staring at a curvaceous curlie killing it on the catwalk. Sheâs not only stunning, but her hair is to.die.for.! Lady, we applaud you.
Pretty-Poofing On The Phone
You already know that Samsung Galaxy S3 is one of the hottest phones on the market. So, I almost ignored the commercial when I heard it coming on the TV. That was until I looked up and spottedâanother curlie! This curly girl had me running to the TV to freeze frame and drool over her hair. Although Iâve been rocking a middle part for the last month, Iâm now contemplating how to construct a wickedly deep side part ala this mop-top maven.
In case you were busy sulking because the Giants werenât in the Super Bowl (like I was at first) or passed out from a food coma (like I was late in the evening), check out Bibiâs solo and curly mane in the half-time video (Bibi literally explodes onto the stage at 3:13).
Get These Looks
All of the ladies mentioned above are showcasing the beauty of wash-and-go hair. If you’re still wondering how you can get solid wash and wear results, read and try my 10 steps.
Above: Julia Sarr-Jamois, fashion editor and J. Crew model. Photo courtesy of J. Crew, ripped from my mailer.
Although we’re in a new year, I want to flash back a few months and catch you up on a curlie I recently spotted. Something tells me that once or twice, your eyes caught sight of her too.
Picture this. I was going about my typical routine after coming home from work. I swung the door closed, dropped a couple of bags at my feet, and threw my keys on the nearest table. In my freed hands, I quickly rummaged through my mail until … I found the fall 2012 catalog for J.Crew.
For me, J.Crew = cozy sweaters and turtlenecks. I really didn’t need much assistance to turn the pages towards that section, but to help their cashmere stand out even further, the preppy shopping staple featured a stunning model with a full-on mane! She practically roared from the pages (albeit quietly, as seen in the image on the left).
Ironically, a week later, a mailer from Sephora came and there was that model yet again! I kid you not! It was the same beauty with her curly ‘fro. I had to know who she was! You too? In case, you missed the many fashion features bubbling up on the net, the stunner in the cozy blue threads and makeup ads is Julia Sarr-Jamois, fashion editor for Wonderland magazine.
She’s not only easy on the eye, but she also sports enviable curls. Sarr-Jamois is a talent with an eye for fashion. Her savvy street styles is what made her one of J.Crew’s features in the fall campaign centered on real-life fashion-forward folks.
Diego Scotti, J. Crewâs chief marketing officer, says to Women’s Wear Daily, âWe chose very accomplished people who have an impact on our customers and culture in general. They appreciate quality and detail. Our customers identify with them, but the campaign is not about celebrities.â
Julia Sarr-Jamois showcases her wicked street style.
While the focus of the campaign is on the line’s bags, suits, and sweaters, I believe that Sarr-Jamois steals the show. Despite J.Crew’s efforts to not choose a celebrity, Sarr-Jamois is and rightfully can be called a celeb. She has been placed center stage in these campaigns and as the subject of many street photogs and bloggers, including yours truly.
Sephora describes her as an editrix (love that term). While I was searching for Juliet Julia (Ever seen that movie? I digress.), I discovered that the half Senegalese and half French stunner is 23 years old. She also addressed the excitement centered around her curls in an interview with Vogue. Sarr-Jamois outlines her simple, wash ‘n go routine and likens wearing her hair loose in the summer to wearing a fuzzy Prada hat. I can definitely relate!
Julia Sarr-Jamois, illustrated by Joana Avillez. Of course, I love this. Pretty dead on. Check out the accompanying notes and quotes.
âIâve never really been into makeup. My hair is my statement, along with my clothes,” says Sarr-Jamois. “The only thing I wonât wear with my hair is flared jeans. I love them, but that look is way too seventies-child.”
Ah, Julia (throws fists up in the air and shakes them)! I love, love flared jeans. No worries. I’ll bring back the seventies for you. Just keep on inspiring us with your styling. Keep an eye out for this one curlies! You can view more pics of Julia Sarr-Jamois’ hair and fashion below.
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